Technology news

Good news, iOS users in the EU!Apple has announced that it's reversing its previously announced decision to no longer support home screen web apps, also known as Progressive Web Apps (PWA), on the iPhone. As of Friday, March 1, 2024, EU users will continue to be able to install and use home screen web apps on iOS going forward. SEE ALSO:Apple EV car killed: 5 reasons the rumored project was scrapped
The home screen web app feature allows users to install certain websites as standalone apps

Image: The Verge Threads plans to release its API by the end of June after testing it with a limited set of partners, including Hootsuite, Sprinklr, Sprout Social, Social News Desk, and Techmeme. The API will let developers build third-party apps for Threads and allow sites to publish directly to the platform.The API will let users “authenticate, publish threads, and fetch the content they posted through these tools,” according to Threads developer Jesse Chan in a post on the social

Image: The Verge Threads plans to release its API by the end of June after testing it with a limited set of partners, including Hootsuite, Sprinklr, Sprout Social, Social News Desk, and Techmeme. The API will let developers build third-party apps for Threads and allow sites to publish directly to the platform.The API will let users “authenticate, publish threads, and fetch the content they posted through these tools,” according to Threads developer Jesse Chan in a post on the social

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge Apple TV Plus subscribers in the US can now stream over 50 new movies from various studios, including Mad Max: Fury Road, A Star Is Born, Titanic, Con Air, The Bodyguard, Zoolander, and more. If that sounds like a random assortment of films, well, you’re not wrong. But it seems that Apple is experimenting with including some catalog content as part of its video subscription service. Normally, the appeal of Apple TV Plus centers on the company’s

Photo by Becca Farsace / The Verge If you still haven’t migrated your Oculus account to a Meta one, you might want to do that soon. In an email sent to users, the company says it will delete Oculus accounts on March 29th, 2024, preventing you from reactivating or retrieving your apps, in-app purchases, store credits, and more. You’ll lose your achievements, friends list, and any content created with your Oculus account if you don’t migrate to a Meta account before then.
Oculus

Image: Playtonic Balatro, the card game everyone’s talking about right now that’s not named Queen’s Blood, has apparently been removed from console storefronts in certain countries. The game’s publisher, Playstack, addressed the removals, attributing it to Balatro’s ratings suddenly changing from a game for players three and up to a game for players 18 and up.
Playstack wrote that the change happened “due to a mistaken belief that the game ‘contains prom

Five to nine days is slightly better than average for the category. | Photo by Allison Johnson / The Verge When we got some hands-on time with Samsung’s Galaxy Ring earlier this week at Mobile World Congress, battery life was still a mystery. However, Samsung has since confirmed that the smart ring will get between five and nine days on a single charge.
The estimate comes from a few sources. As spotted by 9to5Google, Korean outlet Financial News reports that Dr. Hon Pak, Samsung’s VP

Illustration: Kristen Radtke / The Verge; Image: Getty Images Elon Musk sued OpenAI today, alleging a wide range of incendiary things, including that GPT4 is actually an artificial general intelligence. It’s a fun complaint to read; it fundamentally accuses OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman of pretending to run a non-profit designed to benefit humanity while actually running a regular ol’ tech company and trying to make a lot of money. That’s a pretty good criticism of the entire O

RIP to Facebook's News tab. My friend's moms loved you so much.Next month, Meta will get rid of Facebook News, its news hub located in the platform's bookmarks section, in the U.S. and Australia. It already got rid of Facebook News in the UK, France, and Germany, and this move should come as no surprise to anyone who's been following Meta's continued attempts to distance its platforms from politics and news.The company said it's getting rid of the tab to "focus our time and resources on things p

Image: Netflix Truly alien creatures are hard to relate to because they’re so, well, alien. The best-realized ones have different cultures and biologies and belief systems that make them distinct from humanity and, thus, hard to understand. The alien in the Netflix film Spaceman is one recent example: a giant spider with squirming tentacles, a disturbingly human mouth, the calming voice of Paul Dano, and the ability to experience time nonlinearly. And yet, the weird critter is also very re

It’s still an absurd price for a tablet keyboard, but it’s well worth it for iPad power users. | Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge Years ago, I was firmly in the camp that swore “an iPad can’t be your primary computer,” mainly because iPadOS wasn’t nearly as conducive to a professional workflow as it is now. I can’t say the same with the latest iPads, though, especially when paired with a Magic Keyboard. Many rightfully balked at their $299.99 and $349.9

X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, just became a slightly safer space for its transgender users – even if Elon Musk would prefer his right-wing fans not pay too much attention to it.On Thursday, tech news outlet Ars Technica noticed that the Musk-owned social media platform quietly added new rules to its "Abuse and Harassment" policies. Under a newly added section titled "Use of Prior Names and Pronouns," X added policies that protect the site's transgender users from misgendering

Ready to get a headstart on all your spring cleaning? You're going to need a great vacuum. As of March 1, you can save up to 27% on select Bissell vacuums and carpet cleaners at Amazon. Bissell vacuum and carpet cleaner dealsBest upright vacuum dealBissell CleanView Swivel Upright Bagless Vacuum$106.44(Save $12) Get DealBest carpet cleaner for pets dealBissell SpotClean Pet Pro Portable Carpet Cleaner$128.64(Save $46.45) Get DealBest carpet and upholstery cleaner dealBissell Little Green Multi-P

40% OFF: Deep clean without breaking the bank! Shark upright and stick vacuums are up to 40% off at Amazon.Our top picks: Best deal overallShark NV352 Navigator Lift Away Upright Vacuum$149.99 at Amazon (save $50) Get DealBest runner-up deal Shark HS152AMZ UltraLight Pet Plus Corded Stick Vacuum $149.99 at Amazon (save $100 ) Get DealBest budget deal Shark NV105 Navigator Light Upright Vacuum$137.65 at Amazon (save $12.34) Get Deal
Having a reliable vacuum is pretty much non-negotiable, especial

Lake Mead, formed by the dam on the Colorado River in the southwestern United States, at 47 percent capacity as viewed on August 14th, 2023. | Photo by George Rose / Getty Images 2023 can now boast a terrifying record: planet-heating carbon dioxide emissions from global energy use hit a record.
It’s been almost a decade since the adoption of the 2015 Paris climate agreement to stop global warming. To fulfill the most ambitious goals in the agreement, countries are supposed to slash global

If you haven't gotten a PS5 yet, it might be best to wait a few months.Sony will reportedly release a powered-up "Pro" version of the console as soon as this year. To be clear, there hasn't been a great deal of solid, reliable reporting on the topic just yet, but rumblings of a PS5 Pro have only gotten more intense as time has gone on. But what would a PS5 Pro actually entail? Let's dig in.SEE ALSO:PS5 Slim vs. PS5: What are the differences?
PS5 Pro release dateThe only (and I mean only) real ev

OverviewBest for iPhone usersApple AirPods Pro (Gen 2)$189 at Amazon(Save $60) Shop NowMost affordablePanasonic RP-HJE120 In-Ear Stereo Earphones$9.99 at Amazon(Save $1) Shop NowBest earbuds with a built-in remoteApple EarPods Headphones with Lightning Connector$15.99 at Amazon Shop NowMost secure fitPower Beats Pro Wireless Earbuds$249.95 at Amazon(Save $50) Shop NowBest earbuds for audiophilesSennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3$279.95(Save $91.96) Shop NowBest budget sports earbudsStiive Bluet

Now that the weather's starting to warm up, it's time to get out there and get moving. Be sure to record those runs and workouts with a fitness tracker that you can save on right now. Best Fitness Tracker DealsBest Apple fitness tracker dealApple Watch Series 9 (45mm, GPS)$379 at Amazon(Save $50) Get DealBest Fitbit fitness tracker dealFitbit Charge 6$129.95(Save $30 at Amazon) Get DealBest Garmin fitness tracker dealGarmin Forerunner 745$349.99 at Amazon(Save $50) Get Deal
Whether you're dedica

When it comes to playing music on the go, sometimes you need more than just your trusted pair of headphones, especially if you want to share your music with others. In these cases, you need a portable Bluetooth speaker for the job. Today's best portable Bluetooth speaker deals as of Mar. 1:Best portable speaker for surround soundBose SoundLink Revolve+$229(save $100) Get DealBest portable speaker for camping Tribit Wireless Portable Speaker$47.99(save $32) Get DealBest portable speaker for bikin

OverviewBest overallApple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)$249 at Amazon(Save $50) Shop NowBest for iPhone newbiesAirPods (Gen 2)$129 at Walmart(Save $30) Shop NowBest for workBeats Solo Pro$279.95 at Amazon Shop NowMost comfortable headphonesPlantronics BackBeat Pro 2$152.10 at Amazon Get DealUPDATE: Mar. 1, 2024, 10:30 a.m. EST This story will soon be overhauled as we evaluate new headphones for iPhone users in 2024.
AirPods are great and all, but have you heard of literally anything else?Listening to mu

Photo by Dan Seifert / The Verge Apple is reversing course on a plan to discontinue supporting the installation of progressive web apps in the European Union. In an update to a developer support page spotted by 9to5Mac, Apple says it will “continue to offer the existing Home Screen web apps capability in the EU” in iOS 17.4.
However, Apple notes that homescreen apps will still “be built directly on WebKit,” the engine used by Safari. This means web apps downloaded from th

Illustration: Alex Castro / The Verge A union representing contractors for YouTube Music claims that Google cut the workers’ contract after they went on a prolonged strike.The Alphabet Workers Union-CWA, which represents the contractors, said the team consisted of moderators employed by Google contractor Cognizant in Austin, Texas, that was responsible for approving music content for YouTube Music.
In a statement emailed to The Verge, Google spokesperson Courtenay Mencini maintained the de

SAVE $50: As of March 1, the Lenovo Legion Go handheld gaming PC is $50 off the original price at Best Buy. The deal expires on March 3, so pick one up while you still have the chance. Opens in a new windowCredit: LenovoLenovo Legion Go (1TB SSD)$699.99 at Best Buy $749.99Save $50.00Get DealEver since the launch of the Steam Deck in 2022, new handheld gaming PC announcements have been pretty consistent. Asus put out the ROG Ally not long after the Steam Deck in June of 2023, and MSI just recentl

A skyline at sunset in Mexico City, Mexico, Lomas de Chapultepec.| Photo by Jeffrey Greenberg / Universal Images Group via Getty Images A de facto moratorium on solar geoengineering will stay in place after heated talks at the United Nations Environment Assembly ended in a stalemate. The debate is over whether to let people launch particles into the sky that would reflect sunlight back into space, ostensibly cooling down the planet.It’s a hotly contested tactic for tackling climate change.

Astronauts like the ESA’s Thomas Pesquet (pictured) have been field testing the HULC during various training programs. | Image: ESA Nikon is working with NASA to make a mirrorless camera that astronauts will use during the agency’s incoming Artemis III mission to document their return to the Moon. On Thursday, NASA announced that it had entered a Space Act agreement with Nikon to develop the Handheld Universal Lunar Camera (HULC), a camera system designed to capture imagery in low li

Google has a three new Chrome features designed to make suggestions more helpful.On Thursday, the tech giant announced a new way to trigger your FOMO. Plus, Google is enhancing its image search and allowing users to access suggestions despite having a poor connection.When searching on Chrome, Google Search will populate suggestions of what other people are searching for based on your previous queries. So if you're searching for Dune: Part Two, you might also see that people are searching whether

Image: Nick Barclay / The Verge Spotify announced a new subscription tier that “gives booklovers more listening options.” But subscribers would only save $1 a month compared to the classic Premium tier.
The monthly subscription costs $9.99 and includes 15 free listening hours of audiobooks, the same as the classic Premium plan. But $10.99 Premium subscribers get 15 hours of audiobooks, plus ad-free music and podcasts — whereas the audiobook plan still has ads for music and podc

$15 AMAZON CREDIT: Get a $15 Amazon credit when you spend $60 on eligible cleaning supplies. Use promo code STOCKUPSAVE at checkout. Opens in a new windowCredit: AmazonSpend $60, get $15 Amazon credit with code STOCKUPSAVEGet DealWith spring quickly approaching (thanks, Mr. Groundhog), it's probably time to start thinking about tidying up and getting ready for the new season. For me, this often involves thoroughly cleaning the couch, floors, windows, and baseboards. I also like getting new pillo

Photo by Spencer Platt / Getty Images New York City opened its first public e-bike charging station on Thursday, part of a six-month pilot program to “support safe e-bike use and prevent deadly lithium-ion battery fires.” E-bike-related fires in the city killed 18 people and injured 150 in 2023 alone, according to The New York Times.
The new charging station in Cooper Square in the East Village will be available to 100 delivery workers free of charge during the pilot program. The cit

SAVE 10%: Today, Mar. 1, LEGO has launched its Animal Crossing sets. Shoppers can score their favorite sets at Amazon or Best Buy. However, today's 10% off deal is only available to My Best Buy Plus members.Opens in a new windowCredit: LEGONew LEGO Animal Crossing setsat Best BuyShop NowEver since LEGO teased its new Animal Crossing sets back in October, we've been smitten. Finally, we can shop the Nintendo collaboration as of today, Mar. 1, its official drop date. In today's drop, you'll spot s

Image: The Verge Over two dozen companies and alliances, including Spotify, Epic Games, 37signals, and Proton, have signed a letter to the European Commission to express concerns about Apple’s incoming App Store rules. As a company deemed a “digital gatekeeper,” it will have to comply with the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) starting on March 6th, and they argue that its plans not only disregard both the spirit and letter of the law” but “make a moc

Is AI a panacea or a Pandora’s box? It’s a question that divides the British government. Ask the deputy prime minister, Oliver Dowden, and he’ll fill your ears with promises about a glorious future. AI is a “game-changer” that can “revolutionise public services,” Dowden gushed yesterday. Healthcare, education, and crime prevention are all prime targets for the technological transformation — and that’s just the start. “I could go on nea

SAVE $50: As of March 1, the 'Marvel's Spider-Man 2' PlayStation 5 Slim bundle is on sale for $50 off the original price. Pick one up at Best Buy for a limited time. Just be quick, because these bundles don't go on sale all that often. Opens in a new windowCredit: PlayStation'Marvel's Spider-Man 2' PlayStation 5 Slim bundle$449.99 at Best Buy $499.99Save $50.00Get DealWith Final Fantasy VII Rebirth finally out, there's never been a better time to pick up a PlayStation 5. Although, if you're just

What if our phones weren’t rigid pieces of glass and aluminum? | Photo by Allison Johnson / The Verge Mobile World Congress, like any good trade show, tries to present us with the best of what’s possible now and a vision for what’s coming next. Which translates to a lot of questions, particularly about the future of phones, like:“What if phones, but controlled with your eyes?”
“What if phones, but make them fashion?”
“What if phones, but on your fa