The Verge
Netflix Tudum 2023: all the biggest news and trailers
Illustration by Nick Barclay / The Verge
From The Witcher to 3 Body Problem, a look at all the important reveals from the streamer’s big event.
The VergeThe VergeMeta is rolling back its covid-19 misinformation rules in the US
Meta is rolling back its covid misinformation rules. | Illustration by Nick Barclay / The Verge
Meta is rolling back its covid misinformation rules in countries like the US, where the pandemic’s national emergency status has been rescinded as recommended by its independent oversight board in April of this year, The Washington Post reported Friday morning (via Engadget).
In an update to the July announcement that it asked the Meta Oversight Board to investigate the safety of doing so, Meta cited the end of the World Health Organization’s global public health emergency declaration as the reason for the change:
Our Covid-19 misinformation rules will no longer be in effect globally as the global public health emergency declaration that triggered those rules has been lifted.
Now, the company says it will be tailoring its rules by...
The VergeKim Dotcom is ‘not giving an inch’ after sentencing of two Megaupload execs
Megaupload officers Mathias Ortmann and Bram van der Kolk have each been sentenced in the years-long Megaupload case. | Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images
I didn’t expect to write about Megaupload in 2023, but here we are — former Megaupload officers Mathias Ortmann and Bram van der Kolk have been sentenced to more than two years in prison over their roles in the company, Associated Press reported on Thursday. The two men have been granted delayed sentences owing to the impending birth of Ortmann’s child and van der Kolk’s ill mother.
Dotcom tweeted about the convictions on Thursday, saying the light sentences two men got off easy because they are pinning the blame on him, adding that they “will make terrible witnesses for the US Govt.”
Megaupload Update
“There is no conspiracy. You did nothing wrong. All the bad optics are because of Mathias and I. It takes 3 for a conspiracy.” — Bram
“...
The VergeArlo’s Essential Wired Doorbell is on sale for less than $60 right now
Arlo’s Essential Wired Video Doorbell offers a high-res camera and a wide field of view. | Photo by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy / The Verge
It’s unfortunate, but many video doorbells require you to lock yourself into one platform’s smart home ecosystem to really make the most of them. Thankfully, there’s at least one video doorbell that works well with any smart home platform: the Arlo Essential Wired Doorbell. And right now, it’s on sale in white for $59.49 (about $91 off) at Amazon. If you prefer another retailer (or color), you can also buy it in black at Verizon for $64.99.
Not only is Arlo’s video doorbell compatible with Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings, and even Apple Home, but it works well with many of these platforms. In fact, you can even use it to view live feeds from the Google Home app, which is a rarity for a non-Google camera. It also shares...
The VergeBlack Mirror’s ‘Joan is Awful’ shits all over the future of streaming
Annie Murphy gets a little filthy and very funny as she fights for a better future for streaming. | Photo by Nick Wall / Netflix
Right now in Hollywood, the screenwriters of the Writers Guild of America are on strike. And one reason they’re on strike is the fear that AI will take their jobs, churning out mediocre content quickly and cheaply that helps streamers’ bottom lines even if it doesn’t contribute much culturally speaking. (Disclosure: The Verge’s editorial staff is represented by the Writers Guild of America East.) Actors have also announced an intent to strike, and one reason is their desire to preserve the rights to their own likenesses, so streamers can’t build digital facsimiles that do all the work with none of the pay. Directors are voting on their own contract, with some, like The Matrix’s Lilly Wachowski and Spartacus’ Steven DeKnight, vocally...
The VergeHow to watch Netflix’s Tudum 2023 event
Image: Netflix
Now that a week of video game news is complete, it’s time for... streaming news.
Netflix is returning for its now-annual Tudum event, a livestream where it will showcase all of the latest news and trailers for its biggest franchises. That includes the ones that are already hits, like The Witcher, Bridgerton, and Squid Game, but also titles that we haven’t seen much of yet, including 3 Body Problem, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and One Piece. The announcements are expected to span across TV, film, and gaming.
Tudum (the event, not the website) debuted back in 2021, and last year’s edition felt particularly packed, covering everything from Queen Charlotte and Wednesday to The Witcher: Blood Origin. Based on an early tease, it sounds like...
The VergeThe best iPhones
Navigate Apple’s lengthy iPhone product catalog like a pro. | Image: The Verge
Whether you want a battery that lasts for days, the best deal, or a small form factor, we’ve got some recommendations for an iPhone you’ll love.
The VergeIllinois now lets cops fly drones over events — but not with weapons or facial recognition
A Ukrainian drone. Ukraine has been using all manner of weaponized drones to push back Russian troops. | Photo by Andriy Zhyhaylo/Obozrevatel/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images
Cops can’t attach weapons to drones in Illinois, starting today — and they can’t use drones for facial recognition unless they’re attempting to counter a terrorist attack, preventing “imminent harm to life,” or making sure a suspect doesn’t get away.
But they can do something they couldn’t before in Illinois: fly over public events at all.
Today, the state signed the Drones as First Responders Act into law (via Hacker News). The new act modifies another one from 2014 — the Freedom from Drone Surveillance Act, which has banned law enforcement from using drones to “gather information” in the state (aside from terrorist or imminent harm situations) for the past seven years.
The new bill is designed to prevent shootings like the one at...
The VergeLeaked Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 photos herald return of the bezel
Bezels are back, baby. | Image: WinFuture
Rotating bezels are back, baby. At least, that seems to be the case according to newly leaked photos of Samsung’s next-gen Galaxy Watches.
The Galaxy Watch 6 and Watch 6 Classic photos come from German tech site WinFuture, which has a solid track record when it comes to this sort of thing. But aside from the Classic’s return, there isn’t anything too exciting to look at in these leaked marketing stills. Mostly because the Galaxy Watch 6 looks like the Galaxy Watch 5, which looks like the Galaxy Watch 4. Meanwhile, the Watch 6 Classic looks pretty much like the Watch 4 Classic.
Image: WinFuture
The Galaxy Watch 6 sure looks like the Galaxy Watch 4 and 5.
The vanilla Galaxy Watch 6 will purportedly come in 40mm...
The VergeRIF developer counters Reddit CEO’s claims that he didn’t want to work with Reddit
A screenshot of rif is fun for Reddit. | Image: TalkLittle
On Thursday, Reddit CEO Steve Huffman told me that the developer of rif is fun for Reddit (RIF), a popular third-party Reddit app for Android, did not want to work with Reddit on the company’s planned API pricing changes. However, the developer, Andrew Shu, tells me that’s not the case — and shared emails with The Verge that appear to back him up.
During the interview, I asked Huffman if Reddit could give developers more time to implement the API changes, which Shu has already said are forcing him to shut down RIF at the end of the month. Here’s exactly what Huffman said in response (emphasis mine):
I said we are working with everybody who is willing to work with us, which includes many of the other third party apps. The three you...
The VergeHere are the best Kindle deals right now
The latest Kindle Paperwhite is on sale starting at $109.99. | Photo by Chaim Gartenberg / The Verge
When it comes to finding a device to use to read your ebooks, you have a few options to choose from. You can always buy a tablet or use your phone, but those devices are multipurpose and can be used for a ton of things, like surfing the web or doom-scrolling on Twitter. If you are looking for something to strictly read books, e-readers, while niche, are designed to store all of your books in a virtual library with limited functionality.
Amazon, one of the pioneers of the e-reader, has dominated the space for years with its ever-expanding Kindle lineup, which consists of several unique models with their own pros and cons. The bulk of the devices function as simple ebook readers; however, with the Kindle Scribe, Amazon looks to be moving...
The VergeMeta is lowering the minimum age for the Quest to 10 years old
The Meta Quest 3 headset ships later this year. | Image: Meta
Government scrutiny of how tech companies handle their underage users is continuing to heat up. A flood of bills in Congress on this topic seeks to strengthen the power of regulators and even ban kids under 13 from social media entirely.
Enter Meta, which is lowering the minimum age for its Quest headsets from 13 to 10. After I heard about the plan and contacted Meta for comment this week, spokesperson Joe Osborneconfirmed it and shared a blog post about the news that the company is planning to publish soon. It says that parents will have to approve the creation of a kid’s account and that Meta will only recommend apps that are rated safe for that age group. Ads also won’t be shown to kids.
Perhaps most importantly, a 10 to...
The VergeHere are the best Apple Watch deals right now
The Apple Watch Series 8 isn’t a massive step up from the prior model, but it does offer a few new features. | Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge
In September, Apple launched its latest batch of smartwatches, introducing the first-ever Ultra ($799) alongside the Series 8 ($399) and a new Apple Watch SE ($249). Each wearable has its own pros and cons associated with it, but the introduction of the high-end Ultra also means there are now more Apple Watch models on the market before than ever before — and a lot more deals to be had.
But with all of those options, which one should you pick? Generally speaking, you want to buy the newest watch you can afford so that it continues to receive software updates from Apple. The latest update, watchOS 9, launched on the Apple Watch Series 4 and newer models in September, and watchOS 10 will offer the same compatibility when it arrives in the...
The VergeNew Samsung Z Flip 5 leak highlights a gloriously big cover screen
Hot foldable summer, y’all. | Image: MySmartPrice
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 leaks and rumors have all pointed to a larger cover screen on the upcoming phone, and a new alleged render published by MySmartPrice continues the trend. The image shows the Z Flip 5 with a gloriously big cover screen, which is exactly what we want. And by we, I mean me personally. I want this.
The Galaxy Z Flip 4’s outer screen measures just 1.9 inches. It’s fine for checking the weather and reading notifications, but the small size limits the kinds of actions you can take with it, like typing out responses to texts. It’s also not ideal for framing up selfies with the outer cameras — one of the benefits of a flip-style phone — because the preview image is literally the size of a postage stamp. I checked.
That...
The VergeHere are more than 75 digital gifts you can still pick up for Father’s Day
A Peloton subscription provides access to thousands of streamable fitness classes, including strength training. | Image: Peloton
Yes, Father’s Day is this weekend. But before you have a full-blown panic attack because you forgot to pick up a gift worthy of dad’s admiration, take a deep breath. After all, the internet is filled with a treasure trove of gift cards, subscriptions, and other great digital gifts you can buy today or at any point this weekend.
To help make your life a little easier, we’ve curated a list of some of the best digital gifts we’ve either used ourselves or gifted to our friends and family. We’ve organized the list based on various interests, too, so you can find the perfect present whether your dad is into the arts, exercise, or something else entirely. That way, you’ll be able to gift something more thoughtful than a generic Amazon gift...
The VergeApple Mac Studio (2023) review: the M2 Ultra rips
The Mac Studio remains the top choice for professionals who need a powerful but compact desktop computer.
The VergeSpace-based solar power is having its moment in the sun
Photo illustration by Alex Parkin/The Verge; Source: Caltech
Beaming electricity down to Earth from solar panels in space has been a clean energy dream for decades. Even though the technology still has a long way to go before it can keep the lights on at home, there’s more hype than ever that space-based solar power stations could actually work.
A major milestone was announced this month when researchers at Caltech said that a prototype launched into space was able to beam a small amount of power to Earth. It was an important first for the nascent technology, and other researchers around the world are racing to make similar progress with funding from governments trying to reach their climate goals.
“I have a hard time not letting my imagination run wild when I start looking at this.”
In space,...
The VergeBlack Mirror’s ‘Mazey Day’ is a brisk, bloody bite of celebrity crisis
Image: Netflix
As Black Mirror episodes have continued to balloon to the size of full-blown movies, season 6’s “Mazey Day” is almost refreshing: it’s a compact 40 minutes that rushes by in a fit of flashing lights. It’s a story about celebrities and their unhealthy and often dangerous relationship to the press — the paparazzi, in particular. It’s fun but, because it moves so quickly, its premise ultimately isn’t explored with much nuance.
“Mazey Day,” from director Uta Briesewitz, is about two characters living in parallel who inevitably clash. To start, there’s Bo (Zazie Beetz), a paparazzi living in LA who is starting to question her place among her seedy and often desperate colleagues, wondering if a more honest living is the better route....
The VergeGoogle sunsets Domains business and shovels it off to Squarespace
Illustration: The Verge
Google Domains has been a quick and easy place to buy a dot com (or dot net, or dot studio, even) for your cottage bakery — but the company is now giving up on the registrar business and selling the assets to Squarespace. The deal includes handing off 10 million domains owned by Google customers to the popular website builder.
In a press statement, Google’s VP and GM of merchant shopping, Matt Madrigal, says the sale is an effort to “sharpen our focus” and that the company plans on “supporting a smooth transition” for its customers being handed off to Squarespace. Madrigal then assures customers that Squarespace, which already has its own domain management plus web building tools, would be the perfect home for customers’ websites. Google...
The VergeHere’s the note Reddit sent to moderators threatening them if they don’t reopen
Image by Alex Castro / The Verge
Some moderators of Reddit communities participating in the protest against API changes today got messages from the company: work to reopen your subreddits or else.
If there are mods here who are willing to work towards reopening this community, we are willing to work with you to process a Top Mod Removal request or reorder the mod team to achieve this goal if mods higher up the list are hindering reopening. We would handle this request and any retaliation attempts here in this modmail chain immediately.
Our goal is to work with the existing mod team to find a path forward and make sure your subreddit is made available for the community which makes its home here. If you are not able or willing to reopen and maintain the community, please...
The VergeGarmin Epix Pro review: smaller size, bigger appeal (and a flashlight!)
I felt kind of meh toward the second-gen Epix, but I really do get the appeal now thanks to the smaller Pro.
The VergeBlack Mirror’s ‘Loch Henry’ can’t decide whether to indulge in true crime or critique it
Davis (Samuel Blenkin) and Pia (Myha’la Herrold) in “Loch Henry.” | Image: Netflix
Black Mirror is known as a series about the dangers of technology, but it’s often more specifically about the corrupting influence of entertainment. Spectatorship makes us cruel, the show suggests over and over, turning other humans’ real pain into fodder for our own amusement. The sixth season episode “Loch Henry” fits into this dynamic but in a way that feels surprisingly anemic, neither exploring the potential ugliness of its premise nor developing characters who transcend it.
At the beginning of “Loch Henry,” Davis (Samuel Blenkin) is a film student returning home with his girlfriend Pia (Myha’la Herrold). It’s supposed to be a brief stopover; they’re planning, to the bemusement of everyone but Davis, a documentary about a man who...
The VergeSony’s comfortable WF-C700N earbuds have fallen to their best price to date
The entry-level WF-C700N come in four colors, including two colorful pastel hues. | Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge
The old “times have changed” applies to a lot of things — the way we consume media, the general office environment, Taco Bell. It also applies to wireless earbuds, which have come down drastically in price since the first pair of Apple’s now-iconic AirPods landed in 2016. Sony’s WF-C700N earbuds are a prime example of how you can now get a lot of functionality for very little, particularly since they’re available from Amazon, Best Buy, and Sony for as little as $98 ($21 off).
So what does a sub-$100 pair of earbuds look like in 2023? Well, in the case of the entry-level WF-C700N, you get a terrific fit and balanced sound for the price. Sony’s latest pair of noise-canceling earbuds also offer a slew of software features, including...
The VergeHow screen refresh rates work on your phone
Illustration by Samar Haddad / The Verge
When you read a review of a smartphone, you will usually be hit with a long list of screen specs: the display type, its dimensions and aspect ratio, its resolution in pixels, its HDR support (or lack of it), and its brightness, for example. Too often, it’s assumed that everyone understands the significance of each of these specs.
So in this article, we’re going to focus on the basics of the refresh rate, which you’ll see in the specs of monitors and TVs as well. It tells you how many times the display is refreshed per second, typically measured in Hz (hertz). In other words, a 90Hz display refreshes itself 90 times a second. Here’s what you need to know about the spec and how to make sure the maximum refresh rate is enabled on your...
The VergeElemental’s a periodic table of metaphors that don’t always work the way Pixar wants
Image: Pixar
Pixar’s latest animated feature from director Peter Sohn doesn’t want to be another Zootopia, and yet...
The VergeReddit protest updates: all the news about the API changes infuriating Redditors
Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge
Changes to the Reddit API are forcing beloved apps like Apollo to shut down, and Redditors aren’t happy.
The VergeThe best wireless earbuds to buy right now
The current earbuds lineup is the strongest to date.
The best from Apple, Bose, Samsung, Sony, Beats, Google, and more
The VergeSome things you can do if you’re sick of social media
Maybe just one more go-round with the oven to get the seasoning juuuuuust right. | Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge
I never thought of myself as being an especially heavy user of social media, but now that I no longer post on Instagram and barely post on Twitter... I suddenly have a lot of new free time?
Now some of this is that I don’t care about video; I got bored with TikTok about two years ago and deleted it from my phone. But if you, like me, have discovered that social media has felt a lot less compelling lately, let me make some suggestions for activities:
- Season your cast iron skillet. You’ve already seasoned it? Well, another coat won’t hurt.
- Clean out your closet. Hey, you should be doing this regularly anyway, right?
- Learn to cook a new recipe. This is also an ideal time to listen to music.
- Go for a walk (or just sit outside). Joke’s...
The VergeDiscord ‘Activities’ for collaborative gaming are now free for everyone
Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge
Discord has announced that Activities — a feature for voice channels that allows members to play games or watch content together — will remain free for all Discord users.
While most Discord Activities were previously locked behind a subscription to Discord Nitro (which starts at $2.99 a month), the communications platform had temporarily removed its paywall as part of its eighth birthday celebrations between May 15th and June 15th. Now, Activities like Sketch Heads, Blazing 8s, and Bobble League will be indefinitely free to use.
Some Discord activities like YouTube’s “Watch together” integration and the Putt Party golfing game were already available at no additional cost prior to this announcement. If you want to give them a try...
The VergeHome, smart home
KB Home’s Durango at Shadow Mountain is an experimental smart microgrid community that is energy independent. It’s located about 90 miles southeast of Los Angeles, near Menifee, California.
One couple’s starter home in a connected community in California shows how smart energy powered by smart home technology could be the future of affordable, energy-independent living.