technology
Apple Watch ban: everything you need to know
On December 18th, Apple abruptly announced its plans to pull the Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 from store shelves starting on December 24th. The move comes in response to an import ban handed down by the US International Trade Commission, which ruled Apple infringed on patents for pulse oximetry tech made by Masimo in October. This means Apple can no longer import and sell the Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 in the US — at least for the time being. The iPhone maker is already trying to come up with a solution to avoid the ban, but it might take a while until the dispute is completely resolved. If you want to keep up with all the latest on Apple’s legal battle, check out the news below. a:hover]:text-black [&>a:hover]:shadow-underline-black dark:[&>a:hover]:text-gray-e9 dark:[&>a:hover]...
Pondering the biggest orb
Internet Culture It’s a TV. It’s a roller coaster. It’s a 4D Disney World experience. It’s the Sphere, and it’s a lot more fun than my phone. By David Pierce, editor-at-large and Vergecast co-host with over a decade of experience covering consumer tech. Previously, at Protocol, The Wall Street Journal, and Wired. Share this story The Sphere is the main character in Las Vegas right now. If you’re flying into the city from the right angle, half the plane sees it out the window and feels obligated to tell the other half what they’re witnessing. The woman on the flight next to me, who said she’d been to Vegas precisely 52 times, told the first-timer sitting in the window seat that the main thing he had to do this week was get into the Sphere. No problem, he said. He had U2 tickets. I, in...
The Verge’s favorite splurge-worthy gifts for 2023
The sky’s the limit when money is no object, so why waste your hard-earned cash and coin on the everyday essentials? It’s time to dream big. The best gifts aren’t always the most expensive, but you’re probably not going to disappoint anybody by gifting them their very own 146-inch TV. For this gift guide, we decided to dream up all the things we’d really love to receive as gifts if money were truly no object. Admittedly, most of the ideas here aren’t exactly affordable — we’re looking at you, VW ID Buzz — though some aren’t totally out of reach if you’ve got some money to spare. Battle Beaver’s customizable PS5 controller starts around $100, after all, and the Analogue Pocket will only set you back a cool $219.99 (if you can find it). So if you’ve got a couple thousand just lying around — ...
Rite Aid hit with five-year facial recognition ban over ‘reckless’ use
/ The Federal Trade Commission is also requiring the pharmacy chain to delete all the photos and videos it captured of customers. 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: Getty Rite Aid isn’t allowed to use AI-powered facial recognition technology for another five years as part of a settlement it reached with the Federal Trade Commission. In a complaint filed on Tuesday, the FTC accuses Rite Aid of using facial surveillance systems in a “reckless” manner from 2012 to 2020. During this period, the FTC says Rite Aid used facial recognition technology to “capture images of all consumer...
Here are a few last-minute gifts you can still grab in time for the holidays
/ All of these devices, from the affordable to the pricey, make for great gifts while you can still get them. a]:text-gray-13″>If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement. a:hover]:shadow-highlight-franklin dark:[&>a:hover]:shadow-highlight-franklin [&>a]:shadow-underline-black dark:[&>a]:shadow-underline-white”>Headphones and earbuds Sometimes you just can’t beat a classic. Apple’s wired EarPods are on sale at Amazon for around $15 in the Lightning configuration or for around $18 in the 3.5mm and newer USB-C configs — and all three should arrive in time to be the perfect stocking stuffer. Using wired earbuds in the year 2023 may sound a little backward, but the microphone on these bad boys absolutely trounces th...
Copilot users can create their own AI songs with the new Suno AI plug-in
/ A new plug-in for the AI music creation tool Suno can generate custom songs in mere seconds. 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 Suno plug-in on Microsoft Copilot.
Wolverine part of massive Insomniac Games leak after ransomware deadline passes
/ Rhysida has released over a terabyte of internal company data comprising over 1.3 million files after initially asking for a $2 million ransom. 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″>Officially released artwork of Insomniac’s Wolverine.
Google to pay $700 million and make tiny app store changes to settle with 50 states
/ Everything Google’s giving up has a time limit, and some of it is exceedingly minor. a]:text-gray-13″>If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.
NASA’s GUSTO balloon telescope will map part of the Milky Way
/ The first to be funded as part of the Explorers Program, GUSTO will spend at least 55 days floating above Antarctica. 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″>Gusto will launch from Antarctica.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 GUSTO telescope.
The Verge’s 2023 holiday gift guide for kids
Let us help you find all kinds of gifts for all kinds of kiddos. By Antonio G. Di Benedetto, a writer covering tech deals and The Verge’s Deals newsletter, buying guides, and gift guides. Previously, he spent 15 years in the photography industry. Some kids may just want a boatload of Robux for the holidays, but honestly, it’s more satisfying to gift them something a tiny bit more tangible or that you can enjoy together. While not all of us here at The Verge are parents, all of us are undoubtedly kids at heart — so let us help you find the right gift for your little ones, whether they’re toddlers or hard-to-impress teens. Gadgets like Apple’s entry-level iPad ($249) make for popular gifts, but it’s okay to pull back a little and opt for something a little more unplugged, such as a cooperati...
Nikola founder Trevor Milton sentenced to four years in prison in EV truck fraud case
/ Prosecutors said Milton misled investors by claiming Nikola built its own vehicle from the ‘ground up.’ 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″>Nikola One semi truck.
Acura opens up reservations for all-electric ZDX SUV
/ The $60,000-plus EV will be Acura’s first plug-in car and will start shipping to customers in 2024. 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: Acura Acura’s first fully electric vehicle is now available for customers to reserve, with the first deliveries scheduled for early 2024. The 2024 Acura ZDX starts at $60,000 and will come in several trims, including the base-model A-Spec, with single-motor rear-wheel drive. A more expensive Type S dual-motor powertrain with 500 horsepower starts at $70,000. Acura previously said that the ZDX will get up to 325 miles of estimated range and ha...
