China’s Kimi K3 Just Took the Top Coding Spot, and You Can Download It

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Editorial, Software, Artificial Intelligence,

For a couple of years now, the story about Chinese AI has been that it is close, impressive, and always a step or two behind the American frontier. That story just got harder to tell. Moonshot AI, the Beijing startup behind the Kimi chatbot, has released Kimi K3, and it did not quietly match the leaders. It walked into the Frontend Code Arena, a public leaderboard where models compete head to head on building working interfaces, and finished first. Ahead of Claude. Ahead of GPT. At the very top.

Here is the part that should make you sit up: this is not a locked API you rent from a company an ocean away. Kimi K3 is open-weight, which means the full model is going out to anyone who wants it. Moonshot says the complete weights land on July 27, and at 2.8 trillion parameters, K3 is the largest openly released model the world has seen. You could, in theory, download the same thing that just beat everyone at coding and run it yourself.

Click to continue reading China’s Kimi K3 Just Took the Top Coding Spot, and You Can Download It

Anthropic Wants States to Regulate AI Harder, Not Softer

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Editorial, Artificial Intelligence,

Here is a sentence you do not read often: an AI company is asking the government to regulate it more, not less. That is roughly what Anthropic has spent the last few weeks doing, and it is worth paying attention to, because the usual script for a company this size is to lobby for the softest possible rules and call it a day.

Anthropic's pitch, laid out around the middle of July, is that the patchwork of state AI laws now taking shape should get tougher over time, not get flattened into one gentle national standard. The company wants frontier developers, the outfits building the most capable models, to face independent safety audits, real security requirements, and actual government authority to step in when something looks dangerous. "Transparency and self-reporting, we don't believe are sufficient anymore," Cesar Fernandez, Anthropic's head of U.S. state and local government relations, told reporters. Coming from a company that would have to live under those rules, that is a striking thing to say out loud.

Click to continue reading Anthropic Wants States to Regulate AI Harder, Not Softer

Black Lives Matter w/ Guest Sara Dietschy

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Cameras, Smartphones, Editorial, Features, PC / Laptop,

This week, we reflect on the uprising that we’re seeing in the USA and across the world as people fight for change in how the lives of black and brown people in America and are viewed and valued. Andru shares his 24-hour fight with YouTube to get a video that would help protesters stay safe. Our guest, Sara Dietschy joins us and gives her unique perspective on the new Sony ZV1 handheld camera, which is targeted at vloggers.

LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW

• Subscribe to Geared Up!
• How to Police-Proof Your Smartphone
• Sara Dietschy's Sony ZV-1 Review
• Sara Dietschy on YouTube
• Geared Up on YouTube
• Jon Rettinger on YouTube
• Andru Edwards on YouTube

SPONSOR: National Car Rental - skip the line with the Emerald Club. Go National. Go Like a Pro.

Listen to the episode in the player above or subscribe to Geared Up in your favorite podcast app to listen on the go!

• Apple Podcasts
• Google Podcasts
• Spotify
• Stitcher
• Pocket Casts
• Overcast

Technology Access Foundation Students Visit Capital One to Talk Tech Careers

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Corporate News, Editorial, Misc. Tech,

As I waited in the lobby at Capital One in Seattle, a group of well-dressed, inquisitive 13-year-olds arrived - joking, laughing, all while keeping their voices down in order to mind their manners. I eavesdropped a bit to get a sense for what they were feeling, and it was a mixture of excitement and nervousness. They were here at Capital One to learn about what it takes to succeed in a career in the fast-growing world of tech.

Click to continue reading Technology Access Foundation Students Visit Capital One to Talk Tech Careers

Google Pixel vs. Nexus 6P: Which is the Better Android Smartphone?

Posted by Kevin Nether Categories: Smartphones, Editorial, Handhelds, Product Reviews,

The Pixel and the Nexus are like brothers from another mother. On the one hand, you've got Google's best from last year and on the other, Google's best from this year. But how does the Nexus 6P stack up against the Pixel, one year later? Let's find out.

If you look at design, they're pretty far apart. The 6P's metal build with a visor up top is definitely premium but so is the Pixel's metal and glass combination. Their size comes down to personal preference but you can pick up the Pixel over the Pixel XL if size matters to you.

Click to continue reading Google Pixel vs. Nexus 6P: Which is the Better Android Smartphone?

Keeping your devices and info secure this holiday season (and win a trip!)

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Editorial, Features, Handhelds, Software,

With the holiday season in full swing, it’s easy to forget about the importance of privacy and security in this world of endless digital devices. More and more of our electronics are constantly connected to the Internet through cloud services, providing more and more entry points into our homes for those with nefarious intentions. McAfee reached out to me with some tips on staying secure when using different devices, and they’re good enough to be shared, as they just might help you avoid a privacy-related disaster. Additionally, McAfee is running a sweepstakes where the grand prize winner will receive a trip for two to Iceland. More details on that at the end of this article.

Click to continue reading Keeping your devices and info secure this holiday season (and win a trip!)

So, what is an Ultrabook anyway?

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Editorial, Microsoft, PC / Laptop,

If you've been shopping for a laptop lately, you may have a vague idea that "ultrabook" means "lightweight" and "small" but otherwise you may be a little confused about why some laptops are called ultrabooks and others aren't. It's understandable – this is one of those areas where names sort of caught on and many different manufacturers started using it, often with different ideas about what it meant. Here are the major points that define an ultrabook, and more importantly the top ultrabooks, and why they matter if you are getting ready to buy a computer.

Click to continue reading So, what is an Ultrabook anyway?

6 Things to Look for in a Home Theater Projector

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Editorial, HDTV, Home Entertainment,

Buying a home projector sounds easy at first: You get a screen, you get a projector, you aim it at the screen – and presto, theater-like movie time! But reality quickly teaches us that home projectors are very cool, but also a little complicated. They don't follow the same rules as TV screens, and they have extra features to consider and choose between.

Click to continue reading 6 Things to Look for in a Home Theater Projector

Ditch the Smartphone for these 3 Digital Point and Shoots

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Cameras, Editorial,

Sometimes, your smartphone camera just isn't enough for taking great photos and you need a legitimate point and shoot digital camera. It's okay to admit it – that little lens isn't always the best at detecting light, zooming in, or snapping clear pictures, no matter how good it may be at making selfies. If you need to take pictures that your smartphone just can't handle, you need a digital camera – but you probably don't want to pay too much for one.

Click to continue reading Ditch the Smartphone for these 3 Digital Point and Shoots

The best wireless routers for streaming Netflix, Hulu, and more

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Editorial, Home Entertainment, Wireless / WiFi,

Do you love streaming your favorite shows, but run into a certain amount competition and lag around the household? Our modern lives are filled with the ability to stream Netflix, Hulu, Spotify, online games, and much more – but our networks have trouble keeping up, especially when everyone piles on in the evenings. If your router is several years old, it's time to think about a replacement: Today's best wireless routers and gateways are much more advanced and generally useful! So to help keep your network on safe footing, improve security, and give you a performance boost, we have collected the best wireless routers around. These beasts excel at processing data, tracking devices, and give you the features you need to manage your network (and maybe even give your own devices a bit of preference on the side). Take a look at a couple of these powerful routers and what they can do for you.

Click to continue reading The best wireless routers for streaming Netflix, Hulu, and more