Google I/O starts next week to launch a new era with Android (getting ready for some bigger AI, XR and Android 16 News), but before then we still have plenty of technical news to cover from the last seven days.
Samsung launched an ultra-thin phone, DJI gave us a best in class drone, and the boombox returned. To catch up with all that and more, roll down to watch the seven biggest tech stories of the week.
Once you are caught, be sure to check out our choices for the seven new movies and TV shows to watch this weekend (May 16).
We touched at Galaxy’s Edge
Look at
After months of teasers, we finally went practically with the Galaxy S25 Edge, and as our practical review calls it, the Samsung phone for people who love to hate Samsung phones.
As US mobile editor Philip Berne wrote: “The Galaxy S25 Edge is the solution to a very simple formula. Take a Galaxy S25 Plus. Shave 1.5mm from the thickness of removing the Zoom camera and shrinking the battery. Add a 200MP camera sensor. Pack it in Titan. Voila: Galaxy S25 Edge!”
Thinness and ease are something you need to experience for yourself. The design has already won several of our authors and our social media editor who think it not only looks great but feels good in your hand.
DJI Mavic 4 Pro took flight
We have tested the latest DJI drone and it has certainly impressed with fantastic flying, speed and power, making it down to the best Mavic drone to date.
That’s why our DJI Mavic 4 Pro Review awarded it all 5 stars.
The camera can be tilted in almost any direction, making it super versatile, it boasts a fantastic triple lens setup, and the larger battery means you can fly it for a longer period between charges, which means it offers an unmatched degree of creative options for your next movie.
It’s not just a big DJI drone, it can simply be the best drone you can buy right now.
Garmin reveals a few new precursor watches
We expected a new Garmin forer to fall very soon, but Garmin has gone and surprised us with two new specialized running watches. The Garmin Forerunner 570 and the Garmin Forerunner 970 offer some new tools, such as a speaker and microphone (the better to take quick calls on Wrist while you exercise), a new evening report and Garmin’s brightest Amoled screens yet. 970 packs extra features like a titanium frame, some unique new measurements such as running tolerance and an ECG function. If that’s not enough, we also got a new heart rate monitor, the HRM 600, which can work with 970 to generate the advanced running measurements.
It’s all flashy, cool looking, but these devices are not cheap: 570 costs $ 549.99 / £ 459.99 / AU $ 999, while 970 watches in at $ 749.99 / £ 629.99 / AU $ 1,399. We look forward to testing, but our first instinct is that either would either be a good benefit increase for serious runners and owners, for example, the much older runs 945 – but those who own newer Garmin watches will probably not be tempted to upgrade.
The boombox is back
Don’t call it a comeback.
The new We are Rewind GB-001 is a Bona Fide Cassette Boombox complete with modern upgrades like Bluetooth 5.4, a 3,000 mAh battery perfect in 10 hours speaker playback and 104W power-more than our classic boombox has ever had.
It seems that everything you could ask for, frankly, perfectly combines the technology of the 2020s and 1980s into a package that we are very happy to try when we can. We know that it will be launched to the very reasonable £ 379 / € 449 (approximately $ 505 / AU $ 781), but for now no one has confirmed the release date.
Streaming had a big week
It’s been another busy week in the entertainment world. In fact, we have not only been treated with a new Superman trailer and the first official teaser of Marvel’s Ironheart TV show, but also a wealth of big messages at this year’s pre-based trade show.
And when we say big, we mean it. From the news that Max will be revived HBO Max once again in mid-2025, and a whole series of TV shows of Netflix, there has been plenty to read about over the past week.
Huge as these revelations are, however, we were most impressed with Disney’s advance 2025 presentation. If you missed them, you can catch up with the seven largest Disney+ and Hulu messages here. Believe us when we say you will do it too!
Google gave Android a makeover
At the forefront of Google I/O next week, Google hosted the Android show and offered us a glimpse of the interface changes coming with Android 16.
We did not see any new devices running the software (URGH!), But the new material 3 expressive guidelines require an extensive use of color, movement effects and a whole series of visual signals that feel directly targeted at 18-24 year olds: the most unstable iPhone fans.
In his official blog post, Google says “It’s time to move beyond ‘clean’ and ‘boring’ designs to create interfaces that connect people to an emotional level.”
We will have to see how this approach plays out when Android 16 starts rolling out later in the year.
Apple CarPlay Ultra finally hit the road
Apple’s next Gen CarPlay system was to land back in 2024, but after an extended software pit stop, it has finally arrived, if you own a new Aston Martin SUV, at least.
CarPlay Ultra is currently only available on the new Aston Martin DBX, but its debut has given us a taste of what comes to other cars (including those from Hyundai, Kia and more). And it’s a smooth, iPhone-style software experience that takes over your car’s entire infotainment system.
As with iOS, you can tailor CarPlay’s color schedules and backgrounds, but you can also fine -tune climate control, radio stations and heated seats, all from the same place. It’s time, but hopefully we don’t have to wait a year for it to get a wider roll -out.
