This week, Apple finally set a date for its iPhone launch (September 9, if you were wondering), and gamers got their first taste of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 — and you got to join them.
To help you catch up on these and other top tech news stories of the week, we have this handy ICYMI roundup with details on all of them, plus links to further reading if you want to know more.
Once you're up to speed, you'll be well positioned for the busy weeks ahead. Next week is IFA in Berlin (a huge tech show that we'll be traveling to so you can get the inside scoop on all the cool stuff on display there) and of course the week after that is all about Apple.
7. Apple just sent out invites for the iPhone 16 event
“It's time to shine”… well, almost… Apple sent out invites for its next event this week setting September 9 as the day we'll almost certainly see the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max (assuming Apple doesn't throw us an extreme curveball).
We also expect Apple to treat us to new Apple Watches. There are rumored to be three: the Apple Watch 10 (or perhaps the X if it copies the iPhone), a new Apple Watch Ultra, and a plastic Apple Watch SE, which could bring the price down significantly.
The star of the show, hinted at by the Siri-like glow of the invitation emblem, will be Apple’s AI. It was announced at WWDC 2024 and we should finally be able to get a glimpse of Apple’s AI solution, an area of technology where it currently lags far behind its rivals.
6. Black Ops 6 Early Access is Now Live
Every Call of Duty release is a monumental moment in the gaming calendar, and some players can get a head start on the game by joining the Call of Duty Black Ops 6 betas that begin this weekend. Starting today, August 30, players can jump into the game ahead of its full release to try out all of the new weapons and the much-hyped Omnimovement, Black Ops 6’s revamped player movement feature.
In terms of what players can expect, the Black Ops 6 beta will include multiple maps (such as Skyline, Rewind, and Scud) and game modes including Kill Order, Team Deathmatch, Domination, and Hardpoint.
Maps and modes will be added gradually over the first weekend, with players able to reach level 20 before the cap is raised to level 30 on the second weekend. Custom loadouts will also be offered, but you'll need to reach level 4 first, though we recommend trying out the default loadouts first to see how the new game's weapons feel.
This is the first beta period (with another one coming next week), and the early access period runs from August 30 to September 4. The second open beta period runs from September 6 to September 9, and both are perfect opportunities for fans to dive in before the game's full release on October 25.
5. Garmin Fenix 8 and Enduro 3 landed
Garmin has launched two highly-anticipated new watches this week. The first is the Garmin Fenix 8. It comes in three sizes, with two display options (AMOLED or solar-powered MIP) and boasts incredible battery life – even the AMOLED version offers a 29-day battery life in smartwatch mode.
To put that into context, if you didn’t use the GPS on either watch, you’d have to charge an Apple Watch Ultra 2 a whopping 19 times by the time you finished with the Fenix 8. New sports features like an immersive mode, revamped maps, and smarter “dynamic routing” – which generates a route back to the start of your run while you’re still on the way out – are the icing on the cake. The starting price is $999.99/£869.99/AU$1,699 for the 43mm model.
The Garmin Enduro 3 shares many of the features that make the Fenix 8 great, including the new dynamic routing feature, topographical maps, and up to 90 days of battery life in smartwatch mode. The Enduro line has always been a tool for endurance enthusiasts like triathletes and ultrarunners, and while it's a little cheaper than the Fenix 8 ($899.99/£769.99/AU$1,549), it might not have quite as much appeal.
4. Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 appears on the scene
The original Shokz OpenRun Pro are some of the best bone conduction headphones on the market, so we're eager to try out the newly announced OpenRun Pro 2. Up front, the battery life is longer than its predecessor, at 12 hours instead of 10. It's not a huge increase, but the OpenRun Pro 2 can last 2.5 hours on a five-minute charge, perfect for plugging in before a run.
The OpenRun Pro 2 also features a combination of bone conduction drivers and air conduction speakers, designed to provide more powerful bass than the original OpenRun Pro, and multipoint connectivity allows two devices to be paired at once.
Otherwise, the OpenRun Pro 2 hasn't changed much from an aesthetic or design standpoint. However, the original design was so successful that Shokz adheres to that old adage: if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
3. Beware of ChatGPT, Artifacts turned Claude into a top AI contender
If you were asked to list AI chatbots, you would probably say ChatGPT, Gemini, Apple Intelligence and a few others, but one you might not know about is Claude, but after this week, Claude has shown us that it is definitely not an AI that anyone should ignore.
This is thanks to his new Artifacts tool, a feature that allows Claude to show you a working prototype of the project you're working on with him, such as a website or app that Claude is helping you design, or a presentation he's helping you put together. Best of all, you can choose to share Artifacts with other Claude users or play around with any of his creations to make something new.
You can achieve a similar effect with other AI on PC, but you’d first have to open a separate app that can convert the chatbot’s code or design suggestions, and you’d have to manually make any changes Claude suggests as you iterate on your design. With Artifacts, it all happens automatically.
It's currently rolling out to all users, even those on Claude's free plan, and coupled with Claude's focus on privacy, it's seemingly shaping up to be a very strong rival to ChatGPT.
2. Information about the DJI Neo is leaked, suggesting a drone theft
Not only has Italian YouTuber enontheroad shown us all the hardware we'll be getting with the launch of DJI's upcoming beginner-friendly drone, the DJI Neo, but we've also learned that it will apparently be priced at €199 (or around $220 / £167 / AU$325).
Leaks should obviously be taken with a grain of salt, but if they turn out to be true, the Neo could be a real bargain when it launches.
It won't be long before we know more, as the official reveal takes place on September 5 at 6am Pacific time/9am Eastern time/2pm UK time.
1. We said “Hello Barbie” to Barbie's flip phone
We have been convinced that life in plastic is It's been fantastic since the Barbie movie hit cinema screens last year, and Nokia manufacturer HMD seems to think so too. The Finnish manufacturer launched the Barbie foldable phone this week, a Kenergized A reimagining of a feature-rich Nokia phone, with interchangeable covers, a beaded lanyard and software surprises. Priced at $129, £99 or AU$199, this collaboration with Mattel offers an affordable dose of nostalgia for Barbie fans and Y2K-obsessed fashionistas.
It's not just the aesthetics that remind us of another era. Like most of HMD's feature phones, the Barbie Flip Phone doesn't have the modern conveniences we take for granted in smartphones. It doesn't have social media access, and the camera isn't even HD. However, Barbie fans in the US get an upgraded model, with a 5MP camera, more storage, and a more powerful operating system.
