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Photo by ARIS OIKONOMOU/AFP via Getty Images A rapidly changing climate drove hundreds of governments around the world to declare states of emergency in 2019. While the declarations are largely symbolic gestures, they have in some cases become jumping-off points for real action. It’s the culmination of coordinated efforts by activists pushing governments to take action that is as dramatic as the threats posed by the climate crisis. “The Climate Emergency movement reached a tipping point” “This year, the Climate Emergency movement reached a tipping point, and thousands of average people began getting involved in climate politics and advocating for change,” Laura Berry, director of research and publications at The Climate Mobilization wrote to The Verge in an email. Her... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2019/12/27/21038949/climate-change-2019-emergency-declaration

Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge Got a VR headset for the holidays this year and unsure of where to start? Not to worry — whether you’ve got an Oculus Quest, Vive Cosmos, or a Nintendo Labo VR kit, here are recommendations for some of our favorite games that best show off the platform’s capabilities. There’s a good range of games that span family-friendly to escape-the-family, so hopefully there’s something here for everyone. We’ve rounded up our favorite and most-used games, apps, and entertainment. Check out our app picks for iPhones , Android phones , PCs and Macs ; our favorite mobile games from Apple Arcade and Google Play Pass ; and our top choices for gaming PCs , the PS4 , Xbox One , Nintendo Switch and VR . We’ve also listed our favorite streaming shows on Disney+,... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2019/12/27/21035681/vr-games-best-top-oculus-quest-rift-vive-cosmos-nintendo-labo-simulator-beat-saber-vader-immortal

Make almost anything work with Sonos, but it’ll cost you Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2019/12/27/21038773/sonos-port-review-price-specs-connect-update-flexibility-airplay-12v-trigger

Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge Sonos today announced that it will increase prices on the Sonos Amp and Sonos Port by $50 as it shifts production out of China and into Malaysia. The Amp will now retail for $649 and the Port will sell for $449; the price increases will be effective January 9th, 2020. Other Sonos products will remain the same price. Sonos telegraphed this move earlier in the year, telling analysts on earnings calls that it would be moving production out of China and prices might be affected. The company tells me the move is less about tariffs, which it called a “one-time hit,” and more about diversifying production for the future. The Amp and Port are at the upper end of the Sonos product line — they allow custom AV installers and enthusiasts to... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2019/12/27/21038246/sonos-pro-products-prices-raise-production-china-amp-port

Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge Getting the most out of your Apple computer often means exploring well beyond the stock apps pre-installed on macOS and the top charts of the Mac App Store. Many of the best productivity, workflow, and OS customization software have been around for years, but they can be hard to find if you’re a first-time Mac user and don’t know what you’re looking for or what the crucial differences are between macOS and Windows. Below, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best software available for Mac, from email and shortcut apps to window organizers and multimedia players. This isn’t meant to be a definitive list; check out last year’s guide for GIF making, recipe organization, and photo editing apps, for example. But it is a good place to start... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2019/12/27/21029022/best-macos-apps-apple-mac-macbook-air-pro-airmail-alfred-bear-lastpass-vlc

Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales Setting up a new phone is a flurry of entering passwords, transferring contact data, downloading must-have social media apps, and entering even more passwords. Once that’s all done, it’s time to fill your phone with everything else you might need day to day: a smarter weather app, a good email client, and some things to make sure you have plenty to read and listen to. Here are our suggestions for where to start. We’ve rounded up our favorite and most-used games, apps, and entertainment. Check out our app picks for iPhones, Android phones, PCs, Macs and TVs; our favorite mobile games from Apple Arcade and Google Play Pass; and our top choices for the PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. We’ve also listed our favorite streaming shows on... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2019/12/27/21025163/best-new-android-apps-dark-sky-pocket-outlook

Photo by Avery White for The Verge Anyone who has used Windows through more than one version knows that, no matter how many utilities Microsoft adds to its operating system, there are always apps and utilities that will enhance your use. We listed several good ones in last year’s edition ; this year, we have a few new ones to add to the mix. If you have a brand new system, consider installing some (or all) of these. We’ve rounded up our favorite and most-used games, apps, and entertainment. Check out our app picks for iPhones, Android phones, PCs, Macs and TVs; our favorite mobile games from Apple Arcade and Google Play Pass; and our top choices for the PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. We’ve also listed our favorite streaming shows on Disney+, Hulu and Netflix, some... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2019/12/27/21030582/best-windows-pc-apps-affinity-1password-lastpass-malwarebytes-vlc