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Illustration by Alex Castro / Th Slack appears to be having issues for some people, with reports coming in of users who can’t connect to the service, receive errors when trying to send messages, and can’t even access Slack’s website . The issue doesn’t appear to affect everyone, and Slack hasn’t gone as far as calling it an outage on its status page . The differences in experiences point to a possible routing issue or the even more likely culprit, DNS (it’s always DNS). Some of my co-workers have had issues today, while it’s working fine for others (including, unfortunately, me). It’s unclear how widespread the issues are — DownDetector only shows a thousand or so reports . We're doing our best! — Slack (@SlackHQ) September 30, 2021 The company says it’s working on a... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/30/22702876/slack-is-down-outage-morning-disruption-work-chat

It’s all too easy to allow distractions such as social media or videos to seduce us from the things we’re supposed to be doing — such as, say, writing articles about Windows 11. Features such as Focus assist are now being included with operating systems to try to help us keep our eyes on the road, so to speak. Microsoft’s Focus assist was first introduced in a 2018 update of Windows 10, where it replaced a feature known as Quiet Hours, and while Windows 11 doesn’t offer any radical updates, it has made the feature easier to use. Focus assist stops notifications from popping up on your screen and can be activated automatically when you put on your display on presentation mode, are playing a game, or are using an app in full-screen mode. ... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/22696232/focus-assist-windows-11-microsoft-how-to

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge The last five months marked a turning point in Apple’s company culture — will it last? Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/22700898/apple-company-culture-change-secrecy-employee-unrest

Clubhouse Clubhouse is getting a bunch of new features next month, including one many people have wanted: in-app recording. Starting in October, app users will be able to record a room, save it to their profile and club, or download it. Clubhouse is calling the feature “replays.” Creators and moderators are the ones who can record, and they can toggle that option on or off. Rooms must be public to be recorded. Along with full recordings, users will be able to create 30-second shareable clips in rooms that allow it. The app is also gaining a search feature so people can type a keyword or name and receive the rooms, people, clubs, and bios that match. Finally, spatial audio is also now coming to Android devices after rolling out to iOS devices in... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/30/22702034/clubhouse-recording-in-app-clip-tool-update

Photo by Vlad Savov / The Verge The USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) — the group that maintains the USB standard across its many varied incarnations — has introduced new, official logos for companies to use to brand their USB-C cables and packaging to go with its USB4 and 240W power standards. The goal is a noble one, aiming to help ease the confusion about the different types of USB-C cables (which can differ widely in things like charging and data transfer speeds) when you’re buying one. Naturally, the USB-IF, in its... unique wisdom, has chosen to simplify things the only way it knows how: a slew of new logos that will soon adorn packaging for cables and chargers to help indicate to customers what charging and data speeds their devices support. Because nothing says... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/30/22702453/usb-c-pd-240-watt-charging-usb4-data-transfer-logo-branding-standard

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Thursday said it’s looking into tightening rules around cell phone service, in an effort to rein in SIM swapping scams and port-out fraud, two ways fraudsters can access a person’s cell phone account and phone number for nefarious purposes. The agency says in a statement it has received numerous complaints “from consumers who have suffered significant distress, inconvenience, and financial harm” due to SIM swapping and port-out fraud. And, the FCC said, recent data breaches have exposed customer information that could make it easier for bad actors to carry out these kinds of attacks successfully. SIM swapping is when someone hijacks your cell phone number so they can intercept two-factor... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/30/22702544/fcc-rules-sim-swapping-port-out-fraud-cell-phone-carrier

Photo by Dieter Bohn / The Verge After announcing plans for digital car keys in its phones during the Galaxy S21 launch, Samsung is finally starting to add support for the feature . Samsung says support for the ultra wideband (UWB) and NFC-enabled digital car keys will hit South Korea first, and it will only work with one car to start — the all-electric Genesis GV60 . On devices that support UWB — the Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus and Ultra, Note 20 Ultra, and Galaxy Z Fold 2 and 3 — Samsung promises “passive entry,” meaning you can unlock and lock your car without pulling your phone out of your bag or pocket. With your phone nearby, you’ll also be able to start your car and make adjustments to mirrors, seats, and more. Image: Samsung How keys for the... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/30/22702348/samsung-digital-car-keys-uwb-genesis-gv60

The Zephyrus G14 is still great, but it’s no longer on top Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/22702219/asus-rog-zephyrus-g14-2021-gaming-laptop-review

Cryptocurrency mining rigs sit on three-storeys of racks inside the BitRiver Rus LLC cryptocurrency mining farm in Bratsk, Russia, on Friday, Nov. 8, 2019. | Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg via Getty Images China is cracking down on Bitcoin mining, and some experts fear that the cryptocurrency’s environmental footprint could become dirtier as a result. Bitcoin is incredibly energy hungry. To create new coins, miners race to solve complex puzzles using specialized machines. As a result, Bitcoin is estimated to use as much electricity annually as the entire country of Poland. Until this year, a majority of that electricity came from a mix of coal and hydropower in China. Last week, China sounded the death knell for Bitcoin mining within its borders when it made all cryptocurrency transactions and mining illegal — although most mining operations fled earlier in the year when bans were announced in provinces where most had previously set up... Continue reading… source https://www.theverg

Image: Lucasfilm Both Marvel and Star Wars can get a little too serious for their own good. Their stories are often so focused on what happened before, or what’s coming next, that they forget about the fact that people are tuning in to watch thrilling adventures about superheroes and space wizards. What I’m saying is, both franchises often put canon ahead of fun. But Disney Plus has offered them a chance to cut loose a little in the form of the animated anthologies What If…? and Star Wars: Visions . The two series take very different approaches to the concept of messing with established stories and characters — and some extra freedom means that Star Wars ends up being a lot more exciting. The premise of What If…? is pure comic book fodder: each episode... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/30/22702623/star-wars-visions-marvel-what-if-animated-anthologies-disney-plus

The Amazon Halo View and the Fitbit Charge 5. | Image: Amazon / Fitbit In the image above there are two wearables. One is Fitbit’s recently released Charge 5 , a $179.95 fitness tracker designed to measure everything from your heart rate to your sleep and even your skin temperature. The other is Amazon’s new $79.99 Halo View fitness tracker , which Amazon says can measure everything from your heart rate to your sleep and skin temperature. Ten points if you can tell me which is which. The Halo View was just one of a host of new devices announced by Amazon at its now annual fall hardware event this week. But while many of Amazon’s new products feature completely original designs and features, like its cute Astro “home robot” or Ring-branded home surveillance drone , there were a handful that bear a striking... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/22701965/amazon-fitbit-ecobee-basics-design-halo-view-smart-thermostat-clone-ripoff-regulators

Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images Twnety-one current and former employees of Jeff Bezos’ space company Blue Origin published a damning essay on Thursday saying the company “turns a blind eye to sexism, is not sufficiently attuned to safety concerns, and silences those who seek to correct wrongs.” Co-authored by Blue Origin’s former head of employee communications Alexandra Abrams, the essay describes multiple accounts of sexist and dismissive behavior from some of the company’s “one-hundred percent” male senior technical and program leaders and says “professional dissent at Blue Origin is actively stifled.” The employees accuse the company’s CEO Bob Smith of brushing off dissent by discouraging staff from raising questions during internal town halls, asking a colleague... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/30/22702335/jeff-bezos-employees-essay-blue-origin-toxic-workplace

Image: Wyze Wyze, the budget-focused tech company that now sells everything from security cameras to headphones , has launched a new smart scale with four built-in electrodes capable of measuring everything from body fat percentage to body water percentage. In addition to weighing humans, there is also a dedicated mode to let you weigh your “baby, pet, luggage, or your kid’s absurdly heavy backpack,” Wyze says. The Scale S follows the original Wyze Scale released last year , but it’s $5 cheaper with a price of just $15. Weight is displayed on the built-in 3.5-inch LED display, while a companion app (of course) allows you to set goals and track progress over time. It can sync data with Fitbit, Google Fit, and Apple Health and track data for up to... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/30/22701861/wyze-scale-s-smart-scales-app-price-health-tracking

Cross-app group chats between Instagram and Messenger. | Image: Facebook Facebook will now let you start cross-app group chats between Messenger and Instagram, the company announced Thursday . The update is a big step forward in Facebook’s ambitions to make its apps work better with each other. To be able to use the cross-app communications, you’ll have to opt in, and Facebook says that “over 70% of eligible people on Instagram have updated to the new Messenger experience.” The company is bringing other new features to the messaging apps in addition to cross-app group messaging. Polls will be available in group DMs on Instagram and in cross-app chats so you can, for example, vote on where to grab lunch. Facebook has added group typing indicators to Messenger, so you can see when multiple people are drafting a... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/30/22702367/facebook-instagram-messenger-cross-app-group-chats

The Surface Duo 2 works with Microsoft’s lineup of Surface Pens, including the Surface Slim Pen 2 . | Image: Microsoft It’s official: the troubled Surface Duo is now last-gen. Microsoft announced its successor, the Surface Duo 2 , during its recent fall Surface event , capping off months of rumors and introducing the device alongside the Surface Pro 8 , Surface Laptop Studio , and a bevy of new devices designed to take advantage of Windows 11 . The new Android-based smartphone starts at $1,499.99 — $100 less than the original — and launches on October 20th in multiple configurations. It retains the hinged design of its predecessor — only this time, it comes equipped with a more thought-out camera system, 5G support, and a modern processor that brings it more in line with flagships from Samsung, Xiaomi, and OnePlus. And while it’s not a foldable in the... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/22688370/microsoft-surface-duo-2-vs-samsung-galaxy-z-fold-3-comparison-s

Struggling EV startup Lordstown Motors is nearing a sale of its Ohio factory to Taiwanese iPhone assembler Foxconn, which has its own electric vehicle ambitions, Bloomberg reports . The deal could be announced as soon as Thursday evening. Lordstown Motors bought the 6.2 million square foot facility from General Motors in 2019 shortly after the Detroit automaker closed it down — a decision that drew the ire of then-president Trump. The startup previously announced in August that it was planning to rent out space at the factory in an effort to make money amid a serious cash crunch. Reuters is also reporting that a sale is on the verge of happening . Since buying it, Lordstown Motors has put about $240 million worth of work into getting the... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/30/22702322/lordstown-motors-foxconn-ohio-electric-vehicles

Sony Santa Monica Kratos’ voice actor, Christopher Judge, says he’s the reason why God of War: Ragnarok was delayed. In a tweet, Judge writes that he needed multiple surgeries in 2019 and that God of War developer Sony Santa Monica studios delayed the game so he could recover and continue voicing video games’ favorite problematic dad. in my feels right now. I need to be forthcoming. This has been approved by no one. To the beloved fandom, Ragnarok was delayed because of me. August 2019, I couldn’t walk. Had to have back surgery, both hips replaced, and, knee surgery. They waited for me too rehab… Cont… — Christopher Judge (@iamchrisjudge) September 30, 2021 No threats, no ,” who do you think you are?” Nothing but love and support. And @... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/30/22702435/kratos-voice-actor-behind-sony-god-of-war-ragnarok-delay-ps5

The 2021 edition of The Game Awards, the annual Oscars-like award show for video games, will take place on December 9th. The show will take place at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, and unlike last year, there will be an in-person audience — though it will be an invite-only event. Details about specific health and safety protocols for the in-person event will be shared “in the coming weeks,” according to a press release. The awards, which will be hosted by creator and executive producer Geoff Keighley, will also be livestreamed on more than 40 different platforms, so you’ll be able to watch from home if you want. The show organizers are also promising that there will be “free playable game content” available as part of an “immersive... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/30/22701306/the-game-awards-2021-date-show-live-stream

Corsair When it comes to PC components and accessories, there isn’t much that Corsair itself doesn’t make. The company’s adding gaming monitors to its list of offerings with today’s announcement of a 32-inch model called Xeneon. It uses a 1440p quantum dot IPS 16:9 aspect ratio panel that has a 165Hz refresh rate to display fast-paced content. Other standout specs include AMD FreeSync Premium and Nvidia G-Sync compatibility for adaptive sync to eliminate screen tearing when the frame rate fluctuates. It also has 100 percent coverage of the SRGB color gamut, and on its back, there are plenty of ports, which I’ll expand upon later. Corsair is utilizing its well-known presence in the market to go up against not just other monitor manufacturers,... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/30/22700882/corsair-gaming-monitor-32-inch-xeneon-price-features-specs

Photo by Tom Warren / The Verge If you’re an avid PC builder, you know that getting your hands on any of Nvidia’s 30-series GPUs has been next to impossible since they debuted. But Best Buy is hosting an event in select stores starting Friday, October 1st to give you the opportunity. If you haven't been outside in a while, you can use this page to find the store closest to you that will have these GPUs in stock, sold at their retail price. Unfortunately, you can't just head down there cash in hand and hope to snatch one up. Best Buy has stated that you’ll need to line up at one of the designated stores before 7:30AM local time. This is when employees will begin handing out a limited amount of tickets (one per customer) that will allow you to purchase a single GPU. Of... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/30/22702283/best-buy-restock-nvidia-rtx-3080-3070-gpu-in-store

It is rare for a big company to come out and categorically deny an entire report, but that’s what Nintendo just did today — the Japanese corporate entity has issued a press release insisting that Bloomberg ’s seeming revelation that Nintendo was pushing developers to build 4K-resolution games for an upcoming but potentially canceled “Switch Pro” handheld was entirely incorrect. Nintendo writes the report “falsely claims that Nintendo is supplying tools to drive game development for a Nintendo Switch with 4K support” and insists that it’s “not true.” Separately, it says that it has no plans for any new Nintendo Switch other than the slightly refined OLED model that’ll be out next week. While there’s always a possibility that... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/29/22701435/nintendo-categorically-denies-4k-switch-pro-development

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge Several Chinese companies have filed a class-action complaint against Amazon for banning them from the Amazon marketplace over their use of paid reviews, a new complaint filed on September 13th claims. In the last year, Amazon has cracked down on companies soliciting paid reviews on its platform, claiming to have permanently banned 600 Chinese brands across 3,000 seller accounts. The companies listed in the complaint, doing business as Sopownic, Slaouwo, Deyixun, Cstech, Recoo Direct, Angelbliss, and Tudi, are seeking “recovery of funds that are being illegally and improperly withheld by Amazon” and are filing the class action to “stop any further misappropriation and misuse of funds that are legally and rightfully due to thousands of... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/29/22701144/amazon-chinese-companies-lawsuit-paid-reviews

Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images Virgin Galactic is cleared to resume flights of its SpaceShipTwo space plane, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said Wednesday, after capping a safety investigation into issues that came up during the company’s July flight carrying its founder Richard Branson. During that mission, SpaceShipTwo strayed from its designated airspace on its descent from space, and Virgin Galactic didn’t tell the FAA about it when it was supposed to. With the investigation now closed, the FAA required Virgin Galactic to make changes “on how it communicates to the FAA during flight operations to keep the public safe,” it said in a statement. Virgin Galactic said that includes “updated calculations to expand the protected airspace for future flights”... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/29/22701195/faa-virgin-galactic-spaceshiptwo-cleared-investigation

Photo by Cameron Faulkner / The Verge Don’t get me wrong; we’re excited about Nintendo’s new OLED Switch — the number of preorders in The Verge newsroom confirms it. But what about the more powerful Switch that so many of us thought was around the corner? A new Bloomberg report suggests that the global chip shortage is why plans fell through for a “Switch Pro” with upgraded hardware from Nvidia and 4K resolution. The outlet previously reported on the device and backs up those reports by saying it’s identified at least 11 developers, like Zynga, who have received 4K Nintendo Switch development kits. Specifically, Bloomberg claims employees heard from Nintendo that they should design games to target the higher resolution. In response, Nintendo told Bloomberg its reporting was... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/29/22701210/nintendo-switch-4k-pro-rumors-oled

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge TikTok has agreed to settle a lawsuit with Bev Standing, the voice actress who said she was behind the app’s original text-to-speech voice. Standing sued TikTok in May, saying that the app was using her voice without permission . A robotic version of what sounded like Standing’s voice had been in the app for months, speaking over what felt like every other video at the time. A lawyer for Standing said the settlement was still being finalized and details around payment could not be disclosed. “They’ve reached an amicable resolution,” Robert Sciglimpaglia, who represents Standing, said in a phone call with The Verge . Sciglimpaglia said TikTok would license Standing’s voice as part of the agreement, but it’s up to TikTok whether or not to... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/29/22701167/bev-standing-tiktok-lawsuit-settles-text-to-speech-voice

Photo by Sean O’Kane / The Verge The 2022 Escalade is heading into production, but it’ll be missing a key feature when the first customers pick up their new ride: the hands-free driving mode known as Super Cruise. It’s the latest feature to get the axe as a result of the global semiconductor shortage, which has been an especially big drain on the auto industry. The shortage is also forcing Cadillac to hold off on adding Super Cruise to the CT4 and CT5 sedans, according to Roadshow . With the Bolt currently not on sale due to the massive battery recall, that means parent company General Motors’ most advanced technological feature is currently not available on any new car. “[W]e’re confident in our team’s ability to find creative solutions to mitigate the supply chain... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/29/22701086/cadillac-super-cruise-2022-escalade-semiconductor-shortage

A new version of the excellent Nest Hello video doorbell (pictured) will arrive in 2022. | Photo by Florence Ion for The Verge Google is working on a successor to the excellent Nest Hello doorbell, which it recently rebranded the Nest Doorbell (wired). The new Nest Doorbell will support 24/7 recording, will work with the Google Home app (not the Nest app), and should launch in 2022. Rishi Chandra, GM of Google Nest, shared the news in a blog post on the Google Nest Community forum today. “We commit to being more transparent with you on where we are taking the camera portfolio,” writes Chandra. “We know that those with wired doorbell connections prefer to have a doorbell that can also support 24/7 continuous video history (via the Nest Aware subscription). We are excited to share that we will be launching a 2nd generation of Nest Doorbell (wired) in 2022.” There... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/29/22700859/google-nest-doorbell-wired-2nd-gen-launchin

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge Twitch is adding new tools in the fight against harassment on the platform. Twitch announced it will be adding phone verification chat controls that will allow streamers to require a viewer to have a verified phone number in order to chat. Additionally, Twitch is tweaking the existing email verification settings to give creators greater control over who gets to chat. Today we're putting more power in the hands of the community, by enabling phone verified chat! Now creators and mods can require viewers to verify their account via phone number (or email) before they can chat. For more information review the blog: https://t.co/TlqCS4OzQC — Twitch (@Twitch) September 29, 2021 With these new tools, creators can set email or phone... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/29/22700937/twitch-safety-tools-verification-phone-hate-raids

Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge Sonos developed a system called “Concurrency” that could make multiple voice assistants interoperable on its smart speakers but had to put its plans on hold because of Google, a new Washington Post report explains. Concurrency does more or less what its name suggests by allowing Google Assistant and Amazon’s Alexa to be used side by side. “Sonos today sells speakers that let you choose between Alexa and Google, but only one can operate at a time — you have to disable one before you can use the other. In the Concurrency demo, talking to both of them required nothing more than saying their names,” The Washington Post shares about Sonos’ demo. Sonos wants voice assistants to work together The basic idea behind relying on multiple... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/29/22700724/sonos-smart-speakers-concurrency-google

Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images On Tuesday, Elon Musk accused Jeff Bezos and his companies of using the legal system to slow SpaceX’s progress during a talk at the 2021 Code Conference. Just a few hours later, Amazon — which is working on a competing satellite-based internet project — sent The Verge an unsolicited 13-page list of lawsuits, government petitions, and other legal actions that SpaceX has taken over the years. “Attached is a list of some of the times SpaceX has sued the U.S. government on procurement matters and protested various governmental decisions,” a spokesperson for Amazon’s satellite division, Project Kuiper, wrote in the email. “It is difficult to reconcile their own historical record with their recent position on others filing similar actions.” “... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/29/22700600/amazon-elon-musk-jeff-bezos-blue-origin-spacex-lawsuits

The Pro 8 offers Thunderbolt 4 support, a 120Hz display, a better camera, more storage, and more. During its recent Surface event , Microsoft launched the largest upgrade of its flagship Intel-powered Surface Pro lineup in years: the Surface Pro 8 . The new 2-in-1 machine boasts a 120Hz display, Thunderbolt 4 support, and new processors, but all of those improvements come at a cost — literally. Whereas the Surface Pro 7 starts at $549.99 , the Surface Pro 8 starts at $1,099.99, meaning it’s nearly double the price. And that’s also before you factor in the cost of Microsoft’s new stylus and detachable keyboard, two add-ons that are more like necessities if you intend to use the 2-in-1 as advertised. With all that said, is it worth upgrading or picking up the Pro 8 over the last-gen model when it launches on October 5th? To help make your... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/22688324/microsoft-surface-pro-7-vs-8-spec-comparison-upgrade-worthwhile

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge For years, Apple has let you redownload many built-in apps from the App Store that you may have deleted, but store listings for those apps had a distinct difference from others: there was no way to leave a rating or review. That appears to have changed recently, though, as you can now review Apple’s apps in the store. In a cursory, unscientific scan of some of Apple’s apps, many of them don’t have overwhelmingly positive scores. Files, Apple Maps, and Home all had ratings between three and three-and-a-half stars. Apple News is currently sitting at 2.3 stars. As 9to5Mac observed , Podcasts has a whopping two-star rating. There aren’t a lot of ratings yet That said, most of Apple’s apps just don’t have many ratings — many don’t break triple... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/29/22700805/apple-app-store-built-in-ratings-reviews-stars

Photo by Dan Seifert / The Verge These days, you have to pay for the privilege Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/22700064/amazon-astro-google-chromebook-beta-test

Photo by Sean O’Kane / The Verge General Motors announced a new “end-to-end” software platform for its cars called “Ultifi” — a play on the name Ultium , which is the automaker’s new electric vehicle battery architecture. GM says the new software will enable over-the-air (OTA) updates , in-car subscription services, and “new opportunities to increase customer loyalty.” The automaker envisions the new software powering everything from the mundane, like weather apps, to potentially controversial features like the use of in-car cameras for facial recognition or to detect children to automatically trigger the car’s child locks. The Linux-based system will also be available to third-party developers who may want to create apps and other features for GM customers. GM is... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/29/22700400/gm-ultifi-software-ota-update-subscription-facial-recognition

Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge The iPhone 13 Pro Max can charge a bit faster than other models, according to tests done by YouTuber ChargerLAB (and backed up by other tests ), which show that the phone sips up to 27 watts of power when plugged into a compatible charging brick. If you have a 13 Pro Max and want to fill up its massive battery as fast as possible, you may want to look into getting a 30W charger that, according to tests cited by @duanrui1205 , can charge it from zero to full in less than 90 minutes. This appears to be an upgrade from the previous generation — 9to5Mac reports that the iPhone 12 caps out at around 22W charging speeds. That’s about a 5W boost, which is nothing to sneeze at. The benefit of a bigger charger is limited to the Pro Max, according... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/29/22700491/iphone-13-pro-max-faster-charge-times-27w-charging-brick

Here it is. | Image: Drop Sure, why not. Stack Overflow has teamed up with tech retailer Drop to release this cute little keyboard called The Key. It’s programmed to do exactly two things: copy and paste. The product started as an April Fools’ Day joke earlier this year — Stack Overflow users were shown alerts claiming that they had a limited number of copy / pastes and that they could only lift that cap by purchasing The Key. Users, as Stack Overflow’s blog post notes, were disappointed to find out that The Key was not a real thing they could buy. So, you can buy it now. It’s up for preorder on Drop’s website for $29. Per the company, the next batch is shipping on December 13th. Image: Drop What more could you need? As you can see,... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/29/22700522/stack-overflow-macropad-mechanical-keyboard-specs

Illustration: Alex Castro / The Verge Google says search is still far from solved Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/29/22698504/google-search-on-event-ai-mum-google-lens-update-changes

Google’s Tree Canopy Lab | Image: Google Google Maps has new features that should make it easier for users to see wildfires, tree canopy, and locations without formal addresses. It’s all aimed at helping communities be “safer, more sustainable, and discoverable,” according to the company. A new wildfire layer on Maps will begin rolling out globally this week, Google announced today. It’ll show most major fires, those prompting evacuations, across the world. Red splotches and pins on the layer will indicate where blazes are and how far they’ve spread. By tapping on any single wildfire, users can see more information, like how many acres have burned, what percentage of the fire has been contained, and links to local emergency resources. The map is updated about every hour. It... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/29/22698533/google-maps-wildfires-tree-coverage-tracker

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge All the new features coming to the search giant’s core product Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/29/22699191/google-search-on-fall-2021-news-announcements

Image: Google Shopping online isn’t always a convenience. If you enjoy window shopping or browsing curated collections at a brick-and-mortar store for inspiration, finding something online you don’t yet know you want or are unaware of is tricky if you start with a text search. Google is announcing new shopping search tools to try to alleviate this, with features that utilize Google Lens for finding products to buy from pictures online, broader search terms to help you browse clothing, and the ability to check in-store inventory from home. It claims the new tools will help shoppers “find what they’re looking for in a more visual way.” This comes after Google allowed all businesses to create listings on Google Shopping for free last year. Now, it wants... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/29/22696646/google-shopping-lens-search-inventory-check-ios-chrome

Google is updating its visual search tool Google Lens with new AI-powered language features. The update will let users further narrow searches using text. So, for example, if you snap a photo of a paisley shirt in order to find similar items online using Google Lens, you can add the command “socks with this pattern” to specify the garments you’re looking for. Additionally, Google is launching a new “Lens mode” option in its iOS Google app, allowing users to search using any image that appears while searching the web. This will be available “soon,” but it’ll be limited to the US. Google is also launching Google Lens on desktop within the Chrome browser, letting users select any image or video when browsing the web to find visual search... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/29/22698014/google-lens-update-text-search-desktop-chrome

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge “Can you get medicine for someone at the pharmacy?” It’s a simple enough question for humans to understand, says Pandu Nayak, vice president of search at Google, but such a query represents the cutting-edge of machine comprehension. You and I can see that the questioner is asking if they can fill out a subscription for another person , Nayak tells The Verge . But until recently, if you typed this question into Google, it would direct you to websites explaining how to fill out your prescription. “It missed the subtlety that the prescription was for someone else,” he says. MUM is Google’s biggest, brightest AI language model The key to delivering the right answer, says Nayak, is AI, which Google is using today to improve its search results.... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/29/22696268/google-search-on-updates-ai-mum-explained

Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge Almost everything Hasbro won’t give you in one package Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/22699272/dart-zone-pro-mk-3-preview-blaster-prime-time-toys-nerf-price

Mobius Digital / Annapurna Interactive Entering a state of desperation is essentially a requirement to solve many of Outer Wilds ’ puzzles. The game’s new $15 expansion, Echoes of the Eye , features one such puzzle that had me feeling like I’d exhausted every option. I had the right tool in hand, I was in the right room. I had followed the vague tips in the slide reels I had seen so far, left behind by an intelligent species. So I did what I usually do when I lose hope in the game: reset the loop. Maybe I needed to start again with a fresh perspective. Then I woke up in a different world. I hadn’t solved the puzzle completely, but I inadvertently progressed through the story by taking a chance on a hunch. Taking chances is core to progressing in Outer Wilds , and it’s also the... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/22698855/outer-wilds-echoes-of-the-eye-expansion-review

The Ring Alarm Pro is the latest generation of Ring’s home security system and features a built-in Eero mesh Wi-Fi router. | Image: Ring With 24/7 internet backup and on-board video processing, too, this Z-wave alarm system is now a serious smart home hub Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/28/22692073/ring-alarm-pro-amazon-event-release-date-specs-price-features

The Ring Pro 2 video doorbell (pictured) and the Ring Video Doorbell (2020) will now be able to tell you when a package is on your doorstep. | Photo by Dan Seifert / The Verge Ring is bringing package alerts to its Ring video doorbells, and it’s about time, too. This is a much-requested feature that’s already found on most of its competitors’ camera doorbell offerings. When the main selling point for a product is that it will deter porch pirates, it’s kind of important to be able to keep a virtual eye on those packages. The pings that will tell you when a package is on your porch will start rolling out to the Ring Pro 2 and Ring Video Doorbell (2020) in the US and internationally today and should arrive on other buzzers next year. But this still doesn’t address a big issue with most of Ring’s doorbells; the cameras’ wide viewing angles often don’t pick up the spot where the package is left. Only the Pro 2 has... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/28/22691

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge Amazon announced a fleet of new products at its hardware event, including the Astro home robot, several Ring home security products, and other products like a bigger Echo Show 15 and the Amazon Glow for kids. Unlike previous years, the list of products that you’ll soon be able to preorder is rather short, leaving the most interesting products available on an invite-only basis. Still, we’re going to point you to where you can find out more about getting one of them for yourself. Here are all of the biggest announcements from Amazon’s show , if you want to catch up. Image: Amazon How to buy Amazon’s Smart Thermostat One of Amazon’s most affordable devices announced today is its Smart Thermostat, which costs $59.99 . It... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/22698138/amazon-preorder-blink-doorbell-echo-show-15-alexa-astro-ring-alarm-pro-thermostat-glow

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge Microsoft is starting to test its Xbox Cloud Gaming (xCloud) integration with Xbox consoles today. Some Xbox Insiders in the Alpha Skip-Ahead and Alpha rings will be able to access the xCloud integration today, a feature that lets you click play on an Xbox Game Pass game and stream it immediately. This new xCloud integration will allow Xbox owners to try games before they fully download them and potentially demo or try before you buy in the future. More than 100 Xbox Game Pass titles will be available as part of this initial xCloud integration, and Xbox players can even jump into multiplayer games as soon as friends send an invite. Image: Microsoft xCloud integration in the Xbox dashboard. I... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/28/22698101/microsoft-xcloud-xbox-cloud-gaming-console-integration

Astro features cameras, sensors, and motors to assist as it rolls around your home. | Photo by Dan Seifert / The Verge Amazon announced a home robot called Astro during its fall hardware event today , September 28th, which is designed to serve as a helpful mobile assistant that can navigate around the main floor of your home. Amazon promises Astro will be able to patrol your home while you’re away, carry small objects from room to room (as long as a human places the object in its storage compartment), follow a person around with its periscope camera while on a video call, play music, and play games with children, as well as carry out a bevy of other small tasks. It’s essentially an Echo Show 10 on wheels, complete with Alexa support, mixed with some of the expectations of a robot vacuum sans vacuuming — room assignment, navigation, and self-charging via a... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/28/22698401/amazon-astro-invite-preorder-how-to-info-early-acc

The Ring Always Home Cam retails for $249.99 and is set to launch later this year. | Image: Amazon First announced last year , Amazon will begin selling its Ring Always Home Cam starting today, September 28th, alongside the new Ring Alarm Pro , Blink Video Doorbell, and several other products. There are just two caveats: access to the Ring Always Home Cam is invite-only at the moment, and it won’t ship until later this year. The new Ring Always Home Cam is an autonomous, indoor security camera that essentially amounts to a flying drone strapped with a Ring camera on the bottom. With it, you can keep an eye on what’s going inside of your home even while you’re away. That’s because the device streams 1080p video to your smartphone via the Ring app, allowing you to check for intruders or make sure you didn’t leave the stovetop on at a... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/28/22698424/amazon-ring-always-home-cam-drone-preorder-invite-sign-up-how-to

Blink Video Doorbell | Image: Amazon Amazon has released a few new products from Blink since acquiring the Kickstarter smart home security darling in 2017 , and today, during its fall event, it added three new items to the lineup that are made to mind your various entry points. Blink announced a doorbell ahead of CES in 2018 , but that one doesn’t appear to have hit the market, so this is the first-generation Blink Video Doorbell. It will be available for $49.99 and claims it’s ready for use in any home thanks to a design suited for wired or wire-free installation. 1080p HD video, night vision, motion detection, two-way audio feeds, and integration with Alexa are all a part of the product. The doorbell runs on two AA lithium batteries, and Blink says that with a wired... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/28/22698612/amazon-blink-video-doorbell-outdoor-camera-floodlight-solar-panel