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The X-T50 kit comes with Fujifilm’s also-new 16-50mm lens. | Image: Fujifilm

Fujifilm has just announced a pair of new cameras at the company’s X Summit Sydney event. There’s the medium format GFX100S II, which frankly falls outside my scope of interest (and budget). The more mainstream of the two is the X-T50, which is a followup to — but not a replacement for — the X-T30 II, which will remain in Fujifilm’s lineup moving forward.
The X-T50 is a hodgepodge of the camera maker’s new and old tech. Let’s start with the new. The body has a fresh, more rounded shape that’s unlike anything else in the X-Series lineup, and there’s a film simulation dial right on the top, a first for any Fujifilm camera. You get several preset film sims to circle between and can choose your own for the three customizable slots — though you can’t set these to custom film recipes. Still, the dial goes to show what a vital part of Fujifilm’s appeal that these simulations have become over the years.

Image: Fujifilm
The X-T50 has a dial for switching between the company’s signature film simulations.

The X-T50 includes the same 40-megapixel sensor as the X-T5 and X-H2, plus the accompanying fifth-gen processor, so this camera offers a substantial increase in both resolution and autofocus performance compared to the X-T30 II. And it also gains a 7-stop in-body image stabilization system; the far less expensive X-T30 II lacks IBIS altogether. Continuous shooting is limited to 8fps with the mechanical shutter, whereas the X-T5 and X-H2 can both hit 15fps. For storage, there’s a single UHS-II SD card slot. Video performance has also been dialed up significantly:

Image: Fujifilm
The X-T50 is a far more capable video camera than the X-T30 II.

But there are still some older hardware elements to this camera. For one, you’re stuck with the last-generation battery that isn’t nearly as long-lasting. And disappointingly, the electronic viewfinder is also unchanged from the X-T30 II. You do at least get the same 3-inch, 1.84-million dot rear LCD with two-way tilt as on the X-T5.
The X-T50 slots into a curious spot when it comes to pricing. If you’re buying the body alone, it’s $1,399.99, which is $500 more than the X-T30 II. But again, Fujifilm doesn’t consider this a replacement for that camera. It gets its own unique place in the lineup, which now looks like this:

X-H2S: $2,499
X-H2: $1,999
X-T5: $1,699
X-100V (fixed lens): $1,599
X-T50: $1,399
X-S20: $1,299
X-T30 II: $899

Image: Fujifilm
The X-T50 uses Fujifilm’s last-gen battery with far less stamina than the newer design.

Some of the upgrades that come with stepping up to the X-T5 include water resistance, a nicer EVF, dual SD slots, better continuous shooting performance, and the newer battery with superior endurance.
Fujifilm’s kit lens is also getting a notable revamp. The company’s well-regarded 18-55mm glass is being replaced by a new, lighter 16-50mm f/2.8 – 4.8 lens that now features water resistance. (The X-T50 itself doesn’t have any official water resistance.) Fujifilm believes this lens does a better job resolving that 40MP sensor compared to the ancient 18-55mm. It’s also a constant length, so all the zooming now happens internally without the lens having to extend. Sold on its own, the new 16-50mm lens costs $699. The combined X-T50 kit runs $1,799.99, so you’re only paying $400 for the lens in that scenario.
The X-T50 will be available starting in June in black, dark gray, or silver. Preorders open today, and the company is no doubt hoping that at least some people will get tired of waiting for the backordered-everywhere X100VI and opt for its latest interchangeable lens camera instead.

The X-T50 kit comes with Fujifilm’s also-new 16-50mm lens. | Image: Fujifilm

Fujifilm has just announced a pair of new cameras at the company’s X Summit Sydney event. There’s the medium format GFX100S II, which frankly falls outside my scope of interest (and budget). The more mainstream of the two is the X-T50, which is a followup to — but not a replacement for — the X-T30 II, which will remain in Fujifilm’s lineup moving forward.

The X-T50 is a hodgepodge of the camera maker’s new and old tech. Let’s start with the new. The body has a fresh, more rounded shape that’s unlike anything else in the X-Series lineup, and there’s a film simulation dial right on the top, a first for any Fujifilm camera. You get several preset film sims to circle between and can choose your own for the three customizable slots — though you can’t set these to custom film recipes. Still, the dial goes to show what a vital part of Fujifilm’s appeal that these simulations have become over the years.

Image: Fujifilm
The X-T50 has a dial for switching between the company’s signature film simulations.

The X-T50 includes the same 40-megapixel sensor as the X-T5 and X-H2, plus the accompanying fifth-gen processor, so this camera offers a substantial increase in both resolution and autofocus performance compared to the X-T30 II. And it also gains a 7-stop in-body image stabilization system; the far less expensive X-T30 II lacks IBIS altogether. Continuous shooting is limited to 8fps with the mechanical shutter, whereas the X-T5 and X-H2 can both hit 15fps. For storage, there’s a single UHS-II SD card slot. Video performance has also been dialed up significantly:

Image: Fujifilm
The X-T50 is a far more capable video camera than the X-T30 II.

But there are still some older hardware elements to this camera. For one, you’re stuck with the last-generation battery that isn’t nearly as long-lasting. And disappointingly, the electronic viewfinder is also unchanged from the X-T30 II. You do at least get the same 3-inch, 1.84-million dot rear LCD with two-way tilt as on the X-T5.

The X-T50 slots into a curious spot when it comes to pricing. If you’re buying the body alone, it’s $1,399.99, which is $500 more than the X-T30 II. But again, Fujifilm doesn’t consider this a replacement for that camera. It gets its own unique place in the lineup, which now looks like this:

X-H2S: $2,499
X-H2: $1,999
X-T5: $1,699
X-100V (fixed lens): $1,599
X-T50: $1,399
X-S20: $1,299
X-T30 II: $899

Image: Fujifilm
The X-T50 uses Fujifilm’s last-gen battery with far less stamina than the newer design.

Some of the upgrades that come with stepping up to the X-T5 include water resistance, a nicer EVF, dual SD slots, better continuous shooting performance, and the newer battery with superior endurance.

Fujifilm’s kit lens is also getting a notable revamp. The company’s well-regarded 18-55mm glass is being replaced by a new, lighter 16-50mm f/2.8 – 4.8 lens that now features water resistance. (The X-T50 itself doesn’t have any official water resistance.) Fujifilm believes this lens does a better job resolving that 40MP sensor compared to the ancient 18-55mm. It’s also a constant length, so all the zooming now happens internally without the lens having to extend. Sold on its own, the new 16-50mm lens costs $699. The combined X-T50 kit runs $1,799.99, so you’re only paying $400 for the lens in that scenario.

The X-T50 will be available starting in June in black, dark gray, or silver. Preorders open today, and the company is no doubt hoping that at least some people will get tired of waiting for the backordered-everywhere X100VI and opt for its latest interchangeable lens camera instead.

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Image: Samsung

Samsung heard that Apple managed to upset a lot of people with the “Crush” ad revealed last week that smushed instruments, arcade games, and sculptures into a shiny new OLED-screened iPad Pro, and apparently just had to get into the conversation. Apple eventually apologized, with an exec saying it “missed the mark.”
On one side, responses included creatives like Hugh Grant and anyone who spotted a slightly-too-on-the-nose representation of Big Tech’s steamroller approach to art, copyright, and the past, powered by the might of generative AI tools. On the other there were the people ticked off by the knowledge that there was any backlash at all.
In response, the Samsung Mobile account on X posted this video with the hashtag “UnCrush,” which Ad Age reports was created by BBH USA and directed by Zen Pace. It shows a woman stepping over debris and spilled paint reminiscent of the end of Apple’s big hydraulic press incident and taking a seat to hum and play notes on a guitar assisted somehow by notes displayed on her Galaxy Tab S9 and the power of Galaxy AI.

Image: Samsung
A still from Samsung’s 2017 Galaxy S8 ad mocking the notch on the iPhone X.

No matter which side you’re on when it comes to the great iPad ad political divide, it’s a little fun to see Samsung trying to find a weak point in Apple’s armor again. Samsung’s marketing department used to practically specialize in this stuff, which the company’s lawyers’ argued: “drove Apple crazy,” but it seemed to run out of gas after deleting ads about iPhones dropping the in-box charging adapted. More recent attempts, like a browser-based Galaxy test drive for iPhone owners, just haven’t had the same punch as mocking that distinctive notch.

Image: Samsung

Samsung heard that Apple managed to upset a lot of people with the “Crush” ad revealed last week that smushed instruments, arcade games, and sculptures into a shiny new OLED-screened iPad Pro, and apparently just had to get into the conversation. Apple eventually apologized, with an exec saying it “missed the mark.”

On one side, responses included creatives like Hugh Grant and anyone who spotted a slightly-too-on-the-nose representation of Big Tech’s steamroller approach to art, copyright, and the past, powered by the might of generative AI tools. On the other there were the people ticked off by the knowledge that there was any backlash at all.

In response, the Samsung Mobile account on X posted this video with the hashtag “UnCrush,” which Ad Age reports was created by BBH USA and directed by Zen Pace. It shows a woman stepping over debris and spilled paint reminiscent of the end of Apple’s big hydraulic press incident and taking a seat to hum and play notes on a guitar assisted somehow by notes displayed on her Galaxy Tab S9 and the power of Galaxy AI.

Image: Samsung
A still from Samsung’s 2017 Galaxy S8 ad mocking the notch on the iPhone X.

No matter which side you’re on when it comes to the great iPad ad political divide, it’s a little fun to see Samsung trying to find a weak point in Apple’s armor again. Samsung’s marketing department used to practically specialize in this stuff, which the company’s lawyers’ argued: “drove Apple crazy,” but it seemed to run out of gas after deleting ads about iPhones dropping the in-box charging adapted. More recent attempts, like a browser-based Galaxy test drive for iPhone owners, just haven’t had the same punch as mocking that distinctive notch.

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Like its Frame TVs, Samsung’s art-inspired speaker is designed to complement your home decor more naturally. | Image: Samsung

Samsung’s art-inspired Frame TV has been a runaway hit over the last several years — so much so that everyone from Amazon to Hisense has begun cribbing some of its more popular features for their latest sets. It came as no surprise, then, that Samsung announced a speaker version during CES 2024. Enter the Samsung Music Frame, which is on sale at Amazon for $374.99 ($25 off) when you clip the on-page coupon.

Samsung’s sizable, 12.9 x 12.9 picture frame is more akin to the Ikea Symfonisk frame speaker than anything else, only it’s considerably smaller and allows for a lot more customization than the popular Sonos / Ikea collab. You can insert your own photographs or artwork using the included mounting panel, for one, and Samsung will reportedly offer additional bezel options and custom-printed panels later this year. Inside, you’ll find two woofers, two tweeters, two midrange drivers, and a waveguide, which allows the mountable Frame to better disperse sound. It also packs support for Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, along with Dolby Atmos music, though keep in mind that it doesn’t offer dedicated up-firing drivers like the Sonos Era 300 and some of the more premium soundbars out there.
Overall, it’s squarely aimed at the more aesthetically minded listener who wants their sound system to blend in rather than stand out. Now, if only there was something you could do about the power cable…

More deals, discounts, and ways to save

LG’s take-anywhere StanbyMe TV is on sale for around $896.99 ($103 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and B&H Photo, which matches one of the lowest prices we’ve seen on the unique set. The 27-inch smart TV packs a ho-hum 1080p 60Hz IPS panel, however, the real draw is that the battery-powered touchscreen is mounted on a surprisingly elegant stand, which allows you to easily wheel the TV to whichever room you feel is best for binging X-Men ‘97. Read our review.
If you were hoping to pick up a portable Bluetooth speaker before summer truly kicks off, UE’s two-tone Wonderboom 3 is down to around $68.59 ($31 off) at Amazon and Best Buy. I’ve long been a fan of the entry-level Wonderboom series, namely because they’re good-sounding speakers that carry an IP67 rating for water, dirt, and dust resistance. The latest model is a pretty modest upgrade, though it does offer a larger Bluetooth range and slightly better battery life (14 hours vs. 13 hours) for extended playback.
Walmart’s Google-powered streaming box and smart speaker combo certainly looks promising, but if you’re looking to save a few bucks, you can nab a Roku Streaming Stick 4K at Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart right now for an all-time low of $34 ($15 off). Roku’s HDMI stick remains one the most straightforward options out there, yet it still supports all the major 4K HDR standards, plenty of streaming apps, and AirPlay 2. Read our review.

Like its Frame TVs, Samsung’s art-inspired speaker is designed to complement your home decor more naturally. | Image: Samsung

Samsung’s art-inspired Frame TV has been a runaway hit over the last several years — so much so that everyone from Amazon to Hisense has begun cribbing some of its more popular features for their latest sets. It came as no surprise, then, that Samsung announced a speaker version during CES 2024. Enter the Samsung Music Frame, which is on sale at Amazon for $374.99 ($25 off) when you clip the on-page coupon.

Samsung’s sizable, 12.9 x 12.9 picture frame is more akin to the Ikea Symfonisk frame speaker than anything else, only it’s considerably smaller and allows for a lot more customization than the popular Sonos / Ikea collab. You can insert your own photographs or artwork using the included mounting panel, for one, and Samsung will reportedly offer additional bezel options and custom-printed panels later this year. Inside, you’ll find two woofers, two tweeters, two midrange drivers, and a waveguide, which allows the mountable Frame to better disperse sound. It also packs support for Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, along with Dolby Atmos music, though keep in mind that it doesn’t offer dedicated up-firing drivers like the Sonos Era 300 and some of the more premium soundbars out there.

Overall, it’s squarely aimed at the more aesthetically minded listener who wants their sound system to blend in rather than stand out. Now, if only there was something you could do about the power cable…

More deals, discounts, and ways to save

LG’s take-anywhere StanbyMe TV is on sale for around $896.99 ($103 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and B&H Photo, which matches one of the lowest prices we’ve seen on the unique set. The 27-inch smart TV packs a ho-hum 1080p 60Hz IPS panel, however, the real draw is that the battery-powered touchscreen is mounted on a surprisingly elegant stand, which allows you to easily wheel the TV to whichever room you feel is best for binging X-Men ‘97. Read our review.
If you were hoping to pick up a portable Bluetooth speaker before summer truly kicks off, UE’s two-tone Wonderboom 3 is down to around $68.59 ($31 off) at Amazon and Best Buy. I’ve long been a fan of the entry-level Wonderboom series, namely because they’re good-sounding speakers that carry an IP67 rating for water, dirt, and dust resistance. The latest model is a pretty modest upgrade, though it does offer a larger Bluetooth range and slightly better battery life (14 hours vs. 13 hours) for extended playback.
Walmart’s Google-powered streaming box and smart speaker combo certainly looks promising, but if you’re looking to save a few bucks, you can nab a Roku Streaming Stick 4K at Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart right now for an all-time low of $34 ($15 off). Roku’s HDMI stick remains one the most straightforward options out there, yet it still supports all the major 4K HDR standards, plenty of streaming apps, and AirPlay 2. Read our review.

Read More 

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

Google has now added a way to create easily formatted tables in Sheets with one click, something Excel has had for years. Now, if you have a block of data that you’d like to quickly turn into its own little island of filters and sorting rules, that’s fully possible (or will be soon, depending on where you are in Google’s rollout queue). Hooray!
As a person who’s maintained a shared budget spreadsheet in Google Sheets for about a decade and who would have loved not to have to create all of my filters and sort piece by piece, I’m excited. And judging by a little cursory searching, I’m not alone — people have been asking for self-contained tables like this for years.

GIF: Google
Look at that sick table.

What Google has created here looks a little bit like the AI-generated tables from its I/O developer conference this week but perhaps a little more power user-focused, and you don’t need its Gemini integration. If the new feature has hit your account already, you can try it by selecting a block of data and clicking Format > Convert to table.
Once you’ve done that, Sheets will automatically create filters for each column and add visual separators for your rows, so you don’t have to manually select every other row and turn it gray. The change also comes with automatically formatted column types, filters, and easier drop-down menu creation.

GIF: Google

It’ll also add a table menu so you can create specific combinations of filters for the whole table or adjust the range of data it covers. Google says this update also includes a new kind of view option labeled “Create group by view” that lets you put data in groups separated by their column filters — so if you have a filter for priority level, you can group records by priority one, priority two, priority three, and so on. There are also table templates tuned for “everyday tasks like project management, inventory management, event planning and more.”
The new tables feature hasn’t hit everyone yet. As is typical for Google, it will be rolling out gradually. Some will have it by May 30th, and everyone else should have it by June 6th.

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

Google has now added a way to create easily formatted tables in Sheets with one click, something Excel has had for years. Now, if you have a block of data that you’d like to quickly turn into its own little island of filters and sorting rules, that’s fully possible (or will be soon, depending on where you are in Google’s rollout queue). Hooray!

As a person who’s maintained a shared budget spreadsheet in Google Sheets for about a decade and who would have loved not to have to create all of my filters and sort piece by piece, I’m excited. And judging by a little cursory searching, I’m not alone — people have been asking for self-contained tables like this for years.

GIF: Google
Look at that sick table.

What Google has created here looks a little bit like the AI-generated tables from its I/O developer conference this week but perhaps a little more power user-focused, and you don’t need its Gemini integration. If the new feature has hit your account already, you can try it by selecting a block of data and clicking Format > Convert to table.

Once you’ve done that, Sheets will automatically create filters for each column and add visual separators for your rows, so you don’t have to manually select every other row and turn it gray. The change also comes with automatically formatted column types, filters, and easier drop-down menu creation.

GIF: Google

It’ll also add a table menu so you can create specific combinations of filters for the whole table or adjust the range of data it covers. Google says this update also includes a new kind of view option labeled “Create group by view” that lets you put data in groups separated by their column filters — so if you have a filter for priority level, you can group records by priority one, priority two, priority three, and so on. There are also table templates tuned for “everyday tasks like project management, inventory management, event planning and more.”

The new tables feature hasn’t hit everyone yet. As is typical for Google, it will be rolling out gradually. Some will have it by May 30th, and everyone else should have it by June 6th.

Read More 

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes filed two new lawsuits against Amazon on Wednesday, bringing similar complaints to those the company is already facing from the Federal Trade Commission.
Both of the lawsuits are brought under Arizona’s own state statutes in the Superior Court of Arizona. One of the lawsuits accuses Amazon of engaging in deceptive business practices that violate the state’s Consumer Fraud Act by allegedly using design tricks known as dark patterns to keep users from canceling their Amazon Prime subscriptions. This is similar to a lawsuit the FTC filed against the company in June.
The other lawsuit accuses Amazon of breaking Arizona’s Uniform State Antitrust Act by unfairly maintaining monopoly status by enforcing agreements with third-party sellers that restrict them from offering lower prices off of the platform than they do on Amazon. This kind of language, sometimes called a “most favored nation” clause, has also been targeted by other state AGs, including in the District of Columbia and California. (The DC case was thrown out, but the AG is trying to get it reinstated.)
The Arizona antitrust suit also targets Amazon’s Buy Box algorithm through the Consumer Fraud Act. That algorithm is the system that determines which product in a category gets the best placement with a “Buy Now” button. The AG alleges this algorithm is “biased in favor of Amazon first-party retail offers or offers from third-party sellers who participate in Fulfillment By Amazon.” Because of this, the AG argues, consumers reasonably believe items with the Buy Box offer the best price, but in reality, they “routinely overpay for items that are available at lower prices from other sellers on Amazon … because Amazon has chosen to display the offers for which it will earn the highest fees.” Both aspects of this lawsuit are reflected in the FTC’s recent antitrust lawsuit against Amazon, where it’s joined by more than a dozen state AGs.
Arizona is asking the court to stop Amazon from engaging in the allegedly deceptive and anticompetitive practices and award civil penalties and disgorgement of ill-gotten gains.
Amazon did not immediately provide a comment on the lawsuits.

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes filed two new lawsuits against Amazon on Wednesday, bringing similar complaints to those the company is already facing from the Federal Trade Commission.

Both of the lawsuits are brought under Arizona’s own state statutes in the Superior Court of Arizona. One of the lawsuits accuses Amazon of engaging in deceptive business practices that violate the state’s Consumer Fraud Act by allegedly using design tricks known as dark patterns to keep users from canceling their Amazon Prime subscriptions. This is similar to a lawsuit the FTC filed against the company in June.

The other lawsuit accuses Amazon of breaking Arizona’s Uniform State Antitrust Act by unfairly maintaining monopoly status by enforcing agreements with third-party sellers that restrict them from offering lower prices off of the platform than they do on Amazon. This kind of language, sometimes called a “most favored nation” clause, has also been targeted by other state AGs, including in the District of Columbia and California. (The DC case was thrown out, but the AG is trying to get it reinstated.)

The Arizona antitrust suit also targets Amazon’s Buy Box algorithm through the Consumer Fraud Act. That algorithm is the system that determines which product in a category gets the best placement with a “Buy Now” button. The AG alleges this algorithm is “biased in favor of Amazon first-party retail offers or offers from third-party sellers who participate in Fulfillment By Amazon.” Because of this, the AG argues, consumers reasonably believe items with the Buy Box offer the best price, but in reality, they “routinely overpay for items that are available at lower prices from other sellers on Amazon … because Amazon has chosen to display the offers for which it will earn the highest fees.” Both aspects of this lawsuit are reflected in the FTC’s recent antitrust lawsuit against Amazon, where it’s joined by more than a dozen state AGs.

Arizona is asking the court to stop Amazon from engaging in the allegedly deceptive and anticompetitive practices and award civil penalties and disgorgement of ill-gotten gains.

Amazon did not immediately provide a comment on the lawsuits.

Read More 

Image: Google

Alongside Google’s ongoing developer-focused I/O conference comes the latest release of Android 15, which is now in its second beta. It’s got some cool new features, like the ability to now hide a collection of apps inside a “private space,” customizable vibrations so you can notice different types of notifications just by feeling, and also richer widget previews.
The new private space function is the most interesting of the bunch: it can hide apps you don’t want others seeing into a biometric or PIN-protected container in the app drawer. It’s one of several new security features coming to Android.

GIF: Google
Accessing a private space.

Private space leverages Android’s user profiles, so apps that you put in a private space also curtain away notifications for those apps and files made or downloaded within them. One could, for instance, lock away all their dating apps into a space and not get inundated with matches at undesirable times.
Another cool new feature is custom vibrations for incoming notifications. Now users can set distinguishing vibes for a Slack or Teams message versus an Uber Eats delivery update without taking their phone out of their pocket.

Image: Google
Now the widget picker can preview exactly how a widget will look instead of showing a placeholder.

For developers that like making widgets, there’s a new rich widget preview ability that helps users understand what it’ll look like before placing it on the homescreen. For instance, when you look inside the Widget Picker and see the option for a contact card, you can now see an actual person from your contacts in the preview instead of a placeholder one.
Android 15’s second beta release has other notable additions today that didn’t make it to the relatively pedestrian first release. The newer version works on more devices, too, including foldables and tablets from manufacturers like Lenovo, Realme, Honor, Xiaomi, Oppo, Nothing, and others.

Image: Google

Alongside Google’s ongoing developer-focused I/O conference comes the latest release of Android 15, which is now in its second beta. It’s got some cool new features, like the ability to now hide a collection of apps inside a “private space,” customizable vibrations so you can notice different types of notifications just by feeling, and also richer widget previews.

The new private space function is the most interesting of the bunch: it can hide apps you don’t want others seeing into a biometric or PIN-protected container in the app drawer. It’s one of several new security features coming to Android.

Private space leverages Android’s user profiles, so apps that you put in a private space also curtain away notifications for those apps and files made or downloaded within them. One could, for instance, lock away all their dating apps into a space and not get inundated with matches at undesirable times.

Another cool new feature is custom vibrations for incoming notifications. Now users can set distinguishing vibes for a Slack or Teams message versus an Uber Eats delivery update without taking their phone out of their pocket.

For developers that like making widgets, there’s a new rich widget preview ability that helps users understand what it’ll look like before placing it on the homescreen. For instance, when you look inside the Widget Picker and see the option for a contact card, you can now see an actual person from your contacts in the preview instead of a placeholder one.

Android 15’s second beta release has other notable additions today that didn’t make it to the relatively pedestrian first release. The newer version works on more devices, too, including foldables and tablets from manufacturers like Lenovo, Realme, Honor, Xiaomi, Oppo, Nothing, and others.

Read More 

Illustration: The Verge

AST SpaceMobile has ramped up demonstrations of voice calls, texts, and video calls via satellite over the last year, using 4G LTE and 5G connections with download bandwidth reaching 14Mbps. Now the company says that a previous memorandum of understanding with AT&T to work on a space-based broadband network for phones has become a “definitive commercial agreement,” just in time for AST’s first five commercial satellites to launch this summer.
The FCC has gotten things rolling on a framework (PDF) for companies interested in building these types of services, with the idea of what Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel called a single network future. “We won’t need to think about what network, where, and what services are available. Connections will just work everywhere, all the time,” said Rosenworcel last year.

According to a statement, the five satellites AST SpaceMobile will launch from Cape Canaveral “will help enable commercial service that was previously demonstrated,” but there’s no mention of changes to deal with the problems of light pollution.
Apple has already added satellite-based messaging links to the iPhone, and Android is preparing for similar features, but a high-speed connection would take things to a different level. With Starlink also testing satellite-to-cellular links, dead zones could be a thing of the past in a few years.

Illustration: The Verge

AST SpaceMobile has ramped up demonstrations of voice calls, texts, and video calls via satellite over the last year, using 4G LTE and 5G connections with download bandwidth reaching 14Mbps. Now the company says that a previous memorandum of understanding with AT&T to work on a space-based broadband network for phones has become a “definitive commercial agreement,” just in time for AST’s first five commercial satellites to launch this summer.

The FCC has gotten things rolling on a framework (PDF) for companies interested in building these types of services, with the idea of what Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel called a single network future. “We won’t need to think about what network, where, and what services are available. Connections will just work everywhere, all the time,” said Rosenworcel last year.

According to a statement, the five satellites AST SpaceMobile will launch from Cape Canaveral “will help enable commercial service that was previously demonstrated,” but there’s no mention of changes to deal with the problems of light pollution.

Apple has already added satellite-based messaging links to the iPhone, and Android is preparing for similar features, but a high-speed connection would take things to a different level. With Starlink also testing satellite-to-cellular links, dead zones could be a thing of the past in a few years.

Read More 

Image: ByoWave

On Wednesday, Microsoft announced the Proteus Controller, a $299 modular video game controller kit that lets Xbox gamers with disabilities customize their controllers.
Created by peripheral company ByoWave as part of the Designed for Xbox program, the wireless controller consists of small cubes with interchangeable faceplates that include controller buttons, a directional pad, and analog sticks.
The “snap and play” parts connect together so gamers can build more than 100 configurations and LED lighting variations. As a result, one-handed gamers and other players with disabilities can use the controller in a way that’s most comfortable for them. The buttons are also remappable for a more individualized experience, albeit only via the companion app.

Image: Byowave
The Proteus Controller can be used in multiple ways.

At launch, the Proteus Controller will work with the Xbox Series X / S, Xbox One, and Windows 10 and 11. ByoWave says it won’t support PlayStation 5 or Nintendo Switch, though it’s open to partnering with these platforms.
The controller is expected to ship this fall, though it’s available to preorder via ByoWave’s website at a discounted price of $255 right now. The kit will include a USB-C charging cable and a Bluetooth dongle, as well as other parts like left and right handles to create a traditional gamepad and two large one-button peripherals.
Along with introducing a new controller, Microsoft is also updating its $99.99 Xbox Adaptive Controller, which was released in 2018 to help players build adaptive gaming setups.
The controller will soon support more accessories, with each USB port soon offering support for up to 12 buttons, a second stick, and a hat switch. The firmware update will be available to the public in the next few months but will roll out over the next couple of weeks to Xbox Insiders.

Image: ByoWave

On Wednesday, Microsoft announced the Proteus Controller, a $299 modular video game controller kit that lets Xbox gamers with disabilities customize their controllers.

Created by peripheral company ByoWave as part of the Designed for Xbox program, the wireless controller consists of small cubes with interchangeable faceplates that include controller buttons, a directional pad, and analog sticks.

The “snap and play” parts connect together so gamers can build more than 100 configurations and LED lighting variations. As a result, one-handed gamers and other players with disabilities can use the controller in a way that’s most comfortable for them. The buttons are also remappable for a more individualized experience, albeit only via the companion app.

Image: Byowave
The Proteus Controller can be used in multiple ways.

At launch, the Proteus Controller will work with the Xbox Series X / S, Xbox One, and Windows 10 and 11. ByoWave says it won’t support PlayStation 5 or Nintendo Switch, though it’s open to partnering with these platforms.

The controller is expected to ship this fall, though it’s available to preorder via ByoWave’s website at a discounted price of $255 right now. The kit will include a USB-C charging cable and a Bluetooth dongle, as well as other parts like left and right handles to create a traditional gamepad and two large one-button peripherals.

Along with introducing a new controller, Microsoft is also updating its $99.99 Xbox Adaptive Controller, which was released in 2018 to help players build adaptive gaming setups.

The controller will soon support more accessories, with each USB port soon offering support for up to 12 buttons, a second stick, and a hat switch. The firmware update will be available to the public in the next few months but will roll out over the next couple of weeks to Xbox Insiders.

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Image: Netflix

3 Body Problem is getting a second season. Netflix announced the news that its adaptation of Cixin Liu’s award-winning sci-fi trilogy is getting more episodes, with David Benioff, D.B. Weiss, and Alexander Woo returning as executive producers and writers.
3 Body Problem follows a group of scientists as they struggle with the realization that humanity isn’t the only species in the universe and that its nearest neighbors are far more technologically advanced and very mean. It stars an ensemble cast featuring Liam Cunningham, Rosalind Chao, Zine Tseng, and Benedict Wong. Though the 3 Body Problem book trilogy spans several centuries, through cryogenic shenanigans, most characters from the present-day timeline should remain throughout the story, meaning we should see a lot of the cast return for season 2.
Netflix didn’t share hard numbers on 3 Body’s metrics, only stating that the show enjoyed three weeks in the number one spot and another several as one of the top 10 Netflix shows worldwide. Nevertheless, the first season ended on a bit of a cliffhanger with aliens barreling toward Earth intent on brutal conquest, so a second season was likely. In addition to the renewal, Netflix also shared that Benioff and Weiss, both known for their work on the Game of Thrones series, have renewed their deal to write and direct shows exclusively for Netflix.
3 Body Problem was a shrewd adaptation of Liu’s book, managing to make sense of (and make interesting) some of its sprawling examinations of theoretical physics and light-speed travel. However, 3 Body Problem is by far the most interesting and likable book in the trilogy, and adapting the, we’ll say, quirkier parts of books two and three might prove tricky. I will say that season 1 has already handled what I thought was the most boring and bewildering part of book two, but I’m very curious to see how they handle the rest of it.

Image: Netflix

3 Body Problem is getting a second season. Netflix announced the news that its adaptation of Cixin Liu’s award-winning sci-fi trilogy is getting more episodes, with David Benioff, D.B. Weiss, and Alexander Woo returning as executive producers and writers.

3 Body Problem follows a group of scientists as they struggle with the realization that humanity isn’t the only species in the universe and that its nearest neighbors are far more technologically advanced and very mean. It stars an ensemble cast featuring Liam Cunningham, Rosalind Chao, Zine Tseng, and Benedict Wong. Though the 3 Body Problem book trilogy spans several centuries, through cryogenic shenanigans, most characters from the present-day timeline should remain throughout the story, meaning we should see a lot of the cast return for season 2.

Netflix didn’t share hard numbers on 3 Body’s metrics, only stating that the show enjoyed three weeks in the number one spot and another several as one of the top 10 Netflix shows worldwide. Nevertheless, the first season ended on a bit of a cliffhanger with aliens barreling toward Earth intent on brutal conquest, so a second season was likely. In addition to the renewal, Netflix also shared that Benioff and Weiss, both known for their work on the Game of Thrones series, have renewed their deal to write and direct shows exclusively for Netflix.

3 Body Problem was a shrewd adaptation of Liu’s book, managing to make sense of (and make interesting) some of its sprawling examinations of theoretical physics and light-speed travel. However, 3 Body Problem is by far the most interesting and likable book in the trilogy, and adapting the, we’ll say, quirkier parts of books two and three might prove tricky. I will say that season 1 has already handled what I thought was the most boring and bewildering part of book two, but I’m very curious to see how they handle the rest of it.

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Illustration by Nick Barclay / The Verge

Netflix’s expansion into an ad-supported model seems to be a hit. Today, at its 2024 upfront presentation, the streamer said that it now has 40 million monthly users on its ad-supported tier globally. That’s up from 23 million earlier in the year; it took six months for the option to hit 5 million users after it launched in 2022. As of April, the service had a total of 270 million subscribers across all tiers. Netflix also said that, in regions where ads are available, more than 40 percent of new users are signing up for the ad-supported tier.

As part of announcing the milestone, Netflix revealed that it’s planning to launch “an in-house advertising technology platform.” In a statement, Netflix’s president of advertising, Amy Reinhard, explained that “bringing our ad tech in-house will allow us to power the ads plan with the same level of excellence that’s made Netflix the leader in streaming technology today.” Additionally, while Netflix initially partnered with Microsoft as its “global advertising technology and sales partner,” it’s now adding Google, The Trade Desk, and Magnite to that list.
The news comes the same day that Netflix announced a further push into live events, after getting the streaming rights for NFL games on Christmas Day. This follows several live comedy specials and will soon be joined by a boxing match between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson and weekly WWE broadcasts. It also comes at a time when Netflix and its competitors have increasingly started to resemble the cable TV of old, through price hikes and bundles.

Illustration by Nick Barclay / The Verge

Netflix’s expansion into an ad-supported model seems to be a hit. Today, at its 2024 upfront presentation, the streamer said that it now has 40 million monthly users on its ad-supported tier globally. That’s up from 23 million earlier in the year; it took six months for the option to hit 5 million users after it launched in 2022. As of April, the service had a total of 270 million subscribers across all tiers. Netflix also said that, in regions where ads are available, more than 40 percent of new users are signing up for the ad-supported tier.

As part of announcing the milestone, Netflix revealed that it’s planning to launch “an in-house advertising technology platform.” In a statement, Netflix’s president of advertising, Amy Reinhard, explained that “bringing our ad tech in-house will allow us to power the ads plan with the same level of excellence that’s made Netflix the leader in streaming technology today.” Additionally, while Netflix initially partnered with Microsoft as its “global advertising technology and sales partner,” it’s now adding Google, The Trade Desk, and Magnite to that list.

The news comes the same day that Netflix announced a further push into live events, after getting the streaming rights for NFL games on Christmas Day. This follows several live comedy specials and will soon be joined by a boxing match between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson and weekly WWE broadcasts. It also comes at a time when Netflix and its competitors have increasingly started to resemble the cable TV of old, through price hikes and bundles.

Read More