ICYMI: The 8 biggest tech stories of the week, from Paramount Plus cancellations to our LG G4 OLED TV review
This week in the tech world, Google unveiled its unified Gemini AI – previously called Bard – and launched a new Android app, while Paramount Plus dropped some popular shows and we reviewed the Apple Vision Pro.
To help you stay on top of all the important tech news stories of the week, we’ve rounded them up here in this roundup. You’ll also find links to the full stories for more context and analysis.
It’s still a few weeks away, but MWC is underway. From February 26 to 29, we’re expecting some big developments in the world of phones, computers and AI – so be sure to check back here for the latest updates as MWC kicks off.
8. Paramount Plus has removed even more original content
First we saw Max reduce its content library, then Disney Plus, and now Paramount Plus is the latest streamer to follow suit. At the beginning of the week, subscribers logged into the platform to find that a dozen movies and shows had disappeared overnight, including The Burning Girls, One Night, The Killing Kind, The Serial Killer’s Wife, The Doll Factory, The Flatshare And Chemistry of death.
The move is part of a broader effort in the streaming world to streamline content and save money. The idea is that by freeing up their portfolios, these services can focus on investing in Hollywood’s biggest hits, licensing content to other platforms and improving their overall profitability. Paramount Plus will reportedly announce another round of layoffs soon.
7. LG’s new G4 OLED TV brought the brightness
We had the chance to spend some quality time with the new LG G4 OLED TV at the recent CES 20224, and if first impressions count, the future looks bright for LG’s new flagship OLED.
According to LG, a Brightness Booster Max feature on the G4 provides 70% brighter images than on conventional OLED TVs. Another advancement is the Dolby Vision Filmmaker mode, which adds the benefits of that mode’s picture quality to high dynamic range content. Audio and gaming also gets a boost on the new G4, with support for 11.1.2 channel Dolby Atmos sound and a ‘144Hz Validated’ certification from Nvidia.
LG’s flagship OLEDs are traditionally designed for wall mounting, but the 65- and 55-inch G4 models come with stands. The new G4 OLED is pricey, but based on our short time with it at CES, it’s potentially very worthwhile.
Goodbye, Google Bard – it was nice knowing you. This week, Google renamed its chatbot and brought all its AI tools under one new umbrella called Gemini. This has both simplified and complicated things, because Gemini is a lot of AI stuff.
Firstly, it’s Google’s free chatbot for your browser and smartphone, which means we now have a new dedicated Gemini Android app. This is now rolling out in the US and other regions “in the coming weeks”. Do you have an iPhone? It will also be available soon in the Google app on iOS.
Gemini effectively replaces Google Assistant on Android, but there’s more. Google also announced its most capable major language model yet, Gemini Ultra 1.0, which you can try now if you’re willing to pay. It’s part of the Google One AI Premium subscription, which costs $20/£18.99 per month (about AU$30 per month). It seems like the AI revolution has only just begun.
5. We reviewed the Apple Vision Pro
That’s right, we put the Apple Vision Pro through our tests and it came away impressed.
A pair of powerful processors, an unparalleled visual experience in virtual reality thanks to the dual 4K OLED displays and intuitive hand tracking controls make the machine fantastic. But what makes the Vision Pro magical is spatial video. If you can try it with the Vision Pro or via the Meta Quest 3 (if you have an iPhone), we highly recommend it.
However, not everything was perfect. Obviously the price is very high, but when it’s packed with high-quality hardware, that’s unfortunately to be expected. The battery pack was also a bit of a nuisance – we wish it was built into the headset – and it was also quite heavy to carry (even with the battery removed).
4. We said goodbye to the clutter of Windows PCs
A powerful system cleaning tool created by Microsoft itself, PC Cleaner is now available for free download from the Microsoft Store, making it easily accessible to Windows 10 and Windows 11 users. This tool is similar to existing system cleaners such as CCleaner and aims to improve PC performance and security by removing unnecessary and potentially harmful file junk from system folders.
PC Cleaner comes with a range of features such as PC Boost, Deep Cleanup, Process Management, Large File Management and more. Microsoft assures users that it has worked to prevent the deletion of essential system files, and that it is a malware-free tool that includes tools typically offered in other apps at a premium.
3. Our MCU hype came true
It’s been a busy week for Disney – and that includes its largest subsidiary, Marvel. Not only has the comic book giant introduced three new MCU timelines on Disney Plus, it’s also given us plenty to get excited about Deadpool 3 And Daredevil: Born Again.
On the Deadpool front, revealed Marvel President Kevin Feige Deadpool 3‘s official logo in the only way he knows how (aka through a baseball cap). We’re also expecting to get a first trailer for the only Marvel movie of 2024 during Sunday’s Super Bowl – and from what we’ve heard, you won’t want to miss it.
As regards Daredevilfragments of Reborn Images have been leaking online all week, and in one of those scenes, MCU fans fear for the fate of a loved one Daredevil character. To that we say, don’t even think about killing them in the Disney Plus series, Marvel.
2. Affordable binoculars promised 4K color night vision
Yashica’s latest Kickstarter project strays from its analog roots; Yashica night vision binoculars. With a sensitivity of 0.0037 lux, 850 nm 3-level IR (infrared) illumination and an f/1.0 aperture lens, the new binoculars for night explorers can display a color image in complete darkness, delivering 4K video and 58 MP photos are recorded, with a clear display up to 600m.
They’re not new per se, the Sigweis night vision goggles have a similar weatherproof design and a 4-inch TFT screen, but Yashica promises improved performance by using AI that improves image quality and upscales the HD image to 4K.
The crowdfunded gear is currently in the production stages, close to production and available for an ominously low price – could they be too good to be true? Hopefully we won’t have to wait long to find out.
1. The Discman came back… sort of
In the span of a month, people who miss the pre-iPod days of playing music on the go have two beautiful new releases.
After affordable, high-quality audio brand Fiio announced a beautiful new cassette player, we now have a new portable CD player called the DiscDream, created in part by an engineer on Sony’s original Discman. The new player features much better technology than older portable CD players, and is aimed specifically at audiophiles, with an imposing square design and a matching metal finish.
If you don’t want to lug around your entire CD collection to change albums, it also has an SD card slot and can play a variety of hi-res music files.