ImgBurn v.2.5.2.0 Released


Recommended Posts

xnd8u8.jpg

ImgBurn is a lightweight CD / DVD / HD DVD / Blu-ray burning application that everyone should have in their toolkit! ImgBurn supports a wide range of image file formats - including BIN, CUE, DI, DVD, GI, IMG, ISO, MDS, NRG and PDI. It supports Unicode folder/file names, so you shouldn't run in to any problems if you're using an international character set. It's a very flexible application with several advanced features that are often lacking in other tools, especially when it comes to burning DVD Video discs. It supports all the latest drives without the need for updates (including booktype / bitsetting / advanced settings on many of the major ones - i.e. BenQ, LiteOn, LG, NEC, Plextor, Samsung, Sony). There is an image queue system for when you're burning several images (which you can automatically share between multiple drives if you have more than one) and an easy-to-use layer break selection screen for double layer DVD Video jobs.

ImgBurn v.2.5.2.0 Released

Wednesday 1st September 2010

Whats New

? Added: Built in support for 'ATAPI iHBS' drives for the auto booktype/advanced settins stuff.

? Added: Option within the installer to manipulate the registry key / GPO to do with allowing access to drives within a remote session.

? Added: New icons in Vista / 7 style (rather than the now 'dated' XP look).

? Added: Workaround for a firmware bug in the 'Read Track Information' command on the Asus DVD-E616P (FW: 1.04) drive.

? Added: An 'ImgBurn' icon at the 'All Programs' top level within the start menu (Only Windows Vista+).

? Added: Support for reading the layer break position from the image file descriptor within a Nero (NRG) image file.

? Added: Options that allow the user to override which info should be used to create the program's internal disc layout info. (1 = TOC, 2 = Disc/Track Info, 3 = Disc Capacity (Basic single session/track!)) Buggy firmware on certain drives may benefit from using TOC info for DVD media rather than the now default Disc/Track Info.

? Added: Option to allow non compliant file/folder creation dates in the UDF file system (only applies to UDF 2.00+). Normally, the creation date must be before the modified/accessed date and it's 'tweaked' so that's always true. (I take the 'Modified' date to be the most important of the 3 as that's what's displayed in Explorer)

? Added: Workaround for LiteOn/Samsung drives that report an incorrect 'Logical Track Size' for DVD-R/DVD-RW discs where the track size is 1 sector over being divisible (exactly) by 16.

? Added: Ability to read the layer break position (put in by Rimage software) from a special field in the ISO9660 PVD.

? Added: You can now opt to have the Explorer/Disc panes side by side (rather than stacked) in the Disc Layout Editor window.

? Added: When device enumeration of 'Auto Loaders' is enabled, you can now choose which types to search for (Acronova / Primera Technology).

? Added: Option where you can configure the PreGap detection command order (1 = Read CD, 2 = Read SubChannel, 3 = Read CDDA).

? Added: Support for Primera Technology auto-loaders.

? Added: 'Underburning' option to the 'Warnings' group within the Settings. This will allow you to configure if the program should tell you that you can burn to a single layer disc and don't need to use the double layer disc in the drive.

? Added/Changed: The program now warns you (by means of a log entry) if loading a project or queue file failed. (i.e. for 'Advanced' mode, if a file/folder mentioned in the IBB no longer exists)

? Added/Changed: One extra method of generating and suggesting a volume name in Build mode when the user hasn't entered one themselves.

? Added/Changed: Lots of error handling code to hopefully enable better (more useful) error reports from Eurekalog/madExcept.

? Changed: When loading the settings from an ini file (via the /SETTINGS CLI parameter), the program will attempt to load the settings from the registry if the ini file doesn't exist (rather than just using the defaults).

? Changed: The 'Close' -> 'Track' tool now closes the last track on the disc (as reported by the disc information command) rather than being fixed on track 1.

? Changed: When the GUI font is set to 'Segoe UI', the program now uses size 9 rather than size 8 (http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa511282.aspx).

? Changed: Switched to using madExcept for catching errors and sending logs instead of Eurekalog. (Just testing something out!)

? Changed: Updated to latest revision of the Explorer Treeview/Listview components used in the DLE window of Advanced Build mode.

? Changed: Using FastMM v4.92 memory manager again (like in 2.5.0.0) rather than the Borland/CodeGear default one (like in 2.5.1.0). Newer versions of FastMM have given odd access violations during the beta cycle so sticking with 4.92 for now.

? Changed: The DLE window now works on / remembers percentages rather than actual sizes for the explorer pane and folder treeviews - so they can be applied directly when switching from stacked to side by side view and vice versa.

? Changed: The installer wipes out the file splitting settings (due to new values being added to the list) - should have done this in 2.5.1.0 but I forgot.

? Changed: Handling of DirectShow errors so that if anything fails when 0 bytes have been processed, you no longer have the option to call that the end of the file and continue.

? Changed: Moved the running of the Toolbar checker program (checks to see if the toolbar should be offered at all) to before the installer GUI loads - so now there's no pause between pages.

? Changed: Re-wrote the installer so the Ask Toolbar gets installed along with the rest of the files (if it's selected of course!) and not the second you click the 'Next/Install' button on the toolbar offer page. (No freeze when clicking 'Next' and looks nicer)

? Changed: Now using the 'MainFormOnTaskbar' option (when running Vista+) so you can interact with the program properly via the taskbar. There are z-order issues with doing this but you'll just have to live with them!

? Changed: Uniblue desktop (internet) shortcuts are now more obvious within the installer and are deselected by default. You can also pick to have just 1 of them if you so wish rather it being all or nothing.

? Changed: Uniblue links within the program itself are totally gone. (Everything is back to normal - phew!)

? Changed/Fixed: The keyboard shortcuts for switching modes and showing/hidings certain windows now use Shift+Ctrl+? instead of Ctrl+Alt+?. The Ctrl+Alt+? ones prevented certain letters from working on non-English setups.

? Changed/Fixed: The installer creates the uninstall.exe earlier on now so that it exists before the 'Uninstall' shortcut gets created - fixes an issue where the shortcut doesn't have the correct icon under Windows 7.

? Changed/Fixed: The user can now select if 'BiDiMode' should be 'Left To Right' / 'Right To Left'.

? Fixed: An internal table containing file system info during a Read/Verify operation was using an incorrect start LBA value for files when UDF 2.50+ was being used. (Only used when logging which file a certain bad sector belongs to)

? Fixed: 'Soft link' (Symbolic link) files were added to Build mode compilations with a size of 0 rather than the size of the file they linked to.

? Fixed: The 'Include Reparse Point Files' option wasn't working in 'Standard' build mode.

? Fixed: Potential infinite loop when an error occurs re-enabling media control notification (MCN).

? Fixed: Workaround for a Borland/CodeGear/Embarcadero bug in the TComoboBoxEx component regarding the size of the drop down list, the ItemHeight and the DropDownCount.

? Fixed: The 'Write Queue' window would open partially hidden behind the taskbar if it was aligned at the top of the screen.

? Fixed: Bug where an extra trailing backslash ('\') would be added to a BDAV/BDMV folder name when the program automatically created one as part of adding a 'known' BD Video file to the compilation.

? Fixed: Wasn't removing the file association 'OpenWithProgids' registry values when uninstalling.

? Fixed: Invalid info in 'Write Speed Miscompare' warnings in the log if the write speed is set to 'MAX' and the commands used to set the write speed fail (i.e. due to DMA issues).

? Fixed: Taskbar button text swapping between 0% and x% when formatting a disc at the start of a DVD-RW burn when the Incremental write type is being used.

? Fixed: Reading a couple of track information flags (NWA_V and LRA_V) from the wrong byte in the information data (Doh!).

? Fixed: Bug in the DLE window where if you bring up the context menu on a certain item and then delete it, if you press the Delete key again you'll get an Access Violation.

? Fixed: Explorer treeview/listview on DLE window were forcing 'Black' as the text colour for the first column.

? Fixed: Mouse wheel scrolling bug in the Explorer style combobox component within the 'Disc Layout Editor' window.

? Fixed: Couldn't set 'Delete Incomplete Files' (Settings -> Events) to 'No'.

? Fixed: (Hopefully) an issue where a thread could be created after they're all supposed to have been destroyed and this then causes an access violation.

? Fixed: Bug that could prevent the new (in v2.5.1.0) MCN/ISRC subchannel scanning code from running.

? Fixed: Cancelling any of the prompts about building such and such a disc (or anything before 'Operation Started' goes into the log) wouldn't actually abort a build operation.

? Fixed: Potential access violation when performing a drag+drop operation and setting the drop description.

? Fixed: Potential access violation when parsing APE tags.

? Fixed: Potential access violation when connecting directshow filters fails.

? Fixed: Issues with pure ISO9660 images and file/folder names using double byte characters based on the system locale.

? Fixed: Issue in the Explorer style component (from MustangPeak) that caused a 'No Disk' type of error to pop up when selecting 'My Computer' in the treeview on the left.

? Fixed: Access violation when detecting regional code of DVD Video files if an IFO was missing from the set.

? Fixed: Potential 'Divide By Zero' error as a result of another error which caused a thread runtime exception.

? Fixed: Potential infinite loop problem (due to odd drive response) when analysing track PreGaps.

Download.gifDownload: ImgBurn

Link to comment
https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/934612-imgburn-v2520-released/
Share on other sites

hands down best burning application for DATA out there ;)

and as usual... just remember to UNCHECK the ask toolbar stuff.

+1

They also have the best error messages and dialog boxes of any app ever created.

+20 :D

Really good application, but I switched over to Burnaware to make music cds easier.

Whats the process like in Burnaware? In ImgBurn, it's...

Click the 'Tools' menu and select 'Create CUE File'.

Add a bunch of audio files (any mixture of formats is fine)

Click OK, and then burn the disc using the CUE file you just created.

Whats the process like in Burnaware? In ImgBurn, it's...

Click the 'Tools' menu and select 'Create CUE File'.

Add a bunch of audio files (any mixture of formats is fine)

Click OK, and then burn the disc using the CUE file you just created.

Is there any method for normalizing all the audio files before burning them to an Audio CD? I guess I could just use Foobar, but I'm wondering if it has the same functionality as Nero.

You say that a lot, but I still find it a lot more confusing than most other burning programs when doing anything but a basic folder layout.

Exactly, data cd's / dvd's isn't very straight forward. Meaning most of my customers would be confused as ****, and would never be able to figure it out. That being said , the error messages are VERY user friendly, so much so that while burning a data dvd would confuse them the error messages definitely would not.

Is there any method for normalizing all the audio files before burning them to an Audio CD? I guess I could just use Foobar, but I'm wondering if it has the same functionality as Nero.

Not sure tbh, but I don't think there is.

If not, that's definitely worth requesting for a future update.

I love the little taskbar messages/jokes etc it throws up, nice to see a bit of a sense of humour in the app :) Plus it's by far the best burning app I have ever used :)

Whats the process like in Burnaware? In ImgBurn, it's...

Click the 'Tools' menu and select 'Create CUE File'.

Add a bunch of audio files (any mixture of formats is fine)

Click OK, and then burn the disc using the CUE file you just created.

That's about the only complaint I have about this program and it needs to be fixed. It's ridiculous that a burning program can't do something as simple as burning an audio cd without having to go through extra steps like that. Try explaining to a novice user that they need to use the tools menu to create a "cue" file and then burn it and then see the look of confusion they get on their face.

That's about the only complaint I have about this program and it needs to be fixed. It's ridiculous that a burning program can't do something as simple as burning an audio cd without having to go through extra steps like that. Try explaining to a novice user that they need to use the tools menu to create a "cue" file and then burn it and then see the look of confusion they get on their face.

What? It's like 3 steps!! If they can't get their head around that, then they shouldn't be allowed on a computer, they WILL break it. :laugh:

I suppose as easy as (I think) it is, the program isn't aimed at novices.

This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Posts

    • Cheers everyone for the replies. It's been very useful. 👍
    • Compared to the 7735HS it is around 25-30% slower in multi-threaded tasks (according to Google search) I did a review of the 7735HS Beelink SER6 Max in 2023, but thinking about it, it's not comparable to the 7730U. For the example you gave about how it will be used, the 7730U is actually an excellent choice for its power and battery efficiency.
    • Yes guys I know we have a memory and storage price gouging thanks to AI datacenters, so basically you are complaining when these crazy prices get discounts. It all starts to sound like the price of gas and a loaf of bread "was so much cheaper ten years ago!" Go wait until 2030 or whenever this BS ends and skip commenting then? Damned if ya do, damned if ya don't... 🙄
    • 7 Days: Windows 11 turns five, Ford made a mistake, and Starlink plans direct mobile service by Aditya Tiwari 7 Days is a weekly roundup of picks of what's been happening in the world of technology - written with a dash of humor, a hint of exasperation, and an endless supply of (black) coffee. This week's highlights include Apple's $4 billion class-action lawsuit, a smartphone with a 14,000 mAh battery, Google catching up with Anthropic, and the Steam Summer Sale 2026. Let's get started. You can check out the recent issues of the 7 Days weekly roundup. Windows 11 turns five Microsoft's Windows 11 operating system completed five years of existence on June 24 this week. According to the latest data, the controversial operating system now runs on almost 72% of Windows PCs worldwide. The launch of Windows 11 had several dramatic twists and an entire preview build leaked ahead of launch. Ford made a mistake Many would agree that one of the biggest mistakes the automobile industry made was surrendering to the giant touchscreens and removing physical buttons. However, Ford made even more. The company executives said they made a mistake by replacing human engineers with AI. Ford admitted that AI couldn't replace experienced engineers and the company is rehiring veterans to improve quality and cut recall costs. Starlink mobile service Elon Musk's SpaceX wants to use its massive constellation of satellites to power your phone's network. The company is reportedly considering building a terrestrial mobile network to complement Starlink’s satellite coverage and planning to sell mobile phone plans directly to customers in the US as part of a wider expansion of Starlink. Our Features Our coffee-powered team published a platter of editorials, opinion posts, hands-on experiences, and guides. Check them out: Hey Google, these are the Gemini features I want in 2026 You've tried DuckDuckGo and Brave Search, now get serious with SearXNG Why Delta Chat is the best decentralized messenger you have probably never tried We check out the SKG PS700 Neck Massager SKG Hand Massager with Heat OS500 hands on Hands-on with BOOX Tappy: cute little reading accessory Hands-on with the ProtoArc EM25: Affordable ergonomic mouse that focuses on the right things Hands-on with iFlyTek AINote 2 E-Ink tablet: insanely thin and smart This week in software news Catch up on some of the latest software news updates that arrived throughout the week: Firefox 152.02: The latest browser update brought fixes for performance, translation, and cloud storage services. It addressed problems with localization, playback issues with certain MP4 files, and performance issues on websites that perform multiple encryption operations simultaneously. Ubuntu Livepatch: Canonical's zero-downtime service Livepatch arrived on Arm64 devices running Ubuntu Core 26 and Ubuntu 26.04 LTS. Livepatch allows users to apply important kernel updates without any service interruption or rebooting. AMD 26.6.2 driver: The new driver version for Radeon hardware owners brought FSR 4.1 upscaling tech to an entire generation of its products: the RX 7000 series. However, the 26.6.2 FSR driver flew dark clouds over users, breaking many Windows PCs and causing a yellow bang or other launch failures on Windows 10. AMD later pushed the 26.6.3 Hotfix update to fix the issues. Goodbye Notion email: It's been a little over a year since the AI-powered email client launched. The company has announced its shutdown, which will take effect on September 22, and said it doesn't see the point in maintaining a frontend email client when people are moving towards automation. Ventoy version 1.1.14: The biggest change in the Rufus alternative is an updated Secure Boot shim file to resolve the UEFI CA 2023 issue, a compatibility problem that affected Secure Boot environments on some systems. This week in hardware news Image: Valve Catch up on some of the latest software news updates that arrived throughout the week: 14,000 mAh battery: Yes, that's something that iPhone users can only dream of. But a Chinese company is reportedly developing a smartphone with a 14,000mAh battery. If it ever sees daylight, it would be the largest battery ever on a smartphone, possibly offering a week of backup on a single charge. Steam Machine prices: Valve finally confirmed the Steam Machine's pricing. Starting at $1,049 for the 512GB option, storage and the included controller are the biggest differences among the four variants presented. Xbox just got more expensive: Rising costs of storage and memory prompted Microsoft to raise prices. Xbox Series X|S models wth 512GB storage will cost $100 extra, and 1TB models will cost $150 extra. However, the Redmond giant discounted the 2TB models. New NVIDIA supercomputers: The company announced plans to deploy 35 high-performance (HPC) AI supercomputers across Europe this year, primarily at national supercomputer centers, AI factories, and research institutes. Fast fast memory: Samsung built the UFS 5.0 storage solution, which pushes the data transfer speeds to 10.8 GB/s on mobile devices. It can open doors for faster local AI performance, which otherwise doesn't look promising under the current scenario. Custom chips for TikTok: Qualcomm is reportedly in talks with ByteDance to build custom video chips optimized for its massive data center workloads. ByteDance needs hardware that can help it ingest, process, and serve billions of short-form videos daily. OpenAI Jalapeño: The AI giant announced its first custom-designed AI chip developed in partnership with Broadcom. Jalapeño is designed specifically for large language model inference and is the first product from a multi-generation compute platform being developed by OpenAI. Galaxy A27 5G: The new mid-range smartphone from Samsung arrived with a platter of updates over A25 5G, including a 120Hz refresh rate, Infinity-O punch-hole camera design, expanded AI features, and more. Qualcomm takes on NVIDIA: The chipmaker baked the new Dragonfly CPU, High Bandwidth Compute technology, and AI chips to challenge NVIDIA in the AI data center market. Qualcomm said its new lineup improved per-watt performance, token throughput, and total cost of ownership for AI data centers. IBM goes sub-1nm: The company reached a semiconductor milestone by announcing the world's first sub-1-nanometer chip technology, based on a 0.7nm (7-angstrom) node. It can pack nearly 100 billion transistors onto a chip the size of a fingernail. This week in Google News Image: Google Catch up on some of the latest Google news updates that arrived throughout the week: What to expect from the Pixel 11 series: The upcoming lineup is expected to feature four different variants and a price hike due to the global memory shortage. Read our detailed coverage to know about the expected Pixel 11 specs. Stopping Google: The Free Software Foundation Europe urged the European Commission to stop Google from silently reinstalling AI models and requiring registration. Users should be able to fully uninstall AI-based features from Android devices and access interoperability features. Chasing Anthropic: The Claude-maker is making new strides every day in the AI world, but the search giant is struggling to catch up. Google is said to be reshuffling its AI coding "strike team" it created roughly about two months ago, turning it into a broader model-training group amid talent losses at DeepMind. New Google Play billing: Google has faced a long legal battle with Epic Games, and the search giant is rolling out a redesigned Play Store billing and fee structure. Available in the US, UK, and the European Economic Area, it will take effect on June 30. Error-free Sheets? A new feature in Google Sheets allows Gemini to inspect formula errors and apply corrections directly in the spreadsheet. Google said the new feature can handle pretty much everything from basic arithmetic to very complex calculations. Breeze through airports: Google Wallet became the first digital wallet to integrate with TSA PreCheck Touchless ID, a program that enables travelers to move through airport security checkpoints using facial recognition instead of a physical ID or boarding pass. Built-in computer control: Gemini 3.5 Flash got a built-in tool called Computer Use, which allows developers to build agents that navigate browsers, mobile interfaces, and desktop applications. Google Finance: The redesigned platform is now out of beta. Google has added several new features, including portfolio tracking, scheduled market briefings, and a dedicated Android app. An iOS app is planned for later in 2026. This week in Apple News Image: Apple Catch up on some of the latest Apple news updates that arrived throughout the week: Trade secrets reportedly exposed: Apple's manufacturing partner in India, Tata Electronics, confirmed a cybersecurity attack on its systems that may have exposed trade secrets of Apple and Tesla. Hackers reportedly stole up to 630 GB of data and posted up to 200,000 files on the dark web. Grab your payout: Apple is facing a class-action lawsuit in the UK and might end up paying $4 billion (£3 billion) if it loses. The iPhone-maker has been accused of trapping users in iCloud by restricting rivals from fully accessing iOS. The tribunal recently set a full trial date for October 2028. iOS 27 Beta 2: Apple's latest iPhone update is moving forward, and a new beta was pushed this week. While iOS 27 Beta 2 for developers pushed several bug fixes across the system, the AirPort Utility was deprecated; it's no longer available to new users. Price hike: Just like others, Apple has raised prices of several MacBook and iPad models, including the MacBook Neo, which now starts at $699. This comes after reports that this year's iPhone will also become expensive. Second-gen iPhone Fold: While the world is desperate to see Apple's foldable iPhone, leakers have started to talk about its second generation. Apple is expected to launch a successor in Fall 2027, featuring a wider folding display while reusing the same screen found in the first generation. The search for memory: Apple is reportedly looking at blacklisted Chinese companies amid rising memory chip prices. The company is seeking clearance from the Trump administration to purchase memory from ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT). This week in Meta news Image: Meta Catch up on some of the latest Meta, WhatsApp, and Instagram updates that arrived throughout the week: WhatsApp gets a new final boss: Mark Zuckerberg announced that CRED's Kunal Shah will become the next global head of WhatsApp, as Will Cathcart steps down and moves to a new role at Meta. The social media giant invested money in CRED through a Series H funding round. AI glasses in 26 styles: A new line of Meta Glasses launched in partnership with EssilorLuxottica. Starting at $299, it comes in more than two dozen styles across different colors, lenses, and frames. More ways to doomscroll: Instagram for TV is now available on Samsung smart TVs launched in 2020 and later years. The company also announced that it's testing several new features on Instagram for TV, bringing it closer to YouTube and Netflix. This week in AI news Image: Microsoft Catch up on the latest artificial intelligence news updates that arrived throughout the week: Water-saving data center: Microsoft is building a gas-powered AI data center with a capacity of 2 gigawatts. The company will deploy a closed-loop cooling system, saying that its total lifecycle water use will be "only a fraction of that consumed annually by a typical fast-food restaurant.” OpenAI beats Claude Mythos: GPT-5.5-Cyber got a limited release for verified defenders. It scored 85.6% on CyberGym, compared with 81.8% for GPT-5.5 and 83.8% for Claude Mythos 5. The AI giant also announced a limited preview of its new GPT-5.6 model series, whose flagship model, GPT-5.6 Sol, is targeted at demanding reasoning and agentic workloads. Proceed with caution: The Trump administration instructed OpenAI to limit the distribution of GPT-5.6 to a small group of government-approved partners rather than the general public, as has happened in the past. Claude Tag: Anthropic launched its new AI teammate for Slack, enabling teams to delegate tasks to Claude directly within Slack channels. What makes it different is that it's designed to operate as a shared assistant for an entire team rather than a single user. Challenging US dominance: The UK government has funded £60 million ($70 million) to Oxford and UCL to keep the country in the AI race by building open-source, low-hardware alternatives. The two organizations will share the money over six years. Paying for AI development: One cost is the loss of human jobs. Oracle laid off about 21,000 employees (13% of its workforce) amid increasing AI adoption. The software giant said that AI advancement and adoption "may continue to result in reductions to our workforce." GitHub strips features: It removed the ability to manually detect an AI model from its Copilot Free and Student plans. In other words, its automatic routing system is the only way to choose a model. Are you a copycat? Anthropic accused Alibaba of creating about 25,000 fraudulent accounts to copy Claude's capabilities at scale. It told US lawmakers that operators linked to Alibaba generated 28.8 million exchanges with Claude between April 22 and June 5, 2026. Reserve my memory: The semiconductor company Micron revealed that AI companies are spending billions to lock up its memory years in advance. Its customers have locked in $22 billion worth of memory supply commitments. Another AI battle: A publisher group that collectively owns 400 newspapers sued OpenAI and Microsoft for scraping their content to build AI chatbots such as ChatGPT and Copilot without compensation. Anthropic AI ban: The US government partially reversed the Anthropic AI ban, allowing it to restore Claude Mythos 5. However, it can only be deployed for a limited set of US organizations that operate and defend critical infrastructure. This week in Microsoft News In some of the hottest stories of the week: Windows 10 quietly gained a year of support and updates, Windows 11 KB5095093 released with a long list of features, and Windows 11 26H2 is finally getting the ability to disable web search results in Windows 11 Search. You can check out Taras's freshly baked Microsoft Weekly roundup to catch up on all the interesting stories this week. This week in science news Image by Pascal Küffer via Pexels Catch up on some of the latest science and out-of-this-world updates that arrived throughout the week: 13 billion-year-old secret: Scientists found that the universe's first molecule (helium hyride) reacted with hydrogen much faster in cold temperatures than previously believed. It's a new breakthrough that changes our understanding of early star formation. Cosmic Living Fossil: Astronomers found CR3, a surprisingly pristine 11.5-billion-year-old galaxy dubbed a "living fossil." It suggests the universe's first generation of stars formed much later than previously assumed. Einstein's 100-year-old theory: Thanks to relativity, researchers calculated that clocks on Mars tick 477 microseconds faster per day than on Earth. This minute gravitational difference is crucial for synchronizing future interplanetary space missions. Don't panic: NASA's James Webb Telescope finally eliminated the threat of asteroid 2024 YR4 striking the moon in 2032. The rocky giant will give us a safe fly-by without causing any harm. This week in gaming? The latest issue of Pulasthi's Weekend PC Game Deals curates several exciting games on sale this week. RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 Complete Edition and Voidwrought have replaced the old titles in this week's Epic Games Store giveaway. For Xbox Free Play Days, the new titles include House Flipper 2, Blades of Fire, and Assetto Corsa Competizione. Steam Summer Sale 2026 kicked off with discounts for everything from the newest games and retro gems to all sorts of DLC packs, until July 9. Meanwhile, NVIDIA GeForce NOW added support for several new titles, including Dark Scrolls, SAND: Raiders of Sophie, and EMPULSE. That said, here are some more stories from the gaming world: Age of Empires Mobile comes to PC, here's how to carry over progress from your phone Xbox Insiders get Xbox 360 achievements and Gamertag character upgrades Grand Theft Auto VI pricing revealed alongside Ultimate Edition and pre-loading details Sony announces Bungie layoffs that will affect "significant number of employees" From the review corner This week, Steven published a review of the TerraMaster F4-425 Pro AI-powered NAS, featuring an all-metal exterior on the lines of the four-bay F4-425 series. Powered by the octa-core Intel Core N350, the TerraMaster F4-425 Pro is highly energy-efficient, operates quietly, and offers three M.2 slots. On the flip side, OpenClaw support requires removing security hardening (SPC), AI requires a paid subscription, the software feels like a beta, and the rubber feet constantly come unstuck. ZimaBoard 2 1664 Starter Kit Another NAS setup reviewed this week is the ZimaBoard 2 by IceWhale Technology. It comes in a small footprint with great modern hardware through a combo of Intel N150 and DDR5 memory support. On the downside, the memory is not upgradeable, ZimaOS is a bit barebones, factory reset requires USB flashing, and there is no automatic backup via the mobile app. Synology's BeeCamera software Christopher wrote his review of the software that powers BeeCamera Plus and said "the BeeCamera app is a great way to add private home monitoring to your network but there are some limitations." It's free with an easy setup process, fast response time, and good AI and detection features. However, there is no desktop version; it only works with Synology cameras, some configurations are difficult to set up on a phone, and it lacks the features of the surveillance station. More price drops! We got you covered with some hot tech deals all week. For some reason, if you missed out on a great discount, here is a summary of some recent deals that are still alive: Onkyo Dolby Atmos AV receivers are really solid deals 4TB TEAMGROUP MP44Q, 2TB T-Force G50, and 2TB WD My Passport SSDs drop to great prices Edifier S3000MKII hi-fi audiophile grade bookshelf speaker is at its lowest price now The best controller for XBOX and PC is down to the lowest price Limited time Prime Day deal cuts price of this Hisense 65" 4K smart TV in half To view all of our recent deals, click here. So, these were some of the biggest tech news and other updates from this week. There will be more issues of our 7 Days series in the coming weeks and months, so stay tuned. You can also support Neowin by registering for a free member account or subscribing to extra member benefits, along with an ad-free tier option. Have a great weekend!
  • Recent Achievements

    • Reacting Well
      JuvenileDelinquent earned a badge
      Reacting Well
    • One Month Later
      Excellence2025 earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • Week One Done
      Excellence2025 earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • Week One Done
      flexorcist earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • Week One Done
      Woland13 earned a badge
      Week One Done
  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      505
    2. 2
      +Edouard
      198
    3. 3
      PsYcHoKiLLa
      151
    4. 4
      Steven P.
      72
    5. 5
      FloatingFatMan
      69
  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!