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by Umar Shakir on (#6EQNB)
A previous IVAS prototype sent to the Army by Microsoft. | Image: US Army The US Army is awarding Microsoft with another order of advanced mixed reality goggles designed for combat situations, Bloomberg reports. Microsoft had sent the Army a batch of 20 updated prototype headsets in late July, which were tested by two squads of soldiers in August who responded positively to improvements in its design: namely, they no longer felt nauseous and pained while wearing them.Microsoft, in the past year, has worked with the US Army to create HoloLens-like mixed reality headsets known as the Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS), but initial reports in 2022 indicated it was causing headaches, nausea, and eyestrain in testing. The problematic headsets were part of an order of 5,000 headsets the Army started... Continue reading...
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The Verge
| Link | https://www.theverge.com/ |
| Feed | http://www.theverge.com/rss/index.xml |
| Updated | 2025-07-04 09:02 |
by Mia Sato on (#6EQNC)
Illustration by Nick Barclay / The Verge TikTok users - especially young people - are increasingly treating the app like a search engine to find everything from nearby restaurants to news. TikTok search results are, in turn, reflecting that shift.We noticed this week that the app had quietly added Wikipedia snippets to some search result pages for people, places, and events. I found Wikipedia links within search results for The New York Times, Taylor Swift, and Thanksgiving, among others.TikTok spokesperson Zachary Kizer confirmed to The Verge that the company is partnering with Wikipedia to bring information to users directly in-app. Kizer says the feature has been live for a few months, but it doesn't appear the company formally announced it or that media had reported it... Continue reading...
by Jay Peters on (#6EQHG)
Screenshot by Jay Peters / The Verge There has been a lot of smoke around the unannounced Samsung Galaxy Buds FE, but the company may have accidentally confirmed the existence of the wireless headphones by posting what appears to be their official user manual, as reported by WinFuture. The PDF is currently available at this link on Samsung's website, but in case that gets taken down, I've embedded the PDF at the bottom of this article.Looking inside the manual, the earbuds appear to take design some cues from other Samsung headphones, with features such as touchpads and attachable wingtips. Those features and design aren't too surprising given the FE moniker, as Samsung typically uses FE for products that offer many features of its higher-end products at a lower price. (S... Continue reading...
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by Andrew J. Hawkins on (#6EQHH)
Photo by Andrew Hawkins / The Verge EV owners fed up with the often broken, discombobulated charging experience in the US are about to get a lifeline from the federal government.The US Department of Transportation is authorizing $100 million to repair and replace existing but non-operational, electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure." The investment comes from a $7.5 billion pot of money for EV charging that was approved as part of the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The department has already approved around $1 billion for the installation of thousands of new EV chargers along major highways in the US.Broken EV chargers remain a major barrier to broader EV adoption. And it tends to mar the experience of owning an EV, as many EV owners told JD Power earlier... Continue reading...
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by Sheena Vasani on (#6EPNT)
Apple's forthcoming watches boast better performance, a new ultra wideband chip, and other minor improvements. | Image: Apple It's that time of year again. During its Wonderlust event on Tuesday, Apple introduced a number of new gadgets, including the much-rumored iPhone 15 with USB-C and the new Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2. The Series 9 starts at $399, and the Watch Ultra 2 starts at $799, with both set to arrive on Friday, September 22nd.Both watches will ship with watchOS 10 and come equipped with Apple's S9 SiP, which is based on the A15 chip first seen in the iPhone 13. That should translate to improved performance and battery life while allowing on-device Siri processing. They'll also be able to use Apple's new double-tap" feature, which will be available next month and is a kind of spin on Apple's existing AssistiveTouch. The setting... Continue reading...
by Wes Davis on (#6ENQ0)
Illustration by Carlo Cadenas / The Verge A cybersecurity issue" at MGM Resorts has forced the famous hotel and casino company to shut down many of its systems, according to a statement the company posted just before noon ET on X (formerly Twitter). Late on Monday evening, MGM shared another message on X, saying, ...our resorts, including dining, entertainment, and gaming, are currently operational, and continue to deliver the experiences for which MGM is known," and that front desk staff can assist guests as needed.A ransomware group named ALPHV / BlackCat claimed responsibility, according to a post on X, formerly Twitter, from malware tracker vx-underground (via Engadget), saying they received the information directly. The unverified post alleges that the group used a... Continue reading...
by Victoria Song on (#6EQHJ)
California just passed a right-to-repair act in its state legislature - right in Big Tech's backyard. | Image: Apple California just became the third state to pass an electronics right-to-repair act. Senate Bill 244 passed in a 50-0 vote in the California state Assembly on September 12th. The bill also passed the California Senate back in May with a 38-0 vote. The bill is now headed for a final concurrence vote in the Senate before heading to California Governor Gavin Newsom's desk.California now follows in the footsteps of Minnesota and New York. Both states approved similar right-to-repair legislation in the past year. However, the California bill stands out in that it requires companies to expand access to repair materials like parts, tools, documentation, and software for a longer period of time. The bill outlines three years for products costing... Continue reading...
by Sheena Vasani on (#6EQHK)
Google's Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro are both on sale. | Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge All eyes may be on the new iPhone 15, but Android fans shouldn't feel too left out as some of the best Android phones are also now on sale. Right now, you can buy the unlocked Google Pixel 7 Pro for $649 ($250 off) with 128GB of storage at Amazon, Best Buy, and Google, which matches its all-time low price.Google's premium phone has a spacious 6.7-inch screen with a speedy 120Hz refresh rate. It also boasts a faster processor than its predecessor and an all-day battery life. Plus, the phone takes some fantastic photos thanks to an impressive triple array camera system that includes a 48mp telephoto lens.However, If you prefer something cheaper, the standard Google Pixel 7 with its smaller 6.3-inch screen is also on sale for around $449... Continue reading...
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by Victoria Song on (#5RZPG)
Assistive Touch is a new accessibility feature introduced in watchOS 8. | Photo by Victoria Song / The Verge Starting with watchOS 8, Apple introduced a new accessibility feature called Assistive Touch. The cool thing about this feature is that it allows you to control the watch via gestures and your arm movements. Meaning, now you don't even need to touch the Apple Watch screen to use it.The tech behind it is pretty neat. Using on-device machine learning, the feature makes use of the watch's accelerometer, gyroscope, and optical heart rate sensor to read how your muscles and tendons move. The result is that the watch can tell when you're pinching your fingers or clenching your fists. You can also enable a motion-based cursor that works like a mini-mouse when you tilt your arm.To be clear, Apple developed Assistive Touch to make the Apple... Continue reading...
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by Wes Davis on (#6EQDY)
Cold medications on a shelf pictured in Miami, Florida, on September 12th, 2023. | Photo by Joe Raedle / Getty Images The FDA's 16-member advisory panel unanimously voted yesterday that oral phenylephrine, a common active ingredient in cold medications, is no better than a placebo for treating congestion. The call by the panel sets up potential FDA action that could force the removal of certain over-the-counter medications containing the ingredient - including certain formulations of Mucinex, Sudafed, Tylenol, and NyQuil - from store shelves.As noted by The New York Times, the panel's vote doesn't necessarily mean the FDA will take action, but it usually follows panel recommendations. That said, the FDA may hold off for many months, pending contested findings by drug makers and other considerations.The panel tossed out several older studies that... Continue reading...
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by David Pierce on (#6EQE0)
The Links tab looks a lot like Instagram - but it's not pictures, it's links. (With pictures.) | Image: Artifact Artifact, the algorithmic news-reading app started by Instagram co-founders Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger, was never really meant to just be a news-reading app. Systrom and Krieger have talked about their bigger idea being TikTok for text," but so far, all that has meant is a bunch of algorithmically ranked news articles with in-app comments sections. Artifact is a good news app, but that didn't feel as big as TikTok.With a new feature called Links, Artifact is getting a little closer to that vision. Links is a new section in the Artifact app, and it's for far more than news. It's for, well, links. You can post a link in Artifact to just about anything - an article, a video, a recipe, a real estate listing, a game where all you do is m... Continue reading...
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by Antonio G. Di Benedetto on (#6EQDZ)
The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, which are now made of titanium chassis. | Photo by NIlay Patel / The Verge Apple finally got with the program and put USB-C on its new iPhones, but how do they compare to Android phones from the likes of Samsung and Google, where USB-C is nothing but old hat?The iPhone 15 and 15 Pro models Apple announced at its Wonderlust" keynote have various other updates and niceties aside from a new port - like new cameras, Dynamic Islands up and down the line, Roadside Assistance through the satellite function, and an Action Button and lighter titanium build on the Pros - but these still look quite like iPhones until you plug in a charger. And just like many years prior, USB-C represents yet another iPhone adoption that Android phones have had for years.So it's a good opportunity to look at how the iPhone 15 and... Continue reading...
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by Charles Pulliam-Moore on (#6EQE1)
Annette in Castlevania: Nocturne. | Image: Netflix With the debut of Netflix's Castlevania: Nocturne spinoff series quickly approaching, it comes as little surprise that the streamer would want people making time to check out the original show. But rather than simply encouraging viewers to get all caught up on the Belmont clan's adventures ahead of the new Castlevania show's premiere, Netflix is gearing up for a massive showcase of all its animated offerings - one that's probably meant to convince subscribers to stick around after Nocturne drops later this September.Today, Netflix announced its plan to drum up even more excitement for Castlevania: Nocturne with its first Drop 01 virtual event - a digital showcase featuring advanced previews of the new show's first three episodes, as... Continue reading...
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by Umar Shakir on (#6EQE2)
Powerwall 3 could enable a much cleaner install for Tesla energy fans. | Image: Tesla Tesla introduced its newest home battery backup system, the Powerwall 3, which comes with more power throughput and its own built-in solar inverter. The setup makes for a more vertically integrated home solar power installation for new setups compared to the Powerwall 2, which is just a battery.Early details of the Powerwall 3 trickled out in April when we learned it'd come with an easier-to-install process. But the product is still similar to the existing Powerwall 2, starting with the squared-off slate design with a glossy white front. Battery capacity is still 13.5kWh, same as Powerwall 2. There's now a T" logo in the front instead of the spelled-out Tesla logo, and it seems to lack the more visually appealing black finishes on the... Continue reading...
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by Tom Warren on (#6EQE3)
Image: Microsoft Microsoft's Xbox Live Gold replacement, Xbox Game Pass Core, is launching tomorrow with 36 games in total. The Xbox maker originally announced Game Pass Core in July, promising more than 25 games. Microsoft is now revealing that the full list of 36 games includes Fallout 4, Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice, Vampire Survivors, and more.Xbox Game Pass Core launches tomorrow, September 14th, and existing Xbox Live Gold members will be automatically transferred across to the new subscription, which is priced at the same rate of $9.99 per month (or $59.99 per year) as Xbox Live Gold.Microsoft has discontinued its Games with Gold perk in favor of these 36 games that come bundled with the subscription. The list will be updated two to three times... Continue reading...
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by Emilia David on (#6EQE4)
Photo by Jakub Porzycki / NurPhoto via Getty Images Stability AI, a company mostly known for AI-generated visuals, launched a text-to-audio generative AI platform called Stable Audio.Stable Audio uses a diffusion model, the same AI model that powers the company's more popular image platform, Stable Diffusion, but trained with audio rather than images. Users can use it to generate songs or background audio for any project.Audio diffusion models tend to generate a fixed length of audio, which is terrible for music production as songs can vary in length. Stability AI's new platform lets users make sounds at different lengths, requiring the company to train on music and add text metadata around a song's start and end time.Previously, audio taught on a 30-second clip can only generate 30... Continue reading...
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by Ash Parrish on (#6EQE5)
Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge Today, Nintendo announced a 40-minute fall Direct showcase focusing on games scheduled for release this winter, set to stream on September 14th at 7AM PT / 10AM ET.Ever since Nintendo had its Super Mario Bros. Wonder Direct earlier this month, rumors circulated saying that a bigger, more general Direct would follow. Those rumors strengthened when the Gotham Knights ESRB rating page added Nintendo Switch as one of the game's platforms.Additionally, news circulated that Nintendo had a patent for new Joy-Cons that would attempt to address the current controller's problems with stick drift. But the biggest Nintendo rumor out now is the fact that several developers have claimed to see a Switch 2 out in the wild and that developer kits... Continue reading...
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by Ash Parrish on (#6EQAG)
Larian Studios Lots of menus, controls, and buttons to parse, but fundamentally, the game is still the same and still very worth it. Continue reading...
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by Tom Warren on (#6EQAH)
The Pet Tag attaches to a collar. | Image: Ring Amazon-owned Ring is launching a $9.99 Pet Tag today to make it easier to bring lost pets back home. The Ring Pet Tag essentially puts a QR code on your dog or cat's collar, which links up to an app. If the unthinkable happens, someone can scan the QR code and help reunite the lost pet with its owner.The QR code is linked to a pet profile that can include information like health conditions and, most importantly, an optional contact me" feature that starts a two-way communication with the pet owner. While you could easily put a regular collar tag on your pet with your phone number, this QR code shields your number, ZIP code, or any other personal information that people frequently place on pet tags. Image: Ring Y... Continue reading...
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by Jess Weatherbed on (#6EQAJ)
Photoshop's Generative Fill tool is finally available outside of the beta app. | Image: Adobe Following several months of beta testing, Adobe has announced that its Firefly generative AI model is now commercially available across Adobe Creative Cloud, Adobe Express, and Adobe Experience Cloud.That means the Firefly-powered workflows that have so far been limited to the beta versions of Adobe's apps - like Illustrator's vector recoloring, Express text-to-image effects, and Photoshop's Generative Fill tools - are now generally available to most users (though there are some regional restrictions in countries with strict AI laws like China). Adobe is also launching a standalone Firefly web app that will allow users to explore some of its generative capabilities without subscribing to specific Adobe Creative Suite applications. Adobe... Continue reading...
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by Emma Roth on (#6EQAK)
Olivia Rodrigo, Mark Zuckerberg, and the MLB now have their own Channels as well. | Image: WhatsApp WhatsApp is rolling out its new Channels feature to more users. The Meta-owned messaging app announced on Wednesday that it's expanding the one-to-many broadcasting feature to over 150 countries.While WhatsApp first introduced Channels in June, it was only available to select organizations in Colombia and Singapore. Just like on the messaging app Telegram, WhatsApp's Channels feature lets you receive updates from creators, organizations, and brands from a single channel. Instagram rolled out a similar feature earlier this year, called broadcast channels.Along with the wider rollout, WhatsApp also announced a few new enhancements coming to the feature. That includes an improved directory that lets you filter channels based on countries,... Continue reading...
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by Jess Weatherbed on (#6EQAM)
Adobe is making it easier to improve and clean up the audio quality of your recorded footage in Premiere Pro. | Image: Adobe Adobe is introducing some new AI and 3D features in beta for Premiere Pro, After Effects, and Frame.io - its popular suite of video and audio editing applications that are designed to improve workflow and speed up time-intensive tasks.To start, Premiere Pro is adding an AI-powered Enhance Speech feature that Adobe claims can make poorly recorded dialogue sound like it was recorded in a professional studio." Enhance Speech automatically removes background noise and provides Premiere Pro users with a mix slider to customize how much of it they'd like to incorporate in their projects. A new Audio Category Tagging feature is also available that automatically flags clips that contain dialogue, music, and sound effects or ambient noise. ... Continue reading...
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by Tom Warren on (#6EQ7F)
Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge Sony is rolling out a big new PS5 update today, just over a month after it first started testing the changes in a beta. The update adds Dolby Atmos, lets you mute that annoying bootup beep, and even supports pairing a second controller as an assist one to let you help friends or family complete a game. Sony is also expanding its PS Remote Play app to Google's Chromecast with Google TV (4K), allowing you to stream games from a PS5 or PS4 to Android TV OS 12 devices.The Dolby Atmos support comes in the form of Sony's 3D Audio implementation (Tempest 3D AudioTech). It's compatible with Dolby Atmos devices like sound bars, TVs, or home theater systems. Media apps like Netflix can also update their apps on PS5 soon to support Dolby Atmos... Continue reading...
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by Jay Peters on (#6EPXK)
Photo by Nilay Patel / The Verge SpaceX said Tuesday evening that it fixed an outage with Starlink, the company's satellite internet service. The network issue has been fully resolved," the company wrote at 9:39PM ET.At 8:33PM ET, the company acknowledged the issue and said it was working on a fix. Starlink is currently in a network outage and we are actively implementing a solution," SpaceX wrote on X (formerly Twitter). We appreciate your patience, we'll share an update once this issue is resolved."
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by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy on (#6EPXM)
Grid Forecast is a new feature in the Apple Home app that tells you when your power grid has cleaner energy available. | Image: Apple Apple's iPhone 15 launch event had a big focus on the company's move toward carbon neutrality, but it also introduced a new smart home feature that can help you leave a lighter footprint on the planet.Arriving with iOS 17, Grid Forecast is a new tool in the Apple Home app that shows you when your electrical grid has relatively clean or less clean energy sources available. This could help you decide when to run your tumble dryer or charge your EV to take advantage of cleaner" energy when you have higher consumption.Grid Forecast is available in the Home app on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch devices running this fall's soon-to-be-released updates, with iOS 17 set for a public launch on September 18th. It is also available as an... Continue reading...
by Umar Shakir on (#6EPXN)
PowerBoost badge means its a hybrid. | Image: Ford Ford's F-150 truck lineup is adding more hybrid powertrain options to more trims for the 2024 model year. New tech additions include the line's first optional heads-up display, so you can check your speed without looking down, and a built-in 5G modem that's up to date with the latest wireless standards.Previously, Ford's cheapest F-150 with a hybrid option, the Lariat, started at $57,480 with a $3,300 add-on. Now Ford says the PowerBoost hybrid option it started offering with the 2021 model will match the starting MSRP on the 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine," without going into specifics about how that works. Just as importantly, you can now get the hybrid at the less expensive XLT trim level, as well as in the high-end Platinum Plus. ... Continue reading...
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by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy on (#6EPDY)
Women Plus Connect is a new feature in the Lyft app that lets women and nonbinary drivers and riders opt to prefer women and nonbinary drivers and riders. | Image: Lyft On Tuesday, rideshare service Lyft launched Women Plus Connect, an in-app feature that matches women and nonbinary drivers with more women and nonbinary riders." The move is an effort to improve safety and encourage more women and nonbinary drivers to work with the company. A report by The Verge found that female rideshare drivers frequently face harassment and sexual assault and feel unsupported by rideshare companies.The feature offers Lyft drivers an option to turn on a preference in the Lyft app to prioritize matches with other nearby women and nonbinary riders. It's not a guarantee, however, and if no riders that match that description are nearby, drivers will still be matched with men. Image: Lyft The... Continue reading...
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by Jay Peters on (#6EPV2)
The ringtones might be good enough to keep you from using that Action Button to turn off the ringer. | Photo by Nilay Patel / The Verge Apple's iPhone is finally getting some new ringtones with iOS 17. As reported by 9to5Mac, the iOS 17 release candidate (RC) has a bunch of additional ringtones, and assuming nothing changes between the RC and the update's official release, you're going to have a few additional sounds to choose from very soon.iOS 17 includes more than 20 new ringtone options and sound alerts," 9to5Mac says. I've installed the RC and listened to many of the new sounds, and I'm a big fan. I'm particularly drawn to the new Journey" ringtone, which sounds like something out of a classic RPG. If you want to hear a few of the new tones, 9to5Mac has a short video you can check out.Some older sounds have been slightly remastered" as well, according to 9... Continue reading...
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by Nathan Edwards on (#6EPV3)
The iPhone 15 and 15 Pro phones will be the first to support the Qi2 open charging standard, but they aren't Qi2-certified yet. | Image: Apple The iPhone 15 and 15 Pro are the first phones to ship with the new Qi2 magnetic wireless charging standard. Well, sort of: it turns out they aren't Qi2-certified yet. But neither is anything else.Qi2 is an update to the Qi wireless charging standard that adds a ring of magnets to ensure proper alignment of the charging coils. You know, like MagSafe. Unlike MagSafe, Qi2 is an open standard - Apple even contributed its magnetic power profile" to it - and Android phone makers are expected to adopt it as well. That's great. Few things are more frustrating than waking up to a dead phone because you plopped it on the charger a few millimeters off-center, and magnetic alignment fixes that. (So does plugging it in, but bear with me.)Qi2 a... Continue reading...
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by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy on (#6EPHS)
Apple brings satellite-powered Roadside Assistance to the iPhone 15 and iPhone 14 in a partnership with AAA. | Image: Apple During the iPhone 15 launch event in Cupertino, Apple announced it's adding satellite-powered Roadside Assistance to the iPhone in a partnership with AAA. Buying and activating a new iPhone 14 or iPhone 15 series device will include two years of Emergency SOS and Roadside Assistance access for free. The services they connect you to are covered under the AAA membership terms or available on a pay-per-use basis for non-AAA members.The Roadside Assistance service - which is US only - is an expansion of the Emergency SOS via satellite feature launched with iPhone 14 last year. If you have car trouble, you can text AAA for assistance for your emergencies, such as being locked out, running out of fuel, or a flat tire (you know, those times... Continue reading...
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by Wes Davis on (#6EPV4)
The noble Apple Polishing Cloth. | Image: Apple It's that time of year again - the time when millions around the world nail their eyeballs to the Apple Store website and wait, unblinking, to find out whether the new iPhones and Apple Watches are compatible with the $19 Polishing Cloth Apple launched in 2021. After all, you bought the cloth as soon as Apple announced it, and you know all about planned obsolescence. Did you waste 19 bucks two years ago?I did some digging, and I am pleased as punch to report that, no, you didn't. Even the brushed titanium-framed iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max are supported. Apple updated its website this afternoon to add no less than six new devices to the cloth's diverse stable of compatible screen-having Apple products. That brings the grand total to... Continue reading...
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by Ash Parrish on (#6EPV5)
Unity Popular video game engine Unity is making big changes to its pricing structure that's causing confusion and anger among developers. Today, Unity announced that on January 1st, 2024, it would be implementing a pay-per-download pricing scheme that would charge developers a flat fee any time a game using Unity software is installed.We are introducing a Unity Runtime Fee that is based upon each time a qualifying game is downloaded by an end user," the company shared on its blog. We chose this because each time a game is downloaded, the Unity Runtime is also installed. Also we believe that an initial install-based fee allows creators to keep the ongoing financial gains from player engagement, unlike a revenue share."Unity went on to... Continue reading...
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by Emma Roth on (#6EPV6)
Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge T-Mobile is buying airwaves from Comcast in a deal valued at up to $3.3 billion. In a blog post on Comcast's site, the company explains that it will sell spectrum in the 600MHz band as it is unlikely" to need it.Comcast announced plans to build out a 5G network for its Xfinity Mobile service last year using spectrum in the 600MHz band and CBRS - an unlicensed spectrum in the 3.5GHz range that companies can use for free. However, Comcast says 5G field tests with CBRS spectrum exceeded" its expectations and that it's found the band to be highly efficient and a significant part of a 5G network."That's why Comcast no longer sees a use for its 600MHz spectrum, which it says T-Mobile will lease to purchase. As part of the deal, T-Mobile... Continue reading...
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by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy on (#6EPV7)
Apple didn't mention Thread connectivity during its iPhone lunch event, but this screenshot shows that along with Wi-Fi 6e support, support for Thread is coming to the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. | Screenshot by The Verge The latest iPhones will be the first Thread-enabled smartphones, according to Apple. The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max (but not the iPhone 15) will support the open-source smart home protocol Thread to open up future opportunities for Home app integrations," the company announced during its iPhone 15 event in Cupertino.How exactly this will impact Apple's smart home isn't immediately clear. The Verge asked around on the ground at the event, and it doesn't seem like even Apple is sure what the Thread radio will do yet.Thread is a mesh networking protocol designed specifically for low-powered, low-bandwidth smart home devices. It aims to reduce latency, help prolong battery life, and improve the reliability of connected devices-... Continue reading...
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by Chris Welch on (#6EPS0)
Image: Apple During its iPhone 15 event, Apple announced that the second-generation AirPods Pro will soon ship with a USB-C case. But it turns out the company quietly made other upgrades that go beyond swapping the case's charging port. For one, the USB-C AirPods Pro have tacked dust resistance onto their existing water and sweat resistance: they're rated IP54 versus the IPX4 of last year's Lightning model. But perhaps more interesting is that these USB-C AirPods Pro will support lossless audio when used with Apple's upcoming Vision Pro headset.This marks the first time that Apple's wireless earbuds have offered lossless playback. The H2 chip in the latest AirPods Pro and Apple Vision Pro, combined with a groundbreaking wireless audio protocol,... Continue reading...
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by Wes Davis on (#6EPS1)
This is what happens when you click on the MagSafe Duo link in Google search. | Screenshot by Wes Davis / The Verge Apple has removed the MagSafe Battery Pack and the MagSafe Duo from its online store, reports 9to5Mac, following today's iPhone 15 event. The pricey accessories have their quirks, but despite the valid criticisms, both devices have some devoted fans, even here at The Verge.Apple began selling the MagSafe Duo in December of 2020 and launched the MagSafe Battery Pack in July of 2021, both during the iPhone 12 generation of phones.You could plug the MagSafe Battery Pack in to check its charge with the pinprick, color-changing LED indicator, but it wasn't helpful: green and you have a full charge, orange and you have, well, less than a full charge. To get a better idea, you have to put it on your phone for an animation that, in my... Continue reading...
by Jay Peters on (#6EPS3)
Image: Apple The newly announced iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will soon let you capture spatial video" that you can watch on the forthcoming Apple Vision Pro headset.The new phones will be able to use the main and ultrawide cameras to create a three-dimensional video," Apple SVP Greg Joswiak said during Tuesday's Wonderlust event. You'll then be able to watch the video captured from those cameras on the Apple Vision Pro, which the company is still planning to release in early 2024. Image: Apple This is really important, as your iPhone is with you all the time, so you won't ever miss capturing a special moment using spatial video, like your family's beach vacation," Joswiak said.The ability to record spatial video on t... Continue reading...
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by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy on (#6EPNQ)
The Flic Twist is a new smart home controller that works with Apple Home, Amazon Alexa and, according to the company, will soon work with Matter. | Image: Flic Buttons are the best. They can make your smart home just work" and don't require wiring, remodeling your home, or shouting at a speaker to make magic happen. Want the lights to dim, your TV to turn on, your thermostat to adjust, and your front door to lock with one tap? Get a button.The newest button from smart home button maker Flic, launching today, adds an exciting twist to the button concept. The Flic Twist ($88.88) is a button that you can push, double-push, twist, and push and twist to control any connected device.The twist feature, in particular, is well suited to dimming lights, adjusting speaker volume or thermostat temperature, and controlling shades - all functions that are hard to achieve with just a button press.As a... Continue reading...
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by Andrew J. Hawkins on (#6EPNR)
Image: Getty Images Ford, BMW, and Honda are joining forces to create a new vehicle-to-grid company that aims to help EV owners save money by sending energy back to the electrical grid.The new company, ChargeScape, will create a single, cost-effective platform connecting electric utilities, automakers and interested electric vehicle customers." Through that platform, EV owners earn financial benefits through a variety of managed charging and energy-sharing services never before possible with traditional gasoline-powered vehicles."The three automakers will each own an equal share of the new company, which is expected to ramp up operations starting next year, pending regulatory approval.EVs are unique in their ability to send energy back to the grid,... Continue reading...
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by David Pierce on (#6EPNS)
Get used to seeing this dongle everywhere for a while. | Image: Apple Apple just made a lot of people's Lightning cables and accessories suddenly redundant by introducing the new iPhone 15, 15 Plus, 15 Pro, and 15 Pro Max. Four phones, not a Lightning port in sight - Apple is all in on USB-C.To make the transition easier, Apple is now selling a bunch of predictably expensive new cables and dongles. Starting with the one you're almost certainly going to need to buy: the USB-C to Lightning Adapter, a $29.99 dongle into which you plug your Lightning device or cable and then plug the dongle into your new phone.If you're ready to live the USB-C life entirely, you can buy Apple's one-meter charging cable, which is $19 and will charge at up to 60 watts. Or, for $29, you can get a two-meter cable that supports... Continue reading...
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by Justine Calma on (#6EPNV)
Apple released its Apple Watch Series 9. | Image: Apple Apple announced its first-ever carbon-neutral products today, but don't get too excited about what that means for the planet. It's way more important to look at the company's environmental impact as a whole rather than fixate on any particular product it's selling as more sustainable.Some of Apple's new watches will be carbon neutral, but only based on select" combinations of cases and bands. Apple also said it plans to stop selling leather accessories like watch bands and phone cases to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.When it comes to climate commitments, boasts about a specific product's sustainability can distract from the far more important goal of reducing the company's overall environmental impact. Apple has a goal of becoming... Continue reading...
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by Nilay Patel on (#6EPNW)
That there is an iPhone 15 Pro. We've just had our first chance to check out the new iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, which Apple just announced at its annual fall event in Cupertino. There are lots of new things about the devices - camera upgrades, the new A17 Bionic chip - but there are three things about the phone you notice right away. The thing is made of titanium; there's an Action Button on the left side; and that's a USB-C port on the bottom. Oh, and a fourth thing: the sides of the phones on display were instantly and immediately covered in fingerprints.At first glance, the 15 Pro looks just like the iPhones Pro before it. But pick one up, and the lighter weight due to the titanium frame is obvious, as are the curved edges. It's just nicer to hold. Apple says the... Continue reading...
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by Ash Parrish on (#6EPNX)
Image: Capcom The big Apple iPhone event did contain some tasty morsels for us gamers, as Apple announced that the Resident Evil 4 remake, Resident Evil Village, Death Stranding, Assassin's Creed Mirage, and The Division Resurgence would all be coming to the iPhone 15 Pro later this year and in early 2024.The advent of cloud gaming makes playing the huge releases reserved for PC and consoles on mobile possible. But because the games are being streamed to the phone, players have to rely on internet speeds to play.Apple's newer silicon made gaming on its laptops actually feel possible, and the company has shown off the capabilities of its M1- and M2-series chips repeatedly at previous keynotes. But thus far, game developers, Hideo Kojima... Continue reading...
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by Ruben Salvadori on (#6EPNY)
Illustration by Nick Barclay / The Verge Here's the latest from Apple's iPhone 15 event. Continue reading...
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by Umar Shakir on (#6EPHT)
The switch is gone. | Image: Apple Apple revealed the new iPhone 15 Pro today, and there's a brand-new button on the side that can be customized to trigger a specific function. This new Action Button" is similar to the one introduced on the Apple Watch Ultra, which can activate workouts, among other abilities.The Action Button, which replaces the ring / vibrate switch, can be programmed to do things like activating the camera, starting a recording, opening a note, or running your own custom shortcuts. The button switches the iPhone between ring and vibrate by default, which is vital since it has replaced the ring / vibrate switch that Apple has included on the iPhone since its debut in 2007. You can feel a haptic feedback when it changes.Those who would like to make... Continue reading...
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by David Pierce on (#6EPHV)
iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max | Image: Apple Apple just announced its new high-end iPhones: the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max. They're made of titanium, they have Action Buttons, and Apple promises they're the most powerful smartphones Apple has ever made. The 15 Pro starts at $999 with 128GB of storage, and the Pro Max at $1,199 with 256GB of storage. Both will be available for pre-order this Friday and on sale September 22nd.This year's Pro has a 6.1-inch screen, and the Pro Max has a 6.7-inch display - same as the new iPhone 15 and 15 Plus. Both are powered by the A17 Pro chip, which Apple says has the fastest performance in any smartphone and can even challenge some high-end PCs. Along with a redesigned GPU, Apple seems to think these devices could be poised to level up the... Continue reading...
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by Chris Welch on (#6EPHW)
Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge It'd be a little strange for Apple to transition the iPhone lineup over to USB-C only to leave its massively popular AirPods Pro stuck with Lightning charging ports. Predictably, that's not what's going to be happening: today, Apple announced that the AirPods Pro will now be shipping with a USB-C charging case. This will let buyers of the new iPhone 15 charge their earbuds using the same cable for both devices. You'll also be able to charge your AirPods from an iPhone, Apple said during the presentation.The AirPods' move to USB-C continues Apple's gradual embracing of the connector and follows the Mac, iPad, iPhone, and even accessories like the Apple TV 4K's remote control. During the presentation, Apple also announced a revised pair... Continue reading...
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by Tom Warren on (#6EPHX)
Image: Apple Apple has just announced the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus, and the big news is a USB-C port. Finally! We've been waiting for the day that the iPhone would switch to the widely used USB-C standard instead of Apple's proprietary Lightning connector. Apple confirmed last year that it would make the change to USB-C to comply with the European Union's upcoming regulations, and the iPhone 15 is now the first iPhone to make the switch.The iPhone 15 is priced starting at $799 for a 128GB model, and the iPhone 15 Plus starts at $899 for a 128GB version. Both will be available on September 22nd, with preorders starting this Friday. Photo by Dan Seifert / The Verge Apple's iPhone 15 USB-C port. USB-C is good news, but if you... Continue reading...
by Antonio G. Di Benedetto on (#6EPHY)
A close-up look at some of the new FineWoven Apple Watch bands. | Image: Apple Apple has a new premium material for Apple Watch bands and iPhone 15 cases. It's here to replace its leather offerings that, in the case of phone cases at least, have been declining in quality for several years now. The new material is called FineWoven, a soft fabric material Apple will offer in an assortment of iPhone 15 and Apple Watch band colors. The change comes as leather has a significant carbon footprint at Apple's scale," according to Lisa Jackson, Apple's environmental policy VP.FineWoven is a microtwill material that Apple says is constructed from 68 percent postconsumer recycled material. It has a suede-like feel, and its use in Apple Watch bands is complemented by Magnetic Link and Modern Buckle closures. As for the iPhone... Continue reading...
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by Wes Davis on (#6EPHZ)
WatchOS 10 on the Apple Watch Series 9. | Screenshot: Wes Davis / The Verge Apple has announced that watchOS 10 will be ready to download starting on September 18th. The update may be the biggest change to watchOS since Apple released its massively popular smartwatch, overhauling the former honeycomb grid and adding widgets - er, glances, as Apple calls them - that you can swipe through and customize.The company also announced that, for the Apple Watch Series 9, Siri commands will be processed on-device. Apple says that the privacy-preserving nature of on-device processing means users can now ask questions related to personal health and fitness data from the Health app.The new watch will also get a new second-generation ultra wideband (UWB) chip that can detect when a HomePod is nearby so that when you come... Continue reading...
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