If you ask any tech enthusiast which video player they use on their computer, chances are you’ll hear just one name: VLC. This is true across devices and platforms because VLC is a solid media player that nails the basics. It’s simple, lightweight, supports pretty much any format under the sun, and most importantly, it just works. Owing to this, VLC has also been my media player of choice for close to two decades now. While it still works well, I thought of venturing out and trying other alternatives to see if I could find something better. Let’s just say I was bored with the orange cone and wanted some change.

If you're using Proxmox to run virtual machines, you've probably seen the Cloud-Init tab and just ignored it. I did the same for a long time. It sounds like one of those things made for enterprise use or huge cloud deployments, not something for someone spinning up a few VMs at home. But once I gave it a shot, it quickly became one of the first things I set up after installing Proxmox.

The OnePlus Watch 3 starts at $269.99 ($30 off) for the new 43mm model. | Image: The Verge / OnePlus OnePlus has kicked off its back-to-school sale, and the deals are pretty solid. There are discounts on the company’s impressive tablets, but the highlights are the new low prices on its smartwatches. Right now, you can buy the 43mm OnePlus Watch 3 for $269.99 ($30 off), while the 46mm is $319.99 ($30 off). Even the OnePlus Watch 2 is cheaper than it’s ever been at $199.99 ($100 off). Students get an additional 10 percent off, making these deals even sweeter.We’ve recommended the OnePlus Watch 2 as a great alternative to Google and Samsung smartwatches since its debut, and the Watch 3 builds upon it with small, but meaningful upgrades. It retains everything we loved in its predecessor, like dual-frequency GPS and long battery life, but now adds Google Gemini, a rotating crown that scrolls, and video watch faces. The company also added its 60S Health Check-In, which provides a quick snapshot of your heart rate, blood oxygen levels, mental wellness, wrist temperature, sleep quality, and vascular age (with European users also getting EKGs) with a click of a button.The OnePlus Watch 3 comes in two sizes: a new 43mm model introduced in July, and a 46mm version released back in April. Both are similar in terms of specs, but the 43mm model skips the 46mm’s temperature sensor that was used for reproductive cycle tracking and fall detection. The 46mm wearable also boasts a larger, brighter 2,200-nit OLED display, which is double the brightness of the 43mm version (1000 nits).Read our hands-on impressions of the OnePlus Watch 3.OnePlus Watch 3The OnePlus Watch 3 builds upon the OnePlus Watch 2 with a new 43mm size and rotating crown bezel. The 43mm adds reproductive cycle tracking and fall detection as well, while the 46mm adds a wrist temperature sensor.Where to Buy: $299.99 $269.99 at OnePlus (43mm) $349.99 $319.99 at OnePlus (46mm)

Have you heard of Natalie the Nerd? She’s a pillar of the Nintendo Game Boy modding scene who taught herself to reverse engineer and design Game Boy circuit boards. Now, she’s put her skills to work in probably the most beautiful build I’ve ever seen: a working see-through Game Boy Color where even the circuit board is made of clear plastic. Because she designed and created that board herself from scratch, you see. I’ve been floored by console mods before, but I’d typically limit praise to saying they’re “damn clean.” But this thing, to paraphrase Indiana Jones, belongs in a museum. “Damn that’s lovely,” says one of my colleagues. “It’s such a delight,” says another. Another reason why it’s probably a museum piece: she agreed with one commenter that it’s likely too flimsy and fragile for extended use. “Yeah not practical at all, just art work TBH,” she wrote.Natalie lives in Australia, where she sometimes sells RGB lighting kits and other aftermarket components for Game Boy modding and offers repair services. You can also support her work at ko-fi.

You can added canister vacs to the growing list of connected appliances. | Image: Miele Despite the convenience of cordless stick vacs, canister vacuums are still very much a thing for those with battery anxiety or those who want a lighter cleaner. Miele still offers over 20 different models of canister vacs in the US, but its latest is the company’s first to introduce smart functionality making it yet another appliance that wants access to your home’s Wi-Fi network.The Miele Guard L1 Electro is available now for $1,499 making it the most expensive model in the company’s L1 lineup and considerably pricier than even the $380 canister vacuum that Dyson still sells. That seems like a lot for a vacuum that still has a power cord, but the Electro does offer additional functionality including a built-in LCD touchscreen for changing the vacuum’s cleaning mode. The screen also displays status messages letting you know when the filter or vacuum bag needs replacing, or if a clog is detected. The Electro connects to Miele’s mobile app over Wi-Fi giving you another option for staying on top of those important status messages. And should it be time to replace bags or filters, you can conveniently order them directly through the app.

The Switch 2 can be enjoyed right out of the box, but it’s even better with the right accessories. Some of these add-ons are more crucial than others, especially if you’re deciding what to buy early on. For example, a case and a screen protector can keep your console safe from scuffs, scratches, and drops, so both are what I’d consider to be essential. On the other hand, a microSD Express card lets you add even more digital games to your library, although the console’s somewhat generous 256GB of internal storage means you may not need one right away. Some others don’t add enough to the gaming experience to be worth it. Those Joy-Con 2 steering wheel accessories? You can pass on those.The Switch 2 and its games are expensive enough, so we’ve assembled this guide with picks that are a great value. You don’t need to spend hundreds on accessories — many of us at The Verge certainly aren’t. No matter your budget, we’ve included numerous categories, beginning with a starter kit of recommendations we think everyone should consider.Our seven must-have Switch 2 accessoriesamFilm OneTouch two-pack of glossy screen protectorsThis two-pack of glossy screen protectors is a great value.Where to Buy: $15.99 $8.99 at Amazontomtoc slim carrying case for the Switch 2A slim, durable case that comes in multiple color schemes.Where to Buy: $47.99 $33 at AmazonNintendo Switch 2 Pro ControllerThe Switch 2 wireless controller with the most features, but it’s not cheap.Where to Buy: $89 at Walmart $89.99 at Best Buy $89 at Amazon8BitDo USB Adapter 2Grab this to be able to use your Xbox or PS5 controller on your Switch 2.Where to Buy: $19.99 $18.99 at Amazon (with on-page coupon) $19.99 at 8BitDo $19.99 at Best BuySandisk microSD Express cardOnce you’ve filled up the Switch 2’s built-in 256GB SSD, add some extra storage.Where to Buy: $53.99 at Amazon (128GB) $71.99 at Amazon (256GB) $115.99 at Amazon (512GB)Ugreen USB-C-to-ethernet adapterSwitch 2 Wi-Fi download speeds are painfully slow. This can help speed things up in handheld mode.Where to Buy: $14.99 $12.99 at AmazonFastsnail Switch/Switch 2 Joy-Con charging dockA great accessory for households with original Switch Joy-Con laying around.Where to Buy: $24.99 $19.99 at AmazonBest Switch 2 controllersNintendo Switch 2 ProThe Switch 2 Pro is Nintendo’s latest flagship wireless controller. It’s similar in several ways to the excellent Pro controller that debuted alongside the Switch, especially in design, with its analog stick layout, and because it’s the most replete with features you won’t find on other Switch 2 gamepads. Its motion control support isn’t a novel feature (many third-party controllers offer that), but its Amiibo NFC support is still something that almost no alternatives offer. Another feature that makes this one worth considering despite its high price is its 3.5mm headphone jack, in case you want to plug in a set of wired headphones for private listening. Additionally, it can wake the Switch 2 from standby via Bluetooth (only a select few wireless models possess this ability), so you don’t have to get off your couch to hit the console’s power button. Lastly, this model has two additional buttons that can be mapped to mimic almost any other button. (some cheaper alternatives, including the 8BitDo Ultimate 2 and Pro 3, feature four extra buttons).The Switch 2 Pro is very comfortable, and it’s the controller that I always want to use when given the choice between the options below. But it’s not perfect. For one, it’s pricey at $89.99, and you’d think for that price Nintendo might have opted for drift-resistant sticks. Alas, you owe $5 to your buddy who bet that Nintendo would doggedly opt again for potentiometer sticks that are proven to tear down over time. Its sticks haven’t caused issues so far, but it’s possible that they might not fare as well — and as long — as models below that feature more durable Hall effect or TMR joysticks. Read our review of the Switch 2 ProNintendo Switch 2 Pro ControllerThe Switch 2 Pro Controller features new remappable “GL” and “GR” rear buttons, the “C” button to access in-game chat features, and a headphone jack.Where to Buy: $89 at Walmart $89.99 at Best Buy $89.99 at Target8BitDo Pro 38BitDo’s Pro 3 is a good alternative to the Switch 2 Pro controller: it’s slightly cheaper, yet better in some ways (and a bit worse in others) that might matter to you. Starting with the good, the company upgraded its joysticks to the even more durable TMR sensors. The two back paddles are carried over from the first iteration, though there’s a new pair of buttons (L4 and R4) near the triggers that can be customized. Also of note are new toggle switches around its backside (similar to what we saw on the DualSense Edge) that let you alter the travel distance of its two triggers. Toggling a switch makes the corresponding trigger feel more like a mouse click. It’s also worth noting that this controller is significantly more customizable than the Switch 2 Pro, as well as most other controllers out there. Its face buttons are magnetically attached, and can be removed to let the Pro 3 flip between the Switch layout and the Xbox layout.While the Pro 3’s TMR sticks might make it last longer, there are some trade-offs compared to the pricier Nintendo alternative — none of which are deal-breakers if saving money is a top priority. For example, its attempts to replicate the subtle blips and buzzing of Nintendo’s impressive HD haptics in the Switch 2 Pro controller are just not good. Its attempts at replicating the smallest, nuanced vibrations of Donkey Kong walking in Bananza makes it go full boar. I’d sooner turn off the vibration entirely than deal with how jarringly intense it feels, and thankfully you can in the app.Other downsides are more minor, but are still worth knowing about. It lacks a 3.5mm headphone jack, and it doesn’t have the C button to launch GameChat. However, you can easily assign the feature to one of the Pro 3’s buttons via the Switch 2’s OS — but not to its additional buttons (the two R buttons near the triggers, and the two rear paddles). If you’d prefer to use the controller’s built-in button combo to reassign in-game commands to any of its buttons, that’s easy to do, per the instructions in its PDF manual. Read our review of the 8BitDo Pro 38BitDo Pro 3 controllerWhere to Buy: $69.99 at Amazon8Bitdo USB Adapter 2It’s technically not a controller, but I’m a broken record when it comes to recommending 8BitDo’s USB Adapter 2 for households already with more than one console. In the case that you have an Xbox or a PS5 and would rather not buy a bespoke Switch 2 controller, just buy this $20 adapter instead, and use it to connect a wireless controller you already own.This adapter goes into the Switch 2’s dock (or directly into the console, if you have a USB-A to C adapter). Connecting your controller is as easy as putting it into pairing mode, then ensuring that the “Pro Controller Wired Communication” option is turned on within the console’s settings. Click and hold the adapter’s coin-shaped button to initiate pairing, then you should be good to go. The DualSense’s rumble and motion controls work seamlessly, and you can remap buttons as you please within the console’s OS, just like you would an official Switch controller.Best adapter: 8BitDo Wireless Bluetooth USB Adapter 2The 8BitDo’s latest adapter resembles a flash drive, but once connected to your Switch’s dock, it allows you to wirelessly pair it with a variety of PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo controllers.Where to Buy: $19.99 $18.99 at Amazon (with on-page coupon) $19.99 at 8BitDo $19.99 at Best BuyBest Switch 2 casesDbrand KillswitchThe Killswitch is a great Switch 2 companion, whether you’re someone who primarily uses the console in handheld mode or while it’s docked. It’s a case that wraps around the Switch 2’s back, with detachable components that snugly grip onto each Joy-Con 2, adding some extra bulk that makes them more comfortable to hold. Above all else, it’s a great way to protect your console from scratches and slightly more significant damage. What’s also great is that it doesn’t limit its flexibility as a hybrid console.Each Killswitch ships with a USB-C dock adapter that is inserted into the Switch 2 dock. Since the case-equipped console can no longer fit in Nintendo’s dock, this adapter lets you connect it to your TV without taking off the case. It’s tougher to correctly align the Switch 2’s USB-C jack with this adapter than it is to put it in the dock, but it gets easier with practice. Read our review of the Dbrand KillswitchDbrand Killswitch – Switch 2Where to Buy: $59.99 at DbrandTomtoc FancyCase Slim zip-up caseThe best, slimmest zip-up case you should buy is made by Tomtoc. Compared to the Belkin hard zip-up case that I got my hands on before the Switch 2’s launch, the Tomtoc FancyCase slim case feels more durable; anecdotally, it holds up much better to being squeezed by hand. It even has more vertical clearance above the Joy-Con 2 sticks, so it’ll never press them in on accident. Like most zip-up cases, it features a screen cover that doubles as cartridge storage. This one can hold 12 cartridges.I’m confident that it’ll absorb more potential damage over time than other cases I’ve tried. Plus, it just looks cooler, with low-profile designs for gamers who don’t want to draw attention to their console. That said, its “Froz Edition” has ice cream-inspired looks that are a lot more expressive.tomtoc slim carrying case for the Switch 2This hard case has a soft touch and a slim fit, and includes a flap that can hold up to 12 cartridges as it protects the console’s screen.Where to Buy: $47.99 $33 at AmazonBelkin fabric zip-up caseBelkin’s $29.99 zip-up case is another competent, good-looking option that’s slim and lightweight. It’s worth considering over the Tomtoc for one reason only: its built-in pocket, which is great if you need to stow a charging cable or any other small doo-dads. Not to mention, this pocket contains another pocket for an AirTag or similar Bluetooth tracker, so you can track this case’s location should you lose track of it.Belkin makes a thicker, pricier version of this case that has a 20,000mAh 20W battery inside. It’s nearly identical until you open it. A cutout fits this (and only this) Belkin battery perfectly, and it lets you charge your Switch 2 at top speeds while it’s protected.Belkin Carrying Case for Nintendo Switch 2Where to Buy: $29.99 at Amazon $29.99 at BelkinBest Switch 2 camerasThe best webcam that you can get for your Switch 2 should be the cheapest one you can find that’s guaranteed to work with it. So far, Logitech has confirmed that almost all of its webcams support the Switch 2, and Elgato has updated its Facecam MK.2 to support it, as well. Elgato’s model is pricier than we recommend most people spend, but it’s a solid option if you also have a PC to use it with. It’s worth knowing that the Switch 2 displays low-fidelity video feeds during gameplay, so unless you plan to use the webcam with your PC as well, it’s not worth spending a lot for a model that promises great video quality. Logitech Brio 100 webcamWhere to Buy: $39.99 $24.99 at Amazon $39.99 $24.99 at Staples $39.99 $24.99 at LogitechNintendo Switch 2 CameraWhere to Buy: $54 at Walmart $54.99 at Best Buy $54.99 at TargetElgato Facecam MK.2Where to Buy: $139.99 at Best Buy $139.99 $123.39 at Amazon $139.99 $129.99 at B&H PhotoBest Switch 2 portable batteriesThe Switch 2 is more powerful than the original Switch. However, it doesn’t require all that much more power to charge, even while you’re playing games. While new phones and tablets are breaking new ground with fast charging speeds, getting a power bank that can deliver at least 20W is totally sufficient to get the fastest-possible charging speeds with the Switch 2 in handheld mode. By using a display-equipped USB-C cable with a wattage reading, I was able to see that the Switch 2 usually pulls a maximum of about 15-17W of power (sometimes less) from a USB-C battery during gameplay. When the system was asleep, the rate went down to between 8-13W, fluctuating at different points during the charging process. From a totally dead state, the console took almost 90 minutes to reach 69 percent with a 20W battery plugged into it. You’ll likely drain your USB-C battery more quickly if you’re playing as you charge.Thankfully, your options for compatible batteries are plentiful. You’ll likely be paying for more power than you’ll need with the Switch 2, but more power (and especially more ports) are never a bad thing to have too much of.Anker Zolo Power Bank (10K, 30W)Where to Buy: $25.99 $16.09 at Amazon (with Prime) $25.99 at AnkerUgreen Nexode power bank (20K, 45W)Where to Buy: $45.99 $34.99 at AmazonBaseus Picogo power bank (10K, 45W)Where to Buy: $39.99 $25.99 at AmazonBest microSD Express cards for Switch 2The Switch 2 supports microSD Express cards of up to 2TB, even though models with that amount of storage aren’t yet available for purchase. Most brands make cards in 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB configurations, and some offer 1TB cards as well. I’d suggest grabbing the cheapest microSD Express card you can find, as so far they all offer similarly fast read/write speeds. Sandisk microSD Express cardWhere to Buy: $53.99 at Amazon (128GB) $71.99 at Amazon (256GB) $115.99 at Amazon (512GB)Samsung microSD Express Card (256GB)Where to Buy: $59.99 at Amazon $59.99 at Best Buy (256GB) $59.99 at Target (256GB)PNY microSD Express cardWhere to Buy: $58.99 $54.96 at Amazon (256GB) $58.99 $55.99 at B&H Photo (256GB) $58.99 at PNY (256GB)GameStop microSD Express cardWhere to Buy: $54.99 at GameStop (256GB) $189.99 at GameStop (1TB)

Conservative activist Robby Starbuck will serve as an advisor at Meta to address “ideological and political bias” within the company’s AI chatbot, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal. The move comes as part of a settlement Meta reached with Starbuck, who filed a lawsuit claiming Meta AI wrongly stated he was involved in the January 6th Capitol riot.Starbuck has waged public pressure campaigns against companies that have diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, with companies like Tractor Supply, John Deere, and Harley-Davidson dropping their DEI efforts as a result. According to a lawsuit filed in April, Starbuck claims he discovered Meta AI’s false output after a Harley-Davidson dealer published a screenshot from Meta’s AI chatbot linking Starbuck to the Capitol riot and QAnon. Now, following President Donald Trump’s executive order to make AI less “woke,” Starbuck will advise Meta on bias. “Since engaging on these important issues with Robby, Meta has made tremendous strides to improve the accuracy of Meta AI and mitigate ideological and political bias,” Meta and Starbuck said in a statement to the WSJ.During an interview with CNBC, Starbuck declined to say whether Meta paid him to resolve the lawsuit. “I’m one person, but this could cause a lot of problems across the entire industry when it comes to elections and political bias, and we wanted to be leaders in solving this problem,” Starbuck said during the interview. Earlier this year, Meta paid $25 million to settle a 2021 lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump over the suspensions of his accounts.Other people have attempted to file lawsuits alleging AI chatbot defamation. Conservative radio host Mark Walters filed a lawsuit against OpenAI in 2023, alleging that ChatGPT falsely stated that Walters was accused of embellishing funds from a non-profit organization. A judge granted summary judgment in favor of OpenAI and dismissed the defamation claim in May.

On Monday, Anthropic released a hotly anticipated memory function for its Claude chatbot.In a YouTube video, the company demonstrated a user asking what they had been chatting about with Claude before their vacation. Claude searches past chats to read and summarize them for the user, then asks if they’d like to move on and keep working on the same project.“Never lose track of your work again,” the company wrote. “Claude now remembers your past conversations, so you can seamlessly continue projects, reference previous discussions, and build on your ideas without starting from scratch every time.” The feature works across web, desktop, and mobile, and it can keep different projects and workspaces separate. It started rolling out to Claude’s Max, Team, and Enterprise subscription tiers today — just go to “Settings” under “Profile” and switch the feature on under “Search and reference chats” — and the company said other plans should receive access soon.But there’s an important caveat here: It’s not yet a persistent memory feature like OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Claude will only retrieve and reference your past chats when you ask it to, and it’s not building a user profile, according to Anthropic spokesperson Ryan Donegan.Anthropic and OpenAI have been going head-to-head in the AI arms race for quite a while, racing to roll out competing features and functionalities — like voice modes, larger context windows, and new subscription tiers — as they both raise ever-increasing funding amounts. Last week, OpenAI launched GPT-5, and Anthropic is currently looking to close a round that could value it as high as $170 billion.Memory functions are another way leading AI companies are looking to attract and keep users on one chatbot service, increasing “stickiness” and user engagement.Chatbots’ memory functions have been the subject of online debate in recent weeks, as ChatGPT has been both lauded and lambasted for its references to users’ past conversations, with some users controversially treating it as a therapist and others experiencing mental health struggles that some are referring to as “ChatGPT psychosis.”

A Revel charging station in Brooklyn in 2022. Revel is shutting down its ridehail business, citing heightened competition from rideshare leaders like Uber and Lyft. The company, which began as an electric moped business before shifting to rideshare, plans to pivot to electric vehicle charging. “At the end of the day, rideshare is a very competitive market and asset-heavy,” Revel CEO Frank Reig said in a statement to Bloomberg. “It’s low margin. We have made the difficult decision that the best way we can keep the EV transition moving forward is by ending our rideshare service and focusing on building the fast-charging infrastructure our biggest cities need to keep going electric.”The Brooklyn-based company launched in 2018 with its signature neon blue rental mopeds before graduating to an all-Tesla ridehail fleet. Revel’s signature baby-blue Model Ys mostly operated in New York and New Jersey.Revel is seeking to sell 165 for-hire vehicle license plates, as well as a buyer for its Tesla and Kia vehicles, according to Bloomberg. The company recently opened several EV charging hubs in New York City and California, and plans to open hundreds more by the end of next year.

If you ask anyone which software they use to archive or extract files on Windows, chances are that they either use WinRAR or 7-Zip. After all, these are the two most popular tools for this purpose. 7-Zip's popularity is due to the fact that it has been around for over two decades, offering an open-source archiving tool that's efficient and gets the job done. It's also totally free of cost, making it the default tool for several Windows users. On the other hand, WinRAR gains points in terms of aesthetics and reliability. It has a polished UI that's easy to use for most people. Plus, it can also open RAR files. That said, it is a paid service, which may put a few people off. Since both tools have their own advantages, I set out to find an alternative that can do both — while still being free to use.

When you think of PC upgrades, you usually picture a new graphics card or platform upgrade linked to a new CPU. Some people might consider the switch from a hard drive to an SSD as the biggest upgrade they have ever made. If you ask me, the upgrade from a 22" 1080p 75Hz monitor to a 27" 1440p 144Hz model was the biggest in my two decades of PC building. The immersion that my new gaming monitor provided was unlike anything I've gotten from a PC component. Four years later, I still don't see myself upgrading my monitor anytime soon.

iRobot, maker of the iconic Roomba robot vacuum, announced its second-quarter earnings late last week, and the numbers keep going down. Despite launching an entirely new product line, its revenue declined 23 percent to $127.6 million from the previous quarter, with the lucrative US and European markets being hit hardest.The company has struggled in the face of increased competition from Chinese manufacturers and the collapse of a sale to Amazon, which left it deep in debt. Earlier this year, CEO Gary Cohen indicated iRobot could shut down within 12 months if something didn’t change. The clock is ticking.Last week, Cohen said that while customer response to the new product line has been “encouraging,” iRobot didn’t meet its goals this quarter “due to persistent market headwinds and delays in scaling production and sales of our new products.” He confirmed the company is still looking at a potential sale or other “strategic alternatives” to get out of debt.