Technology

• A software developer sabotaged his employer after being demoted
• Davis Lu created a "kill switch" that would lock out all users
• He was sentenced to four years in jail and additional three years of supervised leave

A disgruntled worker has been sentenced to four years in prison after installing “kill switch” malware on his employer’s network which was set to trigger if he ever lost network access.

According to a Department of Justice (DoJ) press release, a Chinese national named Davis Lu was working for an unnamed software company between November 2007 and October 2019. In 2018, he was demoted and lost system access, after which he “began sabotaging his employer’s systems”. By early August 2019, he introduced malware that crashed systems and prevented other users from logging in.

Court documents also revealed he created “infinite loops” that crashed servers, deleted coworker profile files, and ultimately built a “kill switch” that would lock out all users if his access to Active Directory was revoked. In early September 2019 he was asked to surrender his laptop, after which the kill switch was triggered.

Hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages

Investigators found plenty of incriminating evidence on that laptop, including that on the day he turned his device in - he deleted encrypted data.

An analysis of his search history showed he was looking for ways to escalate privileges, hide processes, and quickly delete files. Finally, the kill switch code was named IsDLEnabledinAD, short for “Is Davis Lu enabled in Active Directory”.

A month after the malware ran, Lu was arrested, and later stood trial in front of the jury.

During the trial, it was shown that Lu’s employer suffered “hundreds of thousands of dollars” in losses, as a direct consequence of his actions. Now, Lu will spend four years in prison, with an additional three years of supervised release.

"The FBI works relentlessly every day to ensure that cyber actors who deploy malicious code and harm American businesses face the consequences of their actions,” said Assistant Director Brett Leatherman of the FBI’s Cyber Division.

“I am proud of the FBI cyber team’s work which led to today’s sentencing and hope it sends a strong message to others who may consider engaging in similar unlawful activities. This case also underscores the importance of identifying insider threats early and highlights the need for proactive engagement with your local FBI field office to mitigate risks and prevent further harm.”

Via The Register

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Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Aug. 24.

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Saturday, August 23 (game #804).

Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.

What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc's Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Connections today (game #805) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• GLASS
• CORAL
• TORN
• CURTAIN
• RENT
• RATTLE
• COLD
• BOTTLE
• KING
• BOOTY
• CARAFE
• SPLIT
• CLOSE
• GARTER
• CLEFT
• DECANTER

NYT Connections today (game #805) - hint #1 - group hints

What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: Receptacles for a drink
• GREEN: Divided
• BLUE: Slithering things
• PURPLE: [Blank] thing you can do with a phone

Need more clues?

We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…

NYT Connections today (game #805) - hint #2 - group answers

What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: WINE VESSELS 
• GREEN: RIPPED
• BLUE: KINDS OF SNAKES
• PURPLE: ____ CALL

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Connections today (game #805) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #805, are…

• YELLOW: WINE VESSELS BOTTLE, CARAFE, DECANTER, GLASS
• GREEN: RIPPED CLEFT, RENT, SPLIT, TORN
• BLUE: KINDS OF SNAKES CORAL, GARTER, KING, RATTLE
• PURPLE: ____ CALL BOOTY, CLOSE, COLD, CURTAIN

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 3 mistakes

After an easy game yesterday, I was expecting a more cryptic round today – and so it proved. WINE VESSELS was easy enough to get, but the rest of today’s Connections was really difficult.

I was pleased when I managed to finally get KINDS OF SNAKES, but it took me three tries before I finally achieved it. I was pretty sure about the category and had RATTLE, KING and CORAL locked down, but was clueless about the fourth.

I didn’t really know what I was looking for with the last two groups, but thinking that SPLIT, CLEFT and TORN must belong together, I tried CURTAIN first before swapping in RENT for no reason other than a blind guess. 

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Saturday, August 23, game #804)

• YELLOW: U.S. PRESIDENTS ADAMS, FORD, GRANT, WASHINGTON
• GREEN: ACTORS WHOSE LAST NAMES ARE ALSO VERBS CHEVY CHASE, CHRISTOPH WALTZ, GEOFFREY RUSH, TOM CRUISE
• BLUE: KINDS OF POKER DRAW, OMAHA, STRIP, STUD
• PURPLE: PROPER NOUNS AFTER GERUNDS IN '90S MOVIE TITLES AMY, JOHN MALKOVICH, LAS VEGAS, PRIVATE RYAN

What is NYT Connections?

NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.

On the plus side, you don't technically need to solve the final one, as you'll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What's more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.

It's a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.

It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Saturday, August 23 (game #538).

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #539) - hint #1 - today's themeWhat is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Plug your ears

NYT Strands today (game #539) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

• SITE
• BOON
• SMOG
• BONUS
• LOST
• BORE

NYT Strands today (game #539) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 6 letters

NYT Strands today (game #539) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: right, 5th row

Last side: left, 5th row

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #539) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #539, are…

• BLASTING
• LOUD
• BOOMING
• NOISY
• STRIDENT
• BOISTEROUS
• SPANGRAM: HUBBUB

• My rating: Hard
• My score: Perfect

I was expecting today’s search to be about explosions. Especially as the first word I found was BLASTING, but BOISTEROUS and STRIDENT describe LOUD people rather than detonations.

Recently I’ve been finding the spangram fairly quickly and working my way around the board from there, but I found today more difficult and didn’t get HUBBUB until near the end. 

I did manage to get through without taking any hints, but it was far from a straightforward search, with BOISTEROUS taking me a while to get through. A Sunday stretch.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Saturday, August 23, game #538)

• DETECTIVE
• STRANGER
• LOVER
• RIVAL
• SPOUSE
• HEIR
• SPANGRAM: ITS A MYSTERY

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

Looking for a different day?

A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Saturday, August 23 (game #1307).

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,100 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.

Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc's Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

Quordle today (game #1308) - hint #1 - VowelsHow many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 5*.

* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).

Quordle today (game #1308) - hint #2 - repeated lettersDo any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 1.

Quordle today (game #1308) - hint #3 - uncommon lettersDo the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #1308) - hint #4 - starting letters (1)Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 0.

If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:

Quordle today (game #1308) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• R

• G

• A

• O

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

Quordle today (game #1308) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1308, are…

• ROVER
• GONER
• ANTIC
• OUTDO

The curse of the letter V hit me again today when I plumped for every possible other letter in the middle position taking four guesses before finally getting ROVER. When will I learn?

Despite the error I still – just about – managed to complete the puzzle before the 9th round. Phew!

Daily Sequence today (game #1308) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1308, are…

• FABLE
• PLANT
• WAFER
• HAZEL

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1307, Saturday, 23 August: DEMON, GRATE, FLYER, SHEEP
• Quordle #1306, Friday, 22 August: TROOP, SCOPE, TORSO, BRINY
• Quordle #1305, Thursday, 21 August: QUEST, SPARK, WHITE, ACUTE
• Quordle #1304, Wednesday, 20 August: DOLLY, MERRY, BUGLE, WORST
• Quordle #1303, Tuesday, 19 August: KNAVE, SMART, CARRY, MAMMA
• Quordle #1302, Monday, 18 August: FIBER, TRADE, RAYON, TEASE
• Quordle #1301, Sunday, 17 August: FUNGI, AMITY, DRIER, CHECK
• Quordle #1300, Saturday, 16 August: OWING, QUAKE, SLIDE, ELITE
• Quordle #1299, Friday, 15 August: WHALE, PRISM, DRAKE, TEPEE
• Quordle #1298, Thursday, 14 August: LAPEL, IDIOM, RENEW, LIVER
• Quordle #1297, Wednesday, 13 August: CACTI, HOMER, EMAIL, ALBUM
• Quordle #1296, Tuesday, 12 August: SPOOL, TITLE, JAUNT, OVINE
• Quordle #1295, Monday, 11 August: ADULT, BROOM, PURER, CRUEL
• Quordle #1294, Sunday, 10 August: SCRUM, PIPER, TROLL, SPORE
• Quordle #1293, Saturday, 9 August: NOOSE, INLET, ELEGY, VIRUS
• Quordle #1292, Friday, 8 August: KNEEL, KINKY, RALPH, BOOZY
• Quordle #1291, Thursday, 7 August: PLUNK, PROXY, CURVY, PEARL
• Quordle #1290, Wednesday, 6 August: RISKY, APART, FAUNA, HANDY
• Quordle #1289, Tuesday, 5 August: ROAST, SLICK, AUDIT, BILLY
• Quordle #1288, Monday, 4 August: MACAW, SINCE, COLON, CHIRP

Here are hints and the answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for Aug. 24, No. 335.

• Jetson T5000 claims 2070 TFLOPS performance through Blackwell GPU architecture
• Jetson AGX Thor Developer Kit transforms a compact board into workstation-level computing
• T4000 is positioned as a lighter, cost-efficient alternative option

Nvidia has expanded its Jetson lineup with the Jetson AGX Thor Developer Kit, a compact platform that carries the new Jetson T5000 system-on-module.

Marketed as a developer system, the dimensions and form factor place it firmly in the realm of a mini PC, although its design and purpose align more with edge AI deployment than home computing.

Nvidia says the Jetson T5000 delivers “2070 TFLOPS (FP4, Sparse),” made possible by its 2560-core GPU based on the Blackwell architecture, with 96 fifth-generation Tensor Cores and Multi-Instance GPU features.

Raw power behind the Jetson T5000

This system is paired with a 14-core Arm Neoverse-V3AE CPU and 128GB of LPDDR5X memory.

Networking is handled by four 25GbE connections, with support for NVMe storage through PCIe.

The Jetson AGX Thor kit includes video encode and decode support across multiple 4K and 8K streams.

There is also a lower-end option, the Jetson T4000, which is still in development, but early specifications list “1200 TFLOPS (FP4, Sparse)” performance, a 1536-core GPU, and 64GB of memory.

Both modules operate across a wide power range, with the T5000 rated between 40 and 130 watts and the T4000 between 40 and 75 watts.

This device is designed to provide researchers and engineers with a complete platform for testing robotics and edge workloads.

For connectivity, it ships with a reference carrier board equipped with a WiFi 6E module, 1TB NVMe SSD, and standard debugging interfaces.

Networking includes a QSFP28 interface with four 25GbE channels and a 5GbE RJ45 connector, highlighting its focus on sensor-heavy applications.

The kit also supports expansion through M.2 slots and offers HDMI 2.0b and DisplayPort 1.4a outputs, along with multiple USB ports.

Its physical dimensions are 243.19 x 112.4 x 56.88 mm, making it larger than a business PC but still compact compared with most workstation PC designs.

Nvidia positions this release alongside earlier initiatives such as the DGX Spark, which was presented as a desktop AI development platform.

The Jetson AGX Thor differs by targeting humanoid robotics, visual AI systems, and sensor integration, supported by the company’s Isaac, Metropolis, and Holoscan software frameworks.

The Jetson AGX Thor Developer Kit is listed at $3,499 and is available for pre-order from selected distributors, with shipments expected to begin on November 20, 2025.

Via Cnx-software

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Here are some hints and the answers for the NYT Connections puzzle for Aug. 24, #805.

Here are hints and answers for the NYT Strands puzzle for Aug. 24, No. 539.

Here are hints and the answer for today's Wordle for Aug. 24, No. 1,527.

• Geekom mini PC combines AMD Ryzen AI 9 processor with Radeon 890M graphics
• Ships with 32GB RAM, 2TB SSD, expandable to 128GB RAM and 8TB storage
• Wide port selection includes USB4, HDMI 2.1, and support for four 8K monitors

Geekom has launched the A9 Max, a compact desktop usually priced at $1,199 but currently available for $999.

The PC combines AMD’s latest Ryzen AI 9 HX370 processor with Radeon 890M graphics, 32GB of DDR5 memory, a 2TB PCIe Gen4 SSD, and support for up to four 8K monitors.

The HX370, based on AMD’s Zen 5 architecture, is built on TSMC’s 4nm FinFET process and features 12 cores and 24 threads, a maximum boost clock of 5.1GHz, and 24MB of L3 cache, with a configurable TDP of up to 54W.

Plenty of ports

It integrates a dedicated AI engine capable of 80 TOPS, making the A9 Max well suited for on-device AI acceleration in workflows such as content creation and professional applications that benefit from local processing power.

The Radeon 890M integrated GPU is based on RDNA 3.5 and offers performance typically beyond what most mini PCs have provided in the past.

It comes with 32GB of dual-channel DDR5 RAM (expandable up to 128GB) and a 2TB PCIe Gen4 SSD. Two PCIe 4.0 slots allow storage expansion up to 8TB.

As you'd expect from a modern mini PC, the A9 Max offers a good selection of ports. On the front panel, there’s a 3.5mm headphone jack, three USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports, and one USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A that remains powered even when the system is off.

The rear panel includes two HDMI 2.1 ports, two USB4 Type-C ports with DisplayPort Alt-mode and power delivery, another USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, and one USB 2.0 Type-A.

It also includes dual 2.5Gbps RJ45 Ethernet ports, Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4, as well as an SD card reader and a Kensington lock.

The chassis is built from metal, keeping the form factor small while maintaining durability. Geekom says it can endure up to 200kg of pressure without bending.

The IceBlast 2.0 Cooling System with a large copper heatsink, dual heat pipes, and high- performance fan, should keep things cool even when under load or during prolonged use.

Compact systems like the A9 Max show how mini PCs are now powerful enough to replace traditional desktops for many users.

They save space, reduce clutter, and still provide the memory, storage, and processing power needed for both professional and everyday work.

A9 Max comes with Windows 11 Pro installed, a three-year warranty, and 24/7 support. It is available to buy from Geekom’s site and Amazon now.

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• BenQ PV3200U is a 32-inch 4K monitor with calibrated color display for content creators
• It has an integrated 2.1 audio system with woofer but headphones may still be required
• A wireless Hotkey Puck lets users make quicker adjustments during editing

BenQ has taken the wraps off its new 32-inch 4K monitor designed primarily for video creators who want better audio than usually found in mid-range monitors.

The PV3200U’s display combines a calibrated panel with an integrated 2.1 sound system. The monitor offers 95% DCI-P3 coverage along with full Rec.709 and sRGB, aiming to deliver consistent visuals across platforms.

With factory calibration at Delta E ≤ 2, BenQ says editors can expect color stability whether producing for Mac, Windows, or mobile playback.

Wireless Hotkey Puck

M-book Mode and ICCsync are included to match Mac devices more closely, which can help reduce unwanted shifts once projects move beyond the editing stage.

While most monitors only include basic speakers, the PV3200U introduces a small 5W woofer alongside dual 2W speakers to produce a fuller sound. It’s hard to say without hearing it in action, whether it will be good enough to replace headphones for detailed audio editing, so you may want to try before you buy.

PV3200U has a useful Studio Mode designed to preserve audio detail by avoiding unnecessary processing, something BenQ says will provide users with an accurate reference point.

To reduce clutter and simplify setup across multiple devices, the monitor makes use of a single USB-C cable to carry 4K video, transfer data, and provide up to 65W charging.

A wireless Hotkey Puck is included, giving users quicker access to adjustments during editing.

The ergonomic stand supports tilt, swivel, pivot, and height adjustments, which should be handy for different working styles.

“Creators shouldn’t have to guess how their content will look and sound once it’s live,” said Peter Huang, President of BenQ Corporation.

“Too often, post-production color shifts and flat audio edits hamper YouTubers. PV3200U’s precise color, clear sound editing, and seamless device compatibility empower creators to trust the creative process from first cut to final upload.”

By combining color precision, integrated audio, and simplified connectivity, BenQ is positioning the PV3200U as an all-in-one editing solution for YouTubers and the like, but whether it can truly do away with the need for external gear is up for debate. Many creators will need convincing that a single screen can replace dedicated speakers and other hardware for critical work.

The PV3200U monitor is priced at £699 in the UK and available to buy from here. No word on global availability yet.

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Let me start off with an apology: I’m sorry I’m writing this article now, as we’re probably only three weeks away from the launch of the next-generation iPhones, which we and many others in the tech world have dubbed the iPhone 17.

That means you should almost certainly wait for the reveal of the new iPhones rather than rush out and buy one unless you absolutely need it; even then it might be better to get a pre-owned older model or an iPhone 16e that to tide you over and one that’ll act as a backup phone once you have a fully new iPhone.

So yeah, I could end the article there and apologize that I’m late to the game here; we’ve had a big Prime Day sale event and the launch of the Google Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, and Pixel 10 Pro XL, and Pixel 10 Pro Fold to distract me.

But there are two questions that I can still mostly answer: if you have waited, should you be excited? And if you’ve just got an iPhone 16 model, did you make a mistake? I think I can answer them both at the same time.

Apple anticipation

Starting with the second question first: No, I don’t think you made a mistake, as I think all the iPhone 16 models are rather good. While I don’t love that the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus still use 60Hz displays, they are still fine phones if you’re happy to play in Apple’s walled garden.

And I’m a big advocate for the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, the latter of which I use as my personal phone, as they blend performance, sleek industrial design, and great cameras into a seamless user experience. They may be a tad boring and incremental compared to some of the best Android phones, but you simply can't go wrong with these iPhones.

Going by the rumors so far, I'm not convinced that the iPhone 17 series will offer a big step up from the current crop of phones. There’s a hint that there'll be 120Hz displays for all four new iPhones, which I’d very much welcome as I love a high-refresh-rate display. And the Pro iPhones are tipped to get a 48-megapixel telephoto camera, which should help give a boost to zoomed-in shots.

There is the rumored iPhone 17 Air, which could replace the Plus model and offer a tall but slim iPhone option, but I don't expect it to be a revolution in Apple phone design.

Aside from that and likely improved A-series chips, it doesn't feel like this year will usher in a big step-change for the iPhone. So my feeling is you don’t need to be super excited for the next Apple event from a phones perspective, but you can pretty much guarantee that an iPhone 17 will once again offer the best iPhone experience, even if it’s only an incremental upgrade over the iPhone 16.

It’s on the AI side that I think Apple will garner a bit more attention with the iPhones this year. The launch of Apple Intelligence wasn't a smooth one, and it’s only recently that I’ve started to feel some of the benefits of it. As such, I reckon Apple will focus a bit more on the new AI features that’ll come with the new iPhones, as well as emphasize those revealed at WWDC 2025 with the showcase of iOS 26.

I’d expect the Cupertino crew to really focus on what Apple Intelligence features will be available for the iPhone 17 straight out of the box, rather than those that may have a regional or staggered rollout. Of course, if you have an iPhone 16, you’ll almost certainly be able to run these features after an update, yet that’ll still mean an iPhone 17-centric Apple event is worth watching.

With that in mind, TechRadar will be looking at bringing you all the news, announcements, and analysis live for the next Apple event, and in the run-up, we’ll be perusing the rumors and last-minute leaks. So keep an eye out for that.

And do let me know in the comments below if you're looking forward to the next-generation iPhones.

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• Apple may stick with the Camera Control button
• Previous rumors suggested it wouldn't be on the iPhone 18
• We may see a simpler button on future iPhones

Last week we heard a rumor that the iPhone 17 would be the last to sport the Camera Control, which was only introduced last year with the iPhone 16 – but a fresh leak suggests the button will live on, albeit in a different form.

The new rumor comes from well-known tipster Instant Digital (via MacRumors), which states that Camera Control components are in production for the iPhone 18. That refutes the idea that Apple would get rid of it as it's not seeing a lot of use.

There is a twist though: Apple is apparently removing the capacitive sensor next year to cut down on costs. That's the sensor that detects any kind of touch or swipe, enabling users to gradually change settings like exposure or zoom.

That will leave only the pressure sensor, detecting distinct touches of different strengths. We'll have to wait and see how that might affect the different functions of Camera Control – some of them might be remapped or replaced, with the help of iOS.

Mixed reactions

We're expecting Apple CEO Tim Cook to introduce the iPhone 17 next month (Image credit: Getty Images)

When the Camera Control was introduced with the iPhone 16 models, Apple described it as a feature that "elevates the camera experience" and which is "packed with innovation" – offering easier access to various camera controls and Visual Intelligence.

In our iPhone 16 review, we described it as "major enhancement" for the Apple handsets, and in fact the "best addition" to the 2024 handsets. However, it didn't make an appearance on the iPhone 16e that Apple launched the following February.

Despite our enthusiasm for the small button, it's fair to say the reaction overall has been mixed. Some have struggled to find a real purpose for the Camera Control, but it seems that some time and effort investment is required to make the most of it.

What seems clear is that we'll get the standard Camera Control button back again with all four iPhone 17 handsets in September – including, if the leaks are to be believed, the iPhone 17 Air that's supposedly replacing the iPhone 16 Plus this year.

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