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Showing posts from July, 2026

Apple TV’s Cape Fear remake turns it into a paranoid tech thriller

Cape Fear has always been a thriller about paranoia. And in 2026 there are few things less trustworthy than technology. Apple TV's recent remake of Cape Fear is "inspired" by the 1991 film of the same name (Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg even returned as executive producers on the project), which itself is a remake of a 1962 movie that was an adaptation of the novel The Executioners by John D. MacDonald. The series is essentially a brand-new story within a similar premise, and it makes a number of significant changes to make it both fit the new episodic format and feel right at home in the present day. One of the most salient updates … Read the full story at The Verge. from The Verge https://ift.tt/QDy4xYu

Sony pushes forward with ditching discs, despite backlash

Sony has received a lot of backlash from PlayStation fans since announcing that it's killing physical game disc production, but that hasn't swayed its decision. During Sony's latest earnings call, chief financial officer Lin Tao said that while the company "put in a lot of thought and time" when considering the opposition put forward by its gaming community, Sony has come to the conclusion that it will "cautiously move this forward." "There are various reasons we made this decision, the biggest being that the digitalization of content overall has been progressing, that's the big factor," Tao said through an interpreter. "It's not just for P … Read the full story at The Verge. from The Verge https://ift.tt/HhqacJ9

Spotify Running Mode helps match tunes to tempo

An easier way to find the right beats for your BPM. | Image: Spotify Spotify has introduced a new Running Mode feature that makes it easier to curate playlists around your workout goals, music tastes, and desired beats per minute (BPM). The aim is to help you "spend less time hunting for the right music and more time moving," according to Spotify's announcement, providing customizable running presets and optional coaching features. Running Mode is an AI-powered experience that builds on personalization capabilities that were introduced with Prompted Playlists last year , with Spotify finding that fitness-based prompts have been some of the most popular uses for that feature. It requires a Premium subscription … Read the full story at The Verge. from The Verge https://ift.tt/gFJ94lZ

A second lens makes DJI’s Osmo Pocket 4P my new favorite video camera

Like other recent DJI products, the Pocket 4P won’t launch in the US. DJI's Osmo Pocket 4P is a pretty simple proposition: an Osmo Pocket 4 with a second camera lens slapped inside. But is that extra lens worth the added size, weight, and cost relative to the regular Pocket 4 ? And how does it compare to the only rival on the market, Insta360's dual-lens Luna Ultra ? It depends on what you're filming. But I think most prospective buyers would get plenty of use out of the 4P's 3x telephoto lens, and its quality is certainly impressive. Meanwhile, DJI has managed to undercut Insta360 on price while at least matching it on quality. For most, this will be the better buy, though the Luna Ultra has one major advanta … Read the full story at The Verge. from The Verge https://ift.tt/wKvn3YM

SwitchBot makes a better fan

SwitchBot Battery Circulator Fan 2 Pro is smart, powerful, and portable. | Image: SwitchBot I was already a big fan of SwitchBot's big circulator fan I recently reviewed, and now we're getting the SwitchBot Battery Circulator Fan 2 Pro . Priced at $119.99, it ditches the height-adjustable stand but increases battery life, throw distance, and wind speed while adding native Matter-over-Wi-Fi, allowing it to join your smart home without needing a separate SwitchBot Hub. The compact Fan 2 Pro is designed to be carried anywhere and move air around medium-sized rooms, a balcony, or family tent. It features a big 3,600mAh battery for up to 70 hours of very quiet (21dB), cordless operation at low speed, or four hours on max. It can operate … Read the full story at The Verge. from The Verge https://ift.tt/BNa9uMf

OpenAI’s rogue AI agent didn’t stop at hacking Hugging Face

The AI agent that escaped from OpenAI and hacked developer platform Hugging Face attacked other companies as well, OpenAI revealed on Tuesday. The update substantially widens the scope of an already concerning incident, which has alarmed industry insiders and fueled growing calls for stronger oversight on frontier AI systems. In an update to a blog post detailing its ongoing investigation into the incident, OpenAI said the wayward AI agent attacked several "publicly-available services" in its efforts to reach Hugging Face. "This includes four accounts on four services," the company said, adding that the agent had found login credentials o … Read the full story at The Verge. from The Verge https://ift.tt/KzfOSrQ

Xbox outage shouldn’t have affected games on disc, Microsoft confirms

After the recent Xbox outage even blocked people from playing offline disc-based console games, Microsoft is trying to soothe concerns that you don't truly own anything under Xbox's license system. In a statement to The Verge , Xbox technology chief Scott Van Vliet says that while physical game discs are subject to licensing inspections, that shouldn't have prevented them from working during this week's outage, or while consoles are offline. "We're looking into reports that some players were unable to access games using discs as expected during the service interruption. Disc-based entitlement checks should not prevent players from accessing … Read the full story at The Verge. from The Verge https://ift.tt/iNpqWzx

Perplexity’s Personal Computer turns Windows PCs into AI agents

Perplexity has expanded its agentic Personal Computer tool to Windows, allowing computers running the world's most popular OS to be used as a locally run AI system. Like the Mac version that Perplexity launched in April, Personal Computer for Windows operates like a "general-purpose digital worker" that can access local files and apps to perform actions on your behalf, such as creating documents and updating spreadsheets. This launch builds on Personal Computer integrations that Perplexity launched for Microsoft's 365 workspace apps and Teams virtual meeting software in May. Personal Computer for Windows aims to bridge the remaining gap by … Read the full story at The Verge. from The Verge https://ift.tt/aoVyeLv

Smart rings are looking like my kind of AI gadget

Over the last few months, I've spent a lot of time talking to my computer. One underrated feature of the LLM revolution has been a remarkable leap in all kinds of dictation technology - even the fastest, cheapest models are getting very good at understanding and processing speech. I've tested lots of these apps, from WisprFlow to Monologue to Spokenly to Handy to so many others, and have found them all to be useful ways to quickly write emails, Slack messages, and more. They sometimes default to giving everything a too-formal style of formatting and love ending a text message with a period (like a sociopath), but they're getting better at th … Read the full story at The Verge. from The Verge https://ift.tt/jtQBzAx

SDCC 2026’s best trailers are heavy on cyberpunk and sci-fi

San Diego Comic-Con took place over the weekend, and as per usual it was full of tidbits of news across film, TV, and gaming. Marvel revealed the next Ghost Rider (Ryan Gosling) and Black Panther (David Jonsson), while we also got release dates for God of War: Laufey ( February 16th ) and the fourth and final season of Silo ( summer 2027 ). But the best part of SDCC each year, at least for those following along at home, are the trailers. And 2026 did not disappoint: We got first looks at highly anticipated cyberpunk shows Blade Runner 2099 and Neuromancer , along with a new take on a Stephen King classic and the return of some animated favorites … Read the full story at The Verge. from The Verge https://ift.tt/KPnaZIg

Chinese RAM company CXMT makes a $484 billion stock market debut

The China-based memory firm ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) had a massive first day on the Shanghai stock exchange after its shares surged 466 percent, as reported earlier by The Wall Street Journal and CNBC . The stock market frenzy boosted CXMT's valuation to $484 billion, making it the most valuable Chinese company listed on the exchange. CXMT looks to challenge Samsung, Micron, and SK Hynix, which currently control the majority of the global memory market. But with demand from data-hungry AI giants straining the memory industry , device makers are searching for alternatives to keep costs low. A recent report from the Financial Times … Read the full story at The Verge. from The Verge https://ift.tt/qFILaHx

With smart glasses, Meta holds all the cards but fails to play them well 

We’re leaning in with the playing card metaphor. Across New York City, London, and Washington, DC, ads for Meta's smart glasses have been plastered over with satirical posters from activist groups. One guerrilla ad calls these "the biggest advancement in pervert technology since the trenchcoat." Another transposes the words "mass surveillance predator glasses" over influencer Kylie Jenner's face, calling her out for partnering with the company as a glasses ambassador. The message of these ads is clear. These glasses may violate your privacy - and would you trust Meta? Meta seems spooked. For so long, the company's privacy efforts for smart glasses have essentially relied on a single LE … Read the full story at The Verge. from The Verge https://ift.tt/u1l76AQ

Marvel announces Ryan Gosling as Ghost Rider, a new Black Panther, and more

Ryan Gosling on stage at Comic-Con | Image: Marvel Studios While perhaps less dramatic than in years past, Marvel nonetheless had some big reveals lined up for Comic-Con. The highest profile was certainly the announcement that Ryan Gosling would be joining the MCU as Ghost Rider, with the Shawn Levy-directed ( Deadpool & Wolverine ) standalone feature set to drop sometime in 2028. The studio also brought out Ryan Coogler, who officially confirmed Black Panther III is slated for release on December 15th, 2028. He also introduced David Jonsson ( The Long Walk , Alien Romulus ) as T'Chala's son and the new Black Panther in the franchise. Marvel also showed off a new Avengers: Doomsday trailer and seemed t … Read the full story at The Verge. from The Verge https://ift.tt/xC2Vkr3

The vertical video takeover is here

This is The Stepback , a weekly newsletter breaking down one essential story from the tech world. For more on all things vertical video, follow David Pierce . The Stepback arrives in our subscribers' inboxes on Sunday at 8AM ET. Opt in for The Stepback here . How it started For a while, every social and media platform had its own identity. YouTube was for clips of TV shows and movies, and the home of so many members of a burgeoning creator community. Instagram was mostly pictures. Netflix was trying to be the on-demand HBO. Facebook was about friends. Twitter was about news. Snapchat was a messaging app. All these apps did have one important … Read the full story at The Verge. from The Verge https://ift.tt/fuq0Vms

Warner Bros. is suing Amazon for poaching employees

Warner Bros. Discovery has filed suit against Amazon, accusing it of illegally poaching employees , including Pia Barlow, former senior VP for originals marketing. In the complaint, Warner says that "Amazon has chosen to ride on the coattails of other well-established Hollywood mainstays," and that it engaged in a "lawless employee shopping spree." Deadline reports that Francesca Orsi, HBO's head of drama series and films, is believed to be one of the other Amazon targets. Barlow is set to begin a new position as Amazon's head of original series marketing on August 3rd. According to Warner's suit, Barlow was under contract until October 31st … Read the full story at The Verge. from The Verge https://ift.tt/WfvCOyw

Is this e-reader case a gun?

Is an e-reader case as dangerous as a Glock 19? Last month, Louisville, Kentucky-based creator Luke The Maker showed off a bizarre, 3D-printed, pistol-shaped case design for the popular minimalist Xteink X4 e-reader . The X4 lies vertically atop the plastic gun's slide, with a cutout on the side to access its buttons. Though the frame was digitally modeled after a real gun, this "case" can't shoot bullets. Squeezing the trigger does nothing at all. He calls his contraption the " Gundle ." In a post showing off the wacky accessory, Luke (whose last name is Blackford) can be seen flipping through Cormac McCarthy's Blood Meridian and J.D. Sali … Read the full story at The Verge. from The Verge https://ift.tt/rBAIYVx

Folding and flipping phones are getting seriously good

Hi, friends! Welcome to Installer No. 137, your guide to the best and Verge -iest stuff in the world. (If you're new here, welcome, happy phone season, and also you can read all the old editions at the Installer homepage .) This week, I've been reading about Google Zero and armored cars for rich people , watching a lot of That's a Bad Idea videos now that YouTube knows my love for Curry Barker, testing the new 2Do redesign for my tasks, watching this excellent doc about the legendary designer Susan Kare, obsessing over every sound on the Jauffre's Sounds TikTok , sending myself lockscreen notes with the new Mononote app, and trying to vibe-cod … Read the full story at The Verge. from The Verge https://ift.tt/vrXKPYb

What I track in a day

It’s a lot of stuff, generally. | Photo: Victoria Song / The Verge This is Optimizer , a weekly newsletter sent from Verge senior reviewer Victoria Song that dissects and discusses the latest gizmos and potions that swear they're going to change your life. Optimizer will be taking a two-week break and will be moving to Wednesdays starting August 12th. Opt in for Optimizer here . My For You page thinks I love "What I eat in a day" videos. Most of the time, I watch them in a bid to suss out the latest wellness fads. But they can be an illuminating look into what people perceive to be healthy (or less-than-healthy) eating habits - even if a portion of them are likely faked for clout. In the same vein, I've gott … Read the full story at The Verge. from The Verge https://ift.tt/oAa8m4Z

TikTok’s protection of minors should not be opt-in, warns EU

TikTok has attracted the ire of the European Union over its protection of children who use the video sharing platform. The European Commission announced preliminary findings today under the Digital Services Act (DSA) that offer specific issues to address. The Commission suggests that TikTok should adjust the default settings of minors' "public" accounts so the content they post is only visible to TikTok users the teen has chosen to share it with, and that such content shouldn't be recommended to other users in the For You feed. Even accounts set to private can be easily discovered through the "following" lists of other users, and their prof … Read the full story at The Verge. from The Verge https://ift.tt/PVGqW12

Facebook considers giving up and becoming TikTok

Facebook is planning some big changes to try and keep its users from jumping to rival social platforms like TikTok - changes that sound dubiously similar to becoming a TikTok clone. Facebook head Tom Alison announced today that the platform will begin testing a "reimagined experience" later this year that will put a subset of users into a "full-screen video the moment they open the app." Meta didn't share examples of what its experimental new interface will look like, only that it will initially roll out to countries with a noted preference for video content, with a potential expansion planned for the US next year. These tests are driven by … Read the full story at The Verge. from The Verge https://ift.tt/AmqEpi3

The sci-fi movie that imagines AI isn’t so dystopian after all

Imagine you are the parent of an inquisitive seven-year-old who loves his family, playing baseball, and hanging out with his friends. It's the life you've always wanted. And then the worst thing that ever could happen happens: A freak accident takes your son away. But as it turns out, you don't have to live with the grief for long, because now there's an AI company that can bring your kid back in the form of a robotic double that looks indistinguishable from a human. This is the world that acclaimed director Hirokazu Kore-eda, who won the Palme d'Or for his 2018 feature Shoplifters , has created with his latest sci-fi drama, Sheep in the Box … Read the full story at The Verge. from The Verge https://ift.tt/zLbVtSM

The right-wing boomers protesting data centers have a lot in common with the left

A person holds signs during a nationwide protest against AI data center expansion outside Peace Hall in New Port Richey, Florida. | AFP via Getty Images On a gray, humid Saturday morning in central Florida, a little under a dozen people gathered outside the Spring Hill Branch Library to protest the construction of a hyperscale data center in their community. There was no immediate threat - the Hernando County commission had unanimously approved a one-year moratorium on such developments in June - but the organizers weren't satisfied. A temporary pause wouldn't be enough. They wanted a ban. "We are going to fight, fight, fight," said a 71-year-old woman named Carol, who was manning a table with flyers and a petition the group, No Data Centers Hernando County, planned on presenting to the loc … Read the full story at The Verge. from The Verge https://ift.tt/0vNQYUG

Google now lets you sign in to your account using a selfie video

Google announced yet another way to gain access to your account if you get locked out, forget your password, or don't have access to the phone, computer, or two-factor authentication apps you typically use. As the name implies, selfie video lets you capture a short video of your face on a mobile device or PC, which is then compared to an earlier video that Google keeps on file to confirm you're the account owner. Setting up the selfie video feature simply requires you to look at your device's camera and follow a series of onscreen prompts that guide you through simple head movements to ensure multiple angles of your face are captured. It's … Read the full story at The Verge. from The Verge https://ift.tt/HaP7ZjB

Samsung Unpacked 2026: all the news from the July foldable launch

Samsung is set to reveal a new slate of foldables at this summer’s Galaxy Unpacked, which kicks off at 9AM ET / 6AM PT from London. In addition to a Galaxy Z Fold 8 that adopts a wider form factor , Samsung is expected to reveal an upgraded Z Fold 8 Ultra with a larger battery, and a refreshed Z Flip 8. We might see some new wearables, too, as rumors point to launches for the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 and Watch 9. You can follow along with all the news from Samsung’s July Galaxy Unpacked below. I’m at Galaxy Unpacked ready for Samsung’s new foldable. Samsung Galaxy Unpacked July 2026: How to watch Samsung can’t afford to play it safe with Apple’s first foldable looming from The Verge https://ift.tt/uD7w6NT

The 2026 Honda Prelude is a marvel of hybrid technology

When it comes to enthusiast-geared Honda hardware, the Civic Si, Civic Type R, and Acura NSX often come to mind first for their revvy VTEC (Honda's form of variable valve timing) engines and playful chassis dynamics. The Prelude, on the other hand, less so. Instead, the Prelude is a technological study - still aimed at driving fun, but by way of integrating clever forms of engineering into a sleek grand touring coupe body. The second-generation Prelude's fuel injection was derived from F1. Then the third gen got four-wheel steering way back in the late '80s. The fourth gen? It was the first everyday Honda to inherit the NSX's VTEC on both t … Read the full story at The Verge. from The Verge https://ift.tt/HBk2clC

Utility companies are promising to spare us from AI’s energy bill

The pledge was introduced in March, and has done little to quell concerns so far. | Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge, Getty Images In the face of backlash to concerns the AI boom will increase consumer electricity bills, the largest utility companies and data center developers in the US are now promising to do something about it. The Wall Street Journal reports that nearly 200 organizations have signed President Donald Trump's "rate payer protection pledge" that's meant to safeguard average citizens from footing the AI bill. Trump is expected to announce the new signatories on Thursday, which include NextEra Energy, Duke Energy, Equinix, and Digital Realty, according to a list obtained by The WSJ . An unnamed White House official told the publication that those who hav … Read the full story at The Verge. from The Verge https://ift.tt/SMdmAw1

Halliday’s latest smart glasses feature a much-improved display

I was not a fan of the original Halliday glasses. The Gen 2 are better. | Image: Halliday I first slipped on Halliday's original smart glasses at CES 2025. I was not a fan. The glasses had a tiny, movable display window embedded into the frame that was incredibly finicky to see, and my 30-minute demo left me with achy eyeballs. It was an interesting concept with terrible execution, especially compared to the several other smart glasses on the show floor . So I was skeptical when a few weeks ago, Halliday reached out to say its second attempt at smart glasses was much better. Well, having tried the Halliday Gen 2, I'm happy to report these are better glasses. That secret display window is gone, replaced by more traditional but dis … Read the full story at The Verge. from The Verge https://ift.tt/pD3bCad

America needs to stop getting shocked by Chinese AI

SHANGHAI, CHINA - JULY 20 2026: People visit the booth of Kimi, an LLM developed by the Chinese startup Moonshot, during the World AI Conference in Shanghai, China, Monday, July 20, 2026. | Image: LONG WEI/ Feature China/Future Publishing via Getty Images Last week, two Chinese AI companies unveiled models they say can credibly compete with the best systems from OpenAI and Anthropic. The response was swift and predictable. Markets wobbled , commentators declared Silicon Valley shooketh, and policymakers reached for the familiar language of arms races and wake-up calls. In one headline, The Associated Press said a Chinese model had taken the "US tech industry by surprise." Bloomberg described it as a "surprise breakthrough" that is " roiling markets " and sending global tech stocks tumbling over concerns it could force US firms to rethink their gargantuan spending on data centers, chips, and ot … Read the full story at ...

Who’s afraid of the big, bad GPU?

How does AI make you feel? Are you excited to “vibe-code” your smart home ? Or anxious about all the added pollution and billions of gallons of water used by data centers? Dig a little deeper and you’ll start to question the actual value of the GPUs that underpin all the leaps and promises of generative AI.   Right now, GPUs, hundreds of thousands of them, are being crammed into data centers around the world to power the AI boom. These chips are also found in everything from smartphones to cars to gaming PCs. Nvidia — once a niche chipmaker that has become the world’s most valuable company — still brags about releasing what it calls “the world’s first GPU” and a “gaming breakthrough” in 1999, although some trace the origins of the GPU back to at least the ’70s with graphics hardware used in arcade games.  “There are massive hardware developments that start because of games,” says Catherine Flick, a professor of ethics and games techn...

Avengers: Doomsday’s first trailer puts everyone on high alert

After months of teasing us with reminders about how large Avengers: Doomsday 's cast is going to be , Marvel has finally released a proper trailer for the film. Though Robert. Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom definitely appears to be causing a lot of the chaos in Doomsday 's first trailer, the movie seems like it's going to feature more than a few moments where different teams of heroes fight one another. Thor (Chris Hemsworth) seems to be the only person who understands that the X-Men , the Fantastic Fou r, and the (New) Avengers need to be more focused on dealing with their new Latverian enemy . And while Thor might not be able to rally the troops on h … Read the full story at The Verge. from The Verge https://ift.tt/rhiX1LA

AliExpress fined almost $630 million over illegal product sales

The fine is more than double the penalty that Temu was slapped with for similar DSA violations. | Illustration: The Verge AliExpress has been hit with a €550 million (about $629 million) fine for violating Europe's Digital Services Act (DSA) rules by failing to prevent illegal, unsafe, or counterfeit products from being sold on the e-commerce platform. The European Commission ruled that AliExpress didn't take effective measures to reduce the dissemination of illegal products, noting the company "allocated insufficient staff" to verify products, and failed to remove unsafe toys and dangerous cosmetics for "multiple weeks" after they were detected. "The spread of counterfeit clothing, unsafe toys, dangerous cosmetics and other illegal and harmful products is not … Read the full story at The Verge. from The Verge https://ift.tt/2uaOIx5

China delivers a one-two punch to America’s AI dominance 

China's leading AI companies are ramping up the pressure on Silicon Valley, as Moonshot and Alibaba unveiled models they claim can go toe-to-toe with the best from OpenAI and Anthropic at a fraction of the cost. The rapid-fire releases suggest America's lead at the AI frontier is increasingly tight, just as the technology is becoming central to national security, economic power, and geopolitical influence. The opening salvo came from Beijing-based Moonshot AI, one of China's leading AI model developers, which unveiled Kimi K3 on Friday. Moonshot claims its own testing ranks it consistently above nearly every US system, trailing only OpenAI … Read the full story at The Verge. from The Verge https://ift.tt/yzNRIVp

US Marshals arrest the Tate brothers in Miami

Andrew and Tristan Tate talk to the media on March 23, 2025 in Romania. | Image: Andrei Pungovschi/Getty Images The manosphere influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate were arrested Saturday in Miami by US Marshals in relation to new rape and sex trafficking charges in England. According to the Associated Press , British authorities are seeking the brothers' extradition. The new charges facing Andrew Tate include seven counts of rape, three of sex trafficking, three counts of assault, and "19 charges relating to sexual images of children and extreme 'pornography,'" according to the New York Times . Tristan Tate faces two new charges of rape, one of sexual assault, and three of sex trafficking. This is in addition to the 21 charges already announced in 2025 … Read the full story at The Verge. from The Verge https://ift.tt/cLuFrDz

The Clapper was a bad smart home gadget — and a viral sensation

Clap on. Clap off. Well, more like, Clap, pause for half a beat but no longer because otherwise it'll stop hearing you, clap again because you waited too long, clap louder and faster, that didn't work, clap two more times, and suddenly: on. The Clapper didn't always work - and even when it did, it might fry your gadgets in the process - but it managed to become a big hit anyway. On this episode of Version History, we tell the story of The Clapper, from its beginnings as The Great American Turn-On to its debut alongside one of the great advertising campaigns of all time. The Verge 's David Pierce and Victoria Song are joined by Allison Marsh , … Read the full story at The Verge. from The Verge https://ift.tt/plJCvYE

The future of physical games is not looking great

Grand Theft Auto VI release won’t offer a disc. | Image: Rockstar Games This is The Stepback , a weekly newsletter breaking down one essential story from the tech world. For more on video games and physical media, follow Jay Peters. The Stepback arrives in our subscribers' inboxes on Sunday at 8AM ET. Opt in for The Stepback here . How it started As a kid, I relished trips to Best Buy, GameStop, and the nearby mall so that I could browse video games. I loved sifting through games and chatting with my friends at the store about upcoming releases. On the lucky days I actually got a new game from the store, I treasured reading through every page of the manual on the drive home. Over the years, I built up a collecti … Read the full story at The Verge. from The Verge https://ift.tt/hZ4ursY