In a world full of laptops, is there a place for the iMac? Image: Samar Haddad / The VergeApple hasn’t updated the iMac in well over two years, and it sells far more laptops than desktops these days. What does all of that mean for the future of the desktop computer that saved Apple from bankruptcy 25 years ago? Continue reading…

WhatsApp starts testing AI-generated stickers Illustration: The VergeMeta-owned WhatsApp has started testing a new AI-generated stickers feature. WABetaInfo reports that some testers in the Android WhatsApp beta program have spotted the new AI-powered stickers, allowing WhatsApp users to generate a sticker based on a text description. Android Police points out that it’s not clear which gene…

Tesla reintroduces more affordable ‘Standard Range’ versions of Model S and X Tesla’s Model S configurator, showing the newly available Standard Range version. | Screenshot by Jon Porter / The VergeTesla now sells “Standard Range” versions of its Model S and Model X, lowering the starting price of both vehicles by $10,000 for anyone prepared to compromise on the distance either car can drive before needing to be recharged…

SAG-AFTRA is further restricting what projects can move forward during the strike Over 200 interim contracts have been granted by SAG-AFTRA since the strike began last month. | Illustration by William Joel / The VergeIn an act of solidarity with the Writers Guild of America (WGA), the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) will no longer grant permission to independent projects that fall under WGA contracts to continue production du…

YouTube starts mass takedowns of videos promoting ‘harmful or ineffective’ cancer cures Illustration by Alex Castro / The VergeYouTube will remove content that promotes “cancer treatments proven to be harmful or ineffective” or which “discourages viewers from seeking professional medical treatment,” the video platform announced today. The enforcement comes as YouTube is attempting to streamline its medical moderation guidelines bas…

Aqara’s new Zigbee light strip supports HomeKit Adaptive Lighting and Matter The Aqara LED Strip T1 is available now. | Image: AqaraAqara has released a new Zigbee RGB smart light strip called the LED Strip T1. It costs $49.99, requires an Aqara hub, and is compatible with Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and IFTTT. When paired with certain hubs, including the Aqara Hub M2, the light strip is also compatible with t…

Substack now lets you follow writers before subscribing to them Illustration by The VergeSubstack now lets you follow writers, offering a way for you to keep tabs on what a writer is doing without having to subscribe to their newsletter. When you follow a writer, “you can stay up to date with what they’re reading, liking, publishing, and subscribing to — through the Notes feed and on their profiles,” Substac…

Amazon’s hardware boss running Alexa and Echo plans to retire Dave Limp. | Image: GettyDave Limp, Amazon’s SVP of devices and services, plans to retire in the coming months, as reported by The Wall Street Journal. His retirement marks the end of a more than 13-year career at the company. Amazon published emails to staff from CEO Andy Jassy and Limp addressing the departure on its website. Jassy says that L…

Now you can get food delivered to your gate at some of the biggest US airports OTG’s Flo ordering system will be accessible from QR code cards placed at airport food spots. | Image: OTGSome major US airport terminals like JFK now have options for ordering food for delivery to your gate, Bloomberg reports. This is made possible by airport food management company OTG, which is planning to shed the 21,000 iPads it manages for…

The Elon Musk versus Mark Zuckerberg beef has reached a new level of absurdity Image: The VergeNow that the proposed cage match between Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk isn’t going to happen, Musk is saying he will show up unannounced at Zuckerberg’s home to fight. “For the Tesla FSD test drive in Palo Alto tonight, I will ask the car to drive to @finkd’s house,” Musk posted today on X, or the service formerly called Twitter…

AI companies must prove their AI is safe, says nonprofit group Illustration by Alex Castro / The VergeNonprofits Accountable Tech, AI Now, and the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) released policy proposals that seek to limit how much power big AI companies have on regulation that could also expand the power of government agencies against some uses of generative AI. The group sent the framework …

The Biden administration urges the Supreme Court to take up content moderation cases Image: Getty ImagesThe Biden administration has requested the US Supreme Court review Florida and Texas laws restricting how social media companies like Facebook moderate the content users post on their platforms. In briefs filed on Monday, the US solicitor general urged the court to take up a pair of lawsuits led by the tech trade group NetChoi…

Apple’s iPhone ‘batterygate’ settlement payments should start going out soon Apple iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus | Photo by James Bareham / The VergeJust as some iPhone 14 owners are raising concerns about a possible battery issue, the original lawsuit over 2017’s batterygate saga is nearing an end. One of the firms representing Apple customers in the suit, Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy, announced that the 9th Circuit dismisse…

This $4,000 smart door is now at Home Depot The first smart door has landed at The Home Depot, and if you’re good with dropping at least $4,000 on your front door, then you can order one today. That price doesn’t include installation, though, and no matter how handy you are, this one needs the pros — including an electrician to wire it up. First showcased at CES 2022, the Masonite M-PWR S…

Controversial carbon removal technology just got $1.2 billion from the Biden administration Shovels during a groundbreaking ceremony at the Occidental Petroleum and 1PointFive Direct Air Capture (DAC) plant in Ector County, Texas, on Friday, April 28th, 2023.  | Photographer: Jordan Vonderhaar / Bloomberg via Getty ImagesThe Department of Energy chose the first two locations for “hubs” it envisions for industrial plants that suck plane…

Humane will share more about its mysterious ‘Ai Pin’ the same day as October’s eclipse Image: TEDHumane, a startup founded by ex-Apple employees, plans to share more about its mysterious AI-powered wearable on the same day as a solar eclipse in October, co-founder Imran Chaudhri said in a video on the company’s Discord (via Inverse). The solar eclipse is set to happen on October 14th. The device, officially called the “Humane Ai P…

OnePlus’ new screen knows where you’re touching it, even when it’s wet The Ace 2 Pro “Rain Water Touch” feature in action. | Screenshot: Wes Davis / The VergeThe OnePlus Ace 2 Pro has a new screen design that can tell where you’re touching it even when it’s wet. OnePlus posted a video to Weibo of the new impeccably named “Rain Water Touch” feature, which uses a special chip to algorithmically determine when and whe…

Young people who sued their state over climate change notch their first victory Lead plaintiff Rikki Held, 22, arrives for the nation’s first youth climate change trial at Montana’s First Judicial District Court on June 12th, 2023, in Helena, Montana.  | Photo by William Campbell / Getty ImagesA group of young people who sued the state of Montana for violating their right to a clean environment can claim a big victory today…

Apple TV Plus is getting a new series about Lionel Messi in Miami Photo by Hector Vivas / Getty ImagesThe love affair between Lionel Messi and Apple continues. Now that the star is playing in MLS for Miami, with games broadcast across Apple’s streaming service, the company is doing its best to maximize Messi’s appeal. The latest bit of brand synergy comes in the form of a docuseries that will air on Apple TV P…

Verizon says it’s weeks away from a major upgrade to rural 5G Illustration by Alex Castro / The VergeVerizon says its up to 200MHz C-band 5G spectrum has been cleared for use four months ahead of schedule — an upgrade it says will bring more bandwidth and faster throughput to its customers, particularly those in rural areas. The company will use the new spectrum to expand its 5G-based home and business int…