Apple's augmented reality glasses will be called the Apple Glass and be considerably more affordable in their first generation than might have been expected, a new leak claims, though don't expect to be wearing them for a while yet. Long-rumored, the smart glasses would arguably be Apple's biggest new product launch since the Apple Watch.
Facebook has bought GIPHY, and already the conspiracy theories are coming thick and fast, including suggestions that a thin-skinned Mark Zuckerberg has been quick to demand some censorship. The deal - reportedly worth $400 million - will see GIPHY's team join Facebook's Instagram group, a natural fit, so the social networking behemoth claims, given how much Instagram users rely on the GIF database.
Two of the heavyweights behind some of Google's most praised smartphone features have quietly left the company, with its camera expert and Pixel manager both said to have exited this year. The news comes as Google prepares to launch the Pixel 4a, a more affordable version of its Pixel 4 flagship, to take on Apple's entry-level iPhone SE.
Apple's new over-the-ear headphones could end up taking on its own flagship Beats product directly, with the much-rumored accessories starting up a battle of the brands in 2020. Expected to feature active noise cancellation, the new headphones could be branded the AirPods Studio according to the latest leaks.
Volvo is planning a luxury flagship SUV with coupe styling and an all-electric drivetrain, it's reported, taking on prestige rivals like the Audi Q8 and BMW X6. The new SUV is expected to launch as the 2024 Volvo XC100, slotting in above the XC90 three-row SUV and taking advantage of the Swedish automaker's focus on electrification.
Microsoft is hard at work getting Office for iPad up to speed with Apple's latest iPadOS release, with plans to add cursor support for trackpad and mouse in the apps. Apple introduced the cursor to its iPad and iPad Pro line-up in iPadOS 13.4, alongside the new Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro that for the first time includes a trackpad.
Audi's 2021 Q4 e-tron will be the automaker's most affordable all-electric car, it's reported, with early pricing info suggesting this could be Tesla's biggest competition to-date. Previewed in concept form back at the Geneva Motor Show last year, the Q4 e-tron won't be Audi's first EV in the US, or indeed its first all-electric SUV. However it will have two big differences from what we've seen before.
Facebook is readying a new Oculus Quest standalone VR headset, potentially trimming weight and bulk of the head-worn display, though COVID-19 may have pulled the rug out from under the release roadmap. Launched last year, Quest promised to be as comfortable and liberating as untethered virtual reality headsets, but with graphics quality closer to traditional wired headsets like Oculus Rift S.
BMW has shelved plans to replace its i8 sports car with a production version of the Vision M NEXT concept, it's reported, backing away from the eye-catching hybrid as the auto industry as a whole faces the pandemic crunch. Although BMW never explicitly confirmed it had production intent for the Vision M NEXT, the car was widely interpreted as an evolution of the ill-fated and misunderstood i8.
Huawei is reportedly working with a European chip-maker on chips for mobile devices and cars, as the Chinese firm explores its options with no end in sight for the US export restrictions. The Trump Administration's decision to place sanctions on Huawei has already prevented it from using the full suite of Google apps and services on its Android smartphones.
The coronavirus pandemic has brought a lot of industries to a halt, so it probably won't come as a shock to learn that Apple may be forced to delay mass production of its 2020 iPhone lineup. The fate of Apple's 2020 iPhones has been a frequent topic of discussion since the severity of the pandemic became clear, and according to new rumors, it seems that Apple's release schedule for the year will be at least somewhat impacted.
Apple's ARM-based Macs are coming in 2021, a new report claims, with the company intending to use a version of its homegrown iPhone and iPad processors to squeeze out Intel. The shift could be the biggest upheaval to Mac since the company migrated away from PowerPC to Intel x86 in 2006, though the ongoing coronavirus pandemic could force some massaging of the roadmap.