Technology

This isn't the first time B&W's launched an air-balloon shaped wireless speaker. The most recent version of the iconic Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin was met with high praise shortly after its 2021 release, but B&W's been launching blimp-shaped wireless speakers since 2008 (a model that even carried the then-popular iPod dock), including the Zeppelin Air and Zeppelin Wireless in 2011 and 2015 respectively.

But B&W still thinks you've got room in your life for a blimp-shaped speaker – and yes, it still gives the illusion of floating above whichever surface you've placed it on. I've always thought the Zeppelin is to B&W as the Beats Pill is to Beats; a piece of audio history it's too tempting not to update (and the nostalgic among us will fall for it every time).

Anyway, the new Zeppelin Pro Edition (for that is its name) builds on the cigar shape of the existing Zeppelin by adding some key upgrades to the design and driver array. So let's get to those…

Zeppelin Pro: what you need to know

Let's start from the outside and work our way in: you get two all-new finishes – Solar Gold and Space Gray – plus a revised downlight that now boasts a user-selectable choice of "over 15 separate colors, each with brightness adjustment options".

Now, the key to the Zeppelin Pro's improved performance: the introduction of dual Titanium Dome tweeters, as found in the latest-gen B&W 600 Series loud-speakers, which includes the five-star Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3 bookshelf option.

Said tweeters are mounted at the far edges of the enclosure here, and are "fully isolated from vibrations running through the cabinet" generated by the three other, larger drive units within the speaker.

The new tweeters are joined by two 90mm midrange drivers using B&W' s proprietary Fixed Suspension Transducer (FST) technology, which was also used in the company’s premium floor-standing speakers. These drive units have been treated with increased cone damping here, along with revised DSP tuning to make the most of them. Lastly, a 150mm subwoofer brings the bass. It is mounted centrally to avoid any unwanted ‘rocking’ of the cabinet as it operates.

As you'd expect in 2024, the Zeppelin Pro Edition has multi-room functionality baked right in. You can use it with other new Zeppelins, or build a system throughout your home based on Bowers & Wilkins’ own Formation range, including the lovely Formation Wedge.

The Zeppelin Pro is Able to stream via AirPlay2 (which means better-quality audio using your home's Wi-Fi, rather than Bluetooth) but there's Bluetooth aptX Adaptive too, plus Spotify Connect baked in. And you've got direct access to all the best music streaming services using the Bowers & Wilkins Music app, including Qobuz, Tidal and more.

For me, there's an extra ace up the Zep Pro's sleeve, and that is seamless interaction with B&W's headphones, including the Bowers & Wilkins PX8 and new five-star Pi8 earbuds. Both controlled by that same Music app, and that means audio hand-off from your buds to your home system when you walk through the door (something I wish Sonos had achieved with its Sonos Ace headphones and plethora of smart speakers, but didn't).

The new Zeppelin Pro Edition is available from today (October 15) in Space Gray or Solar Gold, priced $799 or £699 (which is around AU$1,360).

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You might want to check your email inbox if you managed to secure a PS5 Slim 30th Anniversary Edition bundle pre-order at Argos last week. Recent reports suggest that the retailer has started canceling pre-orders, citing “huge demand”.

As detailed on the IGN UK Deals X / Twitter account, some Argos customers have reportedly received automated emails concerning their PS5 Slim 30th Anniversary Edition bundle pre-orders. The emails state that the company is “unable to fulfill” the pre-order and “will automatically process a refund”. 

The message ends asking the customer to “accept our sincere apologies for the inconvenience this has caused”, though it’s not hard to imagine that this will be little consolation for those who have now lost out. 

There was some initial confusion as to whether these emails were sent in error, but a new statement from Argos that was provided to IGN has clarified the situation. The retailer states that it “saw huge demand” for the bundle “and unfortunately had to cancel some orders, after they were processed incorrectly.”

The statement goes on to say that “we have contacted the customers affected to tell them how sorry we are for the disappointment this has caused and confirm they will receive a full refund."

If you need a quick recap, pre-orders for the PS5 Slim 30th Anniversary Edition bundle opened at a range of retailers last week on October 10. There was huge demand for the product, with many listings only lasting a few minutes before selling out. Argos was one of the few retailers that seemed to have stock for quite a while, though it now appears a though this may have been the result of some kind of error.

The PS5 Slim 30th Anniversary Edition bundle contains a PS5 Slim console in a unique PS1 style gray colorway alongside a matching DualSense Wireless Controller. You also get a limited edition vertical stand, original PlayStation style cable connector housing, plus some neat little extras like a poster and paperclip.

It’s now quite unlikely that any stock of the bundle will become available again, at least until its release day on November 21. Still, if you missed out and want to secure one you can console our PS5 Slim 30th Anniversary pre-order guide for the latest stock information.

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Nintendo could be working on a new wave of GameCube controllers.

That's according to Resetera user RandomlyRandom67, who shared component shipment details in a recent post that they believe are for the Nintendo Switch 2 and a new product that could be a GameCube controller (via NintendoLife).

Dataminer LuigiBlood was the first to identify the supposed new GameCube controller earlier this year, however, RandomlyRandom67 indicates that the hardware is now in active production.

The user points out that there are several components that are similar to those featured in current GameCube controllers, including LED light covers and trigger covers.

But it's the rumble motor TRW1230 shipments that are the most notable, and are apparently connected to an unreleased Nintendo controller called the HGU0480 project.

The rumble motor TRW1230 is the same component used in current GameCube controllers and the Nintendo Switch Online N64 controller.

Last week, Nintendo announced that it will perform a playtest on October 24 for a mysterious new Nintendo Switch Online feature.

Although unconfirmed at this time, it's entirely possible that the reports of a new GameCube controller could be linked to a new GameCube library for Switch Online, expanding the subscription service further.

Currently, Switch Online allows subscribers to play from a catalog of games from the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), Game Boy, Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance, so it would make sense for GameCube to be next in line.

Even if the supposed new GameCube controllers aren't intended for a new Switch Online library, then perhaps they're in production for the Switch 2.

Nintendo hasn't revealed its next handheld console just yet, but a release date announcement is confirmed before the end of 2024, and it's expected to launch in 2025.

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You don't have to be a photographer to appreciate what else you can do with the new Camera Control button on the iPhone 16.

Top WordPress hosting service SiteGround has augmented its platform with a range of new features to boost engagement, most notably automated welcome emails. The email marketing platform's upgrade also expands its features to include a double opt-in process, social media integration, and the ability to see emails in a browser first.

The automated welcome email feature is the centerpiece of the update. Businesses can use the tool to immediately follow up with new subscribers through a personalized email right after they join SiteGround. The idea is that this immediate connection will make them more likely to become customers and make long-term connections easier to sustain. 

As a way of starting things with a subscriber on a positive note, an automated welcome email makes sense. SiteGround pointed out that it can be more than just saying hello. It's a chance to lay out the business and perhaps offer a taste of what the company can do with free trials or access to webinars and other content.

Friendly Automation

SiteGround claims the feature is entirely intuitive regardless of experience with email marketing. A business just needs to pick a template that matches their style and branding and they are off to the races. This kind of personalized communication, even when automated, can be a real boon for marketing.

The other new features build on the same vision from SiteGround and the automated emails. A simple but potentially powerful addition lets users incorporate social media icons into email templates. That way, the potential customer can link up with the company, sending the email through social media channels along with email campaigns. Multiple touchpoints multiply the chance for a fruitful business deal. 

To make sure the relationship stays friendly and the emails don't become spam, SiteGround also unveiled a new double opt-in feature. Potential subscribers have to literally make doubly sure they want to sign up before getting added to the mailing list. Offering double opt-in means better email lists and fewer complaints from recipients. It also helps filter out fake email addresses, keeping the emails blasts actually relevant. 

The other update is a "View in Browser" option. Currently, its required that email recipients to stay in their mail client to read their message. But, now they can read and sharethe email through a web browser. It reduces the friction in sharing information from an email and could boost its appearance on social media.  All of the new features are now live and available to all SiteGround users. 

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Oura's readings feel more like a reflection of how I'm doing rather than just a stream of health data. But it requires a subscription for the best experience.

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Britain’s Technology Secretary Peter Kyle has confirmed that four major US tech companies have pledged to invest £6.3 billion ($8.2 billion) in UK data centers.

Describing it in a press release as a “vote of confidence,” Kyle says the decision for CyrusOne, ServiceNow, Cloud HQ and CoreWeave to plough billions into the UK’s AI efforts will help the nation become the leader in digital innovation and AI that it hopes for.

Announced at the International Investment Summit, the multibillion-dollar sum brings the total investment in UK data centers under the current government to more than £25 billion.

US tech giants will invest in UK data centers

The investments will help fund new data centers that will provide the compute and storage for Britain to “train and deploy the next generation of AI technologies.”

Kyle commented: “Tech leaders from all over the world are seeing Britain as the best place to invest with a thriving and stable market for data centres and AI development.”

Washington DC-headquartered CloudHQ’s plans include a £1.9 billion data center in Didcot, Oxfordshire. Set to bring 1,500 jobs during construction and 100 permanent roles when operational, it will help meet the UK’s growing demand for AI and ML.

ServiceNow has committed to investing £1.15 billion over five years to expand its data centres with Nvidia GPUs and support new office space as the growing company.

CyrusOne’s cash injection will total £2.5 billion, with CoreWeave adding an extra £750 million on top of previous investments by Blackstone (£10 billion) and AWS (£8 billion).

The news comes just weeks after Kyle classified data centers as ‘Critical National Infrastructure’, indicative of the extra support they would receive from the government in the event of critical incidents.

The investment also follows US private equity firm Blackstone's £10 billion ($13 billion) investment to build AI data centers in the North East of England.

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There's a new Xbox Partner Preview presentation happening this week, showcasing several upcoming games and expansions from developers like of Sega, Remedy, and much more.

The presentation was announced via Xbox's official X / Twitter account, confirming that it will be showing off Alan Wake 2: The Lake House, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii and Wuchang: Fallen Feathers among other titles. The accompanying Xbox Wire post confirms a run time of "around 25 minutes" during which "over a dozen new trailers" for Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and PC games will be shown.

New games are on the horizon ✨Come check out Xbox Partner Preview, streaming October 17 at 10AM PT for a peek at the upcoming Alan Wake 2: The Lake House, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, and more: https://t.co/7vZKi6MQUl | #XboxPartnerPreview pic.twitter.com/9VKRgtz5VhOctober 14, 2024

You'll be able to watch the Xbox Partner Preview presentation live on Thursday October 17 at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm BST. It can be watched over on the official Xbox YouTube channel or the Xbox Twitch channel. It's also worth noting that the YouTube version will be broadcast at 4K 60fps, while the Twitch stream will be limited to 1080p 60fps.

The presentation will have subtitle support for a large selection of languages. A version with American Sign Language (ASL) will also be broadcast on Xbox's YouTube channel as well as the XboxASL Twitch page. A British Sign Language (BSL) version will also go live at the Xbox On YouTube channel.

So beyond the games and expansions that have been announced thus far, what else do we expect to see? 

Well, given it's a Partner Preview, it's likely that we won't see anything first party from Xbox Game Studios. That said, I wouldn't mind seeing some updates for games I'm personally excited for, including Dynasty Warriors: Origins and of course Monster Hunter Wilds. We'll just have to wait until October 17 before we know for sure.

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One advantage of buying an iPhone is that Apple's handsets typically hold their value better than other brands, so when it comes time to trade in your old phone and upgrade to a newer model, you get more of your money back. Well, that might not be the case for much longer.

Research carried out by SellCell (via Phone Arena) found that while iPhones still currently retain more value than other brands, since the iPhone 12, each successive range has on average decreased in value faster than the previous series.

The iPhone 12 series depreciated by 43.8% after 12 months, while the iPhone 13 series depreciated by 46.2% a year after its launch. The iPhone 14 series depreciated by 47.7% over the same period, and the iPhone 15 series by 48.2%.

For obvious reasons, we don’t have that data for the iPhone 16 yet, but in the first two weeks since its launch, SellCell has found that Apple’s latest line has decreased in value by 8% more than the iPhone 15 series did in its first two weeks of release.

Image 1 of 2

A chart showing the depreciation of several iPhone lines (Image credit: SellCell)Image 2 of 2

A chart showing the depreciation of the Galaxy S23 and S22 lines (Image credit: SellCell)

These differences – particularly the depreciation after a year – aren’t massive, but they are showing a steady decline in the ability for successive iPhone models to hold their value. On the flip side, the best Samsung phones are starting to hold more value.

The same report found that the Samsung Galaxy S22 series lost 66.7% of its value after a year, while the Samsung Galaxy S23 line lost 61.1%. We don’t have a full year’s worth of data for the Samsung Galaxy S24 series yet, but its six-month figure shows 3.7% less depreciation than the Samsung Galaxy S23 experienced after six months.

So, following this trend, it’s likely that the Samsung Galaxy S24 line’s full-year figure will be in the mid-to-high fifties, while the iPhone 16’s could be somewhere between 49% and the low fifties. That still puts Apple out in front, but the gap isn’t super wide anymore, and if this trend continues it could further close. Within a few years, it’s even possible that Samsung phones will hold their value better than iPhones.

So, if your phone holding value is of major importance to you, then you might soon want to consider switching from Apple to Samsung.

Of course, this is just one study, and it only looks at the US market, but SellCell has nonetheless used data from over 40 trusted buyback vendors, so it’s likely accurate for that region, at least.

A lack of support and excitement

Camera Control on the iPhone 16 Plus (Image credit: Future)

So, why is this happening? SellCell doesn’t take any guesses, but one possible factor is that Samsung’s high-end phones now get much longer-term support than they used to, with seven years of software updates.

Until the last couple of years, iPhones were supported for longer than any Android phone, but now Apple’s typical support window is a year or two less than Samsung is promising.

Phone Arena also posits that iPhones are becoming less exciting each year. We’re not really convinced that Samsung has been doing any more than Apple to build excitement in its recent phones, but at least with the iPhone 16 line, there does seem to be a widespread feeling – whether justified or not – that it’s a small or boring upgrade.

So, if Apple wants to reverse this trend, it might need to extend how long it supports its phones, and ensure that the the iPhone 17 line has some truly exciting upgrades.

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Silo season 2 is one month away from premiering on Apple TV Plus, and to ramp up the excitement we finally have a trailer.

The best streaming service for original content released the roughly two-and-a-half-minute clip yesterday (October 14), giving fans of the sci-fi series their first proper look at the new season, and it did not disappoint.

It picks up from season 1’s cliffhanger ending, showing Juliette (Rebecca Ferguson) outside of the silo in a barren, scorched dystopian world after defying the silo's higher authorities. While an official synopsis for season 2 isn't available, we do know from Hugh Howey's trilogy of books that the series is based on that we can expect to learn more about the origins of the silos.

Before this trailer was released we only had a brief shot of Ferguson looking pensive to go off from a very short clip that was shown at Apple's WWDC event, so fans will be excited at the prospect of more of the mystery being unraveled when Silo returns in November.

What can we expect from Silo season 2?

For anyone unfamiliar with the story behind one of the best Apple TV Plus shows, Silo is about a group of ten thousand people sheltering in an underground bunker from what they believe is a toxic and deadly world outside. However, no one knows exactly why the silos were built in the first place.

That's where an engineer called Juliette comes in. The first season of the show follows her as she attempts to solve a murder, and in the process unravels a mystery that leads her to discover murky truths about the underground world she and her fellow silo-dwellers inhabit.

The series will see Tim Robbins, Common, Harriet Walter, Chinaza Uche, Avi Nash, Alexandria Riley, Shane McRae, Remmie Milner, Clare Perkins, Billy Postlethwaite, Rick Gomez, Caitlin Zoz, Tanya Moodie and Iain Glen return, alongside the new addition Steve Zahn.

It's been over a year since season 1 wrapped on June 30, 2023, but luckily we knew that Apple TV Plus renewed its biggest hit TV show before the finale aired. At the time, the Hollywood writers' strike had halted production on a lot of shows, prompting Ferguson to previously tell TechRadar that Silo season 2 was a long way from being released.

That wait is almost over though, with the first episode of Silo season 2 set to be released on Friday, November 15. A new episode will be released every Friday, and given that there are 10 episodes, we can expect the show to wrap on January 17, 2025 – just in time for Severance season 2.

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Apple appears to be running down stock levels of MacBook Pro, Mac mini and iMac models ahead of the launch of new M4 refreshes of these devices.

Leaker Mark Gurman posted on X to let us know that “retail inventory for iMacs, MacBook Pros, Mac minis, iPad minis, iPad mini accessories continues to dwindle.”

Retail inventory for iMacs, MacBook Pros, Mac minis, iPad minis, iPad mini accessories continues to dwindle. Not seeing the same for entry iPad, for those wondering.October 14, 2024

So, this is a fairly hefty hint that we could soon be seeing a new MacBook Pro, Mac mini and iMac with the M4 chip, which is what’s been rumored for quite some time now.

It is, of course, common practice to slim down the stock levels of a current generation of hardware, before the next-gen arrives for obvious reasons.

As Gurman notes, the same is true for the iPad mini which is due an M4 refresh, and purportedly all this hardware is set to be launched by Apple later in October, ahead of an on-sale date of November 1.

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff) Analysis: A much-needed boost for Apple’s Mac range

The rumors around the launch timeframe have been a little inconsistent of late, but the mentioned dates fall in line with Apple’s past history and what we’d expect, so all of this feels very believable. We only have a short while before we find out for sure, anyway, as if there is a late October reveal planned for all these M4 Macs (and iPad mini), invites for the press event should be imminent (maybe pitching up in the next couple of days, in fact).

Apple needs a new generation of Macs, it would seem, certainly if current sales figures are anything to go by. Recent figures from an analyst firm show that in Q3 of 2024, Mac shipments plunged by 17.5% year-on-year, which is a pretty worrying drop for Apple.

Tim Cook will certainly be hoping that a raft of new M4 computers can help to revive those numbers somewhat, and turn the tide in the other direction – the way in which the rest of the PC industry is flowing (where modest levels of growth have been observed earlier this year, or at least sales are staying flat).

Via Wccftech

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Casio’s AI-powered robot pet, Moflin, is now available to preorder in Japan, ushering in the start of a dystopian pet-owner future where you send your furry partner to Casio’s repair center rather than take it to the vet.

Moflin looks like a large Guinea pig, without the mouth, or as Audio Editor, Becky Scarrott puts it, “a Porg from Star Wars, but horizontal.” It’s intended to be held and cuddled, bringing you the emotional connection you’d get with a pet, without the responsibility of looking after a living being.

Moflin was initially developed by Vanguard Industries, first coming to TechRadar’s attention at CES 2021. Now, Casio is manufacturing and distributing the furry friend across Japan for 59,400 yen (roughly $400 / £305 / 600AU$). Moflin will start shipping on November 7th and comes with an optional subscription service to cover any repairs, including a fur replacement.

Casio’s Moflin launch trailer shows a woman interacting with the fluffy robot throughout her day, cuddling with it in bed and even letting it sit on the dinner table as she eats - either a lonely vision of the future or the dream emotional support animal.

Moflin’s official website says, “Just like a living animal, Moflin possesses emotional capabilities and movements that evolve through daily interactions with its environment.” The robot will also “develop its own unique personality and as it gets attached to you”, making your Moflin unique to the experiences it has encountered.

(Image credit: Casio)

Just like a real pet, Moflin will be happy when you spend time playing and loving it, but ignore the AI-powered fluff ball and it’ll get stressed and anxious, longing for love. You’ll not be able to tell from its body language, though, Moflin’s state of mind is only visible through an app, which seems a bit too robotic for my liking.

Casio says Moflin has a 5-hour battery life on a single charge, slightly less than my French Bulldog Kermit’s 24-hour runtime. If you need to boost its power, Moflin sits in a cute charging bed and requires a 3-and-a-half-hour power boost to help with your emotional well-being again.

Moflin feels like the TikTok generation’s Tamagotchi, but just like in the 90s, digital pets can only go so far. Part of being a pet owner is loving and caring for something that completely relies on you, I’m not sure a notification to say Moflin needs charging is quite the same.

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