Brian Fagioli

Apple has just unveiled a public beta for Apple Maps on the web, a move that is sure to excite users like me who prefer Apple Maps to Google Maps. I am particularly thrilled about this development, as I find Apple Maps to be superior for my navigation needs. This new web-based access allows users worldwide to experience Apple Maps directly from their browsers.

With this beta release, users can now obtain driving and walking directions, find various places with useful information such as photos, hours, ratings, and reviews, and even order food directly from the Maps place card. Additionally, curated Guides help users discover places to eat, shop, and explore in cities around the globe. Exciting features like Look Around are slated for release in the coming months.

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PFU America, Inc. has launched the RICOH Meeting 360 V2. It is designed to improve the experience of hybrid meetings, offering 360-degree panoramic views and omnidirectional audio capabilities. This technology aims to make online interactions more inclusive and effective by providing lifelike meeting environments.

Featuring advanced speaker detection, the Meeting 360 V2 automatically focuses on the current speaker and adjusts the screen layout to keep the meeting engaging. This device supports flexible work arrangements, increasingly common in today's work culture.

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If you have been thinking of buying an ARM-based Raspberry Pi, you may want to reconsider. You see, a new alternative SoC computer, the Radxa X4, is powered by the Intel N100 processor, part of the Alder Lake-N series. That processor will allow you to run full Windows 11 as well as Linux-based operating systems.

This board offers quad-core processing with speeds up to 3.4 GHz and is supported by Intel’s UHD Graphics. This device is equipped with a variety of features tailored to meet the needs of a diverse user base. Memory options range from 4GB to 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM, and additional onboard eMMC storage options are available.

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Micron has introduced the 9550 NVMe SSD, heralded as the fastest SSD for data centers, particularly optimized for AI workloads. This product integrates Micron's proprietary technologies including its controller, NAND, DRAM, and firmware into a cohesive solution designed for high performance, power efficiency, and enhanced security in data center operations.

The Micron 9550 SSD boasts sequential read speeds of 14.0GB/s and write speeds of 10.0GB/s, claiming up to 67 percent better performance compared to similar SSDs on the market. It also excels in random read and write speeds, which are essential for demanding AI applications such as large language models and graph neural networks. The SSD notably improves workload completion times by up to 33 percent in specific AI training tasks and increases throughput for NVIDIA Magnum IO GPUDirect Storage by up to 34 percent.

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MSI has launched the brand-new Cubi NUC series mini PC. The MSI Cubi NUC Series, which includes the Cubi NUC 1M, Cubi NUC 1MG, and Cubi NUC 13MQG, is recognized for its sleek design that integrates into any modern workspace or home environment. It has been crafted with attention to detail, and its compact form factor is complemented by environmentally friendly materials, such as PCR plastics and recycled molded pulp for packaging, aligning with MSI's sustainability efforts.

The Cubi NUC 1M features Windows 11 Home, with MSI recommending Windows 11 Pro for business. It is powered by Intel Core processors, including the i7-150U, i5-120U, and i3-100U. The device uses the Intel SoC chipset and supports up to 64GB of DDR5 memory with two SO-DIMM slots. Graphics are handled by Intel Graphics, and security features include support for dTPM 2.0. The sound system is managed by Realtek ALC256.

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Accenture has unveiled its Accenture AI Refinery framework, built on NVIDIA AI Foundry, to help clients develop custom LLM models using the newly introduced Llama 3.1 collection. This framework, part of Accenture’s foundation model services, is designed to enhance the use of generative AI by allowing businesses to create LLMs tailored to their specific domains and business processes.

The AI Refinery framework includes four main components: domain model customization and training, the Switchboard platform for model selection, an enterprise cognitive brain for indexing corporate knowledge, and Agentic architecture for autonomous AI actions.

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ShowMeCables has unveiled a new series of Cat 6a right-angle Ethernet cables. These innovative cables feature 90-degree angled connectors designed to ease installation in spaces with dense cabling. The line offers low smoke zero halogen (LSZH) rated jackets for environments where PVC is banned, and CMX jackets for standard communication settings.

These Cat 6a cables are equipped to handle 10-gigabit speeds, making them suitable for a variety of indoor uses such as data centers, offices, industrial sites, home networks, and transportation systems.

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Bitwise Asset Management has launched the Bitwise Ethereum ETF (ETHW), scheduled to start trading on the New York Stock Exchange on July 23. This marks the introduction of the first spot Ethereum fund in the U.S., providing investors with a new method to invest in Ethereum, the second-largest crypto asset by market capitalization.

The ETF begins with a management fee of 0.20 percent, offering a promotional zero fee on the first $500 million in assets for the initial six months.

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Google has revised its Privacy Sandbox initiative, moving away from its earlier decision to eliminate third-party cookies. The initiative has been influenced by extensive feedback from various stakeholders, including the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), publishers, and the advertising industry.

Instead of phasing out third-party cookies as initially planned, Google is now implementing a new user experience in Chrome that allows individuals to make informed decisions about their privacy settings during web browsing. This new approach allows users to modify their privacy preferences at any time, reflecting a significant change in strategy.

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Docking stations are so common these days, that’s it’s hard to really get excited about them. With that said, the newest such dock from Sabrent has a unique aspect that you will want to check out. You see, the Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station with Monitor Desk Mount (DS-T4WA) offers Thunderbolt 4 technology and a gas-lift monitor arm to enhance workspace flexibility and connectivity. Yes, it’s a dock and monitor arm in one!

This docking station supports high-speed data transfer up to 40Gbps with its Thunderbolt 4 downstream port. It features two 10Gbps USB-C ports, one 10Gbps USB-A port, and one 5Gbps USB-A port, accommodating a variety of devices. Additionally, the station includes a UHS-II microSD/SD card reader, Gigabit Ethernet, and a 3.5mm audio port.

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The release of OpenMandriva ROME 24.07 offers a timely Linux alternative for users considering a switch from Microsoft Windows 11, particularly in the wake of the recent Crowdstrike-induced BSOD (Blue Screen of Death) disaster. This rolling release integrates the latest from the Release Candidate, featuring updated packages and enhanced stability.

At the forefront of this release is the introduction of KDE Plasma 6 as the default desktop environment, designed to enhance user experience with its improved aesthetics and functionality. For those seeking variety, there are additional spins available with LXQt (2.0.0 Qt6) and GNOME(46.3). It's important to note that while a Wayland-based ISO is offered, OpenMandriva advises that Wayland might not fully replace X11 for all users just yet, especially when used in VirtualBox environments.

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Hitachi-LG Data Storage, in partnership with SK hynix and NEOWIZ, is set to release a limited edition external USB SSD, the Tube T31 Lies of P Edition. This product will be available exclusively at Newegg.com, with only 300 units slated for sale in the United States starting from July 22. Pricing details have not yet been announced.

The Tube T31 is designed to be portable and user-friendly. It features plug-and-play compatibility via USB-A with PCs, consoles, TVs, and laptops, enhancing its practicality for both gaming and general use.

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Apple Vision Pro users are now be able to enjoy a new range of content captured in Apple Immersive Video. This format uses 3D video recorded in 8K with a 180-degree field of view and Spatial Audio to deliver a highly realistic experience. Apple’s lineup includes series, films, and special performances.

The series “Boundless” kicks off with an episode called “Hot Air Balloons,” taking viewers over Cappadocia, Türkiye. “Wild Life,” a nature documentary series, will continue in August with a focus on orphaned elephants in Kenya. In September, “Elevated” will feature stunning aerial views of Hawaii.

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Google's URL Shortener service will be fully discontinued after August 25, 2025. Originally transitioned to Firebase Dynamic Links in 2018, the service stopped accepting new URLs but continued to support existing ones. Now, Google has announced it will cease serving these links.

Starting August 23, 2024, users will encounter an interstitial page on some goo.gl links. This page will notify users of the service’s impending shutdown and will increasingly appear before the links direct to their original destinations. After August 25, 2025, all goo.gl links will return a 404 error.

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OpenAI has released GPT-4o mini, a new AI model aimed at enhancing affordability and accessibility. Priced at 15 cents per million input tokens and 60 cents per million output tokens, GPT-4o mini represents a significant cost reduction compared to previous models like GPT-3.5 Turbo. The new model is more than 60 percent cheaper, making it an economical option for a wide range of applications.

GPT-4o mini is designed with a context window of 128K tokens and supports up to 16K output tokens per request. Currently, it is capable of handling text and vision tasks. Future updates will expand its capabilities to include text, image, video, and audio inputs and outputs.

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