As technology evolves, it's only natural that we move on from older hardware and software, but there's always a subset of a community that likes to stay on an older version of an operating system. Windows is a prime example, with people often championing old versions instead of whatever Microsoft is promoting at that time. But at some point, you have to let go, and if you're somehow still using Windows 7, it's time to stop. The least you can do is upgrade to Windows 10, which doesn't require any money.

Illustration: The Verge As Sonos continues chipping away at fixing bugs and improving the performance of its poorly received mobile app redesign, the company also remains focused on several new hardware products. Among them is an ultrapremium soundbar that will serve as a successor to the current Sonos Arc — at a significantly higher price. Codenamed Lasso, the device is currently in limited beta testing, and today, I can share the first images of it. The exterior of the Lasso soundbar bears a strong resemblance to the Arc, which Sonos introduced over four years ago. But inside, the components and speaker drivers have been completely overhauled and redesigned, and that’s expected to result in a cost upwards of $1,200. Sonos aims to ship Lasso later this year,... Continue reading…

Image: Jackson Gibbs for The Verge Uprooting your life and moving hundreds — or thousands — of miles isn’t easy. Here’s how to make sense of it all. Continue reading…

microSD cards have been slowly but surely disappearing from premium smartphones. As phones get thinner and more compact, there's no longer space for microSD cards, and you have to rely on internal storage. If you're wondering whether the Samsung Galaxy S22 series bucks that trend, we have the answer: It doesn't. And neither of the phones that succeeded it (we're up to the Galaxy S24 series now) brought it back.

Illustration by Cath Virginia / The Verge | Photos from Getty Images A bipartisan group of senators introduced a new bill to make it easier to authenticate and detect artificial intelligence-generated content and protect journalists and artists from having their work gobbled up by AI models without their permission.The Content Origin Protection and Integrity from Edited and Deepfaked Media Act (COPIED Act) would direct the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to create standards and guidelines that help prove the origin of content and detect synthetic content, like through watermarking. It also directs the agency to create security measures to prevent tampering and requires AI tools for creative or journalistic content to let users attach information about their origin and prohibit that... Continue reading…

Image: Frontier Developments Planet Coaster’s sequel isn’t just about building the best theme park anymore: it’s about water parks, too. The sequel, coming this fall, will finally let you construct everything from wave pools and lazy rivers to custom-built waterslides.You’ll also get to outfit your aquatic experience with changing rooms, sunbeds, lifeguards, and more. Planet Coaster 2 builds upon its predecessor with the addition of new building and pathing tools, as well as an advanced event sequencer system that can give your guests new experiences. There are also new rides, scenery pieces, and themes.Another neat feature coming to Planet Coaster 2 is the ability to create shared theme parks with friends — but you can’t all build in the park at the same time. T... Continue reading…

Windows wasn't always the powerhouse we know today, and the initial release wasn't exactly well-received due to plenty of bugs and issues. But Microsoft came back around two years later with Windows 2.0, and this release was a big step forward, delivering more stability and refinements, as well as some brand-new capabilities. Windows 2.0 released on December 9th, 1987, and it was a pretty big step towards what we know today.

These photographs of a discarded H-2A rocket upper stage were taken at a distance of just 50 meters. | Image: Astroscale We’re getting a close look at some of the space junk that’s floating in space thanks to Tokyo-based company Astroscale Japan. New images taken from a distance of just 50 meters, show the discarded upper stage of a Japanese H-2A rocket that’s currently trapped in Earth’s orbit. They were taken by Astroscale’s Active Debris Removal (ADRAS-J) satellite following the spacecraft’s first fly-around observation of the debris.ADRAS-J was launched on February 18th with the goal of collecting observational data that can be used to eventually remove large-scale space junk from orbit. The satellite has been monitoring the rocket’s upper stage for several months. The images were released after a test of the craft’s autonomous collision avoidance... Continue reading…

The Verge Microsoft is preparing to enable Copilot in OneNote to read and analyze handwritten notes. The feature entered beta testing late last month, and will allow OneNote users to write handwritten notes using a stylus and then summarize them, ask questions, or even generate to-do lists based on the notes.The AI-powered Copilot feature in OneNote will even be able to convert your handwritten notes into text for easy editing and sharing. Microsoft first launched Copilot inside OneNote in November, and this upgrade will be available to existing Copilot for Microsoft 365 subscribers and Copilot Pro users once it rolls out more broadly. Image: The Verge Copilot can quickly convert your handwritten notes into easier to read... Continue reading…

Would you confront Ganondorf ten times over to acquire such a relic? | Image: Nintendo Preorders have just opened for the ‘Hyrule Edition’ Nintendo Switch Lite, which commemorates the forthcoming launch of The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom. Best Buy is currently accepting orders for the limited edition console for $209.99 ahead of its September 26th release date. You’ll still have to purchase Echoes of Wisdom separately, but the special edition console does include a 12-month individual subscription to Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack (a $49.99 value).The console comes dipped in a golden hue with black trim — an iconic combo befitting Hylian royalty. The noble house’s signature crest graces the rear, and you’ll find a smaller Triforce symbol stamped on the front in the lower-right corner. There’s not much... Continue reading…

Illustration: The Verge OpenAI has created an internal scale to track the progress its large language models are making toward artificial general intelligence, or AI with human-like intelligence, a spokesperson told Bloomberg.Today’s chatbots, like ChatGPT, are at Level 1. OpenAI claims it is nearing Level 2, defined as a system that can solve basic problems at the level of a person with a PhD. Level 3 refers to AI agents capable of taking actions on a user’s behalf. Level 4 involves AI that can create new innovations. Level 5, the final step to achieving AGI, is AI that can perform the work of entire organizations of people. OpenAI has previously defined AGI as “a highly autonomous system surpassing humans in most economically valuable tasks.” OpenAI’s... Continue reading…

Flip phones are a long way from becoming the norm, but there's no denying their growing popularity. Case in point: two top Android brands, Samsung and Motorola, are releasing new clamshell smartphones this year, with the Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Razr+ (2024) being attractive flagship-tier options for fans of these foldables. These two flip phones scratch a similar itch and come in at around the same price, but they have some notable differences. Let's compare them side-by-side and see whether the Galaxy Z Flip 6 or Motorola Razr+ is the better buy.