TechSpot | Tech Enthusiasts, Power Users, Gamers

Headline
Full

The Web Security

CISA is ordering US federal agencies to remove outdated routers and firewalls

Obsolete edge gear is now seen as a primary intrusion path for state-backed hackers

TL;DR: When attackers probe government systems, they often begin not with stolen credentials or phishing emails but with aging routers and firewalls left running long past their expiration dates. Those neglected edge devices have become a top federal concern, and US agencies are now being told to remove them before attackers take advantage.

Full story By Skye Jacobs, February 8, 2026, 5:22 PM

Science Hardware

Harvard engineers 3D-print soft robots that bend, twist, grasp, and move on command

A rotating nozzle technique embeds motion into the material itself, replacing molds and manual assembly

By Skye Jacobs, February 8, 2026, 2:08 PM

Trivia Tech Culture

Who coined the term "cloud computing" and when?

Everyone uses "cloud computing"… but almost nobody knows who actually coined the term. Take a guess.

By TechSpot Trivia, February 8, 2026, 1:14 PM

Tech Deals Software

Microsoft Office is down to $35 for a lifetime license

TL;DR: If you're looking for a powerful productivity suite without paying any subscriptions, Office 2021 is now available for just $35. All the essential tools you need for work or personal projects at over 80% off the regular price.

Full story By TechSpot Deals

AI Industry

KPMG asked its own auditor for a discount, citing AI efficiencies

The Big Four giant argued that automation should make its own audit cheaper

By Skye Jacobs, February 8, 2026, 11:46 AM 10 comments

Download of the Week Software

VMware Workstation Pro 25H2 expands hardware and OS support

VMware Workstation Pro 25H2 focuses on platform updates, adding USB 3.2 support, newer virtual hardware, improved Hyper-V detection, and compatibility with recent Linux releases like Debian 13, Fedora 42, and RHEL 10, plus a new dictTool utility for working with configuration files.

By Ivan Franco, February 8, 2026, 11:33 AM

Hardware

Qualcomm may borrow Samsung's cooling tech for its next Snapdragon flagship

The heat transfer tech could offset the thermal strain of 5GHz clock speeds

By Skye Jacobs, February 8, 2026, 10:13 AM

Hardware Tech Culture

This industrial cooling setup keeps AMD's $12,000 96-core Threadripper Pro 9995WX cool at 5.3 GHz

Geekerwan's direct-die cooling project sets new benchmarks without the need for liquid nitrogen

By Skye Jacobs, February 8, 2026, 9:10 AM

Tech Deals Microsoft

For a limited time, grab a Windows 11 Pro license for $12

Unbeatable deal

By TechSpot Deals

AMD Just Made Another Radeon Mistake

FEATURE By Tim Schiesser, February 8, 2026, 6:09 AM TechSpot Hardware

AMD has an easy win sitting right in front of it, yet it's choosing not to take it. FSR 4 already works on older Radeon GPUs, so why is AMD still holding it back?

Gaming Tech Culture

Skyrim and Fallout 4 designer warns raising game prices beyond $70 could backfire

"Special breed" of gamers may decide where AAA pricing goes next

By Skye Jacobs, February 7, 2026, 12:13 PM 28 comments

Car Tech

Waymo admits that its autopilot is often just guys from the Philippines

Remote drivers intervene in unusual situations

By Daniel Sims, February 7, 2026, 10:48 AM 27 comments

Electronics Hardware

3D-printed batteries aim to reshape energy storage in small devices

Material Hybrid Manufacturing sees a path that goes past cylindrical cells and into curved, complex surfaces

By Skye Jacobs, February 7, 2026, 10:01 AM

Mobile Apple

iPhone 17e could arrive as soon as this month with MagSafe

A19 processor and Dynamic Island are also rumored

In brief: Apple updated its entry-level iPhone last February for the first time in three years, marking a brand shift and a new annual release schedule. Rumors suggest that the next model, the iPhone 17e, is set for an imminent launch with several new features previously exclusive to higher-priced models.

Full story By Daniel Sims, February 7, 2026, 9:07 AM

Software Download of the Week

Google Play Store 50.0.23 arrives with under-the-hood improvements

Google has rolled out version 50.0.23 of the Play Store, continuing its steady cadence of under-the-hood updates. As usual, this release focuses on stability and performance rather than flashy new features. You can check your current version under Settings > About in the Play Store app, and if you're behind, you can download the latest build right here.

By Erik Orejuela, February 7, 2026, 8:31 AM

Apple Car Tech

Apple may soon open CarPlay to ChatGPT, Gemini, and other AI assistants

Apple loosens CarPlay's rules to let AI apps plug in

By Skye Jacobs, February 7, 2026, 8:03 AM

Science

This fusion energy startup thinks it can cut lasers out of the equation

A small engineering tweak could remove one of fusion's costliest hurdles

By Skye Jacobs, February 6, 2026, 4:07 PM 15 comments

Electronics Hardware

Raspberry Pi 4 variant gains second DRAM chip as memory shortage persists

In a nutshell: Raspberry Pi is one of many companies affected by the ongoing memory shortage fueled by the AI boom. As the DRAM industry shifts focus toward higher margin products for Big Tech's ambitious data center projects, the UK-based foundation has had to adjust chip configurations on its PCBs to prevent further supply issues.

Full story By Alfonso Maruccia, February 6, 2026, 3:23 PM

AI Software

GPT 5.3 Codex, OpenAI's new agentic coding model, helped create itself

Anthropic's Claude Cowork tool is also built by Claude Code itself

By Kishalaya Kundu, February 6, 2026, 2:41 PM

Mobile Software

AirDrop file sharing is coming to more Android phones "very soon"

Google wants switching between iPhone and Android to feel less painful

By Alfonso Maruccia, February 6, 2026, 2:04 PM

Download of the Week Software

Rufus improves partition formatting, drive detection

Rufus remains one of the easiest and most reliable ways to create bootable USB drives. The tool now does a better job cleaning up partitions before formatting, improves SSD detection with long IDs, and includes several important bug fixes. Longtime users continue to praise Rufus for being fast and lightweight.

By Erik Orejuela, February 6, 2026, 1:49 PM