TechRadar News

AirPods are getting some important new updates today as part of iOS 18, especially the AirPods Pro 2: there are new gesture controls, improved audio quality for gaming and calls, more control over Adaptive Audio, and spatial audio for gaming. 

There are some differences depending on what AirPods model you have.

The new Siri interactions, which enable you to accept or silence calls and notifications with head movements, are available for all AirPods. The new Voice Isolation for clearer calls is for all AirPods too.

Personalized Spatial Audio for gaming requires AirPods (3rd generation), AirPods Pro and AirPods Max.

How to get the new AirPods update

In most cases, your AirPods will get the update automatically when the appropriate update is launched, they're within Bluetooth range of your Wi-Fi-connected iPhone, iPad or Mac and they're charging. Once the update is installed, you'll get a cheerful welcome message the next time you use your earbuds or headphones. 

If you have AirPods Pro 2, you may have the update already: my pair automatically updated over the weekend to version number 7A294. 

If you're not sure whether or not you have the latest version, it's easy enough to check on all of the best AirPods models.

If you connect your AirPods and look at the about information (in Settings > Bluetooth; tap on the info button next to your AirPods and then scroll down to About) on your iPhone or iPad, you should see the name of the currently installed firmware. 

On a Mac, the same information is under the Apple menu  > System Information > Bluetooth and then your AirPods' name. The most recent firmware for each model of AirPods is always listed on this page on the Apple website.

If you don't appear to have the correct firmware version for your model, you can force an over-the-air update by connecting them to your Mac: for AirPods Max that means connecting them directly via the lightning to USB cable, and with AirPods and AirPods Pro it means putting your earbuds into their charging case and then connecting the case to your computer. That should start the update process for you – you can read a more step-by-step process in our full guide to how to update your AirPods' firmware.

If you make sure you're up to date even before iOS 18 lands, then you should get access to the new features immediately. Or, if iOS 18 arrives and things don't seem to be working, check your firmware in case the software hasn't landed on your AirPods yet.

The effects of the recent cyberattack on Transport For London (TfL) systems continue to be felt, with employees now being asked to attend an in person meeting to verify their identities and reset their passwords.

The organization has confirmed customer data was accessed during the attack, and one person has been arrested in relation to the incident, with the leaked data possibly including the bank details for around 5,000 customers, with applications for new Oyster photo and zip cards temporarily suspended.

Public transport itself remained largely unaffected in the incident, which primarily disrupted internal systems and the refund process for the transport agency, but the impact is still causing delay for some of TfL’s systems.

Ongoing disruption

TfL has confirmed it will be in touch with any customer whose information was compromised, and the organization is monitoring anyone who uses their system to ensure only those with authorisation can gain access,

"Some customers may ask questions about the security of our network and their data. First and foremost, we must reassure that our network is safe," TfL added on its employee hub. "Secondly, we're contacting customers directly about steps being taken regarding their data."

This attack reinforces the current trend of critical infrastructure as the target for cyber criminals. Organisations such as hospitals and energy companies which provide a public service are particularly vulnerable since they don’t tend to have the budget for top of the range cyber security.

Via BleepingComputer

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Social media and Reddit has been abuzz with a Cybertruck owner’s tale of tire woe, as the Cyberbeast driver suggested in a post that the rubber shrouding the polygonal EV’s 20-inch wheels has worn to a point where it needs replacing after just 6,000 miles.

The rate at which a tire wears is heavily dependent on the vehicle in question and how it is driven, but in general, having to replace a set after this sort of low mileage driving on public roads is not commonplace.

According to most sources of motoring information (your local tire supplier, or breakdown services), most drivers will get a minimum of 20,000 miles out of a set of tires in a front-wheel-drive car, extending to 40,000 for rear-wheel-drive machines.

Again, this is all highly dependent on the vehicle in question and the driving style, so the fact that forums have been alive with suggestions that Cybertruck chews through tires prematurely is probably giving Tesla an unduly hard time.

Without knowing all of the facts surrounding Cyber Truck Owners Club user Santoshm’s Cyberbeast (camber, wheel alignment, wheel balancing and tire pressures could be off, causing premature wear), it is difficult to say why they are experience such a poor return on rubber.

(Image credit: Tesla)

But the fact of the matter is, a truck that weighs 6,920lbs (that’s over three tonnes, metric fans) and produces 833bhp with a staggering 10296 lb-ft (13959 Nm) of torque is going to chew through tires – even if owners go easy on the throttle.

It comes as no surprise that similarly large electric EVs are also running into issues when it comes to tire wear. Last year, Rivian owners took to Facebook and other social media channels to complain of similarly poor tread-life on the R1T.

Again, this could have easily been down to a number of contributing factors, but many posited that 'Conserve Mode', which cuts power to the rear axle and lowers the ride height for increased aerodynamic efficiency, forces the front tires to do all the work – and messes with the overall geometry that can lead to incorrect wheel alignment and uneven wear.

But really, it could just be that this big, heavy and massively powerful truck tears off the line at every traffic light opportunity, just because it can.

Analysis: With great power comes great responsibility

(Image credit: Rivian)

The Tesla Cybertruck, particularly the range-topping Cyberbeast variant, is automotive hyperbole incarnate. Over-powered, over-weight and over-styled (or should that be under-styled?), it pushes the very boundaries of automotive design and engineering.

But while it is often easy to poke fun at Musk and his, at-times, madcap EV outfit, Tesla isn’t alone in bestowing extremely heavy electric vehicles with insane performance figures. 

As is the way with electric motors in general, the amount of torque they can put down near-instantaneously means that the modern tire has to work harder than it ever has... and modern tires aren't cheap.

There was a time when investing in a 500bhp+ performance car came with the unwritten rule that tire bills would be financially crippling, but it feels like this has been lost in the world of EVs.

Take the frankly ridiculous Smart #1 Brabus model, as an example. This compact, largely generic family SUV develops 428bhp and 584Nm (431ft lb) of torque, it can accelerate from 0-62mph in 3.2 seconds and yet it weighs 2,325kg (5,126lbs).

Having driven said car, I was shocked at how often it spun its wheels under some 'spirited' throttle input. As a result, I would bet good money tire bills won’t be cheap on the Smart car, either.

So it begs the question – just because they are capable of it, do modern EVs really need this sort of power? 

And surely the number of rubber particulates that something like a Cybertruck is kicking into the atmosphere is undoing some of the work battery packs and electric motors are carrying out in order to to reduce local emissions?

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Not only did Baby Reindeer become a cultural phenomenon after becoming one of the best Netflix shows, but it also called attention to the outstanding acting talents of Jessica Gunning. While her unnerving portrayal of stalker Martha Scott in Baby Reindeer has won her critical acclaim, she also steals the show in The Outlaws, which is streaming on Prime Video in the US and Australia (those in the UK, can catch it on Sky or the BBC iPlayer).

Baby Reindeer has taken the 2024 Emmy Awards by storm, with Gunning winning the award for 'Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series'. Now that Gunning's scene-stealing ability has been recognized on a global scale, it's the perfect time for a bigger audience to watch her in the comedy drama series The Outlaws, which has arguably flown under the radar since it aired on one of the best streaming services in 2021.

Written by The Office co-creator Stephen Merchant, The Outlaws follows seven petty criminals who become involved in a drug money-laundering scheme while on community service in Bristol. It's not just The Outlaws' 86% Rotten Tomatoes score that makes it one of the best Prime Video shows, it's Gunning's role as community service supervisor Diane Pemberley that proves to be an unmissable watch just like Baby Reindeer.

Gunning for glory in The Outlaws

Gunning's comedic muscles come out to play in The Outlaws, where she takes on the role of community payback officer Diane, who was once a juvenile delinquent and is now a supervisor of The Outlaws. 

Now a fully qualified police community support officer (PCSO) in season three, a shades-wearing Gunning policing the streets on an electric scooter and exerting her newfound authority over motorists is definitely one of the best things you'll see on TV. However, her no-nonsense and by-the-book attitude becomes hilariously undone when she often misses criminal tricks right under her nose.

The Outlaws is an ideal watch if you want a break from the intensity of Baby Reindeer, which is based on Richard Gadd’s autobiographical one-man stage play of the same name. Gadd plays Donny Dunn, a struggling stand-up comedian who is forced to confront a dark trauma when a woman called Martha Scott (Gunning) starts stalking him.

Jessica Gunning as Diane Pemberley in The Outlaws. (Image credit: Alistair Heap/BBC Worldwide Americas)

But while there are stark differences between Diane and Martha, the jobsworth channels an inner Martha with her forceful ways and heightened sense of self-importance when she has her eager protégé by her side. Much like Martha in Baby Reindeer, Diane tends to break social boundaries, use vulgar phrases, and arouses sympathy for a character that might not show it, but in a comedic setting.

The Outlaws is worth watching to see Gunning's impressive ability to morph into whatever character is thrown at her, whether it's a disturbing stalker or a bumbling PCSO, which is just another show-stopping performance to count towards her astronomical rise to stardom.

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New research has claimed despite the buzz around Artificial Intelligence, the vast majority of workers don't use AI all that often, with only 4% using it daily.

Most employees have tested it out, with 84% of us having used AI at work at some point, but only 27% report using it ‘a few times a month’, and a further 24% only using AI once a month or less, a report from 3M found.

The consensus on AI seems to be hopeful, but evidence suggests that the technology is not there yet. Whilst 77% of people believe AI will transform our world, studies show most people don’t trust it, and are less likely to engage with products that use the technology.

Untapped potential

Almost half (48%) think the implementation of AI will lead to faster analysis and data processing, with 40% believing it will handle menial tasks and could free up time for workers to focus on other tasks.

Most believe it will play a big role in the future, with 61% expecting AI will complete 50% of their work in the next 10 years, but 80% of UK adults believe AI needs to be heavily regulated.

The gap between the perceived potential of AI and it’s current capabilities is significant, and most businesses feel unprepared and under equipped to implement the tech.

“If we’re to unlock this in the day-to-day, we need to dispel the fear that AI will replace jobs. Instead, we need to assure employees that AI will work alongside them to help productivity with daily tasks, while providing thorough training so that they feel confident with new AI tools, instead of fearful," noted Global Digital Automation & Innovation Senior Manager at 3M, Paul Cardno.

Whilst the AI takeover may seem inevitable, the vast majority (80%) of projects fail, largely due to a gap in expectations and capabilities of the technology. Research shows that over eagerness has led to a tendency to overestimate its ability and use AI as a fix-all to problems it cannot solve.

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Happy iOS 18 day to those who celebrate! Whenever Apple updates its operating systems it often adds a few bits to its AirPods software too, but this year it's surpassed itself: if you're the owner of a set of AirPods Pro 2, whether Lightning or USB-C, there are some significant new features available from today – and more to come when Apple rolls out its AirPods hearing aid feature later this fall.

Here's what's coming to your earbuds today.

Voice Isolation

This is active noise cancellation for your mouth rather than your ears. It uses the same kind of computation as ANC but this time applies it to your AirPods inputs, not their outputs, so it can reduce the noise around you while you're talking. Think wind noise, traffic, construction noise and other things that can make it harder to hear you in voice calls. 

Improved Adaptive Audio control

Until now your Adaptive Audio controls have been simple: you can have it switched on, or you can have it switched off. Now you've got a slider to adjust the level of on-ness so that you can set the amount of noise you want your AirPods to let you hear. Instead of on/off there are now three options when Adaptive Audio is enabled: default, less noise or more noise. It's still adaptive, so it responds to changes in the environment around you, but the slider enables you to set a different baseline from Apple's default.

(Image credit: Shutterstock / Framesira) Shaky-head Siri

There are times when you don't want to talk to Siri, such as when you've just rocked a baby to sleep or when you're hidden in the HVAC ducts of your arch-enemy's headquarters. The new Siri interactions mean you can now accept and decline calls simply by nodding or shaking your head, and the same applies to other kinds of notifications too – so you can decline that call from your mom while you're defusing bombs and forgot to turn on Airplane Mode. I've tested this at home and I can confirm it makes you feel a bit less silly and less likely to surprise your dog.

Spatial Audio in gaming

There won't be much to listen to immediately, but this could be a big deal for iPhone and iPad gamers. The same Personalized Spatial Audio tech you hear in movies and music is now available to game developers too, so they'll be able to take advantage of 3D sound and head tracking to deliver even more immersive audio. That's not going to make a big difference in most casual games, but for things like shooters where situational awareness makes a big difference, it could give you the edge over your AirPod-less rivals.

Lower latency

Latency has long been the downside of wireless headphones, particularly Bluetooth ones: it's the slight delay between the signal being sent and the sound arriving in your ears, and if it's significant it can be a bit disconcerting. The new AirPods update reduces audio latency "significantly", and Apple says it's particularly good for gamers. As with situational awareness it's one of those things that really matters in fast-response games where even a slight lag can be a matter of life or death for your character.

Better voice quality in games

In addition to voice isolation for improved vocal clarity, the AirPods Pro 2 also get better voice transmission quality in games – up to 16-bit, 48kHz, which is slightly higher than CD quality. That means your voice should sound much more natural, and the people on the other end should be able to hear you much more clearly too, avoiding any confusion over what you're actually trying to plan. 

Preorders for the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max, and customers will surely be thinking about how to take care of their new iPhones when the first units arrive on September 20.

Apple offers a variety of first-party support, including a number of paid services and repairs – although a new price increase means iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max users may want to be extra careful in taking care of their phone’s battery.

Apple has increased the price of getting a battery replacement for the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max over the previous generation by 20%, meaning you'll need to pay $199 rather than $99 in the UK to get a fresh battery.  

We see this increase mirrored in the UK, too, where the price has increased from £95 to £109, and also in Australia, where it's increased from AU$169 to AU$199. 

The base-model iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus retain the previous battery replacement price of $99 / £95 / AU$169, as does the entire iPhone 15 family.

While Apple touts green credentials, increasing the price of battery replacement for its new Pro iPhones stings. One could argue that Apple should be decreasing prices in order to encourage people to use their iPhones for longer and thus be kinder to the environment. 

However things could get worse, as The Verge notes, lightning could follow thunder when it comes to Apple’s other battery replacement services. When Apple increased the price of the iPhone 14’s battery swap, we saw the same happen to several iPhone, iPad, and Mac products in the following months. 

For now, though, it’s just the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max that are affected. 

Don’t be shocked by batteries degrading 

Some parts of an iPhone will degrade over time with normal use, and this most notably includes the battery.

Lithium-ion batteries, the kind used in iPhones and most other smartphones, lose a small amount of their maximum capacity with each cycle, an effect that can be accelerated by higher temperatures or power-intensive use. You can track the battery health of your iPhone – represented as a percentage of its initial capacity – in the Settings app, under the Battery section. 

Faulty batteries are covered by Apple's one-year limited warranty, but outside of this customers have a handful of options. Apple offers its battery repair service for iPhones either at an upfront cost or as part of its AppleCare+ insurance product, wherein battery replacements are included at no excess cost if battery health drops below 80%.

Third-party repair shops may also be able to replace an iPhone battery, but there's no guarantee that they'll use genuine Apple parts. Replacing an iPhone battery can extend the device’s usable lifespan and help to reduce carbon impact and e-waste. 

Hopefully, new iPhone owners won’t need to think about replacing their batteries for a while yet, as Apple claims the iPhone 16 Pro can sustain 27 hours of video playback, climbing to 33 hours for the iPhone 16 Pro Max. 

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Apple’s latest wearable operating system, watchOS 11, arrives today with a slew of new features for the Apple Watch Series 6 and beyond, as well as the Ultra, and the Apple Watch SE 2. 

Unveiled at WWDC 2024, watchOS 11 comes replete with a heavy focus on health and wellbeing, an emphasis that broadly reflects the shift Apple Watch has undergone over the years. Where Apple might previously have touted communication as Apple Watch’s primary function, in 2024, it’s indisputably a health and well-being accessory. 

To that end, there are five major health and fitness upgrades you’ll encounter when you download watchOS 11, along with some other tweaks. Here are the best:

watchOS 11’s health features watchOS 11’s best health features 1. Vitals

(Image credit: Apple)

WatchOS 11 features a new Vitals app that tracks several key metrics while you sleep. Apple Watch will take your heart rate, respiratory rate, wrist temperature, sleep duration, and blood oxygen levels, summarizing them to let you check your daily health status. 

If two or more metrics are out of whack, you’ll get a notification and more information. Apple says the Vitals app can help highlight the impact of alcohol consumption and illness or even subtle things like elevation changes. 

2. Pregnancy

(Image credit: Apple)

If you log a pregnancy in the Health app on your iPhone or iPad, cycle tracking on Apple Watch will show gestational age and let you log symptoms frequently experienced during pregnancy, such as nausea. 

watchOS 11 will also prompt reviews of high heart rate notifications and alert users more quickly of a potential fall risk using Walking Steadiness. 

3. Training Load

(Image credit: Apple)

A new training load insight in watchOS 11 will help you understand the impact of your workouts on your body over time. Workouts will be measured on a scale of 1 to 10 to monitor intensity. 

Specifically for cardio-based workouts, there’s a new algorithm that can employ data such as your age, height, weight, heart rate, and elevation. Combined with your own adjustments for stress and soreness, you’ll get a 28-day training load readout that can help to plan your workouts. Understanding the impact your training has on your body is vital in order to prevent injury, but it can also be a solid indicator of progress or stagnation. 

4. Customize rings and plan rest days

(Image credit: Apple)

A feature gym goers have been begging for, watchOS 11 introduces customizable Activity Rings and rest days. Whether you just need a day off or you’re nursing an injury, you can now pause your rings for a day, week, or months without losing your award streaks.  

5. Workout app enhancements

The final big fitness feature is some tweaks to the workout app. You can now track distance using GPS for a range of sports including Soccer, American Football, skiing, snowboarding, golf, and more. 

watchOS 11's other upgrades

(Image credit: Apple)

There are several other tweaks coming to watchOS 11, here’s a quick summary of some of the other changes:

• Smart Stack gets new widgets and can suggest widgets based on time, date, and your daily routine
• Photos Watch Face now picks your best photos using AI
• Apple’s Check In safety feature is now available on Watch, including during workouts
• The Translate app arrives on Apple Watch
• Apple Maps features hikes for all U.S. national parks that can be saved to your Watch and accessed offline
• Summarised notifications powered by Apple Intelligence forwarded from iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16
• Tap to Cash lets you send and receive Apple Cash funds using your Watch (only available in the US at the moment)

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It’s a big day for Mac owners (or at least those with compatible Macs, and we’ll come back to that) as macOS 15 Sequoia is set to arrive later today as a free upgrade.

Apple informed us that the release date for macOS 15 was September 16 back at its iPhone 16 (‘Glowtime’) launch event, and here we are. So, if you’re chomping at the bit with anticipation, let’s indulge in a quick recap of the highlights that Sequoia has to offer before you install the shiny new operating system.

(Image credit: Apple) Mirror, mirror, on the desktop…

The cornerstone feature introduction with macOS Sequoia (at least away from Apple Intelligence – and we’ll return to that subject, too) is iPhone Mirroring. Now, obviously, this will only appeal to those invested enough in the Apple ecosystem to have both a Mac and an iPhone, but it is a seriously cool feature for those folks.

iPhone Mirroring allows you to use your smartphone on your Mac desktop, in a compact (resizable) window. This means you can use iPhone apps on the macOS 15 desktop, reply to texts, interact with iPhone notifications, and so forth – there’s even the ability to seamlessly drag and drop files directly between devices (though that still hasn’t been seen in testing yet, it’s coming).

Essentially, you’ve got pretty much full control over your iPhone right there on the macOS desktop, without ever having to pick up the smartphone itself.

(Image credit: Future) On Safari, storage, and more

Apple’s Safari browser is getting some very useful improvements, including a ‘Reader’ mode to deliver a distraction-free experience, and a ‘Viewer’ mode that automatically detects a video playing on a website and places it front and center for easy viewing. Safari is also set to be more friendly to MacBook users by way of implementing battery-saving measures.

There are some nifty storage tweaks with macOS 15, too, so you no longer need to (temporarily) have double the required space for an app on your drive to install it – a change that’s been a long time coming. Also, there’ll be a new option for large apps, namely installing them on an external drive (albeit with caveats, but still – this is a very welcome addition).

Those who’ve seen snap layouts in Windows 11 and have been somewhat jealous of that ability will be pleased to hear that similar window positioning capabilities are coming to macOS 15.

Apple is also bringing in a new Password app to replace Keychains, and some fancy new dynamic wallpapers (including a very smart-looking forest-themed background for Sequoia itself). Furthermore, there are some important improvements under the hood for Game Mode to drive faster frame rates, Apple tells us – Mac gamers, rejoice.

(Image credit: Future) What we won’t get

As we already touched on, there’s a major feature that won’t be present with the initial debut of macOS Sequoia – and that’s Apple Intelligence. As we’ve seen in testing, these AI features have been pushed to a separate branch, namely macOS 15.1 – and that version won’t arrive until October. These Apple Intelligence capabilities will launch alongside new M4-powered Macs, no doubt, which are rumored for a later in October reveal.

While macOS 15 is a free upgrade, there are some people who won’t be able to get the OS at all – those without a compatible Mac. We have a list of compatible Macs in our full roundup of everything we know about macOS 15, so head over there to find out more on that front (and more details on the features we’ve touched on here, too).

The good news is that the requirements are not too different from Sonoma, but still, there are some Macs that currently have macOS 14 which won’t be able to upgrade to the very latest version when it turns up imminently. Also, a final note: only Macs with an Apple M-series CPU will be able to use Apple Intelligence features in macOS 15.

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We're still waiting for Android 15 to roll out to users – that should be happening from next month – but a new security feature has been spotted in the beta version of the software, which will make it more difficult for unwelcome visitors to get into your phone.

Some digging into the latest Android 15 beta code by Android Authority revealed something called "Identity Check". Based on the instructions around it, it looks as though this will default to biometric checks in certain situations.

So, for example, if someone should look over your shoulder in a coffee shop and see you type in your PIN, they won't then be able to use that PIN to access the device – they'll need to use face or fingerprint recognition instead.

Based on another hidden code discovery made by well-known tipster @AssembleDebug, it looks as though this mandatory biometrics check might be triggered whenever you're outside locations you've marked as "trusted" – such as your home or office.

Thanks, Apple

Trusted places for Mandatory biometric What could this be ? pic.twitter.com/fcj13x1BEtSeptember 13, 2024

This fits in quite nicely with the Android Theft Detection feature that has already started rolling out to devices, and isn't exclusive to Android 15: it automatically locks your handset whenever it detects movement that may mean it's been pinched.

The Identity Check safeguard also matches something iPhones already have, in the form of Apple Stolen Device Protection, introduced in iOS 17.3. It means certain key security actions require Face ID or Touch ID to work, not just your iPhone passcode.

Android 15 is already complete and ready to go, but engineers at Google, Samsung, and other Android phone makers are putting the finishing touches to the software and tailoring it for their own handsets with extra tools and functionality.

The latest Pixel phones – including the Google Pixel 9 – should be the first in line for Android 15 when it does arrive. As well as new security features, it's also going to feature a host of additional customization options.

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Shōgun season 2: key information

- Renewed for two more seasons in May
- Writers room being assembled, but no confirmed filming start date or launch date
- Unsurprisingly, no trailer has been released yet
- Hiroyuki Sanada is the only actor confirmed to be returning from season 1
- Other cast members yet to be revealed
- Unclear where the story will go as James Clavell's full novel was covered in season 1

Want to know everything about Shōgun season 2 in light of its Emmy 2024 success? You're not alone. Interest in the critically-acclaimed series has shot up again following its multiple award wins at this year's ceremony, which took place on September 15. And, with a second season officially in development, FX's TV adaptation of James Clavell's 1975 novel of the same name is sure to secure even more gongs upon its return.

In the meantime, we do we know about Shōgun's next outing on the small screen? Below, we've rounded up the latest intel we can find on the Hulu and Disney Plus show, including its likely cast, potential plot, whether there'll be a third season, and when we think season 2 could make its debut. Full spoilers follow for Shōgun season 1, so proceed at your own risk.

Shōgun season 2 release date prediction

A post shared by FX Networks (@fxnetworks)

A photo posted by on

Shōgun season 2 doesn't have an official release date yet, but we know it's on the way. That's because FX, the Disney-owned studio behind its TV adaptation, confirmed that its record-breaking retelling of Shōgun was surprisingly getting two more seasons in mid-May. That's not a complete shock, either, considering Shōgun set a new record on Hulu and Disney Plus when its first season debuted in late February.

What is surprising is that it's coming back at all. Sure, its popularity means a renewal was always on the cards, but Shōgun's first season covered 99% of the story in James Clavell's book, so there's no more source material for FX's series to pull from. Like Game of Thrones' seventh and eighth seasons, then, Shōgun is entering uncharted territory – from a narrative standpoint – from this point on.

That's a discussion for later, though. Right now, is there any word on when Shōgun season will start filming? Speaking to Variety in July, FX boss John Landgraf revealed co-creators Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks were "happily at work" in the writers room, with plenty of ideas (see below) being thrown around.

Justin Marks details the progress creating the new #Shogun seasons: "We're in the writers' room...We're like 47 days in right now. We've got three outlines that we're really excited about; we're about to add the fourth. Scripts will come soon." https://t.co/OwvzFOEqA5 pic.twitter.com/zWHj0rjkVaSeptember 15, 2024

As for when it may enter full production, Landgraf said the plan was to start shooting "relatively early next year", although that'll depend whether the scripts have been completed. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter (THR), Hiroyuki Sanada, who plays Lord Yoshii Toranaga, also suggested "part of" season 2 might be filmed in Japan. Principal photography on season 1 took place in Canada due to the pandemic and the fact its natural scenery was a near-perfect stand-in for feudal Japan.

Even if season 2 starts shooting in early 2025, it'll be a while before it's released. Landgraf said season 1 took almost 200 days (or almost seven months) to film. With plenty of post-production work to carry out after filming wraps, we aren't likely to see Shōgun return until mid-2026 at the earliest.

Shōgun season 2 trailer: is there one?

Like all of us, Lord Ishido Kazunari is impatiently waiting for season 2's trailer (Image credit: FX Networks)

No. If our release date prediction proves correct, there won't be a trailer for Shōgun season 2 until early 2026, either. We'll update this section when one is released.

Shōgun season 2 cast: likely and rumored

Will Cosmo Jarvis' John Blackthorne return in season 2? That's unclear right now (Image credit: FX Networks)

Major spoilers follow for Shōgun season 1.

Shōgun season 2's cast is an unknown quantity right now. Indeed, there's only been one actor who's confirmed to be returning from its award-winning first season so far:

• Hiroyuki Sanada as Lord Yoshii Toranaga

If Shōgun season 2 is a direct continuation of the story told in its forebear (more on this shortly), there are other big-name players who may return, too. That includes Cosmo Jarvis as John Blackthorne, Takehiro Hira as Lord Ishido Kazunari, Tommy Bastow as Father Martin Alvito, Fumi Nikaido as Lady Ochiba no Kata, and Hiroto Kanai as Kashigi Omi.

Jarvis, for one, isn't sure if Blackthorne will return, though. Speaking to Vanity Fair after the season 1 finale, he said: "Blackthorne totally preoccupied and consumed me, and had for so long. When it came to the final shot, it was just horrific, because it’s only then that I suppose Blackthorne had to be left behind and all of these adventures had to be left behind. And it was just kind of sad, you know? I suppose in a way it was relieving, but also, then you’re just another unemployed actor, and you don’t know what’s going to come next."

Anna Sawai's Lady Mariko isn't expected to return in season 2 (Image credit: FX Networks)

Two vitally important characters who won't be back are Anna Sawai's Lady Toda Mariko and Tadanobu Asano's Kashigi Yabushige. The former sacrificed herself to save Blackthorne and Toranaga's consorts from a shinobi explosive blast in season 1 episode 9, while Yabishige committed seppuku over his constant betrayals.

It's possible Sawai's Mariko could return in flashback sequences – Sanada telling THR: "Hopefully we can work together again, but who knows" – but that's dependent on season 2's plot. Speaking of which...

Shōgun season 2 story speculation

Lord Yoshii Toranaga still has a lot to contend with heading into season 2 (Image credit: Hulu)

Full spoilers follow for Shōgun's first season.

Surprising no-one, Shōgun season 2's plot is up in the air. That's because, as previously mentioned, there's no more literary material to fall back on.

There are numerous directions, though, that it could go in. For starters, season 2 could focus on another novel in Clavell's Asian Saga book series. Indeed, following the show's announcement, Deadline reported there is "no information on source material, whether the new seasons will stay within the Shōgun universe or will also draw from the other books in Clavell’s Asian Saga". However, considering none of those novels continue to follow the life and story of Lord Yoshii Toranaga – who's  based on the real-life Japanese leader Tokugawa Ieyas – and that Sanada is returning as this character, it's incredibly unlikely that another of Clavell's works will form the basis for season 2's main narrative.

‘SHOGUN’ has won 18 Emmys, an all-time record for a single season of TV.• Best Drama• Best Directing• Best Sound Mixing• Best Sound Editing• Best Picture Editing• Best Cinematography• Best Period Costumes• Best Main Title Design• Best Production Design• Best… pic.twitter.com/kVrsb8KRRcSeptember 16, 2024

So, where could season 2 go from a story perspective? The short answer is: we don't know. Thanks to some teasing from Sanada and one of the best Hulu shows' creators, however, we have some vague ideas.

On the showrunner front, Kondo and Marks are extremely keen to retain the look and feel of Clavell's literature in future installments. "We’re trying to study his [Clavell’s] process of curation," Kondo told THR. "How did he curate, which events, which characters, which characters can you conveniently combine – those sorts of things that kind of allow you to make something new. There’s a lot of chaos but creative chaos, where we’re throwing everything that we have at the wall, seeing what sticks. It’s been exciting and nerve-wracking because, obviously, this is uncharted territory – we don’t have a roadmap, we just have history."

"There’s a lot of great conspiracy theory in history," Marks added. "[There's a lot of different theories about 'Oh, it was said that this went on, but this really went on,' and those little darker corners are what we’ve really enjoyed exploring."

Hiroyuki Sanada is the only confirmed cast member for Shōgun season 2 so far (Image credit: FX Networks)

Sanada largely agreed with his fellow executive producers, but opined that there needed to be some form of Western world influence – mainly from an outsider viewpoint – to help shape things moving forward. "I want to keep the taste of the novel and respect the novel," he told Forbes. "But also, we want to create an original script freely. We need fresh ideas as Japanese people, including me, who watch period movies and TV so much [because those images of Japanese culture] are more fixed and narrower, I believe. So, I need fresh ideas from Western eyes for the script."

If Shōgun season 2 acts as a direct follow-up to what's come before, there are some dangling story threads that need to be addressed. For one, Toranaga's ongoing feud and Ishido needs to be explored further before it reaches its endgame with the Battle of Sekigahara. That tentpole set-piece was only briefly teased in season 1's finale, too, so we'd hope for a full-scale, bloody fight to take place before Shōgun's story is wrapped up.

Then there's Toranaga's revelation that he purposefully sunk the Erasmus – Blackthorne's ship – to not only prevent his return to Europe, but also coerce Blackthorne into salvage its remains, before rebuilding it and making a full armada for Toranaga's use. Providing Jarvis returns as the character, we suspect Blackthorne won't be happy (that's understatement of the year right there) when he learns about this. Lady Ochiba isn't likely to be pleased if she finds out that Toranaga used Lady Mariko's death as a way to coax the former into severing allegiances with Lord Ishido, either.

Those issues notwithstanding, among the other problems Toranaga also has to deal with are the Portuguese merchants and rise of Christianity in his home nation. Clearly, there's plenty more ground to cover with Shōgun's morally complex cast and world, so here's hoping they're examined further over the next two seasons.

How many more seasons of Shōgun will there be?

"I hereby decree that Shōgun will return for not one, but two more seasons!" (Image credit: FX)

Shōgun season 2 won't be the end of the road. As we've said a few times already, we know two more seasons have been confirmed, but what will Shōgun season 3 be about? Speaking to THR, Marks explained how they’re approaching this duo of seasons: "The third season is really an ending. We know where it starts, and we know where it ends, and we know who is there on that journey. We’re just focusing on part two right now to really make sure we can get to that point. But part two is, as second chapters go, kind of a darker chapter."

Sounds ominous. Regardless, there's no word on whether seasons 2 and 3 will be shot back to back (just another The Bear season 3 and The Bear season 4 reportedly were in early to mid-2023). It may be in FX's best interests, though, to do this, as long as the dual seasonal shoot doesn't take two years to film. After all, FX/Disney, plus the series' fanbase, will want one of the best Disney Plus shows' final season to arrive before 2030, so let's pray it does so.

For more Shōgun coverage, watch one of these three great series before Shōgun season 2 is released. Alternatively, read our Disney Plus guides on Daredevil: Born Again, X-Men 97 season 2, and Star Wars: Skeleton Crew.

iOS 18 arrives later today, but there will be a glaring omission (cough* Apple Intelligence cough*) when you install the next generation of iPhone software on your device.

The new software update brings color customization to app icons, a new Photos app redesign, and a better calculator app, just to name a few of the new features. However, the biggest addition will be Apple Intelligence, which is expected to launch in October in US English as part of iOS 18.1.

While you’ll be able to install iOS 18 later today on all compatible devices including last year’s best iPhone, the iPhone 15 Pro, you won’t see the true power of the new operating system until later this year when Apple Intelligence features become available.

One of those upcoming features is the major overhaul to Siri, with the much-maligned voice assistant set to be upgraded with on-screen awareness, personal context, and ChatGPT integration in the coming months. Frustratingly, though, it looks like you won't get access to the full version of this new-and-improved Siri until next year.

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports, in his PowerOn newsletter, that "if you want the new Siri digital assistant to actually be useful, you’ll have to wait until a software update around next March." Yes, you read that right: March.

Apple Intelligence's March glow up

That’s a long wait for owners of the new iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro, aka the "first iPhones built from the ground up for Apple Intelligence," as Tim Cook so purposefully hammered home at Apple’s ‘Glowtime’ event last week.

iOS 18 without Apple Intelligence is a far less appealing software update than you’d be led to believe. Yeah, color-matching your app icons to your wallpaper is cool, and yeah, Control Center’s redesign is nice, but it’s not what everyone is excited about. 

Just take a look at Apple’s iOS 18 Preview and you’ll quickly realize Apple Intelligence is the major selling point heralded as the standout feature. But it’s not even ready yet, and you’ll need to wait even longer than the upcoming 2024 launch window to get your hands on the most important of Apple’s AI tools.

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iOS 18 is launching today, with Apple having confirmed the software update’s September 16 release date at the most recent Apple Event.

Based on past form, we expect iOS 18 to begin rolling out at around 1pm ET / 10am PT / 6pm BST, though the actual release time will vary between regions. We’ll be updating this article throughout the day as the update starts to become available.

Incidentally, if you’re expecting to find Apple Intelligence features in the launch version of iOS 18, think again. Apple has confirmed that Apple Intelligence won’t be arriving until iOS 18.1 in October, and even then, some Apple Intelligence features will be further delayed until later in the year. You can, however, take Apple Intelligence for a spin right now as part of the iOS 18.1 beta if you own an iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max.

In this guide, we’re focusing on the launch version of iOS 18 specifically. Below, you’ll find a list of compatible iPhones, a brief guide on how to download the new software update, and a roundup of our favorite iOS 18 features.

iOS 18: compatible devices

(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)

You’ll need an iPhone XS or newer to download iOS 18 on your iPhone (in other words, any iPhone with the A12 Bionic chipset or newer). These are the same device requirements as iOS 17, so if you’re currently sporting that update, you’ll be able to download iOS 18.

Apple Intelligence features – when they do eventually launch – will be limited to the iPhone 16 line, along with the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Below, we've detailed the full list of iOS 18-compatible iPhones. For more information, including confirmed iPadOS 18 compatibility, check out our dedicated iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 compatibility explainer.

• iPhone 16 Pro Max
• iPhone 16 Pro
• iPhone 16 Plus
• iPhone 16
• iPhone 15
• iPhone 15 Plus
• iPhone 15 Pro
• iPhone 15 Pro Max
• iPhone 14
• iPhone 14 Plus
• iPhone 14 Pro
• iPhone 14 Pro Max
• iPhone 13
• iPhone 13 mini
• iPhone 13 Pro
• iPhone 13 Pro Max
• iPhone 12
• iPhone 12 mini
• iPhone 12 Pro
• iPhone 12 Pro Max
• iPhone 11
• iPhone 11 Pro
• iPhone 11 Pro Max
• iPhone XS
• iPhone XS Max
• iPhone XR
• iPhone SE (2nd generation)
• iPhone SE (3rd generation)

How to download iOS 18

Follow these steps to find the 'Upgrade to iOS 18' button (Image credit: Future)

To check whether iOS 18 is available to download on your iPhone, go to Settings > General > Software Update. If iOS 18 is available, you’ll see an iOS 18 update message at the bottom of the screen. Tap Download and Install, then enter your passcode. Next, agree to the Terms and Conditions, and wait for iOS 18 to install.

Incidentally, you’ll likely need between 5GB and 10GB of free storage space to download iOS 18. To check your iPhone’s current storage situation, go to Settings > General > iPhone storage. Here, you’ll be presented with some options to free up space (like Optimize Photos and Offload Unused Apps).

Best iOS 18 features

We’ve detailed the full list of iOS 18 features elsewhere on TechRadar, but below, we’ve highlighted five of our favorites.

Advanced Home Screen customization

(Image credit: Apple)

If you’ve ever wanted to get more creative with the positioning of your Home Screen icons, now you can. iOS 18 grants users the ability to reposition apps and widgets at the bottom or side of the Home Screen, freeing up precious real estate for the wallpaper (furry or otherwise) that sits behind them. You'll also be able to trigger a new dark mode for app icons in iOS 18, as well as add color tints.

Control Center upgrades

(Image credit: Apple)

Like the Home Screen, Control Center also gets a makeover in iOS 18. Or rather, you’re now free to give it one. Specifically, iOS 18 lets you separate the Control Center into distinct function groups, like Home and Media, and you can now resize Control Center widgets, depending on which tools you use most often.

For the first time, you’re also now able to edit which Control Center widgets appear on the Lock Screen.

Redesigned Photos app

(Image credit: Apple)

iOS 18 introduces the “biggest-ever redesign” of the Photos app. You’ll now see a simplified, single view comprising a photo grid and a dates grid, while collections will let you browse by themes (screenshots and groups, for instance) without having to organize content into albums.

There’s also a new 'Recovered' album feature in iOS 18, which houses any photos or videos that aren't in your main photo gallery. Apple says this reduces the risk of database corruption or issues with third-party apps.

Messages upgrades Image 1 of 2

iOS 18 introduces the ability to schedule messages (Image credit: Apple)Image 2 of 2

You're also able to send messages via satellite in iOS 18 (Image credit: Apple)

iOS 18 brings some major changes to the way you message on iPhone. For starters, you’re now able to react to messages using any emoji, and new text formatting means you can underline, strikethrough, or bold your messages, as well as add new text formatting like ripple effects.

Apple has also added the ability to schedule messages at a convenient time in the future, and the Messages app finally supports the RCS standard in iOS 18. The latter should facilitate a richer messaging experience when you're communicating with someone who owns an Android phone (boo!).

Lastly, iOS 18 expands the SOS via satellite feature to let compatible iPhones (read: the iPhone 14 or newer) send messages via satellite when cellular and Wi-Fi connections aren’t available.

A dedicated Passwords app

The new Passwords app in action on macOS Sequoia (Image credit: Apple)

iOS 18 also launches with a new, built-in iPhone app: Passwords. As the name suggests, this Keychain-adjacent app acts as a one-stop shop for all your precious passwords, passkeys, and verification codes. 

On top of its function as a digital storage vault, Passwords will alert you if you're using weak passwords, or if your details have been involved in a data breach, so it sounds like it could be among the best password managers, period.

All of the information inside the Passwords app is protected by end-to-end encryption, and, of course, you're able to lock it behind Touch or Face ID authentication. Nice work, Apple!

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Days after the successful unveiling of the Apple Watch Series 10 last week, yet another report says that the Apple Watch SE 3 slated for 2025 could arrive with a plastic shell. 

A new Apple Watch SE model and a new Ultra (not counting that incredible new Black color) were notable absentees at Apple's ‘It’s Glowtime’ event last week. Reports post-event indicate that we can expect both a new Apple Watch Ultra 3 and a brand new version of the budget model next year, and the latter could mark a significant design shakeup over the previous version. 

For the second time this year, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has indicated that Apple is working on a new version of the SE that will ditch the aluminum shell in favor of plastic. But what could that mean, and why is Apple making the detour?

Writing in his Power On Newsletter Sunday, the top Apple insider reiterated his July report stating “A new Apple Watch SE with plastic shell remains in development.” Gurman says that Apple is developing “a plastic version of the SE watch in bolder colors.” The idea, he says, is to reduce the cost of the device while also making it more child-friendly.

In light of last week’s absence, Gurman says the new SE “is still moving forward” and tipped it for a potential release next year. That lines up with Ming-Chi Kuo’s report from last week that “2025 new Apple Watch models will include the Ultra 3 and SE upgrade version.” 

 Life in plastic?

The colorful iPhone 5C (above) landed back in 2013 to give us a cheaper, plastic version of the smartphone. (Image credit: Future)

While a plastic Apple Watch might sound like something of a downgrade, Apple has surprised us with the material before. 

Apple debuted the colorful iPhone 5C in 2013 and shifted millions of them. Perhaps more relevant, the Apple Watch SE already features plastic you probably didn’t even know about. The chassis was changed in 2022 to feature “a redesigned matching back case made of a nylon composite material.” 

Other details on the upcoming new Apple Watch SE 3 are scant, with Gurman noting that the SE should also get a processor jump when it comes out next year. If the SE 3 debuts alongside a new Series 11 or Apple Watch Ultra 3, it’s possible that it could inherit the new S10 chip that powers the Series 10.

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Cybersecurity researchers have recently spotted a new piece of malware that steals people’s Google login credentials by boring them into submission.

It is an unusual tactic, with no clear statistics about its effectiveness. In any case, the malware does not have a specific name, but is part of the Amadey malware loader. It was discovered by cybersecurity researchers from OALABS, who claim the campaign has been active since late August this year.

Besides the unnamed malware (coming in the form of a AutoIt script), the loader also deploys the StealC infostealer, which is used later in the attack.

Multiple workarounds

When the malware infects a device, it brings up its browser in kiosk mode - a feature that allows the browser to run in full-screen mode without any user interface elements like address bars, toolbars, or menus. It's typically used in public or restricted environments (think - kiosks), where users need access to a limited set of functionalities, such as accessing a specific website or web application without the ability to navigate elsewhere.

It then forces the browser to visit a page where users go to reset their Google password. That page first requires the user to enter their old password which, during the process, is grabbed by the StealC infostealer and relayed to the attackers.

Besides opening the browser in kiosk mode and preventing victims from accessing the navigation bar, the malware also disables the Escape and F11 keys. That way, computer users who aren’t that tech-savvy will think the only way to move past the Google screen is to type in their login credentials.

That is obviously not the case, and the browser can easily be circumvented with ALT+TAB, CTRL+ALT+DEL, ALT+F4, and many other keyboard shortcuts. Alternatively, holding down the power button (or unplugging the device, in case it’s a PC) will reset it. All of these alternatives are better than giving away your login credentials to crooks.

Via BleepingComputer

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With the reveal of the PS5 Pro and its slated release date, you may be thinking the PS5 (now in its Slim form), along with the digital-only version, is poised for a price cut. 

This November will see the PS5 — and indeed its contemporary the Xbox Series X — reach its fourth year around the Sun. That’s not old in gaming console terms, but it’s not young either; we’re arguably right on the mid-generation point. But through the past quartet of years, we’ve not seen the PS5 drop in standard retail price. In fact, quite the opposite. 

Even after the introduction of the PS5 Slim, the console didn’t get a price cut, unlike similar models in the PS4 era. The PS4 Pro was launched at a price of $399 / £349 / AU$560, the same price as the launch PS4, and the original console was repackaged into a PS4 Slim and came with a reduced price of $299 / £259 / AU$560. So there was a choice of more power for the original price of a PS4, or the same graphics grunt for less. But that was back in 2016, and times were rather different. 

Skip to late 2020, and the vast demand for PS5 was compounded by people being stuck inside due to the coronavirus pandemic, and catalyzed by Sony struggling to make enough units due to COVID-19 restrictions and their effect on manufacturing — I remember seeing some ridiculous prices set by scalpers and resellers. 

So no price cut was on the cards during those dark years. Then came the sucker punch of a price rise in select regions: the U.S. avoided one, but in the UK and Australia the price jumped from £449.99 / AU$749.95 to £479.99 / AU$799.95. Heck, in Japan the PS5 has seen three price rises since 2020. 

Given the PS5 games library has arguably not expanded as rapidly as the previous generation’s and the myriad cross-gen games that were released well into the PS5’s current lifespan, this price jump stung. 

And I don’t think that sting is going away. 

Don't expect a big PS5 price cut

(Image credit: PlayStation )

Rather we’re now in a sort of 'new normal' for consoles, games, and other consumer electronics that are now more expensive than ever and likely outpacing inflation.

The pricing of the PS5 Pro is evidence of that. It’s open to debate but Sony is asking a lot for a machine that’s not a next-gen console. The PS5 Pro pre-order price of $699.99 / £699.99 / AU$1,200 is around the price of an entry-level gaming PC, which offers a far more open gaming experience.

Equally, I think the PS5 Pro is aimed at 'serious' gaming and PlayStation enthusiasts who want the very best frame rates and graphics from consoles and those who want the most performant version of the platform of their choice. Think of people who've got setups with some of the best OLED TVs and best soundbars and want a powerful console as the gaming heart.

But I don’t see the PS5 dropping in price as a result of the Pro, especially given the price gap between it and the Pro, and who the latter is seemingly aimed at. Equally, Sony arguably doesn’t need to, as there’s still a healthy appetite for the PS5.

So is it all doom and gloom for people after a discount PS5? Well, not quite.

You could save a bundle on bundles 

(Image credit: Future)

Having covered this generation of consoles for the past few years, I think we’ll see deals, offers, and discounts on PS5 bundles. 

These could see healthy cuts in prices for sales events like Black Friday and Cyber Monday, especially if retailers like Best Buy and Currys want to clear out bundles with older games. Take a look at the widget below that'll flag the best PS5 deals in your area. 

Equally, I’ve seen the PS5 occasionally get a $50/£50 discount. So I fully expect those to continue, maybe getting a little more generous and upping that to some $100 / £100 / AU$150, especially as we approach the Black Friday PS5 deals in November.

Yet I’m afraid the days of scoring a PlayStation for a couple of hundred dollars or pounds deeper into its lifecycle are over.

That’s a shame, but from my time with the PS5, I still think it’s a great console with a strong library, healthy back catalog, a slick interface, and a great and innovative controller that all make it worth the price. So if you’re after one, don’t fret too much about the deals and just grab a PS5 — I doubt you’ll be disappointed.

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Those keen on seeing new Macs with M4 chips will doubtless want to catch up on the very latest from the rumor mill on these incoming devices which are expected to be launched in October.

Mark Gurman has provided an update in his latest Power On newsletter (for Bloomberg) noting that the launch event that’ll introduce multiple new Macs with the M4 processor is set to happen in the “coming weeks” and that it’s still following the exact same roadmap the leaker put forth in April 2024.

We get a few firmer details on the purported Macs in this leak dump, even if a lot of it is about covering old ground again.

To recap some of that old terrain, we are expecting new MacBook Pro models, a new iMac and an overhauled Mac mini all sporting the M4 chip.

Gurman underlines a few more specifics here, and we’re told that an entry-level MacBook Pro 14-inch (codename J604) is inbound with the vanilla M4 chip. That’ll be accompanied by higher-end MacBook Pro 14-inch and 16-inch models (J614 and J616 respectively) with M4 Pro and M4 Max options.

Then we have the new iMac (J623) with vanilla M4, and a revamped, more compact Mac mini (J773) which will offer vanilla M4 and M4 Pro versions.

Gurman believes that most of these Mac models are already shipping, so Apple has everything in place pretty much, but will wait until all the planned M4 Macs are ready before launching this new bunch of computers (obviously enough).

Expect the launch event to focus heavily on the AI powers of the M4 chips and Apple Intelligence coming to the desktop (with lower-end iPad models also likely to be revealed, Gurman reckons, alongside these Macs).

(Image credit: Future) Analysis: Exciting times

It’s good to hear that Apple’s plans for M4 Macs remain on track (and have done over the course of this year apparently) – add seasoning, of course – with these launches debuting some exciting new machines. We suppose it’s still always possible something could slip at the last moment, and plans could change, but Gurman sounds pretty convinced.

We’re intrigued at the prospect of the smallest Mac that Apple’s ever made in the form of a shrunk-down Mac mini M4, but even more excitingly, we’ve also heard that Apple might just equip all the new M4-toting Macs with at least 16GB of RAM as a baseline. (It is very definitely about time that the base MacBook Pro 14-inch was furnished with this amount of Unified Memory). This RAM rumor is backed up to some extent by the big AI play Apple is now engaging in, with AI features potentially needing more memory down the line.

Time will tell, as ever, and hopefully we only have just over a month to wait out at this point, leaving enough breathing room between this clutch of new Macs arriving and last week’s iPhone 16 phone launch.

Via MacRumors

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A reliable leaker has given us our first real insight into the potential performance of the upcoming PS5 Pro. The console, which was announced by Sony last week, will likely target a 60fps framerate at a dynamic resolution of 1600-2160p in some titles.

The information comes from the YouTube channel ‘Moore’s Law is Dead’ which previously posted information regarding the specs of the then-unannounced console that were allegedly obtained from leaked developer documents. This included the fact that the PS5 Pro would have 2TB of storage and that it would be a substantial mid-generation jump that was up to 45% faster than the PS5.

We now know that these leaks were correct, which lends a lot of credibility to these latest claims. According to a recent live stream, the PS5 Pro will run at a dynamic resolution of 1600p-2160 with all in-game settings set to Maximum Quality. It will reportedly be able to achieve a locked 60fps frame rate. This is all without PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution, or PSSR, which could improve performance even further.

The channel claims that it obtained this information from “a developer source” that provided “early testing footage” showing a game running on both the PS5 and PS5 Pro side-by-side for comparison.

The channel also suggests that the PS5 Pro will offer support for an 8K resolution, something that Sony previously claimed would be supported on the base PS5 “after a future system software update”. This update has still yet to arrive.

Finally, the PS5 Pro will benefit from access to an extra 1.2GB of memory, which could enhance performance even further. If correct, this information would go a long way in explaining some of the enhanced visuals shown in the PS5 Pro reveal live stream. As an unofficial leak, however, all of this should still be taken with a pinch of salt.

The PS5 Pro is set to launch on November 7. It will cost $699.99 / £699.99 / (around AU$1,052.99. PS5 Pro pre-orders will be available from September 26 at PlayStation Direct, and from October 10 at other participating retailers.

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In recent years, Apple’s Pro iPhone models have typically been its best sellers, but while that's still seemingly the case this year, initial demand for the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max is reportedly much lower than for their predecessors.

Ming-Chi Kuo – an analyst with a great track record for Apple information – has carried out a supply chain survey to estimate the pre-order numbers of each iPhone 16 model, and has found that the iPhone 16 Pro is down 27% relative to its predecessor, at 9.8 million units pre-ordered, and the iPhone 16 Pro Max is down 16%, with 17.1 million units pre-ordered.

This seemingly came as a surprise to Apple, particularly in the case of the iPhone 16 Pro Max, as the company reportedly produced around 6 million units of the phone ahead of pre-orders, which is 106% more than it produced of the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Still, it’s not all bad news for Apple, because while initial demand for the Pro models is seemingly down, the standard iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are reportedly proving more popular than their predecessors, with pre-orders of the iPhone 16 said to be up by 10%, with 7.3 million units pre-ordered, and the iPhone 16 Plus’s said to be up by 48%, though still with the lowest demand overall, at 2.6 million pre-ordered units.

But according to Kuo, that hasn’t made up for the reduced interest in the Pro models, with the iPhone 16 line as a whole estimated to have sold around 37 million units so far, which is down 12.7% from the iPhone 15 series on its first weekend.

The iPhone 16 Pro Max (Image credit: Apple) Missing a headline feature

So why is this? Kuo highlights the lack of Apple Intelligence at launch as being a major factor. This suite of AI features is one of the key selling points of the iPhone 16 line, but no Apple Intelligence features will be available until October, and even then, we won’t initially get all the features Apple has revealed.

Kuo also suggests that intense competition from Chinese phone brands has impacted pre-order numbers.

Beyond that, we’d guess the standard and Plus models might be proving more popular than their predecessors because they have more in common with the Pro phones. They have the new Camera Control button for example, which Apple could have easily made exclusive to the Pro phones.

They also gained the Action button from last year’s Pro models, and they have a new A18 chipset rather than inheriting the A17 Pro from the iPhone 15 Pro line. All of this could make the Pro models feel less essential, so it’s no real surprise that pre-orders for these are lower than for last year’s models.

Still, Kuo predicts that demand for the iPhone 16 line as a whole could well increase later in the year, once Apple Intelligence does start rolling out, and once we enter the year-end holiday season.

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SmallRig has been featured at Apple's mobile phone launch event for three consecutive years, showcasing their dedication to technological innovation. In 2024, SmallRig introduced the new SmallRig x Brandon Li All-in-One Universal Mobile Video Kit, expanding their photo and video accessories ecosystem. This kit empowers mobile phone creators to explore their creativity with greater freedom and enjoyment. 

If you want to capture truly spectacular smartphone videos, you need a good rig as an addition to your phone – a good rig such as Smallrig's universal mobile video kit, designed in collaboration with renowned filmmaker Brandon Li. This rig delivers pro-level expandability, stability, and control, taking your phone shooting to a whole new level. This kit is essential for filmmakers of all kinds. 

Check out the video to see what you can create with it:

Enhance the Creative Process

Today's smartphones have incredible cameras, but they are not easy to handle like traditional camera rigs. Even the largest flagship phones are difficult to keep still and stable, particularly when adjusting the zoom and focus. SmallRig changes that by providing a two-handed grip for better control and stability, and by placing all necessary controls within reach. This kit also features a variety of interfaces allowing you to attach various accessories to suit any of your needs.

(Image credit: Smallrig) Pro-Level Filming with Any Phone

SmallRig x Brandon Li All-In-One Universal Mobile Video Kit Co-design Edition features both MagSafe magnetic attachment and clamp fixation for greater compatibility,  dual bilateral quick release handles with M.2 SSD enclosure and wireless control, a 67mm magnetic filter adapter with adjustable panel for attaching filters, and a 4-in-1 USB-C Hub for interface expansion. 

The wireless control incorporates key adjustments for both iOS and Android, including focus, zoom, and shutter control. The bilateral quick release handle adapters enable swift attachment to the cage and bi-directional infinite rotation. 

Additionally, there is a power bank holder for extended phone use and an Arca-Swiss quick release adapter for swift mounting on Arca-type tripods.

(Image credit: Smallrig) Comprehensive Interface Configuration

The cage kit includes a detachable 67mm magnetic filter adapter with an adjustable panel, 3 anti-glare magnetic plates, providing light-modifying options for different phone models, and a 67mm VND 2-32 (1-5 Stop).

Moreover, the cage features multiple standard 1/4"-20 threaded holes and cold shoe mounts, supporting the free combination of accessories, allowing for more possibilities for your shooting.

The 4-in-1 USB-C hub offers a high-power PD charging port, a USB-C 3.0 interface, and two USB-C 2.0 interfaces. When used for mobile photography or videography, it enables simultaneous charging, data transfer, and utilization of a USB-C microphone.

(Image credit: Smallrig) All You Need to Shoot Like a Pro

The package includes everything you need to improve your shooting experience: a universal phone cage, 67mm magnetic filter adapter, 67mm VND 2-32 (1-5 Stop), rotatable bilateral side handle with M.2 SSD enclosure and wireless control, rotatable bilateral side handle, 4-in-1 dock station (USB-C PD / USB-C 3.0 / USB-C 2.0), Arca-Swiss quick release adapter, power bank holder, multifunctional data cable, even velcro ties, and photography bag!

SmallRig x Brandon Li All-in-One Mobile Video Kit Co-design Edition 4596 is now available. Click here to learn how to transform any smartphone into the photo and video system you've been dreaming of.