Author: alex

skate. — Early Access on September 16, 2025 After 15 years, the Skate series returns: skate. will enter early access on September 16, 2025. The early access build is free and will be available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC via Steam, the Epic Games Store and the EA App. Today's announcement included the release date, a first look at cover art and an official trailer (watch on the skate. YouTube channel or via short coverage pages like IGN). What to expect Open-world skateboarding set in San Vansterdam, made up of four distinct neighborhoods. Antagonist: corporate M-Corp — its grip on the city is failing as skaters take it back. Free-to-play live-service model with microtransactions; developers have stated there will be no pay-to-win mechanics.…

Apple to unveil iPhone 17 lineup on Sept 9, 2025 — iPhone 17 Air expected Apple has announced its fall 2025 event for September 9, 2025 at 1:00 PM ET (10:00 AM PT). The company will stream the keynote from Apple Park — tune in on Apple’s events page. What to expect: iPhone 17 Air: Rumored to be an ultra‑thin, ultra‑light iPhone (possibly 6.6" display) and positioned as a new lightweight option in the lineup. Full iPhone 17 lineup: A base iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and a larger iPhone 17 Pro Max are expected to accompany the Air model. Software: iOS 26 (and related OS updates) were previewed at WWDC and a public beta is available; Apple is expected to announce release timing and AI-powered features that pair with…

Apple confirms Sept 9 event — iPhone reveal expected Apple has officially invited the press to a presentation on September 9. That confirms weeks of speculation that the next iPhone generation will be unveiled on the second Tuesday of September. The event will be held as a combined media and marketing presentation and is expected to be livestreamed from 19:00 CEST (10:00 PT). What to expect Reveal of the next iPhone generation (widely reported as iPhone 17 series) Possible Apple Watch updates (Series 11, Ultra model) and other product refreshes Where to watch Apple typically streams its events on the Apple Newsroom and on its official YouTube channel. For background coverage and early reporting, see this write-up on Tom's Guide: Tom's Guide — iPhone event roundup. We will update with…

Apple M4 iMac (24") — Record-low $1,150 on Amazon The Apple M4 iMac 24-inch entry-level model is on sale on Amazon for a record-low price of $1,150. This configuration includes the M4 chip, 16GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. The deal applies across the available color options. Key specs M4 chip (8-core CPU, 8-core GPU) 24-inch Retina display 16GB RAM (base-level) 256GB SSD (entry model) Improved webcam for video calls Four Thunderbolt ports for external storage and peripherals Notes The 16GB RAM is solid for most tasks including video editing and music production, but the 256GB SSD may fill quickly. You can expand storage via external drives connected to the Thunderbolt ports. Colors are generally available across the sale. Price and availability can vary — some listings may require…

Google Translate Major Update: AI Live Translate & Language Practice (Beta) Google Translate received a significant update introducing AI-powered live translation and new language-learning tools aimed at improving conversational skills. Key features Live Translate (Gemini-powered): Real-time back-and-forth audio and on-screen translations inside the Translate app. The mode handles pauses, accents and intonation for more natural conversations and supports 70 languages. AI-driven language practice: Tailored listening and speaking sessions generated from short prompts (language, level, and learning motivation). Includes helpful hints and daily progress tracking—rolled out as a beta for English speakers learning Spanish and French, and Spanish/French/Portuguese speakers learning English. How to use In the Translate app (Android/iOS), tap Live Translate, select your languages, and start speaking. The app will display and speak translations in both languages in real time.…

AT&T to Acquire $23B in Spectrum Licenses from EchoStar AT&T has agreed to acquire approximately $23 billion worth of low-band and mid-band spectrum licenses from EchoStar — the parent company of Dish Network, Sling TV and Boost Mobile. The deal gives AT&T control of roughly 50MHz of spectrum across more than 400 U.S. markets. Key points Purchase price: ~ $23 billion. Spectrum: ~50MHz of low- and mid-band frequencies (used for 5G and LTE). Coverage: Licenses cover 400+ U.S. markets. Boost Mobile: Will operate primarily on AT&T’s network under an expanded long-term wholesale agreement; customers will maintain access to T-Mobile’s network during the transition. Regulatory context: The FCC has pressured EchoStar to use or divest spectrum to prevent warehousing; the transaction remains subject to regulatory approval. Timeline: Expected to close in…

Apple reportedly eyed acquisitions of Mistral AI and PerplexityAccording to a report in The Information (summarized by MacRumors), Apple internally discussed acquiring French AI startup Mistral AI and US company Perplexity to bolster its artificial intelligence capabilities. The discussions were internal and no acquisition has been announced.Key pointsApple explored buying Mistral AI and Perplexity as a way to accelerate its AI development.The talks appear to have been exploratory; Apple is reportedly cautious about large deals and favors smaller acquisitions.No concrete steps or deals have been confirmed publicly.Why it mattersAn acquisition of Mistral, a leading French AI startup, would be a major European tech exit and could significantly advance Apple's AI roadmap. Perplexity, known for its AI search and chat capabilities, could also enhance Apple's services.Sources & further readingMacRumors summary of…

Baby Steps delayed to September 23 after Hollow Knight: Silksong surprise release date Publisher Devolver Digital and developers Bennett Foddy, Gabe Cuzzillo and Maxi Boch have delayed the walking simulator Baby Steps from September 8 to September 23. The move was made after Team Cherry announced Hollow Knight: Silksong would release on September 4 — a date that many indie teams wanted to avoid competing with. The delay was announced with a short humorous clip showing Baby Steps protagonist Nate attempting to climb a replica of Silksong's Hornet and falling into the dirt. In a press release, Devolver described Nate as "the wary, onesie-donned failson" who "stumbled" when trying to launch the week after Silksong's surprise release. Why the delay? Indie teams often shift release dates to avoid launching at…

Labor Day Tech Deals — Best Picks & Where to Buy Labor Day is a great time to grab back-to-school and end-of-summer tech discounts. Below are curated highlights and where to find them. (Affiliate Amazon search links include tag f1rede-20.) Top highlighted deals Apple MacBook Air (13-inch, M4) — $799 (approx). Thin, light, long battery life and the updated M4 chipset. Shop on Amazon: MacBook Air (M4) on Amazon Apple AirPods Pro 2 — $169 (approx). Strong ANC, Apple-centric features and comfy fit. Shop on Amazon: AirPods Pro 2 on Amazon Apple iPad (11-inch, A16) — $299 (approx). Solid performance and 128GB base storage. Shop on Amazon: iPad 11" (A16) on Amazon More notable deals Robot vacuums: Eufy 11S Max, Shark AI Ultra, Dyson 360 Vis Nav — big discounts…

Emulsio 5 for iOS — AI slow motion & video upscaling Belgian developer Creaceed has released Emulsio 5, a major update to its long-standing video enhancement app for iPhone, iPad and Mac. Known previously for stabilization, Emulsio 5 introduces generative‑AI features aimed at creators: artificial slow motion, video upscaling and faster frame‑rate conversion, plus improved stabilization and HDR support. Key features AI-powered artificial slow motion — create smooth slow‑motion up to around 10× using frame interpolation. Video upscaling — upscale footage (HD→4K+) with on‑device AI models. Frame-rate boosting — increase frame rates (example: 30 → 120 fps) for smoother motion. Advanced stabilization — multiframe inpainting and refined stabilization pipeline. HDR & Dolby Vision — full 10‑bit HDR and Dolby Vision support where available. Privacy-focused — AI processing runs on Apple…