Fender’s free new recording app lets you simulate its iconic amps and pedals
Fender has released a free new recording app called Fender Studio that seems pretty powerful. The app, available on iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, and Linux, supports multitrack recording and offers a host of effects that emulate guitar pedals and several of the company’s iconic amplifiers over the years.  Some of the simulated amps include a […]
Google I/O 2025: All the news and announcements
Google I/O starts today, and would you believe it? They’re going to talk about AI. After getting everything Android out of the way in last week’s dedicated Android Show, we’re expecting today’s I/O developer conference keynote to be one big AI show. Gemini, Project Astra, and everything in between are likely to be the focus […]
Freshly discovered bug in OpenPGP.js undermines whole point of encrypted comms

Update before that proof-of-concept comes to bite

Security researchers are sounding the alarm over a fresh flaw in the JavaScript implementation of OpenPGP (OpenPGP.js) that allows both signed and encrypted messages to be spoofed.…

Netflix is turning mobile blockbuster Clash of Clans into an animated series
In the great big ‘ol list of games that are getting an adaptation you can now add Clash of Clans to the list. Supercell’s mobile strategy games Clash of Clans and Clash Royale, two of the biggest, highest grossing games in the world, will serve as the foundation for a new animated series at Netflix.  […]
Nvidia part of plans for mega 1.4 GW AI datacenter near Paris

Say something nice? At least France has nuclear power, though its grid needs work

Europe's largest AI datacenter campus is to be built near Paris in France, according to blueprints released by a joint venture formed by Nvidia, Mistral AI, the French national investment bank, and United Arab Emirates (UAE) investment fund MGX.…

Waffle House adds fast EV charging to its 24/7 diners
Soon you’ll be able to charge your electric vehicle at Waffle House diners while chatting up truckers and dodging flying chairs. Starting in 2026, BP Pulse will be equipping America’s all-night breakfast place with 400kW DC fast chargers fitted with a mix of CCS and NACS connectors. Participating Waffle House diners in Texas, Georgia, Florida, […]
iPhones are on the menu for Amazon drone delivery
The Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) has given Amazon’s Prime Air drones the go-ahead to deliver new categories of devices, including products with lithium ion batteries like iPhones, AirPods, and more, Amazon has announced. The company says those product categories can be shipped to your door within 60 minutes — if you’re in one of the […]
Pennywise returns in the first trailer for HBO’s It prequel Welcome to Derry
It: Welcome to Derry, the prequel TV show for Stephen King’s It, has a new trailer. Coming to HBO Max (née Max, née HBO Go, née HBO Now, née…) this fall, the show centers on what seems to be the origins of It’s supernatural villain Pennywise the Clown and the first crop of kids to […]
Walmart quietly released a new 4K Google TV box with Dolby Vision
Walmart has released a new version of its 4K Google TV box that could be an even better replacement for Google’s now discontinued Chromecast line. The new $29.88 Onn 4K Plus Streaming Device is $10 more expensive than Walmart’s $19.88 entry-level Onn 4K, but includes a feature from the pricier $49.88 Onn 4K Pro smart […]
The Razr Ultra proves flip phones are almost ready
Phones that flip and fold have been The Next Big Thing so long it almost seems like they might never happen. Even as they've gotten better, faster, and more durable, devices from Google, Samsung, and others have just had too many compromises. (They also cost way too much.) But bit by bit, year by year, […]
Actors' union complains about Epic Games cloning Darth Vader

I'm altering the deal. Pray I don't alter it any further

The union representing American actors has complained about Llama Production, which is owned by Epic Games, over the use of generative AI in a new character for Fortnite.…

Nearly half of streaming subscriptions are for plans with ads
Ad-supported tiers are proving to be popular with streaming customers. New data from subscription analyst firm Antenna shows that 46 percent of Discovery Plus, Disney Plus, Hulu, HBO Max, Netflix, Paramount Plus, and Peacock subscribers in the US are paying for ad-supported plans, and that around 75 percent of subscribers have at least tried them. […]
Microsoft revives DOS-era Edit in a modern shell

Fast, compact, useful? Who are you, and what did you do with Windows?

Build  Microsoft has brought back an old favorite to the Windows command line interface: Edit, a text editor harking back to the halcyon days of DOS and text mode applications.…

I tested a robot vacuum with an arm, and my dog may never forgive me
I suspect my dog does not like the Roborock Saros Z70. Unlike the dozens of other robot vacuums that Gus happily lets clean around him while he sleeps, the Z70 keeps stealing his treasures. Not his dog toys - although that could be a future feature - but my family's socks that he loves to […]
Ransomware attack on food distributor spells more pain for UK supermarkets

Peter Green Chilled supplies all the major UK chains

It's more bad news for UK supermarkets with chilled and frozen food distribution business Peter Green Chilled confirming a ransomware attack with customers.…

Intel bets you'll stack cheap GPUs to avoid spending top dollar on Nvidia Pros

Behold ‘Project Battlematrix’

Computex  When it comes to AI accelerators, Intel isn't very competitive, and its newly announced Battlemage workstation cards don't do much to change that. But at least they're cheap. Really cheap.…

Microsoft is putting AI actions into the Windows File Explorer
Microsoft is starting to integrate AI shortcuts, or what it calls AI actions, into the File Explorer in Windows 11. These shortcuts let you right-click on a file and quickly get to Windows AI features like blurring the background of a photo, erasing objects, or even summarizing content from Office files. Four image actions are […]
Wanted: A handy metric for gauging if GPUs are being used optimally

Even well-optimized models only likely to use 35 to 45% of compute the silicon can deliver

GPU accelerators used in AI processing are costly items, so making sure you get the best usage out of them ought to be a priority, yet the industry lacks an effective way of measuring this, says the Uptime Institute.…

Adobe is switching some Creative Cloud users to a pricier AI plan
Some of Adobe’s most expensive Creative Cloud subscriptions are about to get even pricier for users in North America. Starting from June 17th, the Creative Cloud All Apps plan will be renamed Creative Cloud Pro for users in the US, Canada, and Mexico, adding a bunch of generative AI perks in exchange for bumping up […]
Torvalds' typing taste test touches tactile tragedy

There’s something wrong with keyboard design, but we can’t put our finger on it

Opinion  Linus Torvalds is the global hero most of the world doesn't even know exists. There are no big movies about him, no best-selling biographies, no ardent Torvaldian cultists with home altars and gilded icons. At least, we hope not.…

Republican lawmakers could soon kill clean energy jobs in their home states
Renewable energy has driven a manufacturing boom in the US, but that’s all at stake as Congress weighs cuts to Biden-era tax incentives. Solar, wind, and battery companies have announced plans to either create or expand 250 manufacturing facilities since August 2022. That’s when Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), considered the biggest federal […]
Virgin Media O2 patches hole that let callers snoop on your coordinates

Researcher finds VoLTE metadata could be used to locate users within 100 meters

UK telco Virgin Media O2 has fixed an issue with its 4G Calling feature that allowed users' general location to be discerned by those who called them.…

Techies propose the Agent Name Service: It's like DNS but for AI agents

Because nobody wants a random and unverified bot tickling their APIs

To unify the proliferating set of would-be standards to govern AI agents, researchers have proposed yet another standard.…

Foxconn chair predicts AI will end manufacturers' search for cheap labor

Urges world leaders to pay attention because he’s already building factories in which GenAI is acing scutwork

Computex  Foxconn chair Young Li has predicted the combination of generative AI and robotics will destroy low-end manufacturing jobs and called on world leaders to recognize inevitable geopolitical shifts that will follow.…

MSI’s new Claw A8 is powered by AMD
MSI has revealed its latest iteration of its Claw PC gaming handheld — and this time, it’s powered by AMD. The company showed off the Claw A8 BZ2EM at Computex 2025, which comes with an AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme chip along with up to 24GB of DDR5 memory. That’s a bit less than the 32GB […]
Trump signs TAKE IT DOWN law meant to stop revenge porn

Fine-print is vague and broad, could easily be abused to blunt protected speech

President Donald Trump officially signed Monday the TAKE IT DOWN Act, a bill to criminalize revenge porn - both real and AI-generated. But internet rights groups have repeatedly warned the law is overly broad and vague, and could be used to order the takedown of protected speech.…

Elgato is letting you stick a Stream Deck on anything
Elgato announced a new “Stream Deck Everywhere” strategy at Computex, which includes a software-based virtual Stream Deck for PCs, an ethernet dock accessory, unbranded Stream Deck modules that can bring its keys into other products, and even new scissor-switch keys for a more precise, keyboard-like feel. “With these launches, we’re opening up Stream Deck to […]
CISA has a new No. 2 ... but still no official top dog

Brain drain, budget cuts, constant cyberthreats - who wouldn't want this job?

The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has a new No. 2: Madhu Gottumukkala, stepping in as the nation's lead civilian cyber agency faces budget cuts, a brain drain, and the never-ending task of defending critical infrastructure.…

Show us your face: New Orleans PD reportedly got secret facial recognition alerts

Police took Big Easy attitude to the rules, says WaPo

Since early 2023, facial recognition cameras run by a private nonprofit have scanned New Orleans visitors and residents and quietly alerted police, sidestepping oversight and potentially violating city law, according to a new report.…

The best Garmin watches for training and everyday life
Few brands are as synonymous with outdoor sports as Garmin. You’ll find these fitness trackers and smartwatches on dozens of wrists at any 5K, marathon, or Ironman. You’ll also find Garmin devotees among divers, thru-hikers, golfers, kiteboarders — you name it. But these devices aren’t just for athletes. The company’s made significant strides in its […]
Here are the best streaming service deals available right now
So far, 2025 has been a great year for watching new, must-see TV shows and movies on subscription services. But if you, like many of us, have more concurrent subscriptions than you care to admit, you’ll agree that keeping up with the latest each month is expensive. They may not cost as much as most […]
Spotify’s iPhone app will now let you easily buy audiobooks
It’s finally possible to purchase an audiobook from Spotify’s iPhone app with just a few taps. On Monday, Spotify announced that Apple approved an update that allows users in the US to see audiobook pricing within the app and buy individual audiobooks outside the App Store. The update also lets Spotify Premium subscribers purchase additional […]
WizKids’ Baldur’s Gate 3 mini figures look like they’ve been through the hells
WizKids did Baldur’s Gate 3 dirty with its new D&D Icons of the Realms collection of miniature figures. The anticipated collection based on the beloved RPG (my personal 2023 GOTY) launched in April, and some buyers noticed that the characters look nothing — and I mean nothing — like how they were advertised. These cursed […]
Microsoft adds Grok - the most unhinged chatbot - to Azure AI buffet

Never mind the chatbot's recent erratic behavior

Microsoft has added xAI's Grok 3 family to its Azure AI Foundry platform, seemingly unfazed by the firm's rivalry with Microsoft investee OpenAI or the chatbot's recent descent into conspiracy territory.…

SAG-AFTRA files complaint over Fortnite’s AI Darth Vader
SAG-AFTRA, the organization that represents voice, motion, and screen performers, has filed an unfair labor complaint against Epic Games. The complaint stems from the company’s recent introduction of an AI programmed to sound like James Earl Jones’ Darth Vader that can respond to a player’s actions and questions. SAG-AFTRA wrote in a statement that it […]
Trump signs the Take It Down Act into law
President Donald Trump signed the Take It Down Act into law, enacting a bill that will criminalize the distribution of nonconsensual intimate images (NCII) — including AI deepfakes — and require social media platforms to promptly remove them when notified. The bill sailed through both chambers of Congress with several tech companies, parent and youth […]
SEC SIM-swapper who Googled 'signs that the FBI is after you' put behind bars

Proving yet again that crims are bad at search hygiene

An Alabama man who SIM-swapped his way into the SEC's official X account, enabling a fake ETF announcement that briefly pumped Bitcoin, has been sentenced to 14 months in prison and three years of supervised release.…

How to manage your bookmarks in Google Chrome
There's a lot to look at, watch, and listen to on the web. Fully utilizing the bookmarks feature in Google Chrome can be a real help in staying on top of everything. Chrome is the browser I use most often, and I've got a huge number of bookmarked sites inside it: long reads I want […]
Google releases its NotebookLM mobile app
Google’s NotebookLM app for Android is out now, as reported by 9to5Google, and is expected to launch for iOS and iPadOS on May 20th, according to the app’s App Store listing. The app appears to offer similar functionality to the desktop version of NotebookLM, including the ability to upload sources of information that the app […]
Aussie rocket foiled by premature fairing pop

A fair dinkum disaster

Australia's first homegrown rocket launch has been delayed after the vehicle's fairing unexpectedly deployed on the launchpad.…

Huawei’s new foldable laptop might be the thinnest yet
Huawei just launched a super sleek folding laptop that might be as thin as your phone. The MateBook Fold, which consists of a single OLED display, is just 7.3mm (~0.3 inches) thick when unfolded and 14.9mm (~0.6 inches) when closed, as spotted earlier by Android Headlines. To compare, Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 Fold measures 8.6mm (0.34 […]
European customers report Oracle Cloud identity outage, Big Red is silent

DownDetector reported problems for about 6 hours

Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) experienced an outage in Europe earlier today, according to users and online metrics.…

The best deals on MacBooks right now
Apple currently sells MacBooks equipped with its own M-series chips in a wide range of sizes and price points. It discontinued the M1 MacBook Air to make room for newer models, but some retailers are still selling the last-gen laptop starting at $649 — a far cry from the $2,499 starting price of the latest […]
LG’s brilliant C4 OLED is more than 50 percent off for Memorial Day
Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer, but it’s also one of the best times of the year to snag a seriously good deal on a top-tier TV. Right now, for instance, you can buy LG’s C4 OLED at Amazon, Best Buy, and LG’s online storefront in the 42-inch configuration starting at an all-time […]
DARPA zaps popcorn with laser power beamed 5.3 miles through air

800-watt demo breaks distance record for optical energy transmission

Wireless power transmission is moving from lab curiosity toward real-world utility, at least if the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's latest test is any indication.…

Microsoft’s Edit on Windows is a new command line text editor
Microsoft is unveiling its own command line text editor on Windows today. Edit on Windows will be accessible by using “edit” in a command prompt, allowing developers to edit files within the command line. It’s part of a number of improvements to Windows developer tools at Microsoft’s Build conference today to improve the Windows experience […]
Nvidia builds a server to run x86 workloads alongside agentic AI

Wants to be the 'HR department for agents'

GTC  Nvidia has delivered a server design that includes x86 processors and eight GPUs connected by a dedicated switch to run agentic AI alongside mainstream enterprise workloads.…

Microsoft employee disrupts Satya Nadella’s Build conference keynote
A Microsoft employee disrupted the company’s Build developer conference in Seattle, Washington, this morning, protesting against the company’s cloud and AI contracts with the Israeli government. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella had only been on stage for a matter of minutes before protesters started interrupting his speech, with one shouting “free Palestine!” Nadella continued his keynote, […]
Bluesky is testing a new ‘live’ indicator, starting with the NBA
Bluesky is making it easier to know when an NBA game is happening with a new test that adds a red border to the NBA’s profile picture, along with a “live” callout below it. When you click the profile picture, you’ll be taken out of Bluesky and to whatever live event the organization is promoting, […]
Asus refreshes its gaming laptops with cheaper RTX 5060 options
Asus is updating three of its gaming laptop lines with configurations featuring the new GeForce RTX 5060 GPU, offering features like Multi Frame Generation for higher framerates at slightly lower prices. Nvidia’s mid-range graphics are coming to the beefy ROG Strix G16 and G18, ROG Zephyrus G14 hybrid gaming / creativity laptop, and the entry-level […]
Microsoft is opening its on-device AI models up to web apps in Edge
Web developers will be able to start leveraging on-device AI in Microsoft’s Edge browser soon, using new APIs that can give their web apps access to Microsoft’s Phi-4-mini model, the company announced at its Build conference today. And Microsoft says the API will be cross-platform, so it sounds like these APIs will work with the […]
Microsoft open sources Windows Subsystem for Linux – well, most of it

Time to stand on its own two webbed feet?

Microsoft has open-sourced the Windows Subsystem for Linux, years after the platform's debut.…

GitHub Copilot angles for promotion from assistant to agent

Agent mode arrives, for better or worse

Build  Microsoft's GitHub Copilot can now act as a coding agent, capable of implementing tasks or addressing posted issues within the code hosting site.…

Microsoft is now hosting xAI’s Grok 3 models
I reported in my Notepad newsletter earlier this month that Microsoft was getting ready to host Elon Musk’s Grok AI models, and now it’s official. At Microsoft’s Build developer conference today, the company confirmed it’s expanding its Azure AI Foundry models list to include Grok 3 and Grok 3 mini from xAI. “These models will have […]
Microsoft’s Windows Subsystem for Linux is now open-source
Microsoft is making its Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) open-source today, opening up the code for community members to contribute to. After launching WSL for Windows 10 nearly nine years ago, it has been a multiyear effort at Microsoft to open-source the feature that enables a Linux environment within Windows. “It has been a consistent […]
Windows is getting support for the ‘USB-C of AI apps’
Microsoft launched its Copilot Plus PC and Windows AI efforts last year, and now it’s going a step further today with native Model Context Protocol (MCP) in Windows and the launch of the Windows AI Foundry. The groundwork is necessary for a future envisioned by Microsoft whereby automated AI agents assist their human companions. Introduced […]
GitHub’s new AI coding agent can fix bugs for you
GitHub is launching an AI coding agent that can do things like fix bugs, add features, and improve documentation — all on a developer’s behalf. The agent is embedded directly into GitHub Copilot, and it will start working once a user assigns it a task, according to an announcement at Microsoft Build. To complete its […]
Microsoft Build 2025: news and announcements from the developer conference
Microsoft’s four-day Build conference kicks off on Monday, May 19th, with a livestream starting at 9AM PT / 12PM ET. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella will be on stage to present all the latest Windows, Office, and AI news, followed by developer sessions that will be free for anyone to register and watch online. Build is […]
Microsoft CTO Kevin Scott on how AI can save the web, not destroy it
Today, I’m talking with Kevin Scott, the chief technology officer of Microsoft and one of the company’s AI leaders. This is Kevin’s third time on Decoder, and he’s one of my favorite guests. He thinks a lot about the relationship between technology, art, and culture, and he’s unusually willing to dive into the weeds of […]
23andMe and its user data will soon belong to a pharmaceutical giant
23andMe will keep offering customers its DNA testing services after being bought out of bankruptcy. New York-based biotech company Regeneron Pharmaceuticals announced an agreement on Monday to purchase the 23andMe startup for $256 million, alongside its Total Health and Research Services business and biobank of customer data and genetic samples. Regeneron is the winner of […]
When LLMs get personal info they are more persuasive debaters than humans

Large-scale disinfo campaigns could use this in machines that adapt 'to individual targets.' Are we having fun yet?

Fresh research is indicating that in online debates, LLMs are much more effective than humans at using personal information about their opponents, with potentially alarming consequences for mass disinformation campaigns.…

LastOS slaps neon paint on Linux Mint and dares you to run Photoshop

Another distro for Windows users – presumably ones who love bling

LastOS is a tricked-out version of Linux Mint 22.1 with the Cinnamon desktop and some additional tools to make life easier for Windows folks.…

The Sonos Move 2 is cheaper than ever, just in time for summer
The portable and capable Sonos Move 2 wireless speaker just hit its lowest price yet at Amazon and Best Buy, costing $336 (was $449) for each of its three available colors. It’s still pricey, but now it’s a better deal. Its built-in battery can last up to 24 hours of continuous playback, and, like the […]
Nvidia sets up shop in Taiwan with AI supers and a factory full of ambition

Researchers and TSMC to benefit from expanded infrastructure

Computex  Against a backdrop of continuing tensions between the US and China, with Taiwan typically stuck in the middle, Nvidia is touting two AI supercomputers for the country.…

Sesame Street’s next season will stream on Netflix
Sunny days are on their way to Netflix. The streamer just announced that the next season of Sesame Street will be available on Netflix “later this year.” Season 56 of the show won’t be fully exclusive to Netflix, as the company says that it “has exclusive worldwide premiere rights and episodes will be available day-and-date […]
Latest patch leaves some Windows 10 machines stuck in recovery loops

Veteran OS might be almost out of support, but there's still time for Microsoft to break it

As Microsoft's Build developer shindig begins, many users are once again facing a familiar problem: broken Windows.…

Google I/O 2025: how to watch and what to expect
Google’s annual I/O developer conference is almost here, and all eyes will be on the company’s opening keynote. But for the first time in years, we know there’s little reason to hope for major Android OS announcements, since Google already did that last week. Instead, we’re expecting I/O’s keynote to be (almost) all about AI, […]
How to watch Microsoft’s Build 2025 conference
Microsoft’s annual developer conference kicks off today in Seattle, Washington, during the same week Google hosts its own I/O developer event in Mountain View, California. Build will be focused on Microsoft’s latest platform changes for developers, including new AI announcements that are bound to go head-to-head with Google’s own news. Microsoft is streaming Build online […]
Millions at risk after attackers steal UK legal aid data dating back 15 years

Cybercriminals lifted info including addresses, ID numbers, and financial records from agency systems

A "significant amount of personal data" belonging to legal aid applicants dating back to 2010 in the UK was stolen by cybercriminals, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) confirmed today.…

AI skills shortage more than doubles for UK tech leaders

Highest recorded jump in skills gap for more than a decade, recruiter finds

The number of UK tech leaders reporting a dearth in AI skills has more than doubled in the last year, according to research.…

IT chiefs of UK's massive health service urge vendors to make public security pledge

Enormous org has been hit by ransomware again and again, on multiple fronts, over the past year

Top cybersecurity officials within the UK government and the National Health Service (NHS) are asking CEOs of tech suppliers to pledge their allegiance to sound security by signing a public charter.…

Qualcomm confirms it's getting into the datacenter market, probably for AI

CEO Cristiano Amon teases plans for high-speed-low-power inferencing products

Computex  Qualcomm is preparing products for the datacenter.…

Automatic UK-to-US English converter produced amazing mistakes by the vanload

Yard of Eden just doesn't have the right ring to it

Who, Me?  Translating one's life from the wonders of the weekend to the madness of a Monday is never easy, but The Register tries to ease the change by delivering a new installment of Who, Me? It's our reader-contributed column in which you admit to making messes and share your escape routes.…

Nvidia opens up speedy NVLink interconnect to custom CPUs, ASICs

One of the two just needs to be made by Nv

Computex  Nvidia has opened the NVLink interconnect tech used to stitch its rack-scale compute platforms together to the broader ecosystem with the introduction of NVLink Fusion at Computex this week.…

Eeek! p0wned Alabama hit by unspecified 'cybersecurity event'

PLUS: Euro-cops take down investment scammers; Fancy Bear returns to Ukraine; and more

Infosec In Brief  The Alabama state government is investigating an unspecified "cybersecurity event" that it said has affected some state systems, but didn't involve the theft of citizen's personal info.…

China launches an AI cloud into orbit -12 sats for now, 2,800 in coming years

PLUS: South Korea signs for massive supercomputer; HCL gets into chipmaking; US tariffs slow APAC tech buying; and more

Asia In Brief  Chinese company Guoxing Aerospace last launched a dozen satellites, each packing a 744 TOPS of computing power, in the first step towards creating an orbiting constellation of 2,800 such satellites.…

Apple is trying to get ‘LLM Siri’ back on track
Apple Intelligence has been a wreck since its first features rolled out last year, and a big new report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman details why — and how Apple is trying to piece things back together. And much of its effort hinges on rebuilding Siri from the ground up. Gurman has reported in the past […]
Ex-NSA bad-guy hunter listened to Scattered Spider's fake help-desk calls: 'Those guys are good'

Plus, Co-op tells The Reg: 'we took early and decisive action' to block the crooks

INTERVIEW  The call came into the help desk at a large US retailer. An employee had been locked out of their corporate accounts. …

Here are the best iPad deals you can get right now
While the best iPad deals usually land during major sale events like Black Friday and Prime Day, many great iPad deals are attainable outside of those times. The day-to-day discounts may come and go like changing winds, but there’s often some amount to be saved, particularly on Apple’s more affordable iPads. The most recent iPad Pro and […]
China begins assembling its supercomputer in space
China has launched the first 12 satellites of a planned 2,800-strong orbital supercomputer satellite network, reports Space News. The satellites, created by the company ADA Space, Zhijiang Laboratory, and Neijang High-Tech Zone, will be able to process the data they collect themselves, rather than relying on terrestrial stations to do it for them, according to […]
I used two GPS hiking apps for backpacking and I’ll do it again
For most of my life, I've relied on a paper map when I go outdoors. Then, in March, I joined my friend Rusty on the Appalachian Trail for two weeks. He told me to download FarOut. FarOut was my introduction to the world of app-based navigation. It's focused on thru-hikers, and has useful details, including […]
To progress as an engineer career-wise, become a great communicator

It'll even help you develop technical skills

Systems Approach  From 2014 to 2020 I had a title of CTO at VMware, first for the networking business and then for the Asia Pacific region as a Field CTO.…

In a year full of giant games, some little mice stand out
There have been a lot of big games this year that have felt all-consuming, like Monster Hunter Wilds or Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Maze Mice offers something different: a small, pick-up-and-play experience that takes a bunch of ideas from some classics and adds a clever twist. The game, from Luck Be a Landlord developer TrampolineTales, […]
The best wireless headphones get even better
Hi, friends! Welcome to Installer No. 83, your guide to the best and Verge-iest stuff in the world. (If you're new here, welcome, please don't spoil Andor for me, and also you can read all the old editions at the Installer homepage.) This week, I've been reading about Mission: Impossible and Sam Altman's kitchen and […]
Apple to add fresh accessibility features for 2025

It matters for everyone, because we'll all be disabled one day

Global Accessibility Awareness Day  Accessibility matters to everyone. If you think it doesn't: it will. Apple builds in some pretty good tools, and they're getting better. Here's why it's important.…

Amazon claims its ‘constantly inviting’ new customers to Alexa Plus
Yesterday, Reuters ran a story with the headline “Weeks after Amazon’s Alexa+ AI launch, a mystery: where are the users?,” in which it detailed its difficulty locating first-hand accounts of the AI-upgraded assistants’ use online. The Verge asked Amazon about the story, and the company has responded to say that the idea that Alexa Plus […]
How a DoorDash driver scammed the company out $2.5 million
A former DoorDash delivery driver pleaded guilty this week to conspiracy to a wire fraud conspiracy that scammed DoorDash out of over $2.5 million, the US Attorney’s Office in California’s Northern District announced on Tuesday. He and others made it happen over a period of months using fake customer accounts, deliveries that never happened, driver […]
REI’s anniversary sale is dropping prices on Garmins and other great outdoor gear
Just in time to make the most of the warmer weather, REI is slashing prices on a bunch of our favorite outdoor gadgets and goods as a part of its annual anniversary sale. Now through May 26th, the outdoor retailer is taking up to 30 percent off a large number of items, from Garmin watches […]
Boffins devise technique that lets users prove location without giving it away

ZKLP system allows apps to confirm user presence in a region without exposing exactly where

Computer scientists from universities in Germany, Hong Kong, and the United Kingdom have proposed a way to provide verifiable claims about location data without surrendering privacy.…

Epic asks judge to make Apple let Fortnite back on the US App Store
Epic is asking District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers to order Apple to review — and approve if compliant with Apple’s guidelines — Epic’s submission of Fortnite to the US App Store in a new court filing. The company argues in the document that Apple is once again in contempt of the judge’s April order restricting it from […]
The Verge’s 2025 graduation gift guide
Graduation is one of those unique milestones in life that’s both exciting and nerve-wracking. It’s worth celebrating, but it also marks a new chapter that can feel overwhelming. That’s why your grad will surely appreciate a little support as they step into the next phase of their life, whether that be college or their first job. […]
It’s time for Logitech to make a real Forever Mouse
Last fall, Logitech CEO Hanneke Faber was roundly ridiculed after suggesting the company would like to produce a "Forever Mouse" - a mouse with a monthly subscription fee for software updates. It seemed to betray a lack of understanding: many people who buy mice don't want software at all, much less software they have to […]
Huawei’s first trifold is a great phone that you shouldn’t buy
Let's get one thing out of the way immediately: you shouldn't buy Huawei's trifold phone, the Mate XT. And that's alright, because you probably couldn't if you wanted to - while it's no longer exclusive to China, it's only on sale in a handful of countries, and not in the US or Europe. Besides, I […]
It’s parry season
If you like games with parrying, there are two great new ways to get your fix: Doom: The Dark Ages and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. These very different games - one is a fast-paced first-person shooter, the other a turn-based fantasy RPG - approach the mechanic in very different ways. Let's start with Doom. One […]
No-boom supersonic flights could slide through US skies soon

As long as you're quiet about it

Feature  This week, a bipartisan bill was introduced that would allow supersonic flight over the continental US for the first time in 52 years, as long as they're quiet.…

Google I/O will be an AI show
Android is getting its biggest visual update in years, and rather than unveiling it for the first time at its big annual developer conference, Google announced Material Three Expressive at a pre-show event broadcast on YouTube the week before. If a major design language shift for the world's most popular mobile OS doesn't qualify as […]
Google backs down after locking out Nextcloud Files app

Search giant to restore critical Android permission after user outcry

In a turn of events to warm our withered hearts, Google has offered to restore the permission that was revoked from Nextcloud's Files app for Android.…

Meta faces Democratic probe into plans to power a giant data center with gas
Meta’s building a new AI data center so massive in Louisiana that the local utility company has plans to construct three new gas-fired power plants to provide it with enough electricity. Now, advocates and lawmakers are pressing Meta for answers about how it’ll clean up pollution stemming from the data center’s energy consumption. Sen. Sheldon […]
Fired US govt workers, Uncle Xi wants you! – to apply for this fake consulting gig

Phony LinkedIn recruitment ads? Groundbreaking

Chinese government snoops - hiding behind the guise of fake consulting companies - are actively trying to recruit the thousands upon thousands of US federal employees who have been fired since President Trump took office.…

America’s consumer watchdog drops leash on proposed data broker crackdown

Criminals must be licking their lips at the possibilities

Uncle Sam's consumer watchdog has scrapped plans to implement Biden-era rules that would've treated certain data brokers as credit bureaus, forcing them to follow stricter laws when flogging Americans' sensitive data.…

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