Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge Apple will try to better differentiate its AirPods lineup as new models launch over the next couple of years, according to a new report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. That will include phasing out both the second-gen and third-gen AirPods when a successor is announced sometime next fall. Gurman claims that the third-gen “regular” AirPods haven’t sold particularly well and partially attributes this to consumers frequently opting for the older, cheaper second-gen pair, which Apple has continued to sell.To avoid facing that problem again, Apple plans to simultaneously launch two sets of fourth-generation AirPods in 2024. Both sets will sit beneath the AirPods Pro, with pricing remaining similar to where it is today, but the two SKUs will... Continue reading…

Screenshot by Jay Peters / The Verge Dave the Diver cast a line and reeled me in when I played through it on Steam Deck earlier this year. It’s lured once again on Nintendo Switch.Sorry, I had to get the fishing puns out of the way. But if you haven’t yet played Dave the Diver, a delightful experience that somehow mixes roguelike spearfishing exploration and a time management sushi restaurant simulator into one of the most joyful games of the year, the Nintendo Switch version is a place to get your feet wet. The game is packed with different types of activities, and as Polygon’s review says, Dave the Diver’s vast number of mechanics shouldn’t work but somehow do. The shark meat of the game is capturing or hunting fish and aquatic life during the diving portions of the... Continue reading…

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge Social messaging platform Telegram has blocked channels used by Hamas, but only on Android phones due to violations of Google’s app store guidelines. According to CNBC, two channels — hamas_com and al-Qassam brigades — were cut off for Android users, though other channels the group uses, like Gaza Now, are still accessible.Telegram blamed the blocks on Google’s app store guidelines, according to reporting in The Jerusalem Post. Users reportedly see an error saying the channels can’t be viewed on “Telegram apps downloaded from the Google Play Store,” implying that the ban doesn’t extend to the app when it’s downloaded from elsewhere or used on another operating system.A Google spokesperson, who asked to be quoted anonymously due to the... Continue reading…

iPadOS 17 supports styluses, allowing those using Apple's latest tablets to rely on their input. So if you're a heavy note-taker or illustrator who just bought a new iPad, you may want to pair it with a stylus to unleash its full potential. Finding an excellent iPad stylus, however, may be challenging, as there are endless options out there. To help you find the right pick, we've listed some of the best iPad styluses below.

Stay immersed for a bit longer, but maybe not as immersed. | Photo by Becca Farsace / The Verge Meta is rolling out a software update that lets Quest 3 users eke out more battery life at the expense of graphics quality. In addition to this new Battery Saver mode, the v59 update also gives VR streamers a way to keep track of YouTube Live Chat within the headset, includes more reactions and stickers in a chat, adds legs to your avatar in Horizon Home, and enhances the Activities tab to easily find friend recommendations and drop in to play. Another note says that the Remote Display app from the Quest Pro “will become available for Quest 3 and Quest 2 over time,” allowing wearers to project their own computer screen into a VR environment.With the new update, users can switch to a lower graphics output setting on Meta Quest 3 that... Continue reading…

Image: The Verge Big changes are coming to Spotify’s royalty model, according to Music Business Worldwide (MBW). If and when they are implemented in early 2024, it will raise the bar for who gets paid from music streaming on the platform — and direct more money to major labels and artists.Two of the three proposed changes should be relatively uncontroversial. According to the report, Spotify will fine music distributors (including labels) for fraudulent activity detected on their tracks. Streaming fraud is pretty widespread, and a crackdown is long overdue. The second change will raise the minimum length of play time for noise tracks (background noise like rain, static, etc.) before they start earning royalties. Currently, any track that gets played for... Continue reading…

HDR, short for high dynamic range, is one of the most sought-after features in high-end monitors. Without getting too deep into it, HDR means a monitor can display a wider range of brightness levels while retaining visible detail. The way monitors usually work means that you have to choose between blowing out the highlights or losing all details in the shadows, but with HDR, you can enjoy these kinds of scenes with full detail, which makes for a much better experience watching movies or even playing games on a gaming PC.

Microsoft Edge now pops up a poll after you press the “Download Chrome” button. | Screenshot by Sean Hollister / The Verge How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Google Chrome download in Microsoft’s Edge web browser? How many times will the company try to steer me away?Let’s check! One: Screenshot by Sean Hollister / The Verge “There’s no need to download a new web browser,” reads the top of a search for “Chrome download” in Microsoft Edge. Two: Screenshot by Sean Hollister / The Verge “Microsoft edge runs on the same technology as Chrome, with the added trust of Microsoft,” reads a pop-up that appears after you land on Google’s site. Three: Screenshot by Sean Hollister / The Verge “We love having you! Can you please take a minute to tell us why you are trying... Continue reading…

Sony made a big deal about the PS5’s SSD performance and its games lean heavily into that speed, but with fairly small 825GB drive, it fills up quickly. Luckily, PS5 has an open M.2 slot, so you can add more system storage that can be used for both PS5 and PS4 games. Just about any PCIe Gen 4 SSD will work, but make sure the SSD you use has a heatsink, so it stays cool and performs optimally under load. With tons of digital games available thanks to PlayStation Plus, you can try them all without deleting your favorites.

WhatsApp is one of the most popular instant messaging apps, connecting billions of users worldwide. The Meta-owned service works across the latest iPhones, Android smartphones, and even desktop computers. And while Wear OS users can utilize a dedicated WhatsApp app that lives on their wrists, an official solution remains absent on watchOS. Worry not, though, as you can still use WhatsApp on your Apple Watch by following the steps below.

Image: Meta Meta’s newest update to Horizon Worlds, its 3D social network, adds some useful changes, but while reading the v133 patch notes, I chuckled more than once because of things Meta probably didn’t intend to be funny.Arguably the biggest addition is a new “time spent” feature. The dashboard shows you how much time you’ve put into Horizon Worlds over seven days and how that time is divided between playing in VR and on web / mobile. Image: Meta A screenshot of Horizon Worlds’ “time spent” dashboard — but I don’t know anyone who plays for four hours per week. We should be cognizant of how much time we’re spending staring at screens. But given Meta has been struggling to keep Horizon Worlds users, how many people... Continue reading…

Mainstream and TikTok fame collides. | Image: TikTok TikTok is taking its viral sounds offline and hosting an in-person music festival in December, the company announced today. And of course, the entire thing will be livestreamed via TikTok Live. The event, called TikTok In the Mix, will feature top artists like Cardi B, Anitta, Charlie Puth, and Niall Horan — as well as the lesser-known artists behind the soundtracks to hundreds of thousands of videos. The company describes TikTok In the Mix as the For You page come to life, with performances, small business pop-ups, and “creator activations” happening at the event. The festival will take place in Mesa, Arizona on December 10th, and fans will be able to purchase presale tickets via the TikTok app on Friday.Hopefully the crowd will... Continue reading…