Tech
The latest Roomba can rub-a-dub scrub
/ iRobot’s j9 robot vacuum mop can seek out your dirtiest rooms, physically scrub your floors, refill its own mop, and not leave you with a dirty dock. a]:text-gray-13″>If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement. a:hover]:text-gray-63 [&>a:hover]:shadow-underline-black dark:[&>a:hover]:text-gray-bd dark:[&>a:hover]:shadow-underline-gray [&>a]:shadow-underline-gray-63 dark:[&>a]:text-gray-bd dark:[&>a]:shadow-underline-gray”>Image: iRobot iRobot’s newest robot vacuums are smarter and more powerful, and the mopping bot can scrub your floors more deeply. At least, that’s what the company is claiming as it launches its newest flagships: the $1,399 Roomba Combo j9 Plus vacuum / mop and the $899 j9 Plus va...
Meta sets GPT-4 as the bar for its next AI model, says a new report
/ Meta is reportedly planning to train a new model that it hopes will be as powerful as OpenAI’s latest and greatest chatbot. a:hover]:text-gray-63 [&>a:hover]:shadow-underline-black dark:[&>a:hover]:text-gray-bd dark:[&>a:hover]:shadow-underline-gray [&>a]:shadow-underline-gray-63 dark:[&>a]:text-gray-bd dark:[&>a]:shadow-underline-gray”>Illustration by Nick Barclay / The Verge Meta has been snapping up AI training chips and building out data centers in order to create a more powerful new chatbot it hopes will be as sophisticated as OpenAI’s GPT-4, according to The Wall Street Journal. The company reportedly plans to begin training the new large language model early in 2024, with CEO Mark Zuckerberg evidently pushing for it to once again be free for companies...
Bang & Olufsen Introduces Beolab 8 Speaker
Danish electronics manufacturer, Bang & Olufsen, is known for its affinity for high-end speakers, headphones, soundbars and even televisions like its recently released 97-inch BeoVision Harmony TV. Well, now the company's lineup of products is getting larger with its new Beolab 8 speaker.The new speaker takes form as a compact, standalone device. However, it still packs the punch and contemporary design sensibilities that the other B&O speakers contain. But even though the speaker is smaller, what builds the sound is its ability to be used either alone or as a pair with another Beolab 8. Giving the speaker is refined design are Danish-manufactured wooden lamellas or fabric front-wrapped finish options around its one-piece aluminum frame."Drawing inspiration from the high-end Beolab...
WhatsApp is working on cross-platform messaging
/ A new WhatsApp beta contains a clue about how Meta is preparing to comply with the EU’s Digital Markets Act that will require chat interoperability with other services. a:hover]:text-gray-63 [&>a:hover]:shadow-underline-black dark:[&>a:hover]:text-gray-bd dark:[&>a:hover]:shadow-underline-gray [&>a]:shadow-underline-gray-63 dark:[&>a]:text-gray-bd dark:[&>a]:shadow-underline-gray”>Illustration: The Verge A WhatsApp for Android beta update (version 2.23.19.8) that came out today contains a new screen called Third-party chats, reports WABetaInfo. For now, the screen is neither functional nor accessible by users, according to WABetaInfo. But its title is a strong clue that this is likely the first step to opening Meta’s encrypted messages app to cross-platform ...
Disney is releasing a very expensive 100-movie Blu-ray collection
/ The Disney Legacy Animated Film Collection, releasing on November 14th, spans the company’s animated feature film history with surprisingly little filler. a]:text-gray-13″>If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement. Disney is releasing a 100-film Blu-ray collection on November 14th called the Disney Legacy Animated Film Collection (via The Wrap). Preorders will start on September 18th at Walmart.com, and we regret to inform you it will cost $1,500, according to The Wrap. The collection includes movies from both Disney and Pixar, all crammed into three volumes of discs that span Disney’s entire feature film history from 1937’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarves to this year’s Elemental. What’s really impressive is how little fille...
I never want to be apart from my home espresso machine
Zen and the art of espresso machine maintenance. By Allison Johnson, a reviewer with 10 years of experience writing about consumer tech. She has a special interest in mobile photography and telecom. Previously, she worked at DPReview. Share this story a:hover]:text-black [&>a:hover]:shadow-underline-black dark:[&>a:hover]:text-gray-e9 dark:[&>a:hover]:shadow-underline-gray-63 [&>a]:shadow-underline-gray-13 dark:[&>a]:shadow-underline-gray-63″>Latte art remains a work in progress. I’m not the kind of person who gets into hands-on projects; replacing the cabinet pulls in my kitchen is probably the handiest bit of home improvement I’ve managed. But there’s something I find deeply satisfying about espresso machine maintenance. The weekly and monthly cleanings aren’t h...
How to use the new web-based editing tools in Google Photos
/ Google Photos just got a shiny, upgraded set of tools. Here’s how to use them. a:hover]:text-black [&>a:hover]:shadow-underline-black dark:[&>a:hover]:text-gray-e9 dark:[&>a:hover]:shadow-underline-gray-63 [&>a]:shadow-underline-gray-13 dark:[&>a]:shadow-underline-gray-63″>Google Photos will have some suggestions about how to enhance your pictures. Suggestions (the star icon) is a new feature similar to that which has been part of the Android Photos app. It lists tweaks that Google Photos thinks will improve your image. Different suggestions will appear for different images depending on their content. For example, Enhance applies a range of optimizations, while Warm and Cool adjust the overall temperature of a picture. If you’re a Google One subscriber...
Apple Could Add USB-C Charging To AirPods and AirPods Max in 2024
As Apple products begin its transition to USB-C charging, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports that the new standard could affect the more basic AirPods tier and AirPods Max sooner than anticipated.Gurman previously stated that the AirPods Pro, which he described as a "top-selling item" for the tech giant, will be one of the first Apple products to switch to the new USB-C standard. Meanwhile, its regular AirPods counterpart and the over-the-ear AirPods Max could also make the transition from Lightning to USB-C as early as 2024.He adds that although the AirPods won't receive "major" hardware upgrades, a software update will provide "improved automatic device switching," a mute and unmute option via the earpiece itself and the new Conversation Awareness feature that will automatically lower the v...
Brain Dead Taps Higround for Dungeon Crawler-Themed Keyboard and Mousepad
Over the years, Los Angeles-based streetwear label Brain Dead has treated its fans to not just eccentric apparel, but accessories ranging from chalk bags for climbing to ice trays as well. Now, it's connected with keyboard specialists Higround -- who's previous works include projects with Jujutsu Kaisen, SEGA and more. Teaming up for the first time, Brain Dead and Higround have assembled a dungeon crawler-themed keyboard and mousepad that draw from the nostalgic gaming genre.For both the keyboard and mousepad, thematic iconography ranges from weaponry such as axes and bows to co-branding hits such as Brain Dead's logo. A cobblestone pattern serves as the backdrop to a hooded skeleton and various creatures such as a mouse, snake and bug. The Basecamp 65 keyboard features a 65% compact layou...
Elon Musk’s X is suing California over its online moderation reporting bill
/ The X Corp. lawsuit alleges that California’s bill infringes on X’s free speech rights because it forces companies to take up definitions for murky terms. a:hover]:text-gray-63 [&>a:hover]:shadow-underline-black dark:[&>a:hover]:text-gray-bd dark:[&>a:hover]:shadow-underline-gray [&>a]:shadow-underline-gray-63 dark:[&>a]:text-gray-bd dark:[&>a]:shadow-underline-gray”>Illustration: The Verge Elon Musk’s X Corp. is suing the state of California over AB 587, a state bill requiring social media platforms to report to the state attorney general, semiannually, how they’re tackling moderation of certain categories of speech. The complaint alleges that the bill violates federal and state free speech laws because it “compels companies like X Corp. to engage in speech...
Get Hulu with live TV for a major discount during Disney’s Charter spat
/ Disney announces Hulu plus Live TV has a new three-month discount you can sign up for until October 11th. a]:text-gray-13″>If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.
Get Hulu with live TV for a major discount during Disney’s Charter spat
/ Disney announces Hulu plus Live TV has a new three-month discount you can sign up for until October 11th. a]:text-gray-13″>If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.
