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…

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.

Image: Jackson Gibbs for The Verge The Verge’s favorite methods for keeping our tech in reasonable order. Continue reading…

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic has been one of Samsungs most popular watches to date. With its traditional design and powerful features, its not hard to see why. On the other hand, the Galaxy Watch 7 has a lot of new features, including a new chip made with a 3nm process and an upgraded sensor package. So is it worth upgrading? The Watch 6 Classic looks more like a traditional watch, and the Watch 7 looks like a smartwatch. One is faster, while the other has a sick rotating bezel input with a classic look. If youre in the market for a new smartwatch and dont know which one to get, read on, and well go through the perks of each one to help you decide.

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…

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…

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 Kristen Radtke / The Verge; Photo: Getty Images The European Union has warned X that its blue checkmark verification system violates rules under the bloc’s Digital Services Act (DSA), finding it to be deceptive for users and against established industry practices. Following its investigation into the platform, the EU also found that X is failing to comply with transparency obligations regarding advertising and providing public data to researchers. It’s the first time a company has been formally accused of breaching the DSA under the EU’s so-called preliminary findings. X now has the opportunity to defend itself in response.In its press release, the EU says that changes made to X’s blue check system — which allows any user to pay to be “verified” — prevent users from determining the... 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…

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…

And on the other side of the iPhone, there’s a Notes app. | Image: Moft Moft is launching a new MagSafe accessory that adds a literal notepad and pen to the back of your iPhone. The company’s new “Snap Flow” looks like a slim magnetic origami kickstand (like the one Moft is known for) but opens up like a book to reveal a paper pad and a really nifty ballpoint pen that magically folds into a prism shape.It’s hard to believe there’s a product in 2024 that lets you take handwritten notes while using a revolutionary pocket computing device as a clipboard. Sometimes, the phone and other apps are the hurdles to writing down a story idea in my Notes app before it’s gone forever, so it could be nice to jot down thoughts the old-fashioned way.The Snap Flow has refillable notepad paper, a clip so you can use a... Continue reading…

Illustration: Alex Castro / The Verge OpenAI is a leader in the race to develop AI as intelligent as a human. Yet, employees continue to show up in the press and on podcasts to voice their grave concerns about safety at the $80 billion nonprofit research lab. The latest comes from The Washington Post, where an anonymous source claimed OpenAI rushed through safety tests and celebrated their product before ensuring its safety.“They planned the launch after-party prior to knowing if it was safe to launch,” an anonymous employee told The Washington Post. “We basically failed at the process.”Safety issues loom large at OpenAI — and seem to just keep coming. Current and former employees at OpenAI recently signed an open letter demanding better safety and transparency practices... Continue reading…