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As if the plate wasn’t already full, AI is about to worsen the global e-waste crisis

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AI is already changing how the world works, but it’s also quietly making one of our biggest environmental problems even worse. And no, this isn’t about energy consumption this time. It’s about the hardware. Because every smarter AI model comes with a physical cost.

AI is about to supercharge the e-waste problem

According to a study published in Nature Computational Science (via Rest of World), the rapid rise of AI could add between 1.2 to 5 million metric tons of e-waste by 2030. The reason is pretty simple. AI relies on high-performance hardware like GPUs and specialized servers, and these don’t last very long. Most of this equipment gets replaced every 2 to 5 years, which means older hardware is quickly discarded as newer, faster systems take over.

And this is happening at scale. As companies race to build bigger data centers and train more powerful models, the demand for hardware keeps rising, along with the pile of obsolete machines left behind.

This isn’t just a tech problem but a global one

E-waste is already one of the fastest-growing waste streams in the world, with tens of millions of tonnes generated every year. And the worst part? A large chunk of it isn’t properly recycled. Improper handling can release toxic materials like lead and mercury into the environment, posing serious risks to both ecosystems and human health. And here’s the uncomfortable truth: most of this waste ends up in lower-income countries, where recycling often happens under unsafe conditions. That means that while the benefits of AI are global, the environmental cost is not equally shared.

At the end of the day, AI might feel like a purely digital revolution. But behind the scenes, it’s building a very real, very physical footprint. And if things don’t change, that footprint is only going to keep growing.

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How One Line Of TF2 Code Ruined This Simple Feature

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Ever encountered a minor annoying bug in a video game? How about one dating back to 2018? Usually, you have no hope of fixing it, but this time is different. [Joey Cheerio] shows the first-time programmer approach to (with great difficulty) fixing a bouncy ball prop turning invisible when shot in Team Fortress 2.

It starts with a band-aid solution that hides the problem: just turn off jiggle physics! While that works, it also affects many other models in the game, and doesn’t tackle the root cause. Time to investigate. Because this ball often goes overlooked, [Joey Cheerio] didn’t even realize that it was supposed to have jiggle physics, accidentally removing it. Turns out, after scouring the internet for old footage, it’s supposed to jiggle after all.

Back to square one, [Joey Cheerio] infers that the jiggle bone accidentally removed was related to the problem, eventually figuring out that the specific type of jiggle bone used (is_boing) caused the issue. Time to dig in the code. Tracking down the problem is no small feat for someone who’s never programmed before, even with the help of LLMs, but eventually, at 4 in the morning, a breakthrough! The ball no longer turned invisible but retained the intended jiggle.

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At the limits of his knowledge on the subject, [Joey Cheerio] posts his partial progress so far to GitHub, where [ficool2] tracks down the real problem and turns this second band-aid into a proper fix. [Joey Cheerio] finishes up by explaining the math of what exactly went wrong.

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Asus TUF Gaming A14 (2026) Review: GPU-Less Gaming Laptop

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In the past, I’ve stayed away from Asus TUF laptops, as it was the bottom-tier in terms of design. That meant chunky chassis, poor displays, and thick bezels. The models from 2025 looked more modern, but the prices weren’t competitive with some of my favorite cheap gaming laptops like the Lenovo LOQ 15 and Acer Nitro V 16.

But again, the TUF A14 is something new, and the design is impressive. It’s right around the same thickness and weight as the 14-inch MacBook Pro, and the bezels around the sides of the screen are really trim. The bottom bezel is thick, primarily because the A14 uses a 16:9 aspect ratio screen. I won’t belabor that point, but it means less screen and more bezel in the same footprint. Overall, it’s very subtle. The gaming aesthetic is heavily downplayed, with only a few elements left, such as the typeface on the keycaps and the shape of the vents below the hinge. There’s not even per-key backlighting on the keyboard.

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Photograph: Luke Larsen

Image may contain Computer Electronics Laptop Pc Mobile Phone and Phone

Photograph: Luke Larsen

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You’d never know this was a gaming laptop based on the usability of the keyboard and touchpad; on gaming laptops versus work ones, these can often be afterthoughts. Here, they’re both excellent. The touchpad, in particular, is oversized and surprisingly precise. Although the laptop is made of plastic, it handled the pressure I was putting on it around the lid, keyboard, and palm rests without too much give.

The TUF A14 has a helpful assortment of ports. On the left side, you get a USB-A 3.2 port, USB-C port, HDMI 2.1, headphone jack, and proprietary power jack. You get an additional USB-A and USB-C (USB4) port on the right side, alongside a micro SD card slot. I really like the decision to put the USB4 port on the right side, as it means you can both charge the laptop or connect to an external display from the right side too. Only being able to charge from one side is one of my pet peeves, so good job, TUF A14.

More Than Gaming

Image may contain Computer Electronics Laptop and Pc

Photograph: Luke Larsen

Once I saw the resolution of the display, I knew the TUF A14 was no longer a real “budget” device. It’s 2560 x 1600, a big step up from the typical cheap gaming laptop. It also has a 165 Hz refresh rate, which is useful for when playing in 1200p—and let’s be honest, that’s the go-to the vast majority of the time. The higher resolution, though, plays into why the A14 is a solid hybrid device that can work as well for gaming as it does for school or work.

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NYT Connections hints and answers for Sunday, April 19 (game #1043)

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Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing ‘today’s game’ while others are playing ‘yesterday’s’. If you’re looking for Saturday’s puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Saturday, April 18 (game #1042).

Good morning! Let’s play Connections, the NYT’s clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.

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Today’s NYT Strands Hints, Answer and Help for April 19 #777

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Looking for the most recent Strands answer? Click here for our daily Strands hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.


Today’s NYT Strands puzzle features some real stumpers. Some of the answers are difficult to unscramble, so if you need hints and answers, read on.

I go into depth about the rules for Strands in this story

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If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections and Mini Crossword answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: NYT Connections Turns 1: These Are the 5 Toughest Puzzles So Far

Hint for today’s Strands puzzle

Today’s Strands theme is: Small change.

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If that doesn’t help you, here’s a clue: Adapt.

Clue words to unlock in-game hints

Your goal is to find hidden words that fit the puzzle’s theme. If you’re stuck, find any words you can. Every time you find three words of four letters or more, Strands will reveal one of the theme words. These are the words I used to get those hints but any words of four or more letters that you find will work:

  • SMALL, CHANGE, STUD, MEER, REEK, RIDE, RAKE, JUST, PEER

Answers for today’s Strands puzzle

These are the answers that tie into the theme. The goal of the puzzle is to find them all, including the spangram, a theme word that reaches from one side of the puzzle to the other. When you have all of them (I originally thought there were always eight but learned that the number can vary), every letter on the board will be used. Here are the nonspangram answers:

  • ALTER, TWEAK, ADJUST, REFINE, MODIFY, IMPROVE

Today’s Strands spangram

completed NYT Strands puzzle for April 19, 2026

The completed NYT Strands puzzle for April 19, 2026.

NYT/Screenshot by CNET

Today’s Strands spangram is THEREIFIXEDIT. To find it, start with the T that’s the first letter on the top row, and wind straight across and down.

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Quordle hints and answers for Sunday, April 19 (game #1546)

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Looking for a different day?

A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing ‘today’s game’ while others are playing ‘yesterday’s’. If you’re looking for Saturday’s puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Saturday, April 18 (game #1545).

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,400 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.

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Is the Samsung Galaxy S26 an affordable phone now?

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Flagship Android phones rarely drop this far this fast, which makes the current pricing on the Samsung Galaxy S26 one of the more compelling reasons to upgrade if you have been holding off since launch.

That saving brings the Galaxy S26 down from £879 to £589, a reduction of £290 with an additional £10 top-up included on a 40GB data allowance, making this one of the stronger value propositions in the current Android market.

Samsung Galaxy S26 on a purple backgroundSamsung Galaxy S26 on a purple background

Samsung’s Galaxy S26 gets a hefty £290 price drop, making it an ideal time to upgrade

Flagship Android phones rarely drop this far this fast, making the current price of the Samsung Galaxy S26 a compelling reason to upgrade.

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The 6.3-inch screen is noticeably brighter than the Galaxy S23, up to 49% so, which means outdoor use in direct sunlight stops being a squinting exercise and starts feeling like something the phone was actually designed to handle.

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Galaxy S26‘s screen is powered by a Samsung Exynos 2600 processor alongside 12GB of RAM, a chip that also handles a redesigned Vapour Chamber for improved heat dissipation during sustained workloads, meaning performance holds more consistently during longer gaming or editing sessions.

The triple rear camera system leads with a 50MP f/1.8 wide lens, supplemented by a 10MP telephoto and 12MP ultrawide, and AP-driven Nightography processing brightens and sharpens low-light scenes without the heavy-handed noise reduction that tends to flatten detail in darker conditions.

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Wider apertures on the Galaxy S26 compared with previous generations feed more light to the sensor, and that combination of hardware and processing carries through to video, where Super Steady’s Horizontal Lock keeps handheld footage level even during movement that would ordinarily introduce noticeable shake.

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Meanwhile, S26’s battery capacity sits at 4300mAh with fast wired charging capable of reaching around 55 per cent in approximately 30 minutes, and video playback endurance is rated at up to eight hours longer than the Galaxy S23, a meaningful step up for anyone who uses their phone heavily away from a charger.

The Galaxy S26 at £589 suits anyone on an older Samsung or a mid-range phone who wants a clear performance and camera upgrade without paying full flagship prices, and the data top-up sweetens the deal further.

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Anker Soundcore C50i Open-Ear Earbuds Boast Memory Titanium to Keep Things Ultra Comfortable

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Anker Soundcore C50i Open Ear Earbuds
Anker designed the Soundcore C50i, priced at $39.99 (was $70), with one goal in mind: cater to users who prefer not to use standard earbuds that push well down into their ear canals and generate an unpleasant pressure or isolation feeling. They designed these clip-on headphones to rest gently over the ear, with a flexible piece that hinges into place and stays put whether you’re jogging or working out.



The Memory Titanium bit inside the clip provides a firm but not too tight grasp, while the entire thing weighs only slightly more than 5 grams, thus feeling invisible after a few minutes. Sweat and light drizzle are no match for the IP55 certification, which allows it to withstand daily wear without complaint. Those 12mm drivers are positioned close to the ear canal, delivering powerful bass and a maximum volume of 86 decibels. Tracks have clean mids and treble, which draws the voices out of the mix. Beats have some tremendous kick, and guitars and pianos maintain their tone. There may be some sharpness at maximum volume, but the overall balance sounds well enough for most listening. The sound coming out is low enough that you may have a conversation next to you without being overheard.

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Soundcore C50i by Anker Open Ear Earbuds, Clip-On Headphones Over Ear for Running Workout, 12mm Drivers…
  • Open Ear Earbuds Over Ear for Running & Gym: Clip-on design sits comfortably over your ear without blocking the ear canal. Perfect for running…
  • FlexiClip Design, Secure Fit: Memory titanium FlexiClip adapts to any ear shape for all-day comfort. Ultra-lightweight and stable—won’t fall off…
  • Powerful Bass, 12mm Drivers: Custom 12mm drivers deliver deep bass and 86dB max output. Clear, loud sound for gym workouts and running—superior…

Anker Soundcore C50i Open-Ear Earbuds
Battery life is 7 hours on a single charge, and topping them out in the case gives you 28 hours, while a mere 10 minutes in the case yields 2 full hours. People who wear them all day at work or on a long commute report no ear fatigue, even after hours. There are actual controls on each bud, so you can just flip them to adjust the volume or make a call without messing around. Two microphones combined with basic AI magic ensure that your voice is clear on calls regardless of where you are, whether inside a café or on a windy street. Background noise fades away, and your voice remains full and clear. The multipoint pairing allows for easy switching between a phone and a laptop, eliminating the need for repeated setup steps.

Anker Soundcore C50i Open-Ear Earbuds
The free companion has basic equalization and other useful features like as real-time translation for over a hundred languages. You may also add some background sound to fill in the calm intervals. Bluetooth 6.0 maintains a stable connection in most scenarios.

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This Washer Brand Ranks The Highest For Customer Satisfaction

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As fun as it can be to shop for a washing machine, we’re assuming that nobody really wants to be in the market for a new one. After all, if you are, it is likelier than not that your old machine has spun its last cycle. In that scenario, you’re probably hustling to ensure you and your family have freshly laundered clothing.

If there’s a silver lining to the death of your washing machine, it’s that the major appliance manufacturers of the world have plenty of options available on the retail scene. While those machines are all decked out with different bells and whistles, choosing which brand to buy from will no doubt be one of the first and most important decisions you make. 

Given that fact, it may be wise to research the customer satisfaction numbers on washers bearing the logo of major brands like Whirlpool, Samsung, or Bosch. The American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) can offer unique insight into how real-world owners feel about their appliances. When it comes to washing machines, it would seem that none of the aforementioned brands left their customers quite as satisfied as LG. The South Korean manufacturer bested its competitors with an impressive score of 84 out of 100 points in 2025. It is unclear, however, where the likes of Samsung and Whirlpool stand in the rankings, as the ACSI survey only shows the top-rated brand. 

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LG scored well on the brand’s survey in other departments, too

You might be wondering how the American Customer Satisfaction Index gathered the information that landed LG in the top spot of the washing machine satisfaction category. The consumer ratings group utilizes numbers collected from customer surveys and interviews as drivers for a multi-equation econometric “cause-and-effect” model first developed at the University of Michigan. The questions are designed to measure satisfaction based on several factors, including customer expectations, perceived quality, perceived value, and customer loyalty, among others.

For the record, those methods also helped LG earn top honors in the dishwasher category, though its score of 82 placed it in a tie with Bosch. Those are the only appliance-specific categories in which LG products took top honors. The brand did, however, score well in ACSI’s 2025 brand satisfaction sector of the survey, placing second overall with a score of 81.

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Though LG placed second in the overall satisfaction survey, there are actually two other brands listed ahead of the South Korean manufacturer. Samsung and Whirlpool tied for the top spot with a score of 82. Interestingly, LG would’ve made that a three-way tie if its survey score held over from 2024, when the brand earned an 82. However, the 1% regression still led to a strong showing. Bosch, Electrolux, and Haier rounded out the top five in the ASCI overall brand satisfaction survey, though it should be noted that, since Haier now owns GE and Hotpoint, appliances from those brands are included in Haier’s overall satisfaction rating.



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Ransomware Defense, Faster Replication, vSphere 9, and Proxmox VE 9.0 Support

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Nakivo

The new release adds automated replication, support for newer VMware vSphere and Proxmox versions, and modern authentication for faster, safer recovery.

Sparks, Nevada – April 3rd, 2026 – NAKIVO Inc., trusted by over 16,000 organizations in 191 countries, announced the general availability of NAKIVO Backup & Replication v11.2, focused on fast, reliable, and proactive data protection.

As ransomware attacks evolve and downtime costs rise, v11.2 provides IT teams with tools to quicken recovery, support next-generation infrastructure, and maintain secure data protection without added complexity.

Automated Real-Time Replication

At the core of v11.2 is an automated real-time replication engine. It keeps replica VMs synchronized with production workloads, allowing organizations to fail over to a recent replica within minutes after hardware failures, ransomware, or human error.

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For businesses where every minute of downtime carries measurable financial or reputational consequences, this capability closes one of the most dangerous blind spots in traditional backup strategies: The window between the last scheduled job and the moment of failure.

Support for VMware vSphere 9 and Proxmox VE 9.0 and 9.1

Keeping your backup stack aligned with hypervisor versions is mission-critical for teams managing VMware, Proxmox, or hybrid environments. NAKIVO Backup & Replication v11.2 addresses that directly while also tightening security and laying the groundwork for faster disaster recovery.

Full VMware vSphere 9 Support

Full VMware vSphere 9 Support

The most significant update for VMware administrators: v11.2 delivers complete, production-ready support for vSphere 9, including vCenter Server 9.0.1.0, ESXi 9.0.1.0, and VDDK 9.0.1.0.

Earlier builds introduced initial compatibility, but v11.2 provides full readiness, enabling teams to upgrade their VMware infrastructure with confidence that NAKIVO will operate without disrupting existing jobs.

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All core capabilities are fully operational under vSphere 9:

  • Agentless image-based backup and replication using Changed Block Tracking (CBT) for efficient, low-impact incrementals
  • Instant VM recovery to restore workloads in minutes, not hours
  • Granular file-level and application-object recovery for Exchange and SQL workloads, without restoring the entire VM
  • Built-in DR orchestration with failover, failback, and non-disruptive testing via Site Recovery
  • Ransomware resilience through immutable backups, AES-256 encryption, air-gapped copies, and pre-recovery malware scanning
  • Fast, deduplicated, compressed backups to minimize storage footprint across repositories

For organizations tracking the licensing shift away from standalone vSphere Standard and Enterprise Plus editions toward VMware vSphere Foundation 9.0, this update ensures NAKIVO keeps pace with where VMware is heading.

NAKIVO v11.2: OAuth 2.0 authentication, immutable backups, real-time replication, and ransomware resilience.

Stay ahead of evolving cyber threats with enterprise-grade security.  

Start your 15-day free trial now

Proxmox VE 9.0 Support, with 9.1 Already in Scope

Proxmox VE 9.0 Support, with 9.1 Already in Scope

NAKIVO’s Proxmox support continues to mature. v11.2 brings full compatibility with Proxmox VE 9.0, and support for Proxmox VE 9.1 is already built in, letting Proxmox environments upgrade without risking protection gaps.

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For environments running Proxmox at the edge, in cost-sensitive production, or as a VMware alternative, the full feature set includes:

  • Agentless host-level backup and replication with no guest agents required, keeping VM overhead minimal
  • Block-level incrementals via native change tracking, matching the efficiency of CBT in VMware environments
  • Instant VM and file-level recovery for rapid restoration of individual machines or specific files
  • Automated verification with screenshot confirmation to validate recoverability without manual intervention
  • Immutable backups on S3-compatible and object storage targets, including AWS S3, Wasabi, Azure Blob, and Backblaze B2
  • AES-256 encryption at source, in transit, and at rest with air-gapped copy options via tape or detached storage

For hybrid environments running VMware and Proxmox side by side, NAKIVO’s unified management interface provides a single workflow that covers both platforms, which matters as infrastructure grows in complexity.

Ransomware Defense Across the Board

ransomware defense

Ransomware protection in v11.2 is integrated into the architecture rather than isolated as a single feature. Immutability is supported across a wide range of targets, including AWS S3, Wasabi, Azure Blob, Backblaze B2, HPE StoreOnce, NEC HYDRAstor, and Dell EMC Data Domain. Pre-recovery malware scanning catches threats before they re-enter production. Air-gapped options — tape, detached USB, or offline NAS — provide a last line of defense when network-connected copies are compromised.

Our priority is to give customers a smooth and secure path forward as their environments evolve,” said Bruce Talley, CEO of NAKIVO. “v11.2 focuses on compatibility, security, and consistent performance as virtualization platforms advance.

Matt Mitchell, Web Developer at SEHD at the University of Colorado Denver, said: “With NAKIVO Backup & Replication, I can recover VMware VMs within 10 minutes. With data deduplication, we were able to decrease storage space by 80%.

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OAuth 2.0: Secure Email Notifications by Default

OAuth 2.0: Secure Email Notifications by Default

v11.2 introduces native OAuth 2.0 authentication for email notifications, replacing the deprecated basic authentication that major providers like Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 are actively phasing out.

The shift to token-based authentication removes stored plain-text credentials from the equation, delivering a meaningful compliance and security improvement, particularly for organizations under regulatory scrutiny.

HPE StoreOnce users gain full support for VSA Gen 5, improving deduplication appliance integration and repository performance. The platform has also been updated to Java SE 24 and the latest Spring Framework, delivering stability improvements, security patches, and incremental gains in backup and restore throughput — benefits that compound over time in high-frequency backup environments.

Enhanced MSP Direct Connect for Multi-Tenant Management

Enhanced MSP Direct Connect for Multi-Tenant Management

Managed service providers running multi-tenant environments gain efficiency through enhanced MSP Direct Connect. The updated interface provides single-pane visibility across multiple tenants, reducing overhead and accelerating response times.

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For MSPs scaling their service portfolios, this improvement directly supports growth without a proportional increase in administrative burden.

The Bottom Line

NAKIVO Backup & Replication v11.2 is an operationally important release. It removes the compatibility friction that holds teams back from upgrading infrastructure, strengthens ransomware resilience, and tightens security in areas that are easy to overlook until they become a problem. For VMware administrators preparing for a vSphere 9 migration, Proxmox environments approaching a version upgrade, or any organization seeking to enhance recovery capabilities, v11.2 provides a robust foundation for operational stability.

Availability

NAKIVO Backup & Replication v11.2 is available now. Organizations can download the fully featured free trial at nakivo.com.

Resources:

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About NAKIVO

NAKIVO is a US-based corporation dedicated to delivering the ultimate backup, ransomware protection, and disaster recovery solution for virtual, physical, cloud, and SaaS environments. Over 16,000 customers in 191 countries trust NAKIVO with protecting their data, including global brands like Coca-Cola, Honda, Siemens, and Cisco.

Visit: www.nakivo.com

Sponsored and written by NAKIVO.

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PSX Development With Unity And LUA

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The Unity game development platform was first released in 2005, long after the PlayStation had ceased to be a relevant part of the console market. And yet, you could use Unity to develop for the platform, if you so desire, thanks to the efforts of [Bandwidth] and the team behind psxsplash. 

Yes, it really is possible to design games for the original PlayStation using Unity and Lua. Using a tool called SplashEdit, you can whip up scenes, handle scripting, loading screens, create UIs, and do all the other little bits required to lash a game together. You can then run your creation via the psxsplash engine, deploying to emulator or even real hardware with a single click. Currently, development requires a Windows or Linux machine and Unity 6000.0+, but other than that, it’s pretty straightforward to start making games with a modern toolset for one of the most popular consoles of all time. Just remember, you’ve only got 33 MHz and 2MB of RAM to play with.

We still love to see the legendary grey machine get used and hacked in new and inventive ways, so many decades after release.

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Thanks to [Nick] for the tip!

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