TheRegister
Mars was once a desert with intermittent oases, Curiosity data suggests
New models from recent Martian probe data suggest the fourth planet from the Sun once hosted a fluctuating desert environment with intermittent oases of water.…
We're number 1! Windows 11 finally overtakes Windows 10
Windows 11 has finally overtaken the market share of its predecessor, with just three months remaining until Microsoft discontinues support for Windows 10.…
14-hour+ global blackout at Ingram Micro halts customer orders
Exclusive Widespread outages across Ingram Micro's websites and client service portals are being attributed to "technical difficulties." …
Former and current Microsofties react to the latest round of layoffs
Microsoft's latest round of layoffs has triggered an outpouring of emotion from inside and outside the company, with at least one former staffer asking, "How many billions must be burned in the AI furnace before this stops?"…
Wikidata: Attempting to bridge FOSS ideals and direct democracy
Comment Multiple other projects also use the vast linked data store that underpins ubiquitous internet encyclopaedia Wikipedia, and some of them are helping the fight for democracy.…
'Trained monkey' from tech support saved know-it-all manager's mistake with a single keypress
On Call Friday dawns with the promise of precious freedom, yet the world of tech support is seldom free from trouble. The Register always finds a way to celebrate anyway, by bringing you a fresh instalment of On Call, the reader-contributed column that tells your tales of breaking away from bad bosses and ungrateful users.…
EU businesses want a pause on AI regulations so they can cope with unregulated Big Tech players
French AI business Mistral on Thursday announced an initiative called “AI for Citizens,” which it says offers a way to work with governments and public institutions to transform public services using AI.…
Won’t somebody care for the European children? Meta and Google put up their hands to help on the same day
Google and Meta have independently taken actions to support a safer internet for kids – and given blockchain boosters a moment to celebrate.…
Kawasaki and Foxconn build robot nursing assistant to tackle hospital scutwork
Taiwanese tech manufacturer Foxconn and Japan’s Kawasaki Heavy Industries have revealed a jointly developed robotic nursing assistant they hope to start selling in 2026.…
Microsoft leaves Pakistan but promises customers won't notice the change
Exclusive Microsoft has decided to close its presence in Pakistan.…
Cold without the compressor: Boffins build better ice box
Scientists at Johns Hopkins and Samsung have developed a nano-engineered thermoelectric material that is twice as efficient at material-level cooling as existing alternatives, paving the way for broader adoption of solid-state refrigeration technology.…
US budget bill passes without controversial block on states regulating AI
Lawmakers have passed President Trump's budget reconciliation but removed one of its most tech-contentious measures - the ban of state-level AI regulation – meaning the law will have little effect on the tech industry.…
AI models just don't understand what they're talking about
Researchers from MIT, Harvard, and the University of Chicago have proposed the term "potemkin understanding" to describe a newly identified failure mode in large language models that ace conceptual benchmarks but lack the true grasp needed to apply those concepts in practice.…
US Air Force holds hypersonic resupply site review amid seabird concerns
The US Air Force is putting plans to use rocket landings for resupply missions on hold over environmental concerns about the effect they would have on local seabirds.…
Musk's antics and distractions are backfiring as Tesla's car business stalls
Comment Tesla reported its vehicle delivery and production numbers for Q2 2025 this week, and while the figures weren't quite as low in absolute terms as Q1, they still mark a worrying downward trend as CEO Elon Musk continues to spread his attention across a huge variety of topics unrelated to making and selling electric cars.…
Microsoft Windows Firewall complains about Microsoft code
A mysterious piece of "under development" code is playing havoc with the Windows Firewall after the latest preview update for Windows 11 24H2.…
Young Consulting finds even more folks affected in breach mess – now over 1 million
Young Consulting's cybersecurity woes continue after the number of affected individuals from last year's suspected ransomware raid passed the 1 million mark.…
Tariffs and trade turmoil driving up cost and build times for datacenters
World War Fee Datacenter operators in Northern Europe say US tariffs and growing global geopolitical instability are inflating costs and causing delays to construction projects.…
Gone in 40 days: US drops ban on export of chip design tools to China
World War Fee The US has lifted the requirement to secure a license before exporting Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools to China, say EDA vendors.…
Meta calls €200M EU fine over pay-or-consent ad model 'unlawful'
Meta has come out swinging following the European Commission's decision that its pay-or-consent model falls foul of the Digital Markets Act (DMA).…