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Apple’s second take on the HomePod doesn’t stray far from the original, but it’s better all around. Continue reading…

Cyberpunk 2077 is one of the biggest games to get DLSS 3 so far. | Image: CD Projekt Red Cyberpunk 2077 is getting Nvidia’s Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) upscaling technology today. A new update is available for PC users that adds DLSS 3, greatly improving frame rates in Cyberpunk 2077 at both 1440p and 4K.The DLSS 3 addition uses Nvidia’s new Frame Generation technology, which is available exclusively on RTX 40-series GPUs. Nvidia first demonstrated its latest upscaling technology during the unveiling of the RTX 4090 and RTX 4080 GPUs in September, using Cyberpunk 2077 as a main example for better frame rates.We tested out Cyberpunk 2077 with DLSS 3 on the RTX 4090 and saw frame rates jump from 66fps with Psycho ray tracing, max settings, and DLSS 2 quality enabled all the way up to 103fps on average with DLSS 3.... Continue reading…

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge An AI startup that lets anyone clone a target’s voice in a matter of seconds is being rapidly embraced by internet trolls. 4chan users have been flocking to free voice synthesis platform ElevenLabs, using the company’s tech to clone the voices of celebrities and read out audio ranging from memes and erotica to hatespeech and misinformation.Such AI voice deepfakes have improved rapidly over the past few years, but ElevenLabs’ software, which seems to have opened up general access over the weekend, offers a potent combination of speed, quality, and availability — as well as a complete lack of safeguards.Abuse of ElevenLabs’ software was first reported by Motherboard, which found posters on 4chan sharing AI generated voice clips that... Continue reading…

This story was produced as part of The Verge’s partnership with the Computer History Museum to explore the past and future of tech. Located in Mountain View, California, CHM does extensive work in preserving, explaining, and making the history of technology accessible to current and future generations.To learn more about the museum, including its mission and ongoing work, you can visit CHM’s website here.How many times in your life have you clicked “OK”? I personally have lost count. From my first clicks on a Macintosh in the 1990s, it’s been the ubiquitous language of assent for computing — an agreement to countless decisions, large and small.At the birth of Apple’s desktop computing revolution, this was not the plan. The year was... Continue reading…

A render of Project Ghost. | Image: Logitech Logitech, perhaps known best for its personal computer accessories like the webcam I have used (and loved!) for nearly every workday for three years, is revealing an ambitious new prototype on Tuesday: an elaborately designed video chat booth it calls “Project Ghost” that’s designed to be a better space to have virtual conversations.I understand if that description might make you think of Google’s Project Starline, another conceptual video chat booth. When Logitech first told me about Project Ghost, that’s where my mind went. And the core idea is similar: you’ll be able to sit in a booth and talk to a lifelike projection of another person who is in another place in a way that approximates an in-person conversation.But unlike Project... Continue reading…

Google says it’s planning to add Microsoft 365 integration to ChromeOS later this year making it easier for users to install the app and open files. ChromeOS already supports the Microsoft 365 and OneDrive Progressive Web Apps (PWAs), but there’s a promise of “new integration later this year on ChromeOS, making it easier to install the app and open files.”This new integration will include a guided setup to install the Microsoft 365 app and connect OneDrive accounts to the ChromeOS Files app. This OneDrive integration will also see documents in the Files app moved over to Microsoft’s cloud storage when they’re accessed within the Microsoft 365 app. That’s a lot better than OneDrive users having to use the current Android or PWA apps that... Continue reading…

Sony originally estimated that it would shift two million PSVR2 units this quarter. | Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge Sony has reportedly reduced sales projections for the launch of the PlayStation VR2 after receiving fewer preorders than expected for the new virtual reality headset. As reported by Bloomberg, the Tokyo-based tech giant is allegedly halving its quarterly shipment forecast from two million units down to a million units in the run-up to the PSVR2’s release on February 22nd.PSVR2 preorders first went live back in November last year, but many stores continue to take orders without a waitlist despite the product’s launch date being less than a month away — a stark contrast compared to the launch of hardware like the PlayStation 5 or the Meta Quest 2 which struggled to cope with high consumer demand.

Piccolo and Gohan are coming to Fortnite. | Image: Epic Games Fortnite is building on last year’s excellent Dragon Ball event by adding Piccolo and Son Gohan as purchasable skins. The two characters, which are now available to buy in the in-game shop, join a roster of playable Dragon Ball characters that already includes Goku, Vegeta, Beerus, and Bulma.Alongside the introduction of Piccolo and Gohan, the Kamehameha and Nimbus Cloud items will be available on the Fortnite island once more. Kamehameha lets you unleash a super attack, while the Nimbus Cloud lets you soar into the air, and I think both make the game a lot more fun (if chaotic). The Dragon Ball-themed Creative mode island returns as well, and it’s worth checking out to see a bunch of iconic Dragon Ball places built in the Fortnite... Continue reading…

The Galaxy S23, S23 Plus, and S23 Ultra. | Image: Ice Universe We already have a pretty complete idea of how they look in leaked press shots, but new photos show what Samsung’s whole Galaxy S23 lineup will look like in the real world, a day before their official reveal.Photos of the range’s three anticipated models, the Galaxy S23, S23 Plus, and S23 Ultra, were posted to Twitter by leaker Ice Universe. Twitter user Dylan Xitton also published a short clip holding the Galaxy S23 Ultra, which we spotted via SamMobile. It’s since been removed in response to a copyright claim, all-but confirming its authenticity.Thanks to numerous leaks over the past few months we’ve already seen several press renders of the lineup, and there have also been a couple of photos and videos shared previously. But these... Continue reading…

Image: Microsoft / World’s Edge Age of Empires II is extremely special to me. The game came to me by accident at 16, and it has remained a great gaming love of mine ever since. I played Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition on Xbox to see if, after all these years, I could rekindle my fondness for this PC game on console, and it feels like love at first wololo all over again.It is a daunting prospect to play a complex real-time strategy game like Age of Empires without the finely tuned control of a keyboard. There are maps and submenus to click through and units to select and move and control. Yet, the developers at World’s Edge have designed a thoughtful controller interface that, after a couple of hiccups, worked as seamlessly as I remember with a mouse and... Continue reading…

Nick Offerman as Bill and Murray Bartlett as Frank | Image: HBO The Last of Us’ third episode illustrates why breaking away from the source material can be exactly what a video game adaptation needs to do the original story justice. Continue reading…

As Jalopnik jokes, the cars are being recalled because they’re too quiet. | Image: Roberto Baldwin for The Verge BMW is recalling almost 3,500 EVs due to issues with the artificial sound generator that’s meant to warn people when the vehicles are backing up or traveling at low speeds. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website, the recall applies to some 2022 and 2023 BMW i4 and iX models.Federal safety standards require EVs or hybrids to make a certain amount of noise so that pedestrians can tell that there’s a car coming. Since electric motors are generally pretty quiet, especially at low speeds (the tires will likely be pretty loud on their own when you’re going faster), auto manufacturers usually have their cars make artificial sounds. That often ends up being a futuristic hum or whir; for performance... Continue reading…

Apple’s HomePod Mini can now monitor temperature and humidity. While the sort of new HomePod grabbed all the attention this week, the HomePod Mini is also getting some new features. With the launch of iOS 16.3 (likely later this month), the Mini will get all the same smart home capabilities as the new, bigger HomePod second-gen. The differences between the two Apple speaker siblings are now mainly in size and sound capability. From new temperature and humidity sensing tricks to the ability to find your family for you and even set up automations with just your voice, these new features should make the HomePod Mini a little more useful around the house.These new features bring some much-needed functionality to the HomePod lineBoth HomePods are also getting a Sound Recognition feature later this... Continue reading…

Image: SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images The US Federal Aviation Administration has made some changes to prevent outages similar to the one that disrupted thousands of flights earlier this month, according to reports from Reuters and Bloomberg. In a letter to lawmakers viewed by the outlets, FAA administrator Billy Nolen says the agency’s system now has safeguards in place to stop corrupt files from interfering with its backup database.The outage took place on January 11th and involved a computer glitch affecting the FAA’s Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) system. This system provides pilots and other personnel with essential status updates, including information about runway closures, flocks of birds in the airspace, and other safety hazards. The outage lasted more than two... Continue reading…

An example of a TravelCenters of America EV charging station built by Electrify America | Image: TravelCenters of America TravelCenters of America is working with Electrify America to get much-needed EV fast chargers installed at its rest stops across the US. The agreement has Electrify America deploying a sizable 1,000 charging stalls across 200 TravelCenters of America (TA), TA Express, and Petro shopping center locations nationwide.TA’s goal is to install the chargers over the next five years, with the first ones showing up in 2023. The first installations are slated for locations in Texas and Ohio, according to TA’s senior director of communications, Tina Arundel.This isn’t TA’s first foray into providing EV chargers; the company has Tesla Supercharger stations in Washington, Minnesota, and Nevada, as well as FreeWire EV stations in California and... Continue reading…

Image: SpaceX A SpaceX Crew Dragon vehicle currently docked to the International Space Station (ISS) could be used to transport extra crew members back to Earth in the event of an emergency, NASA announced.Following a coolant leak in a Russian Soyuz spacecraft docked to the ISS in December, international space agencies including NASA and Roscosmos worked together to come up with a plan to safely transport crew members home. The plan they settled on was to use a replacement Soyuz craft that will be launched in February.However, observers were concerned about what would happen in the event of an emergency that required the ISS to be evacuated between now and the arrival of the replacement Soyuz. Usually, crew members would evacuate in the vehicles in... Continue reading…

The Kid Laroi’s avatar performing in Fortnite. | Image: Epic Games Checking out The Kid Laroi might be the first time I ever died during a concert — virtually, of course. The Australian singer is the latest artist to headline an interactive Fortnite experience, but this one differs a bit, adding a touch more of the shooter action that’s core to the game. The result is a strangely compelling experience that further expands what these kinds of virtual concerts can be. It even has a miniature raid.Called “Wild Dreams,” the virtual music experience is billed as an “immersive sonic experience portraying Laroi’s journey from humble beginnings to headlining sold-out performances as a worldwide superstar.” Unlike virtual concerts from the likes of Travis Scott and Ariana Grande, which took over the entire... Continue reading…

Holding a silicon wafer with microchips. | Photo by Michael Matthey/picture alliance via Getty Images And hear Seth Rogen’s Donkey Kong in the latest Mario movie trailer. Continue reading…

These Notes are all wasted opportunities to post vague lyrics that are definitely not targeted toward your crush. | Image: Meta Instagram Notes, the social network’s recently launched text status feature that reminds me of the AOL Instant Messenger away messages of my youth, is expanding to the EU, UK, and Japan this week, Instagram head Adam Mosseri announced Monday. The rollout is beginning on Monday, spokesperson Christine Pai said in an email to The Verge.Notes are short text posts of up to 60 characters that float above your profile icon and disappear after 24 hours. The feature officially launched in December, and Mosseri says it’s done “really well” in Asia, North America, and Latin America and “specifically with teens.” The later launch in Europe and Japan was to ensure the feature complied with local regulations, Mosseri said.

Last year’s Nothing Phone 1. | Photo by Allison Johnson / The Verge Nothing’s next smartphone, the Phone 2, will be getting an official US release, the company’s CEO Carl Pei has confirmed in an interview with Inverse. Although the Phone 1’s transparent rear design and flashing light strips didn’t see a US release after the company chose to focus its attention on Europe and Asia, Nothing has decided to change its focus for its 2023 flagship. “We decided to make the U.S. our No. 1 priority in terms of markets,” Pei tells Inverse.Hints of a US launch came earlier this month when Nothing announced a beta program for American buyers, which would supply them with a Phone 1 handset for a $299 fee. But the program is a far cry from an official US release, with Nothing cautioning that devices won’t support 5G... Continue reading…

Image: Sean O’Kane / The Verge A little more than six months after it raised prices on the Mustang Mach-E, Ford said it would now be slashing prices on its flagship electric vehicle as well as increasing its production targets for the year.The Mach-E will drop by an average of around 5.85 percent, depending on the trim level. (Some versions are seeing steeper discounts than others.) According to Marin Gjaja, chief customer officer for Ford Model e division, the “center cut” discount was roughly $4,500.Here’s a breakdown of the new prices:The company also said it was expanding the production capacity for the Mach-E, opening new space in its factory and adding new equipment. As such, Ford says it expects to produce 130,000 vehicles for customers in North America... Continue reading…

Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge Sony says it should now be a lot easier to find PS5 stock at retailers. After two years of supply challenges, Sony has thanked fans for their patience as it delt with “unprecedented demand” since the PS5 launch in November 2020.“If you’re looking to purchase a PS5 console, you should now have a much easier time finding one at retailers globally,” says Isabelle Tomatis, VP of brand, hardware, and peripherals at Sony Interactive Entertainment.Sony recommends its own PlayStation direct store for those looking for a PS5 in the US, UK, France, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg. There are a variety of bundles available, alongside the base digital and disc PS5 consoles.

Image: Internet Archive I never thought I’d actually have fun with a calculator emulator. But here I am, toying with the old-school graphing calculators that the Internet Archive has freed from their plastic chassis and put in a digital form for all to enjoy.The Internet Archive calls this new collection the Calculator Drawer. There are 14 calculators to choose from, including the HP 48GX, TI-82, TI-83 Plus, and even the Electronic Number Muncher, which is an 80s-era toy calculator. The Internet Archive doesn’t just emulate the interface of each device, either; it incorporates their physical design and buttons, making it feel like you have the actual device right in front of you. Screenshot: Emma Roth / The Verge Doing some tough math... Continue reading…

Cruise and Waymo are causing traffic issues in San Francisco. | Image: Getty Images San Francisco transportation officials want Waymo and Cruise to slow the expansion of their robotaxi services in the city due to safety concerns, as reported earlier by NBC News. In two letters written to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), the officials on San Francisco County’s Transportation Authority say the expansion of either service “is unreasonable,” citing recent incidents involving stopped driverless vehicles blocking traffic and obstructing emergency responders.The GM-backed Cruise and Alphabet-owned Waymo are currently the only companies permitted to offer driverless rides to passengers in San Francisco. In June, Cruise won a permit to charge for rides in its autonomous vehicles (AV) between 10PM and 6AM,... Continue reading…

Image: Capcom Capcom will exclusively use PCs to power its upcoming Capcom Cup tournament, which has the world’s top Street Fighter 5 players battling it out for a $300,000 prize pool. In a post on Twitter, Capcom Fighters says all matches will be played on PCs with the displays set to 144Hz.The company doesn’t provide any information on the hardware going into these PCs (or if they’ll just use gaming laptops), but the move’s expected to reduce input lag — the time it takes for a system to translate your button press on a keyboard or controller to an action displayed on the screen. Low input lag is a necessity for pros in the fighting game scene, where a delayed punch or kick can greatly affect the outcome of a match.

Microsoft, GitHub, and OpenAI claim the lawsuit doesn’t hold up. | Photo: Jens Büttner/dpa-Zentralbild/ZB (Photo by Jens Büttner/picture alliance via Getty Images Microsoft, GitHub, and OpenAI want the court to dismiss a proposed class action complaint that accuses the companies of scraping licensed code to build GitHub’s AI-powered Copilot tool, as reported earlier by Reuters. In a pair of filings submitted to a San Francisco federal court on Thursday, the Microsoft-owned GitHub and OpenAI say the claims outlined in the suit don’t hold up.Launched in 2021, Copilot leverages OpenAI’s technology to generate and suggest lines of code directly within a programmer’s code editor. The tool, which is trained on publicly available code from GitHub, sparked concerns over whether it violates copyright laws soon after its release.Things came to a head when programmer and lawyer, Matthew Butterick, teamed... Continue reading…

The deal likely won’t be announced publicly. | Image: Getty Following years of lobbying from Washington, Japan and the Netherlands agreed on Friday to tighten restrictions on the export of chip manufacturing technology to Chinese companies. News of the agreement was reported by Bloomberg, the Financial Times, and The New York Times.The controls are designed to limit China’s ability to ramp up its own domestic chip production and come after the Biden administration announced similar restrictions in October 2022. The fear is that easier access to advanced semiconductors will allow China to shore up its military and artificial intelligence capabilities.There aren’t any plans for a public announcement about the agreement, and it may take “months” for Japan and the Netherlands to “finalize legal... Continue reading…

Frankly, you’re not losing out on much if you opt for Apple’s last-gen wearable. | Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge The Apple Watch remains the go-to smartwatch for iPhone users, but unless you absolutely need some of the new features found on the Apple Watch Series 8, the last-gen Series 7 remains an attractive wearable — that is, when you can find it. Thankfully, you can currently pick it up at Walmart in the 45mm, LTE-equipped configuration for $329, which is $200 less than its newer counterpart typically goes for.In terms of specs, the Series 7 is a lot like the newer Series 8. It features better dust resistance and a larger display than its predecessor, along with all the fitness-tracking metrics you expect and compatibility with watchOS 9. What it doesn’t offer is things like menstrual tracking and crash detection, two features unique to the... Continue reading…

Song of the bots. | Illustration: The Verge Google researchers have made an AI that can generate minutes-long musical pieces from text prompts, and can even transform a whistled or hummed melody into other instruments, similar to how systems like DALL-E generate images from written prompts (via TechCrunch). The model is called MusicLM, and while you can’t play around with it for yourself, the company has uploaded a bunch of samples that it produced using the model.The examples are impressive. There are 30-second snippets of what sound like actual songs created from paragraph-long descriptions that prescribe a genre, vibe, and even specific instruments, as well as five-minute-long pieces generated from one or two words like “melodic techno.” Perhaps my favorite is a demo of “story... Continue reading…

Suppression, not suspension. | Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge Twitter is promising that it’ll take “less severe actions” when disciplining accounts that break its rules; it’ll only suspend Twitter accounts that engage in “severe or ongoing, repeat violations” of its rules. The company also says it’ll be letting anyone appeal suspensions starting February 1st, and that those doing so will be judged using updated standards.What will Twitter do instead of suspending your account? The “less severe actions” are things that Twitter has been doing for years, such as limiting visibility of a tweet, or telling a user to remove a tweet before they can get back onto the site. Today’s change is that Twitter is promising to reach for those tools more often, instead of going straight for the ban button.The... Continue reading…

Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge The Department of Justice announced this week that FBI agents successfully disrupted Hive, a notorious ransomware group, and prevented $130 million worth of ransom campaigns that targets no longer need to consider paying. While claiming the Hive group has been responsible for targeting over 1,500 victims in over 80 countries worldwide, the department now reveals it had infiltrated the group’s network for months before working with German and Netherlands officials to shut down Hive servers and websites this week.“Simply put, using lawful means, we hacked the hackers,” Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco remarked during a press conference.The FBI claims that by covertly hacking into Hive servers, it was able to quietly snatch up over... Continue reading…