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Kioxia’s 332-layer NAND delivers 2Tb without using PLC tech Japanese flash giant is focusing on performance and capacity through dual-axis development approach Hints are that it can deliver even larger capacity SSDs, as part of "Gen X"Kioxia has revealed via updated roadmap materials that its upcoming 332-layer NAND chip - part of its 10th generation BiCS FLASH - will offer 2Tb of capacity per die.While this may seem small compared to expectations, the Japanese flash memory specialist has hinted that it can deliver even larger capacity SSDs, as part of Gen X, without resorting to Penta-Level Cell (PLC) technology.The roadmap slides, published by TechPowerUp, were shared as part of Kioxia’s long-term corporate strategy.Dual-axis strategyThe 332-layer chip, which is currently under development, is part of what Kioxia calls its “dual-axis strategy” for NAND. This strategy splits development into two paths: the first focusing on increasing layer count for higher capacity and the second improving performance via Charge-Based Architecture (CBA).CBA connects the CMOS circuitry directly to the memory array, helping to increase bandwidth, reduce latency, and lower power consumption.Kioxia says this approach allows it to boost density without sacrificing the endurance and reliability associated with having fewer bits per cell.Kioxia’s roadmap doesn’t discuss the company’s plans for PLC, even though other competitors are beginning to explore that direction. Kioxia instead appears to be doubling down on process improvements and new controller designs to meet market demands.The company’s recent focus has been on two SSD families: the CM9 series, which emphasizes high-performance for AI applications, and the LC9 series, which targets large capacity and currently offers up to 122TB capacity.Both products are based on Kioxia’s 8th generation BiCS FLASH, which introduced CBA and supports energy-efficient, high-throughput workloads.Kioxia also revealed a high-IOPS SSD that it has developed using its XL-Flash SLC technology. This SSD is expected to exceed 10 million IOPS and sample in the second half of 2026.(Image credit: Kioxia)(Image credit: Kioxia)You might also likeThese are the fastest SSDs you can buy right nowAnd these are the largest HDDs and SSDs on the market at the momentAnother tech publisher has broken the Pi calculation world record

If you have a new-ish Mac mini that has recently conked out, you are not alone. Apple has just launched a worldwide service program for the 2023 Mac mini with M2 chips, because "a very small percentage" of them are having power issues and may no longer turn on. The company didn't say what was causing those power issues. While Mac minis powered by M2 chips were first released in 2023, the affected units were made between June 16, 2024 to November 23, 2024. Some of those computers may be nearing the end of their one-year warranty, depending on when they were purchased.

With this service program, Apple will still repair the units even if they're already past their warranty, up to three years after their first sale. To check if yours is eligible either because you need it now or in case you'll need it later, you can type in your Mac mini's serial number on the program page. Both Apple and its authorized service providers will fix your computer free of charge. Keep in mind if you've moved countries, however, that Apple may restrict or limit free repairs to the device's original country or region of purchase.

The latest Mac minis, which aren't included in the repair program, are powered by Apple's M4 and M4 Pro chips and were released last year. They're half the size of previous versions, come with 16GB of RAM, several USB-C ports, a headphone jack, a full-sized HDMI connection (supporting up to 8K 60Hz or 4K 240Hz), as well as an Ethernet port. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/apple-will-repair-some-mac-minis-powered-by-m2-chips-for-free-160048076.html?src=rss

Instead of digging through all the top search results, you can now ask Google Search to give you a comprehensive AI-generated summary with its Audio Overviews feature. The AI feature uses Google Gemini models to create a short audio clip that sounds like a conversational podcast with two hosts.

It's not ideal for your basic search queries like finding out when Father's Day is, but it's helpful if you want an in-depth and hands-free response to the history and significance of Flag Day. The Audio Overviews option pulls from the front page Google Search results and compiles them into an audio summary where two voices bounce off each other for a more engaging answer. You can also adjust the volume and playback speed between 0.25x and 2x. Audio Overviews even includes the webpages it pulls the info from, letting you continue down the Google Search rabbit hole.

It's not the first time Google has offered its Audio Overviews tool, but it was previously reserved for its NotebookLM tool. Google expanded on this feature by making Audio Overviews within NotebookLM more interactive, allowing you to ask the AI hosts questions in real-time, and added a "Deep Dive" option to get the AI to focus on a specific topic. To test out the Audio Overviews as part of Google Search, you have to opt into the Google Labs feature on its website.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/google-search-uses-ai-generated-podcast-hosts-to-answer-your-questions-161847334.html?src=rss

The latest Steam beta runs natively on Apple siliconApple is retiring the Rosetta 2 compatibility layerGames should run more smoothly and more efficientlyFollowing WWDC 2025, we've had a flurry of Apple announcements this week, including the news that macOS Tahoe 26 will be the last version to support Intel Macs – and right on cue, Steam has finally delivered a version of its client that runs natively on Apple silicon.Check in on the release notes for the latest Steam Client Beta (via PC Gamer), and you'll see the all-important news that "Steam Client and Steam Helper apps now run natively on Apple silicon" included in the update details.Up until now, Steam for macOS has always been coded for x86 Intel chipsets, rather than the ARM chips developed by Apple itself – which has meant that on M-series Macs, the client has worked through the Rosetta 2 compatibility layer Apple provides.As well as dropping Intel chipset support, leaving older Macs on macOS 26, next year's macOS 27 will be the last version to support Rosetta 2, Apple announced at WWDC 2025. That means developers will have to put out ARM-coded versions of their applications.How to try it now(Image credit: Future)For those of us with no interest in chipset architecture or compatibility layers, this simply means that Steam games on macOS should run more efficiently and smoothly – think faster frame rates and better battery life, on the whole.You should also find the Steam client launches more quickly and is more responsive when it's used on Macs. A big part of that is down to the Chromium-based user interface working natively on ARM, rather than having to be translated.If you want to try the beta version now, you can do – the usual caveats with beta software apply here, in that you may notice more bugs than normal, and some of your games may be glitchy, but any issues should be ironed out over time.From the Steam app on your Mac, choose Steam > Preferences > Interface, then click the No beta chosen drop-down menu to the right of the Client Beta Participation heading: You'll then be able to select Steam Beta Update to join the beta.You might also likemacOS Tahoe 26 announced at WWDC 2025 with a new lookApple just leveled up Mac gaming with these two new featuresHere's why MacBooks are now legitimate gaming machines