In the great browser wars, companies focus on adding new and enhanced features that the others don't have. However, at the end of the day, the browser acts as a window through which we can, well, browse. And sometimes all those extra features, bars, and pop-ups feel a little too invasive.

Microsoft has spent the better part of three years trying to make AI a core part of everything it does. Windows 11, Edge, Office, Bing, you name it, Copilot is there. And on paper, I guess that makes sense. Microsoft has invested more than $13 billion in OpenAI, plus it has the infrastructure, the user base, and the platform to reach quantities of users that very few companies can match. If anyone should be winning at AI right now, it's Microsoft.

Well, the day is finally here. We saw the writing on the wall when GNOME 49 disabled X11 sessions by default. You could still enable them if you liked, but it was clear that X11 was slowly being shown the door. Now, with the release of GNOME 50, the legendary desktop environment has erased all of its X11 backend, but fans of the older apps aren't being left in the dark.

When first setting out on a home lab journey, the temptation to buy shiny new rack-mounted gear is very real. The common assumption goes: if you're not using the "big-boy" gear, can you really run anything worthwhile?

As people warm up to the world of open-source software, we're seeing more software companies embrace Linux. We've only just heard about Google Chrome getting an official ARM64 Linux version, and now, the Opera team is bringing its gaming-oriented browser, Opera GX, to the world of Tux. And while some people may be confused about why Opera is making this move, its creator believes it is the right thing to do.

Department of Homeland Security. | Image: The Verge A bipartisan duo is pushing back on President Donald Trump's attempts to end a program that lets hundreds of thousands of foreign students work in the US for a year after graduation. Reps. Sam Liccardo (D-CA) and Jay Obernolte (R-CA) introduced a bill that would codify Optional Practical Training (OPT), which allows international students to work in their field of study for 12 months, with extensions of up to 24 months for STEM students. OPT was introduced in 1992 and functions as a sort of bridge between student visas, or F-1s, and H-1Bs, the visa category issued to foreign nationals who work for US companies. But OPT is now under threat …Read the full story at The Verge.

If you're looking to build a new PC with a tiny footprint, the Fractal Design Ridge is going to be a good way to go. This mini-ITX case looks quite sharp, while still allowing for plenty of components to reside inside. While your existing hardware will most likely work, it's still a good idea to take note of the internal dimensions in order to ensure that everything will fit.

We've all been there, trying to watch a two-minute how-to video and then having to sit through 60 seconds of ads first. It really does feel like YouTube has evolved so much from just a video site to what has become practically an essential utility, from educational deep dives to white noise for sleep. So many people use YouTube the same way they use water or electricity, myself included, by spending just $13.99 a month.

Meta is reversing its plans to shut down its VR metaverse - sort of.On Monday, the company announced that it would be shutting down the VR version of its 3D social platform Horizon Worlds on June 15th in favor of a new focus on the mobile version of the app. But in a Wednesday AMA on his Instagram, Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth said the company has decided that existing VR worlds would remain available and that the Horizon Worlds VR app will be available to download "for the foreseeable future."Meta is keeping VR Horizon Worlds experiences around as a way to support "the fans who reached out, like yourself, who really care about that," Boswor …Read the full story at The Verge.

Designing your own 3D prints feels like the moment the hobby stops being just about making things and starts becoming about solving problems your way. That shift is exciting, but it also comes with a lot of mistakes that tutorials don’t always prepare you for. I learned pretty quickly that good-looking models aren’t always printable, and printable models aren’t always pleasant to use. Looking back, there are a few lessons I wish I’d learned much earlier, because they would’ve saved me time, filament, and a fair amount of annoyed muttering at my printer.

The convenience of picking a shiny new smart home gadget from an electronics store is hard to resist. But I always ask too many questions. Why does a smart plug need a cloud account? Why do they keep sending data to a remote server? And why are the automations limited to their app?

Uber and Rivian are joining forces to deploy 50,000 fully autonomous robotaxis over the next several decades, the companies announced Thursday. As part of the deal, Uber will invest $1.25 billion in Rivian through 2031, contingent on Rivian meeting certain autonomy milestones, starting with an initial $300 million at signing. (The deal is still subject to regulatory approval.)The news signals a big vote of confidence in Rivian's nascent autonomy efforts, which include designing its own custom AI chips to power Level 4 autonomous vehicles. Uber, meanwhile, has been on something of a robotaxi partnering spree, corralling a variety of compani …Read the full story at The Verge.