Chevy lifts stop-sale order on glitchy Blazer EV — and slashes prices

Photo by Andrew J. Hawkins / The Verge

Chevy lifted the stop-sale order on the Blazer EV that was put in place last December after numerous owners and reviewers reported significant issues with the vehicle’s software, including blank infotainment screens and error messages while charging.

Chevy rolled out a software update that it says should fix the problems as well as provide a few enhancements for Blazer EV owners. In addition, Chevy announced it was cutting the Blazer EV’s price by an average of $5,900 and that the vehicle will qualify for the full $7,500 federal EV tax credit when sales resume.

Chevy rolled out a software update that it says should fix the problems

“We are excited to have the Chevrolet Blazer EV available again, this time with a compelling price,...

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Rivian’s CEO talks R2 and R3 launch, and why he has ‘complete certainty’ EVs will win

Getty Images for Rivian

In a packed theater in Laguna Beach on Thursday morning, Rivian founder and CEO RJ Scaringe opened his presentation to resounding whoops from the audience, well before the company unveiled its three buzzy new vehicles, the Rivian R2, R3, and R3X.

While it’s not uncommon to pack a room with fans for a vehicle launch, it is unusual for the CEO of a car company outside of Elon Musk to get the kind of response that Scaringe did. For a vehicle unveiling to feel upbeat and exciting without feeling cringe is even rarer.

Getty Images for Rivian

“Every decision we’ve made, the products, the strategy, what we’re building, how we go about building our business, the way we structure our teams, the way we think about our...

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Rivian has already received 68,000 reservations for the R2

Image: Rivian

Less than 24 hours since its launch, the Rivian R2 is already proving to be quite popular. The company’s CEO, RJ Scaringe, said it’s already taken in “more than 68,000 reservations” for the $45,000 midsize electric SUV.

“We are thrilled to see this vehicle resonate so strongly with our community!” Scaringe said in a post on X.

Rivian unveiled the R2, as well as the more compact R3 and R3X, at an event in Laguna Beach, California, on Thursday. The new EVs are meant to be more affordable than the company’s current lineup, currently made up of the R1T truck and R1S, each of which sells for over $70,000.

To be sure, the bar for reserving an R2 is quite low

To be sure, the bar for reserving an R2 is quite low. The deposit is only $100 and...

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Microsoft says Russian hackers stole source code after spying on its executives

Illustration: The Verge

Microsoft revealed earlier this year that Russian state-sponsored hackers had been spying on the email accounts of some members of its senior leadership team. Now, Microsoft is disclosing that the attack, from the same group behind the SolarWinds attack, has also led to some source code being stolen in what Microsoft describes as an ongoing attack.

“In recent weeks, we have seen evidence that Midnight Blizzard [Nobelium] is using information initially exfiltrated from our corporate email systems to gain, or attempt to gain, unauthorized access,” explains Microsoft in a blog post. “This has included access to some of the company’s source code repositories and internal systems. To date we have found no evidence that Microsoft-hosted...

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Living with the ghost of a smart home’s past

Illustration by Adrián Astorgano

My brother and his wife got a house. He mentioned it appeared to have a lot of tech installed by the last owner. I told him that was an exciting mystery for the two of us. Whatever speakers and weird smart home junk had been set up, we’d be able to repurpose. But then he moved in. Slowly, over weeks of tech support calls and hours digging through shockingly deep coat closets, we learned that while the old owner was gone, his digital ghost remained. It was lurking in the home’s lights and shades and thermostat, turning what should have been a smart home into a very haunted one.

I didn’t think I’d have to be the IT equivalent of a Ghostbuster when my brother first texted me about it. I’ve set up multiple smart homes, worked in...

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The New York Times is targeting Wordle clones with legal takedowns

Some developers have already taken down their Wordle clones to avoid a legal battle with The New York Times_._ | Photo by Mike Kemp / In Pictures via Getty Images

Hundreds of games inspired by Wordle, the popular web-based word puzzle, are at risk of being deleted due to copyright takedowns issued by The New York Times. As reported by 404 Media, The New York Times — which purchased Wordle back in 2022 — has filed several DMCA notices over Wordle clones created by GitHub coders, citing its ownership over the Wordle name and copyrighted gameplay including 5x6 tile layout and gray, yellow, and green color scheme.

Two takedown requests were issued in January against unofficial Korean and Bosnian-language versions of the game. Additional requests were filed this week against Wirdle — a variant created by dialect group I Hear Dee in 2022 to promote the Shaetlan language — and Reactle, an open-source W...

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The woes of a blundering first-time smart home owner

Illustration by Adrián Astorgano

I was minding my own business when the piercing shrill of the ADT alarm rang through my house. My Apple Watch gave me a loud noise alert. My cats hid under my desk. I ran down two flights of stairs to the security system control panel. It wanted me to punch in the passcode. I had no idea. I’d been away the week the system had been installed. I cursed myself for not downloading the ADT app earlier. Every second that passed was a second closer to my head exploding. So I did the only thing I could do.

I ran out the front door, called my spouse, and begged them to turn off the alarm from their phone. They were miles away, driving to the store. I had to wait until they could pull over. A few minutes later, blessed silence. When I went back...

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Fortnite’s new season brings Greek gods to the battle royale

Image: Epic Games

Fortnite is going even more old school for its next season. Epic just launched Chapter 5: Season 2 of the battle royale game, dubbed “Myths & Mortals,” and it’s all about Greek mythology. That means playing as Greek gods, fighting across Mount Olympus, and wielding Zeus’ thunderbolt. The launch was preceded by a clever in-game event involving Pandora’s box.

First up, the new locations. A number of mythological locales have been added to the map, including Mount Olympus and the underworld, which, naturally, is guarded by Cerberus. To go along with this are a number of power-ups and items to collect, including the Wings of Icarus so you can fly, Zeus’ bolts which let you “rise into the air and hurl lightning bolts at your target,” and a...

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Stephen Dubner is bullish on the podcast industry

Stephen Dubner speaking at On Air Fest | Alexa Hoyer

This is an excerpt of an interview that took place at On Air Fest on March 1st between Freakonomics Radio host Stephen Dubner and Hot Pod reporter Ariel Shapiro. The conversation has been condensed and edited for clarity.

Alright so, you know podcasting. You know economics. What do you make of this moment in the podcasting industry?

It really depends on what angle you’re coming at it from. The short version is that there was probably a little bit too much panic, because of the combination of the recession that never quite happened, and then the big iOS adjustment and how it’s playing out in reality and in perception. Additionally, from the platform side, there was just massive, massive acquisition, acquisition, acquisition,...

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EA just added classics like Dungeon Keeper, SimCity 3000, and Populous on Steam

Populous. | Image: EA

There hasn’t been a lot of good news out of EA lately, but here’s some: the company just launched a bunch of classic games on Steam. The new (old) releases include nine games in total, spanning franchises like Dungeon Keeper, Populous, and SimCity.

Here’s the full list:

• Command & Conquer The Ultimate Collection
• SimCity 3000 Unlimited
• Populous
• Populous II: Trials of the Olympian Gods
• Populous: The Beginning
• Dungeon Keeper Gold
• Dungeon Keeper 2
• Sid Meier’s Alpha Centauri Planetary Pack
• The Saboteur

That’s a solid list of classics for Steam users, though it should be noted that most of these games — along with plenty of others like Wing Commander, Ultima, and Theme Park — are already available through the classic game service GOG. But...

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Rivian surprises with R3 and R3X electric SUVs

Rivian took a page from Steve Jobs and had “one more thing” to show off during its R2 reveal event in California today. And it was a stunner.

The Rivian R3 is a slightly shorter, sportier-looking electric SUV than the R2, and it will come in a performance variant badged as R3X. Rivian founder and CEO RJ Scaringe said the R3 “takes the package of R2 platform [and] shrinks it.”

The R3 is “designed with even tighter dimensions–and at a lower price point–than R2,” the company said — though it didn’t immediately release the price of the R3. Reservations for the R3 will start at a later date.

The R3 and R3X have sloping rear ends compared to the boxier R2. And like the R2, it will come in two battery sizes, both with over 300...

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Some of the best Switch games are $20 off in the lead-up to Mario Day

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe_, arguably the best game in Nintendo’s iconic series, is down to just $39.99 through March 17th._ | Image: Nintendo

These days, it feels like every day is a recognized holiday of some sort, whether it be National Donut Day, National Dress Day, or some other made-up holiday designed to celebrate... well, something. And while March 10th — aka Mario Day — may not be formally recognized by the US government, it’s one of the ones we at The Verge look forward to most. That’s because it’s one of the best opportunities of the year to save big on games starring Nintendo’s mustachioed mascot.

This year, Nintendo is taking off the wraps early, slashing prices on a variety of Nintendo Switch titles, all of which will be discounted through 11:59PM PT on March 17th. The list of eligible Mario-related games is fairly expansive, but the standout is clearly Mario...

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Overwatch 2’s Cowboy Bebop collaboration has won me back

Image: Blizzard

Overwatch 2 has had a few collaborations since its launch. First there was the One Punch Man collaboration with the big-fisted hero Doomfist getting the highly appropriate Saitama skin. The next crossover was for the K-pop fans, with Overwatch’s prominent female heroes getting skins from the girl group Le Sserafim. But this latest collaboration, in my not so humble opinion, is the one best yet. 3... 2... 1... Let’s Jam.

On March 12th, Overwatch 2 is bringing Cowboy Bebop to the game, and you’ll be able to unlock skins for the Bebop crew: Spike Spiegel as Cassidy, Faye Valentine as Ashe, Jet Black as Mauga, Ed as Sombra, while the adorable corgi Ein gets a Wreckingball skin. The detail that went into these legendary skins is blowing my...

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Rivian R2 revealed: a $45,000 electric off-roader for the masses

Rivian revealed its next electric vehicle, the R2, a more affordable SUV that the company is counting on having a much broader appeal than its stylish — and expensive — R1T trucks and R1S SUVs.

The R2 won’t go into production until 2026, but when it does it will come with an estimated range of 330 miles, a 0–60mph time of three seconds, and a starting price of $45,000 — placing it slightly below the current average selling price for a new internal combustion vehicle. The price could be even lower if it ends up qualifying for the $7,500 federal tax credit.

Image: Andrew Hawkins / The Verge

Making an electric vehicle that’s affordable to a broader swath of people is crucial for Rivian’s long-term viability. The...

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Apple will cut off third-party app store updates if your iPhone leaves the EU for a month

Photo by Allison Johnson / The Verge

Apple won’t let your iPhone update software installed by third-party app stores if you leave the European Union for more than 30 days. In an update to its support page on Thursday, Apple says you can continue using apps from alternative marketplaces while traveling for long periods — but you’ll need to come back to the EU to get the latest version.

Shortly after the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) went into effect on Wednesday, users noticed an Apple support page stating users would “lose access to some features” when leaving the EU “for short-term travel.” But now, Apple has made this policy more specific by carving out a 30-day grace period, which could be inconvenient for frequent travelers.

This doesn’t change your ability to use...

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Apple’s last-minute App Store changes come with a catch — here’s what developers think

Image: The Verge

Apple’s plans to comply with the European Union’s new rules governing big tech have already gotten off to an interesting start, and not just because Apple pulled Epic Games’ developer license. Apple made last-minute tweaks to the Digital Markets Act (DMA) compliance plan to add flexibility, but they’ve met mixed reactions among developers.

Developers considering Apple’s post-DMA fee structure, which comes with a new “Core Technology Fee,” can now try them out and then switch back to the original terms — instead of, as originally announced, making the change a one-way trip. In an update posted on Tuesday, Apple says it created the “one-time option” to revert to Apple’s standard agreement in case of “unexpected business changes” or if...

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The SEC’s new climate disclosure rule already faces legal challenges

SEC Chair Gary Gensler attends a meeting of the Financial Stability Oversight Council at the U.S. Department of Treasury on December 14, 2023 in Washington, DC. | Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images

A landmark climate disclosure rule adopted by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) yesterday is already facing mounting legal and legislative challenges. Ten states filed suit yesterday shortly after the rule was finalized. Environmental advocates also say they’re considering challenging the rule.

If implemented, the SEC’s new rule would force large, public companies to disclose risks they face due to climate change and share partial information about their greenhouse gas emissions. It would lead to dramatically more transparency than there’s been in the past, but would still paint an incomplete picture of a company’s environmental footprint since companies would only be mandated to divulge a portion of their emissions.

I...

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The best deals on MacBooks right now

Some of the latest M3 MacBooks are on sale, and you can find great discounts on older models, too. | Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

Apple sells MacBooks equipped with its own M-series chips in a wide range of sizes and price points. The offerings start with the 13-inch M1 MacBook Air from 2020 at $999 (which is being replaced by the M2 Air — at the same price point — now that Apple has officially discontinued it to make room for the M3 MacBook Air) and go all the way up to the latest 16-inch MacBook Pro with M3 starting at $2,499. But finding a deal on a current Mac with an M1, M2, or even the new M3 chip — as well as the higher-end M3 Pro and M3 Max — is actually not that difficult.

While Macs may not experience perpetual discounts, it’s not uncommon to see various current models discounted by as much as $400. Alternatively, purchasing refurbished options...

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Apple is working to make it easier to switch from iPhone to Android because of the EU

Apple’s latest flagship iPhones, the 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max. | Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge

Apple is preparing to allow EU-based iPhone users to uninstall its first-party Safari browser by the end of 2024 and is working on a more “user-friendly” way of transferring data “from an iPhone to a non-Apple phone” by fall 2025. That’s according to a new compliance document published by the company, which outlines all the ways it’s complying with the European Union’s new Digital Markets Act that comes into force this week.

Other user-facing initiatives detailed in Apple’s document include a “browser switching solution” to transfer data between browsers on the same device, which it plans to make available by late 2024 or early 2025. It’ll also be possible to change the default navigation app on iOS by March 2025 in the EU.

The document...

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TikTok is urging users to call Congress about a looming ban

Illustration by Nick Barclay / The Verge

As support grows for a bill in Congress that would effectively ban TikTok in the US, the video platform is trying to rally support among a key group: its own users.

TikTok sent users in the US a push notification on Wednesday, warning that “Congress is planning a total ban of TikTok” that would “[strip] 170 million Americans of their Constitutional right to free expression.” The page says that a ban would “damage millions of businesses, destroy the livelihoods of countless creators across the country, and deny artists an audience.” The alert includes a way for users to find their representative and call their office.

Screenshot: Mia Sato / The Verge

The notification comes shortly after the White House expressed...

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How to watch Rivian’s R2 electric SUV reveal event

Image: Rivian

Rivian is pulling the cover off its latest electric vehicle today, and unless you live anywhere near Laguna Beach, California, you’ll probably be watching the livestream.

The event starts at 10AM PT/ 1PM ET. According to details that leaked from the Laguna Beach City Council, the company plans to hold the event in the park adjacent to the former South Coast Theater, now named the Rivian South Coast Theater, which serves as the company’s “first flagship retail location.”

The event will be livestreamed on YouTube (embedded above). Rivian founder and CEO RJ Scaringe will introduce the R2, a compact SUV that is expected to have broader appeal than the company’s $70,000-plus R1T truck and R1S SUV. There may be other products introduced as...

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Texas electric utility says its equipment was ‘involved’ in starting massive Smokehouse Creek Fire

Firefighters battle flames from the Smokehouse Creek fire on March 03, 2024 near Sanford, Texas. | Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images

Electric utility Xcel Energy admits that its equipment likely helped ignite the devastating Smokehouse Creek Fire that’s blazed across Texas since last week.

“Xcel Energy has been cooperating with the investigations into the wildfires and has been conducting its own review. Based on currently available information, Xcel Energy acknowledges that its facilities appear to have been involved in an ignition of the Smokehouse Creek fire,” the company said in a statement today.

The blaze has grown into the largest in state history, consuming more than a million acres, killing at least two people, and destroying hundreds of structures. It was still only 44 percent contained as of Thursday morning.

“Xcel Energy acknowledges that its facilities...

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Discord is partnering with game developers to sell themed avatars and profile effects

Illustration: Alex Castro / The Verge

Discord says it will sell official game-themed items in its store soon. Discord launched its in-app store in November with avatar decorations and profile effects available for anyone willing to buy them. Anime and fantasy effects have proved popular, so now, Discord is partnering with game developers to create game-themed versions.

“We’ve heard a lot of feedback on the kinds of decorations that you’d like to see, including cosmetics themed to the games you love,” says the Discord team in a blog post. “We’ve come up with a way to make this happen by working with developers to bring themed profile effects and avatar decorations to the Shop. And most importantly, we’ll be sharing the revenue of those purchases with developers so they can...

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Pokémon Horizons: The Series is an evolutionary fresh start for the anime

Image: Netflix

Pokémon Horizons brings a refreshing new energy to the anime franchise by amping up the action and making the larger Pokémon world feel like a more cohesive place.

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Dive into the world of Netflix’s 3 Body Problem

ED MILLER/NETFLIX

Check out all of The Verge’s coverage of Netflix’s upcoming 3 Body Problem series based on Cixin Liu’s epic sci-fi novel.

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How to watch President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address

Cath Virginia / The Verge | Photos from Getty Images, Nathan Howard / Stringer

President Joe Biden is set to deliver his third State of the Union address on Thursday as he hurdles toward a likely rematch with former President Donald Trump in November.

Biden will deliver the speech at the US Capitol at 9PM ET.

This year’s address comes just a couple of days after Super Tuesday, where Biden and Trump each dominated primary ballots across multiple states. That brings them one step closer to entering the official general election campaigning stage.

We’ll be watching for what Biden has to say that could shape the tech policy issues at the forefront of both the presidential campaign and the next few legislative months. The White House has made the safe deployment of artificial intelligence a priority in the past year...

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Why people are falling in love with AI chatbots

Illustration: The Verge

Our Thursday episodes of Decoder are all about big topics in the news, and this week, we’re wrapping up our short series on one of the biggest topics of all: generative AI.

In our last couple of episodes, we’ve talked a lot about some of the biggest, most complicated legal and policy questions surrounding the modern AI industry, including copyright lawsuits and deepfake legislation. But we wanted to end on a smaller, more emotional note: How is AI making people feel? And in particular, how is it affecting how people communicate and connect?

Verge reporter Emilia David has covered AI chatbots, specifically AI romance bots, quite a bit. So, we invited her on the show to talk about how generative AI is finding its way into dating because...

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Netflix’s next live event is a fight between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson

Photo by Al Bello / Getty Images

Netflix’s foray into sports is going in a new direction. Today, the streamer announced that its next major event will be a fight between YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul and former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson that will stream live on Netflix. The bout will take place on July 20th at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

The move is part of a steady expansion into sports from Netflix. So far, that has meant going all in on sports documentaries — including a doc about Paul’s fledgling boxing career — as well as a handful of live events featuring golf and tennis. But two headline (if controversial) names duking it out in an NFL stadium that seats 80,000 marks arguably the biggest bet from the company yet. (And it comes at a time when other b...

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How to collaborate on playlists in Apple Music

Illustration by Samar Haddad / The Verge

I used to enjoy sharing my favorite new music with friends and family via a carefully compiled piece of physical media. Sadly for those of us above a certain age, the switch to digital and streaming music has made the mixtape (or the mix CD) redundant. However, while streaming music apps may have killed off the mixtape, they’ve brought with them collaborative playlists: being able to easily compile a list of tunes with other people, even if those people aren’t in the same physical place you are.

This is a feature that’s been in Spotify for years, but it’s now arrived in Apple Music with iOS 17.3 and macOS 14.3. (So make sure the software on your devices is up to date before you get started).

Collaborative playlists on iOS

...

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Amazon’s new Fallout trailer looks just like the games: grim, goofy, and gruesome

Image: Amazon

It’s still too early to say if Amazon’s live-action take on Fallout will be any good. But the first few trailers at least make one thing clear: the show seems like it’s nailing the distinct vibe of the games.

The newly released second trailer follows a lot of the same beats as the first, tracking a Vault Dweller named Lucy (Ella Purnell) heading out into the Wasteland only to discover how dangerous things have become two centuries after the apocalypse. The show looks gritty and violent, as you’d expect from a post-apocalyptic series, but also balances that out with a goofy sense of humor and playfully retrofuturistic style. Case in point: a Mister Orderly bot that simply wants to harvest Lucy’s organs. No big deal.

Aside from that, the...

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