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Image: Analogue

The Analogue Pocket is getting yet another iteration — but this time, it’s a little more than a refreshed color scheme. An aluminum edition is coming out this month, and the company says that the new handhelds “are
precision CNC’d entirely in aluminum.” They come in four colors — natural, noir, black, and indigo — and will be available to preorder on July 15th at 8AM PT / 11AM ET, with units expected to ship on July 17th.
That metal body doesn’t come cheap, though. The aluminum Pocket will cost $499, a big boost over the $219 of the standard version. Analogue says that the new version will be “available in highly limited quantities and will never be sold again.”
Here’s a look at all the aluminum parts of the device:

Image: Analogue

Since its launch in 2021, Analogue has released a handful of other special editions of the Pocket, including some bright colors, a glow-in-the-dark version, and the always-popular transparent shell. The device allows gamers to play old Game Boy cartridges (as well as other carts, with the right adapters) on a handheld with modern touches like a crisp LCD screen.
The Pocket was the company’s first handheld device after previously releasing high-quality recreations of consoles like the NES (which also came in aluminum), SNES, and Sega Genesis. Up next is the Nintendo 64 with the Analogue 3D, which was originally planned for a 2024 release.

Image: Analogue

The Analogue Pocket is getting yet another iteration — but this time, it’s a little more than a refreshed color scheme. An aluminum edition is coming out this month, and the company says that the new handhelds “are
precision CNC’d entirely in aluminum.” They come in four colors — natural, noir, black, and indigo — and will be available to preorder on July 15th at 8AM PT / 11AM ET, with units expected to ship on July 17th.

That metal body doesn’t come cheap, though. The aluminum Pocket will cost $499, a big boost over the $219 of the standard version. Analogue says that the new version will be “available in highly limited quantities and will never be sold again.”

Here’s a look at all the aluminum parts of the device:

Image: Analogue

Since its launch in 2021, Analogue has released a handful of other special editions of the Pocket, including some bright colors, a glow-in-the-dark version, and the always-popular transparent shell. The device allows gamers to play old Game Boy cartridges (as well as other carts, with the right adapters) on a handheld with modern touches like a crisp LCD screen.

The Pocket was the company’s first handheld device after previously releasing high-quality recreations of consoles like the NES (which also came in aluminum), SNES, and Sega Genesis. Up next is the Nintendo 64 with the Analogue 3D, which was originally planned for a 2024 release.

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There wasn’t a Factory Reset option, previously. | Photo: David Pierce / The Verge

Since the launch of the Rabbit R1, the AI assistant device has been storing users’ chat logs on-device with no way to erase them, according to a company security bulletin. Rabbit is now addressing the issue with a software update that includes a new Factory Reset option in settings to wipe the device. Previously, you could only unlink your account from an R1, which did not erase all user data.
Along with the new ability to fully delete local user data, the software update also addresses another eyebrow-raising behavior of the R1. Prior to the update, stored pairing data that lets the R1 hardware add things to the Rabbithole journal also had permission to read the journal as well. That means a stolen and hacked R1 could potentially have handed over users’ saved requests, photos, and more.
With the update, R1’s pairing data can no longer read the journal and is no longer logged to the device, and Rabbit has reduced the amount of log data stored on the device. The company says there’s “no indication that pairing data has been abused to retrieve rabbithole journal data belonging to a former device owner.”
Rabbit’s security bulletin paints the issue as a relatively inconsequential risk with its example that a stolen and jailbroken R1 could reveal to a bad actor the last weather log asked by the original owner. Security researchers last month found that a jailbreak of the device could also hand out hardcoded API keys. The company promises to improve security practices and “prevent similar issues in the future,” saying it’s performing a full review of device logging practices to ensure it aligns with its standards “set in other areas.”

There wasn’t a Factory Reset option, previously. | Photo: David Pierce / The Verge

Since the launch of the Rabbit R1, the AI assistant device has been storing users’ chat logs on-device with no way to erase them, according to a company security bulletin. Rabbit is now addressing the issue with a software update that includes a new Factory Reset option in settings to wipe the device. Previously, you could only unlink your account from an R1, which did not erase all user data.

Along with the new ability to fully delete local user data, the software update also addresses another eyebrow-raising behavior of the R1. Prior to the update, stored pairing data that lets the R1 hardware add things to the Rabbithole journal also had permission to read the journal as well. That means a stolen and hacked R1 could potentially have handed over users’ saved requests, photos, and more.

With the update, R1’s pairing data can no longer read the journal and is no longer logged to the device, and Rabbit has reduced the amount of log data stored on the device. The company says there’s “no indication that pairing data has been abused to retrieve rabbithole journal data belonging to a former device owner.”

Rabbit’s security bulletin paints the issue as a relatively inconsequential risk with its example that a stolen and jailbroken R1 could reveal to a bad actor the last weather log asked by the original owner. Security researchers last month found that a jailbreak of the device could also hand out hardcoded API keys. The company promises to improve security practices and “prevent similar issues in the future,” saying it’s performing a full review of device logging practices to ensure it aligns with its standards “set in other areas.”

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Illustration by Cath Virginia / The Verge | Photos by Getty Images

The AI Act is a sweeping set of rules for technology companies operating in the EU, which bans certain uses of AI tools and puts transparency requirements on developers. The law officially passed in March after two years of back and forth and includes several phases for compliance that will happen in waves.
Now that the full text has been published, it officially starts the clock for compliance deadlines that companies must meet. The AI Act will come into law in 20 days, on August 1st, and future deadlines will be tied to that date.
The new law prohibits certain uses for AI, and those bans are part of the first deadline. The AI Act bans application uses “that threaten citizens’ rights,” like biometric categorization to deduce information like sexual orientation or religion, or the untargeted scraping of faces from the internet or security camera footage. Systems that try to read emotions are banned in the workplace and schools, as are social scoring systems. The use of predictive policing tools is also banned in some instances. These uses are considered to have an “unacceptable risk,” and tech companies will have until February 2nd, 2025, to comply.
Nine months after the law kicks in, on May 2nd, 2025, developers will have codes of practice, a set of rules that outlines what legal compliance looks like: what benchmarks they need to hit; key performance indicators; specific transparency requirements; and more. Three months after that — so August 2025 — “general purpose AI systems” like chatbots must comply with copyright law and fulfill transparency requirements like sharing summaries of the data used to train the systems.
By August 2026, the rules of the AI Act will apply generally to companies operating in the EU. Developers of some “high risk” AI systems will have up to 36 months (until August 2027) to comply with rules around things like risk assessment and human oversight. This risk level includes applications integrated into infrastructure, employment, essential services like banking and healthcare, and the justice system.
Failure to comply will result in fines for the offending company, either a percentage of total revenue or a set amount. A violation of banned systems carries the highest fine: €35 million (about $38 million), or 7 percent of global annual revenue.

Illustration by Cath Virginia / The Verge | Photos by Getty Images

The AI Act is a sweeping set of rules for technology companies operating in the EU, which bans certain uses of AI tools and puts transparency requirements on developers. The law officially passed in March after two years of back and forth and includes several phases for compliance that will happen in waves.

Now that the full text has been published, it officially starts the clock for compliance deadlines that companies must meet. The AI Act will come into law in 20 days, on August 1st, and future deadlines will be tied to that date.

The new law prohibits certain uses for AI, and those bans are part of the first deadline. The AI Act bans application uses “that threaten citizens’ rights,” like biometric categorization to deduce information like sexual orientation or religion, or the untargeted scraping of faces from the internet or security camera footage. Systems that try to read emotions are banned in the workplace and schools, as are social scoring systems. The use of predictive policing tools is also banned in some instances. These uses are considered to have an “unacceptable risk,” and tech companies will have until February 2nd, 2025, to comply.

Nine months after the law kicks in, on May 2nd, 2025, developers will have codes of practice, a set of rules that outlines what legal compliance looks like: what benchmarks they need to hit; key performance indicators; specific transparency requirements; and more. Three months after that — so August 2025 — “general purpose AI systems” like chatbots must comply with copyright law and fulfill transparency requirements like sharing summaries of the data used to train the systems.

By August 2026, the rules of the AI Act will apply generally to companies operating in the EU. Developers of some “high risk” AI systems will have up to 36 months (until August 2027) to comply with rules around things like risk assessment and human oversight. This risk level includes applications integrated into infrastructure, employment, essential services like banking and healthcare, and the justice system.

Failure to comply will result in fines for the offending company, either a percentage of total revenue or a set amount. A violation of banned systems carries the highest fine: €35 million (about $38 million), or 7 percent of global annual revenue.

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Image: Tesla

Tesla is bringing back its longest-range Model 3, which will also be the second cheapest version of the popular electric sedan available. The new trim will be available for $42,490, according to the website.
The rear-wheel-drive (RWD) version of the Long Range Model 3 will get an EPA-estimated range of 363 miles. That could be a significant addition to Tesla’s lineup at a time when production and sales are both drooping.
Tesla originally introduced the Long Range RWD Model 3 in 2017 but discontinued it two years later. Now, it’s back with a new sticker price and a new look, thanks to a refreshed design that launched in the US at the beginning of the year.

Screenshot: Tesla

The new trim is almost $5,000 cheaper than the dual-motor, all-wheel-drive Long Range Model 3, but also $3,500 more than the standard-range RWD Model 3. It also has about 100 miles more range than the base Model 3, so keep that in mind, too.
Something else to keep in mind: Tesla has been accused of overestimating its range figures for a while now. A report from last year found there was a lot of elasticity in how Tesla calculates its range, which often results in unrealistic numbers.
But when you factor in the $7,500 federal EV tax credit, the new Long Range RWD version hits that mythical $35,000 mark that Tesla originally promised when the Model 3 was first introduced in 2017.
The price even got Tesla CEO Elon Musk excited.

New Tesla Model 3 version available in America. 363 miles of range for $35k! https://t.co/1L4kCB0Ww8— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 12, 2024

Image: Tesla

Tesla is bringing back its longest-range Model 3, which will also be the second cheapest version of the popular electric sedan available. The new trim will be available for $42,490, according to the website.

The rear-wheel-drive (RWD) version of the Long Range Model 3 will get an EPA-estimated range of 363 miles. That could be a significant addition to Tesla’s lineup at a time when production and sales are both drooping.

Tesla originally introduced the Long Range RWD Model 3 in 2017 but discontinued it two years later. Now, it’s back with a new sticker price and a new look, thanks to a refreshed design that launched in the US at the beginning of the year.

Screenshot: Tesla

The new trim is almost $5,000 cheaper than the dual-motor, all-wheel-drive Long Range Model 3, but also $3,500 more than the standard-range RWD Model 3. It also has about 100 miles more range than the base Model 3, so keep that in mind, too.

Something else to keep in mind: Tesla has been accused of overestimating its range figures for a while now. A report from last year found there was a lot of elasticity in how Tesla calculates its range, which often results in unrealistic numbers.

But when you factor in the $7,500 federal EV tax credit, the new Long Range RWD version hits that mythical $35,000 mark that Tesla originally promised when the Model 3 was first introduced in 2017.

The price even got Tesla CEO Elon Musk excited.

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A pedestrian stands in the shade of a small tree during a heatwave in New York on Wednesday, June 30th, 2021. | Photo: Getty Images

Nearly 34 million people across 65 US cities — roughly one in 10 Americans — live in a place where the built environment makes temperatures feel at least 8 degrees Fahrenheit hotter than it would without that urban sprawl. That’s according to a new study by the nonprofit Climate Central, which mapped the impact of a phenomenon called the urban heat island effect in major cities in the US.
Dark, paved surfaces with little greenery tend to absorb heat. Hot exhaust from heavy traffic and industrial facilities can also make certain neighborhoods warmer than others. That’s how the urban heat island effect can make a heatwave feel even worse for some communities. In the US, a history of segregation and redlining that resulted in chronic underinvestment in many neighborhoods of color also created heat islands in cities.
It’s a problem that often flies under the radar because a typical weather forecast for a city misses these hyperlocal nuances. To get a better picture of how heat impacts a city from neighborhood to neighborhood, Climate Central documented the urban heat island effect down to a more granular level.
“When you look across the country, this is everywhere.”
“When you look across the country, this is everywhere. This is not a big city problem. This is a big development problem. And that can happen anywhere,” says Climate Central senior data analyst and research manager Jennifer Brady.
Brady and her team scrutinized 37,094 census block groups in the US. A single block group might be home to between 600 to 3,000 residents, an even smaller range than a census tract. “The finer and finer detail you can get, the more accurate the estimates are going to be because what we’re looking at are land cover type,” Brady says.
They compared maps of those census block groups with an existing National Land Cover Database to assess what the makeup of the neighborhood was — whether it was crowded with tall or low-rise buildings or any tree cover.
They used methods previously published in the journal Scientific Reports to estimate how much those factors might warm or cool a neighborhood. That allowed them to calculate an urban heat island (UHI) index for each block group, a measure of how much hotter these areas are because of what the built environment looks like.
The average per capita UHI index for all the locations studied was 8 degrees Fahrenheit, but some places can feel even hotter. You can explore Climate Central’s interactive map online to see how this plays out nationally and at the census block group level in each city.
In New York City, for instance, the per capita average UHI index reached 9.7 degrees — meaning the way many neighborhoods were built makes them feel close to 10 degrees hotter than they would without the same urban sprawl. NYC’s main weather observation station happens to be located in Central Park, where tree cover and greenery can have a cooling effect in comparison. In 2021, The Verge explored New York City with thermal cameras and similarly found big differences in temperatures from neighborhood to neighborhood.

Why some city neighborhoods are hotter than others

The good news is that we know how to undo the urban heat island effect. Simple measures like painting rooftops and other surfaces lighter colors, planting trees, and greening roofs can all help neighborhoods cool down. That can make an even bigger difference in the future as climate change makes heatwaves more frequent and intense.
“It’s very easy to go out and say, ‘Oh, this area’s hotter.’ But I think the logic behind this is very explicitly: why is it hotter?” Brady says. “I think then that leads to your solution.”

A pedestrian stands in the shade of a small tree during a heatwave in New York on Wednesday, June 30th, 2021. | Photo: Getty Images

Nearly 34 million people across 65 US cities — roughly one in 10 Americans — live in a place where the built environment makes temperatures feel at least 8 degrees Fahrenheit hotter than it would without that urban sprawl. That’s according to a new study by the nonprofit Climate Central, which mapped the impact of a phenomenon called the urban heat island effect in major cities in the US.

Dark, paved surfaces with little greenery tend to absorb heat. Hot exhaust from heavy traffic and industrial facilities can also make certain neighborhoods warmer than others. That’s how the urban heat island effect can make a heatwave feel even worse for some communities. In the US, a history of segregation and redlining that resulted in chronic underinvestment in many neighborhoods of color also created heat islands in cities.

It’s a problem that often flies under the radar because a typical weather forecast for a city misses these hyperlocal nuances. To get a better picture of how heat impacts a city from neighborhood to neighborhood, Climate Central documented the urban heat island effect down to a more granular level.

“When you look across the country, this is everywhere. This is not a big city problem. This is a big development problem. And that can happen anywhere,” says Climate Central senior data analyst and research manager Jennifer Brady.

Brady and her team scrutinized 37,094 census block groups in the US. A single block group might be home to between 600 to 3,000 residents, an even smaller range than a census tract. “The finer and finer detail you can get, the more accurate the estimates are going to be because what we’re looking at are land cover type,” Brady says.

They compared maps of those census block groups with an existing National Land Cover Database to assess what the makeup of the neighborhood was — whether it was crowded with tall or low-rise buildings or any tree cover.

They used methods previously published in the journal Scientific Reports to estimate how much those factors might warm or cool a neighborhood. That allowed them to calculate an urban heat island (UHI) index for each block group, a measure of how much hotter these areas are because of what the built environment looks like.

The average per capita UHI index for all the locations studied was 8 degrees Fahrenheit, but some places can feel even hotter. You can explore Climate Central’s interactive map online to see how this plays out nationally and at the census block group level in each city.

In New York City, for instance, the per capita average UHI index reached 9.7 degrees — meaning the way many neighborhoods were built makes them feel close to 10 degrees hotter than they would without the same urban sprawl. NYC’s main weather observation station happens to be located in Central Park, where tree cover and greenery can have a cooling effect in comparison. In 2021, The Verge explored New York City with thermal cameras and similarly found big differences in temperatures from neighborhood to neighborhood.

The good news is that we know how to undo the urban heat island effect. Simple measures like painting rooftops and other surfaces lighter colors, planting trees, and greening roofs can all help neighborhoods cool down. That can make an even bigger difference in the future as climate change makes heatwaves more frequent and intense.

“It’s very easy to go out and say, ‘Oh, this area’s hotter.’ But I think the logic behind this is very explicitly: why is it hotter?” Brady says. “I think then that leads to your solution.”

Read More 

Courtesy of Marvel Studios

Marvel’s movies don’t always tie directly into the series that came before them, but the new trailer for Captain America: Brave New World definitely makes it seem like something you’ll need to revisit The Falcon and The Winter Soldier for.
After years of providing air support to his predecessor, Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) is the Captain in Brave New World’s first trailer, which opens up at a time when Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford) has become president of the United States. It gives Sam pause to hear that Ross is keen on making Captain America part of the American government once again in response to new mysterious threats. But when Sam witnesses a seemingly mind-controlled Isaiah Bradley (Carl Lumbly) — one of the first supersoldiers — attack the president, he has no choice but to reluctantly spring into action.
Though it’s tough getting a read on what Captain America will be fighting against this time around, it’s clear that the film is following in Captain America: The Winter Soldier’s footsteps by leaning into political intrigue. It’s also fairly obvious that a lot of Brave New World is going to feel like an expansion of the new normal established in The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, which makes some sense given that this is Marvel’s first film with Wilson as a lead. But that could easily wind up being a bit much to ask audiences for when Captain America: Brave New World hits theaters on January 14th, 2025.

Courtesy of Marvel Studios

Marvel’s movies don’t always tie directly into the series that came before them, but the new trailer for Captain America: Brave New World definitely makes it seem like something you’ll need to revisit The Falcon and The Winter Soldier for.

After years of providing air support to his predecessor, Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) is the Captain in Brave New World’s first trailer, which opens up at a time when Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford) has become president of the United States. It gives Sam pause to hear that Ross is keen on making Captain America part of the American government once again in response to new mysterious threats. But when Sam witnesses a seemingly mind-controlled Isaiah Bradley (Carl Lumbly) — one of the first supersoldiers — attack the president, he has no choice but to reluctantly spring into action.

Though it’s tough getting a read on what Captain America will be fighting against this time around, it’s clear that the film is following in Captain America: The Winter Soldier’s footsteps by leaning into political intrigue. It’s also fairly obvious that a lot of Brave New World is going to feel like an expansion of the new normal established in The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, which makes some sense given that this is Marvel’s first film with Wilson as a lead. But that could easily wind up being a bit much to ask audiences for when Captain America: Brave New World hits theaters on January 14th, 2025.

Read More 

Illustration: The Verge

AT&T revealed Friday morning that a cybersecurity attack had exposed call records and texts from “nearly all” of the carrier’s cellular customers (including people on mobile virtual network operators, or MVNOs, that use AT&T’s network, like Cricket, Boost Mobile, and Consumer Cellular). The breach took place during the period between May 1st, 2022, and October 31st, 2022, in addition to an incident that impacted a “very small number” of customers on January 2nd, 2023.
AT&T spokesperson Alex Byers confirmed to The Verge the threat actor accessed the information through the company’s account on a third-party cloud platform, Snowflake, similar to data breaches that have affected Ticketmaster and Santander Bank. AT&T first learned of the breach in April, but as reported by TechCrunch, an FBI spokesperson confirmed “AT&T, the FBI and the Department of Justice agreed to delay notifying the public and customers on two occasions, citing ‘potential risks to national security and/or public safety.’”
The stolen data includes which phone numbers customers interacted with, and Byers tells The Verge that the breach also includes “counts of those calls/texts and total call durations for specific days or months.”
Here’s the information AT&T says is not included in the breach:
The downloaded data doesn’t include the content of any calls or texts. It doesn’t have the time stamps for the calls or texts. It also doesn’t have any details such as Social Security numbers, dates of birth, or other personally identifiable information.
While the data doesn’t include customer names, there are often ways to find a name associated with a phone number using publicly available online tools.
In a blog post, AT&T said “we do not believe that the data is publicly available” and that it has “taken steps to close off the illegal access point.” The company is working with law enforcement to “arrest those involved” and says one person has already been apprehended.
“We will provide notice to current and former customers whose information was involved along with resources to help protect their information,” AT&T writes. “We sincerely regret this incident occurred and remain committed to protecting the information in our care.”
This new incident comes just months after a leak exposed the information belonging to over 70 million current and former AT&T customers.

Illustration: The Verge

AT&T revealed Friday morning that a cybersecurity attack had exposed call records and texts from “nearly all” of the carrier’s cellular customers (including people on mobile virtual network operators, or MVNOs, that use AT&T’s network, like Cricket, Boost Mobile, and Consumer Cellular). The breach took place during the period between May 1st, 2022, and October 31st, 2022, in addition to an incident that impacted a “very small number” of customers on January 2nd, 2023.

AT&T spokesperson Alex Byers confirmed to The Verge the threat actor accessed the information through the company’s account on a third-party cloud platform, Snowflake, similar to data breaches that have affected Ticketmaster and Santander Bank. AT&T first learned of the breach in April, but as reported by TechCrunch, an FBI spokesperson confirmed “AT&T, the FBI and the Department of Justice agreed to delay notifying the public and customers on two occasions, citing ‘potential risks to national security and/or public safety.’”

The stolen data includes which phone numbers customers interacted with, and Byers tells The Verge that the breach also includes “counts of those calls/texts and total call durations for specific days or months.”

Here’s the information AT&T says is not included in the breach:

The downloaded data doesn’t include the content of any calls or texts. It doesn’t have the time stamps for the calls or texts. It also doesn’t have any details such as Social Security numbers, dates of birth, or other personally identifiable information.

While the data doesn’t include customer names, there are often ways to find a name associated with a phone number using publicly available online tools.

In a blog post, AT&T said “we do not believe that the data is publicly available” and that it has “taken steps to close off the illegal access point.” The company is working with law enforcement to “arrest those involved” and says one person has already been apprehended.

“We will provide notice to current and former customers whose information was involved along with resources to help protect their information,” AT&T writes. “We sincerely regret this incident occurred and remain committed to protecting the information in our care.”

This new incident comes just months after a leak exposed the information belonging to over 70 million current and former AT&T customers.

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Illustration by The Verge; Photo by Emmanuel Dunand / AFP via Getty Images

As the rest of the tech industry seems to mostly shift to overproduced infomercials for their product launches, Samsung is holding fast to its love for giant live events in huge arenas. This year, at Unpacked in Paris, the company announced a whole lineup of new gadgets. The new Fold and Flip look nice but also a bit uninspired; the Watch Ultra and Buds 3 look almost too familiar; and the Galaxy Ring might be the beginning of something really cool.
On this episode of The Vergecast, we talk through all of Samsung’s announcements and try to figure out whether “Apple products but for Android” is actually a winning strategy. It might be! Plus, we debate what to make of Samsung’s somewhat lackluster upgrades for the Flip and Fold phones — maybe these just aren’t the smartphone shapes of the future. Or at least not yet.

After that, we talk about a weird week in the streaming biz, from the maybe-finally-really-happening Paramount / Skydance deal to the looming end of Redbox to Instagram’s somewhat surprising plan to not try and do longform video.
Finally, in the lightning round, we talk Nothing’s awesomely cheap new phone, the latest in the AI copyright lawsuit world, and the sad current state of TUAW.

If you want to know more about everything we talk about in this episode, here are some links to get you started, first on Samsung:

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked: all the news on the Galaxy Ring, Fold, Flip, Watch, and AI
Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Flip 6 are pricier with minor updates
Samsung’s Galaxy Ring could be the one ring to rule an ecosystem
Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra hands-on: ultra déjà vu
Samsung’s new Galaxy Buds are blatant AirPod clones in both form and function
Samsung, Google, and Qualcomm are, uh, still doing that XR thing.
Motorola’s 2024 Razr Plus is a fun and flawed flip phone

And in streaming news:

Paramount agrees to sweetened Skydance merger deal
Redbox shuts down as its parent company declares Chapter 7 bankruptcy
Sling TV is the latest streamer to get those pesky pause ads
Instagram is sticking to short videos, says Adam Mosseri

And in the lightning round:

David Pierce’s pick: Nothing’s CMF launches new supercheap earbuds and a smartwatch

Nilay Patel’s pick: The developers suing over GitHub Copilot got dealt a major blow in court

Alex Cranz’s pick: Early Apple tech bloggers are shocked to find their name and work have been AI-zombified

Illustration by The Verge; Photo by Emmanuel Dunand / AFP via Getty Images

As the rest of the tech industry seems to mostly shift to overproduced infomercials for their product launches, Samsung is holding fast to its love for giant live events in huge arenas. This year, at Unpacked in Paris, the company announced a whole lineup of new gadgets. The new Fold and Flip look nice but also a bit uninspired; the Watch Ultra and Buds 3 look almost too familiar; and the Galaxy Ring might be the beginning of something really cool.

On this episode of The Vergecast, we talk through all of Samsung’s announcements and try to figure out whether “Apple products but for Android” is actually a winning strategy. It might be! Plus, we debate what to make of Samsung’s somewhat lackluster upgrades for the Flip and Fold phones — maybe these just aren’t the smartphone shapes of the future. Or at least not yet.

After that, we talk about a weird week in the streaming biz, from the maybe-finally-really-happening Paramount / Skydance deal to the looming end of Redbox to Instagram’s somewhat surprising plan to not try and do longform video.

Finally, in the lightning round, we talk Nothing’s awesomely cheap new phone, the latest in the AI copyright lawsuit world, and the sad current state of TUAW.

If you want to know more about everything we talk about in this episode, here are some links to get you started, first on Samsung:

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked: all the news on the Galaxy Ring, Fold, Flip, Watch, and AI
Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Flip 6 are pricier with minor updates
Samsung’s Galaxy Ring could be the one ring to rule an ecosystem
Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra hands-on: ultra déjà vu
Samsung’s new Galaxy Buds are blatant AirPod clones in both form and function
Samsung, Google, and Qualcomm are, uh, still doing that XR thing.
Motorola’s 2024 Razr Plus is a fun and flawed flip phone

And in streaming news:

Paramount agrees to sweetened Skydance merger deal
Redbox shuts down as its parent company declares Chapter 7 bankruptcy
Sling TV is the latest streamer to get those pesky pause ads
Instagram is sticking to short videos, says Adam Mosseri

And in the lightning round:

David Pierce’s pick: Nothing’s CMF launches new supercheap earbuds and a smartwatch

Nilay Patel’s pick: The developers suing over GitHub Copilot got dealt a major blow in court

Alex Cranz’s pick: Early Apple tech bloggers are shocked to find their name and work have been AI-zombified

Read More 

Image: Jackson Gibbs for The Verge

The FCC’s new broadband labels make it easier to compare internet plans, if you’re lucky enough to have options. Moving is complicated, and comparing internet plans can be, too. Combine the two, and it can be even more complex.
But if you want internet and don’t want to rely solely on your phone’s data plan in your new home, it’s a necessity. Whether you’re a professional work-from-home couple spending all day on Zoom calls while raising three YouTube- and Spotify-happy teenagers or a thrifty single who spends little to no time streaming or scrolling in favor of reading books and raising chickens, you probably need home internet — at least for the chicken cam.
How to find ISPs
You probably have a rough idea of the kind of internet plan you’ll need in your new home based on what you had at your old place and how you felt about it. The first step is to see which internet service providers (ISPs) are available in your new area and what plans they offer.
Unfortunately, depending on where you’re moving, you may not have a lot of options — and you’ll need to know what they are before you go under contract. Websites like HighSpeedInternet.com, Allconnect.com, InMyArea.com, and WhistleOut let you find providers by ZIP code, though you may want to try more than one since they each offer slightly different results and they’re not always up to date.

Just because ISPs allegedly serve your ZIP code doesn’t mean all of it — they may serve all homes in an area, some, or just one. Check with each ISP you’re interested in (whether on their website or via direct contact) to make sure the company can connect to the street address of your new home — not just the neighborhood. Even in relatively built-up areas, you may find homes where the cable or fiber run stops just a couple hundred feet away with an ISP unwilling to extend it. If you live in a big-box “luxury” apartment building, a condo, an HOA, or something similar, you might be limited to only one or two ISPs. Check with your property manager or board.
Understanding your options
Keep in mind that the more people and internet-connected devices in your home, the more bandwidth you’ll need, since it has to be shared. Most people should opt for fiber or cable if available, especially if you stream a lot, work from home all or some of the time, game online, regularly take video calls, or have streaming cameras. Wi-Fi devices will be further limited by their radios, and anything on a mesh network will have further slowdowns the further it is from the main node. BroadbandNow and Consumer Reports both offer calculators to help you estimate your bandwidth needs.
Your options will generally fall among the following types of internet service, in rough order of speed and preference:
Fiber: Fiber is the best speed by far, if you can get it. In neighborhoods where fiber is available, it’s not uncommon to see gigabit (1000Mbps) plans for $100 a month or less. And unlike cable internet, it’s often symmetrical, with upload speeds nearly as fast as download. (Cable upload speeds are often capped at a fraction of their capabilities.) But it’s not as prevalent as cable, it’s more complicated to set up service, and it’s not compatible with equipment like cable modems, if you already own one and were hoping to save some cash.
Cable internet: Cable is widely available, low latency, and can usually be bundled with other services (including phone, cable, streaming bundles, and smart home / security options). In areas where cable ISPs have to compete with fiber, they tend to offer competitive gigabit-plus plans, at least for the first couple of years.
Fixed wireless: Since fixed wireless uses 4G and 5G cell networks, it’s good for areas that don’t have fiber or cable infrastructure, and it’s often much faster than satellite or DSL. But inclement weather and line-of-sight obstructions can hinder connectivity, data can be capped, and it’s only as good as the cell reception. It can be up to 1Gbps or as low as 25Mbps.
Satellite: Satellite is good for off-grid and rural areas. While it’s slower and more expensive than cable, fiber, or fixed wireless, it’s more resilient in natural disasters since it doesn’t rely on ground-based infrastructure, which can be damaged or lose power.
DSL: DSL is widely available and affordable; if you have landline service, you can probably get DSL. It’s often the slowest option — 50Mbps if you’re lucky, and even slower as you get farther from the service provider’s facilities.
Features and drawbacks to look out for
Speed: This is an obvious one. The advertised number represents download speed. The second number, representing upload speed, has become more important in the age of cloud storage, always-on cloud cameras, and video content creation for social networks.
Data caps: Not all plans are unlimited. And some plans may be “unlimited” in name only. Compare any applicable data caps with your anticipated usage, and understand the consequences of going over. (Will your service be throttled? Will you be subject to additional charges? If so, how much?)
Equipment pricing: Does the ISP let you buy your own equipment instead of using theirs (e.g., modem, routers, wireless mesh signal extenders)? If so, will they waive the monthly leasing fee on the equipment they would otherwise rent out to you? What’s the cost of that when you compare the upfront capital expenditure of buying versus leasing?
It may also help to check reviews of the ISP’s equipment against reviews of third-party equipment to see if it’s even worthwhile to buy your own. Sometimes the ISP’s equipment is functionally competitive, and nowadays it’s common for companies to throw in whole-home Wi-Fi instead of a single access point.
Contracts and introductory pricing: The best deal you can get is a low price with no contract. But that’s not always doable. Some internet plans offer introductory pricing that expires after a certain number of months. Others require you to sign a contract for a year or two to get attractive pricing. Always ask how long pricing is guaranteed for, what the price will go up to after that period, and how long — if at all — you’ll be contractually obligated to stick around to avoid a penalty. (Also, find out what that penalty is.)
Installation fees: There’s not a lot of DIY in the land of ISPs; you’ll almost certainly have to have a technician come out to set you up. If installation isn’t free, you can sometimes talk the sales rep into waiving part or all of the fee. Just ask. (That’s how I always get my installation fees waived.)
Check the nutrition label — and the neighbors
Things have gotten a bit easier since the Federal Communications Commission mandated that fixed and mobile ISPs post user-friendly broadband “nutrition labels.” The labels outline many of the items discussed in this article, including pricing information, data caps, and speeds — as well as a lot of other important information, like taxes, early termination fees, privacy policy links, customer support information, etc.
To better understand the packages you’re considering, look for the nutrition label on an ISP’s website or in any of their retail locations, i.e., at any of their points of sale.

The real experts on your local ISPs are current and former customers. Find online reviews on sites like HighSpeedInternet.com or Trustpilot. Poke around forums and social networks like Reddit to look for common complaints. If feasible, talk to people in the neighborhood directly about their own ISP and their experiences.
And my favorite trick: join the most popular community Facebook group(s) for people in the neighborhood — and just ask. (A few such groups require actual residency and will verify, but many others won’t mind if you haven’t moved to the area yet.) This works especially well in the suburbs and exurbs; Gen X townies often love to dish on who the best and worst companies to do business with in the area are, ISPs included.
Pick up the phone — yes, really
Yes, you can often sign up for an internet plan on the internet without ever talking to a human being. But unless you have enough money to swim around in, Scrooge McDuck-style, I don’t recommend it. No hate to you introverts out there, but bargains travel with empathy — and empathy happens in conversation. If you want the best deal, you’re going to have to dial and talk.
Once you and the sales rep have identified the package you’re targeting and the pricing, your two goals are (1) to sweet-talk the rep into giving you a better deal and (2) to discover the “fine print” and any details you don’t like. For the first, break out the charm and your best negotiation tactics (mentioning any other ISP that you’re considering never hurts, for example). For the second, grill the rep on all the “things to look for” points above.
Rinse and repeat for other ISPs you’re considering (making sure you get the sales rep’s name, their direct line / extension, and a reference number each time). And don’t forget your current ISP if you haven’t ruled them out; if they offer service in your area, they may be willing to sweeten your deal with them in exchange for your continued business, especially if there are promotions you qualify for (which an ISP’s phone rep can find more easily than you can on your own).
When all is said and done, you’ll be equipped to pick the deal that works best for you. Happy internetting!
P.S. If you’re switching, don’t forget to break up with your current ISP (and return any equipment of theirs).

Image: Jackson Gibbs for The Verge

The FCC’s new broadband labels make it easier to compare internet plans, if you’re lucky enough to have options.

Moving is complicated, and comparing internet plans can be, too. Combine the two, and it can be even more complex.

But if you want internet and don’t want to rely solely on your phone’s data plan in your new home, it’s a necessity. Whether you’re a professional work-from-home couple spending all day on Zoom calls while raising three YouTube- and Spotify-happy teenagers or a thrifty single who spends little to no time streaming or scrolling in favor of reading books and raising chickens, you probably need home internet — at least for the chicken cam.

How to find ISPs

You probably have a rough idea of the kind of internet plan you’ll need in your new home based on what you had at your old place and how you felt about it. The first step is to see which internet service providers (ISPs) are available in your new area and what plans they offer.

Unfortunately, depending on where you’re moving, you may not have a lot of options — and you’ll need to know what they are before you go under contract. Websites like HighSpeedInternet.com, Allconnect.com, InMyArea.com, and WhistleOut let you find providers by ZIP code, though you may want to try more than one since they each offer slightly different results and they’re not always up to date.

Just because ISPs allegedly serve your ZIP code doesn’t mean all of it — they may serve all homes in an area, some, or just one. Check with each ISP you’re interested in (whether on their website or via direct contact) to make sure the company can connect to the street address of your new home — not just the neighborhood. Even in relatively built-up areas, you may find homes where the cable or fiber run stops just a couple hundred feet away with an ISP unwilling to extend it. If you live in a big-box “luxury” apartment building, a condo, an HOA, or something similar, you might be limited to only one or two ISPs. Check with your property manager or board.

Understanding your options

Keep in mind that the more people and internet-connected devices in your home, the more bandwidth you’ll need, since it has to be shared. Most people should opt for fiber or cable if available, especially if you stream a lot, work from home all or some of the time, game online, regularly take video calls, or have streaming cameras. Wi-Fi devices will be further limited by their radios, and anything on a mesh network will have further slowdowns the further it is from the main node. BroadbandNow and Consumer Reports both offer calculators to help you estimate your bandwidth needs.

Your options will generally fall among the following types of internet service, in rough order of speed and preference:

Fiber: Fiber is the best speed by far, if you can get it. In neighborhoods where fiber is available, it’s not uncommon to see gigabit (1000Mbps) plans for $100 a month or less. And unlike cable internet, it’s often symmetrical, with upload speeds nearly as fast as download. (Cable upload speeds are often capped at a fraction of their capabilities.) But it’s not as prevalent as cable, it’s more complicated to set up service, and it’s not compatible with equipment like cable modems, if you already own one and were hoping to save some cash.

Cable internet: Cable is widely available, low latency, and can usually be bundled with other services (including phone, cable, streaming bundles, and smart home / security options). In areas where cable ISPs have to compete with fiber, they tend to offer competitive gigabit-plus plans, at least for the first couple of years.

Fixed wireless: Since fixed wireless uses 4G and 5G cell networks, it’s good for areas that don’t have fiber or cable infrastructure, and it’s often much faster than satellite or DSL. But inclement weather and line-of-sight obstructions can hinder connectivity, data can be capped, and it’s only as good as the cell reception. It can be up to 1Gbps or as low as 25Mbps.

Satellite: Satellite is good for off-grid and rural areas. While it’s slower and more expensive than cable, fiber, or fixed wireless, it’s more resilient in natural disasters since it doesn’t rely on ground-based infrastructure, which can be damaged or lose power.

DSL: DSL is widely available and affordable; if you have landline service, you can probably get DSL. It’s often the slowest option — 50Mbps if you’re lucky, and even slower as you get farther from the service provider’s facilities.

Features and drawbacks to look out for

Speed: This is an obvious one. The advertised number represents download speed. The second number, representing upload speed, has become more important in the age of cloud storage, always-on cloud cameras, and video content creation for social networks.

Data caps: Not all plans are unlimited. And some plans may be “unlimited” in name only. Compare any applicable data caps with your anticipated usage, and understand the consequences of going over. (Will your service be throttled? Will you be subject to additional charges? If so, how much?)

Equipment pricing: Does the ISP let you buy your own equipment instead of using theirs (e.g., modem, routers, wireless mesh signal extenders)? If so, will they waive the monthly leasing fee on the equipment they would otherwise rent out to you? What’s the cost of that when you compare the upfront capital expenditure of buying versus leasing?

It may also help to check reviews of the ISP’s equipment against reviews of third-party equipment to see if it’s even worthwhile to buy your own. Sometimes the ISP’s equipment is functionally competitive, and nowadays it’s common for companies to throw in whole-home Wi-Fi instead of a single access point.

Contracts and introductory pricing: The best deal you can get is a low price with no contract. But that’s not always doable. Some internet plans offer introductory pricing that expires after a certain number of months. Others require you to sign a contract for a year or two to get attractive pricing. Always ask how long pricing is guaranteed for, what the price will go up to after that period, and how long — if at all — you’ll be contractually obligated to stick around to avoid a penalty. (Also, find out what that penalty is.)

Installation fees: There’s not a lot of DIY in the land of ISPs; you’ll almost certainly have to have a technician come out to set you up. If installation isn’t free, you can sometimes talk the sales rep into waiving part or all of the fee. Just ask. (That’s how I always get my installation fees waived.)

Check the nutrition label — and the neighbors

Things have gotten a bit easier since the Federal Communications Commission mandated that fixed and mobile ISPs post user-friendly broadband “nutrition labels.” The labels outline many of the items discussed in this article, including pricing information, data caps, and speeds — as well as a lot of other important information, like taxes, early termination fees, privacy policy links, customer support information, etc.

To better understand the packages you’re considering, look for the nutrition label on an ISP’s website or in any of their retail locations, i.e., at any of their points of sale.

The real experts on your local ISPs are current and former customers. Find online reviews on sites like HighSpeedInternet.com or Trustpilot. Poke around forums and social networks like Reddit to look for common complaints. If feasible, talk to people in the neighborhood directly about their own ISP and their experiences.

And my favorite trick: join the most popular community Facebook group(s) for people in the neighborhood — and just ask. (A few such groups require actual residency and will verify, but many others won’t mind if you haven’t moved to the area yet.) This works especially well in the suburbs and exurbs; Gen X townies often love to dish on who the best and worst companies to do business with in the area are, ISPs included.

Pick up the phone — yes, really

Yes, you can often sign up for an internet plan on the internet without ever talking to a human being. But unless you have enough money to swim around in, Scrooge McDuck-style, I don’t recommend it. No hate to you introverts out there, but bargains travel with empathy — and empathy happens in conversation. If you want the best deal, you’re going to have to dial and talk.

Once you and the sales rep have identified the package you’re targeting and the pricing, your two goals are (1) to sweet-talk the rep into giving you a better deal and (2) to discover the “fine print” and any details you don’t like. For the first, break out the charm and your best negotiation tactics (mentioning any other ISP that you’re considering never hurts, for example). For the second, grill the rep on all the “things to look for” points above.

Rinse and repeat for other ISPs you’re considering (making sure you get the sales rep’s name, their direct line / extension, and a reference number each time). And don’t forget your current ISP if you haven’t ruled them out; if they offer service in your area, they may be willing to sweeten your deal with them in exchange for your continued business, especially if there are promotions you qualify for (which an ISP’s phone rep can find more easily than you can on your own).

When all is said and done, you’ll be equipped to pick the deal that works best for you. Happy internetting!

P.S. If you’re switching, don’t forget to break up with your current ISP (and return any equipment of theirs).

Read More 

Image: Jackson Gibbs for The Verge

The Verge’s favorite methods for keeping our tech in reasonable order. One of the great things about moving is the chance to remake your workspace — or your gaming space, depending on what you use your computer for. It’s easy, after several years, to be content with a desk that’s not quite right, a chair that’s not quite comfortable, or cables that have spread all over the floor. But when a move forces you to reorganize that space, it’s a chance to make a better place for yourself.
We asked the staff of The Verge what they did when they were either moving into a new workspace or making over their old one. Here are some of their answers; we hope that one or two will be useful for you.
Cable management
Clear cord clips
Emilia David, reporter

I suffer from a disease common in New York City called “not enough outlets in convenient spots,” so I have to stretch wires and extension cords in risky areas around my apartment. But while I haven’t quite figured out how to fix the mess of wires underneath my desk, all the extension cords and other wires I use around my home are nicely tucked away thanks to these clear cord clips I found on Amazon.
The clips come with an adhesive you can stick to the wall and a hook that holds the wire in place. I have them in two different widths: one that holds wires up to 0.3 inches in diameter and a thick boi for wider cords. And they’re clear, so they manage to blend into my walls. I used the clips to tuck my microwave cord against the backsplash molding, so it’s away from water. They’re also holding the extension cord for my toaster / air fryer on the baseboard to avoid it becoming a tripping hazard. I haven’t used the clips for the wires under my desk, but I’m sure I’ll find a way soon enough.

Magnetic cables
Sean Hollister, senior editor

Why keep a drawer full of tangled cables when you can have perfectly coiled cords always within reach? Try a tangle-free magnetic USB cable like these SuperCalla ones instead. I keep mine stuck to a metal filing cabinet right next to my desk, and while many manufacturers cheap out on this type of cord, I’ve found the SuperCalla to have excellent magnet strength. I just wish the company had a six-foot USB-C to USB-C cable with 100W charging and 10Gbps data — only the three-foot one does that. I’m eager to try some of the braided magnetic ones soon, too.

Cable organizing box
Kaitlin Hatton, senior audience manager

Last year, I went on a journey to organize my desk in the most efficient way possible while still remaining stylish. I stumbled on a set of these organizers online and gave them a shot.
I was surprised at how nice the products were given the price. I use one of the two included organizers for my various cords, SD cards, pens, and small notebooks. I also keep an extra phone charger and wall plug in there so I can just grab the whole case and toss it in my bag as I head out. I use the second organizer from the set to catch all of my stray office supplies, like rubber bands, paper clips, and even a small sewing kit. (The sewing kit is mostly there because I have no idea where else I would put it.) They’re not the best organizers I’ve ever used, and the compartments are small, but they get the job done.

Moldable glue
Barbara Krasnoff, reviews editor

I’ve never been all that handy, although it isn’t for want of trying. However, even I can manage to create a useful cable management system using Sugru Mouldable Glue (their spelling). This is sort of a Play-Doh for adults; it comes in several basic colors, which can be combined to make other colors. You open the packet, take out the Sugru, mold it into the shape you want, stick it to another surface (if you need to), and let it dry.
I’ve used it to make hooks for my kitchen curtains and my headphones, to mend the handle of a faucet in the bathtub, and to repair the worn covering of a cable. But the coolest thing I did was create a series of indented attachments on the side of my old desk that would hold my various cables and keep them in order. (Sugru knows this is a major issue as well; it actually has a video showing how to create cable holders.)
Do they look professional? Not really. But they work. And next time, I may use Sugru to mold something a little more imaginative, just for fun.

Desks
A standing desk
Victoria Song, senior reviewer

I think of my Kostival standing desk as the final form of all the desks I’ve had over the years. I’ve always had a combo of a desk with built-in shelving and a separate monitor stand, but something was always slightly off. Either the monitor stand wasn’t tall enough or there wasn’t enough storage for all my knickknacks and stationery supplies. My previous desk was similar to this one but was way too narrow. I took moving as an opportunity to start fresh and get a standing desk. Now, I try to stand for at least two hours per day, mostly when I’m doing passive tasks like responding to emails.
What I like about this desk is that I can tuck my keyboard away and still have a spot for my journals. The drawers on each side house 90 percent of my stationery supplies, and there’s enough space for me to plop my laptop on its stand. I went from having two bookshelves in my office to only needing one.
(By the way, while my specific desk is no longer available, you can find similar desks like the one in the product box above.)

Standing desk extension
Barbara Krasnoff, reviews editor

When we moved to our current home, I realized that it would be a lot healthier for me to have a standing desk. However, at that point (and especially after spending for the move), I didn’t want to invest in one — they do tend to be a bit pricey). Eventually, though, I found a great substitute: the Vivo height-adjustable standing desk converter.
It sits on a small table next to my desk (in a sort of “L” formation) and has a handle that lets me smoothly raise the surface to exactly the right height. Now, whenever I want to spend some time standing rather than sitting, I just shift my laptop over to the Vivo, adjust its height (if I need to), and work away. When I want to sit again? I just move my laptop back to my desk. I can even adjust the Vivo so that the laptop camera is a better height for video meetings.

Other strategies
Monitor arms
Sean Hollister, senior editor

It’s hard to fit three monitors on a 48-inch desk — unless you go all Doctor Octopus to keep ’em off the table. My articulating monitor arm of choice is the Dell MSA14, which I use to float a pair of Dell U2412M monitors that I found off Craigslist for something like $50 each. (I use the pair as vertical monitors for websites and various messengers, not movies or games.)
If you’re going with another brand of monitor, you’ll likely want a standard VESA mount instead. Just make sure the arm is rated for the weight of your monitor, don’t cheap out too much, and watch a video or something to make sure they articulate in all the ways you need.
Oh, and don’t forget to leave space on or around the desk for the arms to turn: I learned the hard way that putting my desk in a corner greatly restricted their freedom of movement.

USB switcher
Antonio G. Di Benedetto, commerce writer

My secret weapon in bouncing back and forth between work and personal machines is a USB switcher. It’s basically just a small button beneath my monitor with some cables and dongles going in and out of it. I have four peripherals plugged into it: an Insta360 Link webcam, a fancy-schmancy Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 (fourth-gen) audio interface for the fancy-schmancy mic I have no business owning, a 2.4GHz USB dongle for whatever mechanical keyboard I’m currently using, and another USB wireless receiver for my mouse.
I press the button on the switcher, and all four devices swap from my laptop to my desktop and vice versa. I find it super handy for keeping work and play separate while using the same peripherals.

Pegboard plus pegs from 3D printer
Sean Hollister, senior editor

Pegboards aren’t just for garages. A classy one covered with your favorite gadgets might look perfect on your office wall. I use the $28 Ikea Skådis, but not with Ikea’s own generic pegs — because 3D printing websites like Printables, Thingiverse, and MakerWorld are filled with perfect-fit hangers for just about anything. I’ve got a headset hook, a AA and AAA battery dispenser, and custom mounts for my old Steam and Stadia controllers, my VR headset, and more. I might even start designing my own.

A file cart
Nathan Edwards, senior reviews editor

If you’re someone like me whose organizational strategy tends to devolve into “I’ll just put this in a pile and deal with it later” — and whose later never seems to arrive — I recommend an open filing system. Files are like piles but easier to label and sort through. I used to just have a couple of desktop file holders, but since my last move, I keep an Elfa mesh filing cart under my desk. It fits scads of hanging files for in-progress projects while keeping my desktop free, and it has a couple of pull-out mesh drawers for the stuff that would go into my desk drawers if I had any. And it has wheels.

Image: Jackson Gibbs for The Verge

The Verge’s favorite methods for keeping our tech in reasonable order.

One of the great things about moving is the chance to remake your workspace — or your gaming space, depending on what you use your computer for. It’s easy, after several years, to be content with a desk that’s not quite right, a chair that’s not quite comfortable, or cables that have spread all over the floor. But when a move forces you to reorganize that space, it’s a chance to make a better place for yourself.

We asked the staff of The Verge what they did when they were either moving into a new workspace or making over their old one. Here are some of their answers; we hope that one or two will be useful for you.

Cable management

Clear cord clips

Emilia David, reporter

I suffer from a disease common in New York City called “not enough outlets in convenient spots,” so I have to stretch wires and extension cords in risky areas around my apartment. But while I haven’t quite figured out how to fix the mess of wires underneath my desk, all the extension cords and other wires I use around my home are nicely tucked away thanks to these clear cord clips I found on Amazon.

The clips come with an adhesive you can stick to the wall and a hook that holds the wire in place. I have them in two different widths: one that holds wires up to 0.3 inches in diameter and a thick boi for wider cords. And they’re clear, so they manage to blend into my walls. I used the clips to tuck my microwave cord against the backsplash molding, so it’s away from water. They’re also holding the extension cord for my toaster / air fryer on the baseboard to avoid it becoming a tripping hazard. I haven’t used the clips for the wires under my desk, but I’m sure I’ll find a way soon enough.

Magnetic cables

Sean Hollister, senior editor

Why keep a drawer full of tangled cables when you can have perfectly coiled cords always within reach? Try a tangle-free magnetic USB cable like these SuperCalla ones instead. I keep mine stuck to a metal filing cabinet right next to my desk, and while many manufacturers cheap out on this type of cord, I’ve found the SuperCalla to have excellent magnet strength. I just wish the company had a six-foot USB-C to USB-C cable with 100W charging and 10Gbps data — only the three-foot one does that. I’m eager to try some of the braided magnetic ones soon, too.

Cable organizing box

Kaitlin Hatton, senior audience manager

Last year, I went on a journey to organize my desk in the most efficient way possible while still remaining stylish. I stumbled on a set of these organizers online and gave them a shot.

I was surprised at how nice the products were given the price. I use one of the two included organizers for my various cords, SD cards, pens, and small notebooks. I also keep an extra phone charger and wall plug in there so I can just grab the whole case and toss it in my bag as I head out. I use the second organizer from the set to catch all of my stray office supplies, like rubber bands, paper clips, and even a small sewing kit. (The sewing kit is mostly there because I have no idea where else I would put it.) They’re not the best organizers I’ve ever used, and the compartments are small, but they get the job done.

Moldable glue

Barbara Krasnoff, reviews editor

I’ve never been all that handy, although it isn’t for want of trying. However, even I can manage to create a useful cable management system using Sugru Mouldable Glue (their spelling). This is sort of a Play-Doh for adults; it comes in several basic colors, which can be combined to make other colors. You open the packet, take out the Sugru, mold it into the shape you want, stick it to another surface (if you need to), and let it dry.

I’ve used it to make hooks for my kitchen curtains and my headphones, to mend the handle of a faucet in the bathtub, and to repair the worn covering of a cable. But the coolest thing I did was create a series of indented attachments on the side of my old desk that would hold my various cables and keep them in order. (Sugru knows this is a major issue as well; it actually has a video showing how to create cable holders.)

Do they look professional? Not really. But they work. And next time, I may use Sugru to mold something a little more imaginative, just for fun.

Desks

A standing desk

Victoria Song, senior reviewer

I think of my Kostival standing desk as the final form of all the desks I’ve had over the years. I’ve always had a combo of a desk with built-in shelving and a separate monitor stand, but something was always slightly off. Either the monitor stand wasn’t tall enough or there wasn’t enough storage for all my knickknacks and stationery supplies. My previous desk was similar to this one but was way too narrow. I took moving as an opportunity to start fresh and get a standing desk. Now, I try to stand for at least two hours per day, mostly when I’m doing passive tasks like responding to emails.

What I like about this desk is that I can tuck my keyboard away and still have a spot for my journals. The drawers on each side house 90 percent of my stationery supplies, and there’s enough space for me to plop my laptop on its stand. I went from having two bookshelves in my office to only needing one.

(By the way, while my specific desk is no longer available, you can find similar desks like the one in the product box above.)

Standing desk extension

Barbara Krasnoff, reviews editor

When we moved to our current home, I realized that it would be a lot healthier for me to have a standing desk. However, at that point (and especially after spending for the move), I didn’t want to invest in one — they do tend to be a bit pricey). Eventually, though, I found a great substitute: the Vivo height-adjustable standing desk converter.

It sits on a small table next to my desk (in a sort of “L” formation) and has a handle that lets me smoothly raise the surface to exactly the right height. Now, whenever I want to spend some time standing rather than sitting, I just shift my laptop over to the Vivo, adjust its height (if I need to), and work away. When I want to sit again? I just move my laptop back to my desk. I can even adjust the Vivo so that the laptop camera is a better height for video meetings.

Other strategies

Monitor arms

Sean Hollister, senior editor

It’s hard to fit three monitors on a 48-inch desk — unless you go all Doctor Octopus to keep ’em off the table. My articulating monitor arm of choice is the Dell MSA14, which I use to float a pair of Dell U2412M monitors that I found off Craigslist for something like $50 each. (I use the pair as vertical monitors for websites and various messengers, not movies or games.)

If you’re going with another brand of monitor, you’ll likely want a standard VESA mount instead. Just make sure the arm is rated for the weight of your monitor, don’t cheap out too much, and watch a video or something to make sure they articulate in all the ways you need.

Oh, and don’t forget to leave space on or around the desk for the arms to turn: I learned the hard way that putting my desk in a corner greatly restricted their freedom of movement.

USB switcher

Antonio G. Di Benedetto, commerce writer

My secret weapon in bouncing back and forth between work and personal machines is a USB switcher. It’s basically just a small button beneath my monitor with some cables and dongles going in and out of it. I have four peripherals plugged into it: an Insta360 Link webcam, a fancy-schmancy Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 (fourth-gen) audio interface for the fancy-schmancy mic I have no business owning, a 2.4GHz USB dongle for whatever mechanical keyboard I’m currently using, and another USB wireless receiver for my mouse.

I press the button on the switcher, and all four devices swap from my laptop to my desktop and vice versa. I find it super handy for keeping work and play separate while using the same peripherals.

Pegboard plus pegs from 3D printer

Sean Hollister, senior editor

Pegboards aren’t just for garages. A classy one covered with your favorite gadgets might look perfect on your office wall. I use the $28 Ikea Skådis, but not with Ikea’s own generic pegs — because 3D printing websites like Printables, Thingiverse, and MakerWorld are filled with perfect-fit hangers for just about anything. I’ve got a headset hook, a AA and AAA battery dispenser, and custom mounts for my old Steam and Stadia controllers, my VR headset, and more. I might even start designing my own.

A file cart

Nathan Edwards, senior reviews editor

If you’re someone like me whose organizational strategy tends to devolve into “I’ll just put this in a pile and deal with it later” — and whose later never seems to arrive — I recommend an open filing system. Files are like piles but easier to label and sort through. I used to just have a couple of desktop file holders, but since my last move, I keep an Elfa mesh filing cart under my desk. It fits scads of hanging files for in-progress projects while keeping my desktop free, and it has a couple of pull-out mesh drawers for the stuff that would go into my desk drawers if I had any. And it has wheels.

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