Apple's Next Big Thing(s) Revealed

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What’s up, Tech Squad? While the world debates whether AI will take over our jobs or just our playlists, we’ve got the latest tech scoop to keep you ahead of the curve. Let’s jump in.

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MacBook Air M4: The New Default Laptop

Most people buy a MacBook Air for its portability - not raw power. But with the M4 chip, Apple may have just blurred the line between Air and Pro.

With significant speed gains, dual external display support, and a better 12MP Center Stage camera, this is the laptop I’ll be recommending to most people.

What’s New?

• M4 Chip Performance: Up to 2× faster than the M1 Air, 23× faster than the last Intel MacBook Air.

• Battery Life: Still delivers 18 hours on a charge despite the power boost.

• Dual External Display Support: Finally, you can run two external monitors without closing the laptop—a first for MacBook Air.

• 12MP Center Stage Camera: Sharper video calls, AI-powered framing, and Desk View for overhead shots.

• Sky Blue Color: Subtle in low light but pops under bright conditions.

Should You Upgrade?

• If you have an M1 or Intel MacBook Air, this is a huge upgrade.

• If you have an M2 or M3 Air, the changes are less dramatic—maybe hold out for the next big leap.

• If you need ultra-powerful performance for high-end 3D rendering or massive software builds, get a Pro instead.

Bottom line? For most people, the MacBook Air M4 is now the default MacBook to buy - especially now that Apple dropped the starting price to just $999.

Apple’s Next Big Thing Revealed

Mark Gurman appears on our podcast, Geared Up, to talk about the upcoming iPhone Ultra, iPhone 18 Pro, what’s going on with the Apple Intelligence delays, and more.

Microsoft’s Xbox Handheld: Hype or Reality?

If you’ve been dreaming of an Xbox handheld, don’t go clearing space in your backpack just yet. Despite the flurry of headlines, Microsoft isn’t launching a Steam Deck rival tomorrow—but the groundwork is being laid.

According to reports, Microsoft is working with Asus on a handheld codenamed Project Kennan as part of a broader effort to unify Windows and Xbox gaming. The device would run Windows but sport an Xbox-like interface, likely tied to Project Bayside, which aims to create a unified Xbox UI across multiple devices.

What we know so far:

• Project Kennan: An Xbox-branded handheld developed in partnership with Asus.

• Project Bayside: A new UI framework designed to merge the Xbox and Windows experience.

• Game compatibility: Microsoft wants a universal library of Xbox and PC games.

• SteamOS threat: Valve’s growing influence in handheld gaming has pushed Microsoft to act.

Why does this matter? Microsoft is trying to fight off SteamOS, which has been gaining traction with handheld makers. If Microsoft can make playing Xbox games on handheld PCs seamless, it could reshape how and where we play.

For now, though, all eyes are on Microsoft’s next move. Will we finally get a true Xbox portable, or will this be another ambitious experiment? Stay tuned.

Apple’s M3 iPad Air: Worth the Upgrade?

Apple just refreshed the iPad Air after only 293 days, making the M2 model one of the shortest-lived iPads ever. So, was this an unnecessary rush, or is there something genuinely exciting here?

The only major change is the M3 chip, but don’t let that fool you - it’s a pretty significant leap.

What’s new?

• M3 performance boost: 35% faster CPU, 40% faster GPU, and a 60% faster Neural Engine compared to the M1 iPad Air.

• First-time graphics features: Dynamic Caching, hardware-accelerated mesh shading, and ray tracing on an iPad.

• Benchmark results: The M3 Air scores 18% higher than last year’s M2 model in Geekbench tests.

• Still two sizes: 11-inch for portability, 13-inch for a laptop-like experience.

Accessories & Pricing

• Apple Pencil Pro: Adds a squeeze gesture, haptic feedback, and improved precision.

• Magic Keyboard: Now has a larger trackpad and function row but still costs a hefty $269+.

• Same price as before: Starts at $599 (11-inch) and $799 (13-inch).

Should You Buy It?

If you have an M2 iPad Air, you can skip this one. But if your iPad is older (especially if it still has a home button), this is the best value iPad you can get. You can pick one up now!

Sonos Scraps Its Video Streaming Device

Sonos was deep into developing a video streaming player - codenamed Pinewood - but has now pulled the plug before launch. Interim CEO Tom Conrad announced the decision in an all-hands call, signaling a shift in focus as the company tries to recover from a rough 2024.

What this means for Sonos:

• No big product launch for late 2025, as Pinewood was expected to be the next major release.

• The development team will shift to other projects, though Sonos hasn’t shared what’s next.

• Concerns internally that Pinewood could have flopped—similar to how the Sonos Ace headphones struggled in a crowded market.

Sonos’ last major releases were the Arc Ultra soundbar and Sub 4 in late 2024, so it’s unclear when we’ll see their next big thing. Could Sonos be retreating to focus solely on audio? Stay tuned.

QUICK BITS

Stat: $2.7 trillion—that’s the staggering amount wiped off the market value of the ‘Magnificent Seven’ tech giants (Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, Meta, Nvidia, and Tesla) in just 50 days, amid turbulent US markets. - The Times

Quote: “Workers with AI skills are in high demand, and companies are struggling to source talent.” - Fortune

Read: “Everything we know about Switch 2, Nintendo’s next-gen console” - Polygon

Get excited: Firefly Aerospace becomes the first commercial company to successfully land on the Moon with no technical issues, with its Blue Ghost Mission 1.