Nintendo is planning to launch versions of Switch 2 hardware in the EU that will let users easily replace the battery. To meet its obligations from a new EU regulation that's set to go into effect on February 18th, 2027, Nintendo says on its website that it is "implementing measures to comply with these requirements by preparing versions of products to meet the Regulation."Thanks to EU regulations, gadgets with user-replaceable batteries are making a comeback, as my colleague Dominic Preston wrote recently. Starting on that February 2027 date, EU rules mandate that many types of gadgets, including portable game consoles, must allow users t …Read the full story at The Verge.

It's no secret that Microsoft wants to get rid of the password. This time last year, we saw Microsoft scrap passwords as the default option for new Microsoft accounts. You could still add one if you wanted, but the company would initially push for you to use a passkey or biometrics before you set one. Now, Microsoft Edge will no longer use a master password to unlock its password manager, and its alternatives should be a lot more secure.

It's not every day I see a Raspberry Pi project that truly awes me. Fortunately, when those days do arrive, it's because someone has built something that is genuinely, truly impressive. Well, it seems that today is our lucky day, as GitHub user cpaczek showed off their Skylight project, which beams live flight data onto your ceiling so you can see what's flying overhead. And I'm not even that big of a plane guy.

Canonical made us all a little nervous when it announced that it plans to add AI tools to Ubuntu. However, as we saw more into what Canonical actually plans to add, things began to make sense. Not only would the AI tools be open-source and easy to remove, but they would primarily focus on enhancing accessibility, leveraging AI to make life better for those who struggle to use their computers. We've been given a peek into the first AI tool Ubuntu will get, and it sounds very useful.

The $479 WiiM Bar includes a 2.1-inch touchscreen on its front. | Image: WiiM WiiM, the audio company that's challenged the idea that audiophile-level performance requires a small loan, is expanding its whole-home ecosystem with the WiiM Bar, which releases in July. Much like its other speakers and audio components, the WiiM Bar supports a bunch of streaming options and expandability at an affordable price - in this case, $479.The company's first soundbar has a 3.0.2 Atmos configuration with a total of eight drivers - three front mid-woofers, three front tweeters, and two up-firing full-range height drivers - paired with four passive radiators. That configuration can be expanded to 3.1.2 with the addition of a WiiM …Read the full story at The Verge.

You know what they say: if you want to hide something, do it in plain sight. That’s exactly what Microsoft did with the AI Action tools in Windows 11 File Explorer. For who knows how long, I right-clicked images and somehow just ignored the AI actions menu right there. Whenever I wanted to do only some basic editing, like blurring or removing a background, I would first open the full editor and wait for it to load, only to realize I had spent more time opening the editor than doing the actual edit. Then one day, I actually took my time reading each option when I right-clicked and found the tools I would try first before opening the photo editing app.

Windows Update has always been one of those things that you tolerate instead of enjoying. Every month, Microsoft brings out a fresh batch of fixes and improvements, and every month, an increasing number of users find that the update has broken their PCs in new and unique ways. Keeping Windows secure is important, sure, but when an update either breaks a printer, or a game, or a feature that was otherwise perfectly working beforehand, the entire state of affairs doesn't exactly inspire confidence.

The AI boom has made building a competitive new PC genuinely painful. Memory and storage prices have surged to levels we haven't seen in years, and the parts that used to be afterthoughts now dominate the budget. So it feels almost contradictory to say that the same boom has made building a home server or lab easier than ever, but it truly has lowered the bar in ways that have nothing to do with price.

One of the great things about USB-C becoming so popular in all kinds of devices is that it's an incredibly capable port — plus it's more durable than the micro-USB of old — so it has enabled all kinds of accessories to be paired with modern phones. A popular option these days is to use a controller like the Backbone, which plugs into the USB-C port and lets you play console-style games in a much more comfortable way.

Apple will introduce age verification in the App Store for users in Texas starting on Thursday, June 4th. The move, as spotted by MacRumors, comes just days after a federal appeals court allowed Texas' App Store Accountability Act to go into effect while a lawsuit against it proceeds.People in Texas who are creating a new Apple account will need to verify they're over 18 using a credit card or government ID. Apple may also automatically verify users' age using the age of their account and whether they have a credit card on file.Meanwhile, users under 18 must join a Family Sharing group, where a parent or guardian will need to provide con …Read the full story at The Verge.

Chargers are an essential part of everyday life, and while I have a beefy 140W model that is my primary go-to, I don't always like to lug it around if I'm just going on a quick trip, especially if I just need to charge up my phone and other smaller accessories.

The ideal laptop is going to be thin, light, and powerful. The coveted combination of hardware exists, but often comes at a steep cost. While you're going to get what you pay for, we always think it's a good idea to wait if you can to see if retailers will discount the model you're looking at. With that said, the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 has just received a steep discount, knocking $470 off the usual retail price.