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• Nintendo's Sound Clock: Alarmo will be made available in participating retailers in March
• No Nintendo Switch Online membership will be required to purchase
• Nintendo confirms the Alarmo will be in stores "while supplies last", suggesting a limited sale

Nintendo has announced that its quirky Sound Clock: Alarmo will be coming to participating retailers worldwide in March 2025.

The news comes from the company's latest social media post where it was confirmed that the adorable piece of hardware will be available for everyone "in stores at participating retailers" in two months, and no Nintendo Switch Online membership is required.

The Sound Clock: Alarmo first launched in October 2024 and required users to have a Switch Online subscription in order to purchase one online at the My Nintendo Store.

The device acts as an interactive alarm clock that detects movements while waking up and also plays iconic sounds from some of Nintendo's game catalog, like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Super Mario Odyssey, Splatoon 3, and more.

The post also notes that the Alarmo will be available in-store "while supplies last", suggesting the device could be a limited product with no restock plans.

Nintendo Sound Clock: #Alarmo will be available in stores at participating retailers in March 2025, no Nintendo Switch Online membership required. Available while supplies last. pic.twitter.com/qhVo0NMKjxJanuary 13, 2025

With the Sound Clock: Alarmo set for a March release, it's possible that the device could receive an update to be somehow compatible with the Nintendo Switch 2 alongside its predecessor, but we'll have to wait and see on that front.

Speaking of the upcoming console, recent reports suggest that the Nintendo Switch 2 announcement could finally happen this week after months of leaks and rumors. VGC also reported that the console is likely to be revealed in a "two-part" format, the first of which will focus on the hardware features, while the second will offer an in-depth look at the software.

• The best Nintendo Switch games
• New Nintendo Switch 2 accessory listings at GameStop seem to provide us with more info on the unannounced console
• It's happened again, another alleged look at the Nintendo Switch 2 has leaked online

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• Skeleton Crew's creators hope they'll get to make a second season
• However, the signs don't look good for the Disney Plus show's renewal
• Skeleton Crew's characters could appear in another Star Wars project, though

Star Wars: Skeleton Crew's creators have revealed that they're "dreaming" of making a second season, but it's looking likely that the show won't return for another outing.

Speaking to TechRadar, Jon Watts and Christopher Ford said that, in the event that their series is renewed, they've come up with "different possibilities" about where the story could go next.

Asked if they'd discussed what a sequel season's plot might entail ahead of the Star Wars show's season 1 finale, which airs tonight (January 14) in the US and tomorrow (January 15) in the UK and Australia, Watts told me: "Yeah, we wanted to make sure this season had a satisfying beginning, middle, and end. But, if people want to see more Skeleton Crew, we'd be happy to make more."

"We're dreaming of it [a second season]," Ford added. "We've come up with different possibilities, so never say never."

Will Skeleton Crew get renewed for a second season on Disney Plus?

Skeleton Crew's season 2 chances don't look good, according to its two-episode premiere's viewership data (Image credit: Lucasfilm/Disney Plus)

Despite Skeleton Crew's positive critical reception – read my Star Wars: Skeleton Crew review to see what I thought of it – a second season looks unlikely.

Per recently released data by Nielsen, a reputable US audience measurement company, the Disney Plus series failed to crack Nielsen's Top 10 streaming list for the week running December 9 to 15, 2024 – i.e., the seven day period after the show debuted on one of the world's best streaming services. Fellow TV Originals including A.P Blo and A Man on the Inside, plus Jamie Foxx's Netflix comedy special, accrued more minutes streamed than Skeleton Crew did.

According to Star Wars fansite The Jedi Temple Archives, Skeleton Crew didn't break into the Top 10 most-watched TV shows list from Luminate, another entertainment industry data firm, for that week either. In fact, Skeleton Crew's 384 millions minutes viewed is the lowest total ever for a Star Wars series' premiere. The Book of Boba Fett had held that record with 389 million minutes accumulated following its one-episode premiere in December 2021. Even The Acolyte, which wasn't as successful as Disney and Lucasfilm hoped it would be, racked up 488 million minutes streamed in its first seven days on the platform.

Skeleton Crew's last episode may be the season 1 finale, which arrives tonight (January 14) in the US (Image credit: Lucasfilm/Disney Plus)

There are caveats to these viewing figures, though. Nielsen and Luminate's data only relates to US households, so Skeleton Crew's worldwide 'million minutes streamed' haul will be higher than what's been reported. It's also possible that, like Andor's first season, positive word of mouth may have helped episodes 3 to 7 to perform better. We won't know if they did, though, until Nielsen and Luminate release those chapters' viewing figures in the weeks ahead.

If Disney decides against greenlighting a second season, Skeleton Crew's season 1 finale may not be the end of its characters' adventures in Lucasfilm's iconic galaxy far, far away. Indeed, with one of Star Wars' many new movies set to bring characters together from shows including The Mandalorian and Star Wars: Ahsoka, for a team-up movie, there's every chance that Skeleton Crew's young stars could be part of the proceedings. That, Watts and Ford told me, is something they'd be open to exploring.

There's always a chance that they could meet some surprising people in the future

Jon Watts, Skeleton Crew co-creator

"It's exciting to think about," Watts said. "We've mainly been focused on telling this story, but there's always a chance that they [the kids] could meet some surprising people in the future."

"What's exciting about these characters is the kids are actually kid actors," Ford added, "And they're growing up. So, if they appeared in something else, we'd be telling the story of how they grew up and found their place in the galaxy."

Don't be surprised, then, if Wim and company show up in Lucasfilm chief creative officer Dave Filoni's Avengers-style Star Wars movie. And let's hope they also appear in a second season of what is, in my view, one of the best Disney Plus shows in a while.

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The durable $300 phone arrives alongside the new $200 Moto G 5G that gains faster charging over last year's model.

Rareware’s trilogy of Donkey Kong Country platformers was a huge statement back on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). Not only was Donkey Kong back, but he could stand up to Mario himself when it came to the 2D platforming crown with three excellently designed games released back to back from 1994 to 1996.

After a fourteen-year absence, Donkey Kong Country finally returned in 2010 with Metroid Prime developer Retro Studios taking over the mantle from Rare with the aptly named Donkey Kong Country Returns. And now fourteen years on we’re getting the game again, but this time without the forced waggles of the Wii version or the hindered framerate of the later 3DS port, meaning Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is finally the definitive version of the game - but it’s not much else.

Review info

Platform reviewed: Nintendo Switch
Available on: Nintendo Switch
Release date: January 16, 2025

Admittedly, I was disappointed at the announcement of this port. It’s been just over 10 years since the last game in the series – the phenomenal Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze – with the big ape since being relegated to spinoffs. However, over the past few years, it has felt like Nintendo has been building up to something with Donkey Kong between his prominent role in the Super Mario Bros. Movie and the new theme park area in Japan. So for the grand return to be a 14-year-old Wii game ported over, there wasn’t too much to get hyped about.

Much like the 2018 Nintendo Switch port of Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, there really isn’t anything new to Donkey Kong Country Returns HD aside from a brand new easy mode – which is nice, but it’s not something I’m interested in playing. Although Tropical Freeze at least dressed up the easy mode with a playable Funky Kong, something absent from Returns HD. This could be excused if it was released for a lower price perhaps, like the substantially visually overhauled Metroid Prime Remastered, but Donkey Kong Country Returns HD follows last year’s Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD as a full-priced game that, on the whole, brings nothing new to the table and is a middling Nintendo Switch game in 2025.

Ooh, banana

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Donkey Kong’s banana hoard has been stolen once more – which is tantamount to killing a family member as far as the tie-wearing ape is concerned. Retro Studios abandoned the iconic Kremling army from the SNES trilogy in favor of the Tiki Tak Tribe, who are a band of sentient Tiki masks. While the Tikis themselves are pretty boring, their power of hypnotism allows the boss fights to get a bit more ‘out there’ as DK gets to scrap with various jungle creatures under their control. Each boss ends with a satisfying battering after every fight that evokes the feeling of GameCube classic Donkey Kong Jungle Beat.

Compared to Mario, Donkey Kong Country is a more hardcore platformer series. Donkey Kong himself is extremely heavy (as you would probably expect from a gorilla), and that weightiness transfers to the platforming perfectly. Where Mario can breeze through stages with massive jumps and power-ups, Donkey Kong is more momentum-focused with strategically placed jumps and rolls required to really breeze through levels, but a lot of the time it’s best to take things a bit slower. Later levels get extremely tough, requiring you to be top banana to get through, but that just makes it all the more satisfying to clear.

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD also brings Diddy Kong back into the fold as a pseudo powerup. Getting him works like in the SNES games where you find a DK barrel and smash it to get your pal. But unlike on the SNES, you can’t switch to Diddy Kong; he mainly acts as a jetpack hover to DK’s jump and allows you to infinitely roll. This was disappointing back in 2010, and it’s still a disappointing aspect of the game now, especially considering a second player can take full control of Diddy Kong in the game’s co-op mode. This would’ve made a nice addition to the new port, but alas, it’s not here.

Jungle Japes

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Developer Retro Studios had big shoes to fill, and like most nostalgic platformer returns, a lot of the early game of Donkey Kong Country Returns HD feels very much like a cover band playing the hits of that original trilogy. While the levels are good, it feels a lot like trying to recapture the magic of the originals. However, as the game progresses, Retro introduces unique biomes like the Factory and Volcano worlds, which not only up the difficulty but are far more interesting to play through than the opening hours.

Best Bit

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Donkey Kong Country Returns really starts to shine as the adventure comes to an end, with World 7’s factory setting standing up with the best the series has to offer. This is where the difficulty really starts to ramp up with a barrage of levels that are satisfying to plow your way through.

One of the big things associated with the series is collectibles; each level contains hidden 'KONG' letters to collect, as well as puzzle pieces. These are key to unlocking all manner of things like concept art, music, and even bonus levels that will really test your platforming skills (including the previously 3DS-exclusive levels). The letters are mercifully pretty easy to find on a first go, but some of those puzzle pieces will test your eyes as well as your platforming.

Another iconic Donkey Kong staple is the unique level gimmicks. Animal friends return from the SNES trilogy, although this is sadly limited to just Rambi the Rhino here. Meanwhile, the dreaded minecart stages that would test your reactions with their brutal difficulty also make a return this time around, and this is one area where Retro really outdid Rare. The weight of DK in this game, alongside the Returns physics, makes the jumps in these even more satisfying, and there’s always a wealth of extra pathways to add to the risk/reward factor.

Finally, there are the Rocket Barrel stages, which are a flight mode akin to Flappy Bird (yes, it was released four years prior, but everyone knows Flappy Bird). Hold A to rise, and let go to dip as you avoid all manner of obstacles. Truthfully, I’ve never loved these stages, as the slower on-rails nature of them feel like a less interesting version of the minecart stages, leading them to drag on a bit.

Here he comes banana slamma, congo bongo’s hero

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD’s entire purpose seems to just be making a version of the original game that brings the extra content and a good control scheme from the 3DS to a console that looks good and runs at 60 frames per second (fps) like the Wii original. And to that end, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD nails it; it sure is that. But while other ports have had even the bare minimum of extras like Captain Toad Treasure Tracker’s Odyssey levels or Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition’s Breath of the Wild costumes added, Donkey Kong is just the same game from before.

And don’t expect a Metroid Prime Remastered-level visual upgrade either; while it is a definite bump in quality in the jump to HD, it isn’t an impressive leap. While Returns HD does upgrade DK to have more fur compared to his flat Wii model, the fur in Returns doesn’t look on par with its Tropical Freeze counterpart. One area where the visuals feel like a downgrade however is the lighting in the volcano level, which is more of a dull magma color rather than the bright orange of the Wii edition.

You’re still getting a good game here (albeit, a game that’s a reskin of probably the weakest Donkey Kong Country title), but it’s really hard to recommend this to anyone who has played the game before; you’d be better off picking up the far better (and probably cheaper) Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze. If anything, this just recontextualized how good the sequel was to me; the jump in quality from Returns to Tropical Freeze is nothing short of incredible.

Should you play Donkey Kong Country Returns HD? Play it if...

You’ve never played Donkey Kong Country Returns before
Donkey Kong Country Returns is a great platformer at the end of the day, and this is the perfect way to experience it for the first time without the issues of prior editions.View Deal

You really like Donkey Kong Country Returns and want a definitive edition
This port answers many fans' requests to finally have a definitive, modern way to play DKC Returns officially, and it does that job perfectly.View Deal

Don't play it if...

You’ve played the original and want something new
Outside of the new easy mode DKC Returns HD doesn’t bring anything new to the table that wasn’t already in 2013’s 3DS release.View Deal

You can’t stand hard platforming
Donkey Kong Country has always been a hard series, but the later areas of Returns give the series’ roughest levels a run for their money. View Deal

Accessibility

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD features a brand new ‘Modern Mode’ that offers up an easier experience for players less attuned to DKC’s more hardcore platforming. You’ll get an extra hitpoint for both DK and Diddy, as well as the ability to bring nine of the helper items as opposed to just one in original mode (including some items that are exclusive to modern mode like Diddy Kong barrels and the Green Balloon).

Outside of that, the game doesn’t have many accessibility options. You have the option to swap the Roll/Pound/Blow button (X/Y) with the Grab button (ZR/ZL), but other than that, you’ll need to remap your controls from the console settings.

(Image credit: Nintendo) How I reviewed Donkey Kong Country Returns HD

I played roughly 13 hours of Donkey Kong Country Returns HD, and in that time I completed the main game, including collecting all of the KONG letters and completing optional levels. I also completed the extra levels that were introduced in the 3DS version of the game. I played the game in the ‘Original’ setting outside of trying out a few levels on ‘Modern’ after rolling credits.

I played the game primarily in handheld mode on a Nintendo Switch OLED using the Joy-Con controllers, with a bit of playtime in docked mode on my Samsung Q60D TV and Samsung HW-T450 soundbar with the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller and CKRD Neo S controller.

First reviewed December 2024 / January 2025

• JPMorgan Chase rolls out company-wide return-to-office mandate
• All 316,000 workers will need to work from the office full-time
• Office working is “the best way to run the company”

Banking giant JPMorgan Chase has ordered all 316,000 of its workers to return to the office on a full-time basis, marking the end of the company’s flexible hybrid working routine.

The company confirmed its workers would be required to attend the office five days per week beginning March 2025 (via The Guardian).

The change is one being reflected across all industries globally as companies, workers and experts struggle to ascertain what the most effective working routine is.

JPMorgan Chase workers given RTO mandate

In the years that followed the pandemic, more and more workers have been forced back into the office, with the tech sector driving the widely adopted three-day policy. More recently, companies have been rolling out full-scale return-to-office policies, and JPMorgan Chase is the latest.

The news follows similar moves made by Dell and Amazon, with Amazon CEO Andy Jassy claiming in-person working creates a more collaborative and productive environment.

Although the change to full-time office working is a big shift, more than half of JPMorgan Chase’s workers were already adhering to such principles. Last week’s announcement just brings the rest of the workers in line.

CEO Jamie Dimon acknowledged that many workers prefer hybrid schedules and that not all workers would agree with the change.

In an internal memo seen by The Guardian, Dimon wrote: “We are now a few years out of the pandemic and have had the time to evaluate the benefits and challenges of remote and hybrid working… We think it is the best way to run the company. As we’ve discussed before, the benefits of working together in person are substantial and irreplaceable, and as we spend more time together, the more advantages we gain.”

A spokesperson added (via The Irish Times): “We recognize that switching from hybrid to five days a week in the office may be disruptive and require adjustments for some colleagues.”

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• Google is once again enabling users to set names and profile pictures for their contacts in Google Messages
• The app switched to a social-media style profile system in 2024
• Profile sharing is seemingly still available

Google has announced that users of its Messages app will once again be able to set names and photos for their contacts after the app switched to a social media profile-style system in 2024.

As 9to5Google notes, profile sharing (originally named profile discovery) was rolled out to Messages users from March 2024, replacing the names and contact images ascribed to a user’s contacts with information from their contacts’ Google accounts.

Following this, Google implemented the "customize how you are seen" page in Messages, an unskippable process that leaned even more heavily into a social platform style of self-presentation.

Though the decision to make profile sharing the only way to set names and contact photos has been reversed, users can seemingly still opt to use their contacts’ preferred information – there's no indication that profile sharing has been ditched entirely.

Customizing a contact’s information is, as one might expect, fairly straightforward: you simply tap the name or photo of a contact within the chat, opening a page containing the user’s details, which can then be manually updated.

The addition of profile sharing was originally announced in November 2023, and may be viewed as part of Google’s efforts to present a functionally similar rival to Apple’s iMessage.

As we previously reported, the gap between the two platforms is beginning to narrow with Apple’s adoption of RCS – Rich Communication Services – a standard that allows for easy media sharing and group chats similar to its own iMessage standard.

Google has long championed RCS as a forward-thinking and collaborative standard, and even publicly celebrated its rival’s decision to implement RCS on iPhone.

Furthermore, the end of 2024 saw a crop of new messaging tools come to Google’s default messaging app designed to protect users from scammers and spammers, such as warnings about dangerous links, blur filters for unsavory images, and better contact verification.

It’s clear that Google is keen to make Messages the texting app of choice for Android users – it seems part of that is letting people use mugshots of their friends and family as profile photos.

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DJI Flip: one-minute review

In true DJI fashion, the world's leading drone manufacturer has surprised us by announcing a new kind of drone that also feels somewhat familiar: the DJI Flip is an all-in-one camera and vlogging drone with a unique, first-of-its-kind folding design that features four built-in propeller guards rather than propeller arms. This is part of a safety-first approach that ties in perfectly with the vlogging aspect of the drone, but there's no getting away from the fact it also looks, well, quite odd.

Folded, the Flip looks like a spacecraft from Star Wars, and when unfolded, it looks like a mashup between a cinewhoop FPV drone and a camera drone. From my point of view, in terms of design, functionality and performance, it sits somewhere between the DJI Neo and the DJI Mini 4 Pro, although the Mini 4 Pro is a far superior drone for photo and video capture as well as for overall flight performance.

(Image credit: James Abbott)

That said, the Flip is ultimately a beginner drone that comes in at a beginner-friendly price, and the Flip and Mini 4 Pro are completely different propositions – it's the camera drone functionality with the ability to capture photos in JPEG and raw, alongside up to 60fps 4K video capture in both Standard and D-Log M profiles, that led me to make the vague comparison. The Flip is certainly also a much more versatile drone than the Neo, but incorporates the same subject-tracking capabilities and some of the Neo's varied control options.

DJI Flip: release date and price

• Released January 14 2025
• The DJI RC-N3 base kit costs $439 / £369 / AU$699
• The DJI RC 2 Fly More Bundle costs $779 / £659 / AU$1,159

The DJI Flip was announced on 14 January 2025 and is available in three kit options: the standard DJI Flip kit includes the drone, DJI RC-N3 controller, one battery, a pair of spare propellers and other basic accessories and costs $439 / £369 / AU$699, while the kit with the DJI RC 2 (smart) controller is $639 / £549 / AU$949.

At release, there isn't a Fly More Bundle that incorporates the simpler DJI RC-N3 controller, just one with the DJI RC 2 controller that costs $779 / £659 / AU$1,159. This more comprehensive kit includes all of the above plus two additional batteries, a four-battery charging hub, a shoulder bag and two additional pairs of spare propellers. The Fly More Combo is decent value when you consider the advantages it delivers when compared to the base kit.

(Image credit: James Abbott) DJI Flip: specs DJI Flip: design and handling

• Unique folding design
• Enclosed propellers
• Regulator-friendly sub-250g weight

DJI's folding drone design has followed a linear path until now, and why not? It's tried and tested, and works exceptionally well. But with a drone that incorporates propeller guards into the design rather than propeller arms, something was always going to be different.

The Flip has four propeller guards that fold out from beneath the airframe, front propellers first and then the rear. The front guards also have fixed short legs attached to raise the front of the drone when it's on the ground.

So, despite the regulator-friendly sub-250g weight, the Flip is larger than DJI Mini models when folded, and has a much larger footprint when unfolded. Unfolding the Flip also brings it to life and powers it up, so it's best to remove the gimbal protector before unfolding the drone from its 5.35 x 2.44 x 6.5 inches / 136 x 62 x 165mm folded size to its 9.17 x 11 x 3.11 inches / 233 x 280 x 79mm unfolded dimensions.

The propeller guards are made of polycarbonate around the edges, with lightweight and strong carbon fiber string top and bottom. This makes the drone safer for flight close to people – yourself rather than others – and also allows for palm take-off and landing, which is useful as it negates the need for a landing mat, and means you can take off and land almost anywhere that's safe and legal.

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The airframe is tall for a drone in this weight category. There's a 3D infrared sensor at the front of the drone above the gimbal, and the black plastic panel also shows which intelligent shooting mode is currently active.

This is particularly useful when using the drone independently without the DJI Fly app or a controller, although the drone does 'tell' you which mode is active when you press the mode button on the side to switch.

Like the DJI Neo, the Flip can be flown using the intelligent flight modes app-free, with the app and using voice control, or with either the DJI RC-N3 controller or the DJI RC 2 smart controller.

Both controllers are great, although the DJI RC 2 is the most convenient option because it has a bright and clear built-in 5.5-inch display, so there's no need to connect your smartphone.

DJI Flip: features and performance

• Not great in wind
• Intelligent flight modes
• AI subject tracking

The Flip specs available before launch didn’t specify a maximum wind resistance, but even in a moderate headwind the drone was severely slowed down. This could be a result of the size and shape of the propellers as well as the propeller guards themselves, but the Flip can still fly at a reasonable maximum speed of 27mph in Sport Mode, with Cine and Normal providing slower flight speeds.

In terms of flight, when using the Flip like a camera drone using one of the two traditional controller options, the drone flies well except for the aforementioned wind issue. It's certainly not as agile as a Mini 3 or Mini 4 Pro, but the controls are the same, and the ability to take off and land from the ground or the palm of your hand is extremely useful.

Just like the DJI Neo, the Flip is a selfie drone, but is marketed as a vlogging drone. This is because audio can be captured via the DJI Fly app when enabled, so you can record your voice while capturing video, or with the DJI Mic connected to your smartphone for improved sound quality. Propeller noise is filtered out or reduced in both situations.

(Image credit: James Abbott)

Just like the Neo, the Flip's Intelligent flight modes include Follow, Dronie, Circle, Rocket, Spotlight, and Helix. Within the app there's also Manual Control, which allows you to fly the Flip using on-screen controls, and when using a standard controller you can also access Quickshots, which include Dronie, Circle, Rocket, Spotlight, Helix, and Boomerang.

AI subject tracking aims to keep the subject in the centre of the frame during photo and video capture using the intelligent flight modes, which utilize ActiveTrack 4.0, Spotlight 2.0, and Point of Interest 3.0; this is highly effective, and cannot be faulted. What's more, when tracking, the Flip was able to navigate complex environments successfully thanks to the 3D Infrared Sensing System.

The Flip is as feature-packed as any other DJI drone, and the 3D Infrared Sensing System appears to work well, with forward-facing sensors that enable limited collision avoidance. This can be seen in action on the controller screen when using Return to Home, where the planned direction and route of the drone are shown as a green overlay. DJI also claims that this system makes flight safer at night.

Other features include Hyperlapse with Free, Circle, Course Lock and Waypoint options that can capture hyperlapse videos at up to 4K horizontally or 2.7K vertically. There's also Panorama photo capture, but this is fairly basic panorama functionality, and manual panos typically produce superior results.

More useful additional features include fast charging, with the charging hub able to charge two batteries simultaneously, and data transfer speeds of up to 30MB/s via the DJI Fly app to move photos and videos captured with the Flip to your phone. The Flip can also be plugged into a computer via USB-C, and you can transfer data from the 2GB internal storage and / or microSD card without having to switch the drone on.

DJI Flip: image and video quality

• 1/1.3-inch sensor
• Up to 4K 60fps video
• 12MP / 48MP raw and JPEG photos

(Image credit: James Abbott)

The Flip features a 3-axis mechanical gimbal for smooth footage, while the camera offers a 24mm equivalent focal length with a fixed aperture and focus from 1m to infinity. The 12MP / 48MP 1/1.3-inch Quad Bayer 4-in-1 sensor features large pixels and Dual Native ISO Integration for improved low-light capture. Then there's up to a 4x digital zoom, depending on the shooting mode and capture resolution.

Image quality is good, but it's not anywhere near as good as what you'll get from the DJI Mini 3 or Mini 4 Pro. The photos and videos you can see here were captured with a prerelease version of the DJI Fly app and prerelease firmware, so this has to be considered, but it's unlikely that post-release software will make a dramatic difference in this area. Photos and videos exhibit a slight murkiness, with images captured being sharpest in the center of the frame, and softer at the edges.

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The Flip is a beginner model, so this level of image quality is to be expected. And as always, deficiencies in image quality are less visible in video, when the drone is moving. Despite the drone's beginner nature, it's also aimed at vlogging, so video can be captured in 4K at up to 60fps, 4K at 100fps in Slow Motion mode and 1080p up to 100fps, and vertical video can be captured at 1080p and 2.7K at 30fps.

The latter is cropped from the horizontal camera / sensor rather than you having the ability to rotate the camera into portrait orientation, as with the DJI Mini 3 and Mini 4 Pro. This capability would be a fantastic feature, as would it allow for not only 4K vertical capture, but also for portrait-format photos. With social media video content so heavily focused on vertical video, however, the cropped upright video is still a useful feature for a drone aimed at vlogging.

For beginners, and those aiming for straight out-of-camera footage, you can capture video in the Normal color profile. More advanced users can capture in the 10-bit D-Log M flat profile for greater control and the ability to color-grade footage.

With this profile, the maximum bitrate is 150Mbps. Photos can be captured in both JPEG and raw, so in terms of photo and video capture the Flip offers more impressive options than the Neo, despite its flight mode and control similarities.

DJI Flip 4K 30fps video DJI Flip: testing scorecard Should I buy the DJI Flip? Buy it if...

You'd like multiple control options
With the ability to fly the drone app-free, with the app, or with one of two controller options, the Flip can be used as both a vlogging / selfie drone and a camera drone.

You’re a drone beginner
The intelligent flight modes for easy and effective subject tracking, alongside the Flip's capabilities as a camera drone, make it a compelling option for beginners.

You'd like palm take-off and landing
Thanks to the overall design of the Flip, including the propeller guards, the drone can take off from and land in the palm of your hand, which is incredibly useful in tricky or muddy locations.

Don't buy it if...

You'd like superior image quality
The Flip's image quality is good but not outstanding, so if you're looking for great image quality on a budget the DJI Mini 3 is far superior, and offers additional features such as a rotating camera.

You don’t require subject tracking
If you don’t intend to use the intelligent flight modes, there are much better DJI drones available for a similar price or lower, and overall flight performance is typically better than the Flip.

You'd prefer a first-person view
The Flip may look like an FPV drone, but it's not. If you'd prefer to capture immersive FPV video, the DJI Avata 2 is a beginner and expert-friendly FPV drone.

DJI Flip: also consider DJI Neo

The DJI Neo is a selfie drone that features the same intelligent flight modes as the DJI Flip, alongside propeller guards for safety. It can also be controlled in multiple ways, but exceeds the Flip in this department with DJI FPV accessory compatibility. The camera functionality is limited in comparison, but the Neo can capture 4K video, and costs less than the Flip.

Read our in-depth DJI Neo review

How I tested the DJI Flip

• All features and functions tested
• Flown app-free, with the DJI Fly app, and the DJI RC 2 Controller
• Tested in different conditions

I tested the DJI Flip using all of the control methods available to see how it performed as both a vlogging and selfie drone, as well as a camera drone.

Photos and videos were captured in a range of conditions including overcast, sunny, and windy to see how well it performed in these situations.

All features and functions that were available in the pre-release app and firmware, including flight, photo and video capture, were also tested to assess their effectiveness in real-world situations.

First reviewed January 2025

• The new DJI Flip sits above the Neo as a pricier multi-use beginner drone
• It features a unique folding propellor design
• Price starts from $439 / £369 / AU$699

DJI has unveiled the new and unique Flip, its latest multi-use drone for beginners. Like the DJI Neo, the DJI Flip is simple to operate for aerial selfies thanks to its auto-tracking flight modes and safety-first design, which includes propellor guards so you can fly up close. However, it’s also supercharged with superior flight performance and image quality.

During our in-depth DJI Flip review we discovered that you get better 4K video and 12MP images compared to the Neo, with their quality approaching what you'll get from DJI’s Mini series of drones, like the Mini 4K or Mini 4 Pro, although the Flip doesn't quite hit those same heights.

What’s most distinct about the DJI Flip, however, is its first-of-kind folding design – it looks like something out of Star Wars, and we've never seen a drone design like this. The Flip is bulkier than other selfie drones like the Neo and the HoverAir X1 Pro, meaning it's more stable in flight, but it still falls within the 249g-and-lighter category of drones that's largely restriction-free.

Prices for the Flip start at $439 / £369 / AU$699, and it's available in various kits. That’s double the cost of Neo, but half that of the Mini 4 Pro. This versatile craft potentially marks a new direction for beginner drones, but does it hit the mark for first-time pilots? The answer to that question depends on what features you’re most interested in.

@techradar

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(Image credit: DJI) A new dawn for beginner drones?

I rate the DJI Mini 4K as the best beginner drone for most people: it's affordable, shoots decent 4K video quality, and offers a variety of easy flight moves for dynamic videos. If money is no object, however, then the Mini 4 Pro is the best sub-250g drone you can buy. And since the entry-level Mini 4K landed in 2024, DJI has launched the even-cheaper Neo – an altogether different type of selfie drone.

The Mini 4K and Neo are distinct, while the Flip somewhat bridges the gap between the two – you can find out more in our in-depth review. Is there a place for a multi-use drone such as the DJI Flip? I'm not sure.

The Flip is much larger than the Neo when in use, and even when folded away. In fact, it's larger than any of DJI's Mini series of drones – that's largely down to the Flip's propellors, which feature guards and necessitate a new design approach and larger footprint.

It's also pricier than the Mini 4K and the Neo – the standard DJI Flip kit costs $439 / £369 / AU$699, or you can pick it up with the DJI RC 2 (smart) controller for $639 / £549 / AU$949, while the Fly More Combo, which costs $779 / £659 / AU$1,159 and includes two additional batteries, a four-battery charging hub, a shoulder bag, and two additional pairs of spare propellers, is only available with the RC2 controller.

Is the Flip worth it? That depends on what you're looking for in a drone. Image quality doesn't quite match that of the Mini 4 Pro, while versatility isn't quite that of the Neo, which can double up for FPV flight. As things stand, the Flip offers a little of the Neo and a little of the Mini 4K. It's a jack of all trades, which might work for some who want those selfie capabilities, but I'd argue that buying both the Neo and the Mini 4K rather than the Flip is a wiser move – the pair together don't cost a great deal more.

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• Samsung has just improved the terms of its phone trade-in program
• There’s no longer a purchase requirement and it’s open all year round
• It's started in South Korea and France with more regions to follow soon

Tired of your Samsung phone and want to swap it for something new? Samsung has just improved its Galaxy Trade-In program to offer more generous terms, making it a tempting option if you’re looking to upgrade to one of the best Samsung phones.

In fact, one of the new changes is that you don’t need to swap your old Samsung phone for a new one at all – there’s no purchase necessary, so you can simply trade in your old device for some cash, if you prefer. You may need to wait a little while to do so though – the program has just started in South Korea and France, with Samsung says it plans to "expand to more regions through 2025".

Previously, you had to purchase a new Samsung phone from samsung.com or the company’s app whenever you traded in an old one. If you already had one in mind and wanted to upgrade, that likely wasn’t much of a problem, but it was less convenient if you just wanted to get rid of an old device and leave it at that. And if you were switching from a Samsung device to an iPhone or a different Android product, it wouldn’t have worked for you at all.

And there’s another improvement to the program: you can now get cash for your old phone all year long, wherever you are in the world. That was the case before if you lived in the US or most other Western locations, but in South Korea, trade-in windows were locked to certain times of the year, limiting your options.

These windows were often linked to major product launches – like those coming at Samsung Unpacked 2025, for example – but that’s no longer the case.

Limited eligibility

(Image credit: Future / Philip Berne)

This sounds like good news for anyone who wants to get rid of an old Samsung handset in 2025, whether or not they want to replace it with something better. But there’s a notable catch that means it’s not all entirely positive.

The problem is that right now, you can only trade in specific Samsung devices. That includes phones from the Galaxy S20, S21, S22 and S23 series. It also covers a few foldable phones, including the Z Flip 3 to Z Flip 5, as well as the Z Fold 3 to Z Fold 5.

Strangely enough, neither the Galaxy S24, the Z Flip 6 nor the Z Fold 6 can be traded in, even though they only launched last year. That means the range of products that are eligible for the program is fairly narrow.

That said, it’s still a better arrangement than before. While there’s not a huge number of devices that can be traded in, at least you now have a lot more flexibility if you want to take Samsung up on its offer. If you were previously thinking of trading in your old device anyway, it’ll be a welcome change.

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In Nnedi Okorafor’s new book, Death of the Author, a young author experiences the exhilaration, and panic, of living in the world she’d previously only dreamed of.

• Global PC shipments rose to 255.5 million in 2024, up 3.8% year-over-year
• Strong Christmas sales and discounts saw a 4.6% rise in Q4 2024
• Lenovo accounts for 24.2% of the market

The final figures for 2024 are in, and it’s good news for the PC market, which saw encouraging growth during the year.

The latest data from Canalys claims 255.5 million PCs (including desktops and laptops) were shipped in 2024, up from 246 million in 2023 - a 3.8% year-over-year growth.

Leading the way was Lenovo, which maintained its near-quarter market share of 24.2% (up from 24.0%).

The PC market is growing

Of the 255.5 million PCs shipped in 2024, 61.9 million were Lenovo models. HP, with a market share of 20.7%, followed closely with 53.0 million units shipped. Dell, Apple and Asus rounded up the top five, with market shares of 15.3%, 8.9% and 7.2% respectively.

Canalys Analyst Kieren Jessop described the 3.8% year-over-year growth as “modest,” highlighting the stronger fourth-quarter growth of 4.6% could be a positive sign of things to come. This was thanks to "strong discounting by vendors and retailers" during the holiday season and the increased take-up of Buy Now, Pay Later schemes.

The final three months of 2024 represented the fifth consecutive quarter of growth following seven prior quarters of the market shrinking, quarterly PC shipments are still nowhere near the levels they reached in 2020 and 2021, in some cases exceeding 90 million. The most recent quarter saw 67.5 million PCs shipped.

Principal Analyst Ishan Dutt said the PC market could not be “set for accelerating growth” – increased adoption of AI-capable PCs and the looming Windows 10 end-of-service are driving commercial and personal customers to upgrade their devices this coming year.

The company now anticipates AI PCs will account for 35% of worldwide shipments this year – in the third quarter of 2024, they had a 20% market share.

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Special counsel Jack Smith says evidence against President-elect Donald Trump was enough to convict him. And, an Israeli official says an Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement is nearing.

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• Electric motors and a 62kWh battery from a Leaf Nismo power the 90s icon
• Project lead wants future generations to experience the unique drive
• Electric performance matches the 280hp of the original

In a move that will have the purists furiously hammering away at their keyboards, a long-time Nissan EV powertrain engineer has made it his personal mission to electrify arguably the Japanese marque’s most iconic car: the R32 Skyline GT-R.

That’s right, the performance machine that’s intrinsically linked to the best-selling Gran Turismo series has had its 2.6-liter, twin-turbocharged heart removed and replaced with a pair of 160kW electric motors that now power each axle.

But far from an exercise to raise a rabble on numerous internet forums, EV powertrain engineer Ryozo Hiraku believes it is important to “replicate the appeal of the R32 GT-R so future generations could experience it.”

In short, Hiraku is essentially admitting that modern EVs lack that special something that makes classic like the Skyline such a joy to drive, no matter what decade you were born in.

Plus, with most legacy automakers (including Nissan) committing to an all-electric future, it soon might not be possible for staff to embark on projects that aim to salvage combustion engine heroes of the past. There simply won't be the resources to do so.

The R32 GT-R project itself was a serious undertaking, with the team completely dismantling the 90s sports car and creating 3D renderings of individual parts, because as Hiraku points out, CAD wasn’t really a thing back in the early 90s.

What’s more, team members carefully synthesized the engine note of the original vehicle and pumped the soundtrack into the cabin to make it a more visceral driving experience.

Plus, there’s a Hyundai Ioniq 5 N-esque 'shift shock' that has been programmed into the paddle-mounted gear shift logic that replicates the mechanical jolting experienced when shifting up or down through a proper mechanical gearbox.

Rear seats were ripped out to make room for the Leaf Nismo battery pack, while larger brakes and rotors lifted from a R35 GT-R were added to beef up the stopping power of this 367kg heavier machine. As a result, the bespoke rims have grown from 16-inches to 18-inches to house everything.

Other than that, it’s a faithful electric replica that aims to distill the spirit of the original car into something that can be enjoyed daily in a world that is increasingly heading towards electrification.

There are no plans to commercialize a conversion kit, but instead, project leader Ryozo Hiraku says that it is important to “safeguard” the legacy of cars like the R32 GT-R for future generations and this could be one way of doing it.

Analysis: Electrifying classics is a craze that’s catching on

(Image credit: Nissan)

There are an increasing number of businesses springing up that specialize in ensuring classic vehicles can continue to be used by swapping their internal combustion engines out for modern electric powertrains.

Electrogenic in the UK, for example, already manufactures ‘plug and play’ kits for the Mazda MX-5, Series Land Rovers, Jaguar E-Types, air-cooled Porsche 911s and the iconic DeLorean DMC-12, which I’ve driven.

These kits are sent to a certified installer on a pallet, making the swap relatively painless, quick and borderline affordable, while customers can go as wild as they want with bespoke conversions, should their pockets be deep enough.

The owners of said classic can choose to store their internal combustion engine, should they want to swap things back, but the general idea is that it makes these iconic machines much easier to live with and useable in places like London, where strict emissions regulations now pretty much ban anything that produces CO2.

It is a similar story in the US, where companies like Gateway Bronco are shoehorning powerful EV motors and battery packs into classic Ford Bronco 4x4s with stunning effect. Everrati is another company making waves in the resto-mod scene, electrifying everything from the Mercedes-Benz SL to an 800hp Ford GT40.

Electrifying celebrated automotive idols like this ensures they get used, rather than stored in a garage, museum or private collection, where they will never get to do what they do best – making passers-by stop in their tracks and double-take an exterior that’s since evanesced thanks to today’s safety-focussed cookie-cutter car designs.

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• President Biden set to introduce new AI Diffusion rules on AI technology
• Groups have praised the rules for helping to shore up national security
• However China and Nvidia have both critiqued the rules for stifling competition

In the final few days of the Biden administration, the President has introduced a set of new regulations aimed at restricting China’s access to advanced semiconductors used in AI technology.

The ‘Export Control Framework for AI Diffusion’ divides the world into friend and foe, with allies being provided with unfettered access to AI technology, while US adversaries, namely China, Russia, Iran and North Korea, will face harsh restrictions.

The latest regulations, along with the slew of export restrictions levied against China during Biden’s four year tenure, are designed to maintain West’s dominance in AI development and AI chip design.

‘It’s critical that we keep it that way’

The AI Diffusion rules would implement new country-specific quotas on GPUs, but provide an option for cloud computing providers to apply for approval to build data centers outside of these limits, allowing giants such as Microsoft, Google, and Amazon to continue with existing and future projects without restrictions - provided they meet security requirements, reporting demands, and have a record of adherence to human rights.

The regulations will not kick in for 120 days, leaving plenty of wriggle room for Trump to settle into his second presidency and decide on his foreign policy approach regarding China.

Chinese President Xi Jinping was invited to, but declined, Trump’s inauguration, with the US president-elect threatening heavy tariffs against imported goods with a particular focus on China throughout his election campaign.

Ahead of the AI Diffusion announcement, US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said, “the US leads AI now – both AI development and AI chip design, and it’s critical that we keep it that way.”

Much of the motivation behind imposing restrictions on China’s ability to import AI chips and manufacturing technologies has been on the basis of national security concerns surrounding the potential for Beijing to introduce advanced AI technologies into its military.

Both the Americans for Responsible Innovation group and the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party have praised the AI Diffusion rules focus on basis of national security.

In response however, China’s Commerce Ministry branded the regulations as “another example of generalizing the concept of national security and abusing export controls,” further arguing that the regulations were not in line with established economic and trade rules and are a “blatant violation.”

Nvidia, which capitalized on the AI tech and software hype to catapult itself to second in the most valuable companies by market cap, also hit back against the regulations in a blog post, with Ned Finkle, vice president of government affairs, stating the AI Diffusion rules are “a 200+ page regulatory morass, drafted in secret and without proper legislative review,” adding that the Biden administration was attempting to “rig market outcomes and stifle competition.”

Finkle also pointed out that the regulation would hit much of the technology that is “already widely available in mainstream gaming PCs and consumer hardware.” The blog post concluded with a statement praising innovation and competition during Trump’s first term, with Nvidia “look[ing] forward to a return to policies that strengthen American leadership, bolster our economy and preserve our competitive edge in AI and beyond.”

Via SCMP

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