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You'll soon be able to get into your favorite games even faster with the updated Xbox home screen. According to Microsoft, Xbox Insiders are due to get three new customization options later this week that will make their dashboard feel a little more personal. As detailed in Xbox Wire, certain Xbox players will have options to reduce clutter and allow them to pull their favorite games to the front of the list.

The first major change lets you pin up to three of your favorite games or apps to the recently-played list. Pinning these means that they'll stay near the front of your list even when you launch other apps occasionally. Beyond that, your Xbox will get the option to "Hide System Apps" which should reduce the clutter and tuck those less important shortcuts away. To further streamline your home screen, Xbox will introduce the "Reduce Tile Count" feature that lets you set how many visible tiles are in the recently opened games and apps list. With more control thanks to these new features, Xbox players should get a cleaner homepage that lets their dynamic backgrounds shine more.

"We’ve heard from many of you that Home should feel more like your space," Eden Marie, principal software engineering lead of Xbox Experiences, wrote on Xbox's blog. "Whether it’s surfacing your favorite games, hiding what you don’t use, or simply making Home feel less crowded, this update is a direct response to that feedback."

According to Microsoft, these features will arrive on Alpha Skip-Ahead and Alpha users' consoles first. However, the company is still tweaking the Reduce Tile Count feature, adding that it "will be coming soon." Now, if only there were a way to hide those ads on the homescreen.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/xbox/xbox-will-let-you-pin-up-to-three-favorite-games-to-your-homescreen-200051956.html?src=rss

Built-in Google TV turns this monitor into a streaming hub without needing a separate deviceHDR10 sounds nice, but 300 nits brightness limits any real visual punchGreat resolution, but the 60Hz refresh rate won’t impress serious gamers or creatives

Most portable monitors focus solely on display quality, but the Kinhank K18 Pro takes a different approach by integrating Google TV 12, and transforming it into a standalone entertainment hub with access to Netflix, YouTube, and other apps, without the need for a separate device.The Kinhank K18 Pro is DRM-certified, meaning it supports high-quality playback from paid streaming services. It also includes a Bluetooth remote and a microphone to enable voice control.However, the product listing lacks information about the processor, RAM, and storage, suggesting that it may simply function as an output device for a connected computer rather than a fully independent smart display.

Display falls short in some aspects

This device features an 18.4-inch 4K UHD display with a 60 Hz refresh rate, which may not satisfy users seeking smoother motion, especially in gaming scenarios.The monitor uses an IPS panel with 8-bit + FRC technology, simulating 10.7 billion colors. It covers 85% of the NTSC color gamut and claims 120% sRGB coverage, adequate for everyday tasks but insufficient for professional color-critical work that demands AdobeRGB or DCI-P3 accuracy.The screen has a 1000:1 contrast ratio and a brightness of 300 cd/m², which limits the effectiveness of its HDR10 support, particularly in brightly lit environments.In terms of connectivity, the monitor includes two USB Type-C ports, a microSD card reader, a 3.5mm audio jack, and both HDMI input and output, making it suitable for devices like the Mac mini.Additionally, the monitor features a swivel bracket that allows tilt adjustments up to 165 degrees, along with integrated stereo speakers. However, it lacks both a built-in battery and touchscreen functionality, requiring constant power and offering no touch input.It is also bulkier and heavier than most portable monitors, weighing 5.5 pounds and measuring 2 x 18 x 16 inches.On Amazon, the K18 Pro has received a single customer rating of just 1.0 out of 5, which raises concerns about potential issues with build quality and software stability, so buyer beware.For budget-conscious buyers, the Kinhank K18G Pro offers entry-level display capabilities, retailing for $329.03 on AliExpress and $429.99 on Amazon.

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Liquid cooling isn't optional anymore, it's the only way to survive AI's thermal onslaughtThe jump to 400VDC borrows heavily from electric vehicle supply chains and design logicGoogle’s TPU supercomputers now run at gigawatt scale with 99.999% uptime

As demand for artificial intelligence workloads intensifies, the physical infrastructure of data centers is undergoing rapid and radical transformation.The likes of Google, Microsoft, and Meta are now drawing on technologies initially developed for electric vehicles (EVs), particularly 400VDC systems, to address the dual challenges of high-density power delivery and thermal management.The emerging vision is of data center racks capable of delivering up to 1 megawatt of power, paired with liquid cooling systems engineered to manage the resulting heat.

Borrowing EV technology for data center evolution

The shift to 400VDC power distribution marks a decisive break from legacy systems. Google previously championed the industry's move from 12VDC to 48VDC, but the current transition to +/-400VDC is being enabled by EV supply chains and propelled by necessity.The Mt. Diablo initiative, supported by Meta, Microsoft, and the Open Compute Project (OCP), aims to standardize interfaces at this voltage level.Google says this architecture is a pragmatic move that frees up valuable rack space for compute resources by decoupling power delivery from IT racks via AC-to-DC sidecar units. It also improves efficiency by approximately 3%.Cooling, however, has become an equally pressing issue. With next-generation chips consuming upwards of 1,000 watts each, traditional air cooling is rapidly becoming obsolete.Liquid cooling has emerged as the only scalable solution for managing heat in high-density compute environments.Google has embraced this approach with full-scale deployments; its liquid-cooled TPU pods now operate at gigawatt scale and have delivered 99.999% uptime over the past seven years.These systems have replaced large heatsinks with compact cold plates, effectively halving the physical footprint of server hardware and quadrupling compute density compared to previous generations.Yet, despite these technical achievements, skepticism is warranted. The push toward 1MW racks is based on the assumption of continuously rising demand, a trend that may not materialize as expected.While Google's roadmap highlights AI's growing power needs - projecting more than 500 kW per rack by 2030 - it remains uncertain whether these projections will hold across the broader market.It’s also worth noting that the integration of EV-related technologies into data centers brings not only efficiency gains but also new complexities, particularly concerning safety and serviceability at high voltages.Nonetheless, the collaboration between hyperscalers and the open hardware community signals a shared recognition that existing paradigms are no longer sufficient.Via Storagereview

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The world's biggest computing tech show, Computex 2025, is back - and once again we'll be on the ground in Taipei, Taiwan to bring you all the latest news, reviews and opinions on all the coolest gadgets, laptops, components, and more.Some of the biggest names in computing, including Nvidia, AMD and Qualcomm, will be holding keynote presentations - and in this live blog we'll be reporting direct from the event, so you'll get the very latest updates on what the future holds for laptops, PCs, networking and much more.A key theme of this year's Computex event is Artificial Intelligence (AI), so we expect a lot of companies will take the opportunity to show how putting AI in their products will help improve our lives. Will it finally convince consumers that AI laptops are worth buying? Hopefully, we'll find out this week.So, keep this page bookmarked to find out all the latest consumer and B2B news and launches from Computex 2025.

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Matt Hanson reporting in! I've arrived in Taipei and ready to see what Computex 2025 has in store.

(Image credit: Computex / Future)

If you're wondering what I'm looking forward to seeing at Computex 2025, then check out my article on what I expect to see. Spoiler alert: I think there's going to be A LOT of AI.

(Image credit: Future)

First stop is visiting Acer's pre-Computex preview. The company announced all of its new devices a few days ago, and now I get a chance to see them in the flesh.

Slasher fans rejoice! The next installment in the Scream franchise recently wrapped filming and is slated to hit theaters worldwide February 2026.This sequel follows the series timeline, albeit in a slightly-tweaked fashion. Scream (2022) and Scream 6 directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett stepped down and were temporarily replaced by Happy Death Day helmer Christopher Landon. He then exited the project along with Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega, making way for original screenwriter Kevin Williamson to take residence in the director's chair.While the path from Scream 6 to 7 has been tumultuous to say the least, some steadiness is ensured: franchise stalwarts Neve Campbell and Courteney Cox return as Sidney Prescott and Gale Weathers respectively and a swathe of recognisable cast members poised to reprise their roles.With this fresh stab, ahem, heading to theaters in ten months, that gives us plenty of time to embark on speculation galore amid our own desires for the new movie and the future of the series. Here's what I want to see:

1. Innovative ways to bring back the returning cast

(Image credit: Dimension Films / IMDb )

In an ideal world, Scream 7 would see us finally deliver a New Nightmare-inspired take on the franchise. After initial set photos hit the web from Scream 5, I was convinced that's what was in store for us back in 2022. (The jock wearing the letterman jacket on the porch at Stu's house? Could have been a screenshot from the 1996 original!)Alas, from what we've seen of Scream 7 this isn't the case.So now we know they're probably not playing versions of themselves in "the real world", how does Williamson plan to bring back characters who are very much dead? David Arquette, Matthew Lillard, and Scott Foley are confirmed but Dewey, Stu, and Roman all died on screen.Roman engineered a voice changer that allowed him to sound like any person, living or dead, so there's the chance they could all have voice cameos. I wouldn't be opposed to that brand of twist.

(Image credit: Miramax)

With the Scream series' continued push into tech, it makes sense that we might even see AI versions of past characters. The idea of AI deepfakes hitting the web to imply that Stu didn't die or something, to toy with Sidney's sanity, makes sense.Matthew Lillard's elation at being able to return was captured at a recent con event, where he confirmed he's back and jokingly referenced coming back as 'a fairy godmother'. He went on to discuss working on set with both Williamson and Campbell– which would suggest he does have scenes with Sidney.Likewise, Foley appeared on Kelly and Mark Live and confirmed he IS playing Roman.So this suggests that they are playing their original characters (no sneaky little cameos in the background like Lillard did in Scream 2?) . I wasn't the biggest fan of the spectre of Billy Loomis appearing to his daughter – for many reasons – so I'd rather not have a de-aged Skeet Ulrich situation again.What if instead, the ghosts of Sidney's past are literally haunting her? Speaking of…

2. Let's get supernatural

(Image credit: Miramax)

Alright, hear me out. Am I the only person who liked Sid's mom returning from the grave in Scream 3? I get it; it was Sid's mind playing tricks on her combined with her brother's shenanigans. So, not exactly a return from the grave. But still, it hinted at the idea of an otherworldly element.We're entering the late-stages of a slasher franchise– if there's ever a time to push the boat out, it's now. Jason literally pushed the boat out when he went to Manhattan. Freddy's backstory grew out of control in the latter portions by incorporating dream demons into his whole schtick. Michael Myers turned out to be… well there was a cult and a summoning ritual involved.I can see why fans would loathe this approach– it's jumping the shark, it's doing something none of the other movies have done. But at this point? Why not expand Scream into the last frontier it’s yet to explore? We've repeated the same formula over and over for the previous five sequels. If handled right, the idea of a whole slew of Ghostfaces from the past coming to haunt Sidney could really be quite terrifying. Which segues nicely into my next point!

3. More scary set pieces!

(Image credit: Miramax)

Arguably one thing all Scream fans can agree on – because ranking the Scream movies is not one of them – is that the earlier entries knew how to execute truly scary setpieces. Naturally, the opening of the 1996 original is the top shelf example, followed by Cici's death and Gale in the AV room, both superior moments from Scream 2.The most recent sequels failed to really crank up the tension, and explored the action and gore over genuine fear-building. Granted, I do like some gore – Scream 4 wins the award for nastiest entry – but not at the expense of a damn good nerve-jangling. I want that hold-your-breath, peek-behind-your-hand sort of feeling. Some of these aspects were hinted at, certainly, but never explored in depth.

4. Less of the self-congratulatory barbs, back to incisive genre commentary

(Image credit: Miramax)

To put it plainly – the Scream sequels have a woody for Woodsboro.Whereas the first film and its immediate successor dealt with eviscerating both innocent teens *and* genre tropes, the subsequent films have careened into the quagmire of their own making. It's the sort of metatextuality that lacks depth and staying power. Scream thrives when it skewers the horror genre and modern cultural mores as a whole; not simply the Scream in-universe of Woodsboro and Stab.But here's the rub: how do we do that when the horror genre barely has time to evolve between sequels? Well, here's what I'm hoping is in store for Scream 7. What if Williamson and writer Guy Busick dive into the late-stage franchise slashers for inspiration. Yes, sure, Scream 6 kinda did that, with Mindy's "rules speech", but it was the weakest part of the film and not particularly memorable. Let's explore those wacky Chucky, Freddy, Michael and Jason sequels and rip 'em apart. (And yes, this would tie in nicely to my earlier idea to bring in supernatural elements!)

5. Give Sidney a happy ending

While the open back door of Scream 3's closing shots hinted at a perfect ending for Sidney– she's been yanked out of peace and back into the mayhem only a Ghostface can bring over and over again. How can we tell a new story?From the looks of leaked set footage, this sequel takes place in an entirely new location– the fictional Pine Grove, Indiana. Sidney is married (not to Mark Kincaid, alas) to Joel McHale's character, Mark. We know there's a time jump; Sidney's daughter is at an age where she's played by a 24 year-old, so that suggests she's portraying a teen. This whole setup would hint that Sid's had a while out of the spotlight. Presumably we've had no more killings between 6 and this one.Scream 5 alluded to the torch being passed in quite a comical moment and it sort of happened? But with Melissa Barerra and Jenna Ortega unfortunately both leaving the franchise, that shot that idea in the foot. This new cast is absolutely stacked – so why not have someone new anchor the series?I want Sidney to have a happy ending that doesn't involve an armoured fortress a la Laurie Strode in Halloween 2018 or a life on the run like The Terminator's Sarah Connor. She deserves a truly peaceful life, yes, but that doesn't mean it can't be interesting or therapeutic for her.She's provided counselling services for women experiencing trauma (Scream 3), she wrote a book about her own wranglings (Scream 4), and she flat-out left town (Scream 5 and 6). What if she sticks around and makes peace in a new way?

We'll find out when Scream 7 opens in theaters on February 27, 2026. In the meantime, you can stream the Scream movies on Max in the US, Paramount+ in the UK and Netflix in Australia.

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Silicon-batteries are arriving from TDK this yearApple is one of TDK's biggest customersThe improved batteries could power the iPhone 17 Air

We're expecting the iPhone 17 Air to replace the iPhone 16 Plus this year, and it's expected to be super-slim – which has raised some questions about battery life. Now a new leak suggests those questions could be answered using next-gen silicon battery technology.According to a report from Bloomberg, battery maker TDK is ahead of schedule with a significant upgrade, where silicon is used for the battery anode rather than the conventional graphite. This means 15% more energy can be packed into the same space.Shipping for these batteries will begin by the end of June, which may just give Apple enough time to incorporate the batteries into its iPhone 17 series – including the iPhone 17 Air, which will have less space for a battery than the other models in the range.Now we're being pretty speculative about joining up these particular dots, but we know that TDK supplies both Apple and Samsung. Samsung has of course just unveiled its own ultra-slim handset in the form of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge.

Battery capacity and battery life

The Galaxy S25 Edge from Samsung (Image credit: Future)

If the most recent leak is accurate, then the iPhone 17 Air is going to come with a battery capacity of 2,800 mAh. That's some way short of the 3,651 mAh battery you'll find in the current iPhone 16 model, for example.And previous rumors about the iPhone 17 Air battery life have contradicted each other. One recent report suggested that all-day battery life isn't guaranteed for the new phone, and that Apple might offer a battery case accessory for it.However, back in March, a well-placed source said that battery life would be comparable to current iPhone 16 models. Bear in mind that the device will still be in testing at this point, which may explain the conflicting accounts.We have previously heard that the iPhone 17 Air might use next-gen battery tech of some description, and that the upcoming iOS 19 is also going to deliver an AI-powered battery optimization tool that should boost battery life further.

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