Each week we like to feature the biggest stories on the TechRadar website over the previous seven days in our ‘In Case You Missed It’ (ICYMI) roundup, both to help you catch up on the news and also because we’re proud of our work.
Once again, it’s been a busy week in tech – here we have stories covering new Motorola phones, electric helicopters, Taylor Swift taking on AI, robots playing table tennis, the new Steam Controller and more.
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8. We were terrified by the first Resident Evil trailer.
Arms Director Zach Cregger is turning his attention to the resident Evil film franchise, describing his next film (out September 18) as a “reimagining” of the series, one that isn’t tied to any of the video games or video game characters (a tactic that has worked quite well for the Prime Video TV show based on radioactive dust).
The first trailer for the film has arrived, and it’s a pretty scary affair. We won’t reveal any of the beats to you, but you can check out the trailer yourself via the link below, and we have more hope for the future of resident Evil on the big screen than we have been in a long time (what less is said about Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon Citybetter actually).
7. New York City’s first electric air taxi takes off
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s the new all-electric Joby Air Taxi, which is currently being tested in the skies over New York City, and TechRadar was there to see the first demonstration. With its eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) technology, the flying machine has the potential to transform the way New Yorkers move in their urban environment.
Able to climb and land like helicopters, and switch to a more airplane-like mode in between, these air taxis have been a long time coming (a first prototype was tested three years ago). With regulatory authorization underway and pilots in place, we have a transportation system that is much quieter and greener than existing options.
6. A useful YouTube Premium feature came to free users
YouTube has rolled out a gift for free users who don’t yet have a premium subscription: now anyone can turn on picture-in-picture mode for YouTube on their phone, anywhere in the world (it was previously available to US users, but is now available globally). Simply start a video and then return to your phone’s home screen to choose another app.
It means you can keep your DIY tutorial videos, chill lo-fi mixes, or celebrity interviews playing while you do other things on your phone. It’s a welcome boost for YouTubers on the free tier, as Google has been pushing YouTube Premium and Premium Lite quite a bit lately, mostly through an excessive amount of ads playing around videos.
5. Sony’s table tennis robot blew us away
Robotics technology continues to improve and impress, and the mind boggles when it comes to what these machines will be able to do in 10 or 20 years. For now, the AI-powered robots that are part of the Sony Project Ace project have been beating some of the world’s best players at table tennis, a game that requires a lot of speed and skill.
A new video showed these robots mastering ball speeds of up to 70 mph (plus plenty of spin), and there are implications far beyond competing in sports. The systems implemented to track ball and bat movements here will also be useful in many other areas, helping robots adapt on the fly when encountering unpredictable scenarios.
4. Taylor Swift stood up to AI deepfakes
AI-created music is on the rise, and Taylor Swift is one of the flesh-and-blood artists taking a stand: She’s filed three trademark applications to protect her identity and to ensure that AI models can’t produce deepfakes based on her likeness or melodies. If the applications are approved, it gives Swift some useful legal protection against any AI-based mimicry.
Given Taylor Swift’s profile, it’s hard to imagine any AI pointer getting away with trying to rip off her creative output, but smaller artists aren’t as well protected. We know that AI music is flooding music streaming platforms right now, and those platforms are still playing catch-up when it comes to figuring out how to deal with this.
3. Android fans started a protest at Google
Changes are coming to Android and many users are not happy: Google is moving forward with its plans to have developers verify their identities, which does not sit well with those who choose Android due to its claims of being an open platform. It means Google will be able to more effectively block apps on the Play Store from unverified developers.
Disgruntled users have created an online campaign to ‘Keep Android Open’, arguing that the changes give Google the power to block apps that it simply doesn’t like (or that governments tell them not to include). One privacy advocate has even gone so far as to label Google’s mobile operating system “Darth Android” due to restrictions that will be implemented in the coming months.
2. We tested the Valve Steam Controller
We’ve extensively tested the Steam Controller’s shiny new 2026 update, and the good news is that the improvements are real and noticeable: this is a significantly more polished and user-friendly device than its lackluster predecessor. If you’re looking for an upgrade to your gamepad, this could be the controller you’re looking for.
Available for $99 / £85 / AU$149 from May 4, the Steam Controller (2026) is available directly from Steam and is designed to work with PC, Mac and mobile games, whether from the Steam Store or otherwise. With great battery life and a solid feel, it’s almost good enough to make us forget how long we’ve been waiting for Steam Deck 2.
1. Motorola gave us some awesome new foldables
This week we got news on no less than five new Motorola products: three clamshell foldables, plus US availability updates for the Razr Fold and Moto Buds 2 Plus. The highlight is perhaps the Motorola Razr Ultra 2026, which offers a 7-inch foldable display, three 50MP cameras, and a Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset that runs everything very competently.
Follow the link below for full details on all of these devices, including the new silicon-carbon battery technology used in the Razr Fold and Razr Ultra 2026. The technology allows higher capacity batteries to fit in the same physical space, and as it rolls out to more manufacturers, it has the potential to make a substantial difference to battery life.
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