Smartphone apps that track our driving behavior may be the key to safer road conditions. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety just published a study that found that using smartphone apps to monitor driver behavior, and then providing summaries of that behavior via text message or a data dashboard, leads to safer driving. Researchers borrowed techniques from usage-based insurance (UBI) programs, in which insurance companies use smartphone apps to measure dangerous driving behaviors, like hard braking, sudden acceleration, and speeding. Rather than rely on actuarial data, like driving records and vehicle type, UBI programs use real-time data from app trackers to determine premiums. These are typically opt-in programs, marketed as a way to lower premiums. But if your driving isnt as safe as you think, it can lead to higher monthly payments. Most people have an aversion to being tracked in real-time by their insurance company. But the AAA group was able to show that these methods can lead to safer driving even after the tracking apps are turned off. Participants were told their data was being reviewed as part of a research study, and not being used by insurance companies to lower or raise their rates. Most people have an aversion to being tracked in real-time by their insurance company.The research team corralled 1,400 participants and split them into four groups: a control group; a standard feedback group, which were given weekly feedback via text on all behaviors monitored; an assigned goal group, which were given weekly text feedback on one behavior; and a chosen goal group, which selected their own behavior on which to receive feedback. Among the three feedback groups, 13 percent of participants showed a reduction in speeding, 21 percent showed a reduction in hard braking, and 25 percent experienced less rapid acceleration. Participants also gave their own feedback on tactics for changing their driving behavior: 67.4 percent said they would be persuaded by the potential to earn extra money; 53.9 percent liked weekly feedback via text message; and 45.8 percent preferred a weekly dashboard that provided detailed driving information for the week. The research team also monitored the groups use of smartphones while driving, and were surprised to find that terrible behavior remained mostly unchanged. They theorized that providing baseline safety scores at the start of the study led drivers to believe they were being safer than they actually were and therefore, less in need for improvement. 13 percent of participants showed a reduction in speedingAfter the 12-week study, participants were monitored for an additional six weeks without any feedback to determine whether their improved driving would persist. The study found that generally they continued to drive more safely. Its encouraging to see that many individuals stuck with safer habits even after the study, said Jake Nelson, AAAs director of traffic safety advocacy, in a statement. This shows that positive reinforcement, not just punitive measures, can lead to safer driving habits that can save lives.In 2023, over 40,000 people died in vehicle crashes in the US. AAA says the research results point to the need for innovative approaches to educating people about safer driving behavior. Most people have an aversion to being tracked while they drive especially when you consider that most drivers have an overinflated sense of their own behavior. But UBI programs are growing. In 2020, 16 percent of auto insurance shoppers were offered UBI and 12 percent of them enrolled, according to USA Today. In 2024, 15 percent of buyers were offered UBI, but a almost a fifth of them signed up.We already use our phones to monitor a lot of our behavior, including our steps, our sleep, and our eating habits. Why not driving?See More:

NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month)is shutting down after more than 20 years of hosting its annual challenge for writers. In a video and an email sent to community members, the nonprofit organization explains that it can no longer continue after years of financial struggles.Before officially becoming a nonprofit in 2006, NaNoWriMo started out with just 21 writers in 1999. More than 400,000 writers participated in NaNoWriMos programs that challenged people to finish writing a novel within the month of November in 2022.In 2023, many writers abandoned NaNoWriMo after it refused to take a stand against the use of AI tools in writing. Around the same time, one of its moderators faced child grooming accusations, leading to more criticism from the community.As shown in the video, NaNoWriMo interim executive director Kilby Blades details how participation and fundraising in the program have decreased in recent years. The NaNoWriMo site will remain online for as long as possible, though it will no longer formally host its writing challenges.We recognize that the closure of NaNoWriMo represents a huge loss to the writing community, and that grief over this outcome will be exacerbated by the challenges of the past sixteen months, NaNoWriMos email to the community says. This is not the ending that anybody wanted or planned. Andbelieve usif we could hit the delete button and rewrite this last chapter, we would. But we do have hope for the epilogue.Even with the closure of NaNoWriMo, writers can still challenge themselves to write a novel during November. Or, they can try out an alternative.

Last week, Apple announced that lossless audio and ultra low latency would be coming to the AirPods Max with USB-C. It was a pleasant surprise for owners of Apples over-ear headphones, which have fallen behind the AirPods Pro in recent years when it comes to offering new features. The company briefly hit a snag in releasing the firmware update necessary for the AirPods Max to unlock these newfound capabilities, but resolved the issue on Wednesday afternoon.Firmware version 7E99 was supposed to arrive early this week alongside iOS 18.4 and macOS Sequoia 15.4. But late in the day Tuesday, Apple added an unusual coming soon asterisk next to the AirPods Max on a support site that lists each devices latest firmware. Both MacRumors and 9to5Mac reported on the delay, though Apple never gave an explanation. A newer AirPods Max software update, 7E101, was rolled out on Wednesday.The company also introduced a new USB-C to 3.5mm cable for the AirPods Max last week, and its worth noting you can use that regardless of what firmware youre on; it works right out of the box for connecting the headphones to devices with a traditional headphone jack and its a pretty good cable as these things go. (Youd hope so for $39.)Apple really needs to make the process of updating AirPods more straightforward. For years, it has just sort of happened in the background at a random moment when your iPhone and AirPods are near each other with the headphones charging. Theres no way of manually triggering an update, which runs counter to the way every other earbud maker does it. Can we get a simple update now button right in AirPods settings in iOS 19, please?Update, April 2nd 6:30PM ET: The article has been updated to reflect that the latest AirPods Max firmware is now available.

The Switch 2 is here well, almost. Nintendo took the wraps off its new console during its latest Direct event, providing us with a closer look at the $449.99 console ahead of its release on June 5th.In many ways, the sequel is a generational leap from the original console / handheld hybrid that rocked the gaming world over eight years ago. Nintendo is building upon the successful foundation it laid with the original Switch by offering a larger screen, more internal storage, and magnetic Joy-Con controllers that can operate like mice. Its also introducing some new features, like GameChat, which lets players make voice calls, screen share, and video chat.RelatedBelow, were taking a closer look at the on-paper differences between the Switch 2 and its various predecessors specifically, the original Nintendo Switch and the Nintendo Switch OLED. Weve even thrown in the handheld-only Nintendo Switch Lite, just for good measure.In this articlePricing and availabilityThe Switch 2 will retail for $449.99 at launch, or you can buy it bundled with Mario Kart World a Switch 2 exclusive for $499.99 through the fall 2025 or while supplies last. The standard Switch, meanwhile, still retails for $299.99 while the newer OLED edition costs $349.99. Both models can often be found on sale, as can the cheaper Nintendo Switch Lite, but the OLED variant rarely dips below $299.99.Fortunately, like the Switch 2, Nintendo also continues to occasionally sell discounted bundles containing the Switch OLED, a three-month subscription to Nintendo Switch Online, and select games. The latest, which launched less than a month ago for MAR10 Day, contains a digital copy of Super Mario Bros. Wonder for $349.99.The Nintendo Switch 2 features a larger, 7-inch screen with HDR support. Image: NintendoDisplay technologyWith a 7.9-inch 1080p LCD screen, the Switch 2s display is noticeably larger than that of prior Switch models. The original Switch panel comes in at 6.2 inches while the display on the Switch OLED stretches the screen to a respectable seven inches (both support 1,280 x 720 resolution in handheld mode or 1080p when docked). The Switch Lite is the smallest of the bunch with a 5.5-inch 720p display and no docking option.Performance and battery lifeThe Switch 2s predecessors use a custom version of Nvidias Tegra X1 chipset, which uses an octacore Arm CPU and a Maxwell-based Nvidia GPU thats in league with the 900-series graphics cards that ruled the era. The power handily eclipsed smartphones of the time, but lagged well behind the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One that launched years prior. Still, that hasnt stopped developers from producing critically acclaimed games like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and excellent ports of several popular titles within the last several years.Nintendo has yet to divulge many technical details about the Switch 2s new Nvidia chipset, only stating that it offers significantly improved CPU and GPU performance compared to the original Switch. We also know that the processor will allow for 4K gameplay at up to 60 frames per second in docked mode or 1080p at up to 120fps (with a variable refresh rate) in handheld mode. As for battery life, you can eke out between 4.5 and nine hours on the Switch and Switch OLED. Nintendo says the Switch 2 can last between 2.5 and 6.5 hours, depending on usage, and takes approximately three hours to charge, just like previous models. The Joy-Con 2 controllers, which magnetically attach to the Switch 2, are a welcome spin on the originals. Image: The Verge / NintendoJoy-Cons and other controllersThe Switch 2 will feature longer, magnetic Joy-Con slots for a more secure connection. Instead of sliding the controllers into a side-mounted rail, you instead push them into a recessed slot. In addition, each Joy-Con 2 will feature more durable analog sticks and function like a mouse in certain scenarios, allowing you to control functionality in select games by simply sliding them across a flat surface.The Joy-Cons that came with the original Switch were available in multiple colors. The Switch 2 controllers, meanwhile, come in a black colorway with red and blue accents surrounding the analog sticks. Matching colors drape the entirety of the attachment point where the shoulder buttons are located, which is visible when using a Joy-Con as a single controller. The inside of the attachment area also matches the Joy-Cons respective colors, and the right Joy-Con now features a C button for accessing various GameChat features.RelatedIf you find Joy-Cons too cramped, rest assured that Nintendo also introduced a new Pro Controller during its recent Direct event. Along with customizable rear buttons and a 3.5mm audio jack, it sports the aforementioned C button found on the Joy-Con 2, which launches a chat menu when pressed. Like Nintendos original pro-grade model, it also features bigger buttons and triggers than the Joy-Cons, but will cost $79.99 (up from $69.99).The Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller comes with a new C button for accessing various GameChat features. Image: NintendoStorage, dock, and moreIn terms of storage, the Switch 2 offers 256GB of internal space, which is eight times the storage capacity of the original Switch and four times that of the Switch OLED. You can add up to 2TB of additional storage using microSD Express cards, too, which offer faster read and write speeds than your standard microSD card.Other notable hardware tweaks include an additional USB-C port on the top of the console and a built-in microphone with noise filtering, so you can chat with friends using Nintendos new Discord-like GameChat feature. GameChat also lets you screen share and make video calls via the new Nintendo Switch 2 Camera. Nintendo has added a redesigned, U-shaped adjustable kickstand to the Switch 2 as well, which spans the width of the display.As for the Nintendo Switch 2 dock, it comes with a built-in ethernet port just like the Switch OLED dock, whereas the original dock requires an optional adapter. The new dock also features a pair of USB-C ports, as opposed to just one, while retaining an HDMI port. The Nintendo Switch 2 console, Joy-Cons, and dock. Image: NintendoGames and softwareThe original Switch had about a dozen titles available at launch, with dozens more released by the end of 2017. As of writing, Nintendo has announced a number of Switch 2 launch titles, including first-party games like Mario Kart World and third-party titles such as Split Fiction and Cyberpunk 2077. Nintendo also announced that select GameCube games are coming to Nintendo Switch Online and that several enhanced Switch 2 Edition games will be available at launch, most notably The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom.You will have plenty more to play on the Switch 2, however, as its backward compatible with most Switch 1 games. That said, Nintendo says some older titles may have some in-game compatibility issues, including Doom: Eternal, Rocket League, NBA 2K25, and Warframe. You also wont be able to make use of Nintendos creative VR kit (sorry, Labo fans).By the numbersThe standard Switch and Switch OLED are nearly identical on paper, but the Switch 2 has many notable upgrades. You can see how all three compare, along with the Switch Lite, in the chart below.SpecificationNintendo Switch 2Nintendo SwitchNintendo Switch OLEDNintendo Switch LiteProcessorCustom Nvidia chipset (details TBD)Nvidia Tegra X1 custom chipsetNvidia Tegra X1 custom chipsetNvidia Tegra X1 custom chipsetScreen type7.9-inch LCD6.2-inch LCD7-inch OLED5.5-inch LCDResolution (handheld)1,920 x 10801,280 x 7201,280 x 7201,280 x 720Resolution (docked)3,840 x 2,1601,920 x 1,0801,920 x 1,080N/AHDR10 support?YesNoNoNoInternal storage256GB32GB64GB32GBExpandable storagemicroSD Express (up to 2TB)microSD (up to 2TB)microSD (up to 2TB)microSD (up to 2TB)SensorsAccelerometer / gyroscope, mouse / brightness (in console)Accelerometer / gyroscopeAccelerometer / gyroscopeAccelerometer / gyroscopePorts (handheld)2x USB-C / 3.5mmUSB-C / 3.5mmUSB-C / 3.5mmUSB-C / 3.5mmPorts (dock)2x USB-C / HDMI / ethernet3x USB 2.0 / USB-C (power adapter) / HDMI2x USB 2.0 / USB-C (power adapter) / HDMI / ethernetN/AWireless connectivityWi-Fi 6 / Bluetooth / NFCWi-Fi 5 / Bluetooth 4.1 / NFCWi-Fi 5 / Bluetooth 4.1 / NFCWi-Fi 5 / Bluetooth 4.1 / NFCWired connectivityEthernet (docked mode)Ethernet via optional adapter (docked mode)Ethernet (docked mode)N/ABuilt-in mic?YesNoNoNoSpeakersStereo speakersStereo speakersStereo speakersStereo speakersBattery capacity5,220mAh lithium-ion4,310mAh lithium-ion4,310mAh lithium-ion3,570mAh lithium-ionBattery life (est.)2 to 6.5 hours4.5 to 9 hours4.5 to 9 hours3 to 7 hoursCharging timeAbout 3 hoursAbout 3 hoursAbout 3 hoursAbout 3 hoursGame card slotSwitch 2 and Switch cartridgesSwitch cartridgesSwitch cartridgesSwitch cartridgesWeight (grams)399.16g (or 535.24g with Joy-Con 2 controllers attached)299.3g (or 399g with Joy-Con controllers attached)322g (or 422g with Joy-Con controllers attached)275gDimensions4.5 x 10.7 x .55 inches4 x 9.5 x .55 inches4 x 9.4 x .55 inches3.6 x 8.2 x .55 inchesStarting price$449.99$299.99$349.99$199.99AvailableJune 5th, 2025NowNowNowSee More:

Before this morning, I knew I was going to buy the Nintendo Switch 2 but I didnt know when. After watching Nintendos Switch 2 Direct today, in which a purple block traced the GameCubes stylized G logo, followed by high-res footage from The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and F-Zero GX and an announcement that theyll be playable at launch, I realized Ill be doing my damndest to get it on day one. It was the cherry on top of a stellar presentation that made the consoles $449.99 price tag way easier to swallow.GameCube games are coming to the Nintendo Switch Online (NSO) subscriptions Classic Game Library feature, which the company is now shortening to Nintendo Classics. It lets you play games from the NES, SNES, and Sega Genesis. Like the Game Boy and Nintendo 64 game collections, youll need the NSO Expansion Pack for GameCube games. The existing catalog of playable Classic Game Library games is far from complete, but together (and combined with DLC for contemporary Switch games), they make the Expansion Pack well worth it.The subscription gets even more enticing on the Switch 2, starting before the console even comes out Nintendo is prioritizing long-time subscribers (with certain caveats) when it sends out Switch 2 preorder invites. The Expansion Pack will also let you play the Switch 2 editions of Zelda games Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom (provided you own their respective Switch 1 versions). But the GameCube games are what Im most excited about. Id love for the Wii Us Wind Waker HD to get a Switch re-release, but the GameCube version is still one of the most beautiful games Ive ever played and looks great in Nintendos trailer for it. So does F-Zero GX, a game with such well-executed style and tight control that I would pit it against any futuristic racer today. The Switch 2 is also launching with Soul Calibur II, a game that featured adult Link as a playable character in his post-Ocarina of Time fighting-people-for-sport era.The company flashed a few other re-releases coming down the line, like Super Mario Strikers and Chibi-Robo!, in the latter of which you play a tiny, toothbrush-armed robot tasked with cleaning up a very messy house. Its way more fun than it sounds, and gives me hope for what Nintendo could announce. There are some excellent, but more obscure gems that never really leapt beyond the GameCube, like the creepy, Lovecraft-inspired Eternal Darkness: Sanitys Requiem and Cubivore, in which you play a small, wild cube trying to bring color back to the world by eating other boxy creatures, winning the chance to mate, die, and be reborn over and over again until youve become the fittest survivor of them all. And all of these will be playable with a forthcoming wireless recreation of the GameCube controller, as they should be. The GameCube wasnt an abject failure, but it sold nowhere near as well as the Wii or the Switch. Theres no guarantee that the Switch 2 will keep up the sales pace set by its predecessor, but even if it manages half that consoles sales, it could give some games a well-deserved second look. See More:

While sharing screenshots and videos from the original Nintendo Switch has always been an excessively complicated process, its going to be much easier for the Switch 2.During todays Direct presentation, Nintendo spent a lot of time talking about the Switch 2s new built-in GameChat functionality that will give players a way to share their screens during group video calls. But the company also announced that its rolling out an update for the Switch family of systems companion smartphone app. Now simply called the Nintendo Switch app, the application will continue to support Nintendos old voice chat feature for specific titles like Splatoon 3 and Animal Crossing: New Horizons on the original Switch. But for Switch 2 owners, the Nintendo Switch app will serve as the easiest way for you to move screenshots and videos from the console onto your phone, computer, or internet.To move screenshots previously, you had to pop a Switchs SD card out from behind its kickstand and slot it into another device. You could also share images and videos directly to Facebook and, until last year, X / Twitter by linking your Switch to accounts on either of those platforms. It was also possible to move media straight from your Switch to your smartphone by going into the Switchs Album section, hitting share, and then taking a picture of the QR code generated by the console. That last option was as clever as it was cumbersome, but it wont be an issue for the Switch 2. According to Nintendo, Switch 2 users will be able to access the consoles 100 most recent screenshots and videos directly from the smartphone app. Obviously, a Nintendo Account will be required to make this work, but the company noted that you will not need a Nintendo Switch Online membership to take advantage of the smartphone apps media transfer feature.The media transfer details alone are already a significant upgrade for the application, which never felt all that well-integrated into many of Nintendos games. But, as if to emphasize that it really does see the application as an important part of the Switchs future, Nintendo also announced the forthcoming release of Zelda Notes, a special set of features designed specifically for the Switch 2 editions of Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears for the Kingdom. Located within the smartphone app, Zelda Notes is meant to serve as a useful tool to help guide you through the Zelda games with features like spoken directions to specific locations youve marked on a map. You can use Zelda Notes to hear Princess Zelda recall memories of places shes been as you guide Link to them. The application will also give players a way to share blueprints for their unique Autobuild creations.Zelda Notes feels like a very smart way to get people excited about coming back to two older games many people have already spent quite a bit of time playing. Its kind of wild to think of Nintendos smartphone app being one of its more promising Switch reveals, but these kinds of surprises are how you keep things interesting.See More:

Automattic, the parent company of WordPress.com, is laying off about 16 percent of its workers. In a memo posted to the companys website, CEO Matt Mullenweg says hes making the change to protect Automattics long-term future.Before the layoffs, Automattics website listed the company as having 1,777 employees. The company has since decreased its employee count to 1,495, meaning around 280 staff members were affected by the job cuts.Last year, the third-party hosting company WP Engine filed a lawsuit against Automattic and Mullenweg after the company blocked WP Engine from WordPress.orgs server and took over its Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) plugin. Mullenweg has stated that the legal battle could go on for years and could potentially bankrupt me or force the closure of WordPress.org.In October, Mullenweg offered his employees $30,000 or six months of salary to leave if they didnt agree with his decision to ignite a public dispute with WP Engine. Automattic shed around 8.4 percent of its workforce after the first round of buyouts.We have reached an important crossroads, Mullenweg writes in his memo. While our revenue continues to grow, Automattic operates in a highly competitive market, and technology is evolving at unprecedented levels. To support our customers and products, we must improve our productivity, profitability, and capacity to invest.

Nintendo didnt spend much time on the Switch 2s UI during todays big Direct presentation, but the company has just given us a pretty good look at the new consoles homescreen.At the bottom of Nintendos webpage detailing how certain games are getting updated Switch 2 Editions, there is a small image of the Switch 2s homescreen highlighting where the eShop icon will be located. Aside from a few minute aesthetic changes, the homescreen looks more or less like the original Switchs. Presumably, youll also be able to select a darker UI option the way you can on Nintendos last console. Theres no word on whether the Switch 2s UI will gain customization features like what weve seen on the PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X / Series S. But Nintendo went into great detail about the consoles specs, its new features, and how you will be able to preorder the system ahead of its June release.Homescreen customization isnt exactly what sells people on consoles, but something as simple as being able to set your own wallpaper can go a long way in terms of making you want to spend time looking at a screen. That feels like the sort of thing Nintendo might …Read the full story at The Verge.

In its April 2nd Direct event, Nintendo revealed a lot of the Switch 2 details weve been waiting for, including the consoles price ($449.99 in the US), its June 5th release date, and a slew of new games coming to it, like Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza. The video and details the company published after the event also helped create a more complete picture of what we should expect from the second-generation Joy-Cons that come with the system.The new Joy-Cons look a lot like the old Joy-Cons but are about a half-inch longer and black, with color accents on the connection rails and under the analog sticks blue on the left and a pinkish red on the right. Nintendo says theyll be more comfortable, too. They have the same general button layout as the originals, but with a new C button on the right Joy-Con 2 thats used for a Discord-like GameChat feature that lets you talk to friends using a microphone embedded in the top of the Switch 2 itself, and includes screen-sharing functionality and the ability to start streaming with the Switch 2 camera accessory Nintendo is selling separately.As Switch 2 producer Kouichi Kawamoto describes in a new Ask the Developer interview published today, the Switch 2s Joy-Cons have larger and more durable analog sticks with smoother movement. On its site, the company says that the Joy-Con 2s are quieter, too. Smoother and quieter makes sense if Nintendo is using Hall Effect sensors this time around, as previously rumored. Kawamoto also points out that the L and R buttons curve further down the side for easy reach. The Joy-Con 2s connect to the Switch 2 magnetically, something Kawamoto says the company originally wanted to do for the first Switch. The Joy-Cons have larger SL and SR buttons that are made of metal, while the magnets themselves are embedded in the console. Disconnecting them involves pressing a release button on the back, and in its Direct today, Nintendo claims they wont easily detach on their own, but well see about that when the system launches this summer. You cant even force them to detach with ghost hands. GIF: NintendoAnother big new feature of the Switch 2 Joy-Cons is that they can work like a mouse with select games. When theyre detached, you hold them, connection-rail-down, on a surface like a coffee table. Kawamoto said the feature will be used in games like Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, for aiming (gyro control is still an option too, according to a footnote on the page), and the thoroughly-named Super Mario Party Jamboree Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Plus Jamboree TV.Comparing it to the Wii Remotes cursor, Switch 2 director Takuhiro Dohta, who is also featured in the interview, says the company sees Joy-Con 2 mouse functionality as a way to let the Switch 2s touchscreen capabilities transition to playing in docked mode. The Joy-Cons come with wrist straps, which Nintendo says gives them a wider base for smoother gliding and better stability.RelatedKawamoto said the new Joy-Cons rumble feature, now called HD Rumble 2, is updated to allow for a wider variety of vibrations. Theyll also be stronger, he said, and have quicker response times. According to Nintendos official specs, the controllers will last about 20 hours between charges and recharge in about 3.5 hours, same as the original Joy-Cons. As for accessories, apart from the included wrist straps, Nintendo has also announced a $19.99 set of two wheels you can attach Joy-Con 2s to for games like Mario Kart World. The company will sell a $34.99 charging grip, and the console comes with a standard non-charging grip, as well. Nintendo did away with the IR sensor found on the right-hand first-generation Joy-Con, which I will miss for no reason other than that I love when gadgets have IR sensors. But in every other way, the updated Joy-Cons sound like an improvement over their predecessors, with intriguing new features and Nintendos promise of better comfort and improved rumble. Now we just have to wait to see if Nintendo managed to solve the first Joy-Cons stick drift problem.See More:

Sony has a replacement for its current flagship QD-OLED TV, the extremely well-received A95L. Thats the model that was crowned King of TV at last years Value Electronics TV Shootout, which Verge editor-in-chief Nilay Patel served on the judging panel for.The new model is called the Bravia 8 II. Sony claims that it has 125 percent the peak brightness of the A95L and 150 percent of last years Bravia 8, which will remain on sale as an OLED-but-not-QD option. It has a similar design to the A95L, and Sony even says itll be cheaper though pricing information wont be shared until later in spring. The guiding mission of the Bravia lineup, according to Sony, is to deliver the most authentic cinema experience possible in the living room. Yosuke Nakano, from the companys product planning department, claims the Bravia 8 II has the most faithful reproduction of the professional monitor look of any TV in the industry.The Bravia 8 II. Image: SonyTo that end, at a recent demonstration session at its Tokyo headquarters, Sony put the Bravia 8 II up against the A95L, Samsungs S95D, and LGs G4, along with even more formidable competition: Sonys own BVM-HX3110 reference monitor, which youd normally find on movie sets and studios for the most accurate HDR color grading possible. If you havent seen one of these in person before, I kind of recommend not seeking one out, because it will ruin all other screens for you. It costs nearly $40,000 and has 4,000 nits peak brightness. It looks absolutely out of control, and I would dearly love to have one on my desk.Thats what Sony is shooting for with the Bravia 8 II. Does it get there? Well, no. The BVM-HX3110s higher brightness gives HDR footage an almost surreal look thanks to its finer control over contrast. But in each TVs filmmaker mode, which is supposed to deliver the most accurate color possible, Sony got much closer than Samsung or LG. As the owner of a couple of LG OLEDs myself, I was actually a little surprised at how washed out and green-tinted the G4 tended to look in comparison. Now, Sony wont have chosen demo footage that might trip up its own displays, and its also at an obvious advantage when it comes to emulating the color reproduction of the BVM-HX3110. But Sony really is the market leader for reference monitors by some distance, so that still feels like a fair and relevant target. I would not be shocked if the Bravia 8 II turns out to be another winner by King of TV metrics.The Bravia 5. Photo: Sam Byford for The VergeSony is also updating several other products in its home theater range. The Bravia 5 rounds out Sonys lineup by bringing Mini LED backlighting to the midrange its replacing the X90L, which uses full-array local dimming rather than Mini LED, and consequently Sony says the Bravia 5 has up to six times more dimming zones. This line comes in sizes from 55 to 98 inches, the upper end of which is larger than any OLED Sony sells. Sony showed off the Bravia 5 against the X90L as well as Samsungs QN85D QLED set. Also part of this demonstration was the BVM-HX310 reference monitor, which is similar to the BVM-HX3110 but only reaches 1,000 nits peak brightness. The Bravia 5s control over backlighting and blooming was clearly better than its predecessor, and it looked to be a more robust solution than Samsungs as well. Sony also made a point of demonstrating its AI noise reduction feature, which is the kind of thing Id normally run away from but have to admit was quite impressive it did a good job of cleaning up old footage from Friends and Home Alone in real time. Unsurprisingly, the Bravia 5 couldnt come close to the BVM-HX310, since Mini LED still suffers in comparison to OLED when it comes to blooming and viewing angles. It also wont match the Bravia 7, which is staying in the lineup and offers 100 percent the brightness and 25 percent more dimming zones. But at least in this demonstration, the Bravia 5 made the most convincing attempt to reproduce colors and contrast as well as you could reasonably expect from a mid-range Mini LED TV.The Bravia 2 II. Photo: Sam Byford for The VergeSony is also introducing a new entry-level TV for the US, somewhat confusingly called the Bravia 2 II; the original Bravia 2 wasnt actually sold in the US before. This is a fairly standard LED TV that comes in sizes from 43 to 77 inches, but youll get similar image processing and software integration to the rest of Sonys Bravia range.If youre more of a projector person, Sony is adding the new Bravia Projector 7 to its range, joining the higher-end 8 and 9 models. The Projector 7 is pretty close to them spec-wise, reaching 2,200 nits in brightness and supporting 4K 120Hz. One difference is that the 7 has a standard lens, not the advanced crisp-focused optics seen in the 8 and 9. The Bravia Projector 7 is replacing the well-reviewed VPL-XW5000ES, which is a $6,000 projector, so even though this is an entry-level product its an entry to a very expensive category. Still, it did look impressive in a demo against its closest competition from JVC, so Id expect this to be a strong option for people considering a home theater setup. Finally, Sony is introducing some new audio options to integrate with its Bravia TVs. The Bravia Theater Bar 6 is a 3.1.2 soundbar with upward-firing speakers, the Bravia Theater System 6 is a 5.1 setup-in-a-box with a less capable soundbar, and the Bravia Theater Rear 8 is a pair of wireless rear speakers. All of these products can be paired to Bravia TVs and controlled with the Bravia Connect mobile app.As mentioned, Sony doesnt yet have pricing details for any of its new Bravia products thatll come sometime this spring.See More:

After years of rumors, Nintendo has finally announced a release date for the Nintendo Switch 2. The long-awaited follow-up to the Switch will be available on June 5th for $449.99. Although the console wont ship until later this year, the Switch 2 will be available for preorder in the US from select retailers starting on April 9th, as both a standalone console or bundled with Mario Kart World for $499.99.As predicted, the Switch 2 features a larger 7.9-inch LCD display, with support for 108op resolution and HDR, 256GB of built-in storage, and up to 6.5 hours of battery life. The Joy-Cons are bigger, too, and now magnetically attach to the console instead of relying on a pair of sliding rails to snap into place. Each also offers mouse-like functionality with select games, and the right Joy-Con sports a C button, which can be used for in-game chat features, screensharing, and other actions.RelatedAs for games, the Switch 2 will launch with Mario Kart World, along with third-party games like Split Fiction and Cyberpunk 2077. The console will also be backward-compatible with original Switch titles and support enhanced versions of select Switch 1 titles, including Below, weve rounded up all the preorder information you need if you want to be one of the first to get your hands on it. Well be updating this post regularly as more information becomes available, so bookmark this page if youre keen on learning more ahead of launch.How to preorder via NintendoThe only confirmed retailer as of now is the My Nintendo Store, which comes with a string of eligibility requirements one of which requires you to register your interest in advance of April 9th. To do so, youll need to sign in with your Nintendo Account and choose which console configuration you prefer (and which accessories). Afterward, youll receive an invitation email when its your time to make a purchase, assuming youve satisfied several other conditions.Nintendo Switch 2$450$450The Nintendo Switch 2 offers a 7.9-inch display with 1080p resolution and HDR support. It also features improved processing power and larger Joy-Con controllers, which magnetically attach to the sides of the console.$450 at Nintendo$500 at Nintendo (Mario Kart World bundle)As of right now, the reservation process is limited to Nintendo Account holders in the US and Canada who are at least 18 years old. Invitations will be valid for 72 hours and be prioritized on a first-come, first-served basis, according to Nintendo; youll also need to have purchased a Nintendo Switch Online membership for a minimum of 12 months and have logged 50 hours of gameplay on the original Switch as of April 2nd, 2025, to be eligible. Whats more, you must have opted in to share gameplay data with Nintendo (you can see if youve done so in the privacy section when logged into your Nintendo account).Once invitations have been sent to Nintendo Account holders who have met these criteria, Nintendo says it will send invitations to remaining eligible registrants on a first-come, first-served basis. Unsurprisingly, the invitations will be non-transferable and will be sent to the email address you used while registering your interest with Nintendo. Console and accessory purchases will be limited to one per eligible Nintendo Account, at least during the initial invitation period, with the first batch of invitations going out on May 8th, 2025.Additional invitations will follow periodically, though Nintendo hasnt specified details beyond that.How to preorder elsewhereAs mentioned above, Nintendo is the only retailer thus far that has provided any insight into how preorders will work when they open on April 9th. That said, you can already sign up at Best Buy and GameStop to receive notifications about the upcoming console and games. Presumingly, this will also include preorder details, once available.Like with previous launches, we anticipate that Amazon, Target, and Walmart will all have limited stock of the console as well, though, despite Nintendo taking risks to ensure it can meet demands, reports indicate US retailers might not have enough Switch 2 consoles to meet preorder demands. With any luck, Nintendos stringent reservation requirements will thwart any would-be scalpers.See More:

It wouldnt be a new Nintendo console without a big Zelda release, and the franchises next entry is sending the princess to war.During todays Switch 2 Direct, Nintendo announced the forthcoming arrival of Age of Imprisonment, a new installment of Koei Tecmos Zelda-inspired Hyrule Warriors series. Like Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, Age of Imprisonment is another prequel whose story connects directly with the larger tale unfolding in Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. But this time around, the game looks even farther back into the past to focus on the battle Princess Zelda fought alongside King Rauru against Ganondorf.A brief trailer for the game highlighted how Age of Imprisonment will allow you to play as Zelda and Rauru as you fight against hordes of Hylian monsters. Nintendo didnt reveal much about the new games plot, but announced that its set for release this winter.Experience the untold story of the Imprisoning War when Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment releases exclusively on #NintendoSwitch2 this winter! #NintendoDirect pic.twitter.com/3ut5JqoVUe Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) April 2, 2025The Zelda franchise played a key role in the original Switchs success. Breath of the Wild, which was also one of the last Wii U titles, quickly became one of the handheld consoles bestselling games and a critical darling that kicked off a new era of open-world gaming. The Switch gave Nintendo a chance to double down on Zelda spinoffs like the Hyrule Warriors series and Cadence of Hyrule.The company kept its Zelda momentum going with updated versions of classics like Links Awakening and Skyward Sword. And even though the first Switch was nearing the end of its life cycle, Nintendo pushed the series even further into the future with Tears of the Kingdom and Echoes of Wisdom. The way Zelda flourished on the Switch is undoubtedly part of why the franchise is being adapted into a live-action movie and seemingly getting the theme park treatment. And now we know a bit more about how the princesss legend will continue with the Switch 2.

We knew a Mario Kart game was coming to the Switch 2, and now Nintendo has finally shared some real details in its latest Nintendo Direct. Its called Mario Kart World, and it will be a day-one Switch 2 exclusive when the console launches on June 5th. Mario Kart World features an open-world mode, in-game atmospheric effects that depend on the time of day and weather conditions, and up to 24 drivers per race. After the Direct, Nintendo announced a $499.99 launch day Switch 2 bundle that includes a download code for Mario Kart World. The company plans to share more about the game in a Nintendo Direct scheduled for April 17th at 6AM PT / 9AM ET.Mario Kart Worlds open-world mode is called Free Roam, and itll sound familiar to Forza Horizon 5 players, letting users drive on or off-road around the world, take scenic drives with friends, and take photos together at different locations. Theres also a Knock-out Tour mode that lets you do a cross-country Cannonball Run-style checkpoint race.Drive virtually everywhere in Mario Kart World, a brand-new Mario Kart game releasing exclusively on #NintendoSwitch2 as a launch title! #NintendoDirect pic.twitter.com/zvN4C6l3ft Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) April 2, 2025Nintendo showed off some new gameplay mechanics, like abilities to grind on rails and power lines or wall jump, as well as new vehicles like boats and snowmobiles. Other shots showed what looked like on-the-fly character customization. Characters that appeared in the trailer included standards like Mario and Wario, as well as new ones to the mainline series like the cow from Moo Moo Meadows in Mario Kart 64.Mario Kart was the one new game teased during the initial Switch 2 reveal event in January. And it makes a lot of sense as a debut title for the platform, as the kart racing series has arguably become Nintendos most popular franchise. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the bestselling Switch game to date, and its predecessor holds the same title for the Wii U. Meanwhile, Mario Kart 7 was the top-selling 3DS game, Mario Kart Wii was second only to Wii Sports on that platform, and Mario Kart DS sat just behind Nintendogs to claim third place on the handheld.Todays reveal was part of a Nintendo Direct event aimed at sharing more hard details about both the Switch 2 and its initial lineup of games.Developing

Apr 1Ash ParrishHow to watch the Switch 2 DirectIts finally time for the biggest video game event of the last few years. In January, Nintendo officially unveiled the successor to the Switch, helpfully called the Switch 2. The short video showed off some of the consoles features, like magnetized Joy-Cons, and provided a brief glimpse at a new Mario Kart game. But it didnt give us any specifics.From earlier press releases, we know that the Switch 2 will be backward-compatible with the Switch 1 cartridges and that you can easily transfer digital games between your Switch 1 and Switch 2 systems. We know it will be larger, feature redesigned Joy-Con controllers, and have some kind of new Mario Kart. At the Switch 2 Direct, well hopefully get answers to all our burning questions.Read Article >Feb 5Ash ParrishNintendo shares more info on its Switch 2 directImage: The Verge, NintendoAs we settle in for the long, excruciating wait for more tangible news on the Switch 2, Nintendo has thrown us a little extra nugget of information. While we knew the company was planning to share more about the Switch 2 on April 2nd, now we have a time: 9 AM ET / 6 AM PT / 10 PM JST. If you were taking bets on this time, you would have won handily as this is generally the usual time Nintendo holds its big events. The announcement on Nintendos website didnt contain any extra detail about the duration of the event or the exact breakdown of topics thatll be covered, other than to say it will share a closer look at the new device.Last month, the company finally confirmed the existence of its new console dubbed, helpfully, the Switch 2. The reveal itself was sparse on detail, only confirming that the console would be larger than its predecessor and that its Joy-Con controllers appear to attach via some kind of magnetic action. Because of the reveals relative lack of concrete information, were left with so many questions about the new console. Nevertheless, there was still lots of speculation about what the Switch 2 could possibly do. Theories were put forth that the new Joy-Cons contained some kind of mouse functionality and that the extra button on the right Joy-Con was related to some kind of party chat feature. Hopefully, Nintendo will let us know those if theories were correct during the Switch 2 Nintendo Direct on Wednesday, April 2nd bright and early at 9 AM.Read Article >Jan 16Ash ParrishNintendo announces Switch 2 Direct for AprilImage: The VergeNow that Nintendos reveal of the Switch 2 has put to rest years of anticipation and rumormongering, its time to hear more information about the console and, importantly, all the games. The company has announced it will hold a Switch 2 Direct scheduled for April 2nd.The Switch 2 reveal trailer showed footage that looks to be a new Mario Kart game, which is a good indication itll be a launch title. Theres speculation that the forthcoming Metroid Prime 4 might straddle both consoles the way Breath of the Wild launched on both the Wii U and the Switch back in 2017. The Switch 2 Direct might also reveal the follow-up to Super Mario Odyssey. Who knows?Read Article >

Samsung has launched the Tab S10 FE and Tab S10 FE Plus, the latest in its midrange Android tablet line, but they cost $50 more than their predecessors. For the first time neither tablet has a direct equivalent in the standard Tab S10 series. The FE is the smallest of the companys current tablet offerings, while the FE Plus comes in a new screen size that sits in-between the S10 Plus and the S10 Ultra, meaning all four of Samsungs Tab S10 tablets now come in different sizes. The S10 FE packs a 10.9-inch display, which has been Samsungs standard tablet screen size for some time but since the company never released a regular Tab S10, only Plus and Ultra models, its the first in that size for this series. The FE Plus offers a new 13.1-inch screen, larger than the 12.4-inch S10 Plus but smaller than the 14.6-inch Ultra.Both tablets still use LCD panels, rather than OLED, and are limited to 90Hz refresh rates. Despite the larger size the Plus model doesnt feature a bigger battery than its predecessor, though both are slightly slimmer than before instead. Theyre also both limited to a single rear camera the Plus losing its ultrawide but this has been upgraded to a new 13-megapixel sensor. Theyll ship running Android 15, along with Samsungs usual suite of AI features.Both tablets are powered by the same Samsung Exynos 1580 chipset, an upgrade to the 1380 found in the Tab S9 FE models, and are offered with up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. IP68 dust and water-resistance returns, as does support for the S Pen stylus which is included in the box, but is a simplified version without support for Bluetooth features. That was true of last years FE tablets too, so likely would have happened regardless of the controversial decision to strip Bluetooth from the Galaxy S25 Ultras S Pen earlier this year.The Tab S10 FE and S10 FE Plus will both be available in the US from April 10th in gray, silver, or blue, though reservations are open now. The regular model starts at $499.99, with the Plus at $649.99 both $50 increases on the previous generation. Theres also a 5G version of the smaller Tab S10 FE for $100 extra, though this only comes in gray.See More:

Roblox is introducing new parental controls that give parents more tools to control the people their children talk to and the experiences they can access, according to a blog post from chief safety officer Matt Kaufman.The updates build on changes introduced last year, which included a special type of account parents and caregivers can use to remotely manage some aspects of how a child uses the platform, that followed reports highlighting times when Roblox failed to protect children.As part of the new updates, parents who have linked their account with a childs will be able to block and report specific people on that childs friends list. Kaufman says in the post that kids under 13 cant unblock users that have been blocked by their parents, but they will be able to request if those friends can be unblocked.Parents will also now be able to block their children from being able to access specific experiences and games. Previously, they could only block their kids from accessing experiences at a certain content maturity level. As with blocked friends, children under 13 wont be able to unblock experiences until they are 13 or older, though they can request to access them.In addition, Kaufman says the company will now let parents see the 20 experiences their children have spent the most time in over the last week.

Valve has issued a corrective update to the Steam client for its Steam Deck gaming handhelds, after an earlier version left some devices stuck in boot loops and broke performance settings. The initial update reached the Steam Decks stable channel despite warnings from beta testers about the problems.The problems were caused by a Steam Deck client update released on April 1st, shortly after a general SteamOS update to version 3.6.24 the day before. The client update was intended to fix a variety of minor issues, improve download performance, and resolve some problems with DualSense controllers, but owners took to Reddit and GitHub to report new issues including boot loops and the disappearance of settings to control GPU clock speed and TDP.Valves patch update now notes that the client update was rereleased on the same day with a fix for those problems, with a separate update released to the consoles beta channel today with the same fixes. Beta users had reported issues with the TDP and GPU sliders since the March 19th beta update, raising questions about how the errors made it through to a stable release.

Motorola announced the first phone in its midrange Edge 60 series, which ships with a novel twist: a faux-canvas finish. The Edge 60 Fusion looks the part otherwise, with its molded camera module and surprisingly slim body, but the basic specs match the low price tag just 299.99 (around $390) in the UK.The canvas-effect finish might be one of the phones main draws, but its only available on the amazonite (read: teal) version of the phone. Its also launching in blue and pink colors, but these use a faux leather finish instead. Every version has IP68 and 69 ratings, meaning the phone is fully protected against dust, immersion in water, and high-pressure sprays.Theres some international variation in the Edge 60 Fusions specs, but the model launching in the UK is slim for its size, at less than 8mm thick, despite fitting in a fairly large 5,200mAh battery behind its 6.67-inch OLED screen. Models elsewhere pack an even bigger 5,500mAh cell, but run a touch thicker.The Fusion comes with up to 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, but is likely to be held back by the relatively basic MediaTek Dimensity chipset used either a 7300 or 7400, depending on the market, but theres not much difference between them. Cameras are limited too it may look like four on the back, but one is the flash and another a flicker sensor, so you only really get a 50 megapixel main lens and a 13 megapixel ultrawide.The Fusion is expected to be the first in a series of Edge 60 phones there were five models across last years Edge 50 line. None of those launched in the US, and this years phones likely wont either, so American buyers will have to make do with Januarys $299.99 Moto G Power, which lacks the Fusions OLED display and canvas feel, but has wireless charging. Motorola is expected to announce its updated Razr flip phones soon, with rumors predicting a wooden finish, in a throwback to 2014s wood-backed Moto X.See More:

T-Mobile has officially closed its joint venture deal with the fiber provider Lumos, after taking down its webpage dedicated to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the process, as reported by Fierce Network. The now-blank page outlined T-Mobiles culture of fairness, respect, and inclusion and was online until at least March 26th, the Internet Archive shows.Its removal seems like a direct response to the threats from Federal Communications Chair Brendan Carr, who said companies should get busy ending any sort of their invidious forms of DEI discrimination during an interview with Bloomberg last month. He suggested that major deals, such as T-Mobiles plan to acquire most of US Cellular, wont happen if DEI is still in play.T-Mobile executive vice president Mark Nelson has already indicated that the company plans on complying with Carrs orders. In a March 27th letter to the FCC, he stated T-Mobile is conducting a comprehensive review of its DEI policies, programs, and activities, adding that the joint venture with Lumos will not promote invidious forms of discrimination. As pointed out by Fierce Network, the FCC signed off on the deal on March 28th. The Verge reached out to T-Mobile with a request for comment but didnt immediately hear back.Since becoming FCC chair, Carr has probed the DEI practices at Comcast, Verizon, and Disney. The Energy and Commerce Committee Democrats have responded by opening an investigation of their own, which will examine the time and resources the FCC has spent on bogus investigations.

Meta is reportedly preparing a higher-end version of its Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses with a built-in screen to launch as early as by the end of the year, Bloomberg reports.The new glasses, codenamed Hypernova, can run apps and display photos, all controlled using hand gestures and capacitive touch on the sides of the frame. Bloomberg reports that the screen will only be visible on the right lens at the lower-right quadrant, and is best viewed when looking downward. When the device is turned on, a home screen appears and displays icons horizontally, similar to a Meta Quest.Hypernova will also feature an improved camera compared to the current model, and will continue building upon the idea of having an AI chatbot on your face, according to Bloomberg.Bloomberg says that Hypernova will cost over $1,000 and could sell for as high as $1,300 to $1,400. For comparison, the current Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses start at $299.Meta is reserving advanced augmented reality technology for its still-in-development Orion glasses. In contrast, the Hypernova will target the mid-tier smart glasses shown off in droves at CES, such as the Rokid Glasses that display green text.However, the Hypernova will command a higher price tag than other options, likely since it will come with the Orions neural wristband controller, codenamed Ceres.Meta is also working on a next version of Hypernova, with the codename Hypernova 2, that will have two screens, Bloomberg reports. The company is apparently planning to launch Hypernova 2 in 2027.

U.S. National Security Adviser Michael Waltz in the White House Oval Office on March 13, 2025. | Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images<br>Last week, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz inadvertently invited a journalist to a Signal chat discussing a planned military strike. Today, a new Washington Post report says that he has also discussed sensitive military positions and powerful weapons systems relating to an ongoing conflict, using his personal Gmail account.Waltz, along with other members of the National Security Council, used Gmail for highly technical conversations with colleagues at other government agencies, according to emails the Post saw, with headers showing that others on the emails used their government-issued accounts. Waltz also had less sensitive, but potentially exploitable information sent to his Gmail, like his schedule and other work documents, some unnamed government officials told the outlet. The Post quotes National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes saying, Waltz didnt and wouldnt send classified information on an open account, and that Hughes says hes seen no evidence of Waltz using his personal email as described.The Posts report puts the advisers communications practices back in the spotlight after Waltz invited The Atlantic editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, to a Signal chat about a military strike in Yemen that took place later that day. Attorney General Pam Bondi indicated that the incident probably wont be criminally investigated in response to questions at a press conference Sunday night, while suggesting that people should be discussing what was in Hillary Clintons home, seemingly referring to the personal email server scandal that cropped up late in her last Presidential campaign.Since then, a Wired report detailed how his public Venmo account had revealed the names of hundreds of his associates, including journalists and military officers. And like most of us, personal online account info for Waltz and other Trump administration officials has been found in online database leaks, including several passwords for Waltzs email address, writes Spiegel International.

Visible, the budget wireless brand owned by Verizon, is offering a new premium plan that looks like a heck of a deal compared to its parent companys offerings.The new Visible Plus Pro plan (I didnt say the name was good) costs $45 per month. For that price you get unlimited 5G Ultrawideband (UW) data, which is an awfully good deal when you consider that Verizons own entry-level unlimited plan, Unlimited Welcome, starts at $65 per month and doesnt include 5G UW.This new Plus Pro plan also comes without throttling. Many lower-cost carrier plans and MVNOs tend to offer a certain allotment of premium data. Once you exceed your allowance, you might see slowdowns at times when the network is busy. But Visibles fine print states that both its Plus and Plus Pro plan are not subject to any data prioritization limitations. So that rules.It gets better: the Plus Pro plan includes unlimited hotspot usage at up to 15 Mbps. Verizons basic plan doesnt include any hotspot data, just the option to add it for an extra $10 per month. Theres also 4K video streaming and service for one cellular smartwatch included. You can probably guess what Im going to say next, but just to reiterate, Verizons basic unlimited plan doesnt include any of that.This would all be less of a good deal if Verizon puts Visible traffic on a lower network tier than its own postpaid customers. Network operators commonly put different kinds of customers on certain service tiers called Quality of Service Class Indicators, or QCIs. This helps with overall traffic prioritization when theres congestion, usually putting first responders on the fastest tier.Verizon didnt immediately respond to my question about Visible Plus Pros QCI, but Android Authoritys comprehensive comparison between Visible and Verizon suggests that Visibles premium plan is actually assigned a higher-priority QCI than Verizons Unlimited Welcome at least, thats been the case in the past. Well update this article if Verizon responds to our request.Its all too rare to read about an ISPs new plan and think Huh, that sounds like a good deal, actually. But thats the case here, even after going through the fine print.See More:

Roblox is launching a new type of ad that, if watched, will give players things like in-game currency and power-ups, according to an announcement from the company.The full-screen video ads, called Rewarded Video ads, can be up to 30 seconds long. The ads will be available to buy programmatically via Googles advertising solutions and direct buying (Direct IO) in the coming weeks, Roblox says.Owners of Roblox experiences must be at least 18 to show ads, and only public experiences are eligible, according to a page on its creator hub. Roblox says it only shows ads to players that are 13 and older.The new ads are part of an expansion of Googles Immersive Ads format. Google writes in a separate announcement today that they can show up as a billboard ad you see driving through a virtual city or an ad on the big screen during a virtual football game. The company claims these ads blend naturally into the game environment.Roblox says it will start selling other ad formats through Googles platform in the coming months, including billboards and entire rows on the Roblox home page.

Some Google Pixel users have found that their At a Glance widget has been showing outdated weather forecasts, as reported by Android Police. But the company says in a statement to The Verge that its addressing the issue.According to one user on Reddit who has been dealing with the problem, the current temperature is fairly accurate, but the expected high/low forecast hasnt been correct in the past week. The expected temperatures in the weather app itself were also accurate, they said.Another user on Googles support forums said that their Pixel 8As lock screen was showing the weather for the correct location, but in the morning it shows yesterdays forecast as the temperature today and in the evening it shows todays forecast as the weather tomorrow.In a statement this afternoon, Google spokesperson Matthew Flegal says that were currently rolling out a fix for an issue causing outdated weather forecasts on the At a Glance widget for some Pixel users.

What was once a humble research lab has transformed into one of the biggest consumer technology companies of all time.OpenAI, founded in 2015 to develop artificial general intelligence (AGI) AI systems with human-level intelligence has transformed dramatically since launching ChatGPT, which was once considered to be the fastest-growing consumer application in history. Most cofounders have left either to create a competitor or work for one. The company has secured billions in funding and partnerships with Apple and Microsoft, even announcing a $500 billion datacenter project called Stargate. Meanwhile, it faces copyright lawsuits from authors and news organizations, legal action from cofounder Elon Musk over the companys alleged departure from its original mission, and criticism for burning through cash despite projected billions in revenue. After Altmans brief ouster, OpenAI is now expected to restructure from a nonprofit-led organization to a full for-profit company to stabilize operations and reassure investors.As San Franciscos hottest AI company continues to barrel towards ever growing valuations, its claims become more nebulous. Altman expects we may see the first AI agents join the workforce and materially change the output of companies in 2025, and says his team is now confident we know how to build AGIas we have traditionally understood it. A decade since it was founded, OpenAI has become synonymous with the future of AI, with the tech industry and beyond closely monitoring its next moves.All of the news and updates about OpenAI continue below.OpenAI just raised another $40 billion round led by SoftBankChatGPTs Ghibli filter is political now, but it always wasOpenAI says our GPUs are melting as it limits ChatGPT image generation requestsChatGPT is turning everything into Studio Ghibli art and it got weird fastChatGPTs new image generator is delayed for free usersOpenAI rolls out image generation powered by GPT-4o to ChatGPTOpenAI reshuffles leadership as Sam Altman pivots to technical focusChatGPT accused of saying an innocent man murdered his childrenWhat does OpenAI really want from Trump?The questions ChatGPT shouldnt answerOpenAI announces GPT-4.5, warns its not a frontier AI modelChatGPT is a terrible, fascinating, and thrilling to-do list appMira Murati is launching her OpenAI rival: Thinking Machines LabOpenAI is rethinking how AI models handle controversial topicsOpenAI lays out plans for GPT-5What $200 of ChatGPT is really worthInside OpenAIs $14 million Super Bowl debutI tested ChatGPTs deep research with the most misunderstood law on the internetChatGPT drops its sign-in requirement for searchHeres OpenAIs new logoSoftBanks Masayoshi Son says AGI will arrive much earlier than he thoughtChatGPTs agent can now do deep research for youOpenAI launches new o3-mini reasoning model with a free ChatGPT versionSam Altmans Stargate is science fictionDeepSeek, Stargate, and the new AI arms raceOpenAI and SoftBank are starting a $500 billion AI data center companyLas Vegas police release ChatGPT logs from the suspect in the Cybertruck explosionOpenAIs Sam Altman says we know how to build AGIYou can now call 1-800-CHATGPTChatGPTs AI search engine is rolling out to everyoneSoras AI video revolution is still a ways offInside the launch and future of ChatGPTiOS 18.2 is rolling out now, adding ChatGPT integration and more Apple Intelligence toolsOpenAI has finally released SoraMicrosofts AI boss and Sam Altman disagree on what it takes to get to AGISam Altman lowers the bar for AGIOpenAIs 12 days of shipmas include Sora and new reasoning modelChatGPTs search results for news are unpredictable and frequently inaccurateSiris big ChatGPT upgrade is here for better and worseOpenAI plans to release its next big AI model by DecemberOpenAI was a research lab now its just another tech companyOpenAIs for-profit switch could include equity for Sam AltmanOpenAI says Iran tried to influence US elections with ChatGPTElon Musk is suing OpenAI and Sam Altman againOpenAI is making ChatGPT cheaper for schools and nonprofitsFormer OpenAI board member explains why they fired Sam AltmanOpenAI has a new safety team its run by Sam AltmanChatGPT has a Scarlett Johansson problemChatGPT will be able to talk to you like Scarlett Johansson in HerOpenAI releases GPT-4o, a faster model thats free for all ChatGPT usersSam Altman rejoins OpenAIs board after investigation into sudden firingOpenAI introduces Sora, its text-to-video AI modelOpenAI says theres only a small chance ChatGPT will help create bioweaponsOpenAI CEO Sam Altman is still chasing billions to build AI chipsChatGPT is winning the future but what future is that?Sam Altman on being fired and rehired by OpenAIMicrosoft joins OpenAIs board with Sam Altman officially back as CEOSam Altman to return as CEO of OpenAIWhat happened to Sam Altman?Sam Altman fired as CEO of OpenAIJony Ive is reportedly developing an AI gadget with OpenAIs Sam AltmanSam Altman sells superintelligent sunshine as protestors call for AGI pauseAs conservatives criticize woke AI, here are ChatGPTs rules for answering culture war queriesOpenAI announces ChatGPT Plus at $20 a monthChatGPT provesAIis finally mainstream and things are only going to get weirderOpenAIs new chatbot can explain code and write sitcom scripts but is still easily tricked

Drastic reductions in force are upending agencies within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).Thousands of people who work at the CDC were notified by email today that they were subject to the Trump administrations efforts to cull federal workforce jobs, Wired reports. Top officials were among those either put on administrative leave, laid off, or reassigned to remote roles, the Washington Post reports.HHS announced last week that it would slash its workforce by 20,000 people. Now, the nation is starting to see how that purge is rolling out, affecting programs meant to prevent and treat HIV infection and sexually transmitted disease, respiratory diseases, and foodborne illnesses, to name a few.Were going to have patients die, Jade Pagkas-Bather, an infectious disease doctor at the University of Chicago, tells Wired. Unnecessary, preventable death.Unnecessary, preventable death.HHS, on the other hand, says the changes will save $1.8 billion a year. Over time, bureaucracies like HHS become wasteful and inefficient even when most of their staff are dedicated and competent civil servants, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. said in a press release when HHS announced its restructuring last week. Kennedy is a staunch anti-vax crusader who has spread disinformation falsely linking vaccines to autism. The FDAs Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) regulates vaccines, and director Peter Marks resigned on Friday, writing that it has become clear that truth and transparency are not desired by the Secretary, but rather he wishes subservient confirmation of his misinformation and lies. The FDA as weve known it is finished, with most of the leaders with institutional knowledge and a deep understanding of product development and safety no longer employed, Robert Califf, FDA commissioner under Joe Biden and Barack Obama, wrote on LinkedIn today. In an email to The Verge, HHS press secretary Vianca Rodriguez Feliciano maintains that ongoing critical public health efforts will remain a top priority and will not be impacted by this administrative realignment.See More:

Members of ZeniMax Workers United, a union of over 300 quality assurance workers in Texas and Maryland, have voted to authorize a strike.The vote, which passed with over 94 percent in favor of authorization, does not mean workers have gone on strike like SAG-AFTRA members have in the ongoing video game voice actors strike. But should contract negotiations break down, the ZeniMax union now has the permission to call a strike.This authorization comes as contract negotiations between union members and parent company Microsoft continue into a second year.The strike authorization is the latest escalation between the union and management. Last year, ZeniMax Workers United participated in a one-day strike claiming that Microsoft did not adequately address employee concerns over its return to office policies and its outsourcing practices. Those concerns have come up again in negotiations alongside better pay and benefits.Our in-house contractors have been working on minimal wages with no benefits, including no paid sick time, said associate QA tester Aubrey Litchfield in the press release announcing the strike authorization. Workers are choosing not to start families because of the uncertainty of finances. Weve released multiple titles while working fully remote. When will enough be enough?Our quality assurance team is an integral part of our business and is key to our ability to deliver games our players will love, Microsoft spokesperson Delaney Simmons says in a statement to The Verge. We respect the teams right to express their viewpoints and are deeply committed to reaching a fair and equitable resolution that acknowledges the teams contributions. There has been substantial progress over the course of the negotiations, reaching tentative agreements on a majority of the topics at the table. We have presented a package proposal that we believe is fair if accepted it would result in immediate compensation increases, even more robust benefits and is in alignment to the companys hybrid model of 3 days in office. We look forward to continuing this progress during negotiations.ZeniMax Workers United is one of several unions under the Microsoft umbrella. It formed in 2023 and was once the largest union within the company with 300 members before Activision Quality Assurance United organized roughly 600 quality assurance workers last year.At GDC 2025, the Communications Workers of America (CWA) announced the launch of the United Videogame Workers, a nationwide direct-join union open to any worker in the video game industry.See More:

More than 1,900 scientists and engineers have signed a letter saying they see real danger in this moment as the Trump administration slashes federal support for scientific research.Wise investments by the US government have built up the nations research enterprise, making it the envy of the world, says the open letter published on Monday. Astoundingly, the Trump administration is destabilizing this enterprise by gutting funding for research, firing thousands of scientists, removing public access to scientific data, and pressuring researchers to alter or abandon their work on ideological grounds.The letter was penned by members of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, which was created by Congress under President Abraham Lincoln to advise policymakers. Each person signed to express their individual support rather than as representatives of the universities and research institutions with which they are affiliated.They accuse the Trump administration of censorship through executive orders and funding threats meant to stop any initiatives the president and his close allies dislike, including efforts to address climate change and develop vaccines.The White House didnt immediately respond to The Verges request for comment.In less than 100 days in office, President Donald Trump and billionaire-backer Elon Musk have laid waste to the scientific arms of federal agencies including the Environmental Protection Agency, Health and Human Services, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Trump administration is investigating more than 50 universities as part of its efforts to eliminate programs meant to support students from underrepresented and historically marginalized groups.The quest for truth the mission of science requires that scientists freely explore new questions and report their findings honestly, independent of special interests, the letter says. The administration is engaging in censorship, destroying this independence.By threatening to withhold $400 million in funding, the administration has already managed to strong arm Columbia University into changing school policies and academic programs. Other institutions have had to halt research, layoff staff, and stop graduate student enrollment, the letter notes.The US is at risk of losing an entire generation of scientists as a result, the signatories warn. More than 1,200 scientists are already thinking about leaving the US because of the Trump administrations drastic actions, making up 75 percent of respondents in a separate poll by the journal Nature.A climate of fear has descended on the research community, National Academies members write in the letter. We are sending this SOS to sound a clear warning: the nations scientific enterprise is being decimated. See More:

The Pixel 10 Pro Fold might not look all that different. | Image: OnLeaks via <em><a href="https://www.androidheadlines.com/google-pixel-10-pro-fold">Android Headlines</a></em>You probably shouldnt expect major changes to Googles next Pixel foldable. Renders shared with Android Headlines by reliable leaker Onleaks show a Pixel 10 Pro Fold that looks very similar to its predecessor, potentially indicating that it could largely be just a spec bump.As shown in the renders, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold appears to feature the same stacked rear camera setup as the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, along with a hole-punch camera on the external display and one on the top-right corner of the inner screen. The upcoming phone also seems to have a similarly-sized bezel and nearly the same dimensions as the Pixel 9 Pro Fold when unfolded: 6.1 x 5.9 x 0.21 inches.It does look like Google may have shrunk the gap between the screen and the devices hinge on the left side of the display, which would be a plus.The Pixel 10 Pro Fold will also likely come equipped with an upgraded Tensor G5 processor. Sources tell Android Headlines that the device could have a lower price compared to the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, which starts at $1,799.Google might not be making any big changes to the standard Pixel 10, either, as another set of renders OnLeaks shared with Android Headlines hint at …Read the full story at The Verge.

A year and a half ago, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) worked with state attorneys general to shut down Prehired, a shady tech sales bootcamp program that a court said deceptively saddled students with millions of dollars in loans. Now, as the federal watchdog is being dismantled by Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a consumer advocacy group says the company is relaunching its old pitch under a new name: FastTrack.Prehired was an online program that offered training for entry-level software sales roles, promising that students would only have to pay the courses cost once they landed a job that paid more than $60,000 within 12 months of finishing. In a 2023 complaint, the CFPB and 11 states claimed that these were deceptively marketed loans with buried terms that left students on the hook even if they didnt get a job. After students had signed up, Prehired allegedly claimed theyd benefit from converting these loans into settlement agreements with the company, which actually made it harder for them to fight debt collectors.In November 2023, a court approved an order shutting down Prehired and permanently banning it from offering similar loans in the future. The company had already filed for bankruptcy. Prehired was ordered to refund $4.2 million paid by student borrowers on the income share agreements, and void $27 million worth of outstanding loans.Prehired, however, has allegedly done little to honor those terms. Last year, former Prehired students came across a new company called FastTrack, which looked suspiciously similar. It offered the same member success guarantee of landing a job with a salary of at least $60,000 within 12 months of completing the program, featured the same images on its website, and even displayed reviews that appeared to have actually been reviews of Prehired. It also featured a page of blogs authored by Joshua Jordan the name of the executive who previously ran Prehired (the author of those blogs has since been swapped out).There it was verbatim, just staring right at us the exact same sales pitchIn December 2024, the former Prehired students flagged the new FastTrack program to the Student Borrower Protection Center (SBPC), the nonprofit group that originally blew the whistle on Prehired. We did a side-by-side comparison of what we had saved as records of his old scheme, and there it was verbatim, just staring right at us the exact same sales pitch, says Mike Pierce, SBPCs executive director.FastTrack is offering interest-free financing for $30,000 in deferred dues, rather than an income share agreement, but Pierce says the guarantee offered is basically the same as Prehireds. We knew that was a lie at Prehired because eventually he drove a bunch of students who didnt get jobs into court and then into debt collection, he says. I would assume that thats a lie here too, because it doesnt seem like any other piece of the deal is any different.If FastTrack which Pierce says apparently launched soon after the initial consent order is simply a renamed Prehire, it is likely that Jordan has flagrantly violated the terms of the Prehired settlement, SBPC research and policy analyst Ella Azoulay says in a blog post. In letters sent on Monday to state AGs, SBPC claimed that Jordan appears to at least be violating the clear intent of the Prehired settlement, and FastTrack is at the very least engaged in the same unlawful conduct that resulted in the settlement agreement.FastTrack, which claims it has helped hundreds of members, could put a whole new crop of students at risk of wasted time and financial damage. Prehired used tactics that we had never seen a fraudster do before, Pierce says. That included a mass filing of debt collection actions against former students to get them to pay their income share agreements, and later push them into arbitration.One former Prehired attendee is Chris Belcher, a former Marine who signed up for the course in 2019 to get into tech sales. Belcher soon joined the company as a commission-based contractor, marketing the program to the military and to tech companies that might be interested in hiring Prehired students. But he says he was unable to recruit new businesses and left after a few months. Thats when he says Prehired started harassing the crap out of him. Belcher says hed gotten a job selling windows the glass, not the software yet Prehired was coming to collect on the $15,000, seeming to take credit for Belcher landing a role in an unrelated field. Belcher says he held firm in refusing to pay the fee.Belcher says hes not entirely surprised to see Jordans name pop up again with a similar program, because hes come to see many such businesses as suspect, though commonplace. It just doesnt surprise me, having learned about the shadiness of this side of this business, he says. He now advises people trying to get skills to go into tech sales not to take classes like those Prehired offered if they cost any money to do so.Instead of doing their job, we have watched the Trump CFPB fire its enforcement attorneys, shut down the agency, [and] take the name off the buildingUnder normal circumstances, the CFPB would have already initiated a new action against FastTrack and Jordan, says Pierce, who previously worked at the agency. But now, its been greatly weakened by President Donald Trump and DOGE. A backlog of cases built up under Russell Vought, acting director of the Office of Budget and Management, who ordered staff to stop working on February 10th and a judge only just ruled last Friday that they could get back to work while a broader case is pending. This injunction means the judge believes the workers union will likely prevail in claiming the Trump administration unlawfully dismantled the CFPB, but reaching that conclusion could take months and if a Republican-led Congress formally shuts the agency down, much less can be done. The CFPB is supposed to be monitoring these consent orders to make sure that corporate criminals follow the terms of their deals here, Pierce days. Instead of doing their job, we have watched the Trump CFPB fire its enforcement attorneys, shut down the agency, [and] take the name off the building. So of course, thats a giant open for business sign for every two-bit fraudster in America. For now, as a battered CFPB is getting back to business, the SBPC is turning to state AGs as a last line of defense, Pierce says. But that doesnt mean theyre a sustainable replacement for a federal watchdog. You cant have the kind of scale and resources in a state AGs office that you get in Washington when you have a federal regulator with thousands of employees whose only job day in and day out is to watch for financial fraud, he says. This doesnt mean that the state agencies werent doing their jobs. It means that CFPB has a mission and the resources to do its job, and when it doesnt, people get hurt.See More: