This month has become a monster for events and launches:

• Apple’s WWDC 2021 and E3 are already coming soon, with WWDC starting Monday next week and E3 set for June 12.

Now, Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony are joining in the fun, too.

First, Windows:

• Microsoft announced what looks like the biggest set of changes to Windows in years, with an event scheduled for June 24.
• The live stream, at 11 AM ET, suggests joining in to “see what’s next for Windows.”
• The reported details are for a major design change for the Windows UI, under project name “Sun Valley.” 
• That might mean, after decades of sameness, that elements like the start menu, file explorer, and action center, will get a function and design update.
• Speculation is that it could even be called Windows 11
• It all comes after Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella teased news regarding the “next-generation of Windows” at the Build 2021 event a week ago.
• Nadella will be hosting this event, along with product chief Panos Panay.
• Windows 10 was released in 2015, Windows 8 in 2012.

Nintendo, too:

• Nintendo committed to a Nintendo E3 event on June 15th. 
• While many signs are that at some point soon we’ll hear the announcement of the Nintendo Switch Pro, Nintendo has said this specific event will be “focused exclusively on Nintendo Switch games mainly releasing in 2021.”
• That means we should expect games like Mario Golf: Super Rush, Splatoon 3, the sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and such. Not necessarily a Switch Pro.
• The event is set for a rapid 40 minutes.
• That said… more news and weird leaks have emerged around the Switch Pro.
• For example, French retailer Boulanger apparently listed the new console for €399 though the leaks there aren’t as extensive as what we see sometimes in the lead-up to phone launches.
• All in all, we’re going to get a Switch Pro, but the announcement is still up in the air.

Lastly, Sony:

• Sony finally gave us a launch date for the WF-1000XM4 true wireless buds.
• The Japanese company posted a YouTube live stream link announcing that the “truly silent”, “tailored 4 you” buds will go official on June 9 at 1 AM Japan time (12 PM ET on June 8).

🔜 Full specs for upcoming OnePlus Nord CE leak, seem pretty good for the price (Android Authority).

🔎 Also, OnePlus might be making a rival to Apple’s AirTag, though just a trademark so far… (Android Authority).

💻 Samsung Galaxy Book Go debuts: An affordable Snapdragon-powered laptop line, starting at $349 (Android Authority).

🍎 Apple job posting lists ‘HomeOS’ ahead of next week’s WWDC 2021, and was rapidly removed (CNET).

🆕 Huawei made some announcements over Harmony OS which is rolling out, saying it will update over 100 devices with Harmony OS, dating as far back as the P10 and Mate 9. Exactly what’s going on with Harmony OS, though, depends on who at Huawei you speak with… (Twitter).

👉 Also, Huawei’s first Harmony OS tablets have a very familiar iPad-like interface… (Android Authority).

⌚ Garmin Forerunner 55 review: Well-rounded and affordable (Android Authority).

🤔 Your next laptop may come with a cryptominer, courtesy of Norton. It’s possible this is both genius (no “scary crypto” adventures, just use Norton) and terrible (a slippery slope?) (The Verge).

🚲 Lyft’s revamped bike-share Ebike is sleek — and beefy (Wired).

🚀 Venus is so very nice, NASA is going there twice with new exciting missions named DAVINCI+ and VERITAS. Just keep a lid on it a little bit though: both missions are slated to launch during the 2028 to 2030 timeframe (Ars Technica).

🐙 SpaceX cargo mission to ISS includes baby squid, tardigrades, and avocados (Gizmodo).

🔧 “What’s the best Father’s Day gift idea?” (r/askreddit).

Napster was released 22 years ago this week, the peer-to-peer file sharing service launching back on June 1, 1999.

• Napster, of course, was geared around sharing digital audio files, mostly MP3s.
• …which led to massive copyright interest (and lawsuits) around music sharing, and changed (and/or destroyed, depending on your POV) the music industry.
• The decentralized approach was the seed idea towards later tech like torrents, and probably even cryptocurrencies.

Cheers,

Tristan Rayner, Senior Editor.