News roundup: Apple Maps ads, FCC bans foreign routers, Antigravity A1 firmware, and more

Rounding up recent news with stories from Apple, Antigravity, Matthews, Panasonic, Nikon, and the new FCC ban on foreign-made routers (ie most of them).

Special Apple section

It's been a busy week or so at Apple, so it gets its own section up at the front.

WWDC 2026 starts on June 8. Apple blandly says, “WWDC26 will spotlight incredible updates for Apple platforms, including AI advancements and exciting new software and developer tools.” Expect the latest versions of  iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS to be unveiled as normal, but the company might be moving to a staggered release of hardware with the iPhone 18 Pro releasing in advance of the standard model. Other device launches depend on whether it's got its AI house and Siri in particular in order.

We wrote about enshittification only yesterday, and now here's a perfect example: Apple looks set to introduce ads into Apple Maps. Retailers will be able to book ads that are associated with search categories in the same way as they do with Google Maps. Actually, not even book, but bid, with the highest bids getting the best placing. So, that's enshittification for users and advertisers. Impressive.

Bloomberg's Mac savant Mark Gurman has run an interesting bio of John Ternus, increasingly looking like the heir apparent when Tim Cook stands down. In general, writes Gurman, “Ternus looks at mistakes as systematic problems that could be solved with better leadership instead of by putting the onus on engineers,” says someone who worked for him. Also, this person adds, Ternus is a “nice guy.”

Panasonic updates Lumix firmware

LUMIX cameras get new firmware

Panasonic has pushed out a round of free firmware updates across its Lumix S Series ecosystem, covering cameras, L-mount lenses, and companion apps. The updates apply to the S1R II, S1 II, S1 IIE, S5 II, S5 IIX, and S9, with the headline addition being support for the new DMW-DMS1 digital shotgun microphone (the 32-bit float, six-mode mic announced in February). General stability improvements are also included.

As far as lenses go, the S Pro 16-35mm f/4, 24-70mm f/2.8, 70-200mm f/2.8 OIS, and 70-200mm f/4 OIS all gain the ability to assign additional functions to the focus ring during autofocus, effectively turning it into a customizable control ring. Users can also set focus ring rotation direction in manual focus.

Rounding it all off, Lumix Flow 1.5.0 adds a Director Monitor mode that mirrors the camera feed to a phone or tablet, along with in-app LUT selection for LUT View Assist, customizable frame markers, and stability improvements. And Lumix Lab 2.0.4 lets users select, transfer, and delete multiple LUTs stored on the camera directly from the app, adds enhanced cropping controls, and improves Bluetooth pairing reliability and background location logging stability. 

All updates are free and available now via Panasonic's support site and the standard app stores.

US bans foreign consumer routers

First they came for the drones, now they have routers in their sights. According to The Verge, the Federal Communications Commission is banning consumer networking gear made outside the US, citing “an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States and to the safety and security of U.S. persons.”

Existing WiFi and wired routers are fine, and companies that have already obtained FCC radio authorization for a specific foreign-made product can continue to import that product. But new routers made outside the US — and that's most of them — will now need to have a “conditional approval” that clears products for US entry while the manufacturer works in the background to convince the government that they’ll work towards switching manufacturing to the US.

Meta flip flops on canceling metaverse

Still no excuse for rolling out Kumbaya..

Remember when Mark Zuckerburg said the metaverse was the future, renamed Facebook as Meta, and started to sink billions of dollars into building online virtual worlds? Well, safe to say it didn't catch on quite as he hoped, and he now needs to sink uncounted more billions into building out another tech no one really asked for in the shape of AI infrastructure.

So, the company announced it was going to shut down the VR version of its Horizon Worlds social platform in June to concentrate on the mobile version, only then to rapidly backtrack a few days later and say it would stay open after all “for the foreseeable future.”

It all seems a bit embarrassing from the outside, but at least it reminded people that Horizon Worlds, not to mention the concept of the metaverse in general, is still knocking around out there somewhere. Rumours that Zuck wants to rename the company simply AI next are unfounded...

Matthews intros lightweight Aluminum Grid Clamps

Lightweight and rugged

Matthews' first Aluminum Grid Clamp collection has been engineered specifically for the rigging needs of film, television and live production. Combining light weight with Matthews' trademark ruggedness, the company says Aluminum Grid Clamps help make rigging faster and logistics easier without compromising performance. 

The collection includes the 3/8"-16 Aluminum Grid Clamp, the Right Angle Aluminum Grid Clamp, a Swivel Aluminum Grid Clamp and the Baby Pin Aluminum Grid Clamp. Prices start at $25. More info here.

Cheaper Antigravity A1 gets new firmware

The Antigravity A1 drone is not only 20% off in North America until April 16, currently starting at $1279, but its U3 firmware is scheduled to drop in  mid-April.

This is a decent update that adds plenty of new features. The cockpit view now offers a third-person perspective alongside the existing first-person view, basic flight operations can now be triggered by voice command, there are new obstacle avoidance upgrades, individual camera perspectives can now be set for each Sky Path marker, and more. Timelapse support is also expected.

Nikon Europe extends NIKKOR Z-mount lens warranty

Nikon Europe has announced an extended, free five-year warranty on all newly purchased NIKKOR Z mount lenses. All lenses will now be covered against faults that might occur within the first five years of ownership. The new warranty is applicable in most European countries includes kit lenses and teleconverters. If a claim fulfils the conditions during the extended warranty period, the lens will be repaired free of charge by authorised Nikon technicians.