Friday, 13 November 2020

ET Deals: $50 Off Apple Watch SE 44mm Smartwatch, Dell Alienware Aurora R11 Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Gaming Desktop for $1,763

Apple’s new Watch SE comes with many of the same features as Apple’s more expensive Watch Series 6, but with a significantly lower price tag. Now you can get the 44mm version of this smartwatch discounted with a $50 discount, which makes it that much more affordable and an excellent deal.

Apple Watch SE 44mm GPS Smartwatch ($259.99)

Apple’s Watch SE is a more affordable alternative to the new Watch Series 6. It’s more than twice as fast as the old Apple Watch Series 3 and comes loaded with useful features to track your fitness activity. By default this watch is priced over $100 lower than Apple’s Watch Series 6, but now you can get one from Amazon marked down from $309.99 to just $259.99.

Dell Alienware Aurora R11 Intel Core i7-10700F Gaming Desktop w/ Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080, 8GB DDR4 RAM and 1TB HDD ($1,763.99)

If you’re looking for a gaming desktop, you can’t go wrong with one of Dell’s newly redesigned Alienware Aurora R11 PCs. This version of the Aurora features an Intel Comet Lake Core i7-10700F CPU as well as an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 graphics card. This GPU is currently one of, if not the fastest single graphics card in the world, and it’s able to run games with maxed settings with exceptional ease. Currently, with promo code SAVE10AFF, you can get this system from Dell marked down from $1,999.99 to just $1,763.99.

Samsung 970 Evo 1TB M.2 NVMe SSD ($142.49)

Reading data at 3,500MB/s, this SSD hits the limits of what the M.2 interface is capable of when connected using PCI-E 3.0 lanes. With a total of 1TB of storage capacity, this drive removes any need to have a second drive to store files as it can hold more data than the average user typically needs. The drive was built using Samsung’s V-NAND 3-bit MLC NAND, which offers excellent performance. The drive is also rated to last for up to 1.5 million hours before failing. Right now you can get it from Amazon marked down from $249.99 to $142.49 with a clickable coupon.

Samsung Galaxy Buds Wireless Earbuds ($89.99)

Samsung’s Galaxy Buds were made to compete with Apple’s Airpods headphones and they have many similar features, including a fully wireless design and Bluetooth support. The Galaxy Buds also features up to 6 hours of battery life on a single charge and they can charge enough to play for an entire hour in just 15 minutes. Right now you can buy these high-end earbuds from Amazon marked down from $129.99 to just $89.99.

Featured Deals

Note: Terms and conditions apply. See the relevant retail sites for more information. For more great deals, go to our partners at TechBargains.com.

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from ExtremeTechExtremeTech https://www.extremetech.com/deals/317359-et-deals-50-off-apple-watch-se-44mm-smartwatch-dell-alienware-aurora-r11-nvidia-geforce-rtx-3080-gaming-desktop-for-1763
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Snag these Apple Watch Accessories at Killer Pre-Black Friday Sale Prices

Whether an Apple Watch is on your wrist or your Christmas list, there are dozens of accessories that make life with the fun gadget even sweeter. And if someone on your list is a big fan of their Apple Watch, we bet they’d love to see any of these additions underneath their tree.

Thanks to this pre-Black Friday sale there’s 15 percent off sitewide on these handy Apple Watch gadgets. And since they’re only available for a limited time, it might be smart to snag some of these perfect stocking stuffers ahead of the holiday rush.

HEDock Apple Watch Dock

Let’s face it, Apple Watch chargers aren’t all that aesthetically pleasing. That’s where HEDock Apple Watch Dock comes in, providing a stylish place to simultaneously charge and display your Apple Watch. Its urethane coating prevents scratches and the sleek design hides the charging cable behind the dock for minimal clutter.

Get the HEDock Apple Watch Dock for $11.89 (Reg. $15) with promo code SAVE15NOV.

NightStand for Apple Watch

Want a place to keep your Apple Watch that isn’t an eyesore? NightStand for Apple Watch, the brainchild of a group of engineers and designers, is a super sleek charging dock that’s both convenient and aesthetically pleasing. Suction sticks to your desired surface to keep your Apple Watch safe, and a simple design makes it easy to dock and undock at anytime. 

Get the NightStand for Apple Watch Dock for $12.74 (Reg. $29) with promo code SAVE15NOV.

Oakywood iPhone And Apple Watch Charging Dock

If you’re hoping to keep a certain aesthetic going in your bedroom and have been dreaming of a pretty place to charge up your gadgets, look no further. The Oakywood iPhone and Apple Watch Charging Dock is hand-shaped from solid wood and features a detailed finish that adds a little pizazz wherever you place it. It also has an adjustable backing to fit your iPhone and a sleek design that reduces unsightly cable clutter. 

Get the Oakywood iPhone and Apple Watch Charging Dock for $50.99 (Reg. $79) with promo code SAVE15NOV.

BatteryPro Portable Charger for iPhone and Apple Watch

If you’re often taking your gadgets on the go, the BatteryPro Portable Charger for iPhone and Apple Watch is your go-to companion to keep your devices powered up. It features an integrated MFi-certified Apple Watch magnetic charger and a smart high-speed USB output, giving you the ability yo charge anytime and anywhere. And with its 8,000 mAh capacity, it can provide over two weeks of Apple Watch charging or 3 days of iPhone charging. 

Get the BatteryPro Portable Charger for iPhone & Apple Watch for $67.99 (Reg. $99) with promo code SAVE15NOV.

OMNIA Q2 True Wireless 2+1 Fast Charging Stand

Sometimes you just need your devices powered up quickly. That’s where the OMNIA Q2 True Wireless 2+1 Fast Charging Stand comes in. It’s compatible with Apple’s 7.5W fast-charging specification and allows a maximum power of 10W to allow for rapid charging. Its trickle-charging mode enables optimized charging, and thanks to its overvoltage protection, multiple circuit protection, and overheating protection, you can recharge with 100 percent safety. 

Get the OMNIA Q2 True Wireless 2+1 Fast Charging Stand for $64.56 (Reg. $89) with promo code SAVE15NOV.

Portable Keychain Apple Watch Charger

Since our electronics are our lifelines, it’s always nice to have an emergency charger on hand. The Portable Keychain Apple Watch Charger can just pop on your keyring and deliver a fast original wireless charging speed in less than 2.5 hours. It comes equipped with a USB tip that allows you to plug the charger into your laptop or device with a USB port, and then just place your Apple watch on top for easy wireless charging.

Get the Portable Keychain Apple Watch Charger for $14.44 (Reg. $29) with promo code SAVE15NOV.

Apple Watch Wireless Charger Keychain

Keychain chargers are among the handiest way to power up your devices, and the Apple Watch Wireless Charger Keychain can tag along wherever you go. It features a microcomputer electronic system that wirelessly charge your Apple Watch — all you need to do is place the watch on the black magnetic charger. Its 950 mAh lithium-ion battery lets you charge up any iWatch series. 

Get the Apple Watch Wireless Charger Keychain for $16.99 (Reg. $49) with promo code SAVE15NOV.

Triple Dock: 3-in-1 Apple Device Charging Station

Eliminate cable clutter with the  highly rated Triple Dock: 3-in-1 Apple Device Charging Station. It scored a 4.8/5 Editor’s Rating on GadgetFlow thanks to its micro-suction tape technology that allows one-hand operation and its adjustable backing that makes it compatible with any phone case. Made of real solid wood and finished with ecological oils, it’s not only convenient, but nice to look at as well!

Get the Triple Dock: 3-in-1 Apple Device Charging Station for $57.79 (Reg. $79) with promo code SAVE15NOV.

Apple Watch Magnetic Charging Cable

When it comes to convenience, having a little extra flexibility with a lengthy charging cable makes all the difference. The Apple Watch Magnetic Charging Cable is a 1-meter cable that combines Apple’s MagSafe technology with inductive charging, giving you wiggle room when you need it. All you have to do is hold the connector near the back of the watch, and the magnet will snap it into place and start powering up automatically. And there’s also a 2 meter option available for even greater flexibility!

Get the Apple Watch Magnetic Charging Cable (1m) for $22.09 (Reg. $31) with promo code SAVE15NOV. The Apple Watch Magnetic Charging Cable (2 meter) is available for $22.94 (Reg. $59) with promo code SAVE15NOV.

Griffin WatchStand Powered Charging Station for Apple Watch + iPhone

If you’re the owner of different Apple gadgets, it’s hard to find the perfect product to power them all up at once. That’s where the WatchStand comes in, serving as an all-in-one powered charging station for both the Apple Watch and the iPhone or iPad. It has a built-in power supply with two dedicated USB ports that free up a wall outlet, while simultaneously removing cable clutter and offering the perfect amount of charging power for the devices.

Get the Griffin WatchStand Powered Charging Station for Apple Watch + iPhone for $14.44 (Reg. $65) with promo code SAVE15NOV.

QUAD Wireless Charging Station

This sleek QUAD Wireless Charging Station is more than meets the eye. With a 5-coil full surface area, built-in MFI-certified Apple Watch charger and an integrated Lightning port, you can charge multiple Apple devices simultaneously. And there are two different options to go with your aesthetic — as you can select a wood or black base to fit your design needs.

Get the QUAD Wireless Charging Station in wood or with a black top and base for $127.49 (Reg. $154) with promo code SAVE15NOV.

Porta 3-in-1 Power Bank for Phone, Apple Watch, and AirPods

We love a good multi-tasker, and the Porta 3-in-1 Power Bank for Phone, Apple Watch and AirPods does just that. With an 8,000 mAh capacity, it delivers a 100 percent charge to your iPhone Apple Watch or AirPods. And you can bring it along anywhere thanks to its lightweight and compact design.

Get the Porta 3-in-1 Power Bank for Phone, Apple Watch & AirPods for $42.49 (Reg. $119) with promo code SAVE15NOV.

Note: Terms and conditions apply. See the relevant retail sites for more information. For more great deals, go to our partners at TechBargains.com.

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from ExtremeTechExtremeTech https://www.extremetech.com/deals/317358-snag-these-apple-watch-accessories-at-killer-pre-black-friday-sale-prices
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Time to Update: Google Patches 2 Severe Zero-Day Chrome Vulnerabilities

A spate of zero-day attacks have hit Google’s Chrome browser in the last few weeks, and you can add two more to the list. Google released a patch this week to fix the security flaws in its browser, but we don’t know exactly what the flaws are. Unlike the last few zero-days, Google didn’t find these security holes itself. Instead, it was tipped by anonymous third-parties, and the problems are severe enough that it hasn’t released full details. Suffice it to say, you should stop putting off that update. 

Google’s internal security team is constantly trying to break Chrome in order to uncover potential bugs before they become the basis for a harmful malware campaign. And indeed, Google catches a lot of glitches and pushes out patches before anyone outside the company notices. A zero-day exploit is one that Google and the developer community didn’t catch, and could therefore leave millions of machines open to attack. 

We usually get details on patches in Chrome, but Google has temporarily withheld details of these latest flaws because both have been used in the wild as attack vectors. One of the flaws, CVE-2020-16013, is related to Google’s V8 JavaScript engine. The second is CVE-2020-16017, and this one is a “use after free” problem in memory management that allows code to leak out of Chrome’s Site Isolation sandbox. 

chrome logo

Without more details, we can’t say if these bugs are any more severe than the others we’ve seen lately. However, they could have a much greater impact simply by virtue of the fact that internet ne’er-do-wells figured out how to exploit them before Google even knew there was a problem. 

You’re protected as long as you’re on Chrome version 86.0.4240.198 or higher. You can check on that in Settings > Help > About Chrome. If you haven’t updated yet, you might have a nagging “update” badge at the top of Chrome right now. Just give in. These are serious bugs that are being actively used to take over computers. Granted, high-value vulnerabilities like these are usually used to target a specific set of individuals. This still isn’t a chance you want to take, and the details of these vulnerabilities won’t stay secret forever. You don’t want to be running an old version of Chrome when the details are widely known.

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from ExtremeTechExtremeTech https://www.extremetech.com/internet/317352-time-to-update-google-patches-2-severe-zero-day-chrome-vulnerabilities
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Nvidia Will Mimic AMD’s Smart Access Memory on Ampere: Report

We haven’t even gotten to talk about the results of features like AMD’s Smart Access Memory, and Team Red’s competitors are already lining up to pledge support for an equivalent feature. SAM is AMD’s first-ever method of taking advantage of the fact that it owns its entire IP stack — CPU, GPU, and platform. According to AMD, it can use this fact to boost system performance when you combine an RDNA2 card and a Ryzen CPU with an X570 motherboard.

Specifically, AMD claims that it can give the CPU full access to GPU RAM rather than limiting the system to a 256MB aperture window for data transfers. We don’t know if the large Infinity Cache integrated into RDNA2 plays a part in this. No one has stuck a 128MB cache in a GPU before, so the idea that it could play a role in boosting data transfers in and out of VRAM isn’t crazy, especially since cache latency is presumably quite a bit lower than the time it takes to go out to GDDR6.

According to GamersNexus, Nvidia is capable of doing something similar:

Nvidia claims that the feature is part of the PCIe specification, that it has the capability working internally, and that it is already seeing similar performance results. There’s no ETA on when the feature might be available in-driver.

AMD has not publicly disclosed whether Smart Access Memory depends on features beyond the ability to adjust the size of this aperture (Intel refers to this as the IGD Aperture Size), or if it is additionally enhanced by capabilities of Zen 3 or the B550 / X570 chipset. It would definitely change the framing of the feature if Nvidia were capable of activating it on both Intel and AMD systems — but if it is, the likely end result would be AMD activating the capability for Intel systems as well.

Historically, in order for capabilities to become common, both GPU manufacturers have to agree to use a common standard. Nvidia introduced ray tracing using Microsoft’s DXR, for example, but it was only when AMD added the capability to next-gen consoles and its own GPUs that it really began taking off in the mass market. If Nvidia and Intel can both take advantage of a feature that AMD currently only enables for AMD customers, the company will likely enable it on Intel platforms as well, or risk losing match-ups to its biggest rival.

AMD is unlikely to want to risk that outcome. It’s one thing for the company to enable additional performance by leveraging commonalities within its own ecosystem and another to artificially limit performance on competitor platforms.

No matter what, though, the end result seems to be a consumer win. If Nvidia successfully adds this feature, game performance goes up for Nvidia customers. If AMD responds by enabling it for Intel as well, performance goes up for AMD + Intel customers. If, on the other hand, Nvidia (or hypothetically, Intel) can’t match AMD’s gains or fundamental capabilities, we’ll have evidence that the company really is taking advantage of its cross-product IP in new and interesting ways.

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from ExtremeTechExtremeTech https://www.extremetech.com/extreme/317344-nvidia-will-mimic-amds-smart-access-memory-on-ampere
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Jose Mourinho: Tottenham boss given suspended one-match European ban

Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho is given a suspended one-match ban in European competition over the late kick-off at Royal Antwerp.

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54936058
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National League: Wealdstone v Dover Athletic postponed

Saturday's National League match between Wealdstone and Dover is postponed under Covid-19 protocols.

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54850655
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Western Digital Changes Its Reported Drive Speeds to Reflect Reality

Western Digital has made some changes to how it brands its WD Red Plus hard drive family after taking heat for its decision to mislabel its hard drive speeds earlier this year. At the time, individual customers performed some rather clever acoustic analysis to confirm that the hard drives Western Digital claimed were 5400 RPM drives were actually 7200 RPM drives.

Western Digital protested that this labeling was fine, because “5400 RPM class” isn’t the same as “5400 RPM”, but it ignored the fact that 5400 RPM and 7200 RPM drives typically have different power and thermal requirements, and that products designed explicitly for 5400 RPM products might have trouble with 7200 RPM drives. The idea that communicating honestly about its products is the best way to cultivate and maintain consumer trust doesn’t appear to have occurred to anyone, either.

The company has now announced that it will retire certain WD Red Plus model numbers and launch new ones to replace them. Nothing is changing about the drives themselves; Western Digital is just being honest about the fact that these are 7200 RPM drives instead of 5400 RPM drives. Heise.de reports that the new model numbers are:

8 TByte: WD80EFBX (-68AZZN0) instead of WD80EFAX (-68KNBN0)
10 TByte: WD101EFBX (-68B0AN0) instead of WD101EFAX (-68LDBN0)
12 Tbytes: WD120EFBX (-68B0EN0) instead of WD120EFAX (-68UNTN0)
14 TByte: WD140EFGX (-68B0GN0) instead of WD140EFFX (-68VBXN0)

Heisse reports that WD has also updated its WD Red Pro product sheet to read “7200 RPM” instead of “7200 RPM class.”

 

The actual WD Red Plus product sheet hasn’t been updated yet, but presumably that’ll happen soon.

Why Did Western Digital Do This in the First Place?

The big question it’d be nice to have an explanation for is why on Earth WD did this at all. When Western Digital introduced performance classes with its Green drives, it did so as a way of hiding the fact that they spun at less than 5400 RPM, not to cleverly imply they had a slower spindle speed than they actually did.

I can imagine a scenario in which it just became easier for WD to run every drive at 7200 RPM. Back when the hard drive market was crippled by extensive flooding in 2011, one of the expected outcomes that came true was the disappearance of smaller SKUs. When companies replaced their damaged equipment, they phased out smaller and older products that had been cost-effective to produce so long as old factory equipment was still in play. Maybe WD decided to standardize all of its production on 7200 RPM motors — but why not just run the same motor at a slower speed? Alternately, why not just advertise that you now ship 7200 RPM drives standard in all product lines as a way of thumbing your nose at the competition?

It’s not strange for a company to sell a component variant that compensates for lower performance in one category with higher performance in another, such as compensating for slower spindle speeds with larger caches, or clocking a CPU with a smaller L2 at a higher frequency to compensate. But why did Western Digital go to such lengths — to the point of programming its hard drives to misreport their own SMART data — to fake the speed of its hard drives? Was it trying to prop up artificial market segmentation because it believed margins would drop if it sold mostly 7200 RPM drives?

The chances that consumers were injured by this misrepresentation are small, but WD has yet to explain its thinking.

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from ExtremeTechExtremeTech https://www.extremetech.com/extreme/317327-western-digital-changes-its-reported-drive-speeds-to-reflect-reality
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Croydon police shooting: Man arrested over Sgt Matt Ratana murder

A 23-year-old man is arrested on suspicion of shooting dead Sergeant Matt Ratana at a custody centre.

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-54935429
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Couple found guilty of shaking baby daughter to death

One-month-old Eva Sanders died a day after she was admitted to hospital.

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-54935431
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Wembley gang shooting: Men jailed for mistaken identity murder

Kwasi Mensah-Ababio was shot dead in a Wembley park after he had just finished a shift at work.

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-54928353
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London raids: Celebrities lost £26m of property to 'burglary team'

Chelsea boss Frank Lampard and socialite Tamara Ecclestone were among those whose homes were raided.

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-54917570
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TSMC Will Open $3.5 Billion Semiconductor Fab in Arizona

Credit: Laura Ockel/ Unsplash, PCMag

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, known more commonly as TSMC, has announced a major expansion in an unexpected place: the USA. TSMC says it will build a new semiconductor fab in Arizona. The project should get off the ground next year with funding from TSMC, the state of Arizona, and the federal government. 

TSMC says it will found a wholly owned subsidiary in the US with $3.5 billion in resources. While building will get underway next year, jobs at the site will be mostly limited to construction until the facility goes into production in 2024. In all, TSMC expects to spend $12 billion on the Arizona fab between 2021 and 2029. Eventually, the fab will employ about 1,600 people, and it could compete for those employees with Intel, which has several fabs in Arizona. That’s good news for skilled workers in the state, as well as for TSMC. Intel’s presence means it won’t have to build a supply chain from scratch — there are already numerous local suppliers with whom TSMC can partner. 

That’s just an estimate, of course. Delays could push the high-volume launch further out. TSMC hopes to be churning out 20,000 wafers per month in 2024 with a 5nm process. That’s the current top-of-the-line, but the company’s planned 4nm process could be available by the time the fab is done. Still, 5nm chips are happening now, and we’re talking about 2024. 

Inside a TSMC foundry facility. The yellow light is required to ensure safe wafer processing.

TSMC expects it will have a 3nm process up and running by late 2022. However, it plans to keep that production in Taiwan rather than roll it out to the US subsidiary. Most of the company’s high-profile customers such as Apple, Samsung, and Qualcomm want TSMC’s most advanced process to make the fastest and most efficient chips possible. 20,000 wafers sounds like a lot, but it wouldn’t be enough to supply TSMC’s high-volume customers, even just those in America. That’s why it relies on “gigafabs” in Taiwan to manufacture the latest (and most popular) semiconductor designs. Come 2024, this fab might be churning out the kind of chips you see in embedded smart devices and budget phones. 

Getting a foothold in the US is important for TSMC as it aims to compete with GlobalFoundries. With a US-based factory, the company might be able to bid on US government and military contracts that would require careful oversight and US manufacturing. That’s all still a long way off — we expect to hear more details about the Arizona facility early next year, but then news should dry up until it’s ready to come online in 2024.

Top photo credit: Laura Ockel/ Unsplash

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from ExtremeTechExtremeTech https://www.extremetech.com/electronics/317329-tsmc-will-open-3-5-billion-semiconductor-fab-in-arizona
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Massive ‘Kilonova’ Might Signal First Observed Birth of a Magnetar

Magnetars are some of the most extreme objects in the universe, and that’s saying something. These stellar remnants are neutron stars, but whereas most neutron stars are quiet and keep to themselves, magnetars have magnetic fields billions of times more powerful than Earth’s, and they may be the source of the mysterious Fast Radio Bursts astronomers have been tracking in recent years. We’ve never seen a magnetar come into being, but a new high-energy event several billion light-years away might be the first — a kilonova that signals the merging of two neutron stars. 

Neutron stars, white dwarfs, and black holes are all stellar remnants that we hear about on a regular basis. The fate of a main-sequence star to become one of these objects is primarily a function of its mass. The largest stars become black holes, while slightly smaller ones become neutron stars. A star like the sun will eventually collapse into a white dwarf. A neutron star can also end up as a pulsar or magnetar, depending on its properties. Other neutron stars can merge with each other to become magnetars, and that’s what astronomers think they’ve spotted. 

Scientists believe magnetars produce their ultra-strong magnetic field thanks to superconducting material sloshing around inside. The effects of magnetic fields this powerful are almost unfathomable, so naturally, the formation of such an object is a highly energetic event. The leading theories claim magnetars can come into being when two small-ish neutron stars collide. If they’re too large, the resulting object is a black hole, but with just the right mass, you end up with a magnetar. 

Last May, astronomers detected a gamma-ray beacon from an object over 5.5 billion light years away. This matched the theoretical signature of a magnetar formation, so teams around the world turned their most powerful instruments toward the source, including NASA’s Swift Observatory in space, the Very Large Array in New Mexico, and the Keck Observatory in Hawaii. The best data came from none other than the always-reliable Hubble Space Telescope.

Hubble successfully detected the infrared emission (see above) from the formation of heavy elements like gold, platinum, and uranium. That’s another thing astronomers expect to see in a neutron star collision, sometimes known as a kilonova. The team notes that the IR signal was much brighter than anyone expected — 10 times brighter, in fact. For some, this could be confirmation of magnetar formation. If the neutron stars had formed a black hole, the IR emission would have been within expected ranges.

This research still needs to be vetted by other teams, but it’s available on the preprint arXiv.org server. If confirmed, this would be the first time we’ve seen a magnetar born, and the massive energy output recorded by Hubble could reveal a great deal about how these bizarre objects work.

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from ExtremeTechExtremeTech https://www.extremetech.com/extreme/317308-massive-kilonova-might-signal-first-observed-birth-of-a-magnetar
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Jamie Murray & Neal Skupski miss out on ATP Finals in London

British pair Jamie Murray and Neal Skupski see their bid to claim the last spot at the ATP Finals ended by a victory for their nearest rivals.

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/54932953
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Children in Need: 'I lost my mum when I was three'

Eleanor, who lost her mum when she was a child, has been helped by counselling funded by Children in Need.

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-54920613
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Edmonton police station car crash: Man charged

A 45-year-old man is due to appear at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court.

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-54928348
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Mary Phillip: Former England captain on managing Peckham Town's men's team

England women's first black captain Mary Phillip speaks to BBC Sport about her role managing non-league men's side Peckham Town.

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54911242
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Thursday, 12 November 2020

Met Police's Cressida Dick admits force 'not free of racism'

The commissioner comments as a report is issued on how black Londoners are affected by police powers.

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-54917571
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North West sees job ads surge while London lags

Nurses are in demand as vacancies climb to pre-pandemic levels, but with big regional variations.

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-54916307
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Diwali celebrations 'will be difficult', says Rishi Sunak

The chancellor, a practising Hindu, urges people not to break the lockdown for this weekend's festivities.

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-54927053
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Benchmark Results Show Apple M1 Beating Every Intel-Powered MacBook Pro

The Apple M1 launched earlier this week, and benchmark results for the new chip are already starting to trickle out. While these initial tests are preliminary, they still paint a very positive picture for Apple’s upcoming CPU.

In Geekbench 5, an Apple M1 is capable of achieving a 1687 single-thread and 7433 multi-thread score. For comparison, the A14 inside an iPhone scores 1598 / 3995. This surge in multi-threaded performance is likely due to its higher core count (+2 high-performance Firestorm CPU cores) and the near-certainty of sustained higher clock speeds, courtesy of its larger chassis. In the past, iPhone CPUs have been heavily throttled due to high power consumption, so what we’re seeing here might represent the A14 finally stretching its legs.

These scores compare extremely well with existing Intel and AMD CPUs on the market. As always, I recommend caution when extrapolating from synthetic tests to real-world performance. Synthetics are useful for low-level feature analysis and they can shed light on interesting microarchitectural differences, but we don’t rely on them as our primary means of evaluating hardware.

The highest-end MacBook Pro 16-inch that Apple has ever sold features a Core i9-9980HK, an 8C/16T CPU with a base clock of 2.4GHz and a 5GHz boost. Measured performance for this CPU is 1149 / 7329 in GB5. Now, this is an older 14nm CPU. Intel doesn’t currently ship an eight-core Ice Lake mobile CPU, but Apple also ships Intel’s quad-core, ICL-derived Core i7-1068NG7. That chip scores 1352 / 4914. Apple is therefore leading in single-threaded performance even against Intel’s Sunny Cove architecture from 2019, and it’s leading in multi-threaded against the highest performing CPU cores that Intel chips in mobile. While Apple is only tying the Core i9-9980HK in multi-threaded, the M1’s Geekbench scores cleanly beat everything below that point, including the Core i9-9880H.

Since folks will be curious about AMD, here’s how things compare. GeekBench 5 clearly likes Zen 3 much more than Zen 2; the Ryzen 7 3700X scores a 1281 / 8220 in GeekBench 5 according to LegitReviews, while the Ryzen 7 5800X scores a 1673 / 11,246. That’s a 1.3x and 1.36x improvement, respectively, which is well above the gains AMD told us to expect from Zen 2 –> Zen 3 on average (1.19x IPC, and up to 1.25x with IPC and clock). Obviously, however, these CPUs are both desktop processors. We don’t know how AMD’s Zen 3 mobile cores will compare to its desktop chips, but the Ryzen 4800U scores ~1130 in single-threaded GB5 and ~6800 in multi-threaded. That’s an average — we’ll be referring to this Lenovo system, specifically, when we compare performance.

To summarize: AMD’s brand-new Zen 3 8-core matches the M1 in single-threaded performance and significantly exceeds it in multi-threaded performance, but it achieves both of these outcomes at desktop-level power consumption. Data from the comparison suggests Zen 3 will compare significantly more favorably than Zen 2, but data also indicates that AMD’s mobile performance in a 15W envelope is much lower. If we assume that AMD can improve single-threaded performance by 1.3x and 1.36x — meaning they can achieve the entirety of this uplift in exactly the same power envelope — our hypothetical Ryzen 5800U scores 1495 / 9248. Even if we make these very optimistic assumptions, the AMD mobile system would still be consuming far more electricity than its Apple counterpart.

Subtest Results

The Intel Core i9-9980HK loses almost every single-threaded sub-test to the Apple M1, but it doesn’t lose them evenly. In some cases, the gap is small; in text compression the M1 scores 1292, compared with 1177 for the 9980HK. The Gaussian blur, face detection, and horizon detection tests all dramatically favor the M1, as does the ray tracing test.

Subtest performance against AMD’s 4800U is distinct from Intel in terms of which tests Apple wins by which margins, but they aren’t much different in overall outcome. AMD’s Ryzen 7 4800U can hit 1318 faces/second compared to Intel’s 750, but the M1 reports 2209. Intel’s 9980HK scores 1218 in the N-body physics test compared with Ryzen’s 936, but the Apple M1 scores 1769. Interestingly, Intel retains leadership in the machine learning subtest, with a score of 1332 versus 1169 on M1 and 965 on 4800U.

Multi-Threaded vs. Single-Threaded

Multi-threaded tests show some differences compared with the ST figures. In ST, the M1 swept both Intel and AMD, nearly across the board. In multi-threading, it’s much more of a fight. The M1 wins AES-XTS compression by a country mile, but Intel is ahead in text compression, 8284 to 7162 (AMD) to 5528 (Apple). AMD decisively wins the image compression test, 10,392 versus Intel at 9,524 and Apple at 7,213. AMD narrowly wins PDF rendering while the M1 wins text rendering over both x86 competitors. Intel’s camera benchmark performance is narrowly higher than AMD or Apple, and it decisively wins the rigid body physics test. Intel’s scaling in the machine learning test is terrible, however, and Apple wins this test in multi-threading.

Apple M1 Multi-Threading results, according to GeekBench 5.

What does this tell us about M1 scaling versus Intel and AMD chips? That’s unclear. It’s possible the chip’s performance is still constrained by thermals, or by the split-core configuration Apple is using, or both. Scaling factors for the AMD Ryzen 7 4800U, Intel Core i9-9980HK, and Apple M1 are 6.0x, 6.38x, and 4.4x, respectively. Given that Apple is working with a thermally constrained environment and a mix of high-performance and high-efficiency cores, that’s not too surprising. This is also why the M1 isn’t just going to annihilate x86’s market position in the next year or two — Intel and AMD are both more competitive in MT than ST, and more workloads are multi-threaded these days. These results are a real threat to x86, but they aren’t its death rattle, even if they translate well to real-world applications.

Intel Core i9-9980HK multi-threaded subtest performance, GeekBench 5.

It would be inappropriate to draw conclusions from the results of a single synthetic tests, but nothing in these results implies good things for Intel or AMD. Even if GeekBench 5 runs particularly well on Apple hardware or ARM chips more generally, we’re still seeing a CPU with a 5W nominal TDP take on chips with 15W nominal TDPs and walk out an early winner.

It’s entirely possible that sustained testing under load will reveal that the M1 has to throttle quite a bit over time because it lacks a fan, and that Apple’s higher-end MacBook Pros will still outperform it in real-world tests. This is actually the outcome I expect, because while Apple takes a lot of heat for its pricing, professional customers are not going to purchase $2,000 – $3,000 Intel Core i9 laptops if they can get better performance in audio and video rendering suites with a much less expensive machine.

GeekBench 5 is not a real-world benchmark and we’ll wait for real-world tests before we draw conclusions. But nothing about these results points to weak places in the architecture, and none of its sub-scores highlight problems AMD or Intel can immediately exploit. Considering that we’re looking at a 4+4 CPU going up against full octa-core solutions, there’s plenty of margin for GeekBench 5 to be overstating Apple’s performance without changing the result: The M1 appears, at the least, to be highly competitive with x86 core-for-core and clock-for-clock. Further testing will determine the degree to which this is true, or conversely, establish that GB5 is too Apple-friendly to make a useful cross-platform benchmark.

With tests like Cinebench R23 now baking in support for M1, we’ll have an answer to this question sooner rather than later.

Also — just to revisit the “98 percent of PC laptops” bit — the multi-threaded subtests actually show why this isn’t true. “Faster” has a broad contextual meaning, and the Core i9-9980HK is well above the M1 in text compression, image compression, SQLite, PDF rendering, Clang, N-body physics, rigid body physics, and the HDR subtest.  Even within a benchmark that shows Apple’s M1 to exceptionally good light, there are distinct and particular workloads where the Core i9-9980HK isn’t just competitive, but victorious by a large enough margin that lower-end Intel CPUs would stand a good chance vis-à-vis the M1 as well.

By the same token, however, Apple’s marketing overreach on that stupid claim shouldn’t lull anyone into ignoring this chip. It represents the most potent threat to x86 dominance that I’ve seen in my entire career.

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from ExtremeTechExtremeTech https://www.extremetech.com/computing/317304-benchmark-results-show-apple-m1-beating-every-intel-powered-macbook-pro
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ET Deals: Sony PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 5 Digital Edition Now Available, Dell XPS 8940 SE Intel Core i5 and AMD Radeon RX 5300 Gaming Desktop for $649

The highly anticipated PlayStation 5 is finally available for sale, but as expected it has sold out everywhere. You still have one chance to buy it today though. Walmart is releasing the system in limited batches every 3-hours. More systems went up for sale at 12PM EST and 3PM EST, and there will be more listed every 3 hours for  the rest of the day. If you missed out on pre-ordering and are still hoping to get one, check at these times and with luck you will be able to get one before they sell out.

Sony PlayStation 5 ($499.00) and PlayStation 5 Digital Edition Consoles ($399.00)

Sony’s new PlayStation 5 console is significantly faster than the older PlayStation 4 and competes with Microsoft’s new Xbox Series X. This highly anticipated console comes with an eight-core AMD Zen 2 processor and a powerful GPU along with 16GB of GDDR6 RAM and an 825GB SSD. The standard PlayStation 5 also has a Blu-Ray drive, but the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition is the same system but without the Blu-Ray drive. These consoles are now available for sale from Walmart at their regular retail prices of $499.00 and $399.00 respectively.

Dell XPS 8940 SE Intel Core i5-10400 Gaming Desktop w/ AMD Radeon RX 5600 GPU, 16GB DDR4 RAM, 256GB NVMe SSD and 1TB HDD ($749.99)

Dell’s new XPS 8940 SE features an updated design and it comes loaded with strong processing hardware that’s able to tackle just about any task you throw at it. The mid-range Intel Core i5-10400 with its six CPU cores is well suited for running numerous applications at the same time. As the system also has an AMD Radeon RX 5600 graphics card, the system’s is able to run games with high settings fairly well, making it a fitting machine for gaming and work. Currently you can get one of these systems from Dell marked down from $1,329.99 to just $749.99 with promo code DTXPSAFF11.

Motorola Moto G Power Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 64GB 6.4-Inch HD+ Smartphone ($179.99)

Motorola’s Moto G Power was designed as an affordable phone that still has fairly capable hardware. It has a 6.4-inch FHD+ display along with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 SoC with eight CPU cores. It’s also backed up by 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. This phone is priced fairly low right out the gate at $249.99, but now you can get it for an even lower price from Amazon where it’s currently available for just $179.99.

Roku Premiere 4K HDR Media Player ($29.00)

Roku’s Premiere media player features 4K and HDR video support and competes directly with Amazon’s Fire TV 4K. It’s able to stream content from numerous sources including Netflix, Hulu, Vudu, and Sling TV. Right now you can get it from Walmart marked down from $39.99 to $29.00.

Note: Terms and conditions apply. See the relevant retail sites for more information. For more great deals, go to our partners at TechBargains.com.

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from ExtremeTechExtremeTech https://www.extremetech.com/deals/317301-et-deals-sony-playstation-5-and-playstation-5-digital-edition-now-available-dell-xps-8940-se-intel-core-i5-and-amd-radeon-rx-5300-gaming-desktop-for-649
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Northwick Park: Teenager dies after stabbing

The 17-year-old dies after being attacked near a Tube station in Harrow.

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-54920615
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Charlton Athletic owner Thomas Sandgaard issued with notice to leave club

Charlton's legal department have been issued with a notice to order owner Thomas Sandgaard to "leave the club".

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54925763
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This Pre-Black Friday Sale Includes must-have AirPod Accessories

AirPods are going to continue to be a must-have gift this holiday season. And if you’d like to gift something to go with the popular sound solution, there are plenty of AirPod accessories that are certain to wow under the tree.

Ahead of Black Friday, there’s already an amazing sale going on some of these AirPod accessories. You can currently get 15 percent off site-wide with coupon code SAVE15NOV (excluding the Apple Airpods). Here are some of the great options on pre-Black Friday sale:

Earhoox 2.0 for Apple EarPods and AirPods: 2-Pack

There’s a solution for that special someone on your list always complaining their AirPods fall out. Earhooks are an easy silicone attachment designed to make them fit snugly in your ears. They come with two sizes to make sure there’s a perfect fit, and there are two sets included to ensure those expensive AirPods stay safe and sound at all times.

Get the Earhoox 2.0 for Apple EarPods and AirPods: 2-Pack for $13.59 (Reg. $20) with promo code SAVE15NOV.

AirPods Pro Accessory Bundle

Since AirPods are an investment, it’s important to keep them safe. Whether you’re gifting AirPods or shopping for someone who already has them, the AirPods Pro Accessory Bundle ensures they won’t lose them. It comes equipped with a protective case that’s easy to use and clean, a carabiner to keep them safe during activities, an anti-loss rope to prevent dropping and an anti-loss silicone sleeve to prevent misplacing.

Get the AirPods Pro Accessory Bundle for $13.59 (Reg. $29) with promo code SAVE15NOV.

Aduro AirPods 8-Piece Accessory Bundle

AirPods 1 and 2 users, listen up! You can protect them from pretty much everything with the handy Aduro AirPods 8-Piece Accessory Bundle. From a protective silicone case to keep them safe and charged, to sport style ear hooks, earbud wing covers, mesh earbud wing covers, a magnetic neck strap, a carabiner attachment, a watch strap holder and a travel zipper pouch, you’ll be equipped with everything you need to carry your AirPods safely and conveniently.

Get the Aduro AirPods 8-Piece Accessory Bundle for $8.49 (Reg. $29) with promo code SAVE15NOV.

Wireless Charger for Apple Airpods + Phones

Since we’re spending more time at home these days, it’s time to cut the clutter. And you can start with this Wireless Charger for Apple Airpods and Phones. This cord-free charging solution works for both your AirPods and other Qi-compatible devices, safely powering up your gadgets without any worry of overheating. There’s pure copper coil for fast charging, which also makes sure your battery isn’t damaged, and a bottom cooling hole makes sure your devices don’t heat up in the process.

Get the Wireless Charger for Apple Airpods + Phones for $14.44 (Reg. $49) with promo code SAVE15NOV.

CarryOn: Genuine Leather Case for AirPods Pro

Want to keep your AirPods safe without sacrificing style? Enter the CarryOn: Genuine Leather Case for AirPods Pro. This sleek and fashionable case protects your AirPods Pro even while they wirelessly charge. And it comes equipped with a metal clip to let you attach your AirPods to your purse, keys, backpack or even yourself if needed.

Get the CarryOn: Genuine Leather Case for AirPods Pro for $20.39 (Reg. $29) with promo code SAVE15NOV.

Apple AirPods Pro

If you don’t have AirPods, it’s time to join the legion of superfans! Apple AirPods Pro delivers Active Noise Cancellation while providing adaptive EQ which tunes the music to suit the shape of your ear for consistent listening, all while sitting sleekly in your ear without any wires. They also give you up to 30 hours of music, equipped with powerful bass and Bluetooth 5.0. Tom’s Guide calls them “the ultimate wireless earbuds” thanks to their “active noise-canceling,” and their “better fit and resistance to sweat.”
Get the Apple AirPods Pro for $249.

AirPod Charger

It’s important to keep your AirPods powered up, and this charger pulls double duty. Not only does it keep your AirPods charged wherever you are — it comes with a stand and car mount to keep them safe while you drive. A topless design provides maximum convenience, and you can even keep your Earhook attachments on while you recharge!
Get the AirPod Charger for $27.19 (Reg. $49) with promo code SAVE15NOV.

Earhook: AirPod Survival Kit

There’s an easy way to upgrade your AirPods and make them feel as good as new with the Earhook: AirPod Survival Kit. It comes packed with Earhook, the ideal way to ensure a perfect AirPods fit, and a magnetic strap to keep those pesky pods together at all times. There’s also a protective case included and a charging dock (that works without removing your Earhooks!) to make sure they stay powered up anytime, anywhere.
Get the Earhook: AirPod Survival Kit for $33.99 (Reg. $49) with promo code SAVE15NOV.

Get the Ballistic AirPods Pro Case for $10.19 (Reg. $19) with promo code SAVE15NOV.

Wireless Charging Pad for AirPods & AirPods Pro

Though wireless chargers are convenient, they’re not always intuitive. Wireless Charging Pad for AirPods & AirPods Pro gives you fool-proof wireless charging thanks to their precise AirPods fit, allowing you to place them on the pad and know they’re powering up thanks to the LED indicator. Aside from being easy to use, this pad is super slim, measuring in at just 14.3mm, and has a built-in USB-A cable to provide for flexible charging.

Get the Wireless Charging Pad for AirPods & AirPods Pro for $24.64 (Reg. $34) with promo code SAVE15NOV.

Note: Terms and conditions apply. See the relevant retail sites for more information. For more great deals, go to our partners at TechBargains.com.

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from ExtremeTechExtremeTech https://www.extremetech.com/deals/317300-this-pre-black-friday-sale-includes-must-have-airpod-accessories
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