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Computing

All articles tagged with #computing

Fidelity breach settlement could pay up to $5,000 to affected customers
computing8 days ago

Fidelity breach settlement could pay up to $5,000 to affected customers

Fidelity Investments has agreed to a $2.5 million class-action settlement over a 2024 data breach that affected more than 155,000 customers. Eligible claimants include those Fidelity notified and U.S. customers whose account numbers and routing numbers were exposed; payouts can reach up to $5,000 for documented out-of-pocket losses, with the bulk of payments expected to be pro-rated around $100. A July 9 court hearing will decide final approval, and claims must be filed by July 27 via the settlement website; California residents may receive additional payments under the California Consumer Privacy Act.

Chrome's hidden 4GB AI model stash prompts consent questions
computing19 days ago

Chrome's hidden 4GB AI model stash prompts consent questions

A 4GB file named weights.bin has surfaced in Chrome folders, tied to Gemini Nano on-device AI that runs features like autofill and text summaries; Google says the model is downloaded to keep on-device features ready and has added an opt-out, but concerns remain about transparency and consent as users may not be clearly informed of the storage impact. Deleting it may not be permanent if related AI features stay enabled.

Stevens Family Bets $200M to Make USC a Leader in AI
technology21 days ago

Stevens Family Bets $200M to Make USC a Leader in AI

USC trustee Mark Stevens and his wife Mary pledged $200 million to accelerate AI research across USC, prompting the renaming of the USC School of Advanced Computing to the USC Mark and Mary Stevens School of Computing and Artificial Intelligence. The gift funds interdisciplinary AI initiatives—such as AI for Business, Ethics and Trust in Computing, and the Center for AI in Society—bolstering USC’s goal to become a national and global hub for AI research, education, and innovation.

One Giant Screen, Not Two: How a 40-inch Ultrawide Changed My Workflow
computing23 days ago

One Giant Screen, Not Two: How a 40-inch Ultrawide Changed My Workflow

Tech writer and desk-setup hobbyist Anthony Spadafora explains why he swapped his multi-monitor rig for a single 40-inch Innocn ultrawide, arguing the extra width provides a more seamless workflow than two or more displays. After years of experimenting with stacked/dual/triple monitors and juggling Mac and Windows, he finds the ultrawide’s continuous workspace improves focus and multitasking, making a second screen feel redundant for many tasks, though personal preference still matters.

Apple’s AR glasses aim to outpace Meta with iPhone-tight, AI-driven wearables
computing1 month ago

Apple’s AR glasses aim to outpace Meta with iPhone-tight, AI-driven wearables

Tom's Guide reports Mark Gurman saying Apple will unveil its first AR glasses in the September/October window this year, with a early-2027 rollout. Apple plans a display-free first-gen pair focused on tight iPhone integration, premium acetate frames in multiple styles, and a substantially upgraded Siri (potential Gemini integration). Beyond glasses, Apple is eyeing AI wearables like AirPods with cameras and an AI pendant to broaden its wearable ecosystem, all as part of a strategy to blunt Meta’s momentum ahead of the holidays.

Two AIs Build PCs: ChatGPT Edges Gemini in the Showdown
computing1 month ago

Two AIs Build PCs: ChatGPT Edges Gemini in the Showdown

TechRadar pits ChatGPT and Gemini against its own PC expert to see which AI can assemble the better desktop build. ChatGPT’s Ryzen 5 7600 + RX 9070 XT-based configuration narrowly beats Gemini’s Ryzen 7 9700X + RTX 5070, with similar RAM, SSD, cooling, PSU, and a Fractal North case in both proposals. The article notes the margin is small and invites readers to watch the full episode to see which build ultimately wins.

Disgruntled researcher leaks Defender zero-days, leaving Windows users exposed
computing1 month ago

Disgruntled researcher leaks Defender zero-days, leaving Windows users exposed

A disgruntled security researcher leaked three Microsoft Defender zero-days—BlueHammer, RedSun and UnDefend—exposing over a billion Windows users; BlueHammer has been patched in the April 2026 updates, while RedSun and UnDefend remain unpatched but are already being exploited in the wild. Users should install the April 2026 security updates now and monitor for future patches, with additional antivirus protection to bolster defenses.

Intel Core Series 3 debuts for mainstream laptops with AI boost
computing1 month ago

Intel Core Series 3 debuts for mainstream laptops with AI boost

Intel's Core Series 3 chips, codenamed Wildcat Lake, target mainstream and value laptops with the same 18A process as Core Ultra Series 3. They deliver up to 47% better single-thread and 41% better multi-thread performance, plus up to 2.8x GPU AI performance vs a five-year-old PC, and up to 64% lower power vs last-gen Core 7 150U. The top six-core Core 7 360 can reach 4.8GHz with 17 TOPS NPU; Intel promises all-day battery life (about 12.5 hours office, 18.5 hours streaming), Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and two Thunderbolt 4 ports. Laptops from Acer, ASUS, Dell, Samsung and Lenovo will adopt Core Series 3 in 2026.

108 Chrome extensions quietly exfiltrate data and inject ads across sites — remove them now
computing1 month ago

108 Chrome extensions quietly exfiltrate data and inject ads across sites — remove them now

Security researchers found 108 malicious Chrome extensions—designed as games, utilities, or add-ons—that quietly siphon user data and inject ads across every site. Despite different publishers, all stolen data is sent to a single command-and-control server; 54 extensions harvest Gmail addresses, full names, and Google 'sub' IDs to build a persistent profile. If you have any of these extensions installed, delete them via Chrome or Edge extensions manager. To stay safe, download only trusted extensions, inspect permissions, enable Enhanced Safe Browsing, and consider antivirus and identity protection to guard against similar threats.

Claude lands in Word, turning documents into a cross-app AI workflow
computing1 month ago

Claude lands in Word, turning documents into a cross-app AI workflow

Anthropic's Claude is now integrated with Microsoft Word, allowing AI-powered questioning with clickable citations, formatting‑preserving edits, and replies to comment threads; it can also pull data from open Excel files and work across Word, Excel, and PowerPoint for streamlined, cross‑app document workflows. The integration is in beta for Team and Enterprise plans.

Windows 11 bug traps C: drive access on some Samsung laptops, Microsoft investigating
computing2 months ago

Windows 11 bug traps C: drive access on some Samsung laptops, Microsoft investigating

A bug tied to the February 2026 Windows 11 security update (KB5077181) is locking users out of the C: drive on certain Samsung laptops with the error “C:\ is not accessible – Access denied.” Microsoft says it’s investigating with Samsung and will issue a fix; affected users can roll back the update or pause installation if not yet installed. While Samsung Share app is suspected, this isn’t confirmed and workarounds should be used with caution.

Video editing in 2026: 32GB RAM is the sweet spot
computing2 months ago

Video editing in 2026: 32GB RAM is the sweet spot

An opinion piece argues that RAM matters for video editing but more RAM isn’t a cure-all amid a RAM shortage and rising prices. For most 4K editing, 32GB is a practical sweet spot; 64GB benefits longer timelines and heavier VFX, while 8–16GB is usually insufficient. Budget-minded editors can use DDR4 on older systems or proxy media, though DDR5 kits remain costly. The RAM crunch could ease around 2028 as prices normalize.

Apple kicks off spring lineup with iPhone 17e and M4 iPad Air
technology2 months ago

Apple kicks off spring lineup with iPhone 17e and M4 iPad Air

Apple kicked off its week of announcements with two new devices: the iPhone 17e, a 6.1-inch entry model with 256GB base storage, MagSafe and Qi2 charging up to 15W, a faster C1X modem, Ceramic Shield 2, IP68, all‑day battery, satellite SOS features, and iOS 26 on the A19 chip; and the M4-powered iPad Air, which now has 12GB RAM, Wi‑Fi 7 and 5G, with 11‑inch and 13‑inch models starting at $599 and $799 respectively (128GB), plus a $50 educational discount. Pre-orders begin March 4 and devices ship March 11 in multiple countries.

Samsung Galaxy Book 6 lineup lands in the US on March 11 with AI features and high-end GPUs
computing3 months ago

Samsung Galaxy Book 6 lineup lands in the US on March 11 with AI features and high-end GPUs

Samsung will begin US reservations for the Galaxy Book 6 lineup—Book 6, Book 6 Pro, and Book 6 Ultra—on March 11, with prices starting at $1,050 for the base model and up to $2,450 for the Ultra. The series uses Intel Core Ultra processors, Intel Arc graphics, and RTX 50 GPUs, and offers 14- or 16-inch AMOLED 2X displays, up to 30 hours of playback, and AI features like AI Select and Search; availability began after their CES debut.

technology-and-electronics3 months ago

Apple readies M5-powered MacBooks and iPads for March 4 event

Apple has invited press to an 'Apple Experience' in New York City on March 4 at 9 AM ET (with simultaneous events in London and Shanghai) and is expected to unveil new iPads and MacBooks, including a MacBook Air and 14- and 16-inch Pro models powered by the M5 Pro/Max, plus potential entry-level MacBook in new colors. Rumors also point to iPad updates (A18 chip and iPad Air with M4) and refreshed Mac Studio, Studio Display, and Mac mini later this year; it’s not yet clear if the event will be streamed publicly.