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Marvel’s First Family is primed to light up the silver screen starting on July 25, 2025 in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, the fifth attempt at a live-action Hollywood transformation for the comic book icons, this time as a retro-futuristic affair starring Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach and directed by Matt Shakman (WandaVision).
Attempts at its adaptation as a Hollywood feature film since the unreleased Roger Corman-led movie in 1994 and the last version being director Josh Trank’s 2015 disaster have had a poor track record, with each successive effort failing miserably to capture the spirit, heart and style of The Fantastic Four. But one of the most satisfying ways to experience the gamma-ray’d metahuman gang is by engaging with one of the many fun Fantastic Four animation series presented over the years.
The antidote to live-action superhero fatigue or just a warm-up? (Image credit: Marvel Entertainment Group)By far the most overlooked example of these flashy cartoon shows is Fantastic Four: The Animated Series. It’s a natural way to gear up for Marvel Studios’ $200 million summer tentpole by absorbing its familial dynamics and splashy fun that skirt the dated humor, primitive character design and sterile backgrounds of Hanna-Barbera’s The Fantastic Four animated series that appeared on Saturday mornings from 1967-68. There was also The New Fantastic Four, a short-lived 1978 series which strangely had no Human Torch and swapped H.E.R.B.I.E. the Robot due to licensing rights and rumored fears that kids might light themselves on fire!
Airing for two “fantastic” seasons starting on September 24,1994 and ending on February 24, 1996, The Fantastic Four: The Animated Series lasted for two 13-episode outings and is currently streaming all 26 chapters on Disney+. It was originally produced by Genesis Entertainment and New World Entertainment, then broadcast in syndication as part of The Marvel Action Hour (aka Marvel Action Universe) with Iron Man taking flight for the first half of the program and The Fantastic Four jumping in to finish with its 22-24 minute episodes.
Who first created the Fantastic Four? (Image credit: Marvel Comics)Conceived by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in 1961, this close-knit superhero team dealing with inter-dimensional villains and everyday domestic responsibilities was the House of Idea’s biggest selling title of the decade and even sported the auspicious title of The World’s Greatest Comic Magazine on its cover.
The main lineup of scientific genius Reed Richard (Mister Fantastic), Sue Storm (Invisible Woman), Johnny Storm (The Human Torch), and Ben Grimm (The Thing) has been an ongoing roster since their experimental space flight first found themselves peppered with cosmic radiation that was the cause of their uncanny superpowers.
The timeless appeal of the animated classic Dr. Victor von Doom as seen in Fantastic Four: The Animated Series (Image credit: Marvel Entertainment Group)Any self-respecting ‘90s-era animated series need a seriously cheesy theme song and Fantastic Four: The Animated Series has that one locked down tight with a goofy anthem that’s even sillier than the tunes written for the original The Karate Kid, but that’s exactly why we love it! We forgive the show for its early campiness.
Written by Ron Friedman, Glen Leopold, Elwin Ransom and a handful of others, and executive produced by Avi Arad, Stan Lee, and Rick Ungar, it showcased everything essential about the Fantastic Four, their messy interpersonal affairs and thrilling crimefighting against notorious foes like Galactus, Doctor Doom, Ego-The Living Planet (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2), Silver Surfer, Annihilus, Psycho-Man, Skrulls, Mole Man, Puppet Master, Blastaar and Sub-Mariner.
Fellow comic book heroes that were featured in multiple storylines and cameos throughout the two seasons included The Inhumans, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Ghost Rider, Daredevil, and many others. Season 2 improved greatly with the arrival of Philippine Animation Studios taking over for Wang Film Productions.
The premiere episode of the debut season is a hoot, with the Fantastic Four recalling their origin story before a studio audience during a taping of Dick Clark’s Scholarship Telethon TV show, with the real Dick Clark actually voicing himself. Subsequent installments all carry the authentic Fantastic Four flair.
Helping to usher in the last golden age of TV cartoonsBlack Bolt and Mister Fantastic in Fantastic Four: The Animated Series (Image credit: Marvel Entertainment Group)Often overshadowed by the quaint charm of the 1967 Hanna-Barbera series, Fantastic Four: The Animated Series often pulled stories from legacy story arcs written by Stan Lee and drawn by Jack “King” Kirby with later illustrator John Buscema and other artists who picked up the pen.
In particular, the two-part segment, The Silver Surfer and the Coming of Galactus, was taken directly from the 1965 comic book event displayed in Fantastic Four #48-50, which was the inspiration for the screenwriters in crafting their own plot for this month's The Fantastic Four: First Steps.
Remember that this renaissance of ‘90s animation also brought us X-Men: The Animated Series, Batman: The Animated Series, and Gargoyles, so it’s the ideal chance for fans to revisit this nostalgic, highly entertaining, and vastly under-appreciated Fantastic Four cartoon show that many of a certain generation hold dear to their hearts. With its solid vocal cast, smart writing, sharp animation, and vibrant colors, give Fantastic Four: The Animated Series a heroic spin on Disney+!
You might also like- Hackers launched attacks just one day after the flaw’s full technical write-up was made public
- Many servers stayed vulnerable for weeks despite a fix being released long before the disclosure
- Null byte injection in the username field lets attackers bypass login and run Lua code
Security researchers have confirmed attackers are actively exploiting a critical vulnerability in Wing FTP Server, a widely used solution for managing file transfers.
Researchers at Huntress say the flaw identified as CVE-2025-47812 was disclosed publicly on June 30, and exploitation began almost immediately, just a day later.
This vulnerability allows unauthenticated remote code execution (RCE), enabling attackers to run code as root or SYSTEM on vulnerable servers.
Wing FTP Server remains vulnerable in unpatched systemsWing FTP Server is deployed across enterprise and SMB environments, and it is used by more than 10,000 organizations globally, including high-profile clients such as Airbus, Reuters, and the US Air Force.
The vulnerability exists in versions 7.4.3 and earlier and has been patched in version 7.4.4, which was released on May 14, 2025.
Despite the fix being available for over a month, many users remained unpatched when technical details were made public.
Security researcher Julien Ahrens, explained the issue stems from improper input sanitization and unsafe handling of null-terminated strings.
The weakness allows a null byte injected in the username field to bypass authentication and insert malicious Lua code into session files.
These files, when deserialized by the server, trigger code execution at the highest system level.
One attacker created malicious session files that used certutil and cmd.exe to fetch and execute remote payloads.
Although the attack was ultimately unsuccessful, thanks in part to Microsoft Defender, researchers noted that the intruders attempted to escalate privileges, perform reconnaissance, and create new users to maintain persistence.
Another attacker reportedly had to look up how to use curl mid-attack, and one even involved a second party during the operation.
This shows the persistence of attackers who are likely scanning for exposed Wing FTP instances, including those running outdated versions.
Even if attackers lacked sophistication, the vulnerability remains highly dangerous.
Researchers recommend upgrading to version 7.4.4 immediately, but where updates aren’t possible, disabling HTTP/S access, removing anonymous login options, and monitoring session file directories are essential mitigation steps.
Three additional vulnerabilities were reported: one enabling password exfiltration through JavaScript, another exposing system paths via an overlong cookie, and a third highlighting the server's lack of sandboxing.
While these pose serious risks, CVE-2025-47812 has received the highest severity rating due to its potential for complete system compromise.
Via The Register and BleepingComputer
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- Data of all 6.5 million Co-op members stolen - CEO says she is 'incredibly sorry'
- More folding iPhone details have leaked
- We have more hints about pricing and battery capacity
- The phone could launch next year
We're getting closer and closer to the foldable iPhone being a real rather than a rumored device, and new leaks suggest that the handset is going to set two records for Apple's smartphone series to date.
These leaks come from tipster Dingzhuo Digital and Mydrivers (via Wccftech). Bear in mind that we are relying on Google Translate here – and that nothing is certain until Apple makes the device official (which will probably be next year).
First up, the folding iPhone is apparently going to have the largest battery of any iPhone to date, with this leak putting the capacity at 5,000-5,500 mAh. For comparison, the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max that launched last September packs in a 4,685 mAh battery.
We'll have to see how that works out in terms of actual battery life between charges. The foldable iPhone will of course have two screens that need powering, and a larger screen to light up when unopened (which could be 7.74 inches, corner to corner).
Paying the priceThe latest Samsung foldable: the Galaxy Z Fold 7 (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)The second part of this leak is the pricing of this device, and it's no surprise that the foldable iPhone is set to be the most expensive iPhone in history – far exceeding the starting price of the iPhone 16 Pro Max, which is set at $1,199 / £1,199 / AU$2,149.
This leak puts the price at more than 15,000 yuan in China. That works out as $2,090 / £1,560 / AU$3,205 with a rough currency conversion at today's rates, but those are unlikely to be the final figures Apple settles on internationally.
Previous rumors have put the price of the folding iPhone somewhere between $1,800 and $2,500, depending on which tipsters and analysts you want to believe. Whatever the final figure ends up being, you're certainly going to have to pay a lot for this phone.
Before we get the folding iPhone though, we're going to get the iPhone 17 series, which will include the iPhone 17 Air in place of the iPhone 16 Plus. If Apple sticks to its usual schedule, we should see those handsets in September.
You might also likeA new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Sunday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Sunday, July 20 (game #504).
Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.
Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.
SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.
NYT Strands today (game #505) - hint #1 - today's themeWhat is the theme of today's NYT Strands?• Today's NYT Strands theme is… I fold!
NYT Strands today (game #505) - hint #2 - clue wordsPlay any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.
- BANK
- BRINE
- FLOW
- SHIFT
- TURBO
- WHEY
• Spangram has 7 letters
NYT Strands today (game #505) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?First side: left, 4th row
Last side: right, 5th row
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Strands today (game #505) - the answers(Image credit: New York Times)The answers to today's Strands, game #505, are…
- KITE
- FROG
- FISH
- CRANE
- BUTTERFLY
- SPANGRAM: ORIGAMI
- My rating: Hard
- My score: 2 hints
It took me until my fourth word, which was CRANE, to understand the significance of “I fold!”. After that it was a case of finding a letter-O close to an edge and connecting ORIGAMI.
Despite this moment of revelation, today’s search didn’t get any easier – mainly because a crane is the most obvious shape you can make, but also because hundreds of items can be created by folding a square piece of thin paper.
Thankfully, FLOWER and BUTTERFLY were easy to spot, but even though there were only five letters left I still struggled to see HEART (trying “earth” first – maybe you just screw the paper up into a ball).
Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Sunday, July 20, game #504)- WRAP
- BIKINI
- SARONG
- TRUNKS
- SANDALS
- SWIMSUIT
- SPANGRAM: BEACH ATTIRE
Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.
I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.
A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Sunday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Sunday, July 20 (game #770).
Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.
What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc's Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.
SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.
NYT Connections today (game #771) - today's words(Image credit: New York Times)Today's NYT Connections words are…
- FREEZING
- FOOT
- EXTRA
- CONTRACTION
- ICING
- SHRINKAGE
- CONDENSATION
- MELTING
- POSSESSIVE
- YADA YADA
- BONUS
- REGIFTING
- FESTIVUS
- QUOTE
- GRAVY
- VAPORIZATION
What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?
- YELLOW: Something on top
- GREEN: States of water
- BLUE: Jerry and friends
- PURPLE: A punctuation mark in common
Need more clues?
We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…
NYT Connections today (game #771) - hint #2 - group answersWhat are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?
- YELLOW: ADDITIONAL PERK
- GREEN: PHASE TRANSITIONS FOR LIQUIDS
- BLUE: CONCEPTS FROM "SEINFELD"
- PURPLE: WHAT ' CAN INDICATE
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Connections today (game #771) - the answers(Image credit: New York Times)The answers to today's Connections, game #771, are…
- YELLOW: ADDITIONAL PERK BONUS, EXTRA, GRAVY, ICING
- GREEN: PHASE TRANSITIONS FOR LIQUIDS CONDENSATION, FREEZING, MELTING, VAPORIZATION
- BLUE: CONCEPTS FROM "SEINFELD" FESTIVUS, REGIFTING, SHRINKAGE, YADA YADA
- PURPLE: WHAT ' CAN INDICATE CONTRACTION, FOOT, POSSESSIVE, QUOTE
- My rating: Easy
- My score: Perfect
I interpret the idiom ‘it’s all GRAVY' as meaning that being alive and healthy is already fantastic and whatever else life brings you is a bonus. Other people may interpret it as an endless supply of free gravy or possibly that everything tastes like gravy, but either way it's a positive thing. Well, unless you don’t like gravy.
Anyway, I digress. Today’s gift from Connections was the wonderful CONCEPTS FROM “SEINFELD” including, in my opinion, its crowning achievement in creating a public holiday for “the rest of us”. An excuse for me to watch a couple of classic episodes in my lunch hour.
Fortunately, I had the other three groups quickly completed before I had to even contemplate the purple foursome.
Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Sunday, July 20, game #770)- YELLOW: MOVE TO THE MUSIC BOP, BOUNCE, GROOVE, SWAY
- GREEN: INHALATION DRAG, DRAW, PUFF, PULL
- BLUE: MARTINI SPECIFICATIONS DRY, GIN, SHAKEN, TWIST
- PURPLE: ___WORD BUZZ, CROSS, LOAN, PASS
NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.
On the plus side, you don't technically need to solve the final one, as you'll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What's more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.
It's a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.
It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.
A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Sunday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Sunday, July 20 (game #1273).
Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,100 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.
Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc's Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.
SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.
Quordle today (game #1274) - hint #1 - VowelsHow many different vowels are in Quordle today?• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 4*.
* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).
Quordle today (game #1274) - hint #2 - repeated lettersDo any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 1.
Quordle today (game #1274) - hint #3 - uncommon lettersDo the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today's Quordle answers.
Quordle today (game #1274) - hint #4 - starting letters (1)Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 0.
If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:
Quordle today (game #1274) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?• K
• S
• P
• F
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.
Quordle today (game #1274) - the answers(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)The answers to today's Quordle, game #1274, are…
- KNEED
- SNAIL
- PINTO
- FEAST
After an easy ride with my first three guesses I was undone by a silent letter.
Without an S and seeing no other letters that could precede the letter N, I had presumed that it would have to start with a vowel so opted for “ended” – but ended up regretting it due to my neglect of the letter K. Sneaky.
Daily Sequence today (game #1274) - the answers(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1274, are…
- MINER
- CRUST
- GRAPE
- ROBIN
- Quordle #1273, Sunday, 20 July: GRACE, COUNT, EGRET, GIANT
- Quordle #1272, Saturday, 19 July: EARLY, CLICK, TRITE, SPREE
- Quordle #1271, Friday, 18 July: CINCH, FOYER, FUDGE, TAFFY
- Quordle #1270, Thursday, 17 July: CRESS, TABOO, POWER, HATER
- Quordle #1269, Wednesday, 16 July: UNCLE, NADIR, REMIT, BROOM
- Quordle #1268, Tuesday, 15 July: VILLA, FLECK, TIGER, CRANE
- Quordle #1267, Monday, 14 July: SURGE, PIZZA, PAPER, POPPY
- Quordle #1266, Sunday, 13 July: KAYAK, DECRY, RUDDY, HATER
- Quordle #1265, Saturday, 12 July: WREAK, NANNY, CLASP, STAIN
- Quordle #1264, Friday, 11 July: LAPEL, DRAIN, FROND, GROSS
- Quordle #1263, Thursday, 10 July: CROSS, WHEEL, UNDID, PENCE
- Quordle #1262, Wednesday, 9 July: SHIRE, SIXTH, SINGE, IMAGE
- Quordle #1261, Tuesday, 8 July: PLIED, PRANK, GAWKY, OXIDE
- Quordle #1260, Monday, 7 July: DROLL, TRUCE, TWIRL, SINCE
- Quordle #1259, Sunday, 6 July: AMPLY, SPAWN, EXTOL, RIDGE
- Quordle #1258, Saturday, 5 July: HAVEN, SNAKE, DREAM, TORUS
- Quordle #1257, Friday, 4 July: FAVOR, SKUNK, GAWKY, FLUFF
- Quordle #1256, Thursday, 3 July: DANCE, EYING, GLAZE, EGRET
- Quordle #1255, Wednesday, 2 July: INANE, SCOUR, ELITE, ULCER
- AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9995WX workstation CPU has 96 cores and 192 threads
- It is set to go on sale with an expected priced of around $13,000
- Zen 5-based Threadripper offers 26% gain over predecessor but costs 30% more
The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9995WX could be the most expensive desktop CPU ever listed at retail, with a rumored price of $13,000.
This price point is more than double that of AMD’s own EPYC 9655, a 96-core data center chip which can be found for just over $6,100.
Built on the Zen 5 architecture and using a 4nm process, the 9995WX targets workstation professionals who need extreme performance in AI, media, design and engineering workflows.
30% price hikeThe chip features 96 cores, 192 threads, and a base clock of 2.5 GHz, boosting up to 5.4 GHz. It supports up to 144 usable PCIe lanes and 8-channel DDR5 ECC RAM running at 6400 MT/s.
There’s also 128MB of L3 cache. While the specs are aimed at users with heavy workloads, the high cost puts it in a niche category. No cooler is included and a dedicated graphics card is required.
The 9995WX is part of the new Threadripper 9000 series, with AMD skipping the 8000 line entirely.
It offers a generational improvement over the Zen 4-based 7995WX, including a reported 26% performance gain.
Even so, the price increase over the previous generation is steep, sitting at 30% higher than the 7995WX.
While this could be justified for some niche professionals, it narrows the market to those with extremely specialized needs.
Preorders are expected to open on July 23, with listings appearing on B&H Photo Video and other retailers.
Although AMD has not confirmed final pricing, Videocardz notes patterns across multiple stores point to a consistent number near $13,000.
The rest of the lineup includes 24-core to 64-core models, with price hikes ranging from 4% to 17% over previous generations.
Intel currently lacks a direct workstation-class competitor in this category, and with AMD pushing core counts and prices even higher, the gap remains wide.
This latest Threadripper generation extends AMD’s lead in ultra-high-end desktop processors, at least for now.
(Image credit: B&H)You may also like- Two new Garmin watches seem to be imminent
- We might get a cheaper Forerunner this Tuesday
- The Venu 4 could follow the recently launched Venu X1
It looks like there are going to be two new contenders for our list of the best Garmin watches in the very near future, with one official tease and one unofficial leak pointing towards new devices in the coming days and weeks.
To start with what we've heard directly from Garmin, the company has posted a teaser for a new watch arriving on July 22 (this coming Tuesday). The outline of the wearable suggests we're looking at a new Forerunner model.
Well-known tipster the5krunner says it's unlikely that this is an existing model launching in China. It's more probable that it's a China-specific Garmin, or it's a completely new model that's going to be launching globally.
Over at Garmin Rumors, the thinking is that the "1XXX" on the teaser image could refer to the price of the upcoming watch, in yuan. If that guess is right, then we'd be looking at a relatively affordable Forerunner compared to the rest of the series.
The Venu 4The Garmin Venu X1 (Image credit: Garmin)As for the less official news, Garmin Rumors (via Notebookcheck) has spotted the first ever mention of the Garmin Venu 4 in the documentation accompanying the Garmin Golf app. Garmin hasn't said anything about this watch, but it looks like it might be on the way.
Earlier this year the Garmin Venu X1 was launched, but based on this new information, that wasn't the true successor to the Garmin Venu 3 – although the brief mention we have of the Venu 4 doesn't tell us too much about it.
Given what Garmin has been doing with its other flagship wearable refreshes, there's a good chance the Venu 4 will come with a brighter screen, an updated user interface, a flashlight, and some additional health features and fitness metrics.
However, there have been no other leaks or rumors to date to give us any hints about what's coming. As soon as Garmin makes either of these smartwatches official, we'll of course bring you all the details on TechRadar.
You might also like- Aokzoe mini PC flaunts a red rocket button with no clear functional explanation
- Branding overwhelms the chassis, with buzzwords replacing useful technical or design explanations
- The processor has real muscle, but the product’s direction feels uncertain and unfocused
Aokzoe has announced its first mini PC powered by AMD’s new Ryzen AI Max+ 395 APU will soon be launched globally.
The company has remained vague about key technical details, but the announcement has stirred attention for its daring design and ambiguous branding.
The mini PC has been previewed with terms like “AI PC,” “A IPC,” and “Hypermind Drive” emblazoned across its surfaces, leaving its final name uncertain.
Design choices raise questions about purpose and practicalityThis device is visually striking with a design that flaunts aggressive angles, bright highlights, and an unexplained red “rocket” button, which feels like a custom or programmable function button, possibly for performance mode.
Mini PCs often lean toward understated forms, but Aokzoe has taken the opposite approach.
Branding is everywhere, with large text and graphics dominating the chassis, raising doubts about whether this machine is intended as a functional business PC or a flashy collector's piece.
Speculation has intensified due to the inclusion of the Ryzen AI Max+ 395, a high-end Strix Halo APU.
This processor is part of AMD’s push into AI-enhanced computing and has only recently started appearing in compact desktops.
Although it holds appeal for demanding tasks like content creation, the lack of detailed specs from Aokzoe makes it difficult to gauge whether this mini PC can realistically serve as a capable video editing PC or handle long work sessions typical in business settings.
At this point, the hardware’s potential seems to outpace the product’s clarity.
Nevertheless, from the official images, the front panel of this device includes a USB4 or Thunderbolt port marked with a lightning bolt icon just before the red “rocket” button.
Next is a full-sized SD card reader, a USB-C port, two USB-A ports (likely differing in speed), and a 3.5mm audio jack for headphones or microphone use.
The company will officially confirm the specs of this device intermittently through social media, avoiding formal release timelines or performance benchmarks.
While a global release has been promised, prospective buyers have little more than renderings and vague labels to assess.
For now, it's difficult to say if the product is serious about computing or simply playing with bold visuals and buzzwords.
Although Aokzoe’s approach is not unique, other brands such as GMKtec and Aoostar are also introducing Strix Halo-based systems.
The likes of HP Z2 Mini G1a, GMKTEC EVO-X2, AOOSTAR’s NEX395, and many more have already been announced.
But these devices are usually not cheap, often selling between the $1500–$2000 price range.
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- Yahoo Japan is betting big that mandatory AI use can unlock workplace innovation
- The company’s plan starts with automating 30% of daily tasks, like meetings and documents
- Internal tools like SeekAI will handle expenses, research prompts, and summarizing meeting notes
Yahoo Japan is taking a bold step by requiring all 11,000 of its employees to integrate generative AI into their daily work, aiming to double productivity by 2028.
The company, which also operates LINE, plans to make AI tools a standard part of tasks like research, meeting documentation, expense management, and even competitive analysis.
The idea is to shift employee focus from routine output to higher-level thinking and communication by letting AI handle the groundwork and create continuous innovation.
Targeting the 30% firstThe rollout begins in the more universal aspects of office life: areas like searching, drafting, and routine documentation, which Yahoo Japan estimates take up about 30% of its employees’ time.
The company has already developed internal tools like SeekAI to manage tasks such as expense claims and data searches using prompt templates.
AI will also be used to help create agendas, summarize meetings, and proofread reports, thereby giving staff more room to concentrate on decision-making and discussion.
This move might seem extreme, but it follows a broader trend of companies trying to harness AI as a productivity tool rather than just a cost-cutting one.
Yahoo Japan's strategy assumes that automation is not just an efficiency tool but a workplace standard, but there is growing evidence that treating AI as a complete replacement for human workers may be shortsighted.
A recent report by Orgvue claims, more than half of UK businesses which replaced workers with AI now regret that decision. This speaks to a crucial distinction: while AI can support and streamline, it often falls short in areas requiring nuance, empathy, or real-world context.
In this light, Yahoo Japan’s model, one that promotes AI as a support layer rather than a substitute, might prove more sustainable.
This is certainly a sign of things to come, and from my perspective, generative AI is not here to erase jobs, even although there are reports of people losing jobs to AI in some regions.
AI should only shift what jobs look like by removing repetitive tasks and freeing up space for critical thinking and creativity, where human input remains indispensable.
Yahoo Japan’s approach, if implemented with care and flexibility, might help shape that shift in a more inclusive and less disruptive way.
Via PC Watch
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