ICYMI: the 8 biggest tech stories of the week, from new Moto foldables to electric air taxis

Date:
Sat, 02 May 2026 09:30:00 +0000

Description:
Missed some of the big stories that have appeared on TechRadar this week? Not any more, you haven't.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Every week we like to showcase the biggest stories on the TechRadar website over the previous seven days in our 'In Case You Missed It' (ICYMI) round-up both to help you catch up with the news, and also because we're proud of our work.

Once again, it's been a really busy week in technology: we've got stories
here covering new phones from Motorola, electric helicopters, Taylor Swift taking on AI, robots playing table tennis, the new Steam Controller, and more besides. In short, there's something for everyone here. Settle down and
buckle up: these are the major stories that mattered on TechRadar this week. Article continues below You may like ICYMI: the 7 biggest tech stories of the week ICYMI: the 7 biggest tech stories of the week ICYMI: the 7 biggest tech stories of the week 8. We were terrified by the first Resident Evil trailer Resident Evil is returning to the big screen (Image credit: Sony Pictures Releasing) Weapons director Zach Cregger is turning his attention to the Resident Evil movie franchise, describing his upcoming flick (premiering on September 18) as a "reinvention" of the series one that isn't tied to any of the video games or video game characters (a tactic that has worked well
enough for the Prime Video TV show based on Fallout ).

The first trailer for the film has now arrived and it's a pretty terrifying affair. We won't spoil any of the beats for you, but you can watch the teaser yourself via the link below, and we're more hopeful for the future of
Resident Evil on the big screen than we have been in a while (the least said about Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City , the better really). Read the full-story: The first Resident Evil movie trailer from Weapons director Zach Cregger is finally here and it looks like the horror video game series is getting the adaptation it deserves 7. New York City's first electric air taxi took off An air taxi taking to the skies (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future) 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 of New York city and TechRadar was there to watch the first demo. With its eVTOL (electric
vertical take-off and landing) technology, the flying machine has the potential to transform the way that New Yorkers get around 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 (an early prototype was tested three years ago). With regulatory clearance now on the way and pilots in place, we've got a transportation system that's much
quieter and eco-friendly than existing options. Get daily insight,
inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Read the full-story: I watched a Joby electric Air Taxi take off and land in New York City, and now I can't wait for our Uber of the skies future 6. A handy YouTube Premium feature came to free users Non-paying YouTube users outside the US have a new feature to enjoy (Image credit: Getty Images / NurPhoto) YouTube has rolled out a treat for free users who aren't yet on a premium subscription: anyone can now activate picture-in-picture mode for YouTube on their phone, anywhere in the world (this was previously available for US users, but it's now available globally). Just start a video, then head back to your phone's home screen to choose another app.

It means you can keep your DIY tutorial videos, lo-fi chill-out mixes or celebrity interviews rolling while you get other stuff done 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 not least
through an excessive number of ads playing around videos. Read the
full-story: One of the best YouTube Premium features is finally coming to non-paying users 5. Sony's table tennis robot blew our minds The robots are getting better at table tennis (Image credit: Sony AI) 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 scheme have been beating some of the best players in the world at table tennis a game that requires a lot of speed and dexterity. What to read next ICYMI: the week's biggest tech news stories for April 25, 2026 ICYMI: the week's 7 biggest tech stories for March 21, 2026 ICYMI: the 7 biggest tech stories of the week

These bots were shown mastering ball speeds of up to 70mph (plus plenty of spin), in a new video, and there are implications way beyond competing at sports. The systems put in place to track ball and bat movements here will be useful in many other areas too helping robots to adjust on the fly whenever they're met with unpredictable scenarios. Read the full story: 'It totally blew my mind': Sony's Project Ace robot beat elite table tennis players and marks a major robotics turning point 4. Taylor Swift took on the AI deepfakes Taylor Swift is taking a stand against AI (Image credit: Disney) AI-made
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 make sure AI models can't produce deepfakes based on her likeness or her tunes. If the applications are approved, it gives Swift some useful legal protection against any AI-based mimicry.

Given Taylor Swift's profile, it's difficult to imagine any AI prompter would get away with trying to rip off her creative output, but smaller artists aren't as well protected. We know that AI music is flooding the music streaming platforms at the moment, and those platforms are still playing catch-up when it comes to working out how to deal with it. Read the full story: Taylor Swift is taking legal action against the rising threat of AI misuse heres why the singer has filed trademark applications to protect her identity 3. Android fans started a Google protest The Galaxy S26 Ultra (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future) Changes are coming to Android, and many users aren't happy: Google is pushing ahead with plans to get developers to verify their identities, which doesn't sit right for those who choose Android
because of its claims to be an open platform. It means Google will be able to more effectively block apps on the Play Store from developers who aren't verified.

Disgruntled users have now set up a 'Keep Android Open' campaign online, arguing that the changes give Google the power to block apps it simply
doesn't like (or that governments tell them not to include). One privacy advocate has gone as far as labeling Google's mobile OS 'Darth Android' because of the restrictions being applied in the coming months. Read the full story: 'Your phone is about to stop being yours': anger brewing among Android fans as major Google app change draws near 2. We tested the Valve Steam Controller The new Steam Controller (Image credit: Future) We've given the shiny new 2026 refresh of the Steam Controller a thorough testing, and the good news is that the improvements are real and noticeable: this is a significantly more polished and user-friendly device than its rather lackluster predecessor was. If you're in the market for a gamepad upgrade, this could be the controller you're looking for.

Available for $99 / 85 / AU$149 from May 4, the Steam Controller (2026) is available direct from Steam, and is designed to work with games for PC, Mac, and mobile either from the Steam Store or otherwise. With great battery life and a solid feel, it's almost great enough to make us forget about the long time we've been waiting for the Steam Deck 2. Read the full story: I'm a PC gamer of over 30 years, and the Valve Steam Controller (2026) is now one of
my favorite gamepads since Sega dropped out of the console wars 1. Motorola gave us some impressive new foldables Shiny new Motorola phones (Image
credit: Future) We got news on no fewer than five new products from Motorola this week: three clamshell foldables, plus US availability updates on the
Razr Fold and Moto Buds 2 Plus. The highlight is perhaps the Motorola Razr Ultra 2026 , offering a 7-inch foldable screen, three 50MP cameras, and a Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset running everything very capably.

Follow the link below for all the details on all of these gadgets, including the new silicon-carbon battery technology being used in the Razr Fold and the Razr Ultra 2026. The tech allows higher capacity batteries to fit into the same physical space, and as it rolls out to more manufacturers it has the potential to make a substantial difference to battery life. Read the full-story: Motorola just dropped 5 new products, including the Samsung Galaxy-rivaling Razr Ultra 2026 series and Razr Fold Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/tech/icymi-the-8-biggest-tech-stories-of-the-week-fr om-new-moto-foldables-to-electric-air-taxis


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