The iPhone 15 series is still a good eight months away but rumors are beginning to pick up steam. Leaker ShrimpApplePro today posted a series of rumors about Apple’s next phones.
The rumors are centered on the iPhone 15’s screen. ShrimpApplePro first suggested back in November that the iPhone 14’s squared-off rear design will be swapped out for iPhone 5c-like curved edges.
The tipster is still standing by the rumor and has today provided more details about the iPhone 15’s design and screen. Shrimp claims the iPhone 15 line will come in the same sizes as the iPhone 14 series, meaning we will see two standard models with 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch screens, and two higher-end models with 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch displays.
Shrimp says that the premium variants, which will allegedly be known as the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Ultra, will have thinner bezels than their 2022 counterparts.
Leaker ShrimpApplePro had a lot to say about the iPhone 15 today
They add that all the models will have curved edges and flat screens and likens the design to the Apple Watch Series 8. They also said that all the models will have the Dynamic Island cutout which is currently exclusive to the Pro models. The phones will continue using the Ceramic Shield glass for protection.
iPhone 15 may retain the same selfie camera
Shrimp’s source has also told them that the iPhone 15 has the same sized camera cutout as the current generation, which suggests that front camera specs won’t change.
The leaker has also implied that the design changes will make the iPhone 15 look like Android phones. iPhones are currently easily identifiable because of their flat screen, notch, and camera array.
According to previous leaks, the iPhone 15 may ditch physical buttons and Lightning port, and the higher-end models will be powered by a 3nm chip. Some reports have also suggested that the vanilla models will be more affordable than the 2022 variants, but the Ultra might be more expensive.
We’ve now gotten our first look at the Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 — the first Wear OS watch with the Snapdragon W5+ chip — in a newly leaked render.
Last year, when Qualcomm announced the Snapdragon W5+ chip for wearables, it was confirmed that Mobvoi would be the first company to use the chip in a watch. At the time, Mobvoi’s plans were to release the new TicWatch in fall 2022, though this seems to have fallen through.
Today, leaker Kuba Wojciechowski took to Twitter to share the first glimpse of the next generation of the TicWatch series. While the current model is the TicWatch Pro 3, the company is skipping ahead to the TicWatch Pro 5, due to a longstanding superstition in Chinese culture that considers four an unlucky number. The move is similar to how there was never a OnePlus 4.
Though the previous model featured two crowns on the right side, the Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 has a simplified design with only one crown with a button above it. This almost identically matches the layout of the Google Pixel Watch. And, where there previously were numerals around the screen bezel, the Ticwatch Pro 5 has a textured rim.
Otherwise, the core shape and design remain essentially the same. The only other detail we can glean is the blue watch face, featuring the current time in a large font with the date as a complication in the corner.
According to Wojciechowski, the watch should bring the full weight of Wear OS 3. Google has previously confirmed that select TicWatch models will receive an update to Wear OS 3, though Mobvoi did not provide a timeline for that update.
No other specs about the device have been confirmed as of yet, but if the TicWatch Pro 5 is anything like its predecessor, we’re likely in for an exciting watch. In our review of the TicWatch Pro 3, we found that Mobvoi had delivered three-day battery life, significantly higher than what Google’s own Pixel Watch provides.
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We live in an era of renewed space exploration, where multiple agencies are planning to send astronauts to the Moon in the coming years. This will be followed in the next decade with crewed missions to Mars by NASA and China, who may be joined by other nations before long. These and other missions that will take astronauts beyond Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and the Earth-Moon system require new technologies, ranging from life support and radiation shielding to power and propulsion. And when it comes to the latter, Nuclear Thermal and Nuclear Electric Propulsion (NTP/NEP) is a top contender!
NASA and the Soviet space program spent decades researching nuclear propulsion during the Space Race. A few years ago, NASA reignited its nuclear program for the purpose of developing bimodal nuclear propulsion – a two-part system consisting of an NTP and NEP element – that could enable transits to Mars in 100 days. As part of the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program for 2023, NASA selected a nuclear concept for Phase I development. This new class of bimodal nuclear propulsion system uses a “wave rotor topping cycle” and could reduce transit times to Mars to just 45 days.
The proposal, titled “Bimodal NTP/NEP with a Wave Rotor Topping Cycle,” was put forward by Prof. Ryan Gosse, the Hypersonics Program Area Lead at the University of Florida and a member of the Florida Applied Research in Engineering (FLARE) team. Gosse’s proposal is one of 14 selected by the NAIC this year for Phase I development, which includes a $12,500 grant to assist in maturing the technology and methods involved. Other proposals included innovative sensors, instruments, manufacturing techniques, power systems, and more.
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Nuclear propulsion essentially comes down to two concepts, both of which rely on technologies that have been thoroughly tested and validated. For Nuclear-Thermal Propulsion (NTP), the cycle consists of a nuclear reactor heating liquid hydrogen (LH2) propellant, turning it into ionized hydrogen gas (plasma) that is then channeled through nozzles to generate thrust. Several attempts have been made to build a test this propulsion system, including Project Rover, a collaborative effort between the U.S. Air Force and the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) that launched in 1955.
In 1959, NASA took over from the USAF, and the program entered a new phase dedicated to spaceflight applications. This eventually led to the Nuclear Engine for Rocket Vehicle Application (NERVA), a solid-core nuclear reactor that was successfully tested. With the closing of the Apollo Era in 1973, the program’s funding was drastically reduced, leading to its cancellation before any flight tests could be conducted. Meanwhile, the Soviets developed their own NTP concept (RD-0410) between 1965 and 1980 and conducted a single ground test before the program’s cancellation.
Nuclear-Electric Propulsion (NEP), on the other hand, relies on a nuclear reactor to provide electricity to a Hall-Effect thruster (ion engine), which generates an electromagnetic field that ionizes and accelerates an inert gas (like xenon) to create thrust. Attempts to develop this technology include NASA’s Nuclear Systems Initiative (NSI). Project Prometheus (2003 to 2005). Both systems have considerable advantages over conventional chemical propulsion, including a higher specific impulse (Isp) rating, fuel efficiency, and virtually unlimited energy density.
While NEP concepts are distinguished for providing more than 10,000 seconds of Isp, meaning they can maintain thrust for close to three hours, the thrust level is quite low compared to conventional rockets and NTP. The need for an electric power source, says Gosse, also raises the issue of heat rejection in space – where thermal energy conversion is 30-40% under ideal circumstances. And while NTP NERVA designs are the preferred method for crewed missions to Mars and beyond, this method also has issues providing adequate initial and final mass fractions for high delta-v missions.
New Class of Bimodal NTP/NEP with a Wave Rotor Topping Cycle Enabling Fast Transit to Mars. Credit: Ryan Gosse
This is why proposals that include both propulsion methods (bimodal) are favored, as they would combine the advantages of both. Gosse’s proposal calls for a bimodal design based on a solid core NERVA reactor that would provide a specific impulse (Isp) of 900 seconds, twice the current performance of chemical rockets. Gosse proposed cycle also includes a pressure wave supercharger – or Wave Rotor (WR) – a technology used in internal combustion engines that harnesses the pressure waves produced by reactions to compress intake air.
When paired with an NTP engine, the WR would use pressure created by the reactor’s heating of the LH2 fuel to compress the reaction mass further. As Gosse promises, this will deliver thrust levels comparable to that of a NERVA-class NTP concept but with an Isp of 1400-2000 seconds. When paired with a NEP cycle, said Gosse, thrust levels are enhanced even further:
“Coupled with an NEP cycle, the duty cycle Isp can further be increased (1800-4000 seconds) with minimal addition of dry mass. This bimodal design enables the fast transit for manned missions (45 days to Mars) and revolutionizes the deep space exploration of our solar system.”
Based on conventional propulsion technology, a crewed mission to Mars could last up to three years. These missions would launch every 26 months when Earth and Mars are at their closest (aka. a Mars Opposition) and would spend a minimum of six to nine months in transit. A transit of 45 days (six and a half weeks) would reduce the overall mission time to months instead of years. This would significantly reduce the major risks associated with missions to Mars, including radiation exposure, the time spent in microgravity, and related health concerns.
Artist’s concept of a bimodal nuclear rocket making the journey to the Moon, Mars, and other destinations in the Solar System. Credit: NASA
In addition to propulsion, there are proposals for new reactor designs that would provide a steady power supply for long-duration surface missions where solar and wind power are not always available. Examples include NASA’s Kilopower Reactor Using Sterling Technology (KRUSTY) and the hybrid fission/fusion reactor selected for Phase I development by NASA’s NAIC 2023 selection. These and other nuclear applications could someday enable crewed missions to Mars and other locations in deep space, perhaps sooner than we think!
The Galaxy Z Fold 4 is arguably the best foldable smartphone released in 2022, as it offers a great balance of build quality, cameras, software, and battery life. But that doesn’t mean there’s no room for improvement. The company needs to fix a design flaw that can bring it closer to the recently released foldable phones from Chinese firms, and it is doing just that with the Galaxy Z Fold 5.
According to a report from the Korean publication Naver, Samsung has used a waterdrop-shaped hinge in the Galaxy Z Fold 5. It means that the South Korean firm’s next flagship foldable smartphone will be able to fold completely flat, with no gap between the two halves of the phone when it’s folded. Moreover, the Galaxy Z Fold 5’s inner screen will have a smoother and less visible crease. This is something that Galaxy Z Fold fans have been asking for at least a couple of years now.
However, unlike rival Chinese smartphone firms, Samsung will not leave out the IPX8 rating for water resistance. The Galaxy Z Fold 5 will be close to perfect in design and experience, featuring a perfectly flat folding design and water resistance. The only thing stopping it from being perfect would be the lack of dust resistance.
The report states that Samsung is calling its new hinge design ‘dumbbell,’ and the company patented this design back in 2016. However, it didn’t bring the design for reasons unknown (probably due to lack of IPX8 rating?). Thanks to this new dumbbell-shaped hinge, it is reported that the durability of the screen has improved as well, and it will be able to withstand more folding and unfolding actions over its lifetime.
PS5 users have been warned of a potential design flaw that is said to have the ability to ruin their console. The PlayStation 5 was released in 2020, and just like the Xbox Series X, there have been no hardware issues so far, at least of the major variety. However, sometimes it takes a little time for issues to present themselves and be discovered. To this end, it looks like those who have been using their console vertically may soon have a problem on their hands.
As you may know, the PS5 can be positioned in two ways: horizontally and vertically. PlayStation has advertised the console in both positions in official marketing and promotional material. Yet, over on Twitter someone who runs a hardware repair shop has warned PlayStation users to not place their consoles vertically.
What’s the issue with placing your console vertically? Well, according to the user, they’ve had multiple damaged PS5s where the liquid metal used for APU cooling spills, runs, and becomes uneven. As you would expect, this impact the console’s cooling, which in turn impacts other components of the machine.
How widespread this problem is, we don’t know. The user in question claims they’ve seen the issue more than once and there are some other reports from other PS5 owners as well. This is far from being classified as a widespread problem, but with time that could change. Meanwhile, there’s nothing confirming the trigger for this issue is the console being placed vertically, but right now, that’s the only explanation that has been presented.
Do not put your Ps5 upright, here is the result the liquid moves and the freezes are there pic.twitter.com/A4Do3TkcXk
— Consoles System (@68Logic) January 4, 2023
At the moment of publishing, Sony has not commented on the situation. If this changes, we will be sure to update the story accordingly. In the meantime, take everything here with a grain of salt. While there is enough evidence here to be concerned, it’s not enough to raise the alarms yet.
For everything on the PS5 — as well as the PS4, PS PlayStation Plus, and the upcoming new PlayStation VR headset — including all of the latest news, rumors, leaks, speculation, deals, previews, reviews, interviews, and hot-takes, click here or keep scrolling to the relevant and recent links right below:
Ahead of the Galaxy S23 launch event in early February, the design of Samsung’s upcoming high-end phones was revealed through 3D CAD renders. Now, the first set of official promotional images has leaked, revealing the design of the Galaxy S23+ and the Galaxy S23 Ultra.
91Mobiles has published marketing images of the Galaxy S23 series that promote the Galaxy S23+, Galaxy S23 Ultra, and existing Galaxy wearable devices such as the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro and the Galaxy Watch 5. The Galaxy S23+ can be seen in pink, while the Galaxy S23 Ultra can be seen in green. These are the same colors we discussed in our exclusive report published a few days ago.
Galaxy S23+ can be seen in pink, while the Galaxy S23 Ultra can be seen in green color
Samsung has removed the camera island design we saw with the Galaxy S21 and the Galaxy S22. The Galaxy S23+ now has a design that’s more in line with the Galaxy S22 Ultra, featuring individual camera rings on the rear. The device has slightly curved edges. The Galaxy S23 is also expected to have a similar design, although with a smaller overall size, owing to its smaller screen size.
The Galaxy S23 Ultra looks very similar to its predecessor. However, there are subtle changes, such as the body-colored camera rings on the rear for three of its four cameras. The Galaxy S22 Ultra has black rings around its rear camera. The device still has a punch-hole-shaped display cutout for the front camera, which has reportedly been upgraded to a 12MP sensor.
The Nintendo Switch’s Joy-Con drift issue is caused by a fundamental design flaw according to a UK consumer group.
As reported by Eurogamer, a report from Which claims that, even after just a few months of use, the Joy-Con’s plastic circuit boards show significant wear on the joystick slider contact points. This causes Joy-Con drift, an issue that Nintendo hasn’t been able to fully address in the console’s five years on the market.
The report also criticises Nintendo’s returns and refunds policy in relation to Joy-Con drift issues, saying it should provide a refund or compensation plan for anyone who can prove they’ve bought a replacement Joy-Con since the Switch’s launch in 2017.
Nintendo disagreed that the issue is so prevalent, however, saying in response to the survey that only a small number of controllers are affected and that it’s improved the design several times since launch.
“The percentage of Joy-Con controllers that have been reported as experiencing issues with the analogue stick in the past is small, and we have been making continuous improvements to the Joy-Con analogue stick since its launch in 2017,” it said.
“We expect all our hardware to perform as designed, and, if anything falls short of this goal, we always encourage consumers to contact Nintendo customer support, who will be happy to openly and leniently resolve any consumer issues related to the Joy-Con controllers’ analogue sticks, including in cases where the warranty may no longer apply.”
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Nintendo launched a Switch repair subscription service in Japan earlier this year but hasn’t yet announced a version for the U.S. or Europe.
It did open a Joy-Con drift specific repair service back in 2019 but it recently materialised that the repair centres themselves were so overwhelmed that mistakes were made when the controllers were meant to be fixed. The issue is so persistent that Nintendo has faced several lawsuits as a result of its Joy-Con malfunctions.
Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelancer and acting UK news editor. He’ll talk about The Witcher all day.
A major new study from UK consumer group Which? has found evidence that the Nintendo Switch’s infamous Joy-Con drift is likely caused by a mechanical fault, pointing to fundamental design flaws.
The research found that the Joy-Con’s plastic circuit boards showed noticeable wear on the joystick slider contact points, despite only being used for months. It is this wear that ultimately results in drifting.
In addition, dust and other contaminants were found in the Switch’s internal components, despite attempts by Nintendo at dustproofing said areas.
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Which? also criticised Nintendo’s handling of the situation and its response to affected consumers.
The organisation has called upon Nintendo to provide a compensation or refund plan for any UK consumers who can prove they purchased a replacement Joy-Con due to drift since 2017, and said that this scheme should be widely promoted.
It has also called for Nintendo to offer a “no-quibble” repair or replacement of all Joy-Cons that have developed drift since 2017, completely free of charge.
In a response to the study, Nintendo issued the following statement: “The percentage of Joy-Con controllers that have been reported as experiencing issues with the analogue stick in the past is small, and we have been making continuous improvements to the Joy-Con analogue stick since its launch in 2017.”
“We expect all our hardware to perform as designed, and, if anything falls short of this goal, we always encourage consumers to contact Nintendo customer support, who will be happy to openly and leniently resolve any consumer issues related to the Joy-Con controllers’ analogue sticks, including in cases where the warranty may no longer apply.”
If your Joy-Con has developed drift, it’s worth remembering that your first point of contact should be Nintendo Support, which will likely repair your controllers at no cost to you including shipping. From my own experience, you don’t even need to provide proof of purchase, but it would certainly help your cause if you’re within warranty.
Which? also produced a report earlier this year which found that two in five Joy-Con controllers from the original Nintendo Switch release are experiencing drift.
Of course, issues surrounding Joy-Con drift have persisted for several years now. In 2019, a class action lawsuit against Nintendo was filed in the US over the problem, while last year the European Commission stated that it was considering opening an investigation.
The original mechatronic model of the little alien from Steven Spielberg’s 1982 sci-fi classic “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” sold over the weekend for a staggering $2.56 million, according to the auction organizers.
The model was created by Carlo Rambaldi in 1981. Credit: Julien’s Auctions
The filming model, created by Oscar-winning special effects master Carlo Rambaldi in 1981, went under the hammer as part of the “Icons and Idols: Hollywood” sale put on by Julien’s Auctions and Turner Classic Movies (TCM). (TCM , like CNN, is owned by Warner Bros. Disovery.)
“Considered an engineering masterpiece, this one-of-a-kind animatronic figure, featuring 85 points of articulation, pre-dates the advent of CGI (Computer Graphic Imagery) effects in filmmaking, and was designed, developed and engineered in 1981,” the lot description read.
“E.T.” pre-dated the advent of CGI. Credit: Julien’s Auctions
The big-eyed alien, whose movements included facial expressions, neck movements, as well as the famous pointing of its glowing finger, was brought to life by a team of animators using electronic and mechanical elements. According to the auction listing, Spielberg described the E.T. model as “the eighth wonder of the movie world.”
A maquette of E.T., made for Spielberg to approve the character’s design, also sold for $125,000, while the Kuwahara BMX bike ridden by the character “Greg” in the film was bought for $115,200. The sale of the E.T. memorabilia coincides with the 40th anniversary of the film’s release.
“E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial,” starring Henry Thomas and Drew Barrymore, told the story of a friendly alien’s bid to return home after getting stranded in a suburban US neighborhood.
E.T.’s childlike innocence melted hearts across the globe, and the film won four Oscars at the 1982 Academy Awards, including Best Visual Effects. According to website Box Office Mojo, by the end of its theatrical run, “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial had grossed more than $359 million at the US box office.
“It speaks to our universal human compassion,” Thomas told CNN in October this year. “And we all have that. We all have the nurturer inside of us, right? So I think it speaks to that. It brings us back to being young.”
Other highlights from the “Icons and Idols: Hollywood” auction, which offered more than 1,300 artifacts from Hollywood, included the staff that Charlton Heston used to part the Red Sea in the Cecil B. DeMille classic “The Ten Commandments,” which sold for a thumping $448,000. A black wool dress owned by Marilyn Monroe went for $256,000.
The design for the Tesla Cybertruck’s smaller variant seems to be hiding in plain sight. As spotted recently by some eagle-eyed electric vehicle enthusiasts, Tesla has shared a pretty interesting version of its futuristic all-electric pickup truck in its exhibit at the Petersen Automotive Museum.
Tesla’s exhibit at the Petersen Museum is extensive, as it highlights the company’s history, as well as the products and innovations that have helped it become a dominating force in the EV sector over the years. Being an upcoming vehicle that has generated a lot of excitement, the Tesla Cybertruck was heavily featured in the exhibit. Tesla Chief Designer Franz von Holzhausen was even interviewed in the Cybertruck’s section.
Included in the Cybertruck’s section at the exhibit was a sketch of the vehicle, which was set up close to the futuristic pickup truck. The sketch is particularly interesting since it depicted a pickup truck that’s quite a bit different from the hulking Cybertruck prototype unveiled in late 2019 or the updated alpha Cybertruck units that were spotted around California later. Unlike Tesla’s prototypes, the vehicle in the sketch was a two-door Cybertruck.
A number of things stand out in the sketch of the two-door Cybertruck. For one, the vehicle looks more compact than the Cybertruck prototypes that Tesla has built so far. Its cabin still looks spacious and airy thanks to its long windshield and short hood. Its bed, which is also covered by a tonneau, also looks capable of carrying a lot of cargo despite the vehicle’s seemingly more compact size.
The two-door Cybertruck design featured in the sketch at the Petersen Automotive Museum has received a lot of positive reactions from the Tesla community, with some noting that they actually prefer the more compact look of the all-electric pickup truck. Fortunately, the idea of Tesla releasing a smaller Cybertruck in the future is not farfetched at all.
Long term, it probably makes sense to build a smaller Cybertruck too
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 24, 2019
Elon Musk himself said as much in the past. Following the unveiling of the original Cybertruck prototype in late 2019, Musk was asked on Twitter if Tesla would be open to making a more compact version of the Cybertruck down the road. Musk responded positively to the inquiry, noting that, “Long term, it probably makes sense to build a smaller Cybertruck too.” If such a vehicle looks anything like the two-door Cybertruck sketch, then Tesla would probably have yet another best-seller in its lineup.
The two-door Cybertruck sketch could be seen in several portions of Franz von Holzhausen’s CNBC interview at the Petersen Museum. A video of the interview can be viewed below.
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Tesla’s smaller, two-door Cybertruck design was hiding in plain sight
