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Showing posts from July, 2022

Star Trek’s Nichelle Nichols dies at age 89

Nichelle Nichols as Nyota Uhura in Star Trek. | Photo by Fotos International/Courtesy of Getty Images Nichelle Nichols, who was best known for her groundbreaking role as Nyota Uhura in the original Star Trek series, died at age 89. Her son, Kyle Johnson, informed her fans in a post on Nichols’ Instagram account. “Last night, my mother, Nichelle Nichols, succumbed to natural causes and passed away,” Johnson writes. “Her light however, like the ancient galaxies now being seen for the first time, will remain for us and future generations to enjoy, learn from, and draw inspiration.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nichelle Nichols (@nichellenicholsofficial) Nichols was born on December 28th, 1932 in Robbins, Illinois. Before joining the cast of Star Trek , Nichols toured with jazz artist Duke... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/e8Aqzfr

A TikTok Music app could challenge Spotify and Apple

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge Considering how intertwined music discovery is with TikTok, it wouldn’t be all that surprising if the company launched a music streaming app of its own. Well, patent filings uncovered by Insider suggest TikTok’s working on just that. TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, filed a trademark application with the US Patent and Trademark Office for “TikTok Music” in May. According to the filing, the service would let users purchase, play, share, and download music. It would also allow users to create, share, and recommend playlists, comment on music, as well as livestream audio and video. ByteDance already filed for a “TikTok Music” trademark in Australia last November. ByteDance already has experience with music streaming. In 2020, ByteDance... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/z5URtCT

The Pixel 6A is getting an immediate update to make sure it’s moddable

Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge Just days after the Pixel 6A’s launch, Google’s rolling out an update to fix an issue preventing users from unlocking the bootloader and performing mods, according to a report from Android Police . The change is bundled within the Pixel 6A’s first update , which Google just started releasing last week. In short, a bootloader is a piece of software that loads the operating system (OS) on a device when it turns on. Gaining access to the bootloader on Android can give you full control over your OS in a process known as rooting. It also allows you to install modded versions of Android, called ROMs. While some phone-makers and carriers don’t let you unlock your device’s bootloader, Google does things differently. It lets you dive right in on... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/95ftSJ4

The next Tomb Raider film will feature a new Lara Croft

Alicia Vikander as Lara Croft in MGM’s 2018 Tomb Raider. | Image: Warner Bros Tomb Raider’s movie rights are up for grabs. According to a report from TheWrap , the Amazon-owned MGM waited too long to create a sequel to its 2018 Tomb Raider film, freeing up the rights for the next Hollywood studio that wants to take a stab at creating an adaption of the long-running video game franchise. Several studios are currently engaged in a bidding war to snap up the Tomb Raider rights, TheWrap reports. And since the license come with no obligation to retain the same cast and crew, the next Tomb Raider film could be a total reboot that passes the Lara Croft baton to yet another actress. The 2018 Tomb Raider stars Alicia Vikander as Lara Croft, and was met with mixed reviews that criticized its weak portrayal of the series’... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/0kYojvE

This app does only one thing: splitting meal bills

There’s a lot to be said for an app with one singular function, and that’s what makes the Tab app so magical. Unlike other bill splitting apps like Splitwise , which lets you split and track any type of expense, the Tab app exists to only split meal bills among a group of people. That’s it — that’s all it does. I was first introduced to the app by my friends when I lived in New York City. After many dinners and debates over who ordered an extra side of fries, who got three beers instead of two, and who just had an hors d’oeuvre in place of an entree, we were fed up with doing basic math so the five or six people at the table could each pay their fair share. Thus, we transitioned to the Tab app . Its appeal came from the ease of signing up... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/zi4MDsu

The best instant photo printer you can buy right now

Whether you want the best photo quality or ultra-portability, there’s a printer for you. The little prints Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/HxcFd4l

Today I learned about an easy way to share files between Mac apps

No Finder required.  Apple has made macOS very good at handling drag and drops . For example, I often pull a picture right out of the Photos app or Safari and drop it into iMessage or Slack. One thing that’s always slowed me down, though, is moving around more traditional files, like PDFs or other documents. But then I learned that quite a few apps, including many of the built-in ones, have a quick shortcut to get at the file you’re viewing. Using this shortcut (which is officially called the proxy icon ), you can easily do things like upload a PDF you have open in Preview to Google Drive without having to go looking for the file in Finder. Here’s how it works: GIF of someone dragging a file from Preview to a Safari window with Google Drive. ... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/lWDpry3

Apple Pay may finally work on Chrome, Edge, and Firefox in iOS 16

Photo by Victoria Song / The Verge Apple Pay could finally be compatible with Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox in iOS 16. MacRumors contributor Steve Moser found that Apple Pay works with Edge and Chrome in the iOS 16 beta 4, and shared his findings on Twitter . Moser’s screenshots show a “Continue with Apple Pay” option on Apple’s checkout page when using Edge. Apple Pay only works in Safari on iOS 15 and older, preventing you from using any other browser if you want to pay with Apple Pay when shopping on the web. On the latest iOS 16 beta Apple Pay works in Edge, Chrome and I assume any third party browser. On iOS 15 Apple Pay only works in Safari. pic.twitter.com/x7zV5xCuiC — Steve Moser (@SteveMoser) July 30, 2022 Although Moser doesn’t mention... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/Jj9t3Z6

Amazon’s stunner of a smart thermostat is on sale for its best price to date

Amazon’s budget-friendly Smart Thermostat packs plenty of smarts for a mere $41.99. | Photo by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy / The Verge Amazon Prime Day is back, baby! OK, maybe not technically speaking, but so many Amazon devices are currently discounted at Best Buy and other retailers that it's giving us a major sense of deja vu. Right now, for example, you can buy Amazon’s excellent Smart Thermostat at Best Buy and Target for just $41.99 ($18 off) — a record low set during Prime Day. The budget-friendly thermostat will mesh with most decor, and can even learn and adapt to your habits like more expensive options. Be aware, however, that you can’t integrate the device with voice assistants beyond Alexa, and there are no native temperature sensors. Still, if those caveats don’t bother you, Amazon’s Smart Thermostat is a great option to consider, one that could... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/GoRUL1W

Subscriptions have made gaming on an iPhone fun again

Into the Breach Once upon a time, my smartphone doubled as my most-used gaming platform. It’s hard to believe now, but there was once a period when app stores felt like a new frontier, and game developers had a blast experimenting with a little touchscreen rectangle that you always had in your pocket. Then the economics changed. Games slowly got cheaper before eventually becoming free altogether. New releases had to decide between a dwindling audience for premium games or saddling their game with in-app purchases. Things became dire. But lately, I’ve been having fun with my phone again — and it’s due almost entirely to subscription services. I came to this realization recently when I switched from Android to an iPhone and started loading my new gadget... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/FWiEImN

The Beats Fit Pro are the best running earbuds I’ve ever had

This is the version I bought, and I love them so freakin’ much. | Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge One truth about me as a runner is that I need my jams. No jams, no run. I have meticulously curated playlists where the bass drops are strategically timed to gas me up when I lose steam. Aside from my sneakers, my earbuds are the most important piece of running tech I own. And yet, my decade-long search for the perfect pair only just ended a few weeks ago. Behold, the beautiful, purplicious Beats Fit Pro . To understand why I’m gaga for these buds, you need to know about the headphones that didn’t make the cut. (Don’t worry, I’ll stick to the highlights and spare you a Dickensian-length novel recounting the dozens of earbuds that have failed me in my 10-year running journey.) Earbuds with superior sound — like the Bose SoundSport — are... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/ca5pGD7

K-pop stars Blackpink turn PUBG into a beautiful stage for new music video

The latest music video from K-pop stars Blackpink has the band dropping onto a battle royale island. As part of a recent collaboration with PUBG Mobile — which recently featured its first-ever in-game concert — Blackpink released a new video that takes place inside of the game’s world. It features virtual avatars of the band as they sing in post-apocalyptic landscapes and ride motorcycles across abandoned highways. The song itself, called “Ready For Love,” was teased during the group’s virtual concert appearance. The virtual concert and video follow in the footsteps of other in-game performances, most notably those in Fortnite , which has featured the likes of Travis Scott and Ariana Grande . But it’s also part of a slowly burgeoning... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/zP2ju7G

Twitter v. Elon Musk trial date set to start October 17th

Illustration by Kristen Radtke / The Verge; Getty Images We have a schedule for the Delaware Court of Chancery trial over T witter’s lawsuit against Elon Musk for attempting to exit his agreement to buy the company for $44 billion. Earlier this week, the Musk team proposed an October 17th start date , which Twitter agreed to provided that the trial could be wrapped up in five days. Now, Judge Kathaleen McCormick has issued an official schedule , with the trial taking place from October 17th until October 21st. While lawyers for each side initially fought over potential start dates — Twitter was pursuing a September trial while Elon’s lawyers sought something in 2023 — there’s now one element everyone can agree on, and reporters can start scheduling their fall vacations in Delaware. If only it... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/V9edbBr

Here are the best accessories for your new PlayStation 5

Sony’s PS5 is a console you can accessorize more than most. | Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge The PlayStation 5 is becoming more available than it once was, but even with the increased frequency of restocks, Sony’s latest console remains a chore to get a hold of. If you’ve been savvy enough to secure a PS5 of your own, however, getting the right accessories can help ensure you get the most out of your new console. From headsets and spare DualSense controllers to M.2 SSDs that allow you to easily expand your console’s storage capacity — that’s a thing now , after all — these are just a few PS5 accessories we suggest picking up, some of which occasionally go on discount. Extra controllers First off, there’s the controller. Every new PS5 includes a white DualSense controller. Unlike the last-gen DualShock controllers, the DualSense... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/8a04xzb

TikTok has quietly added over half a dozen mini-games into its app

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge In recent weeks, TikTok has started testing offering a small collection of mini-games within its app, TechCrunch reports . There are nine games available as part of this initiative, which can be added to a video before it’s uploaded by using the “Add link” option and selecting “MiniGame.” Viewers can play a linked game by tapping the link that appears underneath the account’s username while a video is playing. When playing a game, there’s the option to record gameplay and subsequently post it as a TikTok. A TikTok spokesperson confirmed the pilot in a statement given to TechCrunch : “We’re always looking at ways to enrich our platform and regularly test new features and integrations that bring value to our community. Currently, we’re... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/EWFQkrD

Thread is Matter’s secret sauce for a better smart home

Illustration by Grayson Blackmon / The Verge Why the low-power mesh networking protocol is poised to become the backbone of the connected home Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/d7MC4FN

Sergey Brin and Elon Musk are Silicon Valley frenemies

Kristen Radtke / The Verge; Getty Images I’m sorry for what I’m about to do here, but let’s talk about some divorced men. I think Sergey Brin is attempting to smear his ex-wife, and I think he’s using his history with Elon Musk to do it. Musk allegedly had an affair with Brin’s wife , leading to their divorce. ( ALLEGEDLY .) Then, at a party, Musk fell to his knees, begging for Brin’s forgiveness, “according to people with knowledge of the incident,” The Wall Street Journal writes. What a story! I notice that Brin’s still duking it out with his soon-to-be ex-wife Except: I find this sourcing weird. How many people? Two sources are different from 10 sources on this, or 30, you know? And what kind of knowledge? Were they there? I understand wanting to protect one’s sources,... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/yTjxlYg

Comcast’s broadband business stopped growing for the first time ever

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge Comcast didn’t add any new broadband subscribers between April and June, marking the first time the company has failed to grow its high-speed internet business. Broadband figures stayed flat from Q1 at 32.2 million subscribers, the company announced in its Q2 2022 earnings release this morning. With just one exception, this is the first time Comcast hasn’t added at least 100,00 new subscribers, according to The Wall Street Journal . That exception came after the 2008 financial crisis and still resulted in 65,000 new subscribers. Comcast seems to think the flatline is just temporary. CEO Brian Roberts cites “a unique and evolving macroeconomic environment” as limiting the company’s ability to add new subscribers. The spring quarter also... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/MWSvY5n

Scientists reanimate dead spiders as robot gripping claws

Why bother to design your own robots when you can just reuse what nature created? This was the thought process behind a research project from engineers at Rice University who successfully transformed dead spiders into robotic gripping claws. The scientists have dubbed their new area of research “necrobotics” and say it could create cheap, effective, and biodegradable alternatives to current robotic systems. So why spiders? Well, while humans move their limbs using pairs of antagonistic muscles, like biceps and triceps, spiders’ legs contain only a single flexor muscle that draws the leg inward. This is opposed by a hydraulic system: a chamber in the center of the spider’s body (known as a prosoma) pushes out fluid to open the leg, with... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/gi3fDB1

DeepMind found the structure of nearly every protein known to science

A protein structure identified by AlphaFold. | Image: DeepMind DeepMind is releasing a free expanded database with its predictions of the structure of nearly every protein known to science, the company, a subsidiary of Google parent Alphabet, announced today. DeepMind transformed science in 2020 with its AlphaFold AI software, which produces highly accurate predictions of the structures of proteins — information that can help scientists understand how they work, which can help treat diseases and develop medications. It first started publicly releasing AlphaFold’s predictions last summer through a database built in collaboration with the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL). That initial set included 98 percent of all human proteins. Now, the database is expanding to over 200 million... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/7n2u4jV

The electricity demands of data centers are making it harder to build new homes in London

Photo by Zhu Haipeng/VCG via Getty Images The power demands of data centers can be staggering, with larger facilities using as much electricity as tens of thousands of homes. Now, in parts of London, those energy requirements are reportedly stopping developers from building new houses because there’s simply not enough electricity to go around. According to a report from The Financial Times , which shared letters sent to housing developers by London’s local governing body (the Greater London Authority, or GLA), the issue is affecting new developments in three west London boroughs: Ealing, Hillingdon, and Hounslow. The GLA said west London’s electricity grid was at capacity, and told one developer there may not be “sufficient electrical capacity for a new connection” until 2035. I... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/7Wkg9mX

Daniel Radcliffe’s Weird Al biopic gets November release date

Daniel Radcliffe as Weird Al Yankovic. | Image: Roku Weird: The Al Yankovic Story , a biopic about the musician starring Daniel Radcliffe, will release on November 4th on The Roku Channel, the streaming company has announced. The film will be available to stream everywhere where Roku’s free service is available, and is the latest step in the company’s push into producing original content that reportedly includes as many as 50 shows . The biopic covers the life of musician Weird Al Yankovic including his “rise to fame in the music industry to his celebrity love affairs” according to Roku. It’s being directed by Eric Appel (who most recently directed all ten episodes of Quibi show Die Hart ) and is written by Appel and Weird Al himself. Alongside Radcliffe, Evan Rachel Wood and Rainn Wilson... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/PlMZHBQ

The Ford F-150 Lightning Pro SSV is an electric truck made for cops

Image: Ford Ford, the leading automaker when it comes to making and selling specially designed vehicles for law enforcement, revealed the F-150 Lightning Pro SSV, an electric truck specially designed for law enforcement. The truck is a variant of the F-150 Lightning Pro , which is a version of Ford’s electric pickup that’s aimed specifically at commercial customers and fleet owners. Ford is pitching the F-150 Lightning Pro SSV (which stands for “Special Service Vehicle”) as an ideal fleet vehicle with all the features cops have come to rely on over the years, as well as other advantages specific to EVs, like quick acceleration and a lower total cost of ownership. an ideal fleet vehicle with all the features cops have come to rely on over the years A... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/kUpT9BW

Snap’s first AR game is a spooky ‘found phone’ mystery

Ghost Phone. | Image: Snap Snap has launched its first in-Snapchat augmented reality game, a spooky “found phone” title called Ghost Phone. In the game, you’ll work to solve the mystery of what happened to the previous owner of a smartphone, and you’ll quickly learn that things are just a little bit... ghastly. The core of the game is using the camera on your actual smartphone to find AR ghosts that appear in your nearby surroundings. You’ll complete different types of activities to find and capture the ghosts — for one, I had to track three floating energy balls around my office to make a ghost appear. As you capture more ghosts, you’ll unlock additional things you can check out the “phone,” such as new text messages and more apps. Ghost Phone is Snap’s take on... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/0HFZohc

What the future of lab-grown meat could look like

Lab-grown meat seems to be everywhere these days. Last year, cultured meat and seafood companies raised $1.38 billion in investment , and more and more startups are popping up to develop their own products. A lot of people are betting that cultured meat is part of the future of food — and we wanted to find out why. The creation of cell-based meat starts with a biopsy from an animal. From there, the cells are cultured in a lab and given the right nutrients to grow and multiply. Once there are enough cells, the batch is transferred into a bioreactor, where the cells continue to multiply until the end result is enough cells to sink your teeth into. This process takes a lot of time and resources, and according to the Good Food Institute , no... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/FxfIdps

How to flip screen orientation on a smartwatch

The Apple Watch supports flipping watch orientation. | Photo by Victoria Song / The Verge When it comes to watches, southpaws often get the short end of the stick. Unless lefties buy a destro watch , they have to learn to wear watches on their dominant hand instead of the nondominant hand as recommended. But that doesn’t have to be the case with all smartwatches. Because smartwatches have touchscreens, some watch manufacturers have given lefties the option of flipping the screen orientation so it appears “upside down.” This, in turn, gives users greater control over where the watch’s buttons are, making it easier to use a device worn on the right hand. While not every smartwatch allows you to switch screen orientation, two of the biggest players — Apple and Samsung — do. For Wear OS, you currently have to use third-party apps... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/EMqakuz

Spotify has stopped making its Car Thing dashboard accessory

The Car Thing in action. | Photo by Ashley Carman / The Verge Spotify has stopped manufacturing Car Thing, a dashboard accessory designed to make it easier to control the streaming service on your phone from a car. The change was quietly announced as part of the company’s latest earnings release , which notes the decision cost the company €31 million (around $32 million). “Reported Gross Margin was negatively impacted by our decision to stop manufacturing Car Thing,” the release reads. “Based on several factors, including product demand and supply chain issues, we have decided to stop further production of Car Thing units,” a spokesperson for the company told TechCrunch . “Existing devices will perform as intended. This initiative has unlocked helpful learnings, and we remain focused on the car as... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/LpHiZzc

Spotify’s subscribers rise to 188M amidst podcasting setbacks

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge Spotify’s number of premium subscribers rose to 188 million in its second quarter, while its monthly active users (MAU) now sit at 433 million, the company announced in an earnings release today. That’s a year-over-year increase of 14 percent and 19 percent respectively, and compares to the 182 million and 422 million figures it announced last quarter. The company says its growth in MAUs was its largest ever in a second quarter, and exceeded its guidance. The earnings come at the end of a quarter in which Spotify’s big push into podcasts has experienced some hiccups. One of its biggest podcasts, Reply All , broadcast its final episode on June 23rd after co-hosts Alex Goldman and Emmanuel Dzotsi decided to leave production company Gimlet.... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/yrTDcQ2

Independence Day director Roland Emmerich is making a gladiatorial epic for Peacock

This is a picture from Independence Day’s sequel, but you get the idea. Roland Emmerich, the director behind disaster movies such as Independence Day, The Day After Tomorrow, and Moonfall , is making a “gladiatorial epic” series for NBCUniversal’s streaming service Peacock. The show, which will be titled Those About to Die , is based on the book of the same name by Daniel Mannix (which, incidentally, previously served as the inspiration for Ridley Scott’s Gladiator ). The series is set to be written by Robert Rodat, whose previous work includes Saving Private Ryan. Those About to Die is the first TV show created by Emmerich. Although he previously directed 2012 TV movie Dark Horse , the director’s career has otherwise been focused on the big screen, with a filmography packed with summer blockbusters. It sounds... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/qTDxzeR

Meta’s private messaging app for couples is shutting down

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge Another one of Meta’s social experiments is shutting down. It’s called Tuned, and if you’re like me, this is probably the first and last time you’ll ever hear of it ( via TechCrunch ). Tuned launched in 2020 , back when Meta was still Facebook, as an app designed for couples looking to connect even when they’re apart. The app comes from Meta’s New Product Experimentation (NPE) team , which develops experimental apps and services. Through Tuned, couples can privately share their thoughts and moods as well as send notes to one another. There are also games that couples can play to get to know each other better, in addition to Spotify integration for exchanging music. As noted by TechCrunch , Meta has started notifying Tuned users that the app... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/D78yI1T

Russia says it plans to withdraw from the International Space Station after 2024

Russia announced it has decided to withdraw from the International Space Station partnership after 2024, the Russian state news site TASS reported . Yuri Borisov, the new head of Russia’s state space corporation Roscosmos, reportedly told President Vladimir Putin the news during a meeting on Tuesday. “Vladimir Vladimirovich, you know that we are working within the framework of international cooperation at the International Space Station,” Borisov said, according to a translated report from TASS . “Of course, we will fulfill all our obligations to our partners, but the decision [on] leaving this station after 2024 [has] been made.” “Of course, we will fulfill all our obligations to our partners” The decision seemingly reaffirms statements... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/zt3v6YT

Instagram leader: we’re gonna keep adding more video

Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge Instagram’s leader wants you to know that the company is going to keep leaning into video. In a short video this morning that seems like it’s aimed at No. 2 Instagram user Kylie Jenner, Instagram head Adam Mosseri lays out bluntly that the app is going to keep shifting away from its photo roots. “I need to be honest. I do believe that more and more of Instagram is gonna become video over time,” Mosseri said. There’s a lot happening on Instagram right now. I wanted to address a few things we’re working on to make Instagram a better experience. Please let me know what you think pic.twitter.com/x1If5qrCyS — Adam Mosseri (@mosseri) July 26, 2022 The app will continue to support photos, but Mosseri says the move away from them is... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/Tkq89nS

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is as enjoyable as it is inscrutable

Prepare to spend considerable time and brain power playing this game Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/PRMeTk1

Leap seconds cause chaos for computers — so Meta wants to get rid of them

Photo by Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images Since 1972 there have been 27 leap seconds: additional seconds added to the world’s common clock — Coordinated Universal Time or UTC — to account for changes in the Earth’s rate of rotation. Historically, our concept of time is defined as a fraction of the length of the solar day, but as the Earth’s rate of spin is somewhat irregular (slowing and speeding based on various factors) it means solar time and universal time tend to drift apart. So, in order to compensate, we add leap seconds. And this really confuses computers. I mean, just imagine you’re a computer. You have a very clear sense of time. You know that there are 24 hours in a day, 60 minutes in an hour, and 60 seconds in a minute: all neat and tidy. Then, on some random day as... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/A23TqOd

Nubia’s latest gaming smartphone has an RGB-equipped fan and ten layers of cooling

From left to right, the RedMagic 7S Pro’s Supernova, Obsidian, and Mercury colors. | Image: Nubia If you’re the kind of gamer who won’t rest until every last component is equipped with RGB lighting, right down to the case fans in their PC, then do I have a smartphone for you. Nubia has just launched its RedMagic 7S Pro gaming smartphone internationally and, much like last year’s RedMagic 6S Pro , some models feature transparent backplates to let you see their internal RGB-equipped fans. These fans aren’t just for show, and can spin at up to 20,000rpm to keep the phone’s internals cool as part of what Nubia calls a “ten-layer multi-dimensional cooling system.” The phones are a mid-year refresh of the RedMagic 7 released in February, indicating there’s enough interest in these handsets to warrant multiple releases per year. Like Asus’s... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/DTjNslC

Zuck turns up the heat

Photo: Amelia Holowaty Krales and Alex Castro / Sculpture: Okamoto Studio Custom Ice As Meta’s growth slows, Mark Zuckerberg is pushing even harder. Will his employees melt under the pressure? Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/zl5Y6oM

Uber admits covering up massive 2016 data breach in settlement with US prosecutors

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge Uber admitted to covering up a massive cybersecurity attack that took place in October 2016 , exposing the confidential data of 57 million customers and drivers, as part of a settlement with the US Department of Justice to avoid criminal prosecution. In order to not be prosecuted for the cover-up, Uber “admits that its personnel failed to report the November 2016 data breach to the [Federal Trade Commission] despite a pending FTC investigation into data security at the company,” according to a press release from the DOJ . Hackers used stolen credentials to access a private source code repository and obtain a proprietary access key Hackers used stolen credentials to access a private source code repository and obtain a proprietary access... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/D1IC2ug

GM wants to answer all your burning questions about electric vehicles

As interest in electric vehicles continues to grow, consumers may find they have a lot of questions that they would like answered even before stepping inside a dealership or taking out a car loan. To that end, General Motors is launching a new online platform called EV Live designed to educate curious car buyers about the brand new world of battery-powered vehicles. Anyone with questions about EVs who owns a computer or smartphone can log into EV Live to chat in real time with one of GM’s EV experts, who can offer tutorials, vehicle walkarounds, and (perhaps unsubtly) help promote the automaker’s many EV related products. “We’re hoping to break the internet on Monday,” Hoss Hassani, GM vice president of EV ecosystem, said in a briefing... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/PZbux5S

All the best trailers from SDCC 2022

John Wick surrounded by wicks in John Wick 4. | Image: Lionsgate Orcs, gelatinous cubes, and far too many zombies Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/d2k59hv

China successfully launches Wentian module as space station nears completion

A Long March 5B rocket with the Wentian module takes off from Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site. | Photo by Hou Yu/China News Service via Getty Images China successfully launched its second module, called Wentian, to the Tiangong space station early Sunday morning ( via SpaceNews ). Wentian took off aboard a Long March 5B rocket from the Wenchang Space Launch Site in Hainan, China at 2:22AM ET (2:22PM local), docking at the Tiangong space station about 13 hours later at 3:13PM ET (3:13AM local). The Wentian module contains equipment that allows the Chinese astronauts, also known as taikonauts, to perform various scientific experiments during their time on the station. As noted by The New York Times , the additional module will also provide three extra spaces to sleep, as well as another airlock that crewmembers can use to conduct spacewalks. Watch this footage of #Wentian docking.... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/TeIohAN

Elon Musk reportedly had an affair with Google co-founder Sergey Brin’s wife

Illustration by Kristen Radtke / The Verge; Getty Images Elon Musk allegedly fractured an old friendship with Google co-founder Sergey Brin after having an affair with his wife, Nicole Shanahan, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal . Sources familiar with the situation told the WSJ that the couple filed for divorce earlier this year, citing “irreconcilable differences.” Musk and Shanahan’s affair allegedly occurred at the high-profile Art Basel event in Miami following Musk’s split with then-girlfriend Claire Boucher, also known as Grimes. Sources tell the WSJ that Brin and Shanahan were separated but still living together at the time. The couple’s relationship was reportedly strained due to issues related to the COVID-19 lockdowns and their three-year-old daughter. Musk’s... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/kd32vcT

The OnePlus 10T won’t have a mute switch — here’s why

The OnePlus 10T in green. | Image: OnePlus The OnePlus 10T isn’t due to launch until August 3rd , but it wouldn’t be a OnePlus phone if the company didn’t reveal a few details early. Today, we’re getting a look at the device’s exterior design, which reveals a couple of interesting (and, depending on your viewpoint, potentially disappointing) changes compared to its predecessor. Although the 10T’s overall design is similar to that of the OnePlus 10 Pro, there’s no alert / mute slider this time, nor is there any sign of the Hasselblad branded-camera system found on recent OnePlus flagships. The alert slider has been a staple of OnePlus’ flagship phones for years, offering a quick and easy way to put its phones into silent and vibrate modes without having to tap through any onscreen... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/TqsdC42

One America News gets dumped by Verizon, the only major carrier it had left

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge Verizon Fios is the latest provider to drop One American News (OAN) network, a move that leaves the right-wing news channel without a major carrier, as reported earlier by The Daily Beast . In a notice on its website , Verizon explains viewers will no longer have access to OAN starting July 31st. “Our negotiation with OAN has been a typical, business-as-usual carriage negotiation like those that routinely happen between content distributors and content providers,” Verizon said in a statement to The Daily Beast . “These negotiations were focused on economics, as they always are, but OAN failed to agree to fair terms.” Verizon didn’t immediately respond to The Verge ’s request for comment. OAN is left without a major broadcasting platform OAN,... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/Wh7ApsQ

Feds’ case against Huawei in cell networks tracked ‘unprofitable’ deals near US military bases

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge An FBI investigation into Huawei reveals the Chinese telecom company had a pattern of installing equipment on cell towers near military bases in rural America — even if it wasn’t profitable to do so, according to a report from CNN . The unearthed investigation sheds some light on the US government’s motive behind the stalled “rip and replace” program that pushes for the removal of Huawei’s tech throughout the country. According to CNN, the federal investigation centers around the potential for Huawei’s equipment to intercept military communications, including those transmitted by the US Strategic Command, the agency tasked with handling the US nuclear arsenal. It’s no secret that Huawei sold cheap equipment to smaller, regional telecom... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/I4ehK3c

As Dusk Falls’ couch co-op makes a middling thriller a lot more memorable

This character’s name is Jay. That’s my name! | Image: INTERIOR/NIGHT As my wife and I played through As Dusk Falls , a tense new interactive thriller that recently launched on Xbox Game Pass, we would regularly turn to each other on the couch and say, “Coin flip.” In As Dusk Falls , up to eight people playing together in local co-op can simultaneously vote on what the game’s characters should do next. Think Black Mirror: Bandersnatch mixed with Jackbox’s many-player multiplayer brand of trivia. Similar to Jackbox games, you don’t even need a controller — you can just use your phone (though you’ll have to download a companion app). Think Bandersnatch mixed with Jackbox Much of As Dusk Falls’ story revolves around a hostage situation at a motel, and as you might expect, decisions can be pretty tough. In one... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/tQXabSE

Streaming video apps all look the same now

Images: Prime Video/Netflix/Disney/HBO, GIF: Chris Welch / The Verge Earlier this week, Amazon announced a major redesign of Prime Video , and the overwhelming response was “finally.” Prime Video had become a relic frozen in time, with an ugly, laggy interface that seemed stuck in 2010. Amazon’s streaming competitors, meanwhile, have routinely switched up and refined the user experience. And it seems like Prime Video’s designers noticed. Because another thing that stuck out about the app’s makeover is just how closely Amazon’s video service now resembles Netflix. Column of navigation icons on the left side? Check. Top 10 list with big numbers? Yep, it’s there on the home screen. And Prime Video has even added “super carousels” of poster-style artwork that expand to landscape and start auto-playing a... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/M0wvzPj

The Pixel 6A comes with a better Magic Eraser

Camouflage debuts with the Pixel 6A when it goes on sale on July 28th. | Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge Google’s clever Magic Eraser tool debuted on the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro . It’s an editing feature that’s designed to remove people or objects you don’t want in the background of your photos. Considering that it’s dead simple to use, the results are okay, but it’s definitely not putting Adobe out of business anytime soon. But with the Pixel 6A — and coming soon to the 6 and 6 Pro — Google has added a new Magic Eraser function that I like a lot more than the standard erase tool: Camouflage. It’s just as easy to use, and the results are a lot more consistent. Magic Eraser works a bit like Photoshop’s content-aware fill . You make a selection, then it uses information from the surrounding image to remove the unwanted subject and fill in the area.... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/Bd1aKTr

The ‘abortion pill’ could also be birth control — and activists are trying to prove it

Kristen Radtke / The Verge; Getty Images Mifepristone’s contraceptive possibilities have been known for decades Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/WegqYU5

Preorder Google’s Pixel 6A and get a free set of Pixel Buds A-Series earbuds

Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge Welcome to the weekend. This week was a deal drought relative to last week’s Prime Day-filled coverage, but there are still some cool, limited-time offers that are worth highlighting. For one, Google flipped on preorders for the Pixel 6A phone and the Pixel Buds Pro after a long wait since their announcement at Google I/O 2022. And for people who want the Pixel 6A, placing a preorder at Amazon or Best Buy will get you a complementary set of Pixel Buds A-Series wireless earbuds that normally cost $100 alone. Allison Johnson published a review of the Pixel 6A on Thursday, and it seems like it was worth the wait. While it has a 6.1-inch OLED screen that’s both smaller (some may prefer this) and slower in terms of refresh rate (60Hz vs.... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/sBN6Ght

The Verge’s back-to-school gift guide

All the best backpacks, laptops, tablets, and wearables for the new school year. | The Verge Our favorite laptops, bags, and gadgets for students Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/p3UHoCz