HeyWhatsNew: Now’s the Best Time to Get a New Apple M4 Mac Mini, and Something New Could Be Coming to Replace the Nintendo Switch
Hey, what’s new, Heyuppers? This week’s tech news headlines are filled with releases, rumors, and updates. Let’s find out what went down in the week beginning 4/11/2024.
The 2024 Apple M4 Mac Mini Is Coming This Week
If you’re debating whether to upgrade to the new Mac mini or choosing between the Mac mini and Mac Studio, now is the perfect time to make the jump. Refreshed in October 2024, the new Mac mini starts at just $599, with pre-orders open ahead of the November 8 launch. Featuring the powerful M4 chip and 16GB of memory as a minimum, it offers exceptional performance for the price.
Mac Rumors reports that the new Mac mini models come with the latest M4 and M4 Pro chips, Thunderbolt 4 or 5 ports, and up to 64GB of unified memory, along with SSD storage options up to 8TB. Despite its compact size, it delivers impressive power. Keep in mind that the Mac mini doesn’t include a display or peripherals, so you’ll need to bring your own setup.
Nintendo Switch Demands Decrease, Signaling the Arrival of a Successor
According to CBR, Nintendo has reported a decline in Switch sales in its latest financial report, marking a significant shift after eight years of the console’s success. The Nintendo Switch has long been one of the best-selling consoles of its generation and in gaming history.
This drop in sales has sparked speculation among fans, many of whom believe that the much-anticipated successor to the Switch may be just around the corner. With many players already owning the current console, some potential buyers are likely holding out for the rumored Switch 2, which could be fueling this decline.
Open AI Reportedly Spends Upwards of $10 Million for a URL
In an effort to better compete with rivals like Google, ChatGPT has reportedly paid $15.5 million for the domain name chat.com. TechRadar reports that this move simplifies access to ChatGPT, as typing chat.com into your browser now redirects directly to ChatGPT.com.
The announcement was made by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who posted just the URL “chat.com” in a tweet on Wednesday. This prompted immediate speculation on X.com, with users wondering whether OpenAI plans to drop the “GPT” from its name entirely in the future.
Qualcomm Reports an Increase in Demand and Boost In Revenue
Qualcomm not only exceeded sales estimates for the last quarter but also delivered an optimistic revenue forecast of $10.5 billion to $11.3 billion for the upcoming quarter, surpassing expectations. The company reported a significant jump in quarterly revenue, with profits nearly doubling, driven by a stronger demand for smartphones and other electronics powered by its chips.
Additionally, Qualcomm’s results highlight continued progress in expanding its footprint in the automotive industry, providing chips for various vehicle technologies.
Suzuki and Toyota Come Together to Create the E Vitara EV
Back in 2016, Suzuki Chairman and current Senior Advisor Osamu Suzuki began discussing potential business partnerships with Toyota President and Chairman Akio Toyoda, exploring a wide range of collaboration opportunities. The latest outcome of their ongoing partnership is a new electric SUV, the E Vitara, set to be sold in global markets.
This model will be produced at the Suzuki Motor Gujarat manufacturing facility in India, with production scheduled to begin in the spring of 2025.
Nvidia Set to Cap Game Streaming Hours Instead of Raising Prices
According to Nvidia, the vast majority of paid subscribers, about 94% of them, rarely exceed the 100 hour monthly threshold, and the company believes imposing a limit will allow most users to enjoy the service comfortably. So starting in 2025, Nvidia will implement a new restriction for GeForce Now subscribers, limiting playtime to 100 hours per month.
Nvidia states that the change will help maintain low or no queue times and ensure a high-quality experience for every session. The new policy will take effect on January 1, 2025, for subscribers on the Ultimate and Priority tiers, priced at $19.99 and $9.99 per month, respectively.
Microsoft Outlook Shows Off New AI Powered Themes
Microsoft unveiled a new feature for Outlook on Thursday that leverages generative AI to create personalized themes based on your preferences. Available to Copilot Pro consumer subscribers and business accounts with Copilot enabled, the AI-powered themes can be accessed across iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, and the web.
With the “Themes by Copilot” feature, you can select a theme inspired by over 100 locations or create one based on your own location. Additionally, you have the flexibility to set how often the theme updates—whether dynamically every few hours, daily, weekly, or monthly—allowing for a more personalized and ever-evolving experience.
That concludes this week’s tech news headlines. Join us again next week for HeyWhatsNew where we’ll unpack the latest in tech news and updates.
