Technology news

Image: @TEQHNIKACROSS on X Samsung’s next Galaxy Buds have been rumored to resemble AirPods, and new leaked renders make the comparison clearer than ever. The renders, purportedly found on Korean retailer Coupang, show that Samsung might be moving on from its bulb-shaped buds in favor of wireless headphones with AirPods-like stems, AirPods-like vents, and even an AirPods-like case.
I’ve made an image slider so you can compare one of the renders with a photo of Apple’s second-ge

Justin Timberlake was arrested this week on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, and it was only mere moments before it became a meme.There's pretty good standing for this meme creation. The police officer who arrested him allegedly didn't know who he was (funny). A source told Page Six that he muttered, "This is going to ruin the tour," to which the cop responded: "What tour?""The world tour," Timberlake allegedly responded.SEE ALSO:The best memes of 2024 (so far)
We don't know a ton of deta

A new feature just launched on Instagram, and it's about to make Close Friends way closer.On Thursday, the Meta-owned app introduced the ability to restrict your live broadcast to your Close Friends list only. You can still go live with up to three people, but they must all be in your Close Friends circle. It's cool to be able to control who sees what you post in any format, but I'm unsure what this might be used for specifically. Instagram told TechCrunch that users could use it to "share

Illustration: Alex Castro / The Verge If you used a virtual private network (VPN) to purchase a YouTube Premium in a country where it’s cheaper, your subscription might be on the chopping block. Over the past few days, several people who’ve used this trick reported having their subscriptions automatically canceled, as reported earlier by Android Police.
The workaround involves using a VPN to change your location to a country where YouTube Premium is offered at a lower price. For exam

In an increasingly competitive and inaccessible ticketing market, fans have long demanded artists do something to protect them against bots and exorbitant pricing. Rising pop star Sabrina Carpenter is offering a solution ahead of her Short n' Sweet Tour. SEE ALSO:Sabrina Carpenter's 'Espresso' is the internet's Song of the Summer
The "Espresso" singer is partnering with Spotify and AEG to create a Spotify Top Listener Pit at concert venues across North America. Top listeners of Carpenters' music

Image: Crystal Dynamics Embracer Group, the gaming giant that has the rights to big franchises like The Lord of the Rings and Tomb Raider, detailed how it’s thinking about the use of artificial intelligence for game development in its latest annual report.
The conglomerate, which recently split into three separate companies, has adopted a “Group AI Policy” that it says is based on the notion of “empowerment.” While the report doesn’t include the text of the po

Photo by Andrew Caballero-Reynolds / AFP via Getty Images New York Governor Kathy Hochul (D) signed two bills into law on Thursday that aim to protect kids and teens from social media harms, making it the latest state to take action as federal proposals still await votes.
One of the bills, the Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) for Kids Act, will require parental consent for social media companies to use “addictive feeds” powered by recommendation algorithms on kids and teens u

It’s the ideal power bank if your office never stops moving. | Photo: Anker My army of portable chargers is eight soldiers strong. It’s a little ridiculous, but the variety gives me flexibility to pick the perfect charger for the day’s needs, whether it’s my sleek MagSafe charger to keep my iPhone going on longer days or a bigger brick for my iPad, camera, and other devices when I anticipate heavier usage. My collection ballooned as charging tech improved over the years,

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time was Ubisoft’s breakout hit of 2003, but the company’s cult classic Beyond Good & Evil, released just two weeks later, will beat it to an upgraded rerelease. Ubisoft has released a trailer for Beyond Good & Evil 20th Anniversary Edition that confirms it’ll arrive next Tuesday, June 25th — just five days after I write these words.I hope it stands up because I remember it as a phenomenal game. Jade and her pig buddy Pey’j we

20th Century Studios Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ stunning visual effects are nothing short of astounding, but for the film’s upcoming home release, 20th Century Studios is giving you the ability to see the motion capture performances that were key in bringing the talking apes to life.
Though Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes will be available to download on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home starting on July 9th, you might want to wait until the movie’s physica

Not every Android software update is going to be big, but that doesn't mean they aren't worthwhile.The third beta for Android 15 launched this week and it brought with it a handful of interface tweaks, but also one handy new feature for those looking to save on battery life. Without wasting any more time, here's what you can expect from Android 15's third beta.SEE ALSO:Google is working on generative AI soundtracks and dialogue for videos
Android 15 beta 3: 3 new featuresThe list of tweaks, per

Anker’s new 2-in-1 USB-C charging cable could reduce the number of wires you need to wrangle by half. | Image: Anker Anker’s trying something new that could potentially cut the number of cables you need to wrangle in half. Its 2-in-1 USB-C cable allows two devices to simultaneously charge from a single USB-C port with built-in “Smart Power Management” that automatically adjusts power distribution based on “each device’s power needs.”
The four-foot-long c

Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge CDK Global, the company that provides management software for nearly 15,000 car dealerships in North America, is down for a second day following a cyberattack, according to a report from Automotive News. The outage has left car dealerships across North America unable to access the internal systems used to track car sales, view customer information, schedule maintenance, and more.
On Wednesday, CDK Global told dealerships that it’s “investig

The new Apple Pencil Pro is compatible with Apple’s new iPad Pros and Airs, unlike the second-gen model. | Photo: David Pierce / The Verge Unfortunately, if you’re looking at picking up the new iPad Pro or Air, you’re going to have to pay to upgrade your second-generation Apple Pencil, too. After all, the new tablets are only compatible with the new Apple Pencil Pro, but thankfully, today, there’s a deal to offset the cost slightly. Right now, Amazon and Walmart are selli

Among the iOS 18 features Apple announced at WWDC 2024, the ability to lock and hide apps was a standout. Well, in a sense, it's the opposite of standing out because it means users can prevent people from accessing certain apps or hide them altogether. Locking and hiding apps are related features that require Face ID to open them. It's a welcome update for the privacy-minded, or users who are keeping their app behavior under wraps for more devious purposes. SEE ALSO:You will finally be able to s

Cleaning your laptop screen is more important than you might think. Besides getting dirty from fingerprints, your screen can also collect dust and bacteria fairly quickly, especially if you travel with it!Don’t worry about figuring out how to clean your laptop screen. We’ve got you covered.SEE ALSO:How to properly clean your AirPods
6 ways to clean your laptop screen 1. Disinfecting wipes can be used with laptops that have glass screens like MacBooks.2. Microfiber cloths are gre

Illustration by Kristen Radtke / The Verge The Biden administration is announcing plans to ban the sale of Kaspersky Lab’s antivirus software in the United States due to national security concerns, Reuters reports.
Sources told Reuters that Kaspersky’s close ties to the Russian government pose a national security risk, potentially letting the company — and the Russian government — steal sensitive information from, install malware on, or withhold updates from Americans&rsq

Image: FromSoftware Before Shadow of the Erdtree finally goes live, Bandai Namco has implemented a patch that adds a couple of small features and updates just in time for the DLC’s launch in a few short hours. FromSoftware also shared a new launch trailer to herald the DLC’s arrival, but it’s chockful of spoilers, so beware. The update isn’t particularly earth-shattering, but it does include some things worth keeping in mind before all you Tarnished get your head beat in

A new startup called Daydream wants to use AI to make your fashion fantasies a reality. The tool purportedly analyzes a user's natural language prompt — for example, "Bright colored sneakers that feel old school and classic" — and finds matching pieces of clothing in its database of participating brands.SEE ALSO:Viral fashion company Selkie is being slammed for using AI art
The startup promises "the largest high-quality branded fashion catalog found anywhere," so it may not be helpfu

Ready to buy a new smartphone? You can scoop up two models of the Google Pixel line for less today at Amazon and Best Buy:Best Google Pixel Smartphone DealsBest Google Pixel 8 Pro dealGoogle Pixel 8 Pro (128GB)$749 at Best Buy(Save $250)Get DealBest Google Pixel 7 Pro dealGoogle Pixel 7 Pro (256GB)$435 at Amazon(Save $564)Get Deal
Need a new phone, but not interested in a new iPhone or Samsung's Galaxy lineup? There are other options out there that can fit your needs just as well, if not better

Back in February, Netflix teased a massive TV and film lineup for the coming year. We don't know quite how it's happened, but somehow we're already halfway through that year — and now the streamer has released an updated lineup for the summer months.From the upcoming Beverly Hills Cop sequel to a return to reality game show The Mole, here's the full breakdown of movies and TV shows on offer.SEE ALSO:The best Netflix TV shows of 2024 (so far)
Film"Beverly Hills Cop - Axel F" lands in July.C

GET SIX MONTHS FREE: Walmart has announced its Walmart+ Week mystery offer. Walmart+ members get six months of Paramount+ with Showtime free with this limited time offer.Opens in a new windowCredit: WalmartSix months of Paramount+ with Showtime at Walmart Get DealThe deals during Walmart+ Week have been pretty mid. Unlike Prime Day, which showcases thousands of deals on products, Walmart+ Week is focusing on discounted services and offers on gas, travel, and streaming. We've been not so patientl

Snapchat is resolving a sex-based employment discrimination case with a $15 million settlement, following accusations of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation against women who worked for the company. According to the California Civil Rights Department, Snap Inc. (Snap) agreed to pay the settlement following a three-year investigation into the company's equal pay and anti-discrimination practices. SEE ALSO:Instagram teens are regularly recommended sexual and explicit videos, new report fin

SAVE 20%: Costco members can buy a $100 Instacart e-gift card for just $79.99. That's a savings of $20.01.Opens in a new windowCredit: Instacart$100 Instacart e-gift card$79.99 at Costco $100.00 Save $20.01with Costco membershipGet DealWe're all in agreement that the price of groceries has gotten a bit out of hand. With inflation rates playing a game of "go wild," the cost to buy food can feel painful at times. If you prefer to grocery shop through Instacart and happen to be a Costco member, you

Amazon deals of the day at a glance:OUR TOP PICKSoundcore P40i noise-cancelling earbuds$49.99 at Amazon(save $20)Get DealBEST GAMING DEALLogitech G Pro X Superlight wireless gaming mouse$99.99 at Amazon(save $60)Get DealBEST PRINTER DEALHP Sprocket Studio Plus$129.99 at Amazon(save $20)Get DealBEST TABLET DEALCertified Refurbished Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet$49.99 at Amazon(save $50)Get Deal
It's officially summer and we're kicking things off with an assortment of deals from Amazon. If you can't wai

Hey YouTube Premium subscribers! Did you use a VPN in order to get a cheaper subscription rate on YouTube's ad-free Premium service? If so, it looks like your subscription may soon be getting canceled – if it hasn't already.According to reports on social media, YouTube is canceling subscriptions for Premium subscribers who used a money-saving workaround meant for users living in specific countries. A Reddit thread that was posted in r/YouTube on the cancellations is full of users shar

Image: Microsoft Last week, I revealed that Microsoft’s Windows engineers were scrambling to secure its controversial AI-powered Recall feature in time for its planned debut on June 18th. Hours later, Microsoft announced that the feature that screenshots nearly everything you do on new Qualcomm-powered laptops is being recalled.
Copilot Plus PCs shipped earlier this week without Recall, and Microsoft has modified the setup process to remove it from Windows 11 — it’s now a featu

Photo by Spencer Platt / Getty Images For years, automakers have been fussing over the sounds emitted by their electric vehicles, trying to tune them in a way that both presents as futuristic while also not alienating to people who are used to the rev of a four-cylinder engine.They seem to have settled on a series of sounds that could best be described as somewhere in between a whir and a hum. Others would say it sounds like a flying saucer — and not always in a good way. But according to

Day 1 of TNW Conference kicked off with an array of inspiring sessions, insightful panel discussions, thought-provoking performances, and of course, a ton of meetings that will fuel the next wave of innovation across the tech ecosystem.  We were joined by 3,500 startups, 1,750 corporates, 600 investors, 2,000 tech ecosystem representatives, and 100 journalists for a full day of insights. These ranged from the critical role of AI in shaping tomorrow’s world and business environment, t

The dreaded summer scorch has arrived, and it feels early this year. If you don't have a perfectly air conditioned apartment, you're probably dealing with soaring temperatures and seeking some comfort. And thanks to Amazon's sale prices, you could be one shipment away from relief.Best cooling deals at Amazon todayBest cooling sleep product dealTempur-Pedic TEMPUR-Adapt + Cooling mattress topper (queen)$282.57 for Prime members at Amazon(save $216.43)Get DealBest portable air conditioner dealHone

Image: Amazon Amazon is on track to fully remove plastic air pillows from its delivery packaging in North America. On Thursday, the company announced that it has replaced 95 percent of plastic air pillows with paper filler, and it plans to stop using plastic air packaging by the end of this year.
This change will eliminate almost 15 billion plastic air pillows annually, according to Amazon. Unlike the old packaging, paper filler is made with 100 percent recycled content, which should allow custo

This is how I feel when I don’t get a deal. | Image: Bandai Namco Dear Tarnished, it’s time to travel back to the Lands Between — but you don’t have to pay full price.
Elden Ring’s long-awaited Shadow of the Erdtree DLC officially launches tomorrow, June 21st, and both returning and new players can save on either the expansion or a cost-effective bundle with the base game. Fanatical is selling the PC (Steam) version of Shadow of the Erdtree for $35.19 (about $5 off)

Image: Instagram Instagram is introducing a way to livestream to a smaller, more private audience.
Beginning today, Instagram users will be able to host Live broadcasts only available to their curated list of Close Friends. Up to three other accounts can join the Live broadcast and stream with the original user. The feature rolls out globally.
Until this point, beginning a Live broadcast meant that anyone could tune in and watch it if your account was public, and all followers could watch the st

SAVE $770: As of June 20, get the Jackery Solar Generator at Amazon for $879. That's 47% off its normal price of $1,649. Opens in a new windowCredit: AmazonJackery Solar Generator$879.00 at Amazon $1,649.00 Save $770.00Get DealIt's officially summer. If you're planning on going on a camping trip or taking any off-the-grid excursions this season, it's a good idea to make sure you have portable chargers or a generator to fall back on. You never know when you'll need to power up a phone for an emer

Young Instagram users are more easily recommended sexually explicit and harmful videos than the platform lets on, according to a new report. The child safety findings are based on two different site experiments conducted by the Wall Street Journal and Northeastern University computer science professor Laura Edelson. Tested over a period of seven months, the publication set up new minor accounts which then scrolled through Instagram's video Reels feed, skipping over "normal" content and lingering

Image: The Verge We’ve got a special episode of Decoder today — I was traveling last week, so Verge deputy editor Alex Heath and our new senior AI reporter Kylie Robison are filling in for me, with a very different kind of episode about AI.
We talk a lot about AI in a broad sense on Decoder — it comes up in basically every single interview I do these days — and then we also dive deep into very specific problems that AI is causing with things like copyright law, misinforma

“Four matrix tweeters and four force-balanced woofers” on the Lenovo Tab Plus deliver 26W of sound. | Image: Lenovo Tablets aren’t known for their room-shaking bass, but Lenovo’s new 11.5-inch Tab Plus is going all in. It features 26W of sound produced by four tweeters and four woofers split across each side of the tablet (when used in landscape mode). To fully take advantage of the Tab Plus’ sound capabilities, Lenovo has included the option to wirelessly connect o