Hyperkin’s new Xbox controller has drift-free sticks in a PlayStation-style layout

A licensed Xbox controller with a bit of a PlayStation vibe. | Image: Hyperkin

Third-party controller makers are continuing to pick up the slack from Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo when it comes to making more durable, drift-proof controllers. Hyperkin is announcing the Competition, an Xbox-licensed wired controller for Xbox Series X / S and PC with a PlayStation-like symmetrical stick layout that you don’t commonly find on Xbox gamepads. But, more importantly, it uses both Hall effect sensors for its sticks and impact triggers to minimize long-term wear and tear.

The Competition was once quietly teased way back in the Before Time at E3 2019, but after a long enough delay, Hyperkin revised it to include the upgraded sensors. However, even after all that time, the launch date and price are still not finalized. It’s...

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OpenAI opens GPT-3.5 Turbo up for custom tuning

Illustration: The Verge

OpenAI has announced that businesses can now fine-tune GPT-3.5 Turbo using their own data — OpenAI claims the resulting custom model can match or exceed the abilities of GPT-4 for certain tasks. Later this fall, the company says it will open up the arguably more advanced GPT-4 for the same purpose this fall.

Fine-tuning lets businesses essentially hone ChatGPT to a more focused model that’s especially efficient for certain tasks. The supervised training would make a bot that’s unique to the client company so that it offers, say, reliable responses in a specific language or with more concise wording. Until now, business customers were limited to GPT-3 variants for this, like davinci-002 or babbage-002.

The model would come pre-trained, l...

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The best ebook reader to buy right now

Image: Will Joel / The Verge

From reading in the bath to scribbling notes in the margins, from diving into the Amazon ecosystem to avoiding it outright, there’s an e-reader for everyone.

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HBO and Max content leader Casey Bloys is coming to the Code Conference

HBO and Max content leader Casey Bloys. | Photo: Warner Bros. Discovery

HBO and Max content leader Casey Bloys is coming to the Code Conferencenext month to discuss the state of streaming and the company’s big rebrand with Vox senior correspondent Peter Kafka.

Bloys spent nearly two decades working on HBO’s programming and has overseen a parade of critical and cultural hits, from Game of Thrones to Succession. Now, he has to expand that sensibility to include programming that fits in the context of Max — the much broader new streaming service that includes a world of content from DC, Discovery, Food Network, and more.

The platform’s transformation into Max comes as streaming services are finally starting to feel some pressure. Their days of rapid growth and endless content budgets are behind them, and...

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Twitch is testing a TikTok-style feed

Illustration by Nick Barclay / The Verge

Twitch is the latest tech company to try a TikTok-like way to browse content. The company is experimenting with a feature that surfaces clips in a new vertically-scrolling feed that it calls the “discovery feed,” and the feed is starting to roll out to “select users” on Tuesday, according to a post from Twitch on X.

The feed will show you clips from Twitch creators, though to start, the clips will only be horizontal clips; Twitch says users will see vertical clips “as the feed evolves.” The discovery feed currently includes “featured” clips (creators can mark which of their clips they want to be added to the “featured” pool) as well as popular clips.

Here’s a video of the discovery feed if you want to get an idea of how it works:

Our...

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Google and YouTube are trying to have it both ways with AI and copyright

Photo by Silver Screen Collection / Getty Images

Google has made clear it is going to use the open web to inform and create anything it wants, and nothing can get in its way. Except maybe Frank Sinatra.

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The best phone to buy right now

Photo Illustration by William Joel / The Verge

Bad news: flagship phones cost a small fortune these days. Good news: we can help you pick the right one and get the most for your money.

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Here are the best deals on headphones and wireless earbuds we could find

Sony’s LinkBuds earbuds are on sale for $128 at multiple retailers. | Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge

When it comes to headphones and true wireless earbuds, there are a ton of brands and products to choose from. However, the sheer range of available models can also make them difficult to shop for, especially since many of them cater to different lifestyles, budgets, and priorities. Some are better suited for long-haul flights and vigorous workouts, for instance, while others let you tune out noise so you can focus better.

That’s why we’ve curated a list of the best headphone and earbud deals available. Here, you’ll find sales on all kinds of earbuds and over-ear headphones, all of which come with their own strengths and weaknesses. And if you want to do even more research before making a buying decision, we’ve put together guides to...

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Meta refreshes promise to roll out default end-to-end encryption in Messenger this year

Illustration: Nick Barclay / The Verge

Meta plans to roll out default end-to-end encryption for its Messenger product by the end of this year, the company confirmed in a blog post Tuesday.

“Starting today, millions more people’s chats on Messenger will be upgraded to stronger encryption standards as part of our ongoing end-to-end encryption (E2EE) testing,” the blog said. “We remain on track to launch default E2EE for one-to-one friends and family chats on Messenger by the end of the year.”

Meta first reaffirmed this commitment in a letter sent to Fight for the Future earlier this month, which was viewed by _The Ver_ge, responding to a pro-encryption campaign launched by the digital rights group last year. In the letter, Meta’s deputy privacy officer, Rob Sherman, said that...

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Microsoft Paint could soon get AI-enhanced features on Windows 11

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

Microsoft Paint could be the next Windows app to get the AI treatment. According to a report from Windows Central, Microsoft is exploring ways to bring AI-powered features to the app in Windows 11, which could include the ability to generate a canvas based on a text prompt.

Sources tell Windows Central that the AI feature will be powered by the same technology behind Bing’s Image Creator, a tool that spits out an image based on your description. You can see how the integration might look in what appears to be an internal mock-up posted by Windows Central.

The image shows a “Magic Paint” button, along with a sidebar that lets you enter a description of an image for it to generate. It seems like you can then transfer that image to your...

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Climate change is redrawing the disaster map

Vehicles and housing structures are partially submerged after Tropical Storm Hilary flooded a community of unhoused people on August 21st, 2023, in Cathedral City, California. | Photo by Mario Tama / Getty Images

Disasters have no borders, and a summer of unexpected catastrophe across the US shows it. California is notorious for drought and fire, not tropical storms like Hilary that barreled over Los Angeles this week. The East Coast expects hurricanes, not the pollution nightmare triggered by smoke that drifted in from blazes hundreds of miles away. Hawaii’s native greenery isn’t supposed to burn, and yet fires engulfed Maui.

Climate change is sending new calamities to new places — a phenomenon that can be observed not just in the US but all over the world. It’s piling disaster upon disaster on communities figuring out how to adapt to these new realities. Often, they’re faced with some new crisis while still recovering from a previous one.

C...

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Zack Snyder shows the first trailer for his Netflix movie Rebel Moon

Image: Clay Enos / Netflix

Zack Snyder is heading far from Earth for his next film. The director of 300 and Justice League just revealed a teaser trailer for Rebel Moon, a sci-fi movie coming to Netflix in December. This is the first proper look at the film, though Netflix previously released a behind-the-scenes featurette at its Tudum event in June. Today’s trailer was revealed as part of Gamescom Opening Night Live in Germany.

Rebel Moon appears to be Synder’s attempt at creating his own sci-fi epic. Here’s the basic premise:

When a peaceful colony on the edge of a galaxy finds itself threatened by the armies of a tyrannical ruling force, Kora (Sofia Boutella), a mysterious stranger living among the villagers, becomes their best hope for survival. Tasked with...

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Experian fined $650,000 for not letting you opt out of its spammy emails

A screenshot of one of the Experian emails exhibited in court documents. | Image: Federal Trade Commission

Credit reporting agency Experian must pay a $650,000 fine for violating spam laws. The US Justice Department and the FTC have announced a permanent injunction granted by the US District Court in central California, forbidding the company’s deceptive marketing email practices. The regulators’ complaint last week alleged that Experian had sent customers with free credit monitoring memberships deceptive marketing emails that lacked both “clear and conspicuous notice” of the ability to opt out and “a mechanism for doing so.”

The FTC says this violates the Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act (CAN-SPAM Act). The FTC referred the case to the DOJ to file the injunction before the court granted it, ordering...

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Age of Empires IV arrives on Xbox consoles and Game Pass today

Image: Microsoft

Microsoft is surprise launching Age of Empires IV on Xbox Series X / S and Xbox One consoles and Xbox Game Pass today. The latest game was announced for Xbox consoles last year with a 2023 promise, and Xbox Cloud Gaming players will also be able to stream Age of Empires IV.

Age of Empires IV originally launched in late 2021 on PC, and Microsoft added the title to its PC Game Pass service. Microsoft has added a tutorial to the console port of Age of Empires IV, which helps players get used to the controller layout. There’s also optional cross-play multiplayer support between PC and Xbox players and full keyboard and mouse support.

Real-time strategy (RTS) games aren’t an obvious fit for consoles and controller play, but Microsoft released...

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Here are the best Kindle deals right now

Amazon’s latest Paperwhite is on sale with a power adapter and a fabric cover for $174.97. | 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...

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Did you notice YouTube’s new corners?

Watch this video on YouTube’s website to see if you have the rounded corners yet. | Screenshot by Jay Peters / The Verge

YouTube is rolling out rounded edges on the main video player you see on YouTube.com, spokesperson Allison Toh confirmed to The Verge on Tuesday. They’re coming to all users, so if you’re not seeing them now, you should be seeing them soon.

I asked about the corners after noticing them while browsing YouTube on the web over the past day or two. (I included a screenshot of what I see at the top of this post.) I think the rounded corners look really nice. They also make YouTube’s desktop design feel more holistic since you’ll see rounded corners on a video and rounded corners on thumbnails off to the side.

Understandably, I’m only seeing the rounded corners when viewing the standard-sized video player; in theater mode, which expands the...

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Microsoft’s AI-powered design tool is now widely available in Edge

Screenshot by Emma Roth / The Verge

Microsoft Designer, the company’s free AI-powered design tool, is now broadly available to Edge users in the US. This means you can access Designer from Edge’s sidebar, allowing you to generate designs without opening up a separate tab or program.

After launching Designer last year, Microsoft announced in April that it would build the tool into Edge. The integration lets you create a number of designs, such as social media posts, fliers, greeting cards, invitations, and more — all from Edge’s sidebar.

Once you enter a prompt, Designer’s AI will pull up a grid of suggested designs, complete with text and a photo. You can also tweak any of these designs to your liking, whether you want to swap out a photo, add an illustration, or change...

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Paramount Plus’ Frasier revival premieres in October

Image: Paramount Plus

Paramount Plus’ new take on Frasier begins streaming on October 12th, Paramount announced on Tuesday. The show brings back Kelsey Grammer as Frasier Crane, the titular character from the hit sitcom that debuted in 1993.

New episodes in Frasier’s 10-episode season will come out every Thursday. Paramount will also air the first two episodes of the new Frasier show on CBS on October 17th, according to a press release.

The new version of Frasier is just the latest example of Paramount mining its past to convince people to sign up for Paramount Plus. The company has brought back a lot of its hit franchises as series for the service, including iCarly, a Rugrats reboot, and many new Star Trek series. Of course, if you want to watch old Frasier...

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Command & Conquer is getting another mobile game

Image: Level Infinite

The Command & Conquer series is getting another mobile game. The new title, Command & Conquer: Legions, offers a “reimagined storyline,” a “new approach to strategy gameplay” that “opens endless strategic possibilities,” and includes “iconic heroes and villains, factions, and a vast array of units” from the series, according to a blog post.

Legions is set to launch later this year on iOS and Android. There will be a closed beta test on Android that kicks off this month in Australia, Canada, France, Mexico, New Zealand, and the Philippines.

The game is being released by Level Infinite, which has reached a licensing agreement with Command & Conquer owner, EA. Level Infinite is also working on Assassin’s Creed Codename Jade, a mobile entry...

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Destiny 2: The Final Shape arrives on February 27th to finish a light vs. dark battle

Image: Bungie

The first saga in Destiny’s universe is coming to an end with an epic battle between light and darkness. Destiny’s light and darkness saga has always been about The Traveler, a mysterious entity in the universe of Destiny that hangs motionless in the sky as a source of light for Destiny players. Now, The Traveler is asking Destiny 2 players for help, and it’s time to answer that call on February 27th.

A mysterious enemy, The Witness, has already entered The Traveler, and now, Destiny 2: The Final Shape players will have to venture inside to help defeat The Witness. What awaits inside is the Pale Heart, a first linear destination that’s unlike anything we’ve seen in Destiny during its nearly 10-year history.

Image:...

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Gamescom Opening Night Live 2023: all the news and trailers

Photo by JC Olivera / Getty Images

Opening Night Live 2023 will have over two hours of trailers and announcements. Just don’t expect too many world premieres.

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LAist Studios relaunches Imperfect Paradise as weekly podcast and radio program

LAist Studios/SCPR

This is Hot Pod_,_ The Verge’s newsletter about podcasting and the audio industry. Sign up here for more.

I’m writing to you today from Podcast Movement in Colorado — where I hope to meet many of you over the next few days.

This morning kicked off with a discussion on the state of the podcasting industry hosted by Amplifi Media’s Steven Goldstein. Panelists included industry veterans such as Magnificent Noise’s Eric Nuzum, Lemonada Media’s Jessica Cordova Kramer, Workhouse Media CEO Paul Anderson, and Barometer CEO Tamara Zubatiy.

Some interesting insights from the panel:

• Brand safety is a huge factor right now in the marketplace. “There’s never been more sensitivity than there is right now,” noted Anderson. It’s easier for...

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AT&T is bringing its $55 per month 5G home internet plan to more places

Image: AT&T

AT&T is expanding the availability of its $55 per month Internet Air plan (or $60 per month without autopay), which uses 5G to beam Wi-Fi into your home. The plan comes with no overage fees, equipment costs, or annual contracts, but AT&T will charge up to $10 per month extra for up to five Wi-Fi extenders.

The plan offers download speeds of 40 to 140Mbps, but AT&T may “temporarily slow data speeds” if the network is busy. Once you sign up for the service, AT&T will send you its All-Fi Hub, a 5G fixed wireless access (FWA) receiver that you’ll wirelessly connect your devices to.

Say hello to @ATT Internet Air. In home Wi-Fi delivered over our reliable wireless network that you can set up in less than 15 minutes. For info & locations:...

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Fandom runs some of the biggest communities on the internet — can CEO Perkins Miller keep them happy?

Photo illustration by Alex Parkin / The Verge

Today, I’m talking with Perkins Miller. He’s the CEO of Fandom, which runs thousands of wikis for everything from Disney and Taylor Swift to The Matrix and Grand Theft Auto as well as several publications like TV Guide, Metacritic, and GameSpot. It’s a big, complicated media company in a big, complicated time for media companies.

Fandom started as Wikia — the commercialized sister company to Wikipedia.

Wikipedia is the noble community-supported encyclopedia, and Fandom is the explicitly profit-driven entertainment platform, and that means a lot of things that often collide with how people think about wikis. For example, Perkins talks about Fandom like you would any other large ad-supported media company with tons of user-generated...

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Ads are coming to TikTok search results

Illustration by Nick Barclay / The Verge

TikTok users searching the app for specific videos will begin to see sponsored content in search results.

The company announced today that advertisers will be able to place ads alongside organic content that appears when searching in the app. When a user clicks on an ad, they can continue scrolling to view search results in a feed-like format. Ads are pulled from other videos that the brand is running on the platform.

Image: TikTok

Ads will appear next to organic posts.

Ads will appear next to organic content that’s served when a user searches on TikTok, with a semitransparent “sponsored” label on the video thumbnail. Ads already appear as videos between organic content in users’ For You feeds with the same...

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Ahsoka brings mystery back to Star Wars

Image: Suzanne Tenner / Lucasfilm Ltd.

At this point, live-action Star Wars shows are no longer novel. In fact, it’s getting pretty crowded out there, with everything from the ongoing adventures of The Mandalorian to series like Andor, Obi-Wan, and The Book of Boba Fett. So, a new story like Ahsoka needs to do something a little different to stand out from the ever-growing pack. And in its first two episodes, the series manages to do just that by focusing on a very specific and important part of the Star Wars mythos: mystery.

The show starts out like classic Star Wars, complete with a title crawl (this time in red text) followed by a massive spaceship slowly making its way through the inky expanse of space. The story — which takes place roughly during the same period as The...

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Netflix is going to let DVD.com subscribers keep any unreturned discs

Illustration: Alex Castro / The Verge

Netflix won’t charge DVD.com customers for any discs they still have after September 29th, the company announced from its DVD.com account on X on Monday. That generous offer, combined with Netflix’s recent announcement that it may send customers as many as 10 extra discs from their queues, means that some people might end up with a bunch of disc copies of movies, courtesy of Netflix.

DVD.com customers will need to visit a special link on DVD.com by August 29th to apply for the promotional offer. Netflix will then send up to 10 random discs based on the movies in the subscriber’s queue.

By the way, a happy clarification in response to all the news headlines out there:

We are not charging for any unreturned discs after 9/29. Please enjoy...

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A new Atari 2600 will play your old cartridges

The Atari 2600 Plus. | Image: Atari

Atari has announced it’s relaunching its most well-known console as the Atari 2600 Plus on November 17th for $129.99, with preorders open now. It’s a fully functioning, 80 percent scale, HDMI-outputting version of the console that comes with a 10-in-1 game cartridge. Atari says it even supports both 2600 and later 7800 game cartridges and will work with the original joystick and paddle controllers.

Aside from being a little smaller and gaining HDMI and USB-C ports, the 2600 Plus is mostly unchanged. The front bears a strip of wood paneling with a light-up Atari logo, while four toggle switches flank its cartridge slot. Atari says the cartridge socket is a little bigger to help with sticking cartridges. On the back by the HDMI and USB-C...

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The Amazfit GTR 4 has dropped to its best price of the year

The Amazfit GTR 4 is our favorite budget-friendly wearable. | Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

The fall semester is officially kicking off in much of the country, so if you haven’t started preparing for the year ahead, it’s wise to start now. Thankfully, the Amazfit GTR 4 — which is one of our top back-to-school guide picks — has returned to its 2023 all-time low price of $169.99 ($30 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target.

As they say, health is wealth, but when schoolwork and deadlines take over, it’s far too easy to neglect it. That’s where the Amazfit GTR 4 comes in handy. Along with being relatively affordable, the wearable makes it incredibly easy to keep tabs on the basics like sleep, fitness, and even stress levels. One of the best things about it is that it’s platform-agnostic, so it won’t lock you into just one ecosystem...

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Brilliant’s new smart home controller makes it easier to put a touchscreen on your wall

The new plug-in version of Brilliant’s wired smart switch is simpler to install and just as easy to use. But still-limited integrations keep it from being truly brilliant.

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