Technology news

The future is back, baby. | Photo: Dan Seifert / The Verge After a few years of legal battles, you can once again control grouped speakers using the Google Home app and Google Assistant. The feature was slipped into Android 15 beta 2 last week, and now it’s going out to everyone, so users shouldn’t have to adjust the volume one speaker at a time anymore from their Android phones.
From the Google Home app, you should be able to adjust the volume from the Now Playing screen in the app

You shouldn’t miss this rare opportunity to grab the GOTY contender. | Image: Square Enix As legendary as Final Fantasy VII is, even its staunchest supporters have a hard time recommending newcomers to play the original PlayStation’s classic JRPG. The sharp polygonal graphics of the era don’t do the memorable story and characters justice today for many audiences, but Final Fantasy VII Remake was a refreshing first attempt at modernizing it.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth — the

Image: Hugo Herrera / The Verge New AI tools could give utilities real-time data to make the power grid and EV charging more reliable, a very small study by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI) and startup Utilidata suggests.
The researchers are using AI to analyze EV charging behavior, hoping those insights might improve the experience for drivers and help utilities prepare for the spike in electricity demand. So far, they’ve found that EV charging can draw

Image: Framework I know, I absolutely stuffed this story’s headline — but I’m just so excited to see the future of modular computing unfolding before my eyes. Framework, the company that actually delivered on the promise of an upgradable laptop, has apparently done it yet again.
Not only is it now taking preorders for yet another generation of swappable mainboards to give you Intel Core Ultra chips, but the company has also developed a $39 webcam to improve the originals’

The latest iPad ad is much more human-centric. | Image: Apple / YouTube Apple is back with a new iPad ad, seemingly crafted as a chaser after the last spot left a bitter taste in some people’s mouths.Titled “Worlds Made on iPad,” the minute-and-change video features actor Sofia Wylie on a green screen set. Then, the screen splits into three views, each with a different animated backdrop that evolves as she crawls, leaps, and floats through the stylized spaces. It’s a dist

Image: The Verge Opening a webpage inside an app is about to get a little more pleasant — in some Android apps, at least. The Chrome M124 update adds the ability to open in-app webpages in picture-in-picture mode, letting you swap between the webpage and the app without closing your browsing session.
The feature is coming to the Android apps that use Chrome Custom Tabs, which let developers provide customized browsing experiences within their apps. If it’s available in an app you use

The Watcher is quite large. | Image: Disney Besides watching movies, there’s not all that much to do with Apple’s Vision Pro once you get over the novelty. That’s why I was eager to try Disney and Marvel’s new What If…? An Immersive Story experience / TV show / video game… thing that’s available on May 30th. The companies promised a mixed reality show that would “push the boundaries of technology.” But what I experienced, while very pretty

Illustration: Nick Barclay / The Verge Meta says it cracked down on propaganda campaigns on its platforms, including one that used AI to influence political discourse and create the illusion of wider support for certain viewpoints, according to its quarterly threat report published today. Some campaigns pushed political narratives about current events, including campaigns coming from Israel and Iran that posted in support of the Israeli government.
The networks used Facebook and Instagram accoun

Kino app’s custom recording settings. | Image: Lux Lux’s Halide app is popular among photographers for its approachable pro-level features, and now it’s launching Kino, a dedicated video capture app for iPhones with a similar focus on supporting the features professionals look for.
Where Halide was designed to take advantage of Apple’s RAW photography support on newer iPhones, Kino is targeting the iPhone 15 Pro’s support for ProRes videos encoded in the Log format.

Photo by Frederic J. Brown / AFP via Getty Images Sony Interactive Entertainment has pulled a controversial interview with Neil Druckmann, head of The Last of Us developer Naughty Dog.
Last week, Sony published a (now archived) Q&A with the Last of Us creator about the “Evolution of Storytelling.” In the interview, Druckmann spoke about the role of AI in game development, the impact of new technologies on storytelling, advice for new creators, and his hopes for a dream project.
S

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge Samsung is under investigation after two employees were hospitalized following exposure to X-rays on May 27th, South Korea’s Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC) announced. The exposure took place at Samsung’s Giheung chip plant, about 25 miles south of Seoul, writes CNBC.
The two employees were exposed while using a machine that blasts materials with X-rays in order to analyze them. Both showed “abnormal symptoms” due to r

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge Discord wants to steer its app back to gaming, and it’s rolling out an app redesign to help make that happen. The new look features reworked group messages, voice chats, video calls, and more.
In a message to users, Discord CEO Jason Citron says the company realized it needs tonarrow its focus from “broadly being a community-centric chat app” to a service that “helps people deepen their friendships around games and shared interests.

We don't know much about the next batch of Samsung foldables, but we at least have some battery info to work with.Per GSMArena, an FCC certification has revealed the battery capacities of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 and the Samsung Galaxy Ring. The Z Flip 6 will reportedly have a total combined battery capacity of 3,790mAh, which is an improvement over the Flip 5's 3,700mAh battery. No, it's not a huge upgrade, but it's an improvement nonetheless.SEE ALSO:Samsung shades Apple with 'Crea

Former OpenAI executive Jan Leike announced on Tuesday that he has joined Anthropic, OpenAI's Amazon-backed rival. Leike resigned from OpenAI less than two weeks ago, publicly criticizing the company for prioritizing "shiny products" over essential "safety culture and processes."SEE ALSO:OpenAI's Altman and Brock address high-profile resignation
Leike posted on X, expressing his enthusiasm for his new role at Anthropic. Interestingly, he also urged interested readers to join him and his team.Twe

SAVE $55: As of May 29, the new 11-inch, space black Apple iPad Pro (M4, 256GB, WiFi) is on sale on Amazon for just $944 — its lowest price since launch.Opens in a new windowCredit: AppleApple iPad Pro, Space Black (M4, 256GB, WiFi)$944.00 at Amazon $999.00 Save $55.00Get DealIf you've been eyeing a new tablet, now's a great time to buy one thanks to a deal on the M4 Apple iPad Pro at Amazon. Amazon continues to make Apple's powerful new tablet a tempting buy: after discounting the base co

Illustration by Cath Virginia / The Verge | Photo from Getty Images It’s a scheme that “reads like it’s ripped from a screenplay,” according to one Commerce Department official. Thirty-five-year-old Chinese national YunHe Wang allegedly helped run an international botnet that deployed VPN programs to infect more than 19 million IP addresses around the world.
After distributing malware through programs such as MaskVPN and DewVPN, Wang allegedly operated the botnet and sold

The best Days of Play deals at a glance: Best console deal PS5 Digital Edition (slim model)$399.99 at PlayStation (save $50)Get DealBest VR headset deal PlayStation VR2 Horizon Call of the Mountain Bundle$499.99 at PlayStation (save $100)Get DealBest digital game deal Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (PS5, standard edition) $52.49 at PlayStation (save $17.50)Get Deal
Ready to level up your game library (and maybe even snag that PS5 you've been eyeing)? PlayStation’s Days of Play event has officia

Image: Zotac Zotac is getting into portable PC gaming. The company has started to tease the Zotac Zone,a gaming handheld with a seven-inch, high-refresh-rate, touch-enabled screen and two-stage adjustable triggers. Its display will also come with one spec many of its rivals lack: OLED.
Right now, the Steam Deck and the Nintendo Switch are the only two gaming handhelds with OLED display options. This could help set the Zotac Zone apart from an increasingly crowded handheld gaming market, which al

Image: The Verge Two more media companies have signed licensing agreements with OpenAI, allowing their content to be used to train its AI models and be shared inside of ChatGPT. The Atlantic and Vox Media — The Verge’s parent company — both announced deals with OpenAI on Wednesday.
OpenAI has been quickly signing partnerships across the media world as it seeks to license training data and avoid copyright lawsuits. It’s recently reached deals with News Corp (The Wall Stree

SAVE $60: As of May 29, the TheraFace Pro is on sale for $339 at Therabody, a drop from its regular list price of $399. That's 15% off.Opens in a new windowCredit: TherabodyTheraFace Pro$339.00 at Therabody $399.00 Save $60.00Get DealWhen it comes to establishing a skincare routine that works for you, it can be challenging to sift through the noise of products, tools, and tips. If you want to cut through the clutter and improve your facial health with one tool, the TheraFace Pro could be an inve

To its critics, it seems Ticketmaster may be experiencing some karma lately for years of being the bane of concertgoers' existence. Unfortunately its latest hassle — a massive data leak — also negatively impacts consumers.Just last week, the U.S. Justice Department filed an antitrust lawsuit against the ticketing conglomerate. The DOJ is seeking to break up the alleged monopoly its parent company, Live Nation Entertainment, holds over the live music and entertainment industry –

SAVE $85: As of May 29, get the 49mm Apple Watch Ultra 2 (GPS + cellular) for $714, down from its normal price of $799. That's a discount of 11% and its lowest price yet. Opens in a new windowCredit: AmazonApple Watch Ultra 2 (49mm, GPS + cellular)$714.00 at Amazon $799.00 Save $85.00Get DealWhether you're looking to replace your current smartwatch or buying one for the first time, an Apple Watch is always a great choice. The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is one of the best options you'll find on the mark

Open Cosmos, the UK-based startup that uses satellites to fight climate change, has secured a contract of €60mn to build seven satellites for Greece. Dubbed Optical Constellation, this will be the country’s first flagship satellite project. The satellites in the Greek constellation will collect data in low Earth orbit, aiming to improve public services. Use cases range from providing fresh insights for the land registry to increasing agricultural efficiency and combating sea pollutio

Image: Cadillac If you’re looking for an electric car and Cadillac sounds like your kind of brand, but the $64,000 Lyriq is too rich for your blood (to say nothing about the $340,000 bespoke Celestiq), you may find what you’re looking for in the 2025 Optiq.Since first revealing the Optiq last November, Cadillac has been pitching this two-row SUV as its entry-level model — and now we know exactly what that means. The 2025 Optiq starts at $54,000, which is affordable for a luxury

Image: Cadillac If you’re looking for an electric car and Cadillac sounds like your kind of brand, but the $64,000 Lyriq is too rich for your blood (to say nothing about the $340,000 bespoke Celestiq), you may find what you’re looking for in the 2025 Optiq.Since first revealing the Optiq last November, Cadillac has been pitching this two-row SUV as its entry-level model — and now we know exactly what that means. The 2025 Optiq starts at $54,000, which is affordable for a luxury

PRE-ORDER NOW: As of May 29, you can pre-order the Google Fitbit Ace LTE smartwatch for kids at Amazon. Dropping June 5, the smartwatch will be delivered on June 7 when you pre-order. Opens in a new windowCredit: FitbitGoogle Fitbit Ace LTEat Amazon Pre-Order HereToday, Fitbit announced the first-of-its-kind smartwatch and fitness tracker for kids: The Google Fitbit Ace LTE. Now, parents and kids can enjoy the reassuring perks of smartphones (calling, messaging, and location sharing) in one easy

Amazon deals of the day at a glance:OUR TOP PICKApple Watch Series 9 (GPS + Cellular, 41mm)$329 at Amazon(save $170)Get DealBEST IPAD DEALApple 11-inch iPad Air (M2, 256GB, WiFi)$659 at Amazon(save $40)Get DealBEST ROBOT VACUUM DEALiRobot Roomba j9+$599 at Amazon(save $300)Get DealBEST SMARTWATCH DEALGarmin Enduro 2$799.99 at Amazon(save $300)Get Deal
If you're a sucker for a good discount and missed out on Memorial Day deals this past weekend, we've got you covered. We scoured the lengthy list

Image: Activision Activision notched a second victory in an ongoing legal case against EngineOwning, a cheat maker that the company sued in 2022. Yesterday, District Judge Michael Fitzgerald ordered several defendants, including EngineOwning itself, to pay the company $14.465,600 for their creation and distribution of Call of Duty cheats.
In addition, the judge ordered EngineOwning to turn over its website, stop making and selling cheats, and pay $292,912 in attorney fees to Activision. You can

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge Verizon’s inked a deal with satellite broadband provider AST SpaceMobile to help fill customers’ coverage gaps when they travel outside the reach of terrestrial cell towers. The company is committing $100 million in a new deal connecting AST’s satellite network to mobile phones using the 850 Mhz band.
AST SpaceMobile is launching five satellites into low orbit this summer and recently announced a deal with AT&T, which joined Google an

Image: Getty Earlier this month, the Biden administration announced major new tariffs on Chinese imports, including electric vehicles, batteries, solar cells, and a range of other goods. The goal was to prevent China from flooding the market with cheap products that could endanger domestic manufacturers. But environmental groups warned it could hinder our efforts to meet our climate goals by making things like EVs and solar panels more expensive.Caught up in all this are electric bikes, those bi

SAVE $100: As of May 29, get the PlayStation VR2 for $449.99, down from its normal price of $549.99. That's a discount of 18%.Opens in a new windowCredit: AmazonPlayStation VR2$449.99 at Amazon $549.99 Save $100.00Get DealIf you're looking to explore the wide breadth of virtual reality-based games on PlayStation 5, the PlayStation VR2 is a fantastic headset that'll put you right in the center of the action. It's the only console-based VR system available, and for that reason alone it's an intere

SAVE $50: Score a PS5 Slim for $449.99 at PlayStation, bringing the price down from its original $499.99 for a 10% discount. Opens in a new windowCredit: PlaystationPS5 Slim$449.99 at PlayStation $499.99 Save $50.00Get DealPlayStation's Days of Play Sale is upon us. From now until June 12, shoppers can save on consoles, games, gear, accessories, and more. While some may wait patiently for the rumored PlayStation Pro expected to drop around the holiday season, others who want a new console now wi

There’s something about that green power light on the keyboard’s top-right corner that overwhelms me with a sense of calm. | Image: 8BitDo I love a good re-skin or fresh coat of paint, and I can be a sucker for a little nostalgia bait just like anyone else. But let’s not mince words here: there’s no way 8BitDo’s upcoming $100 M Edition of its Retro Mechanical Keyboard will stand up to the legendary IBM Model M keyboards of yore — not in sound, typing feel, or

PREORDER: As of May 29, the new Lego The Legend of Zelda Great Deku Tree 2-in-1 set ($299.99) is available for preorder through the Lego Store. It starts shipping on Sept. 1.Opens in a new windowCredit: LegoLego The Legend of Zelda Great Deku Tree 2-in-1$299.99 at the Lego Store Pre-Order Here...Open your eyes... and your wallet. Lego and Nintendo have announced the first-ever building set based on The Legend of Zelda franchise, a brickified model of the Great Deku Tree that's accompanied by Lin

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge It begins. The summer showcase of games technically doesn’t officially start until Summer Game Fest next week, but Sony decided it wanted to get a jump on things by announcing its next State of Play event on Thursday, May 30th, starting at 6PM ET.
State of Play returns with a 30+ minute broadcast this Thursday at 3pm PT / 11pm BST: https://t.co/eJWbP09sv3Tune in live for updates on 14 PS5 and PS VR2 titles, including a look at PlayStation Studios tit

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge On Wednesday, IP core designer Arm announced its next-generation CPU and GPU designs for flagship smartphones: the Cortex-X925 CPU and Immortalis G925 GPU. Both are direct successors to the Cortex-X4 and Immortalis G720 that currently power MediaTek’s Dimensity 9300 chip inside flagship smartphones like the Vivo X100 and X100 Pro and Oppo Find X7.
Arm changed the naming convention for its Cortex-X CPU design to highlight what it says is a much faster

Dutch tech has launched into space onboard a satellite designed to analyse climate change. The EarthCARE spacecraft — a collaboration between the European Space Agency (ESA) and its Japanese peer JAXA — lifted off today on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Equipped with four instruments, the mission aims to unearth new insights about the impact of clouds and aerosols on our climate. Dutch tech features prominently in those plans. One key contribution comes from TNO, a research org

This is the Spicy Pebble with the Moovin’ Band, with a bumper attached for extra durability. | Photo by Victoria Song / The Verge When Fitbit invited me to a demo of the Ace LTE, its new tracker for kids, I didn’t expect much. The previous Ace trackers were pared-down Fitbit bands that didn’t do much and lacked GPS. Other smartwatches for kids tend to be boxy, glorified GPS trackers, designed to appeal more to parents than kids. But the Ace LTE? This is a kids smartwatch that f

Becca Farsace On the dance floor at the Webby Awards in 2023, a very dapper man in a subtle paisley suit came up to me with a huge smile and said “I love your content.” It’s always nice hearing that someone likes your work, but I’d never heard it from someone with an internet presence quite like his. It was Matty Benedetto of Unnecessary Inventions, a creator who has amassed millions of followers across just about every social network by making and displaying all sorts of

Google is looking to gamify physical activity for kids 7 and older with a smartwatch that also provides a digital tether to their parents. In other words, the Fitbit Ace LTE, which debuted Wednesday, aims to make everyone happy. Kids who like video games but maybe aren't so fond of exercise can try a smartwatch that attempts to combine the two activities. A library of original arcade games encourage and reward movement and play. In general, the emphasis is on consistency and effort, not achievin

Image: Hello Games Things are about to get a little quieter in the No Man’s Sky universe. Developer Hello Games just released the sci-fi adventure’s latest update — it’s called “Adrift,” and it introduces an alternative universe that’s completely devoid of other characters. That means no NPCs to chat or trade with. The studio calls it “the first time players can be truly alone in No Man’s Sky.”
In addition to making the game lonelier an

Image: Amazon Amazon is continuing to expand its presence in video game publishing. The latest example: the company is teaming up with Maverick Games, a new studio formed by former Forza developers at Playground, to launch “a narrative-led open-world driving game.” There’s no title or release date for the game, but it’ll be coming to PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X / S when it does launch.
Publishing has become a large facet of Amazon’s push into gaming, with the company

Device manufacturers have until January 1st, 2026, to comply with Colorado’s new rules. | Screenshot: iFixit via YouTube Colorado now has some of the broadest right-to-repair laws in the US thanks to a new bill signed by Governor Jared Polis on Tuesday. The HB24-1121 “Consumer Right to Repair Digital Electronic Equipment” rules require all manufacturers to make it easier for consumers and independent electronics businesses to purchase the necessary equipment needed to repair de