If you’ve been wondering when the “AI” branding spigot might be turned down a notch, AMD’s answer is that it won’t be anytime soon. At an AMD breakfast at IFA 2025 this week, Jack Huynh, senior vice president and general manager of AMD’s Computing and Graphics Group, said that AMD will continue to promote its AI capabilities as much as it can. Huynh also shrugged off a report that AMD — and everyone else, really — is being obliterated by Nvidia’s dominance in the desktop GPU market. PCWorld’s Adam Patrick Murray, host of The Full Nerd podcast, asked about when it will simply be assumed that PC chips include AI, removing the need to call it out. “When we have AI capability in our processors, we want to market it, right?” Huynh replied. “A lot of us, many people, think AI is overhyped. I think that’s what you’re getting at, right? I personally think it’s underhyped, because I’m looking at the development of next three to five years, right? And what’s possible is nothing that we can imagine before. And the progress is exponential.” “When I’m working with developers, we’re looking at the next three to five years, not the next three to six months,” Huynh added. “We’re working on things that haven’t been invented yet.” Huynh said that the company is eager to begin shipping FSR “Redstone,” the next iteration of the company’s frame-generation feature that the company began talking about this past February in the context of the Radeon RX 9070 and 9070 XT. FSR 4.0, the current standard, can inject a single AI-generated frame in between rendered frames. Nvidia’s DLSS 4 frame-generation feature can inject three AI-generated frames. Redstone, which AMD tipped at Computex 2025, doesn’t use AI generation; instead, it’s essentially frame doubling with interpolation. Still, more frames equal higher frame rates, and that’s what gamers have traditionally asked for. AMD has said before that FSR “Redstone” is due in the second half of 2025, and Huynh reiterated that timeline. Huynh was less straightforward when discussing AMD’s GPU market share on the desktop. The market-share figures from long-time GPU watcher Jon Peddie indicate that AMD’s desktop share has fallen from 12 percent to 6 percent in a year, leaving AMD with just crumbs to Nvidia’s utter dominance. (Intel’s GPU share is still non-existent.) Huynh’s position reiterates what AMD has been telling Wall Street: “I’m happy that we’re selling everything that we make,” Huynh said. “The reception for the [Radeon] 9070 XT has been phenomenal,” Huynh added. “I can say that we’re still sold out.” Of course, whatever AMD’s share of the desktop GPU market is, it’s softened by the fact that AMD’s gaming revenue climbed 73 percent year-over year, though assisted by strong sales of SoC chips for consoles. AMD can also route its resources to the data-center market instead, whose share of the company’s revenues continue to climb. Either way, AMD is making more money than it has ever made before, achieving a record $7.7 billion in revenue for the second quarter of 2025. The “market-share number seems to really be a minimal factor in what we’re seeing out there in the market,” an AMD representative added. “So we’re trying to balance the two, and eventually we’re presuming they will come together with what we’re seeing and what they’re seeing.” Read...

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Did you know that, between 1976 and 1978, Microsoft developed its own version of the BASIC programming language? It was initially called Altair BASIC before becoming Microsoft BASIC, and it was designed for the 6502 (a microprocessor used in the Apple II, Atari 2600, VIC-20, Commodore 64, and Nintendo Entertainment System). As of yesterday, Microsoft has released the version 1.1 source code of “Microsoft BASIC for 6502 Microprocessor” on GitHub, which means you can freely view the assembly code and even download it if you want to. Why did Microsoft publish this code? Because it has historical significance and was one of the pillars of modern software: This source code represents the foundation upon which the modern software industry was built. The techniques, patterns, and business models pioneered in this BASIC interpreter directly influenced: The development of MS-DOS and subsequent Microsoft operating systems The standardization of programming language implementations The establishment of software licensing as a business model The democratization of computer programming Microsoft’s version of BASIC was one of the first programming languages that the general public came into contact with, making it an important milestone in computer history. While Microsoft BASIC is no longer used in earnest, its spirit lives on with Visual Basic .NET. Read...

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As early as 2024, scientists from the US and China discovered that the Earth’s core had slowed down and even stopped moving in relation to the Earth’s crust. But until now, the general public—that’s people like you and me—has barely noticed this remarkable change. The Earth’s core is comprised of metals and, as the name suggests, makes up the interior of the Earth. It consists of a liquid outer core (made of iron and nickel and other elements, which play a role in the Earth’s magnetic field) and a solid inner core (also made of iron and nickel, at a temperature up to 5,700 degrees Celsius). The Earth’s outer core begins around 1,800 miles below the Earth’s surface and the inner core begins around 3,200 miles below. Rotation changes in the Earth’s core For a long time, scientists assumed that the Earth’s inner core had a stable, even, and constant rotation below the Earth’s crust. However, with the help of seismic analyses (i.e., studies of earthquakes), researchers have discovered that this rotation is by no means constant but fluctuates. These fluctuations can be so massive that the Earth’s core can move as fast as the Earth’s crust and then appear to stand still. However, this doesn’t mean that the Earth’s core rotates in the opposite direction. Instead, it only appears that way because it rotates more slowly in relation to the Earth’s crust—sometimes even significantly more slowly. Nor does the Earth’s core ever remain stationary, but simply stops changing in relation to the Earth’s crust. This current slowdown in the rotation of the Earth’s core began as early as 2009. At that time, the Earth’s core and crust moved more or less in unison, but since then, the movement of the Earth’s core has become even slower. It seems that the Earth’s core changes its rotational direction relative to the Earth’s crust every 35 years. Therefore, the fluctuations that comprise an entire cycle last 70 years. What effects does this have on Earth? Technically, days can become longer or shorter due to the changes in rotational speed of the Earth’s core. However, the changes are tiny—in the range of milliseconds. We humans might not notice this, but it can have an effect on astronomical measurements and satellites. Changes to the Earth’s magnetic field and the climate are also possible. Read...

I’ve been using Windows for as long as I can remember. My dad is something of a Windows loyalist (he inspired my love of computers!) and I guess you could say I inherited it from him. Even though I’ve always been a Windows stan, I can’t help but notice what Apple’s doing over there just beyond the fence. Apple is rumored to be planning a $599 MacBook. Unthinkable, right? This would be a first in Apple’s history, as the company has never placed a MacBook squarely in the budget category from the start. Supposedly, it’s packing the same A18 Pro chip inside the iPhone 16 Pro. That’s why everyone’s unofficially calling it the “A18 Pro MacBook.” This bit of news is exciting and also eroding my loyalty, as it’s got me questioning which side I’m really on: macOS or Windows. Am I really a traitor to the realm? Oh, Windows, you’re my home (to the tune of Dirty Water) I thrive on routine and familiarity. Since I learned the Windows interface early on, it’s basically baked into my muscle memory–that’s hard to undo. For years I balked and hissed at anything macOS because it was different and that freaked me out, but as I got older, I’m starting to change my tune. But herein lies the problem. As much as Windows feels like home, MacBooks are downright gorgeous–the minimalist aesthetic really sings to me. But the one thing that always barred me from purchasing one was the high price. Apple laptops were beautiful, but exclusive and that’s kind of part of their identity, isn’t it? But with a $599 MacBook (possibly) on the horizon, the temptation is more real than ever. If this MacBook does indeed come with an A18 Pro chip, I’m not expecting it to break any benchmarking records–that’s not the point. It’s designed for those who have straightforward needs (like me!). In theory, it should be able to handle all the stuff I normally do on my laptop (like writing, editing, and so on). If those specs end up being true, Macworld predicts it may perform like the MacBook Air M1–that’s more than enough processing power for my daily grind. Another perk is the A18’s efficiency. Since it was originally designed for iPhones, it probably doesn’t consume as much power as the M-series chip. This could (potentially!) translate to great battery life, though we can’t say for sure until we’ve tried out the machine ourselves. MacBooks are the bewitching sirens of the laptop world There’s nothing quite like the experience of opening an Apple product for the first time. From the all-white boxes to the sleek and minimalist product tucked deep inside, Apple definitely wants to send a clear message here, that message being… We’re the cool kids and no, you can’t sit with us. Eugen Wegmann It isn’t hard to fall in love with a MacBook. They look elegant as hell and they’re known to last for years, but they were always so damn expensive. Back in college, a MacBook was way out of my budget–I remember secretly envying my friend who strutted around with the latest model. It was the same feeling as being denied a spot at the popular kid’s table. I’m not the only one, either. Simplicity is in and it’s definitely here to stay. Just look for any laptop roundup on the web and you’ll find sleek, featherlight machines everywhere.  But buying a MacBook and loving the look of one are two entirely different things. Beauty was always paired with a hefty price tag… until now. $599? Now we’re talking The major highlight here is Apple breaking into the budget category with a $599 MacBook. MacBooks have always been pricey, as they’re built with nice materials that last for years. Plus, Apple markets them like they’re dipped in (rose) gold or something, which only makes them feel fancier. But by lowering the price tag, Apple’s opening the door to students and other budget-conscious buyers. This is great news, especially given this country’s (ahem) current economic situation.  If this MacBook really does cost $599, then that’s a steep drop from Apple’s usual starting price of $999. That shift makes it possible for people who were priced out before (like me!). Apple can likely price this MacBook so low because of the rumored A18 chip inside. While not as powerful as the M-series chips, which you’ll find inside the MacBook Air and the MacBook Pro, the A18 should breeze through everyday tasks. But the chip is just one part of a larger narrative. Apple might be feeling pressure from Chromebooks and other budget-friendly Windows laptops, which totally rule the schools. Many of them are competitively priced too, falling somewhere between $500 and $700. This puts the new A18 Pro MacBook in direct competition. And with everyone keeping a close eye on their wallet these days, this might be the perfect way to break into that space. Instead of Apple being the unattainable brand, a brand only some folks could afford, it’s suddenly much more approachable. Of course, affordability comes with your typical trade-offs. As far as raw power goes, I don’t expect it to outperform a laptop with an M2 chip or a high-end Windows laptop. But for things like word processing and web browsing, it should be nothing but smooth sailing. But price isn’t everything. A cheap MacBook is tempting, sure, but switching over from a Windows device has other challenges I’d have to tango with. check out pcworld`s best budget laptop Acer Aspire Go 15 (2024) Read our review Best Prices Today: $309.99 at Amazon My tiny worry My one fear is switching to a MacBook and then regretting it. Maybe I won’t adapt well to macOS because I’m too accustomed to Windows, it’s just too deep in my bones at this point. I’d have to learn all new shortcuts and see if my daily routines even work on macOS. Part of me also feels like I’d be betraying my own identity–I mean, I’ve been a Windows user forever, and switching to macOS? Yeah… feels weird. Of course, the A18 probably won’t outperform the M-series MacBooks when it comes to 3D modeling or heavy video editing. But for my personal daily workflow? That’s plenty of power. Of course, that makes it even harder to resist. Ugh. But this isn’t just about my own personal struggles with loyalty and identity, it’s about Apple shifting its entire approach. Why this matters I know I’m not the only one tempted by a $599 MacBook, and it could ignite a shift in operating system loyalty. Who knows, Windows users like me might actually start reconsidering. On top of that, it might raise the bar for budget laptops in general. Apple’s got a reputation for reliable hardware, and if they can pull that off in a cheaper MacBook, other brands are going to have to step it up too.  And let’s be honest: most people are watching their wallets right now. Dropping a MacBook into the same price bracket as Chromebooks and cheap Windows laptops? That’s some spot-on timing right there. This is a way for Apple to rub shoulders with price-conscious buyers (like students, for instance). It’s not just about me and my little identity crisis, though. A $599 MacBook could flip the whole operation, so to speak. That leaves me with the big, existential question… Where I’m landing on all this Could I really see myself dumping a Windows laptop for a MacBook? Eh, maybe. But if Apple really does drop a $599 MacBook, let’s just say my loyalty is flimsier than I thought. Life is full of surprises, yeah?  Assuming Apple follows through with the $599 A18 MacBook, the arrival of such a machine would definitely shake things up, for sure. It won’t just tempt me on a personal level, but it could inspire a similar identity crisis in others. But until we get the official 411 from Apple, I suppose it’s (mostly) just speculation. Still, watching a brand go from unattainable to attainable is freaking wild. Read...

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