All posts tagged: computer

EuroQCS-Spain quantum computer inaugurated in Barcelona

EuroQCS-Spain quantum computer inaugurated in Barcelona

Published by skeptic

EuroQCS-Spain, a new quantum computer owned by the European High Performance Computing Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC JU), has been officially inaugurated in Barcelona, marking another milestone in Europe’s effort to build a continent-wide quantum computing ecosystem. The system is hosted and operated by the Barcelona Supercomputing Center–Centro Nacional de Supercomputación (BSC-CNS) and was unveiled during a ceremony attended by senior representatives from the Spanish Government, the Government of Catalonia, the European Commission, and EuroHPC JU. The newly launched EuroQCS-Spain is an analogue quantum computer designed to perform quantum annealing, a specialised approach for solving complex optimisation problems. Developed by Spanish companies Qilimanjaro Quantum Tech and Do IT Now, the system will be integrated with the MareNostrum 5 supercomputer, creating a hybrid classical-quantum computing platform available to researchers, industry and public-sector users across Europe. The result is a significant expansion of Europe’s quantum computing infrastructure. Following final calibration and testing at BSC, the first-generation system is expected to begin onboarding users shortly. EuroQCS-Spain will provide access to advanced optimisation capabilities that could benefit sectors ranging from logistics …

Horror video game gets its creepiness from a quantum computer

Horror video game gets its creepiness from a quantum computer

Published by skeptic

Quantum Backrooms lets you feel what it would be like to be stuck in a quantum computer Moth A quantum computer has been used to create a horror video game called Quantum Backrooms – and it’s available to play online. Peculiarities of quantum objects have long inspired philosophers and artists, and now game developers are getting the bug too. James Wootton at Moth Quantum and his colleagues developed Quantum Backrooms, a horror game with labyrinthine levels generated by a real quantum computer. The game draws inspiration from “the Backrooms,” a horror legend developed on internet forums that consists of moving through a series of endless rooms. In Wootton’s game, each room corresponds to the quantum state of a part of a quantum computer called a qubit, while connections between qubits correspond to possible paths between rooms. Wootton says that in this way, Quantum Backrooms conveys the feeling of being stuck in a quantum computer. The player can look in a fixed direction, but everything they aren’t looking at is constantly changing until they focus their …

8 Best Computer Speakers (2026) After Testing 25+ Pairs

8 Best Computer Speakers (2026) After Testing 25+ Pairs

Published by skeptic

Other Computer Speakers I Liked There are tons of computer speakers on the market, and many of the ones I tested are perfectly fine, but don’t deserve a spot above for one reason or another. Photograph: Simon Hill Creative Pebble Nova for $240: These eye-catching orb-shaped speakers with RGB rings around the base are a statement piece for your desk. They are big, angled at 45 degrees, and you have the choice of a flat base or elevated stands. They light up, produce a pleasant sound that’s rich across the board and with real depth, and can, frankly, get far too loud for your desktop. I was also impressed by the virtual surround sound for gaming. Don’t make the mistake of thinking the Creative App is superfluous, because it’s packed with options, from an equalizer to dialogue enhancement to RGB lighting controls. While I love the stand, it made them too tall for my desk because of my dual monitors. I also found the touch controls a bit finicky, and I advise switching off the …

Use Tiny11 to Rescue a Computer Running Windows 10

Use Tiny11 to Rescue a Computer Running Windows 10

Published by skeptic

It’s the end of the road for Windows 10—at least, in terms of its official end-of-life point, as determined by Microsoft. The operating system will keep working, but it will be much less secure, and won’t get any more updates or security patches (unless you pay Microsoft to extend support for another year). If you’re still on Windows 10, and you don’t meet the minimum requirements for Windows 11—which many older PCs don’t—then there is a potential solution in the form of Tiny11. This unofficial, stripped-down version of Windows 11 cuts out the clutter for a leaner, more lightweight experience, and it can run on machines that don’t support the full-fat Windows 11 released by Microsoft. It’s not just a potential option for those upgrading from Windows 10—it’s something that anyone who’d like a less bloated version of Windows 11 can try. Do bear in mind though that it isn’t endorsed by Microsoft, so there are some caveats to consider, which we’ll get into below. What Is Tiny11? The history of Tiny11 goes back many …

Looking for a new computer? Save hundreds on these Memorial Day desktop deals

Looking for a new computer? Save hundreds on these Memorial Day desktop deals

Published by skeptic

When is Memorial Day?  Memorial Day always falls on the last Monday of May. This year, that’s Monday, May 25. However, you can expect deals leading up to and during the long weekend since it’s a federal holiday.  How did we choose these Memorial Day deals?  ZDNET only writes about deals that capture our own interest — devices and products we want, need, or would recommend not only to our readers, but to friends and family. Our experts look for deals at least 20% off (or hardly ever on sale), using established price-comparison tools and trackers to determine whether the deal is actually worth your time.  We also examine customer reviews and draw on our hands-on experience with new tech to understand what matters to real people who already own and use the products we’re recommending. The goal is to deliver the most accurate advice and to alert you to price drops so you can shop smarter. Source link

There’s Never Been a Better Time to Study Computer Science

There’s Never Been a Better Time to Study Computer Science

Published by Daniella Wilson

It’s a weird time to be studying computer science. Recent grads have a higher unemployment rate than those in just about every other major—yes, even philosophy. The internet is littered with rants from newly minted programmers who can’t find work. On one such YouTube video, the top comment reads: “Your first mistake is not being born earlier.” Students, meanwhile, are fleeing the field. Undergraduate enrollment in computer science dipped by more than 8 percent last year, representing the largest absolute decline across any major in several years. The falloff at the graduate level—14 percent—was even more severe. Learning to code was supposed to be a ticket to a good tech job. It wasn’t just Silicon Valley that spread the gospel of computer science: “Support tha american dream n make coding available to EVERYONE!!” Snoop Dogg once tweeted. Now the decision to major in CS is more complicated. Nowhere has AI refashioned work as dramatically as it has for programmers. Coding bots have become much more powerful over the past few years, and they excel at …

Eurovision 2026: UK’s entry Look Mum No Computer issues statement after coming last in competition

Eurovision 2026: UK’s entry Look Mum No Computer issues statement after coming last in competition

Published by Daniella Wilson

Get the inside track from Roisin O’Connor with our free weekly music newsletter Now Hear This Get our free music newsletter Now Hear This Get our free music newsletter Now Hear This The UK’s Eurovision entry Look Mum No Computer, real name Sam Battle, has released a gracious statement after coming in last place. Bulgaria achieved its first ever Eurovision win on Saturday night (16 May) with DARA’s “Bangaranga”, while the UK came in last with Battle’s “Eins, Zwei, Drei”. His performance of the song received the dreaded nul points score in the public vote and picked up just one point from the jury. Battle celebrated Bulgaria’s historic victory on social media, telling his followers the nation was the “deserved winner” of the contest and that he’d met “a lot of amazing folk” during the competition. “The most important thing is [that] we all tried our hardest,” he wrote. “Regardless of what is against us. Whatever it may be. Gotta keep trying your hardest regardless of the…outcome.” The singer, 37, shared the statement alongside him …

‘It’s a crime against humanity’: UK’s Look Mum No Computer met with scathing reviews after final performance

‘It’s a crime against humanity’: UK’s Look Mum No Computer met with scathing reviews after final performance

Published by Daniella Wilson

Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter The UK’s Eurovision Song Contest entry sparked a fierce backlash from viewers, with some branding it the country’s “worst ever”. Look Mum No Computer, also known as Sam Battle, represented the UK in Vienna, Austria, with his song “Eins, Zwei, Drei” – a zany electronic-pop song that makes heavy use of synths, while dancing energetically with people dressed as computers on Saturday night. At one point, Battle attempted to get the crowd to sing with him, chanting: “When I say eins, you say zwei.” The YouTube star wore a pink boiler suit as performers in fluffy headwear danced in a mock workshop, while he played a synthesizer, and ended up in a cardboard box. But the 37-year-old has received some damning criticism on social media following his “bonkers” performance. Look Mum No Computer, also known as Sam Battle, is representing the …