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

When video game scholars want to study games that are no longer on sale, they sometimes have to drive many hours to do it legally — and that won’t be changing anytime soon. The US Copyright Office has just denied a request from video game preservationists to let libraries, archives and museums temporarily lend individuals some virtual, remotely accessible copies of those works.
Kendra Albert, who made the argument on behalf of the Software Preservation Network and the Library Copyright Alliance, says preservationists weren’t asking for a lot: “It was the thing that basically exists for all kinds of special collections in libraries: the library reviews the request, makes sure it’s not harmful, and allows access to the work.”
While the Copyright Office already lets institutions lend out other forms of media and even software programs remotely — so long as they don’t lend out more copies than they own — video games are still treated differently as of today.
“It’s frustrating that the process that’s widely used to access all sorts of different materials is not good enough for video games,” Albert tells The Verge.

Opponents, most prominently the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) which represents video game publishers, argued that people would take advantage of libraries to play games for free, that they would damage the market for classic video games, and that preservationists didn’t have “appropriately tailored restrictions to ensure that uses would be limited to teaching, research, or scholarship uses.”
While the preservationists extensively argued that the vast, vast majority of games are never re-released in any form, and that those that do are typically changed or remastered in ways that make them less valuable for study, the Librarian of Congress wasn’t convinced, concluding:
The Register concludes that proponents did not show that […] permitting off-premises access to video games are likely to be noninfringing. She also notes the greater risk of market harm with removing the video game exemption’s premises limitation, given the market for legacy video games.
“I’m gutted by this result,” Albert wrote on Bluesky, adding that it seemed the Copyright Office didn’t bother to consider evidence from some video game publishers — who testified that granting limited remote access wouldn’t impact the market for their video game re-releases.
If the Copyright Office had granted the request, it wouldn’t have been a permanent change. Every three years, groups get a chance to lobby the Library of Congress for very specific exemptions to section 1201 of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, and those exemptions have to be renewed every three years.
The Copyright Office did renew the exemption that lets libraries and institutions preserve video games to begin with, and lets individuals play them in person. It also granted an exemption that should finally make it legal to repair busted McDonalds ice cream machines.
Here is the actual proposed DMCA exemption that game preservationists asked for:

Video games in the form of computer programs embodied in physical or downloaded formats that have been lawfully acquired as complete games, that do not require access to an external computer server for gameplay, and that are no longer reasonably available in the commercial marketplace, solely for the purpose of preservation of the game in a playable form by an eligible library, archives, or museum, where such activities are carried out without any purpose of direct or indirect commercial advantage.
Any electronic distribution, display, or performance made outside of the physical premises of an eligible library, archives, or museum of works preserved under this paragraph may be made only for a limited time and after the eligible institution acts to ensure that users seeking off-premises access to works are doing so primarily for the purposes of private study, scholarship, teaching, or research by: 1) specifically determining that the user’s interest is private study, scholarship, teaching, or research, 2) instituting access restrictions appropriate to the nature of the use and the material, and 3) notifying users that they are receiving access to copyrighted material subject to adherence with applicable laws.

Here’s the ESA’s statement on its victory:
We recognize the importance of preserving video games and protecting game hardware given their significance in culture and society. With today’s decision, the U.S. Copyright Office confirms that the current level of video game preservation is appropriate and recognizes that video games present unique copyright concerns that should always be taken into consideration. We thank the Library of Congress and the Copyright Office for supporting existing copyright protection, which is critical to increasing access to and inspiring new video game experiences for players, while also protecting artists and their creative works.
And, here’s the relevant section of the Copyright Office’s final rule today.

Page 28 of Exemption to Prohibition on Circumvention of Copyright Protection Systems for Access Control Technologies

Contributed to DocumentCloud by The Verge (Vox.com) • View document or read text

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

When video game scholars want to study games that are no longer on sale, they sometimes have to drive many hours to do it legally — and that won’t be changing anytime soon. The US Copyright Office has just denied a request from video game preservationists to let libraries, archives and museums temporarily lend individuals some virtual, remotely accessible copies of those works.

Kendra Albert, who made the argument on behalf of the Software Preservation Network and the Library Copyright Alliance, says preservationists weren’t asking for a lot: “It was the thing that basically exists for all kinds of special collections in libraries: the library reviews the request, makes sure it’s not harmful, and allows access to the work.”

While the Copyright Office already lets institutions lend out other forms of media and even software programs remotely — so long as they don’t lend out more copies than they own — video games are still treated differently as of today.

“It’s frustrating that the process that’s widely used to access all sorts of different materials is not good enough for video games,” Albert tells The Verge.

Opponents, most prominently the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) which represents video game publishers, argued that people would take advantage of libraries to play games for free, that they would damage the market for classic video games, and that preservationists didn’t have “appropriately tailored restrictions to ensure that uses would be limited to teaching, research, or scholarship uses.”

While the preservationists extensively argued that the vast, vast majority of games are never re-released in any form, and that those that do are typically changed or remastered in ways that make them less valuable for study, the Librarian of Congress wasn’t convinced, concluding:

The Register concludes that proponents did not show that […] permitting off-premises access to video games are likely to be noninfringing. She also notes the greater risk of market harm with removing the video game exemption’s premises limitation, given the market for legacy video games.

“I’m gutted by this result,” Albert wrote on Bluesky, adding that it seemed the Copyright Office didn’t bother to consider evidence from some video game publishers — who testified that granting limited remote access wouldn’t impact the market for their video game re-releases.

If the Copyright Office had granted the request, it wouldn’t have been a permanent change. Every three years, groups get a chance to lobby the Library of Congress for very specific exemptions to section 1201 of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, and those exemptions have to be renewed every three years.

The Copyright Office did renew the exemption that lets libraries and institutions preserve video games to begin with, and lets individuals play them in person. It also granted an exemption that should finally make it legal to repair busted McDonalds ice cream machines.

Here is the actual proposed DMCA exemption that game preservationists asked for:

Video games in the form of computer programs embodied in physical or downloaded formats that have been lawfully acquired as complete games, that do not require access to an external computer server for gameplay, and that are no longer reasonably available in the commercial marketplace, solely for the purpose of preservation of the game in a playable form by an eligible library, archives, or museum, where such activities are carried out without any purpose of direct or indirect commercial advantage.

Any electronic distribution, display, or performance made outside of the physical premises of an eligible library, archives, or museum of works preserved under this paragraph may be made only for a limited time and after the eligible institution acts to ensure that users seeking off-premises access to works are doing so primarily for the purposes of private study, scholarship, teaching, or research by: 1) specifically determining that the user’s interest is private study, scholarship, teaching, or research, 2) instituting access restrictions appropriate to the nature of the use and the material, and 3) notifying users that they are receiving access to copyrighted material subject to adherence with applicable laws.

Here’s the ESA’s statement on its victory:

We recognize the importance of preserving video games and protecting game hardware given their significance in culture and society. With today’s decision, the U.S. Copyright Office confirms that the current level of video game preservation is appropriate and recognizes that video games present unique copyright concerns that should always be taken into consideration. We thank the Library of Congress and the Copyright Office for supporting existing copyright protection, which is critical to increasing access to and inspiring new video game experiences for players, while also protecting artists and their creative works.

And, here’s the relevant section of the Copyright Office’s final rule today.

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An Archer eVTOL. | Image: Archer

Here’s all the news on the future of flying cars that look like a cross between small airplanes and helicopters. There’s a future where we don’t need roads and regular folks like you and me can jump into a boat-sized electric pod and just fly anywhere on a whim. While we’ve been perfecting the miracle of human flight for more than a century, instant air transportation has long been relegated to science fiction.
But in the last decade, many companies have stepped up to help get flying cars and air taxis out of the Hollywood movie magic bubble. Startups like Joby Aviation and Archer are building electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft that can taxi several people around in the sky without burning nasty fuel. The air taxi dream is already passing some regulatory milestones: the FAA has now established rules.
Although these vehicles aren’t exactly the “flying cars” we’ve imagined, this is a rapidly growing new field with big established automakers like Toyota, Hyundai, Stellantis, and others either bankrolling their own ventures or one of the dozens of startups. And there’s a whole lot of drama and unpredictability in this new industry, from fighting over “stolen” patents to the companies that’ve failed to survive, like Lilium and the Larry Page-funded Kitty Hawk. Scroll down to read the latest on air taxis.

An Archer eVTOL. | Image: Archer

Here’s all the news on the future of flying cars that look like a cross between small airplanes and helicopters.

There’s a future where we don’t need roads and regular folks like you and me can jump into a boat-sized electric pod and just fly anywhere on a whim. While we’ve been perfecting the miracle of human flight for more than a century, instant air transportation has long been relegated to science fiction.

But in the last decade, many companies have stepped up to help get flying cars and air taxis out of the Hollywood movie magic bubble. Startups like Joby Aviation and Archer are building electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft that can taxi several people around in the sky without burning nasty fuel. The air taxi dream is already passing some regulatory milestones: the FAA has now established rules.

Although these vehicles aren’t exactly the “flying cars” we’ve imagined, this is a rapidly growing new field with big established automakers like Toyota, Hyundai, Stellantis, and others either bankrolling their own ventures or one of the dozens of startups. And there’s a whole lot of drama and unpredictability in this new industry, from fighting over “stolen” patents to the companies that’ve failed to survive, like Lilium and the Larry Page-funded Kitty Hawk. Scroll down to read the latest on air taxis.

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Metabolic health is a burgeoning wearable health trend. | Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge

Apple has long been rumored to be working on noninvasive blood glucose monitoring. Now, a Bloomberg report says the company tested an app that helps people with prediabetes better manage their condition.
Citing anonymous Apple sources, Bloomberg notes the app required Apple employees to validate they were prediabetic via a blood test. Employees then monitored their blood sugar using “various devices available on the market” and logged changes related to what food they were eating.

Prediabetes is a metabolic condition when blood sugar levels are higher than normal, and increases a person’s risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. And while there is no cure for diabetes, prediabetes can be reversed through diet and exercise interventions. The idea for an app like this would be to show people how different choices can impact blood sugar levels. For example, a carb-heavy meal might spike blood sugar, but pairing the same meal with protein can blunt the spike.
The report notes that the app was intended to investigate what tools Apple could develop using blood sugar data. However, Bloomberg also says that Apple has since paused work on the app to focus on other health features. Even so, it’s possible that Apple will use its findings in future health tech offerings.

Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge
Dexcom’s Stelo OTC CGM is geared toward prediabetics and Type 2 diabetics who don’t use insulin.

On a larger scale, metabolic health tracking is a burgeoning wearable trend. Earlier this year, Dexcom and Abbott both released over-the-counter CGMs that were aimed at prediabetic, non-diabetics, and Type 2 diabetics who don’t use insulin. There are also continuous glucose monitor (CGM) startups, like Nutrisense and Levels, that use CGM data to help people lose weight, fuel for endurance sports, or learn about how certain foods impact their blood sugar levels.
Given all that, it’s not surprising to hear Apple is interested in exploring this area. For starters, it’s largely shied away from native food logging while also increasing third-party CGM integrations. Apple itself has reportedly spent roughly 15 years tinkering on how to noninvasively monitor blood glucose, though that project is still likely years away from completion.

Metabolic health is a burgeoning wearable health trend. | Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge

Apple has long been rumored to be working on noninvasive blood glucose monitoring. Now, a Bloomberg report says the company tested an app that helps people with prediabetes better manage their condition.

Citing anonymous Apple sources, Bloomberg notes the app required Apple employees to validate they were prediabetic via a blood test. Employees then monitored their blood sugar using “various devices available on the market” and logged changes related to what food they were eating.

Prediabetes is a metabolic condition when blood sugar levels are higher than normal, and increases a person’s risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. And while there is no cure for diabetes, prediabetes can be reversed through diet and exercise interventions. The idea for an app like this would be to show people how different choices can impact blood sugar levels. For example, a carb-heavy meal might spike blood sugar, but pairing the same meal with protein can blunt the spike.

The report notes that the app was intended to investigate what tools Apple could develop using blood sugar data. However, Bloomberg also says that Apple has since paused work on the app to focus on other health features. Even so, it’s possible that Apple will use its findings in future health tech offerings.

Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge
Dexcom’s Stelo OTC CGM is geared toward prediabetics and Type 2 diabetics who don’t use insulin.

On a larger scale, metabolic health tracking is a burgeoning wearable trend. Earlier this year, Dexcom and Abbott both released over-the-counter CGMs that were aimed at prediabetic, non-diabetics, and Type 2 diabetics who don’t use insulin. There are also continuous glucose monitor (CGM) startups, like Nutrisense and Levels, that use CGM data to help people lose weight, fuel for endurance sports, or learn about how certain foods impact their blood sugar levels.

Given all that, it’s not surprising to hear Apple is interested in exploring this area. For starters, it’s largely shied away from native food logging while also increasing third-party CGM integrations. Apple itself has reportedly spent roughly 15 years tinkering on how to noninvasively monitor blood glucose, though that project is still likely years away from completion.

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Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos | Laura Normand / The Verge

The Washington Post’s editorial page had drafted an endorsement of Kamala Harris for president when its owner, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, intervened to cancel its publication, The Washington Post reports. In its place, The Post ran a bizarre column by its current publisher (and former Rupert Murdoch henchman) Will Lewis, saying The Post would not endorse anyone.
This is now the second American newspaper, after The Los Angeles Times, to kill a Harris endorsement at the owner’s behest
In his editorial, Lewis cited the Post’s decision not to publish an endorsement in the race between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon in 1960. Nixon would later be implicated in the Watergate scandal, which generated 69 indictments and 48 criminal convictions in one of the biggest political corruption scandals in American history.
“We recognize that this will be read in a range of ways, including as a tacit endorsement of one candidate, or as a condemnation of another, or as an abdication of responsibility,” Lewis wrote. (It is unclear who the “we” is, here. Lewis? Lewis and Bezos? Some secret third group?) “That is inevitable. We don’t see it that way. We see it as consistent with the values The Post has always stood for and what we hope for in a leader: character and courage in service to the American ethic, veneration for the rule of law, and respect for human freedom in all its aspects.”
This is now the second American newspaper, after The Los Angeles Times, to kill a Harris endorsement at the owner’s behest. Times owner Patrick Soon-Shiong similarly blocked a planned endorsement, prompting the newspaper’s editorials editor to resign in protest.
Readers are already canceling subscriptions
The Post’s union says it is “deeply concerned” that the paper would do this just 11 days before a “immensely consequential” election. “The message from our chief executive, Will Lewis — not from the Editorial Board itself — makes us concerned that management has interfered with the work of our members in Editorial.” Readers are already canceling subscriptions, the statement notes. Neoconservative scholar Robert Kagan resigned his position as editor-at-large, according to Semafor’s Max Tani.
The Washington Post, which bears the motto “Democracy Dies in Darkness,” published endorsements of candidates for Virginia’s 7th district on Oct. 13 and for senate in Maryland on Oct. 2. It has routinely published investigations into Donald Trump that allege wrongdoing and illegal behavior.
Two Washington Post board members, Charles Lane and Stephen W. Stromberg, wrote the Harris endorsement, according to The Columbia Journalism Review. David Shipley, the editorial page director, told staff the endorsement was “on track, adding that ‘this is obviously something our owner has an interest in,’” according to The CJR. Today, Shipley told the board there would be no endorsement. That was followed by Lewis’s peculiar editorial.
NPR also reported Shipley had approved and then canceled the editorial, saying that Shipley “told colleagues it was being reviewed by Bezos.” Bezos’s other companies have contracts with the American government. Among them: Amazon’s $10 billion cloud contract with the NSA and Blue Origin’s $3.4 billion contract with NASA to build a lunar lander.
“This is cowardice, a moment of darkness that will leave democracy as a casualty,” said Marty Baron, the former Washington Post executive editor, in a text message to the Post. “Donald Trump will celebrate this as an invitation to further intimidate The Post’s owner, Jeff Bezos (and other media owners). History will mark a disturbing chapter of spinelessness at an institution famed for courage.”

Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos | Laura Normand / The Verge

The Washington Post’s editorial page had drafted an endorsement of Kamala Harris for president when its owner, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, intervened to cancel its publication, The Washington Post reports. In its place, The Post ran a bizarre column by its current publisher (and former Rupert Murdoch henchman) Will Lewis, saying The Post would not endorse anyone.

In his editorial, Lewis cited the Post’s decision not to publish an endorsement in the race between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon in 1960. Nixon would later be implicated in the Watergate scandal, which generated 69 indictments and 48 criminal convictions in one of the biggest political corruption scandals in American history.

“We recognize that this will be read in a range of ways, including as a tacit endorsement of one candidate, or as a condemnation of another, or as an abdication of responsibility,” Lewis wrote. (It is unclear who the “we” is, here. Lewis? Lewis and Bezos? Some secret third group?) “That is inevitable. We don’t see it that way. We see it as consistent with the values The Post has always stood for and what we hope for in a leader: character and courage in service to the American ethic, veneration for the rule of law, and respect for human freedom in all its aspects.”

This is now the second American newspaper, after The Los Angeles Times, to kill a Harris endorsement at the owner’s behest. Times owner Patrick Soon-Shiong similarly blocked a planned endorsement, prompting the newspaper’s editorials editor to resign in protest.

The Post’s union says it is “deeply concerned” that the paper would do this just 11 days before a “immensely consequential” election. “The message from our chief executive, Will Lewis — not from the Editorial Board itself — makes us concerned that management has interfered with the work of our members in Editorial.” Readers are already canceling subscriptions, the statement notes. Neoconservative scholar Robert Kagan resigned his position as editor-at-large, according to Semafor’s Max Tani.

The Washington Post, which bears the motto “Democracy Dies in Darkness,” published endorsements of candidates for Virginia’s 7th district on Oct. 13 and for senate in Maryland on Oct. 2. It has routinely published investigations into Donald Trump that allege wrongdoing and illegal behavior.

Two Washington Post board members, Charles Lane and Stephen W. Stromberg, wrote the Harris endorsement, according to The Columbia Journalism Review. David Shipley, the editorial page director, told staff the endorsement was “on track, adding that ‘this is obviously something our owner has an interest in,’” according to The CJR. Today, Shipley told the board there would be no endorsement. That was followed by Lewis’s peculiar editorial.

NPR also reported Shipley had approved and then canceled the editorial, saying that Shipley “told colleagues it was being reviewed by Bezos.” Bezos’s other companies have contracts with the American government. Among them: Amazon’s $10 billion cloud contract with the NSA and Blue Origin’s $3.4 billion contract with NASA to build a lunar lander.

“This is cowardice, a moment of darkness that will leave democracy as a casualty,” said Marty Baron, the former Washington Post executive editor, in a text message to the Post. “Donald Trump will celebrate this as an invitation to further intimidate The Post’s owner, Jeff Bezos (and other media owners). History will mark a disturbing chapter of spinelessness at an institution famed for courage.”

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Image: Scout Motors

Read about Scout Motors’ first new vehicles since the eighties: the electric Traveler SUV and Terra pickup truck. Scout Motors, the classic off-road brand from the sixties, has been reborn as an electric vehicle company and is building a new SUV and pickup truck. The pioneering Jeep rival was brought back to life by Volkswagen in 2022 after the German automaker acquired Scout in 2020 (when it merged its commercial trucking company Traton with Navistar). VW made former Volkswagen Group America CEO Scott Keogh head of the new Scout, and said it would pump $1 billion into the company.
Two years later, Volkswagen’s new Scout has revealed two vehicles: the Traveler SUV and Terra pickup truck, which are advertised as affordable electric off-road vehicles built in the USA. One of the big selling points: more chunky mechanical buttons and fewer software controls. Oh, and an expected starting price under $60,000 before incentives.
Scout says it will start building the Traveler and Terra in late 2026, with a full production ramp in 2027. Can Scout pull off the modernized resurrection of a classic SUV and deliver it at a competitive price point compared to other electric off-roaders like Rivian’s R1S and the upcoming $45,000 R2? Does it help Scout that VW is now a significant investor in Rivian? Follow along below to find out where Scout is heading.

Image: Scout Motors

Read about Scout Motors’ first new vehicles since the eighties: the electric Traveler SUV and Terra pickup truck.

Scout Motors, the classic off-road brand from the sixties, has been reborn as an electric vehicle company and is building a new SUV and pickup truck. The pioneering Jeep rival was brought back to life by Volkswagen in 2022 after the German automaker acquired Scout in 2020 (when it merged its commercial trucking company Traton with Navistar). VW made former Volkswagen Group America CEO Scott Keogh head of the new Scout, and said it would pump $1 billion into the company.

Two years later, Volkswagen’s new Scout has revealed two vehicles: the Traveler SUV and Terra pickup truck, which are advertised as affordable electric off-road vehicles built in the USA. One of the big selling points: more chunky mechanical buttons and fewer software controls. Oh, and an expected starting price under $60,000 before incentives.

Scout says it will start building the Traveler and Terra in late 2026, with a full production ramp in 2027. Can Scout pull off the modernized resurrection of a classic SUV and deliver it at a competitive price point compared to other electric off-roaders like Rivian’s R1S and the upcoming $45,000 R2? Does it help Scout that VW is now a significant investor in Rivian? Follow along below to find out where Scout is heading.

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8BitDo’s first smartphone controller is Android-only. | Image: 8BitDo

8BitDo has announced its Ultimate Mobile Gaming Controller, the company’s first gamepad that attaches directly to smartphones and mobile devices using an expanding clamping mechanism. It’s available for preorder now for $49.99 and is expected to be released on November 29th, 2024.
The Ultimate Mobile Gaming Controller can be attached to smartphones or smaller tablet devices measuring between 100mm and 170mm in length. For expanded compatibility, instead of plugging in with USB-C, 8BitDo’s new controller connects wirelessly over Bluetooth but only supports Android devices.
The use of Bluetooth necessitates a 350mAh rechargeable battery in the controller, which 8BitDo says is enough for 15 hours of play on a 1.5-hour charge. That added battery also means the Ultimate Mobile Gaming Controller weighs 236 grams, making it heavier than competitors’ offerings like the Backbone One, which connects through a device’s charging port and weighs 138 grams.

Image: 8BitDo
The controller features Hall effect joysticks and triggers.

Like GameSir’s G8 Plus smartphone controller, 8BitDo is using drift-resistant magnetic Hall effect sensors in its joysticks and triggers so players will potentially avoid experiencing unwanted movements or button presses while gaming. The controller also features a pair of shoulder buttons, a four-way directional pad with a “clicky” feel, turbo, macro, and profile buttons, and two additional programmable paddle buttons on the back.

Image: 8BitDo
The controller is compatible with 8BitDo’s Ultimate Software allowing it to be customized and reconfigured.

Unlike some of 8BitDo’s more budget-friendly offerings, the Ultimate Mobile Gaming Controller fully supports customization through the company’s Ultimate Software, which is available as a desktop and mobile app. In addition to remapping controls, creating macros, and even setting up multiple profiles, if you’re an FPS player, you can use it to adjust the sensitivity of the controller’s triggers so they’re more immediately responsive.

8BitDo’s first smartphone controller is Android-only. | Image: 8BitDo

8BitDo has announced its Ultimate Mobile Gaming Controller, the company’s first gamepad that attaches directly to smartphones and mobile devices using an expanding clamping mechanism. It’s available for preorder now for $49.99 and is expected to be released on November 29th, 2024.

The Ultimate Mobile Gaming Controller can be attached to smartphones or smaller tablet devices measuring between 100mm and 170mm in length. For expanded compatibility, instead of plugging in with USB-C, 8BitDo’s new controller connects wirelessly over Bluetooth but only supports Android devices.

The use of Bluetooth necessitates a 350mAh rechargeable battery in the controller, which 8BitDo says is enough for 15 hours of play on a 1.5-hour charge. That added battery also means the Ultimate Mobile Gaming Controller weighs 236 grams, making it heavier than competitors’ offerings like the Backbone One, which connects through a device’s charging port and weighs 138 grams.

Image: 8BitDo
The controller features Hall effect joysticks and triggers.

Like GameSir’s G8 Plus smartphone controller, 8BitDo is using drift-resistant magnetic Hall effect sensors in its joysticks and triggers so players will potentially avoid experiencing unwanted movements or button presses while gaming. The controller also features a pair of shoulder buttons, a four-way directional pad with a “clicky” feel, turbo, macro, and profile buttons, and two additional programmable paddle buttons on the back.

Image: 8BitDo
The controller is compatible with 8BitDo’s Ultimate Software allowing it to be customized and reconfigured.

Unlike some of 8BitDo’s more budget-friendly offerings, the Ultimate Mobile Gaming Controller fully supports customization through the company’s Ultimate Software, which is available as a desktop and mobile app. In addition to remapping controls, creating macros, and even setting up multiple profiles, if you’re an FPS player, you can use it to adjust the sensitivity of the controller’s triggers so they’re more immediately responsive.

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The powerful Asus ROG Ally is $100 off, which is nearly half the price of its successor. | Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge

If you’re a gamer looking to save but can’t wait until another a month until Black Friday, it might be worth checking out Best Buy’s three-day gaming sale. Now through October 27th, the retailer’s offering discounts on gaming gear, but some of the best deals are on hardware specifically.

For example, Best Buy has some notable deals on Windows handheld consoles, like the Asus ROG Ally, which is on sale with a Z1 Extreme chip for $549.99 ($100 off) (and even cheaper at $499.99 for My Best Buy Plus and Total members). That’s $50 shy of its best price to date, and nearly half the price of its successor, the ROG Ally X. Admittedly, the ROG Ally X, offers more impressive performance and battery life, but the ROG Ally is still more powerful than Valve’s Steam Deck with a larger 1080p and 120Hz display. Alternatively, the Lenovo Legion Go is also on sale for $599.99 ($150 off) with 1TB of storage, which is one of its better prices to date. The handheld isn’t as fast or as lightweight as the ROG Ally, but it does offers a larger 8.8-inch 144Hz display so it can double as a decent Windows tablet. It also has detachable controllers and even a kickstand.
It’s not all pricey handhelds, either. Gaming accessories like Scuf’s Nomad controller have dropped to their best prices to date, selling for $79.99 ($20 off), with Amazon matching that deal too. A mobile controller for your iPhone, Scuf’s device is similar to rivals from Backbone and Razer Kishi but offers full-size, drift-free Hall effect sticks. And while the video game deals aren’t as impressive, there are a few noteworthy ones to consider, like the open-world title Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, which is down to one of its better prices to date of $29.99 ($20 off) for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.

A few more ways to save

The Ring Battery Doorbell Plus, our top battery-powered video doorbell pick, is down to an all-time low of $99.99 ($40 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target. The doorbell boasts an impressive 1536p HD video resolution as well as a head-to-toe view, allowing you to get a better view of packages and visitors. Compared to other battery doorbells we’ve tested, the Plus is also more responsive. Other handy features include color night vision, live view, and two-way audio, though you’ll need to pay $4.99 subscription fee for other perks like recorded video and alerts for packages.
You can purchase a refurbished iRobot Roomba i4 Evo on sale from eBay for $129.99 when you apply the code HOLIDAYCHEER at checkout, which costs $320 less than buying it new. The Roomba i4 Evo is the upgraded version of our favorite budget-friendly robot vacuum, the Roomba i3. Aside from offering a bigger battery, it’s otherwise identical and capable of mapping and cleaning your house just as well as the pricier, more capable Roomba j7. Bear in mind it lacks AI-powered obstacle avoidance and you can’t set virtual keep-out zones, but those are fair trade-offs at this price.

Samsung’s Galaxy SmartTag2 starts at $21.22 ($9 off) at Amazon, which is a little over $1 shy of its best price to date, while Best Buy has the device for $22.49. The ultra wideband tracker works with Samsung’s Galaxy Find network, making it a particularly great option for Samsung device owners looking to keeps tabs of their belongings. Unlike its predecessor, it also offers a more robust IP67 water and dust resistance rating and a user-replaceable battery capable of lasting up to 700 days.

The powerful Asus ROG Ally is $100 off, which is nearly half the price of its successor. | Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge

If you’re a gamer looking to save but can’t wait until another a month until Black Friday, it might be worth checking out Best Buy’s three-day gaming sale. Now through October 27th, the retailer’s offering discounts on gaming gear, but some of the best deals are on hardware specifically.

For example, Best Buy has some notable deals on Windows handheld consoles, like the Asus ROG Ally, which is on sale with a Z1 Extreme chip for $549.99 ($100 off) (and even cheaper at $499.99 for My Best Buy Plus and Total members). That’s $50 shy of its best price to date, and nearly half the price of its successor, the ROG Ally X. Admittedly, the ROG Ally X, offers more impressive performance and battery life, but the ROG Ally is still more powerful than Valve’s Steam Deck with a larger 1080p and 120Hz display. Alternatively, the Lenovo Legion Go is also on sale for $599.99 ($150 off) with 1TB of storage, which is one of its better prices to date. The handheld isn’t as fast or as lightweight as the ROG Ally, but it does offers a larger 8.8-inch 144Hz display so it can double as a decent Windows tablet. It also has detachable controllers and even a kickstand.

It’s not all pricey handhelds, either. Gaming accessories like Scuf’s Nomad controller have dropped to their best prices to date, selling for $79.99 ($20 off), with Amazon matching that deal too. A mobile controller for your iPhone, Scuf’s device is similar to rivals from Backbone and Razer Kishi but offers full-size, drift-free Hall effect sticks. And while the video game deals aren’t as impressive, there are a few noteworthy ones to consider, like the open-world title Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, which is down to one of its better prices to date of $29.99 ($20 off) for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.

A few more ways to save

The Ring Battery Doorbell Plus, our top battery-powered video doorbell pick, is down to an all-time low of $99.99 ($40 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target. The doorbell boasts an impressive 1536p HD video resolution as well as a head-to-toe view, allowing you to get a better view of packages and visitors. Compared to other battery doorbells we’ve tested, the Plus is also more responsive. Other handy features include color night vision, live view, and two-way audio, though you’ll need to pay $4.99 subscription fee for other perks like recorded video and alerts for packages.
You can purchase a refurbished iRobot Roomba i4 Evo on sale from eBay for $129.99 when you apply the code HOLIDAYCHEER at checkout, which costs $320 less than buying it new. The Roomba i4 Evo is the upgraded version of our favorite budget-friendly robot vacuum, the Roomba i3. Aside from offering a bigger battery, it’s otherwise identical and capable of mapping and cleaning your house just as well as the pricier, more capable Roomba j7. Bear in mind it lacks AI-powered obstacle avoidance and you can’t set virtual keep-out zones, but those are fair trade-offs at this price.

Samsung’s Galaxy SmartTag2 starts at $21.22 ($9 off) at Amazon, which is a little over $1 shy of its best price to date, while Best Buy has the device for $22.49. The ultra wideband tracker works with Samsung’s Galaxy Find network, making it a particularly great option for Samsung device owners looking to keeps tabs of their belongings. Unlike its predecessor, it also offers a more robust IP67 water and dust resistance rating and a user-replaceable battery capable of lasting up to 700 days.

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Photo by Gerald Matzka/picture alliance via Getty Images

McDonald’s always-broken ice cream machines might finally get easier to fix. That’s because the US Copyright Office granted an exemption allowing third parties to diagnose and repair commercial equipment — including the ones that make your McFlurries.
Now, franchise owners will be able to break through the digital locks that have blocked them from repairing McDonald’s ice cream machines for years. According to the Copyright Office, the exemption will allow people to diagnose, perform maintenance, and repair “retail-level commercial food preparation equipment.” McDonald’s ice cream machines have become so notorious for breaking that someone even created a tool to track broken machines.
The decision is part of the Copyright Office’s final rule granting exemptions to Section 1201 of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). This exemption-making process happens every three years and is supposed to ensure that the DMCA doesn’t negatively impact people trying to use copyrighted material.
If you’re wondering what copyright law has to do with McDonald’s ice cream machines, it’s because the law prevents anyone other than the manufacturer, Taylor, from bypassing its software locks. After performing a teardown of the machine last year, iFixit teamed up with Public Knowledge to file for an exemption, which the Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice supported.
The Copyright Office’s decision doesn’t fully cover Public Knowledge and iFixit’s request for an exemption covering a wider range of commercial and industrial equipment, but at least it will address McDonald’s faulty ice cream machines. “There’s nothing vanilla about this victory; an exemption for retail-level commercial food preparation equipment will spark a flurry of third-party repair activity and enable businesses to better serve their customer,” Meredith Rose, Public Knowledge’s senior policy counsel, said in a press release.
The new exemption will officially go into effect on October 28th and might offer some peace of mind the next time you’re waiting to order a McFlurry at a McDonald’s drive-thru.

Photo by Gerald Matzka/picture alliance via Getty Images

McDonald’s always-broken ice cream machines might finally get easier to fix. That’s because the US Copyright Office granted an exemption allowing third parties to diagnose and repair commercial equipment — including the ones that make your McFlurries.

Now, franchise owners will be able to break through the digital locks that have blocked them from repairing McDonald’s ice cream machines for years. According to the Copyright Office, the exemption will allow people to diagnose, perform maintenance, and repair “retail-level commercial food preparation equipment.” McDonald’s ice cream machines have become so notorious for breaking that someone even created a tool to track broken machines.

The decision is part of the Copyright Office’s final rule granting exemptions to Section 1201 of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). This exemption-making process happens every three years and is supposed to ensure that the DMCA doesn’t negatively impact people trying to use copyrighted material.

If you’re wondering what copyright law has to do with McDonald’s ice cream machines, it’s because the law prevents anyone other than the manufacturer, Taylor, from bypassing its software locks. After performing a teardown of the machine last year, iFixit teamed up with Public Knowledge to file for an exemption, which the Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice supported.

The Copyright Office’s decision doesn’t fully cover Public Knowledge and iFixit’s request for an exemption covering a wider range of commercial and industrial equipment, but at least it will address McDonald’s faulty ice cream machines. “There’s nothing vanilla about this victory; an exemption for retail-level commercial food preparation equipment will spark a flurry of third-party repair activity and enable businesses to better serve their customer,” Meredith Rose, Public Knowledge’s senior policy counsel, said in a press release.

The new exemption will officially go into effect on October 28th and might offer some peace of mind the next time you’re waiting to order a McFlurry at a McDonald’s drive-thru.

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Photo by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Everything you need to know about games from The New York Times, Apple, and even LinkedIn. There’s a lot of interest in daily puzzle games right now. The New York Times has a great collection of games like its crossword, Wordle, Connections, and Strands. Apple is in the mix with crosswords and more in Apple News Plus. Zach Gage’s puzzle gaming platform Puzzmo has some fun twists on classic games and was acquired by Hearst. Even LinkedIn has games now, and it turns out that they’re actually good.
Sure, the games are fun, but they can also be reliable ways for the companies that offer them to make money from subscriptions. The New York Times puts a some features for its games behind a paywall. Apple’s games are only available to Apple News Plus subscribers. And Netflix is launching a daily word game to bolster its paid subscription for mobile games.
Here’s all of our coverage of news and word games. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to try to finish Connections without throwing my phone into the ocean.

Photo by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Everything you need to know about games from The New York Times, Apple, and even LinkedIn.

There’s a lot of interest in daily puzzle games right now. The New York Times has a great collection of games like its crossword, Wordle, Connections, and Strands. Apple is in the mix with crosswords and more in Apple News Plus. Zach Gage’s puzzle gaming platform Puzzmo has some fun twists on classic games and was acquired by Hearst. Even LinkedIn has games now, and it turns out that they’re actually good.

Sure, the games are fun, but they can also be reliable ways for the companies that offer them to make money from subscriptions. The New York Times puts a some features for its games behind a paywall. Apple’s games are only available to Apple News Plus subscribers. And Netflix is launching a daily word game to bolster its paid subscription for mobile games.

Here’s all of our coverage of news and word games. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to try to finish Connections without throwing my phone into the ocean.

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It’s the Leica M’s platinum anniversary, and this camera costs as much (or more) than most weddings. | Image: Leica Camera

Leica is celebrating the 70th anniversary of the M rangefinder camera, but the most precious gift it’s giving for the occasion is for only 250 rich people and costs $22,995. The ludicrously expensive Leica M Edition 70 set includes a platinum-plated Leica M-A 35mm film camera with Leicavit fast winder, a matching 50mm APO-Summicron-M f/2 lens, and a metallic film container with a roll of black-and-white film.
Yes, the film container is also platinum, and yes, that’s completely ridiculous.

This anniversary edition commemorates when the Leica M3 was released in 1954 as the first M camera. Leica goes to great lengths to honor the M3 and the brand’s legacy just about whenever it can. Back in 2014, the Leica M Edition 60 did the same thing to celebrate the 60th birthday of the M3, but that model was a bit more bold (and polarizing), being the first digital M to remove the rear LCD for a quasi film-like experience. That “feature” became more readily available in standard editions like the M-D (Typ 262), M10-D, and most recently the M11-D.
The new M Edition 70 seems much safer, with its lower production run and rehashing of the Leica M-A film camera that’s been around since 2014. The real devil in the details here is the Leicavit, an old-timey accessory from the heyday of film rangefinders that’s been extinct for years. It’s basically an alternate bottom plate for the camera, housing a hidden lever that can be used to advance the film after a shot using your left hand.

Image: Leica Camera
The classic Leicavit allowed users to drop down an alternate film advance lever. Strange, yes. But cool? Also, yes.

I’ve never personally used one, but the premise was that it’s faster and slightly more discreet than moving your right hand from the shutter to operate the regular advance lever with your thumb. I’m sure there’s a reason this wasn’t a widely adopted accessory, but Leica fans lap this nerdy stuff up. (I’m obviously speaking / confessing from experience here.)
So maybe the M Edition 70 is really a test to bring back the Leicavit as a standard accessory, like how the M60 was a test bed for screenless digital cameras or how the old M9 Titanium experimented with LED-illuminated frame lines. But one thing’s for sure: the M Edition 70 is both lovely and completely ridiculous. It’s another chance for Leica to milk money out of its rich whales for nearly six million dollars in revenue to fund whatever its next quirky idea is, but boy, is it hard not to enjoy looking at purty pictures of it.

It’s the Leica M’s platinum anniversary, and this camera costs as much (or more) than most weddings. | Image: Leica Camera

Leica is celebrating the 70th anniversary of the M rangefinder camera, but the most precious gift it’s giving for the occasion is for only 250 rich people and costs $22,995. The ludicrously expensive Leica M Edition 70 set includes a platinum-plated Leica M-A 35mm film camera with Leicavit fast winder, a matching 50mm APO-Summicron-M f/2 lens, and a metallic film container with a roll of black-and-white film.

Yes, the film container is also platinum, and yes, that’s completely ridiculous.

This anniversary edition commemorates when the Leica M3 was released in 1954 as the first M camera. Leica goes to great lengths to honor the M3 and the brand’s legacy just about whenever it can. Back in 2014, the Leica M Edition 60 did the same thing to celebrate the 60th birthday of the M3, but that model was a bit more bold (and polarizing), being the first digital M to remove the rear LCD for a quasi film-like experience. That “feature” became more readily available in standard editions like the M-D (Typ 262), M10-D, and most recently the M11-D.

The new M Edition 70 seems much safer, with its lower production run and rehashing of the Leica M-A film camera that’s been around since 2014. The real devil in the details here is the Leicavit, an old-timey accessory from the heyday of film rangefinders that’s been extinct for years. It’s basically an alternate bottom plate for the camera, housing a hidden lever that can be used to advance the film after a shot using your left hand.

Image: Leica Camera
The classic Leicavit allowed users to drop down an alternate film advance lever. Strange, yes. But cool? Also, yes.

I’ve never personally used one, but the premise was that it’s faster and slightly more discreet than moving your right hand from the shutter to operate the regular advance lever with your thumb. I’m sure there’s a reason this wasn’t a widely adopted accessory, but Leica fans lap this nerdy stuff up. (I’m obviously speaking / confessing from experience here.)

So maybe the M Edition 70 is really a test to bring back the Leicavit as a standard accessory, like how the M60 was a test bed for screenless digital cameras or how the old M9 Titanium experimented with LED-illuminated frame lines. But one thing’s for sure: the M Edition 70 is both lovely and completely ridiculous. It’s another chance for Leica to milk money out of its rich whales for nearly six million dollars in revenue to fund whatever its next quirky idea is, but boy, is it hard not to enjoy looking at purty pictures of it.

Read More