It looks like Android is getting a Continuity-like device-linking feature There’s no word yet on when the new feature will start rolling out. | Illustration: Alex Castro / The VergeGoogle is reportedly planning to introduce a new Android feature that will let users link their various Android devices together, similar to Continuity features across the Apple ecosystem. Android expert Mishaal Rahman tweeted about the pot…

Google Slides is getting native support for annotations Circling! Underlining! And more! | Image: GoogleGoogle is adding a new annotation feature to its Slides presentation software that’ll let users doodle on their work while presenting it. The search giant hopes that having the ability to “circle, underline, draw connections or make quick notes” will make for presentations that are “more engaging, …

Microsoft shuts down Cortana app on Windows 11 Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty ImagesMicrosoft has shut down its Cortana app for Windows 11. A new update is rolling out for Cortana that simply disables the digital assistant three years after Microsoft also discontinued its Cortana apps for iOS and Android. If you attempt to launch Cortana on Windows 11 you’ll now be met with a notice about ho…

Olivia Rodrigo just released a new song — and a new Instagram feature Image: InstagramA new Instagram feature allows users to add music to their grid posts — and Olivia Rodrigo is the first person to do it. The feature was introduced today by Rodrigo, who used it to unveil her new song, “bad idea right?” Instagram users can attach a song of their choice to soundtrack a carousel post with multiple photos or videos,…

Elon Musk’s new round of X Ads Revenue Sharing payments arrived, eventually The VergeThe Twitter Blue — pardon me — X Premium Ads Revenue Sharing payouts that were supposed to roll out last week have been delivered, as the @Support account tweeted the news Monday night. Asked about the delay, X employee Eric Farraro said the late Friday announcement of a delay came only once the company was sure payments would not go ou…

Robotaxis get the green light to expand to 24/7 service in San Francisco Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty ImagesWaymo and Cruise were approved to operate their robotaxi services 24/7 in San Francisco, after a contentious public hearing in which residents voiced their support and opposition to the vehicles. The vote by the California Public Utilities Commission allows the two companies to operate their vehicles at any …

The next Final Fantasy VII mobile game launches next month Image: Square EnixFinal Fantasy VII Ever Crisis, a new game in the FFVII universe, will be released on iOS and Android on September 7th. The game brings together moments from other FFVII titles, adds some new ones, and will let you “experience the journey of a young hero Sephiroth.” You can preorder it on the App Store and preregister for it on …

We asked LG for a burn-in warranty on its OLED monitor — and it’s delivering LG’s 27-inch OLED monitor. | Photo by Sean Hollister / The VergeOLED might be the future of monitors, but first, they need to finish addressing burn-in fears. In my recent review of LG’s 27-inch OLED desktop gaming monitor, I wrote how the company’s warranty explicitly excludes “burned-in images resulting from improper usage.” And when I reached…

How to turn off and delete your YouTube watch history Illustration by Samar Haddad / The VergeMany app homepages have gotten incredibly busy, filled with suggestions and ads, many based on your previous searches or stuff you’ve read / written / watched in the past. YouTube is certainly no exception — in fact, it’s one of the worst offenders — but recently, Google’s video service announced that user…

The WGA’s labor contract negotiations with the AMPTP will resume this Friday Image: The Writers Guild of AmericaAfter recently meeting to discuss the possibility of resuming talks about a new labor contract, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) are now set to return to the negotiation table this Friday — more than three months into Hollywood’s writers stri…

Amazon is dropping dozens of in-house brands you didn’t even know it owned Illustration by Alex Castro / The VergeAmazon is slashing the number of in-house brands it offers on its marketplace. The retail giant plans on cutting 27 of its 30 private-label clothing brands as it looks to cut costs and stave off antitrust scrutiny, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal. Over the years, Amazon has created dozens…

Rival air taxi startups Wisk and Archer settle their trade secret theft lawsuit Image: Wisk.aeroWisk and Archer, two leading air taxi startups, have settled their legal dispute over allegations of stolen trade secrets, avoiding a jury trial that would have cast a negative light on the emerging aviation technology sector. Wisk, a wholly owned subsidiary of Boeing, sued Archer in 2021 for allegedly stealing its trade secrets…

Roblox makes an in-Roblox career center that’s all about Roblox Image: RobloxRoblox has created a virtual career center inside Roblox where people can learn more about the metaverse platform, prepare for interviews at the company, and attend events hosted by Roblox itself, according to a blog post. In the future, some initial interviews will even happen directly in the experience, Roblox says. You can get an…

Augie lets you make videos with an AI clone of your own voice Image: Daniela Vladimirova / FlickrAug X released Augie, an AI-powered video creation platform incorporating a voice cloning feature to read ad copy without booking a recording studio. Partnering with ElevenLabs, Aug X lets users record their or someone else’s voice and clone it to use for other short videos. The Augie platform, aimed primarily…

Multifunctional smartwatch bands should be more of a thing It’s less violently green in person, but what I appreciated was how it changes up the feel of the watch without me having to do anything. | Image: NomadIt’s no surprise that most fitness trackers have swappable straps these days. Watches — smart or otherwise — are a fashion statement, people have different needs from their wearables, and everybo…

The best Fitbits for your fitness and health Fitbit makes an array of fitness trackers, from basic fitness bands to full-fledged smartwatches, though the best Fitbit smartwatch isn’t technically a Fitbit. | Photo illustration by William Joel / The VergeWhether you want a basic fitness tracker or a smartwatch, there’s a Fitbit for everyone — though the best Fitbit smartwatch isn’t technical…

Baldur’s Gate 3 reactivates PS5 cross-saves Image: Larian StudiosBaldur’s Gate 3 just changed the game. I don’t mean the fact that it’s become the second most played game on Steam right now, catching up to Steam mainstays CS:GO and DOTA 2. I don’t mean how it’s enjoying incredible success without elements like a battle pass or microtransactions. And I don’t even mean how it’s a game craft…

Substack wants to make itself a better place for readers, not just writers Illustration by The VergeSubstack wants to make the platform a better place for readers and will be adding features to its reading apps so that they “feel increasingly useful and fun,” co-founders Chris Best, Hamish McKenzie, and Jairaj Sethi said in a post on Thursday. Substack is perhaps best known as a place for writers to build newsletter au…

Quake II is getting the remaster treatment Image: Bethesda SoftworksTwo years after the surprise announcement and release of a remastered version of the original Quake, Quake II is getting a similar glow-up to coincide with the start of QuakeCon. Its remaster, which is simply titled Quake II, is available today for $9.99 for PC, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation. It’s available as p…

FEC could limit AI in political ads ahead of 2024 Photo by Oscar Del Pozo / AFP via Getty ImagesAfter weeks of back and forth, the Federal Election Commission decided that it will, maybe, make rules regulating the use of AI-generated content in political ads. At an open meeting Thursday, the FEC voted to open up the petition for public comment, kicking off a process that could result in new rul…