Week in Review: The top stories in phones, AI, entertainment, and more

iPhone 16 launch countdown, Labor Day tech deals, and Apple might invest in OpenAI Created for {EMAIL} | [Web Version]( August 30, 2024 CONNECT WITH TECH RADAR  [Facebook]( [X]( [Instagram]( [Youtube]( [Tech Radar]( [SIGN UP]( ⋅ [WEBSITE]( ADVERTISEMENT Welcome to the Week in Review [] Welcome Forget the rumors: the Apple Event is official. Sure, Apple surprised us by moving it up a day to September 9 (some believe this was to avoid a clash with a certain Presidential debate), but otherwise the showcase is on track to deliver new iPhones, new Apple Watches, and new AirPods. However, Apple will likely mostly talk about Apple Intelligence. AI is just about all anyone cares to talk about these days. I certainly find it fascinating how all these companies are not only circling each other, but cross-pollinating. Microsoft has already invested in OpenAI, and now Apple might also be investing in the maker of ChatGPT. All of them want you to invest in, well, them by paying for the best bits of their AI offerings. One thing you won’t see from Apple on September 9 is a folding iPhone. Foldables are still the preserve of Samsung, Google, and other brands like Honor, which right now is trying to have a laugh at Samsung’s expense. Apple’s event is like a solar eclipse in that it blots out everything else. But I’ve still had my eye on a few other big stories this week. One is the well-leaked DJI Neo drone that looks so, so cool, and may be the ultimate entry-level flier – I just hope DJI doesn’t get booted out of the US before it launches. Speaking of the US going after tech companies, I’m closely watching the big [US Government lawsuit]( that could impact not just TikTok, which is also under threat of getting the boot, but all of social media. Put simply, social platforms may soon be liable for the bad stuff you see in your timelines, and this could be a huge deal, with the potential to change how we use TikTok, X/Twitter, Facebook and the rest. Switching gears, I’ve seen all of the Lord of The Rings movies, but have yet to check out The Rings of Power series on Amazon. Now, though, after reading a few excellent exclusives from Tom Power, and his review of the opening episodes of season 2, I feel compelled to dive in, and you might want to too. That’s all from me, but keep an eye on TechRadar next week, when we’ll be bringing you the best of IFA, the massive tech show in Berlin, before we turn all our attention to Apple. Lance Ulanoff, Editor-at-Large [What you can do to protect your phone from accidents]( Fear the concrete no more. [Learn more here]( ADVERTISEMENT [] The week in Apple [] [What to expect at Apple's iPhone 16 launch event]( New hardware from Apple is on the way (Apple) [What to expect at Apple's iPhone 16 launch event]( With Apple having confirmed that its next launch event is taking place on September 9, we can start looking forward to the new devices that we're expecting to make an appearance, including the iPhone 16 series, two new Apple Watch models, and the AirPods 4. [Read the full story]( [] - [Forget the iPhone 16 – October could be the real treat for MacBook fans]( [] - [An iPhone battery revolution is on the way, and so is faster charging]( [] - [AirPods Pro 3 with "much better" noise cancellation are coming "soon"]( [What you can do to protect your phone from accidents]( Fear the concrete no more. [Learn more here]( ADVERTISEMENT [] The Week in AI [] [Artificial intelligence isn't going to be free forever, sorry]( AI models aren't cheap to run (Adobe Firefly) [Artificial intelligence isn't going to be free forever, sorry]( This week we heard rumors that Amazon was set to charge for extra AI features added on top of its Alexa voice assistant, and Lance Ulanoff explains why AI isn't going to be free forever – and why we should be getting annoyed about that. [Read the full story]( [] - [Apple may be investing in OpenAI, signaling a deeper ChatGPT partnership]( [] - [OpenAI's Project Strawberry will become ChatGPT-5, reports say]( [] - [A new AI wearable is here to supplement your memory]( [] The week in Phones [] [The upcoming Honor foldable pokes fun at Samsung]( Honor and Samsung continue to battle it out in the foldable space (Honor / Samsung / Future) [The upcoming Honor foldable pokes fun at Samsung]( The Honor Magic V3 foldable is set to be unveiled at IFA 2024 next month, and a special edition of the device is sending some shade Samsung's way: the hinge has a very small message written on it, pointing out the relative thickness of the Z Fold 6. [Read the full story]( [] - [Google quietly confirms that Android 15 is launching in October]( [] - [Unofficial Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra renders make it look less Note-like]( [] - [The OnePlus 13 could have a huge battery and a disappointing camera]( [] Today's best deals, picked by TechRadar's experts [] - [Labor Day sales: the best deals from Amazon, Lowe's, Target and more]( [] - [Best Buy Labor Day sale: up to 50% off TVs, iPads, laptops and more]( [] - [The best tech deals in Amazon's Labor Day sale, from just $19]( [] - [Get a Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 for as little as $49.99]( [] The week in cameras [] [New DJI Neo leak hints at an affordable price]( The DJI Neo is rumored to be like a baby Avata 2, pictured above (DJI) [New DJI Neo leak hints at an affordable price]( From laptop leaks to drone leaks, and an unboxing of what appears to be the upcoming DJI Neo has hit the internet. What's more, the video includes details of the drone's expected price – and it looks as though it could be very affordable indeed. [Read the full story]( [] - [Massive GoPro Hero 13 Black leak reveals all about the new action cam]( [] - [We reviewed the Sony FE 85mm F1.4 GM II, and it's a stunning portrait lens]( [] - [This 360-degree camera has world-first 8K video features]( [] The week in entertainment [] [The best movies and shows to stream this weekend]( The Rings of Power is back (Ben Rothstein / Prime Video) [The best movies and shows to stream this weekend]( There's plenty to enjoy this weekend on the streaming front, including a new Terminator anime series and some top-tier films. But there's one show to rule them all: The Rings of Power season 2, the first three episodes of which are out now on Prime Video. [Read the full story]( [] - [The Rings of Power season 2 is thrilling and faithful to LotR]( [] - [Napoleon: The Director's Cut gets a surprise release on Apple TV Plus]( [] - [Marvel reveals the first footage from three of its 2025 projects]( [] More of this week's top stories [] - [I'd love an OLED Meta Quest 2 Pro, but cancelling it is the right decision]( [] - [Leaked design information could give us our first look at the PS5 Pro]( [] - [5 new features Alexa AI could bring to paying subscribers next month]( [] - [Garmin reveals the Fenix 8, with an Apple Watch Ultra-beating dive mode]( [] - [Microsoft is testing a new RAM-limiting feature for Edge in Windows 11]( Sharing TechRadar with your network keeps the quality of content high and these newsletters free. 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