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  • Samsung building ‘Auto DeX’ as an Android Auto alternative of sorts

    Samsung building ‘Auto DeX’ as an Android Auto alternative of sorts

    It seems that Samsung is building out a new alternative to Android Auto called “Auto DeX” which supports a car-optimized UI, and might even work when your car doesn’t support it.

    It was shown earlier this year that “Samsung Auto” exists for certain markets, primarily China, as an alternative to Android Auto. But, apparently, Samsung has an expanded option in the works.

    Self-proclaimed “One UI geek” @GalaxyTechie discovered a new feature in Samsung’s software called “Auto DeX.” The feature is said to support “8,500+ car models” from over one hundred brands and has an Android Auto/CarPlay-like UI. There’s a central dashboard that seems to show a map with a music playlist shortcut to the right side above a music control widget. To the far left, a vertical taskbar shows the time, a list of apps, and an app drawer shortcut. Apps shown include Bixby, a map app, a music app, and Samsung’s Phone app.

    Notably, the screenshot also shows a second taskbar at the bottom of the screen with Samsung’s three-button navigation. Presumably, that maty have something to do with the mention that Galaxy Techie claims you can use “Auto DeX” “with some tricks” on your phone even if your car doesn’t support it or if you “don’t have a car.”

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    Update 7/13: In a new thread, @GalaxyTechie shows this experience further in-depth, and also says it is a combination of “Samsung Auto” and DeX, rather than a new product entirely. This is why you can see two taskbars at once, but you can hide the DeX taskbar if you wish.

    The new screenshots further include additional settings such as light and dark themes, the ability to change you wallpaper, and options for changing the widgets on the dashboard. The background color of apps changes to match the wallpaper.

    There are a lot of questions around this, including when such a feature would debut, where it would be available, and what kind of app support it would have. But, assuming we’re reading this right and you can run this on your phone’s display, this would be a welcome replacement for the “Android Auto for Phone Screens” experience that Google shut down a few years ago.

    What do you think of “Auto Dex” based on this first peek?

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  • Cannabis use may cause lasting changes to gene activity: Study

    Cannabis use may cause lasting changes to gene activity: Study

    Cannabis use may alter epigenome

    What’s the story

    A recent study has found that cannabis use can leave a lasting mark on the human body, not in the DNA code itself, but in the way that code is written.
    The research, conducted by US scientists and published in Molecular Psychiatry, suggests that cannabis may lead to changes in the epigenome.
    This is a complex system of switches that activate or deactivate genes responsible for various bodily functions.

    Study examined data from long-term health study

    The study looked at data from a long-term health study that followed around 1,000 adults for two decades.
    The participants, aged between 18 and 30 when the study began, were asked about their cannabis use over time and provided blood samples after 15 years and again after another five years.
    The researchers examined these samples for DNA methylation levels, an important type of epigenetic change associated with environmental exposures like cannabis use.

    Several markers linked to cannabis use

    The study found a number of DNA methylation markers in the 15-year blood samples, with 22 linked to recent cannabis use and 31 to cumulative use.
    In the 20-year samples, they found even more markers, 132 for recent use and 16 for cumulative use.
    One of these markers was also linked to tobacco use, hinting at possible shared epigenetic regulation between tobacco and marijuana consumption.

    Changes associated with cannabis use linked to these conditions

    The study also found several epigenetic changes associated with cannabis use that were previously linked to cellular proliferation, hormone signaling, infections, neurological disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, as well as substance use disorders.
    However, it’s important to note that this research does not establish a direct causal relationship between cannabis and these health issues.
    Further studies are needed to confirm these findings across different populations and examine marijuana’s impact on age-related health outcomes.

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  • Der8auer repairs melted RTX 4090 connector, challenges Nvidia’s 12VHPWR safety claims again

    Der8auer repairs melted RTX 4090 connector, challenges Nvidia’s 12VHPWR safety claims again

    In a new teardown and repair video, hardware expert der8auer investigates a failed Asus RTX 4090 TUF after its owner, Aaron, experienced sudden shutdowns and GPU detection issues. The card had functioned reliably for over a year, but problems began weeks after adding a WireView Pro power monitoring device. On inspection, the system reported zero power draw on boot, although 12V voltage was present. Removal attempts revealed that the WireView had partially melted into the graphics card’s power socket. Physical inspection confirmed signs of deformation, cracks in the plastic, and bent sense pins.

    Using a precision milliohm meter, der8auer measured abnormally high resistances across the 12VHPWR pins—up to 177 milliohms—compared to just over 1 milliohm on a reference RTX 5090. While the values might be distorted due to thermal damage, the discrepancy indicates poor contact and possible current imbalance. This undermines Nvidia’s prior claim that its official adapters are safe due to built-in pin bridging. As der8auer points out, bridging on the connector body does not prevent imbalanced current flow at the individual pins where thermal damage still occurs.

    Connector replacement confirms card is functional

    Despite significant connector damage, the card itself remained electrically sound. Der8auer desoldered the melted power socket, cleaned the PCB, and installed a new 12VHPWR connector. He also replaced the thermal pads on the memory and VRMs using Minus Pad Advance and applied a fresh thermal interface for the GPU core. After reassembly, the card powered on without issues and successfully completed an hour-long 3DMark Speedway loop at expected temperatures: 63°C core, 76°C memory, and a stable power draw via WireView.

    Persistent issues with 12VHPWR safety remain unresolved

    While the card was restored to full function, der8auer concluded the video by reiterating how problematic and unpredictable Nvidia’s high-power 12VHPWR ecosystem continues to be. Even with official adapters and theoretically safe designs, melting incidents still occur. A new WireView will be sent to Aaron, and der8auer hinted at further experiments to better understand the failure conditions.

    Conclusion:

    This latest case highlights the fragility of current high-power GPU connector standards and contradicts Nvidia’s previous reassurances. Despite design safeguards like integrated pin bridging, real-world use continues to produce failures. The lack of a fully reliable solution suggests the “next-gen” connector may still be far from safe under all conditions.

     

     

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  • Updated OVARIO Trial Results Reinforce Niraparib Plus Bevacizumab Maintenance for Advanced Ovarian Cancer

    Updated OVARIO Trial Results Reinforce Niraparib Plus Bevacizumab Maintenance for Advanced Ovarian Cancer

    Long-term results from the phase 2 OVARIO trial (NCT03326193) were consistent with those from the primary analysis, supporting the feasibility of combination maintenance therapy with niraparib plus bevacizumab in patients with newly diagnosed advanced ovarian cancer who responded to platinum-based chemotherapy.1

    These long-term results highlight the effectiveness of niraparib plus bevacizumab as maintenance therapy in patients with advanced ovarian cancer.| Image Credit: Lars Neumann – stock.adobe.com

    This US-based, phase 2, single-arm, open-label trial enrolled patients aged 18 or older with newly diagnosed stage IIIB to IV epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer.2 Participants were required to have undergone debulking surgery and achieve a complete or partial response, or no evidence of disease, following first-line platinum-based chemotherapy that included at least 3 cycles of bevacizumab.

    The primary end point was 18-month progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary end points included time to first subsequent treatment (TFST), overall survival (OS), time to second subsequent treatment (TSST), and health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Safety was also assessed, namely treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs), serious AEs, and treatment discontinuations or dose reductions due to AEs.

    Maintenance therapy with niraparib and bevacizumab began within 12 weeks of each patient’s final chemotherapy cycle. Niraparib was administered orally once daily at an individualized starting dose determined by body weight and platelet count, with dose adjustments permitted in response to AEs. Treatment could continue for up to 3 years or until disease progression, toxicity, physician decision, or death; extensions were allowed if patients continued to benefit. Bevacizumab (15 mg/kg) was given intravenously every 21 days and could be continued for up to 15 months, including during chemotherapy.

    A total of 105 eligible patients received at least 1 study treatment and were assessed for all end points. In the primary analysis, median PFS was 19.6 months (95% CI, 16.5-25.1) among the overall population and 28.3 months (95% CI, 19.9-not evaluable [NE]) in the homologous recombination-deficient (HRd) subgroup (n = 49).3 Safety findings aligned with the known profiles of niraparib and bevacizumab. Therefore, the most commonly observed grade 3 or higher TRAEs were thrombocytopenia with niraparib and hypertension with bevacizumab.

    As of the data cutoff on August 12, 2024, PFS remained consistent with the primary analysis.2 Median OS was 61.1 months (95% CI, 44.9-NE) in the overall population, 38.7 months (95% CI, 21.9-63.8) in the homologous recombination-proficient subgroup, and 39.8 months (95% CI, 21.7-NE) in patients with unknown homologous recombination status. However, median OS was not reached (95% CI, 58.2-NE) in the HRd subgroup.

    For the secondary end points, median TFST was 17.5 months (95% CI, 14.6-20.7) and median TSST was 38.6 months (95% CI, 30.6-55.9) among the overall population.

    Safety findings also remained consistent with earlier data, and the combination maintenance therapy did not negatively impact HRQOL. Overall, 88.6% of patients experienced a TEAE leading to a niraparib dose interruption, and 77.1% experienced a TEAE leading to a dose reduction.

    The most common any-grade TRAEs related to either drug were fatigue, nausea, and anemia. Additionally, the most prevalent grade 3 or higher TRAEs were anemia, hypertension, and a decreased platelet count.

    Lastly, the researchers acknowledged their limitations, including the small sample size, which may limit the trial’s generalizability. Still, they expressed confidence in the findings and emphasized the continued need for innovative ovarian cancer treatment options.

    “Although improvements have been noted within recent US-based statistics for OC [ovarian cancer] mortality, exploration of additional therapeutic options for patients with advanced OC remains important given the high rates of recurrence and poor prognosis for patients with distant disease at diagnosis,” the authors concluded.

    References

    1. A study of niraparib combined with bevacizumab maintenance treatment in participants with advanced ovarian cancer following response on front-line platinum-based chemotherapy. ClinicalTrials.gov. Updated September 4, 2024. Accessed July 10, 2025. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03326193
    2. Hardesty MM, Krivak TC, Wright GS, et al. A phase 2 trial of niraparib plus bevacizumab maintenance therapy following first-line platinum-based chemotherapy with bevacizumab in advanced ovarian cancer: final analysis and overall survival results from OVARIO. Gynecol Oncol. Published online July 1, 2025. doi:10.1016/j.ygyno.2025.06.014
    3. Hardesty MM, Krivak TC, Wright GS, et al. OVARIO phase II trial of combination niraparib plus bevacizumab maintenance therapy in advanced ovarian cancer following first-line platinum-based chemotherapy with bevacizumab. Gynecol Oncol. 2022;166(2):219-229. doi:10.1016/j.ygyno.2022.05.020

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  • Three qualify in Scotland | The 153rd Open

    Three qualify in Scotland | The 153rd Open

    Chris Gotterup, Nicolai Hojgaard and Matti Schmid claimed the final three places on offer at Royal Portrush after qualifying through the Genesis Scottish Open.

    Three places were available at the event as part of the Open Qualifying Series, and the field for The 153rd Open is now complete.

    Gotterup won at the Renaissance Club, finishing two shots clear of Rory McIlroy and Marco Penge, to secure his second career title. He will now make his way to the County Antrim coast for his Open debut.

    A stunning second-round 61 came in between scores of 68 and 70, before the 25-year-old American carded a 4-under-par round of 66 to get his hands on the trophy.

    A tie for fourth place at 12-under-par was enough for Hojgaard to join twin brother Rasmus at Portrush after an impressive final-round 64 in East Lothian.

    Schmid earned the third spot on offer after finishing in a tie for 17th as the third-highest finisher not already exempt. The 27-year-old from Germany will now play in his third Open, having made his championship debut at Portrush in 2019.

    The field for The 153rd Open is now complete, with a number of players already on site at Portrush for championship Practice Days.

    You can follow all the action on The Open website and app.

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  • David Zaslav Champions New DC Universe After Superman Box Office Victory

    David Zaslav Champions New DC Universe After Superman Box Office Victory

    It’s a bird… it’s a plane… it’s a box office hit!

    At least that’s how Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav is touting the initial results for “Superman,” which climbed to $122 million domestically and $217 million globally in its opening weekend.

    The comic book adaptation, starring David Corenswet as the Man of Steel and Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, marks a vital reset in the DC Universe. After its last iteration of superhero adventures combusted with four major money losers in “The Flash,” “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom,” “Shazam: Fury of the Gods” and “Blue Beetle,” Zaslav hired Gunn and Peter Safran in 2022 to overhaul DC Studios. The duo has outlined a 10-year-plan of interconnected stories and spinoffs, including “Supergirl” and “Clayface” in 2026 as well as a new take on “Wonder Woman.”

    “Three years ago, I hired James Gunn and Peter Safran to reimagine and unify the creative direction of DC under one leadership team, by breathing new life and excitement into one of the most iconic storytelling franchises in the world,” Zaslav said on Sunday of “Superman’s” opening weekend. “James and Peter’s commitment to honoring the legacy of the DC Universe while forging something new and enthralling is inspired.”

    In his bid to match the commercial success of Disney’s Marvel Cinematic Universe, Zaslav was searching for a Kevin Feige-like figure to reinvigorate the perpetually floundering DC Studios. He recalled his first meeting with Gunn, who directed “Superman” while overseeing the studio in flux with Safran. Zaslav knew Gunn, the Guardians of the Galaxy” filmmaker, was the first person to helm the rebooted universe’s first feature because he spoke about the DC characters “they were like his family.”

    An opening weekend above $200 million globally is something to celebrate, and positive reviews as well as a strong audience response indicate that “Superman” will stick around during the busy summer season. However, the $225 million-budgeted tentpole will require box office staying power to qualify as a blockbuster. Disney’s CEO Bob Iger was similarly celebratory about Marvel’s latest adventure, “Thunderbolts,” only to see the comic book installment collapse on the big screen in subsequent weekends. Meanwhile, Superman’s last solo outing, 2013’s “Man of Steel” with Henry Cavill, started strong with $116 million but failed to generate the kind of lasting enthusiasm that spawns an enduring cinematic universe.

    None of these realities stopped Zaslav from popping the Champagne over the weekend.

    “This weekend, we watched Superman soar as James Gunn’s passion and vision came to life on the big screen. Superman is just the first step,” Zaslav said. “Over the next year alone, DC Studios will introduce the films ‘Supergirl’ and ‘Clayface’ in theaters and the series ‘Lanterns’ on HBO Max, all part of a bold 10-year plan. The DC vision is clear, the momentum is real, and I couldn’t be more excited for what’s ahead.”

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  • ‘Inexcusable’ failures led to Trump assassination attempt: US Senate report – World

    ‘Inexcusable’ failures led to Trump assassination attempt: US Senate report – World

    A congressional inquiry into the attempt to assassinate US President Donald Trump at a campaign rally a year ago lamented on Sunday “inexcusable” failures in the Secret Service’s operations and response and called for more serious disciplinary action.

    On July 13, 2024, a gunman shot the then-Republican presidential candidate during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, grazing his ear.

    One bystander was killed and two other people, in addition to Trump, were wounded before a government sniper killed the gunman, 20-year-old Thomas Crooks.

    “What happened was inexcusable, and the consequences imposed for the failures so far do not reflect the severity of the situation,” said the report released by the US Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

    The dramatic incident energised Trump’s bid to return to the White House, with his campaign using a photo of him bloodied and pumping his fist as he was hurried offstage to woo voters.

    The report did not shed new light on the gunman’s motive, which still remains a mystery, but accused the Secret Service of “a cascade of preventable failures that nearly cost President Trump his life.”

    “The United States Secret Service failed to act on credible intelligence, failed to coordinate with local law enforcement,” said the committee’s Republican chairman, Rand Paul.

    “Despite those failures, no one has been fired,” he added. “It was a complete breakdown of security at every level—fueled by bureaucratic indifference, a lack of clear protocols, and a shocking refusal to act on direct threats.

    “We must hold individuals accountable and ensure reforms are fully implemented so this never happens again.”

    ‘Mistakes were made’

    The Secret Service cited communication, technical and human errors and said reforms were underway, including on coordination between different law enforcement bodies and establishment of a division dedicated to aerial surveillance.

    Six unidentified staff members have been disciplined, according to the agency. The punishments range from 10 to 42 days’ suspension without pay, and all six were put into restricted or non-operational positions.

    Reflecting on the assassination attempt earlier this week, Trump said “mistakes were made” but that he was satisfied with the investigation.

    In an interview with his daughter-in-law on Fox News’ ‘My View with Lara Trump’, Trump said the sniper “was able to get him from a long distance with one shot. If he didn’t do that, you would have had an even worse situation.”

    “It was unforgettable,” Trump said of the events.

    “I didn’t know exactly what was going on. I got whacked. There’s no question about that. Fortunately, I got down quickly. People were screaming.”

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  • Kelly Clarkson returns to Las Vegas stage after postponed residency

    Kelly Clarkson returns to Las Vegas stage after postponed residency

    Kelly Clarkson officially kicked off her Las Vegas residency, Kelly Clarkson: Studio Sessions, at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, following a last-minute postponement that left fans disappointed. Originally scheduled to debut over Fourth of July weekend, the first two shows were canceled just 90 minutes before showtime due to vocal strain from intense rehearsals and preparation.

    In a statement at the time, Clarkson explained, “The prep and rehearsals have taken a toll on my voice… I need to protect myself from doing serious damage.” She reassured fans the delay was necessary to ensure the best performance possible, saying, “We have been working 24/7 to make Studio Sessions the most intimate and extraordinary experience.”

    One week later, Clarkson delivered her highly anticipated performance, much to the excitement of fans. She took to Instagram after the show, sharing photos from the night and expressing gratitude: “Thank you so much for such a magical first night! I’m still on such a high from all the fans!”

    Her stage outfits ranged from casual jeans and a tee to a glamorous feathered, sequin gown, showcasing both her laid-back charm and superstar flair. Fans flooded her social media with praise, calling the show “amazing” and “the best of her career.”

    Clarkson’s residency includes 18 shows running through November 15. The singer, who has not toured since early 2019, has expressed how much she missed live performances. During a recent show in Atlantic City, she told the audience she had longed to tour but her busy talk show schedule and single parenting duties made it difficult.

    Despite the rocky start, Clarkson’s return to the stage was met with enthusiasm and appreciation, marking a triumphant comeback for the award-winning singer.

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  • Borja Sainz: Spanish winger leaves Norwich for Porto in £14.25m deal

    Borja Sainz: Spanish winger leaves Norwich for Porto in £14.25m deal

    In his first season at Norwich, Sainz scored on his debut in an EFL Cup tie against Fulham and went on to add another seven goals in all competitions, including a memorable FA Cup goal against Liverpool at Anfield.

    He began the 2024-25 season in blistering fashion scoring 16 goals from 20 appearances in all competitions, a run including two hat-tricks against Derby County and Plymouth Argyle.

    However, his form dipped in the second half of the campaign and he only added two more to his tally, finishing second in the Championship top scorer list behind Leeds United’s Joel Piroe.

    This dip in form was compounded by Sainz receiving a six-match ban for spitting at Sunderland defender Chris Mepham in the game at the Stadium of Light in December 2024.

    He made a full apology for the incident, saying in a statement: “Spitting at an opponent is completely out of character for me, and my reaction in that moment was unacceptable….I am deeply disappointed in myself and for letting all of you down through my conduct.”

    Speaking following Norwich’s 3-1 pre-season win over Northampton Town on Saturday, new head coach Liam Manning told BBC Radio Norfolk that Sainz’s move was a “terrific deal” for the club.

    He added: “It allows us to improve the team, and that’s part and parcel of football now.

    “My job is to concentrate on what we’ve got here and how we get the group ready for next week and beyond. We’re working hard behind the scenes to add.

    “There are still a few faces we need to add and will add so we’ll keep pushing on that and make the squad as strong as we can.”

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  • MaxSun’s new mini workstation packs 48GB of VRAM and Intel’s fastest CPU into under 20 liters

    MaxSun’s new mini workstation packs 48GB of VRAM and Intel’s fastest CPU into under 20 liters

    • MaxSun’s Mini Station fuses dual GPUs and mobile silicon into a compact desktop unit
    • With 48GB of VRAM, it’s clearly built for demanding creative and AI inference tasks
    • Dual Thunderbolt 5 ports and SlimSAS slots push bandwidth to a theoretical 192Gbps

    MaxSun has introduced what it claims is the industry’s first compact workstation built around Intel’s Core Ultra 9 285HX processor, a chip based on the Arrow Lake-HX architecture.

    The MaxSun Mini Station is a compact system intended for professionals handling AI inference, model deployment, or resource-heavy creative work.

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