South Korean memory giant SK Hynix has announced it has begun the mass production of the world’s first 12-layer HBM3E, featuring a total memory capacity of 36GB, a huge increase from the previous 24GB capacity in the 8-layer configuration.
This new design was made possible by reducing the thickness of each DRAM chip by 40%, allowing more layers to be stacked while maintaining the same overall size. The company plans to start volume shipments by the end of 2024.
The HBM3E memory supports a bandwidth of 9600 MT/s, translating to an effective speed of 1.22 TB/s if used in an eight-stack configuration. The improvement makes it ideal for handling LLMs and AI workloads that require both speed and high capacity. The ability to process more data at faster rates enables AI models to run more efficiently.
Nvidia and AMD hardware
For advanced memory stacking, SK Hynix employs innovative packaging technologies, including Through Silicon Via (TSV) and the Mass Reflow Molded Underfill (MR-MUF) process. These methods are essential for maintaining the structural integrity and heat dissipation required for stable, high-performance operation in the new HBM3E. The improvements in heat dissipation performance are particularly important for maintaining reliability during intensive AI processing tasks.
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In addition to its increased speed and capacity, the HBM3E is designed to offer enhanced stability, with SK Hynix’s proprietary packaging processes ensuring minimal warpage during stacking. The company’s MR-MUF technology allows for better management of internal pressure, reducing the chances of mechanical failures and ensuring long-term durability.
Early sampling for this 12-layer HBM3E product began in March 2024, with Nvidia’s Blackwell Ultra GPUs and AMD’s Instinct MI325X accelerators expected to be among the first to use this enhanced memory, taking advantage of up to 288GB of HBM3E to support complex AI computations. SK Hynix recently rejected a $374 million advanced payment from an unknown company to ensure it could provide Nvidia with enough HMB for its in-demand AI hardware.
“SK Hynix has once again broken through technological limits demonstrating our industry leadership in AI memory,” said Justin Kim, President (Head of AI Infra) at SK Hynix. “We will continue our position as the No.1 global AI memory provider as we steadily prepare next-generation memory products to overcome the challenges of the AI era.”
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The Apple Watch has hit its first big birthday. The Apple Watch Series 10 is the 10th generation of Apple’s wearable, and it brings a host of new changes while keeping the same DNA that makes the Apple Watch special.
However, it’s still not the most affordable smartwatch, but Apple does offer the two-year-old entry-level Apple Watch SE 2. If you are on a limited budget and want to experience an Apple Watch, should you buy the Apple Watch SE2 or is it worth stretching your budget for the Apple Watch Series 10? Let’s find out.
The Apple Watch Series 10 was announced at Apple’s Glowtime event and has undergone a major redesign, while the SE 2 follows the same design language as earlier versions of the Apple Watch. The result is a stark contrast between the two.
The Series 10 is 1mm thinner, slightly heavier, and slightly bigger than the Apple Watch SE 2, but it has a much larger display. Despite the bigger display, it feels better on the wrist thanks to a thinner design that makes it feel far more premium.
Joe Maring / Digital Trends
The Apple Watch Series 10 gets a glass front, a titanium or aluminum frame, and a ceramic and sapphire crystal back. In contrast, the Apple Watch SE 2 is far less premium as it replaces the ceramic with plastic and only comes with an aluminum frame.
The display on the Apple Watch Series 10 is also far better. It’s bigger, slightly higher in density, and features a higher peak brightness at 2,000 nits. The Apple Watch SE 2 display is no slouch as it’s still a Retina OLED with 1,000 nits peak brightness, but there’s a noticeable difference between the two. The Series 10 also features a Sapphire crystal glass front that should render it far more durable than the Ion-X strengthened glass on the Apple Watch SE 2.
Joe Maring / Digital Trends
Despite both displays using LTPO technology, only the Apple Watch Series 10 features an always-on display. It also has a much wider viewing angle, allowing you to see what’s on the display at a broader angle.
There’s little doubt that the Apple Watch Series 10 is just the nicer-looking watch. It is thinner, bigger, and has a much nicer display, as well as the display characteristics you’d want from a smartwatch such as an always-on display and sapphire crystal protection. This is where the differences between the two watches are most noticeable.
The Apple Watch Series 10 runs WatchOS 11 out of the box, while the Apple Watch SE 2 can be updated to the same platform. Although they share the same operating system version, there are a few health features that are not available on the more affordable Apple Watch.
The lack of ECG and temperature sensors means you’ll miss features like ECG recordings, advanced heart rate monitoring, and temperature sensing. Both watches offer sleep tracking, but the Apple Watch Series 10 captures more data and is also able to detect Sleep Apnea.
Joe Maring / Digital Trends
Both watches gain access to the Training Load and Vitals apps, with the latter offering a visual representation of stats such as heart rate, respiratory rate, and sleep duration. The Apple Watch Series 10 will also detect your wrist temperature overnight, providing a first indicator of whether you may be falling ill. The Apple Watch Series 10 can also track periods with retrospective ovulation estimates, while the Apple Watch SE 2 offers basic cycle tracking.
If you like to swim or dive, the Apple Watch SE 2 is more limited as well. It is water resistant and swi-proof to just 50 meters, while the Apple Watch Series 10 adds a water temperature sensor and a depth gauge up to six meters to provide more detailed statistics about your workout.
It’s a close call, but the Apple Watch Series 10 offers just a few more features. However, the Apple Watch SE 2 offers all the core health features at a lower price, so you won’t be missing out on too much. If you aren’t too worried about any of the Apple Watch Series 10’s exclusive features, you can change this to a tie.
The Apple Watch Series 10 is powered by the S10 SiP and comes with the double tap gesture that launched with the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 last year. Meanwhile, the Apple Watch SE 2 uses the two-year-old S8 SiP, which prevents it from offering certain features such as precision finding for the iPhone and faster charging.
There is also a noticeable difference in performance when using Siri. The S10 SiP offers a much faster Siri assistant that is on-device and can access your health data, while the S8 SiP is more limited and offers a more basic version of Siri.
Joe Maring / Digital Trends
However, while the S10 SiP is better, there’s little reason to upgrade solely for the processor. The Apple Watch SE 2 offers most of the same experience, doesn’t lag, and is more than capable of being updated in the future.
How many updates is the other unknown: most Apple Watches are supported for around five years, so if you buy an Apple Watch SE 2, it may only receive three more updates. The Apple Watch Series 10 is guaranteed to receive updates longer than any other current Apple Watch.
The Apple Watch Series 10 is faster, but the difference isn’t marked enough and shouldn’t be used as the sole reason to upgrade your pick.
The Apple Watch Series 10 and Apple Watch SE 2 are both rated as offering up to 18 hours of battery life, but there are still big differences. The Apple Watch SE 2 is likely to last slightly less than the Series 10, which we’ve found lasts at least 24 hours.
This year saw Apple revamp the charging experience, with the Apple Watch Series 10 now charging much faster than any other Apple Watch. In our testing, it can charge to full in less than an hour, and a 15-minute charge gets you enough battery life for 12 hours of use. There’s no contest.
The Series 10 has the best charging experience on an Apple Watch, being almost twice as fast as the Apple Watch SE 2. Trust us, the upgraded charging makes a huge difference in day-to-day usage.
The biggest allure of the Apple Watch SE 2 is its price. A starting price of $249 makes it much less expensive than the Apple Watch Series 10, which starts at $399 and has a maximum price of $799 for the Titanium model in the biggest size with the titanium band.
If you want the Apple Watch SE 2, the 40mm GPS model costs $249, while the bigger 44mm costs an extra $30. Opting for the GPS and Cellular model will cost you an additional $50, and choosing a stainless steel Milanese loop — featuring the original design — costs an additional $50 as well. The maximum you can pay for an Apple Watch SE 2 is $379.
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Joe Maring / Digital Trends
If you want the Apple Watch Series 10, it starts at $399 for the 42mm aluminum build and $699 for the titanium build. The former comes in either GPS or GPS and Cellular variants — the latter costs $100 extra — while the titanium build is only available with GPS and Cellular. If you want the bigger 46mm model, it costs $30 extra for the aluminum build and $50 extra with titanium.
For the lower price, you get a pared-back feature set with the Apple Watch SE 2. It’s designed to offer a first step into the Apple Watch experience, while the Apple Watch Series 10 represents the pinnacle of the non-Ultra product line. The Apple Watch Series 10 does a lot more, but it comes at a price that may be too high for some people.
The Apple Watch Series 10 is the best Apple Watch you can buy right now, but a starting price of $399 will make it far too expensive for some people. If you are one of those people and want to experience the magic of the Apple Watch, the Apple Watch SE 2 delivers 75% of the experience at less than 75% of the price.
However, if you can upgrade to the Apple Watch Series 10, the extra money is worth it. It’s the biggest display ever on an Apple Watch, the faster charging makes a big difference, and the thinner body means it’s far more comfortable on the wrist.
It costs a premium over the Apple Watch SE 2, but the Apple Watch Series 10 is worth the premium, especially if you snag one of the best Apple Watch deals.
DIRECTV has decided to also toss its hat into the FAST arena, by offering its own Free Ad-Supported TV service, called ‘MyFree DIRECTV’.
The company is not yet saying how many channels will be available, but you can bet on there being hundreds. Google TV FreePlay already has over 800 channels and it only launched a few months ago. The service is set to launch on November 15, just in time for the holidays. Not only will MyFree DIRECTV offer hundreds of free channels, it will also have a vast on-demand catalog available. And there will be additional channels launching throughout 2025.
Those that already pay for DIRECTV Stream, will also be able to use MyFree DIRECTV, and no it is not replacing DIRECTV Stream. With FAST channels, you’re getting a lot of 24/7 streaming channels that will be themed, and you won’t be able to watch a lot of stuff “live”.
What are FAST channels?
FAST is a new term that came into the streaming industry a few years ago, mainly thanks to the popularity of services like Tubi TV and Pluto TV. It stands for Free Ad-Supported TV, and normally runs 24/7 with themed channels. So you usually don’t see new content here. These are still great to have running in the background while you’re doing work around the house and such.
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There are already plenty of channels out there on various platforms like the Baywatch Channel, Bar Rescue Channel, Anger Management Channel and many more. The best part about all of this is, that it is entirely free. With most services, you don’t even need to login to an account.
So how do these services make money? Well, it’s right in the name, ads. This means you’re going to see ads on everything, but it’s about the same as regular streaming TV from YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV and Sling TV. In fact, sometimes it’s even less ads. Sling TV also has a free component available, and now DIRECTV Stream will be joining in on the fun.
If you watched that Star Trek episode about the tribbles and thought, I need one of those in my life (minus the rapid reproduction problem), Casio’s got just the thing for you. The company is now taking pre-orders in Japan for Moflin, the adorable robotic plushie with AI “emotional capabilities” that debuted during CES 2021. Moflin, developed in a partnership with the Japanese startup Vanguard Industries, is meant to work like an emotional support pet — snuggling is its specialty, and the creators say each robot has its own distinct personality, can shift moods depending on the situation and will form attachments to people over time.
It’s available in gray and blonde for a hefty ￥59,400 (roughly $400), and is expected to ship on November 7. There’s no word on a release outside of Japan.
Moflin doesn’t just respond to cuddles. You’re supposed to talk to it, too, and it’ll react with movements and cute sounds. These interactions will help shape its character. “Moflin has the ability to learn and its personality will develop based on how it is treated,” said Vanguard founder Masahiko Yamanaka in a promotional video. It’s Bluetooth capable so it can connect with an app, and charges in a little nest so as to avoid breaking the illusion of it being a real pet. When it’s charging, it’ll just go to sleep. The fur is removable for when you need to wash it, though.
Vanguard ran successful Kickstarter and Indiegogo campaigns for Moflin in 2020 but only started shipping the robots to backers in late 2023. Casio is now handling the manufacturing and distribution.
Crystal Dynamics and Aspyr announced today that they’re launching another Tomb Raider collection: Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered, which launches on PC and consoles on February 14, 2025. This means we’re going to get another edition of the Tomb Raider series’ red-headed stepchild of a game, Angel of Darkness, which one would hope is in a marginally better state than it was when it originally launched. This marks the third Lara Croft-based collection in as many years, starting with the Switch’s Lara Croft Collection in 2023.
Previously, the franchise had gone quiet since 2018’s Shadow of the Tomb Raider, but this is an opportune moment to remind audiences about the history: Not only has Netflix just launched its new series Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft, but Amazon is also working on a new film as well as a new game. While 5 years might not seem to be a long time, any chance to remind youthful audiences — those too young to have played the Tomb Raider games when they originally launched — of exactly who Lara Croft is and why she’s been an icon for as long as she has is one Amazon (and Netflix) should seize.
To that end, it’s perhaps no surprise that the revival of her flagship franchise begins with a history lesson. In the same breath as it announced the new remastered collection, Crystal Dynamics also revealed that the Tomb Raider franchise has sold over 100 million units in the 25 years it has existed. They also highlighted several Lara Croft crossovers, such as her appearances in Brawlhalla, Dead by Daylight and Rainbow Six Siege.
In personal news, I’m sating my need for RPGs by playing Metaphor: ReFantazio this weekend, the new Atlus title making waves and (so the little birds tell me) putting itself forward as a late Game of the Year contender. During my breaks, I’ll likely continue playing the new Silent Hill 2 Remake — and speaking of franchise revivals, there’s another one that deserves another shot at a comeback.
Someone gained access to Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni robotic vacuums across several US cities earlier this year and used them to chase pets and yell racist slurs at their owners, reported ABC Newsin Australia this week.
The outlet spoke with multiple Deebot X2 owners who say their Deebot X2s had been hacked in May, including Minnesota lawyer Daniel Swenson, who said he was watching TV with his family when a noise “like a broken-up radio signal or something” started coming from the robot’s speaker. He said after he reset his password and rebooted the robot, it began again, only this time the sound was clearly a voice — he guessed a teenager’s — yelling slurs.
ABC News lists other, similar accounts from owners in El Paso and Los Angeles, the latter of which involved someone using a Deebot to antagonize a dog, yelling at and chasing it.
Ecovacs told the outlet in a statement that it had “identified a credential stuffing event” and blocked the IP address it originated from. The company said it “found no evidence” that usernames and passwords were collected by the attacker.
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Researchers demonstrated a flaw last year that let them bypass the Deebot X2’s PIN entry to gain access to the vacuum. Ecovacs says in its statement that it has resolved that, and that it also plans to “further enhance security” with an update in November. It’s not clear whether that would correct a Bluetooth vulnerability that ABC News exploited for a report earlier this month.
Cloud-connected smart home devices have led to stories like this for years. Sometimes it’s the result of hacks, others simply compromised credentials. Sometimes, it’s bad software showing you another owner’s camera feed, as a little treat. Issues like these can feel inevitable when so many smart home devices require a persistent internet connection to function, especially for those companies that don’t offer easy ways to report security vulnerabilities.
NASA’s Europa Clipper mission, set to visit the icy moon of Jupiter, was set to launch from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida this week but had its launch delayed because of Hurricane Milton. Now, NASA has announced that it is targeting no earlier than Monday, October 14, for the launch, and we’ve got the details on how you can watch the event live.
The mission intends to explore Europa, the moon of Jupiter that has a liquid water ocean beneath a thick, icy shell. Because of the presence of liquid water there, scientists want to learn whether the moon could be potentially habitable, as it is one of the most promising locations that life could survive outside of Earth. The mission will search for information about the ocean and the presence of the building blocks of life, called organic compounds, to see if the ingredients for life are present there.
Europa Clipper had been scheduled to launch this week on Thursday October 10, but the launch was postponed because of the hurricane conditions around the Kennedy Space Center. The spacecraft had to be secured against the high winds and heavy rain in its hanger at Launch Complex 39A.
“The safety of launch team personnel is our highest priority, and all precautions will be taken to protect the Europa Clipper spacecraft,” said Tim Dunn, senior launch director at NASA’s Launch Services Program, at the time. “Once we have the ‘all-clear’ followed by facility assessment and any recovery actions, we will determine the next launch opportunity for this NASA flagship mission.”
NASA Kennedy confirmed that it was all clear after the storm, and now teams are continuing to check the status of the spacecraft and the ground systems, but NASA has confirmed it is targeting Monday onward for the launch.
The launch will be livestreamed by NASA, which you can watch either using the NASA+ app or using the YouTube video embedded above. The YouTube video currently has a date of November 6 on it, but this is just a placeholder date and not when the actual launch will take place.
The exact time of the launch hasn’t been announced yet, but you can follow NASA’s X (formerly Twitter) account to get details as soon as the time is made public.
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