All posts tagged: nextgen

Surfshark Just Dropped a Next-Gen VPN Protocol That Could Be Faster and More Secure Than Other VPN Connections

Surfshark Just Dropped a Next-Gen VPN Protocol That Could Be Faster and More Secure Than Other VPN Connections

Published by skeptic

Surfshark today released its brand-new Dausos VPN connection protocol, which the company says elevates three key elements for VPN users: 30% faster speeds than industry-standard protocols, enhanced security with a hybrid post-quantum encryption and dedicated, private server-side tunnels for each individual session.  This means that Dausos should give Surfshark users smoother connections, improved privacy and faster performance to benefit data-heavy activities, like streaming and gaming.  VPN protocols are essentially the rules that determine the encrypted connection between your device and the internet while on a VPN. Long gone are the days when OpenVPN dominated as the hotshot of the VPN protocol world. It’s still a fine protocol with airtight security that can be great when you need stable connections on any network or want to bypass firewalls, but it’s a lumbering hulk that wasn’t built for the speed or security requirements of today’s VPN users.  Modern times call for modern VPN protocols, and Surfshark is the latest of CNET’s top VPN picks to spin up its own proprietary next-generation VPN protocol. Dausos sounds poised to …

PS6 vs Xbox Helix : Which Next-Gen Console Will Cost More?

PS6 vs Xbox Helix : Which Next-Gen Console Will Cost More?

Published by skeptic

The upcoming release of the Xbox Helix and PlayStation 6 (PS6) marks a pivotal moment in the gaming industry, with both consoles offering distinct approaches to next-generation gaming. According to colteastwood, Microsoft is positioning the Xbox Helix as a high-performance device, featuring advanced hardware like a larger die size and enhanced GPU, with an estimated price range of $1,000 to $1,200. Meanwhile, Sony’s PS6 aims to balance performance and cost efficiency through a streamlined monolithic design, targeting a more accessible price range of $700 to $900. These contrasting strategies highlight a clear divide between affordability and premium performance in the market. Dive into this overview to explore how these differences in pricing and hardware could shape the gaming landscape. Gain insight into the technical specifications driving each console’s design, from the Xbox Helix’s increased RAM to the PS6’s cost-efficient architecture. Understand how these factors, along with broader trends like rising production costs, might influence consumer decisions and adoption rates. Whether you’re a performance enthusiast or a value-focused gamer, this breakdown offers a detailed look at …

Next-Gen Xbox Leak: Project Helix to Play Steam & PC Games

Next-Gen Xbox Leak: Project Helix to Play Steam & PC Games

Published by skeptic

Microsoft’s highly anticipated gaming console, codenamed Project Helix, is set to transform the gaming landscape. By seamlessly merging the console and PC ecosystems, it promises to deliver unmatched performance, innovative AI capabilities, and a unified gaming experience. Positioned as a hybrid device, Project Helix aims to cater to both console enthusiasts and PC gamers, offering a versatile solution that could reshape the future of gaming. However, its premium price tag may position it as a high-end option for dedicated gamers. The video below from ZONEofTECH gives us more details about the next Xbox. Innovative Hardware at the Core At the heart of Project Helix is a custom AMD System on Chip (SoC) built on an advanced 3nm process. This state-of-the-art technology significantly increases transistor density, leading to improved power efficiency and enhanced overall performance. The console’s GPU, powered by AMD’s RDNA 5 architecture, delivers exceptional graphical capabilities. Early benchmarks indicate that it rivals Nvidia’s RTX 5080 in rasterization performance and even surpasses the RTX 5090 in ray tracing, making sure stunning visuals and smooth gameplay …

The Download: The Pentagon’s new AI plans, and next-gen nuclear reactors

The Download: The Pentagon’s new AI plans, and next-gen nuclear reactors

Published by skeptic

This is today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology. The Pentagon is planning for AI companies to train on classified data, defense official says  The Pentagon plans to set up secure environments for generative AI companies to train military-specific versions of their models on classified data, MIT Technology Review has learned.   AI models like Anthropic’s Claude are already used to answer questions in classified settings, including for analyzing targets in Iran. But allowing them to train on and learn from classified data is a major new development that presents unique security risks.   It would embed sensitive intelligence—like surveillance reports or battlefield assessments—into the models themselves. It would also bring AI firms closer to classified data than ever before. Read the full story.  —James O’Donnell  What do new nuclear reactors mean for waste?  The way the world currently deals with nuclear waste is as creative as it is varied: drown it in water pools, encase it in steel, bury it hundreds of meters underground. But an approaching wave …

Strategies for next-gen medical technologies

Strategies for next-gen medical technologies

Published by skeptic

Federica Zanca and Orsolya Symmons, Programme Managers for the European Innovation Council, spoke with The Innovation Platform’s Maddie Hall to share the work of the EIC Pathfinder programme and its promise for advancing next-generation healthcare technologies. The European Innovation Council (EIC) is leading the way in advancing innovation across Europe by identifying and supporting groundbreaking technologies from initial concepts to market entry. The EIC Pathfinder is the first step in the EIC pathway, supporting early-stage, high-risk research and innovation at the forefront of science and technology. To gain insights into the workings of the Pathfinder programme and explore its potential to deliver next-generation healthcare technologies, The Innovation Platform Editor, Maddie Hall, interviewed two Programme Managers involved in the EIC Pathfinder Programme. Federica Zanca leads the 2025 Pathfinder Challenge, titled ‘Generative AI-Based Agents to Revolutionise Medical Diagnosis and Treatment of Cancer’, aiming to integrate AI technologies into healthcare in a way that effectively supports clinicians throughout the entire clinical pathway. Meanwhile, Orsolya Symmons is leading the 2026 Challenge on ‘Biotechnology for Healthy Ageing,’ which seeks to …

The quantum effect that could power next-gen, battery-free devices

The quantum effect that could power next-gen, battery-free devices

Published by Jenni Sidey

A wafer-thin flake of bismuth telluride can act a little like a one-way street for electricity, even when the push comes from an alternating signal. But the direction of that “street” is not fixed. Moreover, if you warm the material up, the signal can flip. That temperature-triggered reversal sits at the center of a new study of the nonlinear Hall effect. This is an unusual quantum response that can turn alternating current into direct current without a magnetic field. The work was led by Professor Dongchen Qi at Queensland University of Technology’s School of Chemistry and Physics and Professor Xiao Renshaw Wang at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. It traces the effect to a tug-of-war inside the material: tiny imperfections dominate at low temperatures. On the other hand, crystal vibrations take over closer to room temperature. Unlike a conventional rectifier that relies on diodes and other components, the nonlinear Hall effect can generate a DC output straight from an AC drive. That matters because many ambient energy sources, including wireless signals and other radio-frequency fields, …

SpaceX Official Reveals New Details About Next-Gen Cell Service

SpaceX Official Reveals New Details About Next-Gen Cell Service

Published by Jenni Sidey

SpaceX satellite policy lead Udrivolf Pica told participants in the International Telecommunication Union Space Connect webcast about the next-generation Starlink direct-to-device cellular service for smartphones. The revelation of the new service follows SpaceX’s October 2025 U.S. trademark filing for “STARLINK MOBILE” and comes as Elon Musk has recently hinted at Starlink mobile ambitions. “We are aiming at peak speeds of 150 Mbps per user,” Pica said, adding, “So something incredible if you think about the link budgets from space to the mobile phone.” PCMag reporter Michael Kan was the first to report Pica’s comments, as SpaceX plans to launch new cellular Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit. Kan continued: If SpaceX can hit its speed goal, the upgraded cellular Starlink service promises to deliver speeds close to those of traditional cell carriers’ 5G networks on Earth. The median download speeds for T-Mobile’s 5G network currently reach 309 Mbps, while AT&T’s 5G network comes in at 172 Mbps, according to Ookla’s Speedtest.net data. SpaceX has been offering the service through T-Mobile’s T-Satellite, allowing users in cellular …

“Worst-Case Scenario”: Novo Nordisk Plunges After Next-Gen Obesity Drug Falls Short Of Lilly Rival

“Worst-Case Scenario”: Novo Nordisk Plunges After Next-Gen Obesity Drug Falls Short Of Lilly Rival

Published by Jenni Sidey

Shares of Novo Nordisk A/S plummeted again on Monday after the company reported trial results showing its next-generation obesity shot, CagriSema, delivered 20.2% weight loss at 84 weeks, compared to 23.6% for Eli Lilly & Co.’s tirzepatide (Zepbound). Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Michael Shah explained, “This outcome is the worst-case scenario for Novo and heightens the need for M&A with Novo’s other GLP-1/Amylin drug.” Shares of Novo in Copenhagen plunged as much as 16.5%, breaking below a support level that had held since August 2025. The stock is now down about 75% from its 2024 peak and is near its 2021 low. The result is yet more trouble for Novo’s new leadership, led by Mike Doustdar, following Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen’s recent exit, along with board turnover linked to disagreements over a turnaround plan to regain GLP-1 market share. There’s also the copycat GLP-1 compounding issue involving the telehealth firm Hims & Hers. Novo’s strategy revolves around CagriSema as Wegovy and Ozempic face longer-term patent pressure; it combines semaglutide and another gut hormone called amylin. Early studies …

Apple’s Next-Gen AirPods: Gesture Control & H3 Chip Explained

Apple’s Next-Gen AirPods: Gesture Control & H3 Chip Explained

Published by skeptic

Apple is reportedly preparing to launch a premium version of its AirPods Pro by 2026, aiming to set a new benchmark in the wireless earbuds market. Positioned strategically between the AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods Max in terms of price and features, this upcoming model is expected to combine innovative technology with Apple’s signature design philosophy. With a rumored price of $299, these AirPods could deliver advanced functionality while maintaining the sleek and minimalist aesthetic that has become synonymous with Apple products. This new addition to Apple’s lineup is poised to appeal to users seeking a balance between affordability and premium features. By targeting a specific segment of the high-end audio market, Apple continues to solidify its position as a leader in wearable technology. The video below from AppleInsider gives us more details about the new Apple AirPods. Gesture Control: A New Way to Interact One of the most anticipated features of these next-generation AirPods is the introduction of gesture control. Using infrared cameras, the earbuds are rumored to enable precise hand tracking and gesture …

Ambitious France-Germany Next-Gen Fighter Faces Crash Landing Amid EU Infighting

Ambitious France-Germany Next-Gen Fighter Faces Crash Landing Amid EU Infighting

Published by Jenni Sidey

Europe’s flagship sixth-generation fighter project is unraveling fast. Politico Europe days ago observed that the Franco-German-Spanish Future Combat Air System (FCAS) is now “on the verge of collapse” after Dassault and Airbus failed to meet critical deadlines for agreeing on work-sharing arrangements. The warnings have been building for months, with loud public signaling coming from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who already conceded that the project is stalled, bluntly admitting there is “no progress” – while French officials also sound increasingly pessimistic, with some privately warning that the manned fighter element of FCAS may already be “dead”. Some of the key quotes in the Politico piece attempt to strike hopeful note, but sound anything but reassuring: “We are doing everything we can to try and save this program. We’ll see how we can land,” the head of the French arms procurement agency, Patrick Pailloux, was cited in the report as telling the press. via en.defence-ua.com Prior understandings have already broken down, with the report explaining: “The manned fighter has been at the core of the bitter …