10 Elements Depleting Your EV Battery: Problems and Characteristics Clarified
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Read Morenew framework for the Big Bang Theory informed by recent findings.
“One Strange Rock” provides plenty of enjoyment for anyone looking to binge the full series. It features scientific professionals, including astronauts, sharing insights and recounting their journeys. If the complimentary episode piques your interest, there are several options available to view the rest of the series.
reintroducing nuclear energy to support their AI goals, while OpenAI is exploring the concept of establishing data centers in outer space. With such futuristic plans in the pipeline, it’s only natural for individuals to question why major technology firms require significant power and the actual energy consumption of our daily interactions with AI services.
In light of our inquiries, companies like Google have disclosed details this year regarding energy usage and efficiency concerning their AI offerings, with OpenAI following suit shortly thereafter. In June, CEO Sam Altman shared a blog that mentioned the energy consumption of “the average” ChatGPT inquiry: 0.34 watt-hours. Altman compares this to “approximately what an oven would use in just over a second, or what a high-efficiency lightbulb would consume in a few minutes.”
So, does that mean each ChatGPT prompt truly uses 0.34 watt-hours of energy? Regrettably, it’s likely not so straightforward. Although the figure might be precise, Altman provided no context or detail on how it was derived, which significantly hampers our grasp of the scenario. For example, we don’t know how OpenAI defines an “average” ChatGPT inquiry, considering the LLM can perform various tasks, such as responding to general inquiries, coding, and generating images — all of which demand different energy levels.
Samsung has formally launched the Exynos 2600, representing a major achievement as the first smartphone chipset globally to utilize a 2nm manufacturing process. This innovative advancement promises considerable enhancements in performance, efficiency, and thermal management, establishing a new benchmark in the market.
The Exynos 2600 features a revamped CPU structure, removing low-power cores in favor of a more robust setup. This change leads to up to 39% gains in CPU performance, improved AI processing abilities, and twice the GPU performance in comparison to its forerunner, the Exynos 2500. The chipset’s 10-core CPU, based on Arm’s v9.3 design, includes a primary C1-Ultra core running at 3.8GHz, three high-performance C1-Pro cores operating at 3.25GHz, and three efficiency-oriented C1-Pro cores clocked at 2.75GHz.
Samsung has also tackled previous overheating concerns with the launch of a novel Heat Path Block (HPB) design. This advancement enhances heat dissipation, enabling the chipset to sustain high performance during intensive tasks by effectively dispersing heat and stabilizing the SoC’s temperature.
The Exynos 2600 is anticipated to drive the forthcoming Galaxy S26 series in specific markets, such as Asia and Europe, likely for the base Galaxy S26 and Galaxy S26 Plus variants. Although speculation hinted at a possible exclusive deployment of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, the introduction of the Exynos 2600 signifies Samsung’s ongoing approach of regional chipset diversity.
Read MoreWhile Apple is actively opposing the imposition of legal responsibility for age verification in relation to app downloads, many of its users would gain from the company adopting this responsibility. Given Apple’s history of finding privacy-conscious methods for handling personal data, there is a compelling argument for the company to enhance its efforts beyond the current proposals.
### The Age Verification Narrative Thus Far
Certain US states and countries enforce minimum age requirements for specific categories of apps. A notable instance is Australia, which prohibits anyone under 16 from using social media applications. Likewise, there are increasing demands for age verification across various US states. Presently, individual developers, rather than Apple and Google, bear the responsibility for confirming the ages of users downloading their apps. However, federal lawmakers are contemplating a shift with the introduction of a new proposed legislation, the App Store Accountability Act. This law would permit users to verify their age once with either Apple or Google, allowing these companies to age-gate apps accordingly, instead of necessitating age verification for each app downloaded.
### I Trust Apple More Than Developers
There are persuasive reasons to support this method. Requiring users to submit government-issued photo IDs and video selfies to multiple developers presents a considerable privacy threat. Many would rather trust Apple to conduct identity and age verification once, subsequently blocking access to apps deemed inappropriate for certain ages. This initiative would also improve user experience since individuals would only need to confirm their age one time rather than each time they install a new age-restricted app.
For example, users might opt to validate their identity with Apple instead of Meta to gain access to Instagram, with Meta only receiving an age verification confirmation. This option highlights a preference for Apple, which is viewed as having a greater dedication to privacy. Even if the law necessitates photo ID, it is anticipated that Apple would manage such data securely, ensuring its immediate destruction post-verification.
### It Isn’t Limited to Apps
Age verification extends beyond apps; it is rapidly becoming a prominent concern for websites. The UK has recently enacted a law mandating adult websites to confirm the age of visitors, but the ambiguous wording raises fears it could inadvertently impact educational sites. Furthermore, there are calls for gambling platforms to incorporate photo ID verification to prevent minors from accessing services through parental credit cards. Detractors contend that the core motive behind these regulations may be an inclination towards enhanced government oversight online.
### Apple Could Seamlessly Be the Answer
Should Apple assume the role of age verifier, the process could be made significantly more efficient. When users authenticate their identity with Apple, the company could link that verification to Safari on their devices. Thus, when accessing a website requiring age confirmation, the site would only receive validation from Apple that the user is of legal age, without any personal data being disclosed.
This framework is already operational with Apple Pay, where retailers do not see identity proof but receive assurance that biometric verification has taken place. Similarly, a “verified adult” marker could be incorporated into the information Apple shares with websites, safeguarding privacy while fulfilling regulatory obligations.
### Would You Care to See This?
While some may contest the necessity for age verification for apps or websites, positing that it should fall under parental duties, the fact remains that such measures are being put in place irrespective of individual viewpoints. The crucial question is not if age verification will take place, but who ought to take responsibility for it.
This conversation encourages users to reflect on their preferences surrounding age verification and which entities they trust to manage such sensitive data.
Read MoreIf you have significant worries about privacy while navigating the internet, you might have come across the idea of utilizing a VPN for protection. VPN, which stands for Virtual Private Network, serves as a method to prevent external parties from tracking your online activities and effectively enhances the security of your connection. Setting it up on your mobile device is not overly complex, typically requiring just a straightforward app installation. Interestingly, one of the most dependable free VPNs for Android is actually integrated into the device and developed by Google. Named VPN by Google, this no-cost VPN service is a distinctive feature available on Pixel phones starting with the Pixel 7.
Similar to regular VPN services, VPN by Google establishes an encrypted and private connection via Google’s VPN servers rather than connecting directly to the internet. It masks your true IP address and location, replacing them with the server’s IP and location. This is what shields you from malicious entities and sites that wish to acquire your location information.
However, unlike other VPN platforms, VPN by Google comes with certain restrictions. Firstly, it does not permit you to select which server to link to. For example, you can’t opt for a Japan-based server, so you won’t be able to access content that’s restricted to a Japanese audience. Moreover, a Google account is necessary to utilize the VPN service. VPN by Google is also functional only in 30 designated home countries (the country associated with your Google account). These include the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, and Singapore. It does function in additional locations while traveling, enabling usage in places like the Bahamas, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, and even Antarctica.
How to activate the free VPN by Google on your Pixel phone
Activating VPN by Google on your Pixel phone is quite fast and straightforward through the Settings on your Pixel device. Follow these instructions:
1. Open the Settings app.
2. Choose Network & internet.
3. Click on VPN.
4. Under the Built-in section, select VPN by Google.
5. Review the permissions.
6. Enable Use VPN on mobile network if you wish to activate VPN while on mobile data.
7. Click Use VPN.
8. Select Allow if you want VPN by Google to send you notifications.
9. Wait for the VPN to establish a connection.
Once you spot the key icon on your Android screen, it indicates that the VPN service is operational, and you’re set to begin browsing. To simplify the process of pausing and resuming the VPN later, you can add it to your Quick Settings. Here’s how:
1. Access Quick Settings by swiping down from the top of the screen.
2. Tap the pen icon.
3. Press and hold the tile for VPN by Google.
4. Move it to your preferred location in the upper section of the screen.
5. Press the back arrow to save your adjustments.
You should now see the VPN tile in your Quick Settings. Long-press on the tile to open the VPN by Google settings page, or simply tap it to pause or resume the VPN service.
How to set up VPN by Google on your Pixel
Although Google’s free VPN service may not be as feature-rich as many other VPNs available, it still provides some degree of customization. Here’s how you can set up VPN by Google to better meet your requirements:
1. Open Settings.
2. Navigate to Network & internet > VPN.
3. Select the gear icon next to VPN by Google.
4. To keep the VPN service perpetually active, enable Always-on VPN.
5. To ensure your device does not go online without initially connecting to VPN, activate Block connections without VPN and press Turn on to confirm.
6. Return to the VPN page.
7. Tap on VPN by Google.
8. To pause the VPN service when you’re connected to specific Wi-Fi networks:
– Under Advanced settings, navigate to Pause VPN on selected networks.
– Tap on the saved networks where you wish to prevent the VPN service from operating.
– Press the trash icon to remove the Wi-Fi network from the “pause” list.
9. To stop certain apps from utilizing the VPN service, allowing them to connect to the internet normally:
– Choose Exclude selected apps.
– Select the apps for which you do not want VPN running.
– Remove any app from the “excluded” list by tapping the trash icon.
10. To check the app information:
– Go to Notifications.
– Adjust the notification frequency under Notifications.
– Modify the permissions via the Permissions option.
– View the amount of mobile data used by the VPN service by tapping Mobile data usage.
Any adjustments made in the configuration will be automatically saved and applied whenever your VPN is active.
Read More### macOS Tahoe Presents an Exasperating Display Issue for Certain Users
If you’ve observed peculiar screen flickers following the installation of macOS Tahoe, you’re not the only one. An increasing number of users are reporting brief yet bothersome display flickering, especially when utilizing Apple’s Studio Display.
In a recent Mastodon post, Dan Moren recounted his troubles with screen flickering on his Mac mini and MacBook Air while connected to the Studio Display. MacRumors has recently drawn attention to this issue, noting that flickering typically arises when switching between applications featuring bright white backgrounds or when scrolling through websites with light backgrounds. The flickering can occur sporadically and is usually brief, though it can sometimes last several seconds, particularly when moving from dark to light content.
Moren tried to fix the problem by disabling features like True Tone, Night Shift, and automatic brightness. He mentioned that while turning off Night Shift appeared to offer some relief, the flickering continues to be an intermittent and exasperating issue.
Regrettably, the most recent macOS updates (26.1 and 26.2) have not remedied the situation for the majority of users. In fact, some have claimed that macOS 26.2 may have intensified the flickering. Apple has yet to acknowledge the problem, leaving many users in search of solutions.
It is still uncertain whether this issue is limited to the Studio Display or if it impacts additional displays as well. Anecdotal reports indicate that some users, including those with the Pro Display XDR, have not encountered any flickering problems with macOS Tahoe.
If you are facing screen flickering concerns after updating to macOS Tahoe, please share your insights in the comments.
Read MoreApple launched iOS 26.2 last week, bringing important security updates along with iOS 18.7.3 for those who have not yet made the jump to the latest version. However, reports suggest that some iPhone users are not receiving the iOS 18 update and are instead being guided toward iOS 26. This scenario raises issues regarding user options and safety.
### iOS 26.2 and iOS 18.7.3 Updates
The iOS 26.2 update features noteworthy security improvements, tackling two WebKit vulnerabilities that might have been leveraged in targeted assaults against certain individuals utilizing earlier iOS versions. The iOS 18.7.3 update also addresses the same WebKit vulnerabilities as well as additional security weaknesses for those who continue to use iOS 18.
The problem lies for users who have chosen to remain on iOS 18, as they are not given the choice to upgrade to iOS 18.7.3. Instead, the only option available is iOS 26.2, effectively forcing users to switch to the newest operating system to gain critical security protections.
### User Concerns
Numerous users might opt to postpone upgrading to iOS 26 for various reasons, such as worries about new features, app compatibility, or an overall desire for stability. This predicament creates a conflict for users who want to keep their existing operating system while still obtaining essential security updates.
### Workaround for Users
For those reluctant to transition to iOS 26, a possible workaround is to enroll in Apple’s public beta program and select the iOS 18 public beta track, which grants access to the 18.7.3 update. Nevertheless, this workaround may appear inconvenient for users merely looking for security remedies.
### Conclusion
It is still unclear whether the unavailability of iOS 18.7.3 is an error or an intentional policy shift by Apple. Historically, Apple has supplied security updates for older iOS versions to maintain user safety. The current scenario might indicate a glitch, as users should ideally have access to all available updates, including the security-centric iOS 18.7.3.
Read MoreThis is an improvement to your quality of life that you weren’t aware you required.
The most persistent feature of the Pixel home screen is now optional in Android 16.
