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Grasping the Significance of ‘SIM Card’

As smartphones have integrated themselves deeper into our daily routines, we’ve all gradually acquired fundamental knowledge and terms throughout the years. Where terms used to be limited to industry experts, now customer-oriented documents often assume you’re familiar with the terminology. A prime illustration of this is the growing prevalence of the term “SIM card,” which stands for “Subscriber Identity Module” located within your smartphone.

The SIM card plays an essential role in nearly all personal connection devices ranging from smartphones to tablets, acting as a digital key that allows your mobile provider to authenticate your identity and connect you to the necessary services. SIM cards have been part of mobile gadgets since the 90s, evolving in size and data capacity as smartphones advanced.

SIM represents Subscriber Identity Module

The very first commercial SIM card was introduced in 1991 by the German firm Giesecke+Devrient, recognized

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4 Creative Methods to Reuse Your Old MacBooks

a multitude of applications for an outdated laptop, and although it might not be equipped to receive current updates and the hardware could be several generations obsolete, that doesn’t imply it’s time to give up and dispose of your old device just yet.

While something like an M1 MacBook Pro still possesses enough hardware to remain robust, macOS Tahoe being the final significant update for Intel Macs suggests that an older device might soon cease obtaining new Apple features – if it hasn’t already done so. Even if Apple has discreetly phased out your Intel Mac, there are still various methods to breathe new life into it, such as trying out alternative operating systems, converting it into a Wi-Fi range extender, configuring it as a potent media center, or merely utilizing it as a secondary monitor for your modern setup.

Similar to repurposing an outdated iPad tablet, implementing any of the suggestions below can be an excellent way to grant your old MacBook another opportunity. Just keep in mind that some of these alternatives may necessitate extra accessories, like a USB drive or Ethernet cables. There are numerous available choices, so don’t hesitate to delve into the options below and see if any of them inspire you.

Try different operating systems

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Electronic Eye Implant Reestablishes Sight for Specific Patients

around 200 million individuals. With only one set of eyes, an incurable condition signifies a permanent loss of sight. However, recent studies suggest the potential for those impacted by AMD to regain their vision. As reported in the New England Journal of Medicine, the study recommends a minuscule implant that delivers “clinically meaningful enhancements” to individuals enduring GA.

Named the photovoltaic retina implant microarray (PRIMA), this compact system employs a subretinal photovoltaic chip embedded in the eye, along with augmented reality glasses that emit near-infrared light, effectively restoring vision. Since individuals with dry AMD generally maintain some photoreceptor functionality, researchers exploited this by placing a light-sensitive device to enhance sight. The producer of the 2 mm implant has claimed it can restore vision, now supported by scientific validation. In conjunction with the chip, the augmented reality glasses — which link to a controller worn on the waist — capture visual data and transfer it to the implant as infrared light. Subsequently, AI processes these signals to convert them into brain-interpretable images. The findings indicate that 80% of participants experienced an improvement after one year, achieving partial vision restoration.

What were the findings of the research?

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Apple’s Updated Siri to Employ Tailored Gemini Model

the enhanced Siri experience is poised for a rollout next year, though no specific release date has been disclosed. He also indicated that Apple Intelligence will incorporate supplementary AI models in addition to the built-in ChatGPT capabilities. While it has been speculated that Google’s AI models could be part of Apple Intelligence since the unveiling of its AI platform, Cook did not specify any collaborators. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has provided clearer insights into the future of Apple Intelligence, asserting that the forthcoming Siri update will “rely” on a tailored iteration of Gemini that Apple has teamed up with Google to develop. If this assertion holds true, and Gurman’s reports are generally reliable, Apple Intelligence may soon facilitate additional third-party AI models while also providing the refreshed Siri experience that Apple showcased back at WWDC 2024.

Gurman cited Apple’s ambitions for 2026, stating that “the journey ahead will be challenging,” as the revamped Siri will be a significant priority for the organization. “Apple is making a substantial investment in the new Siri, which will utilize Google’s Gemini model and bring features such as AI-enhanced web search,” Gurman remarked.

The report specifies that the advanced Siri is anticipated to arrive in March or April of next year, aligning with new Apple product launches. Apple will unveil its inaugural smart display in both speaker-base and wall-mounted formats. The expansion of smart home products will persist with further releases later next year, including Apple’s first security cameras. Apple is advancing “full speed ahead on smart glasses,” which may be showcased as soon as the end of next year. These devices stand to gain from an integrated AI assistant with broadened functionalities, such as the new Siri.

What about Gemini integration in Apple Intelligence?

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YouTube Introduces AI Technology to Upgrade Low-Quality Videos to HD

a novel initiative aimed at enhancing overall video quality throughout the platform. The streaming leader unveiled a groundbreaking feature that will utilize AI technology to upgrade low-resolution videos to 1080p HD. In the future, it will eventually elevate content to 4K. YouTube emphasizes that “creators will maintain full control over their library.” This indicates that users will continue to have authority over their original files and that the source video won’t be replaced with a higher resolution version. In essence, creators wishing to experiment with Google’s innovative AI tools don’t have to be concerned about losing access to their original videos.

Per YouTube’s announcement, the AI upscaling feature will be turned on by default. Users who prefer not to upscale their content can choose to opt out. YouTube also states that it will inform viewers when they are viewing an AI upscaled video. These videos will bear the label “super resolution.” Users wishing to avoid AI enhancements will still have the option to watch videos in their original resolution.

YouTube has been operational for twenty years, and often, one can identify when a video was uploaded simply by its quality. Although most content today is uploaded in sharp HD, the entire YouTube library is filled with videos recorded on outdated camera phones, early smartphones, camcorders, and various obsolete video recording equipment. It remains uncertain if YouTube will offer AI upscaling for these older videos. While there is merit in appreciating a video at its original resolution, the opportunity to view early 1980s NBA footage in HD would certainly be an appreciated advantage.

YouTube has additional features on the horizon

High-Frequency Microwave Robot Annihilates Drone Swarms Instantly

Unmanned tanks (including the green-eyed devices under testing by DARPA) and drone aircraft have become commonplace in contemporary combat. Without the necessity for onboard pilots, rocket-propelled drones can traverse the skies at nearly Mach 1, and extensive arrays of military drones may be deployed at once, overwhelming adversaries through sheer volume. In light of these autonomous systems, innovative weapons have emerged, such as the Leonidas Autonomous Robotic – or Leonidas AR for short — an American-made autonomous armament that incinerates drones using microwave bursts.

Counter-drone technology has evolved into a significant branch of military advancement, with dedicated weapons focusing on attacking a drone’s vulnerabilities rather than engaging them like traditional manned aircraft. The Leonidas AR fits this profile, being a weapon crafted by Epirus and General Dynamics Land Systems. Rather than expending ammunition and explosives to eliminate hostile drones in the sky, this system is engineered to accurately target their delicate internal electronics, swiftly incapacitating them and making them inoperable.

The microwaves from Leonidas AR can accurately strike large groups of unmanned aircraft

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Producers and Manufacturing Sites of Amazon Fire TVs

for smart TVs and streaming gadgets. The firm’s Fire TV software is licensed to multiple TV producers, making it common to see well-known TV names like Toshiba and Hisense using the Fire TV interface. However, let’s put all third parties aside for a moment: Which company is responsible for creating Amazon’s in-house Fire TVs (the ones labeled as Amazon products), and where are these television sets manufactured? The most likely candidate is TCL, yet finding any current evidence of this collaboration is quite challenging. 

Regrettably, Amazon remains very secretive regarding its own production process, particularly concerning contractual agreements for television manufacturing. One certainty is that Amazon does not produce its own streaming gadgets. In February 2021, Amazon partnered with Cloud Network Technology, a subsidiary owned by Foxconn, with the understanding that the latter would manufacture the former’s Fire TV Sticks.

Regarding Amazon-branded Fire TVs, in September 2021, Amazon asserted that its televisions were being made in-house. Nonetheless, reports around the time of this claim suggest that TCL and additional brands participated in the manufacturing process.

TCL likely produces the majority of Amazon-branded Fire TVs

Samsung Probes Galaxy S25 Plus Fire Case in South Korea

Samsung’s South Korean forums (translated from Korean to English) mention that “I had the S25+ in my grasp, and it began to overheat and emit a loud noise, prompting me to throw it on the ground where it turned to ash.”

This specific assertion has understandably raised alarms among Samsung users, who haven’t faced such a fiery risk of their device overheating since the Galaxy Note 7 era — when Samsung’s favored Note series encountered similar, albeit far worse, complications. Since that time, Samsung has encountered issues like this, with reports in 2022 indicating that <a data-tooltip-position="top" aria-label="https://www.bgr.com/tech/samsung-galaxy-batteries-might-have-a-serious-swelling-issue/" rel="noopener nofollow

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AirPods Pro 3 Users Experience High-Frequency Sounds While Flying

AirPods Pro 3. Although the earbuds still incorporate the H2 chip from the company, Apple has reengineered them to provide enhanced audio performance, featuring sharper highs and mids along with more resonant bass. With the introduction of new foam ear tips, the company successfully improved Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) to be four times better than the original AirPods Pro, and double the strength of the last generation.

Nonetheless, the latest earbuds come with their own array of problems. Aside from the discomfort that some users have experienced during the initial days of using the new foam tips, which has already led some to refer to it as “bloodgate,” it appears the AirPods Pro 3 act unpredictably while in-flight. Basic Apple Guy highlighted that he began to hear a high-frequency whine emerging from his left AirPod.

He stated: “The problem was that the ear seal of the AirPod would keep loosening, resulting in a noise-cancellation feedback loop and an agonizingly loud piercing screech from the AirPod. Every attempt to readjust only intensified the feedback, particularly if I inadvertently covered the external microphone with my finger. This occurred several times, making the experience so unbearable that I ultimately switched to my backup EarPods for the rest of the flight.”

A firmware update could fall short

Samsung Introduces Trifold Smartphone Showcasing 10-Inch Screen

the Samsung trifold may not be ready for purchase in the U.S. Although the South Korean tech company has yet to announce the release dates or pricing for the trifold smartphone, Samsung showcased the device on Tuesday at a trade event, as illustrated in the clip below.

The Korean news outlet Chosun reports that Samsung revealed the trifold phone during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) conference. Samsung displayed two units within an enclosure at the K-Tech Showcase, featuring a video that demonstrates the folding and unfolding mechanism of the device. The report indicates that Samsung plans to mass-produce between 50,000 and 100,000 units, with an estimated price around the high 3 million won mark (which exceeds $2,000), noting that the industry perceives Samsung’s intention to develop a trifold phone as an effort to showcase its innovation in the foldable market. For reference, the Huawei Mate XT trifold is priced at approximately $3,000.

In another development, <a href="https://www.sammobile.com/news/galaxy-z-trifold-showcased-officially

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