Tech – Page 18

Tiny, removable “mini SSD” could eventually be a big deal for gaming handhelds

gaming, nintendo switch 2, SSD, steam deck, Tech / Kris Guyer / August 16, 2025

The Mini SSD card isn’t and may never be a formally ratified standard, but it does aim to solve a real problem for portable gaming systems—the need for fast storage that can load games at speeds approaching those of an internal SSD, without requiring users to take their own systems apart to perform upgrades.

Why are games getting so dang big, anyway?

A 2023 analysis from TechSpot suggested that game size had increased at an average rate of roughly 6.3GB per year between 2012 and 2023—games that come in over 100GB aren’t the norm, but they aren’t hard to find. Some of that increase comes from improved graphics and the higher-resolution textures needed to make games look good on 4K monitors and TVs. But TechSpot also noted that the storage requirements for narrative-heavy, cinematic-heavy games like The Last of Us Part 1 were being driven just as much by audio files and support for multiple languages.

“In total, nearly 17 GB of storage is needed for [The Last of Us] data unrelated to graphics,” wrote author Nick Evanson. “That’s larger than any entire game from our 2010 sample! This pattern was consistent across nearly all the ‘Godzilla-sized’ games we examined—those featuring numerous cinematics, extensive speech, and considerable localization were typically much larger than the rest of the sample in a given year.”

For another prominent recent example, consider the install sizes for the Mac version of Cyberpunk 2077. The version of the game on Steam, the Epic Games Store, and GOG runs about 92GB. However, the version available for download from Apple’s App Store is a whopping 159GB, solely because it includes all of the game’s voiceovers in all of the languages it supports. (This is because of App Store rules that require apps to have all possible files included when they’re submitted for review.)

It’s clear that there’s a need for fast storage upgrades that don’t require you to disassemble your console or PC completely. Whether it’s this new “mini SSD,” a faster iteration of microSD Express, or some other as-yet-unknown storage format remains to be seen.

Tiny, removable “mini SSD” could eventually be a big deal for gaming handhelds Read More »

Apple Watch gets reformulated, non-patent-infringing blood oxygen monitoring

Apple, apple watch, Tech / Tim Belzer / August 14, 2025

The redesigned version of the feature will be available on the Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2 after users install the watchOS 11.6.1 update on their watches and the iOS 18.6.1 update on their paired iPhones.

Apple says that watches outside the US won’t be affected by the update, since they were never subject to the US import ban in the first place. It also won’t affect Apple Watches purchased in the US before the import ban went into effect—Apple never removed the feature from watches it had already sold, so if you bought a Series 9 or Ultra 2 watch in the fall of 2023 or if you’re still using an older watch with the blood oxygen monitoring feature, the updates won’t change anything for you.

Masimo originally sued Apple over the blood oxygen monitoring feature in January of 2020. According to Masimo, Masimo and Apple had initially met in 2013 to talk about a potential partnership or acquisition, but Apple instead poached Masimo’s engineers to implement the feature on its own without Masimo’s involvement.

Apple Watch gets reformulated, non-patent-infringing blood oxygen monitoring Read More »

Report: Apple’s smart home ambitions include “tabletop robot,” cameras, and more

alexa, Amazon, Apple, HomePod, Siri, Tech, tvos / Kris Guyer / August 14, 2025

Rumors about a touchscreen-equipped smart home device from Apple have been circulating for years, periodically bolstered by leaked references in Apple’s software updates. But a report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman indicates that Apple’s ambitions might extend beyond HomePods with screens attached.

Gurman claims that Apple is working on a “tabletop robot” that “resembles an iPad mounted on a movable limb that can swivel and reposition itself to follow users in a room.” The device will also turn toward people who are addressing it or toward people whose attention it’s trying to get. Prototypes have used a 7-inch display similar in size to an iPad mini, with a built-in camera for FaceTime calls.

Apple is reportedly targeting a 2027 launch for some version of this robot, although, as with any unannounced Apple product, it could come out earlier, later, or not at all. Gurman reported in January that a different smart home device—essentially a HomePod with a screen, without the moving robot parts—was being planned for 2025, but has said more recently that Apple has bumped it to 2026. The robot could be a follow-up to or a fancier, more expensive version of that device, and it sounds like both will run the same software.

Report: Apple’s smart home ambitions include “tabletop robot,” cameras, and more Read More »

Perplexity offers more than twice its total valuation to buy Chrome from Google

AI, artificial inteligence, Browsers, Google, Perplexity, Tech / Rejus Almole / August 13, 2025

Google has strenuously objected to the government’s proposed Chrome divestment, which it calls “a radical interventionist agenda.” Chrome isn’t just a browser—it’s an open source project known as Chromium, which powers numerous non-Google browsers, including Microsoft’s Edge. Perplexity’s offer includes $3 billion to run Chromium over two years, and it allegedly vows to keep the project fully open source. Perplexity promises it also won’t enforce changes to the browser’s default search engine.

An unsolicited offer

We’re currently waiting on United States District Court Judge Amit Mehta to rule on remedies in the case. That could happen as soon as this month. Perplexity’s offer, therefore, is somewhat timely, but there could still be a long road ahead.

This is an unsolicited offer, and there’s no indication that Google will jump at the chance to sell Chrome as soon as the ruling drops. Even if the court decides that Google should sell, it can probably get much, much more than Perplexity is offering. During the trial, DuckDuckGo’s CEO suggested a price of around $50 billion, but other estimates have ranged into the hundreds of billions. However, the data that flows to Chrome’s owner could be vital in building new AI technologies—any sale price is likely to be a net loss for Google.

If Mehta decides to force a sale, there will undoubtedly be legal challenges that could take months or years to resolve. Should these maneuvers fail, there’s likely to be opposition to any potential buyer. There will be many users who don’t like the idea of an AI startup or an unholy alliance of venture capital firms owning Chrome. Google has been hoovering up user data with Chrome for years—but that’s the devil we know.

Perplexity offers more than twice its total valuation to buy Chrome from Google Read More »

AOL announces September shutdown for dial-up Internet access

AOL, aol dial up, BBSes, broadband, dial-up, dial-up internet, digital divide, DSL, Internet access, internet history, internet infrastructure, Internet service providers, modem, modems, retrotech, rural internet, satellite Internet, Tech, telecommunications, yahoo / Mike M. / August 12, 2025

A screenshot of America Online's version 2.5 client in 1995. — A screenshot of America Online’s version 2.5 client in 1995.

The company’s cultural impact extended far beyond mere connectivity. AOL Instant Messenger introduced many users to real-time digital communication. Chat rooms created some of the Internet’s first social networks. The famous “You’ve Got Mail” notification became so iconic that it was a title for a 1998 romantic comedy. For better or worse, AOL keywords trained a generation to navigate the web through corporate-curated portals rather than open searching.

Over the years, Ars Technica documented numerous dial-up developments and disasters that plagued AOL users. In 2015, 83-year-old Ron Dorff received phone bills totaling $24,298.93 after his AOL modem started dialing a long-distance number instead of a local access point—a problem that had plagued users since at least 2002, when New York’s attorney general received more than 50 complaints about similar billing disasters.

The financial risks weren’t limited to technical mishaps: AOL itself contributed to user frustration by repeatedly adjusting its pricing strategy. In 2006, the company raised dial-up rates to $25.90 per month—the same price as broadband—in an attempt to push users toward faster connections. This followed years of subscriber losses that saw AOL’s user base fall over time as the company struggled with conflicting strategies that included launching a $9.95 Netscape-branded service in 2003 while maintaining premium pricing for its main offering.

The infrastructure that remains

AOL’s shutdown doesn’t mean dial-up is completely dead. Several niche providers like NetZero, Juno, and Dialup 4 Less continue to offer dial-up services, particularly in areas where it remains the only option. In the past, some maintained dial-up connections as a backup connection for emergencies, though many still use it for specific tasks that don’t require high bandwidth, like processing credit card payments.

The Public Switched Telephone Network that carries dial-up signals still exists, though telephone companies increasingly route calls through modern packet-switched networks rather than traditional circuit-switched systems. As long as traditional phone service exists, dial-up remains technically possible—just increasingly impractical as the web grows more demanding.

For AOL, maintaining dial-up service likely became more about serving a dwindling but dependent user base than generating meaningful revenue. The infrastructure requirements, customer support needs, and technical maintenance for such a legacy system eventually outweigh the benefits.

The September 30 shutdown date gives remaining dial-up users just over one month now to find alternative Internet access—a challenge for those in areas where alternatives don’t exist. Some may switch to satellite or cellular services despite higher costs. Others may lose Internet access entirely, further widening the digital divide that dial-up, for all its limitations, helped bridge for three decades.

This article was updated on August 12, 2025 at 10: 45 AM Eastern to add details about when AOL began offering true Internet access.

AOL announces September shutdown for dial-up Internet access Read More »

GitHub will be folded into Microsoft proper as CEO steps down

AI, GitHub, GitHub Copilot, microsoft, Tech / Mike M. / August 12, 2025

Putting GitHub more directly under its AI umbrella makes some degree of sense for Microsoft, given how hard it has pushed tools like GitHub Copilot, an AI-assisted coding tool. Microsoft has continually iterated on GitHub Copilot since introducing it in late 2021, adding support for multiple language models and “agents” that attempt to accomplish plain-language requests in the background as you work on other things.

However, there have been problems, too. Copilot inadvertently exposed the private code repositories of a few major companies earlier this year. And a recent Stack Overflow survey showed that trust in AI-assisted coding tools’ accuracy may be declining even as usage has increased, citing the extra troubleshooting and debugging work caused by “solutions that are almost right, but not quite.”

It’s unclear whether Dohmke’s departure and the elimination of the CEO position will change much in terms of the way GitHub operates or the products it creates and maintains. As GitHub’s CEO, Dohmke was already reporting to Julia Liuson, president of the company’s developer division, and Liuson reported to Core AI group leader Jay Parikh. The CoreAI group itself is only a few months old—it was announced by Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella in January, and “build[ing] out GitHub Copilot” was already one of the group’s responsibilities.

“Ultimately, we must remember that our internal organizational boundaries are meaningless to both our customers and to our competitors,” wrote Nadella when he announced the formation of the CoreAI group.

GitHub will be folded into Microsoft proper as CEO steps down Read More »

ChatGPT users hate GPT-5’s “overworked secretary” energy, miss their GPT-4o buddy

AI, Artificial Intelligence, chatgpt, GPT-5, openai, Tech / Kris Guyer / August 10, 2025

Others are irked by how quickly they run up against usage limits on the free tier, which pushes them toward the Plus ($20) and Pro ($200) subscriptions. But running generative AI is hugely expensive, and OpenAI is hemorrhaging cash. It wouldn’t be surprising if the wide rollout of GPT-5 is aimed at increasing revenue. At the same time, OpenAI can point to AI evaluations that show GPT-5 is more intelligent than its predecessor.

RIP your AI buddy

OpenAI built ChatGPT to be a tool people want to use. It’s a fine line to walk—OpenAI has occasionally made its flagship AI too friendly and complimentary. Several months ago, the company had to roll back a change that made the bot into a sycophantic mess that would suck up to the user at every opportunity. That was a bridge too far, certainly, but many of the company’s users liked the generally friendly tone of the chatbot. They tuned the AI with custom prompts and built it into a personal companion. They’ve lost that with GPT-5.

No new AI — Naturally, ChatGPT users have turned to AI to express their frustration. Credit: /u/Responsible_Cow2236

There are reasons to be wary of this kind of parasocial attachment to artificial intelligence. As companies have tuned these systems to increase engagement, they prioritize outputs that make people feel good. This results in interactions that can reinforce delusions, eventually leading to serious mental health episodes and dangerous medical beliefs. It can be hard to understand for those of us who don’t spend our days having casual conversations with ChatGPT, but the Internet is teeming with folks who build their emotional lives around AI.

Is GPT-5 safer? Early impressions from frequent chatters decry the bot’s more corporate, less effusively creative tone. In short, a significant number of people don’t like the outputs as much. GPT-5 could be a more able analyst and worker, but it isn’t the digital companion people have come to expect, and in some cases, love. That might be good in the long term, both for users’ mental health and OpenAI’s bottom line, but there’s going to be an adjustment period for fans of GPT-4o.

Chatters who are unhappy with the more straightforward tone of GPT-5 can always go elsewhere. Elon Musk’s xAI has shown it is happy to push the envelope with Grok, featuring Taylor Swift nudes and AI waifus. Of course, Ars does not recommend you do that.

ChatGPT users hate GPT-5’s “overworked secretary” energy, miss their GPT-4o buddy Read More »

Google and Valve will kill “Steam for Chromebooks” experiment in January 2026

chromebooks, ChromeOS, gaming, steam, Tech / Paul Patrick / August 8, 2025

Bad news if you’re one of the handful of people using Steam to play games on a Chromebook: Google and Valve are preparing to end support for the still-in-beta ChromeOS version of Steam on January 1, 2026, according to 9to5Google. Steam can still be installed on Chromebooks, but it now comes with a notice announcing the end of support.

“The Steam for Chromebook Beta program will conclude on January 1st, 2026,” reads the notification. “After this date, games installed as part of the Beta will no longer be available to play on your device. We appreciate your participation in and contribution to learnings from the beta program, which will inform the future of Chromebook gaming.”

Steam originally launched on Chromebooks in early 2022 as an alpha that ran on just a handful of newer and higher-specced devices with Intel chips inside. A beta version arrived later that year, with reduced system requirements and support for AMD CPUs and GPUs. Between then and now, neither Google nor Valve had said much about it.

The Steam beta was one component of a “gaming Chromebook” push that Google made in 2022 and 2023. It saw the release of laptops with better hardware and high-refresh-rate screens and optimized versions of GeForce Now and Xbox Cloud Gaming. Google had reportedly been working to add Steam support to ChromeOS since at least 2020.

Google and Valve will kill “Steam for Chromebooks” experiment in January 2026 Read More »

Sonos says it’s forced to raise prices while trying to win back customers

Sonos, tariffs, Tech / Tim Belzer / August 7, 2025

During that call, Sonos CFO Saori Casey said that the company expects “tariff expenses will be approximately $5 million in Q4.” In Sonos’ fiscal Q3, it paid $3.5 million in tariffs, Casey said.

Sonos is still recovering from app problems

Since July 2024, when Sonos’ then-CEO Patrick Spence admitted that a software update inadvertently broke many Sonos devices, the company has been trying to prove to customers and investors that its pricey audio devices are still worth buying.

During the earnings call, Conrad said he believes the value of Sonos gadgets “compounds over time, thanks to the kinds of software updates that deliver new experiences.” But a widely reviled app update last year damaged Sonos’ reputation in this area. The update stripped the app of some basic features, such as the ability to edit playlists and song queues, and many Sonos devices, especially older ones, stopped functioning properly.

Meanwhile, Sonos hasn’t released a new product since the Arc Ultra soundbar and Sub 4 subwoofer in October 2024. In March, reports surfaced that Sonos axed its streaming video player. Conrad told investors yesterday that Sonos has a release roadmap going beyond its 2026 fiscal year. Any devices in that roadmap, however, will be challenged to sell customers on their software, long-term reliability, and price.

Customers may cut Sonos some slack, considering the widespread impact that tariffs are expected to have on electronics pricing. In May, the Trump administration axed the de minimis exemption that enabled duty-free imports of goods worth $800 or less, impacting electronics such as PC peripherals and DIY parts. Currently, the US and China have paused tariffs as the countries look to reach an agreement by August 12. At that time, goods imported from China could face tariffs as high as 145 percent, which would significantly impact the prices of most electronics sold in the US.

But Sonos is already struggling to release and sell new products at high prices, so raising them even higher could further harm the company.

“We lost the momentum in 2024. We’re starting to get it back, and we’re going to accelerate our pace from here,” Conrad said.

Sonos says it’s forced to raise prices while trying to win back customers Read More »

Review: Framework Desktop is a mash-up of a regular desktop PC and the Mac Studio

AMD, framework, framework desktop, gaming, NVIDIA, ryzen ai, Tech / Rejus Almole / August 7, 2025

Size matters most for Framework’s first stab at a desktop workstation/gaming PC.

The Framework Desktop. Credit: Andrew Cunningham

Framework’s main claim to fame is its commitment to modular, upgradeable, repairable laptops. The jury’s still out on early 2024’s Framework Laptop 16 and mid-2025’s Framework Laptop 12, neither of which has seen a hardware refresh, but so far, the company has released half a dozen iterations of its flagship Framework Laptop 13 in less than five years. If you bought one of the originals right when it first launched, you could go to Framework’s site, buy an all-new motherboard and RAM, and get a substantial upgrade in performance and other capabilities without having to change anything else about your laptop.

Framework’s laptops haven’t been adopted as industry-wide standards, but in many ways, they seem built to reflect the flexibility and modularity that has drawn me to desktop PCs for more than two decades.

That’s what makes the Framework Desktop so weird. Not only is Framework navigating into a product category where its main innovation and claim to fame is totally unnecessary. But it’s actually doing that with a desktop that’s less upgradeable and modular than any given self-built desktop PC.

The Framework Desktop has a lot of interesting design touches, and it’s automatically a better buy than the weird AMD Ryzen AI Max-based mini desktops you can buy from a couple of no-name manufacturers. But aside from being more considerate of PC industry standards, the Framework Desktop asks the same question that any gaming-focused mini PC does: Do you care about having a small machine so much that you would pay more money for less performance, and for a system you can’t upgrade much after you buy it?

Design and assembly

Opening the Framework Desktop’s box. The PC and all its accessories are neatly packed away in all-recyclable carboard and paper. Andrew Cunningham

My DIY Edition Framework Desktop arrived in a cardboard box that was already as small or a bit smaller than my usual desktop PC, a mini ITX build with a dedicated GPU inside a 14.67-liter SSUPD Meshlicious case. It’s not a huge system, especially for something that can fit a GeForce RTX 5090 in it. But three of the 4.5-liter Framework Desktops could fit inside my build’s case with a little space leftover.

The PC itself is buried a couple of layers deep in this box under some side panels and whatever fan you choose (Framework offers RGB and non-RGB options from Cooler Master and Noctua, but any 120 mm fan will fit on the heatsink). Even for the DIY Edition, the bulk of it is already assembled: the motherboard is in the case, a large black heatsink is already perched atop the SoC, and both the power supply and front I/O ports are already hooked up.

The aspiring DIYer mainly needs to install the SSD and the fan to get going. Putting in these components gives you a decent crash course in how the system goes together and comes apart. The primary M.2 SSD slot is under a small metal heat spreader next to the main heatsink—loosen one screw to remove it, and install your SSD of choice. The system’s other side panel can be removed to expose a second M.2 SSD slot and the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth module, letting you install or replace either.

Lift the small handles on the two top screws and loosen them by hand to remove them, and the case’s top panel slides off. This provides easier access to both the CPU fan header and RGB header, so you can connect the fan after you install it and its plastic shroud on top of the heatsink. That’s pretty much it for assembly, aside from sliding the various panels back in place to close the thing up and reinstalling the top screws (or, if you bought or printed one, adding a handle to the top of the case).

The Framework Desktop includes a beefier version of Framework’s usual screwdriver with a longer bit. Credit: Andrew Cunningham

Framework includes a beefier version of its typical screwdriver with the Desktop, including a bit that can be pulled out and reversed to be switched between Phillips and Torx heads. The iFixit-style install instructions are clearly written and include plenty of high-resolution sample images so you can always tell how things are supposedto look.

The front of the system requires some assembly, too, but all of this stuff can be removed and replaced easily without opening up the rest of the system. The front panel, where the system’s customizable tiles can be snapped on and popped off, attaches with magnets and can easily be pried away from the desktop with your fingernails. At the bottom are slots for two of Framework’s USB-C Expansion Cards, the same ones that all the Framework Laptops use.

By default, those ports are limited to 5 Gbps USB transfer speeds in the BIOS, something the system says reduces wireless interference; those with all-wired networking and accessories can presumably enable the full 10 Gbps speeds without downsides. The front ports should support all of the Expansion Cards except for display outputs, which they aren’t wired for. (I also had issues getting the Desktop to boot from a USB port on the front of the system while installing Windows, but your mileage may vary; using one of the rear USB ports solved the issue for me.)

Standards, sometimes

Putting in the M.2 SSD. There’s another SSD slot on the back of the motherboard. Andrew Cunningham

What puts the Framework Desktop above mini PCs from Amazon or the various gaming NUCs that Intel and Asus have released over the years is a commitment to standards.

For reasons we’ll explore later, there was no way to build the system around this specific AMD chip without using soldered-on memory. But the motherboard is a regular mini ITX-sized motherboard. Other ITX boards will fit into Framework’s case, and the Framework Laptop’s motherboard will fit into other systems (as long as they can also fit the fan and heatsink).

The 400 W power supply conforms to the FlexATX standard. The CPU fan is just a regular 120 mm fan, and the mounting holes for system fans on the front can take any 92 mm fan. The two case fan headers on the motherboard are the same ones you’d find on any motherboard you bought for yourself. The front panel ports can’t be used for display outputs, but anything else ought to work.

Few elements of the Framework Desktop are truly proprietary, and if Framework went out of business tomorrow, you’d still have a lot of flexibility for buying and installing replacement parts. The problem is that the soldered-down, non-replaceable, non-upgradeable parts are the CPU, GPU, and RAM. There’s at least a little flexibility with the graphics card if you move the board into a different case—there’s a single PCIe x4 slot on the board that you could put an external GPU into, though many PCIe x16 graphics cards will be bandwidth starved. But left in its original case, it’s an easy-to-work-on, standards-compliant system that will also never be any better or get any faster than it is the day you buy it.

Hope you like plastic

Snapping some tiles into the Framework Desktop’s plastic front panel. Credit: Andrew Cunningham

The interior of the Framework Desktop is built of sturdy metal, thoughtfully molded to give easy access to each of the ports and components on the motherboard. My main beef with the system is the outside.

The front and side panels of the Framework Desktop are all made out of plastic. The clear side panel, if you spring for it, is made of a thick acrylic instead of tempered glass (presumably because Framework has drilled holes in the side of it to improve airflow).

This isn’t the end of the world, but the kinds of premium ITX PC cases that the Desktop is competing with are predominantly made of nicer-looking and nicer-feeling metal rather than plastic. It just feels surprisingly cheap, which was an unpleasant surprise—even the plastic Framework Laptop 12 felt sturdy and high-quality, something I can’t really say of the Desktop’s exterior panels.

I do like the design on the front panel—a grid of 21 small square plastic tiles that users can rearrange however they want. Framework sells tiles with straight and diagonal lines on them, plus individual tiles with different logos or designs printed or embossed on them. If you install a fan in the front of the system, you’ll want to stick to the lined tiles in the top 9 x 9 section of the grid, which will allow air to pass through. The tiles with images on them are solid—putting a couple of them in front of a fan likely won’t hurt your airflow too much, but you won’t want to use too many.

Framework has also published basic templates for both the tiles and the top panel so that those with 3D printers can make their own.

PC testbed notes

We’ve compared the performance of the Framework Desktop to a bunch of other PCs to give you a sense of how it stacks up to full-size desktops. We’ve also compared it to the Ryzen 7 8700G in a Gigabyte B650I Aorus Ultra mini ITX motherboard with 32GB of DDR5-6400 to show the best performance you can expect from a similarly sized socketed desktop system.

Where possible, we’ve also included some numbers from the M4 Pro Mac mini and the M4 Max Mac Studio, two compact desktops in the same general price range as the Framework Desktop.

For our game benchmarks, the dedicated GPU results were gathered using our GPU testbed, which you can read about in our latest dedicated GPU review. The integrated GPUs were obviously tested with the CPUs they’re attached to.

	AMD AM5	Intel LGA 1851	Intel LGA 1700
CPUs	Ryzen 7000 and 9000 series	Core Ultra 200 series	12th, 13th, and 14th-generation Core
Motherboard	ASRock X870E Taichi or MSI MPG X870E Carbon Wifi (provided by AMD)	MSI MEG Z890 Unify-X (provided by Intel)	Gigabyte Z790 Aorus Master X (provided by Intel)
RAM config	32GB G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo (provided by AMD), running at DDR5-6000	32GB G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo (provided by AMD), running at DDR5-6000	32GB G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo (provided by AMD), running at DDR5-6000

Performance and power

Our Framework-provided review unit was the highest-end option; it has a 16-core Ryzen AI Max+395 processor, 40 graphics cores, and 128GB of RAM. At $1,999 before adding an SSD, a fan, an OS, front tiles, or Expansion Cards, this is the best, priciest configuration Framework offers. The $1,599 configuration uses the same chip with the same performance, but with 64GB of RAM instead.

All 16 of those CPU cores are based on the Zen 5 architecture, with none of the smaller-but-slower Zen 5c cores. But its total TDP is also limited to 120 W in total, which will hold it back a bit compared to socketed 16-core desktop CPUs like the Ryzen 9 9950X, which has a 170 W default TDP for the CPU alone.

In our testing, it seems clear that the CPU throttles when being tasked with intensive multi-core work like our Handbrake test, with temperatures that spike to around 100 degrees Celsius and hang out at around or just under that number for the duration of our test runs. The CPU package uses right around 100 W on average (this will vary based on the tests you’re running and how long you’re running them), compared to the 160 W and 194 W that the 12- and 16-core Ryzen 9 9900X and 9950X can consume at their default power levels.

Those are socketed desktop chips in huge cases being cooled by large AIO watercooling loops, so it’s hardly a fair comparison. The Framework Desktop’s CPU is also quite efficient, using even less power to accomplish our video encoding test than the 9950X in its 105 W Eco Mode. But this is the consequence of prioritizing a small size—a 16-core processor that, under heavy loads, performs more like a 12-core or even an 8-core desktop processor.

The upside is that the Framework Desktop is quieter than most desktops either under load or when idling. By default, the main CPU fan will turn off entirely when the system is under light load, and I often noticed it parking itself when I was just browsing or moving files around.

Based on our gaming tests, the Framework Desktop should be a competent 1080p-to-1440p midrange gaming system. We observed similar performance from the Radeon 8060S integrated GPU when we tested it in the Asus ROG Flow Z13 tablet. For an integrated GPU, it’s head and shoulders over anything you can get in a socketed desktop system, and it easily ran three or four times faster than the Radeon 780M in the 8700G. The soldered RAM is annoying, but the extra speed it enables helps address the memory bandwidth problem that starves most integrated GPUs.

Compared to other desktop GPUs, though, the 8060S is merely fine. It’s usually a little slower than the last-generation Radeon RX 7600 XT, a card that cost $329 when it launched in early 2024—and with a performance hit that’s slightly more pronounced in games with ray-tracing effects on.

The 8060S stacks up OK to older midrange GPUs like the GeForce RTX 3060 and 4060, but it’s soundly beaten by the RTX 5060 or the 16GB version of the Radeon RX 9060 XT, cards currently available for $300-to-$400. (One problem for the 8060S—it’s based on the RDNA3.5 architecture, so it’s missing ray-tracing performance improvements introduced in RDNA4 and the RX 9000 series).

All of that said, the GPU may be more interesting than it looks on paper for people whose workloads need gobs and gobs of graphics memory but who don’t necessarily need that memory to be attached to the blazing-fastest GPU that exists. For people running certain AI or machine learning workloads, the 8060S’s unified memory setup means you can get a GPU with 64GB or 128GB of VRAM for less than the price of a single RTX 5090 (Framework says the GPU can use up to 112GB of RAM on the 128GB Desktop). Framework is advertising that use case pretty extensively, and it offers a guide to setting up large language models to run locally on the system.

That memory would likely be even more useful if it were attached to an Nvidia GPU instead of an AMD model—Nvidia’s hold on the workstation graphics market is at least as tight as its hold on the gaming GPU market, and many apps and tools support Nvidia GPUs and CUDA first/best/only. But it’s still one possible benefit the Framework Desktop might offer, relative to a desktop with a dedicated GPU.

You can’t say it isn’t unique

The Framework Desktop is a bit like a PC tower blended with Apple’s Mac Studio. Credit: Andrew Cunningham

In one way, Framework has done the same thing with the Desktop that it has done with all its laptops: found a niche and built a product to fill it. And with its standard-size components and standard connectors, the Framework Desktop is a clear cut above every Intel gaming NUC or Asus ROG thingamajig that’s ever existed.

I’m always impressed by the creativity, thoughtfulness, and attention to detail that Framework brings to its builds. For the Desktop, this is partially offset by how much I don’t care for most of its cheap plastic-and-acrylic exterior. But it’s still thoughtfully designed on the inside, with as much respect for standards, modularity, and repairability as you can get, once you get past that whole thing where that the major functional components are all irrevocably soldered together.

The Framework Desktop is also quiet, cute, and reasonably powerful. You’re paying some extra money and giving up both CPU and GPU speed to get something small. But you won’t run into games or apps that simply refuse to run for performance-related reasons.

It does feel like a weird product for Framework to build, though. It’s not that I can’t imagine the kind of person a Framework Desktop might be good for—it’s that I think Framework has built its business targeting a PC enthusiast demographic that will mainly be turned off by the desktop’s lack of upgradeability.

The Framework desktop is an interesting option for people who want or need a compact and easy-to-build workstation or gaming PC, or a Windows-or-Linux version of Apple’s Mac Studio. It will fit comfortably under a TV or in a cramped office. It’s too bad that it isn’t easier to upgrade. But for people who would prefer the benefits of a socketed CPU or a swappable graphics card, I’m sure the people at Framework would be the first ones to point you in the direction of a good-old desktop PC.

The good

Solid all-round performance and good power efficiency.
The Radeon 8060S is exceptionally good for an integrated GPU, delivering much better performance than you can get in something like the Ryzen 7 8700G.
Large pool of RAM available to the GPU could be good for machine learning and AI workloads.
Thoughtfully designed interior that’s easy to put together.
Uses standard-shaped motherboard, fan headers, power supply, and connectors, unlike lots of pre-built mini PCs.
Front tiles are fun.

The bad

Power limits keep the 16-core CPU from running as fast as the socketed desktop version.
A $300-to-$400 dedicated GPU will still beat the Radeon RX 8060S.
Cheap-looking exterior plastic panels.

The ugly

Soldered RAM in a desktop system.

Andrew is a Senior Technology Reporter at Ars Technica, with a focus on consumer tech including computer hardware and in-depth reviews of operating systems like Windows and macOS. Andrew lives in Philadelphia and co-hosts a weekly book podcast called Overdue.

Review: Framework Desktop is a mash-up of a regular desktop PC and the Mac Studio Read More »

President Trump says Intel’s new CEO “must resign immediately”

Donald Trump, intel, Lip-Bu Tan, Policy, syndication, Tech / Rejus Almole / August 7, 2025

Intel and the White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Trump’s post. Intel shares dropped 3 percent in pre-market trading in New York.

Tan was appointed as Intel CEO in March after the Silicon Valley company’s board ousted his predecessor, Pat Gelsinger, in December.

Intel is the only US-headquartered company capable of producing advanced semiconductors, though it has so far largely missed out on the current boom for artificial intelligence chips. It has been awarded billions of dollars in US government subsidies and loans to support its chip manufacturing business, which has fallen far behind its rival Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company.

However, amid a radical cost-cutting program, Tan warned last month that Intel might be forced to abandon development of its next-generation manufacturing technology if it were unable to secure a “significant external customer.” Such a move would hand a virtual monopoly of leading-edge chipmaking to TSMC.

“Intel is required to be a responsible steward of American taxpayer dollars and to comply with applicable security regulations,” Cotton wrote in Tuesday’s letter to Intel’s board chair, Frank Yeary. “Mr Tan’s associations raise questions about Intel’s ability to fulfill these obligations.”

Additional reporting by Demetri Sevastopulo.

President Trump says Intel’s new CEO “must resign immediately” Read More »

Hulu’s days look numbered, but there’s reason for Disney to keep it around

Disney, Hulu, streaming, Tech / Mike M. / August 7, 2025

“When we gave people an opportunity to have a more seamless experience between Disney+ and Hulu, we saw engagement increasing,” Iger said today. “And we would hope that when we take this next step, which is basically full integration, that that engagement will go up even more.”

The initial integration of Hulu, which previously used a different tech platform than the 12-year-younger Disney+ app, required the reworking of “everything from login tools to advertising platforms, to metadata and personalization systems,” as well as moving over 100,000 individual assets/artwork, The Verge reported in March. At the time, Disney said that it was still working on re-encoding all of Hulu’s video files to work on Disney+ so that there could be one master library.

The updated app coming in 2026 seems to be the culmination of all this work. Iger also pointed to work around the app’s recommendations, including what users see on the Disney+ homepage. Additionally, the app has added more streams, such as one that plays The Simpsons 24/7.

The updated app also follows Disney’s purchase of Comcast’s remaining stake in Hulu. (Disney ended up paying about $9 billion for it, compared to the approximately $14 billion that Comcast wanted.)

During today’s earnings call, Iger said the updated user experience will help the profitability and margins of Disney’s streaming business (which also includes ESPN+) by boosting engagement, reducing subscriber churn, increasing advertising revenue, and driving operational efficiencies.

Hulu still has value

It seems likely that Disney will eventually strive for everyone to subscribe to a beefed-up Disney+ that incorporates stuff that used to be on Hulu. But there’s also value in keeping Hulu around for a while.

According to Disney’s Q3 2025 earnings report [PDF], Hulu has 55.5 million subscribers. That makes Hulu less than half the size of Disney+ (127.8 million subscribers), but it also means that ending Hulu subscriptions would put Disney at risk of losing millions of streaming subscribers. Today, though, it already makes little financial sense to buy standalone subscriptions to Disney+ or Hulu. A subscription starts at $10 per month for each app. A subscription to a Disney+ and Hulu bundle is only $11/month. Of course, Disney could change how it prices its streaming services at any time.

Hulu’s days look numbered, but there’s reason for Disney to keep it around Read More »