The Weekly Authority: ???? Foldables forthcoming?

⚡ Welcome to The Weekly Authority, the Android Authority newsletter that breaks down the top Android and tech news from the week. The 198th edition here, with a possible date for new Samsung Galaxy foldables, Apple’s WWDC 2022 roundup, plus everything from Summer Game Fest and Netflix’s Geeked Week.

???? This week I had dinner at one of my favorite restaurants in Edinburgh and ate one of the best desserts of my life: now I just need the recipe for Turkish Delight Cheesecake so I can recreate it at home! Also, pretty excited that my copy of The Quarry just turned up. Weekend plans, sorted.

Popular news this week

Samsung:

Google:

Apple:

• Apple’s WWDC 2022 kicked off on Monday, running until Friday. At Monday’s keynote, we saw a little bit of everything: iOS 16 (mostly lock screen design options and better live notifications), iPadOS 16 (more useful organization of tabs and windows with Stage Manager), macOS Ventura, watchOS 9 (redesigned watch faces, medication reminders), and CarPlay (big update coming late 2023).
• On the hardware side, we saw the M2 chip, which Apple promises has an “18% faster CPU, a 35% more powerful GPU, and a 40% faster Neural Engine,” but does it deliver those with better overall efficiency than the M1?
• We also saw an updated 13-inch MacBook Pro and MacBook Air, both with the M2 chip: the Pro is basically the same machine as 2020, but MacBook Air gets a whole refresh — new colors, thinner shape, larger 13.6-inch display (with notch), MagSafe charging, and a 1080p webcam. But you’re looking at dropping $1,600 if you want 16GB RAM and 512GB storage.
• Plus, Apple announced passkeys, basically the end of passwords, effectively turning logins into biometric sign-in standards.
• And Apple plans a 15-inch MacBook Air for 2023, a new 12-inch laptop, and MacBook Pros with M2 Pro or M2 Max for end 2022/early 2023.
• Also this week: According to 9to5Mac, iOS 16 code includes multiple “always-on display” references ahead of iPhone 14 Pro.

Xiaomi:

OnePlus:

Space:

Elsewhere:

• USB-C will be mandatory for all phones sold in the EU by fall 2024, and buyers will get to choose whether they want to buy new phones with or without a charger.
• Facebook smartwatch no one wants has been put on hold.
• Speaking of Facebook, it’s killing Portal, but existing users will get long-term software support.
• And Telegram Premium is happening: Coming this month as a paid service, offering additional features and higher usage limits, but existing features remain free.
• Nothing Phone 1 launch date confirmed with “Return to Instinct” livestream on July 12 at 4 PM BST (11 AM ET).
• And ZTE Axon 40 Ultra launches globally with 16MP under-display camera, 5,000mAh battery, and Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip.
• Poco F4 is coming soon: same processor as the F3, and likely again based on the China-only Redmi K40s.
• Plus, HTC’s metaverse smartphone finally has a reveal date: June 28.
• Twitter reportedly will give Musk the full “firehose” of user data he demanded after he threatened to kill merger.
• Meanwhile, the world’s largest four-day work week experiment begins: thousands of UK workers will work 80% of the week for 100% of their salary.
• And scientists discover “superworms” eat plastic, could help tackle pollution crisis.
• Plus: New HDMI version fixes the TV cable’s biggest problem — Cable Power feature will ensure longer HDMI cables maintain a strong signal by enabling source devices (like streaming boxes and game consoles) to provide additional power.
• Also this week: Bluetooth SIG unveils Auracast, a way to share audio to many devices.

Movies/TV:

• A leaked PlayStation Direct listing ahead of Summer Game Fest revealed The Last of Us Part I remake is coming to PS5 on September 2 (and PC someday).
• Summer Game Fest kicked off on Thursday for several days of events and demos: The Verge has a great roundup of all the news and trailers, but some highlights have included Naughty Dog confirming The Last of Us Part 1 remake launch date (plus we saw a trailer), Aliens: Dark Descent, coming next year, new gameplay from The Callisto Protocol, the first trailer for fast-paced narrative space thriller Fort Solis, a full playthrough of a Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II level, a new trailer for long-delayed robot horror Routine, and much, much more.
• As part of Summer Game Fest, the Xbox and Bethesda Games Showcase is happening at 12 PM CT this Sunday (June 12) — while we know we won’t see Redfall, Contraband, or Starfield, we could see Grounded leave early access, and possibly Avowed or Senua’s Sacrifice: Hellblade 2. We might also see some first-party titles like the Goldeneye 007 remaster, or As Dusk Falls.
• And Capcom’s holding a digital showcase on June 13 at 3 PM PDT, focusing on previously announced titles.
• Speaking of, Capcom is using Stadia tech for a web-based “Resident Evil Village” demo, free to stream on computer, phone, or tablet.
• The Quarry landed on PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, and Xbox One on Friday, and reviews are in, with Polygon calling it “a blood-soaked, brutal, and janky summer camp rampage” and IGN declaring it “a fun, bloody thrill ride on your first playthrough”.
• Sega announces Mega Drive Mini 2, a tiny CD retro console, releasing in October but Japan-only.
• And Xbox Cloud Gaming is coming to Samsung smart TVs — but only this year’s models — so you can play your favorite games without a console, from June 30.
• Epic Games will start selling the company’s first blockchain game, Grit, later this year in its PC store.
• E3 is really, truly coming back in 2023, says ESA, will be both an in-person and virtual event.
• Finally: Steam Next Fest kicks off on Monday (June 13-20) with hundreds of playable demos.

Reviews

Weekly Wonder

Netflix’s second annual Geeked Week kicked off on Monday, running through Friday, with plenty on offer including panels and teasers. Here are some of the highlights!

Series Day (Monday)

We saw some teasers and trailers for lots of great new shows, including a new show from the creators of Dark and Netflix’s queer vampire romance First Kill. Catch up here or check out our picks below.

The Sandman

Commencing proceedings was a trailer for the adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s beloved comic book, landing on August 5.

Resident Evil

Netflix’s Resident Evil series arrives July 14 and we’re excited!

1899

New mystery series 1899 is from the creators of Dark and is a must on our to-watch list, though no release date yet.

The Midnight Club

We got a peek at Mike Flanagan’s The Midnight Club, drawn from Christopher Pike’s 1994 YA novel and coming October 7, so a while to wait yet.

Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities

Day two was Film Day (catch up here) and here are some of our favorite moments, plus the full Netflix recap:

• Norwegian folklore-inspired action-adventure movie Troll looks like a fun ride.
• Jamie Foxx’s vampire action-comedy Day Shift’s got bite, and we got a peek behind the scenes.
• We saw a teaser for Spanish horror Killer Book Club.
• And got a first look at upcoming zombie apocalypse comedy Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead (pictured above), a must for fans of All of Us Are Dead.
• Other highlights included a sneak peek at Zack Snyder’s science fantasy epic Rebel Moon, a teaser for best-selling book series adaptation The School for Good and Evil, and an exclusive clip for action movie The Gray Man.

Animation Day (Wednesday)

There was plenty to get excited about on the animation side of things and you can get the full recap here, but some highlights below:

Stranger Things Day (Thursday)

Thursday was Stranger Things Day, with Stranger Things Unlocked revealing behind-the-scenes info and gossip, presented by Felicia Day.

Games Day (Friday)

Games Day was all about upcoming Netflix mobile games and series based on video games. Catch up on everything you missed on Games Day here or take a look at some highlights:

Phew!

Tech Calendar

• June 12: Xbox and Bethesda Games Showcase @ 12 PM CT
• June 13: Capcom digital showcase @ 3 PM PDT
• June 13-20: Steam Next Fest  (kicks off @ 6 PM BST/10 AM PT)
• June 20-23: Collision (Toronto)
• June 26-July 3: Summer Games Done Quick
• June 28: HTC Log In To The Future launch event (Metaverse phone?)
• July 5: Asus ROG Phone 6 launch @ 8 AM ET
• July 12: Nothing Phone 1 launch @ 4 PM BST (11 AM ET)
• July 19: Stray lands on PS5, PS4, PC
• July 28: Pixel 6a launch
• August 10 (TBC): Samsung Unpacked? (new Galaxy foldables, Galaxy Watch 5 series?)

Tech Tweet of the Week

This is a pretty interesting deep dive…

Paula Beaton, Copy Editor