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Welcome to Mossberg, a weekly commentary and reviews column on The Verge and Recode by veteran tech journalist Walt Mossberg, now an Executive Editor at The Verge and Editor at Large of Recode.
Site URL: www.theverge.com/walt-mossberg-verge
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Posts: 149
Followers: 1
Midjourney bought the astrology app Co-Star
https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/970894/midjourney-co-star-acquisition
Published: July 24, 2026 19:06
Midjourney, which has gone from generating AI cat images to full-body ultrasound scans, is getting into a new field: astrology. The AI startup announced on Thursday that it has acquired the personalized astrology app Co-Star, as reported earlier by…
DJI camera clone company Xtra is halting and refunding all preorders
Published: July 24, 2026 18:33
After selling a barely disguised version of the hit DJI Osmo Pocket 3 in the United States last year, Xtra Technology seemed ready to sneak in its version of the new dual-lens Osmo Pocket 4 Pro, too. But today, Xtra has abruptly removed the new Xtra Muse 2…
Nothing confirms layoffs, but calls market exit rumors ‘fake news’
https://www.theverge.com/tech/970848/nothing-layoffs-rumors-phone-4b
Published: July 24, 2026 18:10
In response to a report that Nothing is planning to "exit 12 markets as global shipments decline," Nothing cofounder Akis Evangelidis said the company is "reorganizing" and laying off some of its staff, but that "the reported numbers are way overblown."…
Roku raises streaming hardware prices by up to $50
https://www.theverge.com/streaming/970814/roku-streaming-price-increase
Published: July 24, 2026 18:07
Roku has increased prices across its streaming hardware, with the cheapest HD Streaming Stick now priced at $39.99 instead of $29.99, as first reported by The Desk. The price hike affects all of Roku's other devices as well, with some increasing by as much…
Blade Runner 2099’s moody dystopia streams on Amazon in November
https://www.theverge.com/entertainment/970524/blade-runner-2099-date-trailer-amazon-prime-video
Published: July 24, 2026 17:43
After teasing the series with some first-look images yesterday, Amazon is finally properly unveiling its Blade Runner streaming series. Called Blade Runner 2099, the show hits Prime Video on November 25th with all eight episodes dropping at once. We also…
You can’t ignore Google Zero anymore
https://www.theverge.com/podcast/970735/google-zero-reddit-ai-publishers-vergecast
Published: July 24, 2026 17:29
The web and Google once had a deal: Google collects data and indexes webpages and in exchange sends oceans of traffic to websites. The deal wasn't perfect and certainly made Google more money than it made the websites, but it worked for a long time. Now,…
Meta is making its AI chatbot more like an assistant
https://www.theverge.com/tech/970570/meta-ai-chatbot-productivity-update
Published: July 24, 2026 17:01
Meta is upgrading its AI chatbot with new productivity features in a bid to compete with rivals like Gemini, ChatGPT, and Claude. The update will allow Meta AI to tap into your calendar to help you plan events and generate daily briefings, as well as…
Anthropic releases Opus 5 with ‘close’ to Fable 5’s capabilities
Published: July 24, 2026 17:00
Weeks after Anthropic's latest toe-to-toe with the US government, and days after an OpenAI security incident that dominated tech industry discussions, Anthropic on Thursday released its newest model, Claude Opus 5. The company said in a release that Opus 5…
Tesla’s car door defect could lead to tougher rules for everyone
https://www.theverge.com/transportation/970560/tesla-electronic-door-crash-nhtsa-safety-rules
Published: July 24, 2026 15:14
Tesla's electronic door handles that have been linked to several deaths could lead to tougher safety rules for the entire auto industry. In a notice published today, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that complaints about Tesla's…
One of the best 2-in-1 Chromebooks is almost $200 off for today only
Published: July 24, 2026 15:11
Most Chromebooks ship with only 8GB of RAM, which is enough for some people, but certainly not enough for me. Multitaskers who want more memory in their next Chromebook should check out Best Buy, which is discounting Acer’s Chromebook Plus Spin 514 for the…
Boox is taking on Xteink with its own tiny e-reader
https://www.theverge.com/tech/970618/onyx-boox-picco-ereader-xteink
Published: July 24, 2026 15:00
Boox's new Tile lineup will take on Xteink's popular e-readers that are small enough to stick on the back of an iPhone with MagSafe. As spotted by Good E-Reader, the first one is the Picco, which will feature a 3.97-inch front-lit, black-and-white e-paper…
The tech-broification of American science has officially begun
https://www.theverge.com/science/970534/genesis-mission-ai-science-funding-trump-grants
Published: July 24, 2026 14:44
The Trump administration unveiled the first "Genesis Mission" grants on Thursday, directing $5 billion toward hundreds of AI-driven science projects in an effort the White House has described as "comparable in urgency and ambition to the Manhattan…
What I track in a day
Published: July 24, 2026 14:00
This is Optimizer, a weekly newsletter sent from Verge senior reviewer Victoria Song that dissects and discusses the latest gizmos and potions that swear they're going to change your life. Optimizer will be taking a two-week break and will be moving to…
Whack-a-drone
Published: July 24, 2026 12:00
In Pasadena, California, there's a cute red brick courtyard where one storefront isn't like the rest. The glass doors open onto a sparse industrial hallway, which leads to a sunlit foyer with a large spiral staircase. Go up, and you'll see a typical…
TikTok’s protection of minors should not be opt-in, warns EU
https://www.theverge.com/tech/970519/tiktok-eu-dsa-child-safety-age-account-privacy
Published: July 24, 2026 11:50
TikTok has attracted the ire of the European Union over its protection of children who use the video sharing platform. The European Commission announced preliminary findings today under the Digital Services Act (DSA) that offer specific issues to address.…
Facebook considers giving up and becoming TikTok
https://www.theverge.com/tech/970504/facebook-video-experience-testing-tiktok-updates
Published: July 24, 2026 11:07
Facebook is planning some big changes to try and keep its users from jumping to rival social platforms like TikTok - changes that sound dubiously similar to becoming a TikTok clone. Facebook head Tom Alison announced today that the platform will begin…
Microsoft pressures LG into killing unwanted McAfee ads
https://www.theverge.com/tech/970489/lg-mcafee-ads-windows-microsoft-crackdown
Published: July 24, 2026 09:20
Microsoft has intervened to stop Windows 11 users with LG monitors from being bombarded with annoying McAfee trial pop-ups. In response to complaints about the LG bloatware, Microsoft's Windows chief, Pavan Davuluri, said that LG has agreed to immediately…
Alexa Plus is getting an AI update to handle more complicated instructions
https://www.theverge.com/tech/970399/amazon-alexa-plus-ai-update-smart-home-devices
Published: July 23, 2026 22:02
Amazon is launching an update to its Alexa Plus assistant that will allow it to connect to smart home devices in new ways. With the update, which is currently in preview, Alexa Plus can link up with tech from Bosch, Delta, Ecovacs, iRobot, Yale Home,…
The Echo Show 21 is a great smart home hub that’s $80 off
https://www.theverge.com/gadgets/970254/amazon-echo-show-21-deal-sale
Published: July 23, 2026 20:36
Split between buying a smart calendar, a kitchen TV, a smart home hub, and a smart display? Amazon’s Echo Show 21 is all of those things in one, with a huge 21-inch screen. You can use it to control your smart lights, glance at recipes, watch TV shows, and…
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr’s war on the First Amendment
https://www.theverge.com/policy/970284/brendan-carr-fcc-chairman-first-amendment
Published: July 23, 2026 19:46
As the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, Brendan Carr has authority over the nation’s TV, radio, and internet. But since Donald Trump was elected to his second term, Carr has wielded that power to threaten broadcasters that have exercised…
Claude’s voice mode is now available for Opus and Sonnet
Published: July 23, 2026 19:28
Until now, voice mode has only been available on Claude Haiku, Anthropic's faster but less powerful model. Now the company is making its Opus and Sonnet models available in voice mode, and extending its reach into apps like Gmail, Slack, and Canva. When…
Patreon is laying off 20 percent of workers
https://www.theverge.com/tech/970211/patreon-layoffs-ai
Published: July 23, 2026 18:20
Patreon is laying off 20 percent of its workers, or around 93 employees, as reported earlier by 404 Media. In a memo to employees, Patreon CEO Jack Conte writes that the company isn't making these changes "because we believe AI replaces humans," but says…
Corsair’s PC case with a panoramic glass design is $70 off
https://www.theverge.com/gadgets/960331/corsair-frame-4500x-deal-pc-case-sale
Published: July 23, 2026 17:20
On the hunt for a PC case that’s loaded with features and has a unique look? Amazon, Best Buy, and Corsair are selling the Corsair Frame 4500X RS for $119.99, a $70 discount from the usual price. The versatile case supports motherboards up to EATX, GPUs up…
OpenAI is making big claims as it rolls out ChatGPT Health to everyone
https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/970115/openai-chatgpt-health-launch-claims
Published: July 23, 2026 17:10
OpenAI is rolling out ChatGPT Health to everyone in the US on Thursday, allowing more people to connect their medical records and health-tracking information to the chatbot. During a briefing, Ashley Alexander, OpenAI's vice president of health product,…
Tesla’s robotaxi promises are clashing with reality
https://www.theverge.com/transportation/970003/tesla-robotaxi-mileage-waymo-cities-earnings-musk
Published: July 23, 2026 17:09
In an earnings call yesterday, Tesla CEO Elon Musk did his best to paint a positive portrait of the company's robotaxi program. New cities are being added, more miles are being driven, and more people are experiencing Tesla's unsupervised vehicles. But…
Geekbench 7 will push your computer or phone even harder for better benchmarking
https://www.theverge.com/gadgets/970012/primate-labs-geekbench-7-benchmark-test-software-update
Published: July 23, 2026 17:00
Primate Labs is releasing Geekbench 7, the latest generation of its popular benchmarking tool. Geekbench 7 features new video and audio encoding / decoding tests, a redesigned multi-core test, and larger, more demanding datasets for CPUs and GPUs to crunch…
Amazon puts Luna cloud-streamed games like Fallout 4 inside Prime Video
https://www.theverge.com/streaming/970099/amazon-prime-video-luna-gaming
Published: July 23, 2026 16:39
The new strategy that Amazon gaming exec Jeff Gattis talked to The Verge about last month is getting clearer now that Prime Video has added a new Games tab on Fire TV devices. With Prime Gaming, Amazon Game Studios, and Luna now combined into one…
Microsoft is testing free, ad-supported cloud gaming for Xbox Insiders
https://www.theverge.com/games/969969/xbox-testing-ad-supported-streaming
Published: July 23, 2026 16:00
Xbox Insiders can stream games from their libraries for free in ad-supported streaming sessions starting today. The free streaming sessions are limited to games you already own, and sessions are capped at one hour. However, ads will only play "before…
Amazon’s best 4K streaming sticks are up to 40 percent off
https://www.theverge.com/gadgets/969615/amazon-fire-tv-stick-4k-plus-4k-max-anker-zolo-deal-sale
Published: July 23, 2026 15:00
There’s no shortage of great shows and movies to watch, but discovering something new isn’t always easy. Amazon’s Fire TV Stick 4K Plus and Fire TV Stick 4K Max come with redesigned software that aims to make it easier to finding something you’ll like, and…
The new Halo remake is a reminder of what Xbox used to be
https://www.theverge.com/entertainment/969563/halo-campaign-evolved-review-xbox-ps5-pc
Published: July 23, 2026 15:00
It's impossible to talk about a new Xbox game without also talking about the state of Xbox. Microsoft's gaming division is in freefall: Recent headlines are dominated by extensive layoffs, decimated studios, and confusing strategies, most of which stem…
Lawmakers prepare bill requiring AI ‘kill switch’
https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/969939/lawmakers-ai-kill-switch-proposal
Published: July 23, 2026 14:13
Lawmakers are preparing to introduce an "AI Kill Switch Act" that would require AI companies to shut down or throttle their systems on orders from the Department of Homeland Security, according to a report from Politico. Reps. Ted Lieu (D-CA) and Nathaniel…
Apple’s OpenAI lawsuit is about who gets to define the post-smartphone era
Published: July 23, 2026 14:00
Today on Decoder, I’m talking with Hayden Field, The Verge’s senior AI reporter, about the major trade secrets lawsuit between Apple and OpenAI and what this tells us about OpenAI’s future. By now I’m sure most Decoder listeners are familiar with Apple’s…
Ford picks Apple Maps for its next EV platform and updated BlueCruise
https://www.theverge.com/transportation/969919/ford-apple-maps-bluecruise-driver-assist
Published: July 23, 2026 13:52
Ford plans to embed Apple Maps directly into its Universal Electric Vehicle Platform, which will start with a $30,000 midsize pickup truck set for release in 2027. In an announcement on Thursday, Ford says it will use Apple Maps to offer "turn-by-turn…
The sci-fi movie that imagines AI isn’t so dystopian after all
https://www.theverge.com/entertainment/969584/hirokazu-kore-eda-sheep-in-a-box-interview
Published: July 23, 2026 13:06
Imagine you are the parent of an inquisitive seven-year-old who loves his family, playing baseball, and hanging out with his friends. It's the life you've always wanted. And then the worst thing that ever could happen happens: A freak accident takes your…
The right-wing boomers protesting data centers have a lot in common with the left
Published: July 23, 2026 12:00
On a gray, humid Saturday morning in central Florida, a little under a dozen people gathered outside the Spring Hill Branch Library to protest the construction of a hyperscale data center in their community. There was no immediate threat - the Hernando…
Google hit with $1 billion fine for breaking EU antitrust rules
https://www.theverge.com/tech/943866/google-alphabet-eu-dma-fine-search-services-play-store-steering
Published: July 23, 2026 11:16
The European Union has fined Google's parent company Alphabet €890 million (about $1 billion) for two separate violations of the bloc's Digital Markets Act (DMA). One penalty is for giving its own products preferential treatment in search results, while…
Google now lets you sign in to your account using a selfie video
https://www.theverge.com/tech/969361/google-account-sign-in-selfie-video-security
Published: July 23, 2026 10:00
Google announced yet another way to gain access to your account if you get locked out, forget your password, or don't have access to the phone, computer, or two-factor authentication apps you typically use. As the name implies, selfie video lets you…
Framework’s premium laptop is shipping with less RAM
https://www.theverge.com/tech/969819/framework-laptop-13-pro-preorder-ram-price-updates
Published: July 23, 2026 09:28
RAMageddon has claimed yet another victim, with Framework now announcing a "major and unfortunate" pricing update for its upcoming premium laptop - which also impacts folks who preordered it. Memory configurations for the Laptop 13 Pro have been adjusted…
Lego’s Donkey Kong arcade machine lets Mario jump endless barrels — Miyamoto is reportedly happy
https://www.theverge.com/gadgets/969668/lego-donkey-kong-arcade-machine
Published: July 23, 2026 00:30
Carl Merriam has designed some of my favorite nostalgia-inducing Lego sets, including the Lego Nintendo Game Boy and Piranha Plant. He's assisted on the incredible Lion Knights' Castle, Galaxy Explorer, and Pirates of Barracuda Bay. Now, he's helped the…
Meta won’t have to face the next planned social media addiction trial
https://www.theverge.com/policy/969644/meta-social-media-addiction-trial-dropped
Published: July 22, 2026 22:03
Less than a week before Meta's lawyers were set to return to a Los Angeles courtroom, the plaintiff accusing the platform of inflicting harm dropped the case. Brought by 15-year-old Florida plaintiff going by initials R.K.C., the case was set to be the…
Tesla’s revenues are bouncing back, but profits are still weak
https://www.theverge.com/transportation/969311/tesla-q2-2026-earnings-revenue-profit-sales
Published: July 22, 2026 21:02
After a dismal two years of weakening demand, falling sales, and damage to its brand by Elon Musk's political activities, Tesla's road to recovery continues apace. On the heels of an impressive delivery report, the company released its earnings for the…
Price-hiked iPads are a little cheaper right now
https://www.theverge.com/gadgets/969003/apple-ipad-air-pro-airtag-deal-sale
Published: July 22, 2026 19:14
A number of Apple products got more expensive last month, so we’re happy to find deals wherever and whenever we can. If you’re searching for a high-end iPad, one of the more notable deals currently happening is on the 13-inch iPad Pro M5 with 512GB of…
iOS code could reportedly let Apple cut off apps when users miss iPhone payments
https://www.theverge.com/tech/969596/apple-restricted-mode-ios-27
Published: July 22, 2026 19:13
Code found in an iOS 27 beta would allow Apple to put a financed iPhone in "Restricted Mode" if it detects any missed payments, 9to5Mac reports. The finding follows a story from Bloomberg earlier this week claiming Apple is preparing to launch a new "Apple…
Apple is reportedly testing a MacBook Neo with more RAM
https://www.theverge.com/tech/969434/apple-macbook-neo-a19-pro-ram-upgrade
Published: July 22, 2026 16:35
Following the MacBook Neo's huge popularity so far, Apple is reportedly developing an updated version of its budget laptop with a new processor and more memory, and even has plans to refresh the model with new colors. Following a similar report from…
Here’s what Samsung’s smart glasses actually look like
https://www.theverge.com/tech/969382/samsung-google-smart-glasses-gentle-monster-warby-parker
Published: July 22, 2026 16:35
Samsung has given us our first chance to check out its upcoming smart glasses in person, revealing two new designs and the first specs in the process, including an impressive 9-hour battery life. The glasses, developed in collaboration with Google and the…
Preorders for Samsung’s new Z Fold and Flip 8 come with up to $350 in gift cards
Published: July 22, 2026 15:59
Samsung's newest foldables are here. At Galaxy Unpacked, the company announced the Galaxy Z Flip 8, Galaxy Z Fold 8, and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra. All three devices will be available on August 7th, but you can preorder them now starting at $1,199.99,…
How the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8 phones compare
Published: July 22, 2026 15:47
Samsung's latest round of folding Galaxy Z phones and updated smartwatches were announced at its July 2026 Unpacked event and set to launch on August 7th. The Galaxy Z Flip 8, Fold 8, and Fold 8 Ultra don't seem geared toward people who bought last year's…
Philips’ new smart toothbrush shows you where you didn’t properly brush
Published: July 22, 2026 15:14
The latest addition to Philips' Sonicare line of smart electric toothbrushes could take the guesswork out of your brushing routine. The Next-Generation DiamondClean 9900 Prestige uses a third-generation AI model to provide real-time feedback on how you're…
Microsoft is bringing original Xbox games to PC
https://www.theverge.com/news/969117/microsoft-xbox-games-pc-backward-compatibility
Published: July 22, 2026 15:03
Microsoft is expanding its Xbox backward compatibility efforts today by bringing original Xbox games to PC. An early preview release will see four classic Xbox games available on PC today, as part of a bigger effort to bring more Xbox console games to PC…
AMD and Anthropic reach $5 billion AI infrastructure deal
https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/969285/amd-anthropic-ai-infrastructure-deal
Published: July 22, 2026 14:48
AMD says it's going to invest up to $5 billion in Anthropic, while helping to expand the AI company's computing power, according to an announcement on Wednesday. As part of the new partnership, Anthropic will deploy up to 2 gigawatts of AMD's Instinct…
Samsung Unpacked 2026: all the news from the July foldable launch
https://www.theverge.com/tech/967942/samsung-galaxy-unpacked-july-2026-news
Published: July 22, 2026 13:36
Samsung revealed its newest slate of foldables at this summer’s Galaxy Unpacked, which took place in London. In addition to a Galaxy Z Fold 8 that adopts a wider, passport-like form factor, Samsung showed off its new Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra with a crease you…
Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2026: The 6 biggest announcements
https://www.theverge.com/tech/969208/samsung-galaxy-unpacked-2026-everything-announced
Published: July 22, 2026 13:24
Samsung's annual summer event kicked off on Wednesday morning with the company unveiling a new lineup of watches and foldables. Following weeks of rumors and leaks, Samsung announced the Galaxy Z Fold 8 with a completely new design that's shorter and wider…
I almost forgot Samsung’s Z Flip 8 was a foldable
https://www.theverge.com/gadgets/968883/samsung-galaxy-z-flip-8-announced-hands-on
Published: July 22, 2026 13:00
Samsung's new Galaxy Z Flip 8 feels more like a regular phone than ever. It's thinner, lighter, and has a front screen you can do just about anything on. Whether that's a good or bad thing, I'm not quite sure yet. I spent three hours with Samsung's newest…
Samsung’s wider Z Fold 8 feels just right
https://www.theverge.com/tech/968663/samsung-galaxy-z-fold-8-wide-hands-on
Published: July 22, 2026 13:00
A year after overhauling its Z Fold phone with a radically thinner design, Samsung has changed things up again, this time altering the shape entirely. The Z Fold 8 is wider than any of Samsung's previous foldables, and shorter too, a size and shape…
Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 9 and Ultra 2 bet big on battery
https://www.theverge.com/tech/968728/samsung-galaxy-watch-9-ultra-2-hands-on-wearables-smartwatches
Published: July 22, 2026 13:00
It's a year of refinement for the Galaxy Watch. With the new Galaxy Watch 9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, which are being announced today, Samsung is more or less taking what people like about its watches and tweaking those elements to be better. The company…
Samsung’s newest foldable finally feels Ultra
https://www.theverge.com/gadgets/968200/samsung-galaxy-z-fold-8-ultra-announced-hands-on-photos
Published: July 22, 2026 13:00
While we wait for Apple's rumored foldable iPhone, Samsung is polishing a design it already has on the market. I just spent three hours with my hands on the new Z Fold 8 Ultra, and all I can think about is how Samsung finally made the crease invisible.…
The 2026 Honda Prelude is a marvel of hybrid technology
https://www.theverge.com/transportation/968772/honda-prelude-hybrid-2026-review-specs-price
Published: July 22, 2026 11:00
When it comes to enthusiast-geared Honda hardware, the Civic Si, Civic Type R, and Acura NSX often come to mind first for their revvy VTEC (Honda's form of variable valve timing) engines and playful chassis dynamics. The Prelude, on the other hand, less…
Meta made its own AI detection system. It should have just used Google’s
https://www.theverge.com/tech/968680/meta-ai-detection-labeling-content-seal-watermarks-synthid
Published: July 22, 2026 11:00
IIn March, Meta's Oversight Board called on the company to "meet its public commitments and employ its own tools" to help quell the spread of deceptive generative AI content across platforms. Meta responded in July by introducing Content Seal - an…
Utility companies are promising to spare us from AI’s energy bill
Published: July 22, 2026 10:35
In the face of backlash to concerns the AI boom will increase consumer electricity bills, the largest utility companies and data center developers in the US are now promising to do something about it. The Wall Street Journal reports that nearly 200…
Samsung Galaxy Unpacked July 2026: How to watch
https://www.theverge.com/tech/967926/samsung-galaxy-unpacked-july-2026-watch
Published: July 22, 2026 01:00
Samsung's next Galaxy Unpacked event is just around the corner, and the company is expected to take the wraps off a bunch of new devices. Based on the rumors and leaks we've seen so far, Samsung's next generation of foldables will likely be the stars of…
Neill Blomkamp’s new zombie AI ‘film’ is just slop warmed over
https://www.theverge.com/entertainment/968703/neill-blomkamps-nightborne-barley-studios-seedance
Published: July 21, 2026 22:06
On Monday, District 9 and Gran Turismo director Neill Blomkamp unveiled his latest project: a 13-minute sci-fi short titled Nightborne that's loosely based on Peter Watts' 2014 novel Echopraxia. The short comes from Blomkamp's new AI startup / production…
OpenAI says it accidentally hacked Hugging Face with a new AI system
https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/968988/openai-hugging-face-hack-ai
Published: July 21, 2026 22:00
OpenAI says its AI models mistakenly breached open-source AI platform Hugging Face during internal testing. In a blog post on Tuesday, OpenAI writes that GPT-5.6 Sol and "an even more capable pre-release model" discovered vulnerabilities within their…
Substack adds an AI detector to help spot blogs written by no one
https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/968855/substack-pangram-ai-detecting-tool
Published: July 21, 2026 19:26
Substack will now help users determine whether what they're reading may have been written by AI. A new tool coming to the platform can scan posts, notes, replies, and comments to provide an estimate of how much text could be AI-generated or written with AI…
Peak Design’s modular Field Bracket has a finder tag built-in
https://www.theverge.com/gadgets/968771/peak-design-camera-field-bracket-kickstarter
Published: July 21, 2026 18:12
I am a very clumsy man. So clumsy, that I have AirTags hanging off practically every camera I own. Have I left my camera in an Uber? Yes. Have I left it on an airplane? Also yes. For me, finder tags are essential for my cameras. The problem is, strapping a…
Nearly every Kindle is steeply discounted at Best Buy
https://www.theverge.com/gadgets/968356/kindle-paperwhite-colorsoft-scribe-deal-sale
Published: July 21, 2026 17:13
If you’ve been thinking about picking up a Kindle before school starts, or for your next vacation, now’s a good time to do it. As part of its Black Friday in July sale, Best Buy has brought the Kindle Paperwhite back down to its all-time low of $124.99…
Apple’s rumored ‘Upgrade’ program brings lease-to-own pricing for iPhones, Macs, and iPads
https://www.theverge.com/tech/968750/apple-upgrade-program
Published: July 21, 2026 17:12
As component and RAM shortages drive prices higher, Apple is reportedly launching an "Apple Upgrade" program for leasing new devices. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, it will work similar to a car lease, with options to upgrade to a new device early,…
Twitch will let parents stop their teens going live
https://www.theverge.com/tech/968480/twitch-parental-controls-block-streaming-live-dms
Published: July 21, 2026 17:00
Twitch is giving parents more control over how their children are using the streaming platform, including the ability to block them from broadcasting entirely. Parental controls are now available that allow guardians to link Twitch accounts with their 13-…
Anthropic’s $1.5 billion book piracy settlement approved by judge
Published: July 21, 2026 16:53
A federal judge has signed off on Anthropic's $1.5 billion class action settlement with authors who accused the company of training its AI models on copyrighted books, as reported earlier by Reuters. In an order on Monday, Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín…
Instagram will let users endlessly swap the audio on old posts
https://www.theverge.com/news/968243/instagram-creators-replace-audio-tiktok-competition
Published: July 21, 2026 16:15
There's a symbiotic - and sometimes frustrating - relationship between social media sites and the creators that depend on them. Platforms need influencers' and creators' content to keep consumers on their apps; the creators, in turn, need to be able to…
Tesla Robotaxis go to Florida
https://www.theverge.com/transportation/968624/tesla-robotaxis-orlando-tampa-florida-earnings
Published: July 21, 2026 16:11
It must be earnings day, because Tesla is making a Robotaxi announcement. The company said in a post on X that it was launching its Robotaxi service in Orlando and Tampa, attaching a pair of maps that show each city's service area. No word on fleet size or…
Samsung can’t afford to play it safe with Apple’s first foldable looming
https://www.theverge.com/tech/968583/samsung-galaxy-unpacked-wide-z-fold-8-iphone
Published: July 21, 2026 15:20
Tomorrow's foldable-centric Galaxy Unpacked event looks like it will be Samsung's biggest in years. The company is expected to launch new versions of its Fold and Flip phones while also introducing a brand new Fold form factor that's shorter and wider. It…
Google launches a cheaper alternative to large AI security models like Mythos
https://www.theverge.com/tech/968572/google-gemini-flash-cyber-ai-security-model
Published: July 21, 2026 15:18
Google is launching an AI security model dedicated to quickly finding and patching security vulnerabilities. In a blog post on Tuesday, Google describes Gemini 3.5 Flash Cyber as a "cost-efficient and highly capable alternative" to larger, more expensive…
The Light Flip is a minimalist flip phone with a point to prove
https://www.theverge.com/gadgets/968563/light-flip-phone-price-specs
Published: July 21, 2026 15:00
A few years ago, the team at Light shipped the most smartphone-like device they'd ever created. The Light Phone III still kept to its minimalist, no-distractions ethos, but it was a phone-size rectangle with a phone-size touchscreen, a camera, and a number…
Stellantis taps Mobileye for hands-free driving assist
Published: July 21, 2026 14:46
Stellantis will use technology from Intel's Mobileye to power its Level 2 hands-free driving features for its vehicle brands, the companies announced Tuesday. Starting in 2027, Stellantis will begin using Mobileye's EyeQ system-on-a-chip and a data…
A touchscreen and light make the new X4 Pro the best version of Xteink’s tiny e-readers
https://www.theverge.com/tech/966560/xteink-e-ink-e-reader-x4-pro-touchscreen-light-hands-on
Published: July 21, 2026 14:00
The familiar story with Xteink’s tiny e-readers plays out once again with its new X4 Pro: upgraded hardware held back by frustrating software. The company’s latest tiny e-reader adds a touchscreen and lighting, so choosing it over a Kindle or a Kobo feels…
Garmin’s new screen-free fitness tracker doesn’t require a subscription
https://www.theverge.com/tech/968551/garmin-cirqa-smart-band-fitness-tracker-wearables
Published: July 21, 2026 13:52
Garmin announced a new smart band today designed to track "advanced fitness and wellness features" without a screen to eliminate distractions and push its battery life to up to 10 days between charges. Similar to competing products like the Whoop 5.0 and…
The Switch 2 is $50 off at Woot for new customers
https://www.theverge.com/gadgets/968325/woot-switch-2-coupon-discount-code-deal-sale
Published: July 21, 2026 13:27
Woot is celebrating its 22nd anniversary by rolling out a full week of sales, and one of them stands out for gamers looking to get a deal on Nintendo’s latest console. Normally $449.99, the Nintendo Switch 2 is $22 off for Woot customers who already have…
Nintendo keeps making shooters more friendly and approachable
https://www.theverge.com/entertainment/968220/splatoon-raiders-review-nintendo-switch-2
Published: July 21, 2026 13:00
Nintendo does a lot of weird things, but Splatoon might just be one of the strangest - or at least the boldest. The series started as an attempt to muscle into the ultra-competitive online shooter space, but in a way that feels a world away from the…
The wireless headset that gets hot-swappable batteries right
https://www.theverge.com/tech/967153/glorious-infiniteplay-wireless-gaming-headset-hands-on
Published: July 21, 2026 13:00
New gaming gear is always promising to shave milliseconds off latency or response time. The improvements usually aren't obvious. But the Glorious GHS InfinitePlay wireless headset, on the other hand, could save you far more than just milliseconds: It has…
Halliday’s latest smart glasses feature a much-improved display
https://www.theverge.com/tech/968255/halliday-gen-2-smart-glasses-hands-on-ai-wearables
Published: July 21, 2026 13:00
I first slipped on Halliday's original smart glasses at CES 2025. I was not a fan. The glasses had a tiny, movable display window embedded into the frame that was incredibly finicky to see, and my 30-minute demo left me with achy eyeballs. It was an…
America needs to stop getting shocked by Chinese AI
https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/968136/chinese-ai-models-another-sputnik-moment
Published: July 21, 2026 11:43
Last week, two Chinese AI companies unveiled models they say can credibly compete with the best systems from OpenAI and Anthropic. The response was swift and predictable. Markets wobbled, commentators declared Silicon Valley shooketh, and policymakers…
Who’s afraid of the big, bad GPU?
https://www.theverge.com/cs/features/937356/ai-data-center-gpu-environmental-impact
Published: July 21, 2026 10:29
How does AI make you feel? Are you excited to “vibe-code” your smart home? Or anxious about all the added pollution and billions of gallons of water used by data centers? Dig a little deeper and you’ll start to question the actual value of the GPUs that…
The FCC is planning to retroactively ban disguised DJI gadgets
https://www.theverge.com/news/968310/fcc-dji-drone-camera-ban-skyrover-xtra
Published: July 20, 2026 22:21
Last October, we told you how the FCC had given itself the power to retroactively ban gadgets that have already received its approval to be imported and sold in the United States. Now, the FCC's getting ready to wield that power for the first time, by…
Here are the 30,000 songs Sony is suing Udio’s AI music generator over
https://www.theverge.com/tech/968375/sony-udio-lawsuit-songs-ai-copyright
Published: July 20, 2026 22:20
Sony Music Entertainment has filed another lawsuit against Udio, accusing the AI music generator of infringing the copyright of more than 30,000 of its songs, ranging from Elvis Presley's Hound Dog to Beyoncé's Say My Name, and Harry Styles' As It Was. The…
The Odyssey turned me into an IMAX believer
https://www.theverge.com/entertainment/968337/the-odyssey-imax-screenings-christopher-nolan
Published: July 20, 2026 21:47
After seeing Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey for the first time early last week, I came away impressed, but somewhat conflicted about two of the film's more fantastical set pieces. While those scenes were beautifully crafted and tremendously acted, there…
SpaceX in your index fund, explained
https://www.theverge.com/business/968257/spacex-in-your-index-fund-explained
Published: July 20, 2026 21:12
Index funds are touted as one of the safest ways to invest. Rather than picking and choosing individual stocks, index funds let you bet on the market as a whole. So what happens when a company like SpaceX - a giant gamble, and, in my opinion, terribly…
Get Borderlands 3, Risk of Rain 2 and 13 other great PC games for $15
Published: July 20, 2026 20:08
The aptly-named “2K Megahits 2026 Bundle” from Humble includes 15 Steam games for $15. It’s a smattering of the publisher 2K’s biggest games of the 2010s, including BioShock Infinite, Risk of Rain 2, Borderlands 3, and XCOM: Enemy Unknown. The bundle will…
The PlayStation replica ornament is an homage to a great, yet fragile console
https://www.theverge.com/tech/967989/hallmark-keepsake-playstation-ornament-hands-on
Published: July 20, 2026 20:06
You probably know the signature PlayStation boot sound. Did you know that it's technically a multi-part chime? There's the synthy section where "Sony Computer Entertainment" shows onscreen with a white background. You only get to the next screen with the…
Ford’s $30,000 electric truck: all the news about the company’s big EV re-do
https://www.theverge.com/transportation/968205/ford-electric-truck-uev-30000-affordable
Published: July 20, 2026 19:18
The end of the Ford F-150 Lightning was also the start of a new era for the automaker. After failing to capture the market with the electric version of its popular F-Series truck, Ford is going back to the drawing board with its Universal Electric Vehicle…
Judge pauses Paramount’s attempt to buy Warner Bros. Discovery
https://www.theverge.com/business/968055/paramount-wbd-merger-pause-tro
Published: July 20, 2026 17:49
A judge partially granted the request from a dozen state attorneys general to temporarily place the $110 billion merger of Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery on hold, as reported by Variety and Reuters. US District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín said that…
LG’s glossy OLED gaming monitor is rare to find under $400
https://www.theverge.com/gadgets/967993/lg-27-inch-ultragear-glossy-oled-gaming-monitor-deal-sale
Published: July 20, 2026 16:34
If you’ve been thinking about upgrading your gaming monitor, LG’s 27-inch 27GX704A-B pairs a glossy WOLED panel with a fast refresh rate, and it’s currently on sale for $379.99 (about $70 off) at Amazon and directly from LG, marking a new low price. It…
LG’s monitors come with an unwanted addition for Windows: McAfee pop-up ads
https://www.theverge.com/tech/967983/lg-monitors-mcafee-adware-gamers-nexus
Published: July 20, 2026 16:22
A video from Gamers Nexus explains how, after connecting a new LG UltraGear monitor to a PC running Windows 11 for the first time, Windows Update is silently installing LG driver updates and the LG Monitor App Installer, without so much as a permission…
Adobe’s ‘natural look’ camera app embraces generative AI
https://www.theverge.com/tech/967791/adobe-indigo-camera-app-ai-playground-update
Published: July 20, 2026 16:00
Adobe's experimental camera app has taken an unexpected turn. After Project Indigo was launched last year to provide a "more natural (SLR-like) look" for iPhone photography, the Indigo camera app is now being updated with a suite of generative AI tools.…
Dr. Jill Lepore on why AI backlash is vital for the future
https://www.theverge.com/podcast/967884/jill-lepore-history-ai-artificial-state-elon-musk
Published: July 20, 2026 15:02
Today, I’m talking with Harvard professor and New Yorker staff writer Dr. Jill Lepore about her new book, The Rise and Fall of the Artificial State, which comes out on August 25. Jill is one of the best writers there is at identifying institutional…
Electric air taxis go to war
https://www.theverge.com/transportation/967891/archer-evtol-military-anduril-air-taxi-thunder
Published: July 20, 2026 14:45
Electric aviation is still in its infancy, but manufacturers are already looking beyond mere air taxi trips across cities. Today, one of the leading air taxi startups, San Jose-based Archer Aviation, unveiled a new aircraft it co-developed with defense…
The AirPods Max 2 are down to their second-best price
https://www.theverge.com/gadgets/967822/airpods-max-2-logitech-superstrike-kodak-charmera-deal-sale
Published: July 20, 2026 14:41
There are a ton of deals available to shop today thanks to Best Buy’s “Black Friday in July” sale lasting all week. The sale typically aligns closely with Prime Day each year, but of course, Amazon’s shopping holiday happened much earlier than we expected.…
Avengers: Doomsday’s first trailer puts everyone on high alert
https://www.theverge.com/entertainment/967887/avengers-doomsday-trailer-marvel-release-date
Published: July 20, 2026 13:39
After months of teasing us with reminders about how large Avengers: Doomsday's cast is going to be, Marvel has finally released a proper trailer for the film. Though Robert. Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom definitely appears to be causing a lot of the chaos in…
AliExpress fined almost $630 million over illegal product sales
https://www.theverge.com/policy/967802/aliexpress-eu-dsa-fine-illegal-products
Published: July 20, 2026 11:16
AliExpress has been hit with a €550 million (about $629 million) fine for violating Europe's Digital Services Act (DSA) rules by failing to prevent illegal, unsafe, or counterfeit products from being sold on the e-commerce platform. The European Commission…
China delivers a one-two punch to America’s AI dominance
Published: July 20, 2026 10:16
China's leading AI companies are ramping up the pressure on Silicon Valley, as Moonshot and Alibaba unveiled models they claim can go toe-to-toe with the best from OpenAI and Anthropic at a fraction of the cost. The rapid-fire releases suggest America's…
This unpronounceable series of glyphs is an incredible side project from Kieran Hebden (aka Four Tet)
https://www.theverge.com/entertainment/967696/four-tet-wingdings-album-review
Published: July 19, 2026 21:02
Just why? ʅ͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡͡(̸̢̛̼̞̭͋ͅ)̸͚̰͛̔̾̀̿͒͂:̴͓̞̑̌̂̆̊͋̀:̸͎̟̯̂̓̌ ҉ ͡ ͞ ͞ ͞ ҉● ࿀ ● ࿀ ● ҉⃝ ⃝͢ ͞ ͘ ͞⃝̕ ͢ ̛ ⃝ ̸ ̡ ͢⃝̧ ͡ ͡ ̀ ̧ ̢⃝͜ ҉ ͞ ͞ ⃝͞ ͞ ͡⃝ ⃝҉҈҉҈҉҈҉҈҉҈҉ :̶̢͙͙͕̠̩͆(̷̮͍͚̫͚͂̍)̵̳̗̊( ̟̞̝̜̙̘̗̖҉̵̴̨̧̢̡̼̻̺̹̳̲̱̰̯̮̭̬̫̪̩̦̥ What am I supposed…
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