At the recently concluded 2026 CEDIA Expo, Dirac announced that the NAD CI SA2-120 BluOS Streaming Amplifier Module and NAD CI S2 BluOS Streaming Module are now certified to support Dirac Live Room Correction. The addition expands access to advanced room optimization across NAD’s custom installation product lineup.
The NAD CI Modular Series is a flexible, high-performance audio solution engineered to simplify custom installation projects. Its compact modular architecture enables easier system expansion and more efficient installations while maintaining NAD’s well-regarded sound quality.
The timing is significant. CEDIA’s preliminary 2026 U.S. Professional Smart Home Market Analysis estimates the residential integration market at nearly $34 billion, underscoring just how substantial the custom installation business has become. That figure represents an extrapolated estimate of the overall professional channel rather than $34 billion in directly reported or audited sales.
An earlier CEDIA study estimated the U.S. market at approximately $29 billion, although changes in methodology and a much larger 2026 survey sample mean the two figures should not be treated as a precise measure of year-over-year growth. What is clear is that residential integration has become a very large market, creating considerably more opportunity for brands that can provide dealers with complete audio ecosystems rather than individual components.
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That puts NAD and parent company Lenbrook in an interesting position. Lenbrook’s North American portfolio gives integrators access not only to NAD amplification and BluOS streaming products, but also to DALI’s extensive range of architectural loudspeakers. The DALI PHANTOM lineup includes in-wall, in-ceiling, on-wall, outdoor, and subwoofer solutions designed specifically for custom installation applications.
The combination allows integrators to build systems around NAD electronics, BluOS multi-room streaming, Dirac Live room correction, and DALI architectural loudspeakers without having to assemble every part of the system from unrelated brands and distribution channels.
Dirac Live Room Correction further optimizes performance for the unique acoustic characteristics of each listening space, helping integrators deliver clearer, more balanced sound throughout the home.
The technology addresses acoustic problems created by the interaction between a sound system and its surrounding environment. Dirac Live corrects both the magnitude and phase of a system’s response, helping reduce uneven frequency response, timing issues, and imprecise imaging. The result can be tighter and more accurate bass, improved clarity, and a more cohesive soundstage.
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“Every room shapes sound in ways that even premium audio hardware cannot address on its own,” said Rikard Hellerfelt, VP and Head of Consumer Electronics at Dirac. “By expanding Dirac Live Room Correction to NAD’s CI SA2-120 and CI S2, we’re giving professional integrators a powerful tool to unlock the full performance of distributed audio systems while creating consistently exceptional listening experiences across the home.”
NAD CI SA2-120 Streaming Amplifier Module
Part of the NAD CI Modular Series, the NAD CI SA2-120 combines high-quality amplification and BluOS music streaming in a compact, space-saving design for single- and dual-zone applications. It is engineered for reliable, long-term operation.
Feature Highlights:
New: Dirac Live Ready for room correction
BluOS Enabled: Includes multi-room streaming with access to 20+ services and internet radio, with dual independent BluOS Zones
Bluetooth: aptX HD two-way Bluetooth, AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, and TIDAL Connect
Physical Inputs: HDMI eARC, combo analog/digital input, USB
Network Connectivity: Dual-band Wi-Fi and Gigabit Ethernet
DirectDigital Amplification: 2 x 120 W or 4 x 60 W
Dynamic Power Management: The CI SA2-120 automatically optimizes power distribution
Control Options: IR input with learning via BluOS (IR extender kit required), programmable 12 V trigger input, drivers for Control4, Crestron, URC, RTI, NICE, Lutron, and KNX, plus remote monitoring via Domotz
Power: Universal AC power supply
Cooling: Thermostatic fan cooling with front-to-rear airflow for reliable stacking
Placement Options: Compact 1/3-width x 1U-height chassis with ChassisLink
Control Options: IR input with learning via BluOS (IR extender kit required), programmable 12 V trigger input, and drivers for Control4, Crestron, URC, RTI, NICE, Lutron, and KNX
Placement Options: Compact 1/3-width x 1U-height chassis with ChassisLink
Network and Power Connectivity: Dual-band Wi-Fi and Gigabit Ethernet, with PoE or 12 V DC power input (<10 W power consumption)
”For custom integrators, every project presents a unique acoustic environment,” said Peter Gibb, Custom Install Product Manager, NAD Electronics.“Bringing Dirac Live Room Correction to the CI SA2-120 and CI S2 pairs the flexibility of our modular CI platform with powerful room optimization, helping integrators achieve exceptional, consistent sound across a wide range of spaces and system configurations.”
CI PA4-60 Power Amplifier Module
The CI series also includes the CI PA4-60, a versatile four-channel power amplifier that expands system design options for larger distributed audio systems.
Feature Highlights:
Note: Dirac Live is not applicable
DirectDigital Amplification: 4 x 60 W or 2 x 120 W (continuous into 8 ohms)
Dynamic Power Management: The CI PA4-60 automatically detects speaker loads and routes power accordingly
Load-Invariant Design: This feature accommodates long cable runs and difficult speaker loads
Inputs: Two RCA line inputs with gain control and stereo/mono selection. Global/local input switching provides flexible signal routing. Stereo/mono selection is available for Inputs 1 and 2.
Outputs: RCA loop output from Input 1 for daisy-chaining, plus two 4-pin snap-on Phoenix speaker connection blocks
Control Options: 12 V trigger input, 12 V trigger input/output, front-panel switch, and signal sensing
Power: Universal AC power supply
Cooling: Thermostatic fan cooling with front-to-rear airflow for reliable stacking
Placement Options: Compact 1/3-width x 1U-height chassis with ChassisLink
The CI (Custom Installation) category is becoming more competitive, and adding Dirac Live Compatibility to NAD’s entries helps to make their CI SA2-120 BluOS Streaming Amplifier Module and CI S2 BluOS Streaming Module stand out. However, if you take Dirac Live out of the equation, there is competition in the CI space for both streamers and streaming amplifiers, including: NAIM’s impressive CI-Uniti 102 ($1,499) streaming amplifier down to WiiM’s modestly-priced CI A80 Streaming Amplifier and CI MOD S Streamer ($449 each)
The Bottom Line
Dirac Live has proven to be one of the better room-correction platforms available for improving the sonic performance of a loudspeaker system. It can be deployed in everything from a DIY two-channel setup to a professionally installed system, making it especially useful when speaker placement and room acoustics are less than ideal.
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Bringing Dirac Live into NAD’s CI lineup gives installers another level of control, but there are some caveats. First, it is not free; installers or end users must purchase a license to use Dirac Live Room Correction (pricing information is provided in the next section). It should also be noted that Dirac Live Bass Control and Dirac Live Active Room Treatment are not supported by the CI SA2-120 or CI S2 at this time.
That is somewhat interesting because Dirac Live Bass Control is available for several of NAD’s non-CI streaming components, including the M10, M10 V2, M10 V3, M33, M33 V2, C 658, and M66. However, Dirac’s current compatibility listings do not indicate support for Dirac Live Active Room Treatment on any NAD product.
What makes the new CI implementation noteworthy is not simply the presence of Dirac Live. The technology is already widely used in AV receivers, surround processors, integrated amplifiers, and other products aimed at both consumers and professional installers. What remains relatively uncommon is native Dirac Live Room Correction inside compact, rack-friendly streaming modules designed specifically for scalable distributed audio systems.
That gives the NAD CI SA2-120 and CI S2 a potentially meaningful advantage. Competing CI products from Naim and WiiM also provide DSP or room-correction capabilities, but they take different approaches. NAD is offering installers BluOS multi-room streaming, professional control-system integration, and Dirac’s automated measurement and correction platform within the same modular ecosystem.
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Dirac has made significant headway in the room-correction market, with support from roughly 30 audio brands and numerous products within those lineups. It competes alongside platforms including Audyssey, Anthem Room Correction, Yamaha YPAO, Pioneer MCACC, Trinnov Optimizer, and proprietary systems from other manufacturers. They all attack the same fundamental problem in different ways: the room has an enormous influence on what ultimately reaches your ears.
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Price & Availability
NAD CI Series Components can be purchased through Authorized Dealers at the following prices:
NAD CI SA2-120 Streaming Amplifier – $1,899
NAD CI S2 Streamer – $1,199
CI PA4-60 Power Amplifier – $1,099
Dirac Live Room Correction Licenses for the NAD CI SA2-120 and NAD CI S2 are priced between $159 and $249.
The NAD Dirac Room Calibration Kit, which includes the equipment needed to perform precise Dirac Live room measurements, is available for $49 through NAD
The gaming chat service Discord appears to have gone down
Users are reporting that the app is not loading
Discord says there are problems affecting availability right now
Popular gaming chat service Discord appears to have gone down, with many users reporting that they are currently unable to access the app on social media.
It’s unclear which regions are affected right now, but here in the UK, I can no longer open the desktop application. The mobile app seems to be functioning properly, though, and I am able to both send and receive messages for the time being.
Those in the US also appear to be having problems, with many taking to X in order to voice their frustrations.
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“Discord went down as soon as I was about to text somebody,” wrote one user in a post that has already racked up hundreds of likes.
Another quipped: “This is devastating for people who don’t take showers.”
At the beginning of this apparent outage, the official Discord status page reported that all servers were operational. It has since been updated to report an issue with “session availability” and states that the team is currently investigating.
It’s how long these issues will last, though I would recommend using alternative chat services for the time being until service has been fully restored.
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This story is developing and will be updated shortly.
Forum post claims 7.49 million files up for grabs as Texas utility investigates breach
Texas utility CenterPoint Energy has confirmed that an attacker broke in and stole customer information through one of its internet-facing systems.
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The company disclosed the breach in a Form 8-K filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission after a post on a cybercrime forum claimed to offer its customer data.
Houston-based CenterPoint, which serves around 7 million customers, said its electricity and gas services remain operational and undisrupted.
“While the investigation remains ongoing, the company has determined that an unauthorized third party obtained personal information relating to a portion of the company’s customers through one of the company’s external-facing systems,” the filing said.
“The company is continuing to work with third-party experts to determine the scope of customers and personal information affected by the incident and intends to notify affected customers and regulatory authorities as required by applicable law.
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“The company reported the matter to law enforcement authorities and has notified certain regulatory authorities of the issue.”
The person claiming responsibility said they extracted 7.49 million of CenterPoint’s files from a poorly secured API.
Among the data allegedly available to download are customer names and contact details, billing data, move-in dates, driver’s license information, and the last four digits of Social Security numbers.
The Register has not independently verified the contents of the alleged data dump, and CenterPoint did not respond to our request for comment on the veracity of the claims.
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CenterPoint said it does not believe the incident is reasonably likely to materially affect its financial condition or results of operations.
For operators of critical infrastructure, cyberattacks can lead to far worse outcomes.
Recently, disruptive attacks have been recorded at facilities in Poland and the UK, and more than 100 US water systems were affected by attacks in July.
The US consistently warns about the cyber threat facing utility providers from hostile states because successful attacks can disrupt essential services. ®
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Milwaukee, recognized by its signature red and black colors, is a famous tool brand dealing in a range of hand and power tools that make work easier for professionals across several fields, like plumbing, electrical, automotive, woodworking, and more. The brand has an extensive range of products, categorized mainly into two categories: the M12 line of tools and the M18 tool system, each suitable for a particular kind of job.
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However, before buying Milwaukee tools, keep in mind that a tool’s size and design depend on the tasks it’s meant to do. For instance, a screwdriver should be compact enough to fit into narrow spaces, and the same goes for a lot of other tools.
We rounded up some of the best mini Milwaukee tools you can buy in 2026, especially for jobs that require more control and maneuverability, like working overhead or making high-precision cuts in the target material.
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8-in-1 Ratcheting Multi-Bit Screwdriver
The 8-in-1 Ratcheting Multi-Bit Screwdriver features an all-metal design that delivers high torque to loosen tough-to-remove screws and nuts. The compact head lets it access narrow spaces, such as behind shelves and under the car’s dashboard, for versatile application. This screwdriver offers eight driving options: Phillips #1 and #2, slotted 3/16-inch and 1/4-inch, square #1 and #2, Torx T15, and 1/4-inch nut driver. All these bits have power grooves, so you can also use them with other power tools, and they are chrome-plated for durability.
Additionally, it has a magnetic bit retention system, so the bits don’t come off during driving applications. The bits have precision-machined tips to fit the tool accurately. The handle has dedicated storage channels where you can keep the bits you use most often for quick, easy replacements. The screwdriver further comes with a lifetime warranty.
Up for grabs at $17.97 on Home Depot, this mini tool has 425 ratings with an average score of 4.7 on the platform. Customers said the tool performs well in tight spaces and appreciated its versatility across different applications.
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M12 Fuel 12V 1/4 in. Hex Impact Driver
Built with the ability to generate up to 1,500 inch-pounds of torque and speeds up to 3,600 RPM (enabled by the Powerstate brushless motor), the M12 Fuel 12V 1/4 in. Hex Impact Driver is another compact, lightweight tool for versatile driving applications. It can be used single-handedly and has a 5-inch length to access difficult spots for driving fasteners. It also features a tri-LED light integrated into the head to illuminate the work area and an all-metal belt clip to hook onto a tool belt.
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You can pair this impact driver with an M12 RedLithium battery to get an impressive runtime that can last an entire day, and you can keep an eye on the battery levels via the on-board gauge. The all-metal gearcase protects the tool against jobsite conditions and impacts for long-term use. Milwaukee claims it’s the fastest and most compact subcompact impact driver, suitable for a variety of uses, including home improvement, automotive repairs, electrical installations, and more.
It can be purchased at Home Depot for $149, where the tool has a staggering 4.8 score from more than 1,330 customers impressed by its torque performance and adjustable speed settings for the task at hand.
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Milwaukee Compact Folding Knife (2.5 in. blade)
The Milwaukee Compact Folding Knife has a 2.5-inch blade made of stainless steel, so it stays sharp and effective despite several applications. It has a lanyard hole for easy portability and a thumb hole that lets you open the blade without hurting yourself. When not in use, the blade folds inwards, and the liner lock keeps it securely inside; the same lock allows it to maintain a firm position when opened to prevent accidental bends and folds.
The fiberglass-filled nylon 4-inch handle provides a better grip. Available at $14.97, this drop point knife can be used for several purposes, such as slicing open parcels and other general cutting tasks — you can always keep it in your pocket or tool belt for instant use. It has a 4.5-star rating from 1,804 reviews, with users praising the tool’s durable build and portable design.
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Milwaukee Pen Light with Clip
Priced at just $19.97 on Amazon, the Milwaukee Pen Light produces 100 lumens of TrueView HD bright spotlight up to 43 meters away, helping you work in low-light conditions, such as inspecting your electrical boards during sudden power shutdowns. Powered by two AAA batteries, it has a runtime of up to three hours for uninterrupted use. It also includes a clip that lets you carry the penlight in your pocket or on your tool belt for convenience.
The design is waterproof with an IP67 rating and is also protected against dust and corrosion, thanks to the aluminum body. It can withstand impacts from accidental drops, adding further durability. One unique feature is the integrated protective rubber bite zone, which lets you hold the pen light in your mouth while working with both hands without damaging the tool.
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Rated by 1,908 reviewers, it has a total score of 4.7, with customers calling it a heavy-duty and comfortable pen light with a bright light output and a great focal range that proves handy for several tasks.
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M12 Fuel 12V 3 in. Cut Off Tool
The M12 Fuel 12V 3 in. Cut-Off Tool is one of those tools that even haters of the brand will love. It proves useful in slicing through metal sheets, tiles, drywall, pipes, and other materials. Powered by a Powerstate brushless motor, the tool can spin at up to 20,000 RPM for fast cutting. You can select forward or backward blade rotation depending on the task at hand — the reverse motion is useful for removing material, such as old tiles or grout.
It also has a depth adjustment feature to set the cutting depth without additional tools, and it’s compatible with common three-inch cutoff wheels. It also includes an LED light to illuminate dark spaces and a vacuum adapter to connect an external vacuum for collecting dust and debris produced during cutting.
At $149, the package also includes a metal cutoff wheel, a carbide abrasive blade, and a diamond tile blade, along with an accessory shoe and guard, a blade wrench, and a 7/16-inch flange adapter. The tool has collected 3,397 Home Depot reviews, bringing its average score to 4.5. It is mainly praised for its power to cut through various materials and the support it offers during renovation tasks.
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Milwaukee M12 Compact Inflator
The Milwaukee M12 Compact Inflator is a portable tool that every driver should keep in their car to tackle flat tires when repair stations are nowhere to be seen. This Milwaukee inflator can top off a car’s tire in about a minute to a pressure between 28 and 35 PSI, though it can reach up to 120 PSI. Hence, it also works with LT trucks and other vehicles.
The compact and lightweight design (3.5 pounds) makes it easy to carry while occupying minimal storage space in the vehicle. With anti-vibration feet, the inflator remains stable during the process. You can set the desired pressure using the buttons beneath the digital gauge, and the machine will automatically shut off once it reaches that level to avoid overfilling.
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It also has weather and impact protection, making it suitable for outdoor use and helping extend product life. You can buy this inflator for $101.31 on Amazon, where it has received 4.6 stars from over 3,250 reviewers. Users found it a tool worth having for long road trips and picnics, as it delivers impressive air pressure to fill the tire in no time.
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Mini Flush Cutting Pliers and 4-Piece Hook and Pick Set
For $29.97, you get the Mini Flush Cutting Pliers and a Four-Piece Hook and Pick Set at Home Depot — with both hand tools being useful in everyday automotive and electrical jobs. These pliers can deliver precise cuts when dealing with thin electrical wires and cable ties without requiring much force from the user. The spring-loaded cutter design helps with quick, sharp cuts, while the slim head lets you reach tight spots for versatile use.
Furthermore, the cutters are protected against rust and corrosion due to the all-metal core and a chrome-plated finish. Coming to the hook and pick set, there are four in total — a 90-degree pick, a straight pick, an offset pick, and a hook. These come neatly organized in a storage tray and have a knurling design, which brings you added control by enhancing the grip on the tool.
The kit comes with a lifetime guarantee and has garnered more than 750 customer reviews with an average rating of 4.7 stars. Users said it easily cuts through zip ties and small wires and is also useful for DIY projects and detailed work.
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M12 Fuel Stubby 3/8 in. Impact Wrench
The M12 Fuel Stubby 3/8 in. Impact Wrench is smaller than typical impact wrenches, which means it supports one-handed operation and improves efficiency when removing or fastening nuts and bolts in tight spaces. With the integrated PowerState brushless motor, the tool can generate up to 550 foot-pounds of torque and 3,000 RPM to loosen stubborn nuts and bolts, even if they are corroded.
Moreover, it has an auto shut-off feature that prevents the tool from over-fastening in forward motion, which could damage the nut. The same feature gives you control in reverse motion by slowing the speed so the bolt does not run off. It also has tri-LED lights to illuminate the work area, and the friction ring socket retention system keeps the attachment in place during the task.
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You can purchase this stubby impact wrench at Home Depot for $249. It has nearly 1,100 reviews, with an average rating of 4.8 and a 90% recommendation rate. Users find the torque output impressive for various fasteners and like the power delivery for its compact size.
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M12 12V Subcompact 3/8 in. Drill Driver
The M12 12V Subcompact 3/8 in. Drill Driver can generate a maximum torque output of 350 inch-pounds with a top speed of 1,550 RPM, though the speed can be controlled via the variable-speed trigger. Its subcompact design — it weighs 2 pounds with battery and measures 5.4 inches in length — allows for greater control and balance when it comes to overhead tasks, like drilling and installing fasteners. Additionally, the tool features RedLink Intelligence to protect against overload and overheating, helping ensure longevity. Plus, the onboard battery gauge lets you track charge levels.
This drill/driver has a 3/8-inch metal chuck to hold drill bits without experiencing wear and damage. The built-in LED light illuminates dark workspaces, and you can use the tool in either forward or reverse motions depending on whether you want to tighten or loosen a fastener. Selling at $129, this Milwaukee power tool is rated 4.7 on Home Depot by 351 customers who find it a valuable addition to the toolkit for performing several around-the-house repair and installation tasks.
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M12 Fuel 6 in. Pruning Hatchet Mini Chainsaw
Built with the power to deliver up to 120 cuts per charge at a chain speed of 5 meters per second (when paired with a 5Ah M12 RedLithium battery), the M12 Fuel 6 in. Pruning Hatchet Mini Chainsaw can cut through 3-inch hardwoods. The lightweight, compact design allows better maneuverability in narrow spaces, such as between branches, for effective pruning and cutting. Meanwhile, the RedLink Plus Intelligence protects the tool from overload, while the advanced electronic package enables an immediate throttle response.
You can control the speed with the variable-speed trigger to match the job’s requirements. It includes a full-house chain for clean, precise cuts, an automatic oiler to reduce friction during use, an easy-access chain tensioner for quick adjustment, and metal bucking spikes that provide leverage and stability when cutting. Additionally, the chainsaw comes with an on-board “scrench” storage — a mix of screwdriver and wrench that is useful for chain maintenance.
The tool is available at Home Depot at a 61% discount for $199. Designed by one of the major power tool brands, this chainsaw has a staggering 4.8-star score following 821 reviews. This mini Milwaukee tool is loved by users for its powerful performance, which makes pruning and cleanup easier and less time-consuming.
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Methodology
Digineer Station/Shutterstock
Milwaukee has some great products in its range that are useful across various professions. Be it hand or power tools, the brand offers consistent quality tools that meet the customer expectations well.
Here, we selected those tools that are compact and lightweight in design so they can access difficult spots with ease while also minimizing hand fatigue during extended usage. As a result, you can use them for a range of home improvement tasks, DIY jobs, and cleanups. These mini tools are rated at a minimum of 4.5 on popular retail platforms, like Amazon or Home Depot, gathered via at least 350 user reviews.
Between J-B Weld and Gorilla Epoxy, you have a lot of products to choose from for a home repair. But which one is better? Depends on what you're doing.
Apple CEO John Ternus whipped out his iPhone Duo on the Emmys red carpet, to the delight of the press gaggle. The Internet immediately started whining, as it does.
The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards were a big success for Apple TV. As the new CEO of Apple, John Ternus was in attendance, and he used the opportunity of a red carpet interview to flash the iPhone Duo in front of the cameras.
In a clip posted byDeadline to X, Ternus reaches into his tuxedo, pulls out the iPhone Duo, and opens it up. After a squeal of delight from the reporter, the grinning Ternus folds the iPhone Duo up and puts it back in his pocket.
While the reporter was obviously happy to see the device in person, the Internet was not.
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Internet peanut gallery
Comments below the post included a lot of discussion about Ternus, but quite a few about the iPhone Duo itself. Chiefly that it had a seemingly bad display.
“That matte screen is so bad it’s making me think about getting a Fold 8,” one person writes. “The quality of inner screen so suck” another bashes out along with emojis of a sad face.
Others touched on how you couldn’t see the crease because of the lack of brightness. “Borderline unusable in natural daylight” another declared.
Some believe it wasn’t his daily driver because it allegedly didn’t show any apps nor touch the screen itself. Except the clip shows him swiping up with his thumb and the screen moving.
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A dim viewpoint
When it comes to answering the question of why the screen is not super-bright in the interview, there are quite a few possible reasons for it. Some more obvious than others.
For a start, the red carpet is the worst place to judge a display on a device. We’re talking about an area that is very brightly lit, with a different light characteristic than daylight, so that the stars can be filmed by the broadcast cameras.
This is a ton of light, and any consumer-grade device will have trouble competing with that situation. It also doesn’t help that the broadcast cameras are set up to use this light so that the humans it sees look great, not necessarily a light-emitting device like a smartphone screen.
The second and most obvious reason is that Ternus didn’t have the brightness turned up in the first place.
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Whipping out the iPhone Duo in an off-the-cuff moment is different from a choreographed PR exercise which would’ve stuck the brightness as high as possible. It’s probable that a prepared moment would’ve “fixed” the environmental lighting too so that the iPhone Duo looked perfect.
A multi-layered problem
Then there’s the iPhone Duo display itself. We know it’s using many layers of glass and other trickery to try and hide the inevitable crease, and that affects how the display appears to others, especially when it’s someone viewing at an angle.
Apple’s use of nano-texture is also at play here, since it’s an etched texture designed to scatter light and to minimize environmental glare. It’s not a one-way effect, as it does marginally soften the image of the iPhone Duo’s OLED panel.
The iPhone Duo has many layers of glass – Image Credit: Apple
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It also means that the contrast is affected when there’s more environmental light to compete against. Under bright lights, the screen will look more grey and washed out than if you looked at the same screen in a dark room.
The decision to go for a matte display for the iPhone Duo was for consumers to have a better experience under normal usage. A glossy screen, as used by rivals, would look bright and make it more attractive for sales, but it would be a detriment for everyday use.
Under such extreme viewing conditions, it’s completely understandable for the iPhone Duo to not be presented perfectly in Ternus’ hands.
After all, the bright light there was to make the stars the awards were about shine brightly.
After saving a £300, 16-port Ubiquiti network switch from getting tossed into the trash, [Buy It Fix It] got the honor of trying to repair it. With four ports and their associated PoE function having some major issues it looked like it might take some debugging, but after taking the lid off, the cause seemed rather obvious.
One of the Broadcom BCM5911 controller chips had a rather suspicious chip of the plastic packaging missing, with additional probing of connected components showing that numerous MOSFETs and a diode having had their proverbial guts blown out and were shorted as well. Whatever happened to some connected Ethernet device would appear to have left a serious trail of damage that nearly wrecked the entire switch.
The biggest challenge here was probably to find a replacement for the Broadcom IC, as this isn’t an IC that stores like Digikey or Mouser stock any more. Fortunately it was still available for sale over at AliExpress for £1.84, with the usual caveat that it could be salvage, fake, a factory reject, etc. In this case it appears that it was a legit Broadcom IC, with the four affected ports springing back to life including powering a PoE camera.
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With a total cost of about £5 plus the time invested it wasn’t a bad deal to save a pretty nice PoE switch with 16 Ethernet and 2 SFP ports.
The Sinclair ZX81 was a masterpiece of Sir Clive’s desire to get the most out of the least hardware, being about as minimalist as it was possible to get and still be a home computer in 1981. As such it has a keyboard, a Z80, TC and cassette interfaces, 1K of memory, and that was it. There were any number of add-ons for it, but if you were a 1980s kid the chances are you couldn’t afford them. So 45 years later here’s [adam.klotblixt] with OpenSpand — every ZX81 expansion you could think of, all in one!
For a start there’s a RAM expansion. Not the paltry 16K of old, this is user-configurable and has the whole 64K address space minus the ROM to play with. Then there’s SD card storage, hijacking Sinclair BASIC’s LOAD and SAVE commands. It’s got high-res graphics, emulated sound chips, a joystick port, serial ports, a choice of ROMs, and a composite video output. Perhaps the only thing it doesn’t have from back in the day is a printer interface, but we’re sure the serial port could be pressed into service somehow.
It does this all as you might expect these days, with an RP2350 emulating the real parts. The microcontroller disables the onboard RAM and ROM and emulates those too, such is the disparity in power between it and a Z80. We would have done anything for this expansion, back in the day.
In brief: Nvidia’s RTX 4090 and 5090 have become notorious for melting power cable connectors. While the two flagship GPUs have drawn renewed attention to the problem over the past several years, users should remember that lower-wattage cards and cables aren’t immune, even with power monitoring devices, as one unlucky AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX user recently discovered.
Redditor AwarenessHour9192 recently complained about a melted power connector on a PC graphics card, an issue commonly associated with Nvidia’s top-of-the-line GPUs. However, this time the affected card was an AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX.
The user reported black screens and other problems with his PC over the course of months and could not diagnose the issue, even after a workshop reinstalled Windows and ran benchmarks. Only after disassembling the tower did he discover burn marks on the GPU’s power connector.
Nvidia’s RTX 4090 and 5090 have frequently experienced the same problem over the past few years. While the company attempted to close the issue long ago by blaming user error, users have largely blamed its 16-pin power connectors and the 5090’s near-600W power draw, with cases continuing to emerge. YouTube channel TecLab recently renewed awareness of the flaw by demonstrating two extreme ways to circumvent it.
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First, they lowered a 5090’s operating temperature by soldering its PCB directly to the power cables, bypassing the connector entirely. On another unit, they proved that the 16-pin connector might be unnecessary by replacing it with a triple 8-pin setup without sacrificing performance, which also lowered temperatures.
AwarenessHour’s issue occurred with AMD’s last-gen flagship GPU, which draws only 400W via an 8-pin connector. Furthermore, instead of plugging the power connector directly into the graphics card, he passed it through a Thermal Grizzly WireView power monitor, which is designed to prevent this exact problem. Luckily, the monitor prevented the damage from reaching the GPU, whereas many other cases have left severe burns on Nvidia graphics cards that now cost over $5,000.
While AwarenessHour has not yet determined what caused the meltdown, Thermal Grizzly fortunately replaced the power connector and the WireView. The incident shows that even GPUs with modest TDPs and 8-pin power connectors can suffer from melted connectors. Users should still take care when installing them and check for physical damage if they experience video output issues.
Roblox has announced several new updates at its 12th annual Roblox Developers Conference (RDC). The event brings together developers, artists, designers, brands, and influencers from the Roblox creator community. This year, the company focused on new ways to play, create, and earn on the platform. The announcements include Roblox Everywhere, browser and offline play, new AI creation tools, Roblox Wallet, and Moments. The event also marks 20 years of Roblox’s platform development with its community.
New Ways to Play and Stay Connected
Roblox is increasingly expanding how players can access games across different devices. The newly launched Roblox Everywhere program would let creators deliver their games as separate applications on mobile phones, PCs, and consoles. Roblox would provide the required technology and services behind these apps. Players could also launch games in the Chrome browser without downloading the Roblox application. This browser option will arrive by the end of this year, with more browsers planned later.
Roblox will also add an offline mode and merge it with online mode in the same game. This could mean more single-player modes and more gameplay for people who aren’t always online. Another platform development will be increased support for 2D and puzzle games, with more creation features. These will include an orthographic camera, animated image containers, and direct sprite sheet imports. The platform will also add new UI elements, including blur, text shadow, and gradients. Meanwhile, the Friends chat tab and voice typing will help players stay connected between games.
New Ways for Creators to Earn and Grow
Roblox is also giving creators new ways to earn and manage their income. Creators have earned more than $5 billion through DevEx since 2013. They earned around $1.7 billion on the platform over the past 12 months. Roblox is now introducing Roblox Wallet for eligible creators. The wallet will let creators receive earnings in real currency and get automatic payments each business day. Roblox will first launch it later this year for eligible independent creators in the US aged 18 and above. The company plans to expand it globally next year.
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Roblox is also introducing the Roblox Card, which will connect to the Wallet balance. Creators will be able to spend their available balance wherever the card is accepted. The card will start rolling out next year. Meanwhile, Roblox is expanding Moments, where players can watch gameplay videos and jump directly into games. Moments is now fully available in the US. Videos from Experience Details Pages will also appear there soon. Roblox is also updating discovery rankings to match younger and older players better. It is testing rankings based on how many new players a game brings to the platform.
The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) warned security teams that ransomware gangs have now joined ongoing attacks exploiting a critical VMware vCenter vulnerability patched in July.
The company also warned customers in a supplemental FAQ at the time to treat fixing CVE-2026-59310 as an emergency and install patches as soon as possible.
Two weeks later, digital forensics and incident response (DFIR) company QUIRSO reported finding over 361 IP addresses across 47 countries compromised after a suspected advanced persistent threat (APT) actor began exploiting the vulnerability to deploy a reverse SSH tool for persistence and remote access.
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Days later, the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added CVE-2026-59310 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) Catalog and ordered government agencies to secure their vCenter systems within three days.
Internet security threat monitor Shadowserver currently tracks over 450 VMware vCenter servers exposed online; however, there is no information on how many have already been patched against this flaw.
VMware targeted by ransomware gangs
While the U.S. cybersecurity agency has yet to share any details about the ransomware attacks targeting CVE-2025-60710, VMware servers are commonly targeted because compromised vCenter or ESXi servers can provide access to an organization’s network and sensitive data stored on internal systems.
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In recent years, multipleransomwaregangs have developed dedicated encryptors to target VMware virtual machines, as enterprise organizations now commonly use them to manage and store corporate data.
CISA also warned in February that ransomware groups began exploiting a VMware ESXi sandbox escape vulnerability (CVE-2025-22225), which Chinese-speaking threat actors have targeted in zero-day attacks since at least February 2024.
Since the start of the year, the cybersecurity agency has also flagged VMware Aria Operations (CVE-2026-22719) and VMware vCenter Server (CVE-2024-37079) flaws as exploited in attacks in February and March.
Over the last five years, CISA has tagged 26 VMware vulnerabilities as exploited in the wild, nine of them also abused by ransomware operations.
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