For EVs, it's Zero Hour. When the clock strikes midnight on Oct. 1, the $7,500 federal tax credit on EVs will expire, potentially turning affordable electric carriages into showroom pumpkins.Sales of electric cars are certain to dip. Real-world prices will rise. The only question is how much, and for how long, as President Donald Trump and his administration continue to go scorched-earth over climate change and kneecap support for electric cars and renewable energy.With one eye on the clock, consumers bought more new EVs in August 2025 than in any other month in US history: Sales reached 146,332 cars, up nearly 18 percent year over year, …Read the full story at The Verge.

As LLMs have grown in popularity, the ability to run them locally has also become somewhat sought after. And it's not always easy, as the raw power required for running a lot of language models isn't something you can typically find in an ordinary laptop, and you'd probably think about using discrete GPUs first.

A frame from a Sora 2-generated video. OpenAI has a new version of the Sora AI video generator that it launched at the end of last year, and it’s arriving today alongside a new social video app, also called Sora, for iPhones. The currently invite-only app resembles TikTok with a feed of videos you can shuffle through. But instead of encouraging people to stitch together duets, it asks you to record short videos that anyone can spin into new AI-generated deepfakes — with your consent.In a briefing with reporters on Monday, employees called it the potential “ChatGPT moment for video generation.” The Sora app is currently only available to US and Canada users, with other countries set to follow, and when someone receives access, they also get four additional invites to share with friends.  There’s no word on when an Android version might be released.Sora users can give their friends — or, if they’re feeling bold, everyone — permission to create “cameos” with their own likeness using the new video model, which is dubbed Sora 2. The person whose likeness is being generated is a “co-owner” of that end result, OpenAI employees said, and they can delete it or revoke access to others at any time. Like TikTok, OpenAI’s Sora app allows you to interact with other videos and trends using a “Remix” feature, but it only allows for the generation of 10-second videos for now. OpenAI currently has a lot of restrictions on generating videos of public figures, but that may not be the case forever, according to the briefing with reporters. Currently, “public figures can’t be generated in Sora unless they’ve uploaded a cameo themselves and given consent for it to be used,” OpenAI wrote in a release accompanying the announcement. “The same applies to everyone: if you haven’t uploaded a cameo, your likeness can’t be used.” OpenAI employees also said it’s currently “impossible to generate” X-rated or “extreme” content via the platform.

The image-sharing site Imgur has shut off access to UK users after the country’s data watchdog warned the platform of a fine, as reported earlier by the BBC. In a post on Imgur’s help page, Imgur confirms that users in the UK can no longer log in, view content, or upload images starting September 30th, 2025.Now, when UK-based users try to access Imgur’s website, it displays a message reading  “Content not available in your region.” Imgur will also block UK users from seeing content from the platform embedded on third-party websites, like Reddit, according to Imgur’s help page.Though Imgur doesn’t cite a reason for the change, the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) says it recently warned Imgur’s parent company, MediaLab, of plans to impose a fine as part of an investigation into its use of children’s data and age verification measures. The UK first started the investigation into Imgur, TikTok, and Reddit’s compliance with its online safety laws in March. The ICO doesn’t specify what Imgur’s proposed fine is for, but notes that its findings are “provisional” and that it will “carefully consider any representations from MediaLab” before deciding whether to impose a fine.“Imgur’s decision to restrict access in the UK is a commercial decision taken by the company,” the ICO writes. Tim Capel, the ICO’s interim executive director, adds that “exiting the UK does not allow an organisation to avoid responsibility for any prior infringement of data protection law” and that the investigation into Imgur is still underway. The Verge reached out to Imgur with a request for comment but didn’t immediately hear back.

Two Russian YouTubers have posted videos unboxing what appears to be an unannounced iPad Pro with an M5 chip. Rumors have indicated that Apple could launch an M5 iPad Pro as early as October, and these videos may be our first look at the actual product.Externally, this new M5 iPad Pro doesn’t appear to have major differences from the M4 iPad Pro released in May 2024. Based on what’s shown in the videos, the new device is still a big, thin tablet with a relatively unobtrusive bezel, and it once again looks to only have one camera on the back.The M5 iPad Pro is rumored to get a portrait front camera in addition to the landscape front camera available on the M4 model. In the video from one YouTuber, Wylsacom (who leaked an M4 MacBook Pro last year ahead of Apple’s official announcement), it’s difficult to see if this alleged new iPad has two front-facing cameras. The video from another YouTuber, Romancev768, shows a second sensor on the top of the iPad in portrait mode, but we haven’t seen anyone use it as a camera yet so it’s unclear what it may do.The iPads in the videos are also missing the “iPad Pro” text found on the back of the M4 model — the only things you can see on the back of the new tablet are the antenna line, the camera system, and the Apple logo.Wylsacom ran some Geekbench 6 tests on this alleged M5 iPad Pro and an M4 iPad Pro to compare benchmarks across the two models. For the CPU tests, the M5 iPad Pro got a single-core score of 4,133 and a multi-core score of 15,437, while the M4 iPad Pro got a single-core score of 3,718 and a multi-core score of 13,324. For the GPU tests, the M5 iPad Pro got a score of 74,568 and the M4 iPad Pro got a score of 55,702.Apple didn’t immediately reply to a request for comment. But if Apple is indeed going to launch an M5 iPad Pro sometime soon, we may not have to wait too much longer to see if the tablet in these videos are the real deal.Update, September 30th: Added details from a second video.

Well, it's finally here. Microsoft has released Windows 11 25H2 to the general release channels, allowing users to start downloading it today. It's this year's feature update, where the company typically includes a bunch of new features for WIndows 11. And while last year's patch, 24H2, was a pretty significant one, 25H2 is more of a tidying up of Windows 11, including the removal of some older features.

Capable of recording footage and streaming it to your devices in real-time, surveillance cameras are a great way to bolster your home’s security. Unfortunately, while the cameras themselves are fairly affordable, dedicated Network Video Recorders can cost a pretty penny. The same holds for cloud storage platforms, as the subscription fees can add up over time. You’ll also have to deal with privacy issues when storing footage of your living space on third-party servers.

Here are some examples of the “Portraits” avatars available to select Copilot users. Microsoft is trying to make Copilot more approachable by giving the AI assistant an animated face to talk with. The experimental “Portraits” feature in Copilot Labs is currently available in the US, UK, and Canada, and provides 40 stylized human avatars that respond with natural expressions during real-time voice conversations.Announcing the new feature on X, Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman says Portraits was developed in response to some Copilot users saying “they’d feel more comfortable talking to a face when using voice.” The feature allows users to select a portrait and pair it with a voice, aiming to make verbal conversations with the chatbot feel more natural compared to text-based interactions.This is Microsoft’s latest attempt to develop Copilot into a character that’s more appealing to communicate with, having previously announced a similar feature called “Copilot Appearances” in July. The notable difference between the two is that Portraits is based on human appearances instead of an animated cartoon blob.“This experiment leverages VASA-1, an advanced AI technology developed by Microsoft Research to create real-time, visual AI conversations,” Microsoft announced on the Copilot Discord server. “The innovation allows us to generate natural facial expressions, head movements, and lip-sync from just a single image — no complex 3D modeling required.”The Portraits experiment follows rival AI provider X introducing 3D avatars for its Grok chatbot, including an anime-inspired AI girlfriend companion with an NSFW mode. Microsoft is taking things slow with the rollout of Portraits, likely due to safety concerns around harmful interactions between users and rival chatbots, like those under investigation from Character.AI.“Each portrait is intentionally stylized and not photorealistic, offering you visual variety while offering the same trusted Copilot intelligence and safety features you rely on,” Microsoft said on the Copilot blog. Availability is restricted to a “limited set of users” aged 18 or older, according to Microsoft, with daily and session-based time limits in place alongside “clear indicators that you are interacting with AI technology.”

You can get the Era 100 for just $134. | Image: The Verge With the impact of President Trump’s tariffs leading to higher prices on Sonos gear, scoring a deal feels extra special. Right now, Sonos is currently offering up to 25 percent off a range of refurbished devices, including the Sonos Era 100, Era 300, and the portable Move 2, with prices starting at $134. If you want wireless headphones that can seamlessly integrate with your Sonos setup, a refurbished pair of Ace wireless headphones are currently $239, saving you $160 off the price of a new pair.Sonos Era 100 (Refurbished)Sonos’ Era 100 smart speaker is a replacement for the older Sonos One, utilizing two tweeters (left and right) and one larger woofer. In addition to Wi-Fi, the Era 100 also supports Bluetooth audio and line-in playback via an optional 3.5mm to USB-C adapter. Read our review.Where to Buy: $179 $134 at SonosThe refurbished Sonos Era 100 is down to $134 ($45 off), which is close to the price drop we saw on the same model over the summer. In his review of the smart speaker, former senior reviewer Chris Welch said the Era 100 provides rich sound that’s consistently strong across genres. Features include stereo sound, line-in and Bluetooth audio support, and more intuitive physical controls compared to the older Sonos One. The Era 100 has two tweeters, enabling proper left and right channel reproduction, and a larger midwoofer compared to its predecessor, resulting in more booming bass.Sonos Ace (Refurbished)The Sonos Ace are the company’s first set of wireless headphones. They feature a premium, comfortable build and active noise cancellation, along with compatibility with Sonos Arc and other Sonos soundbars. Read our review.Where to Buy: $319 $239 at SonosThe Sonos Ace are currently just $239, saving you $80 off the refurbished price. They’re the company’s first set of wireless headphones that nail style, fit, and comfort. They also deliver on aspects like sound quality, noise cancellation, and a transparency mode that offers an impressive lifelike sound. The Ace also offers a feature called TV Audio Swap, which lets you transfer any sound coming from a Sonos Arc soundbar to the headphones with the press of a button. The private listening mode supports spatial audio and head tracking, providing an immersive experience when watching movies.Sonos Move 2 (Refurbished)With double the battery life of its predecessor and better-sounding stereo audio, the Sonos Move 2’s improvements don’t stop there. It supports line-in audio, can stream Bluetooth audio to other Sonos speakers, and more. Read our review.Where to Buy: $399 $299 at SonosFinally, the refurbished Sonos Move 2 is down to $299 ($100 off), making the portable speaker much more affordable. In his review, Chris Welch called the Move 2 a “slam-dunk sequel,” praising its stereo sound, extra-long battery life, and line-in playback. The speaker initially launched for $449 and has since gone up to $499, making this price drop a great deal. Sonos Certified Refurbished products are thoroughly inspected, cleaned, and tested by the brand’s in-house team, and you get the same one-year warranty as new Sonos products, so what you get should look and perform as though it’s new.Other deals to check outThe Criterion Channel is offering a one-year subscription to new subscribers for $79.99 ($20 off) with the code FALLSPECIAL through October 5th. The streaming service offers a curated selection of classic and contemporary movies that both film aficionados and general audiences can enjoy, with picks like William Friedkin’s Sorcerer, Alan J. Pakula’s All the President’s Men, and Akira Kurosawa’s High and Low. The service is available online or through apps available for iOS, Apple TV, Android TV, Fire TV, and more.The HP Omen Transcend gaming laptop is currently down to $1,599 ($440 off) at Best Buy for today only. The laptop features a 14-inch 3K OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, an Intel Core Ultra 9-285H processor, and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 graphics card with 8GB of VRAM. Additionally, the Omen Transcend features a Thunderbolt 4 port, two USB-A ports, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and an HDMI 2.1 port, allowing you to connect it to a TV or monitor. If you’re looking for games to play, Steam’s Autumn Sale is now underway, letting you save on games through October 6th.Amazon’s last-generation Kindle Scribe with a premium pen is matching its all-time low of $299 ($100 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target. The e-reader features a 10.2-inch front-lit display, giving you more space for reading. But, more importantly, that larger canvas gives you space to jot down notes and annotate books, with an experience that feels like writing on paper. That being said, Amazon just launched a trio of new Kindle Scribe models, including an entry-level model that starts at $429.99 and the Scribe Colorsoft, which starts at $629.99. If you don’t mind having the previous generation, though, you’ll save a lot of money on a larger Scribe. Read our review.

Microsoft is rolling out its annual Windows 11 update (known as version 25H2) today. After testing the update in the Windows Insider Release Preview ring last month, version 25H2 is now starting to roll out to all Windows 11 users through Windows Update. The 25H2 update isn’t a huge one, so it won’t take long to install — Microsoft is delivering it as a small “enablement package.”“This means that it contains all the recently announced features in Windows 11, version 24H2,” explains John Cable, vice president of program management for Windows servicing and delivery. “Both versions use a shared code base and servicing branch, streamlining the update.”This shared code base also means Microsoft will continue to release new Windows features monthly to both 24H2 and 25H2 versions of Windows 11. Version 25H2 does have some improvements behind the scenes, though. “Version 25H2 includes significant advancements in build and runtime vulnerability detection, coupled with AI assisted secure coding,” Cable says. “We’ve designed version 25H2 to address and mitigate security threats in adherence to a robust security development lifecycle (SDL) policy and requirements.”The update is also a little leaner thanks to the removal of PowerShell 2.0 and the Windows Management Instrumentation command-line (WMIC).If you want to get 25H2 today, then all you need to do is ensure the “get the latest updates as soon as they’re available” option is toggled on in Windows Update. “If we detect that your device may have an issue, such as an application or driver incompatibility, we may put a safeguard hold in place and not offer the update until that issue is resolved,” Cable says. Microsoft will expand the rollout over the next few months and share known issues and device incompatibilities on its Windows release health hub.

LG’s UltraFine 32U990A display is nearly here after debuting at CES 2025. | Image: LG LG first announced its new 32-inch UltraFine monitor at CES 2025. The company still bills it as the “world’s first 6K monitor with Thunderbolt 5 connectivity” built right in. Ahead of the display launching in South Korea and Japan in September, followed by a US launch next month, LG has shared more specs and pricing details. It’s currently available for preorder through B&H’s online store for $1,999.99 with shipping expected to start on October 20th.The UltraFine 32U990A features a 31.5-inch IPS panel with a native resolution of 6,144 x 3,456 and a maximum refresh rate of 60Hz. It supports 10-bit color covering 98 percent of the DCI-P3 and 99.5 percent of the Adobe RGB color spaces. It offers a 2,000:1 contrast ratio with 450 nits of brightness which helps explain why LG’s 6K display is nearly $3,000 cheaper than Apple’s similarly-styled but aging 6K Pro Display XDR which instead offers up to 1,600 nits of brightness.Thunderbolt 5 support means LG’s display can move files around at speeds up to 120Gbps when connected to other T5 devices, but its port selection isn’t quite as extensive as what you’ll find on the many Thunderbolt 5 hubs now available. The UltraFine 32U990A features HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort, a pair of 96W T5 USB-C ports, a USB-C upstream port for connecting to your computer, and a pair of slower USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 ports.

Like the iPhone 17 Pro, the new BEats Powerbeats Fit earbuds come in orange. | Image: Beats Beats has announced a new version of the Fit Pro wireless earbuds that launched in late 2021, which are now called the Powerbeats Fit. The most notable upgrade is a redesigned wing tip that Beats says is 20 percent more flexible, improving comfort while also keeping the earbuds more securely anchored in your ear. The company says that the new wingtip provides as much stability as the over-ear hook used on the Powerbeats Pro 2, while keeping the price point under $200.The Powerbeats Fit are available for purchase starting today through Apple’s online store, Amazon, and Best Buy for $199.99 in jet black, gravel gray, power pink, and spark orange color options. If you’re a Beats-over-AirPods user who recently switched to the cosmic orange iPhone 17 Pro, the spark orange Powerbeats Fit almost feels like a mandatory upgrade.Unlike the pricier Powerbeats Pro 2 and the new AirPods Pro 3 that use Apple’s newer H2 wireless chip, the Powerbeats Fit still rely on the H1 chip. You’ll still get features like one-touch pairing, hands-free Siri access, Find My tracking, and syncing across Apple devices through iCloud. Android users will get one-touch pairing through the Beats mobile app, customizable controls, a Fit Test making it easier to select the ideal ear tip size, and location tracking through the app.The earbuds aren’t a major redesign of the Beats Fit Pro by any stretch of the imagination, but reducing the size of their charging case by 17 percent made it easier to slip into a pocket without reducing battery life. Like the Beats Fit Pro, the new Powerbeats Fit offers up to seven hours of playback on the buds alone, or up to 30 hours when topped off with the charging case. With ANC turned on, that drops to six hours for the buds, and up to 24 hours with the case.Sweat and water resistance remains at the same IPX4 rating, so you won’t want to dunk the buds or the charging case. And the ANC on the new Powerbeats Fit won’t be as good as it is on the AirPods Pro 3, but the earbuds include a transparency mode, personalized Spatial Audio with head tracking, and adaptive EQ to adjust and optimize the sound profile of what you’re listening to based on ambient noise and the fit and seal.