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Rumor has it that Google is bringing back its laptop hardware, which would please a lot of the plentiful Pixelbook fans out there.

Google might be resurrecting its Pixel laptop, a fresh rumor insists, getting plenty of hopes up with high-end Chromebook fans.

This comes from Android Headlines which cites an internal email that was leaked as mentioning Google’s new project for a premium laptop under the Pixel branding (which is now used for its smartphones and watches).

Way back in the mists of time, there used to be a Chromebook Pixel laptop, and the new version is apparently codenamed ‘Snowy.’ We aren’t told anything about it, though, save that it’s still in the early stages, and that Google intends it to be a rival for the likes of the MacBook Pro, Microsoft Surface Laptop and Dell XPS – a seriously premium effort by the sound of things.

The laptop will surely run ChromeOS, and likely be among our rankings of the best Chromebooks, if it does end up coming to fruition, although nothing is confirmed at this stage.

What we are told is that the project is greenlit and underway, so it’s progressing from the concept phase, and apparently a dedicated team has been formed to develop the laptop.

This is one to keep an eye out for future rumors around, certainly, though we need to take this report with a good deal of caution at this stage. We’ll be happier when we have the contention made here corroborated by other tech sites.

(Image credit: Future)

Analysis: Pixel perfect? Here’s hoping

The original Chromebook Pixel was a gorgeous creation in some ways, but deeply flawed in others, when it came to light over a decade ago. Google switched to make the Pixelbook (and Pixelbook Go) towards the end of the decade, which were superb notebooks (the latter especially). However, sadly the whole laptop line-up came off the rails eventually, and indeed the whole team behind the Pixelbook was dissolved in 2022 – which seemed a pretty bold line drawn to close the entire affair.

Apparently, though, a team is now back together, and Google is rethinking the possibilities behind another Chromebook Pixel, or maybe even a Pixelbook if it keeps the more recent (and successful) branding.

We hope this is true, but at the same time, we’ve got to acknowledge that we’ve heard buzz from the rumor mill about a Chromebook Pixel resurrection in the past that resulted in nothing. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that this rumor is on the money, and Google’s development team manages to generate enough interest from the powers-that-be and various bean counters to allow new Pixel hardware to emerge in notebook form.

There’s no shortage of enthusiasm around a new Pixel laptop, that’s for sure, but hopefully as well as premium portables, there’ll be room for an affordable option in the mix, too. We’ll likely be in for a fair old wait for these creations to come to market, mind you.

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999g, 14-inch Vaio SX14-R laptop offers up to 64GB of RAM, 5G SIM and a physical Gigabit Ethernet port.

Vaio SX14-R is a new lightweight 14-inch laptop with advanced connectivity optionsPowered by Intel Core Ultra H-series, up to 64GB memoryElegant color options: Deep Emerald, Urban Bronze, Fine Black, Bright Silver

Vaio has launched the SX14-R, an upgraded, higher-end model of its popular 14-inch business notebook.

Aimed at professionals, the new device weighs just under 1kg (2.2 pounds), 100g heavier than the smaller SX12 laptop.

The SX14-R is powered by Intel’s Core Ultra H-series processors (Ultra 5 125H or Ultra 7 155H). While the newer Series 2 Lunar Lake architecture would have been preferable to the previous generation Meteor Lake, the SX14-R – paired with up to 64GB of LPDDR5X memory and up to 2TB of PCIe 4.0 NVMe storage – is still highly capable.

Striking color options

The laptop includes two Thunderbolt 4 ports for high-speed data transfer, two USB 3.0 Type-A ports, and an HDMI port. Additionally, a Gigabit Ethernet port provides a reliable wired internet connection, ideal for stable networking in office environments.

On the wireless side, the SX14-R supports both 5G and Wi-Fi 7. Like the recent SX12 model, it can take a SIM and an eSIM simultaneously, allowing users to seamlessly switch between networks – a welcome feature for frequent travelers and remote workers alike.

It comes with stereo front-facing speakers, an optional 9.2MP webcam with HDR video support, and a sensing feature which can automatically turn off the display when you step away from the screen. There’s a choice of two battery options: a high-capacity model that provides up to 16 hours of video playback or 38 hours of standby, and a standard battery that lasts up to 11/27 hours. The actual capacity of both isn’t known.

Probably the most striking aspect of the Vaio SX14-R is the choice of colors it comes in. The laptop is available in attractive Deep Emerald and Urban Bronze hues, as well as the classic Fine Black and Bright Silver.

For now, the SX14-R is available exclusively in Japan, with pricing starting at 259,800 yen (approximately $1,730), although we wouldn’t be surprised to see it become available globally in 2025.

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El Capitan delivers 1.7 exaflops of sustained performance for Lawrence Livermore national laboratory.

El Capitan is the new world leader in raw computing powerIt is situated at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL)El Capitan is powered by AMD instinct MI300A APUs

The global supercomputing leaderboard has a new presence at top spot, as the AMD-powered El Capitan takes over prime position to become the world’s most powerful setup.

With a sustained compute power of 1.7 exaflops and a peak of over 2.7 exaflops, El Capitan knocks previous leader Frontier to second on the list of the most powerful supercomputers in the world.

El Capitan was built by HPE for the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) to simulate nuclear weapons tests. It is powered by AMD instinct MI300A APUs and is not only the fastest but also in the top 20 of the greenest computers too.

Computations reduced from months to weeks

For perspective, El Capitan can achieve a task in less than one second that requires one human to do one calculation every second since the earth formed and then again for nine more earths.

The supercomputer will enable LLNL to significantly improve the ability to predict and model nuclear weapon performance as the stockpile gets older and new systems are introduced.

This will help LLNL to better understand and make informed decisions for safety. It will also be leveraged for a range of other missions to help understand emergencies such as natural disasters and manmade crises.

It does this by providing higher resolutions in 3D modelling that were either not possible with previous machines or too computationally expensive to regularly run.

More accurate replication of physics allows the analysis of components to be of higher quality, helping scientists incorporate more real-world factors such as material and manufacturing imperfections and environmental conditions.

Previously these calculations were either impossible or would take weeks or months on LLNLs current systems – which has now been reduced down to days or even hours.

“Leveraging the AMD Instinct MI300A APUs, we’ve built a system that was once unimaginable, pushing the absolute boundaries of computational performance while maintaining exceptional energy efficiency,” noted Bronis R. de Supinski, LLNL’s chief technology officer for Livermore Computing.

“With AI becoming increasingly prevalent in our field, El Capitan allows us to integrate AI with our traditional simulation and modeling workloads, opening new avenues for discovery across various scientific disciplines.”

AMD now powers both of the two most powerful supercomputers in the world, with a combined power of over 3 exaflops totalling 61% of the performance of the entire top 10.

Of the top 10, AMD now powers five devices, including El Capitan, Frontier, HPC6 from ENI, LUMI, and Tuolumne.

“We are thrilled to see El Capitan become the second AMD powered supercomputer to break the exaflop barrier and become the fastest supercomputer in the world. Showcasing the incredible performance and efficiency of the AMD Instinct MI300 APUs, this groundbreaking machine is a testament to the dedicated work between AMD, LLNL and HPE,” said Forrest Norrod, executive vice president and general manager, AMD.

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What apps does Google think are Android’s best?

Google has announced the best 10 apps of 2024There’s a mixture of free and paid-for servicesSome of the streaming services aren’t what we’d pick

Google has crowned its best apps of 2024 – the Android apps it believes are the crème de la crème of the Play Store’s software catalog.

They cover a wide range of use cases (though there are three streaming services) and are worth checking out if you’re looking for tools to make your life a little easier in areas ranging from managing your health to finding new friends.

Without further ado, these are Google’s favorite apps of the year.

1. Best app overall: Partiful

Partiful is the self described “ultimate tool to create, manage, and share events.” You can use it to create engaging event pages and invites as you’d expect, but guests can use the app not only to RSVP but to add comments and photos from the event.

With extra added tools like the ability to make polls, send party-wide messages, and ask guests to help chip in to cover costs it looks like a one-stop shop for your party planning needs – and just the sort of thing my partner and I have been looking for to help with our wedding planning.

2. Best multi-device app: Max

Clearly the folks at Google are fans of The Penguin, as the Max streaming service has been labelled as the best multi-device app.

Whether you’re streaming on a phone tablet or Google TV, the best Max shows and best Max movies are all fantastic, even if for us it isn’t the best streaming service of 2024 – Netflix takes that crown.

3. Best for Personal Growth: UpStudy – Camera Math Solver

AI tools can now scan your math equations and help you solve them, and while it makes your homework a breeze you won’t understand the subject any better than you did before. That’s where UpStudy hopes to come in.

Rather than telling you the solution, UpStudy will give you a step-by-step explanation so that you can actually understand the problems. What’s more you can firm up your knowledge with quizzes on topics across mathematics, chemistry, physics and biology.

4. Best for Fun: Mila by Camilla Lorentzen

(Image credit: Mila)

This fitness app looks to offer an engaging accessible workouts, letting you choose a routine to suit your mood and ability across yoga, HIIT, strength, cardio and more. If you’ve been struggling to stay motivated with other workout programs this could be the one you’ve been looking for

The only thing to note is while there is a 7-day free trial you’ll need to pay to keep using Mila after that, with a subscription costing $9.99 / £7.99 a month or $99.99 / £79.99 a year.

5. Best Everyday Essential: MacroFactor – Macro Tracker

Tracking food, be it for calorie counting or when you’re trying to gain muscle, can be a challenge. MacroFactor aims to make this easier with easy food scanning, weekly check-ins to help you stay on track, and a “unique coaching algorithm” which apparently adapts to your metabolism to offer you a personalized macro program.

Like Mila above this tool offers a short free trial, but then it’s a paid service at $11.99 / £9.49 per month or $71.99 / £71.99 per year.

6. Best Hidden Gem: Timeleft

(Image credit: Shutterstock / Ground Picture)

Timeleft looks like an interesting one for people who are new to a city and want to build a group of friends, or who want to expand their social circle where they already live. Timeleft sorts its users into weekly six person groups who meet up each Wednesday at 8pm at a random restaurant for dinner. When you sign up you complete a personality test, with the app then promising to book you a table with people it thinks you’ll click with.

You’ll be served information on the group before you arrive, and a batch of ice-breakers to help you settle in for an evening together, and when you leave you can rate your guests to judge the apps’ matches and reach out the people for 1:1 chats if you’d like to organize a non-Timeleft dinner.

Just note that it’s not available in every city, and it’s also not for picky eaters, as you can’t choose your restaurant.

7. Best for Large Screens: Infinite Painter

Whether you’ve got a tablet or foldable phone – like the Galaxy Z Fold 6 or Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold – Google thinks the best Android app for you will be Infinite Paper – a robust drawing tool for digital artists.

It features on our best drawing apps of 2024, so we agree that it’s a solid pick for mobile creatives. It has free and paid tiers too, so you can try it before you commit to paying for it.

8. Best for Watches: Baby Daybook – Newborn Tracker

(Image credit: Baby Daybook)

If you’re stressed about tracking your new baby’s schedule – when they sleep and eat, outdoors time, and everything else a baby needs – Baby Daybook pitches itself as your perfect tracker. There’s a free version, though if you pay to go premium you unlock useful tools like the ability to share your schedule with other users.

9. Best for Google TV: Peacock TV: Stream TV & Movies

Another streaming service has made it onto the list with Peacock TV. Amid the noise of the best streaming services it’s easy to miss a few, but Peacock is home to several gems like horror series Hysteria and mystery thriller Found, as well as better-known NBCUniversal content like Parks and Recreation, Ted, and The Traitors.

Again, it’s not among our picks for the best streaming services out there, but Peacock’s selection of shows and films could make it a great pick for you.

10. Best for Cars: PBS KIDS Video

(Image credit: PBS)

The last app of the list, and the last streaming service. This safe, educational platform is jam- packed with PBS content for children, including over 600 full episodes that you can watch whenever you want – you can even download them to view offline – including fan favorites like Sesame Street and Curious George.

Content can be viewed in English or Spanish, but this app is unfortunately only available in the US due to licensing restrictions.

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And all without a massive camera bump, too

Samsung has announced a new kind of telephoto camera designIt helps telephoto cameras combine bright apertures with slim designs This is particularly beneficial for low-light portrait photos

The world’s best camera phones have improved their telephoto cameras greatly in the past few years, but Samsung has just revealed a new technology that could boost their performance while keeping its phones acceptably slim.

Announced in a blog post on Samsung’s Semiconductor website (spotted by Android Authority), the so-called ‘ALoP’ technology reshuffles the layout of Samsung’s current periscope camera design.

The main benefit is creating space for lenses with brighter maximum apertures (which theoretically means less noise in low light) without increasing the size of the camera bump. Currently, the lenses inside Samsung’s ‘folded’ telephoto camera module sit vertically in line with the phone’s body. The downside of this setup is that adding a wider lens makes the camera bump thicker.

Instead, the ‘ALoP’ (or ‘All Lenses on Prism’) system places the lenses horizontally (much like a traditional camera lens) to the rear of the phone, with the prism then reflecting that light up to the camera sensor. This means a wider, brighter lens could be added without making the phone feel like a ridiculous Energizer phone.

Still, while that is a promising development, we shouldn’t expect physics-busting miracles. Samsung says the ‘ALoP’ system creates enough room for an f/2.58 aperture at a focal length of 80mm.

That’s a 3x telephoto camera and a fairly bright one at that, beating the f/2.8 aperture of Apple’s 77mm telephoto in the iPhone 15, but still well short of the finest f/1.2 portrait lenses seen on the best professional cameras. Still, as Samsung says, the system would still promise “low-noise portrait images in night shots”, which is one of the most popular photographic genres for smartphones.

Room for two periscopes?

Samsung’s new ‘ALoP’ system promises to take up much less space inside a smartphone, leaving room for other camera optics or components. (Image credit: Samsung)

Given the apparent space savings of Samsung’s ‘ALoP’ design, a more radical improvement could be the inclusion of two periscope telephoto cameras in a future Galaxy phone.

Earlier this year, the Oppo Find X7 Ultra became the first phone to offer dual periscope cameras – and while the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is expected to pack in both a 3x telephoto and 5x telephoto, this new design could create enough space for some even more impressive optics.

There’s a strong argument that a good 3x telephoto camera is more useful for most people than the 5x or 10x options we’ve seen in recent years. A 3x lens has a focal length that’s somewhere in the 75mm-80mm range, which is where a lot of pros shoot portraits – the focal length creates natural bokeh while still being relatively flattering to subjects.

So if Samsung can improve the quality of its 3x periscope systems with this new ‘ALoP’ system, while leaving enough room for the inclusion of those longer 5x or 10x telephoto cameras, it could create a well-rounded camera phone with few weaknesses.

Samsung calls ALoP a “future telephoto camera solution” with no hints of an expected launch date, but the publication of the info suggests we could see it in a 2025 phone.

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CISA director Jen Easterly will vacate her post before President-elect Trump takes office.

Jen Easterly will vacate her post as Director of CISA before Trump comes into officeThe future of CISA is uncertain under Trump, who has criticized the department in the pastThere’s no news yet on Easterly’s successor

The Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Jen Easterly, is set to vacate her post before President Trump returns to office on January 20 2025, throwing the future of the agency into doubt.

CISA is responsible for critical infrastructure protection and improving the US government’s protections against cybercriminals and state actors, who are increasingly targeting American agencies in order to exfiltrate data and disrupt services.

Easterly held a number of security positions before taking the post as Director of CISA, such as senior director for counterterrorism on the National Security Council and Global Head of Cybersecurity for Morgan Stanley. Her departure leaves the fate of the agency uncertain.

Slash and burn

Given the number of eyebrow-raising proposed cabinet appointees by the Ppresident-elect, it’s difficult to predict who might fill the position in 2025 and beyond.

CISA was created during Trump’s first term, but his consistent commitment to deregulation could limit the agency’s ability to enforce compliance with cybersecurity standards.

Following the narrow senate election win for the Republican party, senator Rand Paul is set to take over as chair of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs committee, which will oversee CISA. Paul, a staunch libertarian and critic of CISA, previously accused the agency of infringing on free speech as part of its effort to counter digital disinformation.

Trump is likely to boost military spending in his second term, but most other agencies face seriously slashed budgets in the coming years. Although under the defense umbrella, cybersecurity will likely be amongst those to lose out on funding.

Governments across the globe are facing a dramatic surge in cyberattacks, with Government organizations seeing a 236% increase in malware attacks, so cybersecurity will be a key consideration for the foreseeable future.

Via NextGov

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Some lucky users have spotted YouTube Music’s 2024 Recap, but there’s still been no word of Spotify Wrapped 2024.

Some users have spotted YouTube Music’s 2024 Recap in the streaming serviceA user shared screenshots to Reddit, suggesting that this year’s music roundup could come earlier There’s still been no word from Spotify on when Wrapped 2024 will drop

It’s getting to that time of year when music enthusiasts are patiently waiting for their yearly roundups from the best music streaming services and, as usual, details of Spotify Wrapped 2024 are very much hush-hush. However a few lucky YouTube Music subscribers have already spotted its 2024 music recap, which could point to an early release date and beat Spotify to the punch.

While YouTube and Google have yet to make an official announcement, Android Authority first reported that YouTube Music’s 2024 Recap seems to have been rolled out to very few lucky users – one of whom shared with the YouTube Music subreddit. In the Reddit post, the user attached two images (see below) with one showing their top five artists and tracks of the year, as well as their total minutes listened, and the other with their top five albums of the year.

Got my yearly recap from r/YoutubeMusic

Since YouTube Music took a different approach with its yearly recaps in 2022, the music streaming service has always looked to the end of November for its official launch date, landing on November 29 in 2022 and November 30 in 2023. Therefore, we’re still about a week and a half off, but by the looks of its early drop for some subscribers it could be that YouTube Music will treat us to an early annual music roundup.

What does this mean for Spotify Wrapped 2024?

There’s no doubt that Spotify Wrapped is one of the most recognized yearly recaps out of Apple Music, Tidal, and YouTube Music. But as far as its launch date goes, or even the features it may include, Spotify thrives off of the ambiguity and speculation about Wrapped. We still don’t know exactly when it will drop (my guess is the first week of December), but hopefully Spotify has seen that YouTube Music is teasing its yearly recap and will start to drop more hints.

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Cloning your voice with AI is almost too easy.

Listening to your own voice saying words you’ve never said before is an unsettling experience, but in the AI future which we’re living through right now in 2024, it’s almost unsurprising. Of course, AI can now clone your voice and make it sound just like you! It’s almost expected, isn’t it?

What is surprising, to me at least, is how easy it is to do. You can access an AI voice cloner for free online, and clone your voice, then get it to say anything you want in just a few minutes. The training takes just 30 seconds, then you’re good to go. There are no real security checks or restrictions on what you can do with that voice once you’ve trained it either. So, you could make it swear, or threaten somebody. There seem to be hardly any guardrails.

Who’s that voice?

If you type in ‘AI Voice Cloner’ into a Google search bar you’ll be spoiled for choice. A lot of the voice cloners require you to sign up for a monthly fee before they will clone your voice, but quite a few of them have a free option. I tried a few of the free choices and some of them, despite promising unparalleled accuracy, produced a robotic version of my voice that was going to fool nobody. No, I had a higher goal in mind: I wanted to produce a clone of my voice that would fool my wife.

I eventually settled on Speechify to clone my voice, since it combined ease of use, full access to the voice cloner, and a 30-second training time. Once you’ve made a free account on Speechify you simply talk to your microphone for 30 seconds or longer to train your AI voice. Once you’ve done that you can type in some text and hit the Generate button to hear the words spoken back to you in your own voice.

If you’re concerned about security, Speechify has a pretty detailed privacy statement, and it does say that it will never sell your information and is committed to protecting the privacy of your data. So, your uploaded voice should be for only you to use.

I thought what I created was pretty convincing, but I needed to see what my wife thought. I crept up behind her and played a sample clip of ‘me’ and… well ok, she laughed because she could tell it was coming out of my MacBook’s speakers, but she was impressed. “Actually”, she said, “I think it sounds like you, but better”.

And that is the benefit of cloning your voice. It doesn’t make mistakes when it talks. There are no ‘ums’ and ‘ahs’ and it gets everything right the first time. If I think about how many times I’ve had to record and re-record the intros to my podcasts because I couldn’t get it quite right, I can see an obvious application for an AI voice cloner. But that’s also a danger in AI voice cloning because you can get the fake voice to say just about anything.

Daisy, the AI granny, was an AI voice created to trap scammers into long and fruitless phone calls. (Image credit: O2 Virgin Media)

Voices from the beyond

While scams that involve stealing your voice are one level of concern, the security implications have ramifications that go even beyond the grave. Recently the legendary late British talk show host, Michael Parkinson, surprised everybody by announcing that he was launching a new podcast called Virtually Parkinson. Thanks to the miracles of AI his voice would be interviewing people in real time once again. In Parkinson’s case, his estate is fully behind the podcast, but what if permission has not been given?

David Attenborough, the grandfather of the BBC’s natural history programming recently expressed unease at an AI version of his voice, describing it as “disturbing“. We live in an age where AI can create podcasts without any human interaction and even AI sports presenters are starting to appear. So, in a way, we shouldn’t be surprised that it’s so easy for AI to clone our voices, but the implications could be profound.

With AI giving celebrities (or rather, their estates) the option to continue working long after they have shuffled off this mortal coil, the future for both celebrities and individuals suddenly seems very uncertain.

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Crooks are advertising fake software hiding malware and infostealers.

Security researchers discover ad campaign for a piece of fake softwareSoftware was advertised as an AI-powered photo and video editorIn reality, it was distributing the AMOS and Lumma Stealer malware

Hackers are hiding infostealers and other malware behind fake AI-powered photo and video editors, experts have claimed.

A cybersecurity researcher alias g0njxa found a socail media advertising campaign promoting the malware, posing as a fake editor called EditPro, and propped up an accompanying website editproai[dot]pro.

Then, they created deepfake videos of Presidents Trump and Biden enjoying ice cream together, and used them in ads posted on social media sites such as X. The fake editors were built for both Windows and macOS, but anyone who falls for the trick and downloads the program, will end up installing either Lumma Stealer or AMOS.

Lumma and AMOS

Lumma Stealer is a malware-as-a-service (MaaS) tool designed to steal sensitive information, including login credentials, cookies, browsing history, credit card data, and cryptocurrency wallet details.

The malware employs sophisticated techniques like process injection and encrypted communications with command-and-control servers, making it challenging to detect and mitigate. It has been active since 2022, with frequent updates enhancing its evasion and data theft strategies.

AMOS, short for Attack Management and Operations System, is a platform that enables threat actors to manage malware campaigns with minimal technical skills. It acts as a command-and-control (C2) system, and provides tools for deploying malware, managing infected systems, and exfiltrating stolen data.

It is typically used to coordinate large-scale attacks, automating many aspects of the cybercriminal workflow.

If you downloaded the fake EditPro software, assume that all of your passwords, and sensitive information stored on the device, are compromised. As such, make sure to first remove any traces of the malware from the computer, before updating all passwords and other sensitive data. Enable 2FA wherever possible, and move your cryptos and NFTs to a new wallet with a new seed phrase.

Via BleepingComputer

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After around six years on offer, Equinix Metal is set to be discontinued from June 30, 2026.

Equinix Metal will no longer be sold from June 30, 2026Performance, security and stability updates will be prioritized until thenMarket dominance by established hyperscalers makes it hard to compete

Equinix has confirmed it will discontinue its bare-metal infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) platform from June 2026.

The decision to ax Equinix Metal was communicated to customers in a letter from Chief Business Officer Jon Lin and Chief Sales Officer Mike Campbell, giving a warning period of more than 18 months.

New features are no longer being prioritized for Equinix Metal, however the company promises to continue delivering performance, security and stability features until it is sunsetted.

Equinix Metal given 2026 end-of-life date

Equinix’s bare-metal service is a fairly recent addition to the company’s portfolio. It came about after the company acquired hosting company packet for $100 million, but will have only been available for a period of around six years once it gets discontinued on June 30, 2026.

Besides continuing to offer the relevant updates, Equinix is also offering to support customers in transitioning to alternative solutions, including collocation, managed and third-party services.

The service has been launched to allow businesses to deploy x86 and Arm servers within Equinix’s data centers, however CFO Keith Taylor suggested that Metal accounts for just 1.25% of the company’s revenue, which ultimately led to the decision to end support for the product.

The company confirmed: “Equinix is moving towards the end-of-life for our bare metal as a service product as we focus on the growth and acceleration of parts of our business, like colocation, interconnection, and hyperscale.”

More broadly, in October 2024 Equinix signed a joint venture deal to raise $15 billion to build xScale data centers for hyperscaler clients in a nod to the surging demand for AI-driven workloads.

The decision to retreat from the market is also a reflection of the highly competitive landscape, dominated primarily by hyperscalers like Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud.

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