It’s been a busy week in the world of technology. I say it every time, but it’s not every week that Apple launches its first-ever XR headset. In fact, this is the company’s first foray into a new product category since the original Apple Watch launched in 2015, so you’ll be excused for being a little excited.
But Apple isn’t the only game in town. Elsewhere, Samsung and Google have started rolling out their Android AirDrop alternatives, while Ninja has announced his Double Stack Air Flyer. It’s a big deal, trust us.
On top of that, as always, there are rumors and software updates for your favorite gadgets. There’s a lot to keep track of.
So, to help you catch up on the important news of the week, we’ve compiled a list of the 7 biggest technology news articles published on TechRadar over the past 7 days.
There’s also a TikTok version below if you want to enjoy it in video format.
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7. Amazon’s iRobot Roomba acquisition was a huge failure.
What do you get when you combine Amazon Astro with an iRobot Roomba? We don’t know anymore, as this week, hopes for Amazon to acquire iRobot were dashed by the increasingly formidable forces of EU regulation. After Amazon withdrew from the deal, iRobot was left to clean up the mess, including drastic cuts in R&D costs and staff.
For now, there are no major changes to iRobot’s dust removal army. We think this is one of the best robot vacuums you can buy. The current lineup will continue to run, and existing owners have nothing to worry about. Some may be relieved that iRobot’s map data will no longer be shared with Amazon. But only time will tell how much this limits iRobot’s future plans and where Amazon takes its home robots next.
6. This OM system lens boasted an incredible zoom
OM System announced their new flagship mirrorless camera OM-1 II, but the new super telephoto zoom lens announced at the same time got us even more excited. Based on the design of the Sigma 150-600mm f/5.0-6.3 full-frame “sport” lens, the OM System version achieves an effective range of 1200mm due to his 2x crop factor of the Micro Four Thirds system. This makes it the world’s longest zoom lens for mirrorless cameras.
But that’s not all. This lens also supports a 2x teleconverter, so you can shoot up to 2400mm. Yes, it is. And it not only has a longer reach than the Samsung Space Zoom, but it also has a high-quality camera system that boasts incredible image stabilization. The latter fact should make these outrageous focal lengths actually handheld. So it can be a dream, especially for wildlife photography.
We’ll be doing a full review of the camera and lens soon, so watch this space for our verdict.
5. MSI Claw comes with a hefty price tag.
MSI’s Intel-based “Claw” handheld gaming PC, the latest Windows-powered Steam Deck rival, has gotten official pricing. Unfortunately for some fans, Steam Deck appears to remain the cheapest option for now.
The top-of-the-line MSI Claw with an Intel Core Ultra 7-155H CPU and 1TB of storage costs $799.99 (about £635 / AU$1,215), but the cheapest version (downgrading the processor to a Core Ultra 5-135H) and 512GB storage) is priced at $699.99 (approximately £550/AU$1,060).
This puts the Claw firmly in the same price range as competing high-end PC handhelds like the Asus ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion Go. However, the former of these two of his cars recently enjoyed a price drop of its own.
4. Rumor has it that Samsung’s foldable products will be cheaper.
One of the biggest drawbacks to foldable phones like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is cost. Most of them are more expensive than top-of-the-line flagship models like the newly released Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. But things could change with the release of Samsung’s next foldable phone.
This, according to a report from The Elec, suggests that Samsung may use a new method to create bezels for this year’s foldable devices, and it will be used on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Samsung Galaxy Z It is expected to be Flip 6.
Rumor has it that Samsung is considering moving to inkjet printing for the bezels, which would help reduce manufacturing costs without compromising quality. If Samsung passes on those savings to consumers, this year’s foldable smartphones could be more affordable than ever.
Of course, there’s already a Galaxy Fold FE in development, which is expected to be cheaper than other Folds by default. After all, that’s the whole point of the FE line. So if the Fold FE does indeed arrive, and also features an ink-printed bezel, we could end up with a much more affordable foldable phone.
3. Android announces integrated AirDrop rival
After teasing it at CES 2024 earlier this year, Samsung and Google have started rolling out a combined version of Quick Share, finally bringing AirDrop’s true rival to Android.
Most Android devices previously used Nearby Share, while Samsung phones used Quick Share to quickly send files between nearby devices. However, these two systems did not interact with each other. This new quick sharing system is best used by two people using his Android phone, no matter what model they have (as long as it has regular OS updates), just like AirDrop. This means you can easily send photos and files to each other. On your iPhone.
Additionally, Samsung officials say the system will also enable sharing with nearby Windows PCs by Q3 2024 (July-September).
2. iOS 18 rumors foretell big changes
This week, Bloomberg’s Mark Garman reported that iOS 18 could be “one of the biggest iOS updates in Apple’s history,” and we now know what’s next for the company. We’re even more excited about the arrival of a major iPhone software overhaul.
Apple itself had already hinted that iOS 18 would be an “ambitious and engaging” update with “major new features and design,” but Garman’s comments mark Apple’s first major foray into AI. Enthusiasm for what was expected was further inflamed.
Siri, Messages, Apple Music, Pages, and more are set to receive major AI-based improvements in 2024, with the former reportedly gearing up for a ChatGPT-style revamp. In fact, according to serial leaker Revegnus, Apple is currently “completely revamping Siri into the ultimate virtual assistant” using its own LLM (Large-Scale Language Model). is. Apple has confirmed that it will add support for RCS messaging to its iPhones at some point in 2024, and this long-awaited feature is expected to debut in its iOS 18 later this year. .
1. Vision Pro has arrived.it was everything we wanted
Apple Vision Pro, Apple’s new mixed reality headset, is far from perfect. It’s expensive, a bit heavy, and has battery debris attached, but after just over two days of use and logging several hours of work, playback, and content consumption with the headset on, Apple is a great product. It can be said that We may have truly reinvented the universe.
As we write this article, Apple is finally giving the world access to its first Spatial Computer through an in-store activation that you can try in “guest mode.” This is a chance to experience eye and gesture control, 360-degree environments, spatial photography, virtual desktops, and more. You can also decide how you feel about weight and the slightly creepy Persona and Eyesight. It might make sense to read his first two-day experience, then make an appointment at his local Apple retailer to decide if the $3,500 headset is right for you. .
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