Image: The Verge Music streaming service Spotify struck a seemingly unique and highly generous deal with Google for Android-based payments, according to new testimony in the Epic v. Google trial. On the stand, Google head of global partnerships Don Harrison confirmed Spotify paid a 0 percent commission when users chose to buy subscriptions through Spotify’s own system. If the users picked Google as their payment processor, Spotify handed over 4 percent — dramatically less than Google’s more common 15 percent fee.Google fought to keep the Spotify numbers private during its antitrust fight with Epic, saying they could damage negotiations with other app developers who might want more generous rates. Google’s User Choice Billing program, launched in 2022,... Continue reading…

A good GPU is the best way to experience high-quality graphics on a computer. However, you can bypass the graphics card on most computers and get a display output directly from the motherboard. This relies on the CPU's onboard graphics processor.

A few days ago, OpenAI's board announced the shock firing of CEO Sam Altman, stating that the executive had not been candid in his communications with the board. CTO Mira Murati was appointed as the interim CEO while the search for a permanent replacement began. However, the news cycle around this topic has been rife with rumors, speculation, and public statements from those involved. Now, in a major twist of events, Microsoft has announced that it is hiring Altman following his ouster, while continuing its partnership with OpenAI.

When you set up a new Apple Watch, you will choose a four-digit passcode to access the device (if you want to have a passcode activated). Once set up, you must enter this passcode to see anything on the watch face when it isn’t on your wrist, or when you first put it back on your wrist after charging. This is for security purposes so someone can’t grab your watch and access your personal health information, messages, and more. What happens if you decide you want to change the passcode because you think a nosy co-worker saw you input yours or your child has figured it out and you don’t want them reading your personal messages? It’s easy to change the Apple Watch passcode.

Black Friday deals keep coming, and they keep getting better and better. The latest offers will get you insane savings, with up to 50 percent off on some of JBL’s best products, where you will find over-ear headphones, wireless earbuds, and more with prices starting as low as $55, making it very difficult not to consider this get an extremely hot tower.

Starlink Standard terminal | Image: SpaceX SpaceX quietly introduced a new Standard Starlink terminal that’s slimmer and simpler than the previous version, with a 10 percent broader field of view and no motor for setting up — instead, it comes with a kickstand; to orient it, you simply move it. A Starlink support page says the kit is available “by invitation only to a small group of early customers in the US.”SpaceX bumped its weather resistance rating up from IP54 to IP67, meaning it should be totally dust-proof and can be submerged in one meter of water for as long as 30 minutes before potential damage. Starlink’s specifications page says it can operate in winds over 60MPH. Speaking of which, the company will sell mounts in case you’d rather secure it in place. It’s otherwise... Continue reading…

It's not difficult to get a bad GPU. It just needs to have poor value, some kind of crippling drawback, or simply be a disappointment. There are plenty of cards that embody one or two of these characteristics, but every once in a while, we bear witness to magical moments when a graphics card hits all three.

If you want to ensure full privacy on Chromebook, the obvious choice is a virtual private network (VPN). This ensures all real-time internet activity is encrypted from snoopers and hackers, especially when using public Wi-Fi. Moreover, the best VPNs help hide your VPN usage from ISPs and heavy-handed governments, which means less chance of throttling and censorship.

Windows 10 and Windows 11 come with a new homepage for File Explorer called Quick Access (or Home, in recent versions of Windows 11). This page highlights recent files, frequent folders, and more, and while it can be useful, it's not for everyone. If you don't want to have the Quick Access page in File Explorer, here's how to remove it.

Photo by Jerod Harris/Getty Images for Vox Media Last week, Elon Musk appeared to endorse antisemitic conspiracy theories and posted about supporting white pride on his social platform X, formerly Twitter. Musk’s tweets were then highlighted by a Media Matters article that found advertising from major companies had shown up next to pro-Nazi content. Major advertisers then halted their ad spends on the platform. To address the controversy, CEO Linda Yaccarino sent a memo titled “Our Work Is Meaningful,” reiterating her commitment to X.As pressure mounts for the company to distance itself from supporting antisemitism, Forbes reported that advertisers are urging Yaccarino to resign as well. A former NBCUniversal chairperson with close ties to the ad industry, Yaccarino had been brought... Continue reading…

There are plenty of great web browsers available in 2023, and the most popular one is Google Chrome. I use Chrome anytime I'm using a Windows PC or Android phone, and it's a generally fine experience. However, every time I find myself using Chrome, I start wishing I was using Safari on macOS Sonoma or iOS 17. It's only available on Apple platforms, but for Mac users, it's the best desktop browser available. From fantastic privacy features to useful continuity tools, Safari is a must-use application, and here are four reasons why.

Anker is a very respectable brand that manufactures almost anything and everything you can think of. One of my first experiences with the brand came from using their Bluetooth wireless speakers, and I eventually fell in love with Anker’s Soundcore Motion X600 portable Bluetooth speaker, which basically goes with me anywhere I go, as it’s a great option whenever I want to share my favorite tunes. However, when I want to enjoy my favorite music all alone, I pick up a pair of Soundcore Liberty 4 NC Wireless Noise Cancelling Earbuds and enjoy my music to the fullest. The best part is that you can now pick up a pair of these outstanding wireless earbuds for just $70, thanks to the latest Black Friday deals.