It's been a busy week in the world of technology. Well, we say that all the time, but it's not every week that Apple releases its first XR headphones. In fact, it's the company's first entry into a new product category since the launch of the first Apple Watch in 2015, so forgive us if we're a little excited.
But Apple isn't the only game in town. Elsewhere, Samsung and Google have started rolling out their Android AirDrop alternative, while Ninja has unveiled a dual-stack air fryer; It's a big deal, trust us.
On top of that, there has also been the usual onslaught of rumors and software updates for your favorite devices. There is a lot to follow.
So, to help you catch up on the week's essential stories, we've compiled a list of the seven biggest tech news articles published on TechRadar in the last seven days.
And if you want to enjoy it in video format, we also have a version on TikTok below.
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7. Amazon's iRobot Roomba acquisition bit the dust
What do you get when you cross an Amazon Astro with an iRobot Roomba? Well, now we'll never know, as this week Amazon's hopes of buying iRobot were dashed by the increasingly formidable force that is EU regulation. After Amazon closed the deal, iRobot had to clean up the mess, which included massively cutting its R&D spending and staff.
For now, there won't be any major changes to iRobot's dust removal army, which we think are among the best robot vacuums you can buy. Their current range will continue to advance and current owners have nothing to worry about. Some may even be relieved that iRobot's mapping data is now no longer shared with Amazon. But time will tell to what extent this will constrain iRobot's future plans and where Amazon takes its home robotics next.
6. This OM system lens had a ridiculous zoom
OM System announced its new flagship mirrorless camera, the OM-1 II, but it was the new super telephoto zoom lens introduced alongside it that got us most excited. Based on the design of the Sigma 150-600mm f/5.0-6.3 full-frame 'Sport' lens, the OM system version has an effective reach of 1200mm, thanks to the micro four thirds system's 2x crop factor. That makes it the world's longest zoom lens for mirrorless cameras.
But that is not all. The lens also supports a 2x teleconverter, so you could double that range to 2400mm. Yes really. And not only does it have a range that surpasses the Samsung Space Zoom, but it also comes with a high-quality camera system that features incredible image stabilization. This last fact should make these ridiculous focal lengths usable on handheld devices, meaning it could be a dream for wildlife photography, in particular.
We'll be doing a full review of the camera and lens soon, so watch this space for our verdict.
5. MSI Claw fetched a high price
Steam Deck's latest Windows rival, MSI's Intel-based 'Claw' portable gaming PC, has received its official price. Unfortunately for some fans, it looks like the Steam Deck will remain the cheapest option for now.
The top-end MSI Claw with an Intel Core Ultra 7-155H CPU and 1TB of storage costs $799.99 (around £635/AU$1,215), while the cheaper version (which downgrades the processor to a Core Ultra 5-135H and offers 512GB of storage) is priced at $699.99 (around £550 / AU$1,060).
This puts the Claw firmly in the same price range as competing high-end laptops, such as the Asus ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion Go, although the former of those two enjoyed its own recent price cut.
4. Rumors promised cheaper Samsung foldables
One of the biggest drawbacks of foldable phones like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is their cost; most are more expensive than even top-of-the-line flagships, like the just-launched Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. But that could change with Samsung's upcoming foldable phone launches.
This is according to a report in The Elec, which suggests that Samsung could use a new method to create the bezels on this year's foldable devices, which we expect to be the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6.
According to rumors, Samsung is looking to transition to inkjet printing for the bezels, and that will apparently lead to a drop in manufacturing costs, without a reduction in quality. If Samsung is kind enough to pass those savings on to the consumer, this year's foldable phones could be more affordable than ever.
Of course, there will already be a Galaxy Fold FE in the works, and by default we'd expect it to be cheaper than other Folds as well; After all, that's the point of the FE line. So if the Fold FE arrives, and if it also has ink-printed bezels, we could finally be looking at a much more affordable foldable phone.
3. Android launched its unified AirDrop rival
After unveiling it at CES 2024 earlier this year, Samsung and Google began rolling out their unified version of Quick Share, finally bringing a true AirDrop rival to Android.
Most Android devices have previously used Near Share, while Samsung phones used Quick Share to quickly send files between nearby devices. But these two systems did not interact with each other. This new Quick Share system will mean that two people using one of the best Android phones will be able to easily send photos and files to each other, no matter what model they have (as long as it continues to receive regular OS updates), just like AirDrop. on iPhone.
What's more, a Samsung representative has said that this system will also allow you to share with nearby Windows PCs by the third quarter of 2024 (July to September).
2. iOS 18 Rumors Led to Major Changes
This week, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that iOS 18 could be “one of the biggest, if not the biggest, iOS updates in Apple's history,” and now we're even more excited for the next big overhaul to arrive. of the company's iPhone software.
Apple itself had already anticipated that iOS 18 will be an “ambitious and compelling” update with “important new features and designs,” but Gurman's comments have further fueled the fire of enthusiasm for what is expected to be the first major foray of Apple in AI.
Companies like Siri, Messages, Apple Music, and Pages are expected to receive significant AI-powered improvements in 2024, with the former reportedly in line for a ChatGPT-style makeover. In fact, according to serial leaker Revegnus, Apple is currently using a proprietary LLM (large language model) to “completely revamp Siri and make it the ultimate virtual assistant.” Apple has confirmed that it will also add RCS messaging support to iPhones sometime in 2024, and we expect this long-awaited feature to debut with iOS 18 later this year.
1. Vision Pro arrived and it was everything we wanted it to be
Apple Vision Pro, Apple's new mixed reality headset, is far from perfect. It's expensive, a little heavy, and has that vestigial tail of a connected battery, but after spending more than two days with it and logging several hours working, gaming, and consuming content while wearing the headphones, we can say that Apple may have truly reinvented the… ahem… space.
As we write this, Apple is finally giving the rest of the world access to its first space computer through in-store activations where you can try it out in “Guest Mode.” It will be an opportunity to experience gaze and gesture-based control, 360-degree environments, spatial photography, virtual desktops, and more. You can also decide how you feel about weight and those slightly creepy Personas and EyeSight. It might make sense to start by reading our first two days of experience and then schedule an appointment at your local Apple dealer to decide if a $3,500 headset is for you.
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