For most pet primates in the United States, life is marked by chronic stress, malnutrition and illness — if they survive at all. A bill in Congress would aim to make ownership of captive primates illegal in all 50 states.
(Image credit: Oakland Zoo)
The Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII is a predictably good-looking wireless speaker with plenty going for it purely in design terms (as long as you're OK with monochrome). It’s lost its handle and its Amazon Alexa voice control compared with the original model, but it’s gained a swanky new streaming platform (thanks, WiiM!) which offers an absolute stack of options where music sources and system flexibility are concerned.
Best of all, it’s a fine-sounding speaker that is able to extract an absolute stack of information from a recording and put it into convincing context. It’s punchy when it needs to be, it’s insightful, and it sounds a heck of a lot bigger than it looks. Deft control of the low frequencies, plenty of midrange articulacy and a winning way with dynamic variations all add to its sonic charm. If it was just a little more vibrant and exciting when the music demanded it, the Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII would be absolutely ideal, but it is nevertheless worthy of a place among the best wireless speakers out there.
(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII review: Price and release dateWhen the Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII first launched back in 2021, it cost $450 / £329 / AU$674 (approx.).
Fast-forward to today, and not only has this product become even more compelling thanks to upgrades in its streaming support and smart features, but it’s also routinely available for $360 / £259 / AU$530 (approx.). It looks like rather than becoming outdated, the C10 MkII has matured and evolved…
Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII review: FeaturesIt’s fair to say that Bluetooth 4.2 with SBC and AAC codec compatibility is not the most inspiring specification for a wireless speaker in 2025. But what the Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII lacks in cutting-edge Bluetooth chops, it more than makes up for in its wireless network abilities.
The exemplary control app, which is now bolted to WiiM’s extremely well-regarded streaming platform, allows you to integrate a lot of music streaming services – and I mean a lot: Amazon and Apple Music, Deezer and Spotify, Qobuz and Tidal, QQ Music, iHeart Radio and vTuner, and plenty more besides. The C10 MkII is compatible with Apple AirPlay 2 and Google Chromecast, and the app allows the speaker to be half of a stereo pair or part of a multi-room system without any fuss whatsoever. It’s an extremely flexible device.
Once aboard, digital audio information is processed by a 24bit/96kHz DAC and then is breathed on by 80 watts of Class D amplification. A pair of 19mm tweeters get 20 watts of power each, and in between them there’s a 133mm midrange driver that receives the other 40 watts. This bigger driver is supported by a rear-facing vertical bass reflex port.
Yes, by the standards for $350-ish wireless speakers the Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII is quite large. But be assured the sound it creates is plenty larger than the cabinet it’s coming from.
The sort of scale the Audio Pro can invest in a FLAC file of Hookworms’ Negative Space is straightforwardly impressive. It can open the recording out and offer a proper sense of space at the same time, even though the point-source of sound is always obvious. The amount of dynamic headroom that’s available allows the speaker to track the ever-increasing intensity of the recording convincingly, and the control of the lowest frequencies is such that rhythmic expression is confident and naturalistic, too.
And as well as being controlled with real authority, the bottom end – like the rest of the frequency range – is loaded with detail and variation. The C10 MkII is no thumper – it hits good and hard at the low end, but is textured and tonally varied. The same is true at the opposite end, where treble sounds are bright and substantial, with plenty of information available regarding tone, attack and decay. Through the midrange, the Audio Pro is about as explicit and as eloquent as any device of its type and price I’ve heard. It communicates in absolute torrents.
The tonal balance is nicely judged – it’s not absolutely neutral, but the tiny suggestion of warmth (especially towards the bottom end) is almost certainly sensible in the context of the circumstances the C10 MkII will probably be used in. The evenness of the frequency response is splendid, too, giving measured and appropriate weighting to every part of the tonal range, without underplaying or overstating any particular area.
Really, about the only area of mild concern where the sound of this speaker is concerned has little to do with the specifics of performance – it’s more about attitude. For all of its undoubted dynamic potency and ability to paint a full and nicely detailed picture, the Audio Pro is not the most demonstrative listen.
It sounds quite like it looks: sophisticated, understated and in unarguable good taste. This, where audio quality is concerned, can be considered shorthand for ‘slight lack of excitement’. No one is interested in a feral loudspeaker, of course, but at those moments when a recording demands vigor and attack, I get the strong impression the C10 MkII thinks this kind of behavior is a little beneath it.
The Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII is, by the standards of a ‘rectangular box’ wireless speaker, very nicely finished and actually quite elegant in an understated sort of way.
This is just as well – given the 165 x 320 x 185mm (HxWxD) dimensions, it could have very easily ended up looking a bit bulky. As it is, though, the standard of construction and finish, along with the unapologetically monotone options of black, gray or white matte colours, make for a very harmonious look. The magnetically attached grille helps with the clean look, too.
It’s a fairly sizeable proposition on the average desk, though, and the lack of a handle makes transporting its 4.3kg weight rather less easy than it might be. I can’t deny I’ve used the bass reflex port as a handle, but I can’t imagine Audio Pro would recommend it as an option…
Unlike the previous generation of C10, there’s no Amazon Alexa voice control here – there’s no voice control at all, in fact. You may count this as a negative, you may not, but there’s no denying that your other control options are very nicely realized indeed.
That WiiM-powered control app, as already mentioned, is stable, logical and slick in operation. As well as the ability to integrate a generous number of music streaming services and internet radio providers, it’s also where you can form a stereo pair or establish a multi-room system. There’s bass and treble adjustment, the ability to establish as many as half a dozen presets, input selection, the ability to check for firmware updates and various timer and alarm-clock functions.
The top surface of the cabinet features a selection of controls, too, embedded in a tactile steel plate. Power, volume, playback control and Bluetooth pairing are all available here, and access to the six presets you’ve defined in the control app are also available. There’s also a little LED giving confirmation of the selected input.
Consider the standard of build and finish, and then consider the out-and-out sound quality. Take into account the great new WiiM-powered streaming platform and all its possibilities, from forming a true stereo pair to easily creating a multi-room system.
And then look around at what this kind of money can buy you from alternative brands. Yes, the Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII is very good value for money indeed.
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Features
Wi-Fi connectivity, Bluetooth (albeit 4.2 with SBC and AAC codec) and WiiM’s excellent streaming platform.
4.5 / 5
Sound quality
Open, detailed and well-controlled, but could be a little more exciting.
4.5 / 5
Design
Three possible matte finishes, sizeable with carry handle removed, magnetically attached grille.
5 / 5
Usability and setup
Great control app, extensive physical controls, can be part of a multi-room set-up.
4.5 / 5
Value
Not cheap, but extras provide added value to make the expense more than worth it.
4.5 / 5
Buy it if...You admire a bit of Scandi design
‘Elegance’ is in the eye of the beholder, of course, but there’s no denying the Audio Pro is a bit of a looker.
You enjoy slick operability
Co-opting WiiM’s streaming platform has turned the C10 MkII into a very versatile and easy-to-use speaker indeed.
You know the devil is in the details
By the standards of their price-comparable rivals, the Audio Pro is able to resolve a heck of a lot of fine detail.
You’re after sonic fireworks
There’s plenty to recommend the sound of the C10 MkII, but ‘excitement’ is not an area of expertise.
You think life should be Technicolor
One person’s ‘understated’ is another’s ‘boring’, and if you don’t like black, or white, or gray, then you’re going to be struggling here.
JBL Authentics 200
If you fancy a bit of retro charm rather than Scandi cool, the JBL Authentics 200 will be just the thing. It's got that JBL sound (punchy, driving and forceful), that JBL look (fully mid-70s hi-fi heyday) and is nothing if not fully featured. See our full JBL Authentics 200 review for more.
Apple HomePod 2
If you’re already deep in the iOS ecosystem, the Apple HomePod 2 is a great-sounding option, although it lacks some features most alternatives consider ‘essential’.
Here's our full Apple HomePod 2 review to add to the pile.
Because the C10 MkII is mains-powered rather than battery-powered, I listened to it exclusively in my home. It’s a bit big for a desktop speaker, but nevertheless I gave it a go – it was much more at home on a shelf in the lounge, though.
I listened to music from Tidal and Qobuz via the excellent control app, of many types and quite a few different file sizes. And I listened both critically and with the Audio Pro functioning simply as a ‘background’ device – and there were never less than thoroughly enjoyable.
We get it, there's a lot going on in life – from sports tournaments to school holidays to work pressures – and you're not necessarily going to be able to keep up with every single story TechRadar publishes over the course of seven days (there are a lot of them).
That's why we put together this ICYMI (In Case You Missed It) round-up every week, so you don't miss out on everything that's happening. This week, that includes new Kindles from Amazon, new software from Apple, and a new watch from Nothing.
It's been another packed week in technology, and we've been covering all of it here on TechRadar. Without any further ado, these are seven of the biggest stories published on the site since last week.
7. We gave our verdict on 2025’s final Marvel movieThe Fantastic Four in action (Image credit: Marvel Studios)It's fair to say that Marvel movies aren't quite the box office smashes they used to be, and the latest film to try and reverse the downward trend is another retelling of the story of The Fantastic Four – so how does the new big screen outing compare to previous fare?
Well, according to our Senior Entertainment Reporter Tom Power, this is the best live-action adaptation of these comics yet. Click through for our full review – with some light spoilers included – to find out why Pedro Pascal and his pals deserve a lot of credit.
6. Nothing launched an impossibly cheap smartwatchThe CMF Watch 3 Pro is stylish, and very affordable (Image credit: Nothing)Top tech at bargain prices? We're always interested in that combination, and that's what's promised with the new Nothing CMF Watch 3 Pro: you get all the standard fitness tracking features here, plus an AI companion ready to give you some personal coaching advice.
The best part is, it's only going to cost you $99 / £99 / €99 (around AU$205) – significantly less than rival wearables from the likes of Apple, Fitbit, Google, and Garmin. We've got all the details here, including information on the smartwatch's upgraded sensors.
5. Breville’s new coffee machine has a neat (and expensive) trickThe new Breville Oracle Dual Boiler coffee maker (Image credit: Breville)From a very cheap piece of tech to a very expensive one – though serious coffee lovers might consider the new Breville Oracle Dual Boiler worth a look. We're certainly impressed by its signature move: being able to brew coffee and steam milk at the same time.
Launching first in Australia for AU$4,499 (about $3,000 / £2,200), this is a new big sibling for the Breville Oracle Touch. Bearing in mind the high regard in which we hold that latter model, this new addition definitely has potential, even if you'll need to save up for it.
4. Amazon gave us two new Kindle ColorsoftsA cheaper Colorsoft is now available (Image credit: Amazon)Amazon launched its first color Kindle last year, and now there are two more Colorsoft models to choose from: First up is a cheaper model of the main Colorsoft, with less storage and without some of the premium features of the original (including wireless charging).
There's also a Colorsoft Kids for the youngsters in your household – and they're probably better off staring at this all day than a phone or tablet. Both the new Kindles are available to buy now, and we've got full lists of the features and prices for the latest models.
There was official and unofficial DJI news this week: the company confirmed that its first 360-degree camera would be launched on July 31, while a leaked (and swiftly pulled) video review gave us far more details about the upcoming camera than DJI has.
We also got confirmation that the first DJI robot vacuum, the DJI Romo, is going to get its grand unveiling on August 6. In short, it's going to be a busy few weeks for DJI, as it continues to push beyond its core business of drone-making to pick up more fans.
2. Google accidentally leaked all four Pixel 10 phonesThe Google Pixel 9 (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)Google has told us that the Pixel 10 phones are coming on August 20, but it hasn't revealed too many other details about these devices – at least not officially. However, eagle-eyed users spotted a banner showing off all four Pixel 10 models on the Google Play Store.
It seems that Google didn't really intend this promo to go live quite so early (the accompanying text says "now available"), and if you add in all the other leaks we've seen so far, at this rate there's not going to be much left to reveal at the official event.
1. The iOS 26 public beta landed for iPhonesPublic beta testing has started for iOS 26 (Image credit: Apple / Future)The public betas for iOS 26 and Apple's other annual software upgrades are now available, which means that anyone can give them a try ahead of the full launch later this year – or at least, anyone who's prepared to put up with a few extra bugs and errors on their devices.
The TechRadar team has already been testing these updates, including iOS 26, and you can read about what we think are the biggest new features to look forward to. If you're tempted into giving it a try, we've also got a guide to installing the iOS 26 public beta.
You might also likeSome big companies are reporting real financial pain from tariffs and economic uncertainty — but for others, business is booming.
(Image credit: Spencer Platt)
Google has already given us a sneak peek at one of the Pixel 10 phones being revealed at the Made by Google launch event on Wednesday, August 20, but we now have leaked images of the whole range of devices that are expected to be unveiled.
Veteran tipster Evan Blass has posted not one but two threads of images on social media, showing off the Google Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, Pixel 10 Pro Fold, Pixel Watch 4, and Pixel Buds 2a. It's quite the collection.
Most of these images show the devices in a new color that's apparently going to be called Moonstone. It's an attractive-looking bluey-silver type shade, and it's the same one we've previously seen in the official Google teaser for next month's event.
It's a color that Google clearly likes and will be going all-in with when it comes to the new range of Pixel products. However, we also get a couple of shots of some of the Pixel 10 phones in different shades, which have already been leaked.
A design for lifepic.twitter.com/abIAgjpdppJuly 25, 2025
It's definitely interesting to see the upcoming Google devices in this new Moonstone color, but there's not actually that much that's new in this leak: all of these gadgets look very much like the models they're replacing as expected.
It seems likely that we're once again going to get four Pixel phones, to replace the Google Pixel 9 equivalents. Look out for a processor speed boost, some tweaks to the camera setup, and (we're hoping) no price hikes compared to last year.
When it comes to the Google Pixel Watch 4, previous leaks and rumors have pointed to a bigger battery capacity – which is always welcome of course – as well as improvements in how repairable the smartwatch is going to be.
As for the Pixel Buds 2a, we haven't heard very much about these wireless earbuds at all to date – though the original Google Pixel Buds A-Series might give us some idea of what to expect. In a few weeks, all of these gadgets will be made official.
You might also likeOne of my biggest disappointments of the year so far was no new game footage or deep dive on Fable.
About all we’ve heard is that the game has been pushed back to 2026 – costing me a pint due to a lost bet with Hardware Writer Dash Wood. I had, maybe naively, thought that Fable would launch in the second half of the year with the goal of giving Xbox a big exclusive to finish 2025 on a high. But that wasn't to be.
Now I’m ok with delays if it means polishing a game to a fine shine. Starfield was delayed, and while that didn’t help make it a high watermark game for Bethesda, it launched without a load of bugs.
However, I’d been expecting to see Fable in action. While we’ve seen brief clips of what’s been touted as in-game footage in 2023, followed by a trailer with more game action in 2024, and then a short snippet of pre-alpha 'gameplay' about five months ago,
While the little bits of game footage I've seen so far has me optimistic, we’ve not had anything that properly details how the game plays, what new features it could bring to the table, or just a deep dive into a next-generation Fable now that it's under the wing of Playground Games.
Usually, with a game launching in around the next 12 months, we’ll have got a better idea of what to expect; even if it’s just brief snippets in trailers, like I remember was the case with Red Dead Redemption 2.
A fabled past(Image credit: Microsoft)I remember way back when in E3 2007 when Fable 2 was some 14 months away from its 2008 release date, then boss of Lionhead Studios and gaming auteur Peter Molyneux did a dive into how the game will work with contextual one-button combat.
Like a good few of Molyneux's promises, I’m not sure this quite came to fruition in the final release.
Of course, Playground Games isn’t Lionhead, and with E3 more dead than ever, we may have gone beyond the era of post-showcase game deep dives.
As the developer of Forza Horizon, perhaps Playground Games prefers flashier, fast trailers that leave some of the actual game mechanics to the imagination and journalist hands-on previews.
Nevertheless, I’m still a bit surprised we didn’t have any fresh Fable information this year so far, beyond the delay and pre-alpha footage.
Awaiting AlbionSo when can we expect to see such stuff? I’d hazard a guess that we could get something towards the end of the year, maybe to juice up interest for people to buy Xbox Series X consoles heading into the holidays.
Or we could hear more early-ish next year, with Microsoft looking to kick off the year with some Xbox positivity, perhaps in one of the developer-led games roundups it does.
But then a lot of that depends on when Fable will get launched next year. If it’s towards the end of the year, we may not hear much until the next Xbox Games Showcase in June 2026.
My hope is we get more information sooner than later. As it stands, I don’t feel we’ve seen a particularly strong year for Xbox exclusive titles (such as they are with PC releases too), with Avowed arguably being one of the biggest so far. Last year, Xbox rounded out the year strongly with Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, which despite being available on PS5 felt like an Xbox game gave its day one release on Game Pass.
Microsoft looks set to have some strong titles to propel the second half of the year, with Grounded 2, Gears of War: Reloaded, and Outer Worlds 2. But I’m not convinced any of these will have a big impact; Gears of War is a contender but Reloaded is just a remaster of the first Gears game. So a game footage-heavy Fable trailer or a bit of a deep dive into what we could expect from the game under its new stewardship could be the shot in the arm I feel Xbox might still need this year, especially as there’s no word on The Elder Scrolls 6.
However, I do have a niggling concern: given the upheaval in Microsoft Gaming’s studios and the cancelation of games like the reboot of Perfect Dark – something I was looking forward to – potentially down to development woes, I’m a little concerned that development of Fable could have stalled.
Playground Games has a solid track record, but effectively rebooting Fable for new hardware and to make in compelling in the face of hugely impressive, system-driven RPGs and adventure games like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Baldur’s Gate 3 and Elden Ring, while also retaining that sense of humor, style and sandbox elements of traditional Fable games, is likely a huge proposition.
I’d not be surprised if some information trickles out about Fable going through several iterations in its early development that perhaps means it’s not quite ready to be put in the preview limelight.
For what it’s worth, I have faith in the trailers I’ve seen so far and Playground Games’ ability to produce a compelling open-world game that’s also polished to a standard we’ve come to expect from the developer.
But I’ll need to hear something about Fable reasonably soon to ensure that faith remains burning away, rather than smoulder into nothing… along with my passion for Xbox.
You might also like...Those with equity in a home can trade up more easily, while many first-time homebuyers are still stuck on the sidelines.
(Image credit: Justin Sullivan)
- Officially renewed in December 2024
- Coming to Paramount+ in October
- Main cast expected to return
- New characters confirmed
- No official plot details
- Taylor Sheridan has seven seasons in mind
Mayor of Kingstown season 4 returns in October, which is no doubt excellent news for fans of the crime thriller. Spearheaded by Yellowstone's Taylor Sheridan alongside Hugh Dillon, it's one of the best shows on Paramount+ and there's plenty more where that came from.
Viewers have watched the McClusky family position themselves as power brokers acting as the go-between for police, criminals, inmates, prison guards and politicians. And leading the McClusky family? Mike (Jeremy Renner) as he navigates Kingstown, a place with a real lack of order, in hopes of digging his way out.
Here's everything we can expect from release date speculation, predicted cast, plot rumors, and more.
Full spoilers follow for Mayor of Kingstown seasons 1-3. Potential spoilers are also discussed for season 4.
A post shared by Hugh Dillon (@hughdillon)
A photo posted by on
While Mayor of Kingstown season 4 doesn't have an exact release date, it does have a release window – and that's October.
Thanks to an Instagram post by the show's co-creator, Hugh Dillon, it was revealed on June 10 that season 4 had officially wrapped on production and will start streaming on Paramount+ in October.
Mayor of Kingstown season 4 trailer speculationThere's no Mayor of Kingstown season 4 trailer just yet (Image credit: Paramount Plus)With filming wrapped on Mayor of Kingstown season 4 and an impending October release window in mind, I'd expect the trailer to arrive in September – and when it does, I'll post it here.
If we take a look at season 3's trailer release, it officially dropped on April 25 before the season arrived on June 2. That's just over a month before, which is the same gap as the trailer release to show launch of season 2.
Mayor of Kingstown season 4 confirmed castA post shared by Mayor of Kingstown (@mayorofkingstown)
A photo posted by on
Spoilers follow for Mayor of Kingstown season 1 to 3.
The Mayor of Kingstown season 4 cast has been growing in size with returning cast and newcomers alike. Here's who we can expect to star this time round:
As mentioned, there's already been a few casting announcements for Mayor of Kingstown season 4 including Edie Falco, Lennie James and Laura Benanti all revealed in the official Instagram post above.
And, as per Deadline in January, Clayton Cardenas joined as Deputy Warden Torres: "the right-hand man to the prison's new warden at Anchor Bay Prison".
Another cast announcement, confirmed again by Deadline in June, is Derek Rivera. He'll be joining the cast for season 4 as Cortez: "a young, cold, and measured Colombian Sicario in a recurring role".
Mayor of Kingstown season 4 story synopsis and rumorsMayor of Kingstown season 4 picks up after a warring season 3 finale (Image credit: Paramount Plus)Full spoilers follow for Mayor of Kingstown seasons 1-3. Potential spoilers for Mayor of Kingstown season 4.
The Mayor of Kingstown season 3 finale was tumultuous, to say the least. While a lot of issues were resolved, most importantly the Russian mafia which has had a chokehold on the McClusky family for three strong seasons, the stage is set for Mike to navigate new territory.
It also comes as no surprise really that new cast announcements have been made for Mayor of Kingstown season 4, considering the characters that were lost in season 3. There was Iris (Emma Laird) and Kareem (Michael Beach) met their untimely fates. And, Milo (Aidan Gillen), who seemingly returned from the dead to take over Konstantin, succeeding with the manipulation of Iris before being overpowered by Mike.
Milo's return made Mike's plan to finally rid Kingstown of its Russian problem in the season 3 finale a little tricky, but he managed it all the same. For season 4 though, co-creator Hugh Dillon told The Hollywood Reporter that the season 3 finale: "leaves a vacuum".
But, he adds: "And it will be filled, it's human nature". But, who's next to step into the criminal abyss left behind by the eradication of the Russian mafia, we'll have to wait and see.
What's next for Kyle after the bridge shootout? (Image credit: Paramount Plus)Then, there was the shootout on the bridge during a confrontation with Bunny's game, which saw Kyle shoot at Robert to protect the innocent civilians around them.
While this subsequently led to Kyle's arrest, it leaves the door open for Robert's story in season 4 given Evelyn is still hellbent on looking into him, despite him recovering in hospital from Kyle's shooting.
It's all speculation for now as the Mayor of Kingstown season 4 plot is kept firmly under wraps. And I'd expect no less from a show filled with complicated dynamics and brutal exchanges.
Though, Dillon did say, when it comes to Mayor of Kingstown season 4: "The scripts are graet, the characters great. And that's what we want to do. We don't want to leave any strone unturned. This show is very much rock 'n' roll".
Will there be more seasons of Mayor of Kingstown?Taylor Sheridan has seven seasons in mind (Image credit: Paramount Plus)Mayor of Kingstown has a rather complicated relationship with renewals, especially after Jeremy Renner's serious accident in 2023 left the entire show hanging in the balance.
But, even after returning for season 3, it still took a few months to confirm the return of Mayor of Kingstown season 4 was happening. It appears though that the plan has always been for more.
In conversation with ScreenRant, Hugh Dillon reveals the aim has always been for multiple more seasons – with Taylor Sheridan already having planned an ending in season 7: "Well, Taylor's my mentor, he has been. He's coached me, this was the first thing he ever wrote, and he was my acting coach.
"He coached me on 100 episodes of TV, and we would talk about this all the time. And when we first mapped it out, he's the king of knowing where it ends. I like intros, and I like explosive intros. And he has an ending for it in season 7".
Dillon added: "So, our goal is to get to that season 7, because that's as far as we can get, because that's where he's always had it".
Whether the show makes it that far is one thing, but if Sheridan has plans to extend its run with a multi-year deal at Paramount+ already in place, there's some real hope for more Mayor of Kingstown. Watch this space.
For more Paramount+-based coverage, read our guide to the best Paramount+ shows.
A few days ago, we got our first official look at the DJI Romo – the brand's first foray into robot vacuums – and the more information I get about this surprising new addition to the DJI lineup, the more intrigued I am about how it's going to shape up when it comes to launch.
It certainly looks cool. Both the video clip shared by tech leaker Igor Bogdanov (aka @Quadro_News) and the teaser trailer DJI leaker @JasperEllens show the curvy dock with a transparent plastic cover – and if you look closer, you can see that the bot itself appears to have a clear lid too. It's an unusual design choice and one that'll certainly stand out against competitor models, even if I do have my concerns about how pristine-looking that it'll remain over time (perhaps it's good that DJI seems to be offering a version that doesn't have its insides on show as an alternative).
Although a DJI logo is nowhere to be found on the product and it's the first white plastic I have seen since the #mavicair... the official Chinese #DJIRomo account displayed this little video teaser today, showing they will launch their first vacuum cleaner on August 6th. Cheers pic.twitter.com/zBseU9pfCDJuly 23, 2025
What's particularly interesting is that this peek inside the dock doesn't reveal any water tanks. Almost all of the best robot vacuums have mopping capabilities these days. You don't need a water tank in the dock in order for the bot itself to be able to mop – some models will just have a small integrated reservoir onboard. However, these tend to be the cheaper, more basic robovacs.
Mid-range bots will often have a clean water tank in the dock, and refill the onboard reservoir automatically. Shift into the premium category and you can expect an additional dirty water tank, and automatic mop-washing capabilities. Unless there are some tanks tucked out of sight, it looks like the Romo won't offer either.
DJI's drones are great at navigating... but not so good at mopping (Image credit: James Abbott)I guess mopping and self-cleaning tech aren't areas that DJI would naturally have expertise in. The brand is known for making pretty much all of the best drones on the market, and there's no crossover there. That's in contrast to, say, navigation and object avoidance tech, which is vital in both drones and robot vacuums. I'd expect the Romo's navigation skills to be top-tier.
A premium proposition?We don't have pricing information for the DJI Romo yet, but I had assumed DJI would be positioning its debut robovac as a premium choice, with features and specs to match.
That might not be be the case. We do have precedent for a huge brand trying to make waves in the robot vacuum market with a relatively basic model: Dyson and its 360 Vis Nav. It wasn't Dyson's first-ever robovac, but it was a major launch in this area, and seven years in the making. In this case, Dyson offered limited capabilities – no mopping to speak of, and no automatic dust emptying either – but decided to stick with a premium price tag anyway.
Dyson is a firmly premium brand, so that wasn't necessarily a surprise (although it does usually do more to justify its lofty pricing). With DJI, things are more up in the air... no pun intended. On the one hand we have the Amflow, DJI's first and only ebike, which is very much a premium proposition.
The Amflow – DJI's other non-drone launch – sits firmly at the top end of the ebike market (Image credit: Amflow)However, the drones it's known for range from ultra-cheap (in its Ryze Tello line) to extremely high-end, but the constant throughout is that they're always great value for money, often undercutting similarly-specced rivals. (I asked TechRadar Cameras Editor and resident drone expert Tim Coleman for his take and he said, "I would expect whatever price Romo is, it'll be excellent value. This is the DJI way.")
So the jury's out on where the Romo might sit in the market. We might not have too long to wait to find out either way. The latest teaser trailer suggests the DJI Romo will launch on August 6. That would be in China – I expect the Romo might take a while to make its way overseas to the UK, and US launch is very uncertain given the potential US ban on DJI drones. But that's a whole separate issue...
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(Image credit: ChiangYing-ying)
The first workstation powered by AMD’s new Ryzen Threadripper Pro 9995WX processor has gone on sale, and it comes not from a major PC maker, but from California-based custom builder VRLA Tech.
The VRLA Tech AMD Ryzen Threadripper Pro Workstation is available with a choice of processors from the Pro 9000 WX-Series, including AMD’s top-tier 9995WX.
Built on the 4nm Zen 5 architecture, the 9995WX features 96 cores and 192 threads, with a 2.75GHz base clock and boost speeds up to 5.1GHz. It includes 384MB of L3 cache and supports 8-channel DDR5-6400 ECC RDIMM memory.
(Image credit: VRLA Tech)Highly customizableThe default configuration, priced at $20,334.97, pairs the CPU with an ASUS Pro WS WRX90E-SAGE SE motherboard. This board supports up to 1TB of DDR5 memory and provides 128 PCIe 5.0 lanes for add-in cards such as graphics, storage, or networking components.
The unit comes equipped with 128GB of DDR5-5600 ECC RAM, using eight 16GB modules.
For storage, it includes a 1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD.
Additional drive slots provide space for future expansion. Graphics are handled by an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 with 8GB of memory in the standard build.
The system is powered by a 1600W 80 Plus Platinum power supply and housed in a black Fractal Design Define 7 XL case.
Cooling is managed by a high-performance liquid CPU cooler and Noctua case fans.
The workstation ships with Windows 11 Pro but you can save money by opting for Linux if you prefer, and includes all necessary drivers pre-installed.
The configuration can be customized prior to purchase. Options include up to three high-end GPUs, including workstation-class cards such as the Nvidia RTX 6000 Ada.
The system also supports a range of NVMe and SATA storage options and additional networking cards, but of course that will crank up the cost considerably. Add all the bells and whistles and price skyrockets to an eye-watering $55,113.90.
You may also likeMicrosoft has decided to put a face on its Copilot AI assistant with a new feature called Copilot Appearance. Rolling out to a limited set of users in the U.S., U.K., and Canada as part of Microsoft’s Copilot Labs, Appearance is a sort of animated cloud and has a smile instead of just a disembodied voice. Microsoft is hoping Appearance will help make Copilot more enduring as a tool for regular engagement, not just occasional questioning.
It's an idea that fits with how the company's consumer AI head, Mustafa Suleyman, envisions the future of Copilot. As he explained in a recent interview, Suleyman sees a more human-like Copilot, one that carries what he calls “digital patina” as it ages, accruing history and personality based on time spent with a user.
The Appearance feature is an aspect of that idea. It gives Copilot facial expressions and subtle animations to respond in real time as you talk or type. So you might see a smile when it provides information, or a nod of encouragement when you provide follow-up details. Perhaps even a furrowed brow if you ask for something difficult.
The obvious comparison for any Microsoft AI personality attempt is Clippy, but this is, theoretically at least, a far cry from the old paperclip with eyeballs. Unlike Clippy, this assistant doesn’t pop in uninvited or ask if you’re writing a letter. It will only talk to you when you start a conversation, and it's supposed to exist quietly in the background. But it will remember what you're doing, and that memory lasts.
Appearance and personalityIt's the continuity of the memory that makes it possible for Copilot to become as personal as Suleyman wants. Combined with other recent Copilot upgrades like voice mode and vision capabilities, Suleyman hopes Copilot will understand both what you want in the moment and who you are overall.
Of course, for now, the visual character isn’t doing anything wild. It won’t animate a full scene or wave its arms around like a Pixar sidekick. It’s more like a friendly desk plant that also edits your reports. Microsoft is moving slowly here for a reason. Other platforms that heavily leaned into character-based chatbots have encountered issues with users becoming overly attached to an AI companion.
The risk, of course, is that some people will start thinking of it that way. The goal is to earn a user's trust, but not so much that people forget this is still a tool. But if Microsoft keeps going down this path, it will need to draw some clear lines.
Appearance is a layer of presence and polish. It’s also a preview of an AI that shows how it is reacting to us with facial expressions and body language, something anyone can understand. But, I still don't want to see Copilot raise its eyebrows and roll its eyes sarcastically at requests it thinks are dumb.
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