Technology news

UPDATE: Apr. 26, 2024, 4:40 p.m. EDT We've updated this story after confirming that next week's Early Access Event at Walmart will be limited to paid members of its Walmart+ program. In other words, you'll have to upgrade from the free trial tier to buy the PlayStation Portal during the sale.Quick links: PlayStation Portal restockIn StockPlayStation Portal Remote Player$199.99 at Best BuyBuy NowIn StockPlayStation Portal Remote Player$199.99 at PlayStation DirectBuy NowComing SoonPlayStation Po

Illustration: The Verge Google has spent the past year dealing with two of the biggest threats in its 25-year history: the rise of generative AI and the growing drumbeat of regulation. AI, in particular, has shaken the company to its core: it’s made big search changes, realigned the Search, Android, and hardware teams around AI, and launched its own Gemini AI model to capitalize on the opportunity.Google execs cut projects and laid off employees to refocus, and yesterday, it announced its

You can forget a lot about desktops if you use laptops exclusively for 23 years. | Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge When the M3 MacBook Airs came out last month, I did a good ol’ double facepalm that Captain Picard would be proud of. The wedge shape was no more (kinda). My M2 MacBook Air 15 was slightly too big, too heavy, and no matter what certain people say, 8GB of RAM was not cutting it. Analyzing the various MacBook Air and MacBook Pro configurations and prices made my head

Illustration by Samar Haddad / The Verge Think about everything you do across Chrome, Gmail, Google Maps, YouTube, and everything else Google owns, and you get some idea of how much data you’re giving up to the company each day. For most of us, it’s... a lot.
Whether or not you think the data collection and targeted advertising is a worthwhile trade for the free apps you get in return, Google does at least provide a comprehensive online dashboard you can use to see some of what&rsquo

Illustration: The Verge Google is testing its AI listening skills with a feature that lets people speak into their phones and practice English with a conversational AI bot. Google first rolled out the speaking practice experience in October 2023. Originally, the feature only provided feedback on spoken sentences. Now, users can practice having ongoing conversations in the language they’re learning.TechCrunch reports that the feature is currently available for Search Labs users in Argentina

There are four little words that the girls just can't get out of their heads: "That's that me espresso" — a little nonsensical, a lot catchy. They seem to answer the season's hottest question: What's the Song of the Summer? Sabrina Carpenter's sun-drenched hit, "Espresso," is currently the top contender. While artists scramble to promote their summer bops on TikTok and stan Twitter battles it out, Carpenter is not-so-quietly poised to take the crown. SEE ALSO:Taylor Swift's brand is mighti

Apple took a leap just two months ago and launched an entire brand new product category for the company with the release of the Apple Vision Pro.In the days and weeks after its February release, Apple's new AR/VR headset was the talk of social media. Tech reviewers raved about how using it was a glimpse into the future of home computers. And the Apple Vision Pro memes were in abundance. Who can forget the guy who wore an Apple Vision Pro at his wedding?Then February came and went — and the

Even now, the last-gen MacBook is a speedy machine with a stunning, spacious display.| Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge It’s been a good week for Apple fans. Not only did Apple announce its forthcoming “Let Loose” event, but the entire M3-powered 13-inch MacBook Air lineup received a notable discount. And now, the 16-inch MacBook Pro with the M2 Pro chip has plunged to an all-time low. If you require a laptop capable of handling more intense workloads than the Air, a

Our understanding of the challenges women face in the startup ecosystem is limited. Past research has focused on overt negative sexist attitudes that question women’s competence and suitability for entrepreneurship. This view overlooks the existence of more subtle, yet pervasive and socially acceptable, sexist attitudes that often go unnoticed. Given the sheer number of people interested or working in startups today, from investors to suppliers to job applicants, the effects of these subt

Image: Bandai Namco Between Dune, Fallout, and Mad Max, it’s a good year for stories with lots of sand and little water. Now, you can add Sand Land — an adaptation of the late Akira Toriyama’s manga of the same name — to that list. The difference here is that Sand Land comes in two new flavors. There’s an anime streaming on Hulu (or Disney Plus if you’re outside the US) and a video game that turns the story into an open-world RPG. Both follow a similar plot, h

Photo by Carmen Mandato / Getty Images Tupac Shakur’s lawyers warned Drake that they would take him to court if he did not take down his “Taylor Made” diss track featuring AI-altered vocals made to sound like the late rapper. And it seems like the message was received loud and clear.
Following Tupac’s lawyers giving Drake 24 hours to pull “Taylor Made” or risk being sued, the Canadian rapper has apparently chosen the former option and removed the song from his

SAVE $100: Get the Apple Watch Series 9 (GPS, 41mm) for $299, down from $399, at Amazon. That's 25% off Apple's latest smartwatch and its lowest price yet.Opens in a new windowCredit: AppleApple Watch Series 9 (GPS, 41mm)$299.00 at Amazon $399.00 Save $100.00Get DealA smartwatch can change the way you track your health and fitness levels and make it easier to stay on top of messages without always having to pull out your phone, but they can come with a hefty price tag. Grab a new Apple Watch and

Image: Android Headlines We’ve already seen a bunch of images revealing what Google’s Pixel 8A might look like, but now, leaked marketing materials shared by Android Headlines give us an even better picture of what we can expect. The promotional images suggest that the budget-friendly Pixel 8A will come with seven years of security updates.
But the materials don’t indicate whether the phone will come with seven years of Android OS upgrades, something its flagship Pixel 8 and 8

You may have a bit of money coming your way — and all you had to do to get it was endure a breach of your privacy.The Federal Trade Commission announced this week that settlement payments stemming from a 2023 complaint against the doorbell camera company Ring have started going out to affected customers. Ring reached the settlement after the FTC accused it of "egregious violations of users' privacy," including allowing employees and contractors to see videos, which were used to train algor

What is a VPN? To simply scratch the surface, a virtual private network (VPN) spoofs your location, makes you anonymous online, and gives you the keys to unlock the full breadth of the web. With all the third-party advertisers snooping on your personal data and scammers trying to steal it all, the best VPNs have become an easy way to protect your digital privacy. But what exactly is it? And how on earth can it make your internet service provider (ISP) believe you’re streaming in Japan

SAVE $49.01: As of April 26, get the 2nd generation AirPods Pro for just $199.99 at Amazon. That's a 20% discount. Opens in a new windowCredit: AmazonApple AirPods (2nd Generation) $199.99 at Amazon $249.00 Save $49.01Get DealWhen it comes to earbuds, few do it better than Apple. If you're one of the few listeners left out there without a pair of AirPods but are thinking about taking the plunge, now's a great time to do so. The 2nd generation Apple AirPods Pro are available at a great price at A

Hallo, Netherlands! Welcome to TNW’s first weekly round-up of tech news from our glorious home country. As we count down to TNW conference in Amsterdam on June 20 and 21, we’re ramping up our coverage of the Dutch IT sector. We’d also love to hear your thoughts on the local ecosystem. Drop us a line if you want to showcase your startup, share a digital tip, or just tell us your deepest, darkest secrets.  In the meantime, let’s get to the news. What we’re

GET 26% OFF: As of April 26, you can get a Dyson V8 cordless vacuum for $349 at Amazon, Walmart, and Dyson, down from $469.99. That's $120.99 off the list price. Opens in a new windowCredit: DysonDyson V8 cordless vacuum$349.00 at Amazon $469.99 Save $120.99Get DealDyson is one of the most coveted household brands, from vacuums to haircare tools. But cult-favorite Dyson products also often come with sky-high prices. Today, you can experience the Dyson difference for less with a good deal on a co

In 2022, over 20,000 Lithuanians returned to their country of birth from abroad. A high quality of life coupled with a booming entrepreneurial ecosystem and a collaborative mentality has contributed to what investors are calling a “reverse brain drain.” Many of their minds reemerge in the country’s startup scene. It was on a visit to Lisbon that I first heard someone refer to Lithuania as “a hidden gem” of Europe’s startup ecosystem. A recent trip to Vilnius

The new sets include a Town Hall and Dodo Airlines airport. | Image: Lego Good news for those of us who love Animal Crossing and Legos. Starting August 1st, Lego is launching two new Animal Crossing sets and a minifig of one very special canine crooner.
Lego teased the news on its X account, which shows K.K. Slider doing his thing and a brief glimpse of the two new sets. (Amusingly, Lego notes that the K.K. Slider minifigure does not actually move or sing. Bummer.) K.K. Slider is part of a fall-

SAVE $50.99: The Meta Quest 2 (128GB) VR headset is on sale for $199 at Amazon, marked down from the normal price of $249.99. That's a 20% discount.Opens in a new windowCredit: MetaMeta Quest 2 (128GB)$199.00 at Amazon $249.99 Save $50.99Get DealIf your favorite games are feeling a bit blah these days, you can invest some money and time into a handful of new games. Or you could experience your games in a way you never have before. If you're curious about virtual reality headsets, check out this

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You've made it through another work week. You deserve a little treat. Why not do a little shopping?There are always deals to be fo

SAVE $110: As of April 26, the 13.6-inch Apple MacBook Air (M3, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) is on sale for $989. That's a 10% discount and the lowest price we've seen. Opens in a new windowCredit: Amazon13.6-inch MacBook Air (M3, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD)$989.00 at Amazon $1,099.00 Save $110.00Get DealTime to pick up a new laptop? A new MacBook might be the way to go, especially since you can get one of the newest MacBook Air models for the lowest price we've seen so far. Just a week ago, the M3 MacBook Air h

From Taylor Swift's new album to the Tesla Cybertruck recall, host Josh Burstein takes us on a comedic journey through the week's top stories.Check out these related stories:
Yes, 'You wouldn't last an hour in the asylum where they raised me' is a Taylor Swift lyric
The Cybertruck's failure is now complete
Spotify recognises Nature as an artist
Alien planets might teem with purple — yes, purple — life
This nova is on the verge of exploding. You could see it any day now.
Tinder's new

The first time I used the Light Phone 2’s GPS, I drove to Los Angeles for a date. I ended up parked in a red zone, hyperventilating to the rhythm of my hazard lights. All I did was get lost, and yet, I was seconds away from puking all over myself. (I didn’t, thank goodness.) I should have picked a lower-stakes event to test-drive the navigation feature, but I assumed it would work as well as Google Maps. I was wrong.
The Light Phone’s GPS was awful a year ago. It often thought

GET UP TO 29% OFF: As of April 26, you can score up to 29% off Logitech mice, keyboards, and more at Amazon.Our top picks: Best mouse deal Logitech M510 wireless mouse$21.99 at Amazon (save $6)Get DealBest webcam deal Logitech Brio 101 full HD webcam$29.79 at Amazon (save $10.20)Get DealBest headset deal Logitech H390 wired headset$20.89 at Amazon (save $4.10)Get Deal
Working from home isn't all it's cracked up to be. Sure, it's convenient and gives you a chance to escape the nightmarish commute

Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge After moving to ban TikTok in the US, the federal government could target the China-based DJI next. A report from The New York Times highlights a bill advanced by the House of Energy and Commerce Committee last month that could ground DJI’s fleet of drones across the country.
If passed, the Countering CCP Drones Act would add DJI drones to the FCC’s list of equipment covered by the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019. This bars com

Whether you're new to fitness tracking or are looking for an upgrade from your current model, Amazon has several Fitbits on sale today.Best Fitbit deals at Amazon todayBest deal on an advanced FitbitFitbit Sense 2$139.96 at Amazon with on-page coupon(save $159.99)Get DealBest deal on a smaller-sized FitbitFitbit Charge 6$139.95 at Amazon(save $20)Get DealBest deal on a Fitbit for kidsFitbit Ace 3 (black/racer red)$39.95 at Amazon(save $39.05)Get Deal
Fitness trackers do far more than just count

Crashes involving post-fix Tesla vehicles have prompted the NHTSA to look into how effective the Autopilot updates were. | Photo by Sebastian Gollnow / picture alliance via Getty Images Tesla can add yet another investigation into its Autopilot feature to what’s already piling up to be a pretty bad year for the company.On Friday, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) revealed it was opening a new probe to assess whether the recall fix Tesla implemented for over 2 milli

Image: The Verge Shein, one of the most popular online shopping platforms, will be required to comply with strict regulations under the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), the European Commission announced today.
The fast-fashion company reported having more than 45 million average monthly users in the EU, earning it the designation of a “very large online platform” (VLOP). The label applies to the biggest tech companies like Amazon, AliExpress, Meta, and TikTok and requires them

Image: Owen Grove / The Verge In March 2023, a North Carolina student was stepping off a school bus when he was struck by a Tesla Model Y traveling at “highway speeds,” according to a federal investigation that published today. The Tesla driver was using Autopilot, the automaker’s advanced driver-assist feature that Elon Musk insists will eventually lead to fully autonomous cars.The 17-year-old student who was struck was transported to a hospital by helicopter with life-threate

Save $100: Bose QuietComfort headphones are back down to their lowest price on Amazon — just $249 for a limited time. That's a 29% discount.Opens in a new windowCredit: BoseBose QuietComfort Headphones$249.00 at Amazon $349.00 Save $100.00Get DealIf you're preparing to jet set this summer, you'll want a pair of noise-cancelling headphones to block out your fellow passengers and lock in to your favorite playlist or audiobook. Luckily, Bose's QuietComfort headphones are back down to their lo