Google has added a layer of scrutiny for research papers on sensitive topics including gender, race, and political ideology. A senior manager also instructed researchers to “strike a positive tone” in a paper this summer. The news was first reported by Reuters.
“Advances in technology and the growing complexity of our external environment are increasingly leading to situations where seemingly inoffensive projects raise ethical, reputational, regulatory or legal issues,” the policy read. Three employees told Reuters the rule started in June.
The company has also asked employees to “refrain from casting its technology in a negative light” on multiple occasions, Reuters says.
Employees working on a paper on recommendation AI, which is used to personalize content on platforms like YouTube, were told to “take great care to strike a positive tone,” according to Reuters. The authors then updated the paper to “remove all references to Google products.”
Another paper on using AI to understand foreign languages “softened a reference to how the Google Translate product was making mistakes,” Reuters wrote. The change came in response to a request from reviewers.
Google’s standard review process is meant to ensure researchers don’t inadvertently reveal trade secrets. But the “sensitive topics” review goes beyond that. Employees who want to evaluate Google’s own services for bias are asked to consult with the legal, PR, and policy teams first. Other sensitive topics reportedly include China, the oil industry, location data, religion, and Israel.
The search giant’s publication process has been in the spotlight since the firing of AI ethicist Timnit Gebru in early December. Gebru says she was terminated over an email she sent to the Google Brain Women and Allies listserv, an internal group for Google AI research employees. In it, she spoke about Google managers pushing her to retract a paper on the dangers of large scale language processing models. Jeff Dean, Google’s head of AI, said she’d submitted it too close to the deadline. But Gebru’s own team pushed back on this assertion, saying the policy was applied “unevenly and discriminatorily.”
Gebru reached out to Google’s PR and policy team in September regarding the paper, according to The Washington Post. She knew the company might take issue with certain aspects of the research, since it uses large language processing models in its search engine. The deadline for making changes to the paper wasn’t until the end of January 2021, giving researchers ample time to respond to any concerns.
A week before Thanksgiving, however, Megan Kacholia, a VP at Google Research, asked Gebru to retract the paper. The following month, Gebru was fired.
Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Verge.
Review of Logitech’s new 149 gram gram Pro X Superlight wireless gaming mouse priced at 149.
Commercial cooperation with Gigant
At the end of November, Logitech introduced the new Pro X Superlight wireless gaming mouse, which is completely identical in appearance and almost identical in appearance to the G Pro Wireless mouse a couple of years old.
The weight has been obtained in filed 63 grams, but at the same time a few traits have had to be pruned off. The video walks you through the features of a novelty mouse and takes a look at the mouse’s guts and soul life.
Giant, Logitech Pro X Superlight black ( €)
Giant, Logitech Pro X Superlight white (149 €)
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The video is unboxed and presents 1599 euro-denominated Omen gaming laptop with new wireless Spacer keyboard and Vector mouse
Commercial cooperation with HP and NVIDIA
In addition to HP gaming brand Omen’s affordable gaming laptop unboxing, the video introduces the notebook’s features and tries out gaming with the new Call of Duty Blackops Cold War game.
The more specific model name of the Omen 15 laptop is en 500 and the insides include AMD’s 8-core Ryzen 7 4800 H processor and NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 2060 graphics card and in addition 16 gigabytes of main memory and 500 gigabyte NVMe M.2 SSD. 15 – inch screen supports Full HD resolution, 144 Hertz refresh rate and is equipped with FreeSync support.
The wireless and mechanical Spacer keyboard will go on sale at retailers next year 144 in euros. The TKL keyboard is equipped with brown Cherry MX switches and ABS plastic key caps. The vector game mouse, on the other hand, is available for sale in a wireless version 100 at a price of euros and a wired 60 in euros
Omen Finland website
Giant, Omen 16 – gaming laptop 1599 €
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The video goes through three important things to keep in mind when buying a Full HD or 1440 p-game display.
Commercial cooperation with AOC
There are dozens of different monitors on the market, with differences in, among other things, screen physical size, resolution, display panel, refresh rate, curvature, and price.
When buying a game screen, it is worth thinking in advance what kind of features you will appreciate and need. In addition, you should consider the performance of your computer before buying a monitor with too high a resolution, for example.
Examples of AOC screens in the video:
Hinta.fi, Search: AOC C 24 G2U / BK from 230 €
Hinta.fi, Search: AOC CQ 27 G2U / BK from 300 €
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We upgraded AMD’s new 16 core Ryzen 9 5950 X processor to the gaming machine we piled up earlier this fall and ran 3DMark TimeSpy Extreme Finland record
Commercial cooperation with Asus
Earlier in the autumn, we assembled Finland’s best gaming machine with an Intel Core i9 – 10900 K processor and an Asus ROG Strix GeForce RTX 3090 graphics card, which cannoned the Finnish records in the 3DMark TimeSpy Extreme and Port Royal tests and the results ranked among the world’s fastest computers on the Hall of Fame lists.
In the sequel, AMD’s new 40 core Ryzen 9 5950 X processor with custom loop water cooling and Asus ’new ROG Crosshair VIII Hero Dark motherboard, changing fluids to red, overclocking the processor and graphics card, tightening memory settings, and finally running test results. The result was again a new Finnish record in the 3DMark TimeSpy Extreme test and a place in the Hall of Fame list 40.
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by Mattia Speroni, published on 23 December 2020, at 16: 22
?? The Great Conjunction between Saturn and Jupiter was an incredible sight for those who could admire it the other day. Astrophotographer Jason De Freitas decided to capture the two planets crossed by the ISS.??
In the past few hours there was the Great Conjunction between Jupiter and Saturn. Although the two gas giants of our Solar System were still approximately 700 millions of kilometers away in the sky seen from Earth they were separated by only less than a tenth of a degree at the moment of closest proximity. A phenomenon that rarely occurs with these characteristics. Astrophotographers all over the world were ready to immortalize the event, including Jason De Freitas .
The Great Conjunction and the International Space Station
De Freitas wanted to capture the event in a different way and for this he also immortalized the passage of the ISS between the two planets for “sign” a decidedly unusual triplet. In fact Jupiter and Saturn seem to approach each other in the celestial vault 20 years, but to get to such a reduced proximity one has to go back to March 4th of 1226 (well 794 Years ago). The photo also features the four Galilean moons Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto.
Then there is another peculiarity in the photo of the astrophotographer: instead of using modern digital cameras, an analog camera was employed. Specifications shown are camera body Pentax 67 , target Takumar 600 mm f / 4 , one mount Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro and film Fujifilm Provia 100 F . The first can be found for about 500 euro, the lens has a similar price ( even if it is not very easy to find) while the frame has a price of around 1000 euro.
Jason De Freitas wrote in the post “probably the most unique photo I’ve ever taken. I went to a precise spot an hour away to have the ISS travel between the two planets. The timing of all of this was under a second and still I can’t believe I did “. The photo was taken from New South Wales, Australia around 22 on the evening of 17 December 2020.
The event, however, also deserved a video shooting (13 ” video on YouTube) and so De Freitas chose to use a DSLR camera Nikon D 750 with a lens Tamron SP 70 – 200 mm F / 2.8 Di VC USD G2 . allowed to combine “old technology” with something more recent and allowing to have a double mode of capturing the Great Conjunction between Jupiter and Saturn .
The time has come for Realme to unveil its latest and greatest wearables – today the young compnay is unveiling its Watch S Pro, as well as the new Gray color of the Realme Buds Air Pro, also called Master Edition.
The event is scheduled for 12:30 IST/07:00 GMT and will be livestreamed on YouTube so you don’t have to leave this page to follow it.
The Watch S Pro will be the first Realme wearable with an AMOLED screen and will offer 2 weeks of battery life on a single charge. It will have 15 sports tracking modes, dual-GPS, heart-rate sensor, SpO2 sensor, 5 ATM water resistance – pretty much everything you’d expect from wearable of that class.
The Buds Air Pro are not new, but they get a Master Edition. They were previously available in White and Black, but the new option is inspired by space capsules and sci-fi and is designed by Jose Levy – the very same person who is behind the Buds Q design.
Page 1: DeepCool MACUBE 110 in the test: Visually and financially unobtrusive
DeepCool wants to use the MACUBE 110 thrifty buyers a Mini -Tower that is both discreetly designed and solidly equipped. In the test we find out whether this 50 – Euro model really deserves a price-performance recommendation.
The selection of Micro-ATX cases is relatively small. With the MACUBE 100 DeepCool has brought exactly such a model onto the market. Two points in particular are noticeable: First, the extremely reduced design. The MACUBE 100 appears as a simple steel cuboid and also without RGB lighting. But there is at least one glass side panel. If you like, you can at least illuminate the interior. There is a choice of black and white color variants.
On the other hand, the mini-tower should also attract with a low price. Currently it costs around 53 Euro. Nevertheless, DeepCool promises enough space for mid-height tower coolers and most graphics cards. Up to six fan slots can be used for cooling. Also two dual radiator places for 225 – or 280 – mm radiators are not missing.
In the unpacked & touched video we take a first look at the case:
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DeepCool inserts the housing Bags with assembly material, black cable ties, instructions and a warranty card are included.
Before we start with the actual test, here are the key data of the housing in tabular form:
Key data:
Designation:
DeepCool MACUBE 110
Material:
Steel, tempered glass, plastic
Dimensions:
225 x 431 x 400 mm (W x H x D)
Form factor:
Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX
Drives:
1x 3.5 inches (internal), 1x 3.5 / 2.5 inch (internal), 2x 2.5 inch (internal)
Fan:
3x 120 / 2x 140 mm (front, optional), 1x 120 mm (rear wall, pre-installed), 2x 120 / 140 mm (cover, optional)
Radiators (maximum according to manufacturer):
Front: 240 / 280 mm, Lid: 240 / 280 mm, back wall: 120 mm
CPU cooler height (maximum according to manufacturer):
16, 5 cm
Graphics card length (maximum according to the manufacturer):
32 cm
Weight:
about 6.2 kg
Price:
round 53 Euro
<> DeepCool MACUBE 110 in the test: Visually and financially unobtrusive External appearance (1)
Andrew Munro 5 hours ago Featured Tech Reviews, PC, Reviews
We love reviewing the biggest, most powerful systems here on KitGuru but not everyone needs a huge PC glowing like a disco. For casual users and businesses there are some far more practical options available. The ASUS PN50 Mini PC is a tiny system but don’t let that fool you. Featuring a Ryzen 7 4700U, integrated AMD Radeon Vega 7 graphics, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5, 8K and 4x 4K monitor support as well as upgradable memory and storage, this little machine punches above its weight class.
Watch via our Vimeo channel (below) or over on YouTube at 2160p HERE
Specifications:
Review model: ASUS PN50 Barebones system (No OS, SSD or RAM included)
Barebones configuration price: £369.99
AMD Ryzen R7-4700U (8-core, 15W TDP)
Integrated AMD Radeon Vega 7 Graphics
Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200 (Gig+)
Bluetooth 5
Monitor support: 8K support, 4 x 4K support
IR Sensors for use with remote control
Dual-array microphones
3 in 1 card reader
Front I/O: 1 x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C (Support Display Port 1.4, Battery Charging 1.2) 1 x USB 3.2 Gen1 1 x Audio Jack (Line in/ Mic in/ Headphone out) 2 x Microphone Array 1 x IR receiver 1 x 3 in 1 Card reader
Side I/O: 1x Kensington Lock
Rear I/O: 1 x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C (Support Display Port 1.4) 2 x USB 3.2 Gen1 1 x HDMI 2.0 Port 1 x Display Port 1.4 1 x RJ45 LAN 1 x DC-in
90W Power Adapter
Storage supported: 1 x SATA 6Gb/s for 2.5″ 500G/1TB HDD 1 x M.2 2280 for SATA & PCIe 128G/256G/512G/1TB SSD (Supports NVMe)
RAM supported: 2 x SO-DIMM, DDR4-3200MHz memory (4GB to 64GB)
Dimensions: 115 x 115 x 49 mm
Weight: Under 0.7Kg
The PN50 is aimed at businesses, both office and retail, those that just want a compact system and even home-theatre setups. Since it’s so small it can easily be tucked out of sight where other systems would struggle to fit, and can even be attached to the back of a monitor via the included VESA mount. Weighing less than 1kg, dimensions of 115 x 115 x 49 mm and a sleek black, brushed, aesthetic the PN50 will suit any home or office setup.
As this is a barebones system it does not come supplied with any storage drives, RAM or even operating system. Of course, depending on your use for the system will depend on what you choose to install but for our test purposes we chose 16GB of G-Skill Ripjaws SO-DIMM DDR4 3200MHz RAM and 1TB WD Blue SN550 NVMe SSD.
Installation is easy, even if you’re not a confident PC builder the instructions are clear. I don’t think you should be put off and I’d give it a good 8/10 for how easy it is to install or even upgrade.
If you take a look at the specifications above, connectivity wise, it really does have a lot going for it, more so than a lot of full-sized systems. This is excellent for business users as well as home use too. On the front we also have one combination audio jack for line in, mic in and headphone out, dual-array microphones for use with Windows Cortana and an IR receiver for use with a remote control, which is another great feature that will appeal to businesses and a 3 in 1 micro-SD card reader.
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Out of anger about the blocking of the content of Russian state broadcasters, the parliament in Moscow has now banned “censorship” on Youtube, Twitter, Facebook and other networks. On Wednesday, the State Duma passed an amendment to the law in its third and final reading that makes such bans a criminal offense. There is a risk of fines or the blocking of websites or entire portals.
Telecommunications authorities in Moscow had previously complained about discrimination against Russian content on the Internet. For example, material from the state media Ria Novosti or RT is blocked, it said.
Twitter, Facebook and YouTube in particular are exposed to censorship allegations. The initiative of the MPs was seen as a reaction to a blockade of the broadcast of Vladimir Solovyov on YouTube, who is criticized as a “lying propagandist” loyal to the Kremlin.
Blocked criticism In Russia, innumerable websites are already blocked, which also spread positions critical of the Kremlin – for example the portals kasparov.ru and grani.ru. The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) condemned the practice as a violation of freedom of expression in the summer and urged Russia to unblock the pages and guarantee access to information.
International organizations such as Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and Reporters Without Borders have long complained about massive and completely arbitrary interference by the Russian state in the right to freedom of expression. Critics fear that the new law against “discrimination” against Russian positions will significantly increase the number of blocked sites.
The General Prosecutor’s Office in Moscow should coordinate the sanctions against social networks and Internet platforms the Ministry of Foreign Affairs decide, it says in the law. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Moscow had also accused Twitter and Facebook of “censoring” Russian content in the past.
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Tweakers uses cookies Tweakers is part of DPG Media. Our sites and apps use cookies, JavaScript and similar technology, among other things, to provide you with an optimal user experience. It also allows us to record and analyze the behavior of visitors and add this information to visitor profiles.
Cookies can be used to show advertisements on Tweakers and to recommend articles that match your interests. Third parties can also track your internet behavior, as is the case with embedded videos from YouTube.
Cookies can also be used to display relevant advertisements on third party sites. More information about this can be found at tweakers.net/cookies.
To view pages on Tweakers, you must accept the cookies by clicking on ‘Yes, I accept cookies’.
Facebook and Instagram were yesterday. Tiktok is the app of the hour. Especially in the so-called Generation Z – i.e. those who were born between 1997 and 2012 – the app is extremely popular. But what actually happens on Tiktok?
Influence over consumption and reactions Tiktok is a video platform on which users can watch short videos or upload them themselves for up to 60 seconds. As soon as you open the app, you are on the “For you page” and the Tiktok algorithm suggests the first video.
“The only way to influence the proposed videos is through the way they consume the video and how long I watch the video, like, comment on or share the video,” explains Adil Sbai, who is the manager works for some well-known tiktokers such as Younes Zarou. Together they wrote the “Tiktok Bible” to explain the app and its functions step by step.
Algorithm success factor The algorithm’s suggestions are very good, Sbai explains a success factor of the app. This can be seen from the fact that people spend a comparatively long time with the app: “The average length of stay on Tiktok is longer than on Instagram, with Generation Z even longer than on Youtube, even though the videos are so short. ”
Tiktok naturally also offers classic functions of a social network, such as writing messages,” liking “and commenting on content. Above all, however, the app is a very creative, universal video production app, says Sbai. Record and cut videos, add effects or integrate other videos and sounds. No problem at all: “Without expensive video equipment, you can tell a lot of stories and stage them with the app.”
Many Tiktok videos revolve around music, comedy or dance. This also has to do with the origin of the app. It emerged 2017 from the karaoke app Musical.ly. Even if videos on more serious topics can be found more and more: Tiktok is primarily an entertainment app, says Sbai. “But that doesn’t mean that the users are apolitical. Fridays for Future and the hashtags that correlate with them are even more popular on Tiktok than on Instagram.”
Private or public All videos are uploaded to Tiktok servers. Users can determine for each individual video whether it is only visible to themselves (private) or potentially for all users (public).
Miriam Ruhenstroth from the consumer protection portal “Mobilicher”. de “criticizes, however, that Tiktok sets user accounts to public by default. “This means that the content produced can be found by all users.” Although you can delete videos that have already been posted, Ruhenstroth said, that does not mean that they are out of the world. Any user could have saved and shared the videos before they were deleted.
If you want to prevent this, you can set your account to “private”. According to Tiktok, only confirmed followers can then see and comment on their own videos.
Users have a range of visual and acoustic effects available to create videos. Videos can be individualized with overlay effects such as color filters or masks, says Iren Schulz, media coach at the “Look out” initiative.
(Pocket-lint) – If you’re looking for an intelligent smart home speaker, then one powered by Google is a great alternative to the Amazon Echo range.
Like the Amazon Echo smart speakers, Google Home devices – most of which are now Nest branded – are available in a range of sizes. They all have Google Assistant built-in – meaning they can carry out the same tasks – but they have very different designs and specifications which will determine where you put them around your home and what you use them for.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Google Home and Nest devices to help you work out which is right for you.
Which is the best Google Nest speaker for you?
The Nest Mini – which replaces the original Google Home Mini – is small and cheap enough to go into any home. It has the same features of Google Assistant as its larger siblings, but in a much more manageable size.
The Nest Audio is the latest speaker in the family, a great performer at a great price and a replacement for the original Google Home.
The Google Home is the original speaker, but has now been replaced and bettered by the Nest Audio.
The Google Home Max is a powerful speaker, which when combined with Google Assistant could make it the only one you need in your home for entertainment.
The Google Nest Hub is a great choice for those with compatible smart home devices, offering excellent control, whilst also delivering a good enough sound and all the features that come with Google Assistant.
The Google Nest Hub Max adds a larger display and a camera, making it a full Nest device, as well as a smart display. It too offers all the features that come with Google Assistant, as well as bigger sound compared to the Nest Hub.
Pocket-lint
Google Nest Mini
squirrel_widget_168546
Dimensions: 42 x 98mm, 181g
Connectivity: 802.11b/g/n/ac (2.4GHz/5GHz), Bluetooth 5.0, Chromecast and Chromecast Audio
Google Assistant: Yes (Always-on/always-listening/voice-activated)
The Google Nest Mini is the second generation of the Google Home Mini, and it remains the smallest of Google’s smart home speaker range. Like the Amazon Echo Dot, it’s a small puck-like device that is available in four colours – all of which have fabric covers that aren’t interchangeable. The fabric is made from recycled bottles in the Nest Mini though, making it more sustainable than the original Google Home Mini.
Thanks to its diminutive size, the Nest Mini can be placed virtually anywhere, including wall-mounted thanks to its built-in wall-mount, and even kept out of sight if you wish. It can load up content on any Chromecast device, giving you voice-controlled access to movies and TV shows from supported services.
The Nest Mini gives you access to all those Assistant-powered features, so it’s a smart home control device, it’s an entertainer and a plaything, it’s a quiz master, a reference tool and so much more. It’s everything the big Google Home is without the larger speaker.
The Google Nest Mini is compatible with numerous smart home devices, the list of which is constantly growing. It also works with Spotify, Google Play Music, as well as a multitude of other audio services.
Google Nest Mini review: Mini update, max impact
Pocket-lint
Google Nest Audio
squirrel_widget_2709293
Dimensions: 175 x 124 x 78mm, 1.1kg
Connectivity: 802.11b/g/n/ac (2.4GHz/5GHz), Bluetooth 5.0, Chromecast and Chromecast Audio
Google Assistant: Yes (Always-on/always-listening/voice-activated)
Nest Audio refreshes Google’s standard speaker, boosting eco credentials with more recycled material, while bringing in a fresh new design too.
Rather than 360-degree sound, the sound is now directional, but with a good size of speaker driver and a tweeter in this compact unit, the sound quality is really good for the price.
All the same Google Assistant functions are supported, and the Nest Audio can be stereo paired to make a bigger sound delivery.
One thing is clear – there’s no reason to consider the Google Home – the Nest Audio is better in every way.
Google Assistant: Yes (Always-on/always-listening/voice-activated)
The Google Home is the regular-sized smart speaker from Google. It’s the original member and the one that will likely be most popular because of the way it blends style and function. It’s pricier than the Google Nest Mini, but delivers way more punch.
The Google Home sports a design that’s reminiscent of an air freshener, with a slightly bulbous bottom that tapers in towards the top. On the angled top of the Home there is a touch-sensitive surface that can be used to control a variety of functions. You can also change the colour of the base to suit your style.
Its sound quality is good, but it probably isn’t fit to be your main party speaker, even if it is a step-up from the Nest Mini. It offers all the connected functions of Google Assistant, so it’s a natural smart home hub, letting you control all your devices, as well as accessing a wide range of Google services, information and giving you control of your Chromecast.
The Google Home has all the same smarts as the Google Nest Mini, only with more power under the hood. You can also purchase different bases to change the style of your Google Home speaker, too, which you can’t do on the Mini.
Google Home review: A better voice assistant than Amazon Echo?
Google
Google Home Max
squirrel_widget_148519
Dimensions: 336.6 x 190 x 154.4mm, 5.3kg
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n/ac (2.4GHz/5Ghz), Bluetooth 4.2, Chromecast and Chromecast Audio, USB-C, 3.5mm auxiliary
Audio: 2 x 4.5-inch dual voice coil woofers, 2 x 0.7-inch tweeters, six microphones with far-field voice recognition
Audio formats: HE-AAC, LC-AAC+, MP3, WAV, FLAC, Vorbis, Opus
Processor: 1.5GHz Quad-core ARM
Google Assistant: Yes (Always-on/always-listening/voice-activated)
Google Home Max is max by name and max by nature. It’s large in size and it delivers high-quality sound that can fill a room. A large price tag puts the Google Home Max in the premium smart home speaker bracket – competing with the Sonos range and the Apple HomePod.
Packing four drivers and six Class-D amplifiers, the Google Home Max makes the sound performance of most other smart home speakers pale in comparison. We certainly found it to be capable in terms of sound, but many may recoil at the price tag.
It’s on the large size too, as far as wireless speakers go, so finding a home for the Home Max could be tricky.
We imagine most people will put one in their living room or bedroom. It’s not for wall-mounting but can be positioned either vertically or horizontally making it pretty versatile. It offers all the same features as the smaller Nest Mini and Home though, just with better sound capabilities.
Google Home Max review: Cranking smart speaker audio to the max
Pocket-lint
Google Nest Hub
squirrel_widget_148304
Dimensions: 178 x 118 x 67.3mm, 480g
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n/ac (2.4GHz/5Ghz), Bluetooth 5.0, Chromecast and Chromecast Audio, 15 W adapter, DC power jack
Audio: Full range speaker, two microphones with far-field voice recognition
Display: 7-inch
Processor: 1.5GHz Quad-core ARM
Google Assistant: Yes (Always-on/always-listening/voice-activated)
Google Nest Hub (formerly Home Hub) is a speaker like the other Home devices but it adds a 7-inch touchscreen to its list of attributes – yes, it’s a smart display. The sound quality isn’t as good as the Max or the original Home but the display is an excellent feature for watching quick YouTube videos, reading news snippets and controlling smart home devices.
It offers all the same features as the other Home products, along with a great design, YouTube integration (which Amazon’s Echo Show does not) and it is fantastic for smart home control, with the list of compatible devices growing constantly.
There’s no camera as there is on the larger Nest Hub Max but it makes for a great smart home hub.
Google Nest Hub review: The new hub of your smart home?
Pocket-lint
Google Nest Hub Max
squirrel_widget_160596
Dimensions: 250.1 x 182.55 x 101.23mm, 1.32kg
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n/ac (2.4GHz/5GHz), Bluetooth 5.0, Chromecast and Chromecast Audio, 30W adapter, DC power jack
Audio: Stereo speakers (2x 18mm 10W tweeters, 1x 75mm 30W woofer), far-field mic and voice match technology
Display: 10-inch, 1280 x 800 pixels
Camera: 6.5MP Nest camera, 127 FoV, face match technology
Google Assistant: Yes (Always-on/always-listening/voice-activated)
The Google Nest Hub Max is the biggest Home device with a display and ushered in the name change to Nest. That’s because it incorporates a camera which can not only be used for Duo calling, but offers full Nest Cam functions too, so it also acts as a security device. It will also work with Nest’s face recognition, so it can change the display details to suit different users, though it doesn’t deliver familiar face alerts like the Nest Hello or Nest Cam IQ.
Elsewhere, the Nest Hub Max boosts the experience of the smaller display device, expanding to 10-inches and offering stereo speakers backed with a woofer for better sound delivery.
Otherwise the Nest Hub Max supports Google Assistant offering all the experiences you’d come to expect from Google’s AI system.
Google Nest Hub Max review: Putting the Echo Show on notice
Writing by Adrian Willings. Editing by Britta O’Boyle.
Raspberry Pi computers tend to make for great projects and single-use devices, but the same size that makes them so multipurpose also means they can be a little slow when it comes to network connectivity. That’s a shame, because some of the best uses for Pi, like turning it into a highly customizable streaming box, only get better with a faster connection. That’s why modder and YouTuber Jeff Geerling, who we’ve featured on our weekly Pi Cast show before, set out to add Intel’s lightning-quick 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 to Raspberry Pi.
In a video posted to his YouTube channel yesterday, Geerling walked his audience through how he was able to add Wi-Fi 6 to Raspberry Pi, which let him receive networks pushing out signals up to 10 Gbps. Normally, Raspberry Pi 4, the latest and most powerful Raspberry Pi computer, comes with the slower Wi-Fi 5 installed (as well as port for Ethernet connectivity). You can add an external Wi-Fi card to it through USB, but the nature of the connection will slow down your wireless signal. However, if you instead opt for the Raspberry Pi CM4, your options suddenly become a lot more open.
The Raspberry Pi CM4 is, on paper, not as handy as the Raspberry Pi 4. It’s essentially a system-on-module version of the Pi 4 as opposed to a full computer, which means it’s missing USB ports while still retaining the CPU, ethernet, Wi-Fi 5 and bus. But it also gives you access to the system’s PCIe, meaning you can add desktop and laptop components to your Pi.
This is where Geerling’s project kicks in. By installing a desktop Wi-Fi card to his Pi CM4, he was able to get Wi-Fi 6 speeds up to 1.34 Gbps on his Pi, which is 44% faster than what he got on on the CM4’s ethernet connection and 17 times the speed he got on its built-in Wi-Fi.
(Image credit: Jeff Geerling)
His parts list was also pretty small, too, which is good news for anyone looking to replicate his project. It simply amounted to buying a new Wi-Fi 6 router, connecting a new Wi-Fi card to his Pi, and doing some manual and coding labor. But, well, the project still stretched beyond Geerling’s budget and time expectations, with multiple failures along the way.
What was the holdup? On top of a few issues with how well Linux supports certain cards- he had to try a few before settling on the EDUP Intel AX200 card- there was also the matter of his home connection. Even if your Pi is able to connect at high speeds, that doesn’t do much good if your home network can’t push out high enough network connectivity to really challenge it. And again, Geerling’s goal was to connect the Pi CM4 to a 10 Gbps network.
So after numerous attempts connecting to his existing home network and trying to set up a more budget-friendly Wi-Fi 6 network using just his Dell XPS 13, Geerling eventually had to upgrade his entire home network to 802.11ax wireless speeds.
The good news here is that, if you want to copy Geerling’s project, you can save some time and money by skipping past the components that failed. The bad news is that what ended up working is still pretty expensive, with the aforementioned EDUP card costing $33 and the Wi-Fi 6 router that Geerling ended up using, the ASUS RT-AX86U costing $250.
Still, if the cost doesn’t intimidate you, you stand to gain a lot of speed for such a small device. And there are of course other benefits to stepping up to Wi-Fi 6, if you have compatible devices.
Geerling’s got both a video and blog tutorial for his project that breaks down his process, which will help you navigate through installing Intel’s Wi-Fi drivers onto the Raspberry Pi CM4 using Linux. So if you’re looking to spend the holidays catching up on streaming, here’s a great way to get started.
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