TechAmok News Archive
Galaxy S25 Ultra vs. iPhone 16 Pro - [mobile]
12:43 PM EDT - Mar,22 2025 - post a comment The Galaxy S25 Ultra and iPhone 16 Pro / Pro Max - Two of the most powerful smartphones of the year, but only one delivers the most complete experience.
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Resident Evil 3 remake now available for iPhone, iPad, and Mac - [briefly]
04:45 AM EDT - Mar,20 2025 - post a comment Capcom has released iPhone, iPad, and Mac versions of the Resident Evil 3 remake will launch via App Store, the company announced. It is compatible with all iPhone 16 models, iPhone 15 Pro models, and every iPad and Mac with the M1 chip or later. The Resident Evil 3 remake was previously released for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC via Steam, as well as for Switch via cloud streaming Steam.
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Ballerina - Official Trailer #2 (2025) Ana de Armas, Keanu Reeves, Norman Reedus - [off-topic]
05:09 PM EDT - Mar,19 2025 - post a comment Check out the new Ballerina trailer for the upcoming film starring Ana de Armas, Anjelica Huston, Gabriel Byrne, Lance Reddick, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Norman Reedus, with Ian McShane, and Keanu Reeves. Ballerina is set in the world of John Wick.
Taking place during the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, Ballerina follows Eve Macarro (Ana de Armas) who is beginning her training in the assassin traditions of the Ruska Roma.
Ballerina opens in theaters on June 6, 2025.
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A 128GB AMD Ryzen AI Mini PC is Here - [hardware]
07:08 PM EDT - Mar,18 2025 - post a comment We tested a mini PC with an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor. We added 128GB of RAM to make an awesome compact system for virtualization or even running larger AI models like deep seek-r1 70b and llama3.3 70b.
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Microsoft flags new remote access trojan targeting crypto wallet extensions on Chrome browser - [security]
06:05 PM EDT - Mar,18 2025 - post a comment Microsoft has discovered a new trojan, StilachiRAT, targeting cryptocurrency wallets in the Google Chrome browser.
The malware attacks 20 different extensions, including MetaMask, Coinbase Wallet, Trust Wallet, OKX Wallet, Bitget Wallet, Phantom, and more
StilachiRAT surfaced in November 2024 but does not appear to be widely distributed so far. However, its stealth capabilities make it a potent threat that enterprise security teams need to be aware of and protect against, Microsoft warned this week. "Microsoft continues to monitor information on the delivery vector used in these attacks," the company noted. "Malware like StilachiRAT can be installed through multiple vectors; therefore, it is critical to implement security-hardening measures to prevent the initial compromise."
StilachiRAT is a veritable Swiss Army knife for hackers. It can collect wide-ranging data like OS details, hardware identifiers including BIOS serial numbers, camera presence, and active remote desktop protocol (RDP) sessions from the system on which it is installed.
The malware is enabled for credential theft and can extract and decrypt usernames and passwords stored in Google Chrome. It targets cryptocurrency assets by scanning for as many as 20 wallet extensions within the Chrome browser. The wallets in its target list include Coinbase, Fractal, Phantom, Manta, and Bitget. In addition, the malware continuously collects clipboard content and monitors active applications, specifically targeting sensitive data such as passwords and cryptocurrency keys.
StilachiRAT is stealthy. The malware communicates with its command-and-control (C2) servers through commonly used TCP ports like Port 53, typically associated with DNS traffic, and 443, the standard port for HTTPS traffic. Both are ports that malware tools frequently use to hide malicious activity and receive commands from a C2 server. In the case of StilachiRAT, the commands it can act upon include system reboots, registry manipulation, log clearing, and executing additional malicious payloads.
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Is my 3D printing setup wrong? - [briefly]
11:01 AM EDT - Mar,16 2025 - post a comment Now that Bambu Printers may be harder to recommend after their latest update, what 3D printer should Linus buy next? To find out we asked Jake and some other youtubers (Jeff Geerling, William Osman, and Camden Bowen) to show off their Prusa, Elegoo, and more different printers!
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Google Assistant Going 100% AI with Gemini - [briefly]
08:45 AM EDT - Mar,15 2025 - post a comment Google announced plans to infuse its Gemini generative AI into Google Assistant almost everywhere Assistant is available, including older mobile devices. Effectively, Gemini will replace Assistant. The change also applies to other types of devices, including tablets, home speakers, watches, and cars. |
Apple Pledges to Support Encryption in New RCS Standard - [security]
08:44 AM EDT - Mar,15 2025 - post a comment The RCS industry standard for enhanced messaging has been updated to officially support standardized End-to-End Encryption (E2EE). Further, Apple has committed to support it in future implementations of RCS in iOS. This will greatly improve the security and privacy of cross-platform messaging between iPhones and Android phones. Google launched its own implementation of E2EE for RCS in 2020, but the feature was not officially part of the RCS standard until now, with GSMA's RCS Universal Profile 3.0. That is why Google's E2EE feature only worked when both parties were using Google's Messages app. Now, this standardized version of E2EE should enable it for more RCS conversations. Apple has not committed to a specific timeline for adding E2EE to RCS. |
Android Gaining Support for Auracast with Newer Bluetooth Hearing Aids - [gadgets]
08:42 AM EDT - Mar,15 2025 - post a comment The newest beta version of Android introduces a new feature that lets certain supported phones - such as the Pixel 9 series - use Auracast with Bluetooth hearing aids that support it. Auracast is a broadcast audio technology that lets many Bluetooth audio devices (such as earbuds and hearing aids) tune in to the same audio source at one time. The technology is starting to roll out in places like train stations, theaters, and gyms. Auracast is an optional part of LE Audio, the new Bluetooth audio standard. Samsung has also enabled Auracast for compatible hearing aids with its One UI 7 software on Galaxy devices. Google is also adding a feature to Pixel phones that lets users tune in to a specific local Auracast stream by a scanning a QR code. Last year, Google added Auracast info to Google Maps, to help people find nearby locations that offer the technology. |
A 10x faster TypeScript - [briefly]
05:44 PM EDT - Mar,14 2025 - post a comment Anders Hejlsberg, lead architect of TypeScript and Technical Fellow at Microsoft, introduces a new port of TypeScript that will deliver the next generation of high-performance developer tooling.
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New Project Aims to Detect When Police are Using a Stingray - [security]
11:58 AM EDT - Mar,12 2025 - post a comment The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has released a new software tool that it hopes can alert people (such as protesters) when someone (such as police) may be operating an IMSI catcher (commonly known by the brand name Stingray) nearby. An IMSI catcher pretends to be a cell phone base station (tower) and records the unique identifiers of phones nearby that automatically attempt to connect to it. This new tool from the EFF - called Rayhunter- is designed to run on a specific Orbic Speed mobile hotspot device that can be found used online for as little as $10. The interface for using the software is web-based, and needs to be accessed from a different device, either via Wi-Fi or USB. |
GeForce Hotfix Driver 572.75 - [gaming]
07:42 PM EDT - Mar,09 2025 - post a comment NVIDIA has released another "hotfix driver" to address issues with the RTX 50 GPUs, including the troublesome black-screen problem. The first issue is specific to the GeForce RTX 5080/RTX 5090, where the overclocked GPUs are said not to perform at full potential when a system reboot occurs. We haven't seen reports of users facing this problem, so it is likely something NVIDIA has identified internally, or there might be cases that haven't surfaced in the media. The second problem which is said to be addressed is the black screen issue, and it seems like NVIDIA's previous solutions haven't worked out. |
RX 9070 XT: Undervolting Is Impressive, but OC Is Completely Broken - [hardware]
11:03 AM EDT - Mar,09 2025 - post a comment In this video, der8auer discusses their findings after testing the RX 970 XT Red Devil Edition from PowerColor. They examine its cooling capabilities, overclocking potential, and performance under different settings. The reviewer highlights that while undervolting significantly improved performance and reduced temperature, the overclocking capabilities seem inconsistent and limited. They note the silence of the cooler while under load and express confusion about the card's design and performance anomalies.
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LG G5 OLED | Hot Take on a Hot TV - [hardware]
10:58 AM EDT - Mar,09 2025 - post a comment During a visit to LG headquarters, we got the chance to take a closer look at the LG G5 OLED TV and the exciting improvements it brings. With a new four-stack OLED panel, the G5 delivers impressive brightness—up to 2500 nits in tests—while maintaining excellent color performance. We were particularly impressed by the enhanced light rejection technology, making it a great option for both bright and dark rooms. The G5 also offers fantastic full-screen brightness and color vibrancy, positioning it as one of the top OLED TVs of 2025. We also discuss other upcoming models like the C5 and B5, which are shaping up to be major competitors in the OLED market.
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Unbelievable Hidden DRAG & DROPS on Samsung Galaxy Phones - [guides]
03:59 AM EDT - Mar,09 2025 - post a comment This video demonstrates several hidden drag-and-drop features on Samsung Galaxy phones. The video covers a variety of applications, including the file manager, gallery, calendar, and home screen, showcasing how to use drag-and-drop to create shortcuts, move files, and organize widgets.
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Absolutely Absurd RX 9070 Video Cards: Every 9070 XT & 9070 So Far - [hardware]
03:55 AM EDT - Mar,09 2025 - post a comment We've spent multiple videos covering NVIDIA's partners' absurd GPU launches, including the Dark Obelisk, Midnight Kaleidoscope, and other oddly named video cards. Today, it's time to cover AMD's partners' RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT models. We'll compare the design of each of the partner models we found, including a brief look at design, thermal solutions, and marketing. We have a separate video coming on prices -- and a lot to say about them. In the meantime, we'll explain the differences between Sapphire, PowerColor, Yeston, ASUS vs. ASRock, Gigabyte, Acer, and XFX for AMD RX 9070 XT GPUs.
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Why Do Microsoft Do This? - [guides]
11:46 AM EST - Mar,08 2025 - post a comment Why Do Microsoft Do This? Microsoft are removing items from the control panel in Windows 11. Devices and Printers old legacy location has been removed and when you click on Devices and Printers in control panel, it takes you to then new location in the settings panel. Microsoft are removing all the old locations in control panel and redirecting people to settings panel in Windows 11. These have multiply clicks to get to the same location, why? People have been using the control since 1985 when it was interduce to Windows users.
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Apple Postpones Smarter Siri - [briefly]
11:11 AM EST - Mar,08 2025 - post a comment Apple has confirmed that it is taking the company "longer than we thought to deliver" a new version of Siri with better awareness of your personal data and the ability to take action within apps. Apple first announced the features as part of Apple Intelligence in the middle of last year. Apple promised an on-device, private "semantic index" of your data (such as recent messages, calendar, contacts, etc.) that Siri could use to answer more questions, more intelligently. When Apple Intelligence finally launched as part of iOS 18.2, it did not include those improvements to Siri, but Apple said at the time that they would roll out "in the coming months". In today's update, Apple says only "we anticipate rolling them out in the coming year." Apple notes that it has launched other improvements to Siri, including "type to Siri and product knowledge, and added an integration with ChatGPT." |
AMD Software Adrenalin Edition 25.3.1 WHQL Released - [gaming]
08:10 AM EST - Mar,08 2025 - post a comment AMD has released its latest AMD Software Adrenalin Edition 25.3.1 WHQL driver, adding support for the new Radeon RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT graphics cards, as well as the Radeon RX 7650 GRE. It also adds support for AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395, AI 5 (PRO) 340 and AI 7 (PRO) 350 with AMD Radeon 840M and 860M GPUs, and AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX, 9850HX, and Ryzen 9 9955HX3D, all with AMD Radeon Graphics.
The new AMD Software Adrenalin Edition 25.31. WHQL driver also adds support for AMD Fidelity FX Super Resolution 4 (AMD FSR 4), which is exclusive to AMD Radeon RX 9070 Series graphics cards, and new AMD Fluid Motion Frames 2.1. There are several other Radeon RX 9070 Series exclusive features as well, all which are a part of AMD's AI Enhanced Features, including AMD Chat, AMD Image Inspector, AMD Install Manager, and AMD Radeon Image Sharpening 2. In addition to the new products support and new features, AMD Software Adrenalin Edition 25.3.1 WHQL driver also adds day-one game support for FragPunk and Split Fiction. AMD also fixes a couple of issues, including intermittent driver timeout or crash in Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 and lower than expected performance in Delta Force on Radeon RX 7000 series.
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RTX 50 Laptop Situation Just Got Worse - [hardware]
08:06 AM EST - Mar,08 2025 - post a comment The video discusses the delays and potential issues surrounding the upcoming RTX 50 series gaming laptops from Nvidia. It reveals that despite initial announcements of a March release, delays have occurred due to issues with VBIOS and potential defects in GPUs. Nvidia has publicly claimed that there are no issues with laptop GPUs, but reports suggest manufacturers are conducting last-minute inspections.
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RTX 50 Series Failed Me : I Bought A PowerColor RX 9070 XT Red Devil LE - [hardware]
03:27 AM EST - Mar,07 2025 - post a comment As most of our regulars will know, Leo does not review graphics cards for Kitguru - that's part of Dominics job. However Leo wanted to update his test platform to include one of the latest generation cards from Nvidia - his initial idea was the RTX5080. This video showcases Leo's thought processes and changes in direction over the last few weeks and the card he ended up buying himself, with his own money. For complete transparency this video is not sponsored or endorsed by either AMD or Powercolor - we thought you might like to hear from Leo on this subject as you might be contemplating what to do yourself right now.
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Incredibly Efficient: AMD RX 9070 GPU Review & Benchmarks vs. 9070 XT, RTX 5070 - [hardware]
10:20 AM EST - Mar,06 2025 - post a comment The AMD Radeon RX 9070 video card is shipping alongside the RX 9070 XT and surprised us with its efficiency. The power-to-performance ratio is strong on the RX 9070 non-XT, seemingly finding a "sweet spot" of balance between power consumption and the output. The 9070 and 9070 XT are known to have a weirdly small $50 gap between them, at an MSRP of $550 and $600, but in either case, the two have ganged-up on the NVIDIA RTX 5070 GPU to effectively invalidate its existence -- even more than NVIDIA already did. This review benchmarks the performance of the RX 9070 vs. the 9070 XT, RTX 5070, RX 6700 XT, 6600, and plenty more.
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NVIDIA Geforce 572.70 WHQL Drivers - [gaming]
06:16 PM EST - Mar,05 2025 - post a comment NVIDIA today released the latest GeForce Game Ready drivers. These come with support for the new GeForce RTX 5070 graphics card that goes on sale from today. It addresses even more black screen bugs seen with RTX 50-series GPUs, which surface with certain kinds of monitors are connected via DisplayPort. The drivers also come with optimization for the DLSS 4 update of "FragPunk," and the DLSS + ray tracing update of "Grand Theft Auto V."
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Apple refreshes iPad Air with the M3 chip and a new Magic Keyboard - [briefly]
12:43 PM EST - Mar,04 2025 - post a comment Apple just took the wraps off the new version of the iPad Air. The iPad Air, which was updated last year in May 2024, is getting refreshed with the super-fast M3 processor, nearly doubling the speed of the M1 version and even outperforming the A14 Bionic chipset by over three times. The new iPad Air is available in two sizes 11 inches and 13 inches.
One of the biggest improvements in the iPad Air is the graphics performance. Thanks to the M3 chip, the iPad Air gets new features such as hardware-accelerated ray tracing. Apple says that the iPad Air with M3 chip is four times better at rendering graphics than the M1 model. Additionally, the Neural Engine is also 60% faster, enhancing AI-powered tasks like image editing and smart searches.
Apple Intelligence is also at the core of handling all the AI features. The new iPad Air includes Writing Tools, Image Playground, Genmoji, Writing Tools, smarter Siri interactions, ChatGPT integration in Siri, etc.
A new Magic Keyboard has also been launched. The redesigned Magic Keyboard has a larger trackpad, a new function row for quick controls, and a magnetic attachment. The Magic Keyboard starts at $269 for the 11-inch model and $319 for the 13-inch version.
As far as the pricing of the iPad Air with M3, Apple has kept the same price as last year for both sizes: $599 for the 11-inch model and $799 for the 13-inch model. Pre-orders are open now, and the devices will be available starting March 12. The standard iPad is also getting an upgrade with an A16 chip and more storage for the same price. |
Windows 11 Right Click Context Menu is Junk - [guides]
09:22 AM EST - Mar,04 2025 - post a comment In this tutorial, Britec09 demonstrates how to customize the Windows 11 right click context menu, which many users find unhelpful. Using a tool called Easy Context Menu, viewers learn how to add, modify, and streamline options for improved accessibility and efficiency.
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Google Making it Easier to Find Apps with Widgets - [mobile]
07:38 AM EST - Mar,04 2025 - post a comment Google is rolling out changes to its Play app store that will make it easier for users to find apps that include home-screen widgets. Users will now be able filter searches specifically for apps with widgets, and apps with widgets will get a special badge on their detail pages. Google's intention is promote both the development and use of widgets. If more users find and use apps with widgets, developers will have more incentive to create and update widgets. Google is also "actively educating users on the value of widgets through a new editorial page". |
Samsung Intros New Affordable Models - [mobile]
07:37 AM EST - Mar,04 2025 - post a comment Samsung has announced three new models in its A series of affordable phones for 2025: the Galaxy A56 5G, A36, and A26. These cover the price points of $500, $400, and $300, respectively, rounding out the lineup with the $200 A16 5G that came out in January. Compared to last year's models, the displays are slightly larger, with all three having a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display with 120 Hz refresh and FHD+ resolution. The processors have also been updated, with a Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chip in the A36 replacing the Samsung Exynos 1380 in last year's A35. The A56 is powered by a Samsung Exynos 1580. The A56 and A36 get upgraded to faster 45W charging, while the A26 gets an IP67 rating for dust and water. The camera specs change only slightly, with all three having a 50 megapixel main camera as before. Also unchanged are all three having a 5,000 mAh battery and 128 GB of storage. The A26 and A36 have 6 GB of RAM while the A56 has 8 GB. The A56 also gains new AI powers, including Best Face and Nightography modes for the camera. Samsung also promises "up to six generations of Android OS and One UI upgrades and six years of security updates". The A26 comes in black, and the A36 comes in black or lavender. The A56 comes in two shades of gray as well as olive or pink. The A26 and A36 come out at the end of March, while the A56 is coming "later this year". |
French Startup to Test mmWave 5G via Satellite - [internet]
07:37 AM EST - Mar,04 2025 - post a comment A company called Constellation Technologies & Operations is preparing to launch a test satellite for its own new 5G-from-space system. Constellation's will be the first such system to use high-frequency mmWave radio spectrum. This spectrum has the potential for very high-speed data transmission, but is under-utilized in most parts of the world. mmWave has relatively poor propagation characteristics, in that it typically doesn't reach very far, or penetrate solid objects well. Therefore, on land, it has typically been deployed only in the highest-density areas, such as arenas, stadiums, train stations, busy city plazas, and some city central business districts. This leaves mmWave spectrum completely unused in rural and remote areas where satellite connectivity is often most useful. Constellation has not announced plans for service directly to cell phones; the antennas necessary on the ground are much larger. But the system would potentially enable cell phone carriers to monetize their mmWave spectrum licenses that are currently unused or under-utilized. Constellation's first test satellite is currently scheduled to launch into Very Low Earth Orbit this June |
ASRock & 9800X3D Instability and Failures | Report & Summary So Far - [hardware]
06:50 AM EST - Mar,04 2025 - post a comment We've seen a number of user reports pop-up about ASRock motherboard and 9800X3D CPU instability or failures, including CPUs dying (or sometimes, seeming "dead" due to instability -- but then working again with a new BIOS). We put together this report as we research and monitor the issue to see if anything larger comes from it, including potential for new information from the audience. Thus far, it seems like it possibly boils down to two primary issues: ASRock BIOS stability and possibly a CPU batch issue; however, we don't think the CPU batch issue is likely, and we have CPUs from both named batches that are working fine. Still, it's worth considering all options, as ASRock is not the only affected motherboard vendor. We'll see if this develops further. This is a new style for us: We don't have the capacity right now to take on more lab testing due to how overloaded we are with the incoming RTX 5070 and RX 9070 (and 9070 XT) GPU reviews, but we still wanted to study the issue and put something together in case it develops!
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