The Verge

Photo by Allison Johnson / The Verge Apparently, turning the cliched enhance!" meme into reality wasn't as easy as Google might have initially expected. Today, the company confirmed in a blog post that Zoom Enhance is finally rolling out to the Pixel 8 Pro and will also be present on the Pixel 9 Pro, 9 Pro XL, and 9 Pro Fold at launch.Google announced the AI-powered Zoom Enhance during last year's Made by Google event, but we've made it all the way to a new generation of phones, and only now is the software feature ready for release. When you pinch in, Zoom Enhance can intelligently sharpen and enhance the details of your images, so you can get closer than ever, even when you forget to zoom" is how Google's hardware chief, Rick Osterloh, explained the feature last... Continue reading...

Google's latest wearable is both bigger and brighter than its predecessors. | Image: Google Now that Google has officially announced the Pixel Watch 3 after a deluge of leaks and rumors, Android users have even more wearables to choose from. Google's latest smartwatch will arrive on September 10th and start at $349.99, with the last-gen Pixel Watch 2 hanging around for $249.99. Sadly, Google has dropped the original model from its lineup, though you can still buy it on sale from third-party retailers.With almost identical names and similar domed displays, it can be confusing to distinguish which watch is which - never mind which to buy. Yet, they're more different than they appear, with each wearable offering more features and capabilities than its predecessor. The new Pixel Watch 3 offers several advanced running features,... Continue reading...

The UI isn't flashy, but does it need to be? | Photo: Allison Johnson / The Verge A week ago, I was on a three-day roadtrip when all the audio cut out in my car. From podcasts to directions - even the turn signal wasn't click. My co-pilot struggled to find a solution via Google. It took me at least five minutes. Today it took Gemini Live, the just-keep-talking-to-it version of Google's voice assistant, about 15 seconds to come up with a solution that worked. Naturally the moment felt magical. In The Verge's first interaction with the assistant, rolling out today, it felt like the promised cleverness of digital assistants is finally being delivered.But then Gemini Live kept talking. And talking. The Verge team was packed in a glass booth, and as Gemini Live droned on a friendly Google employee encouraged me to go... Continue reading...

Who among us can resist the pull of a High Republic cruiser? | Image: Massive Entertainment Before every influencer began pedaling goods on TikTok, there was QVC. The well-known shopping network isn't one we often cover at The Verge, at least in terms of deals, but every so often, it rolls out a promo that's hard to pass up. Right now, for instance, QVC is offering new customers $30 off an order of $60 or more when they use promo code WELCOME30, letting first-time buyers save on a range of classic video games, new releases, and preorders.The current QVC promo applies to a laundry list of first- and third-party titles - assuming they meet the $60 threshold - which makes it a great opportunity to save on forthcoming releases that haven't been discounted yet. This includes Star Wars Outlaws, Ubisoft's upcoming open-world Star... Continue reading...

Image: Microsoft Microsoft is starting to test a new compact version of its Game Bar with Xbox Insiders today. Similar to the Xbox app on Windows PCs, the Game Bar is getting its own compact mode that is designed for smaller screens, Windows-powered handhelds, and even for when you're playing on a PC with a controller.With Compact Mode enabled, access to widgets and navigation is simplified to ensure you can get access to the content you want as easily as possible," explains Oliver Xu, senior product manager for Xbox Experiences. When using a controller, you can switch between widgets quickly with left and right bumpers (LB/RB)." Image: Microsoft You can easily quit games from the Game Bar using a controller. The home widget... Continue reading...

All of the updates from Google's Pixel 9 launch event. Continue reading...

The Pixel 9 Pro XL. | Photo: Allison Johnson / The Verge Google just wrapped up its Made by Google hardware event, where we got an official look at the refreshed Pixel 9 lineup and updates across Google's other devices. Even though the Pixel event confirmed many of the leaks we've seen over the past several weeks, Google still shared some announcements we haven't heard about yet.Here's a roundup of all the exciting news from Google's Pixel 9 event.Google's Pixel 9 lineup gives you another Pro to choose from Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge Google's Pixel 9 lineup adds a smaller Pro option. Google has finally taken the wraps off its Pixel 9 lineup, which includes three slab phones and a folding phone. The regular lineup consists of a base Pixel 9 with a 6.3-inch... Continue reading...

Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge Google announced a new image generation app during its Pixel 9 event today. The company says the app, called Pixel Studio, will come preinstalled on every Pixel 9 device.Pixel Studio, much like Apple's forthcoming Image Playground app that's set to roll out on iOS 18 at some point after the operating system launches, lets you create an image from a prompt. Users can edit images after the fact, using the prompt box to add or subtract elements, and change the feel or style of the picture. During the onstage demo, a picture of a bonfire gradually changed into a beach hangout invite with the Golden Gate Bridge and fireworks in the background, made in a pixel art style and complete with invite details and stickers of the... Continue reading...

Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge Google has announced Pixel Screenshots, a new AI-powered app for its Pixel 9 lineup that lets you save, organize, and surface information from screenshots. Pixel Screenshot uses Google's private, on-device Gemini Nano AI model to analyze the content of an image and make it searchable.During a demo at its Pixel launch event, Google showed how you can take a screenshot and then save it to a collection, like gift ideas." You can also search through all your other screenshots by typing in a keyword, like bikes" or shoes." Pixel Screenshots will then pull up all relevant results.

The SpaceX Starship launches on its fourth flight test from Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas, on June 6th, 2024. | Photo: Getty Images SpaceX allegedly violated wastewater regulations at its Boca Chica, Texas, launch site - sending pollution into bodies of water nearby, according to CNBC. The news outlet says it obtained investigative records and notices that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) sent to SpaceX of violations related to its Starbase facility.SpaceX called the story factually inaccurate" in a post on Elon Musk's social media platform X. The Verge has not yet been able to independently verify these reports. We've requested records from EPA and TCEQ, and neither agency immediately confirmed the accuracy of the allegations.Starbase is home to Starship, the reusable transportation system SpaceX is... Continue reading...

Image: Google Google is following Apple in launching a way to use your phone to communicate via a satellite in an emergency. During its big Pixel 9 reveal event on Tuesday, the company shared details of Satellite SOS, which will let you contact emergency responders and share your location when you don't have cellular service.The new Pixel 9 lineup will be the first Android phones to be able to use Satellite SOS, Google's Brian Rakowski said onstage. The feature launches first in the US regardless of your carrier plan," Rakowski said. According to fine print shown during Google's livestream, the service will be included at no additional charge for the first two years after activation of devices." A blog post by Rakowski qualifies that further,... Continue reading...

Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge Google's Pixel 9 lineup is officially here, and the company can't stop talking about the AI features it's got coming.On the hardware front, Google boosted the RAM for all of its new phones to accommodate memory-hungry on-device AI. The Pixel 9 received 12GB of RAM, while the rest will have 16GB of memory.But the bigger side of the story is software - the phones all get a handful of new Pixel-exclusive AI features. And the Pro phones are also getting a year of Google One AI Premium, which comes with access to Gemini Advanced, Google's most capable AI system.Here's a rundown of the biggest Pixel 9 AI features Google announced today.Remember things with Pixel Screenshots Google's new Pixel Screenshots feature is a little... Continue reading...

Google's new smartwatches are bigger, brighter, and more capable than ever. | Photo by Victoria Song / The Verge Google announced not only its forthcoming Pixel 9 lineup during its Made by Google event on Tuesday but also a slew of other devices, including the Pixel Watch 3. The smartwatch will be available on September 10th starting at $349.99, with preorders opening today.For the first time, Google's smartwatch will be available in two sizes - 41mm and 45mm - both of which use the same processor as the Pixel Watch 2 but sport larger, brighter displays. Google claims the wearable can last up to 36 hours, while thinner bezels offer more space to display information, read messages, and perform other tasks.On the software front, Google's forthcoming wearable offers several advanced running features, including one that lets you send custom workouts... Continue reading...

The new Pixel 9 generation starts at $799 for a 6.3-inch model. | Image: Google Google announced its full lineup of Pixel 9 phones at its latest Made by Google event, and boy, how full that lineup is. There are four - count em - four new Pixel phones (in three different sizes) all coming within about a month of one another: the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold. Each of them features new processors, improved specs over last-gen models, seven years of OS updates, and at least somewhat new camera setups - all with a bunch of Google's Gemini AI stuff mixed in.Confused already? No worries. Let's break down what you actually need to know about Google's new quartet of phones, including where you can preorder them ahead of launch.Where to preorder the Google Pixel 9The new Pixel 9 is Google's... Continue reading...

Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge Okay, sure, Google basically spent the last few months spoiling its annual hardware event by repeatedly leaking - and, in some cases, just flat-out announcing - all of its upcoming phones, wearables, headphones, and TV gadgets. But the annual Pixel event is still a big day in the gadget world and also a chance to find out exactly what Google thinks the future looks like.In this episode of The Vergecast, we talk through all the new devices, from the Pixel 9 lineup to the Pixel Buds Pro 2 to the Pixel Watch 3. We also discuss last week's launches, particularly the new TV Streamer. Google is now nearly a decade into this phase of its hardware journey and appears to still be serious about being a big player in gadgets. So, the question is:... Continue reading...

Illustration by Cath Virginia / The Verge | Photo by Grzegorz Wajda, Getty Images During their glitchy, rambling, two-hour conversation" on X last night, Elon Musk made the case to Donald Trump that climate change was real and maybe electric cars weren't as bad as the former president has been making them out to be on the campaign trail. The result was a feeble attempt by a once-lauded environmentalist to launder the former president's disastrous record on climate change.Musk, who endorsed Trump following the failed assassination attempt and is helping fund a super PAC supporting his election, tried to placate Trump by offering his own support for oil and gas drilling and minimizing the threat posed by climate change. But he also attempted to win over Trump by offering a more MAGA-friendly pitch for his own EVs.A... Continue reading...

Image: Flipboard Flipboard is making good on a major fediverse promise. Late last year, at the same time it announced it would be switching user accounts to ActivityPub, Flipboard said it planned to let users follow users on federated platforms that used ActivityPub from the Flipboard app. Starting Tuesday, that feature is here, meaning that you can follow people from places like Mastodon, Threads, and Pixelfed right inside Flipboard.Flipboard will feature fediverse profiles in a few different ways in the app. Flipboard's search will show fediverse accounts, for example, while the Explore tab will have editorially curated recommendations, according to a press release. In a screenshot shared by Flipboard, the Explore section has a Fediverse" tab that's... Continue reading...

Struggling to squeeze more adapters onto a power strip? Anker's upcoming 65W charger could be the solution. | Image: Anker Japan Anker has come up with a clever design for a new 65W charger that's thin enough to squeeze between larger power adapters on a power strip, potentially making an over-crowded outlet useable again.Thin chargers aren't a new idea, but they typically feature a set of folding prongs on the flat side of the adapter, allowing them to plug into outlets behind furniture and sit flush against the wall. Anker's approach is to instead position a pair of folding prongs on the end of its new charger, taking advantage of the thin design in a different way. GIF: Onesuite The charger's prongs not only fold flat - they can pivot from side to side, allowing it to also be plugged into wall outlets. Anker recently announced new... Continue reading...

Image: Hugo Herrera / The Verge While the notion lingers that the internet is forever," it can also feel like it's written on water. If you're an internet-based creative, the company that publishes your writing or exhibits an online gallery of your work can suddenly fold (see: Gawker or Game Informer), migrate content management systems, or simply unpublish older work. In that case, the article you researched for a month, the story you carefully constructed, or the gallery of photos that you painstakingly put together could, in that moment, be forever unavailable. And if you've linked to your work in a blog or social network, that link has now become useless.So what do you do? You can save a PDF of each of your works to a local drive, an online storage service, or to... Continue reading...

Image: Google Google's getting ready to reveal its entirely new Pixel phone lineup on Tuesday, including the already (and probably begrudgingly) confirmed Pixel 9 Pro and a new 9 Pro Fold foldable phone. The company is yet again dealing with a whole lot of leaks that have revealed everything from possibly the full lineup and their specs to new colors like bubblegum pink and fresh AI features that will continue to make you ask what a photo is.We may never know why Google keeps suffering leaks of its portfolio of new products year after year, but there's still plenty to learn at the upcoming Made by Google event. Beyond new phones, we might learn new details on the (also leaked) next Pixel Watch, new wireless Buds, and fresh Gemini features.How to... Continue reading...

Blasting away with finger guns in Deadlock's training level. | Screenshot by Sean Hollister / The Verge It's been nearly five years since Valve announced a truly new game - and counting. Valve has still not announced Deadlock, its new hero shooter that takes cues from Overwatch, Dota 2, Team Fortress 2, and more. But that hasn't stopped nearly 20,000 people from trying the game, including me.And I'm not under NDA. I have signed no contracts and made no verbal agreements; I haven't even clicked through a EULA. Screenshot by Sean Hollister / The Verge This message does pop up when I launch Deadlock, but I didn't click OK"; instead, I hit the Escape key and watched it disappear. Earlier today, I received a no-strings-attached invite to play Deadlock on Steam. Steam claims the game is made by Valve. It displays... Continue reading...

Cambridge, MA - January 24: Gated entrance on the campus of Harvard University. | Photo: Getty Images After years of legwork, Harvard researchers canceled plans to test a controversial theory for cooling the planet by sending sunlight-reflecting particles up into the atmosphere. Now, members of an independent advisory committee tasked with addressing ethics and safety concerns are sharing what they learned from the ill-fated project.A policy analysis published in the journal Science on Friday highlights how important it is to talk to people on the ground before launching an experiment, especially one tied to potentially planet-altering consequences. The paper echoes recent calls to get policies in place to protect against any unintended side effects.Until pretty recently, the thought of reflecting sunlight back into space to combat... Continue reading...

Illustration: The Verge I love storing a digital pass in my phone's wallet enough that I'm a little miffed when I have to use a different app or, heaven forbid, a saved PDF instead. On Android, at least, there's a better way, thanks to a new Google Wallet option rolling out now that uses AI to generate a digital version with all the relevant details that you can use just like any other digital pass.The feature, which Google announced at its I/O conference in May, takes the place of a previous Photo" option in the Add to Wallet" menu that could create a simpler version of a pass that just showed a barcode or QR code.Dubbed Everything Else," using it could save you from digging through your email to find a PDF while you're standing in line at the venue or... Continue reading...

Narwal's Freo X Ultra mops floors exceptionally well while doubling as a decent robot vacuum. | Photo by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy / The Verge If you like the idea of investing as little effort as possible into mopping your hardwood floors, you might want to check out the current deal on the Narwal Freo X Ultra. Right now, our favorite robot vacuum for mopping is down to its second-best price of $999.99 ($400 off) at Amazon, which is just $50 shy of the all-time low we saw during Prime Day. Narwal is also matching said discount when you apply the promo code SUMNXU at checkout.The Narwal's spinning triangular mop pads do an excellent job of cleaning hard surfaces while offering some impressive smarts. The robovac / mop hybrid is capable of adapting the pressure of its mop based on the floor type, for example, applying more to tile and less to hardwood. The bot can also make... Continue reading...

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge Apple recently rejected DOS emulator iDOS 3 from the App Store, but following App Store rule changes that look to have cleared the way for PC emulator apps, iDOS 3 is now available for download, developer Chaoji Li announced.In June, Li said that Apple had rejected iDOS 3 because it violated App Store guideline 4.7. At the time, that rule was what allowed retro game console emulator apps to appear on the store, but Apple was only allowing retro game console emulators under the rule - not PC emulators; UTM SE, another PC emulator app, had also said it was rejected for violating the rule.But in July, Apple reversed course and approved UTM SE, and earlier this month, it added the words PC emulator" to guideline 4.7, which is seemingly... Continue reading...

Image: Google Google's earlier-than-expected Pixel hardware event is just around the corner - it's scheduled for Tuesday, August 13th. Thanks to the relentless flow of leaks that have emerged over the past few weeks, we have a pretty good idea of what to expect.Google has already confirmed that it's launching the Pixel 9 and the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, but the company may have some other surprises in store, including the Buds Pro 2 and maybe even the Pixel Watch 3.Here's a roundup of everything we know so far.Google Pixel 9 lineup adds a smaller Pro optionAlongside the Pixel 9, Google is expected to release the Pixel Pro in two sizes: a larger 6.8-inch model and a smaller 6.3-inch variant. It'll be the first time the Pro features are available in two... Continue reading...

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge Patreon memberships sold on the iOS app will soon be subject to Apple's 30 percent commission on in-app purchases. In a post on Monday, Patreon says Apple is forcing the platform to use the company's in-app payment system starting in November or risk being kicked out of the App Store."As part of the change, creators will need to switch to Patreon's subscription billing method to keep earning money through the platform's iOS app. That means Apple's 30 percent commission will apply when a new membership is initially purchased, as well as each time it's renewed. To help offset the costs of the new fee, Patreon will give creators the option to automatically increase their prices in the iOS app. GIF: Patreon The fee... Continue reading...

Image: The Verge Paint 3D, once Microsoft's biggest update to its Paint app, is being removed from the Microsoft Store later this year and no longer supported. The app was originally released as part of Microsoft's focus on creators with Windows 10 and was even set to replace the original MS Paint at one point.Paint 3D is deprecated and will be removed from the Microsoft Store on November 4th, 2024," reads a support note from Microsoft. Users of the app will also see a banner inside the app warning them about the end of support. Microsoft is recommending Windows users install its 3D Viewer app if they need to view 3D content.Microsoft has now put most of its focus on the existing Paint app within Windows 11 instead, adding some of Photoshop's best... Continue reading...

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge YouTube Music is rolling out a new personal radio" feature that lets you broadcast daily playlists based on your favorite tunes for others to play. The new feature, discovered by a Reddit user last week, is starting to appear on some YouTube Music user channel pages - where you'd normally go to check out your top music stats.As reported by 9to5Google, personal radio is the newest addition to YouTube Music's profiles page, which launched in April of last year. Personal radio, like stats, are set to private by default, so users must update their channel settings if they want it to appear for others, as outlined in an updated YouTube Music help page.Once the feature is available, you can turn it on by going to your profile icon in... Continue reading...

A leaked image appearing to show Google's Pixel Buds Pro 2 in porcelain. | Image: OnLeaks via Android Headlines Google's upcoming Pixel Buds Pro 2 could come with a new Tensor A1" chip that powers twice the Active Noise Cancellation" (ANC), according to leaked specs posted by @MysteryLupin and spotted by 9to5Google. If true, this will be the first time Google expands its in-house Tensor processor from its phones to its earbuds.The post suggests the Pixel Buds Pro 2 could come with up to 30 hours of audio playback with the case (or up to eight hours without), but it's not clear whether that's with ANC turned on or off. The original Pixel Buds Pro offer up to 31 hours of listening time with the case and ANC turned off (or up to 11 hours without).

Image: Caltrain For the first time, two new all-electric passenger trains are operating in the US, which is woefully behind the rest of the world in electrifying its rolling stock.The two new trains are operated by Caltrain. California Governor Gavin Newson and House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi were on hand to take the inaugural ride, which took place on Saturday. The trains were put into regular service the following day, running along the route between San Jose and San Francisco.It's taken almost 20 years since the idea of electric trains was first proposed in California. But officials insisted the new trains will be quieter and faster than the diesel-powered trains in current operation while also providing a better experience for passengers. The... Continue reading...

Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge Even four years on, Sony's WH-1000XM4 remain a stalwart choice among wireless noise-canceling headphones - especially now that they've returned to their lowest price of about $198 ($150 off) at Amazon, B&H Photo, and Best Buy. That's thanks in large part to their very good sound quality (which may be just a touch bass-y, to be fair), up to 30 hours of battery life, and some mighty fine active noise cancellation. They're also comfy enough to wear for long sessions, and unlike their replacement model, the WH-1000XM5, they fold down for easier travel and commuting.The XM4 were our overall top pick among headphones for years until they were dethroned by their successor, but they're still a great choice in 2024. Yes, you can sometimes find... Continue reading...

Photo illustration by The Verge / Photo by Replika The head of chatbot maker Replika discusses the role AI will play in the future of human relationships. Continue reading...

Image: Alejandro Otero The latest news about space junk and global cleanup efforts. Continue reading...

Image: Tango Gameworks Hi-Fi Rush developer Tango Gameworks has been spared closure, three months after Microsoft announced plans to shut down the studio. Krafton, the South Korean publisher behind PUBG: Battlegrounds and The Callisto Protocol, announced on Monday that it had acquired the game and its Japanese studio, and is working with Xbox to enable a smooth transition" to ensure the Tango Gameworks team can continue developing the Hi-Fi Rush IP and explore future projects."Microsoft had initially announced in May that it was closing Tango Gameworks, alongside Redfall developer Arkane Austin and Mighty Doom developer Alpha Dog Studios - three studios it inherited after acquiring ZeniMax in 2021. The impending Tango Gameworks closure was widely criticized... Continue reading...

A Waymo car out on the job. | Photo: Smith Collection / Gado / Getty Images If you've ever wondered what happens to all those self-driving taxis when the world is asleep, one YouTube channel has you covered. Since the beginning of the month, software engineer Sophia Tung has been livestreaming a San Francisco parking lot that Waymo is renting to give its robotaxis somewhere to go during their downtime.Tung told The Verge via email that the company appeared to partially" take over the lot on July 28th then later took over the entire lot. Waymo recently opened up its robotaxi service to anyone in San Francisco.Days later, she set up the livestream, complete with LoFi study beats. Tung told us she's running it off of a mini PC she had laying around, with a webcam surrounded by a cereal box to reduce glare.... Continue reading...