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Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge

The Steam Summer Sale, like summer itself, is sadly well behind us, but Valve is beating one of its best deals on its own gaming handheld. That’s because in addition to the Steam Deck LCD with 64GB of storage once again selling for $296.65 (around $52 off), the 512GB version, complete with its fancier antiglare etched screen, is selling for a new low of $336.75 (about $112 off). These are some exceptional deals on the two Steam Deck models that are being phased out.

Whichever Steam Deck you choose, you’re getting an excellent PC gaming handheld with a seven-inch, 1280 x 800 display that’s compatible with many games on Steam. It may be a couple of years old and not as nice as the refreshed Steam Deck OLED model, but it’s hard to beat even the cheapest Deck when it comes to playing indie games and even some massive open-world AAA titles that are tuned well for it — like Elden Ring. Plus, it’s such a flexible platform that allows you to install all kinds of things, including apps for in-home console game streaming, GeForce Now cloud streaming, and even a whole Windows OS.

The Steam Deck started out a little buggy and unfinished when it came out in early 2022, but after frequent updates and the addition of new features via software, it’s now an easy recommendation for even the non-tinkering types. Other formidable handhelds have come after it, but many are either clunkier to use (thanks, Windows) or, in the case of the excellent Asus ROG Ally X, much pricier.
Correction, September 12th: This article initially listed the 256GB Steam Deck LCD as selling for $296.65, but it’s the 64GB that’s discounted to that price.

Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge

The Steam Summer Sale, like summer itself, is sadly well behind us, but Valve is beating one of its best deals on its own gaming handheld. That’s because in addition to the Steam Deck LCD with 64GB of storage once again selling for $296.65 (around $52 off), the 512GB version, complete with its fancier antiglare etched screen, is selling for a new low of $336.75 (about $112 off). These are some exceptional deals on the two Steam Deck models that are being phased out.

Whichever Steam Deck you choose, you’re getting an excellent PC gaming handheld with a seven-inch, 1280 x 800 display that’s compatible with many games on Steam. It may be a couple of years old and not as nice as the refreshed Steam Deck OLED model, but it’s hard to beat even the cheapest Deck when it comes to playing indie games and even some massive open-world AAA titles that are tuned well for it — like Elden Ring. Plus, it’s such a flexible platform that allows you to install all kinds of things, including apps for in-home console game streaming, GeForce Now cloud streaming, and even a whole Windows OS.

The Steam Deck started out a little buggy and unfinished when it came out in early 2022, but after frequent updates and the addition of new features via software, it’s now an easy recommendation for even the non-tinkering types. Other formidable handhelds have come after it, but many are either clunkier to use (thanks, Windows) or, in the case of the excellent Asus ROG Ally X, much pricier.

Correction, September 12th: This article initially listed the 256GB Steam Deck LCD as selling for $296.65, but it’s the 64GB that’s discounted to that price.

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Image: The Verge

Microsoft is announcing plans to make changes to Windows that will help CrowdStrike and other security vendors operate outside of the Windows kernel. The announcement stems from a Microsoft-hosted security summit earlier this week at the company’s Redmond, Washington, headquarters, where it discussed changes to Windows in the wake of the disastrous CrowdStrike incident in July.
Windows kernel access has been a hot topic ever since the CrowdStrike catastrophe took down 8.5 million Windows PCs and servers. CrowdStrike’s software runs at the kernel level of Windows — the core part of an operating system that has unrestricted access to system memory and hardware. That’s what allowed a faulty update to generate a Blue Screen of Death as soon as affected systems started up.
In the months since, Microsoft has called for changes to Windows to improve resiliency and dropped hints about moving security vendors out of the Windows kernel to prevent this from happening again. But there’s been pressure on Microsoft, from both partners and regulators, to not move unilaterally in making that change.
Microsoft says it has now “discussed the requirements and key challenges in creating a new platform which can meet the needs of security vendors” with partners like CrowdStrike, Broadcom, Sophos, and Trend Micro.
“Both our customers and ecosystem partners have called on Microsoft to provide additional security capabilities outside of kernel mode which, along with safe deployment practices, can be used to create highly available security solutions,” says David Weston, vice president of enterprise and OS security at Microsoft.

Microsoft has discussed performance needs and the challenges for security vendors to operate outside of kernel mode, along with the need for anti-tampering protection for security products and security sensor requirements. “As a next step, Microsoft will continue to design and develop this new platform capability with input and collaboration from ecosystem partners to achieve the goal of enhanced reliability without sacrificing security,” says Weston.
While Microsoft isn’t directly saying it’s going to close off access to the Windows kernel, it’s clearly at the early stages of designing a security platform that can eventually move CrowdStrike and others out of the kernel. Microsoft last tried to close off access to the Windows kernel in Windows Vista in 2006, but it was met with pushback from cybersecurity vendors and regulators.
This time around, security vendors are a lot more open to it. “It was a welcome opportunity to join industry peers in an open discussion of advancements that will serve our customers by elevating the resilience and robustness of both Microsoft Windows and the endpoint security ecosystem,” says Sophos CEO Joe Levy in a statement provided by Microsoft.
“I applaud Microsoft for opening its doors to continue collaborating with leading endpoint security leaders,” says Kevin Simzer, chief operating officer at Trend Micro. Even CrowdStrike, the catalyst for this entire summit, was appreciative of Microsoft’s efforts. “We appreciated the opportunity to join these important discussions with Microsoft and industry peers on how best to collaborate in building a more resilient and open Windows endpoint security ecosystem that strengthens security for our mutual customers,” says Drew Bagley, vice president of privacy and cyber policy at CrowdStrike.
Not everyone involved in the security world is happy about Microsoft’s potential changes, though. “Regulators need to be paying attention,” said Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince on X last month, referencing Microsoft’s Windows security summit. “A world where only Microsoft can provide effective endpoint security is not a more secure world.”
Prince says he’s not concerned about Microsoft potentially locking down the Windows kernel, but more that the company could lock it down “for everyone else” while still giving its own offering “privileged access.” Microsoft also invited government officials from the US and Europe to its security summit because it’s clearly aware of concerns like the ones Prince mentioned.
The summit comes right in the middle of a broader cybersecurity overhaul inside of Microsoft, following years of incidents and criticisms. Microsoft employees are now being judged directly on their security work, with the company tying those efforts to employee performance reviews.

Image: The Verge

Microsoft is announcing plans to make changes to Windows that will help CrowdStrike and other security vendors operate outside of the Windows kernel. The announcement stems from a Microsoft-hosted security summit earlier this week at the company’s Redmond, Washington, headquarters, where it discussed changes to Windows in the wake of the disastrous CrowdStrike incident in July.

Windows kernel access has been a hot topic ever since the CrowdStrike catastrophe took down 8.5 million Windows PCs and servers. CrowdStrike’s software runs at the kernel level of Windows — the core part of an operating system that has unrestricted access to system memory and hardware. That’s what allowed a faulty update to generate a Blue Screen of Death as soon as affected systems started up.

In the months since, Microsoft has called for changes to Windows to improve resiliency and dropped hints about moving security vendors out of the Windows kernel to prevent this from happening again. But there’s been pressure on Microsoft, from both partners and regulators, to not move unilaterally in making that change.

Microsoft says it has now “discussed the requirements and key challenges in creating a new platform which can meet the needs of security vendors” with partners like CrowdStrike, Broadcom, Sophos, and Trend Micro.

“Both our customers and ecosystem partners have called on Microsoft to provide additional security capabilities outside of kernel mode which, along with safe deployment practices, can be used to create highly available security solutions,” says David Weston, vice president of enterprise and OS security at Microsoft.

Microsoft has discussed performance needs and the challenges for security vendors to operate outside of kernel mode, along with the need for anti-tampering protection for security products and security sensor requirements. “As a next step, Microsoft will continue to design and develop this new platform capability with input and collaboration from ecosystem partners to achieve the goal of enhanced reliability without sacrificing security,” says Weston.

While Microsoft isn’t directly saying it’s going to close off access to the Windows kernel, it’s clearly at the early stages of designing a security platform that can eventually move CrowdStrike and others out of the kernel. Microsoft last tried to close off access to the Windows kernel in Windows Vista in 2006, but it was met with pushback from cybersecurity vendors and regulators.

This time around, security vendors are a lot more open to it. “It was a welcome opportunity to join industry peers in an open discussion of advancements that will serve our customers by elevating the resilience and robustness of both Microsoft Windows and the endpoint security ecosystem,” says Sophos CEO Joe Levy in a statement provided by Microsoft.

“I applaud Microsoft for opening its doors to continue collaborating with leading endpoint security leaders,” says Kevin Simzer, chief operating officer at Trend Micro. Even CrowdStrike, the catalyst for this entire summit, was appreciative of Microsoft’s efforts. “We appreciated the opportunity to join these important discussions with Microsoft and industry peers on how best to collaborate in building a more resilient and open Windows endpoint security ecosystem that strengthens security for our mutual customers,” says Drew Bagley, vice president of privacy and cyber policy at CrowdStrike.

Not everyone involved in the security world is happy about Microsoft’s potential changes, though. “Regulators need to be paying attention,” said Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince on X last month, referencing Microsoft’s Windows security summit. “A world where only Microsoft can provide effective endpoint security is not a more secure world.”

Prince says he’s not concerned about Microsoft potentially locking down the Windows kernel, but more that the company could lock it down “for everyone else” while still giving its own offering “privileged access.” Microsoft also invited government officials from the US and Europe to its security summit because it’s clearly aware of concerns like the ones Prince mentioned.

The summit comes right in the middle of a broader cybersecurity overhaul inside of Microsoft, following years of incidents and criticisms. Microsoft employees are now being judged directly on their security work, with the company tying those efforts to employee performance reviews.

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Meta will hide the “AI Info” label in a menu if an image has been edited with AI. | Image: Meta

Meta is updating how it labels content on Instagram, Facebook, and Threads that has been edited or manipulated using generative AI. In an updated blog post, Meta announced that its “AI Info” tag will appear within a menu in the top-right corner of images and videos edited with AI — instead of directly beneath the user’s name.
Users can click on the menu to check if AI information is available and read what may have been adjusted. Meta previously applied the “AI Info” tag to all AI-related content — whether it was lightly adjusted in a tool like Photoshop that includes AI features or fully AI-generated from a prompt.
The company says the changes are being introduced to “better reflect the extent of AI used” across images and videos on the platforms.

Image: Meta

This label was introduced in July after Meta’s previous “Made with AI” label was criticized by creators and photographers for incorrectly tagging real photos they had taken. “We will still display the ‘AI info’ label for content we detect was generated by an AI tool and share whether the content is labeled because of industry-shared signals or because someone self-disclosed,” Meta said in the update, adding that the changes will start rolling out next week.
The “industry-shared signals” Meta mentions refer to systems like Adobe’s C2PA-supported Content Credentials metadata, which can be applied to any content made or edited using its Firefly generative AI tools. Other similar systems exist, such as the SynthID digital watermarks that Google says are applied to content generated by its own AI tools. Meta hasn’t disclosed which systems, or how many, it checks for.
However, removing tags completely on real images that have been manipulated may also make it harder for users to avoid being misled, especially as generative AI editing tools available on new phones become increasingly convincing.

Meta will hide the “AI Info” label in a menu if an image has been edited with AI. | Image: Meta

Meta is updating how it labels content on Instagram, Facebook, and Threads that has been edited or manipulated using generative AI. In an updated blog post, Meta announced that its “AI Info” tag will appear within a menu in the top-right corner of images and videos edited with AI — instead of directly beneath the user’s name.

Users can click on the menu to check if AI information is available and read what may have been adjusted. Meta previously applied the “AI Info” tag to all AI-related content — whether it was lightly adjusted in a tool like Photoshop that includes AI features or fully AI-generated from a prompt.

The company says the changes are being introduced to “better reflect the extent of AI used” across images and videos on the platforms.

Image: Meta

This label was introduced in July after Meta’s previous “Made with AI” label was criticized by creators and photographers for incorrectly tagging real photos they had taken. “We will still display the ‘AI info’ label for content we detect was generated by an AI tool and share whether the content is labeled because of industry-shared signals or because someone self-disclosed,” Meta said in the update, adding that the changes will start rolling out next week.

The “industry-shared signals” Meta mentions refer to systems like Adobe’s C2PA-supported Content Credentials metadata, which can be applied to any content made or edited using its Firefly generative AI tools. Other similar systems exist, such as the SynthID digital watermarks that Google says are applied to content generated by its own AI tools. Meta hasn’t disclosed which systems, or how many, it checks for.

However, removing tags completely on real images that have been manipulated may also make it harder for users to avoid being misled, especially as generative AI editing tools available on new phones become increasingly convincing.

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Pixar

After breaking all kinds of box office records and becoming one of this year’s biggest theatrical hits, Pixar’s Inside Out 2 is coming to Disney Plus at the end of September.
Though you can still catch the movie in theaters right now, Disney announced today that Inside Out 2 will make its Disney Plus streaming debut on September 25th. Ahead of the movie’s premiere, Disney Plus is also rolling out a new Blockbuster Offer to first time and returning subscribers that will give them access to the platform’s basic tier — which comes with ads and supports simultaneous streaming on up to 4 different devices — for $1.99 a month for three months.
The Blockbuster Offer deal runs through September 27th, making it seem like a promotion that’s really meant trying to capitalize on Inside Out 2’s monster success. And as popular as the movie has been so far, it’s probably going to lead to more than a few sign-ups.

Pixar

After breaking all kinds of box office records and becoming one of this year’s biggest theatrical hits, Pixar’s Inside Out 2 is coming to Disney Plus at the end of September.

Though you can still catch the movie in theaters right now, Disney announced today that Inside Out 2 will make its Disney Plus streaming debut on September 25th. Ahead of the movie’s premiere, Disney Plus is also rolling out a new Blockbuster Offer to first time and returning subscribers that will give them access to the platform’s basic tier — which comes with ads and supports simultaneous streaming on up to 4 different devices — for $1.99 a month for three months.

The Blockbuster Offer deal runs through September 27th, making it seem like a promotion that’s really meant trying to capitalize on Inside Out 2’s monster success. And as popular as the movie has been so far, it’s probably going to lead to more than a few sign-ups.

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Illustration: The Verge

Google is rolling out its Gemini Live voice chat mode to all Android users for free. You can access the conversational AI chatbot through the Gemini app or the overlay on Android.
Google first announced Gemini Live during its Pixel 9 launch event last month, but it has only been available to Gemini Advanced subscribers until now. Similar to ChatGPT’s voice chat feature, you can ask Gemini Live questions aloud and even interrupt it mid-sentence. There are also several different voices you can choose from.

We’re starting to roll out Gemini Live in English to more people using the Android app, free of charge. Go Live to talk things out with Gemini, explore a new topic, or brainstorm ideas. Keep an eye out for Gemini Live in the Gemini app pic.twitter.com/0VL0c7E6Gw— Google Gemini App (@GeminiApp) September 12, 2024

As noted by 9to5Google, you can access the feature by selecting the new waveform icon in the bottom-right corner of the app or overlay. This will turn on the microphone, allowing you to ask Gemini Live a question. At the bottom of the screen, you’ll see options to “hold” Gemini’s answer or “end” the conversation.
Gemini Live is only available in English for now, but Google says it will arrive on iOS and support new languages in the future.

Illustration: The Verge

Google is rolling out its Gemini Live voice chat mode to all Android users for free. You can access the conversational AI chatbot through the Gemini app or the overlay on Android.

Google first announced Gemini Live during its Pixel 9 launch event last month, but it has only been available to Gemini Advanced subscribers until now. Similar to ChatGPT’s voice chat feature, you can ask Gemini Live questions aloud and even interrupt it mid-sentence. There are also several different voices you can choose from.

As noted by 9to5Google, you can access the feature by selecting the new waveform icon in the bottom-right corner of the app or overlay. This will turn on the microphone, allowing you to ask Gemini Live a question. At the bottom of the screen, you’ll see options to “hold” Gemini’s answer or “end” the conversation.

Gemini Live is only available in English for now, but Google says it will arrive on iOS and support new languages in the future.

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The Gocycle GXi we reviewed a few years ago. | Photo by Thomas Ricker / The Verge

Gocycle’s designer-in-chief Richard Thorpe is rebooting the e-bike company he founded more than two decades ago. Following a January restructuring to reduce overhead, Thorpe is now turning to crowdfunding to help launch a new series of F1-inspired e-bikes while also expanding into nonelectric foldables — a space currently dominated by Gocycle’s British compatriots Brompton.
To drum up support, Thorpe is going to tell his story and the challenges and opportunities his small business faces in a series of videos that will be released over the next few weeks. The first, rather earnest installment focuses on “Bikeaggedon,” Thorpe’s word for the turmoil created by soaring e-bike demand at the onset of covid, followed by a collapse of the supply chain, and then a period of massive oversupply when parts were suddenly available again.

The industry upheaval resulted in the VanMoof, Bird, and Cake bankruptcies and forced Rad Power Bikes and others to significantly scale back ambitions. The “Big Bike” behemoths — Pon Holdings, Accell, and Giant — suffered as well, but they had enough scale and resources to weather the storm. Institutional investors are now watching from the sidelines, licking their wounds.
Gocycle’s 2025 e-bike range includes the five-speed CXi Cargo bike already announced in addition to a five-speed SXi to be sold in both electric and nonelectric versions. According to Thorpe, expansion into nonelectric foldables will grow its sales opportunities by 15x as Gocycle starts to “challenge the main incumbent folding bike maker.” Thorpe tells The Verge that he’ll likely pursue a Kickstarter later this year for some of the new models, just as he did when launching the GS model back in 2017.
Independent e-bike makers are no strangers to equity crowdfunding where backers can buy an actual piece of the company. Cowboy has used it a few times successfully, while early backers of VanMoof got burned. Thorpe readily admits that Gocycle is a “high risk” investment.
If interested, you can show your support for the campaign by registering on Fundable in the US, while the rest of the world can register on Crowdcube. As the maker of some of the most innovative and unique e-bikes we’ve ever reviewed at any price — we wish Thorpe and the entire Gocycle team success.

The Gocycle GXi we reviewed a few years ago. | Photo by Thomas Ricker / The Verge

Gocycle’s designer-in-chief Richard Thorpe is rebooting the e-bike company he founded more than two decades ago. Following a January restructuring to reduce overhead, Thorpe is now turning to crowdfunding to help launch a new series of F1-inspired e-bikes while also expanding into nonelectric foldables — a space currently dominated by Gocycle’s British compatriots Brompton.

To drum up support, Thorpe is going to tell his story and the challenges and opportunities his small business faces in a series of videos that will be released over the next few weeks. The first, rather earnest installment focuses on “Bikeaggedon,” Thorpe’s word for the turmoil created by soaring e-bike demand at the onset of covid, followed by a collapse of the supply chain, and then a period of massive oversupply when parts were suddenly available again.

The industry upheaval resulted in the VanMoof, Bird, and Cake bankruptcies and forced Rad Power Bikes and others to significantly scale back ambitions. The “Big Bike” behemoths — Pon Holdings, Accell, and Giant — suffered as well, but they had enough scale and resources to weather the storm. Institutional investors are now watching from the sidelines, licking their wounds.

Gocycle’s 2025 e-bike range includes the five-speed CXi Cargo bike already announced in addition to a five-speed SXi to be sold in both electric and nonelectric versions. According to Thorpe, expansion into nonelectric foldables will grow its sales opportunities by 15x as Gocycle starts to “challenge the main incumbent folding bike maker.” Thorpe tells The Verge that he’ll likely pursue a Kickstarter later this year for some of the new models, just as he did when launching the GS model back in 2017.

Independent e-bike makers are no strangers to equity crowdfunding where backers can buy an actual piece of the company. Cowboy has used it a few times successfully, while early backers of VanMoof got burned. Thorpe readily admits that Gocycle is a “high risk” investment.

If interested, you can show your support for the campaign by registering on Fundable in the US, while the rest of the world can register on Crowdcube. As the maker of some of the most innovative and unique e-bikes we’ve ever reviewed at any price — we wish Thorpe and the entire Gocycle team success.

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Illustration by Cath Virginia / The Verge

One year to the day since Unity announced its runtime fee pricing model, the software developer is canceling that program effective immediately. “After extensive consultation with our games community and customers, we’ve decided to cancel the Runtime Fee,” said Unity CEO Matt Bromberg in the blog post announcing the news. Instead of the runtime fee, Unity will return to a per-seat subscription model.
Last year, Unity caused a stir within the game development community with a controversial update to its pricing model. Instead of charging developers a set monthly rate based on the number of users utilizing the software, it would implement a pay-per-download scheme that charged developers every time their game was downloaded. That meant instead of paying a flat, predictable rate to Unity, payouts could fluctuate, resulting in potentially higher fees.
This news caused a massive uproar in the game development community with developers voicing their frustration on social media. Developers argued that the pricing model was implemented without adequate warning, forcing them to either pay the new fees that can’t be adequately budgeted for or make a costly and time-consuming switch to new software. They also claimed the per-download model could be exploited by malicious actors to run up fees on developers they don’t like.
As a result, some developers publicly committed to moving away from Unity to other game development programs like GameMaker and Godot. Meanwhile, a group of mobile developers boycotted Unity by turning off ad monetization, freezing ad revenue payouts to the company.
Unity took several steps to quell developers’ ire. The company restructured the pricing model, raising the threshold at which the per-download fee would kick in to $1 million across all tiers of products. Unity also added a new option that allows developers to choose how to pay: either a flat 2.5 percent revenue share or the amount calculated by the per-download pricing scheme. The company also held a Q&A with Unity Create president Marc Whitten in which he apologized for the pricing model’s rollout. Just one month after the announcement, Unity CEO John Riccitiello retired and earlier this year, Whitten left the company.
This new pricing model returns Unity to a per-seat subscription model, but there’s a catch; starting on January 1st, 2025, pricing will go up for Unity Pro and Unity Enterprise tiers. You can check out the specifics here.

Illustration by Cath Virginia / The Verge

One year to the day since Unity announced its runtime fee pricing model, the software developer is canceling that program effective immediately. “After extensive consultation with our games community and customers, we’ve decided to cancel the Runtime Fee,” said Unity CEO Matt Bromberg in the blog post announcing the news. Instead of the runtime fee, Unity will return to a per-seat subscription model.

Last year, Unity caused a stir within the game development community with a controversial update to its pricing model. Instead of charging developers a set monthly rate based on the number of users utilizing the software, it would implement a pay-per-download scheme that charged developers every time their game was downloaded. That meant instead of paying a flat, predictable rate to Unity, payouts could fluctuate, resulting in potentially higher fees.

This news caused a massive uproar in the game development community with developers voicing their frustration on social media. Developers argued that the pricing model was implemented without adequate warning, forcing them to either pay the new fees that can’t be adequately budgeted for or make a costly and time-consuming switch to new software. They also claimed the per-download model could be exploited by malicious actors to run up fees on developers they don’t like.

As a result, some developers publicly committed to moving away from Unity to other game development programs like GameMaker and Godot. Meanwhile, a group of mobile developers boycotted Unity by turning off ad monetization, freezing ad revenue payouts to the company.

Unity took several steps to quell developers’ ire. The company restructured the pricing model, raising the threshold at which the per-download fee would kick in to $1 million across all tiers of products. Unity also added a new option that allows developers to choose how to pay: either a flat 2.5 percent revenue share or the amount calculated by the per-download pricing scheme. The company also held a Q&A with Unity Create president Marc Whitten in which he apologized for the pricing model’s rollout. Just one month after the announcement, Unity CEO John Riccitiello retired and earlier this year, Whitten left the company.

This new pricing model returns Unity to a per-seat subscription model, but there’s a catch; starting on January 1st, 2025, pricing will go up for Unity Pro and Unity Enterprise tiers. You can check out the specifics here.

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Screenshot by Jay Peters / The Verge

Google has unlisted an impressive Gemini demo video it posted last December that seemed remarkably conversational. BBB National Programs’ National Advertising Division (NAD), an ad industry watchdog, inquired whether the video “accurately depicts the performance of Gemini in responding to user voice and video prompts.”
Google chose to end the inquiry by ending its promotion of the video that showed Gemini quickly responding to various spoken prompts, such as identifying parts of drawings and creating a geography game on the fly.

Buried in the description was a disclaimer indicating the demo might not be as good as it seemed: “For the purposes of this demo, latency has been reduced and Gemini outputs have been shortened for brevity.”
Another note near the beginning of the video said, “Sequences shortened throughout.” Google DeepMind’s Oriol Vinyals also clarified that the video illustrated what “the multimodal user experiences built with Gemini could look like.”
Google’s response to the inquiry includes unlisting the video and keeping up a related blog post about how it was made.
Google didn’t immediately reply to a request for comment. NAD’s press release includes a Google statement that says it’s “pleased to accept NAD’s resolution of this matter.”

Screenshot by Jay Peters / The Verge

Google has unlisted an impressive Gemini demo video it posted last December that seemed remarkably conversational. BBB National Programs’ National Advertising Division (NAD), an ad industry watchdog, inquired whether the video “accurately depicts the performance of Gemini in responding to user voice and video prompts.”

Google chose to end the inquiry by ending its promotion of the video that showed Gemini quickly responding to various spoken prompts, such as identifying parts of drawings and creating a geography game on the fly.

Buried in the description was a disclaimer indicating the demo might not be as good as it seemed: “For the purposes of this demo, latency has been reduced and Gemini outputs have been shortened for brevity.”

Another note near the beginning of the video said, “Sequences shortened throughout.” Google DeepMind’s Oriol Vinyals also clarified that the video illustrated what “the multimodal user experiences built with Gemini could look like.”

Google’s response to the inquiry includes unlisting the video and keeping up a related blog post about how it was made.

Google didn’t immediately reply to a request for comment. NAD’s press release includes a Google statement that says it’s “pleased to accept NAD’s resolution of this matter.”

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Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge

Just days after Apple announced a new hearing aid feature for the second-generation AirPods Pro, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized the software that powers this functionality. In a press release, the FDA describes Apple’s solution as “the first over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aid software device.”
The feature “was evaluated in a clinical study with 118 subjects with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss,” according to the FDA, and “the results demonstrated that subjects who used the HAF self-fitting strategy achieved similar perceived benefit as subjects who received professional fitting of the same device.”

Enabling the AirPods Pro to double as clinical-grade hearing aids is one of several new features that Apple is bringing to the second-gen AirPods Pro this fall as part of the company’s continued focus on hearing health. The earbuds will also gain a Hearing Protection mode that allows them to safeguard your ears in loud environments like concerts. Hearing Protection will be enabled by default and preserve “natural and vibrant” sound at live performances.
Additionally, AirPods Pro owners will be able to access a new Hearing Test that asks them to tap the screen when they hear a variety of tones played through the earbuds. Test results will appear in Apple’s Health app and will be used to create a personalized audio profile for the hearing aid feature.
Bringing hearing aid functionality to the AirPods Pro is a significant development that could help to reduce stigma and lessen costs for consumers looking to protect their hearing. Approximately 1.5 billion people globally are living with some level of hearing loss, according to the World Health Organization.
Apple’s various platforms already have a number of software features that can warn customers when they’re in dangerously loud conditions or listening to audio at levels that could put them at risk of permanent hearing damage. It’s a fitting initiative from the company that gave us the iPod and later the iPhone.
The FDA notes that Apple’s application was reviewed under De Novo classification, which is intended for “low- to moderate-risk devices that are novel and for which there is no prior legally marketed device.”

Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge

Just days after Apple announced a new hearing aid feature for the second-generation AirPods Pro, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized the software that powers this functionality. In a press release, the FDA describes Apple’s solution as “the first over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aid software device.”

The feature “was evaluated in a clinical study with 118 subjects with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss,” according to the FDA, and “the results demonstrated that subjects who used the HAF self-fitting strategy achieved similar perceived benefit as subjects who received professional fitting of the same device.”

Enabling the AirPods Pro to double as clinical-grade hearing aids is one of several new features that Apple is bringing to the second-gen AirPods Pro this fall as part of the company’s continued focus on hearing health. The earbuds will also gain a Hearing Protection mode that allows them to safeguard your ears in loud environments like concerts. Hearing Protection will be enabled by default and preserve “natural and vibrant” sound at live performances.

Additionally, AirPods Pro owners will be able to access a new Hearing Test that asks them to tap the screen when they hear a variety of tones played through the earbuds. Test results will appear in Apple’s Health app and will be used to create a personalized audio profile for the hearing aid feature.

Bringing hearing aid functionality to the AirPods Pro is a significant development that could help to reduce stigma and lessen costs for consumers looking to protect their hearing. Approximately 1.5 billion people globally are living with some level of hearing loss, according to the World Health Organization.

Apple’s various platforms already have a number of software features that can warn customers when they’re in dangerously loud conditions or listening to audio at levels that could put them at risk of permanent hearing damage. It’s a fitting initiative from the company that gave us the iPod and later the iPhone.

The FDA notes that Apple’s application was reviewed under De Novo classification, which is intended for “low- to moderate-risk devices that are novel and for which there is no prior legally marketed device.”

Read More 

Lego’s McLaren P1 isn’t quite as fast as the real deal. | Image: Lego

After releasing a 24-inch-long scale replica of the McLaren P1 earlier this year, Lego has now debuted a full-size drivable version of the hypercar built from over 342,817 Technic pieces and powered by hundreds of Lego electric motors.
That eclipses the 3,893 pieces that go into building Lego’s 1:8-scale McLaren P1 model. The company says the full-scale version used 393 types of Technic components, including 11 specifically manufactured for the replica. That would make it hard to build a copy yourself, but you’d also struggle to find the time. Lego says it took 6,134 hours to design and plan its P1 and 2,210 hours to assemble it.
Lego opted to build with Technic components instead of its standard bricks as it allowed the company’s designers to recreate the curves of the hypercar and incorporate some flex into the P1 replica’s body, mimicking the performance of the carbon fiber used to make the real thing.

Image: Lego
A metal frame beneath the body provides enough support for someone to actually drive Lego’s McLaren P1 replica.

The P1 replica isn’t entirely made from Lego. Underneath the body is a steel frame, and it rolls on the same tires and wheels as the real thing so that it’s strong enough to support a human driver. There’s also an electric car battery inside, but the P1 is powered by a total of 768 Lego electric motors divided into eight motor packs to mimic the V8 engine in the original P1.

All of those motors work together to propel the 2,690-pound Lego replica — which is about 385 pounds lighter than the real thing — to a top speed of around 40mph, according to Autocar. It’s not going to set any records, but McLaren F1 driver Lando Norris did climb behind the wheel and successfully drive it around a full lap of the same Silverstone Circuit he raced during the British Grand Prix.
This isn’t the first time Lego has attempted to supersize one of its hypercar models. In 2018, the company created a full-scale replica of the Bugatti Chiron using over a million Lego Technic pieces. Although it weighed almost 1,400 pounds less than the real Chiron, Lego’s version could only muster a top speed of just over 12mph, and it lacked the ability to steer, limiting where it could be driven.

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Lego’s McLaren P1 isn’t quite as fast as the real deal. | Image: Lego

After releasing a 24-inch-long scale replica of the McLaren P1 earlier this year, Lego has now debuted a full-size drivable version of the hypercar built from over 342,817 Technic pieces and powered by hundreds of Lego electric motors.

That eclipses the 3,893 pieces that go into building Lego’s 1:8-scale McLaren P1 model. The company says the full-scale version used 393 types of Technic components, including 11 specifically manufactured for the replica. That would make it hard to build a copy yourself, but you’d also struggle to find the time. Lego says it took 6,134 hours to design and plan its P1 and 2,210 hours to assemble it.

Lego opted to build with Technic components instead of its standard bricks as it allowed the company’s designers to recreate the curves of the hypercar and incorporate some flex into the P1 replica’s body, mimicking the performance of the carbon fiber used to make the real thing.

Image: Lego
A metal frame beneath the body provides enough support for someone to actually drive Lego’s McLaren P1 replica.

The P1 replica isn’t entirely made from Lego. Underneath the body is a steel frame, and it rolls on the same tires and wheels as the real thing so that it’s strong enough to support a human driver. There’s also an electric car battery inside, but the P1 is powered by a total of 768 Lego electric motors divided into eight motor packs to mimic the V8 engine in the original P1.

All of those motors work together to propel the 2,690-pound Lego replica — which is about 385 pounds lighter than the real thing — to a top speed of around 40mph, according to Autocar. It’s not going to set any records, but McLaren F1 driver Lando Norris did climb behind the wheel and successfully drive it around a full lap of the same Silverstone Circuit he raced during the British Grand Prix.

This isn’t the first time Lego has attempted to supersize one of its hypercar models. In 2018, the company created a full-scale replica of the Bugatti Chiron using over a million Lego Technic pieces. Although it weighed almost 1,400 pounds less than the real Chiron, Lego’s version could only muster a top speed of just over 12mph, and it lacked the ability to steer, limiting where it could be driven.

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