Supreme Court puts off showdown over internet moderation bans in Texas and Florida

Photo by Celal Gunes/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

The Supreme Court has asked the US solicitor general to submit briefs in a set of lawsuits over internet moderation in Texas and Florida, making the court likely to take one or both of the cases with a delay. As noted by CNNreporter Brian Fung this morning, the court solicited the briefs in a Monday morning list of orders, inviting President Joe Biden’s Department of Justice to formulate an official position on internet speech.

The orders cover lawsuits by trade organization NetChoice against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody as well as a counterclaim by Moody against NetChoice. Both states passed laws making it illegal for large web services to suspend or otherwise penalize users in many cases,...

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Apple’s ‘Reality Pro’ VR headset sure sounds like a monster device

Illustration by Nick Barclay / The Verge

Apple’s long-rumored VR / AR headset could be packed with ambitious technologies, including advanced hand tracking, the ability to see your Mac’s display, and even recreating digital versions of users in one-on-one FaceTime conversations, according to an extensive new report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.

Much of the advanced technologies will be enabled by “several” external cameras that can track your hands as well as “sensors within the gadget’s housing” that can be used to read your eyes, Gurman reports. You’ll apparently be able to just look at something onscreen to select it and then pinch your fingers together to activate it, meaning the headset won’t require external controllers, like the Meta’s high-end Quest Pro and Sony’s...

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iOS 16.3 is now available with a big focus on security

Illustration by Nick Barclay / The Verge

Apple has released iOS 16.3, which adds the ability to use a security key to lock down your Apple ID. It also tweaks the Emergency SOS call system, includes a new “Unity” wallpaper, and adds support for the second-gen HomePod.

Last year, Apple announced the hardware key feature, which lets you use something like a Yubikey as a second factor to log in to your Apple account, as part of a push to help people lock down their iCloud accounts.

We also anticipate that iOS 16.3 will support some nice new features for HomePod Mini owners after those devices get a new software update as well. The most notable change is that the smart speakers will act as temperature and humidity sensors, which you can use in automations. The update may also let...

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BioWare loses another veteran

Image: BioWare

Mac Walters has become the latest BioWare veteran to leave the company. Walters — who was the senior writer on Mass Effect, lead writer on its two sequels, the narrative director of the ill-fated Anthem, and, most recently, the production director on Dragon Age: Dreadwolf — announced his departure on LinkedIn.

“These past 19 years have been a life-changing experience to say the least, and it made the choice to go very difficult,” Walters wrote. “I’ve worked with so many wonderful people and had the privilege to be a part of the most amazing teams and projects.”

BioWare has seen some of its most tenured and celebrated talent leave the studio over the last three years. In 2020, Casey Hudson and Mark Darrah departed, with Hudson going on to...

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Fortnite on iOS is about to become even more limited

Fortnite is getting some changes on iOS. | Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge

Fortnite on iOS is about to become an even more limited experience. The game was removed from the iOS and Mac app stores and Google Play in August 2020 due to Epic Games’ legal spats with Apple and Google, meaning those versions of Fortnite have missed out on many updates to and even entire seasons of the constantly refreshed battle royale hit. But starting January 30th, players who got Fortnite from those platforms won’t be able to spend V-Bucks to buy in-game items and will have to be older than 18 years of age to play, Epic said in a tweet from its Fortnite status Twitter account on Monday.

Technically, if you got Fortnite from those platforms, you can still play the game if you happened to have it installed before it was removed from...

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Dbrand Nintendoes what Valve Nintenwon’t

Image: Dbrand

I imagine you have questions.

In no particular order:

• Yes, that’s a Steam Deck done up to look like a Nintendo Switch.
• Yes, the assholes at Dbrand are shitposting again! Also yes, you can actually buy it.
• It’s a skin. Peel and apply. The red, blue, and black regions are all one big sticker. There’s another sticker for the front, and two squares for the trackpads.
• No, we didn’t blur the Nintendo Switch logo. Dbrand did. What you see is what you get.
• “Lawyers we paid to say ‘it’s legal’ said it’s legal,” Dbrand spox Danny tells us.
• That didn’t stop Sony. It might not stop the infamously litigious Nintendo, either.
• It costs 50 freaking dollars, the same price Dbrand charges to wrap your Deck in leather.
• My headline is a classic Sega...

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Messenger’s encrypted chats get themes, emoji reactions, and more

Image: Meta

Meta’s bringing Messenger’s core customization features to end-to-end encrypted (E2EE) chats on the platform. That means encrypted chats can now incorporate themes, custom emoji, reactions, group profile photos, and a whole lot more.

Messenger’s E2EE chats hide your online conversations from third parties, including Facebook itself. It also makes it more difficult for law enforcement and hackers to access the messages you’re sending and receiving. WhatsApp already has E2EE by default, and Instagram lets people switch on E2EE for individual conversations.

Image: Meta

Previously, Meta didn’t offer any way to customize encrypted chats. As soon as you switched over to (or entered) a secret conversation, all customization...

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Apple’s new Mac Mini is up to $100 off at Adorama

The new Mac Mini may look like most models before it, but it’s got some big updates inside and to its port selection — particularly on the M2 Pro model. | Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

Well, this is convenient timing. Our review of the new M2 Pro Mac Mini just went up, and you can save up to $100 on a preorder of it. The new Mac Mini in both its base M2 configuration and its more powerful M2 Pro version can be preordered at Adorama for $549 ($50 off) and $1,199 ($100 off), respectively, when you use code APINSIDER at checkout (hat tip to Slickdeals). These preorders are set to start shipping tomorrow, January 24th, which is launch day for the new M2-ified MacBook Pros as well. But you might want to jump on this deal quickly, as we’re not sure how long it may stick around.

It’s rare to save anything on Apple stuff the moment it comes out (it’s even less common for preorders), but this is a great opportunity to get the...

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Fortnite’s next concert features The Kid Laroi

Another big musical act is descending upon Fortnite. Today, Epic announced that the game’s next virtual music experience will feature The Kid Laroi, and it’s kicking off very soon: the “immersive, interactive musical experience” will begin on January 27th at 6PM ET.

It will be a little different from the events featuring the likes of Travis Scott and Ariana Grande, however, which took over the Fortnite battle royale island for a massive spectacle. Instead, the Kid Laroi event will take place on a dedicated Creative island purpose-built for the experience. Epic says the event will explore the singer’s “journey from humble beginnings to headlining sold-out performances as a worldwide superstar.”

It sounds like something of a cross between...

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Microsoft extends OpenAI partnership in a ‘multibillion dollar investment’

Image: Microsoft

Microsoft says it’s extending its long-term partnership with OpenAI through a new “multiyear, multibillion dollar investment.” The investment comes just weeks after Microsoft was rumored to be investing $10 billion into OpenAI, the creators of popular AI tools like ChatGPT and DALL-E 2.

“We formed our partnership with OpenAI around a shared ambition to responsibly advance cutting-edge AI research and democratize AI as a new technology platform,” says Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. “In this next phase of our partnership, developers and organizations across industries will have access to the best AI infrastructure, models, and toolchain with Azure to build and run their applications.”

The deal will see Microsoft increase its investments in...

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Forspoken is better than its bad name implies

Image: Square Enix

There’s a fascinating story and incredible parkour action buried under lackluster combat and a game lacking technical polish.

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Apple Mac Mini (2023) review: Mac Studio junior

With two processor choices — one for everyday computing, the other for conquering creative work — Apple’s littlest Mac has never been more appealing.

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Sony’s DualSense Edge is a pro controller done (mostly) right

Slightly worse battery life aside, I’m a big fan of almost everything Sony did to improve on the already-great DualSense.

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Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) review: the core count grows

Apple’s new MacBook Pro 16 with M2 Max has exactly one significant upgrade from the 2021 model: a more powerful chip.

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WhatsApp reportedly plans to let users send photos in original quality

A new feature is in development that will allow WhatsApp users to send images at their original size and resolution. | Illustration: The Verge

WhatsApp could soon allow users to send photos at full quality without having to worry about image compression, if code discovered in the latest beta version of the Android app is anything to go by. WABetaInfo reports on a new option that would allow users to send images in their original quality.

Although WhatsApp already lets users pick between “automatic,” “best quality,” and “data saver,” the platform does not currently allow users to send photos in their original size and resolutions. Instead, these images are compressed — even when selecting “best quality” — to provide faster data transfers that take up less storage space.

WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.2.11: what's new?

WhatsApp is working on sending photos in their original...

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ChatGPT users report $42 a month pricing for ‘pro’ access but no official announcement yet

Earlier this month, OpenAI said it was exploring ways to monetize its AI chatbot ChatGPT, giving users the opportunity to sign up for early access to “ChatGPT Professional.” Now, some users say they’ve been granted access to a pro tier which costs $42 a month.

OpenAI hasn’t confirmed this is an official test or made any announcements. We’ve contacted the company for more info, but in the meantime remember that features and pricing could change before ChatGPT Professional launches for real. As OpenAI said earlier this month: “Please keep in mind that this is an early experimental program that is subject to change, and we are not making paid pro access generally available at this time.”

With that in mind, what does $42 a month get you?...

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Sony and Honda’s EV goes where the Apple Car never did

Under a new brand called “Afeela,” the Japanese electronics and media conglomerate is partnering with Honda to produce a new electric vehicle from 2026 onward, which will more than likely be built at Honda’s facilities in the US to take advantage of new EV tax credit rules. | Image: Getty

It’s easy to be cynical about Sony’s entry into the automotive world. Even the name — Afeela — evokes more eye rolls than serious expressions. But here’s why you should take it seriously.

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Spotify is laying off six percent of its global workforce, CEO announces

Illustration by Nick Barclay / The Verge

Spotify will lay off 6 percent of its workforce globally, the company’s CEO Daniel Ek announced in an all-staff memo today. Spotify had just over 9,800 full time employees as of its last earnings report, meaning today’s layoffs affect a little under 600 staff. Dawn Ostroff, head of content and ads who has been instrumental in growing Spotify’s podcasting business, is also leaving the company.

The layoffs make Spotify the latest tech company to cut its workforce in the midst of a global economic downturn. Google announced plans to cut around 12,000 jobs just last week, following similar layoffs at Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta.

Ek announced the layoffs as part of an organizational restructure, which is aimed at increasing efficiency,...

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Crypto lender Nexo fined $45 million for violating securities law

Nexo is ceasing its EIP offer to US investors and has begun phasing out all of the products and services it offers in the United States. | Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

The cryptocurrency lending firm Nexo has been sanctioned by the US Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) for offering and selling unregistered securities, as part of the latest efforts by regulators to crack down on the crypto industry. Announced via an SEC press release on January 19th, Nexo has been fined $45 million for failing to register the offer and sale of a cryptocurrency lending product, Earn Interest Product (EIP), which promised returns on deposited crypto.

According to the SEC’s order, Nexo started offering the EIP around June 2020 and marketed the product as a means for investors to earn interest on their crypto assets. The agency alleges that Nexo used its investors’ crypto assets in a variety of ways, including to fund...

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Monday’s top tech news: the beginning of the end for Windows 10

Alex Castro / The Verge

We look ahead to Apple’s M3 processor, and Quordle finds a new home.

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Microsoft to stop selling Windows 10 downloads on January 31st

Microsoft is removing Windows 10 Home and Pro downloads from sale later this month. The downloads include license keys for Windows 10 (necessary to activate and use the download), and are being removed more than two years before Microsoft stops officially supporting Windows 10 on October 14th, 2025.

Microsoft updated its Windows 10 product pages recently to note the January 31st cutoff date for sales, but it’s not clear how the company will treat similar downloads and license keys available from retailers like Amazon. We asked Microsoft to comment on Windows 10 license keys and downloads from third-party retailers, but the company only confirmed its own plans to remove its own sales.

“An update was made to the Windows 10 product page to...

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Nier Automata anime hit by delays after first three episodes already released

NieR: Automata Ver1.1a, the anime based on PlatinumGames’ action RPG, has seen its release interrupted by the ongoing impact of the covid pandemic. The show’s official Twitter account has announced that the release of the rest of the series has been indefinitely delayed. Unusually, this announcement has come after the first three episodes of the show were already released on Crunchyroll following a January 7th premiere.

“Due to the impact of COVID-19 on production, we have decided to postpone the broadcast and distribution of episode 4 and all subsequent episodes,” the statement reads, adding that an updated release schedule will be announced on Twitter soon. “We apologize for any inconvenience and concern this may cause our fans who...

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Samsung may put its free TV Plus streaming app into other manufacturers’ TVs

Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge

Samsung TV Plus, the app that houses hundreds of free channels, could eventually make its way to other, non-Samsung TVs. That’s according to media tech reporter Janko Roettgers, who writes in his Lowpass newsletter that Samsung’s in talks to bring its streaming app to TCL TVs.

Introduced in 2015, Samsung TV Plus is a free, ad-supported streaming (FAST) service that comes preinstalled on newer Samsung TVs. The service gives viewers a way to flip through a collection of channels, much like you would with a traditional TV service.

Samsung TV Plus has a pretty strong slate of content for a free app, with Samsung adding popular shows like Top Gear, Law & Order Special Victims Unit, NCIS, and Chicago Fire last August. It also offers a range...

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Merriam-Webster acquires popular Wordle clone, Quordle

Photo by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Quordle, the word-solving game that emerged at the height of Wordle’s popularity, has been acquired by Merriam-Webster, as first reported by TechCrunch. The game now lives directly on Merriam-Webster’s website, rather than on its own.

“I’m delighted to announce that Quordle was acquired by @MerriamWebster,” a post on Quorlde’s Twitter account reads. “I can’t think of a better home for this game. Lots of news features and fun to come, so stay tuned!”

Quordle is just one of many spinoffs that tried to piggyback off of the success of Wordle, which had users posting their scores across Twitter and competing with friends to solve the word of the day with the least guesses.

Screenshot: Emma Roth / The Verge

Quordle’s...

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Finally, a solution to the Switch’s Joy-Con drift

Gulikit’s joystick replacements use Hall effect sensors that make them less likely to wear down. | Image: Gulikit

After years of dealing with Joy-Con drift and no satisfactory answers from Nintendo, we may finally have our solution. A company called Gulikit created a set of Switch joystick replacements that promise to banish stick drift once and for all (via Gizmodo).

If you’re a Switch owner, you’re probably well-acquainted with Joy-Con drift, which creates annoying false inputs even when you’re not touching the thumbsticks. It’s been a problem ever since the Switch came out and still hasn’t been fully fixed in the new OLED model (although Nintendo says it’s made some “improvements”). While you can send your Joy-Cons away for a free repair at Nintendo (or just buy a new set), the sticks will inevitably start drifting again.

Image:...

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The third-party apps Twitter just killed made the site what it is today

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

The age of great third-party Twitter clients may be over. After Twitter cut off their API access and changed its rules to bar apps that compete with its own, The Iconfactory has announced that it’s discontinuing Twitterific, Fenix has been pulled from app stores, and Tapbots has posted a memorial for Tweetbot. It’s a loss for all the people who used the apps and, almost certainly, a loss for Twitter itself.

As many people have pointed out over the past week, third-party clients helped make Twitter the platform it is today, innovating parts of Twitter we take for granted and, in the early days, helping form the company’s very identity. They’ve also acted as a safe haven from unwanted changes, helping to keep people tweeting when they were...

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The next MacBook Air and iMac could come with a 3nm M3 chip

Photo by Becca Farsace / The Verge

Apple’s working on a MacBook Air and iMac with an M3 chip built using the more efficient 3-nanometer fabrication process, according to a report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. While it’s not clear when the two upgraded devices might launch, Gurman expects the M3 chip to arrive later this year or early next year.

Gurman first hinted at this in June of last year, noting that Apple’s working on an M3-equipped 13-inch MacBook Air, 15-inch MacBook Air, and a new iMac. At the time, he added that the M3 chip could appear as early as this year, but that hasn’t happened.

Instead, Apple included the new M2 Pro and M2 Max chips with the lineup of MacBook Pros it announced earlier this month, and also added an M2 Pro chip to the Mac Mini. These chips...

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Marvel’s Avengers development is coming to an end

Image: Square Enix

The development of Marvel’s Avengers is coming to a close. In a blog post, developer Crystal Dynamics announced that the game won’t receive any new updates after March 31st, with support ending on September 30th (via IGN).

While you’ll still be able to play the game in both single-player and multiplayer mode, Crystal Dynamics says it “can’t guarantee that we will be able to address issues that occur” after support ends.

The last — and final — balance update will take place in March, and from then on, all cosmetics, including “every Outfit, Takedown, and Nameplate” will be available for free and without the purchase of credits. Any remaining credits “will be converted into in-game resources,” Crystal Dynamics says. It also provides a...

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AltspaceVR is shutting down as Microsoft’s mixed reality division shrinks

Image: Microsoft

Microsoft will shut down AltspaceVR, the social virtual reality (VR) platform it acquired in 2017 (via VentureBeat), on March 10th, 2023. The company shared the news in a blog post just days after it announced job cuts affecting 10,000 workers, stating the move will help shift focus “to support immersive experiences powered by Microsoft Mesh.”

AltspaceVR emerged as one of the very first social VR experiences in 2015 alongside other platforms like VRChat and Rec Room. While the startup nearly shut down in 2017 due to financial issues, Microsoft scooped up the platform as part of its efforts to build out its own mixed-reality ecosystem. Microsoft says users can download their data from AltspaceVR before the shutdown.

We have some sad...

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Elon Musk teases ‘higher priced’ Twitter Blue subscription with no ads

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

Elon Musk says Twitter will roll out a new “higher priced” Blue subscription that doesn’t show ads on the platform. The current $7.99 per month Twitter Blue subscription promises 50 percent fewer ads when compared to “non-verified people,” although this feature hasn’t been rolled out yet.

A more expensive, ad-free subscription might be Twitter’s answer to Blue’s disappointing subscriber numbers and Twitter’s 40 percent decline in ad revenue, something The Verge’s Alex Heath reports on in his latest Command Line newsletter. In addition to the new tier, Musk says Twitter’s also working on a way to decrease the frequency and size of ads on Twitter, which he’s hinted at in the past.

Also, there will be a higher priced subscription that...

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