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Updated 2024-11-25 17:01
Spotify code suggests HiFi tier is coming with lossless audio for $20 / month
Illustration by Nick Barclay / The Verge Spotify's long-awaited HiFi tier could finally be getting closer to launch. Code within the Spotify app reveals new details about the Supremium" tier, which could feature 24-bit lossless audio, the ability to create playlists with AI, and more, as spotted by u/Hypixely on Reddit.Spotify first announced the more expensive HiFi tier in February 2021, but the feature has been stuck in limbo since then. The last we heard about the tier was in June of this year when a Bloomberg report found Spotify had rebranded the HiFi tier as Supremium." The Redditor's findings corroborate this claim, as they say Spotify now refers to the audio as lossless with no lag and delays." Image: u/Hypixely via Reddit Additionally, the... Continue reading...
How to turn off NameDrop in iOS 17
Illustration by Samar Haddad / The Verge iOS 17 offers a lot of interesting new features for your iPhone, one of which is called, appropriately, NameDrop. What NameDrop does is let you exchange contact information with another iPhone (and gives you a chance to use your snazzy new Contact Poster) by just holding the top of your phone near the top of someone else's iPhone. You turn off NameDrop by using the AirDrop settings. Obviously, that's not something that will often happen by accident, but if you still don't like the idea of accidentally triggering NameDrop with somebody else - or if you tend to carry two phones in your bag and don't want them to be trying to exchange contact info all afternoon - you can quickly and easily turn it off. Here's how:
Amazon’s rumored homeprojector can turn anything into a screen
Amazon's first projector project, the Amazon Glow, folded in failure last year. | Photo by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy / The Verge Amazon is reportedly working on a projector that would turn any surface in your home into a screen, as reported by Reuters. People familiar with the matter told the news organization that the projector is designed to do things like beam a recipe on the wall above a stove and make Zoom calls that track you as you move around the house.A touch interactive projected screen is an obvious move for the ambient smart home that Amazon has long proposed, one where the tech appears when you need it and disappears when you don't. I mean, that's literally the definition of a projector.When I reviewed Amazon's first attempt at a smart projector, the now-discontinued Amazon Glow, I said that it would have made more sense as a smart home control... Continue reading...
Mastodon gets better search, onboarding, and cross-server interactions
Image: The Verge Mastodon, the federated microblogging platform, has been updated to version 4.2, which comes with massive improvements to search and the web interface, particularly for logged-out and first-time users.One of Mastodon's many charming qualities is that, unlike Twitter X, Bluesky, Instagram, and most other social media platforms, the user base is split across thousands of instances, each of which can decide to federate with or block any of the others.This is good in many ways. You can get a nice little intentional community going on your local server, and servers that are filled with abusive, illegal, and harmful content and / or users are widely ostracized. But it presents some, shall we say, unintuitive workflows for people used to... Continue reading...
Threads might be getting an edit button soon
Illustration: The Verge Meta's in-development edit button for Threads might let you edit posts within five minutes of publishing them, as reported by developer Alessandro Paluzzi on X (formerly Twitter). Instagram chief Adam Mosseri confirmed shortly after the app's July launch that an edit button was on the list of potential features, and now that Paluzzi has discovered some details about it, perhaps the feature will be available more widely sometime soon.
Nintendo now supports passwordless sign-ins
Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge Nintendo has added support for passkeys, a passwordless sign-in method that uses your fingerprint, face scan, or other methods to give you access to your online accounts. As spotted earlier by NintendoSoup (via 9to5Mac), Nintendo now lets you register and use a passkey to sign in to your account from a variety of different devices.To add a passkey to your account, head to accounts.nintendo.com from the device you want to use the passkey. Once you sign in to your Nintendo account, hit Sign-in and security settings > Passkeys > Edit. Then, select Register a new passkey and follow the steps to complete the setup process on the device you're using.Right now, Nintendo only supports passkeys on devices with iOS 16 or later, iPadOS 16 or... Continue reading...
Environmental conservation in Brazil: more investments, fewer ‘stupid decisions’
Image: Brazil Climate Summit At the moment I arrived at the Brazil Climate Summit event, it felt like home to me. As I opened the door to The Forum at Columbia University, I heard dozens of people speaking my language for the first time in 11 days. God, are we loud - and I love it. Entering the bathroom after breakfast, I saw two women brushing their teeth - Brazilians carry a toothbrush in their purse and flee to the office or event bathroom after eating.You may wonder why Brazil is pursuing this agenda in New York. First of all, because of the UN climate summit - which happens this week. Second, they want to show international investors the power of the country - not only economically but environmentally as well.According to The World Bank, Brazil holds more... Continue reading...
TikTok is testing Google results in its search pages
Illustration by Nick Barclay / The Verge TikTok search results pages could soon have a link to Google results.A feature spotted by app researcher Radu Oncescu shows the TikTok search results page including a link to search Google for the same query (via Insider). In another screenshot shared by Oncescu, a TikTok pop-up reads, TikTok does not endorse or take responsibility for search results from Google."Google declined to comment. TikTok didn't immediately respond to The Verge's request for comment but confirmed to Insider that it's testing the feature in some markets.The addition of Google results linked in the TikTok app is the latest and most notable example of the shortform video app leaning into search. Earlier this month, we noticed that TikTok had quietly been a... Continue reading...
An early iPhone 15 Pro teardown looks inside Apple’s new flagship phone
Image: PBKreviews via YouTube Want to get a look at the inside of the iPhone 15 Pro? The flagship handheld hasn't even started shipping yet, but the folks over at PBKreviews have already taken apart the device, revealing the redesigned midframe chassis, along with all the components nestled beneath the iPhone 15 Pro's screen and glass backing.The video starts with the careful removal of the display using a screen disassembly device and a plastic pick. From there, PBKreviews disconnects the screen from the body of the phone and removes a series of cables. That's when we get a good look at the iPhone 15's camera assembly, which has three Phillips screws holding it down. Image: PBKreviews via YouTube The camera assembly on the iPhone 15 Pro. A... Continue reading...
Microsoft hopes people won’t become ‘over-reliant’ on its AI assistant
Photo by Chris Welch/The Verge This morning, Microsoft set the release date for its AI-powered Copilot feature and showed off some of its capabilities for the first time. At a Responsible AI" panel following the announcement, company executives spoke about the danger of over-reliance on its generative software, which was shown creating blog posts, images, and emails based on user prompts.Six months after the company laid off the team dedicated to upholding responsible AI principles in the products it shipped, the execs attempted to make a clear statement onstage: Everything is fine. Responsible AI is still a thing at Microsoft. And Copilot isn't going to take your job.The product being called Copilot is really intentional," said Sarah Bird, who leads responsible... Continue reading...
Razer wants to make over your living room with its own smart gamer lights
Razer's vision of your future. | Image: Razer Razer now has its own light bulb. And two lamps. And a flexible LED lighting strip. They're all filled with RGB LEDs, they all sync with other RGB products in Razer's Chroma network, and they're all coming by the end of this year.Together, they could theoretically help you create the picture at the top of this story, which I am led to believe is a depiction of a Gamer Room." There are no words.But there are products, ones named Aether, which might look nice individually. Image: Razer The Aether Light Bulb will cost $50 a pop when it arrives later this year; it's a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi bulb that puts out the typical 800 lumens of light you'd expect from a 60-watt equivalent (but tops out at 9W since it's LED) and can... Continue reading...
Amazon’s Echo Show 10 is receiving its biggest discount since Prime Day
One of the Show 10's best features is its swiveling stand, which allows it to follow you as you move around the room. | Photo by Dan Seifert / The Verge Amazon may have announced a new soundbar, a third-gen Echo Show 8, and a slew of other devices during its recent fall hardware event, but one thing it didn't introduce is a successor to the Echo Show 10. That means the third-gen model introduced in 2021 remains the latest version, one that's on sale at Amazon for $184.99 ($65 off) when you redeem the on-page discount or use promo code ECHOSHOW10. (Note: at least one of our staffers could not see the optional, so just be aware that it may not be available in all instances.)Amazon's Alexa-equipped Echo Show 10 continues to be the best smart display you can get for video calls - especially given Google's Nest Hub Max is dropping support for Google Meet and Zoom. Overall, the Show is a... Continue reading...
Razer goes after the Herman Miller Aeron with its Fujin gaming chair
The Razer Fujin. | Image: Razer I sit in a Herman Miller Aeron every single day - so my eyes absolutely popped when I saw the Razer Fujin for the first time.I know, lots of chairs have tried to duplicate the Aeron's legendary stretchy mesh ergonomics and iconic shape since its 1994 debut. What's so special about this one?Well, the company's $1,049 Fujin Pro model adds the two most desirable upgrades for the Aeron, IMHO: the twist-to-adjust lumbar support, and the adjustable matching headrest that launched an entire aftermarket company to do what Herman Miller wouldn't. I gush about the Atlas headrest on my chair to anyone who'll listen. Image: Razer The Razer Fujin Pro. Image: Razer The Fujin Pro's headrest goes... Continue reading...
Lego’s awesome $60 Super Mario Piranha Plant just earned a spot in my brick garden
You can put Lego Mario coins inside! | Image: Lego For the past few years, Lego has been releasing a collection of intricate, affordable sets for adults who want a touch of green in their lives without pruning or watering, like the Lego Bonsai Tree, Orchid, and Succulents. Now, there's a Mario set fit to join them.Lego's just introduced the Lego Super Mario Piranha Plant, a $60 540-piece set that looks absolutely fantastic without breaking the bank. It kinda-sorta is a bank, too: you can hide at least a couple coins inside! Two Mario coins come with the set. Image: Lego You can open up its chompers, pose its stem and leaves, and Lego says you can literally build it from the ground up - so the Piranha Plant emerges as if it's growing out of the pipe," reads the... Continue reading...
Hyundai is offering free home chargers and install discounts for new EV buyers
Hyundai's home charger install deal only works with residential properties. | Image: Hyundai If you were holding off on buying an EV because you didn't know where to start on getting a home charger installed, Hyundai's new deal might help you out. The automaker is now offering a free home electric vehicle charger plus up to $600 off the installation cost with the purchase or lease of select Hyundai EVs.Hyundai is offering up the ChargePoint Home Flex Level 2 charger on the Hyundai Home Marketplace. The charger is currently listed at $549 on the website and supports up to 50 amps, which could get you around 37 miles of driving range per hour of charging. The additional $600 installation credit applies only to services ordered through Hyundai's website.To qualify for the deal, you'll need to follow this process:
The next Baldur’s Gate 3 patch will finally let you change your appearance
Image: Larian Studios The next Baldur's Gate 3 patch (launching tomorrow) is adding the No. 1 thing players have been asking for: a barbershop. Starting tomorrow, the Magic Mirror will be added with Patch 3, which will give players the ability to change the appearance of their characters.Finally.
Microsoft announces Surface Hub 3 with portrait mode
Image: Microsoft Microsoft has revealed the Surface Hub 3, the latest version of the company's all-in-one collaborative touchscreen device. Unlike its predecessors, the Surface Hub 3 supports smart rotation and portrait mode, allowing users to physically rotate the screen to a vertical orientation while the layout updates automatically.The Surface Hub 3 comes in two sizes: 50 and 85 inches. As is the case with previous devices, the Surface Hub 3 is meant to live in conference rooms as a replacement for TVs and monitors. The device runs Microsoft Teams on Windows, which means the device will offer a consistent experience across all meeting spaces," allowing users to effortlessly transition from one room to another." Microsoft says the Surface Hub will... Continue reading...
A first look at Microsoft’s upgraded Surface Laptop Studio 2
Microsoft's Surface Laptop Studio 2. We've just had a chance to play with Microsoft's new Surface Studio Laptop 2 after it was announced at a special event" in New York City. Visually, it doesn't look a lot different than what came before it, but the trackpad is greatly improved, the specs inside upgraded, and there's a new AI-focused neural processing unit that's designed to light up some AI-powered experiences in Windows 11.The Surface Laptop Studio 2 retains the same unique fold-over design as its predecessor but makes the laptop all around more capable. It runs on one of Intel's 13th Gen i7 H-class processors and can be specced with an Nvidia GPU, including the RTX 4050 and 4060, between 16 and 64GB of RAM, and up to 2TB of storage. It still has a 14.4-inch... Continue reading...
Google taunts Apple again over its lack of RCS messaging support
Okay, but you just know there is an Apple fanboy somewhere who would love this. | Image: Google Google is revisiting the Get The Message" publicity campaign started last year to pressure Apple into adopting the Rich Communication Services, or RCS, messaging protocol. The latest installment includes new content and a cheesy video advertising a fake iPager" gadget - a jab at Apple for converting iMessages texted to Android devices into old-fashioned SMS and MMS.iPager isn't real, but the problems that Apple causes by using SMS are," said Google in the video description on YouTube. Let's make texting better for everyone and help Apple #GetTheMessage and upgrade to RCS."RCS offers several improvements to messaging, including end-to-end encryption, read receipts, and the ability to share high-resolution photos and videos.... Continue reading...
Microsoft’s unified Copilot is coming to Windows, Edge, and everywhere else
Copilot will be available when you need it and out of the way when you don't." | Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge Today, Microsoft announced a new unified Copilot experience in Windows 11, launching on September 26th. The new everyday AI companion," now called Microsoft Copilot in Windows, will be seamlessly available across all the apps and experiences you use most," including the Windows 11 desktop, Microsoft 365, Outlook, the Edge browser, and (uh) Bing.During the event, Yusuf Mehdi, consumer chief marketing officer, called Copilot a handshake between you and technology - available when you need it and out of the way when you don't."In a post announcing Copilot on Microsoft's website, Mehdi wrote:
You can finally ask Siri to play Spotify on a HomePod
Siri can now play your Spotify playlists on your HomePod. | Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge A new feature in iOS 17 finally sets Spotify free - allowing you to use the voice assistant to start your Spotify session directly on your HomePod, hands-free.The capability (spotted by 9to5Mac) allows you to start an AirPlay session from your phone using a Siri command. So now you can say, Hey Siri, play The National on Spotify" to your HomePod, and Siri will route the command through your phone and start streaming Spotify on the smart speaker.It's a workaround, but it works. When The Verge's Dan Seifert tried it, Siri on the HomePod responded, To use Spotify, I'll need to AirPlay from your iPhone," but it just proceeded to do so, no action needed. This prompt sometimes popped up; other times, Siri just responded with on it."Your... Continue reading...
The Surface Go 4 comes with a much-needed performance boost
The Surface Go 4 is now a business exclusive device. | Image: Microsoft Microsoft has announced the Surface Go 4 - the latest version of its affordable 2-in-1 laptop series - at its Surface device launch event today. The new Go 4 features some minor performance upgrades over its predecessor, but it won't be sold to consumers - the company says it's specifically targeted at businesses and frontline workers. As WinFuture leaked last week, the official Surface Go 4 specifications reveal that the two-core Intel Pentium processor featured on the Surface Go 3 has now been replaced with a new, slightly beefier four-core Intel N200 chip.Microsoft has also ditched the 4GB RAM configuration that's been available on previous models, which means the Surface Go 4 will now only be available with 8GB of LPDDR5 memory.... Continue reading...
Microsoft Surface event: the 6 biggest announcements
Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge Microsoft has just wrapped up its September event, where it made several major announcements. Not only did we see some new Surface devices, but Microsoft also shared some updates about the new AI features coming to its products.You can check out all the news from Microsoft's event below.A more powerful Surface Laptop Studio 2 Image: Microsoft Microsoft has finally revealed its new Surface Laptop Studio 2. The company calls it the most powerful" Surface it has built to date, as it comes with Intel's 13th Gen i7 H class processor, Nvidia's RTX 4050 or 4060 GPU, and 64GB of RAM. It also features a more adaptive touchpad that Microsoft calls the most inclusive" yet.The Surface Laptop Studio 2 starts at $1,999. You... Continue reading...
Facebook officially embraces fake profiles
Illustration by Nick Barclay / The Verge Meta is going to let Facebook users create multiple personal profiles and switch between them without logging out and logging back in, according to a blog post published Thursday. Basically, Meta is embracing finstas but for Facebook.Whether you're new to Facebook or a longtime user, you may want to keep your personal and professional relationships separate, or you may want to keep one profile tied to a community you're a part of and another profile just for friends," Meta wrote. Creating multiple personal profiles lets you easily organize who you share with and what content you see for the various parts of your life. Think one profile for the foodie scene you love and another one to keep up with your friends and family."You'll be... Continue reading...
Musicians are eyeing a legal shortcut to fight AI voice clones
Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge People worry about AI taking their jobs, but some musicians could face something more worrying: AI taking their voice. Continue reading...
Microsoft announces the new Surface Laptop Go 3
New Surface Laptop Go 3. | Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge Microsoft has revealed a new third-generation model of its Surface Laptop Go line during its Surface event today. The company's new notebook will launch on October 3rd, have up to 15 hours of battery," and command a starting price of $799.The new Surface Laptop Go 3 is not to be confused with the non-laptop Surface Go, a smaller and less performant version of the popular main Surface tablet line. The 12.4-inch Surface Laptop Go 3 is the company's latest cheap and light notebook offering for those who aren't looking for a powerhouse but like the Surface style.Just as the WinFuture leak suggested, Microsoft's latest Laptop Go release looks similar to the previous Surface Laptop Go 2 but has some new internal upgrades. The previous... Continue reading...
Microsoft announces the Surface Laptop Studio 2 with upgraded chips and ports
The new Laptop Studio 2 looks like the old one, but has much more power inside. | Photo: Chris Welch / The Verge Microsoft just showed off its new high-end convertible laptop, the Surface Laptop Studio 2, at its launch event in New York City. The Laptop Studio 2 keeps the overall aesthetic of its predecessor, including the pull-forward 14.4-inch display that makes it a much more touch-friendly device but adds some welcome power-user features.The Studio 2, which starts at $1,999, runs on Intel's 13th Generation chips - specifically the i7 H class - with an Nvidia RTX 4050 or RTX 4060 GPU inside. It also has an Intel Neural Processing Unit, or NPU, which is the first Intel NPU in a Windows computer. (There were rumblings that Microsoft might be making this chip itself, but it appears not.) You can configure it with up to 2TB of storage and 64 gigs... Continue reading...
Microsoft to add DALL-E 3 to Bing Chat
Image: Microsoft Microsoft announced it will soon add access to OpenAI's DALL-E 3 image generator for users to create images right in a chat.DALL-E 3, which will be released for ChatGPT's enterprise users in October, will allow people to type a couple of sentences to create a photo. Microsoft did not specify when DALL-E 3 on Bing will come out.The company also added new shopping features to Bing. Bing can ask users specific questions on how a product will be used or other more personalized questions so people can pinpoint the right product that suits their needs. Bing also lets people find and use discount codes. These more personalized answers work as Bing also now remembers previous chats.Bing was one of the first Microsoft products to take... Continue reading...
Conservative media mogul Rupert Murdoch is stepping down from News Corp, Fox
Photo by Axelle / Bauer-Griffin / FilmMagic Conservative media mogul Rupert Murdoch is stepping down as chair of Fox and News Corp on Thursday, according to The Wall Street Journal. Murdoch will exit his roles at both companies in mid-November and will be appointed as chairman emeritus of both companies.For my entire professional life, I have been engaged daily with news and ideas, and that will not change. But the time is right for me to take on different roles," Murdoch reportedly wrote in a staff memo Thursday. Our companies are in robust health, as am I."In true Succession style, Murdoch's eldest son, Lachlan Murdoch, appears to be his heir apparent. Lachlan will be taking over as the sole chair of News Corp, the company that owns a vast number of newspapers, magazines,... Continue reading...
Here are the documents the Google antitrust trial judgedidn’twant you to see
Illustration by Cath Virginia / The Verge The already locked-down US v. Google antitrust trial got a little more restricted earlier this week - when Judge Amit Mehta, following a complaint from Google, chided the Department of Justice for posting exhibits from the trial online without notifying him first. These documents are, for all intents and purposes, public: they were viewable in court and will likely be entered into public records, something Mehta acknowledged. Unlike in the recent FTC v. Microsoft debacle, there's no evidence of failed redactions that reveal bombshell details about a company, although the parties have argued over exhibits Google deems irrelevant.Bloomberg's Leah Nylen, who argued for access to the documents in court, has the full writeup of what happened... Continue reading...
MicrosoftSurface and AI event: live coverage from the keynote
Image: Microsoft Microsoft is ready to talk more about its AI plans at a special event" in New York City today. We're expecting to hear about three new Surface devices, with the Surface Laptop Studio 2 the main flagship device that could be part of a bigger AI push for Windows.The event comes just days after former Surface and Windows chief Panos Panay announced his resignation from Microsoft. Panay won't be presenting at the event anymore, and we're expecting to see Yusuf Mehdi, Microsoft's head of consumer marketing, instead. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella will also appear on stage.Microsoft won't be live streaming this event so you can follow along with the latest here. The event starts at 10AM ET / 7AM PT and should run for around an hour. Our own... Continue reading...
Amazon is set to supercharge Alexa with generative AI
Amazon hardware exec Dave Limp during the company's 2023 devices showcase | Image: David Pierce Amazon's assistant now has its own Alexa LLM poised to improve the brains in your smart home thanks to its extensive knowledge of smart home APIs. Continue reading...
Four very different horror movies from TIFF 2023
Sleep. | Image: TIFF This year is shaping up to be a good one for horror, particularly on the festival circuit. Things kicked off nice and early at Sundance with the impressive quartet of Birth/Rebirth, Talk To Me, In My Mother's Skin, and Infinity Pool. This month at TIFF, meanwhile, I watched another four movies that each add something interesting to the genre. What's most impressive about these films is how, when combined, they really show off the breadth of what's possible under the horror banner. You'll wince and cover your eyes, but you'll also laugh.SleepSleep is the first feature from director Jason Yu, and it really taps into a common fear: namely, that something absolutely awful is going to happen when you're sleepwalking. It follows a young... Continue reading...
GM CEO Mary Barra drops out of the Code Conference due to UAW strike
The annual Code Conference is set to kick off next week, but one of our headline speakers won't be there: GM CEO Mary Barra and her new EVP of software, Mike Abbott, have dropped out of the show, citing the ongoing UAW strike and contract negotiations.Mary and Mike unfortunately needed to change their plans to be at Code," writes GM spokesperson Brandee Barker. They are staying focused on the ongoing labor negotiations and supporting internal operations through the strike. They have long been supporters of Code and want to return to a future conference."That's great and all, but we were very much planning to ask Barra about that strike and how negotiations are proceeding - she told CBS that things still have a ways to go" last week.... Continue reading...
Apple’s failure to develop its own modem detailed in new report
Apple wanted the iPhone 15 to use custom-built modems, but failed. | Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge Apple recently extended its deal for Qualcomm modems despite years of effort to develop its own - now we know why. According to a detailed report from the Wall Street Journal, Apple's attempt to develop its own in-house 5G modem has been stymied by issues resulting from the iPhone maker underestimating the complexity and technical challenges of the task, and a lack of global leadership to guide the separate development groups siloed in the US and abroad.Apple's motivation to develop its own modems is reportedly two-fold. First, developing its own silicon had helped improve device performance and increase profit margins. Second, the company wanted to break from Qualcomm, which Apple sued in 2017 over excessive patent fees. They hate... Continue reading...
Pixel Fold replacement parts and iFixit repair guides now available
You can purchase Pixel Fold parts separately or bundled with iFixit's repair tools. | Image: iFixit The prospect of having to repair your own Pixel Fold just became a lot less daunting thanks to Google's continuing partnership with device repair specialists iFixit. As spotted by 9to5Google, iFixit's website now provides multiple repair guides that instruct Pixel Fold owners on how to replace their broken phone components, in addition to stocking the genuine Pixel Fold parts needed to complete the job.Among the parts available is a kit to replace the Pixel Fold's flexible inner screen. It costs $899.99 (or $909.99 when bundled with iFixit's Fix Kit toolset) and includes the inner OLED display, a flexible glass panel, batteries, display bezels, side buttons, and fingerprint scanner. You can also buy some of these components separately,... Continue reading...
Hollywood’s writers’ strike might come to an end soon
Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images Well-connected CNBC anchor David Faber cites people close to negotiations between the major Hollywood studio producers and striking writers, saying the sides hope" to finalize a new deal tomorrow. The WGA strike began in early May before the actors (SAG-AFTRA) also went on strike in mid-July, marking the first time that has happened in 63 years.They cited some similar issues in trying to protect members' livelihoods as streaming entertainment grows and as studios begin to use generative AI tools in the entertainment business.
Fujifilm’s new Instax Pal is a $200 palm-sized digital camera bundled with a smartphone printer
Image: Fujifilm Polaroid recently tried pushing the envelope with the new Polaroid I-2 instant camera, and now Fujifilm's taking a stab at it, too. On Wednesday, the company announced it's releasing a new kind of instant film product geared for kids, the Instax Pal digital camera bundle, for $199.95 in late October.The Instax Pal is essentially a palm-sized, round digital camera that doesn't print any photos and lacks a built-in viewfinder. Instead, it outputs images using the companion app, and you can then print these photos via the included Instax Mini Link 2 smartphone printer. The price also includes a 10-pack of Instax Mini film, which is a nice extra that Fujifilm's instant cameras don't often come with.I'm not going to lie: my first thought... Continue reading...
Iconic League of Legends team TSM replaced by Shopify in pro league
Image: TSM Shopify is entering the League of Legends arena. On Wednesday, Shopify announced that its Rebellion esports brand will be acquiring TSM's spot in the League Championship Series (LCS), the pro circuit for US League of Legends esports.The move marks a major change of the guard in the LCS. TSM, one of the biggest esports organizations in the world, got its start as a scrappy League of Legends team; the TSM acronym stands for Team SoloMid, which references a solo League of Legends player occupying the middle lane of the game's multi-pronged map. In the mid 2010s, TSM was one of the most successful teams in the LCS, and the organization has entered other esports, signed Twitch streamers, and even bought an esports app.
Amazon confirms it’s backing away from charging an extra seller fee
Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge Amazon has officially halted its plans to extract a two percent fee from Prime sellers who don't use its in-house fulfillment. The company reportedly planned to start collecting the fee on October 1st, on top of the 8-to-15-percent commission it already gathers from merchants. After Bloomberg broke the story today based on information it had seen from inside Amazon, we reached out to the company to verify the decision.Amazon PR manager Jonathan Hillson told The Verge in an email that the 2% Seller Fulfilled Prime fee was intended to cover our costs," but added that the company decided not to move forward because it was afraid seller sentiment related to the fee" could affect participation in the program.Hillson went on to say Amazon... Continue reading...
Facebook changed its logo — see if you can tell the difference
The old logo (left) vs. the new one (right). You might be able to guess the meme I'm linking to before you click it. | Logos: Meta; Image by Jay Peters / The Verge Meta is updating Facebook's identity system," and that includes a dramatically refreshed logo.Just kidding! It's basically exactly the same as the last one, except the blue is a darker blue, and the lowercase f" has a few subtle tweaks. You can see the new logo next to the most recent one in the image at the top of this post.Here's Meta's explanation for the changes from a Wednesday blog post:
Here are the details on the grisly deaths of Elon Musk’s Neuralink monkeys
Illustration by Lille Allen / The Verge Elon Musk said earlier this month that no monkey has died as a result of a Neuralink implant," but an alarming new report from Wired seems to contradict Musk's statement. Public documents obtained by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) and seen by Wired indicate that Neuralink's macaque subjects were euthanized after suffering various complications, including bloody diarrhea, partial paralysis, and cerebral edema."Wired writes that the documents show a male monkey was euthanized in March 2020 after his cranial implant became loose," with the necropsy revealing the failure of this implant can be considered purely mechanical and not exacerbated by infection."On Tuesday, Neuralink announced it's starting in-human... Continue reading...
The US is going to restart its free at-home covid test kit program
Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge The US government will again offer free at-home covid tests starting September 25th, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced on Wednesday. The kits are intended for use through the end of 2023; as with previous versions of the free test program, the kits will include four tests along with instructions for verifying extended expiration dates.The government ended its most recent free test kit program on May 31st as cases and hospitalizations dwindled, but hospitalizations have been steadily rising since July, according to The New York Times' covid tracker.According to the HHS release, the White House has invested $600 million for the new round of free kits, which it will purchase from 12 US manufacturers. The... Continue reading...
Amazon leaders were ‘okay’ with people being secretly signed up for Prime, lawsuit alleges
Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge Amazon executives were okay" with people being secretly signed up for its Amazon Prime membership program, the FTC said in an amended lawsuit on Wednesday (as reported by The Wall Street Journal).The original lawsuit, filed in June, claimed that Amazon had tricked millions into unwittingly subscribing to Prime through buttons that were presented prominently during checkout. The FTC added new details to back up its claims on Wednesday, including internal messages and the names of three senior Amazon leaders who allegedly played a key role" in the scheme.The executives include two of Amazon's most senior leaders at the time, Neil Lindsay - the senior vice president who oversaw Prime - and Russell Grandinetti, Amazon's senior vice... Continue reading...
The new Echo Show 8 is smarter, speedier, and knows when you get close
The third-gen Echo Show 8 has a new look and some excellent changes under the hood. | Photo by Alex Cranz / The Verge And Echo Show 8 makes three! Amazon now has three smart home hubs, with the Echo Show 8 (third-gen) joining the newly announced Echo Hub and existing fourth-gen Echo smart speaker in sporting both Thread and Zigbee connectivity. These wireless radios, along with Bluetooth LE, Wi-Fi, and Sidewalk, mean the new Show 8 can be used to set up and control almost any smart home device (sorry, Z-Wave).This also rounds out Amazon's Echo options that fully support the new smart home standard Matter (over both Thread and Wi-Fi) quite nicely, although one at a lower price point than $100 would be good.The third-gen Echo Show 8 ($149.99) also has Amazon's latest AZ2 processor, which makes it 40 percent faster, Amazon's Dave Limp said at the fall... Continue reading...
X ranks the lowest among all social media in combating climate disinformation, study finds
Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge Climate change misinformation - including that which is funded by the fossil fuel industry - continues to thrive on social media. While Google, YouTube, Meta, and TikTok are all still lagging in their moderation of climate denial content, X (formerly Twitter) appears to have no clear policies on what to do with such content and is not transparent with what (if any) actions it is taking, according to an analysis published today by a coalition of environmental groups and researchers known as Climate Action Against Disinformation.Out of a possible 21 points, researchers scored platforms on how effectively they moderate factually incorrect information about the climate - using a combination of the company's community guidelines, terms of... Continue reading...
Panasonic cuts the wires from its SoundSlayer neck speaker for gamers
The Panasonic SoundSlayer (GNW10). | Image: Panasonic Companies keep trying to make neck speakers a thing. People must be buying them, though, because Panasonic is releasing a new one: the GNW10 SoundSlayer, a wireless neck speaker with AI voice isolation (which it confusingly calls AI voice control") for phone calls and in-game voice chat. The SoundSlayer is $299 and will be available in late October of this year.This is essentially an updated version of the wired SoundSlayer neck speaker that Panasonic released two years ago. The biggest change is that the new SoundSlayer employs a small transmitter that plugs into your console or PC and sends audio with a proprietary 2.4GHz wireless protocol that Panasonic says is good for under 20ms of latency. That's less than you'd typically see... Continue reading...
How to preorder all of the new Amazon devices, including the Echo Hub
Among many iterative updates, some of Amazon's new devices include the Echo Hub and Fire TV Soundbar. | Image: Amazon During Amazon's fall hardware event, the company announced a batch of new smart home devices across its Echo, Fire, Eero, and Blink lines. While some of these Amazon product announcements have led to a deluge of Alexa-infused smart home tech, this year's event was slightly more subdued, with a lot of time dedicated to Amazon's new large language model developments. But Amazon still found the time to unveil a bunch of new devices, including a third-gen Echo Show 8, a smart home controller, a pair of kid-friendly tablets, Fire TV Sticks, a Fire TV Soundbar, and more.Some of these devices are coming as soon as October (with one exception that's already in stock today). And while we'll have to review them to see just how well they perform,... Continue reading...
The Orion Video System app turns your iPad into an HDMI monitor with retro vibes
Yes, you can play your docked Nintendo Switch on your iPad like it's a portable monitor. | Image: Lux The developer behind the popular iPhone pro camera app Halide has a new app that lets you use your iPad as an HDMI display you can use to play console games on, monitor your camera on a production set, and more. The app is called the Orion Video System, which is available today on the App Store and features a simple modern design" interface - but with it comes fun retro-themed fonts and menus that remind you of the times you've attempted to set the clock on your VCR.Orion works because Apple's just opened the floodgates for USB video class (UVC) support on the iPad with iPadOS 17. You can now connect compatible webcams and video capture cards to USB-C iPad models (sorry, iPads with Lightning ports), including the cheap sub-$20 ones you... Continue reading...
GitHub’s AI-powered coding chatbot is now available for individuals
Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge Microsoft-owned GitHub is rolling out its AI-powered coding chatbot to more people. The company launched its Copilot Chat tool in public beta for business users in July, and on Wednesday, GitHub announced that it's available in public beta for GitHub Copilot individual users in Visual Studio and Visual Studio Code.Copilot Chat lets users talk to an AI assistant to get help as they're writing code. Now, teams of developers and individuals alike can use GitHub Copilot Chat to learn new languages or frameworks, troubleshoot bugs, or get answers to coding questions in simple, natural language outputs - all without leaving the IDE," GitHub wrote in a blog post. If you aren't already a subscriber and want to check the feature... Continue reading...
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