When you're trying to get work done, and you need to download and organize a ton of files, the last thing you want is a download manager that makes things more complicated than they really should be. This goes double for productivity apps like Microsoft Teams, where people download sensitive and time-critical documents all the time.

The last few weeks have bordered on overwhelming for science fiction fans. While Project Hail Mary is dominating the box office, For All Mankind is currently in the midst of its penultimate season, with a spinoff streaming next month. When it comes to games, Capcom kicked off a new sci-fi franchise with Pragmata, and Housemarque is about to launch the haunting shooter Saros. With all of that going on, it'd be easy to miss Aphelion. It's a comparatively small and quiet adventure game, one focused more on storytelling than gameplay. But that also makes it a perfect complement to all of the current blockbusters, offering something much more int …Read the full story at The Verge.

The enduring popularity of the Steam Deck shows how well Valve nailed the device's balance. They also made the first hour experience count, getting you online and gaming before Windows handhelds would have finished updating. The console-first nature of the Steam Deck is fantastic, but let's not forget that it's Linux to the core and can install far more than games.

For people who dislike AI, tech headlines and press releases have been a nightmare lately. It feels like we don't go a week without a company announcing that a key element of its product or service is getting an AI revamp. It causes a lot of anxiety over how the AI is handled, how it will affect people using the service, and whether or not it's a sign that the company is slowly slipping into the territory of "AI slop."

On Monday, the courtroom battle between Elon Musk and Sam Altman over alleged broken promises at OpenAI started, as usual, with jury selection. The only tricky part? A lot of the prospective jurors already have an opinion about Elon Musk, and it's not a good one.The Verge reporter Elizabeth Lopatto, who was there at the courthouse, quoted statements from some of the juror questionnaires: "Elon Musk is a greedy, racist, homophobic piece of garbage.""Elon Musk is a world-class jerk.""I very much dislike Tesla. As a woman of color, I am very aware of the damaging statements and actions Elon Musk has enacted and been a part of."M …Read the full story at The Verge.

Google is trying out an AI Mode-like search experience for YouTube. The company is now testing "a new way to search on YouTube that feels more like a conversation," with results pulling in things like longform videos, YouTube Shorts, and text about what you're searching for. The "experiment" is now available if you're a YouTube Premium subscriber in the US who is 18 or older.I turned it on for my account. Now, in the search bar, I see an "Ask YouTube" button, and clicking the search bar shows prompts to ask like "funny baby elephant playing clips," "summary of the rules of volleyball," and "short history of the Apollo 11 moon landing." If …Read the full story at The Verge.

Windows 11 is built on top of some pretty old tech that has been hanging around for a decade or two now. However, Microsoft is doing its best to update the older parts of the app, such as slowly moving features from the older Control Panel to the newer, shinier Settings page. However, there's a Windows 8 relic that has stuck around all the way to Windows 11, and you see it every time you use the OS.

Logitech’s Creative Console and other MX accessories are now compatible with several productivity apps. | Image: Logitech Logitech has announced a new suite of Productivity Plugins for its entire MX line of accessories, including its Stream Deck alternative, the MX Creative Console. Since the console launched in September 2024, Logitech has been expanding its capabilities with plug-ins that support creativity-focused apps such as Final Cut Pro, Adobe Lightroom, and Figma. That is now expanding to include productivity apps, such as Microsoft Office's Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, as well as Slack and Notion.Shortcuts, actions, and specific tools in those apps can be quickly accessed using Logitech's Actions Ring menus, which are supported by accessories like th …Read the full story at The Verge.

The Samsung G95C gaming monitor features a 49-inch panel that creates an unrivaled immersive experience that's great for work, games, and movies. Now, ultrawide monitors aren't for everyone, but if you've been thinking about going wide, this one is worth taking a look at. This new promotion knocks $450 off and also adds a free copy of Capcom's Resident Evil Requiem. It's a great time to pick up a new ultrawide monitor if you've been looking for one. So get it now.

For the most part, gaming on a phone is a pretty good experience. You get access to plenty of great games, and the touch controls for most titles are dialed in. However, if you're looking to take things to another level, we always suggest using a controller. It's a simple addition that can really change the way you play.

When you get into using LLMs to help with coding tasks, it's a fun, vibe-coding way to work through complex setup tasks. I highly recommend testing it out, even if you're not a coder, because at least then you have some experience to talk about the process. But when you want to get onto real work, that time spent setting up could be better spent on tasks. Setup is often a convoluted process of Python, scripts, multiple package managers, and tools collected from across the internet, and what works on one machine rarely works on another.

Accessory maker Turtle Beach has revealed a new entry in its Command Series of keyboards and mice, the Command Series MC7, its flagship mouse that features pretty much every high-end spec out there, including even a 2.25-inch touch screen.