Browser extensions are useful because they bring additional functionality to your web browser, allowing you to do things like track price histories for online products, change CSS styling on certain pages, and, of course, block ads and other scripts that get in the way.
Well, browser extensions aren’t always coded well. Depending on what they do, they might have to run various types of analyses and/or make changes to a page before it loads — and if an extension isn’t coded well, all of that processing can slow things to a crawl.
That’s why Microsoft is currently testing an upcoming feature in the Edge browser that detects when extensions are impacting performance and warns you when said extensions are causing slowdowns.
The so-called “extension performance detector” will pop up on screen with details about which installed extensions are using the most resources, making it easy to figure out which ones you should disable in the extension manager (with quick toggles on the pop-up itself).
According to BleepingComputer, the feature is rolling out to users who are on Edge Canary version 130, which you can try yourself by becoming a Microsoft Edge Insider. If you’re on that version, you can turn it on and try it out right now with the following steps:
Type edge://flags into the address bar and press Enter.
On the resulting page, type extension performance detector into the search field at the top.
Locate the flag in the search results, then click the drop-down menu and change it to Enabled.
Restart Edge.
The extension performance detector will only flag an extension as problematic if it hogs an unusual amount of resources and/or repeatedly causes performance slowdowns. If it doesn’t flag anything for you, you can rest assured that your extensions are fine.
Popular messaging and VoIP platform Discord rolled out end-to-end encryption protection for both audio and video calls.
The so-called DAVE protocol protects all your calls across private channels, small group chats, server-based voice channels during conversations in larger groups, and real-time streaming. Messages, however, remain non-encrypted.
The move is set to considerably boost your data security and privacy by preventing third parties from intercepting your private communications. Think about how encrypted messaging apps like Signal work, for example, or security software like the best VPN services. The migration process has already started across Discord’s desktop and mobile apps and all you need to do is update your app to the latest version.
How Discord’s DAVE protocol works
“Today, we’ll start migrating voice and video in DMs, Group DMs, voice channels, and Go Live streams to use E2EE. You will be able to confirm when calls are end-to-end encrypted and perform verification of other members in those calls,” wrote Discord in a blog post dated September 17, 2024.
Encryption refers to the process of scrambling data into an unreadable form. E2EE specifically ensures that only the sender and receiver can encrypt and decrypt the data in transit – end-to-end.
Discord’s DAVE protocol uses the WebRTC encoded transform API to encrypt audio/video communications before being encoded and transmitted, these are then decrypted and decoded on the receiving side. The protocol also uses Messaging Layer Security (MLS) for group key exchange. The company is said to have chosen this method as “it provides a scalable mechanism for groups to update shared keys” to encrypt and decrypt communications.
Without going too deeply into the technicalities, what’s very interesting here is that you can perform an out-of-band comparison of the identity keysto ensure you’re talking with the right person during the call. These identity keys are ephemeral and change for each pair of users (Verification Code) or group (Voice Privacy Code)across different calls or when somebody re-joins the same call.
The Voice Privacy Code will change as users join and leave a group call. You can compare these with out-of-band codes to ensure everyone in the call is who’s claim to be. (Image credit: Discord)
It’s worth keeping in mind that messages are excluded from E2E protections.
“Safety is intertwined with our product and policies. While audio and video will be end-to-end encrypted, messages on Discord will continue to follow our content moderation approach and are not end-to-end encrypted,” explains the provider.
The team has precisely designed DAVE to be compatible with additional safety features while supporting the E2EE experience.
To develop DAVE, the Discord team collaborated with cybersecurity firm Trail of Bits, which conducted an in-depth review of the protocol’s design and implementation.
“When it comes to building a secure and trusted E2EE A/V protocol, transparency is key. To support this, we’re releasing the DAVE protocol whitepaper (discord/dave-protocol) and the libraries our clients use to implement it (discord/libdave). Moving forward, any changes to either the protocol or our code will be reflected in those repositories,” said the provider, while inviting anyone wishing to review it to reach out.
As mentioned earlier, Discord is currently rolling out DAVE across desktop and mobile apps only – support for web clients will follow at a later date. You need to update to the latest version to enjoy the new E2EE experience. Remember: all the members must support DAVE for the call to get encrypted.
I wasn’t impressed with Keychron’s earlier Mac-focused mechanical keyboards, but the company blew me away when I tried the Q Series a couple of years ago. Since then, it’s been a frequent feature in our best keyboard roundups.
And today, Woot is selling many of the initial Keychron Q designs — which can retail for over $200 — starting at just $69.99.
So, what’s the catch? These are the first-gen Q keyboards, which means they lack the Bluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless connections of the new standard Q Max designs. These are really only deals if you’re okay with a high-end board that needs a dedicated USB connection.
That being said, these Q boards are a fantastic option if you’ve been looking to get into high-end, highly moddable mechanical keyboards. We’re talking chunky full aluminum bodies, high-profile keycaps made out of premium PBT plastic, full RGB lighting, programming with QMK or VIA, and multiple layers of internal sound dampening.
And all of the Q Series on sale have my most important feature for any high-end keyboard: hot-swap switch sockets that let you experiment with different typing styles, no soldering necessary.
As of this writing, these Q Series boards are still in stock:
Some K Series keyboards (cheaper with plastic bodies) are also on sale. Unlike many sales on Woot, this one is going for a while — until October 1 — but some of the designs may run out of stock before then.
Get a Keychron Q Series keyboard at a big discount
The annual iPhone event in Apple Park took place in September, with the team finally lifting the lid on the iPhone 16 series.
As good as the iPhone 15 range is, there’s definitely still room for improvement. Apple has absolutely nailed some aspects of the iPhone, yet it still falls behind Android competition in other areas, especially when it comes to AI features.
So, understandably, many people are excited for the next iteration of the iPhone, which is finally available to buy outright. If that includes you, here’s everything you need to know about it.
When was the iPhone 16 released?
Apple launched the next iPhone on 9 September 2024 at the Steve Jobs Theater in Apple Park. The new phones were revealed alongside the Apple Watch Series 10 and new AirPods.
All four phones are on sale now, having been released on 20 September 2024.
Here are the launch prices for the iPhone 16 range:
iPhone 16 (128GB) – $799/£799
iPhone 16 Plus (128GB) – $899/£899
iPhone 16 Pro (128GB) – $999/£999
iPhone 16 Pro Max (256GB) – $1,199/£1,199
These are the same prices as the previous iPhone 15 range – leaker yeux1122 on South Korean platform Naver suggests that the titanium frame on the iPhone 16 models was cheaper to produce, which could be why there have been no major price increases.
The phones are available in 128GB, 256GB and 512GB storage sizes, with the usual 1TB option for the Pro variants.
What specs and features does the iPhone 16 have?
Apple is going big on AI this generation, with supporting software enhancements for its photo editing, productivity tools and voice assistant. Other headline features include major changes to the camera button, more unique colours and bigger battery lives.
There are four smartphones to choose from in the iPhone 16 series – here’s the lowdown:
Design
Let’s start with the regular iPhone 16 and 16 Plus.
These phones come in a choice of five colours: White, Black, Ultramarine, Teal and Pink – the last three are new additions. These are made from Aerospace Aluminium and have IP68 water resistance and dust resistance, the same protection seen on the Pro phones.
Apple
Apple
Apple
As predicted in leaks, Apple has opted for a vertical camera arrangement set into a pill-shaped bump for the 16 and 16 Plus iPhones.
This design pays homage to previous iPhone models, notably the iPhone X, which also featured a pill-shaped camera design with a slim module. Although the iPhone 12 also employed a vertical camera setup, it had a broader square bump to accommodate the flash and microphone.
This camera bump incorporates two distinctive camera rings for the wide and ultrawide lenses, without altering the position of the flash or the camera lenses in this latest iteration.
The Capture Button is now new pressure-sensitive, and has been rebranded to ‘Camera Control’. As well as opening and snapping shots, users can slide their finger along the button to control the zoom, focus and more. Plus, a long press of this button will now record video.
The mute button has now been replaced with the Action Button, which was previously exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro range and not on the regular models. This can turn the phone to silent, open apps, activate the torch and more.
Apple
Apple
Apple
Speaking of which, the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max have also had some design tweaks. As well as the usual Black Titanium, White Titanium and Natural Titanium finishes, there’s a new bronze colour, called Desert Titanium. The textured glass back of the phone has a slightly softer tone than that on the chassis.
The camera module trio shape remains the same as the previous iteration, and the Pro models also support the new Camera Control features. These phones also have the thinnest border of any product from Apple, according to the keynote.
The Pro and Pro Max are made from Grade 5 Titanium, which should be more resistant to scratches. Here are the dimensions for each phone:
iPhone 16 – 147.6 x 71.6 x 7.8mm, 170g
iPhone 16 Plus – 160.9 x 77.8 x 7.8mm, 199g
iPhone 16 Pro – 149.6 x 71.5 x 8.25mm, 199g
iPhone 16 Pro Max – 163 x 77.6 x 8.25mm, 227g
Display
There are no size changes for the regular iPhone 16 and 16 Plus, with these devices retaining the same dimensions as their predecessor – 6.1 inches for the regular and 6.7 inches for the Plus, with resolutions of 2556 x 1179 and 2769 x 1290 respectively at 460 ppi.
However, the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max feature larger, OLED Super Retina XDR displays. The iPhone 16 Pro sports a display measuring 6.3 inches, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max boasts a 6.9-inch display. This is the largest of any display on an iPhone so far.
The iPhone 16 Pro has a resolution of 2622 x 1206, while the Pro Max has a 2868 x 1320 panel, both at 460 ppi. All phones can reach up to 2,000 nits peak brightness.
The iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max also have the thinnest screen bezels ever seen on an Apple device. Exact dimensions were not confirmed, but Chinese leaker (via GSMArena) and Ice Universe reported 1.2mm on the iPhone 16 Pro and 1.15mm on the Pro Max.
For comparison, the current iPhone 15 Pro’s bezels are 1.71mm and iPhone 15 Pro Max’s are 1.55mm. These advancements make the iPhone 16 range closer to a truly ‘bezel-less’ design.
All panels in the range have Ceramic Shield protection, which Apple claims is twice as durable as glass. There were however no mentions of new panel technologies, so it’s assumed these are the same as the ones on the iPhone 15 range. The Pro phones will have an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate for gaming.
Apple
Apple
Apple
There was speculation that Apple will move its Face ID sensors under the display, but this wasn’t confirmed during the keynote – 9to5Mac suggests this won’t happen until after 2026.
There’s also no indication that Apple will follow the lead of many Android phones and introduce an under-display fingerprint sensor.
Performance
When Apple introduced the new 3nm processor for the iPhone 15 Pro models, it also changed the name of the chip, from the A17 Bionic to the A17 Pro.
The new name indicated that this was a special version of the chip for the Pro models, leading us to assume that the iPhone 16 would get a stripped-down version of the chip called the A17 Bionic.
However, Apple surprised us by confirming that the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus would instead get the A18, while the Pro range would get the A18 Pro.
Apple
Apple
Apple
The A18 has a 16-core neural engine, which is designed for all the upcoming AI features on the smartphone. There’s a 6-core CPU which is 30 percent faster than the A16 Bionic (the chip in iPhone 15), and a 5-core GPU for improved graphics – useful for gamers.
Meanwhile, the A18 Pro will make the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max 15 percent faster than the previous generation equivalents, with a 6-core GPU and a 6-core CPU with 2 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores.
Additionally, according to a report from PhoneArena, Johny Srouji, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Hardware and Technologies, confirmed that all four models of the iPhone 16 will come with 8GB of RAM to ensure optimal performance.
Cameras
Apple has included a new 48Mp ultrawide lens on the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max – a substantial improvement over the previous 12Mp. Like the 48Mp main, it will probably use pixel binning (where four pixels are combined into one) for 12Mp images by default. This has a ƒ/2.2 aperture and 120° field of view.
Both iPhone 15 Pro models will get upgraded 12Mp telephoto cameras offering 5x optical zoom, with up to 25x digital zoom. Meanwhile, the main 48Mp camera seems to have the same specs as its predecessor, only with the rebranded ‘Fusion’ name, meaning that the telephoto capabilities can be used with the main camera.
Macworld
Macworld
Macworld
The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus will feature two vertically aligned cameras, including a 48Mp primary camera with 2x telephoto zoom and an improved 12Mp ultrawide lens with autofocus, as well as an ƒ/2.2 aperture, enhancing low-light performance. These non-Pro models will also support macro photography for the first time.
The new vertical design on the regular models also allows them to support spatial videos. The Pro models will support 4K video at 120fps with Dolby Vision and provide users with further control over sound with the Audio Mix feature to alter the different levels of background noise.
Apple
Apple
Apple
As mentioned, all iPhone 16 models include the new pressure-sensitive Camera Control, inspired by Sony, which uses trackpad-like gestures for zooming and other functions.
Apple also mentioned that background object removal will be coming for editing, similar to Google’s Magic Eraser.
Battery & charging
The iPhone 16 models offer higher prolonged lifespans – in fact, Apple claims that the iPhone 16 Pro Max has the best battery life of any iPhone, period.
Apple has not disclosed the battery sizes at the time of writing, but it states on its website that the iPhone 16 can last up to 18 hours of streaming playback, while the Plus can withstand 24 hours.
Meanwhile, the iPhone 16 Pro can stream video for up to 22 hours, while the Pro Max can last a whopping 29 hours of Netflix and chill.
According to certifications from the China Quality Certification Centre (CQC), shared on Weibo, the iPhone 16 models support peak charging speeds of up to 45W, a substantial increase from the 27-29W maximum of the iPhone 15 series.
Despite Apple officially stating the same “50% in 30 minutes” charging time using the 20W adapter, these devices could potentially benefit from faster charging with higher-powered adapters that utilize the power delivery (PD) standard. The real-world impact on overall charging times, especially from 0 to 100%, remains to be evaluated.
Software
For all the software announcements from Apple’s WWDC event, have a look at our iOS 18 round-up.
The most anticipated feature is access to Apple Intelligence. However, the new phones will initially lack Apple’s AI feature, which will arrive a month later via a software update in the US. UK users will have to wait until December for the new features.
The AI software is kept private and secure by being run through Private Cloud Compute, meaning users can use many features that are on-device and not shared via the Cloud – though some actions will still use Apple servers. Apple also committed to this security being independently verified by experts regularly.
YouTube / Apple
YouTube / Apple
YouTube / Apple
Apple Intelligence features include brief suggested replies in Messages and Mail, a Reduce Interruptions Focus mode that selectively allows urgent notifications and a Safari Reader Mode that summarises web pages. Writing Tools offer professional or friendly text adjustments and proofreading, while another feature records and transcribes calls.
Improvements to Siri include the voice assistant being able to process false starts in language, and allowing users the option to use Siri via text rather than through the microphone.
Users can generate their own emojis, and see improved search functions in their photo and video libraries. The camera can also be used like Google Lens, so users can get information on something by taking a photo.
Apple Intelligence positions Apple against competitors like Google Gemini, OpenAI’s ChatGPT, and Microsoft’s Copilot.
Of course, the usual safety features will be integrated into these phones – including Emergency SOS via satellite, Crash Detection and Roadside Assistance via satellite.
Connectivity
Apple transitioned to USB-C technology starting with the iPhone 15 lineup, and that’s continuing on the iPhone 16 models.
Although Apple has been developing its in-house 5G modem chips, they aren’t ready for 2024 phones. However, the iPhone 16 range will feature Wi-Fi 7 technology.
Apple
Apple
Apple
Apple’s AR/VR headset, the Vision Pro, is now on sale. We’re expecting the company to do its best to integrate it seamlessly into the ecosystem, and the iPhone 16 series will probably be a gateway for this.
iPhone 16 Ultra
One of the more interesting rumours that was circulating even around the iPhone 15 launch was the possibility of yet another model, called the iPhone 15 (or now 16) Ultra.
However, this smartphone has still failed to materialise.
It is supposed to be even more expensive than the current lineup, but in exchange, customers would get a slew of upgrades. It’s been speculated to feature an upgraded, faster variant of any chip we’ve seen before (presumably with more GPU cores), a bigger screen, and possibly even a portless design.
That’s all the information we have about iPhone 16. In the meantime, be sure to read about the upcoming iPhone SE 4 and check out the best iPhones you can buy right now.
These days, wireless charging is about as convenient as it gets, and that’s true whether you have an iPhone or some other smartphone. But it kind of sucks when your phone is sitting on a pad and you can’t use it…
This wireless charger looks great and easily supports your phone at an angle while charging, allowing you to keep an eye on the screen for notifications or maybe even watch YouTube as it charges.
The device has a 15W charging throughput, making it suitable for all smartphone brands. In fact, it has multiple charging modes optimized for your model, ranging from 15W (for LG and Google phones) down to 5W (for standard phones that don’t support fast charging).
It also has an integrated LED indicator that shows when the charger is active or not. And don’t worry about it bothering you at night because the light adjusts its brightness depending on ambient conditions.
Disney will reportedly end its use of Slack for internal employee communications and migrate to Microsoft Teams after a hacking group stole and leaked more than a terabyte of corporate data.
Disney CFO Hugh Johnson announced plans to move away from Slack in a memo to staff earlier this week, according to a report Wednesday by Oliver Darcy in the “Status” newsletter. The company now plans to complete the migration during the second quarter of 2025.
Disney will move employees onto Microsoft’s rival collaboration application, Teams, according to aBusiness Insider report — a switch that is apparently unpopular with some Disney employees.
A group called “Nullbulge” published a 1.1 TB file containing data taken from Disney’s internal Slack archive in July. This included 44 million messages between Disney employees, 18,800 spreadsheets and at least 13,000 PDFs, according to a Wall Street Journal report earlier this month. Information posted publicly included details on Disney’s financial status and strategy, as well as personally identifiable information on some staffers and customers.
The breach apparently occurred after a computer belonging to software development manager at Disney was compromised. Data was then stolen from public and private Slack channels, though private messages were unaffected, according to the Journal.
Slack is owned by business software vendor Salesforce following a $28 billion acquisition in 2020. At the company’s Dreamforce event this week, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff highlighted Disney’s continued use of Salesforce products across its operations, including by Disney retail workers and customer service staff.
Benioff also commented on Disney’s decision to drop Slack during a Bloomberg interview on Thursday.
“Our security is rock-solid,” said Benioff. “This is really important. Also, there’s no finish line when it comes to security. But companies have to also take the right measures to prevent phishing attacks and to lockdown their employees from social engineering. So, we can do our part, but our customers also have to do their part — that’s extremely important.”
It’s new iPhone time! For the first time in well over a decade, Apple launched new phones on a Monday.
However, aside from the unexpected timing, there are no big surprises with the iPhone 16 range. Rumours ahead of the event confirmed key specs for the iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max, including A18 chipsets, upgraded cameras, a new Camera Control button and, of course, Apple Intelligence.
With all four phones on sale now, here’s everything you need to know about buying one in the UK and US, including the retailers and networks we recommend.
When was the iPhone 16 released?
Apple officially launched all four iPhone 16 handsets at its ‘Glowtime’ event on 9 September 2024, alongside the Apple Watch Series 10 and new AirPods.
All four of the phones are on sale now, having been released on 20 September.
How much does the iPhone 16 cost?
Here are the starting prices for all configurations of all four models:
iPhone 16 (128GB) – £799/$799
iPhone 16 (256GB) – £899/$899
iPhone 16 (512GB) – £1,099/$1,099
iPhone 16 Plus (128GB) – £899/$899
iPhone 16 Plus (256GB) – £999/$999
iPhone 16 Plus (512GB) – £1,199/$1,199
iPhone 16 Pro (128GB) – £999/$999
iPhone 16 Pro (256GB) – £1,099/$1,099
iPhone 16 Pro (512GB) – £1,299/$1,299
iPhone 16 Pro (1TB) – £1,499/$1,499
iPhone 16 Pro Max (256GB) – £1,199/$1,199
iPhone 16 Pro Max (512GB) – £1,399/$1,399
iPhone 16 Pro Max (1TB) – £1,599/$1,599
For context, that pricing is identical to the iPhone 15 range at launch.
Apple
Apple
Apple
Where to buy the iPhone 16 in the UK
Here are all the confirmed retailers offering pre-orders of the phones outright:
