technology

/ Affected PCs weren’t able to upgrade this time, but it’s the second in less than a year that Microsoft has made this mistake. a:hover]:text-black [&>a:hover]:shadow-underline-black dark:[&>a:hover]:text-gray-e9 dark:[&>a:hover]:shadow-underline-gray-63 [&>a]:shadow-underline-gray-13 dark:[&>a]:shadow-underline-gray-63″>The fullscreen accidental prompt that Windows 10 users saw earlier this week.

/ Plus, we found deals on Sony’s God of War Ragnarök Bundle, the iRobot Roomba i7 Plus, and Samsung’s artsy Frame TV. a:hover]:text-gray-63 [&>a:hover]:shadow-underline-black dark:[&>a:hover]:text-gray-bd dark:[&>a:hover]:shadow-underline-gray [&>a]:shadow-underline-gray-63 dark:[&>a]:text-gray-bd dark:[&>a]:shadow-underline-gray”>Photo by Becca Farsace / The Verge Just in case you woke up this morning feeling like spending a thousand bucks, we’re starting off the weekend with a terrific deal on Apple’s latest MacBook Air. Right now, the M2-powered model with 8GB of RAM, an eight-core CPU, and 256GB of storage is on sale at Best Buy and B&H Photo for $1,049 ($150 off), which is one of its best prices to date. If you need a laptop that’s a jack-of-all-trade...

Artificial Intelligence/ Tech / Prominent science fiction and fantasy magazine Clarkesworld announced it would pause submissions after a flood of AI spam. It’s not the only outlet getting AI-generated stories.

/ The company claims the Nokia G22’s battery can be replaced in around five minutes and its screen in roughly 20. HMD is partnering with iFixit to sell replacement parts. a:hover]:text-gray-63 [&>a:hover]:shadow-underline-black dark:[&>a:hover]:text-gray-bd dark:[&>a:hover]:shadow-underline-gray [&>a]:shadow-underline-gray-63 dark:[&>a]:text-gray-bd dark:[&>a]:shadow-underline-gray”>Image: HMD HMD has worked to make what it says are the most common smartphone repairs — replacing a broken screen, charging port, or flat battery — a simpler process on its new Nokia G22, and it’s partnering with repair specialists iFixit to provide customers with the necessary replacement parts, tools, and guides. The Nokia G22 will be available on March 8th in the UK for £149.99 ...

/ Here are tips and tricks we use to avoid getting sick and tangled in the PlayStation VR2 and similar VR headsets. Sony’s PlayStation VR2 arrived this week, and while it’s one of the best virtual reality headsets we’ve ever used, there’s still a number of common VR pitfalls and PSVR 2-specific annoyances new buyers might run into. Whether this is your first VR headset or just your most recent purchase, here are a handful of tips that might keep you from getting sick, tripping on a cord, running out of battery, or — and we hear this is particularly common — thinking Sony shipped you a blurry VR headset when it’s probably just a trick of the light. In fact, let’s start with that one. a:hover]:text-gray-63 [&>a:hover]:shadow-underline-black dark:[&>a:hover]:text-gray-bd dark:[&>a...

/ The deal is exclusive to Woot’s app, where it’s on sale for $529.99 on a one-day deal or until it sells out. a:hover]:text-gray-63 [&>a:hover]:shadow-underline-black dark:[&>a:hover]:text-gray-bd dark:[&>a:hover]:shadow-underline-gray [&>a]:shadow-underline-gray-63 dark:[&>a]:text-gray-bd dark:[&>a]:shadow-underline-gray”>Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge Back in January, Sony said the PlayStation 5 shortage was ending. We’re now starting to see some irrefutable proof of that because not only are the consoles readily available at most retailers but also Woot is selling the PS5 for an actual discount. Right now, you can get the PS5 console bundle with God of War Ragnarök for $529.99 from Woot, a $30 discount off the bundle’s normal price. Note: it is ex...

/ Apple has hired an advertising executive to help build a TV Plus ads business, according to The Information. a:hover]:text-gray-63 [&>a:hover]:shadow-underline-black dark:[&>a:hover]:text-gray-bd dark:[&>a:hover]:shadow-underline-gray [&>a]:shadow-underline-gray-63 dark:[&>a]:text-gray-bd dark:[&>a]:shadow-underline-gray”>Image: Apple Apple has made a notable hire that could signal its intent to move into ads on Apple TV Plus. The company has hired advertising exec Lauren Fry to “to help build a video advertising business for its Apple TV Plus streaming service,” according to The Information. Apple has been turning more to ads to help grow its revenues; it added new ad placements in the App Store last year and reportedly wants to bring ads to apps like Maps,...

Movie Review Director Elizabeth Banks’ Cocaine Bear over-delivers on a very simple, silly premise that mostly works because it doesn’t take anything seriously except being ridiculous. Share this story a:hover]:text-gray-63 [&>a:hover]:shadow-underline-black dark:[&>a:hover]:text-gray-bd dark:[&>a:hover]:shadow-underline-gray [&>a]:shadow-underline-gray-63 dark:[&>a]:text-gray-bd dark:[&>a]:shadow-underline-gray”>Image: Universal On some level, you do have to hand it to movies like Cocaine Bear, Universal’s new black comedy from director Elizabeth Banks about a coked-up bruin gallivanting through the woods, mauling unsuspecting humans, and doing lines off its victims’ dismembered limbs. Simply by spelling out and then relentlessly over-delivering on its ridicul...

/ With presales starting in China, we now know the mmWave sensor can monitor the motion of three people in a 400-square-foot room using up to 32 different motion zones. a:hover]:text-gray-63 [&>a:hover]:shadow-underline-black dark:[&>a:hover]:text-gray-bd dark:[&>a:hover]:shadow-underline-gray [&>a]:shadow-underline-gray-63 dark:[&>a]:text-gray-bd dark:[&>a]:shadow-underline-gray”>Image: Aqara More details have emerged about Aqara’s FP2 presence sensor as presales for the device begin in China for a March launch, indicating an international release is imminent. The sensor, which uses mmWave radar tech rather than traditional PRI sensing, is now available to preorder for a discounted price of ¥599 (roughly $86), according to this tweet from the Chinese tech blo...

/ The first full trailer for Amazon’s Swarm from Janine Nabers and Donald Glover is a dizzying picture of a woman lost in an obsessive fandom. The first teaser for Amazon’s Swarm already made it abundantly clear that the upcoming horror series had something to say about fandom and how our obsessions with pop stars can turn very dark when left unchecked. But if there was any doubt about whether Swarm’s story was basically about a Beyoncé fan losing their mind and going on a murderous rampage, a new trailer’s here to clear things up. Swarm tells the tale of a young woman named Dre (Dominique Fishback), just one of the countless fans who see global megastar Ni’Jah (Nirine S. Brown) as their lord and savior as well as a multiplatinum artist. As part of the “swarm” — Ni’Jah’s legion of dedicate...

/ Alphabet’s Everyday Robots subsidiary will no longer exist as a discrete unit, with team members and technology folded into other divisions. It’s a disappointing end for another robotics venture. Alphabet is shutting down its Everyday Robots project — another casualty of job cuts at Google’s parent company and the latest in a long list of failed hardware ventures. According to a report from Wired, Everyday Robots will no longer exist as a discrete team at the tech giant. “Everyday Robots will no longer be a separate project within Alphabet,” Denise Gamboa, director of marketing and communications for Everyday Robots, told the publication. “Some of the technology and part of the team will be consolidated into existing robotics efforts within Google Research.”  We’ve contacted Al...

/ Longtime Fitbit users are beyond fed up with server outages, nerfed products, and Google sunsetting their favorite social feature. a:hover]:text-gray-63 [&>a:hover]:shadow-underline-black dark:[&>a:hover]:text-gray-bd dark:[&>a:hover]:shadow-underline-gray [&>a]:shadow-underline-gray-63 dark:[&>a]:text-gray-bd dark:[&>a]:shadow-underline-gray”>Illustration: The Verge These days, Fitbit users seem to be asking each other the same question: is it me, or is the app down for everybody else, too? Between frequent server outages and a recent decision to shutter popular social features, frustrated Fitbit customers say they’re weighing their options. Earlier this month, Google-owned Fitbit suffered a massive server outage that left users unable to sync trackers or v...