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Senate approves billions for US semiconductor manufacturing

After months of political jockeying and procedural hurdles, the Senate approved a massive science and technology bill Tuesday to boost US competitiveness with China. The bill invests billions into emerging technology industries like artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and quantum computing in the US. The bill — titled the US Innovation and Competition Act or USICA —… Read more

Taiwan Chip Packaging Hub Halts Production After COVID-19 Outbreak

Home News (Image credit: King Yuan Electronics) King Yuan Electronics, a top 10 outsourced semiconductor assembly and test (OSAT) contractor in the world, announced Friday that it is halting production for two days after several employees were tested positive for COVID-19. A two-day shutdown shouldn’t devastate the market, but amid an ongoing chip shortage — largely stemming… Read more

Biden’s proposed budget keeps a block on recreational weed sales in Washington, DC

A rider that has effectively blocked recreational cannabis for years in Washington, DC appears in President Joe Biden’s proposed 2022 budget, which may keep weed on the back burner yet again. Even though residents of DC voted to legalize possession of recreational marijuana in 2014, the measure has been in limbo since then, derailed by… Read more

Record Store Day 2021’s official beer is available today – and it’s for charity

Home News (Image credit: Meantime, Record Store Day) Record Store Day 2021, which brings together over 250 independent record shops across the UK, is gearing up for two big drops on Saturday 12th June and Saturday 17th July. And for the first time, Meantime Brewing Company is proud to become the ‘Official Beer Partner’ for… Read more

Paramount Plus will launch its cheaper $5 plan next week

Paramount Plus is set to introduce a new ad-supported plan on Monday that will cost just $5 per month — half the price of its more premium plan. The primary difference between what the service is calling its “essential” plan and the more expensive commercial-free plan — besides the addition of ads — is some… Read more

Google Pixel Buds A-Series review: price is everything

The new Pixel Buds A are available in a dark green color The $99 Pixel Buds are a better buy than their pricier predecessors With the new, awkwardly named Pixel Buds A-Series, Google is trying to do more than merely introduce a much cheaper set of true wireless earbuds: the company wants to get it… Read more

Nvidia’s RTX 3080 Ti is available online right now

The Nvidia TX 3080 Ti is here, at least for those lucky enough to find one. Announced earlier this week alongside the forthcoming RTX 3070 Ti, the 3080 Ti serves as the pricier successor to the GeForce RTX 3080, an excellent graphics card that made 4K gaming that much more affordable and exemplified just how… Read more

Ring adds new public way for agencies to request video clips in Neighbors app

Ring is adjusting how public agencies such as police and fire departments are able to request video clips from Ring camera owners in its Neighbors app. Starting next week, agencies will only be able to request clips be sent to them through public posts that are viewable in the app’s main feed; they will no… Read more

Eufy’s new battery-powered security cameras have local storage and don’t require a hub

Eufy, the Anker-owned smart home brand, is announcing a new SoloCam line of battery-powered security cameras that have local storage and are designed to operate without connecting to a separate hub. The new lineup will include two “Essential” (standard) cameras, two spotlight cameras, and one solar-powered camera. The standard and spotlight SoloCams will be offered… Read more

I broke off a tiny piece of the world with a self-flying drone

With photogrammetry, hundreds of still photos can be transformed into an incredibly realistic 3D model of a real place on Earth — assuming you capture them all. This Memorial Day weekend, a self-flying robot cameraman did that entire job for me. I simply designated where to fly and where not to fly, kicked back in… Read more

The Great Wings Rush

It was March 2020, and restaurants across the country were shutting down, setting up takeout windows, or doing whatever they could to absorb the shock of COVID. But it was Chuck E. Cheese, of all places, that had the foresight and steely clarity to see not just what the new era required, but what it… Read more

AMD Brings Radeon RX 6000M GPUs to ‘AMD Advantage’ Laptop Designs

Home News (Image credit: AMD) AMD introduced its new Radeon RX 6000M-series laptop graphics at Computex, during a keynote by AMD’s CEO, Dr. Lisa Su. The new mobile graphics lineup is made up of the top-end AMD Radeon RX 6800M, a mid-range RX 6700M and the entry level RX 6600M. For now at least, the… Read more

Philips Fidelio X3 Wired Open-Back Headphones Review

Introduction Soon after my quick look at the Philips PH805 headphones was published, news came of the company releasing a successor to the wildly successful Fidelio X2/X2HR in the form of the new Fidelio X3. My local contact sought to make sure I covered the product here, and we all know what happened next. Months… Read more

Hands On: Acer’s RGB-Everything Predator Helios 500 Is a Disco Gaming Animal

Home News (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) It’s been a couple of years now since Acer overhauled its big-screen Helios 500 desktop replacement rig. But the laptop is back in a 17-inch shell that’s a bit of a departure from the 2018 model . As expected, it brings current top-end 11th Gen Intel/Nvidia components, plus perhaps… Read more

TSMC: No Plans to Halt Ops as Second Employee Confirmed with COVID-19

Home News (Image credit: TSMC) Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. this week confirmed that a second worker has tested positive for the COVID-19 disease, but stressed that this would not affect its operations. As reported by Taiwan News. The company has completed disinfection of employee’s workspace, disinfected public areas, traced any contacts that the worker may have… Read more