A little while ago, we came across a curious case where a game publisher called Alderson Games made a huge claim. It stated that Intel was selling defective 13th and 14th-generation processors, with a failure rate of 100%. While at the time it seemed a PC-based issue, the same issue has now appeared within laptops, albeit at a rarer rate.

Image: Google Just hours after revealing the Pixel 9 Pro, Google is showing off the Pixel 9 Pro Fold with a brief, Gemini-linked teaser video. As is standard for Pixel phones, the devices have been leaked all over the internet already, but at least now we can end speculation about the look or name of Google’s next foldable Android phone.Google’s teaser video clearly shows double-stacked lenses for the rear camera module as well as the outside screen and hinge. Image: Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold For confirmation of other specs and details about upgrades from the first Fold, we may have to wait for Google’s hardware event on August 13th. There, we’ll see this phone, the 9 Pro, the Pixel Watch 3, and whatever else is left.Y... Continue reading…

A painted woolly bat, or Kerivoula picta, roosts under a leaf in Indonesia. | Image: Abu Hamas / iNaturalist via UC Davis Scientists are sounding the alarm about taxidermied bats commonly sold online in frames, jars, coffins, jewelry, and more. It’s a wild animal trade that has flown under the radar and that poses risks to the bats and potentially to the people who handle them, according to a study recently published in the European Journal of Wildlife Research. While bats of all kinds are showing up for sale online, the study homes in on one particularly appealing species — Kerivoula picta, also called the painted woolly bat. They’re bright orange critters with striking black and orange wings. Their natural vibrancy might be what makes them in demand for Halloween decorations. The term “goth” also popped up in almost 15 percent of Kerivoula picta listings... Continue reading…

A few days ago, there was a huge Google Pixel 9 series leak after the NCC (the Taiwanese version of the FCC) performed tests on the phones. Everything the NCC tested and gathered got out to the public, including battery life, charging rate, and what the phones will look like. Now, presumably because the surprise has already been spoiled, Google has rectified the situation by flat-out confirming that, yes, the Google Pixel 9 series is going to be a part of the Made By Google event on August 13th.

Building a stable and reliable wireless network at home or in the office usually involves a single access point, the primary router. To improve connectivity in larger buildings or allow multiple clients to connect without a bottleneck, it's recommended to add an access point or two and create a mesh network. EnGenius specializes in such hardware and today we'll be looking at the EnGenius ECW526, a Wi-Fi 7 access point with PoE+, 10Gb bandwidth on the single network port, and one of the best cloud-based management solutions in the business.

Apple finally released the macOS Sequoia public beta this week, and everyone can get early access to the operating system before it officially releases in the fall. However, if you want the absolute newest features, you'll still need to keep an eye out on the developer beta releases. macOS Sequoia developer beta 3 isn't a major update, and Apple didn't share anything of importance in its release notes. Apple Intelligence still isn't here yet, but there are a few hidden features and changes in the latest developer beta. The biggest feature additions include Safari 18 upgrades and a new way to quickly access Apple Passwords.

ScummVM, short for Script Creation Utility for Maniac Mansion Virtual Machine, is an open-source software project that serves as a way for nostalgic gamers and retro enthusiasts alike to enjoy some older classic games. Originally developed to run classic LucasArts adventure games that utilized the SCUMM scripting language, ScummVM has since evolved into a versatile piece of software supporting a wide range of point-and-click adventure games from various developers.

We may have gone digital for a lot of things, but there are still instances when youll need to print out a hard copy of something. Whether youre using one of the latest Macs with macOS Sonoma, or an older model, youll need to set up a printer first to be able to do this. Depending on the printer, you can use a wired or wireless connection; the setup process will also differ based on your printer and network. But the method to get a fresh, crisp printed document, webpage, spreadsheet, or other content from your Mac is generally the same with any model.

Illustration by Nick Barclay / The Verge With Netflix raking in 8 million more global subscribers over the past few months, the streamer is turning its attention to its ad-supported plan — and for good reason. The budget-friendly tier now accounts for over 45 percent of all new signups in markets where ads are available, according to its second quarter earnings report results released on Thursday.As part of its efforts to nudge subscribers to its ad plan, Netflix started phasing out its cheapest commercial-free plan for existing subscribers in Canada and the UK earlier this month. It plans on discontinuing the plan in the US and France next. Netflix has also started testing pause ads, which appear on your screen whenever you stop what you’re watching.“Our ad revenue is... Continue reading…

Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge, Getty Images Google has bought itself the title of “official AI sponsor for Team USA,” and when the 2024 Olympics broadcast starts on July 26th, you will be reminded of that frequently. NBCUniversal’s partnership with Google will put many of the company’s AI-powered features front and center during the event.The broadcast will include Google Maps’ 3D views of venues like the Versailles, Stade Roland Garros, and the Aquatics Centre, as well as tidbits about what events will occur at each location. The imagery pulls from the Immersive Views added to Maps over the last few years that represent certain landmarks and areas of interest with photorealistic models. Image: Google Image: Google As part of the... Continue reading…

In 2024, Cyberpunk 2077 might not be the most demanding game to run, but it's still used by many as an unofficial benchmark to test gaming PC performance. Even without its heavy ray tracing effects, the game is seriously punishing on any hardware. While it's always exciting to talk about the only GPUs you should buy for Cyberpunk 2077's path tracing mode, I thought about indulging in a fun experiment that tackles the other extreme.

Photo by Tom Williams / CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images The Federal Communications Commission wants to standardize the amount of time consumers have to wait to unlock their cell phones to be able to switch carriers. The agency voted unanimously on Thursday to issue a notice of proposed rulemaking to make mobile service providers unlock customers’ phones within 60 days of activation. The proposal is at an early stage — the notice of proposed rulemaking begins a public comment period before a lengthy process of drafting and revising the rule — but the FCC hopes it will boost consumer choice and competition among mobile service providers. The commissioners are seeking comment on whether the proposed rule should apply to existing or future service contracts and how it could impact smaller... Continue reading…