Pixel phones will be able to detect and report malicious apps in real time Google versus the bad guys. | Illustration: Alex Castro / The VergeGoogle is beefing up its malware detection with new protections designed to suss out ever-sneakier bad actors. Android’s Google Play Protect service is getting an update called live threat detection which seeks out potentially harmful apps on your phone by analyzing app behavior…

Sonos revenue falls in the aftermath of company’s messy app debacle Image: Cath Virginia / The VergeSonos is still trying to climb out from the hole it dug itself earlier this year by recklessly shipping an overhauled mobile app well before the software was actually ready. Today, just a couple weeks after the release of its latest hardware products — the Arc Ultra and Sub 4 — Sonos reported its fiscal Q4 2024 ea…

OpenAI reportedly plans to launch an AI agent early next year Illustration by Cath Virginia / The Verge | Photos by Getty ImagesOpenAI is preparing to release an autonomous AI agent that can control computers and perform tasks independently, code-named “Operator.” The company plans to debut it as a research preview and developer tool in January, according to Bloomberg. This move intensifies the competition…

The Lightfoot electric scooter is wrapped in solar panels to address range anxiety The Lightfoot scooter’s 120W solar panels can extend its range by up to 20 miles in the Summer, its creators claim. | Image: OtherlabOtherlab has announced a new electric scooter called the Lightfoot that can extend its range not by fast charging or quick battery swaps, but by soaking up the sun. The scooter is shrouded in two large solar panels…

Meta must face FTC trial that could separate Instagram and WhatsApp Illustration by Nick Barclay / The VergeMeta must face the Federal Trade Commission’s antitrust lawsuit that accuses the company of dominating the social media industry through its acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp, a DC District Court Judge ruled on Wednesday. The FTC filed a lawsuit against Meta in 2020, alleging the company bought up riv…

Final Fantasy games are coming to Apple Arcade Image: AppleApple Arcade is getting a dose of Final Fantasy. Apple just announced the next batch of games coming to its subscription service, and Square Enix’s long-running RPG series is the highlight. First up is the 3D remake of Final Fantasy IV, which will be launching on December 9th, alongside its direct sequel The After Years. Then, the or…

Tesla Cybertruck hit with sixth recall this year, this time over a bad inverter Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge, Getty ImagesThe Tesla Cybertruck was recalled for the sixth time this year — and the fix won’t involve an easy software update. Tesla voluntarily issued a recall for approximately 2,431 Cybertrucks manufactured between November 6, 2023 and July 30, 2024. The issue is related to something called the metal-oxide-…

Silo’s mysteries only deepen in season 2 Image: AppleThe first season of Silo ended on a truly great cliffhanger. The Apple TV Plus series, an adaptation of Hugh Howey’s trilogy of postapocalyptic novels, tells the story of the remnants of humanity, who live deep underground in silos designed to protect them from a poisoned planet. Season 1 had the feeling of a small-town mystery, as m…

The rarely discounted PlayStation Pulse Elite headset hits a record low price Sony designed its flagship headset to pair perfectly with a PlayStation household. | Image: SonyIt’s inordinately rare to find the PlayStation Pulse Elite on sale, but Black Friday season is always a good opportunity for retailers to break the rules. Sony’s flagship wireless headset is discounted to $129.99 ($20 off) at Walmart right now as part…

These are the passwords you definitely shouldn’t be using Cath Virginia / The Verge | Photo from Getty ImagesThe password manager NordPass has once again released its annual list of the world’s most popular passwords — and the lack of creativity is just a little disheartening. For the second year in a row, “123456” has been crowned the most common password. The same numbers topped the chart five out of…

Workers at Bethesda parent company strike over remote work policies Image: Bethesda SoftworksThe members of ZeniMax Workers United-CWA, one of the largest video game unions in the United States, have gone on strike. The action involves workers in ZeniMax offices in Texas and Maryland, who do quality assurance work for games including Fallout and Elder Scrolls. Workers are striking over claims that ZeniMax leader…

Amazon’s new $20 and under store is here to challenge Shein and Temu Image: AmazonAmazon has launched a store where every product costs $20 or less in a bid to take on popular low-cost shopping apps like Temu and Shein. The new “Amazon Haul” service is available in the US via Amazon’s app or mobile website, and offers a wide range of similar fashion, home, lifestyle, and electronics products that you’d expect to …

Bluesky crosses the 15 million user mark Image: Cath Virginia / The VergeShort-form posting platform Bluesky crossed the 15 million user mark today amid a recent surge of user signups in the wake of the US presidential election. That’s according to a stat-tracking site put together by Bluesky developer Jaz, using the Bluesky API. The platform, which rests on the decentralized AT Proto…

Just Eat is selling Grubhub to Marc Lore’s Wonder for $650M Image: Wonder / GrubhubJust Eat is selling off Grubhub to fancy food hall delivery startup Wonder in a deal worth $650 million. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2025, subject to regulatory approvals. Wonder is owned by businessman Marc Lore, the former Walmart e-commerce CEO and part-owner of the Minnesota Timberwolve…

The Polestar 3 with rear-wheel drive and 350 miles of range will start at $68,900 Polestar revealed new pricing and range details for the rear-wheel drive version of its Polestar 3 SUV, which began reaching customers earlier this month. The single-motor RWD Polestar 3 will be the most affordable and longest range version of the EV, starting at $68,900 (including a $1,400 destination charge) and getting an EPA-rated range of…

Patreon introduces subscription gifting and discounts Image: PatreonSubscriptions are the main way creators on Patreon make money, as they must build an audience willing to shell out a few dollars a month to access their writing, podcasts, or videos. The company announced today that creators and their fans can now give away gift memberships, which could be a powerful way for creators to grow their …

Belkin’s Vision Pro strap should just come with the headset Photo: Wes Davis / The VergeThe Vision Pro VR headset is such an Apple product — meticulously designed and packed with incredible tech, but designed to be used Apple’s way, whether you like it or not. For many, that means the headset is aggressively uncomfortable to wear due to its weight distribution. For the last several days, though, I’ve bee…

National Guard Discord leaker sentenced to 15 years in prison Image: Cath Virginia / The VergeAfter pleading guilty in March to six counts of willful retention and transmission of national defense information under the Espionage Act, former Air National Guard member Jack Teixeira was sentenced today to 15 years in prison for posting “hundreds of pages” of classified military documents on Discord. Some of t…

Here are the best Black Friday deals you can already get Google’s new Pixel Buds Pro 2 have already fallen to $179 ahead of the holiday. | Photo by Chris Welch / The VergeCan’t wait until Black Friday to start your holiday shop or score a killer deal on a gadget you’ve been eyeing? You may not have to. Although Black Friday isn’t until November 29th, Best Buy, Walmart, and Target have begun rolling ou…

Amazon is shutting down Freevee Image: FreeveeAmazon is going to shut down Freevee, its free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) service. The service’s content has already been migrated over to Prime Video and new episodes of Freevee shows will be available to people who don’t pay for Prime, Deadline reports. The brand will be phased out “over the coming weeks,” Deadline …