It’s been quite an eventful week in terms of tech headlines – from new phone releases, worldwide computer crashes and throwback smartphones, there’s a lot that’s gone down over the past few days. With that in mind, you might have missed all the action, and as such we’ve put together some major tech highlights from the past week to catch you up. Let’s get started!
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Microsoft Services Go Down Worldwide
Let’s start off with what’s probably the biggest headline – a recent software update from software developer CrowdStrike caused a widespread “blue screen of death” error on Windows machines, impacting businesses, banks, transportation systems, and even a few TV networks. While initially thought to be a Microsoft issue, the error originated from CrowdStrike’s security software update which forced affected devices to go into a boot loop. Both Microsoft and CrowdStrike have acknowledged the issue and assured users that it wasn’t a cyberattack.
HMD Revisits Nokia’s Lumia Era
Speaking of Windows, the new HMD Skyline features a design that’s heavily reminiscent of Nokia’s Lumia phones, and even comes with a removable back cover. The handset packs a 6.55-inch P-OLED display with a 144Hz refresh rate, a mid-range Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 processor, and up to 12GB of RAM. For software, there’s Android 14 with an option for a minimalist “Detox Mode”, with a promised two years of major OS updates. The Skyline’s camera features a 108MP main sensor, and it comes with other features such as a side-mounted fingerprint reader, and a microSD card slot.
The OnePlus Nord 4 Brings Back Metal
OnePlus has actually gone and done it – the company’s latest mid ranger comes in the form of the Nord 4, which is built with a metal unibody design, something that we haven’t seen in most smartphones for several years now. The phone runs on a Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 chipset and a large 5,500 mAh battery with 100W fast charging. It also features a 6.74-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, and runs Android 14 with OnePlus’ Oxygen OS on top. Meanwhile, the camera system boasts a 50MP main sensor with OIS, an 8MP ultrawide camera, and a 16MP selfie camera. It starts at £529, making it a competitive option in the mid-range market.
Google Teases the Pixel 9 Pro
While the Pixel 9 series phones don’t arrive until August, Google recently published a teaser trailer for the Pixel 9 Pro, showcasing the much-leaked camera module and the new design overhaul. The video also hinted at heavy at AI integration with Google’s Gemini assistant. Recent leaks suggest new camera sensors on the Pixel 9 series, including a Sony IMX858 sensor for better low-light performance and a new autofocus selfie camera on the base model.
Nintendo Announces a New Switch Accessory
Despite being seven years old at this point, Nintendo hasn’t slowed down on releasing new hardware for the Switch. In fact, the company announced a new Joy-Con charging stand for the console, which is set to arrive in October 2024. The charging stand allows users to simultaneously charge two Joy-Con controllers, both standard and special edition models.
