The launch of AMD's Zen 5 processors didn't exactly go as planned, with AMD dropping the ball with the Ryzen 9000 CPUs in some major areas. Arguably, the most disappointing aspect of the 9000 series was the lackluster gains in gaming performance compared to the previous-gen Ryzen 7000 processors.

Building your network-attached storage (NAS) device from scratch is an excellent way to tailor the system to your precise requirements. It's also enjoyable and provides a strong sense of accomplishment when everything is up and running. Still, there are some mistakes you should bear in mind to not repeat with your NAS build. From picking the wrong CPU to not using enough active cooling, I'll go through some beginner mistakes to show what to look out for.

If you've ever looked at the prices for curved monitors, they aren't cheap. Some of the best ones can easily cost $1,000, which can leave you scratching your head if you're trying to buy one for a good price. Luckily, there are alternative options that still offer a good experience and can save you a lot of money in the process.

Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge Rumors about the Watch Series 10 have been relatively scant in the runup to Apple’s event next week, where it’s expected to debut alongside the iPhone 16. However, a report from 9to5Mac says it will have an upgraded ECG sensor capable of detecting sleep apnea.That backs up today’s reporting from Bloomberg, which says the Watch Series 10 will be capable of identifying whether someone shows signs of sleep apnea — a condition that causes people to suddenly stop breathing during sleep. If the watch determines that the user may have sleep apnea, it will then recommend that they see a medical provider for more tests.Some other upgrades potentially coming to the Watch Series 10 include slightly larger displays and a thinner case, as well as... Continue reading…

Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft that launched NASA’s Crew Flight Test astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to the International Space Station is pictured docked to the Harmony module’s forward port on Wednesday, July 3, 2024. | Image: NASA The Starliner is flying home empty after undocking autonomously, while the astronauts it took to the ISS will make a separate trip back to Earth in 2025. Continue reading…

Closing your laptop lid while using a great external monitor is a practice mostly seen in offices. It allows users to connect their laptops to a dock and use a bigger monitor or a dual monitor setup without keeping their laptops open. It provides more screen space to work with, helps to prevent accidental damage, and can even prolong the life of the laptop screen.

Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets are two of the popular spreadsheet solutions out there. Although Google Sheets is widely appreciated for its ease of use and real-time collaboration features, Excel continues to be the preferred choice for professionals and businesses that require robust capabilities, versatility, and superior performance. From boasting a rich templates library to handling complex calculations, Excel constantly edges out its web-based counterpart.

Google's Pixel 9 Pro just launched, and it looks like another great phone for anyone who loves mobile photography. It's also packed full of AI features powered by Google Gemini, and has a very distinct design with a rounded camera bar. It's going to be one of the best Android phones you can get, backed up by seven years of software support and security updates. It's also covered in glass, which means you'll want to put it in a protective case so that it has a chance of surviving long enough to experience all those years of updates. Keep in mind that the Pixel 9 and 9 Pro both utilize the same cases. To help narrow the choice down for you, here are our top picks for the best cases.

With the yearly release window for new MacBooks fast approaching, you might be tempted to upgrade. After all, the M4 iPad Pro is a beast, so it's a given that MacBooks (or any other Macs) using the M4 chip will also be fantastic. They're not among the most popular and best laptops on the market for nothing, especially after the transition to Apple Silicon. The thing is, if you already have a Mac or MacBook with Apple Silicon, you probably don't need to upgrade. Sure, newer M-chips are faster, but you might not notice them in everyday use. Here are a few other reasons you might want to quash your itch to upgrade.

The Samsung T7 is an excellent drive if you're looking for something compact and quick. Right now, you can score the 4TB model for a great price, with Amazon knocking 42% off the original price of the portable SSD, driving it down to $279.99 for a limited time.

A still image of Doom on a volumetric display. | Photo by James Brown (@ancientjames) In 2022, I introduced you to James Brown, the Weta Workshop graphics engineer whose hobby is building amazing displays. Now, he’s built a crystal ball filled with shimmering, spinning volumetric light — and of course he’s playing Doom on it. But not just any Doom. Voxel Doom, where every dot of the game’s graphics lives in 3D space, just like the dots of the volumetric display he’s created. As he explains on YouTube, the physical illusion is fairly simple: “It’s like a hologram fan, but instead of spinning a 1D strip to make a 2D image, it spins a 2D panel to make a 3D image.” On his Mastodon, he breaks it down a bit more with visual aids: Brown’s been working on this for over a year now: if I’m not mistaken, he introduced the... Continue reading…

Illustration: The Verge Meta has finally pulled the curtain back on what its plans for third-party chats in WhatsApp and Messenger will look like. The change, which is coming for users in the European Union, introduces new options to put Messenger and WhatsApp messages in the same inbox as third-party chats or keep them separate.It’s building new notifications into Messenger and WhatsApp as well, which will let users know when they can link chats from newly supported apps. Meta says it has “gone above and beyond the ‘basic’ features required for interoperable messaging” and will offer rich messaging features, like reactions, direct replies, typing indicators, and read receipts. Image: Meta It will also start including the option to create... Continue reading…