Binance criminal settlement could include a $4 billion fine and CEO’s guilty plea Nick Barclay / The VergeBinance owner and CEO Changpeng “CZ” Zhao has agreed to step down and plead guilty to breaking anti-money laundering laws, according to reports from The Wall Street Journal and Forbes. This comes as part of the major settlement the Department of Justice is expected to announce this afternoon, which will reportedly require…

Apple’s AirTag drops to a rare low price Our favorite Bluetooth tracker for iPhone owners is available starting at just $23.99 for a single AirTag. | Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The VergeIt’s the time of year again when utter chaos descends upon airports nationwide. That means the chances of losing your luggage are higher than usual, so it’s worth preparing for the commotion if you’re plan…

8BitDo’s NES-style keyboard has returned to its lowest price yet 8BitDo’s Retro Mechanical Keyboard is a unique gift under $100 that’s perfect for Nintendo fans. | Photo by Jon Porter / The VergeLet’s be honest: most keyboards are boring necessities that you’re not likely to find at the top of anybody’s Christmas wishlist. But every now and then, a keyboard comes along that’s so cool, anyone could get excited…

Bad business is breaking the smart home — good regulation can fix it Image: Cath Virginia / The VergeBusiness arrangements and opaque contracts have broken the pitch of the smart home. Better regulation can fix this problem. Continue reading…

A24’s Dream Scenario is a shapeshifting parable about our obsessions with viral fame Nicolas Cage as Paul Matthews. | Image: A24Writer / director Kristoffer Borgli’s Dream Scenario capitalizes on Nicolas Cage’s status as a living legend to tell a brilliant story about the perils of fame. Continue reading…

This mechanical keyboard has a headphone jack you might actually want to use The FiiO KB3 has a built-in DAC and headphone amp. | Image: FiiOThe KB3 is a new mechanical keyboard from audio brand FiiO with a built-in headphone jack that stands a good chance of sounding better than the existing 3.5mm output on your desktop computer or laptop. That’s because the headphone jack isn’t just passing through analog audio from yo…

Insta360’s new GoPro-like action cams have flippy screens The new Insta360 Ace (right) and Ace Pro (left). | Image: Insta360Insta360’s new action cameras borrow the blocky design of GoPro’s popular Hero series but add the ability to flip up that large 2.4-inch rear touchscreen for easy vlogging. The company’s new “Ace” camera starts at $379.99 for the regular model, and there’s a flagship “Pro” version…

The World Press Photo Contest’s updated AI rules help define what a modern photograph is “Here, The Doors Don’t Know Me” by Mohamed Mahdy (pictured) was the winning Open Format entry in 2023. | Image: Mohamed Mahdy / Magnum Foundation / World Press Photo FoundationThe World Press Photo Contest has updated its entry rules to exclude submissions for AI-generated imagery, just days after announcing that such images could be entered int…

Sunbird is shutting down its iMessage app for Android Sunbird powered Nothing Chats, which gave iMessage to Nothing Phone 2, but at a severe privacy cost. | Image: NothingSunbird, the app that brings iMessage to Android, has temporarily shut down the service over “security concerns,” as first reported by 9to5Google. In a notice to users, Sunbird says it has “decided to pause Sunbird usage for now” …

Fortnite OG will end with a Big Bang Image: Epic GamesFortnite is currently saturated in nostalgia, thanks to the backwards-looking Fortnite OG. But that’s about to change very soon: the battle royale’s next major live event promises “a new beginning” for the game. There aren’t many other details, but the event is called The Big Bang, and it kicks off on December 2nd at 2PM ET; as …

The Verge’s 2023 holiday gift guide for kids Photo Illustration by Amelia Holowaty Krales and Cath Virginia / The VergeLet us help you find all kinds of gifts for all kinds of kiddos. Continue reading…

What’s on your desk, Nathan Edwards? Photo by Nathan Edwards / The VergeTwo desks, three computers, and countless keyboards. Continue reading…

Braun: Designed to Keep is a book worth holding onto The cover is adorned with the legendary clockface found on AB1 alarm clock (1987) designed by Dietrich Lubs.A century of design — with and without Dieter Rams — giving credit where credit is due. Continue reading…

Is Sam Altman joining Microsoft? Satya Nadella doesn’t seem to know Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella on stage at OpenAI’s first developer conference. | Image: GettyMicrosoft CEO Satya Nadella announced late last night that former OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman were both joining Microsoft to lead a new advanced AI research team, an announcement that sent Microsoft’s stock price soaring. Now,…

X sues Media Matters to silence moderation criticism Illustration by Kristen Radtke / The Verge; Getty ImagesX, formerly Twitter, has followed through with owner Elon Musk’s threat to sue the left-leaning nonprofit Media Matters. Media Matters reported last week that X “has been placing ads for major brands” like Apple and IBM “next to content that touts Adolf Hitler and his Nazi Party.” Musk and …

Linda Yaccarino: advertisers fleeing from X are just “temporarily paused investments” Photo by Jerod Harris/Getty Images for Vox MediaLast week, Elon Musk appeared to endorse antisemitic conspiracy theories and posted about supporting white pride on his social platform X, formerly Twitter. Musk’s tweets were then highlighted by a Media Matters article that found advertising from major companies had shown up next to pro-Nazi conte…

Joe Biden’s birthday gift to himself is a Threads account Joe Biden arriving to pardon the National Thanksgiving turkeys on November 20, 2023. | Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty ImagesUS President Joe Biden signed up for a Threads account today, as did the White House, Vice President Kamala Harris, and the second gentleman, Douglas Emhoff. Biden’s first post on Meta’s X (formerly Twitter) competitor harken…

A secret Google deal let Spotify completely bypass Android’s app store fees Image: The VergeMusic streaming service Spotify struck a seemingly unique and highly generous deal with Google for Android-based payments, according to new testimony in the Epic v. Google trial. On the stand, Google head of global partnerships Don Harrison confirmed Spotify paid a 0 percent commission when users chose to buy subscriptions throug…

Worlds 2023 had K-pop stars, an AR boy band, and one big screen NewJeans performs at the 2023 League of Legends World Championship in Seoul. | Image: Christina Oh / Riot GamesThe opening ceremony for the annual League of Legends championship was another impressive blend of music and tech. Continue reading…

Sam Altman is still trying to return as OpenAI CEO Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty ImagesSam Altman’s surprise move to Microsoft after his shock firing at OpenAI isn’t a done deal. He and co-founder Greg Brockman are still open to returning to OpenAI if the remaining board members who fired him step aside, multiple sources tell The Verge. The promised mass exodus of virtually every OpenAI employ…