Dairy Queen is becoming the latest fast food chain to get in on AI, as it's bringing a chatbot to dozens of its drive-thrus across the US and Canada. It aims to help speed up drive-thru service and "encourage customers to add more food to their orders," according to The Wall Street Journal.Following a test last year, Dairy Queen is widely launching the tech built by Presto, an AI company that already works with chains like Carl's Jr., Hardee's, Taco John's, and Fazoli's. In 2023, a report from Bloomberg revealed that Presto's AI drive-thrus may actually be assisted by human workers based in locations like the Philippines.Presto's chatbot …Read the full story at The Verge.

Moving from Windows to Linux can be really freeing, but it's easy to miss some of Microsoft's finer features. For example, some people making the jump may find that they miss Windows' Task Manager. Linux distros usually have a somewhat similar app that lets you do what you want to achieve, but it doesn't quite have all the bells and whistles of Microsoft's solution.

I had ordered the Philips Hue bulbs without realizing they needed a Hue Bridge to work as smart lights. But I didn’t want to pay for expensive, extra hardware. Instead, I used an Amazon Echo Plus with those Hue bulbs for years, until the smart speaker suddenly stopped working.

Perfect Lovers II | Photo: Nik Massey Vacuum cleaners, personal massagers, electronic baby rockers, and walking pads: These are the secondhand machines Rachel Youn sources to create their kinetic sculptures. Made with artificial flowers, metal hardware, and these used electronic components, each one possesses a humanlike presence. Slow Burn is made from an artificial orchid, a neck massager, bits of metal that clamp the orchids' petals, and a monitor mount attaching the entire apparatus to a gallery wall. A motor on the massager animates metal rods that force the orchid open and close, a visual that feels caged in its sexuality, a flower forced to furl and unfurl infinitely fo …Read the full story at The Verge.

Some of us take a kind of “eat to live” rather than a “live to eat” approach to gadgets. They’re tools that help you get things done, not something you want to invest a lot of time or money in. If that’s you — and there’s no judgment here from a certifiable gadget nerd — then you can probably think of more worthwhile ways to spend $1,000 than on a phone.Budget phones to the rescue. These devices are roughly $600 or under, and they’re more capable than ever. You won’t get all the bells and whistles, but you will save a little money to spend on, I don’t know, actual bells and whistles. It’s your world.What compromises can you expect from a budget phone? Some combination of the following: slower processors, less storage, and worse cameras than flagship phones, almost across the board. Many have lower-resolution screens, most skip wireless charging, and water resistance is often less robust than on a pricier phone.The best cheap iPhoneApple iPhone 17EScore: 7ProsConsNow with magnets!Healthy 256GB of storage in the base modelCapable, if basic, camera systemBasically the same processor as iPhone 17No always-on displayScreen limited to 60HzNo ultrawide camera or upgraded selfie camWhere to Buy: $599 at Apple (256GB) $599.99 at Best Buy (256GB) $599.99 at T-Mobile (256GB)Screen: 6.1-inch, 1170p, 60Hz OLED / Processor: A19 / Cameras: 48-megapixel f/1.6 with OIS, 12-megapixel selfie / Battery: 4,005mAh / Charging: 20W wired, 15W MagSafe wireless / Weather-resistance rating: IP68The iPhone 17E is the minimum viable iPhone — and I mean that in a good way. It has the same speedy A19 chipset as the standard iPhone 17, starts with a decent 256GB of storage, and offers a full day of battery life. It also comes with MagSafe, unlike last year’s 16E, opening up faster magnetic wireless charging and a world of grips and accessories.Still, there are a few big omissions in Apple’s cheapest iPhone. The most obvious is that it’s limited to a single 48-megapixel rear camera, lacking even an ultrawide. That’s something plenty of buyers are likely to find limiting. Fewer people are likely to be bothered by the phone’s lack of an always-on display, its 60Hz refresh rate, or the fact that it doesn’t support Apple’s Dynamic Island, which is a handy way to keep track of Live Activities.For some, those will be good reasons to spend $200 more on the iPhone 17. For others, they won’t — my mom had never even noticed her old iPhone 12 had a second rear camera, so I don’t think she’ll miss it on her new 17E. Android alternatives at this price will also get you extra lenses, smoother displays, and faster charging. But if you want an iPhone, and $600 is where your budget stops, the 17E is the best you’ve got without shopping pre-owned.Read our full iPhone 17E review.The best cheap Android phoneGoogle Pixel 10AScore: 7ProsConsThe flush camera looks and feels greatSeven years of software updatesSatellite SOS supportIt’s the Pixel 9A againThe Pixel 9A is cheaperYou should just buy the Pixel 9AWhere to Buy: $499 $449 at Amazon (128GB) $499 $449 at Best Buy (128GB) $599 $549 at Amazon (256GB)Screen: 6.3-inch, 1080p, 120Hz OLED / Processor: Tensor G4 / Cameras: 48-megapixel f/1.7 with OIS, 13-megapixel ultrawide, 13-megapixel selfie / Battery: 5,100mAh / Charging: 30W wired, 10W wireless / Weather-resistance rating: IP68You couldn’t call the Pixel 10A an ambitious phone; it’s essentially a carbon copy of last year’s Pixel 9A with a slightly flatter camera bump. Still, Google’s competition hasn’t advanced much either, which means the 10A remains the best cheap Android phone you can buy, short of picking up a discounted 9A while it’s still on sale (well, at least in the US — buyers elsewhere should look to Poco and Realme for some stiff competition).The 10A is powered by the same Tensor G4 chip as last year, though its 6.3-inch OLED screen is slightly brighter. The battery is the same size, but Google says it should last a little longer thanks to optimization, and the 30W wired and 10W wireless charging is a fraction faster, too. The biggest addition over the 9A is satellite connectivity, which is useful if you regularly find yourself off the grid.The 10A’s cameras remain one of its biggest strengths, with the 48-megapixel main camera (the same as in the regular Pixel 10) joined by an ultrawide. You won’t find many phones with better cameras at this price, though you will find some with more lenses.Read our full Google Pixel 10A review.The budget phone with a big, beautiful screenNothing Phone 4A ProScore: 6ProsConsSlim, metal bodyUnique (and fun!) designBig and brilliant displayCamera quality is mixedOnly three years of OS updatesNo wireless chargingWhere to Buy: $499 at Nothing (8GB RAM + 128GB) $499 at Amazon (8GB RAM + 128GB) $599 at Amazon (12GB RAM + 256GB)Screen: 6.83-inch, 1260p, 144Hz OLED / Processor: Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 / Cameras: 50-megapixel f/1.9 with OIS, 50-megapixel 3.5x telephoto, 8-megapixel ultrawide, 32-megapixel selfie / Battery: 5,080mAh / Charging: 50W wired / Weather-resistance rating: IP65The Phone 4A Pro is one of the few Nothing phones to get a true US release. In a way, it’s also one of the brand’s most conservative designs, with its transparent plastic mostly giving way to opaque metal, outside of the chunky camera module (which has the boon of a 3.5x telephoto lens but mixed performance otherwise). The metal design also means there’s no wireless charging, though fast 50W wired charging helps make up for that.The 4A Pro will mostly appeal for its large 6.83-inch display, which is brighter than rivals and features a faster 144Hz refresh rate. That pairs nicely with Nothing’s eye-catching software design, which makes the 4A Pro a looker in just about every respect. That said, while the software may look good, Nothing only promises three OS updates, meaning the company’s latest handset won’t suit anyone looking for a phone for the long run.Read our full Nothing Phone 4A Pro review.Other budget phones to considerThe 2026 Motorola Moto G Power offers a lot despite its starting price of $299.99. It features a 6.8-inch LCD display, a 5,200mAh battery, and a 3.5mm headphone jack, which is increasingly rare in 2026. Additionally, the device combines both IP68 and IP69 ratings, meaning it’s rated for both submersion in water and exposure to high-pressure water jets and steam, in addition to full protection from dust. Our biggest concern with Motorola’s budget phones is how much bloatware they come with — be prepared to opt out and uninstall a bunch of stuff you never asked for. The Samsung Galaxy S25 FE is another perfectly capable phone that doesn’t quite earn a recommendation here. It’s a little outside the scope of this guide at $649 anyway (although you can sometimes pick it up at a discount), but you do get a telephoto lens and a nice, big screen for that price. Still, you’re better off saving a bunch and picking up the Pixel 10A or trying to score a trade-in promo for the newer Galaxy S26.The Samsung Galaxy A57 recently launched in the US with a starting price of $549, up $50 from the year before. The device has all the makings of a solid midrange phone, including a 6.7-inch OLED display, a 50-megapixel main camera, an Exynos 1680 chip, and a 5,000mAh battery with 45W wired charging. It’s thinner than its A56 predecessor and has been upgraded to IP68 protection, too. Although we haven’t tested it yet, it faces stiff competition from the Pixel 10A, which starts at $499.The Samsung Galaxy A37 5G is another great choice that’s available in the US for $449. The device sports a big OLED display, an Exynos 1480 processor, and an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance. Samsung is promising six years of OS and security updates, which is a lot for a phone in this price range. While we haven’t tested the A37 5G, its predecessor offered a good balance of hardware and price, and the latest release sounds just as compelling.TCL’s Nxtpaper 70 Pro recently went on sale in the US, though it’s exclusive to T-Mobile and Metro. Its main selling point is its 6.9-inch Nxtpaper 4.0 matte LCD screen, which is supposed to be easier on your eyes than a traditional LCD. It also features a “Max Ink Mode,” which turns the screen monochrome and silences notifications, plus somewhat higher specs than its predecessor.Senior reviewer Allison Johnson also contributed to this post.

There was a time when stream controllers were dedicated to making the lives of live-streamers easier with on-the-fly controls at the press of a button. But, over time, these same devices have evolved to become so much more, offering impressive customization options so that they can be used for pretty much anything that requires action with just the push of one button.

The latest AirPods Pro $50 off at multiple retailers, which is their second-best price to date. From OLED TVs to smartphones, Best Buy’s Upgrade Sale has slashed prices on all kinds of tech, including a wide range of Apple devices. We’ve rounded up the best deals from the sale here, but one of the most notable is the AirPods Pro 3, which are down to $199.99 ($50 off) at Best Buy, with Amazon and Walmart matching said price. That’s their second-best price to date and just $15 shy of their all-time low.AirPods Pro 3Where to Buy: $249.99 $199.99 at Best Buy $249 $199.99 at Amazon $249 $199.99 at WalmartThe AirPods Pro are Apple’s high-end wireless earbuds, and as such, they offer the best sound quality and most effective active noise cancellation you can get in a pair of earbuds. They’re also more versatile than prior models, thanks to a built-in heart rate sensor that works with Apple’s Fitness app to monitor calories burned across more than 50 workout types. You also get access to a number of more advanced features courtesy of Apple’s newer H2 chip, including real-time translation and conversation awareness, which automatically lowers the volume when you start speaking to someone nearby. You can even use your AirPods as a camera remote, letting you snap photos or start recording video on your iPhone with the press of a stem. In addition, the third-gen AirPods Pro come with a fifth ear tip size (XXS) and an IP57 rating for sweat and water resistance, making them a better fit for a wider range of users and improving durability. Their angled design helps them fit more securely in your ear, too, while subtle improvements in battery life let them last up to eight hours with active noise cancellation enabled. Unsurprisingly, they also offer clear call quality and integrate well with the rest of the Apple ecosystem, so you can easily switch between your phone and Mac or easily track your earbuds using their Find My-compatible charging case.Read our AirPods Pro 3 review.Three more ways to saveBlink’s latest Video Doorbell is on sale at Amazon with a Blink Outdoor 4 camera and a Sync Module Core for an all-time low of $43.99 ($96 off), which means you’re basically getting the outdoor cam for free. Both cameras capture 1080p video and support motion alerts, two-way audio, and Amazon Alexa; however, the battery-powered buzzer is meant for monitoring your front door, while the weather-resistant Outdoor 4 gives you a bit more flexibility for keeping tabs on other areas outside your home.Now through Sunday, April 19th, Verge readers can use promo code 15VERGEVAC at Wellbots to grab a Dreame X40 Ultra for $458.15 ($192 off), which is a new low for what was once our favorite robot vacuum / mop for hard floors and carpets. While it’s not as powerful as the newer X50 Ultra and lacks its motorized swing arm, the X40’s dual oscillating mop pads still do a great job of scrubbing floors. It can also empty its own dustbin, refill its own water tank, clean the base, and wash and dry its own mop pads.Okay, this isn’t technically a deal, but if you’re looking to save on the Meta Quest 3S or Quest 3, now might be a good time to buy. Starting April 19th, Meta is raising prices by $50 for the Quest 3S and $100 for the Quest 3. For now, though, you can still pick up the 128GB Quest 3S for about $299.95 at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target, and the 512GB Quest 3 starting at about $499 (Amazon, Best Buy, and Target). Both VR headsets can play the same games, though the Quest 3 offers better display resolution and optics quality.

All signs point to the fact that CAMM2 is poised to be the next dominant memory standard in consumer laptops, but that's hardly news at this point. What makes this a particularly interesting development for portable form-factors is the fact that this isn't a new generation of memory in the way that DDR5 or the upcoming DDR6 are.

Claude is still the best AI coding tool I've tested out, but its usage limits have become hard to trust. The tiers keep changing, the allowance seems to drain faster than it used to, and if you rely on it for real work, that uncertainty gets annoying fast. So I went looking for alternatives, tested Claude's two biggest competitors on the same coding task, and one of them banned my account before I could finish.

WireGuard is a popular choice in the self-hosting community for a good reason. It's a fast and lightweight means to deploy a secure tunnel that runs efficiently even on low-power hardware. And once it is set up, it just works efficiently without disruption. But that simplicity comes with a trade-off.

This weekend's scheduled Blue Origin rocket launch is rather momentous. Success would signal an end to SpaceX's monopoly on reusable orbital launch vehicles, and set up a three-way race to make that "No Service" indicator on your phone disappear forever.On Sunday morning, Jeff Bezos' massive New Glenn rocket is scheduled to launch with the first-stage booster that launched and landed on the program's second mission last November. It's a critical test, because cost-effective booster reuse is what's made SpaceX's Falcon 9 so dominate.Amazon desperately needs a reusable rocket of its own to accelerate its Leo launches. Without one, it's onl …Read the full story at The Verge.

This is one of the more unique cameras that we've seen in a while, taking advantage of two cameras to get a 180-degree panoramic shot of the space you want to monitor and secure. And while we like the idea, the usual price of $100 isn't quite what we'd want to spend, if we're looking for this type of solution.