its ur expert

Privacy is probably one of the biggest buzzwords in tech these days, and even the data-loving Google is getting in on the action. The Android 12 update boasts a handful of privacy-related additions you’d be wise to explore. Some of them are under the hood and automatic — such as the new Private Compute Core that’ll allow certain types of sensitive computing to happen in an isolated environment, entirely on your device. But others are more on the surface. And that means it’s up to you to take advantage of them — or at least understand what they’re doing. Here are the three most significant privacy-related additions in Android 12 and what you need to know in order to take advantage of them. (Note that these directions are for Pixel phones;... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/gmuw1RE

Leaked render of the Sony Xperia 1 IV | Image: OnLeaks / Giznext It looks like the new Sony Xperia 1 IV is coming soon, based on newly leaked renders coming from reliable leaker OnLeaks through Giznext ( via Android Authority ). The purported sequel to last summer’s Xperia 1 III looks to retain a very similar design, including a 6.5-inch OLED display on an elongated flat-edged slab. The leaked render looks like the Sony Xperia 1 IV will also have a headphone jack, side fingerprint sensor, and top / bottom bezels that house front-facing stereo speakers and a selfie camera. And there are three cameras shown on the rear of the Xperia 1 IV, each reportedly touting 12MP sensors, including one that seems to be telescopic. Image: OnLeaks / Giznext The leaked Xperia 1 IV has a shutter... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/6aLHeb1

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri once again shot down the possibility of an iPad app (because who cares about the millions of iPad users out there, right?). It’s been 12 years since Instagram’s release — over a decade without an accompanying iPad app — and we’re tired . Just think about it for a second: how absurd is it that iPad users either have to settle for an iPhone-sized Instagram app experience on their tablet or must succumb to browsing the platform on a web browser — as Marques Brownlee points out — in the year 2022 ? Yup, we get this one a lot. It's still just not a big enough group of people to be a priority. Hoping to get to it at some point, but right now we're very heads down on other things. — Adam Mosseri (@mosseri) February... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/F6yEOmD

Needles Kane was the terrifying face of the Twisted Metal games. | Image: Sony Interactive Entertainment via Peacock Sony’s Twisted Metal TV show, an adaptation of the video game series starring Falcon actor Anthony Mackie , will debut on the Peacock streaming service and is officially labeled as a comedy. Early last year, we heard the vehicular combat-themed show was in the works and being produced by Will Arnett and helmed by Michael Jonathan Smith. On Monday, we learned that each episode of the PlayStation Productions show will be 30 minutes and will attempt to make audiences laugh. It’s understandable if your memory of the Twisted Metal video games is a bit hazy — the first one was released in 1995, and we haven't gotten a new one since 2012. As a refresher, they mainly center on driving around a heavily armored car and trying to defeat others who... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/gAWhYaQ

PC or console? Mouse and keyboard, or controller? It’s a debate that’s raged for nearly as long as video games themselves. So in 2013, Valve — creator of games like Half-Life and Portal, and the founder of Steam, the beating heart of PC gaming — attempted to fuse the two camps together. The Steam Controller was originally introduced as part of Valve’s Steam Machine push . The initiative attempted to convince partners to build gaming PCs that would sit in a living room like an Xbox or a PlayStation, but run the massive library of PC games already available on Steam. Plenty of PC owners have hooked up their computer to their television, but the Steam Machine project had bigger ambitions to turn living room PC gaming into a platform . The... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/JYlO5NW

Image: Bandai Namco It seems like everyone, even people who don’t usually partake in FromSoftware games, is playing Elden Ring . It’s currently the seventh most played game on Steam based on number of concurrent players and has a score of 97 on Metacritic , putting it on track to be this year’s highest rated game. And while I have enjoyed the bits of Elden Ring I’ve played, I’m not too keen on joining the rest of my Tarnished colleagues in the Lands Between just yet. I’m gonna wait for the guide writers, speedrunners, and wiki editors to catch up, because from my dabblings in FromSoftware games, I know that in order to truly enjoy Elden Ring, I’m gonna need a lot of help that just doesn’t exist yet. Elden Ring is a game that’s meant to be mysterious. The... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/1VTjXrq

The Xbox Game Pass March 2022 list is officially out and here are the games coming and leaving the platform. First up, joining the Xbox gaming subscription service is Alice Madness Returns on EA Play for PC, in addition to the action-adventure title FAR: Changing Tides, which follows the journey of a boy and his trusted ship as he embarks on a quest of voyaging home. The next title joining the Xbox Game Pass for March is A Memoir Blue, which takes the player on to a journey of the sweet journey of a devotee mother and her champion daughter. Next up is Crusader Kings 3, a massively popular RTS game enabling players to conquer their way through various Kingdoms across the Middle Ages.  The Weird West is another brand new addition launching day 1 on Xbox Game Pass in March 2022. Developed by Devolver Digital, the Weird West is an action-adventure RPG set in an alternate western timeline. Last but not the least, Shredder is also joining the Xbox Game Pass sometime in March 2022, and...

Here’s the new ThinkPad X1 Extreme. | Photo by Monica Chin / The Verge Lenovo has dumped a whole bunch of new ThinkPads into the world, and there’s some exciting stuff in there. We’re getting a brand-new ThinkPad X13s powered by Snapdragon chips, a fifth-generation ThinkPad X1 Extreme with a WQXGA 165Hz screen option, and new additions to the P-series and T-series as well. The news I’m personally most excited about is the screen shape. A few months ago, Lenovo told me that much of its portfolio would be moving to the 16:10 aspect ratio this year. They appear to be keeping their word. Across the board, the new models are 16:10 — taller and roomier than they were in their 16:9 eras. Some news that’s a bit more... intriguing is the all-new ThinkPad X13s, which is the first laptop to feature the Snapdragon 8cx... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/jNJd8z5

Later this year, you can snag the 16-inch model with either AMD or Intel processors. | Lenovo Lenovo has made some hefty updates to its mid-range IdeaPad Gaming 3 lineup for 2022, which includes two Intel 12th Gen- and two AMD Ryzen 6000-series-equipped models, each with a 15.6-inch and 16-inch option. Notably, the 16-inch option for either CPU you opt for has a 16:10 aspect ratio display with the option to go up to 2560 x 1600, like the Legion 5 Pro , which is more desirable because it offers more vertical space for browsing, gaming, or anything else you want to do on a PC. The only thing they’re not particularly great for is watching movies or TV shows, which are traditionally presented in 16:9 aspect ratio. Despite each of these IdeaPad Gaming 3 laptops looking the same across CPU options, the specs differ in some ways... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/LnDw508

Asus took its sweet time but has finally launched the Asus 8z in India. Since it has had debuted in the global markets under the Zenfone 8 moniker for a while now, you may already have a fair idea regarding its specs and features. It brings a Snapdragon 888 Soc, 5G, 120Hz FHD+ OLED screen, a 64MP+12MP ultrawide camera duo on the back, and a 4000mAh battery, among other things. Now, what you may be eager to know about its pricing and where to buy it. Asus 8z India Price and Availability The company has priced the Asus 8z at ₹42,999 for the 8+128GB variant in India. The sale begins from March 7 at 12 PM on Flipkart.com. You can grab it in Silver and Black colour options. Asus 8z Specs and Features  Asus 8z sports a 5.9” AMOLED screen with FHD+ resolution, HDR10+ support, 120Hz refresh rate, 240Hz touch sampling rate, up to 1100 nits brightness, 112% DCI-P3 color coverage, and Gorilla Glass Victus protection. The front camera is a 12MP sensor lying within a...

At MWC 2022, Samsung has unveiled the Galaxy Book 2 Pro and Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360. Both laptops come with 13.3-inch and 15.6-inch AMOLED displays with 1080p webcams up top and support for S-pen input. They are running on Intel 12th-gen processors along with Intel EVO certification which entails features such as instant wake up, fast charging, FHD screens, good battery life, and performance. So, let’s unpack what the new machines bring to the table. Samsung Galaxy Book 2 Pro Specs and Features The 13.3-inch and 15.6-inch models of the Samsung Galaxy Book 2 Pro come in at 0.87 grams and 1.11 grams (internal graphics model) respectively. Those screens are AMOLED in nature with 1080p resolution and an FHD webcam on the top.  Inside, it is sporting Windows 11 laid on top of Intel’s 12th Gen Intel Core Processors (i7/i5) along with Intel EVO perks. While the graphics options are either Iris Xe internal GPU or Intel’s Arc external GPU. This is coupled with 8/16/32GB LPDDR5 RAM and Up to...

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge Facebook has blocked access to a number of accounts in Ukraine, some of which are associated with Russian state-backed media outlets. It’s also reviewing other governments’ requests to restrict access to these accounts in their countries. We have been in contact with the Government of Ukraine, and at their request we have also restricted access to several accounts in Ukraine, including those belonging to some Russian state media organizations. — Nick Clegg (@nickclegg) February 27, 2022 “We have been in contact with the Government of Ukraine, and at their request we have also restricted access to several accounts in Ukraine, including those belonging to some Russian state media organizations,” Nick Clegg, the vice president of global... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/e0viFYu

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge Apple may be working on a device with a 20-inch foldable display, which Apple tracker Mark Gurman describes as an “iPad / MacBook hybrid” in Bloomberg ’s Power On newsletter . It’s not expected until 2026 Gurman says that Apple is, indeed, exploring the possibility of a folding device of the sort, backing up the claims of Ross Young, the CEO and analyst at Display Supply Chain Consultants. Last week, Young brought attention to Apple’s supposed plans to develop a device with a large, folding screen, and Gurman has added some more depth to this rumor. Gurman claims the device will feature a dual-screen display that omits a physical keyboard and trackpad — navigating and typing on the device will be entirely touchscreen-based. In terms of a... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/LQkCqN7

Anika Molnar/BBCA Sandra Oh finally has something to do Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/FVatUku

Roscosmos will withdraw all 87 employees from the Guiana Space Centre. | Photo by Sergei Savostyanov\TASS via Getty Images Russian space agency Roscosmos has announced that it’s temporarily halting Soyuz rocket launches in French Guiana due to sanctions imposed by the European Union, according to a report by Space.com . “Roscosmos is suspending cooperation with European partners in organizing space launches from the Kourou Cosmodrome and withdrawing its personnel, including the consolidated launch crew, from French Guiana,” a translated tweet from the agency reads on Twitter. Roscosmos says it’s working on a plan to withdraw all 87 of its staff from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, who assisted with Soyuz rocket launches for Roscosmos and other Russian companies. ⚡ «В ответ на санкции Евросоюза в отношении наших предприятий Роскосмос приостанавливает... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/J8AhsOw

Photo by Stanislav Krasilnikov\TASS via Getty Images A coalition of NATO-aligned countries has committed to new measures meant to sever Russia from the global financial system, countries announced in a joint letter today . The letter, signed by the United States, UK, Canada, and European allies, lays out new measures to isolate Russia’s central bank, and announces a new trans-Atlantic task force to freeze the foreign assets of sanctioned individuals. In a dramatic escalation, the order also blocks select Russian banks from using SWIFT — the international payment system employed by banks to send money around the world. SWIFT, which stands for The Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication, is a cooperative company based in Belgium, whose owners include many of Europe’s... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/TgfzHmF

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge YouTube is blocking state-backed Russian media outlets from advertising and earning money on the platform, as first reported by Reuters . As Russian troops continue to invade Ukraine, YouTube told Reuters it’s “pausing a number of channels’ ability to monetize on YouTube, including several Russian channels affiliated with recent sanctions.” RT will be restricted in Ukraine due to “a government request” YouTube spokesperson Farshad Shadloo told Reuters that YouTube will recommend Russian state-run media to users less often. Some of these channels — including RT — will also be restricted in Ukraine due to “a government request,” perhaps in response to Ukraine digital minister Mykhailo Fedorov’s call for YouTube to block Russian propaganda... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/FOT8X67

Illustration by James Bareham / The Verge More than $15 million has been donated so far Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/KkCWlgT

Financial sanctions from several countries bar some card payments through Google Pay and Apple Pay. | Photo By Lea Suzuki/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images Customers at a number of banks in Russia can no longer use their bank cards with Google Pay and Apple Pay due to newly-imposed financial sanctions on the country, as reported by Insider . According to a press release from Russia’s Central Bank , affected financial institutions include VTB Group, Sovcombank, Novikombank, Promsvyazbank, and Otkritie FC Bank. Sanctions issued by the EU target 70 percent of Russia’s banking network While customers can still use bank cards from these institutions within Russia, they’ll no longer work abroad or when making online payments to stores and services belonging to countries that issued sanctions on Russia. This also includes card payments through Apple Pay and Google Pay, although the Central Bank says... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/lw04Kto ...

Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge Every Friday, The Verge publishes our flagship podcast, The Vergecast , where co-hosts Nilay Patel and Dieter Bohn discuss the week in tech news with the reporters and editors covering the biggest stories. This week is a pretty gadget-heavy episode about some heavy gadgets. Senior reports editor Sean Hollister starts the show with his review of the Steam Deck , the latest portable gaming system. Sean explains how it was the hardest review he's done and why he decided to give it a 6.5 score, despite the amount of fun he had using it. Verge reviewer Allison Johnson continues the gadget talk with her review of Samsung’s Galaxy S22 Ultra , including improvements on the camera, using the software, and whether this is the end of the “slab... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/8vE5JN1

Illustration by Micha Huigen The Verge was recognized yesterday by the American Society of Magazine Editors (ASME) with an ASME Award for Photography and Illustration for “Best Digital Illustration” for its “Verge 10” illustration by Micha Huigen. Our “ Verge 10 ” series celebrated the 10th anniversary of The Verge and included more than 20 stories looking back at our last 10 years and ahead to the future. One of those stories, “ What The Verge Covered in Our First 120,000 Stories ” by Jacob Kastrenakes, received an additional nomination for “​​Best Illustrated Story” for the art by Kristen Radtke. “This is our first ASME award, and we couldn’t be happier it was for the incredible illustration that accompanied ‘Verge 10,’” says Verge editor-in-chief Nilay Patel. “ The... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/0D5Cg4p

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge Twitter is giving all users access to the content warning feature it tested last year. The feature lets you obscure individual photos and videos behind warnings for nudity, violence, and “sensitive” content, rather than adding a blanket warning to all multimedia tweets. It’s available on Twitter’s Android and iOS apps as well as its web client. Users can put a content warning on posts by adding a photo or video, tapping to edit it, and then hitting a flag icon that will bring up the options listed above. You can tag multiple warnings for an individual piece of media, and you can add a warning to one image or video in a tweet but not another — although in the latter case, Twitter appears to place a single warning over both of them. The... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/3ClUQsg

An accessibility feature that was introduced with Android 12 allows you to control your screen using facial gestures: raise eyebrows, smile, open mouth, look up, look left, look right. This feature, called “Camera switches,” uses the phone’s camera to watch for these gestures and allows them to signal simple screen operations. These operations include: go to the next actionable screen object, select an object, go to the previous object, touch and hold, scroll forward, and scroll backward; you can also pause the camera switch itself. It’s not a long list: it only includes six facial gestures and not all that many actions. However, it’s a beginning, and it could be useful if you can’t use your hands to work your phone’s screen. If you do... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/JpiH2UM

Photo by Tom Warren / The Verge Microsoft is rolling out its latest test build of Windows 11 to its Insiders , and the update is promising to make Bluetooth devices simpler and easier to access . Windows 11 Build 22563 will surface a list of Bluetooth devices right into the Quick Settings menu of the taskbar, complete with visible battery levels for supported devices. This new Bluetooth list allows users to connect to new devices and disconnect to current devices without having to open the full Bluetooth settings menu. It takes a small cue from the way Windows 11’s Quick Settings already handles Wi-Fi networks or selecting an audio source. This is the latest update to come to Windows 11 after just recently bringing new touch gestures and Start menu folders . Bluetooth has... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/Sy62lP1

Most of you playing Elden Ring are probably knee-deep in the Lands Between, getting your shit rocked by that asshole on the horse , but my mind hasn’t left the game’s first menus. Though the many classes present a paralyzing wealth of options, it’s not the question of what class to play that has me stuck. It’s the character creator. I’m stymied by the bizarrely incongruous system that allows for an unprecedented level of control of every minute detail of facial feature but only has one kinky hair option. I didn’t expect much from Elden Ring ’s character creator. FromSoftware games have a bit of a reputation for being kinda bad at character creation, especially regarding skin. In Bloodborne , skin colors and textures were distinctly... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/zm1n3QB

I just put up a 4,000-word review of Valve’s Steam Deck portable gaming PC , which just went on sale to the first batch of early adopters today. But the company had a surprise announcement too — Aperture Desk Job , a new bite-size experience set in the Portal universe that’ll be a free download March 1st. It’s designed to introduce new Steam Deck buyers to the handheld’s incredible array of controls, and it involves... toilets and chairs. Assuming you’re not already halfway through the video teaser atop this post, here’s how Valve tries to thread the needle between our rampant desire for Valve to remember how to count to three and the potential disappointment that Valve has not yet managed it: Aperture Desk Job reimagines the... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/MgoafpU

The announcement of new sanctions against Russia provoked a strong reaction from the head of Russia’s space program, Dmitry Rogozin, yesterday, who seemed to threaten that the restrictions would destroy Russia’s partnership with NASA and lead to the demise of the International Space Station. Though Rogozin is known for his bluster and provocative statements, his comments did spark concern over what NASA would do if the Russians abruptly pulled out of the ISS program — a move that could be a substantial problem. President Joe Biden announced the new sanctions on Thursday in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, claiming the sanctions would “degrade [Russia’s] aerospace industry, including their space program.” A list of the sanctions r... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/uQW2d8A

The battery pack can attach to a phone and dock at the same time | Image: Otterbox When Dieter Bohn reviewed Apple’s MagSafe battery pack , he wasn’t exactly thrilled with its performance. Unfortunately, the relatively small battery pack didn’t have enough juice to top off an iPhone 12 even once. And, like most things from Apple, it came with an unusually high price tag and only worked with a proprietary Lightning cable for charging. Since then, other manufacturers like Anker have produced MagSafe battery packs with friendlier features and better capacity. Now, the case makers at Otterbox have joined that trend with a pair of wireless MagSafe power banks that cost less than Apple’s model but provide better capacity and features. Otterbox’s lineup includes both a 5,000mAh and 3,000mAh model that cost $69.99 and $49.95,... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/TS1RlYs

Illustration by Kristen Radtke / The Verge Late Wednesday night, Russian troops invaded Ukrainian territories across the country’s northern, southern, and eastern borders, kicking off the largest troop mobilization in Europe in a generation. As Russian media attempts to cast the invasion as a response to Ukrainian aggression , on-the-ground reporting has played a crucial role in countering the propaganda, with footage coming from both professional journalists and amateurs on social media. But as the conflict intensifies, many civil society groups are increasingly concerned about the possibility of direct attacks on the country’s internet infrastructure. Russia has previously been linked to DDoS attacks against Ukrainian government sites — but a full blackout would mean going... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/Q6iYNT8

Photo by Becca Farsace / The Verge Microsoft is making the Windows 11 taskbar a little more tablet-friendly soon. The software giant has started testing a new taskbar that’s designed for tablet use, with a smaller collapsed state that only shows critical information like the time and date or network and battery status. This tablet taskbar looks a lot less cluttered, thanks to app icons, search, Widgets, and the Start button being hidden. A new setting will automatically hide the taskbar when you’re using a device as a tablet, and it will provide more screen space for Windows 11 tablet users. If you wipe up to reveal the full taskbar, the widgets, Start button, search, and app icons are all a lot larger and easier to touch. Image: Microsoft Windows... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/L6wMhp7

Logitech’s budget-friendly G435 boasts color and comfort, as well as a host of solid features. | Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge A good gaming headset is practically a necessity these days. Clean and precise audio is essential for competitive gaming, allowing you not just to pinpoint your enemies, but communicate effectively with your teammates. Moreover, recent developments in spatial audio and virtual surround sound have allowed headsets to meet — and occasionally surpass — more expensive audio setups, allowing even the most budget-conscious gamer to obtain a competitive edge at a fraction of the price. While you could always invest in a massive pair of speakers, they’re likely to earn you the dubious distinction of the worst roommate of the decade. Thankfully, the right headset will allow you to keep the running and gunning to yourself, which is why we’ve... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/Mj14rYD

With dual cameras and dual motion detection, this camera catches it all — just not fast enough Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/XDBZ1TR

Production on Dragon Age 4 seems to be coming along nicely, according to an update from BioWare. In a blog post , studio general manager Gary McKay says: For the next Dragon Age , we are right in the middle of Production, which is a great feeling. Our blueprint was completed last year, so we’re now focused on building out our vision: creating amazing environments, deep characters, strong gameplay, impactful writing, emotional cinematics – and much more. The blueprint for the game is well understood and the team is focused. It’s been seven years since the release of Dragon Age: Inquisition and almost four years since the first images from DA4 were teased during The Game Awards. Since then, news on the latest installment of the Dragon Age... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/CjHTwLv

Photo by Aaron P. Bernstein/Getty Images After months of speculation, tribulation, and hype, former President Donald Trump launched his long-awaited social media platform — Truth Social — on Monday. The app, a shameless Twitter clone, is available for download on the Apple App Store and sits at the top of Apple’s download charts as of publication on Wednesday. But despite all of this excitement, Truth Social remains totally unusable. Hours after the app’s Presidents’ Day launch, it suffered dozens of technical glitches, from a 13-hour outage to users who were unable to make an account, let alone receive the confirmation email that allows them to start the process of joining. Even if you were able to secure a username, it’s likely you’ve been placed on an over 300,000 person... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/Lxn8TOk

Finally. | Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge Following a brief appearance in January , Sony is officially bringing the ability to have your PS5 screenshots and videos auto-uploaded to the PlayStation mobile app to more countries. Sony began testing the feature in Canada and Japan in October . The expanded rollout, which Sony stresses is a gradual one, will start first with the Americas, the company says. On a support page , Sony lists the following as “supported countries”: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Japan, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the US, and Uruguay. The feature will come to more countries “next month,” the company says in a tweet . If the feature is enabled, media captured from your PS5 will be... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/Ww6JGq7

The United States Postal Service authorized the replacement of its mail truck fleet with nearly all gasoline-powered vehicles, rejecting a plea from President Joe Biden to include more electric vehicles in its purchase. The move, which was announced Wednesday, signals the independent agency’s decision to move forward with a controversial plan to purchase 165,000 next-generation mail trucks, only 10 percent of which will be battery-electric vehicles (BEV) . The USPS determined there was no legal reason to delay its plans. “the process needs to keep moving forward” In a statement , Postmaster Louis DeJoy said the agency would consider adding more EVs to its fleet sometime in the future. “[W]e will continue to pursue the acquisition of... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/DhtPSnu

Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images Today, let’s talk about some of the less obvious ways that conservative social networks keep slipping up — and whether Truth Social, which has the backing of President Trump, can manage to avoid their fate. First, the news: Truth Social is live in the App Store, and hit No. 1 this week on the most-downloaded chart for iOS. Here are Bryan Pietsch and Jeff Stein in the Washington Post : The app says it is “America’s ‘Big Tent’ social media platform that encourages an open, free, and honest global conversation without discriminating against political ideology.” It was released in the App Store over the weekend and was updated late Sunday for “bug fixes.” (Truth Social’s website says it will be in the Google Play Store soon.) […] Users... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/WZOz71R

Photo by Becca Farsace / The Verge Google says a fix is on the way for Pixel 6 owners who are dealing with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity issues after installing a security patch earlier this month, as reported by 9to5Google . In response to a user on Reddit , Google acknowledges the problem and says it’s bundling a fix in a March software update. “A software fix that will be available in the next Google Pixel Update” “After some investigation, we identified the root cause and determined that it impacts a very small number of devices,” Google says. “Of course, we realize this is a poor experience and immediately developed a software fix that will be available in the next Google Pixel Update, rolling out in March.” Google also says to contact its support team “to explore... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/tL65h8e

Photo by Friso Gentsch/picture alliance via Getty Images The controversial proctoring platform Proctorio has filed a broad subpoena against the prominent digital rights nonprofit Fight for the Future as part of its legal battle with Miami University student Erik Johnson, in what the group describes as an effort to silence critics through legal maneuvering. The fight between Johnson and the company began in September of 2020 when the student published a lengthy Twitter thread criticizing Proctorio’s practices, including excerpts of the platform’s source code that he’d posted on PasteBin. Proctorio filed a copyright takedown notice. Three of the tweets were removed but later reinstated. The Electronic Frontier Foundation then sued Proctorio on Johnson’s behalf, arguing that the takedown had... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/EgT6tXR

Two weeks after dropping a controversial facial recognition plan, the IRS has given new details about how it plans to replace the system. In a statement on Monday , the agency confirmed that all users of the IRS.gov website will be able to opt out of biometric data collection, offering video interviews as an alternative for this year’s filers and promising a shift to the government-run authentication system Login.gov service in the future. “[A] new option in the agency’s authentication system is now available for taxpayers to sign up for IRS online accounts without the use of any biometric data, including facial recognition,” the statement said. “This is consistent with the IRS’s commitment earlier this month to transition away from the... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/STuw2vH

Part of a Chinese Long March 3C, shown here, is thought to be the piece of debris about to slam into the Moon in March. But China is casting doubt on that claim. | Image: STR/AFP via Getty Images China claims that a piece of distant space debris that’s about to slam into the Moon does not stem from one of the nation’s lunar missions, as astronomers tracking the object believe. However, it’s possible that China may have mixed up which mission the debris originally came from, as most evidence points to it being an old Chinese rocket. This doomed space object has received quite a lot of attention over the last few weeks, ever since an astronomer and space tracker by the name of Bill Gray first predicted that it would slam into the Moon on March 4th after years of orbiting the Earth. At first, Gray thought the object was a leftover chunk of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket that launched a satellite for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts h...

It will be going away this year. | Image: Bethesda Softworks Bethesda is retiring its Bethesda.net Launcher this year and will let people move their games and Wallet to Steam starting in early April, the company announced Tuesday. You’ll be able to access and play games on the Bethesda launcher until May. Any game you own on Bethesda’s launcher will be available for free on Steam. When you migrate to Steam, “you will not lose anything from your Bethesda.net account,” Bethesda says . “Many games will also have their saves migrated, with a few requiring some manual transfers. For games that require it, you will still use your Bethesda.net login to sign in to play.” However, Bethesda is only letting you migrate what’s on your Bethesda Launcher to Steam — you can’t use the switch as an opportunity to... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/k6n3ZBI

Panasonic has announced its latest video-focused Micro Four Thirds camera, the Lumix GH6, after a delay. The new numbered entry in the popular GH line was teased almost a year ago alongside the launch of the GH5 Mark II; Panasonic confirmed at the time that it would shoot up to 10-bit 4:2:0 4K at 120fps, 10-bit 4:2:2 4K at 60fps, and 10-bit 5.7K at 60fps. Now the camera has been revealed in full, and while it looks similar to its predecessor and features the same 3-inch articulating screen, the internals are all new. There’s a new 25.2-megapixel Micro Four Thirds sensor and a new Venus Engine image processor, which together let you shoot photos at 14 frames per second with autofocus locked. It’s the highest resolution sensor ever found... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/IqX29xs

Battlegrounds Mobile India has recently made available its new Royale Pass 8. Now, it is giving all players the opportunity to earn it for free. In order to do so, they need to participate in a scavenger hunt to be eligible. Here’s how it works. Those interested in participating will first have to follow the official BGMI account on Instagram, @battlegroundsmobilein_official. Next, they have to find the new RPM8 logo in the new Santorini map. Once players find it, they will have to take a screenshot, highlight the logo, and then post the image on their Instagram account while tagging the official Battlegrounds Mobile India page. They then will have to fill out the form link in the official BGMI Instagram bio.  Krafton Inc. notes that only 20 lucky players will win the contest and get the new BGMI Royale Pass 8 for free. Further, it should also be noted that the contest will end on February 23.  With the recent banning of Garena Free Fire, Battlegrounds Mobile India is down ...

The OnePlus 10 Pro is out in China, and while it has some flagship specs , including a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor and a 5,000mAh battery, it turns out it might not be the most durable phone on the market. YouTuber Zack Nelson, creator of the popular JerryRigEverything channel, put the OnePlus 10 Pro through his usual durability test, and when he pushed on the middle of the phone to try and bend it, it snapped nearly in half. See for yourself — the bend test for the portion of the video starts at 6:57 (and that’s where the embedded video below should begin). When Nelson first pushes on the OnePlus 10 Pro, the back glass begins to crack, and many of the cracks appear under the phone’s stovetop-like camera bump . When he pushes again,... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/w1FeI6r

Amazon is tying two of its big gaming efforts, the Twitch streaming platform and its Luna cloud gaming service, a bit closer together. If you’re looking at a game’s page on Twitch and that game is available on Luna, you might now see a “Play on Luna” button that takes you to the title on the cloud gaming service ( via 9to5Google ). While the button could be a handy way to hop directly into an interesting game you found on Twitch, there are still a lot of limitations to Luna that make the process of just jumping in and playing a game harder than it should be. Screenshot by Jay Peters / The Verge We need more people playing Sonic Mania on Twitch. First of all, to see the button at all, it appears you need to be... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/fpGmZLE

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge Instagram is discontinuing some app time limit options and encouraging users to update their settings, according to a report from TechCrunch . Originally, users were able to select a time limit as low as five minutes a day , while the new options begin at 30 minutes and go up to three hours. In screenshots sent to TechCrunch by an Instagram user who had previously set a 10-minute daily limit, a popup now appears at the top of their feed urging them to set a new daily limit value in accordance with an app update. Though the popup says the user can keep their existing limit if they want, clicking the edit button directs them to select a preset option, the lowest of which is 30 minutes. An additional popup on the activity page in the app says... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/Kg5C3QJ

First Final Fantasy XIV , now Lost Ark . | Image: Smilegate The free-to-play MMO Lost Ark has had a huge debut in the West, hitting the second-most concurrent players in Steam history just 24 hours after its February 11th release . Unfortunately, that popularity has meant that players in Europe have had to wait in long queues to play, though developer Smilegate and the game’s Western publisher, Amazon Games, are working to try and fix things. The long queues were an issue for the Europe Central server soon after launch , and the developers quickly promised to implement a new Europe West server to give players another place to play. While that Europe West server is now active, “the Europe Central region is at capacity and unfortunately there is no way to increase the number of players per world in... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/pQqi90s

Dizo, the first brand in the Realme TechLife ecosystem, has added a new neckband earphone called Dizo Wireless Power to its product line. This new earphone comes with an 11.2mm driver with a Bass Boost+ algorithm. It has 88ms super-low latency too. Now if you’re wondering how much ‘power’ it holds, know that the claimed endurance is of 18 hours.   Let’s see what all does this new Dizo earphone has to offer: Dizo Wireless Power Specs and Features Dizo Wireless Power works over Bluetooth 5.2. And the audio delivered is created by an 11.2mm sized driver with Bass Boost capability. Since it’s of in-ear shape, you can get a passive noise reduction. This should be to some extent complemented by Environmental Noise Cancelation (ENC) for cutting down ambient sounds during calls. However, if you want to prioritize response times instead, there is a game mode that reduces the latency as low as 88ms. This is apparently 50% of regular latency. You may notice some differences while gami...

Image: Zens Zens is expanding its excellent alternative to Apple’s failed AirPower charger, the Liberty wireless charger , with a new model: the Liberty Built-in charger — which, as the name implies, is designed to be integrated directly into your desk itself for an even more streamlined look. The original Zens Liberty charger was released back in 2020 and offered an innovative 16-coil design that allowed you to simply place a Qi-compatible phone or device anywhere on the wireless charging pad instead of having to carefully align charging coils or rely on a MagSafe-style magnetic system. Image: Zens But the original model rather boringly sat on top of your desk, while the new Liberty Built-in charger is designed to be... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/b9imUSN

Its mobile rivals Samsung and MediaTek have it. And other tech companies like Nvidia and Netflix have it. And now Qualcomm is also getting on the AV1 bandwagon as per a recent report. According to Protocol, the mobile chipmaker is “planning to add support for AV1 to its upcoming flagship Snapdragon mobile processor”. The report also adds that 2023 would be the “year AV1 finally sees broader adoption”. Snapdragon AV1 support: Here’s what you need to know Qualcomm is said to introduce AV1 codec support with a future Snapdragon processor codenamed ‘SM8550’. Now, the current Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 carries a code name ‘SM8450’ while the supposedly next-in-line Snapdragon 8 Gen 1+ with ‘SM8475’ model name is rumoured to be in the works. That pattern of nomenclature would suggest the one with ‘SM8550’ could be Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, that’s likely to release in 2023.  More specifically, it would be Snapdragon’s Adreno GPU that supports this native AV1 feature.  Needless to say, things mig...

Capcom has announced Street Fighter 6 , the next major entry in the iconic fighting game franchise, which is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year. A brief teaser trailer was following the season final of the Capcom Pro Tour, where Kawano defeated veteran Daigo Umehara. The trailer doesn’t show any actual gameplay, but it suggests that Street Fighter 6 will have a more realistic art style than previous games in the series — at least, as realistic as you could expect while maintaining Ryu’s formidable proportions. Capcom says more information on the game will be coming this summer. Capcom will be hoping that Street Fighter 6 has a better launch than its predecessor. Street Fighter V looked and played great when it came out for PS4 and... Continue reading… from The Verge - All Posts https://ift.tt/rsuXcV7