When upgrading to Windows 11, some people yearn to return to Windows 10's UI. But what if you could go back even further, to the days when Windows 7 was the biggest operating system on the market? We've seen people make mockups of a modern-day Windows 7 system before, but now someone has recreated it on their Windows 11 system, and best of all, you can make it too.

Random-access memory — commonly known as RAM — acts as a sort of broker between your computer's processor (CPU) and storage. Instead of your CPU having to pull everything from your main hard drive, priority data is stored on the RAM for quick access, allowing the CPU to spend less time searching for what it needs. The data stored on RAM is constantly being switched in and out as needed, and the amount of RAM required for certain tasks can differ greatly. This guide aims to answer one of the most notorious tech questions of all time: How much RAM do you need in your computer?

Mark Zuckerberg wearing the Quest 3 headset. | Image: Meta Now that it can be strapped to our faces and worn in strange places, opinions about Apple’s Vision Pro are flying left and right. Entering the chat is Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who has more at stake than perhaps anyone on earth if Apple does to headsets what the iPhone did to smartphones. In a video posted to his Instagram account on Tuesday, Zuckerberg gives his official verdict on the Vision Pro versus his company’s latest Quest 3 headset: “I don’t just think that Quest is the better value, I think Quest is the better product, period.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mark Zuckerberg (@zuck)While being filmed by the Quest 3’s video passthrough system in his living room, Zuckerberg... Continue reading…

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge The US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) maintains that artificial intelligence systems cannot be named inventors, but humans can use AI tools in the process of creating patented inventions and must disclose if they do.The agency published its latest guidance following a series of “listening” tours to gather public feedback. It states that while AI systems and other “non-natural persons” can’t be listed as inventors in patent applications, “the use of an AI system by a natural person does not preclude a natural person from qualifying as an inventor.” People seeking patents must disclose if they used AI in the invention process, just as the USPTO asks all applicants to list all material information necessary to make a decision.H... Continue reading…

Google's latest base-model Pixel phone, the Pixel 8, is here — and it's still getting better. Although it does come with a $100 price increase, the Pixel 8 is still one of the best Pixel phones available. Google released the smartphone last year, but just recently added new AI features, like Circle to Search. Since it packs so many flagship-quality features at a mid-range price point, it's not too far away from making our best smartphones list. Part of this year's upgrade includes a new 120Hz display, which you'll want to keep looking great for the long haul. A repair could be costly, so it's better to invest in a case now to prevent damage in the future.

Illustration: The Verge A California court has partially dismissed a copyright case against OpenAI brought by several authors, including comedian Sarah Silverman, who allege OpenAI’s ChatGPT is pirating their work.The case against OpenAI combines complaints filed by Silverman, Christopher Golden, Richard Kadrey, Paul Tremblay, and Mona Awad. (Awad left the suit in August.) It made six claims: direct copyright infringement; vicarious infringement; violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) by removing copyright management information; unfair competition; negligence; and unjust enrichment. OpenAI asked to dismiss all counts but the first and main complaint: direct copyright infringement. The court ruled yesterday on OpenAI’s request to dismiss all... Continue reading…

Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge Microsoft and OpenAI are revealing today that hackers are already using large language models like ChatGPT to refine and improve their existing cyberattacks. In newly published research, Microsoft and OpenAI have detected attempts by Russian, North Korean, Iranian, and Chinese-backed groups using tools like ChatGPT for research into targets, to improve scripts, and to help build social engineering techniques.“Cybercrime groups, nation-state threat actors, and other adversaries are exploring and testing different AI technologies as they emerge, in an attempt to understand potential value to their operations and the security controls they may need to circumvent,” says Microsoft in a blog post today. The Strontium group, linked to Russian... Continue reading…

If you're anticipating a certain event, then you might be wondering how to add a countdown widget to your iPhone's Home Screen. By default, iOS 17 doesn't include any countdown widgets. Despite that, you can create your own on any of the best iPhones, such as the iPhone 15 series. The process is also identical on iPadOS 17, so you can follow the same steps we've listed below if you're an iPad user.

The original PS5 next to last year’s slimmer redesign. | Photo by Antonio G. Di Benedetto / The Verge Sony now expects to sell 4 million fewer PS5 consoles in its 2023 fiscal year ending March 31st compared to previous projections, Bloomberg reports. The revision came as part of today’s third-quarter earnings release which saw Sony lower the PS5 sales forecast from the 25 million consoles it expected to sell down to 21 million.While PS5 sales were up in Sony’s third quarter, increasing to 8.2 million units from 6.3 million in the same quarter the previous year, Bloomberg notes that this was roughly a million units lower than it had previously projected. That’s despite the release of the big first-party title Spider-Man 2, strong sales of third-party titles, and the launch of a new slimmer PS5 in November. “We expect the annual sales... Continue reading…

Photo by: Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images Walmart is eyeing a $2 billion deal to buy the TV maker Vizio, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal. The deal would put the retail chain in a better position to compete with the affordable smart TVs from Roku and Amazon than its existing Onn house brand. It would also give Walmart access to the breadth of customer data collected by Vizio’s smart TV platform and the revenue stream created by serving up personalized ads and taking a cut of subscription fees. After years of putting its Roku operating system on other TVs, Roku finally launched its own line of smart TVs last year and is ramping up its efforts with plans to release more expensive Mini LED TVs this spring. Meanwhile, Amazon is steadily building out its lineup of... Continue reading…

IBM was once a powerhouse in personal computing, and that was partially solidified by the launch of the IBM Portable Personal Computer 5155. Released on this day in February 1984, this computer was roughly the size of a suitcase and weighed in at 30 pounds, or 30.6 kg. It cost $4,225, which at the time of writing, would cost a rather hefty $12,390.

Photo by Patrick Smith / Getty Images This is Hot Pod, The Verge’s newsletter about podcasting and the audio industry. Sign up here for more.I hope all you East Coasters had a cozy nor’easter. By the time the snow stopped this morning and I tried to take my baby outside for some winter frolicking, it had already turned to slush. He doesn’t know the difference, but I am bummed!Today, we’re looking at layoffs at SiriusXM, a new podcast deal for Meghan Markle, and how the “Swift Effect” made Travis Kelce’s podcast a top 10 hit. But first, one more programming announcement for Hot Pod Summit!SiriusXM and The Trade Desk are coming to Hot Pod SummitOne thing we keep hearing from readers and Hot Pod Summit attendees is a desire to understand what on earth is going on with... Continue reading…