Researchers at the Worceseter Polytechnic Institute, Masschusetts, USA and the University of Lübeck, Germany warn of a new speculative execution security flaw present in modern Intel Core processors.

Dubbed "SPOILER" (or "Speculative Load Hazards Boost Rowhammer and Cache Attacks"), the flaw potentially allows attackers to extract passwords, keys and other data from memory using malicious JavaScript in a web browser. As such it is reminiscent of the Spectre vulnerabilities discovered earlier last year, although the researchers say the SPOILER flaw comes from a different hardware unit, the Memory Order Buffer.

Taiwanese PC hardware maker ECS launches the LIVA Q2-- a tiny mini-PC the size of a mouse yet still capable of powering 4K visuals through an Intel Pentium Silver/Celeron processor with integrated Intel HD 600 series graphics.

Ideal for various applications, including home entertainment, smart offices and even digital signage and smart retail solutions, the LIVA Q2 runs on Windows 10 and decodes HEVC 10-bit media through a revised video engine. An HDMI 2.0 output complete with CEC allows users to control the connected display.

MWC 2019 sees the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) present a rebranding of the USB 3.0 standard-- the upcoming USB 3.2 will absorb prior USB 3.0 and 3.1 specifications, leading to a perhaps confusing take on USB classification.

Essentially both USB 3.0 and 3.1 will now be considered as generations of the USB 3.2 specification. Thus USB 3.0, which offers speeds up to 5 Gbps, is now USB 3.2 Gen 1. Meanwhile USB 3.1 Gen 2, with support for transfer rates of up to 10 Gbps, becomes USB 3.2 Gen 2. As for what we know as USB 3.2, with throughput reaching 20 Gbps, the standard is designated as USB 3.2 Gen 2x2.

Alphacool combines a CPU water cooling block, pump and reservoir into a single product-- the Eisbaer Solo, a compact piece of hardware the company says is compatible with most standard liquid cooling gear.

The Eisbaer Solo uses the DC-LT Low Noise Ceramic Pump found in many Alphacool products, with 4W power consumption and performance reaching 2600rpm. It has a 0.85m delivery head with a 70L/h maximum flow rate, while the reservoir features standard G1/4" threads for compatibility with "all standard water cooling connections. The reservoir is filled via the fill port on top of the housing, enabling quick cooling management.