Support us on Patreon » Two weeks ago, we ran a bit of an AMA experiment, with a call on Bluesky for fans of Techdirt to ask Mike any questions they might have. We got lots of great responses and now, as promised, Mike is delivering the answers on this week’sContinue Reading
Nvidia H200 AI chip suppliers have halted production after Chinese customers blocked shipments from entering mainland China due to doubts about the value of a US export license. The first report of this disruption occurred on January 16, 2026, amid US-China semiconductor tensions. The component makers halted output this weekContinue Reading
Debian’s official tagline is “Universal Operating System”. It’s more than just a tagline: it’s a deeper concept that underpins the very nature of Debian as a project., Read More From It’s FOSSContinue Reading
Wondering about the replacement? Gentoo is betting on Codeberg., Read More From It’s FOSSContinue Reading
KDE Plasma 6.6 is now available to download, adding text extraction to screenshots, per-app volume control in the taskbar and the ability to save custom themes. The update also introduces new components, including on-screen keyboard, login manager and OEM setup wizard. All are offered alternatives rather than replacements. This isContinue Reading
Happy Lunar New Year 2026! China’s Shenzhou 21 crew rang in the Year of the Horse with an impressive celebration aboard the nation’s Tiangong Space Station this week. The three astronauts (or “taikonauts,” a term that borrows from the Mandarin word for space, (太空), or “taikong”) celebrated with a special feast, a party and traditionalContinue Reading
The Milky Way shines over the Very Large Telescope in Chile. (Image credit: A. Trigo/ESO) The European Southern Observatory has released a breathtaking photo of the Milky Way shining over the Paranal Observatory in Chile, as lasers create artificial “guide stars” in the pristinely dark sky above. What is it? Stars , satellite streaks, galaxiesContinue Reading
LONDON (AP) — Elon Musk’s social media platform X faces a European Union privacy investigation after its Grok AI chatbot started spitting out nonconsensual deepfake images, Ireland’s data privacy regulator said Tuesday. Ireland’s Data Protection Commission said it notified X on Monday that it was opening the inquiry under theContinue Reading
LONDON (AP) — European Union regulators are investigating Shein over concerns the online retailer hasn’t done enough to limit the sale of illegal products or protect users from the platform’s allegedly addictive design. The 27-nation bloc’s executive arm said Tuesday that it opened formal investigation under the bloc’s sweeping rulebookContinue Reading
Lithium-ion battery technology has played a significant role in the advancement of electric vehicles and other consumer electronics. As market competition intensifies, manufacturers are striving to achieve higher power densities and production throughput. While lithium-ion technology has matured, electrical shorts can still develop inside the cell after passing production testsContinue Reading
Berlin-based traceability firm Minespider has launched Recircle.market, a digital marketplace designed to connect companies across the EV battery reuse, refurbishment and recycling value chain. The platform enables listing and trading of second-life batteries with verified technical and lifecycle data, sourcing of recycled battery materials and components, and connecting with serviceContinue Reading
Latin America is attracting greater attention from international investors thanks to its strong renewable energy and critical mineral potential. In recent years, the region’s green energy capacity has steadily grown, while more mineral mining projects are developed, and the electric vehicle (EV) market is beginning to expand…Continue Reading
Keep behavioral tracking American? PC giant says the claim is ‘false’ A US law firm has accused Lenovo of violating Justice Department strictures about the bulk transfer of data to foreign adversaries, namely China.…, Read MoreContinue Reading