Brian Fagioli

In a groundbreaking announcement, New York City's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Commissioner, Dr. Ashwin Vasan, has issued a Health Commissioner’s Advisory, paralleling past actions taken against tobacco and firearms. This advisory identifies the unchecked use of social media as a public health hazard, spotlighting the alarming rise in mental health crises among the city's youth.

The situation in NYC is dire, with a staggering increase in feelings of hopelessness among high school students, up by over 42% between 2011 and 2021. Moreover, suicidal thoughts have surged by more than 34%. The data is even more troubling for marginalized groups such as Black, Latino, female, and LGBTQ+ youth, who face disproportionately high rates of despair.

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MSI has annnounced its newest networking product -- the AXE5400 Wi-Fi 6E USB adapter. This device is designed to provide an easy solution for upgrading existing Windows 11 desktops and laptops to connect with the latest 6GHz network through a simple USB interface.

The AXE5400 WiFi USB adapter is notable for its compatibility with three frequency bands, offering speeds of 2402Mbps on both 6GHz and 5GHz bands, and 574Mbps on the 2.4GHz band. This range of frequencies is intended to accommodate various networking needs and enhance user experience in terms of internet speed.

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In a significant development for the Linux community, Mozilla has announced the release of a new Firefox package, specifically designed for Ubuntu, Debian, and other Debian-based distributions. Linux, celebrated for its open-source nature and as a robust alternative to conventional operating systems, is now set to offer an even more refined browsing experience with this latest update from Mozilla.

This new Firefox package is meticulously crafted to be adaptable and secure, addressing the complex needs of modern internet users. Mozilla has focused on enhancing the browser's sandbox implementations, a crucial aspect for online security. While maintaining compatibility with Snap and Flatpak, the new native package is an additional advantage for Linux enthusiasts. Moreover, Firefox continues to be available in various formats, including Mozilla’s own .tar.bz2 builds, catering to a wide range of preferences within the Linux community.

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Samsung has officially launched the 990 EVO solid state drive. This SSD stands out for its versatility, ensuring compatibility with both PCIe 4.0 x4 and PCIe 5.0 x2 interfaces. This feature guarantees optimal performance in a wide array of systems, catering to both current and future computing demands.

Compared to its predecessor, the 970 EVO Plus SSD, the 990 EVO offers a significant performance improvement of up to 43 percent. This enhancement means users can access data in nearly half the time, leading to reduced loading times and more efficient computing. The drive boasts sequential read speeds of up to 5,000 MB/s and write speeds of up to 4,200 MB/s. Its random read and write speeds have also seen an upgrade, reaching up to 700K and 800K IOPS, respectively.

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As the NFL season culminates in the highly anticipated Super Bowl, football enthusiasts are gearing up for an immersive viewing experience. The wait for the perfect TV to elevate your Super Bowl Sunday is over, thanks to TCL's timely big screen TV deals. Known for their partnership with the NFL, TCL is offering sports fans an amazing opportunity to witness every thrilling play in stunning detail.

TCL's latest promotion, available now through February 11, showcases a range of TVs designed to bring the stadium atmosphere right into your living room. Leading the pack is the colossal 98” S5 model, priced under $2,000 for a limited two-week period. With its 4K ultra HD resolution and expansive screen, 33 percent larger than an 85” TV, the S5 promises to be a game-changer for your home theater setup.

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Amazon is currently hosting a can't-miss sale on a range of Plugable products, offering significant discounts. Tech enthusiasts and bargain hunters alike will find something to love in this sale, which runs through the end of January.

Starting with the TBT3-40G80CM, a premium 40Gbps Thunderbolt 3 cable, now available at just $24.95, this sale cuts across various product categories. This cable is essential for those needing high-speed data transfer and is now more affordable with a 10 percent discount.

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In a recent announcement by developer Clement Lefebvre (aka Clem), Linux Mint has released an "Edge" ISO image for its 21.3 “Virginia” version. This update targets users with newer hardware that may not be compatible with the 5.15 LTS kernel included in the standard Linux Mint 21.x series. The Edge ISO addresses this issue by instead featuring the newer kernel 6.5.

This release aims to enhance the compatibility of Linux Mint with the latest hardware, potentially broadening its user base. For those interested in learning more about the Edge ISO and its features, further information is available on the Linux Mint User Guide.

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Sony Electronics has launched the SRS-XV500 Bluetooth party speaker, which focuses heavily on karaoke. The SRS-XV500 is engineered with two X-Balanced Speaker Units, ensuring robust, high-quality bass with minimal distortion. Alongside these, two tweeters enhance the speaker's ability to deliver clear vocals and an expansive sound field, creating an immersive listening experience.

A significant advantage of the SRS-XV500 is its impressive battery life. Offering up to 25 hours of playback, this speaker is ideal for extended events. Its quick charging capability is a bonus, providing 2.5 hours of usage with just 10 minutes of charging. Additionally, the Battery Care function prevents overcharging, prolonging the speaker's longevity.

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MX Linux users, brace yourselves for an exciting update! The MX-23.2 version is now available, offering a ton of enhancements and updates. This release marks the second major refresh of the MX-23 series, primarily focusing on bug fixes, kernel updates, and application improvements. Importantly, for existing MX-23 users, there's no need for a fresh installation as all updates are accessible through regular update channels.

Key highlights of MX-23.2 include the transition to Debian 12.4 “bookworm” base, ensuring users benefit from the latest and most stable Debian offerings. Additionally, this update introduces several new and updated applications, enhancing the overall user experience.

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SparkyLinux developers have announced the release of the first rolling update of 2024. Dubbed “Sparky 2024.01,” this latest version is particularly noteworthy for integrating the Linux kernel 6.6 as its default, a move that sets a new standard in the distribution’s performance and compatibility. Accompanying this kernel upgrade is a suite of updated packages sourced from both Debian ‘trixie’ and Sparky’s ‘sisters’ testing repositories.

One of the most notable changes in this release is the replacement of the PulseAudio server with Pipewire audio server. This transition signifies a major shift in how audio is managed, promising improved audio handling and system integration. For users interested in switching from PulseAudio to Pipewire, Sparky Linux provides a simple script available on their website, facilitating an easy transition.

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Shokz has announced its latest bone conduction headphones -- the OpenSwim Pro. Designed with versatility in mind, the OpenSwim Pro promises a unique audio experience for swimmers and other types of aquatic athletes.

The new headphones feature a flexible Nickel-Titanium alloy frame, combined with a soft silicone material, ensuring a comfortable and secure fit. This design does not interfere with other sports gear such as swimming caps or goggles. The OpenSwim Pro’s standout feature is its ability to seamlessly switch between Bluetooth streaming and MP3 playback through a simple button press or the Shokz app.

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Apple is set to inaugurate its latest store, Apple Hongdae, in Seoul this Saturday, January 20, marking a significant milestone as the 100th Apple Store in the Asia-Pacific region. The store, staffed with nearly 100 experts, offers an extensive range of products including the latest iPhone 15 lineup, new Macs with M3 chips, the Apple Watch series, and the Lunar New Year special-edition AirPods Pro.

Deirdre O’Brien, Apple’s senior vice president of Retail, explains, “Combining the latest in Apple technology with the creative passion of the local community, this new store will build on the extraordinary connection we have with our customers in Korea. Our team members are excited to welcome in customers and help them discover the latest in our products and services, including the iPhone 15 lineup.”

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Samsung today announced its latest flagship smartphones, the Galaxy S24 Ultra, Galaxy S24+, and Galaxy S24. These devices are notable for utilizing the company's innovative Galaxy AI technology. This development signals the beginning of a new era in mobile experiences, where AI is expected to revolutionize user interactions with their devices.

The Galaxy S24 series introduces advanced features for enhancing communication. The series offers barrier-free communication with intelligent text and call translations. The 'Live Translate' feature provides two-way, real-time voice and text translations within the native app, eliminating the need for third-party applications. This feature ensures privacy as it is powered by on-device AI. Additionally, the 'Interpreter' feature facilitates instant translation of live conversations on a split-screen view, functioning even without cellular data or Wi-Fi.

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The Wine team has announced a significant milestone with the release of Wine 9.0, a major update enriching the Linux experience. This latest version encapsulates a year of dedicated development, featuring over 7,000 changes. Wine 9.0 is distinguished by its introduction of the new WoW64 architecture and the experimental Wayland driver, making it a landmark release for users seeking to run Windows applications on Unix-based systems.

The new WoW64 (Windows 32-bit on Windows 64-bit) architecture in Wine 9.0 is a highlight of this release, marking the completion of a multi-year effort to convert modules to PE format. This significant development creates a clear boundary between Windows and Unix systems. In a notable shift from the older version, the new WoW64 mode enables the running of 32-bit Windows applications on purely 64-bit Unix installations. This is particularly beneficial for macOS users, where recent versions have dropped support for 32-bit processes.

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Turtle Beach has announced its latest product -- the VelocityOne Race. This universal wheel and pedal system, compatible with Xbox and Windows PCs, is engineered to offer an immersive racing experience.

VelocityOne Race features the custom K: Drive motor, providing direct-drive force feedback for a realistic and detailed response to in-game events. Racers will find high-end aluminum pedals and Dynamic Brake Tek load-cell brakes underfoot, designed to mimic real-life braking. The system also allows racers to monitor real-time telemetry data in many popular games, enhancing the simulation experience.

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