Lumon infects the outside world in ‘Sweet Vitriol,’ as Patricia Arquette’s Harmony Cobel returns to the spotlight.
Severance Re-Introduces Us to Its Wider, Weirder World
Monthly Archives: March 2025
AirPods Pro 2 are $79 off, plus all of the best Apple deals you can get
It’s obvious that Apple products are some of the most sought-after in the tech world — that means sales are fewer and farther between than other gadgets, and they’re often the first things to sell out when discounts do arrive. But it would be a mistake to assume you’re doomed to always pay full price on things like iPads and Apple Watches. Apple deals do exist, if you know where to look.
Engadget keeps track of deals like these on a regular basis, so we can help you there. Below, we’ve collected the best Apple deals you can get right now on items like AirPods, MacBooks, iPads and more. Arguably the biggest caveat to note about Apple sales is that you’re almost never going to see discounts directly at Apple.com. Unless you shop refurbished, you’ll always pay top dollar direct at Apple, and for some things (like iPhones), that might be best. But you’ll find more discounts more often if you’re willing to shop at retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, Target and others.
Before we get to the deals, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the new devices Apple launched recently. There are two new iPads, a new entry-level iPad with the A16 chip and 128GB of base storage, and a new iPad Air powered by the M3 chipset. You can order those now starting at $349 and $599, respectively. On the Mac side of things, the MacBook Air got an upgrade to include the latest M4 processor. That’s also available to order now starting at $999.
Best AirPod deals
AirPods 4 with ANC for $169 ($10 off): These buds have ANC, but they don’t have the interchangeable ear tips you’ll find on the AirPods Pro 2. Even so, they have an improved fit over the last version, plus good sound quality and a heap of advanced features.
AirPods 4 without ANC for $117 ($12 off): Skip ANC to get the AirPods 4 for a bit less. These have the same design as the models with ANC along with the same advanced features and solid sound quality.
Best Apple accessories deals
Apple Pencil Pro for $99 ($30 off): The most advanced Apple Pencil includes a gyroscope, plus support for the squeeze gesture and Find My. It’s essentially an upgraded version of the second-gen Pencil, complete with pressure support and magnets so it can snap to the side of your iPad for safe keeping.
Apple Pencil USB-C for $69 ($10 off): This more affordable Apple Pencil doesn’t support pressure sensitivity, but makes for a good stylus overall. If you’re a casual note-taker and can handle connected charging, you’ll save a few dollars by picking this one up.
Best iPad deals
iPad mini (A17 Pro) for $399 ($100 off): This is the iPad to get if you prefer small tablets, akin to ereaders. The latest mini is equipped with an A17 Pro chipset, an 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display and Apple Intelligence. We consider it to be the best small tablet, period, and we appreciate its Apple Pencil Pro support, 128GB of storage on the base model and compact design.
iPad Pro (M4, 11-inch) for $850 ($150 off): The most powerful iPad is the iPad Pro, and it’s the one to get if you’re even toying with the idea of using your new slab as a laptop replacement. Both the 11- and 13-inch models have gorgeous displays, thinner and lighter designs, a repositioned front camera and the excessively powerful M4 chip inside.
Best Apple Watch deals
Apple Watch SE for $169 ($80 off): Those on tighter budgets can opt for the Apple Watch SE and know they’re getting the core Apple wearable experience with few compromises. We consider it to be the best smartwatch for newbies
Apple Watch Ultra 2 for $769 ($30 off): Apple’s most premium smartwatch, the Ultra 2 has a killer 36-hour battery life, a handy Low Power mode for extended use and cellular connectivity by default. It also has a compass app, water temperature gauge and a loud onboard siren that you can trigger in emergencies.
Best MacBook deals and Mac discounts
MacBook Air (M3, 13-inch) for $899 ($200 off): The M3 MacBook Air builds upon the solid foundation of the M2 model, meaning it’s more than enough computer for most people. It earned a score of 90 in our review thanks to its speedy performance, sturdy yet sleek design, excellent keyboard and trackpad and good speaker system. If you want a slightly larger display, grab the 15-inch model instead
MacBook Pro (M4, 14-inch) for $1,399 ($200 off): Both the 14- and 16-inch M4 MacBook Pros are some of the fastest laptops you can get right now, ideal for content creators, video editors and anyone who needs a notebook that can handle pretty much anything they throw at it. They have bright, bold displays, improved webcams and long battery lives, plus some models have Thunderbolt 5 ports.
Mac mini M4 for $529 ($70 off): If you prefer desktops, the upgraded M4 Mac mini is one that won’t take up too much space, but will provide a ton of power at the same time. Not only does it come with an M4 chipset, but it also includes 16GB of RAM in the base model, plus front-facing USB-C and headphone ports for easier access.
iMac (M4, 24-inch) for $1,179 ($120 off): For an all-in-one solution, the M4 iMac is a good pick thanks to its powerful performance, standard 16GB of RAM and improved webcam. Just note that it only comes in the 24-inch screen size option.
Read more Apple coverage:
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This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/best-apple-deals-150020110.html?src=rss
This Nintendo Switch Lite Is Over $30 Off Right Now
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The Nintendo Switch Lite is already a solid pick for gamers who prefer a portable console, but this deal on Woot makes it even more tempting. For $164.99 (for the next two days or until it sells out)—down from its usual $199—you’re getting an open-box Singapore model that’s been fitted with an official Nintendo USA power adapter. That means functionally, it’s the same as the U.S. version, and it plays all U.S. and international Switch games without any issue. The only catch is that it’s an open-box deal, so while it’s brand new, the box has been opened for the adapter swap. And since this is a Woot deal, it comes with a 90-day Woot limited warranty instead of Nintendo’s usual one-year coverage. Prime members get free shipping, but non-members will have to add $6 to their total.
If you like gaming on the go, the Switch Lite is a solid choice. It’s compact, lightweight, and easy to toss into a bag without worrying about detachable Joy-Cons sliding around. But that same portability comes with a trade-off—you can’t dock it to a TV, so handheld mode is your only option. Additionally, the controls are built into the system, meaning there’s no swapping Joy-Cons for multiplayer gaming unless you buy compatible controllers separately. But if you’re a solo gamer who mostly plays RPGs, platformers, or indie titles, this won’t be much of a downside. If you’re on the fence, PCMag has a detailed breakdown of whether the standard Switch or the Lite is the better choice.
Specs-wise, the Switch Lite holds its own. It’s got an eight-inch screen, a 1.02 GHz processor, and a smooth 60 FPS frame rate. It also supports Bluetooth audio, so you’re not stuck using wired headphones, notes this PCMag review. Battery life is decent, ranging from three to seven hours depending on what you’re playing—Breath of the Wild will drain it faster than Stardew Valley. Storage is where things get tight, though. The built-in 32GB will fill up fast, so you’ll likely need a microSD card sooner rather than later (something like the 512GB SanDisk microSD, which is officially licensed for the Switch, could be a good pick). If you mostly play digital games, factor that into your budget.
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D And 9900X3D Gaming CPU Pricing And Launch Date Revealed
AMD has announced when its next two Zen 5 desktop chips with 3D V-Cache—the Ryzen 9 9950X3D and Ryzen 9 9900X3D—will release to retail and how much they will cost. In keeping with its promise to release both chips in the first quarter of 2025 (which it announced at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas earlier this year), both processors
A Scanner in Your Pocket for $40, iScanner Lifetime Plan Is Now 79% Off
Save 79% on a lifetime subscription to the iScanner App over at StackSocial for a limited time.
Split Fiction Director Reacts To ‘Feminism Propaganda’ Comment: ‘What The F*** Is This?’
Split Fiction is the latest action adventure from Hazelight Studios. Like the team’s past games, including It Takes Two, the latest game tells the story of two characters and revolves around two-player co-op. This time around, both of those characters just happen to be women. Director Josef Fares was at a loss for…
Brazil Orders Apple To Allow iOS Sideloading Within 90 Days
A Brazilian judge has ordered Apple to open its iOS platform to alternative app stores within 90 days, according to Valor International. The ruling cited Apple’s compliance with similar requirements in the European Union under the Digital Markets Act without showing “significant impact or irreparable harm to its economic model.”
The case originated from a 2022 complaint by Mercado Livre. Brazil previously issued a 20-day deadline in November for Apple to permit alternative payment options and sideloading, but that injunction was overturned in December. Apple plans to appeal.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Apple Music gives Britain’s monarch the aux
It turns out everyone likes to share their music suggestions, even monarchs. Apple Music has announced a new show called The King’s Music Room, hosted by King Charles III at Buckingham Palace. Yes, we know you’ve been dying to discover the getting ready playlist he made for the coronation that cost taxpayers £72 million ($93 million).
The show’s March 10 release coincides with Commonwealth Day and the playlist reportedly features artists from across continents — the release calls out artists such as Bob Marley, Kylie Minogue and Davido. “Throughout my life, music has meant a great deal to me,” King CharIes III states during the introduction. “It has that remarkable ability to bring happy memories flooding back from the deepest recesses of our memory, to comfort us in times of sadness, and to take us to distant places. But perhaps, above all, it can lift our spirits to such a degree, and all the more so when it brings us together in celebration. In other words, it brings us joy.” He’ll also share his, sure to be fascinating, encounters with some of the musicians.
If you’re dying to know what Britain’s longest heir apparent listened to over the years while waiting his turn then tune in to The King’s Music Room on Monday, March 10 at 6AM GMT. It will also air at additional times on Apple Music 1 and Apple Music Hits throughout music and Tuesday. Those looks into the King’s soul are free, though Apple Music subscribers can access it at anytime.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/music/apple-music-gives-britains-monarch-the-aux-143036505.html?src=rss
How to Change the Settings on a Lectric XPeak 2.0 E-Bike
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If you own a Lectric XPeak 2.0 e-bike, it’s possible to modify a ton of aspects of the bike right from the onboard screen, including changing the top speed, adjusting the throttle and pedal assist, controlling the lights, and more. But these settings are not readily understandable from the display alone, so here’s a step-by-step guide to how to change settings on a Lectric e-bike, as well as some suggestions on which settings you should change, and which you definitely shouldn’t.
(You can check out my review of the Lectric XPeak 2.0 right here.)
How to adjust the settings on a Lectric XPeak 2.0 e-bike
Here’s how to access the settings menu of a Lectric XPeak 2.0 e-bike:
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Power the bike on.
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Hold down the “+” and “-” keys on the controller on the left handlebar for a few seconds, until you see this:
Credit: Stephen Johnson
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Press the power-on button to toggle between each numbered setting. Use “+” and “-” keys to change their values—but don’t change any settings until you know what you’re changing.
What do the different settings on a Lectric e-bike do?
If you’ve gotten into the settings menu of your Lectric XPeak 2.0, you can see that the settings are labeled P-1 through P-22 with no other information available on screen. That’s not a lot to go on, so here’s what the settings do. (You’ll notice there are a few settings I skip over—I’ll go over that in another section below.)
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P1: Changes the brightness of the display screen. There are three settings. “1” is dimmest. “3” is brightest. Default is 2.
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P2: Toggles between miles and kilometers. “0” is kilometers. “1” is miles.
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P4: Sleep timer: Changes how long it will take for the bike to power off if not used. The default is 10 minutes, but you change it from “0” (which means it never automatically turns off) to 60 minutes.
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P6: Tire size: You can change this from 27 to 31. This is used to compute distance and speed, and shouldn’t be changed unless you’ve changed tire size from the default, 29.2.
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P8: Speed limit: This sets the bike’s top speed. 32 is a “Class 2” setting, meaning the top speed is 20 mph. 45 is “Class 3,” boosting the speed limit to 28 mph when using pedal assist. The default is 32, or 20 mph, so you’ll need to change this if you want to go faster.
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P9: Throttle active toggle: Setting this to 0 means the throttle can be used from a standstill. Setting it to 1 means the throttle can only be used when the bike is moving.
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P10: Throttle/pedal assist system toggle: There are three settings here: “0” means the pedal assist is active, but throttle is not. “1” means only the throttle is active, with no pedal assist. “2” means both PAS and throttle are active. The default is 2, which most users will want to use most of the time, but there are cases where it makes sense to change it (see below).
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P11: Multiplier toggle: This changes the torque on your bike. “0” is the default, normal torque multiplier. “1” is increased torque multiplier. If you want quicker acceleration, set this to “1,” but don’t change it until you know the bike fairly well—the default multiplier provides plenty of torque. I tested this out and didn’t notice a ton of difference anyway.
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P12: Light control: “0” means “no light icon on the display means the front and rear lights are OFF. When the light icon is on, the front and rear lights are ON.” Changing this to “1” means “The front and rear lights are flashing right away when bike is on. The icon on the display for light is flashing at the same rate as front and rear lights.” When you turn the light on in setting one, you’ll see an icon on the display screen with no flashing.
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P13: Walk mode speed: “0” sets the walk mode speed to 3mph. “1” is a slightly brisker 3.7 mph.
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P16: Odometer reset: Hold the “+” for 5 seconds to reset the odometer to “0.”
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P20: Walk mode toggle: setting this to “0” disables walk mode. Setting this to “1” enables it. (To turn on walk mode, hold down the “-” button on the controller. If enabled, your bike will move forward at the speed you set on P13.)
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P22: Assistance level: “0” limits the pedal assist to 9mph if you’re on pedal assist level 1 and 15 mph if you’re on pedal assist level 2. The same “speed limit” applies to the throttle. “1” means the pedal assist is not speed limited on pedal assist levels 1 and 2, but the throttle is speed limited. “2” means there is no speed-limit on pedal assist or throttle, no matter what pedal assist level you’re in. (Of course the bike’s overall speed limit of either 20mph or 28mph still applies.)
Which settings should you change on an XPeak 2.0?
The setting that most users will be concerned with is P8, the speed limit of the bike. The default is a 20 mph speed limit that you can reach with either pedal assist or throttle, but you may want to boost it to 28 (assuming that a class 3 e-bike is legal in your local area and you’re experienced enough to handle the extra speed.) This setting means the throttle or pedal assist will take you to 20 mph, then the throttle will cut off but you can use pedal assist to go up to 28 mph. There is no setting to use throttle control to go over 20 mph.
Another setting to consider is P9, the throttle active toggle. The default setting means that the throttle can be activated from a standstill, but you might want to change it so the throttle can only work if the bike is in motion. If you accidentally hit the thumb throttle a lot, especially when walking your bike, this prevents your bike “jumping forward.”
P10 is another useful setting for some situations. In some places, it’s not legal to ride a “class 2” e-bike, meaning one that has throttle control. This setting disables the throttle but allows the pedal assist, transforming your class 2 bike into a class 1.
What about the rest of the settings?
The Lectric XPeak 2.0 has 22 total settings that can be changed from the dashboard, but only 13 are listed above. I looked into it, and the nine “secret” settings on Lectric bikes are less exciting than I’d hoped. They’re mostly settings that allow different models of bikes to use the same computer, so they change things like the voltage level of the battery and the magnet type. Do not change these settings; as far as I can tell, there’s nothing to be gained from doing so. If you accidentally alter these somehow and you don’t know the correct setting, do not ride the bike until you’ve spoken to someone at Lectric who can help you restore the proper values.
“I messed up the settings on my Lectric XPeak 2.0! How can I fix it?”
Sadly, there is no “return to factory default” setting on Lectric’s controller. To get your e-bike back to how it was, you can use the manual to see the default number for each setting, or contact the company for extra help.
Grab Anker power banks and wireless chargers while they are up to 35 percent off
It’s your lucky day if you’ve been looking for a good deal on a power bank or charging station. A sale on many Anker products is taking place at Amazon. One power bank, the Anker 621, is 35 percent off. That discount brings it down to $26, which is almost a record low. The device typically costs $40.
This model is MagSafe-compatible, meaning it’ll attach magnetically to an iPhone 12 and above (but, annoyingly, not the new iPhone 16e unless you resort to a workaround) and charge your phone wirelessly. However, if you plug a cable into the Anker 621’s USB-C port, you can top up your phone’s battery a little faster — at a rate of 12W vs. 7.5W for wireless charging. The power bank has a capacity of 5,000mAh, which Anker says is enough to charge an iPhone 15 to 85 percent of its capacity from zero and an iPhone 14 to 80 percent.
Anker makes some of the best power banks and best portable chargers around, in our opinion. There are lots of options to consider as part of this sale.
A new power bank that Anker introduced at CES has a large enough capacity to top up an M3-powered MacBook Air’s battery approximately 1.3 times, per the brand. This model has dropped by 18 percent from $110 to $90. This particular power bank can charge four devices simultaneously — it has two built-in USB-C cables, another USB-C port and a USB-A port. It supports fast charging at up to 100W as well.
Elsewhere, a 3-in-1 charging cube is down to $104, which marks a 31 percent discount given that it usually costs $150. This compact device can charge your iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods at the same time.
There are a few other deals that caught our eye. An Anker Zolo power bank with a built-in USB-C cable is just $13, which is half off. It has a capacity of 10,000mAh, which Anker says is enough to fully charge an iPhone 15 Pro twice over. Meanwhile, Prime members can pick up a travel-friendly 3-in-1 charging station (that can top up your iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods batteries simultaneously) for $88, which is a $21 discount.
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This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/grab-anker-power-banks-and-wireless-chargers-while-they-are-up-to-35-percent-off-155626756.html?src=rss
At Just $36, Your Desk, Your Devices, and Your Sanity Will Thank You for Buying This Anker Charging Station
With 9 outlets and 100 watts of juice, this ultra-compact charging station will bring order to the cable chaos on your desk, nightstand, or anywhere else in your home.
SBF Suggests Dems Didn’t ‘Save’ Him Because He Gave Money to Republicans Too
The crypto fraudster appears to be throwing a Hail Mary for a Trump pardon.
SpaceX’s Starship explodes (again) during its eighth test flight
SpaceX has lost another Starship, as the vehicle’s eighth test flight ended in an explosion just like its seventh. The first few minutes of the flight went according to plan: SpaceX launched the Starship rocket from its Starbase facility in Texas at 6:30PM Eastern time on March 6, and its first stage Super Heavy booster flew back down and was successfully captured by the launch tower’s “chopstick” arms. The event marked the third time SpaceX was able to capture the booster with the tower’s mechanical appendages.
The vehicle’s upper stage called the “Ship” was supposed to deploy four dummy Starship satellites as part of the test run before splashing down into the Indian Ocean around 50 minutes later. But eight minutes into the flight, the Ship lost multiple Raptor engines, causing it to lose altitude until it ultimately exploded over the Caribbean. Several people who witnessed the event posted videos of the Ship’s debris streaking across the sky.
Just saw Starship 8 blow up in the Bahamas @SpaceX @elonmusk pic.twitter.com/rTMJu23oVx
— Jonathon Norcross (@NorcrossUSA) March 6, 2025
As TechCrunch notes, SpaceX revealed in February that the seventh Starship test flight exploded because it suffered from propellant leaks that resulted in fires. The company took several measures to prevent the same thing from happening, such as adding vents and a new purge system to make the ship resistant to leaks. SpaceX also conducted a longer static fire test to make sure its changes and adjustments were working properly.
The company posted on X that the Starship’s eighth test flight “experienced a rapid unscheduled disassembly” during its ascent burn. However, it it still has to review data from the flight to be able to determine the root cause of the issue. In another statement posted on its website, the company said that “an energetic event in the aft portion of Starship” prior to the ascent burn led to the loss of the engines. SpaceX lost contact with the Ship completely at around nine minutes and 30 seconds after liftoff. The Federal Aviation Administration temporarily halted flights departing from and into some of Florida’s busiest airports due to “space launch debris.” It also told TechCrunch that it’s requiring SpaceX to conduct a “mishap investigation” to determine the cause of the failure, so we’ll likely get a more detailed report from the company in the future.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/space/spacexs-starship-explodes-again-during-its-eighth-test-flight-140018375.html?src=rss
Amazon Might Be Getting Closer to Finding Someone to Lead Bond‘s New Era
Plus, Daredevil: Born Again teases the debut of another foe from the comics.
The 12 Most Earth-Shattering Character Turns in WWE History
Well, it happened. After years of electrifying fans, earning dozens of accolades, and selling out arenas around the world… Travis Scott made his WWE debut at Elimination Chamber. Oh, and John Cena turned heel.
Intuitive Machines Lunar Lander Reaches Moon, Status Uncertain
Intuitive Machines’ Athena lander touched down near the lunar south pole Thursday but may have toppled during landing, jeopardizing its scientific mission. “We’re trying to evaluate exactly what happened in that last bit,” said Tim Crain, Intuitive Machines’ chief technology officer. Data from an inertial measurement unit suggests the 15-foot robotic spacecraft is lying on its side.
The landing issues mirror problems faced by the company’s Odysseus spacecraft last year, which also toppled after touchdown. Noisy data from laser altitude instruments likely contributed to the landing complications, officials said. CEO Steve Altemus reported the spacecraft isn’t generating expected power, probably because its solar panels are improperly oriented. The company believes Athena landed somewhere on Mons Mouton, though outside the planned landing zone.
The $62.5 million NASA-contracted mission carries several payloads, including a drill to search for frozen water, three small rovers, and a rocket-powered hopping drone. NASA officials indicated some experiments might still function despite the lander’s orientation. Intuitive Machines’ stock fell 20% Thursday following reports of the spacecraft’s problems.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
White House may seek to slash NASA’s science budget by 50 percent
Although the Trump administration will not publicly release its budget request for at least a few more weeks, senior agency officials are starting to be briefed on the president’s priorities.
This includes NASA. As expected, the president’s plan for the space agency includes some significant shakeups, including a desire to move elements of NASA headquarters to field centers around the country. However, in perhaps the most drastic change, the White House seeks to massively cut funding for science programs at the space agency.
Multiple people familiar with the White House proposal said cuts to NASA’s “Science Mission Directorate” could be as high as 50 percent. These sources emphasized that no decisions are final, and there are some scenarios in which the cuts to NASA’s science programs would be less. But the intent is to slash science.
The Apple M2 MacBook Air Hits Its Lowest Price Ever, Now $300 Off on Amazon for a Limited Time
This zippy, ultra lightweight laptop is on sale for $300 off and you’ll be thankful for the discount.
Trump Scrambles to Cover His Ass as Courts Zero-In on Musk’s Role at DOGE
Trump claims DOGE will proceed with a “scalpel”-like approach to government cost-cutting which, based on the unit’s history, is doubtful.
Unofficial ROCm SDK Builder Expanded To Support More GPUs
The community-based ROCm SDK Builder is an unofficial project leveraging the open-source AMD ROCm code and making it easy to build machine learning and GPU compute software across a range of environments and helping ensure proper integration with other machine learning tools and models. The ROCm SDK Builder takes special focus on the consumer Radeon iGPUs and dGPUs that typically aren’t as much of a focus for the upstream AMD ROCm stack…