The MagicX 40 could arrive as early as April 2025 with a vertically-oriented touchscreen and physical controls. | Screenshot: YouTube
With Nintendo exhausting its supply of DS repair parts, fans of the dual-screen handheld may have another way to play when their original hardware finally dies. The MagicX Zero 40 is yet another handheld emulator but with a peculiar design incorporating a four-inch vertically-oriented 800×480 touchscreen display allowing emulated DS titles to be played like they are on Nintendo’s devices.
The Zero 40 is expected to be released sometime in April 2025 for around $75, according to Time Extension. MagicX isn’t as well known as companies like Anbernic that have been making handhelds for years, but the company debuted its first Android-powered gaming device, the Mini Zero 28, earlier this year, to favorable reviews.
The company is taking a similar approach with the Zero 40 as Nintendo did with its 2DS, and not just when it comes to skipping 3D. Although all of the folding devices in the DS lineup featured two separate displays, the 2DS used just a single panel that was made to look like two separate screens by the handheld’s plastic casing. That’s likely part of the reason the Zero 40 could launch as comparatively cheap as the 2DS.
The Zero 40 will be powered by an Allwinner A133P processor paired with 2GB of RAM and a 4,300mAh battery that MagicX says will be good for between five and seven hours of gameplay. Like the Mini Zero 28, the Zero 40 will run Android, although don’t expect the latest version of Google’s mobile OS as the company’s last device shipped with Android 10 a month ago. It will rely on the Drastic emulator for DS titles, which was made free last March for Android devices.
Aside from MagicX recently sharing a video demonstrating gameplay on the Zero 40, there haven’t been any hands-ons or reviews of the device, so its capabilities aren’t yet known. But the company says it should be able to emulate N64, PSP, and Dreamcast titles, in addition to DS games. It’s nowhere near as powerful as the clamshell Ayaneo Flip, but that DS alternative was priced close to $1,000. If it launches close to $75, the MagicX Zero 40 could fill a void with handheld emulators at a reasonable price.
A new home tab option in 1Password provides faster access to saved passwords based on your location. | Image: 1Password
1Password introduced a new feature today that will make it easier to find the login, password, or access code you’re looking for, based on where you’re using the app. It will now let you add a specific physical location to items, and they’ll automatically appear in the new Nearby section of the app’s home tab, depending on how close you are to that spot.
The password manager already makes it easy to quickly access frequently used or favorited passwords on the mobile app’s home tab without searching. But both of those sections can get cluttered if you have a long list of passwords you regularly access. The addition of location data will help ensure only the most relevant passwords are presented when opening the mobile app — like your health card at the doctor or travel documents at the airport — minimizing the need to scroll through a long list or remembering exactly how you named an item in order to find it through a search.
Locations can be added to new or existing items saved in 1Password either while at the specific location or by dropping a pin using a new map view that lets you search for a place while you’re elsewhere.
You can also limit the number of items that show up in the app’s home tab by range. You can only be presented with passwords associated to locations within 50 feet or up to 10 miles away — although that could negate the usefulness of the feature if you’re once again presented with an overly long list of items.
The app’s new map view also allows you to browse all the locations associated with passwords and other saved items in your account.
AgileBits, 1Password’s developer, says that “your location data is never stored, shared, or tracked,” and the 1Password app does its checks for nearby items locally so your current location never leaves your device. The company also added an additional layer of security around the loading of map data by giving users the option to turn off this feature entirely at any time.
Being able to specify locations for passwords is a feature originally introduced through 1Password labs, a section of the app where the company lets users try out and provide feedback on new and experimental features before they’re rolled out to all users. Experimental features are made available in the 1Password mobile and desktop apps in the labs tab under Settings, and users can turn unreleased features on or off at any time.
The consumer version of the Supersonic r will be available in two new color options — ceramic pink and jasper plum — and will sell for $569.99, the same price as the original, according to Yahoo. Dyson will also continue to offer a professional version of the hair dryer with a longer power cable and a new copper and violet color option coming in the summer.
Dyson originally launched its Supersonic hairdryer in 2016, and aside from new color options, it went largely unchanged until the Supersonic r debuted in 2024. Featuring a design that’s 30 percent smaller and 20 percent lighter than the original, the Supersonic r — so named because it looks like a lowercase letter r — offers better visibility and more flexibility in how it can be positioned and maneuvered.
The Supersonic r also features a smaller motor (spinning at 130,000RPM) squeezed into the handle of the hairdryer for improved weight distribution, and three disc-shaped heating elements designed to produce more even heat without cold spots. Its styling accessories attach to the hairdryer magnetically and are recognized through RFID which automatically switches the Supersonic r to specific heat and power settings, or whatever setting was last used with the attachment.
Mobile World Congress 2025 is well under way in Barcelona, Spain, and while there’s still one day left, the mobile-focused show has already delivered lots of new laptops, smartphones, concepts, and innovative accessories.
Some of the biggest announcements were made over the weekend, so we want to make sure you didn’t miss anything. Here are the best gadgets that have debuted at MWC 2025 so far, but there’s still more to come. You can catch up on all of our coverage of the show right here.
Undeterred by the failure of the Humane AI pin, the creators of the Newnal AI phone still believe AI has the potential to become a very useful virtual assistant. To ensure it’s tailored to your needs and life, the company says the phone trains an AI model on your personal information sourced from Meta, Google, as well as your medical records and financial data. There are definite privacy concerns, and all of that info is used to create an AI-powered assistant that looks and sounds like you’re occupying the top portion of the split-screen phone. If you don’t think bossing around an uncanny valley version of yourself is creepy, the phone is expected to launch on May 1st for $375. Fair warning: We have no idea if it actually works. Or how.
Many of the most innovative devices making their debut at MWC are concepts that could one day make their way into consumers’ hands. Samsung’s Display group demonstrated a few different prototypes including an asymmetrical Z Flip-style phone that folds in two places leaving the middle of its screen visible, and a larger folding display hidden inside a briefcase. Its most interesting concept was a Nintendo Switch-style handheld console with a hinge in the middle allowing it to fold in half for improved portability.
The ThinkBook Flip concept uses the same flexible OLED screen as Lenovo’s ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 that’s expected to arrive as early as June 2025 and start at $3,499. But instead of the screen extending out from beneath the laptop’s keyboard to increase screen real estate, on the ThinkBook Flip it’s static and designed to fold backwards. That will potentially allow the Flip to be used as a more traditional 13.1-inch laptop, as a 12.9-inch tablet, or as a laptop with an abnormally tall 18.1-inch display. The lack of a motorized mechanism could also make the ThinkBook Flip cheaper, if it ever sees the light of day.
Following the launch of the Xiaomi 15 Ultra in China, the company announced a UK and European launch for its latest flagship phone with pricing at around $1,600, although there’s no word on a US launch yet. Although some may find the 15 Ultra’s quadruple rear camera with an asymmetrical lens layout downright ugly, the phone features a new 4.3x periscope lens paired with a 200-megapixel 1/1.4-inch-type sensor with improved low-light performance that left us thoroughly impressed in our review.
Anyone who can remember fidgeting with the original iPod’s scroll wheel will appreciate a specific feature on the Nubia Focus 2 Ultra smartphone. Surrounding the camera bump on the back of the phone is a physical spinning dial – similar to the dials found on DSLR and mirrorless lenses – that can be used to adjust the camera’s zoom level or switch between a series of filter presets. There’s no word on whether the dial can be used with other smartphone apps, but using it as a tiny steering wheel would be a satisfying way to play racing games.
What if you didn’t have to worry about your laptop’s battery life as long as the sun was shining? That’s the idea behind Lenovo’s Yoga Solar PC concept featuring 84 solar cells integrated into the laptop’s lid. When positioned in direct sunlight for 20 minutes, the laptop’s solar panel will generate enough electricity for an hour of video playback. The company says it’s still evaluating power output in other lighting conditions, but the solar charging capabilities could still be a welcome fallback for times when a power outlet isn’t available.
Portability is a limiting factor when it comes to how good smartphone photography can get. To create a mobile device that offers photographic capabilities closer to what you can get from mirrorless cameras, Xiaomi is resurrecting an old Sony idea with magnetic lens attachments. The company’s Modular Optical System concept uses lenses that are actually self-contained cameras with sensors larger than what you’ll find in any smartphone. Captured images are processed by the phone the lens is attached to so they’re immediately available to share, and while a smartphone with a giant lens hanging off the back might be a little awkward to use, the temporary approach means the phone maintains its slim form factor the rest of the time.
Lenovo wasn’t the only company at MWC staring at the sun for inspiration. Chinese phone brand Infinix demonstrated a concept smartphone at the show with an integrated solar panel on the back. Using more efficient perovskite solar cells like companies such as Anker do, Infinix’s says its SolarEnergy-Reserving technology can charge a phone at up to 2W speeds in optimal lighting conditions, although leaving your smartphone in the sun for a few hours to charge isn’t going to help with overheating.
What sets the HMD Amped Buds apart from other wireless earbuds aren’t their ANC or IP54 splash-resistance. It’s their charging case featuring a 1,600mAh battery that can keep the buds running for an impressive 95 hours before the case needs a power top-off. But if you’ve got a smartphone that’s dying at an inopportune time, the Amped Buds’ charging case can also be used to reverse wireless charge for Qi2-compatible mobile devices. That’s not quite enough power to fully recharge a smartphone, but when these launch in April 2025 for around $206, it could be enough of a boost for a couple extra hours of use.
After a multitude of leaks and official teases from the company, Nothing officially announced its 3A and 3A Pro phones at MWC. Both feature 6.77-inch displays, Android 15, and Snapdragon 7S Gen 3 chipsets paired with 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage. The 3A Pro, which starts at $459, features a 3x periscope telephoto lens while the $379 3A’s zoom capabilities are limited to 2x. They’re both well-equipped midrange phones, but stand out with the introduction of a new feature Nothing calls Essential Space that uses AI to extract and store useful information from screenshots, voice memos, and photos.
Imagine a pair of wireless earbuds that don’t lose their connection when you wander too far away from your smartphone or computer. Xiaomi’s new Buds 5 Pro are the first earbuds to feature Qualcomm’s S7 Pro chip, first announced in October 2023, that can stream audio at a much higher bandwidth over Wi-Fi. Your wireless connection will remain strong as long as you’re within range of your Wi-Fi network, but the buds can fall back to a standard Bluetooth connection when Wi-Fi isn’t available. The Buds 5 Pro are available now for $240, but at launch are only compatible with the Xiaomi 15 and 15 Ultra smartphones.
The Galaxy S25 Edge that Samsung teased at its Unpacked event earlier this year already has some thin competition. Tecno’s Spark Slim concept measures in at 5.75mm thick with a 5,200mAh battery – larger than what’s included in the Galaxy S25 Ultra – while the Galaxy S25 Edge is rumored to be 6.4mm thick. We don’t yet know when the Galaxy S25 will launch, but it will probably be a lot sooner than this concept since Tecno hasn’t announced any plans to put the Spark Slim into production.
Can’t be bothered to unlock your phone and check a weather app to see what the temperature is? The Realme 14 Pro and 14 Pro Plus are available with a pearl white finish featuring thermochromic pigments that change from white to blue when exposed to temperatures below 61 degrees Fahrenheit. Not as accurate as a thermometer, but at least you’ll know if you need to grab a light jacket. The phones first launched in India in January, but are now coming to Europe with a price tag that starts at around $450.
The 3D fad may have passed, but Lenovo hasn’t entirely given up on it just yet. The company’s ThinkBook 3D laptop concept uses a combination of directional backlighting and user head tracking to simultaneously display both 2D and 3D content on screen without the need for any special glasses. Lenovo also created an accompanying AI ring concept that allows users to navigate and interact with 3D content using gesture-based spatial controls since trackpads and computer mice are limited to just two dimensions.
Update, March 5th: Added new announcements from the show.
Monopoly App Banking ditches the banker and replaces them with a mobile app that tracks cash and handles transactions. | Image: Hasbro
Hasbro announced a new version of Monopoly that simplifies gameplay by replacing cash and the banker with a mobile app that handles all of the game’s transactions. With Monopoly App Banking, a smartphone or tablet takes over the role of banker and keeps track of every player’s money and properties. It will make the game more accessible to younger players while also making it much harder to cheat, but it also means Monopoly is no longer an alternative to screen time.
Monopoly App Banking is expected to be available from most major retailers starting in August 2025 and will sell for $24.99. The accompanying mobile app is free, but players will have to provide their own mobile device.
The game board features a similar layout to traditional versions of Monopoly, but is updated with kid-friendly alternatives to the game’s iconic properties. Instead of Park Place and Boardwalk, the most valuable properties are now a rocket launch pad and the moon, while others include a chocolate factory, a VR roller coaster, and a dinosaur park.
Each player selects a token and a matching bank card that, along with property cards, are scanned and recognized by the mobile app to automate transactions such as purchasing title deeds or paying rent. That approach may not appeal to parents or teachers who use Monopoly as a covert way to help kids practice their math skills, but Hasbro says the new version will speed up what can often be a long game to play. In addition, the app includes mini games that can be played to earn perks, which could help hold the attention of younger players.
The Lenovo Yoga Solar PC concept will let you work while touching grass. | Photo: Antonio G. Di Benedetto
Lenovo has announced a new concept laptop at Mobile World Congress that encourages you to work outside by reducing your dependence on power cables. The Yoga Solar PC is an early proof of concept device featuring a solar panel integrated into the laptop’s lid. It can harness light from any source to boost its battery, but as with most solar-powered devices, you’ll get the most power while working outside on a clear, sunny day.
The Yoga Solar PC’s light-absorbing panel is made up of 84 solar cells featuring a Back Contact cell design. All of the panel’s mounting brackets and electrical contacts that collect and transfer the energy that’s generated are located behind the solar cells. The front of the panel is able to capture more light, allowing Lenovo to achieve a conversion rate – how much of the captured sunlight is converted to usable electricity – of more than 24 percent.
That’s more efficient than most of the silicone-based solar panels used in consumer electronics today, but a bit behind panels featuring an added layer of perovskite film on top that can boost light absorption and efficiencies to up to 43 percent. Even at 24 percent efficiency, Lenovo says the Yoga Solar PC’s panel “can absorb and convert enough solar energy from direct sunlight in 20 minutes to power up to one hour of video playback.” The company says it’s still evaluating how much power is produced in conditions with lower light.
Powered by an Intel Lunar Lake paired with 32GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, the Yoga Solar PC measures in at 15 millimeters thick and weighs around 2.29 pounds with its 14-inch OLED display. To help ensure users are able to best take advantage of the light available to them – whether indoors or outside – the laptop will also feature Lenovo’s Dynamic Solar Tracking system software showing how much current and voltage the solar panel is producing.
For existing Yoga laptop users wanting to reduce their battery anxiety while touching grass, Lenovo also revealed an external solar power kit concept. It’s a standalone solution that opens like a book to reveal a pair of side-by-side solar panels that can be attached to a backpack or stand on its own with a fold-out kickstand. It can connect and deliver power to a device with a USB-C cable, or the sun’s rays can be used to charge an included power bank that can power other devices later. But Lenovo hasn’t announced plans to put it into production yet.
Lenovo created the concept to “bridge the gap between functionality and environmental awareness,” giving users easy access to an alternative energy source. You’d need the weather to cooperate for a while to fully charge the Yoga Solar PC using its relatively small solar panel, but it could be a welcome fallback for when a power outlet is nowhere in reach.
You can show off your vinyl on the PP-1 which doesn’t have a visible tonearm or stylus. | Image: Waiting For Ideas
A Paris-based creative studio has announced a minimalist turntable with controls streamlined to just a play button and a volume knob. Waiting For Ideas’ PP-1 — short for Plug and Play — doesn’t even have a visible tonearm, and it’s made from a solid block of anodized aluminum requiring about 12 weeks of production time to manufacture. That makes it easier to understand why the PP-1 has a €5,800 (around $6,012) price tag.
Although companies like ELP of Japan sell turntables that swap needles and tonearms for laser pickups, the PP-1 does feature more traditional record player hardware. The studio worked with a company called Miniot that created a similarly minimal turntable lacking a visible tonearm. Waiting for Ideas adapted Miniot’s technology so that the PP-1’s inverted cartridge and stylus are hidden behind a closing door system and kept out of sight when there’s no record sitting on its platter.
There’s also no speed control dial on the PP-1. Miniot’s technology can automatically detect if a record needs to be played at 33 or 45 RPM, and constantly recalculates the speed of the motor to ensure optimal playback at all times.
It’s not only a striking piece of design, it’s also a high-quality turntable. But if you’re a vinyl enthusiast, you’ll need to remember to place your records upside down on the PP-1 to hear the tracks you want.
Power is supplied by a single 5V USB-C port, and the PP-1 features just a single 3.5-millimeter audio jack for connecting it to either active or passive speakers that require an additional amplifier.
If you’re looking for a complete sound system, Waiting For Ideas has also created a set of passive 85-decibel 80W speakers matching the dimensions of the PP-1. They’re now available for preorder for €3,200 (around $3,320) and will take 12 weeks to make. You’ll just need to budget for a separate amplifier because the studio unfortunately doesn’t make a matching one of those.
The Cricut Maker 4 and Explore 4 crafting machines in their new seashell and sage color options. | Image: Cricut
Cricut has announced new versions of its crafting machines designed to print, cut, and emboss various materials using a collection of swappable tools. The new Cricut Maker 4 and Cricut Explore 4 are the first updates to both machines in nearly four years and offer faster cutting speeds for some materials, improved accuracy, and cheaper price tags.
The machines will be available starting on February 28th, 2025. They’ll still start at $249.99 for the Cricut Explore 4, and at $399.99 for the Cricut Maker 4, and both will be available in sage and seashell color options. The four-year-old Cricut Explore 3 sells for $319, while the Maker 3 is $439, so the cheaper price tags for the 4-series line could help make the new machines more accessible to new users. Both models come with a bundle of crafting materials to complete 10 initial projects.
The Cricut Maker 4 and Explore 4 look nearly identical to their predecessors but are up to twice as fast when cutting through materials like cardstock and vinyl, Cricut says. The speed improvements won’t be quite as dramatic when using thicker materials, but the upgrade will still appeal to crafters who sell their creations on sites like Etsy and are looking to upgrade their output.
Cricut has also introduced a new optical sensor on both models that works alongside a light that better illuminates materials, according to CNET. The upgrade should help improve cutting accuracy, no matter what the lighting conditions are in your crafting room.
Although there are differences between both machines’ capabilities, they’re mostly dependent on the types of projects you’re looking to create. The pricier Cricut Maker 4 is designed to work with over 300 different types of materials, including thicker options like leather and balsa wood, and a wider variety of cutting and embossing tools. The cheaper Cricut Explore 4 is limited to around 100 different materials, including thinner stock like vinyl, card stock, and iron-ons.
While the new machines don’t require subscriptions, the company still offers a Cricut Access subscription for users who heavily rely on pre-made designs and projects available through its Design Space app. Cricut Access also expands the number of fonts and images available through the app and includes discounts on materials.
The DJI Dock 3 is small enough to fit a couple into the back of a pickup truck. | Image: DJI
DJI has announced the third iteration of its drone-in-a-box solution designed for missions like safely inspecting power lines and emergency response. As with previous versions, the DJI Dock 3 is small enough to be transported in the back of a pickup truck, but it’s the first that allows DJI’s new Matrice 4D and Matrice 4TD drones to be launched from a moving vehicle using an optional gimbal mount accessory.
Although the company hasn’t revealed how much that special mount for mobile launches will cost, the new DJI Dock 3 will be available in two bundles priced for enterprise customers with sizable budgets. It can be purchased with the DJI Matrice 4D drone for $21,059, or with the Matrice 4TD for $23,409. Those prices don’t include installation, deployment services, or optional hardware upgrades and software features.
The new dock carries forward several features from previous versions like a built-in weather station, antennas, surveillance cameras, and an internal backup battery. It still needs access to power and the internet, but can be upgraded with a cellular 4G dongle for remote deployment.
The DJI Dock 3 has an improved IP56 rating for dust and water-resistance and its operational temperature range has been expanded to as hot as 50 degrees Celsius, or as cold as -30 degrees Celsius — although DJI says preheating will be needed when temperatures are that cold.
It can communicate with drones on missions as far as 10 kilometers away, but that range can be extended to up to 25 kilometers for fixed deployments (such as on a highrise building) through the use of relays mounted at elevated locations. But that’s assuming your local jurisdiction allows drones to fly automated routes or be remotely operated at those distances. In the US, the FAA requires drone operators to obtain a Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) waiver for remote operation at extended distances.
The Dock 3 is designed to work with new IP55-rated water and dust-resistant versions of the DJI Matrice 4 Series of drones that launched earlier this year. The Matrice 4D and 4TD both feature ant-ice propeller blades, 47 minute flight times, and a combination of wide-angle, medium tele, and telephoto cameras. The Matrice 4TD has expanded night time capabilities with the addition of an infrared thermal camera and a near-infrared auxiliary light for added illumination.
Correction, February 28th: An earlier version of this article misstated the DJI Dock 3 was an autonomous solution. Automated flight routes need to be programmed by human operators.
Amazon’s Panos Panay on stage introducing Alexa Plus. | Photo: Chris Welch / The Verge
Amazon announced a new version of its smart assistant today. Alexa Plus comes with expanded capabilities, the company appeared to demonstrate, like finding concert tickets on your behalf or ordering an Uber to pick up someone at the airport. The upgraded smart assistant will also make it easier to have more natural conversations with it, but Amazon will be charging users for those new abilities for the first time.
Free early access to Alexa Plus will begin in late March 2025 in the United States for customers with eligible Echo Show devices. They’ll be notified through email and device notifications once access to Alexa Plus has been granted, but they will have to opt in to using it.
Subscriptions for Alexa Plus start at $19.99 per month once early access ends, but it’s free for Prime users. Given that Prime costs $14.99 per month, or $139 per year, it’s hard to imagine anyone opting to pay for Alexa Plus on its own. Many of the smart assistant’s new capabilities, such as jumping to the part of a movie where a specific song is playing, will also be dependent on services like Amazon Music and Amazon Prime Video. So to fully take advantage of Alexa Plus, a Prime membership almost seems mandatory.
There were no hardware announcements made at today’s Amazon event, but the company has confirmed that Alexa Plus will work on “almost every” Alexa device released so far, including the Alexa mobile app, as well as Fire TVs and tablets. However, the Echo Show 8, 10, 15, and 21, which all feature touchscreen interfaces, will be prioritized during early access. The company has also confirmed that certain older generation Echo devices, including the Echo Tap and first-generation versions of the Echo, Echo Dot, Echo Plus, Echo Spot, and Echo Show, won’t support Alexa Plus. Amazon’s Astro robot will also only be compatible with the original Alexa.
Update, February 26th: Added additional details on device compatibility and availability.
We still don’t know if Nintendo will switch to Hall effect joysticks for the Switch 2, but companies like GuliKit have already moved away from them in favor of TMR. The technology has already long been used in hard drives to boost storage capacities. For controllers, it allows for joysticks that draw less power, which can improve battery life while nearly eliminating the risk of joystick drift that plagued the Nintendo Switch and other modern controllers before magnetic Hall effect technology was adopted.
8BitDo is also bringing over the RGB Fire Ring lighting effects first introduced on its smaller-sized Ultimate C wired Xbox controller. As the branding implies, both joysticks feature a ring of color-changing LEDs around their base with several lighting modes that react to button presses (including the triggers) or the direction the joysticks are being pushed.
The Ultimate 2’s triggers still use Hall effect sensors for improved accuracy and reliability, but 8BitDo has introduced a switch that lets you swap their behavior between longer draw triggers ideal for racing games and short pull tactile triggers for quicker responses while playing first-person shooters. And like the budget-minded 8BitDo Ultimate 2c, the Ultimate 2 has an extra pair of customizable shoulder buttons on the back.
The controller connects to 8BitDo’s Ultimate Software V2, which is also available as a mobile app, allowing buttons to be remapped and the sensitivity of joysticks and triggers to be adjusted. The controller has support for motion controls for games that support it, and a charging dock is still included.
Connectivity options include Bluetooth, a wired USB-C connection, or a low-lag 2.4GHz wireless connection using an included USB-C dongle. But like the cheaper Ultimate 2C, 8BitDo has only made its new Ultimate 2 controller compatible with PCs running Windows 10 and later or Android devices running Android 9.0 and newer.
Versions of the new Ultimate 2 compatible with the Xbox, iOS, or Nintendo Switch (and presumably the Switch 2) haven’t been announced yet, but 8BitDo previously released additional versions of the original Ultimate controller with alternate compatibility.
Anker’s new USB-C to HDMI adapter cable helps ensure even power-hungry devices won’t die when connected to an external display. | Image: Anker
Anker has released a new HDMI to USB-C cable that allows you to connect a mobile device to an external display without draining its battery. The Anker Nano USB-C to HDMI Cable Adapter, now available through Amazon for $28.99, is Thunderbolt 5 compatible and includes a USB-C port on the HDMI connector so you can charge your device at up to 140W speeds using a power adapter.
USB-C to HDMI cables are common, but most don’t incorporate power delivery. That’s not an issue when using them with devices like laptops that have multiple USB-C ports, but devices like smartphones, tablets, and handheld consoles with a single USB-C port won’t be able to charge while connected to a display. You can also use USB-C HDMI hubs or an HDMI adapter like the one Apple sells for $69.99, but then you’ll need to supply your own HDMI cable.
Anker’s solution simplifies things, and while the version currently offered is only three feet long, a six foot version will eventually be introduced.
Companies like Ugreen already offer similar solutions that also support 4K displays at up 60Hz, but are limited to 100W of power delivery. If you need more than that, Anker’s got you covered.
Unfortunately, while Anker says there’s a long list of devices compatible with the cable, including iPads, iPhones, ThinkPads, Chromebooks, Google Pixels, Samsung Galaxy phones, and handhelds like the Steam Deck and Asus ROG Ally, it can’t serve as a portable docking solution for the Nintendo Switch. And because of the size of the HDMI connector on the end of the cable, it’s also not compatible with various monitors from Dell, LG, and Samsung because of where their HDMI ports are located.
New color options are available for Android Clicks users. | Image: Clicks
The BlackBerry might be dead, but one of its best ideas — a tiny thumb-friendly keyboard for phones — lives on in the Clicks keyboard case, which will soon be available for several Android devices.
Over 100,000 of the original Clicks keyboard cases have been sold around the world, the company says in a press release, but since launching in January 2024, it’s only been compatible with iPhone 14, 15, and 16 models. Starting in April, the cases will be available for several Motorola, Google Pixel, and Samsung Galaxy devices and will work with a new Android version of the Clicks Keyboard mobile app, allowing the keyboard’s functionality to be customized, including how the caps lock, return, and Clicks keys work.
Preorders for all of the Android Clicks keyboard cases start today through the company’s website, but availability varies by device. The Google Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro (not the XL) version, expected to ship at the end of April, will sell for $99 until March 21st and then increase in price to $139. Color options include surge — described as a “high-vis yellow-green” — and black.
The Motorola Razr Plus (2024) and Razr (2024) version of the Clicks case, available in electric blue or black, can be preordered for $49 to lock in a price of $99. After March 21st, preorders will still be $49, but pricing for the case, which is expected to ship in late May, will jump to $139. It’s the same story for the Samsung Galaxy S25 version of the case, although it’s not expected to ship until June and will be available in red and black.
Some of the key labels are slightly different, but like the original iPhone version, the Android Clicks case still allows keyboard shortcuts to be used for launching apps or quickly navigating Android, including a dedicated key for accessing Google Gemini. It also features backlighting, and instead of a battery, it draws all the power it needs from each Android device’s USB-C port.
The physical design of the case is also similar, although the version for the Motorola Razr Plus and Razr (2024) is split into two halves, allowing both devices to still fold. Clicks is also adding a “strong magnetic array” to the two Pixel cases — a feature the company introduced with the iPhone 16 version to improve MagSafe compatibility — making it a bit easier to use wireless chargers with Google’s latest smartphones.
Can you drive an Hermès Birkin bag? | Image: Nik Bentel Studio
Looking for an accessory that can keep up with your busy lifestyle? Nik Bentel Studio has created a leather purse with a remote control car built into its base.
The battery-powered RC Car Bag is four wheel drive, and while its rubber tires can handle minor obstacles like discarded napkins and crumbs while zipping across a dining table, its tiny wheels mean it’s unfortunately not going to be much of an off-roader. Its creators claim the bag has a top speed of nine miles per hour, and it includes a stack of tiny orange pylons if you want to set up an obstacle course and test your driving skills after dinner while you wait for your server to bring the check.
The included pistol grip style controller has a range of about 30 feet, and while’s there room inside the purse to store the remote, it doesn’t look like it leaves space for much else. That could make the RC Car Bag’s $295 price tag a tough sell, but fashion doesn’t always have to be practical, does it?
A little more storage capacity would be a welcome upgrade, but adding Bluetooth compatibility and the option to control the RC Car Bag using a mobile app on a smartphone would also let you leave the cumbersome remote control at home on date night. The bag is also only available in black, but other color options, including something close to Ferrari’s iconic Rosso Corsa red, would potentially help broaden the appeal of the accessory to racing fans.
Although Nik Bentel Studio might not be the most recognizable name in fashion, it’s created a collection of fun tech-inspired accessories including slim wallets that look like real-life versions of Windows and macOS’ folder icons.
Panasonic’s new Lumix S1RII boosts the full-frame camera’s video capabilities to 8K. | Image: Panasonic
Panasonic has announced an upgrade version of 2019’s Lumix S1R with a new sensor, smaller body, faster autofocus, and video recording that tops out at 8K at 30 frames per second. Although the Lumix S1RII’s new 44.3-megapixel back-side illuminated CMOS sensor is smaller than the 47.3-megapixel sensor in its predecessor, its improved video capabilities, including capturing 5.8K Apple ProRes RAW HQ or ProRes RAW without an external recorder, will appeal to shooters looking for a highly capable hybrid camera.
The Panasonic Lumix S1RII is expected to be available in late March for $3,299.99.
Using a faster hybrid autofocus system that introduces phase-detect AF alongside the S1R’s contrast AF, the Lumix S1RII offers improved eye and face detection, along with better AI-powered tracking accuracy for moving human subjects. It can also automatically detect and focus on a wide variety of subjects, including animals, cars, motorcycles, bikes, trains, and airplanes.
The camera can capture full-resolution 12-bit RAW still images at up to 40 frames per second using its electronic shutter, or up to 10 frames per second (nine when capturing 14-bit RAW images) using its mechanical shutter’s “High Speed Plus” mode.
For photographers wanting more than 44.3-megapixels of resolution, the S1RII offers a handheld high-resolution mode that can capture still images at 177-megapixels by shifting the sensor half a pixel and capturing and merging multiple exposures.
In-body image stabilization improves to eight stops of shake reduction, or seven stops when using the S1RII with a telephoto lens that supports its own image stabilization. When capturing video, Panasonic says the camera features cropless electronic image stabilization with distortion correction that reduces “peripheral distortion while preserving the original angle of view.”
The Lumix S1RII includes a 5.76 million dot OLED viewfinder as well as a three-inch articulated 1.84 million dot touchscreen LCD display that flips out and rotates up and down for videographers. That screen is slightly smaller than what the original S1R featured, but then, the new S1RII is smaller and lighter than its predecessor — 1.75-pounds compared to 2.24 pounds.
Both SD USH II and CFexpress Type B card slots are included, but videos can also be captured to an external SSD drive using the camera’s 10Gbps USB-C port. The Lumix S1RII also features a full-sized HDMI port for connecting it to a larger display.
SpaceX believes it has determined why Starship exploded during its seventh test flight. | Image: SpaceX
SpaceX believes it knows what caused the explosion during the seventh test flight of its Starship spacecraft and Super Heavy booster on January 16th, 2025. Fires in the aft section of Starship, located between the bottom of its liquid oxygen tank and rear heat shield, caused “all but one of Starship’s engines to execute controlled shut down sequences” leading to a loss of communication and eventually the spacecraft’s safety system triggering its own destruction.
The goal of the seventh test flight was to test several upgrades SpaceX made to its heavy-lift rocket system. After a successful launch and completing a full duration burn, the Super Heavy booster separated from Starship and triggered a boostback burn designed to return it to the launch site. Following a landing burn, the Super Heavy booster was successfully caught mid-air by the launch tower at Starbase for the second time.
The mission didn’t go quite as well for Starship. Approximately two minutes after the spacecraft ignited its second stage Raptor engines following separation, a flash was observed in the aft section of Starship known as the attic, followed by sensors detecting a pressure rise from a leak. Two minutes after that, a second flash was observed, followed by sustained fires in the attic section that eventually “caused all but one of Starship’s engines to execute controlled shut down sequences and ultimately led to a loss of communication with the ship.”
Post-flight analysis indicated that Starship’s Autonomous Flight Safety System triggered a self-destruct approximately three minutes after the ground crew lost contact with the spacecraft. According to SpaceX, the most probable cause of the incident was vibrations that were much stronger during the flight than had been experienced during testing. That resulted in increased stress on the propulsion system’s hardware and, eventually, a propellant leak that “exceeded the venting capability of the ship’s attic area and resulted in sustained fires.”
The explosion created falling debris that looked more like a meteor shower over the islands of Turks and Caicos to several tourists who shared videos of the aftermath on social media. Although SpaceX says all the “debris came down within the pre-planned Debris Response Area,” the Federal Aviation Administration briefly slowed and diverted several flights in the area on January 16th as a result of the incident.
As part of the investigation into the explosion involving SpaceX, the FAA, NASA, the National Transportation Safety Board, and the U.S. Space Force, the company conducted a 60-second static test fire with the Starship that will be used on an upcoming eighth flight. Following the results of that test, SpaceX has made hardware changes to fuel feedlines as well as adjustments to propellant temperatures and operating thrust targets.
The company has also added additional vents and a “new purge system utilizing gaseous nitrogen” to the attic section of Starship designed to make that area more robust to propellant leakage.
SpaceX currently plans to launch an eighth test flight of Starship on February 28th, 2025, but is still “working with the FAA to either close the mishap investigation or receive a flight safety determination, along with working on a license authorization to enable its next flight of Starship.”
Google is planning to move away from sending six-digit authentication codes through SMS messages as a two-factor authentication tool for Gmail, Forbes reports. Instead, over the next few months, QR codes will be rolled out as a replacement for SMS codes in an attempt to “reduce the impact of rampant, global SMS abuse,” Gmail spokesperson Ross Richendrfer told Forbes.
Google uses SMS codes to both verify that it’s dealing with the same person who created or owns a Gmail account, and as a deterrent to prevent criminals from creating “thousands of Gmail accounts in order to distribute spam and malware,” Richendrfer says.
But while SMS codes are better than using no two-factor authentication at all, the approach comes with its own security risks. Criminals can trick or force users into sharing a code that’s been sent over SMS messaging, and users may not have immediate access to the device receiving the codes. It’s also dependent on each carrier’s own security practices, and how diligent their support teams are at preventing fraudsters from getting access to someone else’s mobile number.
The move will also help Google avoid a more recent scam called traffic pumping or toll fraud. “It’s where fraudsters try to get online service providers to originate large numbers of SMS messages to numbers they control, thereby getting paid every time one of these messages is delivered,” Richendrfer and Google’s Kimberly Samra explained to Forbes.
Once the change has been implemented, instead of verifying phone numbers by sending a six-digit code, a QR code will be presented that users can scan using the camera app on their smartphones. It will eliminate the risk of users being tricked into sharing codes since they no longer exist, and it takes security risks introduced by phone carriers, including unwanted SIM swapping, out of the equation entirely.
The Sigma BF features a minimalist design and controls simplified to four butttons and a dial. | Image: Sigma
Sigma has announced a new compact 24.6-megapixel full-frame camera called the BF with a clean, minimalist design featuring just four button controls and a dial. The BF’s body is milled from a single block of aluminum, its user interface has been redesigned with a “completely new information structure compared to conventional digital cameras,” according to a release from the company, and it trades a memory card slot for a built-in SSD.
The Sigma BF will be available in black or silver finished for $1,999 and is expected to ship sometime in April 2025. That pricing doesn’t include a lens. The BF is compatible with the L-Mount lens standard initially developed by Leica but now used by Panasonic and Sigma as well. Sigma will be updating its I Series collection of prime lenses with a new silver color option to match the BF.
The BF’s minimalist design is most apparent on the back of the camera. Next to a 3.2-inch touchscreen display that doesn’t feature any articulation are three touch controls featuring haptic feedback so they feel like you’re touching real buttons. Above them are a dial for navigating menus with an additional haptic button in the center, and a smaller status monitor screen that shows settings options so the camera’s main display doesn’t get overly cluttered with information. You’ll find the shutter button on top of the camera, next to a couple of small microphone holes.
The streamlined user-interface on the BF surrounds the live preview with shooting-related settings including shutter speed, aperture, ISO, and EV compensation. Secondary settings are hidden in an optional menu, while camera management functions are buried in a system menu.
As is becoming more common with digital cameras, Sigma has included 13 different color modes with the BF, allowing photographers to achieve a specific look in-camera without the need for post-processing. These include options like standard and rich, as well as more creative modes like forest green, sunset red, warm gold, cinema, and monochrome.
You won’t find a memory card slot on the Sigma BF, but a USB-C port for charging and transferring files is included. Inside is a 230GB SSD which the company says is enough to store 14,000 JPEGs or 4,300 uncompressed RAW files. The camera can also capture 6K video at up to 29.97 frames per second, and can store up to 2.5 hours of video at its highest quality setting.
At full resolution, the Sigma BF can capture images at up to eight frames per second and it relies on a hybrid autofocus system combining phase and contrast detection. Its AF system also uses what the company describes as “state of the art algorithms” to detect and quickly focus on specific subjects including people, dogs, and cats.
Earlier this week, the odds of the asteroid impacting Earth on December 22nd, 2032, were closer to 3.1 percent, which was “the highest impact probability NASA has ever recorded for an object of this size or larger,” according to the agency.
The latest trajectory estimates come from new observations made after a week of limited visibility caused by a full moon. Ground-based telescopes will continue to track 2024 YR4 until April when its distant orbit will make observations from Earth impossible until it approaches again in 2028. The James Webb Space Telescope’s infrared capabilities will be used in March and May to observe the asteroid’s movements. Data gathered by the space telescope will help scientists more accurately calculate 2024 YR4’s size, what it’s made of, and the threat it poses.
First identified on December 27th, 2024 by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) located in Chile, trajectory calculations showed 2024 YR4 was on a potential collision course with Earth after a few weeks of observation.
The asteroid is estimated to be between 130 and 300 feet in size and would impact the Earth with about 7.7 megatons of energy, according to Astronomy.com. That’s not powerful enough to wipe out humanity the same way an asteroid hit is believed to have done in the dinosaurs, but it’s more than enough energy to devastate a city with a direct hit.
Although the odds of the asteroid hitting the Earth have been dramatically reduced, NASA also says the new data has increased the chances of 2024 YR4 impacting the moon to one percent.
CNEOS’ Sentry page will be continuously updated with details on 2024 YR4’s latest impact probability.
An American Airlines plane on the tarmac at the Miami International Airport on February 19, 2025 in Miami, Florida. | Photo: Joe Raedle / Getty Images
American Airlines has announced support for Apple’s Share Item Location feature, potentially making it easier for passengers to be reunited with lost luggage tracked with an AirTag. The airline transported 226,405,000 passengers around the world last year, making it the busiest and one of the largest carriers in the US.
Share Item Location was first introduced as part of the iOS 18.2 update released last December. AirTag users are able to generate a shareable link within Apple’s Find My app on iPhones, iPads, or Macs allowing others to access an interactive map showing the location, or last known location, of a missing item.
The link will be deactivated when a lost item is recovered and the location sharing can be turned off at any time. The links also automatically expire after seven days.
“We’ve introduced the ability for customers to easily and securely share the location of their AirTag or Find My network accessory directly with the airline,” an American Airlines spokesperson told View from the Wing’s Gary Leff. “Customers can generate a link through Apple’s Share Item feature available on iOS 18.2 or later and share it with American in the rare case when a bag is delayed for any trips with a segment from or to a U.S. airport. Customers just need to scan the QR code at the baggage office to start their claim and provide their information.”
Airlines like United, Delta, and Air Canada integrated the Share Item Location feature into their lost luggage procedures soon after it was released. Additional carriers, including Lufthansa Group and Virgin Atlantic, announced support earlier this month.
