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Images: OneXPlayer

Steam Deck, ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion Go a bit too simplistic for you? The OnePlayer X1 Mini is the most gadget-y handheld yet. The upcoming 8.8-inch, 144Hz Windows gaming tablet has:

Two detachable gamepads, like a Nintendo Switch
A magnetically detachable keyboard cover, like a Surface tablet
A kickstand
An easy-access SSD slot under that kickstand (new for handhelds, I believe!)
An Oculink port to connect one of a growing number of eGPUs

Windows Hello automatic face log-in, as well as a fingerprint reader power button
A 65 watt-hour battery, one of the largest in handhelds
Multiple USB4 ports
A controller grip to snap its Joy-Con-alikes together into a wireless gamepad
“Harman EFX tuned audio”

Image: OneXPlayer
You won’t forget where the WASD keys are, that’s for sure.

And, importantly, it’s got a AMD 8840U processor instead of a Intel Core Ultra chip.

Image: OneXPlayer
Not completely toolless — there’s still one screw.

See, the OneXPlayer X1 Mini is a smaller 8.8-inch version of the 10.95-inch OneXPlayer X1 put on sale earlier this year — and that one shipped with the same Intel Core Ultra chip that recently underwhelmed us in the MSI Claw. OneXPlayer has already dramatically cut the price of the larger Intel-powered handheld, and has just announced an AMD 8840U powered version of it as well.

Images: OneXPlayer
Top: OnePlayer X1 Mini. Bottom: OnePlayer X1

But if I had to pick between 10.95-inch or 8.8-inch versions, sight unseen, with the same size 65Wh battery (yes they’re the same size) I’d probably choose portability. Unless the 8.8-inch keyboard is really cramped or something.
Either way, I really want to try it. Hope it doesn’t cost too much! It hasn’t quite begun its Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign yet, but I let you know when it does.

Images: OneXPlayer

Steam Deck, ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion Go a bit too simplistic for you? The OnePlayer X1 Mini is the most gadget-y handheld yet. The upcoming 8.8-inch, 144Hz Windows gaming tablet has:

Two detachable gamepads, like a Nintendo Switch
A magnetically detachable keyboard cover, like a Surface tablet
A kickstand
An easy-access SSD slot under that kickstand (new for handhelds, I believe!)
An Oculink port to connect one of a growing number of eGPUs

Windows Hello automatic face log-in, as well as a fingerprint reader power button
A 65 watt-hour battery, one of the largest in handhelds
Multiple USB4 ports
A controller grip to snap its Joy-Con-alikes together into a wireless gamepad
“Harman EFX tuned audio”

Image: OneXPlayer
You won’t forget where the WASD keys are, that’s for sure.

And, importantly, it’s got a AMD 8840U processor instead of a Intel Core Ultra chip.

Image: OneXPlayer
Not completely toolless — there’s still one screw.

See, the OneXPlayer X1 Mini is a smaller 8.8-inch version of the 10.95-inch OneXPlayer X1 put on sale earlier this year — and that one shipped with the same Intel Core Ultra chip that recently underwhelmed us in the MSI Claw. OneXPlayer has already dramatically cut the price of the larger Intel-powered handheld, and has just announced an AMD 8840U powered version of it as well.

Images: OneXPlayer
Top: OnePlayer X1 Mini. Bottom: OnePlayer X1

But if I had to pick between 10.95-inch or 8.8-inch versions, sight unseen, with the same size 65Wh battery (yes they’re the same size) I’d probably choose portability. Unless the 8.8-inch keyboard is really cramped or something.

Either way, I really want to try it. Hope it doesn’t cost too much! It hasn’t quite begun its Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign yet, but I let you know when it does.

Read More 

Garmin’s unassuming tacker is daintier than most smartwatches, but is that really such a bad thing? | Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

As an avid runner, I understand the appeal of tracking fitness metrics. That said, in recent weeks, I’ve also grown annoyed with the onslaught of notifications I receive on my wrist via my Apple Watch Series 7, which I find to be incredibly distracting. Thankfully, if you’re like me, Garmin’s back-to-basics Lily 2 is on sale at Amazon and direct from Garmin right now for $199.99 ($50 off), its lowest price to date.

Whether it aims to be or not, Garmin’s fashion-forward smartwatch is a throwback to the heyday of Fitbits, Misfits, and Jawbones — you know, basic fitness bands. Its compact, 35mm sizing probably means it’s best suited for women, though, we’d venture to guess it should work for anyone with smaller wrists who wants a touch of style to their wardrobe. It can track all your basic fitness activities (including your sleeping habits), too, and works with both Android and iOS, allowing you to receive text and call notifications. Admittedly, the hidden OLED display on the Lily 2 is a bit difficult to navigate and the watch eschews premium features like built-in GPS, but if you prefer to keep things simple, it’s a great little tracker for casual users that can easily cut back on notification fatigue.

Read our hands-on impressions of the Garmin Lily 2.

More deals, discounts, and ways to save

Memorial Day weekend is nearly upon us. We’ll be publishing a larger roundup detailing the best holiday savings tomorrow, but if you’re looking to get ahead, Coleman’s Cascade 222 Camping Stove is available from REI, Backcountry, and Colman starting at $126.99 ($43 off). The solid two-burner stove is a slight step up from Coleman’s most basic model, providing you with a bit more cooking precision, a built-in carrying handle, and a handy piezo ignition for getting things started.

Sony’s ULT Field 7 is down to $398 ($102 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Sony’s online storefront. Like other Bluetooth speakers in the ULT Power Sound series, the mid-tier Field 7 is all about immersing you in lively, bass-heavy sound. Most of the specs on the beefy 20-inch speaker are pretty table-stakes for its class — including its IP67 rating, integrated lighting, and 30-hour runtime — but it also packs a seven-band EQ and an ULT button that lets you toggle between different bass modes, letting you fine-tune its sound on the fly.
Need a streaming device to catch up on House of the Dragon before the second season drops on June 16th? If so, Amazon’s latest Fire TV Cube is currently matching its all-time low of $109.99 ($30 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and The Home Depot. The streaming device / smart speaker hybrid continues to support all the popular 4K HDR formats and remains the fastest device in Amazon’s Fire TV lineup, only now it supports Wi-Fi 6E connectivity and an improved port selection. Read our review.

Garmin’s unassuming tacker is daintier than most smartwatches, but is that really such a bad thing? | Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

As an avid runner, I understand the appeal of tracking fitness metrics. That said, in recent weeks, I’ve also grown annoyed with the onslaught of notifications I receive on my wrist via my Apple Watch Series 7, which I find to be incredibly distracting. Thankfully, if you’re like me, Garmin’s back-to-basics Lily 2 is on sale at Amazon and direct from Garmin right now for $199.99 ($50 off), its lowest price to date.

Whether it aims to be or not, Garmin’s fashion-forward smartwatch is a throwback to the heyday of Fitbits, Misfits, and Jawbones — you know, basic fitness bands. Its compact, 35mm sizing probably means it’s best suited for women, though, we’d venture to guess it should work for anyone with smaller wrists who wants a touch of style to their wardrobe. It can track all your basic fitness activities (including your sleeping habits), too, and works with both Android and iOS, allowing you to receive text and call notifications. Admittedly, the hidden OLED display on the Lily 2 is a bit difficult to navigate and the watch eschews premium features like built-in GPS, but if you prefer to keep things simple, it’s a great little tracker for casual users that can easily cut back on notification fatigue.

Read our hands-on impressions of the Garmin Lily 2.

More deals, discounts, and ways to save

Memorial Day weekend is nearly upon us. We’ll be publishing a larger roundup detailing the best holiday savings tomorrow, but if you’re looking to get ahead, Coleman’s Cascade 222 Camping Stove is available from REI, Backcountry, and Colman starting at $126.99 ($43 off). The solid two-burner stove is a slight step up from Coleman’s most basic model, providing you with a bit more cooking precision, a built-in carrying handle, and a handy piezo ignition for getting things started.

Sony’s ULT Field 7 is down to $398 ($102 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Sony’s online storefront. Like other Bluetooth speakers in the ULT Power Sound series, the mid-tier Field 7 is all about immersing you in lively, bass-heavy sound. Most of the specs on the beefy 20-inch speaker are pretty table-stakes for its class — including its IP67 rating, integrated lighting, and 30-hour runtime — but it also packs a seven-band EQ and an ULT button that lets you toggle between different bass modes, letting you fine-tune its sound on the fly.
Need a streaming device to catch up on House of the Dragon before the second season drops on June 16th? If so, Amazon’s latest Fire TV Cube is currently matching its all-time low of $109.99 ($30 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and The Home Depot. The streaming device / smart speaker hybrid continues to support all the popular 4K HDR formats and remains the fastest device in Amazon’s Fire TV lineup, only now it supports Wi-Fi 6E connectivity and an improved port selection. Read our review.

Read More 

How the “Add to Chromebook” badge looks like on websites. | Image: Google

Google is making a new “Add to Chromebook” badge that’s designed to make it easier for ChromeOS users to find and install progressive web apps (PWAs) and Android apps. The badge links directly to the web app you’re looking to install or to the Google Play Store (if it’s an Android app), 9to5Google reports.
In a Google I/O session video about ChromeOS, the presenter says many people looking for apps start with a Google search and end up on developers’ websites — a great place to display an Add to Chromebook badge and get ChromeOS users to the app. There isn’t much of a barrier when it comes to finding and installing Android apps on a Chromebook, as most people go straight to the Play Store to install those.
However, web apps often end up as just another Chrome website tab, as it’s not clear how to install the web app to the Chromebook (you need to click the icon on the upper right in Chrome). The great thing about PWAs is that they can be almost as comprehensive as a full app and can run offline but load quicker. If you install them directly to a computer or smartphone homescreen, they’re almost indistinguishable from a regular app. The new “Add to Chromebook” badge makes it a lot more likely that people will be able to find and install those apps.
Google notes that there are more than 100 million monthly web app users on Chrome browsers (all platforms, including ChromeOS), so there are a lot of opportunities for developers to get their apps on the computers.

How the “Add to Chromebook” badge looks like on websites. | Image: Google

Google is making a new “Add to Chromebook” badge that’s designed to make it easier for ChromeOS users to find and install progressive web apps (PWAs) and Android apps. The badge links directly to the web app you’re looking to install or to the Google Play Store (if it’s an Android app), 9to5Google reports.

In a Google I/O session video about ChromeOS, the presenter says many people looking for apps start with a Google search and end up on developers’ websites — a great place to display an Add to Chromebook badge and get ChromeOS users to the app. There isn’t much of a barrier when it comes to finding and installing Android apps on a Chromebook, as most people go straight to the Play Store to install those.

However, web apps often end up as just another Chrome website tab, as it’s not clear how to install the web app to the Chromebook (you need to click the icon on the upper right in Chrome). The great thing about PWAs is that they can be almost as comprehensive as a full app and can run offline but load quicker. If you install them directly to a computer or smartphone homescreen, they’re almost indistinguishable from a regular app. The new “Add to Chromebook” badge makes it a lot more likely that people will be able to find and install those apps.

Google notes that there are more than 100 million monthly web app users on Chrome browsers (all platforms, including ChromeOS), so there are a lot of opportunities for developers to get their apps on the computers.

Read More 

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

A Wisconsin software engineer was arrested on Monday for allegedly creating and distributing thousands of AI-generated images of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Court documents describe Steven Anderegg as “extremely technologically savvy,” with a background in computer science and “decades of experience in software engineering.” Anderegg, 42, is accused of sending AI-generated images of naked minors to a 15-year-old boy via Instagram DM. Anderegg was put on law enforcement’s radar after the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children flagged the messages, which he allegedly sent in October 2023.
According to information law enforcement obtained from Instagram, Anderegg posted an Instagram story in 2023 “consisting of a realistic GenAI image of minors wearing BDSM-themed leather clothes” and encouraged others to “check out” what they were missing on Telegram. In private messages with other Instagram users, Anderegg allegedly “discussed his desire to have sex with prepubescent boys” and told one Instagram user that he had “tons” of other AI-generated CSAM images on his Telegram.
Anderegg allegedly began sending these images to another Instagram user after learning he was only 15 years old. “When this minor made his age known, the defendant did not rebuff him or inquire further. Instead, he wasted no time in describing to this minor how he creates sexually explicit GenAI images and sent the child custom-tailored content,” charging documents claim.
When law enforcement searched Anderegg’s computer, they found over 13,000 images “with hundreds — if not thousands — of these images depicting nude or semi-clothed prepubescent minors,” according to prosecutors. Charging documents say Anderegg made the images on the text-to-image model Stable Diffusion, a product created by Stability AI, and used “extremely specific and explicit prompts to create these images.” Anderegg also allegedly used “negative prompts” to avoid creating images depicting adults and used third-party Stable Diffusion add-ons that “specialized in producing genitalia.”
Last month, several major tech companies including Google, Meta, OpenAI, Microsoft, and Amazon said they’d review their AI training data for CSAM. The companies committed to a new set of principles that include “stress-testing” models to ensure they aren’t creating CSAM. Stability AI also signed on to the principles.
According to prosecutors, this is not the first time Anderegg has come into contact with law enforcement over his alleged possession of CSAM via a peer-to-peer network. In 2020, someone using the internet in Anderegg’s Wisconsin home tried to download multiple files of known CSAM, prosecutors claim. Law enforcement searched his home in 2020, and Anderegg admitted to having a peer-to-peer network on his computer and frequently resetting his modem, but he was not charged.
In a brief supporting Anderegg’s pretrial detention, the government noted that he’s worked as a software engineer for more than 20 years, and his CV includes a recent job at a startup, where he used his “excellent technical understanding in formulating AI models.”
If convicted, Anderegg faces up to 70 years in prison, though prosecutors say the “recommended sentencing range may be as high as life imprisonment.”

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

A Wisconsin software engineer was arrested on Monday for allegedly creating and distributing thousands of AI-generated images of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

Court documents describe Steven Anderegg as “extremely technologically savvy,” with a background in computer science and “decades of experience in software engineering.” Anderegg, 42, is accused of sending AI-generated images of naked minors to a 15-year-old boy via Instagram DM. Anderegg was put on law enforcement’s radar after the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children flagged the messages, which he allegedly sent in October 2023.

According to information law enforcement obtained from Instagram, Anderegg posted an Instagram story in 2023 “consisting of a realistic GenAI image of minors wearing BDSM-themed leather clothes” and encouraged others to “check out” what they were missing on Telegram. In private messages with other Instagram users, Anderegg allegedly “discussed his desire to have sex with prepubescent boys” and told one Instagram user that he had “tons” of other AI-generated CSAM images on his Telegram.

Anderegg allegedly began sending these images to another Instagram user after learning he was only 15 years old. “When this minor made his age known, the defendant did not rebuff him or inquire further. Instead, he wasted no time in describing to this minor how he creates sexually explicit GenAI images and sent the child custom-tailored content,” charging documents claim.

When law enforcement searched Anderegg’s computer, they found over 13,000 images “with hundreds — if not thousands — of these images depicting nude or semi-clothed prepubescent minors,” according to prosecutors. Charging documents say Anderegg made the images on the text-to-image model Stable Diffusion, a product created by Stability AI, and used “extremely specific and explicit prompts to create these images.” Anderegg also allegedly used “negative prompts” to avoid creating images depicting adults and used third-party Stable Diffusion add-ons that “specialized in producing genitalia.”

Last month, several major tech companies including Google, Meta, OpenAI, Microsoft, and Amazon said they’d review their AI training data for CSAM. The companies committed to a new set of principles that include “stress-testing” models to ensure they aren’t creating CSAM. Stability AI also signed on to the principles.

According to prosecutors, this is not the first time Anderegg has come into contact with law enforcement over his alleged possession of CSAM via a peer-to-peer network. In 2020, someone using the internet in Anderegg’s Wisconsin home tried to download multiple files of known CSAM, prosecutors claim. Law enforcement searched his home in 2020, and Anderegg admitted to having a peer-to-peer network on his computer and frequently resetting his modem, but he was not charged.

In a brief supporting Anderegg’s pretrial detention, the government noted that he’s worked as a software engineer for more than 20 years, and his CV includes a recent job at a startup, where he used his “excellent technical understanding in formulating AI models.”

If convicted, Anderegg faces up to 70 years in prison, though prosecutors say the “recommended sentencing range may be as high as life imprisonment.”

Read More 

Image: Linaro

With Microsoft’s new Surfaces leading a wave of Copilot Plus PCs powered by Arm chips that could reshape our expectations of Windows laptops, you might be wondering: do they game?

We’d already seen a few examples, like Baldur’s Gate 3 and Control — but at Build, Microsoft and Qualcomm just revealed a new website with far more examples. WorksOnWoA.com has apparently already tested 1,481 games on the Surface Laptop and other devices with Arm-based Snapdragon X Elite chips, and it lets you search to see whether your game of choice falls into one of four categories: “Perfect,” “Playable,” “Runs,” or “Unplayable.”
Here’s what each of those terms mean, according to Linaro, the Arm engineering group that built the website and counts Microsoft and Qualcomm among its supporters:

Perfect: Runs at 60+ FPS at 1080p resolution with no glitches / issues that affect gaming experience
Playable: Runs at 30+ FPS at 1080p resolution with minimal glitches/ issues that affect gaming experience
Runs: Runs with bugs that may affect gaming experience
Unplayable: Does not run due to anti-cheat or other failures

Unfortunately, the site doesn’t specify graphics settings — it’s quite possible they’re running at the lowest levels of detail. Some of them are also using Microsoft’s AI upscaling to reach that frame rate and resolution target, though the website keeps track of that, too.
In a Build session, Microsoft and Qualcomm showed us how Borderlands 3 runs about 60 percent faster with Auto Super Resolution versus native 1440p by tapping into the Qualcomm chip’s NPU, for example:

Image: Microsoft

Though Auto Super Res could maintain the same frame rate at a higher effective resolution instead:

Image: Microsoft

Image: Microsoft

Anyhow, 747 games are currently listed as running at a “perfect” 1080p and 60fps, including Control Ultimate Edition, and it should be easy to check against Linaro’s findings when final devices come out.

Image: Linaro

Here’s the whole list of 19 “unplayable” games so far, like Fortnite, Roblox, and PUBG, many of which famously don’t run on the Steam Deck due to their anti-cheat measures:

Image: Linaro

Image: Linaro

Microsoft says that the BattlEye anti-cheat system does support Arm, though support wasn’t necessarily enough to get big games that use it onto the Steam Deck.

Image: Microsoft

As far as the accuracy of these tests, Linaro says:
The information is intended to serve as a guide, but does not absolutely guarantee that a game will run. The results have been tested, but may not work on your specific machine and configuration. If your results differ, please contribute to the site with your own findings.
If you want to submit your own results, Linaro is taking your contributions — in the form of commits and pull requests.

Image: Linaro

With Microsoft’s new Surfaces leading a wave of Copilot Plus PCs powered by Arm chips that could reshape our expectations of Windows laptops, you might be wondering: do they game?

We’d already seen a few examples, like Baldur’s Gate 3 and Control — but at Build, Microsoft and Qualcomm just revealed a new website with far more examples. WorksOnWoA.com has apparently already tested 1,481 games on the Surface Laptop and other devices with Arm-based Snapdragon X Elite chips, and it lets you search to see whether your game of choice falls into one of four categories: “Perfect,” “Playable,” “Runs,” or “Unplayable.”

Here’s what each of those terms mean, according to Linaro, the Arm engineering group that built the website and counts Microsoft and Qualcomm among its supporters:

Perfect: Runs at 60+ FPS at 1080p resolution with no glitches / issues that affect gaming experience

Playable: Runs at 30+ FPS at 1080p resolution with minimal glitches/ issues that affect gaming experience

Runs: Runs with bugs that may affect gaming experience

Unplayable: Does not run due to anti-cheat or other failures

Unfortunately, the site doesn’t specify graphics settings — it’s quite possible they’re running at the lowest levels of detail. Some of them are also using Microsoft’s AI upscaling to reach that frame rate and resolution target, though the website keeps track of that, too.

In a Build session, Microsoft and Qualcomm showed us how Borderlands 3 runs about 60 percent faster with Auto Super Resolution versus native 1440p by tapping into the Qualcomm chip’s NPU, for example:

Image: Microsoft

Though Auto Super Res could maintain the same frame rate at a higher effective resolution instead:

Anyhow, 747 games are currently listed as running at a “perfect” 1080p and 60fps, including Control Ultimate Edition, and it should be easy to check against Linaro’s findings when final devices come out.

Image: Linaro

Here’s the whole list of 19 “unplayable” games so far, like Fortnite, Roblox, and PUBG, many of which famously don’t run on the Steam Deck due to their anti-cheat measures:

Microsoft says that the BattlEye anti-cheat system does support Arm, though support wasn’t necessarily enough to get big games that use it onto the Steam Deck.

Image: Microsoft

As far as the accuracy of these tests, Linaro says:

The information is intended to serve as a guide, but does not absolutely guarantee that a game will run. The results have been tested, but may not work on your specific machine and configuration. If your results differ, please contribute to the site with your own findings.

If you want to submit your own results, Linaro is taking your contributions — in the form of commits and pull requests.

Read More 

The wireless Yale Keypad Touch provides fingerprint and key code access for the new Yale Approach lock and several August smart locks. | Image: Yale

August makes excellent smart locks, but careful observers may have noticed that the company hasn’t released any new hardware in four years. Owners of August locks may be relieved to know that a new wireless keypad finally brings them the option of fingerprint unlocking.
The Yale Keypad Touch is a fingerprint-enabled wireless keypad for Yale and August retrofit locks that works with the fourth-gen August Wi-Fi Smart Lock, third-gen August Smart Lock Pro, third-gen August Smart Lock, and the new Yale Approach Lock with Wi-Fi. In addition to fingerprint and code unlock, it offers one-touch locking on your way out. It’s available now for $109.99 at ShopYaleHome.com and August.com.
That’s a steep upgrade for those who already have an August lock, though it might be worth it for that touch-to-unlock ease. For those considering a new lock, the new Keypad Touch comes bundled with Yale’s Approach lock for $229.99 or the August Wi-Fi-Smart Lock for $249.99 (just $50 more than the lock alone). There’s also a keypad-only version for $69.99.

Image: August
The newest August smart locks work with the new Yale keypad with a built-in fingerprint reader.

Retrofit locks like the August only replace the interior portion of your existing lock, leaving the front unchanged, so you can still use your key. They are great options for renters or people with fancy door hardware they don’t want to swap out. But the design means they don’t have room for features like keypads or fingerprint readers. The solution is a wireless keypad that connects to the lock over Bluetooth.

August already has an optional Bluetooth keypad without a fingerprint reader, but this is the first time biometric access has been an option. I’ve tested many locks, and I find a fingerprint reader the easiest way to unlock a smart door. The new Yale Keypad and Keypad Touch also have a longer Bluetooth range than the existing August keypads — up to 30 feet — giving you more placement options.
If you’re wondering why Yale is making keypads for August locks, it’s because Yale and August have been sister brands since 2017 when they were both purchased by Assa Abloy; both were later sold to Fortune Brands. But over the last few years, while Yale has integrated much of August’s technology — including its automatic unlocking feature and its app — and released a slew of new products, there hasn’t been any innovation from August.
Once a competitor to Ring, the startup’s video doorbell aspirations are long gone, as are its founders, Yves Béhar and Jason Johnson. But the last lock they launched — August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (fourth-gen) — is still a great lock and remains my pick for the best retrofit smart lock. And this new option to add a fingerprint reader just made it even better.

The wireless Yale Keypad Touch provides fingerprint and key code access for the new Yale Approach lock and several August smart locks. | Image: Yale

August makes excellent smart locks, but careful observers may have noticed that the company hasn’t released any new hardware in four years. Owners of August locks may be relieved to know that a new wireless keypad finally brings them the option of fingerprint unlocking.

The Yale Keypad Touch is a fingerprint-enabled wireless keypad for Yale and August retrofit locks that works with the fourth-gen August Wi-Fi Smart Lock, third-gen August Smart Lock Pro, third-gen August Smart Lock, and the new Yale Approach Lock with Wi-Fi. In addition to fingerprint and code unlock, it offers one-touch locking on your way out. It’s available now for $109.99 at ShopYaleHome.com and August.com.

That’s a steep upgrade for those who already have an August lock, though it might be worth it for that touch-to-unlock ease. For those considering a new lock, the new Keypad Touch comes bundled with Yale’s Approach lock for $229.99 or the August Wi-Fi-Smart Lock for $249.99 (just $50 more than the lock alone). There’s also a keypad-only version for $69.99.

Image: August
The newest August smart locks work with the new Yale keypad with a built-in fingerprint reader.

Retrofit locks like the August only replace the interior portion of your existing lock, leaving the front unchanged, so you can still use your key. They are great options for renters or people with fancy door hardware they don’t want to swap out. But the design means they don’t have room for features like keypads or fingerprint readers. The solution is a wireless keypad that connects to the lock over Bluetooth.

August already has an optional Bluetooth keypad without a fingerprint reader, but this is the first time biometric access has been an option. I’ve tested many locks, and I find a fingerprint reader the easiest way to unlock a smart door. The new Yale Keypad and Keypad Touch also have a longer Bluetooth range than the existing August keypads — up to 30 feet — giving you more placement options.

If you’re wondering why Yale is making keypads for August locks, it’s because Yale and August have been sister brands since 2017 when they were both purchased by Assa Abloy; both were later sold to Fortune Brands. But over the last few years, while Yale has integrated much of August’s technology — including its automatic unlocking feature and its app — and released a slew of new products, there hasn’t been any innovation from August.

Once a competitor to Ring, the startup’s video doorbell aspirations are long gone, as are its founders, Yves Béhar and Jason Johnson. But the last lock they launched — August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (fourth-gen) — is still a great lock and remains my pick for the best retrofit smart lock. And this new option to add a fingerprint reader just made it even better.

Read More 

A chunky electric spoon for your chunky low-sodium foods. | Image: Kirin

If you’re cutting salt out of your diet, either for medical reasons or just trying to be healthy, low-sodium foods can be a letdown. But don’t despair — Japanese company Kirin claims to have a solution in its Electric Salt Spoon, which uses electrodes to electrify your tongue to give you a little salty shock.
The idea, as Reuters puts it, is that it passes a small electric current to “concentrate sodium ion molecules on the tongue,” enhancing salty flavor. It’s like techno-umami. The company says the goal is to get people to eat healthier by letting them eat low-sodium food without being sad about how unsalty it is.

Image: Kirin

Kirin partnered with Professor Homei Miyashita from Japan’s Meiji University School of Science and Technology to test the tech in a set of chopsticks that were attached via wire to a wrist-worn battery pack. The company claims the chopsticks increased salty taste by as much as 50 percent. Longtime readers of The Verge may recall that, a couple of years ago, Miyashita explored a concept for a lickable TV that would let you taste the stuff you see in your stories, a concept I’m still struggling to come to terms with.
According to a ChatGPT translation of Kirin’s safety precautions for the Electric Salt Spoon (PDF), certain people shouldn’t use it, including those who use implanted medical devices like pacemakers or wearables like heart rate monitors, have metal allergies, have facial nerve issues, suffer from bleeding disorders, are currently undergoing dental treatment, or might be pregnant. It recommends talking to a doctor if you have conditions like febrile diseases, severe cognitive impairments, or malignant tumors. That’s a disappointing list since it probably applies to many of the people this spoon would benefit most.
The spoon is only going out in a limited-run batch of 200 at first and selling for 19,800 yen (that’s about $127). But Kirin will start selling to overseas markets next year and reportedly hopes to sell to a million people in the next five years. The company’s biggest business is beer (ever drank a Kirin Ichiban?), but according to Reuters, it’s also moving into healthcare. (Ah, the old alcohol-to-healthcare pipeline.)

A chunky electric spoon for your chunky low-sodium foods. | Image: Kirin

If you’re cutting salt out of your diet, either for medical reasons or just trying to be healthy, low-sodium foods can be a letdown. But don’t despair — Japanese company Kirin claims to have a solution in its Electric Salt Spoon, which uses electrodes to electrify your tongue to give you a little salty shock.

The idea, as Reuters puts it, is that it passes a small electric current to “concentrate sodium ion molecules on the tongue,” enhancing salty flavor. It’s like techno-umami. The company says the goal is to get people to eat healthier by letting them eat low-sodium food without being sad about how unsalty it is.

Image: Kirin

Kirin partnered with Professor Homei Miyashita from Japan’s Meiji University School of Science and Technology to test the tech in a set of chopsticks that were attached via wire to a wrist-worn battery pack. The company claims the chopsticks increased salty taste by as much as 50 percent. Longtime readers of The Verge may recall that, a couple of years ago, Miyashita explored a concept for a lickable TV that would let you taste the stuff you see in your stories, a concept I’m still struggling to come to terms with.

According to a ChatGPT translation of Kirin’s safety precautions for the Electric Salt Spoon (PDF), certain people shouldn’t use it, including those who use implanted medical devices like pacemakers or wearables like heart rate monitors, have metal allergies, have facial nerve issues, suffer from bleeding disorders, are currently undergoing dental treatment, or might be pregnant. It recommends talking to a doctor if you have conditions like febrile diseases, severe cognitive impairments, or malignant tumors. That’s a disappointing list since it probably applies to many of the people this spoon would benefit most.

The spoon is only going out in a limited-run batch of 200 at first and selling for 19,800 yen (that’s about $127). But Kirin will start selling to overseas markets next year and reportedly hopes to sell to a million people in the next five years. The company’s biggest business is beer (ever drank a Kirin Ichiban?), but according to Reuters, it’s also moving into healthcare. (Ah, the old alcohol-to-healthcare pipeline.)

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Image: Square Enix

I’ve been having these weird thoughts lately… like, should I go back and replay the Kingdom Hearts series or not? Fortunately, Square Enix has made this decision trivial with the announcement that it’s releasing the series on Steam on June 13th. To celebrate, and perhaps destabilize an entire generation of adults for whom the first Kingdom Hearts trailer was a transformative experience (aka, me), a trailer was released with a brand-new recording of Hikaru Utada’s “Simple and Clean.”

The trailer was executed very intelligently, showing snippets of the Kingdom Hearts games in chronological order, suggesting to potential customers (and reminding lapsed fans like me) in what order the games should be played. Steam will have three Kingdom Hearts games for sale: Kingdom Hearts -HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX- (yes those dashes are officially part of the name), Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue, and Kingdom Hearts III + Re Mind DLC. To make things easier, there will also be a bundle available, Kingdom Hearts Integrum Masterpiece, that combines all three games for one price.
Those who purchase Kingdom Hearts III + Re Mind DLC will also get a special keyblade, “Dead of Night,” which looks pretty slick in Steam Logo blue and grey. Each of the three games is itself a bundle of a bunch of KH games spanning platforms and console generations. You can find a full breakdown of which game is in what bundle here or on each game’s Steam page.

Image: Square Enix
That Steam-exclusive keyblade looks pretty sick.

Kingdom Hearts suddenly launching on Steam isn’t that surprising. The games have already been available on PC via the Epic Games Store for a few years now with Steam being the next logical choice. There’s also the news that Square Enix plans to bring more of its games to more platforms. Throughout its more than 20-year run, the Kingdom Hearts series has been predominantly on PlayStation consoles and handhelds with two smaller games making a brief appearance on the Nintendo DS. It was only 2020 when Kingdom Hearts finally came to Xbox with Nintendo offering an abysmal cloud version of the games in 2022.
There’s also the fact that these games are releasing a week before Summer Game Fest with Geoff Keighley posting about the game possibly suggesting Kingdom Hearts IV might make an appearance. Getting a new crop of players into the series right before sharing more info on the next entry seems like a shrewd idea.

It is exceedingly hilarious that even though this Steam trailer lists the games in chronological order, the games themselves are not bundled that way. If you want to play the way the trailer lays it all out, you’ll have to start by watching (because it’s a movie, not a game) Back Cover on Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8, then jump to Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 to play Birth By Sleep before jumping back to KH2.8 to play Birth by Sleep – A Fragmentary Passage. Simple right?
Speaking of simple, Hikaru Utada’s new version of “Simple and Clean” moved me to tears. I was one of those teenagers who wasn’t the biggest Disney fan but was into Japanese pop, visual kei (think of a Japanese version of glam metal), and Japanese rock. Hearing that new take on such a beloved song made me feel both 16 years old and 36 years old but in a good way. This thing that I have loved, which has inspired the kinds of emotions that led me to my job today, has grown up with me, but not so much that it is unrecognizable to my younger self. And when I go back and play these simple and clean games — some of them again and some of them for the first time — I hope I can face my fears from previous disappointment and be reminded of the sanctuary I loved so much.

Image: Square Enix

I’ve been having these weird thoughts lately… like, should I go back and replay the Kingdom Hearts series or not? Fortunately, Square Enix has made this decision trivial with the announcement that it’s releasing the series on Steam on June 13th. To celebrate, and perhaps destabilize an entire generation of adults for whom the first Kingdom Hearts trailer was a transformative experience (aka, me), a trailer was released with a brand-new recording of Hikaru Utada’s “Simple and Clean.”

The trailer was executed very intelligently, showing snippets of the Kingdom Hearts games in chronological order, suggesting to potential customers (and reminding lapsed fans like me) in what order the games should be played. Steam will have three Kingdom Hearts games for sale: Kingdom Hearts -HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX- (yes those dashes are officially part of the name), Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue, and Kingdom Hearts III + Re Mind DLC. To make things easier, there will also be a bundle available, Kingdom Hearts Integrum Masterpiece, that combines all three games for one price.

Those who purchase Kingdom Hearts III + Re Mind DLC will also get a special keyblade, “Dead of Night,” which looks pretty slick in Steam Logo blue and grey. Each of the three games is itself a bundle of a bunch of KH games spanning platforms and console generations. You can find a full breakdown of which game is in what bundle here or on each game’s Steam page.

Kingdom Hearts suddenly launching on Steam isn’t that surprising. The games have already been available on PC via the Epic Games Store for a few years now with Steam being the next logical choice. There’s also the news that Square Enix plans to bring more of its games to more platforms. Throughout its more than 20-year run, the Kingdom Hearts series has been predominantly on PlayStation consoles and handhelds with two smaller games making a brief appearance on the Nintendo DS. It was only 2020 when Kingdom Hearts finally came to Xbox with Nintendo offering an abysmal cloud version of the games in 2022.

There’s also the fact that these games are releasing a week before Summer Game Fest with Geoff Keighley posting about the game possibly suggesting Kingdom Hearts IV might make an appearance. Getting a new crop of players into the series right before sharing more info on the next entry seems like a shrewd idea.

It is exceedingly hilarious that even though this Steam trailer lists the games in chronological order, the games themselves are not bundled that way. If you want to play the way the trailer lays it all out, you’ll have to start by watching (because it’s a movie, not a game) Back Cover on Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8, then jump to Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 to play Birth By Sleep before jumping back to KH2.8 to play Birth by Sleep – A Fragmentary Passage. Simple right?

Speaking of simple, Hikaru Utada’s new version of “Simple and Clean” moved me to tears. I was one of those teenagers who wasn’t the biggest Disney fan but was into Japanese pop, visual kei (think of a Japanese version of glam metal), and Japanese rock. Hearing that new take on such a beloved song made me feel both 16 years old and 36 years old but in a good way. This thing that I have loved, which has inspired the kinds of emotions that led me to my job today, has grown up with me, but not so much that it is unrecognizable to my younger self. And when I go back and play these simple and clean games — some of them again and some of them for the first time — I hope I can face my fears from previous disappointment and be reminded of the sanctuary I loved so much.

Read More 

Recall, one of Windows’ new AI features, on a Surface Laptop. | Photo: Allison Johnson / The Verge

Microsoft’s new Windows on Arm push is a milestone moment. It’s taken nearly five years to get to the point where the software maker is confident it has the upper hand over the MacBook Air on performance, battery life, and app compatibility.
But behind the scenes, Microsoft has been working on something even bigger. While Microsoft has spent years working toward an Arm transition that will now play out throughout the summer and beyond, it’s the AI overhaul at the heart of this new generation of “Copilot Plus PCs” that could fundamentally change how we use Windows on a daily basis.
I recently got the chance to hear from the leaders behind Microsoft’s big AI push, and they made it clear that this isn’t just a silicon change. Microsoft has rearchitected Windows 11 to run dozens of AI models in the background, and they believe it can reshape the experience of using a PC…

This story is exclusively for subscribers of Notepad, our newsletter uncovering Microsoft’s era-defining bets in AI, gaming, and computing.
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Recall, one of Windows’ new AI features, on a Surface Laptop. | Photo: Allison Johnson / The Verge

Microsoft’s new Windows on Arm push is a milestone moment. It’s taken nearly five years to get to the point where the software maker is confident it has the upper hand over the MacBook Air on performance, battery life, and app compatibility.

But behind the scenes, Microsoft has been working on something even bigger. While Microsoft has spent years working toward an Arm transition that will now play out throughout the summer and beyond, it’s the AI overhaul at the heart of this new generation of “Copilot Plus PCs” that could fundamentally change how we use Windows on a daily basis.

I recently got the chance to hear from the leaders behind Microsoft’s big AI push, and they made it clear that this isn’t just a silicon change. Microsoft has rearchitected Windows 11 to run dozens of AI models in the background, and they believe it can reshape the experience of using a PC…

Read More 

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella at Build 2024. | Screenshot: YouTube

Microsoft had a lot to say about Windows and AI — and a little to say about custom emoji — during the Build 2024 keynote. The company, like just about everyone else in the industry, is charging hard at cramming AI into every nook and cranny it can find. That means Copilot watching your screen to help you play Minecraft or giving you AI agent co-workers.
The whole event was over two hours long, but you can catch the highlights below.

Microsoft wants to put AI agents to work

Image: Microsoft

Microsoft says Copilot AI agents can soon be used as something like virtual employees that businesses can use for menial tasks like monitoring emails, carrying out a series of automated tasks, helping with employee onboarding, or doing data entry, all without being prompted to do so. The company says the new Copilot abilities won’t take over jobs — just the boring parts. (Isn’t “data entry” a whole job description for some people?) The new capability will hit Copilot Studio in preview later this year.
Microsoft goes mini-multimodal
The company rolled out Phi-3-vision, a new version of the Phi-3 AI model it announced in April. It’s multimodal and can read text and look at pictures, but it’s a small language model that’s compact enough to work on a mobile device. Image analysis is one of the big use cases that AI companies have been pushing, and smartphones are about as ideal a place to use them as anywhere. Phi-3-vision is part of Microsoft’s Phi-3 family of models that the company announced in April and is available in preview now.
Microsoft Edge can translate YouTube videos while you’re watching them
Microsoft’s Edge browser is getting an AI-powered real-time video translation feature that can dub videos from sites like YouTube, LinkedIn, Reuters, and Coursera. The feature works with a handful of languages, offering translation from Spanish to English or vice versa — or from English to German, Hindi, Italian, and Russian. Microsoft says the feature is “coming soon” and that more languages and video platforms will be added in the future.
Custom emoji for Microsoft Teams
Get ready for some disco parrots and cutouts of your teammates in Microsoft Teams because the company is adding the ability to add your own emoji in Microsoft’s Slack competitor. Like in Slack, admins can limit who is allowed to add emojis, and they won’t be visible outside of your organization’s domain. They’re coming in July.
A tiny Snapdragon PC

Image: Qualcomm

Qualcomm’s roughly Mac Mini-sized $899 Snapdragon Dev Kit for Windows has a Snapdragon X Elite chip inside. It also has 32GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, and plenty of ports, though it’s not clear if just anyone can buy it.
Microsoft File Explorer as a Git repository

Image: Microsoft

You’ll be able to use Microsoft’s File Explorer to keep track of your coding projects soon, as the company is integrating Git into the file system browser. The company says developers will be able to keep track of file status, commit messages, and their current branch from within File Explorer. Also, the app now supports 7-zip and TAR compression natively.
Windows adds AI-powered clipboard features in PowerToys

Image: Microsoft

Microsoft’s new Advanced Paste feature is available now as part of the PowerToys suite for Windows 11, giving you the ability to convert the contents of your clipboard as you go. You’ll be able to trigger the Advanced Paste menu by pressing Windows Key + Shift + V and, from there, convert your paste to formats like plaintext, markdown, or JSON, using further keyboard shortcuts. You can also convert by typing into the prompt box, which has other capabilities like altering or summarizing the text before you paste it. The catch: you’ll need an OpenAI API key and credits in your OpenAI account for the AI part.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella at Build 2024. | Screenshot: YouTube

Microsoft had a lot to say about Windows and AI — and a little to say about custom emoji — during the Build 2024 keynote. The company, like just about everyone else in the industry, is charging hard at cramming AI into every nook and cranny it can find. That means Copilot watching your screen to help you play Minecraft or giving you AI agent co-workers.

The whole event was over two hours long, but you can catch the highlights below.

Microsoft wants to put AI agents to work

Image: Microsoft

Microsoft says Copilot AI agents can soon be used as something like virtual employees that businesses can use for menial tasks like monitoring emails, carrying out a series of automated tasks, helping with employee onboarding, or doing data entry, all without being prompted to do so. The company says the new Copilot abilities won’t take over jobs — just the boring parts. (Isn’t “data entry” a whole job description for some people?) The new capability will hit Copilot Studio in preview later this year.

Microsoft goes mini-multimodal

The company rolled out Phi-3-vision, a new version of the Phi-3 AI model it announced in April. It’s multimodal and can read text and look at pictures, but it’s a small language model that’s compact enough to work on a mobile device. Image analysis is one of the big use cases that AI companies have been pushing, and smartphones are about as ideal a place to use them as anywhere. Phi-3-vision is part of Microsoft’s Phi-3 family of models that the company announced in April and is available in preview now.

Microsoft Edge can translate YouTube videos while you’re watching them

Microsoft’s Edge browser is getting an AI-powered real-time video translation feature that can dub videos from sites like YouTube, LinkedIn, Reuters, and Coursera. The feature works with a handful of languages, offering translation from Spanish to English or vice versa — or from English to German, Hindi, Italian, and Russian. Microsoft says the feature is “coming soon” and that more languages and video platforms will be added in the future.

Custom emoji for Microsoft Teams

Get ready for some disco parrots and cutouts of your teammates in Microsoft Teams because the company is adding the ability to add your own emoji in Microsoft’s Slack competitor. Like in Slack, admins can limit who is allowed to add emojis, and they won’t be visible outside of your organization’s domain. They’re coming in July.

A tiny Snapdragon PC

Image: Qualcomm

Qualcomm’s roughly Mac Mini-sized $899 Snapdragon Dev Kit for Windows has a Snapdragon X Elite chip inside. It also has 32GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, and plenty of ports, though it’s not clear if just anyone can buy it.

Microsoft File Explorer as a Git repository

Image: Microsoft

You’ll be able to use Microsoft’s File Explorer to keep track of your coding projects soon, as the company is integrating Git into the file system browser. The company says developers will be able to keep track of file status, commit messages, and their current branch from within File Explorer. Also, the app now supports 7-zip and TAR compression natively.

Windows adds AI-powered clipboard features in PowerToys

Image: Microsoft

Microsoft’s new Advanced Paste feature is available now as part of the PowerToys suite for Windows 11, giving you the ability to convert the contents of your clipboard as you go. You’ll be able to trigger the Advanced Paste menu by pressing Windows Key + Shift + V and, from there, convert your paste to formats like plaintext, markdown, or JSON, using further keyboard shortcuts. You can also convert by typing into the prompt box, which has other capabilities like altering or summarizing the text before you paste it. The catch: you’ll need an OpenAI API key and credits in your OpenAI account for the AI part.

Read More