Microsoft is working on a new update for its video conferencing software that will allow organizations with supported devices to use multiple cameras in Microsoft Teams.
There is a catch though as this new multiple camera feature will only work on select Microsoft Teams Rooms devices.
For those unfamiliar, Microsoft Teams Rooms is a dedicated hardware and software solution for video conferencing that was previously called Skype Rooms. Microsoft Teams Rooms devices include headsets, speakerphones, desk phones and Teams displays, collaboration bars, webcams and more.
According to a new post on the Microsoft 365 Roadmap, this feature is currently in development and is slated to roll out to Microsoft Teams Rooms devices like the Surface Hub 2S in January of next year.
Switching between multiple cameras
Once this new feature is available, organizations that have a meeting or conference room with more than one video camera connected to Microsoft Teams Rooms will be able to switch between them while in a video call.
To do so, they'll need to click on the icon that depicts an arrow going through a rectangle at the bottom of a Teams meeting to see a list of available cameras. From here, they'll be able to switch between cameras seamlessly without interrupting their meeting.
As more devices have built-in cameras than ever before, this new update to Microsoft Teams Rooms will allow organizations to take advantage of them. Some possible use cases include being able to switch between a wide group shot and having one individual on camera as well as being able to give attendees a close up view of a product or design.
Now that Microsoft is adding multiple camera support to Microsoft Teams Rooms, the company could eventually add this same functionality to regular Teams meetings so that individuals can also give their meetings more of a cinematic feel.
With WhatsApp bringing out many new features this year, such as disappearing messages, an updated look and more, users had been wondering what else could be coming from the company
You can try it right now and decide whether you'll prefer to use WhatsApp on your laptop or tablet device instead. But so far the app has a lot of features that you most likely use on your smartphone each day anyway, so you may prefer to keep using the app.
However, the question will be, whether a dedicated app on Windows is necessary, when your phone is an arms-length away, alongside being able to use WhatsApp on your web browser.
Analysis: Turning the WhatsApp dial to 11
While we ironically use our web browsers for more than just browsing the web, having a dedicated app for WhatsApp can enable more features compared to using a web page.
The app in testing showcases this, with handwriting features and notifications that work with Windows 10 and 11, alongside Focus Assist.
There's plenty of apps coming to the Microsoft Store, and that's not forgetting about Android apps coming to it soon thanks to Amazon.
It could be very helpful if you use WhatsApp more than others, saving you to use your smartphone, and instead replying to a message through your laptop.
However, time will tell if users will be more comfortable in using an app on the desktop, rather than through a web browser, or again, through their phone.
If you're looking for cheap TV sales, then you've come to the right place. We've scoured all the best retailers in the UK to bring you the hottest TV deals on everything from cheap TVs to more premium displays. That means you can relax with your favourite show in style, and your wallet can breathe a sigh of relief as well.
We've done all the searching, so you can simply browse the TV sales below for a size and price that suits you. That means no more obscure model numbers to look up and no more wondering if you've really got the best TV deal around. We've done all that legwork and brought all the need-to-know information right here.
We've organised all the latest cheap TV sales by size here, but it's worth checking out the prices throughout because you might be surprised how large a display you can get for your cash these days. We've also picked out a TV deal of the week, which represents the best outright value for most people.
That means all of these top brands are competing to offer the best tech for the money, so even if you're on a budget, you can still bag yourself some top-shelf features in a cheap TV. Between their powerful upscaling processors, full smart home integration, and, in some cases, Dolby Atmos support, all these 4K TV deals are fantastic value.
The best cheap smart TV deals in this week's roundup all offer awe-inspiring HDR and streamlined 4K upscaling to make everything shine. If you're looking to push the budget, you can also take a look at the best OLED TV prices and deals available right now.
The best TV deal of the week
55-inch Hisense Roku 4K TV: £499£399 at Argos Save £100 - You can snag a £100 discount on this 55-inch Hisense TV right now. It equals a record-low price that we've seen a few times throughout the year. As far as budget 4K TVs go, Hisense still manages to create affordable sets without compromising too far on picture and audio quality – as we found in our review. It's definitely not going to compete with the high-end OLED and QLED TVs, but it'll offer a satisfactory viewing experience when streaming films, watching TV shows and more.
The best cheap TV sales available now
(Image credit: Toshiba)
32-49 inch cheap 4K TV deals
JVC 40-inch Smart Full HD Android TV:£319.99£299.99 at Currys
Save £20 - If you're looking for a 40-inch budget set, this JVC HD TV is a fantastic option, and it's on sale for just £299.99. The HD TV comes with smart capabilities and the Google Assistant built in so you can use your voice to control your TV.
43-inch Hisense Roku 4K TV:£349£279 at Argos
Save £70 - This £70 price cut does mean you're still getting a lot for just £279 with this TV deal from Argos. This is a terrific choice if you want a simple budget Smart TV that can access all the major streaming apps and is the lowest price you can expect to pay for a 4K TV of this size.
Samsung 43-inch TU7020 Smart 4K UHD TV:£429£379 at Argos
Save $50 - Argos has this Samsung 43-inch 4K TV on sale for a record-low price of £379. The 43-inch set from Samsung delivers a bright, bold picture with life-like images thanks to the Crystal processor and 4K HD resolution.
Sony 32-inch HDR TV: £449£399 at John Lewis Save £50 - This 32-inch HDR TV from Sony is well worth a look, especially with this £50 saving. It makes do with 720p resolution, with Freeview Play, a capable Android TV platform, and support for HDR – despite the lack of 4K Ultra HD. A great buy for budget shoppers.
Samsung AU9007 43-inch Smart 4K UHD TV:£549£429 at Currys
Save £50 - If you're looking for a smaller set, Currys has this feature-rich 43-inch 4K TV from Samsung on sale for £429 - £20 less than last week's price. The 4K Ultra HD TV delivers a stunning picture thanks to the dynamic crystal colour technology and works with Amazon Alexa and the Google Assistant for hands-free control.
Samsung Frame 2020 43-inch 4K QLED TV:£899£799 was at Currys
Save £100 – Score a cheeky £100 off this stunning 43-inch model of Samsung's The Frame TV. With Art Mode for displaying artworks and photography, customizable bezels, and a QLED display, this is a TV for those who think form should match the picture. Includes HDR10+ too.
LG A1 OLED UHD 4K Smart TV (48-inch):£999.99£899 at Currys
Save £100 – This entry-level OLED TV is one of the cheapest ways to get a good OLED screen in your home - though we have seen it drop to £799 so you may want to hold out. With 4K HDR, Dolby Vision, and 20W of Dolby Atmos audio. you're getting plenty of good specs, even if the processor is a bit less powerful than that used in the C1.
Hisense 55-inch R55A Roku 4K TV: £499 £399 at Argos Save £100 - You can snag a £100 discount on this 55-inch Hisense TV. It equals a record low price that we have seen a few times throughout the year. As far as budget 4K TVs go, Hisense still manages to create affordable sets without compromising too far on picture and audio quality – as we found in our review. It's definitely not going to compete with the high-end OLED and QLED TVs, but it'll offer a satisfactory viewing experience when streaming films, watching TV shows, and more.
Hisense 58-inch 4K UHD Smart TV:£549£399 at Very
Save £150 - Very has this Hisense set on sale for just £399 which is the best deal we've seen and a fantastic price for a feature-rich 58-inch 4K TV. You're getting 4K HD resolution, DTS Studio Sound, Freeview Play, and Amazon Alexa built in for hands-free control.
Samsung TU7020 50-inch 4K Crystal UHD Smart TV:£549£479 at Very
Save £70 - This stunning Samsung 50-inch 4K TV is on sale for £479 at Very. That's the best price you'll find for the 4K set that delivers bright, bold colors thanks to the powerful Dynamic Crystal technology and works with Amazon Alexa and the Google Assistant for hands-free control.
LG 55-inch Smart 4K UHD TV (2021):£469.99£439 at Amazon
Save £30 - An incredible price for a feature-packed 4K TV, AO has this LG 55-inch set on sale for a record-low price of £439. You're getting bright, bold colours and sharp contrasts thanks to the 4K HD resolution, and the smart capabilities allow you to stream your favorite movies and TV shows seamlessly from your home screen.
TCL C72 55-inch 4K HDR QLED TV:£799£550 at Amazon
Save £149 – The main advantage of choosing a QLED screen is that they offer wider viewing angles and superior brightness, so if your TV is going into a big room that receives a lot of light you will be able to get a much clearer picture. TCL has established itself as a low-cost alternative to the likes of Samsung and LG while still producing some well-made sets, so this is a more affordable way to pick up a QLED screen on a lower budget.
LG NanoCell 816PA 50-inch Smart 4K UHD TV:£799£579 at Currys
Save £150 - Currys has this LG 50-inch 4K smart TV on sale for just £579 at today's sale. LG's NanoCell display delivers bold, bright colours thanks to the quad-Core 4K processor, and the ThinQ AI technology allows your TV to become a smart home hub.
Samsung 50-inch Q60A Series QLED 4K TV:£849£599 at Currys
Save £250 - Here's an absolutely amazing price on the Samsung Q60A series QLED TV, courtesy of the Currys TV sale. This is the cheapest price yet on Samsung's excellent entry-level QLED - a display that has Samsung’s Crystal Processor 4K for great upscaling and superb brightness. For casual viewing, it's a stellar choice - although gamers who want 120Hz at 4K will want to go for either the Q70A or Q80A.
Sony Bravia X85JU 55-inch 4K UHD Smart TV:£1,099£779 at Currys
Save £300 - You can score a £300 price cut on Sony's Bravia 65-inch 4K TV at Currys' latest sale. That's the lowest price we've seen for this 2021 set that features Sony's powerful X1 processor and Dolby Atmos for a cinema-like picture experience. You're also getting smart capabilities with the Google Assistant built-in for hands-free control.
Samsung QE55QN94A 55-inch 4K UHD QLED TV:£1,599£1,299 at Richer Sounds
Save £200 - If you're looking for a premium display, Richer Sounds has a nice £200 discount on this Samsung 55-inch 4K QLED TV. Richer Sounds is also offering a free Samsung TV bracket worth £149 with your order, plus a free £100 Richer Sounds gift voucher.
(Image credit: LG)
60-85 inch 4K TV deals
JVC Fire TV Edition 65-inch 4K TV:£599£499 at Amazon
Save £100 - Though there are less expensive options available, the JVC Fire TV is a good value for money option as it comes with a number of quality of life features that the cheaper sets lack. As well as a solid 4K image quality, you also get HDR and Dolby Vision support that you'll appreciate when watching films and TV. The Alexa voice remote is a handy final touch so you can control the TV and other compatible devices with just a few words. 50-inch:£449£349|55-inch:£499£399
65-inch Samsung TU7020 4K Smart TV:£629£549 at Currys
Save £80 – Curry's now has this stunning 65-inch 4K TV from Samsung on sale for £549 - the lowest price we've ever seen. The Samsung set sits squarely between the more expensive LG OLED and budget TCL, and for those after a larger screen with a bit more money to spend, you'll appreciate the Crystal UHD display and HDR10+ support.
Samsung 65-inch Smart 4K UHD TV:£1,099£749 at Currys
Save £350 - Currys has this feature-rich Samsung 65-inch 4K TV on sale for £799 - £100 cheaper than last week's price. The 4K Ultra HD TV delivers a stunning picture thanks to the dynamic crystal colour technology and works with Amazon Alexa and the Google Assistant for hands-free control. 75-inch:£1,299£979
Samsung 65-inch Q70A Series QLED 4K Smart TV: £1299£1099 at Currys Save £200 - We'd recommend the Q70A Series as a great middle-ground between the cheaper TCL and Samsung Q60A series QLEDs and the really pricey Samsung stuff. In particular, the beefy 4K processor and HDMI 2.1 ports in the Q70A make it pretty much the perfect TV to pair up with a PS5 or Xbox Series One since 120Hz at 4K is supported. It's also really, really bright - fantastic for capturing all the detail needed on those games.
Samsung 65-inch QN94A QLED 4K HDR Smart TV:£2,299£1,699 at Samsung
Save £600 - Currys' latest TV deals include this Samsung 65-inch QLED TV that's on sale for a record-low price of £1,699. The QN94A series set delivers a stunning picture with brilliant colours and sharp contrasts thanks to the Quantum HDR powered by HDR10+ and the powerful Quantum processor 4K.
65-inch LG C1 OLED TV:£2499£1699 at Currys
Save £300 – Here's the best price we've seen on the 65-inch LG C1 OLED ever. Most other TVs of this size and similar capabilities are at least £2000, so that shows just how much you're saving here. This premium set features high in our list of best TVs you can buy, especially for those looking to experience 4K gaming at 120Hz on the PS5 or Xbox Series X.
Sony Bravia A84J 65-inch Smart 4K UHD OLED TV:£2,199.99£1,799 at Currys
Save £400 - Sony's brilliant Bravia XR OLED TV gets a massive £400 price cut at Currys. That's the lowest price we've found for the Sony set that packs a 65-inch OLED panel, Dolby Vision, HDR10 and works with the Google Assistant for hands-free control.
More cheap TV sales from your favourite retailers
Not found the right cheap TV today? Or maybe you'd prefer to directly browse the offers at your favourite retailers instead of our highlights of the best smart TV deals? We're updating this page on a regular basis, so you may have better luck another day. If you want to take a look for yourself now though, here are the direct links to a the full collection of TV sales at multiple stores.
Argos - the best place for cheap TVs but regionalised stock
Large screen smart TV deals
If you're after larger smart TV deals, we should warn you, they don't come cheap. However, if you're after 65 to 85-inch TVs- we'd recommend heading over to John Lewis,Currys and Amazon as they seem to stock more models than most UK retailers.
If you'd like a headstart on some of the very finest TVs money can buy, be sure to take a look at our guides for the best 55-inch TV or if you're going large we've got the best 65-inch TV models covered too.
How to tell if cheap TVs are worth it
Cheap TVs can often wow with price tags but disappoint once they're at home and plugged in, however there are ways to find 4K TV deals that bring premium experiences down to lower price ranges. Sacrificing a few features you won't use to prioritise the ones you will is an easy way to get started, but finding that perfect mix might prove difficult.
On the other hand, even displays costing between £300 and £400 are often considered to be cheap TVs, so you'll want to make sure you're getting your money's worth with your new setup. That's where these TV deals come in handy - you can easily get features well above your price range included in your new cheap smart TV if you know when and where to deal hunt.
Nowadays, you'll want to be picking up a 4K TV if you're looking to spend within this price range. Straight HD and HD-ready TV deals are still kicking around some retailers and, for the price you're paying for the previous wave of technology, you could well be picking up a 4K display instead. As the price scale rises, you'll be picking up higher pixel density, better colour differentiation, deeper dynamic range, and better upscaling from pricier units. It's worth checking out the various display specifications to make sure your cheap TV matches up to what others are offering at that particular price point.
Or, you could let us do all of that for you with the 4K TV deals listed here.
(Image credit: Hisense)
Are 4K TV deals getting cheaper?
As the technology progresses, and even leaps into the world of 8K, 4K TV deals are getting cheaper and cheaper, meaning more households than ever are able to afford premium displays like the ones highlighted here. Not only does that show just how cheap these 4K TV deals have become in recent years, but it also means there's more content being made to be displayed on these 4K TVs available as well. So, not only are these sets getting cheaper, but there's also plenty more to watch on them as well.
How to find the best TV deals
We've found that the best TV deals usually come from a few retailers in particular - Very regularly discounts their cheaper models, Currys holds excellent prices on Philips Ambilight displays, and John Lewis can offer up invaluable peace of mind with their extensive warranty guarantees.
So, you know where to shop but if you're not seeing any particularly enticing offers -you might be searching at the wrong time. The best TV deals are usually between November and January, when Black Friday and holiday sales are discounting premium displays left and right. However, you'll also find the summer sales fruitful as well.
What to look for in smart TV deals
The vast majority of TV deals on offer right now will offer Smart TV functionality. It's now become the norm for your TV to offer at least a limited selection of streaming and on demand apps, but the quality of this experience will vary between models. Cheap smart TVs will typically send you home with preset apps like Netflix, YouTube, BBC iPlayer, All 4, and UK TV Play among other everyday streamers.
However, if you spend a little more you'll start finding Alexa compatibility, more niche app options like Disney Plus, CrunchyRoll, and NowTV, and a faster, slicker operating system. You'll find more options for connecting extra services on more premium smart TV deals.
If you’re yet to watch the animated Star Wars TV shows, you may be asking why Ahsoka Tano warrants her own TV show. Everyone else, however, will simply be wondering why it’s taken so long.
Arguably the most important Star Wars character who hasn't appeared in a live-action movie, Ahsoka Tano was Anakin Skywalker’s Jedi apprentice throughout the Clone Wars. Thanks to The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels TV series, she’s been present for many of the most pivotal moments in the history of that galaxy far, far away. Now that she’s made her live-action debut (Rosario Dawson played her in The Mandalorian season 2 episode ‘The Jedi’), the Ahsoka TV show is poised to continue the former Padawan’s story.
The spin-off couldn’t be in better hands either, with Dave Filoni – the man who oversaw both The Clone Wars and Rebels, and co-created Ahsoka – calling the shots as showrunner. So, as Filoni works his way through the scripts for this eagerly anticipated limited series, we’ve been diving into some Force visions to find out what Ahsoka will have in store when it lands on Disney Plus.
Release date: Disney is yet to confirm Ahsoka’s release date but, seeing as the show’s still at the writing stage, we’d be surprised if we see it before 2023.
Story: Rosario Dawson reprises her Mandalorian role as Ahsoka Tano, alongside Natasha Liu Bordizzo as Star Wars Rebels Mando Sabine Wren. Hayden Christensen is also reportedly set to return as Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader.
Cast: Plot details are, as is standard, hidden behind Lucasfilm’s impregnable defense field. It seems likely, however, that the story will send Ahsoka and Sabine on a quest to track down trainee Jedi Ezra Bridger and his Imperial nemesis, Grand Admiral Thrawn.
SPOILER ALERT! Proceed with caution if you’re yet to watch The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels or The Mandalorian.
Disney and Lucasfilm have given little indication of when the limited series will land on Disney Plus and, with an article in Empire revealing that showrunner (and Lucasfilm executive creative officer) Dave Filoni is still working on the scripts, there’s clearly some way to go.
The Book of Boba Fett, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Andor and The Mandalorian season 3 are all ahead of the Ahoska TV series in Lucasfilm’s effects-heavy production pipeline, so we’d be surprised if it appears any time before 2023.
Ahsoka on Disney Plus trailer
Is there an Ahsoka trailer?
(Image credit: Lucasfilm / Disney)
With the show still at the scripting stage, it’s way too early to expect an Ahsoka trailer – especially as Lucasfilm rarely debuts footage more than a few months ahead of launch.
For the moment ,we’ll have to make do with the logo above, or rewatch some Ahsoka-focussed episodes of The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels on Disney Plus.
Ahsoka on Disney Plus: Who is Anakin's ex-Padawan?
Who is Ahsoka Tano?
(Image credit: Disney/Lucasfilm)
“When gone am I, the last of a Jedi will you be,” a dying Yoda told Luke Skywalker in Return of the Jedi.
But he was only correct from a certain point of view. Ahsoka Tano isn’t technically a Jedi because she never passed the relevant trials but in all other regards, she has all the necessary qualifications.
Making her first appearance in Star Wars canon in the animated 2008 Clone Wars movie that set up the long-running TV show, the Togruta was Anakin Skywalker’s Padawan apprentice throughout the eponymous conflict. A highly respected commander in the Republic forces, she fought with a distinctive two-lightsaber style, and was nicknamed “Snips” by her master, owing to her supposedly snippy attitude. She referred to Anakin as “Sky Guy”.
Ahsoka went on to play a key role in Star Wars Rebels, set in the run-up to A New Hope, and she’s since returned in The Mandalorian season 2 episode ‘The Jedi’. Her voice can also be heard among the choir of Jedi giving Rey a pep talk in The Rise of Skywalker.
Ahsoka on Disney Plus story
What’s Ahsoka Tano’s backstory?
(Image credit: Disney/Lucasfilm)
For the benefit of anyone yet to watch the animated Star Wars shows, here’s a brief history of Ahsoka Tano’s life and times.
Having served the Republic with distinction throughout the Clone Wars, she left the Jedi Order under a cloud during season 5. Although she was eventually exonerated for bombing the Jedi Temple – she’d been framed by her friend and fellow Padawan Barriss Offee – she decided not to return, and went out into the galaxy solo.
During the final days of the Clone Wars, she helped Bo-Katan Kryze remove Darth Maul from the Mandalorian throne, and was on her way to return the former Sith Lord to Jedi custody when the Emperor initiated Order 66. With some help from her old friend Captain Rex – whose mind-controlling inhibitor chip she surgically removed – Ahsoka survived the Jedi purge and went into hiding.
She showed up again in Star Wars Rebels, set around 15 years after the Emperor came to power. It was eventually revealed that Ahsoka was the mysterious ‘Fulcrum’, an agent who helped pull disparate cells of freedom fighters together to form the Rebel Alliance.
She also fought a fateful duel with her former master – when she removed a portion of Darth Vader’s helmet with her lightsaber, she became one of the few people in the galaxy to know his true identity. The Vader/Skywalker connection wouldn’t become common knowledge across the galaxy for several decades, and the secret was eventually leaked to damage Leia Organa’s political aspirations, as detailed in Claudia Gray’s 2016 novel, Bloodline.
Ahsoka barely made it out of the duel alive, but she was saved by a future version of Jedi apprentice Ezra Bridger. He pulled her into the ‘World Between Worlds’, a mystical realm where the usual rules of time and space do not apply. By the time of the Rebels epilogue – set some time after Return of the Jedi – Ahsoka had somehow returned to the normal reality of that galaxy far, far away.
Her most recent canonical appearance came in The Mandalorian, where she met Din Djarin (aka The Mandalorian) and Baby Yoda. While communing with the Child, she learned that real name was Grogu, and gave Mando some pointers to help find some other Jedi.
(Image credit: Disney/Lucasfilm)
So what do we know about the Ahsoka TV show’s story? Well, it'll have plenty of existing canon to work from, and there’s nobody on the planet who knows how to navigate the Star Wars timeline better than Dave Filoni. During his previous life as supervising director on The Clone Wars, Filoni co-created Ahsoka Tano with George Lucas. He then went on to shepherd her through seven seasons of The Clone Wars and several guest appearances on Rebels. He also directed her episode of The Mandalorian.
Asked about his experience writing the new show, Filoni told Empire that, “It’s thrilling, I gotta tell you. It’s something you imagine doing for a long time, and then it’s kind of startling when you’re sitting there, and now you have to do it.
“I thought of this adventure for Ahsoka for a long time, and it’s interesting to see how it’s evolved. Years ago, I never would have imagined that it was sprung from a branch of a tree that had anything to do with a guy [like] Din Djarin [aka the Mandalorian], or a child that looks like Yoda. It’s a great lesson for me on how, when you have other creatives like [The Mandalorian showrunner] Jon Favreau, they can help lend such dimension and depth to what you’re doing.”
Going by StarWars.com’s original announcement about the series, it looks like the new series will pick up soon after Ahsoka’s meeting with Mando and Grogu: “After making her long awaited live-action debut in The Mandalorian,” said the site, “Ahsoka Tano’s story will continue in a limited series.”
It’s currently unknown, however, whether that Rebels epilogue takes place before or after Ahsoka showed up in The Mandalorian.
“That's not necessarily chronological," Filoni told Vanity Fair in November 2020. "I think the thing that people will most not understand is they want to go in a linear fashion, but as I learned as a kid, nothing in Star Wars really works in a linear fashion. You do [Episodes] 4, 5 and 6 and then 1, 2, and 3. So in the vein of that history, when you look at the epilogue of Rebels you don't really know how much time has passed. So, it's possible that the story I'm telling in The Mandalorian actually takes place prior to that. Possible. I'm saying it's possible.”
One thing that both the Rebels epilogue and the Ahsoka TV show will have in common is Mandalorian warrior Sabine Wren. Deadline has confirmed that Natasha Liu Bordizzo will take the character into live-action, which potentially offers up more clues about the Ahsoka story.
In the Rebels finale, the duo set out to find their lost friend, Ezra Bridger, assumed to be trapped in the ‘World Between Worlds’. This could also tie in with Ahsoka’s primary mission in her episode of The Mandalorian. There, she revealed that she’s on the hunt for Imperial bigwig Grand Admiral Thrawn, who just happened to be with Bridger when he went missing. The way Ahsoka pressed Calodan town magistrate Morgan Elsbeth about the location of her master, aka Thrawn, suggested he’s already back to make a nuisance of himself. Maybe Bridger isn’t far behind?
And while revenge isn’t traditionally the Jedi way, we wouldn’t be surprised if Ahsoka gets to settle a few scores with Barriss Offee. Being framed for murder is going to leave a few scars.
Ahsoka on Disney Plus cast
Ahsoka cast: who'll be appearing in the show?
(Image credit: StarWars.com)
Here's the rumored cast so far:
Rosario Dawson as Ahsoka Tano
Natasha Liu Bordizzo as Sabine Wren
Hayden Christensen as Darth Vader/Anakin Skywalker
Although Ashley Eckstein voiced Ahsoka throughout The Clone Wars and Rebels, Sin City/Daredevil star Rosario Dawson played the character in The Mandalorian, and she'll reprise the role in Ahsoka. Dawson will be joined by Natasha Liu Bordizzo, who replaces Rebels voice actor Tiya Sircar as Sabine Wren.
In other casting news, these are particularly good times to be Hayden Christensen. Not only is he playing Darth Vader/Anakin Skywalker in Obi-Wan Kenobi, the Hollywood Reporter says he’s now joining the Ahsoka cast. As yet, it’s unclear whether he’ll be playing the ‘Sky Guy’ or Vader incarnations of the character or both. But, seeing as he’s dead at this point in the Star Wars timeline, chances are he’ll either be appearing in flashbacks or as a Force ghost.
Entering the realms of speculation, Katee Sackhoff seems a likely candidate for a return as Mandalorian princess Bo-Katan Kryze. She was the one who told Mando that Ahsoka was hiding out on Corvus, so they’re clearly still in contact – and you never know when you might need to call on an old friend.
We’re unsure about the current whereabouts of friendly ex-Clone Trooper Captain Rex but, considering he was one of Ahsoka’s best friends in The Clone Wars, a reunion would be most welcome. That could mean a cameo for The Book of Boba Fett star Temuera Morrison, whose Jango Fett was the model for all the Clones.
And it’ll be interesting to see who – if anyone – joins the Ahsoka TV show cast as Ezra Bridger and Grand Admiral Thrawn. Sackhoff is the only voice star from the animated series to play their character in live-action, so it would be surprising if both Taylor Gray and Lars Mikkelsen (brother of Rogue One’s Mads) reprised their roles. If you picture Mikkelsen with a blue hue, however, it’s immediately clear that he’d make a brilliant Thrawn.
Perhaps the most intriguing possibility for the Ahsoka cast, though, would be a return for digital Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker. As the two most powerful (known) Force practitioners in the galaxy, they’d surely have plenty to talk about – as well as reminiscing about Luke’s dad, they could discuss why Ahsoka turned down the opportunity to train Grogu while Luke grabbed the opportunity with two hands.
The latest episode in The Grand Tour’s fourth season has finally been given a release date – and a full-length trailer, too.
The trusty trio of Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond will all return to Amazon Prime Video for more vehicular antics on December 17. This time around, they’ll be embarking on a journey from the Welsh hills to the English Channel.
Called Carnage A Trois (that’s a pun on the French term for threesome, by the way), the special will focus on the weird and not-so-wonderful cars of France. It also marks the second of two episodes made entirely during lockdown – meaning the gang won’t actually visit France itself.
You can check out the trailer below.
As you can see from the footage, it’s a safe bet to expect more of the same craic, crashes and carnage from the famously foolish British presenters. Alongside the trailer, though, Amazon has also released an official synopsis for the upcoming episode.
"In this second lockdown special, the trio dive into the bizarre world of French car culture," it reads. "On an epic road trip starting in the Welsh hills, they dish up a hair-raising mountain climb, bomb defusals, propeller powered cars, helicopter stunts, and the most thrilling race of their lives before reaching the English Channel for a jaw dropping medieval climax. And a soupcon of French art house cinema."
A typical episode of The Grand Tour, then.
What about future episodes?
As for The Grand Tour’s intended release schedule, the global pandemic put an engine-breaking spanner in the works.
May told BT earlier this year that the show’s producers deemed it "better to film in the UK and deliver regularly than promise the earth and not deliver anything,” which explains the decision to once again limit this latest episode’s adventure to within British borders.
Original plans to film in Russia – for a special following 2020’s A Massive Hunt – were put on hold last year, and still remain so in 2021. May has since given an update on that situation, telling the Radio Times that the episode will emerge eventually.
"We're just having to put it in the cupboard at the moment," he said. "But we will get it out one day and finish it off."
In the meantime, then, we’ll have to enjoy the domestic drama of Carnage A Trois instead, which arrives on Amazon Prime Video December 17 – just in time for Christmas.
Microsoft is looking to solve a major annoyance for video conferencing users with a new preview update for Windows 11.
The Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22494, which was released to the Dev Channel in early November, is getting a new way to mute and unmute the microphone, straight from the taskbar.
The feature will initally be limited to Microsoft Teams, the company's online collaboration app, but the company is expecting developers to pick it up and add the functionality to other applications, as well.
Microsoft Teams muting
“We are beginning to roll this experience out to a subset of Windows Insiders with Microsoft Teams for work or school installed and ramp it up over time,” Microsoft said in its announcement. “This means not everyone will see this right away with their Teams calls.”
As soon as a user enters a Teams call, Windows 11 will add a microphone icon to the bottom right part of the screen, next to the volume, battery and Wi-Fi icons. By simply tapping/clicking the icon, the user can quickly toggle between mute and unmute states. The capability only applies to the current call, the company added.
Right now, the feature is limited to Microsoft Teams, but the company’s plan is to bring it to Chat from Microsoft Teams (Microsoft Teams for home) as well. It also said other communications applications can add this capability, meaning it’s up to individual companies or users to see if adding it makes sense.
“You can see your call audio status, what app is accessing your microphone, and quickly mute and unmute your call at any time,” Microsoft further explained.
There is also a keyboard shortcut to mute/unmute the microphone: Win + Alt + K. This, too, works only in Microsoft Teams, for the time being.
Many of today's cutting-edge TVs have a terrible secret: they sound terrible. TVs with the most advanced screen technology imaginable often come with sound quality that's barely better than a budget Bluetooth speaker, so it's taken for granted that when you buy a new TV you'll have to shell out for a soundbar too.
Sony thinks how TVs sound is as important as how they look – and that means there's as much innovation in its TV audio tech as there is in Sony's incredible displays. These are TVs you need to hear as well as see.
How Sony makes TVs you'll love to listen to
Sony knows a thing or two about audio: its name comes from the Latin word for 'sound', it made the iconic Walkman way back in 1979 and it's been at the cutting edge of audio technology for decades. And all that expertise is right there in your Sony TV.
Sony's goal is to immerse you in the most realistic audio possible, and it does that in a number of different ways depending on the technology in your TV.
One of the problems with TV audio is that as screens get bigger, the distance between the speakers gets bigger too – so with screens getting to 60, 70 or even 80-plus inches, delivering convincing audio becomes much more difficult with a traditional speaker setup.
Sony has solved that in a really clever way in its OLED TVs using something it calls Acoustic Surface Audio+.
Acoustic Surface Audio+ effectively turns the entire OLED panel of the TV into a speaker, vibrating to produce clear, detailed sound that emerges from specific parts of the screen so the dialogue appears to be coming from where the character actually is.
That's backed up with hefty internal subwoofers to deliver exceptional low-end performance and all the presence you need for a blockbuster movie night or a triple-A game. It's a truly incredible audio experience, and it's unique to Sony OLED TVs.
(Image credit: Sony)
Doing smarter things with TV speakers
With LED and LCD TVs, Sony has to take a different approach; those display technologies have backlights that make it impossible to use the same Acoustic Surface Audio+ you'll find in Sony's OLEDs.
So, Sony has developed another superb audio system, and it's called Acoustic Multi Audio.
Instead of just sticking speakers on the left and right of the panel, Sony uses multiple speakers all around the TV.
The number and direction of the speakers depends on the particular model, but for example you might have four front-facing speakers in the top and bottom of the TV, two sound positioning tweeters in the back and a vibrating frame tweeter, all working together to deliver precisely located, detailed and crystal clear audio for music, movies and games.
Like Acoustic Surface Audio+, Acoustic Multi Audio is only available on Sony TVs.
A different kind of voice control
Sony TVs have another really useful audio feature: Voice Zoom. It enhances the audio to make voices clearer, and it works on all kinds of content: for example, you might want to boost the sound of your family in your home videos so they're not drowned out by background noise, or you might boost the audio so you don't miss the whispered secrets in a movie or the quips in an action-heavy scene.
Unlike some rivals' voice processing, this isn't a blunt-force frequency booster: it carefully analyses the audio channels to magnify or mute specific sounds without affecting the rest of the audio.
That means you still get the same incredibly realistic and immersive audio experience while adjusting it to suit your own personal preference.
(Image credit: Sony)
The ultimate TV experience
When you buy a Bravia XR TV you're not just getting a spectacular TV. You're getting an incredible sound system too.
Thanks to technologies including Acoustic Surface Audio+, Acoustic Multi Audio and Voice Zoom, Sony has created a range of TVs that you’ll love to listen to as well as look at.
Incredible visuals deserve an incredible soundtrack, and that's exactly what Sony TVs deliver.
Find out more about Sony's 2021 TVs and how they combine incredible image quality and stunning sound to deliver a TV experience like no other.
Windows 11 only offers you a 10-day timeframe to change your mind about the upgrade and revert to Windows 10.
This isn’t a new revelation, of course, but with more folks now moving to Windows 11 – given that Microsoft opened the upgrade floodgates a fortnight ago – we figured it was worth a reminder that you’re on a pretty tight deadline for making a decision about whether you want to stick with Windows 11.
The situation differs notably and substantially from Windows 10, whereby those upgrading from Windows 7 or 8.1 got 30 days grace to play around with the operating system, and move back to the old version if they decided it wasn’t for them.
In other words, Microsoft has reduced the rollback grace period from 30 days with Windows 10, to just 10 days with Windows 11.
After that time has expired, when you head over to the ‘Recovery’ options screen (search for it under Settings), the option to ‘Go Back’ – meaning to revert to the previous OS, Windows 10 – is greyed out. The only way to get back to Windows 10 at that point is to fully reinstall the OS on the PC, which is obviously quite a task compared to just clicking a button.
Analysis: Grabbing a disk image is worthwhile for this
The obvious problem here is that by narrowing down the reversion period, people who upgrade to Windows 11 and don’t hit any immediate hitches, but subsequently discover a nasty issue after a few weeks, no longer have the option to make a no-fuss switch back to Windows 10. They’re stuck.
And this is particularly galling seeing as the opportunity to revert remained open for a full month when folks were upgrading to Windows 10.
So, if you’re nervous about migrating to Windows 11 and that stingy trial time frame, as it were, then one thing you can do is make a backup image of your Windows 10 installation before you upgrade.
This can be achieved using software like Acronis True Image or Macrium Reflect (or another of the best disk cloning tools around), and with an image in place, if at any time you want to revert to that snapshot of your old OS, you can do so.
The key is to be prepared as this is something that must be done ahead of upgrading to Windows 11, obviously enough. In our book, it’s a worthwhile precaution for sure, particularly now Microsoft has whittled down the rollback period to an absolute minimum for reasons best known to the software giant.
Everyone knows that 2020 was a disastrous year for theaters. The global pandemic forced the unprecedented closure of cinemas en masse, with major studios subsequently left with no choice but to pull movie after movie from their annual release schedules.
But in 2021, as the successful rollout of vaccines in many countries continues to provide a belated source of optimism, things are looking up for Hollywood. In fact, this year has turned out to be one of the best for film fans in living memory.
It's not all sunshine and daisies just yet, though. Paramount has again delayed its 2022 release schedule (meaning both Top Gun: Maverick and Mission: Impossible 7 will arrive later than anticipated), while many of Warner's movies are still launching simultaneously on HBO Max.
Still, what remains of 2021, coupled with a promising outlook for 2022, paints a refreshingly positive picture of an industry in rude health. Below, you'll find every new movie worth getting excited about over the coming months.
The year is set to go out with a song and dance, as all eyes turn to Steven Spielberg’s first ever big screen musical. And let's be honest, the legendary director of Indiana Jones, Jaws and Saving Private Ryan couldn’t have chosen a bigger act to follow. Robert Wise's Oscar-winning 1961 movie version of the classic Bernstein and Sondheim production is undoubtedly one of the greatest screen musicals of all time, so it’ll be exciting to see what Spielberg can bring to the party.
Spider-Man: No Way Home
Release date: December 17, 2021 (theatrical)
The most remarkable thing about Spider-Man: No Way Home is that it exists at all. Thankfully, rights holders Sony were able to settle a dispute with Marvel Studios that could have seen Tom Holland’s Spidey going solo, and now the Wallcrawler will continue to operate within the labyrinthine continuity of the MCU.
The mid-credits twist of Far From Home makes that particularly welcome news, having plunged Spidey into new territory when Mysterio revealed Peter Parker’s secret identity to the world. It also looks like he'll be exploring the multiverse, with several rumors suggesting that two former screen Spideys, Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield, are joining the action. Old villains like Electro, Doc Ock and Green Goblin are already confirmed to appear, thanks to teasers in the movie's first trailer.
The Matrix Resurrections
Release date: December 22, 2021 (US, theatrical and streaming via HBO Max and UK, theatrical)
The Matrix saga was supposed to be done and dusted after the twin disappointments of Reloaded and Revolutions, but Warner Bros. is inviting us to take the red pill once more in this unexpected follow-up. Lana Wachowski, half of the original writer/director team, is back for the reboot, along with stars Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss. Both their characters died in the original trilogy, so we’re not sure how this movie fits in with the predecessors – the Wachowskis were secretive even before JJ Abrams and Christopher Nolan made it fashionable, so concrete information is thin on the ground. Still, in the cyber-world of The Matrix, pretty much anything should be possible, so expect to see bullet-time taken to the next level.
Confirmed to be called The Matrix Resurrections, the movie's first teaser trailer was unveiled at this year's CinemaCon event, and we've broken down 11 things we noticed.
The King's Man
Release date: December 22, 2021 (theatrical)
After the fun action of Kingsman: The Secret Service, the franchise quickly went off the rails with the overblown The Golden Circle. There's a lot riding on this third instalment, then, which may be why it's gone in such a radical new direction, heading back to World War I to show the early days of top-secret, impeccably tailored spy organization The Kingsmen. Ralph Fiennes is the M-type figure (shouldn't be too much of a stretch…) who recruits Harris Dickinson's Conrad to the club to combat an early 20th century brand of villainy. Sounds like a retro James Bond to us, and there's nothing wrong with that.
Titane
Release date: December 31, 2021 (theatrical)
BBC Culture has already described Julia Ducournau’s Titane as "the most shocking film of 2021," which has us more excited than we otherwise usually would be to see a movie about a woman with a unique attraction to cars. Titane follows Alexia (Agathe Rousselle in her feature film debut), a woman who, after being injured in a car accident as a child, has a titanium plate fitted into her head. Ducournau wowed audiences with her 2016 debut, Raw, so we've got high hopes for this one.
Big 2022 movies
Looking further ahead, these are the big movies coming up in 2022.
Morbius
Release date: January 28, 2022 (theatrical)
Having had a monster hit with Venom in 2018, Sony plunders Spider-Man's rogues' gallery once again, with a movie focusing on one Michael Morbius. The so-called "living vampire" is a scientist who uses an experimental serum to cure a debilitating condition, and ends up turning himself into a bloodsucker.
Jared Leto, who has comic book movie form as the Joker, takes on the role of Morbius, alongside former Doctor Who star Matt Smith as Loxias Crown, a villain with the same bloodsucking affliction as the title star. Daniel Espinosa is at the helm – a remarkable piece of synergy, seeing as his 2017 movie Life was once rumored to be a Venom prequel.
The Black Phone
Release date: February 4, 2022 (theatrical)
Wow, an entirely new horror IP? Not exactly. The Black Phone will see director Scott Derrickson adapt a 2004 short story of the same name by Joe Hill, which follows the plight of a kidnapped child who communicates – through, you guessed it, a black phone – with his kidnapper’s previous victims to try and escape. Sounds like a neat premise, at least.
Death on the Nile
Release date: February 11, 2022 (theatrical)
Kenneth Branagh directs the sequel to his Murder on the Orient Express adaptation, where he returns to his role – and that impressively sculpted facial hair – as Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot. As in the first movie, he's taken a dazzling ensemble cast along for the ride, this time including Gal Gadot, Sex Education’s Emma Mackey and Black Panther's Letitia Wright. Don't expect any massive surprises in the plot – the story's over 80 years old – but with whodunits like this, the fun is always in watching Poirot sleuthing up a storm.
Uncharted
Release date:February 18, 2022 (theatrical)
Tom Holland stars as PlayStation-originated hero Nathan Drake in this adaptation of Naughty Dog's games, which also co-stars Mark Wahlberg. This one's been kicking around the schedules for years, and this time director Ruben Fleischer (Venom, Zombieland) is attached to make it. The games themselves were pretty cinematic, so it'll be interesting to see if this film can contribute anything new to Drake's story.
The Batman
Release date: March 4, 2022 (theatrical)
Robert Pattinson follows in the footsteps of Adam West, Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, George Clooney, Christian Bale and Ben Affleck as the latest man to don the most famous cowl in cinema. Dawn of/War for the Planet of the Apes director Matt Reeves gets the keys to the Batmobile in the latest reboot of the most versatile hero in comics, and he’s promised his take on the Caped Crusader will feel “very psychological, very emotional”.
Gotham City is traditionally defined by its villains, however, and The Batman has plenty, with Zoë Kravitz as Catwoman, Paul Dano as Riddler and Colin Farrell as The Penguin. This could be a worthy successor to Christopher Nolan’s superlative Dark Knight trilogy.
Top Gun: Maverick
Release date: May 27, 2022 (theatrical)
Tom Cruise climbs back into that famous fighter jet cockpit for the first time since Top Gun made him the biggest star on the planet over three decades ago. Resurrecting the most '80s of movies in the cut and thrust of the 21st century marketplace is a gamble, even for Cruise, but the production team are doing everything they can to recapture the old magic – as well as real action with real planes, they've brought back synth legend Harold 'Axel F' Faltermeyer on music duties. Plot wise, Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell is still an instructor at the Top Gun school, while one of his students (played by Whiplash's Miles Teller) just happens to be the son of Mav's late co-pilot, Goose. We're still feeling the need for speed...
Jurassic World: Dominion
Release date: June 10, 2022 (theatrical)
If there’s one certainty in Hollywood, it’s that – like life – major franchises find a way. So, despite production having been halted by coronavirus restrictions in March 2020, the sixth Jurassic movie got back in front of the cameras in July of last year. The big news this time out is that Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard will be joining forces with Sam Neill, Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum, all reprising their roles from the original Jurassic Park. But with dinosaurs now loose on American soil after the events of Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, this movie promises to be very different to its prehistoric predecessors.
We were supposed to be seeing this in June 2021, but you can fill the hole with short film Battle at Big Rock (above).
(Image credit: Paramount Pictures)
Mission: Impossible 7
Release date: September 30, 2022 (theatrical)
Tom Cruise will have hit 60 by the time the seventh Mission: Impossible movie smashes its way into cinemas. Don’t expect him to give up his mantle as Hollywood’s leading action star anytime soon, however, as there’s still plenty of spectacular stunts for Cruise to risk life and limb for – part of the fun of the series is finding out what its leading man will dare to try next. Having delivered the long-running franchise’s best instalments with Rogue Nation and Fallout, Christopher McQuarrie is back behind the camera for part 7 and its follow-up. Plot details are currently wrapped up tighter than a government vault, but Mission: Impossible is a brand that tends to deliver.
(Image credit: 20th Century Fox/Disney)
Avatar 2
Release date: December 16, 2022 (theatrical)
James Cameron is anything but prolific these days – Avatar 2 will be his third movie in 25 years – but when he does step behind the camera, you know you’ll be seeing something groundbreaking. He tends to spend the long gaps between releases waiting for filmmaking technology to catch up with his vision, so his return to the spectacular alien ecosystem of Pandora will feature world-first underwater performance capture sequences.
Kate Winslet (who held her breath for an incredible seven minutes during filming), Jemaine Clement and Cliff Curtis join the cast alongside Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana. Sigourney Weaver and Stephen Lang also return, despite their characters being presumed dead.
While this sequel was delayed a year as part of Disney's massive Covid-19-induced release date shake up, you won’t have to wait another decade for more Avatar – part 3 is set for December 2024, with a fourth and fifth movie also in the works.
