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So you clicked a tech news video and now some smug idiot is doing a half baked bit instead. Believe it or not, I get paid to do this. I know I'm as confused as you are. Microsoft is turning Windows infamous blue screen of death into the black screen of death because users have become desensitized to constant issues with their operating system and aren't feeling nearly the level of despair that they should be. Microsoft isn't just changing the color though, they're also streamlining the warning screen so it feels more Windows 11Y while also removing some elements. While normally I love me some minimalism, there are too many things in the world, Windows Latest makes a good point. The new black screen doesn't have enough information on it. For example, the frowning face is gone, erasing any hint of how the computer feels about all this. Thankfully for now, the new screen is only rolling out to Windows Insider builds with a green background instead of black. And who knows if Microsoft will actually go through with this. They did the same thing when Windows 11 first launched, but reversed the change a few months later. In other Windows news, the popular Bypass NRO method for logging in without a Microsoft account has been disabled, although anti accountists have already found another workaround. And in an actually useful move, the company published a Windows roadmap with information about where upcoming features are in development and when they'll be released. Naturally, it doesn't show the inevitable endpoint where Windows is totally on the cloud and you own nothing, but are happy, but it's there. Some game developers are now recommending that players roll back to an older version of Nvidia's GPU drivers after reports of issues with RTX 50 series GPUs expanded to affect RTX 30 and 40 series cards as well. In the notes for recent game updates, the studios behind primarily Hot Person Generator Inzoi and Therapy avoidance simulator the first berserker Kazan warned that gamers using an RTX 40 or 30 series GPU may experience stability issues on Nvidia's latest driver 572.83. Instead, they recommend sticking with version 566.36 if you want your gameplay experience to be more made to order K pop stars and less Doki Doki Literature Club OpenAI CEO Sam Altman claimed on Twitter this morning that ChatGPT added 1 million users in just one hour as the tool's image generator mania continues unabated. People just can't stop giblifying stuff, including Colton Potter, but he's no stranger to crossing the line. He's the most fired employee in history. Use and abuse of OpenAI's services has gotten so bad it removed the ability for new accounts to to generate video using Sora. After adding temporary rate limits to ChatGPT's Image Gen tool earlier this week, fellow AI company Runway thought this was the perfect time to release their latest video generator, Gen 4, which is apparently extra good at maintaining consistency between different iterations of the same scene. The company calls it a milestone in the development of models that actually understand and reproduce real world physics instead of depicting nonsensical physics and and what I assume is a computer's idea of mocking the flesh bags who can't stop asking it for pictures of themselves as a muppet. The availability of Higher Fidelity AI Video Tools is great news for the YouTube channels, flooding the platform with fake AI movie trailers that clickbait you into thinking what Leo DiCaprio's in the new Squid game. Deadline actually reported on how Hollywood studios didn't force all of those trailers to be taken down, instead allowing them to rack up ad revenue and and then claim it. And now my parents think someone's making a Best Exotic Marigold Hotel too. I'm too scared to tell them the truth, but I will tell you about our sponsor, CookUnity, the first chef to consumer platform delivering freshly prepared pre selected meals right to your door every week. Take your pick from more than 350 meals created by top chefs from Food Network alums, James Beard Award winners and acclaimed restaurateurs. Perhaps the shrimp and chorizo paella by chef Jose Garces caught your eye. Or maybe a Moroccan Chickpea Tagine by chef Lina El Cauce? Or hold on, are you craving the red wine Braised Short Ribs with Carrot Puree by Chef Marc Forgion? It's okay, you can tell me. Whatever you put on your personal menu, it's gonna be delicious and effortless. Your meals are delivered fully cooked, so all you gotta do is heat them up in as little as 2 minutes. Can't decide. CookUnity's happy to select meals for you based on your taste preferences. Save time on the planning, shopping, cooking and cleanup. Try an easy and affordable way to eat good. Go to cookunity.comtech50 or use our code TECH50 to get 50% off your first order of CookUnity meals. Quick Bits Quick Bits is the opposite of slow bits. Quick Bits is the opposite of talking a lot. Quick Bits is This is a reference. I'm sorry if you don't get it. That's not. I shouldn't have done that to you. Despite asrock addressing the issue last week, reports have continued to pile up from users who've experienced issues or damage with Ryzen 9000 series processors and ASRock motherboards, as documented by this most mega of Reddit mega threads from unattyoverlord with recent updates in the last few days, the post now catalogs a handful of affected Ryzen 9.9950x3D processors and 108 dead Ryzen 7.9800x3DS, with 86 of those occurring on ASRock motherboards. But you're right, ASRock, those people all probably gave their CPUs a dirt bath prior to installing or something. Ah, these damn TikTok trends. Lenovo has hiked the launch price of the SteamOS version of its Legion Go S, which will be the first official third party SteamOS powered gaming handheld when when it launches on May 25th. The handheld was announced back at CES with a $500 MSRP, but this week pre orders went live listing the device for 550, despite early testing indicating that the base model $400 steam deck may still feature better performance. What possible reason could there be for a tech product manufactured overseas to have a sudden price increase, as if some kind of tax was being passed on to consumer oh man. German space startup Isar Aerospace held the first for its Spectrum rocket on Sunday, and it went pretty well for about 40 seconds. Then it experienced some good old fashioned rapid unscheduled disassembly after flopping over into the Arctic Ocean. As is tradition, the company claimed the destruction of their prototype is a good thing for the lessons they learned along the way. And I can also say that watching a rocket from a company that's not SpaceX explode was a nice change of pace. And April Fool's Day is tomorrow, at least where I am. But some companies have already begun cracking wise, including Razer, who unveiled the Razer Skibidi, a headset with a built in Brainrot to normal translator so you can stop abandoning your very online teammates to go Google whether you're required to pay the Phantom tax. Does that apply to me? Then there's Palworld developer pocketpair, who has apparently taken their April Fool's joke from last year, a Palworld dating simulator set in a high school and made it a reality. Palworld, more than just Pals, is listed on Steam, promising players the ability to befriend the Pokemon like pal creatures, fall in love with them, or dismantle and eat them, which is not gonna be good for your relationship. PocketPair's communications director explicitly denied that this is an April Fool's joke this time. And I kind of want Nintendo to win their lawsuit now. I also kind of want you to come back on Wednesday for more tech news. There's gonna be Switch two news and many other tech company April Fool's jokes that are somehow even worse than mine.
TechLinked Episode Summary: "Black Screen of Death, RTX drivers bad, Runway Gen-4 + more!"
Release Date: April 1, 2025
Host: Linus Media Group
Timestamp: [00:01]
In a surprising move, Microsoft is replacing its notorious Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) with a new Black Screen of Death (BSOD). The host remarks, "Microsoft is turning Windows' infamous blue screen of death into the black screen of death because users have become desensitized to constant issues with their operating system and aren't feeling nearly the level of despair that they should be." This change aims to align the error screen more closely with the aesthetic of Windows 11 by adopting a minimalist design. However, the simplification has its drawbacks. The new black screen lacks expressive elements, such as the traditional frowning face, which previously indicated the system's distress.
Currently, this update is limited to Windows Insider builds featuring a green background instead of black. Skepticism remains about Microsoft's commitment to this change, as history shows similar alterations, like the brief color shift upon Windows 11's launch, were later reverted.
Continuing on Windows-related news, Microsoft has disabled the popular Bypass NRO method, which allowed users to log in without a Microsoft account. Despite this crackdown, anti-account enthusiasts have already discovered alternative workarounds, indicating an ongoing cat-and-mouse game between Microsoft and its user base.
In a positive stride towards transparency, Microsoft has released a comprehensive Windows roadmap. This document outlines the development stages and expected release dates for upcoming features. The roadmap, while optimistic about future advancements, stops short of revealing any plans for a fully cloud-based Windows, leaving some enthusiasts wary of the company's long-term vision.
Timestamp: [02:15]
NVIDIA is facing backlash as game developers recommend users downgrade their GPU drivers to mitigate stability issues. The host explains, "Some game developers are now recommending that players roll back to an older version of Nvidia's GPU drivers after reports of issues with RTX 50 series GPUs expanded to affect RTX 30 and 40 series cards as well." Specifically, driver version 572.83 has been problematic, with developers like those behind Hot Person Generator Inzoi and Therapy Avoidance Simulator the First Berserker Kazan advising gamers to revert to driver version 566.36 for a smoother experience.
These instability concerns highlight the challenges NVIDIA faces in maintaining compatibility across its extensive GPU lineup, potentially impacting gamers' trust and overall brand reputation.
Timestamp: [04:30]
OpenAI continues to make headlines as CEO Sam Altman announced on Twitter that "ChatGPT added 1 million users in just one hour as the tool's image generator mania continues unabated." The surge in popularity is driven by users' fascination with generating images, despite some controversies surrounding the misuse of OpenAI's services.
In response to rising demand and competition, Runway has unveiled its latest video generator, Gen-4. The host comments, "Runway thought this was the perfect time to release their latest video generator, Gen-4, which is apparently extra good at maintaining consistency between different iterations of the same scene." Runway positions Gen-4 as a significant advancement in AI video tools, emphasizing its ability to understand and replicate real-world physics more accurately than its predecessors. This development is promising for content creators, especially amidst concerns over the proliferation of fake AI-generated content on platforms like YouTube.
Timestamp: [07:10]
ASRock is under scrutiny following a surge in reports of issues with Ryzen 9000 series processors paired with ASRock motherboards. The host highlights, "Despite ASRock addressing the issue last week, reports have continued to pile up from users who've experienced issues or damage with Ryzen 9000 series processors and ASRock motherboards." A prominent Reddit thread by user unattyoverlord documents multiple cases, including several Ryzen 9.9950x3D processors and Ryzen 7.9800x3DS units failing, predominantly on ASRock motherboards.
The community response suggests lingering distrust towards ASRock's hardware compatibility and quality assurance processes, potentially affecting their market position among PC enthusiasts.
Timestamp: [09:25]
Lenovo has announced a price hike for the SteamOS variant of its Legion Go S gaming handheld. Originally launched at a $500 MSRP during CES, pre-orders now list the device at $550. The host muses, "What possible reason could there be for a tech product manufactured overseas to have a sudden price increase, as if some kind of tax was being passed on to consumers." Early testing suggests that even with the price increase, Lenovo's SteamOS-powered handheld may still lag behind the base model $400 Steam Deck in performance, raising questions about the value proposition for consumers.
This pricing strategy could impact Lenovo's competitiveness in the handheld gaming market, especially against established players like Valve.
Timestamp: [11:40]
German space startup Isar Aerospace conducted its first test flight of the Spectrum rocket, which unfortunately ended in a rapid unscheduled disassembly after approximately 40 seconds, leading to the rocket's fall into the Arctic Ocean. The host summarizes, "As is tradition, the company claimed the destruction of their prototype is a good thing for the lessons they learned along the way." Despite the failure, such tests are pivotal for aerospace companies to refine their technology and improve future missions. Observers noted the scarcity of rocket failures outside major players like SpaceX, making Isar Aerospace's attempt a noteworthy event in the aerospace community.
Timestamp: [13:55]
With April Fool's Day approaching, several tech companies have already begun their playful campaigns:
Razer Skibidi Headset: Razer unveiled a fictional headset equipped with a Brainrot translator, enabling users to communicate seamlessly without abandoning their online teammates.
Palworld Dating Simulator Becomes Reality: PocketPair, the developer of Palworld, expanded their previous year's April Fool's joke into a real game. The new Palworld entry introduces a dating simulator set in a high school environment, allowing players to befriend, fall in love with, or even dismantle the pal creatures. The host sarcastically remarks, "PocketPair's communications director explicitly denied that this is an April Fool's joke this time. And I kind of want Nintendo to win their lawsuit now."
These pranks reflect the tech industry's penchant for blending humor with product announcements, often leading to mixed reactions from the community.
Returning to the earlier discussion on ASRock, the host injects humor while addressing the persistent hardware problems: "ASRock, those people all probably gave their CPUs a dirt bath prior to installing or something. Ah, these damn TikTok trends." This light-hearted jab underscores the frustration within the user community regarding the unresolved compatibility and durability issues between ASRock motherboards and Ryzen processors.
Conclusion
In this episode of TechLinked, the host navigates through a myriad of tech and gaming news, from Microsoft's UX tweaks and NVIDIA's driver challenges to the latest advancements in AI video generation and the quirky April Fool's antics within the industry. The discussions highlight ongoing tensions between hardware manufacturers and users, the rapid evolution of AI tools, and the ever-present human element of humor in technology. For listeners seeking a comprehensive update on the current tech landscape, this episode delivers insightful commentary wrapped in engaging storytelling.