Archer and Emergence Quantum have partnered to develop graphene-based quantum devices, aiming to commercialise innovations in quantum technology and advanced electronics. Read...

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Copilot Vision’s eyesight is improving, as the integrated Windows AI technology will soon be able to see entire documents, plus link to apps like Google Drive via a new connectors function. Separately, Microsoft is adding Copilot to the Windows 11 taskbar and making “Hey Copilot” a wake word for the Windows AI app. It’s part of the company’s effort to expand its presence across your PC. The biggest update, though, is Copilot Actions, which will let the assistant actually modify files and system settings. Copilot Vision is the “visual” aspect of Copilot, able to “see” your PC’s screen and guide you through troubleshooting steps. In my hands-on testing, I found it more than capable of assisting with certain tasks, though it struggled consistently to recognize on-screen symbols in simple games like Solitaire. Microsoft plans to improve it in one key area: right now, it can only see what you see. Soon, in Office apps (Word, PowerPoint, and Excel), it will be able to view the entire document, even sections not currently visible on your screen. Copilot Vision is also rolling out to all markets where Copilot is available, Microsoft said. You won’t need a specialized PC either; if you have Copilot, you’ll have Vision capabilities. Allowing Copilot Vision to “see” an entire file isn’t all that different from simply sharing it, to be fair.Microsoft Microsoft’s basic Copilot functions are also being beefed up, widening their scope as well. Copilot Connectors allow Copilot to know more about you To date, Copilot has been a tool to surf the web. Microsoft sees it as a source of knowledge, a way to browse, pull in contextual information, and eventually serve as a platform for agents that can perform tasks like shopping. Originally, Microsoft indicated that Copilot would be able to adjust Windows settings, such as turning your PC to dark mode. The company later backed off that plan but added a feature called Direct Settings Access, which lets users ask Copilot to guide them to the proper Windows setting. Windows Copilot, connected to Outlook.Microsoft Copilot will soon be able to connect to other services as well, including OneDrive files and Outlook contacts, emails, and calendar events. You can also link it to Google services like Google Drive, Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Contacts. In addition, you’ll be able to take a Copilot response and automatically drop it into a formatted document, spreadsheet, or presentation. Microsoft tipped a version of this feature on October 10th when it announced the feature for Windows Insiders. The connectors allow for more useful, broader queries, including hunting down a particular paper or simply asking Copilot when your dentist appointment is. Of course, you’ll have the choice to turn on these connections yourself or else leave Copilot alone. Copilot will be able to create and export documents, too.Microsoft If Statcounter’s metrics are right, ChatGPT’s usage far surpasses Copilot’s, with its 78 percent share outweighing the latter’s 10 percent share by about eight to one. Still, Windows and Copilot are among the first things most people see each day, and the company is banking on making it more useful and prominently integrated. Read...

So there it is–my new mini PC, the A9 Max from Geekom. A smart little powerhouse, barely bigger than a sandwich tin, whisper-quiet and amazingly powerful. I unpacked it, plugged it in, and completed the initial setup. Everything works perfectly, as my test shows. And yet I realize after just a few minutes: it won’t stay this way for long. As soon as the software is installed, my fingers start itching for a screwdriver. Why? Because an off-the-shelf PC is always a compromise–a very good one, but not my personal ideal. Christoph Hoffmann As a technology journalist and IT expert, I look at ready-made PCs from a different perspective. Manufacturers have to appeal to a wide audience and, above all, put an attractive price on it. This inevitably means that costs are cut in certain areas. Not in the CPU, since that’s the showpiece, but in components whose true performance is only revealed in demanding everyday use. For me, the purchase of such a mini PC is therefore not the end, but the beginning of an optimization project. I’m buying an excellent foundation on which to build my customized system. More RAM brings a performance boost The first and easiest upgrade is almost always the RAM. The Geekom A9 Max comes with 32GB of RAM, which is more than enough for most users and everyday tasks such as browsing, office work, and streaming. But my everyday use is different. I often run a virtual machine for testing software, dozens of browser tabs with CPU-intensive web applications, image editing programs, and communication tools at the same time. This is where 32GB quickly becomes a bottleneck. The system starts to feel sluggish, switching between programs takes longer, and productivity suffers. The solution is simple and inexpensive: an upgrade to 64GB, for example with the Kingston FURY Impact SO-DIMM 64GB DDR5-5600 CL40 kit. Replacing the RAM modules usually takes just a few minutes, and the results are immediately noticeable. Everything runs more smoothly, the system has more headroom, and it’s better prepared for tomorrow’s software. For me, this small investment offers the best bang for your buck. SSD upgrades: more speed and storage The second candidate for an immediate improvement is the mass storage device, i.e. the SSD. Here, manufacturers save on two fronts: capacity and speed. Models with 512GB or 1TB are often installed. The NVMe SSD with 2TB of capacity in our A9 Max comes from Lexar and is labeled LNQ7A1X002T. Christoph Hoffmann That sounds like a lot at first, but I traditionally separate the Windows installation on the C: drive from my data, which I sync with Dropbox. That’s why I’m putting a second SSD in the mini PC–an external hard drive would be an option, but internal storage is unbeatable for quick access. However, speed is even more important to me. Not every NVMe SSD is the same. Manufacturers often install cheap models that are faster than old SATA hard drives, but are nowhere near the potential of modern interfaces. The NVMe SSD from Lexar installed in the Geekom delivers a read performance of 6,242 MB/s and a write rate of 5,423 MB/s in CrystalDiskMark. That’s an above-average result for a PCIe 4.0 SSD, so there’s no reason to replace it for performance reasons. The system includes a short M.2 slot (M.2-2230) for an additional SSD. The selection of compatible drives is somewhat limited. For our upgrade, we chose the Crucial P310 SSD 2TB. The alternative is the Corsair MP600 Mini, which comes in 1 and 2TB versions. If the standard SSD installed in the mini PC delivers below-average values, it makes sense to replace it with a high-end SSD. It transforms the mini PC into a real powerhouse. Programs start without delay, large files are copied in seconds, and the entire system feels more direct and responsive. It’s a level of comfort I wouldn’t want to miss in my daily work. Upgrading is easy Before you start ordering or visiting a local dealer, you should check the exact specifications of the mini PC. The Geekom A9 Max has a short M.2 interface (M.2-2230) for an additional SSD, suitable for the Crucial P310 SSD 2 TB M.2. The RAM configuration is interesting. The A9 Max (and many other models) comes with 32GB of RAM with two 16GB modules. To upgrade to 64GB, both sticks must be replaced. There’s a good selection of compatible 64 GB kits (2 × 32 GB) dual-channel DDR5 with 5600 MHz. Popular options include the Crucial CT2K32G56C46S5 and the Crucial Pro CP2K32G56C46U5. Alternatively, you can choose a single (though more expensive) memory stick to keep the option of upgrading to 128GB open. Before you begin the upgrade or installation, make sure the mini PC is completely switched off and disconnected from the power supply. To discharge any residual power from the system, press and hold the power button for about five seconds. Opening the case can be a bit tricky (see section: Troubleshooting: No more Wi-Fi and Bluetooth). The screws on the underside are hidden behind the rubber feet, which can be pried out with a pointed object. Once the screws are loosened, handle everything with care. Christoph Hoffmann Once the inner workings of the mini PC are exposed, you can access the slots for the two SSDs (1 × M.2 2280 and 1 × M.2 2230) and the two memory slots. Some mini PCs also include a mounting bracket for a 2.5-inch SATA SSD, such as the Samsung 870 EVO. With the Geekom A9 Max (and most other models), insert the M.2 SSD at a slight angle into the slot provided. Then carefully press it down and secure the end with the small screw provided. That’s it! The RAM modules are held in place by small metal or plastic retaining clips on each side. Gently push these clips outwards to release the RAM module, which will lift up slightly and can be removed. Take the new RAM module and pay attention to the notch. This must match the corresponding guide in the slot to prevent incorrect installation. Insert the module into the slot and press it down firmly and evenly until you hear the retaining clips on the side click into place. Done! After installation, close the case and reconnect all cables. Start the mini PC and enter the BIOS (usually by pressing F2 or Del) to confirm that the new RAM is recognized. Once installed, the new SSD won’t automatically appear as a drive in Windows. It must first be initialized in Disk Management. That’s it! The mini PC now has more storage space and, thanks to the RAM upgrade, extra performance headroom. Troubleshooting Wi-Fi and Bluetooth issues Please note: When opening the case and removing the inner metal cover, the black and gray cables may become disconnected. These are soldered to the metal cover and connected to the Wi-Fi card. If the connection is lost, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth functionality will no longer be available. The cables are fixed to the metal cover with adhesive strips, which limits their length. To ensure that the cables stay firmly attached when the cover is lifted, it’s best to remove the strips and reposition the cables so they remain plugged in. Christoph Hoffmann If the cables have already been disconnected, the ends must be reconnected to the Wi-Fi card. This is located underneath the M.2-2280 connector, which is why the SSD must first be carefully removed. After exposing the Wi-Fi card, carefully lift the self-adhesive, transparent plastic cover with tweezers or fold it back. Then carefully reconnect the black cable to the connection labeled “Main” and the grey cable to the “AUX” connection. This process requires patience and may take several attempts. Make sure the cover is properly closed before reinserting the SSD. Read...

ECI Software Solutions launches AI Assist for MobileTech, an AI tool embedded in its app to speed up and improve office technology repairs. Read...

Being a technology journalist isn’t nearly as cool as you might think. Most of the time it’s just reading and analyzing information, writing, talking with people via chat and email, and occasionally trying out a cool new laptop. But once in a great while you get to see things that very, very few people ever see, like the inside of one of the world’s most advanced factories. And by “you,” I mean Adam, Mark, and Will, not me. Because I’m too far away from Arizona to see Intel’s massive industrial fabrication center. And I’m not jealous at all, not even a little bit. Sadly, because it’s 1) a clean facility that’s ten times as strict as an average surgical theater in terms of cleanliness and 2) stuffed floor-to-very-high-ceiling with proprietary technology and industrial secrets, the PCWorld team didn’t get to take photos or video of the brand new Fab 52-18A facility, which is gearing up to produce Intel’s next-generation Panther Lake chips for 2026. The team did get to take notes and had a nice long chat in the Arizona sunshine about their experiences. For a deep dive on what has to be one of the most complex facilities on the planet, check out the full conversation. And if you want to be the first to know when we can actually try out Panther Lake for ourselves, subscribe to PCWorld and The Full Nerd podcast. Read...

Roku is jumping onto the AI bandwagon with its next batch of software updates. In the months ahead, the company will add AI-powered voice search for its smart TVs and streaming players. While Roku’s existing voice search can find specific programs, actors, or genres, the upgrade will allow for more conversational queries, such as “What’s the Barbie movie about?” or “How scary is The Shining.” It will also support follow-up questions. Other forthcoming Roku features include a “What do you like to watch?” feature to tweak Roku’s home screen recommendations, live scores in the Sports section, and a search function in Roku’s live TV guide. Roku is also updating its recently-launched Streaming Stick and Streaming Stick Plus to support private listening through Bluetooth headphones and earbuds. TV-focused AI Unlike rivals Amazon and Google, Roku isn’t trying to launch an all-purpose AI that also happens to work on TVs. Roku doesn’t sell its own smart speakers, and users primarily interact with voice control through the mic button on Roku remotes. “Even in this case, with us evolving Roku voice to now answer entertainment Q&A, we are specializing in a TV-related solution only,” Amit Desai, Roku’s director of product and UX for voice and conversational AI, told reporters. He added that the feature will use a combination of in-house and commercial AI technology. Roku While it’s not yet clear what will happen if you ask about non-entertainment topics, Desai said Roku will tailor its responses for TV users, for instance by offering links to the shows being discussed along with related programming. Other streaming platforms haven’t quite nailed that experience. You can ask the same questions on a Google TV or Fire TV device, for instance, but you might get a voice-only response with no quick way to access the movie or show in question. (In Google’s case, that’s because it’s using completely different voice assistant technologies for conversation and navigation.) We’ve yet to see a live demo of Roku’s AI, but it could make for a less frustrating voice control experience if it works as advertised. More features to come Roku Along with Roku’s AI voice upgrade, the company announced a slew of other software features and some hardware news: “What do you like to watch?” This feature will present a series of movie and show tiles that users can mark with a thumbs up. Roku will automatically add suggestions to users’ Save Lists and tweak its home screen recommendations accordingly. Sports scores and reminders: Roku’s Sports section, which tracks upcoming live events from across different streaming services, will display scores (which can be hidden). Users can also set reminders that will trigger a notification in Roku’s mobile app. Roku Channel search: Roku will add a search button to its Live TV menu, with a search function in its live TV grid guide to follow. Trailer links: Trailers that you watch from Roku’s home screen will have quick links in the video player to add the program to your Save List or see where it’s available to watch. Mobile app updates: Roku’s iPhone and Android apps are getting some quick shortcuts for things like closed captions, sleep timers, the remote finder function. The app will also get links to sections such as TV Shows and Sports, along with an easier way to rate shows or mark them as watched. Roku More hardware: Walmart will soon sell a $198 portable projector from Vankyo with Roku’s software built-in. It looks pretty similar to the Aurzen model that launched on Amazon last month for $250 (but quickly dropped to $180 as of this writing). The company has also added Pioneer to its stable of brands building Roku TVs. Streaming Sticks add Bluetooth: It turns out that the Roku’s $30 Streaming Stick and $40 Streaming Stick Plus support Bluetooth after all. A software update will allow them to play TV audio through wireless headphones or earbuds. That’s one less reason to consider the $100 Roku Ultra instead. It’s unclear exactly when the new software features will arrive, other than in the “coming months.” The updates will likely trickle out to Roku TVs and streamers over time, making it tough to product when you’ll start seeing them on yours. Read...

Apple on Wednesday announced the launch of its M5 processor, saying the chip “ushers in the next big leap in AI performance for Apple silicon.” The M5 appears in new editions of the iPad Pro, MacBook Pro, and Vision Pro, all of which are available for U.S. and U.K. customers to pre-order as of today. ‘A faster, more efficient, and more capable chip’ The M5, as you would expect, is a higher-performance chip than its M4 predecessor. Although it’s still built using 3-nanometer technology (albeit 3rd-gen, compared to 2nd-gen on the M4), Apple claims substantial improvements in graphical speed in particular. According to the announcement, the M5’s 10-core GPU architecture, with a Neural Accelerator in each core, delivers “over 4x the peak GPU compute performance compared to M4” as well as “enhanced graphics capabilities and third-generation ray tracing.” Overall, Apple claims, the new chip is capable of up to 45 percent higher graphics performance than the M4. On the CPU side, what Apple describes as “the world’s fastest performance core” promises a 15 percent bump in multithreaded performance compared to the M4. And unified memory bandwidth has been improved by almost 30 percent to 153GB/s. All of which sounds good on paper, but what’s all this theoretical power for? Apple makes this very clear: AI. Unlike the M4 announcement in May 2024, which referenced AI only twice in the first seven paragraphs, the M5’s press release mentions the current tech obsession in the headline, the standfirst, the first subhead, the captions of the first two pictures, twice in the first paragraph, twice in the second paragraph, three times in the third paragraph… So we can expect lots more discussion of Apple Intelligence in the year to come, then. But for now, we can focus on the first three products to feature the M5 chip. Rival chips inbound: Panther Lake unveiled: A deep dive into Intel’s next-gen laptop CPU and Benchmarked: Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme crushes Intel’s laptop CPUs New iPad Pro There’s a new iPad Pro for fall 2025, and the M5 is its main, indeed almost its only, significant upgrade. The M5 Pro is the same size, the same design, available in the same colors, and appears to be otherwise virtually identical to the M4 model in every respect except four: it gets the M5 chip, Wi-Fi 6E has been bumped to Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3 has been bumped to Bluetooth 6, and there’s a new fast-charging capability. The M5 is clearly the headline change, and Apple claims this means the new device offers “up to 3.5x the AI performance than iPad Pro with M4 and up to 5.6x faster than iPad Pro with M1.” The last addition on my list could be an appealing upgrade, too, however. Apple says the new iPad Pro can be charged to 50 percent in 30 minutes if you’ve got the right adapter. There’s one other change, but it only affects the cellular models. They get Apple’s C1X modem that was introduced with the iPhone 17. The M5 iPad Pro starts at $999/£999 for the 11-inch model and $1,299/£1,299 for the 13-inch model. It’s available to preorder starting today and will go on sale on Wednesday, October 22. For more details about this product, check out our iPad Pro news hub. New MacBook Pro As was rumored ahead of the announcement, Apple is only announcing new MacBooks with the standard M5 chip; there’s no sign of higher-end models with an M5 Pro or M5 Max. As before, the M5 laptop is only available in a 14-inch size. As on the iPad Pro, the MacBook Pro’s main upgrade is the M5 chip. Apple says this delivers “up to 3.5x the AI performance and up to 1.6x faster graphics than the previous generation.” But there’s also an upgrade to battery life (an estimated 24 hours, compared to 22 hours on the 14-inch MacBook Pro with an M4 Pro), and faster SSD performance. The 14-inch MacBook Pro with M5 starts at $1,599/£1,599. It’s available to preorder starting today and will go on sale on Wednesday, October 22. For more details about this product, check out our MacBook Pro M5 news hub. New Vision Pro Finally, the M5 makes an appearance on a second iteration of Apple’s Vision Pro mixed-reality headset. The company says this will mean “faster performance, sharper details throughout the system, and even more battery life, setting a new standard for what’s possible in spatial computing.” Other than the M5 chip, the new Vision Pro features a new cushioned Dual Knit Band to improve comfort. Owners of the M2 Vision Pro can order a new band for $99. The updated Vision Pro is available to preorder starting today for customers in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, the UAE, the UK, and the U.S, and will go on sale in those countries on Wednesday, October 22. Other countries will follow. This article originally appeared on our sister publication Macworld. Read...

Mozilla is testing a free, integrated VPN service within Firefox that will complement its existing paid Mozilla VPN service. A support page from Mozilla reveals that the company has been working on an “IP concealment” technology for over two weeks. However, Mozilla has since renamed the page “Firefox VPN” to show off the new experimental, beta feature present in the browser. Mozilla says that the technology will be free, but it’s only being offered to a small, randomly chosen set of test users. The free VPN service will apparently complement the paid Mozilla VPN service that Mozilla already offers. Our tests, however, found Mozilla’s paid VPN service somewhat wanting. Integrating a VPN service into the browser has been a feature of niche browsers for years — including Mozilla. In 2019, Mozilla began testing the Firefox Private Network, a VPN-like service that obscured the user’s IP address. The trial was part of a beta program, and the technology was never really commercialized. Opera, too, launched a more sophisticated integrated VPN service. In March, Vivaldi teamed up with Proton for an integrated VPN into the browser, as well. If you’ve been chosen to participate in Mozilla’s trial, you’ll see this notification. Mozilla’s VPN effort will route your web traffic through Mozilla-managed VPN servers, and you’ll need a Mozilla account to access it. “Web traffic originated in Firefox will be routed through the most performant VPN location available, within the United States,” Mozilla says, and the feature can be toggled on and off. Firefox says that it hasn’t assigned any usage limits to the new feature, and that it won’t affect your browsing speed, either. If you do subscribe to the paid Mozilla VPN service, however, you should delete the free VPN option to avoid duplication, the company says. As for data collection, Mozilla says that it collects only the technical data needed to keep Firefox VPN reliable and secure,” it said. “For example, we may log whether a connection succeeded or failed, or record that your account used 2GB of data on a certain day.” Don’t expect to be able to access international servers using the new free Mozilla VPN. After three months, logs linked to your account are deleted. However, Mozilla said that it will never log the sites you visit or keep track of the content you download. GHacks was among the first to report the new Mozilla feature. Read...