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NASA Transmitted a Laser Message to Earth from a Distance of Ten Million Miles

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The World Wide Web will eventually need to be expanded throughout the cosmos, and NASA has showcased a crucial technological advancement that could make this possible by beaming laser communications over a distance of over 16 million kilometers (10 million miles).

The achievement, made in November 2023, marked the first time that optical communications have been delivered beyond a distance that is roughly 40 times farther than the Moon is from Earth.

While radio waves have historically been used to communicate with far-off spacecraft, higher light frequencies, such as near infrared, provide a significant increase in bandwidth and consequently faster data transfer rates.

‘First light’ refers to the successful establishing of the communication link during the test, which was a component of NASA’s Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) experiment.

“Achieving first light is one of many critical DSOC milestones in the coming months, paving the way toward higher-data-rate communications capable of sending scientific information, high-definition imagery, and streaming video in support of humanity’s next giant leap,” stated at the time NASA Headquarters’ director of technology demonstrations, Trudy Kortes.

Similar technology that is integrated into optical fibers is used by all of us for high-speed, ground-based communications; but, in this case, it was modified for usage via outer space to enhance currently used techniques for returning data to Earth.

Engineers can readily transfer infrared light in the form of laser beams. The light will not move much faster as a result of this, but it will be more organized and limited to a small channel. This is more difficult to intercept and uses a lot less power than a dispersion of radio waves.

That does not imply that the task is easy. A superconducting high-efficiency detector array is one of the heavy-duty instruments needed to prepare the data for transmission and translate it at the other end because the data bits are embedded in the photons that the laser emits.

Having the system adjust its placement configuration in real time presents another difficulty. In the most recent test, it took the laser photons fifty seconds to go from the spacecraft to the telescope, and throughout that time, both were traveling at high speed through space.

The Psyche spacecraft is currently on a multi-year journey to explore the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. The laser transceiver responsible for the successful connection is located on board. It established communication with the Californian Palomar Observatory’s Hale Telescope.

Tests will continue to be conducted to ensure that this cutting-edge near-infrared laser communication technology is as trustworthy and quick as it needs to be in preparation for Psyche’s planned flyby of Mars.

“It was a formidable challenge, and we have a lot more work to do, but for a short time, we were able to transmit, receive, and decode some data,” according to Meera Srinivasan, the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s DSOC operations head.

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Lenovo’s Most Recent Laptop Features a Rollable OLED Display

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Laptop screens often feel cramped, but Lenovo’s ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable AI PC is here to change that. This cutting-edge device features a rollable OLED display that expands from a standard 14-inch screen to an elongated 16.7-inch display with the press of a button. The extended screen offers double the vertical space, perfect for stacking applications or viewing long documents. While the unusual aspect ratio may take some getting used to, the added real estate is a game-changer for productivity.

The rolling mechanism is activated either by a palm gesture or a keyboard button—the latter being much quicker. Lenovo has tested the rolling function 30,000 times to ensure durability, though repairing this futuristic feature might be challenging. Weighing just 3.7 pounds and measuring 19.9 mm thick when closed, the laptop is portable, albeit slightly top-heavy when open. Despite these quirks, it’s a sleek alternative to carrying an external monitor.

Launching in the first quarter of 2025, the ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable AI PC comes with a hefty $3,499 price tag. It’s powered by Intel’s Core Ultra 7 Series 2 processor and offers up to 32 GB of RAM and 1 TB of storage, making it a high-performance machine ideal for demanding users.

Lenovo’s Legion Go S: SteamOS Gaming on the Go

As handheld gaming gains popularity, Lenovo has entered the arena with the Legion Go S, the first SteamOS handheld gaming console from a licensed manufacturer. Available in both SteamOS and Windows versions, the Legion Go S bridges the gap between desktop gaming and portability. Unlike other consoles, this device lacks dual-boot functionality, so users must choose their preferred operating system at checkout.

SteamOS offers seamless integration with cloud saves and game streaming from your PC, while the Windows version provides broader compatibility. Both variants share the same hardware: an 8-inch LCD display with a 1,920 x 1,200 resolution and 120 Hz variable refresh rate, powered by AMD’s Ryzen Z2 Go or Ryzen Z1 Extreme processors. While the screen is smaller than the original Legion Go, the compact size and a 55.5 watt-hour battery significantly improve battery life.

Priced at $730 for the Windows version and $500 for the SteamOS model, the Legion Go S launches this month, with additional configurations arriving in May starting at $600.

ThinkCentre M90a Pro Gen 6: Private Audio with AI Precision

Lenovo’s ThinkCentre M90a Pro Gen 6 is an all-in-one computer with a twist: its innovative “Lenovo Focus Sound” technology. Using a machine-learning algorithm and the built-in camera, this feature directs audio exclusively to the user sitting in front of the screen. This means coworkers nearby won’t hear a thing—even if you’re secretly streaming a show.

In practice, the effect is almost eerie, as if someone is whispering directly to you. The sound disappears entirely if you move away from the screen. While headphones are a practical alternative, this technology could redefine office audio privacy. The ThinkCentre M90a Pro Gen 6 is set to launch this quarter with a starting price of $2,539.

From rollable screens to private audio and handheld gaming innovations, Lenovo’s CES 2025 lineup demonstrates the company’s dedication to pushing technological boundaries. Whether you’re a multitasker, a gamer, or a privacy-conscious professional, there’s something for everyone in this bold new lineup.

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Threads uses a more sophisticated search to compete with Bluesky

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Instagram Threads, a rival to Meta’s X, will have an enhanced search experience, the firm said Monday. The app, which is based on Instagram’s social graph and provides a Meta-run substitute for Elon Musk’s X, is introducing a new feature that lets users search for certain posts by date ranges and user profiles.

Compared to X’s advanced search, which now allows users to refine queries by language, keywords, exact phrases, excluded terms, hashtags, and more, this is less thorough. However, it does make it simpler for users of Threads to find particular messages. Additionally, it will make Threads’ search more comparable to Bluesky’s, which also lets users use sophisticated queries to restrict searches by user profiles, date ranges, and other criteria. However, not all of the filtering options are yet visible in the Bluesky app’s user interface.

In order to counter the danger posed by social networking startup Bluesky, which has quickly gained traction as another X competitor, Meta has started launching new features in quick succession in recent days. Bluesky had more than 9 million users in September, but in the weeks after the U.S. elections, users left X due to Elon Musk’s political views and other policy changes, including plans to alter the way blocks operate and let AI companies train on X user data. According to Bluesky, there are currently around 24 million users.

Meta’s Threads introduced new features to counter Bluesky’s potential, such as an improved algorithm, a design modification that makes switching between feeds easier, and the option for users to select their own default feed. Additionally, it was observed creating Starter Packs, its own version of Bluesky’s user-curated recommendation lists.

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Apple’s own 5G modem-equipped iPhone SE 4 is “confirmed” to launch in March

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Tom O’Malley, an analyst at Barclays, recently visited Asia with his colleagues to speak with suppliers and makers of electronics. The analysts said they had “confirmed” that a fourth-generation iPhone SE with an Apple-designed 5G modem is scheduled to launch near the end of the first quarter next year in a research note they released this week that outlines the main conclusions from the trip. That timeline implies that the next iPhone SE will be unveiled in March, similar to when the present model was unveiled in 2022, in keeping with earlier rumors.

The rumored features of the fourth-generation iPhone SE include a 6.1-inch OLED display, Face ID, a newer A-series chip, a USB-C port, a single 48-megapixel rear camera, 8GB of RAM to enable Apple Intelligence support, and the previously mentioned Apple-designed 5G modem. The SE is anticipated to have a similar design to the base iPhone 14.

Since 2018, Apple is said to have been developing its own 5G modem for iPhones, a move that will let it lessen and eventually do away with its reliance on Qualcomm. With Qualcomm’s 5G modem supply arrangement for iPhone launches extended through 2026 earlier this year, Apple still has plenty of time to finish switching to its own modem. In addition to the fourth-generation iPhone SE, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo earlier stated that the so-called “iPhone 17 Air” would come with a 5G modem that was created by Apple.

Whether Apple’s initial 5G modem would offer any advantages to consumers over Qualcomm’s modems, such quicker speeds, is uncertain.

Qualcomm was sued by Apple in 2017 for anticompetitive behavior and $1 billion in unpaid royalties. In 2019, Apple purchased the majority of Intel’s smartphone modem business after the two firms reached a settlement in the dispute. Apple was able to support its development by acquiring a portfolio of patents relating to cellular technology. It appears that we will eventually be able to enjoy the results of our effort in four more months.

On March 8, 2022, Apple made the announcement of the third-generation iPhone SE online. With antiquated features like a Touch ID button, a Lightning port, and large bezels surrounding the screen, the handset resembles the iPhone 8. The iPhone SE presently retails for $429 in the United States, but the new model may see a price increase of at least a little.

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