Cupertino has paid Apple $12.1 million, settling a sales tax dispute that reshapes how tech giants and cities do business in California.
Apple Park
Since 1998, Apple has treated all of its online sales within California as if they originated in Cupertino. That arrangement allowed the city to collect 1% of Apple's 7.25% sales tax, according toSilicon Valley.
In its latest move to resolve the long-running dispute, City Council approved the payment during a Tuesday meeting with no discussion. The refund covers sales tax revenue Apple generated between January 2023 and June 2024.
The European Union denies that it has been holding off on fining firms including Apple and Meta because of concerns of reprisals from Trump.
An EU flag with the App Store logo
Reports began in January 2025 that the European Union and the European Commission were holding off on fines and rulings as they waited to see the impact of the Trump administration. Then more recently, it was specifically claimed that a decision to announce fines had been delayed at the last moment.
That delay was said to be in order to avoid announcing fines while officials from various EU member states were meeting with Trump to negotiate on tariffs. According to Politico, the EU has now publicly stated that it will enforce its Digital Markets Act (DMA) on any infringing company, whether in the US or not.
A Minnesota man is suing Apple for failing to do enough after having his iPhone stolen, demanding access to 2 terabytes of data and at least $5 million in damages.
Advanced Data Protection is very secure, just don't lose your Recovery Key
The loss of a smartphone can be devastating to a person, especially when it's the center of their digital existence. However, while there are ways to recover data, such as that stored on iCloud, sometimes the remedies that are available are not enough.
In a filing at the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in January, surfaced by the Washington Post in April, Michael Mathews of Minnesota is suing Apple for access to his data and compensation.
Now available to order, this "Severance" imspired keyboard ditches the Escape key because leaving was never an option.
Adam Scott stars in "Severance"
The MDR Dasher is a compact mechanical keyboard from Atomic Keyboard — not Apple — and the makers say it is inspired by the vintage Data General Dasher terminals featured in the Macrodata Refinement department, but it's instantly recognizable as coming from the Apple TV+ hit show "Severance." It uses a 70 percent layout with a built-in trackball, deep blue housing, and rounded keycaps that match the eerie aesthetics of the series.
But its most striking feature is what it leaves out — Escape, Control, and Option keys are all missing. That design choice feels intentional.
By all accounts, today is the day that The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered will be officially announced to the world. We've already seen leaked trailer screenshots, as well as references to the game on Bethesda's own website. Now, a little bit of digging in the Steam back-end has revealed a massive 120GB file size.
According to dataminer XOX, who is primarily known for leaking Marvel Rivals content, installation details on the Oblivion remaster can now be found on the backend of Steam, revealing a 120.94GB total install size for the game.
This is a massive increase over the original game, which took up less than 5GB of storage space. The original Oblivion Game of the Year Edition requires just 4.6GB of storage space, a figure that includes the game's expansion and other DLCs.
Of course, this is a modern day remake of the game, not just a remaster as the game's official title implies. All of the in-game assets have been reworked, as well as the game world, giving it a complete makeover. Previous reports have also claimed that the game's combat system has been changed.
KitGuru Says: There is a rumour that the Oblivion remaster will land later today, so we'll be keeping an eye out for updates.
It appears that Intel's LGA-1851 platform, introduced alongside the 800-series motherboards in Q3 2024, may have a surprisingly short lifespan, potentially supporting only a single generation of CPUs. Despite repeated inquiries from reviewers about future upgrades for the platform, Intel has remained tight-lipped on the matter. While rumours of an Arrow Lake Refresh have circulated, this is not expected to deliver a substantial performance uplift.
A recent leak originating from shipping manifest data (via @Olrak29_) suggests that Intel may have never intended to support Nova Lake-S, the successor to Arrow Lake-S, on the LGA-1851 socket. The manifests indicate that Intel is currently testing Nova Lake-S (NVL-S) on a new LGA-1954 platform, implying that the existing 800-series motherboards will be limited to the Arrow Lake CPU generation. The voltage regulator test equipment referenced in the shipping manifests suggests that the new LGA-1954 platform will continue to support the high-bandwidth PCIe Gen5 standard.
Delving deeper into shipment manifests, ITHome (via VideoCardz) has uncovered references to the Platform Controller Hub (PCH) for the Nova Lake-S platform. This chipset utilises a BGA888 socket and measures 24x25mm. In contrast, the current chipset for 800-series motherboards with the LGA-1700 socket has dimensions of 28×23.5mm, highlighting a physical change in the supporting silicon. The shipped components, likely jigs and mechanical fixtures used in the production process, come in various sizes and materials, indicating the preparation of testing equipment for the Nova Lake chipsets.
These findings, however, don't mean Nova Lake-S is right around the corner. The arrival of Intel's new platform is most likely targeting 2026, so LGA1851 should have at least one more year of life.
KitGuru says: Can Intel regain the performance crown with Nova Lake-S processors?
Intel's Arc “Battlemage” series certainly turned some heads. However, following the initial flurry of releases in late 2024 and early 2025, updates from Intel's Graphics division have seemingly gone quiet, leaving enthusiasts wondering about the future of their Arc ambitions.
Despite the recent change in CEO, Intel has affirmed its commitment to discrete graphics. So far, Intel has only announced to SKUs for its Battlemage GPU line-up, but recent evidence shows that there could be more on the way in the near future.
Shipping manifests from NBD (via Tomasz Gawroński and Haze) have revealed ongoing development related to Intel discrete GPUs. The entry shared by Haze refers to a BGM-G31, which seems to be a higher-end variant of the G21 chip found in the Arc B580. The entry shared by Tomasz (BMG, IBC C32 SKT) could either be an updated Battlemage GPU (“BMG”) or even a Celestial GPU (“C32”).
In related news, a job listing has also revealed that Intel may be working on incorporating GDDR7 memory into its cards. The job posting titled “Memory Tuning and Qualification” and spotted by Haze indicates that the company is actively exploring faster memory standards for future Arc GPUs. The job description mentions “GDDR6/7” compatibility for discrete Arc graphics but doesn't specify beyond that.
KitGuru says: Do you think Intel's next-gen ‘Celestial' graphics cards will use GDDR7 memory?
While the gaming Radeon RX series is expected to introduce the RX 9060 XT and RX 9070 GRE soon, those looking for a new Radeon Pro graphics card have been left waiting for news. Fortunately for the latter, it seems AMD is set to bolster its professional workstation GPU lineup with a new Navi 48-based card, potentially offering a significant upgrade for professionals.
According to Hoang Anh Phu, the Radeon Pro line will soon welcome a GPU codenamed Navi 48 XTW. This currently unidentified card is expected to feature 32GB of memory, most likely GDDR6 ECC (Error-Correcting Code) memory. While this capacity falls short of the 48GB or 64GB offered by some previous-generation professional cards, the final specifications could still be subject to change.
It's worth noting that AMD's “Advancing AI” event is scheduled for June. While the primary focus of this event is expected to be on Instinct GPUs for data centres and the ROCm (Radeon Open Compute) platform, it could also serve as a stage for the official unveiling of these new professional workstation GPUs.
KitGuru says: Do you think AMD will launch a workstation graphics card based on a Navi 44 die?
Nvidia scaled back its Computex presence last year but the company is looking to ramp things back up for Computex 2025. Nvidia has now announced its keynote, taking place on the 18th of May.
Nvidia's Computex keynote is scheduled for May 18th at 8 p.m. PDT/May 19th at 4 a.m. BST. While TAITRA, the organisers of Computex, haven't explicitly detailed the keynote's content, the official description strongly suggests that Artificial Intelligence will be the central theme of the presentation.
It's worth recalling that there were previous expectations that Nvidia might unveil its first desktop CPU family at Computex. Nvidia has also established a new social media presence focused on “AI PC” concepts, signalling its intention to compete in the desktop PC market. This keynote could provide further insight into Nvidia's strategies in this area.
Interestingly, AMD, one of Nvidia's primary competitors in the PC space, currently has no plans to hold any press events at Computex. However, AMD CEO Lisa Su is slated to deliver a keynote presentation titled “Advancing AI” the following month.
KitGuru says: Will you be watching Nvidia's keynote at Computex 2025? What do you expect from the event?
A UPS driver is accused of stealing $175,000 worth of iPhones in 90 days, birds meet a grisly end at an Apple Store in Australia, and a football coach is charged with hacking iCloud, all on this week's Apple crime blotter.
The Apple Store at Rundle Place in Australia
A man who worked for UPS in Florida was arrested and accused of stealing 171 iPhones, valued at $175,000, over the course of 90 days. According to WEAR TV, the man made the habit of stealing the product, each containing an iPhone 16, out of packages.
Avalanche Software has released a new patch for Hogwarts Legacy, introducing official support for AMD FSR 3 and Intel XeSS 2.0. This update enables both AMD and Intel GPU users to use frame generation, potentially leading to significant performance gains.
As part of the integration of Intel XeSS 2.0, the April 17th update brings integration for Intel's Low Latency (XeLL) and Frame Generation (XeFG) technologies. The patch further refines the game's graphics settings by updating the GPU list to accurately default graphics options for newly released GPUs. Ray Tracing has also received attention in this update, as the patch addresses specific issues, such as a bug causing the shadow of the Hogsmeade watermill shadow to remain static, and various resolution problems within the Ray Tracing reflection system.
Beyond graphics enhancements, the update addresses various bugs and introduces fixes for several known issues. The detailed patch notes for the latest update can be found below:
Localization
Resolved issue where the unsupported mod crash popup would be incorrectly formatted in some languages.
UI
Resolved large font rating text being cut off on mod page.
Resolved issue where mod order numbers were exceeding the bounds of their icons while using the large text option.
Removed the state change of the report button to avoid confusion if clicked multiple times.
Resolved issue where pressing the continue button in the load game window would not load the game.
Resolved issue where the prompts for enable and disable mods were reversed.
Resolved search input losing focus after page content loads.
Resolved in game date not matching CurseForge website.
Removed search bar from all tabs in the mod menus except for the “Browse” tab as the search function always brings you to the browse tab.
Minor visual improvements for mod image loading.
Resolved infinite spinner while offline in mods screen.
Resolved issue where offline notification window could not be closed.
Added an easier way to batch repair and update multiple enabled mods at once.
Added improvements to the usability of modded save UI.
Resolved seams with pagination in mod page.
Resolved banner resize and transitions issues.
Added view all buttons to Discovery tab shelves.
Resolved certain resolutions causing overlapping issues in mod description and details.
Resolved not showing notification when repair was completed in tab.
Resolved manual sorting of categories in related widgets on the Discovery and Browse tab.
Resolved favorite legend text not being correctly set in the mod page.
Resolved display settings issues where low latency options would not update upon changing upscaler type.
Resolved an issue where details pages for unavailable mods were displaying incorrectly.
Resolved an issue where unavailable mods were showing the “Not Installed” alert title.
Resolved style card grid having 5 rows.
Resolved large text issues in mod’s detail page.
Resolved no repair prompt being available when launching save file repair option.
Better aligned sorting terminology with its actual meaning.
Resolved an issue where the UI was displaying multiple confirm prompts on the same error window.
Resolved an issue where mods could be uninstalled while they were updating.
Resolved issues with the sorting function not being reset upon changing tabs.
Added additional error messaging for when staging a mod fails due to a corrupt mod.
Changed the default input on controller for “copy save” to be the options button.
Resolved issue where uninstalled mods remained in the installed list after switching tabs.
Resolved issue where creators were unable to update installed mods in the uploaded section.
Raytracing
Resolved Hogsmeade watermill shadow not rotating with asset.
Resolved Raytracing reflection system resolution issues.
Stability/Performance
Resolved performance hit when accessing library tab with a large number of mods installed.
Resolved a hitch when hovering on character slot that has a large number of mods enabled.
Resolved an issue where older saves using mods sometimes were unable to refresh store inventory.
Fixed bug where Low Latency Mode would not update when Frame Generation was changed.
Resolved FSR2 screen space reflection noise.
Resolved various minor upscaler issues.
Miscellaneous
Implemented support for Intel’s Low Latency (XeLL) and Frame Generation (XeFG) Technologies.
Updated Intel’s XeSS 2 version to latest revision.
Implemented AMD FSR3.
Resolved SSL verification issue which prevented some players from connecting to WB Games Online Services.
KitGuru says: Are you still playing Hogwarts Legacy? Will you be trying Intel and AMD frame generation technologies?
Researchers at Fudan University have developed a new non-volatile flash memory technology that could revolutionise storage. Named “PoX”, this flash memory could potentially bridge the performance gap between volatile and non-volatile memory, paving the way for advancements in data-intensive AI systems.
Traditional volatile memory solutions, such as SRAM and DRAM, offer fast write speeds (1-10 nanoseconds) but lose data when power is lost. Conversely, flash memory retains data without power but suffers from significantly slower write speeds (ranging from a few microseconds to milliseconds, depending on the technology), making it unsuitable for the real-time data processing demands of modern AI accelerators.
According to Tom's Hardware, Fudan University researchers, led by Prof. Zhou Peng of the State Key Laboratory of Integrated Chips and Systems, revolutionised flash memory physics by replacing silicon channels with two-dimensional Dirac graphene and harnessing its ballistic charge transport properties. Their key innovation lies in achieving “two-dimensional super-injection” by manipulating the “Gaussian length” of the channel, which allows for a significantly higher and faster surge of charge into the storage layer, thereby overcoming the inherent limitations of traditional injection methods.
These techniques enabled the memory to operate a single bit in 400 picoseconds (0.0000000004 seconds), which translates to roughly 25 billion operations per second. This represents a substantial improvement over the previous non-volatile memory programming speed record, which was approximately 2 million operations per second.
Flash memory's low cost and scalability have made it a cornerstone of the global semiconductor industry. However, experts believe Fudan's innovative approach, offering a “completely original mechanism”, could disrupt the existing memory landscape. In practical terms, mass-produced PoX-style memory could potentially replace separate high-speed SRAM caches in AI circuits, leading to space and energy savings. It could also enable instant-on, low-power operation for laptops and phones, as well as database engines with persistent RAM storage capabilities.
Fudan engineers are actively working to scale up the cell design for array-level demonstrations. While commercial partners have not been named, if the technology fulfils its promise while being able to be mass-produced, it shouldn't take long for companies to start developing products with PoX.
KitGuru says: Do you think we'll ever see consumer devices with PoX memory?
CD Projekt Red at one point had ambitious plans to implement a GTA Online style multiplayer mode for Cyberpunk 2077. However, due to developmental challenges, those plans were scrapped after several years. Now, it looks like CD Projekt Red is reviving its multiplayer plans for the sequel.
Project Orion, the codename for the sequel to Cyberpunk 2077, ramped up development in 2024 at CD Projekt Red's new studio in Boston, USA. Originally, Cyberpunk 2077 was supposed to feature its own standalone multiplayer mode, and while it was eventually cancelled, CD Projekt Red executives still have high hopes that the company can push into the multiplayer market with future projects.
According to Game Rant several new job listings have appeared in recent months, seeking developers to work on the Cyberpunk sequel. The studio has been looking for a Lead Network Programmer to spearhead the development of online functionalities, and a more recent job listing for a Senior Gameplay Programmer makes mention of multiplayer as well. Unfortunately, both job listings have since been removed from CD Projekt Red's website, indicating that they've found someone for the position.
With Project Orion / Cyberpunk 2, CD Projekt Red is shifting its development over to Unreal Engine, leaving behind the RED Engine due to the challenges it presented in development. With access to more industry-wide tools and a wider pool of knowledgeable developers, multiplayer Cyberpunk may no longer be the pipe dream it once was.
KitGuru Says: CD Projekt Red is well known for its single-player expertise, but I wouldn't mind seeing a bigger push for multiplayer, just as long as it doesn't come at the expense of the single-player experience.
If you have signed up to DICE's new testing platform, Battlefield Labs, then it is time to check your inbox as EA and DICE have sent out another wave of invites ahead of the next playtest.
Battlefield Labs launched earlier this year, acting as a new testing platform for DICE to gather player feedback much earlier in the development process. Previously, DICE has held Battlefield beta tests mere weeks before launch, leaving no time for them to pivot or make substantial changes. This has led to several disastrous launch situations, as seen most recently with Battlefield 2046.
The first Battlefield Labs playtest took place earlier this year, featuring a small slice of what DICE is working on for the next major title in the Battlefield series. Another playtest is being planned for the near future. As reported by Insider Gaming, EA has now sent out another wave of invites ahead of the next playtest.
Naturally, inviting members of the public to test the game will inevitably lead to leaks. However, it is worth remembering that we have no idea when the next Battlefield game will actually release, so much of what is being tested now could be experimental and may not make it to the final game.
KitGuru Says: Have any of you signed up to Battlefield Labs? Did you get an invite in the latest wave?
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is due to launch next week according to numerous leaks. These leaks have come from Xbox Support, Bethesda.net and the Virtuos Studios website, indicating a high likelihood of accuracy. Now, the latest leak indicates that the remaster will also include Oblivion's excellent expansions.
So far through numerous leaks and rumours, we've only heard about and seen portions of the main game. However, according to the folks at the Xbox-focused Defining Duke podcast, the remastered release will include all of the DLC from the original game, that means Horse Armor, the Shivering Isles questline and the game's major expansion, Knights of the Nine.
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is a remake of the original 2006 game, featuring enhanced Unreal Engine 5 visuals, improved combat and an adjusted UI. The game is being developed by Virtuos Studios, a company well known for supporting remakes, remasters and other AAA game projects. Aside from Oblivion, the company is also working on the upcoming Metal Gear Solid 3: Delta remake.
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is expected to be announced and released next week for PC and consoles.
KitGuru Says: Are you looking forward to the Oblivion remake?
At Star Wars Celebration this weekend, EA, Respawn Entertainment and Lucasfilm Games officially unveiled Star Wars Zero Company. This is a new tactics game, developed by Bit Reactor studios, a game studio founded by former XCOM veterans.
In Star Wars Zero Company, players will step into the shoes of Hawks, a former Republic officer, to command an elite squad of cunning operatives through a gritty and authentic story set in the twilight of the Clone Wars. As an unconventional outfit of professionals for hire hailing from across the galaxy, Zero Company must set aside their differences to overcome nearly impossible odds and take on an emerging threat that will consume the galaxy if left unchecked.
Speaking on the game, Bit Reactor CEO and creative director, Greg Foertsch, said: “Our vision for Star Wars Zero Company is grounded in gameplay design pillars that weave in the immersive Star Wars galaxy with engaging turn-based tactics gameplay. It’s our aim to deliver a game with an original Star Wars story from the Clone Wars era that has meaningful outcomes from player choices, and deep turn-based tactical combat with an approachable and cinematic presentation.”
Like in XCOM, players will be able to customise their squads by changing combat classes, changing character appearance, and mixing things up by recruiting new squad members from various factions to open up new tactical advantages on the battlefield. The game even features XCOM's famous ‘Iron Man' permadeath mode for those who want to turn every skirmish into a high-stakes affair.
Unfortunately, we are still some ways off from getting to play the game. Currently, Star Wars Zero Company is planned to launch on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S in 2026.
KitGuru Says: I was very much looking forward to this reveal but the 2026 release window has taken the wind out of my sails a bit. What did you think of the Star Wars Zero Company reveal? Will you be picking this up next year?
A couple of weeks ago, Blizzard unveiled its 2025-2026 roadmap for Diablo 4. One of the more secretive notes on the roadmap was a new IP collaboration event. We've already seen Diablo 4 crossing over with Warcraft for a set of skins, but the next collaboration will be venturing outside of Blizzard's stable of franchises and into one of the greatest dark fantasy manga of all time.
Blizzard has announced the Diablo x Berserk crossover. The limited time event will see a set of Berserk skins added to both Diablo 4 and Diablo Immortal. A short teaser trailer gives us a sneak peek, confirming that the Barbarian class will be getting armour inspired by Berserk's main character, Guts.
Unfortunately, not much else is known right now. There will likely be a new legendary skin available for each class, just as we saw with the Warcraft crossover. The Barbarian will get Guts' Berserker armour, and his famous sword will also be added to the game. We should see skins inspired by other famous Berserk characters like Griffith, Skull Knight, Zodd and others.
There is no release date yet for the Diablo x Berserk crossover but with the trailer now live, we'd expect to see it within the next few weeks.
KitGuru Says: Crossovers can be great when done well and as a fan of both, Diablo x Berserk makes too much sense for it to not work.
The KitGuru Reader Survey helps us understand what kind of products you are keen to learn more about in 2025/2026. It takes less than 5 mins to complete and it really helps us to target our editorial efforts. As a thank you to those of you who participate, we are offering the chance for you to win one of THREE brand new Sapphire RX 9070 XT graphic cards!
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KitGuru says: We really appreciate you taking the time to complete this survey. Good luck!
Apple's latest 14-inch MacBook Pro equipped with an M4 Pro chip is on sale for $1,829 today at Amazon, with total discounts on the range delivering up to $493 in savings.
Price drops are in effect on Apple's latest MacBook Pro - Image credit: Apple
Pick up the standard 14-inch MacBook Pro with an M4 Pro chip in Space Black at the discounted price of $1,829 at Amazon this week, a savings of $170 off MSRP. This markdown on the current model delivers the lowest online price across popular Apple resellers.
A new post from leaker Majin Bu shows off iPhone 17 Pro's camera bar yet again in possible case marketing material.
Alleged photo of the case colors for the iPhone 17 Pro - image credit: Majin Bu
The new photos from Bu show the iPhone 17 Pro in marketing material for an unknown company's cases. The pictures show the elongated and long-rumored "camera bar" type design for the back, that places the cameras on the left side, while the flash and LiDAR sensor move to the opposite side.
The colors shown in the photos posted by Bu suggest case colors of off-white, light blue, light green, a light purple, and a charcoal gray. In one photo, the camera bar is shown in a dark gray, but most images show the camera bar as white — suggesting Apple will keep the color choices for the 17 Pro models themselves the same as the iPhone 16 Pro.
Apple has highlighted how an Australian shoe company replaced its traditional point-of-sale machines with iPhones, making for a better customer experience.
Using the NewStore app, employees can check inventory instantly — image credit: Apple
Firms are regularly spotlighted by Apple in its now long-running "Apple at Work" series, which focuses on small-business use cases for various Apple technologies. The latest explores how Australian shoemaker and retailer R.M. Williams is now using iPhones for nearly every aspect of its retail business.
The Head of Technology for the company, Peter Ratcliffe, said that the switch to the iPhone has been "pivotal". "[iPhone is] revolutionizing our in-store experience, resulting in a significant increase in sales and a more personalized customer experience," he said.
The wait is over: the podcast about the performance of a card you probably can't buy is finally here! And the best part: our MSRP is always enforced. But also in…
We could see haptic buttons on a future iPhone after all, as Apple's previously abandoned Bongo project has surfaced in a recent patent application.
Apple's long-rumored haptic button design surfaced in a patent application. Image Credit: Apple / USPTO
In 2022, Apple came up with the idea of adding haptic volume and power buttons to more expensive iPhone models. Relative to the standard buttons used on the iPhone 14 range, the new haptic buttons would have incorporated a dedicated haptic engine for vibration feedback.
The change was also meant to facilitate a visual distinction between Apple's base model iPhones and the more expensive "Pro" lineup. In April 2023, the hardware was abruptly removed from the iPhone 15 Pro, and it was believed that all work on the Bongo design had ceased. Surprisingly, however, it turns out that Apple had filed a patent application for its haptic button design.
If you decide to report a bug on a beta version of iOS, you now apparently have to let Apple use the uploaded content for Apple Intelligence training with no way to opt out.
If you want to report a bug on iOS, content you upload may be used for AI training.
Apple took measures to ensure that no private user data is transmitted for Image Playground and Genmoji training, as Differential privacy introduces artificial noise. This makes it so that individual data points cannot be tracked to their source.
The Apple Watch Series 11 will probably arrive this fall alongside the iPhone 17. Here's what the next generation of Apple's smartwatch could bring to the table.
The Apple Watch Series 11 could look a lot like the Series 10
The Apple Watch is much like the iPhone and other products in Apple's ecosystem, in that it is often the subject of rumors and speculation. With Apple's famous regularity when it comes to releases, the rumor mill expects that the Apple Watch Series 11 will be arriving in the future.
Here's what analysts and leakers believe is on the way for Apple's next-gen wearable device.
The European Union has reportedly postponed fining Apple and Meta over alleged Digital Markets Act violations, specifically so the decision would not affect trade negotiations.
The European Union has reportedly postponed fining Apple
In January 2025, it was reported that the EU appeared to have put its planned rulings and fines against Apple on hold. It was partly because key EU staff were being replaced, but also because the European Commission was waiting to assess what the then-new Trump administration would do.
Subsequently, it was reported that the EU was planning to drastically reduce its fines against Apple and Meta, because of fears it Trump would impose retaliatory tariffs. Now according to the Wall Street Journal, the EU has delayed fines still further.
The steady additions to the Apple Sports app are continuing, with a new option for users to share dynamic game cards.
Apple Sports users can now share game cards with friends
Following its launch in February 2024, Apple Sports was initially considered too basic, but it has been slowing adding features. Now a new addition is intended to get users sharing Apple Sports with friends.
The new feature is called Game Card Sharing, and Apple says that fans "can now generate and share dynamic game cards across all supported leagues, whether the matchup is upcoming, live, or completed." It's a free addition to the iPhone-only Apple Sports app, which is itself free to download from the App Store.
With the Taichi Lite, ASRock aims to offer a cost-optimized, RGB-less, trimmed version of the popular X870E Taichi. The result is a price that's $50 lower than the big Taichi. Is it a no-brainer if you want the same basic package, or did ASRock cut away too much?
A recent leak suggests that AMD might be using an older architecture for one of the Ryzen Z2 series APUs. The leak claims that the Ryzen Z2 A might be using the Van Gogh architecture, the same architecture found in the Steam Deck APU.
The Ryzen Z2 series already features various architectures, including Rembrandt, Hawk Point, and Strix Point. AMD is reportedly planning to add two more: the Ryzen Z2 A and the Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme. The latter is understood to be an enhanced version of Strix Point, featuring an integrated NPU. The architecture of the Z2 A, however, has been a source of speculation.
Hoang Anh Phu now claims that the Ryzen Z2 A is based on the “Van Gogh” APU found in the Steam Deck. This APU features a 4-core Zen 2 CPU and an 8-CU RDNA2 GPU. This would mean that the Ryzen Z2 A, like the Ryzen Z2 G, would be an RDNA2-based APU designed for handheld devices.
Based on what has been said about this series, the Ryzen Z2 is becoming increasingly complex, with a somewhat confusing naming scheme. The current Z2 lineup already encompasses a mix of CPU architectures (Zen 2, Zen 3+, Zen 4, and Zen 5) and GPU architectures (RDNA 2, RDNA 3, and RDNA 3.5), making it difficult to determine which APUs feature specific architectures.
The first handheld devices based on the Ryzen Z2 APUs are expected to be released later this year, but to date, we are not aware of any console that will utilise the Ryzen Z2 A. However, based on the specifications we have for this APU, we guess that it will be used in entry-level consoles.
KitGuru says: Do you think it makes sense to launch an APU based on GPU and CPU architectures that are now five to six years ago?
Frostpunk 2 is barely six months old but we are already starting to hear about the next installment in the survival strategy series. According to 11bit's latest earnings report, the company is targeting a 2027 release date for Frostpunk 3.
11bit Studios, the team behind the Frostpunk franchise, has confirmed that a third game is now in the works. In the company's latest earnings report, they confirmed that “the next project set in the Frostpunk universe” is now in development, adding that they plan to launch “as early as 2027”.
The decision to begin work on Frostpunk 3 followed the cancellation of a different game, known as Project 8, a move intended to lower the company's operating costs.
In addition to Frostpunk 3, 11bit Studios is also working on another unannounced game. However, this project is more ambitious and isn't expected until 2029 at the earliest. Nothing else has been revealed publicly about this secret project.
KitGuru Says: It seems a little early to be talking about Frostpunk 3 but hopefully the game's early development start doesn't mean a lack of DLC for Frostpunk 2.
Team Group continues to refine its diverse storage portfolio with the launch of the X2 MAX USB 3.2 Gen 2×1 Portable SSD and S5 USB 3.2 Gen 1 Flash Drive.
The Team Group X2 MAX USB 3.2 Gen 2×1 Portable SSD supports USB 3.2 Gen 2×1 and delivers transfer speeds of up to 1,000MB/s. Featuring both dual Type-A and Type-C connectors, the X2 MAX ensures broad compatibility across a wide range of devices, including the latest PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles, as well as PCs and laptops. With up to 2TB of storage and weighing only 12g, the X2 MAX eliminates the need for additional adapters or cables.
The Team Group S5 USB 3.2 Gen 1 Flash Drive utilises Chip On Board technology, ensuring data integrity to protect important files in various environments. Available in capacities ranging from 32GB to 512GB, it packs a USB 3.2 Gen 1 interface that achieves read speeds of up to 140MB/s at 128GB capacities and up, or 100MB/s for 32GB and 64GB models.
The X2 MAX USB 3.2 Gen 2×1 Portable SSD comes with a five-year warranty, while the S5 USB 3.2 Gen 1 Flash Drive is backed by a lifetime warranty.
KitGuru Says: If you are in the need of compact and portable storage, Team Group has some great options on the table.
It has been a few days since we covered some power supply shenanigans, which was a story that got us all fired up for a much-needed refresher on PSU purchasing strategies. Processors, graphics cards, and memory standards may come and go, but one fact remains: they all need a copious supply of clean power. Never skimp on your PSU, at the...
Following a federal judge ruling that Google is effectively an unlawful monopoly, the search company say that it will partially appeal.
Google insists it half-won its case, despite being ruled to be an unlawful monopoly
On April 17, 2025, US District Judge Leonie Brinkema ruled that Google's control over advertising markets amounted to an unlawful monopoly. Google has now been reframing the ruling as a partial victory, while saying it will also file an appeal.
"We won half of this case and we will appeal the other half. The Court found that our advertiser tools and our acquisitions, such as DoubleClick, don't harm competition. We disagree with the Court's decision regarding our publisher tools. Publishers have many options and they
The Lian Li Lancool 207 is being updated for 2025. The new version of the case boasts a large, customisable LCD display on the front panel, and comes with four pre-installed fans, removing the need to worry about picking up extra case fans for airflow.
The new LANCOOL 207 Digital is now equipped with a 6-inch customisable LCD display. The screen boasts a 720×1600 resolution, a 60Hz refresh rate, and a brightness of 500 nits, ensuring crisp and vivid visuals. Controlled through L-Connect 3 software, users can monitor their system’s CPU, GPU, and fan performance metrics at a quick glance. In addition to customisation, the display also serves as a secondary screen via a USB connection, offering added versatility for multitasking or system monitoring. In Offline mode, the LCD remains functional even when the system is powered off, displaying the time and date for continuous utility.
Retaining its predecessor's innovative internal layout, the LANCOOL 207 Digital features a recessed motherboard design and a front-mounted PSU, optimising space utilisation and airflow within the chassis. This configuration maximizes clearance for high-end GPUs and keeps the case size to a minimum while providing easy access to the PSU ports, streamlining the building experience for both novice and experienced PC enthusiasts.
You can find the full specs for the Lian Li LANCOOL 207 Digital below:
Model
LANCOOL 207 Digital
Case Type
Tower Chassis
Dimensions
(D) 455.6 x (W) 219 x (H) 456mm
Color
Black
Material
Steel
4.0mm tempered glass
Aluminum
Motherboard Support
ATX (Width = 240mm)
MICRO-ATX
MINI-ITX
Expansion Slot
7
Storage
2 x 3.5ʹʹ HDD or 2.5ʹʹ SSD
GPU Length Clearance
375mm(Max)
CPU Cooler Height Clearance
180mm (Max.)
PSU
ATX (Under 160mm)
Fan Support
(Front) 2 x 140mm (Pre-installed)
(Top) 3 x 120mm / 2 x 140mm
(Bottom) 2 x 120mm (Pre-installed)
(Rear)1 x 120mm
Radiator Support
(Top) 360 / 280 / 240
I/O PORTS
1 x Power Button
2 x USB 3.0
1 x USB type C
1 x Audio
Dust Filters
1 x Bottom
Screen Type
6” LCD
Screen Resolution
720 x 1600 Pixels
Screen Refresh Rate
60 Hz
Screen Brightness
500 Nits
Same as the LANCOOL 207, the LANCOOL 207 Digital is designed with cooling in mind right out of the box, featuring two pre-installed 140mm high-airflow PWM fans at the front and two 120mm PWM fans at the bottom to ensure immediate heat dissipation to the GPU.
The LANCOOL 207 Digital is available starting this month, priced at $109.99.
KitGuru Says: Are you planning a new PC build for 2025? Are you considering a Lian Li case for the job?
Intel was among the first GPU vendors to introduce dedicated generative AI software. Their AI Playground software, optimised for Intel Arc GPUs and integrated graphics solutions is described as an “AI HUB,” as it can run chat-based Large Language Models (LLMs) in addition to generating images. While widely praised for its user-friendliness, AI Playground's limitation to Intel hardware has been a drawback for some.
However, the accessibility of AI Playground might be expanding soon. Intel has recently released the source code, making AI Playground open source, allowing developers to download, customise, and contribute to the codebase. This should hopefully expand support to other hardware that's not developed by Intel.
Intel AI Playground is described as an AI PC software that enables AI picture generation, image styling, and chatbots on a PC with an Intel Arc GPU. AI Playground makes use of libraries from GitHub and Huggingface, but note that some may not be available in all locations worldwide.
AI Playground supports several Gen AI libraries and models, including image diffusion options like Stable Diffusion 1.5, SDXL, Flux.1-Schnell, and LTX-Video, as well as LLM options such as Safetensor PyTorch LLMs for DeepSeek R1 models, Phi3, Qwen2, Mistral, and GGUF, OpenVINO TinyLlama, Mistral 7B, Phi3 mini, and Phi3.5 small.
KitGuru says: Do you use local generative AI tools? Have you ever tried Intel AI Playground?
The Apple TV 4K set-top box is the most expensive one you can get, but it's also the best for its range of features and its ease of use — once you know how to get the most out of it.
Apple TV 4K showing on a smart TV
Apple TV 4K plugs into your TV set and brings you streaming services, games, music, and apps. It can be a karaoke machine, it can be a video conferencing tool, and it comes with a fairly limited App Store.
But the thing about having an Apple TV 4K is that it just works. It's so long ago now that I can't remember what prompted me to buy one, but it was just for me, just for my interest — and it did not stay that way.
AMD is reportedly preparing to unveil two new Radeon RX 9000 series graphics cards in the coming weeks: the RX 9060 XT and the unexpected Radeon RX 9070 GRE. Some people suggested the latter may replace the RX 9070 non-XT in some regions. However, based on the newly reported specs, that might not be the case.
According to VideoCardz, the Navi 48-based RX 9070 GRE will feature 3,072 Stream Processors (48 CUs), indicating that a portion of the GPU's cores will be disabled, as Navi 48 has 64 CUs. To compensate for this, the RX 9070 GRE is expected to boast higher clock speeds than the RX 9070, potentially reaching a boost clock of 2.79GHz. This configuration yields an estimated 17.1 TFLOPS of compute performance, which is slightly lower than the RX 9070's 18 TFLOPS.
Further differentiating the RX 9070 GRE is its memory configuration. The GRE variant is rumoured to utilise 12GB of GDDR6 memory across a 192-bit memory bus. This is a step down from the RX 9070 (and XT) and RX 9060 XT 16GB, which employ 16GB of memory running at 20Gbps. Consequently, the memory bandwidth of the RX 9070 GRE will be 432GB/s.
Based on these specs, it appears that AMD is aiming to introduce a product that effectively bridges the performance gap between the RX 9070 and the RX 9060 XT, even if it may have less memory. The international availability of this new Navi 48-based graphics card remains uncertain. However, the rollout in China is said to be planned for this quarter.
KitGuru says: Do you think the Radeon RX 9070 GRE will find its place in the current GPU market? What kind of performance do you expect from this card?
Earlier this week, Ubisoft announced that they would be present during this year’s Star Wars Celebration Day to show off the second story DLC for Star Wars Outlaws – A Pirate’s Fortune. Ahead of this however, Ubisoft seemingly accidentally published all the details early.
In a video uploaded to YouTube (which has since been made private), Ubisoft detailed the upcoming story DLC for Star Wars Outlaws: A Pirate’s Fortune.
Set to arrive on the 15th of May, this DLC will have players “Embark on a mysterious adventure with Kay and Nix to explore the Khepi system and learn what it takes to be a true leader. Team up with legendary pirate Hondo Ohnaka and face off against Stinger Tash and her Rokana Raiders as you infiltrate the Khepi Tomb to uncover the secrets and hidden treasures it holds.”
The trailer itself was rather short, clocking in at just over a minute long, and so it is likely that Ubisoft plans to go into more depth during the event itself – with this video serving more as a closing trailer.
Regardless, we won’t have to wait long to find out, as Star Wars Celebration 2025 kicks off today.
KitGuru says: Are you looking forward to A Pirate’s Fortune? What do you hope to see changed/added with this DLC? Could it have the potential to elevate the game’s overall experience? Let us know down below.
The SilverStone SETA A2 has been around for a while, but we thought it was still worth a look given it offers a range of features to suit all types of PC builds. These include great potential for cooling with mesh panels, large radiators and loads of fans supported, flexible motherboard support including back connect, alongside compatibility for big graphics cards and a huge amount of storage options for both 2.5 and 3.5-inch drives. Let's dive straight in and take a closer look.
Timestamps:
00:00 Start
00:41 Options, pricing, size, weight
02:00 A closer look at the panels
04:46 Massive Storage capabilities
05:50 GPU support / anti sag bracket
06:16 Cooling support
07:48 Mobo Support
08:19 PSU support
08:44 Back of case
09:18 Right Hand Side
10:50 The Cables
11:21 The Floor
12:29 Accessories
13:19 Test System
13:55 Building Into The System
14:05 Thermal Performance / Noise Output
15:33 James' notes and closing thoughts
Features:
SETA A2 front panel boasts a fully perforated mesh design complemented by four 140mm pre-installed fans (3 x front, 1 x rear) for unobstructed airflow and optimal cooling performance.
The motherboard tray supports up to an EATX motherboard, including back-connect designs such as MSI Project Zero and Asus BTF.
As well as a massive 438mm space for graphics cards (with drive cages removed), 420mm top, side and front-mounted radiators, 190mm tall CPU air coolers and up to thirteen fans.
It also supported flexible storage options with space for up to sixteen 2.5-inch or up to ten 3.5-inch drives.
Storage bays: 3.5″ / 2.5″ x 8, 3.5″ / 2.5″ x 2 [1], 3.5” x 1 , 2.5” x 3
Max GPU Length: 438mm
MAX GPU Height: N/A
MAX GPU Width: N/A
Max CPU Cooler Height: 190mm
Max PSU Size: ATX
Pre-installed Fans: 3 x 140mm(Front)1 x 140mm(Rear)
Fan Support: 120mm x 3 / 140mm x 3 (Top) 120mm x 3 / 140mm x 3 (Front) 120mm x 1 / 140mm x 1 (Rear) 120mm x 1 / 140mm x 1 (Bottom) 120mm x 3 / 140mm x 3 (R/H Side)
Font I/O: USB Type-C x 1, USB 3.0 x 2, Audio x 1, Mic x 1, Power, Reset, LED buttons
LCD Screen: N/A
Thermal Performance Testing
To simulate thermal demand we run the Cinebench R23 multi-thread benchmark and 3DMark Speed Way stress test simultaneously in a loop for 30 minutes to load the system fully. This gives the CPU and GPU enough time to reach constant steady-state temperature. With this data, we can compare how the system handles the thermal demand and measure peak noise levels.
Thermal performance is measured with the case in various configurations, such as the default, with the tempered glass left-hand side panel removed and with the front panel removed to see how these configurations affect the CPU and GPU temperature. During testing, only stock case fans are used unless otherwise specified. All water pumps are set to maximum RPM and fans are set to a custom RPM curve by the Motherboard software/BIOS.
All temperature measurements are presented as Deltas – meaning the ambient temperature has been deducted from the CPU temperature giving us a Delta. Data shown in the charts represent the average component temperature over the length of the test as measured by HWiNFO and then the last 15 minutes of the data are calculated to get the average. The ambient temperature during thermal tests is between 19-20⁰C.
We tested the case thermals with a 420mm AIO CPU cooler installed in the roof and with the case in several different configurations. The default configuration shown in the charts is with a 420mm roof-mounted AIO, the stock case fans installed and all case panels and dust filters fitted.
In the default configuration, the case does a good job of keeping the CPU and GPU cool, with average load temperatures of 58°C over ambient for the CPU and 53°C over ambient for the GPU, which is what we would expect for this configuration under high load. Adding a couple of fans to the power supply shroud as intake has a small effect on GPU temperature, dropping it by 2°C, but the CPU temperature is unchanged.
Adding side intake fans has a similar effect, dropping GPU temperature to 51°C over ambient. However, removing the mesh panels and the glass has the most significant effect on CPU and GPU thermals, which suggests that the mesh panels cause some airflow restriction, but it's not enough to cause any concern.
Noise
In any configuration, the test system runs relatively quietly as the case provides good airflow and cooling, especially with a 420mm AIO installed. Adding three side intake fans very slightly increases idle noise, but the lowest load noise output is with the glass side removed, as the system is at its coolest here with lower fan speed. But in any configuration, the system shouldn’t be too loud if you accurately configure a custom fan curve, and it will stay cool, too.
Closing Thoughts
If you need a large mid-tower ATX case with extensive hardware support, great cooling options and masses of storage drive space, then the SilverStone SETA A2 could be the perfect fit. However, the drive bays on the left side do necessitate some compromises, such as the maximum graphics card length and radiator installation. Removing a couple of the drive bays increases the max GPU length to the case's full supported length, so you can still have a decent combination of drives and a big GPU.
It's good to see that SilverStone includes all those drive bays in with the price of the case, some vendors will charge extra for additional storage bays like this. The GPU anti-sag bracket is also a handy included feature, and so is the rotatable PCIe slot bracket and the removable top and front radiator mounts. You may not need all the drive bays, but at least they are there if you do. Build quality of the case is great too, it's up there with some of the best for sure.
There's only a few minor negatives with the case, I had trouble installing a SilverStone power supply from the rear (which is the way it should be installed) due to the labels on each side of the power supply being thick, causing a very tight fit. There are some caveats with 420mm radiator installation too – although the case supports three 420mm rads (top, front and side) they cannot be installed simultaneously. However, SilverStone says the top and front can be installed together, so that’s good for custom cooling enthusiasts.
The other gripe I have is with the fans; they are only voltage controlled and not PWM, even though the included fan hub is PWM. This seems like an odd decision as these days PWM fans surely can't cost much more to vendors, so I don’t know why SilverStone doesn’t include PWM fans; they are just better for the end user.
Other than those minor faults, the SETA A2 is a good case with decent out-of-the-box cooling, great hardware and radiator support, and it has some useful features built in. For £150 it's a very solid option, especially for users who need tonnes of storage drives.
The SilverStone SETA A2 is available to purchase now from Scan in black for £149.99 HERE and pre-order in white/rose gold for £159.98 HERE.
Pros:
High build quality and solid feel.
Excellent for storage and radiator support.
Good airflow and cooling.
Great cable management / easy installation.
Cons:
Some power supplies might be difficult to install from the rear.
Included fans are voltage control only.
Arrived with one faulty fan.
KitGuru says: If you use your PC for more than just gaming and need tonnes of storage, then this could be the perfect case for you.
Connexion
