Month: September 2024
Creature Commandos: HBO Max release date, trailer, confirmed cast, plot synopsis, and more
Here’s what we know about Creature Commandos, the first entry in the rebooted DC Cinematic Universe.
– Arrives on Max in early December
– UK and Australian release dates and streaming platforms yet to be determined
– Will comprise seven episodes
– Will be the first project in James Gunn and Peter Safran’s new-look DC Cinematic Universe
– Main voice cast revealed
– Plot synopsis unveiled and other story aspects teased
– Will set up story threads for future DCU movies and shows
Creature Commandos is set to usher in a new era of live-action and animated DC Comics projects. With the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) making way for the rebooted DC Cinematic Universe (DCU), Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) will hope its superhero-led cinematic franchise can finally give Marvel a run for its money.
James Gunn and Peter Safran’s new-look multimedia franchise may well do that, too, with numerous DCU Chapter One movies and shows piquing the interest of established DC fans and newcomers alike. Among that contingent is Creature Commandos, an adult animated series aiming to get the DCU off to the best possible start.
In this guide, you’ll learn more about the forthcoming Max series, including its release date, confirmed cast, plot details, first footage, and how it may impact future DCU productions. Potential spoilers follow for Creature Commandos, so proceed at your own risk.
Creature Commandos release date
Creature Commandos will debut on Thursday, December 5. Its release date was announced in early September and, with the animated show arriving just before Christmas, Creature Commandos will go up against two big Disney Plus series in the festive season fight for viewers’ attention.
Unfortunately for UK and Australian audiences, the project’s Max launch date has only been confirmed so far, so we don’t know when or where it’ll be available to stream on British and Australian shores. It’s likely, though, that it’ll air on Sky/Now TV in the UK and Binge in Australia. Once its release dates and platforms are officially locked in for these regions, we’ll update this section.
Creature Commandos trailer
Creature Commandos‘ first teaser arrived in August. While it didn’t reveal too much about the overarching plot, it gave a tantalizing glimpse into the dynamics at play between its roster of superpowered misfits and the series’ hyper-stylized animation style.
We’ll likely get another trailer in the near future, too. A Creature Commandos panel will be held at New York Comic-Con on October 19, so we’d be amazed if we aren’t treated to some new footage as part of this presentation.
Creature Commandos confirmed cast
Who’s who in Creature Commandos? (Image credit: Max)
Here’s the confirmed cast for Creature Commandos so far:
Frank Grillo as Rick Flag Sr.David Harbour as Eric FrankensteinIndira Varma as The BrideAlan Tudyk as Doctor PhosphorusSean Gunn as G.I. Robot and WeaselZoe Chao as Nina MazurskyAnya Chalotra as CirceMaria Bakalova as Princess Ilana RostovicViola Davis as Amanda WallerSteve Agee as John Economos
The anthropomorphic Weasel’s brief appearance in 2021’s The Suicide Squad movie notwithstanding, none of the show’s superpowered characters have appeared in previous DC live-action or animated projects. So, who are they?
Rick Flag Sr. is the father of Rick Flag Jr., who showed up in The Suicide Squad. Essentially, Flag Sr. is hired by Amanda Waller to keep the eccentric group of monsters and supervillains in check. Like his son, Flag Sr. doesn’t possess superpowers, but his tactical know-how and leadership qualities make him the ideal candidate to be this group’s commander-in-chief. Joining Flag Sr. and Waller on the human front is John Economos, who readers might recognize from The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker season 1.
Unsurprisingly, Frankenstein and The Bride are DC’s take on the iconic horror couple. Considering Frankenstein is DC’s answer to Bruce Banner/The Hulk – the mild-mannered but incredibly clever scientist who transforms into a green, monstrous entity when his anger gets the better of him – we expect Frankenstein to be a similarly super-strong and immortal being.
As for The Bride, the first trailer suggests she may be a skilled magic wielder, with Frankenstein’s estranged wife turning a hail of bullets into a kaleidoscope of butterflies. She’s also immortal and may possess other superhuman qualities. One key difference from her comic book counterpart is that this iteration of The Bride will have two arms rather than four. Responding to a fan on Threads (thanks to Reddit for the screenshot), Gunn also implied The Bride is “the lead character, in a lot of ways”, so it sounds like she’ll get plenty of screen time.
Expect Creature Commandos‘ gang of misfits to relate to, and clash with, one another. (Image credit: Max)
Doctor Phosphorus is a villain/anti-hero who can manipulate radiation and temperature levels. Judging by the show’s first footage, he can use his thermonuclear abilities to temporarily fly, leap high into the air, and fire radioactive blasts at his foes. Meanwhile, Mazursky is an amphibious scientist who’s more at home in the lab than out in the field. Indeed, outside of some basic hand-to-hand combat training, she’s not action-oriented. Expect her to be the brains of the operation who uses her intellect to get the group out of sticky situations.
Elsewhere, G.I. Robot is a military android created to hunt down German soldiers during World War II. His mechanical exterior means he’s bulletproof, but he also possesses superhuman strength and carries a middle handgun/machine gun extension in his right hand and forearm. Originally a Wonder Woman foe, Circe is a master sorceress who’s basically DC’s female answer to Marvel’s Doctor Strange.
Rounding out the cast is Princess Ilana, an original character created for the series that the titular group, also known as Task Force M, is reportedly sent after for reasons unknown. It’s unclear what powers, if any, she’ll possess.
Creature Commandos plot synopsis and rumors
What role will Doctor Phosphorus (pictured) and the rest of the Creature Commandos play in the show? (Image credit: Max/DC Studios)
Potential spoilers follow for Creature Commandos.
Here’s the official, albeit brief, story synopsis, courtesy of a Max press release: “Creature Commandos tracks a secret team of incarcerated monsters recruited for missions deemed too dangerous for humans. When all else fails… they’re your last, worst option.”
Not a lot to go on, but we’ll learn more about the forthcoming show at New York Comic-Con. Before those details are revealed, DCU co-helmer James Gunn has been pretty open about what to expect from the R-rated series. The DC Studios’ co-head provided intel via his personal Threads and Instagram accounts, as well as in a recent Entertainment Weekly (EW) interview.
“Creature Commandos is kind of like Guardians [of the Galaxy] without the sentimentality,” Gunn told EW. “The Guardians are all really good characters at their heart, and that just isn’t necessarily the case with the creatures. [2025’s] Superman is the true start of everything, it’s a humongous epic. [But] this is a way for people to just take a little nibble and see what it tastes like. There are a ton of fun references to other DC stuff and a bunch of hints for things that are coming. So I think it’s just an extraordinarily fun way to start.”
Speaking to The Wrap, executive producer Dean Lorey also revealed that the show will be “the first expression of Gunn’s DC Universe”, before adding “We’re considering that canon, and I think it expresses his perspective, tonally, on where he wants the universe to go. I think they [viewers] will be really encouraged to see how completely it’s going to inform this new version of the DCU.”
Some character flashbacks will explain their backstories, such as G.I. Robot’s time in the US Army (Image credit: Max)
The DCU isn’t throwing out everything associated with the DCEU, though. As Gunn pointed out via a pre-recorded message at Annecy Film Festival 2024 (per The Hollywood Reporter (THR)), Task Force M’s journey begins “directly after Peacemaker season 1, which leaves Waller with her hands tied operationally, meaning she’s no longer able to get away with putting human lives on the line to carry out her clandestine, morally questionable missions. Instead, she recruits a ragtag band of misfits, not unlike The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker.”
Like those two DCEU projects – the latter is also part of the DCU, but more on the complexities of both cinematic franchises later – Creature Commandos will lean heavily into the hyperviolence and dark humor that are cornerstones of DC Comics. In conversation with CBR.com, Frank Grillo confirmed it’ll be a “hard R” series and that fans can expect “funny and filthy” moments to be dotted throughout.
And, don’t worry – despite Gunn’s assertions that Creature Commandos‘ story won’t be a sentimental affair, it’ll still be heart-wrenchingly relatable. Discussing Frankenstein and G.I. Robot in particular, Gunn told EW: “Frankenstein is this incredibly well-spoken intellectual but is still driven by his rage and his anger and his inability to really be a human being, and the inability for the one that he loves not loving him back. That’s what drives him.
“He [G.I. Robot] has got this very sad history from World War II,” Gunn added. “The only time I think he felt at home was with the soldiers he served with in DC’s alternate history of World War II, where metahumans were involved”. In short: expect the DCU’s opening salvo to tug at the heartstrings as much as Gunn’s other big- and small-screen ventures have.
How will Creature Commandos impact the DCU?
One of Creature Commandos‘ characters will feature in 2025’s Superman movie and Peacemaker season 2 (Image credit: DC Studios/Warner Bros. Pictures/James Gunn)
We’ve had no indication about how Creature Commandos‘ story will affect future DCU productions, but one thing is clear: characters from this series will appear in other Chapter One movies and TV shows.
Discussing how the revised cinematic franchise will be more interconnected than its predecessor was during a DCU Chapter One line-up announcement in January 2023, Gunn said the DCU’s various projects would “work within one story” before adding that characters will cross over into other films and shows – be that live-action and/or animated ones – as Chapter One progresses.
We already know that one individual will appear in the next two DCU productions, too. Frank Grillo’s Rick Flag Sr. will appear in Gunn’s Superman movie, which flies into theaters in July 2025, before showing up in Peacemaker season 2 later that year. In our view, Flag Sr.’s appearance in Peacemaker 2 will make it harder to discern between events in the DCU and DCEU, but that’s an argument for another time.
As for who else might cameo in greenlit projects, such as Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow and Lanterns, that’s ‘TBC’. Speaking to Collider, Alan Tudyk revealed he was open to playing Doctor Phosphorus again, but had no idea where he might pop up next. Keep your eyes peeled for more details as and when we have them.
For more DC Comics-based coverage, read our guides on how to watch the DC movies in order and the best Batman movies. Alternatively, see which DC films made it onto our best superhero movies list.
Engadget review recap: iPhones, AirPods, Pixel Buds and an early look at the PlayStation 5 Pro
I don’t know how many more times I can say what an intense two weeks it’s been since the last time I posted an Engadget review recap without sounding repetitive. Ever since we launched the first of these roundups last month, companies have relentlessly launched new hardware each week, contributing to a growing pile of products for our team to review. With all these announcements overlapping, it can be easy to miss a review that, say, was published at the start of the iPhone 16 event or another that went up at the same time as Meta’s Connect keynote this week.
That’s why I write these — it’s a good opportunity to catch up on reviews that we recently published and revisit some of the products now that we’ve had more time to spend with them. And looking at my list of items for this edition, there’s plenty to go over. From Apple’s iPhone 16 series, AirPods 4 and Google’s Pixel Buds Pro 2 to the PlayStation 5 Pro and some games and software, here’s a recap of things we’ve been testing lately.
Apple AirPods 4 with ANC review
by Billy Steele
Just a few days after Apple unveiled the AirPods 4, Billy had to file his draft for the review, which was slated to go up on Monday. Thankfully, these were a fairly straightforward update, with evaluating the new active noise cancellation (ANC) feature being the main task. Of course, Billy went further than that, gauging how much the device’s H2 chip and refined design impact the AirPods’ performance. He also went many extra miles, delivering report after report on topics like how the new hearing aid and hearing test features for the AirPods Pro work and a deep dive on how Apple designed ANC for an open-ear headset. Just head on over to Billy’s author page for a full list of the many articles he’s dutifully written up on the AirPods (and more).
Apple Watch Series 10 review
by Cherlynn Low
Words alone can’t express how grateful I am that Apple didn’t end up releasing three new models of the Apple Watch like was previously rumored. Considering the review of the Apple Watch Series 10 was published just one week and a day after the launch event in Cupertino, having to test more than one smartwatch was going to be a challenge. Heck, even reviewing a single new smartwatch was tricky, considering the other reviews we were preparing at the same time. That’s why when we first published our review on Tuesday, we did not feel ready to present a formal score, instead sharing just our evaluation of the Apple Watch Series 10 up till that point. We eventually updated our review after spending a few more days getting to know the watch better, adding a score and more findings later that week.
Here’s the summary. Though you might expect a lot more fanfare and features for the tenth Apple Watch simply because it’s the tenth generation model, there’s not a lot that’s changed. And the company arguably didn’t need to do much, since the Apple Watch is a fairly mature device. What it did manage to deliver — a bigger display in a thinner body — is impressive, and the Series 10 continues to deliver the best smartwatch experience that any iPhone owner can get.
Of course, there are questions around the blood oxygen detection feature that remains the subject of litigation between Apple and Masimo. But whether that (or the new sleep apnea feature) are available doesn’t actually impact my experience with the watch, and therefore had little bearing on our score. If you’re using an older Apple Watch that has the blood oxygen detection enabled and it’s something you use frequently, it might be better to hold on to your device for now.
iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max review
by Cherlynn Low
Those were just the major reviews that were published last Monday and Tuesday, and on Wednesday, we published my review of the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max.
The story of this year’s iPhones is also a pretty straightforward one: Cameras, buttons and a lack of Intelligence. Apple Intelligence, that is. But through my testing, I started to realize that a couple of features began to stand out. The most obvious is the new Photographic Styles, which put Instagram’s filters to shame.
On the iPhone 16s, you can swap these out both before and after shooting. You can also edit the amount of saturation, shadows and more within each Style. Most importantly, Apple has finetuned its processing and depth map so it’s better at keeping skin tones within the realm of reality even as you crank up the saturation or contrast. I’m a huge fan of these improved filters and in the week since my review went up, I’ve been tempted to post nothing but Photographic Style samples to all my social media. The only thing keeping me from actually doing that has been tedium and a complete lack of spare time. But maybe one day I will.
The other thing that I learned was a subtle shift in Apple’s overall approach was greater customizability. Old Apple was rigid and rejected the idea that its design might not be the best for all its users. These days, Apple is more than willing to let you set up your app grid however you like, and iOS 18 brings the ability to finetune your Control Center and lock screen shortcuts to your preferences (and needs) as well. I was surprised when I found out that not only could you tweak the sensitivity of the Camera Control’s touch and pressure sensor, but you can disable the feature altogether.
I prefer this approach as it puts the user’s needs and preferences first while still maintaining a secure and private environment. And while we still await the formal arrival of Apple Intelligence in October, it’s likely that many of the AI-based features, which will be available throughout the iPhone 16 lineup as well as the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, won’t hugely impact our experience and score. Still, like we mentioned in our reviews of this year’s flagship phones, we based our verdict on the devices we tested as they were, and might revisit our score when headline features like Intelligence roll out.
iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus review
by Billy Steele
I have to thank Billy for picking up the review of the base iPhone 16 models this year. Not only was he able to help with the workload, Billy also delivered a thorough and alternative perspective on Apple’s non-Pro iPhones. I was heartened to see that he agreed with me on several things, namely that Photographic Styles are awesome and Camera Control is kind of clunky. I do have to admit that I hated having to look at a frog in the sample photo he included in his piece — frogs are my mortal enemies.
I barely mentioned the Camera Control in my section about the iPhone 16 Pro above, but this new button is just awkwardly placed, and I was glad to see Billy’s experience was similar.
Both of us agree that it’s nice to see the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus get features that are on their Pro counterparts. Sadly, though these phones were designed for Apple Intelligence, that just wasn’t available to the public at the time of our review, which just makes it feel like they’re missing something. That’s not to say these aren’t excellent phones. They’re a nice step up from last year’s base iPhones and come in an aesthetically pleasing array of colors that I adore.
We also have a guide from senior reporter Jeff Dunn on how to choose the right iPhone, which might be particularly helpful since this year’s models all seem so similar. My main advice is: if you’re into multimedia creation on your iPhone, get one of the Pros. If you need your phone to last more than a day, definitely spring for the Pro Max, as the iPhone 16 Pro will absolutely conk out after about 20 hours.
macOS Sequoia review
by Devindra Hardawar
Apple season isn’t limited to new hardware. Last week, the company also released the latest updates to its software for its iPhones, Macs, watches, TVs and more. Our resident computing expert Devindra has been spending time with the new macOS since the beta was available, and was able to quickly put together his thoughts on Sequoia. His joy at being able to mirror his iPhone on his MacBook is evident in his review, and we were so convinced by his review that we also published a guide on how to mirror your iPhone in macOS Sequoia afterwards. To quote Devindra: “It sort of changed my life.”
Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 review
by Billy Steele
I’m sure by now you can appreciate how hard Billy has been working, particularly these last few weeks. On Wednesday, Billy published his review of the Pixel Buds Pro 2, which went up the same time as the start of Meta’s Connect keynote. This is the last of our reviews of Google’s new hardware this year, at least until it launches something else. Billy’s evaluation is that these buds are smaller than before, which is a double-edged sword. They could be a better fit for some people, but the fact that they have smaller touch-sensitive panels means they’re slightly harder to maneuver. Still, they produce decent sound and integrate with the company’s new Gemini assistant to make hands-free requests more convenient.
Now that the last of the Pixel reviews are finally out of the way, we can finally consider the company’s family of hardware as a whole and honestly, I’m impressed. I actually scored the Pixel 9 Pro higher than the iPhone 16 Pro, which is possibly the first time a Google flagship has been rated better than one from Apple. I think Google has proven with its 2024 devices that it has the chops to take on its gigantic rivals, and now just needs to continue its momentum if it wants to reach a larger audience.
PlayStation 5 Pro preview
by Jessica Conditt
After Sony announced the PlayStation 5 Pro the day after the Apple iPhone event, senior editor Jessica Conditt was able to spend some time with the console ahead of its November 7th release. In her preview, Jess says that for the right kind of gamer, the “audaciously priced” PlayStation 5 Pro is absolutely worth it.
Who’s the right kind of gamer here? According to Jess, “If you regularly play PS5 games and can afford to waste (at least) $700 on a more powerful console with extra gills, you absolutely should get a PS5 Pro.”
Of course, we’ll have to get a device in for testing before we can deliberate on a score and official verdict. But with faster memory, improved rendering as well as support for VRR, advanced ray-tracing and “8K gaming,” the PS5 Pro seems like a promising upgrade.
Nintendo
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom review
by Nathan Ingraham
Speaking of gaming, deputy editor Nathan Ingraham published a review this week of the latest in the Legend of Zelda series: Echoes of Wisdom. Nate was a diehard Zelda fan growing up, and found himself taken right back to his youth with this latest instalment.
My gaming tastes begin at Solitaire and end at Animal Crossing or Just Dance, so something as involved as Echoes of Wisdom is not my cup of tea. But even just looking at the pictures in Nate’s review have me impressed at the dedication to detail and quality. As Nate puts it, the story involves “a series of otherworldly rifts that have opened up throughout Hyrule, swallowing up huge parts of the land and the people who reside there.” That’s absolutely the sort of plot that would draw me in, and when I read that this time around you’d play as Princess Zelda as she attempts to rescue Link, I was even more intrigued.
Perhaps that reversal of roles will also appeal to you, or maybe you’re drawn in by the idea of completing puzzles in an adorable 3D environment. I have to admit I’m looking at my Switch and considering playing this instead of getting ludicrously upset at Match Factory. If you’re a fan of the series, Nate thinks you should absolutely check out Echoes of Wisdom.
Fujifilm GFX100S II and Logitech MX Creator Console reviews
by Steve Dent
Our photography expert Steve Dent published a couple of reviews this week, showcasing his expert knowledge of cameras and the editing tools that accompany them. His analysis of the Logitech MX Creator Console, for instance, has me itching to get one so I can easily tweak and edit graphics in Adobe’s suite of apps. Meanwhile, his review of the Fujifilm GFX100S II left me wondering how many months I can go hungry so I can afford the $5,000 camera because I imagine it’ll make me as adept at taking photos as Steve. If you’re curious about the actual picture and video quality of Fujifilm’s camera, check out Steve’s video on our YouTube channel.
Up next: What’s on the horizon
Like I said, with all the events taking place these few weeks, there’s plenty of gadget reviews to come. For example, Samsung had a mini event this week where it unveiled the Galaxy Tab S10+ and Tab S10 Ultra, which are premium tablets that are regarded as the best in the Android space. The company also showed off the Galaxy S24 FE and Galaxy Watch FE LTE, which are lower cost variants of its flagship smartphone and smartwatch. All of these products are good candidates for us to test, since our audience (like yourself!) is likely to be wondering about whether they’re better than their premium counterparts.
This week, Meta also launched the Quest 3S, which is a budget-friendly VR headset that should take the place of the aging Quest 2. Few people are out there shopping for VR headsets, at least, when compared to iPhones or even midrange Android phones. But it’s still worth our time to test something like the Quest 3S, as it helps us learn about the technology that’s available, even in relatively small product categories.
Meta also showed off its Orion AR smart glasses, but as that’s more of a prototype right now, I don’t expect we’ll be properly reviewing it. Similarly, the fifth-gen Spectacles that Snap unveiled last week will only be available to approved developers who are willing to fork over $99 a month. That’s not something we’re likely to formally review, either.
It’s hard to keep up with all the stuff that big tech companies keep launching and want you to buy, but we do our best. We’re anticipating just a few more events coming this year, and are getting ready for the holiday shopping season, too. I’m sure people outside the tech industry are feeling a similar ramp up in work and life. Hopefully, we all get some time to rest and take care of ourselves soon. As always, we appreciate your time and wish you the best. Until the next Engadget Review Recap, good luck. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/engadget-review-recap-iphones-airpods-pixel-buds-and-an-early-look-at-the-playstation-5-pro-130018618.html?src=rss
I don’t know how many more times I can say what an intense two weeks it’s been since the last time I posted an Engadget review recap without sounding repetitive. Ever since we launched the first of these roundups last month, companies have relentlessly launched new hardware each week, contributing to a growing pile of products for our team to review. With all these announcements overlapping, it can be easy to miss a review that, say, was published at the start of the iPhone 16 event or another that went up at the same time as Meta’s Connect keynote this week.
That’s why I write these — it’s a good opportunity to catch up on reviews that we recently published and revisit some of the products now that we’ve had more time to spend with them. And looking at my list of items for this edition, there’s plenty to go over. From Apple’s iPhone 16 series, AirPods 4 and Google’s Pixel Buds Pro 2 to the PlayStation 5 Pro and some games and software, here’s a recap of things we’ve been testing lately.
Apple AirPods 4 with ANC review
by Billy Steele
Just a few days after Apple unveiled the AirPods 4, Billy had to file his draft for the review, which was slated to go up on Monday. Thankfully, these were a fairly straightforward update, with evaluating the new active noise cancellation (ANC) feature being the main task. Of course, Billy went further than that, gauging how much the device’s H2 chip and refined design impact the AirPods’ performance. He also went many extra miles, delivering report after report on topics like how the new hearing aid and hearing test features for the AirPods Pro work and a deep dive on how Apple designed ANC for an open-ear headset. Just head on over to Billy’s author page for a full list of the many articles he’s dutifully written up on the AirPods (and more).
Apple Watch Series 10 review
by Cherlynn Low
Words alone can’t express how grateful I am that Apple didn’t end up releasing three new models of the Apple Watch like was previously rumored. Considering the review of the Apple Watch Series 10 was published just one week and a day after the launch event in Cupertino, having to test more than one smartwatch was going to be a challenge. Heck, even reviewing a single new smartwatch was tricky, considering the other reviews we were preparing at the same time. That’s why when we first published our review on Tuesday, we did not feel ready to present a formal score, instead sharing just our evaluation of the Apple Watch Series 10 up till that point. We eventually updated our review after spending a few more days getting to know the watch better, adding a score and more findings later that week.
Here’s the summary. Though you might expect a lot more fanfare and features for the tenth Apple Watch simply because it’s the tenth generation model, there’s not a lot that’s changed. And the company arguably didn’t need to do much, since the Apple Watch is a fairly mature device. What it did manage to deliver — a bigger display in a thinner body — is impressive, and the Series 10 continues to deliver the best smartwatch experience that any iPhone owner can get.
Of course, there are questions around the blood oxygen detection feature that remains the subject of litigation between Apple and Masimo. But whether that (or the new sleep apnea feature) are available doesn’t actually impact my experience with the watch, and therefore had little bearing on our score. If you’re using an older Apple Watch that has the blood oxygen detection enabled and it’s something you use frequently, it might be better to hold on to your device for now.
iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max review
by Cherlynn Low
Those were just the major reviews that were published last Monday and Tuesday, and on Wednesday, we published my review of the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max.
The story of this year’s iPhones is also a pretty straightforward one: Cameras, buttons and a lack of Intelligence. Apple Intelligence, that is. But through my testing, I started to realize that a couple of features began to stand out. The most obvious is the new Photographic Styles, which put Instagram’s filters to shame.
On the iPhone 16s, you can swap these out both before and after shooting. You can also edit the amount of saturation, shadows and more within each Style. Most importantly, Apple has finetuned its processing and depth map so it’s better at keeping skin tones within the realm of reality even as you crank up the saturation or contrast. I’m a huge fan of these improved filters and in the week since my review went up, I’ve been tempted to post nothing but Photographic Style samples to all my social media. The only thing keeping me from actually doing that has been tedium and a complete lack of spare time. But maybe one day I will.
The other thing that I learned was a subtle shift in Apple’s overall approach was greater customizability. Old Apple was rigid and rejected the idea that its design might not be the best for all its users. These days, Apple is more than willing to let you set up your app grid however you like, and iOS 18 brings the ability to finetune your Control Center and lock screen shortcuts to your preferences (and needs) as well. I was surprised when I found out that not only could you tweak the sensitivity of the Camera Control’s touch and pressure sensor, but you can disable the feature altogether.
I prefer this approach as it puts the user’s needs and preferences first while still maintaining a secure and private environment. And while we still await the formal arrival of Apple Intelligence in October, it’s likely that many of the AI-based features, which will be available throughout the iPhone 16 lineup as well as the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, won’t hugely impact our experience and score. Still, like we mentioned in our reviews of this year’s flagship phones, we based our verdict on the devices we tested as they were, and might revisit our score when headline features like Intelligence roll out.
iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus review
by Billy Steele
I have to thank Billy for picking up the review of the base iPhone 16 models this year. Not only was he able to help with the workload, Billy also delivered a thorough and alternative perspective on Apple’s non-Pro iPhones. I was heartened to see that he agreed with me on several things, namely that Photographic Styles are awesome and Camera Control is kind of clunky. I do have to admit that I hated having to look at a frog in the sample photo he included in his piece — frogs are my mortal enemies.
I barely mentioned the Camera Control in my section about the iPhone 16 Pro above, but this new button is just awkwardly placed, and I was glad to see Billy’s experience was similar.
Both of us agree that it’s nice to see the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus get features that are on their Pro counterparts. Sadly, though these phones were designed for Apple Intelligence, that just wasn’t available to the public at the time of our review, which just makes it feel like they’re missing something. That’s not to say these aren’t excellent phones. They’re a nice step up from last year’s base iPhones and come in an aesthetically pleasing array of colors that I adore.
We also have a guide from senior reporter Jeff Dunn on how to choose the right iPhone, which might be particularly helpful since this year’s models all seem so similar. My main advice is: if you’re into multimedia creation on your iPhone, get one of the Pros. If you need your phone to last more than a day, definitely spring for the Pro Max, as the iPhone 16 Pro will absolutely conk out after about 20 hours.
macOS Sequoia review
by Devindra Hardawar
Apple season isn’t limited to new hardware. Last week, the company also released the latest updates to its software for its iPhones, Macs, watches, TVs and more. Our resident computing expert Devindra has been spending time with the new macOS since the beta was available, and was able to quickly put together his thoughts on Sequoia. His joy at being able to mirror his iPhone on his MacBook is evident in his review, and we were so convinced by his review that we also published a guide on how to mirror your iPhone in macOS Sequoia afterwards. To quote Devindra: “It sort of changed my life.”
Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 review
by Billy Steele
I’m sure by now you can appreciate how hard Billy has been working, particularly these last few weeks. On Wednesday, Billy published his review of the Pixel Buds Pro 2, which went up the same time as the start of Meta’s Connect keynote. This is the last of our reviews of Google’s new hardware this year, at least until it launches something else. Billy’s evaluation is that these buds are smaller than before, which is a double-edged sword. They could be a better fit for some people, but the fact that they have smaller touch-sensitive panels means they’re slightly harder to maneuver. Still, they produce decent sound and integrate with the company’s new Gemini assistant to make hands-free requests more convenient.
Now that the last of the Pixel reviews are finally out of the way, we can finally consider the company’s family of hardware as a whole and honestly, I’m impressed. I actually scored the Pixel 9 Pro higher than the iPhone 16 Pro, which is possibly the first time a Google flagship has been rated better than one from Apple. I think Google has proven with its 2024 devices that it has the chops to take on its gigantic rivals, and now just needs to continue its momentum if it wants to reach a larger audience.
PlayStation 5 Pro preview
by Jessica Conditt
After Sony announced the PlayStation 5 Pro the day after the Apple iPhone event, senior editor Jessica Conditt was able to spend some time with the console ahead of its November 7th release. In her preview, Jess says that for the right kind of gamer, the “audaciously priced” PlayStation 5 Pro is absolutely worth it.
Who’s the right kind of gamer here? According to Jess, “If you regularly play PS5 games and can afford to waste (at least) $700 on a more powerful console with extra gills, you absolutely should get a PS5 Pro.”
Of course, we’ll have to get a device in for testing before we can deliberate on a score and official verdict. But with faster memory, improved rendering as well as support for VRR, advanced ray-tracing and “8K gaming,” the PS5 Pro seems like a promising upgrade.
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom review
by Nathan Ingraham
Speaking of gaming, deputy editor Nathan Ingraham published a review this week of the latest in the Legend of Zelda series: Echoes of Wisdom. Nate was a diehard Zelda fan growing up, and found himself taken right back to his youth with this latest instalment.
My gaming tastes begin at Solitaire and end at Animal Crossing or Just Dance, so something as involved as Echoes of Wisdom is not my cup of tea. But even just looking at the pictures in Nate’s review have me impressed at the dedication to detail and quality. As Nate puts it, the story involves “a series of otherworldly rifts that have opened up throughout Hyrule, swallowing up huge parts of the land and the people who reside there.” That’s absolutely the sort of plot that would draw me in, and when I read that this time around you’d play as Princess Zelda as she attempts to rescue Link, I was even more intrigued.
Perhaps that reversal of roles will also appeal to you, or maybe you’re drawn in by the idea of completing puzzles in an adorable 3D environment. I have to admit I’m looking at my Switch and considering playing this instead of getting ludicrously upset at Match Factory. If you’re a fan of the series, Nate thinks you should absolutely check out Echoes of Wisdom.
Fujifilm GFX100S II and Logitech MX Creator Console reviews
by Steve Dent
Our photography expert Steve Dent published a couple of reviews this week, showcasing his expert knowledge of cameras and the editing tools that accompany them. His analysis of the Logitech MX Creator Console, for instance, has me itching to get one so I can easily tweak and edit graphics in Adobe’s suite of apps. Meanwhile, his review of the Fujifilm GFX100S II left me wondering how many months I can go hungry so I can afford the $5,000 camera because I imagine it’ll make me as adept at taking photos as Steve. If you’re curious about the actual picture and video quality of Fujifilm’s camera, check out Steve’s video on our YouTube channel.
Up next: What’s on the horizon
Like I said, with all the events taking place these few weeks, there’s plenty of gadget reviews to come. For example, Samsung had a mini event this week where it unveiled the Galaxy Tab S10+ and Tab S10 Ultra, which are premium tablets that are regarded as the best in the Android space. The company also showed off the Galaxy S24 FE and Galaxy Watch FE LTE, which are lower cost variants of its flagship smartphone and smartwatch. All of these products are good candidates for us to test, since our audience (like yourself!) is likely to be wondering about whether they’re better than their premium counterparts.
This week, Meta also launched the Quest 3S, which is a budget-friendly VR headset that should take the place of the aging Quest 2. Few people are out there shopping for VR headsets, at least, when compared to iPhones or even midrange Android phones. But it’s still worth our time to test something like the Quest 3S, as it helps us learn about the technology that’s available, even in relatively small product categories.
Meta also showed off its Orion AR smart glasses, but as that’s more of a prototype right now, I don’t expect we’ll be properly reviewing it. Similarly, the fifth-gen Spectacles that Snap unveiled last week will only be available to approved developers who are willing to fork over $99 a month. That’s not something we’re likely to formally review, either.
It’s hard to keep up with all the stuff that big tech companies keep launching and want you to buy, but we do our best. We’re anticipating just a few more events coming this year, and are getting ready for the holiday shopping season, too. I’m sure people outside the tech industry are feeling a similar ramp up in work and life. Hopefully, we all get some time to rest and take care of ourselves soon. As always, we appreciate your time and wish you the best. Until the next Engadget Review Recap, good luck.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/engadget-review-recap-iphones-airpods-pixel-buds-and-an-early-look-at-the-playstation-5-pro-130018618.html?src=rss
EPA Must Address Fluoridated Water’s Risk To Children’s IQs, US Judge Rules
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Reuters: A federal judge in California has ordered the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to strengthen regulations for fluoride in drinking water, saying the compound poses an unreasonable potential risk to children at levels that are currently typical nationwide. U.S. District Judge Edward Chen in San Francisco on Tuesday sided (PDF) with several advocacy groups, finding the current practice of adding fluoride to drinking water supplies to fight cavities presented unreasonable risks for children’s developing brains.
Chen said the advocacy groups had established during a non-jury trial that fluoride posed an unreasonable risk of harm sufficient to require a regulatory response by the EPA under the Toxic Substances Control Act. “The scientific literature in the record provides a high level of certainty that a hazard is present; fluoride is associated with reduced IQ,” wrote Chen, an appointee of Democratic former President Barack Obama. But the judge stressed he was not concluding with certainty that fluoridated water endangered public health. […] The EPA said it was reviewing the decision. “The court’s historic decision should help pave the way towards better and safer fluoride standards for all,” Michael Connett, a lawyer for the advocacy groups, said in a statement on Wednesday.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Reuters: A federal judge in California has ordered the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to strengthen regulations for fluoride in drinking water, saying the compound poses an unreasonable potential risk to children at levels that are currently typical nationwide. U.S. District Judge Edward Chen in San Francisco on Tuesday sided (PDF) with several advocacy groups, finding the current practice of adding fluoride to drinking water supplies to fight cavities presented unreasonable risks for children’s developing brains.
Chen said the advocacy groups had established during a non-jury trial that fluoride posed an unreasonable risk of harm sufficient to require a regulatory response by the EPA under the Toxic Substances Control Act. “The scientific literature in the record provides a high level of certainty that a hazard is present; fluoride is associated with reduced IQ,” wrote Chen, an appointee of Democratic former President Barack Obama. But the judge stressed he was not concluding with certainty that fluoridated water endangered public health. […] The EPA said it was reviewing the decision. “The court’s historic decision should help pave the way towards better and safer fluoride standards for all,” Michael Connett, a lawyer for the advocacy groups, said in a statement on Wednesday.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Top Stories: iPhone 16 Features, iOS 18.1 Improvements, and More
Apple’s latest devices have been in users’ hands for about a week now, so the latest features and upgrades are getting thoroughly tested as users figure out how best to take advantage of the improvements.
We’re also still looking forward to additional enhancements like Apple Intelligence features coming in future software updates, while we took a look back at a long-term feature Apple launched with last year’s iPhone models to see how it held up over the past year, so read on below for all the details on these stories and more!
iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro: How to Use All the New Features
With some new things to get used to on Apple’s latest iPhones, we’ve put together a thorough list of how-tos walking you through some of the new features like Camera Control, the Action button (for those who weren’t on an iPhone 15 Pro model previously), updated Photographic Styles, Audio Mix, and more.
Apple’s 80% Charging Limit for iPhone: How Much Did It Help After a Year?
With the iPhone 15 models that came out last year, Apple added an opt-in battery setting that limits maximum charge to 80 percent. The idea is that never charging the iPhone above 80 percent will increase battery longevity, so we ran a long-term test keeping a daily driver iPhone at that 80 percent limit from September 2023 to now, with no cheating.
Battery health definitely still took a drop over that yearlong period even with the limit engaged, but check out our report for the details and how it compared to other iPhones that didn’t use the limit.
Apple Seeds Fifth Developer Betas of iOS 18.1 and iPadOS 18.1 With Apple Intelligence
Apple is continuing work on its first Apple Intelligence operating system updates, issuing a fresh round of betas this week for iOS 18.1 and other updates.
There are quite a few changes and additions in this beta, including tweaks to Control Center functionality, a new Camera Control option to access the front-facing camera, and the ability to drag and drop files between iPhone and Mac while using the iPhone Mirroring feature.
25 New Features You May Have Missed in watchOS 11
While iOS is the star of the show for each round of operating system updates given the popularity of the iPhone, Apple’s other platforms also see significant updates most years.
This year is no exception, so we’ve put together a list of 25 new features in watchOS 11 that you may have missed. They range from new health and fitness features to entirely new apps and brand-new functionality, so be sure to check out the list.
iPhone 16’s ‘Revolutionary’ Battery Removal Process Shown in Video
The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus include a clever new technology to assist in battery repairs, and that’s the ability to use low-voltage electrical current to loosen the adhesive that holds the battery in, allowing a depleted battery to be easily removed and replaced.
The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max do not include this technology, instead relying on the traditional stretch-release adhesive to secure their batteries, though the smaller iPhone 16 Pro includes a metal-enclosed battery for the first time rather than a foil-wrapped one.
Apple Announces iPhone Driver’s Licenses Will Come to These Additional U.S. States
Following through on a previous announcement from Apple, California last week became the seventh U.S. state to support digital driver’s licenses and IDs in Apple Wallet, rolling out its mDL pilot program to iOS. The feature is also currently supported in Arizona, Maryland, Colorado, Georgia, Ohio, and Hawaii.
In addition, Apple announced that Montana, New Mexico, and West Virginia have signed on to support the feature. A time frame for those new states is unclear, as it has been several years since other states like Connecticut, Iowa, Kentucky, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Utah were announced as planning to support it but have yet to do so.
MacRumors Newsletter
Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we’ve covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view.
So if you want to have top stories like the above recap delivered to your email inbox each week, subscribe to our newsletter!Tag: Top StoriesThis article, “Top Stories: iPhone 16 Features, iOS 18.1 Improvements, and More” first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
Apple’s latest devices have been in users’ hands for about a week now, so the latest features and upgrades are getting thoroughly tested as users figure out how best to take advantage of the improvements.
We’re also still looking forward to additional enhancements like Apple Intelligence features coming in future software updates, while we took a look back at a long-term feature Apple launched with last year’s iPhone models to see how it held up over the past year, so read on below for all the details on these stories and more!
iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro: How to Use All the New Features
With some new things to get used to on Apple’s latest iPhones, we’ve put together a thorough list of how-tos walking you through some of the new features like Camera Control, the Action button (for those who weren’t on an iPhone 15 Pro model previously), updated Photographic Styles, Audio Mix, and more.
Apple’s 80% Charging Limit for iPhone: How Much Did It Help After a Year?
With the iPhone 15 models that came out last year, Apple added an opt-in battery setting that limits maximum charge to 80 percent. The idea is that never charging the iPhone above 80 percent will increase battery longevity, so we ran a long-term test keeping a daily driver iPhone at that 80 percent limit from September 2023 to now, with no cheating.
Battery health definitely still took a drop over that yearlong period even with the limit engaged, but check out our report for the details and how it compared to other iPhones that didn’t use the limit.
Apple Seeds Fifth Developer Betas of iOS 18.1 and iPadOS 18.1 With Apple Intelligence
Apple is continuing work on its first Apple Intelligence operating system updates, issuing a fresh round of betas this week for iOS 18.1 and other updates.
There are quite a few changes and additions in this beta, including tweaks to Control Center functionality, a new Camera Control option to access the front-facing camera, and the ability to drag and drop files between iPhone and Mac while using the iPhone Mirroring feature.
25 New Features You May Have Missed in watchOS 11
While iOS is the star of the show for each round of operating system updates given the popularity of the iPhone, Apple’s other platforms also see significant updates most years.
This year is no exception, so we’ve put together a list of 25 new features in watchOS 11 that you may have missed. They range from new health and fitness features to entirely new apps and brand-new functionality, so be sure to check out the list.
iPhone 16’s ‘Revolutionary’ Battery Removal Process Shown in Video
The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus include a clever new technology to assist in battery repairs, and that’s the ability to use low-voltage electrical current to loosen the adhesive that holds the battery in, allowing a depleted battery to be easily removed and replaced.
The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max do not include this technology, instead relying on the traditional stretch-release adhesive to secure their batteries, though the smaller iPhone 16 Pro includes a metal-enclosed battery for the first time rather than a foil-wrapped one.
Apple Announces iPhone Driver’s Licenses Will Come to These Additional U.S. States
Following through on a previous announcement from Apple, California last week became the seventh U.S. state to support digital driver’s licenses and IDs in Apple Wallet, rolling out its mDL pilot program to iOS. The feature is also currently supported in Arizona, Maryland, Colorado, Georgia, Ohio, and Hawaii.
In addition, Apple announced that Montana, New Mexico, and West Virginia have signed on to support the feature. A time frame for those new states is unclear, as it has been several years since other states like Connecticut, Iowa, Kentucky, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Utah were announced as planning to support it but have yet to do so.
MacRumors Newsletter
Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we’ve covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view.
So if you want to have top stories like the above recap delivered to your email inbox each week, subscribe to our newsletter!
This article, “Top Stories: iPhone 16 Features, iOS 18.1 Improvements, and More” first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums
NASA confirms space station cracking a “highest” risk and consequence problem
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