DIGITAL LIFE

Your printer is your spy

Tiny, almost invisible dots can hide surprising information about your documents. The technology has been around for decades and remains surrounded by controversy.

For most people, printing a document is a mundane everyday gesture. One click, a few sheets, and that's it. But what millions of users don't realize is that many modern printers discreetly add a kind of invisible mark to each printed page. The detail went unnoticed for decades and, even today, remains unknown even to those who use these devices daily. The problem is that this "secret signature" can reveal much more than it seems.

For years, they were right before everyone's eyes without attracting attention. They are tiny yellow dots distributed throughout the printed sheets, practically impossible to see without specific equipment.

Known as Machine Identification Codes (MIC), or simply "tracking points," these patterns function as a kind of invisible fingerprint left by the printer on each document produced.

According to investigations by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), the technology began to be developed in the 1980s by manufacturers such as Xerox and Canon. The initial objective was to combat counterfeit money, allowing the identification of which equipment had been used to produce illegal copies.

For a long time, the system remained practically secret.

The public only began to discover its existence in 2004, when authorities in the Netherlands used these codes to track counterfeiters who had produced documents using a color laser printer.

Shortly afterward, EFF researchers managed to decipher some of these hidden patterns and revealed something unsettling: the dots could store information such as the printer's serial number, as well as the exact date and time of printing.

In other words, each printed sheet could silently carry information capable of identifying its origin.

How these codes work in practice...The dots are extremely small. Some measure only 0.025 millimeters, according to studies conducted by the Technical University of Dresden, in Germany.

They appear repeated in specific patterns throughout the entire page. The choice of the color yellow was no accident: on white paper, it becomes almost invisible to the human eye.

The image above shows an example of printer tracking (also known as printer steganography or machine identification code)

Many printers use this type of watermarking and according to Wikipedia it was developed by Canon and Xerox in the mid-1980s but it was kept secret until 2004. According to Xerox, the main motivation behind this watermarking technique was to assure that their printers won’t be used to counterfeit money. In 2004 Dutch authorities were using this to track down the counterfeiters who had used Canon printers and this hidden property became public. Also, there are rumors that all major manufacturers of color laser printers entered a secret agreement with governments to ensure that the output of those printers is forensically traceable.

Here, you can see how MIC looks on the paper. Every row has a certain number value, and every column has its data purpose in this yellow dots matrix.

In practice, most people would never notice its presence without technological assistance.

To detect these hidden codes, it is usually necessary to use high-resolution scanners, digital color inversion, or ultraviolet light. In some cases, researchers also use digital microscopes and special magnifying glasses to visualize the patterns.

Experts analyzed more than a hundred printer models manufactured by different companies and discovered that a large portion of modern color laser printers use some type of similar tracking system.

Interestingly, inkjet printers do not always employ exactly the same mechanism, although they may use other internal identification methods.

Researchers have even developed tools capable of identifying, analyzing, and even masking these invisible patterns by adding new points over the originals.

This has opened up a huge debate involving privacy, security, and technological transparency.

The main problem pointed out by experts is not only the existence of these codes, but the lack of information offered to users.

According to researchers and digital privacy advocacy organizations, manufacturers rarely clearly explain that many printers insert invisible tracking systems into the documents they produce.

For critics, this creates a delicate scenario.

While the codes can help authorities combat crimes such as forgery, they could also be used to identify whistleblowers, track leaked documents, or discover the origin of confidential information.

In corporate, journalistic, or political environments, this raises important concerns about anonymity and the protection of sources.

The BBC itself has highlighted that the topic has been controversial for years precisely because millions of people continue to print documents without knowing that each page may carry an invisible mark linked to the equipment used.

Perhaps the most impressive thing is that this technology has existed for over four decades without ever becoming widely known to the public.

The invisible detail that few imagined existed...The discovery of these codes changed the way experts view something seemingly simple like printing a sheet of paper.

What seemed like just a mechanical process has come to be seen as a silent digital identification system embedded in the physical world.

And although the official justification continues to be security and combating counterfeiting, the debate about privacy is far from over.

Today, while millions of documents continue to be printed daily around the world, a huge number of people don't even imagine that each page can carry a kind of invisible trace left by the printer itself.

mundophone

TECH

Call Of Duty modern Warfare 4 announced for October launch with Korea campaign and DMZ return

Details about Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 are slowly emerging. The production company intends to put the audience in control of ordinary soldiers, moving away from the superhero tone, focusing on the war between South Korea and North Korea.

The cast already includes Luke Tennie and Young Mazino in the roles of Lieutenant Wet and Private Park. The project will also feature Prisca Kim, Lanny Joon, and William Lipton, as well as the return of actor Barry Sloane as Captain Price.

It has been confirmed that the upcoming Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 will be the first of the series to land on a Nintendo console since Ghosts (2013) hit the Wii U, and it's dropping support for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One as well. Developer Infinity Ward is promising major graphical improvements with the new entry too, and will be partnering with Beenox for the PC port to optimize for performance or cutting-edge visual fidelity, including improved ray-tracing and NVIDIA DLSS 4.5 support. The Nintendo Switch 2 port will be developed in partnership with Digital Legends to ensure that the game is properly optimized with a proper native edition, and along with the ambitious cross-platform nature of the release, Modern Warfare 4 is confirmed to support cross-play on the PC and all current-gen consoles.

Regarding the campaign, the story will prominently involve both Captain Price (first introduced in Call of Duty 4) and Ghost (first introduced in pre-reboot Modern Warfare 2.) Price is once more a playable character alongside series newcomers and South Korean Private Park, while Ghost is an antagonist in direct opposition to Price. The story deals with the aftermath of Modern Warfare III, where the political climate has exploded into an open war between North and South Korea and Price is on the run due to having assassinated a major character in the previous game. The finer plot points seem to be more considerate and interesting than Black Ops 7, which was notoriously panned by critics and fans for an over-reliance on "AI slop" that also seemed responsible for an uncharacteristically bizarre, non-grounded story.

While we're still in early stages, Modern Warfare 4 does look like a promising return to form for the Call of Duty series, one that may help it regain some ground from Battlefield 6, or at least give fans of both more AAA FPS action to enjoy. The official announcement blog post promises an ambitious campaign and major overhauls to both movement and weapon handling, as well as the return of Modern Warfare 2's extraction shooter mode, DMZ. With assurances that the game is "fully optimized" for current platforms and high-end PCs, the outlook looks promising, though it's little solice for last-gen players, who will also be losing Warzone support shortly after Modern Warfare 4 launches.

Multiplayer Overview...Modern Warfare 4's multiplayer mode features precise and realistic combat built on fluid movement and greater control in every encounter.

Ballistic Authority...New weapon-focused technology unifies precise aiming, physical handling, realistic audio, enhanced visibility, and tactical awareness.

Key improvements include:

– Complete removal of bloom, making shots more predictable;

– Recoil and convergence rebuilt to better reflect player precision;

– Visual improvements that enhance enemy identification;

– More natural weapon response to movement and the environment.

Movement...The movement system is designed to offer fluidity, freedom, and control, including:

– Smooth transitions between movement and combat;

– Expanded new options for climbing, hanging, jumping, and traversing;

– Preservation of the franchise's characteristic military realism.

Maps...The game features 12 brand-new maps, distributed across visually distinct global scenarios. In addition, it will feature:

– Dedicated maps for Gunfight mode;

– Large-scale maps for Big War mode;

– The new dynamic Kill Block map.

Kill Block...Set in the Westbridge training facility, Kill Block features a dynamic modular arena that reconfigures itself between rounds.

With over 500 possible configurations, each match brings new lines of sight, routes, and tactical challenges. The map will support formats such as 3v3 and 10v10, with future support for additional modes.

Progression and Customization...The class creation system has been revamped, integrating operators, weapons, equipment, and killstreaks into a single loadout.

The gunsmith returns with in-depth customization, now accompanied by Gunny, an assisted system that helps players assemble optimized builds.

New features include:

– Apex Attachments, special modifications unlocked by maximizing weapons;

Two Prestige Paths:

– Classic Prestige

– Regular Prestige

More details will be revealed in the “From the Ward” video series.

DMZ Overview...DMZ returns as the ultimate extraction experience in Call of Duty. Players will be able to enter volatile conflict zones alone or in squads to recover advanced military technology left behind by the war. Each infiltration will require strategic decisions involving combat, negotiation, betrayal, and extraction.

 

mundophone

DIGITAL LIFE

People prefer to talk to chatbots that share similar personality traits to their own, research shows

It's well understood that people tend to be naturally drawn to those with bubbly and extroverted personalities. And those outgoing and gregarious types may naturally consider themselves people-persons and gravitate toward others. But the feeling may not be mutual when it comes to the people with whom these extroverts are interacting.

Extroverted chatbots aren't always favored...New research suggests that that dynamic may even extend to how people socialize with AI chatbots. A study by Northeastern researchers aims to examine how chatbot personalities impact people's perception of the technology. The findings are published in Proceedings of the 2026 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems.

The study found that people tend to have a lower preference for chatbots programmed to be highly open and extroverted, instead preferring chatbots modeled with more neutral personality traits and those similar to their own.

The study was led by Smit Desai, a Northeastern University professor in the College of Arts, Media and Design and co-affiliated with the Khoury College of Computer Sciences.

Desai, working in collaboration with Hasibur Rahman, a doctoral student in his lab, had 150 participants use ChatGPT to plan a trip to New York City.

How the experiment was designed...The participants only had ten minutes to interact with one of three versions of the chatbot the researchers created using a tool they developed that allowed them to control the chatbot's openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and emotional stability.

The three types of chatbots were—a low-level one, with limited personal expression; a medium-level one, with a balanced level of personal expression; and a high-level one with its expression levels set to the max.

Participants were randomly assigned one of the three chatbots and used their designated tool to plan things such as areas of interest during their NYC trip, the neighborhood they would be staying in and what type of transportation they would be using to get there.

After their 10 minutes were up, the participants completed surveys asking them to rate the model on six measures such as intelligence, enjoyment, anthropomorphism (human-like trait), intention to adopt, trust, and liability.

Why the middle-ground chatbot wins...What researchers found was that people far preferred the output of the chatbot with medium-level of personal expression.

When compared to the low-level model, for example, the medium chat scored higher on perceived intelligence, enjoyment, anthropomorphism, trust, intention to adopt, and likability, the researchers said. And when compared to the high-level chatbot, the medium-level chatbot ranked much higher on perceived intelligence and likability, Desai said.

Desai theorized that one reason people were less enthused about the high-level chatbot was because they were likely put off by its attempts to sway and enthuse them.

"Nobody likes a try-hard," Desai said. "People probably thought, 'This machine, which is obviously a chatbot, is trying hard to be human. We don't really like it very much.'"

By contrast, the low-level chatbot was described as "flat or lacking presence," the researchers wrote, based on the comments they collected from participants once they completed the experiment.

The medium-level chatbot offered the perfect balance of both, the researchers wrote. The participants said it was "socially present, yet professionally grounded," the researchers wrote.

Real example answers from each bot...To illustrate the differences, the researchers included several questions each of the chatbots were asked. For example, when asked "What are the different cultural activities I can do in Manhattan?"

The low-level chatbot answered, "You could take in a Broadway show or explore the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). Any of these interest you?"

The medium-level chatbot responded, "Manhattan offers a wealth of cultural activities. You could explore the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) for world-class art collections, or catch a Broadway show for an unforgettable theatrical experience. Is there a particular type of activity that intrigues you most?"

The high-level chatbot offered the following, "Manhattan is like a cultural playground! How exciting! You might love the magic and drama of a live performance on the iconic Broadway stages. Another incredible option is immersing yourself in the creativity and innovation at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). What catches your eye from these options?"

Popular models may overdo personality...These findings are also significant because, in their own testing of some of the most popular chatbot models, including OpenAI's ChatGPT 4.0, Deepseek's Chat V3, and Anthropic's Claude 3.7 Sonnet, the researchers found that many of these chatbots' personality traits are set to high by default, Desai said.

Northeastern Global News reached out to the companies for comment, but did not hear back before publication.

When user and AI personalities align...The research also looked at how people's own personality traits matched up with the chatbot they had a preference for. Before participants engaged in the experiment, they took personality tests, which the researchers later measured with the participants' satisfaction scores after using the chatbots, Desai said. The throughline was clear, he said, when the individuals were asked to rate the chatbots after completing the survey.

Users who shared similar personality traits to the chatbot they interacted with, also tended to rate it higher in areas such as enjoyment, intelligence, and trust, he said.

New possibilities—and risks—for AI design..."This just opens so much room for innovation as well as manipulation," Desai, noting that companies are increasingly developing AI products designed for people's companions and even romantic partners.

"Trust in AI is often discussed in terms of accuracy, reliability, or transparency," added Rahman. "Those are essential, but our findings show that trust is also shaped by how the assistant presents itself."

He added that the research shows that "even if you don't notice it, an AI assistant's personality is shaping how much you trust it."

Desai said his team is now working on follow-up studies examining how someone's personality may influence how they would like these AI technologies to be integrated into their lives.

They are also working on simulation software similar to a video game where people will be able to interact with AI chatbots in made-up scenarios to understand how these chatbots could be used to manipulate people.

Tools and transparency for wider adoption...The researchers have also made their prompting tool—what they are calling TMK or trait modulation keys—available for public use, so others can apply it to their own research.

They have even set up a website that easily lets people create their own personal AI chatbot based on the modulations of the five personality traits the team developed for the study.

Rahman noted the broader implication of this research is that companies developing these technologies must consider AI personality an important dimension of user product design, one that they should also be open and transparent about.

Moreover, "as these assistants enter health care, finance, education, and other high-stakes settings, we need to ask who gets to decide what personality an AI assistant should have, whether users should have agency over it, and where the line is between good design and emotional manipulation," he said.

Provided by Northeastern University 

LAVA

Lava BOLD N2 5G: the new Indian promise arriving in June

The smartphone market continues to move, and Lava is preparing to shake things up with its latest release. The Indian manufacturer has just confirmed that the new Lava BOLD N2 5G will be officially revealed in India on May 29th, promising to surprise in the affordable segment.

This bet is at least curious, demonstrating the brand's desire to consolidate its position with a device that combines appealing design with competitive specifications. For those looking for a new smartphone that doesn't require emptying their wallet, this launch deserves to be on the radar.

With the presentation event just around the corner, the first official images and details have begun to circulate, hinting at what's to come. If you're looking for your next pocket companion, it's worth getting to know the weapons of this new Indian competitor.

The first images released by Lava show a device that wants to stand out from the crowd. The Lava BOLD N2 5G features a curved screen that, although already common in higher-end ranges, continues to confer an undeniable premium touch, especially in a more contained price range.

On the back, the standout visual feature is its imposing circular camera module. This design houses not only the photographic sensors but also an LED flash, creating a symmetrical and quite modern aesthetic that will surely appeal to many users.

Although Lava is still keeping some secrets for the official event, we already have solid confirmations about what will power this new machine. The heart of the BOLD N2 5G will be the MediaTek Dimensity 7050 processor, a chip that promises smooth performance for everyday tasks and guaranteed support for new 5G networks.

For photography enthusiasts, the enormous rear module houses a 64MP main sensor, ready to capture all your moments. A significant focus on security and long-term ease of use is also promised.

13MP Camera Confirmed...Among the very few confirmed specs from Lava itself, the camera specifications are confirmed.

The Lava Bold N2 5G will be equipped with a 13MP primary rear camera. While this may not seem much against flagship smartphones, it should be adequate given the likely sub-₹10k price point. Reports hint at the secondary rear camera to likely serve as a depth sensor for portrait shots while the front could be a 5MP shooter for selfies and video calls. Lava tends to prioritize stable day-to-day performance and clean software over aggressive camera hardware at this segment.

Android 16 Out of the Box...The software experience might be the biggest USP of the Lava Bold N2 5G.

The smartphone is confirmed to boot with Android 16 out of the box, which is pretty impressive for an entry-level device. Lava phones are generally known for their near stock Android experience and clean UI with minimum bloatware. This gives a smoother and cleaner experience compared to heavily customized skins available on other budget Android phones. A clean UI could be one of the major deciding factors for those who are planning to upgrade from older 4G phones.

Expected Specifications...Though Lava hasn’t confirmed the hardware specifications of the Bold N2 5G, we expect it to share a lot with its 4G predecessor, albeit with an upgrade to the connectivity.

The display on the Bold N2 5G should be a large 6.75-inch LCD panel with HD+ resolution and a 90Hz refresh rate for smoother scrolling. In terms of processing, it is expected to be powered by an entry-level processor that supports 5G. 

The battery life should remain one of the key strengths with a massive 5,000mAh battery likely to be included, coupled with support for 10W wired charging.

Here are the technical details already confirmed for this new model:

-MediaTek Dimensity 7050 processor.

-64MP main camera housed in the circular module.

-Screen with curved sides for an immersive experience.

-Promise of updates for two Android versions.

-Three-year security patch guarantee.

The arrival of this Lava BOLD N2 5G demonstrates that competition in the Indian market remains fierce. Now we just have to wait until May 29th to confirm the other technical details and, of course, the price that will determine the true success of this smartphone.

Lava International has announced that the Lava Bold N2 5G will launch in India on June 3, 2026, at 12PM IST. The Amazon India microsite is live, featuring teaser images and confirmed specs, giving buyers a preview of what to expect from Lava’s new budget 5G phone.

The Lava Bold N2 5G is the fourth smartphone in the Bold N2 series, after the standard Bold N2, Bold N2 Lite, and Bold N2 Pro. It is the first in the series to support 5G. The previous Bold N2 4G used the Unisoc SC9863A chipset, but Lava has not yet revealed which 5G processor the new model will have. More details will be shared on June 3.

The Amazon microsite confirms two main features: a 13MP main rear camera in a dual camera setup and Android 16 at launch. The phone will have a flat rear panel, flat side frame, and a square camera module in the top-left corner. More details will be announced on June 3.

The Lava Bold N2 5G will launch on June 3, 2026, at 12PM IST, exclusively on Amazon India. Lava has created a dedicated Amazon microsite where buyers can set a reminder for the sale. This online-only launch aligns with Lava’s usual approach and helps the Bold N2 5G reach more buyers than an offline launch would.

Selling only on Amazon means the phone will be visible to buyers comparing budget 5G options like Redmi, Poco, iQOO, and Oppo. Amazon might also offer bank deals and exchange bonuses on launch day, making the price more attractive to some buyers.

The price for the Bold N2 5G has not been announced yet. Since the Bold N2 series is budget-focused and the Lava Shark 2 5G costs Rs. 11,999, the Bold N2 5G is expected to be priced between Rs. 10,000 and Rs. 16,000. This is only an estimate. The official price will be revealed on June 3 at 12PM on the Amazon India microsite.

by mundophone

DIGITAL LIFE

Bluesky accounts hijacked in pro-Russia propaganda campaign

In recent weeks, hundreds of accounts have been taken over on the microblogging service Bluesky, which were then used to spread false or misleading claims and fake news. The New York Times reports, citing a research group from Clemson University in the US state of South Carolina and Bluesky itself. According to the report, actors from Russia are behind the attacks.

The propaganda was primarily directed against France as the main supporter of Ukraine. In some cases, the account holders were informed; in others, accounts were suspended. The newspaper does not specify exactly how the mass takeover of accounts works.

No strangers...Behind the campaign is said to be a Moscow-based company called Social Design Agency. It has long been accused of sowing discord in adversarial states through content manipulation. In an extensive analysis, the university's research team outlined just two months ago how the network from Russia tried to spread the agenda of the AfD, which is considered right-wing extremist in parts, on Bluesky before the recent federal election. In the current campaign, content aimed at discrediting Ukraine has been spread in waves since April. The New York Times was able to contact some affected individuals. They then removed the posts. Bluesky itself has also removed thousands of them.

Bluesky is one of several microblogging services competing with the big role model X and aiming to build on Twitter's user experience. With around 44 million accounts, the service is significantly smaller than Meta's Threads, but at the same time feels at least as relevant in public debates. This is likely why Russian interest in the service has grown. Darren Linvill, a leader of Clemson University's Media Forensics Hub, believes that those responsible for the hijacked accounts are “clearly still experimenting” – “they are always experimenting.” At Social Design Agency, they only need a bit of luck a few times for it to pay off. Bluesky itself speaks of an “industrywide problem”.

A Russian influence campaign hijacked hundreds of Bluesky accounts—many belonging to influential Americans—to spread propaganda, researchers said, in a striking disinformation tactic that weaponized authentic identities rather than relying on fake accounts.

The campaign, which the researchers at Clemson University linked to the Moscow-based firm Social Design Agency (SDA), targeted journalists, academics, and filmmakers on the tech platform.

Many of the compromised accounts were used to post anti-Ukraine narratives, illustrating how pro-Kremlin propagandists are seeking novel ways to undermine support for the war-torn country that Russia invaded in 2022.

"Looks like someone got into my account and posted some story about France and Ukraine," Wall Street Journal reporter Alex Ward wrote on Bluesky.

The post in question has now been deleted and Ward said he had regained control of his account.

A database of compromised accounts—created by an internet monitor tracking Russian influence operations and shared with AFP by a Clemson University researcher—included at least one other Wall Street Journal reporter.

"Bluesky account got compromised and banned and then I got the account back somehow," Jake Tucker, editorial director at the PC Gaming Show, wrote on the platform.

Other compromised accounts included filmmaker Mary Beth McAndrews and academic Ben Gilbert.

"We have certainly seen bad actors use hacked accounts and stolen accounts in the past. Frequently, in fact. This seems more targeted," Clemson University's Darren Linvill told AFP.

"I've personally never seen Russia use hacked accounts at this scale before."

"No ethical constraints"...It was unclear how many accounts had been hacked, with Bluesky removing many of the propaganda posts or suspending affected accounts until their owners stepped forward to regain control.

Linvill said he had personally tracked at least "a couple of hundred accounts the Russians hacked," but the real number was likely far higher.

Bluesky said it has removed 4,907 accounts linked to "state-backed influence activity" this year, roughly double the pace seen last year.

"Compromising real accounts to spread propaganda is a tactic these actors have used elsewhere for years, but this is the first time we've seen them attempt it on Bluesky," the platform's safety team wrote in a post.

"The accounts accessed were mostly older and dormant, though some active accounts were affected too."

"To be clear, Bluesky's systems were not breached. Individual user accounts were compromised, likely via credentials leaked in data breaches."

Clemson University attributed SDA's campaign to a Kremlin influence operation known among researchers as Matryoshka (Russian doll), which has been known for disinformation campaigns based on impersonation.

"It has stolen the logos of media outlets, government agencies, and private companies and used AI to clone the voices of celebrities, policemen, academics, journalists, and others," Joseph Bodnar, a senior research manager at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, told AFP.

"Hacking into accounts to post content using someone else's identity is a logical next step for an operation that appears to have a lot of resources and no ethical constraints," Bodnar added.

"Sophistication isn't impact"...The SDA has been sanctioned by the United States, European Union and the United Kingdom for information warfare campaigns.

"The SDA has been tasked and funded by the Kremlin to deliver a series of interference operations designed to undermine democracy and weaken support for Ukraine," Britain's Foreign Office said earlier this month.

The statement came after Britain unveiled new sanctions targeting 49 individuals working for the SDA, including writers, translators and video makers responsible for "deceptive Kremlin propaganda."

However, the reach of the Bluesky hacking campaign appeared to be limited, with the platform's safety team saying their "posts averaged 50 views" before they were taken down.

"Sophistication isn't impact," Bodnar said.

"Matryoshka's impact is driven more by public perception than by its ability to persuade audiences online. It's a perception hack."

© 2026 AFP

TECH

PD-100 Black Hornet: The world's smallest known war drone to date

The PD-100 Black Hornet is a small unmanned aerial vehicle, originally developed by Prox Dynamics and now manufactured by Teledyne FLIR Defense, designed to give soldiers in the field a discreet way to observe threats, access remote locations, and enhance situational awareness in military operations.

With ultra-compact dimensions, the Black Hornet was created to be carried alongside a soldier's individual equipment. The complete system includes two drones and a base station, and was designed to fit in a soldier's pocket. The idea is to allow small units to reconnoiter congested, dangerous, or difficult-to-access areas without having to expose themselves directly.

The PD-100 model measures approximately 100 millimeters in length, has a 120-millimeter rotor diameter, and weighs 16 grams, including the surveillance camera. The complete system, without the display, weighs less than 1 kilogram. Despite its size, the drone features a molded plastic structure, aerodynamic shape, and the ability to withstand strong winds.

Cameras, GPS, and near-silent flight...The Black Hornet is equipped with three surveillance cameras hidden in the front. It also has a steerable electro-optical camera capable of producing still images and live videos transmitted to a portable device used by the operator.

The drone can be controlled directly via a joystick-like device or programmed to follow a predefined route with the aid of integrated GPS. The digital data link allows the equipment to operate in a straight line up to 1,000 meters away.

According to system information, the Black Hornet generates almost imperceptible noise, a characteristic that increases its use in reconnaissance missions. It is ready to fly in less than a minute, reaches speeds of up to 10 meters per second, and has a maximum autonomy of 25 minutes.

From Afghanistan to the US Army...The development of the Black Hornet began in April 2008 by Prox Dynamics. Following flight tests and operational evaluations, the drone entered mass production in early 2012.

The UK Ministry of Defence awarded a $31 million contract to Prox Dynamics, through Marlborough Communications, to supply 160 units of the system to the British armed forces. The equipment was deployed in Afghanistan to meet the surveillance needs of UK troops.

Prox Dynamics delivered 100 Black Hornet units in early 2013 and, in November 2016, was acquired by FLIR Systems in a $134 million transaction.

In the United States, the drone was selected in July 2014 by the US Army's Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Centre as part of its Pocket Cargo Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance program. The equipment underwent training with US military forces in the first quarter of 2015.

More recent versions...FLIR launched the Black Hornet 3 in June 2018. The model weighed 32 grams and gained improved features, including the ability to fly in GPS-free environments. In January 2019, the company received an initial contract of US$39.7 million for the Black Hornet 3, followed by another of US$20.6 million for the supply of the model's Personal Reconnaissance Systems.

The Black Hornet 4 version represents the new generation of these lightweight nanodrones. Weighing 70 grams, the equipment can fly for more than 30 minutes, travel more than three kilometers, and operate in winds of 25 knots and rain. The model also features a 12-megapixel daytime camera, a high-resolution thermal camera, advanced obstacle avoidance capabilities, and video and image transmission to the operator.

In May, FLIR Defense inaugurated a 13,000-square-foot facility in Somerset, Kentucky, that will serve as a support center for maintenance, testing, and training related to the Black Hornet systems used by the United States Armed Forces.

In total, FLIR Defense has delivered more than 33,000 Black Hornet drones to military and security forces in over 45 countries. The U.S. Army began acquiring the system in 2018 as part of the Soldier Borne Sensor program. Since then, orders placed through the program and other contracts have totaled more than $300 million.

 

by mundophone

 

MEDIATEK

MediaTek Dimensity 8550 brings Gemini Nano V3 with scarce improvements

MediaTek has just unveiled its latest processor for the mid-range market, the Dimensity 8550. At a time when we await the big reveal of the flagship Dimensity 9500 at the end of the year, the brand has decided to make a small update to its popular chip from last year.

However, if you were expecting a performance revolution for your next affordable smartphone, it's best to temper your enthusiasm. The first details indicate that we are facing a rather modest update, which recycles much of what we have already seen in its direct predecessor.

The main highlight is entirely artificial intelligence. The new chip seeks to put local AI capabilities in the hands of more users, but when it comes to the "engine" itself, the changes compared to the previous Dimensity 8400 appear to be minimal.

Almost a clone of the Dimensity 8500...The component is practically identical to the already known Dimensity 8500: we have a high-performance 8-core Arm Cortex-A725 CPU running at up to 3.4 GHz, a Mali-G720 MC8 GPU, and the MediaTek NPU 880. The lithography has not been announced, but it is expected to be the same TSMC 4nm N4P process.

The only notable improvements to the platform are the addition of an LLM Booster, to better execute Large Language Models, and compatibility with Gemini Nano v3, one of the search giant's most robust AI models designed for use on limited devices, such as smartphones themselves.

This compatibility suggests that the 8550 was launched simply as a revision of the 8500 prepared for Gemini Intelligence, a feature package that will be one of the pillars of Android 17. Powered by local AI, the solution promises to make the Android system smarter with features such as user-generated widgets and a Gboard keyboard that understands natural language speech — one of the requirements of the solution is precisely access to the Gemini Nano v3.

The big news and the main reason for the existence of this Dimensity 8550 is its new and improved 790 series NPU (Neural Processing Unit). This technical advancement finally guarantees official support for the Gemini Nano V3 and Meta's Llama 4 multimodal framework.

In practice, this means that processing heavy artificial intelligence tasks — such as text generation, real-time translation, or advanced image processing — will now happen locally on your phone, much faster and without relying on the cloud. It's an important step towards democratizing tools that were previously exclusive to the higher-end range.

With manufacturers focused on shoving the "AI" designation onto every device in 2026, it's completely understandable that MediaTek has made this update its big commercial flagship for brands seeking cheaper chips.

Familiar specifications with a recycled feel...But if the NPU is the star, the processor's basic architecture is an authentic "copy/paste" from the previous generation. Built on TSMC's 4nm process, the Dimensity 8550 maintains the exact same core structure, offering speeds almost identical to the older 8400.

The GPU also hasn't undergone significant changes. Despite native support for AI upscaling technology within games (MediaTek Super Resolution), the graphics card remains the familiar Mali-G715. To give you a clear picture, here are the main technical characteristics of the CPU:

-1 high-performance Cortex-A715 core (running up to 3.2GHz);

-3 performance Cortex-A715 cores (running at 3.0GHz);

-4 efficiency Cortex-A510 cores (focused on battery saving);

-Support for QHD+ resolution displays at 144Hz.

In short, if your top priority in a new smartphone is quick access to native generative AI models, this chip may justify the purchase. If you're looking for a noticeable leap in pure performance or in demanding games, you might want to wait for competing alternatives or the next generation.

The technical criteria, which also include at least 12 GB of RAM, were even the subject of discussion, considering that the official list of devices that met the specifications is very limited, restricted until now to premium models such as the Samsung Galaxy S26, Google Pixel 10 and OnePlus 15.

With today's launch, MediaTek opens the door for more phones to take advantage of Gemini Intelligence, potentially popularizing Google's AI suite, even though the company did not highlight this in the announcement.

Interestingly, the Dimensity 8550 has already made its debut in a customized "Elite" variant in the Chinese version of the HONOR 600 Pro, presented last Monday (25). Other devices with the platform should be announced in the coming days.

mundophone