Lenovo isn’t shy about trying new things. Last year, the PC maker teased a concept laptop with a transparent screen. Earlier this year, the ThinkBook Flip concept employed a flexible OLED display that folded over the top of the laptop lid, ready to flip up whenever you needed the extra screen space. At CES 2025, we saw a ThinkBook with a rollable OLED screen that expanded upward automatically at the touch of a button—this one is a real product you can actually buy.
Get ready for another whacky concept. At IFA 2025, the tech exhibition in Berlin, Lenovo unveiled its latest idea: the Lenovo ThinkBook VertiFlex. This is a laptop with a screen that can manually swivel from a standard horizontal orientation to vertical.
Portrait Mode
By default, the ThinkBook VertiFlex Concept looks like a normal 14-inch laptop. Look closely at the screen’s edge, however, and you’ll see a second layer jutting out; that’s the actual screen. Grab the right corner edge of the screen and push it upward, and the display will smoothly swivel up into a vertical orientation.
The back panel the screen is mounted on has a felt backing to keep everything smooth and scratch-free, and you can even prop a phone up here in this orientation. There’s a mechanism inside that manages the motion and keeps it operating smoothly. Despite this, the PC is still fairly slim at 17.9 mm, and it weighs roughly 3 pounds. (The 14-inch MacBook Pro is around 15 mm thick and weighs 3.4 pounds.)
I use a dual-screen setup with one vertical monitor next to my main ultrawide monitor at home. Having a vertical screen is a game-changer, as it’s perfect for applications that utilize more vertical space. Email is a great example, so are apps like Slack, anything to do with PDFs, and even most word processing software. But I’ve yet to change my screen orientation in the middle of a workflow.
Lenovo has decided that IFA is the ideal time to show off its most powerful (and most chunky) hardware. And easily at the top of that heap is the Thinkpad P16 Gen 3. With a starting price of $3,339, it’s the most expensive and the most powerful of the lot. It packs the latest Core Ultra 200HX processors and has options for Nvidia’s RTX Pro GPUs, up to 192GB of DDR5 RAM, and up to 12TB of PCIe Gen5 NVMe storage; there is also an option for a 16-inch 3.2K OLED touchscreen. Unsurprisingly, the P16 Gen 3 is a beefy machine, at well over an inch thick and with a starting weight of 5.6 pounds, but on the plus side, it has a user-replaceable battery and two Thunderbolt 5 ports.
If that’s too bulky but you still want some serious oomph, there is the new Thinkpad P1 Gen 8. You get Core Ultra 200 H series processors, and your graphics options are capped at the slightly lower RTX Pro 2000 tier (versus the 5000 on the P16), plus you still get two Thunderbolt 5 ports and can opt for the same 16-inch OLED panel. The perk is that it’s in a much less boxy chassis that weighs only 4 pounds and gets down to 0.8 inches thick, with a slightly more reasonable starting price of $2,819.
Even though the P series is aimed at pros doing 3D rendering, it’s the Legion Pro 7 gaming machine that is actually the heftiest of the bunch. It’s slightly thinner than the P16 at 1.05 inches, but it weighs 6 pounds. It starts at $2,399, but can be configured with up to an AMD Ryzen 9955HX3D and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080. That’s more than enough to push most AAA titles to the 16-inch 240Hz OLED. If 16 inches isn’t enough real estate, Lenovo also unveiled a trio of gaming OLEDs: the $699.99 Pro 27Q-10, the $999.99 Pro 27UD-10, and the $1,099.99 Pro 32UD-10.
Tech giant Apple is set to hold its much-anticipated “Awe Dropping” event on September 9, where the iPhone 17 series is expected to take centre stage. Ahead of the launch, market research firm TrendForce has offered fresh pricing predictions that suggest Apple will keep its base iPhone 17 at last year’s entry-level price, but the Pro models could see notable hikes.
According to TrendForce, the standard iPhone 17 will likely launch at $799 (approx ₹70,534), maintaining the 128GB storage option. In contrast, the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max may start with 256GB of storage, but at higher prices. The iPhone 17 Pro is expected to debut at $1,199 (approx ₹1,05,855) — $200 more than the entry point of the iPhone 16 Pro, though with double the base storage. The iPhone 17 Pro Max, meanwhile, could start at $1,299 (nearly ₹1,14,700).
Storage bumps and higher price tiers?
The changes might put the most affordable iPhone 17 Pro at $200 above last year’s Pro entry point, with additional storage tiers each climbing $100 higher than their predecessors. A top-tier 1TB iPhone 17 Pro Max could set buyers back $1,699, compared to $1,599 for the iPhone 16 equivalent.
The new iPhone 17 Air — a slimmer replacement for the iPhone 16 Plus — is anticipated to start at $1,099 ( ₹97,000), also without a 128GB variant.
Apple will confirm the official lineup and pricing during its September 9 showcase, where updates to the Apple Watch and the next-generation AirPods Pro 3 are also anticipated.
Agentic AI is emerging as a creative partner that can anticipate needs, shape ideas, and collaborate alongside humans.
Adobe Stock
Artificial intelligence is moving beyond the role of a tool and beginning to act more like a colleague. The new wave of agentic AI promises systems that can take initiative, anticipate needs, and collaborate in ways that feel closer to teamwork than automation. One of the clearest signs of this shift is happening in design and communication, where AI is starting to act as a creative partner rather than a simple utility.
Breaking Away From Old Formats
For decades, presentations followed the same rigid format. Slides were locked to a fixed ratio, and users were forced to think like designers even when design was not their strength. AI is making it possible to approach communication in a new way. Instead of adjusting layouts and moving boxes around, people can focus on the story they want to tell, with AI generating outlines, visuals, and structure.
As Grant Lee, CEO of Gamma, told me during a recent conversation, “We have always envisioned AI to be like your design partner, as if you had an expert designer sitting right next to you.” This idea of AI as a design collaborator points to a much broader transformation.
From Static Tools To Creative Partners
Business software has traditionally digitized existing tasks. Word processors, spreadsheets, and presentation software all replaced their physical predecessors without changing the underlying roles. AI is shifting that model. Instead of waiting for instructions, agentic systems can suggest directions, fill gaps, and adapt to context.
Lee described how users can ask AI to shape content, synthesize documents, and suggest visuals that match tone and purpose. “Depending on whether you want a visual aid for a live presentation or something more information dense for an async presentation, being able to describe your need to your AI partner is critical,” he explained. That adaptability is the hallmark of agentic AI, and it has applications far beyond presentations.
Efficiency Without Endless Scaling
The impact is not only creative, it is operational. In the past, growth often meant hiring more people to handle more work. Now, AI allows smaller teams to do the work of much larger ones. Lee noted that startups today are asking different questions than in the dot-com era. “Rather than scaling up your headcount ten times, you take a step back and ask how might we actually increase our efficiency ten times,” he said.
This shift from sheer scale to smarter scale is already influencing industries from software to services. Leaders are beginning to measure success not by how many employees they add but by how much leverage they can give each person through AI partners.
Lessons For Leadership And The Workforce
Agentic AI also changes what it means to build and lead teams. Leaders can no longer assume that processes designed a decade ago will still be effective. As Lee put it, “Every team now has a chance to be an AI-first team. The way you might have done work five, six, seven years ago needs to be completely rethought.”
This rethinking creates both opportunities and risks. Junior roles that once focused on manual tasks may shrink, which could undermine how future leaders gain experience. “What would be better is to continue to hire junior folks, arm them with AI tooling, and include them in the broader AI strategy,” Lee warned. Companies that cut too aggressively may save in the short term, but lose valuable talent development in the long term.
A Broader Shift Across Industries
The implications of agentic AI reach far beyond communication tools. In legal services, specialized systems are already acting as research partners for lawyers. In healthcare, AI agents are starting to support diagnosis and treatment planning. In finance, contract monitoring and compliance are increasingly delegated to AI colleagues.
The common thread is that humans move away from tedious tasks and toward higher-value work, whether that means strategy, empathy, or creativity. AI becomes the assistant that never tires, while people focus on judgment and vision.
Opening The Aperture
For many people, the possibilities of agentic AI are not yet obvious. As Lee said, “Most people do not even know the possibilities until they are presented to them. We have an opportunity to really open the aperture for the average user, and that is particularly exciting.”
The next decade will be shaped by how quickly organizations embrace this change. Those that succeed will not treat AI as an optional add-on; they will treat it as a colleague, one that expands their ability to imagine, create, and execute.
By partnering with these AI systems, humans can unlock creativity, drive efficiency, and build a more human future of work.
In a few months time I will have hit my 20th year in the workforce. I’m not sure how to celebrate two decades of doing tasks people have told me to do instead of having a little lie down. Some sort of LinkedIn post seems apt. The platform that gives sucking up a social media centre-stage to perform.
You know the posts. The ones about what missing the birth of their first child to attend a meeting taught them about b2b sales. Or those fake morning routine posts about people getting up at 4am to clear their heads in an ice bath to “prepare for battle” before heading out at 5am “to beat competitors”. Their language suggests they are sell-sword mercenaries heading into combat. Their job title says they work in marketing. It is confusing.
But if there’s one thing I’ve learned it is that work is all about embracing confusion. Overcomplicated processes. Phrases that mean nothing. We are pivoting, we are boiling the ocean, we are touching base. New policies that take 30 pages to explain what three words could manage. Four if you add the term please at the end. Just don’t say that out loud.
Employers hate when staff point out things that don’t make sense. They encourage feedback but only if it’s positive. In the same way I only ask if what I’m wearing to a wedding is okay while I’m in the car en route to the church.
This is how the banal evil that is hot-desking took power. If you had asked employees if they wanted to spend eight hours a day touching the same mouse and keyboard of their colleague who doesn’t wash their hands when they use the toilet, they would have said no. Loudly. But push terms like “agile” and “flexible” in front of the sexier moniker of “hot-desking” and it’s suddenly a good idea.
I was hopeful Covid-19 would have ended the cruel practice, given it’s not ideal to share surfaces during a pandemic. But since working from home it came back with a vengeance. Employers realised they didn’t have to pay for larger office spaces if employees were staggering their attendance. So it’s back to the racing in and finding the one good monitor before someone else nabs it.
There’s something so undignified about schlepping all your chargers, your lip balm and your water bottle back to a locker at the end of the day. Something cruel and impersonal about a “clear desk policy”. I yearn for the return to the traditional office. I dream of a desk with walls. Beige and carpeted.
Cubicles were mocked for being like small prisons. Little boxes representing the confinement workers found themselves in. But they gave us more freedom than open offices allow. They gave us a modicum of privacy. They let us have a therapeutic eyeroll while on a conference call without the threat of unemployment.
We could decorate them with things that were important to us. Photos of our family. Postcards. Cathay comics. And in my case, letters from irate readers telling me I’m a disgrace to journalism and they would never read the paper again. Until they sent me another letter about my next article, confirming the opposite. Cubicles let us be people. Not wipe-clean worker drones.
They offered sonic protection from our desk mates’ loud phone calls. Their habit of snorting snot up their nose instead of just getting a goddam tissue and blowing. Their preference of scraping the bottom of a bowl of tuna as loudly as possible with a fork until every stinking morsel is gone.
Now our desks are conjoined and we have nowhere to hide. Dentists are overjoyed. With so many teeth set permanently on edge or grating from being so exposed to the annoyance that is other people, they must be raking it in. They’ve taken our walls, they’ve taken our permanent desks. Where does it end?
In fairness, I now have a permanent desk. With small dividers. My happiness and productivity have increased tenfold. The secret to success is not getting up at 5am. Instead, it’s having a little chest of drawers with wheels that slides under the desk that holds hand cream, paracetamol and dry shampoo.
As I’m out on the road most of the time, my handbag now serves as my office, with broken chargers and crumpled receipts forming a magma-like crust at the bottom.
I am lucky enough to have spent the majority of the last 20 years doing something I love and getting paid for it. Even if it cuts into time spent dedicated to my ultimate passion – being left alone and eating biscuits.
X’s product head said there’s a playbook for getting rich on the platform.
Nikita Bier, who became the product head at X in July, took to the platform on Thursday to share his tips on earning money on X.
He said that users should think about one subject matter they’re an expert on, and to keep posting about it.
“It can be anything: plumbing, menswear, Indian food, furniture, social apps, whatever,” he said.
“Post one unexpected insight you picked from your experience in that area. Keep it under 5 sentences. Do this every day for 6 months,” he added.
Bier said that if someone does this consistently for six months, X will promote their account to others.
“By the end, you will be recognized as the world’s leading expert in that subject area and you can charge whatever you want for endorsements, your time, or whatever,” Bier said. “And no one will be able to take that way from you.”
Bier responded to a critical comment from an X user, who said Bier’s method wouldn’t work because the X algorithm “favors slop.”
Related stories
Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know
Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know
Bier disagreed. “That was then, this is now. Make sure you write in a way that is accessible to broader audiences,” he replied.
When he landed the role of product head at X in June, he said it was because he had posted his way to the top.
“While I already spend every waking hour on this app, I’ll now be spending that time helping others unlock that same value,” he said in a June 30 X post.
He had been gunning for the role for three years, he said.
Bier’s playbook has certainly worked for some content creators on the platform.
For instance, Derek Guy, better known by his handle “Dieworkwear,” was dubbed X’s “menswear guy” because of his frequent posts on men’s clothing. Guy has 1.3 million followers on X.
Representatives for X did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.
Apple is preparing to host its annual autumn hardware launch, dubbed the “Apple Awe-Dropping Event,” on 9 September at 10 AM Pacific Time (10:30 PM IST). The company’s next-generation iPhone 17 models are expected to dominate the presentation. Updates to the Apple Watch line and the long-awaited AirPods Pro 3 are also anticipated.
As in previous years, speculation has been mounting for months, with leaks pointing to notable design changes across the iPhone line-up. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has suggested that this year will mark the start of a three-year cycle of significant redesigns, with an entirely new foldable iPhone projected to debut in 2026.
iPhone 17, Air, Pro, and Pro Max
The iPhone 17 itself is tipped for a visible overhaul. Reports suggest the handset will likely move closer in appearance to the Pro models, adopting a slightly larger 6.3-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a considerable step up from the 60Hz screens on previous standard models. The front-facing camera may also be upgraded to 24 megapixels.
New colour finishes are expected, with purple and green among the options. Pricing is projected to begin at around $800.
At the higher end, the iPhone 17 Pro is rumoured to introduce a redesigned camera layout. Concept renderings show a horizontal bar stretching across the rear of the phone, housing three cameras, while the flash and sensors are positioned separately to one side. The Pro may also drop its titanium frame in favour of aluminium, a shift that could lower manufacturing costs and reduce overall weight.
The Pro will reportedly cost about $1,100, though buyers may have fewer storage choices. Analysts suggest the entry-level 128GB option could be dropped, leaving only 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB variants. The Pro line could also add new finishes in dark blue and copper.
The iPhone 17 Pro Max may see a subtler update. Its most significant change is rumoured to be a slightly thicker body to accommodate a larger battery, a move that would provide longer usage times between charges. Pricing is expected to hover around $1,250.
The ultra-thin iPhone Air
The most widely discussed development is the reported introduction of the iPhone Air. Positioned as a replacement for the Plus model, the Air is expected to be Apple’s slimmest handset to date, measuring just 5.5mm thick. That would make it about 0.08 inches thinner than existing iPhones and slimmer than Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Edge, which comes in at 5.8mm.
Also Read | Apple iPhone 17 a sell-out before launch? 70% of US users plan to upgrade
Also Read | Apple ‘Awe Dropping’ Event: iPhone 17 Pro Max, Air, Pro pricing tipped
Despite its thin profile, the Air may feature a 6.6-inch screen, slightly larger than the standard iPhone 17. However, the design appears to involve some trade-offs. Leaks indicate the device may ship with only one rear camera lens, compared with two on the outgoing Plus model. Space constraints could also mean the absence of a bottom-firing speaker, leaving the front earpiece as the only audio source.
Battery capacity remains uncertain, with analysts warning of shorter life due to the reduced thickness. To address this, Apple may offer an optional battery case, although this would add bulk to the handset.
Pricing predictions vary. Early reports suggested a $950 launch price, though more recent projections from JPMorgan indicate a slightly lower $899 price tag. Expected colours include black, silver, and light gold.
New accessories and cases
Alongside the phones, Apple may introduce new accessories. Three weeks before the event, leaks revealed images of so-called “TechWoven” cases designed for the iPhone 17 Pro models. The cases are said to use a tougher fabric than Apple’s discontinued FineWoven line from 2023. Some variants are reported to come with detachable crossbody straps, pointing to an expansion in Apple’s case design strategy.
Apple Watch: Series 11, Ultra 3, and SE 3
The Apple Watch range is also due for attention. The Ultra 3, the company’s most rugged smartwatch, is expected to see its first major changes in two years. Potential upgrades include faster charging, satellite connectivity, and 5G support, alongside a larger display.
One of the most talked-about features in development could be the blood pressure monitoring, which would warn users of unusually high or low readings. A sleep apnoea detection system has also been reported. However, Gurman has cautioned that both may be delayed until further testing is completed.
The Series 11 is likely to receive more modest improvements, possibly including the same health features if they are ready in time. Meanwhile, the more affordable Apple Watch SE 3 is rumoured to get only a larger display, with talk of a new plastic-bodied variant still unconfirmed.
Prices are expected to remain similar to current models: around $250 for the SE, $400 for the Series 11, and $800 for the Ultra 3.
AirPods Pro 3
Finally, Apple’s event may see the debut of AirPods Pro 3, the first update to the line since 2022. Reports suggest a more compact design with smaller earbuds, a slimmer case, and touch-sensitive controls replacing physical buttons. The pairing button may be removed entirely, with users tapping the case itself instead.
The new H3 chip is said to improve active noise cancellation and adaptive audio performance, extending Apple’s focus on sound quality in its premium earbuds.
TUMI has launched “Icons tested”, a campaign that explores the discipline and precision behind both elite athletes and its products.
Starring McLaren Formula 1 driver Lando Norris and professional golfer Nelly Korda, the campaign draws a clear parallel between their relentless pursuit of excellence and the rigorous testing that defines TUMI’s iconic luggage and accessories.
Part of TUMI’s 50th anniversary celebrations, the campaign highlights two of its most recognised silhouettes: the Navigation backpack from the ‘Alpha Bravo’ collection and the Celina backpack from ‘Voyageur’.
Don’t miss: TUMI celebrates shared journey with consumers in anniversary campaign
Engineered for performance, these designs merge functionality with modern sophistication, built to meet the demands of dynamic users with ease and intention, according to the brand.
Directed by Kiku Ohe and captured in striking portraits by Simon Lipman, the dual films follow Norris and Korda through moments of preparation, repetition, and focus, offering an unfiltered look at the discipline behind their routines. Their journeys mirror the meticulous process behind every TUMI product, where design, testing, and refinement are pushed to the highest standards.
“Icons tested” reflects TUMI’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of design through continuous refinement and real-world testing. More than a celebration of success, the campaign is a tribute to the journey and to the products built to endure it.
Featured throughout are additional icons such as the TUMI McLaren capsule in super grey, inspired by McLaren’s Supernova silver, the 19 degree lite hardside luggage, the signature 19 degree aluminum collection, and the packable and versatile ‘Just in case’ collection.
The campaign is live globally across TUMI stores and online, with exclusive behind-the-scenes content available on TUMI’s social channels.
“Being iconic doesn’t come from a single moment, but from showing up, again and again, and evolving through the process. At TUMI, that’s not just a goal — it’s our standard. Every TUMI piece is designed to be tested, trusted, and to grow with those who carry them. Not just built for performance or aesthetics, but to meet our customers where they are and move with them wherever they go,” said Victor Sanz, global creative director at TUMI.
Speaking on the campaign, Norris said, “Consistency is everything. The work never really stops, no matter the craft. I see it in how I perform on the track, and in how my TUMI essentials keep up with me, wherever I go.”
In tandem, Korda said, “Being iconic isn’t defined by perfection. It’s about staying committed and finding meaning in the moments that build over time. The journey constantly shifts, reminding me why having trusted companions in those moments really matters.”
“Icons Tested” follows TUMI’s recent unveiling of Chinese actor Wei Daxun as its new Asia-Pacific brand ambassador in July, coinciding with the opening of its new Shanghai flagship store earlier that month.
With 29 million followers on Weibo, Wei has captivated audiences across Asia with his versatility, charisma, and sincerity, earning critical acclaim and lasting fan admiration. Driven by professionalism, discipline, and a relentless pursuit of excellence, Wei embodies the values that have defined TUMI for the past 50 years: precision, creativity, and a spirit of constant forward motion.
Accelerate your brand’s growth with AI-first strategies, emerging tech and data-driven experiences. Join 500+ marketing leaders at Digital Marketing Asia 2025 Singapore on 24–25 September to uncover transformative trends, real-world wins and powerful ideas for 2025 and beyond.
Related articles: TUMI unveils New York style pop-up in Causeway Bay TUMI launches new flagship in Shanghai TUMI captures Lando Norris’ playful spirit in new campaign, refreshes HK stores
The biggest online video game stores crashed on Thursday as they struggled to deal with high demand for Hollow Knight: Silksong – one of the most-anticipated games of the year.
Thousands of users reported they were unable to buy the game on PC store Steam after its release at 15:00 BST, with errors persisting until around 17:30.
Social media users also shared their difficulties trying to purchase Silksong on other platforms, including the Nintendo, PlayStation and Xbox game stores.
Fans of Hollow Knight have been eagerly awaiting the sequel after the first game’s release in 2017, which has sold more than 15 million copies worldwide according to the developer.
User reports on outage-checker Downdetector rose sharply on release, peaking at 3,750 before falling gradually over the following hour.
It led some angry fans to criticise the platform, with one calling the outage “ridiculous” and others saying it was “stupid” there was no option to pre-order the game, which they said would have avoided the issues altogether.
And further frustrated fans posted screenshots to social media platforms including X (formerly Twitter) of error codes across game stores as they tried to complete their purchase.
Steam
Steam users were met with this error when they tried to buy the game
Meanwhile, Humble Bundle, another digital storefront, briefly told visitors in a note on its site on Thursday the game was no longer available during the high demand – which has since been resolved.
It led Christopher Larkin, a composer who worked on Hollow Knight and its sequel, to joke on X the game may have “crashed the internet”.
Meanwhile another X user, @haydenschiff, posted an image showing several gamers encountering Steam error codes while trying to share their gameplay on Twitch:
Allow X content?
This article contains content provided by X. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read and before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Despite many reporting they were unable to buy the game hours after it went live, the game’s demand was so significant Steam recorded more than 100,000 people were playing it within half an hour of its launch – likely buying their copies from other online stores.
“How you guys play [when] I can’t even buy,” one gamer lamented in a discussion board on the platform.
Meanwhile another X user joked they had “beat the hardest boss” – accompanied by an image showing their purchase of the Hollow Knight sequel had gone through.
And it was not just limited to fans – at least one video game publisher suggested they were also caught up in the chaos caused by demand for the game.
Allow X content?
This article contains content provided by X. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read and before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
The Hollow Knight games were created by a tiny, three-person indie developer called Team Cherry, which is based in Adelaide, Australia.
Both games are single-character side-scrolling adventures set in a fantasy world of fighter insects. The latest game focuses on a sword-wielding princess called Hornet, who was a supporting character in the first game.
One of Team Cherry’s developers, William Pellen, was quoted in the Australian Broadcasting Corporation as saying that the Hollow Knight games had a distinctive style that did not age.
“The fact that people keep discovering Hollow Knight, the original, and this was our hope with it, suggests that it hasn’t fallen out of date,” Pellen said.
“The satisfying thing with Hollow Knight was that we were making something that was to our tastes, and that meant that we were making things that were slightly different. It was inspired by older games, so its qualities were slightly different from the more modern games of the time.
“In a way that it’s sort of outside of time, hopefully Silksong can achieve that too.”
