After nearly two years, Windows 11, which was marketed as a “fresh” remake of the well-liked Windows 10, was unable to overtake its predecessor’s market share. According to some measures, Windows 10 still controls over 70% of the Windows market share, so it’s not even a tight contest between the two. In any case, Microsoft has already begun working on its replacement, which might be Windows 12 or something else completely. The CFO of Intel claims that the upcoming Windows edition will be a “refresh,” which sounds more like a Service Pack from the XP era than a completely new operating system.

During a recent conference call, Intel CFO Dave Zinsner discussed the upcoming version of Windows with analysts from Citigroup. When asked about Intel’s future, Zinsner gave a positive prediction for 2024 based on a number of variables. He said, “We actually think ’24 is going to be a pretty good year for client, in particular, because of the Windows refresh,” according to a transcript obtained by SeekingAlpha. Furthermore, given the Windows catalyst, we continue to believe that the installed base needs to be updated because it is rather old. We believe that the refresh may begin as early as next year.”

Many have set aside next year as the best time to upgrade their personal computers. It makes sense that people would start feeling the need to upgrade in 2024 as many people purchased or upgraded their computers during the outbreak in 2020. Around this time, a new version of Windows was also anticipated, which would encourage consumers to upgrade from their outdated PCs. But it’s always been believed to be Windows 12, not just an update.

Microsoft appears to be updating Windows with an emphasis on AI-related tasks. Because of the unfortunate experience with Windows ME in 2000, we don’t think it would be quite accurate to refer to it as Windows AI, but we can envision it being something similar. After all, Meteor Lake is the newest thing in the IT sector, and it will launch in 2024 with an emphasis on AI-related tasks that are mainly unknown.

Even so, Mr. Zinsner makes a valid argument when he points out that the majority of people are still running Windows 10. Given that it declared earlier this year that new features will not be added to the current edition, the operating system is about to go on its voyage to the rear of the barn. Furthermore, in October 2025, two years from now, security updates will no longer be provided. In 2024, the OS’s stagnation might persuade some people to think about upgrading, therefore a refresh could be alluring. Assuming a subscription is not necessary.

These days, more people are joining the “no cables” PC trend. Numerous new pieces of hardware enable PC builders to conceal ugly connections for a more elegant build. Now, Colorful is entering the market with GPUs that fully conceal the power lines. The company’s novel approach involves hiding the connection beneath a detachable section of the GPU’s backplate.

The business has now expanded its product line to include the RTX 4060 and 4060 Ti cards in addition to the RTX 4070 GPUs that were originally revealed with this hidden cable architecture. This design is made possible by the RTX 40-series cards’ unusually short printed circuit board (PCB), which measures about 6 inches. On GPUs with three fans, this enables the heatsink to protrude far beyond the PCB, creating a hidden space to hide the power connections. In order to connect the power cord, the user can pry off the section of the backplate that is not magnetically attached to the PCB. The cable exits the assembly facing the back through a passage that is integrated right into the design. As it passes through the power supply and underneath the motherboard, it vanishes.

The design is strikingly similar to Gigabyte’s second-generation RTX 4090, which had a large opening in the heatsink and backplate to house the power wire. To be fair to Colorful, Gigabyte’s design is far less attractive than Colorful’s because Colorful’s GPU appears to be missing pieces whereas Gigabyte’s looks completely normal. The RTX 4090 utilizes a bigger 12VHPWR cable and connector, whereas the Colorful cards use an older 8-pin power socket, thus this comparison is not exactly apples to apples.

In addition, Colorful’s approach to solving this problem is undoubtedly less costly than Asus’s, which involves shifting the power cable from the GPU to the motherboard. The only cable-free design that does away with the power cable is this one, which facilitates an easier installation and a cleaner appearance. It’s far more limited, though, as gamers must purchase an Asus motherboard and GPU that work with it in addition to a case that fits the motherboard’s backside ports. Asus has declared a hardware “alliance” to produce all of these components, although it probably won’t start up properly until at least the following year.

Bob Iger, the acting CEO of Disney, has reportedly been counseled to try purchasing Electronic Arts. Iger’s deputies are pushing for Disney to become a “gaming giant,” according to Bloomberg, which goes into great detail on the on-again, off-again executive’s recent leadership struggles. This would probably include Disney purchasing an already-existing game publisher.

Iger’s past few years have not been smooth, as Bloomberg’s detailed account reveals. The CEO was meant to depart Disney in 2021, but he has now come back to help the business through a sharp decline in value. His tone-deaf remarks regarding the Writers Guild of America strike, Disney+ losses, and lower corporate valuation over the past year have tarnished his reputation, even if he was formerly praised for quintupling Disney’s market cap.

Given this, it should come as no surprise that Iger is eager to see Disney—as well as his personal reputation—get better. Deputies for the executive have proposed a number of possible tactics to that purpose, such as a “bolder transformation of Disney from gaming licensee to gaming giant.” How would the business accomplish this? By acquiring other businesses, which is what Disney does best.

It has been rumored that someone close to Iger have proposed purchasing EA, a significant video game publisher. Bloomberg reported that Iger has been “noncommittal” on the idea, but it did not clarify why EA was picked out or where this particular information may have originated. This specific fact may provide some solace to individuals who are upset about Disney acquiring yet another entertainment company. However, the view from the other side of the fictitious transaction is not favorable. By dividing its EA Entertainment and EA Sports businesses into two distinct identities, EA has been positioning itself for acquisition. Disney believed that since it wouldn’t have to go all in, it would be simpler to stomach a gaming venture. Also, it would happen far more quickly than establishing a separate game publishing division.

Disney and EA already have a somewhat formal partnership. In 2013, LucasFilm, which Disney acquired for $4.05 billion in 2012, gave EA the only license to develop Star Wars video games. In the end, this allowed EA to produce Star Wars Battlefront, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, and the peculiar The Sims 4 extra pack called Journey to Batuu. EA’s monopoly on Star Wars games was practically broken when those licenses expired, but the publisher is still committed to the franchise; it just needs to compete with other companies.

According to the story, Iger hasn’t been thrilled with any Disney-saving ideas that have been put forth in recent months. From the outside looking in, the likelihood of an EA acquisition is about the same as that of any other Hail Mary circulating within the Disney C-suite.

Lately, asteroids have lost a great deal of their mystery. NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft has successfully brought a substantial amount of asteroid regolith to Earth, after the successful landing of robots on a space rock by a Japanese mission that also took a small sample for future use. A few weeks after the mission’s landing, NASA unveiled the mission’s sample on Wednesday. According to the organization, Bennu, an asteroid, is rich in water and carbon, which may indicate that it contains the elements necessary for life.

Seven years ago, OSIRIS-REx was launched on its journey to the near-Earth asteroid 101955 Bennu. This space rock is approximately 1,610 feet (490 meters) in diameter and is a carbonaceous asteroid. The mission entered Bennu’s orbit in 2018 and made a surface landing to collect a sample in 2020. NASA received far more material than the minimum 60g that it had hoped for.

NASA notes that OSIRIS-REx’s sampling mechanism performed significantly better than anticipated. The scientists discovered a lot of dust and rocks scattered everywhere when they opened the return capsule (see above). The sample’s opening and cataloging process has slowed as a result. NASA does not have a complete accounting of the payload as a result. Though, considering all the “bonus material” NASA has discovered inside the capsule, it’s more likely closer to the 60g minimum than the 2-kilogram ceiling.

NASA transported the sample to Johnson Space Center in Houston following the lander’s recovery from the Utah desert. To avoid contamination, experts have sealed the container within a clean room there. The team has carried out some initial examination, including electron microscopy, infrared measurements, X-ray diffraction, and chemical element analysis, as they meticulously rescue every particle of Bennu.\

Based on that research, NASA claims that Bennu’s interior is “diverse,” having a large amount of water and carbon compounds in addition to magnetite, which has the ability to catalyze organic reactions. “The OSIRIS-REx sample is the biggest carbon-rich asteroid sample ever delivered to Earth and will help scientists investigate the origins of life on our own planet for generations to come,” said Bill Nelson, administrator of NASA.

As NASA works to retrieve the Bennu sample, more information will become available. A portion of the content will be sent to colleges, other NASA labs, and foreign aerospace partners like JAXA. Additionally, small portions of the sample will be loaned to the University of Arizona, Space Center Houston, and the Smithsonian Institution for public exhibition. The majority of it will be kept in storage, though. Seventy percent of the returned material is intended to be stored by NASA for analysis by scientists using more sophisticated technology in the future.

It’s been unclear if Samsung was selling this cutting-edge technology to any customers, despite being the first silicon foundry in the world to announce its switch to 3nm technology and gate-all-around (GAA) transistors. Beating TSMC to the 3nm punch is one thing, but would any customers want to be the first in line for it? In a bit of a plot twist, the company has at least one customer, according to a recent news release from Korea, and it’s an American corporation. Sadly, we don’t currently know who this company is.

The US company hired ADTechnology, a fabless Korean startup, to design and manufacture a 3nm server device that makes use of high-bandwidth memory (HBM). For the order, ADTechnology revealed that it will be utilizing Samsung’s 3nm process. This is the first time that we can remember that a 3nm chip made by Samsung has been made public. Both businesses speak highly of the agreement and state that it will be among the largest initiatives in the sector, but they don’t provide many specifics. A 2.5D architecture with logic and HBM memory positioned on top of an interposer is described in the PR.

Tom’s Hardware claims that Samsung offers three alternative 3nm technologies on their customer menu at the moment. Bitcoin miners were given access to SF3E, the initial version of its design. According to its plan, it will be followed by a more advanced version called SF3 the following year, and SF3P in 2025. In 2025, it will then transition to 2nm manufacture. This is a reflection of TSMC’s FinFlex strategy and the three “flavors” of 3nm products that the company is preparing. The primary distinction in this case is that, although TSMC won’t transition to GAA until it reaches 2nm in 2025, Samsung has already advanced past FinFet transistors.

Only a week ago, it was reported that Samsung was still experiencing yield issues with its most advanced technology. Now, this new agreement for 3nm server chips has been announced. Growing pains are common on a new node, particularly when the transistor architecture is completely novel. But it was said that the fact that Samsung was still struggling to achieve 70% yields over a year later was turning off potential customers. That is obviously untrue, at least in the case of ADTechnology.