ICT news

• Datacenters Line Up For 750MW of Oklo's Nuclear-Waste-Powered Small Reactors

  15-11-2024 02:25 via hardware.slashdot.org
  
  Datacenter operators are increasingly turning to small modular reactors (SMRs) like those developed by Oklo to meet growing energy demands. According to The Register, Oklo has secured commitments from two major datacenter providers for 750 MW of power, pending regulatory approvals. It brings the firm's planned nuclear build-out to 2.1 gigawatts. From the report: Oklo's designs are, from what we understand, inspired by the Experimental Breeder Reactor II (EBR-II) and utilize liquid-metal cooling.
  
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• Open Source Fights Back: 'We Won't Get Patent-Trolled Again'

  15-11-2024 11:00 via yro.slashdot.org
  
  ZDNet's Steven Vaughan-Nichols reports: [...] At KubeCon North America 2024 this week, CNCF executive director Priyanka Sharma said in her keynote, "Patent trolls are not contributors or even adopters in our ecosystem. Instead, they prey on cloud-native adopters by abusing the legal system. We are here to tell the world that these patent trolls don't stand a chance because CNCF is uniting the ecosystem to deter them. Like a herd of musk oxen, we will run them off our pasture." CNCF CTO Chris Ani
  
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• Rocket Lab Signs First Neutron Launch Customer

  15-11-2024 08:00 via science.slashdot.org
  
  Rocket Lab says it has signed the first customer for its Neutron launch vehicle, with a launch planned for mid-2025. SpaceNews reports: The company announced Nov. 12 that it signed a contract with an undisclosed "commercial satellite constellation operator" for two launches of Neutron, one in mid-2026 and the other in 2027, a deal that could lead to additional launches for the same customer. "We see this agreement as an important opportunity that signifies the beginning of a productive collabora
  
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• Half-Life 2 Celebrates 20th Anniversary

  15-11-2024 04:30 via games.slashdot.org
  
  Each day leading up through the 16th (the official day Half-Life 2 was launched), Ars Technica will be publishing a new article looking back at the game and its impact. Here's an excerpt from an article published today by Ars Technica's Kyle Orland: When millions of eager gamers first installed Half-Life 2 20 years ago, many, if not most, of them found they needed to install another piece of software alongside it. Few at the time could imagine that piece of companion software -- with the pithy n
  
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• Meet Evo, the DNA-trained AI That Creates Genomes From Scratch

  15-11-2024 03:02 via science.slashdot.org
  
  sciencehabit shares a report from Science Magazine: What if, rather than scouring the internet, ChatGPT could search all of the DNA on Earth? That future just got a bit closer with Evo, an AI model reported today in Science. The program -- trained on billions of lines of genetic sequences -- can design new proteins and even whole genomes. Previous AIs could only interpret and predict relatively short sections of DNA, and they could only work with groups of nucleotides -- the A, C, G, T alphabet
  
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• Google Loses Yet Another AI Pioneer As Keras Creator Leaves

  15-11-2024 01:45 via tech.slashdot.org
  
  Francois Chollet, an AI pioneer and creator of the Keras framework, announced that he's leaving Google to co-found a new company. Neowin reports: In his parting message, Chollet assured that he would still be active with Keras and participate in its development on GitHub. His successor, Jeff Carpenter, will now lead Keras at Google, and Chollet expressed his full confidence in the team's future direction.Keras has come a long way since Chollet released it in 2015, initially as a high-level neura
  
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• Teen Pleads Guilty To Making 375 'Swatting' Calls Across US

  15-11-2024 01:02 via yro.slashdot.org
  
  quonset shares a report from CNN: Between August 2022 and January 2024, hundreds of swatting calls were made across the country targeting religious institutions, government offices, schools, and random people. Authorities were finally able to track down the criminal, Alan Fillon, who entered the plea to four counts of making interstate threats to injure the person of another, the US Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida said in a news release. He faces up to five years in prison o
  
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• OpenMP 6.0 Released

  15-11-2024 00:20 via developers.slashdot.org
  
  Phoronix's Michael Larabel reports: The OpenMP Architecture Review Board announced from SC24 that OpenMP 6.0 is now available as a major upgrade to the OpenMP specification for multi-process programming within C / C++ / Fortran. A big emphasis on OpenMP 6.0 is making it easier for developers to embrace. OpenMP 6.0 aims to make it easier to support parallel programming in new applications, easier to adapt to new use-cases, and more fine-grained developer control.OpenMP 6.0 simplifies task program
  
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• ChatGPT For macOS Now Works With Third-Party Apps, Including Apple's Xcode

  14-11-2024 23:40 via apple.slashdot.org
  
  An update to OpenAI's ChatGPT app for macOS adds integration with third-party apps, including developer tools such as VS Code, Terminal, iTerm2 and Apple's Xcode. 9to5Mac reports: In a demo seen by 9to5Mac, ChatGPT was able to understand code from an Xcode project and then provide code suggestions without the user having to manually copy and paste content into the ChatGPT app. It can even read content from more than one app at the same time, which is very useful for working with developer tools.
  
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• Japanese Government To Invest $65 Billion To Support Domestic Chip Sector

  14-11-2024 23:00 via yro.slashdot.org
  
  An anonymous reader quotes a report from Data Center Dynamics: The Japanese government is planning to invest approximately $65 billion to support the country's semiconductor and AI industries. The initiative, which will run until the end of the decade, is expected to generate ~$104 billion in public and private investment during the period. According to a report from Reuters, this new round of funding will specifically target state-backed chip foundry Rapidus and other AI chip suppliers.Rapidus
  
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• Academic Papers Yanked After Authors Found To Have Used Unlicensed Software

  14-11-2024 22:22 via science.slashdot.org
  
  An academic journal has retracted two papers because it determined their authors used unlicensed software. The Register: Elsevier's Ain Shams Engineering Journal withdrew two papers exploring dam failures after complaints from Flow Science, the Santa Fe, New Mexico-based maker of a computational fluid dynamics application called FLOW-3D.
  "Following an editorial investigation as a result of a complaint from the software distributor, the authors admitted that the use of professional software, FLOW
  
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• US Regulators Plan To Investigate Microsoft's Cloud Business

  14-11-2024 21:41 via news.slashdot.org
  
  The Federal Trade Commission is preparing to launch an investigation into anti-competitive practices at Microsoft's cloud computing business, Financial Times reported Thursday, as the US regulator continues to pursue Big Tech in the final weeks of Joe Biden's presidency. From the report: The FTC is examining allegations that Microsoft is abusing its market power in productivity software by imposing punitive licensing terms to prevent customers from moving their data from its Azure cloud service
  
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• Microsoft Releases Windows 11 ISOs for Arm64-based PCs

  14-11-2024 21:01 via tech.slashdot.org
  
  An anonymous reader shares a report: After dragging its feet for years, Microsoft has finally released the first official Windows 11 ISOs for PCs with an Arm64 processor. This means users can now clean install Windows 11 using official offline media on an Arm64-based PC, including the latest Snapdragon X Copilot+ PCs.
  The ISOs contain version 24H2 can be downloaded from the official Microsoft website, and are around 5GB in size depending on the language you select. According to the company, the
  
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• Second Life for Server Components

  14-11-2024 20:24 via it.slashdot.org
  
  Scientists have developed a method to reuse components from decommissioned data center servers, potentially reducing the carbon footprint of cloud computing infrastructure.
  The research team from Microsoft, Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Washington demonstrated that older RAM modules and solid-state drives can be safely repurposed in new server builds without compromising performance, according to papers presented at recent computer architecture conferences.
  When combined with
  
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• Researchers Are Trying To Reinvent the Wheel

  14-11-2024 19:42 via science.slashdot.org
  
  South Korean researchers have developed a "morphing" wheel that can navigate stairs and obstacles up to 1.3 times its radius, potentially revolutionizing mobility devices and robotics.
  The wheel, created by the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM), features a chain-based outer hoop and sensor-controlled spoke wires that adjust stiffness based on terrain. Inspired by water droplet mechanics, it transitions between solid and fluid states when encountering impediments.Read more of this
  
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• Google Rolls Out Call Screening AI To Thwart Phone Fraudsters

  14-11-2024 19:01 via tech.slashdot.org
  
  Google is rolling out AI-powered scam call detection for Android phones, aiming to protect users from increasingly sophisticated phone fraud schemes. The new feature, available in beta for Pixel 6 and newer devices, analyzes conversation patterns in real-time to identify potential scams. When suspicious patterns emerge, such as urgently requesting fund transfers, the system alerts users through audio, haptic, and visual warnings.
  The detection system operates entirely on-device using Google's ma
  
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• Trust in Science Recovers Slightly, But Remains Below Pre-Pandemic Levels

  14-11-2024 18:21 via science.slashdot.org
  
  Public trust in scientists is showing signs of recovery, according to a new Pew Research Center survey, though levels remain below pre-pandemic highs. The October 2024 study, which surveyed 9,593 U.S. adults, reveals that 76% of Americans have "a great deal" or "a fair amount" of confidence in scientists' commitment to public interests -- a modest increase from 73% in 2023, but still short of the 87% recorded in early 2020.
  The survey -- whose results were released Thursday [PDF] -- also highlig
  
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• AMD To Lay Off 4% of Workforce, or About 1,000 Employees

  14-11-2024 17:41 via slashdot.org
  
  AMD has announced plans to cut 4% of its global workforce as it repositions to compete in the AI chip market dominated by Nvidia. The layoffs will affect approximately 1,040 employees of its 26,000-strong workforce reported at the end of 2023. CNBC adds: AMD produces powerful AI accelerators for data centers, including the MI300X, which companies such as Meta and Microsoft purchase as an alternative to Nvidia-based systems. But Nvidia dominates the market for powerful AI chips, with over 80% mar
  
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• Apple Launches Final Cut Pro 11, the First Version Change in 13 Years

  14-11-2024 17:01 via apple.slashdot.org
  
  Apple released Final Cut Pro 11 this week, marking the first major version change in over a decade for its professional video editing software. The update introduces several AI-powered features, including a new "Magnetic Mask" function that automatically tracks objects through video clips for targeted color grading and effects.
  The suite now offers on-device automatic caption generation for dialogue tracks and adds support for spatial video editing compatible with Apple Vision Pro. Users can adj
  
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• JPL To Cut 5% of Workforce, Its Third Layoff This Year

  14-11-2024 16:20 via science.slashdot.org
  
  An anonymous reader writes: JPL in California announced this week a layoff of 325 workers, about 5% of its workforce, the third major layoff imposed this year.
  The JPL press release indicates the layoffs are because of NASA budget cutbacks, but does not provide any specificity. The cause centers mostly around NASA's decision to pause its Mars Sample Return project, which JPL was leading. From this report: This is the third round of layoffs at JPL this year, a reduction spurred primarily by major
  
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• CFPB Looks To Place Google Under Federal Supervision

  14-11-2024 15:39 via news.slashdot.org
  
  Washington Post: The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has taken steps to place Google under formal federal supervision, an extraordinary move that could subject the technology giant to the regular inspections and other rigorous monitoring that the government imposes on major banks.
  Google has fiercely resisted the idea over months of highly secretive talks, according to two people familiar with the discussions, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe them -- setting up what may u
  
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• Meta Fined $840 Million For Breaching EU Antitrust Rules

  14-11-2024 14:50 via tech.slashdot.org
  
  The European Union has fined Meta $840 million for unfairly tying its Facebook Marketplace classified ads service to its social network, marking the company's first EU antitrust penalty.
  The European Commission ruled Meta must stop bundling Marketplace with Facebook's social platform and cease imposing unfair conditions on competing classified ads services. Regulators found Meta exploited Facebook's massive user base to disadvantage rivals and used competitors' advertising data to enhance Market
  
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• Apple Faces UK 'iCloud Monopoly' Compensation Claim Worth $3.8 Million

  14-11-2024 14:00 via yro.slashdot.org
  
  An anonymous reader quotes a report from TechCrunch: U.K. consumer rights group 'Which?' is filing a legal claim against Apple under competition law on behalf of some 40 million users of iCloud, its cloud storage service. The collective proceeding lawsuit, which is seeking 3 billion pounds in compensation damages (around $3.8 billion at current exchange rates), alleges that Apple has broken competition rules by giving its own cloud storage service preferential treatment and effectively locking p
  
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• Apple Faces UK 'iCloud Monopoly' Compensation Claim Worth $3.8 Billion

  14-11-2024 14:00 via yro.slashdot.org
  
  An anonymous reader quotes a report from TechCrunch: U.K. consumer rights group 'Which?' is filing a legal claim against Apple under competition law on behalf of some 40 million users of iCloud, its cloud storage service. The collective proceeding lawsuit, which is seeking 3 billion pounds in compensation damages (around $3.8 billion at current exchange rates), alleges that Apple has broken competition rules by giving its own cloud storage service preferential treatment and effectively locking p
  
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• Missed Deadlines Lead People To Judge Work More Harshly, Study Says

  14-11-2024 11:00 via science.slashdot.org
  
  A new study reveals that late work is judged more negatively than on-time submissions, even if delays are minimal or pre-communicated. "The findings suggest that, while you might be tempted to take the maximum allotted time to put the finishing touches to a report, submission or piece of work, the extra effort might not be appreciated by colleagues if it comes at the expense of punctual delivery," reports The Guardian. From the report: The study surveyed thousands of people in the US and UK, inc
  
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• Experts Testify US Is Running Secret UAP Programs

  14-11-2024 08:00 via entertainment.slashdot.org
  
  During a public joint hearing today titled "Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Exposing the Truth," four experts testified that the U.S. is running secret UAP programs, including crash retrieval and reverse-engineering programs for advanced nonhuman technology. Although the Pentagon maintains there's no evidence of alien spacecraft, witnesses like Luis Elizondo and Michael Gold argue that UAPs represent an intelligence enigma and call for open, stigma-free study to address potential security conc
  
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• IBM Boosts the Amount of Computation You Can Get Done On Quantum Hardware

  14-11-2024 04:30 via tech.slashdot.org
  
  An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: There's a general consensus that we won't be able to consistently perform sophisticated quantum calculations without the development of error-corrected quantum computing, which is unlikely to arrive until the end of the decade. It's still an open question, however, whether we could perform limited but useful calculations at an earlier point. IBM is one of the companies that's betting the answer is yes, and on Wednesday, it announced a series
  
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• Wi-Fi 8 Trades Speed For a More Reliable Experience

  14-11-2024 02:40 via mobile.slashdot.org
  
  Wi-Fi 8 (also known as IEEE 802.11bn Ultra High Reliability) is expected to arrive around 2028, prioritizing an enhanced user experience over speed by optimizing interactions between devices and access points. While it retains similar bandwidth specifications as the previous standard, Wi-Fi 8 aims to improve network efficiency, reducing interference and congestion for a more reliable and adaptive connection. PCWorld's Mark Hachman reports: As of Nov. 2024, MediaTek believes that Wi-Fi 8 will loo
  
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• FBI Seizes Polymarket CEO's Phone, Electronics After Betting Platform Predicts Trump Win

  14-11-2024 02:00 via politics.slashdot.org
  
  The FBI raided Polymarket CEO Shayne Coplan's Manhattan apartment, seizing his phone and electronic devices. A source close to the matter told The New York Post it was politically motivated due to Polymarket's successful prediction of Trump's election win. It's "grand political theater at its worst," the source said. "They could have asked his lawyer for any of these things. Instead, they staged a so-called raid so they can leak it to the media and use it for obvious political reasons."Although
  
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• Bluesky Crosses the 15 Million User Mark

  14-11-2024 01:20 via tech.slashdot.org
  
  Bluesky has reached 15 million users, driven by a recent surge in U.S. signups following the presidential election. It's currently the top free app on iOS. The Verge reports: The platform, which rests on the decentralized AT Protocol, added about a million new users in the last week. Bluesky COO Rose Wang recently told The Verge that the "majority" of new users flocking to the platform have been from the US. Meta's Threads is still outpacing Bluesky, having recently hit 275 million monthly users
  
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