Although the RTL-SDR is cheap, accessible, and capable enough for many projects, it does have some important limitations. In particular, its bandwidth is limited to about 3.2 MHz, and the price of SDRs tends to scale rapidly with bandwidth. [Anders Nielsen], however, is building a modular SDR with a target price of $50 USD, and has already reached a bandwidth of almost 20 MHz.

If this project looks familiar, it’s because we’ve covered an earlier iteration. At the time, [Anders] had built the PhaseLoom, which filters an incoming signal, mixes it down to baseband, and converts it to I/Q signals. The next stage is the PhaseLatch, a board housing a 20-MHz, 10-bit ADC, which samples the in-phase and quadrature signals and passes them on to a Cypress FX2LP microcontroller development board. [Anders] had previously connected the ADC to a 6502 microprocessor instead of the FX2LP, but this makes it a practical SDR. The FX2LP was a particularly good choice for this project because of its USB 2.0 interface, large buffers for streaming data, and parallel interface. It simply reads the data from the SDR and dumps it to the computer.

The FX2LP didn’t support the ADC’s clock rate, and overclocking the ADC led to issues, so [Anders] connected the ADC to an independent 20 MHz oscillator. The frequency spectrum of the SDR was oddly bell-shaped, which turned out to be due to the limited analogue bandwidth of the PhaseLoom (about 650 kHz) falling behind the digital bandwidth of 20 MHz. The PhaseLoom’s bandwidth seemed to be limited mostly by an amplifier, and decreasing its gain greatly improved matters. The SDR doesn’t yet have a 20 MHz bandwidth according to the normal definition, but it’s close enough to be practical, and further improvements will have to wait on an updated PhaseLoom board.

The Cypress development board used here is surprisingly capable – we’ve previously seen it used to build an SDR GPS decoder. Most of the custom-built SDRs we see don’t focus on technical performance, but do use such interesting components as a tube-based receiver or a custom silicon chip.

Google Translate has always been great at telling you what something means. But saying it out loud has always been on you. But now, Google is working on a new feature that could fix your fumbling ways. A new AI-powered “Practice” mode is in development to help users improve their pronunciation instead of just listening to translations.

And yes, it can call you out for butchering that Spanish phrase.

So how does it work?

While Google Translate offered the usual tap-to-listen speaker icon, the new feature goes beyond that and lets you listen to native speakers’ pronunciation samples, record your own attempt, and get feedback on how accurate you sound. It then analyzes your speech and scores your pronunciation, also offering suggestions on how to improve.

There’s even a phonetic breakdown of words offered to the users that makes it easier to understand how something should sound. This is easier than relying on complex linguistic notation.

In development, but shows promise

This isn’t just a one-time event. It’s a whole system that encourages practice with repetition, letting users retry phrases to refine their pronunciation. So users can practice till they get closer to native level accuracy. There are also hints that the feature could be a part of a broader language learning tool, which might include difficulty levels and conversational practice modes.

The feature was discovered in a recent build of the app, with an APK teardown showing that it’s still work in progress. Furthermore, we can expect it to roll out gradually, starting with select language pairs like English and Spanish before expanding to include more options. So you might have to wait a bit before it starts judging your accent.

In related news, Google just added two features to help improve your experience in group chats, and is even using AI to lessen the impact of flights on the climate.

While other tech companies have been laying off employees year after year, OpenAI is doing the opposite. According to a report from the Financial Times, the AI giant is looking to expand its workforce to 8,000 employees by the end of 2026, nearly doubling staff from its current headcount of 4,500.

The FT reported that the new hires will be across several departments, including product development, engineering, research and sales. OpenAI’s hiring spree will also include “specialists” for “technical ambassadorship,” or employees tasked with helping businesses better utilize its AI tools, according to the report. As the FT noted, OpenAI is likely trying to amp up the competition against Anthropic and its Claude AI chatbot. According to the AI Index from Ramp, a fintech startup that manages corporate expenses, businesses are now 70 percent more likely to go with Anthropic when buying AI services for the first time as opposed to OpenAI.

OpenAI made waves in February when it announced a contract with the Department of Defense to use its AI models, following a public fallout between Anthropic and the federal agency. On top of the government contract, OpenAI is also in “advanced talks” with private equity firms like Brookfield Asset Management to deploy its AI tools across a firms’ portfolio of companies, according to Reuters.

The best-selling game of all time is moving from the virtual to the physical. Minecraft World, a permanent Greater London theme park based on the game, is scheduled to open in 2027. The announcement came during Minecraft Live 2026.

It will be a new section in Chessington World of Adventures, a theme park with a built-in zoo. The resort is a 35-minute train ride from London’s Waterloo station.

Details are still fairly light on the park. But we know it will include a roller coaster, “interactive adventures” and “epic block-built playscapes.” Torfi Frans Ólafsson, the game franchise’s creative director, said they’re aiming for “an experience that feels immersive, authentic and welcoming.” Naturally, that will include welcoming you to open your wallet in Minecraft-themed retail and dining spots.

The park is a collaboration between Mojang Studios and Merlin Entertainments, the world’s second-largest theme park builder. (A certain rodent-led empire is first.)

If visiting the full theme park in England isn’t your thing, the latest location of the game’s (also real-world) pop-up events will open in May. Minecraft Experience: Moonlight Trail will let visitors in Buenos Aires, Argentina, go on an hour-long outdoor nighttime adventure. As its name suggests, you’ll “walk a moonlit trail” through iconic Minecraft biomes. Along the way, you’ll craft gear, mine diamonds, battle mobs and “help restore an ancient beacon.” The event opens in May.

Not all of Minecraft Live’s announcements were about real-world empire building. Minecraft, the game, is getting some updates, too. Its next big drop, Tiny Takeover, will live up to the billing with a redesigned “cuter” look for baby mobs. The update will also add a golden dandelion, which you can feed to a baby mob to make it stay young forever. (Or, at least until you feed it a second one.) Tiny Takeover arrives on March 24.

Mojang also teased the next drop after that. Later this year, Chaos Cubed will add a sulfur cube that changes properties when absorbing different materials. “There is a lot of variety in what the cube can do,” Mojang promises. “Just like there are balls with different ‘bounciness’ and behavior, the sulfur cube can have different physics.”

Finally, the long-rumored Minecraft Dungeons II game is official. We’re still extremely light on details about the sequel to the 2020 spinoff, aside from the fact that you can wishlist it on March 21.

Ta-ra. Seeya later. Bon voyage. Auf wiedersehen.

Although Philips probably didn’t use any of those words, it has said goodbye to Google TV with the 2026 TV models, and brought Titan OS into the fold as the main UX partner.

This could be a very good arrangement for Philips.

The battle for customers’ attention in the TV space will, in my view, come down to the user interface. You can throw as many specs at the wall as you want, but at the end of the day, people like a TV that’s easy to use, and while Google TV is very good, in hindsight, perhaps it wasn’t the best partner for Philips.

A smart change?

It’s a change that could end up being a smart move for Philips. Google TV is a big platform; it has all the global apps, it comes with integrated smarts and connectivity such as Google Assistant, Google Home and Google Cast. If you want a capable user experience, then Google TV offers that.

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But in the UK at least, it’s had and continues to have an issue with catch-up apps and services. I’ve heard a few voices give their opinion, and at least one issue was that catch-up and on-demand services such as BBC’s iPlayer and Channel 4 did not want to let go of non-negotiables – namely their position at the top of the EPG; whereas Google wanted to bring some flexibility and change to that.

I can’t say that’s the absolute truth on the matter but an opinion that’s been floated as to why Google TV and UK TV services haven’t really got on with each other. It’s likely the reason why Panasonic, released TiVo and Fire TV models in the UK while Europe got Google TV models instead.

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It’s likely the reason why iPlayer rarely appears on Google TV models in the UK, aside from Sony and TCL models, who seem to have gone through the trouble of negotiating their own deals (or using different TV platforms) to get these apps onboard.

Whether it’s a TV or a smart projector, Google TV is almost certainly leaving iPlayer off the list; while Channel 4’s level of support is sketchy. And let’s not beat about the bush – these are apps that many want to have included from the get-go. Not having them is a disadvantage in the minds of UK customers who want a TV that’s easy to use.

And therefore it’s a disadvantage to Philips. The Philips OLED910 is a great TV but I’ll have to highlight the fact that it doesn’t have iPlayer will annoy customers who simply want a TV packaged with everything they might need. Does anyone remember the kerfuffle customers brought up when LG TVs dropped Freeview Play? Is that important to many.

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A titan in waiting

But switching to Titan OS makes sense. Philips has practically incubated this user platform from birth, working with them on their less expensive TVs and gradually adding to across the line to the point where it’s available on the flagship level.

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It’s certainly not as big a brand name as Google is, but now Philips can weave a story that includes both them and Titan OS, rather than being eased out of the way by Google taking the limelight.

They can build a platform that works for Philips, with much closer collaboration. Titan themselves are looking to bring in some interesting new features, including a sports section that’s tailored to what the viewer wants to watch, rather than what the platform wants you to watch.

Say you prefer watching tennis? Based on what you’ve clicked, the platform will learn what you like, and rather than focus on shovelling association football to your eyeballs, you’ll instead be presented with tennis content instead.

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This is a long-term goal and not something that’s going to be launched in the next few months, but it’s a sign of what can be done on a smaller scale, rather than being a smaller voice next to a global player such as Google.

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Titan OS supports Freely, so you get all the catch-up apps and services included from the get-go. It might not have the flash or scale of Google TV, but it’s building up a base and growing in terms of recognition.

After all, what does Philips have to lose? If anything, it should be seen as what Philips can gain from such a move. I think there’s plenty of opportunity available for Philips and Titan to make their mark.

• TfL introduces radar cameras that monitor five lanes without visible alerts
• Half of London’s 2024 fatal collisions involved excessive speed
• Cameras will be installed on 20mph and 30mph roads across ten boroughs

Transport for London (TfL) is moving ahead with trials of radar-based speed cameras which differ significantly from existing roadside systems in both design and operation.

The new devices combine 4D radar tracking with 4K imaging, removing the need for embedded road sensors, visible flashes, or painted markings that typically signal enforcement zones to drivers.

A legal feud between the co-founders of Lux Optics, the developer behind the Halide camera app, revealed that Apple was close to acquiring the company. As first reported by The Information, Apple held acquisition talks for Lux Optics, which also developed the Kino, Spectre and Orion apps, in the summer of 2025.

According to The Information, the deal eventually fell through in September of that year, but the potential acquisition could’ve provided Apple with the third-party software to improve its own built-in camera app. Apple is already rumored to be introducing variable aperture to its upcoming iPhone 18 Pro models, so it’s not surprising that the iPhone maker was looking for software with advanced features to match its possibly upgraded camera hardware.

Despite Apple’s interest, Lux Optics’ co-founders, Ben Sandofsky and Sebastiaan de With concluded that future updates to Halide could increase the company’s valuation and ended the acquisition talks. According to the lawsuit between the co-founders, Sandofsky started investigating de With for the alleged misuse of company funds shortly after the talks with Apple ended. Afterwards, de With was fired from Lux Optics and later joined Apple’s design team. While Halide may remain third-party software for iPhones and iPads, users can still look forward to some software improvements to the built-in camera app, since that’s reportedly one of Apple’s priorities.