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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.

Read More 

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 

Image: Beats

If there’s one product that Beats has taken its sweet time upgrading, it’s the Powerbeats Pro. Released back in 2019, these wireless earbuds (and their signature ear hooks) have sat in the company’s product lineup ever since with no meaningful hardware changes. But the time has finally come for an all-new model. Today, Beats released a teaser for the Powerbeats Pro 2, which will be released sometime in 2025.
In the clip, we see the in-ear fit of the revamped design showcased by baseball sensation Shohei Ohtani. Fans of the ear hooks will be happy to see that they haven’t gone anywhere; if you want a hook-free design, Beats offers plenty of other options, including the Beats Fit Pro, Studio Buds Plus, and Solo Buds.

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A post shared by Beats by Dre (@beatsbydre)

In 2020, the company also released the short-lived Powerbeats (minus the Pro), a pair of neckbuds that were quietly discontinued only a year later. Turns out, customers really preferred the fully wireless approach.
At the time of their debut, I was a big fan of the Powerbeats Pro. But they had a frustrating tendency to get finicky when it came to charging, with the earbuds often failing to recharge unless you seated them in the (very big) case just right. I’m hoping Beats has made some refinements for the sequel. The bar for sound quality has also been raised considerably since 2019, so you can expect some upgrades on that front.
The timing of this teaser is certainly interesting; Beats’ parent company, Apple, is widely expected to announce two new sets of AirPods next week — one of which will reportedly feature active noise cancellation. But if you were planning to use them at the gym or on runs, maybe this is Beats’ way of saying “not so fast” on those upcoming preorders.

Image: Beats

If there’s one product that Beats has taken its sweet time upgrading, it’s the Powerbeats Pro. Released back in 2019, these wireless earbuds (and their signature ear hooks) have sat in the company’s product lineup ever since with no meaningful hardware changes. But the time has finally come for an all-new model. Today, Beats released a teaser for the Powerbeats Pro 2, which will be released sometime in 2025.

In the clip, we see the in-ear fit of the revamped design showcased by baseball sensation Shohei Ohtani. Fans of the ear hooks will be happy to see that they haven’t gone anywhere; if you want a hook-free design, Beats offers plenty of other options, including the Beats Fit Pro, Studio Buds Plus, and Solo Buds.

In 2020, the company also released the short-lived Powerbeats (minus the Pro), a pair of neckbuds that were quietly discontinued only a year later. Turns out, customers really preferred the fully wireless approach.

At the time of their debut, I was a big fan of the Powerbeats Pro. But they had a frustrating tendency to get finicky when it came to charging, with the earbuds often failing to recharge unless you seated them in the (very big) case just right. I’m hoping Beats has made some refinements for the sequel. The bar for sound quality has also been raised considerably since 2019, so you can expect some upgrades on that front.

The timing of this teaser is certainly interesting; Beats’ parent company, Apple, is widely expected to announce two new sets of AirPods next week — one of which will reportedly feature active noise cancellation. But if you were planning to use them at the gym or on runs, maybe this is Beats’ way of saying “not so fast” on those upcoming preorders.

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Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

Intel’s chipmaking business may have run into a bit of a snag, as recent tests using the company’s next-gen manufacturing process have failed, according to Reuters.
To carry out the tests, Intel reportedly sent Broadcom’s silicon wafers — or the components used as a semiconductor’s base — through its more efficient 18A manufacturing process. After examining the results, Broadcom found that the process isn’t ready for high-volume production, Reuters reports.
The 18A process is a key part of Intel’s plan to reestablish itself as a leading chipmaker. Intel has been developing this technology for a few years now, and it plans to start producing chips using the process with major partners like Microsoft starting next year. However, the company has had a troubled past few months, as it reported $1.6 billion in losses in the second quarter of 2024 and announced layoffs affecting more than 15,000 workers. It’s also dealing with widespread issues affecting its 13th and 14th Gen CPUs.

“Intel 18A is powered on, healthy and yielding well, and we remain fully on track to begin high volume manufacturing next year,” an Intel spokesperson told Reuters. “There is a great deal of interest in Intel 18A across the industry but, as a matter of policy, we do not comment on specific customer conversations.” The Verge reached out to Intel with a request for comment but didn’t immediately hear back.
Over the weekend, Reuters reported that Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger will soon pitch his plans to overhaul the company’s spending and cut down on unnecessary assets. The company is reportedly considering selling off Altera, an Intel-owned business that creates programmable logic devices, and may pause work on its chipmaking factory in Germany. Intel has already delayed the $20 billion plant it has planned in Ohio.

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

Intel’s chipmaking business may have run into a bit of a snag, as recent tests using the company’s next-gen manufacturing process have failed, according to Reuters.

To carry out the tests, Intel reportedly sent Broadcom’s silicon wafers — or the components used as a semiconductor’s base — through its more efficient 18A manufacturing process. After examining the results, Broadcom found that the process isn’t ready for high-volume production, Reuters reports.

The 18A process is a key part of Intel’s plan to reestablish itself as a leading chipmaker. Intel has been developing this technology for a few years now, and it plans to start producing chips using the process with major partners like Microsoft starting next year. However, the company has had a troubled past few months, as it reported $1.6 billion in losses in the second quarter of 2024 and announced layoffs affecting more than 15,000 workers. It’s also dealing with widespread issues affecting its 13th and 14th Gen CPUs.

“Intel 18A is powered on, healthy and yielding well, and we remain fully on track to begin high volume manufacturing next year,” an Intel spokesperson told Reuters. “There is a great deal of interest in Intel 18A across the industry but, as a matter of policy, we do not comment on specific customer conversations.” The Verge reached out to Intel with a request for comment but didn’t immediately hear back.

Over the weekend, Reuters reported that Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger will soon pitch his plans to overhaul the company’s spending and cut down on unnecessary assets. The company is reportedly considering selling off Altera, an Intel-owned business that creates programmable logic devices, and may pause work on its chipmaking factory in Germany. Intel has already delayed the $20 billion plant it has planned in Ohio.

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The new Tado X lineup of products is coming to the UK in November. | Image: Tado

The Tado X range of heating products, which launched in Europe earlier this year with support for the Matter smart home protocol, is coming to the UK in early November.
As a refresher, the Tado X lineup includes wired and wireless versions of the new thermostat, a smart radiator thermostat, a wireless temperature sensor, and a heat pump optimizer that interoperate to create a smart heating system in your home. The X range runs on Matter-over-Thread and includes an optional Bridge X, which acts as a Thread border router (for homes that don’t already have one) to connect each Tado X device to your home’s Wi-Fi and ethernet network.
Tado is using an upcoming energy price increase in the UK as a selling point for its new X range. “October’s price cap rise of 10 per cent is unwelcome news for all households and another indicator of why it is important to take control of your heating consumption and bills,” says Tado in a press release. “With savings of 19 per cent on average in the UK, the new Tado X products will pay for themselves within a few months and then go on to save customers money as well as cutting their carbon footprint.”
For homes with heat pumps, Tado says its new Heat Pump Optimizer X can help increase savings further. But that requires a subscription to Tado’s Balance service (£3.99 per month or £29.99 per year) and setting up a contract with your energy provider for dynamic tariffs. With that in place, Tado will prioritize energy use for room and water heating when electricity prices are at their lowest.
Pricing will be as follows when the X range launches in the UK at the beginning of November:

Wireless Smart Thermostat X Starter Kit (with built-in Thread border router) — £159.99
Wired Smart Thermostat X Starter Kit (with Bridge X) — £159.99
Smart Radiator Thermostat X Starter Kit (with Bridge X) — £139.99
Smart Radiator Thermostat X — £79.99 / Smart Radiator Thermostat X Quattro pack — £260.99
Wireless Temperature Sensor — £89.99
Heat Pump Optimizer X — £229.99
Bridge X Thread border router — £59.99

The new Tado X lineup of products is coming to the UK in November. | Image: Tado

The Tado X range of heating products, which launched in Europe earlier this year with support for the Matter smart home protocol, is coming to the UK in early November.

As a refresher, the Tado X lineup includes wired and wireless versions of the new thermostat, a smart radiator thermostat, a wireless temperature sensor, and a heat pump optimizer that interoperate to create a smart heating system in your home. The X range runs on Matter-over-Thread and includes an optional Bridge X, which acts as a Thread border router (for homes that don’t already have one) to connect each Tado X device to your home’s Wi-Fi and ethernet network.

Tado is using an upcoming energy price increase in the UK as a selling point for its new X range. “October’s price cap rise of 10 per cent is unwelcome news for all households and another indicator of why it is important to take control of your heating consumption and bills,” says Tado in a press release. “With savings of 19 per cent on average in the UK, the new Tado X products will pay for themselves within a few months and then go on to save customers money as well as cutting their carbon footprint.”

For homes with heat pumps, Tado says its new Heat Pump Optimizer X can help increase savings further. But that requires a subscription to Tado’s Balance service (£3.99 per month or £29.99 per year) and setting up a contract with your energy provider for dynamic tariffs. With that in place, Tado will prioritize energy use for room and water heating when electricity prices are at their lowest.

Pricing will be as follows when the X range launches in the UK at the beginning of November:

Wireless Smart Thermostat X Starter Kit (with built-in Thread border router) — £159.99
Wired Smart Thermostat X Starter Kit (with Bridge X) — £159.99
Smart Radiator Thermostat X Starter Kit (with Bridge X) — £139.99
Smart Radiator Thermostat X — £79.99 / Smart Radiator Thermostat X Quattro pack — £260.99
Wireless Temperature Sensor — £89.99
Heat Pump Optimizer X — £229.99
Bridge X Thread border router — £59.99

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Photo by John Lamparski / AFP via Getty Images

Meta’s semi-independent Oversight Board says the company made the right call in letting Facebook users post pro-Palestine messages with the phrase “from the river to the sea.”
In a decision published today, the board concluded the slogan “has multiple meanings and is used by people in various ways and with different intentions.” Consequently, it shouldn’t be removed under hate speech policies unless it’s accompanied by other violating content — like explicitly antisemitic sentiments or praise for terrorist groups.
Following the October 7th attack on Israel by Hamas and the subsequent retaliation by Israel, online service operators were faced with a flood of posts and videos related to the conflict, particularly posts that supported Palestine with the phrase “from the river to the sea.”
Some, like Etsy and Wix, either openly or secretly banned the phrase; X owner Elon Musk said that it and other terms “necessarily imply genocide” of Israelis and would be grounds for suspension. Others, like Meta, determined that more context was necessary, deciding that while the phrase is used by Hamas in calling for the destruction of Israel, it’s also more broadly employed by activists calling for Palestinian independence or a ceasefire.
A majority of the Oversight Board concurred with this decision. The board examined three pieces of content — one comment and two posts — that contained “from the river to the sea” as either a hashtag, an image, or written text. In all three cases, it found, “there is no language or signal calling for violence or exclusion.” The posts contained either explicit or “contextual signals” of support for Palestinian people and didn’t mention or support Hamas.
The board notes that a minority disagreed with treating the phrase as neutral. Instead, given its use by Hamas, they argued for a policy in which it was “presumed to constitute glorification” of a terrorist group without “clear signals to the contrary.”
The Oversight Board also called attention to concerns about Meta’s decision to shut down CrowdTangle, an analytics tool that was shut down in mid-August. The tool provided data that sometimes revealed embarrassing trends on Facebook, and Meta argued its reports were unrepresentative of the platform’s real dynamics.
But the board says CrowdTangle was key to researching how people actually used “from the river to the sea.” The tool didn’t include content Facebook removed for policy violations; even so, it let researchers conclude the slogan was “generally used in posts raising awareness about the impact of the war on Palestinians, calling for a ceasefire or advocating for rights of Palestinians.”
Meta replaced CrowdTangle with a new system called the Meta Content Library, but researchers have complained that it has limited functionality and is not widely available. “While the Board commends Meta for developing new research tools and working to provide greater functionality, the Board is concerned with the company’s decision to shut down CrowdTangle before these new tools can effectively replace it,” it says, making a nonbinding recommendation that Meta expand the new tool’s capability in the coming months. “Meta should ensure the Meta Content Library is a suitable replacement.”

Photo by John Lamparski / AFP via Getty Images

Meta’s semi-independent Oversight Board says the company made the right call in letting Facebook users post pro-Palestine messages with the phrase “from the river to the sea.”

In a decision published today, the board concluded the slogan “has multiple meanings and is used by people in various ways and with different intentions.” Consequently, it shouldn’t be removed under hate speech policies unless it’s accompanied by other violating content — like explicitly antisemitic sentiments or praise for terrorist groups.

Following the October 7th attack on Israel by Hamas and the subsequent retaliation by Israel, online service operators were faced with a flood of posts and videos related to the conflict, particularly posts that supported Palestine with the phrase “from the river to the sea.”

Some, like Etsy and Wix, either openly or secretly banned the phrase; X owner Elon Musk said that it and other terms “necessarily imply genocide” of Israelis and would be grounds for suspension. Others, like Meta, determined that more context was necessary, deciding that while the phrase is used by Hamas in calling for the destruction of Israel, it’s also more broadly employed by activists calling for Palestinian independence or a ceasefire.

A majority of the Oversight Board concurred with this decision. The board examined three pieces of content — one comment and two posts — that contained “from the river to the sea” as either a hashtag, an image, or written text. In all three cases, it found, “there is no language or signal calling for violence or exclusion.” The posts contained either explicit or “contextual signals” of support for Palestinian people and didn’t mention or support Hamas.

The board notes that a minority disagreed with treating the phrase as neutral. Instead, given its use by Hamas, they argued for a policy in which it was “presumed to constitute glorification” of a terrorist group without “clear signals to the contrary.”

The Oversight Board also called attention to concerns about Meta’s decision to shut down CrowdTangle, an analytics tool that was shut down in mid-August. The tool provided data that sometimes revealed embarrassing trends on Facebook, and Meta argued its reports were unrepresentative of the platform’s real dynamics.

But the board says CrowdTangle was key to researching how people actually used “from the river to the sea.” The tool didn’t include content Facebook removed for policy violations; even so, it let researchers conclude the slogan was “generally used in posts raising awareness about the impact of the war on Palestinians, calling for a ceasefire or advocating for rights of Palestinians.”

Meta replaced CrowdTangle with a new system called the Meta Content Library, but researchers have complained that it has limited functionality and is not widely available. “While the Board commends Meta for developing new research tools and working to provide greater functionality, the Board is concerned with the company’s decision to shut down CrowdTangle before these new tools can effectively replace it,” it says, making a nonbinding recommendation that Meta expand the new tool’s capability in the coming months. “Meta should ensure the Meta Content Library is a suitable replacement.”

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Image: Warner Bros. Pictures

Move over, Detective Pikachu, there’s an even stranger live-action video game movie on the way. And by that, I mean Warner Bros. just released the first teaser trailer for A Minecraft Movie. The film features actual humans and a slightly realistic CG take on Minecraft. But when you mix the game’s iconic blocky style with real life, you get, well, this:

Image: Warner Bros. Pictures

Unsettling imagery aside, A Minecraft Movie looks like some silly family fun, with lots of one-liners, large-scale battles, and Jack Black exclaiming “I am Steve!” very proudly. And obviously, there’s both mining and crafting. Aside from Black, the movie also stars Jason Momoa, Emma Myers, Danielle Brooks, Sebastian Eugene Hansen, and Jennifer Coolidge. It’s directed by Jared Hess of Napoleon Dynamite fame and is hitting theaters in North America on April 4th.
Of course, we now live in a time when video game adaptations are no longer expected to be bad, so A Minecraft Movie will be released into a world with The Super Mario Bros. Movie and the Sonic the Hedgehog trilogy as competition. (The less said about Borderlands, the better.) It’s also not the only Minecraft adaptation in the works; Netflix is working on an animated series as well.

Image: Warner Bros. Pictures

Move over, Detective Pikachu, there’s an even stranger live-action video game movie on the way. And by that, I mean Warner Bros. just released the first teaser trailer for A Minecraft Movie. The film features actual humans and a slightly realistic CG take on Minecraft. But when you mix the game’s iconic blocky style with real life, you get, well, this:

Image: Warner Bros. Pictures

Unsettling imagery aside, A Minecraft Movie looks like some silly family fun, with lots of one-liners, large-scale battles, and Jack Black exclaiming “I am Steve!” very proudly. And obviously, there’s both mining and crafting. Aside from Black, the movie also stars Jason Momoa, Emma Myers, Danielle Brooks, Sebastian Eugene Hansen, and Jennifer Coolidge. It’s directed by Jared Hess of Napoleon Dynamite fame and is hitting theaters in North America on April 4th.

Of course, we now live in a time when video game adaptations are no longer expected to be bad, so A Minecraft Movie will be released into a world with The Super Mario Bros. Movie and the Sonic the Hedgehog trilogy as competition. (The less said about Borderlands, the better.) It’s also not the only Minecraft adaptation in the works; Netflix is working on an animated series as well.

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