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Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge

Verizon’s next big acquisition might be Frontier. Reports from The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg suggest that Verizon is in “advanced talks” to acquire the communications provider, with a potential announcement coming as soon as this week.
Joining forces with Frontier could help Verizon expand its fiber footprint — by clawing back some of its old Fios subscribers. In 2015, Frontier bought Verizon’s wireline operations, including Fios fiber internet connections, across three states for $10.5 billion.
With AT&T going deeper into fiber and T-Mobile planning to acquire fiber provider Metronet, Verizon executives may have decided that now’s a good time to get back into the business. During the Bank of America Securities conference today, Verizon consumer group CEO Sowmyanarayan Sampath answered a question on whether Verizon would partner with another company to help grow its fiber network:
We want to own the whole business, because we like the fiber business. We have our Fios build… We’ve had experience with having a joint venture partner and it’s not always easy to extricate yourself from that situation many years down the line. Our Vodafone relationship is example of that. So if the business is good, we would like to own most of it.
Despite declining to comment on the Frontier rumors during his interview, Sampath also said “To build a sustainable long term mobile plus home play, you need owners’ economics on both the home piece and the mobility piece,” and readily coughed up a stat claiming that bundling fiber and mobility services reduces customer churn by 50 percent for mobility, and by 40 percent for fiber.
Frontier filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2020 but reemerged a year later with plans to expand its fiber connections. It currently offers fiber internet across most of the 25 states it serves, with plans going up to 7Gbps.

Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge

Verizon’s next big acquisition might be Frontier. Reports from The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg suggest that Verizon is in “advanced talks” to acquire the communications provider, with a potential announcement coming as soon as this week.

Joining forces with Frontier could help Verizon expand its fiber footprint — by clawing back some of its old Fios subscribers. In 2015, Frontier bought Verizon’s wireline operations, including Fios fiber internet connections, across three states for $10.5 billion.

With AT&T going deeper into fiber and T-Mobile planning to acquire fiber provider Metronet, Verizon executives may have decided that now’s a good time to get back into the business. During the Bank of America Securities conference today, Verizon consumer group CEO Sowmyanarayan Sampath answered a question on whether Verizon would partner with another company to help grow its fiber network:

We want to own the whole business, because we like the fiber business. We have our Fios build… We’ve had experience with having a joint venture partner and it’s not always easy to extricate yourself from that situation many years down the line. Our Vodafone relationship is example of that. So if the business is good, we would like to own most of it.

Despite declining to comment on the Frontier rumors during his interview, Sampath also said “To build a sustainable long term mobile plus home play, you need owners’ economics on both the home piece and the mobility piece,” and readily coughed up a stat claiming that bundling fiber and mobility services reduces customer churn by 50 percent for mobility, and by 40 percent for fiber.

Frontier filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2020 but reemerged a year later with plans to expand its fiber connections. It currently offers fiber internet across most of the 25 states it serves, with plans going up to 7Gbps.

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Image: Roku

Roku is the latest company to lean into the trend of throwing artwork onto your TV screen, offering viewers some serene relaxation time when they’re not actively watching something. Today the company announced a new feature / app called Backdrops, and it all sounds very familiar.
Rolling out first to Roku-branded TVs and third-party Roku TV sets (and then to Roku streaming devices “later in the fall”), Backdrops features “a catalog that includes famous classics, wide-ranging museum collections, abstract designs, and more.”
Here’s more on what to expect:
Viewers can also learn more about the artwork, including artist name, year it was created, and a brief description for each image, even cycle in photos from their personal collection to display on the largest screen in their home. Whether wanting to relive that unforgettable sunsets captured or showcase a favorite piece of art, the choice is in the hands of the viewer.

Image: Roku

Credit where it’s due, Samsung’s The Frame sparked this whole phenomenon, which has since been copied by Hisense, TCL, and other TV makers. Amazon has also brought an “Ambient Experience” to its Fire TV platform for a similar effect.
At least Roku is recognizing it’s a little late to this game with the silly, over-the-top video up top that describes Backdrops as “revolutionary.” There’s more to The Frame’s success than the artwork alone, of course; the TV has customizable bezels and a matte screen finish that makes the whole effect more convincing.
But fear not: Backdrops won’t be replacing Roku City as the default screensaver on Roku’s platform. The two function a bit differently. Backdrops can be triggered manually, or you can set an artwork collection to display whenever a Roku TV is in its “off” state. Bu if you doze off on the couch, you’ll still wake up to Roku’s signature side-scrolling metropolis screensaver. That’s precious ad space, after all.

Image: Roku

Roku is the latest company to lean into the trend of throwing artwork onto your TV screen, offering viewers some serene relaxation time when they’re not actively watching something. Today the company announced a new feature / app called Backdrops, and it all sounds very familiar.

Rolling out first to Roku-branded TVs and third-party Roku TV sets (and then to Roku streaming devices “later in the fall”), Backdrops features “a catalog that includes famous classics, wide-ranging museum collections, abstract designs, and more.”

Here’s more on what to expect:

Viewers can also learn more about the artwork, including artist name, year it was created, and a brief description for each image, even cycle in photos from their personal collection to display on the largest screen in their home. Whether wanting to relive that unforgettable sunsets captured or showcase a favorite piece of art, the choice is in the hands of the viewer.

Image: Roku

Credit where it’s due, Samsung’s The Frame sparked this whole phenomenon, which has since been copied by Hisense, TCL, and other TV makers. Amazon has also brought an “Ambient Experience” to its Fire TV platform for a similar effect.

At least Roku is recognizing it’s a little late to this game with the silly, over-the-top video up top that describes Backdrops as “revolutionary.” There’s more to The Frame’s success than the artwork alone, of course; the TV has customizable bezels and a matte screen finish that makes the whole effect more convincing.

But fear not: Backdrops won’t be replacing Roku City as the default screensaver on Roku’s platform. The two function a bit differently. Backdrops can be triggered manually, or you can set an artwork collection to display whenever a Roku TV is in its “off” state. Bu if you doze off on the couch, you’ll still wake up to Roku’s signature side-scrolling metropolis screensaver. That’s precious ad space, after all.

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Image: The Verge

Safety regulators are urging the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to investigate the ultracheap e-commerce platforms Shein and Temu. In a statement published Tuesday, two CPSC commissioners say Shein and Temu “raise specific concerns,” including reports that “deadly baby and toddler products are easy to find on these platforms.”
The statement cites last month’s report from The Information, which highlights some of the dangerous products sold on both sites. That includes padded crib bumpers on Temu that have been banned in the US, as well as children’s drawstring hoodies on Shein that the CPSC considers a strangulation hazard.

CPSC commissioners Peter Feldman and Douglas Dziak say the safety agency should evaluate how Shein, which is headquartered in Singapore, and the China-based Temu comply with the Consumer Product Safety Act. The probe would determine how far these platforms fall outside the CPSC’s reach, as well as look into the Chinese manufacturers that make the majority of goods on Shein and Temu.
“Third-party sellers, domestic and foreign, are proliferating on online platforms,” the commissioners write. “This form of commerce can benefit consumers and sellers in many ways, but CPSC must make clear its expectations regarding these platforms’ responsibilities to ensure safety.” The Verge reached out to Shein and Temu with requests for comment but didn’t immediately hear back.
As online stores like Shein and Temu boom in popularity thanks to their dirt-cheap prices, government officials are taking notice. In the European Union, Shein and Temu must comply with the region’s strict regulations on large digital platforms. Temu is also facing a lawsuit from Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin alleging that its app grants “itself access to virtually all data on a user’s cell phone.”

Image: The Verge

Safety regulators are urging the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to investigate the ultracheap e-commerce platforms Shein and Temu. In a statement published Tuesday, two CPSC commissioners say Shein and Temu “raise specific concerns,” including reports that “deadly baby and toddler products are easy to find on these platforms.”

The statement cites last month’s report from The Information, which highlights some of the dangerous products sold on both sites. That includes padded crib bumpers on Temu that have been banned in the US, as well as children’s drawstring hoodies on Shein that the CPSC considers a strangulation hazard.

CPSC commissioners Peter Feldman and Douglas Dziak say the safety agency should evaluate how Shein, which is headquartered in Singapore, and the China-based Temu comply with the Consumer Product Safety Act. The probe would determine how far these platforms fall outside the CPSC’s reach, as well as look into the Chinese manufacturers that make the majority of goods on Shein and Temu.

“Third-party sellers, domestic and foreign, are proliferating on online platforms,” the commissioners write. “This form of commerce can benefit consumers and sellers in many ways, but CPSC must make clear its expectations regarding these platforms’ responsibilities to ensure safety.” The Verge reached out to Shein and Temu with requests for comment but didn’t immediately hear back.

As online stores like Shein and Temu boom in popularity thanks to their dirt-cheap prices, government officials are taking notice. In the European Union, Shein and Temu must comply with the region’s strict regulations on large digital platforms. Temu is also facing a lawsuit from Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin alleging that its app grants “itself access to virtually all data on a user’s cell phone.”

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Image: Asus

Asus is launching its latest NUC mini PC today, complete with Intel’s new Core Ultra Series 2 processors. For some reason, Asus has decided to put a dedicated Copilot button on the front of this puck-shaped PC, so you can reach out and launch Microsoft’s AI assistant.
I’m not entirely sure why you’d want an AI button on a miniature PC that’s probably going to sit more than an arm’s length away from you on a desk, but it’s a button that has now progressed beyond Microsoft’s effort to push it on keyboards. Asus also has a fingerprint reader on top of this NUC for Windows Hello authentication, which makes more sense so you can touch the fingerprint reader when you initially power on this mini PC.

Image: Asus
The full specs of the Asus NUC 14 Pro AI.

Aside from the Copilot button, this NUC is packed full of essential ports and connectivity. At the front, there are two USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports, a Thunderbolt 4 port, and a headphone jack. At the rear of the NUC 14 Pro AI, there’s an ethernet port, another Thunderbolt 4 port, an HDMI port, and two USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 ports. Asus has also equipped this mini PC with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 support. There’s even an internal speaker with a microphone, making this mini PC useful if you don’t have a great speaker setup or headphones.
The most interesting part is what’s inside, though. Intel is promising big performance improvements with its latest Lunar Lake processors inside the NUC 14 Pro AI, with up to 2x GPU performance over the previous generation. Asus is also using a high-end fluid dynamic bearing fan to improve heat dissipation and keep Intel’s chip running cool under high loads.
The Asus NUC 14 Pro AI is also a Copilot Plus PC, so you’ll get access to Microsoft’s latest Windows AI features through an update that will be available in November. We don’t have a price for the Asus NUC 14 Pro AI, but it’s supposed to arrive later this year.

Image: Asus

Asus is launching its latest NUC mini PC today, complete with Intel’s new Core Ultra Series 2 processors. For some reason, Asus has decided to put a dedicated Copilot button on the front of this puck-shaped PC, so you can reach out and launch Microsoft’s AI assistant.

I’m not entirely sure why you’d want an AI button on a miniature PC that’s probably going to sit more than an arm’s length away from you on a desk, but it’s a button that has now progressed beyond Microsoft’s effort to push it on keyboards. Asus also has a fingerprint reader on top of this NUC for Windows Hello authentication, which makes more sense so you can touch the fingerprint reader when you initially power on this mini PC.

Image: Asus
The full specs of the Asus NUC 14 Pro AI.

Aside from the Copilot button, this NUC is packed full of essential ports and connectivity. At the front, there are two USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports, a Thunderbolt 4 port, and a headphone jack. At the rear of the NUC 14 Pro AI, there’s an ethernet port, another Thunderbolt 4 port, an HDMI port, and two USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 ports. Asus has also equipped this mini PC with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 support. There’s even an internal speaker with a microphone, making this mini PC useful if you don’t have a great speaker setup or headphones.

The most interesting part is what’s inside, though. Intel is promising big performance improvements with its latest Lunar Lake processors inside the NUC 14 Pro AI, with up to 2x GPU performance over the previous generation. Asus is also using a high-end fluid dynamic bearing fan to improve heat dissipation and keep Intel’s chip running cool under high loads.

The Asus NUC 14 Pro AI is also a Copilot Plus PC, so you’ll get access to Microsoft’s latest Windows AI features through an update that will be available in November. We don’t have a price for the Asus NUC 14 Pro AI, but it’s supposed to arrive later this year.

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Image: Volvo

Volvo is pushing back its deadline to sell only electric vehicles, now saying it will take at least until 2040 before it reaches that goal.
Three years ago, the Swedish automaker made a commitment to only sell EVs by 2030. Since then, EV sales have exploded, but a recent slowdown in growth is leading many manufacturers to reconsider their pledges.
Volvo blamed the readjustment on a number of factors, including “slower than expected rollout of charging infrastructure, withdrawal of government incentives in some markets and additional uncertainties created by recent tariffs on EVs in various markets.”

Volvo is now among them, arguing that it will be a combination of hybrid and pure battery-electric vehicles that help it reach its goal. The company says that it aims to have 90–100 percent of its sales comprise EVs and plug-in hybrid vehicles by 2030. It says the remaining amount will comprise of mild hybrid vehicles that use a small gas engine to power the vehicle’s battery.
By 2025, Volvo says it expects the percentage of “electrified products” to come in between 50 and 60 percent. The company currently sells five fully electric cars, including the XC40 Recharge, C40 Recharge, EX30, and EX90. Some of the company’s models have been delayed by software problems and trade disputes. Volvo is owned by Geely, which is one of China’s top auto manufacturers.
Volvo said its share of fully electric cars stood at 26 percent during the second quarter of 2024, which it claims is “the highest share among all its premium peers.” Its electrified share — EVs and plug-in hybrids — accounted for 48 percent.
Volvo isn’t alone in rethinking its commitment to go all-electric. Ford, Mercedes-Benz, General Motors, and Jaguar Land Rover have all scaled back plans for EV production, delayed factor construction, or canceled certain models. Tesla, which still controls half of the market in the US, said at the start of the year that it was preparing for a slower year of growth.

Image: Volvo

Volvo is pushing back its deadline to sell only electric vehicles, now saying it will take at least until 2040 before it reaches that goal.

Three years ago, the Swedish automaker made a commitment to only sell EVs by 2030. Since then, EV sales have exploded, but a recent slowdown in growth is leading many manufacturers to reconsider their pledges.

Volvo blamed the readjustment on a number of factors, including “slower than expected rollout of charging infrastructure, withdrawal of government incentives in some markets and additional uncertainties created by recent tariffs on EVs in various markets.”

Volvo is now among them, arguing that it will be a combination of hybrid and pure battery-electric vehicles that help it reach its goal. The company says that it aims to have 90–100 percent of its sales comprise EVs and plug-in hybrid vehicles by 2030. It says the remaining amount will comprise of mild hybrid vehicles that use a small gas engine to power the vehicle’s battery.

By 2025, Volvo says it expects the percentage of “electrified products” to come in between 50 and 60 percent. The company currently sells five fully electric cars, including the XC40 Recharge, C40 Recharge, EX30, and EX90. Some of the company’s models have been delayed by software problems and trade disputes. Volvo is owned by Geely, which is one of China’s top auto manufacturers.

Volvo said its share of fully electric cars stood at 26 percent during the second quarter of 2024, which it claims is “the highest share among all its premium peers.” Its electrified share — EVs and plug-in hybrids — accounted for 48 percent.

Volvo isn’t alone in rethinking its commitment to go all-electric. Ford, Mercedes-Benz, General Motors, and Jaguar Land Rover have all scaled back plans for EV production, delayed factor construction, or canceled certain models. Tesla, which still controls half of the market in the US, said at the start of the year that it was preparing for a slower year of growth.

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The Galaxy Buds FE remain a good option if you don’t like the new open-style Galaxy Buds 3. | Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge

Samsung’s new Galaxy Buds 3 are nice and all, but that open-ear design and $180 price tag isn’t for everybody. If you prefer a pair of buds with a more traditional in-ear design that costs significantly less, the Samsung Galaxy Buds FE are still a good buy and are available for just $61.99 ($38 off) at Woot. That’s their best price yet and a deal that’ll last until September 14th at 12:59AM ET or while supplies last.

The wireless earbuds deliver an excellent set of features for their price. Their active noise cancellation particularly impressed us, but the buds also offer reliable performance and good sound quality. Plus, unlike the open-style Galaxy Buds 3, they feature a wing tip design that could provide for a more secure fit depending on your ear shape. The Galaxy Buds 3 offer far more robust water resistance as well as wireless charging, and the Galaxy Buds FE can’t rival the Pro models in noise cancellation and sound. But if you’re embedded in Samsung’s ecosystem and prioritize price, you probably won’t mind these tradeoffs.

Read our Samsung Galaxy Buds FE review.

A few more deals and discounts

The compact Elgato Stream Deck Neo has returned to its all-time low price of $84.99 ($15 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target. The macro controller offers eight LCD buttons you can program to carry out a range of tasks with the click of a button, from pausing notifications in Slack to controlling smart lights. It also comes preloaded with some common actions while offering a pair of capacitive buttons so you can easily cycle through a number of macro pages.
Amazon is offering existing subscribers 12 months of Kindle Unlimited for the price of 10 through September 15th in honor of the service’s 10th anniversary. One month typically costs $11.99, so that equates to a savings of $23.98. New customers, meanwhile, can get three months for the price of one, which also equates to $23.98 in savings. The subscriptions grant subscribers access to millions of ebooks as well as audiobooks, comics, and magazines.
Jabra no longer makes consumer earbuds, but you can still buy the latest version of Jabra’s Elite 8 Active on sale for their all-time low price of $179.99 ($50 off) from Amazon. The earbuds come with a LE Audio charging case, which allows you to connect the buds to external devices like treadmills, in-flight video screens, and even portable handheld consoles like the Nintendo Switch. The buds also continue to retain a durable IP68 dust and water resistance rating along with improved sound and noise cancellation.

The Galaxy Buds FE remain a good option if you don’t like the new open-style Galaxy Buds 3. | Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge

Samsung’s new Galaxy Buds 3 are nice and all, but that open-ear design and $180 price tag isn’t for everybody. If you prefer a pair of buds with a more traditional in-ear design that costs significantly less, the Samsung Galaxy Buds FE are still a good buy and are available for just $61.99 ($38 off) at Woot. That’s their best price yet and a deal that’ll last until September 14th at 12:59AM ET or while supplies last.

The wireless earbuds deliver an excellent set of features for their price. Their active noise cancellation particularly impressed us, but the buds also offer reliable performance and good sound quality. Plus, unlike the open-style Galaxy Buds 3, they feature a wing tip design that could provide for a more secure fit depending on your ear shape. The Galaxy Buds 3 offer far more robust water resistance as well as wireless charging, and the Galaxy Buds FE can’t rival the Pro models in noise cancellation and sound. But if you’re embedded in Samsung’s ecosystem and prioritize price, you probably won’t mind these tradeoffs.

Read our Samsung Galaxy Buds FE review.

A few more deals and discounts

The compact Elgato Stream Deck Neo has returned to its all-time low price of $84.99 ($15 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target. The macro controller offers eight LCD buttons you can program to carry out a range of tasks with the click of a button, from pausing notifications in Slack to controlling smart lights. It also comes preloaded with some common actions while offering a pair of capacitive buttons so you can easily cycle through a number of macro pages.
Amazon is offering existing subscribers 12 months of Kindle Unlimited for the price of 10 through September 15th in honor of the service’s 10th anniversary. One month typically costs $11.99, so that equates to a savings of $23.98. New customers, meanwhile, can get three months for the price of one, which also equates to $23.98 in savings. The subscriptions grant subscribers access to millions of ebooks as well as audiobooks, comics, and magazines.
Jabra no longer makes consumer earbuds, but you can still buy the latest version of Jabra’s Elite 8 Active on sale for their all-time low price of $179.99 ($50 off) from Amazon. The earbuds come with a LE Audio charging case, which allows you to connect the buds to external devices like treadmills, in-flight video screens, and even portable handheld consoles like the Nintendo Switch. The buds also continue to retain a durable IP68 dust and water resistance rating along with improved sound and noise cancellation.

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The feature is starting to roll out globally this week. | Illustration: Alex Castro / The Verge

YouTube is rolling out its new supervision feature globally this week that enables parents and guardians to link their accounts to the accounts of their teenage children. Doing so, according to YouTube, will help parents be more aware of their teen’s activity and encourage safe practices around content creation on the platform. Google first teased the feature last month.
The accounts can be linked within YouTube’s Family Center, allowing parents to see shared insights such as subscriptions, comments, and how many uploads their child has made. Email notifications will also be sent out to both linked accounts to flag notable activity, such as when the teen uploads a new video or starts a livestream.

Gif: YouTube
Here’s a quick run-through showing how to set up the account linking feature.

YouTube calls this the “first iteration” that builds on existing supervision tools for preteens’ accounts and that additional features may be added to provide further insights into teenagers’ activity. YouTube also says the feature provides “mutual control” — meaning teens or parents will both have the ability to turn off supervision at any time.

The feature is starting to roll out globally this week. | Illustration: Alex Castro / The Verge

YouTube is rolling out its new supervision feature globally this week that enables parents and guardians to link their accounts to the accounts of their teenage children. Doing so, according to YouTube, will help parents be more aware of their teen’s activity and encourage safe practices around content creation on the platform. Google first teased the feature last month.

The accounts can be linked within YouTube’s Family Center, allowing parents to see shared insights such as subscriptions, comments, and how many uploads their child has made. Email notifications will also be sent out to both linked accounts to flag notable activity, such as when the teen uploads a new video or starts a livestream.

Gif: YouTube
Here’s a quick run-through showing how to set up the account linking feature.

YouTube calls this the “first iteration” that builds on existing supervision tools for preteens’ accounts and that additional features may be added to provide further insights into teenagers’ activity. YouTube also says the feature provides “mutual control” — meaning teens or parents will both have the ability to turn off supervision at any time.

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Thread Group has announced the release of Thread 1.4 spec. | Illustration by Grayson Blackmon / The Verge

Thread 1.4 has officially been released, bringing much-needed fixes for the nascent smart home protocol. Chief among these is a solution to the problem of Thread border router interoperability. The new spec also enables better connectivity by leveraging Wi-Fi and ethernet alongside Thread, makes it easier to see what’s going on in your Thread network to simplify troubleshooting, and allows manufacturers to connect devices directly to the internet.
These updates were announced at CES earlier this year, and today, Thread Group is launching the Thread 1.4 specification and certification program. This means manufacturers can start to implement the upgrades to the spec into their devices.
However, the certification process will take some time, and then devices need to be updated — so we probably won’t see the benefits of these updates in our homes until the beginning of next year. “My hope is that by CES, we’ll see support for Thread 1.4 and border routers,” Sujata Neidig, vice president of marketing for Thread and director of marketing at NXP, told The Verge.

A low-power, mesh networking IP-based protocol design for IOT, Thread was developed over a decade ago. Both Google (Nest) and Apple have used it in their smart home ecosystems for several years, but it has recently gained broader attention as one of two wireless protocols used by the new smart home standard Matter.
Thread is the communication layer, and it requires an application layer on top — Apple’s HomeKit over Thread, Google’s Weave over Thread, and Matter over Thread. Despite its reputation for low latency and excellent battery life, the deployment of Matter over Thread has stumbled since Matter’s launch two years ago. Compatibility issues have frustrated users who were promised that Matter devices would “just work.” Additionally, I’ve heard from multiple manufacturers about issues optimizing Thread connectivity on their devices when using Matter.
While Google and Apple have closed ecosystems for their Thread products, Matter comprises multiple devices, platforms, and apps. This broader landscape has caused confusion for both users and manufacturers of Thread devices, and Thread Group acknowledges the protocol has had some growing pains.
The fixes coming with 1.4 are based on learnings from this larger deployment. “Thread 1.4 represents our first strategic response to real-world use cases,” said Vividh Siddha, president of Thread Group and director of software engineering at Apple.
I covered the changes earlier this year, but I spoke with Thread Group ahead of the launch this week to get more details on four of the key updates.

Photo by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy / The Verge
Thread uses border routers — like this Echo Show 10, Apple HomePod, and Google Nest Hub — to connect devices like these smart plugs to the internet.

Credential-sharing is being standardized
Thread doesn’t currently provide a standard way for Thread devices and border routers to join an existing Thread network. Some companies have worked together to solve for this; others haven’t. With 1.4, the spec will mandate how Thread devices connect to a network.
This means that when you add a new Thread border router it should join your existing Thread network, no matter which manufacturer it’s from. Previously, it may have set up its own network, which could cause problems.
Credential sharing also makes connecting to your network easier for Thread devices. Now, devices such as smart bulbs and sensors should connect to any Thread border router rather than insisting on connecting with one from the smart home platform you’re setting it up with.
For example, prior to 1.4, someone who bought a Nanoleaf Thread bulb and set it up with Google Home but only had an Amazon Eero device as their border router would have this issue. With 1.4, this setup scenario should work. “There is a fairly significant amount of users running into this issue — especially first-time smart home users, who are the ones we want to please from the get-go,” Jonathan Hui, vice president of technology for Thread and principal software engineer at Google, told me.
For those with larger smart homes, credential sharing across border routers should also mean you can create a larger Thread network. However, Hui says that 1.4 does not bring a fix for merging multiple existing networks. It will only help for setting up new border routers. Currently, the only solution for existing networks is to factory reset each device and set them up from scratch.
Cloud on
Thread border Routers are getting “a defined standard path to the internet,” allowing device manufacturers to enable a direct connection to the cloud on their devices if they choose. A connection to the internet is already part of the spec for border routers but is optional; 1.4 makes this a requirement, giving device manufacturers the option of a cloud connection for their devices no matter which border router the customer uses.
While this sounds like a backward move for the local, smart home standard Matter, Hui emphasizes it is optional for manufacturers. Plus, if a manufacturer does choose to enable it, consumers can turn it off at the network level. “The spec requires border router vendors to give capability to the users to disable this functionality,” he says.
A device with a direct cloud connection does have benefits, including remote access, support for certain features like weather access, and — importantly — software updates. Matter is supposed to allow software through your smart home platform, but so far, that has been “challenging,” says Hui.
Sharing is caring
While Thread adoption has accelerated rapidly thanks to the proliferation of Thread-enabled smart speakers, it’s still not widespread. Today, most people using it will likely only have a single Thread border router and one or two devices.
To help improve reliability and range, 1.4 adds the ability for border routers to use Wi-Fi and ethernet connections, in addition to their Thread network connections. This should help with onboarding devices, moving devices around your home without losing connectivity, and reaching devices in far corners of your home.
Thread troubleshooting gets more transparent
Thread 1.4 should make it easier for users (and manufacturers) to see their Thread network and troubleshoot issues by allowing Thread devices to communicate their network configuration and status data. Thread Group isn’t releasing a Thread troubleshooting app, but the tools are now there to allow manufacturers to build better network management tools into their own apps.
“This is enabling Thread devices to report data about themselves that can be used by manufacturers within their apps to better understand the status of that device in the overall network,” says Neidig. Unlike the proprietary tools created by companies like Nanoleaf and Eve, this update should make seeing all the devices on your network easier.
The improvements coming with 1.4 could significantly enhance the experience of using Thread devices — which, as the first dedicated smart home protocol, holds a lot of promise but hasn’t fully delivered. However, it will require all the manufacturers to get on board — and quickly.
The slow rollout of Thread 1.3 — especially by border router manufacturers — caused some device makers and users to take a step back from the protocol. These fixes are designed to smooth out those bumps, but whether they’ll arrive soon enough and be robust enough to keep us on track for the smarter smart home we’ve all been promised remains to be seen.

Thread Group has announced the release of Thread 1.4 spec. | Illustration by Grayson Blackmon / The Verge

Thread 1.4 has officially been released, bringing much-needed fixes for the nascent smart home protocol. Chief among these is a solution to the problem of Thread border router interoperability. The new spec also enables better connectivity by leveraging Wi-Fi and ethernet alongside Thread, makes it easier to see what’s going on in your Thread network to simplify troubleshooting, and allows manufacturers to connect devices directly to the internet.

These updates were announced at CES earlier this year, and today, Thread Group is launching the Thread 1.4 specification and certification program. This means manufacturers can start to implement the upgrades to the spec into their devices.

However, the certification process will take some time, and then devices need to be updated — so we probably won’t see the benefits of these updates in our homes until the beginning of next year. “My hope is that by CES, we’ll see support for Thread 1.4 and border routers,” Sujata Neidig, vice president of marketing for Thread and director of marketing at NXP, told The Verge.

A low-power, mesh networking IP-based protocol design for IOT, Thread was developed over a decade ago. Both Google (Nest) and Apple have used it in their smart home ecosystems for several years, but it has recently gained broader attention as one of two wireless protocols used by the new smart home standard Matter.

Thread is the communication layer, and it requires an application layer on top — Apple’s HomeKit over Thread, Google’s Weave over Thread, and Matter over Thread. Despite its reputation for low latency and excellent battery life, the deployment of Matter over Thread has stumbled since Matter’s launch two years ago. Compatibility issues have frustrated users who were promised that Matter devices would “just work.” Additionally, I’ve heard from multiple manufacturers about issues optimizing Thread connectivity on their devices when using Matter.

While Google and Apple have closed ecosystems for their Thread products, Matter comprises multiple devices, platforms, and apps. This broader landscape has caused confusion for both users and manufacturers of Thread devices, and Thread Group acknowledges the protocol has had some growing pains.

The fixes coming with 1.4 are based on learnings from this larger deployment. “Thread 1.4 represents our first strategic response to real-world use cases,” said Vividh Siddha, president of Thread Group and director of software engineering at Apple.

I covered the changes earlier this year, but I spoke with Thread Group ahead of the launch this week to get more details on four of the key updates.

Photo by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy / The Verge
Thread uses border routers — like this Echo Show 10, Apple HomePod, and Google Nest Hub — to connect devices like these smart plugs to the internet.

Credential-sharing is being standardized

Thread doesn’t currently provide a standard way for Thread devices and border routers to join an existing Thread network. Some companies have worked together to solve for this; others haven’t. With 1.4, the spec will mandate how Thread devices connect to a network.

This means that when you add a new Thread border router it should join your existing Thread network, no matter which manufacturer it’s from. Previously, it may have set up its own network, which could cause problems.

Credential sharing also makes connecting to your network easier for Thread devices. Now, devices such as smart bulbs and sensors should connect to any Thread border router rather than insisting on connecting with one from the smart home platform you’re setting it up with.

For example, prior to 1.4, someone who bought a Nanoleaf Thread bulb and set it up with Google Home but only had an Amazon Eero device as their border router would have this issue. With 1.4, this setup scenario should work. “There is a fairly significant amount of users running into this issue — especially first-time smart home users, who are the ones we want to please from the get-go,” Jonathan Hui, vice president of technology for Thread and principal software engineer at Google, told me.

For those with larger smart homes, credential sharing across border routers should also mean you can create a larger Thread network. However, Hui says that 1.4 does not bring a fix for merging multiple existing networks. It will only help for setting up new border routers. Currently, the only solution for existing networks is to factory reset each device and set them up from scratch.

Cloud on

Thread border Routers are getting “a defined standard path to the internet,” allowing device manufacturers to enable a direct connection to the cloud on their devices if they choose. A connection to the internet is already part of the spec for border routers but is optional; 1.4 makes this a requirement, giving device manufacturers the option of a cloud connection for their devices no matter which border router the customer uses.

While this sounds like a backward move for the local, smart home standard Matter, Hui emphasizes it is optional for manufacturers. Plus, if a manufacturer does choose to enable it, consumers can turn it off at the network level. “The spec requires border router vendors to give capability to the users to disable this functionality,” he says.

A device with a direct cloud connection does have benefits, including remote access, support for certain features like weather access, and — importantly — software updates. Matter is supposed to allow software through your smart home platform, but so far, that has been “challenging,” says Hui.

Sharing is caring

While Thread adoption has accelerated rapidly thanks to the proliferation of Thread-enabled smart speakers, it’s still not widespread. Today, most people using it will likely only have a single Thread border router and one or two devices.

To help improve reliability and range, 1.4 adds the ability for border routers to use Wi-Fi and ethernet connections, in addition to their Thread network connections. This should help with onboarding devices, moving devices around your home without losing connectivity, and reaching devices in far corners of your home.

Thread troubleshooting gets more transparent

Thread 1.4 should make it easier for users (and manufacturers) to see their Thread network and troubleshoot issues by allowing Thread devices to communicate their network configuration and status data. Thread Group isn’t releasing a Thread troubleshooting app, but the tools are now there to allow manufacturers to build better network management tools into their own apps.

“This is enabling Thread devices to report data about themselves that can be used by manufacturers within their apps to better understand the status of that device in the overall network,” says Neidig. Unlike the proprietary tools created by companies like Nanoleaf and Eve, this update should make seeing all the devices on your network easier.

The improvements coming with 1.4 could significantly enhance the experience of using Thread devices — which, as the first dedicated smart home protocol, holds a lot of promise but hasn’t fully delivered. However, it will require all the manufacturers to get on board — and quickly.

The slow rollout of Thread 1.3 — especially by border router manufacturers — caused some device makers and users to take a step back from the protocol. These fixes are designed to smooth out those bumps, but whether they’ll arrive soon enough and be robust enough to keep us on track for the smarter smart home we’ve all been promised remains to be seen.

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Panasonic returns to the US market with a pair of OLED TVs plus a Mini LED model. | Image: Panasonic

Panasonic’s TVs are returning to the US, starting with a small lineup that includes both OLED and Mini LED models. The company stopped selling its TVs in the US in 2016, three years after ending production of its well-regarded plasma screens. The company is now bringing its TVs back to meet the demands of “consumers seeking the highest possible picture quality.”
Three models are now available in the US: 55- and 65-inch OLED options and a Mini LED TV that goes up to 85 inches for those wanting to go big. Panasonic already sells them internationally with “minor regional differences,” but in the US, they will continue to run Amazon’s Fire TV OS.

Image: Panasonic
The Panasonic Z95A OLED TV is only available in a 65-inch model.

The flagship model is the Panasonic Z95A OLED 4K TV, and it’s only available in a 65-inch size for $3,199.99. It features an OLED panel from LG that’s been upgraded by Panasonic with a Micro Lens Array and a “multi-layer heat management configuration” to boost its brightness. It supports refresh rates up to 144Hz and multiple HDR video formats, including Dolby Vision and HDR10 Plus, as well as HDR10 Plus Adaptive and Dolby Vision IQ, which optimize the picture based on the brightness in the room.
The Z95A may appeal most to those without dedicated sound bars or surround sound setups. The company leveraged its Technics audio brand to tune the TV, which features speakers that fire forward, upward, and to the sides, in addition to a built-in subwoofer. Using software tricks, you can even direct the TV’s audio to a specific spot in the room.

The Z95A originally debuted at CES 2024 in January and was recently reviewed by Vincent Teoh of the YouTube channel HDTVTest, who calls it one of the best OLED TVs you can buy in 2024 thanks to its color accuracy, shadow detailing, and extensive support for the most popular HDR formats.

Image: Panasonic
The Panasonic Z85A OLED TV is available in 55- and 65-inch options.

The Panasonic Z85A OLED 4K TV is a step down from the Z95A. It lacks the flagship’s elaborate speaker array and Technics audio tuning, as well as the Micro Lens Array to boost panel brightness. Its refresh rate is also limited to 120Hz, but it does offer the same HDR modes as the Z95A, including automatic picture adjustment capabilities, and stereo speakers paired with a single subwoofer.
The Z85A is now available in the US market in two sizes: 55 inches for $1,599.99 or 65 inches for $1,799.99 — a whole $1,400 cheaper than the 65-inch Z95A. It could be an option for Panasonic fans on a budget or those prioritizing privacy because, as Wired points out, the Z85A doesn’t have an always-listening microphone for Alexa and Fire TV.

Image: Panasonic
The Panasonic W95A Mini LED TV is available in 55, 65, 75, and 85 inch options.

The Panasonic W95A Mini LED 4K TV is available in four sizes that range in price from $1,299.99 for a 55-inch model to $2,999.99 for 85 inches. It offers all the same HDR picture modes as Panasonic’s OLED offerings with a refresh rate of up to 144Hz and the company’s Local Dimming Ultra technology to maximize contrast. It features the same speaker configuration as the Z85A OLED TV, with access to Alexa voice commands only available through a button press on the remote.

Panasonic returns to the US market with a pair of OLED TVs plus a Mini LED model. | Image: Panasonic

Panasonic’s TVs are returning to the US, starting with a small lineup that includes both OLED and Mini LED models. The company stopped selling its TVs in the US in 2016, three years after ending production of its well-regarded plasma screens. The company is now bringing its TVs back to meet the demands of “consumers seeking the highest possible picture quality.”

Three models are now available in the US: 55- and 65-inch OLED options and a Mini LED TV that goes up to 85 inches for those wanting to go big. Panasonic already sells them internationally with “minor regional differences,” but in the US, they will continue to run Amazon’s Fire TV OS.

Image: Panasonic
The Panasonic Z95A OLED TV is only available in a 65-inch model.

The flagship model is the Panasonic Z95A OLED 4K TV, and it’s only available in a 65-inch size for $3,199.99. It features an OLED panel from LG that’s been upgraded by Panasonic with a Micro Lens Array and a “multi-layer heat management configuration” to boost its brightness. It supports refresh rates up to 144Hz and multiple HDR video formats, including Dolby Vision and HDR10 Plus, as well as HDR10 Plus Adaptive and Dolby Vision IQ, which optimize the picture based on the brightness in the room.

The Z95A may appeal most to those without dedicated sound bars or surround sound setups. The company leveraged its Technics audio brand to tune the TV, which features speakers that fire forward, upward, and to the sides, in addition to a built-in subwoofer. Using software tricks, you can even direct the TV’s audio to a specific spot in the room.

The Z95A originally debuted at CES 2024 in January and was recently reviewed by Vincent Teoh of the YouTube channel HDTVTest, who calls it one of the best OLED TVs you can buy in 2024 thanks to its color accuracy, shadow detailing, and extensive support for the most popular HDR formats.

Image: Panasonic
The Panasonic Z85A OLED TV is available in 55- and 65-inch options.

The Panasonic Z85A OLED 4K TV is a step down from the Z95A. It lacks the flagship’s elaborate speaker array and Technics audio tuning, as well as the Micro Lens Array to boost panel brightness. Its refresh rate is also limited to 120Hz, but it does offer the same HDR modes as the Z95A, including automatic picture adjustment capabilities, and stereo speakers paired with a single subwoofer.

The Z85A is now available in the US market in two sizes: 55 inches for $1,599.99 or 65 inches for $1,799.99 — a whole $1,400 cheaper than the 65-inch Z95A. It could be an option for Panasonic fans on a budget or those prioritizing privacy because, as Wired points out, the Z85A doesn’t have an always-listening microphone for Alexa and Fire TV.

Image: Panasonic
The Panasonic W95A Mini LED TV is available in 55, 65, 75, and 85 inch options.

The Panasonic W95A Mini LED 4K TV is available in four sizes that range in price from $1,299.99 for a 55-inch model to $2,999.99 for 85 inches. It offers all the same HDR picture modes as Panasonic’s OLED offerings with a refresh rate of up to 144Hz and the company’s Local Dimming Ultra technology to maximize contrast. It features the same speaker configuration as the Z85A OLED TV, with access to Alexa voice commands only available through a button press on the remote.

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The pop-out controller doubles as a trackpad when docked. | Image: Acer

Out of all the new laptops Acer announced at IFA today, Project DualPlay pops out the most. It’s a concept laptop that Acer says gives gamers more ways to play on the go, but looking at the design, I’m not sure which gamers it’s talking about.
For Project DualPlay, Acer took its Predator gaming laptop and added a cutout beneath the keyboard to hold its custom gaming controller face-down. The back of the controller doubles as the laptop’s trackpad. A button at the top of the keyboard releases the controller and causes two 5W speakers to pop out from the sides of the laptop. The controller can be further separated into two gamepads, Nintendo Switch-style.
Acer’s press release says Project DualPlay lets a second person join you just as easily as detaching the controller. Street Fighter 6 is called out specifically as well as first-person shooters, though the latter only makes sense if the game supports split-screen play. You can also just use it for single-player games, of course.

Image: Acer
Acer’s Project DualPlay gaming laptop concept.

Unfortunately, we didn’t get to see Acer’s concept in person at IFA, so that leaves me with a few questions. Mostly: is the controller any good? If a second person is using the controller, how pleasant is it to game on a laptop with a gaping hole where the trackpad should be?
None of the press photos show someone using the laptop with the controller removed.
Plenty of PC games have controller support, and many people prefer using a controller over a mouse and keyboard. So there’s something to be said for having a controller that fits right into your laptop rather than having to cart one around.
Project DualPlay is just a concept for now. But how much extra would you pay for a laptop with the controller built right in?

The pop-out controller doubles as a trackpad when docked. | Image: Acer

Out of all the new laptops Acer announced at IFA today, Project DualPlay pops out the most. It’s a concept laptop that Acer says gives gamers more ways to play on the go, but looking at the design, I’m not sure which gamers it’s talking about.

For Project DualPlay, Acer took its Predator gaming laptop and added a cutout beneath the keyboard to hold its custom gaming controller face-down. The back of the controller doubles as the laptop’s trackpad. A button at the top of the keyboard releases the controller and causes two 5W speakers to pop out from the sides of the laptop. The controller can be further separated into two gamepads, Nintendo Switch-style.

Acer’s press release says Project DualPlay lets a second person join you just as easily as detaching the controller. Street Fighter 6 is called out specifically as well as first-person shooters, though the latter only makes sense if the game supports split-screen play. You can also just use it for single-player games, of course.

Image: Acer
Acer’s Project DualPlay gaming laptop concept.

Unfortunately, we didn’t get to see Acer’s concept in person at IFA, so that leaves me with a few questions. Mostly: is the controller any good? If a second person is using the controller, how pleasant is it to game on a laptop with a gaping hole where the trackpad should be?

None of the press photos show someone using the laptop with the controller removed.

Plenty of PC games have controller support, and many people prefer using a controller over a mouse and keyboard. So there’s something to be said for having a controller that fits right into your laptop rather than having to cart one around.

Project DualPlay is just a concept for now. But how much extra would you pay for a laptop with the controller built right in?

Read More