The Verge

Lacey still faces about 30 other charges related to prostitution facilitation and money laundering. | Cath Virginia / The Verge | Photos from Getty Images Michael Lacey, a founder of the defunct classified site Backpage.com, received a five-year prison sentence on Wednesday and was fined $3 million. Lacey was found guilty of money laundering last year in a sweeping case that alleged Backpage executives promoted and profited from prostitution.Lacey was convicted on a single count of international concealment money laundering in November 2023 but was acquitted of 50 other charges related to prostitution facilitation and money laundering due to insufficient evidence. He still faces about 30 related charges, according to the Associated Press. Two other Backpage executives - former chief financial officer John Brunst and executive vice president Scott Spear - received 10-year prison sentences... Continue reading...

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge Google recently started letting you use its Gemini AI chatbot to ask questions about your Gmail inbox on the web, and now, that feature is coming to mobile. The company says its Gmail Q&A feature is starting to roll out on Android and that the feature will be coming soon" to iOS.Using Gmail Q&A, you can ask Gemini questions about your inbox or to do things like find specific details in your emails, show you unread messages, view messages from a specific sender, or summarize emails about a topic in your inbox," according to Google's blog post. Google previewed Gmail Q&A earlier this year at its I/O conference. Gmail Q&A could be a potentially useful way to sift through your email or find something that might be buried... Continue reading...

Image: Sonos Sonos is still trying to clean up from the mess from the messy rollout of its new app, and to help give users a better idea of what fixes are in the pipeline, the company has shared a public Trello board detailing fixes that it's working on.All the cards here are sourced from various posts and release notes communications (Future Feature Update, for example), including communications from [CEO Patrick Spence] directly," says Reddit user KeithFromSonos, who is a Sonos employee. What we are hearing and working on is sourced from you - the Community at large and our acknowledgment of that area of opportunity."Sonos launched its new app in May, and shortly after, bad feedback rolled in over things like missing features and the app taking... Continue reading...

Illustration: The Verge OpenAI says that more than 200 million people use ChatGPT each week, as first reported by Axios. OpenAI spokesperson Taya Christianson confirmed the number to The Verge, which is now double the 100 million weekly active users OpenAI reported last November.Additionally, Christianson says that 92 percent of Fortune 500 companies are using OpenAI's products, while API usage has doubled following the release of the company's cheaper and smarter model GPT-4o Mini.Since ChatGPT's launch in late 2022, Google, Microsoft, and Meta have also launched AI chat interfaces of their own, but OpenAI's user base continues to grow. Today, The Information reported that Meta's AI assistant has at least 400 million monthly active users and 40 million daily... Continue reading...

Looks like a Dreamcast. Needs more arrows. | Image: EmuDeck Valve once dreamt of building Linux-based game consoles called Steam Machines. They flopped - but the dream eventually became reality as the handheld Steam Deck instead. Now, a particularly noteworthy Steam Deck enthusiast is reviving the idea of a console-sized Steam Box, one with his own retro gaming twist.Rodrigo Sedano is the founder of EmuDeck, a program beloved by the Steam Deck community. It automatically installs, configures, and enhances emulators for Nintendo, Sega, Sony, and other retro consoles so they work beautifully on Valve's handheld.Now, he wants to make it even easier. He's preparing to sell you a console-shaped custom gaming PC preloaded with that entire Steam + EmuDeck experience, plus a wireless controller, all... Continue reading...

Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge Spotify users on iPhone will no longer be able to control the volume on connected devices using their physical volume buttons. In an update to its support page, Spotify said Apple discontinued" this technology, forcing iPhone owners to use an annoying workaround.This change only affects Spotify Connect, a feature that lets users use their phones to control Spotify on nearby speakers, game consoles, smart TVs, computers, and other devices. Now Spotify will require iPhone users to use an in-app slider to turn the volume up or down instead. Spotify says the change will go into effect on September 3rd, but some users are already seeing it.When an iPhone user presses their physical volume rocker, Spotify will display a notification that... Continue reading...

Image: The Verge OpenAI is reportedly gearing up for a huge round of funding, and Apple and Nvidia might be among the investors.On Thursday, The Wall Street Journal reported that Apple, which is planning to integrate ChatGPT into iOS, is in talks to invest. Soon after, Bloomberg also reported that Apple is in talks but added that Nvidia has discussed" joining the funding round as well. The round is reportedly being led by Thrive Capital and would value OpenAI at more than $100 billion.It's perhaps not too surprising that Apple and Nvidia might end up investing in OpenAI. Apple is set to integrate ChatGPT with Siri later this year, and it reportedly planned to have Phil Schiller join OpenAI's board before apparently abandoning that plan. And Nvidia is... Continue reading...

Image: Toei Animation For years, the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE) has worked with Hollywood's Motion Picture Association (MPA) to crack down on digital piracy, and this week, it seems like the organizations took a huge step toward reaching their goal.Today, ACE - a coalition of over 50 major entertainment companies and production studios, including Amazon, Disney, and Warner Bros. - took partial credit for the shuttering of Fmovies, a popular network of streaming sites hosting pirated films and television shows. In a statement, ACE called Fmovies and its affiliated sites the largest pirate streaming operation in the world," and according to The Hollywood Reporter, two suspects have been arrested by Hanoi police because of their connection... Continue reading...

The Nintendo Switch is still a good handheld, even if the Steam Deck and more powerful options exist. | Photo by James Bareham / The Verge Nintendo recently confirmed it'll announce a next-gen Nintendo Switch next year, but beyond that, the company hasn't revealed much about the forthcoming console (including how much it will go for). If you'd rather not wait and see, the standard Nintendo Switch is currently receiving a rare discount at Amazon, where you can buy it with blue and red Joy-Con controllers for $267 ($33 off).If you like to game on the go, the base Switch remains an excellent handheld, one that can last up to six hours on a single charge. It's still limited to 32GB of built-in storage - unlike the larger, seven-inch Switch OLED - but its built-in microSD card slot means you can always invest in more external storage. That'll come in handy because the... Continue reading...

Image: Universal Pictures Universal Pictures has announced that Jurassic World Rebirth will come to theaters in 2025. The studio didn't release any trailers to accompany the news, leaving us with production stills starring Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey, and Mahershala Ali.

Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge Verizon is the next big phone company to launch a satellite messaging service - and it's coming soon. Starting this fall, the service will let certain smartphones" access emergency messaging and location sharing via satellite in a partnership with Skylo - which is also powering Google's recently announced Satellite SOS feature.Sometime next year, Verizon says customers will also be able to send text messages via satellite.Verizon says the service, which it is launching in partnership with Skylo, won't cost extra. There are no additional costs planned for this service," according to Verizon spokesperson Karen Schulz. Capable devices can take advantage of this irrespective of price plan." Schulz confirmed support for the Pixel 9 Pro,... Continue reading...

Image: Apple The Apple Sports app is gearing up for football season with an update that brings live scores and play-by-play information for NFL and college football games to your iPhone's lockscreen. With Live Activities support for all teams and leagues available in the app for the first time ever" in iOS 18 and watchOS 11, now you can keep tabs on your team's scores from the lockscreen on your iPhone or Apple Watch.In addition to North American football, Apple Sports is adding UEFA Champions League and Europa League next month.For pro and college football fans in the US, the app is also adding a new dynamic drive tracker" visual to show the ball's current position on the field. Image: Apple Live Activities will let you... Continue reading...

Image: The Verge OpenAI and Anthropic have agreed to let the US government access major new AI models before release to help improve their safety.The companies signed memorandums of understanding with the US AI Safety Institute to provide access to the models both before and after their public release, the agency announced on Thursday. The government says this step will help them work together to evaluate safety risks and mitigate potential issues. The US agency said it would provide feedback on safety improvements, in collaboration with its counterpart agency in the UK.Sharing access to AI models is a significant step at a time when federal and state legislatures are considering what kinds of guardrails to place on the technology without stifling... Continue reading...

The Wyze Cam 4. | Image: Wyze Wyze is making it easier to find out which of your cats knocked over your planter while you were gone. It's testing a new AI search feature for Cam Unlimited subscribers that lets you search through footage using keywords, rather than scrolling through all recorded events, as spotted by GeekWire.With the feature, you can search for things that might've been caught on camera, like truck" or delivery person." You can even add more detail to your search by typing something like show me my cat in the backyard" or woman under an umbrella." Wyze will then pull up relevant scenes using AI.However, Wyze notes that the feature isn't perfect and you may get some wonky results at times." Still, it sounds like it could save you from having... Continue reading...

Sure, it's skinny, but it's also blocking the second wall outlet in this image. | Image: Genki If you're in need of a compact and portable USB-C charger, then Genki's TurboCharger might fit the bill. The gaming accessory maker says its new gallium nitride (GaN) accessory is the flattest" 100W wall charger on the market, capable of folding to a thickness of 18 millimeters (0.7 inches) to make it easier to pack.The TurboCharger is compatible with Power Delivery (PD 3.0) and has a pair of USB-C ports on the bottom, which can each supply up to 100W or a 65W / 30W split if charging two devices simultaneously. Its skinny design also means it can fit snugly in tight spaces like behind couches or cupboards, and it keeps its weight closer to the wall to provide a more secure connection that's less likely to fall out. And while the... Continue reading...

SpaceX has yet to set a new date for its delayed Polaris Dawn Falcon 9 rocket launch. | Photo by Joe Raedle / Getty Images The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has grounded SpaceX's reusable Falcon 9 rocket following a failed landing attempt during a recent Starlink mission. After successfully carrying the satellites into orbit on Wednesday, the first-stage booster returned to Earth and toppled into the Atlantic Ocean in a fireball shortly after touchdown, ending a streak of 267 successful landings.The FAA has ordered an investigation into the failed touchdown. The incident involved the failure of the Falcon 9 booster rocket while landing on a droneship at sea. No public injuries or public property damage have been reported," an FAA spokesperson said in a statement to Reuters. A return to flight of the Falcon 9 booster rocket is based on the FAA... Continue reading...

The ThinQ On is LGs new smart home hub. A smart speaker, it uses generative AI for conversational commands and control of connected devices. | Image: LG LG has announced the ThinQ ON, the company's first dedicated smart home hub. The device, which was teased at CES earlier this year, will debut at the IFA 2024 tech show in Berlin, Germany, next week.The ThinQ ON is an AI-powered hub that can connect and control LG appliances and other smart home devices via Thread, Matter, and Wi-Fi. It works on LG's ThinQ smart home platform and uses LG's Affectionate Intelligence to learn from your usage patterns, monitor your appliances, and allow for voice control of connected devices.A small, circular white hub, the LG ThinQ ON is also a smart speaker with LG's AI voice assistant onboard. The company says the assistant can understand natural language, interpret context, and learn user... Continue reading...

Illustration by Cath Virginia / The Verge | Photos from Getty Images The California State Assembly has passed the Safe and Secure Innovation for Frontier Artificial Intelligence Models Act (SB 1047), Reuters reports. The bill is one of the first significant regulations of artificial intelligence in the US.The bill, which has been a flashpoint for debate in Silicon Valley and beyond, would obligate AI companies operating in California to implement a number of precautions before they train a sophisticated foundation model. Those include making it possible to quickly and fully shut the model down, ensuring the model is protected against unsafe post-training modifications," and maintaining a testing procedure to evaluate whether a model or its derivatives is especially at risk of causing or enabling a... Continue reading...

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge Sonos has released an update to its app as it attempts to reverse the fallout from a disastrous redesign. But while the update adds enhanced accessibility settings and improved stability during the product setup process, the update addresses just a fraction of user complaints.Sonos is reintroducing the ability to clear your music queue on the Android app - a feature that's been sorely missed since the app's relaunch. It also added a Night Mode toggle for sound bars, which enhances dialogue without you having to turn up the volume on your TV.There's still plenty of room for improvement, and Sonos has a long list of features to add in its queue. Since the app's controversial redesign in May, Sonos CEO Patrick Spence apologized for... Continue reading...

Illustration: The Verge Apple Music subscribers can now transfer their playlists over to YouTube Music, according to a recent support document spotted by MacRumors. Up until now, Apple did not offer native tools for transferring playlists to rival music services, making YouTube Music the first.There are some caveats, however. Only songs available on YouTube Music can be transferred over, which means you won't be able to migrate audio files like podcasts or audiobooks. You also can't transfer curated or non-collaborative shared playlists, music files, or the folders you've created to organize playlists in Apple Music.To move your playlists over to YouTube Music, you must have an active Apple Music or iTunes Match subscription, as well as an active YouTube... Continue reading...

Image by Alex Castro / The Verge Reddit experienced a widespread outage that impacting the entire site and subreddits earlier today. Millions of Reddit users were met with a Server error. Try again later" message in a red banner at the top of the site for around 45 minutes today. The same outage error was displayed on subreddits and individual posts, too.The status page for Reddit initially indicated the site was experiencing degraded performance" at 4:16PM ET, before identifying the issue just minutes later and then implementing a fix at 4:45PM ET. A fix has been implemented and we are monitoring the results," says Reddit.This latest outage follows similar issues with Reddit in April, where users were met with the same try again later" message after a back-end... Continue reading...

Illustration: The Verge Soon, all of the blogs on Tumblr will be hosted on WordPress. Automattic, the parent company of WordPress.com and Tumblr, announced on Wednesday that it will start to move the site's half a billion blogs to the new WordPress-based backend.This update shouldn't affect the way Tumblr works for users, whom Automattic promises won't notice any difference after the migration. Automattic says the change will make it easier to ship new features across both platforms and let Tumblr run on the stable infrastructure of WordPress.com. (WordPress.com is a private hosting service built on the open-source WordPress content management software.)We can build something once and bring it to both WordPress and Tumblr," the post reads. Tumblr will... Continue reading...

Image: Kristen Radtke / The Verge; Getty Images Transcription apps have become an extremely useful way of keeping records. These apps record and make text transcriptions of important conversations. So, for example, when you're having an important conversation with a lawyer, a doctor, or your insurance company, it's really handy to be able to check exactly what was said later. And, of course, it's vital for writers and journalists, who need to keep records of their interviews.For many years, there have been two types of transcription services available online: ones that use an AI engine and ones that use human transcribers. The latter are usually much more accurate but are also considerably more expensive. Recently, as AI transcriptions have become more precise, they have become more... Continue reading...

Image: Bandai Namco Blue Protocol, an anime-inspired MMO developed by Bandai Namco, will shut down its Japanese servers on January 18th, 2025. The game was in the process of being released in the West, with publishing handled by Amazon Games. Because of the game's pending shuttering, its Western release has been summarily canceled.Blue Protocol's developers released a statement on the game's website in Japanese and English announcing the cancellation. We have worked hard to prepare for the release; however, we have come to the conclusion that it will not be possible to provide a service that satisfies all of you," read the English statement.According to producer Sokichi Shimooka, Blue Protocol was in development for eight years before its Japanese... Continue reading...

Illustration: The Verge Google will soon let Gemini subscribers create custom chatbots that can serve as a gym buddy, cooking partner, writing editor, and more. Users can give the chatbots - called Gems - distinct personalities and specialties by simply describing a set of instructions.Google first introduced Gems during I/O in May. In an example prompt shown by Google, users can create a knowledgeable, casual, and friendly" Gem that can help people plan low- or no-water gardens. For users who don't want to create a custom chatbot right away, Google is offering some premade Gems, including a learning coach, an idea brainstormer, a career guide, a coding partner, and an editor. GIF: Google You can give Gems a name and a set of... Continue reading...

Google's Imagen 3 is capable of generating photorealistic images of people. | Image: Imagen 3 Google is letting its users generate images of people through its Gemini AI chatbot again after pulling the feature earlier this year amid reports of historically inaccurate images, like racially diverse Nazis. In an announcement, Google says it will roll out an early access version of the capability to Gemini Advanced, Business, and Enterprise users in English over the coming days."This upgrade will be powered by Imagen 3, the latest version of Google's AI text-to-image generator. Google quietly launched Imagen 3 through its AI Test Kitchen earlier this month, and now it's coming to Gemini across all languages. The upgraded tool is capable of generating anything from photorealistic landscapes to textured oil paintings with a... Continue reading...

Photo: Getty Images General Motors and Samsung SDI have finalized a $3.5 billion deal to build an electric vehicle battery plant in Indiana, the South Korean company announced Tuesday. The factory will have an initial capacity of 27GWh, which could go up to 36GWh.The factory was expected to start production in 2026, but now it is anticipated that batteries won't start rolling off the line until 2027 at the earliest. Construction at the factory is already underway, The News-Gazette reported.The deal is a sign that the largest automaker in the US is still committed to scaling up EV production, even as its rivals pull back their investment and cancel models. EV sales are still growing, but some automakers are getting cold feet over their earlier... Continue reading...

Photo: Getty Images Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath is resigning from his position and will be replaced by Michael Lohscheller, who previously served as CEO of Stellantis-owned carmaker Opel, the automaker announced Tuesday.The move comes as Polestar has struggled to keep its finances up amid a wider slowdown in EV sales growth. It has gone through several rounds of layoffs and recently saw Volvo drastically reduce its stake in the company. Polestar is expected to report its second quarter earnings on August 29th. The company's stock is currently selling for less than $1.Ingenlath has been at the helm since Polestar's inception in 2017. He oversaw the release of Polestar's first two models: the $150,000 hybrid Polestar 1 sports coupe and the more... Continue reading...

Photo: Joe Raedle / Getty Images The first stage of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket crashed during an attempted landing on a droneship in the Atlantic Ocean last night. The booster had nearly completed its touchdown when it tipped over, dropping into the sea.It was the first time the company has failed to recover one of the reusable boosters since February 2021, ending a streak of 267 successful landings for the reusable boosters, according to CBS News.SpaceX posted about the failed mission at 4:04AM ET, writing that the booster tipped over following touchdown" on what was its 23rd launch. The second stage succeeded in putting a batch of 21 Starlink satellites in orbit, however, 13 of which carry the company's cellular transmission capability.