Latest News from TheVerge
A news aggregator from various RSS feeds, like technology, gaming, development and general news sites.
Cops can’t do cell tower mass surveillance ‘dumps,’ court rules
A federal judge in Nevada has ruled that it’s unconstitutional to obtain swaths of cellular records through “tower dumps” — but will still let police get away with using it as evidence, as reported earlier by 404 Media and Court Watch. With tower dumps, authorities can dig through the cell records that pinged off a […]
4 hours ago
Kia’s affordable EV4 will still be imported to the US
This week, Kia announced its affordable EV4 electric sedan will launch in the US early next year. While the US won’t get a hatchback edition of the EV4 that was mentioned when it was revealed in February, there will be two battery configurations: a 58.3kWh battery with a Kia-estimated range of 235 miles, and a […]
4 hours ago
AMD’s Ryzen 7 7800X3D is the star of Micro Center’s discounted PC part bundle
Building (or rebuilding) a gaming PC can be difficult. It’s complex stuff, making sure everything’s compatible and whatnot. The next toughest part is finding a deal — and having the patience to wait for price drops without getting so antsy you buy everything at full price (shamefully raises hand). If you’re considering an AMD build, […]
5 hours ago
Target announces when its Switch 2 preorders will kick off
Target’s Nintendo Switch 2 preorders in the US will kick off on April 24th at 12AM ET, according to Target’s website. The preorder time applies to consoles, games, and accessories, the website says. The timing update follows Nintendo’s announcement this morning of the new April 24th date for Switch 2 preorders. The company originally planned […]
5 hours ago
Judge pauses mass firing of consumer protection workers
A judge has paused the termination of nearly 1,500 employees from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) while she considers whether the Trump administration violated a court order to avoid mass layoffs. As CNN reports, Judge Amy Berman Jackson said the mass reduction in force was “not going to happen” for now and scheduled an […]
5 hours ago
How to scan a QR code with your phone
The humble QR (or Quick Response) code has become ubiquitous. Invented back in the 1990s to scan car parts, the barcodes got a popularity boost during the pandemic when touchless tech became prioritized, and they’re now a regular part of daily life. You’ll find them deployed to help you order food, connect to Wi-Fi, shop […]
5 hours ago
Apple replaced Mythic Quest’s series finale after the show was canceled
If you didn’t catch Mythic Quest’s series finale when it first debuted last month, there’s a chance you may never be able to see the episode as it originally was. Shortly after Mythic Quest’s fourth season and its Side Quest spinoff hit Apple TV Plus, the streamer announced that it was cancelling the series. The […]
6 hours ago
iRobot’s Roomba Combo 10 Max is nearly 50 percent off for Verge readers
Wouldn’t it be nice to tidy up your home without breaking a sweat? The Roomba Combo 10 Max robovac / mop hybrid can make that dream a reality, as it delivers an almost fully hands-free cleaning experience. And now through tomorrow, April 19th, it’s on sale at Wellbots for $741.47 (about $658 off) when you […]
7 hours ago
Covid․gov now points to a ‘lab leak’ conspiracy website
Covid.gov, the government website where you could previously find information about covid, now redirects to a page that pushes the conspiracy theory that the virus originated from a lab. Navigating to the website reveals a prominent banner with the words “Lab Leak” and a photo of Donald Trump, as spotted earlier by Wired’s Andrew Couts. […]
7 hours ago
Subaru’s only EV adds 25 percent more range, faster charging, and improved AWD
Subaru’s first and only EV, the Solterra, is getting a facelift for 2026 with many upgrades that include a better AWD system, longer range, and improved performance. Subaru gave the new model a standard symmetrical all-wheel drive system that allows front and rear motors to work independently and offer better control in various weather conditions. […]
8 hours ago
The MAGA-tech situationship
I have been reporting in Washington for nearly six years, and on politics for over a decade, and I’ve attended more corporate-sponsored policy events (and tend to nod off during them) than I can remember. I’ve also reported on the gradual disintegration of reality caused by the rise of MAGA, so I thought my tolerance […]
8 hours ago
The humble screenshot might be the key to great AI assistants
If you want to make the most out of a world increasingly filled with AI tools, here’s a habit to develop: start taking screenshots. Lots of screenshots. Of anything and everything. Because for all the talk of voice modes, omnipresent cameras, and the multimodal future of everything, there might be no more valuable digital behavior […]
9 hours ago
Elon Musk’s SpaceX is reportedly the ‘frontrunner’ for Trump’s missile shield contract
SpaceX is in the lead to help President Donald Trump create the “Golden Dome” missile defense system, according to Reuters. The Elon Musk-owned company is reportedly working with the data analysis firm Palantir and the defense company Anduril to build “key parts” of the Golden Dome that, like Israel’s Iron Dome, would intercept and destroy […]
9 hours ago
Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders start April 24th and the price is still $449.99
Nintendo has announced a new date for when Switch 2 preorders will kick off in the US; April 24th. As a part of the announcement, Nintendo said that the price of the Switch 2 will remain at $449.99 despite fears that the Trump administration’s new tariff policy would lead to increased pricing for the console. […]
10 hours ago
EcoFlow’s new Glacier fridge and Wave A/C look like worthy successors
EcoFlow just announced improved versions of its Glacier refrigerator-freezer combo and Wave air conditioner-heater combo, two battery-powered off-grid appliances that can be recharged with the sun. The Wave 3 is more powerful than its predecessor, which means it can cool and heat larger spaces than the Wave 2 I reviewed last summer. But that 6100BTU (1800W) of cooling and […]
10 hours ago
Big Tech is back on trial
Our plan for this episode was to spend some time talking about antitrust regulation, because one of the biggest companies on the planet is currently in the midst of a trial that could fundamentally reshape the internet economy. And that was before Google lost its adtech trial! Two’s definitely a trend, in this case: Meta’s […]
10 hours ago
Razer Blade 16 (2025) review: ultra settings on an ultra-thin laptop for an ultra-high price
Few gaming laptops stand out like Razer’s Blades. They’ve long been the gaming alternative to the MacBook Pro: sleek, powerful, and grown-up looking, without the bulk and garish stylings of most gaming laptops. But cramming powerful graphics cards into slim confines means Blade laptops have a tendency to run hot, get loud, and carry ridiculous […]
10 hours ago
Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin flop is bigger than Katy Perry
You know, I was simply going to ignore the bizarre Blue Origin stunt flight from earlier this week. But then it flopped beyond my wildest imagination, and so here we all are. Doubtless you know the contours already: Jeff Bezos’ fiancee Lauren Sanchez, pop star Katy Perry, and four other women did a big space […]
11 hours ago
The Trump tariff auto sales rush is on
If there’s one thing the auto industry hates, it’s uncertainty. When it takes upward of five or six years to bring a new car model to market, a certain administration throwing caution and global goodwill to the wind with a raft of unpredictable tariffs is decidedly bad news. Right now, the US tariff situation is […]
11 hours ago
Star Wars: Starfighter stars Ryan Gosling and hits theaters in 2027
A new theatrical Star Wars movie is on the way — and this time, it actually has a premiere date. At Star Wars Celebration in Japan, Lucasfilm announced Star Wars: Starfighter, a standalone feature that is set five years after The Rise of Skywalker. It’s being directed by Shawn Levy, who most recently directed Deadpool […]
21 hours ago
CFPB workers are receiving mass layoff notices
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is sending out mass layoff notices that appear to be in defiance of a court order blocking further layoffs following DOGE-induced cuts. “I regret to inform you that you are affected by a reduction in force (RIF) action,” says a notice reviewed by The Verge that was sent by […]
Tesla’s spring update activates adaptive high beams that won’t blind oncoming drivers
Tesla’s vehicles may be in a sales slump, but that’s not stopping the company from regularly introducing fresh features for owners. Tesla’s spring software update includes several useful new functions in its EVs, including adaptive high beams on compatible cars and better trip planning. The update will allow some Tesla owners to use high beams […]
Netflix revenue rises to $10.5 billion following price hike
Netflix said in its first quarter earnings report on Thursday that revenue reached $10.5 billion in the months since it raised prices. That’s a 13 percent increase over the same time last year. The streaming service’s net income also grew to $2.9 billion, and the company says it expects more growth in the coming months […]
Razer has quietly un-paused some laptop sales
Razer is selling laptops on its site again after a recent and sudden halt. In what seemed like a response to ongoing tariff tumult, the US Razer site had quietly pulled its Blade laptops from direct sales, including its new Blade 16 with Nvidia’s 50-series GPUs. Things seemed normal in other regions like Canada. But […]
Judge blocks Ohio’s online parental consent law
A federal judge has struck down an Ohio law that would’ve required children under 16 to get parental consent to use social media platforms. In a decision on Wednesday, US District Court Judge Algenon Marbley ruled that the law is unconstitutional, saying it violates the First Amendment. Signed in 2023, Ohio’s Social Media Parental Notification […]
Just look at Huawei’s trifold phone
After 24 hours with Huawei’s Mate XT — a.k.a. the world’s first trifold smartphone — I have this to say for it: the novelty hasn’t worn off. I’ve tried the Mate XT twice before, first shortly after it launched last September, and then again in February after it was released outside of China. But now Huawei […]
Donald Trump’s crusade against offshore wind just got more serious
The Trump administration dealt a major blow to the fledgling US offshore wind industry yesterday by ordering a major wind project off the coast of New York to stop construction. Secretary the US Department of the Interior Doug Burgum announced the move on X yesterday, pausing the Empire Wind Project pending “further review of information […]
A retro hardware maker willing to pay Trump’s tariffs is suspending US shipments anyway
RetroTINK, a company that sells hardware for playing retro consoles on modern screens, says it will be temporarily suspending US shipments — even though the company wants to pre-pay President Donald Trump’s tariffs, as reported by Time Extension. The company is suspending shipments “due to lack of guidance on how tariffs will be collected starting […]
Playdate’s second season of games starts in May
Playdate is about to get a big batch of new games. Today, Panic confirmed the first details of the handheld’s upcoming season 2, which will include 12 new games and run from May 29th to July 3rd, with two titles releasing each week. The full season will cost $39. When the Playdate first launched back […]
Facebook considered offering an ad-free subscription after the Cambridge Analytica scandal
After the Cambridge Analytica data scandal broke in 2018, things got bad enough for Meta (then Facebook) that Mark Zuckerberg had to face Congress to try to explain what had happened. The focus on how much data Facebook had on everyone, including “shadow profiles” for non-Facebook users, was enough to shake financial markets and, eventually, […]
Discord gets sued for allegedly violating child safety laws
The state of New Jersey has filed suit against Discord claiming the company engaged in “deceptive and unconscionable business practices” that put children at risk. The suit was filed Thursday and alleges the popular messaging app of not doing enough to keep its youngest users safe from predators and violent content. Here’s a link to […]
The first folding e-reader is smaller than a paperback
Smartphones with folding OLED screens have been around for over six years, but China’s Readmoo is the first company to announce a consumer-ready e-reader with a folding E Ink display. Details on when its mooInk V will ship, or how much it will cost, haven’t been announced. Yet the company says it has spent nine […]
Google One AI Premium is free for college students until Spring 2026
Google is the latest AI service provider to court users in higher education. Starting today, college students in the US can sign up for Google’s One AI Premium plan for free, shirking the usual $20 monthly subscription fee until June 30th, 2026. Applicants will need to sign up before the deal expires on June 30th, […]
Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra are nearly $200 off in refurbished condition
Whether you’re traveling or working from home, the noise-canceling Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones can help you find calm and focus amid the everyday hustle and bustle. Normally priced at $429, sadly that peace and quiet doesn’t come cheap — but luckily today, you can grab a refurbished pair from Bose’s official eBay storefront for just […]
Framework Laptop 13 (2025) review: getting better with age
On the outside, Framework’s new Laptop 13 looks about the same as it has for the past four years. But the modular, upgradable, easily-repairable laptop has changed plenty where it counts: on the inside. It’s getting a chip bump for 2025, which would normally be pretty boring for any other laptop. But for the Framework, […]
Instagram Blend lets you share a Reels feed with friends
Instagram is launching a new feature called Blend that’s a custom Reels feed shared between you and members of a DM group. If you’ve invited members of a DM chat to a Blend, then when you tap the Blend icon in a chat, Instagram will show you Reels that are suggested for people in the […]
Brendan Carr threatens Comcast over coverage of Abrego Garcia
Federal Communications Commission chair Brendan Carr has accused Comcast of “news distortion” over its networks’ coverage of Kilmar Armando Abrego, a Maryland man who was deported to El Salvador due to what the government said was an “administrative error.” “Comcast outlets spent days misleading the American public,” Carr wrote in a reply to a post […]
Galactus hungers in Fantastic Four: First Steps’ new trailer
In Marvel’s Fantastic Four: First Steps, everyone sees Reed Richards and his family as heroes capable of protecting the planet from any threat. But the film’s latest trailer makes it seem like the team’s first big villain might be a little more than they can handle. Everyone in the world of First Steps knows the […]
Google loses adtech monopoly case
The US Department of Justice has won its antitrust case against Google, which accused the company of operating a monopoly in the advertising technology industry. In a ruling on Thursday, US District Judge Leonie Brinkema says Google’s anticompetitive practices “substantially harmed” publisher customers and users on the web. “Plaintiffs have proven that Google has willfully […]
At $79, Google’s TV Streamer 4K has never been cheaper
All of the best lessons from Google’s Chromecast lineup through the years were filtered into the TV Streamer 4K, its fastest and smartest set-top box currently available. While the last-gen Chromecast 4K with Google TV nailed the software aspect, this gadget brings the hardware to make it sing. And, presumably for a limited time, you […]
Audio-Technica’s new $9,999 turntable levitates and glows
Making its debut at Milan Design Week, where function often takes a back seat to form, Audio-Technica’s new Hotaru turntable manages to balance both. The upper section not only floats above the base using a series of magnets that help dampen vibrations, it also glows from within with a color-changing light show that responds to […]
How shippers are trying to keep up with Trump’s trade war
On today’s episode of Decoder, we’re talking tariffs and trade wars. One of the ways I’ve been trying to sort out the chaos of this moment is by talking to the people behind the software that actually runs our global trade systems. We got a lot of notes from listeners who really appreciated our episode […]
Sinners is a breathtakingly horrific ode to Black mythology
Horror movies centering Black characters are not a new phenomenon, but the genre’s resurgence in recent years has ushered in a fresh wave of ambitious and occasionally phenomenal features that spin the United States’ legacy of racism into captivating, supernatural tales. Sinners, writer / director Ryan Coogler’s latest project, feels very much like a product […]
Nintendo shows off Mario Kart World’s new courses, items, and open world features
Nintendo is possibly hoping to steer the narrative regarding the Switch 2 back in a positive direction by showing off its most exciting game, Mario Kart World. The publisher held a Mario Kart World direct presentation on April 17th debuting 15 minutes of gameplay which showcased many of the game’s new features. Mario Kart World […]
Perplexity is reportedly key to Motorola’s next Razr
Perplexity’s AI voice assistant will reportedly play a significant role in the upcoming Motorola Razr expected to be announced April 24th, Bloomberg reports. The news comes after Motorola posted a teaser video of the Razr on social media last week, showing the foldable device animate into the word AI. Perplexity is also working with T-Mobile’s […]
Temu and Shein are raising their US prices next week
Shein and Temu are preparing to raise their prices in the US. In almost the same notice to customers, the ultra-cheap retailers warn that they will start adjusting their prices on April 25th due to changes to “global trade rules and tariffs.” President Donald Trump has raised tariffs on goods imported from China to up […]
Archer and United plan NYC air taxi service for airport trips
Archer says it will launch an air taxi service in New York City with United Airlines, which will include routes between Manhattan and major airports like JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark. The aviation company aims to replace hourlong taxi rides along congested roads with breezy flights lasting between 5-15 minutes. Archer and United would utilize preexisting […]
Discord is verifying some users’ age with ID and facial scans
Discord is preventing some users from accessing sensitive content unless they allow the platform to verify their age by scanning their face or ID. The new age verification process is described as an “experiment” by Discord, and is being trialed in the United Kingdom and Australia in response to local laws that require online platforms […]
Wikipedia is giving AI developers its data to fend off bot scrapers
Wikipedia is attempting to dissuade artificial intelligence developers from scraping the platform by releasing a dataset that’s specifically optimized for training AI models. The Wikimedia Foundation announced on Wednesday that it had partnered with Kaggle — a Google-owned data science community platform that hosts machine learning data — to publish a beta dataset of “structured […]
Strava acquires massively popular Runna app
Go to any run club in the world and there’s a good chance that everyone there has two things: a Garmin smartwatch to track their run and a Strava account to brag about it. Given the global running boom, it makes Strava’s lack of any modern, in-app training plans a curious and glaring omission. Or, […]
Zuckerberg tells court he made WhatsApp, Instagram better
Towards the end of Mark Zuckerberg’s testimony in a Washington, DC courthouse, a smile flashed across his face. Meta’s lead attorney, Mark Hansen, had asked the CEO if he was “happy†about paying $19 billion for WhatsApp in 2014. Zuckerberg flashed a grin, took a brief pause, and responded, “I’d do it again.†Over the […]
Gemini Live’s screensharing feature is now free for Android users
Gemini Live’s feature that lets it see and respond to what’s on your camera and your screen will now be free for all Android users via the Gemini app, Google announced today. The AI-powered feature officially launched earlier this month for everyone on Pixel 9 and Samsung Galaxy S25 using the Gemini app. At the […]
Microsoft Copilot can now ‘see’ what’s on your screen in Edge
Copilot Vision, Microsoft’s AI assistant feature that can interpret what’s on your screen and help you use apps, is now available for free use within the Edge browser, Mustafa Suleyman, CEO of Microsoft AI, announced on Bluesky today. Vision is a “talk-based experience,” as Microsoft calls it, meaning you use it by speaking into the […]
This ICE-snitching app is actually promoting a meme coin
Right-wing influencers are shilling an app that purportedly lets people earn crypto for reporting sightings of undocumented immigrants. ICERAID, a “GovFi protocol that delegates intelligence gathering tasks to citizens,†has recently been promoted by the likes of conspiracy theorist and Trump confidante Laura Loomer, Proud Boy-turned-media personality Jacob Engels, and disgraced former Rep. Matt Gaetz. […]
Apple’s carbon footprint is shrinking
Apple’s making steady progress toward its climate goals, the company’s latest environmental progress report shows. Its planet-heating pollution shrank by 800,000 metric tons last year compared to 2023, about a 5 percent drop. Looking back over the past decade, Apple says its global greenhouse gas emissions have fallen by more than 60 percent. That’s no […]
Zoom is down
Zoom is suffering from a major outage, preventing people from connecting to video calls or even accessing its website. As shown by data on Downdetector, the outage appeared to have started around 3PM ET. Users across X are posting about the outage, with some getting an “Unable to Connect” error message when entering meetings, and […]
Google, Apple, and Snap aren’t happy about Meta’s poorly-redacted slides
During Meta’s antitrust trial today, lawyers representing Apple, Google, and Snap each expressed irritation with Meta over the slides it presented on Monday that The Verge found to contain easy-to-remove redactions. Attorneys for both Apple and Snap called the errors “egregious,” with Apple’s representative indicating that it may not be able to trust Meta with […]
Xbox will soon let you purchase games in its mobile app
Xbox is finally rolling out the ability to purchase games and DLC, as well as sign up for Game Pass directly from its mobile app. But there’s a catch: you’ll no longer be able to access remote play within the Xbox app. The update is arriving for beta testers on iOS and Android, but Xbox […]
OpenAI’s upgraded o3 model can use images when reasoning
OpenAI is releasing two new AI reasoning models today: o3, which the company calls its “most powerful reasoning model,” and o4-mini, which is a smaller and faster model that “achieves remarkable performance for its size and cost,” according to a blog post. The company also says that o3 and o4-mini will be able to “think” […]
How to set up Do Not Disturb modes on your Android phone
In recent years, Do Not Disturb has evolved on both iPhones and Android phones: it’s no longer just a simple block on notifications and distractions, but rather a selection of modes you can customize to suit all the different scenarios in your life (like driving, sleeping, working, or exercising at the gym). This means you […]
Amazon’s newest Kindle Scribe has returned to its best price to date
As a part of its ongoing Book Sale, Amazon isn’t just cutting prices on its budget-friendly Fire HD tablets — it’s also offering a great deal on the latest Kindle Scribe. Right now, you can buy it with 16GB of storage for an all-time low of $324.99 ($75 off). If you need more storage, you […]
Lyft gets a toehold in Europe with FreeNow acquisition
Lyft said it is acquiring mobility platform FreeNow, giving the ridehailing company its first major presence in Europe after years of operating exclusively in the US and Canada. FreeNow aggregates taxis alongside private vehicles, including luxury rides. The acquisition of FreeNow nearly doubles Lyft’s potential market and will aide the company as it seeks to […]
Anker’s new UV printer can create fake wood and paint textures on various materials
Falling somewhere between a 3D printer and the inkjet you use to churn out color photos, Anker’s eufyMake brand has announced what it’s calling the “industry’s first 3D-texture UV Printer designed for personal use.” The UV Printer E1 is closer in size to a 3D printer than an inkjet, but is designed to produce 2D […]
Figma tells AI startup to stop using the term ‘Dev Mode’
Figma slapped Swedish AI coding startup Loveable with a cease-and-desist warning for naming one of its new product features “Dev Mode.” It turns out Figma successfully trademarked the term Dev Mode in November last year, according to the US Patent and Trademark office, having introduced its own Dev Mode feature in 2023. “We’re flattered that […]
DJI’s new drone speaker lets cops yell at you from the sky
DJI’s new drone accessory is designed to ensure public safety and emergency officials are heard loud and clear — and I mean really loud. Its enterprise-focused Zenmuse V1 speaker can broadcast the sound of someone’s voice at up to 127 decibels at 1 meter, a number DJI says is “on par with the sound level […]
TikTok is getting its own version of community notes
TikTok has announced “Footnotes,” its own take on the community notes features that started on Twitter and have been spreading to other social networks. As elsewhere, it’s a crowd-sourced approach to moderation — TikTok says contributors will be able to “add relevant information to content on our platform.” US users can apply to become Footnotes […]
Trump administration decides to fund CVE cybersecurity tracker after all
The government will continue funding the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) program. In a statement to The Verge, US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA) spokesperson Jared Auchey said it “executed the option period on the contract to ensure there will be no lapse in critical CVE services” last night. On Tuesday, MITRE, the government-funded organization […]
A first look at Microsoft’s new Xbox Copilot
Microsoft has started testing an early version of its Copilot for Gaming experience. Sources familiar with Microsoft’s Xbox plans tell me that employees can now access Copilot within the Xbox mobile app, and that while it looks similar to the existing Copilot chatbot, it’s designed to tap into your Xbox account. Announced last month, Copilot […]
Spotify is down
Spotify is down according to widespread user reports across the US and Europe, with issues preventing the platform from loading or streaming music. At 8:45AM ET on Wednesday morning, the Spotify Status account on X said it was “aware of some issues” affecting the service right now, and is currently “checking them out.” While most […]
Aura’s new Aspen looks even more like a traditional photo frame
Digital picture frame company Aura Home’s newest product, The Aspen, displays your digital photos in analog style. With a 12-inch anti-glare display, a 4:3 aspect ratio, and a super slim bezel, the $229 frame improves on the company’s 10-inch Carver frame ($149) while retaining Aura’s core photo-sharing feature. It also brings two new software features […]
Patreon is getting livestreaming
Patreon is taking on Twitch with a new feature that lets creators offer live video streams directly on the platform. The feature will be available “starting this week” to “select creators” in an early access test, and the company plans to roll it out more widely this summer, according to a press release. In the […]
Nvidia’s latest GPU drivers fix lots of bugs and crashes
Nvidia is releasing a new GPU driver today that includes a massive amount of fixes for bugs and crashes that have plagued its Game Ready drivers recently. After widespread reports of black screens, game crashes, and general stability issues, today’s 576.02 driver release (.exe download) not only bumps the version number significantly from last month’s […]
In pursuit of a viral, five-year-old compact camera
I’ve been trying to buy a Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III for two weeks, and I no longer believe this camera exists. The Canon G7 X III is so popular that strategies for buying them have become a whole sub-genre of videos on TikTok It definitely existed at one point. The camera was released […]
Microsoft lets Copilot Studio use a computer on its own
Microsoft has enabled a new “computer use” feature for Copilot Studio this week that lets AI agents interact with websites and desktop applications. Much like OpenAI’s Operator or Claude’s identically named “computer use” feature, businesses will be able to use Copilot Studio to build AI agents that treat websites and desktop apps as if they’re […]
The ‘Oscars of Science’ can’t take a Trump joke
When the Breakthrough Prize, founded by Facebook, Apple, and Google moguls and sometimes called “the Oscars of Science” by people who want that to be true, invited a comedian to present one of its awards it probably should have expected a few topical jokes. Remarks made by Seth Rogen during the April 5th livestream about […]
BougeRV’s electric wagon is the uphill king and downhill menace
Not to brag, but I’m somewhat of an expert in folding wagons. Huge flex, I know. But I’ve never tested one with a motor like BougeRV’s new Electric Foldable Wagon. I have a little surf shack that sits almost exactly 1km (0.6 miles) from the parking lot, where I regularly carry supplies and sports gear […]
Zuckerberg’s antitrust testimony aired his wildest ideas in Meta’s history
Making Instagram a separate company. Buying Snapchat. Wiping everyone’s Facebook friends. Creating a feed of only ads. These were some of the ideas that Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg considered over the years as he built his social media empire. Over the past two days, he talked about them from the witness stand at a federal […]
Skullcandy partners with Bose for its new $99 ANC earbuds
Skullcandy has made a name for itself in recent years with well-featured budget earbuds that don’t sound awful. Although its new Method 360 ANC earbuds are launching with a “special $99.99 introductory price” (that will eventually go up to $129.99) making them one of the brand’s most expensive offerings, the company has partnered with Bose […]
The student arrested at his naturalization interview knew it was coming
Mohsen Mahdawi had a feeling his naturalization appointment would go awry. A week before his meeting with US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Mahdawi called his friend Chris Helali and told him he was concerned. “He thought it was likely — and I agreed — that he would be arrested, that they would ambush him […]
OpenAI names new nonprofit ‘advisors’
OpenAI has revealed the “advisors” for its new nonprofit commission: Dolores Huerta, Monica Lozano, Dr. Robert K. Ross, and Jack Oliver. The company says the four advisors will help “inform OpenAI’s philanthropic efforts,” according to an announcement on Tuesday. Huerta was a prominent labor activist during the 20th century, while Lozano was the president and […]
ChatGPT now has a section for your AI-generated images
OpenAI is adding an image library to ChatGPT to make it easier to access your AI-generated images, the company announced today. It’s rolling out to all Free, Plus, and Pro users on mobile and on the web. In a short video, OpenAI shows how it works. From the ChatGPT sidebar, you’ll be able to see […]
The CVE program for tracking security flaws is about to lose federal funding
Funding is about to run out for the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) program – a system used by major companies like Microsoft, Google, Apple, Intel, and AMD to identify and track publicly disclosed cybersecurity vulnerabilities. The program helps engineers identify how bad an exploit is and how to prioritize applying patches or other mitigations. […]
Meta’s antitrust trial slide redactions aren’t actually hiding anything
A PDF of Meta’s opening statement slides in its FTC antitrust hearing yesterday contains easy-to-remove redactions that make it possible to see everything the company didn’t want made public, The Verge has discovered. Thanks to the poor redactions, we can see sections comparing the use of Apple’s Messages app to Meta apps like Instagram and […]
Mark Zuckerberg once suggested wiping all Facebook friends lists to boost usage
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg had a “potentially crazy idea” in 2022 to get people using Facebook more: deleting everyone’s friends’ lists. The possibility was discussed on Monday via internal emails shown by the FTC as Zuckerberg testified during Meta’s antitrust trial. Zuckerberg floated the idea of considering “wiping everyone’s graphs” — their friends lists — […]
Blackmagic Design says tariffs have made camera price hikes ‘unavoidable’
Blackmagic Design, an Australia-based digital cinematography camera company, was gearing up to start making products in the United States before the Trump administration blew a tariff-shaped hole in its plans. Now, not only is Blackmagic having to increase prices in the US to mitigate some of the levies on imported goods, but those same tariffs […]
Mark Zuckerberg suggested spinning off Instagram
About a year before the Federal Trade Commission first opened its antitrust investigation into Meta’s acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp, CEO Mark Zuckerberg internally suggested “the extreme step of spinning Instagram out as a separate company.†In a 2018 email to his executives, Zuckerberg wrote that, ​​”while most companies resist break-ups, the corporate history is […]
Anthropic is reportedly launching a voice AI you can speak to
Anthropic is getting ready to introduce a new “voice mode” feature that could rival OpenAI’s similar option within ChatGPT, according to Bloomberg. The AI voice assistant will reportedly live within its Claude AI chatbot and could start rolling out “as soon as this month.” According to Bloomberg, Anthropic plans to roll out three English-language voices […]
On TikTok, Chinese factories are trolling anxious American shoppers
Hermès handbags, Birkenstocks, Tide Pods, Lululemon activewear, and mountains of luxury furniture — what if I told you you could cut out the middleman and buy it straight from the source for a fraction of the cost? So goes a genre of viral videos cropping up on social media that claim to show Chinese manufacturers […]
Google Search is going to be google.com globally
Google announced Tuesday that it’s going to redirect country code top-level domain names (ccTLD) for Google Search to google.com over the coming months to “streamline people’s experience on Search,” according to a blog post. The change means that if, for example, you used google.ng (for Nigeria) or google.com.br (for Brazil), you’ll see google.com in your […]
Dune: Awakening will slumber for just a bit longer
Players looking to harness desert power will have to wait as Dune: Awakening has been delayed. Funcom, developers of the MMORPG based on Frank Herbert’s Dune sci-fi series, announced the news saying the game will be pushed back from its May release date to June 10th. Players who have pre-purchased one of the game’s deluxe […]
Amazon’s latest Fire HD tablets are now on sale starting at $95
If you want a mental escape from today’s constant bombardment of alarming news, one method is to lose yourself in a good book — and an excellent way to do that is to read that good book on one of Amazon’s Fire tablets. Amazon has put many of the latest Fire HD tablets on sale […]
Google’s geothermal energy ambitions are growing
Google, for the first time, inked an agreement to purchase geothermal energy for its facilities in Asia. The deal also marks the first geothermal power purchase agreement for Taiwan, according to the company. Google is working toward climate goals of cutting the company’s planet-heating emissions in half and matching its electricity use with carbon-free energy […]
It’s time for Europe to choose between US or Chinese satellite tech, says FCC chair
European allies who have reservations about working with Elon Musk’s Starlink will have more to worry about if they side with Chinese satellite internet services, Federal Communications Commission chair Brendan Carr told the Financial Times. Carr said that politics having an influence on long-term decisions in Europe was “unfortunate,” and that “allied Western democracies” should […]
Kill your crewmates in 3D when Among Us 3D launches in May
An emergency meeting has been called to announce Among Us 3D will launch on May 6th. The game was originally planned to be a VR-exclusive before the development crew at Innersloth and Schell Games pivoted to making this version of the game accessible to those without the expensive hardware too. Among Us 3D is compatible […]
Google rolls out its AI video generator to Gemini Advanced subscribers
Google is letting Gemini Advanced subscribers try out Veo 2, its text-to-video AI model that it says is capable of creating high-resolution clips with “cinematic realism.” Starting today, subscribers can select Veo 2 from the Gemini model dropdown on the web and mobile, where they can enter a prompt to generate an eight-second video in […]
Anthropic launches research tool and Google Workspace integration
Anthropic is launching two major features today: Research and Google Workspace integration. The company announced today that Claude can now connect directly to your Gmail, Google Calendar, and Documents, turning the AI assistant into what Anthropic calls “your frontline workplace assistant.” Instead of manually digging through countless emails, calendar invites, and documents to find information, […]
Google must stop favoring Search and Chrome on Android in Japan
Japan’s Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) has ordered Google to stop making deals that give preference to Google Search and Chrome on Android devices. Nikkei Asia says that it’s the first time the regulator has issued a cease and desist order to a major tech company. The regulator found that Google had asked at least six […]
Tom Hiddleston dances through the new Life of Chuck trailer
After a light teaser trailer last month, we finally have our first proper look at The Life of Chuck. And while it doesn’t give too much away, the new trailer provides a good taste of the emotional tone of the movie, which is a heartwarming story of one man’s life that has a touch of […]
Comcast announces a five-year price lock for Xfinity internet plans
Comcast has announced that new customers can choose a five-year, guaranteed price lock-in for its Xfinity internet plans. The plans won’t require an annual contract, and range in price from $55 to $105 per month, according to a release emailed to The Verge. They also include unlimited data. It’s a nice thought, being able to […]
4chan’s ‘cesspool of the internet’ is down after apparently being hacked
4chan appears to be down following a major hack that reportedly exposed its source code. A user on a competing messaging board claimed responsibility for the attack on Monday night and claimed to have reopened the site’s /qa/ board. 4chan is, obviously, also notorious for trying to trick outsiders about things happening on the site, […]
OpenAI is building a social network
OpenAI is working on its own X-like social network, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter. While the project is still in early stages, we’re told there’s an internal prototype focused on ChatGPT’s image generation that has a social feed. CEO Sam Altman has been privately asking outsiders for feedback about the project, our […]
Leaked images suggest Oblivion remaster coming soon
An Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered announcement seems imminent. Images from the game were found in the website files of the developer Virtuous before being removed. The images, which can still be seen on the hosting site imgur, included several side-by-side comparisons between the game’s 2006 release and the remaster. Several photos show off the […]
Notion Mail is a minimalist but powerful take on email
Notion is launching the third app in its suite of work tools, an email app called Notion Mail. (The other two, of course, are Notion Calendar and Notion itself.) The app, available now for web and Mac and in testing for iOS, is the next step in Notion’s attempt to compete with Microsoft Office and […]
Why Doctor Who’s latest robot threat is a dangerous AI: ‘this is what’s happening’
The newest season of Doctor Who opens as the series often does — with an unsuspecting human stumbling into some alien strangeness that doesn’t make any sense until an odd yet charming Time Lord shows up in a police box ready to save the day. The premiere episode, “The Robot Revolution,†feels like classic Doctor […]
What you should know before buying refurbished gadgets
Most people know that buying a refurbished tech product will save you money compared to buying it new. It also gives a device a second life instead of sending it off to be recycled. Not only that, buying refurbished is sometimes a clever workaround for finding new or tough-to-find products at a lower price. If […]
Where to buy refurbished products
Buying a refurbished device rather than a new one can save you a ton of money. It can also be a savvy method of getting what you want during yet another moment of global trade instability, with the latest blow coming from the Trump administration’s intense tariffs on US imports from China. However, these products […]
Nvidia’s RTX 5060 Ti arrives on April 16th starting at $379
Nvidia is announcing its RTX 5060 family of GPUs today, just a day before it releases the RTX 5060 Ti on April 16th. Two variants of the RTX 5060 Ti are launching, the $379 8GB of VRAM model and the $429 16GB version. The $299 RTX 5060 will launch at some point in May with […]
Nanoleaf’s new pegboard dock lights up your accessories and room
The latest addition to Nanoleaf’s lineup does more than just light up a room. Like the company’s Expo Smart Display Cases, Nanoleaf’s new Pegboard Desk Dock is designed to both organize and put accessories like controllers and headphones on display using color-changing LED lighting that can be synced to what you’re watching, playing, or listening […]
The 2025 Vergecast streaming draft
(Before we get started, a reminder: The Vergecast is nominated for a Webby Award! Voting is only open for a few more days, and the award is decided by your votes. We’re up against some steep competition, but we really want to win — and we’d love your help. Thanks so much to everyone who […]
Polaroid’s new instant camera warns you about exposure and focus issues before you shoot
Polaroid’s new Flip camera can prevent unwanted surprises when an instant photo develops. Using a new scene analysis feature, the instant camera warns you when the image you’re framing is overexposed, underexposed, or when there’s potential focus issues before you press the shutter button — all through a red LED warning light in the viewfinder […]
Android phones will soon reboot if they’re locked for a few days
Android is launching a new security feature that will force devices to reboot themselves if you haven’t unlocked them for a while, making it harder for other people to access the data inside. The feature included in the latest Google Play services update says that Android phones will automatically restart “if locked for 3 consecutive […]
Hertz says hackers stole customer credit card and driver’s license data
Car rental giant Hertz is alerting customers that personal information including credit card details and Social Security numbers may have been stolen in a data breach that impacted one of the firm’s vendors. In a notice posted to its website, Hertz says that company data “was acquired by an unauthorized third-party” during a cyberattack exploiting […]
Mark Zuckerberg takes the stand
“Your honor, the FTC calls Mark Zuckerberg.†Flanked by two bodyguards, Meta’s CEO solemnly strode into a Washington, DC courtroom. Despite his last-ditch efforts to avoid a trial, he was there, jaw clenched, to defend his company from being broken up by the US government. Shortly after he was sworn in, the Federal Trade Commission’s […]
Apple’s complicated plan to improve its AI while protecting privacy
Apple says it’s found a way to make its AI models better without training on its users’ data or even copying it from their iPhones and Macs. In a blog post first reported on by Bloomberg, the company outlined its plans to have devices compare a synthetic dataset to samples of recent emails or messages […]
Trump says he wants to deport some US citizens, too
President Donald Trump wants to expand his already chaotic and cruel mass deportations. On Monday, he told reporters that he’s looking into the possibility of sending US citizens to a megaprison in El Salvador. “I’d like to go a step further,†Trump claimed at a press conference with Salvadoran president Nayib Bukele on Monday. “I […]
The best smart rings for tracking sleep and health
So, you’re thinking of buying a smart ring. Well, some good news. Picking the best of the lot is incredibly easy right now. The “bad” news is that, as far as trustworthiness and reliability, your choices are somewhat limited, as this is still a niche and emerging gadget category. Smart rings are in the middle […]
Sony’s excellent WF-1000XM5 earbuds have hit their lowest price ever
Want a premium pair of earbuds without having to pay a premium price? Right now, Sony’s noise-canceling WF-1000XM5 are on sale at Amazon and Target for $179.99 ($120 off), their best price to date. It’s possible Sony could release the WF-1000XM6 sometime later this year, but for now, few wireless earbuds offer as much value […]
OpenAI debuts new flagship AI model
OpenAI has introduced GPT-4.1, a successor to the GPT-4o multimodal artificial intelligence model launched by the company last year. During a livestream on Monday, OpenAI said GPT-4.1 is better than GPT-4o “on just about every dimension.” Two smaller model versions are also included in this rollout: a lightweight GPT-4.1 Mini model that, like its predecessor, […]
Star Wars is getting a turn-based strategy game called Zero Company
The Star Wars strategy game announced in 2022 finally has a name: Zero Company, as EA revealed today. A website about the game describes it as a “single-player turn-based tactics game,” includes an image, and says that a “first look” will be shown at Star Wars Celebration Japan on April 19th. Bit Reactor, a studio […]
Meta AI will soon train on EU users’ data
Meta has announced that it’s preparing to train AI on the data of EU users of its apps, including Facebook and Instagram. The company says that includes things like public posts, comments, and their chat history with Meta AI, but won’t include “private messages with friends and family.” It also only applies to those who […]
You can hot swap the battery on Samsung’s new rugged tablet
Samsung has announced new versions of its rugged tablets and smartphones designed for use in environments where they’re going to get dirty, wet, and knocked around. Both the Galaxy XCover7 Pro and Galaxy Tab Active5 Pro feature improved battery life, but the tablet goes one step further with a “dual hot-swap” feature allowing the battery […]
HBO’s Harry Potter TV series has cast its regulars (not those ones)
After weeks of speculation, Warner Bros. Discovery has officially announced the first cast members who will appear in its upcoming Harry Potter TV adaptation. The casting confirmations, focused around some of the most notably adult characters from the Harry Potter novels, are one of the most reassuring signs of life for the wizarding world series […]
Nvidia starts producing its Blackwell AI chip at TSMC’s Arizona plant
Nvidia has brought some of its chip production stateside. On Monday, Nvidia announced that it has started producing its Blackwell AI GPUs at TSMC’s plant in Phoenix, Arizona, while companies within the state package and test them. TSMC, or Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., is the world’s biggest chipmaker and announced a $100 billion investment in […]
Eddington doomscrolls back to the pandemic’s darkest days in new trailer
As easy as it has been for some people to downplay the covid-19 pandemic as part of putting it behind them, Ari Aster’s next feature looks like a sobering reminder of how bad things really were. Set in May of 2020, Eddington revolves around sheriff Joe Cross (Joaquin Phoenix) and mayor Ted Garcia (Pedro Pascal) […]
The Meta Quest 3S just got its first discount
Due to the fluctuating tariff situation, a lot of people are seriously mulling over tech purchases they might otherwise be content to put off for a while. And it makes sense. While I don’t endorse panic buying, your reasons for buying now are more justified because prices may increase. In light of that instability, it’s […]
In The Last of Us season 2, Joel finally goes to therapy
Joel is a troubled guy. Throughout the first Last of Us game (and subsequent TV adaptation on HBO, where he’s played by Pedro Pascal), he sees and does a lot of things he’d rather forget. He certainly doesn’t seem to want to talk about them much. Which is why it’s nice to see that, in […]
Are prediction markets gambling? Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev is betting not
Today, I’m talking with Vlad Tenev, the cofounder and CEO of Robinhood, which is one of the most well-known consumer finance apps in the world. It started as a way to open up stock trading, but the company’s ambitions have grown over time — and they’re getting even bigger. Just a day before Tenev and […]
Meta antitrust trial: updates from the monopoly battle with the FTC
A long-awaited trial between Meta and the Federal Trade Commission kicks off on April 14th. Over about two months, DC District Court Judge James Boasberg will hear arguments about whether Facebook illegally monopolized the market for personal social networking services through its 2012 and 2014 acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp. The FTC first brought the […]
HBO’s The Last of Us had to speed up Abby’s reveal
In The Last of Us Part II, it takes a long time before players understand just who Abby is. A new character introduced as both an antagonist and protagonist, Abby is locked in a violent game of revenge with Ellie, but her reasoning and history don’t become clear until around midway through the game, when […]
Katy Perry is going to space with Blue Origin
Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin is preparing to put pop singer / songwriter Katy Perry into space, along with five other women: former NASA scientists Aisha Bowe and Amanda Nguyen, journalist Gayle King, journalist and Bezos fiancée Lauren Sánchez, and film producer Kerianne Flynn. Their flight, called NS-31, will launch aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket, […]
Chipolo’s colorful new trackers now work with Apple’s and Google’s networks
Chipolo has announced a new Bluetooth tracker called the Pop, featuring the same bright color options as its Chipolo One but with support for both Apple’s Find My and Google’s Find My Device networks. The Chipolo Pop also has a much larger Bluetooth range than the company’s current lineup of trackers and features improved water […]
Lime will recycle bike and scooter batteries with Redwood Materials
Lime, the largest bike- and scooter-sharing company in the world, announced that it has struck a deal with Redwood Materials to recycle its lithium-ion batteries. Lime says its e-bike and e-scooter batteries typically last 500 charge cycles, or between five and seven years. Once those batteries reach their end of life, Lime will ship them […]
Apple’s picked a very fitnessy way to mark a decade of smartwatches
April 24th will be the 10th anniversary of the day the first Apple Watch shipped to customers. A decade is a major milestone in the gadget world, but you won’t see a lot of anniversary-themed fanfare to mark the occasion. Instead, Apple is dubbing the 24th as Global Close Your Rings Day — and it […]
Samsung pauses One UI 7 rollout worldwide
Samsung has, by all accounts, halted the rollout of its long-awaited One UI 7 update following the discovery of a bug that prevented some Galaxy S24 owners from unlocking their phones. The pause was first reported by leaker and tipster Ice Universe, who said that a “serious bug” had been found. While the complaints seem to […]
PS5 price rises substantially in UK and Europe
Sony has raised the price of most of its PlayStation 5 console hardware in the UK, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand by 10-15 percent, blaming “a challenging economic environment.” With rising US import costs thanks to tariffs likely a contributing factor, an equivalent price rise in the US is probably on the way. Sony manufactures […]
People are turning on Elon Musk
Elon Musk’s popularity with the American public is waning, according to the latest polling average from Nate Silver’s Silver Bulletin. The billionaire CEO of multiple companies wears many hats, but the most visible one of late has been as the face of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an organization that has been tearing through […]
Simulated Musk, Zuckerberg voices are speaking from hacked crosswalk buttons
Crosswalk buttons in at least three California cities appear to have been hacked this weekend to give them the seemingly AI-generated voices of Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg. In videos posted online, the apparent voice of Musk begs listeners to be his friend, or that of Zuckerberg brags about “undermining democracy” […]
Smartphone tariffs are coming back in ‘a month or two,’ says Trump admin
Smartphones, laptops, and other products that are exempt from Trump’s April 9th tariffs will be lumped in with duties on semiconductors in “a month or two,” Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told ABC News anchor Jonathan Karl on This Week. Yesterday, the Trump administration released updated guidance that excluded smartphones, laptops, and more from Trump’s new […]
How the Switch 2 compares to the ROG Ally
The Nintendo Switch 2 has entered the ring, possibly complicating your decision of which handheld to buy this year. While Nintendo’s new console, which comes out on June 5th, may seem similar to handheld gaming PCs like the Steam Deck and Asus ROG Ally, there’s a lot that sets them apart. Everything like how you […]
Wool, water, Wi-Fi: Modernizing an ancient business at the final frontiers of e-commerce
One night in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, a felting artisan ended her day with a prayer. May our partners have good health. May they be ambitious, and successful, and may their businesses grow. The next morning, sisters-in-law Chinara Makashova and Nazgul Esenbaeva, and the people they worked with awoke to what seemed like a miracle: Shopify orders. […]
iPads could get more Mac-like features soon
By the time Apple releases M5-powered iPads, using iPadOS may feel closer to working on a Mac, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman in today’s Power On newsletter. It won’t be macOS running on a tablet, but he writes that the changes will be significant enough to make people who want such a thing happy. Updates […]
Freitag’s newest messenger bag is made from trash to last
I remember the day: a sinewy bicycle messenger skillfully weaved through honking automobiles and came to a stop at the traffic light in front of me. But instead of dropping a foot, he balanced high above his fixed-gear pedals for nearly a minute, his crossbody bag bulging against the urgent deliveries within. That was ‘90s […]
Science Saru’s The Ghost in the Shell series gets a new teaser trailer
A new teaser trailer for Science Saru’s The Ghost in the Shell anime series has been announced on the official Ghost in the Shell website in a post spotted by Anime News Network. The post also revealed some of the staff heading up the series, which includes people who’ve worked on other shows from the […]
Bungie’s slick-looking Marathon shooter arrives on September 23rd
The creators of Halo and Destiny are finally ready to show off their next big project: Marathon. It’s a long-awaited title from Bungie and revives the classic Marathon IP in the form of a PvPvE extraction shooter. After a teaser nearly two years ago, the Sony-owned studio just spent an hour showing off Marathon gameplay […]
Apple’s Mythic Quest has come to an end
Mythic Quest, the Apple TV Plus comedy about a game studio, isn’t getting a fifth season, reports Variety. And, like a developer issuing a farewell patch, Apple is updating the final episode of season four with a new “goodbye†ending next week. Variety published a statement from Mythic Quest’s executive producers: “Endings are hard. But […]
Trump excludes smartphones, computers, chips from tariffs
The Trump administration has excluded “smartphones, computers, and other electronics” from tariffs, even those imported from China, reports Bloomberg. Late last night, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) updated its guidance to exempt smartphones, laptops, hard drives, computer processors, and memory chips from the tariffs, according to Bloomberg. The same goes for the machines used […]
There’s nothing wrong with a thong made out of a keyboard
In December 2024, actor and fashion icon Julia Fox stepped out on the street with a flip-phone buckle strapped across her chest, wires on her nails, and an old Discman-turned-compact mirror hanging from her wrist. Fox didn’t start the retro-tech fashion trend. Celebrities and internet fashionistas were already wearing iPod Shuffle Minis as hair clips […]
Blue Prince will steal your time just like Balatro
I know, I know. It’s become a bit of a faux pas to describe one game using another and yet I am compelled. After a few hours with Blue Prince, I realized this game elicits the same feelings in me as Balatro. Not because it has anything to do with cards or passive-aggressive clowns named […]
Big Tech cozied up to Trump — it’s not getting much in return
For a while, it looked like President Donald Trump was going to have Big Tech’s back. Now, the tech industry is collateral damage in his global trade war. On Thursday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen floated the idea of placing “a levy on the advertising revenues of digital services†if tariff negotiations with […]
Netflix is testing a new OpenAI-powered search
Netflix is starting to test search that’s powered by OpenAI, according to Bloomberg. The new search engine will let users “look for shows using far more specific terms, including the subscriber’s mood, for example, the company said,” per the report. This OpenAI-powered search will also allow users to make queries that “go well beyond genres […]
Baldur’s Gate 3 is getting 12 new subclasses next week
Baldur’s Gate 3’s Patch 8, which brings changes like 12 new subclasses, crossplay, and a photo mode, launches on April 15th, developer Larian Studios announced on Friday. The patch, set to be the game’s last major update, was originally announced in November 2024, so it’s been a long time coming (though Larian has been stress […]
This algorithm wasn’t supposed to keep people in jail, but it does in Louisiana
A new report from ProPublica published Thursday showed how the Louisiana government is using TIGER (Targeted Interventions to Greater Enhance Re-entry), a computer program developed by Louisiana State University to prevent recidivism, to approve or deny parole applications based on a score calculating their risk of returning to prison. Though the algorithm was initially designed […]
YouTube’s new AI tool generates free background music for videos
YouTube is giving creators a new AI tool that can generate instrumental tracks to use in videos for free without worrying about copyright claims, TechCrunch reports. The new feature was demonstrated in a video posted on the company’s Creator Insider channel this week. In the video, the host, Lauren, shows a new tab in the […]
You can run Doom on this $666 collector’s edition box
Will it run Doom? The question that has challenged tinkerers and hardware hackers for years has now come full circle. Limited Run Games has announced a new collector’s edition of the iconic first-person shooter that ships in a box that itself can play Doom on a built-in screen. The Doom plus Doom II Will It […]
ChatGPT is transforming LinkedIn users into really dull dolls
ChatGPT’s latest image generator had an explosive debut thanks to the viral Studio Ghibli art trend, and LinkedIn users have now jumped on a new gimmick: turning yourself into a toy. There are several flavors of the trend being shared. The “AI Action Figure” variant appears to have gained the most traction, in which a […]
You can save up to $1,800 on Samsung’s last-gen Frame TV
Now that Samsung has launched its 2025 lineup, including the high-end Frame Pro, we’re starting to see steep discounts land on the 2024 models. Right now, for example, Samsung’s 85-inch Frame TV — its largest Frame TV to date — has dropped to around $2,498 ($1,800 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Samsung’s online storefront. […]
South of Midnight is a game worth hollerin’ about
Black folks are loud. We laugh loud, we love loud, we protest loud. But when we really want to show our approval, we get quiet first. When we laugh at something funny, like really laugh, it sounds like a thin wheeze before sound bursts forth like a storm. And within seconds of starting South of […]
DoorDash is expanding into sidewalk robot delivery in the US
DoorDash’s international arm Wolt has already been experimenting with Coco’s fleet of sidewalk robots in Helsinki, Finland. Now, DoorDash is linking up with sidewalk robot maker Coco to expand automated food deliveries to the US. It’s live in Los Angeles and Chicago with nearly 600 merchants set up to drop your lunch and other goods into […]
Buckle up for more subscriptions
Two weeks ago, Garmin announced it was launching a new subscription. Where the Garmin Connect app had previously offered everything from in-depth metrics and training plans for free, the beloved fitness tech company was now adding premium AI summaries, among other features, behind a paywall. In The Verge comments, my social media mentions, and the […]
Apple’s Siri upgrade may arrive in fall
Apple may finally be ready to roll out its smarter, more personalized Siri features before the 2025 holiday season, according to The New York Times. The publication cited three sources with knowledge of Apple’s plan to release a virtual assistant “in the fall” that can edit and send photos to a friend on request — […]
Bring your vinyl to the beach with Toshiba’s new portable wireless record player
Toshiba has announced a new record player designed for vinyl enthusiasts who want to make their analog music collections more portable. The Aurex AX-RP10 is by no means pocket-friendly like Sony’s Walkman or Apple’s iPod, but it’s small enough to haul around in an included shoulder bag while still accommodating 12-inch records, and it can […]
The Verge is nominated for two Webby Awards — help us win them!
The time of year has arrived — Webby Award season. For the 29th annual Webby Awards, The Verge is nominated in two categories: best technology podcast and best technology video. The award show is basically a competition for “Best of the Internet,†and each nominee is up for two awards: the Webby Award and the […]
Tesla’s latest Cybertruck has longer range and the cheapest price yet
Tesla has a new entry-level Cybertruck with longer range, and it’s the cheapest model yet at $69,990 before the federal $7,500 credit. Tesla pulled some significant features to achieve the price cut. The new “long range” Cybertruck has just a single RWD motor compared to the two in the AWD model. It also lacks a […]
Pixel Watch 4 leaks suggest Google is doubling down on battery again
Ever since Google debuted the original Pixel Watch in 2022, improving battery life has been a major focus of subsequent iterations of the smartwatch. Based on new leaks of the upcoming Pixel Watch 4, it looks like that might be the case again. Renders published by 91mobiles from leaker OnLeaks show a slightly thicker watch […]
‘Book Boyfriends’ and ‘Shadow Daddies’: the men cashing in on romantasy
Six hours into a fantasy ball, actor Zach Harrison is sweating. He’s been wearing handmade leather armor, huge boots, and heavy six-foot bat wings all night, all while ballroom dancing and taking pictures with hundreds of fans without taking a break. But they’re not here to see Harrison. They’re here to meet Cassian, Lord of […]
Doctor Who’s new companion is going to keep him on his toes
Doctor Who’s shapeshifting Time Lord almost always has a plan when they encounter new threats from beyond the stars. And the Doctor’s companions can usually count on them to pull a convoluted, crisis-averting trick out of their sleeves whenever things get too hairy. In the past, the Doctor has often been presented as more of […]
How the tech world is responding to tariff chaos
(If you’re reading this, please go vote for The Vergecast in the Webby Awards! Voting is open for roughly another week, and we’re up against some steep competition — it would mean the world to us if you’d pick us. Thank you so much!) It’s important to keep saying that we still don’t know much […]
Meta goes to trial to avoid a breakup
On Monday, Meta will face the Federal Trade Commission in a legal fight that could reshape the social media landscape. Over the next two months, the US government will make its case that the company’s 2012 acquisition of Instagram and 2014 acquisition of WhatsApp squashed potential threats to its dominance. Meta, which went by the […]
Why Nintendo can get away with a $450 Switch 2 price
When Nintendo announced the Switch 2 would cost $450, my initial reaction was disappointment. “Why does it cost so much more?†I thought to myself. “Why does Japan get it cheaper?†my brain jealously added, once I learned that Nintendo would sell a Japan-only model for the equivalent of just $333. It felt like Nintendo […]
WhatsApp gets a dozen new features inspired by others
WhatsApp has rolled out a dozen new features across chats, calls, and channels that make it easier to manage group conversations, alongside other general quality-of-life improvements. One of the more notable additions is a new “Online” indicator for groups, which displays how many participants are currently using the app in real time. This is one […]
Digg will let you reserve your username (for a price)
Digg’s return to the modern internet is one step closer with the launch of an “early access” group called Groundbreakers. For a one-off $5 fee you can claim your username before someone else does and get a behind the scenes look at the new Digg as it comes together. Digg says that the $5 fee […]
ChatGPT will now remember your old conversations
OpenAI is giving ChatGPT a memory upgrade that allows it to recall old conversations that you didn’t ask it to save. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said on X that the chatbot can “now reference all your past conversations,” and that the update aligns with the company’s goal to develop “AI systems that get to know […]
China calls US a ‘joke’ as it raises tariff for final time
China has once again raised its tariff on US goods to match Trump’s, for what it says is the final time. China’s tariff is now set at 125 percent, as it warns that the US is on track to become an economic “joke.” In a statement from China’s Ministry of Finance, which we’ve translated using […]
Microsoft is about to launch Recall for real this time
Microsoft is starting to gradually roll out a preview of Recall, its feature that captures screenshots of what you do on a Copilot Plus PC to find again later, to Windows Insiders, according to a blog post published Thursday. This new rollout could indicate that Microsoft is finally getting close to launching Recall more widely. […]
Bluesky gets a revamped search page and emoji reactions in DMs
Bluesky is updating its app to version 1.100, and the update includes a more comprehensive search page and new chat reactions. The search page is now known as “Explore,†where you can find trending topics, suggested accounts, and starter packs to jump-start stuff for you to follow on the app. This new Explore page still […]
Stunts are finally getting their own category at the Oscars
After years of stuntwork largely being overlooked by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Oscars are about to add a new category. Today, the Academy announced that it intends to start giving out Oscar statues for stunt design starting with films released in 2027 for the awards ceremony’s 100th anniversary. “Since the […]
Razer’s PC-to-mobile streaming platform is now available
Razer has finally launched its platform for streaming PC games to mobile devices at their native screen resolutions, aspect ratios, and refresh rates. Razer PC Remote Play is now available for download on the App Store and Google Play and is compatible with Windows, Apple, and Android mobile devices running at least Windows 11, iOS […]
NHTSA staffers evaluating the risks of self-driving cars were reportedly fired by DOGE
Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) fired about 30 members of the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in February, and many of them were part of a department that assesses the risks of self-driving cars, according to the Financial Times. One worker laid off from the NHTSA’s so-called “office of vehicle automation […]
Garmin’s new cycling headlight includes a 4K incident camera
Garmin has announced a new addition to its Varia line of safety and visibility accessories for cyclists. The Varia Vue is the first to pair a bright headlight with a front-facing 4K camera designed to automatically record incidents and save the footage locally or send it to the cloud through a smartphone. It’s available now […]
OnePlus won’t say why its Watch 3 suddenly costs $170 more than promised
If you were hoping to cop a OnePlus Watch 3, you can finally buy one starting today. The problem is it’s no longer the $329.99 price that was originally intended when OnePlus announced the device a few months ago. It’s now $499, a $170 or roughly 52 percent markup. The price hike was spotted by […]
Vampire Survivors will let you share saves across platforms — but not on PlayStation
Vampire Survivors is finally launching cross-saves today, but they won’t be available on PlayStation to start and have a “very slim” chance of coming to the platform because of a “legal issue.” “Last month, we told everyone that cross-save would be available on PlayStation 4 / 5, PC, Xbox, Android and iOS alongside our next […]
Mike Flanagan is adapting Stephen King’s Carrie for Amazon
Three years after signing an overall TV production deal with Amazon, Mike Flanagan is finally developing a new project for the studio. Deadline reports that Amazon is moving forward with a Carrie series adaptation from Flanagan based on Stephen King’s 1974 novel about a girl born with telekinetic powers. In addition to writing and showrunning […]
Canva is now in the coding and spreadsheet business
Canva is launching its latest smorgasbord of generative AI-powered workspace tools in its attempt to cram everything that Microsoft, Google, and Adobe can do into a single platform. Canva’s Visual Suite is being redesigned to combine its design and productivity tools into a single interface, alongside adding new coding, photo editing, spreadsheet, and AI chatbot […]
Sonos appoints software veteran Hugo Barra to its board after app troubles
As Sonos continues a company-wide effort to redeem itself after last year’s app snafu, it’s adding a well-known industry name to its board of directors. This morning, Sonos announced that Hugo Barra is joining the board to replace Mike Volpi, who is stepping down after 15 years — the longest tenure of any board member. […]
Trump’s tariffs ‘pause’ could help Nintendo ship more Switch 2s
President Donald Trump’s “90-day pause” on high tariffs for many countries could be good news for Nintendo. The shift marks an opportunity for the company to ship more Switch 2 units from Vietnam to the US. And customs data reported on by Bloomberg suggests the company has already been stockpiling Switch 2 units from Vietnam […]
Sony is now selling both Last of Us games in one package
Just ahead of the second season of The Last of Us on HBO, Sony is making it a little easier for newcomers to get the full game experience. The company just announced The Last of Us Complete for the PS5, which is exactly what it sounds like: a collection feature The Last of Us Part […]
Apple quickly shipped 600 tons of iPhones to ‘beat’ the new tariffs
Apple airshipped 600 tons of iPhones to the US from India before new US tariffs were scheduled to take effect, as reported by Reuters and The Times of India. Meanwhile, Nikkei Asia reports Apple, Dell, Microsoft, and Lenovo were pressing to ship as many “premium” devices as possible, like high-priced computers above $3,000 that would […]
The tariff apocalypse has not been canceled
Last week, President Donald Trump declared a series of tariffs that pitted the United States against the rest of the world. Big companies stayed nervously silent; small ones panicked. The stock market plunged. And surely worst of all, Switch 2 preorders were delayed. Then, the same day the largest tariffs went into effect, Trump hit […]
Here come the e-bikes using DJI’s excellent Avinox drive system
Bosch should be worried after several bicycle brands just announced their first e-bikes built on top of DJI’s compact and lightweight Avinox drive system, which is surprisingly powerful and torquey. These international brands include Forbidden, Unno, Smartmotion, Megamo, Paprika 53, and Teewing, all of which have new e-bikes built around the 1000W Avinox motor that’s capable […]
Microsoft’s 50th birthday party sure was eventful
I wasn’t really sure what to expect from Microsoft’s 50th birthday party. Sure, cofounder Bill Gates and former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer would be there, but I was keen to see how Microsoft would create a party atmosphere while also launching new Copilot features. As it happens, having three CEOs onstage, some energetic hosts, and […]
OpenAI gets ready to launch GPT-4.1
OpenAI is getting ready to unveil a number of new AI models, sources familiar with the company’s plans tell The Verge. Among the new AI models will be a release of what I’m expecting will be branded GPT-4.1, which one source describes as a revamped version of OpenAI’s GPT-4o multimodal model. GPT-4o was originally introduced […]
Why hundreds flock to play with decades-old computers
Over a weekend in April each year, the InfoAge Science and History Museums in Wall Township, New Jersey host the Vintage Computer Festival East, which welcomes hundreds of attendees to a former army base to check out a bunch of vintage hardware — not only on display, but also currently in working order. “ That’s one […]
Why DOGE is killing the agency that keeps banks from ripping you off
Today, I’m talking to Rohit Chopra. He was the director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) until the end of January, when President Donald Trump fired him and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) began trying to dismantle the agency. The CFPB has been around for just under 15 years now. Congress created […]
There are several ways to save on a Google Pixel 9A
After a bit of a brief, unexpected delay due to a component issue, the Google Pixel 9A is here — and it was worth the wait. Allison Johnson’s review of the midrange phone just went live today, and the 9A seems like the ideal phone for those who want many of the same perks found […]
A UK edition of Saturday Night Live is premiering in 2026
“Live from London, it’s Saturday Night” is a phrase you’re going to start hearing on a weekly basis next year. Variety reports that Sky Studios is working on a British adaptation of NBC’s long-running Saturday Night Live sketch series. Like its American counterpart and previous international riffs on the series, Saturday Night Live UK will […]
How these guitar modeling companies are recreating rare vintage sounds for the digital age
Around 2009, Dweezil Zappa ran into a space problem. He was busy touring the US, performing some songs written by his father, Frank. Recreating those signature “peculiar sounds,†as Zappa calls them, required lugging around a massive rig — roughly the size of two large refrigerators — held together by more than 200 connections and […]
What’s on your desk, Allison Johnson?
Preview in a new tab Allison Johnson is the smartphone reviewer for The Verge, along with, as she says, “a bit of telecom on the side, which means I am a professional phone user.” She came to The Verge from DPReview, where she covered digital cameras and smartphone cameras. That looks like a cozy space. […]
Big Tech’s tax bill is on the table in tariff talks
The United Kingdom is preparing to respond to the series of tariffs President Donald Trump has introduced since taking office. New taxes on everything from pure-bred horses to bourbon are on the table, but the Labour government seems more interested in a conciliatory approach, and it’s considering sacrificing a popular tax on American tech companies […]
Google Pixel 9A review: a midrange phone done right
The A-series Pixels have been very good over the past few years. And in the Pixel 9A, Google has taken a good midrange phone and made it great. It’s $499, which feels just right for what you get in the 9A. Spend a bit more for the Pixel 9, and you’ll get some upgrades like […]
The Flipper Zero creators have a new tool to fight work distractions
The creators of the Flipper Zero, a sort of electronic Swiss army knife for communicating with other devices, have come up with another tool that’s designed to boost productivity and reduce distractions. The Busy Bar is a customizable app-connected pixelated display that lets others know when you need to be left alone to focus, but […]
Black Mirror has a clever new game tied to season 7
Along with a new season of Black Mirror, Netflix might have just released its most interesting licensed game today. Season 7 of the sc-fi anthology includes an episode called “Plaything,” in which a genius coder in the ‘90s — the same one from the interactive “Bandersnatch” episode — creates a new game that’s a little […]
Black Mirror season 7 tugs at your heartstrings while skewering tech
Black Mirror started out as a grim, dark, and nihilistic exploration of near-future tech. But with the tragic romance of “San Junipero†in season 3, the anthology slowly started to shift its priorities. Early on, everything was bad: the technology and the people. And the former was used to show how awful the latter was, […]
Oppo’s Find X8 Ultra squeezes better specs into a slightly thinner phone
Oppo’s new Find X8 Ultra is the latest entrant in the ongoing competition between Oppo, Xiaomi, and Vivo to produce the world’s best camera phone. But unlike its rivals, Oppo has decided that bigger might not be better. Let’s be clear: the Find X8 Ultra isn’t a small phone by any means, with a 6.82-inch […]
Judge berates AI entrepreneur for using a generated ‘lawyer’ in court
A man’s recent attempt to use an AI-generated avatar in his legal appeal made an immediate impression on a New York courtroom, but probably not the one he was hoping for. Jerome Dewald — a 74-year-old that The Register notes is behind a startup that says it’s “revolutionizing legal self-representation with AI” — was chewed […]
China will show fewer US films in response to tariffs
China says it will cut the number of US films that are imported into the country in retaliation against the latest wave of tariff increases imposed by the Trump administration. A statement issued by the Chinese Film Administration (CFA) on Thursday, which we’ve translated using Google, said that the decision to increase tariffs against China […]
ChargePoint’s new Level 2 chargers are faster and go both ways
ChargePoint is ready to speed things up. On Thursday, the EV charging company revealed new AC Level 2 EV chargers that it says effectively double the speed of typical Level 2 chargers. The new architecture also supports bidirectional charging, so owners can use their EVs to power their home or business if the need arises. […]
Waymo readies autonomous cars for first international tests in Japan
Next week, Waymo’s driverless vehicles will begin testing on public roads in Japan for the Alphabet company’s first international trip. Waymo has yet to confirm whether it will eventually launch a commercial robotaxi service in the country, but the company is still celebrating the excursion as a “significant milestone.” Waymo describes it as a simple […]
OpenAI countersues Elon Musk to stop his attacks and ‘fake takeover bid’
OpenAI filed a countersuit against Elon Musk on Wednesday, saying on X that “Elon’s nonstop actions against us are just bad-faith tactics to slow down OpenAI and seize control of the leading AI innovations for his personal benefit.” In the lawsuit, OpenAI’s lawyers argue that “Musk’s continued attacks on OpenAI, culminating most recently in the […]
Lawmakers are skeptical of Zuckerberg’s commitment to free speech
Meta’s latest whistleblower, Sarah Wynn-Williams, got a warm reception on Capitol Hill Wednesday, as the Careless People author who the company has fought to silence described the company’s chief executive as someone willing to shapeshift into whatever gets him closest to power. The message was one that lawmakers on the Senate Judiciary subcommittee on crime […]
Adobe is building AI agents for Photoshop and Premiere Pro
Adobe is building AI agents for Photoshop and Premiere Pro that can suggest ways to edit your photos or videos and then carry out the tasks for you, according to a blog written today by Ely Greenfield, Adobe’s CTO of digital media. Adobe Photoshop’s agentic AI, or what the company calls its “creative agent,” will […]
Aqara adds support for 50 new Matter device types
Aqara is adding support for over 50 new Matter device types, making it one of the most comprehensive smart home platforms in terms of Matter support, alongside Samsung SmartThings and Home Assistant. The company is also bringing advanced bridging to all its Matter controllers, allowing you to integrate Aqara’s many advanced automation features into any […]
Framework’s entry-level modular Laptop 12 starts at £499
Earlier this year, modular computer company Framework began a quest to fix “entry-level laptops” with the Framework Laptop 12, its first 12-inch laptop and its first 2-in-1 touchscreen PC. And as you might expect, Trump’s new US tariffs are making entry-level pricing difficult for Framework, which has at least briefly delayed US preorders of the […]
Trump says the future of AI is powered by coal
The day before several major tech leaders appeared before Congress, begging for ways to get more energy for the nascent American artificial intelligence industry, Donald Trump signed an executive order offering a solution: increased coal production. As part of a series of executive orders released Tuesday designed to promote the rapid growth of the coal […]
Framework raised prices and then un-raised them an hour later because of Trump
Thanks to Framework, one of the most transparent computer companies out there, we now have a sterling example of just how ridiculous President Donald Trump’s tariffs can make life in the year 2025. Today, the company made all of its computers more expensive. Then, it almost immediately reversed that to bring its computers back to […]
Gemini can now turn your Google Docs into podcasts
Were you clamoring for two AI-generated podcast hosts to talk through the key points of your document before you send it to your boss? No? Well, you’re getting it anyway. Google has announced new Gemini features coming to Workspace apps, including NotebookLM-style AI podcasts integrated right into Google Docs. There’s a wide spread of new […]
Smart home device manufacturers are bracing for chaos — again
President Donald Trump’s latest round of tariffs — including a now 125 percent levy on Chinese imports — will hit the smart home industry hard. Many smart home device makers are already struggling, thanks, in part, to Trump’s first round of tariffs. Increased competition from budget smart home companies largely based in China has also […]
One of our favorite video doorbells is on sale for $80
One of our favorite doorbells, TP-Link’s Tapo D225 Video Doorbell Camera, is on sale for just $79.99 ($20 off) at Amazon. That’s a buck shy of its best price. A lot of video doorbells come with extra hidden subscription fees if you want to make the most of them, but this one doesn’t. It lets […]
Trump announces a ’90-day pause’ on tariffs outside of China
President Donald Trump’s so-called “reciprocal” tariffs have only been in effect since midnight ET, and he has already announced “a 90 day PAUSE, and a substantially lowered Reciprocal Tariff” of 10 percent for countries that haven’t retaliated against the tariffs he created. However, Trump also said in his post on Truth Social that he will […]
Teenage Engineering has updated its KO II synthesizer with new sampling powers
Nearly a year and a half after it first launched the EP-133 KO II synthesizer in late 2023, Teenage Engineering has released its first major software update. The OS 2.0 update, which can be downloaded to the synth through a web browser or installed using a USB cable, includes features like creating new samples from […]
The best AirPods to buy
Whether you’re buying your first pair of AirPods or replacing a well-used older pair, it’s easy to understand why so many iPhone owners prefer Apple’s earbuds and headphones over other options. Apple has spent years gradually adding new features that work best — and sometimes only work at all — within the company’s walled garden. […]
The best AirPods to buy
Whether you’re buying your first pair of AirPods or replacing a well-used older pair, it’s easy to understand why so many iPhone owners prefer Apple’s earbuds and headphones over other options. Apple has spent years gradually adding new features that work best — and sometimes only work at all — within the company’s walled garden. […]
WordPress.com is offering a new AI site builder
WordPress.com has launched a new AI-powered site builder in early access that can construct your WordPress webpage, including fully written text, layout, generated images, and more. WordPress.com says the AI website builder can make “beautiful, functional websites in minutes.” However, it can’t yet do the heavy lifting of creating an ecommerce site or one with […]
The Switch 2’s Joy-Con charging grip has two extra buttons
The Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller isn’t the only new Nintendo gamepad getting two back buttons: the Joy-Con 2 Charging Grip has the additional buttons as well, according to Nintendo’s online listing for the controller. Like the Pro Controller, the new back buttons are GL and GR that can be remapped to other buttons, the […]
You can now give Google’s AI video model camera directions
Google is trying to make it easier for users of its video AI model Veo 2 to make cinematic-looking generations and edit real footage. The new Veo 2 capabilities are available to preview via Google Cloud’s Vertex AI platform, alongside other updates to improve Google’s text-to-image generator, Imagen 3, and audio-related AI models. New Veo […]
Why I love Twinkly Strings and Twinkly Flex
Jess Weatherbed is a news writer and part of our international team. Jess describes herself as “mostly a generalist who covers a wide range of stories before my US and Canadian colleagues jump online.” Their main beat, however, is with the creative industries, where they cover what tech and software they are using, how creators […]
Adobe brings 1,500 new fonts to Creative Cloud
Adobe has launched its largest typeface expansion in five years, giving Creative Cloud subscribers access to 1,500 new fonts that can be used on websites and apps like Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. More than 750 of these fonts have been provided via a collaboration with Monotype, which owns the licenses for Helvetica, Gotham, and Avenir. […]
YouTube is supporting the ‘No Fakes Act’ targeting unauthorized AI replicas
Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) are again introducing their Nurture Originals, Foster Art, and Keep Entertainment Safe, or NO FAKES, Act, which standardizes rules around using making AI copies of a person’s faces, names, and voices. This time, the bill — previously introduced in 2023 and 2024 — has the backing of a […]
Trump’s chaos is threatening the bipartisan movement to break up Big Tech
At Y Combinator’s Little Tech Competition Summit in downtown DC last week, there was an air of optimism and something verging on camaraderie among a surprising crowd. Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) — barely recovered from his 25-hour speech about preserving democracy on the Senate floor a day earlier — showed up to discuss the importance […]
Anthropic launches a $200 per month tier for “power users”
Anthropic just announced a new premium tier called “Claude Max” that significantly increases usage limits for “power users†who’ve been maxing out their existing plans. The new offering comes with two options: a $100 per month tier with 5x more usage than the Pro plan, and a $200 per month tier with 20x more usage. […]
The Last of Us renewed for season 3 just ahead of HBO return
The Last of Us’ second season hasn’t even debuted yet, but Warner Bros. Discovery renewed the show for a third season. The company hasn’t shared details about when the third season may air or how many episodes it might be. The second season’s first episode debuts on Sunday on HBO and Max. Season 2 is […]
Samsung is finally releasing Ballie
Samsung’s home robot Ballie is finally poised to roll into our homes… and maybe our hearts? Following teasing a release sometime this year at CES 2025, the company has now announced that the cute rolling bot will arrive in the US this summer, with pre-registration open on Samsung’s website. The ball-shaped robot is equipped with […]
These might be Microsoft’s new Office icons
Microsoft appears to be working on new 3D icons for its Office suite. Reddit users have discovered the new icons in an email survey from Microsoft, reports Windows Central. The survey includes a brief look at the new icons, with Microsoft asking for feedback on its changes to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other Office apps. […]
Sony seemingly bakes tariff penalty into its new US TV pricing
Earlier this month, we got a close look at Sony’s new Bravia 8 II OLED. Despite the name, this TV is actually the spiritual successor of the company’s acclaimed A95L. It’s going to be one of the very best TVs you can buy in 2025, and now Sony has revealed how much the Bravia 8 […]
Sony adds three new wireless speakers to bass-boosted ULT Power Sound lineup
Sony is upgrading three of its wireless Bluetooth speakers with significant redesigns and new features as it integrates them into the ULT Power Sound series it introduced a year ago that includes speakers and headphones with improved bass-boosting sound modes. All three speakers will now have a dedicated ULT shortcut button for those sound modes […]
Samsung’s The Frame Pro was never going to be cheap — and it isn’t
Samsung made waves at CES earlier this year when it announced The Frame Pro. We eventually learned that the company was over-selling the TV’s “Mini LED” technology, but the new model does come with legitimate upgrades like a Wireless One Connect Box, meaning the only cable running to the TV itself will be for power, […]
Murderbot is going through it in the first trailer for Apple’s sci-fi series
For a being named Murderbot, the star of Apple’s next sci-fi show is surprisingly relatable. The show — which is also called Murderbot — just got its first trailer, and it sets up the titular lead, played by Alexander Skarsgård, who has just become sentient and is, well, struggling. The bot is forced to hide […]
Trump’s new tariffs leave small creators scrambling
If you’ve ever been to an anime or any fan convention, you know that the place that’s often the busiest is artists alley. There, creators sell their wares ranging from commissioned artwork to stickers, enamel pins, stuffed toys, apparel, food, and more. Often these goods are made with the artist’s own hand. Other times, merchants […]
Google used AI to enhance The Wizard of Oz for the Las Vegas Sphere’s giant screen
Following an announcement last week that Sphere Entertainment was creating an immersive version of The Wizard of Oz for its unique Las Vegas venue, we now have more details on how companies like Google and Magnopus are using AI to enhance the 86-year-old film to fill the Sphere’s massive 160,000-square-foot semi-spherical screen. But a collaboration […]
Trump triples tariffs on low value packages from China and Hong Kong
Donald Trump is making it even more expensive for US consumers to shop online from Chinese retailers like Temu and Shein. In an executive order amendment published Tuesday night, Trump raised the tariff rate for packages valued under $800 entering the US from China and Hong Kong that previously were exempt. The increase essentially triples […]
Xbox’s next major games showcase streams in June
It’s looking like another busy summer of gaming news: Microsoft just announced its next Xbox Games Showcase livestream, which will take place on June 8th at 1PM ET. The company says that the event will include “a look at upcoming titles from across our first-party studios, in addition to incredible new titles from our third-party […]
Hacking GoPros to help save the Atlantic’s rarest bird
The image streams over YouTube in crisp grayscale: a young cahow — known outside Bermuda as the Bermuda petrel — scrambles through a sandy tunnel and pokes its tiny head above the ground for the first time. It’s a few months old, but it has never seen daylight. Gray fluffball hatchlings spend their whole lives […]
Google Maps is launching tools to help cities analyze infrastructure and traffic
Google is opening up its Google Maps Platform data so that cities, developers, and other business decision makers can more easily access information about things like infrastructure and traffic, the company announced on Wednesday. Google is integrating new datasets for Google Maps Platform directly into BigQuery, the tech giant’s fully managed data analytics service, for […]
China retaliates with additional 50 percent tariff on US goods, matching Trump’s
Hours after Donald Trump’s latest tariffs came into effect, China has announced retaliatory measures: an additional 50 percent tariff on US goods, on top of a planned 34 percent charge, and adding a further 12 US companies to its export control list. “The US’s practice of escalating tariffs on China is a mistake on top […]
Universal is building a UK theme park
Universal, having just completed its latest Nintendo- and Harry Potter-filled theme park in the US, is now planning to build a new theme park and resort in the United Kingdom. The multi-billion dollar project will be Universal’s first European theme park, with construction on the 476-acre complex expected to start next year in Bedford, England, […]
Framework delays Laptop 12 orders in the US over tariffs
Framework has confirmed it will no longer be opening US preorders for the new Laptop 12 today, or announcing a price, as it evaluates the impact of Trump’s tariffs. The modular, convertible laptop will still be available later today for buyers elsewhere, including Canada and Europe. The Laptop 12 is Framework’s smallest laptop yet, and […]
Microsoft starts testing Copilot Vision update that can ‘see’ your screen and apps
Microsoft has started testing a new update to its Copilot app on Windows that will let you share your screen or apps with the AI assistant. Copilot Vision was originally limited to Microsoft’s Edge browser, but it’s now extending to any app on your PC. Copilot Vision will be able to do things like coach […]
Trump’s tariffs are officially in effect, including 104 percent on China
President Donald Trump’s promised higher tariffs have gone into effect today, targeting many countries whose goods imported to the US were already subject to a 10 percent base tariff that started on April 5th. The White House announced the tariffs on April 2nd, dubiously claiming they were “reciprocal” based on a nonsensical formula that far […]
You can grab three months of Apple TV Plus for $2.99 a month right now
Curious what all the fuss over shows like Severance and The Studio is about? If you’re interested in streaming either, new and eligible returning subscribers can sign up for Apple TV Plus through April 24th for just $2.99 a month for the first three months. Apple TV Plus would normally cost you $9.99 a month, […]
Instagram might finally release an iPad app
Meta is developing a version of Instagram for iPad, according to The Information. Currently, running Instagram on an iPad is just a blown-up version of the iPhone app, so an official Instagram app from Meta would be a very welcome change. Why would Meta do this now, after ignoring Apple’s tablet for over a decade? […]
Arduboy creator says his tiny Game Boy won’t survive Trump’s tariffs
Kevin Bates managed to quit his day job and move to China after his game-playing business card, the Arduboy, went viral in 2014. But a decade later, Trump’s staggering and inexplicable new US tariffs are driving him out of business. Just as he was about to turn a profit for the first time, just before […]
SmartThings gets Matter 1.4 support for water heaters, heat pumps, and more
Samsung’s smart home platform SmartThings now works with Matter 1.4, the latest version of the interoperable smart home standard, adding compatibility with things like water heaters, heat pumps, and solar panels that use the spec. The company has also introduced new smart home automation triggers, as well as a broadcast feature for SmartThings-connected speakers. Matter […]
Amazon is already changing its ultra-cheap Temu copycat
As Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs are set to take effect, Amazon is tweaking some of how it does business — specifically how it operates Amazon Haul, the company’s version of bargain bin Chinese sites like Temu and Shein. The Information reported Tuesday that Amazon Haul offerings will now include products from well-known brands like Adidas, […]
Predator: Killer of Killers teases a most dangerous, multigenerational game in new trailer
The next phase of director Dan Trachtenberg’s plan to reenergize the Predator franchise is another foray into the past. Today, Hulu shared a new trailer for 20th Century Studios’ upcoming animated anthology movie, Predator: Killer of Killers. Similar to Prey, Killer of Killers will tell the story of how human warriors have to fight for […]
Nintendo has already shipped ‘some’ Switch 2 inventory to the US
Nintendo has already shipped a supply of Switch 2 units to the US, months before the system goes on sale. That’s according to Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser, who said on CNBC Monday that Nintendo had time to build up an inventory of the next-gen portable gaming system “on a global basis,” and that […]
Trump believes iPhones can be made in the US, says White House
With time continuing to tick down until President Trump’s higher tariffs take effect after midnight, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt doubled down on the idea that products like iPhones could realistically shift to US manufacturing, claiming that “if Apple didn’t think the United States could do it they probably wouldn’t have put up that […]
Tesla Supercharger damaged in possible explosion in Washington
A Tesla Supercharger station was severely damaged in a possible explosion in Lacey, Washington. The local police department is investigating the incident, along with the FBI, which has been probing a number of acts of vandalism involving Tesla. The Lacey Police Department said it received multiple calls of a “loud noise” at 1:34am PT, which […]
Trump’s DOJ will no longer prosecute cryptocurrency fraud
The Trump administration is disbanding a Department of Justice unit dedicated to enforcing cryptocurrency fraud, ending what it calls “regulation by prosecution.†In a memo obtained by The Washington Post, deputy attorney general Todd Blanche directed federal prosecutors to cease “litigation or enforcement actions that have the effect of superimposing regulatory frameworks on digital assets.†[…]
Loss of Pulse alerts are rolling out on Pixel Watch 3
Google is beginning to roll out its Loss of Pulse Detection feature to Pixel Watch 3 owners in the U.S. Loss of Pulse Detection, the smartwatch’s marquee health feature, calls emergency services if the Pixel Watch 3 can’t pick up your heartbeat while wearing it. It was initially announced alongside the Pixel Watch 3 in […]
Amazon plays catchup with new Nova AI models to generate voices and video
Amazon is showing off new AI technology this week, including its take on a more conversational voice model to better compete with things like Gemini Live and OpenAI’s Advanced Voice Mode and an update to its model that can generate video. The new Nova Sonic voice model handles real-time speech processing and AI voice generation […]
The next season of Love, Death, and Robots is coming to Netflix this May
The last installment of Netflix’s Love, Death, and Robots anthology series was nothing short of fantastic, and we’re just a few weeks away from the show returning to Netflix with new episodes. Today, Netflix announced that Love, Death, and Robots’ fourth volume is set to debut in May with 10 new animated stories about people […]
Razer pauses direct laptop sales in the US as new tariffs loom
Razer’s upcoming Blade 16 and other laptops are no longer available for preorder or purchase on its US site. The configurator for preordering its new Blade 16 laptop was available as recently as April 1st, according to the Internet Archive — one day before the Trump administration announced sweeping US tariffs on China, Taiwan, and […]
Trump will hit China with 104 percent tariffs
The US will impose a cumulative 104 percent tariff on goods imported from China after midnight tonight alongside a host of tariffs on other countries, the White House confirmed to CNBC. It’s one of the most staggering figures from President Donald Trump’s worldwide trade war launched last week. The Trump administration calls the tariffs part […]
The kid-friendly Fitbit Ace has returned to its best price to date
If you’re struggling to get your kids off their phones and outside, the Fitbit Ace LTE is packed with a number of features that are designed to help kids get out and exercise while keeping unwanted distractions to a minimum. And right now, it’s matching its all-time low of around $149.95 ($30 off) at Amazon […]
Hades II will launch first for consoles on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2
Hades II will be a console exclusive on Nintendo Switch systems when it eventually launches out of early access. Nintendo announced last week that the game was coming to the Switch and Switch 2, and today, the company released a new Creator’s Voice video highlighting more about the game. In the video, Supergiant employees don’t […]
YouTube says Nope! to age-gating Balatro videos
On Friday, the YouTube channel Balatro University posted a video highlighting how some of their videos had recently been age-restricted after the company tightened its policies about gambling content. But in a post Monday night, YouTube said the restrictions shouldn’t have been applied. “Videos featuring Balatro gameplay should not be age-restricted,” YouTube says in a […]
Most Americans don’t trust AI — or the people in charge of it
AI experts are feeling pretty good about the future of their field. Most Americans are not. A new report from Pew Research Center released last week shows a sharp divide in how artificial intelligence is perceived by the people building it versus the people living with it. The survey, which includes responses from over 1,000 […]
Most Americans don’t trust AI — or the people in charge of it
AI experts are feeling pretty good about the future of their field. Most Americans are not. A new report from Pew Research Center released last week shows a sharp divide in how artificial intelligence is perceived by the people building it versus the people living with it. The survey, which includes responses from over 1,000 […]
Nintendo is delaying Switch 2 preorders in Canada, too
Nintendo has delayed Switch 2 preorders in Canada, which were set to start on April 9th, according to a statement shared with MobileSyrup. Last week, the company delayed preorders in the US because of the potential impact of the Trump administration’s new tariffs. “Pre-orders for Nintendo Switch 2 in Canada will not start on April […]
Nintendo is delaying Switch 2 preorders in Canada, too
Nintendo has delayed Switch 2 preorders in Canada, which were set to start on April 9th, according to a statement shared with MobileSyrup. Last week, the company delayed preorders in the US because of the potential impact of the Trump administration’s new tariffs. “Pre-orders for Nintendo Switch 2 in Canada will not start on April […]
Elon Musk dies to tutorial boss in Path of Exile 2 livestream
Elon Musk, seemingly keen to repair some of his gamer cred after he admitted to account boosting, streamed himself playing Path of Exile 2 during a flight as a part of an “airborne continuity test” of his Starlink internet service. But during the stream, he was bombarded by messages from viewers bullying him for his […]
Is there a ‘right’ way to use AI in art?
The arguments against AI in art are obvious. Most visual artists hate Midjourney, Stability AI, and similar image generators, decrying the scraping of training data without compensation and the onslaught of generic “slop.†But is it possible to deliberately misuse generative AI for creative work? Oakland, California-based painter Brett Amory uses image generators as tools constantly. Instead of passively […]
The modifiers
Technology doesn’t need to die. So much of our consumer habits frame old gadgets, instruments, and concepts as disposable. So The Verge wanted to talk to small businesses, creators, and fans across the world who have a different view. In this week-long series, we explore unexpected repurposing — and the remix of the old with […]
CalDigit’s new Thunderbolt 5 docks bring plenty of ports
CalDigit is well-known for its Thunderbolt docks that don’t skimp on ports. After debuting a compact but well-equipped Thunderbolt 5 dock at CES 2025, the company is finally upgrading its larger docks with Thunderbolt 5 and boosting the number of ports offered. While the cheaper Thunderbolt Station 5 (TS5) maxes out at 15 ports, the […]
How an unused nuclear power plant became home to a world-class acoustics lab
It’s kind of impossible to grasp the enormity of a cooling tower until it’s suddenly right next to you. Never used for their intended purpose, the cooling towers of Washington Nuclear Projects 3 and 5 (WNP-3 and WNP-5) loom over treetops as I drive up to Satsop Business Park, about an hour and a half […]
Microsoft’s new Windows 11 Start menu is bigger and fixes a major pain point
Microsoft is working on a new Windows 11 Start menu design that’s bigger and more customizable than what exists today. Windows watcher phantomofearth discovered the new design in recent builds of Windows 11, where the updated Start menu has a larger layout and finally lets you disable the recommended feed of files and apps. The […]
Motorola’s stylish stylus phone comes in blue or blue
Motorola is refreshing its budget-oriented stylus phone with the 2025 edition of the Moto G Stylus in two bold colors: blue, and for a change of pace, blue. They both come with a “leather-inspired” back panel finish and a stacked spec sheet when you consider its $399 price — though it might come with a […]
Switch 2: the good news and bad news
In most ways, Nintendo’s Switch 2 is exactly what we wanted: a Switch, only better. Nintendo has an occasional tendency to follow its best and most successful consoles with some of its weirdest ideas – Wii U, anyone? — but this time seems to have stayed the course in the best way. Still, this is Nintendo, […]
Teen restrictions expand on Instagram, Facebook, and Messenger
Meta is broadening Instagram restrictions that prevent minors from being exposed to inappropriate contact and content, bringing those protections to Facebook and Messenger and adding new limits for teenage Instagram users. After introducing “Teen Accounts” to Instagram in September — which automatically make younger users’ accounts private and restrict them from accessing certain features — […]
Meta got caught gaming AI benchmarks
Over the weekend, Meta dropped two new Llama 4 models: a smaller model named Scout, and Maverick, a mid-size model that the company claims can beat GPT-4o and Gemini 2.0 Flash “across a broad range of widely reported benchmarks.†Maverick quickly secured the number-two spot on LMArena, the AI benchmark site where humans compare outputs […]
Framework stops selling some of its cheapest laptops due to Trump tariffs
Framework says it’s “temporarily pausing” US sales on some of its laptops due to the Trump administration’s tariffs that went into effect on April 5th, according to a post on X. The affected models are “a few base Framework Laptop 13 systems (Ultra 5 125H and Ryzen 5 7640U),” the company says, and it has […]
Gemini Live’s screensharing feature is rolling out to Pixel 9 and Galaxy S25 devices
Google’s Gemini Live camera and screenshare functions, which let the conversational AI chatbot answer questions about the stuff you’re looking at in real-time, are rolling out now on Pixel 9 series phones and Samsung Galaxy S25 devices. The free update is also coming soon to other Android devices, but you’ll need to be a paid […]
Shopify CEO says no new hires without proof AI can’t do the job
Shopify CEO Tobi Lütke sent a memo to employees saying that before they ask for more headcount or resources, teams must show why they “cannot get what they want done using AI,” as reported by CNBC. “What would this area look like if autonomous AI agents were already part of the team? This question can […]
Some Shein and Temu ‘haul video’ creators are stocking up
TikTok creator @pwinpudding specializes in ‘haul videos,’ specifically all things pink, pastel, and cute. Her videos show a collection of packages received from sites like the Chinese retailer AliExpress, as well as Amazon and the Japanese retailer Daiso and the accessories, clothes, plushies, and other items she took out of them. In her most recent […]
It’s not looking good for Tesla’s Cybertruck range extender
Tesla’s battery range extender accessory for Cybertruck, which promised to give the electric pickup the capability to drive about 445 miles on a single charge, was removed from the online configurator over the weekend, Electrek reports. The Cybertruck Range Extender was announced at the vehicle’s delivery event as a $16,000 add-on that appears to take […]
You can build these marble runs and connect them to your smart home over Wi-Fi
Marble run toys typically rely on just gravity to send a marble careening through a complex maze of obstacles, but the creator of Marblelous thinks they can be improved through technology. These new marble run building sets feature powered Wi-Fi-connected components that can keep balls rolling continuously and a marble-detecting sensor that can incorporate your […]
Waymo: ‘no plans’ to use in-car camera data for targeted ads
Waymo has “no plans” to use footage from cameras inside its robotaxis to train AI models for targeted ads, spokesperson Julia Ilina said in an email to The Verge. Ilina was responding to an unreleased page from Waymo’s privacy policy that appears to offer customers the ability to opt-out from having their “personal information,” including […]
You can borrow and resell Nintendo’s Switch 2 game-key cards
Following the reveal of Nintendo’s new game-key cards during its Nintendo Switch 2 event last week, we’re finally getting more details about why they exist and how they can be used. Although they don’t contain a physical copy of a game, Nintendo’s Tetsuya Sasaki explained to GameSpot that game-key cards aren’t permanently tied to a […]
Microsoft fires employee protestor who called AI boss a ‘war profiteer’
Microsoft has fired one of the employees who disrupted the company’s 50th-anniversary event. In an email seen by The Verge, Microsoft told Ibtihal Aboussad that their employment has been terminated due to “acts of misconduct.” Aboussad was one of two protesters that interrupted Microsoft’s 50th anniversary event on Friday by calling Microsoft’s AI CEO, Mustafa […]
Whoopsie daisy Bitcoin!
Sure, the stock market is melting down after the US declared a global trade war. But have you considered that crypto is also melting down? Starting around April 6, the Bitcoin price fell off a cliff — and is sitting at $78,800 as of this writing, after touching a low of about $74,000. That’s quite […]
Google TV remotes are getting a ‘Free TV’ button
Google TV streaming devices will be required to have a “Free TV” or “Live TV” button on their remotes that opens up the Live tab where you can watch free, ad-supported TV channels via Google TV FreePlay, a company spokesperson confirmed to Android Authority. “Google TV gives users access to a wide range of free […]
Major publishers call on the US government to ‘Stop AI Theft’
Hundreds of publishers, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian, and The Verge parent company Vox Media, are running an ad campaign this week urging the government to protect content from AI. The campaign, called Support Responsible AI, is run by the News/Media Alliance trade association and consists of several ads that […]
The White House’s group chat screwup is even more ridiculous than we thought
Last month, Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg was added to a Signal group chat about a military strike in Yemen planned for later that day. Now, sources inside the White House have apparently told The Guardian that an internal investigation revealed the roundabout way that happened: Siri was being helpful. When national security adviser Mike Waltz […]
The see-through Beats Studio Buds Plus are on sale for less than $100
Apple’s AirPods Pro are some of the best wireless earbuds money can buy, but only if you’re embedded in Apple’s ecosystem. If you want a cheaper pair of earbuds that play well with both iOS and Android devices, the Beats Studio Buds Plus are a great alternative. They usually run $169.95, but right now you […]
Nintendo’s Switch 2 upgrade packs for Zelda will cost $9.99
Nintendo’s hoping to relieve some of the sticker shock it gave fans with its game pricing with the news that the Switch 2 upgrades for both Legend of Zelda games will only cost $10 if you already own them. The games are priced for the Nintendo Switch 2 at $69.99 for Breath of the Wild […]
GM’s UK design team imagines an electrified Corvette
General Motors is revealing a futuristic new electric-powered Corvette concept imagined by a new UK-based design team in Birmingham, England. The team developed a hypercar design inspired by the aviation industry, with a highly sculptured, aerodynamic design; powered gullwing doors; and an augmented windshield display for the driver. This Corvette concept comes from a “creative […]
The Last of Us season 2 is a brutal, bloody expansion of the game
The first season of HBO’s The Last of Us wasn’t just one of the most impressive video game adaptations to date, it was also one of the most faithful. The show did a remarkable job of replicating the characters, locations, and moments of the game, to the point that it felt like it was just […]
Google’s AI Mode can now see and search with images
Google is adding multimodal capabilities to its search-centric AI Mode chatbot that enable it to “see” and answer questions about images, as it expands access to AI Mode to “millions more” users. The update combines a custom version of Gemini AI with the company’s Lens image recognition tech, allowing AI Mode Search users to take […]
Death Stranding movie nabs director of Pig and A Quiet Place: Day One
The Death Stranding movie, an adaptation of Hideo Kojima’s supernatural UPS delivery guy walking simulator, has its director. A24 has announced that Michael Sarnoski will both direct and write the project. Sarnoski’s previous work includes directing the surprisingly stunning Nicolas Cage drama Pig and monster movie thriller A Quiet Place: Day One. Death Stranding, released […]
22 years later, modders are keeping SimCity 4 alive
Search for “SimCity 4†on YouTube, and you’ll see players constructing multilevel highway interchanges and intricate railroad networks, or maybe even a swooping flyby of a sprawling metropolis. None of these features came with the original game, which was released just after the turn of the millennium. They’ve been developed slowly and painstakingly over the […]
One of the best 4K QD-OLED gaming monitors is cheaper than ever
Alienware’s 27-inch 4K QD-OLED, the AW2725Q, hit shelves about a month ago. It was the first of several faster, better models to launch after being announced at CES 2025, with a 240Hz refresh rate, VRR, and a high 166 pixels per inch display. In short, it rules, so I’m tickled to find it already selling […]
Nintendo confirmed the Switch 2’s Joy-Cons don’t use Hall effect joysticks
After several days of not providing a direct answer about the technology used in the Switch 2’s Joy-Cons, Nintendo has finally confirmed that the new console’s controllers do not employ anti-drift Hall effect joysticks. When asked about the technology inside the Switch 2’s Joy-Cons that “feels so different to the original Switch’s analog stick” during […]
Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning’s new trailer is one big leap of faith
After multiple delays, Chris McQuarrie’s Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning is finally making its way into theaters this summer, and Ethan Hunt is giving his all in the movie’s new trailer. Though it’s filled with footage from previous movies, the new trailer teases a bit of how Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) is about to […]
UK bans fake reviews and ‘sneaky’ fees for online products
The United Kingdom has banned “outrageous fake reviews and sneaky hidden fees” to make life easier for online shoppers. New measures under the Digital Markets, Competition, and Consumer Act 2024 came into force on Sunday that require online platforms to transparently include all mandatory fees within a product’s advertised price, including booking or admin charges. […]
WhatsApp tests letting you block people from exporting your chats
WhatsApp is testing a new “advanced chat privacy” option that lets you control whether others you’re chatting with can easily export your chats or automatically save media you send them, reports WABetaInfo. The feature appeared in a recent app beta on iOS, and WABetaInfo spotted the toggle in an Android beta on Friday as well. […]
Netflix is getting a Peppa Pig mobile game
Netflix is adding a Peppa Pig game to its roster of available titles for subscribers in June, the company announced on Monday. World of Peppa Pig will be available alongside new episodes of the popular children’s show in the US. “From spot the difference and interactive mini games to coloring books, dress up games and […]
UiPath’s Daniel Dines on why he needed to become CEO again
Today, I’m talking with Daniel Dines, the cofounder and, once again, the CEO of UiPath, a software company that specializes in something called robotic process automation (RPA). We’ve been featuring a lot of what I like to call full-circle Decoder guests on the show lately, and Daniel is a perfect example. He was first on […]
The rise of ‘Frankenstein’ laptops in New Delhi’s repair markets
In a dimly lit, cluttered workshop in Delhi’s Nehru Place, the air hums with the sound of whirring drills and the crackle of soldering irons. Sushil Prasad, a 35-year-old technician, wipes the sweat off his brow as he carefully pieces together the guts of an old laptop. It is a daily ritual — resurrecting machines […]
Nintendo says tariffs aren’t the reason the Switch 2 costs $449.99
In addition to a new console and lineup of games, Nintendo also revealed some sticker shock at its Switch 2 event last week. The console will cost $449.99 — a big jump from the original Switch, which debuted at $299.99 in 2017. Some have speculated that the price hike was at least partly due to […]
Why some Switch 2 carts won’t have games on them
One of the stranger details that came out of last week’s big Nintendo Switch 2 event was the existence of game-key cards. They won’t be used for all releases, but essentially they’re Switch 2 cartridges that don’t actually contain a game, but instead feature a “key†that’s used for “downloading the full game to your […]
DOGE plans now reportedly include an IRS ‘hackathon’
Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is planning to hold a “hackathon” next week in order to create a “mega API” for accessing Internal Revenue Service data, reports Wired. The outlet says the API would be used to move the data into a cloud platform — potentially a third-party one — to serve as […]
How to use your phone as a hotspot
If you’re taking your laptop away from the safe environs of your home or office desk and still want to stay online, you’ve got a couple of choices (assuming it doesn’t have cellular connectivity built in): hunt around for a Wi-Fi network you can connect to or run a Wi-Fi hotspot from your phone. Running […]
‘Millions’ may have protested Trump and Musk yesterday
Hundreds of thousands of people signed up to attend over 1,300 “Hands Off!” protests against President Donald Trump and Elon Musk yesterday. Today, estimates from groups involved in planning the protests suggest the protesters in the US and abroad may have actually numbered in the millions. Activist group MoveOn is “estimating millions of attendees” went […]
Wi-Fi is one of the great backward compatibility success stories
My home network is a small miracle of backward compatibility, slinging data across 60-plus devices that span five generations of Wi-Fi. Everything on it, from my iPhone 15 Pro all the way down to my Nintendo Wii, manages to connect to the internet, most of it wirelessly through my router, with shockingly few issues. That’s […]
Quantum mechanics might have the solution to joystick drift
The Nintendo Switch may be remembered as much for repopularizing portable gaming as it will for a hardware issue that affected millions of gamers: joystick drift. Drifting is the most common term for an issue where joysticks detect false inputs — even when no one is touching a controller — causing unwanted movements to happen […]
‘Hands Off’: Protesters deliver a sweeping message to Trump and Musk at a DC rally
Surrounding the Washington Monument Saturday were thousands of signs with messages spanning innumerable topics.“Support Ukraine,†“Beware of DOGE,†“Protect Trans Lives,†were just a few of them.
Your House is like a choose-your-own adventure mystery book
Your House is a visual novel that is the closest game I’ve played to reading an actual book. In Your House, you play as Debbie, a girl who receives a mysterious postcard on her birthday with an address and a key. The address leads to a mansion that’s filled with secrets and puzzles for you […]
One streaming app to (almost) rule them all
Hi, friends! Welcome to Installer No. 78, your guide to the best and Verge-iest stuff in the world. (If you’re new here, welcome, sorry everything’s about to get so expensive, and also you can read all the old editions at the Installer homepage.) This week, I’ve been reading about baseball bats and work-life balance and […]
Color is a mathematical nightmare
The best method that we have for defining color is by using math. Specifically, mind-boggling mathematical models called color spaces that use geometry to assign colors as a fixed point that we can reference, ensuring the blue that I see is the same blue you see. As a creative-leaning person who can barely split a […]
Meta AI gets two new models as Meta releases Llama 4
Meta has announced the release of Llama 4, its newest collection of AI models that now power Meta AI on the web and in WhatsApp, Messenger, and Instagram Direct. The two models, also available to download from Meta or Hugging Face now, are Llama 4 Scout, a small model capable of “fitting in a single […]
More than 1,200 rallies rally worldwide protest Trump and Musk
People are gathering in cities all over the United States and globally to protest an “illegal, billionaire power grab” by President Donald Trump and Elon Musk. They’re being put on by over 150 different organizations, including civil rights groups, labor unions, and LGBTQ+ advocates, and span more than 1,200 locations. Last weekend, “Tesla Takedown” protests […]
Microsoft has created an AI-generated version of Quake
Microsoft unveiled its Xbox AI era earlier this year with a new Muse AI model that can generate gameplay. While it looked like Muse was still an early Microsoft Research project, the Xbox maker is now allowing Copilot users to try out Muse through an AI-generated version of Quake II. The tech demo is part […]
Tron: Ares blends the real world with the digital in its first trailer
Disney just released the first trailer for Tron: Ares, the long-planned Tron: Legacy sequel. The minute-and-a-half trailer doesn’t say much about the story but shows plenty of the movie’s visuals, which look dark, moody, and filled with the series’ signature light trails. The trailer opens in the physical world at night, as Jared Leto’s Ares, […]
The 7 writing apps I used to start and finish my book
There’s a famous two-decade-old Paris Review interview with Haruki Murakami in which he, one of the world’s most celebrated novelists, details his daily routine. He wakes up at 4AM, works for five hours, goes for a run, reads, goes to bed, and then repeats it all over again. The rigor and repetition are the point. […]
Jaguar Land Rover pauses US shipments over Trump tariffs
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) says it’s delaying shipments to the US this month while it works out how it will deal with the wide-ranging tariffs President Donald Trump announced this week, according to The Guardian. “As we work to address the new trading terms with our business partners, we are taking some short-term actions, including […]
‘Views’ are lies
Views are the most visible metric on the internet. You can see, in more or less real time, how many views something got on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and most other video platforms. X tracks views for every single thing you post, as does Threads. A view is the universal currency of success — more […]
Trump’s tariffs killed his TikTok deal
Earlier this week, when it seemed as though TikTok’s fate in the US would actually be decided by April 5th, everyone — from Amazon to the founder of OnlyFans — was coming out of the woodwork to buy it. As it turns out, none of them had a chance. And now, thanks to President Donald […]
DOGE staffers are listed in the FCC directory
Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has infiltrated the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), an agency that has a say over resources Musk needs or could benefit from for some of his private sector business, The Verge has learned. Three people who have been identified as DOGE staffers are listed in a public directory called […]
Ring’s founder is back at Amazon
Ring founder Jamie Siminoff returned to Amazon this week, coming back to the company just about two years after he left, Bloomberg reports. He’s now a vice president at the company, and he will be heading up the Ring, Blink, Amazon Key, and Sidewalk teams. Siminoff is replacing Liz Hamren, who had taken over following […]
We just declared a trade war with the world
Nice economy you have there, said President Donald Trump’s administration. It would be a shame if something happened to it. The something, announced earlier this week, is a set of globally applied tariffs that make no sense on their face. No sane economist would endorse this. Through a combination of stupidity, incompetence and sheer gangsterism, […]
Trump’s TikTok delay is ‘against the law’ top Senate Intelligence Democrat says
President Donald Trump’s additional 75 day delay to TikTok’s sale-or-ban deadline leaves service providers like Apple, Google, and Oracle on shaky ground, and, according to one influential Democrat, is straight-up “against the law.” After Trump announced the extension on Friday, 12 Republican members of the House Select Committee on China, including Chair John Moolenaar (R-MI), […]
Price hikes, idled factories, layoffs: how car companies are responding to Trump’s tariffs
President Donald Trump’s 25 percent tariffs on all auto-related imports have been called “a debacle of epic proportions†and a sure-fire way to tank the auto market by crushing demand. Analysts have been predicting everything from $12,000 per vehicle price hikes to the possible “Cubanization†of the US car fleet. Now that they’ve had a […]
DOGE staffer ‘Big Balls’ has access to immigration agency’s data
Four Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staffers have access to the government’s data on an untold number of immigrants, FedScoop reports. US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the agency that handles legal immigration, recently granted access to Kyle Shutt, Aram Moghaddassi, Payton Rehling, and Edward Coristine — the 19-year-old DOGE employee who also goes by […]
Meta’s fact-checking program in the US officially ends soon
Meta’s US fact-checking program will come to an end by Monday afternoon. In a post on X, Meta’s global policy head Joel Kaplan said there will be “no new fact checks and no fact checkers” across Facebook, Instagram, and Threads by that time as the company replaces it with Community Notes. Meta first announced its […]
Microsoft CEOs interrupted by another employee protestor: ‘shame on all of you’
In the second major disruption of today’s 50th anniversary event at Microsoft’s headquarters, another employee stood up and began yelling at Satya Nadella, Steve Ballmer, and Bill Gates — the company’s current and past CEOs — in protest of Microsoft’s dealings with the government of Israel. “Shame on you all. You’re all hypocrites,” she said […]
The AI industry doesn’t know if Trump just killed its GPU supply
AI companies can’t figure out if the Trump tariffs are about to decimate them – and the fact that no one has a clear answer is sending them, and the tech industry overall, into a confusion spiral. The markets are in disarray. Nvidia is down 7.59%, TSMC is down 7.22%. In San Francisco, sources tell […]
Starlink competition is ramping up in Ukraine
French satellite network company Eutelsat has been providing Ukraine with much-needed internet access for almost a year with the help of the German government, Reuters reports. Eutelsat’s OneWeb division operates low-orbiting satellites that communicate with terrestrial terminals for internet connectivity — similarly to rival SpaceX’s Starlink network, which has been the primary supplier of satellite […]
Trump delays TikTok ban again
Donald Trump’s 75-day delay of the TikTok ban law taking effect would’ve expired this weekend, but on Friday, he announced on Truth Social that “I am signing an Executive Order to keep TikTok up and running for an additional 75 days.” Despite several publicly announced bids to buy TikTok, its Chinese owner, ByteDance, has shown […]
Microsoft employee disrupts 50th anniversary and calls AI boss ‘war profiteer’
A Microsoft employee disrupted the company’s 50th anniversary event to protest its use of AI. “Shame on you,” said Microsoft employee Ibtihal Aboussad, speaking directly to Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman. “You are a war profiteer. Stop using AI for genocide. Stop using AI for genocide in our region. You have blood on your hands. […]
DOGE has arrived at the FTC
Two members of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) were spotted at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) this week, sources tell The Verge. Gavin Kliger and Emily Bryant were seen in the building and are now listed in the FTC’s internal directory under the Office of the Chairman with their own agency emails, according […]
An immersive version of The Wizard of Oz is coming to the Las Vegas Sphere
Sphere Entertainment has announced two new immersive experiences coming to its 516-foot wide spherical venue in Las Vegas. An enhanced version of The Wizard of Oz will premiere on the Sphere’s 160,000 square foot screen on August 28th, 2025, while a new film by Academy Award-winning directors Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin (Free Solo) […]
‘Careless People’ author to testify during a Senate hearing about Facebook
Sarah Wynn-Williams, the ex-Meta employee who authored Careless People, will testify before a Senate Judiciary subcommittee next week. On Wednesday, Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) said Wynn-Williams will address Facebook’s “cooperation with the Communist regime in China, including FB’s plan to build censorship tools.” Despite Meta’s attempts to silence Wynn-Williams with a gag order preventing her […]
Microsoft brings Copilot Vision to Windows and mobile for AI help in the real world
Microsoft is bringing its Copilot Vision feature to Windows and mobile, moving it beyond the web. Copilot Vision was a big part of Microsoft’s Copilot redesign last year, but so far, it has been limited to Edge webpages to help guide you through what you’re seeing. Copilot Vision will now be able to analyze real-time […]
Microsoft updates Copilot with the greatest hits from other AIs
As it marks its 50th anniversary, Microsoft is updating Copilot with a host of new features all at once that bring it more in line with alternatives like ChatGPT or Claude. The AI assistant, which uses many OpenAI models, now supports memory, personalization, web-based actions, podcast creation, camera and screen analysis, deep research, and even […]
Microsoft Copilot can now use the web on your behalf
Microsoft is making changes to Copilot that will allow the artificial intelligence assistant to complete online tasks for you. Using “simple chat prompts,” these “Actions” can be performed in the background while you work on other tasks, according to Microsoft, and can do things like book restaurant reservations, event tickets, and purchase items to ship […]
FromSoftware’s Miyazaki assures fans the studio will still make single-player games
In a multi-part interview with Nintendo about newly-announced Switch 2 exclusive The Duskbloods, director Hidetaka Miyazaki tried to dispel worries that developer FromSoftware is shifting focus away from single-player games. The studio known for single-player dark fantasy epics like Elden Ring and the Dark Souls series is now working on two multiplayer games. As a […]
All of the news from Microsoft’s 50th Anniversary Copilot event
Microsoft is holding a 50th Anniversary Copilot livestream today at 12:30PM ET / 9:30AM PT on April 4th, the same day Microsoft founders Bill Gates and Paul Allen started the company in 1975. Dubbed “Introducing your AI companion,” it’s set up for Microsoft to show off some significant updates to its Windows AI assistant. You […]
Z-Wave is remaking itself to find a new place in your smart home
The invention of Matter was a grand kumbaya moment for the smart home. Built on the foundations of almost every concept smart home companies had dreamed up — from Apple’s HomeKit to Google’s Thread — the idea was to create a new technology on top of existing ones. One common standard to make it easier […]
Nintendo delays Switch 2 preorders over tariff concerns
Nintendo is pushing back preorders for the Switch 2 due to concerns about Donald Trump’s newly announced tariffs. According to a statement sent to The Verge by Eddie Garcia on behalf of Nintendo, it says preorders will no longer begin on April 9th: Pre-orders for Nintendo Switch 2 in the U.S. will not start April […]
Nintendo delays Switch 2 preorders over tariff concerns
Nintendo is pushing back preorders for the Switch 2 due to concerns about Donald Trump’s newly announced tariffs. According to a statement sent to The Verge by Eddie Garcia on behalf of Nintendo, it says preorders will no longer begin on April 9th: Pre-orders for Nintendo Switch 2 in the U.S. will not start April […]
Philips Hue bulbs and lighting kits are deeply discounted today only
I’m always on the lookout for deals on Philips Hue gear, in part because that stuff’s expensive and I’m not keen on paying full price. Still, it’s worth the money to get the lighting exactly how I want it in each room — down to the precise color temperature that fits the mood or time […]
Why I’ve covered Microsoft for 25 years
I’ve always been fascinated by Microsoft, and it’s led me on a somewhat surreal path to covering the company for most of my life. It all started in my teenage years, when my curiosity over the inner workings of Windows led to brief moments of fame and lots of moments of trouble with Microsoft’s lawyers. […]
Here’s the original source code for Microsoft’s very first product
Bill Gates celebrated Microsoft’s 50th Anniversary by sharing the source code that created the company’s foundation. The 157-page PDF available to download on Gates’ blog contains the origins of Altair Basic — a programming language interpreter for the MITS Altair 8800 microcomputer — and “remains the coolest code I’ve ever written to this day,” according […]
NSA director fired after Trump’s meeting with right-wing influencer Laura Loomer
General Timothy Haugh, the director of the National Security Agency and US Cyber Command, was fired on Thursday, according to a report from The Washington Post. His removal reportedly occurred just one day after right-wing activist Laura Loomer pushed for his firing during a meeting with President Donald Trump. Wendy Noble, the Deputy Director and […]
How Microsoft made it through 50 years
In 2005, Microsoft’s leaders were starting to get worried. Windows and Office were doing well, but the company’s lead software architect, Ray Ozzie, warned them that an emerging trend threatened Microsoft’s very existence. “A new business model has emerged in the form of advertising-supported services and software,” warned Ozzie in his famous memo. “This model […]
Microsoft is now 50 years old
Fifty years ago today, Micro-Soft was founded by friends Bill Gates and Paul Allen. As the name implies, Microsoft was originally focused on microprocessors and software, and Gates and Allen created the company to develop software for the Altair 8800, an early personal computer. Founded on April 4th, 1975, Microsoft went on to strike a […]
Microsoft turns 50
Microsoft was originally founded on April 4th, 1975, and the tech giant is now celebrating its 50-year anniversary. Microsoft started with a focus on personal computers, building the very software that helped it achieve an early goal of a PC on every desk and in every home. The success of Windows and Office has allowed […]
How tariffs will change your gadgets
First things first, some exciting news: The Vergecast has been nominated for a Webby Award! This one means a lot to us, especially because it’s an award you get to vote on. We’d be so grateful if you’d go vote for us once, or 40 times, or however many times the site will allow. (Also, […]
Honda is sending its hydrogen tech to space
Honda is looking to the stars for its next hydrogen breakthrough. The automaker is teaming up with space tech companies Sierra Space and Tec-Masters to test its high-differential pressure water electrolysis system on the International Space Station. The test is part of Honda’s vision to support life on the Moon and elsewhere in space using […]
We asked camera companies why their RAW formats are all different and confusing
When you set up a new camera, or even go to take a picture on some smartphones, you’re presented with a key choice: JPG or RAW? JPGs are ready to post just about anywhere, while RAWs yield an unfinished file filled with extra data that allows for much richer post-processing. That option for a RAW […]
China retaliates with tariff that matches Trump’s
China has responded to Donald Trump’s new trade tariffs with its own charges on US imports. After Trump announced the imposition of an additional 34 percent charge on Chinese imports into the US, China has announced a levy at the same rate for US goods shipped to China. In a statement announcing the new tariff, […]
Superman’s latest trailer introduces his team of robot assistants
Though Superman is clearly going to get the living daylights beat out of him at some point in James Gunn’s upcoming DC Studios feature, the movie’s latest trailer puts a spotlight on how the Man of Steel gets put back together again. During its presentation at this year’s CinemaCon, Warner Bros. shared an extended sneak […]
Steve Jackson Games says tariffs are a ‘seismic shift’ for board games
The CEO of Steve Jackson Games, which makes board games and card games, says that the 54 percent tariff on goods imported from China that will go into effect on April 5th is a “seismic shift” for the board game industry and that “prices are going up.” “At Steve Jackson Games, we are actively assessing […]
Trump’s tariffs mean you’ll pay more for all gadgets
If you were wondering how President Trump’s tariffs may impact gadgets like smartphones, laptops, and smartwatches, there’s some bad, and perhaps slightly less-bad news. Unless something changes, Trump’s sweeping tariffs will lead to increased prices for consumers. But it will likely take some time before that actually happens. Modern gadgets generally aren’t made or assembled […]
Google’s regular Pixel 10 will reportedly get worse (but more) cameras
Google’s upcoming base Pixel 10 might come with primary and ultrawide cameras that match the hardware recently introduced in the budget Pixel 9A, which aren’t as good as the cameras on the Pixel 9, Android Authority reports. However, the new phone may get a telephoto camera, which the Pixel 9 and other base Pixels haven’t […]
PSA pauses card grading submissions from outside the US
The card grading service PSA will no longer take direct submissions from outside the US in response to the Trump administration’s new far-reaching tariffs. In an update on Wednesday, PSA says it’s “reluctantly taking these measures to protect our international customers from significant tariff expenses.” As noted by PSA, the tariffs are “against the value […]
Trump’s tariffs put the iPhone in a tough spot
The US smartphone market is weird. Most of us buy our phones through some combination of installment plans, trade-in offers, and carrier deals, so answering the question “How much does this phone cost?†can sometimes require a little galaxy-brain math. President Trump’s 34 percent tariff increase on Chinese goods is set to take effect on […]
TikTok is shutting down its Instagram-like Notes app
TikTok is shutting down Notes, its photos-sharing app that rivaled Instagram. In a notification to users, the TikTok Notes team says the app will stop working starting May 8th, and “all related features will no longer be available.” TikTok first rolled out Notes in April of last year, which lets users share photos alongside a […]
Windows 11 tests taskbar icons that scale up and down like on a Mac
Microsoft is testing out resizable taskbar icons in Windows 11 that can shrink as you open more apps or stay at a smaller size for good. The new options are included in the latest Insider Preview Beta. If you’re on the beta, under Taskbar settings > Taskbar behaviors, you can now select options under Show […]
How the Nintendo Switch 2 stacks up to the Steam Deck
The biggest threat to the Steam Deck in 2025 won’t be the arrival of other Windows-based handheld gaming PCs. Instead, it’ll likely be the Nintendo Switch 2, which arrives on June 5 for $449.99 — smack dab between the cost of the $399 Steam Deck LCD and the $549 Steam Deck OLED. Ironically, the Steam […]
The Kindle’s new Recaps feature will catch you up on a book series
Amazon is comparing a new feature for the Kindle to the “Previously on…” segments that TV shows frequently use. But the Kindle’s Recaps feature is instead focused on book series and provides a “quick refresher on storylines and character arcs” before readers start the next book, Amazon says. The short Recaps, which do include spoilers, […]
Amazon can now buy products from other websites for you
Amazon is testing a new “Buy for Me” button that will let you purchase products from third-party websites without leaving the e-commerce giant’s mobile app. The feature is powered by agentic AI, allowing the company to purchase items on your behalf. Last month, Amazon rolled out a test that directs you to other brands’ websites […]
Sonos says it’s ‘assessing potential implications’ of Trump tariffs for customers
Even with all the self-induced turmoil that Sonos has been through over the last year, if you’ve been eyeing any of the company’s products, it might be wise to buy sooner than later. In an email, spokesperson Erin Pategas tells me that Sonos is “closely monitoring developments related to the proposed tariffs and actively assessing […]
Genki has a magnetic battery for the Switch 2 and a better Joy-Con charging dock
With every new portable console comes a mountain of new third-party accessories. We’ve already seen Hori’s Piranha Plant alternative to the Switch 2’s USB-C camera, but Genki has announced a larger lineup of accessories designed to help protect the portable console while you’re playing away from home, plus some clever ways to keep it and […]
Nintendo’s Switch 2 era comes at a price
Just about everything with the Nintendo Switch 2 is more expensive than the original Switch. It’s perhaps not unexpected that the console itself costs more money than the first Switch. That device launched more than eight years ago, after all. But following yesterday’s big Switch 2 Direct, there has been a lot of sticker shock […]
Hyundai’s Ioniq 6 redesign is a little sportier and a bit weirder
Hyundai’s Ioniq 6 electric sedan already had a polarizing “streamliner” design that only owners seem to love. Now the automaker has massaged the front a bit more for a new look for 2026. The latest Ioniq 6 has squintier daytime running lights and headlights that are lower down into the bumper, something that we’re seeing […]
OpenAI and Anthropic are fighting over college students with free AI
Two leading AI labs, OpenAI and Anthropic, just announced major initiatives in higher education. It’s the constant one-upping we’ve all become familiar with: this week, Anthropic dropped their announcement at 8 AM Wednesday, while OpenAI followed with nearly identical news at 8 AM Thursday. For Anthropic, this week’s announcement was its first major academic push. […]
Trump’s tariff plan includes a potential death blow to cheap Chinese e-commerce
With President Donald Trump’s new tariff plan, your online shopping packages coming directly from China are about to get much more expensive. In February, the Trump administration moved to get rid of a little-known rule that allows US consumers to avoid tariffs on low-value packages. The de minimis exemption meant that packages valued under $800 […]
Rural fiber internet expansion is at risk as Trump administration holds funds
Fiber internet providers are worried they won’t see the funds promised under a Biden-era initiative that would bring reliable internet service to rural areas. Louisiana fiber internet provider Cajun Broadband was granted $33 million as part of the plan, but the “money isn’t flowing” and concerns are growing over whether the new administration will prioritize […]
Nvidia confirms the Nintendo Switch 2 has DLSS and real-time ray tracing
Nintendo’s Switch 2 tech specs yesterday vaguely said that the console is powered by a “custom processor made by Nvidia,” but in a new blog post, Nvidia has shared a little more detail about how it’s powering the device. Nvidia says that its chip enables DLSS support on the Nintendo Switch 2, allowing the console […]
M3gan 2.0 gives the doll some upgrades in new trailer
Though Blumhouse’s first M3gan feature was a near-perfect blend of techno-horror and ridiculous comedy, the sequel looks like it’s going to blow its predecessor out of the water. Set a couple of years after the first film, M3gan 2.0 once again centers roboticist Gemma (Allison Williams) and her niece Cady (Violet McGraw) — two of […]
Trump’s tariffs are ‘a debacle of epic proportions’ for the auto industry
“Liberation Day†has arrived. Get ready to be liberated from affordable vehicle prices. As promised, President Donald Trump’s 25 percent tariffs for imported vehicles went into effect Thursday, sending the auto industry into full panic mode. Some analysts are predicting a $5,000 to $10,000 price hike on new cars out of the gate, while others […]
Democrats demand probe into DOGE’s alleged mishandling of personal data
Democrats are calling on Treasury Department and General Services Administration watchdogs to investigate a Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) employee’s access to sensitive data. In a letter to Deputy Inspectors General Loren Sciurba and Robert Erickson, Reps. Lori Trahan (D-MA), Suzan DelBene (D-WA), and Shontel Brown (D-OH) say the probe should address DOGE staffer Marko […]
This ’90s-esque social media site only works for three hours a day
For the past few weeks, every day at 7:38 PM ET, I get an email titled “seven39 is open again.†From 7:39PM, I have exactly three hours to check out an experimental new social media site before it completely shuts down. It’s not an empty threat, either. If you visit seven39.com outside of that three-hour […]
YouTube is updating Shorts with TikTok-like editing features
YouTube is adding new features to Shorts that aim to make it easier for creators to edit short-form videos. There are five new tools “coming this spring” according to YouTube’s announcement, including a revamped video editor that provides similar editing features to those already found on competing platforms like TikTok and Reels. The new video […]
Donkey Kong Bananza was best in show at the Switch 2 hands-on
One of the games I had on my personal Nintendo Switch 2 bingo card was a new 3D Mario. We didn’t get one at the Switch 2 hands-on, and at first I thought it was odd that Nintendo would be launching their next big thing without a dedicated title for their number one guy. But […]
What AI anime memes tell us about the future of art and humanity
On today’s episode of Decoder, we’re talking about AI, art, and the controversial collision between the two — a debate that, to be honest, is an absolute mess. If you’ve been on the internet this past week, you undoubtedly know that controversy was just kicked up a notch by the Studio Ghibli memes — pictures […]
Twelve South’s 3-in-1 HiRise 3 Deluxe charging stand is cheaper than ever
If you’re trying to declutter your desk space, a versatile charger that won’t eat up a lot of space like the Twelve South HiRise 3 Deluxe could be a good investment. That’s especially true today now that the $149.99 charging stand is down to a new all-time low price of $99.99 ($50 off) at Amazon, […]
Trump’s new tariff math looks a lot like ChatGPT’s
When President Donald Trump began yesterday’s announcement of the White House’s latest trade policy brandishing a novelty-sized cardboard sign labeled “Reciprocal Tariffs,†the immediate and nearly unanimous response was bafflement. Trump slapped a 10 percent baseline tariff on all imports into the US, including from uninhabited islands, plus absurdly high rates on specific countries, supposedly […]
Indie studio Heart Machine is experimenting with Patreon because ‘money is tough to come by’
Heart Machine, the studio behind games like Hyper Light Drifter, Solar Ash, and the upcoming platformer Possessor(s), launched a Patreon last December. Like many other developers, it has dealt with its share of struggles, including layoffs late last year. With the many challenges in the gaming industry right now, the studio is experimenting with using […]
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds sets phasers to kitsch in new season 3 trailer
Though the last season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds ended on a perilous note, when the Paramount Plus series returns, it’s going to lean into the whimsical energy that made the original ‘60s show feel fun. Ahead of Strange New Worlds’ season three premiere, Paramount Plus has dropped a new trailer teasing how the […]
Apple has its biggest stock drop in five years because of Trump’s tariffs
Shares of Apple, Amazon, and other tech stocks are getting walloped on Thursday as the markets digest the impact of President Donald Trump’s new round of tariffs announced on Wednesday evening. Shares of Apple were down about 9 percent on Thursday morning, which would mark the biggest drop in about five years if it holds […]
Nikon upgraded its entry-level full-frame camera with better autofocus and faster shooting
Five years after Nikon released its entry-level and more affordable alternative to its original Z7 and Z6 full-frame cameras, the company is finally updating its Z5 with improved autofocus and image stabilization, and a much brighter electronic viewfinder. Nikon says the new Z5 II is also its first camera that can capture video in its […]
Microsoft’s miniature Windows 365 Link PC is available to buy now
Microsoft’s business-oriented “Link” mini-desktop PC, which connects directly to the company’s Windows 365 cloud service, is now available to buy for $349.99 in the US and in several other countries. Windows 365 Link, which was announced last November, is a device that is more easily manageable by IT departments than a typical computer while also […]
The Nintendo GameCube still rules
One of the most exciting parts of Nintendo’s new console is, well, an old console. GameCube games are coming to the Switch 2 for Nintendo Online subscribers, and it’s starting off with a pretty killer trio of releases: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (which somehow was never ported to the Switch), Soulcalibur II […]
Nintendo Switch 2 hands-on: it’s all in the games
The value proposition of the Nintendo Switch 2 may seem pretty clear, but it’s much more obvious when you use one. Nintendo’s new console is the Switch but slightly bigger and slightly better, and that has been apparent since the device was first revealed in January in a mostly detail-free presentation. Now, we finally have […]
Mario Kart World is pure chaos
A new Mario Kart is usually built around some kind of notable feature. Double Dash added co-op play, while the DS iteration let you play other people online. With Mario Kart 8, it was gravity-defying tracks and, later, the idea of expanding the game through DLC courses. With Mario Kart World, perhaps the biggest launch […]
I’m not sold on the Switch 2’s mouse-like controls
Perhaps the most noticeable difference between the original Nintendo Switch and the Switch 2 – besides the more expensive price – is the new Joy-Con controller and its come-out-of-nowhere mouse functionality. I got the chance to demo them at a hands-on event and damn are my shoulders and wrists sore. There were several games at […]
Verizon now offers a three-year price lock — but there’s a catch
Verizon is announcing a new price lock policy today, and the timing is probably no coincidence. The company is extending a three-year price guarantee on certain plans, both for new and existing customers. The announcement comes a day after President Trump unveiled sweeping tariffs, and Verizon says it’s hoping to give customers more “predictability” in […]
Universities are giving up the fight for free speech — students aren’t
As the US government launches investigations and threatens to pull federal funding, some elite universities have decided to take the path of least resistance. Colleges across the country have responded to the Trump administration’s attacks on diversity programs and student protesters by complying with these “anti-woke†witch hunts. In recent weeks, university administrators at Columbia […]
AV1 is supposed to make streaming better, so why isn’t everyone using it?
When you jump into a video on YouTube or Netflix, a lot happens very quickly behind the scenes. Video data is rapidly downloaded to your device, which then has to unpack and normalize that information into a smooth, hiccup-free stream. The process of encoding and decoding video data has changed greatly over the years, with […]
Google’s NotebookLM can now find its own sources
Google has added a new feature to NotebookLM that lets the AI note-taking tool find its own web sources to summarize and narrate. Instead of manually uploading sources like documents or YouTube links, users can now tap the “Discover” button and simply describe the topic they want to get a better understanding of, with the […]
Amazon is ready to launch its Starlink competitor
The first batch of 27 Project Kuiper space internet satellites are scheduled to launch next week. Amazon has secured 80 such launch missions that will each deliver dozens of satellites into low earth orbit (LEO) to create a constellation capable of competing with Elon Musk’s Starlink juggernaut. Amazon says it expects to begin offering high-speed, […]
What will the Switch 2 cost after the Trump tariffs?
Nintendo revealed its Switch 2 in full yesterday, just hours before Trump took to the White House Rose Garden for his own launch: his latest, and largest, round of tariffs yet. Unfortunately for Nintendo, the tariffs hit the countries where it builds its consoles, with new rates of up to 49 percent that it may […]
Can I interest you in an app that tracks your driving behavior?
Smartphone apps that track our driving behavior may be the key to safer road conditions. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety just published a study that found that using smartphone apps to monitor driver behavior, and then providing summaries of that behavior via text message or a data dashboard, leads to safer driving. Researchers borrowed […]
The Nintendo GameCube is about to get its due
Before this morning, I knew I was going to buy the Nintendo Switch 2 but I didn’t know when. After watching Nintendo’s Switch 2 Direct today, in which a purple block traced the GameCube’s stylized “G” logo, followed by high-res footage from The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and F-Zero GX and an announcement […]
How the Nintendo Switch 2 compares to prior models on paper
The Switch 2 is here — well, almost. Nintendo took the wraps off its new console during its latest Direct event, providing us with a closer look at the $449.99 console ahead of its release on June 5th. In many ways, the sequel is a generational leap from the original console / handheld hybrid that […]
The NaNoWriMo organization is shutting down
NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month)is shutting down after more than 20 years of hosting its annual challenge for writers. In a video and an email sent to community members, the nonprofit organization explains that it can no longer continue “after years of financial struggles.” Before officially becoming a nonprofit in 2006, NaNoWriMo started out with […]
With the Switch 2, it seems like Nintendo is kind of figuring out online
It’s perhaps no surprise that Nintendo opened its Switch 2 Direct with Mario Kart World, a Switch 2-exclusive launch title that’s a sequel to the original Switch’s most popular game. But it was more of a surprise that the Direct’s second segment, instead of focusing on the console’s specs, was all about Nintendo’s Discord-like GameChat […]
Donald Trump announces tariffs that could raise the price of almost everything you buy
At an event in the Rose Garden on Wednesday, Donald Trump unveiled a new set of planned tariffs that are being described as “short-sighted,” and having “no basis in logic,” and being compared to Great Depression-era policies. Holding a giant poster board blowing in the wind, Trump announced staggering new taxes on products coming into […]
Thunderbird email is going pro to better compete with Gmail
Thunderbird’s developers are planning to compete with Gmail and other email providers by offering paid “pro” tier services, including @thundermail.com email addresses and new services such as an appointment scheduler, file sharing tools, and some “Thunderbird Assist” AI features. You can join a beta waitlist by going to thundermail.com, which is the domain for the […]
Apple stumbles with latest AirPods Max firmware
Last week, Apple announced that lossless audio and ultra low latency would be coming to the AirPods Max with USB-C. It was a pleasant surprise for owners of Apple’s over-ear headphones, which have fallen behind the AirPods Pro in recent years when it comes to offering new features. Unfortunately, the company seems to have hit […]
WordPress.com owner Automattic is laying off 16 percent of workers
Automattic, the parent company of WordPress.com, is laying off about 16 percent of its workers. In a memo posted to the company’s website, CEO Matt Mullenweg says he’s making the change to “protect Automattic’s long-term future.” Before the layoffs, Automattic’s website listed the company as having 1,777 employees. The company has since decreased its employee […]
The Nintendo Switch smartphone app is getting some excellent new features
While sharing screenshots and videos from the original Nintendo Switch has always been an excessively complicated process, it’s going to be much easier for the Switch 2. During today’s Direct presentation, Nintendo a lot of time talking about the Switch 2’s new built-in GameChat functionality that will give players a way to share their screens […]
‘TikTok America,’ Amazon, and other rumors about who might buy TikTok
After President Donald Trump pushed back a deadline for banning TikTok in January, the 75-day delay will run out on April 5th, but there’s still no word on a deal that could satisfy the law by shifting control of TikTok away from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance. The Information reports that later today, Trump plans […]
Some Nintendo Switch 2 games will be more expensive
At least two of Nintendo’s Switch 2 games are going to be more expensive than most games on the first Switch. Many Switch games cost $59.99, but Nintendo revealed today the Switch 2’s Mario Kart World, a June 5th launch title, will cost $79.99, while Donkey Kong Bananza, releasing a little over a month later, […]
Sonos permanently drops the price of its Era 100 speaker and Ray soundbar
Sonos is lowering the price of two products in an effort to boost hardware sales amid a continued slump. The company’s Era 100 smart speaker and entry-level Ray soundbar now both cost $199. That’s a $50 drop for the Era 100, which launched at $249. And it’s an even more substantial $80 cut for the […]
Verge staffers react to the Nintendo Switch 2
Nintendo has finally aired its big Switch 2 Direct, and now we know a whole lot about its next console. The Verge staff has a lot of feelings about the device, which will launch on June 5th, and we’ve collected our first impressions below. A soulless design Look, I love black. My entire wardrobe is […]
FTC chair says he’d ‘obey lawful orders’ if Trump asked to drop an antitrust case like Meta’s
Federal Trade Commission Chair Andrew Ferguson has refused to commit to resisting President Donald Trump if he ordered the agency to drop its antitrust suit against Meta, saying he would “obey lawful orders” and calling the scenario “a hypothetical.” His comments, made at a tech policy event in Washington, DC, followed a session where Ferguson […]
Here’s everything Nintendo has revealed about the Switch 2’s Joy-Cons
In its April 2nd Direct event, Nintendo revealed a lot of the Switch 2 details we’ve been waiting for, including the console’s price ($449.99 in the US), its June 5th release date, and a slew of new games coming to it, like Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza. The video and details the company […]
Here’s the Switch 2’s homescreen
Nintendo didn’t spend much time on the Switch 2’s UI during today’s big Direct presentation, but the company has just given us a pretty good look at the new console’s homescreen. At the bottom of Nintendo’s webpage detailing how certain games are getting updated Switch 2 Editions, there is a small image of the Switch […]
Google’s NotebookLM leader is taking over as head of the Gemini app
Sissie Hsaio, the Google exec who oversaw the launch of the company’s AI chatbot, is stepping down as head of the Gemini app, according to a report from Semafor. A memo seen by the outlet reveals that Google Labs vice president Josh Woodward will take her place. In the memo, Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis […]
Every Nintendo Switch 2 game announced in the Switch 2 Direct
During today’s big Nintendo Switch 2 Direct, Nintendo showed off a whole bunch of games coming to the system. Many will launch on June 5th alongside Switch 2, including Mario Kart World, enhanced editions of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, and new chapters in Toby Fox’s Deltarune. I think it’s a […]
Best printer 2025: just buy a Brother laser printer, the winner is clear, middle finger in the air
I have been recommending people buy whatever Brother laser printer is on sale for three years now, and no one has ever gotten mad at me about it. My own Brother laser printer, whose model number I no longer remember and do not care about, has been operating flawlessly for nearly 10 years now. We […]
Nintendo says the eShop will run more smoothly on the Switch 2
If you’ve dreaded entering the eShop for most of the original Switch’s life because of how slow it is, well, Nintendo knows and won’t make that mistake again. The Switch 2 will have a faster-performing eShop channel “even when displaying a large number of games,” as stated by Nintendo’s senior director for entertainment planning and […]
Here’s how you can preorder the Nintendo Switch 2 (or try to)
After years of rumors, Nintendo has finally announced a release date for the Nintendo Switch 2. The long-awaited follow-up to the Switch will be available on June 5th for $449.99. Although the console won’t ship until later this year, the Switch 2 will be available for preorder in the US from select retailers starting on […]
Sony’s new Bravia lineup includes its ‘King of TV’ successor
Sony has a replacement for its current flagship QD-OLED TV, the extremely well-received A95L. That’s the model that was crowned “King of TV” at last year’s Value Electronics TV Shootout, which Verge editor-in-chief Nilay Patel served on the judging panel for. The new model is called the Bravia 8 II. Sony claims that it has […]
Nintendo’s Switch 2 preorder process has strict requirements to thwart scalpers
If you want to preorder a Switch directly from Nintendo, you’ll need to make sure you have at least 50 hours of gameplay on the original Switch. Nintendo revealed the anti-scalper mechanism on its preorder registration page, where it says it will prioritize registrants who meet the gameplay requirements and have purchased at least a […]
Nintendo goes in-depth on Switch 2 backward compatibility
At numerous points during today’s Nintendo Switch 2 event stream, fine print at the bottom of the screen directed viewers to Nintendo’s website for the full details on which original Switch titles will be supported by the new console. As it turns out, the company has put together a surprisingly detailed resource page that goes […]
FromSoftware is making a multiplayer Switch 2 exclusive called The Duskbloods
The Duskbloods, a new game by FromSoftware, is coming exclusively to the Nintendo Switch 2. The teaser trailer debuted during Nintendo’s Switch 2 Direct video presentation, where it was revealed that it’s set to launch in 2026 with famed Elden Ring and Dark Souls director Hidetaka Miyazaki at the helm. No other details were provided. […]
Kirby Air Riders is a Switch 2 racing game from Masahiro Sakurai
Switch 2 is getting an unexpected sequel to GameCube racing game Kirby Air Ride, with Masahiro Sakurai — the original Air Ride’s director, not to mention the creator of both Kirby and Super Smash Bros. — returning to lead development. Air Ride, launched in 2003, is a four-player racer in which players control different-colored versions […]
Donkey Kong Bananza is coming to the Switch 2 in July
Nintendo is releasing a new 3D Donkey Kong game that will be an exclusive for the Nintendo Switch 2. The game, Donkey Kong Bananza, will release on July 17th, which is a little more than a month after the June 5th launch of the Switch 2. Bananza is a 3D platformer that gives DK a […]
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment hits the Switch 2 this winter
It wouldn’t be a new Nintendo console without a big Zelda release, and the franchise’s next entry is sending the princess to war. During today’s Switch 2 Direct, Nintendo announced the forthcoming arrival of Age of Imprisonment, a new installment of Koei Tecmo’s Zelda-inspired Hyrule Warriors series. Like Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, Age of […]
Netflix will offer more languages for subtitles and dubbing when watching on a TV
If you’re watching Netflix shows and movies on a TV, the streaming service will now offer many more language options for subtitles and dubbing. Starting today, you’ll be able to “pick from the full list of available languages for any title when watching Netflix on your TV,” Netflix said in a blog post. When watching […]
Hollow Knight: Silksong is launching in 2025
Hollow Knight: Silksong, the long-awaited sequel to Hollow Knight, has a new release year window: 2025, as revealed in a very brief clip during today’s Nintendo Switch 2 Direct. Silksong was first announced for Windows, Mac, Linux, and the Nintendo Switch in 2019. It was originally intended to be DLC for Hollow Knight, but according […]
GameCube games are coming to Nintendo Switch Online
Bundled in the fire hose of news regarding the Switch 2 Direct is one update sure to please Nintendo Switch Online subscribers: GameCube games are finally arriving on the service. A number of GameCube games will launch on the subscription service, including The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, Soul Calibur 2, F-Zero GX. Nintendo […]
The Switch 2’s Pro Controller adds customizable rear buttons
Nintendo has taken the wraps off a Pro Controller to go along with the newly detailed Switch 2. It’s been upgraded with two new ‘GL’ and ‘GR’ buttons on the rear grips which can be used to remap other controls, a ‘C’ button to enable voice and video chats, and a 3.5mm audio jack along […]
Nintendo is upgrading the Switch’s best Zelda games with Switch 2 Editions
During its Switch 2 event today, Nintendo confirmed that both The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom will offered as enhanced “Switch 2 Edition” titles. The critically acclaimed games will feature “enhanced resolution and frame rates” and HDR support. Nintendo didn’t go into specifics on […]
The Nintendo Switch 2 has a camera accessory for video chats
Nintendo is launching a special camera accessory for the Switch 2 that will let you host video chats with your Switch friends. Simply called the Nintendo Switch 2 Camera, it’s a camera on a stand, designed to sit next to your TV while you play. You can use the new camera with GameChat, Nintendo’s new […]
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is getting a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
Nintendo announced that Metroid Prime 4: Beyond will have a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition that offers an additional control option and quality / performance graphics modes. In the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of Beyond, you’ll be able to play the game using the Joy-Con controller’s mouse functionality. I’m curious to try that out — seems […]
Nintendo’s Switch 2 C button is a Discord-like GameChat feature
Now that Nintendo has finally given us the rundown on the Switch 2, we can finally answer one of the biggest questions we had about the new console: “what’s the deal with that ‘C’ button?” The button, present on the right Joy-Con directly below the home button, is square and marked with a “C.” The […]
Segway’s robot mower for massive lawns hits the US
Segway’s Navimow X3 series is now available to buy in the US, adding to the limited number of robot lawnmowers capable of tackling larger yards. Joining the more affordable Navimow i series that launched in March 2024, the Navimow X3 has several models, ranging from the $2,299 X315 which can cover 0.4 acres, to the […]
Mario Kart World launches exclusively with the Nintendo Switch 2
We knew a Mario Kart game was coming to the Switch 2, and now Nintendo has finally shared some real details in its latest Nintendo Direct. It’s called Mario Kart World, and it will be a day-one Switch 2 exclusive. It features an open-world mode, in-game atmospheric effects that depend on “the time of day […]
The Nintendo Switch 2 arrives on June 5th
After a reveal that was light on details, Nintendo has finally announced key information about the Switch 2: most notably, when it will launch. The Switch 2 will be available on June 5th, but we’re still waiting to hear the pricing for this new console. Nintendo has also revealed more hardware details about the Switch […]
Nintendo Switch 2 specs: 1080p 120Hz display, 4K dock, mouse mode, and more
Nintendo has finally shared many of the key specs about the Nintendo Switch 2 as part of its Switch 2-focused Direct. The system launches on June 5th. The device has a 7.9-inch screen, but it’s still 13.99mm thick, like the first Switch. The LCD screen has a 1080p resolution, and supports HDR and up to […]
Tesla’s sales plummet 13 percent as Musk backlash grows
Amid growing fallout over Elon Musk’s involvement in the Trump administration, Tesla’s sales fell a staggering 13 percent in the first quarter of 2025 year over year. The company said it produced a total of 362,615 vehicles in the first three months of the year, including 345,454 Model 3 and Model Y vehicles and 17,161 […]
Adobe launches Premiere Pro’s generative AI video extender
Adobe is updating Premiere Pro with AI-powered features that aim to provide creatives with faster and better video editing results. Version 25.2 of Premiere Pro is launching today, bringing tools for locating, translating, and extending video footage out of beta and into general availability for every user. The most notable is Generative Extend, which Adobe […]
Everything revealed during the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct
It’s time! After an agonizing three-month wait, Nintendo will finally reveal more details on the Switch 2 during its Direct on April 2nd at 9AM ET. While Nintendo told us very little in the official reveal of the console in January, the Switch 2 isn’t a complete mystery. We do know about its backward compatibility […]
Samsung’s Tab S10 FE tablets arrive with a $50 price hike
Samsung has launched the Tab S10 FE and Tab S10 FE Plus, the latest in its midrange Android tablet line, but they cost $50 more than their predecessors. For the first time neither tablet has a direct equivalent in the standard Tab S10 series. The FE is the smallest of the company’s current tablet offerings, […]
Micro USB is the bane of my existence
Last year, my best friend bought me an HP Sprocket portable photo printer. This, she said, would take my journaling game to the next level. After a short demo and dozens of journaling TikToks, I was stoked. And then I unboxed the damn thing. Another freaking Micro USB port. And right after I’d confidently gotten […]
Valve fixes Steam Deck update that caused boot loops
Valve has issued a corrective update to the Steam client for its Steam Deck gaming handhelds, after an earlier version left some devices stuck in boot loops and broke performance settings. The initial update reached the Steam Deck’s stable channel despite warnings from beta testers about the problems. The problems were caused by a Steam […]
Roblox will let parents block people on their child’s friends list
Roblox is introducing new parental controls that give parents more tools to control the people their children talk to and the experiences they can access, according to a blog post from chief safety officer Matt Kaufman. The updates build on changes introduced last year, which included a special type of account parents and caregivers can […]
Motorola’s first Edge 60 phone feels like canvas
Motorola announced the first phone in its midrange Edge 60 series, which ships with a novel twist: a faux-canvas finish. The Edge 60 Fusion looks the part otherwise, with its molded camera module and surprisingly slim body, but the basic specs match the low price tag — just £299.99 (around $390) in the UK. The […]
Visible’s new plan puts Verizon’s to shame
Visible, the budget wireless brand owned by Verizon, is offering a new premium plan that looks like a heck of a deal compared to its parent company’s offerings. The new Visible Plus Pro plan (I didn’t say the name was good) costs $45 per month. For that price you get unlimited 5G Ultrawideband (UW) data, […]
Trump advisor reportedly used personal Gmail for ‘sensitive’ military discussions
Last week, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz inadvertently invited a journalist to a Signal chat discussing a planned military strike. Today, a new Washington Post report says that he has also discussed “sensitive military positions and powerful weapons systems relating to an ongoing conflict,” using his personal Gmail account. Waltz, along with other members of […]
Here’s more of what you’ll see through Meta’s $1,000 smart glasses
Meta is reportedly preparing a higher-end version of its Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses with a built-in screen to launch as early as by the end of the year, Bloomberg reports. The new glasses, codenamed Hypernova, can run apps and display photos, all controlled using hand gestures and capacitive touch on the sides of the frame. […]
Google is fixing outdated Pixel weather forecasts
Some Google Pixel users have found that their At a Glance widget has been showing outdated weather forecasts, as reported by Android Police. But the company says in a statement to The Verge that it’s addressing the issue. According to one user on Reddit who has been dealing with the problem, “the current temperature is […]
Roblox players are going to start getting paid to watch ads
Roblox is launching a new type of ad that, if watched, will give players things like in-game currency and power-ups, according to an announcement from the company. The full-screen video ads, called “Rewarded Video ads,” can be up to 30 seconds long. The ads will be available to buy programmatically “via Google’s advertising solutions and […]
T-Mobile closes Lumos deal after dropping DEI
T-Mobile has officially closed its joint venture deal with the fiber provider Lumos, after taking down its webpage dedicated to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the process, as reported by Fierce Network. The now-blank page outlined T-Mobile’s “culture of fairness, respect, and inclusion” and was online until at least March 26th, the Internet Archive […]
Thousands of federal health workers are losing their jobs in the US
Drastic “reductions in force” are upending agencies within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Thousands of people who work at the CDC were notified by email today that they were subject to the Trump administration’s efforts to […]
All of the updates about OpenAI
What was once a humble research lab has transformed into one of the biggest consumer technology companies of all time. OpenAI, founded in 2015 to develop artificial general intelligence (AGI) — AI systems with human-level intelligence — has transformed dramatically since launching ChatGPT, which was once considered to be “the fastest-growing consumer application in history.” […]
Here are some must-have accessories for your Xbox Series X / S
The Xbox Series X and Series S are excellent machines directly out of the box, but there’s always room for improvement. Add-on accessories like the Elite Series 2 Controller and the Xbox Wireless Headset can help you get the most out of your new gaming console, while others, like Seagate and Western Digital’s expansion cards, […]
Keanu Reeves is coming back for John Wick 5
Though John Wick definitely seemed dead by the end of his last high stakes adventure, that no longer appears to be the case. During its presentation at this year’s CinemaCon, Lionsgate announced that it has greenlit production on yet another John Wick feature that will see Keanu Reeves return to reprise his role as the […]
NFL swaps first-down chains for Sony’s 8K cameras
Starting with this year’s football season, the NFL will use Sony’s Hawk-Eye cameras to measure the line to gain — a process the chain crew has done manually for decades. The 8K cameras will use virtual measurement technology to quickly and accurately determine whether the ball traveled 10 yards for a first down. The Hawk-Eye […]
Hyundai’s Insteroid is an EV one-off for gamers
Hyundai has revealed a gaming-inspired “Insteroid” concept EV in Seoul that takes its tiny all-electric Inster and gives it an over-the-top street racing makeover. The automaker’s cutesy compact SUV was handed off to Hyundai’s European design team with the goal of merging “gaming influences with extensive customization,” according to a press release. The Insteroid gives […]
Runway says its latest AI video model can actually generate consistent scenes and people
AI startup Runway says its latest AI video model can generate consistent scenes and people across multiple shots, according to an announcement. AI-generated videos can struggle with maintaining consistent storytelling, but Runway claims on X that the new model, Gen-4, should allow users more “continuity and control” while telling stories. Currently rolling out to paid […]
Hundreds of scientists accuse Donald Trump of censorship
More than 1,900 scientists and engineers have signed a letter saying they “see real danger in this moment” as the Trump administration slashes federal support for scientific research. “Wise investments by the US government have built up the nation’s research enterprise, making it the envy of the world,” says the open letter published on Monday. […]
ZeniMax union votes to authorize a strike
Members of ZeniMax Workers United, a union of over 300 quality assurance workers in Texas and Maryland, have voted to authorize a strike. The vote, which passed with over 94 percent in favor of authorization, does not mean workers have gone on strike like SAG-AFTRA members have in the ongoing video game voice actors strike. […]
The FAA hiding private jet details might not stop celebrity jet trackers
Yesterday, we wrote that a new Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) process would help private jet owners keep their registration details private upon request, and speculated that it would make things difficult for celebrity jet trackers. Jack Sweeney, known for his accounts tracking the flights of celebrities like Elon Musk and Taylor Swift, says he doesn’t […]
A shady, shuttered tech bootcamp may be sneaking back online
A year and a half ago, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) worked with state attorneys general to shut down Prehired, a shady tech sales bootcamp program that a court said deceptively saddled students with millions of dollars in loans. Now, as the federal watchdog is being dismantled by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency […]
Google’s Pixel 10 Pro Fold might be mostly a spec bump
You probably shouldn’t expect major changes to Google’s next Pixel foldable. Renders shared with Android Headlines by reliable leaker Onleaks show a Pixel 10 Pro Fold that looks very similar to its predecessor, potentially indicating that it could largely be just a spec bump. As shown in the renders, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold appears […]
The Sonos Arc is down to a new all-time low price
If you want to create a cinematic experience at home, then chances are that your TV’s built-in speakers just won’t cut it. Instead, it may be worth investing in a top-notch soundbar like the Sonos Arc, especially now that the Arc has dropped to an all-time low price of $599 ($300 off) at Amazon, Best […]
Searching for the perfect minimalist smartphone
Smartphones are great. They’re also… a lot. The idea of a more balanced device, one that gives you all of the most important and useful features of a smartphone but keeps you out of the infinite-doomscrolling loops, has been an enticing one for a long time. Nailing that balance, though, turns out to be almost […]
April Fools’ 2025: Dbrand’s new skins let you ‘touch grass’ without the hassle of going outside
Dbrand wants you to feel less guilty about having your face buried in a screen all day and not getting outside to ‘touch grass.’ The company’s latest collection of skins lets you wrap your gadgets in bright green artificial turf so you can touch grass whenever you want and no matter where you are. The […]
Substack says it’ll legally defend writers ‘targeted by the government’
Substack plans to protect foreign writers “residing lawfully” in the US who may be targeted by the government for what they write. The company is partnering with the nonprofit Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) to provide legal support to impacted writers — whether they publish on Substack or not — citing recent attacks […]
Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse swings into theaters in 2027
Though Sony’s initial plans to release Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse in 2024 didn’t quite work out, the film finally has a new premiere date that seems like it will stick. Last night at this year’s CinemaCon expo, Sony announced that it now intends for Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse to hit theaters a little over two […]
How to watch the Switch 2 Direct
It’s finally time for the biggest video game event of the last few years. In January, Nintendo officially unveiled the successor to the Switch, helpfully called the Switch 2. The short video showed off some of the console’s features, like magnetized Joy-Cons, and provided a brief glimpse at a new Mario Kart game. But it […]
April Fools’ Day 2025: the best and cringiest pranks
Welcome to the worst day on the internet! As Chaim Gartenberg pointed out years ago, brands and a holiday dedicated to hoaxes are rarely a winning combo. If you’re a company with any kind of social media presence in 2025, you really, truly only have four options on April Fools’ Day: So far, we’ve seen […]
Elon Musk’s $1 million handout winners are connected to Republican causes
On Sunday, a few thousand people in Green Bay, Wisconsin, gathered to hear Elon Musk speak — and give away two giant cardboard checks for $1 million. Attendance at the event was limited to people who had added their names to a petition against “activist judges,†created by Musk’s America PAC. He has promised money […]
Gmail is making it easier for businesses to send encrypted emails to anyone
Google is updating Gmail to allow enterprise users to send encrypted messages to any inbox in just a few clicks. Google says it’s developed a new encryption model that, unlike the current encryption feature on Gmail, doesn’t require senders or recipients to use custom software or exchange encryption certificates. The feature is rolling out in […]
How to set up Wi-Fi calling on Android and iPhones
How’s that 5G rollout going in your area? Even in 2025, there’s no guarantee you’re going to be able to get reliable cell service everywhere you go, especially if you happen to live somewhere that’s especially crowded or remote — or if you work in your company’s basement. That’s where Wi-Fi calling comes in, which […]
Spec-tacular week
So much of our online and technological lives rely on standards, the sets of rules designed to make sure our favorite gadgets and services work together. At their best, they make everything work seamlessly, and we never need to worry about what’s happening behind the scenes. But at their worst, they leave us perplexed about […]
Why the watt is the most important spec in battery-powered devices
Every time I see “mAh” on a consumer product, I cringe. Megahertz are starting to bruise, too. That’s because the most critical components of portable gadgets — batteries and processors — should really be measured in watts: it’s the one common spec that gives you a real idea of what your device can do. With watts, […]
How to calculate your home battery needs for the next blackout
Buying a giant battery for the next blackout or off-grid adventure can be daunting, especially when hundreds or even thousands of dollars are on the line. Get it wrong and you’ve either spent too much money for something you’ll never use or discover that you didn’t buy enough capacity to keep your most important devices […]
It’s the moment of truth for Zuckerberg’s Trump bet
Mark Zuckerberg — having spent months cozying up to President Donald Trump — will now be looking to reap the benefits as European tech regulators bear down on Meta. The EU is expected to impose fines against the social media giant any day now, having preliminarily ruled in July 2024 that Facebook and Instagram’s “pay […]
ChatGPT’s improved image generation is now available for free
ChatGPT’s latest image generator — which has gone viral for its ability to generate uncanny recreations of Studio Ghibli art — is now available for everyone, after OpenAI initially delayed the rollout beyond its paid tiers following heavy demand. CEO Sam Altman announced on X that the image generation update has “now rolled out to […]
Palworld and PUBG are getting dating sims
The developers of Palworld and PUBG: Battlegrounds have announced details of dating simulators set in the universes of their respective games. The Palworld dating sim, technically called Pal♡world! ~More Than Just Pals~, was actually announced ahead of April Fools’ Day last year. But yesterday, developer Pocketpair released a second trailer for the game and published […]
Finally, an e-bike that charges off USB-C
Ampler made one of the first modern e-bikes I ever tested, and now it’s selling the first commercial electric bikes — the Nova and Nova Pro — I’m aware of that can be charged over a USB-C port integrated right into the frame. Hell, that same jack will even charge your gadgets in a pinch, but not […]
OpenAI just raised another $40 billion round led by SoftBank
OpenAI has raised $40 billion in a new investment round led by SoftBank, vaulting the company to a $300 billion valuation. It’s the largest funding round for a private tech company in history, according to CNBC. OpenAI is set to receive $10 billion up front (SoftBank will invest $7.5 billion along with $2.5 billion “from […]
The space race heats up: all the news on the latest rocket launches
The commercial space industry is booming, and it’s only expected to keep growing as more billionaire-led companies send rockets into the sky. Elon Musk’s SpaceX continues to dominate the space industry with dozens of launches each year, but it could soon have some serious competition with Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin launching its rival New Glenn […]
Robot vacuums are getting upgraded support for Apple Home
The release of Apple’s iOS 18.4 on Monday includes good news for robot vacuum owners. The update includes support for controlling robot vacuums and adding them to automations and scenes in the Apple Home app via the Matter protocol. With the official rollout of iOS 18.4, companies like Roborock, iRobot, and Ecovacs are introducing firmware […]
Microsoft expands AI features across Intel and AMD-powered Copilot Plus PCs
Microsoft is making its AI features widely available on Copilot Plus PCs equipped with Intel and AMD chips. One of the most notable of these features will be Live Captions, which translates audio to English subtitles from dozens of different languages in real time. Microsoft first started testing Live Captions on Intel and AMD devices […]
SwitchBot’s smart button pusher is 30 percent off for Amazon’s Big Spring Sale
Smart plugs are great, but unfortunately, they can’t automate everything. Thankfully, there is a cheap cube-like contraption called the SwitchBot Bot that can add a touch of modern functionality to your garage door, light switch, and other traditional devices. It would normally run you $29.99, but right now you can buy it directly from SwitchBot […]
iOS 18.4 is out now with Apple Intelligence-powered priority notifications
Apple has released iOS 18.4, and one of the biggest features is priority notifications, which use Apple Intelligence to highlight “important notifications that may require your immediate attention,” according to Apple’s patch notes. The priority notifications will appear at the top of your notification stack on your Home Screen, as shown in the below picture […]
Plex is rolling out its big app redesign
Following months of testing, Plex has started to roll out its redesigned mobile app to Android and iOS devices, and it will arrive to everyone within the next week. The new app comes with an updated navigation system that should make it easier to access different parts of the app and find content to watch, […]
Amazon’s new AI agent is designed do your shopping
Amazon has launched a new AI model, Nova Act, which is designed to perform tasks — like online shopping — in your browser. For now it’s only available to developers in a “research preview,” but Amazon is also expanding access to its other Nova AI models through a web portal, making them easier to find […]
Alexa Plus just launched in early access, but it’s missing some features
Amazon has officially launched its AI-powered Alexa Plus – but it’s only available to a “small number” of customers to start, Amazon spokesperson Kristy Schmidt confirmed to The Verge. As shown on its early access page, Alexa Plus also doesn’t come with all the features Amazon showcased during its recent devices event, like the ability […]
Max’s rebranded logo and colors look very HBO
Warner Bros. Discovery introduced new branding for its Max streaming service yesterday, alongside announcing availability in Australia. Although still simply called Max, the service has traded its bright blue appearance for a monochromatic black-and-white color palette that’s more reminiscent of the iconic HBO logo. The new look has already been introduced on the streaming service’s […]
CEO Matt Bromberg on ending Unity’s ‘war’ against its customers
Today, I’m talking with Matt Bromberg, who is the CEO of Unity, one of the leading video game development platforms. He’s been in the job for less than a year, and in many ways, he is the perfect Decoder guest. Unity is one of those companies that we love here on Decoder because we interact […]
Coyote vs. Acme is getting its day in theaters
Deadline reports that Warner Bros. Discovery has agreed to sell Coyote vs. Acme’s global distribution rights to Ketchup Entertainment, the same production studio that bought The Day The Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie last fall. Ketchup reportedly spent around $50 million on the sale, and plans to release the feature some time in […]
The 1TB Xbox Series X expansion card is back down to its lowest price ever
It’s World Backup Day, which to the makers of storage devices means driving home the urgency of protecting the files you hold dear. So obviously, there are deals on all sorts of storage today, including SSDs and microSD cards. B&H Photo is making a big thing out of its deals, and with this being the […]
Apple fined $162 million for hurting app developers with ‘excessively complex’ privacy options
France’s competition watchdog (Autorité de la concurrence) ordered Apple to pay €150 million (~$162.4 million) after finding that its App Tracking Transparency system allows the company to abuse its dominance in the mobile app market. In its decision, the authority says the initiative — which Apple pitches as a way to give users more control […]
TikTok, tariffs, and trials: everything happening in tech’s chaotic April
As TikTok’s April 5th sell-by date approaches, Americans are back to where they stood before the original January deadline: watching anxiously to see if a major social media app gets banned. But that’s far from the only big event we’ll see over the coming month. April is filled with momentous turns in long-running tech policy […]
The 50 best things Microsoft has ever made
This week, on April 4th, Microsoft turns 50 years old. The company has gone through sweeping changes over that time — from two guys in New Mexico to more than a quarter-million employees worldwide, from making text-based operating systems to holographic video games — but through the decades, it’s remained a foundation of the tech world. Microsoft […]
The Verge’s favorite stuff with style
Sometimes we treasure our devices and tools not just because they’re practical, but because we like their style — the way they look, the way they make our surroundings look, or just because it’s nice to work with something that is, well, snazzy. It reflects our taste. It gives us, or our living space, style. […]
Elon Musk and Taylor Swift can now hide details of their private jets
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has created a system for private aircraft owners to request that their registration information — including their name and address — be kept private. That may impact celebrity private jet trackers, which have used FAA registration information to identify jets belonging to the likes of Elon Musk and Taylor Swift. […]
When will physical video games go away?
One of Sony’s best-ever PlayStation ads is a 21-second video titled, “Official PlayStation Used Game Instructional Video.†It’s a “step-by-step†guide about how to lend your PS4 games to your friends. It has one step: one person hands another person a game box. The ad succinctly clowns on Microsoft’s original and convoluted game sharing policy […]
Microsoft is redesigning the Windows BSOD and it might change to black
Microsoft has announced that it’s overhauling its Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) error message in Windows 11. The new design drops the traditional blue color, frowning face, and QR code in favor of a simplified screen that looks a lot more like the black screen you see when Windows is performing an update. It’s not […]
Movie studios are being financially rewarded for AI slop on YouTube
Some Hollywood studios are reportedly earning money from fake AI-generated movie trailers on YouTube, against the wishes of the union representing actors. According to a report from Deadline, Warner Bros. Discovery, Paramount, and Sony Pictures redirected ad revenue to themselves instead of enforcing copyright protections and shutting down the popular Screen Culture and KH Studio […]
Nintendo has moved beyond specs
The official unveiling of the Switch 2 was an incredibly confident moment for Nintendo. It was brief and lacking almost entirely in details. There was no price, no release date, and no confirmed games outside of a Mario Kart tease. The 2 in the name implied a bigger and better Switch, but when it came […]
Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE looks just like last year’s flagship
The big difference between Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 7 and the cheaper Z Flip 7 FE will be their cover screens, going by new renders released by the leaker OnLeaks. Earlier this month he produced designs that show a new, larger cover screen on the flagship Flip 7, but our first look at the more […]
The 50 best Amazon Big Spring Sale deals under $100
From the Apple Watch Series 10 and Samsung’s new Galaxy S25 to the top-of-the-line Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra, Amazon’s Big Spring Sale has brought steep discounts on some of our favorite gadgets. There’s just one problem: a large chunk of them will set you back at least several hundred dollars, if not more. That can be […]
Ghosts in the Kinect
Billy Tolley swings a Microsoft Kinect around an abandoned room in sudden, jittery movements. “Whoa!†he says. “Dude, it was so creepy.†On the display, we see an anomaly of arrows, spheres, and red lines that disappears almost as soon as it arrives. For Tolley and Zak Bagans, two members of the Ghost Adventures YouTube […]
Apple TV Plus is on a hot streak
Hi, friends! Welcome to Installer No. 77, your guide to the best and Verge-iest stuff in the world. (If you’re new here, welcome, don’t forget to make your Venmo private, and also you can read all the old editions at the Installer homepage.) This week, I’ve been reading about RISC and Ben Affleck and Google’s […]
We went to 10 anti-Tesla protests — and a couple counter protests, too
Thousands of anti-Tesla protesters took to the streets Saturday March 29th in opposition to Elon Musk and his efforts with DOGE to eliminate humanitarian aid, close federal agencies, and fire government workers. It was the culmination of nearly two months of steady, almost daily demonstrations aimed at hurting Tesla’s sales — and ultimately Musk himself. […]
Samsung’s latest stick vac can alert you to calls and text messages
In our notification-heavy world, there is still one activity where you might just miss that buzz on your phone or ping on your smartwatch – while you’re vacuuming. Thankfully, Samsung has a solution. Its newest cordless stick vac, the new Bespoke AI Jet Ultra ($1,099), now has an LCD display control panel that, along with […]
Assassin’s Creed Shadows lives up to the series’ name
I realized quite late in Assassin’s Creed Shadows that being this version of a shinobi is hard — but it was precisely the precision the game demanded that made it all the more rewarding. With Shadows, the Assassin’s Creed franchise has achieved both its most impressive stealth and assassination mechanics. At its best, Shadows evokes […]
I’m still testing the new Razer Blade 16 and I have mixed feelings
The Razer Blade 16 is designed to be the gaming-focused alternative to the MacBook Pro, and I’m always here for that. I love a gaming laptop that still looks and feels like a somewhat normal laptop, and the new Blade returns to a thinner and lighter chassis design after the last-gen got a bit chunky. […]
BougeRV’s telescopic lantern is ridiculously versatile
It’s sold as an outdoor camplight, but BougeRV’s very bright LED lantern is really a multifunctional work lamp for any place that needs an extra dose of lighting. It’s rechargeable and compact enough to serve as a long-lasting flashlight with three swiveling LED panels that can direct 3000 lumens onto your table, campsite, workspace, or engine block […]
Judge saves the CFPB, for now
A court took action on Friday to keep the Trump administration and its Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from shutting down a consumer watchdog agency while its court case plays out. Judge Amy Berman Jackson granted a preliminary injunction to save the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) from being further gutted while she decides whether […]
Windows 11 is closing a loophole that let you skip making a Microsoft account
Microsoft is no longer playing around when it comes to requiring every Windows 11 device be set up with an internet-connected account. In its latest Windows 11 Insider Preview, the company says it will take out a well-known bypass script that let end users skip the requirement of connecting to the internet and logging in […]
Elon Musk’s xAI buys Elon Musk’s X for $33 billion on paper
A few years after buying Twitter for $44 billion, Elon Musk announced that his AI business xAI has acquired the social media platform that’s now known as X. In a tweet, he described it as an all-stock transaction, valuing xAI at $80 billion and X at $33 billion, including $12 billion in debt it had […]
Microsoft tests Quick Machine Recovery to restore PCs that can’t boot
Microsoft is starting to test Quick Machine Recovery, a feature designed to prevent incidents like last year’s Crowdstrike catastrophe. It’s rolling out in its latest Windows Insider Preview build (6120.3653) and allows IT professionals to remotely recover Windows 11 devices even if they won’t boot. Microsoft first announced Quick Machine Recovery last year as part […]
The Fitbit-to-Google account migration deadline moves to 2026
After Google completed its acquisition of Fitbit in early 2021, the company integrated Fitbit’s services with its own and required users to migrate existing Fitbit accounts to a Google account by 2025. But in an email sent to Fitbit users today, Google now says that deadline has been extended until next year. “As we have […]
The Trump administration could green-light deep-sea mining for the first time
The company that has pushed to open up the deep sea for mining is cozying up to the Trump administration after years of hitting roadblocks in international negotiations. The island nation of Nauru initially sponsored The Metals Company (TMC) and its deep-sea mining effort. In 2021, that triggered a race to develop regulations before TMC […]
MrBeast co-wrote a book with James Patterson
MrBeast teamed up with Alex Cross author James Patterson to co-write a thriller novel with Squid Game-like elements, according to a report from Deadline. The upcoming book, which doesn’t have a title yet, has reportedly fetched eight-figure bids for the publishing rights. The book’s logline, which reads, “Players fight to survive deadly tests held in […]
Lenovo’s upcoming SteamOS handheld will cost $50 more than expected
The SteamOS-powered version of Lenovo’s Legion Go S handheld gaming PC debuted at CES 2025 with a somewhat attractive $499.99 price tag. At that price, The Verge’s Sean Hollister considered it a true Steam Deck rival, wedged neatly between the cost of Valve’s $399 LCD and $549 OLED models. The handheld recently went up for […]
Side Quest’s creators wanted to tell stories about why people love games
Halfway through its first season, Apple’s Mythic Quest threw a wild curveball with “A Dark Quiet Death†— an unexpectedly dramatic episode that chronicled the rise and fall of another video game development team. “A Dark Quiet Death†was the first instance of Mythic Quest switching up its comedic formula to tell an earnest story […]
ChatGPT’s Ghibli filter is political now — but it always was
When I saw my colleague Kylie Robison’s story about OpenAI’s new image generator on Tuesday, I thought this week might be fun. Generative AI images raise all kinds of ethical issues, but I find them wildly entertaining, and I spent large chunks of that day watching other Verge staff test ChatGPT in ways that covered […]
YouTube tests turning off notifications for channels you don’t watch
YouTube is switching off some push notifications for channels with frequent uploads in a new test that might make you miss alerts you’ve signed up for. The latest test announced by the official TeamYouTube community targets channels that users have notifications set to “all” for, but often don’t open those notifications. The test won’t turn […]
Google to pay $100 million to settle 14-year-old advertising lawsuit
Google will pay $100 million to settle a class action lawsuit accusing the company of charging for clicks on ads placed outside the geographic locations selected by advertisers, as reported earlier by Reuters. The proposed settlement was filed in a California court on Thursday and still requires approval by a judge. The lawsuit, first filed […]
Musk threatens to sic the government on people ‘pushing’ Tesla ‘propaganda’
As protests against Tesla continue to grow, Elon Musk is threatening to “go after†the people who say or post anything negative about the company — which he labels “propaganda.â€Â  That was what I took away from Elon Musk’s 38-minute interview on Fox News last night, which largely focused on the billionaire’s efforts to eliminate […]
A beginner’s guide to using Signal
If you hadn’t heard of Signal before this week, chances are you’re well aware of it now. The messaging app was thrust into the news on Monday when The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, was mistakenly added to a group chat involving top military officials planning an airstrike. Even though it entered the discourse for extremely […]
Here’s what military planning usually looks like — and why it doesn’t include Signal
The Trump administration planned a military strike in Yemen the way normal people plan a surprise birthday party: in a group chat. As detailed by The Atlantic earlier this week, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance, and other senior officials used a Signal group to discuss an attack on Houthi targets, sharing […]
King Arthur wants to automate your sourdough starter
Baking sourdough bread may seem pointedly old-fashioned, but that doesn’t mean it’s immune to the allure of a novelty gadget. That’s where the Sourdough Sidekick comes in: a new countertop appliance that automatically feeds your sourdough starter so it’s ready to bake the moment you need it. The Sidekick is a joint project by FirstBuild […]
Trump pardons ex-Nikola CEO Trevor Milton
Trevor Milton, the founder of Nikola Motors who was convicted of defrauding investors in his zero-emission truck company, has been pardoned by President Donald Trump, the White House confirmed Friday. A federal jury convicted Milton of lying about Nikola’s capabilities, including an assertion that it had built its own electric truck, the Nikola One, from […]
Google’s Pixel 9A will launch on April 10th
Google has announced that it will release the Pixel 9A in the US, Canada, and the UK on April 10th. The budget-friendly device was initially expected to launch shortly after its reveal on March 19th, but Google delayed it to investigate a “component quality issue.” The Pixel 9A will arrive throughout the rest of Europe […]
NASA and Boeing investigate Starliner’s ‘anomalies’ before its next crewed flight
NASA and Boeing are preparing the Starliner for its next flight after technical issues left the spacecraft unable to ferry its astronauts back to Earth for months. On Thursday, NASA announced that it’s working with Boeing to “resolve Starliner’s in-flight anomalies” before a crewed flight that could take place later this year or in early […]
Helldivers 2 is locking out players who use older CPUs
Some Helldivers 2 players are reporting that they can no longer play the game on their computers equipped with older CPUs. The issue stems from the developer Arrowhead Game Studios’ and publisher Sony’s requirement that users play on systems that support AVX2 (Advanced Vector Extensions), which has been a feature in many CPUs since 2013. […]
First Alert’s new smart smoke alarm is meant to be a Google Nest Protect replacement
Life safety manufacturer First Alert launched a new line of smart smoke and carbon monoxide alarms this week that will work with Google Home. Following Google’s decision to discontinue its Nest Protect smart smoke alarm, the company has announced it’s partnering with First Alert on the First Alert Smart Smoke & Carbon Monoxide (CO) Alarm. The […]
In Baby Steps, I stumbled through a refreshing kind of open world
“Is the rage boiling over?†Bennett Foddy asks me as I fall down a wooden plank for the dozenth time. The creator of QWOP and Getting Over It is known for games that can be both frustrating and meditative, pairing challenging physics with thoughtful design. The latest, Baby Steps, is similar — but a whole […]
Google discontinues Nest Protect smoke alarm and Nest x Yale door lock
In this week’s least surprising news, Google has announced it’s discontinuing the Nest Protect Smart Smoke and CO alarm and the Nest x Yale smart door lock. The Nest Protect, which has long been one of the best smart smoke alarms you can buy, has been hard to find for a while now, with users […]
Yale’s new smart lock can match your Google Nest doorbell
Following the news that Google is discontinuing its Nest x Yale Lock, Yale has announced a new smart lock that fits into the Google Home ecosystem and is designed to complement Google’s Nest video doorbells. However, thanks to Matter-over-Thread compatibility, the Yale Smart Lock with Matter will also work with Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, Samsung […]
Madison Square Garden’s surveillance system banned this fan over his T-shirt design
A concert on Monday night at New York’s Radio City Music Hall was a special occasion for Frank Miller: his parents’ wedding anniversary. He didn’t end up seeing the show — and before he could even get past security, he was informed that he was in fact banned for life from the venue and all […]
Judge dismisses Samsung’s smart ring lawsuit against Oura
Last June, Samsung made a surprising move against smart ring maker Oura. The tech giant filed a lawsuit seeking a declaratory judgment saying that its then-unreleased Galaxy Ring didn’t infringe on five Oura patents. Now, a judge has officially dismissed Samsung’s case, saying the company acted prematurely without concrete evidence that Oura planned to sue. […]
Nvidia RTX 5090 mobile GPU: more efficient and a little faster
Nvidia’s 50-series desktop GPUs have been off to a slightly rocky start, with quality control issues, underwhelming performance gains over last generation, and the occasional melting cable. Its new laptop GPUs, led by the flagship RTX 5090, may be on a similarly modest trajectory, but with one added benefit for laptop gamers: efficiency. I’ve been […]
Common Side Effects is coming back for a second season
Though the first chapter of Adult Swim’s Common Side Effects animated series is about to wrap up this Sunday, the story isn’t over yet. Today, Adult Swim announced that Common Side Effects has been renewed for a second season that will continue the story of a man trying to save the world (and upend big […]
Amazon MGM Studios head Jennifer Salke steps down
Jennifer Salke, the head of Amazon MGM Studios, is stepping down from her role and will instead focus on producing, according to an internal memo obtained by Deadline. In the memo, Mike Hopkins, Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios head, tells employees that the company will not fill Salke’s role as part of efforts to […]
Nintendo’s Legend of Zelda movie hits theaters in March 2027
Nintendo’s news app is already breaking some news: today it revealed the premiere date for the upcoming live-action Zelda movie. The film, which appears to be called simply The Legend of Zelda, will hit theaters worldwide on March 26th, 2027. Here’s a screenshot of the reveal: We still know next to nothing about the movie, […]
WhatsApp users can now add music to their status
WhatsApp is reviving some old school internet nostalgia with a new feature that allows users to add temporary music clips to their profile updates. Snippets from popular songs can now be featured in WhatsApp statuses, with availability rolling out globally and expanding “over the coming weeks,” according to parent company Meta. WhatsApp’s status feature is […]
OpenAI has a Studio Ghibli problem
When you can create art just by asking for it, what might you create? If you’re anything like the internet these last few days, you’d create some lovely things — stylized family portraits, a thousand different looks for the Distracted Boyfriend meme — and some truly, deeply, unfathomably horrifying ones. But most of all, it turns […]
Android Auto’s latest beta brings full Android game support
Google is adding gaming support to Android Auto, with titles including Candy Crush Soda Saga and Angry Birds 2 playable from compatible cars’ touchscreens. The new feature is included in the beta version of Android 14.1, which is rolling out to testers now. Only four games are currently supported, with Candy Crush and Angry Birds […]
Nintendo digital lending feature reveals ‘Switch 2 Edition’ games are on the way
Nintendo has revealed something new about Switch 2 games on a day it wasn’t planning to talk about the new system. After today’s Nintendo Direct stream, the company revealed the existence of “Switch 2 Edition” games on its webpage about the new Virtual Game Card lending system, VGC reports. The Virtual Game Card system launching […]
Trump White House invites a bloc of conservative podcasters as a jab at legacy media
On Thursday, several conservative podcasters were invited to the White House to participate in Podcast Row, an event meant to engage alternative media by granting them hours of unprecedented access to senior Trump Administration officials. The White House intends to make this a recurring event. “Bringing in new media outlets has obviously been a priority […]
Amazon’s latest Kindle Scribe is the cheapest it’s been in months
Unsurprisingly, Amazon is discounting a variety of e-readers during its Big Spring Sale, including its first color e-reader. But if you like to take notes while reading, there’s only one Kindle that allows you to do so: the Kindle Scribe. Luckily, the 16GB version of the latest model is on sale for an all-time low […]
FTC tells staff to stop calling the agency ‘independent’ in complaints
Staff at the Federal Trade Commission have been instructed to no longer refer to the agency as “independent” in complaints, according to an email obtained by The Verge. “Moving forward, when describing the Commission as the Plaintiff in a Complaint, please track the below edit,” Bureau of Consumer Protection Director Christopher Mufarrige said in a […]
Ploopy upgraded its open-source trackball with better scrolling
Ploopy, a Canadian company known for its customizable open-source peripherals, has announced an upgraded version of its Classic trackball mouse. The Classic 2 has the exact same shape and ergonomics as the original but offers improved connectivity, a more accurate and reliable scroll wheel, and an upgraded design, making it easier to 3D print without […]
Ubisoft’s $4 billion carveout sells Tencent a 25 percent stake in some of its biggest games
Ubisoft is spinning off Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six into a subsidiary backed by Tencent, according to an announcement on Thursday. The Chinese gaming giant will invest €1.16 billion (~$1.3 billion) for a 25 percent stake in the carveout, which will have a total value of about €4 billion (~$4.3 billion). […]
Facebook’s new Friends-only feed ditches all the algorithmic junk
Facebook is trying to go back to its roots with a new “Friends” tab that filters out the algorithmic recommendations that have taken over its main feed. The new tab is rolling out in the US and Canada, and will show your friends’ stories, reels, posts, and birthdays. In a blog post announcing the feature, […]
Bird Buddy’s solar-powered smart feeder is $100 off
I admire birds as much as the next person, but taking up birdwatching isn’t something I’ve considered. I don’t have the patience, nor do I own a good pair of binoculars — which is necessary for seeing the majestic, winged creatures up close. What I might sooner settle on, however, is the Bird Buddy Pro, […]
Nintendo is paving the way for the Switch 2
The biggest news at Nintendo’s March Direct showcase was a software update. Mixed in amongst a trailer for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and the surprise reveal of a mobile news app, the company also announced what it calls “virtual game cards.†They’re billed as a lending system that makes it relatively straightforward to share digital […]
Fired Democratic FTC commissioners sue Trump
The two Democratic Federal Trade Commission members illegally fired by Donald Trump have filed a lawsuit against the president and newly appointed Republican FTC chair Andrew Ferguson, as well as fellow commissioner Melissa Holyoak and executive director David Robbins. Commissioners Kelly Slaughter and Alvaro Bedoya write that, “Last week, President Donald Trump purported to fire […]
OpenAI says ‘our GPUs are melting’ as it limits ChatGPT image generation requests
The fervor around ChatGPT’s more accessible (and more advanced) image generation capabilities has forced OpenAI to “temporarily” put a rate limit on image generation requests, according to CEO Sam Altman. “It’s super fun seeing people love images in ChatGPT, but our GPUs are melting,” he posted on X today. Altman didn’t specify what the rate […]
Satya Nadella: DeepSeek is the new bar for Microsoft’s AI success
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella moved quickly to get DeepSeek’s R1 deployed on Azure in January. Nadella appeared to have anticipated the rise of a breakthrough like R1, and now he says a new bar has been set for the company’s own AI work. Speaking at an employee-only town hall last month, Nadella and his senior […]
Nintendo’s news app launches with a tiny Switch 2 leak
While we expected to find out much more about Nintendo’s upcoming game system next week during the Switch 2 Direct event on April 2nd, a tiny new detail has been confirmed in this promo image for the new Nintendo Today news app. One of the screenshots listed in App Store and Google Play shows a […]
Amazon Big Spring Sale: all the deals you should know about
Forget about Black Friday and Cyber Monday — or Prime Day, for that matter. For the second year in a row, Amazon has launched a spring sales event, which will run through Monday, March 31st, offering Prime and non-Prime members alike an opportunity to save big well ahead of the traditional shopping season. As you […]
iPhone users can now set WhatsApp as their default calling and texting app
You can now choose WhatsApp as your iPhone’s default app for calls and text messages, as noted by WABetaInfo. After updating WhatsApp to version 25.8.74, you’ll see the app appear as an option in your Messaging and Calling default app settings. Apple first announced that it would let iPhone users in the European Union change […]
Robosen’s self-transforming Bumblebee is finally giving Optimus Prime some backup
Robosen’s partnership with Hasbro continues with a new Bumblebee self-transforming robot toy launching this summer. Powered by 31 servo motors, Bumblebee transforms from a bright yellow bot to a classic Beetle with a scaled-down design officially licensed by Volkswagen that can be driven using a smartphone and Robosen’s app. They even brought back Dan Gilvezan, […]
Audio-Technica’s R2-D2 earbuds play beeps and bloops for audio alerts
Ahead of Star Wars Celebration Japan getting underway on April 18th in Tokyo, Audio-Technica has announced four new limited edition versions of its ATH-CKS50TW2 wireless earbuds that originally debuted at CES 2025. Functionality is the same, but the earbuds have gotten a Star Wars-themed makeover with new colors and details inspired by R2-D2, Grogu, the […]
Microsoft is giving its Office apps a speed boost
Microsoft is planning to improve the startup speed of its Office apps, starting with Word in May. The launch times of Office apps will improve thanks to a new scheduled task that will run silently when you boot your PC to make sure Word and eventually other Office apps open quickly. “We are introducing a […]
Amazon Luna gets EA games and is launching in more countries
Luna, the cloud gaming service from Amazon that lets you stream to PC, Fire TV sticks, and more, is getting several Electronic Arts games, including Star Wars titles and sports games, added to its library soon. The first collection of games will be released tomorrow and available to Luna Plus subscribers, including Star Wars Jedi: […]
Before Lazarus hits Adult Swim, listen to some of its transcendent music
A Shinichirō Watanabe production wouldn’t be complete without an absolute banger of a soundtrack, and his upcoming Adult Swim series Lazarus is no exception. Ahead of Lazarus’s premiere on April 5th, Adult Swim has released three singles from multi-instrumentalist / composer Kamasi Washington, British DJ Bonobo, and producer Floating Points that each come from different […]
Pokémon Legends: Z-A’s gameplay will change depending on the time of day
Real time day / night cycles have been featured in a lot of Pokémon titles since the Gold and Silver era, but Pokémon Legends: Z-A is going to take the classic mechanic in a wild new direction. During today’s March Direct presentation, Nintendo dropped a new Pokémon Legends: Z-A trailer showcasing a few of the […]
It’s cheaper than ever to get a 4TB PCIe 4 SSD
Samsung launched its new, very fast 9100 Pro PCIe Gen 5 SSD last week, and the prices are pretty high, starting at $199.99 for the 1TB model without a heatsink pre-installed. This had me looking at prices for its predecessor, the still-very-fast 990 Pro, and I was happy to see that its 4TB model is […]
Elon Musk pressured Reddit’s CEO on content moderation
Nearly two months ago, Elon Musk went on a public crusade against Reddit. On X, he said it was “insane†that subreddits were blocking links to the platform in protest of him appearing to give a Nazi salute. A few days later, he posted that Reddit users advocating for violence against Department of Government Efficiency […]
Amazon tests renaming Echo smart displays to Alexa
According to images seen by The Verge, Amazon is testing changing the name of its Echo smart speakers and smart displays to Alexa. We saw two separate instances of Amazon.com landing pages displaying the name of the Echo Show 5 smart display as the Alexa Show 5, along with new branding for an Alexa Show […]
Nintendo introduces new lending system for digital Switch games
In addition to showing off a bunch of new games including a brief glimpse at Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, Nintendo also shared some new features coming to the Switch. Coming in an April system update, Nintendo is introducing a new game management system called “virtual game cards.” Virtual game cards are meant to function similarly […]
Light Phone III review: everything in moderation
What are the essential features of a smartphone? That’s not a rhetorical question, and it’s actually a useful exercise: if I were to take away everything but the things you truly need on your phone, what would those things be? And how might you interact with your phone differently if those things were all you […]
Caterpillar taps Luminar’s lidar for self-driving construction equipment
Caterpillar is adding lidar to its heavy-duty construction equipment after striking a deal with Luminar, which makes the laser sensor for a number of automakers and self-driving car operators. Caterpillar says it will integrate Luminar’s hardware into its Cat Command autonomy platform, which it uses to power self-driving features in its trucks and other vehicles. […]
How to keep your Venmo account private
As if things weren’t embarrassing enough for national security adviser Michael Waltz, what with inviting a journalist into a private policy group chat and all, Wired discovered that his Venmo account was wide open, revealing the names of “hundreds of Waltz’s personal and professional associates.â€Â Venmo is a popular and convenient way to transfer money […]
Nintendo is launching a news app
Nintendo closed out today’s Direct with a surprise announcement: a news app that will keep players up to date on everything Nintendo. It’s called Nintendo Today, and it’ll be available on both iOS and Android. According to Shigeru Miyamoto, the app was designed to compliment its event-like livestreams, which have become incredibly popular in the […]
ChatGPT is turning everything into Studio Ghibli art — and it got weird fast
AI-generated images have made significant progress since the days of abstract renderings and glitchy amalgamations. OpenAI’s newly released “Images for ChatGPT” has an uncanny ability to nail depth, shadows, and even text. It’s unleashed a frenzy of people recreating a familiar style: Hayao Miyazaki’s work at Studio Ghibli. The art style was already ubiquitous across […]
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond’s new trailer is an intro to its alien world
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is still alive — and it’s looking good. Nintendo unveiled a new trailer for the game that serves as an introduction of sorts, showcasing the alien world you’ll be exploring along with Samus’ various abilities, including new psychic powers that work both in combat and in puzzle solving. While no specific […]
Nintendo Switch 2 preorders start April 2nd, according to Best Buy Canada
Best Buy in Canada wrote in a now-removed blog post that the company will open pre-orders for Nintendo Switch 2 on April 2nd so that customers have the chance to secure their console early. Best Buy hasn’t said what time the preorders will open; however, it’s on the same day as the Nintendo Direct presentation […]
Capitalism vs. the bird flu
On today’s episode, we’re talking about bird flu, but in a pretty Decoder way. Lauren Leffer, who recently wrote a piece for The Verge about bird flu and how it’s becoming a forever war, is joining me on the show, and we’re going to talk about the systems, structure, and culture that might control bird […]
GMC Sierra electric truck now starts at $64,495 with new Elevation and AT4 trims
GMC’s flagship electric truck is starting to fill out its lineup. The GM-owned brand announced new AT4 and Elevation trims for the Sierra EV, which will sit below the Denali trim that’s currently the only version available to customers. The Elevation trim will lack some of the premium features that the Denali has, and it […]
All the news from Nintendo’s March Direct showcase
Before the countdown to the Switch 2 direct officially ends April 2nd, Nintendo has some games to get off its plate before we can begin the company’s next generation feast. Nintendo will host a 30-minute Direct showcase featuring games that will keep the vanilla Switch warm in the twilight of its last days as Nintendo’s […]
Instacart will pay shoppers to take videos of store shelves
Instacart is introducing a new way for shoppers to make money: taking videos of store shelves “one aisle at a time.” The new earning opportunity, called Store View, will allow Instacart to determine which products are available, as well as which ones are out of stock. Instacart says Store View will also help its predictive […]
Google Maps can soon scan your screenshots to plan your vacation
Google is introducing new features to Maps, Search, and Hotels that aim to help users plan upcoming travel and vacations. The Google Maps app is getting a standout feature that can identify locations in your screenshots and save them to a list, making it easier for users to plan their trips before screenshots of travel […]
Want to feel like a spy? Stick a smart chip in your manicure
A few months ago, I was stuffing my face with Christmas cookies and catching up on the season 3 reunion episode of Netflix’s The Ultimatum. It was a typical tawdry hour of reality TV. Clout-hungry influencer wannabes dressed to the nines, nursing their bruised egos and rehashing the minutiae of why their relationships crashed out […]
Garmin adds AI and a subscription tier to its app
It was only a matter of time. Garmin announced today it’s launching Garmin Connect Plus, a premium tier to its app that adds AI-powered insights and a few other expanded features. Existing and new Garmin users will be able to opt in to a free 30-day trial and then choose between a $6.99 monthly or […]
Vivaldi bundles Proton VPN into its web browser
Vivaldi and Proton have teamed up to make it easier for Vivaldi browser users to privately explore the web without downloading a virtual private network (VPN). Starting today, the free version of Proton VPN is now integrated directly into Vivaldi’s browser, and can be accessed by logging into a Vivaldi account. The feature is currently […]
Uber Shuttle will get you to JFK airport for $10
Uber is expanding its airport shuttle service to include one of the busiest hubs in the world, New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport. For a limited time, customers can grab a ride from specific stops in Manhattan or Brooklyn to JFK for just $10. After April 30th, the fare increases to $25, including […]
Poco’s F7 Ultra is a midrange phone with a flagship chip
Poco is releasing its first phone with “Ultra” branding, and on paper it lives up to the name. The F7 Ultra runs on the flagship Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, and combines it with a triple rear camera setup, 120W wired charging, and IP68 protection from dust and water. Despite those specs, it’s going on sale […]
Robinhood is launching bank accounts that will deliver physical cash ‘to your doorstep’
Robinhood is getting closer to becoming a full-fledged financial service. On Wednesday, the company announced a wholly online banking platform that will offer checking and savings accounts to Robinhood Gold subscribers when it launches this fall. The platform, called Robinhood Banking, will let users access their accounts, as well as send and receive money through […]
Republicans are still pushing for child safety laws, while Democrats wonder if a weakened FTC can enforce them
Members of a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee met Wednesday to discuss what’s typically a highly bipartisan topic: protecting kids online. But in a far-from-typical political climate, the mood was tense and confrontational. Republican lawmakers are eager to revive a handful of bipartisan bills like the Kids Online Safety Act, which House Republican leadership blocked […]
Nothing’s colorful, entry-level earbuds have fallen to their best price to date
From the AirPods Pro to the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2, Amazon’s Big Spring Sale has ushered in a number of surprisingly good deals on wireless earbuds. Neither of the aforementioned picks is probably the best option if you’re working with a tight budget, though, fortunately, there are cheaper alternatives. Right now for example, the already […]
Trump says he will impose a 25 percent tariff on imported vehicles
During a briefing on Wednesday, President Donald Trump announced plans to put a 25 percent tariff on cars and trucks imported into the US. Trump said the taxes would go into effect on April 2nd — the same time he’s expected to introduce a round of reciprocal tariffs, according to The New York Times. The […]
Microsoft revamps its Windows Game Bar
Microsoft is sharing several new Xbox gaming updates for March that include a new look for Game Bar on PC, a new Cloud Gaming feature, and fresh benefits for playing some free-to-play games through Game Pass. Game Bar on PC, which gives you the ability to quickly launch games, control audio mixes, and monitor game […]
ChatGPT’s new image generator is delayed for free users
OpenAI is pushing back the rollout of ChatGPT’s built-in image generator for free users. In a post on Wednesday, CEO Sam Altman admitted that the image-generation tool is more popular than he expected, adding that “rollout to our free tier is unfortunately going to be delayed for awhile.” OpenAI only just added image generation capabilities […]
YouTube Shorts will count views even if you scroll past
YouTube will soon count Shorts views using the same method as TikTok and Instagram. Starting March 31st, YouTube will count the number of times a Short starts to play or replay, like Instagram and TikTok do, instead of only counting after someone watches a Short for a specific length of time. “We hope that this deeper […]
Marvel unveils the gigantic cast for Avengers: Doomsday
After an hours-long tease, Marvel has confirmed much of the cast for the next Avengers movie — and it pulls together a huge list of stars from films ranging from past Avengers and X-Men flicks to Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and the upcoming Fantastic Four: First Steps. Today’s announcements include: Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars […]
Some Kindles now let you double-tap anywhere to turn the page
Amazon has released a software update for the current-generation Colorsoft and Paperwhite that lets you double-tap on the sides or back of your Kindle to turn the page. The new feature, as spotted by The eBook Reader, is listed in the release notes for the 5.18.1 update and can be found in Settings > Device […]
Amazon Spring Sale deals on Verge staff home favorites
Whenever Verge staffers are asked to describe their smart tech, office tools, kitchen gadgets, or whatever else, they talk about things they recently bought, things they picked up 10 years ago, or things they’ve had sitting around their house for decades. We’ve gathered a few of the items that our staffers have enthused about in the past […]
The Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 are worth their full price, but are more tempting at $30 off
When it comes to working out or just hanging outside, the perks of bone conduction headphones versus over-ear headphones or earbuds are growing. They’ve always been the safer alternative since they don’t obstruct your hearing, but with the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2, they now actually sound good. Thanks to its USB-C charging (in place of […]
The best foldable phone you can buy
A foldable phone isn’t for the faint of heart. They’re generally heavier, pricier, and have less capable cameras than a standard slab-style phone. And while they’re far less fragile than when they first debuted, foldables are still susceptible to the kind of damage a regular smartphone can shrug off. You really don’t want any dust […]
Apple blocked from presenting at Google antitrust hearing where $20 billion search deal is at stake
The DC Circuit Court of Appeals has blocked Apple’s efforts to intervene in the federal antitrust trial against Google that jeopardizes Apple’s lucrative search exclusivity deal, Ars Technica reports. In February, US District Court Judge Amit Mehta had already denied Apple’s request to take a limited role in the remedies phase of the Google Search […]
The 20 best Amazon Big Spring Sale deals under $30
Amazon’s Big Spring Sale is happening now through Monday, March 31st, with several dozen good-to-great deals available that don’t require an Amazon Prime membership. Our main roundup has you covered with more than 70 deals on Verge-favorite gear with quite a high price ceiling. But, for this post, we wanted to provide some low-cost alternatives […]
Microsoft’s account sign-in UI gets a new design and dark mode
Microsoft is rolling out a new sign-in screen for more than a billion consumers that access services like Outlook, Windows, Xbox, Microsoft 365, and more. The updated authentication screen is based on Microsoft’s Fluent 2 design language and even includes a dark mode with Xbox colors. The entire authentication process for Microsoft accounts has been […]
Canon redesigned its entry-level EOS R50 with improved video capabilities
Canon has announced an updated version of its EOS R50 with improved video capabilities, a smaller body, and a cheaper price tag — thanks in part to losing an electronic viewfinder. The original, which launched in 2023, was an entry-level mirrorless camera with 4K video capabilities that maxed out at 30fps. The new EOS R50 […]
Roborock’s S8 MaxV Ultra, our favorite robovac, is cheaper than ever
Spring cleaning season is here, which is probably why we’re seeing retailers slash prices on top-tier robot vacuums like the Dreame X40 Ultra and Eufy X10 Pro Omni. Yet it’s the deal on the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra — our favorite robot vacuum overall — that stands out the most. Right now, you can buy […]
Rivian spins out secret e-bike lab into a new company called Also
Rivian announced the creation of a new micromobility company called Also. The deal includes $105 million in Series B funding from venture capital firm Eclipse and will focus on the development and production of lightweight electric vehicles like bikes and scooters. “For the world to fully transition to electrified transportation, a range of vehicle types […]
Wyze’s new camera filter claims to cut down on nuisance alerts
Security cameras can be helpful for spotting package thieves, letting you know when your kid got home from school, or scaring off that rascally raccoon rustling around your chicken coop. But constant notifications from these devices can make them more annoying than useful. Notification fatigue once made me ignore the repeated motion alerts from a […]
This company is using AI to give people American-sounding accents
Krisp, the company best known for its noise cancellation app, is launching a new AI tool that’s supposed to convert a speaker’s accent to American English in real time. The tool comes bundled in Krisp’s existing desktop app and acts as a virtual microphone to modify the sound of someone’s voice across video conferencing apps […]
World of Warcraft will rollback some Hardcore mode permadeaths
Blizzard has announced that it will make exceptions to its hardcore permadeath policy and allow some characters to return to life. According to a report in Ars Technica, Blizzard made the pronouncement in response to a string of DDoS attacks that seemed specifically targeted to cause the in-game deaths of members of a high-profile raiding […]
Metaphor: ReFantazio’s elaborate menus are designed to heighten your emotions
Video game menus tend to fade into the background — but that’s not the case with Metaphor: ReFantazio. Like the Persona games before it, the fantasy RPG has an interface that’s slick, aggressive, and certainly not the kind of thing you’ll forget. And according to lead interface designer Koji Ise, the intent was to create […]
Character.ai can now tell parents which bots their kid is talking to
Chatbot service Character.AI is adding a new ‘Parental Insights’ feature, which lets teens send a weekly report of their chatbot usage to a parents’ email address. As outlined in an announcement from the company, this report includes the daily average time spent across web and mobile, the characters that a user most frequently interacted with, […]
Google says its new ‘reasoning’ Gemini AI models are the best ones yet
After delivering a new “open” AI model with better performance on a single GPU, Google has now introduced an update to the AI models for its products with Gemini 2.5, which combines “a significantly enhanced base model with improved post-training” for better overall performance. It’s claiming that the first release, Gemini 2.5 Pro experimental, leads […]
“This man is not our boss” — EPA workers rally against DOGE cuts
Environmental Protection Agency workers took to the streets across the US today to protest drastic cuts President Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s DOGE have made at the federal agency whose mission is to “protect human health and the environment.” Musk, the face of DOGE and the target of growing protests at Tesla dealerships, was a […]
Nosferatu and some of our favorite movies are buy two, get one free today
“Pick-your-own” promotions are a personal favorite of mine, so I’m stoked to see the return of Amazon’s deal that lets you grab three 4K Blu-rays, standard 1080p Blu-rays, or DVDs for the price of two. All you have to do is add any three items included on this page and head to checkout, after which […]
Game Informer has officially returned
Game Informer is back, and so is its entire staff. On Tuesday, editor-in-chief Matt Miller announced that Gunzilla Games has acquired the rights to the gaming magazine, helping to bring the site and its archives back online. GameStop, which previously owned Game Informer, shut down the beloved magazine last August and laid off its entire […]
AT&T is slashing its autopay and paperless billing discounts
AT&T will cut its autopay and paperless billing discounts in half starting April 24th. In a statement to The Verge, AT&T spokesperson Kyle Loomis confirmed reports that customers enrolled in the program will get $5 off their monthly bill instead of $10 when paying with a debit card. AT&T is also doing away with the […]
The Kindle Colorsoft is now a far better deal thanks to Amazon’s Big Spring Sale
When we reviewed the Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition late last year, one of our biggest gripes was the e-reader’s initial starting price of $279.99. It’s a high price to pay for an ebook reader, particularly given its smaller 7-inch display and lack of stylus support, but those shortcomings are more forgivable now that the ebook […]
Anker’s ‘InstaCord’ battery with dual retractable USB-C cables is 20 percent off
It’s extremely hard to beat Anker’s A1695 “InstaCord” 25,000mAh portable battery when it comes to value and price, especially now that it’s 20 percent off thanks to Amazon’s Big Spring Sale. Originally $109.99, it’s currently available from Amazon and Anker for an all-time low $87.99 — not bad considering the high-capacity power bank offers 165W […]
GM-backed ‘coast-to-coast’ EV charging network grows to 130 locations
In their quest to build a coast-to-coast EV charging network, GM, EVgo, and Pilot announce they have installed electric vehicle chargers at 130 locations across 25 states. The partnership, which launched in 2022, aimed to install 2,000 DC fast chargers at 500 Pilot and Flying J truck stop locations nationwide. In a press release, the […]
Why I love the Calligraphr font-creation app
Kristen Radtke is creative director at The Verge. “I work with the art team on the overall look and feel of the site across illustrations, photos, and branding,” she explains. “I also design feature stories and custom packages.” One of her favorite software packages is Calligraphr, and so we asked her about it. What exactly […]
Amazon’s new James Bond movie will be produced by Amy Pascal and David Heyman
Though it took Amazon MGM quite a while to wrest the James Bond franchise away from longtime producers Barbara Broccoli Michael G. Wilson, the studio has already found the duo’s replacements. Today, Amazon MGM announced that it has tapped veteran producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman to produce a new untitled Bond feature. Pascal, best […]
OpenAI rolls out image generation powered by GPT-4o to ChatGPT
OpenAI is integrating new image generation capabilities directly into ChatGPT starting today — this feature is dubbed “Images in ChatGPT.†Users can now use GPT-4o to generate images within ChatGPT itself. This initial release focuses solely on image creation and will be available across ChatGPT Plus, Pro, Team, and Free subscription tiers. The free tier’s […]
Samsung’s 3D Odyssey monitor is now available to reserve, and it might cost $2,000
After Samsung first revealed its glasses-free 3D monitor last year, the company is finally letting customers reserve preorders for the display, with a since-removed Best Buy page showing a price of $1,999.99. The 27-inch Odyssey 3D G90XF comes with a 4K display that uses eye-tracking to “deliver a natural-looking high-definition 3D image.” You’ll need to […]
Apple’s WWDC 2025 event starts June 9th
Apple has set the date for this year’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), with the event kicking off with an in-person experience to watch the keynote and Platforms State of the Union on June 9th at Apple Park and running through June 13th. Announcements will focus on the upcoming versions of iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and […]
Discord’s refreshed UI includes a new overlay and full dark mode
Discord is finally updating the themes on its desktop app to include a full dark mode that’s ideal for OLED monitors. The new Onyx dark mode is part of a number of UI updates to the Discord desktop app that make it closely match the mobile version of the app, alongside a much-improved overlay. The […]
Hoto’s handy, rechargeable tools are up to 50 percent off
Hoto makes tools for DIY tinkerers who have a preference, not just for how their tools perform, but how they look, too. Not to be hyperbolic, but they’re the slickest tools we’ve seen, so we love to tell Verge readers every time its products go on sale. And, wouldn’t you know it, the reliable Hoto […]
Instagram is giving schools a faster way to get students’ posts taken down
Instagram is rolling out a new program to fast-track moderation reports made by school districts. After a district joins the new Schools Partnership program, any post or account they flag for potentially violating Instagram’s rules will “be automatically prioritized for review.” The school’s account will then receive notifications about the status of their report, and […]
Sony brings more premium features to its budget wireless earbuds
Sony has announced a successor to its budget-minded WF-C700N wireless earbuds from 2023. The new WF-C710N still lack a memorable name but introduce improvements like upgraded active noise cancellation and features borrowed from Sony’s more premium earbud offerings. And despite the rising cost of many electronics, the WF-C710N are available for preorder today for $119.99 […]
The Trump administration axes funding for climate impacts on health research
A growing body of evidence points to mounting health risks posed by climate change. Despite this, it seems the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will quit funding that kind of research. ProPublica first reported the news on Monday, citing internal records that the investigative outlet viewed. NIH gave directions to staff members last week that […]
Tesla Takedown: all the news about the protests roiling the automaker
Since early February, Tesla has been the target of protesters opposed to CEO Elon Musk’s unprecedented takeover of the federal government. As Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) eliminates humanitarian aid programs and fires tens of thousands of government workers, demonstrators are expressing their rage by picketing Tesla showrooms and demanding Tesla owners sell their […]
Apple says it’ll use Apple Maps Look Around photos to train AI
Sometime earlier this month, Apple updated a section of its website that discloses how it collects and uses imagery for Apple Maps’ Look Around feature, which is similar to Google Maps’ Street View, as spotted by 9to5Mac. A newly added paragraph reveals that, beginning in March 2025, Apple will be using imagery and data collected […]
Samsung TV owners can finally get better 4K HDR on Netflix
Netflix has added support for HDR10 Plus – a move that will finally allow Samsung TV owners to take better advantage of their device’s ability to stream with better clarity and color. The streaming service now offers HDR10 Plus through its Premium plan, with the format accounting for around 50 percent of “eligible viewing hours.” […]
Ticketmaster may have violated consumer protection laws
The UK’s Consumer Markets Authority (CMA) has provided an update into its investigation of Ticketmaster after the sale of Oasis reunion tour tickets resulted in grossly inflated ticket prices and numerous consumer complaints. The CMA said that the results of the investigation warranted, “consulting with the ticketing platform on changes to ensure fans receive the […]
The Bambu H2D isn’t just a bigger 3D printer — it’s a laser cutter, pen plotter, and Cricut competitor too
Last May, I told you how 3D printers still aren’t easy enough for the mass market, but Bambu Lab had built the easiest yet. Now, instead of making it easier, Bambu is building its biggest and most sophisticated model to date — a Swiss Army knife of 3D printers that can also cut, draw, and […]
How Roomba got stuck
In the robot vacuum world, there’s Roomba and there’s everybody else. iRobot’s autonomous cleaner may not have been the very first of its kind, but it was the first one most people knew about, and for many years it was clearly the best one you could buy. But now, more than three decades after iRobot […]
Amazon’s big spring sale is live, and here are the 50 best deals
Just as flower buds are beginning to bloom to mark the seasonal shift toward warmer months, Amazon is hosting its first big sales event of 2025. The Big Spring Sale, as it is known, kicks off today and runs through Monday, March 31st, bringing with it a slew of discounts on gardening supplies, bedding, and […]
Otter’s new AI agent can speak up in meetings
Otter, the AI-powered automated transcription service, is launching a trio of artificial intelligence agents that aim to provide quick assistance and boost productivity during calls and meetings. The most notable is the aptly named Otter Meeting Agent, a voice-activated meeting assistant that’s capable of using company data to answer questions and complete tasks. Otter says […]
AirFly’s wireless headphone dongle adds volume controls and better sound
Twelve South has released a new version of its AirFly Pro dongle, promising better performance when connecting wireless headphones to devices that lack Bluetooth support. Although the AirFly Pro 2 is marketed as a way to hook wireless headphones to airplane seatback entertainment systems, it’s still compatible with any device featuring a 3.5mm headphone jack. […]
Waymo plans robotaxi launch in Washington, DC in 2026
Waymo announced that Washington, DC will be its next robotaxi city. The company aims to launch its Waymo One ridehailing service in the nation’s capitol in 2026 — though it acknowledged that it will first need to change the city law prohibiting fully autonomous vehicles without safety drivers. Currently, companies that want to test autonomous […]
Nvidia’s AI assistant is here to optimize your gaming PC
Nvidia’s G-Assist was originally an April Fools’ prank in 2017 before becoming a real tech demo last year and a functioning AI assistant for RTX GPU owners today. Project G-Assist is now available inside the Nvidia app, and will help to optimize game and system settings, measure frame rates, and even change the lighting on connected […]
The FBI launched a task force to investigate Tesla attacks
A report in the New York Post on Monday revealed the existence of a new 10-person FBI task force focused on vandalism and other activity aimed toward Tesla in response to the actions of Elon Musk. Like Attorney General Pam Bondi’s re-announcement last week of old charges against people accused of targeting Tesla locations for […]
Trump officials planned a military strike over Signal – with a magazine editor on the line
Getting added to the wrong group chat is a common problem, but what if that group chat is describing an upcoming military strike? That’s what happened to The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg, who was added to a Signal group chat formed by high-ranking members of the Trump administration to discuss plans for military strikes on […]
Alleged Snowflake hacker agrees to be extradited to the US
Connor Moucka, accused of stealing large amounts of customer data from companies that used Snowflake’s cloud storage services, has agreed to be extradited to the US to face charges, Cyberscoop reports. Around 165 companies were affected by the Snowflake breaches, including AT&T and Ticketmaster. Alexander “Connor” Moucka, who was arrested in Canada on October 30th […]
Trump’s plans to save TikTok may fail to keep it online, Democrats warn
Three Democratic senators are urging President Donald Trump to work with Congress to save TikTok from going dark in the US after April 5th, rather than plow ahead with plans that could leave TikTok’s service providers open to hundreds of billions of dollars in liability. Sens. Ed Markey (D-MA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Cory […]
Meta Quest might add single window screensharing in VR soon
A yet-to-be-launched “share” feature for Meta Quest VR headsets might have been spotted inside the operating system’s code. The new feature might allow you to share views of single 2D windows on your headset with other Quest users, according to UploadVR. In a post on X, a VR fan known as Luna who posts extensively […]
You’ll soon be able to hear Apple Watch alarms even in silent mode
Apple’s release candidate for watchOS 11.4 came out today, providing an early look at some new features coming to the Apple Watch in the next few weeks. The OS update has some bug fixes, but more notably, it makes a change to the Apple Watch’s Silent Mode, allowing alarms to be heard while everything else […]
Apple’s iOS 18.4 update with AI-powered Priority Notifications is almost here
Apple is getting closer to launching Priority Notifications, a feature that uses AI to automatically detect important iPhone notifications and makes them more visible on your lockscreen. The feature is included in the iOS 18.4 release candidate rolled out on Monday, as spotted earlier by MacRumors. Along with Priority Notifications, the iOS 18.4 release candidate […]
X’s head of engineering is out
X’s director of engineering, Haofei Wang, has suddenly left the company, according to sources with knowledge of the matter. Wang first joined Elon Musk’s X in July 2023 and has been an integral part of the company’s leadership, often serving as a conduit between Musk and the rest of the company’s engineers. More recently, he […]
Sony’s noise-canceling WH-1000XM5 headphones are on sale for $150 off
I’m not the type of person who assumes that the best tech for me is something that was just announced this week. Take, for example, the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones, which were introduced a little under three years ago. These over-the-ear, noise-canceling headphones, currently our pick for the best wireless headphones for most people, are now […]
OpenAI reshuffles leadership as Sam Altman pivots to technical focus
In a significant executive shuffle announced Monday, OpenAI is expanding COO Brad Lightcap’s responsibilities while CEO Sam Altman shifts his attention more toward the company’s technical direction. The news was first reported by Bloomberg. Lightcap will now “oversee day-to-day operations,†international expansion, and manage key partnerships with tech giants like Microsoft and Apple, according to […]
Alienware’s AW2725DF OLED gaming monitor is a steal at $599.99
I’m still getting accustomed to seeing 27-inch 1440p QD-OLED gaming monitors for less than $700 — after all, it wasn’t long ago that they were retailing for around $1,000. So imagine the feeling of sticker shock (complimentary) to spot one of Alienware’s models with a fast 360Hz refresh rate for hundreds of dollars off, which […]
How to delete your 23andMe data
23andMe has filed for bankruptcy, raising concerns about what will happen to the DNA-testing company and all the data it’s collected from customers over the years. In the event that 23andMe is sold, its massive genetic database may end up in the hands of a different company entirely — one that users never consented to […]
Google Drive for Windows on Arm PCs is now widely available
Google has officially launched its Drive app for Arm-compatible Windows PCs. It first rolled out the Arm64 app in beta last year, but now it’s “generally available,” according to an update posted Monday. Like the existing Google Drive app, the Arm64 version lets Windows PCs running Qualcomm’s Snapdragon processors store, sync, and access files. The […]
Aura digital photo frames will continue to auto-sync with Google Photos after all
We reported earlier this month that, due to changes Google is making to how apps access Google Photo libraries, digital photo frames from companies like Aura and Cozyla would no longer be able to auto-sync with those albums. But Aura has now confirmed to The Verge that its frames will continue to work with Google […]
Minecraft is getting vibrant with its visuals
Minecraft is going to look very different soon. During the Minecraft Live event over the weekend, Mojang revealed a new update that will seriously transform the way we see the world of Minecraft. Vibrant Visuals is the graphical update players have been waiting for. It’s got dynamic lighting, improved shadows, enhanced water reflections, volumetric fog, […]
Microsoft announces security AI agents to help overwhelmed humans
Microsoft launched its AI-powered Security Copilot a year ago to bring a chatbot to the cybersecurity space, and now it’s expanding it with AI agents that are designed to autonomously assist overwhelmed security teams. Microsoft is unveiling six of its own AI agents for its Security Copilot, as well as five that have been created […]
Apple’s The Studio spins Hollywood chaos into comedic gold
Though movie studio heads are usually in the mood to pat themselves on the back around this time of year, it is always difficult to take the entertainment industry seriously when you stop to think about the many ridiculous projects that leave you wondering “who asked for this?†IP-based hits like Barbie get studio executives […]
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle arrives on PS5 in April
Microsoft and Bethesda are bringing Indiana Jones and the Great Circle to PS5 on April 17th. The game first debuted on Xbox and PC on December 9th, with Microsoft promising a PS5 release this spring. Bethesda is selling standard and premium versions of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle on PS5, and the premium version […]
Rivian now has a bedroom to go with its kitchen
Rivian and camping gear company iKamper have launched a new tent designed for the R1T electric truck that’s based on iKamper’s Skycamp 3.0 Mini pop-out tent. The $4,595 Skycamp Mini add-on stows away in a hardshell case that fits over Rivian’s bed rack and pops out to the side of the truck with a ladder […]
Splice CEO Kakul Srivastava on where to draw hard lines around AI in music
Today, I’m talking with Kakul Srivastava, CEO of music creation platform Splice. I don’t think I need to really introduce Splice, actually — I just need to play this clip: If you exist on planet Earth, you know that as the guitar loop from Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso,” which is an inescapable pop music phenomenon. You can […]
Apple’s AirPods Max with USB-C will soon support lossless audio
Apple is bringing higher-fidelity audio to its AirPods Max headphones in April, the company announced today. When the $549 headphones switched to a USB-C connector last year, they lost support for wired audio playback — but it seems like Apple is about to rectify that with full lossless support, which even the prior Lightning model […]
GoPro’s anamorphic lens is fun, fuss-free, and now available to buy
GoPro is now shipping the new Anamorphic Lens Mod for its Hero 13 Black camera, which allows creators to record in a wider field of view without complex editing. The $129.99 anamorphic lens uses an optical squishing technique to shoot in a 21:9 aspect ratio and capture cinematic-style lens flares, with the Hero 13 Black […]
23andMe files for bankruptcy as CEO steps down
DNA testing firm 23andMe has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection to help the company sell itself after years of financial difficulties. Anne Wojcicki, 23andMe’s co-founder and CEO, announced on X that she has resigned with immediate effect to become an independent bidder for the company, with chief financial and accounting officer Joe Selsavage stepping […]
Google is rolling out Gemini’s real-time AI video features
Google has started rolling out new AI features to Gemini Live that let it “see” your screen or through your smartphone camera and answer questions about either in real-time, Google spokesperson Alex Joseph has confirmed in an email to The Verge. The features come nearly a year after Google first demonstrated the “Project Astra” work […]
Google confirms it deleted Maps Timeline data for some
Google Maps users have recently been complaining on places like Reddit that their Timeline data — the app’s historical record of where they’ve been — had disappeared. Now, Google has confirmed to Android Authority that it accidentally deleted the data and that anyone who wasn’t using Google’s cloud backups is out of luck. Here is […]
The Apple Watch may get cameras and Apple Intelligence
Apple is working on adding cameras to the Apple Watch in order to enable AI features like Visual Intelligence within the next two years, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman in today’s Power On Newsletter. The cameras will be “inside the display” for the standard Series Watch, while the Apple Watch Ultra would feature it on […]
Why Balatro’s developer stays anonymous
Balatro just won four Game Developers Choice Awards, including Game of the Year, but the person who made the game wasn’t on stage to accept them. Instead, Playstack communications director Wout van Haldren spoke on behalf of Balatro’s developer, who goes by the alias LocalThunk, each time the game won an award. “The team does […]
Is it safe to travel with your phone right now?
In recent weeks, airport Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents have drawn public outcry for denying travelers US entry based on searches of their phones. A doctor on an H-1B visa was deported to Lebanon after CBP found “sympathetic photos and videos†of Hezbollah leaders. A French scientist was turned away after a device search […]
An old smartwatch favorite makes a comeback
Hi, friends! Welcome to Installer No. 76, your guide to the best and Verge-iest stuff in the world. (If you’re new here, welcome, sorry if your bracket’s busted, and also you can read all the old editions at the Installer homepage.) This week, I have been shirking most of my responsibilities to watch March Madness. […]
Hue accidentally leaks a new video doorbell
An update to the Philips Hue app this week appears to have leaked a new Hue Secure video doorbell, reports Hueblog. The unannounced product shows up in a section offering instructions for adding devices that you have no QR code for. From the screenshots below, taken in the iOS Hue app by my colleague Jennifer […]
Cloudflare is luring web-scraping bots into an ‘AI Labyrinth’
Cloudflare, one of the biggest network internet infrastructure companies in the world, has announced AI Labyrinth, a new tool to fight web-crawling bots that scrape sites for AI training data without permission. The company says in a blog post that when it detects “inappropriate bot behavior,” the free, opt-in tool lures crawlers down a path […]
Photo Mode is my new gaming obsession
Infinity Nikki and Assassin’s Creed Shadows have become my twin obsessions for their meticulously detailed environments, textures, and weather. With open-world dress-up game Infinity Nikki, I continue to be agog at how clothing textures are rendered with such detail and fidelity that by mere sight, I know exactly what a piece of fabric will feel […]
SwitchBot adds robot vacuums, smart shades, and its new Hub 3 to Home Assistant
SwitchBot will integrate more than 45 of its products with Home Assistant during the first half of this year, the company said in an email to The Verge. That expansion includes The SwitchBot Hub 3 that was first revealed in a filing with the Connectivity Standards Alliance last week. Many of these integrations are coming […]
7 cool indie games from GDC 2025
The Game Developers Conference, an annual gathering that brings thousands of game developers to San Francisco, has just wrapped up. While most of the event is about networking and interesting talks about game design and technology, there were also a bunch of unreleased indie games that we got to check out. Yes, much of video […]
Fujifilm GFX100RF review: one sensor, nine cameras
When Apple introduced the iPhone 15 Pro, Greg Joswiak, the company’s senior vice president of worldwide marketing, said the device’s three rear cameras would give consumers “the equivalent of seven camera lenses in their pocket.†We could spend multiple podcasts debating the technical validity of that statement, but what Joswiak was trying to imply was […]
People keep putting fake walls in front of Teslas
Someone has responded to YouTuber Mark Rober’s Tesla fake wall test with a video that also tries to address the question of whether the company’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) features would detect a Wile E. Coyote-style road obstruction in the real world. Creator Kyle Paul posted his video Thursday and included two Teslas with FSD: a […]
It’s time to squad up in this preview from Apple’s Mythic Quest spinoff series
Aside from cutscenes, most of Mythic Quest takes place in the real world. But Apple’s upcoming spinoff series Side Quest will give us a much better look at what the game looks like from within. While some of Side Quest’s four episodes focus on people’s lives outside of and away from Mythic Quest, the final […]
No DEI allowed for US mergers and acquisitions, says the new FCC chair
Federal Communications Commission chair Brendan Carr said companies looking for regulatory approval should “get busy ending any sort of their invidious forms of DEI discrimination,” according to an interview with Bloomberg. Carr reportedly brought up Paramount’s merger with Skydance, Verizon’s purchase of Frontier Communications, and T-Mobile’s plans to acquire most of US Cellular as potential […]
Lyft’s robotaxis will launch in Atlanta this summer
Lyft will let users in Atlanta catch robotaxi rides starting this summer, as reported by NBC News. “Atlanta riders will have the opportunity to be matched with a fleet of autonomous Toyota Sienna minivans equipped with May Mobility’s autonomous technology, a deployment that Lyft and May Mobility aim to scale over time across multiple markets,” […]
Lawmakers are trying to repeal Section 230 again
Congress’ least favorite law is once against facing an existential challenge by bipartisan opponents. Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Dick Durbin (D-IL), the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, are planning to reintroduce a bill to sunset Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act in two years. Repealing the bill, first reported by The Information, […]
Drama over quantum computing’s future heats up
On March 18th, Chetan Nayak, a physicist leading Microsoft’s quantum team, presented new data on the company’s quantum computing chip at the American Physical Society’s Global Physics Summit in Anaheim, California. It was meant to calm a raging debate among physicists, but researchers remain skeptical of the results. “I never felt like there would be […]
Watch this ultra-detailed animation of the seafloor
The world has a more detailed map of the seafloor than ever before thanks to observations taken from space. NASA published a video this week showing a remarkably clear picture of the bottom of the ocean made possible thanks to new satellite technology. The face of the moon has been more thoroughly mapped than the […]
Google will let you make AI podcasts from Gemini’s Deep Research
Google’s Gemini app now lets you generate Audio Overviews based on Deep Research. That means you can turn the in-depth reports generated by Gemini into a conversational podcast featuring two AI “hosts.” Since launching Audio Overviews within its AI note-taking app NotebookLM last September, Google has been steadily adding to the feature by letting you […]
How ‘Careless People’ is becoming a bigger problem for Meta
Meta has aggressively pushed to discredit and silence Sarah Wynn-Williams, the author of Careless People, her memoir about working at the company as a policy director. Now, she’s fighting back. Attorneys for Wynn-Williams this week filed an emergency motion seeking to dismiss the gag order that Meta won via an arbitrator. A copy of her […]
ICE is going after more international students
After immigration agents detained Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil over his involvement in pro-Palestine protests on campus, President Donald Trump promised it was just the beginning. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has since arrested at least two more students who are in the country on visas — one of whom had recently sued […]
Samsung admits its bad software update bricked a lot of soundbars
Samsung has confirmed to The Verge that a “software update error” is what broke “certain 2024 soundbar devices,” per a statement from Jim Kiczek, head of audio at Samsung Electronics America. Kiczek says that Samsung is “offering free repairs for all affected units – regardless of warranty status.” Last week, many owners of Samsung soundbars, […]
Alexa Plus is coming to almost every Echo — but your favorite skill might not make the cut
The new souped-up Alexa voice assistant, Alexa Plus, is scheduled to arrive in the next few weeks in an early access preview. The good news is that as long as you have (or buy) an Echo Show 8, 10, 15, or 21 smart display, you’ll be able to use the generative-AI powered Alexa across any […]
Perplexity wants to buy TikTok and open-source its algorithm
The AI search startup Perplexity just proposed a bid for acquiring (and transforming) TikTok, per a company blog post published Friday. “Perplexity is singularly positioned to rebuild the TikTok algorithm without creating a monopoly, combining world-class technical capabilities with Little Tech independence,†the company wrote. They claim they’re uniquely positioned to do this “without creating […]
Here are best deals you can already grab from Amazon’s spring sales event
Spring has sprung — and so has Amazon’s latest sales event. Amazon’s Big Spring Sale kicks off on Tuesday, March 25th, and runs through Monday, March 31st, bringing with it a slew of discounts on gardening supplies, bedding, grilling essentials, and other springtime favorites. And while the discounts aren’t as steep as during tentpole events […]
Yahoo is selling TechCrunch
TechCrunch has a new owner, again. Yahoo has sold the tech news site to the private equity firm Regent for an undisclosed sum, according to an announcement on Friday. Regent is the same company that snapped up Foundry, the firm behind outlets like PCWorld, Macworld, and TechAdvisor on Thursday. Founded in 2005, TechCrunch has experienced many […]
Elon Musk is paying voters again ahead of the Wisconsin Supreme Court election
Not satisfied with effectively buying a co-president role in Donald Trump’s administration, Elon Musk has turned his attention — and money — towards a key race in the swing state of Wisconsin. The billionaire’s America PAC is claiming to give $100 to registered voters who sign a petition against “activist judges.” It’s not the first […]
Anker’s small and light 45W USB-C charger is now even smaller and lighter
Alongside beefy wall chargers that can power up several devices simultaneously, Anker continues to refine the design and engineering of its basic single-port USB-C AC adapters making them smaller and smaller. Its new Nano 45W charger is now just 1.45 inches long and weighs 52 grams, which is about 17 grams lighter than the last […]
Elon Musk made more promises about Optimus and Cybercabs at Tesla’s surprise all-hands meeting
At a surprise all-hands-on meeting Thursday night in Texas, Tesla CEO Elon Musk rallied up his company’s employees as the brand’s public reputation continues to plummet, Business Insider reports. At the livestreamed meeting, Musk told employees to “hang on to your stock” – which declined in value by 50 percent since December – and promised […]
Opening iOS is good news for smartwatches
Look at every smartwatch buying guide on the internet. I guarantee they’re either divided into separate guides for iOS and Android, like The Verge’s, or include categories like “Best for iPhone owners” or “Best for Android.” (Also, like The Verge’s fitness tracker guide.) It wasn’t always this way. Five years ago, you could buy a […]
The crypto bars are invading Washington
In a true sign of a vibe shift in Washington, a DC bar beloved by Republican staffers announced that it was shuttering its doors — and will reportedly be replaced by a bar that famously accepts Bitcoin as payment. Local news site PoPville first reported on Thursday that a DC outpost of Pubkey, a bar […]
Bigscreen’s super light Beyond 2 headset adds optional eye-tracking
Bigscreen has just revealed the Beyond 2, a custom-fit virtual-reality headset with a 116-degree field of view it claims is wider than the Meta Quest 3 and Valve Index. The wired headset weighs just 107 grams (~3.8 ounces) and starts at $1,019, but you’ll have to pay extra if you want eye-tracking capabilities. The Bigscreen […]
The FCC is probing Chicago public radio station WBEZ over on-air sponsorships
Chicago’s WBEZ is among 13 NPR and PBS member radio stations being investigated by the Federal Communications Commission as the Trump administration looks to tighten its control over public news organizations. The probes launched by FCC Chair Brendan Carr in January focus on whether on-air sponsorships aired by NPR and PBS-affiliated broadcasters comply with regulations […]
GM blocks dealership from installing Apple CarPlay retrofit kits in EVs
GM is shutting down a dealership service that offered the installation of a third-party Apple CarPlay upgrade kit for its EVs, citing concerns that the product “could affect critical safety features” in its vehicles, The Drive reports. A spokesperson from GM told The Drive that “Aftermarket services that introduce features not originally designed, thoroughly tested, […]
Coca-Cola’s new hydrogen-powered vending machine doesn’t need a power outlet
Coca-Cola is installing what the company claims to be the world’s first hydrogen-powered vending machines at the World Expo 2025, which will open to the public in Osaka, Japan, on April 13th, 2025. Co-developed by Fuji Electric, the machines don’t need access to a power outlet and instead rely on replaceable hydrogen cartridges to fuel […]
Pokémon TCG Pocket is getting in on the shiny hype
The popularity of Pokémon cards depicting shiny monsters is one of the reasons that physical packs have become so much harder to find in the wild these days. The Pokémon Company has been trying to figure out ways to solve the real world scarcity / scalping problem for a while now, but that shouldn’t be […]
Severance brought everything together in its season 2 finale
Rest easy: we don’t have another Lost on our hands. As beloved as that classic mystery box show was, it was equally frustrating for the way it teased big secrets with answers that either underwhelmed or never came. With the mysteries in Severance piling up since its first season, viewers have had every right to […]
Trump’s confusing crusade against Big Tech
President Trump wanted to ban TikTok. Now he wants to save TikTok. There might even be a plan to save TikTok, though right now it feels more like a “concepts of a plan†situation. Meanwhile, the Trump administration continues to press hard on regulating Big Tech, while also cozying up to their CEOs — and […]
Severance is returning for season 3
Severance’s season 2 finale debuts on Apple TV Plus today – but don’t worry, there’s still more to come. In a reply to producer Ben Stiller, Apple CEO Tim Cook posted a video confirming the series renewal, saying “Season 3 of Severance is available upon request.” Even though there was a three-year gap between the […]
Apple TV Plus is reportedly losing $1 billion per year
Apple TV Plus is losing more than $1 billion every year despite reaching 45 million subscribers in 2024, according to a report from The Information. It’s reportedly the only Apple subscription that isn’t generating a profit. As part of an effort to take “a harder line on spending,” Apple cut its initial $5 billion budget […]
Segway is recalling over 200,000 electric scooters that can collapse mid-ride
Segway has issued a recall for all of its Ninebot Max G30P and Max G30LP electric scooters due to a faulty mechanism that can cause the scooters’ handlebars and stem to fold while it’s in use, creating a fall hazard, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The company has received 68 reports of […]
Comcast and Spectrum join in on the satellite messaging wave
Comcast and Charter’s mobile services now offer access to satellite-based emergency messaging. The launch comes just one day after their network provider, Verizon, rolled out satellite messaging for Samsung Galaxy S25 and Google Pixel 9 devices. Just like with Verizon, customers on Comcast’s Xfinity Mobile and Charter’s Spectrum Mobile will need a Galaxy S25 or […]
Netflix has a new plan for games
Netflix’s gaming strategy to date has been scattershot. Since Netflix gaming debuted in 2021, the streamer has launched indie darlings, streaming tie-ins, and blockbuster ports. There have been studio acquisitions, attempts at original AAA games, and experiments with cloud streaming. A few years on, it’s not entirely clear what the strategy is — or if […]
The EU wants Apple to open these iOS features to other gadgets
The European Union has outlined exactly how Apple needs to improve the interoperability of iOS, and the guidance reveals which features could be available to other smartwatches, headphones, and speakers. The specifications adopted by the European Commission on Tuesday explain exactly how Apple needs to open iPhone and iPad operating systems to comply with the […]
Here’s the Steam on Xbox evidence Microsoft didn’t want you to see
Microsoft revealed earlier this year that it’s combining “the best of Xbox and Windows together” for handhelds, and now the company is starting to drop the first hints at what that UI might look like. In a blog post about Xbox “opening a billion doors,” Microsoft briefly revealed a new Xbox UI that looks a […]
We ran the wrong headline about Trump firing the FTC commissioners
On Tuesday, the president of the United States fired the Democratic commissioners of the Federal Trade Commission in clear contravention of what has been the law since 1935. News outlets — including The Verge — all went up with their articles as fast as they could. The headlines and stories across the board were pretty similar; the […]
Google is improving Gmail’s search with AI
In an effort to improve the chances of finding the email you’re looking for, Google is introducing an optional AI-powered upgrade for Gmail’s search function. Google searches will no longer just return results in chronological order based solely on the keywords you’re searching for, but will instead also take into account other criteria, including “recency, […]
Nintendo, Microsoft, and other developers will share accessibility labels about their games
Five major video game companies, including Nintendo of America and Microsoft, are joining a major new “cross-industry effort” managed by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) to share clearer information about the accessibility features in their games. As part of the “Accessible Games Initiative,” the five “founding members” — Electronic Arts, Google, Microsoft, Nintendo of America, […]
The Pixel 9A’s version of Gemini is missing a few features
The Google Pixel 9A may have the same Tensor G4 chip as its more expensive counterparts, but it comes with a text-only version of Gemini AI. Google confirmed to Ars Technica that the Pixel 9A doesn’t have access to certain features, like the AI-powered Pixel Screenshots app, because of the phone’s lower 8GB of memory. […]
Zagg’s new tablet dock adds over-sized playback controls to your iPad
Zagg’s new Six-Port Media Hub expands connectivity of iPads, Android tablets, and other mobile devices with a handful of extra ports, including HDMI and a pair of memory card slots. Potentially even more useful is the dedicated set of three playback buttons on the front for pausing or skipping through music and videos. The Zagg […]
Google’s Pixel Buds Pro 2 are now $179, their lowest price yet
The weather is getting warmer, so it’s time to go out, take a walk, and listen to your favorite audio tracks — and a good way to do that is with the Pixel Buds Pro 2. Google’s latest pair of wireless earbuds are currently on sale at Amazon, Best Buy, and the Google Store for […]
Honda and Acura EV owners will get Tesla Supercharger access this summer
Honda and its luxury brand Acura are getting access to more than 20,000 Tesla Superchargers in North America starting in June for their Prologue and ZDX EVs. Both brands will also sell their own EV charging adapters for an undisclosed price through dealerships. The new Honda and Acura branded adapters that convert their vehicles’ existing […]
Threads finally lets you set the following feed as default
Meta is finally allowing Threads users to set the following feed or any custom feeds as the default. The change is part of a number of new Threads features, including the ability to now limit post replies to followers only, a better video player, and the option to add topics in your bio. Threads users […]
Apple puts the Vision Pro guy in charge of Siri
Apple is replacing the head of Siri, shortly after pushing back the rollout of its highly-anticipated AI features, according to a report from Bloomberg. Mike Rockwell, the head of Vision Pro development, will reportedly replace John Giannandrea as the leader of AI and Siri. The move comes after Apple CEO Tim Cook “lost confidence” in […]
TikTok will now show missing child notifications
TikTok will now show AMBER Alerts in the US. If there’s a missing child in your area, you’ll see an AMBER Alert directly within your For You feed. In the example shared by TikTok, the AMBER Alert shows a photo of the child, along with relevant details and an option to call 911. TikTok is […]
This digital notebook simulates E Ink screens to reduce distractions
After trying to woo artists and creative types away from the iPad with its Magic Drawing Pad, XP-Pen has announced a new Android-based note-taking alternative to the Amazon Kindle Scribe and Remarkable tablets. Unlike those digital notebooks, which are appealing because they lack traditional displays, the XP-Pen Magic Note Pad uses a full-color LCD instead […]
Netflix’s CEO talks Apple TV, Amazon, and the NFL
It’s not every day you see a tech executive lightly dunk on their competitors, but this week, Netflix’s co-CEO Ted Sarandos was feeling a little bold. In an interview with Variety, Sarandos touched on the Max versus HBO name change, sized up Prime Video as a competitor, and expressed confusion over Apple TV Plus, a […]
LG’s NFT marketplace for TVs is shutting down
LG is shutting down Art Lab, its NFT marketplace for TVs. In a notice posted to its website, LG says it has made the “difficult decision” to close the platform on June 17th. LG launched its Art Lab app during the NFT craze in 2022, billing it as a way to “buy, sell and enjoy […]
Tesla recalls more than 46,000 Cybertrucks after trim starts falling off
Tesla has issued a recall for 46,096 Cybertrucks in the US to fix a fault that was causing the steel trim on some vehicles to come loose or fly off while driving. The recall applies to every Cybertruck manufactured between November 13th, 2023, and February 27th, 2025, according to the report filed with the US […]
The beautiful, retro tech of two theatrical sound designers
When asked what they do for work, creative couple Jessie Char and Maxwell Neely-Cohen should probably just say “yes.†True professional multihyphenates, Char’s gig history includes stints as a UI/UX designer, conference organizer, concert cellist, and Apple Genius; Neely-Cohen is a novelist, ballet dancer, and coeditor of the experimental literary journal The HTML Review. Together, […]
How the Tesla brand turned so toxic
Today we’re talking about the protests against Tesla, which have been branded on social media under the hashtag Tesla Takedown. The protests are, of course, a reaction to Elon Musk, who has managed to install himself as basically a not-so-shadow president who is tearing the federal government apart, leaving confusion and destruction in his wake. […]
The Digimon franchise is getting a mobile card came of its own
Mobile card games like Pokémon TCG Pocket and Marvel Snap have proven that folks are willing to fork over real money for digital collectibles if they’re presented in just the right way, and now, Bandai Namco wants to get in on the action. During this year’s Digimon Con livestream presentation, Bandai Namco announced that it […]
We’ve entered a forever war with bird flu
Avian influenza is “evolving in ways we haven’t seen before,†says Martha Nelson, a computational biologist and staff scientist researching pathogen evolution at the National Institutes of Health — one of many scientists who have been monitoring the global H5N1 outbreak. Bird flu “is adapting to mammals, and it continues to show new tricks,†Nelson […]
Discord is getting mobile ads
Discord is bringing third-party ads to its mobile platform. The gaming-focused voice and chat app announced that a mobile pilot for Video Quests — ads that allow Discord users to earn rewards like avatar decorations and in-game items by watching a video — will launch in June 2025, after rolling out on PC and consoles […]
YouTube is investigating a bug causing low-res videos
YouTube is looking into an issue causing “lower than usual video quality” on iOS, desktop, and smart TVs. The platform says the apparent bug could make YouTube videos and shorts stream at 144p or 360p even with a strong internet connection. Over the past week or so, many users on Reddit have reported having YouTube […]
Space science is under threat from the anti-DEI purge
The space science community has long prided itself on its ability to inspire and move people of all backgrounds, but President Donald Trump’s recent executive orders demanding the end of diversity programs have thrown that optimism into chaos. In response, NASA has suspended funding for diversity and outreach programs, paused the meetings of community groups […]
Huawei’s new flip phone is weirdly wide
Huawei has launched a new flip phone that upends the form factor, opening sideways rather than vertically to create a wider device with a tablet-esque aspect ratio. It’s the first Huawei phone to ship without Android app compatibility, and debuts the company’s in-house AI assistant, Harmony Intelligence — something the industry shouldn’t ignore, Nvidia’s CEO […]
Fujifilm’s GFX100RF puts medium format guts in a compact fixed-lens camera
Fujifilm just announced its latest medium format camera, the GFX100RF. This one differs from the company’s other GFX models in two key ways: it’s the lightest body in the GFX series so far, and it’s the first to feature a fixed-lens design. Up front you’re getting a 35mm lens (equivalent to a 28mm in full […]
Bluetti’s Handsfree 1 is the solar backpack I love hating
Can you love and hate something equally? That’s the relationship I have with Bluetti’s Handsfree 1 Backpack. For $349 you get a large 42L backpack and a skinny 268.8Wh solar generator built around long-lasting LFP battery cells that can be recharged by up to 200W of connected solar panels. It features two USB-A and two […]
Meta AI is rolling out in Europe after all
Meta is bringing its AI chatbot to Europe almost one year after pausing its launch in the region. Starting this week, Meta AI will roll out across WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger in 41 European countries and 21 overseas territories — but it will be limited to text-based chat features for now. Meta AI launched […]
‘Tesla Takedown’ protesters planning ‘biggest day of action’
Tesla protesters are planning their “biggest day of action” yet, aiming for 500 demonstrations at Tesla showrooms across the world on March 29th, organizers said during a mobilizing call Wednesday. The protests started at a handful of Tesla locations in early February, and has grown to hundreds of locations across the world, as more people […]
Fired FTC commissioner warns of the ‘corrupting influence of billionaires’
President Donald Trump’s sudden and unlawful firing of the Federal Trade Commission’s two remaining Democrats will serve the tech billionaires who backed him, not the American people, warned one of the ousted officials today. “I think we need to be focused on the billionaires over President Trump’s shoulder at his inauguration and what this attempt […]
Roborock opens pre-orders for its robot vacuum with an arm
This week, Roborock announced that its highly anticipated Saros Z70 is now available for pre-order. The Z70 features a robotic arm and is one of the most expensive robot vacuums in the world, at $1,899. For the launch, Roborock is sweetening the pot by bundling the new bot with the choice of a free second vacuum cleaner. […]
Ghost connects its newsletters to the open web
Newsletter platform Ghost switched on its fediverse connectivity this week, allowing bloggers to share their works across the various social platforms that support the open ActivityPub protocol. Ghost initially promised the feature would go live in 2024. But it’s available now in beta for Ghost(Pro) users, TechCrunch reports. With ActivityPub, users on platforms such as […]
The airport panopticon is getting people deported and detained
A legal permanent resident claims he was tortured by customs agents after returning home from a trip to Europe. A doctor with a work visa was denied entry into the country — then flown out of the US in spite of a court order halting her deportation. Two German tourists were hassled at a port […]
There’s a big sale on the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL right now
This deal caught my eye last night. Google is knocking $200 off its flagship Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL, which means the smaller model now starts at $799, or the same price as the regular Pixel 9. That’s a no-brainer right there. Or, you can head to Best Buy where it starts at […]
Microsoft has a new strategy chief to navigate its AI era
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella is moving the company’s HR chief, Kathleen Hogan, into a new role focused on corporate strategy. Announced in an internal memo to Microsoft employees this morning, Hogan will report directly to Nadella and be responsible for strategy and transformation. Hogan has been at Microsoft for more than 20 years and spent […]
Netflix Games is getting its first MMO
Netflix just announced Spirit Crossing during a press event at GDC 2025. Spirit Crossing represents a first for Netflix, becoming the service’s first MMO offering. It was developed by Spry Fox, one of Netflix’s in-house game studios, and will launch sometime later this year. Spirit Crossing is described in the press release as a “cozy […]
Andor creator refuses to publish scripts thanks to AI
Andor showrunner Tony Gilroy told Collider he has killed plans to publish the critically acclaimed show’s scripts, despite having the 1,500-page collection ready to go, due to fear that the material would become training fodder for artificial intelligence systems. At an Emmy event in 2023, Gilroy announced plans to launch a free website featuring all […]
Verizon’s free satellite messaging service is now available
Verizon’s previously announced satellite messaging service is now available to owners of some Android smartphones, the company said in a statement today. It comes at no extra charge to Verizon customers, though you’ll need a Google Pixel 9 or Samsung Galaxy S25 series phone to take advantage of it. The service allows people to send […]
Here are all the Nvidia DGX Spark versions so far
Nvidia showed off its own Grace Blackwell-powered “personal AI supercomputers” yesterday, but it also made another announcement: third-party manufacturers can come and make their own versions as well. So far, Asus, Dell, and HP have come forward showing their own mini PC designs that tout the same GB10 super chip present in the Nvidia DGX […]
Europe is trying to get non-Apple smartwatches to work better with iPhones
The European Commission is instructing Apple to make iOS work better with third-party devices like smartwatches and headphones. The Commission adopted two legally binding decisions Tuesday under the Digital Markets Act (DMA), the European competition law that governs large digital gatekeepers. The first decision will give app developers and device manufacturers more access to key […]
Analogue’s Pocket Dock now works with all of Nintendo’s retro wireless controllers
Analogue has released a new firmware update for its Pocket handheld with bug fixes and expanded support for wireless controllers. PocketOS v2.5 — available for download here — fixes an issue with backup save exports for Game Boy and Game Boy Color games, but also introduces a long list of updates for the Pocket’s TV […]
Former Game Informer staff tease a possible revival
Last year, GameStop shut down Game Informer, laying off all its staff and putting an end to one of the last remaining video game magazines still published in the United States. But now, cryptic posts on social media hint that the publication may make a return. On Bluesky, the Game Informer account, which had not […]
Plex Pass is going up in price — and now you’ll need it for remote playback
Plex is raising the price of its Plex Pass from $4.99 to $6.99 per month and gating a key feature behind the subscription. Starting April 29th, users who want to stream content from their media server outside their homes – and let other people access it for free – will need a Plex Pass subscription. The […]
Google Search charged with breaking EU antitrust rules
Google is breaking European antitrust laws by favoring its own Shopping, Hotels, and Flights search services over rival comparison providers, according to the European Commission. The EU announced in its preliminary ruling today that Google’s parent company, Alphabet, had also violated anti-steering rules under the Digital Markets Act (DMA) by preventing app developers on its […]
Tesla crash victims’ families worried about Musk’s influence over investigations
Family members of people who died in Tesla crashes are urging the US Department of Transportation not to scrap a Biden-era rule requiring companies to report crashes that involve fully or partially autonomous vehicles. They also say they are worried that Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s influence in the Trump administration may lead the department to […]
Multiple Tesla vehicles were set on fire in Las Vegas and Kansas City
A month of anti-Tesla dissent escalated this week with two reports of Teslas catching fire in Las Vegas and Kansas City. The first incident happened early Tuesday morning at a Tesla collision center in Las Vegas, where police say a suspect in all-black gear hit several vehicles with Molotov cocktails and three bullets and painted […]
Tesla awarded ride-hail permit in California, a first step for robotaxis
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) granted Tesla’s application for a ride-hail permit, a required first step in the automaker’s quest to launch a robotaxi service in the state. Last year, Tesla applied to become a transportation charter-party carrier (TCP), which enables it to operate a fleet of vehicles for passenger services using employees as […]
Apple has revealed a Passwords app vulnerability that lasted for months
Apple fixed a bug in the iOS 18.2 Passwords app that, for three months starting with the release of iOS 18, made users vulnerable to phishing attacks, according to an Apple security content update spotted by 9to5Mac. Here’s how Apple describes the bug and its fix: Impact: A user in a privileged network position may […]
A new Mission to Zyxx spin-off podcast is on the way
It has been years since the excellent sci-fi improv comedy podcast Mission to Zyxx ended, but the crew of the Bargarean Jade are getting back together for a new adventure. While Mission to Zyxx’s original Star Wars / Star Trek-lampooning story came to a dramatic close with the show’s fifth season, Maximum Fun announced today […]
This watch has Pong and Missile Command instead of apps
Atari is now selling a smartwatch that prioritizes fun over functionality. The watch’s user interface can be customized with Atari 2600-themed artwork and sound effects. But pushing it squarely into impulse purchase territory is the watch’s ability to play Centipede, Pong, Super Breakout, and Missile Command using the touchscreen or the watch’s crown dial functioning as […]
US music subscriptions cross 100 million as digital downloads drop
Business is still booming for music streaming services, which crossed the 100 million US subscriber mark in 2024, according to the Record Industry Association of America’s (RIAA) latest revenue report. Overall sales were also bolstered by physical media, which is growing at a slightly faster rate than digital, thanks in large part to continually increasing […]
Nvidia says ‘the age of generalist robotics is here’
Nvidia has announced that Isaac GR00T N1 — the company’s open-source, pretrained but customizable foundation model that’s designed to expedite the development and capabilities of humanoid robots — is now available. “The age of generalist robotics is here,” says Nvidia founder and CEO, Jensen Huang. “With Nvidia Isaac GR00T N1 and new data-generation and robot-learning […]
Nvidia’s RTX Pro 6000 has 96GB of VRAM and 600W of power
Nvidia is announcing its RTX Pro Blackwell series of GPUs today, designed to meet the needs of professional designers, developers, data scientists, and creatives. The lineup includes a top of the line RTX Pro 6000 Blackwell GPU for workstations, as well as other RTX Pro Blackwell desktop and laptop variants and a datacenter version of […]
Nvidia’s cute ‘Digits’ AI desktop is coming this summer with a new name and a big brother
Nvidia has revealed its new DGX Spark and DGX Station “personal AI supercomputers” at today’s GTC conference, which are both powered by the company’s Grace Blackwell platform and designed for users to work on large AI models with or without a connection to a datacenter; the Spark is going up for preorder today. The DGX […]
JD Vance tries to mend the MAGA-Tech divide
On Tuesday, Vice President JD Vance publicly acknowledged a simmering “tension†between two warring factions inside the Republican party – the populist MAGA right and the tech billionaires who threw their support to Donald Trump – and called for a truce. In remarks at Andreesen-Horowitz’s American Dynamism policy conference in Washington, DC, Vance, a former […]
Oracle is reportedly in the lead to save TikTok from US ban
Oracle is closing in on a deal that would have it “vouch” for TikTok’s security in exchange for a small stake in the company’s US operations, according to Bloomberg. The plan, which was reportedly discussed among the Trump administration last week, would include “guarantees that an updated US version of TikTok would not contain a […]
Nvidia announces Blackwell Ultra GB300 and Vera Rubin, its next AI ‘superchips’
Nvidia now makes $2,300 in profit every second on the back of the AI revolution. Its data center business is so gigantic, even its networking hardware now rakes in more money than its gaming GPUs. Now, the company is announcing the AI GPUs that it hopes will extend its commanding lead: the Blackwell Ultra GB300, […]
Democratic FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks will resign this spring
Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr could get a Republican majority slightly sooner than expected after Democratic Commissioner Geoffrey Starks announced Tuesday he plans to resign this spring. Starks announced his plans in a statement, but did not specify the date of his departure. President Donald Trump’s Republican nominee to serve on the commission, Olivia […]
Microsoft’s Xbox Adaptive Joystick is now available
Today at its annual Microsoft Ability Summit, the company announced that its Xbox Adaptive Joystick is now available exclusively through the company’s online store for $29.99. The joystick was originally announced last August with a planned release in early 2025. It’s designed to meet the unique needs of gamers with limited mobility through customizable buttons […]
Our five favorite dunks from Drake’s label over his ‘Not Like Us’ lawsuit
Universal Music Group has finally responded to Drake’s claims that the label damaged his reputation with Kendrick Lamar’s diss track “Not Like Us,” and there are some spicy tidbits in there. UMG, which represents both artists, broadly argues that the court should dismiss Drake’s lawsuit because he’s just the sore loser of an ugly rap […]
GM taps Nvidia to boost its embattled self-driving projects
At Nvidia’s annual GTC conference in San Jose, Calif. today, the chipmaker announced it was teaming up with General Motors to develop next-generation cars, robots, and factories. GM says it will apply several of Nvidia’s products to its business, such as the Omniverse 3D graphics platform which will run simulations on virtual assembly lines with […]
Sigma BF review: the perfect camera for a minimalist
Sigma’s new $2,000 camera is missing so many features that you might not take the product seriously. The Sigma BF has no tilt or flip-out screen, hot shoe or cold shoe, any type of viewfinder, mechanical shutter, 4K 60, microphone port, or in-body stabilization. There isn’t even a link to connect your shoulder strap. The […]
Why Trump can’t be trusted with Congress’ new anti-deepfake bill
On today’s episode of Decoder, I’m talking to Verge policy editor Adi Robertson about the Take It Down Act, which is part of a long line of bills that would make it illegal to distribute non-consensual intimate imagery, or NCII. That’s a broad term that encompasses what people used to call revenge porn, but which […]
Facebook, Instagram, and Threads start testing Community Notes next week
Meta will begin testing its X-style Community Notes starting March 18th. The feature will roll out on Facebook, Instagram, and Threads in the US – but Meta won’t publicly publish the notes to start as it tests the Community Notes writing and rating system. Meta first announced plans to replace its fact-checking program with Community […]
The latest alternative iOS app store in Europe is all about games
A new third-party app store is launching for iPhone users in the European Union that describes itself as being “built specifically for mobile gamers.” Skich is the latest in a short list of alternative app marketplaces to take advantage of Apple’s App Store restrictions being loosened by the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), including AltStore […]
Contentious Republican town halls are going viral
In a TikTok video from CNN that has been viewed more than 3 million times since late February, the voice of a voter in Roswell, Georgia, pierces through a town hall event held by Rep. Rich McCormick (R-GA). “Tyranny is rising in the White House, and a man has declared himself our king,” the woman […]
Message threads are coming to WhatsApp
WhatsApp is working on a feature that will group replies to specific messages into a thread, making it easier to keep track of conversations. Instead of scrolling through chats to see scattered individual replies, the feature will create a dedicated view showing every quoted message connecting back to the original message that started the thread, […]
Revisiting Windows 1.0: how Microsoft’s first desktop gracefully failed
Editor’s note: Ahead of Microsoft’s 50th’s anniversary, we’ve fixed the layout on this story — which we originally published in 2012 when Windows 8 launched. Now’s a good time to revisit our look at an operating system that helped shape personal computing over the years. Two years ago today, when Windows 1.0 celebrated its 25th […]
Spectre Divide and its developer are shutting down
Spectre Divide, a Valorant-like free-to-play shooter where you control two bodies, is shutting down just months after its September launch. “We were optimistic about the first week,” developer Mountaintop Studios says in a post. “We’ve had ~400,000 players play, with a peak concurrent player count of ~10,000 across all platforms. But as time has gone […]
Meta is trying to block ex-employee’s book alleging misconduct and harassment
An arbitrator has decided in favor of Meta in a case the company brought against Sarah Wynn-Williams, the former Meta employee who wrote a memoir published this week detailing alleged claims of misconduct at the company. Macmillan Publishers and its imprint that published the memoir, Flatiron Books, were also named as respondents. The memoir, titled […]
Meta is trying to ‘offload’ kids safety onto app stores with new bills, Google says
Meta has spent more than a year advocating for new laws requiring app stores to give parents control over kids’ app downloads, and just saw an early victory in the states. But Google charges that it’s really just a misguided effort to “offload” Meta’s own responsibility to keep kids safe. The missive follows the passage […]
UK investigation says Apple and Google are ‘holding back’ mobile browsers
The United Kingdom’s mobile browser market is “not working well for consumers and businesses” according to a final report from Britain’s competition watchdog, which says that Apple and Google are largely to blame. An independent inquiry group has concluded its mobile browsers investigation for the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), identifying Apple’s policies around iOS, […]
AMD’s partners are already scalping their ‘MSRP’ 9070 and 9070 XT
Sure enough, AMD’s exciting Radeon 9070 and 9070 XT graphic card prices, quoted at $550/$600, are looking too good to be true. Newegg, Overclockers UK, and even Micro Center are among the outlets that have now quietly raised the prices on the supposedly entry-level MSRP models of these graphics cards by $50-$130. Last Thursday, AMD […]
Amtrak’s revamped app makes it easier to find your train status
Amtrak is revamping its mobile app to include more helpful features like making it easier to look up schedule changes and track your train’s progression from station to station. The changes come as Amtrak campaigns to attract customers and encourage them to travel by train instead of cars and planes. Amtrak’s app already helped riders […]
Intel has a new CEO
Intel has appointed a new CEO, three months after former CEO Pat Gelsinger was pushed out of the company. The company’s new chief executive is Lip-Bu Tan, who served as CEO of chip design hardware and services company Cadence from 2009 to 2021 and as a member of Intel’s board of directors from 2022 to […]
Trump is bringing back McCarthyism to go after Mahmoud Khalil
Three days after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested Mahmoud Khalil, the White House confirmed the recent Columbia graduate hadn’t been charged with a crime. Instead, Khalil’s arrest had been personally ordered by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. “The secretary of state has the right to revoke a green card or visa for individuals […]
Solar and wind beat coal in the US for the first time
In a first for the US, wind and solar produced more electricity than coal last year, according to a new report from energy think tank Ember. Coal fell to a historic low, generating 15 percent of the country’s electricity compared to 17 percent from solar and wind combined. The federal government is now taking a […]
NASA plans to launch SpaceX Crew-10 tonight to help bring the Starliner astronauts home
With favorable weather forecast at Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A, NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10 mission is set to launch at 7:49PM ET tonight. Flying into orbit atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, the Dragon spacecraft, will dock with the ISS at around 6:00AM ET on March 13th. Once its there, NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and […]
FTC asks to delay Amazon Prime deceptive practices trial
Attorneys at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) asked a federal judge Wednesday to delay its consumer protection trial against Amazon by two months, saying that staffing losses and a possible office move could hinder its ability to prepare. “We have lost employees in the agency, in our division and on our case team,” FTC attorney […]
Snapchat is rolling out AI-powered video lenses
Snapchat Platinum subscribers will now be able to use video lenses featuring AI generated animals or flowers, Snap announced today. There will initially be three of the lenses, which Snap calls “AI Video Lenses.” The fox lens, for example, can have a fox snuggle on your shoulder, while the raccoon one can have raccoons scamper […]
Judge says she’s leaning toward temporarily saving the CFPB
A federal judge seems likely to temporarily block the Trump administration from dismantling a major consumer protection agency, fearing a delay could leave nothing for the court to save. This week, DC District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson sat through what she called an “illuminating two days” of witness testimony on the future of the […]
Samsung launches $10,000 bundle of eight big TVs
Taking a page from Costco’s playbook, Samsung has announced a new Buzzer Beater Bundle that includes eight TVs sold together at a significant discount, as spotted by SamMobile. The bundle is aimed at college football fans looking to maximize their March Madness intake given the tournament’s busy schedule and overlapping games. The bundle includes a […]
Sonos has canceled its streaming video player
Sonos has abandoned plans to release a streaming video player, the company’s leadership announced in an all-hands call today. The product, codenamed Pinewood, was set to be Sonos’ next major hardware launch. It was already deep into development and has spent months in beta testing. But now the team behind it will be reassigned to […]
FCC chairman asks the public to list every regulation he should remove
Federal Communications Commission chair Brendan Carr is asking the public to help him identify “unnecessary” regulations created by the agency so that he can eliminate them. Carr announced “In re: Delete, Delete, Delete” on Wednesday, in response to President Donald Trump’s executive orders seeking to remove regulations across the government. One order that the FCC […]
A Trump official has been moonlighting as a fashion influencer
On February 11th, as thousands of civil servants wondered whether they’d have a job — or whether their federal agencies would exist at all, as President Donald Trump and Elon Musk took a wrecking ball to the federal government — McLaurine Pinover had other things on her mind. Pinover, a political appointee of the Trump […]
Moft’s new origami case elevates the iPad for improved ergonomics
Moft has announced a new folio-style cover case for iPads that could improve the tablet’s ergonomics for anyone working with the Apple Pencil or simply watching videos. The Moft Dynamic Folio uses an origami approach to transform into a stand that can elevate the tablet by up to three inches, while other configurations let you […]
Microsoft isn’t launching its Xbox handheld this year, but Asus might be
Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer warned in November that the mythical Xbox handheld is a few years away and only at the prototype stage right now. But if you read the headlines this week, you might think it’s actually arriving later this year. A new report from Windows Central claims that “Xbox’s new hardware plans […]
Poker Face season 2 is coming to Peacock this May
Poker Face’s first season was one of the best arguments to sign up for a Peacock subscription, and the show’s upcoming second season looks like it’s going to be even more of a blast. Poker Face season 2 brings Charlie Cale (Natasha Lyonne) back for another round of Columbo-esque murder mystery solving, and a new […]
Google apologizes for Chromecast outage in email to users
Google is emailing Chromecast users today to apologize for an issue that’s been causing certain Chromecast models to fail when people try to cast to them. The company says that it’s working on a fix. Below is the text from the email, which some Verge staffers received, titled, “Important information about your Chromecast.” We’re contacting […]
Discovery Plus is finally getting the overhaul it needs
The Discovery Plus app is getting a much-needed upgrade. On Wednesday, Warner Bros. Discovery announced that it’s finally migrating the service to the same technology used by its flagship streaming service Max, which should offer improved app and video performance. The company says Discovery Plus will have a more “refined” homepage and navigation, along with […]
The travel-friendly Tile Pro has dropped to its best price ever
Brighter days and warmer weather indicate spring and summer are around the corner, meaning now is the time to start prepping for vacation. Investing in a Bluetooth tracker is one way to do so, as it helps you keep tabs on your luggage and various checked bags while you travel. Thankfully, the 2024 Tile Pro […]
Toyota introduces an electric C-HR and updated bZ4X for Europe
Toyota announced updates to its European EV offerings, including an electric version of the Toyota C-HR called the C-HR Plus, and a refreshed bZ4X that addresses many of the electric crossover’s shortcomings. The C-HR Plus is built on Toyota’s e-TNGA platform and comes in two battery options: 57.7 kWh with 455km (about 283 miles) of […]
Google DeepMind’s new AI models help robots perform physical tasks, even without training
Google DeepMind is launching two new AI models designed to help robots “perform a wider range of real-world tasks than ever before.” The first, called Gemini Robotics, is a vision-language-action model capable of understanding new situations, even if it hasn’t been trained on them. Gemini Robotics is built on Gemini 2.0, the latest version of […]
FCC chair asks if YouTube TV ‘discriminates against faith-based programming’
Federal Communications Chairman Brendan Carr wants to know whether YouTube TV has a policy that “discriminates” against faith-based channels. In a letter sent to Google CEO Sundar Pichai and YouTube CEO Neal Mohan, Carr cites a complaint raised by Great American Media, which claims the service “refuses” to carry one of its networks. Carr notes […]
All this bad AI is wrecking a whole generation of gadgets
The onrushing AI era was supposed to create boom times for great gadgets. Not long ago, analysts were predicting that Apple Intelligence would start a “supercycle†of smartphone upgrades, with tons of new AI features compelling people to buy them. Amazon and Google and others were explaining how their ecosystems of devices would make computing […]
iRobot tells investors its future is in doubt
A day after launching a new line of Roomba vacuum cleaners, iRobot Corp. has warned investors that it could shut down in the next 12 months unless it can refinance its debt or find a buyer. According to its latest financial filings, iRobot is heavily in debt. It spent $3.6 million to amend the terms of […]
I outsourced my memory to an AI pin and all I got was fanfiction
For every memory seared into my brain, there are thousands of others I either can’t retain or trust. I spent the last eight months forgetting to fix a homeowner association (HOA) violation despite numerous reminder emails. My cousins and I have been trapped in our own version of Akira Kurosawa’s Rashomon over who said what […]
Rivian joins the hands-free highway driving party
Rivian is pushing a software update to its second-generation vehicles that includes a hands-free highway driving feature, the company said on Tuesday. It was a notable announcement, considering the company has lagged behind its competitors in introducing partially automated driving features similar to Tesla’s Autopilot and General Motors’ Super Cruise. The update enables drivers to […]
Pokémon Go developer Niantic to sell gaming business to Saudi group
Niantic Labs has announced that it’s selling its video game division to Saudi Arabia-owned mobile developer Scopely for $3.5 billion after struggling to replicate the success of Pokémon Go across its other AR games. The newly inked agreement includes Niantic’s Pokémon Go, Monster Hunter Now, and Pikmin Bloom mobile gaming titles. “Niantic games have always […]
Google is fixing broken incoming images and videos in Messages
Google Messages has been updated to address slowdowns, failures, and other issues that are preventing some users from receiving images and videos. Some users have reported RCS issues related to incoming media files, saying the Messages app slows down or freezes while loading attachments, photos cannot be clicked on or interacted with, and that images […]
Google calls Gemma 3 the most powerful AI model you can run on one GPU
A little over a year after releasing two “open” Gemma AI models built from the same technology behind its Gemini AI, Google is updating the family with Gemma 3. According to the blog post, these models are intended for use by developers creating AI applications capable of running wherever they’re needed, on anything from a […]
Google changes Chrome extension policies following the Honey link scandal
Google has updated its affiliate ads policy for Chrome extensions after creators accused PayPal’s popular Honey browser extension of being a “scam.” Honey was accused of taking affiliate revenue from the same influencers it paid for promotion by using its Chrome extension to swap in its own affiliate link before you checked out. According to […]
Gail Slater is the DOJ’s new antitrust head
The US Department of Justice antitrust division will be led by Gail Slater following a successful Congressional confirmation vote today. Slater will take over multiple antitrust cases against large tech firms, filed under both Donald Trump and Joe Biden — including a high-profile Google search monopoly suit. The Senate voted to confirm Slater with bipartisan support […]
Vergil is out for blood in the latest trailer for Netflix’s Devil May Cry series
Ahead of the debut of its new Devil May Cry adaptation next month, Netflix has released yet another trailer to get you acquainted with some of the characters who will be gunning for Dante. In the new trailer it appears there are two different armies dead set on destroying demon hunter Dante (Johnny Yong Bosch) […]
Is Tesla cooked?
Tesla stock plunged 15 percent on Monday, its steepest drop in five years. The price is down over 50 percent since its December highs. Tesla owners, disgusted with Elon Musk’s slash-and-burn tactics for the Trump administration, are selling their vehicles at a big loss. And Tesla showrooms across the country are becoming magnets for large […]
Trump says he’ll label attacks on Tesla locations as domestic terrorism
At a White House event where he promised to buy a Tesla, President Donald Trump says he’ll label violence at Tesla locations as domestic terrorism. Over the past few weeks, protests against Tesla CEO and Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) head Elon Musk have escalated at Tesla locations. There have been reports of situations like […]
iRobot launches eight new Roombas and finally adds lidar mapping
After a tumultuous 2024, in which iRobot lost its founder and CEO, Colin Angle, Amazon abandoned its acquisition plans, and the company laid off a large portion of its staff, iRobot is back with a major shake-up of its robotic vacuum line. This week, the company that invented the robot vacuum over 20 years ago announced eight […]
CFPB official tells judge he’s still not sure if agency will shut down
“Big time†confusion has wracked the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) staff since last month, the agency’s chief operating officer, Adam Martinez, testified before a federal judge in Washington, DC, on Monday. Martinez’s testimony — which will continue on Tuesday afternoon — is meant to address questions around what’s happening at the financial regulation agency, […]
Judge orders DOGE to release records on an ‘expedited basis’
Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) must comply with a request to disclose its internal records. In a ruling on Monday, US District Court Judge Christopher R. Cooper wrote that DOGE is likely covered by the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), adding that “the public would be irreparably harmed by an indefinite delay in […]
OpenAI launches new tools to help developers build AI agents
Agents are said to be the future of AI, and now OpenAI is trying to help developers build their own. The company is releasing a new Responses API that offers building blocks for developers to create agents capable of searching the web, digging through files, and performing tasks on a computer on their behalf. “There […]
With a tea-making fantasy game, Davey Wreden gets real
Davey Wreden does not tend to make conventional games. He exploded onto the indie scene in 2013 with The Stanley Parable, a choose-your-own adventure story set in a workplace hall of mirrors. Its follow-up, 2015’s The Beginner’s Guide was a tour through a series of games created by an untraceable hobbyist developer. Both are undeniably […]
Media Matters sues X to stop lawsuits outside of the US
The nonprofit Media Matters for America filed suit against X this week, accusing Elon Musk’s social media company of “harassment” and Musk of a “globetrotting litigation campaign against Media Matters.” After Media Matters reported on X placing ads next to pro-Nazi content in 2023, X filed three lawsuits against the nonprofit accusing it of threatening […]
Anker’s compact travel charger works in over 200 countries
Looking to spend some time outside the US? Anker has announced a new travel adapter featuring a relatively slim design that’s less than an inch thick thanks to plugs that can fold down and retract. The Anker Nano Travel Adapter is available now for $25.99, but you’ll need to provide all your own cables and […]
A new Pixel 10 leak shows Google adding another camera
Google could be adding an extra camera to the base model Pixel 10, according to renders from leaker OnLeaks published by Android Headlines. The images show that the Pixel 10 looks nearly identical to the Pixel 9, but with a wider pane of glass on the rear camera bar that hints at a third rear camera. The outlet writes that the […]
BlizzCon is returning in 2026 after a few years off
Blizzard’s next BlizzCon conference will take place on September 12th and September 13th in 2026. That’s not a typo — the show will happen next year. BlizzCon 2026 will once again be hosted at the Anaheim Convention Center. Blizzard isn’t sharing specific details about what games might be featured, but the company says that “alongside […]
How longer-lasting, faster-charging batteries are coming via software updates
There’s an unbelievable amount of work going on right now to boost the performance of lithium-ion batteries. PhDs around the globe are, at this very moment, furrowing their respective brows, trying to eke out a few percentage points of extra energy density, shave a few minutes off of charging times, or add a few months […]
Google held back Pixel 4A batteries to avoid overheating risk
The mysterious battery performance update that Google rolled out for the Pixel 4A in January was released to “mitigate the risk of overheating,” according to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). A recall notice published by the regulator’s product safety arm on March 7th, spotted by 9to5Google, warns Pixel 4A owners that “an overheating […]
Monopolies, scalpers, and the future of online ticket sales
Two years after a Taylor Swift ticketing debacle riled up fans and policymakers across the country, Ticketmaster is still fighting a multipronged battle against efforts to break it up and change the rules of the industry in ways resellers are vying for — in what’s become a multimillion-dollar and nationwide struggle over the future of online […]
Waymo is now offering 24/7 robotaxi rides in Silicon Valley
Waymo is kicking off the process of making its robotaxi service in Silicon Valley commercially available to everyone. The company announced today that its ridehailing app Waymo One will now be available 24/7 to certain customers across a 27-square-mile service area in California that includes Mountain View, Palo Alto, Los Altos, and parts of Sunnyvale. […]
New Katamari Damacy game rolls onto Apple Arcade in April
Admit it, you read the words “Katamari Damacy” and immediately started humming a string of “nahs” to yourself. It’s been several years since we’ve had a reason to think of the Prince of All Cosmos, his finer than frog hair daddy, and the big, sticky balls of junk the become the stars in the night […]
TikTok will play ‘calming music’ to remind teens to stop using the app
TikTok is rolling out a new feature to encourage teens to stop using the app at night. If a teen under 16 is still using the app after 10PM, TikTok will interrupt their feed with a full-screen “wind down” reminder, which will play “calming music to help teens relax and be mindful of the time.” […]
The creators of the Las Vegas Sphere want to open smaller mini-Spheres
Although original estimates set the cost of the Las Vegas Sphere at $1.2 billion, Sphere Entertainment eventually spent around $2.3 billion to build the interactive venue. As the company looks to expand to other cities, it’s also looking to scale down the venue, making it more affordable to build and operate. Sphere Entertainment is currently […]
Apple Mac Studio (M3 Ultra) first look: a weekend with an $8,000 powerhouse
Apple’s new top tier Mac Studio, powered by the M3 Ultra chip, contains so much computing horsepower that it’s never going to be on the radar of most tech enthusiasts — let alone your average consumer. It starts at $3,999, but if you upgrade every spec to the best on offer (including an astonishing 512GB […]
Apple MacBook Air M4 review: a little more for a little less
Apple rarely offers you more for less, especially in its most popular products with the broadest appeal. It has perfected the measured, iterative year-over-year product cycle. But for the 13- and 15-inch M4 MacBook Airs, Apple has put new chips in its established design while shoring up the device’s biggest flaws and dropping the price […]
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D review: the best CPU
It’s no secret that AMD has been dominating in PC gaming CPU performance, but you always had to make a difficult choice between Intel and AMD if you used your gaming PC for professional workloads as well. With AMD’s $699 Ryzen 9 9950X3D, you don’t need to choose: AMD now has the best CPU for […]
China has some big ideas about smartphones
The US smartphone market is pretty boring. There are iPhones, there are Galaxies, Google will happily give you a Pixel if you remember it exists, and that’s about it. But as soon as you get out and see the world a little, you realize: there are a lot of new ideas about smartphones out there. […]
Ford’s Tesla Supercharger adapters are now on sale for $200
Ford is making some changes to how it handles its EV charging accessories. The company was the first to announce its plans to adopt Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) connector for its EVs, and was also first to distribute NACS adapters to its EV customers free of charge. But now that grace period is over, with […]
Microsoft is replacing Remote Desktop with its new Windows app
Microsoft is ending support of its Remote Desktop app for Windows on May 27th. If you use the Remote Desktop app to connect to Windows 365, Azure Virtual Desktop, or Microsoft Dev Box machines then you’ll have to transition to the Windows app instead. The new Windows app, which launched in September, includes multimonitor support, […]
Brompton G e-bike review: truth in advertising
It fit! Despite Brompton embiggening everything on its iconic folding bike, I was chuffed to see the new model G e-bike collapse into a compact package I could hoist onto the narrow tray inside my adventure van — the first crucial step in testing what Brompton calls “the most versatile e-bike in the world.†The […]
Ex-Google CEO Eric Schmidt is the newest Big Tech-to-space exec
Eric Schmidt, who was the CEO of Google from 2001 to 2011, is now the CEO of rocket startup Relativity Space, a company spokesperson confirmed to TechCrunch. Schmidt will be replacing Relativity Space co-founder Tim Ellis in the CEO role. Schmidt isn’t alone in the segment – Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos are known for […]
This is just the start
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested a former Columbia University student over his involvement in the pro-Palestine protests that swept the campus over the past year, even though he has a green card and was never charged with a crime. Columbia, the site of a monthslong pro-Palestine encampment, became a particular obsession for right-wingers […]
The best Mario Day deals on Nintendo Switch games and accessories
Happy Mario Day! To celebrate the world’s most iconic plumber, Nintendo has all sorts of treats for fans, including a new Nintendo Switch bundle, a new Mario Kart Lego set, and a new theme for its cutesy Alarmo clock. Nintendo has also launched a massive sale in commemoration of so-called “MAR10 Day,” which will run […]
Bluesky gets three-minute videos and a filter to help with DM spam
Bluesky is adding support for longer, three-minute videos – a notable improvement from the previous one-minute limit. The update is rolling out in Bluesky version 1.99, which also includes a new DM filter that allows you to you approve or reject messages from people you might not know. The new “Chat Requests” feature is similar […]
Nintendo’s Alarmo uses the tech that could solve Joy-Con stick drift
Nintendo is still shipping the Switch with Joy-Con hardware that will potentially develop issues like joystick drift and false inputs over time. We’ll have to wait until April 2nd to find out if Nintendo is fixing the issue with the new Switch 2, but as iFixit discovered during a teardown of the Alarmo alarm clock, […]
Apple is reportedly planning a design overhaul for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS
Apple plans to significantly redesign the look of iOS, iPadOS, and macOS later this year, Bloomberg reports. The changes, which are set to arrive with iOS 19, iPadOS 19, and macOS 16, will touch many parts of the operating systems, including “updating the style of icons, menus, apps, windows and system buttons,” Bloomberg says. The […]
An iconic DJ turntable inspired this record player watch
Do you want to drop a not-so-subtle hint that you prefer the analog sound of vinyl over digital music whenever someone asks you the time? AndoAndoAndo’s new Vinyl Record Automatic Watch looks like a tiny turntable strapped to your wrist – but not just any old record player. The timepiece’s designer, Yu Ando, drew inspiration […]
Sony is experimenting with AI-powered PlayStation characters
Sony is working on a prototype AI-powered version of at least one its PlayStation game characters. An anonymous tipster has shared an internal video from Sony’s PlayStation group with The Verge that demonstrates an AI-powered version of Aloy from Horizon Forbidden West. The video is narrated by Sharwin Raghoebardajal, a director of software engineering at […]
Microsoft is holding a 50th anniversary and Copilot event in April
Microsoft has started sending out invites to a 50th anniversary and Copilot event at the company’s headquarters in Redmond, Washington. The April 4th event will take place on the day Microsoft marks 50 years since it was first founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen in 1975. The event on Microsoft’s campus will include an […]
Google’s new AI button in Gmail automatically adds events to Google Calendar
Google has announced a new AI feature that uses Gemini AI bot to add events to your Google Calendar based on emailed details in Gmail. Emails that Gemini thinks describe events will get a new “Add to Calendar button” that starts the interaction. When you click it, the Gemini prompt sidebar will open to confirm […]
Infinity Nikki’s new interactive map makes it way easier to find what you need
The developers of Infinity Nikki have finally solved one of the game’s biggest problems: where the hell is everything? Piggybacking off similar efforts in other gacha games like Genshin Impact, the developers at Infold Games have created an interactive map that’ll guide you to all the bits and bobs littered throughout the game’s impressively expansive […]
Sony will give the PS5 Pro crisper graphics — by backporting FSR 4
Today, the $700 PlayStation 5 Pro can already produce crisper, sharper, smoother, and more stable graphics than a PS5, if you sit close enough to appreciate them. But starting in 2026, the company hopes to imbue games with a new AI upscaling formula that’ll make them even crisper, based on the AMD FSR 4 technique […]
The Tesla protests are getting bigger — and rowdier
This weekend, protests escalated at Tesla showrooms across the nation. Hundreds of people gathered to boycott Elon Musk and his involvement in the Trump administration as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which is overseeing a massively disruptive effort to fire thousands of federal workers to slash government spending. Most of these […]
Fortnite is set to return to Brazilian iPhones
Epic Games plans to bring its mobile game store and Fortnite to iOS users in Brazil in July, the company says in a post on X. The announcement follows a ruling in Brazil last week that gave Apple 90 days to allow sideloading in the country. Last year, Epic brought back Fortnite and launched the […]
Why the internet still needs Section 230
Across U.S. politics, it’s become fashionable to blame nearly all the internet’s ills on one law I co-wrote: Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. Everyone from President Donald Trump to some of my Democratic colleagues argue that Section 230 has let major tech platforms moderate too much or too little. Trump’s Federal Communications Commission […]
Space collisions could become a bigger risk thanks to greenhouse gas pollution
Greenhouse gas emissions could affect satellite launches in the future, new research suggests. As it builds up, the pollution causes Earth’s upper atmosphere to contract, potentially raising the risk of satellite collisions in orbit. It’s yet another way that fossil fuel emissions are having a tangible impact on things people rely on daily, especially as […]
My Hero Academia: Vigilantes slides onto Crunchyroll in April
Though the main My Hero Academia anime series is set to end later this year, its gritty prequel is about to make its streaming debut on Crunchyroll. Today, Crunchyroll announced that it has secured the exclusive, global (outside of Asia) rights to stream studio Toho’s My Hero Academia: Vigilantes from director Kenichi Suzuki (JoJo’s Bizarre […]
OnePlus’ signature Alert Slider is ‘evolving’ into a button
OnePlus plans to do away with its signature Alert Slider and replace it with a configurable button in the future, company CEO Pete Lau said in a OnePlus community forum post today, reports 9to5Google. The Alert Slider, which has been on most OnePlus phones (it disappeared for the OnePlus 10T) for the last decade, lets […]
X is having an up and down Monday
The X social media platform has been up and down all morning, with brief but repeated outages preventing posts from loading across both mobile and desktop. The first widespread issue started at around 5:40AM ET this morning, according to Downdetector, leaving timelines consistently unable to refresh on mobile apps and some X users stuck in […]
JBL’s new Flip 7 and Charge 6 speakers boost battery life and sound quality
JBL has announced new versions of two of its popular Bluetooth speakers. The JBL Flip 7 features a more rugged design, an upgraded tweeter, and two extra hours of playtime, while the JBL Charge 6 gets an upgraded woofer and four more hours of battery life. Both speakers also feature JBL’s AI Sound Boost technology, […]
Dow Jones CEO Almar Latour on AI, press freedom, and the future of news
Today, I’m talking with Almar Latour, who is the publisher of The Wall Street Journal and CEO of its parent company Dow Jones, which you can think of as a huge research and data provider for companies of all sizes. Dow Jones itself is part of Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. Latour is a fascinating guy. […]
Lego’s new Mario Kart set super-sizes Mario
Lego has announced a new addition to its Mario Kart collection that first debuted last August. But don’t expect Lego’s latest Super Mario set to fit in with the rest of the racers. At 12.5 inches long and 8.5 inches tall, this set, featuring Mario in his standard racing kart from the game, is Lego’s […]
Six thoughts on Apple’s new M3 iPad Air
This year’s iPad Air was a surprise to me. Apple launched the last Air less than a year ago, and that was a very good device that could already support Apple Intelligence — and most of Apple’s recent gadget upgrades have been about supporting Apple Intelligence. I figured Apple might launch a better Magic Keyboard […]
Death Stranding 2 is coming on June 26th
Death Stranding’s sequel continues to look absolutely bonkers. The upcoming game — known as Death Stranding 2: On the Beach — got a fresh trailer and a long-awaited release date of June 26th during a presentation at SXSW. The PlayStation 5 exclusive will cost $69.99 and is available for pre-order starting on March 17th. Those […]
Some Chromecasts are giving ‘Untrusted device’ errors today
Reports are cropping up today that second-generation Chromecasts and music-streaming Chromecast Audio devices are failing, displaying an error on the device they’re trying to cast from that seems to imply the streamers may no longer be supported, reports 9to5Google. Text from screenshots of the error posted to Reddit reads, “Untrusted device” and continues, saying the […]
Here’s what the newest iPhone Air leaks say about its design
Apple is expected to release its thinnest phone yet later this year with the iPhone 17 Air. Rumors have held that the phone will be thinner than the 6.9mm iPhone 6 was, but recent leaks give us a better idea than we’ve had before of what to expect. Rumors of the iPhone 17 Air’s dimensions […]
Forza Horizon 5 will require a Microsoft account on PS5
The PS5 version of Forza Horizon 5 will require you to link a Microsoft account to your PlayStation Network account in order to play the game, according to a FAQ on the game’s official website. The FAQ says that players will be prompted to link the two the first time they load the game. And […]
Apple’s plans for a smart display suffer a Siri-related setback
Late last week, Apple delayed its big Siri AI upgrade, and it seems that will take the company’s rumored smart display with it. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman in today’s Power On newsletter, Apple has postponed the device because it at least partially “relies on the delayed Siri capabilities.” It’s been rumored for months now […]
Some nice upgrades for Apple’s best gadgets
Hi, friends! Welcome to Installer No. 74, your guide to the best and Verge-iest stuff in the world. (If you’re new here, welcome, sorry in advance for my terrible TV taste, and also you can read all the old editions at the Installer homepage.) This week, I’ve been reading about Bybit, Walmart, and sports analytics; […]
Retroid offered very limited returns for its unfixable handheld
The Retroid Pocket Mini has an unfixable issue that’s causing certain graphical effects for emulated games not to work properly. Retroid, the China-based company that makes the Pocket Mini, announced on Discord that it will accept returns of the device but only during a limited March 8th to March 14th window — and capped at […]
The Last of Us season 2 gets an explosive new trailer
Warner Bros. Discovery just released a new trailer for the second (and maybe last) season of The Last of Us, offering an action-packed view of the fraught world Pedro Joel Miller (Pedro Pascal) and his daughter Ellie (Bella Ramsey) are facing. Things look bleak for both of them, and the show’s fungal-based zombies don’t seem […]
Trump’s DOJ still says Google should be broken up
The US Department of Justice (DOJ) is still pushing to break up Google, according to a revised proposal filed Friday with federal Judge Amit Mehta. As in its proposal last year, the DOJ says Google should be forced to sell its web browser, Google Chrome, and potentially Android, as punishment for being a monopolist, as […]
Check your DVDs for disc rot — Warner Bros. says it’s replacing them
If you, like me, still have your DVD collection hanging around, now is a good time to dust off your DVD player and make sure they haven’t succumbed to disc rot. That’s because many of the discs produced by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (WBHE) between 2006 and 2008 are failing prematurely, the company acknowledged in […]
The Apple Watch Series 10 just received its first $100 discount
The biggest Apple news of the week was the announcement of a sky blue MacBook Air and an M3-powered iPad Air; however, in the deals world, it was all about the Apple Watch Series 10. That’s because, right now, Apple’s flagship smartwatch is on sale at Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy in its 42mm base […]
It’s a great moment for classic RPGs
Suikoden is a game that I’ve been meaning to play for years. A highly regarded roleplaying game from the original PlayStation era, it’s renowned for its sprawling storyline and huge cast of playable characters. That also makes it pretty intimidating, and I’ve had a copy sitting on my PS Vita just waiting for when I […]
The best entertainment of 2025
Free time is a rare thing — which is all the more reason to make sure you’re downtime isn’t going to waste. To help out, we’ve put together this list of our favorite games, TV shows, and movies from 2025. It’s a space designed to make the process of finding something to play or watch […]
MainFrames is a charming platformer that takes place inside computers
MainFrames is a perfect example of a game with a clever idea that doesn’t overstay its welcome. In the new indie platformer, you play as an adorable floppy disk that traverses computer desktops. The aesthetic is ridiculously charming: the many characters sprinkled throughout the game are so dang cute, and the levels are filled with […]
How Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip failed me without actually breaking
When the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 arrives, likely this July, it could be a pretty decent upgrade over the Z Flip 5 I own. It’ll reportedly have a slightly bigger battery than the Flip 6, which had a slightly bigger one than the Flip 5, plus a much bigger outer screen. Unfortunately, I can’t […]
Jim Jordan subpoena pushes YouTube to restore ‘free speech’ like Meta
Meta may have caved on their content moderation policies for the sake of “free speech”, but there’s a world of other Big Tech companies out there – and more social media platforms for conservatives to de-censor. On Thursday, Rep. Jim Jordan subpoenaed Alphabet, the parent company of Google, demanding documents that show whether YouTube removed […]
A Reddit moderation tool is flagging ‘Luigi’ as potentially violent content
Reddit’s automatic moderation tool is flagging the word “Luigi” as potentially violent — even when the content isn’t. Earlier this week, a moderator from r/popculture saw Reddit’s AutoModerator system flag a post about the video game Luigi’s Mansion 3 because it included the word “Luigi,” giving them instructions to “check for violence.” A Reddit spokesperson, […]
Inside the high-wire business of MrBeast
The biggest YouTuber in the world is looking beyond videos to build a multibillion-dollar empire. For the last several months, Jimmy Donaldson, aka MrBeast, has been talking with investors about raising $200 million in a funding round that would value his holding company, Beast Industries, at more than $5 billion. An investor pitch deck I’ve […]
Mickey 17 is a big middle finger to space-obsessed strongmen
The well-deserved hat trick that director Bong Joon Ho pulled off at the Oscars in 2020 with Parasite all but ensured that studios would fight tooth and nail to back his next cinematic project. It was always going to be difficult for Bong to top what he accomplished with Parasite — a shapeshifting masterpiece of […]
Apple dodges a second Apple Watch ban
AliveCor has suffered another setback in its long-running patent case against Apple. Today, the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has upheld a decision that the medical device maker’s EKG patents are not actually patentable. As a result, the Apple Watch won’t face a second import ban from the International Trade Commission (ITC). […]
Volkswagen is bringing back physical buttons
Volkswagen is planning a return to physical buttons in its future vehicles over haptic sliders and touchscreen toggles for vital functions such as climate controls. The automaker’s design head Andreas Mindt told Autocar that the company “will never, ever make this mistake again” and promises to bring together physical controls for volume, heating controls, fan […]
Uranium is in the crosshairs of the US-Canada tariff battle
President Donald Trump’s tariff threats could raise the price of uranium used to fuel US nuclear reactors, which could have ripple effects on a tenuous nuclear renaissance spurred by the growth of energy-hungry data centers. The US gets more than a quarter of its uranium from Canada, more than from any other country. The Trump […]
Netflix’s plan to spend $18 billion on content is ‘not anywhere near the ceiling’
Netflix plans to spend around $18 billion on content this year – and chief financial officer Spencer Neumann thinks that number could increase down the line. “We are not anywhere near a ceiling,” Neumann said during the Morgan Stanley Tech, Media, and Telecom Conference this week, as reported by Variety. “I think we are still […]
JD Vance is posting through it
Vice President JD Vance is a busy man. Over the past three weeks, he’s traveled to France and Germany, addressed the crowd at a massive conservative conference, berated the Ukrainian president, and visited the US-Mexico border. Despite his busy schedule, Vance seemingly always finds time to engage in one of his favorite hobbies: posting. During […]
LG’s new air conditioner directs cool air towards people it detects.
The Artcool AI Air doesn’t look as artsy as LG’s previous Artcool air conditioners, but it does offer improved energy efficiency by detecting the room’s layout and the position of its occupants so it can direct airflow right to them. The company hasn’t announced pricing or availability, nor does it detail what technology the Artcool […]
The M4-powered Mac Mini has returned to its Black Friday sale price
Apple might have just updated the Mac Studio with M4 Max and M3 Ultra chips, but if all you need is a good daily driver, they’re completely overkill. The M4-powered Mac Mini is probably the better option in most instances, especially since the desktop is currently matching its all-time low of $529 ($70 off) at […]
Apple delays upgraded Siri: it’s taking ‘longer than we thought’
Apple’s more personalized Siri features need a little more time in the oven. Company spokesperson Jacqueline Roy gave this statement to Daring Fireball today announcing the delay: Siri helps our users find what they need and get things done quickly, and in just the past six months, we’ve made Siri more conversational, introduced new features […]
Crypto funds seized by the government may go into a ‘digital Fort Knox’
President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to establish a Bitcoin reserve held by the US government. The reserve, which crypto czar David Sacks has likened to a “digital Fort Knox,” will include the assets the government collected as part of criminal or civil forfeitures – currently estimated at around 200,000 Bitcoin. Along with […]
AMD is launching its latest Ryzen 9 X3D gaming processors on March 12th
AMD is announcing that its latest gaming-oriented Ryzen 9 9950X3D and 9900X3D processors will be available next week. The new chips improve on the 9800X3D, which is widely considered as the best gaming CPU. The new ones feature 16 Zen 5 cores and second-generation 3D V-Cache technology that could help those looking to do more […]
The Nintendo Switch 2 will have NFC and Wi-Fi 6, FCC filings show
The Nintendo Switch 2 is already official, but there’s a lot we still don’t know — like, will Nintendo’s new handheld support the NFC-equipped Amiibo figurines that can wirelessly unlock content in games? Today, it seems likely they will, because filings at the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) reveal the console will support NFC. They even […]
SpaceX’s latest Starship explosion lights up the sky over the Caribbean again
Stop us if you’ve heard this one before. Similar to the aftermath from SpaceX’s failed seventh test flight on January 16th, yesterday’s explosion following the launch of Starship’s eighth test flight created another spectacle in the night sky as debris rained down over parts of the Caribbean causing flights to be delayed and diverted in […]
Netflix brought back A Different World of AI-upscaled nightmare fuel
Thanks to AI upscaling technology, the version of A Different World that’s currently on Netflix won’t look how you remember it did when it aired. And not in a good way. The “HD” remaster of the 1980s sitcom being streamed is a nightmarish mess of distorted faces, garbled text, and misshapen backgrounds. People started spotting […]
Apple’s The Studio makes moviemaking look like a crucible in latest trailer
Behind every big budget movie production there is a team of executives who know that getting too involved in the creative side of things can lead to disastrous results. Common sense usually tells them to let the artists do their thing in peace, but in the world of Apple TV Plus’s new comedy series The […]
Google screwed up Pixel vibrations again
Google’s Pixel devices are having a weird change with their notification and call vibrations after the March 2025 update. Multiple people have posted on the Google Pixel subreddit complaining about the change, with one user describing it as a “hollow feeling” vibration with “less thunk” post-update. This wouldn’t be the first time Google has messed […]
Four book logging apps to keep you reading
A lot of us are feeling tense these days, to say the least. So when you’re being bombarded by disturbing news flashes or angry videos online, it might be a good idea to turn to an old-fashioned method of escape — like a book. If you’re a dedicated reader, though, it may not be enough […]
Apple’s chip bumps, big and small
Apple updated a couple of its most-loved products this week, both in relatively minor ways. The iPad and iPad Air both got new processors and not much else, the MacBook Air got a new processor and a new color, and the Mac Studio got a new processor. All this is both good news, and thoroughly […]
MWC 2025 was all about the odds and ends
Mobile World Congress shows us the best and wackiest new ideas in mobile tech every year, with a side of jamón and “Oh, shit, was that the king of Spain who just walked by?†It’s a real trip. But this year’s conference was a mix of unusually odd oddities, including phone camera concepts I swear […]
Intuitive Machine’s lunar landing goes sideways again
The second lunar lander made by Intuitive Machines has touched down on the Moon, but like the private aerospace company’s first spacecraft, it may not be upright. The Athena vehicle for Intuitive Machines IM-2 mission landed yesterday just 100 miles from the lunar south pole, but there’s uncertainty around its orientation which may impact the […]
Android phones are getting lock screen widgets this year
Google has announced that lock screen widgets are coming to Android 16 phones later this year. Widgets have been available on the lock screen of the Pixel Tablet since last year, but Google is now bringing them to phones and more tablets. All widgets will support the lock screen by default, though app developers will […]
Apple has 90 days to allow app sideloading in Brazil
Apple has been told it has to allow alternative app stores on iOS in Brazil within 90 days, as reported by Brazilian publication Valor International and 9to5Mac. Apple has already been forced to allow third-party app stores on iOS in the EU due to the Digital Markets Act. The judge who issued today’s ruling said […]
Gundam GQuuuuuuX will stream on Amazon next month
English-speaking Gundam fans won’t have to wait long before they can stream dubbed versions of the franchise’s newest (and most difficult to pronounce) series. Today, Amazon Prime announced that it has secured the rights to stream dubbed and subbed versions of Gundam GQuuuuuuX, a new show produced by studio Khara, directed by Kazyua Tsurumaki, and […]
FCC chair says we’re too dependent on GPS and wants to explore ‘alternatives’
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) plans to vote on an inquiry to explore alternatives to GPS, FCC chair Brendan Carr says in a blog post. Carr says that while GPS has been “indispensable,” the technology “isn’t infallible” and that “disruptions to GPS have the potential to undermine the nation’s economic and national security.” Carr says […]
AMD says the $549 RX 9070 is real but doesn’t deny reports of possible bait and switch
Yesterday, reviewers agreed: AMD is finally beating Nvidia with its RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT graphics cards, assuming they actually launch with sufficient stock at their $549 and $599 prices. But this morning’s launch, while better than recent Nvidia launches in terms of supply, may not have met that bar — and AMD would […]
AMD says the $549 RX 9070 is real, but doesn’t deny reports of possible bait-and-switch
Yesterday, reviewers agreed: AMD is finally beating Nvidia with its RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT graphics cards, assuming they actually launch with sufficient stock at their $549 and $599 prices. But this morning’s launch, while better than recent Nvidia launches in terms of supply, may not have met that bar — and AMD would […]
Now Google Maps is starting to use Android 16’s live update notifications
Google Maps is the first app we’re seeing adopt Android 16’s new Live Updates feature, according to Android Authority. Users on Android 16 beta 2.1 can now see the time until their next turn and estimated time to arrival on the status bar of their device. Google introduced the Live Updates feature in its first […]
Anker’s 8-in-1 charging station has dropped to a new low price
If you’re planning on giving your desk or workspace a good spring cleaning, Anker’s MagGo Magnetic Charging Station (8-in-1) is a relatively affordable way to rid your life of excess cable clutter. That’s especially true right now, as Anker’s versatile charging gadget is down to an all-time low of $49.99 ($20 off) at Amazon in […]
Nvidia denies reports that its RTX 50 laptop GPUs are missing ROPs, too
Remember when Nvidia categorically told us that “no other Nvidia GPUs” had shipped, or would be shipping, with missing render units? Well, you can imagine our surprise to read that the company’s RTX 50-series laptop GPUs might be affected as well, with Heise Online and HardwareLuxx reporting that Nvidia has asked manufacturers to check their […]
Jackbox games are coming to smart TVs
Jackbox Games are going to be available on smart TVs as part of a new cloud streaming service, according to a blog post. Jackbox aims to launch a beta of the service on “one or two smart TV platforms in the Spring of 2025.” Generally, Jackbox titles are offered in bundles called “Party Packs” that […]
What went wrong with Skype?
Skype was Microsoft’s biggest-ever acquisition in 2011, a deal brokered by former CEO Steve Ballmer when the company was trying to compete with the rise of the iPhone. But after spending $8.5 billion on Skype, Microsoft dropped the ball again and again over the past 14 years, to the point where Skype was so irrelevant […]
Telo’s electric MT1 mini-truck gets a new preproduction prototype
Telo Trucks, the company building a compact, modular electric pickup truck, revealed its new preproduction prototype in Los Angeles. The San Carlos, California-based startup recently closed a $5.4 million funding round and is working with bespoke manufacturing partner Aria Group (which has built EV restomods including for companies like Everrati) to enter the next development […]
Reddit will tell you if your post breaks the rules before you publish it
Reddit is introducing some new features for posts that should make it easier to know if your post meets a subreddit’s rules and if it’s for the appropriate community, according to a blog post. The new Rules Check will flag a potential issue as you’re writing the post. As shown in a GIF of the […]
Cybercriminals arrested for stealing hundreds of concert tickets through StubHub exploit
Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour ended last year, but authorities have finally apprehended a pair of thieves who managed to steal hundreds of tickets by exploiting a loophole in StubHub’s back end. Per The Hollywood Reporter, two cybercriminals who stole and re-sold hundreds of digital tickets to different concerts and sporting events like the U.S. Open […]
The MagicX Zero 40 has a vertical display to properly handle DS games
With Nintendo exhausting its supply of DS repair parts, fans of the dual-screen handheld may have another way to play when their original hardware finally dies. The MagicX Zero 40 is yet another handheld emulator but with a peculiar design incorporating a four-inch vertically-oriented 800×480 touchscreen display allowing emulated DS titles to be played like […]
Flying is still safe for now — but the FAA isn’t
I was on a flight back to New York the other day, and something really odd happened when we landed: the passengers burst into applause. I’ve only ever seen that happen after a flight with really bad turbulence or a big delay. But this was a totally boring flight that took off and landed on […]
Netflix follows Paul vs. Tyson fight with another boxing stream in July
Netflix is airing another live boxing match. The service will exclusively stream a rematch between Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor on Friday, July 11th, according to an announcement on Thursday. The two boxers previously went head-to-head on Netflix in the leadup to the boxing match between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul last November, which ended […]
The Take It Down Act isn’t a law, it’s a weapon
It’s internet safety law season again. After a narrow failure to pass the Kids Online Safety Act in 2024, Congress is now advancing the Take It Down Act, which criminalizes nonconsensual intimate imagery (NCII, once dubbed “revenge porn,” including AI-generated content) and sets requirements for web platforms to remove it. The bill has gained support […]
1Password is making it easier to find passwords based on your location
1Password introduced a new feature today that will make it easier to find the login, password, or access code you’re looking for, based on where you’re using the app. It will now let you add a specific physical location to items, and they’ll automatically appear in the new Nearby section of the app’s home tab, […]
The Corvette ZR1’s 233-mph run had to start in a virtual world
Last October, the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 set a top speed of 233 mph on consecutive runs around a closed track. That’s not the fastest street-legal production car in the world: the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ will, as the name implies, top 300 mph. What’s special about the ZR1, then? Its $174,995 starting price may […]
NASA is making sacrifices to keep the Voyager mission alive
It’s been 47 years since the twin Voyager spacecraft started their historic mission. Having travelled through interstellar space, farther from Earth than any other human-made objects, their nuclear batteries are depleting — but NASA is taking measures to squeeze as much life out of the aging probes as possible. The Voyagers’ radioisotope power system loses […]
DuckDuckGo is amping up its AI search tool — but will still let you leave it behind
DuckDuckGo has big plans for embedding AI into its search engine. The privacy-focused company just announced that its AI-generated answers, which appear for certain queries on its search engine, have exited beta and now source information from across the web — not just Wikipedia. It will soon integrate web search within its AI chatbot, which […]
Our first look at Apple’s sky blue MacBook Air
Aside from a new color, the M4 MacBook Air looks a whole lot like last year’s model. And we’ve got the hands-on experience and pictures to prove it. Apple’s got five main updates for its refresh of the 13- and 15-inch MacBook Airs for 2025. First, it’s got a similar M4 chip to the base […]
12 Chinese hackers charged with US Treasury breach — and much, much more
The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced today it has criminally charged 12 Chinese nationals it says are behind attacks that hit more than 100 US organizations, including the Treasury, in a string of attacks going as far back as 2013. The DOJ accuses the people of carrying out their attacks either on their own or […]
Reddit will warn users who repeatedly upvote banned content
Reddit will now issue warnings to users who “upvote several pieces of content banned for violating our policies” within “a certain timeframe,” starting first with violent content, the company announced on Wednesday. “This will have no impact on the vast majority of users as most already downvote or report abusive content,” a Reddit employee says […]
The Trump administration wants to review all prospective citizens’ social media accounts
The Trump administration may soon demand the social media accounts of people applying for green cards, US citizenship, and asylum or refugee status. US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) — the federal agency that oversees legal migration, proposed the new policy in the Federal Register this week — calling this information “necessary for a rigorous […]
Here’s how to preorder Apple’s new MacBook Air and Mac Studio
Shortly after introducing the new iPad and iPad Air, Apple has announced a slew of new Macs. The M4-powered MacBook Air starts at $999 in its 13-inch configuration, while the 15-inch variant starts at $1,199. You can also buy the new Mac Studio with an M4 Max chip starting at $1,999, or an M3 Ultra-powered […]
Big Tech is now slightly less silent on Trump’s tariffs
President Donald Trump’s tariffs on goods imported from Mexico, Canada, and China are in effect, but Big Tech companies have remained mostly silent despite the potential impact tariffs could have on their businesses. I’ve written about this twice already: once shortly after Trump announced them in February, and again a week later after the initial […]
Car prices expected to increase by as much as $12,000 thanks to Trump’s tariffs
Car prices are already at record highs, and President Donald Trump’s tariffs — if they stay in place — could send them into the stratosphere. The situation remains extremely fluid, with Trump administration officials today announcing a one-month reprieve for the auto industry, according to Politico. But if tariffs stay in place, sticker prices could skyrocket by […]
Kia’s EV9 will soon be able to power your home
Kia EV9 owners can soon take advantage of the SUV’s Vehicle-to-Home power backup capabilities with the availability of a bi-directional charger coming in June. The new Wallbox Quasar 2 electric vehicle charger is the first home EV power connector in the US that works with the EV9 and is now up for preorder for owners […]
The Volkswagen ID. EVERY1 is an affordable EV for the masses
Volkswagen is bringing up the lights on the ID. EVERY1 show car that it says will become the promised €20,000 (about $20,800 USD) affordable EV that will hopefully turn around the automaker’s struggling business. As market leaders like Tesla continue to promise — but not deliver — the elusive entry-level EV, VW is hoping to […]
Amazon Prime Video is getting into the wrestling business with new AEW deal
All Elite Wrestling and Amazon’s Prime Video today announced a multi-year deal that will see the streaming service carry AEW’s pay-per-view events in the US, Canada, and the UK. Their partnership will start this coming weekend with AEW Revolution, which airs Sunday night. Unlike Thursday Night Football and other sports content that comes included with […]
Netflix’s live push continues with John Mulaney’s late-night talk show
Netflix is diving deeper into live content with a new late-night talk show hosted by comedian John Mulaney. Starting March 12th, Netflix will air Everybody’s Live with John Mulaney every Wednesday at 10PM ET. The late-night show, which Netflix will stream live for 12 weeks, will feature chats with celebrity guests. It marks the second […]
Google is adding more AI Overviews and a new ‘AI Mode’ to Search
The AI-ification of Google Search continues to accelerate: the company announced on Wednesday that it will start showing AI Overviews for even more kinds of queries, and that users around the world, even those who are logged out of Google, will start seeing them too. There’s an even more ambitious AI search tool coming to […]
Delta Airlines bets on ‘blended-wing’ flight to reduce emissions
Delta Airlines is backing a startup that wants to design more fuel efficient, blended-wing-body aircraft, in the hopes of reducing its carbon footprint and making air travel more sustainable. The airline said today that it will help support the development of startup JetZero’s blended-wing-body (BWB) demonstrator aircraft that aims to cut fuel consumption, emissions, and […]
Nintendo wins piracy lawsuit against file-sharing site
Nintendo has won its legal battle against Dstorage, the French company it accused of hosting pirated games on its file-sharing site 1fichier.com. In a press release sent to outlets like Eurogamer and GBATemp, Nintendo says a French Court agreed that 1fichier.com is “liable for failing to remove or block access to unauthorised copies of Nintendo […]
YouTube brings its more affordable ‘Premium Lite’ subscription to the US
YouTube is expanding its pilot of a new Premium Lite subscription plan to the United States, the company announced today. Priced at $7.99 per month compared to the $13.99 charge for regular YouTube Premium, the cheaper tier offers “most” videos without ads — including “gaming, fashion, beauty, news, and more.” The major exception is music. […]
Why I love the Logitech MX Vertical wireless mouse
Victoria Song is a senior reviewer at The Verge who mostly focuses on health tech and wearables and who, she says, occasionally has “existential crises over silly gadgets I bought on TikTok against my better judgment.” One of her favorite gadgets is the Logitech MX Vertical wireless mouse. When did you get the Logitech MX […]
Dyson’s high-tech hairdryer for professionals will soon be available to everyone
Since its launch just over a year ago, Dyson’s upgraded Supersonic r hairdryer has only been available for purchase by salons and professional stylists. But today the company announced the styling tool will be available to everyone in the US starting tomorrow, and in April for those in Europe, according to a report by Yahoo. […]
AMD Radeon RX 9070 / 9070 XT review: Nvidia gets some big next-gen competition
Nvidia’s dominance over the latest generation of graphics cards ends today. AMD might have surrendered the high end of the GPU market, but its new $549 Radeon RX 9070 and $599 RX 9070 XT look set to bring Nvidia back to reality, at least in the midrange. After a disappointing $549 RTX 5070, a $749 […]
I wore a one-horsepower exoskeleton to the world’s biggest tech show
It was a cold Thursday afternoon in Las Vegas, and I was running late for my last appointment of the show. There was no telling how long an Uber might take, now that thousands upon thousands of CES 2025 attendees were leaving town and competing for space on the roads. “No problem,†I told myself. […]
Apple launches new Mac Studios with M4 Max and M3 Ultra chips
After over a year and a half, Apple is updating the Mac Studio with a curious new quirk: it straddles two generations, with an M4 Max for the base model and an M3 Ultra for the upgraded model. You can preorder both versions at Apple’s site for $1,999 (M4 Max) and $3,999 (M3 Ultra), and […]
Apple announces MacBook Air with M4 chip and a price cut
Apple just updated the MacBook Air with an M4 processor, a new sky blue color option, and — most surprising of all — a lower price. The 13-inch starts at $999, while the 15-inch begins at $1,199. They’re available to order now and launch on March 12th. Both 13- and 15-inch models of the MacBook […]
This little AI phone has some wild ideas
It was just a year ago that I had my first demo of the Humane AI pin — which was also my last, as it turned out. But another AI gadget at this year’s MWC is trying to take off where Humane crashed and burned, and in ways it’s even weirder than the AI pin. […]
Hyundai teams up with Yandex spinoff Avride to develop robotaxis
Hyundai is teaming up with Yandex spinoff Avride to jointly develop fully driverless cars for autonomous ridehailing, the companies announced today. The partnership will enable Avride to deploy 100 Hyundai Ioniq 5 SUVs retrofitted with autonomous driving technology this year. Avride currently operates fleets of sidewalk delivery robots in several cities and aims to launch […]
The questions ChatGPT shouldn’t answer
Chatbots can’t think, and increasingly I am wondering whether their makers are capable of thought as well. In mid-February OpenAI released a document called a model spec laying out how ChatGPT is supposed to “think,†particularly about ethics. A couple of weeks later, people discovered xAI’s Grok suggesting its owner Elon Musk and titular President […]
Latest Turing Award winners again warn of AI dangers
Two trailblazing scientists who today received this year’s Turing Award for creating fundamental artificial intelligence training techniques are using the spotlight to shine concern on the dangers of rushing AI models out for public consumption. University of Massachusetts researcher Andrew Barto and former DeepMind research scientist Richard Sutton warned that AI companies are not thoroughly […]
Digg is coming back, thanks to its founder — and Reddit’s
Sometime last fall, Kevin Rose started thinking seriously about Digg again. A smidge over two decades ago, he’d launched a social and link sharing website that, for years, was known as “the homepage of the internet.” Since then, Digg had been through several owners and many pivots, Rose had gone on to several other careers, […]
Volvo’s ES90 is a high-riding electric sedan with 434 miles of range
Volvo has pulled back the curtain on its upcoming ES90 electric sedan with 434 miles of range and a tech stack that includes Nvidia’s powerful Drive AGX Orin computer in a dual setup. Volvo has been trickling news out about the ES90 over the past several weeks, but today’s announcement includes our first full look […]
Cadillac’s new electric Escalade IQL will be the longest SUV in production
Cadillac is taking its large and can-charge electric Escalade IQ and making it just a longer to accommodate some more luggage and leg room for third-row passengers. The new version, called the Escalade IQL, now surpasses the length of the longest gas-powered Escalade, while also adopting the ICE version’s boxier silhouette. When it goes into […]
Daredevil: Born Again is a rough reboot with a promising future
Before Disney Plus and its parade of post-Endgame Marvel series, shows like Daredevil gave the studio a convenient way to infuse the MCU with a grittier, more dramatic energy. Being a Netflix project, the original Daredevil could go harder with its action and darker with its nuanced depiction of the man without fear. And with […]
CFPB lets banks off the hook and drops Zelle lawsuit
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) today dismissed a lawsuit against Early Warning Services, the company that runs the Venmo-like Zelle payment platform, as well as the three banks that share ownership of it, reports CNBC. The CFPB, which enforces regulations against the financial services industry, had claimed in its December 2024 lawsuit that the […]
Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 5070 Founders Edition cards won’t launch until later this month
Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 5070 Founders Edition cards won’t launch alongside other 5070s. Reviews of the new $549 graphics card just dropped today, but in an email to The Verge, Nvidia GeForce global PR director Ben Berraondo says the RTX 5070 Founders Edition will be available “later in March.” That means that people who want it […]
Best Buy and Target CEOs say prices are about to go up because of tariffs
Target and Best Buy say Trump’s tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China could raise prices in their stores as soon as this week. During an interview with CNBC, Target CEO Brian Cornell said consumers will “likely see prices increase over the next couple of days,” while Best Buy CEO Corie Barry similarly told investors that […]
YouTube warns creators an AI-generated video of its CEO is being used for phishing scams
YouTube is warning creators about a new phishing scam that attempts to lure victims using an AI-generated video of its CEO Neal Mohan. The fake video has been shared privately with users and claims YouTube is making changes to its monetization policy in an attempt to steal their credentials, according to an announcement on Tuesday. […]
The crypto industry got what it paid for
The crypto market never closes, so it was fitting President Donald Trump made the announcement on a Sunday: he was going to reward the billionaires who funded his presidential run. “A U.S. Crypto Reserve will elevate this critical industry after years of corrupt attacks by the Biden Administration,†Trump wrote in a post on Truth […]
The best stuff we’ve seen at MWC so far
Mobile World Congress 2025 is well under way in Barcelona, Spain, and while there’s still two days left, the mobile-focused show has already delivered lots of new laptops, smartphones, concepts, and innovative accessories. Some of the biggest announcements were made over the weekend, so we want to make sure you didn’t miss anything. Here are […]
Here’s where you can preorder the new entry-level iPad and M3 iPad Air
As predicted, Apple announced not one but two new iPads this week. The new entry-level iPad starts at $349, while the 11-and 13-inch iPad Airs start at $599 and $799, respectively. Both tablets are set to arrive on March 12th, though you can preorder them from Apple and Best Buy starting today, March 4th. Unsurprisingly, both […]
YouTube will soon restrict creators from mentioning certain online gambling sites
YouTube is tightening its policies on gambling content. The platform has announced that it will soon prohibit creators from verbally referring to gambling services not approved by Google, as well as displaying their logos and linking to them in videos. The new rules, which go into effect on March 19th, may also put age restrictions […]
Monster Hunter Wilds is breaking Capcom’s sales records
Though only out for a grand total of four days, Monster Hunter Wilds has sold an astonishing 8 million copies. That’s according to Capcom, reporting that the monster hunting action RPG has become the company’s fastest selling title ever. The Monster Hunter franchise has racked up a number of superlatives for its publisher with 2018’s […]
Apple reportedly challenges the UK’s secretive encryption crackdown
Apple is pushing back against the UK’s secret order to give the government access to encrypted iCloud files. The company has filed an appeal with the Investigatory Powers Tribunal, which deals with complaints about the “unlawful intrusion” of UK intelligence services and authorities, according to a report from the Financial Times. As noted by FT, […]
Nintendo announces a new Switch OLED bundle ahead of the Switch 2
The Nintendo Switch is now eight years old and the company is announcing what could be its final retail bundle push before the introduction of the Switch 2. The new bundle includes the Nintendo Switch OLED system with a digital copy of Super Mario Bros. Wonder and a 3-month Nintendo Switch Online individual membership for […]
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 remake launches in July
After a whole lot of teasing, it’s now official: remakes of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 and 4 are on the way. Activision officially announced the new release — called Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 — which will include remakes of both seminal skateboarding games and is launching on Xbox, PlayStation, PC, and […]
Sony’s new beta program lets you test PS5 updates early
Sony is launching a new PlayStation beta program to offer “an easier, more consolidated way for gamers to sign up to participate in future PlayStation betas across a wide range of PlayStation experiences,” according to a blog post by Sony’s Sid Shuman. By signing up for the beta program (technically called the “Beta Program at […]
AI now ‘analyzes’ LA Times articles for bias
Yesterday morning, billionaire Los Angeles Times owner Patrick Soon-Shiong published a letter to readers letting them know the outlet is now using AI to add a “Voices” label to articles that take “a stance” or are “written from a personal perspective.” He said those articles may also get a set of AI-generated “Insights,” which appear […]
Google Messages is using AI to detect scam texts
Google Messages is introducing an AI feature that aims to help protect Android users from text message scams. The new AI-powered scam detection tool was announced today alongside other new features, including live location sharing in the Find My app for Android users and features specifically for Pixel owners like multicamera streaming support and new […]
Microsoft’s new Copilot app for Windows has an improved UI
Microsoft is finally rolling out a native version of its Copilot Windows app, nearly a year after turning it into a basic web app. A new Copilot app is rolling out to Windows Insiders this week that’s built using native XAML and includes a new side panel and an improved UI. The Copilot app on […]
Donald Trump wants to delete ‘climate’ from federal websites — here’s how you can track the changes
The Trump administration has been hacking away at federal government websites, taking down information about climate change and anything deemed “woke.” Now, there’s an online tool you can use to track the changes and find missing information. Researchers initially developed the Federal Environmental Web Tracker to document similar changes during the first Trump administration, and […]
Split Fiction doesn’t need to be original when the co-op play is this good
Split Fiction, the new game from It Takes Two developer Hazelight Studios, doesn’t do anything particularly new. The game is a straightforward co-op adventure that strings together disparate sci-fi and fantasy games like links on a chain. If you bundled together the sci-fi and fantasy sections as separate entities, they wouldn’t form a cohesive experience […]
The team behind Shredder’s Revenge and Streets of Rage 4 is making a fantasy beat ’em up
Dotemu, the studio and publisher best-known for retro revivals like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge and Streets of Rage 4, has announced its next game — and this time it’s a brand-new property. Called Absolum, and it’s a fantasy beat ‘em up with roguelike elements; it’s being described as a “rogue ‘em up.” Dotemu […]
What if your phone’s camera was much, much bigger?
The cameras on our phones won’t stop getting bigger. Xiaomi’s new 15 Ultra is dominated by an enormous ring of cameras on the back, Nothing has rethought its camera layout from scratch to fit a periscope into the Phone 3A Pro, and consistent rumors suggest that even Apple is going to strap a big ol’ […]
CFPB staff and leaders clash about whether they’re allowed to work
Leadership and staff at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) are clashing in court over whether the Trump administration is seeking to wind down the agency and if it has allowed workers to continue their legally required duties. Now, a key agency executive is expected to testify in a hearing next week, after a judge […]
A new version of Monopoly replaces cash and math with a mobile app
Hasbro announced a new version of Monopoly that simplifies gameplay by replacing cash and the banker with a mobile app that handles all of the game’s transactions. With Monopoly App Banking, a smartphone or tablet takes over the role of banker and keeps track of every player’s money and properties. It will make the game […]
This Google change is breaking some digital photo frames
Google is changing the way apps can access Google Photos libraries, which is creating problems for owners of some digital photo frames. While the change is designed to make your photo library more private, it’s also breaking how digital photo frames — such as those made by Aura and Cozyla — automatically update slideshows on […]
Apple refreshes the iPad, but doesn’t add Apple Intelligence
For the first time in more than two years, there’s a new base-model iPad on the market. Apple just announced the 11th-generation iPad with a press release, but unlike the new products Apple has launched lately, this one doesn’t come with Apple Intelligence. The new iPad comes equipped with an upgraded A16 chip, along with […]
Apple launches a new M3-powered iPad Air
The iPad Air is a tricky tablet. At times, it has been the most compelling of Apple’s lineup, the Goldilocks-perfect combination of features and price. Other times, it starts to feel like an awkwardly placed option, both too expensive and not good enough. With the new model, which Apple just announced via a press release, […]
Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 review: definitely not a $549 RTX 4090
The RTX 50-series launch hasn’t gone smoothly so far. Severely limited stock, high prices, and manufacturing issues have left PC gamers frustrated. Now, Nvidia is trying to get things heading in the right direction with the RTX 5070, a GPU that it promised would deliver $1,599 RTX 4090-like performance for $549. It doesn’t, and it […]
Alienware has a $549 QD-OLED gaming monitor
2024 was the year OLED cemented its victory — and 2025 might let more gamers actually afford the glorious screens. Today, Alienware says it will try* to bring the price of a QD-OLED gaming panel down to $549 this summer with the AW2725D, a new 27-inch 2560 x 1440 QHD monitor that’ll offer OLED’s incredible […]
Peak Design Roller Pro review: rethinking the carry-on
Let me lay my cards on the table: I’m a big fan of Peak Design bags and have been for almost a decade. That’s why I jumped at the chance to review the company’s first roller bag with admittedly high expectations. Like Peak Design’s new Outdoor Backpack I recently reviewed, the four-wheel roller bag didn’t […]
How to mirror your Samsung phone on Windows
If you’re a Windows and Android user who has been envying the iPhone mirroring capabilities of macOS, there is a similar feature you can use — albeit with a caveat. First, the good news: this is a free tool that’s built right into Windows 11, with no extra download required. It works as part of […]
The James Bond Cinematic Universe
Bald head. Big muscles. Once a renowned businessman, now making a series of questionable decisions in order to obtain more political power. Weird side hobbies, some involving rockets. Perfect recipe for a Bond villain! Also a decent description of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. So maybe it’s appropriate that Amazon has struck a deal to give […]
Trump imposes tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China
President Donald Trump has followed through on his temporarily delayed tariff threats. The US will impose a 25 percent tariff on goods imported from Mexico and Canada, while China will face an additional 10 percent tariff on top of the 10 percent tax previously enacted. On Monday, Trump dashed hopes that a deal could be […]
Samsung heard you like weird screens so it brought some to MWC
For a phone show, there’s an awful lot of cool non-phone stuff at Mobile World Congress this year. Take Lenovo’s ThinkBook Flip concept, which answers the question: “What if your laptop unfolded, and then unfolded again?” Samsung’s Display group has been apparently thinking along the same lines, because it has some interesting new folding concepts […]
The future of BMW is being built at a battery factory in Germany
While other automakers rethink their plans as the global appetite for EVs slows down, BMW is vowing to stay the course. The German automaker says it still plans to offer an EV in every vehicle segment across all of its brands, including Mini and Rolls-Royce. And most importantly, BMW is investing billions of dollars in […]
Waymo is now available exclusively on Uber in Austin
Today’s the day: Waymo’s unlikely partnership with Uber is now live in Austin, Texas. The former rivals have joined forces in the hopes of accelerating the transition to autonomous vehicles, and as of today, any Austin resident with a desire to take a trip in a fully driverless robotaxi can open their Uber app and […]
Nothing’s Phone 3A and 3A Pro use AI to organize all your stuff
The Nothing 3A phones were just announced with a new take on the company’s “make tech more fun again” ethos. These devices have improved hardware over the Phone 2A, updated cameras, and a new feature called the Essential Space to store and index your miscellaneous screenshots, voice memos, and photographs, all through a dedicated button. […]
TSMC announces $100 billion investment in US chipmaking
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. – the world’s biggest chipmaker – will invest at least $100 billion to expand chip manufacturing in the US. During a press conference on Monday, President Donald Trump said the funding would go toward building two additional chip manufacturing facilities in Phoenix, Arizona. The $100 billion investment builds upon the $65 […]
Self-driving cars: Google and others map the road to automated vehicles
Google and a number of automakers are spearheading the movement to get automated vehicles on America’s roads. Self-driving cars are street legal in three states, and Google’s fleet has collectively logged over 300,000 miles of time on the road. However, there are several obstacles in the path of widespread adoption, with legal and moral opposition […]
Google Play is going to start highlighting apps with widgets
Google is making some changes to Google Play on Android devices to better highlight apps that include widgets, according to a blog post. The changes include a new search filter for widgets, widget badges on app detail pages, and a curated editorial page dedicated to widgets. “Historically, one of the challenges with investing in widget […]
Logitech’s best gaming mouse has fallen to its lowest price ever
If you’re looking for a top-notch gaming mouse you can use for both work and play, Logitech’s G Pro X Superlight 2 is a great option that’s currently on sale for its best price to date. Right now, you can buy it at Walmart in select colors starting at $113.99 ($45 off) or at Best […]
The FTC is being hit by terminations
At least a dozen probationary staffers at the Federal Trade Commission were terminated last week, The Verge has learned. The terminations took place across the agency, according to two sources familiar with the matter, one of whom said that included both the Bureau of Consumer Protection and Bureau of Competition. The sources did not definitively […]
SwitchBot launches cut-your-own smart shades
SwitchBot’s inexpensive, adjustable smart roller shades are finally here. First announced in September, the SwitchBot Roller Shades go on sale today at switch-bot.com, claiming to be the world’s first adjustable smart shades. This means you don’t need to worry about getting your measurements right before ordering, as you can adjust the width of both the […]
The iPhone 15 Pro will get Visual Intelligence with iOS 18.4
Apple’s latest iOS 18.4 developer beta adds the Visual Intelligence feature, the company’s Google Lens-like tool, to the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, as reported by 9to5Mac. Apple had told Daring Fireball that the feature would be coming to those iPhones in a future software update, but didn’t say which. Barring any […]
Microsoft’s new Dragon Copilot is an AI assistant for healthcare
Microsoft has announced Microsoft Dragon Copilot, an AI system for healthcare that can, among other things, listen to and create notes based on clinical visits. The system combines voice-dictating and ambient listening tech created by AI voice company Nuance, which Microsoft bought in 2021. According to Microsoft’s announcement, the new system can help its users […]
YouTube is stepping up its efforts to sell you other streaming services
YouTube is preparing a big redesign of its TV app that will make it look more like Netflix, according to a report from The Information. The new design, which is expected to launch “in the next few months,” will reportedly display paid content from various streaming services on the homepage. YouTube currently lets you explore […]
T-Mobile’s parent company is making an ‘AI Phone’ with Perplexity Assistant
Deutsche Telekom is building a new Perplexity chatbot-powered “AI Phone,” the companies announced at Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona today. The new device will be revealed later this year and run “Magenta AI,” which gives users access to Perplexity Assistant, Google Cloud AI, ElevenLabs, Picsart, and a suite of AI tools. The AI phone […]
Google brings Gemini widgets to iPhone as it looks to seize on Siri’s weaknesses
Google’s Gemini app for iOS and iPadOS now includes a handful of lockscreen widgets that make it easier (and faster) to access the AI assistant’s various features. As noted by 9to5Google, the app’s latest update adds six widgets in total, with each of them letting you hop right into a particular Gemini function. The company […]
The US faces ‘devastating’ losses for weather forecasts, federal workers say
The federal agency that produces weather forecasts and leads research on climate and the oceans has canceled leases for research centers and slashed its staff to “devastating” effect, current and former employees tell The Verge. Last week, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) laid off hundreds of probationary employees, who make up roughly 10 […]
Amazon’s Panos Panay on the long road to Alexa’s AI overhaul
Today, I’m talking with Panos Panay, who’s in charge of devices and services at Amazon. That includes everything like Alexa, Ring security cameras, Eero Wi-Fi routers, and the Project Kuiper satellite internet service that’s meant to compete with Starlink. Panos and I talked the day after he announced Alexa Plus, the new AI-powered version of […]
Google’s Pixel 7 Pro is on sale for just $199.99 (update: sold out)
Update, March 3rd:Â The Google Pixel 7 Pro has sold out at Best Buy. It may be a few years old at this point, but the Google Pixel 7 Pro is still a good investment given it currently costs less than some of the best budget phones on the market. Right now, you can pick up […]
BYD cars now have an on-vehicle DJI drone launch platform
EV maker BYD unveiled “Lingyuan,” a vehicle-mounted drone launching system developed in collaboration with DJI that is available for all of the company’s vehicles, reports Chinese state media outlet Xinhua. The system is only available in China, like BYD’s vehicles, and costs 16,000 yuan (or about $2,197). BYD’s video below, reposted by YouTube channel ShanghaiEye, […]
Tim Cook teases a new Apple ‘Air’
Apple CEO Tim Cook just teased the launch of a new device coming to its Air lineup this week. In a post on X, Cook posted a short video with the text, “There’s something in the air” alongside a caption saying “this week.” Though Cook doesn’t specify which device Apple plans to launch, it’s likely […]
Doctor Who is ready to take the long way around again in new season 2 trailer
A little doom and dread always helps Doctor Who hit that much harder, and the show’s new season 2 trailer makes it seem like it’s going to come out swinging when it returns to Disney Plus in a few weeks. Though many of the Doctor’s (Ncuti Gatwa) companions have been amazed by their adventures to […]
Google’s Chrome extension cull hits more uBlock Origin users
Google is disabling the original uBlock Origin ad blocker for more Chrome browser users, alongside other extensions that are no longer supported as the browser migrates to its new extension specification, Manifest V3. According to Google, the new standard aims to improve privacy and security, but also removes a feature that some ad blocking extensions […]
All the news about Netflix’s gaming efforts
Netflix is making a big push into video games. The company first dabbled in games with interactive titles like Black Mirror: Bandersnatch and a Carmen Sandiego game. But starting in 2021, it made gaming a much bigger priority — Netflix hired a former EA exec and let people play a selection of mobile games for free as […]
Blue Ghost private lander reaches the Moon intact
The Blue Ghost spacecraft has landed on the moon, making history as the first private lander to “successfully” achieve this feat according to its creator, Firefly Aerospace. The Texas-based commercial aerospace firm announced on Sunday that its lander had “softly touched down on the Moon’s surface in an upright, stable configuration.” This is technically the […]
Driverless racecar sets a new autonomous speed record
Look out: there’s a new fastest robot in the world. A Maserati MC20 Coupe with no one in the driver seat set a new land speed record for autonomous vehicles, reaching 197.7 mph (318 km/h) during an automotive event at the Kennedy Space Center last week. The Maserati was running self-driving software developed by Politecnico […]
Hulu prematurely ended its Oscars stream right before the final awards
Hulu subscribers watching the Academy Awards ceremony on Sunday night were outraged when the streaming service ended its broadcast before the show was actually over. Viewers saw a “thank you for watching” message that falsely claimed “the live event has now ended” — despite the fact that the Best Actress and Best Picture Oscars were […]
Infinix’s new concepts use solar power to charge your phone
Chinese phone brand Infinix is known to show off a flashy concept, and at this year’s MWC the company is looking skyward for inspiration. It’s showing a phone with an integrated solar panel on the back, as well as a solar charging phone case. They’re both in the concept phase, but the demo units I […]
Lenovo’s concept laptop add-ons include multiple monitors and an emoji friend
Lenovo is throwing ideas at the wall with new modular accessories for the magnetic Magic Bay connector of its ThinkBook 16P Gen 6 laptop. The company announced at Mobile World Congress four different proof-of-concept add-ons that may or may never be released, and they’re as cool as they are quirky: There aren’t many details on […]
Lenovo’s new concept laptop can be charged by the sun
Lenovo has announced a new concept laptop at Mobile World Congress that encourages you to work outside by reducing your dependence on power cables. The Yoga Solar PC is an early proof of concept device featuring a solar panel integrated into the laptop’s lid. It can harness light from any source to boost its battery, […]
Lenovo’s ThinkPad X13 gets even lighter
Lenovo may have some cool new flippy-screened and solar-powered laptops it’s showing off at Mobile World Congress this year, but it’s also announcing the generational notebook updates you’ll actually be able to buy within the coming months. Some of the new models include a redesigned and super lightweight ThinkPad X13 notebook, the first T-Series convertible […]
Lenovo’s ThinkBook Flip puts an extra-tall folding display on a laptop
Lenovo has another funky experiment it’s announcing at Mobile World Congress: the ThinkBook “codename Flip” AI PC Concept. It’s a productivity / business laptop with a flexible display, allowing it to be used as a traditional 13.1-inch clamshell, a folded-up 12.9-inch tablet, or a laptop with an extra-tall 18.1-inch vertical screen. The ThinkBook Flip uses […]
Trump names Bitcoin and others as part of coming ‘Crypto Strategic Reserve’
In a pair of social media posts today, President Donald Trump named some cryptocurrencies he says will be part of a Crypto Strategic Reserve being created by an executive order he signed in January. Those include Bitcoin and Ether, which he says “will be the heart of the Reserve.” Trump said in the first of […]
FAA staff reportedly ordered to find funding for deal with Musk’s Starlink
Officials at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Friday ordered staff “to begin finding tens of millions of dollars for a Starlink deal” to upgrade air traffic control communications, anonymous sources have told Rolling Stone. The story follows reports that Starlink may be taking the job from Verizon, which already has a multibillion-dollar contract with […]
Siri’s real AI upgrade could still be years away
Apple Intelligence was supposed to finally deliver a more natural version of Siri, but now, people who work in Apple’s AI department believe the company won’t release a ”true modernized, conversational version of Siri … until iOS 20 at best in 2027,“ writes Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman in today’s Power On newsletter. Apple is expected to roll […]
HMD’s new earbuds can top off your phone’s battery
HMD announced a new set of earbuds today with a case that doubles as a backup phone battery. The aptly named wireless Amped Buds come in a Qi2 charging case that uses reverse wireless charging to boost your phone’s charge. With a slim design and a 1,600mAh battery, it’s a portable case that offers just […]
Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro are the first to deliver on Qualcomm’s promise of Wi-Fi earbuds
Xiaomi has given a European launch to its Buds 5 Pro, the first earbuds to use Qualcomm’s S7 Pro chip to stream audio over Wi-Fi, in addition to Bluetooth, with no increase in power consumption. Qualcomm announced the technology in October 2023, and this is the first hardware to launch. The Buds 5 Pro were […]
Xiaomi brings its 15 and 15 Ultra flagships to Europe — but the US misses out
Just days after revealing the 15 Ultra in China, Xiaomi has announced a UK and European launch for its latest flagship phone, together with the base Xiaomi 15. There’s no sign of the Pro model, but there is an array of tablets, earbuds, and fitness trackers appearing alongside the phones. The 15 and 15 Ultra […]
Xiaomi 15 Ultra review: ugly phone, beautiful camera
After two years telling anyone who’d listen that Chinese manufacturer Vivo made the best cameras in any smartphone, last year’s Xiaomi 14 Ultra changed my tune. It became my favorite phone and camera, handling everything from holiday snaps to product review photoshoots. With the 15 Ultra, Xiaomi took the best and made it better with […]
Our favorite speakers, headphones, and other music gear
Hi, friends! Welcome to Installer No. 73, your guide to the best and Verge-iest stuff in the world. (If you’re new here, welcome, belated happy Pokémon Day, and also you can read all the old editions at the Installer homepage.) This week, I’ve been reading about the Zizians and fancy suits and Heavyweight, watching Suits […]
Samsung reveals Galaxy A56 with more AI and a modest spec bump
Samsung is bringing even more AI to its line of budget-friendly phones. The new Galaxy A56, A36, and A26 now come with what the company calls “awesome intelligence,” enabling an array of new AI-powered image editing features already available with Samsung’s pricier S25 lineup. One of these features is Best Face, an AI tool that […]
Ikea registered a Matter-over-Thread temperature sensor with the FCC
Ikea has registered its first Thread device, a new Matter-supporting temperature and humidity sensor called the “Timmerflotte,” with the FCC, reports HomeKit News. A diagram from the filing, which was spotted by CybermodStudios, shows a circular device that’s powered by two AAA batteries and features a QR code and 11-digit number for Matter setup. The […]
What can a 100-pixel video teach us about storytelling around the world?
Since its founding in 2007, the Mumbai-based collaborative studio CAMP has used surveillance, TV networks, and digital archives to examine how we move through and record the world. In addition to their film and video projects, the wildly prolific studio runs a rooftop cinema in Mumbai and maintains several online video archives, including the largest […]
New email tells federal employees to list recent accomplishments weekly
Federal workers started getting emails on Friday night, “asking them to provide a list of accomplishments from the week,” reports The New York Times. According to the outlet, the message told workers they’ll now be expected to provide such a list every Monday by 11:59PM ET. This time around, the Times writes that “employees who […]
Amazon’s latest Fire TV Stick 4K Max is more than 30 percent off
Planning on spending your Sunday watching the 97th annual Academy Awards or catching up on the latest episode of Severance? If you don’t already own a smart TV, Amazon’s latest Fire TV Stick 4K Max can make setup easy and inexpensive, especially now that it’s down to just $39.99 ($20 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, […]
How to find images in Google Photos
Google Photos makes backing up photos and videos from your phone pretty seamless: set it to work in the background and all your precious memories are saved to the cloud without you having to do anything else.  The smoothness of this process does tend to mean you can find yourself with a rather gigantic collection, […]
One of my favorite pop albums is a video game — and now it’s on the PS5
Of all of my favorite games, Sayonara Wild Hearts might be the hardest to describe. It’s a rhythm game, but also you ride on a motorcycle and a dragon, wield giant swords while dodging fireballs, and teleport to a retrofuturistic VR world. It’s structured like a pop album, telling a story of love and loss, […]
Asus ROG Flow Z13 (2025) review: hold up, integrated graphics are good now?
The beefy Windows gaming tablet is back, and it’s done two things I thought impossible. It made me respect integrated graphics, and it convinced me a Windows tablet can be fun. The Asus ROG Flow Z13 is a 13-inch tablet with a detachable keyboard, a bright screen, and the guts of a gaming laptop. I […]
With Alexa Plus, Amazon finally reinvents its best product
The biggest surprise at Amazon’s press conference last week was the lack of hardware announcements. Traditionally, Amazon announces dozens of new gadgets at its events, but this time, Amazon spent 70 minutes talking about software. Specifically, Alexa Plus, its new generative AI-powered Alexa voice assistant. And that was exactly the right move. Over the past […]
Mozilla is already revising its new Firefox terms to clarify how it handles user data
Mozilla is revising its new Terms of Use for Firefox introduced on Wednesday following criticisms over language that seemed to give the company broad ownership over user data. With the change, “we’re updating the language to more clearly reflect the limited scope of how Mozilla interacts with user data,” the company says in a Friday […]
Google’s co-founder tells AI staff to stop ‘building nanny products’
For the last couple years, it has been evident that Google co-founder Sergey Brin is back in the building. This week, he sent a clear message to hundreds of employees in Google’s DeepMind AI division, known as GDM: the pressure to win the AGI race is on. “It has been 2 years of the Gemini […]
Zapier says someone broke into its code repositories and may have accessed customer data
Zapier informed customers on Friday that an “unauthorized user†accessed “certain Zapier code repositories†and may have gained access to customer information as a result. The customer data had been “inadvertently copied to the repositories for debugging purposes,†according to an email obtained by The Verge. The company says it became aware of the unauthorized […]
The Verge looks back on Skype
It may be difficult to believe in this time of Zoom, Google Meet, and Slack, but at one point, Skype was one of the primary ways to make contact with friends, family, and colleagues. First released in 2003 and, after going through several owners, finally purchased by Microsoft in 2011, the app allowed you to […]
The UK will neither confirm nor deny that it’s killing encryption
The United Kingdom dealt a significant blow in its war on encryption last week that, aside from blemishing Apple’s meticulously curated privacy commitments, could have worldwide ramifications for personal data protections. And while several days have passed since Apple pulled its Advanced Data Protection (ADP) feature from UK customers, other end-to-end encryption providers like Meta, […]
The armless PP-1 turntable is made from a solid block of aluminum
A Paris-based creative studio has announced a minimalist turntable with controls streamlined to just a play button and a volume knob. Waiting For Ideas’ PP-1 — short for Plug and Play — doesn’t even have a visible tonearm, and it’s made from a solid block of anodized aluminum requiring about 12 weeks of production time […]
Tesla Superchargers coming to dozens of Steak ‘n Shake locations
Tesla is planning to install dozens of Supercharger sites at Steak ‘n Shake locations across the country, according to an exchange between the companies on X. The companies have signed an agreement for over six sites, with over 20 more to come. And if Steak ‘n Shake gets its way, possibly 100 restaurants will see […]
Cold Wallet’s director wanted to make a revenge thriller for the crypto era
Cold Wallet, Well Go USA’s new darkly comedic home invasion thriller from director Cutter Hodierne, becomes increasingly more absurd as it unfolds. At every turn, the movie’s heroes — a group of excitable retail investors — make unhinged choices that make them feel more like cartoons than people who have complex lives outside of Reddit. […]
The Verge hires Tina Nguyen as senior reporter to cover the Trump administration
Tina Nguyen is joining The Verge as a senior reporter, covering the Trump administration, Elon Musk’s takeover of the federal government, and the tech industry’s embrace of the MAGA movement. Nguyen joins The Verge from Puck, where she was a founding partner and national correspondent covering the evolution of the MAGA political ecosystem. Before that, […]
DOGE wants to lay off the ‘vast majority’ of CFPB workers, employees say
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is planning to fire the “vast majority” of employees at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), agency employees — some using pseudonyms for fear of retaliation — told a federal court in sworn declarations. Seven current and five former CFPB employees submitted the declarations as part of the National […]
Steam’s Next Fest is full of weird-ass, cool-ass games
Steam Next Fest is going on until March 3rd, and I’ve spent a considerable amount of time wading through a seemingly endless carousel of games, filling up my Steam Deck’s internal and external memory looking for the Good Shitâ„¢. I’ve landed on four standout game demos that are worth your time now and whenever their […]
Mozilla says its new Firefox terms don’t give it ownership of your data
Mozilla introduced its first Terms of Use for Firefox this week, but the company has already had to post an update to address criticisms of language that appeared to give Mozilla overly broad ownership over user data. Specifically, some users took issue with this line in the terms, as reported by TechCrunch: “When you upload […]
EVgo says no to fast-charging extension cables and breakaway adapters
Electric vehicle charging network EVgo changed its terms of service Thursday to include new language explicitly prohibiting the use of high-speed DC extension cables and breakaway adapters at the company’s stations. The terms, which go into effect March 8th, are another bump in the road for enterprising companies looking to cash in on EV charging […]
Intel pushes Ohio chip factory opening to 2030
Intel is delaying the opening of its $28 billion Ohio chip plants yet again. In an update on Friday, Intel executive vice president Naga Chandrasekaran said the company now expects its first factory to begin operations between 2030 and 2031 – years later than its initial plan to kick off production in 2025. Meanwhile, the […]
What to expect at MWC 2025
Mobile World Congress 2025 is nearly upon us, and we’re heading to Barcelona to see what the world’s smartphone manufacturers have to offer as they launch new devices, tease new features, and talk incessantly about AI. The show officially kicks off on March 3rd and runs to March 6th, but the first announcements should arrive on […]
MWC 2025: all the phones, gadgets, and commentary from Barcelona
The Verge is heading to Barcelona, Spain, for Mobile World Congress 2025. We’re fresh off CES, where we saw plenty of new gadgets, from TVs to gaming handhelds and smart glasses. But, as it says right in the name, MWC 2025 is more focused on… mobile stuff. And it’s for a global audience, which means […]
Apple accused of misleading consumers with Apple Watch ‘carbon neutral’ claims
Apple customers filed a class action lawsuit against the company, alleging it misled consumers with claims that certain Apple Watches are carbon neutral. For a product to be considered carbon neutral, its manufacturer has to offset or cancel out any pollution the item generates. Apple said in 2023 that “select case and band combinations” of […]
Severance opens up a new kind of terror in latest episode
Severance has always been a horror story, albeit one set in a mostly generic office. That blandness is a large part of what makes it so scary: underneath the corporate speak, drab decor, and unflattering fluorescent lighting is something very sinister. And in the show’s latest episode, it uses that energy to tap into a […]
The high stakes for AI Alexa
Amazon has been trying to make virtual assistants happen for more than a decade. Alexa is, by many definitions, wildly successful, but it has so far failed to become the kind of omnipresent, omnipotent helper the company imagines. (It has also, by all accounts, failed to become a compelling business for Amazon.) This week, though, […]
Microsoft is shutting down Skype in favor of Teams
It’s the end of an era. Microsoft is shutting down Skype in May and replacing it with the free version of Microsoft Teams for consumers. Existing Skype users will be able to log in to the Microsoft Teams app and have their message history, group chats, and contacts all automatically available without having to create […]
NHL officials will start wearing Apple Watches on ice
The Apple Watch is now the smartwatch of choice for National Hockey League officials. Apple and the NHL just announced a collaboration where on-ice officials will wear Apple Watches that are running special software to receive important in-game information. Using the custom-built NHL Watch Comms app, on-ice referees can view the game clock directly from […]
Meme coins aren’t subject to securities regulations, says SEC
According to the Securities and Exchange Commission, meme coins don’t meet the requirements to be protected by federal securities law. In new guidance issued on Thursday, the SEC announced that it doesn’t view most meme coins — cryptocurrencies that originate from internet memes or cultural phenomena — as securities, and that transactions around them do […]
Official: AMD Radeon RX 9070 and 9070 XT start at $549, ship March 6th
AMD’s answer to Nvidia’s RTX 50-series GPUs is arriving next week — and its new graphics cards are aggressively priced against Nvidia’s $749 GeForce RTX 5070 Ti and $549 RTX 5070. The AMD Radeon RX 9070 and 9070 XT ship March 6th for $549 and $599 respectively, one day after the RTX 5070 arrives. AMD […]
Elon enters the circus
The shadow president paced around the stage after his speech, sunglasses on, mouth frozen in a grin, raising a chainsaw overhead to the delight of an adoring crowd as a large rectangular canvas made its way from the back of the audience toward him. He grabbed the painting, visibly thrilled. On the canvas, as onstage, […]
Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia now works for DOGE
Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia has joined President Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) service. Gebbia, a close friend of Elon Musk and fellow billionaire, announced that he’s been tasked with “improving the slow and paper-based retirement process,” though the specifics of his involvement are unclear. “Excited to share I’m bringing my designer brain and […]
EA open sources four more Command & Conquer games
Electronic Arts (EA) is releasing the source code for four Command & Conquer titles under the open source GPL license. The original Command & Conquer (since subtitled Tiberian Dawn) is joined by Red Alert, Renegade, and Generals, the code for all of which can now be found on EA’s GitHub page. Only the code has […]
Aurzen Zip tri-fold projector review: mirror anything (without DRM)
Tri-folds are having a moment. There’s that impressive Huawei device, my favorite 3-in-1 Apple charger, and now this: the Zip tri-fold projector from a company called Aurzen. It’s the most gadgety gadget I’ve tested in a long time. The Zip’s heft, texture, and hinge stiffness evokes quality at first touch and it’s impressively bright for […]
Kia’s next EV is the affordable, long-range EV4 sedan
Kia is launching a new EV4 sedan and hatchback with promising range figures for an affordable electric car. The vehicle was announced at Kia’s 2025 EV day event in Spain today, where the company also revealed an urban-focused EV2 small electric SUV concept and the PV5 electric passenger and cargo van. The EV4 sedan was […]
Meta’s AI chatbot will soon have a standalone app
Meta is planning to launch a dedicated app for its AI chatbot, according to a report from CNBC. The Verge can also confirm that Meta is working on the standalone app. The new app could launch in the second quarter of this year, CNBC says, joining the growing number of standalone AI apps, including OpenAI’s […]
Amazon CEO says ‘beautiful’ new Alexa hardware is coming this fall
Amazon is gearing up to launch new hardware to go along with its AI-upgraded Alexa. During an interview with Bloomberg, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy said the company has a “brand new lineup of devices that are coming in the fall that are beautiful.” On Wednesday, Amazon revealed Alexa Plus, a more conversational version of the […]
Cricut’s new crafting machines are more accurate, faster, and cheaper
Cricut has announced new versions of its crafting machines designed to print, cut, and emboss various materials using a collection of swappable tools. The new Cricut Maker 4 and Cricut Explore 4 are the first updates to both machines in nearly four years and offer faster cutting speeds for some materials, improved accuracy, and cheaper […]
Apple will let parents share their kids’ ages to limit app access
Apple announced in a whitepaper that it plans to introduce a bunch of new child safety features, including letting parents share their kids’ age ranges with apps, refreshing the App Store’s age ratings system, and making it easier for parents to set up Child Accounts for their kids. The company says it will introduce the […]
Microsoft releases a Copilot app for Mac
Microsoft is releasing a native Copilot app for macOS today. Much like the Windows app, the Copilot version for Mac will provide access to the web-based version of Microsoft’s AI assistant, where you can upload images and generate images or text. The macOS version of Copilot also includes a dark mode and a shortcut command […]
OpenAI announces GPT-4.5, warns it’s not a frontier AI model
OpenAI is launching GPT-4.5 today, its newest and largest model. GPT-4.5 will be available as a research preview, and OpenAI is calling it the company’s “largest and most knowledgeable model yet,” but warning that it’s not a frontier model and might not perform as well as o1 or o3-mini. GPT-4.5 will have better writing capabilities, […]
Hands-on with Alexa Plus in the smart home
Oh, Alexa, how you’ve changed. The long-awaited new Alexa, Alexa Plus, is set to bring a more conversational, context-aware, and capable assistant to your smart home. With a new voice (eight of them, in fact) and a new attitude, this is the biggest change to the voice assistant since it debuted in 2014. And it […]
Sesame is the first voice assistant I’ve ever wanted to talk to more than once
I tell Amazon’s Alexa to shut up on a near daily basis. I have almost zero interest in speaking to Gemini after our first awkward chat. The hitches, misunderstandings, and lag in any given AI “conversation” mean I’m always wasting time speaking when I could be texting instead. But speaking to “Maya,” one of two […]
Meta is firing about 20 employees for leaking
Meta has fired “roughly 20†employees who leaked “confidential information outside the company,†according to a spokesperson. “We tell employees when they join the company, and we offer periodic reminders, that it is against our policies to leak internal information, no matter the intent,†Meta spokesperson Dave Arnold tells The Verge exclusively. “We recently conducted […]
Here’s a new trailer for the ambitious survival game from PUBG’s creator
PlayerUnknown Productions, the studio from PUBG creator Brendan Greene (aka PlayerUnknown), has shared a gameplay trailer for Prologue: Go Wayback!, a single-player survival game that’s launching in early access on Steam this year. The studio previously shared that the game would be built with “machine-learning-driven terrain generation technology,” and in this new trailer, you can […]
Jeff Bezos is sending Katy Perry to space
Katy Perry will fly to space during Blue Origin’s next crewed mission, the Jeff Bezos-owned space company has announced. The pop star will join CBS host Gayle King and Bezos’s fiancé Lauren Sánchez aboard the New Shepard rocket this spring, marking its 11th human flight. Along with Perry and Sánchez, who is known for her […]
Microsoft pushes ahead with AI in gaming
Microsoft might say its top priority right now is security, but it’s been clear for months that AI is just as important. The odd division out has been Xbox, which hasn’t discussed its use of AI much in public. But that changed last week when Microsoft ripped the band-aid off and waded, somewhat clumsily, into […]
WD’s Xbox expansion cards are nearly matching their Black Friday low
From Monster Hunt Wilds to Ninja Gaiden 4, there are a ton of great Xbox Series X / S games coming out this year. Luckily, if you need more storage to play them all, Western Digital’s officially licensed WD_Black C50 Storage Expansion Card for Xbox is down to its best price since Black Friday, with […]
Shinichirō Watanabe’s Lazarus hits Adult Swim in April
Lazarus, Shinichirō Watanabe’s upcoming anime about a world plunged into chaos by a mysterious miracle drug, finally has a premiere date. Today, Adult Swim announced today that Lazarus will debut on April 5th with encores hitting Max on Thursdays beginning April 10th. Along with the announcement, Adult Swim also dropped a new Lazarus trailer teasing […]
Starlink poised to take over $2.4 billion contract to overhaul air traffic control communication
While Elon Musk hacks away at the federal bureaucracy in the name of “efficiency,” his company Starlink appears poised to steal a multibillion-dollar government contract away from Verizon. The Federal Aviation Administration is on the cusp of canceling a $2.4 billion contract to overhaul the communication system for the nation’s air traffic control system, and […]
Trump’s tariffs on China, Canada, and Mexico will take effect March 4th
President Donald Trump says his 25 percent tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico, and additional 10 percent tariff on Chinese imports will go into effect as scheduled on March 4th, unless imports of drugs including fentanyl are stopped or “seriously limited.” “Drugs are still pouring into our Country from Mexico and Canada at very […]
Roblox is getting faster on Chromebooks
If you play Roblox on a Chromebook, things could feel faster soon. Roblox is rolling out an x86 version of the game “built specifically for Chromebooks,” where players can expect “up to 2x faster performance on x86 devices across all your favorite games and experiences,” according to a ChromeOS blog post. This will translate to […]
The Powerbeats Pro 2 can’t play music while tracking heart rate on gym equipment
Bad news for folks hoping the Powerbeats Pro 2 can replace their chest strap at the gym: while the workout buds are great at playing music and can connect to various gym equipment to track heart rate, they can’t do both at the same time. The issue was pointed out in YouTuber DC Rainmaker’s review […]
Disney Plus is adding a bite-sized version of ESPN’s SportsCenter
Disney Plus will begin exclusively airing a bite-sized version of ESPN’s SportsCenter, the company announced on Thursday. The show, called SC Plus, will feature a “fast-paced” update with the day’s most important moments in sports. It debuts on March 3rd. SC Plus will be based on SportsCenter’s top 10 format, offering a quick rundown of […]
DoorDash will pay $16.8 million to New York delivery workers after misusing their tips
DoorDash is paying restitution after keeping tips from as many as 63,000 of its New York delivery workers thanks to a settlement with the New York Attorney General’s office, The New York Times reports. Attorney General Letitia James announced on Monday that DoorDash will pay $16.8 million, which will be spread across workers who were […]
Hoto’s 48-in-1 electric screwdriver set hits a record low $70
Many years ago, I built my first PC inside a repurposed Gateway chassis with just a regular old screwdriver and a grounding bracelet. I’ll spare you the ugly details, but let’s just say I wish I had tools specially made for the job. If you want to avoid pain in your own projects, you should […]
DJI’s autonomous drone-in-a-box can now launch from moving vehicles
DJI has announced the third iteration of its drone-in-a-box solution designed for autonomous missions like safely inspecting power lines and emergency response. As with previous versions, the DJI Dock 3 is small enough to be transported in the back of a pickup truck, but it’s the first that allows DJI’s new Matrice 4D and Matrice […]
Amazon says its new quantum computing chip will make error correction more efficient
Amazon is making its foray into quantum computing with the launch of a new chip designed to make quantum error correction more efficient. In an announcement on Thursday, Amazon Web Services (AWS) said the chip, called Ocelot, can “reduce the costs of implementing quantum error correction by up to 90%, compared to current approaches.” Quantum […]
BoldHue review: the best foundation is the one you print
In 2022, I watched a video of mine and wanted to hide under a rock. My skin looked sallow, the dark circles under my eyes pronounced. Loved ones reassured me I was seeing things, but commenters confirmed my worst insecurities. While relating my woes to a friend, she interrupted my pity party to say I […]
Understanding Elon Musk’s polarizing ascent in the MAGA movement
Hey, and welcome to Decoder. This is Alex Heath, deputy editor at The Verge. I’m guest hosting today’s episode for Nilay. Today, we’re diving into the bromance between Elon Musk and President Donald Trump, and more specifically, how it’s impacting the changing right-wing political movement here in the United States. There’s no better place to […]
Five predictions for where crypto is headed in 2025
Crypto is, once again, exploding. Momentum born of a potentially friendlier regulatory atmosphere has met rising coin values, with Bitcoin more than doubling in value last year. Meanwhile, powered by advances to the underlying infrastructure, crypto is evolving beyond speculation and into real utility. That’s driving new use cases for AI and enabling seamless experiences […]
Pokémon Legends: Z-A’s starters make their debut in new trailer
Like its predecessor, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is bringing back three classic starter pokémon to get you started on your next adventure. Though Pokémon Legends: Z-A will likely introduce a number of new creatures, Chikorita, Tepig, and Totodile will be the first three partner pokémon you can choose between as you journey into the depths of […]
Pokémon Champions gets right to the fights
To celebrate the day when Pikachu pika’d his way into our hearts and minds almost 30 years ago, The Pokémon Company held a Pokémon Presents showcase highlighting what games and experiences to expect in the coming months. There were updates on Pokémon Legends: Z-A, a new season of Pokémon Concierge, and a totally new multiplayer […]
Pokémon Presents 2025: all the biggest news and trailers
Each Pokémon Presents stream is special in its own way, but we’re expecting big things from this year’s showcase given the imminent arrival of the Switch 2. A new console means a new generation of games like Pokémon Legends: Z-A and the franchise’s next mainline title. But there should also be some major updates for […]
Sony drops PlayStation VR 2 price to $399
Sony is cutting the price of its PlayStation VR 2 headset in March. The VR 2 will be discounted to just $399.99, down from the original $549 pricing when it launched in February 2023. The headset will also see a price cut in Europe (€449.99), the UK (£399.99), Japan (¥66,980), and other regions. Sony is […]
Instagram’s Reels may get its own app
Instagram is reportedly considering spinning its Reels feature into a standalone short-form video app to take advantage of TikTok’s uncertain future in the US. Instagram head Adam Mosseri was overheard discussing the plans with staff this week according to an anonymous source cited by The Information. The Reels app is reportedly part of a Meta […]
Xiaomi 15 Ultra is a small update with a big periscope lens
Xiaomi has announced its 15 Ultra flagship phone at a launch event in China, where it’s going on sale starting at 6,499 yuan (around $893). The Android phone joins the company’s Xiaomi 15 and 15 Pro, which went on sale there in October 2024. It is a mostly iterative upgrade on last year’s model, but […]
Engwe Mapfour N1 Pro e-bike review: the new ‘premium’
Europe has an electric bike problem. Direct-to-consumer e-bikes from inexpensive Chinese brands like Engwe and countless others can be easily purchased online despite openly flouting EU restrictions. They feature throttles and powerful motors that can be easily unlocked to far exceed the 25km/h (16mph) legal speed limit — no pedaling required. Here in Amsterdam, cheap […]
iPhone 16E review: Eh, it’s alright
The iPhone 16E is everything I love and hate about iOS. FaceTime at your fingertips. A reliable camera. Simplicity. Familiarity. They’re the pillars of the iPhone experience, and Apple’s newest phone has ‘em. My husband picked up the 16E, concerned that he would have to “learn something new†to use it. He swiped around for […]
Mint and pink: a closer look at the backflipping Framework Laptop 12
The moment Vjeran and I got to the demo room at Framework’s San Francisco event, we knew right away — the mint and pink version of the Framework Laptop 12 was the one I wanted to touch, the one he wanted to photograph and film. One of the women standing next to the demo stations […]
The Xbox Wireless Controller is just $39 right now
Of the three major gaming consoles, the Xbox Series X / S may have the most diverse controller selection, but Microsoft’s basic Xbox Wireless Controller is still the best Xbox controller for most people. That’s mostly because it’s the cheapest one you can buy with native support for Xbox’s built-in wireless protocol (you can also […]
Living with extreme heat might make you age faster
Exposure to extreme heat could lead to faster aging, a new study published today in the journal Science Advances suggests. Older people living in hotter areas of the US showed faster aging at the molecular level than people living in cooler areas. The study looked at measures of a person’s biological, or epigenetic, age, which […]
Kick off Pokémon Day 2025 with this gorgeous short film
It’s technically already Pokémon Day in Japan, and while we’re still a few hours away from this year’s big Pokémon Presents showcase, there’s a new animated short film out that right now feels like the perfect way to get pumped up for whatever surprises Nintendo has in store. Many of the Pokémon Company’s animated projects […]
Alexa Plus leaves behind Amazon’s earliest Echo devices
Amazon is bringing the new AI-powered Alexa Plus to a wide range of its existing Echo devices — but the upgrade will skip many of the earliest models. The majority of the company’s first-generation Echos won’t get support, according to the Alexa Plus FAQ page, though Amazon says they will continue to work with the standard […]
Max’s ad-supported tier is losing CNN and the Bleacher Report
Though Max has always said that it planned to charge more for access to its CNN and Bleacher Report Sports add-ons, the price hikes are coming in a roundabout way targeted at subscribers to the streamer’s cheapest tier. Max announced today that it no longer intends to charge subscribers to its Standard ($16.99/month or $169.99/year) […]
Streaming services keep getting more expensive: all the latest price increases
Death. Taxes. All your streaming services getting a little more expensive all the time. These are the new certainties in life, it seems. In recent years, as the streaming TV and movie business has gotten more competitive and companies around Hollywood have thrown billions into building their own platforms and libraries in order to compete […]
Jeff Bezos bans Washington Post opinion writers from opposing ‘free speech and free markets’
In a move promoted as supporting freedom of speech, The Washington Post will no longer publish opinion columns that oppose the core views of Post owner and Amazon executive chair Jeff Bezos, Bezos has reportedly told staff. New York Times reporter Benjamin Mullin and Semafor reporter Max Tani published details about the move on Wednesday, […]
Alexa Plus’ AI upgrades cost $19.99, but it’s all free with Prime
Amazon announced a new version of its smart assistant today. Alexa Plus comes with expanded capabilities, the company appeared to demonstrate, like finding concert tickets on your behalf or ordering an Uber to pick up someone at the airport. The upgraded smart assistant will also make it easier to have more natural conversations with it, […]
Victrola’s cheapest Sonos-compatible turntable is over half off today
It’s shaping up to be a good week to be a Sonos fan. First, Sonos launched a sale for existing customers that includes steep discounts on soundbars, speakers, and headphones, and now the Sonos-ready Victrola Stream Onyx is more than 50 percent off. Now through February 28th, you can buy the two-speed, belt-driven turntable at Woot […]
Pixel Watch 3 gets FDA clearance for Loss of Pulse alerts
Google just announced it’s received FDA clearance for the Pixel Watch 3’s Loss of Pulse Detection feature. It will start rolling out to US devices sometime at the end of March. The Loss of Pulse Detection feature is exactly what it sounds like: if the Pixel Watch 3 senses that you’ve lost your pulse through […]
Amazon is launching Alexa.com and new app for Alexa Plus
Amazon is launching an alexa.com website and a new mobile app where Alexa Plus subscribers will be able to use the AI-powered voice assistant. We don’t have many details beyond that, but the website and the app could be handy new ways to interact with the revamped Alexa, which was announced at an event this […]
How to hide faces and scrub metadata when you photograph a protest
While showing up at a protest can demonstrate your opinion to the world, you may not want your face — or the faces of other protesters — to be included, especially when there is the possibility that authorities will collect and use that information (as they did for tracking movements during COVID-19 social distancing). As […]
Amazon announces AI-powered Alexa Plus
Amazon is finally launching the long-awaited generative AI version of Alexa that, if all goes well, will take away much of the friction that comes with talking to a speaker to control your smart home or getting info on the fly. Some of the new abilities coming to Alexa Plus include doing things for you […]
Lucid’s CEO steps down, as EV maker aims to double production
Lucid Motors founder and CEO Peter Rawlinson will step down, as the luxury EV company sets its sights on doubling production over the next year. Rawlinson won’t be leaving the company. Instead, he’ll be assuming the role of “Strategic Technical Advisor to the Chairman of the Board,” the company said. Chief operating officer Marc Winterhoff […]
Amazon Alexa event live blog: all the news from the keynote
Amazon is set to announce new Alexa features beginning at 10AM ET this morning — and we hope a few devices accompany them. There isn’t a way to watch the event remotely, but our team is here in person to bring you all of the updates as they happen. We’re expecting Amazon to announce its […]
Doctor Who returns in April with an evil new cartoon villain
Ncuti Gatwa’s version of the Doctor will be back pretty soon. Disney Plus and the BBC announced that the next season of Doctor Who will start streaming on April 12th, with new episodes dropping weekly. The season will span eight episodes total. Perhaps more interesting than the date, though, is a pair of new characters […]
All the news from Amazon’s AI Alexa event
The Verge is live blogging Amazon’s big Alexa event in New York City. It kicks off at 10AM ET on February 26th, and we’re expecting the company to announce a new subscription-based version of Alexa that’s beefed up with a bunch of AI features. It seems like a good time for the company to announce […]
More than 1 billion people are now watching podcasts on YouTube every month
YouTube isn’t a podcast app, but that hasn’t stopped it from becoming the number one place people who want to consume online radio shows now turn to. According to the company, a staggering 1 billion people are tuning into podcasts every month on YouTube. That’s not just more than either Apple or Spotify can claim […]
Framework Desktop hands-on: a possible new direction for gaming desktops
Framework’s mission is to “fix consumer electronics, one category at a time†by making them modular, repairable, and upgradable. It’s the only laptop maker to ever truly succeed at that “upgradable†part. But desktop PCs are already modular, so why is Framework making one? At first, I thought it saw a unique opportunity to make […]
Google makes it easier to remove your contact information from Search results
Google is making it easier to remove and update Search results that contain your personal information. The company’s “Results about you” tool for detecting personal information like addresses and phone numbers that appear in Search has been updated to make it “easier than ever” for users to sign up and for removals to be requested […]
Qualcomm wants to bring longer Android support to more phones
More Android phones could soon provide longer lifetime support updates thanks to a new agreement between Qualcomm and Google. Qualcomm announced on Monday that “up to eight consecutive years of software and security updates” will be available to Android phones running on future Snapdragon 8 and Snapdragon 7-series chips. As Android specialist Mishall Rahman points […]
ChatGPT is a terrible, fascinating, and thrilling to-do list app
Every day for the last few weeks, I’ve received a notification on my phone at 7:30 in the morning. The notification comes from ChatGPT, and it always contains the same thing: instructions for a 20-minute full-body workout and a 10-minute meditation. The instructions are simple, and I’ve actually come to appreciate the daily prodding. I […]
Volvo ES90 will charge faster, drive farther than other Volvo EVs
Volvo is continuing to drop hints about its upcoming high-tech electric sedan, the ES90, ahead of the EV’s official reveal next month. Today, the Swedish automaker provided new details about the ES90’s range and battery efficiency, calling it “a car that goes further and charges faster than any electric Volvo before.” That’s mostly thanks to […]
‘We’re nowhere near done with Framework Laptop 16’ says Framework CEO
Two years ago, the last time Framework had an event in San Francisco, California, the highlight was the Framework Laptop 16 — a laptop promising the “holy grail” of upgradable graphics cards, and easily one of the most ambitious laptops ever made. But today, the Framework Laptop 16 got little mention at its new event, […]
Razer’s new Blade 18 offers Nvidia RTX 50-series GPUs and a dual mode display
Razer is adding a fresh gaming laptop to the pile of new models up for preorder today: the Blade 18. Like its smaller (but far from small) Blade 16 cousin, the new Razer Blade 18 will come with Nvidia’s RTX 50-series GPUs and Intel Arrow Lake CPUs. But one major way it differs is its […]
Samsung’s first Pro series Gen 5 PCIe SSD arrives in March
The first PCIe Gen 5 SSDs from the likes of Seagate and Crucial began hitting the market nearly two years ago, but Samsung has been notably absent with its own model. That will change in March with the arrival of the Samsung 9100 Pro series, its first consumer-ready pure PCIe Gen 5 SSD built with […]
We finally know who’s legally running DOGE
The White House has named Amy Gleason as the acting administrator of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The news, delivered by an unnamed White House official to CNBC and other media outlets, follows days of obfuscation in courtrooms, the press, and the pseudo-department itself. It designates Gleason a likely target for the nigh-continuous legal challenges […]
Apple is fixing a voice dictation bug that substitutes ‘Trump’ for ‘racist’
Apple has acknowledged a peculiar bug with the iPhone’s dictation feature that briefly displays “Trump” when someone says the word “racist.” The Verge has been unable to reproduce the issue, but it picked up attention on Tuesday after a video demonstrating the strange substitution went viral on TikTok and other social media. The company provided […]
How to secure your phone before attending a protest
Back in June 2020, when this article was first written, people were taking to the streets to organize for justice and protest against systemic racism and police brutality. It was revised two years later when people were taking to the streets to protest the possibility that the Supreme Court might overturn Roe v. Wade (and we […]
Sonos speakers and soundbars are 25 percent off for existing customers
Since its app fiasco last year, Sonos has been busy slowly rebuilding its reputation with customers. This latest sale, which is exclusive to existing customers, seems to be a part of that strategy — and we’re not complaining, because the deals are solid. Through March 2nd, Sonos is taking 25 percent off one select Sonos […]
Xbox Cloud Gaming will let you invite friends with just a link
As part of its February Xbox update, Microsoft is making it easier to invite your friends to an Xbox Cloud Gaming session by letting you generate shareable links. You can send the link through an Xbox message or by copying it to your clipboard for pasting into any messaging app you want. Players can accept […]
Infinity Nikki’s spooky new event will put my cheapskate skills to the test
It’s time to put all the lessons I’ve learned about Infinity Nikki’s gacha system to the test. There’s a new event coming to the game and with that comes a new outfit I actually want this time. After the game taught me an unfortunate lesson on the gacha economy, I’ve kinda taken it easy with […]
8BitDo’s Ultimate 2 controller gets an upgrade to next-generation anti-drift sticks
8BitDo has released an upgraded version of its Ultimate controller now available to preorder through Amazon for $59.99 in purple, black, and white color options. The new 8BitDo Ultimate 2 features a similar asymmetrical stick layout to 8BitDo’s original Ultimate controller that launched in 2022, but adds additional buttons, interactive LED lighting, and tunneling magneto-resistance […]
Technicolor is winding down operations
Technicolor Group, the French VFX giant that owns some of Hollywood’s most in-demand post-production houses, appears to be on the brink of collapse — putting thousands of jobs at risk. Variety reports that Technicolor has begun winding down operations after failing to secure a new round of investment necessary to keep the entire international outfit […]
Warner Bros. Games is canceling its Wonder Woman game and shutting down three studios
Warner Bros. Discovery is making even more big changes to its troubled gaming efforts. As reported by Bloomberg, the company’s gaming division is canceling the Wonder Woman game announced in 2021 and shutting down three studios: Wonder Woman developer Monolith Productions, MultiVersus developer Player First Games, and Warner Bros. Games San Diego. WBD confirmed the […]
Framework’s first tiny Desktop beautifully straddles the line between cute and badass
Framework, the modular computer company, has just announced its first desktop PC, which is something it absolutely did not need to do — but I’m glad it did. Partly because the world needs more tiny 4.5-liter mini-ITX PCs, partly because it uses AMD’s most powerful APU ever (Strix Halo) with some actual gaming chops and […]
Framework wants to fix the budget laptop with its first touchscreen machine
Framework, the modular repairable computer company, says budget laptops generally suck — and it plans to fix that this year. Today, it’s previewing a computer called the Framework Laptop 12 that’ll be its smallest laptop yet, its first with a touchscreen, its first with a 2-in-1 convertible hinge, and its first with a rubber-esque shock […]
The Framework Laptop 13 has just been upgraded to AMD’s Strix Point
Framework has done it again — it’s built a new AMD-powered modular computer that fits into any previous version of its 13-inch laptop for $449, or that you can buy as a brand-new laptop starting at $899 for DIY or $1,099 entirely prebuilt for you. If you’re reading these words, I’m currently at Framework’s event, […]
Donald Trump broke the law by removing climate change references from USDA websites, lawsuit alleges
The US Department of Agriculture’s decision to purge information about climate change from its websites harms organic farmers and threatens their livelihoods, a new lawsuit alleges. Since President Donald Trump stepped into office, the USDA has removed “scores of vitally important webpages” that mention climate change, the suit says. The administration has been racing to destroy public resources that […]
Anker’s new USB-C HDMI cable supports 140W fast charging
Anker has released a new HDMI to USB-C cable that allows you to connect a mobile device to an external display without draining its battery. The Anker Nano USB-C to HDMI Cable Adapter, now available through Amazon for $28.99, is Thunderbolt 5 compatible and includes a USB-C port on the HDMI connector so you can […]
Dark Horse is shutting down its iOS comics app
The Dark Horse Digital service is being shut down, and as part of that, the Dark Horse Comics iOS app will no longer be supported, according to an announcement. Dark Horse Comics says people should download comics they’ve purchased by March 30th, as it will end support for its iOS app and the standalone Plants vs. […]
Microsoft makes Copilot Voice and Think Deeper free with unlimited use
Microsoft made OpenAI’s o1 reasoning model free for all Copilot users last month, and now it’s providing unlimited use of this model and Copilot’s voice capabilities to everyone. Previously, both Think Deeper (powered by o1) and Voice in Copilot had limits for free users, but Microsoft is removing these today to allow Copilot users to […]
Chegg sues Google over AI Overviews
Online education company Chegg filed a lawsuit on February 24th against Google claiming that the company’s AI-generated summaries of search results have hurt its traffic and revenue, Reuters reports. It’s believed to be the first antitrust lawsuit filed by a single company over the AI Overviews feature, Reuters says. Chegg claims Google uses its power […]
Tesla reportedly launches FSD in China — or has it?
Tesla is starting to push a software update to its customers in China that appears to fulfill a long-gestating goal for the company to offer its controversial Full Self-Driving features in its largest car market. Or does it? According to Not a Tesla App, its unclear whether the version of FSD that Tesla is offering […]
Clicks’ BlackBerry-style keyboard case is coming to Android phones
The BlackBerry might be dead, but one of its best ideas — a tiny thumb-friendly keyboard for phones — lives on in the Clicks keyboard case, which will soon be available for several Android devices. Over 100,000 of the original Clicks keyboard cases have been sold around the world, the company says in a press […]
The new Beeper app combines all of Automattic’s messaging systems
Automattic-owned Beeper has announced a new beta update to its desktop and iOS apps to finally merge its service with Texts, which Automattic acquired in 2023. You can download the desktop version or see instructions for using the iOS beta in TestFlight by going to this page. Beeper says the new desktop version is built […]
You can get four Apple AirTags for a record low $68
Apple AirTags can help you find your lost items, but what if you need to keep track of more than one or two items, or you want to equip the whole family? The occasional deal on a four-pack can help a ton, especially when it’s down to $67.99 (about $31 off) Amazon, Best Buy, and […]
UK newspapers blanket their covers to protest loss of AI protections
Major newspapers across the UK today are all on the same page for once. Specifically, their front covers, which feature the same campaign imagery protesting government proposals that could eviscerate copyright protections against artificial intelligence. Brits popping into their local store or newsagents will be greeted by a spread of bright blue pages demanding the […]
Xbox’s new Fable game is delayed to 2026
Microsoft has decided to delay the release window of its upcoming Fable game to 2026. The Xbox maker originally said last year that Fable would arrive at some point in 2025, but now Xbox Game Studios chief Craig Duncan has provided an update on the game during an appearance on the official Xbox podcast. “We […]
This RC purse redefines fast fashion with a top speed of 9 mph
Looking for an accessory that can keep up with your busy lifestyle? Nik Bentel Studio has created a leather purse with a remote control car built into its base. The battery-powered RC Car Bag is four wheel drive, and while its rubber tires can handle minor obstacles like discarded napkins and crumbs while zipping across […]
Ron Wyden asks for rules about whether you own your digital purchases
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) has sent a letter to Federal Trade Commission (FTC) chair Andrew Ferguson urging the FTC to require that companies admit when you’re not really buying an ebook or video game. Wyden’s letter, shared with The Verge, requests guidance to “ensure that consumers who purchase or license digital goods can make informed […]
YouTube will show fewer ads in ‘interruptive’ slots
Starting May 12th, YouTube says it will show fewer mid-roll ads that it thinks will interrupt sentences or action sequences, and more at “natural break points” like pauses or transitions, according to a help page on the change. The company says it’s also inserting “additional, automatic ad-slots at natural break points” into older videos with manually-placed slots, […]
The Casio Ring Watch is extremely silly, and that’s why I love it
I am the last person on earth who needs another watch. As The Verge’s resident wearables reviewer, I’m always double-wristing the latest smartwatches. I am also the last person who needs another ring after spending a whole summer wearing six of them like a high-tech mafia wife. But I never said I had good sense, […]
How AI PCs are removing barriers to workplace connection
To be the best at their jobs, people need relationships in the workplace. Employees who feel comfortable taking work challenges to peers or problem solving in tandem are more likely to excel in their work. They’re also more likely to be happy, as recent research has revealed. Social connections in the workplace contribute to a […]
GIGABYTE’s latest AI motherboards push gaming performance forward
With the rapid introduction of computing that leverages AI, the gaming experience is set to take a step forward in 2025. In January, at CES, GIGABYTE provided a glimpse at that future when it introduced its B800 series motherboards. Built to work with Intel B860 and AMD B850 chipsets, the mainstream B800 series models are […]
The future of the internet is likely smaller communities, with a focus on curated experiences
The modern internet is nearly three decades old, and it’s starting to show its age. Think back to the ’90s: some of what we built back then, though groundbreaking, now feels outdated. The Verge recently created a special issue on what we were doing online in 2004, highlighting how Web 2.0 was born. Take a […]
Panasonic’s Lumix S1RII full-frame camera captures 8K video
Panasonic has announced an upgrade version of 2019’s Lumix S1R with a new sensor, smaller body, faster autofocus, and video recording that tops out at 8K at 30 frames per second. Although the Lumix S1RII’s new 44.3-megapixel back-side illuminated CMOS sensor is smaller than the 47.3-megapixel sensor in its predecessor, its improved video capabilities, including […]
Silent Hill 2 developer is working with Konami on a mystery game
Like Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, Konami and Bloober Team are back in action together. Bloober Team announced that it will continue its partnership with the Japanese publisher on a new project. “The trust built upon the success of Silent Hill 2 laid the foundation for signing another agreement for a new project,†the announcement […]
We can’t quit electric cars — or robotaxis
There was a time, not so long ago, when people wouldn’t shut up about a revolution in automobiles. No matter where you looked, you’d find someone telling you about how self-driving, all-electric vehicles would change the way we think about car ownership, lead to a total reinvention of how cities work, change the economy, and […]
Adobe’s new Photoshop app for iPhone is more like the real thing
Adobe has released a powerful new Photoshop mobile app that includes many of the design, editing, and generative AI tools found on the desktop version. The app integrates with Photoshop on the web to allow creatives to work on projects across multiple devices and is globally available today on iPhone, with Android coming “later this […]
Trello’s new update helps you manage Slack, email, and everything else
Trello is launching several new features this week, all designed to turn the Atlassian-owned app into something like a universal to-do list for everything in your life. By integrating with Slack (and soon Teams), email, and Siri, the company is hoping it can help you put all your important stuff in one place – and then […]
‘Tesla Takedown’ wants to hit Elon Musk where it hurts
On a recent Saturday afternoon, around 50 sign-wielding protesters stood outside the Tesla showroom in Manhattan’s Meatpacking neighborhood, screaming insults at passing Tesla vehicles. “Uncool car!†“Don’t buy a Swatsticar!†“Major loser!†The excitement peaked when an unsuspecting Cybertruck suddenly pulled around the corner.
New leaks suggest Samsung’s Z Fold 7 is getting much thinner
It looks like Samsung may have an answer to Oppo’s Find N5 after all, as new leaks claim that the Galaxy Z Fold 7 will only be fractionally thicker than the world’s thinnest foldable. That’s according to renders created by OnLeaks based on leaked information. OnLeaks, together with Android Headlines, reports that the Z Fold […]
Three years later, the Steam Deck has dominated handheld PC gaming
Today is the third anniversary of Valve’s Steam Deck, the handheld gaming PC that all but created the market for handheld gaming PCs. It was a mess to start! But three years later, The Verge has data showing how it has dominated the nascent market. While Valve told us in November 2023 that it had […]
Google Gemini’s AI coding tool is now free for individual users
A free version of Gemini Code Assist, Google’s enterprise-focused AI coding tool, is now available globally for solo developers. Google announced today that Gemini Code Assist for individuals is launching in public preview, aiming to make coding assistants “with the latest AI capabilities” more accessible for students, hobbyists, freelancers, and startups. “Now anyone can more […]
Microsoft is testing free Office for Windows apps with ads
Microsoft has started testing a free version of Office for Windows that includes ads. Right now, you have to pay for a monthly Microsoft 365 subscription to get access to the full desktop version of Office, but Microsoft has been quietly testing an ad-supported version in certain countries. Beebom first noticed that the ad-supported version […]
Powerplay 2: Logitech made its magic mousepad cheaper instead of better
I’ve never reviewed a perfect product, but Logitech’s Powerplay Wireless Charging System comes close. For over three years and counting, I’ve never even had to think about charging my wireless mouse. It’s so dead simple, it feels like magic, and it’s shame that most people probably can’t afford it at $120. The good news: Logitech […]
Everything you need to know about Disney, ESPN, and Bob Iger’s return as CEO
Disney has had a tumultuous run since Bob Iger’s return as the company’s CEO, which came just two years after he handed the reins over to Bob Chapek. Iger has since worked to undo some of Chapek’s changes as the company contends with a streaming-focused future. Iger has big plans for the future of Disney […]
Nvidia admits some early RTX 5080 cards are missing ROPs, too
When Nvidia originally confirmed that some of its new RTX 50-series graphics cards had a “rare” manufacturing issue that left them missing some promised render units and a slight amount of performance as a result, it only named three affected cards: the RTX 5090, RTX 5090D, and RTX 5070 Ti. But now, Nvidia has confirmed […]
Epic Games v. Apple: the fight for the future of the App Store
After months of preparation, Epic Games will finally take on Apple in court in a trial that could fundamentally change the makeup of the App Store. The fight dates back to August, when Epic added a direct payment mechanism to its hit battle royale game Fortnite in violation of Apple’s rules. The iPhone maker quickly […]
The quirky Alarmo clock is no longer exclusive to Nintendo’s online store
Ongoing scarcity has made it challenging to purchase Nintendo’s adorable Alarmo since its soft launch last year, but it appears those days are behind us. The $99.99 alarm clock is now readily available from third-party retailers in the US, starting with Best Buy. You can also buy it directly from Nintendo without a subscription, with […]
The government is still threatening to ‘semi-fire’ workers who don’t answer an email from Elon Musk
We’re nearing the deadline that Elon Musk imposed for government workers to reply to a mass email about productivity, and the results have been predictably confusing — with even a direct statement from President Donald Trump failing to clear things up. Government agencies have taken significantly different tacks toward the Musk-promoted email, which he announced […]
Freedom of speech is ‘on the line’ in a pivotal Dakota Access Pipeline trial
A pivotal trial over the embattled Dakota Access Pipeline opens today that could have grave consequences for protests in the US and the future of the environmental group Greenpeace. Members of the Standing Rock Sioux and more than 500 other tribes protested the development of the pipeline alongside demonstrators who joined from across the US nearly […]
SpaceX thinks it knows why Starship exploded on its last test flight
SpaceX believes it knows what caused the explosion during the seventh test flight of its Starship spacecraft and Super Heavy booster on January 16th, 2025. Fires in the aft section of Starship, located between the bottom of its liquid oxygen tank and rear heat shield, caused “all but one of Starship’s engines to execute controlled […]
AT&T and Verizon connect first cellphone-to-satellite video calls
Verizon and AT&T have each announced milestones in making cellphone-to-satellite video calls in partnership with satellite company AST SpaceMobile. Verizon has completed its first cellphone-to-satellite video call, while AT&T has completed its first using satellites that will be used as part of a commercial network. There’s lining up competition to T-Mobile’s arrangement with SpaceX and […]
What to expect from Amazon’s big Alexa event this week
Amazon is holding a press event this week, where we expect it to finally launch its “new” Alexa. This could be the beginning of a major shift in how we use generative AI in our homes, or it could be a big disappointment. The latter seems likely, based on the delays and persistent rumors that […]
Annapurna’s 2025 lineup of indie games is full of tea and T-poses
Annapurna Interactive is hosting its first showcase of the year, and it’s an important one. Last year, Annapurna Interactive’s entire staff resigned en masse after negotiations to spin off the respected indie game publisher into its own independent entity broke down. Since then, those employees have formed their own company and even have a new crop […]
Google Drive gets searchable video transcripts
Google has announced new searchable transcripts for videos you store in Google Drive. The feature is rolling out to all Google Workspace users, starting today and finishing by March 26th. The transcripts look a lot like those you’d see on YouTube. If one is available, it’ll appear in a sidebar next to the video as […]
Anthropic’s new ‘hybrid reasoning’ AI model is its smartest yet
Anthropic is releasing Claude 3.7 Sonnet, its first “hybrid reasoning model” that can solve more complex problems and outperforms previous models in areas like math and coding. In addition to a new model, Anthropic is also releasing a “limited research preview” of its “agentic” coding tool called Claude Code. While Anthropic already powers AI coding […]
Andor is on the offensive in latest season 2 trailer
Though new episodes of Andor dropped individually (for the most part) during the show’s first season, Disney Plus is switching things up when the show returns this April. Along with a new Andor trailer showcasing some of the action Cassian (Diego Luna) is going to get into in the show’s second and final season, Disney […]
Ember’s high-tech smart mug has fallen to its lowest price to date
Warm beverages are a winter staple, particularly when the flu is making the rounds. Keeping your favorite drinks warm is a battle if you’re not one to chug; however, the Verge-favorite Ember Mug 2 lets you sip and savor your beverage of choice at the ideal temperature all day long. And right now, Amazon and […]
Balatro’s PEGI 18 rating in Europe has been changed following appeal
Balatro, the hit roguelike with poker imagery and poker hands but no actual gambling, no longer has a PEGI 18 rating in Europe following an appeal, PEGI announced today. LocalThunk, the creator of Balatro, has publicly shared his frustrations the rating — the game was originally given a PEGI 3 rating, but it was bumped […]
Google is replacing Gmail’s SMS authentication with QR codes
Google is planning to move away from sending six-digit authentication codes through SMS messages as a two-factor authentication tool for Gmail, Forbes reports. Instead, over the next few months, QR codes will be rolled out as a replacement for SMS codes in an attempt to “reduce the impact of rampant, global SMS abuse,” Gmail spokesperson […]
Conservative podcaster Dan Bongino named deputy FBI director
President Donald Trump announced Sunday night he has named conservative podcaster Dan Bongino as the FBI’s new deputy director. Bongino has worked as a New York police officer and US Secret Service agent, but has no FBI experience. Bongino is well-known in conservative media, thanks to credits like having hosted a Fox News show and […]
Apple designer Susan Kare made 32 new, Mac-inspired physical icons
Legendary Apple artist Susan Kare has released 32 new retro-inspired icons that are designed to live outside of your computer screen. Instead, the “Esc Keys” collection Kare created in collaboration with Asprey Studio consists of mechanical keyboard keycaps and wearable pendants, each featuring an 8-bit pixel art illustration like a dog, a plant, mail, and […]
Vimeo CEO Philip Moyer is betting on the human touch — and AI
Today, I’m talking with Vimeo CEO Philip Moyer. You probably know Vimeo from its beginnings as an artsier, more creative competitor to YouTube. But over the last few years, and especially after it went public in 2021, Vimeo has really turned itself into an enterprise software company, selling video hosting services to companies of all […]
Monster Hunter Wilds thrives on spectacle
In my first few hours with Monster Hunter Wilds, I fought against a gigantic spider in waters that were as red as blood and dodged the onslaught of a twisting dragon amid a desert storm, complete with powerful strikes of lightning terrorizing the ground around me. I went up against sandworms and giant apes and […]
Sigma’s BF is a minimalist full-frame camera with no memory card slot
Sigma has announced a new compact 24.6-megapixel full-frame camera called the BF with a clean, minimalist design featuring just four button controls and a dial. The BF’s body is milled from a single block of aluminum, its user interface has been redesigned with a “completely new information structure compared to conventional digital cameras,” according to […]
How to set up crash detection on your Android phone
Your phone comes with a number of useful features that we hope you’ll never have to use — and crash detection falls into that category. Movement sensors detect when you’re driving — and when you come to a sudden and abrupt stop. Your phone or watch can then alert emergency services, along with family and […]
Apple’s iPhone 17 lineup is looking a little Pixelated
Apple is several months away from launching the iPhone 17 series but a significant camera redesign may be on the horizon. Leaker Majin Bu has shared CAD renders of what are purported to be the iPhone 17, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max, and the rumored iPhone 17 Air — with the latter three all featuring […]
What’s the deal with all these airplane crashes?
First, let’s lay out the facts. Four commercial jet crashes have occurred in the last 10 weeks: Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8243 on Christmas Day; Jeju Air Flight 7C2216 on December 29th; American Airlines Flight 5342 on January 29th; and Delta Connection Flight 4819 on February 17th. There have been several private airplane crashes in the […]
Apple responds to tariff threat with a $500 billion US investment
Apple has announced plans to invest more than $500 billion in the US over the next four years, including hiring 20,000 new employees and launching a new server factory in Texas. The announcement was teased after a meeting last week between CEO Tim Cook and President Donald Trump, and comes as the company tries to […]
Grok blocked results saying Musk and Trump “spread misinformation”
Grok, Elon Musk’s ChatGPT competitor, temporarily refused to respond with “sources that mention Elon Musk/Donald Trump spread misinformation,” according to xAI’s head of engineering, Igor Babuschkin. After Grok users noticed that the chatbot had been given instructions to not respond with those results, Babuschkin blamed an unnamed, ex-OpenAI employee at xAI for updating Grok’s system […]
The Space Force shares a photo of Earth taken by the X-37B space plane
On Friday, the Space Force published a picture taken last year from a camera mounted on the secretive X-37B space plane while high above the Earth. Space.com notes that the “one other glimpse†of the plane in space was while it was “deploying from Falcon Heavy’s upper stage†during its December 2023 launch. The Space […]
Elon Musk claims federal employees have 48 hours to explain recent work or resign
Elon Musk tweeted Saturday that federal workers would soon get an email “requesting to understand what they got done last week.” According to the New York Times, the email from the Office of Personnel Management went to agencies across the federal government that afternoon, including the FBI, State Department, and others, with a deadline for […]
Hades II just keeps getting better
Hades II just received its second major update as part of its early access development, which was a great excuse for me to jump back in. Since its initial release, I’ve logged more than 30 hours and actually held myself back from playing much more – I don’t want to get tired of the game […]
Apple’s M4 MacBook Air bump may be just around the corner
Apple is readying its MacBook Air line for an update to M4 chips in March, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman in today’s Power On newsletter. With the slim laptops’ spec bump, the MacBook line’s M4 transition will be complete. Gurman didn’t provide timing beyond that the laptops are coming next month, but as usual before […]
Our favorite apps for listening to music
Hi, friends! Welcome to Installer No. 72, your guide to the best and Verge-iest stuff in the world. (If you’re new here, welcome, hope you like gadgets, and also you can read all the old editions at the Installer homepage.) This week, I’ve been reading about Hasan Piker and calculator apps and car thieves and […]
The iOS 18.4 beta brings Matter robot vacuum support
Apple released the first developer beta of iOS 18.4 yesterday, which users have since discovered contains support for robot vacuums in the Apple Home app through Matter. As spotted by 9to5Mac, Smart Home Centre confirmed the functionality using a Switchbot S10, which offers its own beta support for Matter. (Switchbot first added Matter robot vacuum support last […]
The long wait for a glimpse of Luigi
There are so many people here that nobody can tell where the end of the line is. New people arrive, ask if there’s a line, shuffle into a blob of bodies idling and waiting for someone to give them instructions. The hallway is horribly warm — unclear if it’s from the bodies or the heat […]
Spotify HiFi was announced four years ago, and it’s almost here — maybe
I’m hard-pressed to find another example of a tech company announcing something and then waiting over four years to actually ship it, but that’s exactly the situation we’ve reached with Spotify and its long-delayed HiFi feature. The latest reports indicate it’s finally coming in a matter of months as part of a Music Pro package […]
AT&T will let you split your bill with people on your plan
AT&T has introduced SplitPay, a new payment option that lets those sharing a phone plan with others split their payment line-by-line, so no one person has to pay the entire bill. The company says the program is available for “select postpaid wireless plans,” and that those using SplitPay can still get multi-line discounts. It sounds […]
ASUS is making a ‘Fragrance Mouse,’ and it’s coming to the US
If you were paying attention to CES this year, you may have come across the Asus Aidol 14 Air Fragrance Edition’s curious gimmick: a magnetically-attached oil diffuser in the lid that emits the aroma of essential oils once the laptop heats up. Asus has now announced a “Fragrance Mouse” to go with it; and it’s […]
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage blends its teen drama with a heavy dose of ’90s nostalgia
The fuzz of the cathode-ray tube (CRT) monitor, alongside static grains and flickering scanlines, is a touchstone for ’90s-era nostalgia. It’s shorthand for those halcyon days when technology was predominantly analog and millennial kids spent their summers shoving bulky tapes into VHS players, recording favorite bits of their after-school television shows, and making their own […]
Lenovo Legion Go S review: feels good, plays bad
The Lenovo Legion Go S was supposed to change things. It was poised to show Valve isn’t the only one that can build an affordable, portable, potent handheld gaming PC — you just need the right design and the right OS. I was intrigued when Valve’s own Steam Deck designers told me this Windows handheld […]
Die in the Dungeon will keep you busy until Slay the Spire 2
Die in the Dungeon is a new roguelike deckbuilder that pulls some ideas from Slay the Spire, one of my favorite games, but adds some dice-based twists that have me hooked. In Dungeon, your goal is to survive through progressively harder maps of enemies by building a deck — but instead of collecting cards, you’re […]
Nvidia confirms ‘rare’ RTX 5090 and 5070 Ti manufacturing issue
It’s true: Nvidia has just confirmed it shipped some RTX 5090, RTX 5090D, and even some RTX 5070 Ti graphics chips that were missing render units, as TechPowerUp originally reported — and that you’ll be able to get a replacement if your card was affected. Nvidia GeForce global PR director Ben Berraondo tells The Verge: […]
Reddit is experiencing outages again
Following some apparent outages yesterday, Reddit is dealing with more issues Friday evening. When logged in on my desktop browser, Reddit won’t load at all — I just run into error pages. In an incognito window, the site loads, though it seems to load slower than usual. I was also able to load the site […]
Elon Musk’s AI said he and Trump deserve the death penalty
Elon Musk’s OpenAI rival, xAI, says it’s investigating why its Grok AI chatbot suggested that both President Donald Trump and Musk deserve the death penalty. xAI has already patched the issue and Grok will no longer give suggestions for who it thinks should receive capital punishment. People were able to get Grok to say that […]
Grok resets the AI race
Just a few weeks after everyone freaked out about DeepSeek, Elon Musk’s Grok-3 has again shaken up the fast-moving AI race. The new model is ending the week at the top of the Chatbot Arena leaderboard, while the Grok iOS app is at the top of the App Store, just above ChatGPT. Even as Musk […]
The GSA is shutting down its EV chargers, calling them ‘not mission critical’
The General Services Administration (GSA), which manages buildings owned by the federal government, is planning to shut down all of its electric vehicle chargers nationwide, describing them as “not mission critical.” The agency, which manages contracts for the government’s vehicle fleets, is also looking to offload newly purchased EVs. The GSA currently operates several hundred […]
Elon Musk’s first month of destroying America will cost us decades
Let’s pause and look at what the Elon Musk administration has done so far. There’s been a lot of panic about the immediate but somewhat abstract constitutional crisis as Elon Musk’s misleadingly-named Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) rips the government apart. And as much fun as we all are having watching Congress render itself irrelevant […]
How the EU’s DMA is changing Big Tech: all of the news and updates
The European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) has come into force, and it’s meant that some of the world’s biggest tech companies are having to make major changes to how they operate. The law, which is designed to increase competition in the EU’s digital markets, designates some large online companies and their services as “gatekeepers.” […]
The first iOS 18.4 developer beta is here, with support for Priority Notifications
Apple just released its first developer betas of a new round of software updates, and early testers have spotted support for Priority Notifications in the iOS 18.4 preview. It’s an Apple Intelligence-powered feature that uses on-device processing to try to detect which updates are especially important and sort them into a separate section above your […]
Federal workers launch a new site to share inside information about DOGE
Around a dozen current and former federal workers are behind a new website created as an outlet to share anonymous stories and technical expertise about the Department of Government Efficiency’s dismantling of government agencies. “We the Builders” aims to be a secure outlet for government workers to share how their workplaces are being impacted by […]
Apple’s News app is getting a recipes section
Apple is adding a recipes section to its News app that will be available to News Plus subscribers, according to a press release. The new section, Apple News Plus Food, will be available as part of iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4 when those updates release in April. The section will feature “tens of thousands of […]
South of Midnight’s Southern Gothic folklore world is rooted in authenticity
It was hard playing a preview of South of Midnight because, 20 minutes in, I just started bawling. The demo for the action-adventure platformer starts at the beginning of chapter three. The protagonist, Hazel, is working her way through a swamp trying to find her mother, who, along with their house, had been washed away […]
How to set up crash detection on your iPhone and Apple Watch
Your phone comes with a number of useful features that we hope you’ll never have to use — and Crash Detection falls into that category. The idea is that movement sensors can detect when you’re driving, and if you come to a sudden and abrupt stop, your phone or watch can then alert emergency services […]
Adidas plugs its website and app into Amazon’s ‘Buy with Prime’ program
Adidas’s site and app will soon get “Buy with Prime” Amazon fulfillment, allowing Prime members to receive free shipping and streamlined returns when ordering directly from the three-stripe brand. Beginning in the spring, paying US-based Amazon Prime subscribers will see Prime-eligible items for sale on adidas.com and through the Adidas app. By logging into their […]
The busiest US airline now supports Apple’s AirTag location sharing
American Airlines has announced support for Apple’s Share Item Location feature, potentially making it easier for passengers to be reunited with lost luggage tracked with an AirTag. The airline transported 226,405,000 passengers around the world last year, making it the busiest and one of the largest carriers in the US. Share Item Location was first […]
The Verge’s favorite kitchen gadgets
Many members of The Verge’s staff enjoy cooking — and all enjoy eating. Inspired by that admittedly obvious thought, we asked them to say which kitchen tools they most enjoy using these days. We got a wide and fascinating array of answers. They include gadgets that need to be charged, such as electric kettles, blenders, and […]
Nickelodeon’s next Avatar animated series is finally coming together
Rumours about the next mainline Avatar series have been circulating ever since Nickelodeon announced that Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko were returning to lead Avatar Studios. But now, we finally know a bit more about where the franchise is heading after The Legend of Korra. Today, Nickelodeon announced that the Avatar saga (which began with […]
DJI’s RS 4 Mini camera stabilizer can now track moving people
DJI has announced a new version of the smallest camera stabilizer in its Ronin series. Like last year’s RS 3 Mini, the upgraded RS 4 Mini is a more compact, lighter, and cheaper alternative to DJI’s RS 4 and RS 4 Pro stabilizers, but designed for smaller mirrorless cameras and smartphones. Although it’s slightly heavier […]
Kia unveils PV5 electric van as a futuristic people-mover
Kia revealed the exterior design of the upcoming PV5 electric van, the automaker’s first EV to come out under its “Platform Before Vehicle” (PBV) brand. With the PV5, Kia has declared its intention to compete with heavy hitters like the Volkswagen ID Buzz, Ford E-Transit, Mercedes e-Sprinter, and Ram ProMaster EV. There are very few […]
Apple is bringing Visual Intelligence to the iPhone 15 Pro
The iPhone 15 Pro will get Visual Intelligence, Apple’s Google Lens-like tool that lets you point your phone’s camera at things in the world to learn more about them, in a future software update, Apple representatives told John Gruber of Daring Fireball. Visual Intelligence was originally introduced with the initial iPhone 16 lineup in September, […]
Among Us 3D will let you deduce from a first-person perspective
Those little Among Us beans are being transported to a new dimension. Developer Innersloth has announced a new game called Among Us 3D, which is exactly what it sounds like: the hit multiplayer deduction game, but played in a three-dimensional world from a first-person perspective. If that sounds familiar, it’s because that’s what the VR […]
How to master decision making in a world of uncertainty
With the world around us changing rapidly, uncertainty is inescapable. We feel it in both our personal and professional lives. And while previous generations have experienced periods of profound uncertainty, the scale, pace and complexity of the changes in today’s world mark a radical ‘step change’ in our comfort when it comes to making decisions.  That’s […]
Amazon’s Appstore is pulling Android support
Amazon is ending Android support for its Appstore this year on August 20th. The retail giant announced the update on an FAQ support page with no explanation for the shutdown, but said its Appstore will still be available on Fire TV and Tablet devices, where it serves as the default app marketplace. Apps downloaded from […]
Apple’s Murderbot series starts streaming in May
One of Apple’s next big sci-fi shows has a premiere date. The company announced that its adaptation of Murderbot, based on the novels by Martha Wells, will debut on Apple TV Plus with two episodes on May 16th. The season finale will stream on July 11th. The show will star Alexander Skarsgård in the titular […]
Microsoft prepares for OpenAI’s GPT-5 model
Microsoft engineers are currently readying server capacity for OpenAI’s upcoming GPT-4.5 and GPT-5 models, according to a source familiar with the company’s plans. While OpenAI CEO Sam Altman acknowledged recently that GPT-4.5 will launch within a matter of weeks, I understand that Microsoft is expecting to host the new AI model as early as next […]
GTA V’s next-gen console upgrades are coming to PC
Grand Theft Auto V on PC will be getting a bunch of improvements, including upgrades that were previously added to the PS5 and Xbox Series X / S versions of the game, through a free update that will be available on March 4th, Rockstar announced on Thursday. The update will include things like PC-exclusive ray […]
The standard iPhone needs ProMotion more than ever
Apple’s goal with the new iPhone 16E seems to be the same as with the iPhone SE: offer a very good, cheap smartphone to entice price-sensitive shoppers to either leave Android or upgrade from a much older iPhone. From what we’ve seen so far, the company seems to have succeeded — but maybe a little too […]
Leaked details reveal potential pricing for Lego’s Nintendo Game Boy
Aside from an October 2025 release, the teaser Lego and Nintendo released in January for their upcoming Game Boy collaboration was light on details. But according to an Instagram account that Video Games Chronicle says has a reliable track record for sharing accurate details about new sets before Lego does, the brick-built Game Boy will […]
Jeep’s parent company announces ‘hands free, eyes off’ driving feature
Stellantis, the parent company of Jeep, Dodge, and Ram, announced its first “hands free, eyes off” partial autonomous driving feature. The company is pitching this new feature, which is called STLA AutoDrive, as for drivers who want to reclaim “valuable time” while stuck in stop-and-go traffic. But that said, Stellantis isn’t launching the feature quite […]
Amazon now has creative control over the James Bond franchise
Barbara Broccoli’s longstanding beef with Amazon is a big part of what kept the e-commerce giant-turned-studio from producing new James Bond movies following its acquisition of MGM in 2021. But now, it seems like both parties have set aside their differences in order to get the ball rolling on 007’s next chapter. Today, Amazon MGM, […]
Our favorite things: gear, gadgets, and other stuff
We all have our favorite stuff. It could be a laptop that you’ve used for several years or the snazzy new one that just arrived last week. It could be the headphones that deliver your favorite music and podcasts, the controller that helps you win your games, or the app that puts a weird background […]
Skylight Calendar Max review: a game-changer for busy parents
Spring is my busy season. Since my kids were old enough to play team sports, the impending arrival of March brings an avalanche of organizational tasks. Practice schedules, game schedules, and snack signups equal so many dates to remember. They arrive in different ways — paper flyers, Excel sheets, text chains, or through yet another […]
Xbox Game Pass was supposed to be the Netflix of gaming — what happened?
Hello, and welcome to a special episode of Decoder! This is David Pierce, editor-at-large at The Verge. Nilay is off this week for a much-deserved break from what I can only describe as a pretty bleak news cycle. So I’m filling in for him, and the Decoder team thought this would be a good opportunity […]
The Dune survival game launches in May, but you can build a character now
It’s almost time to touch down on Arrakis. Developer Funcom announced that its upcoming multiplayer survival game Dune: Awakening will be launching on Steam on May 20th. But there are a pair of apps launching today that will help tide you over until you can drink the blood of your enemies. First up is the […]
iPhone 16 Pro versus Galaxy S25 Ultra: which camera is better?
At Samsung’s Unpacked event last month, the company announced the latest smartphones in its Galaxy S-series: the S25, S25 Plus, and S25 Ultra. As The Verge’s reviewer, Allison Johnson, said in her review, “Samsung didn’t need to reinvent the wheel.†The company has had solid scores for the last few years, and it looks like […]
Spotify is making it easier to release audiobooks narrated by AI
Spotify is bringing more AI-narrated audiobooks to its platform via a new partnership with ElevenLabs. On Thursday, the audio streaming giant announced it would begin accepting audiobooks recorded using ElevenLabs’ AI voice software, saying it “recognizes the potential of digital voice-narration to grow and expand the audiobook market.” To be clear, AI-recorded audiobooks are already […]
Scuf’s Valor Pro is a promising start for its Hall effect Xbox controllers
Scuf just announced its latest pro-style controller for Xbox and PC, the first to come close to the $100 price point. The $99.99 Scuf Valor Pro — available for purchase starting today in 15 different styles — isn’t exactly a budget controller in its own right, but context matters. I’ve tested the delightfully translucent version […]
Canon’s new PowerShot V1 puts video first
Canon has announced a new point-and-shoot compact camera called the PowerShot V1 designed to appeal more to video content creators. The V1 pairs a wide-angle lens with a new sensor from the company, and it’s the first PowerShot model to introduce “moods” that customize the look and feel of videos, plus a product demo mode […]
Twelve South’s Find My-compatible charger is on sale starting at just $49
Twelve South’s PlugBug is a compact USB-C wall charger that also happens to function as a location tracker, making it a particularly useful gadget if you prefer to pack light while traveling or commuting. And right now, you can buy the space-saving device for its best price to date at Amazon, with the 50W configuration going […]
Ring’s new security camera supports 2K video out of the box
Ring has announced its first outdoor security camera that supports 2K video at launch. Ring’s outdoor cameras previously only supported 1080p video, but earlier this year, the Amazon-owned company released software updates upgrading its Floodlight Cam Pro and Spotlight Cam Pro with 2K capabilities. The new Ring Outdoor Cam Plus works in 2K video right […]
This smart thermostat compay is considering charging users for its app
In a first for a smart thermostat company, Tado is exploring charging its customers £1 / €1 a month just to control their devices from its app. Multiple users have reported that Tado, manufacturers of smart thermostats, radiator valves, and heat pump controllers for Europe and the UK, sent a message through their app alerting them to […]
The iPhone is done with home buttons — here’s why I’ll miss it
For the first time since the iPhone’s debut in 2007, Apple no longer sells a smartphone with a home button. The iPhone 16E announced yesterday removes it. The removal was long overdue, having been surpassed by all touchscreen controls many years ago. But while the home button’s time is over, it leaves behind an important […]
Oppo’s new foldable can remote control a Mac
Today Oppo launched the Find N5, the thinnest book-style foldable phone yet, but there’s more to the phone than a slim design: it’s capable of connecting to a Mac for file transfers and even remote control. It’s not quite the first Android phone to do so, but it is the only one you can buy […]
Oppo Find N5 review: the final evolution of foldables
Oppo’s Find N5 feels like the end game for foldable phones. Not because it’s make or break for a segment of the phone market that never quite took off like manufacturers hoped it would, but because I simply don’t know where we go from here. There’s scarcely room to make the phone thinner without ditching […]
The world’s thinnest foldable phone doesn’t come cheap
Oppo has launched the Find N5, the thinnest foldable phone in the world. It’s launching in markets worldwide, including across Europe and Asia, at $2,499 SGD (about $1,867 USD). That’s more expensive than either the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 or Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold in Singapore, though comparable once you adjust for storage. […]
Twitch is limiting streamers to 100 hours of Highlights and Uploads
Twitch is planning to cull some of the content archived by streamers to save on storage costs. On Wednesday the streaming platform announced that it will introduce a 100-hour storage cap for Highlights and Uploads starting April 19th, warning that users will have their content automatically deleted until it falls below the limit. Twitch says […]
Volvo’s ES90 sedan will be built with a Nvidia supercomputer
Volvo’s next electric vehicle, the ES90 midsized luxury sedan, sounds like its got some serious computing chops. The new EV will come with a dual Nvidia Drive AGX Orin configuration, making it the “most powerful car Volvo ever created in terms of core computing capacity,” the company claims today. The new supercomputer is included as […]
Rabbit shows off the AI agent it should have launched with
The Humane AI Pin has collapsed, but Rabbit is still kicking. The company published a blog post and video today showing off a “generalist Android agent,” slowly controlling apps on a tablet in much the same way that Rabbit claimed its R1 device would over a year ago. (It couldn’t, and can’t.) The work builds […]
Nvidia is launching ‘priority access’ to help fans buy RTX 5080 and 5090 FE GPUs
Nvidia has yet to explain why it launched its GeForce RTX 5090 and 5080 GPUs with barely any inventory, some major launch driver issues, and the occasional melting power connector, but it has apparently reconsidered its stance when it comes to scalpers. The company’s just announced a way for Nvidia fans to sign up for […]
Limited Run says potentially damaging NES carts are supplier’s fault
Limited Run Games has apologized for a potential issue with two games it has offered on NES carts — Rugrats: Adventures in Gameland and Piopow — that could cause damage to the cartridges or to NES consoles. The statement follows a Time Extension report about the games. In a statement emailed to customers, Limited Run […]
The Last of Us: all the news about the video game franchise turned TV series
The Last of Us has caught our attention ever since the game’s launch on the PlayStation 3 in 2013, but the cordyceps-infested franchise has only continued to grow since then. While The Last of Us Part II came out on the PlayStation 4 in 2020, the first game’s remake launched on PlayStation 5 in 2021. […]
The Last of Us season 2 finally has a premiere date
HBO has narrowed down exactly when the second season of The Last of Us will debut. Today the network announced that season 2 will kick off on April 13th on both HBO and Max; previously we only knew it would appear some time in April. It’s been a long time coming, as the show’s debut […]
A popular Japanese distraction-free writing device is coming to the US
For the first time since 2018, King Jim, a Japanese stationery company, is making one of its distraction-free writing tools available in the US. The Pomera D250 launched in Japan in 2022 and while it looks like a compact laptop, its functionality is limited to being a digital typewriter. There’s no email, no social media, […]
Hope you weren’t planning to play PhysX games on Nvidia’s new 50-series GPUs
Remember PhysX, the GPU-accelerated technology that let games realistically simulate destructible cloth, shattering glass, moving liquids, smoke, fog, and other particle effects? It only ever got deployed in a few dozen games — but with PhysX turned on, those games reportedly now run faster on Nvidia’s last-gen cards than they do on a new RTX […]
Verge staffers react to the iPhone 16E: what we love and don’t love
Apple has launched its new iPhone 16E with an updated design, additional features — and no home button or MagSafe charging. This revamped version of the company’s budget phone will be going for $599 and will include a USB-C port, a notch, a customizable Action Button, a fast A18 chip, and lots of extras. So […]
The BBC’s library of classic sci-fi sounds is now available to sample
The original BBC Radiophonic Workshop put itself on the map by crafting the music for radio adaptations of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and the original Doctor Who theme song before shuttering in the late ‘90s. The Workshop’s experimental approach to audio engineering in pursuit of unique sound effects made them early pioneers of […]
Rivian’s new Dune edition lets you channel your inner Fremen
Rivian announced the California Dune edition of its R1 electric vehicles, with new 20-inch All-Terrain wheels, a new paint color, and a protective underbody shield for those with a desire for some serious off-roading. The company says the California Dune edition vehicles are “built to tackle the toughest terrains.” Rivian’s tri-motor EVs already offer a […]
Hades II gets a big update with a final boss and more story
Hades II’s second major update today, dubbed “The Warsong Update,” is available now, and it adds a new final boss, another hot god to receive boons from, and a bunch of other changes, according to developer Supergiant Games. Supergiant is keeping the identity of the new boss a mystery, but they will be the final […]
Here’s when and where you can preorder the new iPhone 16E
Following months of rumors, Apple has finally announced the iPhone 16E, a spiritual successor to the last-gen iPhone SE that’s set to launch on February 28th. Preorders for Apple’s forthcoming handset start at $599 with 128GB of storage and open at Apple’s online store on Friday, February 21st, with other retailers and carriers likely to follow. […]
Apple no longer sells new iPhones with Lightning ports
Apple has stopped selling new iPhones with Lightning ports with the launch of the iPhone 16E and the removal of the iPhone 14 and the third-generation iPhone SE from its website. All new iPhones have a USB-C port. Finally. This change isn’t a surprise. Apple has slowly migrated its products to USB-C from Lightning, which […]
The Rabbit R1: all the latest news about this hare-raising AI gadget
With artificial intelligence being so prevalent across, well, just about everything these days, it’s no small feat for AI developers to make their products stand out among the deluge. Very few have managed to capture as much attention as Rabbit, the AI startup that’s managed to sell 40,000 units of its standalone $199 R1 gadget […]
This 1.9-pound smartphone’s massive battery offers six months of standby
What if a smartphone maker decided to cram as many features into a device as possible and not worry about maintaining a pocket-friendly design? That’s the approach that Oukitel has taken with its new WP100 Titan smartphone. The company is known for creating chunky phones with extended battery life, and its new 1.3-inch thick Titan […]
Nightreign is shaping up to be a fast and frantic take on Elden Ring
A bunch of Verge staffers came back from the weekend chatting about our experiences with Elden Ring Nightreign’s network tests. We generally enjoyed the fast-paced, co-op-focused spin on Elden Ring that takes cues from roguelikes and battle royale games — and when things were good, they were really good. But we also ran into some frustrating connection issues that […]
Murena released a de-Googled version of the Pixel Tablet
After launching several privacy-focused smartphones, Murena has released its first tablet. The French company customizes mobile devices with a version of Android called /e/OS that removes Google’s apps and services so the search giant can’t collect your data and personal info. The company is sticking with that familiar playbook for the Murena Pixel Tablet which […]
How the new iPhone 16E compares to the rest of Apple’s iPhone 16 lineup
If the iPhone 16 is out of your budget, Apple now has a more affordable, pared-down version for you to consider. The company on Wednesday announced the new iPhone 16E, a budget-friendly option that costs $599 and features Apple’s first in-house 5G modem, the C1. It will be available on February 28th, though you can […]
8 important things to know about the iPhone 16E
Apple just announced the long-rumored iPhone 16E. With a starting price of $599 (up from the $429 SE), it’s now the most affordable smartphone in the iPhone lineup and offers the company’s latest A18 processor, Apple Intelligence software features, and a much better OLED display. But if you’re mulling an upgrade from the now-discontinued iPhone […]
iPhone 16E: all the news on Apple’s new $599 phone
Apple has announced an update to the iPhone SE, but this time around, it’s called the iPhone 16E. As the rumors predicted, Apple’s new budget iPhone model has an updated design with a Face ID-enabled notch, replacing the old model that had a home button and Touch ID interface. Another new element is that this […]
Google Chrome is adding a Circle to Search-like feature for iPhones
Google is rolling out new search gestures that allow iPhone users to highlight anything on their screen to quickly search for it. The Lens screen-searching feature is available on iOS in both the Google app and Chrome browser and provides a similar experience to Android’s Circle to Search, which isn’t supported on iPhones. The new […]
Instagram will now let you schedule and pin DMs
Instagram’s direct message function is getting a big infusion of features today, including scheduled direct messages that you can prewrite and set to send on a later date, up to 29 days in advance. You can also now pin up to three messages to the top of the chat. Meta says the changes are intended […]
NetEase says it’s ‘investing more’ in Marvel Rivals despite layoffs
Earlier this week, the US-based developers working on Marvel Rivals began reporting on LinkedIn that they had been laid off. The developers did not give a reason for the layoffs, which came as a shock to the gaming community because of Rivals’ evident success. However, in a statement to The Verge, NetEase has clarified that […]
Apple discontinues the iPhone 14
Apple appears to have stopped selling the iPhone 14. The device, first released in 2022, seems to have vanished from Apple’s website following the launch of the iPhone 16E. Apple removed the mention of the iPhone 14 from its website’s navigation bar, and even though the device still appears in search results, selecting it redirects […]
Watch Apple show off the new iPhone 16E in its reveal video
Apple may not have given the full launch event and keynote treatment to the iPhone 16E, but it dropped a launch video for the new affordable iPhone that shows it off. The video was uploaded to YouTube and added to the company’s iPhone 16E launch page. Apple CEO Tim Cook introduces the “new member of […]
Apple launches the iPhone 16E
It’s official: the home button is dead. Apple has launched the iPhone 16E with an updated design and, with it, killed off the iPhone’s classic Touch ID interface. Instead, the 16E moves to a Face ID-enabled notch and adds the latest A18 chip and support for Apple Intelligence under the surface. The 16E is a […]
The Cybertruck is the latest Tesla to score a 5-star crash rating
The Tesla Cybertruck finally has its first crash safety rating over a year after deliveries first began in November 2023. And like all other Tesla vehicles before it, the electric truck scored a 5-star rating in nearly all the individual categories. The categories include frontal and side crashes, as well as risk of rollover. To […]
Tesla Cybertruck: all the news about Elon Musk’s futuristic pickup truck
Here’s everything you need to know about Tesla’s first pickup truck, which Elon Musk has called “heart-stopping” and his “personal favorite” of Tesla’s vehicles. Pickups have become more popular lately — their share of the US light vehicle market increased to 17.5 percent in 2019, from just under 13 percent in 2012. They’re also the […]
Microsoft announces quantum computing breakthrough with new Majorana 1 chip
Microsoft believes it has made a key breakthrough in quantum computing, unlocking the potential for quantum computers to solve industrial-scale problems. The software giant has spent 17 years working on a research project to create a new material and architecture for quantum computing, and it’s unveiling the Majorana 1 processor, Microsoft’s first quantum processor based […]
Eero announces its new Wi-Fi 7 line-up
Amazon-owned Eero is updating its mainline mesh routers with Wi-Fi 7 options in the new Eero 7 and Eero Pro 7 that are available for preorder now ahead of their launch on February 26th. Pricing for the Eero 7 and Eero Pro 7 ranges from $169.99 and $299.99 for single routers to $349.99 and $699.99 […]
Microsoft’s Xbox AI era starts with a model that can generate gameplay
I reported in November that Microsoft was about to start a bigger effort to bring AI features to Xbox, and today, the company is unveiling what it’s calling a breakthrough in AI for gaming. Microsoft’s new Muse AI model could help Xbox developers create parts of games in the future, and the company says it’s […]
Apple’s first in-house iPhone modem is the C1
Apple has just introduced the iPhone 16E, a spiritual successor to the iPhone SE line that has a significant first: it introduces Apple’s long-awaited in-house 5G modem, called the C1. The chip, which Apple says is the most power-efficient modem in a phone, is Apple’s bid to end its reliance on Qualcomm’s 5G chips. Apple […]
Fiverr wants freelancers to create AI models
The freelance service platform Fiverr will now let creators train AI models on their own work. Clients can then purchase access to custom AI models and generate content “with the speed of AI with the expertise of a pro,” the company says. The feature is part of its new Fiverr Go suite of tools, allowing […]
EV truck maker Nikola goes bust
Struggling electric truck company Nikola said it was filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Wednesday and would sell off its assets, effectively ending a challenging journey punctuated by rapid cash burn, allegations of fraud, and the incarceration of its first CEO and founder. Nikola said it would seek an auction and sale process, pending […]
Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti review: a cheaper RTX 4080
Nvidia’s new RTX 5070 Ti graphics card is the most intriguing entry in the 50-series lineup so far, promising to outperform last-gen cards that were even more expensive. At $749, it comfortably beats AMD’s $899 RX 7900 XT, trades blows with the $999 RX 7900 XTX, and is closer than I was expecting to Nvidia’s […]
The women who made America’s microchips and the children who paid for it
Mark Flores sits at the kitchen table drawing birthday cakes. At 44, he loves to draw circles, a skill he’s mastered over the past decade of his life. His thick black hair is neatly combed like the Superman cartoon on his T-shirt. Grasping thick Crayola markers, he lines up small circles in rows within larger […]
The Humane AI Pin never had a chance
Ten days from now, the Humane AI Pin will be able to tell you how much battery it has left, and essentially nothing else. To be fair, though, it couldn’t do that much before. And it doesn’t matter anyway, because you almost certainly didn’t buy one. But if you did, that’s the bad news: Humane […]
This smart video lock unlocks with a wave of your hand
Anker’s smart home arm, Eufy, has announced its first smart lock that uses palm vein recognition to unlock your door. The $399 FamiLock S3 Max is also a video doorbell with a 2K-capable camera and an interior screen that shows a live video feed through the door lock. The S3 works over Wi-Fi 6 and […]
Reddit vs. Wall Street: the latest in the GameStop saga
Subreddit r/WallStreetBets has been the talk of the Internet this week, as its members have driven GameStop’s stock prices from around $20 to over $300. The community brands itself as “like 4chan found a Bloomberg Terminal,” and as time has gone on, it’s targeted other unlikely stocks like AMC, Blackberry, and Tootsie Roll. They’ve also […]
FTC Chair praises Justice Thomas as ‘the most important judge of the last 100 years’ for Black History Month
Newly appointed Federal Trade Commission Chair Andrew Ferguson praised his former boss, the conservative Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, as “the most important judge of the last 100 years,†in a memo to agency staff honoring Black History Month. The message, obtained by The Verge and confirmed by the FTC, sheds light on how Ferguson […]
DOGE can keep accessing government data for now, judge rules
A US federal judge declined to block Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing or transferring data from seven government agencies, or stop further firings of their workforce. DC District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan denied a temporary restraining order (TRO) sought by a group of 14 Democratic state attorneys general, led […]
Humane’s AI Pin: all the news about the dead AI-powered wearable
After a very long windup, Humane finally revealed all the details of its AI-powered wearable at the end of 2023. The small gadget could attach to your clothes using a magnetic battery pack so that it’s within easy reach. By tapping the AI Pin, you could ask it to do smartphone-y things like make phone calls, […]
Humane is shutting down the AI Pin and selling its remnants to HP
Humane is selling most of its company to HP for $116 million and will stop selling AI Pin, the company announced today. AI Pins that have already been purchased will continue to function normally until 3PM ET on February 28th, Humane says in a support document. After that date, Pins will “no longer connect to […]
Marvel Rivals’ US team is undergoing layoffs
Marvel Rivals, the Overwatch 2-lunch-eating multiplayer shooter that boasted 20 million players within days of its December 2024 launch, has laid off an unspecified number of employees in its US operations, according to separate posts by recently laid off employees on LinkedIn. “Welp, just got laid off from my job working on Marvel Rivals with […]
Facebook is about to mass delete a lot of old live streams
Facebook will start deleting users’ live broadcast recordings after 30 days starting on February 19th. Users who go live after that date must download the videos to save them from getting deleted before their 30-day expiration period ends. Alternatively, you could share the recordings to your profile as Reels, although that means fitting clips into […]
Google Meet’s AI transcripts will automatically create action items for you
Google Meet’s Gemini-powered note-taking feature is getting a bit more useful for Workspace teams. It will now generate a checklist of suggested next steps at the end of your meetings, going as far as assigning due dates and attaching a primary stakeholder to the task. The note-taking feature was initially launched in August last year. […]
Rockstar’s working on bringing Roblox creators to GTA VI
With GTA VI looming over the fall 2025 release schedule, a new report from Digiday claims that Rockstar is going all-in on user-generated content. According to the report, the developer is having discussions with Fortnite, Roblox, and GTA creators about making “custom experiences” inside what’s shaping up to be the biggest gaming release since the […]
Amazon scraps its TikTok-style Inspire feed
Amazon has discontinued Inspire, its TikTok-like feed featuring photos and videos of products, as reported earlier by TechCrunch. In a statement to The Verge, Amazon spokesperson Maxine Tagay said the company “regularly evaluate[s] various features to better align with what customers tell us matters most, and as part of that, Inspire is no longer available.” […]
It’s clearly time: all the news about the transparent tech renaissance
Gadgets, much like fashion, can make style comebacks. For tech: we’ve lived through the ’80s beige keyboards, transitioned to the ’90s with gray and black plastic video game systems plus bright colors for Sony’s Walkman and Nintendo’s Game Boy handhelds, and then, at the turn of the millennium, welcomed the amazing see-through iMacs, N64 controllers, […]
Acer is the first to raise laptop prices because of Trump
Acer CEO and chairman Jason Chen says your laptop will cost an extra 10 percent in the United States next month — and that his rivals might attempt price gouging if they think you’ll pay even more. “We think 10pc probably will be the default price increase because of the import tax. It’s very straightforward,” […]
Electricity demand surges for the world’s two biggest polluters
China and the US, the world’s two top greenhouse gas polluters, could burn through a lot more electricity over the next couple of years, according to the latest forecast from the International Energy Agency (IEA). The steepest rise in global electricity demand in a while is expected over the next few years, with much of that coming from new data […]
Mira Murati is launching her OpenAI rival: Thinking Machines Lab
After her sudden departure from OpenAI last fall, ex-CTO Mira Murati vanished from public view to start something new. Now, she is ready to share some details about what she’s working on. Her new AI startup is called Thinking Machines Lab, and while the specifics of what it plans to release are still under wraps, […]
Three months later, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is the glorious pain in the ass its makers intended
When S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl was released in November, it was clearly not yet the game its developers, GSC Game World, wanted it to be. Sure, this imagining of the Zone was fabulously moody, a desolate and bleak expanse of bog, scrubland, abandoned warehouses, and pallid vistas. For all the ways it was transportive […]
WhatsApp is now a Very Large platform in the EU, and will face tougher regulation
Meta’s WhatsApp has now gathered enough users to be designated a Very Large Online Platform (VLOP) under the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA), opening it up to stricter regulations in the region, reports Bloomberg. The DSA assigns VLOP status to any online service with more than 45 million users, a threshold WhatsApp crossed last […]
Magic: The Gathering’s Final Fantasy sets will tell the stories of the games
Magic: The Gathering has revealed a look at its forthcoming Final Fantasy-themed set. In an interview with IGN, senior game designer Daniel Holt talked about the collaboration and this initial look, which focuses on four major character cards and their associated pre-constructed Commander decks. The revealed cards include Terra from Final Fantasy VI, Tidus from […]
All of Chipolo’s Bluetooth trackers are discounted in sitewide sale
Did you know Apple’s AirTags weren’t the first Find My Bluetooth trackers for iPhones? Chipolo actually beat Apple to its own game in 2021 with the Chipolo One Spot. It’s easy to pass them up given that AirTags are often discounted, but Chipolo’s ongoing sale is tempting. All of Chipolo’s trackers are discounted right now, […]
Meta’s new ‘LlamaCon’ event will focus on AI
Meta is holding a new “LlamaCon” conference where it will share updates on “open source AI developments” to help developers create apps and products, the company said on Tuesday. LlamaCon will take place on April 29th, 2025 — months ahead of its Meta Connect conference, which it just announced will run from September 17th to […]
Insta360’s new gimbal add-on brings subject tracking to any camera app
Insta360 has announced a new accessory for its Flow 2 Pro smartphone gimbal that allows any camera app to take advantage of the company’s AI-powered tracking technology. Previously, subject tracking required the use of the company’s own Android or iOS camera app, or iOS apps that supported Apple’s DockKit framework. The new Insta360 Flow 2 Pro […]
Chase will start blocking Zelle payments over social media
Chase Bank is going to make it harder to use Zelle for transactions stemming from social media. In an update to its policy on Zelle, Chase says it may “decline or block” payments related to purchases from social media marketplaces or messaging apps, as spotted earlier by Bleeping Computer. The new policy, which goes into […]
Nothing’s new video pits the Phone 3A’s camera against the iPhone 16 Pro Max
Nothing is comparing its coming budget Phone 3A’s camera against that of the iPhone 16 Pro Max in a new YouTube video released today. Specifically, it’s showing off the performance of the Phone 3A’s 50MP periscope camera, which appears in the bottom right of the triangular three-camera array in the photo (emailed to the The […]
Can Meta still make the metaverse?
Meta is clearly all in on AI, and for good reason. With models like Llama, products like the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses, and a monetization plan like Facebook ads, it’s one of the companies best positioned to make AI really work. But it wasn’t that long ago that Meta was making a different, just as […]
Nanoleaf is permanently cutting prices for its signature LED light panels
Nanoleaf has announced that the company’s “most popular products” are getting a permanent price cut as part of its new SmarterLife Pricing Initiative. “For the past two years, Nanoleaf has been working closely with their manufacturing and supply chain teams to completely reexamine, rework and reoptimize processes, materials, and structures to reduce costs,” the company […]
Elon Musk doesn’t work for DOGE
Elon Musk is — according to a new legal filing from the US government — not running the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), despite his leadership appointment by President Donald Trump. In fact, claims the new White House declaration, he isn’t technically even a DOGE employee despite representing himself as the key decision maker behind its activity. […]
Everything we know about Apple’s Vision Pro
People have been speculating about Apple’s entry into the world of virtual and augmented reality headsets for the better part of a decade. At WWDC 2023, it finally revealed the Vision Pro, which will launch as the first visionOS device on February 2nd. The Vision Pro starts at $3,499 with 256GB of internal storage, while […]
DJI’s new Osmo Mobile 7 Pro has so very many tricks up its sleeve
Personally, I can’t imagine using my smartphone as a baby steadicam anymore now that I have DJI’s Osmo Pocket 3 — we saw it everywhere at CES 2025, and its one-inch-type sensor offers image quality beyond what today’s smartphones allow. But if you like the idea of sticking your phone into a set of stabilized […]
The OnePlus Watch 3 finally adds a proper rotating crown
I’ve had the $329.99 OnePlus Watch 3 for a few days, and so far, this isn’t an Android watch that flips the script. Instead, it’s a story about refinement (and playing a bit of catch-up), rather than pushing boundaries. And you know what? If it means a strong Google / Samsung alternative with a rotating […]
Huawei’s trifold phone launches outside of China
Huawei’s trifold Mate XT phone is launching outside of China, but it won’t come cheap. The world’s first and only phone that folds at two separate points in the display costs €3,499 (about $3,660) — and like other Huawei phones, won’t officially support any Google apps. The Mate XT launched in China in September 2024. […]
Microsoft isn’t automatically keeping you signed in to your account just yet
Microsoft was planning to make some changes to the way you sign in to a Microsoft account in February, keeping accounts signed in automatically unless you sign out or use private browsing. While the changes were communicated to Outlook.com users through a notification and in a now-removed Microsoft support article, Microsoft has now confirmed to […]
Elon Musk’s xAI adds ‘Big Brain’ reasoning to Grok-3
Elon Musk’s xAI unveiled Grok-3 on Tuesday, announcing that the new artificial intelligence model has “more than 10 times” the compute power of its predecessor. xAI said its latest flagship outperforms OpenAI’s GPT-4o, Google’s Gemini, and DeepSeek’s V3 models in early testing, and now features “advanced reasoning” capabilities. So-called reasoning models are trained to answer […]
Switch 2: all the news and rumors on Nintendo’s next console
The Nintendo Switch 2 has finally been announced, and it will launch sometime in 2025. It’s bigger than the original Switch, has Joy-Cons that attach to the side of the console, and will be getting a new Mario Kart game — beyond that, Nintendo hasn’t shared a lot more. But the company is planning a […]
Spotify’s HiFi streaming could finally arrive this year
It’s been nearly four years since Spotify announced a HiFi tier for its music streaming service that would support lossless audio. That wait could end this year, Bloomberg reports, as the company works to finalize details, including streaming rights. Spotify could charge as much as $5 or $6 extra per month for the new tier […]
DOGE is trying to access the IRS’s data on millions of taxpayers
The Department of Government Efficiency has requested access to the Internal Revenue Service’s taxpayer data system — potentially giving it access to highly sensitive information, including Social Security Numbers and tax returns — according to a report from CNN. DOGE has also launched an IRS-specific account on X and is soliciting “insights on finding and […]
Here are the best streaming service deals available right now
It being winter and all, there’s a high probability that many of us are spending more time bingeing TV shows and movies indoors than we might otherwise. And while it’s true that most streaming services don’t cost much in comparison to most of the tech we cover, we all know monthly subscription fees have a […]
A team from SpaceX is being brought in to overhaul FAA’s air traffic control system
A team from Elon Musk’s SpaceX is visiting the Air Traffic Control Command Center in Virginia Monday to help overhaul the system in the wake of last month’s deadly air disaster in Washington, DC, US Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy announced. The news comes after CNN reported that the Federal Aviation Administration fired hundreds of […]
The war on DEI is a smoke screen
Violent metaphors abound for what’s happening in Washington: Elon Musk and his allies have taken a “slash-and-burn†approach to the government and a “sledgehammer†to government institutions, doing away with supposed waste and excess while leaving the fundamental structure intact. All of this is being done with the stated goal of ridding the federal workforce […]
X is blocking links to Signal
X users are currently unable to post links to Signal.me, which are used to quickly and securely send direct messages to Signal users. A variety of failure notifications are being reported when X users attempt to post Signal links on the platform, some of which identify the blocked message as containing spam, harmful content, or […]
The New York Times adopts AI tools in the newsroom
The New York Times has reportedly approved artificial intelligence tools that newsroom staff can use for editing copy, summarizing information, coding, and writing. The publication announced in an internal email that product and editorial staff will receive AI training, according to Semafor, and introduced a new internal AI tool called Echo for summarizing articles, briefings, […]
BMW’s next-gen EVs depend on an unassuming black box called ‘Heart of Joy’
Last November, I strapped into the rear passenger seat of an all-electric, four-door sedan with BMW test driver and 24-hour racer Jens Klingmann behind the wheel. It was a cold day at BMW’s Performance Driving Center in Greer, SC, and beneath the five-point harnesses, roll cage, and heavily camouflaged body, Klingmann had an unexpected co-pilot: […]
YouTube TV has a deal to keep Paramount content
Days after YouTube published a blog post saying it could lose Paramount content soon, it updated the post to announce a deal to keep it. The company posted on X that, as a result, channels such as CBS, CBS Sports, and Nickelodeon and add-ons like Paramount Plus, Showtime, and BET Plus will stick around after […]
A treasure trove of comedy history
Hi, friends! Welcome to Installer No. 71, your guide to the best and Verge-iest stuff in the world. (If you’re new here, welcome, happy long weekend to all those allowed to celebrate, and also you can read all the old editions at the Installer homepage.) This week, I’ve been reading about Alan Turing and OnlyFans […]
‘TeslaTakeover’ protests are small, but numerous
Today marked a second weekend of scattered protests at Tesla showrooms, following a “TeslaTakeover” hashtag that has been trending on Twitter alternative Bluesky this week. Protestors’ messages largely focused on the divisive efforts of Tesla CEO Elon Musk as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency since the start of Donald Trump’s Presidency. The […]
The Nintendo DS Drastic emulator is gone from Google Play
The popular Nintendo DS emulator Drastic has disappeared from the Google Play store, reports Android Authority. It’s not clear at the moment why the app is now gone, but it seems likely that it was the developer, not Nintendo, that prompted its removal. Developer Exophase made Drastic free-to-download last year and indicated that it planned […]
Amazon’s revamped Alexa might launch over a month after its announcement event
Amazon won’t launch the AI-powered upgrade for Alexa for at least a month after its showcase at an event set for February 26th, according to The Washington Post. The delay is reportedly at least partly because the updated assistant has issues with giving inaccurate answers to test questions. An anonymous Amazon employee told the outlet […]
Elden Ring Nightreign is already up for preorder with a $10 gift card
Elden Ring Nightreign’s rocky network test might have left some fans disappointed this week, but I sincerely doubt a few breif server issues did much to diminish the growing anticipation for FromSoftware’s next soulslike for Xbox, PlayStation, and PC. Thankfully, if you were still planning on picking up the Elden Ring spin-off when it launches […]
The Vision Pro NBA app turns some games into a miniature 3D diorama
The NBA has introduced a new AR feature for its Vision Pro app this week called Tabletop, which places a floating render of a basketball court in your space during “select” live games, according to an NBA help page describing the feature. On the court, digital avatars mirror the game’s actual players as they move, […]
Vision Pro apps: the good, the bad, and the ridiculous
The Vision Pro is Apple’s newest computing platform, and that means we’re going to see a whole bunch of new apps. Apple pitches apps built for the Vision Pro as “spatial” experiences, and even after our initial review experience, we’ll have to see how those differ from or improve upon the virtual reality and mixed […]
Technics AZ100 earbuds review: audiophiles and multitaskers unite
It can be surprisingly daunting to follow up on a great pair of earbuds. The objective is to make improvements wherever possible without sacrificing anything that people loved about the previous set. That’s where Technics found itself with the $299.99 EAH-AZ100 earbuds, which it announced at CES 2025. I was rather taken with the company’s […]
While Waiting is a playful reminder of the joys of boredom
Boredom is something of a dying concept. Our phones, filled with games and videos and social feeds, allow us to fill every moment with something, whether we’re on a long flight or in line for 30 seconds waiting for coffee. But the silly and playful While Waiting is a good reminder that that can be […]
Google’s Android-based earthquake detector had a false alarm
Google has disabled its Android earthquake detection feature in Brazil after many smartphone users in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro received false emergency alerts on Friday morning, Android Police reports. The alerts of a nonexistent 5.5 magnitude earthquake were sent to devices around 2AM this morning, and pinpointed earthquakes in the country’s Ubatuba and […]
Trump admin pulls hundreds of videos from CFPB’s YouTube channel
Nearly 400 videos that were posted on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s YouTube page have been removed, as the Trump administration continues to pare back the agency, including its team of skilled technologists. The CFPB YouTube page, which has 15,000 subscribers and was created in 2011, has had every one of its videos removed as […]
OpenAI’s board ‘unanimously rejects’ Elon Musk’s offer to buy the company
OpenAI’s board of directors has responded to Elon Musk’s bid to buy the company. In a statement on X, OpenAI chair Bret Taylor said, “OpenAI is not for sale, and the board has unanimously rejected Mr. Musk’s latest attempt to disrupt his competition.” Musk and a coalition of backers offered to buy OpenAI for $97.4 […]
Trump administration adds anti-trans notices to restored websites
President Donald Trump’s administration has ordered federal agencies like the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to add disclaimers railing against “gender ideology” to pages restored by a recent court order, The Washington Post reported. The notice reads: Per a court order, HHS is required to restore this website […]
Mastodon will add quote posts, even though some users don’t want them
Mastodon is making a change that might have some users divided. In an update on Friday, the decentralized platform announced that it’s working to add quote posts “to help people to transition away from proprietary, billionaire-owned social media to the open social web,” as spotted earlier by TechCrunch. Mastodon initially decided against implementing quote posts […]
Climate group that called for ‘free Palestine’ stripped of federal funding
A grassroots environmental alliance that called for a “free Palestine” has lost the more than $50 million it was supposed to receive under the Biden administration’s signature climate law, the Inflation Reduction Act. The Climate Justice Alliance (CJA) became the target of conservative attacks after advocating for a ceasefire in Gaza, and a group of of federal workers […]
WhatsApp is getting themed chat bubbles
WhatsApp is turning up the customization features for chats by including new theme options, custom colors for chat bubbles, and a bunch of new wallpapers to choose from. A new blog post says the feature is rolling out now and will be available globally “over the coming weeks.” There are 30 new wallpaper options to […]
Meta’s Ray-Bans have sold 2 million pairs — its maker is prepping to sell 10M each year
Two weeks ago, we exclusively reported Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s remarks on how many pairs of Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses the company had recently sold and might theoretically sell — 1 million pairs in 2024, with the possibility of reaching 2 million or even 5 million by the end of 2025. But glasses giant EssilorLuxottica, […]
The EV tax credit: all the cars, rules, and updates
The electric vehicle tax credit, also known as the “clean vehicle tax credit,” or 30D, if you like IRS code, can offer up to $7,500 off the purchase of a new EV. Sounds nice, right? But of course, it’s not that easy. This is the IRS we’re talking about after all. Before you can collect […]
Senate Republicans introduce bills to make EVs more expensive
Two bills were introduced in the Senate that, if enacted, would dramatically increase the price for most electric vehicles. The first bill, sponsored by Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), would eliminate the $7,500 EV tax credit, while a second one from Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) would impose a $1,000 tax on the purchase of any new […]
Netflix says its brief Apple TV app integration was a mistake
Considering the trajectory of 2025 so far, perhaps we should’ve known that Netflix finally playing nice with the Apple TV app was too good to be true. And now the streaming giant has confirmed that’s exactly the case. Netflix spokesperson MoMo Zhou has told The Verge that this morning’s window where Netflix appeared as a […]
Treasury inspector general will investigate DOGE payments access
Two government watchdogs will investigate the Department of Government Efficiency’s access to sensitive Treasury payments systems, they confirmed in letters to Congress. In a letter to Senate Democrats, Treasury Deputy Inspector General Loren Sciurba said that the office opened an audit into the Bureau of Fiscal Service’s payments systems on February 6th. The IG’s office […]
The inexpensive Roomba Combo j5 is over 50 percent off for Verge readers
Looking for a robot vacuum or mop that won’t set you back a few hundred dollars? Right now, Verge readers can pick up the Roomba Combo i5 — the upgrade to our top budget pick, the Roomba i3 Evo — from Wellbots for a new low of $189 ($160 off) with offer VERGE160. The Roomba Combo j5, […]
TikTok isn’t out of the woods yet
Happy Valentine’s Day. I’m sending this from the NBA All-Star Technology Summit in San Francisco, where I’ve never seen so many major streaming competitors onstage at once. This week, I go inside TikTok, Google, and Meta. Keep reading for what Elon Musk really wants with his bid for OpenAI… TikTok turns up the heat — […]
Meta is working on ‘humanoid’ robots, too
Meta is planning to design the hardware and software for humanoid robots, according to a report from Bloomberg. Sources tell the outlet that a newly formed team within Meta’s Reality Labs division will start by working on “humanoid robot hardware” capable of completing household chores. Bloomberg notes that Meta has broader goals of making “the […]
Roblox is still trying to convince lawmakers it’s not social media
As the new Congress has already started working on legislation to protect kids from social media harms, Roblox is doubling down on its efforts to convince lawmakers it shouldn’t be lumped in with products like Instagram and YouTube. Even though the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) failed to become law last year, despite passing handily […]
Instagram starts testing new button that might downrank comments
Instagram is beginning to test a button that “gives people a private way to signal that they don’t feel good about that particular comment,” Instagram boss Adam Mosseri says in a post on Threads. The button, based on a screenshot from a Threads user, is a downward-facing arrow next to the like button in comments. […]
Amazon’s killing a feature that let you download and backup Kindle books
Starting on February 26th, 2025, Amazon is removing a feature from its website allowing you to download purchased books to a computer and then copy them manually to a Kindle over USB. It’s a feature that a lot of Kindle users are probably not aware of, given books can be more easily sent to devices […]
Small businesses are already feeling Trump’s tariffs
President Donald Trump’s tariffs on China, Canada, and Mexico are presented by the president and his boosters as a boon to American businesses. If products from China are more expensive, the argument goes, then people will instead buy from counterparts based in the US. But for small businesses manufacturing in the US, the tariffs are […]
Nosferatu is making its Peacock streaming debut next week
Robert Eggers’ excellent Nosferatu remake will finally be available to stream very soon. Peacock announced today that Nosferatu — which stars Lily-Rose Depp, Nicholas Hoult, and Bill Skarsgård — will make its streaming debut on February 21st. Along with the film’s original theatrical cut, Peacock subscribers will also be able to watch the extended cut […]
You can get a 55-inch Hisense U7 for under $500
I sorely recall the early onset of the current gaming generation, which kicked off in late 2020. The Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5 were a bit difficult to come by, so much so that I committed the cardinal sin of paying a reseller more than $200 over MSRP for the latter. The TVs that […]
Yellowjackets continues to stretch itself thin in season 3
The third season of Yellowjackets is a bit like getting lured back to the high school reunion that was delightfully fun the first time but eventually becomes an exercise in diminishing returns. Maybe it’s part of our soft human inability to let go of the past, especially coming-of-age drama that seems increasingly romantic and valid […]
Xiaomi’s 15 Ultra looks a lot like a Leica in new leaks
It looks like Xiaomi is soon launching a new flagship Ultra smartphone model that takes its Leica licensing beyond just the lens. Android Headlines has posted what appear to be official renders of a Xiaomi 15 Ultra, with Leica camera styling that includes duo-tone white and rough-finished black verticle strips down the rear of the […]
Kagi’s search engine adds a more private way to search
The paid search engine Kagi has added an even more private way to search. The new feature, called Privacy Pass, lets you make searches without having them traced back to you. Privacy Pass is based on an authentication protocol standardized by the Internet Engineering Task Force. It works by allowing users to authenticate themselves to […]
More Tesla showroom protests planned for this weekend
Protestors are planning more demonstrations outside Tesla showrooms nationwide this weekend, as Elon Musk’s polarizing behavior and political activities within the Trump administration continue to have negative side effects on his electric car business. The protests are being advertised on BlueSky under the tags “Tesla Takeover” and “Tesla Takedown,” similar to demonstrations held last weekend. […]
The best iPad to buy
There are no bad iPads. That’s the best news about Apple’s tablet lineup: 15 years after Steve Jobs first debuted the device, the iPad is the best tablet on the market, and it’s not particularly close. Apple’s App Store is enormous and filled with great apps, Apple’s performance and battery life are consistently excellent, and […]
Elon Musk: agent of chaos
It’s hard to think of a time when a single figure has been so central to seemingly everything in the way that Elon Musk is right now. Musk is overseeing and overhauling the federal government, while bending it toward his own financial gain. He’s also ubiquitous in the artificial intelligence world, where this week he […]
Netflix finally decides to play nice and support the Apple TV app
Some Apple TV 4K users in the US are being prompted to connect their Netflix accounts to the Apple TV app. This would appear to signal an end to the streaming service’s longtime refusal to have its content aggregated into third-party platforms. Users who link their accounts are able to add certain Netflix originals like […]
The technology team at financial regulator CFPB has been gutted
Around 20 technologists at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau were fired on Thursday evening, gutting a team that specialized in understanding Big Tech’s entrance into financial products, three sources familiar with the matter tell The Verge. It follows an earlier round of layoffs of mostly contractors and probationary employees on Tuesday, as reported by Wired, […]
Elden Ring Nightreign’s director isn’t sorry about how stressful it is
My first time playing Elden Ring Nightreign, I was stressed the hell out. My team and I were in an underground dungeon, trying to make our way past traps and dangerous blind corners, all while knowing there was an invisible clock ominously ticking down above our heads. If we were still underground when it hit […]
Elon Musk’s DOGE website has been defaced because anyone can edit it
The DOGE website created to document how Elon Musk’s team is eviscerating the US federal government is wide open for anyone to edit. This is the same DOGE organization that has gained unprecedented access to sensitive US financial systems with data on millions of Americans. Two web development experts reported the security flaw to 404Media […]
Microsoft Outlook’s new minimize button makes mobile emails much easier
Microsoft is adding a super useful button to Outlook mobile that will let you quickly minimize a draft email and task switch on the go. If you’re like me and you send a lot of emails from your iPhone or Android device, it can be really annoying to have to switch out of a draft […]
Open source code repository says ‘far-right forces’ are behind massive spam attacks
The open source code repository Codeberg has blamed the far right for a recent campaign of abuse and harassment across its systems. “Projects advocating tolerance and equal rights” were subjected to spam campaigns using abusive messages, which escalated to spam emails sent to users via Codeberg’s own automated systems. Codeberg says it stands strong “against […]
TikTok is coming back to the App Store
Apple is putting TikTok back in the US App Store, according to a source familiar the situation. The return follows US Attorney General Pam Bondi sending a letter to Apple assuring that it won’t be fined for hosting the app, according to Bloomberg, which first reported the news. TikTok is also now live in Google’s […]
Gemini AI can now recall past conversations
Google’s Gemini AI assistant can now recall past conversations to provide more relevant responses if you have a subscription to Gemini Advanced via Google One AI Premium. With the update, you’ll no longer have to recap previous chats or search for a thread to pick up a conversation, as Gemini will already have the context […]
Nvidia delays the RTX 5070 till after AMD’s reveal
As always, the most important Nvidia graphics card is the one you can actually buy, and Nvidia’s talked a big game for its RTX 5070, making the dubious but nuanced claim it can deliver RTX 4090 performance for just $549. On February 28th, AMD will get its chance to intercept with the Radeon RX 9070 […]
Google’s latest Pixel phones are down to some of their best prices
If you’re on the market for an excellent Android phone, multiple retailers are offering some of the best prices we’ve seen on some of Google’s devices. The last-gen Pixel 8 (8GB RAM/128GB storage) starts at $399 ($300 off) at Amazon and Best Buy, for example, but the real highlight is the Pixel 9 lineup. Right […]
How to get TikTok back on your phone if you deleted it after the ban
TikTok’s app is still working for people in the US — as long as it’s already on their phone. While the service quickly returned after the brief shutdown in January, the app itself is no longer available on either Apple’s App Store or Google’s Play Store. That means that if you removed the app, never […]
Amazon revamps Prime Video’s Apple TV app
Amazon’s Prime Video app just got a big update on Apple TV. The app is now better optimized for tvOS, allowing you to swipe on the Siri Remote to scroll through Prime Video’s shows and movies as well as use touchpad gestures for fast-forwarding, rewinding, and scrubbing through content. Amazon has updated the app’s search […]
Audio-Technica’s new cartilage conduction headphones offer better battery life
Audio-Technica has announced a new version of its open-ear cartilage conduction headphones the company says deliver improved sound and better battery life. The headphones use a technology that’s similar to bone conduction headphones from companies like Shokz and Suunto but instead deliver sound through the softer cartilage around your ears. The approach still leaves the […]
Bose headphones and earbuds are nearly 25 percent off for Presidents Day
If you need a new pair of headphones, earbuds, or a portable Bluetooth speaker, Bose’s ongoing Presidents Day sale presents a few compelling options. In fact, now through February 17th, several QuietComfort and SoundLink devices are receiving steep discounts, including some of our favorite models. Several products are matching their lowest price to date, such […]
What’s with the EPA seizing ‘gold bars’?
The Trump administration is attempting to take back around $20 billion of funding that the Biden administration previously awarded to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Trump’s appointee to lead the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Lee Zeldin, posted a cryptic video last night and followed up with a press release today claiming “roughly $20 […]
Double magnetic rings are here to stick your phone to anything
I like my phone, so I put a ring on it back in 2022 — the year my colleagues Jen and Allison introduced me to the Anker ring we now call “The best MagSafe phone gripâ€. It’s a simple magnetic ring attached to a non-magnetic finger ring that doubles as a kickstand. But what if […]
Apple’s next Studio Display could get a much-needed Mini LED upgrade
Apple is preparing a new 27-inch display with Mini LED backlighting for release later in 2025 or early next year, according to analyst Ross Young (and highlighted by MacRumors). The purported follow-up to 2022’s Studio Display would leave the monitor’s size unchanged but offer meaningful gains in contrast, black levels, and (potentially) overall brightness. Even […]
RFK Jr., an anti-vax activist, will lead Health and Human Services following Senate confirmation
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is now President Donald Trump’s new secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) following a Senate confirmation vote. As head of the HHS, Kennedy will oversee agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration. While Kennedy has said that he is […]
Android 16’s next public beta adds new features for pro photographers
Google is releasing the second public beta of Android 16 today that will introduce new features for professional photographers who want more control while capturing images and videos. The upgrades include new manual control options when using auto-exposure, precise color temperature and tint adjustments, and support for Ultra HDR images in the HEIC image format. […]
The UK’s war on encryption affects all of us
The encryption wars have reached a fever pitch, and the most contentious battle is not happening in the United States, where much of the action has been in the past — like the government’s efforts to restrict exports of encryption software until the 1990s and the FBI’s standoff with Apple in 2016. It’s in the […]
Captain America: Brave New World is trying twice as hard to be half as good
With its first few Captain America films, Marvel Studios sold audiences on the idea that its superhero movies could be more than live-action cartoons. By borrowing from other genres, they could become gritty, character-focused thrillers like The Winter Soldier or splashy crossover events like Civil War. And the tonal shifts between each feature made it […]
Blue Origin is laying off around 10 percent of workers
The Jeff Bezos-owned space company Blue Origin has announced plans to lay off around 10 percent of its workforce. The company currently has more than 10,000 workers, according to Bloomberg, meaning the layoffs could affect around 1,000 employees. In an email obtained by The Verge, Blue Origin CEO David Limp told employees that fast growth […]
OnePlus won’t release a foldable phone in 2025
OnePlus says it won’t launch a new foldable phone this year, axing expectations that the company was prepping a proper sequel to its Open foldable from 2023, 9to5Google reports. A new OnePlus “Open 2” could have followed the blueprint of its subsidiary company Oppo’s new ultra-thin Find N5 that’s launching in China and internationally next […]
Apple’s sci-fi movies are way behind its shows
Apple TV Plus has steadily become the preeminent home of streaming sci-fi shows, and that reputation has really only grown over time. Silo just wrapped up its thrilling second season, Severance is back after a long hiatus, and promising adaptations of Neuromancer and The Murderbot Diaries are in the works. Even the service’s detective shows […]
The next Xbox is going to be very different
I’ve been thinking a lot about the next Xbox lately. While Microsoft publicly lines up a busy year of game releases and ports for the PS5 and Switch 2, the company has also been secretly building its future Xbox hardware and platform. There haven’t been any giant leaks about next-gen hardware yet, but Microsoft has […]
Final Fantasy iOS game shuts down over unfixable bug
Square Enix has shut down the iOS version of Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles and removed it from the App Store following an unfixable bug that blocked people from accessing content they had paid for. “The issue is due to changes made to the in-app purchases model,” Square Enix says in a post. “Further investigation revealed […]
Twisted Metal’s second season streams this summer
It’s going to be a hot vehicular combat summer: Peacock has announced that the second of Twisted Metal will start streaming later this year. The show, which is an adaptation of a classic and long-dormant PlayStation series, premiered in the summer of 2023 and was renewed later that year. Season 1 was an origin story […]
Tim Cook teases a new Apple launch next week, and it’s probably the iPhone SE
Apple is getting ready to show its newest device during an event on Wednesday, February 19th. Tim Cook revealed the date in a post on X, saying “Get ready to meet the newest member of the family,” alongside a GIF of the Apple logo. Apple is widely expected to reveal the latest generation of its […]
The FCC is a weapon in Trump’s war on free speech
I’ve been the editor-in-chief of The Verge for over 10 years now, and a tech journalist for about 15 — and until recently, it felt pretty safe to assume that there was a zero percent chance that the US government would punish me for doing my job. There’s that whole First Amendment in this country, […]
Amazon has renewed The Rings of Power for a third season
At least one more season of Amazon’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power will be coming to the small screen sooner than later. Today, Amazon announced that it has greenlit production on another installment of its Lord of the Rings prequel series starring Morfydd Clark as Galadriel, Charlie Vickers as Sauron, Robert […]
State Dept.’s plan to buy $400 million worth of armored Teslas hastily changed to ‘armored EVs’
On Wednesday, reports from The New York Times and Drop Site News pointed out that the US Department of State included an order for $400 million worth of armored Teslas in its 2025 procurement forecast. But shortly after these reports emerged, the agency replaced its mention of “Armored Tesla (Production Units)” with a much vaguer […]
Dell XPS 13 review: out with a whimper
The Dell XPS 13 was once the best thin-and-light Windows laptop you could get, with amazing build quality, good battery life, and decent port selection (and eventually, a serviceable webcam). But it peaked in 2020 and it’s been slipping since. It got OLED screen options that tanked the battery life. Then there was a baffling […]
Going back is the only way to get out in the Until Dawn movie’s latest trailer
The first teaser for Sony and Screen Gems’ big screen Until Dawn adaptation made it seem like it might just be another supernatural horror with a splash of Groundhog Day tossed in to keep things mildly interesting. But judging from the way the studios are describing the film, it sounds like this Until Dawn will […]
YouTube is going to let you put AI-generated video clips in Shorts
YouTube has added new generative AI video features that creators can use when making Shorts. The video platform announced that Google’s Veo 2 video model is being integrated into YouTube’s experimental Dream Screen feature, alongside allowing users to generate standalone video clips that can be added to Shorts. Dream Screen was introduced in September 2023 […]
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is getting DLSS 4 support next week
Bethesda is adding DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation and DLSS Ray Reconstruction to Indiana Jones and the Great Circle in an update due next week. Both technologies will improve the image quality of Indiana Jones, and Multi Frame Generation will also enable smoother frame rates in the process. Nvidia has released a new Game Ready […]
Honda and Nissan cancel their proposed $60 billion merger
Honda and Nissan have announced they are calling off a $60 billion plan to merge their two companies. The pair were in talks for just over a month trying to join forces, a plan that was especially important for Nissan, since it reportedly would only survive another year due to nosediving profits. The merger could […]
iPhone AI features will be powered by Alibaba in China
Alibaba has announced that it is partnering with Apple to provide artificial intelligence features to iPhones in China. Apple Intelligence features have not yet been enabled in China, which is thought to have contributed to the company’s local decline in smartphone sales. “They talked to a number of companies in China. In the end they […]
Mysterious new Vision Pro retail app appears in the App Store
Apple has quietly released a new app that suggests it may soon allow third-party retailers to sell its Vision Pro headset. The “Vision Pro Demo Fit” app was spotted in the App Store Preview by Apple firmware detective Aaron Perris (seen via 9to5Mac), and includes various features for matching customers to their required Vision Pro […]
Vision Pro launch: all the news about Apple’s pricey new headset
Apple’s Vision Pro is finally here. Tim Cook arrived at Apple’s Fifth Avenue store in New York City to greet the crowd of customers at the doors who were waiting to try out the headset or buy one for themselves. The Vision Pro is Apple’s take on a mixed-reality headset, which, according to our review, ”feels like […]
Avowed makes the wait for the next Elder Scrolls much easier
We’re likely still a long way out from Bethesda’s next Elder Scrolls game. But that wait isn’t such a big deal when the Xbox has other excellent roleplaying games like Avowed. The latest from Fallout: New Vegas and The Outer Worlds developer Obsidian, Avowed doesn’t shake up the genre. It’s just a really solid fantasy […]
Federal workers say they increasingly distrust platforms like Facebook
As Elon Musk and President Donald Trump have sought to gut and remake the federal government to their liking, federal workers have changed how they communicate with one another and with friends. They have locked down communication channels, migrated to new platforms, and what was once skepticism has grown into deep distrust — not just […]
Apple has started advertising on X again
Apple has resumed advertising on X for the first time since pausing ads more than a year ago. The company was one of many to halt advertisements over concerns for brand safety following Elon Musk’s purchase of the social network. While X’s approach to content moderation has changed little since then, Big Tech’s relationship with […]
Trump’s January 6th Twitter lawsuit settled for ‘about $10 million’
Elon Musk’s X has agreed to pay President Donald Trump “about $10 million” to settle his lawsuit against Twitter, reports The Wall Street Journal. The settlement would come on top of an estimated $250 million that Musk, who now seemingly has broad authority over government agencies as the head of DOGE, put toward helping Trump […]
Returnal studio Housemarque is back with a haunting new shooter
Housemarque, the PlayStation-owned studio that made the excellent sci-fi roguelike Returnal, has just announced its next game: Saros. The game will launch on PS5 in 2026. Here’s a brief description of the game from its reveal trailer: Set on the planet Carcosa under the threat of an ominous eclipse, take on the role of Arjun […]
You can now get one of Apple’s best Macs for just over $500
Apple has just added its redesigned Mac Mini to the Certified Refurbished store and is knocking as much as $210 off some base models. To begin with, you can get the M4 (non-Pro) base model with 16GB of RAM for just $509, a $90 discount from the $599 retail price of the brand-new one. That […]
Elizabeth Holmes’ bizarre PR campaign continues
I have heard it said that fame is the most addictive of all drugs. I have been skeptical about this, but Elizabeth Holmes’ ongoing PR saga makes me wonder if it is, in fact, true. Holmes has appeared in People magazine to tell us that prison is “hell and torture,” in the same way that […]
Elizabeth Holmes sentenced to 11 years in prison for her Theranos fraud
Elizabeth Holmes, the founder and CEO of disgraced blood-testing company Theranos, has been found guilty on three counts of wire fraud, as well as a count of conspiracy to commit fraud along with her co-founder Sunny Balwani. On November 18th, 2022, she was sentenced to 135 months, or about 11 and a half years, in […]
PS5 State of Play February 2025: the best trailers and biggest reveals
Sony is starting out 2025 by sharing exactly what it has in store for the PlayStation 5 this year. The company will be streaming a 40-minute State of Play event on February 12th, which is aimed at showcasing upcoming PS5 titles, so you can expect a mix of new reveals and closer looks at previously […]
Woot is offering steep discounts on some of our favorite headphones
If you’re on the hunt for a good pair of new wireless earbuds or headphones, you might want to head on over to Woot. Now through February 19th, the retailer is offering steep discounts on some excellent earbuds and over-ears we’ve reviewed from brands like Beats, Samsung, Sennheiser, and more. There’s plenty of good stuff […]
Jeep’s Wrangler-like Recon EV is ready to launch this year
Jeep quietly launched a new landing website for its upcoming all-electric Recon and teased the vehicle in a Super Bowl ad last Sunday in anticipation of its arrival later this year. Jeep’s commercial stars Harrison Ford, and it flashed models such as the Wrangler 4xe Plug-in Hybrid — but if you blink, you might have […]
Popcorn brand distances itself from DOGE employee ‘Big Balls’ after backlash
Popcorn brand LesserEvil is the latest group caught up in the chaos of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency’s whirlwind of action over the past couple of weeks. The company recently sent a cryptic email to customers after the brand owner’s connection to a DOGE staffer became public. LesserEvil CEO Charles Coristine is reportedly the […]
OpenAI is rethinking how AI models handle controversial topics
OpenAI is releasing a significantly expanded version of its Model Spec, a document that defines how its AI models should behave — and is making it free for anyone to use or modify. The new 63-page specification, up from around 10 pages in its previous version, lays out guidelines for how AI models should handle […]
Amazon’s app will start listing items Amazon doesn’t sell
Despite the way it seems, Amazon doesn’t sell everything. To fix this, the company is beta-testing a new shopping feature that will include products it doesn’t sell in search results on its app, and then send you to the brand’s website to purchase them. In a blog post published this week, Amazon announced that this […]
New trailer for The Handmaid’s Tale’s final season teases the war to come
Though the hype around Hulu’s adaptation of The Handmaid’s Tale gradually faded as time went on, the show’s final season looks like it’s going to be a sobering and timely reminder of what made Margaret Atwood’s story so powerful in the first place. Though June Osborne (Elisabeth Moss) seemed ready to put Gilead behind her […]
OpenAI lays out plans for GPT-5
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman detailed plans for the company’s GPT-4.5 and GPT-5 AI models in a roadmap published on X on Wednesday. In the post, Altman also acknowledged that OpenAI’s product lineup has gotten complicated and says that the company wants to do “a much better job” simplifying its offerings. “We hate the model picker […]
Yamaha made a boat remote
Yamaha has announced a new handheld controller that gives a captain full control of a boat from anywhere onboard. It’s compatible with Yamaha’s Helm Master EX control system, which is designed to make boating more accessible. The Helm Master EX Wireless Control — which looks like an upgraded version of the Nunchuk controller used with […]
Waste.gov locks down after people discover it’s just a WordPress template
Waste.gov, a new government website registered by the Trump administration, has been hidden and locked down after 404 Media reported that it mostly displayed an unedited WordPress template. The archived version of the site contained the tagline, “Tracking government waste,” and another new website, DEI.gov, redirects to the same URL. But the rest of site […]
Apple TV Plus is reportedly about to debut on Android
Apple is going to launch its Apple TV Plus app on Android phones as soon as today, according to Bloomberg. An Apple TV Plus app is already available for Android TV, but this expansion would make the app available on Android phones, too. Apple didn’t immediately reply to a request for comment from The Verge. […]
Overwatch 2 is adding a CS:GO-style mode and bringing back loot boxes
Overwatch 2 is getting quite the shakeup in 2025 as it faces growing competition from other online shooters. It starts with the season 15 update that’s coming on February 18th that’ll tease a new hero and introduce an in-game Perks system for existing ones, plus the return of the 6v6 competitive queues Blizzard tested late […]
Google will use machine learning to estimate a user’s age
Google will soon use machine learning to estimate the age of its users. In an update on Wednesday, Google said it’s testing a machine learning model in the US to help determine whether someone is under 18, allowing it to “provide more age-appropriate experiences” across its platforms. YouTube CEO Neal Mohan first revealed the change […]
The Titan’s implosion: the latest news on the Titanic wreckage tourist sub
On June 18th, 2023, a small sub called the Titan was lost about an hour and forty-five minutes into its voyage carrying five people on a tourist visit to the wreckage of the Titanic. After days of searching in the North Atlantic, the Coast Guard confirmed it found debris showing the sub suffered a “catastrophic […]
Scarlett Johansson calls for deepfake ban after AI video goes viral
Scarlett Johansson is calling on the government to pass a law limiting the use of AI after a video featuring an AI deepfake of the actress circulated online. In a statement to People, Johansson said, “It is terrifying that the U.S. government is paralyzed when it comes to passing legislation that protects all of its […]
Samsung Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus review: incredibly iterative
Samsung’s Galaxy S-series is in its software era. Maybe the whole smartphone industry is, too, save for a few phones with hinges (Samsung’s included). But overall, we have exited the hardware-driven innovation cycle and are firmly in the midst of a software-based one. If you want proof, the Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus are a […]
A 3D-printed VHS cleaner is saving memories from mold
A common problem I’ve come across with decades-old analog media — particularly VHS — is mold that develops inside the cassette cartridge. The white fuzzy glaze on black magnetic tape often develops after being stored in damp basements and attics for years on end. Tapes like this, if run through a VCR, could do a […]
How to watch PlayStation’s State of Play for February 2025
It’s still relatively early in the year, but 2025 has already been a pretty busy one for gaming announcements. Nintendo officially unveiled the next Switch (with more details on the way), Xbox had an impressive game-filled event, and now it’s Sony’s turn. The company is holding its semi-regular State of Play stream this afternoon, which […]
Adobe’s Sora rivalling AI video generator is now available for everyone
Adobe’s text- and image-to-video AI generator has been released for anyone to try online. Generate Video is available starting today in public beta following a limited early access testing period last year. The beta tool can be accessed via the re-designed Firefly web app, alongside new image generation and translation capabilities, and AI credit subscription […]
Apple launches wide-ranging health study to help develop future features
Apple announced today it’s launching a brand-new research study — the Apple Health Study. But this one is different from its previous efforts in the space. Case in point: there’s no specific area of focus. Instead, the study will gather data from iPhones, Apple Watches, and AirPods to try and discover new relationships between different […]
Elden Ring Nightreign takes a big swing at a bigger audience
It’s inaccurate and reductive to call Elden Ring Nightreign a Dark Souls take on Fortnite. And yet, if pressed for an extremely brief elevator pitch — say, the kind you’d give to your friends who are curious about soulsborne games but are put off by all the discussions of their difficulty — it’s about as […]
Elden Ring: all of the updates about FromSoftware’s open-world hit
Elden Ring is finally here. The huge game, from Dark Souls developer FromSoftware, is set in a world created in part by Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin. It largely lives up to the massive hype, but it didn’t have a perfect launch. Bandai Namco issued a PSA on the day of release, promising […]
Overwatch 2: all the news about the sequel to Blizzard’s hit hero shooter
Overwatch 2, the sequel to Activision Blizzard’s hit hero shooter Overwatch, is finally launching in October after first being announced in 2019. One major change is the shift to five-on-five matches in PVP, and Blizzard is also adding new characters, including Overwatch’s first Black female hero. The PVP multiplayer will be available in early access […]
Crysis 4 is on hold as developer Crytek announces layoffs
Crytek is laying off around 15 percent of its 400 employees, affecting development teams and shared services. The announcement comes months after Crytek put the development of its next Crysis game “on hold” in Q3, 2024. “Like so many of our peers, we aren’t immune to the complex, unfavorable market dynamics that have hit our […]
Wacom’s new Intuos Pro drawing tablet reinvents the wheel
Wacom has completely overhauled its Intuos Pro drawing tablets to make them more compact, convenient, and customizable for creative professionals. This is the biggest redesign for the Intuos Pro lineup since its introduction in 2013, featuring a new layout that relocates user controls from the side to the top of the tablet and replaces the […]
Samsung’s Galaxy A56 leaked from every angle
Leaker Evan Blass has shared a set of spinning GIFs of Samsung’s midrange Galaxy A56 that show the phone in four colors and a host of different angles. The Galaxy A56 is rumored to launch in March, right around the same time as rival devices from Apple and Google. The new animations from evleaks show […]
The Trump administration restores federal webpages after court order
The Trump administration brought webpages back online, meeting a court-ordered deadline at 11:59PM on February 11th. Doctors for America (DFA), which represents physicians and medical students, filed suit last week against the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Department of […]
FCC to investigate Comcast for having DEI programs
Federal Communications Chair Brendan Carr has asked his agency to investigate Comcast’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) practices, reports Newsmax. “We have received an inquiry from the Federal Communications Commission and will be cooperating with the FCC to answer their questions,” Comcast spokesperson Joelle Terry confirms to The Verge. According to Newsmax, Carr said that […]
Thomson Reuters wins an early court battle over AI, copyright, and fair use
On Tuesday, US District Court of Delaware judge Stephanos Bibas issued a partial summary judgment in favor of Thomson Reuters in its copyright infringement lawsuit against Ross Intelligence, a legal AI startup. Filed in 2020, it’s one of the first cases that will deal with the legality of AI tools and how they are trained, […]
Trump administration illegally allowed DOGE to access workers’ data, lawsuit alleges
The Trump administration breached a federal privacy law by letting workers from Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) access information on millions of government workers, privacy advocates including the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) allege in a new lawsuit filed on behalf of two labor unions and a group of current and former federal employees. […]
The best President’s Day sales you can already shop
Valentine’s Day and President’s Day are happening on the same weekend this year, meaning there are plenty of sales to take advantage of between the two of them. Thankfully, if you’re looking to get ahead, Amazon, Best Buy, and other retailers are already discounting plenty of tech, including some of the items we fawn over […]
Apple Maps now shows the Gulf of America
Apple is renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America in its Maps app. The company started rolling out the name change for US users this afternoon, and Bloomberg reports that it will soon display the name for users globally, too. Google Maps started showing the “Gulf of America” for users in the […]
Google announces the dates for I/O 2025
Google’s next I/O developer conference will take place on May 20th and May 21st, the company announced today. The event will be “open to everyone online” and will include “livestreamed keynotes and sessions,” according to an FAQ. Like past years, there will also be an in-person component at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California. […]
Perplexity tried to sponsor an F1 team — but got blocked by a bigger tech company
The high-stakes world of Formula 1 racing just became the latest battleground for AI companies. AI-powered search startup Perplexity has been in negotiations to sign a sponsorship deal with Red Bull Racing, worth $5 million a year. But after both parties had agreed to the terms, the deal was blocked by Oracle, the team’s biggest sponsor, according to sources […]
Framework will reveal new gadgets on February 25th — can you decipher its glyphs?
Nearly two years ago, Framework announced one of the most ambitious laptops ever live on a San Francisco stage, plus an AMD upgrade for its modular Intel machines. On February 25th, it’s promising “an even bigger set of announcements,” and that it’ll show “everything that we’ve been working on for the last two years.” What […]
Shopify pulls Kanye’s website offline over swastika merch
On Tuesday, Shopify shut down the Yeezy store run by Ye (formerly known as Kanye West) after it listed shirts with swastikas for sale. Ye advertised the site in a commercial shown during the Super Bowl on Sunday. It previously sold things like sneakers and t-shirts, but on Monday, the only item for sale was […]
BuzzFeed wants to fight AI-driven social media with a platform of its own
BuzzFeed plans on launching a new social platform “built specifically to spread joy and enable playful creative expression.” In a blog post published on Tuesday, BuzzFeed co-founder and CEO Jonah Peretti highlights the “growing discontent” with platforms using AI-driven algorithms to keep users glued to their screens, adding that BuzzFeed’s social network would use AI […]
Leaked Pixel 9A renders show almost no camera bump
A new set of leaked Pixel 9A renders appears to confirm months of rumors that Google is virtually ditching the camera bump this year. The images, published by Android Headlines, also show the phone in four colors — black (Obsidian), white (Porcelain), pink (Peony), and purple (Iris) — will look like. Smartphones that lay flat […]
Ninja’s new ice cream machine delivers soft serve and hard scoops
Ninja just announced a new ice cream maker that does something its existing Creami model can’t: make soft serve. The Ninja Swirl packs the option to create both regular scooped ice cream and softer swirls, and, like the original Creami, it’s versatile enough to create frozen yogurt and other variants too. Because the Swirl is […]
Kickstarter will alert backers when a project has failed
Kickstarter will start notifying supporters when a fundraising campaign faces “significant fulfillment failures” and breaks the platform’s rules. The notification will also inform supporters how it’s addressing the issue, including by “restricting the creator from launching future projects.” The update comes as part of a series of changes Kickstarter plans to make this year that […]
L’Oreal’s nifty hair coloring wand is on sale for its lowest price to date
Wish there was a magic wand for quickly covering up your grays? L’Oreal’s Colorsonic might be as close as it gets, and today, it’s a little more affordable thanks to the skincare company’s latest promo. For a limited time, you pick it up directly from L’Oreal Paris for $99 ($25 off), which matches its lowest […]
Unity unites the indie game industry against its new pricing model
Unity, a company that makes a suite of video game development tools, has recently sparked a major controversy in the industry after announcing changes to its pricing model. Under the new model, Unity plans to charge developers on a per-install basis after certain revenue and game download thresholds are met. Sentiment regarding the new pricing […]
Unity’s struggles continue with fresh wave of layoffs
Unity has been hit with another round of layoffs. This is according to posts on LinkedIn from recently laid off staff and confirmed by reporting from Game Developer and 80.lvl. According to reports, employees were notified via emails sent out at 5 AM local time, while the layoffs affect a number of different teams within […]
uTag lets you use Samsung’s SmartTags trackers with any Android device
Samsung’s SmartTags trackers and Galaxy Find network offer similar functionality to Apple’s AirTags and Find My network, including precision finding using ultra wideband (UWB) radios. The downside is that they only work with Samsung Galaxy devices. A free open-source app called uTag (short for Universal Tag), developed by Kieron Quinn, lets Samsung’s SmartTags trackers work […]
Motorola’s new Paris Hilton edition Razr is the ultimate Y2K throwback
Motorola has teamed up with Paris Hilton to release a limited-edition version of the Razr Plus. It’s exactly what you expect: pink, pricey ($1,199.99 to be exact, $200 more than the standard model), and comes with a custom baby pink vegan leather case that looks like a teeny handbag. It even includes an alternative sparkly […]
AI chatbots are distorting news stories, BBC finds
AI chatbots struggle with factual inaccuracies and distortions when summarizing news stories, research from the BBC has found. The study, which examined whether OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, and Perplexity can accurately summarize news, found more than half of all the AI-generated output had “significant issues of some form.” As part of the study, […]
Donald Trump reignites the lightbulb wars
President Donald Trump wants to make America incandescent again. He posted on his social media platform Truth Social that he plans to end Biden-era standards for lightbulbs that accelerated the adoption of LED lighting. According to that post, he’ll direct his appointee Lee Zeldin to “go back to the common sense standards,” for lightbulbs. Zeldin […]
Netflix’s Sirens of the Deep is a throwback to classic Witcher monster hunting
The Witcher is in a period of transition right now. While the live-action TV series is shifting to a new lead actor in the role of Geralt as it approaches its finale, the next game will switch things up even more, with Ciri as the protagonist. These are huge changes for the fantasy franchise. And […]
Apple Intelligence might turn itself back on with the latest software updates
Updating a newer iPhone, iPad, or Mac to the latest software could have an unintended side effect of re-enabling Apple Intelligence. Users who turned off Apple’s AI features in iOS / iPadOS 18.3 or macOS 15.3 — the first set of updates to enable the features by default — have reported that the software suite […]
Playstation starts its 2025 with a new State of Play
Sony has announced that it will hold a presentation to show off the next batch of upcoming Playstation games. The presentation will take place Wednesday, February 12th at 2 PM PT / 5 PM ET. It’ll have a runtime of 40 minutes and feature, “creative and unique selection of exciting games from studios around the […]
Powerbeats Pro 2 review: the workout buds to beat
After an epic wait, the Powerbeats Pro 2 are finally here. No, seriously. The original Powerbeats Pro released nearly six years ago, roughly an ice age as far as gadgets go. Turns out, it was worth it thanks to new active noise canceling, a transparency mode, and heart rate monitoring. None of these features are […]
The new Powerbeats Pro 2 have a sleeker design and heart-rate monitoring
Beats just announced the $249 Powerbeats Pro 2, the long-awaited sequel to a pair of fitness earbuds released way back in 2019. The new model retains the ear hook design that’s synonymous with the Powerbeats line, but the buds are significantly smaller and 20 percent lighter than their predecessors. The charging case has also been […]
Civilization VII is mostly fine on the Steam Deck, which is great news
There are few things more daunting than attempting to win a game of Civilization by way of cultural victory… except maybe trying to play a complex strategy game on the Steam Deck. And while I’m still struggling on the culture victory aspect, I can say, playing Civilization VII on my Steam Deck was far less […]
YouTube is now even bigger on TVs than phones
It’s official: people are spending more time watching YouTube on their TVs than on their phones. In the platform’s annual letter, YouTube CEO Neal Mohan revealed that viewers are watching more than 1 billion hours of YouTube content on their TVs every day. For the past two years, YouTube has maintained its position as the […]
What $200 of ChatGPT is really worth
Over the last few weeks, OpenAI has done the previously unthinkable: it has consistently shipped interesting new user-facing products. First there was Tasks, a way to engage ChatGPT in helping you get things done. Then there was Operator, a way for the chatbot to actually do things for you. And finally there was “deep research,†[…]
EU mobilizes $200 billion in AI race against US and China
The European Union says it will channel €200 billion (about $206 billion) into artificial intelligence investments in a bid to compete with the US and China. At the AI Action Summit in Paris on Tuesday, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the bloc would spend €50 billion (about $51 billion) to top up […]
Meta wants to teach kids how to spot predators online
Meta has partnered with the nonprofit organization Childhelp to create a curriculum that will teach middle schoolers how to recognize forms of online exploitation, such as sextortion scams and grooming. The curriculum was “fully funded” by Meta and is free for any school, parent, or organization to access. Meta says the curriculum consists of lesson […]
Don’t wait around for Pebble founder’s Small Android Phone
In 2023, when I realized small phones were truly dead, I decided I couldn’t wait for the Small Android Phone Project to revive them. That project, from the founder of the Pebble smartwatch, just wasn’t far enough along. Unfortunately, things aren’t any better in 2025 for small phone lovers — now that founder Eric Migicovsky […]
Google Maps now shows the ‘Gulf of America’
Google Maps now shows the “Gulf of America” in place of the “Gulf of Mexico” for users on both web and mobile in the United States. It made the change after the Trump administration formally changed the name today of the body of water spanning between the eastern coast of Mexico and the Florida panhandle. […]
Hacker pleads guilty of taking over SEC’s X account to post fake Bitcoin news
Hacker Eric Council Jr. pleaded guilty Monday to charges of conspiracy to commit aggravated identity theft and access device fraud after he took over the SEC’s X account in January 2024. Once Council gained access to the account, his unnamed co-conspirators posted a doctored image, message, and fake quote by then SEC Chairman Gary Gensler […]
Elon Musk just offered to buy OpenAI for $97.4 billion
In a dramatic escalation of Silicon Valley’s most heated AI rivalry, Elon Musk just announced that he’s leading a $97.4 billion bid to buy OpenAI’s nonprofit arm, according to The Wall Street Journal. The bid was reportedly delivered to the board Monday morning. The offer brings together a powerful coalition of backers, including Musk’s own […]
Big Tech is still silent on Trump’s tariffs
President Donald Trump’s 10 percent tariff on goods imported from China has been in effect for nearly a week. Ahead of the tariff going into effect, I wrote that “Big Tech has been silent on Trump’s tariffs” — almost no one in the industry had a public reaction or said how they would respond. A week […]
Google’s upgraded NotebookLM is now included in its One AI Premium plan
Google is bringing its upgraded note-taking app to its One AI Premium plan. That means subscribers will now gain access to NotebookLM Plus at no added cost, which offers higher usage limits and premium features, like the ability to customize NotebookLM’s responses. Google first launched NotebookLM in 2023, allowing people to use AI to research […]
Elon Musk’s DOGE activities trigger protests, vandalism for Tesla
Elon Musk’s role in carrying out President Donald Trump’s dirty work has triggered a wave of opposition that is spilling over into protests against his flagship company, Tesla. Over the last week, some people have held demonstrations while others have vandalized Tesla vehicles owned by individual buyers and showrooms — with actions stretching from New […]
Amazon’s latest Kindle Paperwhite is nearly matching its best price to date
If you’re wondering what to gift the bibliophile in your life for Valentine’s Day, Amazon’s ongoing President’s Day sale is worth a look. The Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition has returned to its best price to date, while the latest Kindle Paperwhite has received its first discount since the holidays. Right now, the ad-supported Paperwhite, one […]
Apple releases security updates to block iPhone passcode hacking tools, again
Apple released iOS 18.3.1, iPadOS 18.3.1, and iPadOS 17.7.5 today to address a zero-day exploit that might allow attackers to access data on a locked device. The update patches the OS against an attack on USB Restricted Mode, which Apple first implemented in devices with the release of iOS 11.4.1 in 2018, to prevent attempts […]
Sonos’ chief marketing officer has left the company
In a continued shuffling of the top ranks at Sonos, chief marketing officer Jordan Saxemard has exited the company. His departure is effective immediately. The news was announced during an internal call on Monday. Lindsay Whitworth, who has been at Sonos for over 20 years, will lead the brand’s marketing on an interim basis. Internally, […]
Roblox, Discord, OpenAI, and Google found new child safety group
Google, OpenAI, Roblox, and Discord have formed a new non-profit organization to help improve child safety online. The Robust Open Online Safety Tools (ROOST) initiative aims to make core safety technologies more accessible for companies and provide free, open-source AI tools for identifying, reviewing, and reporting child sexual abuse material. The initiative was partially motivated […]
Wool, clay, and elbow grease: bringing stop-motion games to life
One of the biggest lessons of working on stop-motion video games? Rolling up your sleeves — literally. “It’s such a nightmare,” Talha & Jack Co developer Jack King-Spooner told me over a video call. “You spend maybe half an hour doing one of the cutscenes. The cutscenes are the most precarious things because you have […]
OpenAI is reportedly getting closer to launching its in-house chip
OpenAI remains on track to start producing its in-house AI chip next year, according to a report from Reuters. Sources tell the outlet that OpenAI plans to finalize its design over the next few months before sending it to the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) for fabrication. By making a chip of its own, OpenAI […]
Chip race: Microsoft, Meta, Google, and Nvidia battle it out for AI chip supremacy
The rise of generative AI has been powered by Nvidia and its advanced GPUs. As demand far outstrips supply, the H100 has become highly sought after and extremely expensive, making Nvidia a trillion-dollar company for the first time. It’s also prompting customers, like Microsoft, Meta, OpenAI, Amazon, and Google to start working on their own […]
Our favorite mopping vacuum is a whopping $500 off right now
Whether you’re picking up after a rowdy Super Bowl party or need help battling a growing army of children, cats, and dogs, grabbing a robot vacuum that can mop is one of the smartest decisions you can make going into 2025. There are a number of great options available, but few can match the mopping […]
Lyft eyes robotaxi launch in 2026
Lyft says it will launch a fleet of robotaxis, using self-driving technology from Intel’s Mobileye, in Dallas in “as soon as 2026,” with plans to scale to ”thousands” of vehicles in additional markets in the months to follow. To signal its seriousness, the company tapped Marubeni, a Japanese conglomerate, to run fleet operations. Lyft’s news […]
Sen. Ron Wyden is here to stop Elon Musk
Today, I’m talking with Sen. Ron Wyden, a Democrat and the senior senator from Oregon. He’s been in the Senate for almost 30 years, which makes him one of the longest-serving members of the institution. He’s also deeply involved in tech policy — in fact, he co-authored Section 230 in 1996. That’s the law that […]
Teenage Engineering OP-XY review: extremely fun, extremely powerful, extremely expensive
Teenage Engineering is a design firm as much as it is a musical instrument company. Its devices rarely look or behave anything like what you’d buy from a Korg or a Moog. The best distillation of its identity remains the OP-1, a quirky groovebox that garnered as much attention for its aesthetics as its all-in-one […]
The Practice Pro app has all the tools I want for music rehearsal
An iOS app called Practice Pro hit the App Store last week that might be the ideal music rehearsal app. It features a customizable interface with widgets like a digital tuner, metronomes, and audio recorder, and it’s an ad-free pay-once-and-its-yours affair. The app costs $0.99 cents right now, an introductory price that its developer, Joe […]
Roblox: all the news about the popular social and gaming platform
Roblox is a massive app — as of September 2023, Roblox says it has more than 65 million daily active users — and it’s becoming an increasingly interesting platform to watch amid growing competition from social and metaverse platforms like Epic Games’ Fortnite and Meta’s Horizon Worlds. While Roblox has traditionally been associated as a […]
Discord now lets you quietly block people
Discord is offering users a new way to block people without the confrontational nature of an actual block. The new feature, called Ignore, is essentially a mute function that can hide annoying or abusive users without attracting unwanted attention — thus avoiding unnecessary anxiety or flare-up drama. You can apply the new Ignore feature by […]
The Verge’s 2025 smart start gift guide
The cliche “new year, new me” rally cry doesn’t exclusively apply to resetting common goals related to health, finances, or education. The turning of the calendar is also a great reminder to check whether your daily sanctuary could be more pleasant or functional. There are many ways to usher in change, too, whether that’s with […]
OnePlus Watch 3 arrives next week with five days of battery
OnePlus has announced that the Watch 3 will launch in the US and Europe on February 18th. It features even better battery life than the OnePlus Watch 2, running for up to five days without needing a charge. It also introduces a new digital crown, which unlike the last one can rotate to navigate Wear […]
Elon Musk’s rapid unscheduled disassembly of the US government
Almost 250 years after the Declaration of Independence, America has gotten herself a new king. His name is Elon Musk. “Wait a minute,†you may be saying. “What about President Donald Trump?†Trump ran, much like Silvio Berlusconi before him, primarily to avoid prosecutions. He has never liked being president and he has already gotten […]
Nvidia’s RTX 5090 power connectors are melting
Ah shit, here we go again. Two owners of Nvidia’s new RTX 5090 Founders Edition GPUs have reported melted power connectors and damage to their PSUs. The images look identical to reports of RTX 4090 power cables burning or melting from two years ago. Nvidia blamed the issue on people not properly plugging the 12VHPWR […]
First look at the ‘world’s thinnest’ foldable
In just ten days time, Oppo will launch the Find N5, the world’s thinnest book-style foldable. I just spent a few minutes with the device and what follows are my early impressions. Oppo is careful to use that “book-style” disclaimer, because the Find N5 isn’t quite as thin as Huawei’s trifold Mate XT, launched in […]
T-Mobile’s Starlink messaging service is now free to try, even if you aren’t on T-Mobile
T-Mobile’s Starlink-powered direct-to-cell satellite messaging service is now open for anyone in the US to try for free — including people who aren’t T-Mobile customers. The service will be limited to text messaging at first but the company hopes to have some apps and even limited multimedia support ready by the time it goes live […]
Rivian is now selling electric vans to anyone who wants one
Rivian’s electric van is now available to be purchased by anyone with a commercial fleet, the automaker said today. For several years, Rivian’s van was exclusive to Amazon. Now, the platform on which the e-commerce giant based its delivery van is open to anyone with a fleet of commercial vehicles and some money to burn. […]
Inside OpenAI’s $14 million Super Bowl debut
OpenAI just made its Super Bowl debut with a 60-second spot that positions AI alongside humanity’s greatest innovations. The commercial traces humanity’s technological evolution through a distinctive pointillism-inspired animation style, transforming abstract dots into iconic images of progress – from early tools like fire and the wheel to modern breakthroughs like DNA sequencing and space […]
Here’s Tim Cook hanging out in New Orleans for the Super Bowl
Apple CEO Tim Cook was seen making the rounds yesterday in New Orleans, where the Super Bowl LIX matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles is being played today. Accompanying him for at least some of that time has been fellow Apple senior VP of services Eddy Cue. Thanks to his mild-mannered […]
Sony is giving PS Plus members extra days following PSN’s big outage
Following the huge PlayStation Network (PSN) outage that ended yesterday, Sony is giving an automatic five extra days of service to PlayStation Plus subscribers, according to a post from the official Ask PlayStation support account on X. “Network services have fully recovered from an operational issue,” the company wrote in the post. “We apologize for […]
How close is Elon Musk to controlling a nuclear weapon?
What was once ridiculous is now possible. Elon Musk, the richest person in the history of the world, has become President Donald Trump’s attack dog. Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have unprecedented access to the government’s data and computer system. Earlier this week, that came to include systems in the Department of […]
How to hide files and folders on macOS
When you set up a new Mac, you’re instructed to keep it locked down with a password, a Touch ID, and / or an Apple Watch authorization. But you can’t guarantee that your macOS system will only be seen by you and you alone. Maybe your kids want to borrow your MacBook to play a […]
Amazfit Active 2 review: outsized bang for your buck
A common reader request I get goes something like this: what should I buy if I don’t want a smartwatch but want basic fitness tracking? When I suggest alternatives like budget fitness bands or smart rings, I get an unsure hmm and a displeased scrunch of the nose. After a few more back-and-forths, I usually […]
Trump vs. Twitter: The president takes on social media moderation
After Twitter gave one of President Trump’s tweets a modest reality check, the president threatened to “shut down” social media companies, personally targeted a Twitter employee, and signed an executive order that would affect the entire internet. It’s the latest salvo in a long-simmering feud between the president and his favorite social media platform. Although he has […]
The entire story of Twitter / X under Elon Musk
Elon Musk bought Twitter, and now he’s rebranding it as X. Signs have gone up (and back down), icons are changing, and an old plan is new. How’d we get here? On April 4th, 2022, we learned that Musk had purchased enough shares of Twitter to become its largest individual shareholder. Eventually, he followed up […]
Two new games you can play basically forever
Hi, friends! Welcome to Installer No. 70, your guide to the best and Verge-iest stuff in the world. (If you’re new here, welcome, go Chiefs I guess, and also you can read all the old editions at the Installer homepage.) This week, I’ve been reading about kicking sugar and NBA trades and the rise of […]
Civilization VII is getting a Quest VR port this spring
The Civilization franchise is getting the VR treatment with Sid Meier’s Civilization VII – VR on Meta Quest headsets this spring, 2K and Firaxis Games have announced. The “virtual and mixed reality” game will be available for the Quest 3 and 3S, but no price or specific release date has been announced quite yet. How […]
TikTok now offers its Android app for download outside of Google Play
TikTok is now offering US downloads of the Android version of the app on its own website, the company announced last night. With the change, Android users in the United States now have an easy way to download or update the app for the first time since Google removed it from Google Play last month […]
Federal judge blocks DOGE from accessing sensitive Treasury records
A federal judge temporarily blocked Elon Musk’s DOGE from accessing Treasury Department records containing personal information like Social Security numbers early this morning, reports Inner City Press. The order is in response to a lawsuit filed yesterday in New York’s Southern District Court. The suit alleges that the administration exceeded its authority, broke the US […]
How to stream Super Bowl LIX on Fox and Tubi
Getting ready for the Big Game? Once you’ve invited your friends over and picked what food to order, the most important thing is deciding how and where to watch Super Bowl LIX. But thankfully, it’s going to be very, very easy to catch the Eagles and Chiefs facing off in New Orleans. If history’s anything […]
Everything we think we know about the next iPhone SE
Apple is expected to announce a new iPhone SE as early as next week, and it could mark a major shakeup to the company’s affordable iPhone, adding in Face ID and killing off the classic home button. We have a pretty good idea of what’s coming after months of leaks and rumors, so here’s everything […]
Spirit Swap has way more than lo-fi beats to match-3 to
It’s odd that a match-3 game got me in my feelings so much that I’m considering adding making games to my profession of covering them. But that’s exactly what happened after my delightful time with Spirit Swap: Lofi Beats to Match-3 To. It’s a mouthful of a name, but damned if the game doesn’t do […]
Zoox robotaxi hands on: safe, but lagging
I’m standing outside a nondescript corporate office park in Las Vegas next to a box-shaped vehicle with no proper front or back. It’s got a set of sliding doors, no steering wheel, and touchpad controls. It’s bidirectional, meaning it can move in either direction without turning around. And to be completely frank, it looks more […]
My water filtration kit for good times and the very bad
Access to water is always a concern when heading off the grid in my van — not when I’m home in Amsterdam, a city surrounded by the stuff. That certainty changed recently when government ministers began quietly prodding citizens to stock up on emergency supplies due to an increased risk of armed conflict and other […]
PlayStation Network is down
PlayStation Network (PSN) is experiencing some major problems as of Friday evening. According to Sony’s PSN status page, account management, gaming and social, PlayStation Video, PlayStation Store, and the PlayStation Direct website are all dealing with issues. For gaming specifically, Sony says that “you might have difficulty launching games, apps, or network features.” A colleague […]
Meta goes to war with leakers
During a Q&A with employees earlier this week, one of Meta’s top executives gave an ominous warning.
GM will reportedly stop making gas-powered Chevy Blazer
The combustion engine version of the Chevy Blazer is reportedly being discontinued and will eventually only be offered as an EV, sources tell GM Authority. Both the Chevy Blazer EV and the gas-powered Chevy Blazer have been assembled at GM’s Ramos Arizpe plant in Mexico, but with the gas Blazer now sunsetting with the 2025 […]
Google Calendar removed events like Pride and BHM because its holiday list wasn’t ‘sustainable’
Some Google Calendar users are angrily calling the company out after noticing that certain events like Pride month are no longer highlighted by default. Black History Month, Indigenous People Month, Jewish Heritage, Holocaust Remembrance Day, and Hispanic Heritage have also been removed, according to a Google product expert. One user called the move “shameful” and said that the […]
Netflix’s Prince documentary has been axed by the late artist’s estate
Netflix definitely wanted to debut Ezra Edelman’s nine-hour-long documentary chronicling Prince’s life, but that won’t be happening thanks to the late singer’s estate.Though Edelman’s untitled documentary was already completed, Netflix announced on Thursday that it has “come to a mutual agreement†with Prince’s estate to keep the film from being released.
Musk promises to reinstate DOGE staffer linked to racist account
Marko Elez, the 25-year-old staffer Department of Government Efficiency staffer linked to a social media profile with racist posts, “will be brought back,” shortly after he resigned, Elon Musk announced on X. Elez resigned from his role where he reportedly had the ability to rewrite code in sensitive payments systems at the US Treasury, once […]
FEMA’s website started deleting ‘climate change’
The term “climate change” has started to vanish from Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) website. Its former “climate resilience” website has been rebranded under the title “future conditions.” There are still subtle references to climate change there, but it’s more of a whisper than an urgent warning as it was before. The edits come as […]
How small businesses are leveraging tech to unite generations
Today’s workplace stretches four generations. The oldest members of Generation Z are reaching their mid-20s, while the youngest baby boomers are turning 60. That leaves employers to account for a range of backgrounds and ways of working. It’s become vital that companies use technology to enable more seamless collaboration and productivity. But it’s not just […]
DOGE wreaked havoc on the government in just one week
Within the past week, Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)-affiliated staffers have gained unprecedented access to sensitive US financial systems with data on millions of Americans, claimed to shut down one federal agency without an act of Congress, and invaded numerous government agencies. They’ve been opposed by lawsuits, public protests, and resistance […]
A minimalist E Ink alternative to budget smartphones
With a 6.13-inch black-and-white E Ink screen, Bigme’s new Hibreak Pro looks similar to the Boox Palma 2 that debuted last October. But while the Palma 2 is positioned as a pocket-sized e-reader, the Hibreak Pro features a more powerful processor and dual-SIM 5G capabilities. The Bigme Hibreak Pro is currently available for preorder through […]
Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man gets community justice right
Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man star Hudson Thames left many eyebrows raised last week after his comments about fearing the Disney Plus series would be “annoying and woke.†During a subsequent Reddit AMA, series creator Jeff Trammell was quick to start doing damage control, and he insisted that Thames had misspoken. But even in its most […]
A tiny satellite showed it can take high-res pics from space
Tokyo-based startup ArkEdge Space claims it has snapped what is “probably” the highest quality images of Earth taken by a small CubeSat. The photos were taken 410 kilometers above the Earth’s surface by the company’s CubeSat called ONGLAISAT, co-developed by Taiwan’s space agency TASA. It has precision attitude control, a TASA-developed Korsch off-axis optical system, […]
Apple drops lawsuit against former iOS engineer accused of leaking Vision Pro details
Apple has dismissed its lawsuit against the former engineer it sued for leaking information about its Journal app and Vision Pro headset, as reported earlier by 9to5Mac. The former employee, Andrew Aude, issued an apology on X, saying, “Leaking was not worth it. I sincerely apologize to my former colleagues who not only worked tirelessly […]
Trump suspends order that created delivery chaos
President Donald Trump has paused the removal of the de minimis exemption on goods from China, temporarily putting an end to the confusion and high fees that have plagued both customers and businesses over the past few days. The de minimis exemption allows packages valued at less than $800 to enter the country duty free, […]
Trump administration halts $5 billion EV charging program that benefited Tesla
The Trump administration’s war on electric cars continues with the halt of a national program that sends money to states to install EV charging equipment. It was the latest move by President Donald Trump to reverse Biden-era EV policies — even as those policies have personally enriched his top ally, Elon Musk. According to a […]
Go Read This: The Verge’s favorite reads from all over the web
The internet is filled with awesome stuff to read, and there’s new awesome stuff to read being published every day! That’s the good news. The bad news is that finding the good stuff feels harder than ever. You either find your favorite writers or sources and check them religiously or just hope that the algorithm […]
Now you can strap Crocs to your face with this Vision Pro faceplate
Dbrand has announced a unique (disturbing? unsettling?) way to protect the Apple Vision Pro that completely negates the sleek aesthetics of the headset’s curved laminated glass display. Its new Aperture faceplate, which was originally conceived by a former AR designer at Snap, features a trypophobia-inducing pattern of seemingly random holes that are actually all strategically […]
Hasbro is summoning a live-action Magic: The Gathering ‘universe’
Hasbro is teaming up with movie production company Legendary Entertainment to create a live-action film and TV “universe” based on Magic: The Gathering. The project will initially focus on a currently untitled feature film according to Hasbro’s press release, with television series and “other content” then expected to follow as the cinematic universe develops. Neither […]
Google Pixel Watch 3 is $60 off for Verge readers
The Android faithful have more smartwatch options than ever, but there are a few obvious starting points. If you’re on a Samsung smartphone (like the Galaxy S25 series that’s launched today), you should probably go for a Galaxy Watch. For almost every other brand, the Google Pixel Watch 3 should be at or near the […]
Donald Trump’s tariffs, explained
If you live in the US, congratulations — you are now a foot soldier in what has been called “the dumbest trade war in history.†And if you live in one of the top three countries that trade most with the US (Canada, Mexico, and China), apologies: you are part of this as well. Donald […]
Let’s talk about the battery in smart glasses
We were whizzing down the slopes, screaming because it is sort of ridiculous to go flying down a snowy hill in an inflatable tube. There was a friendly family competition going on to see who could get down the hill the fastest. Other snowtubers had their phones out — my spouse had planned to record […]
These retractable USB-C cables replaced everything else in my bag
I have a cable problem. I’m the guy with a giant box (three, actually) of ancient power cables that connect to nothing, just in case a time traveler appears with my hard drive from 2006 and demands I plug it in. I have approximately a thousand Lightning cables, even though the only Lightning-charging device I […]
Mentions of trans kids scrubbed from national child safety clearinghouse website
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), a child safety nonprofit that works closely with the government and major tech platforms, has recently removed publications that reference queer and transgender children from its website. The removals come amid reports that NCMEC was ordered to cull mentions of LGBTQ+ issues under threat of losing […]
Google faked Gemini AI output in Super Bowl ad
Google appears to have faked AI output in a commercial set to run during the Super Bowl. The ad shows a business owner using Gemini to write a website description, but the text portrayed as generated by AI has been available on the business’s website since at least August 2020, as shown on this archived […]
Amazon will pay $4 million to settle driver tip theft lawsuit
Amazon has agreed to pay the District of Columbia $3.95 million to settle a lawsuit alleging that the retail giant had stolen more than $60 million in tips intended for its Flex delivery drivers. DC Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb announced the settlement today, which includes $2.45 million in penalties and requires Amazon to clearly […]
Elon Musk’s computer coup
Elon Musk and the team at the Department of Government Efficiency figured out one thing really fast: if you control the computers, you control everything. And so Musk and his merry band of engineers have spent the last week or so parading into various US government agencies and taking control of their systems. There’s so […]
I tested ChatGPT’s deep research with the most misunderstood law on the internet
In the vast number of fields where generative AI has been tested, law is perhaps its most glaring point of failure. Tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT have gotten lawyers sanctioned and experts publicly embarrassed, producing briefs based on made-up cases and nonexistent research citations. So when my colleague Kylie Robison got access to ChatGPT’s new “deep […]
PS Plus members can score nearly 20 percent off a PlayStation Portal right now
Sony can be somewhat stingy about offering discounts on first-party accessories like the PlayStation Portal, which is why the latest PlayStation sale is worth checking out. Now through February 19th, PlayStation Plus members can buy two PlayStation 5 accessories and get 20 percent off purchases over $100. If you aren’t a PS Plus member, you […]
How to enable end-to-end encryption for your iCloud backups
Apple has advanced security features that you can enable to protect more of your data. Among other things, it includes highly secure end-to-end encryption for iCloud backups under the name Advanced Data Protection. This means that essentially only you can access the data stored in your iCloud device backup — Apple doesn’t have the key […]
Apple ordered to open encrypted user accounts globally to UK spying
Apple has reportedly been ordered by the UK government to create a backdoor that would give security officials access to users’ encrypted iCloud backups. If implemented, British security services would have access to the backups of any user worldwide, not just Brits, and Apple would not be permitted to alert users that their encryption was […]
Microsoft Edge now has an AI-powered scareware blocker
Microsoft has started rolling out a new scareware blocker in its Edge browser this week. The AI-powered feature runs on Windows PCs and can identify and block existing scams, and even detect new and emerging ones thanks to a local machine learning model. “Scareware blocker adds a new, first line of defense to help protect […]
Acer’s new Predator Helios Neo gaming laptops offer RTX 5070 Ti GPUs and lots of ports
Nvidia’s RTX 5090 and 5080 desktop GPUs sort of launched last month, but on the laptop front, we’re still awaiting the avalanche of 50-series notebooks to come crashing in, starting with these hefty new mid-rangers from Acer. The (deep breath) Predator Helios Neo 16 AI and Predator Helios Neo 18 AI can be configured with […]
Sony apparently hates fun, axes the Bloodborne demake with another copyright claim
Will Sony ever release a remake or remaster of Bloodborne, the Dark Souls successor that became one of our favorite games of 2015? Even Sony’s former games chief isn’t sure — but that isn’t stopping Sony’s copyright enforcers from shutting down fun in the meanwhile. Last week, it axed the 60fps mod that let the […]
Nintendo patents show the Switch 2 Joy-Con may indeed work like a mouse — and so might a new controller
Newly-published Nintendo patents show that the company has been exploring a version of its Joy-Con controllers that can work like a computer mouse, a feature Nintendo has hinted will be coming to the Switch 2. In its Switch 2 teaser video last month, Nintendo showed two Joy-Con controllers sliding along the ground, much like you’d […]
Apple’s new iPhone SE might be announced next week
Apple’s next iPhone SE might be announced “as early as next week” ahead of it being on sale later in February, Bloomberg reports. The new phone has already seemingly appeared in photos and video and Bloomberg says Apple’s inventory of the current iPhone SE has started running low, which all could point to an imminent […]
Tinder adds new Explore categories to help you find likeminded dates
Tinder is updating its Explore page with new categories to help you find dates with similar relationship goals. With the update, you can now browse profiles in groups such as “Serious Dater,” “Long-Term Partner,” “Non-monogamy,” and “Short-Term Fun.” The dating app notes that you can only qualify for the Serious Dater category if you have […]
DOGE staffer resigns after reporters uncover racist posts
Marko Elez — the 25-year-old Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staffer who has reportedly been combing through the Treasury Department’s payment systems — resigned from his position after the Wall Street Journal uncovered an old social media account linked to him with numerous posts promoting racism and eugenics. “99% of Indian H1Bs will be replaced […]
This Pixar-style dancing lamp hints at Apple’s future home robot
We’ve got more evidence that Apple is developing a tabletop robot for the home, courtesy of a blog post published on Apple’s Machine Learning Research site. First spotted by MacRumors, the post summarizes a paper by an Apple research team that developed a robot with expressive movements to see how much more engaging it is […]
GTA VI: all the news on Rockstar’s next entry in the Grand Theft Auto series
It’s been a decade and two console generations since the release of GTA V. But that time’s over. Rockstar announced that it would reveal the game’s first trailer on Tuesday, December 5th, 2023, at 6AM PT / 9AM ET. Unfortunately, an early leak prompted the company to release the trailer more than half a day […]
AMC is upping the price for its A-List Stubs subscription
Following AMC’s recent changes to its Stubs program — a set of perks that actually seemed like a solid way to get people to sign up — the theater chain is now planning to raise the subscription service’s prices. Variety reports that, beginning May 7th, a membership to Stub’s A-List tier — which currently allows […]
Today is your last chance to snag a preorder deal on Samsung’s latest Galaxy phones
Thousands of retailers and carrier stores in the US will be stocked with the Samsung Galaxy S25 ($799.99), S25 Plus ($999.99), and S25 Ultra ($1,299.99) on Friday, February 7th. Hardware-wise, the S25 series is a marginal improvement over last year’s S24 series, with the most noteworthy changes coming in the form of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 […]
Another bill wants to ban kids from social media
Lawmakers’ efforts to limit the use of social media by kids are continuing into 2025 with the Kids Off Social Media Act (KOSMA). The bill, which would prevent kids under 13 from creating social media accounts, advanced through the Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday, as reported earlier by Politico. Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Ted […]
Sonos explored creating a MagSafe speaker for iPhones
Not long before last year’s software quagmire thrust the company into controversy, Sonos tinkered with an idea that some employees believed might resonate with Gen Z customers. Engineers at Sonos prototyped a miniature speaker that could magnetically connect to the back of Apple’s recent iPhones. At least conceptually, the since-abandoned product sounds rather similar to […]
Deadline for government’s ‘Fork in the road’ mass resignation program delayed by court
A federal judge in Massachusetts temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s “deferred resignation” program, meant to push out career government workers as part of the Elon Musk-run Department of Government Efficiency’s alleged effort to cut federal spending, several outlets report. The program gave employees a deadline just before midnight on Thursday to accept the offer, which […]
Trump has California’s high-speed rail in his crosshairs again
President Donald Trump has set his sights on California’s high-speed rail plan, calling it “the worst-managed project†with massive cost overruns that deserve to be investigated. “They have hundreds of billions of dollars of cost overruns,†Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Tuesday, according to the Los Angeles Times. “It’s impossible that something […]
The Apple Watch SE is the cheapest it’s been in months
The Apple Watch Series 10 is a great smartwatch for iPhone owners, but it’s overkill if you want to track the basics and little else. In those instances, the latest Apple Watch SE might be the better buy, especially when you can get it at a steep discount. Fortunately, Apple’s entry-level watch is available at Amazon and Best […]
NASA is going to do a Twitch stream from the ISS
NASA is planning to host a live Twitch stream next week from the International Space Station (ISS) – its first from the ISS. The stream, which takes place on February 12th at 11:45AM ET on NASA’s Twitch channel, will feature Don Pettit, an astronaut currently on the ISS, and Matt Dominick, who returned to Earth […]
World of Warcraft finally tackles the housing crisis
After 20 years, World of Warcraft is finally adding player housing. During its Warcraft 30th Anniversary Direct last year, Blizzard delighted players with the surprise announcement that the feature — a long-time staple in other MMOs — was on the way. Now the studio has revealed a bit more information with a new blog explaining […]
Google’s Gemini Super Bowl ads push AI as a tool you can use every day
Google debuted a pair of new Super Bowl commercials that portray AI as a technology that’s as central to people’s lives as the phone or computer they access it on. But, like some of Google’s other Super Bowl ads, the company is once again attempting to make you pull out your tissues in between plays. […]
Here’s why your smart fridge needs an expiration date
Have you thought about what you’re going to do when your smart fridge is too old to download its latest software update? While you’d probably replace your phone or computer when its software hits its end of life, your fridge will still keep your food cold even if it can’t stream TikToks like those fancy […]
Head of DOGE-controlled government tech task force resigns
Ted Carstensen, the head of the United States Digital Service (USDS) organization that has been renamed to Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), is resigning instead of taking the “Fork in the Road†buyout offer for federal employees. “I write to let you know that I have decided to resign from USDS and today […]
Leica made a $329 iPhone camera grip
Leica has announced a new iPhone accessory called the Leica Lux Grip designed to make using its iOS-only Leica Lux app feel more like shooting with its dedicated cameras. It adds a DSLR-style grip to the iPhone and features customizable function buttons, a two-stage shutter button, and a control dial. It’s available now for $329 […]
Rooster Teeth is coming back
Rooster Teeth — the studio behind animated web series such as RWBY, Red vs. Blue, and Gen:Lock — seemed like it was shuttering for good last year. The company announced that it was winding down operations due to parent company Warner Bros. Discovery’s inability to find a party interested in buying the production outfit. But […]
Elon Musk’s DOGE storms federal weather forecasters’ headquarters
Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has reportedly infiltrated the headquarters of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the agency that collects and shares vital weather and climate information. Sources have told The Verge, as well as other news outlets, that they’re worried about drastic changes that could impact the public’s access to […]
Google is adding AI watermarks to photos manipulated by Magic Editor
Google Photos is adding its digital SynthID watermarks to photos that have been edited using the Magic Editor’s generative AI feature. The new feature is rolling out “this week” according to Google, and is intended to make it easier for people to quickly identify images that have been manipulated using the “reimagine” tool in Magic […]
Microsoft Teams is getting a Facebook-like feed and follow button
Meta is shutting down its Workplace platform next year, but Microsoft is planning to keep the dream of Facebook at work very much alive. Multiple sources at Microsoft tell me the company has started testing a fully integrated Facebook-like feed inside Microsoft Teams recently. Teams users will be able to post to the feed, known […]
What’s on your desk, Nick Statt?
What exactly is a producer? Well, according to Nick Statt, who is senior producer on The Verge’s Decoder podcast with Nilay Patel, “the word ‘producer’ means a lot of things in a lot of different contexts.” In his case — here at The Verge and in the world of audio — it means he and […]
Shipping companies warn of delays and new charges from Trump’s China tariffs
In the two days since President Trump enacted new tariffs on goods from China, none of the major US shipping companies and couriers have yet announced detailed policies on new fees, though some have warned of possible delays and disruption. Despite that, both senders and recipients are already reporting being asked to pay import taxes […]
Researchers trained an OpenAI rival in half an hour for less than $50
Researchers managed to create a low-cost AI reasoning model rivaling OpenAI’s in just 26 minutes, as outlined in a paper published last week. The model, called s1, was refined using a small dataset of 1,000 questions and for under $50, according to TechCrunch. To do this, researchers at Stanford and the University of Washington used […]
Spotify signs Warner Music deal heralding new subscription tiers
Spotify and Warner Music Group have inked a new multi-year deal covering publishing and recorded music that aims to “shape the future of audio-visual streaming.” In its announcement, Spotify says the agreement will expand the streaming platform’s catalog of audio and visual content and provide “new paid subscription tiers.” Spotify and Warner Music Group didn’t […]
Elon Musk’s presidency is just getting started
On today’s episode of Decoder, we’re discussing a very big problem with extremely far-reaching consequences: how dysfunctional has the federal government in the United States become, and how much of it has been handed to Elon Musk? If you’ve even glanced at the news over the past week, you’ve likely come across some alarming headlines […]
The Verge’s 2025 Valentine’s Day gift guide
Valentine’s Day might seem like any other commercial holiday given the abundance of candy and the sheer number of cards lining store shelves, but if you put in a little effort and a lot of heart, it can be about so much more. After all, at its core, February 14th is about celebrating love in […]
This vintage-looking camera has a button for computational photography
OM System has announced a new Micro Four Thirds mirrorless camera called the OM-3 with a design inspired by the Olympus OM-1 film camera that first debuted in 1972. Despite its vintage appearance, the OM-3 offers features similar to last year’s OM System OM-1 Mark II in a more compact and affordable body. These include […]
The Peloton story: everything you need to know
Peloton was a pandemic darling — one of the businesses that seemed to find its purpose as something more than a cultish fad when the world shut down. And then, everything went horribly wrong. First, the supply chain issues with monthslong delays for bikes that irked new customers. Then, a disastrous recall affected both of […]
Lyft is using Anthropic’s Claude AI for customer service
Lyft announced a new partnership with Anthropic to use the Claude AI assistant to handle customer service requests. Claude is already being put to use handling service inquiries from drivers, reducing the average resolution time for a request by 87 percent, the company said. In an example provided by Lyft, a driver asks the chatbot […]
Microsoft is bringing major MIDI improvements to Windows 11
Windows 11 is rolling out the biggest update to MIDI since the musical communication format was first released in 1983. Microsoft announced that its latest Windows 11 Canary test build includes a public preview of Windows MIDI Services, which supports MIDI 2.0 and updates allowing MIDI 1.0 to run on Windows on Arm. MIDI (which […]
AT&T customers can now see why a business is calling
Customers on AT&T’s network are getting one more tool to help them decide when to pick up the phone: an indication of why a business is calling you, right from the incoming call screen. It’s a continuation of the branded calling feature that AT&T and TransUnion introduced last year, and only works on Android phones. […]
Warner Bros. is streaming full movies for free on YouTube
Warner Bros. has made it easier to watch some of its movies online for once, bucking a trend of wiping them from existence. As spotted by Gizmodo, the official Warner Bros. Entertainment YouTube channel has quietly added more than 30 full movies to a playlist over the past month that you can watch here for […]
World’s first lab-grown meat for pets goes on sale
Dog treats made from lab-grown meat have gone on sale in the UK, in what the manufacturers say is a world-first. Chick Bites are getting a limited release at a single pet store from Friday, but Meatly says it is expanding production and hopes to make its lab-grown meat more widely available as it scales […]
The Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra is skipping the US
The Zenfone 12 Ultra officially launches today, but unlike previous generations, this one won’t be sold in the US. As expected, the 12 Ultra is a de-gamer-ified ROG Phone 9 Pro with a big screen, a Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, and a unique gimbal-like stabilizer in the main camera. It’s the same formula Asus followed […]
China tariffs may already be hiking up import fees
US consumers may already be seeing additional fees on shipments from China after President Donald Trump’s tariff on Chinese goods took effect on Tuesday. Clint Reid, the founder and CEO of a company that offers software to help with cross-border commerce, posted screenshots on X showing additional charges added to a shipment from DHL: Another […]
Volkswagen claims it’s actually making that $20,000 EV and will show it next month
Volkswagen has announced that next month, it will show off a new low-cost, entry-level EV that could cost just €20,000 (about $20,800 USD), the price it suggested it would hit back when it announced the ID. Life concept in 2021. That’s a steal compared to current low-end US EVs like the over-$28,000 Nissan Leaf. Meanwhile, […]
Steam now warns you if an ‘early access’ PC game might be abandoned
Steam’s early access program helps small to medium-sized developers get an idea off the ground, but not every game actually does. Now, Valve has a notice designed to warn Steam users when they visit an early access game’s store page if it’s been a minute since the last update. If the dev’s lofty goals for […]
Qwertykeys halts keyboard shipments to US over tariff costs and confusion
The keyboard company Qwertykeys has temporaily halted all shipments to the United States in response to President Trump’s tariffs on Chinese goods going into effect. The company says it’s working on ways to mitigate shipping costs and that the tariffs have made it so that “all keyboards from China to the U.S. are now subject […]
Google tells employees why it’s ending DEI hiring goals
Google is joining Meta, Amazon, and other big tech companies in winding down its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. In a Wednesday memo to employees that I obtained (and you can read below), Google’s head of HR, Fiona Cicconi, said there will no longer be DEI hiring targets due to the company’s status as […]
Ford lost $5 billion on EVs in 2024
Ford’s electric vehicle and software business lost $5.1 billion in 2024, up from $4.7 billion lost in 2024. And the automaker doesn’t anticipate any relief this year, when it predicts it will lose as much as $5.5 billion on its EV business. Ford reported its fourth quarter and full-year earnings on Wednesday, beating Wall Street […]
There’s a hidden message in Amazon’s event invites
Amazon sent out five different invites to its upcoming product event, and when pieced together, they spell out a familiar word: Alexa, the name of the company’s digital voice assistant. We assumed the event would be about Alexa’s long-heralded renaissance, and given this message, plus Amazon telling Reuters that the event will be Alexa-focused, it seems certain the new Alexa […]
Sonos lays off 200 employees as its struggles continue
Things at Sonos are getting worse before they get better — if they’re going to get better. Today the company laid off approximately 200 employees, The Verge has learned. The news was announced at around 4PM ET, and a letter to employees from interim CEO Tom Conrad was posted on Sonos’ website shortly thereafter. “One […]
All the news on Qi2 wireless charging
The Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) has (finally) released the new Qi2 standard that will help new devices and chargers line up perfectly, thanks to the magic of magnets. Version 2.0 of the Qi wireless charging standard supports up to 15W charging so that iPhone owners don’t have to get expensive MagSafe-certified accessories to enjoy optimal […]
What’s on your desk?
Many of us work from home, and so one of the most important places in those homes is our workspaces — in other words, our desks. Everyone’s workspace is different. What kind of desk — and desk chair — do you use? Is your workspace neat and organized or filled with tchotchkes and toys? Do […]
ChatGPT drops its sign-in requirement for search
ChatGPT no longer requires you to log in to use the AI chatbot’s search engine, OpenAI announced on Wednesday. With the feature, ChatGPT will surface responses based on information from the web while presenting a list of sources it used to inform its answer. OpenAI first launched its search engine to paid ChatGPT subscribers last […]
Newer Sony cameras can now upload images to Google Drive and Lightroom
Sony has updated its Creators’ Cloud platform so that images uploaded to a user’s cloud storage from select Sony cameras can be automatically transferred to Google Drive or Adobe Lightroom. With Google Drive, you can save photos for backup and sharing, and with Adobe Lightroom, images can be processed almost immediately, even by a remote […]
Reddit tells communities threatening Elon Musk and DOGE workers to cool down
Reddit has seen an increase in rule-breaking posts across “several communities,” and it has issued a temporary ban on one that featured users calling for violence against people who work for the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). That community, r/WhitePeopleTwitter, was given a 72-hour ban on Tuesday, as reported by Engadget. Screenshots shared […]
Look at this keyboard
Hey, real quick: look at this keyboard. There’s something cool about it. It’s a mechanical keyboard. It’s a laser keyboard. It’s a magnetic induction keyboard. It has the new switches. It has the old switches. It’s very thin. It’s got a weird layout. It has a trackpoint. Or a screen. It has cool keycaps. It […]
Nintendo says it’s ‘taking risks’ to meet Switch 2 demand
Nintendo is gearing up for the Switch 2’s launch sometime in 2025, and president Shuntaro Furukawa says that the company is “taking risks and proceeding with production so that we can meet as much demand as possible,” according to a machine translation of an earnings Q&A. The company had some trouble keeping the original Switch […]
Longer-lasting laptops: the modular hardware you can upgrade and repair yourself
When it comes to improving the sustainability of consumer electronics, there’s a growing movement to design devices with a focus on upgradability and repairability that can extend their longevity, instead of just making them easier to recycle after a few years of use. At one time, nearly every laptop maker was caught up in a […]
iOS App Store apps with screenshot-reading malware found for the first time
Apps distributed through both Apple and Google’s app stores are hiding malicious screenshot-reading code that’s being used to steal cryptocurrency, the cybersecurity software firm Kaspersky reported today. It’s the “first known case” of apps infected with malware that uses OCR tech to extract text from images making it into Apple’s App Store, according to a […]
Herman Miller made a convertible standing desk that actually looks great
Herman Miller has announced a new height-adjustable desk that doesn’t look like one. Instead of relying on just two columns to raise and lower its work surface, the Spout Sit-to-Stand Table uses four cylindrical legs, each containing their own motor. The design makes the Spout table easier to move around (it even includes optional wheels), […]
‘The biggest heist in American history’: DC is just waking up to Elon Musk’s takeover
The long block outside of the US Treasury Department on Tuesday was lined with protesters. They flooded across the street with signs bearing slogans: “Nobody elected Muskâ€; “This is illegal”; “Stop the coup.†It was one of multiple DC protests targeting billionaire Elon Musk’s reported access to core government payment systems, attended by Democratic members […]
VW and Audi dealers are suing Scout over its no-dealers plan
A coterie of Florida car dealers filed a lawsuit this week against Scout Motors over its direct-to-consumer sales model. The complaint alleges that Scout, which operates under the Volkswagen Group, is in violation of Florida law which blocks automakers from trying to bypass dealers by selling directly to consumers. The suit, which was filed by […]
A reviews site embroiled in AI scandal is back from the dead
Last summer, the staff at Gannett’s consumer reviews site Reviewed received terrible news: the media giant was shuttering the entire vertical and would be laying off dozens of employees. Effective November 1st, Reviewed would cease operations. Gannett blamed Google’s changing search algorithm, which had “degraded [its] business model.” The shuttering was a blow to the […]
Google pulls incorrect Gouda stat from its AI Super Bowl ad
Google has edited Gemini’s AI response in a Super Bowl commercial to remove an incorrect statistic about cheese. The ad, which shows a small business owner using Gemini to write a website description about Gouda, no longer says the variety makes up “50 to 60 percent of the world’s cheese consumption.” In the edited YouTube […]
Amazon announces February product event
Amazon sent out invites today for a February event in New York City. The invite gives few clues as to what will be announced at the event, which will be hosted by Panos Panay and the Amazon Devices & Services team on February 26th. However, a blue swirly logo behind the words “You’re invited” does […]
The Gemini AI app can now show its thinking
Google is bringing its experimental “reasoning” artificial intelligence model capable of explaining how it answers complex questions to the Gemini app. The Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking update is part of a slew of Gemini 2.0 AI rollouts announced by Google today, including its latest Gemini 2.0 Pro flagship model. This comes as the search giant […]
Bandai’s live-action Gundam movie is getting a theatrical release
For a while, it looked like the first live-action Gundam movie was going to make its debut on Netflix, but Bandai now plans to put the movie in theaters. Though details about the film are still very slim, Bandai and Legendary announced today that their live-action Gundam feature will now be written and directed by […]
Beats Studio Buds Plus are matching their record low with $50 off
We’re still awaiting a new pair of Powerbeats Pro to drop sometime this year, but if you’re a Beats fan in need of a solid pair of wireless earbuds to bridge the gap, you’re in luck. The Beats Studio Buds Plus are on sale for their all-time low of price of $119.99 (about $50 off) […]
The end of Squid Game and Stranger Things solidifies Netflix’s new era
Netflix has a busy year of premieres ahead, but it might be most notable for what’s ending. As the streaming service continues to push into a new era full of live events, reality TV, and ad sales, it’s also saying goodbye to arguably its two biggest franchises, with both Stranger Things and Squid Game wrapping […]
Disney is doubling down on its plan to make ESPN the future of sports streaming
Disney wants to win the sports streaming war by making ESPN available “however the consumer wants it, wherever the consumer wants it,” Disney CEO Bob Iger said during an earnings call on Wednesday. The entertainment giant aims to give viewers multiple ways to watch ESPN, whether it’s through a standalone app slated to launch this […]
Comcast is adding Dolby Atmos to its ‘4K’ Super Bowl broadcast this year
From a presentation standpoint, Super Bowl LIX will largely be sticking to the status quo on Sunday. Fox Sports is capturing the game in 1080p HDR and upscaling that to 4K for its own networks and the free Tubi live stream. Comcast just announced that it’ll be airing the game in Dolby Vision, which it […]
Jurassic World Rebirth’s new trailer makes it sound like a video game
The larger Jurassic Park franchise feels like it should be telling stories about dinosaurs having taken over the entire planet at this point, but the new trailer for Jurassic World Rebirth makes it seem like the movie is going to retread old territory with a bit of a video game-inspired twist. Set five years after […]
Nintendo shares more info on its Switch 2 direct
As we settle in for the long, excruciating wait for more tangible news on the Switch 2, Nintendo has thrown us a little extra nugget of information. While we knew the company was planning to share more about the Switch 2 on April 2nd, now we have a time: 9 AM ET / 6 AM […]
Kagi search engine won’t bill you next month if you forget to use it
Kagi, a paid alternative to Google Search, now says it will credit your account if you subscribe and forget to use it. The company introduced what it calls “Fair Pricing” in a blog post yesterday, writing that any time you don’t use any of your searches during a full billing cycle, it will apply a […]
USPS backtracks, will accept parcels from China after all
The US Postal Service has reversed yesterday’s surprise decision to stop accepting inbound parcels from China and Hong Kong. It will continue to accept international shipments from the two countries, though it warns of “disruption” to deliveries. USPS previously announced that it was temporarily halting all packages shipped from China and Hong Kong. The decision […]
Rift of the NecroDancer’s story is an intro to some incredible music
Rift of the NecroDancer, a new music game from the creators of the music roguelike Crypt of the NecroDancer, solves the problem of exploring a big library of tracks with a simple idea: a story mode. In Rift, you have to press buttons in time with notes that appear on lanes in front of you, […]
Six ways to send a message to your representatives
We are living through what can charitably be called interesting times, and one of the questions that many people are asking is: “What can I do?†One answer to that question — no matter what side of the political spectrum you fall on — is to contact your federal or local representatives and let them […]
DJI explains why it won’t stop drones from flying over the White House — and what happens in a US ban
Time is not on DJI’s side. The world’s largest drone maker has less than a year to convince the Trump administration to save its products from an automatic US ban — at a time when drone fears have been stoked more than ever. Some of those fears were exacerbated by DJI’s own bad timing: days […]
Google scraps promise not to develop AI weapons
Google updated its artificial intelligence principles on Tuesday to remove commitments around not using the technology in ways “that cause or are likely to cause overall harm.” A scrubbed section of the revised AI ethics guidelines previously committed Google to not designing or deploying AI for use in surveillance, weapons, and technology intended to injure […]
Uber to Austin: get ready for Waymo
Uber is getting ready for the launch of Waymo’s public robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, prompting customers to join a list of people interested in riding in the Alphabet-owned company’s AVs when they finally go live. It also revealed photos of the new co-branded robotaxis that will operate across a swath of the Texas capital […]
Your packages are about to get slower and more expensive
The United States Postal Service announced Tuesday that it’s temporarily suspending inbound packages from China and Hong Kong, a move that’s likely to create delays and problems for packages from other destinations too. The suspension comes after President Trump used an executive order imposing a 10 percent tariff on Chinese goods to also close a […]
Microsoft’s Build developer conference starts on May 19th
Microsoft Build is once again being held in Seattle this year, just over the lake from Microsoft’s headquarters in Redmond, Washington. The developer conference will start on May 19th and run through May 22nd at the Seattle Convention Center. Microsoft hasn’t provided any hints about what the company plans to launch at Build, but it’s […]
Apex Legends: everything you need to know about the Titanfall battle royale
Instead of making Titanfall 3, developer Respawn took the franchise in a completely different direction with Apex Legends. A free-to-play battle royale game that mashes together elements of Overwatch and Fortnite, Apex Legends was a complete surprise when it launched, but it has turned out to be a big hit early on, luring tens of […]
Elgato’s Wave Link 2.0 promises clear vocals in any environment
Elgato is releasing a new version of its audio stream control software Wave Link that includes new AI-powered voice enhancements for your mic. It also has a new OS-level management system to redirect audio streams to certain apps, split audio to yourself and your audience, add audio effects, and quickly mute channels. The latest version […]
Google has ‘very good ideas’ for native ads in Gemini
Google’s Gemini AI assistant doesn’t have ads today, but the company has “very good ideas” for ways they could show up down the road, CEO Sundar Pichai said on an investor call this afternoon. Right now, you can access Gemini for free or pay for a subscription to use advanced features, but it sounds like […]
Apple Invites is at its best for people already in Apple’s world
Apple launched a new app today, called Apple Invites, which lets you create, share, and manage invitations for events. With it, you can generate a quick digital invitation that, when shared with your friends, lets them gather all the info about the event, RSVP, and add it to their calendar. That includes your Android friends, […]
Here’s OpenAI’s new logo
OpenAI just gave itself a full rebrand, complete with a new typeface, logo, and color palette, as explained to Wallpaper in an interview about the process behind the changes. You’ll have to look closely to spot the difference between the redrawn logo and its old one, but a side-by-side comparison shows the updated “blossom” with […]
Turmoil at OpenAI: what’s next for the creator of ChatGPT?
The world’s hottest AI company went through three CEOs in under a week and ended up with the same one it had at the start — so what happened, and what’s next? On November 17th, 2023, OpenAI’s nonprofit board abruptly announced that co-founder and CEO Sam Altman was out. The shake-up came just shy of […]
Google expects to spend $75 billion this year on the AI race
Google parent company Alphabet expects to invest “approximately $75 billion” in capital expenditures in 2025, according to a statement from CEO Sundar Pichai in Alphabet’s Q4 2024 earnings release. Capital expenditures have become a hot topic as of late as big tech companies race to build infrastructure to support their growing AI ambitions, and today’s […]
Age of Empires is the latest Microsoft franchise coming to PS5
Microsoft is bringing its storied real-time strategy series Age of Empires to the PlayStation 5, starting with Age of Mythology: Retold and its Immortal Pillars expansion pack, both launching on March 4th. Microsoft is continuing to evolve the Xbox platform with cloud gaming that works on almost any device, and bringing more of its biggest […]
You can grab a year of Peacock Premium for just $30
If you’d like to catch up on Oscar-nominated films like The Wild Robot ahead of the awards show next month, you might want to check out Peacock’s latest promotion. Through February 18th, new and lapsed subscribers can get one year of ad-supported Peacock Premium for $29.99 if you sign up now. That’s over half off […]
I plugged an Nvidia RTX 5090 into a gaming handheld
Two weeks ago, I showed you how the world’s fastest graphics card works in a small form factor PC. To my surprise, Nvidia’s RTX 5090 Founders Edition delivered the vast majority of its performance even in a 12.7-liter desktop with a five-year-old CPU. It made me wonder: what if I plugged this card into a […]
AppleCare Plus is getting more expensive
Apple raised the cost of its monthly AppleCare subscription prices for iPhones by 50 cents, MacRumors reports. The 50 cent price hike applies to both standard AppleCare Plus and AppleCare Plus with Theft and Loss monthly plans for Apple’s current iPhone lineup. So, for example, the standard AppleCare Plus for the iPhone 16 will cost […]
Threads now lets you share your custom feeds
Threads will now let you share the custom feeds you’ve created, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced on Tuesday. This means other users can pin your custom feed to their homepage, giving them access to the same stream of curated content. Threads first rolled out custom feeds in November, which you can use to track your […]
Instagram’s Threads: all the updates on the new Twitter competitor
As Twitter continues to flail about under Elon Musk, all eyes are on the newly launched Instagram Threads as a potential replacement. Meta launched Threads on iOS, Android, and the web on July 5th — a little bit ahead of schedule. Two days in, Mark Zuckerberg said Threads has registered over 70 million accounts, and […]
After a bruising year, Sonos readies its next big thing: a streaming box
After the most tumultuous nine months in Sonos’ history, the brand is trying to find its footing again. Even as work continues to rehabilitate the company’s beleaguered mobile app, Sonos is planning to take a big swing in a new product category: it’s getting into video for the first time. In the coming months, Sonos […]
Steam Deck, ROG Ally, and more: all the news about the handheld PC gaming revolution
In July 2021, Valve revealed the Steam Deck, a Switch-like handheld device packed with features including a huge variety of control options, a 7-inch touchscreen, the ability to connect to external displays, and a quick suspend / resume feature. The device began shipping in February 2022, starting at $399. With an unprecedented degree of support […]
Nomad’s new USB-C cable can charge your iPhone and Apple Watch at the same time
Nomad has announced a new USB-C cable designed to charge multiple devices simultaneously. Instead of copying Anker’s homework and releasing a charging cable with dual USB-C connectors on one end, Nomad’s new Universal Cable for Apple Watch features an inline charging puck for Apple’s smartwatch on one end. It seems ideal for travelers wanting to […]
Cruise announces layoffs as GM acquires defunct robotaxi company
Defunct robotaxi company Cruise has begun to lay off employees today, sources tell The Verge. The layoffs come two months after General Motors said it would no longer fund Cruise, and would instead shift its spending toward advanced driver assist and personally owned autonomous vehicles. Cruise held an all-hands meeting today, in which it announced […]
Fox plans to launch a streaming service by the end of 2025
Fox is getting ready to launch a standalone streaming service by the end of 2025. During an earnings call on Tuesday, Fox CEO Lachlan Murdoch said the streaming service would offer a “holistic” streaming package featuring sports and news from the network’s existing brands, according to a transcript. Murdoch positioned the streaming service as a […]
The Nintendo Switch closes in on a major milestone
The Switch is on track to complete a major milestone for Nintendo this year. As of the end of 2024, the Nintendo Switch has sold over 150 million units in the eight years since its release. That’s an impressive number, and yet…that’s still not enough to make it the company’s best selling piece of hardware […]
Verizon bundles Google AI into its wireless plans for an extra $10
Verizon is adding a new option to bundle Google One AI Premium into its wireless myPlan and myHome internet plans, the company announced today. The add-on will be available for an extra $10 per month, or about half of the $19.99 Google charges for the subscription on its own, starting on February 6th. Google One […]
This 4K projector’s periscope arm lets you install it almost anywhere
Fujifilm has announced a new ultra-short throw projector with its lens attached to an articulated arm that can pivot and rotate. Unlike most UST projectors that require moving the entire unit to reposition where an image is being projected, the FP-ZUH6000 can switch between projecting on walls, ceilings, and even floors while remaining mounted in […]
Infinity Nikki taught me a painful lesson
I’ve been having a great time with Infinity Nikki. I do my dailies, grind for materials, and desperately search for an outfit that works with the single ugliest piece of clothing in the game: a red vest. But as I’ve progressed, the game has given me — a gacha newbie — an unfortunate crash-course education […]
Apple leaks event-planning ‘Invites’ feature
Apple seems to have accidentally confirmed its rumored events planning feature ahead of an official announcement. An update to its iCloud page lists “Invites” as one of the key features of its iCloud Plus subscription, even though the feature is not yet available. The branding was spotted earlier by MacRumors. “Upgrade to iCloud+ to get […]
Meta says this is the make or break year for the metaverse
Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth is giving the metaverse a year to become a hit, according to an internal forum post reported by Business Insider. That time period will determine whether Reality Labs’ mixed reality efforts are “the work of visionaries or a legendary misadventure,” he writes. Bosworth details his expectations early in the post: We […]
Accidental wildfire alerts prompt probe from Congress
House of Representative members from California want to know what led to accidental evacuation alerts that fomented confusion during devastating Los Angeles fires in January. The Palisades and Eaton wildfires broke out in early January, killing at least 29 people and destroying more than 16,000 structures. In the midst of the chaos, some 10 million […]
The timeline apps are here, and they’re awesome
The folks at Iconfactory, which once made a wonderful Twitter client called Twitterrific, launched a new app on Tuesday. It’s called Tapestry, and it’s a cross between a social app and a news reader. The app can ingest feeds of all kinds: someone’s Bluesky posts, your favorite YouTube creator’s videos, a blog’s new posts, all […]
California bill would make AI companies remind kids that chatbots aren’t people
A new bill proposed in California (SB 243) would require AI companies to periodically remind kids that a chatbot is an AI and not human. The bill, proposed by California Senator Steve Padilla, is meant to protect children from the “addictive, isolating, and influential aspects” of AI. In addition to limiting companies from using “addictive […]
Adobe Acrobat’s AI chatbot can now summarize contract jargon
Adobe is adding features to Acrobat’s AI Assistant that should help users to better understand contracts. The new “contract intelligence capabilities” allow the PDF management software’s chatbot to automatically recognize when files and scanned documents are contracts and summarize complicated language to make it easier for users to understand. The Acrobat AI Assistant is available […]
Space is the next frontier in Fantastic Four: First Steps’ new trailer
Thankfully, the new teaser for Marvel’s Fantastic Four: First Steps doesn’t spoil all that much of the film, but it does give you a sense of just how big a problem Galactus is going to be for the MCU. Rather than rehashing the details of how Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby), Sue’s […]
Samsung’s S25 Ultra and the end of the flagship phone
After almost exactly 18 years, you could make the argument that the tech industry has finally finished what the iPhone started. It’s not that there’s no innovation left in phones, or that there aren’t other big ideas to be had about the devices we carry around, but the specific thing the first iPhone was — […]
Grubhub security breach compromises customer and driver data
Food delivery company Grubhub has confirmed that it suffered a security breach, with user, driver, and merchant data compromised, including hashed passwords and partial credit card details. Grubhub says that it noticed “unusual activity” that it traced back to an account used by a third-party service provider for its customer support team. The account’s access […]
‘Scared and betrayed’ — workers are reeling from chaos at federal agencies
As the third week of Donald Trump’s presidency begins, workers across federal agencies are scrambling to find their footing among the chaos. From the US Agency for International Development and the Department of Agriculture, to the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Labor, federal workers are facing an onslaught of changes that threaten to […]
Spotify finally turned a profit for a full year
Spotify raked in enough cash and new subscribers in 2024 to celebrate its first full year of profitability since the service was launched in 2008. The announcement comes as part of Spotify’s fourth-quarter earnings release, with net profits at €1.14 billion (around $1.17 billion) for the whole of 2024, compared to the €532 million (around […]
Opera’s new browser might save you from doomscrolling
Norway-based Opera has announced a new browser, Opera Air, with a focus on mindfulness and mental wellbeing. It includes break reminders, breathing exercises, and a suite of relaxing soundscapes to help users both focus and de-stress. “The web is beautiful but it can be chaotic and overwhelming,” says Mohamed Salah, Opera’s senior director of product. […]
China opens Google antitrust probe in retaliation to tariffs
China has launched an antitrust investigation into Google as part of a salvo of responses to US tariff increases, including its own retaliatory tariffs and export controls. China’s State Administration for Market Regulation announced the Google probe on Tuesday over suspicions the US search giant had violated Chinese antimonopoly laws, according to a machine translation […]
WWE Raw runs into its first streaming problems on Netflix
Netflix and WWE nearly made it a whole month of streaming Raw without any major technical hiccups, but that streak was broken on Monday night. Throughout the February 3rd episode, some viewers were annoyed by the feed intermittently cutting out to a black screen. Audio would also drop whenever these glitches occurred. The problems never […]
Can anyone stop President Musk?
Elon Musk has an uncanny ability to sort out which of America’s rules are real. It turns out punishment from the National Labor Relations Board isn’t real, punishment from NASA isn’t real, and punishment from the FAA isn’t real. The Delaware Chancery Court is extremely real. Based on the past two weeks, the Delaware Chancery […]
Treasury Department sued over DOGE takeover
President Donald Trump’s administration is being sued over Elon Musk’s alleged “massive and unprecedented†intrusion into the American government’s payment systems. The suit, filed in a Washington, DC federal court Monday evening by the advocacy group Public Citizen, calls for the court to stop the “unlawful, ongoing, systematic, and continuous disclosure of personal and financial […]
The best indie games we’re playing right now
Splashy blockbuster games are great, but there are there are a huge number of indie and smaller video games worth playing, too. Whether they’re pushing the boundaries of the medium and or offering a creative spin on classic ideas, indie games can be just as interesting as big-budget epics. Sometimes, though, indie games can fly […]
SoftBank’s Masayoshi Son says AGI will arrive ‘much earlier’ than he thought
SoftBank isn’t just part of the group investing $500 billion into Project Stargate to build American AI infrastructure capacity for OpenAI. It’s also making a Japanese joint venture with OpenAI, will spend $3 billion deploying OpenAI tech across SoftBank companies, and claims it will revolutionize business with AI agents through a new AI system called […]
Sony and CBS are in a Jeopardy! distribution feud
Sony Pictures Television says it’s taking over the distribution rights for top game shows Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! from Paramount-owned CBS starting the week of February 10th, reports Bloomberg, while CBS is fighting back by seeking a temporary restraining order. In October, Sony sued CBS for allegedly not putting in enough effort to grow […]
Shein and Temu depend on a 100-year-old tariff loophole that Trump wants to close
President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff threats have been touch and go. As it stands currently, the 25 percent tax on goods from Mexico and Canada is on ice for a month, but a 10 percent tariff on Chinese goods is set to take effect on Tuesday, via an executive order of questionable legality. Nestled within […]
The best TV deals to upgrade your setup ahead of the Super Bowl
Missed out on all the terrific TV deals we saw during Black Friday and Cyber Monday? That’s okay, because the weeks leading up to the Super Bowl have historically been one of the better times of the year to snag a discounted set. In fact, Amazon, Best Buy, Woot, and a number of retailers are […]
Apple’s attempt to intervene in the Google Search antitrust trial is denied
US District Court Judge Amit Mehta denied Apple’s emergency request to halt the Google Search monopoly trial that could dismantle their lucrative search that’s reportedly worth as much as $18 billion a year. The order came in late Sunday, with Judge Mehta saying Apple hasn’t demonstrated satisfactory reasons for its emergency motion to stay that […]
Hulu might be rebooting Buffy the Vampire Slayer
It looks like Buffy the Vampire Slayer is coming back from the dead (again) as part of a new Hulu series. Deadline reports that Hulu is close to finalizing a pilot order for a Buffy the Vampire Slayer follow-up set to be directed by Chloé Zhao and written by Nora and Lilla Zuckerman (Poker Face). […]
Meta spends big to make its Ray-Ban glasses a true mainstream hit
Meta isn’t shy about its ambitions to make its Ray-Ban smart glasses a mainstream gadget. So much so, it’s made not one but two Super Bowl ads featuring not one, but two Marvel actors. (And Kris Jenner.) And as a little cherry on top, Meta announced it’s creating a limited edition Super Bowl version of […]
EA wants the community to help shape the next Battlefield
EA has announced a new “Battlefield Labs” community testing program to give people the opportunity to test the next Battlefield game. You can sign up for the program now, and EA says that the “first phase” of testing will go live in “the coming weeks” for invited players in Europe and North America. As I […]
Audi will try to make its model names make more sense
Audi is launching a new global nomenclature system for its vehicles to more clearly represent a vehicle’s type, size, shape, and powertrain. The updated system will still begin with letters like A for “low-floor” vehicles or Q for “high-floor” ones. That will be followed by numbers 1 through 8 that help represent the size or […]
Elon Musk is staging a takeover of the federal budget
In the first two weeks of Donald Trump’s presidency, Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have reportedly gained access to core parts of the American government’s payment systems, including systems that affect Social Security and Medicare benefits — as federal workers and government officials struggle to respond. DOGE, an unofficial “department†which Trump […]
Apple’s latest AirPods have dropped below $100 for the first time
If you missed out on the steep AirPods discounts we saw during Black Friday, now is your chance. Right now, the second-gen AirPods Pro with USB-C are on sale at Walmart, Best Buy, and Target starting at $169 ($81 off), which is just $16 shy of their all-time low. Meanwhile, the AirPods 4 have dropped to a record […]
Big Tech has been silent on Trump’s tariffs
President Trump announced tariffs as high as 25 percent on goods imported from Canada, China, and Mexico over the weekend. But some of the biggest names in tech and gaming – who could be significantly impacted by the tariffs – have stayed quiet about them. Shortly after the tariffs were announced, The Verge reached out […]
EcoFlow says subscriptions aren’t required for advanced features… yet
EcoFlow has confirmed that it’s currently testing new advanced features for its PowerStream Balcony Solar System that were made available to a small group of testers “on a paid basis.” After other EcoFlow users raised concerns last week about the possibility of having to pay subscription fees for features on devices they already own, the […]
Data brokers can keep selling your social security number, says new CFPB chief
Treasure Secretary Scott Bessent has been named the Acting Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the bureau announced today. Bessent quickly instructed the agency to “to stop all rulemaking, communications, litigation, and other activities,” reports Bloomberg Law. A source inside the CFPB told Bloomberg Law that his order “appeared to shut down the […]
All the news about Nvidia’s RTX 50-series GPUs
Nvidia’s RTX 50-series GPUs are just around the corner, with the first releases — the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 — dropping on January 30th. The RTX 5070 Ti and RTX 5070 will follow that with their own releases in February, but some are already getting a sneak peek at the software benefits of the […]
Adaptive Charging could soon extend the lifespan of your Pixel Watch
Google could soon bring its Adaptive Charging battery protection feature from its Pixel phones to the Pixel Watch line. The feature is designed to preserve battery health by preventing overcharging, and hinges on its ability to predict your charging schedule. Android Authority spotted code strings that reference Adaptive Charging in the latest version of the […]
Uber wants to make riding with a service animal easier
Uber introduced a new feature designed to make it easier for people with disabilities to ride with service animals. For years, Uber’s policies toward service animals have been in accordance with state and federal law: they are allowed to ride at all times at no extra cost. But now the company is allowing customers to […]
NetChoice sues to block Maryland’s Kids Code, saying it violates the First Amendment
NetChoice has filed its 10th lawsuit in an ongoing fight against a broad slate of state internet regulations — this time against a Maryland law billed as protecting kids from inappropriate material online. It’s the latest effort to oppose what NetChoice calls an unconstitutional speech code in disguise. NetChoice has become one of the fiercest — […]
Trump agrees to a one-month pause on Mexico tariffs
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo and US President Donald Trump announced the US is pausing tariffs against Mexico for one month, as previously reported by Bloomberg. Sheinbaum Pardo said the sides “had a good conversation” that resulted in agreements about border security and weapons trafficking. “Mexico will immediately reinforce the northern border with 10,000 members […]
All the news about EV charging in the US
The state of electric vehicle charging in North America is shaping up like the smartphone charging wars — but focused on much more expensive hardware. Right now, like USB-C and Android phones, the Combined Charging System (CCS, Type 1) plug is on a greater variety of cars. Meanwhile, Tesla’s plug was long compared to Apple […]
Cloudflare is making it easier to track authentic images online
Cloudflare has launched a new feature to help people quickly verify the authenticity of online images. The web security and hosting provider has adopted the Adobe-led Content Credentials system, which applies a digital metadata tag to images and video that tracks who owns it, where it’s been posted, and if it’s been manipulated — including […]
Bookshop CEO Andy Hunter’s crusade to save books from Amazon
Today, I’m talking with Andy Hunter, the CEO of Bookshop.org. Bookshop, at its core, is a website that lets local bookshops all over the country — and in a few other countries — sell their books online. If you want a book, you go to Bookshop and click buy — it’s just as easy as […]
Kobo’s e-readers are now $10 more expensive
Kobo has increased the price of three of its e-readers following a similar price increase by the company in January 2023. The seven-inch Kobo Libra Colour, as well as the six-inch Kobo Clara Colour and Kobo Clara BW, are all now $10 more expensive, as spotted by TheeBookReader. The prices of the larger (and aging) […]
Ontario is ‘ripping up’ Starlink contract in response to US tariffs
The Canadian province of Ontario is canceling a $100 million CA (about $68 million USD) contract with Starlink in response to tariffs US President Donald Trump issued on Canada over the weekend, reports The Associated Press. Ontario Premier Doug Ford wrote on X today that the region is also “banning American companies from provincial contracts” […]
The first ‘approved’ iPhone porn app is coming to Europe
The first “Apple approved” porn app for iPhone is rolling out in Europe, via AltStore PAL’s alternative iOS app marketplace. AltStore PAL developer Riley Testut says that Hot Tub, which describes itself as an ad-free “adult content browser,” has made it through Apple’s notarization review for fraud, security threats, and functionality, and will be available […]
Civilization VII is all about establishing your unique legacy
Sid Meier developed the first Civilization game in 1991 and has contributed to every iteration since. When I visited Firaxis Games last year, I saw that the company maintains the very computer Meier used to develop the game, which can still be booted up and played. Walking through the halls of the studio, I saw […]
That AI-restored Beatles song won Grammy for Best Rock Performance
The Beatles have won their eighth competitive Grammy award thanks to a little help from artificial intelligence. The 2023 track “Now and Then” — which Billboard reports is the first song knowingly created with AI assistance to earn a Grammy nomination — was awarded Best Rock Performance on Sunday, beating out competition from Green Day, […]
Microsoft 365 is losing its free VPN feature
Microsoft is getting ready to remove the VPN feature from its Microsoft 365 subscription later this month. Originally designed as a privacy feature, the VPN in Microsoft 365 utilizes the Microsoft Defender app to encrypt internet traffic and hide IP addresses. Microsoft is now removing this privacy protection feature from Microsoft 365 on February 28th. […]
ChatGPT’s agent can now do deep research for you
OpenAI has revealed another new agentic feature for ChatGPT called deep research, which it says can operate autonomously to “plan and execute a multi-step trajectory to find the data it needs, backtracking and reacting to real-time information where necessary.” Instead of simply generating text, it shows a summary of its process in a sidebar, with […]
From ChatGPT to Gemini: how AI is rewriting the internet
Big players, including Microsoft, with Copilot, Google, with Gemini, and OpenAI, with GPT-4o, are making AI chatbot technology previously restricted to test labs more accessible to the general public. How do these large language model (LLM) programs work? OpenAI’s GPT-3 told us that AI uses “a series of autocomplete-like programs to learn language” and that […]
Automakers brace for ‘massive’ impact of Trump’s tariffs
Your next car purchase is probably going to be more expensive, thanks to President Donald Trump. Around 5.3 million vehicles are built in Canada and Mexico, 70 percent of which are destined for the United States. Those vehicles will soon be subject to 25 percent tariffs, which were just announced by the Trump administration. And […]
PDP’s Riffmaster guitar controller is receiving a rare $20 discount
Last month, Fortnite Festival, the game’s Rock Band-like music mode, rolled out local multiplayer on PlayStation and Xbox. It’s a great addition if you and up to three buddies want to relive the halcyon days of ‘07 on a single TV, particularly if you’re using a nostalgia-inducing peripheral like the PDP Riffmaster — which is now […]
The tech industry’s layoffs and hiring freezes: all of the news
Over the last couple years, it feels like we’ve heard news of mass layoffs and hiring freezes from tech companies nearly every week, and since the beginning of 2024, there’s been a new wave of layoffs and firings. In the first few days of January 2024 alone: And all that adds to the tens of […]
Amazfit Helio Smart Ring review: bargain bin bust
Smart rings are in the middle of a renaissance. That’s great because we finally have way more options than just an Oura Ring. The downside is most of Oura’s would-be rivals are launching their first, maybe second-gen smart rings. Meaning, if you want an Oura Ring alternative, there’s a good chance you’ll have to put […]
All the smart home news, reviews, and gadgets you need to know about
The smart home holds so much promise. It can make life more convenient with lights that turn on as you walk in a room, doors that unlock as you approach, and robots that clean your floors. It can also make your home safer, more energy efficient, and even a little more fun. (Have you tried […]
I tried the tech that makes hands-free smart locks actually work
Imagine walking up to your front door and it unlocks — even opens — automatically as you approach. It may sound like the stuff of smart home dreams, but it could soon be a reality, thanks to ultra-wideband (UWB) technology arriving on smart locks. With its precise, real-time location capabilities, UWB enables a smart lock […]
A better way to buy and read books
Hi, friends! Welcome to Installer No. 69, your guide to the best and Verge-iest stuff in the world. (If you’re new here, welcome, get ready for some web-slingin’, and also you can read all the old editions at the Installer homepage.) This week, I’ve been reading about Elon Musk’s gamer habits and spy satellites and […]
Canada will retaliate against Trump with tariffs on US goods
Canada will set its own tariffs against US goods in retaliation to broad 25 percent tariffs President Donald Trump announced Saturday on Canadian imports. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a 25 percent tariff on a total of $155 billion worth of American goods — $30 billion of that on Tuesday when Trump’s tariffs go into […]
The NTSB chooses Elon Musk’s X to update the press on plane crashes
The National Transportation and Safety Board will only update the press about the plane crashes in Washington, DC and Philadelphia on X — not over email, as reported earlier by The Desk. The agency announced on Saturday that it will use its @NTSB_Newsroom account to share ”news conferences or other investigative information.“ The NTSB later […]
US tariffs: how Trump’s tax is impacting big tech and beyond
President Donald Trump has announced that he’s imposing a tariff on goods from some of the US’s biggest trade partners: Canada, Mexico, and China. Under the executive orders signed on February 1st, Canada and Mexico will face a 25 percent tariff, while goods from China will be subject to a 10 percent tax. Energy resources […]
Trump imposes sweeping tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China
The US is officially imposing tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China. President Donald Trump announced that goods imported from Mexico and Canada will face a 25 percent tariff, while goods from China will face a 10 percent tariff. There will also be a lower 10 percent tariff on energy resources from Canada. In a series […]
Google’s AI Super Bowl ad is wrong about cheese
Google just debuted a series of Super Bowl ads showing how small businesses use Gemini AI across all 50 states, but the cheese lovers out there might notice something a little off about its Wisconsin one. As spotted by @natejhake on X, the ad shows Gemini AI generating text that says Gouda accounts for “50 […]
Trump fires CFPB head Rohit Chopra
President Donald Trump has fired Rohit Chopra, the director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). In a letter posted to X, Chopra confirmed his “term as CFPB Director has concluded.” Chopra was notified of his removal via an email from the White House, according to a report from the Associated Press. During Chopra’s tenure, […]
It took more than a decade for a surreal RPG to get its final translation
In 2008, Mortis Ghost made a game with his friend, composer Alias Conrad Coldwood. It was a surreal roleplaying game about a baseball player fighting ghosts called Off. He shared it for free on a French-speaking forum, where it garnered a small audience. One player was a French artist who was inspired to make a […]
How to hide files and folders on Windows
While your Windows computer should be pretty well locked down with a password or maybe even some kind of biometric protection, it’s impossible to guarantee that no one else is ever going to get access to it, whether it’s a thief swiping your unlocked laptop from a coffee shop or one of your kids wanting […]
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra isn’t so ‘ultra’ anymore
When you yell “Can you just Google it?†at your AI assistant, it’s fair to say that the AI assistant is not doing its job. I was browning some beef on the stove and trying to determine when my husband’s flight was landing. I didn’t have the flight number, but there are only so many […]
The drone pilot who took out an LA firefighting plane pleads guilty to escape jail
On January 9th, 56-year-old Peter Akemann flew his DJI Mini 3 Pro drone far beyond the legal limit of his ability to see — and into a Super Scooper water dumping plane fighting the Los Angeles Palisades wildfires, grounding it for repairs after punching a hole in its left wing. Now that authorities have traced […]
YouTube’s new Discord-like Communities are rolling out to more creators
YouTube is expanding the availability of its dedicated community space feature to more creators on the site, giving them more opportunities to connect with their fans without needing to lean on another platform like Discord. Only available for access via mobile devices, Communities first launched during the Made for YouTube event last fall, letting the […]
Microsoft Paint is getting a Copilot button, too
Windows Insiders will soon see a Copilot icon in one more place: Paint. Insiders in the Canary and Dev channels will see the new button thanks to an update rolling out now, putting AI tools in one location. Clicking the Copilot button in the task bar will reveal a dropdown menu with generative features like […]
Netflix has cancelled The Sandman
Though Netflix is planning to bring back a number of its ongoing series in the coming months, the streamer has decided to cancel its adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman. Netflix announced today that The Sandman will conclude with its upcoming second season. In a statement about the show coming to an end, Sandman showrunner […]
BioWare hit with layoffs as it shifts to next Mass Effect
BioWare now has fewer than 100 employees after laying off “around two dozen” staffers and shifting others to different projects at EA, Bloomberg reports. The changes follow BioWare’s own “Studio Update” published this week where GM Gary McKay said the studio had “worked diligently over the past few months to match many of our colleagues […]
Donald Trump’s data purge has begun
Key resources for environmental data and public health have already been taken down from federal websites, and more could soon vanish as the Trump administration works to scrap anything that has to do with climate change, racial equity, or gender identity. Warnings floated on social media today about an impending purge at the Centers for […]
How to stop your MacBook from turning on when you open the lid
In 2016, Apple started including an auto power-on feature for its new MacBook models that activated when you opened the notebook lid or plugged in USB-C power when the lid was open. This is a cool little convenience if you don’t want the added step of pressing the power button — plus it could get […]
Apple reportedly gives up on its AR video glasses project
While Mark Zuckerberg and Meta press forward with augmented glasses projects buoyed by its million-selling set of smart Ray-Bans, Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman says that Apple just pulled the plug on an AR glasses project. Codenamed N107, they’re described as something that would’ve looked similar to regular glasses but with added displays in the lenses […]
Common Side Effects’ creators see the US healthcare system as the show’s villain
In Adult Swim’s Common Side Effects from Joe Bennett (Scavengers Reign) and Steve Hely (American Dad!), the discovery of a strange mushroom that can heal any sickness or injury is either a miracle or a doomsday scenario, depending on who you ask. The plant is a godsend to people suffering from debilitating illnesses, but its […]
Sony just axed the 60fps Bloodborne mod with a DMCA takedown
A popular Bloodborne framerate mod is no longer available thanks to a DMCA takedown request from Sony. Australia-based Twitch streamer Lance McDonald first developed the mod back in 2020 before making it available to download in 2021. Lance announced today in a post on X that Sony Interactive Entertainment asked them to remove download links […]
Nvidia says its new GPUs are the fastest for DeepSeek AI, which kind of misses the point
Nvidia is touting the performance of DeepSeek’s open source AI models on its just-launched RTX 50-series GPUs, claiming that they can “run the DeepSeek family of distilled models faster than anything on the PC market.” But this announcement from Nvidia might be somewhat missing the point. This week, Nvidia’s market cap suffered the single biggest […]
Sonos soundbars and speakers are up to $250 off for the Super Bowl
I would have preferred any other Super Bowl matchup than another showdown between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles, but the world doesn’t revolve around me. Regardless, I love a good championship football game, especially one enhanced by an immersive sound system. If you’re in need of a home theater audio upgrade yourself, […]
OpenAI launches new o3-mini reasoning model with a free ChatGPT version
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman teased exactly two weeks ago that o3-mini would ship in “a couple of weeks,” and it’s arriving on time today. OpenAI is launching its latest o3-mini reasoning model inside ChatGPT and its API services and making a version with rate limits available to free users of ChatGPT for the first time. […]
MultiVersus’ next season will be its last
MultiVersus will go offline at the end of its next season, Warner Bros. Games announced on Friday. The free-to-play brawler’s fifth and final season starts on February 4th and runs through May 30th, 2025, after which you’ll only be able to play against AI opponents or through local co-op. It will also no longer be […]
Ugreen’s new wallet tracker is thinner and cheaper than the rest
Ugreen has announced another Apple AirTag alternative with its new Finder Slim wallet tracker. It’s not only much thinner than an Apple AirTag, at just 1.7mm thick, the Finder Slim is also thinner than the 2.4mm Chipolo Card Spot, the 2.8mm Pebblebee Card Universal, the 2.5mm Tile Slim, and the 2.6mm Eufy SmartTrack Card E30. […]
WhatsApp disrupts spyware campaign targeting journalists
WhatsApp says it disrupted a spyware campaign last month that targeted journalists and civil society members, according to reports from The Guardian and Reuters. The campaign originated from an Israeli spyware company called Paragon Solutions and impacted around 90 users. WhatsApp told The Guardian that it has reached out to affected users, saying it had […]
Google’s latest Nest Learning Thermostat is down to one of its best prices to date
If you’re tired of watching your heating bill soar every month, now is a good time to invest in Google’s latest Nest Learning Thermostat. Normally $279.99, right now Amazon, Best Buy, and Google are selling the smart thermostat in all three color options for $239.99 ($40 off), which is just $10 shy of its lowest […]
Apple will pay $20 million to settle Apple Watch battery swelling lawsuit
Apple has agreed to a $20 million settlement in a class action lawsuit over battery swelling in early Apple Watch models. If you experienced the issue and owned an Apple Watch Series 0, 1, 2, or 3, you may be eligible for a small payout. The lawsuit, Smith et al. v. Apple Inc, was filed […]
Apple asks court to halt Google search monopoly case
Apple wants to ensure it has a voice in the remedies trial for the Justice Department’s search monopolization case against Google, and filed an emergency motion to stay the proceedings while it appeals the district court’s denial of its request to be more directly heard in the case. The remedies phase of the trial is […]
AI is ‘an energy hog,’ but DeepSeek could change that
DeepSeek startled everyone last month with the claim that its AI model uses roughly one-tenth the amount of computing power as Meta’s Llama 3.1 model, upending an entire worldview of how much energy and resources it’ll take to develop artificial intelligence. Taken at face value, that claim could have tremendous implications for the environmental impact […]
DeepSeek: all the news about the startup that’s shaking up AI stocks
DeepSeek is shaking up the AI industry with cost-efficient large language models it claims can perform just as well as rivals from giants like OpenAI and Meta. The Chinese startup says its flagship R1 reasoning model is capable of achieving “performance comparable” to OpenAI’s o1 equivalent, while the newly released Janus Pro multimodal AI model […]
Blackmagic’s free camera app brings remote control and tablet support to Android
Blackmagic Design has announced that it’s finally bringing several advanced features already available for the iOS version of its free camera app to Android. The Blackmagic Camera for Android 2.0 update released this week allows several smartphones running the app to be monitored and controlled from a single device, including, for the first time, a […]
How to file and pay your 2024 taxes online
The holidays are over, a new year is here, and along with all the various upheavals that we are facing (including some possible changes in tax law), most of us have to deal with our annual income taxes. Sorry about that. Tax day this year falls, for most of us, on the traditional April 15th. […]
Sundance 2025: all the latest movie reviews and updates from the festival
A new year means a new Sundance Film Festival, and a fresh crop of promising original features that could go on to become awards season darlings in a few months. It might be hard to top last year’s festival where Dìdi, A Different Man, and I Saw the TV Glow all made strong showings. But […]
TikTok traffic is recovering, but it’s still not back in app stores
TikTok’s traffic is almost back to normal despite its delayed return to US app stores, according to Cloudflare Radar data seen by CNBC. The “DNS traffic for TikTok-related domains” is around 10 percent lower than the levels before its abrupt shutdown, David Belson, Cloudflare’s head of data insight, told CNBC. To compare, TikTok’s traffic dipped […]