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A capacious battery allows the Reolink Altas PT Ultra to be easily installed anywhere without the need for access to power. | Image: Reolink

Reolink’s new Altas PT Ultra is the company’s first battery-powered security camera that is capable of all-day continuous recording. It doesn’t need power access, so it can be installed almost anywhere, and since it captures 4K video to a microSD card instead of the cloud, there are fewer security risks and no subscription fees.
There are already many battery-powered security cameras that streamline installation, but they’re limited by small batteries that can’t record for more than a day before needing a charge. Reolink’s Altas PT Ultra’s solution to that problem is a built-in 20,000mAh battery the company says has enough power to record for 12 hours per day for up to eight days or four days when recording nonstop around the clock.
Having to charge the camera every week does negate some of the convenience of it being battery-powered, but through desktop and mobile apps, the Altas PT Ultra can be programmed to only capture video when motion is detected by its passive infrared sensor, or on a specific schedule, to extend its battery life. When set to its “standard working mode,” Reolink says the camera can run for up to 16 months on a single charge.

Image: Reolink
An optional solar panel accessory can keep the Altas PT Ultra’s battery charged with just 10 minutes of light per day.

For consumers with more demanding recording needs, Reolink does sell an optional six-watt solar panel accessory that can be mounted near the camera. The company says that a 10-minute charge from the solar panel is enough to power the camera for 24 hours, while a full day of charging can extend the battery life to 120 days, but that’s dependent on what features are being used.
Video is captured at 4K at 15fps through a wide-angle lens, but the Altas PT Ultra can pan its camera 355 degrees horizontally and tilt it 90 degrees vertically, allowing it to track and keep moving subjects in-frame during a recording. It also features full-color night vision capabilities, two-way audio with a built-in speaker and microphone, and support for Wi-Fi 6, allowing footage from a 512GB microSD card to be streamed from the camera over a wireless network.

Image: Reolink
Reolink’s first battery-powered doorbell captures 2K footage to a microSD card.

Reolink has also announced the company’s first battery-powered smart doorbell. Like the Altas PT Ultra security camera, it captures footage locally to a microSD card up to 256GB in size, so there are no subscription fees for storing recordings in the cloud.
Installation doesn’t require any wires, but the doorbell can be connected to wiring for continuous power delivery or to use it with existing door chimes. On a full charge, the company estimates the doorbell’s 7,000mAh battery will keep it running for up to five months with “typical usage,” but if you’ve got a busy neighborhood constantly triggering motion-detected recordings, that could be significantly less.
Video is recorded at 2K at 15fps but in a perfectly square aspect ratio, ensuring the doorbell’s wide-angle camera captures visitors from head to toe, including delivered packages on a front porch. It also has two-way audio communications with a speaker and microphone and Wi-Fi for streaming video to its desktop or mobile app.
Both the Reolink Altas PT Ultra and Battery Doorbell will be available for sale starting on September 25th, with pricing details to be revealed at that time.

A capacious battery allows the Reolink Altas PT Ultra to be easily installed anywhere without the need for access to power. | Image: Reolink

Reolink’s new Altas PT Ultra is the company’s first battery-powered security camera that is capable of all-day continuous recording. It doesn’t need power access, so it can be installed almost anywhere, and since it captures 4K video to a microSD card instead of the cloud, there are fewer security risks and no subscription fees.

There are already many battery-powered security cameras that streamline installation, but they’re limited by small batteries that can’t record for more than a day before needing a charge. Reolink’s Altas PT Ultra’s solution to that problem is a built-in 20,000mAh battery the company says has enough power to record for 12 hours per day for up to eight days or four days when recording nonstop around the clock.

Having to charge the camera every week does negate some of the convenience of it being battery-powered, but through desktop and mobile apps, the Altas PT Ultra can be programmed to only capture video when motion is detected by its passive infrared sensor, or on a specific schedule, to extend its battery life. When set to its “standard working mode,” Reolink says the camera can run for up to 16 months on a single charge.

Image: Reolink
An optional solar panel accessory can keep the Altas PT Ultra’s battery charged with just 10 minutes of light per day.

For consumers with more demanding recording needs, Reolink does sell an optional six-watt solar panel accessory that can be mounted near the camera. The company says that a 10-minute charge from the solar panel is enough to power the camera for 24 hours, while a full day of charging can extend the battery life to 120 days, but that’s dependent on what features are being used.

Video is captured at 4K at 15fps through a wide-angle lens, but the Altas PT Ultra can pan its camera 355 degrees horizontally and tilt it 90 degrees vertically, allowing it to track and keep moving subjects in-frame during a recording. It also features full-color night vision capabilities, two-way audio with a built-in speaker and microphone, and support for Wi-Fi 6, allowing footage from a 512GB microSD card to be streamed from the camera over a wireless network.

Image: Reolink
Reolink’s first battery-powered doorbell captures 2K footage to a microSD card.

Reolink has also announced the company’s first battery-powered smart doorbell. Like the Altas PT Ultra security camera, it captures footage locally to a microSD card up to 256GB in size, so there are no subscription fees for storing recordings in the cloud.

Installation doesn’t require any wires, but the doorbell can be connected to wiring for continuous power delivery or to use it with existing door chimes. On a full charge, the company estimates the doorbell’s 7,000mAh battery will keep it running for up to five months with “typical usage,” but if you’ve got a busy neighborhood constantly triggering motion-detected recordings, that could be significantly less.

Video is recorded at 2K at 15fps but in a perfectly square aspect ratio, ensuring the doorbell’s wide-angle camera captures visitors from head to toe, including delivered packages on a front porch. It also has two-way audio communications with a speaker and microphone and Wi-Fi for streaming video to its desktop or mobile app.

Both the Reolink Altas PT Ultra and Battery Doorbell will be available for sale starting on September 25th, with pricing details to be revealed at that time.

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If you have a Hisense TV, you’ll be able to easily link up Yeelight’s lighting — like these smart cubes. | Image: Yeelight

Yeelight’s array of smart lighting products will now automatically sync with Hisense VIDAA TVs. During the IFA tech conference in Berlin, Yeelight revealed that its app now integrates directly with Hisense TVs, allowing it to capture the audio and video on your screen while relaying matching effects across Yeelight’s devices.
That means you can quickly link up Yeelight’s light strip and its stackable cube-shaped lights to your TV (given that you have a Hisense, of course). That makes it even simpler to set up when compared to some other ambient lighting options from brands like Philips, which requires you to either purchase a Hue Play HDMI sync box to sync your lighting or the Hue Sync TV app, that’s only available on some Samsung TVs released in 2022 or later, and you have to pay $3 / month or a flat $130 fee just to get it.

Image: Yeelight
Yeelight’s curtain lights can display things like emoji and GIFs.

Yeelight also announced $129.99 curtains of lights measuring 2 meters (~6.5 feet) tall and 1.5 meters (~5 feet) wide. It features 475 individual light beads that can display a range of custom or preset lighting patterns, as well as IP65 water resistance for outdoor or indoor use.

If you have a Hisense TV, you’ll be able to easily link up Yeelight’s lighting — like these smart cubes. | Image: Yeelight

Yeelight’s array of smart lighting products will now automatically sync with Hisense VIDAA TVs. During the IFA tech conference in Berlin, Yeelight revealed that its app now integrates directly with Hisense TVs, allowing it to capture the audio and video on your screen while relaying matching effects across Yeelight’s devices.

That means you can quickly link up Yeelight’s light strip and its stackable cube-shaped lights to your TV (given that you have a Hisense, of course). That makes it even simpler to set up when compared to some other ambient lighting options from brands like Philips, which requires you to either purchase a Hue Play HDMI sync box to sync your lighting or the Hue Sync TV app, that’s only available on some Samsung TVs released in 2022 or later, and you have to pay $3 / month or a flat $130 fee just to get it.

Image: Yeelight
Yeelight’s curtain lights can display things like emoji and GIFs.

Yeelight also announced $129.99 curtains of lights measuring 2 meters (~6.5 feet) tall and 1.5 meters (~5 feet) wide. It features 475 individual light beads that can display a range of custom or preset lighting patterns, as well as IP65 water resistance for outdoor or indoor use.

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Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge, Getty Images

Telegram has quietly removed language from its FAQ page that said private chats were protected from moderation requests. The change comes nearly two weeks after its CEO Pavel Durov was arrested in France for allegedly allowing “criminal activity to go on undeterred on the messaging app.”
Earlier today, Durov issued his first public statement since his arrest, promising to moderate content more on the platform — a noticeable change in tone after the company initially said he had “nothing to hide”. “It is absurd to claim that a platform or its owner are responsible for abuse of that platform,” the company wrote in an unattributed statement posted in August.
Now, Durov appears to have changed his tone.
“Telegram’s abrupt increase in user count to 950M caused growing pains that made it easier for criminals to abuse our platform,” he wrote in the statement shared today. “That’s why I made it my personal goal to ensure we significantly improve things in this regard. We’ve already started that process internally, and I will share more details on our progress with you very soon.”

I’m still trying to understand what happened in France. But we hear the concerns. I made it my personal goal to prevent abusers of Telegram’s platform from interfering with the future of our 950+ million users.My full post below. https://t.co/cDvRSodjst— Pavel Durov (@durov) September 5, 2024

Some of those changes appear to be already taking effect: the company’s FAQ page has changed in the last 24 hours. Take one section titled, “There’s illegal content on Telegram. How do I take it down?”
As of September 5th, Telegram’s response to the question read in part, “All Telegram chats and group chats are private amongst their participants. We do not process any requests related to them,” according to a Wayback Machine archive of the page.
But at the time of this writing, that sentence has been removed. Instead, has been replaced with: “All Telegram apps have ‘Report’ buttons that let you flag illegal content for our moderators — in just a few taps,” followed by instructions on how to report content.
Durov’s arrest came as French authorities issued preliminary charges saying the messaging platforms is being used for distributing child sexual abuse material and drug trafficking, and that the company refused to cooperate with investigators, according to the Associated Press. The platform serves as a way for people to get crucial information about Russia’s war in Ukraine, but has historically taken a hands-off approach to moderating content.

Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge, Getty Images

Telegram has quietly removed language from its FAQ page that said private chats were protected from moderation requests. The change comes nearly two weeks after its CEO Pavel Durov was arrested in France for allegedly allowing “criminal activity to go on undeterred on the messaging app.”

Earlier today, Durov issued his first public statement since his arrest, promising to moderate content more on the platform — a noticeable change in tone after the company initially said he had “nothing to hide”. “It is absurd to claim that a platform or its owner are responsible for abuse of that platform,” the company wrote in an unattributed statement posted in August.

Now, Durov appears to have changed his tone.

“Telegram’s abrupt increase in user count to 950M caused growing pains that made it easier for criminals to abuse our platform,” he wrote in the statement shared today. “That’s why I made it my personal goal to ensure we significantly improve things in this regard. We’ve already started that process internally, and I will share more details on our progress with you very soon.”

Some of those changes appear to be already taking effect: the company’s FAQ page has changed in the last 24 hours. Take one section titled, “There’s illegal content on Telegram. How do I take it down?”

As of September 5th, Telegram’s response to the question read in part, “All Telegram chats and group chats are private amongst their participants. We do not process any requests related to them,” according to a Wayback Machine archive of the page.

But at the time of this writing, that sentence has been removed. Instead, has been replaced with: “All Telegram apps have ‘Report’ buttons that let you flag illegal content for our moderators — in just a few taps,” followed by instructions on how to report content.

Durov’s arrest came as French authorities issued preliminary charges saying the messaging platforms is being used for distributing child sexual abuse material and drug trafficking, and that the company refused to cooperate with investigators, according to the Associated Press. The platform serves as a way for people to get crucial information about Russia’s war in Ukraine, but has historically taken a hands-off approach to moderating content.

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Pavel Durov. | Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge, Getty Images

Twelve days after he was arrested in France, Telegram CEO Pavel Durov has broken his silence with a 600-word statement on his Telegram account that blames “growing pains that made it easier for criminals to abuse our platform.”
French authorities had charged Durov with enabling various forms of criminal activity on Telegram, including an unnamed person’s distribution of child sexual abuse material on the platform. An unnamed statement from Telegram at the time of his arrest said Durov had “nothing to hide.”
While the vast majority of his statement today paints his arrest as surprising and unfair, he also admits that policing Telegram has become harder. Durov says it’s now his “personal goal” to “significantly improve things in this regard.”
Here’s Durov’s full statement:

❤️ Thanks everyone for your support and love!
Last month I got interviewed by police for 4 days after arriving in Paris. I was told I may be personally responsible for other people’s illegal use of Telegram, because the French authorities didn’t receive responses from Telegram.
This was surprising for several reasons:
1. Telegram has an official representative in the EU that accepts and replies to EU requests. Its email address has been publicly available for anyone in the EU who googles “Telegram EU address for law enforcement”.
2. The French authorities had numerous ways to reach me to request assistance. As a French citizen, I was a frequent guest at the French consulate in Dubai. A while ago, when asked, I personally helped them establish a hotline with Telegram to deal with the threat of terrorism in France.
3. If a country is unhappy with an internet service, the established practice is to start a legal action against the service itself. Using laws from the pre-smartphone era to charge a CEO with crimes committed by third parties on the platform he manages is a misguided approach. Building technology is hard enough as it is. No innovator will ever build new tools if they know they can be personally held responsible for potential abuse of those tools.
Establishing the right balance between privacy and security is not easy. You have to reconcile privacy laws with law enforcement requirements, and local laws with EU laws. You have to take into account technological limitations. As a platform, you want your processes to be consistent globally, while also ensuring they are not abused in countries with weak rule of law. We’ve been committed to engaging with regulators to find the right balance. Yes, we stand by our principles: our experience is shaped by our mission to protect our users in authoritarian regimes. But we’ve always been open to dialogue.
Sometimes we can’t agree with a country’s regulator on the right balance between privacy and security. In those cases, we are ready to leave that country. We’ve done it many times. When Russia demanded we hand over “encryption keys” to enable surveillance, we refused — and Telegram got banned in Russia. When Iran demanded we block channels of peaceful protesters, we refused — and Telegram got banned in Iran. We are prepared to leave markets that aren’t compatible with our principles, because we are not doing this for money. We are driven by the intention to bring good and defend the basic rights of people, particularly in places where these rights are violated.
All of that does not mean Telegram is perfect. Even the fact that authorities could be confused by where to send requests is something that we should improve. But the claims in some media that Telegram is some sort of anarchic paradise are absolutely untrue. We take down millions of harmful posts and channels every day. We publish daily transparency reports (like this or this ). We have direct hotlines with NGOs to process urgent moderation requests faster.
However, we hear voices saying that it’s not enough. Telegram’s abrupt increase in user count to 950M caused growing pains that made it easier for criminals to abuse our platform. That’s why I made it my personal goal to ensure we significantly improve things in this regard. We’ve already started that process internally, and I will share more details on our progress with you very soon.
I hope that the events of August will result in making Telegram — and the social networking industry as a whole — safer and stronger. Thanks again for your love and memes

Pavel Durov. | Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge, Getty Images

Twelve days after he was arrested in France, Telegram CEO Pavel Durov has broken his silence with a 600-word statement on his Telegram account that blames “growing pains that made it easier for criminals to abuse our platform.”

French authorities had charged Durov with enabling various forms of criminal activity on Telegram, including an unnamed person’s distribution of child sexual abuse material on the platform. An unnamed statement from Telegram at the time of his arrest said Durov had “nothing to hide.”

While the vast majority of his statement today paints his arrest as surprising and unfair, he also admits that policing Telegram has become harder. Durov says it’s now his “personal goal” to “significantly improve things in this regard.”

Here’s Durov’s full statement:

❤️ Thanks everyone for your support and love!

Last month I got interviewed by police for 4 days after arriving in Paris. I was told I may be personally responsible for other people’s illegal use of Telegram, because the French authorities didn’t receive responses from Telegram.

This was surprising for several reasons:

1. Telegram has an official representative in the EU that accepts and replies to EU requests. Its email address has been publicly available for anyone in the EU who googles “Telegram EU address for law enforcement”.

2. The French authorities had numerous ways to reach me to request assistance. As a French citizen, I was a frequent guest at the French consulate in Dubai. A while ago, when asked, I personally helped them establish a hotline with Telegram to deal with the threat of terrorism in France.

3. If a country is unhappy with an internet service, the established practice is to start a legal action against the service itself. Using laws from the pre-smartphone era to charge a CEO with crimes committed by third parties on the platform he manages is a misguided approach. Building technology is hard enough as it is. No innovator will ever build new tools if they know they can be personally held responsible for potential abuse of those tools.

Establishing the right balance between privacy and security is not easy. You have to reconcile privacy laws with law enforcement requirements, and local laws with EU laws. You have to take into account technological limitations. As a platform, you want your processes to be consistent globally, while also ensuring they are not abused in countries with weak rule of law. We’ve been committed to engaging with regulators to find the right balance. Yes, we stand by our principles: our experience is shaped by our mission to protect our users in authoritarian regimes. But we’ve always been open to dialogue.

Sometimes we can’t agree with a country’s regulator on the right balance between privacy and security. In those cases, we are ready to leave that country. We’ve done it many times. When Russia demanded we hand over “encryption keys” to enable surveillance, we refused — and Telegram got banned in Russia. When Iran demanded we block channels of peaceful protesters, we refused — and Telegram got banned in Iran. We are prepared to leave markets that aren’t compatible with our principles, because we are not doing this for money. We are driven by the intention to bring good and defend the basic rights of people, particularly in places where these rights are violated.

All of that does not mean Telegram is perfect. Even the fact that authorities could be confused by where to send requests is something that we should improve. But the claims in some media that Telegram is some sort of anarchic paradise are absolutely untrue. We take down millions of harmful posts and channels every day. We publish daily transparency reports (like this or this ). We have direct hotlines with NGOs to process urgent moderation requests faster.

However, we hear voices saying that it’s not enough. Telegram’s abrupt increase in user count to 950M caused growing pains that made it easier for criminals to abuse our platform. That’s why I made it my personal goal to ensure we significantly improve things in this regard. We’ve already started that process internally, and I will share more details on our progress with you very soon.

I hope that the events of August will result in making Telegram — and the social networking industry as a whole — safer and stronger. Thanks again for your love and memes

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

The US, UK, and European Union have signed the first “legally binding” treaty on AI, which is supposed to ensure its use aligns with “human rights, democracy and the rule of law,” according to the Council of Europe.
The treaty, called the Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence, lays out key principles AI systems must follow, such as protecting user data, respecting the law, and keeping practices transparent. Each country that signs the treaty must “adopt or maintain appropriate legislative, administrative or other measures” that reflect the framework.

Historic moment! The #CoE opens the first-ever legally binding global treaty on #AI and human rights. Signed by EU , this Framework Convention ensures AI aligns with our values. #HumanRights #Innovation #Democracy #GlobalTreaty— Council of Europe (@coe) September 5, 2024

Andorra, Georgia, Iceland, Norway, the Republic of Moldova, San Marino, and Israel also signed the framework, which has been in the works since 2019.
Over the past several months, we’ve seen a swath of other AI safety agreements emerge — but the majority don’t have consequences for the signatories who break their commitments. Even though this new treaty is supposed to be “legally binding,” the Financial Times points out that “compliance is measured primarily through monitoring, which is a relatively weak form of enforcement.”
Still, the treaty could serve as a blueprint for countries developing their own laws surrounding AI. The US has bills in the works related to AI, the EU already passed landmark regulations on AI, and the UK is considering its own. California is also getting close to passing an AI safety law that giants like OpenAI have pushed back against.
“We must ensure that the rise of AI upholds our standards, rather than undermining them,” Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić says in a statement. “The Framework Convention is designed to ensure just that. It is a strong and balanced text — the result of the open and inclusive approach.” The treaty will come into force three months after five signatories ratify it.

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

The US, UK, and European Union have signed the first “legally binding” treaty on AI, which is supposed to ensure its use aligns with “human rights, democracy and the rule of law,” according to the Council of Europe.

The treaty, called the Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence, lays out key principles AI systems must follow, such as protecting user data, respecting the law, and keeping practices transparent. Each country that signs the treaty must “adopt or maintain appropriate legislative, administrative or other measures” that reflect the framework.

Andorra, Georgia, Iceland, Norway, the Republic of Moldova, San Marino, and Israel also signed the framework, which has been in the works since 2019.

Over the past several months, we’ve seen a swath of other AI safety agreements emerge — but the majority don’t have consequences for the signatories who break their commitments. Even though this new treaty is supposed to be “legally binding,” the Financial Times points out that “compliance is measured primarily through monitoring, which is a relatively weak form of enforcement.”

Still, the treaty could serve as a blueprint for countries developing their own laws surrounding AI. The US has bills in the works related to AI, the EU already passed landmark regulations on AI, and the UK is considering its own. California is also getting close to passing an AI safety law that giants like OpenAI have pushed back against.

“We must ensure that the rise of AI upholds our standards, rather than undermining them,” Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić says in a statement. “The Framework Convention is designed to ensure just that. It is a strong and balanced text — the result of the open and inclusive approach.” The treaty will come into force three months after five signatories ratify it.

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Instead of a boring number or some dots of light to show battery level you get a silly face. | Image: Ugreen

Ugreen has a new collection of iPhone and USB accessories for IFA 2024 that really turn up the charm. The Uno line is a collection of GaN and Qi2 chargers, cables, a power bank, and a USB-C hub — each featuring tiny a screen solely for displaying robot-like emoji faces.
The most endearing ones by far are the $60 Uno Charger 100W four-port USB charger and $70 15W Qi2 magnetic power bank that sticks to MagSafe phones — each looks like a helpful little bot friend you’ve appointed to live on your desk and help with your charging duties. They’re also the most expressive, with their TFT screens showing up to half a dozen different faces to give some idea of the actual charge levels / rates of your device.
For example, the faces on the Qi2 power bank can greet you with a “Hi” message, look concerned when its battery level is below 20 percent, and get exceedingly joyous as it fills up — topping off with some loving heart-eyes at full charge. The 100W charger has similar multi-stage faces to indicate charging speeds.

Have I mentioned that the Qi2 power bank has a small kickstand that makes it look like it has skinny little arms to hold up your phone like a diminutive Atlas trying its best? Adorable.

Image: Ugreen

There’s also the $70 Uno 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charger, which I got to try ahead of time and is sadly a bit more limited. It certainly charges your iPhone and AirPods — just like many options out there from the likes of Anker and other brands, and there’s a small charm to the endearing face on the screen.
But here, it seems Ugreen couldn’t find an effective way to indicate the charge level of two different devices through emoji faces alone. Instead, the 2-in-1 displays just two faces, one to proclaim “I’m plugged in and ready to charge,” and another that confusingly communicates “Hey buddy, your devices are charging. Or maybe they’re full? I don’t know man, why don’t you check? I just work here.”

The 100W-capable USB-C to USB-C cable I also tested also has a screen, but with even less to communicate. Its friendly face doesn’t show up until you plug in a device to charge, and then it has just one expression of closed eyes joyously smiling. (Or maybe it’s laughing at me? What is your deal, you little cable goblin?!)
It’s still about as cute as it gets for a charging cord, but more informational screens in cables and fun chargers do exist elsewhere.
Ugreen’s new Uno line has six accessories in total, which ever-so-slightly take the boring out of commoditized tech. One even tries to make a 6-in-1 USB-C Hub a little kawaii. They’re set to launch between mid-September and October. Here’s the price breakdown for each one:

Uno 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charger 15W ($69.99)
Uno Qi2 Magnetic Wireless Power Bank 10000mAh 15W ($69.99)
Uno Charger 100W ($59.99)
Uno Power Bank 10000mAh 30W with built-in USB-C cable ($49.99)
Uno USB-C to USB-C Cable 100W ($8.99 for 0.5m, $12.99 for 1m / 2m, and $15.99 for 3m)
Uno 6-in-1 USB-C Hub ($19.99)

Instead of a boring number or some dots of light to show battery level you get a silly face. | Image: Ugreen

Ugreen has a new collection of iPhone and USB accessories for IFA 2024 that really turn up the charm. The Uno line is a collection of GaN and Qi2 chargers, cables, a power bank, and a USB-C hub — each featuring tiny a screen solely for displaying robot-like emoji faces.

The most endearing ones by far are the $60 Uno Charger 100W four-port USB charger and $70 15W Qi2 magnetic power bank that sticks to MagSafe phones — each looks like a helpful little bot friend you’ve appointed to live on your desk and help with your charging duties. They’re also the most expressive, with their TFT screens showing up to half a dozen different faces to give some idea of the actual charge levels / rates of your device.

For example, the faces on the Qi2 power bank can greet you with a “Hi” message, look concerned when its battery level is below 20 percent, and get exceedingly joyous as it fills up — topping off with some loving heart-eyes at full charge. The 100W charger has similar multi-stage faces to indicate charging speeds.

Have I mentioned that the Qi2 power bank has a small kickstand that makes it look like it has skinny little arms to hold up your phone like a diminutive Atlas trying its best? Adorable.

Image: Ugreen

There’s also the $70 Uno 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charger, which I got to try ahead of time and is sadly a bit more limited. It certainly charges your iPhone and AirPods — just like many options out there from the likes of Anker and other brands, and there’s a small charm to the endearing face on the screen.

But here, it seems Ugreen couldn’t find an effective way to indicate the charge level of two different devices through emoji faces alone. Instead, the 2-in-1 displays just two faces, one to proclaim “I’m plugged in and ready to charge,” and another that confusingly communicates “Hey buddy, your devices are charging. Or maybe they’re full? I don’t know man, why don’t you check? I just work here.”

The 100W-capable USB-C to USB-C cable I also tested also has a screen, but with even less to communicate. Its friendly face doesn’t show up until you plug in a device to charge, and then it has just one expression of closed eyes joyously smiling. (Or maybe it’s laughing at me? What is your deal, you little cable goblin?!)

It’s still about as cute as it gets for a charging cord, but more informational screens in cables and fun chargers do exist elsewhere.

Ugreen’s new Uno line has six accessories in total, which ever-so-slightly take the boring out of commoditized tech. One even tries to make a 6-in-1 USB-C Hub a little kawaii. They’re set to launch between mid-September and October. Here’s the price breakdown for each one:

Uno 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charger 15W ($69.99)
Uno Qi2 Magnetic Wireless Power Bank 10000mAh 15W ($69.99)
Uno Charger 100W ($59.99)
Uno Power Bank 10000mAh 30W with built-in USB-C cable ($49.99)
Uno USB-C to USB-C Cable 100W ($8.99 for 0.5m, $12.99 for 1m / 2m, and $15.99 for 3m)
Uno 6-in-1 USB-C Hub ($19.99)

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The Osom OV1 smartphone was created by former Essential engineers and designers. | Image: Osom

Osom Products Inc. — the mobile phone company founded by former employees of Essential, which shut down after releasing a single phone — is reportedly shutting down this week, having released a single phone.
The news comes shortly after Osom’s former chief privacy officer sued the company, claiming that it’s out of money after its CEO used business funds to pay for personal trips and exotic cars.
During an internal meeting on Tuesday, Osom executives announced their decision to shutter the company, according to multiple sources who spoke to Android Authority. The report claims that most of the company’s employees will be laid off on Friday but will receive severance pay and be eligible for continued healthcare.
Osom was started by Jason Keats (the allegedly Lambo-loving CEO) and several former executives and employees of Essential after that company shut down in 2020, following poor sales of its Essential Phone and the departure of founder Andy Rubin. Osom’s stated goal was to create privacy-focused products, which included a USB-C cable with a switch to turn off its data transfer capabilities and the Osom OV1 smartphone, which the company revealed in early 2022.
The company partnered with blockchain company Solana later that year to launch a version of the OV1, now called the Saga, with a built-in crypto wallet and other apps that rely on Solana’s blockchain features. A few engineers will reportedly remain on at Osom as contractors to help deliver another security update for the Saga smartphone in December and complete the company’s obligations to Solana.

The Osom OV1 smartphone was created by former Essential engineers and designers. | Image: Osom

Osom Products Inc. — the mobile phone company founded by former employees of Essential, which shut down after releasing a single phone — is reportedly shutting down this week, having released a single phone.

The news comes shortly after Osom’s former chief privacy officer sued the company, claiming that it’s out of money after its CEO used business funds to pay for personal trips and exotic cars.

During an internal meeting on Tuesday, Osom executives announced their decision to shutter the company, according to multiple sources who spoke to Android Authority. The report claims that most of the company’s employees will be laid off on Friday but will receive severance pay and be eligible for continued healthcare.

Osom was started by Jason Keats (the allegedly Lambo-loving CEO) and several former executives and employees of Essential after that company shut down in 2020, following poor sales of its Essential Phone and the departure of founder Andy Rubin. Osom’s stated goal was to create privacy-focused products, which included a USB-C cable with a switch to turn off its data transfer capabilities and the Osom OV1 smartphone, which the company revealed in early 2022.

The company partnered with blockchain company Solana later that year to launch a version of the OV1, now called the Saga, with a built-in crypto wallet and other apps that rely on Solana’s blockchain features. A few engineers will reportedly remain on at Osom as contractors to help deliver another security update for the Saga smartphone in December and complete the company’s obligations to Solana.

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Image: Sony

Sony has started celebrating 30 years of PlayStation and seems to have confirmed a PS5 Pro design leak in the process. A blog post earlier today included a 30th anniversary image (above), and eagle-eyed observers have spotted a suspicious-looking PS5 design in the montage that looks identical to the PS5 Pro leak from a week ago.
Dealabs reported last week that it had seen retail packaging for the PS5 Pro and created a sketch that showed three black stripes in the middle of the outer facades of the console. Those three black strips can be clearly seen in Sony’s montage image, looking rather Adidas-like and unlike the stripe you can find on the PS5. In fact, the existing PS5 model is also in the montage, with a single stripe through the middle.

Image: Sony / Dealabs
Sony’s image vs. the leaked PS5 Pro sketch.

Image: Sony
Sony’s Instagram story.

Dealabs said it was expecting an announcement during the first half of September, but I don’t think anyone expected it would come in the form of a teaser image from Sony. The official PlayStation account on Instagram even posted the image with a “Your first look ” link.
We’ve known for months the PS5 Pro is real and that developers have been getting their games ready for this new console. A source familiar with Sony’s PS5 Pro plans tells me that all games released on or after September 16th need to support the PS5 Pro, so that suggests that Sony’s official announcement of this console is coming real soon.

Image: Sony

Sony has started celebrating 30 years of PlayStation and seems to have confirmed a PS5 Pro design leak in the process. A blog post earlier today included a 30th anniversary image (above), and eagle-eyed observers have spotted a suspicious-looking PS5 design in the montage that looks identical to the PS5 Pro leak from a week ago.

Dealabs reported last week that it had seen retail packaging for the PS5 Pro and created a sketch that showed three black stripes in the middle of the outer facades of the console. Those three black strips can be clearly seen in Sony’s montage image, looking rather Adidas-like and unlike the stripe you can find on the PS5. In fact, the existing PS5 model is also in the montage, with a single stripe through the middle.

Image: Sony / Dealabs
Sony’s image vs. the leaked PS5 Pro sketch.

Image: Sony
Sony’s Instagram story.

Dealabs said it was expecting an announcement during the first half of September, but I don’t think anyone expected it would come in the form of a teaser image from Sony. The official PlayStation account on Instagram even posted the image with a “Your first look ” link.

We’ve known for months the PS5 Pro is real and that developers have been getting their games ready for this new console. A source familiar with Sony’s PS5 Pro plans tells me that all games released on or after September 16th need to support the PS5 Pro, so that suggests that Sony’s official announcement of this console is coming real soon.

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Illustration: Cath Virginia / The Verge

A startup funded by the cofounder of Yahoo and CTO of Intel is suing Nvidia and Microsoft for allegedly infringing on its patent for a key innovation in AI chips and being part of a buying cartel that allegedly sought to artificially fix lower prices for the technology.
In a new lawsuit, Texas-based Xockets says Nvidia has infringed on its patented data processing unit (DPU) technology, which helps make cloud infrastructure more efficient by accelerating data-intensive workloads. Xockets says the chip giant inherited the infringement through its 2020 acquisition of Mellanox. It claims Mellanox initially infringed on its patent after Xockets publicly demonstrated its DPU tech at a conference in 2015.
Xockets alleges that three of Nvidia’s DPUs — BlueField, ConnectX, and NVLink Switch — are based on Xockets’ patented technology. The startup also accuses Microsoft of infringing on its patents, alleging that as an Nvidia customer, Microsoft has “privileged access to NVIDIA’s infringing GPU-enabled server computer systems and components for AI.”
Xockets says it’s made Nvidia aware of the alleged infringement — it alleges the startup’s founder and board member Parin Dalal raised the issue to Nvidia’s DPU business VP in February 2022. Xockets accuses Nvidia of pursuing a strategy of “efficient infringement,” which basically boils down to infringe now, let lawyers figure out the rest later.
“Xockets accuses Nvidia of pursuing a strategy of ‘efficient infringement’”
Xockets is also accusing Nvidia of monopolizing the market for GPU servers for AI and participating with Microsoft in a buying cartel through an organization called RPX, a company Xockets says was “formed at the request of Big Tech companies to enable and create buyers’ cartels for intellectual property.” Xockets alleges that RPX enabled members like Nvidia and Microsoft to jointly boycott innovations like Xockets’ in order to drive prices lower than if each company had negotiated on its own. Through the alleged cartel, Xockets claims, Microsoft and Nvidia are able to “monopolize GPU-enabled generative artificial intelligence by controlling the equipment and platforms necessary to access this capability.”
Xockets is seeking damages for the alleged infringement and for the court to order the companies to stop violating its patents and antitrust law. Though it’s facing two of the largest companies in the country, Xockets investor and board member Robert Cote, an IP lawyer, told The Verge that Xockets has “more than enough wherewithal to take on Goliath.”
Dalal is a current employee at Google, where he’s a principal engineer of machine learning and AI, though Google does not seem to have an official role in the litigation. Cote said he could not comment on Google.

Illustration: Cath Virginia / The Verge

A startup funded by the cofounder of Yahoo and CTO of Intel is suing Nvidia and Microsoft for allegedly infringing on its patent for a key innovation in AI chips and being part of a buying cartel that allegedly sought to artificially fix lower prices for the technology.

In a new lawsuit, Texas-based Xockets says Nvidia has infringed on its patented data processing unit (DPU) technology, which helps make cloud infrastructure more efficient by accelerating data-intensive workloads. Xockets says the chip giant inherited the infringement through its 2020 acquisition of Mellanox. It claims Mellanox initially infringed on its patent after Xockets publicly demonstrated its DPU tech at a conference in 2015.

Xockets alleges that three of Nvidia’s DPUs — BlueField, ConnectX, and NVLink Switch — are based on Xockets’ patented technology. The startup also accuses Microsoft of infringing on its patents, alleging that as an Nvidia customer, Microsoft has “privileged access to NVIDIA’s infringing GPU-enabled server computer systems and components for AI.”

Xockets says it’s made Nvidia aware of the alleged infringement — it alleges the startup’s founder and board member Parin Dalal raised the issue to Nvidia’s DPU business VP in February 2022. Xockets accuses Nvidia of pursuing a strategy of “efficient infringement,” which basically boils down to infringe now, let lawyers figure out the rest later.

Xockets is also accusing Nvidia of monopolizing the market for GPU servers for AI and participating with Microsoft in a buying cartel through an organization called RPX, a company Xockets says was “formed at the request of Big Tech companies to enable and create buyers’ cartels for intellectual property.” Xockets alleges that RPX enabled members like Nvidia and Microsoft to jointly boycott innovations like Xockets’ in order to drive prices lower than if each company had negotiated on its own. Through the alleged cartel, Xockets claims, Microsoft and Nvidia are able to “monopolize GPU-enabled generative artificial intelligence by controlling the equipment and platforms necessary to access this capability.”

Xockets is seeking damages for the alleged infringement and for the court to order the companies to stop violating its patents and antitrust law. Though it’s facing two of the largest companies in the country, Xockets investor and board member Robert Cote, an IP lawyer, told The Verge that Xockets has “more than enough wherewithal to take on Goliath.”

Dalal is a current employee at Google, where he’s a principal engineer of machine learning and AI, though Google does not seem to have an official role in the litigation. Cote said he could not comment on Google.

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Image: Umar Shakir / The Verge

Tesla updated the roadmap today for its out-of-beta Full Self-Driving (FSD) advanced driver-assist system. The automaker says it will launch the feature in the Cybertruck later this month, roll out a more robust v13 update in October, and launch it in Europe and China within the first quarter of next year — pending regulatory approval.
Tesla started delivering its polarizing Cybertruck to customers more than nine months ago, and one of the biggest omissions (and hype deflators) was not just the lack of FSD but also Autopilot features like lane-keeping. Now Cybertruck will get these features in September, starting with Autopark — which means that Cybertrucks can soon automatically pull into visible parking spots in lots and on streets.

Due to popular demand, Tesla AI team release roadmap:September 2024- v12.5.2 with ~3x improved miles between necessary interventions- v12.5.2 on AI3 computer (unified models for AI3 and AI4)- Actually Smart Summon- Cybertruck Autopark – Eye-tracking with sunglasses ️ -…— Tesla AI (@Tesla_AI) September 5, 2024

However, the big business move on Tesla’s refreshed FSD roadmap is inching closer to international markets in Europe and China, which, according to Reuters, is already boosting Tesla’s share price. The company has struggled in the European Union, where automakers must obtain preapproval from safety regulators before launching new car technologies.
Although Tesla expects regulatory approval for FSD, it’s not guaranteed. Tesla must demonstrate to EU regulators that FSD is at least as safe as human drivers, which, based on the company’s projections, it might have already. Meanwhile, FSD and Autopilot have been linked to hundreds of crashes and dozens of deaths in the US.

As for China, Tesla started the registration process for FSD with Chinese regulators earlier this year so it could begin internal testing. Tesla has had a less capable iteration of FSD available to customers in China, and its competition is brewing with Chinese automakers launching their own self-driving tech, including vision-based systems.
Tesla’s “supervised” FSD v12 update is supposed to prove that the company’s camera-only approach can succeed. And now the company is already talking about v13 for an October release that has “6 times improved miles between necessary interventions.” Tesla also released its parking lot self-driving ASS (Actually Smart Summon) update this week. It also says it will release updates on eye tracking with sunglasses this month and is adding FSD park, unpark, and reverse abilities in October.

Image: Umar Shakir / The Verge

Tesla updated the roadmap today for its out-of-beta Full Self-Driving (FSD) advanced driver-assist system. The automaker says it will launch the feature in the Cybertruck later this month, roll out a more robust v13 update in October, and launch it in Europe and China within the first quarter of next year — pending regulatory approval.

Tesla started delivering its polarizing Cybertruck to customers more than nine months ago, and one of the biggest omissions (and hype deflators) was not just the lack of FSD but also Autopilot features like lane-keeping. Now Cybertruck will get these features in September, starting with Autopark — which means that Cybertrucks can soon automatically pull into visible parking spots in lots and on streets.

However, the big business move on Tesla’s refreshed FSD roadmap is inching closer to international markets in Europe and China, which, according to Reuters, is already boosting Tesla’s share price. The company has struggled in the European Union, where automakers must obtain preapproval from safety regulators before launching new car technologies.

Although Tesla expects regulatory approval for FSD, it’s not guaranteed. Tesla must demonstrate to EU regulators that FSD is at least as safe as human drivers, which, based on the company’s projections, it might have already. Meanwhile, FSD and Autopilot have been linked to hundreds of crashes and dozens of deaths in the US.

As for China, Tesla started the registration process for FSD with Chinese regulators earlier this year so it could begin internal testing. Tesla has had a less capable iteration of FSD available to customers in China, and its competition is brewing with Chinese automakers launching their own self-driving tech, including vision-based systems.

Tesla’s “supervised” FSD v12 update is supposed to prove that the company’s camera-only approach can succeed. And now the company is already talking about v13 for an October release that has “6 times improved miles between necessary interventions.” Tesla also released its parking lot self-driving ASS (Actually Smart Summon) update this week. It also says it will release updates on eye tracking with sunglasses this month and is adding FSD park, unpark, and reverse abilities in October.

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