Technology news

Image: Sony Concord game director Ryan Ellis has stepped down following the decision to take the game offline, according to Kotaku. Developers at Concord developer Firewalk Studios are also uncertain of the future of the studio.
Ellis, whose resume also includes more than seven years at Bungie, informed staff of the change in role last week, Kotaku reports. (His LinkedIn still lists his title as “Game Director.”) Ellis also authored the PlayStation Blog post announcing Concord’

Californians can now add their driver’s licenses or state IDs to their Apple Wallets. | Image: Apple Apple announced that starting today, California residents can add their driver’s licenses and state IDs to Apple Wallet on their iPhones and Apple Watches as part of the state’s mobile driver’s license (mDL) pilot program.
As announced last month, up to 1.5 million pilot participants can add the documents to Apple Wallet by scanning their driver’s license or state ID

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge The Federal Trade Commission published a new report about the data collection policies of social media platforms and video streaming services, and the results are damning, if not unexpected. The report, which was released on September 19th, found that these platforms not only surveil consumers but often retain vast troves of data indefinitely about users and non-users alike — and suggests they can’t be trusted to regulate themselves.
Given the

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge The Federal Trade Commission published a new report about social media platforms and video streaming services’ data collection policies, and the results are damning if not unexpected. The report, which was released on September 19th, found that these platforms not only surveil consumers but often retain vast troves of data indefinitely about users and non-users alike — and suggests they can’t be trusted to regulate themselves.
Given the b

Image: Logitech Logitech is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its G502 gaming mouse with a limited-edition aluminum version. The G502 X Plus AL Edition has the same functionality as the standard wireless G502 X mouse, plus an aluminum chassis with laser-etched markings, including a serial number from 1 to 502.Sorry to put my high school chem lab assistant hat on, but that L in “AL Edition” should really be lowercase — though I speculate Logitech wanted to avoid people confusi

Image: Apple Apple has just released public betas of iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1, and they include upcoming Apple Intelligence features like text rewriting tools, the glowy new Siri design, a “Clean Up” tool to remove objects from your photos, and more.To be able to access the betas, you’ll need to register on Apple’s beta software program site. Once you’ve done that, you should be able to see the beta update available in settings for you to downlo

The Hipstamatic Party! Disposable Camera app saves event organizers from having to chase down guests to get their photos. | Screenshot: Apple App Store Hipstamatic’s new Party! Disposable Camera app is designed to digitally replicate the experience of guests snapping candid photos at a wedding or other event using a disposable film camera. There are no film development fees afterward, but it’s only free if your guest list is no larger than five people.
At its core, the app is yet ano

“Sorry about that...” | Image: Starship Technologies One of Starship Technologies’ autonomous food delivery robots tripped up a school employee at Arizona State University last September. As 404 Media reports, when contacted by the police, an employee asked for the person’s info to share insurance info, and to offer a few promo codes.
A police report said video footage confirmed the person’s description of the incident. They waited for a delivery robot to pass. Once

watchOS 11 makes the Apple Watch an even better remote for the Apple TV. | Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge Previous versions of watchOS allowed the Apple Watch to be used as a remote control for an Apple TV, with limited functionality. With watchOS 11, the smartwatch can potentially completely replace the Siri Remote that now ships with Apple’s streaming box, with new capabilities spotted by 9to5Mac.
Before watchOS 11, the Apple Watch’s Remote app could only be used to pl

Image: Getty Almost a year since the horrifying crash in which one of its driverless vehicles ran over and dragged a woman 20 feet, Cruise is planning its return to the Bay Area. The company said in a post on X that it is deploying “several” manually driven mapping vehicles in Sunnyvale and Mountain View, with the goal of progressing to “supervised testing” with five autonomous vehicles later this fall.“Resuming testing in the Bay Area is an important step forward a

The State Department announced on Wednesday its entering the late 20th century and immediately making its new online passport renewal system fully available to the public.Tweet may have been deletedThe new offering replaces the former method — printing out a paper application and mailing it with a check. The State Department declares the online renewal system "secure" and says it will save travelers time and headaches.SEE ALSO:How to file taxes for free online
Clicking through to the onlin

A peculiar bug has appeared in iOS 18.The new Apple software update, which goes live for everyone on Friday, has already become home to a weird little glitch that has potentially catastrophic consequences. According to 9to5Mac, if you reply with a threaded message when someone shares an Apple Watch face with you over Messages, you run the risk of losing your entire text history with that person.SEE ALSO:Apple iOS 18 release date today: When you can download it
9to5Mac went a little deeper into w

Your favorite third-party apps and devices may soon become more integrated with Apple's iOS mobile operating system then ever before – at least if you're in the EU.On Thursday, the European Commission began its first proceedings in order "to assist Apple in complying with its interoperability obligations" that are enforced under the Digital Markets Act (DMA).The first proceedings are actually two specific proceedings. One proceeding is in regard to how iOS devices work alongside other

You can save well over $1,000 on LG’s vibrant 65-inch C4 OLED TV. | Image: LG Amazon’s October Prime Day event is just a few weeks away, but if you can’t wait until then, eBay’s taking 20 percent off select new and refurbished items as part of its fall sale when you apply code FALL20OFF at checkout. The promotion will last through 11:59PM PT on September 30th, offering you an excellent chance to save on a wide range of gadgets if you can’t wait until October.The sal

You can save well over a $1,000 on LG’s vibrant 65-inch C4 OLED TV. | Image: LG Amazon’s October Prime Day event is just a few weeks away, but if you can’t wait until then, eBay’s taking 20 percent off select new and refurbished items as part of its fall sale when you apply code FALL20OFF at checkout. The promotion will last through 11:59PM PT on September 30th, offering you an excellent chance to save on a wide range of gadgets if you can’t wait until October.The s

Image: Microsoft Microsoft is launching a Windows app today for macOS, iOS, iPadOS, web browsers, Android devices, and even Windows PCs. The Windows app is essentially a hub for streaming a copy of Windows from a variety of sources, including Windows 365, Azure Virtual Desktop, Remote Desktop, and more.
This new unified app has been in testing for nearly a year and includes a customizable homescreen, multi-monitor support, and USB redirection so you can use local devices like webcams, storage de

SAVE $50.01: As of Sept. 19, get the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra at Amazon on sale for $599.98. That's 8% off its normal price of $649.99.Opens in a new windowCredit: AmazonSamsung Galaxy Watch Ultra$599.98 at Amazon $649.99 Save $50.01Get DealThough Apple just debuted the new Apple Watch Series 10, not everyone is going to be on board with it as their daily driver smartwatch. It may feel like Apple has a hold on just about everyone when it comes to wearables, but the Android crowd flocks to Sams

Well, well, well... another retailer is entering the October Prime Day arena. Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days runs October 8 and 9, with fellow retailers joining in. Target has announced the return of Circle Week from October 6 through 12, and Best Buy dropped an entire calendar of fall savings that runs from September 25 to October 25, and hidden in that month is a 48-hour sale spanning October 8 and 9. The next retailer to join in on the fall sales is Walmart, which just announced its holiday pla

If you work from home or have a gaming set-up on your PC, you'll want to be using a high-quality monitor. If you're in need of an upgrade, you're in luck today because Amazon has some great deals on Samsung monitors. Here are some of the best deals:Discounted Samsung monitors at AmazonBest overall dealSamsung Essential Monitor S3 (27-inch, curved, HDMI/VGA)$139.96 at Amazon(save $40.03)Get DealBest gaming monitor dealSamsung S39C Series Gaming Monitor (32-inch)$199.99 at Amazon(save $70)Get Deal

Oooo, pretty! | Image: Microsoft Before Sony went all-in with a pricey mid-cycle console refresh by announcing its upcoming PlayStation 5 Pro, Microsoft laid out plans for a premium console with aesthetics at the forefront. The 2TB “Galaxy Black” special-edition Xbox Series X is mostly the same as the standard Series X, but it features a double-capacity SSD and a slick paint job. We’re inching toward its October 15th release, and interested parties willing to pony up the $599.9

Amazon is using generative AI to create tailored product recommendations based on user’s shopping history. | Image: Amazon Amazon has introduced a batch of new generative AI tools that aim to improve the retail experience for both customers and sellers on the platform. One of the more notable features announced at the Amazon Accelerate event on Thursday will use customers’ preferences, search, browsing, and purchase history to create personalized product recommendations on Amazon&rsq

The Yao Ming of penguins has been born and is thriving in an Australian aquarium. You've got to see Pesto the penguin, a baby King Penguin at Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium. You are not prepared for the height and girth of this absolute unit. Feast your eyes like Pesto feasts on 25 fish per day.
Pesto is legitimately huge. He's an outlier in size and already towering over the adult penguins in his enclosure. The aquarium reports he is already 21 kilograms, or nearly 50 pounds, at just nine months o

The United States Environmental Protection Agency building is seen on August 21st in Washington, DC. | Photo by Tierney L. Cross / Getty Images Implementing Project 2025, the conservative manifesto written by ex-Trump officials, could have serious repercussions on public health, former Environmental Protection Agency employees warn.
Air quality protections issued over the past four years are supposed to cut down pollution and associated health risks, preventing premature deaths and hospital visi

Illustration by Cath Virginia / The Verge | Photos from Getty Images Top policy executives from Meta, Microsoft, and Google testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Wednesday about what they’re doing to protect US voters from foreign election threats in 2024. But the elephant in the room was the pressure campaign social media companies have faced from the right to take a more hands-off approach when it comes to labeling or demoting misinformation.With 48 days until the US pres

Fans of The Sims have been creating imaginative relationship dynamics and Jerry Springer dramas on their computer screens for years. Now, making your Sims polyamorous is easier than ever as EA have added ethical non-monogamy to The Sims 4 Lovestruck Expansion Pack.Non-monogamy in its many forms seems to be everywhere right now. Hundreds of articles have been talking about non-monogamy and polyamory. Some are calling it a fad, others are pointing out that it’s always been around. Trainwreck

Chrome users will need to either unlock their Android screen or use the Password Manager PIN feature to use passkeys on new devices. | Illustration: The Verge Google is improving passkey support in Chrome by making it easier to use the passwordless sign-in credentials across different devices. The search giant is introducing a Google Password Manager PIN that allows users to securely save and synchronize passkeys for use across Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android devices. These updates are a

TL;DR: Live stream Crvena Zvezda vs. Benfica in the Champions League for free on Tabii. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.Crvena Zvezda vs. Benfica in the Champions League is not the most glamorous fixture on the list, but that doesn't mean that fans from around the world won't be looking for the best way to watch all the action. The good news is that it's possible to live stream select Champions League fixtures for free this season with a simple hack

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 will officially launch on November 19th, 2024. | Image: Microsoft Preorders are now open for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 through the Microsoft Store. The next installment of the franchise will launch on Xbox and PC on November 19th with updates that include new aircraft like hot air balloons and a more realistic looking simulated Earth. But the most welcome upgrade could be a much smaller installation size.
The current version of Microsoft Flight Simulator nee

Check out the best Amazon deals of the day as of Sept. 19:OUR TOP PICKGoogle Pixel Buds A$64 at Amazon(save $35)Get DealBEST STREAMING DEALAmazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max$34.99 at Amazon(save $25 with on-page coupon FTVMAXUP24)Get DealBEST SMARTWATCH DEALFitbit Google Ace LTE kids smartwatch$199.95 at Amazon(save $30)Get DealBEST BLUETOOTH SPEAKER DEALAnker Soundcore Motion Boom Bluetooth speaker$69.99 at Amazon(save $40 with on-page coupon)Get Deal
If you're counting down the days to Amazon's Octob

Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge A few months ago, I was driving my 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 when, seemingly out of nowhere, my driver-side door made several unusual clicking noises and then popped open.“That’s not good,” I thought, as I quickly shut the door while also attempting to keep my hands on the wheel. And apparently, I wasn’t the only one experiencing this problem. Hundreds of other VW owners were also struggling to keep their doors closed while driving.

Issa Rae. | Photo by Rodin Eckenroth / WireImage We still don’t know much about the seventh season of Black Mirror, but at least the show’s return will have a stacked cast. Netflix announced a big list of actors who will appear in the next installment of the anthology when it premieres in 2025, and it includes Doctor Who alum Peter Capaldi, Barbie star Issa Rae, Sunny’s Rashida Jones, and the always delightful Paul Giamatti.
Here’s the full list:Awkwafina
Milanka Brooks
P

Image: Sony PlayStation has deftly come up with a way to get more people on board with the PS5 Pro. The company has announced a special 30th anniversary collection for the suite of PS5 consoles and accessories that is unfortunately sick as hell.“To celebrate this 30th anniversary milestone, we had to create something that honored the history and joy that PlayStation has brought us all,” said PlayStation platform business CEO Hideaki Nishino. All the consoles and accessories are cast

SAVE $110: As of Sept. 19, get a renewed Apple Watch Ultra at Amazon for just $449. That's 20% off its normal price of $559. Opens in a new windowCredit: AmazonApple Watch Ultra (renewed)$449.00 at Amazon $559.00 Save $110.00Get DealApple may have just introduced the Apple Watch Series 10, but that doesn't mean you have to pick it up right away. In fact, you may be better served grabbing an older model, especially since you can get the original Apple Watch Ultra for a great price right now. It c

TL;DR: Live stream Monaco vs. Barcelona in the Champions League for free on Tabii. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.There are a number of really interesting matchups in the first round of Champions League fixtures, including Monaco vs. Barcelona. The visiting side will be favorites to take all three points, but don't rule out Monaco. The French team have started the season very strongly, and will fancy their chances on home turf.If you want to watch

TL;DR: Live stream Atletico Madrid vs. RB Leipzig in the Champions League for free on RTL ZWEE. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.The new Champions League format is great, but we think the best thing about this new season of Europe's premier club competition is that you can watch a bunch of top fixtures without spending anything. There's a simple hack that fans can use to access free streaming platforms from around the world.If you want to watch Atlet

TL;DR: Live stream Atalanta vs. Arsenal in the Champions League for free on RTÉ Player. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.Atalanta won the Europa League in style last year, but the Champions League is going to be a challenge on another level. And it doesn't exactly start with an easy fixture, as they face an in-form Arsenal side fresh from beating Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League. It's set to be a fascinating tactical battle between two

Image: Pocketpair Pocketpair has responded to the lawsuit filed against it by Nintendo and The Pokémon Company. The studio that developed Palworld, the game at the heart of the suit, issued a statement early this morning saying it doesn’t know what patents it violated. “At this moment, we are unaware of the specific patents we are accused of infringing upon, and we have not been notified of such details,” the statement read.
According to Nintendo’s press release, t