This week we hosted our very own Smart Home Week to celebrate the latest and greatest technology in the smart home sector and give you tips on how to use your gadgets more effectively.
We also saw the arrival of some fantastic new Bluetooth speakers, a Surface Pro that finally surpasses the iPad Pro, and a number of events announced, from Prime Day to the launch of the Pixel 9.
So, in case you missed it, here are the seven biggest tech news stories from the last seven days.
7. We organized Smart Home Week 2024
We’ve launched our new Smart Home Week for 2024, bringing you the best tips and tricks for setting up and making the most of your smart home. This includes guides on setting up and using Alexa sound detection and our thoughts on new products like this Bird Buddy smart bird feeder.
We also asked experts for insight into how safe smart home security cameras really are and challenged Google and Apple to come up with new hardware before Amazon takes even more of a lead in the race to dominate the smart home market.
6. We reviewed the Surface Pro 11 – and named it the best Surface ever
Thanks to “fast performance, great battery life, improved compatibility, and new AI apps that just keep getting better,” we’ve already called the new Microsoft Surface Pro 11 the best Surface ever.
Starting at $999.99 / £1,049.99 / AU$1,899.99, this tablet isn’t just any tablet; it’s a full-fledged machine with Windows 11 OS, a 10-core Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus chip, a 2.8K LCD screen, 16 GB RAM and 256 GB SSD. However, you can upgrade to a model with a 12-core Snapdragon
This is the first real competition the iPad Pro has ever had, and as we say in our review, “Apple should definitely be concerned.”
5. Prime Day 2024 dates announced
After Amazon accidentally leaked the dates for Prime Day 2024, the company has officially confirmed that Amazon Prime Day will take place on July 16 and 17 in the US and UK.
As part of the sale, Prime members can expect literally thousands of deals from a wide range of popular tech brands, including Sony, Samsung, Ninja, GHD, Fitbit, Oral-B, Bose, and Shark, to name a few.
If you’re not already a Prime member (and haven’t subscribed to Prime before), you can sign up for a free 30-day trial below. That way, you’ll be able to take advantage of some early deals, and be ready for the full sale when it goes live in a few weeks.
4. Google and Samsung set dates for their next phone launch events
Both Google and Samsung have announced the dates of their next tech events, with Galaxy Unpacked landing earlier on July 10, 2024, with the event starting at 9am ET / 6am PT / 2pm BST.
We expect the arrival of the new foldable phones, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6, a successor to the Galaxy Watch 6 (perhaps even a Galaxy Watch Ultra) and the long-awaited Galaxy Ring.
Google’s announcement is a bit more surprising, since instead of October, the Pixel phone launch event is now scheduled for Tuesday, August 13. We know this is also a Pixel phone event (rather than for other hardware) since a promo clip gives us a look at the Pixel 9 Pro and is called “AI… meets IX” – IX being nine in Roman numerals.
3. Ultimate Ears and Beats gave us bombastic new speakers
As we enter the warmer summer months (at least here in Britain, where this writer is based), that means one thing: outdoor parties. Whether on the beach, by the pool, in the garden or in a park, there is nothing better than soaking up the sun’s rays and enjoying a barbecue outside. And if you want to entertain everyone with music, there are two new contenders on the scene.
The new Beats Pill has landed, and while it looks similar to the last-gen model, its makers are promising big things. It’s apparently louder, features IP67 dust and water resistance, has Bluetooth 5.3, supports USB-C for both audio passthrough and charging, and costs just $149.99 / £149.99 / AU$249.95.
And then there is the new Everboom from Ultimate Ears. This 360 speaker can go really loud and still deliver a solid sonic performance with only some distortion at its maximum volume of 89 decibels. At a more moderate loudness (which is what you’re listening to anyway) it sounds fantastic. Plus, it features IP67 dust and water resistance and floats, making it perfect for any gathering where it can take a dip.
2. Leaks showed us an awesome Superman movie character
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No! It’s a couple of new big updates about James Gunn’s Superman movie. The upcoming DC film is currently filming on the streets of Cleveland, Ohio – and as many of us expected, some major leaks have surfaced as filming for the DCU Chapter One movie continues apace.
And when we say big, we mean big. Not just a new Superman movie leak reveals a new look at the Man of Steel’s costume, but it gave us our very first look at one of his fellow heroes in Mr. Terrific. A few days later, the same character met Clark Ken’s most loyal friend in a Superman movie video leaks too. Let’s hope some surprises are being saved for the Kryptonian’s return to the big screen.
1. The UploadVR Summer Showcase 2024 offered VR gaming goodness
Meta may not have held a Quest Gaming Showcase this year, but the 2024 Quest Gaming Showcase UplaodVR Summer Showcase introduced us to games and apps coming to the best VR headsets in the coming months.
The hour-long event had a lot to offer, but for us some of the highlights included Lovesick – a punk-themed VR escape room; Pencil! – an art teacher and mixed reality tool; and Cold VR – a reverse Superhot where time speeds up as you slow down.