Departures: the old Apple TV 4K bows out, Sony's PlayStation speakers stall and Windows 11 24H2 loses updates

A pair of Sony Pulse Elevate wireless speakers in Midnight Black, one tilted back — Image: Sony Interactive Entertainment

Welcome to Departures. Arrivals Board covers what has just landed; this is where we note what’s leaving. That means products being discontinued, launches that have been pulled, support that’s ending and, when it’s earned, a plain “skip this”. This first edition has one of each of the first three, and none of them is a disaster if you know what to do.

Discontinued: the previous Apple TV 4K

Apple’s new Apple TV 4K went on sale on 13 November, and its predecessor, the 3rd-generation model from 2022, has gone from Apple’s line-up. What Hi-Fi? says the old model remained the best product of its type until Apple retired it, and it launched at £149 for 64GB or £169 for 128GB. The new one costs £299, which What Hi-Fi? notes is £100 more than the old one cost when it was discontinued.

If you own one: keep it. Apple says Siri AI is available as a beta on the Apple TV 4K from the 2nd generation onwards, and the new Siri Remote, which can be found with Find My, works with older models too. What Hi-Fi? calls the new box’s picture and sound upgrades subtle, so the main reasons to upgrade are hands-free Siri through its built-in microphones and the faster A19 chip.

If you’re shopping: some retailers may still have the old model in stock for a while. If it’s priced well below £299, it’s still a very good streamer, as long as you’re happy to use the remote rather than talk to the box.

Delayed indefinitely: Sony Pulse Elevate speakers

Sony’s first wireless desk speakers for PlayStation were due on 12 November at £199.99. On 6 November Sony said it had found “a production issue” during quality testing and delayed the launch, without a new date. Pre-orders had opened on 1 September.

They’re a pair of portable speakers that connect to a PS5, PlayStation Portal or a PC through Sony’s PlayStation Link dongle, with Bluetooth for phones. What Hi-Fi? reports they use planar magnetic drivers and built-in subwoofers.

If you pre-ordered: Sony hasn’t said what happens to orders, so check the order status with the retailer you bought from. If you need speakers before Christmas, it’s sensible to look elsewhere rather than wait on a date nobody has announced.

Support ended: Windows 11 version 24H2 (Home and Pro)

This one has already happened, but plenty of PCs won’t have noticed. BleepingComputer reports that Microsoft ended updates for the Home and Pro editions of Windows 11 version 24H2 on 13 October 2026. The October security update was the last one. PCs still on that version no longer get fixes for new security problems.

The fix is free. Microsoft wants people to move to version 26H2, the Windows 11 2026 Update, which is rolling out in phases and will be supported for consumers until October 2029.

What to do: open Settings, then System, then About, and check the version. If it says 24H2, go to Windows Update and install the latest update. If you’re buying a laptop in the sales, run Windows Update before you settle in, as stock that’s been sitting in a warehouse may be on an older version.

Sources

FAQs

Will my old Apple TV 4K stop working now it's discontinued?

No. Discontinued means Apple has stopped making and selling it. Apple says Siri AI is available as a beta on the Apple TV 4K from the 2nd generation onwards, and the new Siri Remote works with older models too.

When will Sony's Pulse Elevate speakers come out?

Sony hasn't said. Its 6 November update says only that it found a production issue and looks forward to bringing them to players soon.

How do I know if my PC is on Windows 11 24H2?

Open Settings, then System, then About, and look at the version under Windows specifications. If it says 24H2 and you use the Home or Pro edition, it no longer gets security updates.