All the Pixel Watch 2 really needs is good battery life It’s a gamechanger if Google can figure out multiday battery life for the Pixel Watch 2. | Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The VergeWhile reviewing the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6, I was surprised how much its small gains in battery life impacted my overall attitude toward the watch. It got me wondering whether my opinion about the Google Pixel Wat…

The new Metal Gear Solid collection is coming to PS4, too Image: KonamiThe new Metal Gear Solid collection that bundles Metal Gear Solid, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater will be coming to PS4, Konami announced on Monday. The collection, which officially has the unwieldy name of Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1, had previously been announced for PS5, Xb…

Should California expect more tropical storms like Hurricane Hilary? Palms are hit by strong wind and rain from Tropical Storm Hilary in the deserts of Southern California on August 20th, 2023, in Palm Desert, California.  | Photo by David McNew / Getty ImagesCalifornia is notoriously dry this time of year. Yet, over the course of a single day this weekend, some desert areas were hit with more than a year’s worth…

Amazon’s Fire TV Channels adds a sidebar and more free streaming content Image: AmazonAmazon is updating its recently launched Fire TV Channels app. The free, ad-supported streaming platform has a new sidebar that lets you navigate through different categories of content along with a new slate of shows. Fire TV Channels first launched in May with a lineup of free shows, live news, music videos, and sports from over 4…

Apple’s sci-fi drama Invasion ramps up the tension in season 2 Image: AppleInvasion was a curious addition to the sci-fi TV landscape when it debuted in 2021. For much of its runtime, it barely felt like science fiction at all. We all knew something alien was happening — it’s right there in the show’s title, after all — but the story was much more focused on the human-level drama going down as the world ste…

YouTube is figuring out its AI strategy by working with music labels YouTube is partnering with record labels to establish rules for how AI-generated music is treated on its platform, including monetization opportunities for both companies and creators. The platform said in a blog post it would invest in building its rights management system Content ID, update its policies on uploading manipulated content, and de…

The Mandalorian, Loki, and WandaVision are headed to Blu-ray Image: DisneyDisney is releasing physical copies of The Mandalorian, Loki, and WandaVision. All three Disney Plus shows will become available on 4K UHD and Blu-ray later this year, marking the first time that Disney has brought its streaming-only series to home video. While the physical edition of WandaVision will include the complete series, th…

Stitching together an archive of an endangered Palestinian art Palestinian embroidery is a centuries-old tradition. Can digitizing hard-to-access patterns help preserve it for a new generation? Continue reading…

Apple Podcasts now shows creators who’s really paying for their shows Illustration by Alex Castro / The VergeCreators on Apple Podcasts will now be able to find out a lot more about who their most devoted listeners are and where they’re coming from. The company today is launching subscription analytics tools that will show podcasters how many listeners started a free trial, the percentage of those who converted to…

LG’s lovely 65-inch C3 OLED TV is now $700 off at Amazon The LG C3 is the jack-of-all-trades OLED TV for most people who enjoy both watching TV and playing games. | Image: LGThe 65-inch LG C3 OLED TV is on sale for $1,896.99 ($702 off) at Amazon. The 4K TV is an exceptional jack-of-all-trades set with four HDMI 2.1 ports capable of up to 120Hz refresh with VRR, making it ideal for gaming. It’s also g…

Microsoft’s new Xbox Series X console wraps include Starfield and camo options The new Xbox Series X console wraps. | Image: MicrosoftMicrosoft has created a series of Xbox Series X console wraps that are designed to be a more affordable option instead of purchasing a separate limited edition console. One of the first Xbox console wraps will be one for Starfield, which will launch on October 18th, priced at $49.99. The con…

Here’s the first outdoor smart plug to work with Matter Leviton’s new Decora Smart Wi-Fi Outdoor Plug-in Switch is the first to work with Matter. | Image: LevitonSmart lighting manufacturer Leviton has a new outdoor smart plug that’s the first to work with Matter. The Decora Smart Wi-Fi Outdoor Plug-in Switch costs $54.99 and is available now at Amazon and The Home Depot. Part of Leviton’s Decora Sma…

Samsung announces the first game to support new HDR10 Plus Gaming standard Image: SamsungAlmost two years after its initial announcement in October 2021, Samsung says the first game to support the HDR10 Plus Gaming standard is nearing release. That game is The First Descendant, a free-to-play third-person shooter from Nexon which is running an open beta starting September 19th. Samsung’s announcement doesn’t specify w…

USDA announces $667 million in rural broadband funding Illustration by Alex Castro / The VergeThe US Department of Agriculture announced nearly $700 million in funding Monday to expand high-speed broadband access in rural communities across the country. The USDA’s ReConnect Program is providing $667 million in grants and loans for broadband projects in 22 states and the Marshall Islands in areas tha…

Meta may launch a Threads web version early this week Illustration: The VergeMeta will launch the web version of Threads, its competitor to X (formerly known as Twitter) early this week, reports The Wall Street Journal. A web version has been frustratingly missing since the short-form posting service began. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the company is working on adding the feature along with better…

Russia’s Luna-25 space craft ‘ceased to exist’ after colliding with the Moon. Luna-25 launching from Russia earlier this month. | Photo by Xinhua via Getty ImagesRussia’s Luna-25 spacecraft failed to land on the Moon, Roscosmos, Russia’s state-run space corporation, announced today. In a statement, the organization reported that the lander “ceased to exist as a result of a collision with the surface of the Moon.” It would…

SwitchBot says its new smart curtain controller is stronger and quieter The SwitchBot Curtain 3 on a telescoping rod. | Image: SwitchBotSwitchBot has announced the Curtain 3, a smart curtain controller it says will be quieter than the Curtain 2, and twice as strong. The company also claims a new, improved (and separately available) solar panel will offer “true unlimited battery power,” something the previous panel d…

Adobe co-founder Dr. John Warnock has died — he was 82 Dr. John Warnock in 2009. | Photo by Patrick Tehan/MediaNews Group/The Mercury News via Getty ImagesAdobe co-founder Dr. John Warnock passed away on Saturday at the age of 82, Adobe announces today. A cause of death has not been released; he is survived by his wife, graphic designer Marva Warnock, and his three children. Warnock founded the revo…

In Good Omens, diversity is divine Good Omens second season highlights how good queer and disabled representation could be in the fantasy genre. | Image: AmazonWarning: Spoilers ahead for season 2 of Amazon Prime’s Good Omens With the release of the second season of Good Omens on July 28th, writer Neil Gaiman has officially (and rather devastatingly) put any accusations of queerb…

LG Gram Style review: a beautiful mess I’ve never seen a laptop that looks quite like this. I’ve also never seen a laptop with its particular set of problems. Continue reading…