The tech news hasn't stopped this week, but we've managed to (pretty much) keep up with everything that's been happening: from innovations in artificial intelligence to Apple laptops, from Android 15 to a new Porsche, there's been a lot to process. .
With that in mind, we can forgive you for missing one or two of the week's biggest stories, which is where this “in case you missed it” recap comes in. You can be back on track in just a few minutes.
See you at the same place and same time next week for another ICYMI. Tech news may have slowed down a bit by then… but we doubt it.
8. TCL showed off its next-generation super-bright mini-LED TV
The recently unveiled TCL
It's an absolutely monstrous TV, and despite all that extra brightness, it's actually more energy efficient than TVs that use regular mini-LED backlighting. It's also surprisingly thin, considering the technology it contains.
For now, this TV is only available in China, so we don't have details on broader pricing or availability. However, expect to pay a substantial amount for the TCL X11H, and you'll also need plenty of wall space.
7. We learned about a key MacBook Air M3 update
One of the disappointments of the base model MacBook Air M2 was the (relatively) slow SSD drive that came with it, but this appears to be an issue that Apple fixed with the introduction of the M3 edition.
Based on some detailed benchmarks, it looks like SSD speeds are back to where they should be on the entry-level MacBook Air M3 (the one with 256GB of storage). Perhaps not surprisingly, Apple hasn't mentioned the change.
We're very impressed with everything the MacBook Air M3 has to offer and this just confirms our belief that this is the best laptop upgrade for most people right now. Read our full review of the 13-inch MacBook Air M3 to learn more.
6. We saw Keurig's new plastic-free K-Rounds coffee pods
Single-serve coffee systems are clearly hostile to the environment (think of all those disposable plastic K-cups), but Keurig is now ready to introduce the sustainable future of the industry with the introduction of K-Rounds.
These plastic- and aluminum-free coffee capsules are basically coffee, held together with an ultra-thin layer of alginate, a plant-based material. The only thing left at the end is a crushed ground coffee husk that can be composted.
We've seen the new K-Round coffee capsules in action, as well as the Alta Brewer: a new machine custom-built to process the new capsules. The hope is that we can start to make a dent in the 500 million metric tons of coffee capsule waste produced each year.
5. The Porsche Taycan Turbo GT was presented, with the help of Apple
The Porsche Taycan Turbo GT is the most dynamic car in the series to date, and the Weissach version of the vehicle was shown breaking lap records to prove its credentials as a super-powered sprinter.
There was something else of note in the promotional video that Porsche released: Porsche CEO Oliver Blume watching the Taycan Turbo GT in action in augmented reality, with the help of the Apple Vision Pro headset.
Cue a lot of nice words from Porsche about Apple and vice versa. It's one of the best demonstrations of the Vision Pro's cutting-edge technology we've seen to date, and the car isn't bad either.
4. Another intriguing Rabbit R1 demo appeared
The AI-powered Rabbit R1 is certainly one of the devices of the year so far – it hasn't actually shipped to customers yet, but it offers an intriguing AI spin on the idea of what a gaming laptop can be. pocket.
While we wait for pre-orders to ship, Rabbit founder and CEO Jesse Lyu posted a video on social media showing the R1 in action while taking notes. Once the recording is finished, he can get a full transcript and an AI-powered summary of what was said.
It looks like there are still some rough edges to smooth out with the Rabbit R1, but even this brief demo shows what the little orange box is capable of. We can't wait to try it ourselves.
3. Wordle celebrated his 1,000th puzzle
The world's favorite five-letter word game reached a milestone this week, as Wordle celebrated its 1,000th edition. The New York Times, which owns Wordle, marked the occasion by lighting up the Empire State Building in the game's green, yellow and white colors, while millions of players around the world paid tribute by completing the puzzle. (And if you need help there, check out our daily Wordle Tips page today.)
Will it still be strong in 2000? We wouldn't bet against it. For a game that launched with exactly no fanfare in June 2021, Wordle's journey has been nothing short of incredible and we'll certainly be playing it for a long time.
2. Marvel reportedly abandoned three movie sequels.
It can't be much fun being a Marvel executive right now, as the once lucrative superhero movie business continues to dwindle. Perhaps most of us are ready for something else to take over our screens, both small and large.
A new report this week suggests that the aftermath of Ant Man, Captain Marveland Eternals They've all been canned, which is perhaps not surprising, considering the poor box office performance of the most recent releases of those titles.
None of this is confirmed yet, but there has been some disappointment expressed online by fans who were eager to see where these stories would go next and how Harry Styles would fare as Eros in Eternals 2.
1. We find out when Google I/O 2024 will take place
Google I/O is always one of the biggest events on the tech calendar, and this year's installment will begin on May 14; that's the day we'll hear keynotes about all the Google hardware and software making its way through the rest. of 2024.
We're sure to hear more about what's in store with Android 15, while rumors (and past history) suggest we could also be in for a big reveal for the Pixel 8a, Google's next mid-range Android phone.
Other than that, expect AI – lots and lots of AI. Google won't want to fall behind its competitors in this area, so there will likely be plenty of announcements about new AI features and integrations. We'll find out more in a couple of months.
