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The 16-inch MacBook Pro is one of several of Apple’s newest computers and iPads that FCC reports indicate have a Thread radio. | Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

When Apple announced the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max last fall, the company surprised everyone by putting a Thread radio in its top-of-the-line smartphones. Now, it turns out Apple also quietly added this important smart home radio to several new Macs and iPads released since September 2023.
While the company doesn’t list Thread on the specs of any of these products, FCC reports indicate that many of Apple’s latest devices have had Thread radios tested for compliance. Generally, you don’t test a radio that’s not there.
We found evidence of Thread testing in the following models:

iPad Pro 13-inch (M4) (Wi-Fi + Cellular)

iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) (Wi-Fi + Cellular)

iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) (Wi-Fi)

iPad Air 11-inch (M2) (Wi-Fi + Cellular)

iPad Air 13-inch (M2) Wi-Fi
MacBook Air 15-inch (M3)
MacBook Pro 14-inch (M3)
MacBook Pro 14-inch (M3 Pro or M3 Max)
MacBook Pro 16-inch (M3 Pro or M3 Max)
iMac (M3, two ports)
iMac (M3, four ports)

The Verge reached out to Apple to confirm these findings and ask if the Thread radios are inactive — which could explain why they’re not listed on the products’ specs. Apple did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Photo by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy / The Verge
The HomePod Mini was the first Apple device to feature a Thread radio.

The FCC requires manufacturers to list every radio contained in a device and to test them in every possible scenario to make sure they comply with its transmission regulations. Tom Sciorilli, director of certification for Thread Group, told The Verge that the FCC reports reference FCC 15.247, “which confirms the device will essentially ‘stay in its lane’ and not interfere with other radios when operating.” The reports we found are tests of the IEEE 802.15.4 transmitter functionality — 802.15.4 is the radio standard Thread runs on. While it supports a number of technologies, the reports mention Thread explicitly.
Thread is the primary wireless protocol for the new smart home standard Matter, which Apple helped develop and that is now the underlying architecture for its Apple Home smart home platform. A low-power, low-bandwidth, mesh-networking protocol specifically designed for IoT devices, Thread is shown to be faster than Bluetooth and offers better range, making it ideal for connecting products like smart lights, locks, thermostats, and sensors.

Apple has used Thread for several years to connect devices to its smart home platform. The radio has been in the HomePod Mini since it launched in 2020 and is in the HomePod 2 and several Apple TV models. But the company has not yet announced the presence of a Thread radio in any of its Macs or iPads.
So why is it there? The Apple Home app runs on Macs and iPads, and Thread radios could allow them to communicate directly with smart home devices and act as Thread border routers. It’s possible Apple is planning to turn your Mac or iPad into a home hub, but iPads used to be home hubs, and the company discontinued that capability for its new Apple Home architecture. Those iPads didn’t have Thread radios, though.
Thread is a primary wireless protocol for the new smart home standard Matter, which Apple helped develop
The announcement for the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max only briefly mentioned the Thread radio, saying it was “opening up future opportunities for Home app integrations.” It seemed perhaps even Apple didn’t know exactly why it was there, which makes futureproofing the most obvious answer. Tri-band radio chips that bundle Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Thread are becoming more popular (Silicon Labs, NXP, and Murata all make them), so it may have simply been easier to include Thread than not.
As an IP-based wireless protocol with low power and low latency, Thread would make a lot of sense outside of the smart home, too. It could be used for connecting peripherals like smart watches, medical and fitness devices, and even AirTags, keyboards, and mice to your computer, smartphone, or iPad.
Whatever those “future opportunities” turn out to be, it seems clear this wireless protocol Apple is threading across all of its devices will play a central role.

The 16-inch MacBook Pro is one of several of Apple’s newest computers and iPads that FCC reports indicate have a Thread radio. | Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

When Apple announced the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max last fall, the company surprised everyone by putting a Thread radio in its top-of-the-line smartphones. Now, it turns out Apple also quietly added this important smart home radio to several new Macs and iPads released since September 2023.

While the company doesn’t list Thread on the specs of any of these products, FCC reports indicate that many of Apple’s latest devices have had Thread radios tested for compliance. Generally, you don’t test a radio that’s not there.

We found evidence of Thread testing in the following models:

iPad Pro 13-inch (M4) (Wi-Fi + Cellular)

iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) (Wi-Fi + Cellular)

iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) (Wi-Fi)

iPad Air 11-inch (M2) (Wi-Fi + Cellular)

iPad Air 13-inch (M2) Wi-Fi
MacBook Air 15-inch (M3)
MacBook Pro 14-inch (M3)
MacBook Pro 14-inch (M3 Pro or M3 Max)
MacBook Pro 16-inch (M3 Pro or M3 Max)
iMac (M3, two ports)
iMac (M3, four ports)

The Verge reached out to Apple to confirm these findings and ask if the Thread radios are inactive — which could explain why they’re not listed on the products’ specs. Apple did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Photo by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy / The Verge
The HomePod Mini was the first Apple device to feature a Thread radio.

The FCC requires manufacturers to list every radio contained in a device and to test them in every possible scenario to make sure they comply with its transmission regulations. Tom Sciorilli, director of certification for Thread Group, told The Verge that the FCC reports reference FCC 15.247, “which confirms the device will essentially ‘stay in its lane’ and not interfere with other radios when operating.” The reports we found are tests of the IEEE 802.15.4 transmitter functionality — 802.15.4 is the radio standard Thread runs on. While it supports a number of technologies, the reports mention Thread explicitly.

Thread is the primary wireless protocol for the new smart home standard Matter, which Apple helped develop and that is now the underlying architecture for its Apple Home smart home platform. A low-power, low-bandwidth, mesh-networking protocol specifically designed for IoT devices, Thread is shown to be faster than Bluetooth and offers better range, making it ideal for connecting products like smart lights, locks, thermostats, and sensors.

Apple has used Thread for several years to connect devices to its smart home platform. The radio has been in the HomePod Mini since it launched in 2020 and is in the HomePod 2 and several Apple TV models. But the company has not yet announced the presence of a Thread radio in any of its Macs or iPads.

So why is it there? The Apple Home app runs on Macs and iPads, and Thread radios could allow them to communicate directly with smart home devices and act as Thread border routers. It’s possible Apple is planning to turn your Mac or iPad into a home hub, but iPads used to be home hubs, and the company discontinued that capability for its new Apple Home architecture. Those iPads didn’t have Thread radios, though.

The announcement for the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max only briefly mentioned the Thread radio, saying it was “opening up future opportunities for Home app integrations.” It seemed perhaps even Apple didn’t know exactly why it was there, which makes futureproofing the most obvious answer. Tri-band radio chips that bundle Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Thread are becoming more popular (Silicon Labs, NXP, and Murata all make them), so it may have simply been easier to include Thread than not.

As an IP-based wireless protocol with low power and low latency, Thread would make a lot of sense outside of the smart home, too. It could be used for connecting peripherals like smart watches, medical and fitness devices, and even AirTags, keyboards, and mice to your computer, smartphone, or iPad.

Whatever those “future opportunities” turn out to be, it seems clear this wireless protocol Apple is threading across all of its devices will play a central role.

Read More 

Photo by Joe Raedle / Getty Images

Boeing’s Starliner will make its third attempt to launch two NASA astronauts into space on Wednesday. The spacecraft is scheduled to lift off at 10:52AM ET from Florida’s Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. You can watch the livestream from NASA’s YouTube channel or in the video embedded below.
With the help of the United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket, the Starliner will send flight commander Butch Wilmore and pilot Sunita Williams to the International Space Station, where they’ll dock for about a week to evaluate the spacecraft.

Boeing’s Starliner made its first launch attempt in May following several delays. But NASA scrubbed the launch due to a faulty oxygen relief valve on the ULA Atlas V rocket’s second stage.
The Starliner’s second attempt on June 1st was canceled just minutes before takeoff after finding issues with one of the ULA’s ground computers. The ULA has since identified the problem and replaced the faulty ground power chassis.

Photo by Joe Raedle / Getty Images

Boeing’s Starliner will make its third attempt to launch two NASA astronauts into space on Wednesday. The spacecraft is scheduled to lift off at 10:52AM ET from Florida’s Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. You can watch the livestream from NASA’s YouTube channel or in the video embedded below.

With the help of the United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket, the Starliner will send flight commander Butch Wilmore and pilot Sunita Williams to the International Space Station, where they’ll dock for about a week to evaluate the spacecraft.

Boeing’s Starliner made its first launch attempt in May following several delays. But NASA scrubbed the launch due to a faulty oxygen relief valve on the ULA Atlas V rocket’s second stage.

The Starliner’s second attempt on June 1st was canceled just minutes before takeoff after finding issues with one of the ULA’s ground computers. The ULA has since identified the problem and replaced the faulty ground power chassis.

Read More 

Image: Archer

Archer Aviation, a leading electric aviation company based in San Jose, California, announced that it has received a Part 135 air carrier certification from the Federal Aviation Administration, which the company will need to operate an on-demand air taxi service.
That puts Archer on the cusp of launching a fully fledged commercial service using its electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle (eVTOL). The company has also received Part 145 certification, which authorizes it to conduct specialized aircraft repair services. The FAA also recently issued the final airworthiness criteria for the Midnight aircraft. Archer is only the second eVTOL company to receive Part 135 certification, after Joby Aviation in 2022.
That puts Archer on the cusp of launching a fully fledged commercial service
But before it can launch, it needs to obtain type certification for its Midnight air taxi, which means the aircraft meets all the FAA’s design and safety standards. Midnight is a five-seat eVTOL aircraft that can carry four passengers and one pilot for up to 60 miles (nearly 100km) at speeds of up to 150mph (241 km/h), on pure battery power. Using tilt rotors, Midnight is designed to take off and land vertically like a helicopter and then transition into forward flight like a plane.
Archer came out of stealth in spring 2020 after having poached key talent from Wisk and Airbus’ Vahana project. (That fact spurred a lawsuit from Wisk for alleged trade secret theft, which was finally settled late last year.) The company has a $1 billion order from United Airlines for its eVTOL aircraft and a deal to mass-produce its eVTOL craft with global automaker Stellantis.
Alongside Archer, other electric vertical takeoff and landing companies hope to eventually win full FAA approval, but that process is slow going. It may be a few more years before the FAA grants certification to an eVTOL company — which it has yet to do. Changes to the certification process have created uncertainty about commercialization after the FAA recategorized eVTOL as a “power lift” aircraft rather than an airplane.
Air taxis, sometimes misidentified by the mainstream media as “flying cars,” are essentially helicopters without the noisy, polluting gas motors (though they certainly have their own unique noise profile).
In addition to Archer, companies like Joby Aviation, Volocopter, and Beta Technologies have claimed they are on the cusp of launching services that will eventually scale up nationwide.

Image: Archer

Archer Aviation, a leading electric aviation company based in San Jose, California, announced that it has received a Part 135 air carrier certification from the Federal Aviation Administration, which the company will need to operate an on-demand air taxi service.

That puts Archer on the cusp of launching a fully fledged commercial service using its electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle (eVTOL). The company has also received Part 145 certification, which authorizes it to conduct specialized aircraft repair services. The FAA also recently issued the final airworthiness criteria for the Midnight aircraft. Archer is only the second eVTOL company to receive Part 135 certification, after Joby Aviation in 2022.

But before it can launch, it needs to obtain type certification for its Midnight air taxi, which means the aircraft meets all the FAA’s design and safety standards. Midnight is a five-seat eVTOL aircraft that can carry four passengers and one pilot for up to 60 miles (nearly 100km) at speeds of up to 150mph (241 km/h), on pure battery power. Using tilt rotors, Midnight is designed to take off and land vertically like a helicopter and then transition into forward flight like a plane.

Archer came out of stealth in spring 2020 after having poached key talent from Wisk and Airbus’ Vahana project. (That fact spurred a lawsuit from Wisk for alleged trade secret theft, which was finally settled late last year.) The company has a $1 billion order from United Airlines for its eVTOL aircraft and a deal to mass-produce its eVTOL craft with global automaker Stellantis.

Alongside Archer, other electric vertical takeoff and landing companies hope to eventually win full FAA approval, but that process is slow going. It may be a few more years before the FAA grants certification to an eVTOL company — which it has yet to do. Changes to the certification process have created uncertainty about commercialization after the FAA recategorized eVTOL as a “power lift” aircraft rather than an airplane.

Air taxis, sometimes misidentified by the mainstream media as “flying cars,” are essentially helicopters without the noisy, polluting gas motors (though they certainly have their own unique noise profile).

In addition to Archer, companies like Joby Aviation, Volocopter, and Beta Technologies have claimed they are on the cusp of launching services that will eventually scale up nationwide.

Read More 

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

Asana’s platform already helps teams lay out tasks and see who is assigned which responsibilities, and now it says “AI teammates” will step in with advice and plans for who should work together to get things done.
In a press release, Asana says its AI model can use stored information about the historical relationships and past projects of teams to assign work to the people with the best-matched skill sets, like tagging designers who know brand styles to work on creative projects. It can also look for missing information before responding to a request and proactively reach out to gather that data for the team.

According to Asana co-founder and CEO Dustin Moskovitz, “We’re able to do this better than anyone else because we built Asana on the Work Graph, which maps the relationship between the work your team does, the information about that work, and the people doing the work.”
Asana’s release didn’t go into specific examples but said customers are already testing it, like one unnamed marketing organization where it says the AI bot is putting together tailored marketing content, translating assets into different languages, and standardizing workflows.
The company also announced a chat interface for the AI teammate so users can ask it questions about their current project.

Screenshot: Asana
Asana’s AI can answer employee questions on their company.

AI teammate feature is the latest entry in the AI assistant for your job genre of generative AI use cases. Google announced an AI Teammate for Google Workspace in May that users can customize to automate some work tasks. Amazon’s Q learns company data so workers can just ask it questions about their business, and Microsoft’s Copilot AI agents automate many workflow jobs without the need for a prompt.

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

Asana’s platform already helps teams lay out tasks and see who is assigned which responsibilities, and now it says “AI teammates” will step in with advice and plans for who should work together to get things done.

In a press release, Asana says its AI model can use stored information about the historical relationships and past projects of teams to assign work to the people with the best-matched skill sets, like tagging designers who know brand styles to work on creative projects. It can also look for missing information before responding to a request and proactively reach out to gather that data for the team.

According to Asana co-founder and CEO Dustin Moskovitz, “We’re able to do this better than anyone else because we built Asana on the Work Graph, which maps the relationship between the work your team does, the information about that work, and the people doing the work.”

Asana’s release didn’t go into specific examples but said customers are already testing it, like one unnamed marketing organization where it says the AI bot is putting together tailored marketing content, translating assets into different languages, and standardizing workflows.

The company also announced a chat interface for the AI teammate so users can ask it questions about their current project.

Screenshot: Asana
Asana’s AI can answer employee questions on their company.

AI teammate feature is the latest entry in the AI assistant for your job genre of generative AI use cases. Google announced an AI Teammate for Google Workspace in May that users can customize to automate some work tasks. Amazon’s Q learns company data so workers can just ask it questions about their business, and Microsoft’s Copilot AI agents automate many workflow jobs without the need for a prompt.

Read More 

Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge

Microsoft is ending support for Windows 10 in October 2025, but the company is now taking the unusual step of reopening its beta program for Windows 10 to test new features and improvements.
Windows 10 already got the AI Copilot feature that was originally exclusive to Windows 11, and it may well get other features soon. “To bring new features and more improvements to Windows 10 as needed, we need a place to do active feature development with Windows Insiders,” explains Microsoft’s Windows Insider team in a blog post. “So today, we are opening the Beta Channel for Windows Insiders who are currently on Windows 10.”
Microsoft hasn’t revealed what additional Windows 10 features it plans to test next, but Windows Insiders can opt into the beta channel to get them early. Crucially, the Windows 10 end of support date of October 14th, 2025 is still unchanged. “Joining the Beta Channel on your Windows 10 PC does not change that,” says Microsoft.
Microsoft changed its mind on new Windows 10 features late last year
Microsoft originally said it was done with major Windows 10 updates last year, before its change in approach to bring more features to an OS that will be officially unsupported in around 16 months time. The software giant describes this change as a way “to make sure everyone can get the maximum value from their current Windows PC.”
Consumers using Windows 10 will also be offered paid security updates for the first time ever once the OS hits end of support in October 2025. Microsoft recently revealed businesses will need to pay $61 per device for a year of security updates. That fee doubles to $122 for the second year and then doubles again in year three to $244. Pricing for consumer security updates hasn’t been revealed yet, with Microsoft promising it “will be shared at a later date.”
Microsoft continues to try and get consumers to upgrade to Windows 11, but millions of PCs can’t upgrade officially to Windows 11 due to its strict hardware requirements and Microsoft’s security push with its latest OS. Windows 11 is only supported on CPUs released from 2018 onward and with devices that support TPM security chips.
Windows 11 usage has lagged behind Windows 10, with StatCounter listing Windows 11 at nearly 28 percent of all Windows version market share for May 2024. Windows 10 is still at 68 percent, nine years after its release in 2015.

Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge

Microsoft is ending support for Windows 10 in October 2025, but the company is now taking the unusual step of reopening its beta program for Windows 10 to test new features and improvements.

Windows 10 already got the AI Copilot feature that was originally exclusive to Windows 11, and it may well get other features soon. “To bring new features and more improvements to Windows 10 as needed, we need a place to do active feature development with Windows Insiders,” explains Microsoft’s Windows Insider team in a blog post. “So today, we are opening the Beta Channel for Windows Insiders who are currently on Windows 10.”

Microsoft hasn’t revealed what additional Windows 10 features it plans to test next, but Windows Insiders can opt into the beta channel to get them early. Crucially, the Windows 10 end of support date of October 14th, 2025 is still unchanged. “Joining the Beta Channel on your Windows 10 PC does not change that,” says Microsoft.

Microsoft originally said it was done with major Windows 10 updates last year, before its change in approach to bring more features to an OS that will be officially unsupported in around 16 months time. The software giant describes this change as a way “to make sure everyone can get the maximum value from their current Windows PC.”

Consumers using Windows 10 will also be offered paid security updates for the first time ever once the OS hits end of support in October 2025. Microsoft recently revealed businesses will need to pay $61 per device for a year of security updates. That fee doubles to $122 for the second year and then doubles again in year three to $244. Pricing for consumer security updates hasn’t been revealed yet, with Microsoft promising it “will be shared at a later date.”

Microsoft continues to try and get consumers to upgrade to Windows 11, but millions of PCs can’t upgrade officially to Windows 11 due to its strict hardware requirements and Microsoft’s security push with its latest OS. Windows 11 is only supported on CPUs released from 2018 onward and with devices that support TPM security chips.

Windows 11 usage has lagged behind Windows 10, with StatCounter listing Windows 11 at nearly 28 percent of all Windows version market share for May 2024. Windows 10 is still at 68 percent, nine years after its release in 2015.

Read More 

The Dexcom G7 will be able to send real-time blood sugar readings straight to the wrist. | Image: Dexcom

Starting today, Dexcom G7 continuous glucose monitor (CGM) users will be able to monitor their real-time blood sugar data straight from an Apple Watch.
According to Dexcom’s press release, the Direct to Apple Watch feature was one of the most requested by users. Once paired to the Apple Watch, the G7 will use its own dedicated Bluetooth connection to send both glucose readings and personalized alerts to the wrist. Meaning, you don’t have to whip out your phone if you want to view your data, nor does your phone have to be on your person. For instance, G7 users will still be able to get real-time data while on a phone-free run / walk or if your phone is charging in a different room. Previously, the G7’s Apple Watch app allowed you to have a watchface complication, but there was a three-hour delay with synced data.

Image: Dexcom
You’ll be also be able to receive alerts on the wrist.

This is more of a secondary way to view data and receive alerts, not a replacement for your smartphone or Dexcom receiver. You still need a compatible iPhone to initially set up the G7 CGM and pair it with the Apple Watch. Sharing data with family and friends also requires your phone to be within 20 feet of range. You’ll also need your phone if you want a more holistic view of your blood glucose data alongside other metrics (e.g., activity, menstrual cycles, sleep, etc.) in the Apple Health app.
At launch, the Direct to Apple Watch feature will be available in the US, UK, and Ireland. The feature will roll out to additional markets later this month, though Dexcom didn’t specify exactly which. Folks interested in the feature should update the Dexcom G7 app to version 2.1 and will need at least an Apple Watch Series 6 running watchOS 10 or later. They must also have an iPhone running iOS 17 or later.
It’s important to note that this feature is more a step in making existing CGMs more convenient to use, rather than making smartwatches a standalone, non-invasive blood glucose monitoring tool. (While many companies are actively investing that tech, it’s still not likely we’ll see it anytime soon.) Along that vein, Dexcom also recently announced it got FDA clearance for the Stelo CGM, an over-the-counter device geared toward non-insulin dependent, Type 2 diabetes patients. The Stelo, which was introduced at CES 2024, is expected to be available later this summer.

The Dexcom G7 will be able to send real-time blood sugar readings straight to the wrist. | Image: Dexcom

Starting today, Dexcom G7 continuous glucose monitor (CGM) users will be able to monitor their real-time blood sugar data straight from an Apple Watch.

According to Dexcom’s press release, the Direct to Apple Watch feature was one of the most requested by users. Once paired to the Apple Watch, the G7 will use its own dedicated Bluetooth connection to send both glucose readings and personalized alerts to the wrist. Meaning, you don’t have to whip out your phone if you want to view your data, nor does your phone have to be on your person. For instance, G7 users will still be able to get real-time data while on a phone-free run / walk or if your phone is charging in a different room. Previously, the G7’s Apple Watch app allowed you to have a watchface complication, but there was a three-hour delay with synced data.

This is more of a secondary way to view data and receive alerts, not a replacement for your smartphone or Dexcom receiver. You still need a compatible iPhone to initially set up the G7 CGM and pair it with the Apple Watch. Sharing data with family and friends also requires your phone to be within 20 feet of range. You’ll also need your phone if you want a more holistic view of your blood glucose data alongside other metrics (e.g., activity, menstrual cycles, sleep, etc.) in the Apple Health app.

At launch, the Direct to Apple Watch feature will be available in the US, UK, and Ireland. The feature will roll out to additional markets later this month, though Dexcom didn’t specify exactly which. Folks interested in the feature should update the Dexcom G7 app to version 2.1 and will need at least an Apple Watch Series 6 running watchOS 10 or later. They must also have an iPhone running iOS 17 or later.

It’s important to note that this feature is more a step in making existing CGMs more convenient to use, rather than making smartwatches a standalone, non-invasive blood glucose monitoring tool. (While many companies are actively investing that tech, it’s still not likely we’ll see it anytime soon.) Along that vein, Dexcom also recently announced it got FDA clearance for the Stelo CGM, an over-the-counter device geared toward non-insulin dependent, Type 2 diabetes patients. The Stelo, which was introduced at CES 2024, is expected to be available later this summer.

Read More 

The Zotac Zone. | Image: Zotac

It’s handheld season, and the Asus ROG Ally X and MSI Claw 8 AI Plus aren’t the only second-gen Windows gaming handhelds in town — GPU manufacturer Zotac has officially revealed its Zone at Computex, and it does a few things differently than the competition.
Zotac already teased that the Zone would have an OLED screen, something that only the Steam Deck OLED has managed in PC handhelds before — as well as two-stage adjustable triggers like an Xbox Elite gamepad and drift resistant Hall effect joysticks. But did you know it’ll also have symmetrical PlayStation-esque joysticks, programmable dials around each one, twin Steam Deck-like trackpads, a small built-in kickstand, a Windows Hello camera instead of a fingerprint reader, and both top and bottom USB4 ports?
Thanks to journalists who descended on Taipei this week, we do — some of whom took good photos, including the entire spec sheet. PCWorld even filmed a 20-minute long video tour:

J’ai pu approcher la Zone, la console de ZOTAC. Elle est encore en phase “beta” mais elle est super prometteuse. On est clairement sur un mélange entre un Steam Deck et une ROG Ally. Son argument fort ? L’écran OLED de 7 pouces. Hâte de jouer à The War Within dessus pic.twitter.com/6hqBRNggCq— Pierre Le Goupil (@SireGoupil) June 4, 2024

The handheld’s powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 8840U chip, and you shouldn’t necessarily expect a lot from it — it’s largely the same as the 7840U that powered prior handhelds, with the same Radeon 780M iGPU inside. But like the ROG Ally X and Lenovo Legion Go, it does upgrade to LPDDR5X-7500 memory, which seemingly gave the Legion a slight performance bump over the original Ally — and at a more modest 1080p resolution.
Less pleasingly, Zotac appears to have outfitted it with a modest 48.5 watt-hour battery pack as well, smaller than that of the Steam Deck OLED and vastly smaller than the 80Wh packs that Asus and MSI just announced — and its 7-inch 120Hz OLED screen doesn’t support variable refresh rate any more than the Steam Deck’s one did. It does sound nice and bright at 800 nits, however, and I’m intrigued by the programmable jog dials.

Image: Zotac
Zotac’s Zone one-pager.

As you may know, Zotac was one of the first companies to try AirJet’s intriguing solid-state cooling tech in a mini-PC, and PCWorld’s Adam Murray took the opportunity to ask if Zotac was planning to use the tech in a handheld, too. But while AirJet maker Frore Systems seems to think it’d work, Zotac suggested the current AirJet isn’t yet designed to cool chips as high wattage as the 8840U — and that cost might also be a concern. For now, the Zone has a single traditional fan and a couple of smallish vents to help keep it cool.
According to Geeknetic, the Zone should cost around $800 in September of this year. That’s on the high end of consumer gaming handhelds, though the Ally X, with its dramatically bigger battery, is also launching at that price.
Zotac, if you’re reading this: we’re happy to get the details from you next time!

The Zotac Zone. | Image: Zotac

It’s handheld season, and the Asus ROG Ally X and MSI Claw 8 AI Plus aren’t the only second-gen Windows gaming handhelds in town — GPU manufacturer Zotac has officially revealed its Zone at Computex, and it does a few things differently than the competition.

Zotac already teased that the Zone would have an OLED screen, something that only the Steam Deck OLED has managed in PC handhelds before — as well as two-stage adjustable triggers like an Xbox Elite gamepad and drift resistant Hall effect joysticks. But did you know it’ll also have symmetrical PlayStation-esque joysticks, programmable dials around each one, twin Steam Deck-like trackpads, a small built-in kickstand, a Windows Hello camera instead of a fingerprint reader, and both top and bottom USB4 ports?

Thanks to journalists who descended on Taipei this week, we do — some of whom took good photos, including the entire spec sheet. PCWorld even filmed a 20-minute long video tour:

The handheld’s powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 8840U chip, and you shouldn’t necessarily expect a lot from it — it’s largely the same as the 7840U that powered prior handhelds, with the same Radeon 780M iGPU inside. But like the ROG Ally X and Lenovo Legion Go, it does upgrade to LPDDR5X-7500 memory, which seemingly gave the Legion a slight performance bump over the original Ally — and at a more modest 1080p resolution.

Less pleasingly, Zotac appears to have outfitted it with a modest 48.5 watt-hour battery pack as well, smaller than that of the Steam Deck OLED and vastly smaller than the 80Wh packs that Asus and MSI just announced — and its 7-inch 120Hz OLED screen doesn’t support variable refresh rate any more than the Steam Deck’s one did. It does sound nice and bright at 800 nits, however, and I’m intrigued by the programmable jog dials.

Image: Zotac
Zotac’s Zone one-pager.

As you may know, Zotac was one of the first companies to try AirJet’s intriguing solid-state cooling tech in a mini-PC, and PCWorld’s Adam Murray took the opportunity to ask if Zotac was planning to use the tech in a handheld, too. But while AirJet maker Frore Systems seems to think it’d work, Zotac suggested the current AirJet isn’t yet designed to cool chips as high wattage as the 8840U — and that cost might also be a concern. For now, the Zone has a single traditional fan and a couple of smallish vents to help keep it cool.

According to Geeknetic, the Zone should cost around $800 in September of this year. That’s on the high end of consumer gaming handhelds, though the Ally X, with its dramatically bigger battery, is also launching at that price.

Zotac, if you’re reading this: we’re happy to get the details from you next time!

Read More 

Image: The Verge

AT&T and Verizon are dealing with an outage causing dropped phone calls across the US, seemingly affecting calls between customers of the two services.
According to a statement from AT&T spokesperson Jim Kimberly, “Our network is not experiencing a nationwide outage. There is a nationwide issue that is affecting the ability of some customers to complete calls between carriers. We are working closely with Verizon to determine the nature of the issue and what actions need to be taken.”
Verizon spokesperson Kevin H. King tells The Verge that the network is “operating normally” but notes that customers primarily in the Northeast and Midwest “are experiencing issues when calling or texting with customers served by another carrier.”

We’re aware of reports that consumers in multiple states are unable to make wireless calls and we are currently investigating.— The FCC (@FCC) June 4, 2024

We still don’t know exactly when the outage started or what caused it. Verizon and AT&T charts on Downdetector suggest that problems may have started around 2PM ET. The Federal Communications Commission is also looking into the issue. “We’re aware of reports that consumers in multiple states are unable to make wireless calls and we are currently investigating,” the FCC writes in a post on X.
In February, a massive AT&T outage brought down service for thousands of customers nationwide. The carrier later apologized for the outage and offered a $5 credit to affected customers.

Image: The Verge

AT&T and Verizon are dealing with an outage causing dropped phone calls across the US, seemingly affecting calls between customers of the two services.

According to a statement from AT&T spokesperson Jim Kimberly, “Our network is not experiencing a nationwide outage. There is a nationwide issue that is affecting the ability of some customers to complete calls between carriers. We are working closely with Verizon to determine the nature of the issue and what actions need to be taken.”

Verizon spokesperson Kevin H. King tells The Verge that the network is “operating normally” but notes that customers primarily in the Northeast and Midwest “are experiencing issues when calling or texting with customers served by another carrier.”

We still don’t know exactly when the outage started or what caused it. Verizon and AT&T charts on Downdetector suggest that problems may have started around 2PM ET. The Federal Communications Commission is also looking into the issue. “We’re aware of reports that consumers in multiple states are unable to make wireless calls and we are currently investigating,” the FCC writes in a post on X.

In February, a massive AT&T outage brought down service for thousands of customers nationwide. The carrier later apologized for the outage and offered a $5 credit to affected customers.

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But first, here is an image of Jensen Huang not signing a women’s chest. | Photo: Getty Images

Well, here’s Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, signing a woman’s chest in a crowded booth at Computex. In the video below, you can see he asks whether this is a good idea before he eventually signs the woman’s top. He then returns to signing more traditional fare.

This isn’t an unusual sight when it comes to actors or musicians. But can you imagine Tim Cook doing that after an iPhone event? Or Sundar Pichai after Google I/O?

Yet those men also cultivate very different public images than Huang. Instead of hoodies, double polos, thousand-dollar T-shirts, or business suits, he’s typically decked out in some kind of leather jacket. What he wants you to know from that sartorial choice is clear: he’s not like regular CEOs. He’s a cool CEO.
And like cool actors and musicians, sometimes people ask CEOs with carefully cultivated images of being cool to also sign their tatas. But I suspect this woman’s desire to get a signature on her dress was driven more by the AInboom that’s led Nvidia to being the third most valuable company on the S&P 500 than by how swanky Huang’s jacket is.

But first, here is an image of Jensen Huang not signing a women’s chest. | Photo: Getty Images

Well, here’s Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, signing a woman’s chest in a crowded booth at Computex. In the video below, you can see he asks whether this is a good idea before he eventually signs the woman’s top. He then returns to signing more traditional fare.

This isn’t an unusual sight when it comes to actors or musicians. But can you imagine Tim Cook doing that after an iPhone event? Or Sundar Pichai after Google I/O?

Yet those men also cultivate very different public images than Huang. Instead of hoodies, double polos, thousand-dollar T-shirts, or business suits, he’s typically decked out in some kind of leather jacket. What he wants you to know from that sartorial choice is clear: he’s not like regular CEOs. He’s a cool CEO.

And like cool actors and musicians, sometimes people ask CEOs with carefully cultivated images of being cool to also sign their tatas. But I suspect this woman’s desire to get a signature on her dress was driven more by the AInboom that’s led Nvidia to being the third most valuable company on the S&P 500 than by how swanky Huang’s jacket is.

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Illustration by Laura Normand / The Verge

Bill Gates has written a memoir, covering the days of his childhood all the way until he formed Microsoft in 1975. The book, called Source Code: My Beginnings, doesn’t go on sale until February 4th, 2025, but it’s available for preorder now.
In a post on his blog, Gates says the book goes over “the tougher parts of my early life, including feeling like a misfit as a kid, butting heads with my parents as a rebellious teen, grappling with the sudden loss of someone close to me, and nearly getting kicked out of college.” It also covers Gates’ decision to co-found Microsoft with the late Paul Allen.

My upcoming memoir Source Code is all about the lessons and experiences that laid the foundation for everything in my life that followed. https://t.co/BMN4gIsnnY— Bill Gates (@BillGates) June 4, 2024

What it doesn’t seem like it will include, though, is the inner workings of Microsoft and Gates’ other business endeavors. The book’s description says Source Code is “not about Microsoft or the Gates Foundation or the future of technology.” Instead, it’s “the human, personal story of how Bill Gates became who he is today: his childhood, his early passions and pursuits.”

Illustration by Laura Normand / The Verge

Bill Gates has written a memoir, covering the days of his childhood all the way until he formed Microsoft in 1975. The book, called Source Code: My Beginnings, doesn’t go on sale until February 4th, 2025, but it’s available for preorder now.

In a post on his blog, Gates says the book goes over “the tougher parts of my early life, including feeling like a misfit as a kid, butting heads with my parents as a rebellious teen, grappling with the sudden loss of someone close to me, and nearly getting kicked out of college.” It also covers Gates’ decision to co-found Microsoft with the late Paul Allen.

What it doesn’t seem like it will include, though, is the inner workings of Microsoft and Gates’ other business endeavors. The book’s description says Source Code is “not about Microsoft or the Gates Foundation or the future of technology.” Instead, it’s “the human, personal story of how Bill Gates became who he is today: his childhood, his early passions and pursuits.”

Read More