Subj : ICYMI: the week's 7 biggest tech stories, from Meta Horizon OS to To : All From : TechnologyDaily Date : Sat Apr 27 2024 08:15:05 ICYMI: the week's 7 biggest tech stories, from Meta Horizon OS to 2024 iPad launch date Date: Sat, 27 Apr 2024 07:00:25 +0000 Description: Here's ICYMI for April 27, 2024, covering news about Apple's next iPad's, Sony, Meta Horizon OS, and Moondrop phone. FULL STORY ====================================================================== If youve lost track of this weeks most important tech news then dont fret, as were here to catch you up to speed and this is one week you won't want to have missed. We say that because some major things have happened in the last seven days. Meta announced that its sharing its Horizon OS with other VR headset makers which is the biggest announcement it will likely make this decade Apple teased its 2024 iPad lines and gave us a launch date for them, and DJI gave us a release date for its cheapest-ever 4K drone. And here at TechRadar we hosted our first Sustainability Week, producing a whole host of articles showcasing some fantastic examples of how the tech industry is focusing on sustainability and a few instances where it still needs to do better. Lets get you all caught up on the weeks biggest stories that you might have missed 7. We hosted Sustainability Week (Image credit: Shutterstock / Troyan) We ran our first Sustainability Week, highlighting the sustainability heroes working to make a difference in tech and some we think could do more. We talked to Samsung about its energy efficient, AI-driven appliances , delved deep into Apple's recent patent for removable uniform battery enclosures , and even spoke with the creators of a bioengineered plant purifier . It's not all sunshine and rainbows, though, as we also zoned in on the energy impact of processors and graphics cards , calling for the likes of AMD, Nvidia and Intel to work together towards a more sustainable chipmaking future. We've also shared insights on how you can do your bit, whether that's by opting for refurbished tech , seeking out sustainably sourced devices, or using your phone to save the planet. Read more: Our sustainability week coverage 6. Apple set a launch date for its new iPads The official invite for Apple's May 7 launch event (Image credit: Apple) Apple has confirmed the date for its next special Apple Event as May 7 at 7am PT / 10am ET / 3pm BST, which is midnight AEST on May 8, and while iPads arent officially on the cards, the invite includes a snazzy Apple logo featuring an Apple Pencil surrounded by splashes of color a strong indication that new tablets will be shown off. Were expecting the headline announcement to be a new iPad Pro with an OLED display and M3 chipset, with two iPad Air 6 models plus some accessories such as a new Pencil and potentially a Magic Keyboard also likely to get shown off. And if this isnt enough Apple for you, just over a month later Apples annual developer conference, WWDC 2024 , will kick off on June 10. So make sure to check back here regularly to keep yourself in the loop. Read more: Apple sets imminent launch date for new iPads 5. Meta made a massive OS announcement (Image credit: Meta) This week Meta announced that its Horizon OS the operating system used by its VR headsets like the Meta Quest 3 is coming to third-party hardware, starting with ASUS, Lenovo and Xbox devices. This is huge news, as itll hopefully lead to a much more diverse range of VR headsets in the near future, with the already teased gadgets including a performance gaming headset, mixed-reality devices for productivity, and a more Quest-like headset coming from the trio of partners respectively. However, Meta might want to make sure that Horizon OS doesnt copy too many of the bad aspects of Windows, though only time will tell how this move will play out. Read more: Meta is making spatial computing's Windows with Horizon OS 4. A Sony wearable took us one step closer to Dune (Image credit: Future / Axel Metz) With the recent launch of Apples Vision Pro headset and Dysons Bane-like air-purifying headphones, youd be forgiven for thinking that weve reached peak wearable tech. However, this week Sony showed us that the wearable product class is just getting started. The Sony Reon Pocket 5 is a wearable thermo device that cools or warms your body, depending on the conditions of your environment. Designed to sit neatly on the back of your neck, the Reon Pocket 5 uses a plate-like "thermos module" and five sensors to determine optimal body temperature and, hopefully, make you more comfortable while you're traveling on public transport or walking in less-than-ideal conditions. The Reon Pocket 5 offers five levels of cooling and four levels of warmth, meaning that in theory its just as useful on a stuffy commuter train as it is outdoors on a frosty morning. We took the device for a spin at a recent demo event, and we can confirm that it does indeed regulate body temperature pretty effectively though youll have to put up with looking like an extra from a sci-fi movie when wearing it. Read more: Sonys wearable air conditioner could improve your commute 3. An Android phone served up superior audio (Image credit: Moondrop) The lack of an audio jack in most of todays phones hasnt been popular with everyone especially not audiophiles, who love the fidelity of wired connections for hi-res audio. Enter the Moondrop MIAD01 this phone not only has a 3.5mm jack, it also has a 4.4mm balanced output for connecting to a powerful music system without distortion, and a flagship DAC to make sure high-end digital files get treated properly on the way to your ears. On top of that, its a pretty cool phone as well. Its got a great futuristic look (as do all Moondrop products just check out their earbuds when youre bored), a large 120Hz OLED screen, and dual cameras on the back. For serious streaming audiophiles, a dedicated music player or a portable DAC tend to be a big part of listening on the go, and this phone aims to replace both and the music lovers on the TechRadar team are watching closely. Read more: This Android phone for audiophiles offers a hi-res DAC and 3.5mm jack 2. The Deadpool and Wolverine trailer delivered Easter egg galore (Image credit: Marvel Studios) Deadpool and Wolverine is edging closer towards its July 26 launch date, so its high time that Marvel released some new footage to further fuel our excitement for the duos multiversal buddy-cop flick. Thankfully, the comic book giant duly obliged earlier this week (April 22) with a brand-new trailer and, unsurprisingly, the Marvel Phase 5 movies latest teaser is packed with Easter eggs. Some are easier to spot than others, mind you, so weve taken the liberty of picking out six of the best and/or easily missable ones from Deadpool 3 s newest trailer . Once youve read that, check out our X-Men movies in order guide to see what films you need to stream ahead of the MCU s next flick, too. Read more: New Deadpool and Wolverine trailer is packed with Marvel Easter eggs 1. DJIs cheapest-ever 4K drone got a release date (Image credit: DJI) A DJI drone announcement without the usual speculation, rumors and leaked pictures is a rare thing, but the DJI Mini 4K quietly popped up on the DJI Amazon store this week, complete with a April 29 release date. Were not expecting big things from the Mini 4K it will likely be a modest refresh of the DJI Mini 2 SE, with similar specs like 31-minute flight time, level 5 wind resistance and a sub-250g body but it will become DJIs cheapest ever drone to shoot 4K video, and that should make it one of 2024s most popular drone for beginners. Read more: DJI Mini 4K release date confirmed, here's what to expect ====================================================================== Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/tech/icymi-the-weeks-7-biggest-tech-stories-from-met a-horizon-os-to-2024-ipad-launch-date --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A47 (Linux/64) * Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100) .