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Technics has unveiled its first-ever wireless stereo speakers, the SC-CX700. They have a bunch of cool features and one very unusual element that I didn't realize until I saw them in person at the IFA 2024 trade show: a fabric, microfiber finish.

So, the audio bit first: these are active speakers with their own amplification. They even have a phono MM input so you can connect one of the best turntables without any additional pre-amp needed, as well as HDMI ARC for connecting to your TV as a soundbar alternative.

They're a two-way design, and the tweeter sits at the center of the woofer, in a design very similar to KEF's Uni-Q driver, as used in the fantastic KEF LS50 Mk II – which these bear a generally striking resemblance to in terms of features. A forward-firing bass port should aid low-end power.

(Image credit: Future)

In addition to the connections mentioned above, they also take 3.5mm jack input, USB-C input, and Ethernet, and there's Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for streaming.

Technics has been light on details, but there appears to be a PDF of the instruction manual online, and assuming it's accurate, it reveals a lot more, including the hi-res audio chops involved. It looks like streaming FLAC and ALAC are supported at up to 24-bit/384kHz. Over USB-C, there's DSD and LPCM support.

Using the Technics Music Center app, you can stream Spotify, Tidal, Deezer, Amazon Music, and Qobuz – plus there's AirPlay 2 and Google Cast support. However, there's no mention of any higher-quality Bluetooth versions being supported.

They come with a remote for switching input and controlling playback, too. And I should note that they're not totally wireless – they need to be connected to each other by an included cable.

All this tech doesn't come cheap: they're set to cost £2,399 (about $3,100 / AU$4,700) and will be available from October 2024.

(Image credit: Future)

Now, about the outside. They come in three finishes – Charcoal Black, Silky Grey, and Terracotta Brown – and unlike all those entries in our list of the best stereo speakers that have boring materials like 'wood' on the outside, these are covered in a "stylish microfibre material that feels like suede and is easy to integrate into any home aesthetic," according to Technics.

I totally missed this in the announcement, and when I went to see them at Panasonic's IFA booth (Technics is owned by Panasonic), I did a full double-take. They have a soft, fine texture all over the colored section of the body, which catches the light with a sheen that's unlike what you get from any kind of veneer.

It feels very ’70s, and I actually love it, especially in the Terracotta color. It's hard to notice from a distance, but you get close enough and your brain goes "hang on, that's not what a solid surface looks like." It's a fun little aesthetic twist, and I would very happily have a pair in my home – though strictly with the all-black circular speaker cover off, as it is in these pictures, because they look way better with the shiny, pointy tweeter visible.

I wasn't able to hear them in action, sadly – especially sad since they were sitting with Technics' new SL-1300G turntable, which is its new flagship spinner and dares to be a superior successor to the legendary Technics SL-1200 (which is still going, don't worry). I would've liked to have seen how that combo went – but we'll review them in good time.

Sadly, the ones you get at home will have a regular back, instead of this see-through one that shows the tech inside. (Image credit: Future) You might also like…

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Yoast, a plug-in for one of the best website builders WordPress, has come up with a way to embed Artificial Intelligence (AI) into content creation with the goal of improving content whilst letting humans focus on the bigger picture. It’s called Yoast AI Optimize, and it’s a search engine optimization (SEO) tool powered by AI.

All users have to do (after creating and submitting the content to the CMS), is click on the “sparkle” icon that was added to Yoast SEO. That will automatically improve the site’s overall SEO performance, thanks to AI-powered suggestions, tailored to enhance the effectiveness of the content.

The announcement from Yoast follows a trend, with some of the best AI website builders already offering similar AI-powered SEO tools to users.

Driving traffic and boosting credibility with AI

"By improving search rankings, SEO drives targeted traffic, boosts credibility and helps businesses market their products and services more effectively in an increasingly competitive digital landscape,” Kimberley Cole, General Manager Europe at Newfold Digital, parent company of Yoast, said in a press release shared with TechRadar Pro recently. “With Yoast AI Optimize, users can save time and energy by tapping into SEO powered by AI and unlocking the full potential of their website, blog, online store and more.”

SEO is a pivotal part of any content creation plan or strategy. It involves tailoring content for search engines, to make sure that it is recognized as valuable and lists higher on results pages. SEO includes different things, from knowing the optimal article length, to titles and subtitles, optimizing images and multimedia, keywords, tags and other metadata, and more.

Yoast is one of the most popular SEO plugins for WordPress out there. According to the company, there are more than 13 million active installations right now. Until today, Yoast’s SEO plugin could analyze the content and give suggestions, but any changes that were required would need to be done manually, losing users precious time and money. Now, the entire process is apparently faster and more streamlined.

Yoast AI Optimize is automatically available to all Yoast SEO Premium customers with the 23.2 version.

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German audio brand Beyerdynamic has unveiled the MMX 330 Pro, the first open-back headset in its MMX gaming line.

A high-end gaming headset intended for gamers pursuing high sound quality, the MMX 330 Pro uses the same professional studio-grade drivers found in its sibling, the MMX 300 Pro. Its open-back design is intended to create a wider, more detailed soundstage for an immersive gaming experience. Open-back headsets usually provide additional spatial awareness, though allow background noise to enter more freely. The manufacturer states that the overall tuning of the MMX 330 Pro is intended to deliver a more balanced audio profile than the MMX 300 Pro.

The MMX 330 Pro also features a 10mm condenser microphone and a cable designed to eliminate crosstalk and ensure that teammate communications are not heard by them while you play. Its earcups use a combination of breathable memory foam and open foam with a soft velour finish for comfort over extended gaming sessions.

Like other Beyerdynamic models, the MMX 330 Pro has been created with repairability in mind and features multiple easily removable and replaceable parts. The overall design of the headset is rather understated compared to the bright RGB designs of many of the best gaming headsets, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It looks very professional and features a combination of scratch-resistant plastics and metal elements in a plain black finish and a small Beyerdynamic logo on the exterior of each ear cup.

The headset is available today and can be purchased directly from the Beyerdynamic shop or Amazon and launches at a US price of $329.99 (other regions to be confirmed). While Beyerdynamic wired sets will often find great homes as PC gaming headsets, the MMX 330 Pro is multi-platform compatible so could be a great premium option for anyone looking for a top-tier PS5 headset, Xbox Series X headset, or Nintendo Switch headset.

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As part of IFA 2024 – a huge tech event taking place in Berlin as we’re writing this – Asus has unveiled a trio of AI-enhanced laptops for its popular Zenbook, Vivobook and ExpertBook lines. 

Let’s start with the Zenbook S 14, which starts at $1,399.99 / £1,299.99 (Australian pricing to be confirmed), and boasts some very solid specs that means it’s worth paying attention even if you aren’t convinced AI is the next big thing. 

It has a 14-inch 3K 120Hz OLED display, a solid battery life of 27 hours (based on an offline video test conducted by Asus), and is clad in a Ceralumium casing – a deceptively tricky word to say, which blends ceramic and aluminum to deliver a more durable yet lighter design. We can’t yet speak for those durability promises without testing it ourselves, but the Ceralumium-clad Zenbook certainly looks cool is easy to pick up and carry around, and isn't as prone to fingerprint smudges as some notebooks.

(Image credit: Future)

The star of the show is the new Intel Core Ultra 9 200 Series processor (known as Lunar Lake) which promises significant power and efficiency upgrades over the 100 Series processor. Per Asus’s test stats, a Zenbook S 14 using the new processor running at 35W, compared to a Zenbook S 14 using the old 100 Series CPU running at 45W, boasts a 25% improvement in daily productivity performance (per Geekbench V6 Single-Core CPU Score), a 53% higher gaming performance (in Cyberpunk 2077) and a 173% better AI performance (per UL Procyon).

That AI performance boost will be thanks to the Intel Core Ultra 9 200 Series’ new NPU (neural processing unit for AI) being able to perform 48 trillion operations per second (TOPS). For context, Qualcomm’s competing Snapdragon X Elite chip only offers 45 TOPS. This extra speed will lend a helping hand completing on-device AI processes when using services like Microsoft CoPilot+, MuseTree (Asus’s image generation tool), and Adaptive Lock, which automatically secures your PC if you walk away with it unlocked.

Couple all of this with the Zenbook’s lightweight and thin design – coming in at 1,5kg, and 1.1cm thick – and Asus’ new laptop is looking pretty great. Though, obviously, before we issue our final Zenbook S 14 verdict we’ll need to run our own tests to verify Asus’s bold promises.

Not all about the Zenbook

(Image credit: Future)

Asus’s other new consumer productivity laptop is the Vivobook S 14. 

It’s a slight downgrade on the Zenbook S 14  but still boasts a 3K OLED, an Ultra 7 Series 200 Intel processor, and it’s a little thicker and heavy at 1.39cm thickness and weighing 1.3kg. It also misses out on Ceralumium, but does have an RGB-lit keyboard.

It also costs a little less, starting at $899.99 / £999.99 (we’re waiting for the Australian price), which makes it a more accessible way to access Asus’s latest AI PC offerings.  

Last but not least were the new P5 ExpertBooks. The P-series machines are aimed at experts who might need a powerful laptop that’s also long lasting – which is why Asus has put the new P5 through its paces several US military grade tests.

If you want to learn more about these business-focused devices you'll soon be able to read our coverage of the Asus P5 announcement over on TechRadar Pro. 

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Unless you live in France, or have a penchant for all things Gallic, it’s highly unlikely you’ve ever even heard of the Renault 17. But the model sold more than 92,000 units during its lifetime and it’s now back, looking more gloriously 1970s than it ever did.

That’s because Renault has sprung a surprise show car on the world – a design study that will be showcased at the Paris Motor Show from 14 to 20 October of this year, flaunting its sharp 1970s lines and retro-futuristic touches.

Working alongside renowned French designer Ora Ïto, the model uses the same monocoque structure of the original car, but shuns the puny 1.6-liter petrol engine and replaces it with a modern electric powertrain that produces 270 bhp and sits at the rear of the vehicle. Sounds fun.

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(Image credit: Renault)Image 2 of 3

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(Image credit: Renault)

Renault is remaining tight-lipped about performance figures, only revealing that it weighs just 1.4 tonnes, which is lighter than a Nissan Leaf.

The body is 17cm wider than the original car, while cutting-edge LED strip lighting has been added to the rear and bespoke lamps fashioned for the front. It is undeniably a Renault 17, but beefier, more purposeful and athletic, yet still achingly cool.

Inside, much of the original trim exists, but there’s now a large central screen, complete with digital clock, as well as four small geometric screens behind the steering wheel, inspired by the dials of the original model.

Beige is everywhere, as well as deep woollen seats that have been sculpted for increased comfort. All the interior needs is a Serge Gainsbourg soundtrack and a packet of Gauloises thrown into the dash bins.

Look but don't touch

(Image credit: Renault)

Renault’s design collaborator Ora Ïto said that his small team worked on a theme that was retro-futuristic and "almost cinematic" in its approach. It shows, as the restomod R17 wouldn’t look out of place in a modern remake of Logan’s Run or any other 70s filmic imagining of a dystopian future.

But unlike the upcoming R5 EV, which is an unashamed nod to one of Renault’s most famous 70s vehicles, this R17 is highly unlikely to ever see the light of day. The French marque stated that  this is a unique model and definitely "not the forerunner for a future production vehicle".

Instead, you have to give up the glorious Galactic Brown paint job (bespoke to this show car) and the suitably beige interior for the firm's boxy Renault 4, which will also be on revealed at the Paris Motor Show and will definitely be going on sale.

But does the world really need another small SUV? We say go all-in on the R17.

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Research has found that North Korean cyber criminals tricked unsuspecting ‘candidates’ into downloading fake Windows video conferencing applications which impersonated FreeConference.com. The campaign was labeled ‘Contagious Interview’ after being discovered by analysts.

Discovered by cyber security company ‘Group-IB’, the campaign was reportedly carried out by known threat actor ‘Lazarus’, who has been observed to have run similar operations in the past.

The attacks started through a job search platform, such as LinkedIn or Upwork. The attackers reached out to the intended target to discuss a job opportunity, and invited them to continue the discussion via Telegram. From there, the victim would be asked to download a video conferencing app FreeConference or Node.js for a trial technical task.

Elaborate schemes

Of course, these installers were fake, and the victim unknowingly downloaded malware named BeaverTail, which delivered a backdoor known as InvisibleFerreft, equipped with keylogging, remote control, and browser stealing capabilities. The FBI recently released a statement warning of efforts from North Korean hackers,

“North Korean social engineering schemes are complex and elaborate, often compromising victims with sophisticated technical acumen. Given the scale and persistence of this malicious activity, even those well versed in cybersecurity practices can be vulnerable to North Korea's determination to compromise networks connected to cryptocurrency assets.”

The Lazarus group is infamous and has reportedly been active since 2010. In that time, it has attacked a range of targets, including governments, healthcare, finance, and defense infrastructure.

As always, we recommend only downloading apps from official sources, and verifying the identity of anyone you're speaking to online. We’ve listed our picks for the best malware removal software to help keep your information safe.

Via The Hacker News

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With Home Theater Week in full swing, it's a good time for Q Acoustics to launch an interesting new amplifier – and this one is designed to be heard, not seen (unless you count the Alexa light ring around it). That's because the new Q Acoustics E300A is made to live in your ceiling, where it can drive speakers in the same – or in multiple – rooms within your home.

The flush-fit amp is just 125mm x 125mm wide and comes with multiple connections: RJ45 Ethernet; a mini TOSLINK supporting audio up to 24-bit/96kHz from your TV; 3.5mm stereo; Wi-Fi; and Bluetooth 5.2. It comes with Spotify Connect, Apple AirPlay 2.0, Amazon Music including its multi-room incarnation and Tidal Connect – and you can stream from a laptop, phone or tablet too via Bluetooth 5.2. 

The E300A comes with an IR remote but it's really intended to be a voice-controlled device with Alexa controlling not just your music but the rest of your smart home too. 

Will it make your home sound good? If the success of the company's Q Acoustics M40 HD wireless speakers are anything to go on, yes, yes it will. 

(Image credit: Q Acoustics) Q Acoustics E300A: specifications and price

As you can see from the photo, it's not a bad-looking thing, and it's very small – although it does need a fairly deep cavity immediately above it to make room for those connectors. The unit weighs 1.2kg and it's rated for 60-minute fire, BS EN 1365-2 and BS EN 1363-1 to comply with the appropriate home regulations. It's designed for a 100-240V AC input.

The E300A has been made with Q Acoustics' own ceiling- and wall-mounted speakers in mind, although it can drive pretty much anything: the Class D amp puts out 2 x 25W (2 x 50W peak) at 6 ohms and was designed with either two or four speakers in mind. Frequency response is 20Hz to 20kHz.

In the box you'll find the E300A itself along with its remote, two 4m lengths of speaker cable, a UK and a UK power cord (both of which are 1.3m), the power supply and a cutout template for the installer. There's also two speaker plugs and an Optical Mini TOSLINK adapter.

The E300A is available to order now from Q Acoustics and costs £599 / €749 in the UK and in Europe (so around $789 or AU$1,170, although these prices are unofficial); the firm also offers some bundles that include Q Acoustics speakers too. A US launch is planned for early 2025.

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If you use WhatsApp on macOS, you may find that you have to redownload the app on your device very soon, as while the older WhatsApp app remains available, Meta (WhatsApp’s parent company) has confirmed that this version is due to be discontinued.

The older version of WhatsApp is built on an Electron framework, an open-source software that allows you to adapt a web app into a desktop app. According to 9to5Mac, Meta has rebuilt the Whatsapp app from scratch, which means that if you want to continue using the WhatsApp app on your desktop, you'll have to install the new version. 

9to5Mac quotes WABetaInfo, who continued running the older WhatsApp app on a Mac and was notified that the app wouldn't be available in 54 days (at the time of writing). When this happens, Meta says users will have to download the newly rebuilt desktop app from the official WhatsApp website or from the App Store for Mac.  

(Image credit: Karolina Grabowska / Pexels) The new Catalyst-powered WhatsApp app

The new WhatsApp Mac desktop app is built using Catalyst, Apple's software framework that enables developers to make iOS (its mobile operating system for iPhones) apps work natively on macOS devices. 9to5Mac writes that downloading and installing the new app will preserve all of your existing chats and contacts. 

The new WhatsApp for macOS, built with Catalyst, leverages the iPhone app as a foundation to run natively and reportedly offers better performance than the Electron-based web app. While the web version is convenient, it lacks many features, making the native macOS app a superior option for Mac users.

9to5Mac does point out that the older WhatsApp app for Mac is still being used by some people, possibly due to the newer app seemingly arriving without some important features. However, it does reassure readers that most of the older app's features have been carried over to the newer app. 

You can get WhatsApp for Mac for free from the Mac App Store or the official WhatsApp website, and you'll need to make sure your device is running macOS 11 or later. 

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Earlier this week, Cisco introduced new patches that fix bugs in different products, which allowed threat actors to log in to, or take over, vulnerable devices.

First, it addressed an OS command injection vulnerability, caused by insufficient validation of user-supplied input, found in Cisco’s Identity Service Engine (ISE). This one is tracked as CVE-2024-20469, and carries a severity score of 6.0. Cisco's ISE is a network access control and policy management platform that enables organizations to enforce security policies across their network.

In theory, a local attacker could submit a malicious CLI command and escalate privileges on vulnerable systems to root, but they need to have admin rights on the unpatched system to begin with.

Bugs in SLU

"A vulnerability in specific CLI commands in Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) could allow an authenticated, local attacker to perform command injection attacks on the underlying operating system and elevate privileges to root," Cisco said in an advisory, adding that it is aware of proof-of-concept code circulating online. So far, there is no evidence of successful abuse, though.

Versions 3.2 and 3.3 are affected, and to secure their premises, admins should upgrade to 3.2P7 and 3.3P4, respectively.

The second flaw that was recently addressed is a backdoor account that was found in Cisco’s Smart Licensing Utility Windows (SLU) software. SLU is a tool that helps manage and activate software licenses for Cisco products using the Smart Licensing system. The bug, described as an “undocumented static user credential for an administrative account,” is tracked as CVE-2024-20439, and carries a severity score of 9.8.

The third flaw, tracked as CVE-2024-20440, is due to excessive verbosity in a debug log file. As a result, crooks could access sensitive information, remotely. This one, too, has a 9.8 severity score.

SLU versions 2.0.0, 2.1.0, and 2.2.0, were said to be vulnerable. The first fixed version is 2.3.0.

Via BleepingComputer

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DJI has enjoyed near-total dominance of the global consumer drone market for years, but more recently a couple of challengers have identified a gap in DJI's lineup – tiny selfie / FPV drones – and exploited this space to offer this new line of drones for beginners.

HoverAir's X1, successors for which have just been announced in the form of the Apple-esque monikered X1 Pro and X1 Pro Max, and BetaFPV's Cetus X were both well reviewed last year. Now, DJI is looking to take on those rivals with its latest model, the aggressively priced Neo, which is its smallest and lightest 4K drone ever.

• DJI Neo hands-on review

Weighing just 4.76oz / 135g, the Neo can take off from the palm of your hand, and capture stabilized 4K videos with AI subject tracking and DJI's Quickshots feature. It can track you and stick close, keeping you center of the frame for selfies with a difference, plus it can perform six automated flight moves: Boomerang, Helix, Circle, Rocket, Dronie, and Spotlight, before returning to your palm. 

It can be controlled without a remote, or paired with DJI's Fly app, remote controllers and FPV goggles, as well as being voice operated, while its tiny size and propellor guards allow you to safely maneuver into and around tight spaces. 

The DJI Neo also has a tempting standalone price tag of just $199 / £169 / AU$299 – in fact, I'd call that pretty aggressive pricing. The Neo Fly More Combo kit (including three batteries and an RC controller) costs £299 / AU$539 but isn't available in the US, where there's a Combo kit instead (three batteries, no controller) for $289. 

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(Image credit: DJI) Neo knows kung-fu

Positioned somewhere between the Ryze Tello beginner drone and DJI's FPV drone, the DJI Avata 2, the Neo is designed to be as simple a drone as they come, equipped with impressive flight and camera features to quickly elevate your flights skills and aerial content.

The simplest option for getting airborne is to select your desired shooting mode on the drone's mode button, after which the Neo takes flight from your palm, capturing 4K 30fps / 1080p 60fps video or 12MP stills, before returning to your hand, all without the use of a remote.

Alternatively, you can control Neo using the Fly app on your phone using virtual joysticks, or explore FPV piloting using DJI's Goggles (which are an extra cost). 

Whether you want to be intelligently tracked as you're moving, or after some cool flight moves from above, such as Boomerang, which sees the Neo fly in an oval pattern around you, the idea is that you won't need any prior drone experience to get the aerial shots you like.

(Image credit: DJI)

With single-axis stablization, DJI says the Neo can hover steadily in up to level 4 wind conditions. It packs 22GB of internal storage, which equates to around 40 minutes of 4K video or 55 minutes of 1080p video.

There's a built-in mic if you want audio too, with the app automatically eliminating propellor noise, while if you're serious about audio quality you can connect a Bluetooth mic such as the DJI Mic 2.

We're in the early days of conducting our full review of the DJI Neo. If it delivers on its impressive specs, it could be the gateway to aerial piloting and photography for a whole new wave of beginners.

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Apple’s Find My might have started on the tech giant’s own devices, but since then – even with the arrival of the AirTag – it’s made its way into countless other devices, all with the point of helping you track down an item. We’ve seen some unusual applications like Find My being used to track drink tumblers and now it's breached another uncharted gadget category.

Twelve South, known for higher-end and premium Apple accessories, just unveiled the PlugBug with Find My. A fast-charging wall plug with either 2 or 4 USB-C ports and Find My built-in to see where it is on the map and even get an alert if you leave it behind. Kind of genius, and in fact it’s the world’s first wall charger with Apple’s Find My built-in. 

PlugBug with Find My – which, yes, is an adorable product name – comes in two flavors. It is a US wall plug-compatible two-port 50W charger or a four-port 100W charger, priced at $69.99 / £69.99 / EUR $79.99 or $119.99 / £119.99 / EUR $139.99.

However, for folks traveling internationally or who live internationally, Apple will exclusively sell the PlugBug Travel at $79.99 for the 50W with two ports or $129.99 for the 120W with four ports, both paired with six international adapters (US, UK, EU, AU, KR, and CN). It's not too bad for just $10 USD more, and a carrying case is included, but this is exclusive to the United States.

Both PlugBug and PlugBug Travel are available for order now and will launch on September 16, 2024. While it won't initially be for sale in Australia, it is coming to that territory in the future.

Potentially, a very handy world’s first

(Image credit: Twelve South)

The advantage of any Find My-enabled tech is that you can easily see where it is on a map and ping it through your iPhone to have it emit a sound, which should help you find it. It works like a charm for the AirTag on my keys and even helped me track down a lost bag. 

In a wall plug, it is potentially beneficial, especially if, say, you’re using it at a hotel and are leaving, but in the hallway, you get a Find My alert that your PlugBug 50W was left behind. Rather than never seeing your wall charger again, you can go back and grab it. The same goes for working at a coffee shop, departing an office, leaving a friend's house, or even charging on an airplane or train. 

Like an Apple AirTag, you can set up and add the PlugBug via your iPhone within the Find My app, name it, and link it with your Apple ID (soon to be renamed Apple Account). Via the Find My app on your iPhone, iPad, or even Mac, you can see where it is on a map – alongside other Find My devices – and ping it to play a sound.

(Image credit: Twelve South)

It also doesn’t hurt that Twelve South gave the PlugBug a two-tone white and red design that will make it decently easy to spot. With either a two-port 50W or four-port 120W, you’ll find the wall plug on the back that flips back in when not in use for easy storage and the USB-C ports on the bottom. The PlugBug is fairly slim and compact, though not the slimmest we’ve ever seen. Inside, though, and powering the USB-C ports, is Gallium Nitride or GaN for a fast, safe charge.

That same tech will also help to split the power efficiently based on the plugged devices. With either the 50W or 120W, you can swiftly charge an iPhone, iPad, MacBook, AirPods, Apple Watch, and countless other devices.

I’m keen to try the Twelve South PlugBug with Find My, especially on a trip, to see how well it performs. At $69.99 or $119.99 sans any travel adapters or $79.99 and $129.99 with, it's a pretty good deal compared with other GaN chargers. You're also getting extra functionality that could prove very, very useful – especially if it saves you from leaving a wall plug behind.

If you’re sold on the PlugBug, you can order it directly from Twelve South. It will soon be available with the travel adapters from Apple, ahead of shipping and an official launch on September 16, 2024.

And if you need a wall charger sooner or don’t need one with this Find My integration, check out TechRadar’s recommendations here.

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Honor has officially unveiled the Honor Magic V3 – aka the world’s thinnest commercially available inwards-folding phone – at IFA 2024.

Measuring just 4.35mm when unfolded and 9.2mm when folded, the Magic V3 is even thinner than the already paper-thin Honor Magic V2, and puts its closest rivals, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 (5.6mm / 12.1mm) and Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold (5.1mm / 10.5mm), to shame on the design front.

In fact, when unfolded, the Magic V3 is closer to the thickness of the iPhone 15 Pro Max (8.2mm) than it is to either of its major foldable competitors. At a weight of 226g, it’s almost as light as Apple’s best iPhone (221g), too.

Honor partially attributes the Magic V3’s thin design to the materials used in its construction – the company says the rear cover incorporates a “Special Fiber” that reduces thickness by 30%, though it hasn't yet elaborated on what this material is nor how such a dramatic reduction was achieved.

The Honor Magic V3 (left) and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 (right) (Image credit: Honor / Samsung / Future)

The Chinese manufacturer also claims that this material increases the Magic V3’s durability compared to contemporary flagship bar phones, though you’ll have to check out our Honor Magic V3 review to see how that claim holds up.

The new phone is equipped with a 6.43-inch cover screen, which unfolds to reveal a 7.92-inch internal screen. Both panels are the same size as those on the Magic V2. 

Honor says the proprietary Super Steel Hinge found on the Magic V3 is rated for 500,000 cycles, meaning you could theoretically open and close the phone 100 times a day for more than 13 years (other durability-impacting factors notwithstanding). 

The rear cover hosts the phone’s octagonal camera unit, which itself comprises a 50MP main camera, a 40MP ultrawide camera, and a 50MP periscope telephoto camera. For comparison, the Magic V2 features a 50MP main camera, a 50MP ultrawide, and a 20MP telephoto.

The Honor Magic V3 is available in Reddish Brown, Green and Black (Image credit: Honor)

As for the phone's battery, the Honor Magic V3 has a maximum capacity of 5,150mAh, up from 5,000mAh on the Magic V2, with support for 66W wired fast charging and 50W wireless fast charging.

Honor has positioned the Magic V3 alongside a new lineup of AI-enhanced flagship products; the company also debuted the MagicBook Art 14 laptop, MagicPad 2 tablet, and Honor Watch at IFA 2024.

None of these products are likely to be available in the US, though users in other markets can expect the Honor Magic V3 to run MagicOS, a modified version of Android. UK shoppers can purchase the new phone now for £1,699 at Honor directly or from retailers including O2, Three, Amazon, Argos, and Very.

As mentioned, our in-depth Honor Magic V3 review is now live, so be sure to head there for our full verdict on Honor’s next-generation foldable.

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Star Wars Outlaws' creative director has confirmed that he will be spending his last weeks working on the game to add more improvements, before moving on to The Division 3.

"It's been announced that I'm exec[utive] producer on The Division, so these are my last weeks, but I'm making sure that I'm pushing as much as I can on the last weeks," said Julian Gerighty in a recent interview with GamesRadar.

This doesn't mean all work on Massive Entertainment's open-world Star Wars game will stop, as Gerighty has revealed that the development team is now in the process of implementing some adjustments to Outlaws, which could mean quality-of-life updates and other hotfixes are on the way.

Gerighty also added that while he and other staff members don't have long left before they need to move back to The Division 3's development, they're trying their best to deliver the content planned for later this year.

"We're pushing a lot of improvements," he said. "We don't want to let it go. They're going to have to kick us out the door. And that's improvements, not just on the base game, but it's things that we're going to deliver later on this year and next year with the downloadable episodes that we're creating there." 

These downloadable episodes are the two expansions previously announced for the game's Season Pass - Wild Card and A Pirate's Fortune - the first of which launches in Fall 2024 followed by the second in Spring 2025.

Gerighty also shared a little insight into both story packs, saying, "We're going to be able to build on that and make something that's really Sabacc themed," Gerighty said, referring to Wild Card's story. 

"The next one that features Hondo from the animation [The Clone Wars] – he's a legendary Space Pirate, a great character, super humorous – so that it's space piracy and pushing the space aspect of the game, which, I mean, we would have loved to spend more time in space."

Although Gerighty will be moving on from Star Wars, he adds, "Whatever happens next, I'll be playing it for sure."

The Division 3 was announced last September but we don't have too many details about the game, only that Ubisoft was "actively building a team" in 2023, so the game is likely a few years away.

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One of the main upgrades we’re expecting on the iPhone 16 line is a Capture button, which could be used to snap photos and record videos. But this is reportedly a smarter button than most, with a capacitive design that also allows you to swipe across it to zoom the camera in or out.

It’s a design that could present a problem for case makers, since you’d assume it wouldn’t register swipes if covered. An obvious if inelegant solution is to have a cut-out for this key, so that it’s not covered (and therefore not protected) by the case, but Apple might have a better solution.

According to leaker DuanRui posting on X (via 9to5Mac), Apple’s official cases for the iPhone 16 series will have an “integrated design” rather than a cut-out. It’s not clear exactly what this design will be or how the capacitive functions of the Capture button will work through it, but they claim that these functions won’t be affected.

据说，苹果 iPhone 16 系列官方保护壳，没有这个开孔，会做成一体式设计，还不会影响这颗电容式按键正常使用。 pic.twitter.com/uSkaQqwXFeSeptember 4, 2024

Third-party cases might not be so lucky

However, whatever this solution is it might not be offered by third parties, with early case leaks all showing a cut-out for the Capture button.

Then again, once the iPhone 16 series has launched and Apple has shown how its case design works, perhaps other brands will imitate it.

This assumes of course that DuanRui is right, and as ever with leaks we’d take this with a pinch of salt. But we’ll find out very soon, as the iPhone 16 series – including the iPhone 16 itself, the iPhone 16 Plus, the iPhone 16 Pro, and the iPhone 16 Pro Max – is very likely launching on Monday, September 9.

We’ll be reporting live from the event, so head back to TechRadar then to learn everything there is to know about the iPhones 16 series – and its official cases.

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Mark your calendars, because the annual Golden Joystick Awards (GJAs) will return for its 42nd incarnation this year. The awards ceremony, which will now feature four new award categories, is set to take place on November 21, 2024.

The full shortlist for this year’s awards will be announced on October 4, with public voting set to go live on the same day. If you’re unfamiliar with the Golden Joystick Awards, also known as the “People’s Gaming Awards”, categories are decided by either public voting or a panel of judges.

This year’s show will include four new categories: Best Soundtrack, Still Playing Award (Mobile), Best Indie Game (Small Studio), and Best Game Adaptation. Best Soundtrack is intended as an evolution of the Best Audio category, which has now been split into Best Soundtrack and Best Audio Design. The Still Playing Award (Mobile) recognizes the most successful long-running mobile titles.

Best Indie Game (Small Team) is a new alternative to the Best Indie Game category which will highlight games from especially small development teams. Finally, Best Game Adaptation will cover the best movies, TV shows, comic books, and other media-inspired by video games.

Regarding the introduction of the new categories, Daniel Dawkins, Content Director of Games Video & Events at Future, said that “as we enter our 42nd year, the GJAs is proud to adapt to the changing landscape of video games. To that end, we’ve reintroduced the Best Early Access Game award, split the Best Audio category into Best Soundtrack and Best Audio Design, and launched the Best Game Adaptation award, which celebrates the best movies, TV, comics and more inspired by our industry. Oh, and we’ve redefined the Still Playing award into Still Playing (Mobile) and Still Playing (Console and PC).”

“We’ve also reviewed our Best Indie Game category. Defining an indie game is hard,” he explained. “Wherever you draw the line, 2024 forged a new path between indie titles and AAA games. Balatro, the poker-inspired deck builder from a solo developer, sold over a million copies. Helldivers 2 hit a AA, mid-price, sweet spot that outperformed a number of blockbuster ‘sure bets’. However you define indie games, the Golden Joystick Awards needed to adapt. The new Best Indie Game - Small Team award recognizes developers with less than 10 people, while Best Indie Game covers titles from larger independent teams, operating with more flexible budgets.”

A full list of this year’s publicly chosen categories has also been released, which you can browse below.

• Best Soundtrack
• Best Audio Design
• Best Game Trailer
• Best Game Expansion
• Best Early Access Game
• Still Playing Award - Mobile
• Still Playing Award - Console & PC
• Best Indie Game
• Best Indie Game - Small Team
• Best Multiplayer Game
• Best Lead Performer
• Best Supporting Performer
• Best Storytelling
• Best Visual Design
• Breakthrough Award
• Most Wanted Game
• Best Gaming Hardware
• Studio of the Year
• Ultimate Game of the Year

Some of the categories chosen by judges will also include:

• Streamers' Choice
• Best Game Adaptation
• Critics’ Choice Award

The ceremony will take place in London and will be live-streamed globally on all major streaming platforms. 

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The latest round of Nintendo Switch 2 rumors suggest the upcoming, tentatively-named console may have entered mass production.

That's according to MST Financial senior analyst David Gibson, who took to X / Twitter to post something interesting about Nintendo's primary assembler, Hosiden.

"No-one seems to have noticed the Nintendo assembler- Hosiden is spending ¥2bn on production equipment and ¥1bn on automation in FY3/25 for its major customer in amusement (Nintendo)," writes Gibson. He adds that he expects "Sept news and March 2025 release for [the] next device."

The graph included in the post indeed shows an uptick in automation spending, as well as the addition of spending on production equipment and a new Vietnam-based factory. If anything, it shows that some kind of hardware manufacturing could be underway at the Osaka-based assembler.

No-one seems to have noticed the Nintendo assembler- Hosiden is spending ¥2bn on production equipment and ¥1bn on automation in FY3/25 for its major customer in amusement (Nintendo). I still expect Sept news and March 2025 release for next device. pic.twitter.com/APGEGGSyS8September 4, 2024

In related news, spotted by VGC, industry leaker Nate the Hate took to the comments section of a post on the r/GamingLeaksandRumours subreddit regarding Hosiden's uptick in spending. Nate simply comments that Nintendo Switch 2 "has backwards compatibility support."

This isn't the first time we've heard about the possibility of backwards compatibility support on Nintendo's succeeding console. Last year, a Nintendo executive hinted at Nintendo Switch 2 backwards compatibility during an annual shareholder Q&A session.

At the time, they had said: "with the Nintendo Switch, we can directly connect with various customers through Nintendo Accounts.

"In the transition from Nintendo Switch to the next-generation console. We will do our best to make the transition smooth for our customers."

While not outright confirming backwards compatibility for Nintendo Switch 2, the notion of a more seamless transition (at least when compared to folks making the jump from the disc-based Wii U to the cartridge-compatible Switch) may indicate that things like Nintendo Switch games and Nintendo Switch Online accounts could carry over to the new console.

Furthermore, Nintendo has traditionally broadcast a Nintendo Direct presentation in September every year. Should that precedent hold true this year, we might finally see an official announcement of the Nintendo Switch 2 this month.

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A number of companies, including Samsung, Phison, and Huawei, have been teasing 128TB SSDs this year. Inevitably, these products are not intended for consumers but rather are designed to cater to the growing storage needs of AI servers and data centers.

128TB is unquestionably a huge leap forward in terms of capacity. It's important to remember that Solidigm's 61.44TB SSD was the world's largest solid state drive when it went on sale back in January, and no one was offering anything close to it. How quickly things change.

Samsung recently showcased its forthcoming 128TB SSD, the BM1743, at the Future of Memory and Storage 2024 event (formerly Flash Memory Summit). There's currently no word on when that model is expected to see the light of day, but Samsung would like you to know it is already preparing an SSD with double that capacity. Yes, really.

256TB SSD for servers

The Korean Economic Daily reports that South Korean memory rivals Samsung and SK Hynix recently took to the stage at Semicon Taiwan 2024 to talk about high-bandwidth memory (HBM), with the two firms detailing the efforts they are going to in order to boost production of the in-demand chips. During a keynote speech, marking the first time a Samsung representative has given a talk in Taiwan, Jung-Bae Lee, corporate president and head of Samsung’s memory business said, “To maximize the performance of AI chips, customized HBM is the best choice. We are working with other foundry players to offer more than 20 customized solutions.”

It was during this presentation, KED reports, that Dr. Lee dropped his casual bombshell, stating that “Samsung is preparing to unveil a 256 terabyte (TB) solid-state drive (SSD) for servers to meet growing demand for high-capacity storage devices in AI servers.”

No additional information was provided, so it’s unclear when such a device will be released - it could be next year or further in the future. However, the fact that Samsung mentioned it at all suggests the company is a decent way into the development process.

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Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need clues.

What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Wordle hints and answers, Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Connections today (game #452) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• BASH
• BAG
• COLOR
• SACK
• RECEPTION
• BLOWOUT
• LAND
• PAN
• CUT
• BLAST
• YARD
• SCORE
• SLAM
• SNAG
• TRIM
• ATTEMPT

NYT Connections today (game #452) - hint #1 - group hints

What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?

• Yellow: Things done to hair
• Green: Disapprove verbally
• Blue: Acquire
• Purple: Gridiron data

Need more clues?

We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…

NYT Connections today (game #452) - hint #2 - group answers

What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: HAIR SALON OFFERINGS
• GREEN: CRITICIZE
• BLUE: OBTAIN
• PURPLE: MEASURED IN FOOTBALL STATS

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Connections today (game #452) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #452, are…

• YELLOW: HAIR SALON OFFERINGS BLOWOUT, COLOR, CUT, TRIM
• GREEN: CRITICIZE BASH, BLAST, PAN, SLAM
• BLUE: OBTAIN BAG, LAND, SCORE, SNAG
• PURPLE: MEASURED IN FOOTBALL STATS ATTEMPT, RECEPTION, SACK, YARD

• My rating: Moderate
• My score: Fail

You know how you get the five stages of grief? I'm going through something similar with Connections. First, enjoyment at finding a new game to play each day, then satisfaction as I grappled with it, mostly winning, sometimes losing. That was followed by bewilderment as I began losing regularly, then self-loathing as I decided I was just too stupid to win each day. And now? Now I've reached boredom: it's simply no fun to play each day.

Connections appears to have almost no balance to it. Some days are impossibly hard, others are incredibly easy. Within a game, a 'blue' group – supposedly the second toughest – can be a lot more simple to solve than an 'easy' yellow one. There are words that nobody could be expected to know, sometimes – or to know that they can be used in a particular context, at least. And there is a huge geographical bias that puts anyone outside of the US at a massive disadvantage. And that last factor in particular costs me a guess or two nearly every single day.

It is, simply, nowhere near as enjoyable as Wordle or even Strands. Playing it is randomly stressful and regularly unsatisfactory.

Today, there's a group about football (yawn; I guess we'll get baseball tomorrow right?) and one about hair salons that features the word BLOWOUT, a term I've never heard in that context. I solved one group (the blue 'obtain' one) but couldn't make anything from the remaining 12 words and effectively gave up and guessed randomly until I lost.

Maybe I should have solved one of the others; maybe I should be better read, or I should take more time over it. But today at least, I didn't look at the answers and think 'Oh, you idiot Marc, you should have solved that.' Instead, I just shrugged and moved on with my day – which is presumably not the attitude that the NYT is seeking here.

How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Wednesday, 4 September, game #451)

• YELLOW: VERY SMALL AMOUNT HINT, SHRED, TOUCH, TRACE
• GREEN: PUPPY PURCHASES BED, BOWL, COLLAR, CRATE
• BLUE: HELP PUT ON A PARTY CATER, HOST, PLAN, THROW
• PURPLE: SYMBOLS ON A KEYBOARD BRACE, CARET, HASH, STAR

What is NYT Connections?

NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.

On the plus side, you don't technically need to solve the final one, as you'll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What's more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.

It's a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.

It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my Wordle today, NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #186) - hint #1 - today's theme What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Going underground

NYT Strands today (game #186) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

• PUNT
• BRUNT
• GATE
• TAROT
• LETTER
• PRUNE

NYT Strands today (game #186) - hint #3 - spangram What is a hint for today's spangram?

• Dig them up

NYT Strands today (game #186) - hint #4 - spangram position What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First: right, 7th row

Last: left, 5th row

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #186) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #186, are…

• POTATO
• TURNIP
• BEET
• TARO
• RUTABAGA
• JICAMA
• SPANGRAM: ROOTVEGETABLES

• My rating: Difficult
• My score: 1 hint

I love root vegetables, but I will confess that I have never heard of JICAMA, have only vaguely heard of TARO, know RUTABAGA by its more common (outside of North America) name of swede and know BEET by its more common (in the UK at least) name of BEETROOT. In summary… I found this one to be pretty tough!

JICAMA was the only one I actually needed a hint for, because the combination of the theme clue and my stumbling upon POTATO by accident was enough for me to get started. TURNIP was an obvious one, and I know enough about BEETs thank to the US Office (thanks, Dwight!) to guess that one.

I then got the spangram, which gave me TARO by default (and with a little trial and error). That just left JICAMA and RUTABAGA; I used a hint, which gave me JICAMA, and solved that after trying multiple combinations of letters until one proved to be correct. RUTABAGA needed a similar approach; swede would have been much easier, frankly…

How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Wednesday 4 September, game #185)

• ARCHES
• GLACIER
• REDWOOD
• SAGUARO
• BADLANDS
• SPANGRAM: NATIONALPARKS

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's new word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now out of beta so is a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable and can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now nearly 1,000 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.

Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my Wordle today, NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

Quordle today (game #955) - hint #1 - Vowels How many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 4*.

* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).

Quordle today (game #955) - hint #2 - repeated letters Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 1.

Quordle today (game #955) - hint #3 - uncommon letters Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #955) - hint #4 - starting letters (1) Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 2.

If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:

Quordle today (game #955) - hint #5 - starting letters (2) What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• S

• E

• A

• S

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

Quordle today (game #955) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #955, are…

• SNIDE
• EGRET
• AMONG
• SHINY

EGRET was a famously tough Wordle answer when it appeared in July 2022; it had an average score of 4.4, which placed it way above most Wordles, which overall sit at around 3.9. And – surprise, surprise – it proved every bit as hard for me to solve in Quordle today.

I had three stabs at it, and guessed METER first, then GREET, and finally EGRET when it was the only word that would fit. That left me only one guess left for the final answer, which was AMONG – but thankfully by playing M and G as part of my EGRET guesswork, I did at least have the required letters for that and solved this Quordle on the final attempt.

How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.

Daily Sequence today (game #955) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #955, are…

• BLINK
• HASTY
• POSER
• SHELF

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #954, Wednesday 4 September: POINT, WITTY, GAFFE, ABUSE
• Quordle #953, Tuesday 3 September: ATOLL, ANGER, OCEAN, SWEEP
• Quordle #952, Monday 2 September: HABIT, LODGE, PLAIN, DRIFT
• Quordle #951, Sunday 1 September: RABBI, CRAWL, GUPPY, BRAND
• Quordle #950, Saturday 31 August: AWOKE, TIBIA, ITCHY, SNACK
• Quordle #949, Friday 30 August: ARISE, OLDER, ISSUE, ERUPT
• Quordle #948, Thursday 29 August: DECAY, DRUID, AVOID, KNEED
• Quordle #947, Wednesday 28 August: VIOLA, GONER, CAVIL, SHARE
• Quordle #946, Tuesday 27 August: ABYSS, DAILY, AGONY, MUSKY
• Quordle #945, Monday 26 August: NEVER, CHUNK, AUNTY, CROUP
• Quordle #944, Sunday 25 August: APTLY, LEVER, STORK, WIDOW
• Quordle #943, Saturday 24 August: EVENT, APNEA, SWATH, IRONY
• Quordle #942, Friday 23 August: LAUGH, SATYR, CACHE, CLONE
• Quordle #941, Thursday 22 August: BEARD, PAYER, BROWN, TRUCK
• Quordle #940, Wednesday 21 August: ALOFT, SNUCK, LAPSE, COMIC
• Quordle #939, Tuesday 20 August: CHIEF, SNORT, OUNCE, MILKY
• Quordle #938, Monday 19 August: GIVEN, STIFF, STOOL, ANTIC
• Quordle #937, Sunday 18 August: DEPTH, JUICY, GAWKY, INLAY
• Quordle #936, Saturday 17 August: HUMUS, FRONT, FUNNY, DRYLY
• Quordle #935, Friday 16 August: BRICK, CABLE, INBOX, FLOSS