Tech
Here are 40 of our favorite deals from REI’s massive Anniversary Sale
REI’s annual Anniversary Sale — the retailer’s biggest of the year — has arrived, bringing with it discounts on all kinds of outdoor essentials. If you’ve got a camping trip coming up, now is a good time to stock up on the basics, whether it be a tent, sleeping pad, or stove. If your summer […]
Mixtape is a musical portrait of teenage life
Playing Mixtape is like playing a video game version of a high school movie. Kids banter about the meaning of life and the theme songs that would play when they walk in a room. They're worried about looking cool at a big party. They're obsessed with finding booze. But under all of those tropes is […]
Xbox is now XBOX
Xbox just allcapsmaxxed: Meet XBOX. This isn't a joke; Microsoft appears to be actually rebranding Xbox to XBOX. Asha Sharma, Xbox CEO, ran a poll on X earlier this week, asking fans whether Microsoft should use Xbox or XBOX. The results were in favor of XBOX, and the company has now renamed its X account. […]
YouTube is expanding its AI deepfake detection tool to all adult users
YouTube is expanding its AI likeness detection program to all users over the age of 18 - meaning just about anyone can have the platform hunt for potential deepfakes of themselves. The likeness detection feature uses a selfie-style scan of a person's face to monitor YouTube for lookalikes. If there is a match, YouTube alerts […]
Windows 11 tests an adjustable taskbar and resizable Start menu
Microsoft's latest Windows 11 test will allow you to reposition the taskbar and change the size of the Start menu. The update, which is rolling out to Windows 11 Insiders in the Experimental channel, lets you place the taskbar on the bottom, top, left, or right side of the screen. Microsoft first teased its movable […]
ArXiv will ban researchers who upload papers full of AI slop
ArXiv, a popular platform for preprint academic research, is taking a new step to attempt to reduce the volume of papers that include AI slop. If a paper has "incontrovertible evidence that the authors did not check the results of LLM generation," such as hallucinated references or "meta-comments" left by an LLM, authors will be […]
Word? : ‘GTA 6’ Pre-Orders Are Reportedly About To Begin
Gamers, your patience is finally about to be rewarded. Word on the video game streets is that GTA 6 pre-orders are about to begin, and that's not the only news to be excited about.
The funniest thing about the Trump arcade game is how good it is
This week, a trio of video game cabinets emblazoned with pixel art of Donald Trump and a number of other government officials' faces suddenly appeared at the DC War Memorial. Looking at the cabinets from a distance, it's easy to get the sense that Operation Epic Furious: Strait to Hell (which you can also play […]
The promises and pitfalls of personalized health
This is Optimizer, a weekly newsletter sent every Friday from Verge senior reviewer Victoria Song that dissects and discusses the latest gizmos and potions that swear they're going to change your life. Opt in for Optimizer here. A few days ago, my esthetician was smearing hot wax on my face. The two caterpillars I call […]
BEAMS Records’ Portable CD Player Is a Flashback to the Analog Era
SummaryBEAMS Records has released a nostalgic, clear orange portable CD player that emphasizes a retro, Y2K-inspired aesthetic.Diverging from modern Bluetooth versions, this "old-school" device features a traditional headphone jack and transparent shell, catering to the recent surge in physical media and transparent tech design.BEAMS Records from Japan’s menswear purveyor BEAMS is releasing a nostalgic throwback with the unveiling of its clear Portable CD Player in orange.Already available in Blue, the new bright orange colorway is even more retro-leaning than its predecessor. With the clear panel and shell, you not only see all the inner hardware but also the disc as it turns. All that's needed to begin playing is a pair of AA batteries, a pair of wired headphones, and a CD, of course.In ...
Honda’s hybrid future starts with new Accord and RDX prototypes
Honda revealed prototypes of two new hybrid models, an Accord sedan and the Acura RDX SUV, during its annual business briefing this week, built on a platform that it says will begin launching next year. The RDX was announced earlier this year as Honda's first SUV to feature the next-gen version of its two-motor hybrid […]
Musk v. Altman accomplished nothing but airing dirty laundry
Today was closing arguments in the Musk v. Altman trial, and I almost feel bad writing about the unbelievable demolition derby I just witnessed. Steven Molo, Musk's lawyer, stumbled over his words. He at one point called Greg Brockman - a co-defendant - Greg Altman. He erroneously claimed that Musk wasn't asking for money and […]
