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European iPad users can download from third-party app stores starting next week
Fortnite maker Epic has already committed to supporting its iOS app store on iPads. | Image: Epic Games
Apple will let iPad users in the European Union download apps from alternative app marketplaces starting next week, coinciding with the release of iPadOS 18 on September 16th. The change comes after the iPad operating system was designated a “core platform service” in April under the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) — the same rules that forced the company to allow third-party app stores on iPhones earlier this year.
Apple had six months to ensure iPadOS was compliant with DMA obligations, which include allowing users in the EU to download apps from outside the Apple App Store, uninstall preloaded iPad apps, and choose their own default apps like browsers. It also opens up iPadOS, like iOS, to apps that use alternative browser engines other than WebKit, but we’re still waiting on this.
The iPhone maker initially argued that iPadOS didn’t meet the required user threshold for DMA, but it was nonetheless determined to be an “important gateway on which many companies rely to reach their customers,” according to EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager.
A handful of third-party app stores have already launched for iPhone users in the EU such as Setapp Mobile, AltStore PAL, and the new Epic Games Store, which has already committed to supporting iPads. So hold tight Fortnite fans, you’ll soon have a larger display option for on-the-go gaming.
Fortnite maker Epic has already committed to supporting its iOS app store on iPads. | Image: Epic Games
Apple will let iPad users in the European Union download apps from alternative app marketplaces starting next week, coinciding with the release of iPadOS 18 on September 16th. The change comes after the iPad operating system was designated a “core platform service” in April under the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) — the same rules that forced the company to allow third-party app stores on iPhones earlier this year.
Apple had six months to ensure iPadOS was compliant with DMA obligations, which include allowing users in the EU to download apps from outside the Apple App Store, uninstall preloaded iPad apps, and choose their own default apps like browsers. It also opens up iPadOS, like iOS, to apps that use alternative browser engines other than WebKit, but we’re still waiting on this.
The iPhone maker initially argued that iPadOS didn’t meet the required user threshold for DMA, but it was nonetheless determined to be an “important gateway on which many companies rely to reach their customers,” according to EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager.
A handful of third-party app stores have already launched for iPhone users in the EU such as Setapp Mobile, AltStore PAL, and the new Epic Games Store, which has already committed to supporting iPads. So hold tight Fortnite fans, you’ll soon have a larger display option for on-the-go gaming.
United Airlines is adding free Starlink Wi-Fi to all of its planes
Image: The Verge
United Airlines’ in-flight Wi-Fi is getting a big upgrade on all its jets thanks to SpaceX’s Starlink satellites. After teasing “something big” for the skies, United says that it will start testing Starlink’s fast Wi-Fi service in early 2025, with the first passenger flights expected later next year.
United is installing Starlink Wi-Fi into all of its aircraft, more than 1,000 planes, over the next several years, and the service will be free for passengers. “Everything you can do on the ground, you’ll soon be able to do onboard a United plane at 35,000 feet, just about anywhere in the world,” says United CEO Scott Kirby.
One Mile at a Time reports that United currently has four different Wi-Fi providers, with regional jets utilizing Intelsat (formerly Gogo) and most wide-body jets using Panasonic Wi-Fi. United also uses Viasat Wi-Fi on most of its 737 Max aircraft, some A319s, and A321neos. Viasat is the best of the bunch in terms of speeds and is commonly found on American and Delta flights.
The announcement is a major one for travelers, as onboard Wi-Fi is often unreliable and slow right now. The Wall Street Journal recently showed how Starlink and others are about to change that, achieving speeds over 100Mbps on a shared Starlink connection with latency under 100ms on a real-world flight. That allows for uninterrupted Netflix streams and even the ability to join video conference calls. Starlink says it can offer speeds of up to 220Mbps per plane.
The high-speed Starlink service is only currently available on JSX or Hawaiian Airlines in the US, so an expansion to United will undoubtedly put the pressure on rivals to improve their in-flight Wi-Fi. A number of international airlines have also announced plans to install Starlink Wi-Fi in recent months, with WestJet planning to use Starlink onboard some of its aircraft starting in December and Qatar Airways planning to introduce free Starlink Wi-Fi on three of its Boeing 777-300 aircraft later this year. Air New Zealand is aiming to roll out Starlink in its domestic fleet in 2025.
News of United’s Starlink deal comes the same week that Jessica Rosenworcel, chair of the Federal Communications Commission, said she wanted to see more competition to SpaceX’s Starlink. Elon Musk’s Starlink has launched around 7,000 satellites into orbit since 2018, with SpaceX controlling “almost two-thirds of the satellites that are in space right now,” according to Rosenworcel. “Our economy doesn’t benefit from monopolies. So we’ve got to invite many more space actors in, many more companies that can develop constellations and innovations in space.”
T-Mobile also announced this week that it had recently tested an emergency alert successfully via a Starlink satellite. In 2022, T-Mobile and SpaceX announced a partnership that would let people text, make calls, and use their T-Mobile phones through Starlink satellites. AT&T and Verizon are also building out similar satellite-to-smartphone services, with Apple and Google offering satellite services for their latest smartphones.
Image: The Verge
United Airlines’ in-flight Wi-Fi is getting a big upgrade on all its jets thanks to SpaceX’s Starlink satellites. After teasing “something big” for the skies, United says that it will start testing Starlink’s fast Wi-Fi service in early 2025, with the first passenger flights expected later next year.
United is installing Starlink Wi-Fi into all of its aircraft, more than 1,000 planes, over the next several years, and the service will be free for passengers. “Everything you can do on the ground, you’ll soon be able to do onboard a United plane at 35,000 feet, just about anywhere in the world,” says United CEO Scott Kirby.
One Mile at a Time reports that United currently has four different Wi-Fi providers, with regional jets utilizing Intelsat (formerly Gogo) and most wide-body jets using Panasonic Wi-Fi. United also uses Viasat Wi-Fi on most of its 737 Max aircraft, some A319s, and A321neos. Viasat is the best of the bunch in terms of speeds and is commonly found on American and Delta flights.
The announcement is a major one for travelers, as onboard Wi-Fi is often unreliable and slow right now. The Wall Street Journal recently showed how Starlink and others are about to change that, achieving speeds over 100Mbps on a shared Starlink connection with latency under 100ms on a real-world flight. That allows for uninterrupted Netflix streams and even the ability to join video conference calls. Starlink says it can offer speeds of up to 220Mbps per plane.
The high-speed Starlink service is only currently available on JSX or Hawaiian Airlines in the US, so an expansion to United will undoubtedly put the pressure on rivals to improve their in-flight Wi-Fi. A number of international airlines have also announced plans to install Starlink Wi-Fi in recent months, with WestJet planning to use Starlink onboard some of its aircraft starting in December and Qatar Airways planning to introduce free Starlink Wi-Fi on three of its Boeing 777-300 aircraft later this year. Air New Zealand is aiming to roll out Starlink in its domestic fleet in 2025.
News of United’s Starlink deal comes the same week that Jessica Rosenworcel, chair of the Federal Communications Commission, said she wanted to see more competition to SpaceX’s Starlink. Elon Musk’s Starlink has launched around 7,000 satellites into orbit since 2018, with SpaceX controlling “almost two-thirds of the satellites that are in space right now,” according to Rosenworcel. “Our economy doesn’t benefit from monopolies. So we’ve got to invite many more space actors in, many more companies that can develop constellations and innovations in space.”
T-Mobile also announced this week that it had recently tested an emergency alert successfully via a Starlink satellite. In 2022, T-Mobile and SpaceX announced a partnership that would let people text, make calls, and use their T-Mobile phones through Starlink satellites. AT&T and Verizon are also building out similar satellite-to-smartphone services, with Apple and Google offering satellite services for their latest smartphones.
Netflix is ending support for some older iPhones and iPads
The latest Netflix app update will require Apple devices to run iOS 17 or later. | Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge
The Netflix app is dropping support for older iPhones and iPads that are stuck at iOS 16. 9to5Mac reports that Netflix is showing an alert to users on some iOS 16 devices that says “We’ve updated the Netflix app! To use the latest version, install iOS 17 or later.”
The change only impacts devices that can’t be updated to iOS 17, such as the iPhone X, iPhone 8, and iPhone 8 Plus handsets, and Apple’s first-generation iPad Pro and iPad 5 tablets. These devices will be unable to receive further Netflix updates, such as important patches for bugs and other security concerns. Apple is rolling out iOS 18 on September 16th.
Netflix users stuck on iOS 16 can still access their accounts in the current version of their app, for the time being, as well as a browser if all else fails.
The latest Netflix app update will require Apple devices to run iOS 17 or later. | Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge
The Netflix app is dropping support for older iPhones and iPads that are stuck at iOS 16. 9to5Mac reports that Netflix is showing an alert to users on some iOS 16 devices that says “We’ve updated the Netflix app! To use the latest version, install iOS 17 or later.”
The change only impacts devices that can’t be updated to iOS 17, such as the iPhone X, iPhone 8, and iPhone 8 Plus handsets, and Apple’s first-generation iPad Pro and iPad 5 tablets. These devices will be unable to receive further Netflix updates, such as important patches for bugs and other security concerns. Apple is rolling out iOS 18 on September 16th.
Netflix users stuck on iOS 16 can still access their accounts in the current version of their app, for the time being, as well as a browser if all else fails.
Come pixel-peep what the PS5 Pro can maybe actually do
A crop of Spider-Man 2 from Sony’s PS5 Pro video. | Image: Sony
We’ve got lossless screenshots — but you’ll have to download them. I think Sony might have made a mistake.
Not by pricing the PS5 Pro at $700 or ditching the optical drive — it can always drop the price or bundle — but by trying to showcase the PS5 Pro’s graphical improvements using a bandwidth-limited, compressed YouTube video.
I say that because I’m currently looking at a native 5.3GB video file of Sony’s presentation right now, on a 4K OLED screen, and I think corporate can genuinely tell the difference in some of these games. That wasn’t necessarily true on YouTube.
But I don’t want you to take my word for it. I want you to download the lossless PNG screenshots I just captured, so you can decide for yourself.
Important note: Do not right-click to download the images you see below, do not even left-click them — they’re just visual aids so you know which image you’ll get. Left-click the link in each caption to load the pictures, then download them; each should have a filesize well over 4MB. Optimally, you should then display them on a big 4K screen, like the one you might use with the PlayStation.
Image: Sony
Tap here for full 4K image.
Image: Sony
Tap here for full 4K image.
Image: Sony
Tap here for full 4K image.
Image: Sony
Tap here for full 4K image.
The above examples are the PS5 Pro compared to the original PS5’s faster-framerate “performance” mode, and they’re designed to show how you don’t have to sacrifice graphics for smooth 60fps speeds. But if you’re willing to tolerate the lower framerates of “Fidelity” mode, the advantage isn’t as clear-cut:
Image: Sony
Tap here for full 4K image.
Image: Sony
Tap here for full 4K image.
Sony didn’t offer comparo images for every title, but here are pictures from other games it used to represent the PS5 Pro’s graphics, too:
Image: Sony
Tap here for full 4K image.
Image: Sony
Tap here for full 4K image.
Image: Sony
Tap here for full 4K image.
Image: Sony
Tap here for full 4K image.
Image: Sony
Tap here for full 4K image.
Image: Sony
Tap here for full 4K image.
Image: Sony
Tap here for full 4K image.
Image: Sony
Tap here for full 4K image.
Image: Sony
Tap here for full 4K image.
Image: Sony
Tap here for full 4K image.
Image: Sony
Tap here for full 4K image.
Image: Sony
Tap here for full 4K image.
Image: Sony
Tap here for full 4K image.
If you’re really dedicated, I suppose you could even try to find the same moment in the same game on your own PS5, grab your own screenshot, and use Nvidia’s ICAT tool to peep pixels like a pro.
Is it ridiculous that we’ve come to this? Maybe! But I don’t want you to think there’s no difference between PS5 and PS5 Pro graphics at 60fps:
There’s absolutely a difference — just perhaps not one that’s worth $700 to you.
A crop of Spider-Man 2 from Sony’s PS5 Pro video. | Image: Sony
We’ve got lossless screenshots — but you’ll have to download them.
I think Sony might have made a mistake.
Not by pricing the PS5 Pro at $700 or ditching the optical drive — it can always drop the price or bundle — but by trying to showcase the PS5 Pro’s graphical improvements using a bandwidth-limited, compressed YouTube video.
I say that because I’m currently looking at a native 5.3GB video file of Sony’s presentation right now, on a 4K OLED screen, and I think corporate can genuinely tell the difference in some of these games. That wasn’t necessarily true on YouTube.
But I don’t want you to take my word for it. I want you to download the lossless PNG screenshots I just captured, so you can decide for yourself.
Important note: Do not right-click to download the images you see below, do not even left-click them — they’re just visual aids so you know which image you’ll get. Left-click the link in each caption to load the pictures, then download them; each should have a filesize well over 4MB. Optimally, you should then display them on a big 4K screen, like the one you might use with the PlayStation.
Image: Sony
Tap here for full 4K image.
Image: Sony
Tap here for full 4K image.
Image: Sony
Image: Sony
Tap here for full 4K image.
The above examples are the PS5 Pro compared to the original PS5’s faster-framerate “performance” mode, and they’re designed to show how you don’t have to sacrifice graphics for smooth 60fps speeds. But if you’re willing to tolerate the lower framerates of “Fidelity” mode, the advantage isn’t as clear-cut:
Image: Sony
Image: Sony
Sony didn’t offer comparo images for every title, but here are pictures from other games it used to represent the PS5 Pro’s graphics, too:
Image: Sony
Tap here for full 4K image.
Image: Sony
Tap here for full 4K image.
Image: Sony
Tap here for full 4K image.
Image: Sony
Tap here for full 4K image.
Image: Sony
Tap here for full 4K image.
Image: Sony
Tap here for full 4K image.
Image: Sony
Tap here for full 4K image.
Image: Sony
Tap here for full 4K image.
Image: Sony
Tap here for full 4K image.
Image: Sony
Tap here for full 4K image.
Image: Sony
Tap here for full 4K image.
Image: Sony
Tap here for full 4K image.
Image: Sony
Tap here for full 4K image.
If you’re really dedicated, I suppose you could even try to find the same moment in the same game on your own PS5, grab your own screenshot, and use Nvidia’s ICAT tool to peep pixels like a pro.
Is it ridiculous that we’ve come to this? Maybe! But I don’t want you to think there’s no difference between PS5 and PS5 Pro graphics at 60fps:
There’s absolutely a difference — just perhaps not one that’s worth $700 to you.
Google tests desktop windowing for Android tablets
Image: Google
Google is testing a new feature for Android tablets that will let you resize apps freely and arrange them on your screen at will, making it easier to juggle multiple tasks. The “desktop windowing” feature is now available as a developer preview and for apps that support it, you could even have more than one instance open.
Currently, apps on Android tablets open in full-screen by default. When the new mode is enabled, each app will appear in a window with controls that allow you to reposition, maximize, or close the app. You’ll also see a taskbar at the bottom of your screen with your running apps.
It sounds a lot like the iPad’s Stage Manager feature that similarly lets you resize and move windows around your screen or pretty much any desktop operating system. Samsung has also offered its DeX experience for years, bringing desktop-like windows management to Android apps on Galaxy phones and tablets.
GIF: Google
Once the feature is rolled out to everyone, you can turn it on by pressing and holding the window handle at the top of an app’s screen. If you have a keyboard attached, you can also use the shortcut meta key (Windows, Command, or Search) + Ctrl + Down to activate desktop mode. (You can exit the mode by closing all your active apps, or by dragging a window and dragging it to the top of your screen.)
Google notes that apps locked to portrait orientation are still resizable, which might make things look a bit weird if certain apps aren’t optimized. However, Google plans to address this in a future update by scaling the UI of non-resizable apps while maintaining their aspect ratio.
For now, users can access the developer preview in the latest Android 15 QPR1 Beta 2 for Pixel Tablets. We still don’t know when the feature is rolling out to everyone — or if it will come to the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold.
Image: Google
Google is testing a new feature for Android tablets that will let you resize apps freely and arrange them on your screen at will, making it easier to juggle multiple tasks. The “desktop windowing” feature is now available as a developer preview and for apps that support it, you could even have more than one instance open.
Currently, apps on Android tablets open in full-screen by default. When the new mode is enabled, each app will appear in a window with controls that allow you to reposition, maximize, or close the app. You’ll also see a taskbar at the bottom of your screen with your running apps.
It sounds a lot like the iPad’s Stage Manager feature that similarly lets you resize and move windows around your screen or pretty much any desktop operating system. Samsung has also offered its DeX experience for years, bringing desktop-like windows management to Android apps on Galaxy phones and tablets.
GIF: Google
Once the feature is rolled out to everyone, you can turn it on by pressing and holding the window handle at the top of an app’s screen. If you have a keyboard attached, you can also use the shortcut meta key (Windows, Command, or Search) + Ctrl + Down to activate desktop mode. (You can exit the mode by closing all your active apps, or by dragging a window and dragging it to the top of your screen.)
Google notes that apps locked to portrait orientation are still resizable, which might make things look a bit weird if certain apps aren’t optimized. However, Google plans to address this in a future update by scaling the UI of non-resizable apps while maintaining their aspect ratio.
For now, users can access the developer preview in the latest Android 15 QPR1 Beta 2 for Pixel Tablets. We still don’t know when the feature is rolling out to everyone — or if it will come to the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold.
Here’s everything you need to know about preordering the new iPhone 16
Apple’s latest entry-level handset starts at $799 once again. | Photo: Allison Johnson / The Verge
The dust is still settling from Apple’s latest iPhone event, which introduced us to the Apple Watch Series 10, a new set of AirPods, and a suite of smartphones that are due to arrive later this month. And while we’ve only had some initial hands-on time with the new iPhone 16 models, preorders officially open up tomorrow, September 13th.
Apple’s latest phones — specifically the iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, and 16 Pro Max — are set to arrive on September 20th. They introduce new processors and a slick new Camera Control button, but none of them look to be a drastic overhaul of last year’s iPhone 15 series. That being said, perhaps things will get interesting when Apple Intelligence comes to the new models with the release of iOS 18.1 beta in October.
We’re currently putting the new iPhones through their paces; however, we know some of you are the early adopter types who can’t wait to get ahold of the latest thing. (We’re guilty of this, too, so no judgment here.) To help, we’ve put together a little guidance on what you’re getting with each new iPhone 16 model, as well as which retailers are currently offering preorder incentives.
Photo: Allison Johnson / The Verge
The iPhones are actually colorful this year — well, some of them.
Where to preorder the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus
The best term I’d use to describe the base iPhone 16 and 16 Plus is “trickle-down.” Many of their best features are taken from last year’s Pro line, including the Action Button, a short-telephoto 2x crop mode, and an autofocusing ultra-wide camera with macro mode. Some other features are in parity (or close to parity) with the pricier iPhone 16 Pro, like the new Camera Control button and Apple’s new A18 chip — though, the Pros get the fancier A18 Pro. However, one sticking point for some may be that the standard iPhone 16 doesn’t inherit the 120Hz refresh rate found on the Pros, as it’s still running at a middling 60Hz.
Refresh rate aside, the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus might be some of the most well-rounded mainline iPhones in a while — if not the most vibrant — and that’s without the forthcoming, much-hyped Apple Intelligence features.
The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus start at $799 and $899, respectively, and are set to launch on September 20th, with preorders opening at 8AM ET / 5AM PT on September 13th. We expect Best Buy and other retailers to open preorders around the same time as Apple, but if you’re looking to save time, Apple is currently letting you pick your phone and get part of the process done ahead of time — a sort of pre-preorder.
Where to preorder the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max
Apple made the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max bigger than ever at 6.3 and 6.9 inches, respectively. That means each phone is slightly taller and wider than the iPhone 15 Pro generation, with smaller bezels, though they maintain the titanium frame construction. The marque hardware feature this year is the Camera Control button, which allows you to take snaps and operate the various camera functions with tap and swipe gestures. There’s also a 48MP ultra-wide camera (up from last year’s 12MP shooter), a new A18 Pro processor, and a “desert titanium” finish that is essentially a darker shade of gold.
The iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max launch alongside the non-pro models on September 20th. The smaller Pro starts at $999 while the jumbo Pro Max starts at $1,199, with preorders for both opening at 8AM ET / 5AM PT on September 13th. If you want to be the earliest of adopters, Apple is allowing you to choose your phone configuration now, making it easier to preorder your device come Friday.
Carrier promotions and “deals”
You’re probably familiar with the drill when it comes to “deals” from the three big US carriers. Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile all plan on offering incentives for the new iPhones in the form of trade-in promos and bill credits. Here’s a brief summary of what’s to be had when preorders open up on September 13th.
New and existing AT&T customers can get an iPhone 16 free via monthly bill credits or the iPhone 16 Plus for $830 off — both of which require an eligible trade-in. Alternatively, you can opt for the iPhone 16 Pro with a similar promo or get $1,000 back on an iPhone 16 Pro Max, pending trade-in.
T-Mobile customers on a Go5G Next plan can get the iPhone 16 Pro for free after credits back, or $1,000 off any iPhone 16 model. Go5G Plus plan subscribers, meanwhile, can get the regular iPhone 16 for free after credits or $830 off any iPhone 16 of their choice (including a higher storage configuration or the Plus model).
Apple’s latest entry-level handset starts at $799 once again. | Photo: Allison Johnson / The Verge
The dust is still settling from Apple’s latest iPhone event, which introduced us to the Apple Watch Series 10, a new set of AirPods, and a suite of smartphones that are due to arrive later this month. And while we’ve only had some initial hands-on time with the new iPhone 16 models, preorders officially open up tomorrow, September 13th.
Apple’s latest phones — specifically the iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, and 16 Pro Max — are set to arrive on September 20th. They introduce new processors and a slick new Camera Control button, but none of them look to be a drastic overhaul of last year’s iPhone 15 series. That being said, perhaps things will get interesting when Apple Intelligence comes to the new models with the release of iOS 18.1 beta in October.
We’re currently putting the new iPhones through their paces; however, we know some of you are the early adopter types who can’t wait to get ahold of the latest thing. (We’re guilty of this, too, so no judgment here.) To help, we’ve put together a little guidance on what you’re getting with each new iPhone 16 model, as well as which retailers are currently offering preorder incentives.
Photo: Allison Johnson / The Verge
The iPhones are actually colorful this year — well, some of them.
Where to preorder the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus
The best term I’d use to describe the base iPhone 16 and 16 Plus is “trickle-down.” Many of their best features are taken from last year’s Pro line, including the Action Button, a short-telephoto 2x crop mode, and an autofocusing ultra-wide camera with macro mode. Some other features are in parity (or close to parity) with the pricier iPhone 16 Pro, like the new Camera Control button and Apple’s new A18 chip — though, the Pros get the fancier A18 Pro. However, one sticking point for some may be that the standard iPhone 16 doesn’t inherit the 120Hz refresh rate found on the Pros, as it’s still running at a middling 60Hz.
Refresh rate aside, the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus might be some of the most well-rounded mainline iPhones in a while — if not the most vibrant — and that’s without the forthcoming, much-hyped Apple Intelligence features.
The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus start at $799 and $899, respectively, and are set to launch on September 20th, with preorders opening at 8AM ET / 5AM PT on September 13th. We expect Best Buy and other retailers to open preorders around the same time as Apple, but if you’re looking to save time, Apple is currently letting you pick your phone and get part of the process done ahead of time — a sort of pre-preorder.
Where to preorder the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max
Apple made the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max bigger than ever at 6.3 and 6.9 inches, respectively. That means each phone is slightly taller and wider than the iPhone 15 Pro generation, with smaller bezels, though they maintain the titanium frame construction. The marque hardware feature this year is the Camera Control button, which allows you to take snaps and operate the various camera functions with tap and swipe gestures. There’s also a 48MP ultra-wide camera (up from last year’s 12MP shooter), a new A18 Pro processor, and a “desert titanium” finish that is essentially a darker shade of gold.
The iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max launch alongside the non-pro models on September 20th. The smaller Pro starts at $999 while the jumbo Pro Max starts at $1,199, with preorders for both opening at 8AM ET / 5AM PT on September 13th. If you want to be the earliest of adopters, Apple is allowing you to choose your phone configuration now, making it easier to preorder your device come Friday.
Carrier promotions and “deals”
You’re probably familiar with the drill when it comes to “deals” from the three big US carriers. Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile all plan on offering incentives for the new iPhones in the form of trade-in promos and bill credits. Here’s a brief summary of what’s to be had when preorders open up on September 13th.
New and existing AT&T customers can get an iPhone 16 free via monthly bill credits or the iPhone 16 Plus for $830 off — both of which require an eligible trade-in. Alternatively, you can opt for the iPhone 16 Pro with a similar promo or get $1,000 back on an iPhone 16 Pro Max, pending trade-in.
T-Mobile customers on a Go5G Next plan can get the iPhone 16 Pro for free after credits back, or $1,000 off any iPhone 16 model. Go5G Plus plan subscribers, meanwhile, can get the regular iPhone 16 for free after credits or $830 off any iPhone 16 of their choice (including a higher storage configuration or the Plus model).
Meta, Snap, and TikTok partner to stop the spread of suicide and self-harm content
Illustration by Nick Barclay / The Verge
Meta, Snap, and TikTok have founded a new program called Thrive to help stop the spread of graphic content depicting or encouraging self-harm and suicide. Thrive enables participating companies to share “signals” to alert each other of violating content on their platforms.
Thrive is built in conjunction with the Mental Health Coalition, a charitable organization that says it works to remove the stigma around mental health discussions. Meta says it provides the technical infrastructure behind Thrive that enables “signals to be shared securely.” It uses the same cross-platform signal sharing tech used in the Lantern program, which is designed to help fight child abuse online. Participating companies can share hashes that match the violating media to signal it to each other.
Meta says it’s already made such content harder to find on its platform but that it’s trying to leave room for people to discuss their mental health, suicide, and self-harm stories, as long as they aren’t promoting it or providing graphic descriptions.
According to Meta’s charts, the company takes action on millions of pieces of suicide and self-harm content every quarter. Last quarter, it restored an estimated 25,000 of those posts, most of them after a user appealed.
Illustration by Nick Barclay / The Verge
Meta, Snap, and TikTok have founded a new program called Thrive to help stop the spread of graphic content depicting or encouraging self-harm and suicide. Thrive enables participating companies to share “signals” to alert each other of violating content on their platforms.
Thrive is built in conjunction with the Mental Health Coalition, a charitable organization that says it works to remove the stigma around mental health discussions. Meta says it provides the technical infrastructure behind Thrive that enables “signals to be shared securely.” It uses the same cross-platform signal sharing tech used in the Lantern program, which is designed to help fight child abuse online. Participating companies can share hashes that match the violating media to signal it to each other.
Meta says it’s already made such content harder to find on its platform but that it’s trying to leave room for people to discuss their mental health, suicide, and self-harm stories, as long as they aren’t promoting it or providing graphic descriptions.
According to Meta’s charts, the company takes action on millions of pieces of suicide and self-harm content every quarter. Last quarter, it restored an estimated 25,000 of those posts, most of them after a user appealed.
It will cost you over $1,100 to replace the screen on Huawei’s trifold phone
You’ll want to be extra careful with Huawei’s new trifold Mate XT Ultimate Design smartphone. | Image: Huawei
Huawei has revealed the cost of replacement parts for the world’s first dual-hinged, triple-screen folding phone, and it’s another round of sticker shock. The Mate XT Ultimate Design starts at around $2,809, but should you damage its folding screen enough to need repairs, you’ll be potentially paying an additional 7,999 yuan, or around $1,123, for a replacement OLED panel.
That’s assuming you agree to let Huawei recycle the damaged screen for free. Should you turn down that offer, a new screen for the Mate XT will instead cost you 9,799 yuan, or over $1,376. Ouch.
Image: Huawei
More folds mean more potential points of failure.
Huawei does offer some ways to save money on screen repairs for its new trifold phone. A refurbished replacement screen is slightly cheaper at 6,999 yuan (about $983). The company is also selling screen replacement insurance plans that start at 3,499 yuan (about $492) for a single screen replacement within the first year after the Mate XT is purchased. That’s certainly cheaper than paying the full price for a repair but still expensive for just a year’s worth of coverage.
For comparison, repairing the folding inner screen on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, which includes replacing the OLED panel, its metal bezel, and the phone’s battery, is discounted to $200 the first time it’s needed. If you break it again, the price jumps to $549 for subsequent repairs. For the original Pixel Fold, Google partnered with iFixit to sell the replacement folding screen for $899.99, or $909.99 as part of a repair kit that also includes new batteries.
Other replacement parts for the Mate XT Ultimate Design are a little cheaper, including a 499 yuan (about $70) battery and cameras that range in price from 269 to 759 yuan (about $38 to $107). However, users will want to keep their fingers crossed that nothing happens to the Mate X’s motherboard. A replacement is a steep 9,099 yuan (about $1,278).
You’ll want to be extra careful with Huawei’s new trifold Mate XT Ultimate Design smartphone. | Image: Huawei
Huawei has revealed the cost of replacement parts for the world’s first dual-hinged, triple-screen folding phone, and it’s another round of sticker shock. The Mate XT Ultimate Design starts at around $2,809, but should you damage its folding screen enough to need repairs, you’ll be potentially paying an additional 7,999 yuan, or around $1,123, for a replacement OLED panel.
That’s assuming you agree to let Huawei recycle the damaged screen for free. Should you turn down that offer, a new screen for the Mate XT will instead cost you 9,799 yuan, or over $1,376. Ouch.
Image: Huawei
More folds mean more potential points of failure.
Huawei does offer some ways to save money on screen repairs for its new trifold phone. A refurbished replacement screen is slightly cheaper at 6,999 yuan (about $983). The company is also selling screen replacement insurance plans that start at 3,499 yuan (about $492) for a single screen replacement within the first year after the Mate XT is purchased. That’s certainly cheaper than paying the full price for a repair but still expensive for just a year’s worth of coverage.
For comparison, repairing the folding inner screen on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, which includes replacing the OLED panel, its metal bezel, and the phone’s battery, is discounted to $200 the first time it’s needed. If you break it again, the price jumps to $549 for subsequent repairs. For the original Pixel Fold, Google partnered with iFixit to sell the replacement folding screen for $899.99, or $909.99 as part of a repair kit that also includes new batteries.
Other replacement parts for the Mate XT Ultimate Design are a little cheaper, including a 499 yuan (about $70) battery and cameras that range in price from 269 to 759 yuan (about $38 to $107). However, users will want to keep their fingers crossed that nothing happens to the Mate X’s motherboard. A replacement is a steep 9,099 yuan (about $1,278).
Right-wingers can’t get enough of anti-Haitian AI disinformation
Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge; Getty Image
Right-wing media figures and influencers have descended on Springfield, Ohio, hunting for anything that can help them prove the veracity of a viral racist rumor about Haitian migrants in the community — and relying on misleading, occasionally AI-generated content to help them prove their point. Springfield, which has seen its Haitian population grow by an estimated 15,000 people, has become a sort of shorthand for conservatives’ fears about immigration and demographic change.
One of the most recent examples comes from Tyler Oliveira, a YouTuber and MrBeast associate, who posted a misleading video about Springfield on Wednesday. Oliveira’s video intersperses interviews with locals — including some Haitians — with AI-generated images and memes. Just five seconds in, the video shows a clearly AI-generated clip of a Black man driving a white van surrounded by cats. The video also features clips totally unrelated to Springfield, including footage of a woman being arrested for eating a cat in Canton, Ohio, and a clip of gang members marching on a street in Haiti. It’s a textbook example of disinformation.
Republicans have largely embraced the anti-Haitian smear — and encouraged others to spread it — in the days since it first gained traction online. Former President Donald Trump mentioned it during this week’s presidential debate in response to a question about border policy. Vice presidential candidate JD Vance encouraged supporters to “meme on” even if the rumor turned out to be false. And conservative provocateur Christopher Rufo offered a “$5,000 bounty” to anyone who could produce “hard, verifiable evidence that Haitian migrants are eating cats” in Springfield.
The rumor has had tangible effects on Springfield, particularly its growing Haitian community. The Haitian Times reports that some families chose to keep their children home from school, fearing violent attacks. One Haitian woman, who says she’s lived in Springfield for six years, told the Times that her car was recently vandalized. And the Springfield News-Sun reports that multiple government buildings in the city were closed Thursday after a bomb threat to “multiple facilities throughout Springfield.” Springfield’s city hall was evacuated, as was a local elementary school.
False claims about people eating cats aren’t the only disinformation coming out of Springfield. Oliveira’s video suggests that the migrants in Springfield are taking public benefits that would otherwise go to Americans, while politicians, including Vance, have claimed Haitians recently crossed the border. But the Dayton Daily News reports that most of the Haitians in Springfield are in the US under Temporary Protected Status (TPS), an immigration designation that lets nationals from certain countries live and work in the US but does not provide a pathway to citizenship. TPS is only available for people already in the United States; people can’t apply for it after crossing the border. Haiti was first designated for TPS in 2010, and President Joe Biden reissued its TPS status in 2021, meaning no one who arrived after then is eligible for it. And people with TPS aren’t eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or most other forms of public assistance.
The most overt misinformation coming out of Springfield — the racist rumor about migrants eating pets — obscures the smaller, more insidious lies being spread about the community.
Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge; Getty Image
Right-wing media figures and influencers have descended on Springfield, Ohio, hunting for anything that can help them prove the veracity of a viral racist rumor about Haitian migrants in the community — and relying on misleading, occasionally AI-generated content to help them prove their point. Springfield, which has seen its Haitian population grow by an estimated 15,000 people, has become a sort of shorthand for conservatives’ fears about immigration and demographic change.
One of the most recent examples comes from Tyler Oliveira, a YouTuber and MrBeast associate, who posted a misleading video about Springfield on Wednesday. Oliveira’s video intersperses interviews with locals — including some Haitians — with AI-generated images and memes. Just five seconds in, the video shows a clearly AI-generated clip of a Black man driving a white van surrounded by cats. The video also features clips totally unrelated to Springfield, including footage of a woman being arrested for eating a cat in Canton, Ohio, and a clip of gang members marching on a street in Haiti. It’s a textbook example of disinformation.
Republicans have largely embraced the anti-Haitian smear — and encouraged others to spread it — in the days since it first gained traction online. Former President Donald Trump mentioned it during this week’s presidential debate in response to a question about border policy. Vice presidential candidate JD Vance encouraged supporters to “meme on” even if the rumor turned out to be false. And conservative provocateur Christopher Rufo offered a “$5,000 bounty” to anyone who could produce “hard, verifiable evidence that Haitian migrants are eating cats” in Springfield.
The rumor has had tangible effects on Springfield, particularly its growing Haitian community. The Haitian Times reports that some families chose to keep their children home from school, fearing violent attacks. One Haitian woman, who says she’s lived in Springfield for six years, told the Times that her car was recently vandalized. And the Springfield News-Sun reports that multiple government buildings in the city were closed Thursday after a bomb threat to “multiple facilities throughout Springfield.” Springfield’s city hall was evacuated, as was a local elementary school.
False claims about people eating cats aren’t the only disinformation coming out of Springfield. Oliveira’s video suggests that the migrants in Springfield are taking public benefits that would otherwise go to Americans, while politicians, including Vance, have claimed Haitians recently crossed the border. But the Dayton Daily News reports that most of the Haitians in Springfield are in the US under Temporary Protected Status (TPS), an immigration designation that lets nationals from certain countries live and work in the US but does not provide a pathway to citizenship. TPS is only available for people already in the United States; people can’t apply for it after crossing the border. Haiti was first designated for TPS in 2010, and President Joe Biden reissued its TPS status in 2021, meaning no one who arrived after then is eligible for it. And people with TPS aren’t eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or most other forms of public assistance.
The most overt misinformation coming out of Springfield — the racist rumor about migrants eating pets — obscures the smaller, more insidious lies being spread about the community.
Elgato has supersized the Stream Deck for broadcasters
Multiple Stream Deck Studio interfaces can be stacked in a studio rack. | Image: Elgato
Elgato’s new Stream Deck Studio — the largest version of its Stream Deck controller yet — is designed for broadcast environments where workflows involve juggling more hardware, software, and media feeds than streamers and solo content creators typically have to deal with.
Available starting today for $899.99, the Stream Deck Studio is a collaboration between Elgato and Bitfocus, whose Companion software already brought more advanced functionality to the original Stream Deck, letting you connect multiple controllers and configure them remotely through a web browser interface.
Bitfocus helped make the Stream Deck a useful tool in “traditional broadcast settings” and other applications outside of content creation. Companies like Virgin Atlantic use them to communicate with pilots and air traffic controllers instead of buying similar equipment that can cost thousands of dollars.
Image: Elgato
The Stream Deck Studio includes 32 keys with LCD screens and two rotary control dials.
With 15 customizable LCD keys, the original Stream Deck is designed to sit on a desk as a keyboard companion. The larger Stream Deck Studio features 32 LCD keys arranged in two rows, plus a pair of rotary dials, and at 19 inches long, it’s designed to be mounted in a universal studio rack alongside other broadcast gear.
Connectivity is streamlined with a single USB-C port on the front delivering 5V to bus-powered devices, plus two additional USB-C ports on the back. One of those USB-C ports provides a data connection to the PC, while the other can be used to power the unit as an alternative to the Stream Deck Studio’s 25W ethernet PoE (power over ethernet) connector.
Images: Elgato
The Stream Deck Studio is designed to be installed in a universal studio rack, alongside other pro broadcast gear.
The Stream Deck Studio runs on Bitfocus’ Companion software, but it can also be used with the developer’s new Buttons software that offers “advanced functionalities” built specifically for Elgato’s larger controller. These include “instant visual feedback on the device’s LCD keys” and the ability to leverage the Stream Deck Studio’s built-in RFID and NFC reader to authenticate users and manage what functionality they’re permitted to use.
Bitfocus’ Companion software is free, but Buttons is a paid upgrade with tiers that range in price from $9 per month for an individual license to $99 per month for a Pro option. The company offers a higher Enterprise tier as well as a one-time purchase option but asks that customers contact it for pricing details.
For more elaborate setups and productions, multiple Stream Deck Studio controllers can be stacked in a rack and linked together using the new Buttons software, allowing them to be easily configured and used as a single controller unit. For setups that have run out of rack space and need more buttons, additional Stream Deck units that can be powered over USB, such as the Stream Deck XL, can be connected to the Studio through its front USB-C port.
Multiple Stream Deck Studio interfaces can be stacked in a studio rack. | Image: Elgato
Elgato’s new Stream Deck Studio — the largest version of its Stream Deck controller yet — is designed for broadcast environments where workflows involve juggling more hardware, software, and media feeds than streamers and solo content creators typically have to deal with.
Available starting today for $899.99, the Stream Deck Studio is a collaboration between Elgato and Bitfocus, whose Companion software already brought more advanced functionality to the original Stream Deck, letting you connect multiple controllers and configure them remotely through a web browser interface.
Bitfocus helped make the Stream Deck a useful tool in “traditional broadcast settings” and other applications outside of content creation. Companies like Virgin Atlantic use them to communicate with pilots and air traffic controllers instead of buying similar equipment that can cost thousands of dollars.
Image: Elgato
The Stream Deck Studio includes 32 keys with LCD screens and two rotary control dials.
With 15 customizable LCD keys, the original Stream Deck is designed to sit on a desk as a keyboard companion. The larger Stream Deck Studio features 32 LCD keys arranged in two rows, plus a pair of rotary dials, and at 19 inches long, it’s designed to be mounted in a universal studio rack alongside other broadcast gear.
Connectivity is streamlined with a single USB-C port on the front delivering 5V to bus-powered devices, plus two additional USB-C ports on the back. One of those USB-C ports provides a data connection to the PC, while the other can be used to power the unit as an alternative to the Stream Deck Studio’s 25W ethernet PoE (power over ethernet) connector.
Images: Elgato
The Stream Deck Studio is designed to be installed in a universal studio rack, alongside other pro broadcast gear.
The Stream Deck Studio runs on Bitfocus’ Companion software, but it can also be used with the developer’s new Buttons software that offers “advanced functionalities” built specifically for Elgato’s larger controller. These include “instant visual feedback on the device’s LCD keys” and the ability to leverage the Stream Deck Studio’s built-in RFID and NFC reader to authenticate users and manage what functionality they’re permitted to use.
Bitfocus’ Companion software is free, but Buttons is a paid upgrade with tiers that range in price from $9 per month for an individual license to $99 per month for a Pro option. The company offers a higher Enterprise tier as well as a one-time purchase option but asks that customers contact it for pricing details.
For more elaborate setups and productions, multiple Stream Deck Studio controllers can be stacked in a rack and linked together using the new Buttons software, allowing them to be easily configured and used as a single controller unit. For setups that have run out of rack space and need more buttons, additional Stream Deck units that can be powered over USB, such as the Stream Deck XL, can be connected to the Studio through its front USB-C port.