The Senate is getting ready to vote on a bill to resurrect IRS Direct File, the free tax filing service axed by the Trump administration in 2025. On Wednesday, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) will seek unanimous consent to pass the Direct File Act, where it will either get fast-tracked to the House of Representatives or forced back into the standard, slow-moving lawmaking process if all 100 senators don't agree.Launched in 2024 as a pilot program, IRS Direct File allowed Americans to file taxes directly with the government for free. It spread to 25 states before IRS Commissioner Billy Long declared it "gone" last fall. But Warren and Rep. Bra …Read the full story at The Verge.

Snap is laying off roughly 16 percent of its global workforce in a cost-cutting effort to chase improved profitability with the help of AI. The cuts will impact around 1,000 full-time employees, according to a memo sent to staffers from Snap CEO Evan Spiegel. An additional 300 open roles are also being closed."While these changes are necessary to realize Snap's long-term potential, we believe that rapid advancements in artificial intelligence enable our teams to reduce repetitive work, increase velocity, and better support our community, partners, and advertisers," Spiegel wrote in the memo, which was included in the company's 8-K filing. …Read the full story at The Verge.

Apple's $599 MacBook Neo ($499 for students) has sent shockwaves through the PC ecosystem, and now Microsoft is responding with deals targeting students in the US. A new "Microsoft College Offer" is launching today, which will see the software giant bundle 12 months of free Microsoft 365 Premium and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate with select Windows 11 PCs that have also been discounted.Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, and Lenovo are all participating in this Microsoft College Offer, and Microsoft is even discounting some Surface devices days after hiking the prices of its Surface Pro and Surface Laptop models. Best Buy is selling a 15.3-inch Lenovo IdeaPad …Read the full story at The Verge.

Gemini is Google's general-purpose AI assistant with strong web search and broad synthesis capabilities. NotebookLM is Google's source-locked research tool where you can upload your own documents, PDFs, videos, or links, and it works only within that material.

A lot has been written about SSD endurance on this site, including by yours truly, but SSD upkeep doesn't have to descend into usage anxiety. SSDs indeed have a limited lifespan, which can technically be exhausted once enough data has been written to them. This is precisely why writers like me recommend best practices to extend your SSD's lifespan, especially in this market when prices have skyrocketed. That said, the average user is highly unlikely to encounter a failed SSD because of writing too much data to it. The endurance ratings of consumer SSDs will take decades to exhaust, not years. SSDs are more likely to fail due to electrical or thermal reasons than overuse. That means you still need to take care of your SSDs, but worrying about SSD endurance is something you can safely forget about.

Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream is hard to explain. The best way to understand is to see it in action; a screenshot of Handsome Squidward and Bob Belcher falling in love over their shared appreciation of cannibalism makes it clear that, while it's a life sim, the game is really a joke-generating machine. Living the Dream on the Nintendo Switch gives you more tools and fewer restrictions to make those jokes stranger and funnier. But while Living the Dream provides more freedom for creativity, it also has big restrictions on sharing those creations, and the game seems content with inside jokes staying within its virtual walls.Living the Dre …Read the full story at The Verge.

The AirPods Pro 3 are $50 off, which is one of the biggest discounts we’ve seen this year. | Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge If you missed out on Amazon’s recent spring sales event, Best Buy’s Ultimate Upgrade Sale presents yet another opportunity to score steep discounts on some of our favorite gadgets. The five-day sale runs through April 19th and features deals on a wide range of tech, including 4K TVs, Apple gear, smartphones, smart home devices, and more.Whether you’ve had your eye on LG’s budget-friendlier B5 OLED or Bose’s latest QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, several Verge favorites are either at or near their record-low price. Even products released just last month — including Google’s Pixel 10A and the new 11-inch iPad Air — are on sale, so it’s not just older devices. Best of all, competing retailers like Amazon are matching many of these prices, so you can snag the same deals no matter where you shop.LG B5 OLED TVLG’s B5 TV is a great way to get OLED picture quality for less. It features support for both Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, along with a 120Hz panel and four HDMI 2.1 ports for hooking up the latest gaming consoles. It also runs LG’s webOS platform, supports Amazon Alexa, and provides easy access to a wide range of popular streaming apps.Where to Buy: $1299.99 $599.99 at Best Buy (48-inch) $1499.99 $799.99 at Amazon (55-inch) $1499.99 $799.99 at Best Buy (55-inch)AirPods Pro 3The AirPods Pro 3 have a new design that improves their fit, superior noise cancellation, better bass, and fairly accurate heart rate sensors. Read our review.Where to Buy: $249.99 $199.99 at Best Buy $249 $199 at Amazon $249 $199.99 at WalmartGoogle Pixel 10AGoogle’s new Pixel 10A introduces faster wired charging, Satellite SOS, and new AI tools like Camera Coach and Auto Best Take. Otherwise, it’s basically the Pixel 9A, with the same Tensor G4 chip and a dual-camera system. Read our hands-on impressions.Where to Buy: $499 $449 at Amazon (128GB) $499 $449 at Best Buy (128GB) $599 $549 at Amazon (256GB)Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)The second-gen QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds have dynamic, rich sound and the best noise cancellation currently available in a pair of true wireless earbuds. They’re a terrific pick if you want to listen to your music in peace. Read our review.Where to Buy: $299 $249 at Amazon $299 $249 at Best Buy $299 $249.99 at TargetAnker Laptop Power BankAnker’s 25,000mAh power bank sports two built-in USB-C cables (one of which is retractable), plus one USB-C and USB-A port. It tops out at 165W when charging two devices simultaneously, or 130W when charging three or four.Where to Buy: $119.99 $95.99 at Best Buy $119.99 at Amazon $119.99 at WalmartRay-Ban Meta (Gen 1) smart glassesDeveloped in partnership with Ray-Ban, Meta’s last-gen smart glasses can perform a range of tasks. They can capture 1080p video and play music, and thanks to a suite of AI-based features, you can even use them to translate from a myriad of languages in real time. Read our review.Where to Buy: $299 $224.25 at Amazon $299 $224.25 at Best Buy $299.99 $224.99 at Target iPad (2025)Apple’s entry-level iPad is an excellent tablet for casual use, even if it is getting a little long in the tooth. Its high-res screen is great for watching video, and its A16 processor is still fast enough to handle light games and productivity apps. Read our review.Where to Buy: $349 $299 at Amazon (128GB, Wi-Fi) $449 $399 at Amazon (256GB, Wi-Fi) $349 $299 at Best Buy (128GB, Wi-Fi)Blink Video Doorbell (second-gen)Blink’s latest Video Doorbell is one of the best options available if you want a budget-friendly buzzer with motion-activated recording and alerts, night vision, two-way audio, and up to two years of battery life. Just know that a Sync Module is required for the doorbell to work properly. Where to Buy: $69.99 $35.99 at Amazon (with Sync Module Core) $59.99 $35.99 at Best Buy (with Sync Module Core)Samsung Galaxy S26 UltraSamsung’s 6.9-inch S26 Ultra is the only model in the lineup with the new privacy display, designed to limit what people around you can see on your screen. It also includes the S Pen and upgrades the camera hardware, adding dual telephoto lenses alongside a 200-megapixel main sensor. Read our review.Where to Buy: $1299.99 $1099.99 at Amazon (256GB) $1499.99 $1299.99 at Amazon (512GB) $1299.99 $1099.99 at Best Buy (256GB)Google Nest Doorbell (wired, third-gen)Google’s newest wired doorbell offers 2K video and support for the Gemini for Home AI assistant, along with free alerts for people, packages, and animals. It also supports night vision and two-way audio, but if you want 24/7 recording and more advanced features, you’ll need to pay for a Google Home subscription.Where to Buy: $179.99 $139.99 at Amazon $179.99 $139.99 at Best Buy $179.99 $139.99 at Google13-inch MacBook Air (M5)Powered by Apple’s new M5 chip, the latest MacBook Airs are more powerful than prior models and offer double the base storage (512GB). They also support faster wireless standards, specifically Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6. Read our review.Where to Buy: $1099 $949 at Best Buy $1099 $949 at Amazon $1099 $999 at B&H PhotoBose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (first-gen)The older QC Ultra were a replacement for the Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 with a more travel-friendly design, spatial audio, and better call quality. Thankfully, they still offer excellent comfort and some of the best noise cancellation available. Read our review.Where to Buy: $429 $299 at Amazon $429 $299 at Best BuyBose QuietComfort HeadphonesBose’s QuietComfort Headphones, which replaced the QuietComfort 45, feature adjustable noise cancellation and the ability to set custom modes. However, they lack the immersive audio mode and higher-quality Bluetooth found in Bose’s higher-end QC Ultra Headphones.Where to Buy: $359 $199 at Amazon $359 $199 at Best Buy $359.99 $199.99 at TargetJBL Clip 5The Clip 5 is a compact Bluetooth speaker that provides big sound. It has a customizable equalizer, so you can adjust the sound to your taste, along with an IP67 rating and up to 12 hours of playtime. It also has a built-in carabiner (hence the name), making it easy to clip the speaker to a backpack for easy listening on the go.Where to Buy: $79.95 $59.95 at Amazon $79.95 $59.95 at Best Buy $79.95 $59.95 at JBLSony WH-CH520The Sony WH-CH520 offer a lot for very little. The on-ear Bluetooth headphones provide 50 hours of battery life and support hands-free voice assistants, including Google Assistant and Siri. They also offer multipoint Bluetooth support and can tap into Google’s Find Hub network.Where to Buy: $59.99 $38 at Amazon $59.99 $38 at Best Buy $59.99 $39.99 at TargetSamsung Frame TV Pro (2025)Samsung’s last-gen Frame Pro shows art when you’re not watching TV on a matte, anti-glare screen. It also includes a Wireless One Connect box to keep cables out of sight, and supports Amazon Alexa for hands-free control.Where to Buy: $2199.99 $1497.99 at Amazon (65-inch) $2199.99 $1497.99 at B&H Photo (65-inch) $2199.99 $1499.99 at Best Buy (65-inch)11-inch iPad Air (2026)The latest 11-inch iPad Air comes with Apple’s M4 chip and 12GB of RAM, up from 8GB. It also features Apple’s N1 wireless chip — which adds support for Bluetooth 6, Wi-Fi 7, and Thread — allowing it to connect faster and more reliably to wireless networks, accessories, and smart home devices. Read our review.Where to Buy: $599 $559 at Amazon (128GB, Wi-Fi) $599 $559 at Best Buy (128GB, Wi-Fi) $599 $559 at Walmart (128GB, Wi-Fi)Bose Soundlink Flex (second-gen)The second-gen SoundLink Flex builds on the original with more intuitive controls, including a new play / pause button. It also adds adjustable EQ and support for higher-quality audio via AAC and aptX, while retaining a rugged IP67-rated design and the ability to pair two speakers for stereo sound.Where to Buy: $159 $119 at Amazon $159 $119 at Walmart $159 $119 at Best BuyLenovo IdeaPad Slim 3xThe IdeaPad Slim 3x offers a 15.3-inch touchscreen and a comfortable keyboard. It runs the super efficient Arm-based Snapdragon X1-26-100 chip, making it well-suited for everyday tasks, even if it’s not built for heavy workloads. The real highlight is battery life, though, which can easily last over a full day on a charge; it also features a solid port selection that includes USB-C, USB-A, HDMI, and an SD card slot. Read our review.Where to Buy: $749.99 $549.99 at Best BuyJLab Go Air PopThe JLab Go Air Pop are an affordable pair of wireless earbuds with eight hours of battery life (or 32 hours with the included charging case). The case also houses a built-in USB-A charging plug, so you’re never without a charging cable.Where to Buy: $29.99 $14.99 at Best Buy $29.38 $17.59 at WalmartAmazon Fire TV Stick 4K PlusThe latest version of Amazon’s zippy Fire TV Stick 4K streams in 4K resolution, as its name suggests, and features support for Wi-Fi 6, Dolby Atmos / Vision, and HDR10 Plus.Where to Buy: $49.99 $29.99 at Target $49.99 $29.99 at Amazon $49.99 $29.99 at Best BuyJBL Go 4The last-gen JBL Go 4 has been around for a bit, but the pocket-sized Bluetooth speaker still delivers with up to seven hours of runtime, dual device connectivity, and an IP67 rating for water and dust resistance. You can also pair it with other Go 4 speakers for bigger stereo sound, if desired.Where to Buy: $49.95 $39.95 at Amazon $49.95 $39.95 at Best BuyBlink Mini (first-gen)The last-gen Blink Mini includes a ball-and-socket mount, a USB-C cable for powering it, and a power adapter. However, note that you’ll need to opt for the optional Blink subscription plan to take advantage of cloud storage and some features.Where to Buy: $34.99 $14.99 at Amazon $34.99 $14.99 at Best Buy $34.99 $14.99 at The Home DepotSony LinkBuds ClipSony’s quirky wireless earbuds clip behind your ear, allowing you to stay aware of your surroundings while maintaining a secure fit. They also offer up to nine hours of battery life per charge, excellent voice call quality, and good sound, particularly for a pair of open-style earbuds. Read our review.Where to Buy: $229.99 $198 at Amazon $229.99 $198 at Best Buy $229.99 $199.99 at SonyNinja Creami Scoop & SwirlNinja’s clever 2-in-1 machine can spin up soft serve and traditional hard scoops in a few easy steps, not to mention creamy milkshakes, gelato, and frozen yogurt. Where to Buy: $349.99 $299.99 at Amazon $349.99 $299.99 at Best Buy $349.99 $299.99 at SharkNinjaAsus Vivobook 14The Vivobook 14 runs on the Snapdragon X processor, offers up to 29 hours of battery life, and can be charged to 50 percent capacity in about 30 minutes. It’s not built for demanding workloads, but it’s a solid pick for everyday tasks such as web browsing and light content creation. You also get a good port selection, a 1080p webcam, and a physical privacy shutter.Where to Buy: $749.99 $429.99 at Best Buy

When Microsoft tried to launch Recall, an AI-powered Windows feature that screenshots most of what you do on your PC, it was labeled a "disaster" for cybersecurity and a "privacy nightmare." After the backlash and a year-long delay to redesign and secure Recall, it's once again facing security and privacy concerns.Cybersecurity expert Alexander Hagenah has created TotalRecall Reloaded, a tool that extracts and displays data from Recall. It's an update to the TotalRecall tool that demonstrated all the weaknesses in the original Recall feature before Microsoft redesigned it.Microsoft's redesign focused on creating a secure vault for Recall …Read the full story at The Verge.

I use a lot of tools daily, which you’d think would mean I’ve gotten used to the constant tab-switching and app-hopping - but I haven’t. As a result, there’s always that one app you end up living in more than the others, just for the relief of staying put for a minute. Lately, that’s been Claude for me. I’m already in there for research, brainstorming, and pretty much anything that requires heavy thinking. So I thought, why am I leaving to check my calendar or opening whole separate note-taking apps just to come right back?

Apple quietly threatened to kick Elon Musk's AI app, Grok, from its App Store in January over its failure to curb the surge of nonconsensual sexual deepfakes flooding X, according to NBC News. It was a muted show of force from one of tech's most powerful gatekeepers, made behind closed doors even as the undressing crisis unfolded in full public view and criticism over Apple's cowardice mounted.In a letter obtained by NBC News, Apple told US senators it "contacted the teams behind both X and Grok after it received complaints and saw news coverage of the scandal" and demanded that the developers "create a plan to improve content moderation." …Read the full story at The Verge.

Most productivity enthusiasts will tell you that Obsidian is the ultimate OneNote killer. I fell into the same promise and spent months trying to force my workflow into Obsidian’s sleek, networked ecosystem.

The Bookshop.org integration is now available for Spotify users on Android, with iOS support expected next week. | Image: Spotify Spotify is rolling out some new updates for book lovers, expanding audiobook listening features and allowing users to buy physical publications through the platform. Readers in the US and UK can now purchase printed books via a new integration with Bookshop.org on the Android Spotify app, with support for iOS users expected to arrive next week. The partnership was announced in February, with Bookshop.org founder and CEO Andy Hunter saying at the time that "Spotify is bringing in more readers, and I'm all for anything that grows the size of the pie." This, alongside other updates announced today, aim to make it easier to jump into your next …Read the full story at The Verge.