Technology news

Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images Hector “H3CZ” Rodriguez, CEO of OpTic Gaming, is suing Activision Blizzard for alleged monopolistic practices regarding the publisher’s Call of Duty esports league.
Rodriguez — whose company owned and operated the Call of Duty League’s OpTic Texas team — and now-retired OpTic player Seth “Scump” Abner are seeking $680 million in damages. In a lawsuit filed Thursday, the pair claim that Activision Blizzard&rsq

The Zenfone 10 was a little-ish phone with big ambitions. | Photo by Allison Johnson / The Verge As phone sizes trended upward, one small device stood its ground year after year: the Asus Zenfone. That appears to be changing soon, and if you’re a card-carrying member of the small phone fan club like me, then it’s only appropriate to take a moment to observe its passing.
Asus, to its credit, isn’t keeping us waiting in suspense. The company posted a teaser for the Zenfone 11 Ult

Image: Y!Mobile Foldable phones generally aren’t affordable, but maybe that’s about to change? In Japan, the new ZTE Libero Flip is going on sale for just $420 — or $265 on preorder. That’s a fraction of the $1,000 that Samsung charges for its latest Galaxy Z Flip, and nearly as low as the clearance-sale refurbished old Flips you can still find on Amazon and thereabouts.
With a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7-series chip, the Libero Flip isn’t exactly a high-end phone, but it

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge Signal is rolling out support for usernames on its encrypted messaging service over the next few weeks. The feature, which is still in beta, lets you add an optional username that will allow you to connect with others without sharing your phone number with them.
You can create a username by heading to your settings and selecting “Profile.” After you create a unique username, you can generate a QR code or link that points people to your username

The first human being to receive a brain chip from Elon Musk's Neuralink can apparently control a computer mouse just by thinking, according to Musk.During a Spaces audio chat on Musk's social media platform X on Monday, the Neuralink founder shared some information about the first human patient to receive the brain chip transplant."Progress is good, and the patient seems to have made a full recovery, with no ill effects that we are aware of," Musk said. "Patient is able to move a mouse around t

The Orca carbon removal and storage facility operated by Climeworks in Hellisheidi, Iceland.| Image: Arnaldur Halldorsson / Bloomberg via Getty Images The EU took a significant step toward legitimizing technologies that suck carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere by agreeing to set up a certification process.
The European Council and European Parliament reached a provisional agreement today to create the first-of-its-kind certification framework for carbon removal technologies. The new climate tec

Apple Music may be working on an official way to import music from Spotify and other music apps. According to 9to5Mac, Reddit users have reported seeing an option to "transfer music from other services" on the Apple Music library page. Based on this, it's possible that Apple is A/B testing the beta version of this feature on Android. RedditThe new feature appears to draw inspiration from SongShift, a well-established third-party app. For years, SongShift has empowered users to seamlessly transfe

For the past 12 months, the top-watched streaming service on televisions around the world has not been industry leaders like Netflix, Hulu, or Disney+ — it's been YouTube. Data insights giant Nielsen announced that, as of today, YouTube has been the top streaming platform by watch time for one full year. Globally, viewers watch an average of more than 1 billion hours of YouTube content on their TVs every day.This includes not only long-form YouTube content but Youtube Shorts as well. In a

Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge Enforcers from the US and UK disrupted a ransomware group they say has targeted more than 2,000 victims and taken over $120 million in ransom payments. They even got the keys from seized LockBit assets to access data that was encrypted after the group’s attacks, the US Department of Justice announced in a press release Tuesday.
The US DOJ, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and UK National Crime Agency’s Cyber Division said they managed to se

LockBit, one of the world’s most infamous cybercrime gangs, has been disrupted by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) and international law enforcement agencies including Europol and the FBI. The gang is known for holding victims’ data to ransom and providing ransomware-as-a-service, whereby it licenses malware to other hackers. LockBit has seen rapid growth since its emergence in 2019. According to Europol, in 2022, it was the most deployed ransomware in the world &mdas

Image: Ubisoft The typically gritty world of Rainbow Six is getting a colorful makeover. Ubisoft just revealed the franchise’s latest spinoff, a mobile game called Rainbow Six: Smol that shrinks down the tactical action and adds a whole lot of goofy personality. The game is available now through Netflix games on both iOS and Android.
“We saw an opportunity here to widen the audience a bit, with a more approachable take on the Rainbow Six universe,” creative director Renaud Fore

Image: Sean O’Kane / The Verge The Ford Mustang Mach-E just became a lot more affordable after the automaker announced a major price cut for the 2023 model year. The new adjustments will bring at least one version of the Mach-E below $40,000 for the first time.The Mustang Mach-E was the number two bestselling electric SUV in the US in 2023. But to get there, Ford had to wage a brutal price war with Tesla that is now entering its second year. The Elon Musk-run company has seen its market sh

As it turns out, the decades-old method of saving one's wet phone in rice isn't a good idea, according to Apple. A recent support document states that this hack actually makes things worse.SEE ALSO:Apple's new AI tool will help you write iPhone apps, report says
Quit the rice hack for your wet phoneRice is having a bit of a moment on the internet, including people freaking out about whether it's safe to reheat it. However, it seems like Apple has jumped on the rice fear-mongering bandwagon, too.

GET $150 CREDIT: As of Feb. 20, buy the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 (256GB) at Amazon and get a $150 promotional credit at checkout.Opens in a new windowCredit: AmazonSamsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 (256GB)$1,003.30, plus $150 Amazon promotional credit Get DealIf you're looking to buy a new phone, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 is a solid choice and a conversation starter. Folding phones are so rare now that if someone sees you using it they'll undoubtedly ask questions, and boom! You've made a new friend. Eve

SAVE $50: The Apple Pencil (2nd Gen) is just $79 at Amazon, marked down from the normal price of $129. That's a 39% discount. Opens in a new windowCredit: AppleApple Pencil (2nd Gen)$79 at Amazon (save $50)Get DealOur digital age comes with some serious advantages, like having almost anything delivered to our doorsteps in a matter of hours. But occasionally, it's worth going back to the basics. If you ever miss the days of handwriting a letter or scribbling in the margins during a lecture, today

Pound for pound and dollar for dollar, it’s one of the best controllers you can buy. | Photo by Antonio G. Di Benedetto / The Verge A sudden gout attack dictated that my long holiday weekend was full of gaming. Between fraught journeys across the high seas in Skull and Bones, I scratched my competitive itch with several rounds of Tekken 8 and Madden NFL 24. However, my game time was interrupted by a few too many dropped combos and misfires due to worsening button responsiveness in my contr

Apple should just start its own jewelry line at this point.After several years of dominating the smartwatch market, Apple is reportedly considering the development of a smart ring similar to the already-launched Oura ring. This information was disclosed by an "industry insider" to Korean outlet ETNews. Keep in mind, however, that Apple Insider has noted that ETNews doesn't have a particularly strong track record in predicting Apple's future ventures.SEE ALSO:Apple faces €500m fine from EU o

The long holiday weekend commemorating Presidents' Day has come and gone, but some of the best deals still remain. If you're shopping for new sheets, a mattress that doesn't cause back pain, or a new refrigerator, you're still in luck. Here are some of the best lingering Presidents' Day sales to shop today.Best Presidents' Day deals that are still liveBest tech dealHP Pavillion Laptop$549.99 at HP(save $460) Get DealBest home dealLG 4-Door French Door Counter-Depth Refrigerator$1,699.99 at Best

SAVE $120: The Dyson Airstrait is now on sale for $379.99 in the Best Buy mobile app through 6 p.m. ET (or until it sells out). That's 24% off its usual retail price of $499.99 and a new record-low price.Quick links:The dealDyson Airstrait$379.99 in the Best Buy mobile app(save $120) Get DealThe downloadBest Buy appAvailable for iOS and Android Get Deal
Dyson's fancy Airstrait hair straightener is no stranger to a $100 discount at Best Buy, a deal that's been flickering in and out since Black Fr

Image: Arc Arc is ready to make a splash with its latest electric boat model: a wake sports boat appropriately called the Arc Sport.With 226kWh of battery capacity and a 570-horsepower motor, Arc claims that the Arc Sport will have “more than double the torque of most premium wake boats.” The new model is aimed at the growing wake sports segment, which has been called the fastest-growing water sports category in the world.That means that it’s also leading to a profound impact o

Image: Alex Parkin / The Verge Last year was a big one for the right-to-repair movement, with California and other states passing laws that promised consumers they can fix their own stuff — or take that stuff to a third-party repair shop without breaking their warranty or their gadgets. This year, more states are considering laws to the same effect, and the tech industry appears to be more behind the effort than ever. (Some companies appear to be only begrudgingly behind it, but it’s

John Oliver poses with his Emmy awards on January 15th, 2024. | Photo: Kevin Mazur / Getty Images HBO has long posted the main segment from new episodes of Last Week Tonight With John Oliver to YouTube on Monday to coincide with the episodes’ premiere, but now you’ll have to wait. John Oliver posted yesterday that “HBO has decided they’re going to wait until Thursday to post them to YouTube from now on,” adding that he hopes HBO changes its mind.
HBO confirmed the c

TL;DR: Watch Inter Milan vs. Atletico Madrid for free on RTÉ Player. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.It's difficult to watch the Champions League for free, but it's not impossible. And we're not talking about finding dodgy streams that flood your screen with seriously dodgy adverts. Instead, we're talking about bypassing geo-restrictions to access free streaming platforms from around the world. And the process is surprisingly simple.If you wa

Catfishing and scams are persistent problems on dating apps — and to curb it, Tinder's now asking for IDs. Starting in the spring for UK and Brazil users and summer for U.S. and Mexico users, Tinder verification will now require a valid driver's license or passport to receive a blue check. This comes after Tinder piloted the program in Australia and New Zealand last fall; users who completed ID verification saw a 67 percent increase in matches than unverified singles.SEE ALSO:Tinder releas

GET A $75 EGIFT CARD WITH PURCHASE: As of Feb. 20, buy a Nintendo Switch OLED for $349.99 at Dell and receive a $75 Dell eGift card with your purchase. Opens in a new windowCredit: DellBuy a Nintendo Switch OLED, get a $75 Dell eGift card$349.99 at DellGet DealIt's a great time to buy a new Nintendo Switch. Though there are rumors of a new Switch on the way, for now it's still one of the best handheld options you can buy. There are games like Princess Peach: Showtime! on the way this year, plus

Princess Peach has done a lot over the years. When she's not being kidnapped by Bowser, she can usually be found playing golf or tennis, racing go-karts, or participating in the Olympic Games. But the one constant is that it's always in a supporting role. That's no longer the case in Princess Peach: Showtime.For the first time in nearly 20 years, Peach has top billing in a marquee Nintendo release, with Showtime launching on Switch in late March. I got to play about an hour of it at a preview ev

The OnePlus Watch 2 sounds like a standard smartwatch. | Image: OnePlus OnePlus is making another run at a smartwatch with its Watch 2. The company claims in an announcement that the new watch will have up to 100 hours of battery life and said it will come in black and silver colors. It says it will share more at Mobile World Congress this Sunday, February 25th.
The new watch has a stainless steel chassis and sapphire crystal watchface and will feature “meticulous health monitoring.”

Image: Tinder In an effort to better combat catfishing, Tinder is adding an extra step to its verification process. Instead of just taking a video selfie to get a blue verification checkmark, you’ll soon need to upload a photo of your driver’s license or passport.
Once you upload your ID, Tinder will check to see whether the picture on your ID lines up with your video selfie and the photos on your profile. Tinder will also look at the date of birth listed on your driver’s licen

The UK Space Agency has opened two funding calls for tech and science projects to fly onboard a prospective, commercially-sponsored mission. The calls are in preparation of an agreement between the UK and Axiom Space, a US company that organises visits to the International Space Station (ISS). The partnership aims to launch a British astronaut mission, potentially to the ISS. The £15mn (€17.5mn) funding will depend on whether the mission will actually proceed. “We want to

Civil War’s latest trailer shows off a whole lot of guns, tanks, and bombs. | Image: A24 A24 has dropped its second trailer for Civil War, a dystopian action movie from director Alex Garland that imagines a fractured, near-future United States tearing itself apart. With a budget of $50 million, Civil War is A24’s most expensive film to date.
Civil War is now due to hit theaters on April 12th, two weeks ahead of its previous April 26th release date. Starring Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Mour

Shootouts, explosions, and a very on-the-nose whistle cover of "America the Beautiful" await in the latest trailer for A24's Civil War.Directed by Alex Garland (Annihilation, Ex Machina, and Men) and starring Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, and more, Civil War reveals an all-too-familiar portrait of a polarized United States in conflict with itself. Here, that conflict has escalated into an all-out war, albeit one with some... confusing sides. What is the Florida Alliance? And why have California a

AI Assistant in Acrobat can recommend questions that you may have about the contents of a document and then answer those inquiries so you don’t have to rummage through the file. | Image: Adobe Adobe is adding a new generative AI experience to its Acrobat PDF management software, which aims to “completely transform the digital document experience” by making information in long documents easier to find and understand. Announced in Adobe’s press release as “AI Assistan

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections &mdas

Tech giant Meta is gearing up for worldwide elections in 2024, having laid out plans to "protect elections online" as global democracies are set to vote this year. India, often referred to as the world's biggest democracy, is amongst these countries, and Meta is working to fight an epidemic of deepfakes and misinformation ahead of the election in spring.On Monday, the company announced a dedicated fact-checking helpline on WhatsApp for users in India, launched in partnership with the country's M

Image: Vizio Walmart is planning to acquire TV maker Vizio in a deal valued at approximately $2.3 billion. Rumors of the deal emerged last week, and now the retail giant says the acquisition is official and part of a move to boost its ad business.
“The acquisition of Vizio and its SmartCast Operating System (OS) would enable Walmart to connect with and serve its customers in new ways including innovative television and in-home entertainment and media experiences,” says Walmart in a p