In 2001 a green-armored soldier woke up on a mysterious ring and changed everything for console shooters. Twenty-five years later Halo Studios has torn that entire campaign down to the studs and rebuilt it in Unreal Engine 5. Campaign Evolved is not a simple polish pass. Every corridor, every beach, every Forerunner structure has been constructed again from scratch. Side-by-side footage now circulating makes the gap impossible to ignore.

When you walk into the Cryo Bay of the Pillar of Autumn, the first thing you notice is the difference. The earliest chambers were basic boxes with flat panels and a gentle, even glow. In the new version, the same space is turned into a thick tangle of machinery, cables that appear to be hanging free, frost clinging to every surface, and crew members bustling about with purpose, and the light no longer simply sorta… fills the room like it used to. No, it bounces off polished metal, catches on frost, and creates these lovely soft shadows that appear to change and move every time you turn a corner.

As players step outside onto the Silent Cartographer beach, the difference becomes even more apparent. The original shoreline was a rather uninteresting expanse of sand and rock, with a limited outlook. However, Campaign Evolved takes the same shoreline and transforms it into an actual place. The waves are now smashing in with considerable volume, and rather than being flat smooth sheets of grass and scrub, they are pushing up through the sand in small groups. And way out in the horizon, you can see the distant rocks with their evident fissures and weathering. The ring continues to curve overhead, but the sky and atmosphere now adjust to time of day and weather in ways that the 2001 engine could never have predicted.

The most significant transition in materials can be seen in forerunner architecture. Early Halo structures were basically large slabs of concrete with simple geometric designs on them. The new buildings have the same immense scale and harsh shape, but each surface has fine grooves, slight discoloration, and reflective edges that catch the light in a completely different way depending on whatever angle you look at them from. Because the team has been able to push the level of detail without sacrificing performance, distant walls remain sharp rather than blurring, and the lumen lighting inside those same halls is a game changer, filling the space with soft bounced light and proper reflections that move with you as you move.

Character models and vehicles are making the same transition. Elites used to move around with these rigid, limited joints and basic armor plates. Every plate now has a genuine thickness, every joint has adequate articulation, and the energy shields respond with clearer visual input. The Warthog has gained some weight and is now more stable on the ground. The tires leave actual tracks, and as it goes, it creates actual heavy clouds of sand and dust that linger in the air for a while. Even little items like ammo crates and computer terminals now have readable lettering on them, and you can see all these wear marks that are worth looking closely at.

Campaign Evolved will be released on July 28 for the Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC. Early footage shows that the technological leap is enormous, since the geometry is denser, the materials respond to light properly, and the surroundings can bear careful examination. The original game was groundbreaking for its time, but this upgraded edition simply brings the same plot and locations to life in a way that modern hardware can now handle.
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The accessibility feature was teased back in April.

The line between your smartphone and your car continues to blur. Volvo has announced that it is rolling out an over-the-air software update that brings Apple Music directly to the infotainment systems of more than 2 million vehicles worldwide. Instead of relying on Apple CarPlay or plugging in an iPhone, eligible drivers will be able to stream music natively from their car’s built-in system, making Apple Music another integrated feature of Volvo’s software experience.

The update is arriving for a wide range of Volvo models, including the EX90, ES90, XC90, S90, V90, XC60, S60, V60, XC40, EX40 and EC40, covering model year 2020 onwards. Availability, however, may vary depending on the vehicle.

At first glance, adding another music streaming app may not sound particularly significant. But it highlights how modern cars are increasingly being treated like connected computing platforms, where new features arrive through software updates rather than requiring new hardware.

Apple Music becomes a built-in part of the driving experience

The biggest advantage of native Apple Music support is convenience. Drivers no longer need to connect an iPhone through Apple CarPlay or Bluetooth just to access their playlists. Once signed in, they can browse Apple’s catalogue of more than 100 million songs directly from the vehicle’s infotainment display, creating a more seamless experience during everyday commutes and long road trips.

To celebrate the rollout, Volvo is also offering promotional access to Apple’s streaming service. Customers who are new to Apple Music can receive up to three months free, while eligible returning subscribers who have been away from the service for at least one month can claim two months free. The offer remains available until July 6, 2027.

Some of Volvo’s premium electric vehicles also receive an audio upgrade. The EX60, EX90 and ES90 will support Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos when equipped with the optional Bowers & Wilkins sound system, allowing compatible Apple Music tracks to be played in immersive surround sound. Volvo also says the newly launched EX60 will ship with Apple Music pre-installed when deliveries begin later this year.

Cars are becoming software platforms, not just vehicles

This announcement is about far more than music streaming. Over-the-air updates have fundamentally changed how automakers deliver new features. What once required a dealership visit can now arrive overnight through a software download. Tesla popularized this approach years ago, and traditional manufacturers have steadily followed by treating vehicles more like smartphones that continue evolving after purchase.

For Apple, the partnership extends the reach of its services business beyond phones, tablets and computers. For Volvo, it strengthens its growing reputation as a software-first automaker, particularly as it continues building vehicles around Google’s Android Automotive platform.

Consumers also stand to benefit. Native apps reduce dependence on smartphones, simplify the driving experience, and make infotainment systems feel less like accessories and more like an integrated part of the vehicle.

As software becomes one of the biggest differentiators in the automotive industry, partnerships like this are likely to become increasingly common. The next major upgrade to your car may not involve a more powerful engine or a larger battery. It may simply arrive while your car is parked overnight.

XGIMI has expanded its Elfin Flip portable projector lineup to four models with the introduction of the Elfin Flip 4K and Elfin Flip Laser, joining the existing Elfin Flip and Elfin Flip Plus. The two additions move the series beyond entry-level LED projection, offering buyers a choice between a 1080p triple-laser projector and a more advanced 4K model.

Both new projectors use RGB triple-laser light engines rated at 1,600 ISO lumens and include a single 7-watt Harman Kardon speaker with Dolby Audio. That represents a substantial step up from the Elfin Flip Plus, which uses an LED light source rated at 500 ISO lumens and relies on two 3-watt speakers. This is considerably more than another model number and a mildly revised shade of beige.

XGIMI has packaged those upgrades inside the familiar book-sized Elfin Flip design, retaining the integrated stand and carry-handle concept that makes the projectors easy to move between rooms and aim at a wall or ceiling. The expanded range now stretches from affordable 1080p streaming to brighter 4K laser projection without requiring owners to drag a black plastic shoebox around the house.

Related Reading: XGIMI Unveils New MoGo 3 Pro, Elfin Flip, AURA 2, HORIZON S Series Projectors For 2024

Elfin Flip 4K

The Elfin Flip 4K sits at the top of the lineup with 4K display resolution via pixel shifting, an RGB triple-laser engine delivering up to 1,600 ISO lumens of brightness, a 20,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, 110% coverage of the BT.2020 color gamut, and ΔE<1 color accuracy—specifications that rival those of dedicated home theater installations. Its optical zoom and 0.98–1.3:1 throw ratio enable precise screen sizing without requiring users to reposition the projector.

Weighing just 1.55 kg and measuring 9.64 inches wide, it delivers a large-screen viewing experience with zero visual compromise.

The Elfin Flip 4K’s flip-to-start operation and slim profile reinforce its portability: pick it up, place it, and the picture is ready. XGIMI’s Intelligent Screen Adaptation technology handles the rest automatically through Uninterrupted Auto Keystone, Auto Focus, Intelligent Screen Alignment, Intelligent Obstacle Avoidance, Wall Color Adaptation, and Intelligent Eye Protection.

Gaming Support: For the first time in the Elfin series, the Flip 4K supports console-level gaming performance, with input lag as low as 1 ms at 1080p/120 Hz. It also supports VRR and ALLM, along with Black Equalizer, Virtual Crosshair, and a dedicated Gaming Picture Mode.

The Flip Laser

The Elfin Flip Laser sits immediately below the Flip 4K in the lineup. It uses the same RGB triple-laser light engine, carries the same 1,600 ISO-lumen brightness rating, and includes the same Harman Kardon speaker system and smart features.

The primary differences are its 1080p display resolution, lower 10,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, and lack of the Flip 4K’s advanced gaming features.

Audio & Smart Features

The Elfin Flip 4K and Elfin Flip Laser each include a 7-watt Harman Kardon speaker with Dolby Audio support, designed to deliver room-filling sound without requiring external audio equipment. Our suggestion: get a soundbar.

With Google TV, users also have direct access to Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and thousands of additional streaming apps, making the Elfin Flip Series a complete all-in-one home entertainment solution.

Pro Tip: The previously released Elfin Flip Plus and Elfin Flip remain the more affordable entry points in the lineup, but both use LED light sources rather than RGB triple-laser engines. Their speaker systems also offer less power and do not benefit from Harman Kardon tuning. Automatic setup features may vary by model.

XGIMI Elfin Flip Series Comparison

The Bottom Line 

XGIMI offers projectors for everything from casual streaming to dedicated home theaters, but the Elfin Flip Series occupies an increasingly popular middle ground: compact lifestyle projectors that can move between rooms without looking like surplus equipment from a high-school audiovisual department. The Elfin Flip 4K is the standout, combining pixel-shifted 4K resolution, an RGB triple-laser light engine, 1,600 ISO lumens, optical zoom, Google TV, automatic setup, and serious gaming support inside a slim, book-sized design for $999. That combination of portability, optical zoom, wide color coverage, and 1080p/120 Hz gaming performance is what makes it genuinely different.

The Elfin Flip 4K is best suited to apartment dwellers, renters, gamers, and families who want a large image in a bedroom, living room, or temporary media space without permanently mounting a projector. The Elfin Flip Laser offers the same 1,600 ISO-lumen brightness and RGB triple-laser color performance for $799, but drops to 1080p, reduces dynamic contrast, and eliminates the 4K model’s optical zoom and advanced gaming features. Unless the Laser is substantially discounted, spending another $200 for the Flip 4K is not a difficult decision.

There are compromises. Neither laser model includes a built-in battery, so “portable” means easy to carry from room to room rather than movie night in the middle of a field without access to an extension cord. HDR support is limited to HDR10 and HLG, with no Dolby Vision, and 1,600 ISO lumens still does not turn either model into a replacement for a television in a brightly illuminated room. The single 7-watt Harman Kardon speaker may be adequate for casual viewing, but claims of room-filling sound should be approached with the same caution normally reserved for airport sushi. Both models support HDMI eARC, so budget for at least a soundbar if dialogue clarity, bass, and convincing movie sound matter.

The Elfin Flip Plus remains the value option at $379, offering 1080p resolution, Google TV, automatic setup, and 500 ISO lumens. The standard Elfin Flip is also priced at $379 or less, although its lower 400 ISO-lumen output makes the Plus the more sensible purchase whenever the two are selling for the same amount. Casual viewers working with a dark room and tighter budget should start there; buyers seeking the best combination of brightness, resolution, flexibility, and gaming performance should move directly to the Elfin Flip 4K.

Price & Availability

Related Reading

In the middle of a diarrhea shitstorm, the Food and Drug Administration and lettuce supplier Taylor Farms appear to be facing off in a passive aggressive battle of technicalities.

On July 17, the California-based company issued a voluntary recall on iceberg lettuce sourced from Central Mexico. The recall came after people across at least five states were sickened with cyclosporiasis, a parasitic infection that causes explosive diarrhea.

The next day, the FDA said that it had detected the parasite in a sample of Taylor Farms lettuce that wasn’t part of the initial recall. The day after that, the company and the FDA said that the result was actually a false positive.

“Today, the FDA apologized to us,” Taylor Farms then posted on its X account on July 19.

The FDA did not quite agree with that interpretation, however. On July 20, an agency official told reporters that it did not offer the company an “official apology.” Instead, the official said, “mostly we were providing factual information” about how difficult it is to test for and trace the sources of cyclospora outbreaks.

The agency emphasized that the recall—which spans 27 states, and includes certain lettuce sold to Taco Bell and Walmart—still stands. “To clarify, this false-positive lab sample DOES NOT change the basis for FDA’s ongoing outbreak investigation or the overwhelming epidemiological data supporting the current voluntary recall by Taylor Farms,” it posted on X.

In its July 19 post, Taylor Farms also wrote that the FDA “has not identified a single positive product test result for Cyclospora.” While true, this elides the difficulties involved in accurately testing for the parasite.

Many foodborne illness investigators determine the source of outbreaks without ever testing products. Instead, investigators use epidemiological evidence, such as interviewing people who have tested positive, to determine commonalities.

Taylor Farms has reportedly taken issue with how the FDA and CDC has conducted their weeks-long investigation into the source of the outbreak. A spokesperson told The New York Times that, last week, the company met with White House and FDA officials to discuss what it called “shortfalls” in the government organizations’ response processes. The Times reported that Taylor Farms executives attempted to cast doubt on the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s conclusions in the meeting, which took place on July 16, the day before Taylor Farms issued its recall.

Taylor Farms did not respond to WIRED’s requests for comment.

Since May, thousands of people have been sickened with cyclosporasis, as health officials have struggled to pinpoint the source of the outbreak. Authorities in Michigan say that they have counted 6,148 cases in that state alone, though experts previously told WIRED that the number of cases nationwide is likely higher than what’s been reported.