This $49.99 wired Xbox controller has sticks that won’t drift It’s a basic-looking Xbox controller with a basic-ass name, but what’s on the inside makes it unique. | Image: GameSirStick drift can plague any controller still using wear-and-tear-prone potentiometers, and unfortunately for us, that includes all current first-party gamepads from Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft. However, after years of notoriousl…

The latest Threads update adds a ‘follows’ tab, but it doesn’t do what you’d like Image: The VergeThreads is getting a “follows” tab, but it’s not the following-only feed that users have been asking for. As outlined in this post from Threads developer Cameron Roth, the new tab lives on the app’s activity page and only lets you see a list of users who recently followed you. Threads previously listed your recent followers in i…

Mobileye’s latest car tech reads road signs to better pester you about speed Mobileye’s system can detect illustrated signs as well as regular speed limit signs. | Image: MobileyeDriverless car tech developer Mobileye has a new vision-only system designed for one job: figure out the proper speed limit. The company’s new product is a type of Intelligent Speed Assist (ISA) solution that not only automatically reads numbers…

Elon Musk says Twitter is working on a feature that will let you publish articles Illustration by Alex Castro / The VergeTwitter is working on a feature that will let you publish articles on the platform, according to owner Elon Musk. The feature will “allow users to post very long, complex articles with mixed media,” Musk said in a reply to a user tweeting about the in-development tool, which is apparently now called “Articl…

The NYPD is testing drones that broadcast public safety warnings during emergencies The NYPD conducted its test on Sunday following weeks of heavy rain and flooding across the city. | Photo by James Carbone / Newsday RM via Getty ImagesThe New York City Police Department is testing new drones that are designed to transmit audio messages to the public, such as announcements warning of dangerous weather or nearby emergencies. On …

Microsoft puts a steep price on Copilot, its AI-powered future of Office documents Image: MicrosoftMicrosoft is putting a price on the AI-powered future of Office documents, and it’s a steep one for businesses looking to adopt Microsoft’s latest technology. Microsoft 365 Copilot will be available for $30 per user per month for Microsoft 365 E3, E5, Business Standard, and Business Premium customers. That’s a big premium over th…

Microsoft’s new Bing Chat Enterprise offers better privacy for businesses “Your personal and company data are protected in this chat” | Image: MicrosoftMicrosoft is announcing a new AI-powered chat tool that’s designed to offer a higher level of data protection for businesses with privacy and security concerns about generative AI tools. Bing Chat Enterprise is launching in preview today and will be included in select …

Every smart home device that works with Matter The VergeAll the Matter-compatible devices you can buy now, plus what’s coming soon to the new Apple, Amazon, Google, and Samsung-backed smart home standard. Continue reading…

Five reasons Threads could still go the distance Illustration: The VergeThis is Platformer, a newsletter on the intersection of Silicon Valley and democracy from Casey Newton and Zoë Schiffer. Sign up here. I. On July 5th, Meta released Threads into the world. Its arrival came after months of anticipation, but ultimately a bit earlier than Meta had planned. Elon Musk’s characteristically self…

Meta is giving away its AI tech to try to beat ChatGPT Illustration: Alex Castro / The VergeMeta announced it’s open-sourcing its large language model LLaMA 2, making it free for commercial and research use and going head-to-head with OpenAI’s free-to-use GPT-4, which powers tools like ChatGPT and Microsoft Bing. Meta announced the move as part of Microsoft’s Inspire event, noting its support for A…

The New York Times is shutting down its math-based puzzle game Screenshot by Jay Peters / The VergeThe New York Times is shutting down Digits, the math-based puzzle game it launched in beta in April. If you visit the page for the game, you’ll see a message that says “This game is going away on August 8th.” If you click into the game, you’ll see a message as well. In Digits, the goal is to add, subtract, mul…

Bing, Bard, and ChatGPT: How AI is rewriting the internet Álvaro Bernis / The VergeHow we use the internet is changing fast thanks to the advancement of AI-powered chatbots that can find information and redeliver it as a simple conversation. Continue reading…

Thousands of Call of Duty fans are playing classic Xbox 360 titles thanks to a server fix Photo by Tim Ireland / PA Images via Getty ImagesActivision has fixed matchmaking server issues in some older Call of Duty titles for the Xbox 360. Players have been complaining about matchmaking issues in classics like Call of Duty: Black Ops and the original Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II over the past few years, as they haven’t been able to …

The Biden Administration is tackling smart devices with a new cybersecurity label Illustration by Carlo Cadenas / The VergeThe Biden Administration is unveiling a new cybersecurity label for smart devices today. In a press briefing, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said the new label, called the US Cyber Trust Mark, will signify that devices bearing it meet security standards based on tho…

VanMoof e-bikes is bankrupt It’s the end of the road for VanMoof as we know it. | Photo by Thomas Ricker / The VergeVanMoof — the independent e-bike maker that once bragged about being the “most funded e-bike company in the world” — has been declared bankrupt in the Netherlands. The company had entered into a so-called “suspension of payment” proceeding with court-assigned…

Google and Taito’s AR Space Invaders game is out now on Android and launching soon on iOS Image: GoogleGoogle and Taito’s new augmented reality game that lets you wave around your phone to destroy AR Space Invaders aliens is out now on Android and launching at midnight local time on July 18th on iOS, according to a blog post from Google. The two companies announced the game, Space Invaders: World Defense, at Google I/O in May. The re…

Peacock’s prices are going up in August Illustration by Alex Castro / The VergeThere are more streaming choices than ever before, and now Peacock has joined the list of services that are getting even more expensive. A media update reported by Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, and The Streamable confirmed prices for both of its streaming plans are going up, effective August 17th, with …

Neopets is promising a ‘new era’ with an improved website and fixed Flash games Image: NeopetsNeopets, the beloved virtual pet website that launched in 1999, announced a “new era” on Monday. The Neopets Team (TNT) said that it will be launching a new “unified website” this week and fixing some of the old Flash games shortly after, per an extensive blog post on Medium. The new website, which will launch on July 20th, will “s…

Apple can delay App Store changes to file Supreme Court plea Illustration: The VergeOn Monday, Apple was granted a motion putting a hold on the appeals court ruling that would push the company to undo its “anti-steering” rules and let outside developers link to third-party payment mechanisms. The mandate is stayed for 90 days so Apple can file its request that the Supreme Court take up the case. Apple’s a…

The Chosen is reportedly still shooting during the SAG strike because it’s a ‘truly independent’ production Jonathan Roumie as Jesus Christ. | Vidangel StudiosWhile the Screen Actors Guild and Writers Guild of America’s ongoing labor strikes have brought production on most of Hollywood’s movies and shows to an indefinite stop, filming on the fourth season of The Chosen — Dallas Jenkins’ historical drama series about Jesus Christ — is reportedly contin…