Nothing Announced the Phone (2a) 'Special Edition' and US TikTok Ban Gets an Autumn Appeals Court Date in This Week's Tech Roundup

This week, the tech industry saw Nothing unveil a ‘Special Edition’ of its Phone (2a). Equipped with all of that from the (2a) and more, the phone draws design inspiration from a Super Nintendo controller.

The TikTok ban trial also progresses, with the appeals courts set to hear the challenging lawsuits – from TikTok and an independent group of creators – sometime this September.

Elsewhere, Elon Musk’s xAI revealed it plans to “continue on [a] steep trajectory of progress,” and, across the pond, Bowers & Wilkins enlisted fellow Brit David Beckham as the latest brand partner.

Below, Hypebeast has rounded up the top tech stories of the week so you can stay up to date on trends in the industry.

Elon Musk Has Ambitious Plans for xAI After $6B USD in Funding Round

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After raising $6 billion USD in a recent Series B round, Elon Musk has revealed his imminent ideas for xAI.

The rookie company – just about a year old now – said it plans to use the money to “continue on [a] steep trajectory of progress” in the AI space.

With its new funds, xAI noted it will be taking its first products to market as well as prioritizing research and development of its AI infrastructure. Per The Information, a supercomputer just might be in the works well…

Nothing Announces Super Nintendo-Inspired Special Edition Phone (2a)

Nothing

London-based Nothing has unveiled its latest smartphone – a colorful iteration of Phone (2a) inspired by the Super Nintendo.

Phone (2a) ‘Special Edition’ is dipped in hues of gray with hits of red, yellow and blue throughout.

Equipped with all of the Phone (2a)’s updates, the ‘Special Edition’ also comes complete with an 8-core chip Dimensity 7200 Pro chip, 20 GB RAM and a 5,000 mAh battery.

The US TikTok Ban Will Head to Appeals Court This September

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With a deadline of January 19, 2025 to sell, the US TikTok ban finally has an appeals court date.

After President Biden signed the TikTok ban into effect back in April, TikTok responded weeks later with a lawsuit against the US Government – followed up by a suit from a group of TikTok creators.

Both cases are set to appear in front of US appeals courts sometime this fall, with oral arguments beginning sometime in September.

Bowers & Wilkins Partners With David Beckham in Pursuit of Performance Perfection

Bowers & Wilkins

Bowers & Wilkins and David Beckham have collided in pursuit of unwavering perfection. The UK-based audio imprint enlisted the fellow Brit as the new face of the brand, kicking off with a campaign fronted by the footballer.

“I’ve been a fan of Bowers & Wilkins for years … Performance and design have always been important to me,” Becks said in a statement.

“Music has always played a huge role in my life,” he continued – explaining that high-quality audio streaming is a top priority for him.