Photo by Tom Warren / The Verge Xbox’s latest update adds a way to map controller buttons to keyboard keys. If you have the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 and the Xbox Adaptive Controller, you can now assign specific keyboard keys to buttons on your controller. This should make it easier to play games that have limited controller support or just have a lot of different controls.Microsoft first released this feature to Xbox Insiders in August, and now it’s rolling out to the Xbox Accessories app on both PC and console this week. With this feature, you can now map any button on your controller, such as your left bumper, to the keyboard key of your choice. Image: Xbox While you can also map as many modifier keys, like Ctrl, Shift, Alt, and... Continue reading…

Apple has long been rumored to be working on new budget MacBooks that could cost substantially lower than the existing models. A new leak now reveals more information about those rumored devices, which it says could come in at least two different sizes, with 12-inch and 13-inch displays. Other sources have also made similar claims in the past, and the latest leak now seems to further confirm the notion that Apple is, indeed, working on affordable MacBooks to take on low-cost Chromebooks and Windows laptops.

The Central Processing Unit, or CPU, is effectively your computer's brain. It's the principal component responsible for performance and enables computers and other devices to accomplish a wide range of tasks. But as with any technology, things can go wrong. One of the most common questions among both computer enthusiasts and average users is, "Do CPUs degrade over time?" Below, we'll examine the factors that can impact CPU lifespan and performance and discuss ways you can extend the life of your hardware.

Xiaomi’s 14 phones run a new Android skin called HyperOS designed to run across different kinds of devices. | Image: Xiaomi Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is just a couple of days of old, and per usual, Xiaomi has already announced new flagship phones that put it to use. The Xiaomi 14 and 14 Pro will be exclusive to China before a likely global (minus the US) launch, but for now, the AI-heavy feature set and a new Android skin called HyperOS give us a pretty good idea of what’s to come in 2024.The Xiaomi 14 comes with a 6.3-inch screen, and the 14 Pro offers a 6.7-inch screen. They each claim a peak brightness of 3,000 nits, and they’re both LTPO displays with 1-120Hz adaptive refresh rates. The 14 comes with a flat display and narrow bezels measuring 1.61mm on three sides — there’s an itty-bitty chin with a 1.71mm bezel along the bottom. The 14 Pro’s... Continue reading…

Screenshot: Wes Davis / The Verge Apple has rolled out a new “Concerts” section in the iOS version of the Shazam app. This new feature in Shazam version 17.0 recommends concerts under filters labeled “For You” and “Popular.” Users can narrow down the list by location and save concerts they’re interested in. This new section also includes information about the venue and a link to purchase tickets for each concert. Tapping on a specific concert gives you the option to save it in the Shazam app and even add it as an event to your calendar. Under that, the app offers up music from the band or musician playing the show. You can either play the music inside Shazam or pop over to listen on Apple Music or Spotify, depending on which service you’ve connected to Shazam. ... Continue reading…

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge I know, I know, my headline is a lot — but it’s true!Intel, the chipmaker, has turned its iconic five-note Intel Bong sound mark into a piece of music that now greets investors, analysts, and journalists who tune in to the company’s earnings calls. It’s got a drum kit, record scratch, and everything:“Wait, is that Intel?” asked my wife the moment the conference call hold music began playing over my speakers. Mission accomplished, I presume! Also... it’s kind of catchy?Intel corp comms director William Moss confirms this is the first time the company’s used the tune.In case you’re more interested in Intel’s future than its muzak, its Q3 2023 earnings call suggested it’s doing well! While sales aren’t exactly growing and the PC... Continue reading…

We're inching closer to the end of 2023 and have already seen some great smartphones from the likes of Samsung, OnePlus, Motorola, and Google. With almost all major smartphone releases out of the way, it's time to reflect and spotlight some of the best phones of the year so far. In addition to flagships like the iPhone 15 Pro Max and Samsung's Galaxy S23 Ultra, I've also highlighted some best value and budget picks like the OnePlus 11, Pixel 7a, and more to provide a good mix of options. We here at XDA test almost every smartphone released to the public, so you can count on this roundup to find the right phone that suits your budget and needs. Let's dive in!

Samsung's new Galaxy Buds FE earbuds bring many of the mainline features found on the more premium Galaxy Buds 2 Pro earbuds at a relatively affordable price. It offers great sound, has a long battery life, and it also supports features like ANC and ambient sound, making it very similar to premium earbuds on the market. It even has a modern design and carries an IPX2 rating, which is great. Despite that, though, the Galaxy Buds FE case is prone to scratches and cracks that tend to add up over time with everyday use, which is why I recommend investing in a good quality case, just like you would for a phone.

With the right price tracker, you’ll know exactly when the latest flip phones from Samsung and Motorola go on sale. | Photo by Allison Johnson / The Verge Even though Amazon just recently wrapped its fall Prime Day event, Black Friday and Cyber Monday remain the biggest shopping days of the year. Thankfully, like in previous years, we’ll be working to highlight the best prices on tablets, phones, TVs, gaming gear, and other tech throughout the deals-packed week, whether you plan to shop in person or online.You can always count on us to publish the best deals that you need to know about; however, if you want to be among the first people to discover price drops on the products you’re interested in, you’ll want to get set up with a price-tracking tool. We’ve included a few of our favorite examples below, pointing out how each can help you track deals in slightly different ways, each with... Continue reading…

Image: The Verge Apple has released the developer beta of iOS 17.2, and it includes the Journal app, a digital daily diary for users to log their activities. The Journal app was first announced at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference in June, and the company frames it as a way for users to self-reflect and practice gratitude. A feature of the Journal app that’s raised questions is how it uses machine learning to prompt user entries, using data like photos, workouts, location data, and more — perhaps good for people who need a little bit of inspiration. But as my colleague Victoria Song wrote at the time, not all our memories are happy, and it’s not hard to see how an AI-powered prompt machine could go awry.9to5Mac has more details about features... Continue reading…

When setting up a new iPhone or iPad, you're prompted to pick between Light Mode or Dark Mode. But what if you change your mind later on? Well, fortunately, you can easily switch between the two modes on an iPhone 15 Pro Max or any other iDevice model. Whether you're running iOS 17, iPadOS 17, or an earlier OS version, you can toggle Dark Mode using the three methods we've highlighted below.

Apple has an impressive Mac lineup with products for home and on the go. Regardless of what you choose, you're going to get high-quality products with sleek designs and lots of power. With that said, Apple's computing line doesn't come cheap.