While information about the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 has been leaking for a while, so far it has only painted a partial picture of the phone. But the latest specs leak reveals almost everything that Samsung’s next foldable might offer, and it seems it could inherit a feature previously seen on the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and the iPhone 15 Pro.
According to leaker @chunvn8888 on X (via Phone Arena), the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 will have a “titanium build” (by which they presumably mean a titanium frame). This is a more premium material than the aluminum used by the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, and it seems this could be the latest big thing in phones, since the iPhone 15 Pro Max, 15 Pro, and S24 Ultra all use it too.
The tipster also claims that the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 will have a 4,600mAh battery, making it slightly bigger than the 4,400mAh one in the Z Fold 5, and that the Fold 6 will be a lot slimmer at 11mm thick when folded, compared to its 13.4mm predecessor.
It will supposedly be much lighter too – perhaps due to the use of titanium. The source doesn’t say how light, but for reference the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is 253g.
Galaxy Z Fold6 rumour from my sources No S Pen slotLittle wider, more of S24 Ultra style sharp edgesSnap 8 Gen 34600 mAh3 camsImproved udcTitanium buildMuch thinner and lighter (11mm when folded)3 colour optionsFebruary 21, 2024
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Other listed specs and details include that there will apparently be three color options, though these aren’t specified, the under-display camera will be improved, and that it will have a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, which should see it match the best Android phones for power.
The tipster also says the Galaxy Z Fold 6 won’t have an S Pen slot, and that it will be a little wider than the Z Fold 5, with Galaxy S24 Ultra-style sharp edges.
Finally, they claim that there will be three cameras (presumably meaning three rear cameras). They don’t say the specs, but another leaker (Yogesh Brar) claims in a reply that the cameras will be 50MP, 10MP, and 12MP.
A bigger screen but the same cameras
Those are the same camera specs as the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, which has a 50MP main camera, a 10MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom, and a 12MP ultra-wide, and indeed some previous leaks have said that the Galaxy Z Fold 6 will retain those cameras. Though we've heard elsewhere that the Z Fold 6 might have a new camera, so take this with a pinch of salt.
Brar also claims that the outer screen will be 6.4 inches (up from 6.2 inches on the current model) and that it will have a 20:9 aspect ratio (in place of a 23.1:9 aspect ratio). The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6’s foldable screen is said to have a 1.08:1 aspect ratio, though Brar adds that these aspect ratios could change before launch.
Still, if all of this pans out, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 should have a more premium build, be thinner and lighter, be more powerful, have at least one improved camera, a bigger battery, and have a wider – and therefore probably easier to use – cover screen.
That could make this a significant upgrade, but we’ll probably find out for sure in July or August, as that’s when we’re expecting the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 to land.
Hi-Fi Rush is about to lose its console exclusivity, as the game is set to land on PlayStation 5 next month.
The beloved rhythm action game was originally released for Xbox Series X|S and PC on January 25, 2023, where it was promptly shadow-dropped after its reveal at the Xbox Developer Direct presentation that same day. Now, it'll be coming to the PlayStation Store on March 19.
At yesterday's (February 21) Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase, it was revealed that Grounded and Pentiment are both coming to Nintendo Switch - the former coming on April 16 while the latter can be bought on the handheld hybrid today.
Hi-Fi Rush on PS5 will launch with all free post-launch update content. That includes the Arcade Challenge update that brought additional modes to the game, as well as some extra cosmetics for the game's main cast of characters.
If you're unfamiliar with the Tango Gameworks-developed game, Hi-Fi Rush is a rhythm-action title where combat and the environment all sync up to the beat of the background music. You'll need to time your button presses and combos in line with this beat to play most effectively.
It's fantastic fun and pairs itself with sublime animation and a wonderful sense of humor. And if rhythm isn't your strong suit, fear not; Hi-Fi Rush has numerous accessibility settings that make playing through the game more manageable should you need them.
The game also boasts a top-notch soundtrack, blending original music with licensed tracks from the likes of The Black Keys, Nine Inch Nails, and The Prodigy. What's more, the licensed music is entirely optional, and can be swapped for original tracks; a boon for streamers keen to avoid copyright strikes.
Avatar: The Last Airbender (ATLA) is widely regarded as one of the best animated shows ever made. Some simply consider it a highly enjoyable fantasy-style anime; others call it a masterpiece whose legacy extends beyond the confines of the animated TV space.
When Netflix announced in 2018 that it was remaking the universally adored Nickelodeon series, eyebrows were raised. The streaming giant's recent attempts to adapt other beloved animated shows have yielded mixed results – 2021's Cowboy Bebop being critically and commercially panned, while One Piece garnered glowing reviews and dominated the TV charts following its August 2023 release. Viewers might expect Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender to similarly fall into one of these camps.
In actuality, it sits equidistant between them. Netflix's ATLA is a largely pleasing homage to the original series and frequently entertaining but is undermined by superfluous alterations and an unmistakable identity crisis. It ultimately struggles to weave its various elements together.
Burdened with glorious purpose
George Cormier tackles the role of Aang with aplomb.(Image credit: Robert Falconer/Netflix)
ATLA tells the story of Aang (George Cormier), the 12-year-old sole survivor of the Air Nomad tribe and the latest reincarnation of the Avatar. The latter is an all-powerful being with mastery of the four elements – fire, water, earth, and air – who maintains peace and balance throughout the world.
Alongside newfound allies in Southern Water Tribe members Sokka (Ian Ousley) and Katara (Kiawentiio), Aang embarks on a dangerous quest to master his dormant, limitless power and end the century-long rule of the tyrannical Fire Nation led by the callous Fire Lord Ozai (Daniel Dae Kim).
Iroh and Zuko's surrogate relationship is the true heartbeat of Avatar: The Last Airbender
Ostensibly, ATLA is another example of the classic Hero's Journey, but Aang is far from comparable to people's champions we've become accustomed to.
A pre-teen with messianic greatness thrust upon him, Aang is – obvious though it is to say – extremely hesitant to bear the weight of this responsibility. And, in Cormier, one of the first four Avatar actors to be unveiled, Netflix has found a star who captures the complexity of a child (one harboring unlimited primordial power) burdened with a seemingly thankless task.
Following in the footsteps of Zac Tyler Eisen – Aang's beloved voice actor in the original show – is no small feat, but Cormier captures the requisite child-like wonder, charm, naivety, goofiness, and self-doubt to play the titular character. Cormier's Aang also wears his heart on his sleeve, perhaps more so than Eisen's portrayal, which imbues his take on the series' reluctant hero with a rich poignancy. It's a modest tweak that raises the emotional stakes and challenges Aang's predominantly pacifist nature to, sacrilegious though it may sound, a greater degree than his animated counterpart (at least, this early in his personal journey).
Yip yip, Appa!(Image credit: Netflix)
Encapsulating the soul-stirring and heart-breaking part of Aang's character is of the utmost importance, too. Avatar: The Last Airbender is primarily tailored for kids but, periodically, it's an incredibly dark tale that touches on topics rarely explored in youth entertainment.
From genocide and imperialism to gender inequality and philosophically existential subjects like spirituality, Nickelodeon's ATLA tackled these issues with grace and sensitivity. Netflix's adaptation doesn't skimp on them, either, though it's not averse to going harder than its predecessor with violence and discriminatory-positioned subject matter.
One such example is the Fire Nation's attack on the Air Nomads' Southern Temple in episode 1, a set-piece that appears to draw inspiration from Star Wars' universe-altering Order 66 event and satisfyingly builds on lore that's only briefly touched on in the original. It's a particularly unsettling watch and proves Netflix's remake isn't a wholly family-friendly retelling of Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko's original program.
Heroes and villains
Katara (left) and Sokka (back right) join Aang on his quest.(Image credit: Robert Falconer/Netflix)
Joining Aang on the pre-teen character roster are Sokka and Katara, siblings with their own tragic backstory who are also forced to assume responsibilities beyond their age.
Ousley and Kiawentiio make for a satisfying pair as Aang's self-anointed guardians-in-chief; each actor injecting their diametrically opposed individuals with the mandatory characteristics that made them fan favorites. That said, the duo's performances and line delivery can come across as rigid and underwhelming, though the clunky nature of the adaptation's dialog and filmmaking approach may play a part.
The clichéd nature of Sokka and Katara's squabbles, although realistic by design and in keeping with their familial dynamic from the Nickelodeon series, also feel somewhat forced. The romantic dalliances between Sokka and Suki (Maria Zhang), and Katara and Jet (Sebastian Amoruso) in episodes 2 and 3 are equally banal, even if they are burgeoning relationships carried over from the original. By contrast, the pair's flourishing camaraderie with Aang is delightfully entertaining and sweet without being saccharine – further proof of Cormier's natural ability to elevate the performances of those around him.
Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender loses sight of the fact it's... aimed at kids
Villains-wise, Kim is somewhat underutilized as The Last Airbender's Big Bad. Sure, Ozai's appearances were fleeting in the original series – a drip-feeding tactic that creates an ominous aura around him when he graces the screen – but you don't hire someone of Kim's caliber and, outside of a commanding, scene-stealing display in episode 6's flashback sequences, reduce him to a bit-part role. Showrunner Albert Kim has regularly opined that Netflix's adaptation "is a remix, not a cover" of one of the best anime of all time; a creative decision that allows certain liberties to be taken with the source material and to broaden the narrative that the original tells. I feel, then, there was a missed opportunity to expand Ozai's role earlier in the story.
Daniel Dae Kim's callous Fire Lord Ozai is underused.(Image credit: Netflix)
Thankfully, Netflix's remake finds time to gratifyingly develop the familial dynamic that exists between Ozai and his children: Zuko (Dallas Liu) and Azula (Elizabeth Yu).
Unlike the tight bond between Sokka and Katara, Ozai's ambitious but psychologically damaged offspring are estranged siblings who are regularly pitted against each other – by their emotionally cold father – in their pursuit of Aang, who the Fire Nation deems a threat to its colonial rule.
Avatar: The Last Airbender feels simultaneously rushed and sluggish
Yu portrays the intelligent, zealous, and sly Azula with impish delight as she pursues her father's approval and quest for perfection, but it's Liu's Zuko that I've reserved special praise for. Like Cormier, Liu embodies the emotionally traumatized Zuko down to a tee; the PEN15 and Players alum drips with the requisite impatience, tactlessness, impulsiveness, and rage that are the hallmarks of Aang's nemesis.
Liu is equally at home in scenes when Zuko's deep-seated vulnerability creeps to the fore, with such moments best demonstrated during tender scenes between Zuko and his nurturing, cheerleading mentor Uncle Iroh (Paul Sun Hyung). The pair's initial one-note dynamic is enriched by multiple tear-jerking sequences, including one in episode 4, which sees Zuko silently console Iroh when the latter's son dies during the Fire Nation's 100-year conquest of its neighbors. Scenes like this surprisingly position Iroh and Zuko's surrogate father-son relationship as the true heartbeat of Avatar: The Last Airbender and confirm Zuko's character development is the richest in the entire show. That was also the case in DiMartino and Konietzko's offering.
A song of fire and ice (and air and earth)
General Iroh and Zuko are – surprisingly – the real heart of Netflix's adaptation.(Image credit: Robert Falconer/Netflix)
What's more distinguishable is how atmospherically different Netflix's ATLA is to its contemporary, and it's a tonal shift that's to the story's detriment. Indeed, Albert Kim has faced criticism for controversially suggesting Netflix's remake has to "appeal to the people who are big fans of Game of Thrones (GoT)". Based on this adaptation's overall vibe, high-fantasy setting, impressive world-building, and morally complex characters (I found myself flip-flopping between whether I should like Zuko or not, for instance) I can understand why the comparison was made.
The problem Netflix's retelling has is it wants to be taken seriously as a melodramatic and often brutish take on the source material. Yes, there are genuine moments of levity, even if they're eye-rolling, gimmicky jokes from Sokka, the cheeriness Iroh exudes, or Aang's playfulness. Even so, in its pursuit of appealing to older age groups, Netflix's ATLA loses sight of the fact it's a series aimed at kids/pre-teens. Unlike the original, it feels tonally imbalanced, with the trauma, pain, loss, and fury – baked into the show's DNA and regularly exhibited by its eclectic cast – overpowering its other important elements.
Cormier captures the requisite child-like wonder, charm, naivety, goofiness, and self-doubt to play Aang
Narratively, Netflix's ATLA feels simultaneously rushed and sluggish. At times, it appears as if there's too much and too little going on at once, particularly in earlier episodes. Each 50-60 minute entry has the air of three 20-minute installments from Nickelodeon's anime stitched together, but the way they're weaved into a single entity isn't conducive. Ripping up the original plot to build a revised plot from its puzzle pieces staggers the free-flowing narrative, with the result being uneven episodic storylines that uncharacteristically veer from the dramatic to the quirky, and the brisk to the turgid.
Netflix's interpretation does right by some characters, such as Suki, but not others.(Image credit: Netflix)
Its cause isn't helped by the expansion of, and slight revisions to, the original. There are story beats that pleasingly add to Avatar's wider narrative and globe-trotting grandeur, but I felt ambivalent about other creative changes.
The earlier-than-anticipated appearance of the monstrous centipede spirit known as Koh the Face Stealer (voice by George Takei), for instance, is a narrative misstep. It doesn't just ruin a key moment in the evolution of Aang and Zuko's initially frosty dynamic, but also sidelines Sokka and Katara – important supports for Aang during his quest, don't forget – for an entire episode.
Still, at least the 'bending' visual effects add a pleasing degree of creativity to ATLA's battles that would ordinarily be pretty average in their makeup and execution. Some animations, such as the primary fireball attacks employed by the Fire Nation, are par for the course, but the originality of seeing them use their incendiary abilities as makeshift flame-powered thrusters to reach out-of-reach opponents is a novel one.
My verdict
Avatar: The Last Airbender's trailers teased a fiery, epic fantasy show that Netflix needs, but the finished article isn't a rip-roaring success. It's far better than the absolutely awful 2010 movie adaptation, but its desire to be a revisionist take of the original show – complete with its jarring tonal shifts, GoT wannabe status, and archaic storytelling tropes – holds it back.
Considering how universally loved Nickelodeon's ATLA is, Netflix faced the seemingly impossible task of delivering a live-action remake that lives up to everyone's lofty expectations. It does its best to capture the essence of the original and, at times, it finds a welcome balance between the series' serious, silly, and sublime components. Equally, the inclusion of fan-favorite references (yes, Cabbage Man makes an appearance), plus its satisfying sense of spectacle, scope, and scale, make for pleasurable moments. Unfortunately, it's also a show that doesn't fully commit to the full, faithful retelling that long-time fans will – at the very least – be content with.
Avatar: The Last Airbender was one of 10 TV shows I was most excited to see in early 2024. While it's a gutsy interpretation of the original that finds its feet with each passing episode, there are too many missteps along the way for me to recommend it as a must-see reinvention of Nickelodeon's timeless classic. In short: don't expect to see it on our best Netflix shows list any time soon. Go and watch the original – also available on Netflix – instead.
Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender is available in full to stream now.
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Xbox Game Pass is getting several new additions in the coming month, including Bluey: The Videogame and Madden NFL 24 . Subscribers will...
Xbox Game Pass is getting several new additions in the coming month, including Bluey: The Videogame and Madden NFL 24.
Subscribers will be spoilt for choice as six games will be available on Xbox Game Pass in the last week of February going into the first week of March on Xbox Series X|S and PC. You can prime your pre-install buttons right now so you can enjoy each one of these to the fullest.
There are also a couple of additions that players can experience right now. These include Return to Grace, a first-person narrative adventure in which a space archaeologist discovers a tomb of a lost A.I. god, and journeys to find out why it was shut down all those years ago. There are multiple endings to this narrative game, so every choice you make will have great consequences for how your story plays out.
Subscribers will also be able to enjoy Tales of Arise right away. This is a third-person role-playing game (RPG) in which you must accompany a mysterious girl and fight an oppressive ruling class that has been enacting 300 years of tyranny. It's also an open world, so there are a ton of things to explore and experience. The RPG was just added to the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog, so PlayStation 5 or PS4 owners can enjoy this story-rich game as well.
There are also a couple of games leaving the Game Pass library soon. These are Madden NFL 22 and Soul Hackers 2, so if you still own these titles, be sure to plan out your achievement grind and complete everything you can before they're gone.
The list of upcoming Game Pass games, and perks is as follows:
Bluey: The Videogame - February 22
Maneater - February 27
Madden NFL 24 - February 27
Indivisible - February 28
Space Engineers - February 29
Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun - March 5
Diablo IV - March 28
Calm Premium – 3-month trial offer – Available now
Apex Legends: Breakout Supercharge Pack – Available now
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: Drakkar Edition Pack – Available now
Puzzle Quest 3: Green Knight’s Gear Bundle – Available now
PUBG: Battlegrounds – Exclusive Survivor Pack – Available now
If you're searching for more outstanding games be sure to check out thebest story gamesas well as thebest RPGs.
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Nier Automata protagonist 2B has today joined the playable roster of skyfarers in Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising . Coming to the game a...
Coming to the game after her initial announcement at last year's Granblue Fantasy Fes presentation, she follows Lucilius as the second DLC character to be added to one of the best fighting games. Season pass owners will have 2B unlocked automatically, but those without can purchase her separately for $7.99 / £6.49.
A full breakdown of 2B's move set was shared via the official Cygames YouTube channel. At almost 10 minutes in length, the showcase demonstrates that 2B is likely going to be a very tricky character to learn. She's packing a wide range of special moves with unique use cases and lacks the otherwise universal 'dash light' attack that all other characters have access to.
Plus, instead of her special moves being tied to cooldowns, 2B instead has a special meter that governs all of her abilities. This depletes in increments, with stronger specials typically costing more meter.
The character guide is narrated by her trusty Pod companion. However, it's also worth noting that 2B's voice actors, Yui Ishikawa, and Kira Buckland, reprise their roles as the iconic android in the Japanese and English dubs respectively.
2B joins Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising in tandem with the game's 1.21 update. The patch adds some welcome features like the ability to display collected weapon cutouts for avatars in online lobbies, and new weekly challenges for players to earn more in-game currency. It also brings several quality-of-life additions, such as an online connection quality indicator before joining matches, and reduced input delay for the PlayStation 5 version of the game.
It's been confirmed that 2B will be the only guest character to join Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising during this year's season. Granblue Fantasy characters Vane and Beatrix have also been announced, and a further two unannounced fighters will join the roster before the end of the year.
Looking for top-shelf hardware to play fighting games with? Consider browsing our guides to thebest fight sticksandbest PC controllersfor expertly tested suggestions.
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Nintendo has announced a Nintendo Direct: Partner Showcase for February 21. The showcase is expected to run for around 25 minutes, offering...
Nintendo has announced a Nintendo Direct: Partner Showcase for February 21. The showcase is expected to run for around 25 minutes, offering a look at what third-party games are expected to come to the console during the first half of 2024.
Rather than being a live broadcast, the showcase will be available on-demand at 15:00 CET, (14:00 GMT,06:00 PT / 09:00 ET) so you won't have to tune in to any sort of live stream as you would with a standard Nintendo Direct. The showcase will be uploaded to each Nintendo YouTube channel, so you'll be able to view it from your regional variants, like Nintendo of America, Nintendo UK, or Nintendo Japan. The full announcement Tweet can be seen below:
A #NintendoDirect: Partner Showcase is coming! Watch on-demand via YouTube on 21/02, 15:00 CET, for around 25 mins of info focused on #NintendoSwitch games coming in the first half of 2024 from our publishing and development partners.Stay tuned here: https://t.co/GznH9vVUBD pic.twitter.com/TBjfasyseAFebruary 19, 2024
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No details on what games we can expect to see were shared, but with the focus being away from Nintendo's first-party releases, there's still a lot of opportunity to see some fantastic titles announced for the system. With the recent news of Xbox-exclusive titles making their way to alternative platforms, a lot of speculation has already begun about games like Hi-Fi Rush seeing a release on Switch, but this has yet to be officially confirmed.
There's a lot of anticipation surrounding what could be in store during the Nintendo Direct: Partner Showcase, so it's best to be prepared and tune in tomorrow when the broadcast hits Nintendo's regional YouTube channels to ensure you don't miss any announcements. Hopefully, we see a good variety of games to keep up the excitement for the first half of the year.
Some of the most popular Google Workspace office software tools are getting a much-needed upgrade to one of their most annoying features.
The update addresses ‘Comments’ section UI clutter by adding a new ‘For You’ section, as well as an option to reduce clutter by minimizing the ‘Comments’ sidebar across Google Docs, along with Slides and Sheets.
The move should help online collaboration across all your key documents, spreadsheets and even slideshows.
Google Workspace comments
As explained in an official Google Workspace update blog, when users see the ‘Comments’ button next to the ‘Revision history’ button, there’s a sidebar with two tabs: ‘For you’ and ‘All comments.’
The former is the one that filters out all comments made except for ones directed at you, while the latter shows comments made to everyone who has access to that document. This highlights comments made on a document that is specifically tagged to you and no one else, reducing clutter.
(Image credit: Google)
From there, you can click on a comment to expand each one individually, leaving the comment to float beside the text that it’s attached to. This particular feature is called the ‘Expand comments’ option in the ‘View menu,’ and it’s one tool that Sheets doesn’t have.
However, only Sheets and Docs have another new tool called ‘Minimize comments,’ which lets you close the ‘Comments’ sidebar and reduce the comments to mini icons. This setting provides a quick preview of information about who is commenting when you hover over the minimized icons.
Finally, Docs, Sheets, and Slides all have the ‘Hide comments’ tool, which hides comments from view when you want to focus solely on content. This feature is useful for those using devices with smaller screens, like tablets and Chromebooks.
Some users already have access to this ‘Comments’ overhaul, though the full rollout of the update will start on March 1, 2024, and should be complete by March 4, according to Google. It will be available to all Google Workspace users.
It’s good to see that Google Workspace is getting more updates that may be actually useful and not detrimental to everyday use.
This new update follows the recent addition of the ‘@ button’ tool for Google Docs is back in October 2023. It automatically adds the ‘@’ symbol when a user moves to a blank line in a Google Doc, which brings up several options to insert what Google calls ‘smart chip technology like people, dates, timers, file chips, building blocks, calendar events, groups, and more.
The annual Presidents' Day sales aren't usually known for discounts on phones (more things like home goods), but there are some superb options right now if you're looking to upgrade.
Verizon, Amazon, Mint Mobile, and AT&T all have superb cell phone deals right now coinciding with the Presidents' Day sales so I've rounded up all the top options right now just below.
A few highlights include the iPhone 15 being given away for free alongside a new unlimited data plan for the first time ever at Verizon (no trade needed!), the excellent Google Pixel 8 for a record-low price of just $399 at Mint Mobile, and Amazon's nifty $100 upfront discount on the brand-new OnePlus 12. All of these are Black Friday-level deals and well worth considering if you're on the hunt for a shiny new phone.
Most of these cell phone deals at various carriers do need corresponding data plans to be eligible. You will, however, find some great discounts on unlocked devices over at Amazon right now, which are perfect if you're looking to break away from the usual pricey plans at the major carriers or port your own device over.
You can also visit our main Presidents' Day sales page for more recommendations on everything from vacuums to mattresses.
The best Presidents' Day phone deals
Apple iPhone 15:free with an unlimited data plan, plus save $280 on an iPad and Apple Watch at Verizon
No trade-in needed: For the first time you can get the iPhone 15 for free over at Verizon without that pesky trade-in rebate. Simply pick up a device alongside a new line on an eligible unlimited data plan and you'll get this brand-new flagship on the house at big red. You can also get a $280 saving on an iPad and bundle in an Apple Watch for $5 per month, although note that additional cellular lines are required and paid separately.View Deal
Apple iPhone 14 Plus:free with a new unlimited line, plus free 65-inch TV at Verizon
No trade-in needed: This iPhone 14 Plus deal at Verizon ticks all the boxes for value - not only can you get the device for free right now alongside a new unlimited data plan but the carrier is also throwing in a free 65-inch TV. Unlike with other 'freebies' at the carrier, no additional cellular lines are needed here which makes it a great value addition. Note that you can also get this deal on the standard iPhone 14 right now if you'd prefer, although we'd recommend the Plus as the more highly valued device. View Deal
Samsung Galaxy S24 series:save up to $1,000 with a trade-in at AT&T More interested in the latest Samsung Galaxy flagships? AT&T is currently allowing you to trade-in any Samsung device in any condition to get a maximum rebate on any of the latest Galaxy S24 series - an exceptional deal. This equates to a whopping saving of up to $1,000 off on the Ultra and Plus, or up to $800 off on the standard Galaxy S24. Note, however, that you will need an eligible unlimited data plan to be able to get this saving.View Deal
OnePlus 12 (unlocked, 512GB):was$899now $799 at Amazon Amazon currently has a nice $100 discount on the brand new OnePlus 12 in its 512GB variant - essentially giving you a free storage upgrade. If you're looking for a powerful Android flagship with a class-leading display, excellent cameras, and eye-catching design, then this phone might just be for you. Our OnePlus 12 review gave this one four stars out of five, praising its performance and overall look. View Deal
Google Pixel 8:$699$399 with a six-month plan at Mint Mobile Both the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are receiving healthy discounts over at the prepaid carrier Mint Mobile right now. You can currently save up to $300 by bundling these devices up with a prepaid plan - the cheapest of which is just $90 for a six-month 5GB plan. Note, as a side bonus you'll also get an additional six months of service on the house, making this Pixel 8 deal even better for fans of this excellent prepaid carrier. Google Pixel 8 Pro:$999$720 with a six-month planView Deal
Google Pixel 8 Pro (unlocked):was $999 now $799 at Amazon Alternatively, head on over to the Amazon Presidents' Day sale to pick up Google's latest flagships unlocked for the same price that we saw over Black Friday back in November. Overall, this is a great device to snag at this price thanks to its excellent cameras and class-leading AI features. Not only that, but Google has promised to support this phone for seven years so it should have plenty of updates down the line. Google Pixel 8: was $699now $549 at AmazonView Deal
As any sci-fi fan knows, all moments are eventually lost in time, like tears in the rain. And sooner or later sci-fi movies on the best streaming services are lost too when contracts expire or deals are renegotiated.
That means you haven't got long to watch three stone-cold sci-fi classics on Netflix, as they're all leaving at the end of February 2024. The movies in question are Dune, Dredd and Snowpiercer, and they're all firm favorites here. Here's why.
Dune
As we said in our Dune movie review, it's an absorbing and visually striking sci-fi epic. If you're not familiar with the film or the book it's based on, it's "an atmospheric, brooding and expansive cinematic marvel [with] shades of 2001: A Space Odyssey, Mad Max and even Gladiator in its execution. It’s also a thematically dense movie that explores familial legacy, politicking, the longevity of empires and environmentalism."
While the ending is maybe a little too focused on setting up Dune 2 than on delivering a truly satisfying conclusion, it really does justice to Frank Herbert's novel – not an easy task given its complexity and convoluted story, something that defeated David Lynch's previous attempt to adapt book. Although to be fair that version did have pop star Sting in his faintly frightening plastic underpants, a costuming choice that this 2021 adaptation rather wisely chooses not to replicate.
Dredd
I can bang on about this superb and exceptionally violent comic book adaptation for hours, which is why I don't get invited to parties any more. It's effectively a sci-fi equivalent of the equally violent The Raid, with Carl Urban as the proto-fascist law enforcer who is judge, jury and, frequently and increasingly gorily, executioner. Along with his rookie partner, played by Olivia Thirlby, Dredd has to bring justice to a 200-storey high-rise run by Lena Headley's malevolent drug lord Ma-Ma.
Is it as good as The Raid? Maybe not, but it's from a completely different universe than the God-awful 1995 Judge Dredd, the Sylvester Stallone vehicle that was so out of tune with the ethos of the 2000AD comic book that you have to wonder if anybody involved in the movie had even heard of the comic. This Dredd is the same Dredd we've loved and hated for decades, and once the film gets into its groove it's a thrilling, balletic epic that doesn't let up for a moment. And it's a real tragedy that unlike The Raid, Dredd never got a sequel greenlit.
Snowpiercer
Snowpiercer – not to be confused with the 2020 series remake – is based on a French graphic novel called Le Transperceneige by Jacques Lob, Benjamin Legrand and Jean-Marc Rochette. As we said in a previous roundup of the best Netflix sci-fi movies, it's "a brilliant allegorical sci-fi film about a train powered by perpetual motion that continually circles the globe after a climate change experiment kills all life on Earth... [when] a new class system emerges, all the poor and impoverished struggle to survive at the back of the train, while the rich live it up at the front".
Directed by the incredibly talent Bong Joon-ho (Parasite, Okja, The Host), it was his first English language debut and received glowing reviews – it has a 94% Rotten Tomatoes score from the critics and a 72% rating from the audience. As The Wall Street Journal puts it: "Once Mr. Bong sets his monorail in motion the movie assumes an irresistible momentum, accelerated by nonstop mayhem, gallows humor and an immersive visual style that possesses a heady sense of the steam-punk Apocalypse."
It's been quite a while since we heard anything of note about a foldable iPhone, and now we might have a reason why: the project is apparently on pause for the time being, as Apple can't find a folding display that it's satisfied with.
As per Fixed Focus Digital on Chinese social network Weibo (via MacRumors), Apple has been busy researching and testing screens that bend in the middle, but hasn't been able to find one that meets whatever the required standard is for a foldable iPhone.
It's thought that Samsung is one of the manufacturers that has supplied folding displays to Apple, but for whatever reason, it's not passing the tests. Samsung of course makes its own foldable phones, most recently the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5.
Whether Apple isn't happy with the aesthetics or the durability of the display – or both – isn't immediately clear. What's more, while this tipster is a well-known tech vlogger, they haven't previously offered any Apple leaks, so bear that in mind.
The waiting game
Samsung's latest foldable phones(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
The sheer number of rumors that we've seen around an iPhone Fold suggest that a device of this kind must be in development somewhere at Apple, although whether it's ever going to see the light of day remains to be seen.
Apple has traditionally been happy to let the likes of Samsung introduce new mobile technologies before adding them to its own handset – like fingerprint sensors and wireless charging – and it seems that it'll be no different with folding displays.
Another possibility is that Apple will introduce a folding iPad before a folding iPhone, but there's a lot of uncertainty around that device too. It would definitely be larger, which may make it easier to develop a display that Apple is happy with.
Go and take a peek at our Google Pixel Fold review to see what some of the benefits of folding phones are, even if you have to pay a significant amount of money to get hold of them. For a while at least, it seems Apple won't be joining the part.
Some of the world's largest cloud computing firms, including Alphabet, Amazon, and Cloudflare, have found a way to save billions by extending the lifespan of their servers - a move expected to significantly reduce depreciation costs, increase net income, and contribute to their bottom lines.
Alphabet, Google's parent company, started this trend in 2021 by extending the lifespan of its servers and networking equipment. By 2023, the company decided that both types of hardware could last six years before needing to be replaced. This decision led to the company saving $3.9 billion in depreciation and increasing net income by $3.0 billion last year.
These savings will go towards Alphabet's investment in technical infrastructure, particularly servers and data centers, to support the exponential growth of AI-powered services.
Amazon and Cloudflare too
Like Alphabet, Amazon also recently completed a "useful life study" for its servers, deciding to extend their working life from five to six years. This change is predicted to contribute $900 million to net income in Q1 of 2024 alone.
Cloudflare followed a similar path, extending the useful life of its service and network equipment from four to five years starting in 2024. This decision is expected to result in a modest impact of $20 million.
Tech behemoths are facing increasing costs from investing in AI and technical infrastructure, so any savings that can made elsewhere are vital. The move to extend the life of servers isn't just a cost cutting exercise however, it also reflects the continuous advancements in hardware technology and improvements in data center designs.
Android 15 is here – although only in a very early form for developers to test, for now. Google has made downloads available for recent Pixel devices, including the Pixel 6, the Pixel 7, and the Pixel 8.
In a blog post by Google's Dave Burke, we get mentions of productivity boosts, "superior media experiences", battery life improvements, upgrades to app performance, and protections for user privacy and security.
A lot of the early features are under-the-hood tweaks, as you would expect from a developer preview. For example, app makers get more control over how low light photos are processed by the camera, and how bright the camera flash gets. Also new is the ability to capture just part of the screen in screen recordings.
Developers will also be able to access more efficient power modes (to ease the strain on the battery), and extra file integrity protections that can check if files have been tampered with before they're accessed by an app.
Public betas
The Pixel 8 is one phone that can run the Android 15 preview(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
We don't have any major new features to report just yet, but little tweaks are already being noticed – such as more flexibility for controlling keyboard vibration strength, and a 'cooldown' feature for notifications from busy group chats.
None of those features are visible yet, and over the next few months you can expect functionality to come and go as Google tweaks the code heading to Android phones and tablets. As with previous previews and betas, the idea is to test the software – and at this stage it's not something you should think about installing yourself.
The codename for this version is reportedly Vanilla Ice Cream, and the logo badge matches the same space theme that we saw with Android 14. The timeline published by Google suggests public betas will be available in April, with a full launch later this year.
Progress with Intel’s Battlemage graphics cards might be looking a bit shaky, going off a new update from a YouTube leaker.
This is Moore’s Law is Dead (MLID), a regular source of leaks from the GPU world (and CPUs, plus consoles too), who has a new video out which digs into a few topics. One of which is the 2nd-generation Arc GPUs, and we’re told by a source at Intel that the last time there were updates on the Battlemage test boards was April 2023.
Yes, that’s very nearly a year ago now, which is obviously a worrying hint that Intel is moving sluggishly on realizing Battlemage. Equally obviously, though, we need to be cautious around a single rumor.
MLID’s source goes on to add another nugget of info drawn from some internal Intel documents, namely that the final validation for Battlemage is scheduled for Q4 2024 – at the earliest.
In short, we’ll be ‘very lucky’ to see next-gen Arc GPUs come out this year, and it may not even be that early in 2025 that they arrive – the validation process can take up to a few months (one to three months, generally). If Battlemage graphics cards even arrive at all, MLID notes at the end of the rumor dump, on a more pessimistic note.
Analysis: Dispelling the doom
We shouldn’t get carried away with the doom and gloom, of course – this is just a rumor, and a complete cancelation for Battlemage surely won’t happen. Will it? Well, okay, it isn’t beyond the realms of possibility, but what we’ve heard elsewhere on the grapevine isn’t pointing towards this kind of scenario. Yet.
That said, a few weeks back MLID aired the rumor (again, add seasoning) that Battlemage for laptops has been canned. But dropping the whole Arc line is another matter entirely, and of course, the leaker isn’t telling us that this is something he’s heard – just that it could be a (hopefully very remote) possibility.
Intel is certainly holding firm in terms of talking up Battlemage recently. But then, Team Blue would obviously be papering over any cracks appearing behind the scenes, when presenting the 2nd-generation of Arc to the public, naturally.
However, even with Intel’s latest update (at CES 2024 last month), it sounded like Battlemage is likely to be pushed to early 2025, rather than arriving this year. And that very much does seem a real possibility, which is slightly disappointing.
Mainly because there are some decently lofty expectations for how Intel will perform with Battlemage – especially given how Alchemist has been consistently improved, with impressive gains delivered via new drivers over and over. Levels of anticipation are suitably elevated, even if Intel’s next-gen range does end up as lower-end GPUs only, as rumors have been claiming for a while now.
Indeed, we could most use a more compelling rival to the GPU duopoly at the budget end of the market, which has been too long neglected really (certainly by Nvidia).
This week in tech has been a busy one in world of AI. Not only did OpenAI give ChatGPT a human-like memory, it also launched its Sora video generation tool – and it’s mind-blowing.
Keeping on top of these and other fast-moving tech developments can be hard work, so we’ve hand-picked the seven biggest tech news stories from the past week to help you get caught up.
Looking to the days and weeks ahead, those of you in the US can look forward to the Presidents’ Day sales – and our deals experts have been working hard to help you bag a bargain on that shiny new piece of tech you’ve been after.
And at the end of the month all eyes will be on Barcelona, when the MWC 2024 trade show kicks off, with the stage set for a host of smartphone and other mobile tech announcements.
7. OpenAI blew our minds again with Sora’s AI-generated videos
(Image credit: OpenAI)
Just when you thought the AI hype was over, OpenAI launched something to make you think – and look – twice this week. The ChatGPT maker’s latest trick is Sora, a text-to-video tool that can create shockingly realistic video clips from simple prompts. It’s both exciting and terrifying in equal measure.
While Sora hasn’t been released to the public yet, the quality of its clips looks like a real leap forward for AI-generated video. Scenes that have previously proven troublesome for algorithms to dream up – ones containing moving people, pets, and textures – seem to be no issue for Sora, which has some considerable computational grunt behind it.
OpenAI says Sora is still being tested internally, and it’s certainly still far from perfect. But the implications for stock video, advertising, gaming and even movies are clear. Goodbye reality, it was nice knowing you.
Several Reddit users have reported seeing a grainy texture when viewing dark and gray colors on their Galaxy S24 displays, while others have reported seeing "frankly unacceptable" horizontal bars when viewing their displays at low brightness.
Those affected by the latter problem have also reported seeing excessive banding when viewing gradient images, so we wouldn’t be surprised to see Samsung issue a second display-related update in the coming weeks.
(Image credit: Raymond Smith/University of Washington)
A team of researchers from the University of Washington have unveiled the Thermal Earring. It’s a smart earring that can very accurately measure body temperature, thanks to a sensor in the stud that takes a reading in your ear, and a second sensor that dangles below and measures the ambient temperature.
This two-sensor setup then beams the data to a compatible Bluetooth device, and based on tests so far it’s much more accurate than a typical smartwatch – though the study has only had six participants.
If the earring proves to be a genuinely useful upgrade for temperature tracking, and the design can be tweaked to look more pretty, it’s hoped this kind of device could soon be a valuable tool to help people track their menstrual cycle and warn of fevers, stress, and other issues that affect body temperature.
4. Prime Video cut Dolby Vision and Atmos support from its ad-supported tier
(Image credit: Amazon )
Amazon brought ads to Prime Video a couple of weeks ago, and to get rid of them you have to pay an extra $2.99 a month in the US, or £2.99 in the UK (subscribers in Australia won’t have to pay extra to remove ads until later this year, and we don’t yet know how much it'll cost them).
This was frustrating enough for people who prefer ad-free content, but Amazon made it worse by revealing that if you don’t cough up for ad-free streaming you also won’t get Dolby Vision or Dolby Atmos support in the content you watch.
This is the latest anti-consumer move made in the streaming space, with ads and price hikes having been inflicted on many of the best streaming services over the past few months. We hope that Amazon reverses course on Dolby support for its ad-supported tier, but we aren’t holding our breath.
3. Samsung and Google battled to give us invisible AI friends
(Image credit: Google)
Samsung and Google both went big on AI features for their latest flagship phones, and now it’s time for the next step – bringing that AI assistance to their wireless earbuds. This week, Samsung drew first blood by rolling out an over-the-air update to its Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, Galaxy Buds 2 and Galaxy Buds FE buds that gives them Live Translation and Interpretation powers.
The downside? For now, you’ll need a Galaxy S24 phone to use these AI features, although they will come to older phones in time, as they work on-device rather than needing an internet connection. And Google isn’t far behind, with some recently-discovered code in its Gemini app hinting that its new assistant will be coming to compatible headphones soon, too.
Not to be outdone by OpenAI’s shiny new Sora tool (see entry #7), ChatGPT also got a significant upgrade this week – for some early testers, at least. OpenAI revealed that it’s given ChatGPT a memory to help it remember all of your preferences, interests and quirks, so that it can apply that knowledge in future chats.
While the feature is still only in testing on both the free and paid versions of ChatGPT, it's another significant moment for the rapidly-evolving technology. It means that, unlike most of today’s AI sidekicks, your new conversations will no longer start from scratch, with ChatGPT using its knowledge of your tastes to work more efficiently for you – and ultimately seem even more human-like.
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