Technology news

The upcoming FX series Alien: Earth from TV maestro Noah Hawley (Fargo, Legion) remains mostly shrouded in mystery, but an interesting tidbit just came into focus. Rebecca and Kevin Joelson, the producers behind the show's teaser trailer, recently shared images and video of how the clip came together. The biggest surprise is that the trailer's deadly xenomorph was made via practical effects, not computer-generated images (CGI). In the clip on the Joelsons' website, an actor is festooned with the

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge Microsoft is warning users that some manually made Windows 11 installer media could contain a bug where new PC installs may not get future security updates. It affects USB and CD installers made with October and November release patches, which may be relevant to professional users who set up PCs within business or education environments, or enthusiasts who recently built their own PCs.
Microsoft published the bug in its known issues page for Windows 11 (ve

No, it wasn't just you. On the day after Christmas, ChatGPT stopped working for many.OpenAI's flagship chatbot experienced major outages around 2 p.m. ET on Thursday, right as some of its users were theoretically wanting something to do after getting over the Christmas rush. According to Down Detector, tons of users reported that the site wasn't working for them in the early afternoon, though the reports started receding after half an hour or so. That said, at the time of writing, ChatGPT isn't

Apple has no plans whatsoever in making its own version of Google.It's not clear if anyone even really wanted such a thing, but if they did, they got bad news this week. Reuters spotted a federal court declaration filed by Apple in D.C. on Monday, and MacRumors honed in on some interesting nuggets. In particular, Apple senior VP of services Eddy Cue laid out in clear terms why Apple isn't interested in creating its own search engine:It would be very expensiveThe recent and growing injection of A

Image: The Verge ChatGPT isn’t working for many users right now. With numerous reports on social media, we also confirmed that the chatbot loads but isn’t able to respond to queries, while others are seeing an “internal server error” message.
It looks like the outage started around 1:30PM ET, which is when reports began to spike on Down Detector. At around 2PM ET, OpenAI posted an update to its status page, saying ChatGPT, the API, and its text-to-video generator Sora are

Image: The Verge ChatGPT stopped working for many users on Thursday afternoon, when the chatbot suddenly couldn’t respond to queries, with some users seeing an “internal server error” message.
It looks like the outage started around 1:30PM ET, which is when reports began to spike on Down Detector. At 2PM ET, OpenAI posted an update to its status page, saying ChatGPT, the API, and its text-to-video generator Sora are “currently experiencing high error rates.”As of 6:

Image: The Verge ChatGPT stopped working for many users on Thursday afternoon, when the chatbot suddenly couldn’t respond to queries, with some users seeing an “internal server error” message.
It looks like the outage started around 1:30PM ET, which is when reports began to spike on Down Detector. At 2PM ET, OpenAI posted an update to its status page, saying ChatGPT, the API, and its text-to-video generator Sora are “currently experiencing high error rates.” OpenAI

If the thought of receiving radio signals from space conjures an image of Jodie Foster in the movie Contact, hunched over a computer console and listening for spaceship schematics beamed to Earth by intelligent beings from Vega, that’s, um, a decent first step toward understanding what scientists have in mind when they tune in to space’s radio signals. The reality is less cinematic, but that doesn’t make it boring. Radio telescopes — most famously the ill-fated Areci

Photo by Allison Johnson / The Verge Loading up HDR photos and videos can be a great way of showcasing the fancy display on your new phone and testing just how bright it can get. But sometimes, especially at night, you might not want your screen to crank into overdrive with blinding highlights just because someone posted a random video to Instagram in HDR. (Devices are increasingly set to capture video with the increased dynamic range by default, so let’s not blame each other.)
With its fo

Illustration: The Verge Apple senior VP of services Eddy Cue says Apple will not create a search engine to compete with Google as it “would cost billions of dollars and take many years,” as recorded in a motion to intervene filed with the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday. The purpose of the motion is to participate in the penalty phase of the DOJ’s antitrust case against Google, where as much as $20 billion could be at stake for Apple in its ongoing default search engine d

WD_Black Xbox expansion cards still sport the brand’s trademark rugged exterior, only in a much tinier form. | Image: Western Digital If you’ve just unwrapped a new Xbox Series X or Series S for Christmas, you’ll have enough storage out of the box to download several games. But you’ll quickly feel the squeeze from 100GB-plus installs, especially if you tend to keep a heavy rotation. Expansion cards are your only relief on Xbox consoles if you’re playing titles optim

Image: LG LG has developed a new lamp that doubles as an indoor garden. The lamp, which LG will show off at CES in January, serves as an adjustable grow light for the tray of up to 20 plants beneath it, while also brightening up your room.
It has two different lighting modes: downward-facing lighting during the day that helps grow your plants, and upward-facing lighting at night to help brighten up your home. The lamp comes equipped with a 1.5-gallon water tank and “automatically dispenses

Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge, Getty ImagesGlasses may be more promising as the head-worn computers of the future — and there’s a chance Apple might be looking in that direction. Apple’s Vision Pro headset is an incredible piece of technology, but even Apple’s design and marketing magic hasn’t been enough to convince many people to don a VR headset for an entire day. Instead, people seem more willing to use discreet wearables like Bluetooth headphones, smartwatch

Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge As a special holiday treat, on December 25th, the social media app Bluesky announced that it has added a new feature to its mobile app: a list of Trending topics that lets you know what subjects are popular among its users.Screenshot: BlueskyBluesky now shows you its current Trends below the search bar.
The new feature can be found by selecting the search icon (the magnifying glass), which appears at the bottom of the screen on the mobile app and on the left side

TL;DR: Score a refurbished 2020 MacBook Air with the M1 chip on sale for $514.99 (reg. $1,499) — dependable and affordable.Finding a computer that balances speed, reliability, and portability doesn’t have to mean spending a fortune. If you’ve been on the hunt for a solid laptop to handle workdays, weekend streaming binges, and everything in between, this deal on the 2020 MacBook Air for $514.99 might just end your search.At the heart of this MacBook Air is the Apple M1 chip, wh

An age of discovery is upon us. Earth is an ocean planet, with over 70 percent of its surface covered in seas. With deep-sea robots, scientists regularly reveal new insights into the most mysterious realms of these expansive waters. Many alien ecosystems dwell in previously unknown canyons or cling to submerged mountains.In 2024, the Schmidt Ocean Institute, an ocean exploration group that uses a robot capable of probing depths down to 14,760 feet (4,500 meters), embarked on a 55-day expedition

TL;DR: This wireless CarPlay and Android Auto adapter brings streaming apps from your phone to your car for $84.97 (reg. $149).Cables are so last decade. It's about to be 2025 — if your car setup still involves wrangling cords to connect your phone, it’s time for a serious upgrade. This wireless CarPlay and Android Auto adapter is here to simplify your ride and make every drive feel a little more futuristic, on sale for 43% off at $84.97.In just seconds, you can connect your phone to

Squid Game Season 2 may have ended on a brutal cliffhanger, but fret not! The show's third and final season is confirmed for a 2025 release — and the Season 2 finale even includes a post-credits scene to hint at what's coming next.SEE ALSO:'Squid Game' Season 2 is ruined by its latest twist: Full season review
After Seong Gi-hun's (Lee Jung-jae, The Acolyte) rebellion against the games fails, Squid Game moves to a mysterious look at Season 3. In the sneak peek, three players — 096, 1

TL;DR: For only $24.97, grab a lifetime license to Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 and level up your productivity.Looking for a smarter, budget-friendly way to upgrade your productivity in 2025? For just $24.97 (reg. $229), you can own Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 — a lifetime license that includes many of the tools you need to work smarter.Microsoft Office 2019 is trusted by millions for its powerful features and user-friendly design. While it’s not the newest ver

Have you ever caught yourself scrolling aimlessly on a dating app, rejecting profiles for reasons you can’t articulate? Well, maybe it’s a ‘me’ problem, rather than a ‘you’ problem.I’m someone who has always struggled with emotional intimacy and showing vulnerability. As a guy in my late 30s who’s done OK in my London PR career, I have a strong desire to be independent and protect the life I’ve created for myself, at times fearing being taken

A little over an hour into Babygirl, something magical happens. SEE ALSO:'Babygirl' review: Nicole Kidman to 'Challengers': Hold my beer
CEO Romy (Nicole Kidman) and intern Samuel (Harris Dickinson) meet in an opulent hotel room to rekindle their BDSM-tinged affair. Right as they reconnect — with Samuel finally calling Romy his "babygirl," no less — you hear them. The telltale snare drums and synths of George Michael's "Father Figure," ushering us into a montage where Romy and Samuel

TL;DR: Learn piano your way, on your schedule with Skoove Premium and get lifetime access to 400+ lessons for $109.97 (reg. $299).So, you want to learn piano but the thought of rigid lessons and intimidating teachers makes you cringe? Enter Skoove Premium: the AI-powered piano-learning app that’s as laid-back or ambitious as you want it to be. No pressure, no stress, just you and your keyboard figuring it out at your own pace.With Skoove, you get lifetime access — on sale for $109.97

Our growing reliance on technology at home and in the workplace has raised the profile of e-waste. This consists of discarded electrical devices including laptops, smartphones, televisions, computer servers, washing machines, medical equipment, games consoles and much more. The amount of e-waste produced this decade could reach as much as 5 million metric tonnes, according to recent research published in Nature. This is around 1,000 times more e-waste than was produced in 2023. According to the

Mining for hidden gems on Netflix? We've got you covered.Whether you've been scrolling for ten minutes or ten hours, finding the right Netflix show can be tricky. You'll pass up something perfect for you because you don't recognize the title, watch something you hate because it had a cool thumbnail, then panic and give up.So, we at Mashable put our heads together to find a whole bunch of shows you're probably scrolling past but will definitely love. Because we've had this problem too. Listed in

During Squid Game Season 2's Mingle game, contestants stand on a rotating platform as an unsettling children's song plays. "Round and round, round and round," children sing. "Let's go around in circles and dance."SEE ALSO:The 21 best TV shows of 2024, and where to stream them
The song may be an apt way to kick off one of Squid Game's many deadly children's games, but it also proves a pretty accurate description of the viewing experience of Season 2. Despite all the hype — three years of it

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine. There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from pr

TL;DR: Spend your life learning new skills with unlimited access to the full 1,000+ course catalog on StackSkills Unlimited, just £15.93 (reg. £478.74). When you're in school, learning sort of happens at you. There are teachers and homework and tests, but when you're an adult, those aren't quite as common. Taking the initiative to learn something new can be tough, but there are plenty of courses out there to help. Plus, they might even help elevate your career. Whether you'

TL;DR: Live stream Wolves vs. Manchester United in the Premier League for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.The Premier League is available to live stream on Prime Video over the festive period. A number of top fixtures are hosted by Prime Video this Christmas, including Wolves vs. Manchester United.Are Manchester United on the road to recovery? It's probably too early to say, but Rubem Amorim has secured some decent

TL;DR: Live stream Southampton vs. West Ham in the Premier League for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.The Premier League is available to live stream on Prime Video this Christmas. Fans can watch a number of top fixtures over the festive period, including Southampton vs. West Ham.Southampton are rooted to the bottom of the table, but they'll still believe that they can turn things around. Russell Martin was sacked e

TL;DR: Live stream Nottingham Forest vs. Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.The Premier League is available to live stream for free this Christmas, with some massive games hosted by Prime Video. Fans can forget all about the festivities and live stream a number of key games, including Nottingham Forest vs. Tottenham Hotspur.Nottingham Forest are flying high this season, but

TL;DR: Live stream Newcastle United vs. Aston Villa in the Premier League for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.10 Premier League games are available to live stream for free this Christmas, including Newcastle United vs. Aston Villa.Both sides are battling it out for a place in the top half of the table, which isn't exactly where they'd want to be at this stage of the season. But there is still a lot of football to b

TL;DR: Live stream Manchester City vs. Everton in the Premier League for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.Prime Video is hosting 10 live games from the Premier League this Christmas, including Manchester City vs. Everton.Manchester City are having a pretty wild season by their high standards. It feels weird to see a Pep Guardiola side struggling like this, and Everton will be looking to make things much worse for th

TL;DR: Live stream Liverpool vs. Leicester City in the Premier League for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.Prime Video is the best place to live stream the Premier League this Christmas, with 10 live games hosted by the platform over the festive period. There are some really interesting games on offer, including Liverpool vs. Leicester City.Liverpool are looking like title favorites at this mid-way stage of the seas

TL;DR: Live stream Chelsea vs. Fulham in the Premier League for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.Prime Video is the place to watch the Premier League this Christmas, with 10 live games available to stream on Dec. 26-27.There are a number of big games taking place over this period, including Chelsea vs. Fulham. Chelsea are starting to look like the real deal, and possibly the most likely team to challenge Liverpool f

TL;DR: Live stream Bournemouth vs. Crystal Palace in the Premier League for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.The Premier League is partnering up with Prime Video this Christmas, with 10 live games available to stream over the festive period.There are a number of interesting matchups to consider, including Bournemouth vs. Crystal Palace. Bournemouth are enjoying themsleves this season, with a number of high profile v

Connections: Sports Edition is a new version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans. Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for