Brian Fagioli

VMware’s Fusion and Workstation products have been go-to solutions for millions, allowing users to create local virtual environments on Windows, Linux, and Mac computers. These tools are essential for installing other operating systems, learning about technology, and developing and testing software. Now, there’s exciting news for the VMware community.

As VMware integrates Fusion and Workstation into Broadcom, they are making a HUGE change: Fusion Pro and Workstation Pro are now free for personal use. Yes, you read that right – free! This is a game-changer for tech enthusiasts and developers who want to run virtual machines on their personal devices without breaking the bank. You can download these from the new portal at support.broadcom.com.

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Google has just revealed the story behind the name of its innovative AI model, Gemini. First mentioned at I/O 2023, Gemini was introduced as Google's first natively multimodal model. Since then, it has become integral to many Google products, including Search, Ads, Workspace, and Pixel. As Gemini's influence grows, understanding the inspiration behind its name offers a fascinating glimpse into Google's vision and ambition.

Initially, the project was codenamed "Titan," after Saturn's largest moon. However, Jeff Dean, Gemini’s co-technical lead, felt the name wasn't quite right but provided a cosmic cue. "Gemini," meaning "twins" in Latin, and also a prominent constellation, captured the essence of the project's dual nature and expansive capabilities. The Gemini constellation, linked to the mythological twins Castor and Pollux, symbolizes adaptability and duality—qualities that resonated with the AI model's goals.

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Enbrighten has expanded its line of smart home products with the introduction of Eternity Lights. These permanent outdoor lights are designed for year-round use and aim to provide customizable lighting options for various occasions and settings.

Eternity Lights are built to withstand diverse weather conditions, with an operational range from -4°F to 131°F. They meet ETL safety certification and National Electrical Code (NEC) requirements, ensuring reliability and safety in outdoor installations. The lights come with a lifetime guarantee, emphasizing their durability.

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Deepin, a Linux-based open-source desktop operating system developed in China, has announced the release candidate (RC) of its latest version, Deepin V23 (download here). This RC version introduces numerous new features and improvements, aiming to attract users who are considering a switch from Microsoft Windows 11. However, as this is not the final release, potential switchers should wait for the stable version to ensure a seamless transition.

The Deepin V23 RC comes with a host of new features that enhance usability and user experience. The installer has been optimized with improved UI details, updated carousel images, and a trial mode for users to experience the system without installation. It also reverts pre-installed applications to deb versions, supports 14th generation U terminal devices, and provides dual kernel options of 5.15 and 6.6.

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Do programmers really need a specialized monitor, or is it just a marketing gimmick? BenQ seems to think it's essential, and the new RD Series might prove the company right. Designed specifically for programmers, these monitors offer unique features like advanced anti-glare panels, a dedicated coding mode, and ergonomic adjustments that cater directly to the demands of coding professionals.

The RD Series includes a unique coding mode, offering clear fonts that improve code readability in both light and dark themes. This mode is accessible via the Coding HotKey on the function bar, designed to help programmers maintain focus. The monitors are built to maximize clarity and efficiency, allowing for comfortable long-term use.

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Are you in the market for new audio gear without breaking the bank? SOUNDPEATS has you covered this Memorial Day with some incredible deals on its lineup of headphones and earbuds.

From now until May 31, shoppers can snag significant discounts on four of SOUNDPEATS' popular models, making it the perfect time to upgrade your listening experience.

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SteelSeries is expanding its acclaimed Arctis Nova family. The new addition, the Arctis Nova 5 series headsets, comes with an innovative Nova 5 Companion App. This expansion aims to elevate the gaming audio experience by enhancing audio quality for Xbox and PlayStation games, providing a premium yet accessible wireless gaming headset, and extending gaming sessions.

Priced at $129.99 (buy it here now), the Arctis Nova 5 series headsets offer gamers a blend of luxury and affordability. With features like over 100 audio presets accessible through the Nova 5 Companion App, Quick Switch Wireless freedom via high-speed 2.4GHz or Bluetooth 5.3, and an impressive 60+ hour battery life, SteelSeries continues to push the boundaries of gaming audio.

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The Manjaro team has announced the release of Manjaro 24.0, codenamed "Wynsdey," which introduces significant updates across its KDE Plasma, GNOME, and XFCE editions.

For those considering a switch from Microsoft Windows 11, Manjaro 24.0 offers compelling reasons to embrace Linux, enhancing both functionality and user experience.

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Google has announced its collaboration with HP to commercialize Project Starline, a technology designed to make people feel as if they're together even when miles apart. This partnership aims to bring the experience out of the lab and into the workplace, revolutionizing how distributed teams and individuals connect.

First introduced in 2021, Project Starline uses advancements in AI, 3D imaging, and other technologies to create an immersive communication experience. It functions like a "magic window," allowing users to talk, gesture, and make eye contact as if they were in the same room. After extensive testing across Google offices and with enterprise partners, the technology has demonstrated that it can transform meetings, enhancing attentiveness, memory recall, and the overall sense of presence.

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Google and Apple have developed a new industry specification aimed at enhancing user privacy and safety across mobile platforms. The specification, named "Detecting Unwanted Location Trackers," is designed to alert users on both Android and iOS devices if a Bluetooth tracking device is potentially being used to track them without their knowledge.

This initiative is a response to the growing concern over the misuse of Bluetooth tracking devices, which are primarily intended for locating personal belongings. With the new specification, Google has rolled out this feature to Android devices running version 6.0 and above, while Apple has incorporated it into iOS 17.5.

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TCL today unveiled a significant expansion to its product lineup, introducing cutting-edge QD-Mini LED TVs across its QM7 and QM8 series and launching new sound bars equipped with Dolby Atmos technology.

TCL's 2024 lineup features the advanced QD-Mini LED technology, offering an unprecedented viewing experience with high-performance features across multiple models:

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Transcend has expanded its lineup with two new CFast memory cards, the CFX730 and CFX610, designed to cater to the rigorous demands of 24/7 operations in gaming & entertainment, medical equipment, and transportation systems. These cards boast top-tier transfer speeds and enhanced durability.

Meeting the CFast 2.0 standards, the CFX730 and CFX610 utilize advanced 112-layer 3D NAND flash technology combined with a SATA III 6Gb/s interface. They offer substantial storage options up to 1TB. Notably, both models are available in Wide Temperature variants, which can operate in extreme conditions ranging from -40°C to 85°C, ensuring reliability across various environments.

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Linus Torvalds, the pioneer behind the Linux kernel, has released version 6.9, opting not to delay despite a few unresolved regression fixes. According to Torvalds, the remaining issues are minor and will be addressed via backports in subsequent updates. This version is characterized by its stability, with Torvalds noting that the release process appeared “pretty normal.”

This iteration brings notable updates, particularly to GPU and networking drivers, which dominate the change log, although Torvalds mentioned that these are relatively small in scope. The release also includes several critical filesystem fixes, with enhancements to bcachefs and adjustments in ksmbd, alongside late-stage selftest fixes and core networking amendments.

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Exciting news for Linux enthusiasts: Ubuntu Linux 24.10, codenamed "Oracular Oriole," has officially released its daily images for public testing. This release is designed for developers and testers who are eager to get a first look and provide feedback on the upcoming features of this new Ubuntu release.

As of today, the latest build, dated May 9, 2024, is available for download. This continuous development cycle is a crucial part of Ubuntu’s development philosophy, providing a transparent process that allows both developers and users to participate in refining and enhancing the system before its official release.

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CORSAIR today launched the MP700 PRO SE PCIe 5.0 SSD, and it’s insanely fast. This latest addition to the SSD market boasts sequential read speeds of up to 14,000MB/sec and write speeds of up to 12,000MB/sec, nearly doubling the performance of top-tier PCIe 4.0 SSDs and surpassing SATA SSDs by up to 25-fold.

Available in 2TB and 4TB models, the MP700 PRO SE leverages cutting-edge interface, controller, and NAND flash technologies to optimize random read and write performance, which is crucial for small file transfers and operating system functionality. Users can expect significantly reduced load times for applications and games, streamlined large file management, and native support for Microsoft DirectStorage, promising enhanced gaming experiences.

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