Technology news

Image: Apple The iPhone 16 is nigh as Apple prepares to debut its next smartphone lineup on Monday, September 9th, at 1PM ET / 10AM PT. The company is expected to officially announce four phones as usual, with two standard iPhone 16s and two iPhone 16 Pro models, all likely packed with Apple Intelligence AI features.
You can catch the livestream at Apple’s own website, on its YouTube channel, and even on an Apple TV. (Apple usually makes sure you see this when you scroll from the home scre

Elon Musk's X is still banned in Brazil. In addition, Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes has said that any user who attempts to access the former Twitter via VPN faces thousands of dollars per day in fines.So, Brazilian posters need a new place to, well, post. And it appears many Brazilian X users have found a new online social media platform in the form of X competitor Bluesky.Last week, just 5 days after Brazil banned Musk's X in the country for failing to appoint a legal

You've likely come across the online sextortion scam before.An email pops up in your inbox with the sender claiming to have obtained your indiscreet photos or videos, such as nudes or sex tapes. For a price, they offer to keep the content private. But, if you don't give in to their blackmail, they threaten to release the photos publicly and send them to your friends and loved ones.SEE ALSO:Scammers are using pictures of your home to amplify sextortion threats
Despite being well known, scammers c

Nanoleaf’s Sense Plus Smart Switch wirelessly controls Nanoleaf’s lights, including its new ceiling light. | Image: Nanoleaf After nearly a decade of development, Nanoleaf’s smart switch is finally here. You can pre-order the $30 Sense Plus Smart Wireless “Anywhere” Switch today, and it should ship in October. But to get to this point, Nanoleaf had to pivot from its adoption of Thread and create a new, proprietary protocol called Litewave.
The battery-powered device

Nanoleaf’s Sense Plus Smart Switch wirelessly controls Nanoleaf’s lights, including its new ceiling light. | Image: Nanoleaf After nearly a decade of development, Nanoleaf’s smart switch is finally here. You can pre-order the $30 Sense Plus Smart Wireless “Anywhere” Switch today, and it should ship in October. But to get to this point, Nanoleaf had to pivot from its adoption of Thread and create a new, proprietary protocol called Litewave.
The battery-powered device

Over the summer, Disney's internal communications channels suffered a data breach. We now know that as a result of this breach, guests and employees were affected, with personal information being stolen by hackers.Earlier this summer, a hacker group called "NullBulge" gained access to over 1TB of sensitive data from Disney after infiltrating the company's internal Slack channels. Now, a new report by the Wall Street Journal, which viewed the leaked files, has uncovered more about exactly what wa

The Verge Negotiations for a new carriage deal between Disney and DirecTV are continuing into this weekend, reports Deadline. Meanwhile, the two are lobbing messaging at customers who are left out in the cold as the first NFL weekend kicks off.
It’s been a week since DirecTV customers have been able to watch channels like ABC or ESPN. Disney published posts on Instagram and elsewhere, Variety wrote, pointing DirecTV viewers to alternatives like Spectrum or Disney’s own Hulu with live

YouTube is building tools to detect AI-generated likenesses of artists like actors and musicians, the company's vice president of creator products Amjad Hanif wrote in a blog post this week. Hanif also repeatedly expressed that YouTube is "committed" to the responsible development of AI tools.The first of the new tools is "synthetic singing" identification within Content ID, a system of identifying copyrighted music that launched in 2007. Mashable reported back in 2016 that YouTube has paid bill

Celebrated indie writer/director Sean Baker isn't precious about sex. On social media, pearl-clutchers chatter about love scenes being unneeded in media. In politics, our bedroom activities and identities become fear-mongering talking points. Meanwhile, Baker shrugs off such puritanical shame, turning out one critically heralded movie after another that offers a defiantly casual yet humane portrait of sex work in the U.S.Among his most notable: Tangerine, which won a slew of Gotham Awards, follo

TL;DR: If you need high-quality scans anywhere, anytime, get SwiftScan VIP. A lifetime subscription to this iOS and Android-compatible OCR scanner is only £36.54 with the discount code SAVENOW. It's time to go back to school, but there's still plenty of time to prepare. If you're still cleaning the papers out of your desk, help this year go differently by getting a scanner that makes short work of digitising your notes, documents, and even books. SwiftScan is a simple scanner for

Starliner just after undocking from the ISS. | Screenshot: YouTube The Boeing Starliner spacecraft successfully completed its uncrewed flight back to Earth, NASA announced overnight. The return ended the Starliner’s most recent flight test months later than intended and leaves its original crew, NASA astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Suni Williams, aboard the International Space Station until next year.
The Starliner touched down right on time at 12:01 AM ET at White Sands S

You can buy a disassembled iPhone 4S framed for just $99. | Image: Grid Studio If you’re a fan of all things retro, Grid’s framed disassembled gadgets are a celebration of vintage tech you will likely find charming. The company turns obsolete smartphones, gaming consoles, controllers, and other old-school gizmos into collage-like artwork placed in shadowbox-style frames, making for incredibly unusual pieces of home or office decor. And right now through September 12th, many of our fa

Regular iPhone, rise up. | Photo by Dan Seifert / The Verge Look, I get it.People aren’t buying phones like they used to, so Apple’s really gotta put the squeeze on us every upgrade cycle. And recently, that has meant pushing more people toward the Pro iPhone, rather than the regular one. Every year for the past few years, Apple has withheld more and more features for its Pro phones, bring them down to the standard iPhone at a drip. But that might be changing this year, if the rumors

TL;DR: Live stream Republic of Ireland vs. England in the UEFA Nations League for free on ITVX. Access this free streaming site from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.The UEFA Nations League is back, and it marks the beginning of a new era for England. Lee Carsley has brought in a number of new faces in his role as interim manager, as England look to bounce back after losing in the final of Euro 2024.If you want to watch Republic of Ireland vs. England in the UEFA Nations League for free fro

TL;DR: Live stream New Zealand vs. South Africa in the 2024 Rugby Championship for free on NZR+. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.South Africa came from behind to steal the win over New Zealand in their first Rugby Championship matchup, in what was probably the game of the tournament so far. Can the All Blacks secure the first win over South Africa in this year's competition? It's a tough task, especially on South African soil.If you want to watch Ne

TL;DR: Live stream Germany vs. Hungary in the UEFA Nations League for free on L'Equipe. Access this free streaming site from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.The UEFA Nations League could present an opportunity for international sides like Germany to take small steps towards recovery. Germany were not poor at Euro 2024, but they have seriously high standards. And any tournament in which they don't fight for the title is seen as a failure.Hungary lost to Germany in Euro 2024, so they'll be l

The moment even the essence of warm weather hits my skin, it becomes ice cream season. After a sweltering day when the temperature finally breaks, there's nothing like the ritual of getting ice cream as a cold, sweet treat. However, like all little treats, they add up, even when buying pints at the corner store.So what are you to do? Get a time-extensive ice cream machine that requires long churning? Maybe. But the internet's favorite option offers a more accessible shortcut.I can't tell you exa

TL;DR: For just $32.97 until September 29, turn your TV into a 4K digital art gallery with Dreamscreens — no complicated setup required.We all love a good Netflix binge, but when the screen goes dark, your TV becomes just another lifeless box in the room. Why let it sit there when it could be displaying breathtaking art? On sale for $32.97 through September 29, Dreamscreens lets you turn your TV into a stunning 4K digital art gallery, adding a whole new dimension to your space.With Dreamsc

TL;DR: Protect up to 10 devices with FastestVPN’s lifetime subscription for just $29.99 through September 29 — and enjoy top-tier speed and security.When it comes to choosing a VPN, you shouldn’t have to pick between speed and security. With FastestVPN, you get the best of both worlds — blazing-fast internet speeds paired with advanced security features that keep your online activity private and secure. Get lifetime access to FastestVPN for $29.99 until September 29.Faste

TL;DR: Upgrade your ride with a nine-inch wireless car display with rear cam compatibility on sale for $94.97 (reg. $179). Opens in a new windowCredit: RochasDivineMart9-inch Wireless Car Display with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto Compatibility & Phone Mirroring$94.97 $179.99 Save $85.02Get DealThere's more to driving than just getting from point A to point B. Most cars can do that, but not all cars can seamlessly integrate with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and rear cams. If yours only sup

Overwhelmed by the state of the world? Trying to find something fun to watch on your friendly neighborhood international multibillion-dollar corporation's streaming service? It's OK to ignore the ever-growing pile of worthy but harrowing dramas and acclaimed documentaries on your watchlist for another hour or two. Treat yourself by hitting play on some of the finest comedies in the Amazon Prime Video library. From old faves to cult comedies and sweet hidden gems, whether you're after a highbrow

There's no such thing as a universal best laptop. Whether a laptop works well for you — and there could be several that fit the bill — is a largely subjective decision that comes down to your primary use cases, your preferred operating system, and your budget.This is an annoying fact of life for both laptop shoppers and those of us doling out "best laptop" recommendations, since we can't make custom judgment calls for everyone in need of a new machine. (I would love to, but I've got

Every band has its biggest fans. The '90s slacker/alt rock group Pavement is probably the greatest, most vital musical group in existence to someone, but right from its opening frames, Alex Ross Perry's Pavements deflates the grandeur of this idea, sarcastically overstating the band’s stature in its opening text. In an age of musical biopic plenty, this semi-ironic, postmodern take — which runs through Perry's part drama, part documentary, and part mockumentary — may be just wh

So, you've built yourself a fancy gaming PC. You sifted through all the specs, stressed over snagging your dream graphics card, and painstakingly obsessed over what kind of cooling system you'll use. Congrats! You did it.OK, now that we've celebrated your triumphs, it's time to get real. In truth, you're really only getting started, because now you have to worry about all of your peripherals: Monitors, mice, gaming headsets, and more. Even if you already have all those things, until you've got y

The best deals to watch 'Beetlejuice' (1988) online:BEST DEAL FOR MOST PEOPLEMax (with ads) annual subscription$99.99/year(save $1.66/month)Get DealBEST DEAL WITH NO ADSMax (no ads) annual subscription$149.99/year(save $3.50/month)Get DealBEST DEAL FOR CRICKET CUSTOMERSMax (with ads)Free for Cricket customers on the $60/month unlimited plan(save $9.99/month)Get DealBEST VIDEO-ON-DEMAND DEALRent 'Beetlejuice' on demand$3.79 at Prime Video Get DealBEST BUNDLE DEALDisney+, Hulu, and Max$16.99 per m

TL;DR: Watch Phoenix Mercury vs. Seattle Storm in the WNBA with WNBA League Pass. Avoid blackouts and watch the WNBA from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.The WNBA 2024 playoffs kick off later this month, and both the Phoenix Mercury and the Seattle Storm have now qualified. As they go into this next fixture, each team will be looking to improve their positioning.If you want to watch Phoenix Mercury vs. Seattle Storm in the WNBA from anywhere in the world, keep reading to find out all the i

TL;DR: Live stream Pegula vs. Sabalenka in the 2024 US Open final for free on 9Now or TVNZ+. Access these free streaming platforms from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.Every top tennis player dreams of winning the US Open, but so few get the opportunity to compete for the prize. Pegula and Sabalenka have made it through round after round of tough competition, and now have a chance of winning the whole thing. It's going to be an absolute battle, and you can watch every shot without spending

TL;DR: This like-new HP EliteBook 840 G5 is on sale for $319.97 (reg. $410). When you’re juggling work or school, it helps to have a laptop that doesn’t slow you down. Whether you’re hopping between meetings, working remotely, or tackling assignments between classes, having a dependable device can really ease the load. This HP EliteBook blends power and portability for a reasonable price, just $319.97 while it's on sale, but it's normally $410. Specs and expectationsT

TL;DR: A Koofr 1TB Lifetime Cloud Storage Subscription is on sale for $159.99 (reg. $810). Opens in a new windowCredit: KoofrKoofr Cloud Storage: Lifetime Subscription (1TB)$159.99 $810.00 Save $650.01Get DealSo many cloud storage services come with a monthly fee. It may feel cheap at first, but it really adds up over the months and years. The cheaper overall alternative is to get cloud storage that lasts for life without needing to pay more than a one-time fee. Right now, you can get a Koo

Déa Kulumbegashvili's April is a bone-rattling drama about what it means to be a woman in the country of Georgia. The nation's laws permit pregnancy termination only up to 12 weeks — before some people even know they're expecting — and even then, rural stigma prevents many of them from accessing care. Kulumbegashvili places her protagonist Nina (Ia Sukhitashvili) against this volatile backdrop, as an obstetrician who risks her career by driving to far-flung villages to help pr

Imagine a family organizing app, powered partly by artificial intelligence, that can anticipate and execute your every need at home. It plans meals on your request, then makes a shopping list to use. You can tell it to create a to-do list for your child's birthday list, and it responds with tasks like sending invitations, buying decorations, and pre-ordering pizza; each task can be assigned deadlines and delegated to a partner or spouse within the app. It can receive emails you send it abou

In case you missed it, in Dubai, the restaurant and delivery chain Dodo Pizza added a new ChatGPT-created pizza to its menu — and it’s flying off the shelves like hot cakes, according to the BBC.Spartak Arutyunyan, the head of menu development for the pizza franchise, leaned on ChatGPT because he wanted a recipe that would satisfy the palette of the many diverse cultures that populate Dubai.What is in the ChatGPT-created pizza?The BBC report didn't give away the full recipe, but the

Want more iPhone 16 news? Check out our oft-updated live blog; we’ll be on the ground in Cupertino covering all things Apple before, after, and during the event.Countless Apple iPhone 16 rumors have been flooding in – and they're helping us decode the mystery of how it'll be different from iPhone 15. We’re hearing tons whispers about a possible camera redesign for the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus models. The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are also getting some camera

Want more iPhone 16 news? Check out our oft-updated live blog; we’ll be on the ground in Cupertino covering all things Apple before, after, and during the event.The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are reportedly getting a video quality boost.According to 9to9Mac, the iPhone 16 Pro will shoot videos in 4K resolution at 120fps (frames per second). This is a boost from the iPhone 15 Pro, which shoots 4K at 60fps. The iPhone 16 Pro and the iPhone 16 Pro Max reportedly come with the sa