The Nördlinger Ries is a large circular impact crater in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, Germany, that formed a lake covering roughly 400 square kilometers before silting up over about two million years. Buildings in the town of Nördlingen were constructed from local stone containing an estimated 72,000 tonnes of microscopic diamonds, created when the impact struck a graphite deposit. The same event is also linked to moldavite tektites scattered as far as 450 kilometers away in the Czech Republic.
DJI unveiled its Osmo 360 II camera in Berlin, an upgrade over its predecessor with dual 1-inch square sensors capable of 8K60 recording, edging out Insta360's X6 which tops out at 8K50. The standout new feature is user-replaceable lenses, addressing a common failure point for 360 cameras. Because of an ongoing FCC restriction on new DJI hardware, the device is unlikely to launch officially in the United States.
Huawei unveiled the Mate XT2, a tri-folding smartphone that unfolds from a 6.5-inch display into a 10.2-inch 3K screen, now paired with an optional built-in privacy display. The device runs HarmonyOS and uses Huawei's new Kirin 9050 Pro chip, said to be 42 percent faster than its predecessor, alongside a four-camera setup led by a 50-megapixel main sensor and 3.5x periscope zoom. Pricing starts around $2,980 and climbs to roughly $4,470 for a 2TB collector's edition.
A long-time Bing Wallpaper user reported that the desktop app displayed a full-screen advertisement for a Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts box set instead of the usual daily wallpaper image. The user said this was the first time they had encountered such an ad after years of regular use, and initially suspected their system had been infected with adware.
Multiple Reddit users say their Google Home devices, running the older Assistant-based system, are refusing to answer simple questions like recipe requests or holiday facts, instead returning generic error messages. Basic functions such as timers and sports scores reportedly still work fine, suggesting the issue is limited to certain query types rather than a total system failure.
Belgian prosecutors detained a Chinese man in May as he prepared to fly to Beijing, alleging he had been passing sensitive chip-related technology to a company in China. The case is part of a broader investigation into suspected industrial espionage targeting Europe's semiconductor sector.
Amazon is discounting the Acer Gadget 4K 3-Channel Dash Cam to $149.99, a deal that includes a 64GB memory card so buyers don't need to purchase extra storage. The device simultaneously records front (4K), rear, and cabin (2.5K/HD) footage, and comes with GPS, a 3.2-inch IPS screen, Wi-Fi 6, and app connectivity.
The Transportation Security Administration has launched a program allowing certain people without boarding passes to clear security checkpoints so they can accompany or meet passengers at the departure gate. This practice was common before the September 11, 2001 attacks but was eliminated afterward as airport security tightened nationwide. The new initiative marks a limited return of that pre-9/11 gate access for specific individuals.
A comparison of the two leading retro emulators finds that Dolphin, which handles GameCube games, is generally considered more accurate and easier to run than PCSX2, the PS2 emulator, despite PCSX2 covering a slightly larger percentage of its console's library. Both are free, open-source tools available on Windows, macOS and Linux, with Dolphin also supporting Android, and neither requires top-end graphics hardware to run games at 4K/60fps.
AWOL Vision debuted its new flagship ultrashort-throw projector, the LuxVision, at IFA Berlin. It boasts a claimed 6,000 lumens, a 120Hz refresh rate at 4K resolution, optical lens shift for easier setup, and a customizable midcentury modern design.
Grindr has agreed to pay £26m to resolve a High Court class action brought by more than 11,000 claimants who alleged the dating app shared sensitive personal data, including HIV status, with third parties. The company will pay £13m by the end of this year and another £13m by March 2027, admitting no liability. Grindr says the allegations concern data practices before 2020, when the app was owned by China's Kunlun.
An internal Microsoft email from January 2003, later made public through litigation records, shows Bill Gates recounting a frustrating attempt to download Windows Movie Maker and a Digital Plus pack from Microsoft's own website. Gates described slow load times, a confusing list of 45 unfiltered download options, failed searches for 'moviemaker' and 'movie maker,' and being redirected to Windows Update just to find the software.
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