TechRadar Recap: ChatGPT’s Visual UI, Gemini Model Limits and Starlink’s 800MHz Spectrum Push

OpenAI’s “Intelligent UI” update for ChatGPT began rolling out to all users, according to TechRadar. The redesign is intended to make responses more visual, so instead of returning only a wall of text, ChatGPT can include maps, diagrams, pictures and other graphics when they suit an answer. TechRadar said it tested the update and saw interactive elements appear in a savings calculator, while a prompt about bicycle mechanics produced a clear diagram. The publication described the change as a sign of where ChatGPT and other AI systems are heading, with each chat increasingly functioning like a bespoke mini-app.

Google’s Gemini changes were less welcome for some users. TechRadar reported that, from this week, users on free and Plus tiers will begin losing access to Google’s most advanced and most costly-to-run Gemini AI models unless they subscribe to the most expensive Google AI plans. The number of prompts, image requests and other demands allowed within a certain time frame is not changing under the affected plans, according to the report, but users who want the most sophisticated and fastest models will need to pay more. TechRadar said the shift brings Gemini closer to ChatGPT in how access to AI models is tiered.

Starlink Mobile has acquired low-band 800MHz spectrum, TechRadar reported, citing an announcement. The spectrum is described as ideal for providing cellular coverage indoors. The move takes SpaceX’s Starlink Mobile another step closer to competing with AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile as a major carrier in the United States. According to TechRadar, SpaceX has said its goal is to build “the world’s most advanced mobile network.”

Garmin unveiled two new watches, including the Enduro 4 and the golf-focused Approach S72, according to TechRadar. The Enduro 4 has a 1.4-inch MIP display and up to 90 days of battery life, which TechRadar described as apparently the longest-lasting GPS watch ever from Garmin. The Approach S72 replaces the Approach S71 and lets golfers analyze heart rate and other biometrics during play, access more than 43,000 course maps from the wrist, and use a feature intended to improve swing consistency. TechRadar said pricing and further details were available in its coverage.

Sonos released app version 27.1 for Android and iOS, TechRadar reported, bringing several features long requested by users. The update means switching between functions such as music playback and TV support will not lose a user’s place in a playlist. Android users also get a virtual volume knob on screen, matching iOS, and searching through a music library is now easier. TechRadar said the update follows well-received new hardware and comes as Sonos appears to be emerging from a rough patch.

Among the more unusual items in the recap was a new music player called the Sudo, which TechRadar described as a spiritual successor to the iPod Classic. The device has a clickwheel, a touchscreen that TechRadar said gave it Microsoft Zune vibes, a 3.5mm headphone jack and a memory card slot. The price was described as reasonable, but the player is not expected to go on sale until late next year. The iPod Classic, known for its tactile clickwheel, was discontinued by Apple in 2014.