VW will invest $5 billion in Rivian as part of new joint venture Volkswagen is investing $5 billion in Rivian as part of a new joint venture that will give the German auto giant access to the buzzy California EV company’s software and EV platform. The new venture was announced in a post from Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe, who noted the investment will help the company bring its next generation R2 electric vehicle to…

This tiny tablet is a smart upgrade for AR glasses An Android phone minus the phone plus two giant cameras. | Image: Adi Robertson / The VergeXreal is one of the few companies trying to sell mass-market augmented reality headsets without an existing big tech empire. But its latest product isn’t a pair of glasses; it’s a phone-sized Android tablet designed to keep you using them. At last week’s A…

Mattel is making games like Uno more accessible for colorblind players Blokus, Tumblin’ Monkeys, and Uno are just three of the games Mattel is making colorblind accessible. | Image: MattelIn an effort to make its games accessible to a wider audience and “create more inclusive play experiences,” Mattel has announced that 80 percent of its gaming portfolio — including iconic titles like Uno — will be made accessible …

Elgato’s jumbo-sized Stream Deck XL is $50 off Image: ElgatoThe Elgato Stream Deck XL is once again selling for $199.99 ($50 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and B&H Photo. The jumbo-sized macro pad has 32 customizable LCD keys for controlling various functions on a Windows PC or Mac. It’s a staple among enthusiast and high-level Twitch streamers, but its customizability makes it incredibly handy f…

Google announces surprise Pixel hardware event in August Photo: Vjeran Pavic / The VergeIf you’re waiting to see the Pixel 9, Pixel Watch 3, or other new Google hardware, then August 13th could be a big day for you because look what just hit our inboxes: You’re invited to an in-person Made by Google event where we’ll showcase the best of Google AI, Android software and the Pixel portfolio of devices….

China’s lunar probe returns to Earth with first-ever samples from the far side of the Moon The return capsule of the Chang’e 6 probe lands at the designated landing area on June 25th, 2024, in Inner Mongolia. | Photo by VCG / VCG via Getty ImagesThe first soil samples ever taken from the far side of the Moon arrived on Earth today. China’s Chang’e 6 spacecraft landed with the precious cargo in Inner Mongolia today at 2:07PM Beijing ti…

This prototype turns your car’s windshield into a giant AR display A huge panel becomes an AR projector powered by data from eye tracking sensors in this prototype. | Image: Adi Robertson / The VergeCar infotainment systems are getting ever bigger, but a startup’s new prototype takes things further than even something like Ford’s pillar-to-pillar touchscreen — by turning your windshield into a full-color 3D hea…

Google is killing infinite scroll on search results Illustration: The VergeThe latest feature headed to the Google graveyard is continuous scrolling on search results, according to a report from Search Engine Land. The user experience, which mirrored the endless scrolling behavior of social media feeds, was originally introduced for search results on mobile devices in October of 2021 and then bro…

Epomaker’s TH80 Pro, one of our top mechanical keyboard picks, is at its best price Image: Jon Porter / The VergeWith RGB lighting and customizability, most mechanical keyboards are way more fun to type on than your regular old keyboard. Those perks typically come at a cost, though — but not as much today because Epomaker’s TH80 Pro is on sale at Amazon for $62.99 ($27 off). That’s a new all-time low price on the TH80 Pro and i…

Dr Disrespect finally shares why he was banned from Twitch Photo by Matt Thomas / San Diego Padres / Getty ImagesGuy Beahm, better known by his streamer persona Dr Disrespect, said he was banned from Twitch four years ago due to private messages he sent to a minor that “sometimes leaned too much in the direction of being inappropriate.” Beahm shared details of the ban in a lengthy post to X, marking the…

The best Etsy alternatives for selling your crafts Illustration: Kristen Radtke / The VergeSince its launch in 2005, Etsy has become well-known as the place to go for handcrafted, one-of-a-kind items from a wide variety of creators. Unfortunately, over the last few years, that rosy reputation has changed a bit. A couple of years ago, buyers began noticing an influx of mass-market goods that were…

Surface Laptop review: Microsoft’s best MacBook Air competitor yet Microsoft and Qualcomm finally deliver the hardware Windows on Arm needed. Continue reading…

The Moto Tag is an AirTag for Android A new way to keep tabs on your luggage. | Photo by Chris Welch / The VergeMotorola’s tracking tag is officially here, and if you’ve wanted an AirTag for your Android phone, this new Moto Tag might be it. This item tracker costs $29 and works with Google’s newly upgraded Find My Device network to help you locate a lost item. In addition to Blueto…

Motorola’s 2024 Razr phones are ready to make a splash More screen equals more fun. | Photo by Chris Welch / The VergeFoldable season is back, and Motorola is leading the way with refreshed versions of its Razr Plus and Razr flip phones. They’re arriving next month in some poolside-worthy colors, with upgraded screens — a big upgrade in the case of the 2024 Razr — and IPX8 ratings for full resistanc…

The Verge store is back with lots of brand-new gear Photo: FourthwallWe’ve been working on some better, cooler ways for you to rep The Verge — and look good doing it. Continue reading…

The Verge and Nomad have made an Apple Watch band Image: NomadYour outfit has been missing a little blurple, and The Verge is here to fix that. Continue reading…

Meta is connecting Threads more deeply with the fediverse Illustration: The VergeThreads will now let people like and see replies to their Threads posts that appear on other federated social media platforms, the company announced on Tuesday. Previously, if you made a post on Threads that was syndicated to another platform — like Mastodon, for example — you wouldn’t be able to see responses to that post…

The Beats Pill speaker is back — now with 24-hour battery life and USB-C audio Image: BeatsAfter several months of leaks and public sightings, the Beats Pill speaker has returned. Available to order beginning today for $149.99, this portable Bluetooth speaker looks very similar to past versions, but it now offers IP67 dust and water resistance and USB-C wired audio and supports native software features like Find My / Find …

Beats Pill review: much easier to swallow this time More than just a lazy remaster, the new Pill includes unexpected features like lossless audio over USB-C. And like recent Beats products, it equally appeals to the iOS and Android crowds. Continue reading…

Patreon is going to let you gift subscriptions Image: The VergePatreon is gearing up to allow gifting on its subscription platform, alongside a host of new features to help content creators build their communities. Artists, writers, podcasters, and other content creators will also soon be able to sell individual posts and even set a countdown clock for the release of new work. “Gifting is on…