Technology

Apple has just released a near-final beta version of the newest iteration of macOS, Sequoia 15.1, which is available for developers and public beta testers to try. So, if you have a Mac device and you can’t wait to try out the latest macOS features, you can grab the beta - though for most people we’d recommend you wait for the general public release of Sequoia 15.1, which is expected to follow shortly and should be much more stable. This beta release comes a week after the last beta version, which suggests that testing is speeding up ahead of an imminent final version being made available to everyone.

If you’re keen to give the latest beta a try, you can sign up if you’re registered as a developer (you can find out how to enroll on the official Apple Developer site) but be warned: it does come with a subscription fee. You’ll then be able to install the Sequoia 15.1 beta via the Software Update section of your Mac’s System Settings app.

The big new feature of this beta release is the introduction of Apple Intelligence to macOS, bringing AI-powered features to your Mac. This includes additional support for Writing Tools, enhanced Siri capabilities, Smart Replies to help you respond more quickly and efficiently in Mail and Messages, and Memory Movie and Clean Up features in Photos.

This update won’t bring Image Playground, Genmoji, and more advanced Siri functionality just yet, but I expect we’ll see these very soon. Image Playground is an AI tool that will allow users to generate images and emojis, and Genmoji will similarly allow people to generate their own emojis using text prompts.

(Image credit: Apple) Charting the course for Apple Intelligence

One important thing to note is that Apple Intelligence will only work on newer Macs equipped with Apple’s silicon processors such as the M1 or M2 (and onwards). Older Intel-based Macs unfortunately will not be able to make use of Apple Intelligence.

This will be the first time Apple Intelligence is being made available to large amounts of people, so I’m eager to see what it’s like in practice. Microsoft’s Copilot is currently on a somewhat wobbly path and has yet to show how it can improve the Windows 11 user experience. I’m sure Apple hopes that Apple Intelligence will fare better, and like its other products, it’ll win users over if it looks sleek and works smoothly, even if it’s not the first AI tool to market.

If you do try the Sequoia 15.1 beta, however, remember that a beta version could still have some bugs and glitches, and you should report those to Apple. This also means you should avoid installing it on a device that you rely on for day-to-day work, in case something goes wrong.

If you also have an iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro, or iPhone 16 Pro Max, you can try Apple Intelligence on that as well thanks to the iOS 18.1 beta, which has also been released. Apple presented Apple Intelligence as being a continuous part of their ecosystem that I imagine will be able to learn more about you and perhaps assist you better if you use it on both your Mac and Apple handheld devices.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE...

• How to install macOS 15 Sequoia on your Mac or MacBook
• Apple Intelligence releases next week with iOS 18.1 – here are all the AI features you can try at launch
• I've used Apple Intelligence Writing Tools for months and it has seriously improved the Notes app - here's how to use it

Apple is rumored to be working on new renditions of the Magic Mouse, Magic Keyboard, and Magic Trackpad, which will finally have their Lightning charging ports replaced with USB-C - at least, according to some code found within the recent iOS 18.1 update. The trend of updating all devices with EU-compliant USB-C ports continues for Apple and its range of hardware.

As any user of the current Magic Mouse will know, the Lightning charging port is located directly on the underside, effectively making it unusable while the peripheral is plugged in, along with a few other cons that you can find in our Apple Magic Mouse review here (which, FYI, opens with the line "Apple does not have a good track record with mice"). While it currently isn’t possible to use the Magic Mouse while it is being charged, the Magic Mouse 2 could introduce some innovations.

As reported by MacRumors, not only will USB-C be the charging port for all the aforementioned peripherals going forward, but the Magic Mouse 2 in particular could potentially feature this port in a different location instead of the widely-hated placement on its base. The new peripherals will most likely arrive alongside Apple’s Mac M4 models, currently rumored to launch sometime this year. 

How could Apple improve the Magic Mouse? Is USB-C a good move?

Apple’s Magic Mouse launched in 2009, making it just over a decade and a half old, and a plethora of Mac users have since opted for other mice depending on their requirements and preferences. With a release in 2024 or 2025 on the horizon, many will be expecting enhancements within the accessibility space, such as new side buttons and greater control over mouse pointer speeds without needing adjustments within macOS itself. 

Since other peripherals are typically capable of being used while charging (you know, like any sane designer would insist upon), it would be great to see Apple make a move in this direction, allowing you to stay active regardless of a low battery. The rumored change of the charging port location may suggest that charging while in use may indeed be possible with the Magic Mouse 2, and we should be closer to finding out very soon. One possible alternative could be a wireless charging mouse pad like the Logitech PowerPlay, but I'd be surprised to see Apple make such a big leap. 

As for the step towards USB-C, this is ideal for many as USB-C is edging closer to becoming the charging standard for devices in the UK, EU, and beyond. Across Windows PCs, MacBooks, phones, and home consoles, USB-C is highly utilized - so it's no surprise that Apple is moving away from Lightning cables at last.

More than 115,000 files related to UN Women included detailed financial disclosures from organizations around the world—and personal details and testimonials from vulnerable individuals.

Known in China as the grandfather of domestic CPUs, Loongson develops processors and chips in a bid to reduce the country's reliance on foreign technology, particularly from companies such as Intel and AMD.

Although probably best-known for its Loongson series of processors (originally based on MIPS architecture), the company is branching out and has unveiled its first self-developed GPGPU (General-Purpose GPU), the Loongson 9A1000.

Announced at the recent Loongson Industrial Ecosystem Conference, and reported by Fast Technology, the 9A1000 aims to deliver competitive performance for AI computing in edge devices and unmanned systems. Tech giants like Nvidia can breathe easy for now, however, as the Loongson 9A1000’s performance is projected to match the AMD RX 550, a graphics card best known for its efficient 50W power consumption and PCIe 3.0 interface, which originally launched in 2017.

Arriving next year

The new Loongson chip isn’t quite as dated as AMD’s card. It supports PCIe 4.0 and integrates LPDDR4X memory with a 128-bit interface. Though detailed specifications, such as core count, frequency, and power consumption, have yet to be disclosed, an architecture diagram shown at the conference reveals eight compute arrays, an on-chip network, and L2 cache.

In terms of performance, the 9A1000 supports OpenGL 4.0, OpenCL 3.0, and other standard APIs. It also includes video processing modules capable of decoding H.264 and H.265 and offers HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 1.4, and, in another nod to the past, VGA output. The chip boasts a pixel fill rate of 16GPixel/s, a texture fill rate of 32GTexel/s, and computing power of 1TFlops for FP32, 64GFlops for FP64, and 32TFlops for INT8 operations.

The Loongson 9A1000 is expected to complete its tape-out process and begin sampling in the first half of 2025.

Loongson also announced that it is developing the next-generation GPGPU chip, the Loongson 9A2000, which promises an 8-10x performance boost compared to the 9A1000. The company expects the new chip to deliver performance on par with NVIDIA’s RTX 2080, which launched in 2018.

More from TechRadar Pro

• These are the fastest CPUs
• Chinese MIPS rival to Intel and AMD set to launch a 128-core server CPU
• China's CPU rival to Intel and AMD is rapidly catching up on a key metric

Leaks continue to tease various design details about the Google Pixel 9a, with recent rumors hinting at its shape and potential colors. But now we might know the upcoming phone’s precise size, which could make it bigger than last year’s Google Pixel 8a.

Tipster @OnLeaks has taken to social media to explain that some previously shared dimensions were apparently a little off, with the precise measurements being 154.7 x 73.2 x 8.9mm (or 9.4mm if you include the rear camera ring in the thickness). This makes the phone as slim as the Google Pixel 8a, but also a little taller and wider (as that device comes in at 152.1 x 72.7 x 8.9mm).

This could suggest the Google Pixel 9a will feature a larger display, though there are a few potential caveats. The first is true for all leaks: anything unofficial should be taken with a pinch of salt, and OnLeaks has already admitted that the older dimensions weren’t 100% correct.

The other issue is the Google Pixel 9a’s rumored bezel. We don’t yet know how thick this black border will be, and while a larger face likely means a larger display, the bezel might restrain it. So while a panel that matches the 6.3-inch Google Pixel 9 isn’t impossible, a smaller screen is still looking likely.

What else do we know about the Pixel 9a?

Previous leaks have given us a few more details about the 9a. It’ll reportedly come in four colors: Porcelain (off-white), Obsidian (black), Peony (pink), and Iris (bluish-purple). If so, that could be a shame for fans of the Pixel 8a’s Aloe (green) hue.

There are also rumors that the camera bump will not be present. Not only is it a shame that the Pixel 9a could miss out on this iconic Google Pixel design detail, the change means the camera components could be taking up more space in the main body. So there’s a possibility that the Pixel 9a will need to make do with a smaller battery.

That said, with the Tensor G4 chipset’s improved power efficiency over the G3 (the chip found in the Google Pixel 8a) the Google Pixel 9A could end up having the same battery life, even if its battery capacity is smaller – assuming it is indeed equipped with the G4 as expected.

You might also like

• Google Pixel 10 series codenames seemingly leak, and it's bad news for big phone fans
• Google Pixel 9 Pro review: the AI phone is here, but the future is not
• Best Pixel phones: these are the Google phones to buy right now

Get nice and toasty with our favorite cozy sleep items to keep you warm this season.

You don't have to check your list twice with these holiday gift tracking apps.

The force is strong with this deal.

If you fall into a lower tax bracket next year, you might see an increase in your take-home pay.

Google is continuing to infuse the Gemini Live AI assistant across Android phones with the ability to make calls and send messages, even when your phone is locked, on its way. As discovered in a piece of as-yet unreleased code by Android Authority, the update would further cement Gemini as the replacement for Google Assistant.

Controlling the phone while it is locked is a signature feature of Gemini Live. You could already talk to the AI and ask it questions when your phone is locked, but currently, only Google Assistant can send messages or make calls without unlocking the device. The unreleased code points to Gemini getting that option, too.

According to the images in the code, Gemini's settings will have a switch permitting Gemini to send messages or make calls from locked devices. When activated, you could ask the AI to text or call people before unlocking the phone, though if you want to see a response with personal information, you'll have to unlock the phone as a security measure. The appeal for users to have Gemini able to communicate from locked devices is that it makes hands-free operation possible, which is ideal when you're driving or busy in some other way.

New look, more Gemini

The code in development also heralds changes in the look of Gemini, simplifying the interface in some ways. For instance, the floating text box will expand vertically so you can see all the text, and Gemini Extensions will be grouped by category to make them easier to find. There are also fewer example commands for the categories, only one instead of three.

The upgrades found in the upcoming code aren’t earthshaking, but they point to how Google is forging ahead with its AI strategy, especially when it comes to making Android the hub for Gemini’s features. As competition mounts with Apple and its Apple Intelligence rollout, Google will at least experiment with anything that raises Gemini’s standing on mobile devices, large or small.

You might also like...

• Gemini is taking over some more Google Assistant tasks
• Gemini Live is here, free, and feeling chatty
• Google wants Gemini AI to be the star of every part of your life

The once-unknown developer behind Mario & Luigi: Brothership has been revealed.

That's according to 'Nintendeal' over on X / Twitter, who shared a screenshot showing the intellectual property information of the game, which was discovered after some players received their physical copy early, ahead of its November 7 launch.

The information provided seems to confirm that the developer of the upcoming Nintendo Switch game is Acquire, the studio behind the critically acclaimed Octopath Traveler and Octopath Traveler 2.

It's unclear why Nintendo has kept its co-developer of Brothership under wraps, but the reveal is certainly a surprise to some.

"Well that's a curveball. A good curveball though," said one user on Reddit. "Don't think Acquire was on anybody's radar as a possibility, but they sure know how to make an RPG [role-playing game]."

"A pleasant surprise, they definitely know how to make good RPGs," said another Redditor.

Mario & Luigi: Brothership was announced this summer and is the first new entry in the series in almost nine years. After the series' original developer Alpha Dream went bankrupt in 2019, there have been discussions about who the new developer could be.

Brothership will see the iconic, titular brothers return in an all-new platforming adventure featuring turn-based combat, and both side-scrolling and vertical challenges as they explore a number of islands.

During the game's unveiling, Nintendo executive Shinya Takahashi called the game a "seafaring adventure", which will include "evolved Bros moves" between Mario and Luigi.

TechRadar had the chance to preview Mario & Luigi: Brothership at an event hosted by Nintendo earlier this month. After playing just over an hour of the game, Managing Editor Josephine Watson called it "a glorious return to form for a beloved series", while combat "feels finessed".

You might also like...

• Nintendo Switch 2: everything we know about a potential Switch successor
• The cheapest Nintendo Switch bundles and deals in October 2024
• Microsoft reveals a new Xbox Wireless Headset featuring a raft of upgrades

Both Asus ROG Ally X and ROG Ally users have been facing issues with the handheld’s built-in Armoury Crate software for a while now, and despite a recent patch intent on fixing multiple bugs in the software, a prominent issue points towards losing access to control inputs while in-game.

These concerns were raised by users on Reddit and Asus’s own forums, days before the Armoury Crate 1.5.20 update was pushed last week with the following bug fixes:

• Fixed issues with crashing in ACSE and the Command Centre
• Improved responsiveness when switching Control Mode in the Command Centre
• Solved an issue where Embedded Controller would not show up in the Command Centre
• Fixed an issue where the RGB lighting effects would occasionally disappear on the Lighting Page.

While it appears that some issues have been resolved, users continue to share complaints of their ROG Ally inputs resetting while having Armoury Crate installed.

This is claimed to occur more frequently when the control mode is set to ‘Gamepad Mode’ rather than ‘Auto’, in which the device will also continuously notify the user which mode is in use - a serious annoyance in itself, even setting aside the loss of control input.

Say hello to G-Helper - a great alternative to Armoury Crate

Solutions such as hard-resetting the Ally, reinstalling Armoury Crate on the device, and updating the Xbox Controller and GPU drivers have all been tested by users - but it seems as though these are more temporary fixes than permanent.

Any bugs with Armoury Crate could prove to be a significant downside for users, since Asus’s handhelds utilize the proprietary software for accessing game collections in the same vein as Steam or Playnite.

Fortunately, thanks to the help of user ‘seerge’ on GitHub, you can simply utilize G-Helper - a third-party application that gives you access to the ROG Ally or Ally X’s TDP, control mode, RGB lighting settings, and more. Unlike Armoury Crate, you won’t have to worry about a full installation, as it operates a standalone application allowing you to control settings you normally would via Asus’s own software.

As opposed to the standard Command Centre, you can set your own keybinds and also override any background Asus software services to use G-Helper whenever necessary. While there isn’t a library collection of installed games like SteamOS or Armoury Crate (meaning you’ll need to launch your games straight from the Windows 11 desktop), it gets the job done without having your gameplay disrupted with unwanted notifications or controller dropouts every few seconds.

While we wait for a fix for the issues, this might be the best temporary solution you can take advantage of. You can find any new Armoury Crate updates right here.

You might also like

• Steam Deck vs Asus ROG Ally X: which is the best PC gaming handheld?
• SteamOS is finally coming to the Asus ROG Ally - so you can bin off Windows 11
• Best handheld games consoles in 2024

The rule also cracks down on the buying or selling of social media followers.

It took some time, but AT&T finally has an answer to T-Mobile and Verizon's eSIM trial programs.

We found all the best deals on Apple's HomePod and HomePod Mini smart speakers.

Luis Enrique's men host the Dutch giants at the Parc des Prince.

The Gunners look to put their weekend defeat behind them as they host the Ukrainian champions.

Can the Bundesliga side claim revenge for last season's defeat in the final at Wembley?

Make your bed feel as luxurious as a nice hotel bed by upgrading these simple essentials.

You'll find some of the fastest internet speeds in Alamo City. Here are the best internet service providers in San Antonio, Texas, including AT&T, Frontier and Google Fiber.