The EU is concerned that Meta’s algorithms may cause “behavioral addictions in children.” | Illustration by Nick Barclay / The Verge The European Union has opened a formal investigation into Meta over concerns that it isn’t doing enough to safeguard the mental and physical health of children who use its Facebook and Instagram social media platforms.The probe announced by the European Commission on Thursday will assess whether Meta has breached rules under the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), noting that Facebook and Instagram’s UI and algorithms may cause “behavioral addictions in children” and create “rabbit-hole effects.” The EU is also concerned that Meta isn’t doing enough to prevent minors from accessing inappropriate content, and that its age-verification tools may not be “reasonable, proportionate, and effective.” Today we open formal #DSA investigation... Continue reading…

Artificial intelligence models just keep getting better, but for most users, they're only going to be as good as the prompts they're fed. This is a common pain point for people just trying their hand with an AI chatbot, because trying to explain something to AI the same way as you would a human doesn't always work the best. At Google I/O 2024, the company gave out a 70-page booklet (44 for the PDF version) explaining how to create effective prompts. It's tailored to Gemini, and specifically Gemini in Workspace, formerly known as Duet AI.

The Google Pixel 8a is now official, bringing some of the best features that we know and love about the Pixel 8 to a slightly lower, more affordable price point. Just like the Pixel 7a, which was very similar to its flagship sibling in the Pixel 7 series, the Pixel 8a also shares a lot of common traits with the Pixel 8, like its Tensor G3 chip, a 120Hz OLED display, software support, and more. In fact, I'd say they're so similar that the line between Google's flagship Pixel 8 series and the relatively affordable Pixel A-series is blurrier than ever.

I think this tease is it, but I can’t quite tell. | Image: Asus On June 2nd, Asus will formally announce the ROG Ally X, a semi-sequel to its handheld gaming PC with a way bigger battery. We exclusively revealed the broad strokes last Thursday, but I’ve now touched an early engineering sample, too — and I’m pleased to say it’s far more comfortable to hold. Asus has made a whole bunch of ergonomic changes that make it practically melt into my hands, in the exact way the original did not. While I still prefer the Steam Deck’s beefier grips and symmetrical thumbsticks, the Ally X could easily be my runner-up.First, a disclaimer: this is not what I’d consider a proper hands-on. Asus wouldn’t let me power it on, play any games, or show you any photos. I couldn’t bring the old ROG Ally into the room or... Continue reading…

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: the motherboard is one of the most crucial components of a computer, and it's not something to be considered an afterthought. It may not be the most exciting component to pick, but this less glamorous component often holds the key to longevity and upgradability. That's right, the motherboard is essentially the backbone of a computer, and it's the cornerstone of a future-proof PC build as it can directly impact the kind of components you can add to your PC in the future.

The X-T50 kit comes with Fujifilm’s also-new 16-50mm lens. | Image: Fujifilm Fujifilm has just announced a pair of new cameras at the company’s X Summit Sydney event. There’s the medium format GFX100S II, which frankly falls outside my scope of interest (and budget). The more mainstream of the two is the X-T50, which is a followup to — but not a replacement for — the X-T30 II, which will remain in Fujifilm’s lineup moving forward.The X-T50 is a hodgepodge of the camera maker’s new and old tech. Let’s start with the new. The body has a fresh, more rounded shape that’s unlike anything else in the X-Series lineup, and there’s a film simulation dial right on the top, a first for any Fujifilm camera. You get several preset film sims to circle between and can choose your own for the three customizable slots — though... Continue reading…

Over the years, the refresh rates of computer displays have steadily increased, especially for gaming monitors. In 2022, Asus introduced a monitor with an incredible 500Hz refresh rate, which is faster than most people could ever comprehend. But therein lies the problem: sometimes you don't actually need crazy high refresh rates; in fact, you may not even want them because they use a lot more power than necessary. Thankfully, Windows 11 makes it easy to change the refresh rate on your monitor or built-in display.

Building your own PC may seem like a daunting task, especially if it's your first time. But learning how to build a computer is a satisfying experience, and building over buying might help you save money, too. And if you're not sure where to start, this guide will show you the ropes of building a PC for the first time.

Like its Frame TVs, Samsung’s art-inspired speaker is designed to complement your home decor more naturally. | Image: Samsung Samsung’s art-inspired Frame TV has been a runaway hit over the last several years — so much so that everyone from Amazon to Hisense has begun cribbing some of its more popular features for their latest sets. It came as no surprise, then, that Samsung announced a speaker version during CES 2024. Enter the Samsung Music Frame, which is on sale at Amazon for $374.99 ($25 off) when you clip the on-page coupon.Samsung’s sizable, 12.9 x 12.9 picture frame is more akin to the Ikea Symfonisk frame speaker than anything else, only it’s considerably smaller and allows for a lot more customization than the popular Sonos / Ikea collab. You can insert your own photographs or artwork using the included mounting panel, for one, and Samsung will... Continue reading…

Whether youre into robotics or plan to build projects centered around embedded systems, heavy circuitry, and sensors, an Arduino is the best purchase you can make. With a huge repertoire of boards in its family tree, you can spend hours picking out the perfect Arduino microcontroller for your DIY project.

A PC slowing down can be the cause of concern as it could be related to software bloat or hardware bottlenecks, the latter of which would require a part upgrade and cost a chunk of change. If you've ever sat in front of your PC and had to wait for a task to complete, be it an app opening or a file list to load, you know the frustration felt by wasting vital minutes of time. Thankfully, there are some ways we can go about addressing this problem before needing to part with hard-earned cash.

Opera is one of the best browsers on Windows, but if it's an Arm device running Windows, you'll not get the best experience. But this will not be the case forever, as the company has announced that it's embracing Windows on Arm by making the browser fully optimized to run on Windows 11 devices powered by Snapdragon X Elite chipsets.