Ignore your fitness tracker and walk to Mordor instead

I’ve got a long way to get to Mordor, but an imaginary destination can be more fun than metrics. | Photo by Victoria Song / The Verge

In mid-November, my nagging calf strain became a full-blown injury. Techtember and Techtober kicked my butt. My grandma died. Also, my lease was running out and I had about two weeks to find somewhere to live. These are the perfect conditions for a fitness slump.

Slumps happen to everyone. But I still beat myself up pretty hard. I review wearables and fitness tech for a living, but that doesn’t make me immune to the toxic aspects of fitness culture. Didn’t my failure to perform, even during difficult times, make me a fraud? With each run, I found myself chasing a past version of myself who was thinner, faster, and stronger. Logically, I knew better, but it was depressing. On Christmas, I was cleaning out my old apartment by myself,...

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Watermarking the future

Illustration by Erik Carter

A video of Elizabeth Warren saying Republicans shouldn’t vote went viral in 2023. But it wasn’t Warren. That video of Ron DeSantis wasn’t the Florida governor, either. And nope, Pope Francis was not wearing a white Balenciaga coat.

Generative AI has made it easier to create deepfakes and spread them around the internet. One of the most common proposed solutions involves the idea of a watermark that would identify AI-generated content. The Biden administration has made a big deal out of watermarks as a policy solution, even specifically mandating tech companies to find ways to identify AI-generated content. The president’s executive order on AI, released in November, was built on commitments from AI developers to figure out a way to tag...

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Nvidia’s Chat with RTX is a promising AI chatbot that runs locally on your PC

Image: Nvidia

Nvidia is releasing an early version of Chat with RTX today, a demo app that lets you run a personal AI chatbot on your PC. You can feed it YouTube videos and your own documents to create summaries and get relevant answers based on your own data. It all runs locally on a PC, and all you need is an RTX 30- or 40-series GPU with at least 8GB of VRAM.

I’ve been briefly testing out Chat with RTX over the past day, and although the app is a little rough around the edges, I can already see this being a valuable part of data research for journalists or anyone who needs to analyze a collection of documents.

Chat with RTX can handle YouTube videos, so you simply input a URL, and it lets you search transcripts for specific mentions or summarize an...

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Dude, where’s my self-driving car?

Illustration by Erik Carter

The many, many missed deadlines for a fully autonomous vehicular future.

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Apple won’t be forced to open up iMessage by EU

Image: The Verge

Apple’s iMessage is not being designated as a “core platform service” under the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), the European Commission announced today. The decision means the service won’t be hit with tough new obligations, including a requirement to offer interoperability with other messaging services. The Commission also opted against designating Microsoft’s Edge browser, Bing search engine, and advertising business as core platform services.

“Following a thorough assessment of all arguments, taking into account input by relevant stakeholders, and after hearing the Digital Markets Advisory Committee, the Commission found that iMessage, Bing, Edge and Microsoft Advertising do not qualify as gatekeeper services,” the EU’s...

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Lyft’s feature that matches women and nonbinary riders and drivers now available nationwide

Lyft is expanding Women Plus Connect, an in-app feature that matches women and nonbinary drivers with women and nonbinary riders, to all US cities. The rideshare service initially launched the initiative in five cities last fall, with the goal of both improving safety and recruiting more female and nonbinary users. Over 2.4 million riders have activated Women Plus Connect since its rollout, according to Lyft’s press materials.

Drivers aren’t required to participate in Women Plus Connect if they don’t want to, and if no nearby passengers matching the profile are available, the app will match with a male passenger. Nearly half of Lyft’s eligible pool of drivers in the eight cities have opted to use the feature.

Female and nonbinary...

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Chrysler Halcyon concept is a reminder the company can be more than just minivans

The Halcyon is a sleek roadster with a lot of interesting things to say about Chrysler’s future | © 2024 Stellantis

Chrysler, on the cusp of turning 100 next year, used to make a variety of models but is now a brand mostly known for its Pacifica minivans. But today, the company is attempting to make a bold statement about its future by introducing a concept car that is about as far from a minivan as you can get.

The Chrysler Halcyon concept is a stunning, high-tech roadster with an electric powertrain and fully autonomous capabilities. And while the automaker doesn’t have any immediate plans to put it into production, the Halcyon is intended to demonstrate that the minivan company is doing more than just sitting around and thinking about, well, minivans.

Image: © 2024 Stellantis

“We want Chrysler to be advanced, for sure,”...

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Wunderlist’s creators are back with a nifty new to-do app

Superlist is for tasks — and all the other stuff that comes with them. | Image: Superlist

If you’re a lover of to-do list apps, there’s a good chance you miss Wunderlist. A decade ago — when apps that were both useful and delightful were even harder to come by — Wunderlist was both full of useful features and whimsical in a way few apps manage. The app had nice animations, beautiful backgrounds, worked across platforms, and offered all kinds of organizational features. It was The Verge’s favorite to-do list app.

Then, long story short, Microsoft bought it in 2015, morphed it into Microsoft To Do (a very good and much less delightful tasks app), and killed Wunderlist forever. But a group of the folks who made Wunderlist in the first place, led by co-founder Christian Reber, set out to bring its spirit back to life.

Three years...

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Nothing’s Phone 2A launches March 5th but with a limited US release

Nothing’s last phone, the Phone 2. | Photo by Allison Johnson / The Verge

Nothing has announced a March 5th launch date for its upcoming Phone 2A in a new video posted today, and has confirmed that it’ll be available in the US as part of a “Developer Program” rather than a widespread, official release. No specs, images, or pricing of the device were revealed — for that we’ll have to wait for the full announcement next month when we’ll also get full details of Nothing’s developer program. The event will take place at 11:30AM GMT (6:30AM ET), the company confirmed on X.

The Developer Program sounds like a similar release approach to the one Nothing took with its original Phone 1, which came to the US as part of a “Beta Membership” that saw interested customers pay $299 to “test” the phone. In contrast, last...

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Peloton is getting rid of Apple Watch GymKit support

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

In an email sent to users Monday evening, Peloton revealed that starting February 27th, it will start transitioning Apple Watch users from GymKit to Peloton One-Tap tracking.

GymKit integration was once marketed by Peloton as an exclusive perk of its more expensive Bike Plus, but it’s become less of a draw in recent years. The company launched an Apple Watch integration in 2022 that brought Apple Watch calorie and heart-rate tracking to any Peloton machine, similar to many other fitness apps.

As a result, if you linked your Peloton to an Apple Watch more recently, you may not even notice the change. The company has been directing users to only use GymKit if they haven’t installed the latest software updates on their machines.

...

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Amazon Prime Video drops Dolby Vision and Atmos unless you pay extra

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

Amazon has confirmed it’s not a mistake — your Amazon Prime Video subscription no longer includes Dolby Vision HDR or Dolby Atmos surround sound. That’s on top of the ads that Amazon injected into the service on January 29th. Now, when you pay $2.99 a month to remove those ads, you can get Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos back as well.

That’s the word from 4KFilme, which discovered that their smart TVs from Sony, LG, and Samsung were now displaying content in HDR10 with Dolby Digital 5.1 as opposed to the higher fidelity options they’d enjoyed previously.

Amazon spokesperson Katie Barker confirms to The Verge that it’s a deliberate move: “Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos capabilities are only available on the ad free option, on relevant...

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It’s not just you: Alicia Keys’ Super Bowl halftime show got changed for YouTube

Image: NFL

A crane shot slowly sweeps down toward a massive, billowing rose-red cape attached to someone playing an equally red grand piano. As the camera closes in on the figure, you realize it’s Alicia Keys, playing the descending triplets that begin “If I Ain’t Got You,” one of her earliest and biggest hits. Her voice, as smooth as ever, eases in with a shortened version of the hums that begin the original recording, then she starts belting out the chorus lyrics... and her voice cracks immediately.

That’s how Keys’ surprising (and brief) cameo during Usher’s Super Bowl 2024 performance kicked off if you were watching live. But those who didn’t watch wouldn’t know it now without reading social posts about it or news stories like this AV Club one,...

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FCC commissioner wants to investigate Apple over Beeper Mini shutdown

Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

Republican Commissioner Brendan Carr is calling on the Federal Communications Commission to investigate Apple’s response to Beeper Mini — the app that briefly brought iMessage to Android. During the State of the Net Conference on Monday, Carr said the FCC should look into whether Apple’s move “complies with the FCC’s Part 14 rules” about accommodating users with disabilities.

Beeper Mini launched last year, allowing Android users to gain access to iMessage features, including blue message bubbles and the ability to send high-quality photos and videos. However, Apple quickly blocked Beeper Mini users and continued to shut down attempts to make the app work, leading its developers to eventually just give up.

Today, I called for the @FCC...

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One of NASA’s new spacesuits passes microgravity test

Collins spacesuit during the test | Collins Aerospace

Collins Aerospace, a private company hired to create spacesuits for use outside the International Space Station (ISS), has tested its suit aboard a commercial microgravity flight, passing a milestone that lets engineers move forward toward critical design review.

NASA outsourced the design of new spacesuits in 2022 after spending 15 years trying to develop new suits on its own. Collins Aerospace said the suit is lighter and has less volume than the “enhanced” Extravehicular Mobility Units that current NASA astronauts use. It can be modified when missions change and fit a much wider range of body types far more easily than the older suits that are based on designs that are decades old.

During the test, the plane executed...

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The ‘queer.af’ Mastodon instance disappeared because of the Taliban

Image: The Verge

Were you aware that the “.af” domain extension is administered by Afghanistan’s government? That’s a truth that the “queer.af” Mastodon instance is now reckoning with as the Taliban, which has controlled the country since 2021, has shut down the domain, according to 404 Media. And it may not be alone, given reports that other .af domains have abruptly gone dark, too.

Erin Shepherd, the administrator of the instance and key ActivityPub developer, told the outlet they were already planning “to shut things down” instead of renewing in April, but that the early termination was a surprise. An email from the Afghanistan Ministry of Communications and IT that Shepherd posted said that the queer.af domain had been suspended and that websites or...

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Microsoft prepares to take Xbox everywhere

Image: Microsoft

With rumors of some Xbox games coming to PS5 and Switch, Microsoft gets ready to lay out its vision for the future of Xbox.

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Threads is testing ‘Today’s topics’ to tell users what’s trending in the US

Image: The Verge

Threads is rolling out a new test in the US that shows a list of popular topics that other users are discussing, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced in a post on Threads. The list will appear on the search page and in the For You feed, allowing you to browse through posts about a particular topic.

In addition to testing a way to save posts, Meta recently said it will add controls to limit political content recommendations on Threads.

Instagram head Adam Mosseri says Threads uses machine learning AI systems to determine what goes on the list. It takes into account how many people are talking about a certain topic, as well as how many people have interacted with posts about it.

Image: Meta

Top topics should hopefully...

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The US government makes a $42 million bet on open cell networks

Illustration by William Joel / The Verge

The US government has committed $42 million to further the development of the 5G Open RAN (O-RAN) standard that would allow wireless providers to mix and match cellular hardware and software, opening up a bigger market for third-party equipment that’s cheaper and interoperable. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) grant would establish a Dallas O-RAN testing center to prove the standard’s viability as a way to head off Huawei’s steady cruise toward a global cellular network hardware monopoly.

Verizon global network and technology president Joe Russo promoted the funding as a way to achieve “faster innovation in an open environment.” To achieve the standard’s goals, AT&T vice president of RAN technology R...

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Google’s Pixel Fold has returned to an all-time low thanks to a $400 discount

Google’s first foldable is intriguing, but it was hard to recommend before today’s discount. | Photo by Dan Seifert / The Verge

When it first launched, we felt the Google Pixel Fold was a little too expensive ($1,800, whew) compared to other foldables at the time, like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 and its sequel, which had the same starting cost. If you’ve been waiting for a price drop to experience Google’s infantile take on the form factor, however, today is the day to unfold your wallet. Right now, you can buy an unlocked Pixel Fold with 256GB of storage for $1,399 ($400 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and the Google Store, which matches the lowest price we’ve seen.

We love the Fold’s potential and we’re elated to know Google now has a firm stake in building fold-friendly features into Android’s core. We’re hoping that will eventually convince third-party developers...

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The biggest movie trailers and release dates in 2024

Image: Warner Bros. Pictures

From Dune 2 in February to Sonic 3 in December, and everything else in between.

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The future of Xbox will be revealed on February 15th

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

After weeks of rumors of Xbox exclusives coming to PS5 and Nintendo Switch, Microsoft is now planning to discuss its vision for the future of Xbox at an event later this week. Microsoft’s Xbox business update event will take place on Thursday, February 15th at 12PM PT / 3PM ET.

Weeks of rumors suggest that Hi-Fi Rush, Sea of Thieves, and even Bethesda titles like Starfield and Indiana Jones could appear on non-Xbox platforms. Microsoft hasn’t addressed these rumors directly, but Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer didn’t dismiss them last week. “We’re listening and we hear you,” said Spencer, before announcing the Xbox business update event.

Please join us for a special edition of the Official Xbox Podcast.

Hear from Phil Spencer, Sarah...

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The best floodlight camera to buy right now

Image: The Verge

An all-in-one security camera with motion-activated light and continuous power, an outdoor floodlight camera is a simple way to add safety and security to your home’s perimeter.

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Slackers

[AC/DC voice] Back in Slack. | Cath Virginia / The Verge | Assets courtesy of iOS and Getty Images

A decade later, it’s clear that Slack changed work culture, even at companies that don’t use it.

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The ultimate sports streaming service will have to fight itself

Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images

The biggest change in sports broadcasting since cable TV bursts onto the small screen this fall. ESPN, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery are poised to launch a new streaming experience that encompasses live content from just about every major sports league. The joint venture came as such a surprise that not even the sports leagues themselves were aware of the plan. Because big team-ups like this often end in fights down the line.

But the joint venture makes sense. Viewers have wanted an easier way to stream their favorite sports for years, and bringing the National Football League (NFL), National Basketball Association (NBA), National Hockey League (NHL), college football, PGA Tour, Grand Slam Tennis, US Soccer, and even NASCAR under a...

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Fan wiki hosting site Fandom rolls out controversial AI features

The Verge

Fandom, which hosts wikis for many fandoms, will roll out generative AI features that it previously tested but now promises users will be able to opt out.

The most prominent AI-generated feature is Quick Answers, which generates a Q&A-style dropdown that distills information into a bite-sized sentence. When visiting the wiki for The Witcher, for instance, anyone curious to find out who trained Geralt of Rivia can click on the question and learn that the answer is Vesemir.

Fandom will also add AI to its image review process “to ensure quick and accurate removal of inappropriate content.” The company worked with Coactive AI to develop Image Review. Wiki admins can automatically approve or reject photos. The company said it will add...

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Stellantis becomes the last major automaker to adopt Tesla’s charging plug

Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

Stellantis, parent company to storied brands like Chrysler, Jeep, Ram, and Dodge, said it will adopt Tesla’s electric vehicle charging plug for its future EVs — becoming the last major car company to do so.

Stellantis said its first EVs to feature the SAE J3400 plug, also known as Tesla’s North American Charging Standard, will be out in 2025. During the transition period, the company said it will provide adapters to customers who own EVs with Combined Charging Standard, or CCS, plugs.

The company sells a range of plug-in hybrid vehicles, as well as battery-electric models, most of which are available in Europe. A slate of upcoming EVs, including fully electric Jeep, Ram, and Chrysler models, are planned for the next several years.

The...

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Streaming services are spoiling the Super Bowl

San Francisco 49ers’ Brock Purdy throws during Super Bowl LVIII. | Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images

Tens of millions of people gathered together to watch the Super Bowl last night — but they weren’t all watching it at exactly the same time. Cable streams of the game delivered footage that was around 50 seconds behind what was happening on the field, and the figure for online streaming services was even worse. Some viewers were watching a stream that was a minute-and-a-half behind the real world, leaving plenty of time for social media posts and push notifications to spoil what was about to happen in the game.

The figures, from streaming tech company Phenix, show that streaming still has a ways to go to catch up with other — and, often, older — methods of watching TV. Hulu, NFL Plus, and DirecTV Stream were on average more than a minute...

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The Chevy Equinox EV will get 319 miles of range and start at around $35,000

Photo by Andrew Hawkins / The Verge

General Motors released final pricing and range details about the upcoming Chevy Equinox EV, which will be available for ordering later this year. For years, the automaker has been positioning the Equinox as its great equalizer, affordably priced and with enough range to be everyone’s first EV. And now we have the numbers to see whether those promises hold true.

The single-motor, front-wheel drive 1LT model of the Equinox EV, which will be the first one available to customers, will start at $34,995 and get an EPA-estimated range of 319 miles. Sure, that’s more than the “around $30,000” that GM had long promised would be the Equinox’s starting price.

that’s more than the “around $30,000” that GM had long promised

But it also doesn’t...

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DOJ’s Jonathan Kanter says the antitrust fight against Big Tech is just beginning

Photo illustration: The Verge | Photo DOJ

The assistant attorney general says “the resonance these issues have is something that I’ve never witnessed in my lifetime.”

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AI at Work

AI, once an ambiguous science fiction trope, has become an ambiguous business buzzword, as every technology product races to implement what Silicon Valley thinks is the greatest innovation since the internet. But lost in the conversation are stories about the people building it and using it. If large language models and automated systems will, indeed, upend labor and capital, what does it actually look like in practice? In this package, we’ll explore the ways AI functions today: how people are using it, where it fails and where it succeeds, and what it actually means when we say “artificial intelligence.”

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