Spotify is mysteriously installing itself onto Windows 10 and Windows 11 PCs, appearing in the Taskbar when you start up your PC – and I've had the pleasure of experiencing this myself.
Starting up my PC this week, I found Spotify's icon glowing in my Taskbar as other apps were also starting up. It's an app I use on my iPhone and Mac daily, but it's never been on my PC as it's only used for games.
It was the quickest uninstall I've done in recent years, as it's not just a bug, but a potential security flaw. I didn't allow this app to be installed onto my PC, and while I've reached out to Microsoft for comment, it's made me wonder why this has happened without notice.
We've been here before, but it was with a heads-up
Another situation that springs to mind is when Apple and U2 made an agreement to make the band's album, 'Songs of Innocence', available for users as a giveaway, to mark the release of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus models in 2014.
Users weren't happy then, either, as some would have a mix of Euro-Dance albums and U2's new release – which would be a good ice breaker on one end of the spectrum, and an awkward conversation on the other.
However, this could be a feature. The Microsoft Store has been known to install apps on its own, with games and other Microsoft utilities appearing on your Taskbar. But the company hasn't notified its Windows users of Spotify being available through the Store this week, so the only reaction that myself and other users are experiencing from this is annoyance.
Hopefully, Microsoft will respond to this strange appearance of a third-party app soon, as it could be a PR disaster waiting to happen.
Adobe has launched Photoshop Elements 2023 and Premiere Elements 2023, introducing a slew of simple, streamlined editing effects to bring images and movies to life.
In a massive update to both programs, the subscription-free photo editor and video editor for Windows and Mac have been further infused with the power of Adobe Sensei, the company’s ubiquitous AI.
The company says its goal is to make video and photo manipulation more efficient, whatever the user’s skill level.
What’s new in Photoshop Elements 2023 & Premiere Elements 2023?
As with Photoshop and Premiere Pro, artificial intelligence runs deep in the latest editions in the Elements family. Adobe clearly believes AI is key to making their toolstack accessible to all.
Turning static images into moving photos is one of the most eye-catching examples of AI-at-work in the new Photoshop Elements 2023.
At a virtual press briefing attended by TechRadar Pro, Adobe showed how adding moving features to still images is a simple process. When selecting Sky or Background, Adobe Sensei automatically adds the appropriate effect. But by manually selecting an area, users can set travel speed and direction. AI will handle the rest. In Adobe’s example, it took less than a minute to recreate a gushing waterfall in a static image. Results can be exported in MP4 or social media-friendly GIFs.
(Image credit: Adobe)
Guided edits have long been a part of the Adobe Elements software, effectively guiding users looking to make simple edits to their media. In the 2023 edition, a new Guided edit allows users to add “natural and realistic” peek-through overlays to add depth to images. It’s not quite as impressive as creating the effect in Photoshop, but it certainly appears to be easier.
For those looking to create dramatic images, new patterns, backgrounds, and even skies can also be added with apparent ease.
In Premiere Elements 2023, one of the best alternatives to Premiere Pro, the roll-out of artistic effects continues to blur the distinction between editing photos and videos. These are essentially filters inspired by legendary artists, artwork, and art-styles. Already a core feature of Photoshop Elements, this effect can now be applied to users’ videos.
(Image credit: Adobe)
And, again, Adobe highlights how simple this process can be. Users need only add a video, select an effect, and let the artificial intelligence manage the output. New music samples have also been added from the Adobe Stock library.
But it’s the under-the-hood improvements that are likely to catch the eye of many. Lighter than previous iterations, Adobe says installs are now 35% faster and programs launch 50% faster. With full Apple M1 support, the company estimates performance gains of up to 70% on Macs.
Adobe has also announced the launch of a three-way ‘connected experience’. Releasing web and mobile apps for iOS and Android - both currently in beta - users will be able to view and share media on their phones, or create basic edits and effects from their browser. These also include a free 2GB of cloud storage for photos and videos.
“We believe everyone should be able to create anything they imagine. With Photoshop Elements and Premiere Elements, anyone can bring their creative visions to life in new ways with AI-powered editing, hands-on learning content, and the flexibility to enjoy their creative content from any location,” said Ashley Still, Senior Vice President of Digital Media Marketing, Strategy & Global Partnerships at Adobe.
Adobe Premiere Elements 2023 and Photoshop Elements 2023 are available now. The company has confirmed there is no change to the existing pricing plans, meaning individual programs are $99.99 / £86.56 or $79.99 / £70.91 to upgrade. The Adobe Elements bundle runs to $149.99 / £130.36; the upgrade is $119.99 / £107.41
Lionsgate-owned streaming service Starzplay has been officially rebranded to Lionsgate Plus (stylized as Lionsgate+) in 35 global territories.
The platform will keep its existing Starz title in the US and Canada – and remain as Starzplay Arabia and Lionsgate Play in Arabic countries and Southeast Asia, respectively – though these versions will likewise benefit from new design elements and an updated graphics package.
Despite rumors suggesting that Lionsgate is looking to sell off stakes in Starz, the company says the move to rebrand Starzplay internationally comes in a bid to help differentiate the service in a crowded streaming market.
Welcome to LIONSGATE+ 😏 #LionsgatePlus pic.twitter.com/M1CL39hkSuSeptember 28, 2022
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“Operating under Lionsgate Plus internationally brings a distinct and differentiated identity in an increasingly crowded international marketplace, and builds on the brand equity in the Lionsgate name that our extensive research has proven is strong around the world,” Jeffrey Hirsch, president and CEO of Starz, said in a statement.
“Even with the separation of Starz and the Lionsgate studio business, the Lionsgate brand will continue to be valuable to the ongoing success of our international platform.”
Following the rebrand, Lionsgate Plus joins several other major streaming services now bearing the ‘Plus’ affix: Disney Plus, Apple TV Plus and Paramount Plus to name the three biggest.
Evidently, Lionsgate believes its mission to bring “a distinct and differentiated identity” to its streaming service is better served by the Lionsgate Plus name, as opposed to Starzplay, although some consumers have expressed confusion towards the move:
Me: "Starzplay". What an awful name for a streaming service, "Starzplay". They genuinely couldn't come up with a worse name than that.Starzplay: pic.twitter.com/YcZ99q0zbXSeptember 28, 2022
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Granted, Starzplay wasn’t a great name to begin with – but while Lionsgate Plus is certainly a more uniform title (by virtue of its competition), it’s not exactly "distinct and differentiated" in 2022.
The rebrand also risks leaving those not in-the-know thinking that Lionsgate Plus is an entirely separate entity to Starz – despite the two platforms sharing the same content slate (which includes shows like Outlander, Power and Gaslit).
She-Hulk: Attorney at Law episode 7 – The Retreat – has smashed its way onto Disney Plus. And, while viewers are still waiting for Daredevil's arrival in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) – it's coming, we promise – we were introduced to some new and unusual characters in the Marvel TV show's latest entry.
The MCU Phase 4 project has done a delightful job of introducing minor Marvel characters to a wider audience and She-Hulk episode 7 is no exception. In it, four new individuals are shown to exist in the MCU – Man-Bull, El Aguila, Porcupine, and Saracen.
Who are these characters, though? What do their Marvel comics histories tell us about them? And could we see them crop up in the MCU again?
Below, we'll explain who this new quartet is and whether they'll reappear in the MCU in the Disney Plus show again, in Marvel Phase 5 productions, or even beyond that.
She-Hulk's Man-Bull explained: who is the minotaur-like Marvel character?
Man-Bull is traditionally a villain in Marvel comics.(Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney Plus)
A supervillain by trade, Man-Bull is a minotaur-like Marvel character who made his comic debut in July 1971. Interestingly, Man-Bull's first comic book appearance was in Daredevil #78 – another tie into the Man Without Fear's forthcoming appearance in She-Hulk's TV series. He's also crossed paths with Hulk, She-Hulk, and other superheroes in the comics. Additionally, he's run into the anti-hero/supervillain team known as the Thunderbolts, so maybe he'll reappear in the MCU's Thunderbolts movie. It's highly unlikely, but never say never.
Real name William 'Bill' Taurens, Man-Bull acquired his abilities – and his signature horns – after he was used as a guinea pig for an experimental serum derived from bulls. Subsequently, Man-Bull was imbued with traditional superpowers, such as superhuman strength, stamina, durability, and speed. Oh, and he has the ability to empathize with cows. Go figure.
In She-Hulk, he's less animalistic – in his appearance anyway – and comes across as more of a sympathetic villain/anti-hero who is trying to turn his life around. He's played by Nathan Hurd (Legion, Elementary) in the MCU TV show.
She-Hulk's El Aguila explained: who is the Matador-style mutant?
El Aguila is Spanish for 'The Eagle'.(Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney Plus)
El Aguila takes that number to four. In the comics, El Aguila is a human mutant who possesses the ability to generate electricity, as well as being an expert close-quarters combatant and skilled fencer.
Debuting in August 1979, El Aguila was introduced as a morally gray vigilante who aided Iron Fist and Luke Cage – the latter called Power Man at the time – in taking down drug lords and other criminals. However, he's also occasionally operated as an anti-hero, with El Aguila locking horns with Hawkeye during one comic storyline.
Given his matador-like appearance, which was chiefly inspired by Zorro, it's surprising to see El Aguila and Man-Bull form a close bond in She-Hulk episode 7. Still, the pair's unlikely friendship makes for a fun side narrative. El Aguila, whose real name is Alejandro Montoya, is portrayed by Joseph Castillo-Midyett (The Equalizer, Fear The Walking Dead). Don't expect him to appear outside of She-Hulk's show, unless Iron Fist and Luke Cage make their way into the MCU.
She-Hulk's Saracan explained: who is the MCU's first vampire?
It seems the MCU's version of Saracen is a mash-up of two comic characters.(Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney Plus)
Blade might be the most recognizable vampire in Marvel's superhero/anti-hero roster, but that doesn't mean other bloodsuckers don't exist in the comics or the MCU.
While Marvel Studios' Blade movie is seemingly trapped in development hell, Saracen's appearance in She-Hulk episode 7 means that there's at least one vampire in the MCU. Well, that's if you believe Saracen anyway. The other attendees at Emil Blonsky's meditation retreat don't believe he really is a vampire, but there is evidence in the comics to suggest that he's telling the truth.
The group's confusion likely stems from the fact that there are two Saracen characters in Marvel comics. One of those, who goes by the name Muzzafar Lambert, is a globe-trotting mercenary who has regularly duked it out with The Punisher. The other Saracen, whose name is unknown, made his comic debut in Blade: Vampire Hunter #1 in October 1999. Little is known about this vampiric Saracen, though, outside of the fact that he's one of the most long-lived monsters in Marvel comics history.
It seems that She-Hulk's writers have used the latter for Saracen's first MCU appearance. The Retreat's credits list Terrence Clowe (The Harder They Fall, Dopesick) as playing Saracen, but don't mention Lambert. Unless Marvel has combined the two characters to avoid confusion, it's likely that the vampiric Saracen is the one who turns up in She-Hulk episode 7. Could he make a cameo appearance in Blade? Here's hoping.
She-Hulk's Porcupine explained: who is the masked Marvel character?
Marvel fans had previously seen Porcupine in a She-Hulk TV spot.(Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney Plus)
Real name Alexander Gentry, Porcupine is a Marvel supervillain who usually clashes with Ant-Man and the Wasp in the comics. He made his literary debut in Tales to Atonish #48 in October 1963, making him one of the oldest Marvel villains ever. Like Man-Bull, he's crossed paths wit the Thunderbolts, so could he show up in that superhero film, too? Again, don't count on it.
A scientist who designed weapons for the US military, Gentry creates a porcupine-style super suit, which has the ability to shoot quills, gases, flames, or chemicals at those who the wearer deems to be a threat. Gentry, though, believes that the US government won't pay him for this creation – a move that sees him keep the suit for himself and uses it to start robbing banks and other establishments.
Two other Marvel characters have also assumed the identity of Porcupine. The first was Billy Bates, another mutant character who first appeared in August 2005's District X #13. Unlike Gentry, Bates is the owner of the X-gene, the DNA strand that grants its host superpowers when they come of age. Unfortunately for Bates, he acquired the abilities of an actual porcupine. He's able to grow and fire porcupine-like quills at his foes, as well as distorting his left arm into a long, deformed limb with serrated claws at his fingertips.
The final person to assume the mantle was Roger Docking, who made his comic debut in May 2006's Daughters of the Dragon #3. He also wore the suit, although his creation had different abilities to Gentry's, such as jet boots for flight purposes and night vision goggles.
Based on his more realistic MCU appearance, it isn't the Bates version of Porcupine who appears in She-Hulk episode 7. Instead, it's either Gentry or Docking. However, The Retreat's credits don't specify which individual this is – we only know Porcupine is played by Jordan Aaron Ford.
With the holiday shopping season fast approaching, we've seen big product launch events from the likes of Apple, Samsung, and plenty others. Amazon announced a slew of products covering a wide range of product categories throughout the home. Unlike the others, Amazon didn't open this event to the public, but we were invited to watch the announcement and check out details on all of the new products.
Amazon launched a few entirely new devices, starting with a long-requested Kindle you can write upon! The Kindle Scribe is a huge reading tablet that also includes a stylus for note taking. The Halo family of health-conscious gadgets got a bedside clock, the Halo Rise. The budget-friendly Amazon Fire TV brand of television sets took a step toward the upper echelons with a set that uses quantum dot QLED tech.
A number of existing Amazon products got a yearly refresh, including new Echo Dots, with some new kid-friendly characters, as well as a new Echo Auto contraption. There is an upgraded Fire TV Cube that comes with a spanking new Amazon Alexa remote control. Ring and Blink home security gear also got some fresh new kit additions.
Finally, some of Amazon's existing products can do new things. The Amazon Astro robot, with its massive waiting list of buyers, can now detect pets and other objects around the house. The Echo Studio speaker sounds better with a new upgrade, and the Echo Show 15 can display new content.
What's all new?
Kindle Scribe
Halo Rise
Fire TV Omni QLED
What's a new version?
Echo Dot (5th Gen)
Echo Auto (2nd Gen)
Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) and Alexa Voice Remote Pro
Ring Spotlight Cam Pro and Alarm Panic Button
What does new things?
Astro can detect pets and call the cops
Echo devices extend your Wi-Fi network
Echo Show 15 gets Fire TV
(Image credit: Amazon)
Kindle Scribe - Finally a pen for our Kindle
Amazon has finally given us a Kindle you can write on. The Kindle Scribe comes with its own stylus and lets you draw and take notes directly on the screen. You can annotate books directly, or write freestyle journal entries. The Scribe will let you write on PDF documents as well, and Amazon says it will add support for Microsoft Word in the future.
Like the S Pen used on the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (and the old Galaxy Note phones), the Kindle Scribe does not need to charge its stylus. The pen is included with the device, but an advanced pen with eraser and highlighting features will be available separately.
The Kindle Scribe is a huge e-reader, with a 10.2-inch display, making it by far the largest Kindle you can buy and closer to an iPad in size. It will use a 300dpi e-ink screen, making it just as sharp as other Kindle readers.
The Scribe will be expensive, starting at £339.99 / $339.99 for a 16GB model and going up for 32GB or 64GB of storage. That price gets you four months of Kindle Unlimited books.
In the realm of sleep-tracking, we’ve seen some recent advancements but nothing like the Halo Rise, part of Amazon’s Halo family of fitness devices. The Halo Rise uses sensors that detect your body position while you sleep to monitor your breathing and respiration movements.
The device’s main feature is a large light that will help wake you up at the time Halo deems most appropriate, based on your sleep patterns. There is a digital clock at the center of the LEDs, in addition to a small alarm speaker.
Halo Rise will be mostly automated. It will detect when you lie down so you don’t need to tell it you started sleeping. It can detect when you get up and start a number of Alexa-based routines to help you start your day.
The new bedside clock and light will cost $139.99 (regional prices TBA) and will come with six months of Amazon’s Halo health and fitness services. Presumably the light will still work if you don’t keep paying for service.
Fire TV Omni QLED - A step closer to the cutting edge
Amazon Fire television sets have never been known for cutting edge picture quality and technology. They’ve been a bargain TV with full access to Amazon’s suite of Prime and Alexa services. Focused on Quantum Dot technology, the Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED series gives you the color sharpness of QLED with other advanced features like full-array local dimming.
Amazon’s new TVs also support Dolby Vision IQ and HDR10+ Adaptive, which, along with the local dimming, should improve black levels and contrast on the set, healing one of our biggest complaints about previous Amazon Fire TV Omni sets.
The Omni Fire TV QLED series comes in two sizes. You can preorder today the 65-inch for $799 or the 75-inch for $1099 (regional prices and availability TBA).
Echo Dot with a clock - Don’t skip the purple dinosaur
Amazon has improved the sound quality on its latest fifth generation of Echo Dot, which the company says will distort 50% less (whatever that means), and will deliver twice the bass (now we’re talking). There is a plain flavor of Dot and new Echo Dot with Clock that uses a dot matrix display that can side-scroll information, including track info about whatever music you’re hearing.
What’s most important are the new Echo Dot 5th Gen Kids Edition speakers, which feature a purple dragon character or a somewhat adorable owl. If you’d rather your kids speak to cartoons than Alexa, Amazon has you covered, as well as your Echo Dots.
(Image credit: Amazon)
In addition to the Echo Dot, Echo Studio owners will find their devices sound a bit better thanks to upgrades Amazon has made to the speaker’s spatial audio processing. Amazon says everything will sound “closer to the listener,” with improved sound quality across the board.
The Echo Dot will cost $49.99 / £54.99, while the Echo Dot with Clock or Echo Dot Kids will cost $59.99 / £64.99.
The Echo Auto device is getting an update with an entirely new look and a new adhesive mount so you can stick it wherever you want Alexa to live in your car. The Echo Auto has five microphones to eliminate all of the ambient noise a car ride creates.
You can set up Echo Auto to control your music and make calls, and you can yell for roadside assistance if you need. Amazon will send someone to change a tire or fill your car with gas if you manage to strand yourself, in addition to other services.
We’re not sure when the new device will be available, but the updated Echo Auto 2 will cost $55 when it’s launched. The roadside assistance does not require a subscription, you simply pay for services as you demand them.
(Image credit: Amazon)
Fire TV Cube and Alexa Voice Remote Pro – Talk to things and they talk back
The Fire TV Cube (3rd generation) gets serious about performance, especially if you’re streaming content in the highest resolution possible. It adds support for Wi-Fi 6E and an Ethernet port so you can connect to faster home networks, giving you the bandwidth you need.
There’s also a new HDMI input, and when you plug a device into the Fire TV Cube it will let you use Alexa voice commands to control whatever you’ve connected. You can control a cable box or a video game console this way.
The new Alexa Voice Remote Pro comes with a built in speaker, and you can locate it by calling out “Alexa, find my remote,” or by using the Fire TV app. The remote speaker will ring so you can find it.
The Fire TV Cube and the Alexa Voice Remote Pro are available for pre-order today. The Cube is $139.99 and the Remote Pro is $34.99.
Ring Spotlight Cam and Ring Alarm Panic Button – Radar for the home
Ring has stepped up its light-augmented security camera offerings with a new Ring Spotlight Cam Pro and a mid-range Spotlight Cam Plus. The new Pro model adds RADAR capabilities to the home security lineup, in addition to the standard motion sensor and very loud siren. Using radar tracking, the Spotlight Cam Pro can work with your other RIng devices to map an intruder’s path across your property.
The Ring Spotlight Cam Plus doesn’t upgrade the feature set of the original Spotlight Cam, but it does package everything in a much nicer bundle. The sleek new light still features two-way talk, color night vision, and other Ring Spotlight features.
Both the Spotlight Cam Plus and Cam Pro are available with a variety of power options, including a solar kit. The Spotlight Cam Pro costs $229.99 / £199.99 for the battery or plug-in version, and $249.99 (UK pricing to come later) for the solar kit. The Spotlight Cam Plus will start at $199.99 / £179.99 for the battery or plug-in.
If you want to set off every alarm in your house, the Ring Alarm Panic Button (2nd Gen) will show intruders just how many security devices you own. For $29.99 / £29.99 you can install a Panic Button that will also call your emergency contacts and even request emergency assistance from first responders.
Astro – Understanding your home and its inhabitants
It may be hard to get your hands on an Amazon Astro robot, but Amazon is plugging ahead with upgrades that make the little thing more useful as a security device and a home companion. The robot can now recognize doors and windows and can check whether they are open or closed. For businesses, it can investigate an incident while a professional monitors its camera, then call the authorities if needed.
At home, Astro can now recognize pets. It won’t take your dog for a walk or shoot a laser pointer for your cat to chase, but it will take short videos of your pets and send them to you. If it's cute, you can do nothing, but if it’s destructive you can call the authorities, if needed.
Amazon is constantly updating Astro, and it is learning how to recognize your furniture, and also how to check the level of your pet’s food. The Astro robot costs $999.99, though Amazon will eventually jack the price up to $1499.99. Astro is available by invitation only.
(Image credit: Amazon)
Eero in Echo – Your Echo devices form a net
Amazon owns Eero, a company that makes Wi-Fi extender and Wi-Fi mesh devices. Now it is bringing some of those features to its Echo speakers, both new and old. The new Echo Dot (5th Gen), the current Amazon Echo (2020) and the previous Echo Dot (2020) can now work together to boost the Wi-Fi signal around your house.
This is an exciting new feature, and a great way to take advantage of the Wi-Fi capabilities already on board the Echo Dot. We love Wi-Fi mesh networking as a way to boost signal, and we know that Echo Dot devices often see a price cut for Prime Day, making this a great target for bargain tech shopping.
(Image credit: Amazon)
Fire TV on Echo Show 15 – An old school kitchen TV
The Echo Show 15 is a nice smart display to have in the kitchen or around the house. It could already play Amazon Prime video, and Amazon says this was a very popular way to use the device. Now owners will be able to use the full suite of Fire TV features, including an expanded list of streaming channels, on the Echo Show 15, making it much more like the small, old school TV we used to gather around for dinner time in the days of sitcoms and network TV.
Evan Goldberg, founder and EVP of Oracle NetSuite, has dismissed the threat posed by smaller specialists that operate in overlapping markets.
During a press conference at SuiteWorld 2022, Goldberg was asked whether he is concerned about the potential for NetSuite to be outmanoeuvred by more agile players that focus more closely on a single solution.
“I’m not worried about [smaller players] because of the vast capabilities we have, the depth of the suite, and how we can scale,” he responded. “We’ve made enormous investments over the course of 23 years, so I’m not concerned about being outflanked.”
“However, we’ve got to make sure that customers aren’t losing anything when they come to us, and that they continue to get all the benefits they had with their small business package.”
NetSuite ERP
The NetSuite ERP platform offers a wide range of functionality, spanning accounting, CRM, HR, ecommerce and more. The idea is that users are able to complete critical business processes from within a single platform, instead of having to wrestle with tens of different applications.
However, as was highlighted during the press conference, it could be argued that vendors that specialize in a single category (e.g. QuickBooks) are better equipped to deliver cutting-edge features within their niche.
Although Goldberg was willing to entertain the concept, he said he is nonetheless confident in the NetSuite approach, which draws an advantage from the tight relationships between the components of the portfolio.
Goldberg also suggested that NetSuite services a slightly different customer demographic than the point solution vendors, made up predominantly of mid-sized, high-growth companies.
"Our customer-base is biased towards people who are growing, companies that have outgrown their existing accounting solutions. We try to set these companies up for success as they scale,” he explained.
“Customers get the most out of NetSuite when they use the full suite. That’s been the idea since the beginning. What’s stifling companies is that they’re mired in many different systems. As customers adopt more of the suite, they benefit from exponential value.”
Linux machines have been plagued by Windows-centric hardware management since 2002, but this could be about to change.
Sophisticated interfaces between a machine’s operating system and its hardware, such as the chips that have been slowing down your Linux machine, have long been required in order to ensure that processors with billions of transistors maintain efficiency.
Although the latest ACPI standard replaced the outgoing APM standard in 1996, however even more than a quarter of a century ago, it still had one key flaw.
Slower performance
Computer engineers carry out most of their testing on the industry-standard operating system, which for a long time has been Windows, which leaves Linux distros and macOS mostly unthought-for when they use third-party chips like AMD processors.
With the introduction of its own silicon, Apple has found one way to boost performance all-round with the processors it uses in its computers. The company’s M-series chips are now in their second generation, though this is a costly solution that is simply out of reach for the Linux Foundation.
Linux poor performance
The report continues to reminisce about Linux creator Linus Torvalds’ thoughts when it came to the updated ACPI standard, when in 2003 he said:
“ACPI is a complete design disaster in every way. But we're kind of stuck with it. If any Intel people are listening to this and you had anything to do with ACPI, shoot yourself now, before you reproduce.”
The problem came to light when troubled machines were taking a while to respond to STPCLK# signals, which determine whether a core should idle. This saw power efficiency reduce, which saw some dummy I/O instructions introduced as a workaround.
While this is no longer a problem, AMD engineer K Prateek Nayak found that Linux machines are still following the dummy instructions on his company’s processors. In the meantime, The Register reports a “hasty patch” by Intel’s Dave Hansen, which limits the workaround to only be present on Intel chips, which will be unaffected owing to the different method they use for idling a core. As a result, minimum throughput is said to have increased by around 14 times, and the mean throughput is also said to have increased by just over half.
Ultimately, even as we move into the 2020s, much of the third-party hardware we see on the market continues to be developed primarily with Windows in mind, and it’s likely that tweaks from eagle-eyed engineers will continue to drive improvements for less popular operating systems as time progresses.
