GM will reportedly stop making gas-powered Chevy Blazer

The combustion engine version of the Chevy Blazer is reportedly being discontinued and will eventually only be offered as an EV, sources tell GM Authority. Both the Chevy Blazer EV and the gas-powered Chevy Blazer have been assembled at GM’s Ramos Arizpe plant in Mexico, but with the gas Blazer now sunsetting with the 2025 model year, the facility is being retooled only to accommodate electric vehicles, GM Authority says.

In an email to The Verge, Chevy representative Chad Lyons says that “we have no portfolio changes to share and will not comment on speculation.”

Chevy makes EV and ICE versions of the Blazer mid-sized SUV and the Equinox, a smaller SUV. The models didn’t only differentiate in powertrains from their gas counterparts but also in style and platform. Both the Blazer EV and Equinox EV share GM’s tailored EV platform (formerly called Ultium) and are built in the same plant in Mexico alongside the Cadillac Optiq. Honda’s Prologue, which is essentially a rebadged Blazer EV, is built in the same plant as well.

As GM Authority notes, a discontinued gas-powered Blazer means Chevy no longer carries a two-row combustion SUV in North America. Chevy does still use the nameplate for a three-row SUV in China.

Chevy sold 52,576 Blazers in the US in 2024, a drop from 94,599 sold in 2020 when the then 2019 model year redesign was introduced. GM also discontinued the Cadillac XT5 and XT6 this year.

Continue Reading…

Google Calendar removed events like Pride and BHM because its holiday list wasn’t ‘sustainable’

Some Google Calendar users are angrily calling the company out after noticing that certain events like Pride month are no longer highlighted by default. Black History Month, Indigenous People Month, Jewish Heritage, Holocaust Remembrance Day, and Hispanic Heritage have also been removed, according to a Google product expert.

One user called the move “shameful” and said that the platform is being used to “capitulate to fascism.” Over the last few years, there have been comments and media reports complaining about the presence of the notes, but now they’re gone.

Google confirmed it’s made changes to the default Calendar events, but with a different explanation about when and why. Here’s Google’s explanation of what’s going on, provided by spokesperson Madison Cushman Veld:

For over a decade we’ve worked with timeanddate.com to show public holidays and national observances in Google Calendar. Some years ago, the Calendar team started manually adding a broader set of cultural moments in a wide number of countries around the world. We got feedback that some other events and countries were missing — and maintaining hundreds of moments manually and consistently globally wasn’t scalable or sustainable. So in mid-2024 we returned to showing only public holidays and national observances from timeanddate.com globally, while allowing users to manually add other important moments.

Timeanddate.com didn’t reply to requests for comment.

Continue Reading…

The best Nintendo Switch controllers to buy right now

The best Nintendo Switch controllers aren’t the ones that come with it. While the removable Joy-Cons included with all non-Lite Switch consoles are convenient given they can be detached for wireless use, their tiny contourless design isn’t that comfortable for long gaming sessions or large hands. And while Nintendo has taken steps to address the dreaded Joy-Con drift and earlier quality control problems, some issues persist.

1. The best Nintendo Switch controller for TV mode
2. The best Switch controller for handheld mode
3. The best Xbox-style controller for the Switch
4. A Switch controller for PC and Steam Deck
5. A well-rounded Switch controller that looks like a DualShock
6. An adapter that lets you use your own controllers
7. Other Switch controllers you should know about

In this buying guide, we focus on wireless controllers that are both comfortable and reliable, as well as a few options that come with unique features designed to match your play style. We’re not covering wired controllers that plug into the Switch’s dock, as they’re almost all the same and don’t offer substantial savings in many cases. (PowerA and PDP make decent ones that will do in a pinch, but they’re very basic. Unless you detest recharging your controllers, it makes more sense to go wireless.)

Also, if you buy a third-party wireless controller (as in, one not made by Nintendo), there are certain things that it likely won’t be able to do unless otherwise noted:

• It won’t have HD rumble. This is what Nintendo calls its advanced haptic feedback, which is more precise than that of many third-party controllers and more akin to Sony’s haptics engine in its subtlety. That said, some more limited rumble may be present.
• Many third-party Switch controllers don’t have motion controls for gestures or gyroscopic aiming in games that support it, though more options are starting to implement the latter feature with varying degrees of quality.
• Most non-Nintendo options lack an NFC reader for Amiibo cards or figurines, which unlock special features in some games.
• Most third-party options won’t be able to turn on the Switch remotely. (You’ll have to manually press the console’s power button.)
• While some Switch controllers have 3.5mm headphone jacks, getting audio out of them can only happen through a wired USB connection, not wirelessly. For most people, pairing Bluetooth headphones to your Switch is a sufficient (and very easy) workaround.

If you’re playing your Switch while docked, it’s hard to go wrong with the official Nintendo Switch Pro Controller. It’s the only traditional gamepad that checks all the boxes above — minus the 3.5mm audio jack — and it’s one of the most satisfying controllers we’ve tested. The GuliKit KingKong 3 Pro and Max, meanwhile, make for great Xbox-style controllers with exhaustive customization, while the Hori Split Pad Pro is great for those who prefer to play in handheld mode. Then there’s 8BitDo’s PC-friendly Ultimate Bluetooth Controller and DualShock-esque Pro 2 controller, both of which are well worth a look.

Connectivity

Does it support Bluetooth? Can you use it in wired mode? Are there alternate wireless modes, such as 2.4GHz?

Quality

Do the buttons, sticks, and triggers feel good and sturdy? Does the controller have a satisfying, well-balanced weight? Does it use premium materials for the casing and grips? Any connection issues or glitches?

Extra features

Are there rear-facing buttons? Does it support macros? Can you use it on multiple platforms?

Customization

Can you remap buttons? Is there software support for tweaking controller settings? Does it have interchangeable buttons or sticks? Can you fine-tune vibration and sensitivity?

Value

Is it priced fairly? Are the features and quality worth the money?

The best Nintendo Switch controller for TV mode

_Supported platforms: Nintendo Switch, PC, Steam Deck, mobile, Apple TV / Connectivity: Bluetooth, wired / Connector type: USB-C / Mappable rear buttons: No / Software customization: No / Rumble: Yes, HD / NFC: Yes / Motion: Yes / Power: Built-in rechargeable / Console Wakeup: Yes

Nearly eight years down the road, Nintendo’s first-party Pro controller is still the best gamepad for the Switch. It launched alongside the console in 2017 as a more traditional alternative to Nintendo’s quirky Joy-Cons, and in many ways, it rivals the standard models from Sony and Microsoft in terms of comfort and build quality.

Aside from the Joy-Cons, the Switch Pro Controller is the only wireless option that includes HD rumble, gyroscopic movement support, and an NFC reader for Amiibo cards and figurines. It’s also the only controller we’ve tested (again, aside from the Joy-Cons) that can power on the Switch without being plugged into it. The gamepad is built like a tank, and its battery life is so good that it sometimes seems like it’ll never run out. Nintendo says that it lasts around 40 hours per charge, so it’ll likely take casual gamers a long time to run down the battery.

The buttons and triggers have a satisfying bounce, while its directional pad is responsive and clicky enough to satisfy retro gamers. The controller charges via USB-C, just like the Switch, and it’s compatible with a slew of other platforms you might game on, including PC, Android, and SteamOS. It also works with Apple devices thanks to its compatibility with the latest versions of iOS, macOS, and even tvOS and visionOS.

Given the price, we wish that it had other features, like programmable buttons or a 3.5mm headphone jack for audio, even if wireless audio transmission from the Switch to a controller isn’t currently possible. (At least you can connect a pair of wireless headphones via Bluetooth, but only if you have no more than two controllers connected to your Switch at once.)

The best Switch controller for handheld mode

_Supported Platforms: Switch / Connectivity: Wired / Connector type: Joy-Con slots / Mappable rear buttons: Yes / Software customization: No / Rumble: No / NFC: No / Motion: No / Power: via Joy-Con slots / Console Wakeup: No

I’m sure there are some people who enjoy using Joy-Con controllers, but kids and small-handed folks aside, most people probably wouldn’t say they’re the most comfortable option. That’s where the Hori Split Pad Pro comes in.

The Split Pad Pro comes in a variety of colorways, and it both looks and feels like a Switch Pro Controller that’s split in half. One-half slides into each side of the Switch console like Joy-Cons, but unlike Nintendo’s default controllers, Hori’s gamepad features big, easy-to-reach buttons and generously sized triggers and analog sticks, all of which feel great in play. It also provides a lot of grip, which is particularly useful for people who need to get a better handle on the console for fast gameplay or stay comfy over longer play sessions.

The Split Pad Pro doesn’t have batteries or sensors — not to mention support for rumble, motion, IR, or NFC — so it’s completely useless when detached from the Switch. It’s only for handheld mode unless you purchase the Split Pad Pro Attachment that turns it into a wired controller. We don’t recommend most people go that route since the attachment alone costs more than a Switch Pro Controller, which is a shame considering it doesn’t try to add any of the aforementioned elements (it does add a 3.5mm headphone jack, however).

The company also sells the Split Pad Compact, which is a smaller version of the Split Pad Pro that typically costs around $40 (you can also get it with an Attachment Set for $79.99). It might be worth a look if you want something as functional as the Split Pad Pro but closer in size to a Joy-Con.

The best Xbox-style controller for the Switch

_Supported Platforms: Switch, PC, Steam Deck, mobile, Apple TV / Connectivity: Bluetooth, wired / Connector type: USB-C / Mappable rear buttons: Yes / Software customization: No / Rumble: Yes / NFC: Yes / Motion: Yes / Power: Built-in rechargeable / Console Wakeup: Yes

On the surface, the GuliKit KingKong 3 Pro and KingKong 3 Max are similar to the last-gen models they replaced, which took design cues from Microsoft’s standard Xbox controller but rivaled the Switch Pro Controller in terms of build quality and features. We tested them on the Nintendo Switch, PC, and mobile, but you can also use them with other Bluetooth devices, including the Steam Deck and Apple TV 4K.

But there are several notable improvements and additions if you scratch deeper. They each have Hall effect dual-mode triggers (both can switch between analog and digital, but the KK3 Max exclusively adds physical trigger stops), in addition to RGB-surrounded Hall effect analog sticks. It should make them virtually impervious to drifting and waning responsiveness, as iFixit explains here. They each have GuliKit’s powerful magnetic vibration motors with two intensity levels and three distinct modes (including the Switch’s HD rumble). You can even customize the hot-swappable face buttons to match your preferred platform, and to the delight of tournament players, you can play with a 1,000Hz polling rate for reduced input lag on PC (wired or wireless via a dongle).

Additionally, both controllers now feature detachable rear-facing buttons. You get two metal moon-shaped paddles with the KK3 Pro that protrude further from the controller than the extra four you get with the KK3 Max, which are longer and curved to match the contour of the controllers’ rear grips. The latter are similar to the paddles on the Xbox Elite Series 2 and even borrow the same installation technique — just push them into the designated holes on the back. They require a lot more force, though they also won’t easily dislodge.

The longer paddles are comfortably reachable once installed, but if you have larger hands, you may need to make adjustments for the shorter protruding variety. They only need a light tap, but since they occupy the space where your fingers usually rest, it can lead to increased misfires while gaming. You can map each back button to emulate any other button on the controller — including the rear triggers — but you can’t configure them to execute combo presses or macros.

In summary, the KK3 Pro and KK3 Max offer a lot. In fact, there may be no better option for interoperability and value in a single multiplatform controller right now. If we’re nitpicking, our biggest gripe is that GuliKit still hasn’t created an app to manage all of it more easily.

A Switch controller for PC and Steam Deck

_Supported Platforms: Switch, PC, Steam Deck, mobile, Apple TV / Connectivity: 2.4GHz, Bluetooth, wired / Connector type: USB-C / Mappable rear buttons: Yes / Software customization: Yes / Rumble: Yes / NFC: No / Motion: Yes / Power: Built-in rechargeable / Console Wakeup: No

8BitDo’s Ultimate Bluetooth Controller feels like a Switch Pro Controller in shape, with a similarly short grip profile that larger hands may not prefer. Both share Switch and Windows PC support, but 8BitDo gets a leg up with full Steam Deck compatibility. Its haptics are decent but not as good as Nintendo’s, and it’s missing Amiibo support, though it does feature customizable back paddles and motion controls — along with a hidden trick that allows you to wake a docked Switch by giving the controller a little shake. It also comes with a charging dock, which stores the 2.4GHz dongle when not in use. The included dock is handy for charging the 22-hour battery, which is still pretty generous but comes well short of the 40-hour mark set by Nintendo’s official controller.

The Ultimate controller comes in several variants, but we recommend the Bluetooth model over the 2.4GHz or wired options because it includes 2.4GHz connectivity and GuliKit Hall effect sticks, which the 2.4GHz-only version lacks. The analog sticks offer just the right amount of resistance and sport a comfortable concave top, but they’re just a tad short on the sides. All of the buttons offer great travel, though, and the analog triggers have a satisfying amount of resistance when pulled.

As for tweaks, you can customize button mapping profiles, macros, vibration intensity, and stick and trigger sensitivity using the Ultimate Software app on mobile or PC. The controller has a dedicated button that lets you swap between three profiles on the fly, plus an extra turbo button you can either reconfigure or remap. When it comes to Switch controllers, 8BitDo sets the standard for the breadth of these options and how to access them, which is another reason it’s high on our list.

A well-rounded Switch controller that looks like a DualShock

_Supported Platforms: Switch, PC, Steam Deck, mobile, Apple TV, Raspberry Pi / Connectivity: Bluetooth, wired / Connector type: USB-C / Mappable rear buttons: Yes / Software customization: Yes / Rumble: Yes / NFC: No / Motion: Yes / Power: Built-in rechargeable / Console Wakeup: No

The 8BitDo Pro 2 is another great option with Hall effect sticks for the Nintendo Switch, especially if your hands are happiest with a PlayStation-style controller. The Pro 2 has a comfortable grip, a crisper D-pad than the Switch Pro Controller, and two easy-to-press paddle buttons on the underside. It has rumble support (though not HD rumble) and motion control for games like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Overwatch 2, both of which allow for gyroscopic aiming. PlayStation gamers will also appreciate that the left analog stick is located toward the bottom — just like on Sony’s controllers — rather than above the D-pad as on the Switch Pro.

With 8BitDo’s Ultimate software on a mobile device or a Windows computer, you can customize the Pro 2’s button mapping and the sensitivity of its triggers and analog sticks. You can even save up to three control scheme profiles and cycle through them with a button located between the analog sticks. On its rear, there’s a switch that lets it toggle between Nintendo Switch, X-input for PC, DirectInput, and macOS modes, each with its own control customizations and Bluetooth profile. This controller offers a lot for $50 (or $54.99 if you want one of the incredibly cool translucent blue, purple, or green editions).

An adapter that lets you use your own controllers

There are many other devices that allow you to use third-party controllers, but 8BitDo’s might be the best value. Instead of spending $70 on multiple Switch Pro Controllers, the $19.99 8BitDo Wireless Bluetooth USB Adapter 2 lets you turn a Bluetooth controller you already own into a wireless Switch controller. It plugs into your Switch dock and supports a wide variety of models, from the latest Xbox and DualSense controllers to last-gen gamepads for the Wii and PlayStation 3. (Note: the first-gen model can’t connect to most Xbox Bluetooth controllers due to a Bluetooth incompatibility, so make sure you get the latest model.)

To our surprise, the PS5 DualSense controller we tested it with worked incredibly well, with better-than-average rumble and more responsive motion controls than many dedicated Switch controllers offer. What’s more, so long as you’re using one of the newer Xbox Series X or S controllers, an Xbox One Bluetooth controller, a DualSense, a DualShock 4, or the Switch Pro Controller, you can customize their button mapping, analog stick sensitivity, and more within 8BitDo’s computer and mobile app.

8BitDo has an extensive support page that lists the steps required to set up your specific controller, as well as which features of those controllers it supports. That said, it’s best if you know the Switch’s button layout by heart if you plan to use either a PlayStation or Xbox controller with this adapter, as the layout on your controller will not match the on-screen prompts in games.

If you already have a controller you really like and don’t mind jumping through a few small hoops to connect it, 8BitDo’s affordable adapter deserves a spot in your entertainment center. If you plan to use more than one third-party controller at a time, you’ll need an adapter for each controller (and a USB hub), but if you have a lot of controllers sitting around, it might be worth it.

Other Switch controllers you should know about

Nitro Deck / Nitro Deck Plus

We like CRKD’s Nitro Deck around here. It’s a cradle-style controller that holds the Switch between a pair of Hall effect sticks, outfitting it with a standard array of face buttons, four programmable back buttons, turbo functionality, gyro motion controls, and rumble. It has passthrough charging, though, not passthrough video, which would allow it to double as a dock for TV gameplay. The step-up Nitro Deck Plus adds said functionality (with a USB-C to HDMI adapter), along with Bluetooth connectivity and adjustable vibration intensity / analog sensitivity. We’ve found these to be notable improvements, but we wish the passthrough solution was more elegant and that CRKD could solve the ergonomics (particularly on the right side, where the analog and button placement can cause discomfort).

GameSir T4 Cyclone Pro

We recently tested the GameSir T4 Cyclone Pro ($45.99) for consideration. It offers a few of the same functions as the GuliKit KingKong 3 — including remappable buttons, Hall effect sticks, and two distinct macro buttons — along with dedicated vibration motors in the triggers, which is something the GuliKit can’t claim. That said, it falls just short due to mushy-feeling buttons. GameSir considers the extra padding under the buttons a feature that makes the impact softer, but we felt it takes away from the experience. Also, although it’s perfectly usable with the Switch, the Pro’s button labeling takes after Microsoft’s, which may not be ideal for those who have trouble memorizing inputs. We also found resyncing with the Switch to be a chore after switching from a mobile device or a Windows PC.

GameCube Style Wireless Controller

We also recently tried several wireless PowerA controllers, including the GameCube Style Wireless Controller ($59.99) and a Pikachu-themed version of the standard PowerA Enhanced Wireless($59.99). We like the fun design of PowerA’s controllers, but they don’t live up to the quality of the models we recommend above, which is a shame considering some cost nearly as much. The GameCube-style wireless controller is a pretty faithful recreation of the original if you fancy a pure Super Smash Bros. experience, but it’s barebones with no rumble, NFC, or IR. It’s an easy way to get the old-school feeling back if you don’t already have a Bluetooth-based alternative to use with 8BitDo’s USB Adapter 2.

Update, February 7th: Updated pricing and availability.

Continue Reading…

The best laptops you can get

We test a wide variety of laptops each year here at The Verge, and many of them are very good. But you can’t buy them all. So we’ve done the very difficult (very difficult, trust us) task of selecting some of the best laptops you can get. Whether you’re looking for a Chromebook, a gaming laptop, a 2-in-1 convertible, an ultralight notebook, or something that’s a little bit of each, we’ve got options for you.

Our current pick for the best laptop is the MacBook Air M3. It’s a device that does just about everything right. It has no major flaws — and it even got better recently thanks to a free RAM upgrade from Apple. It’s a great pick for productivity, browsing, and even light gaming.

It’s getting harder to buy a bad laptop, but what separates the best laptops from the merely good laptops is how they balance power, efficiency, portability, and comfort. A great laptop should have a fantastic keyboard and trackpad; Its display should be bright and sharp; its processor should be powerful enough for most anything short of intensive video editing and advanced gaming. And the whole package should be easy to carry around and able to last all day without needing to be plugged in.

Value

Price is a very important factor in evaluating devices for this page. We’re seeking laptops that offer great value for their asking price and that are the best of the best compared to other laptops in their price category. The more expensive a device, the more exceptional it has to be to make it on here.

Performance

We want laptops with enough power to accommodate their target audience. An ultraportable laptop should be able to handle a standard office workload without excessive heat or fan noise. A gaming laptop should run today’s popular games.

Keyboard and trackpad

These are the two biggest reasons you’d get a laptop over a smartphone or tablet. They’d better be good or you’ll hate every minute.

Screen

We like displays that are color-accurate, bright, and sharp enough that you aren’t distracted by jagged edges or visible pixels.

Design

We’re looking for laptops with a solid, durable build that can handle a standard amount of briefcase wear-and-tear while (in most categories) easy to carry around from place to place.

Battery life

Battery life is much more important in some categories than it is in others. That said, in general, we assume that most shoppers are choosing a laptop over a desktop because they value some ability to work away from a plug. Battery life gives a user more freedom and makes a device more reliable for travel, so we consider it here.

Port selection

The more ports, the better.

Our other picks for the best laptops, Chromebooks, and 2-in-1s include the MacBook Pro 16 and the 13.8-inch Microsoft Surface Laptop 7th Edition with a Snapdragon X Elite chip. Check out the full list of best laptop picks below, if you’re looking for a powerful machine that doesn’t sacrifice portability.

The best laptop

_CPU: M3 (8-core) / GPU: M3 (8- or 10-core) / RAM: 16GB, 24GB / Storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB / Display: 13.6-inch or 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display, 2560 x 1664 or 2880 x 1864 , 60Hz, no touch option / Dimensions: 11.97 x 8.46 x 0.44 inches or 0.45 x 13.40 x 9.35 inches / Weight: 2.7 pounds (13-inch) or 3.3 pounds (15-inch)

Apple’s MacBook Air M3 is the best laptop for most people — Mac users, of course, but also the platform-agnostic or anyone who wants a no-fuss, straightforward machine that doesn’t bombard them with advertisements or bloatware. It’s a productivity laptop that can do a bit of everything, and it now starts with 16GB of RAM and comes in a 15-inch version for those who like their laptops a little larger. It’s hard to find another laptop that offers this kind of combination of performance and battery life in a thin and light chassis.

Despite losing its way around the mid-2010s, Apple has a long history of sending quality MacBooks to market, and the Air M3 is no different. A smooth, almost ethereal trackpad, check. A chiclet-style keyboard that makes typing feel like a dance, check. Fast Wi-Fi adapter, color-rich display, 1080p webcam, and MagSafe charging, check. The Air M3 wasn’t made for heavy gaming, video editing, or for those who want more than two USB-C ports, but for nearly everyone else, it’s a great option.

However, if you do need some of that, the 14-inch MacBook Pro M4 is a great bang-for-your-buck laptop in its own right at $1,599. But opting for a Pro over an Air is best for students in creative fields and content creators needing more headroom and features like a third USB-C port and an SD card slot.

It’s absolutely worth spending an extra $100 to get the Air M3 over the MacBook Air M2, which Apple still sells. It’s about 16 to 18 percent faster than Apple’s M2 chip, and the storage on the 256GB configurations is up to twice as fast. The new Airs also support two external displays with the lid closed, which is another improvement from the previous generation. If you opt for the larger model, you’ll find that the speakers on 15-inch Air M3 are vastly superior, especially on the low end. You can actually hear the bass, whereas on the 13-inch, it’s nearly nonexistent. And if you get the midnight color in either model, keep a microfiber cloth handy. The amount of fingerprints it collects turns the chassis into a CSI playground.

We previously recommended upgrading the MacBook Air M3 to at least 16GB of memory, but Apple now does that for you, as all current Air models now start at 16GB of RAM. You can still find 8GB configurations at some retailers, but it’s not worthwhile unless you get it on some kind of fire sale. The increased RAM will improve the laptop’s ability to multitask now and will give you some extra years of service down the line. (Important since you’d have to buy a whole new laptop to upgrade the memory.) 256GB of storage is easier to get away with, given the plethora of cloud and external storage options available.

If you don’t need to buy right away, you might consider waiting for the M4 version of the MacBook Air, which is expected in early 2025. But the M3 Air is a great option if you can’t wait.

Read our review of the Apple MacBook Air M3.

Best Chromebook

_CPU: Intel Core Ultra 5 115U / GPU: Intel UHD / RAM: 8GB, 16GB LPDDR5 / Storage: 256GB, 512GB / Display: Touch 14-inch FHD 1920 x 1200, 60Hz IPS with stylus support, 340 nits / Dimensions: 12.35 x 8.84 x 0.71 inches/ Weight: 3.21 pounds

Like last year, Acer’s newest Chromebook Spin is the best Chromebook we’ve seen so far in 2024 — and it’s still part of the Plus line of Chromebooks, which now have Google Gemini features integrated with ChromeOS. It also comes with a 12-month subscription to the Google One AI premium plan, which includes 2TB of cloud storage space.

The Core Ultra 5 115U is slower than last gen’s Intel Core i5-1335U (the Ultra has eight cores with clock speeds up to 4.20GHz, while the Core i5 has 10 cores and goes up to 4.60GHz), but the Ultra Core has an NPU, which means it’s better suited for running AI-related tasks on-device. The new Spin Chromebook also supports the current LPDDR5 memory standard, which is faster than the previous generation in the 2023 Spin 714.

Acer upgraded some of the connectivity port options, too. The Spin 714 now has two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports, instead of two USB-C 3.2 ports, for much faster data transfer and power delivery.

Best Snapdragon X laptop

_CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus X1P-64-100, Snapdragon X Elite X1E-80-100 / GPU: Qualcomm Adreno / RAM: 16GB, 32GB, 64GB LPDDR5X (soldered) / Storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB / Display: 13.8-inch touchscreen LCD, 2304 x 1536 120Hz, 600 nits / Dimensions: 11.85 x 8.67 x 0.69 inches / Weight: 2.96 pounds

Out of all the Snapdragon Copilot Plus PCs we’ve tested so far, the 13- and 15-inch Microsoft Surface Laptop 7th edition stood out for its balance of performance, exceptional battery life and standby time, and quality components (120Hz screen, keyboard, webcam, trackpad, etc.). Microsoft was obviously gunning for Apple’s MacBook Air with this laptop, and it mostly delivers that level of hardware experience for a Windows machine. They’re the full package if you want a thin-and-light productivity machine running Windows that easily lasts all day and into the night.

The greater concern with Snapdragon X-equipped laptops is if Windows on Arm has all the app compatibility you need to get your work done. Most everyday apps work fine, via native Arm versions or emulation, but there remain outliers. Also, if you like the idea of your productivity machine being able to pull light gaming duties (one of Windows’ advantages over Mac) then you’re likely better off with a laptop using Intel’s Lunar Lake or AMD’s Ryzen AI chips. Snapdragon X laptops can only run a fraction of the games you find on Steam.

Microsoft recently announced Intel Lunar Lake- based versions of the Surface Laptop 7, due out in mid-February, but they’re priced a ridiculous $500 higher and aimed solely at businesses. It’s a shame, because having this hardware with Lunar Lake’s compatibility might have been an appealing prospect.

Read our review of the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7th Edition.

The best 16-inch Windows laptop

_CPU: AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 / GPU: Radeon 890M, Radeon 880M / RAM: 32GB, 24GB / Storage: 1TB / Display: touch 16-inch 2880 x 1800, 120Hz OLED with stylus support, 500 nits peak HDR / Dimensions: 13.92 x 9.57 x 0.47 ~ 0.51 inches/ Weight: 3.21 pounds

The 16-inch Asus Zenbook S 16 is the best-looking, best-performing Windows laptop we tested over the summer; it’s also so thin and lightweight you wouldn’t know it just by holding it! It can handle a little bit of everything, from emails to graphic design work, and it tackles gaming surprisingly well for a laptop without a separate graphics card. It’s miles ahead of what any Copilot Plus PC can do, too, including the Intel Core Ultra laptops we’ve recently tested. It’s a lovely, catch-all device.

There are only two Zenbook S 16 models as of now. The $1,700 one comes in gray with AMD’s flagship Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 chip and 32GB of memory, and the $1,400 model comes in white with the lower-tier AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 and 24GB of memory. Otherwise, they are identical. Both feature OLED touch displays with a native 2880 x 1800 (3K) resolution and 120Hz refresh rate, stylus support, 1TB of storage, and the same ports / Wi-Fi adapter. Everything but the Windows version. (The more expensive model gets Home; the cheaper one gets Pro.)

At just 11 hours, its battery life doesn’t last as long as similar laptops we’ve tested, such as the Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge and Dell XPS 14, but it’s a small tradeoff. There’s currently no other Windows laptop that offers as much performance and versatility in a 16-inch chassis for the price.

Read our review of the Asus Zenbook S 16.

The best laptop for high-end gaming

_CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX3D / GPU: Nvidia Geforce RTX 4090 / RAM: 32GB / Storage: 1TB / Display: 17-inch IPS QHD, 240Hz display, 3ms, 300 nits, 100 percent DCI-P3 / Dimensions: 15.55 x 11.1 x 1.11 inches / Weight: 6.51 pounds

The ROG Strix Scar 17 X3D is big. It’s loud, it’s garish, and it’s flat-out the fastest gaming laptop we’ve tested. Thanks to its AMD Ryzen 9 79045HX3D processor, it leaves models with the same top-tier RTX 4090 graphics card and Intel’s fastest CPUs in the dust. It can run many of today’s AAA titles at 1440p with triple-digit frame rates.

The Scar 17 X3D has a 17-inch 2560 x 1440 240Hz screen with G-Sync, oodles of ports, a pleasant keyboard, and RGB galore. At over six and a half pounds and 17 inches on the diagonal, it’s your classic high-performance, barely portable gaming laptop.

Its webcam is potato, battery life is exactly as bad as you’d expect from everything we just listed, and it’s expensive, but for now this is the high-water mark for gaming laptops.

For more down-to-earth performance and price, you can also get the ROG Strix Scar 17 with an RTX 4070 for about $2,200 or with an RTX 4080 for about $2,900.

Read our Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 X3D review.

The best MacBook for photo and video editing

_CPU: M4 Pro, M4 Max / GPU: M4 Pro, M4 Max / RAM: 24GB or 48GB (M4 Pro), 36GB – 128 GB (M4 Max) / Storage: 512GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, 8TB / Display: 14.2 / 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR, 3024 x 1964 / 3456 x 2234, adaptive refresh up to 120Hz, no touch option / Dimensions: 12.31 x 8.71 x 0.61 (14-inch) / 14.01 x 9.77 x 0.66 inches (16-inch) / Weight: 3.5 / 4.7 pounds (M4 Pro), 3.6 / 4.8 pounds (M4 Max)

If you need more power for intensive creative work — like 3D rendering and working with ultra-high-resolution photos and video — the MacBook Pro is your best bet. Both the 14- and 16-inch models are available with powerful M4 Pro or M4 Max processors. There’s also a 14-inch Pro with a standard M4 processor, and while it’s a formidable step up from the MacBook Air as an everyman’s “pro” laptop, the M4 Pro and Max processors still outclass it in performance.

Processors aside, the MacBook Pro has remained largely unchanged since 2021. It has a bright, beautiful, color-accurate, high-res screen with HDR and an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120Hz; amazing speakers, a comfortable keyboard and trackpad; and a good port loadout: three Thunderbolt 5 / USB-C ports, plus HDMI 2.1 and an SD card slot. The 14-inch MacBook Pro is a few hundred dollars cheaper than the 16-inch, but aside from the very lowest processor options, most configurations are available in either size, so pick whichever works for you.

In our benchmarks, which test a variety of creative tasks including encoding, playback, and export time, the MacBook Pro 16 did better than any laptop we’ve ever used — the only other machines that have come close to matching this thing in some of our benchmarks are high-end desktop PCs. The battery life is also record-shattering. The top-of-the-line 16-inch M4 Max model easily lasted all day in our most recent testing, with no battery-saving features enabled and even keeping the screen on full-time.

Most people who need much more power than a MacBook Air — including all but the most demanding pro photographers — will be fine with an M4 Pro model, which starts at $1,999 for the 14-inch with a 12-core CPU, 16-core GPU, 24GB of memory, and a 512GB SSD. The 16-inch starts at $2,499 for a 14-core CPU, 20-core GPU, 24GB of memory, and 512GB SSD. The M4 Pro chip can be configured with up to 48GB of memory and a 4TB SSD, at the usual absurd Apple markups, and it supports up to two external 6K displays.

If you absolutely need more GPU power — or more than two external monitors — you can step up to the M4 Max. The base M4 Max with 14 CPU cores and 32 GPU cores, plus 36GB of RAM and 1TB SSD, starts at $3,199 in the 14-inch and $3,499 in the 16-inch. There’s also an M4 Max with 16 CPU and 40 GPU cores, which starts at $3,699 and $3,999, respectively. The M4 Max models are configurable with up to 128GB of RAM and 8TB of storage and can support up to four external monitors. The vast majority of people don’t have workloads heavy enough to notice a significant difference between the M4 Pro and M4 Max; if you do, you probably know it.

Read our reviews of the MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro / Max and MacBook Pro 14 M4.

The best 14-inch gaming laptop

_CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 8945 HS / GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060, RTX 4070 / RAM: 16GB, 32GB / Storage: 1TB / Display: 14-inch OLED, 2880 x 1800, 60Hz and 120Hz, 400 nits / Dimensions: 12.24 x 8.66 x 0.63 inches / Weight: 3.31 pounds

The Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 with an RTX 4070 is the most well-balanced 14-inch gaming laptop. It’s powerful enough to reach 60 frames per second on ultra graphics at its native resolution (with or without DLSS) and thin and lightweight enough without trapping too much heat in its chassis. Also, its battery can last up to 6.5 hours on a single charge, which is good for a gaming laptop.

Its display has been upgraded from an IPS to an OLED, it has 1TB of SSD storage and 32GB of memory, and Asus put lighting back on the lid — not a dot matrix, but a strip of LEDs spanning diagonally across.

All that for $2,000 to $2,200 makes it hard to justify getting anything else, though you can save up to $500 if you get the RTX 4060 model. Though it has only half the RAM, it has the same great screen and build, and its frame rates are only about ten percent lower than the 4070 Zephyrus at 1080p/ultra.

If you spend up to $700 more on the Razer Blade 14, you’ll get higher frame rates, a 240Hz screen, and upgradeable RAM — but its battery life barely hits four hours in general use, and its display doesn’t support G-Sync or HDR.

The best dual-screen laptop

_CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 155U / GPU: Intel UHD (integrated) / RAM: 16GB LPDDR5X / Storage: 1TB M.2 NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD / Display: 13.3-inch (2880 x 1800) 60Hz OLED touchscreen w/ stylus support / Dimensions: 11.78 x 8.03 x 0.63 inches / Weight: 2.95 pounds

A dual-screen laptop is exactly what it sounds like: a laptop with a second screen where the keyboard normally goes.

The Lenovo Yoga Book 9i has a 360-degree hinge, which lets you use it as a regular laptop, a (large) tablet, and more. You can put it in clamshell mode and write or sketch on the bottom screen with a stylus or fold the keyboard folio into a stand to prop it up and take advantage of both screens. That’s how I usually use it at home: propped up and plugged into an external monitor as a three-screen desktop replacement. But when I’m away, I use the included Bluetooth keyboard and mouse. Its touchscreen gestures are super responsive but too responsive for the virtual keyboard and trackpad. It’s easy to mistype and accidentally minimize windows.

The Yoga Book’s only real competitor is Asus’ Zenbook Duo. The Duo’s physical keyboard includes a trackpad and makes it look a lot more like a traditional laptop. Its 14-inch OLED screens are a little bigger and brighter, it has a ton of port options, it’s more powerful, and it’s a little easier to fold up and put away. But it’s also heavier (at 3.64 pounds), its top lid doesn’t fold back far enough to use it as a tablet, and its touchscreen gestures aren’t as responsive.

Read our head-to-head review of the Lenovo Yoga Book 9i and the Asus Zenbook Duo.

The best repairable laptop

_CPU: Intel Core i5-1340P / i7-1360P / 17-1370P, AMD Ryzen 7 7840U / GPU: Intel UHD / Iris Xe, Radeon 700M / RAM: 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, 64GB / Storage: 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB / Display: 13.5 inch IPS, 2256 x 1540, 60Hz, no touch option / Dimensions: 11.68 x 9.01 x 0.62 inches / Weight: 2.87 pounds

If you want a 13-inch laptop that you can configure and assemble yourself, from the ground up, the Framework Laptop 13 is pretty much your only option. The Framework is a modular laptop that users can repair and upgrade over the length of their ownership. Everything from the RAM, to the storage, to even the processor can be upgraded down the line. The company has even come out with upgrades for parts like speakers and hinges that you can install yourself. Not only can you buy it as a prebuilt system, but you can also order it as a DIY kit, allowing you to assemble the entire thing yourself and swap out parts as you please.

Repairability aside, the Framework has a number of laudable features as a laptop itself. The display is bright and high resolution, the speakers are great, and the chassis is quite portable, coming in at under three pounds. The 3:2 aspect ratio provides a lot of room to work and is still a somewhat rare find on today’s market.

That said, I won’t pretend that this is the best 13-inch laptop you can buy. On its own merits, it is an unremarkable system with a somewhat generic look and plasticky build, particularly compared to others in its price category. Nevertheless, the Framework’s standout feature is the unprecedented access it allows its users to replace and repair its parts. We’d love to see more companies make that kind of commitment to sustainable design.

Read our Framework Laptop 13 review.

The best laptop under $400

_CPU: Intel Core i3-1215U / GPU: Intel UHD / RAM: 8GB / Storage: 128GB, 256GB UFS / Display: 14-inch IPS, 1920 x 1080, 60Hz, non-touch / Dimensions: 12.9 x 8.4 x 0.74 inches / Weight: 3.17 pounds

The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 is the least expensive laptop with Google’s new Plus certification. At around $400 for a Core i3 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage, it’s the baseline Chromebook you should consider if you can’t spend any more.

It’s so easy to get a bad Chromebook at this price, so it’s a relief that the Chromebook Plus CX34 is so good. Not only does it have respectable internals, but the 1080p screen and 1080p webcam are good for the price, the keyboard is great, and the trackpad is fine, if a bit stiff. Battery life is decent, too, and like all Plus Chromebooks, it comes with 10 years of software updates. You can spend more on a laptop, and you probably should, but don’t buy a Chromebook less powerful than this one.

Read our review of the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34.

Update, February 4th: Updated pricing and replaced the Dell XPS 13 with the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7th Edition as the pick for Best Snapdragon X laptop.

Continue Reading…

The best TV deals to upgrade your setup ahead of the Super Bowl

Missed out on all the terrific TV deals we saw during Black Friday and Cyber Monday? That’s okay, because the weeks leading up to the Super Bowl have historically been one of the better times of the year to snag a discounted set. In fact, Amazon, Best Buy, Woot, and a number of retailers are already discounting a variety of TV sets ahead of the big game on February 9th. Many of the current promos aren’t Super Bowl-specific, mind you, but there are still some great options if you’re on the hunt for a budget-friendly QLED TV for your viewing party or a gamer-friendly OLED that can serve your entertainment needs year-round.

We’ll keep an eye out for more 4K TV deals as we get closer to the big day and update this post accordingly, so be sure to keep checking back in the run-up to Super Bowl LIX.

LG C4 OLED TV

If you’re looking for an OLED TV, LG’s exceptional C4 is currently down to one of its best prices to date. Right now, for instance, you can buy the 65-inch model for about $1,496.99 ($1,203 off) at Amazon and Best Buy. The 77-inch model is also available for around $2,196.99 ($1,503 off) from Amazon, Best Buy, and LG, the latter of which is offering up to $200 off select LG soundbars with your purchase through March 2nd.

The C4 offers a bright, vibrant display with the kind of inky blacks that characterize OLED panels, along with support for both Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. The last-gen TV remains an excellent option for gaming, too, with four HDMI 2.1 ports, a 144Hz refresh rate, and support for AMD FreeSync Premium as well as Nvidia G-Sync. It even comes with a Wii-like Magic Remote, which, in many instances, we’ve found to be easier to navigate with than the remote’s arrow keys.

LG C3 OLED TV

The last-gen LG C3 OLED is also still a fantastic television if you can’t quite stretch for the LG C4. Best Buy and Walmart’s current sale price of around $1,669 (about $600 off) on the 77-inch model isn’t quite as good as the $1,500 price tag we saw during a recent flash sale, but it’s still an incredible value for a massive OLED TV that offers a similar experience to the LG C4.

Although LG’s newer flagship can achieve around 1,000 nits of peak brightness before enhancements, the C3 isn’t exactly dim, with a peak HDR brightness of just over 800 nits. LG’s Brightness Booster feature helps push it quite a bit further, too, with an estimated 40 percent improvement. The last-gen TV is capped at a 120Hz variable refresh rate but otherwise boasts many of the same features as the C4, including support for both Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. It also runs on LG’s webOS, works with the wand-like Magic Remote, and features a game mode that improves input latency and prevents burn-in.

LG B4 OLED TV

If you’re looking for a more affordable OLED, LG’s entry-level B4 TV is on sale at Best Buy in the 48-inch size starting at just $599.99 ($200 off), matching its all-time low. It’s discounted in larger configurations, too, with the 55-inch going for $999.99 ($400 off) at Best Buy and LG’s online storefront and the 65-inch selling for around $1,296.99 ($200 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and direct from LG.

The TV isn’t as bright or powerful as the aforementioned C4 series — it’s outfitted with an older A8 processor, as opposed to LG’s newer A9 chip — but it’s still relatively snappy and slated to receive several more years of webOS updates, ensuring the navigation and user experience should be dialed in for the foreseeable future. It also features a buttery 120Hz refresh rate, four full-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 ports, and support for Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision. And like the LG C4, it includes support for both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.

Sony Bravia A95L QD-OLED

Sony’s Bravia A95L is also receiving a steep discount ahead of the Super Bowl. Right now, you can buy the 65-inch model for around $2,998 at Amazon and Best Buy, which matches its Black Friday price. Other sizes are on sale, too, including the 55-inch, which is going for around $2,498 ($300 off) at Amazon and Best Buy.

The Sony A95L was arguably the best TV we saw last year, largely due to its vibrant, lifelike picture quality. The bright 4K QD-OLED TV includes support for Dolby Vision and HDR10 as well, along with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, a pair of HDMI 2.1 inputs, and support for Google’s excellent TV platform.

Samsung OLED S95D TV

The Samsung OLED S95D is another terrific OLED set that’s also down to one of its best prices to date in multiple configurations. Right now, for example, you can purchase the 55-inch model for around $1,899.99 ($700) at Amazon, Best Buy and Samsung’s online storefront. The 65-inch panel, meanwhile, is available from Amazon, Best Buy, and Samsung for around $2,299.99 ($1,100 off). If you purchase directly from Samsung, you’ll also be eligible for a discount on select Samsung soundbars, with the exact discount dependent on which model you choose.

The S95D comes with a glare-free display that does an excellent job of minimizing unwanted reflections, allowing it to provide rich colors and contrast at high brightness levels. It lacks support for Dolby Vision, but it does offer a 144Hz variable refresh rate, four HDMI 2.1 ports, and support for Alexa and Google Assistant. It also comes with Samsung’s One Connect Box, which lets you connect your gaming console, set-top boxes, and other devices to your TV with a single cable, as opposed to a mess of wires. And, of course, Samsung’s Tizen OS lets you stream from a wide selection of apps, including Netflix, Apple TV Plus, Disney Plus, and Max.

Samsung Frame TV (2024)

Samsung’s Frame TV doesn’t offer the pristine image quality found in OLED displays, but it’s unique in that the TV showcases artwork when idle. Combined with its anti-glare matte display, it makes for a stylish 4K TV that looks more akin to a canvas painting than a black void. It’s a shame it doesn’t offer Dolby Vision or VRR support, but it still has a range of solid specs, including a speedy 120Hz refresh rate, HDMI 2.1 support, and compatibility with voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant. Just bear in mind, you’ll need to pay for a subscription ($4.99 a month / $49.90 annually) to get unlimited access to all of the artwork available in the Samsung Art Store.

Now through 1AM ET on February 9th, Woot is offering the best prices we’ve seen on Samsung’s last-gen Frame TV. Right now, for instance, the 55- and 65-inch models are on sale for $867.99 ($630 off) and 1,247.99 ($752 off), respectively, which are all-time lows. Samsung, meanwhile, is discounting the TV through February 9th while offering an additional $50 off its Music Frame speaker or an HW-S700D Dolby Soundbar. The 55-inch model is on sale at Samsung’s online storefront for $899.99 ($600 off) or at Amazon and Best Buy without the aforementioned perks for the same price.

TCL QM85 TV

If you’re looking for something cheaper, TCL makes some excellent budget-friendly 4K TVs, one of which is the TCL QM85. The 2024 flagship is steeply discounted right now, with the 65-inch model going for around $897.99 (about $600 off) at Amazon and Best Buy. Larger configurations are on sale, too, with the 75-inch panel going for $1,299.99 ($700 off) at Amazon and Best Buy.

The TV’s bright QD-Mini LED panel offers sharp, vibrant image quality with a speedy 144Hz variable refresh rate. Along with support for Dolby Atmos and DTS Virtual:X, it comes with an integrated subwoofer for a fuller, more immersive audio experience. Other notable features include support for the Google TV interface, along with compatibility with Alexa, Apple Home, and Google Home.

Hisense U8N QLED TV

Hisense is another brand that sells terrific, budget-friendly TVs. And right now, you can buy the 65-inch U8N — the company’s 2024 flagship QLED TV — for just $899.99 ($600 off) at Amazon and Best Buy, which is about $2 shy of its best price to date.

The U8N offers a lot of features you’d typically find in pricier TVs. That includes a 144Hz variable refresh rate and two high-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 ports (one of which supports eARC), along with support for both Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision. There’s no OLED display, but you do get a Mini LED backlight with support for up to 3,000 nits of brightness. You also get full-array local dimming, which allows it to deliver punchy colors alongside rich contrast and deep black levels. The TV additionally supports Google’s excellent TV software as well as Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa for hands-free voice control.

Hisense U7N LCD TV

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly alternative to the U8N, you can buy Hisense’s 55-inch U7N on sale at Amazon and Best Buy for $498 ($200 off), which is one of its better prices to date. A few other sizes are also on discount right now, including the massive 75-inch panel, which you can purchase for around $899.96 ($600 off) at Amazon and Best Buy.

The 4K LCD TV shares a lot in common with the U8N, including support for a 144Hz variable refresh rate and a pair of HDMI 2.1 ports. The U7N also runs on Google’s TV interface, offers support for all the major HDR formats, and works with all the same voice assistants (Alexa, Google Assistant, etc.). The main difference between the two TVs is that the Mini LED panel on the U7N doesn’t offer the same contrast or brightness levels as the U8N, which maxes out at 3,000 nits as opposed to 1,500. That being said, it’s still a good display with full-array local dimming and nearly all the same features.

More Super Bowl TV deals worth a look

• If you’re working with a tighter budget, the TCL Q6 QLED is on sale in multiple sizes as well. You can, for instance, grab the 65-inch model at Amazon and Best Buy for $369.99 ($180 off), which is $2 shy of its lowest price to date. The 4K TV lacks more advanced bells and whistles, but it still supports Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision, and Google’s terrific interface. It has a 60Hz refresh rate, though, it does allow for 120Hz upscaling via TCL’s “Game Accelerator 120” feature. That being said, if you want buttery smooth frame rates, you could also pick up the 85-inch panel for $798, which does sport a native 120Hz refresh.
• Samsung’s OLED TVs can be expensive, but you can save a bit by opting for an older model. Take the S90D OLED, for example, which is on sale in several sizes, including a 65-inch configuration that’s available from Amazon, Best Buy, and Samsung starting around $1,496.99 ($200 off). That’s just $100 more than the lowest price we’ve seen on the 4K TV. The 2024 model is only a slight downgrade from the S95D — it lacks the glare-free panel found on the newer set — but you still get sharp picture quality and a slew of gaming features, including a 120Hz variable refresh rate.
• On paper, Amazon’s latest Fire TV Omni TVs are some of the most impressive the company has ever produced. And right now, you can get a 65-inch model for $959.99 ($130 off) at Amazon, which matches its all-time low. That’s a fair price for a sharp QLED model that can support 144Hz gaming with Dolby Vision IQ and HDR10 Plus. The Mini LED TV also offers an adaptive, AI-powered feature that can adjust your TV’s settings to match the ambient lighting in your room. Needless to say, it’s your best option if you’re a Fire TV fan looking for an all-in-one solution to access Amazon’s Alexa-powered user experience.

Update, February 7th: Adjusted pricing and added several deals, including those for the LG C3, Samsung’s S90C, and Amazon’s 2024 Fire TV Omni QLED.

Continue Reading…

Netflix’s Prince documentary has been axed by the late artist’s estate

Netflix definitely wanted to debut Ezra Edelman’s nine-hour-long documentary chronicling Prince’s life, but that won’t be happening thanks to the late singer’s estate.

Though Edelman’s untitled documentary was already completed, Netflix announced on Thursday that it has “come to a mutual agreement” with Prince’s estate to keep the film from being released. As part of the agreement, the estate also now has the ability to develop a documentary of its own “featuring exclusive content from Prince’s archive.”Â

Along with the announcement Prince’s official X account posted a message stating “The Vault Has Been Freed” along with the quotes: “Despite everything, no one can dictate who you are to other people,” and “The truth is, you’re either here to enlighten or discourage.”

The Vault Has Been Freed. #FREE pic.twitter.com/uvAbzEBbTc

— Prince (@prince) February 6, 2025

Edelman, who won an Academy Award in 2016 for his documentary O.J.: Made in America, spent five years on his Prince project after Netflix signed a 2018 deal with Comerica Bank and Trust, the executors of Prince’s estate at the time. The original deal guaranteed that Prince’s e …

Read the full story at The Verge.

Musk promises to reinstate DOGE staffer linked to racist account

Marko Elez, the 25-year-old staffer Department of Government Efficiency staffer linked to a social media profile with racist posts, “will be brought back,” shortly after he resigned, Elon Musk announced on X.

Elez resigned from his role where he reportedly had the ability to rewrite code in sensitive payments systems at the US Treasury, once The Wall Street Journal inquired about his connection to a deleted account. That account, which the Journal found previously had the username “@marko_elez,” called for reinstating a “eugenic immigration policy,” repealing the Civil Rights Act, and said that “99% of Indian H1Bs will be replaced by slightly smarter LLMs.”

Musk posted a poll on X Friday asking if the DOGE staffer who “made inappropriate statements via a now deleted pseudonym” should be brought back. As of that afternoon, 78 percent of nearly 400,000 respondents voted “yes.”

Bring back @DOGE staffer who made inappropriate statements via a now deleted pseudonym?

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 7, 2025

Vice President JD Vance weighed in to say that while he “obviously disagree[s] with some of Elez’s posts,” he doesn’t believe that “stupid social media activity should ruin a kid’s life.” Musk apparently agrees — he responded to Vance in a post Friday afternoon, saying, “He will be brought back. To err is human, to forgive divine.”

Here’s my view:

I obviously disagree with some of Elez’s posts, but I don’t think stupid social media activity should ruin a kid’s life.

We shouldn’t reward journalists who try to destroy people. Ever.

So I say bring him back.

If he’s a bad dude or a terrible member of… https://t.co/OgG6Z3hKPE

— JD Vance (@JDVance) February 7, 2025

Elez isn’t the only DOGE staffer drawing scrutiny. 19-year-old Edward Coristine was fired from an internship at a cybersecurity company in 2022 where he was accused of leaking internal information to rivals, Bloomberg reports. Bloomberg also found a Discord account it linked to Coristine where he claimed to still have access to the company’s computers, but claimed he “never exploited it because it’s just not me.”

Continue Reading…

FEMA’s website started deleting ‘climate change’

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) headquarters building on January 29, 2025, in Washington, DC. | Photo: Getty Images

The term “climate change” has started to vanish from Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) website. Its former “climate resilience” website has been rebranded under the title “future conditions.” There are still subtle references to climate change there, but it’s more of a whisper than an urgent warning as it was before.

The edits come as the Trump administration takes a wrecking ball to federal agencies, attempting to slash the government workforce and eliminate initiatives Trump and billionaire ally Elon Musk deem unnecessary. Their anti-diversity crusade has already targeted websites and scientific research mentioning words including “women,” “minority,” and more.

It’s more of a whisper than an urgent warning

Despite mountains of evidence showing that greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels are exacerbating extreme weather disasters, President Donald Trump has repeatedly called climate change “a hoax” and campaigned on plans to “drill, baby, drill.” So, naturally, information about climate change is in the crosshairs as the Trump administration enacts a broader purge of health and environmental information it doesn’t want conflicting with his pro-fossil fuel message.

The webpage formerly titled “climate resilience” used to say at the top:

“Climate change is the defining crisis of our time. From extreme heat, drought and wildfires to more severe coastal storms, sea-level rise and inland flooding, the consequences of climate change are all around us.”

Reading the current webpage in comparison is like playing one of those games where you have to guess what changed in a picture. (Hint: there’s a double-space typo where the words “climate change” used to be.) The paragraph now says:

“Disaster incidents are rising due to increased human vulnerability, exposure and a changing climate. From extreme heat, drought and wildfires to more severe coastal storms, sea-level rise and inland flooding, the consequences are all around us.”

There are several mentions of climate that have been removed from the page, according to an analysis by the Environmental Data and Governance Initiative (EDGI). The group of researchers came together after Trump was first elected in 2016 to document what might happen to public environmental data. The group found a nearly 40 percent drop in the use of the term “climate change” across websites for federal environmental agencies during the first Trump administration.

As the agency that coordinates federal responses to all kinds of disasters from hurricanes to wildfires, FEMA risks developing a major blindspot in its work if it ignores the effects of climate change. Climate change made the deadly Los Angeles wildfires more likely in January, in just one terrifying instance.

FEMA faces more existential threats, of course, under the Trump administration. The president signed an executive order on January 24th establishing a “review council” to assess whether the agency can “capably and impartially address disasters,” alleging “serious concerns of political bias in FEMA.”

FEMA didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment from The Verge. The changes were made on January 21st, a day after Trump’s inauguration. “We do not know the intention of the team who renamed this website,” EDGI wrote in a blog post today. “Perhaps it was to fly under the radar of the new administration; perhaps it was to align with the priorities of the new administration.”

Other webpages for FEMA and other government agencies are a mixed bag when it comes to mentioning climate change. The Department of Transportation took down a webpage for “climate and sustainability” from its “priorities” website. But other longstanding web resources on climate are still online.

EDGI and other groups have been scrambling to archive federal webpages and datasets. But there are still bigger questions about what happens if those agencies stop paying attention to climate change altogether. As the adage goes, you can’t manage what you don’t measure.

Continue Reading…

AT&T customers can now see why a business is calling

A new way for a business to state its business.

Customers on AT&T’s network are getting one more tool to help them decide when to pick up the phone: an indication of why a business is calling you, right from the incoming call screen. It’s a continuation of the branded calling feature that AT&T and TransUnion introduced last year, and only works on Android phones.

This feature starts with the business making the call, which can choose to display a message like “refill reminder” or “delivery service.” The message will also show up in the call details page. There’s nothing that the receiver needs to do in order to see the message; it’ll just pop up the way verified number badges do now.

In theory, it’ll let you know whether your pharmacy is calling to let you know about a refill or if your DoorDash driver is standing outside your apartment building. Sounds pretty nice.

If this all sounds familiar, that’s probably because Google introduced a similar feature for its phone app a few years ago — though it has since been discontinued. TransUnion’s verification works with the STIR/SHAKEN protocol responsible for helping carriers label potential spam calls as such.

But being limited to Android means a lot of AT&T customers in the US won’t see the message since we’re a notoriously iPhone-carrying people. That might not always be the case; James Garvert, senior vice president of TruContact Communications Solutions at TransUnion tells The Verge “we expect that capability to become standard on all mobile devices over time.”

Correction, February 7th: A previous version of this article stated that TransUnion’s branded calling feature worked as part of Google’s call verification program; it is not related to Google’s program, which has since been deprecated.

Continue Reading…

How small businesses are leveraging tech to unite generations

Today’s workplace stretches four generations. The oldest members of Generation Z are reaching their mid-20s, while the youngest baby boomers are turning 60. That leaves employers to account for a range of backgrounds and ways of working.

It’s become vital that companies use technology to enable more seamless collaboration and productivity. But it’s not just massive companies deploying tech to improve workflow. With their ability to stay agile and deploy new tools quicker, small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) have emerged as leaders in using technology to unite the generations. They’re creating new ways of working and interacting with customers, while empowering their workforce to be just as productive at home, on site, or in the office.

“SMBs are uniquely positioned to lead the charge in bridging generational divides through technology,” says Eric Yu, who leads the SMB segment and Commercial Product Center within Lenovo Intelligent Devices. “Their ability to quickly adopt innovations like AI PCs allows them to create inclusive environments where employees from Gen Z to baby boomers can collaborate seamlessly.”

AI that breeds collaboration

It’s easy for …

Read the full story at The Verge.

The best indie games we’re playing right now

Splashy blockbuster games are great, but there are there are a huge number of indie and smaller video games worth playing, too. Whether they’re pushing the boundaries of the medium and or offering a creative spin on classic ideas, indie games can be just as interesting as big-budget epics.

Sometimes, though, indie games can fly under the radar. But we here at The Verge love seeking out hidden gems, so we want to use this space to share some of our favorite smaller games that we’re checking out so that you might find something new, or potentially your next obsession.

We’ll be highlighting interesting games you may not have heard of and sharing a little bit about why you should play them. This list will be updated pretty frequently, too — so check back often to see some new recommendations.

• Rift of the NecroDancer’s story is an intro to some incredible music
• Citizen Sleeper 2 is the good kind of stressful
• Lok Digital is a surreal puzzle game full of made-up words
• Antonblast is an out-of-control platformer with its heart in the ’90s
• The best mobile skateboarding game now has a New York sequel

Continue Reading…

The best deals on MacBooks right now

MacBooks and Mac Minis are almost always on sale, including newer M4 models. | Photo by Antonio G. Di Benedetto

Apple currently sells MacBooks equipped with its own M-series chips in a wide range of sizes and price points. It discontinued the M1 MacBook Air to make room for the latest models, but some retailers are still selling the last-gen laptop starting at $649 — a far cry from the $2,499 starting price of the latest 16-inch MacBook Pro with M4 Pro. Purchasing a new MacBook can certainly be a pricey endeavor, but thankfully, finding a deal on more recent models is actually not that difficult. Apple has recently shaken up the starting RAM for several models, creating more options than ever before and resulting in steeper discounts on older models.

1. The best MacBook Air deals
2. The best MacBook Pro deals
3. The best Mac Mini deals

Although Macs may not experience perpetual discounts, it’s not uncommon to see various models discounted by as much as $400. Alternatively, purchasing refurbished options directly from Apple is another way to save money without waiting for the changing deal winds to blow your way. It’s also the only option to find certain SKUs of older models as Apple continues to move forward on newer releases. Apple’s refurbished store provides a one-year warranty on all products and generally offers discounts of up to 15 to 20 percent off the price of a new unit.

But if you want to buy new and you’re looking to save whatever you can, here are the best MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and Mac Mini deals available.

The best MacBook Air deals

M1 MacBook Air

TheM1 MacBook Air was considered Apple’s entry-level laptop before the M3 model’s arrival prompted Apple to stop selling it directly in its online and brick-and-mortar stores. But while the redesigned M2 version of the MacBook Air (which has been with us for a while as well) seems poised to take over as the top value choice, the 2020 version with an M1 processor and fanless design remains available at some retailers as a solid budget option. It’s best suited for typical productivity work, with a comfortable keyboard, an excellent trackpad, and all-day battery life. For many people, the M1 Air still ticks the right boxes when it comes to performance and price, even if it’s long enough in the tooth to have been fully dethroned in our guide to the best laptops.

The base MacBook Air with the M1 chip comes with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. It’s becoming harder to find in new condition, but Walmart has committed to keeping it around for the foreseeable future and is currently discounting it to $649 ($350 off) — a special sale price that’s hung around since the retailer ran its counter-Prime Day promotions in July. The M1 Air may be a few years old now, but it’s still hard to beat in terms of value, especially when it comes to everyday performance and battery life.

M2 MacBook Air

The M2 MacBook Air is a super slim, lightweight laptop with a 1080p webcam and a handy magnetic charger that frees up one of its two USB-C ports. Although its M2 processor didn’t kick-start a revolution like the M1 generation, it’s a great performer for any user, including more demanding creatives.

It does have some slight downsides, though, including slower storage in the base 256GB configuration and a notch cutout in its otherwise excellent screen. But even so, Apple hasn’t offered a more travel-friendly laptop since the days of the polarizing 12-inch MacBook, and this prior-gen model was once good enough to top our list of the best laptops.

The M2-powered MacBook Air from 2022 seems to be on its way out, with availability for both sizes waning. However, you can get the 13-inch M2 model with 16GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, and an eight-core GPU in select colors at Amazon starting at $899 ($100 off), which is $150 north of the all-time low. If you don’t mind sacrificing some memory for extra storage, you can also get the 13-inch Air with 8GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD at Amazon starting at $799 ($400 off) with an on-page coupon.

It’s a bit harder to find discounts on the 15-inch MacBook Air M2, however. While it’s scantily in stock at some retailers for its original MSRP, you’d be better off going with a discounted M3 model.

M3 MacBook Air

The M1 Air and its wedge had to perish for the M3 MacBook Air to exist. Apple’s updated entry-level laptops arrived in both 13- and 15-inch variants simultaneously this time, bringing with them slightly faster performance and a slate of minor upgrades. Apple added Wi-Fi 6E, for one, along with an additional Thunderbolt port that allows you to use two external displays when the lid is closed. They also continue to offer 18 hours of battery life and a MagSafe charging port, though the M3 Air starts at a slightly higher price than its predecessor at $1,099. That said, Apple recently discontinued the M3 MacBook Air with 8GB of RAM and now considers the 16GB / 256GB model as the starting configuration.

Right now, the 13-inch M3 MacBook Air in its new entry-level configuration with an 8-core GPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD is on sale at Amazon in select colors starting at $899 ($200 off), which is $50 more than its lowest price to date. You can also find the 16GB RAM / 512GB SSD model with a 10-core GPU for $1,099 in select colors at Amazon, which is $160 more than its all-time low.

As for the 15-inch MacBook Air M3, you can currently grab it with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage starting at $1,099 ($200 off) in select colors at Amazon. Meanwhile, the 16GB / 512GB configuration at Amazon is available in select colors starting at $1,369 ($130 off).

The best MacBook Pro deals

During its “Scary Fast” event in 2023, Apple announced new MacBook Pros that use M3 processors — including a new 14-inch model that replaced the 13-inch M2 model. Apple followed the M3 models up with M4-based machines in October, and we’re already starting to see the discounts on them. That being said, the last-gen M3 models are often the better bargain, as they’re still relatively easy to find and receive steeper discounts.

M3 and M3 Pro MacBook Pro

The entry point into the MacBook Pro world is a MagSafe-equipped MacBook Pro that uses the existing 14-inch design and slightly pares it down. The 14-inch M3 MacBook Pro has the same 3024 x 1964 resolution display and 120Hz refresh rate as its pricier siblings, and in addition to a MagSafe charging port, it has an SD card slot and HDMI port. However, it starts with just 8GB of RAM and lacks the third USB-C / Thunderbolt port found on the M3 Pro and M3 Max models (as well as Thunderbolt 4 speeds).

The M3 MacBook Pro may be a bit of an odd middle child in some ways, but it’s still a very good laptop — especially if you can find a deal that puts more price distance between the M3 model and the M3 Pro version. Availability for the base model with 8GB and 512GB of storage seems to be waning as Apple standardizes 16GB of RAM across its lineup.

We’re finding it challenging to find the 16GB RAM / 512GB SSD model in stock, but if you don’t need the extra overhead for multitasking, Best Buy is selling it with 8GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD for $1,299 ($100 off). The model with 8GB of RAM and 1TB of storage is also on sale for $1,399 ($200 off) at Best Buy, while the step-up configuration with 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage is going for $1,499 ($200 off) at Best Buy.

The 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros of late 2023 are another round of spec-bump models, much like their previous 2022 incarnations. Now starting with the M3 Pro chip (or the speedier M3 Max) and 18GB of base RAM instead of 16GB, the new models remain targeted at creatives doing content work like video editing, photo processing, and other graphical work. Like their predecessors and the M1 Pro generation before that, they offer MagSafe charging, three USB-C / Thunderbolt 4 ports, HDMI-out, and a full-size SD card slot, with prices starting at $1,999 for the 14-inch and $2,499 for the 16-inch. You can, of course, spec them up the wazoo if you’re willing to pay more, as exhibited by the review unit Apple sent us of the 16-inch model, which cost an eye-watering $7,199.

But rest assured, versions that actual humans buy now receive regular discounts. For instance, the 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M3 Pro (11-core CPU / 14-core GPU), 18GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD is going for $1,599 ($400 off) at B&H Photo. It was $500 off not long ago, however, making the current discount good but not that good. You can also get the step-up model with 18GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD in space black for $1,699 ($500 off) at B&H Photo, which is its lowest price so far. Need more RAM? B&H Photo is also selling it with 36GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD for a record low $1,799 ($600 off).

As for the base 16-inch Pro — which comes with an M3 Pro chip, 18GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD — it’s on sale starting at Best Buy for $1,999 ($400 off), which matches its best price to date. Best Buy is also selling the 16-inch M3 Pro model with 36GB of RAM and 512GB of storage for $2,399 ($400 off).

M4 and M4 Pro MacBook Pro

Apple released the M4-series MacBook Pro on November 8th. Notably, the base 14-inch M4 MacBook Pro is the first to launch with 16GB of RAM — double the previous generation’s starting memory — and 512GB of storage for the same $1,599 starting price as the last-gen model. It also picks up a third Thunderbolt 4 port, which is positioned on the right side and supports dual external monitors while the lid is opened. Also new this year is an upgraded 12-megapixel webcam that supports Center Stage and a new Desk View feature, plus the option to add a nano-texture display for an extra $150. It’s also available in space black.

The 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M4 Pro and M4 Max chips also received additional RAM, bringing them up to 24GB. They start with 512GB of storage, too, and retail for $1,999 and $2,499, respectively. While the total port selection hasn’t changed compared to their respective M3 Pro and M3 Max counterparts, you’ll get faster Thunderbolt 5 ports on these more substantial models. That’s in addition to the SD slot, dedicated full-sized HDMI port, and 3.5mm jack. They also have the upgraded 12-megapixel Center Stage webcam with Desk View and the optional nano-texture display option.

Deals for the M4 MacBook Pro have already started to roll in. Right now, for example, the base 14-inch MacBook Pro M4 with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD is down to $1,439 ($160 off) at Amazon, which is $41 more than its all-time low. B&H Photo is selling it for just a bit more at $1,449 ($150 off). Meanwhile, the 24GB / 512GB variant with an M4 Pro chip (12-core CPU / 16-core GPU) is down to $1,749 ($250 off) in select colors at Amazon and B&H Photo, which is $50 more than its best price to date.

The base 16-inch MacBook Pro is also on sale with an M4 Pro chip, 24GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage for $2,239 ($260 off) at Amazon and B&H Photo, which is its typical sale price and $40 more than the record low.

The best Mac Mini deals

There’s a new Mac Mini in town, as M4-based models arrived earlier this year. Apple increased the starting RAM from 8GB to 16GB, as it did with the 2024 MacBook Pro and 2024 iMac. That makes Apple’s newest desktop an excellent value, even if you factor in the more aggressive discounts we’ve recently seen on the M2 Mac Mini.

M2 and M2 Pro Mac Mini

The 2023 Mac Mini comes in a base configuration with Apple’s M2 processor or a more powerful configuration with the M2 Pro, both of which have proven to be some of Apple’s most value-packed computers to date. The M4 version is poised to take that crown, but the M2 Mac Mini is still kicking around and starts with 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD for $599, while the M2 Pro model features a superior processor, gigabit ethernet, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage for $1,299.

The latter model also features an expanded port selection, from two USB-C ports to four. It’s almost like getting an M2 Pro-powered MacBook Pro 14 but in desktop form. However, keep in mind that buying any Mac Mini means you have to provide your own mouse, keyboard, and monitor. Right now, the base model with an M2 chip, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD is down to $479 ($120 off) B&H Photo.

Best Buy is selling the step-up model with an M2 Pro chip, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD for $899 ($300 off), and you can save an extra $100 and get it for $799 ($400 off) with a My Best Buy Total or My Best Buy Plus Membership.

M4 and M4 Pro Mac Mini

Deals on the last-gen Mac Mini are still available, sure, but we’re also starting to see discounts on the newest models. The M4 Mac Mini starts with an M4 processor, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage for $599. That’s an incredible value for a tiny desktop computer that can rival the Mac Studio and Mac Pro when it comes to certain tasks, including light gaming, 4K video editing, and 3D modeling. Vertically, the M4 Mac Mini is a fair bit thicker than the M2 model at 2 inches tall, yet it measures a mere 5 inches wide and 5 inches deep.

In addition to the odd decision to place the power button on its underside, Apple moved the 3.5mm headphone jack and two of its five USB-C / Thunderbolt 4 ports to the front. The rear features an additional three thunderbolt ports, HDMI-out, and a gigabit ethernet port. You can also get the Mac Mini with an M4 Pro chipset starting at $1,399, which comes with faster Thunderbolt 5 storage and the option to upgrade to 10-gigabit ethernet for another $100.

Right now, you can get the base Mac Mini at Amazon and B&H Photo with an M4 chip, 16GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD for $569 (about $30 off). Best Buy is selling it for roughly the same price if you have a My Best Buy Plus or My Best Buy Total membership. If you need more storage, you can step up to the version with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD for $744 ($55 off) at Amazon, which is $45 more than its lowest price to date.

Meanwhile, the base M4 Pro model with 24GB of RAM and 512GB of storage is on sale at B&H Photo for $1,299.99 ($100 off), which is $10 more than the all-time low price.

Continue Reading…

DOGE wreaked havoc on the government in just one week

Within the past week, Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)-affiliated staffers have gained unprecedented access to sensitive US financial systems with data on millions of Americans, claimed to shut down one federal agency without an act of Congress, and invaded numerous government agencies. They’ve been opposed by lawsuits, public protests, and resistance within those agencies — and the situation remains constantly in flux.

As a deadline for workers to accept a so-called “deferred resignation” looms on Monday, here’s where the rest of Musk’s government takeover attempt stands.

What has DOGE accessed?

Musk’s pseudo-department has reportedly deployed employees to at least 11 agencies: the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Department of Education, the Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, the General Services Administration, the Department of Labor, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Office of Personnel Management, the Small Business Administration, and the Treasury.

Last week, he attempted to trim the federal workforce by offering legally dubious “def …

Read the full story at The Verge.

A minimalist E Ink alternative to budget smartphones

Unlike the Boox Palma 2, the Bigme Hibreak Pro can fully replace your smartphone.

With a 6.13-inch black-and-white E Ink screen, Bigme’s new Hibreak Pro looks similar to the Boox Palma 2 that debuted last October. But while the Palma 2 is positioned as a pocket-sized e-reader, the Hibreak Pro features a more powerful processor and dual-SIM 5G capabilities.

The Bigme Hibreak Pro is currently available for preorder through the company’s online store for $439. What sets it apart from similar Android-based E Ink devices that often feel sluggish is that it’s powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 1080 2.6GHz processor paired with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. It’s a two-year-old processor used in midrange devices like the Samsung Galaxy A34 that could help Android 14’s user interface feel more responsive on the Hibreak Pro, even if it’s lacking the latest OS updates.

The experience won’t be comparable to what you get on smartphones like the $499 Pixel 8a, but the Hibreak Pro isn’t as much a budget smartphone competitor as it is an e-reader with enough capabilities to fill in the gap.

Even with Bigme’s “SSS” fast refresh technology, the Hibreak Pro’s E Ink screen still has a limited refresh rate of just 21fps. You won’t want to game on it, videos will look terrible, and scrolling TikTok won’t be as engaging. It’s instead worth considering if you’re looking for a mobile device that will minimize distractions while still offering the benefits of E Ink, like good battery life and a screen that’s easy on the eyes.

The Hibreak Pro’s E Ink screen has the same 300ppi resolution as the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite, so even small text should be sharp and crisp while reading ebooks. It also features a 4,500mAh battery, a 20-megapixel rear camera paired with a five-megapixel selfie camera, a microSD slot, GPS, NFC, an IR port letting you use it as a universal remote, and a fingerprint reader built into its lock button.

Continue Reading…

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man gets community justice right

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man star Hudson Thames left many eyebrows raised last week after his comments about fearing the Disney Plus series would be “annoying and woke.” During a subsequent Reddit AMA, series creator Jeff Trammell was quick to start doing damage control, and he insisted that Thames had misspoken. But even in its most charitable interpretation, Thames’ statement was pretty odd considering how being annoying and constantly vigilant about injustice are kind of Spider-Man’s whole schtick.

We may never know exactly what Thames meant or whether his feelings could have been expressed more thoughtfully. But what’s funny about the entire situation is how Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man is, in fact, one of those “woke” shows you’re always hearing culturally conservative types harp on about. It celebrates multiculturalism by treating diversity as a simple fact of the world Peter Parker exists in. And the series’s “wokeness” is honestly one of the best things about it.

There’s a lot of the Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man series that rings familiar if you’ve spent time reading Marvel’s comics or watched any of the studio’s …

Read the full story at The Verge.

A tiny satellite showed it can take high-res pics from space

Tokyo-based startup ArkEdge Space claims it has snapped what is “probably” the highest quality images of Earth taken by a small CubeSat. The photos were taken 410 kilometers above the Earth’s surface by the company’s CubeSat called ONGLAISAT, co-developed by Taiwan’s space agency TASA.

It has precision attitude control, a TASA-developed Korsch off-axis optical system, a CMOS TDI (Time Delay and Integration) image sensor, and image compression hardware that all fits inside its 6U form factor, which is about the size of a desktop computer or suitcase.

ArkEdge Space shared black and white images zoomed into areas as close as one square kilometer, showing buildings and roads with some details near Seattle and from the Patagonia region of Argentina. The company claims it captured the “world’s highest ground resolutions” in the CubeSat category, ranging from 2.5 to 3 meters. Reuters reports its mission is expected to end in March before its optical tech is applied to future missions, quoting ArkEdge CEO Takayoshi Fukuyo saying, “The pictures are as clear as aerial photography (despite) being taken by a satellite of this size.”

The ONGLAISAT mission objectives were to demonstrate the optical system in orbit, test a University of Tokyo co-developed altitude control system, and validate the TDI and process images, which all succeeded. The satellite was delivered to the ISS in November and then they were deployed from the Japanese Experiment Module “Kibo” on December 10th.

Continue Reading…

Apple drops lawsuit against former iOS engineer accused of leaking Vision Pro details

Apple has dismissed its lawsuit against the former engineer it sued for leaking information about its Journal app and Vision Pro headset, as reported earlier by 9to5Mac. The former employee, Andrew Aude, issued an apology on X, saying, “Leaking was not worth it. I sincerely apologize to my former colleagues who not only worked tirelessly on projects for Apple, but work hard to keep them secret.”

Apple filed a lawsuit against Aude in March 2024, accusing the former worker of leaking “information about more than a half-dozen different Apple policies and products,” including spatial computing efforts, details about an unannounced app, and corporate headcounts. Around the same time Aude allegedly connected with a reporter at The Wall Street Journal, the outlet published a report about the not-yet-released Journal app.

But now, a February 6th filing with a California Superior Court says, “Aude has reached an agreement with Apple to resolve this matter.” Aude posted a statement on X the same day, which you can read below:

I spent nearly eight years as a software engineer at Apple. During that time, I was given access to sensitive internal Apple information, including wha …

Read the full story at The Verge.

Trump suspends order that created delivery chaos

President Donald Trump has paused the removal of the de minimis exemption on goods from China, temporarily putting an end to the confusion and high fees that have plagued both customers and businesses over the past few days. The de minimus exemption allows packages valued at less than $800 to enter the country duty-free, but the exemption had been removed as part of Trump’s tariffs against China that went into effect this week.

The pause is only temporary. It was issued this morning through an executive order, which says that the de minimis exemption will be removed again when the Secretary of Commerce notifies the administration that “adequate systems are in place to fully and expediently process and collect tariff revenue.”

One of the major issues facing implementation of the tariffs was processing and collecting fees on the vast number of packages that were no longer safe under the exemption. The executive order seems to acknowledge the need for process and staffing changes, halting the de minimus removal until at least some of the shipping chaos can be contained.

Following the implementation of the tariffs, the United States Postal Service stopped and restarted accepting packages from China and Hong Kong, and people have observed additional import fees on packages shipped from China. Companies like Shein and Temu depend on the rule as a way to directly ship low-cost goods to buyers without requiring them to pay import fees.

The 10 percent tariff on goods from China is still in effect. Trump also announced tariffs against Mexico and Canada, but those were put on a one-month pause this week.

Continue Reading…

All the news about EV charging in the US

An EVgo charging station that has each DC fast-charging cable option including CCS, CHAdeMO, and Tesla’s NACS. | Image: Umar Shakir / The Verge

The state of electric vehicle charging in North America is shaping up like the smartphone charging wars — but focused on much more expensive hardware. Right now, like USB-C and Android phones, the Combined Charging System (CCS, Type 1) plug is on a greater variety of cars. Meanwhile, Tesla’s plug was long compared to Apple and Lightning.

But while Apple eventually adopted USB-C, Tesla is opening up its connector, renaming it the North American Charging Standard (NACS), and trying to shove CCS out of the way.

And it’s working: the new NACS port is being standardized by SAE International, and today, largely every automaker, including Ford, GM, Toyota, Rivian, Volvo, Polestar, Nissan, Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar Land Rover, Fisker, Hyundai, Stellantis, Volkswagen, and BMW, has signed on. New cars equipped with NACS are on the way but likely won’t start rolling out until 2026.

Meanwhile, Europe already dealt with its standards issue by settling on CCS2. For now, EV drivers in their Tesla Model Ys, Kia EV6s, and Nissan Leafs (with the ailing CHAdeMO connector) in the US are still stuck looking for the right station or adapter and hoping everything’s operational — but things should get easier soon.

To help solve these issues, the federal government has established a pool of $7.5 billion to fund charging network operators in building reliable EV infrastructure.

North America can become a great and convenient place to own an electric vehicle, but how long will that take? You can find out by reading all the news about electric vehicle charging right here, so come back and plug in often.

• Trump administration halts $5 billion EV charging program that benefited Tesla
• Ford is bringing its free home EV charger offer to Canada.
• Kia EVs will get Tesla Supercharger access in March
• Tesla Cybertrucks get faster charging at V4 Supercharger stalls.
• Lucid Gravity has a unique rear motor to help maximize EV charging
• ChargePoint is doing something about all the EV charger cable-cutting crooks
• Mercedes-Benz EV owners can start using Tesla Superchargers in February
• Hyundai will give its EV customers free NACS adapters in early 2025
• GM and ChargePoint plan to install hundreds of fast EV chargers by the end of 2025
• EVgo nabs $1.25 billion loan as Biden races to approve more EV spending
• Rivian opens up its charging network to other EVs for the first time
• Nissan needs a little something extra to connect the Ariya to Tesla’s Superchargers
• GM and EVgo now have over 2,000 EV charging stalls and counting
• A universal ‘Plug and Charge’ protocol for EV charging is coming in 2025
• Elon Musk learns how EV charging works from Pete Buttigieg
• Tesla’s first 500kW V4 Superchargers are coming next year
• GM offers free nighttime charging to Chevy EV owners in Texas
• Curbside charging is coming to Michigan.
• Volvo and Polestar EVs are now getting Tesla Supercharger access
• Scout’s charge port looks… busy.
• Tesla is moving on its solar-powered Supercharger ambitions.
• Ford tells some EV customers to stop using its Tesla Supercharger adapter
• Nissan is giving Ariya owners a new charging network, access to Tesla Superchargers
• Juicebox’s EV charging customers get a reprieve.
• Nissan buys into Ford, BMW, and Honda’s home EV charging business
• Your next Blink EV charging station session might have an added fee.
• Ionna’s first charging station is breaking ground in North Carolina.
• What’s it like to Supercharge a Rivian?
• Kia EVs will get Tesla Supercharger access starting on January 15th
• EV charging sucks — can smart cameras make it better?
• GM electric vehicles can finally access Tesla Superchargers
• Lucid shows off Gravity SUV with Tesla port and teases a cheaper midsize EV
• Hyundai’s first EV with native Tesla Supercharging is the new Ioniq 5
• The Nissan Leaf’s bi-directional charging dream continues.
• Non-Tesla EV owners are still waiting for Supercharger access.
• EV charging gets another massive funding push from Biden administration
• This new EV plug automatically delivers the right connection for your car
• An analysis of 20,000 EV stations concludes that charging is still a massive bummer
• Mercedes-Benz’s 400kW EV chargers are coming to Starbucks
• Home generator company Generac just launched an electric vehicle charger
• Ford’s answer to Texas blackouts: loads of generators on wheels.
• Toyota rolls into the Ionna EV charging joint venture.
• LG Electronics will supply EV chargers to ChargePoint as part of new deal
• Mercedes-Benz will deploy new 400kW DC fast chargers built in North America.
• Porsche is Macan friends with ChargePoint.
• Ionna, the EV charging company backed by seven automakers, is beginning to take shape
• How AI could change EV charging
• Airbnb entices hosts with discounted EV chargers
• The megawatt charging plug for EV semi trucks is coming to ChargePoint.
• Tesla Superchargers experiencing a different kind of cut.
• Hey, you still available?
• No longer filed in gas stations.
• Republicans are pulling out all the stops to reverse EV adoption
• Tesla’s Supercharger layoffs couldn’t have come at a worse time
• So what’s next for Tesla’s Superchargers?
• Tesla layoffs hit Supercharger team just as it’s poised to take over EV charging
• This EV prototype charges from 10 to 80 percent almost as fast as a gas fill-up.
• How do you get reimbursed for recharging the company electric car at home?
• The United States now has one EV charging station for every 15 gas stations.
• Google Maps will use AI to help you find out-of-the-way EV chargers
• Rivian’s new software update will help you avoid all the broken EV chargers
• Rivian owners now have access to Tesla Superchargers
• Revel offers 25 percent charging discounts to eligible Uber drivers in NYC.
• Tesla says that Rivian, GM, Polestar, and Volvo are next in line for Supercharger access.
• Ford offers EV owners free Tesla Supercharger adapters until July
• Rivian owners with iPhones can use Live Activities to monitor charging.
• Ford is testing its Tesla Supercharger adapter.
• Google Maps might soon show Plug and Charge EV stations — where you pay with your car.
• Lucid slashes prices for its luxury EVs for the third time in seven months
• Stellantis becomes the last major automaker to adopt Tesla’s charging plug
• Ford EV owners will get their Tesla Supercharger adapters for free.
• Tesla Supercharger in Chicago packed with “dead robots” that can’t charge in the cold.
• LG is building an EV charger factory in Texas.
• So about that nationwide EV charging network.
• Volkswagen, Porsche, and Audi finally say they will use Tesla’s EV charging plug
• Those GM-partnered EV charging stations feel inspired.
• Ford and Xcel Energy will build 30,000 EV charging ports for fleet businesses
• GM, EVgo, and Pilot are making progress on their big coast-to-coast EV charging network
• EVgo and Meijer are linking up to install more fast chargers in Ohio.
• Ford revises dealership EV charger rules after pushback.
• Hertz and EVgo’s year-long offer is like a discount gas card, except for EVs.
• Broken, busted, and out of order.
• Mercedes-Benz opens its first 400kW EV charging station in the US
• Lucid Air can now be used as a portable battery bank for Tesla.
• And there goes another one.
• Subaru is adopting Tesla’s EV charging port as holdout numbers dwindle
• Tesla’s first big Supercharger deal is a $100 million sale to BP
• The first V4 Tesla Superchargers in the US are now operational.
• Toyota and Lexus join the Tesla charging connector bandwagon
• ChargePoint is bringing Tesla’s NACS plug to its vast network of EV chargers
• These space-saving public EV chargers are ridiculously fast and rolling out now
• BMW, Mini, and Rolls-Royce are the latest to sync up with Tesla’s EV charging plug
• Tesla adds the ability to predict Supercharger stall availability.
• ChargePoint is finding the help it needs to keep its EV chargers up and running.
• The first US V4 Tesla Superchargers are coming.
• Hyundai and Kia’s future EVs will also have Tesla’s EV charging port
• The 2024 Honda Prologue EV will have 300 miles of range
• EVgo is trying to turn around complaints about slow, broken EV chargers
• Expect to see more EV chargers at more Marriott hotels.
• Jaguar cuts a Tesla Supercharging deal, too.
• Hyundai is offering free home chargers and install discounts for new EV buyers
• The Biden administration approves $100 million to fix the nation’s broken EV chargers
• Ford, Honda, and BMW create a new vehicle-to-grid company to help EV owners save money
• Tesla will install up to 20,000 versatile EV chargers at Hilton locations
• Chevy’s recalling Bolt EUV chargers that could shock you.
• Honda is the latest automaker to adopt Tesla’s charging port for its future EVs
• EVgo opened its latest DC fast-charger location at a Chase Bank.
• Tesla owners might not have to worry about Supercharging too much.
• Mercedes-Benz’s first EV charging hubs will open this fall
• Google Maps will stop showing gas stations to EV owners
• Comcast has… EV charging stations?
• EV charging in the US is still a no good, very bad time — and somehow it’s getting worse
• Rivian’s EV trucks have another place to plug and charge.
• Fisker’s going for the Tesla connector as well
• Ford CEO finds charging his own company’s EVs “challenging.”
• Google realizes EV drivers don’t need to find gas stations.
• ChargePoint is spending millions to boost station reliability to ‘nearly 100 percent’
• A plugged-in Tesla can still make front page news somewhere
• Why charge an EV when you can just swap its battery?
• Tesla’s next-gen Superchargers are getting faster.
• Seven major automakers are teaming up on a North American EV charging network
• Nissan is on board with Tesla’s charging revolution
• ‘Welcome to EV dongle town’
• SAE is pushing to standardize Tesla’s plug by year end.
• Mercedes-Benz says ‘ja’ to Tesla’s EV charging connector
• VW in talks to adopt Tesla’s EV charging plug, but Toyota is staying silent
• I’m slightly pissed at NACS.
• Electrify America is the next big charging network to adopt Tesla’s ‘standard’ EV plug
• Now Polestar is plugging into Tesla’s Superchargers too.
• Volvo’s upcoming EVs join the Tesla Supercharger bandwagon
• The SAE is standardizing Tesla’s EV charging plug as it racks up more wins
• Tesla’s NACS plug will be required at EV charging stations in Washington and Texas
• Tesla is about to pull the plug on its main EV charging rival
• GM follows Ford in adopting Tesla’s EV charging standard
• Elon Musk and GM CEO Mary Barra are about to chat live, and I can guess what they’re going to say.
• Ford needs Tesla to help it beat Tesla
• Ford EVs will use Tesla’s charging plug starting next year
• Walmart’s preparing to build its own coast-to-coast EV charging network
• How to charge your non-Tesla EV at a Tesla Supercharger
• Now your EV can grab a Big Gulp.
• Tesla’s plan to open its Superchargers to non-Tesla EVs takes shape
• Electrify America is increasing prices at its DC fast charging stations
• More Electrify America EV chargers are coming, this time at TA rest stops
• Shell is acquiring EV charging network Volta for $169 million
• EVgo’s New Year’s resolution: make its EV fast-charging network more reliable
• Mercedes-Benz and ChargePoint are going to install thousands of EV fast chargers in the US
• Tesla opens up its charging connector in a bid to become the North American standard
• Tritium and DC-America are building a coast-to-coast EV fast charging network
• Tesla is now taking votes for its next Supercharger locations
• Electric vehicle owners are fed up with broken EV chargers and janky software
• Ikea and Electrify America team up to install over 200 public fast chargers in 18 states
• Now non-Tesla EVs can use its Superchargers in the UK, Spain, Sweden, and Austria
• Google’s using AI to plan electric car trips because EV charging is still a nightmare
• Tesla vehicles can soon be charged at EVgo charging stations in the US
• Google Maps now filters searches for EV charger plug types
• Tesla files permit for ‘restaurant and Supercharger station’ in Santa Monica
• Europe is getting a network of ‘ultra-fast, high-powered’ EV chargers
• BMW and Volkswagen are challenging Tesla with a network of fast chargers for electric vehicles
• BMW, Ford, GM, and others agree on new fast-charging standard for EVs

Continue Reading…

Trump administration halts $5 billion EV charging program that benefited Tesla

NEVI-funded Tesla Supercharger in Frisco, Colorado. | Image: NEVI

The Trump administration’s war on electric cars continues with the halt of a national program that sends money to states to install EV charging equipment. It was the latest move by President Donald Trump to reverse Biden-era EV policies — even as those policies have personally enriched his top ally, Elon Musk.

According to a memo from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program will be put on pause while it is retooled to align with the new administration’s priorities (those priorities being more gas guzzlers and fewer EVs). The agency said it is “immediately suspending” the approval of plans to deploy new EV chargers “for all fiscal years” and will no longer approve new funding requests until a new plan is implemented.

The FHWA said it aims to have updated guidance published by the spring, at which point it will start accepting public comment. After the comment period is closed, it will issue revised guidance that incorporates its responses to public comment.

Gas guzzlers > EVs

The agency is also giving leeway to those states (most of which are Republican-run) that have declined to spend federal funds already received under NEVI.

“Since FHWA is suspending the existing State plans, States will be held harmless for not implementing their existing plans,” Emily Biondi, associate administrator at the agency, writes in the memo to state transportation officials. “Until new guidance is issued, reimbursement of existing obligations will be allowed in order to not disrupt current financial commitments.”

Since his election, Trump has vowed to reverse many of his predecessor’s pro-EV policies, including the federal EV tax credit and new tailpipe emission rules that would require automakers to produce more EVs. The NEVI program, in particular, was often criticized by Republicans as wasteful, especially after The Washington Post reported in March 2024 that only seven charging stations with 38 ports had been opened under the program.

NEVI may have gotten off to a slow start, but its most recent report for the fourth quarter of 2024 showed improved progress. According to the Q4 update, there are 126 public EV charging ports in operation across 31 NEVI stations in nine states, an 83 percent increase in open NEVI ports over the previous quarter. (In Q3, there were 69 public charging ports in operation across 17 NEVI stations in eight states.)

A total of 41 states have released at least their first round of solicitations, as of November 2024. Of those states, 35 have issued conditional awards or put agreements in place for over 3,560 fast-charging ports across more than 890 charging station locations.

Since his election, Trump has vowed to reverse many of his predecessor’s pro-EV policies

That progress is now at risk with the Trump administration rescinding funds for NEVI. The legality of pausing the program is certainly an open question, especially considering the money for it was approved by Congress as part of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. The Trump administration attempted to freeze all funding for federal programs, only to rescind the order after a judge ordered it to be paused.

Another variable is Elon Musk, who is leading Trump’s efforts to root out waste in the federal government under the umbrella of his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Musk has said he supports eliminating federal incentives for EVs, while also collecting vast sums of taxpayer dollars to expand his company’s EV charging network. Tesla has received $31 million in NEVI funds to install 539 DC fast-charging ports, which represents 6 percent of all funds distributed so far, according to a dashboard that tracks the spending.

Barring any legal challenges, the EV charging industry now must wait for the Department of Transportation to retool the program. The pause could also give congressional Republicans enough time to write legislation to rescind funding for the program altogether, which would obviate the need for the administration to follow the process it laid out in the memo.

Eliminating federal funding for EV charging would have a significant impact on the number of chargers that get installed and could help further dampen EV sales. Consumers routinely cite charging anxiety as among their top concerns about switching to electric power. With today’s order, the Trump administration is essentially making that problem worse.

Continue Reading…

Go Read This: The Verge’s favorite reads from all over the web

The internet is filled with awesome stuff to read, and there’s new awesome stuff to read being published every day! That’s the good news. The bad news is that finding the good stuff feels harder than ever. You either find your favorite writers or sources and check them religiously or just hope that the algorithm gods deliver you something you’ll like. It’s all a lot more work than just tapping the TikTok icon, you know?

Allow The Verge to help a little. This is an endless, often-updated stream of the stuff we’re reading and think you should read, too. Whether it’s a great piece of longform journalism, a sharp take on the news, interesting new studies or lawsuits or whitepapers, a new sci-fi book that will inevitably convince a bunch of founders to build new kinds of robots a decade from now, or something else entirely, it’s all here. So scroll through, click on some stuff, let us know what you think in the comments, and get your read-later queue ready to rumble.

• Warner Bros. Games suffered $300 million in losses last year.
• The Supreme Court case that “could eliminate longstanding free speech protections for sexual content.”
• “From the means of production to a meme in production: It’s one kind of American dream.”
• An 1891 recording is country music history.
• Pedometers tracked philandering spouses and sleepy employees back in the 1800s.
• Amazon just axed a secret fertility tracker project.
• The whitewashing of the National Archives.
• Go read how the US government’s big bet on Intel is in jeopardy.
• How many people are donating to Trump in your neighborhood?
• Snapchat to the Trump campaign: We’ll take your money but not your posts.
• The problem with custom AI chatbots.
• Anthropic’s CEO has many, many, many thoughts about AGI.
• Uber and Lyft blocked drivers from working to save money.
• Here’s the scoop on why the Annapurna Interactive staff resigned.
• KitchenAid’s new walnut stand mixer is indeed as impractical as it is beautiful.
• A reminder about marketing.
• Microsoft pitches generative AI to oil and gas companies.
• The extraordinary Prince documentary we might never see.
• The battle of the Bobs.
• Why is comedy TikTok seemingly all crowd work clips?
• AI search “shouldn’t be this easy to manipulate.”
• “The Titanic was an insurance scam” is my new favorite conspiracy theory.
• The people who worry about killer AI are still worried about killer AI.
• Whistleblowin’ from 9 to 5.
• Tim Walz may have liked to make some cuh-razy money in Crazy Taxi.
• Don’t pick up a Project 2025 duffel bag, I guess?
• Some teachers worry generative AI hurts students’ critical thinking skills.
• Bloomberg has an interesting deep dive on Worldcoin.
• Thomas White reveals himself as a co-founder of Silk Road 2.0 and DDoSecrets.
• NFT FTX DAO WTF?
• It takes one to know one?
• “It never seemed like he was even working.”
• Do we really “live in a world of social media?”
• OpenAI wants in on the AI chip business.
• It is fully 2024 and J. D. Vance’s Venmo is still public.
• Posting godhood.
• Cops covet Cybertruck.
• The Netflix-ization of Disney.
• Amazon’s quality control issues led to the shipment of a dirty diaper.
• Bob Wehadababyitsaboy.
• Dark patterns are everywhere.
• The many, many, many, many definitions of AI.
• a16z is trying to keep AI alive with Oxygen initiative.
• Remember when the iPhone 15 Pro was rumored to have haptic buttons?
• Does Airbnb protect its guests’ privacy?
• Open secrets.
• Literary Theory for Robots is a compelling journey through generative AI’s analog roots.
• Are bitcoin miners causing major health problems?
• Scalpers: always one step ahead of Ticketmaster.
• What if being lonely is what makes people vulnerable to scams?
• Final Fantasy creator can’t stop playing Final Fantasy XIV.
• Japan finally quits the floppy.
• This is what climate change is doing to the US.
• The new hot gadget is… the Kindle?
• “A willingness to kiss without paperwork is now a form of chivalry.”
• George R.R. Martin on a potential Elden Ring adaptation:
• YouTube didn’t give Dr Disrespect a contract because of rumblings about his Twitch ban.
• “Be realistic, buddy. No one cares about you.”
• AI is eating its own tail, Perplexity edition.
• Artificial intelligence, good old-fashioned consulting fees.
• Teen sextortion.
• Sony once made a massive 45-inch CRT TV that cost $40,000.
• Just how complicit is Mark Zuckerberg?
• Can AI chatbots crack good jokes?
• Perplexity continues to piss off publishers.
• “The 2024 elections will be the most consequential in crypto’s history.”
• Another look at child influencers on Instagram.

Continue Reading…

Now you can strap Crocs to your face with this Vision Pro faceplate

Dbrand’s Aperture protects the curved laminated glass display on the front of the Apple Vision Pro. | Image: Dbrand

Dbrand has announced a unique (disturbing? unsettling?) way to protect the Apple Vision Pro that completely negates the sleek aesthetics of the headset’s curved laminated glass display. Its new Aperture faceplate, which was originally conceived by a former AR designer at Snap, features a trypophobia-inducing pattern of seemingly random holes that are actually all strategically positioned so as not to block any of the AVP’s cameras or sensors. If you happen to walk into a wall during a fully immersive experience, it provides an extra layer of protection for your $3,499 headset.

The Dbrand Aperture Vision Pro Face Cover is available now on its own for $49, or as part of a $69 bundle that includes a matching holster allowing the Vision Pro’s battery to be clipped to a garment instead of having it weighing down a pocket.

I designed a cover for the Apple Vision Pro.

The holes line up with the cameras and sensors, so tracking and capture work as expected.

Thinking of making a small run of these if theres enough demand. Leave a ᯅ if you want one! pic.twitter.com/0l8gZdm495

— Kyle Goodrich (@_kylegoodrich) February 27, 2024

The original idea for the Aperture faceplate came from Kyle Goodrich who designed and 3D-printed a cover for his Vision Pro in February 2024. After a positive response to Goodrich’s thoughts on making “a small run of these if theres enough demand,” Dbrand offered to collaborate and manufacture it for him.

Instead of being 3D-printed, Dbrand’s Aperture face cover is made from a “single-shot injection of high-durometer polyurethane.” It snaps onto the front of the Vision Pro and — in addition to the holes on the front — features cutouts around the edges for the headset’s speakers, digital crown, and air vents. Most of the Vision Pro’s features, including hand-tracking, immersive AR environments, and even capturing 3D Spatial photos and videos, are still available with the face cover in use.

There’s one feature the Aperture does inhibit: EyeSight. Parts of the Vision Pro’s low-res OLED screen used to display a user’s eyes to the outside world will be obscured by the cover. But that could actually be considered a plus. In our review of the Apple Vision Pro we found EyeSight to be disappointing. The OLED display was too dim and often obscured by reflections on the glass. Besides, people will be too distracted by what looks like a Crocs clog hanging off your face to notice your simulated eyes.

For Vision Pro users who forgot they were tethered to a battery and accidentally yanked it onto the floor while moving around, the Aperture’s matching holster is potentially a more useful accessory. You can use its clip to securely attach it to a belt, and should it still take a tumble, it will (mostly) be protected from scratches and dents.

Disclosure: The Verge recently collaborated with Dbrand on a series of skins and cases.

Continue Reading…

Hasbro is summoning a live-action Magic: The Gathering ‘universe’

No details or release timelines have been announced.

Hasbro is teaming up with movie production company Legendary Entertainment to create a live-action film and TV “universe” based on Magic: The Gathering. The project will initially focus on a currently untitled feature film according to Hasbro’s press release, with television series and “other content” then expected to follow as the cinematic universe develops. Neither company has provided a release timeline for these projects.

Hasbro acquired Magic: The Gathering’s parent company, Wizards of the Coast, in 1999. The trading card game is estimated to have over 50 million players worldwide, according to Hasbro, and became the company’s first brand to cross $1 billion in annual revenue in 2022. That’s a sizable audience for Hasbro to find other avenues to extract cash from — in fact, M:TG is one of its only IPs to reliably see revenue growth in spite of Hasbro’s continued overall decline.

Hasbro is no stranger to adapting its brands for other entertainment avenues, as seen with the TV shows and movies based on My Little Pony, Transformers, and G.I Joe. The toy giant is also pushing hard on Dungeons & Dragons, another brand it obtained through its Wizards of the Coast acquisition. At least five D&D video games are currently in development following the success of Baldur’s Gate 3, but the latest attempt to adapt the franchise for live-action cinema failed to turn a profit. The in-development D&D TV series also has yet to secure a broadcasting buyer after being dropped by Paramount Plus.

“This is an exciting and complementary partnership, uniting one of the world’s most iconic brands with a powerful and proven steward. Magic: The Gathering has inspired decades of epic world-building and creative storytelling,” said Hasbro Entertainment’s Head of Film, Zev Foreman. “It is a perfect match for Legendary’s diversified approach to marquee IP, and we are excited to work together to build a whole new Magic: The Gathering universe.”

Legendary Entertainment does have some experience in this area, having produced feature films based on popular gaming franchises such as Warcraft and Pokémon Detective Pikachu. An animated TV series adaptation of M:TG is also already in development for Netflix, a move not dissimilar to the Arcane series that League of Legends developer Riot released on the streaming platform.

Continue Reading…

Google Pixel Watch 3 is $60 off for Verge readers

The Pixel Watch 3 is simultaneously the best Android smartwatch and Fitbit wearable.

The Android faithful have more smartwatch options than ever, but there are a few obvious starting points. If you’re on a Samsung smartphone (like the Galaxy S25 series that’s launched today), you should probably go for a Galaxy Watch. For almost every other brand, the Google Pixel Watch 3 should be at or near the top of your list.

If you’ve perused our list of the best Android smartwatches and find yourself arriving at the same conclusion, you can come back here and take advantage of a Verge-exclusive discount from Wellbots that brings the 41mm wearable down to $289.99 ($60 off) when applying promo code 60VERGE at checkout. That’s just $10 shy of the all-time low. You can use the same code to get $60 off when selecting the 45mm version, dropping its price to $339.99.

If the Pixel Watch 2 was a decent improvement over its predecessor, the Pixel Watch 3 is a comparative stunner. If you’re in it for fitness, we feel it’s one of the best Fitbit-powered wearables available, with features like FDA-cleared EKGs, AI-generated workouts with automatic tracking, and daily readiness scores with load management. Of course, you also get comprehensive support for Google services, including Assistant, Gmail, Calendar, and Wallet. The Pixel Watch 3 brought additional upgrades to the lineup for the first time, too, like offline Google Maps, and improved battery life. Plus, you can now control more Google devices, such as Nest doorbells and cameras, or even Google TV.

Read our Google Pixel Watch 3 review.

Three more deals to start your weekend

• You can get a four-pack of Tile by Life360 Mate Bluetooth trackers for $55.99 ($24 off) from Amazon, Best Buy, and Tile, which works out to about $14 per piece and matches the all-time low. The Bluetooth tracker is compatible with both Android smartphones and iPhones, offering basic item tracking when you’re within 350 feet. You can also double-tap a button to locate your phone, so putting on on your set of keys or your daily carry bag is ideal. With a $14.99 a month Life360 Gold subscription, you can also discretely send SOS alerts to contacts or hail emergency services.
• The original CRKD Nitro Deck for Nintendo Switch is matching its record low of $39.99 ($10 off) at Amazon, Walmart, and CRKD’s online store. It’s an ergonomic Switch cradle that replaces your finicky Joy-Con controllers with a pair of Hall effect analog sticks, plus four programmable buttons and turbo control. It also supports gyroscopic motion controls and rumble. It plugs into the Switch or Switch OLED using their USB-C ports, with passthrough charging available through its own USB-C port. It doesn’t support passthrough video, however — you’d need the Nitro Deck Plus ($69.99 at Amazon) with a USB-C adapter for that.
• Verge readers can get a pair of Google Pixel Buds A for $69 ($30 off) at Wellbots with exclusive promo code 30VERGE. That’s their second best price to date. They’re a solid, affordable pair of wireless earbuds for anyone needing an affordable backup pair. You won’t get top-line bells and whistles we like, such as active noise cancellation, but they’re comfortable to wear and sound just as good as the original Pixel Buds. Although you can use them with iPhones, the Pixel Buds A work best with Android phones, as you’ll get support for Fast Pair, location tracking, in-ear detection, EQ, and more features available in the companion app. Read our review.

Continue Reading…

Donald Trump’s tariffs, explained

If you live in the US, congratulations — you are now a foot soldier in what has been called “the dumbest trade war in history.” And if you live in one of the top three countries that trade most with the US (Canada, Mexico, and China), apologies: you are part of this as well.

Donald Trump loves tariffs despite regularly misrepresenting how they work, and after months of saying he would impose them on goods coming into the US, he made good on his promise this week: there is now an additional 10 percent tax on all products from China. The tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods have been paused for a month, after both countries conceded to certain border measures. (Canada, for its part, apparently agreed to border policies it was already doing.) But we surely have not heard the last of Trump’s favorite trade policy.

There’s a deep misunderstanding of tariffs, in part thanks to Trump’s false claims. Who pays tariffs? What do they actually do? How do they affect consumers? Let’s talk about it.

What’s a tariff, exactly?

Leave the word “tariff” aside for a second and think about it like this: it’s a tax. Specifically, tariffs are a tax set by the government on goo …

Read the full story at The Verge.

Let’s talk about the battery in smart glasses

It’s hard for these to become an all-day AI companion gadget if they don’t actually last all day.

We were whizzing down the slopes, screaming because it is sort of ridiculous to go flying down a snowy hill in an inflatable tube. There was a friendly family competition going on to see who could get down the hill the fastest. Other snowtubers had their phones out — my spouse had planned to record everything on their Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses. They got partway through a video when their fully charged smart glasses abruptly died. We never did find out who truly won.

That’s been an unexpected discovery this past winter: smart glasses are incredibly susceptible to dying in cold weather. It makes sense when you think about it. Phone batteries are affected by extreme temperatures, as are smartwatches. You might not notice it as much because you keep your phone in a pocket or a bag. Your smartwatch is ostensibly shielded under a sleeve. But a pair of smart glasses? Those tend to house the batteries in the arms, which are much more exposed to the elements around you. (Unless you have one of those fuzzy hats with ear flaps. Then you might stand more of a chance.)

While this wasn’t a surprising revelation, it underscored something I’ve been noticing in my long-term Ray-Ban testing. Aside from style, battery life will make or break whether smart glasses can become a mainstream gadget.

Meta is positioning the Ray-Bans as the ultimate vehicle for AI. And if an ever-present AI companion is the goal, you’re ostensibly wearing the glasses for most hours of the day. (It’s why you can get these with clear or transition lenses.) If the battery dies, it’s no biggie if you don’t actually need glasses to see. But if you do need prescription lenses in your smart glasses, the battery dying before bedtime is a pain. You’re forced to either give up the smart features you paid extra for, or the ability to actually see because you have to take the glasses off to charge.

Right now, the Meta Ray-Bans get an estimated four hours of moderate use. In my own testing — and watching my spouse, a power user who wears them as their main pair of specs — that’s not enough for all-day wear. The other catch is any of the cool smart features zap the battery life you’re trying to preserve. When I wrote about Meta’s Live AI feature, I had blind and low-vision readers reach out to tell me they were excited at the opportunities such a feature could afford their community. Live AI utilizes the Ray-Ban glasses’ camera so you can ask Meta AI real-time questions about the world around you. For folks with visual impairments, I was told this could help them navigate their surroundings, identify objects, and live more independently. It’s an exciting prospect — but my main concern is those possibilities are hampered by the fact that Live AI reduces the glasses’ battery to a mere 30 minutes.

There’s no way to charge the Ray-Bans — or many of the other smart glasses I’ve tried — with an external battery pack. Some glasses utilize stands or cases for charging, while others have proprietary cords that attach to both arms. However they charge, it’s virtually impossible to power and wear them at the same time. Furthermore, I’ve yet to see a pair of smart glasses with repairable or replaceable batteries.

Take the Ray-Bans. A Meta support page clearly states that “it’s not possible to replace the battery inside your glasses or charging case.” If the battery fails under warranty, you should be able to get a replacement free of charge. But once the battery starts degrading over time, as all batteries do, you have no options other than to get a new pair or a replacement case. I get why the batteries aren’t replaceable — trying to reduce the size so the glasses are wearable means soldering components close together. It’s an issue plaguing the entire wearables category, not just these glasses. But it is a problem.

This is something Meta and other smart glasses makers will have to meaningfully address for this gadget category to be as ubiquitous as phones or smartwatches. I’d argue that nailing all-day battery life is more important than figuring out how to incorporate AR displays. Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned as a wearables reviewer, it’s that people hate charging devices.

Continue Reading…

These retractable USB-C cables replaced everything else in my bag

I have a cable problem. I’m the guy with a giant box (three, actually) of ancient power cables that connect to nothing, just in case a time traveler appears with my hard drive from 2006 and demands I plug it in. I have approximately a thousand Lightning cables, even though the only Lightning-charging device I have left is my AirPods. (Which I charge wirelessly anyway.) I have a bunch of fancy braided USB-C cables, which I bought just so I’d know who was absconding with my chargers at family gatherings. When I travel, I have a case roughly the size of a family-sized Dorito’s bag just for cables and chargers.

A couple of weeks and a few trips ago, though, I replaced all those cables with just two. They’re retractable USB-C cables, made by a company called Baseus. In case you’re wondering, it’s a China-based company founded in 2009. Apparently, the name is a shortening of the phrase “base on user.” Which, sure. The company has been growing in China for years, but only relatively recently started selling in the US through a warehouse and storefront in Ohio. Like Anker, Ugreen, and other China-based brands you probably discovered on Amazon, Baseus sells what appears to …

Read the full story at The Verge.

Mentions of trans kids scrubbed from national child safety clearinghouse website

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), a child safety nonprofit that works closely with the government and major tech platforms, has recently removed publications that reference queer and transgender children from its website. The removals come amid reports that NCMEC was ordered to cull mentions of LGBTQ+ issues under threat of losing government funding, part of President Donald Trump’s push to eradicate recognition of trans people in the US.

NCMEC’s website hosts numerous reports on the state of various child endangerment issues, including data about abduction, sex trafficking, and online enticement. However, comparisons with the Wayback Machine show that at least three documents on its “NCMEC Data” page — including a report on missing children with suicidal tendencies, a report on male victims of child sex trafficking, and an overall data analysis of children missing from care — have been removed since the page’s last archived date of January 24th. Archived copies of all three reports included mentions of LGBTQ+ and particularly transgender children. The 13 remaining publications on NCMEC’s data page do not appear to contain these references.

With …

Read the full story at The Verge.

Google faked Gemini AI output in Super Bowl ad

Google appears to have faked AI output in a commercial set to run during the Super Bowl. The ad shows a business owner using Gemini to write a website description, but the text portrayed as generated by AI has been available on the business’s website since at least August 2020, as shown on this archived webpage.

Google didn’t launch Gemini until 2023, meaning Gemini couldn’t have generated the website description as depicted in the ad.

The Wisconsin Cheese Mart’s 2020 website description (left) is the same as the one supposedly generated by Gemini in the original ad (right).

The commercial in question is part of a series of Super Bowl ads showing how small businesses around the US use Gemini AI in Google Workspace. In this particular ad, Google features the Wisconsin Cheese Mart using Gemini to write a website description for its Gouda listing.

Google’s commercial had already been under scrutiny for showing Gemini generate incorrect information. The ad originally had Gemini present copy stating that Gouda accounts for “50 to 60 percent of the world’s cheese consumption” — which is not true. Google later edited the commercial to take out the stat, while the business owner also removed it from their website.

But Google maintained that the website description was written by Gemini all along. In addition to showing Gemini “generate” the description in the commercial, Google Cloud apps president Jerry Dischler said on X that the Gouda stat was “not a hallucination,” adding that “Gemini is grounded in the Web.”

When asked why Google removed the incorrect detail from the commercial, Google spokesperson Michele Wyman told The Verge that the business owner suggested having “Gemini rewrite the product description without the stat.” Google then “updated the UI to reflect what the business would do.” But it seems the description — at least, the original one — was never written by Gemini to begin with.

The Verge reached out to Google with a request for comment but didn’t immediately hear back.

Continue Reading…

Amazon will pay $4 million to settle driver tip theft lawsuit

Reimbursement was issued for Flex drivers in 2021.

Amazon has agreed to pay the District of Columbia $3.95 million to settle a lawsuit alleging that the retail giant had stolen more than $60 million in tips intended for its Flex delivery drivers. DC Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb announced the settlement today, which includes $2.45 million in penalties and requires Amazon to clearly disclose how tips are being used for any purpose besides compensating drivers.

The lawsuit was filed in December 2022 in an effort to reprimand Amazon for withholding “nearly one-third of drivers’ tips” between 2016 and 2019 after changing its payment model to use the compensation to cover a portion of Flex driver base wages. Amazon didn’t notify drivers of this change and assured consumers that drivers would receive 100 percent of their tips, according to a complaint raised by the Federal Trade Commission in 2021.

$61.7 million was later reimbursed to drivers by the FTC following a settlement with Amazon, but by filing the 2022 lawsuit, former DC Attorney General Karl Racine sought to “hold Amazon to full account for its unlawful actions, and to send a clear message to employers not to divert tips for their own benefit.”

“When companies mislead customers to boost their profits by stealing tips intended for their workers, they are cheating their consumers, their employees, and their competitors who play by the rules,” said Schwalb. “It’s not sufficient, after being caught, to simply give back the ill-gotten gains. Rather, there must be meaningful consequences to deter misconduct from happening in the first place.”

While Amazon has agreed to the settlement within 30 days, the company denies the DC allegations and maintains that it made “truthful, complete, unambiguous, and accurate representations to customers” regarding its tipping process for drivers.

“Like any successful program, Amazon Flex has evolved over time, and this lawsuit relates to a practice we changed more than five years ago,“ Amazon spokesperson Steve Kelly told The Verge. ”While we continue to disagree with these allegations, we’re happy to have the matter behind us so we can continue to focus on supporting delivery partners and customers.”

Update, February 7th: Added statement from Amazon.

Continue Reading…