Hasta La Gadget!

Twitter has rather tentatively announced it’ll bring an edit button to users, but not for a while. First, it’s being tested by the platform’s employees, then it will slowly roll out to paying customers who subscribe to Twitter Blue. After the better part of two decades, the addition of such a basic feature will likely baffle non-tweeters the world over. But Twitter’s regard has always been disproportionate to its reach, mostly because of the number of journalists who use (or used) it. That said, it doesn’t feel like the addition of an edit button will help supercharge signups on a platform that seems to have reached its natural ceiling a long time ago.

– Daniel Cooper

The biggest stories you might have missed

• You’ll soon be able to control your Philips Hue sync box from the main app

• LG’s MoodUP refrigerator comes with color-changing LED doors and a built-in speaker

• Withings has a new smart scale and Health+ fitness subscription platform

• Sennheiser unveils its latest, less expensive Ambeo soundbar

• NASA fixed the glitch that caused Voyager 1 to send jumbled data

• Ring’s latest device makes voice intercom systems smarter

• Lenovo’s IdeaPad 5i Chromebook features a 16-inch display and full-sized keyboard

• Clmbr’s new at-home smart climbing machine will offer live feedback and coaching in 2023

• Sony’s $1,000 Xperia 5 IV offers 4K 120p HDR on all three rear cameras

• HMD’s Nokia launches a smartphone subscription service with eco-friendly twists

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold hands-on: Big upgrades, inside and out

It’s bigger, faster and more practical, but still expensive.

Sam Rutherford / Engadget

Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 Fold broke new ground as the first laptop with a flexible OLED display, but that was the only really great thing about it. Thankfully, Lenovo is quick to learn from its mistakes, and the second-generation Fold is bigger, better and much more user friendly. Our Sam Rutherford got to spend some time with a pre-production version of the new device – and likes it a lot. He said the bigger display, better keyboard and beefier insides all add up to a machine that, while still eye-wateringly expensive, might actually justify some of that cost.

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The best educational toys for kids

Keep those young brains working hard.

Will Lipman Photography for Engadget

There’s no better way to give your kid the tools to succeed in our modern world than by teaching them the fundamentals of science, technology, engineering and math. (Well, there is, but you can’t order a billion-dollar trust fund and a luxury education for $9.99 on Amazon.) For our back-to-school guide, we collected a bunch of cool toys that will help your kids learn the basics of coding, design, engineering, electronics and everything in between. Plus, they’re just as fun for adults as kids.

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The next USB standard will double existing speeds even with an older cable

USB 4 (Version 2.0) will reach speeds of up to 80 Gbps.

The bunch of swell folks behind USB are gearing up to start talking about the updated version of its USB 4.0 standard. And the big news is that speeds are jumping from 40 Gbps all the way up to 80 Gbps over a USB-C type connector. Faster speeds are great and all, but what’s really exciting is that the new plans will also double performance on existing 40 Gbps USB-C passive cables, where compatible.

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EU proposes new rules to make phones and tablets last longer

It wants to reduce e-waste by making sure we can repair our phones.

VladTeodor via Getty Images

The European Union is on a mission to crack down on e-waste and has already mandated a common charger to reduce the current mess of cables and plugs. Now, the bloc is looking at rules to enforce minimum standards for phone and tablet repairability. One of the key proposals is to ensure users can replace the display, battery, SIM tray and back cover for at least five years after purchase. It won’t turn into anything real just yet, but it does show the bloc’s commitment to driving better environmental practices in the tech industry.

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SpaceX secures five more NASA astronaut missions as part of a $1.4 billion contract

Musk’s company can take advantage of Boeing’s stumbles.

NASA has awarded a further five astronaut missions to SpaceX as it secures launch capacity to keep the ISS crewed until 2030. That’s good for Elon Musk and his associates, and a further blow to Boeing, which is struggling to get its own crew capsule ready to fly. The deal takes the amount of cash NASA has handed to SpaceX up to nearly $5 billion, all the while Boeing scrambles to get its first crewed test flight of Starliner ready for 2023.

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Get ready for some major upgrades to the iPhone and Apple Watch lineup at Apple’s “Far Out” event next week. While last year’s iPhone 13 was a mostly marginal update (aside from fast ProMotion screens and Cinema Mode on the Pro models), the latest rumors suggest the iPhone 14 will be a considerable step forward. The iPhone 14 Pro may finally lose its notch! We could actually get higher resolution cameras! We’re also eager to see what, exactly, Apple means with its cryptic invite and star-laden imagery. Even if you’re not looking to upgrade, half the fun of these launch events is predicting what Apple has up its sleeves. So let’s speculate!

iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro

Once again, we’re expecting to see four iPhone models, but the line-up will likely look different than the last few years. Not too long after the iPhone 13 hit stores, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported that the iPhone 14 would be a “complete redesign,” which would mark the first major revision since the iPhone X landed in 2017. Additionally, Apple may be giving up on the iPhone Mini, a phone we’ve always wanted to love, but the short battery life has been a sticking point. Instead, Apple will reportedly unveil a 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Max or Plus, which will likely just have the same hardware as the standard iPhone 14.

9to5Mac

While that’s unfortunate news for fans of tiny devices, the trend among most consumers is towards larger screens. Apple can’t let Samsung have all the fun, after all. Similarly, Apple could be taking a cue from the Galaxy phone maker (and practically every other Android phone company) by introducing pin-hole front cameras on the iPhone 14 Pro models. While early leaks pointed to two separate cut-outs — a circular one for the camera alongside a pill-shaped hole for the FaceID sensor — MacRumors claims (with support from Gurman) they’ll show up as a single pill-shaped cut out unified by software. (See image above.) Additionally, 9to5Mac reports that Apple is using the space in the middle of the cut-out for its privacy notification dots, which appear when an app is using your camera or microphone. On existing iPhones, those dots are shoved above the cellular reception bars.

Apple appears to be saving most of its big updates for the Pro iPhones. For one, they could have always-on screens, according to 9to5Mac. That could work well with the revamped lock screens we’ve seen in iOS 16, which now have room for widgets and far more customization than before.

More controversially, though, is a report claiming that only the Pro models will receive Apple’s new A16 Bionic chip. The standard iPhone 14 models may stick with last year’s A15 (which is still plenty powerful). As a cost-saving measure, that makes sense, especially chips and other components still in short supply. But it marks the first time Apple has introduced a major performance gulf between its iPhone models. (It’s particularly surprising since Apple was also able to squeeze the A15 chip into the tiny iPhone 13 Mini.) Most consumers won’t know the difference, but having a more powerful chip would clearly be a big draw for Pro models.

David Imel for Engadget

Typically, Apple has used its camera technology as the big differentiator between the standard and Pro iPhones. That doesn’t appear to be changing. In addition to all of the upgrades above. According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple is planning to bump the Pro’s wide camera to 48-megapixels, a huge leap from the 12MP cameras the company has relied on for years. More recently, Kuo also claimed that the iPhone 14 Pro ultra-wide sensors will feature larger pixels with better low-light sensitivity. As for the base iPhone 14, it’s expected to get the six-element ultra-side camera from the iPhone 13 Pro.

And what are we to make of the “Far Out” text on Apple’s event invite? The ever-busy Kuo recently noted that Apple has completed testing on satellite connectivity for the iPhone 14, something that was also rumored to arrive ahead of the iPhone 13’s launch. Even though the hardware may be in place, Apple is reportedly still working on partner deals to unlock that connectivity. And while the idea of satellite support seemed wild last year, it makes more sense now that we’ve seen T-Mobile and SpaceX team up to offer emergency satellite support via StarLink. (Good news for iPhone 13 owners: Kuo claims those phones also have satellite hardware built-in.) Don’t expect to be FaceTiming via satellite, though, as the limited bandwidth will only leave room for short text messages and voice calls.

Apple Watch Series 8 and Apple Watch Pro

Much like the iPhone, all eyes will likely be on a “Pro” Apple Watch next week. Bloomberg’s Gurman reported in July that the new model could sport a larger 2-inch screen, more durable titanium case and battery life for up to two days, thanks to a new “low power” mode. If all that ends up being true, the Apple Watch Pro would also be significantly larger than the current Series 7 model. Given all of its new hardware, Gurman claims it’ll be the biggest redesign of the Apple Watch since the Series 4 landed in 2017. Don’t get your hopes up for a round design, though, it sounds like Apple is just evolving its current rectangular style.

The Apple Watch Pro is also rumored to include the new temperature sensor that’s rumored for the Watch Series 8. It could potentially alert you if you’re running a fever, and suggest that you see a doctor or use a dedicated thermometer for a more accurate reading. It could also be a useful resource for period and fertility tracking apps. Design-wise, the Series 8 isn’t expected to change much from last year’s models. It may end up running the same dual-core S7 chip as the Series 7, though some higher-end models could have an improved display.

MacRumors

AirPods Pro 2

Given that we’re nearing three years since the launch of the AirPods Pro, it’s high time Apple followed up with a sequel. Gurman last year initially claimed the AirPods Pro 2 could have a stem-less design, much like Google’s Pixel Buds, but a more recent report from MacRumors suggests that the AirPods Pro 2 won’t look much different than before. Instead, leaked renders point to a new case with speaker holes (which would help with alerts for the “Find My” app) and a slot for a strap. The latter would be an anomaly for Apple, but it could be useful for attaching an AirTag. (Better yet, just build that into the case Apple!)

As for sound quality, Kuo claimed earlier this year that the AirPods Pro 2 could include support for Apple’s Lossless Audio (ALAC), which could be a draw for audiophiles. (Let’s not get into the viability of actually hearing any differences on small earbuds, though.) Additionally, the new headphones may include an updated H1 chip, as well as driver improvements similar to the AirPods 3. But don’t hold your breath for any health tracking features, as Gurman recently noted that they won’t include heart-rate or body temperature sensors as earlier rumors suggested.

Nathan Ingraham/Engadget

iPad

Apple typically saves its biggest iPad news for its second fall event, but we wouldn’t be surprised to see some news about its entry-level model next week. The 10th-generation iPad is expected to include a USB-C port, bringing it in line with the rest of the family, and it could get a speed bump with the A14 Bionic chip. Don’t expect any major design changes, though, as the entry-level iPad doesn’t get much love from Apple these days. So be prepared to see thick bezels and a home button, once again. But on the plus side, it may finally get 5G support as well as a revamped front-facing camera, according to 9to5Mac.

Each September brings the annual Mineral Cup, a fierce competition to determine Twitter’s favorite mineral. This year’s contest is well underway, with kaolinite narrowly beating schorl in the first matchup.

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Mark Zuckerberg’s recruiting some help to inch his metaverse vision closer to reality.

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As if multipledocumentaries, podcasts and books weren’t enough to tell the tale of last year’s GameStop stock squeeze, a feature film about the saga is in the works. Seth Rogen (aka Donkey Kong), Pete Davidson, Sebastian Stan and Paul Dano will star in Dumb Money, which starts filming this month, according to Variety.

Craig Gillespie (Pam & Tommy, Cruella) will direct the film, which is based on the nonfiction book The Antisocial Network by Ben Mezrich. It will focus on the Redditors at the heart of the story. If you recall, a group of users banded together on the r/WallStreetBets subreddit to artificially send GameStop stock soaring. Hedge funds and short sellers felt the brunt of the squeeze, with at least one hedge fund closing shop as a result. The situation even caught the attention of Congress amid calls for stricter regulation of the stock market.