Category: Technica Aquarius

Enlarge / Apple’s Studio Display. (credit: Andrew Cunningham)

One thing that makes Apple’s Studio Display monitor unique—aside from the native 5K display resolution—is that there’s basically an iPad inside of it. The monitor includes an Apple A13 chip and 64GB of storage to power some of its smart features, and like any of Apple’s other iDevices, it can receive iOS-based firmware updates to add new features and fix bugs.

But also like Apple’s other iDevices, this means that you’ll sometimes run into problems installing the latest updates for your Studio Display. That was the case over the weekend for some users of the new Studio Displays from Apple who found that they couldn’t update the factory firmware (version 15.3) to the latest version (15.4).

The reason the update stopped working is likely related to how Apple handles iOS software updates. Apple verifies an iOS update file’s digital signature before allowing installation to prevent the installation of updates that contain malware or other modifications. And to prevent downgrading to older iOS versions, Apple will typically only allow installation of the one or two most recent iOS updates at any given time. When a new iOS version is released, as iOS 15.4.1 was on March 31, Apple will stop signing the previous version (in this case, iOS 15.4) shortly after.

Enlarge / Next week, we can show you way more of Playdate’s final retail version. For now, settle on this capture from the system’s setup process, along with a look at its unboxing. (credit: Sam Machkovech)

Nine months ago, the team responsible for the portable Playdate game system sent us the device’s “near-final” version for preview. I spent weeks carrying, tapping, and cranking it while testing four preinstalled games. It’s a unique and fun device, even if it lands more in the “quirky hipster” column than the “must-have” one.

Unboxing time. (credit: Sam Machkovech)

But that preview was inherently limited by issues like a non-final OS and 83 percent of the system’s games not being ready. Next week, I will be able to report on everything else about the retail version of the Playdate, which I’ve been testing for a couple of weeks now. In particular, I’ll answer whether the device’s mix of unique shape and 24 built-in games are worth its $179 retail price (and its “2023” estimate for new orders placed as of press time).

My Playdate system review will be published in one week, on Monday, April 18, at 1 pm ET.

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Google Fi’s “unlimited” usage plans are getting a price drop and more generous high-speed data limits.

Google’s blog post explaining the changes says the “Simply Unlimited” plans now start at $50 for one line instead of $60. High-speed data limits are increasing from 22GB to 35GB, and you’re allowed 5GB of hotspot tethering to other devices (this presumably counts against your total data cap.) If you’re on a family plan and are buying multiple lines from Google Fi, your prices will be going down, too. Two lines are now $40 each instead of $45, three lines are $25 each (down from $30), and four or more lines are $20 each instead of $30. Simply Unlimited doesn’t have worldwide usage applications, but the plan works with unlimited calling in the US, Canada, and Mexico.

Fi also has an “Unlimited Plus” plan, which provides international data access in 200+ countries, no limits on tethering, up to four additional data-only SIMs for your plan at no extra cost, and 100GB of Google One cloud storage. Unlimited Plus is down $5 across the board, with the new prices starting at $65 for one line and ending at $40 for four or more lines. The high-speed data cap is up from 22GB to 50GB. Like with the other limited plan, users also get unlimited calls in the US, Mexico, and Canada.