The Verge

Here’s some free fantasy advice: draft Jonathan Taylor. | Photo by Andy Lyons / Getty Images Winning the year one PPR at a time Continue reading…

Motional’s all-electric, autonomous Hyundai vehicles are available on the Lyft app in Las Vegas. | Image: Motional A new robotaxi service has officially launched for public use in Las Vegas. It’s being run by Lyft and an autonomous vehicle company called Motional and is a prelude to a fully driverless service that is set to launch in the city in 2023.Motional, which is a joint venture between Hyundai and Aptiv, has been testing its autonomous vehicles in Las Vegas through a joint partnership with Lyft for over four years now. The testing began as a weeklong pilot between Aptiv and Lyft during the annual Consumer Electronics Show in 2018 and has since gone on to complete over 100,000 passenger trips.Today, the companies are announcing the public launch of that service, marking the first time that customers can hail a ride in one of the company’s... Continue reading…

The Twelve South Curve Flex laptop stand, as seen in matte white and matte black. | Image: Twelve South Twelve South has announced the Curve Flex, a laptop stand designed with MacBooks in mind that elevates your device from two to 22 inches and can fold flat for portability. The Curve Flex is offered in a matte finish in either black or white and is available for $79.99 / £79.99 / €89.99.This isn’t the first desktop MacBook riser created by the Apple accessory brand. The Curve Flex combines the best features of some older products in the Twelve South lineup, taking the adjustable functionality from its HiRise adjustable stand and pairing it with a similar design to the original Curve laptop stand. Unlike either of those previous models, however, this latest offering is collapsible, allowing you to fold the stand and throw it into a bag... Continue reading…

Govee’s camera-powered dynamic LED kit matches your games on the fly Continue reading…

“It’s bringing love, don’t let it get away, break its legs!” | Image: Xiaomi Chinese tech company Xiaomi — perhaps best known in the West for ripping off Apple’s designs — has unveiled a prototype bipedal robot: the slick-looking CyberOne.The bot was unveiled last week, and, judging from a brief demo, can do little more than walk across a stage. However, the CyberOne does show us the current state of robot development for a non-specialized company like Xiaomi and offers valuable context as to what we might expect from a, uh, rather similar looking bipedal bot: Tesla’s much-hyped Optimus robot, due to be unveiled as a prototype later this year on September 30th.As per Xiaomi’s official specs, the CyberOne weighs 52kg (114lbs) and stands 177cm tall (that’s 5 foot 8 inches — officially making CyberOne a short... Continue reading…

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge News articles have comments, YouTube has reaction videos, and now a new test from Spotify sees the streaming service experiment with audio reactions for music playlists. The experiment came to light thanks to a Reddit user based in Vietnam who posted screenshots of the reaction prompt.“So what do you think?” the interface reads. “Record an episode to share your thoughts on the playlist.” Below the prompt there’s a green-colored record button to start the audio recording, which it appears will then be uploaded as a podcast episode to the service. There are also some simple editing options like being able to add background music and tags. The reaction feature seems to be accessible via a microphone icon on the playlist’s page.The... Continue reading…

The Polestar 6 is expected to go into production in 2026. | Image: Polestar Polestar announced that its O2 electric roadster concept has graduated to a production model as the Polestar 6, with assembly expected to kick off in 2026.The O2, which was first unveiled earlier this year, was originally designed to showcase the automaker’s bonded aluminum platform, which Polestar produces in-house, as well as some quirkier features like an integrated drone for aerial filming. The roadster is the company’s second concept to get upgraded to an official production model after Polestar said it was transforming its Precept concept into the Polestar 5 in 2024.The roadster is the company’s second concept to get upgraded to an official production modelThe Swedish company, which is a joint venture between Volvo and its... Continue reading…

Image: Microsoft Microsoft is now allowing developers to access a preview version of its Microsoft Dev Box cloud-powered workstations. The software giant announced Microsoft Dev Box earlier this year, and it’s effectively an easy way for developer to spin up powerful cloud PCs for testing applications. Dev Box includes apps and services designed specifically for developers to quickly access preconfigured workstations.Windows 365 helps manage Microsoft Dev Box, and developers can now preview quickly accessing these Azure Virtual Desktop machines anywhere from a modern browser. Microsoft Dev Box machines will support any integrated development environment (IDE), software development kit (SDK), or tools that run on top of Windows. Image:... Continue reading…

The 245W charger shown charging two laptops, a tablet, and a phone. | Image: Hyper After initially crowdfunding them via an Indiegogo campaign, the HyperJuice 245W GaN Desktop Charger charger and the 245W USB-C Battery Pack are now generally available for $200 and $250, respectively. Judging from this story from AppleInsider it looks like both quietly went on sale last week, but Hyper’s official announcement is somewhat confusingly dated both August 15th and August 8th.While the headline feature is 245W of power output, neither the battery pack nor the charger are able to provide all that power to a single device (there’s no support for the USB-C PD 3.1 spec that supports fast charging at up to 240W, for example). Instead, the focus is on charging multiple power-hungry devices like laptops simultaneously. ... Continue reading…

Goku, Vegeta, Bulma, and Beerus in Fortnite. | Image: Epic Games Fortnite’s Dragon Ball event is finally here, and it’s poised to be one of the biggest collaborations that has ever taken place in the game. Not only will there be four playable Dragon Ball characters, but Epic Games is also adding Dragon Ball-themed quests, locations, items, and even dedicated areas to watch episodes of Dragon Ball Super.Let’s get one Spirit Bomb-sized aspect out of the way first — the in-game Dragon Ball skins. You’ll be able to buy Goku, Vegeta, Bulma, and Beerus from Fortnite’s in-game shop, and yes, there are multiple Super Saiyan styles for Goku and Vegeta. Epic will be selling Dragon Ball-themed backblings, pickaxes, gliders, and emotes as well. Image: Epic Games Kaaaaaa... meeeeee...... Continue reading…

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge Apple has informed staff that they will be expected to return to the office three days per week starting September 5th, according to internal emails viewed by The Verge. The news was first reported by Bloomberg.All employees in the Bay Area will be expected to come in on Tuesdays and Thursdays, in addition to a third day every week that’s decided based on individual teams. Employees have the option of working remotely twice a week.The news marks the start of Apple’s much delayed hybrid work model, which was announced in June 2021. The announcement set off a wave of activism within the company as employees protested the return to work. Those protests died down as Apple continued to delay the hybrid work model due to the pandemic.CEO... Continue reading…

Microsoft lost quite a bit of goodwill by forcing the Microsoft Edge browser on uninterested users — but maybe those days are nearing an end? For a possible preview of the future, check this GIF from Leopeva64, who has a future version of Google’s Chrome web browser on their machine, alongside the 2H22 update to Windows 10. GIF by Leopeva64 With Windows 10 22H2 and Chrome Dev, you can apparently now switch your default browser with one click, from inside the browser itself. As of this March, switching your default browser in Windows 11 had already been improved to take just a few clicks in a settings menu, but you can see how the older Windows 10 is even cleaner than that. And with the Chrome and Windows 10... Continue reading…

Security researcher Sick Codes got Doom to run on a John Deere display. | Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON / AFP via Getty Images The internet has shown us that Doom can run on everything from a cardboard box to a Roomba and even a single keyboard key, but now we can add a John Deere tractor to that list. Security researcher Sick Codes worked with Doom modder Skelegant to get the game running on a John Deere tractor display and showed off some gameplay at the Def Con hacking conference in Las Vegas.In the video posted by Sick Codes, you can see how the game plays as a sort of transparent overlay on top of the John Deere user interface (UI). Sick Codes says the whole process took months and involved jailbreaking the Linux system used by the John Deere 4240 tractor. This version of Doom has, naturally, been modified to take place in a corn field, where the player... Continue reading…

Illustration by William Joel / The Verge Android 13 is now rolling out to Google’s Pixel phones, but if you want to flash the update onto your Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, or Pixel 6A, with the company’s custom Tensor chip, you won’t be able to flash back to Android 12 because of a bootloader update, according to a notice on Google’s developer website.“Warning: The Android 13 update for Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, and the Pixel 6a contains a bootloader update that increments the anti-roll back version,” the notice reads. “After flashing an Android 13 build on these devices you will not be able to flash older Android 12 builds.”Additionally, if you’ve been in the Android 13 beta test group and you’d like to get out of the cycle of accelerated updates without erasing your device — usually... Continue reading…

Paramount Walmart has looked at the field of streaming services and finally settled on Paramount Plus as a partner to bundle into its subscription service, Walmart Plus. The company is hoping all those plus signs will help it compete with Amazon, its biggest rival in the “ship everything under the sun directly to a customer’s home” department.Rumors of a possible partnership first emerged last week when The New York Times reported that Walmart was eyeing Paramount, Comcast, and Disney as possible partners. Earlier today, The Wall Street Journal reported that a deal had been signed between Walmart and Paramount. This was followed not long afterward by a press release from Walmart confirming the news and announcing that Walmart Plus subscribers... Continue reading…

Warner Bros. Discovery is cutting some jobs. | Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge After rumors swirled that Warner Bros. Discovery would be announcing a massive restructuring for HBO Max, the company has reportedly eliminated some jobs — though not nearly as many as had been feared. Warner Bros. Discovery is cutting around 14 percent of staff, or about 70 jobs, that had been under the purview of HBO and HBO Max chief content officer Casey Bloys, according to Variety.HBO Max fans had reason to worry about worse cuts — Warner Bros. Discovery shelved Batgirl earlier this month (reportedly for a tax write-off) and has quietly pulled several HBO Max-exclusive films off the service. But ahead of Warner Bros. Discovery replacing HBO Max and Discovery Plus with one combined service next summer, the company is making some... Continue reading…

Photo Illustration by Rafael Henrique / SOPA Images / LightRocket via Getty Images A data breach earlier this month affecting Twilio, a gateway that helps web platforms communicate over SMS or voice, may have had repercussions for users of Signal, the encrypted messaging platform. Today, Signal announced it has alerted 1,900 users that their accounts were potentially revealed to whoever hacked Twilio and said that the attackers searched for three specific numbers during the time they had access.So far, Signal says it has heard from one of those three users that the attackers used their Twilio access to re-register a new device associated with their number, which would allow them to send and receive messages from that account.According to Signal, “message history, contact lists, profile information, whom they’d... Continue reading…

The 2019 versions of the Google Nest Wifi. | Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge Google appears poised to launch an updated Nest router equipped with Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth Low Energy, and Thread mesh networking radios later this year, according to a new FCC filing. It has the model number A4R-G6ZUC, which is similar to IDs assigned to not only the previous Nest Wifi but also the Nest Mini, Thermostat, and even the Google Glass.In June, a source confirmed with 9to5Google that a new Google / Nest router was on its way, and now the outlet says it has confirmed this is the model number for that device.The filing’s internal and external pictures remain confidential and unlisted but break down the wireless technology onboard as well as an “Internal Proprietary Antenna Solution consisting of 6 antennas”:

There are offers available for student, duo, and family subscriptions as well. | Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge Spotify is offering three free months of service for new Spotify Premium users. The three-month offer is available for new individual and student subscribers, while new Spotify Duo and family subscribers can receive one free month. The offer isn’t available to former Premium members, but Spotify is giving those who canceled before July 15th a chance to revamp their subscription at a steep discount, receiving their first three months for $9.99.The new offer is valid for users until Sunday, September 11th. After the three-month trial is over, subscribers who took advantage of the deal will be charged regular price for the subscription. Those interested can sign up at Spotify.com/Premium.This latest deal could help Spotify continue to... Continue reading…

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge Disney and Walmart are making bundles feel worth it Continue reading…

A monitor reads the current temperature as 100 degrees Fahrenheit outside a building during a heatwave in Dallas, Texas, US, on Tuesday, June 21, 2022. | Shelby Tauber/Bloomberg via Getty Images An “extreme heat belt” that stretches across the center of the US is expected to emerge over the next 30 years, subjecting millions more Americans to dangerously hot days. That’s according to new research published today by the nonprofit research group First Street Foundation.The belt is expected to extend from Texas and Louisiana all the way up to Wisconsin. Along the belt, extremely hot days could feel brutal, reaching temperatures that feel hotter than 125 degrees Fahrenheit.“We need to be prepared for the inevitable”About 107.6 million Americans across 1,023 counties will experience that level of extreme heat at least one day a year by 2053. That’s compared to just 8.1 million residents in 50 counties who can expect to suffer... Continue reading…

White-glove delivery might soon be a perk of the past. | Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge Coming on the heels of a third round of layoffs, Peloton is now considering redesigning its bikes so that users can assemble them independently. CEO Barry McCarthy is also considering a plan that would let Peloton app subscribers potentially view workouts on third-party workout machines. McCarthy told Bloomberg that Peloton has been working on a bike redesign “for a while” and, to top it all off, said he hopes Peloton’s long-awaited rower might debut sometime this holiday season. He also confirmed the company hasn’t fully given up on the Tread Plus.All of this tracks with comments McCarthy made in May during the company’s Q3 2022 earnings. At the time, he floated the idea of potentially changing hardware designs so that in the future... Continue reading…

Photo by Brandon Bell / Getty Images Federal authorities are warning of a surge in online threats against law enforcement officials following the FBI’s search of former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home in Florida last week.On Friday, FBI and Department of Homeland Security authorities sent the alert through a joint intelligence bulletin shared with state, local, and tribal law enforcement officials across the country. In the bulletin, federal officials said that the threats are being made “primarily online and across multiple platforms, including social media sites, web forums, video sharing platforms, and image boards,” according to CBS News, and that they observed individuals identifying law enforcement targets and doxxing their sensitive information online.T... Continue reading…

Photo by Budrul Chukrut/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images Apple is allegedly threatening to fire an employee who posted a TikTok video with basic iPhone security tips. The employee, Paris Campbell, says she was told that she breached company policy by identifying herself as an Apple employee and posting about Apple-related topics.The company’s social media policy warns employees against posting about customers, colleagues, or confidential information — but Apple doesn’t specifically bar employees from posting about the technology entirely.“We want you to be yourself, but you should also be respectful in posts, tweets, and other online communications,” an internal document reads.

Photo by Tobias Hase / picture alliance via Getty Images Managing blood pressure at home is already difficult, and syncing blood pressure equipment up to an app doesn’t make the process any better, a new study found. In this case, just like many others, technology isn’t a good replacement for medical support.Millions of adults in the United States have uncontrolled blood pressure, and high blood pressure can put people at risk for heart disease and stroke. Helping people manage their blood pressure is a major goal for health systems — but just sending someone who has high blood pressure home with a cuff isn’t particularly helpful, research shows. What does help is pairing people’s at-home blood pressure tracking with education support programs, regular counseling about medications from... Continue reading…

Keanu Reeves in John Wick: Chapter 2. | Image: Niko Tavernise The Continental, a three-episode series that takes place before the events of the John Wick films, is coming to Peacock in 2023. In a press release, NBC announced that it has reached “a multi-year deal” for The Continental, which was originally set to premiere on Starz.Unlike the films, The Continental won’t center around Keanu Reeves as the titular assassin. It will instead explore the origin of the Continental Hotel that serves as a sanctuary for criminals throughout the John Wick franchise.The series is set in 1975 New York City and follows the younger version of Winston Scott (played by The Flight Attendant’s Colin Woodell) as he tries to gain control of the Continental Hotel. It will also feature Ayomide Adegun as a young Charon,... Continue reading…

Netflix Though Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities began as a bound collection of the director’s nightmarish ideas that weren’t quite ready to be realized, each chapter of Netflix’s upcoming horror anthology based on the book will tell a fully fleshed-out story meant to push the boundaries of the genre. While Cabinet of Curiosities is del Toro’s baby, he’s just one of the many masters of horror with their hands on the eight-episode-long series, and in a new featurette, he breaks down just what all each of his fellow directors has brought to the project.While del Toro’s obviously proud of the two original stories he wrote and directed for Cabinet of Curiosities, it’s the work of his fellow directors like The Babadook’s Jennifer Kent and T... Continue reading…

Android 13 is 2022’s big Android update. | Image: Google This year’s major Android update, Android 13, is officially releasing today for Google’s Pixel phones, the search giant has announced. The annual update is getting an official release a little earlier than usual, following Android 12’s release last October and Android 11’s release in September 2020.The list of updates arriving with this year’s version of Android is likely to be familiar if you’ve been keeping up with Android 13’s beta releases. There’s the ability to customize non-Google app icons to match your homescreen wallpaper that we saw in Android 13’s first developer preview, a new permission to cut down on notification spam, and a new option to limit which of your photos and videos an app can access. Image:... Continue reading…

The game will be based on the books. | Image: Warner Bros. Weta Workshop, which worked on Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings movie trilogy, is developing a new video game set in the Middle-earth universe from J.R.R. Tolkien’s books. There aren’t many details about this new game just yet — though it sounds as if Weta could have a large well of material to choose from. “Middle-earth Enterprises have licensed the literary works of the series, providing Wētā Workshop with the broadest creative license to interpret the underlying lore of the books,” according to a press release.Weta’s game division is partnering with Take-Two publishing label Private Division on the upcoming title. There’s no announced release date, though the game is expected to launch in Take-Two’s 2024 fiscal year, which runs from... Continue reading…

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge The now bankrupt Three Arrows Capital (3AC) presented signs of mismanagement before the cryptocurrency hedge fund’s ultimate collapse. A report from New York Magazine reveals that 3AC co-founders Kyle Davies and Su Zhu faced criticism from banks and other traders before the company even entered the crypto market.In its early days, the Singapore-based 3AC got into foreign exchange (FX) trading and reportedly practiced something called currency arbitrage, which allowed Zhu and Davies to cash in on mispriced quotes from different brokers, even if it resulted in gains of just “fractions of a cent on each dollar traded.” According to New York Magazine, banks would sometimes try to contact 3AC in an attempt to call off or adjust the trade,... Continue reading…

Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge Volkswagen “cannot guarantee” that its ID.4 compact electric SUV will be eligible for the new electric vehicle tax credits that are set to go into effect after President Joe Biden signs the Inflation Reduction Act. The automaker isn’t alone in its confusion.The auto industry is scrambling to adjust to the new rules requiring that EVs must be assembled in North America, using parts and supplies sourced domestically or from official trading partners, in order for customers to qualify for the $7,500 tax credit. Most EVs have batteries that are sourced from China, meaning the new rules are written in such a way as to effectively disqualify the vast majority of EVs on the road today.In an email to customers, VW says it “expects but cannot... Continue reading…

The $2,400 Dione is a luxury buy for people who don’t want to deal with surrounds or a subwoofer Continue reading…

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge Snap is finding early success with its paid subscription service Snapchat Plus. The company says it has amassed 1 million paid users since launching Snapchat Plus in late June.A Snapchat Plus subscription gives users early and exclusive access to features for $3.99 a month, including changing the app icon and seeing who rewatched your story. In July, the company rolled out Snapchat for desktop to subscribers — the first major feature for paid users. New Snapchat Plus features include increased visibility when replying to Snap Stars. Snapchat is also introducing a new set of features today for its more than 1 million Plus subscribers. Among the updates is priority story replies, which makes Plus subscribers’... Continue reading…

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge Update August 15th, 10:55AM ET: Zoom has updated its Mac app to address the vulnerability, with version 5.11.5, which is available for download now.A security researcher has found a way that an attacker could leverage the macOS version of Zoom to gain access over the entire operating system.Details of the exploit were released in a presentation given by Mac security specialist Patrick Wardle at the Def Con hacking conference in Las Vegas on Friday. Some of the bugs involved have already been fixed by Zoom, but the researcher also presented one unpatched vulnerability that still affects systems now.The exploit works by targeting the installer for the Zoom application, which needs to run with special user permissions in order to install... Continue reading…

WeWork co-founder Adam Neumann. | Photo by Ryan Muir / Getty Images via The New York Times Adam Neumann, the co-founder and former CEO of the shared office startup WeWork, is working on a new rental real estate business that has received funding from Andreessen Horowitz. According to a report from The New York Times, the venture capital firm invested around $350 million in Neumann’s up-and-coming real estate business, called Flow, which aims to provide a consistent housing experience across a chain of branded apartment complexes.If you’re at all familiar with the story of WeWork, you might be having a bit of déjà vu. The company, which provides flexible office spaces for workers, was once valued at $50 billion. But after a failed IPO (initial public offering) and the layoffs of thousands of its workers, WeWork became more... Continue reading…

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge | Movie stills by Alamy The site’s long history still has lessons for the internet today Continue reading…

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge Uber is teaming up with Office Depot to bring on-demand office and school supplies to the Uber Eats platform. It’s the latest effort by the ride-hailing company to diversify its delivery options beyond takeout and groceries.Starting today, Uber Eats customers can place orders from 900 Office Depot and OfficeMax locations across the country. “From ink and toner, to backpacks, binders, and more, consumers will be able to shop for thousands of items and have them delivered right to their door,” the company says.In addition, members of Uber’s monthly subscription service, Uber One, will receive special benefits, like free delivery and a 5 percent discount on all orders with a $15 minimum purchase.“From ink and toner, to backpacks,... Continue reading…

The Ark is effectively a curved TV masquerading as a monitor. It’s fast and bright, yet its multiview features may be equally appealing to you Continue reading…

The Pixel 6 (left) next to the Pixel 6 Pro (right). | Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge You have another chance to get a Pixel 6 or Pixel 6 Pro at their lowest respective prices. The 6.4-inch Pixel 6 is $100 off, costing $499 unlocked at Amazon, Best Buy, or through the Google Store. The pricier Pixel 6 Pro has a 6.7-inch display, a higher-res screen, more RAM, and most notably, a telephoto lens with 4x optical zoom on its rear that sets it apart from many flagship phones out there. It normally costs $899, but you can get it for $649 through Amazon, Best Buy, or at the Google Store. To put the price in context, this beats the Prime Day price by $50.You can nab these phones at Target, too, and if you’re very lucky, you may find an especially good deal at your local store on the Pixel 6 Pro. Some Reddit users found the Pixel... Continue reading…

Intel is dropping support for the 20-year-old API across 12th Gen processors and ARC GPUs. | Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge Intel is removing native support for DirectX 9 (DX9) from its new Arc graphics cards and Xe integrated graphics on 12th Gen processors, with support now coming from emulation thanks to DirectX 12.News of the DirectX 9 change comes from a recently updated support page on Intel’s website in which the company states it will drop support for the 20-year-old graphics API but offers reassurance that “applications and games based on DirectX 9 can still work through [the] Microsoft [Windows 10 and Windows 11] D3D9On12 interface.”Microsoft is now shouldering responsibility for optimizations to DirectX 9 games and associated bugsIn essence, while modern Intel GPUs won’t have dedicated drivers for older games that solely run on DX9, such as U... Continue reading…

OLED with few compromises Continue reading…

Samar Haddad / The Verge You’re sitting on the couch watching the latest episode of Bluey with your offspring when the doorbell rings or you hear a noise from the nursery. If you have a Google Chromecast hooked up to your TV, there’s no need to whip out your phone or crane your neck to see the Nest Hub smart display in the kitchen — you can just ask Google to show you a live feed of your doorbell or security camera right on said TV.Any compatible security camera from Nest, Arlo, Wyze, Eufy, Netatmo, TP-Link Kasa, and others can be streamed live on the big screen using any generation of Chromecast. And, as of last month, you can now stream the newer Nest Cams, too, as long as you have a Chromecast with Google TV. Here’s a full list of Nest cams that you can... Continue reading…

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge Text-to-image AI systems are booming in both ability and popularity right now, and what better proof than their appearance in the world’s hottest app: TikTok.The video platform recently added a new effect it calls “AI greenscreen” that allows users to type in a text prompt that the software will then generate as an image. This image can then be used as the background to a video — potentially a very useful tool for creators.The output of TikTok’s system is pretty basic compared to that of state-of-the-art text-to-image models like Google’s Imagen, OpenAI’s DALL-E 2, or Midjourney’s eponymous software. It creates only rather abstract and swirling images; a strength reflected in the dreamy nature of TikTok’s suggested prompts like... Continue reading…

Xbox One S | Photo by Tyler Pina / The Verge Official Xbox One sales have largely been a mystery, but now Microsoft is finally admitting the obvious: the PS4 outsold the Xbox One — by a lot.Microsoft stopped reporting its Xbox One sales figures at the beginning of its 2016 financial year, focusing instead on Xbox Live numbers. The change meant we’ve never officially known how well Xbox One was holding up compared to the PS4 after the Xbox One’s troubled launch. Analyst estimates have consistently put Microsoft in third place behind Sony and Nintendo, and now documents (Word doc) submitted to Brazil’s national competition regulator (spotted by Game Luster) finally shed some light on how the Xbox One generation went.“Sony has surpassed Microsoft in terms of console sales and... Continue reading…

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge Zoom has issued a patch for a bug on macOS that could allow a hacker to take control of a user’s operating system (via MacRumors). In an update on its security bulletin, Zoom acknowledges the issue (CVE-2022-28756) and says a fix is included in version 5.11.5 of the app on Mac, which you can (and should) download now.Patrick Wardle, a security researcher and founder of the Objective-See Foundation, a nonprofit that creates open-source macOS security tools, first uncovered the flaw and presented it at the Def Con hacking conference last week. My colleague, Corin Faife, attended the event and reported on Wardle’s findings.As Corin explains, the exploit targets the Zoom installer, which requires special user permissions to run. By... Continue reading…

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge Reddit now lets users purchase Ethereum cryptocurrency on the platform through an integration with FTX, the crypto exchange owned by billionaire Sam Bankman-Fried. In a press release, FTX announced that Reddit users can now use the firm’s payment system, FTX Pay, when managing their blockchain-based community points.Reddit first rolled out community points in 2020 as a way to reward users for interacting with a community. These points exist on the Ethereum blockchain and are stored in the “Vault,” a user’s blockchain-based wallet that also holds the collectible NFT (non-fungible token) avatars that Reddit introduced last month.Reddit displays a user’s community points next to their username as a measure of their reputation, but also... Continue reading…

Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge Apple could eventually bring ads to more of the apps that come pre-installed on your iPhone and other Apple devices, including Maps, Books, and Podcasts. According to a report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple has internally tested search ads in Maps, which could display recommendations when you search for restaurants, stores, or other nearby businesses.Apple already implements a similar advertising model on the App Store, as developers can pay to have their app promoted on a search page for a particular query, like “puzzle games” or “photo editor.” As noted by Gurman, ads on Maps could work in the same way, with businesses paying to appear at the top of search results when users enter certain search terms.Gurman believes that Apple... Continue reading…

I just played some Halo on an original Xbox, and it was still very good. | Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge Moments after booting up Halo: Combat Evolved with some friends, stepping onto the legendary Blood Gulch map, and dying nearly instantly from a few well-placed pistol shots, I remembered exactly why wires are good.When my friends brought two original Xbox consoles along for a beach weekend, I expected that there would be some hassle getting them to work for our planned six-player matches. The game and consoles are more than 20 years old, likely predating even the dusty flat-screen TVs we were playing on. But to my surprise, just a few minutes after we had set up the consoles and connected them for system link play, we plugged in some controllers, made a Halo lobby, and began trash talking each other across the entire house.Modern... Continue reading…

Illustration by Kristen Radtke / The Verge; Getty Images Elon Musk pitched sustainable energy, brain implants, and space exploration in an article published in a Chinese magazine run by the country’s internet watchdog and censorship agency, according to a translation from Yang Liu, a reporter for the Chinese state press agency, Xinhua. (via WSJ reporter Karen Hao).Formed in 2013, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) is in charge of creating and enforcing policies surrounding online content, user data, and digital security. The CAC later created a magazine that, according to China Media Project senior researcher, Stella Chen, typically includes regulatory announcements and research on internet policy. The magazine was initially called New Media before it was rebranded as China... Continue reading…

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge Uber is ending its free loyalty program, Uber Rewards, so it can turn its attention to its subscription-based Uber One membership. In an email sent to customers, Uber explains that users can still earn points until the end of August, and that the last day to redeem points is October 31st.“Thank you for being part of Uber Rewards,” the email reads. “It’s been a great ride, but we’ve decided to end Rewards soon, as we shift our focus to our new Uber One membership program.” Screenshot: Uber via Michael Konen The email sent to Uber Rewards users. Uber has since posted an update about the loyalty program’s imminent shutdown, which will take place on November 1st, 2022. Launched in 2018, Uber Rewards is a free... Continue reading…