Apple CEO Tim Cook is officially stepping down from his role on September 1, the company announced today, while current SVP of hardware engineering John Ternus will take over as the new CEO. Cook will transition to a new role as executive chairman of Apple’s Board of Directors. The company says the move was “approved unanimously” by Apple’s Board, and that Cook will work on transitioning his duties over the summer.

“It has been the greatest privilege of my life to be the CEO of Apple and to have been trusted to lead such an extraordinary company,” Cook said in a statement. “I love Apple with all of my being, and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with a team of such ingenious, innovative, creative, and deeply caring people who have been unwavering in their dedication to enriching the lives of our customers and creating the best products and services in the world.”

Cook became CEO of Apple in 2011 following the death of co-founder Steve Jobs, and he led the charge for Apple’s post-iPhone and iPad era by launching the AirPods, Apple Watch and Vision Pro. He also pushed the company into being more of a service provider with the launch of Apple TV and Apple Music. While he’s had a strong reputation as a logistics-oriented executive, Cook has been criticized for lacking the product vision that Jobs was known for.

Ternus, on the other hand, has been focused on product design since joining Apple in 2001. He became VP of hardware engineering in 2013, and later transitioned to a senior executive role in 2021. Ternus was also prominently featured at the MacBook Neo launch a few months ago, a low-cost yet high-quality notebook that encapsulates Apple’s unique place in the PC industry.

“I am profoundly grateful for this opportunity to carry Apple’s mission forward,” Ternus said in a statement. “Having spent almost my entire career at Apple, I have been lucky to have worked under Steve Jobs and to have had Tim Cook as my mentor. It has been a privilege to help shape the products and experiences that have changed so much of how we interact with the world and with one another.”

A recent project by Double M Innovations takes a really simple concept and turns it into something rather unique by sandwiching some tritium vials between conventional solar cells to create a self-contained nuclear power source.

Basic principles ensure that everything runs well without the need for additional help. See, the tritium inside each sealed vial emits low energy electrons as it gradually degrades, which is a really useful side effect. Those electrons then hit a phosphor coating inside the glass tube, producing a continuous greenish light. Now, amorphous solar cells tacked directly on the vials capture the light and convert it into a microscopic little electric current, just as they would on a gloomy day. The entire thing is shut up tightly with aluminum tape, so no outside light can get in.

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Putting it all together is a simple process that just takes a few minutes once all of the components are ready. You start with two tiny amorphous solar cells from a calculator panel, which are ideal for this because they are sensitive to the wavelengths that the phosphor emits. Five tritium vials, about 3mm wide and 11mm long, are lined up across the surface of the first one, and the second cell is slapped on top to complete the sandwich. The inside of the entire item is coated in a reflective substance before the aluminum tape is wrapped around to seal it all up tight. There is no soldering or complex wiring required, thus keeping everything rather simple.

Not long after, the maker began testing it, discovering that each cell produced between 0.45 and 0.47 volts when measured with a conventional multimeter, but the current was so low that it was virtually undetectable on the majority of the cells. So they connected the cells in series and added a small capacitor to the circuit to allow the charge to develop. Ten minutes later, the capacitor had 2.2 volts. An hour later, it had risen to 2.4 volts, and after a full night of sitting, it had reached 2.9 volts on its own.

The power output is in the nanowatt region, which is far below what is required to even turn on an LED, let alone run a small sensor for any length of time. Still, the idea that it could charge up to that point in one night is rather astounding. Furthermore, tritium has a half-life of roughly 12 years, so it will be some time before the entire thing runs out of steam. Commercial nuclear batteries perform far better because they can align the radiation source very precisely with the cell materials. However, this handmade version is only a proof of concept, demonstrating that it is possible to generate a measurable electric current using off-the-shelf components and some internal radiation.
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Intelligent Investing, a research-driven market analysis platform, works from the premise that artificial intelligence can expand financial forecasting by processing large datasets, accelerating strategy development, and enabling systematic execution. Alongside these capabilities, human interpretation remains essential, providing the context needed to translate data into meaningful market perspectives. 

This philosophy is reflected in the work of founder Arnout Ter Schure. With a PhD in environmental sciences and more than a decade of experience in scientific research, Dr. Ter Schure applies an analytical mindset to financial markets. His transition into market analysis reflects a sustained focus on data and repeatable patterns. Over time, he has developed proprietary indicators and a multi-layered analytical framework that integrates technical, sentiment, and cyclical analysis. This foundation provides important context for his perspective on how AI fits into modern financial decision-making.

“Financial markets are becoming more complex and fast‑moving, and that shift has sparked a growing interest in how AI can play a supportive role,” Ter Schure states. “This has opened the door to exploring how computational tools might complement and strengthen traditional analytical approaches.” 

According to a study exploring a multi-agent deep learning approach to big data analysis in financial markets, modern AI systems demonstrate strong capabilities in processing large-scale data and identifying patterns across multiple timeframes. When combined with structured methodologies such as the Elliott Wave principle, these systems can enhance analytical efficiency and improve pattern recognition, particularly in high-speed trading environments.

This growing role of AI aligns with Ter Schure’s view of it as a powerful analytical companion, especially in areas where speed and computational precision are required. He explains, “AI excels when the task is clearly defined. If you provide the structure, the parameters, and the objective, it can execute with remarkable speed and precision.” This may include generating trading algorithms, coding strategies, and conducting rapid backtesting across historical datasets.

As these capabilities become more integrated into the analytical process, an important consideration emerges. Ter Schure emphasizes that AI systems function within the boundaries established by human input. He notes that the data they analyze, the assumptions embedded in their programming, and the frameworks they rely upon all originate from human decisions. Without these elements, the system may lack direction and purpose. Ter Schure states, “AI can accelerate the ‘how,’ but it still depends on a human to define the ‘why.’ That distinction applies across every layer of market analysis.”

This relationship becomes especially relevant in financial forecasting, where interpretation plays a central role. AI can analyze historical data and identify recurring patterns, yet its perspective remains limited to what has already been observed. The same research notes that even advanced systems encounter challenges during periods of structural change or unprecedented market conditions, where historical data offers limited guidance. In such situations, the ability to interpret evolving conditions becomes as important as computational power.

For Ter Schure, forecasting involves working with probabilities rather than fixed outcomes. AI can assist in outlining potential scenarios, yet it does not determine which outcome will unfold. “Markets evolve through a combination of structure and behavior,” he explains. “A model can highlight patterns, but understanding how those patterns develop in real time still requires human judgment.”

This dynamic also extends to how AI interacts with human assumptions. According to Dr. Ter Schure, since these systems learn from existing data and user inputs, their outputs often reflect the perspectives embedded within that information. As a result, the quality of the initial assumptions plays a significant role in shaping the outcome. “If the initial premise includes a bias, the output often reflects it. The responsibility remains with the analyst to question, refine, and interpret the result,” Ter Schure remarks.

Such considerations become even more important when viewed through the lens of market behavior. Financial markets, as Ter Schure notes, are often influenced by collective sentiment, where emotions such as optimism and caution influence price movements. “Regardless of the computerization of trading, market behaviour has remained constant,” he says. While AI can identify historical expressions of these behaviors, interpreting their significance within a current context typically requires experience and perspective. 

Within this broader context, Arnout’s methodology illustrates how structured human analysis can complement technological tools. His approach combines Fibonacci ratios with the Elliott Wave principle, focusing on wave structures, extensions, and corrective patterns. These frameworks offer a way to interpret market cycles and map potential pathways for price movement. A key element of his method involves incorporating alternative scenarios through double corrections or extensions, allowing for multiple potential outcomes to be evaluated simultaneously.

This multi-scenario framework supports adaptability as market conditions evolve. “Each structure presents more than one pathway,” he explains. “By preparing for those alternatives, you create a framework that evolves with the market as new information becomes available.” This perspective allows for continuous reassessment, where forecasts are refined as additional data emerges.

Ter Schure stresses that although AI can assist in identifying patterns within such frameworks, the interpretation of complex wave structures introduces nuances that extend beyond automated analysis. Multi-layered corrections and extensions often depend on contextual judgment, where small variations influence the broader interpretation.

Overall, Ter Schure suggests that AI serves as an extension of the analytical process, enhancing specific components while leaving interpretive decisions to the analyst. Its ability to execute defined tasks with speed and precision complements the depth of human judgment. He states, “Technology expands what we can do, but understanding determines how we apply it. The combination is where meaningful progress takes place.”

Hyundai has just revealed the IONIQ 3, its latest electric hatchback that demonstrates that you don’t need a large clunker to travel long distances. This five-door style, known as a ‘aero hatch’, emphasizes efficiency, which is important in everyday life as well as weekend excursions.

Clean lines and a well-thought-out design tame its compact body, which measures approximately 4,160 millimeters, just lovely and short. The front and back lights do the “H” thing with four unique little dots that are actually an homage to Morse code, and its aerodynamics are pretty slick with a drag coefficient of 0.263, which really helps stretch every last drop from the battery. The N Line variant gets a bot more aggressive, with black highlights, darker wheels, and a small rear spoiler that adds presence without changing the overall design. The lowest models have 16-inch wheels, but higher trims receive 19-inch wheels instead, as well as some tough cladding that implies it might do mild off-road tasks without issue.

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Step inside and you’ll see a lot of open space thanks to a flat floor that can accommodate five persons comfortably. There’s a suitcase-sized storage bin buried under the boot floor, as well as a 441-liter boot volume to play with. The inside has a modern vibe to it, although everything is quite plain. The heated and ventilated seats, as well as the panoramic roof, are nice features for longer excursions.

The dashboard is kept pretty simple, with only a few physical buttons for climate controls and other functions, so you don’t have to look down while driving. There’s a large free-standing touchscreen that measures 12.9 inches on the low end and 14.6 inches on the high end, and it runs on the Pleos system, which sounds like an alien language but is actually an Android-based system that handles the critical stuff. Wireless phone charging and a Bose audio system complete the gadget list.

Power-wise, it is a 400-volt platform with front-wheel drive at launch and two battery options. The smaller 42.2-kwh pack works with a 144-hp motor for about 214 miles on the WLTP cycle, while the larger 61-kwh unit gets around 308 miles of range. Regardless of which option you choose, the torque remains constant at 250 Nm, and there is the option of dual-motor all-wheel drive later down the line, which may only increase horsepower to 288. Fast charging isn’t awful, bringing you from 10 to 80 percent in 29-30 minutes, though the precise duration varies by pack. It also performs well on the interstate, reaching a top speed of 106 mph.

You’ll be able to buy one in Europe beginning in September, with prices starting at roughly $25,000. They’re built in Turkey. The IONIQ 3 is avoiding the US market, whether it be due to tariffs or other reasons…for now.
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I stopped by the La Dolce Audio room at AXPONA expecting to spend time with the tube amplifiers Terry Gesualdo and I had been talking about on the bus ride over. He’s working with some unusually adjustable designs built around pentode tubes that most manufacturers avoid, which is exactly the kind of thing that gets my attention.

But the amplifiers weren’t what stopped me in the doorway.

Front and center was a pair of speakers that didn’t look like they belonged in a conventional system. Two large drivers mounted on a walnut baffle, topped by a compression horn feeding a wide black waveguide. And that was it. No enclosure, no box, nothing hiding behind them.

They weren’t unfinished. That was the design.

The speakers in question are one variation of the ABX/LDA open-baffle design, developed by James Owens of ABX, Terry Gesualdo of La Dolce Audio, and a growing community of builders on Discord. The concept isn’t complicated, and that’s the point: build something affordable, accessible, and genuinely good sounding without turning it into a science project that only a handful of people can finish.

In its most stripped-down form, this is about as DIY as it gets. A sheet of plywood, a couple pieces of 1×6, two shelf brackets, a pair of large drivers (three if you count the coaxial tweeter), and a simple five-part crossover. That’s the baseline. From there, builders can take it as far as their skills, patience, and garage space allow.

Driver-wise, it’s not messing around. You’ve got a 15-inch coaxial handling midrange and treble duties, paired with an 18-inch woofer to move serious air. The original coaxial concept traces back to a Darrel Hawthorne design, and after Hawthorne Audio closed in 2016, Gesualdo worked with Eminence, along with Hawthorne’s blessing, to develop an updated version so the platform wouldn’t disappear with the brand.

The naming keeps that lineage intact. The 15-inch is now the HA15, with a smaller HA10 also in the pipeline.

The crossover follows the same philosophy as the rest of the project. Keep it simple, keep it accessible, and don’t overthink it.

You’re looking at two inductors, a 15 mH 15 AWG air core inductor handling the midrange on the coaxial, and a 10 mH choke for the woofer, assuming the 18 inch driver. From there, it’s a set of speaker taps, a capacitor on the tweeter, either 3.3 µF or 40 µF depending on the specific tweeter revision, and an L pad to dial in the tweeter level.

That’s the entire network.

No PCB, no exotic layout requirements, no black box. Everything can be hand wired with basic parts and a soldering iron. If you can follow a diagram and take your time, you can build it.

Baffle designs run the full spectrum from basic to borderline art project, but they all share a common idea: some form of slot loading to help extend bass response.

At the entry level, it can be as simple as rectangular cutouts in a sheet of plywood. From there, things escalate. Ring-loaded designs in straight grain hardwoods. More ambitious builds with spirals carved into slabs of figured Claro walnut that look like they belong in a gallery instead of a listening room.

The pair at the show leaned toward the more refined end. They used ring-loaded ports in a lightly figured walnut baffle and ditched the coaxial tweeter altogether. In its place was a compression horn paired with a large 3D printed labyrinth lens, designed to improve dispersion and add a bit more realism compared to the original coaxial approach.

It’s a clear sign that this isn’t a static design. It’s evolving, and the community is driving a lot of that evolution.

At this point, there are at least nine established versions, with La Dolce Audio offering designs and build kits, and even more variations circulating through the Discord channel for those who want to experiment.

For anyone looking to step off the beaten path, or just wants the satisfaction of saying “I made those,” the ABX/LDA open baffle project makes a strong case.

It’s established enough that you’re not gambling on the result. The foundation works, but it remains open to interpretation, letting builders take it as far as their skills and imagination allow.

That’s the appeal. You’re not just assembling a speaker. You’re shaping it.

At a show where the average speaker costs more than an entry level SUV, this feels like a reality check. Not everyone is dropping that kind of money, and this doesn’t pretend that you should. It just offers another way in, and a pretty smart one if you’re willing to put in the effort.

For more information: abxaudiophiles.org

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Google is testing a new redesign for its Gemini Live experience on Android, aiming to make interactions with its AI assistant more seamless and less intrusive. According to a 9To5Google report, the update moves away from the current full-screen interface and instead integrates Gemini Live directly into the main app view, signalling a shift toward a more practical, everyday usage model.

A Shift Away From Fullscreen AI

Previously, Gemini Live operated in a full-screen mode, taking over the entire display during interactions. While this approach highlighted the assistant, it also limited multitasking and made it harder to use alongside other apps.

With the redesign, Gemini Live now sits within the Gemini app’s homepage. The interface changes dynamically, showing a “Live with Gemini” header along with quick access to features like transcripts. This allows users to interact with the AI without completely leaving their current workflow.

The result is a cleaner, more minimal layout that feels less like a dedicated mode and more like a natural extension of the app.

Why This Redesign Matters

This update reflects a broader shift in how AI assistants are being designed. Instead of demanding full attention, they are increasingly becoming background tools that support ongoing tasks.

By removing the full-screen experience, Google is making Gemini Live more suitable for multitasking. Users can now interact with the assistant while browsing, messaging, or working within other apps, which aligns better with real-world usage patterns.

It also signals Google’s intent to position Gemini as a core part of the Android experience, rather than a separate feature that users have to consciously enter.

What It Means For Users

For users, the redesign could make Gemini Live more accessible and less disruptive. The simplified interface reduces friction, making it easier to quickly ask questions, get responses, or continue conversations without interrupting what they are doing.

Features like built-in transcripts also improve usability, especially for voice-based interactions, where users may want to refer back to previous responses.

At the same time, the more compact design could make Gemini feel less overwhelming, particularly for users who may have found the previous full-screen interface too intrusive.

What Comes Next

The redesign is currently being tested and has not yet been widely rolled out. However, it is part of a series of rapid updates to the Gemini app, suggesting that Google is actively refining the experience based on user feedback.

Looking ahead, Gemini Live is expected to become more deeply integrated into Android, potentially replacing traditional assistant workflows entirely. As Google continues to iterate, the focus appears to be on making AI assistance more subtle, faster, and easier to use throughout the day.

In that sense, this minimalist redesign may be less about visual changes – and more about redefining how AI fits into everyday smartphone interactions.

The munchies don’t care what day it is, but on April 20 they do tend to show up right on schedule. Whether you’re fully leaning into 4/20 as an occasion or you just happen to be thinking about food a lot more than usual, it’s a day that comes with a specific kind of appetite.

What started as a low-key and rebellious ritual has well and truly gone corporate, and the food industry has certainly caught on. And with marijuana now legal in many states, every year more chains are jumping on the 4/20 bandwagon with suspiciously specific prices and deals that very much understand the assignment.

Whether you’re partaking in this dopest of days, stumbled onto this page because a burger deal caught your eye or you just wanted a free frisbee, we’ve rounded up every 4/20 deal worth knowing about.

Note: While cannabis has been legalized for medical and even recreational use in some states, marijuana and products containing THC is still a Schedule I drug under US federal law. Always exercise caution and judgment when consuming cannabis or any other controlled substance.

Mastodon’s flagship server was hit by a distributed denial-of-service attack on Monday, the social networking software maker said, which rendered the instance unusable at times.

Much of the site was inaccessible, throwing error messages or displaying a full-screen outage warning.

The makers of the decentralized social networking software, which runs its official mastodon.social instance, said in a status update at around 7 a.m. ET on Monday that it was investigating the cyberattack.

By 9:05 a.m. ET, Mastodon said it implemented a “countermeasure against the DDoS attack, and the site is accessible.” However, the company warned that some instability may continue to be seen as the attack is ongoing.

The cyberattack targeting Mastodon comes days after Bluesky, another decentralized social network, resolved much of its days-long outages following a lengthy DDoS attack. As of Bluesky’s update on April 17, the DDoS attack continues, but its service has been stable since April 16 at 9 PM PDT. Today’s update confirmed the ongoing stability.

Representatives for Mastodon did not immediately comment on the cause of the cyberattack when contacted by TechCrunch.

Distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks rely on sending massive amounts of junk web traffic towards an app or website’s servers, with the aim of knocking them offline. These cyberattacks don’t involve data theft, but DDoS attacks can be disruptive to users.

DDoS attacks have become exponentially more powerful over the years. Last year, network security company Cloudflare said it mitigated what it says is the largest DDoS attack to date, measuring a peak of 29.7 terabits per second, the equivalent of filling up thousands of hard drives with data every minute.

When aimed at decentralized social networking services, the attacks can cause instability and outages, but not everyone is taken offline. In Bluesky’s case, for instance, those who had moved their account to other providers, like Blacksky, which run on the same protocol and interoperate with Bluesky, were not impacted.

Similarly, the attack on Mastodon has so far targeted only the larger server (mastodon.social) and not the many smaller instances that make up the full Mastodon social network.

It’s happening. Ubisoft has scheduled a livestream for April 23 at 12PM ET to discuss the long-awaited Assassin’s Creed Black Flag remake. The showcase will be available to watch on the company’s and pages.

It’s officially called Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced and has . Ubisoft ended speculation by .

We don’t know anything about how the game will play or look, as Ubisoft has only dropped some promotional art featuring protagonist Edward Kenway lounging on a boat. The livestream should feature a trailer that will answer many burning questions.

For instance, rumors have been swirling that this is a and not a simple port. That makes sense given the . It’s also been rumored that this new version will , with a total focus on pirate-themed action.

We don’t have that long to find out. Maybe the livestream will also give us some information about that upcoming mainline franchise entry, which is currently being developed . Ubisoft has promised it will be a “unique, darker, narrative-driven Assassin’s Creed experience.”

The deal is an internal Blackstone consolidation, both AirTrunk (acquired for A$24 billion in 2024) and Lumina CloudInfra (launched by Blackstone in 2022) sit within the same portfolio.

By folding Lumina into AirTrunk, Blackstone gives its Asia-Pacific data centre platform a foothold in India’s hyperscale market without a third-party acquisition. Terms were not disclosed.

AirTrunk, the Asia-Pacific data centre operator owned by Blackstone, is acquiring Lumina CloudInfra, an India-focused data centre developer, marking AirTrunk’s entry into one of the world’s fastest-growing digital infrastructure markets.

The acquisition gives AirTrunk access to Lumina’s development pipeline, customer contracts and relationships, and operational capabilities, including approximately 600 megawatts of planned capacity across India’s major cities, representing up to $5 billion of development potential. Financial terms were not disclosed.

The deal has an unusual structure: both companies are Blackstone entities. Lumina CloudInfra was launched by Blackstone in 2022 as a standalone India-focused hyperscale data centre platform, seeded with significant capital and led by local industry veterans.

AirTrunk, Asia-Pacific’s largest independent data centre operator, was acquired by Blackstone in December 2024 for A$24 billion, Blackstone’s largest ever transaction in the region.

Rather than bring in a third-party acquirer, Blackstone is consolidating its two data centre platforms under a single operating entity, giving AirTrunk a ready-built India entry point with existing land positions, customer relationships, and a management team with deep local market experience.

Post-acquisition, AirTrunk will operate across six markets: Australia, Singapore, Japan, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and India, with a combined portfolio of more than 3 gigawatts of operating and planned capacity across 20 campuses.

Lumina’s planned 600MW pipeline is spread across India’s Tier-1 cities, beginning with Mumbai and Chennai and extending to Pune, Delhi/NCR, and Hyderabad.

Lumina’s co-founder and CEO Sujeet Deshpande, a former head of Colt Data Center Services’ India operations who previously led Reliance Jio Infocomm’s integrated data centres, framed the deal as combining “local strength with global platforms.”

AirTrunk’s founder and CEO Robin Khuda described India as “one of the largest and fastest growing markets for hyperscale and AI infrastructure worldwide” and said the acquisition positions the company to “deliver the scale, speed, and performance our customers need as they expand across the APAC region.”

Peng Wei Tan, Senior Managing Director of Real Estate at Blackstone, framed it as reinforcing “one of Blackstone’s highest conviction themes, digital infrastructure,” and noted that as the world’s largest data centre investor, Blackstone is positioned to meet rising demand across Asia-Pacific’s fastest-growing economies.

India’s data centre market has attracted significant international capital in recent years as hyperscale cloud providers, AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, and others, accelerate their buildout in the country.

Blackstone had previously committed to investing approximately $11 billion in Indian data centres, with Lumina as the primary vehicle.

Integrating Lumina into AirTrunk’s global operating platform gives those India investments access to AirTrunk’s hyperscale customer network, global design and construction standards, and Blackstone’s full capital resources, a consolidation of capabilities rather than a simple financial transaction.