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Illustration: The Verge A report from Reuters says that work has been ongoing since last year to create a version of TikTok's recommendation algorithm that operates independently from Douyin, the Chinese version of the app operated by its parent company ByteDance. According to the unnamed sources, completing the project could take more than a year as part of a plan to show lawmakers that the US business is independent of its owner in Beijing.The report says executives have talked about the project in all-hands meetings and on the company's internal messaging system, Lark. The sources also said that splitting the source code would cut TikTok off from the massive engineering development power" of its parent company.TikTok responded by tweeting, The Reuters... Continue reading...

Image: The Verge Last week, Google rolled out its AI search results for millions of users to tinker with. The goal was to deliver a better search experience. Instead, AI delivered all sorts of weird results, like saying people should put glue on their pizza to help the cheese stick and eat rocks.Google worked quickly to remove some inaccurate AI results, which it calls AI Overviews, but the damage - and meme-ification - was already done.Now, in a company blog post published Thursday by Google's head of search, Liz Reid, the tech giant blames data voids" for the inaccurate results, along with people making up odd questions, and doubled down by claiming that AI results are leading to higher satisfaction" with Search. Reid argues that AI Overviews... Continue reading...

In New York today, Jeep unveiled its first fully electric SUV for the North American market. And while all the focus was on the $71,995 Wagoneer S, the automaker had one more thing to show off: an off-road-capable Trailhawk concept of the same EV, sitting pretty on 31.5-inch tires.The forest green SUV sports several features that distinguish it from the standard Wagoneer S, including an intimidating laser-cut roof rack, 3D-printed tow hooks, lifted suspension, wheel caps, and a host of other goodies for gearheads and boulder lovers alike.Sitting pretty on 31.5-inch tiresTrailhawk is the trim name usually applied to Jeep's most rugged off-road vehicles, complete with more durable equipment and materials. In addition, Trailhawk... Continue reading...

Image: Jeep Spoiler alert. Continue reading...

Image: Sony Interactive Entertainment Sony's most adorable character (sorry, Sackboy) is getting another outing. At its State of Play showcase today, the company revealed the latest Astro Bot game, which was rumored earlier in the month.It appears to be a direct sequel to Astro's Playroom, so it should make excellent use of the PS5's controller and all of its various functions. The game features 50 worlds to explore - like its predecessor, it looks like those levels will explore PlayStation history to varying degrees - and launches on September 6th. It'll be a PS5 exclusive when it does come out.This will be the first title in the series since Astro's Playroom, a Wii Sports-style pack-in for the PlayStation 5, which was designed to show off the console's then-new DualSense... Continue reading...

Image: Capcom We finally have a few more details about the previously mysterious next Monster Hunter game. Capcom released a new gameplay trailer for Monster Hunter Wilds at Sony's State of Play event, and it features some free-flowing combat, a pretty dark-looking world, and what appears to be some new monsters - including one that looks a lot like a Final Fantasy chocobo. Naturally, it serves as a mount. Capcom describes the new game as taking place in a living world."Wilds is a follow-up to 2018's open-world title Monster Hunter World, which went on to become Capcom's bestselling game ever, topping the likes of Resident Evil, Street Fighter, and Devil May Cry. It was first announced at The Game Awards last year and is coming to the PS5, Xbox... Continue reading...

Image: Santa Monica Studio Ragnarok is nigh - that is, if you've got a PC capable of handling it. During its summer State of Play event, Sony announced that God of War Ragnarok is coming to PC on September 19th. The news was accompanied by a brand-new trailer including the info that the game is now available for preorder.It's been just over a year since God of War Ragnarok released, adding another emotional beat to the story of Kratos, the god of war, and his son, Atreus. When we last left the pair in 2018's God of War, the two had just returned from an epic journey to disperse Atreus' mother's ashes from the highest peak in the nine realms. In Ragnarok, Kratos and Atreus' lives have been upended by the omens heralding the destruction of the realms, an event that... Continue reading...

The Pixel Tablet can now be a video intercom for your Nest doorbell. | Image: Google The Google Pixel Tablet is getting an update that will make it slightly more useful as a smart home device. In a blog post published today, Google said the $400 Pixel Tablet can now pull up a livestream from a Nest video doorbell to show who's at the front door and give you the option to talk to them or send a quick response.The feature - which was first teased this summer - works with all Nest doorbells, including the first-gen and second-gen wired versions and the Nest Doorbell battery, and is part of the Google Home Public Preview. The tablet needs to be locked and docked on its charging speaker dock to show a full screen view.Considering Google Nest Hub smart displays have had the ability to announce visitors and pull up a live... Continue reading...

The stick layout almost reminds me a bit of the Steam Deck. | Image: Scuf Corsair-owned Scuf is best known for its vividly colored, outlandishly priced esports controllers. But its new $99.99 mobile phone controller looks built more for the normies.The Nomad is a clamp-style iPhone controller akin to a Backbone or Razer Kishi, though it features full-size, drift-free Hall effect sticks (with swappable stick toppers) that are symmetrical on the top half of the pad. Around back are two customizable rear paddles amidst the controller's contoured and rubberized grips. If you squint, it looks a bit like a thick-boy version of the Backbone One, though the Nomad is compatible with more phone cases since it relies on Bluetooth for connectivity instead of a protruding USB-C or Lightning plug.Scuf's first foray into... Continue reading...

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge As May draws to a close, Microsoft is squeezing another Windows 11 Canary build across the line that comes with a fresh new connected Android phone feature: Suggested Replies. Now when someone texts to ask how you're doing, you can just click one of several replies like Not bad, you?" or Fine, you?" so you don't have to reach for your phone or your computer keyboard as you click through the web.The feature is part of Phone Link, which lets you connect your mobile phone to Windows so you can send and receive texts, browse recent photos, and take phone calls on your PC. Suggested Replies works by using Microsoft's cloud-based intelligent suggestion model to figure out three replies relevant to the context of the conversation. Windows... Continue reading...

Photo by Justin Lane-Pool / Getty Images A Manhattan jury found former President Donald Trump guilty on all counts in a case accusing him of falsifying business records to conceal payments he made to suppress unflattering stories about him.It's the first time a former president has been convicted of felony charges.In remarks shortly after the verdict, Trump called it a disgrace" and said the trial was rigged."The real verdict is going to be November 5th by the people," Trump said. We didn't do a thing wrong. I'm a very innocent man." He also blamed the Biden administration for the trial, even though the charges were not brought by the federal government, but rather the Manhattan district attorney's office - an independent local enforcer. The X account for Trump's... Continue reading...

Screenshot by Tom Warren / The Verge I've been waiting years for this. The first thing I do when I configure a fresh Windows 11 PC is disable enhance pointer precision" inside the ancient Control Panel and reverse my scroll wheel using the registry editor. Soon, I'll just be able to head into the modern-looking Windows 11 Settings interface to control both of these settings.Windows watcher PhantomOfEarth has discovered that Microsoft is secretly working on adding these options to the Windows 11 Settings interface. The latest Canary build of Windows 11, released earlier today, includes these options in Settings, but they're currently hidden behind a flag. Screenshot by Tom Warren / The Verge Windows laptop users have been able to reverse the scrolling... Continue reading...

Image: Sony Santa Monica Studio Sony is kicking off this year's summer gaming events with a 30-minute showcase highlighting all the games coming to PlayStation this year and beyond. Continue reading...

Image: Apple One of the most beloved series on Apple TV Plus is returning very soon. The streamer just announced that season 2 of the historical epic Pachinko will start streaming on August 23rd. Weekly episodes will air every Friday through October 11th.Based on the novel of the same name by Min Jin Lee, Pachinko follows the multigenerational story of a Korean family immigrating to Japan. While the story unfolded chronologically in the book, the show took a different approach, with a nonlinear narrative that jumped back and forth between eras. The series premiered in 2022, and the show was renewed before the first season was finished.It's not clear exactly which parts of the story season 2 will cover, but Apple did provide a handful of first-look... Continue reading...

The new AI-powered search from Amazon for Fire TVs lets Alexa help you more easily find what you want to watch. | Photo by Allison Johnson / The Verge Navigating the sheer volume of streaming content available today can be a full-time job. Recommendations from friends, blog posts, and TikToks of movies I haven't thought about in years all help. But finding something myself, my husband, my 13-year-old daughter, and my 16-year-old son all want to watch together is still a herculean task.So, when Amazon announced its new AI-powered voice search function for Fire TVs at its fall event last year, I was intrigued. With its promise to make searching for content easier and smarter, I hoped it would be the solution to my problems. I've now had some hands-on time with the new feature, and while it shows promise, like a lot of AI-powered search right now, it's just not reliable enough to be all... Continue reading...

Illustration: The Verge Threads is widely rolling out a desktop site redesign that lets you customize your homepage with a series of feeds, similar to TweetDeck. In a post on Threads, Instagram head Adam Mosseri announced that it's coming to all users globally starting today.With the new layout, you can choose which feeds you want to see by selecting the pin icon in the bottom-left corner of the site. From there, you can display your Following feed, For You feed, saved posts, recent notifications, and more. You can scroll horizontally on your screen to see all of the feeds you've pinned. Or if you're more of a minimalist, you can still display one single feed.Meta started testing the new look earlier this month and says you can turn on autoupdates to... Continue reading...

Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium. | Photo by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy / The Verge Smart home company Ecobee launched a new feature for its thermostats today that will automatically adjust temperatures to save energy when there's a risk of a power outage. And unlike some utilities' energy saving programs, customers will always be able to opt out with Ecobee.Sudden spikes in electricity demand, often triggered by people cranking up their air conditioning during a heatwave, can lead to power outages. One of the most effective tools utilities have to prevent outages are programs that ask customers to conserve energy during those demand peaks, say, by turning down their thermostats.Many homes taking a small action adds up to a big impact on the gridEcobee's new product update offers something similar to residents in... Continue reading...

Image: Microsoft The last time Microsoft really needed Windows developers was when it asked them to build a new type of application that could work across phones, PCs, tablets, Xbox consoles, and headsets like the HoloLens. It was all part of a larger effort to transform Windows with a new interface for touch-friendly apps, designed to rival the iPad.It failed miserably. Developers didn't flock to universal Windows apps, and Microsoft eventually abandoned its touch-friendly UI in favor of a more traditional desktop in Windows 10. The cross-platform dream of the Windows 8 era didn't last very long.Now, Microsoft is trying something new, and it needs developers' help again. It's adding AI models and tools directly into Windows for this first generation... Continue reading...

A new interactive Google Home widget is coming to Android. | Image: Google Quick access to smart home devices is coming to Android in the form of a new Google Home Favorites widget. This will let you control devices, actions, and automations directly from the homescreen of your phone. There's also a new Favorites tile and complication coming to Wear OS for accessing frequently used devices right from your wrist.The new Favorites widget lets you view and interact with the most-used devices directly on your homescreen, no need to open the Google Home app.Currently, the easiest way to do this is to tap on the tile shortcut to the Home app, but this opens the full app. An interactive widget should be faster overall for doing something like turning on a light, locking a door, or checking the temperature. ... Continue reading...

Google's latest grab bag of Android updates is rolling out throughout May and June. | Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge Google is releasing seven new updates and features to make Android devices and services more useful. The most notable update is to Google Messages, which now lets users edit messages up to 15 minutes after they've been sent.This is achieved by tapping and holding on sent RCS messages and then selecting the pencil icon that appears at the top of the screen. The feature has been expected since last year, when references to editing first appeared inside the Messages app code. The Google Messages update starts rolling out today for all phones running Android 8 or later. Similar editing features have already been added to rival messaging services like WhatsApp and iMessage. Image: Google Just tap and hold your sent... Continue reading...

Image: The Verge Anthropic is releasing a new feature for its AI chatbot Claude that will let anyone create an email assistant, a bot to purchase shoes, or other personalized solutions. It's called tool use" (or the nerdier function calling"), and it hooks up to any external API of your choosing.While I'm not a huge fan of the term AI agents," that's essentially the game plan here. For instance, the tool can analyze data to create personalized product recommendations based on a user's purchase history or provide quick responses to customer inquiries, such as tracking order status or offering real-time technical support. To spin up an assistant, all it needs is access to an API and someone who knows how to code.Also, this tool can work with images,... Continue reading...

Illustration: The Verge We've been covering big changes to Google and Google Search very closely here on Decoder and The Verge. There's a good reason for that: the entire business of the modern web is built around Google.It's a whole ecosystem. Websites get traffic from Google Search, they all get built to work in Google Chrome, and Google dominates the stack of advertising technologies that turn all of it into money. It's honestly been challenging to explain just how Google operates as a platform, because it's so large, pervasive, and dominant that it's almost invisible.But if you think about it another way - considering the relationship YouTubers have to YouTube or TikTokers have to the TikTok algorithm - it starts to become clear. The entire web is... Continue reading...

Illustration by Samar Haddad / The Verge If you're selling your Windows computer or passing it on to someone else, you're going to want to first wipe everything. Or you may want to rid yourself of several years of data bloat and start again with a clean slate.The good news is that wiping and reinstalling Windows is a lot easier than it used to be. I'm old enough to remember when it involved hours of file swapping, installation discs, and hours spent putting programs, emails, and files back in place. Thanks to the cloud and online apps, it can now be done in less than an hour.Backing everything up beforehand is vital, though, even if you're planning to leave your personal files in place (which Windows lets you do). When you're planning a backup, besides your personal files,... Continue reading...

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge More than 40 people working on the YouTube Music content operations team were fired in February, about a year after going on strike. On Thursday, 46 Democratic members of Congress sent a letter to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) urging the agency to act quickly on cases filed by the YouTube contractors, who worked on approving music content, against Google.The letter, signed by Congressional Labor Caucus co-chairs Donald Norcross (D-NJ) and Mark Pocan (D-WI) and Reps. Greg Casar (D-TX), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Maxine Waters (D-CA), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), and 41 other members of Congress, says we write to express our serious concern regarding alleged retaliation and other coercive actions" taken... Continue reading...

The Sonos Move 2 comes in an olive color as well as the standard white and black. | Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge Sonos hype may be high right now thanks to the impending launch of the Ace headphones, but its tried-and-true speakers and soundbars are where the deals are at. Now through June 16th, you can save up to 25 percent off select Sonos soundbars and speakers - including some of the latest and greatest models in its Era and Move lines.First up, the best deal is arguably on the Sonos Move 2, which launched in September and is now selling for a new low of $336 ($113 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Sonos. The beefy portable speaker offers up to 24 hours of stereo playback from its user-replaceable cell, which can also be used to charge external devices via USB-C. At 6.61 pounds, it may not be something you take with you everywhere, but the... Continue reading...

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge It seems that the summer of live gaming events is kicking off a little earlier than expected. Sony joined the festivities by announcing its next State of Play showcase, which will air a full week before the busy Summer Game Fest period kicks off. This will be the second such showcase of the year for Sony; earlier in the year, we got fresh looks at Death Stranding 2 and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and the surprise launch of a Silent Hill game.The May showcase promises to be a rapid-fire event. While we don't know exactly what will be featured, Sony says that it will include 14 games in around 30 minutes, spanning both PS5 and PS VR2. There are a number of high-profile titles in the works that could potentially make an appearance,... Continue reading...

Illustration: The Verge I've been using Google Maps for years, and I never knew there was an option to message businesses in the app - that is until I saw this post from Search Engine Land, which says it's going away.The feature, called business profile chat, lets you message a business through the Google Maps and Search apps to ask questions, book an appointment, or request quotes. If a company has business profile chat enabled, you'll see a Chat" option next to the Call" and Directions" icons in Maps or Search. Tap on it, and you can start a conversation. Image: The Verge I've never noticed the Chat" option on Google Maps. But now, it's headed to the Google graveyard. In a notice posted to its website, Google says it will no... Continue reading...

This is Hera's asteroid framing camera being used in Spain for testing navigation algorithms. | Image: MPS / GMV The European Space Agency (ESA) is running some of the final tests required to launch its Hera mission this October, which aims to investigate the asteroid that NASA intentionally slammed a spacecraft into back in 2022. The goal is to gather more accurate information about the collision to help develop systems that can protect our planet by deflecting asteroids that head our way.The spacecraft for the Hera mission is undergoing preflight testing, alongside the Guidance Navigation and Control (GNC) system it needs to maneuver around the Dimorphos and Didymos binary asteroid system. The GNC system is being validated via virtual tests conducted in Spain and Germany using replicas of Hera spacecraft components.The system for Hera's... Continue reading...

Minecraft. | Image: Mojang Fifteen years after the game first launched, Minecraft is getting a new animated series on Netflix. The streamer announced that it's making a show that will feature an original story with new characters, showing the world of Minecraft in a new light." No other details were announced, but the production is being helmed by WildBrain Studios, which previously made adaptations like Sonic Prime and Ninjago. The series is listed as coming soon" but doesn't currently have a date.The news comes amidst a gold rush of video game adaptations. Blockbusters like The Last of Us and Fallout have been turned into successful shows, Mario and Sonic star in hit movies, and adaptations of everything from Among Us to Death Stranding to Stray are in the... Continue reading...

Image: Bungie Bungie's highly anticipated Destiny 2: The Final Shape expansion isn't due to launch until June 4th, but a number of players have been able to get access to the game this morning. Posters on Reddit and in Discord servers have been sharing images and video of gameplay of The Final Shape, which was apparently accessible through Sony's PS5 cloud streaming service.As the entire DLC was playable for at least five hours, Destiny 2 players have been able to share spoilers about upcoming raid gear, seasonal content, The Final Shape campaign and missions, and even cutscenes. Videos have also appeared on YouTube showing an early look at new weapons and gear that will be available next week.The Final Shape could be Destiny 2's most important... Continue reading...

Image: Instagram Instagram is expanding limits," a safety control you can use to hide DMs and comments from accounts who may be harassing you. Now, instead of just hiding content from recent followers or people who don't follow you, Instagram will mute incoming messages from everyone except the users on your close friends list.Even though Instagram first rolled out limits to help creators deal with harassment campaigns, anyone can use the feature if they're facing unwanted messages and comments from bullies and other bad actors. It could give a way to shut down incoming noise without disconnecting people from a supportive community. Image: Instagram When limiting interactions from everyone but close friends, you'll only see DMs,... Continue reading...

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge Amazon now offers restaurant food delivery. And if you pay for Amazon Prime, the delivery part is free.Amazon is now embedding Grubhub into Amazon.com and the Amazon Shopping app, and Amazon Prime customers paying $139 per year for Amazon Prime will now pay $0 for food delivery fees on orders of $12 or more, among other benefits.Amazon had previously offered Prime customers a free one-year subscription to GrubHub Plus, but that one auto-renewed at $129 per year. Now, it's a permanent part of the Amazon Prime subscription.Amazon says the ordering experience is identical" to ordering from Grubhub's website or app and is accessible to all customers, even without Prime.Amazon and Grubhub say they'll continue collaborating on other... Continue reading...

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge Amazon now offers restaurant food delivery. And if you pay for Amazon Prime, the delivery part is free.Amazon is now embedding Grubhub into Amazon.com and the Amazon Shopping app, and Amazon Prime customers paying $139 per year for Amazon Prime will now pay $0 for food delivery fees on orders of $12 or more, among other benefits.Amazon had previously offered Prime customers a free one-year subscription to GrubHub Plus, but that one auto-renewed at $129 per year. Now, it's a permanent part of the Amazon Prime subscription.Amazon says the ordering experience is identical" to ordering from Grubhub's website or app and is accessible to all customers, even without Prime.Amazon and Grubhub say they'll continue collaborating on other... Continue reading...

Peter Serafinowicz will host Million Dollar Secret. | Photo: Kate Green / Getty Images for Paramount Pictures UK Netflix has a new game show on the way called Million Dollar Secret. Netflix says that the eight-episode series will set 11 contestants on the hunt for a 12th one who's been given a $1 million prize in an effort to be the last person standing (and win that prize).The show seems to be aimed at the same audience that made the similarly dystopian-in-tone Squid Game: The Challenge the 15th-most watched TV show on Netflix in the second half of 2023 with over 33 million views (enough to slightly edge out CoComelon S1, Suits S1, and The Crown S6 but still well short of CoComelon S8).Once the $1 million prize holder is found and eliminated by another contestant, the money goes to them, Netflix wrote. But it involves some strategy: players who... Continue reading...

Illustration: The Verge A collection of 2,500 leaked internal documents from Google filled with details about data the company collects is authentic, the company confirmed today. Until now, Google had refused to comment on the materials.The documents in question detail data that Google is keeping track of, some of which may be used in its closely guarded search ranking algorithm. The documents offer an unprecedented - though still murky - look under the hood of one of the most consequential systems shaping the web.We would caution against making inaccurate assumptions about Search based on out-of-context, outdated, or incomplete information," Google spokesperson Davis Thompson told The Verge in an email. We've shared extensive information about how Search... Continue reading...

Image: The Verge Free ChatGPT users can now access custom GPTs, analyze charts, ask questions about photos, and other features added with GPT-4o in early May.Features like model and web responses, data analytics, chart creation, vision, file upload, memory, and custom GPTs were available to paid users - ChatGPT Plus, Teams, and Enterprise - but are now open to anyone using ChatGPT.While free ChatGPT users can discover and use custom GPTs - previously only available to paid subscribers - they won't be able to create their own. Custom versions of ChatGPT we've used already have ranged from an on-demand thesaurus to an Ikea shopping guide. Makers of custom GPTs can also participate in a revenue sharing scheme that OpenAI began testing in March.Having... Continue reading...