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Showing posts from January, 2023

HBO’s The Last of Us is pushing all the right buttons by telling new stories

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Nick Offerman as Bill and Murray Bartlett as Frank | Image: HBO The Last of Us’ third episode illustrates why breaking away from the source material can be exactly what a video game adaptation needs to do the original story justice. Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/z9ScKb3

New LG Gram 17 with RTX 3050 will launch on February 1st

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A new, more powerful LG Gram. | Image: LG Electronics USA The 2023 model of LG’s ultralight Gram 17 now has an official release date and price. LG has announced that the devices will be available for purchase on February 1st on LG’s website, with other “select LG-authorized retailers” to follow. Models will start at $1,999. A number of refreshes to the Gram line were announced at CES 2023 in early January. The laptops will support variable refresh rate and Dolby Atmos for the first time. They’ve also been updated to 13th Gen Intel processors. LG refers to these new LG Gram 17 models as the “LG Gram Pro,” though they are simply labeled as “LG Gram 17” on its website. There look to be two models available at launch. The $1,999.99 model will include an Nvidia RTX 3050 GPU, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB of... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/6r9CRxn

Frontier’s expanding its 5-gig fiber network across the country

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Frontier joins AT&T as another 5-gig capable ISP available in the United States | Graphic by William Joel / The Verge Frontier, an internet service provider (ISP) that services 25 US states, has just launched 5 Gig fiber internet service across its entire network. Frontier launched 2 Gig fiber internet service less than a year ago , and the 5 Gig plan is currently available in all of Frontier’s fiber-connected markets, with no phased rollouts. Compared to the cable-bound internet that most of us are familiar with, Frontier’s 5 Gig internet is reported to have upload speeds that are up to 125 times faster and up to five times faster downloads, all delivered with less latency. The new 5 Gig network is one of the fastest internet options currently available in the US, with other fiber-enabled ISPs like Verizon Fios and Google Fiber still capped at around... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/uX1je06

Fortnite’s new concert is a strange musical raid

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The Kid Laroi’s avatar performing in Fortnite. | Image: Epic Games Checking out The Kid Laroi might be the first time I ever died during a concert — virtually, of course. The Australian singer is the latest artist to headline an interactive Fortnite experience , but this one differs a bit, adding a touch more of the shooter action that’s core to the game. The result is a strangely compelling experience that further expands what these kinds of virtual concerts can be. It even has a miniature raid. Called “Wild Dreams,” the virtual music experience is billed as an “immersive sonic experience portraying Laroi’s journey from humble beginnings to headlining sold-out performances as a worldwide superstar.” Unlike virtual concerts from the likes of Travis Scott and Ariana Grande , which took over the entire... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/OsJvqaM

Sony promises ‘increased supply of PS5 consoles’ ahead of PSVR2 launch

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Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge Sony says it should now be a lot easier to find PS5 stock at retailers. After two years of supply challenges, Sony has thanked fans for their patience as it delt with “unprecedented demand” since the PS5 launch in November 2020. “If you’re looking to purchase a PS5 console, you should now have a much easier time finding one at retailers globally,” says Isabelle Tomatis, VP of brand, hardware, and peripherals at Sony Interactive Entertainment. Sony recommends its own PlayStation direct store for those looking for a PS5 in the US, UK, France, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg. There are a variety of bundles available, alongside the base digital and disc PS5 consoles. Breaking News - A GIANT Leviathan Axe spotted in London. R... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/lTOIDHR

Monday’s top tech news: the chip war ramps up

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Holding a silicon wafer with microchips. | Photo by Michael Matthey/picture alliance via Getty Images And hear Seth Rogen’s Donkey Kong in the latest Mario movie trailer. Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/41dDQFf

Foldable iPad could arrive as early as next year, claims noted Apple analyst

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Apple’s 10th-gen iPad, released last year. | Photo by Dan Seifert / The Verge Apple could be on track to release a foldable iPad as early as next year, according to supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. “I’m positive about the foldable iPad in 2024 and expect this new model will boost shipments and improve the product mix,” he tweeted early Monday . Kuo expects it to be joined by a revamped iPad Mini, due to enter mass production in early 2024. Kuo didn’t offer many new details on the rumored iPad foldable, but said that it will feature a “carbon fiber” kickstand produced by Chinese component manufacturer Anjie Technology. (4/4) Thus, I'm taking a cautious approach to iPad shipments for 2023, predicting a YoY decline of 10-15%. Nevertheless, I'm positive about the foldable iPad in 2024 and expect this new model... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/qLQMgNk

Check out these emulated calculators at the Internet Archive

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Image: Internet Archive I never thought I’d actually have fun with a calculator emulator. But here I am, toying with the old-school graphing calculators that the Internet Archive has freed from their plastic chassis and put in a digital form for all to enjoy. The Internet Archive calls this new collection the Calculator Drawer. There are 14 calculators to choose from, including the HP 48GX, TI-82, TI-83 Plus, and even the Electronic Number Muncher, which is an 80s-era toy calculator. The Internet Archive doesn’t just emulate the interface of each device, either; it incorporates their physical design and buttons, making it feel like you have the actual device right in front of you. Screenshot: Emma Roth / The Verge Doing some tough math... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/nQBSHhw

The latest Super Mario Bros. Movie teaser showcases Seth Rogen as Donkey Kong

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Image: Nintendo The latest Super Mario Bros. Movie teaser lets us hear Seth Rogen as Donkey Kong for the first time. During the clip, Mario faces off against Donkey Kong in an arena of sorts — just like we’ve seen in the previous trailer — but this trailer expands on the scene. While it seems like Mario’s on the losing side of the battle, this appears to change when the titular plumber hits a question mark block, and (presumably) gets the Super Bell, transforming him into Cat Mario. Seeing Mario in his adorably fuzzy catsuit sends Donkey Kong into a laughing fit, which gives us a chance to hear Rogen’s signature laugh . Image: Nintendo Don’t laugh at Cat Mario. It’s nice to finally hear Rogen as Donkey Kong, and I have to... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/0kM2lex

San Francisco wants to slow robotaxi rollout over blocked traffic and false 911 calls

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Cruise and Waymo are causing traffic issues in San Francisco. | Image: Getty Images San Francisco transportation officials want Waymo and Cruise to slow the expansion of their robotaxi services in the city due to safety concerns, as reported earlier by NBC News . In two letters written to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), the officials on San Francisco County’s Transportation Authority say the expansion of either service “is unreasonable,” citing recent incidents involving stopped driverless vehicles blocking traffic and obstructing emergency responders. The GM-backed Cruise and Alphabet-owned Waymo are currently the only companies permitted to offer driverless rides to passengers in San Francisco. In June, Cruise won a permit to charge for rides in its autonomous vehicles (AV) between 10PM and 6AM,... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/czCr0Mg

How to use the Apple HomePod’s temperature and humidity sensors

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Samar Haddad / The Verge With the latest update to iOS 16.3 , your Apple HomePod Mini smart speaker can now monitor the temperature and humidity in your home. No setup or extra hardware needed! The soon-to-be-released HomePod 2 will also have this capability. In this article, we’ll go over how to use this new feature and show you how to use it with Apple Home smart home automations. How to check the temperature and humidity in your room using your HomePod With the new temperature and humidity sensing in the HomePod, you can easily check what the temperature is in the room your smart speaker is situated in just by asking Siri. Say, “hey Siri, what's the temperature in here?” and the voice assistant will reply with its current reading. The same goes for checking... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/Bk51AEL

Microsoft, GitHub, and OpenAI ask court to throw out AI copyright lawsuit

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Microsoft, GitHub, and OpenAI claim the lawsuit doesn’t hold up. | Photo: Jens Büttner/dpa-Zentralbild/ZB (Photo by Jens Büttner/picture alliance via Getty Images Microsoft, GitHub, and OpenAI want the court to dismiss a proposed class action complaint that accuses the companies of scraping licensed code to build GitHub’s AI-powered Copilot tool, as reported earlier by Reuters . In a pair of filings submitted to a San Francisco federal court on Thursday, the Microsoft-owned GitHub and OpenAI say the claims outlined in the suit don’t hold up. Launched in 2021 , Copilot leverages OpenAI’s technology to generate and suggest lines of code directly within a programmer’s code editor. The tool, which is trained on publicly available code from GitHub, sparked concerns over whether it violates copyright laws soon after its release. Things came to a head when programmer and lawyer, Matthew Butterick, teamed... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/wzWTMZY

Capcom’s major Street Fighter 5 tournament ditches PlayStation consoles for PCs

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Image: Capcom Capcom will exclusively use PCs to power its upcoming Capcom Cup tournament, which has the world’s top Street Fighter 5 players battling it out for a $300,000 prize pool. In a post on Twitter , Capcom Fighters says all matches will be played on PCs with the displays set to 144Hz. The company doesn’t provide any information on the hardware going into these PCs (or if they’ll just use gaming laptops), but the move’s expected to reduce input lag — the time it takes for a system to translate your button press on a keyboard or controller to an action displayed on the screen. Low input lag is a necessity for pros in the fighting game scene, where a delayed punch or kick can greatly affect the outcome of a match. pic.twitter.com/UbQK0gESD2 —... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/QsY1KGu

Twitter vows to take ‘less severe actions’ against rule-breaking accounts

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Suppression, not suspension. | Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge Twitter is promising that it’ll take “less severe actions” when disciplining accounts that break its rules; it’ll only suspend Twitter accounts that engage in “severe or ongoing, repeat violations” of its rules. The company also says it’ll be letting anyone appeal suspensions starting February 1st, and that those doing so will be judged using updated standards. What will Twitter do instead of suspending your account? The “less severe actions” are things that Twitter has been doing for years , such as limiting visibility of a tweet, or telling a user to remove a tweet before they can get back onto the site. Today’s change is that Twitter is promising to reach for those tools more often, instead of going straight for the ban button. The... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/0BK5cMA

FBI says it ‘hacked the hackers’ of a ransomware service, saving victims $130 million

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Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge The Department of Justice announced this week that FBI agents successfully disrupted Hive, a notorious ransomware group, and prevented $130 million worth of ransom campaigns that targets no longer need to consider paying. While claiming the Hive group has been responsible for targeting over 1,500 victims in over 80 countries worldwide, the department now reveals it had infiltrated the group’s network for months before working with German and Netherlands officials to shut down Hive servers and websites this week. “Simply put, using lawful means, we hacked the hackers,” Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco remarked during a press conference . The FBI claims that by covertly hacking into Hive servers, it was able to quietly snatch up over... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/y8QcTR6

Amazon is reportedly making a Tomb Raider TV series written by Phoebe Waller-Bridge

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She apparently won’t be the star. | Photo by Dominique Charriau / WireImage Amazon is developing a TV series based on the Tomb Raider video game franchise with scripts written by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, according to The Hollywood Reporter . Details are light on this new Tomb Raider series, but THR says that while Waller-Bridge will serve as a writer and executive producer, she won’t be starring in the show. The show is apparently still in the development stages, so we probably shouldn’t expect to see it anytime soon. This new series could be another potentially big video game franchise adaptation for Amazon, which announced in December that it would be making a God of War TV show . But it also marks a further investment from Amazon into the Tomb Raider franchise, as the company will also be publishing the next Tomb... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/TP8aAo1

This sick new desk from Steelcase costs almost $10,000 and might be worth it

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The one problem with this desk is that it demands a Smith Corona , not a MacBook, which would make writing these articles difficult. | Image: Steelcase It’s not often that furniture makes a splash in The Verge ’s newsroom (okay, it does happen occasionally ), but when one of my colleagues dropped in Gizmodo ’s article about Steelcase’s Frank Lloyd Wright Racine Collection , it immediately got everyone’s attention. “I volunteer as testing tribute!!!” said our smart home reviewer Jennifer Pattison Tuohy. “If anyone needs a kidney lmk,” sighed Alex Cranz, referring to the prices that we’ll talk about in just a moment. The brand is known for practical, ergonomic, and well-made office ware, but this crop of furniture has a striking midcentury modern aesthetic that feels straight out of Wright’s era. I mean, just look at it. These pictures aren’t from the greatest antique store haul ever or a... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/bLQdN1z

Comcast says Peacock is about to hit ‘peak losses’ after losing nearly $1 billion last quarter

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Comcast revealed that the service lost $978 million in Q4 despite gaining 5 million new subscribers. | Image: Peacock Comcast published its fourth quarter 2022 earnings on Thursday, reporting that the company had managed to exceed analyst projections for the year despite losing broadband and video subscribers and widening losses from its Peacock streaming service. Peacock — the streaming platform for Comcast-owned NBCUniversal — reported a loss of $978 million during the company’s fourth financial quarter, a sizable jump from the $559 million loss reported in the same quarter last year. Comcast expects Peacock’s total losses to peak at around $3 billion. “We believe 2023 will be peak losses for Peacock and, from there, steadily improve,” said Comcast president Michael Cavanagh during a company earnings call ( via CNBC ). Peacock’s annual revenue has... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/EwtQcC8

World Surf League adopts Apple Watch as its ‘official wearable’ for competitions

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This is the first time the Apple Watch will be an official wearable of choice in a professional sports league. | Image: World Surf League The Apple Watch will officially be catching waves. The World Surf League announced today that it’s adopting the Apple Watch Series 8 and Ultra as official equipment to keep surfers up to date during competitions. It marks the first time a professional sports league has named the Apple Watch as its official wearable of choice. Before each heat, each athlete will be given Series 8 and Ultra watches preloaded with a specially made WSL Surfer app. The app will connect with the league’s scoring system in real time and give surfers updates on scores, wave priority, and how much time is left in the heat. They’ll also be able to see how many points are needed to either advance or take the lead. The idea is to help surfers better plan and focus... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/GUJr18H

Now Google Search results for cars include what’s on the lot at nearby dealerships

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Illustration: The Verge Google isn’t just useful for helping research your next car; it can also help you shop for one while you search. SearchLab initially reported that the search giant has opened up access to a vehicle listings feature that lets dealerships advertise inventory right beside search results ( via 9to5Google and Search Engine Land ). The listings have been appearing as part of a beta, but SearchLab notes that now all dealerships in the US with a Google Business Profile can add any motor vehicle to their inventory as long as it has a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). That includes cars, trucks, motorcycles, RVs, and more. A support page for dealers shows activity from last year, as well as more recent updates earlier this month. ... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/3I8xVNQ

GoldenEye 007 is now available on Nintendo Switch and Xbox

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Image: Rare GoldenEye 007 has finally landed on Xbox and Nintendo Switch in a simultaneous dual-release of two titles with some important differences. On Xbox, GoldenEye 007 is a remastered version of the legendary Nintendo 64 title that first launched in 1997. The remaster includes 4K resolution, smoother frame rates, and split-screen local multiplayer, similar to a 2008-era bound-for-Xbox 360 version that was canceled amid licensing and rights issues but leaked out in 2021 . Meanwhile, Nintendo has released GoldenEye 007 as part of its Nintendo Switch Online service. N64 games were added to the service in 2021 , though you have to splurge on the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack tier to get access. GoldenEye 007 is also available to play... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/ksKqLIN

The best phone to buy right now

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Photo Illustration by William Joel / The Verge Bad news: flagship phones cost a small fortune these days. Good news: we can help you pick the right one and get the most for your money. Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://www.theverge.com/22163811/best-phone

Ford focuses on mobile services to help more customers escape dealership trips

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A Ford owner getting service at home — and looking ecstatic to not need to drive to the dealership they probably hate. | Image: Ford Ford is ramping up its remote service offerings to save customers a trip to their dealership for things like oil changes and recall repairs. The updated program promises that more Ford owners nationwide can get access to complimentary pickup and delivery of their vehicles, as well as mobile repair options. Mobile services from Ford won’t operate from a central location, though. It will still be up to dealerships to offer remote services and to choose what services to provide at a customer’s home or business. Ford is, however, lending dealers a hand to get the services up and running. “We’ve been working with multiple teams at Ford to offer our customers more ways to personalize vehicle service,” stated Ford National Dealer Council... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/spHkXTC

The Samsung Galaxy S23 might be able to survive a waist-high drop on concrete

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This is not a Samsung Galaxy S23, but rather a puck Corning uses to test its glass. | Image: Corning Samsung will officially announce its next Galaxy smartphones on February 1st , including a new Ultra — and Corning just revealed they’ll be the first phones to protect their screens with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 . Like I told you in November , Corning says its new cover class should be able to survive a one-meter drop on concrete, one of the more difficult landings for a phone because of all those jagged bumps. (The original Gorilla Glass Victus from 2020 claimed to be able to survive two-meter drops, but only on smoother asphalt; Victus 2 can do that as well.) Now, we don’t know that Samsung’s phones will actually survive any of those drops. Yours might not! Corning’s latest press release with Samsung doesn’t tout the one-meter claim at... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/HhP8ztU

The tech industry’s moment of reckoning: layoffs and hiring freezes

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Companies have been cutting costs.  | Photo by Natt Garun / The Verge Over the past few months, the economy has started to turn, and tech workers are being hit hard. Meta, Twitter, and more have fired thousands, and others are slowing or freezing hiring. Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/TByWKh3

Elon Musk testified it’s ‘easy’ to raise money, so where are his Twitter investors?

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Illustration by Kristen Radtke / The Verge; Photo: Getty Images Elon Musk is trying to cut back on costly unsecured loans tied to his $44 billion Twitter purchase by selling $3 billion worth of Twitter shares, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal . But despite what Musk has said recently about his “track record” of raising money, the paper claims investors aren’t immediately getting in line to grab the pieces of Twitter he’s offering. Sources tell the WSJ that in December, the billionaire’s team sent out emails to potential investors trying to raise $3 billion to pay off “an unsecured portion” of Twitter’s $13 billion debt with the highest interest rate. The WSJ reports some backers “balked at the terms” due to the state of Twitter’s finances but also notes it couldn’t determine the... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/oe1J3aL

Elon Musk’s Twitter is caving to government censorship, just like he promised

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi | Getty Images Tech companies — including Twitter — are following the Indian government’s demands to suppress a BBC documentary critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. As reported by The Intercept and TechCrunch , Twitter and YouTube both locally blocked The Modi Question , which investigates claims of Modi’s involvement in India’s deadly 2002 Gujarat riots. It’s one of Twitter’s first tangles with India under the ownership of billionaire Elon Musk, but contrary to some writing , the documentary’s ban isn’t an example of Musk violating a vocal “free speech absolutist” ethos. It’s a reminder that Musk has always been fine with government censorship. Over the weekend, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting senior advisor Kanchan Gupta tweeted that both... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/BKVMTIU

Lauren Sánchez will lead an all-woman crew to space on Blue Origin

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Image: Raymond Hall/GC Images Lauren Sánchez is best known for her TV and news appearances — and a relationship with Jeff Bezos (that had a few publicly dramatic turns ) — but now, she could soon be known as the first person to lead an all-woman space mission on Blue Origin. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal , Sánchez reveals that she’s wanted to fly on earlier missions but Bezos is now encouraging her and thrilled to put together the female crew. Sánchez isn’t saying who the five women are who will be joining her, something that will be revealed closer to the planned early 2024 flight. “It’s going to be women who are making a difference in the world and who are impactful and have a message to send,” Sánchez tells the Journal . And Bezos won’t be getting an... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/eZCDTIi

The best Chromebook for 2023

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Acer’s Chromebook Spin 713 | Photo by Monica Chin / The Verge The best Chromebook for anyone who wants Chrome OS on their laptop Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/8R9iafM

The best laptop you can buy in 2023

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Image: William Joel/The Verge The best laptops for you, from ultraportables to high-powered editing machines Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/5y9LuNb

Now Lyft will charge extra if you make drivers wait

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Lyft’s policy arrives a whole seven years after Uber implemented the same one. | Photo by Smith Collection / Gado / Getty Images Lyft is cracking down on late passengers. The ridesharing company quietly updated its support page with new wait time fees that it’ll charge at a per-minute rate, a policy that’s been around since December 2022, according to Lyft spokesperson Katie Kim ( via TechCrunch ). The wait time fees start two minutes after a driver arrives at your location or five minutes for Lux Black and Lux Black XL rides. If a driver reaches your location ahead of time, the wait time fees won’t kick in until two minutes after your scheduled pickup. Lyft doesn’t specify how much it’ll charge per minute and doesn’t outline any possible fees on its website. It only says that fees “vary by location” and that “additional wait time charges may apply to your trip... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/ZzVqw2m

Meta’s flagship VR app is catching up to the NES by making A the jump button

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I, too, am throwing my hands in the air for this change. | Image: Meta Meta is making a big improvement to controls in its social VR platform Horizon Worlds : jump is being remapped to the A button, according to a blog post about the app’s new v94 update . You might be surprised to hear that wasn’t the case before, especially given that the A button has been widely used for jumping in video games for decades. But before now, you jumped in Horizon Worlds by pressing the right thumbstick as if it was a button. If you ask me, that wasn’t ideal; not only is jump not where you might expect it to be but the right thumbstick is already used to rotate your character, so pushing down the stick to jump could also lead to accidental turns. The A button as the default will be in effect for “all players and worlds” with... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/7pzeAX5

LastPass owner GoTo shares more bad news about November’s security breach

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Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge GoTo, the remote collaboration and IT software company that owns LastPass, has confirmed that, along with LastPass’ password vaults , it had customer data taken by attackers during a November 2022 security breach ( via TechCrunch ). The company, which was formerly known as LogMeIn, is updating its blog post about the breach for the first time since November 30th, when GoTo confirmed “unusual activity” within its development environment and cloud storage service. Many of GoTo’s enterprise products were affected, including Central, Pro, join.me, Hamachi, and RemotelyAnywhere. GoTo CEO Paddy Srinivasan writes that a hacker “exfiltrated encrypted backups from a third-party cloud storage service” and acquired the encryption key for a portion of... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/cXWmopj

If you want to use a security key with your Apple account, you’ll need two keys

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Seems like this person has everything they need for Apple’s just-launched security key support. | Image: Yubico Apple just added support for security keys to secure your Apple ID with its latest iOS and macOS updates, but to actually set up your keys with your account, you’ll need to have at least two security keys on hand, according to an Apple support document ( via MacRumors ). While that might sound like a bit of an inconvenience, the requirement means that you’ll have a backup in the event that you lose your primary key and won’t be locked out of your account. It’s not an entirely unexpected ask; Google recommends using two security keys with its Advanced Protection Program for Google accounts , though the company only requires that you have one security key to enroll. Apple will let you enroll up to six keys to your account. You can add... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/f3jO2Nw

Strava will add high-res 3D maps for outdoor activities

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This is what Fatmap’s 3D outdoor maps on Strava could look like. | Image: Strava Strava routes are about to get three-dimensional. The popular fitness social network announced today that it’s acquired Fatmap , a mobile app known for its 3D maps for outdoor sports like hiking, trail running, skiing, and mountain biking. “Fatmap tech will power Strava maps for both free members and subscribers,” Strava spokesperson Brian Bell told The Verge , noting that subscribers will get more maps, discovery, and route planning features. It’s likely that’s to provide extra value to premium membership, especially since several Strava users were put off by a recent price hike . As for when the Fatmap integration will go live, Bell says that the company is aiming for the middle of the year. Image: Strava A mockup... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/wiXGPsb

Aliens Abducted My Parents and Now I Feel Kinda Left Out has a long name and a lot of heart

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Jacob Buster and Emma Tremblay in Aliens Abducted My Parents and Now I Feel Kinda Left Out . | Image: Sundance Institute It’s pretty easy to look at a film title like Aliens Abducted My Parents and Now I Feel Kinda Left Out — which, from now on, I’m just calling Aliens Abducted My Parents — and roll your eyes. It’s just so goofy. (And admittedly makes it really hard to write a headline for.) But it’s also incredibly fitting and does a great job of selling what this movie is all about. Director Jake Van Wagoner’s Aliens Abducted My Parents , which premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival , is a lighthearted mashup of a family-friendly caper and coming-of-age tale, one that does just enough weird sci-fi stuff to help it get away with an otherwise formulaic story. Ten years ago, a young Calvin (Jacob Buster) was waiting on his roof with his dad (Will... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/7rKFQs1

Fortnite’s next concert features The Kid Laroi

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Another big musical act is descending upon Fortnite . Today, Epic announced that the game’s next virtual music experience will feature The Kid Laroi, and it’s kicking off very soon: the “immersive, interactive musical experience” will begin on January 27th at 6PM ET. It will be a little different from the events featuring the likes of Travis Scott and Ariana Grande , however, which took over the Fortnite battle royale island for a massive spectacle. Instead, the Kid Laroi event will take place on a dedicated Creative island purpose-built for the experience. Epic says the event will explore the singer’s “journey from humble beginnings to headlining sold-out performances as a worldwide superstar.” It sounds like something of a cross between... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/1gUX3nR

Sony and Honda’s EV goes where the Apple Car never did

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Under a new brand called “Afeela,” the Japanese electronics and media conglomerate is partnering with Honda to produce a new electric vehicle from 2026 onward, which will more than likely be built at Honda’s facilities in the US to take advantage of new EV tax credit rules. | Image: Getty It’s easy to be cynical about Sony’s entry into the automotive world. Even the name — Afeela — evokes more eye rolls than serious expressions. But here’s why you should take it seriously.  Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/xD0q8K9

Microsoft to stop selling Windows 10 downloads on January 31st

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Microsoft is removing Windows 10 Home and Pro downloads from sale later this month. The downloads include license keys for Windows 10 (necessary to activate and use the download), and are being removed more than two years before Microsoft stops officially supporting Windows 10 on October 14th, 2025. Microsoft updated its Windows 10 product pages recently to note the January 31st cutoff date for sales, but it’s not clear how the company will treat similar downloads and license keys available from retailers like Amazon. We asked Microsoft to comment on Windows 10 license keys and downloads from third-party retailers, but the company only confirmed its own plans to remove its own sales. “An update was made to the Windows 10 product page to... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/cPiN2jw

Nier Automata anime hit by delays after first three episodes already released

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NieR: Automata Ver1.1a, the anime based on PlatinumGames’ action RPG, has seen its release interrupted by the ongoing impact of the covid pandemic. The show’s official Twitter account has announced that the release of the rest of the series has been indefinitely delayed. Unusually, this announcement has come after the first three episodes of the show were already released on Crunchyroll following a January 7th premiere. “Due to the impact of COVID-19 on production, we have decided to postpone the broadcast and distribution of episode 4 and all subsequent episodes,” the statement reads, adding that an updated release schedule will be announced on Twitter soon. “We apologize for any inconvenience and concern this may cause our fans who... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/INofsv7

Samsung may put its free TV Plus streaming app into other manufacturers’ TVs

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Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge Samsung TV Plus, the app that houses hundreds of free channels, could eventually make its way to other, non-Samsung TVs. That’s according to media tech reporter Janko Roettgers, who writes in his Lowpass newsletter that Samsung’s in talks to bring its streaming app to TCL TVs. Introduced in 2015, Samsung TV Plus is a free, ad-supported streaming (FAST) service that comes preinstalled on newer Samsung TVs. The service gives viewers a way to flip through a collection of channels, much like you would with a traditional TV service. Samsung TV Plus has a pretty strong slate of content for a free app, with Samsung adding popular shows like Top Gear , Law & Order Special Victims Unit , NCIS , and Chicago Fire last August. It also offers a range... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/5yNUxEq

Merriam-Webster acquires popular Wordle clone, Quordle

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Photo by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images Quordle, the word-solving game that emerged at the height of Wordle’s popularity, has been acquired by Merriam-Webster, as first reported by TechCrunch . The game now lives directly on Merriam-Webster’s website , rather than on its own. “I’m delighted to announce that Quordle was acquired by @MerriamWebster,” a post on Quorlde’s Twitter account reads. “I can’t think of a better home for this game. Lots of news features and fun to come, so stay tuned!” Quordle is just one of many spinoffs that tried to piggyback off of the success of Wordle, which had users posting their scores across Twitter and competing with friends to solve the word of the day with the least guesses. Screenshot: Emma Roth / The Verge Quordle’s... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/Mhixy2C

Finally, a solution to the Switch’s Joy-Con drift

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Gulikit’s joystick replacements use Hall effect sensors that make them less likely to wear down. | Image: Gulikit After years of dealing with Joy-Con drift and no satisfactory answers from Nintendo, we may finally have our solution. A company called Gulikit created a set of Switch joystick replacements that promise to banish stick drift once and for all (via Gizmodo ) . If you’re a Switch owner, you’re probably well-acquainted with Joy-Con drift , which creates annoying false inputs even when you’re not touching the thumbsticks. It’s been a problem ever since the Switch came out and still hasn’t been fully fixed in the new OLED model (although Nintendo says it’s made some “improvements” ). While you can send your Joy-Cons away for a free repair at Nintendo (or just buy a new set), the sticks will inevitably start drifting again. Image:... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/F0unVj6

The next MacBook Air and iMac could come with a 3nm M3 chip

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Photo by Becca Farsace / The Verge Apple’s working on a MacBook Air and iMac with an M3 chip built using the more efficient 3-nanometer fabrication process, according to a report from Bloomberg ’s Mark Gurman . While it’s not clear when the two upgraded devices might launch, Gurman expects the M3 chip to arrive later this year or early next year. Gurman first hinted at this in June of last year , noting that Apple’s working on an M3-equipped 13-inch MacBook Air, 15-inch MacBook Air, and a new iMac. At the time, he added that the M3 chip could appear as early as this year, but that hasn’t happened. Instead, Apple included the new M2 Pro and M2 Max chips with the lineup of MacBook Pros it announced earlier this month, and also added an M2 Pro chip to the Mac Mini . These chips... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/tRpGXC9

Marvel’s Avengers development is coming to an end

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Image: Square Enix The development of Marvel ’s Avengers is coming to a close. In a blog post , developer Crystal Dynamics announced that the game won’t receive any new updates after March 31st, with support ending on September 30th ( via IGN ). While you’ll still be able to play the game in both single-player and multiplayer mode, Crystal Dynamics says it “can’t guarantee that we will be able to address issues that occur” after support ends. The last — and final — balance update will take place in March, and from then on, all cosmetics, including “every Outfit, Takedown, and Nameplate” will be available for free and without the purchase of credits. Any remaining credits “will be converted into in-game resources,” Crystal Dynamics says. It also provides a... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/sX25Y8a

AltspaceVR is shutting down as Microsoft’s mixed reality division shrinks

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Image: Microsoft Microsoft will shut down AltspaceVR, the social virtual reality (VR) platform it acquired in 2017 ( via VentureBeat ), on March 10th, 2023. The company shared the news in a blog post just days after it announced job cuts affecting 10,000 workers , stating the move will help shift focus “to support immersive experiences powered by Microsoft Mesh.” AltspaceVR emerged as one of the very first social VR experiences in 2015 alongside other platforms like VRChat and Rec Room. While the startup nearly shut down in 2017 due to financial issues, Microsoft scooped up the platform as part of its efforts to build out its own mixed-reality ecosystem. Microsoft says users can download their data from AltspaceVR before the shutdown. We have some sad... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/x1fOdhM

Elon Musk teases ‘higher priced’ Twitter Blue subscription with no ads

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Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge Elon Musk says Twitter will roll out a new “higher priced” Blue subscription that doesn’t show ads on the platform. The current $7.99 per month Twitter Blue subscription promises 50 percent fewer ads when compared to “non-verified people,” although this feature hasn’t been rolled out yet. A more expensive, ad-free subscription might be Twitter’s answer to Blue’s disappointing subscriber numbers and Twitter’s 40 percent decline in ad revenue, something The Verge ’s Alex Heath reports on in his latest Command Line newsletter . In addition to the new tier, Musk says Twitter’s also working on a way to decrease the frequency and size of ads on Twitter, which he’s hinted at in the past . Also, there will be a higher priced subscription that... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/2uP6qsG

Elon Musk admits at trial that he ignored pleas to stop tweeting

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Kristen Radtke / The Verge; Getty Images Elon Musk will never stop posting, no matter who tells him to stop. That was one of the takeaways from his brief testimony during his securities fraud trial , which took place in a San Francisco courthouse Friday. Lawyers for the plaintiffs peppered Musk with questions about his tweets as they work up to his infamous “funding secured” tweet from 2018 at the center of this case. Musk is being sued by a class of Tesla investors who claim his bumbling attempts to take Tesla private that year cost them millions of dollars. Musk wasn’t asked about that tweet yet, though. He took the stand for a little over 30 minutes before the trial recessed until next Monday. But the plaintiff’s lawyers got in plenty of questions about his Twitter habits,... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/gR46AcN

Instagram showed people too many videos last year, admits Adam Mosseri

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Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge Even Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, now believes that the platform put a lopsided emphasis on videos and Reels last year — and traditional photo posts were worse off because of it. In one of the answers from his weekly Q&A with users today, he acknowledged, “I think we were overfocused on video in 2022 and pushed ranking too far and basically showed too many videos and not enough photos.” Mosseri said that Instagram has since worked behind the scenes to restore a more even balance, and internal metrics show that it’s working. “Things like how often someone likes photos versus videos and how often someone comments on photos versus videos are roughly equal, which is a good sign that things are balanced,” he said. “To the degree that... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/R0XZoWP

Humble Bundle’s Winter Sale kicks off today

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Humble Bundle’s Winter sale goes live today | Image: Humble Bundle Here’s your PSA to remind you that the Humble Bundle Winter Sale has started, knocking up to 90 percent off a variety of titles until February 7th. The sale features discounts on a plethora of AAA and eccentric indie games, but we’ve put together a short list of highlights that we can personally vouch for. Buying a game off the Humble Bundle store allows you to donate a portion of your purchase to the charity of your choice once you’ve set up an account. The majority of the games on sale are unlocked via your Steam account, but a handful may require an Epic Games Store or Ubisoft Connect account. Cyberpunk 2077 $29.99 (normally $59.99) Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga $29.99 (normally $59.99) Cult of the Lamb $18.74 (normally... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/qo8K6nW