Forget the rumors: the Apple Event is official. Sure, Apple surprised us by moving it up a day to September 9 (some believe this was to avoid a clash with a certain Presidential debate), but otherwise the showcase is on track to deliver new iPhones, new Apple Watches, and new AirPods. However, Apple will likely mostly talk about Apple Intelligence.
AI is just about all anyone cares to talk about these days. I certainly find it fascinating how all these companies are not only circling each other, but cross-pollinating. Microsoft has already invested in OpenAI, and now Apple might also be investing in the maker of ChatGPT. All of them want you to invest in, well, them by paying for the best bits of their AI offerings.
One thing you won’t see from Apple on September 9 is a folding iPhone. Foldables are still the preserve of Samsung, Google, and other brands like Honor, which right now is trying to have a laugh at Samsung’s expense.
Apple’s event is like a solar eclipse in that it blots out everything else. But I’ve still had my eye on a few other big stories this week. One is the well-leaked DJI Neo drone that looks so, so cool, and may be the ultimate entry-level flier – I just hope DJI doesn’t get booted out of the US before it launches.
Speaking of the US going after tech companies, I’m closely watching the big US Government lawsuit that could impact not just TikTok, which is also under threat of getting the boot, but all of social media. Put simply, social platforms may soon be liable for the bad stuff you see in your timelines, and this could be a huge deal, with the potential to change how we use TikTok, X/Twitter, Facebook and the rest.
Switching gears, I’ve seen all of the Lord of The Rings movies, but have yet to check out The Rings of Power series on Amazon. Now, though, after reading a few excellent exclusives from Tom Power, and his review of the opening episodes of season 2, I feel compelled to dive in, and you might want to too.
That’s all from me, but keep an eye on TechRadar next week, when we’ll be bringing you the best of IFA, the massive tech show in Berlin, before we turn all our attention to Apple.
With Apple having confirmed that its next launch event is taking place on September 9, we can start looking forward to the new devices that we're expecting to make an appearance, including the iPhone 16 series, two new Apple Watch models, and the AirPods 4.
This week we heard rumors that Amazon was set to charge for extra AI features added on top of its Alexa voice assistant, and Lance Ulanoff explains why AI isn't going to be free forever – and why we should be getting annoyed about that.
The Honor Magic V3 foldable is set to be unveiled at IFA 2024 next month, and a special edition of the device is sending some shade Samsung's way: the hinge has a very small message written on it, pointing out the relative thickness of the Z Fold 6.
From laptop leaks to drone leaks, and an unboxing of what appears to be the upcoming DJI Neo has hit the internet. What's more, the video includes details of the drone's expected price – and it looks as though it could be very affordable indeed.
There's plenty to enjoy this weekend on the streaming front, including a new Terminator anime series and some top-tier films. But there's one show to rule them all: The Rings of Power season 2, the first three episodes of which are out now on Prime Video.
