verge-rss

Illustrator’s new Generative Shape Fill tool allows users to fill a selected shape with scalable generated images. | Image: Adobe

Adobe is introducing some new tools and generative AI features to its Illustrator and Photoshop design software that aim to help speed up creative workflows. The most notable updates are coming to Illustrator courtesy of Adobe’s new Firefly Vector 2 AI model, which is available in public beta starting today.
Firefly Vector 2 powers new Illustrator features like Generative Shape Fill, which allows users to add detailed vectors to shapes via descriptive text prompts. The updated model also improves the Text to Pattern beta feature, which can be used to create scalable, customized vector patterns for things like wallpapers; and Style Reference, which generates outputs that mirror existing styles.

Image: Adobe
Text to Pattern does exactly that — generating a repeating, editable pattern based on a user’s description.

Outside of generative AI, this Illustrator update also introduces a Dimension tool that automatically adds sizing information for projects, a Mockup feature for previewing what designs look like on 3D products, and Retype for converting static text in images into something that can be edited. You can read about these Illustrator updates in more detail on Adobe’s blog.
Photoshop is also getting some goodies. The Generate Image feature powered by Adobe’s latest Firefly Image 3 Model is now generally available in the Photoshop desktop and web apps, and the Enhance Detail feature for Generative Fill can now provide “greater sharpness and detail” when applied to large images. The Selection Brush tool is also generally available, which allows users to more easily select and separate specific objects from the canvas by painting over them.

Image: Adobe
Photoshop’s Selection Brush tool takes the work out of manually masking sections of images before editing.

This is the latest of several generative AI rollouts for Adobe since the company introduced its first Firefly model last year. While the company has insisted its Firefly models are ethically trained on licensed content from the company’s own stock platform, backlash over a recent policy update spurred it to clarify that customer projects won’t be used as AI training material. Still, the company has been scrutinized by some creative professionals who believe generative AI features that automate design work will reduce job opportunities for humans.
“Our goal is to empower all creative professionals to realize their creative visions,” Deepa Subramaniam, Adobe Creative Cloud’s vice president of product marketing, said to The Verge. “We believe that every massive technology shift offers opportunities to deliver new products and innovations to our customers, and we are focused on harnessing the power of generative AI to amplify human creativity and expression, not replace it.”

Illustrator’s new Generative Shape Fill tool allows users to fill a selected shape with scalable generated images. | Image: Adobe

Adobe is introducing some new tools and generative AI features to its Illustrator and Photoshop design software that aim to help speed up creative workflows. The most notable updates are coming to Illustrator courtesy of Adobe’s new Firefly Vector 2 AI model, which is available in public beta starting today.

Firefly Vector 2 powers new Illustrator features like Generative Shape Fill, which allows users to add detailed vectors to shapes via descriptive text prompts. The updated model also improves the Text to Pattern beta feature, which can be used to create scalable, customized vector patterns for things like wallpapers; and Style Reference, which generates outputs that mirror existing styles.

Image: Adobe
Text to Pattern does exactly that — generating a repeating, editable pattern based on a user’s description.

Outside of generative AI, this Illustrator update also introduces a Dimension tool that automatically adds sizing information for projects, a Mockup feature for previewing what designs look like on 3D products, and Retype for converting static text in images into something that can be edited. You can read about these Illustrator updates in more detail on Adobe’s blog.

Photoshop is also getting some goodies. The Generate Image feature powered by Adobe’s latest Firefly Image 3 Model is now generally available in the Photoshop desktop and web apps, and the Enhance Detail feature for Generative Fill can now provide “greater sharpness and detail” when applied to large images. The Selection Brush tool is also generally available, which allows users to more easily select and separate specific objects from the canvas by painting over them.

This is the latest of several generative AI rollouts for Adobe since the company introduced its first Firefly model last year. While the company has insisted its Firefly models are ethically trained on licensed content from the company’s own stock platform, backlash over a recent policy update spurred it to clarify that customer projects won’t be used as AI training material. Still, the company has been scrutinized by some creative professionals who believe generative AI features that automate design work will reduce job opportunities for humans.

“Our goal is to empower all creative professionals to realize their creative visions,” Deepa Subramaniam, Adobe Creative Cloud’s vice president of product marketing, said to The Verge. “We believe that every massive technology shift offers opportunities to deliver new products and innovations to our customers, and we are focused on harnessing the power of generative AI to amplify human creativity and expression, not replace it.”

Read More 

Image: Cadillac

Cadillac has a new convertible concept EV that’s longer than some SUVs, has giant pillar-to-pillar infotainment screens, and can keep you cool for the summer with a refrigerator in the back seat.
It’s called the Sollei, and it’s a new electric vehicle concept that looks like a convertible version of Cadillac’s bespoke “Celestiq” — the automaker’s answer to exclusive luxury vehicles like the Rolls-Royce. The new vehicle converts the $340,000 full-size electric sedan into a “manilla cream” coupe that tries to evoke the sun with ray patterns emanating from the center of every seat and from the wooden panels on the back of them.
The Sollei was shown off at the Cadillac House at Vanderbilt in Warren, Michigan — the same place high-rolling customers would go to select the leather and other materials when purchasing a hand-built Celestiq. The Sollei, however, takes a different and more sustainable approach to materials, like using biodegradable mushroom-based mycelium instead of leather. There are still leather-adorned accessories designed for the car, though, including a bird call set and leatherbound journal that match the car’s color.

It’s clear that the Sollei is built from the Celestiq, as it shares a similar 55-inch infotainment screen cluster and animated LED facade as the Celestiq. In a full walkaround video, Auto Buyers Guide says the Sollei is “harkening back to the origins of Cadillac as an ultra-luxury provider of vehicles.” Cadillac sees the Sollei as a vehicle that “pushes the boundaries of future bespoke commissions,” although it has no plans to sell the concept as it does the Celestiq.

Image: Cadillac

Cadillac has a new convertible concept EV that’s longer than some SUVs, has giant pillar-to-pillar infotainment screens, and can keep you cool for the summer with a refrigerator in the back seat.

It’s called the Sollei, and it’s a new electric vehicle concept that looks like a convertible version of Cadillac’s bespoke “Celestiq” — the automaker’s answer to exclusive luxury vehicles like the Rolls-Royce. The new vehicle converts the $340,000 full-size electric sedan into a “manilla cream” coupe that tries to evoke the sun with ray patterns emanating from the center of every seat and from the wooden panels on the back of them.

The Sollei was shown off at the Cadillac House at Vanderbilt in Warren, Michigan — the same place high-rolling customers would go to select the leather and other materials when purchasing a hand-built Celestiq. The Sollei, however, takes a different and more sustainable approach to materials, like using biodegradable mushroom-based mycelium instead of leather. There are still leather-adorned accessories designed for the car, though, including a bird call set and leatherbound journal that match the car’s color.

It’s clear that the Sollei is built from the Celestiq, as it shares a similar 55-inch infotainment screen cluster and animated LED facade as the Celestiq. In a full walkaround video, Auto Buyers Guide says the Sollei is “harkening back to the origins of Cadillac as an ultra-luxury provider of vehicles.” Cadillac sees the Sollei as a vehicle that “pushes the boundaries of future bespoke commissions,” although it has no plans to sell the concept as it does the Celestiq.

Read More 

The new Motorola Razr Plus features an even bigger and more delightful cover screen. | Photo: Allison Johnson / The Verge

Many smartphones are impressive, but few stand out like the Motorola Razr Plus. Arriving in bright, poolside colors like hot pink, green, and blue, the new flip phone is as much fun to use as it is to admire, and is currently on sale. Priced at $999.99, you can preorder an unlocked Razr Plus with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage for $899.99 ($100 off) from Amazon and Best Buy ahead of its release date of July 24th.
As The Verge’s smartphone reviewer Allison Johnson wrote in her review, few phones are as delightful as the Razr Plus. That’s largely because of its upgraded cover screen, which now measures four inches — much bigger than its predecessor and the 3.4-inch external screen on the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 — and is even more customizable. It also sports an impressive always-on display, along with Google Assistant and Gemini. Motorola’s even thrown in a turntable background option for the media controls, which make the phone a genuine joy to play with.

Aside from an impressive cover screen, the Razr Plus also has other things going for it, like a decent 6.9-inch inner display and good performance. For a flip phone, it’s also got excellent battery life, and is now far more durable than before with an IPX8 ratings for full resistance against water immersion. It is worth pointing out that this may not be the phone for you if you’re looking for an excellent camera system — it takes decent photos, but you can get a much better camera in cheaper slab-style phones. However, if you’re a flip phone enthusiast, the cover screen alone might make it worth the purchase, as few can rival it.
Read our Motorola Razr Plus review.

More deals we think are worth a look

Best Buy is discounting both Apple’s second-gen HomePod and white HomePod Mini, selling each smart speaker for $269.99 ($30 off) and $79.99 ($20 off), respectively. Apple’s Siri-based smart speakers integrate well with Apple’s ecosystem and offer support for Matter. They also both deliver good sound, though understandably the audio produced by the cheaper, pint-sized HomePod Mini isn’t as robust. Read our second-generation HomePod and HomePod Mini reviews.
Woot is once again discounting a few Keychron mechanical keyboards right now as a part of its PC Favorites sale, including the 65 percent layout Keychron Q2. You can buy the wired keyboard in multiple colors and switches for $79.99 ($120 off) through July 24th. The Q2 is an excellent keyboard that feels crisp and solid to type on, and is also hot-swappable with switches and keys that are easy to customize. Read our review.

You can buy the 2022 Tile Mate for $17.99 at Amazon, Best Buy, and directly from Tile, which is its second-best price to date. The basic Bluetooth tracker doesn’t offer the 400-foot range of the Tile Pro, but it’s still platform-agnostic and accurately keeps tabs on personal belongings within 250 feet.

The new Motorola Razr Plus features an even bigger and more delightful cover screen. | Photo: Allison Johnson / The Verge

Many smartphones are impressive, but few stand out like the Motorola Razr Plus. Arriving in bright, poolside colors like hot pink, green, and blue, the new flip phone is as much fun to use as it is to admire, and is currently on sale. Priced at $999.99, you can preorder an unlocked Razr Plus with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage for $899.99 ($100 off) from Amazon and Best Buy ahead of its release date of July 24th.

As The Verge’s smartphone reviewer Allison Johnson wrote in her review, few phones are as delightful as the Razr Plus. That’s largely because of its upgraded cover screen, which now measures four inches — much bigger than its predecessor and the 3.4-inch external screen on the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 — and is even more customizable. It also sports an impressive always-on display, along with Google Assistant and Gemini. Motorola’s even thrown in a turntable background option for the media controls, which make the phone a genuine joy to play with.

Aside from an impressive cover screen, the Razr Plus also has other things going for it, like a decent 6.9-inch inner display and good performance. For a flip phone, it’s also got excellent battery life, and is now far more durable than before with an IPX8 ratings for full resistance against water immersion. It is worth pointing out that this may not be the phone for you if you’re looking for an excellent camera system — it takes decent photos, but you can get a much better camera in cheaper slab-style phones. However, if you’re a flip phone enthusiast, the cover screen alone might make it worth the purchase, as few can rival it.

Read our Motorola Razr Plus review.

More deals we think are worth a look

Best Buy is discounting both Apple’s second-gen HomePod and white HomePod Mini, selling each smart speaker for $269.99 ($30 off) and $79.99 ($20 off), respectively. Apple’s Siri-based smart speakers integrate well with Apple’s ecosystem and offer support for Matter. They also both deliver good sound, though understandably the audio produced by the cheaper, pint-sized HomePod Mini isn’t as robust. Read our second-generation HomePod and HomePod Mini reviews.
Woot is once again discounting a few Keychron mechanical keyboards right now as a part of its PC Favorites sale, including the 65 percent layout Keychron Q2. You can buy the wired keyboard in multiple colors and switches for $79.99 ($120 off) through July 24th. The Q2 is an excellent keyboard that feels crisp and solid to type on, and is also hot-swappable with switches and keys that are easy to customize. Read our review.

You can buy the 2022 Tile Mate for $17.99 at Amazon, Best Buy, and directly from Tile, which is its second-best price to date. The basic Bluetooth tracker doesn’t offer the 400-foot range of the Tile Pro, but it’s still platform-agnostic and accurately keeps tabs on personal belongings within 250 feet.

Read More 

Image: Amazon

Amazon’s Prime Video is fixing one of the most frustrating things about its interface. Its redesigned UI comes with a new tab dedicated to all the content included with your Prime Video subscription — no paid movies or series mixed in.
You’ll find the new “Prime” tab in the main navigation bar that’s now situated at the top of the screen, rather than on the left side. Alongside options for movies, TV shows, sports, and live TV, there are tabs dedicated to other services you’re subscribed to, such as Max, Crunchyroll, and Paramount Plus. If you don’t have any services linked to Prime, you’ll see a “subscriptions” tab with other services you can sign up for.

GIF: Amazon

The redesign, which has started to roll out now, will also use AI to recommend titles in new “Made for you” collections on the movie and TV show tabs. Amazon says these collections will include titles “tailored to your interests,” whether they’re free with Prime or not.
Prime Video will still show movies to rent or buy as well as TV series available on services you don’t subscribe to on its homepage, TV show, and movie tabs. Despite this, the new format looks far more organized than before, and the new Prime tab will at least give you a way to filter out content outside your subscriptions.
“We’re always listening to customers and reviewing feedback, and it’s clear that many are in search of a more intuitive streaming experience,” Kam Keshmiri, Prime Video’s vice president of design, says in a statement. Amazon isn’t the only streamer shaking up its interface; Netflix has also announced that it’s experimenting with a new homepage that aims to simplify the streaming experience.

Image: Amazon

Amazon’s Prime Video is fixing one of the most frustrating things about its interface. Its redesigned UI comes with a new tab dedicated to all the content included with your Prime Video subscription — no paid movies or series mixed in.

You’ll find the new “Prime” tab in the main navigation bar that’s now situated at the top of the screen, rather than on the left side. Alongside options for movies, TV shows, sports, and live TV, there are tabs dedicated to other services you’re subscribed to, such as Max, Crunchyroll, and Paramount Plus. If you don’t have any services linked to Prime, you’ll see a “subscriptions” tab with other services you can sign up for.

GIF: Amazon

The redesign, which has started to roll out now, will also use AI to recommend titles in new “Made for you” collections on the movie and TV show tabs. Amazon says these collections will include titles “tailored to your interests,” whether they’re free with Prime or not.

Prime Video will still show movies to rent or buy as well as TV series available on services you don’t subscribe to on its homepage, TV show, and movie tabs. Despite this, the new format looks far more organized than before, and the new Prime tab will at least give you a way to filter out content outside your subscriptions.

“We’re always listening to customers and reviewing feedback, and it’s clear that many are in search of a more intuitive streaming experience,” Kam Keshmiri, Prime Video’s vice president of design, says in a statement. Amazon isn’t the only streamer shaking up its interface; Netflix has also announced that it’s experimenting with a new homepage that aims to simplify the streaming experience.

Read More 

The Roomba Combo 10 Max is the company’s first robot vacuum with a charging dock that can wash the bot’s mop as well as empty its bin and refill its mopping tank. | Imge: iRobot

The Roomba Combo 10 Max is a new robot vacuum and mop from iRobot that can wash its mop, empty its bin, and refill its mopping tank — meaning less manual labor on your part. The company’s new flagship robot vacuum will also be its first to support the smart home standard Matter. The vacuum is available for preorder starting today at irobot.com for $1,399.99, and in the UK for £1,499 and Europe for €1,499. Shipping starts in August, when it will also come to other retailers.
Building on the Roomba Combo j9 Plus’ retractable mopping system that picks itself up when it vacuums carpet, the Roomba Combo 10 Max robot and Auto Wash Dock is the company’s first robot vac with a fully multifunction charging dock. In addition to emptying the robot’s bin and filling its water tank, the new dock can clean and dry the mop and wash itself, so you don’t have to.

The dock also has a new look, to incorporate the mop cleaning, and is now made with antimicrobial plastics to help inhibit the bacterial growth and bad smells that are common on docks like these. “While there will still need to be an element of human cleaning [of the dock], this should help combat the build-up of ‘ick’ over time,” iRobot’s Warren Fernandez said in an interview with The Verge.
These multifunctional docks are becoming increasingly popular with models available from Roborock, Dreame, Eufy, and others. They allow the robot vacuum to work largely independently for a week or so — until you need to fill the dock’s water tank (some eliminate even that need by hooking directly into plumbing). Most competitor docks require access to the top to get to those tanks, but the 10 Max’s dock keeps the front opening style of the Combo j9 Plus. This is a nice feature, as you can use the top as a table area.

Unlike many of its competitors, the 10 Max’s dock doesn’t use hot water or hot air to dry the mop — Fernandez explained that because it’s a top-mounted mop, it will get a lot of airflow, so it dries quickly. He added that heat adds complexity and running costs to the dock.
According to Fernandez, the 10 Max’s dock automatically cleans and dries the mop pad after every run and can be set to wash after cleaning specific rooms — the bathroom, for example. The dock also cleans itself after it has washed the pad.

The 10 Max is the first robot vacuum and mop from iRobot that can empty its own bin, refill its water tank, and wash and dry its mop.

On the software side, Fernandez said the main improvement to the 10 Max is Enhanced Dirt Detect, adding the ability for the onboard camera to spot dirt. This is an upgrade to a feature on the j9 that identifies dirty areas and takes multiple passes to clean them. The 10 Max also brings a new mop-only cleaning mode, in addition to the options to vacuum, and vacuum and mop.
Most other features of the 10 Max are the same as the Combo j9, including the same suction power — which iRobot claims is 100 times more powerful than its i series (the company doesn’t release suction power specs) — and the presence of a camera for navigating and enabling AI-powered obstacle avoidance.
This allows the robot to see and identify common household objects, such as shoes, cables, pet bowls, and other pet-related clutter, and intelligently determine what to do. For example, it will clean a pile of popcorn but avoid pet poop. iRobot promises if its robot does roll into a “pet accident,” the company will replace it for free for the first year.

Image: iRobot
iRobot’s lineup of robot vacuums that can also mop now includes six different models. (Combo Essential is not pictured)

The company — whose business has faced increased competition in recent years, compounded by a failed attempt to sell to Amazon — has launched several new robots in the last 12 months, offering customers more options across a broader range of prices.
iRobot now had six different combination mopping and vacuum models: the Combo Essential ($275) and the Combo i5 (from $350) with swappable mopping bins; the Combo j5 (from $529) adding a camera for obstacle avoidance; the Combo j7 (from $600) bringing a retractable mop; the Combo j9 Plus with an auto-empty/refill dock for $1,000; and now the Combo 10 Max adding mop washing for $1,400.
It’s time to Matter
iRobot also announced it’s adding Matter support to the 10 Max, which will allow it to work with any smart home platform that supports Matter, including Apple Home.
To date, all Roombas have worked with the Amazon Alexa and Google Home smart home platforms, letting you add your vacuum to your smart home routines and automations and control it with voice. But none have worked with Apple Home beyond a Siri Shortcut integration that allows for voice control.
According to iRobot, Matter support will come via an over-the-air firmware update in Q4 2024; this may coincide with the arrival of iOS 18, which Apple has said will bring support for Matter to Apple Home.
The company has also said it plans to add Matter across more of its products in 2025, but didn’t specify if this would come as an upgrade to existing products or just be built into new models.

The Roomba Combo 10 Max is the company’s first robot vacuum with a charging dock that can wash the bot’s mop as well as empty its bin and refill its mopping tank. | Imge: iRobot

The Roomba Combo 10 Max is a new robot vacuum and mop from iRobot that can wash its mop, empty its bin, and refill its mopping tank — meaning less manual labor on your part. The company’s new flagship robot vacuum will also be its first to support the smart home standard Matter. The vacuum is available for preorder starting today at irobot.com for $1,399.99, and in the UK for £1,499 and Europe for €1,499. Shipping starts in August, when it will also come to other retailers.

Building on the Roomba Combo j9 Plus’ retractable mopping system that picks itself up when it vacuums carpet, the Roomba Combo 10 Max robot and Auto Wash Dock is the company’s first robot vac with a fully multifunction charging dock. In addition to emptying the robot’s bin and filling its water tank, the new dock can clean and dry the mop and wash itself, so you don’t have to.

The dock also has a new look, to incorporate the mop cleaning, and is now made with antimicrobial plastics to help inhibit the bacterial growth and bad smells that are common on docks like these. “While there will still need to be an element of human cleaning [of the dock], this should help combat the build-up of ‘ick’ over time,” iRobot’s Warren Fernandez said in an interview with The Verge.

These multifunctional docks are becoming increasingly popular with models available from Roborock, Dreame, Eufy, and others. They allow the robot vacuum to work largely independently for a week or so — until you need to fill the dock’s water tank (some eliminate even that need by hooking directly into plumbing). Most competitor docks require access to the top to get to those tanks, but the 10 Max’s dock keeps the front opening style of the Combo j9 Plus. This is a nice feature, as you can use the top as a table area.

Unlike many of its competitors, the 10 Max’s dock doesn’t use hot water or hot air to dry the mop — Fernandez explained that because it’s a top-mounted mop, it will get a lot of airflow, so it dries quickly. He added that heat adds complexity and running costs to the dock.

According to Fernandez, the 10 Max’s dock automatically cleans and dries the mop pad after every run and can be set to wash after cleaning specific rooms — the bathroom, for example. The dock also cleans itself after it has washed the pad.

On the software side, Fernandez said the main improvement to the 10 Max is Enhanced Dirt Detect, adding the ability for the onboard camera to spot dirt. This is an upgrade to a feature on the j9 that identifies dirty areas and takes multiple passes to clean them. The 10 Max also brings a new mop-only cleaning mode, in addition to the options to vacuum, and vacuum and mop.

Most other features of the 10 Max are the same as the Combo j9, including the same suction power — which iRobot claims is 100 times more powerful than its i series (the company doesn’t release suction power specs) — and the presence of a camera for navigating and enabling AI-powered obstacle avoidance.

This allows the robot to see and identify common household objects, such as shoes, cables, pet bowls, and other pet-related clutter, and intelligently determine what to do. For example, it will clean a pile of popcorn but avoid pet poop. iRobot promises if its robot does roll into a “pet accident,” the company will replace it for free for the first year.

Image: iRobot
iRobot’s lineup of robot vacuums that can also mop now includes six different models. (Combo Essential is not pictured)

The company — whose business has faced increased competition in recent years, compounded by a failed attempt to sell to Amazon — has launched several new robots in the last 12 months, offering customers more options across a broader range of prices.

iRobot now had six different combination mopping and vacuum models: the Combo Essential ($275) and the Combo i5 (from $350) with swappable mopping bins; the Combo j5 (from $529) adding a camera for obstacle avoidance; the Combo j7 (from $600) bringing a retractable mop; the Combo j9 Plus with an auto-empty/refill dock for $1,000; and now the Combo 10 Max adding mop washing for $1,400.

It’s time to Matter

iRobot also announced it’s adding Matter support to the 10 Max, which will allow it to work with any smart home platform that supports Matter, including Apple Home.

To date, all Roombas have worked with the Amazon Alexa and Google Home smart home platforms, letting you add your vacuum to your smart home routines and automations and control it with voice. But none have worked with Apple Home beyond a Siri Shortcut integration that allows for voice control.

According to iRobot, Matter support will come via an over-the-air firmware update in Q4 2024; this may coincide with the arrival of iOS 18, which Apple has said will bring support for Matter to Apple Home.

The company has also said it plans to add Matter across more of its products in 2025, but didn’t specify if this would come as an upgrade to existing products or just be built into new models.

Read More 

Wiz reportedly abandoned the deal over antitrust and investor concerns. | Illustration: The Verge

Cybersecurity startup Wiz has turned down a $23 billion takeover bid from Google’s parent, Alphabet, breaking off what would have been the largest acquisition in the search giant’s history. In an internal memo seen by CNBC, Wiz co-founder Assaf Rappaport said the company would instead pursue an initial public offering.
“Saying no to such humbling offers is tough,” Rappaport said in the memo sent to Wiz employees. Had the acquisition gone ahead, it would have doubled the $12 billion valuation that Wiz announced in May after the company raised $1 billion in private funding. According to the memo, Wiz will now focus on achieving $1 billion in annual recurring revenue alongside the IPO — goals the security firm had set before its talks with Google. Neither Wiz nor Alphabet have officially acknowledged that a deal was being discussed.
Wiz offers cloud-based security solutions for enterprise customers, an attractive target that could have placed Google in a better position to compete with industry leaders Microsoft and Amazon. Antitrust regulators have increasingly fixated on deals made by Big Tech in recent years, however, and according to CNBC, both antitrust and investor concerns were cited as reasons for Wiz abandoning the deal.
The Justice Department has already launched two ongoing antitrust lawsuits against Google over its search engine and digital advertising businesses. Google purchased two cybersecurity firms in 2022 — Siemplify and Mandiant — for $500 million and $5.4 billion, respectively, with the latter company best recognized for uncovering the SolarWinds hack.

Wiz reportedly abandoned the deal over antitrust and investor concerns. | Illustration: The Verge

Cybersecurity startup Wiz has turned down a $23 billion takeover bid from Google’s parent, Alphabet, breaking off what would have been the largest acquisition in the search giant’s history. In an internal memo seen by CNBC, Wiz co-founder Assaf Rappaport said the company would instead pursue an initial public offering.

“Saying no to such humbling offers is tough,” Rappaport said in the memo sent to Wiz employees. Had the acquisition gone ahead, it would have doubled the $12 billion valuation that Wiz announced in May after the company raised $1 billion in private funding. According to the memo, Wiz will now focus on achieving $1 billion in annual recurring revenue alongside the IPO — goals the security firm had set before its talks with Google. Neither Wiz nor Alphabet have officially acknowledged that a deal was being discussed.

Wiz offers cloud-based security solutions for enterprise customers, an attractive target that could have placed Google in a better position to compete with industry leaders Microsoft and Amazon. Antitrust regulators have increasingly fixated on deals made by Big Tech in recent years, however, and according to CNBC, both antitrust and investor concerns were cited as reasons for Wiz abandoning the deal.

The Justice Department has already launched two ongoing antitrust lawsuits against Google over its search engine and digital advertising businesses. Google purchased two cybersecurity firms in 2022 — Siemplify and Mandiant — for $500 million and $5.4 billion, respectively, with the latter company best recognized for uncovering the SolarWinds hack.

Read More 

Apparently AI-generated artwork that was first used to promote California Forever’s city. | Image: California Forever

California Forever tech billionaire-backed plan to build a new city 60 miles away from San Francisco is on hold for at least two years, pending an environmental impact study, reports The New York Times.
Last year, the Times reported that a group of Silicon Valley investors (including LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, Andreessen Horowitz investors Marc Andreessen and Chris Dixon, former GitHub CEO Nat Friedman, and Emerson Collective founder Laurene Powell Jobs) had secretly bought up hundreds of millions of dollars worth of farmland in Solano County to build their own city.

With former Goldman Sachs trader named Jan Sramek spearheading the project, it filed for permission to develop the land only months after its plans became known. According to a Solano County-commissioned study, that process usually takes years, and it “estimated the full project would require tens of billions in infrastructure investment but warned that details about the development remained so vague it was hard to assess its full impact,” reports the Times.
In his own statement, Sramek said, “…doing the Environmental Impact Report first does not impact the overall timeline – it just reorders the steps,” and that the plan is to resubmit its requests in 2026. However, a local congressman quoted by the Times said, “The California Forever pipe dream is in a permanent deep freeze.”

Apparently AI-generated artwork that was first used to promote California Forever’s city. | Image: California Forever

California Forever tech billionaire-backed plan to build a new city 60 miles away from San Francisco is on hold for at least two years, pending an environmental impact study, reports The New York Times.

Last year, the Times reported that a group of Silicon Valley investors (including LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, Andreessen Horowitz investors Marc Andreessen and Chris Dixon, former GitHub CEO Nat Friedman, and Emerson Collective founder Laurene Powell Jobs) had secretly bought up hundreds of millions of dollars worth of farmland in Solano County to build their own city.

With former Goldman Sachs trader named Jan Sramek spearheading the project, it filed for permission to develop the land only months after its plans became known. According to a Solano County-commissioned study, that process usually takes years, and it “estimated the full project would require tens of billions in infrastructure investment but warned that details about the development remained so vague it was hard to assess its full impact,” reports the Times.

In his own statement, Sramek said, “…doing the Environmental Impact Report first does not impact the overall timeline – it just reorders the steps,” and that the plan is to resubmit its requests in 2026. However, a local congressman quoted by the Times said, “The California Forever pipe dream is in a permanent deep freeze.”

Read More 

Slack introduced its first three iPhone and iPad widgets today. | Screenshot: Slack

Today Slack introduced the first four widgets for the iOS version of its mobile app. Three of them are designed for the iPhone’s home screen, while the fourth can be added to the lock screen allowing users to jump immediately into the Slack app after unlocking their device.
The home screen widgets include Catch Up, which provides an at-a-glance look at how many unread messages and mentions a user has without opening the app. It gives a little more detail than the Slack app icon’s badge, and tapping the Catch Up widget takes users directly to that section of the Slack app so they can quickly swipe through conversations they’ve missed.

Three 3⃣new Slack iOS widgets are here to make your workday a whole lot easier. Add the Catch Up widget, Status widget, and Slack Launcher widget to your device and stay in the know on the go. pic.twitter.com/bEak0coGZK— Slack (@SlackHQ) July 22, 2024

The other two home screen widgets streamline Slack status updates. Tapping the smaller Status widget also takes users directly to that section of the Slack iOS app, while a larger version offers the same functionality plus three pre-selected status options: one hour “Focus” and “Lunch” statuses, plus a half-hour “Take a break” status. However, those pre-selected options aren’t customizable at this point.
Slack finding its way onto all of our devices has already made work feel like a nonstop thing. If you really want to bring more work into your life, adding these widgets could go even further, putting work front and center every time you open your phone.

Adding these widgets could make that even worse, putting work front and center every time you open your phone.

Slack introduced its first three iPhone and iPad widgets today. | Screenshot: Slack

Today Slack introduced the first four widgets for the iOS version of its mobile app. Three of them are designed for the iPhone’s home screen, while the fourth can be added to the lock screen allowing users to jump immediately into the Slack app after unlocking their device.

The home screen widgets include Catch Up, which provides an at-a-glance look at how many unread messages and mentions a user has without opening the app. It gives a little more detail than the Slack app icon’s badge, and tapping the Catch Up widget takes users directly to that section of the Slack app so they can quickly swipe through conversations they’ve missed.

The other two home screen widgets streamline Slack status updates. Tapping the smaller Status widget also takes users directly to that section of the Slack iOS app, while a larger version offers the same functionality plus three pre-selected status options: one hour “Focus” and “Lunch” statuses, plus a half-hour “Take a break” status. However, those pre-selected options aren’t customizable at this point.

Slack finding its way onto all of our devices has already made work feel like a nonstop thing. If you really want to bring more work into your life, adding these widgets could go even further, putting work front and center every time you open your phone.

Adding these widgets could make that even worse, putting work front and center every time you open your phone.

Read More 

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

Intel says it has found the source of the widespread instability issues affecting its Core 13th and 14th Gen processors. In an update on Monday, Intel confirmed that CPUs are experiencing “elevated operating voltage” and that a patch is on the way.
“We have determined that elevated operating voltage is causing instability issues in some 13th/14th Gen desktop processors,” Intel employee Thomas Hannaford writes on the company’s forum. “Our analysis of returned processors confirms that the elevated operating voltage is stemming from a microcode algorithm resulting in incorrect voltage requests to the processor.”
Intel says it’s working to release a microcode patch for motherboard manufacturers in mid-August and that anyone affected by the issue should contact Intel support in the meantime. The chipmaker first confirmed it was investigating the issue in April after receiving reports from Intel Core i9-13900K and i9-14900K owners experiencing frequent game crashes.
So far, guidance from Intel and motherboard BIOS updates haven’t fully fixed the instability issue. But the pressure on Intel to address the problem has only intensified in recent weeks. Path of Titans developer Alderon Games posted a YouTube video revealing “thousands” of game crashes impacting players with Intel’s 13th and 14th Gen CPUs, while a video from Gamers Nexus says they “can’t recommend Intel” processors right now due to the ongoing issues.

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

Intel says it has found the source of the widespread instability issues affecting its Core 13th and 14th Gen processors. In an update on Monday, Intel confirmed that CPUs are experiencing “elevated operating voltage” and that a patch is on the way.

“We have determined that elevated operating voltage is causing instability issues in some 13th/14th Gen desktop processors,” Intel employee Thomas Hannaford writes on the company’s forum. “Our analysis of returned processors confirms that the elevated operating voltage is stemming from a microcode algorithm resulting in incorrect voltage requests to the processor.”

Intel says it’s working to release a microcode patch for motherboard manufacturers in mid-August and that anyone affected by the issue should contact Intel support in the meantime. The chipmaker first confirmed it was investigating the issue in April after receiving reports from Intel Core i9-13900K and i9-14900K owners experiencing frequent game crashes.

So far, guidance from Intel and motherboard BIOS updates haven’t fully fixed the instability issue. But the pressure on Intel to address the problem has only intensified in recent weeks. Path of Titans developer Alderon Games posted a YouTube video revealing “thousands” of game crashes impacting players with Intel’s 13th and 14th Gen CPUs, while a video from Gamers Nexus says they “can’t recommend Intel” processors right now due to the ongoing issues.

Read More 

Image: The Verge

CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz was called to testify before the House Homeland Security Committee over the major outage affecting Windows PCs spurred by a faulty update that brought flights, hospital procedures, and broadcasters to a halt on Friday, The Washington Post reported.
“Recognizing that Americans will undoubtedly feel the lasting, real-world consequences of this incident, they deserve to know in detail how this incident happened and the mitigation steps CrowdStrike is taking,” Homeland Security Chair Mark Green (R-TN) and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection Subcommittee Chair Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) wrote in a letter published by the Post. They asked that CrowdStrike schedule a hearing with the subcommittee by end of day Wednesday.
The letter signals that the cleanup for the technical failure is far from over for CrowdStrike. Even on Monday, three days after the initial meltdown, Delta was dealing with flight cancelations and Blue Screens of Death.
Kurtz assured the public on Friday in a social media post that the massive outage was “not a security or cyber incident.” Instead, he pointed to “an issue with a Falcon content update for Windows Hosts,” referring to the company’s security software.
Representatives for Green, Garbarino, and CrowdStrike did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Image: The Verge

CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz was called to testify before the House Homeland Security Committee over the major outage affecting Windows PCs spurred by a faulty update that brought flights, hospital procedures, and broadcasters to a halt on Friday, The Washington Post reported.

“Recognizing that Americans will undoubtedly feel the lasting, real-world consequences of this incident, they deserve to know in detail how this incident happened and the mitigation steps CrowdStrike is taking,” Homeland Security Chair Mark Green (R-TN) and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection Subcommittee Chair Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) wrote in a letter published by the Post. They asked that CrowdStrike schedule a hearing with the subcommittee by end of day Wednesday.

The letter signals that the cleanup for the technical failure is far from over for CrowdStrike. Even on Monday, three days after the initial meltdown, Delta was dealing with flight cancelations and Blue Screens of Death.

Kurtz assured the public on Friday in a social media post that the massive outage was “not a security or cyber incident.” Instead, he pointed to “an issue with a Falcon content update for Windows Hosts,” referring to the company’s security software.

Representatives for Green, Garbarino, and CrowdStrike did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Read More