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The Una Watch, previously offered for $350 during its Kickstarter campaign, is now priced at $199. It features a 1.2-inch MIP LCD display, up to 10 days of battery life, and an open-source design covering its SDK, housing, and circuit boards, allowing users to repair or modify it themselves.
Alibaba introduced a new, more powerful AI chip as part of its strategy to control both the hardware and software underlying its artificial intelligence efforts. The company also outlined plans to build larger AI models going forward.
Apple has refreshed the Mac mini for the first time in nearly two years, keeping its compact design but adding an M6 chip and notable performance gains. The base price has jumped from $599 to $899, a hike attributed largely to rising component costs driven by AI-related demand.
Certified refurbished electronics, ranging from laptops to networking gear, can offer substantial savings for professionals building out a workspace, often at 40% to 60% below retail prices. The savings come without meaningfully sacrificing performance, provided buyers know which categories of hardware hold up well after refurbishment and which don't.
Researchers from Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou) and Hong Kong Polytechnic University unveiled InjectEave, a method that beams low-frequency electromagnetic signals at devices to trigger leaks through their nonlinear analog components, such as amplifiers and converters. In tests on 11 commercial products, including Sony, Apple and Philips headphones and a VoIP phone, the technique reconstructed intelligible audio from as far as 30 meters, even through walls, using off-the-shelf radio and antenna equipment.
In an interview with TechRadar, Apple's new VP of Hardware Engineering Tom Marieb described the design choices behind iPhone Duo's foldable hinge and display. He said the matte, nano-textured screen was chosen partly to disguise crease visibility over time, while the hinge's torque was carefully tuned to feel solid, like a high-end car door, even when held half-open.
Custom hardware maker Tru Narla has built a compass-like device that ignores magnetic north and instead orients itself toward the nearest Taco Bell location. The project uses GPS and directional hardware, repurposing skills common in cyberpunk-style DIY electronics for a playful, consumer-friendly gadget.
Canadian retro hardware enthusiast DiscoStarslayer has successfully reverse-engineered and dumped the CXP102064 MechaCon chip found in the original 1999 PlayStation 2 console. The process involved chemically decapping the chip to expose its die, then using microscopes and optical dumping techniques before a software exploit finally allowed extraction of its data. The entire effort took four years to complete.
Apple has classified the 2019 21.5-inch iMac with Retina 4K display as vintage worldwide, following last month's addition of three MacBook models to the same list. The designation applies to products discontinued for more than five but less than seven years.
Jiga, a Y Combinator-backed startup from the Winter 2021 batch, announced it is hiring a Product Engineer who can work remotely within the US. The company builds software aimed at streamlining custom manufacturing workflows for hardware parts used in industries like aerospace, robotics, and data centers.
Initial reviews of Valve's Steam Frame VR headset highlight strong build quality and performance, positioning it as a capable standalone device for PC and VR gaming. However, reviewers consistently point to its steep price tag as a significant barrier for mainstream adoption.
The Interim Computer Museum (ICM) has opened a web presence detailing its mission to preserve computing history through interactive, hands-on exhibits that combine vintage hardware with modern upgrades. The nonprofit operates as a 501(c)(3) charity working alongside SDF Public Access UNIX System, Inc., a 501(c)(7) membership organization, relying on memberships to fund events, remote access and artifact preservation.