Russian space director’s wild threats could have real implications for the ISS

The announcement of new sanctions against Russia provoked a strong reaction from the head of Russia’s space program, Dmitry Rogozin, yesterday, who seemed to threaten that the restrictions would destroy Russia’s partnership with NASA and lead to the demise of the International Space Station. Though Rogozin is known for his bluster and provocative statements, his comments did spark concern over what NASA would do if the Russians abruptly pulled out of the ISS program — a move that could be a substantial problem.

President Joe Biden announced the new sanctions on Thursday in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, claiming the sanctions would “degrade [Russia’s] aerospace industry, including their space program.” A list of the sanctions r...

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Meta reportedly breaks up the 300-person team that was building a hybrid VR / AR OS

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

Meta has reportedly broken up the around 300-person team tasked with working on an OS for AR and VR headsets, moving some of the engineers to teams working on AR glasses and Oculus (er, Quest) headsets, according to a report by The Information. This comes after recent reports — which Meta denied at the time — that the company had halted work on the team’s project creating a unified custom operating system for its VR and AR headsets.

In January, reports surfaced that Meta canceled the “XROS” project the team was working on (XR is a term used to refer to both augmented and virtual reality). After the reports came out, Reality Labs Vice President Gabriel Aul tweeted that the company was “growing this team, not shrinking it,” and included a...

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Steam Deck review: it’s not ready

Early access memories

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Discord’s new policy will ban harmful medical advice, taking aim at anti-vaxx groups

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

Discord is overhauling its policies and community guidelines to tackle health misinformation, off-platform behavior, and hate speech, the company announced on Friday. It’s the first big policy update for Discord in nearly two years and is designed to target groups or individuals that participate in organized violence, spread harmful anti-vaccination material, or harass other Discord users with hate speech.

After two years of a pandemic, Discord is making its policies more clear about health misinformation. In new community guidelines, which go into effect on March 28th, Discord says users “may not share false or misleading information on Discord that is likely to cause physical or societal harm.” This includes content that could result...

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Razer’s first wireless keyboard with a 65-percent layout is down to its lowest price to date

Razer’s BlackWidow V3 Mini Hyperspeed is just $120 today, its lowest price to date. | Image: Razer

The first Razer keyboard to feature a 65 percent layout is also wireless. The Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini Hyperspeed is usually available for $179.99, but it can currently be found at both Amazon and Best Buy for just $119.99. This discount currently matches the lowest price we’ve ever seen for this keyboard.

The BlackWidow V3 Mini nixes the function row, number pad, and a few of the less popular keys for a board that takes up a bare minimum of space while retaining as much functionality as possible. The keyboard can pair with devices via Bluetooth or wireless 2.4GHz and can last for up to 200 hours on a single charge. It also uses a detachable USB-C connection that allows you to top the battery off quickly and uses custom cable mods too.

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Russia partially restricts access to Facebook to ‘protect Russian media’

Illustration by Kristen Radtke / The Verge

The Russian government has partially blocked access to Facebook in the country after it claims the social network “restricted” the accounts of four Russian media outlets.

In a statement on Friday, Russia’s tech and communications regulator, Roskomnadzor, said Facebook was violating “the rights and freedoms of Russian citizens,” and that it had recorded 23 cases of “censorship” by the social network since October 2020.

“On February 24, Roskomnadzor sent requests to the administration of Meta Platforms, Inc. [to] remove the restrictions imposed by the social network Facebook on Russian media and explain the reason for their introduction,” the Russian regulator said, adding that Meta “ignored” its requests.

Meta has yet to publicly confirm...

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The Dropout on Hulu makes an unconvincing case for Elizabeth Holmes’ humanity

Hulu

Amanda Seyfried stars as Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes

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How to connect your video doorbell to your smart display

This Echo Show 10 is displaying a feed from the Blink Video Doorbell.

Video doorbells are handy devices, alerting you to events at your front door via your smartphone, wherever in the world you are. But when you’re just chilling out at home it’s often easier to turn to your Echo Show or Google Nest Hub to see what’s going on outside, rather than pulling out your phone — or actually getting off the sofa.

Many smart doorbell cameras can connect to Alexa or Google smart displays, including third-party options from companies like Lenovo and Facebook, as well as Fire TV and Chromecast enabled TVs. This lets you bring up a live view of your doorbell camera on a bigger screen with a simple voice command. Then you can see, hear, and, in some cases speak to your visitor or check on that package on your porch.

I...

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Tumblr is settling with NYC’s human rights agency over alleged porn ban bias

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

Tumblr and New York City’s Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) have settled discrimination allegations related to the company’s 2018 adult content ban, which city regulators say disproportionately affected LGBTQ users. The settlement requires Tumblr to revise its user appeals process and train its human moderators on diversity and inclusion issues, as well as review thousands of old cases and hire an expert to look for potential bias in its moderation algorithms.

The settlement, which did not involve a formal legal complaint and was signed last month, marks one of the first times that regulators have reached an agreement to change a social network’s moderation policies based on algorithmic bias issues. It resolves an investigation that the...

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Samsung’s 49-inch gaming monitor is back to its lowest price ever

The G9 is one of the largest Ultrawide panels available. | Photo by Sean Hollister / The Verge

Returning to its all-time low price, the Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 gaming monitor is discounted to $1,999.99 at Amazon, a hefty discount from its typical $2,499.99 price. While there are certainly less expensive gaming monitors out there, few of them can boast specs quite like the G9. The 49-inch curved, mini-LED gaming panel has a resolution of 5120 x 1440p and a whopping 240Hz refresh rate.

The display has a pair of HDMI ports but also has a single input for a DisplayPort connection, and its two USB-A ports also support data passthrough. With so much screen real estate, it's handy that the G9 can display two different video sources at their native resolution simultaneously, allowing you to take full advantage of the vast display. Read...

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Faraday Future made an actual car

Faraday Future, the California-based EV startup that has nearly gone out of business almost too many times to count, has finally made a car.

On Wednesday, the company held an event celebrating the completion of its first “production intent” FF91, the ultra-luxury electric SUV that has been in the works for nearly eight years. Faraday Future — which also goes by Faraday Future Intelligent Electric since merging with a special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC, in July 2021 — claims it is still on schedule to formally begin production of the FF91 in the third quarter of 2022.

It’s certainly a milestone for the company

It’s certainly a milestone for the company, which has experienced high rates of turnover, flirted with bankruptcy...

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Elden Ring PSA: Bandai Namco warns of PS5 save bug

As Elden Ringrockets up the charts, amassing some of the most glowing reviews this side of Breath of the Wild, Bandai Namco has issued a PSA letting players know it’s working on ironing out some of the day-one kinks.

In the PSA, Bandai Namco said it’s working on correcting some issues related to mouse over-sensitivity, PC anti-cheat bugs, and frame rate / game performance issues that, somewhat annoyingly, cause the game to stutter at random moments.

One of the biggest warnings concerns a game save bug on the PS5.

If the PS5 console is unexpectedly turned off while playing a game or in rest mode, saved data may not be saved correctly. We are aware of the cause of this issue and are working on a patch to correct it, but until the patch...

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UK politician who tweeted threat to nail journalist’s balls to the floor pushes user IDs to curb online abuse

Nadine Dorries, now UK Secretary of State, has frequently insulted other Twitter users. | Photo by Rob Pinney/Getty Images

The UK says it will force social media companies to introduce ID verification tools in order to curb online abuse as part of its upcoming Online Safety Bill.

The plans — which are not yet law — would essentially split platforms like Twitter and Facebook into segregated communities, with “verified” individuals able to opt out of all interactions with non-verified users. Critics say the policy will do little to stop online abuse, though, as many trolls are happy to harass people using their own names.

A relevant example of this dynamic has been supplied by the same Tory politician spearheading the new policies: Nadine Dorries, the UK’s Secretary of State. Dorries once threatened a journalist on Twitter that if he tried to contact her...

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The Kings of Kanye’s Instagram

https://www.vulture.com/2022/02/kanye-west-instagram-fame-prodbyzaqq.html

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Inside Galactic Starcruiser, Disney’s hotel where everyone becomes a Star Wars character

Galactic Starcruiser invites guests to live in the Star Wars universe for a two-day trip.

A galaxy far, far away gets a whole lot closer — for $6,000 per stay

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How to update Google Chrome

Okay, let’s start with the obvious: it’s important to keep a browser — any browser — up to date so that it can stay ahead of any malware or other nasties that are out there. It also helps you keep up with new features and interface improvements.

If you’re a Chrome user, it’s likely that your browser will automatically update itself to the latest available version when it’s restarted. However, if you (like me) have a tendency to keep your browser open for long periods of time, it’s possible that it will not update. In that case, you can do it manually.

How will you know whether your browser needs updating? Because when you look at the three dots in the upper right corner (which Google calls “More”), you won’t just see those three dots —...

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MWC 2022: What we know and what to expect

Mobile World Congress is happening in Barcelona from Monday, February 28th through Thursday, March 3rd. It’s typically the world’s largest mobile technology show, where some of the world’s biggest smartphone brands announce their latest devices and new technologies.

In recent years, the show’s big focus has been on the transition to 5G, as well as the emergence of foldable smartphones. But there’s always space for a handful of non-smartphone announcements, whether it’s new laptops or smartwatch updates.

In 2020 the show was canceled, and in 2021 it was a quiet affair. 2022 could be a little different, with major announcements expected from several phone makers. Samsung, which launched its new Galaxy S22 line earlier this month, also has...

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Patreon suspends NGO account collecting money for Ukrainian military

Save a Life’s Patreon tiers were named after military equipment. | Screenshot: Patreon

Patreon says it’s suspended the crowdfunding page for “Come Back Alive,” a Ukrainian NGO that was collecting money to support the the country’s military in response to Russian aggression. In a statement given to CNBC, the platform said it “does not allow any campaigns involved in violence or purchasing of military equipment, regardless of their cause.” Come Back Alive’s page said that funds would be used to train soldiers, as well as provide technical equipment, according to Patreon’s blog post.

Come Back Alive’s Patreon page dates back to at least May 2020, according to the Daily Dot, but as of January 26th this year it had a modest 936 patrons bringing in around $19,000 a month. That all changed this week after Russia invaded Ukraine,...

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Here’s where you can buy a Nintendo Switch

The Nintendo Switch OLED model boasts a vibrant, 7-inch display and slate of minor upgrades. | Image: Nintendo

The Nintendo Switch was, like most consoles during the pandemic, once in short supply. Thankfully, retailers like Best Buy, Amazon, and Walmart now routinely stock the Nintendo Switch, Switch Lite, and upgraded Switch OLED model in multiple color configurations, giving those who struck out ample opportunity to purchase Nintendo’s versatile console.

If you’re not sure where you can pick up a Switch as of right now, we’ve vetted stock and rounded up where you can purchase the Nintendo Switch, the Nintendo Switch Lite, and the new Nintendo Switch OLED model online and in-store. We’ve also scoured the web for any bundle that seems like a good deal, as well as discounts that might be applicable.

Where can I buy a Nintendo Switch right now?

• I...

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What does Russia’s invasion of Ukraine mean for Chernobyl?

 Servicemen take part in a joint tactical and special exercises of the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ukrainian National Guard and Ministry Emergency in a ghost city of Pripyat, near Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant on February 4, 2022.  | Photo by SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP via Getty Images

Conflict between Ukrainian and Russian forces near Chernobyl raised fears that the site of the worst nuclear accident in history might be disturbed. The site still contains radioactive debris, which the world has worked to contain in the 36 years since the disaster.

Russian troops seized the nuclear power plant today, according to scattered reports from officials, including Ukrainian presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak.

“It is impossible to say the Chernobyl nuclear power plant is safe after a totally pointless attack by the Russians ... This is one of the most serious threats in Europe today,” Podolyak said, according to Reuters. The International Atomic Energy Agency, however, said in a statement that the Ukraine regulatory body...

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Paramount’s reportedly spinning up a Beyblade movie with Jerry Bruckheimer

Image: Hasbro

Paramount is reportedly making a live-action movie based on Beyblade fighting tops, which Deadline says will be produced by Jerry Bruckheimer (who’s had a hand in the Pirates of the Caribbean and National Treasure franchises, and has produced movies like Bad Boys and Black Hawk Down). For those unfamiliar, Beyblades are toys that you fling together into an arena using a specialized launcher, hoping to knock your opponent’s Beyblade out of the ring or stop it from spinning. They also feature in several manga series (the first came out around the same time as the toys in 1999), some of which have been turned into animated TV shows.

Deadline says the movie is still in “early production,” but the idea of a Beyblade movie has been floating...

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Etsy hits sellers with 30 percent transaction fee increase

Photo: Chris Welch / The Verge

Following a record-breaking 2021 fourth quarter, Etsy is raising seller transaction fees from 5 percent to 6.5 percent, the company announced today. In a report to investors today, the company says the 30 percent increase will take effect beginning on April 11th. The transaction fee is the percentage of the total order amount Etsy charges when a seller makes a sale.

The added expense to sellers comes as Etsy announced a fourth-quarter revenue of $717.1 million, which the company attributes to a strong holiday shopping season. Etsy added 10 million new buyers in the fourth quarter of 2021, bringing the number of active buyers to a record 90 million. Stock prices jumped more than 15 percent after market close on Thursday following the...

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Outlook bad for Starbucks’ anti-union lawyers

Starbucks workers continue to organize amidst attempted stall | Image: Starbucks Workers United

There’s been an interesting development in the ongoing unionization efforts of Starbucks baristas in upstate New York to join Starbucks Workers United. The legal team hired by the coffee chain to upset the organization of its workers experienced something of a hiccup thanks to an unfortunate software malfunction on February 11th.

The firm Littler Mendelson, who has been representing Starbucks’ anti-union efforts, failed to submit a dispute with the National Labor Relations Board on time due to an untimely crash in the firm’s Microsoft Outlook.

The dispute, called a statement of position, was aimed at stalling the organizational voting of several upstate New York stores. The dispute stated that holding elections for individual stores...

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A fake Ethereum mining fix for Nvidia GPUs was actually malware

Photo by Tom Warren / The Verge

A tool released on GitHub advertised the sought-after ability to unlock the full Ethereum mining capabilities of recent Nvidia RTX graphics cards but actually contains malware. Tom’s Hardware and PC Gamer wrote about the initially promising utility, called “Nvidia RTX LHR v2 Unlocker,” which claimed to remove Nvidia’s “Lite Hash Rate” software that was implemented in newer graphics cards to deter crypto miners from buying gaming GPUs.

In a YouTube livestream yesterday on the Red Panda Mining channel, members of the mining community ChumpchangeXD and Y3TI shared less welcome findings: the tool contained multiple viruses.

Importantly, according to Tom’s Hardware, the tool doesn’t even perform its namesake function of removing the cap on...

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MWC 2022: all the phones and announcements coming out of Barcelona

Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge

Europe’s big mobile trade show is here

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Telemedicine leaves behind non-English speakers, study shows

Photo by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images

People who speak limited English struggled to access telehealth services in the US during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new analysis, affecting their ability to connect with medical care. It’s something experts worried about as soon as health organizations made the switch from in-person to virtual care.

“That was really a concern of ours — who is getting left out?” says Denise Payán, an assistant professor of health, society, and behavior at the University of California, Irvine, who worked on the study.

Payán and her colleagues interviewed staff and patients at two community health centers in California about their experiences with telehealth between December 2020 and April 2021. One of the clinics serves a...

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Judge rejects Elon Musk’s request to force the SEC back into court

Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for TIME

A federal judge denied Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s request to force the Securities and Exchange Commission into court to address his allegations about unpaid settlement funds.

In a recent court filing, US District Judge Alison Nathan said it was “unclear” exactly what Musk was requesting. Musk has accused the SEC of subjecting him and his company to “endless, unfounded investigations” and alleged that the agency was ignoring its commitment to distribute $40 million in fine money to Tesla shareholders, as per the 2018 settlement. The SEC responded that it was still developing a plan to allocate the funds.

Nathan rejects Musk’s request for a conference, arguing that if he wants to impose a deadline on the distribution of funds, he needs to file...

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Dish says its 5G buildout is going great, thanks for asking, how are you?

Dish Network promised regulators it would build a 5G network and become the US’ fourth wireless carrier. | Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

Remember when you were signing up for a new phone plan and you considered options from four major wireless carriers? You don’t — at least, not if you were shopping around in the last couple of years. In the US, we only have three major carriers while Dish Network is in the process of building what is supposed to be our fourth option. That’s the agreement that was reached in the wake of the T-Mobile / Sprint merger, and the company is running up against a Federal Communications Commission-imposed requirement to cover 20 percent of the population by June 2022. So how’s that going? Just fine, according to Dish, even though its 2021 Q4 earnings call today didn’t paint the rosiest picture of its current state.

Chairman Charlie Ergen spoke...

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Tesla CEO Elon Musk and his brother are under investigation for alleged insider trading

Photo by JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images

The Securities and Exchange Commission is looking into whether recent stock sales by Tesla CEO Elon Musk and his brother Kimbal Musk potentially violated insider trading rules, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The investigation began late last year after Musk and his brother sold $108 million worth of Tesla shares, according to the Journal. That sale happened the day before Elon Musk polled his Twitter followers about whether he should sell 10 percent of his stake in the company — and promised to abide by the poll’s results.

Elon Musk portrayed the stock sales as a way to cover any fees he would face if Congress imposed new taxes on unrealized capital gains. When the poll closed, 57.9 percent of more than 3.5 million participants...

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Apple could soon fix Face ID issues without replacing the entire iPhone

Photo by Dieter Bohn / The Verge

Authorized Apple service technicians might be able to make Face ID repairs on iPhone XS and newer phones without needing to replace the entire device, MacRumors reports.

The tech giant may soon grant Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers access to a new TrueDepth Camera service part that consists of Face ID and front camera modules. As a result, stores and authorized providers would perform same-unit repairs when a phone suffers from Face ID issues instead of replacing the device.

As described by Apple in an internal memo provided to MacRumors, the move will reduce the carbon footprint of its products by decreasing the number of whole-unit repairs. If it happens, it also means owners of iPhone XS models and newer won’t...

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