physical

There is a physical limit to what a cell phone camera can do. OPPO is pushing that limit further than anyone else

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Standing out in the mobile showcase is a war that is fought on many fronts at the same time and mobile photography is the most decisive, especially when we enter the super high range with mobile phones that easily exceed 1,000 euros. Until recently, the fight was between the iPhone, the Pixel and the current Galaxy, but things have changed a lot and Chinese companies have advanced to the right. One of those companies is OPPO with its OPPO Find X9 Ultraone of those who is undoubtedly a candidate for the throne of mobile photography. We were in China for the launch of its new flagship, where we were able to visit its new campus in Shenzhen and speak with Jie Liu, Senior Imaging Product Manager at OPPO, who told us more details about the camera. Taking good photos is no longer enough, we want versatility We are at a point where any mobile phone in this price range takes excellent photos. Quality is presupposed, that’s why the battle has shifted to versatility: offer from an ultra wide angle to a superzoom, maintaining uniform quality throughout the range. The OPPO Find X9 Ultra has a 200 megapixel main sensor that allows us, through cropping, to simulate a 2x zoom. It is accompanied by a telephoto lens of another 200 megapixels that is equivalent to a 3x zoom and, again, by cropping it allows us to simulate a 6x. And the big news: a third 50 megapixel sensor equivalent to a 10x optical zoom or 230 millimeters. Of course you can’t miss the ultra wide angle (0.6x), which also in this generation increases the size of the sensor to improve quality. Left: 1x main sensor. Right: 10x telephoto One of the things that caught our attention is how they have integrated a telephoto with that focal length into the body of a mobile phone since, although the camera module protrudes quite a bit from the chassis, it is still not enough for such a long zoom. Jie told us that “to make the module small enough we used a telescope structure, with a new technology called quintuple reflection. This configuration reduces the physical length of the system while maintaining the focal length.” This is the structure of the 10x telephoto. Image: OPPO It is a structure of different prisms that reflects light five times until it reaches the sensor. The problem with this is that the light must travel a longer distance, which results in images with more noise and lower luminosity (the aperture is equivalent to f/3.5). “We have used technologies to reduce the noise caused by these multiple reflections, such as a layer of air between the prisms that reduces noise and loss.” The Teleconverter Claim OPPO has already started the path of teleconverters with the OPPO Find X9 Pro and raise the bar with the Ultra model. This is a photography kit that is sold separately and includes a 300 millimeter objective which attaches to the mobile phone thanks to a special case that also has a handle. It is a strategy copied from the one that Vivo has followed, first with the Vivo X300 Pro and then with him Vivo X300 Ultra (both companies belong to the same parent company, BBK Electronics). When we attach the teleconverter, we can take spectacular photos from very far away, with stunning bokeh that we can only achieve with a lens of these characteristics. This lens is attached to the 200 megapixel telephoto lens, so we can do the cropping “trick” again to achieve a 30x zoom, equivalent to 690 millimeters. The results speak for themselves: Photo with the teleconverter at 690mm or 30x At the moment, OPPO has launched two teleconverters, 200 millimeters in the Pro model and 300 millimeters in the Ultra, two fixed focals. The problem is that they only work with the model with which they were launched, meaning that we cannot use the 200 millimeter teleconverter of the Pro in the Ultra. During the meeting, we asked Jie Liu if the brand has considered launching more lenses in order to expand the range of available focal lengths, and even if there is the possibility of launching a lens with a variable focal length, for example a 200-400 millimeters: “It is a good suggestion and it is our direction of evolution, but this entails many technical obstacles. The solution we have now is temporary to ensure image quality, adding new focal lengths is a consideration for the future.” Teleconverter 300 mm or 13x OPPO wants to replicate in a mobile phone the focal versatility that any camera user takes for granted. The problem is that, although they have managed to integrate a 10x telephoto, the chassis of a phone has physical limits and there comes a point where no more optics can fit inside; andThe natural step is to complement with accessories. While its competition continues to depend exclusively on the integrated sensor, OPPO is already building that ecosystem, although still quite timidly. The photographic kit works more as an attraction, a “look what we know how to do”, and not so much as an accessory for the general public. The OPPO Find look what we know how to doand not so much as an accessory for the general public. The soul of photography Until recently, many Chinese phones suffered from overly aggressive and artificial image processing, but that is changing. One of the things I liked most about the OPPO Find X9 Ultra camera is the image processing, quite natural and realistic in general. Of course, there is AI processing, but Jie told us that it is applied in a controlled manner “always seeking coherent aesthetic results. It is applied to correct unfavorable lighting conditions, reducing artifacts and noise, improving exposure and dynamic range in complex situations.” AI is also used to improve the results of the 10x zoom “to optimize detail and stability.” Portraits are incredible, even at night (taken with 200MP telephoto, 6x). … Read more

The question is not whether the eSIM will replace physical SIM cards. The question is when

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We have been telling you for years how technology eSIM It is gaining ground little by little, so much so that today it is normal for smartphones to include these chips as a complement to physical SIM cards. It is a technology with its advantages and disadvantages, But it is increasingly clear that the idea is not that both technologies coexist, but that the eSIM ends up making physical cards disappear. At least that is the direction in which the industry seems to be heading if we look at the steps of recent years. This makes the question no longer whether it will happen, but when will it start to happen. There are no dates or calendars set for this technological change, but there are data and projections that seem to point to the next decade. The slow but sure adoption of the eSIM Evolution of SIM cards. Source: Thalesgroup Since their creation in 1991, SIM cards have become smaller and smaller. SIMs began to become MiniSIM, and then they became MicroSIM, and then the NanoSIM that the vast majority of mobile phones currently use. The next evolutionary step was eSIMan internal chip of the mobile phone where the data that has always been on the SIM cards can be downloaded and installed. This opens the door for you to have on your mobile not only the data of your operator, but also that of other third-party services specialized in cheap eSIM such as Saily of NordVPN and the like. Saily eSIM in +200 destinations, prepaid and with an extra level of security The price could vary. We earn commission from these links eSIM chips were created in the last decade, and over the years they have also been miniaturized to take up less and less space. But one thing is the existence of technology and another its implementation on commercial deviceswhich has been slow. First they began to arrive at smart watches like the Samsung Gear S2 Classic 3G of 2016, being a solution to give them connectivity without having to spend space in a physical card slot. And in 2017 the first compatible smartphones began to arrive, such as the Pixel 2 from Google (although it was only compatible with Google Fi) and since then they have been reaching more and more mobile phones. Until recently, the eSIM has been implemented as a complementary alternative to the SIM. Almost all users continue to use the SIM, but if you went abroad and needed a data card it was easier to contract an eSIM. There were also the most curious users starting to test this technology. Since then, the eSIM has begun to reach other devices such as home automation products, and even laptops. Some manufacturers like Apple have taken risks to promote the eSIM. First it was in 2022 with the iPhone 14which would be sold without a SIM card slot in the United States, and in 2025 launched the iPhone Aironly with eSIM in the United States, although in Spain it still has a physical slot. But currently this remains a rarity in Europe. The eSIM in Spain It already has the support of almost all operators. Besides, There is research that points Because in 2024, 70% of new mobile phones had support for this technology, and 10 to 15% did not have a physical SIM slot, numbers that will gradually grow. What are the benefits of the eSIM The main benefit of the eSIM is that you no longer have to request cards when contracting a service. And if you port, you won’t have to wait for a card to be sent to you either, although this will always depend on the method the operator uses to synchronize the eSIM, since sometimes you will need to receive documentation. Of course, you should know that activating an eSIM can take hours, or even a couple of days, until they send you the necessary keys. Furthermore, in all ports you will be asked for your identification by law, and depending on the operator you may even need to physically go to a store, something that is to avoid fraud. You won’t need to order duplicate SIMs either. if you want to use your data or phone number on multiple devices. In addition, there will be more facilities for using more than one data or calling rate on a single mobile phone, since there is support for storing the profiles of different operators and changing them as needed. There are also other advantages such as greater security. No one will be able to remove your SIM and steal it, because it is integrated and cannot be accessed. Besides, manufacturers save space physically inside their phones as they do not have this slot, something they can take advantage of, for example, to give their batteries more capacity. However, eSIMs also have some disadvantages. The main thing is to change your mobile phone can be somewhat more cumbersome, since it requires an extra process to migrate the data from the digital card. If you change to another mobile phone with the same operating system it is relatively easy, but changing from Android to iPhone or vice versa can be complicated. The eSIM will coexist quite a bit with the SIM No, the physical SIM is not going to disappear overnight. It’s going to be quite a long process. It will probably take more than a decade.although this is something that can always change depending on how manufacturers push in that direction. According to CCS Insight forecasts in 2025 collected by the BBCat the end of 2024 there were 1.3 billion smartphones with eSIM in use, and the figure is expected to reach 3.1 billion in 2030. Therefore, we are going to have sustained growth in mobile phones with eSIM. But this does not mean that traditional SIMs are going to stop being used at the same rate, but rather that most mobile phones will continue to use both technologies for … Read more

What is this app, add your DNIe, as valid as the physical DNI and what you can do or not do

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Starting April 2, 2026 Your DNIe in the MiDNI app is as valid as the physical one. This means that if they ask you for your ID from the Police to a hotel, they are obliged to accept if you show it to them through the app. That makes something that has always been in the background now become important, and that is why we are going to tell you everything you need to know about it. Let’s start with the concepts, telling you what the DNIe and the application MyDNI. We will also tell you how to link your DNI to your mobile with this application, how to change the DNI PIN if you do not remember it when registering it, and we will even remind you of our table on What you can do with MiDNI and what not. What is the digital DNI or DNIe The DNI is the National Identity Document, a card issued by the Spanish Police that serves to prove the identity of Spanish citizens. Our photo and our personal data appear on it. Over time, the DNI has evolved. In 2006, a chip was added, and this version was called Electronic DNI or DNIe, also known as digital DNI. Then, in 2015 came the DNI 3.0, which is the DNIe with NFC technology. Later came the current DNI 4.0, which has the particularity of being able to link the ID to the mobile with the app MyDNI. The DNIe is the name of the most modern versions of the DNIthose versions that already have an integrated chip. Currently, the DNIe is also the one that we can link to the mobile phone with the official application that we have mentioned, created by the Police for this. The DNIe chip allows you to carry out procedures online with a special reader capable of reading the chip. These procedures can range from the Income Tax return to Social Security applications, procedures with the city council or signing documents. It is an online identification method. The chip contains two certificates: Authentication certificate to identify you on websites and services Signature certificate to sign documents with legal validity What is MiDNI MyDNI is the name of the official application to carry your ID on your mobile. Its concept is the same as that of the app myDGTyou can carry an app that not only carries your ID identification, but also serves to carry out various procedures through it. This application allows you to identify yourself with the same validity as the physical document. Come on, it is an official substitute for the physical DNI, and it will help you in those cases where you can forget it. Because let’s be honest, nowadays it’s easier to forget your wallet at home than your cell phone. The app has been created by the Spanish National Policeand it is the only one that has legal validity as a substitute for the DNI. It works by linking the electronic DNI to it, so that you can carry it and show it to identify yourself wherever you want. When you use this application you will connect to the National Police servers to verify the data. With this, you can generate a QR code with which to identify yourself, and which will become invalid after a few minutes so that no one can use it for you. By scanning it, the Police will be able to verify that it is you. Of course, it is not perfect either, and will require you to have an internet connection to be able to function. Therefore, do not blindly trust it and try to also carry your physical ID with you. It is as valid as the physical ID Starting April 2, 2026, The MiDNI app is as valid as presenting the physical DNI. At least to do most of the procedures. Therefore, it doesn’t matter if you leave your wallet at home, if someone asks you for your ID to do a face-to-face transaction, you can show it through this application. However, you must remember that The DNI on your mobile is only equally valid if you use this app. If you show a photo of the document that you have on your cell phone or any other application other than that of the Police, it will not be valid. So be careful, because there are apps with similar names. What you can do with MiDNI What can you do with MiDNI? With this application you can prove your identity in person when you have an Internet connection to use it. It is exactly like identifying yourself with your ID, and not only if the Police ask you to, but also for other things. Here is a table with everything you can do and what you can’t do: What is the ID used for on the mobile? why the ID is not useful on the mobile Prove our identity in person when there is an internet connection. Prove identity in person when there is no internet connection. Establish any type of legal relationship in person. Prove our identity through the internet. Sign deeds before a notary in person. Use it for border crossing as an electronic travel document. Prove our identity in face-to-face procedures in the public administration. Prove our identity in other countries, with or without an internet connection. Carry out in-person administrative procedures in public or private Universities and Teaching Centers. Carry out telematic procedures that require authentication and/or electronic signature. Prove our majority in person. Exercise our right to vote. Open a bank account in person. Formalize insurance of any type in person. Check into a hotel in person. Rent a vehicle in person. Buy tickets or nominative tickets in person that require identification. In-person commercial transactions in which they ask us for a valid DNI or to prove our identity. Carry out access control to buildings in person. Access entertainment venues such as cinemas, theaters or concerts. Parcel collection. Withdrawal … Read more

is that we are missing 20 million physical barrels a day and there is nowhere to get them

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The entire planet has been paralyzed in a funnel of salt water just 33 kilometers wide. With the escalation of war in the Middle East, headlines from around the world warn that the price of crude oil has surpassed the psychological barrier of $100registering record increases of 36% in a single week. However, the price is only the fever; the real illness is much more serious. To understand the magnitude of this crisis, we must stop looking at the stock price and start looking at the physical barrels that are missing. Today’s fundamental and structural problem is scarcity: the market is drying up. Overnight, we face the disappearance of some 20 million barrels a day. It is a logistical catastrophe five times greater than the one we experienced in the historic crisis of 1973. The 20 million barrel hole. According to data collected by The Kobeissi Letter and confirmed by Goldman Sachsthis blockade takes about 20 million barrels a day off the board (approximately 20% of world consumption). To put it in perspective, this supply shock is the largest in history and is equivalent to adding, at once, the losses caused by the Iranian Revolution (5.5 million), the Yom Kippur War (4.5 million), the invasion of Kuwait (4.3 million), the Iran-Iraq War (4 million) and the invasion of Ukraine (2 million). We are not facing a reserve crisis, but rather an absolute logistical collapse. As we have explained in Xataka, just open the platform Marine Traffic to see a swarm of some 240 immobilized vessels, including at least 40 supertankers (VLCCs) loaded with two million barrels each. The chaos is not only physical, it is also electronic as there is severe interference in the tracking systems (AIS), showing ghost ships located inland due to signal hacking. The fear of sailing is justified, tanker traffic in Hormuz has fallen by 90% and freight rates for supertankers have skyrocketed by 600%. The domino effect. Unable to take ships out to sea, onshore storage tanks have been filled to the brim. Iraq has been the first major physical victim of this plug. The data of Bloomberg They give the actual measurement of the cap. Iraq has had to plummet its production by 70%, falling from 4.3 to just 1.3 million barrels per day. The shock wave has already reached the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, which have begun to close wells for a very basic reason advance by Financial Times. They have simply run out of physical space to store the crude oil. Given this scenario, OPEC+ promised to inject an additional 206,000 barrels per day. However, analyst John Kemp explains in Financial Times that this is a mirage: almost all of the cartel’s surplus capacity is inside of the Persian Gulf. If the ships cannot leave, that crude oil does not exist for the rest of the world. Nor are alternative pipelines a panacea. Javier Blas, columnist of Bloombergexplains that Saudi Arabia and the Emirates have pipelines to bypass Hormuz to the Red Sea, but a report from Goldman Sachs warns that the actual diversion capacity It is only 0.9 million barrels per day compared to the theoretical 6.5 million. The shortage is already hitting critical sectors. As my colleague Alberto de la Torre warned about an unprecedented crisis in aviation fuel (jet fuel), whose price in Asia reached an anomalous record of $225.44 per barrel. It is estimated that 40% of the jet fuel arriving in Europe passes through Hormuz. Since airports have very small storage tanks, the supply chain is stretched. Airlines such as WizzAir already foresee losses of 50 million euros due to this extra cost alone. Panic has reached governments. According to reports Financial Timesthe finance ministers of the G7 and the International Energy Agency (IEA) are preparing an emergency meeting to release between 300 and 400 million barrels of their joint strategic reserves. It is a desperate measure to stop the global inflationary impact. President Donald Trump, facing US gas stations at $3.45 a gallon, downplayed the blow on his social media, stating that short-term prices are “a very small price to pay for peace and security.” China’s master plan against the US “Donroe Doctrine”. While the West panics, in Beijing there is the calm of someone who has done his homework. The US strategy was to suffocate the cheap crude oil (Iran and Venezuela) that the Chinese industry feeds on, in what some analysts call the “Donroe Doctrine” (the US attempt to control up to 30% of the world’s reserves together with Guyana and Venezuela). But China was anticipated. Last year it spent $10 billion absorbing excess global crude oil, building up strategic reserves for 96 days. Today it has 166 million barrels floating safely off its coasts. In addition, it has triggered the purchase of Russian and Saudi crude oil, and has accelerated its true national shield: the electrical transition. With a 50% market share in electric vehicles and 430 renewable gigawatts installed in one year, Beijing demonstrates that, unlike a ship in Hormuz, sunlight cannot be blocked by the US Fifth Fleet. ANDThe ghost of 1973. Comparisons with the 1973 Arab oil embargo are inevitable but misleading. In ’73, the cut was 4.5 million barrels; Today the hole is 20 million. The economic damage suffered by the world was seven times greater than the value of the missing oil, all because of the collective panic that paralyzed investment and consumption. Today, however, the physical scenario is so extreme that the structural blow is guaranteedWhether there is panic or not. The only current advantage is that the United States is today the largest producer in the world and its economy depends much less on crude oil than it did 50 years ago, which gives it a certain shield. The tyranny of geography. If the ships do not sail, signatures like S&P Global Energy They predict a brutal “demand destruction”: unaffordable prices that will force the world to forcibly stop consuming crude oil. In the … Read more

Science already knows what is the best “gasoline” to create new neurons: physical exercise

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We have always known that playing sports is good for the heart and also the muscles, but neuroscience is showing us that running shoes are, literally, the best tool to sculpt our brain. This is how I put it on the table the neuroscientist José Luis Trejowhich pointed out that physical exercise acts as a true “gasoline” for neurogenesis in the hippocampus adult to make us more ‘smart’ and also tend less towards depression. Neuron factory. Until a few decades ago, it was believed that you were born with a certain number of neurons and that, from there, they could only be lost. But today we know that this is completely false, since the generation of new neurons has already been demonstrated, and it occurs mainly in a region of the brain that is key to learning, memory and emotions, such as the hippocampus. The exercise. Here the different studies were focused on how this generation of neurons can be enhanced, and moderate aerobic exercise is the main switch to turn on the neuronal factory. How it works. The specific exercise and also extended over time, it raises the BDNF segregationwhich is the brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and also the VEGFwhich is vascular endothelial growth factor. Two proteins that act as ‘fertilizer’ in the brain to promote neuronal plasticity and the formation of new blood vessels to nourish all these new cells that appear in the brain. There are results. Studies done in humans themselves measured cerebral blood volume using functional magnetic resonance imaging, and here they could see that there is a real increase in the volume of the hippocampus and there are also improvements in spatial memory and cognition, which is essential from certain ages onwards. And it is no wonder, because there are studies that suggest that constant exercise increases total hippocampal volume, being a first-level strategy against cognitive declineand therefore acts as a shield against Alzheimer’s. Antidepressant. In addition to being a shield against Alzheimer’s, it can also reduce the symptoms of anxiety and depression, overcoming the effects of antidepressants in some patients. However, we must have common sense with the ‘dose’ of exercise we do. And a perpetual sedentary lifestyle is toxic, since sitting atrophies all brain capacities, but excess is destructive because extreme intensity training without rest generates a peak of stress in the body that completely cancels out the neurogenic benefits. That is, doing a lot of exercise at maximum capacity can block the creation of new neurons. It is hereditary. But if making new neurons is not enough to join the gym, science suggests that it can be transmitted to children thanks to epigenetics. In 2019, a study published in PNAS demonstrated that paternal exercise increases neurogenesis and mitochondrial activity in offspring, even if the latter are sedentary. But in 2024 went furtherseeing that these neuroplastic effects can be inherited up to two generations later. The dose. In summary, neuroscience suggests that doing 45-60 minutes a day of moderate aerobic activity can bring us great benefits over spending uninterrupted hours in the chair. Without a doubt, memory, mood and hippocampal volume will be truly grateful. Images | Chander R Bhautik Patel In Xataka | Scientists have connected 200,000 human neurons to a chip. And he made them play ‘Doom’

The Government already has a plan to return to physical buttons

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Many of us miss the presence of physical buttons inside the vehicles that land on the market today, that is a fact. However, from various points of the globe there is already a certain movement in reversing and require a certain balance. In this sense, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China (MIIT) has proposed a new regulation which will force manufacturers to install physical buttons and controls for essential vehicle functions. The ‘all screen’ has dominated the automobile industry in China in recent years, but everything indicates that there is now an intention to stop this trend for safety reasons. The underlying problem. The obsession with minimalist interiors with huge touch screens has led many Chinese manufacturers to eliminate virtually all physical buttons from the cabin. A trend largely started by Tesla and that brands like BYD, Xiaomi or Geely have adopted it massively. As if navigating our phone’s interface wasn’t enough, now we also have to spend some time on the central screen of our car, and in several vehicles we have to go through this screen for functions as basic as the turn signals or emergency lights. Which functions will have mandatory physical controls. The regulations specify a clear list of items which must have physical buttons or controls with a minimum size of 10×10 millimeters: turn signals, emergency lights, horn, gear selection (P/R/N/D), windshield wipers, defroster, electric windows, switch to activate driving assistance systems and emergency lights. Technical requirements. Under the proposal, physical controls would need to be in fixed positions, allow use without looking, and provide tactile or auditory feedback. Additionally, basic functions must remain available even when the vehicle system fails or loses power. In this way, the regulatory body intends for the driver to be able to operate these controls without taking their eyes off the road or depending on the screen to respond correctly. It is not an isolated case. China has begun a regulatory crusade for security in recent months. A few days ago we were talking about the ban on hidden handles retractable after several fatal accidents in the country. There is also an intention to eliminate yoke-type (U-shaped) steering wheels, arguing that their design is not suitable for the 10-specific point impact tests on the steering wheel required by new safety regulations, which will come into force in January 2027. Stricter regulation for autonomous driving. The new rules also tighten the requirements for autonomous driving systems levels 3 and 4. Manufacturers will have to demonstrate that their systems can drive as well as “a competent and attentive human driver”, presenting case studies to support this. According to the regulations, if the system fails or the driver does not respond, the vehicle must reach what regulators call a “minimum risk condition” – that is, stop safely on its own. Implementation schedule. The draft is open to public consultation until April 13. According to ChinaEVHomethe regulations on physical controls would come into force on July 1, 2027, with a transition period of approximately six months. New models seeking approval must comply with all of this immediately, while existing models will have 13 months to adapt, according to they count from CarScoops. In Xataka | Two centuries ago the tires on cars and motorcycles were white. It had nothing to do with the design.

AI is devouring physical storage

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Of course, this does not seem like the best time to assemble a PC in parts. The industry has been talking for months about memory shortage and a market with rising pricesand the doubts about the launch of new NVIDIA graphics cards For this 2026 they don’t help either. In the midst of this context, another signal now arrives from a less visible layer of hardware: Western Digital has communicated that its hard drive capacity for 2026 is practically compromised. So we ask ourselves what that message really means and how far its impact can go. The data. During the presentation of results for the second fiscal quarter of 2026, its CEO, Irving Tan, noted that Western Digital “has practically sold the entire catalog by 2026”, backed by confirmed orders from its seven largest clients and by multi-year agreements that extend until 2027 and 2028. The combination of volume in exabytes and price within these contracts points, in the executive’s words, to a transformation in the role that storage plays as activity linked to artificial intelligence gains weight within the technology business. behind the scenes. In this context, “sold out” does not refer to empty shelves or a sudden lack of hard drives for the consumer. As we can interpret, it refers to the fact that future production capacity is already reserved through agreements with large clients, defined by massive amounts of data and economic commitments for several years to come. In other words, the focus is not on the retail market, but on much larger scale contracts. And that detail completely changes the way the ad is interpreted. What kind of hard drives are we really talking about?. The language used by the company points directly to the storage used by data centers and large cloud services. It is the realm of high-capacity professional drives and business families designed to operate continuously, far removed from the disk that ends up inside one of our computers. The distribution of money. During the same fiscal quarter, Western Digital indicated that 89% of its revenue came from the “cloud” business, compared to 6% from the “client” segment and just 5% from consumption. The company ensures that it also delivered 215 exabytes of capacity, with a strong weight of next-generation disks for AI that reach up to 32 TB. The numbers not only measure the scale of business demand, but also explain why the industrial priority is placed there. Why AI is eating hard drives. It is no longer a secret that models need huge volumes of data to train and, later, infrastructures capable of preserving and serving information continuously. That combination skyrockets storage where capacity outweighs speed. Hence, despite the advancement of faster technologies, large data centers continue to rely on magnetic storage to sustain the scale of AI. What about the home user. Western Digital maintains consumer-oriented products and has not announced cuts or shortages on that front, so any direct effect would be, for now, speculative. What we can see is a clear priority towards large-scale enterprise contracts, and an eventual redistribution of capacity could generate indirect pressures on the rest of the line. More thermometer than immediate warning. If one thing is clear, it is that the data shows the extent to which AI is redefining priorities in the physical base of the technology industry, even in components that seemed stable for years. It remains to be seen whether that pressure will continue long enough to further disrupt the consumer market. Images | Western Digital In Xataka | While technology companies dispense with juniors to replace them with AI, IBM is doing the opposite: catching bargains

Welding in space is a physical nightmare, but the UK has a good reason to try it

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We have entered a point where great nations have one objective: spatial autonomy. And, although many factors come into play, one of the most important is the ability to manufacture and assemble in space. As? Welding directly in space, but although we have seen it in science fiction on numerous occasions, things get complicated when we want to apply it to the real world. Now, a British university believes it has found the solution. A ‘Wall-e‘ welder. Nightmare. Soldering on Earth is an extremely simple process. We only have to apply a very high temperature and both gravity and the atmosphere make it easy for us. In space, the thing changesturning something routine into a real physical nightmare. There are three elements that come into play: Microgravity: on Earth, gravity causes the drop of the binding metal (tin, for example) to fall on the elements to be joined. In space, since there is no gravity, surface tension is the dominant source: the molten metal does not stay in place, but tends to form spheres. Additionally, gas does not escape from the molten metal, causing porosities and further structural weakness. Pressure: There is no oxidation because there is no oxygen, but there is also no pressure, which lowers the boiling point of certain alloys. This can cause, at certain temperatures, some critical components of the metal to evaporate rather than melt. Again: the chemistry of the solder and the properties of the joint are altered. The politics of discard. If that were not enough, welding in space is a nightmare for astronauts who have suits that limit their movements and who would always be under the pressure of a spark or slag piercing the suit. Goodbye astronaut. That is why administrations have become accustomed to the logistics of disposal: rather than repairing something, it is better to throw it away and launch something new from Earth. Less risks, fewer headaches. ISPARK. Clearly, it clashes with the most current policy: that of recycling. A few days ago we saw that, while NASA wants to throw down the International Space Station to the trash, there are those who want to recycle it to take advantage of all the elements it has. And building platforms in space based on smaller parts is more reasonable than launching those pre-assembled structures from Earth. That’s where the discovery from the University of Leicester, in the United Kingdom. In collaboration with TWI Ltd, they have launched what they have called “ISPARK Project”, or “Intelligent SPace Arc-welding Robotic Kit”. It is not a new physical welding, but a robot to do the work. There are still issues that can compromise the integrity of the weld itself, but having a robot do the job eliminates the extreme risk for astronauts. And, precisely, the researchers point out that achieving this “will redefine how large structures are built and maintained in orbit” in the new era of the space economy. They are not the only ones, since companies like ThinkOrbital wave University of Texas they are also pushing this possibility. Roadmap. It must be clarified that it is a technology that has to be tested. The first step will be to subject the robotic system to tests in chambers that simulate the vacuum of space to verify both that the electric arc and that the behavior of the materials are stable in an environment without an atmosphere. In addition to the direct results, they will compare with a digital twin. It is a technology that virtualizes (thanks to computer calculations) the physics of welding in vacuum and microgravity. It is data with which they will train the robot, but also with which they will compare the results of the physical world. And, if everything goes well, in later phases the objective is to test it in orbital reality conditions. This is where other factors come into play such as radiation or dynamic thermal cycles (conditions of extreme cold and heat in a matter of an instant). In search of autonomy. Little joke with this. The “Smart Space Arc Welding Robotic Kit” has received funding through the UK Space Agency’s National Space Innovation Programme. Specifically, 560,000 pounds to develop this system. Everything is framed within a larger program of the Agency, which will allocate 17 million pounds to 17 space innovation projects. If we look at the global European “photo”, it is contextualized within a reality in which we also see that the European Space Agency seeks one thing: autonomy. The British agency and the ESA are tired of depending on NASA either Roscosmos for their space missions, and we are seeing how they develop technologies or inject more than 900 million euros to find a European replacement for SpaceX. And, obviously, assembling and fixing in space is much more sustainable than continuing to create technology that costs hundreds of millions of euros and is disposable. Images | University of Leicester In Xataka | We are launching more things into space than ever before. And the next problem is already on the table: how to pollute less

three very specific physical exercises

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Insomnia is much more than a simple night of bad dream. It is a prevalent disorder that affects between 3.9 and 22% of the population And that not only leaves us exhausted, but also increases the probability of having other pathologies. Now, A new and thorough meta -analysis Compare multiple types of exercises for the first time and reveal which are the most effective in improving sleep quality. A disorder that can be medicated. Insomnia has traditionally tried to alleviate with pharmacological treatments such as It is the use of benzodiazepines. Something that in chronic way cannot be used by the multiple risks of suffering from dementia that present. In these cases, other therapies such as The use of high dose melatonin. A hormone that is produced by our own organism naturally, but whose secretion can be affected when doing A change in our schedules or expose ourselves to the blue light. Now the next step is to find the ideal physical exercise to help reconcile sleep. Something where they wanted to influence a study published in BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine. A study based on network meta -analysis. This methodology gives a great robustness to this investigation, since it analyzed the data of 22 random controlled trials with a total of 1,348 participants. The objective is clear: compare the effectiveness of different types of exercise to improve sleep and relieve the insomnia that can be suffered. And the results point to a podium with three clear winners. There are three very effective exercises to be able to sleep. The study concludes that, although the exercise in general is an effective treatment for insomnia, there are three modalities that stand out above the others: Yoga, Tai Chi and walk or run gently (jogging). Yoga is the king of sleep hours. For those whose main problem is sleeping a few hours, yoga seems to be the most powerful solution. According to the data of the sleep newspapers of the study participants, the yoga increased the total sleep time in about 110 minutes. Being able to sleep two more hours can make a big difference between a deficit dream and one enough. In addition, he showed improve sleep efficiency, reduce the time he spent awake after having slept and shorten the latency of sleep (the time we take to sleep once we are in bed). Walking is the remedy for daycare. If insomnia affects you mainly during the day, with fatigue, lack of concentration and bad mood, walking or running softly can be your best ally. Although before we will have to rule out a possible sleep apnea. This activity proved to produce a great reduction in the scores of the Insomnia severity index (ISI), who measures precisely how bad dream impacts daily functioning Tai Chi as quality and constancy champion. This martial art of slow and controlled movements not only improves the general quality of sleep, but also increases the total sleep time, as seen in subjective as objective. Its greatest advantage is that the benefits of Tai Chi persisted during long -term monitoring, demonstrating significant improvements even 1 or 2 years after the intervention. They have a good scientific basis. Beyond what was seen in the results, researchers point to different neurobiological mechanisms that explain why these benefits. In the case, yoga could see an increase in neurotransmitter gaba reducing the hyperactivity of the tonsil and reducing anxiety levels. In the case of Tai Chi, being a rhythmic and slow mind-body practice, the parasympathetic tone increases and reduces physiological hyperactivation. In addition, in the long term it reduces pro-inflammatory cytokines. In the case of walking or running, there is a direct relationship with the increase in energy expenditure, which leads to reduce levels of Cortisol (The so -called stress hormone), elevates melatonin secretion and favors a greater proportion of deep sleep. A practical guide to choose your treatment. These findings are a powerful tool to customize the treatment of insomnia. This way, The recommendation ‘exercise’ falls shortand now we can be much more specific. If the goal is to sleep more hours, the best is yoga, but if you are looking for an improvement in sleep architecture, Tai Chi is the best option. This study reinforces the idea that exercise should be considered a main treatment strategy for insomnia, especially taking into account its low cost, minimum side effects and high accessibility. The study presents a ‘little’ problem. The authors themselves warn that, due to the nature of the interventions, most of the studies analyzed could not be blind (the participants knew what exercise they did), which introduces a possible bias. A lot of research behind the dream. Sleep well It is vital for any human beingand that is why science has always tried to look for The keys to quickly reconcile sleep. And there are also many myths around. For example, Sleeping less than seven hours sometimes is not always negative or for example ‘sleep of a pull’ It is also a great myth of our society. That is why this type of investigations try to give us light on how to better face these night hours. Images | Bruce Mars In Xataka | No lasers, without cuts and in a minute: the new revolutionary technique to say goodbye to glasses

Mazda was the last redoubt in cars with physical buttons. The new CX-5 has taken them ahead

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From a few years to this part, the car industry has sought that The user perceives the car as a Gadget further. The huge touch screens have invaded the splashes of almost all brands and, at a very hard speed, to the simplest and most necessary actions (change the air conditioningfor example) have become a few touches on a screen. Mazda was one of the brands that resistance exercised Against this Invasion of screensmaintaining the useful and traditional buttons. But if we talk in the past it is for a reason: The CX-5 It shows that Mazda 6e It was no exception. And, according to Mazda, it is what we want. Look, without looking! At a point where practically all the competition was betting on screens, larger and more waiting for technology to be ready to turn the moon on a screenMazda was one of the last bastions in the industry that resisted that present. In the last generations, they continued to bet on the physical buttons and controls in the cabin. The decision was based on the Safety at the wheel (which, in the end, is the most important thing) and the user’s own experience. With the buttons, our muscle memory allows us to perform actions such as controlling music, GPS or air conditioning without playing a screen and diverting the road view. And, although the last Mazda had a small screen, it was out of reach, you had to press buttons and move dials. Mazda, you too… However, it seems that market pressure has ended up making a dent. We already saw it A few months ago with Mazda 6ethe 100% electric Berlina of the Japanese company that incorporated an extremely similar interior both to Tesla as a byd and other competitors. This is an diaphanous interior governed by a huge central screen. We could think that, okay, it was 100% electric and wanted to try a different philosophy. The problem is that it was not an experiment. Presented a few weeks ago, the new CX-5, eliminated the Mazda logo of the steering wheel (this hurts more than the disappearance of the buttons), but also incorporated a 15.6-inch screen in the center of the dashboard, with multimedia and air conditioning controls. Maintain certain buttons on the steering wheel, but to change basic things, the screen will have to be wearing. Goodbye, Mazda logo. Some buttons are maintained, such as the emergency or the moons. The rest, to the screen and behind the wheel What customers ask for. But it turns out that it is not only market pressure, but, apparently, what customers want. In an interview granted by Stefan Meisterfeld, vice president of operations to The Drivewith Google as an assistant in the car, many actions can be done through voice commands. In addition, they have designed the system to be “intuitive, easy to use and easy to drive at the same time.” Meisterfeld says that it has not been a whim of the brand, since “customer opinion has definitely been part of the decision -making process.” In addition, he has talked about the steering wheel: “It is a new design with physical buttons with which most of the critical functions can be controlled quite intuitively while driving, so you can keep your hands on the steering wheel and eyes on the road,” he says. Against. When the launch approaches, we will see what these “critical functions” are, but it seems clear that there is no back and that the new generations of the compact and rest of the range of SUV They will add to this new line of design and philosophy. And they will do it at a time when there is Users who show a ‘fedow’ for this type of tactile controls and most importantly: organisms such as Euro NCAP are against. It is the most relevant in Europe to evaluate vehicle safety and, after carrying out collision tests, From 2026 there will be a new exam. If you cannot select the flashing, activate the ‘Warning’ button, sound the horn, activate the windshield wiper or the Ecall emergency button From a button, the car will not have the five stars. Are they late? They are soft measures, but between those and user complaints, there are companies like Volkswagen that have reversed. Interestingly, one of the most enthusiastic with the screens, recently hit a flying with statements by his own design chief confirming that Cars “are not a phone”. In the end, fashions come and go, although some brands prepare the return of the buttons, seen in events such as the Shanghai Motor Show show us that Lso screens have come to stay, at least for a while. Is Mazda late to this new form of control? Seeing competition, it seems not. Now we will see what users think because Mazda 6E could be an experiment, but the rest of the majority ranges had buttons that made them models other than those of the competition, and the CX-5 has sought not to uncheck. Images | Mazda In Xataka | I have bought this car for a simple reason: I’m fed up with giant screens

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