TECH

Crypto industry praises Trump, calls for market clarity

The start of President Donald Trump's term earned rave reviews at the world's leading crypto conference Wednesday, but top industry lawyers said digital platforms wanted regulatory clarity while the Republicans control Congress.

"Across the board, it's been a very encouraging three months," said Lewis Cohen, a lawyer specializing in digital assets with the New York firm Cahill Gordon & Reindel.

Cohen was speaking at Consensus, the world's longest-running crypto conference, hosted this year in Canada's largest city, Toronto.

Trump's son Eric, who is promoting his own crypto business, is expected to address the conference on Thursday amid increasing questions about potential conflict of interest with his father in the White House.

Eric Trump is deeply involved in the crypto industry through direct business ventures, notably as a co-founder and executive at American Bitcoin, as well as through family-backed projects like World Liberty Financial and the $TRUMP meme coin.

The digital currency saw a spike in value when it announced that its top holders would be invited to a dinner with the president, set to take place on May 22 at the Trump National Golf Club near Washington.

US crypto investors were major supporters of Trump's presidential campaign, contributing millions of dollars toward his victory in hopes of ending the deep skepticism of the previous Democratic administration toward digital currencies. Conference participants did not conceal their lingering contempt for Joe Biden's presidency.

Annemarie Tierney of Liquid Advisors, a regulatory expert who previously worked at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), said that Trump's return to the White House offered "a chance to reset the relationship" between the industry and Washington.

Biden's administration had implemented restrictions on banks holding cryptocurrencies and allowed former SEC chairman Gary Gensler to pursue aggressive enforcement.

Trump's pro-crypto SEC chair Paul Atkins has dropped cases against major platforms like Coinbase and Kraken initiated under Biden. "This is one of the most important things the SEC has done...I never thought I would see this," Tierney said.

'Rules of the road'...Cryptocurrency critics warn that digital assets function primarily as speculative investments with questionable real-world utility that could cause massive damage if the market crashes.

But believers see digital assets as a financial revolution that reduces dependence on centralized authorities and an alternative to traditional banking systems.

Some say crypto's success at the grassroots level would be stamped out by regulation that would give massive financial institutions free rein to dominate the sector. But for Connor Spelliscy, who heads the non-profit Decentralization Research Center, crypto platforms would benefit from fast regulatory action.

"It's so important that we establish some rules of the road for the industry before potentially the House switches," he said, referencing a widely-held view that Democrats, currently the minority party in the House and Senate, are more hostile toward crypto.

Congress is considering two cryptocurrency bills. The so-called stablecoin bill, which aims to regulate digital coins whose value is tied to the dollar, is seen as less contentious.

But it's being held up by Democrats who are furious over Trump's increasing holdings in the sector while in office.

The second, thornier bill, aims to create a regulatory framework for the entire digital assets market—like a regulated stock market for cryptocurrencies.

"This administration needs to put these rules in writing," Tierney said. "We need to build a framework that's regulatorily solid."

© 2025 AFP

 

TECH

Galaxy S25 Edge: the secret of Samsung’s thinnest S

Samsung has just unveiled the Galaxy S25 Edge, and the first thing that catches your eye is its incredibly slim design, making it the thinnest Galaxy S series smartphone ever created by the brand. But how did the South Korean giant manage to achieve this feat? We delved into the information shared by Samsung’s Mobile eXperience (MX) design team to bring you the details behind this new commitment to precision, elegance and ease of use, without ever forgetting the premium identity of the Galaxy S25 line.

This new model is not just an exercise in style; it is a reinterpretation of what a high-end smartphone can be, focusing on the essentials to provide a refined user experience.

According to Jiyoung Lee, vice president and head of product design at Samsung, the vision for the Galaxy S25 Edge was clear from the beginning: “This model represents the most essential form of a smartphone, removing all unnecessary elements.” This philosophy is key to understanding Samsung’s approach to this new device, which seeks to strike a balance between visually striking aesthetics and everyday comfort.

The result of this philosophy is a phone that redefines the limits of thinness, without compromising the user experience.

At just 5.8mm thick, the Galaxy S25 Edge is a real eye-catcher. This ultra-thin profile is the culmination of a design effort that aims to deliver an elegant visual impact, while maintaining a level of comfort that makes it practical for everyday use. Samsung sought to demonstrate that it is possible to have an extremely thin device without making it uncomfortable or difficult to handle.

To achieve this combination of lightness and strength in such a slim body, Samsung chose to use premium titanium for the side frame of the S25 Edge. This metal, known for its high robustness and low weight, gives the device a sophisticated finish, without adding that feeling of fragility that sometimes accompanies thinner phones. The choice of titanium is therefore a testament to the brand’s commitment to quality and durability.

The concern for aesthetics goes beyond thickness and materials, extending to the way in which the different components are visually integrated.

Samsung has implemented what it calls a “single-body design” in the Galaxy S25 Edge. This approach seeks to create a smooth and cohesive visual transition between the rear panel and the side frame, giving the impression that the phone is a single, harmonious piece. This detail contributes to the premium feel and overall elegance of the set.

Another element that stands out are the extraordinarily thin bezels around the screen. By minimizing these bezels, Samsung has managed to maximize the screen-to-body ratio, providing a more immersive viewing experience. Whether you’re watching videos, playing games or simply browsing, the feeling is that you have more screen at your disposal, with fewer visual distractions.

The attention to detail is also evident in the color palette and the way in which the high-resolution camera has been integrated into the design.

Hyoungshin Park, Head of CMF (Color, Material, Finish) Design, explained that when developing the Galaxy S25 Edge, consideration was given to aspects such as color depth and saturation, material integration, user preferences, and manufacturing processes. All of this allowed us to “express the symbolism and refined identity of the Galaxy S25 Edge, while remaining consistent with the overall CMF direction of the Galaxy S25 series,” which is based on the theme of “light.” Although specific colors for the European market have not yet been detailed, this philosophy anticipates sophisticated finishes and hues that enhance the elegance of the design.

One of the major challenges in designing such a thin smartphone is the integration of advanced components, such as a high-resolution camera system. The Galaxy S25 Edge houses a 200-megapixel main camera, and the design team managed to minimize its protrusion by making the camera module blend in with the finish of the rear glass. This result was the fruit of intense collaboration between different departments, ensuring that the color depth, material textures and finish levels met the series’ high standards.

The Galaxy S25 Edge is designed not only to impress visually, but also to be comfortable and capable in everyday use.

This device represents a new perspective on what high-end smartphones can be, demonstrating that it is possible to achieve an exceptionally thin and elegant design without sacrificing functionality or a premium feel. The Galaxy S25 Edge has now been unveiled, positioning itself as a new benchmark in the premium smartphone segment where design and user experience go hand in hand, reflecting meticulous attention to detail.

mundophone

 

TECH

Doom: The Dark Ages Dev Details Workaround To Game Crashes On NVIDIA GPUs

As NVIDIA is prone to do whenever there's a major game release, the GPU maker released a new 'Game Ready' driver package, version 576.40 WHQL, to get PCs ready for Doom: The Dark Ages. You'll want to grab that if you're planning to play the latest Doom installment. At the same time, developer id Software acknowledged that some users with NVIDIA GPUs are experiencing "persistent crashing when playing the game" with the latest driver release.

That's the bad news. The good news is, it's probably not a widespread issue given that (A) the game is in early access and not widely released until Thursday, May 15, and (B) NVIDIA's latest driver release is intended to deliver the best gaming experience in Doom: The Dark Ages, rather than break it.

None of that will come as any consolation to users are experiencing game crashes with the 576.40 driver package installed, and if you're among them, the even better news is id Software has identified a couple of potential mitigations.

"If encountered, rebooting your system, then reinstalling the driver and relaunching the game should resolve this. If the issue still persists, make sure any integrated GPUs are disabled through Windows Device Manager before running the game," id Software wrote in a post on Steam...https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/3017860/view/509579946274851061

Even if you're not seeing game crashes or are running a different brand of GPU, it's worth checking out the post anyway. It's filled with key details about the game, including system requirements (minimum, recommended, and ultra 4K as shown above -- click to expand for a full view), and also contains extensive lists of known issues. Yes, lists as in plural.

The developer has identified 11 issues specific to the PC platform, as well as 11 more general gameplay bugs and single quirk affecting ASUS ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion Go gaming handhelds that can negatively affect performance and stability. That's nearly two dozen known issues in all, all of which have stated resolutions.

As for NVIDIA's latest GPU release, it also brings performance optimizations and DLSS 4 support to New World Aeternum, and fixes a handful of bugs, including stability issues in Monster Hunter Wilds and shadow flickers on GeForce RTX 50 series GPUs when playing Dead Space Remake.

You can grab the 576.40 WHQL driver through the NVIDIA App or head to NVIDIA's driver page to download and install it manually.

mundophone

 

SONY

Sony Xperia 1 VII: Video show new AI camera features in action

Sony is launching a major marketing campaign for its latest flagship smartphone. It focuses on the new camera features that are intended to set the Xperia 1 VII apart from the competition. In new promotional videos, Sony engineers are now explaining the camera advantages in detail.

The Sony Xperia 1 VII was officially announced on Tuesday and will start shipping on June 12th. In Europe, Sony is already accepting preorders for prices starting at €1,499 for the 256GB base model. However, early adopters will also get the Sony WH-1000XM5 (from $348 on Amazon) over-ear headphones for free. The new Xperia phone is unlikely to launch in the US.

On paper, the Android smartphone offers just a few major upgrades. Sony utilizes the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, and the 3.5mm headphone jack supposedly delivers better audio quality. Additionally, the 48MP f/2.0 ultrawide camera now sports a significantly larger 1/1.56-inch sensor. Sony doesn't appear to make any major changes to the 48MP f/1.9 main camera with its 1/1.31-inch sensor or the 12MP telephoto camera with its 85mm to 170mm zoom lens. Nevertheless, the marketing material and official product videos for the Xperia 1 VII almost exclusively focus on the cameras.

Besides the large "Powered by Alpha" logo, this video shows some of the new AI features in action, which are also detailed in separate clips. The brighter display and improved headphone jack are briefly mentioned as well.

This particular design video kicks off with a look at the triple-camera setup but also mentions the front-facing stereo speakers, the 5,000mAh battery and the robust display, which uses Gorilla Glass Victus 2...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sr3y1W8MBzE

As expected, the first video of Sony’s advertising campaign showcases the camera quality with a specific focus on low-light performance. Apart from the cameras, this clip only mentions the display and audio quality...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1jbwfOvSpw

The next video explains the so-called “AI Camerawork Mode.” This feature helps with keeping the subject centered, which is intended to simplify the recording of action-rich scenes with people or other moving objects. This function supposedly stabilizes videos more effectively than before...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLM14MOrlV4

The second key AI feature of the Sony Xperia 1 VII is called "Auto Framing." This function automatically frames images by using artificial intelligence. The idea is that users no longer need to look at the smartphone's display while recording a video, allowing for a more passive filming experience. However, Sony has to rely on digital zoom for this feature, which likely has a negative impact on image quality...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KCnyL4DRgI

In this "Xperia Intelligence" video, Sony demonstrates the two AI camera features from the previous videos but also showcases familiar features like Sony's Eye Autofocus and touts a more accurate white balance and more precise exposure thanks to AI...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ic4r4AI67Yc

In the final promo video for the Xperia 1 VII, several Sony engineers discuss the flagship smartphone’s camera system. Besides stating that natural colors and sharp details are a priority for Sony, the clip primarily focuses on the previously mentioned AI features.

mundophone

 

PANASONIC

Panasonic unveils Lumix S1II and S1IIE full-frame mirrorless cameras with advanced video capabilities

Panasonic has launched the S1II and S1IIE, 24MP full-frame mirrorless cameras with 14+ stop dynamic range, eight-stop image stabilization, rugged weatherproof bodies, and ARRI LogC3 video output for compatibility with Alexa workflows.

Panasonic has unveiled the S1II and S1IIE for photographers and videographers who need splash, freeze, and dust-proof full-frame mirrorless cameras with high image quality.

The S1 II and S1 IIE are compatible at launch with Capture One and Frame.io, as well as Lumix Lab, which is a smartphone app for simplifying the transfer, editing, and color personalization of photos and videos for seamless smartphone integration and social media sharing.

The difference between the two cameras is largely based on the sensor, which changes quite a bit about what the two cameras can do (and what their launch prices are set at). Panasonic says it anticipates the Lumix S1 IIE “will become a preferred choice for those seeking upgrades in ergonomic design and refined engineering.”

The 24.1 MP S1II is targeted toward users who need high frame rate video modes. Its partially stacked sensor is capable of recording videos at 5.8K 60p, 4K 120p, and 2K 240p, and taking photographs at up to 70 fps. The sensor has a maximum dynamic range of 15 stops. The 24.2 MP S1IIE uses a sensor capable of recording 6K 30p and 4K 60p videos, and taking photographs at up to 30 fps. The sensor has a maximum dynamic range of 14+ stops.

Both feature a set of identical features including open gate video support (5.1K 60p for the S1II and 6K 30p for the S1IIE), hybrid autofocus with AI people tracking using contrast and phase detection, 8.0-stop in-body image stabilization, ARRI LogC3 and Apple ProRes RAW HQ format video output, dual SD/CFexpress Type B card slots, a 5.76 million-dot electronic viewfinder, and a 1.84 million-dot tilt and free-angle monitor. The S1II and S1IIE will be available for sale starting June at Panasonic.com and other channels, including the Panasonic store on Amazon.

mundophone

 

MEDIATEK

MediaTek Dimensity 9400e unleashed as a flagship-grade chipset for sub-premium phones

MediaTek has now launched its latest chipset. The Dimensity 9400e arrives as the runt of the litter in the company's Dimensity 9400 series and is likely intended for widespread adoption by sub-premium devices.

MediaTek has now announced its newest chipset, the Dimensity 9400e. The Dimensity 9400e joins its siblings, the Dimensity 9400 and Dimensity 9400+, at the highest level of MediaTek's lineup for the year but is actually intended to be used on sub-premium devices—some of which are slated to launch later this month.

Unlike the other Dimensity 9400 series, the new Dimensity 9400e is built on TSMC's 4nm process. It features an adventurous 4+4 configuration, with four Cortex-X4 cores (a prime core at 3.4 GHz, and three at 2.85 GHz), and four Cortex-A720 cores clocked at up to 2.0 GHz. On the GPU side is ARM''s Immortalis-G720 MP12.

Other features of the Dimensity 9400e include MediaTek's Adaptive Gaming Technology (MAGT 2.0), MediaTek Frame Rate Converter (MFRC 2.0+), MediaTek's latest NeuroPilot SDK for on-device operation of DeepSeek-R1-Distill LLM models, and others. Effectively better gaming and AI performance. Connectivity-wise, the Dimensity 9400e is said to offer sub-6GHz 4CC-CA download speeds of up to 7 Gbps, and Wi-Fi 7 speeds of up to 7.3 Gbps.

Compared to the other chipsets, the Dimensity 9400e has a less advanced memory interface. It supports LDP modules with up to 8,533 Mbps, while the Dimensity 9300 has 9,600 Mbps and the Dimensity 9400 Plus has 10,667. It is on par with the Dimensity 9200 and Dimensity 9200 Plus.

For cameras, the chipset equips MediaTek's 18-bit RAW ISP with support for dynamic noise reduction with three microphones. The Dimensity 9400e also uses advanced image and audio capture technologies to provide professional-grade recording.

The new Dimensity 9400e is a close relative to last year's Dimensity 9300+ which powered the Xiaomi 14T Pro (buy on Amazon), and somewhat mirrors the relationship between Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 and Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. Both Dimensity chipsets feature the same core configuration, Immortalis GPU, and identical network specifications.

mundophone

 

TECH

Hardening the grid: Research team focuses on quake-roofing transformer bushings

Keeping the nation's lights on is no small job. The grid we take for granted involves large, expensive equipment, most notably power transformers. If one goes down, it can take more than a year to replace and at massive costs. In heavily populated, seismically active areas like California or the Pacific Northwest, time is not a luxury.

During an earthquake, the place where a large, high-voltage power transformer is most vulnerable is its bushings—hollow electrical insulators that safely guide current between a transformer's internal windings and external power lines. They are most often made of porcelain due to its ability to isolate the conducting material, usually copper or aluminum, and keep high-voltage current from leaking or sparking and causing explosions.

Bushings are bolted onto a transformer's turrets, which extend up from the main tank. A team of researchers at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) has focused on these connections. The team's goal is to develop a mechanically simple, adjustable isolator, known as a decoupler, that can be mounted at the base of a bushing and tuned to prevent resonant frequencies in the bushing and the turret from matching (which results in amplified mechanical stress on the porcelain bushing).

"Resonant frequencies are the lynchpin," said Bjorn Vaagensmith, the principal investigator on the project and 2025 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers recipient.

Resonance explained...All objects have a resonant frequency, which occurs when input vibrations are maximally amplified in an object. When a sound wave shatters a wine glass or a mirror, that is resonant frequency at work.

In the history of civil engineering, perhaps the best-known example is the collapse of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge in 1940. Wind speed and direction combined with the bridge's design and materials to create a resonant frequency that caused its deck to oscillate wildly. This earned the newly built bridge the nickname "Galloping Gertie"—before it broke into pieces and dropped into Puget Sound after four months.

In an earthquake, seismic waves cause the up-and-down or back-and-forth oscillating ground motion that is transferred into large power transformers. Because of their flexibility and density, big power transformer tanks made of steel and filled with insulating oil can resonate dynamically with the equipment mounted on them. When a tank and its mounted bushings are on the same wavelength, there's a danger the amplified shaking from the earthquake will stress the bushings to catastrophic failure.

Vaagensmith and his colleagues—Chandu Bolisetti of INL and Jon Bender of WEGAI, a Boise-based engineering firm—are seeking to tackle this problem by inventing a decoupling device that shifts the resonance frequency of the bushing away from that of the transformer. The decoupler they are designing can be easily installed at the base of the bushing and retrofitted to older transformer models for a low cost. The team is pursuing a patent on the design.

At the culmination of their project, Vaagensmith and his colleagues hope to test their resonance frequency decoupler in a big way. They've managed to secure a 500,000-pound transformer, which they hope to take to the earthquake simulator at the University of California San Diego in 2026. The university's shake table is the largest of its kind in the U.S. and rivaled only in size by another in Japan. This will be the first test of its size and could significantly impact safety requirements for transformers in seismic zones. "This is a rare opportunity," Bolisetti said. "To me, it's miraculous."

The main event...In collaboration with the University at Buffalo, the team has plenty of opportunities to get things wrong. That is the purpose of experimentation. "We can fail however we want to fail," Vaagensmith said. "We can try out our solution and test to the limits. We want to be sure we know how to design the decoupler before we go to San Diego."

Word in the industry is spreading, especially since the INL team gave a main stage presentation in October 2024 to the Institute of the Electric and Electronics Engineer's Power and Energy Society Transformer Working Group Committee's annual fall meeting, where industry standards for all things related to transformers are created.

"People are excited about this," Vaagensmith said. "We have an opportunity to resolve a longstanding debate about appropriate seismic transformer protection measures and come up with a solution for bushing manufacturers that doesn't require them to retool. Utilities will be happy, and the grid will be more resilient. We already have people saying, 'When are you selling tickets?' Industry is very interested."

Provided by Idaho National Laboratory