November 23, 2018 - The WAN Show Document

[LinusTech]

 

 

Main News Topics

US proposes new restrictions on AI export

Source 1: https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/997458-us-government-proposing-new-restirictions-on-the-export-of-ai-and-various-other-technologies-for-national-security-reasons/

Source 2: https://mailchi.mp/technologyreview/ai-lockdown-chip-pressurestarcraft-shootout

 

• The US Department of Commerce proposed new restrictions on the export of AI technologies, including neural networks and deep learning, natural language processing, computer vision, and expert systems.

• If the proposals were to pass as is, any products using these technologies—from a Siri-enabled iPhone to IBM Watson—would need a special license to be exported to a foreign country

• Some worry that if these restrictions are mishandled, they could cause serious collateral damage for US businesses like Apple and Google which rely on China for a large share of their profits.

  • Companies might de-prioritize the development of AI technologies to avoid the famously lengthy export control process.

  • “It would almost certainly give Chinese companies that don't face those same restrictions a sizable advantage in the playing field, ironically enough,”

• Depending on the definition the Commerce Department settles on, the term “export” could include collaboration with foreign researchers.

  • Universities ill-equipped to weather the export controls process would no longer be able to sustain AI research programs.

• The Commerce Department is seeking public comment through December 19, and there will likely be several revisions to their proposal based on the response from consumers, companies, and academia.

• At the heart of the AI war is a battle over high-performance chips.

  • the US still maintains a monopoly over the best chips.

  • And that puts Nvidia, Silicon Valley’s largest AI chipmaker, in a bit of an awkward spot.

• Nvidia got 20% of its revenue last year from China sales

  • In August, 17 members of Congress sent letters to urging sanctions on two of Nvidia’s Chinese customers.

  • “AI chipsets” were also among the proposed additions to export controls.

• China also wary of its reliance on American chips.

  • it has poured tens of billions into domestic chip producers, including Alibaba, Baidu, and Huawei.

  • Some experts are skeptical of the country’s ability to catch up because of the decades of research that can go into designing a single chip. But China is determined.

 

Windows 10 1809 BUG saga continues!

Source 1: posted by Speed Weed https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/998201-microsoft-blocks-windows-10-version-1809-on-some-pcs-due-to-bad-intel-drivers/

Source 2: https://news.softpedia.com/news/microsoft-blocks-windows-10-version-1809-on-some-pcs-due-to-bad-intel-drivers-523913.shtml

 

• Microsoft says it blocked the October update on some Intel PCs due to bad display drivers released by Intel.

  • “Intel inadvertently released versions of its display driver to OEMs that accidentally turned on unsupported features in Windows,”

  • versions 24.20.100.6344 and 24.20.100.6345

• The original version of Windows 10 1809 came with an issue caused by broken Intel audio drivers, but this is a different bug caused by another set of drivers

• Microsoft’s already working with Intel on resolving the bug, but an ETA isn’t yet available.

• Windows 10 version 1809 was re-released by Microsoft last week after the company pulled the original build in early October due to a bug potentially causing data loss.

 

RTX 2060 leaked benchmarks

Source 1: posted by BananaInSandals https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/998645-rtx-2060-leaked-benchmark-30-faster-than-1060-in-final-fantasy-xv/

Source 2: https://www.tomshardware.com/news/nvidia-rtx-2060-leaked-benchmarks,38116.html

 

• A leak from the Final Fantasy XV benchmark database has given us our first peek at the performance of Nvidia's upcoming GeForce RTX 2060

• The 2060 was reportedly benchmarked at the 3840 x 2160 resolution with the High Quality preset.

• According to the Final Fantasy XV benchmark scoreboard, the GeForce RTX 2060 put in a score of 2,589 points.

  • 30.43 percent faster than the last-generation GeForce GTX 1060 6GB,

  • the GTX 1070 is only 6.18 percent faster.

  • 22 percent faster than Radeon RX 590 graphics card.

  • falls behind the Radeon RX Vega by 4.44 percent.

    • the entry doesn't specify whether it's the Vega 56 or 64.

• The GeForce RTX 2060 used in the Final Fantasy XV benchmark was probably an engineering sample and subject to further tweaks and changes.

• Nvidia hasn't officially unveiled the card, but it will allegedly be based around the TU116 silicon produced by TSMC under the foundry's 12nm FinFET process.

 

What’s Coming Out on Floatplane? Go Over Current Week.

Rapid Fire

Optane being marketed as RAM

Source 1: branfrd https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/997064-dell-and-hp-spotted-advertising-optane-memory-as-ram/

Source 2: https://www.extremetech.com/computing/271543-pc-oems-are-selling-laptops-with-optane-cache-drives-and-claiming-its-memory

 

• Multiple PC OEMs are selling laptops outfitted with Intel Optane cache drives — but they’re improperly combining that information in ways that makes it seem as if the Optane cache drive represents some kind of DRAM rather than a conventional cache drive.

  • Dell G3 15” advertised as having 24GB RAM

    • If you click through the ad, the system configurator clarifies that you actually have “24GB of Memory: 8GB 2666MHz DDR4 DRAM + 16GB Intel Optane memory.”

• Meanwhile, Intel has made changes to its own Optane marketing FAQs that appear to endorse this positioning:

  • Previous FAQ: “Optane memory module does not replace DRAM”

  • Current FAQ: “It’s similar to the function of dynamic random access memory (DRAM)

    • See link for full excerpts

• It’s a situation that could lead end-users who aren’t careful to draw very incorrect conclusions about what kind of system they are buying and what its capabilities are.

 

Microsoft testing ads in Windows 10 mail app

Source 1: AluminiumTech https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/996507-microsoft-caught-trying-to-shove-ads-into-windows-10s-mail-app/

Source 2: https://www.engadget.com/2018/11/16/microsoft-tested-ads-in-windows-10-mail-app/

 

• The beta version of Microsoft’s Mail client for Windows 10 has been placing ads right at the top of the inbox -- though the company has since turned off the feature and claims that it was just an experiment.

• The test countries included Brazil, Canada, Australia and India.

• The ads were visible on Windows Home and Windows Pro but not Windows Enterprise or Windows EDU.

• Ads were served to "non-work accounts" set up through the mail, including Outlook.com, Gmail, and Yahoo Mail accounts.

• Users who have an Office 365 subscription- which costs $7 per month or $70 per year - were not shown ads.

• Microsoft said the ads were "an experimental feature that was never intended to be tested broadly" and have now been turned off completely.

 

Rumour: Apple slashing iPhone XR prices and restarting iPhone X production (Japan)

Source 1: VegetableStu https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/998205-apple-reportedly-slashing-iphone-xr-prices-in-japan-and-restarting-iphone-x-production-insane/

Source 2: https://www.macrumors.com/2018/11/22/apple-cuts-price-iphone-xr-japan/

 

• Apple plans to discount the price of iPhone XR models in Japan by offering subsidies to Japanese carriers

• Price decreases on the $750 iPhone could come as early as next week

• The decision comes in the wake of a WSJ report earlier this week that claimed Apple has slashed production orders for its latest iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR models due to lower-than-expected demand.

  • "A price cut within a month off the release is rare not just for Apple but for smartphone makers in general,"

• Part of the problem for Apple is that the iPhone 8 is apparently still hugely popular in Japan because of its affordability, given that it's cheaper than the XR and was still available when Apple launched the XS and XS Max.

• Apple suppliers have reportedly resumed making the iPhone X, the 2017 model that Apple no longer sells at its own stores.

  • They’ve done it before: Apple has produced previously discontinued models for regional markets where it sees sufficient demand for cheaper devices.

  • The strategy allows Apple to benefit from lower-cost components and depreciated production line machinery.

• However, supply chain sources claim the resumption of iPhone X production is partly due to Apple's need to use OLED panels ordered from Samsung – panels that were previously earmarked for use in the iPhone XS and XS Max devices

 

LAB-GROWN MEAT IS COMING TO AMERICA

Source 1: TerryV https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/996182-apple-is-first-to-market-with-a-foldable-device/

Source 2: https://www.newsweek.com/lab-grown-meat-coming-america-fda-usda-announce-1221418

 

• Laboratory-grown meat could soon be available, with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration announcing that they would oversee its production so it could be safely sold to consumers across the country.

• The two agencies are working together:

  • The FDA will be in charge of regulating the collection, banking, and growing of the cells used to make artificial meat,

  • the USDA will work on the production and labeling of food products.

• “A transition from FDA to USDA oversight will occur during the cell harvest stage,” the statement said.

  • “This regulatory framework will leverage both the FDA’s experience regulating cell-culture technology and living biosystems and the USDA’s expertise in regulating livestock and poultry products for human consumption.

• Industry response:

  • “[It] reduces uncertainty and allows us to move forward in developing innovative technology here in the United States to make meat tastier, healthier and more sustainable.

  • “The joint framework allows us to more quickly create safe, high paying jobs in both [research and development] and manufacturing.”

  • -Brian Spears, from the cultured meat startup New Age Meats

 

Valve discontinues Steam Link hardware

Source 1: AluminiumTech https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/998010-valve-discontinues-production-of-steam-link/

Source 2:https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2018/11/valve-quietly-discontinues-steam-link-hardware-production/

 

• Valve is discontinuing Steam Link, the in-home streaming box it first launched in late 2015.

  • The $50 Steam Link was designed for streaming games from a local gaming PC to an HDTV in the same house

• An announcement on Valve's Steam Link news page suggests that production of new units has ceased and that Valve is currently selling off the rest of its "almost sold out" inventory in the US, after selling out completely in Europe.

• Valve says it will continue to offer support for existing Steam Link hardware.

• Valve has shifted its focus away from dedicated streaming hardware and toward mobile apps that can provide the same feature.

  • Apple is currently blocking the release of a Steam Link app designed for Apple TV and iOS devices, but similar apps are available for Samsung Galaxy devices and other Android phones (in beta).

  • Steam users have been able to stream to laptops on the same network since 2014, as well.

• Valve was briefly selling the devices for a closeout price of $2.50 earlier this year.

 

Amazon Prime members can see Aquaman a week early

Source 1: AluminiumTech https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/996801-amazon-prime-members-get-1-week-early-access-to-watch-aquaman-at-some-us-cinemas-because-why-not/

Source 2: https://www.theverge.com/2018/11/19/18102455/amazon-prime-early-aquaman-screenings-december-15

 

• Amazon Prime members will be able to watch Aquaman in cinemas up to six days before its official release in the US.

• Each subscriber will be able to purchase up to 10 tickets for a 7pm showing on December 15th, just under a week before the film officially opens on December 21st.

• The early screening of Aquaman can be watched early in around 1,000 participating cinemas across the US including branches owned by AMC, Regal, National Amusement Theaters and ArcLight Cinemas, and you can use Atom Tickets to book.

• The movie will already be out in Europe and China (between the 7th and the 14th)

• Previous partnerships saw early screenings of 2017’s Jumanji and Hotel Transylvania 3.

 

SEASONIC issues warning for potential video card compatibility issue

Source 1:

Source 2: https://knowledge.seasonic.com/article/20-focus-plus-and-gpu-potential-compatibility-issues

 

• Seasonic has announced some compatibility issues between their FOCUS PLUS power supplies and certain high power consumption video cards.

• FOCUS PLUS & ASUS GTX970 STRIX:

  • black screen may occur under heavy VGA usage.

  • Extensive testing showed that certain VGA cards may emit higher than normal ripple when under heavy load

  • using modified PCIe cables with enhanced shielding resolved the issue.

• FOCUS PLUS & Vega 56/64:

  • For units with serial numbers before January 2018

  • possible system shutdown may occur when the GPU is under heavy load.

  • This is possibly caused by higher than normal peak current emitted by this particular range of GPU's when under heavy load triggering the PSU’s internal protection safety.

 

Amazon leaked customer info

Source 1:https://betanews.com/2018/11/21/amazon-discloses-names-and-addreses/

Source 2: https://www.theverge.com/2018/11/21/18106306/amazon-email-address-leak-technical-error-phishing

 

• Amazon has emailed users to tell them that a “technical error” made their names and email addresses visible publicly on its website

• The email says "The issue has been fixed. This is not a result of anything you have done, and there is no need for you to change your password or take any other action."

• Amazon has not disclosed how many users were affected.

 

Leak: Samsung columnar transparent OLED

Source 1: https://www.tomsguide.com/us/samsung-transparent-oled-display,news-28553.html

Source 2:

 

• Samsung leaker Ice Universe has provided a picture of a cylindrical transparent display, accompanied by a caption saying it could “be used for speakers”

• Maybe the display could be used on top of tower speakers for music visualization?

[Speed Weed]

Yeah boi 2nd place. 

[Canada EH]

Billy and hi$ ad$, what can we peasant consumers do?

 

ps 3rd boi

 

ps ps

[rcmaehl]

Are you ready kids?
Aye Aye captain!
I CAN'T HEAR YOU!
AYE AYE CAPTAIN!

OHHHHH

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[Method]

Why the hell do you guys not use adblock for wan show? Aren't you inadvertently helping those ads reach more people?

[YellowJersey]

Wait, you can disable notifications in the browser? Thank you, WAN show. I'm glad you exist.

[featherwolf]

So, I guess it's just because LTT employees all have gsuite emails (which is fee-based) that they forgot that most first-party email apps or websites have ads. Even Gmail, while free, does have ads. These ads are frustrating too cause they're sometimes put inline with regular emails and look like a normal email with the exception of the little green "ad" badge and the fact that you can't get rid of them.

 

[SegueMan]

I'm new to the forums so don't know where to put this, but LUKE!  You mentioned in the November 23 WAN Show how much you hate Chrome's annoying pop-ups re: notifications and asked if Firefox would handle that.

 

Great news:  Firefox handles that like a champ and has for the past several releases.

 

Tools --> Options --> Privacy & Security --> Permissions

• Location
• Camera
• Microphone
• Notifications

There's a Settings button next to each one of the above.  Just check the checkbox "Block new requests...." and you'll never get another annoying pop-up.  I have all of the above blocked.

 

Come back to Firefox.  The water's warm.  It's gotten a lot faster since version 57 with the new Quantum engine and uses less memory.  I only use Chrome for YouTube playback on older PCs.