Robert Tinney, the artist whose airbrushed cover paintings defined the look of Byte magazine for over a decade, died at the age of 78 on February 1st, according to a memorial posted on his official website. Simultaneously, the tech world saw Anthropic release its Claude Cowork AI agent software for Windows, and a new analysis suggests electric vehicles could be cheaper to own than gas cars in Africa by 2040.
Tinney, the primary cover artist for Byte from 1975 to the late 1980s, helped give personal computing a visual language, translating complex topics into vivid paintings that resonated with a generation of computer enthusiasts, as reported by Ars Technica. He painted more than 80 covers for the magazine.
Meanwhile, Anthropic's Claude Cowork AI agent software launched on Windows on Monday, bringing file management and task automation to a significant portion of the desktop computing market, according to VentureBeat. The Windows version offers "full feature parity" with the macOS version, including file access, multi-step task execution, and plugins. Users can now set global and folder-specific instructions for Claude, a feature described as a "game-changer" on Reddit. This launch marks a corporate realignment, with Microsoft embracing a direct competitor to its longtime AI partner, OpenAI.
In other tech news, a new analysis suggests electric vehicles could become economically competitive in Africa sooner than expected, according to MIT Technology Review. While only 1% of new cars sold across the continent in 2025 were electric, the analysis indicates that with solar off-grid charging, EVs could be cheaper to own than gas vehicles by 2040. The report acknowledges barriers to EV adoption, including unreliable grids and limited charging infrastructure.
The Verge published its 2026 Valentine's Day gift guide, featuring a collection of 32 gifts for partners.
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