**ISPs Throttling Network Traffic, Study Finds**
A recent study published by researchers from Northeastern University confirms that internet service providers (ISPs) are throttling network traffic, a practice that is not surprising to many. The data, which was set up for an exhaustive study and published in 2019, highlights the trend of arbitrary throttling by many US cellular providers. Throttling occurs when ISPs slow down or limit the speed of internet traffic, often at peak hours or without any apparent reason.
The study found that throttling is not just limited to video streaming services like YouTube and Netflix, but also targets other types of network traffic. What's more alarming is that throttling tends to be aimed at specific services, a phenomenon known as "differentiation." This is a violation of the previous net neutrality framework, which was struck down earlier this year. The study reveals that ISPs are cherry-picking which network traffic to throttle, often without any discernible reason or justification.
The report found that throttling is happening discriminately 24/7, even when the network appears to be uncongested. This is particularly concerning because it suggests that ISPs are not only targeting specific services but also engaging in unfair practices that can harm consumers. The study highlights the big ISPs, such as AT&T and Verizon, as being at the focal point of these issues. However, the data also shows that smaller, lesser-known ISPs are happy to follow suit.
One notable example is Hue's network systems, a subsidiary of Hewes Communications, which is actually a satellite provider. According to the study, they are guilty of throttling Netflix to a level as low as 0.7 megabits per second, with no apparent reason for doing so. This raises concerns that rampant throttling will extend to wired networks, which were already experiencing issues before net neutrality was gutted.
**Gamer Segmentation Report**
A recent report from research company Eat Our Eeda reveals some interesting insights about the gaming community in America. According to the 20-18 gamer segmentation report, 67% of Americans identify as gamers, which seems like a relatively low percentage considering the growing popularity of gaming. However, when broken down further, the numbers reveal that there is a significant overlap between different types of gamers.
The report found that 52% of gamers play on PC, while another 42% play on consoles or designated devices. Mobile gaming accounts for 60% of the gamers who identified as such, which is not surprising given the widespread popularity of mobile devices. However, some of these numbers can overlap, and it's possible that individuals may play on multiple platforms.
One interesting finding from the report is that PC gaming is far from dead. Despite claims to the contrary over the past decade, the data suggests that PC gaming remains a significant force in the industry. This challenges the common narrative that PC gaming is no longer relevant or popular.
**Overclocking Utility**
Video has recently introduced a new scanner for automatic overclocking utility, which launches a scanning program that checks various voltage and frequency settings to build a pretty good overclock based on performance characteristics. The software is designed to work with twenty series cards and aims to provide better performance without requiring manual intervention.
The new scanner is built upon the same principles as previous versions but has been rebuilt with improvements in mind. According to Tom Peterson, who was interviewed about the new scanner, it can help users achieve stable overclocking with minimal effort. However, as always, manual overclocking remains the gold standard for enthusiasts, and automatic tools should not be relied upon alone.
The scanner is currently available as a one-click utility that promises decent performance without requiring much user input. While no software can match the precision of manual overclocking, this new tool might prove useful for those who want to boost their system's performance with minimal effort.
**Hardware Deals**
Finally, some hardware deals worth noting include a threadripper CPU that has been marked down significantly from its launch price and will likely stay there for now. The report suggests that there is no reason to buy the latest and greatest processors if you don't need them, as this particular model provides solid performance at an attractive price.
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