You won't have to wait long to learn more about the iPhone 13 — and more. Apple has announced a "California Streaming" event on September 14th at 1PM Eastern. The invitation doesn't offer many clues, but there are plenty of rumors as to what you can expect for the new iPhone and other devices that might make an appearance during the presentation.

The iPhone 13 (or whatever it might be called) is poised to be a subtle evolution of the iPhone 12. It will reportedly include a smaller notch and an always-on display that can ramp up to a smooth 120Hz. You might also see improved cameras across the line, with improved ultra-wide sensors and more stabilization. It would include the seemingly obligatory chip upgrade (A15?) and a slightly larger battery, although the rumored satellite call support might be limited to emergency use in certain areas.

As for the rest? An Apple Watch Series 7 might debut alongside the new iPhone, sporting redesigned cases and larger screens as well as improved performance and wireless tech. You might also see updated iPads, including a possible iPad mini redesign. Don't count on seeing new Macs, though — while new MacBook Pro and Mac mini models might be in the pipeline this fall, they might not appear until a later event.

Polestar's electric cargo sled now exists as more than just a pretty 3D render. The EV maker has unveiled its first working prototype of the Re:Move it introduced half a year earlier. The three-wheeler hasn't changed much since March, but it's now clear just what the machine could do.

The Re:Move demo unit is about as fast a typical e-bike with a 15MPH top speed and a 2.2kWh battery. However, it can haul a lot more. The 400lbs maximum load isn't as heavy as the 600lbs Polestar claimed early on, but that still makes it a viable alternative to delivery vans in some cases. It's nimbler than vans, too, with a 29-inch width (easily enough for a bike lane) and a 23-foot turning radius.

You can also expect always-on lighting, brake lights and a horn, although indicators are optional in Polestar's vision. The Re:Move should be more eco-friendly thanks to composite frame covers that replace the usual plastic and flax.

Polestar still hasn't said how likely it is to produce the Re:Move, let alone offer pricing or availability. The automaker certainly has roles in mind for the Re:Move, however. It pictures the sled filling in for lighter delivery duties, such as online orders. The machine might also help in rural areas where there isn't much infrastructure for conventional vehicles. Don't be surprised if you see this or vehicles like it in villages where more 'conventional' EVs just wouldn't be an option. 

A tip to members of Congress: if you're going to send an angrily-worded letter to a technology CEO, make sure they're still working at the company. A group of 11 House Republicans has sent letters to the leaders of 13 tech companies threatening legal action if they comply with a request for records related to the January 6th Capitol attack. However, there's one major problem. The letter to Yahoo (Engadget's parent company) is addressed to Marissa Mayer, who hasn't been CEO of the company since 2017. That's four years ago, folks — she's not exactly a recent departure.

The representatives' other letters appear to have been free of snafus on their way to Amazon, AOL (which Apollo acquired alongside Yahoo), Apple, AT&T, Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Snap, T-Mobile, Twitter, US Cellular and Verizon (Engadget's former parent). However, the congresspeople appear to be slightly behind the times as well. None of the letters went to Reddit, Telegram, TikTok and other key firms asked to produce records. The list appears to be a who's-who of tech from several years ago.

We laugh, but the slip-up is also a reminder that Congress' general lack of tech knowledge creates problems, whether it's a letter to a long-gone CEO or proposed law changes that could produce easily foreseen complications. The next mistake could cost a lot more than embarrassment and wasted paper, and that unfortunately won't change any time soon.

Mercedes' growing electric car plans include a rethink of one of its most iconic vehicles. The brand has kicked off Germany's IAA show by introducing a slew of new concept and production EVs, highlighted by the Concept EQG (above). As you might guess, this is a electric take on the G-Class SUV, mating an "uncompromising" (and boxy) off-road design with an eco-friendly electric powertrain.

The company hasn't detailed the battery, motor system or even the interior. There are no mentions of when it might ship. However, it said this was a "near-production" design that would go through the same Schöckl mountain torture test as its ancestors. The instant torque and low center of gravity inherent to EVs should work in the EQG's favor when climbing hills and rough terrain, Mercedes said.

Daimler

There are EVs closer on the horizon, of course. Mercedes has finally detailed the EQE (second from top), its electric equivalent to the E-Class. It appears at first blush to be a shrunken version of the EQS luxury sedan, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. You're still getting a highly aerodynamic design and long range (a claimed 410 miles on the not-quite-realistic WLTP cycle), just in a smaller, CLS-sized design that should be easier to navigate around town.

The EQE 350 launch model will include a rear motor, a 90kW battery and reach 60MPH in a claimed 5.6 seconds. Performance versions are in the pipeline, according to Mercedes. However, the EQS' signature dash-length "Hyperscreen" is strictly optional here — you'll normally get a more conventional 12.8-inch OLED infotainment display.

The EQE will have a "staggered" worldwide launch starting in mid-2022. Mercedes hasn't divulged pricing, although we'd expect it to cost more than the $54,250 of the combustion engine E-Class.

Daimler

And yes, there are already ultra-luxurious and high-performance versions of the EQS. A Mercedes-Maybach Concept EQS (second from bottom) offers an electric SUV for customers who'd rather have a chauffeur for their eco-friendly transportation. Another near-production vehicle, it takes on the signature two-tone styling and other cues of a Maybach along with lounge-like rear seating and a Maybach-oriented Hyperscreen up front. Mercedes was once again shy on performance and release dates, although it noted the related EQS SUV is expected to net around a 373-mile range and go into production in 2022.

If you're more inclined to take the helm, the Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 4MATIC+ (bottom) is the brand's first AMG-badged EV and includes custom motors that promise up to 761HP, 742lb/ft of torque and a 0-60MPH time of 3.4 seconds — brisk for a large luxury sedan. You'll also find an AMG GT-derived air suspension and rear-wheel steering. You won't see too many visual differences, although the unique rims and optional carbon ceramic rotors will make your go-fast intentions clear. Mercedes hasn't outlined pricing or release dates here, either, although it's safe to presume this will make the regular EQS line seem frugal.

Daimler

More and more Pixel 3 owners are grappling with a problem that can render their phones useless. According to Ars Technica, growing numbers of Pixel 3 and 3 XL users on Google's IssueTracker, the company's support forums and Reddit say their phones are 'bricking' (that is, becoming completely unresponsive) with little to no warning. The devices enter a Qualcomm "Emergency Download mode" (EDL) that won't even let you recover by installing new firmware through regular methods — you can't get to the bootloader to try.

It's not certain what causes the issue, how common it is, or whether there's practical solution short of replacing a given phone. We've asked Google for comment. Ars speculates about the possibility of a hardware issue like LG's bootlooping, although there isn't enough evidence to definitively point to a physical flaw.

Either way, the reports of bricking aren't great news for Pixel 3 owners. Many of those phones are either out of warranty or close to losing coverage. You may have to pay for repairs or a new device through no fault of your own. Google did extend some Pixel 4 warranties to cover known issues with those handsets, though, so there's a chance the company might do the same here and provide free solutions.

You may have to temper your expectations for the next iPhone's rumored satellite communications. As 9to5Macreports, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman claims in his "Power On" newsletter that emergency satellite calls and messages on the future iPhone (potentially named iPhone 13) will only work in "select markets," and then only in places without cellular coverage. This likely won't serve as a backup when cell service is spotty in your area, then.

Apple reportedly wants to launch its own satellites to provide more data coverage, but any plans for that are "years away," Gurman said. You also won't get to make non-emergency calls any time soon.

The limitations wouldn't be completely surprising. The new iPhone is rumored to use a modified Qualcomm X60 modem for satellite service — it might not be ready to serve as a full-featured satellite phone. Gurman added that costs and carrier objections might prevent Apple from offering a true satellite phone that bypasses conventional networks.

As it stands, there are other reasons to moderate your hopes for Apple's next event. Gurman also says display issues could limit availability for the Apple Watch Series 7. While the wristwear will reportedly debut alongside the next iPhone, some versions of it may be available "late or in small quantities." Your preferred case and band combo may take a while to ship. While this isn't as bad as the delays that stalled the iPhone 12 and other Apple products last year, it could be a far cry from the smooth launches in the pre-pandemic era.

Sony won't make you pay to upgrade Horizon Forbidden West after all. The company's Interactive Entertainment chief Jim Ryan announced that Forbidden West PS4 players will get to upgrade to the PS5 version for free, as Sony promised last September. The tech giant "missed the mark" and will stand by its original pledge, Ryan said.

The change of heart comes after Sony and Guerilla told customers they'd be limited to the version of the game they bought. If you started on PS4, in other words, you'd have to buy another copy to take advantage of PS5 features.

Don't expect a similar concession for other PS4-to-PS5 upgrades. Ryan made clear that all first-party cross-generation exclusives "moving forward" would include a $10 upgrade option for the PS5 edition. If you pick up the next God of War for your PS4, you'll still have to pay for the PS5 release — you just won't have to pay nearly as much.

This pricing won't affect third-party studios, some of which have offered free PS5 updates (such as for Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order). However, it does set expectations. Sony clearly wants gamers to cover the costs of PS5 updates, and releases like Forbidden West are the exceptions to that rule.

Those longstanding murmurs of an Alan Wake revival might just have some merit. Well-known sleuth Wario64 has spotted Rakuten listings for an Alan Wake Remastered title that would launch on PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S on October 5th. The store pages say nothing about what's new, but it's safe to presume you'll see resolution improvements and other upgrades you'd expect from the remaster of the 2010 psychological thriller.

Remedy has been an ally of Microsoft for the past 11 years, releasing high-profile games like Alan Wake and Quantum Break as Xbox and PC exclusives while releasing a handful of games (such as a Death Rally reboot) on mobile. The developer reclaimed the publishing rights to Alan Wake in 2019, however, and signalled its platform independence with the launch of Control on PlayStation and (eventually) the Nintendo Switch.

The studio will still support Microsoft with exclusives like the online shooter CrossfireX. However, the listings suggest Remedy wants to broaden its horizons — including resurrecting games that many PlayStation owners never got to try the first time around.

NASA just took an important step toward making flying taxis a practical reality. The agency has started flight testing with Joby Aviation's electric VTOL aircraft to help model and simulate future airspace with these taxis in service. The dry run began quietly, on August 30th, and will last through September 10th. The effort will include noise check using 50 microphones to gauge the "acoustic profile" of the air taxi throughout the course of a given flight.

This is the first eVTOL test as part of an Advanced Air Mobility campaign meant to spot gaps in the Federal Aviation Administration's rules and ensure the agency is ready for commercial use of flying taxis alongside delivery drones and other unconventional aircraft. The data from the flight program will help with a fuller set of campaign tests in 2022 involving both other taxis and more complicated flight situations.

The overall program could better prepare the US for a glut of low-altitude air traffic if and when flying taxis enter widespread use. The early testing is also a minor coup for Joby. It's ushering in crucial testing not long after buying Uber's air taxi business and taking a $394 million investment from Toyota. There's no telling if Joby will continue to play a prominent role, but this is clearly the kind of collaboration it was hoping for.

Europe might be making progress on reducing emissions, but its largest utility company doesn't think officials are moving quickly enough. Reutersreports Enel has issued a study warning Europe could be late on reducing greenhouse gas emissions if it continues at its "current pace." The European Union wants to reduce those emissions by 55 percent by 2030, Enel said, but it reportedly won't reach that target until 2051 without substantial changes.

The continent also wouldn't meet its 40 percent renewable energy goal (also set for 2030) until 2043, according to the study.

The utility suggested the EU would need to invest roughly €3.6 trillion (just under $4.3 trillion) to meet the 2030 emissions goal. Officials would also need to institute governance better-suited to the challenge, with an ability to quickly turn plans into "concrete action." This would included tighter coordination between EU member states as well as a more regional strategy to foster better market integration.

There was little doubt the Union would need to rethink its strategy. The 55 percent emissions reduction goal was a significant leap from the earlier 40 percent target. Enel also has a strong incentive here — additional spending would likely help Enel's renewable energy business. The findings might help quantify just how much work needs to be done, however, and the EU may well listen to a major energy supplier when it asks for more aggressive clean energy adoption.