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Bose takes a swing at Sonos with its new home speakers

The new Bose Ultra Speaker can be used individually, as a stereo pair, or as the rear speakers in an Atmos setup. Last Thursday, in a staged home on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, I sat on a couch that was a bit too low and a tad too deep in front of a small, beige-colored smart speaker sitting on the middle of a trio of arched midcentury storage cabinets. On either side of the smart speaker sat two tall curved white screens. The speaker was the new $299 Lifestyle Ultra, Bose's answer to the Sonos Era 100. Alongside a $1,099 Ultra soundbar and $899 subwoofer, it's one of three new home audio products the company announced today, all of which seem to be gunning directly for Sonos - hopefully minus that company's recent missteps. I heard all three at … Read the full story at The Verge. from The Verge https://ift.tt/EzOxBRn
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Facebook and Instagram are using AI bone structure analysis to identify photos of kids

Facebook and Instagram have a new way to detect and remove users under 13: AI bone structure analysis. In a blog post on Tuesday , Meta - Facebook and Instagram's parent company - says its AI system will scan photos and videos posted to its platforms for "general themes and visual cues," including height and bone structure. "We want to be clear: this is not facial recognition," Meta says in the blog post, adding that it "does not identify the specific person in the image." This system is part of Meta's efforts to keep kids under 13 off its platforms, and will also analyze posts, comments, bios, and captions to search for "contextual clues" t … Read the full story at The Verge. from The Verge https://ift.tt/Tz7cSon

Microsoft is finally ditching the junk MSN feed in Windows widgets

Microsoft is finally giving up on showing the junk feed of MSN news when you open the widgets feature in Windows 11. After allowing Windows 11 users to disable the MSN feed more than two years ago , Microsoft says it will soon hide it by default as part of an effort to make widgets "quiet by default." "We're working to make Widgets feel less distracting and overwhelming by making the experience quiet by default," says Microsoft . "To do this, we're testing a new set of default settings designed to reduce unexpected alerts and visual interruptions." Microsoft is planning to disable the widgets panel opening when you hover over its taskbar ite … Read the full story at The Verge. from The Verge https://ift.tt/eT72Vbn

GameStop makes $56 billion offer to acquire eBay

GameStop has made an offer to acquire eBay for $56 billion, which comes as part of GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen's plan to transform the online marketplace into a "legit competitor to Amazon," he tells The Wall Street Journal . In an announcement on Monday , eBay says it will "carefully review" the unsolicited proposal, adding that it had "no discussions with or outreach from GameStop" before receiving the bid. GameStop says it will fund the acquisition using $9.4 billion on the company's balance sheet and third-party financing, including up to $20 billion from TD Securities. As noted by the WSJ , the company doesn't say how it will fund the rest of … Read the full story at The Verge. from The Verge https://ift.tt/vbLehqF

Homebridge 2.0 is here, and it speaks Matter

Homebridge , the popular software solution that allows you to integrate non-HomeKit devices like Ring cameras into Apple Home, is adding support for the Matter smart home standard. Today, May 4th, Homebridge 2.0 , which has been in beta for over three years, officially launches. Along with other improvements, the update brings the "initial groundwork for Matter support," according to a post on the r/homebridge subreddit from NorthernMan5 , one of the GitHub core maintainers. The update enables Homebridge to act as a Matter bridge in addition to a HomeKit bridge, allowing Matter devices to appear in Apple Home through Homebridge. It will also … Read the full story at The Verge. from The Verge https://ift.tt/LCtGB4Y

Shokz’s bassy OpenRun Pro 2 are $40 off thanks to a new Mother’s Day promo

The Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 come in a variety of colors, including a traditional black hue. | Photo by Victoria Song / The Verge If you’re looking to pick up a pair of open-ear headphones for yourself — or your mom — Shokz is running a Mother’s Day sale . Now through May 10th, the company’s best pair of bone conduction headphones, the OpenRun Pro 2 , are available from Amazon , Best Buy , and Shokz for around $139.95 ($40 off), their lowest price of the year. If you purchase direct, you’ll also receive a free waist bag ( a $29.99 value ). Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 Where to Buy: $179.95 $139.95 at Amazon $179.95 $139.99 at Best Buy $179.95 $139.95 at Shokz (with free waist bag) While traditional headphones tend to block out the world, open-style headphones provide a safer alternative, letting you listen to music and podcasts while remaining vigilant. After testing the OpenRun Pro 2, The Verge’s Victoria Song said using them felt “like the stars finally ...

How the internet’s favorite squirrel dad made the hottest camera app of 2026

Downey at home in LA with one of his channel’s frequent guest stars. | Image: The Verge; Shutterstock It's not hyperbole to call DualShot Recorder an overnight sensation. It took only 12 hours from the time it was released to hit number one on the App Store's list of top paid apps. It was a surprise success - but what's even more surprising is the app's origin story: it all started with a cadre of friendly neighborhood squirrels and their favorite caretaker. Derrick Downey Jr. built a career on short-form videos documenting his interactions with the squirrels that visit his patio in LA. His Instagram and TikTok accounts each have well over a million followers (myself included) who know well the regular cast of characters: Maxine, Richard, … Read the full story at The Verge. from The Verge https://ift.tt/nX0sWdZ