verge-rss

OpenAI accidentally erases potential evidence in training data lawsuit

Image: The Verge

In a stunning misstep, OpenAI engineers accidentally erased critical evidence gathered by The New York Times and other major newspapers in their lawsuit over AI training data, according to a court filing Wednesday.
The newspapers’ legal teams had spent over 150 hours searching through OpenAI’s AI training data to find instances where their news articles were included, the filing claims. But it doesn’t explain how this mistake occurred or what precisely the data included. While the filing says OpenAI admitted to the error and tried to recover the data, what it managed to salvage was incomplete and unreliable — so what was recovered cannot help properly trace how the news organizations’ articles were used in building OpenAI’s AI models. While OpenAI’s lawyers characterized the data erasure as a “glitch,” The New York Times’ attorneys noted they had “no reason to believe” it was intentional.

The New York Times Company launched this landmark battle last December, claiming OpenAI and its partner Microsoft had built their AI tools by “copying and using millions” of the publication’s articles and now “directly compete” with its content as a result. The publication is asking for OpenAI to be held liable for “billions of dollars in statutory and actual damages” for allegedly copying its works.
The Times has already spent more than $1 million battling OpenAI in court — a significant fee few publishers can match. Meanwhile, OpenAI has struck deals with major outlets like Axel Springer, Conde Nast, and The Verge’s parent company Vox Media, suggesting many publishers would rather partner than fight.
OpenAI declined to join The New York Times in filing the update to the court. This declaration was filed by Jennifer Maisel, an attorney representing the news organizations, to formally notify the court about what happened.
In an email to The Verge, OpenAI spokesperson Jason Deutrom said that the company disagrees with the characterizations made, and will file its own response soon. The New York Times declined The Verge’s request for comment.

Image: The Verge

In a stunning misstep, OpenAI engineers accidentally erased critical evidence gathered by The New York Times and other major newspapers in their lawsuit over AI training data, according to a court filing Wednesday.

The newspapers’ legal teams had spent over 150 hours searching through OpenAI’s AI training data to find instances where their news articles were included, the filing claims. But it doesn’t explain how this mistake occurred or what precisely the data included. While the filing says OpenAI admitted to the error and tried to recover the data, what it managed to salvage was incomplete and unreliable — so what was recovered cannot help properly trace how the news organizations’ articles were used in building OpenAI’s AI models. While OpenAI’s lawyers characterized the data erasure as a “glitch,” The New York Times’ attorneys noted they had “no reason to believe” it was intentional.

The New York Times Company launched this landmark battle last December, claiming OpenAI and its partner Microsoft had built their AI tools by “copying and using millions” of the publication’s articles and now “directly compete” with its content as a result. The publication is asking for OpenAI to be held liable for “billions of dollars in statutory and actual damages” for allegedly copying its works.

The Times has already spent more than $1 million battling OpenAI in court — a significant fee few publishers can match. Meanwhile, OpenAI has struck deals with major outlets like Axel Springer, Conde Nast, and The Verge’s parent company Vox Media, suggesting many publishers would rather partner than fight.

OpenAI declined to join The New York Times in filing the update to the court. This declaration was filed by Jennifer Maisel, an attorney representing the news organizations, to formally notify the court about what happened.

In an email to The Verge, OpenAI spokesperson Jason Deutrom said that the company disagrees with the characterizations made, and will file its own response soon. The New York Times declined The Verge’s request for comment.

Read More 

Automakers plead with Trump: don’t kill the EV tax credit

Image: Laura Normand / The Verge

The auto industry is sending an urgent message to President-elect Donald Trump: spare the $7,500 electric vehicle tax credit.
In a November 14th letter to Trump and his transition team, the auto industry’s main lobbying group urges the new administration to preserve incentives for EV buyers and manufacturers that were enacted under President Joe Biden, arguing these policies keep the US competitive globally while also creating “good jobs.”
The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, which represents the Big Three automakers — Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis — as well as foreign car companies that sell in the US, are calling on Trump to “promote stability and predictability in auto-related emissions standards.” But at the same time, the group endorsed “reasonable and achievable emissions regulations,” suggesting that there may be some wiggle room for a partial rollback of Biden’s tailpipe rules.
Calling on Trump to “promote stability and predictability”
Of course, expecting that Trump will promote stability and predictability while in office seems woefully optimistic — and perhaps disconnected from reality. Trump has said bluntly many times what he intends to do when he assumes office, and stability and predictability don’t seem like they’re on the menu.
During his campaign, Trump railed against Biden’s policies incentivizing EV purchases, promising to eliminate the “EV mandate” on day one of his presidency. And since his victory, his transition team has discussed how to go about killing the EV tax credit, among other incentives.

Alliance for Automotive Innovation – Letter to President Donald Trump (November 2024) by ahawkins8223 on Scribd

Also on the chopping block are newly finalized Environmental Protection Agency rules requiring automakers to slash carbon emissions by 2032, primarily by selling more EVs. This is another way Trump could unravel his predecessor’s environmental legacy, and one that is familiar to him. During his first term, Trump rolled back emissions standards put in place by President Barack Obama — and now appears poised to do it again with Biden’s mandates.
John Bozzella, president and CEO of the alliance, didn’t oppose Biden’s efforts to impose stricter tailpipe rules on automakers, although he did call some of the thresholds “stretch goals.” Now, in his letter to Trump, he is calling for “reasonable and achievable federal and state emissions regulations aligned with current market realities that support a customer’s ability to purchase a vehicle that meets their individual needs.”
Also on the chopping block are newly finalized EPA rules requiring automakers to slash carbon emissions by 2032
That could be viewed in a number of ways. “Stability and predictability” suggests that automakers are tired of EPA standards being rolled back and forward, and used as a political football. But “reasonable and achievable” implies that Bozzella and his member companies are fine with kicking the can down the road and pushing out the deadlines for achieving certain emissions targets. In other words, wiggle room.
Bozzella also endorsed a federal regulatory framework for autonomous vehicles, which has long been elusive in the nation’s capital. Trump’s transition team is reportedly discussing the passage of a regulatory framework that would result in more driverless cars on the road. Tesla CEO Elon Musk, a mega-donor to Trump and self-proclaimed “first buddy,” would stand to benefit enormously from such a move given his intention to sell steering wheel-less and pedal-less Cybercabs in 2026. The US will need a framework for AV deployment if it’s to remain competitive with China, Bozzella said in the letter.
The letter is also notable for its flattery of Trump. Bozzella congratulates him on his victory and professes to agree with him that consumers should be able to choose their own vehicle, playing into the false claim that Biden and Kamala Harris were trying to require Americans to purchase EVs. And he commends him for recognizing and acknowledging the enormous headwinds facing the industry.
All in all, the letter is what you would expect from the industry following Trump’s victory: a plea to be careful when slashing and burning through Biden’s regulatory legacy; a statement of shared values and alignment with Trump’s MAGA ethos and that of his allies; and above all, a lot of flattery.

Image: Laura Normand / The Verge

The auto industry is sending an urgent message to President-elect Donald Trump: spare the $7,500 electric vehicle tax credit.

In a November 14th letter to Trump and his transition team, the auto industry’s main lobbying group urges the new administration to preserve incentives for EV buyers and manufacturers that were enacted under President Joe Biden, arguing these policies keep the US competitive globally while also creating “good jobs.”

The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, which represents the Big Three automakers — Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis — as well as foreign car companies that sell in the US, are calling on Trump to “promote stability and predictability in auto-related emissions standards.” But at the same time, the group endorsed “reasonable and achievable emissions regulations,” suggesting that there may be some wiggle room for a partial rollback of Biden’s tailpipe rules.

Calling on Trump to “promote stability and predictability”

Of course, expecting that Trump will promote stability and predictability while in office seems woefully optimistic — and perhaps disconnected from reality. Trump has said bluntly many times what he intends to do when he assumes office, and stability and predictability don’t seem like they’re on the menu.

During his campaign, Trump railed against Biden’s policies incentivizing EV purchases, promising to eliminate the “EV mandate” on day one of his presidency. And since his victory, his transition team has discussed how to go about killing the EV tax credit, among other incentives.

Also on the chopping block are newly finalized Environmental Protection Agency rules requiring automakers to slash carbon emissions by 2032, primarily by selling more EVs. This is another way Trump could unravel his predecessor’s environmental legacy, and one that is familiar to him. During his first term, Trump rolled back emissions standards put in place by President Barack Obama — and now appears poised to do it again with Biden’s mandates.

John Bozzella, president and CEO of the alliance, didn’t oppose Biden’s efforts to impose stricter tailpipe rules on automakers, although he did call some of the thresholds “stretch goals.” Now, in his letter to Trump, he is calling for “reasonable and achievable federal and state emissions regulations aligned with current market realities that support a customer’s ability to purchase a vehicle that meets their individual needs.”

Also on the chopping block are newly finalized EPA rules requiring automakers to slash carbon emissions by 2032

That could be viewed in a number of ways. “Stability and predictability” suggests that automakers are tired of EPA standards being rolled back and forward, and used as a political football. But “reasonable and achievable” implies that Bozzella and his member companies are fine with kicking the can down the road and pushing out the deadlines for achieving certain emissions targets. In other words, wiggle room.

Bozzella also endorsed a federal regulatory framework for autonomous vehicles, which has long been elusive in the nation’s capital. Trump’s transition team is reportedly discussing the passage of a regulatory framework that would result in more driverless cars on the road. Tesla CEO Elon Musk, a mega-donor to Trump and self-proclaimed “first buddy,” would stand to benefit enormously from such a move given his intention to sell steering wheel-less and pedal-less Cybercabs in 2026. The US will need a framework for AV deployment if it’s to remain competitive with China, Bozzella said in the letter.

The letter is also notable for its flattery of Trump. Bozzella congratulates him on his victory and professes to agree with him that consumers should be able to choose their own vehicle, playing into the false claim that Biden and Kamala Harris were trying to require Americans to purchase EVs. And he commends him for recognizing and acknowledging the enormous headwinds facing the industry.

All in all, the letter is what you would expect from the industry following Trump’s victory: a plea to be careful when slashing and burning through Biden’s regulatory legacy; a statement of shared values and alignment with Trump’s MAGA ethos and that of his allies; and above all, a lot of flattery.

Read More 

It will soon be easier than ever for Android apps to stay signed in on a new phone

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

Transferring your data from your old Android device to a new one will soon be less daunting, thanks to “Restore Credentials,” a new developer feature for Android which can keep you logged into your apps when you make the switch. While some apps already did this, Google is making it easier for developers to include this experience by implementing a “restore key” that automatically transfers to the new phone and logs you back into the app.
The change should help make going from one Android phone to another more like upgrading an iPhone. Apple users who move from one iPhone to another are used to having everything from email accounts to app credentials transfer to the new phone, but it hasn’t always been so seamless for Android users.
Verge smartphone reviewer Allison Johnson says “This is great news for me, personally.”

Image: Google
Restore Credentials experience flowchart.

Restore Credentials requires less work than the previous approach on Android, and can automatically check if a restore key is available and log you back in at the first app launch. A restore key is a public key that uses existing passkey infrastructure to move about your credentials.
Restore keys can also be backed up to the cloud, although developers can opt out. For that reason, transferring directly from device to device will still likely be more thorough than restoring from the cloud, as is the case with Apple devices today. Notably, Google says restore keys do not transfer if you delete an app and reinstall it.

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

Transferring your data from your old Android device to a new one will soon be less daunting, thanks to “Restore Credentials,” a new developer feature for Android which can keep you logged into your apps when you make the switch. While some apps already did this, Google is making it easier for developers to include this experience by implementing a “restore key” that automatically transfers to the new phone and logs you back into the app.

The change should help make going from one Android phone to another more like upgrading an iPhone. Apple users who move from one iPhone to another are used to having everything from email accounts to app credentials transfer to the new phone, but it hasn’t always been so seamless for Android users.

Verge smartphone reviewer Allison Johnson says “This is great news for me, personally.”

Image: Google
Restore Credentials experience flowchart.

Restore Credentials requires less work than the previous approach on Android, and can automatically check if a restore key is available and log you back in at the first app launch. A restore key is a public key that uses existing passkey infrastructure to move about your credentials.

Restore keys can also be backed up to the cloud, although developers can opt out. For that reason, transferring directly from device to device will still likely be more thorough than restoring from the cloud, as is the case with Apple devices today. Notably, Google says restore keys do not transfer if you delete an app and reinstall it.

Read More 

The company that sold cameras with ‘terrible’ security flaw has a new problem

Image: Eken

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is proposing more than $700,000 in fines against Eken, a Hong Kong-based video doorbell manufacturer whose products were found to be susceptible to hackers, for an unrelated rules violation discovered during the commission’s ongoing investigation.
The commission began investigating Eken after Consumer Reports found in February 2024 that its products, which are sold under more than 10 different brand names, had security vulnerabilities that let anyone with a doorbell’s serial number remotely access images from its video feed. The products are sold under brand names including Aiwit, Andoe, Bitepass, CutePanda, Eken, Fishbot, Gemee, Guggre, Luckwolf, Rakeblue and Tuck. Eken said in April that it had since fixed the issues via a firmware update.
The investigation into those vulnerabilities is ongoing, but the commission also found that Eken violated rules requiring foreign companies that hold FCC device certifications to designate a US-based agent responsible for communicating with the commission.
As part of its investigation, the FCC’s enforcement bureau sent a Letter of Inquiry to Eken’s US point of contact, an individual located in Colorado Springs, Colorado — but the address provided on those forms has been inactive since 2019, according to the FCC. The FCC says Eken’s representative didn’t respond to letters sent via other means, including email.
“Providing a false address for the designated agent on three FCC applications constitutes three apparent violations of FCC rules resulting in three proposed penalties of the maximum forfeiture,” the FCC said in a press release Thursday. The FCC is proposing fines adding up to $734,872.
The commission’s investigation into Eken’s equipment is ongoing.

Image: Eken

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is proposing more than $700,000 in fines against Eken, a Hong Kong-based video doorbell manufacturer whose products were found to be susceptible to hackers, for an unrelated rules violation discovered during the commission’s ongoing investigation.

The commission began investigating Eken after Consumer Reports found in February 2024 that its products, which are sold under more than 10 different brand names, had security vulnerabilities that let anyone with a doorbell’s serial number remotely access images from its video feed. The products are sold under brand names including Aiwit, Andoe, Bitepass, CutePanda, Eken, Fishbot, Gemee, Guggre, Luckwolf, Rakeblue and Tuck. Eken said in April that it had since fixed the issues via a firmware update.

The investigation into those vulnerabilities is ongoing, but the commission also found that Eken violated rules requiring foreign companies that hold FCC device certifications to designate a US-based agent responsible for communicating with the commission.

As part of its investigation, the FCC’s enforcement bureau sent a Letter of Inquiry to Eken’s US point of contact, an individual located in Colorado Springs, Colorado — but the address provided on those forms has been inactive since 2019, according to the FCC. The FCC says Eken’s representative didn’t respond to letters sent via other means, including email.

“Providing a false address for the designated agent on three FCC applications constitutes three apparent violations of FCC rules resulting in three proposed penalties of the maximum forfeiture,” the FCC said in a press release Thursday. The FCC is proposing fines adding up to $734,872.

The commission’s investigation into Eken’s equipment is ongoing.

Read More 

Google’s Black Friday sale features record low prices on Pixel, Nest, and more

The Google Pixel 9 Pro and Pro XL have never been cheaper than they are today. | Photo: Allison Johnson / The Verge

Google’s Black Friday sale has kicked off with sizable discounts on Pixel phones, wearables, earbuds, tablets, smart home gear, and more.
You’ll notice the base 128GB Pixel 9 is down to $649 ($150 off) at Google and Best Buy, for example. But some colors of the flagship Tensor G4 smartphone are actually even cheaper in Amazon’s Black Friday sale right now, with its porcelain and peony pink models going for $548.98 there. That’s beating the all-time low by a significant margin of about $49.

The Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL — which have larger screens, bigger batteries, more cameras, and more RAM compared to the Pixel 9 — are also $150 off at Google, starting at $849 and $949 for their base 128GB configuration. Again, you’d probably rather grab get the Pixel 9 Pro from Amazon and Best Buy, where you can find the Pixel 9 Pro for starting at an all-time low $799 ($200 off) or the Pixel 9 Pro XL at Amazon for $934.13.

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold, meanwhile, is $300 off and matching its record low at Amazon, Best Buy, and Google. That doesn’t make the resulting $1,499 price for the starting 256GB model any less harsh, but it helps if your heart is set on foldables.

The Google Pixel Tablet on its own is down to a new all-time low price of $279 ($120 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Google for a 128GB model, or $359 for 256GB at Amazon, Best Buy, and Google. You can also get the 256GB model bundled with a speaker dock for $459 ($140 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Google. While we think it could use a bit more versatility as a portable home hub of sorts, it’s hard to find a better Android tablet at this price.

If it’s a smartwatch you’re after, we think the Pixel Watch 3 is the first one in its line that fully embodies what the flagship wearable should be, and Bluetooth / Wi-Fi models are matching the all-time low as much as $70 off. That brings the 41mm size down to $279.99 at Amazon, Best Buy, and Google, while the bigger 45mm version drops to $329.99 at Amazon and Google.
The LTE version is $100 off, bringing the connected 41mm watch down to $349.99 at Amazon, Best Buy, and Google. The same discount applies to the 45mm LTE model ($399.99 at Amazon, Best Buy, and Google), though Amazon is currently beating the record price specifically on the matte black version with an obsidian band, down to $379.97 right now (about $120 off).

More highlights from Google’s Black Friday sale
Google has a lot more on sale, including discounts on Chromecasts, Nest security cameras, Wi-Fi routers, smart locks, doorbells, and accessories. There are too many to go over here, but we’ve pulled a few of the best deals going below. Be sure to check out Google’s full Black Friday offering here for more.

We don’t have a Pixel 9A (yet), but the budget-friendly Pixel 8A is still a great smartphone in 2024, and you can get it for $399 ($100 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Google. It offers IP67 protection against water and dust and has a very good camera for the money, plus you’re guaranteed seven years of Android updates. The screen could be better compared to others in its range, but it’s by no means bad. Read our review.
Need a solid pair of earbuds? The Pixel Buds Pro 2 are matching their all-time low at $179 ($50 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Google. We rated the pair highly thanks to being comfortably smaller and lighter than the previous generation with great noise cancellation, transparency, and overall sound quality. Read our review.
Fitbit trackers are also on sale, including the Fitbit Charge 6 that’s matching its lowest price of $99.95 ($60 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Google. That’s the best Fitbit you can buy, in our book. You can also get the Inspire 3 for $69.95 ($30 off at Amazon, Best Buy, and Google), get the kid-friendly Fitbit Ace 3 for $39.95 ($40 off at Google), and the recently released Fitbit Ace LTE for $179.95 ($50 off at Amazon, Best Buy, and Google).
Tons of Nest-branded smart home gadgets are on sale, including a great deal on the second-gen Nest Doorbell that drops it to a record low $99.99 ($80 off) for both the battery (Amazon, Best Buy, and Google) and wired models (Amazon, Best Buy, and Google. Plus, you can save 50 percent on the Nest Audio smart speaker at Best Buy and Google, dropping it to an all-time low $49.99. The fourth-gen Nest Learning Thermostat bundled with a temperature sensor is also at an all-time low $229.99 ($50 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Google.

The Google Pixel 9 Pro and Pro XL have never been cheaper than they are today. | Photo: Allison Johnson / The Verge

Google’s Black Friday sale has kicked off with sizable discounts on Pixel phones, wearables, earbuds, tablets, smart home gear, and more.

You’ll notice the base 128GB Pixel 9 is down to $649 ($150 off) at Google and Best Buy, for example. But some colors of the flagship Tensor G4 smartphone are actually even cheaper in Amazon’s Black Friday sale right now, with its porcelain and peony pink models going for $548.98 there. That’s beating the all-time low by a significant margin of about $49.

The Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL — which have larger screens, bigger batteries, more cameras, and more RAM compared to the Pixel 9 — are also $150 off at Google, starting at $849 and $949 for their base 128GB configuration. Again, you’d probably rather grab get the Pixel 9 Pro from Amazon and Best Buy, where you can find the Pixel 9 Pro for starting at an all-time low $799 ($200 off) or the Pixel 9 Pro XL at Amazon for $934.13.

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold, meanwhile, is $300 off and matching its record low at Amazon, Best Buy, and Google. That doesn’t make the resulting $1,499 price for the starting 256GB model any less harsh, but it helps if your heart is set on foldables.

The Google Pixel Tablet on its own is down to a new all-time low price of $279 ($120 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Google for a 128GB model, or $359 for 256GB at Amazon, Best Buy, and Google. You can also get the 256GB model bundled with a speaker dock for $459 ($140 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Google. While we think it could use a bit more versatility as a portable home hub of sorts, it’s hard to find a better Android tablet at this price.

If it’s a smartwatch you’re after, we think the Pixel Watch 3 is the first one in its line that fully embodies what the flagship wearable should be, and Bluetooth / Wi-Fi models are matching the all-time low as much as $70 off. That brings the 41mm size down to $279.99 at Amazon, Best Buy, and Google, while the bigger 45mm version drops to $329.99 at Amazon and Google.

The LTE version is $100 off, bringing the connected 41mm watch down to $349.99 at Amazon, Best Buy, and Google. The same discount applies to the 45mm LTE model ($399.99 at Amazon, Best Buy, and Google), though Amazon is currently beating the record price specifically on the matte black version with an obsidian band, down to $379.97 right now (about $120 off).

More highlights from Google’s Black Friday sale

Google has a lot more on sale, including discounts on Chromecasts, Nest security cameras, Wi-Fi routers, smart locks, doorbells, and accessories. There are too many to go over here, but we’ve pulled a few of the best deals going below. Be sure to check out Google’s full Black Friday offering here for more.

We don’t have a Pixel 9A (yet), but the budget-friendly Pixel 8A is still a great smartphone in 2024, and you can get it for $399 ($100 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Google. It offers IP67 protection against water and dust and has a very good camera for the money, plus you’re guaranteed seven years of Android updates. The screen could be better compared to others in its range, but it’s by no means bad. Read our review.
Need a solid pair of earbuds? The Pixel Buds Pro 2 are matching their all-time low at $179 ($50 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Google. We rated the pair highly thanks to being comfortably smaller and lighter than the previous generation with great noise cancellation, transparency, and overall sound quality. Read our review.
Fitbit trackers are also on sale, including the Fitbit Charge 6 that’s matching its lowest price of $99.95 ($60 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Google. That’s the best Fitbit you can buy, in our book. You can also get the Inspire 3 for $69.95 ($30 off at Amazon, Best Buy, and Google), get the kid-friendly Fitbit Ace 3 for $39.95 ($40 off at Google), and the recently released Fitbit Ace LTE for $179.95 ($50 off at Amazon, Best Buy, and Google).
Tons of Nest-branded smart home gadgets are on sale, including a great deal on the second-gen Nest Doorbell that drops it to a record low $99.99 ($80 off) for both the battery (Amazon, Best Buy, and Google) and wired models (Amazon, Best Buy, and Google. Plus, you can save 50 percent on the Nest Audio smart speaker at Best Buy and Google, dropping it to an all-time low $49.99. The fourth-gen Nest Learning Thermostat bundled with a temperature sensor is also at an all-time low $229.99 ($50 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Google.

Read More 

Steam is adding support, and more rules, for ‘season pass’ content

Image: The Verge

Steam is building support for season passes into its platform and setting up rules to help protect buyers from buying ones with unclear promises. Steam published new guidelines urging developers to “think about whether there’s a customer benefit” for purchasing season passes, as reported by SteamDB creator Pavel Djundik.
Season passes have really picked up in popularity and are used mainly in free-to-play or other multiplayer video games that promise digital updates like special costumes and weapons for a fee.
As part of Steam’s new rules for season passes, developers must share a list of items with descriptions customers can expect to receive with the pass. If a DLC drop gets delayed, Steam will let developers reschedule it up to 3 months later. And if developers have to cancel a DLC, buyers must get a refund for the item value.
Steam is also redefining what a season pass is:
Because a Season Pass is effectively a DLC pre-purchase, creating a Season Pass on Steam has many of the considerations and restrictions as outlined in the documentation on pre-purchases. For these reasons, we will not offer a Season Pass except in a few rare cases with partners with which we have a well-established relationship and that have a proven track record on Steam.
Steam also provided a strong disclaimer for developers:
If you aren’t ready to clearly communicate about the content included in each DLC AND when each DLC will be ready for launch, you shouldn’t offer a Season Pass on Steam.
As noted by Games Radar, the new rules might be more challenging for indie developers who don’t have a lot of games under their belts to pass Steam’s requirements. They also may not have enough resources to build up a guaranteed DLC list — but in that case perhaps they aren’t big enough to offer a season pass anyway.

Image: The Verge

Steam is building support for season passes into its platform and setting up rules to help protect buyers from buying ones with unclear promises. Steam published new guidelines urging developers to “think about whether there’s a customer benefit” for purchasing season passes, as reported by SteamDB creator Pavel Djundik.

Season passes have really picked up in popularity and are used mainly in free-to-play or other multiplayer video games that promise digital updates like special costumes and weapons for a fee.

As part of Steam’s new rules for season passes, developers must share a list of items with descriptions customers can expect to receive with the pass. If a DLC drop gets delayed, Steam will let developers reschedule it up to 3 months later. And if developers have to cancel a DLC, buyers must get a refund for the item value.

Steam is also redefining what a season pass is:

Because a Season Pass is effectively a DLC pre-purchase, creating a Season Pass on Steam has many of the considerations and restrictions as outlined in the documentation on pre-purchases. For these reasons, we will not offer a Season Pass except in a few rare cases with partners with which we have a well-established relationship and that have a proven track record on Steam.

Steam also provided a strong disclaimer for developers:

If you aren’t ready to clearly communicate about the content included in each DLC AND when each DLC will be ready for launch, you shouldn’t offer a Season Pass on Steam.

As noted by Games Radar, the new rules might be more challenging for indie developers who don’t have a lot of games under their belts to pass Steam’s requirements. They also may not have enough resources to build up a guaranteed DLC list — but in that case perhaps they aren’t big enough to offer a season pass anyway.

Read More 

Google reportedly cancels Pixel Tablet 2 and might quit the category — again

Photo by Dan Seifert / The Verge

Yesterday Android Headlines reported that Google had canceled its development of the Pixel Tablet 3 — even before announcing a second-gen model. Well, today Android Authority is saying that it’s in fact the second-generation Pixel Tablet that has been canned, meaning that the device released last year will apparently be a one-off and that Google is bailing on the tablet category for the second time in a little over five years. At best, we’re in for a long pause until the next one.
If true, the news would suggest that sales of the Pixel Tablet have been so poor that Google has decided further investment in a follow-up just isn’t worth it. As recently as last week, there were rumors of new features and a keyboard accessory for the now-abandoned product.
It’s worth noting the possibility that Google’s Nest division will take over its large-screen product ambitions and focus on evolving devices like the Nest Hub and Hub Max instead of standalone tablets.

Photo by Dan Seifert / The Verge
The Pixel Tablet came with a speaker dock, but Google eventually started selling the tablet on its own.

Helped in no part by its on-again, off-again strategy, Google has always struggled to meaningfully break into the tablet market and produce a contender capable of rivaling Apple’s iPad in sales and mainstream success. It got off to a promising start ages ago with the Nexus 7, but never really put up much of a fight after that — even if the hardware was nice. Android badly lags iPadOS in the number of third-party apps that are optimized for tablets, another issue that has held back Google’s efforts. The company originally said it was done making tablets in 2019 after its Pixel Slate received overwhelmingly negative reviews.
But by 2022, Google changed its mind and announced that its Pixel hardware team was working on a tablet. That device eventually became the $499 Pixel Tablet, which shipped with a speaker dock that the tablet could magnetically attach to. (Google would later offer the tablet by itself for $399.)
The Verge has reached out to Google for comment and clarification on its tablet plans.

Photo by Dan Seifert / The Verge

Yesterday Android Headlines reported that Google had canceled its development of the Pixel Tablet 3 — even before announcing a second-gen model. Well, today Android Authority is saying that it’s in fact the second-generation Pixel Tablet that has been canned, meaning that the device released last year will apparently be a one-off and that Google is bailing on the tablet category for the second time in a little over five years. At best, we’re in for a long pause until the next one.

If true, the news would suggest that sales of the Pixel Tablet have been so poor that Google has decided further investment in a follow-up just isn’t worth it. As recently as last week, there were rumors of new features and a keyboard accessory for the now-abandoned product.

It’s worth noting the possibility that Google’s Nest division will take over its large-screen product ambitions and focus on evolving devices like the Nest Hub and Hub Max instead of standalone tablets.

Photo by Dan Seifert / The Verge
The Pixel Tablet came with a speaker dock, but Google eventually started selling the tablet on its own.

Helped in no part by its on-again, off-again strategy, Google has always struggled to meaningfully break into the tablet market and produce a contender capable of rivaling Apple’s iPad in sales and mainstream success. It got off to a promising start ages ago with the Nexus 7, but never really put up much of a fight after that — even if the hardware was nice. Android badly lags iPadOS in the number of third-party apps that are optimized for tablets, another issue that has held back Google’s efforts. The company originally said it was done making tablets in 2019 after its Pixel Slate received overwhelmingly negative reviews.

But by 2022, Google changed its mind and announced that its Pixel hardware team was working on a tablet. That device eventually became the $499 Pixel Tablet, which shipped with a speaker dock that the tablet could magnetically attach to. (Google would later offer the tablet by itself for $399.)

The Verge has reached out to Google for comment and clarification on its tablet plans.

Read More 

Star Wars Outlaws’ first expansion brings Lando into the game

Image: Ubisoft

A few months after it first launched, Star Wars Outlaws is getting some major updates. First up is the game’s first batch of downloadable content, which adds a new storyline involving Lando Calrissian and what appears to be a very dangerous game of Sabacc. The new expansion is called Wild Card and will be followed by a second DLC update next spring called A Pirate’s Fortune.

Perhaps more significant, today, Outlaws is also getting a major update to address some of the game’s technical and design issues. Ubisoft describes it as the game’s “biggest patch yet.” Most notable, it seems, is that the stealth sections — a major point of frustration for many players — have been toned down.
Ubisoft says that the update includes “updates to stealth and combat that allow players greater choice, including using stealth or reaching for their blaster, even in syndicate territories in cities.” Similarly, there are “enemy AI and detection improvements, with players being notified when they’re being detected and can choose to escalate or change tactics to remain in stealth.”
Here’s how creative director Drew Rechner explains the changes:
Our first step in expanding player choice is removing forced stealth from almost all quest objectives. This doesn’t mean that sneaking is no longer a viable or even preferable option in some cases. Rather, if you’re caught while sneaking, the objective won’t fail and reset you to the last checkpoint. Instead, you’ll seamlessly transition into combat.
You can check out the full patch notes right here, and get an overview in the video below.

Also notable: while Outlaws has been on PC since launch, it was only available through the Epic Games Store and Ubisoft Connect. Today, it’s out on Steam as well.

Image: Ubisoft

A few months after it first launched, Star Wars Outlaws is getting some major updates. First up is the game’s first batch of downloadable content, which adds a new storyline involving Lando Calrissian and what appears to be a very dangerous game of Sabacc. The new expansion is called Wild Card and will be followed by a second DLC update next spring called A Pirate’s Fortune.

Perhaps more significant, today, Outlaws is also getting a major update to address some of the game’s technical and design issues. Ubisoft describes it as the game’s “biggest patch yet.” Most notable, it seems, is that the stealth sections — a major point of frustration for many players — have been toned down.

Ubisoft says that the update includes “updates to stealth and combat that allow players greater choice, including using stealth or reaching for their blaster, even in syndicate territories in cities.” Similarly, there are “enemy AI and detection improvements, with players being notified when they’re being detected and can choose to escalate or change tactics to remain in stealth.”

Here’s how creative director Drew Rechner explains the changes:

Our first step in expanding player choice is removing forced stealth from almost all quest objectives. This doesn’t mean that sneaking is no longer a viable or even preferable option in some cases. Rather, if you’re caught while sneaking, the objective won’t fail and reset you to the last checkpoint. Instead, you’ll seamlessly transition into combat.

You can check out the full patch notes right here, and get an overview in the video below.

Also notable: while Outlaws has been on PC since launch, it was only available through the Epic Games Store and Ubisoft Connect. Today, it’s out on Steam as well.

Read More 

Kia announces high-performance EV9 GT with virtual shifting and native Tesla charging

The new versions of the Kia EV6 and EV9 GT. | Image: Kia

Kia came to the LA Auto Show with not one but two revamped electric vehicles, a sign that the South Korean automaker is still feeling bullish about its momentum in the plug-in car market.
First off, the 2025 Kia EV9 GT is a performance version of its three-row SUV, which we first tested earlier this year. This one promises more power and a sportier feel than the version we drove, which bore the GT Line badge but wasn’t specifically tuned for performance. The new GT trim comes with over 500 horsepower (compared to 379hp in the 2024 model) and a zero to 60mph acceleration of 4.3 seconds. Kia is calling it the “most powerful” three-row SUV it’s ever created.

The dual-motor EV9 GT will also be the first Kia vehicle to feature electronically controlled suspension for extra smooth handling, depending on your drive mode. Just press the bright green GT button on the steering wheel to access GT mode, dialing in shock damping to its stiffest setting.
And much like the Hyundai Ioniq 5N from Kia’s sister company, the EV9 GT will feature virtual gear shifting that simulates the feel of a traditional step-shift automatic transmission — complete with fake engine noises. This provides noticeable “shifts” as the EV9 accelerates and can reduce acceleration when the rev limit is reached.

You can also use the paddles located on either side of the steering wheel to manually shift through the gears. And Kia has something called the “Active Sound Design (e-ASD)” that works in concert with the fake gear system to replicate the sound of the gears shifting as the vehicle accelerates.
The EV9 has been incredibly popular for Kia, selling roughly 18,000 units in the US since it was first released last December. But the automaker recently said it would slow production of the SUV in response to a chillier policy environment.
There are some design differences between the original and refreshed versions of the EV9 GT, including 285/45R-21 high-performance Continental tires around exclusive 21-inch alloy wheels and neon green brake calipers first featured on the EV6 GT. And there are other GT-exclusive lighting accents and digital graphics on the infotainment to delight drivers about their big, powerful SUV.
But perhaps most importantly, the 2025 EV9 GT will be the first EV from Kia to come with a native Tesla / North American Charging System (NACS) port. That means that when it comes out sometime next year, it will have access to all 15,000 Supercharger stations without the need for an adapter. Hyundai already announced that its 2025 Ioniq 5 will also have factory-installed Tesla charging, so it’s another sign that the two South Korean automakers are leapfrogging the rest of the industry in adopting the new charging standard.

In addition, Kia announced a refreshed 2025 EV6 crossover, also with the native NACS port. The model year 2025 version of Kia’s flagship EV is also getting a bigger battery for more capacity and longer range. And the charging port on the EV6 has been moved to the left rear fender to make it more compatible with Tesla Superchargers. (Kia is going to start providing adapters to current EV owners next year.)
The 2023 EV6 that we tested two years ago came standard with a 58kWh capacity battery pack, which translates into a range of 232 miles. Now, the 2025 EV6 will come with a 63kWh battery, along with an optional 84kWh pack that should get an estimated 319 miles of range in the rear-wheel drive configuration.
The 2025 EV6 will be built at Hyundai and Kia’s Metaplant in Georgia, which means it may qualify for the $7,500 tax credit while it still exists. (President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to eliminate the EV tax credit.) The EV9 GT, however, will be built in South Korea alongside the hot-blooded EV6 GT and is anticipated to arrive in late 2025. Pricing for both models is expected to be released closer to production time.

The new versions of the Kia EV6 and EV9 GT. | Image: Kia

Kia came to the LA Auto Show with not one but two revamped electric vehicles, a sign that the South Korean automaker is still feeling bullish about its momentum in the plug-in car market.

First off, the 2025 Kia EV9 GT is a performance version of its three-row SUV, which we first tested earlier this year. This one promises more power and a sportier feel than the version we drove, which bore the GT Line badge but wasn’t specifically tuned for performance. The new GT trim comes with over 500 horsepower (compared to 379hp in the 2024 model) and a zero to 60mph acceleration of 4.3 seconds. Kia is calling it the “most powerful” three-row SUV it’s ever created.

The dual-motor EV9 GT will also be the first Kia vehicle to feature electronically controlled suspension for extra smooth handling, depending on your drive mode. Just press the bright green GT button on the steering wheel to access GT mode, dialing in shock damping to its stiffest setting.

And much like the Hyundai Ioniq 5N from Kia’s sister company, the EV9 GT will feature virtual gear shifting that simulates the feel of a traditional step-shift automatic transmission — complete with fake engine noises. This provides noticeable “shifts” as the EV9 accelerates and can reduce acceleration when the rev limit is reached.

You can also use the paddles located on either side of the steering wheel to manually shift through the gears. And Kia has something called the “Active Sound Design (e-ASD)” that works in concert with the fake gear system to replicate the sound of the gears shifting as the vehicle accelerates.

The EV9 has been incredibly popular for Kia, selling roughly 18,000 units in the US since it was first released last December. But the automaker recently said it would slow production of the SUV in response to a chillier policy environment.

There are some design differences between the original and refreshed versions of the EV9 GT, including 285/45R-21 high-performance Continental tires around exclusive 21-inch alloy wheels and neon green brake calipers first featured on the EV6 GT. And there are other GT-exclusive lighting accents and digital graphics on the infotainment to delight drivers about their big, powerful SUV.

But perhaps most importantly, the 2025 EV9 GT will be the first EV from Kia to come with a native Tesla / North American Charging System (NACS) port. That means that when it comes out sometime next year, it will have access to all 15,000 Supercharger stations without the need for an adapter. Hyundai already announced that its 2025 Ioniq 5 will also have factory-installed Tesla charging, so it’s another sign that the two South Korean automakers are leapfrogging the rest of the industry in adopting the new charging standard.

In addition, Kia announced a refreshed 2025 EV6 crossover, also with the native NACS port. The model year 2025 version of Kia’s flagship EV is also getting a bigger battery for more capacity and longer range. And the charging port on the EV6 has been moved to the left rear fender to make it more compatible with Tesla Superchargers. (Kia is going to start providing adapters to current EV owners next year.)

The 2023 EV6 that we tested two years ago came standard with a 58kWh capacity battery pack, which translates into a range of 232 miles. Now, the 2025 EV6 will come with a 63kWh battery, along with an optional 84kWh pack that should get an estimated 319 miles of range in the rear-wheel drive configuration.

The 2025 EV6 will be built at Hyundai and Kia’s Metaplant in Georgia, which means it may qualify for the $7,500 tax credit while it still exists. (President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to eliminate the EV tax credit.) The EV9 GT, however, will be built in South Korea alongside the hot-blooded EV6 GT and is anticipated to arrive in late 2025. Pricing for both models is expected to be released closer to production time.

Read More 

Sonos speakers and soundbars are up to $200 off ahead of Black Friday

The Sonos Era 100, our go-to smart speaker, is down to an all-time low of $199 right now. | Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge

Good news: Black Friday has come early for Sonos fans. Now through December 2nd, you can potentially save hundreds on a variety of Sonos products, including soundbars, smart speakers, and headphones. There are a lot of things on sale — and the Sonos app is in better shape than it was a few months ago, thankfully — which means now is a great time to buy if you’ve been looking to upgrade your home theater setup.

First up is the Sonos Ace, the company’s first pair of wireless headphones. Right now, they’re down to a new low of $349 ($100 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Sonos’ online storefront. They’re comfortable and stylish, with stellar noise cancellation, an exceptionally natural-sounding transparency mode, and excellent sound. However, their standout feature is their excellent integration with the rest of the Sonos ecosystem. The Ace support a nifty feature called TV Audio Swap, which allows you to pair up with soundbars like the Sonos Arc, Sonos Beam (both generations), and Sonos Ray for private listening.

Speaking of Sonos soundbars, the Sonos Arc and second-gen Sonos Beam are both available at a new low price. You can pick up the Arc for $699 ($200 off) from Amazon, Best Buy, and Sonos, while the second-gen Beam is available for $369 ($100 off) from Amazon, Best Buy, and Sonos. The entry-level Sonos Ray, meanwhile, is down to $169 ($110 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Sonos’ online storefront, which is $20 shy of its best price yet.
The Arc is the largest and most capable of the three soundbars, with upward-firing Dolby Atmos speakers that deliver impressive audio quality. That said, the second-gen Beam also delivers good sound and support for Dolby Atmos, even if it’s not quite on the same level. The Beam also has some other features in common with the Arc, including an eARC HDMI port and support for Apple’s AirPlay 2, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant.

Of course, we’d be remiss if we didn’t point out the new Sonos Arc Ultra, which is a more powerful version of the original Arc. It’s the first Sonos product to feature Sonos’ new “Sound Motion” tech, which is supposed to produce even richer and more immersive sound. Unlike the Arc, it also offers Bluetooth audio playback and supports Trueplay EQ tuning, so it should deliver the same kind of sound quality no matter where you put it in a room. The Arc Ultra costs $999, though, so if you’re trying to save some money, the original model is still an excellent option if you’re comfortable making some trade-offs.

If the Beam and Arc are too expensive for you, there’s also the 22-inch Sonos Ray. The compact soundbar doesn’t sound as powerful as the Beam, but it does manage to produce balanced, dynamic sound that’s surely better than the built-in speakers on your TV. Just bear in mind that it lacks HDMI and only accepts optical audio from your TV, so you’ll have to do without eARC.

If you’re not interested in a soundbar, Sonos is also offering a handful of smart speaker deals. Right now, for instance, you can purchase the Sonos Era 100 for an all-time low of $199 ($50 off) from Amazon, Best Buy, and Sonos. The Sonos Era 300, meanwhile, is available for $359 ($90 off) — also an all-time low — from the same retailers (Amazon, Best Buy, Sonos).
The Sonos Era 100 is the successor to the Sonos One, and as such, it delivers better sound and newer capabilities (including stereo playback). In addition to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, the Era 100 also supports line-in playback via an optional 3.5mm to USB-C adapter. Moreover, it supports Apple’s AirPlay 2 and Amazon Alexa, allowing for hands-free commands.

The Sonos Era 300 supports the same Bluetooth and line-in features as the Era 100, as well as Apple’s AirPlay 2 and Alexa. However, Sonos’ hourglass-shaped speaker is all about delivering an excellent spatial audio experience. When you pair two Era 300s with the Sonos Arc or second-gen Beam, it delivers full Dolby Atmos audio, making it the only Sonos speaker to do so. The overall result is an immersive audio experience, one in which it feels as though the sound is coming at you from all directions.

Last but not least, Sonos is discounting both the Sonos Move 2 and Sonos Roam 2. The Move 2 is available for $359 ($90 off) from Amazon, Best Buy, and Sonos, which is $23 shy of its lowest price to date. Meanwhile, the Roam 2 is $40 off at $139 (Amazon, Best Buy, Sonos), which is its best price to date.
The Move 2 is a powerful, six-pound speaker you can carry around via a built-in handle, one that lets you fill any room or outdoor patio with sound. Unlike its predecessor, the Move 2 features stereo sound and long-lasting battery life, allowing you to eke out around 24 hours of playback on a single charge. It also includes support for line-in via USB-C and lets you play any music you might be playing via Bluetooth to the rest of your Sonos system.

If you’re looking for something even more portable, there’s the Roam 2. It’s similar to the original Roam, but unlike its predecessor, it’s relatively easy to use right out of the box, as Sonos has done away with the complicated setup process. Of course, it’s less powerful than the Move 2 as the smaller, more budget-friendly speaker. It also lacks a user-replaceable battery and only offers up to 10 hours of continuous playback.
Nevertheless, the second-gen Roam still produces clean, detailed audio and offers an IP67 rating for water and dust resistance, so you can take it outside without worrying. Plus, like the Move 2, it supports Apple’s AirPlay 2 and Amazon Alexa, so you can control it using voice commands — provided you’re connected to your Wi-Fi network.

The Sonos Era 100, our go-to smart speaker, is down to an all-time low of $199 right now. | Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge

Good news: Black Friday has come early for Sonos fans. Now through December 2nd, you can potentially save hundreds on a variety of Sonos products, including soundbars, smart speakers, and headphones. There are a lot of things on sale — and the Sonos app is in better shape than it was a few months ago, thankfully — which means now is a great time to buy if you’ve been looking to upgrade your home theater setup.

First up is the Sonos Ace, the company’s first pair of wireless headphones. Right now, they’re down to a new low of $349 ($100 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Sonos’ online storefront. They’re comfortable and stylish, with stellar noise cancellation, an exceptionally natural-sounding transparency mode, and excellent sound. However, their standout feature is their excellent integration with the rest of the Sonos ecosystem. The Ace support a nifty feature called TV Audio Swap, which allows you to pair up with soundbars like the Sonos Arc, Sonos Beam (both generations), and Sonos Ray for private listening.

Speaking of Sonos soundbars, the Sonos Arc and second-gen Sonos Beam are both available at a new low price. You can pick up the Arc for $699 ($200 off) from Amazon, Best Buy, and Sonos, while the second-gen Beam is available for $369 ($100 off) from Amazon, Best Buy, and Sonos. The entry-level Sonos Ray, meanwhile, is down to $169 ($110 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Sonos’ online storefront, which is $20 shy of its best price yet.

The Arc is the largest and most capable of the three soundbars, with upward-firing Dolby Atmos speakers that deliver impressive audio quality. That said, the second-gen Beam also delivers good sound and support for Dolby Atmos, even if it’s not quite on the same level. The Beam also has some other features in common with the Arc, including an eARC HDMI port and support for Apple’s AirPlay 2, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant.

Of course, we’d be remiss if we didn’t point out the new Sonos Arc Ultra, which is a more powerful version of the original Arc. It’s the first Sonos product to feature Sonos’ new “Sound Motion” tech, which is supposed to produce even richer and more immersive sound. Unlike the Arc, it also offers Bluetooth audio playback and supports Trueplay EQ tuning, so it should deliver the same kind of sound quality no matter where you put it in a room. The Arc Ultra costs $999, though, so if you’re trying to save some money, the original model is still an excellent option if you’re comfortable making some trade-offs.

If the Beam and Arc are too expensive for you, there’s also the 22-inch Sonos Ray. The compact soundbar doesn’t sound as powerful as the Beam, but it does manage to produce balanced, dynamic sound that’s surely better than the built-in speakers on your TV. Just bear in mind that it lacks HDMI and only accepts optical audio from your TV, so you’ll have to do without eARC.

If you’re not interested in a soundbar, Sonos is also offering a handful of smart speaker deals. Right now, for instance, you can purchase the Sonos Era 100 for an all-time low of $199 ($50 off) from Amazon, Best Buy, and Sonos. The Sonos Era 300, meanwhile, is available for $359 ($90 off) — also an all-time low — from the same retailers (Amazon, Best Buy, Sonos).

The Sonos Era 100 is the successor to the Sonos One, and as such, it delivers better sound and newer capabilities (including stereo playback). In addition to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, the Era 100 also supports line-in playback via an optional 3.5mm to USB-C adapter. Moreover, it supports Apple’s AirPlay 2 and Amazon Alexa, allowing for hands-free commands.

The Sonos Era 300 supports the same Bluetooth and line-in features as the Era 100, as well as Apple’s AirPlay 2 and Alexa. However, Sonos’ hourglass-shaped speaker is all about delivering an excellent spatial audio experience. When you pair two Era 300s with the Sonos Arc or second-gen Beam, it delivers full Dolby Atmos audio, making it the only Sonos speaker to do so. The overall result is an immersive audio experience, one in which it feels as though the sound is coming at you from all directions.

Last but not least, Sonos is discounting both the Sonos Move 2 and Sonos Roam 2. The Move 2 is available for $359 ($90 off) from Amazon, Best Buy, and Sonos, which is $23 shy of its lowest price to date. Meanwhile, the Roam 2 is $40 off at $139 (Amazon, Best Buy, Sonos), which is its best price to date.

The Move 2 is a powerful, six-pound speaker you can carry around via a built-in handle, one that lets you fill any room or outdoor patio with sound. Unlike its predecessor, the Move 2 features stereo sound and long-lasting battery life, allowing you to eke out around 24 hours of playback on a single charge. It also includes support for line-in via USB-C and lets you play any music you might be playing via Bluetooth to the rest of your Sonos system.

If you’re looking for something even more portable, there’s the Roam 2. It’s similar to the original Roam, but unlike its predecessor, it’s relatively easy to use right out of the box, as Sonos has done away with the complicated setup process. Of course, it’s less powerful than the Move 2 as the smaller, more budget-friendly speaker. It also lacks a user-replaceable battery and only offers up to 10 hours of continuous playback.

Nevertheless, the second-gen Roam still produces clean, detailed audio and offers an IP67 rating for water and dust resistance, so you can take it outside without worrying. Plus, like the Move 2, it supports Apple’s AirPlay 2 and Amazon Alexa, so you can control it using voice commands — provided you’re connected to your Wi-Fi network.

Read More 

Scroll to top
Generated by Feedzy