TechSpot OpenBoards

Signal, DuckDuckGo, and NordVPN threaten to exit Canada if metadata surveillance law passes

invalid@example.com (Daniel Sims) — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 20:11:43 +0000

The takeaway: Another day, another government attempt to force tech companies to build backdoors. This time, Canada is proposing legislation that would require companies to retain certain metadata and provide law enforcement with access to it. Predictably, many tech players have sharply criticized the proposal, with some saying they would rather leave the Canadian...

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Spammers are flooding Reddit with fake posts designed to show up in AI search results

invalid@example.com (Skye Jacobs) — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 20:07:23 +0000

A hot potato: Moderators of the /biohackers subreddit say they are dealing with spam that isn't just about pushing sales, but about shaping how AI systems answer questions. They say companies are seeding discussions with posts intended to appear in AI-generated answers, effectively turning the subreddit into a battleground over which information large language models...

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AMD welcomes Nvidia to the local AI PC race, points to Gorgon Halo's 192GB memory advantage

invalid@example.com (Skye Jacobs) — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 18:49:06 +0000

Winners & losers: Nvidia's latest move into AI-focused PCs sets up a more direct clash with AMD and underscores the growing importance chipmakers are placing on local AI performance. With the debut of RTX Spark at Computex 2026, Nvidia is betting that tightly integrated systems – pairing Arm CPUs, Blackwell GPUs, and large pools of unified memory – will define the next...

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Google tests making AI Mode the default in Search, then says it was an error

invalid@example.com (midian182) — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 18:45:40 +0000

A hot potato: The nightmare scenario in which AI Mode becomes the default in Google Search – something the company once suggested would happen – briefly became a reality. But before users had a chance to abandon Chrome in droves, an exec confirmed that it was an error, and there are no plans to make AI Mode the default.

Engineer builds AI laser defense system that wiped out every mosquito in his home

invalid@example.com (Skye Jacobs) — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 18:33:43 +0000

In a nutshell: A computer vision specialist has built a system that uses deep learning and a laser-based targeting setup to hunt down mosquitoes. Steven Cheng, who works in computer vision and robotics, documented the project as he developed what he calls "the ultimate mosquito killer," turning a simple household annoyance into an engineering challenge.

Anthropic is blacklisted by the Pentagon and being used by the NSA at the same time

invalid@example.com (midian182) — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 14:53:43 +0000

Facepalm: It appears that the US government isn't completely against American agencies using technology from Anthropic, a company it designated a "supply chain risk" earlier this year. According to a new report, the NSA is using the AI firm's Mythos model "for offensive cyber operations."

Starlink hits 12 million subscribers, plans 100x bandwidth boost with V3 satellites

invalid@example.com (Shawn Knight) — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 14:49:29 +0000

The takeaway: SpaceX has revealed that its Starlink satellite Internet service now has more than 12 million active customers across 160+ countries and territories around the globe. And according to CEO Elon Musk, that's just the start of what the space company has planned over the near term.

Summer Game Fest 2026: Virtua Fighter is back, Guild Wars 3 is real, and Final Fantasy VII's trilogy is ending

invalid@example.com (Daniel Sims) — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 14:37:14 +0000

Recap: This year's Summer Game Fest showcased numerous trailers for games that premiered at the show as well as updates on titles that fans are still awaiting. Among the biggest announcements were a new Resident Evil game, a Guild Wars sequel, the latest Final Fantasy title, a new game from the creator of Assassin's Creed, the return of Virtua Fighter, and more...

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YouTube Premium just got more expensive again: now $16 a month, or $27 for families

invalid@example.com (DragonSlayer101) — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 12:44:44 +0000

Winners & losers: YouTube has raised the prices of its Premium subscription plans in numerous international markets across North America, South America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East. This is the company's first price hike in the United States since 2023 and will cost subscribers up to an additional $4 per month.

Cherry XTRFY launches the world's first 8K ultra-wideband gaming keyboard

invalid@example.com (midian182) — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 10:44:48 +0000

What just happened? Cherry, the company behind the iconic MX mechanical switch, is adding another keyboard to its Cherry XTRFY gaming brand. The new K63W Pro is being called the world's first 8K ultra-wideband gaming keyboard, offering several advantages when gaming wirelessly, especially in homes with multiple devices.

GitHub just switched Copilot to metered billing, and developers are watching months of credits vanish in a single day

invalid@example.com (Skye Jacobs) — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 08:24:48 +0000

Bottom line: GitHub's move from flat-rate "requests" to metered usage is forcing many developers to confront something they had largely ignored: how many tokens their everyday coding habits consume and what that usage actually costs. As the new credit-based pricing exposes the expense of long chats, large context windows, and frontier models, many are rethinking how –...

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TeamGroup built an external SSD that destroys itself when you send it a text message

invalid@example.com (Skye Jacobs) — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 08:13:11 +0000

First look: TeamGroup arrived at Computex 2026 with a clear message: storage hardware can be a tool for data protection, not just speed and capacity. That idea is most evident in its latest external SSD, which is designed for situations where the primary risk is unauthorized access rather than data loss.

Nvidia RTX 5000 Super series tipped for 2026 launch despite memory crunch

invalid@example.com (midian182) — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 06:39:11 +0000

Rumor mill: Is the RTX 5000 Super series back on track? That's the claim being made by a prolific leaker, who says the upgraded cards will launch sometime this year. The lineup is also expected to include an RTX 5060 with 12GB that may launch under the RTX 5060 Super moniker.

Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis devs confirm AI use, but promise final game will be fully human-crafted

invalid@example.com (Alfonso Maruccia) — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 05:48:19 +0000

AI NOT: Whether you like it or not, generative AI is quickly gaining traction among game developers. Even the upcoming remake of the original Tomb Raider is reportedly using generative AI in some form, although potential issues are expected to be resolved by the end of development.

Brave is charging $60 for a version of its browser that removes the features you probably never wanted

invalid@example.com (Alfonso Maruccia) — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 05:25:29 +0000

Pay for What?: Brave previewed its new "Origin" browser a few weeks ago, asking users to start paying for a category of software that has been free for decades. Now the company is officially launching the stable release. At $60, the price tag is raising eyebrows – and prompting some users to ask why they should pay to have features removed that they never wanted in the...

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This robot changes tires faster than any mechanic, without even removing the wheel

invalid@example.com (DragonSlayer101) — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 03:43:59 +0000

The big picture: There's a lot of concern about AI taking over white-collar jobs, but roles requiring physical labor were thought to be relatively safe. That seems to have been an inaccurate assumption, as new startups are now developing AI-powered robots that promise to do technical, hands-on jobs at a fraction of the time required by skilled workers.

Microsoft is pulling the plug on SMS codes, wants you to switch to passkeys

invalid@example.com (Alfonso Maruccia) — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 03:27:31 +0000

In brief: Despite dating back to 1993 and the GSM era, SMS codes remain fully active across authentication and identity verification workflows. Microsoft is among the bigger tech players pushing to retire the option entirely, offering customers a set of modern, more secure alternatives – though whether users will embrace the change or resist their SMS-ridden habits...

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A Windows 11 speed boost is coming as soon as next month, along with a taskbar you can finally move

invalid@example.com (Alfonso Maruccia) — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 02:13:57 +0000

Editor's take: Despite pushing its latest Windows OS as the best software product ever, Microsoft continues to face significant resistance from millions of PC users who have declined to make the switch. Now, the company is taking steps to rehabilitate an operating system that has struggled to shed its reputation for sluggishness, a perception that has dogged it since...

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AMD CPUs hit another Steam survey record as Intel gap shrinks to all-time low

invalid@example.com (midian182) — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 01:18:05 +0000

The takeaway: Valve has just released the results of the Steam survey, two days later than usual. The biggest takeaway from May's findings is that AMD CPUs have once again reached an all-time high user share as Intel's falls, making the gap between the two platforms smaller than ever.

Thermaltake built a PSU that splits in two, so you never have to redo cable management again

invalid@example.com (DragonSlayer101) — Sat, 06 Jun 2026 22:33:12 +0000

Something to look forward to: Power supply units are not usually the most exciting part of a PC build, which is why they are often overshadowed by other components. Thermaltake is looking to change that with its new Dockpower PSU series, which reimagines the humble power supply through a unique modular design that allows users to upgrade their PSU without having to redo...

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The RAM crisis is resurrecting DDR4 memory and motherboard production as hardware cycle reverses

invalid@example.com (Daniel Sims) — Sat, 06 Jun 2026 15:53:11 +0000

The big picture: Since RAM shortages have made the latest hardware unaffordable for many, demand for mature GPUs and CPUs has risen. Now, reports claim that memory and motherboards are following suit. As manufacturers face historically low sales, the PC industry seems to be turning the clock back to 2022.

Nvidia RTX Spark CPU is now official: "superchip" will power Windows laptops and desktops

invalid@example.com (Julio Franco) — Sat, 06 Jun 2026 14:47:03 +0000

Why it matters: Nvidia just announced what it calls the most efficient PC chip ever built. RTX Spark is a Grace Blackwell system on a chip, 70 billion transistors on TSMC 3nm, with a Blackwell RTX GPU, a 20-core Arm CPU built with MediaTek, and up to 128GB of unified memory. It is purpose-built for...

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Browser makers are calling out Microsoft for using Windows to push Edge on users

invalid@example.com (Alfonso Maruccia) — Sat, 06 Jun 2026 14:25:57 +0000

A hot potato: The Browser Choice Alliance (BCA) was recently formed to promote genuine competition in the web browser market. The organization is once again pursuing that goal, accusing Microsoft of abusing its dominant position in the PC industry to push Edge onto Windows users.

TSMC CEO says it will be "a long time" before they can meet AI chip demand, with price hikes likely

invalid@example.com (midian182) — Sat, 06 Jun 2026 14:04:29 +0000

What just happened? Is the AI crisis showing any signs of abating? Not according to C.C. Wei, the CEO of TSMC. Speaking at the company's annual shareholders' meeting, Wei said the world's largest contract chipmaker won't be able to meet customer demand for years. He also revealed that TSMC would "like" to raise prices for its customers.

Microsoft Office is down to $33 for a lifetime license

invalid@example.com (TS Dealmaster) — Sat, 06 Jun 2026 13:27:48 +0000

TL;DR: If you're looking for a powerful productivity suite without recurring subscription fees, Microsoft Office 2021 is available for just $33 for a limited time, an incredible deal. This offer provides all the essential tools you need for work or personal...

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