This week we published all our reviews of Apple's new tech so you can find out exactly what we thought of it, we were disappointed when iOS 18 launched without Apple Intelligence, and we downloaded 40 free games for our Steam Deck through our Amazon Prime membership.
All of that and much more is covered in our ICYMI roundup below.
Next week, you can look forward to Meta Connect 2024, which we expect to be packed with new developments in XR (a space for VR, AR, and MR) and AI. We’ll be sure to bring you up to date with everything you need to know about the event.
6. iOS 18 was released without Apple Intelligence
With the arrival of this year's new iPhones, we also have a new version of iOS to play with: iOS 18. It's coming to all iPhones released after the iPhone XS, including the second-generation SE, and introduces several new features.
Home screen customization has been improved, so you can finally move apps around to reveal more of your wallpaper. The Messages app has been revamped to add text effects and RCS support, and a few minor changes have been redesigned, including the Photos app and Control Center.
Unfortunately, Apple Intelligence (iOS 18’s core tool) isn’t available yet. It will begin rolling out with support for US English in the 18.1 update in October. However, other English variants won’t arrive until December, and core tools like Genmoji, Image Playground, and Siri screen recognition aren’t expected to arrive until much later in iOS 18’s lifespan. A scattershot rollout that has certainly clouded things.
5. We review Apple's new technology
It's Apple's availability week, and TechRadar is the place to go to read our in-depth reviews, covering our full thoughts on all of the Cupertino-based company's handsets. To kick things off, our editor-at-large Lance Ulanoff took on the iPhone 16 Pro Max, calling it a “beautiful, intelligent beast.” Read his full review to learn more about the impact of a larger display (up from 6.5 to 6.7 inches), faster processor, and new cameras that make all the difference.
Of course, there's also the standard iPhone 16, which has received a significant upgrade, and TechRadar's Jacob Krol tackled the review of that one, noting that it's more Pro than ever thanks to a super-fast A18 chip, the arrival of two buttons, and vibrant colours. He also reviewed the Apple Watch Series 10, noting that it's “more than meets the eye from every angle”, alluding to the larger displays on both models and improved viewing angles, all housed in a smaller build.
TechRadar also has full reviews of the iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro and AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation.
4. Anker felt the heat by recalling three of its power banks
It wasn't a great week to own an Anker power bank — or at least, one of the three models the company had to recall this week due to the discovery of a potential fire hazard.
If you own an Anker 334 MagGo Battery (PowerCore 10K), Anker Power Bank, or Anker MagGo Power Bank, you should stop using it now and complete the Anker recall form to obtain a replacement.
The cause is apparently a manufacturing defect in some models that causes overheating. Anker says it has now switched suppliers and that owners of its other batteries need not worry. But the news has been an unwelcome addition to the to-do list of those unlucky enough to buy one of those three batteries.
3. ChatGPT started sending messages first… but OpenAI fixed it
For a few days, it seemed like ChatGPT had been updated in a way that no one expected: it was first messaging users. Apparently, it was able to do this because it was following up on a conversation it had previously had with users who had mentioned that they were starting school in a few days or were trying to talk about medical symptoms.
Some were skeptical of the situation, even suggesting ways it could have been spoofed, but OpenAI had the final say. It revealed that ChatGPT messaging was a bug, not a new feature, and added that it had been fixed.
Given the level of excitement generated by the possibility of ChatGPT tracking on its own, we wouldn't be surprised to see the tool actually launch at some point.
2. DJI introduced us to the Osmo Action 5 Pro
DJI has announced its first action camera under the ‘Pro’ name, offering a host of impressive new features including an industry-first 4nm chip, four-hour battery life (double that of the GoPro Hero 13 Black), 20m water resistance (which is again double that of its rivals), and larger, punchier twin OLED displays.
We’ve reviewed the flagship action camera before, and there are plenty of areas where it steals GoPro’s crown, but it’s not a one-sided battle. While the Osmo Action 5 Pro has industry-leading 4K image quality and low-light performance, it can’t shoot 5.3K video like the Hero 13 Black or 8K video like the Insta 360 Ace Pro, nor does it have GoPro-style lens attachments for different looks.
However, DJI’s unique take on action cameras has a lot to offer, adequately satisfying content creators with attention to detail, and it seems DJI is making the biggest stride in this space.
1. Amazon gave away 40 of the best Steam Deck games
If you're an Amazon Prime member and a Steam Deck user, pay attention. As long as you have an active membership, you'll be able to enjoy over 40 free games of the best Steam Deck games. But hurry, because some are already starting to go.
There is one caveat to note: these versions of the games are not available directly on Steam. Instead, you'll need to purchase them through the Epic Game Store, Amazon Games Store, or GOG. However, you can rely on the Heroic Games Launcher and shortcuts to help simplify the process of playing them on Steam Deck.
