It’s official: Skydance Media’s deal to purchase CBS parent company Paramount Global for $8 billion is complete, and incoming chairman / CEO David Ellison’s first order of business is a massive restructuring.In an open letter about his plans for Paramount, a Skydance Corporation (the merged companies’ new name), Ellison announced that, going forward, the business will be split into three distinct units: studios, direct-to-consumer, and TV media. Ellison explained that the restructuring is meant to boost efficiency as the new company prepares to transition its entire enterprise to a single technology platform for the first time.“In doing so, we will be able to reduce our technology spend while driving substantial efficiency and performance gains and enabling leaders across the company to make faster and better decisions,” Ellison said. “That investment, combined with other initiatives to achieve efficiencies in costs associated with labor, real estate, procurement, and workflow gives us even greater confidence in our ability to not only achieve—but meaningfully exceed—the $2 billion in real efficiencies we previously announced.”Ellison, son of Oracle co-founder and executive chairman Larry Ellison, also stressed that he sees Paramount, a Skydance Corporation, as a “tech-forward company” that will be taking more cues from Silicon Valley. Ellison listed AI-assisted translation, virtual sound stages, and proprietary ad-tech stacks as some of the things he wants to see more widely implemented. And beginning next year, the company plans to move Paramount Plus and Pluto TV onto “a unified technology stack” to boost performance and cut operational costs.“This integration will elevate the consumer experience across our services—enhancing our recommendation engine, accelerating delivery speed and quality, while also giving us the opportunity to position Pluto TV as the ‘top of the funnel’ to attract new customers to Paramount Plus,” Ellison said.As Variety notes, closing the new deal cleared the way for Larry Ellison, Skydance, and RedBird Capital to buy out all of Paramount chairwoman Shari Redstone’s shares in National Amusements Inc. (NAI), which was the controlling shareholder of Paramount Global. Redstone will not be a part of the new Paramount’s board of directors, and NAI shareholders are reported to have received a collective $1.75 billion in cash because of the deal. The new company’s launch comes just weeks after the FCC’s approval of the merger, which hinged on Skydance and Paramount’s willingness to capitulate to the Trump administration’s push to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in corporate America. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said at the time that Skydance had “made written commitments to ensure that the new company’s programming embodies a diversity of viewpoints from across the political and ideological spectrum.” Skydance also agreed to “adopt measures that can root out the bias that has undermined trust in the national news media,” which is why there will now be an ombudsman tasked with bringing complaints about “bias or other concerns” to the president of CBS News.It was clear that the FCC would not sign off on the Paramount / Skydance merger until Paramount agreed to pay $16 million to settle Donald Trump’s lawsuit against the company over claims that CBS News edited a 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris in a way that misled voters during the 2024 elections. Trump’s lawsuit was “so ill grounded that it comes close to being sanctionable as frivolous,” according to one legal expert, but had Paramount stood its ground, it could have jeopardized Skydance’s chances of securing a deal.There’s also widespread belief that Paramount’s payout to Trump contributed to the “financial” reasoning behind CBS’ decision to cancel The Late Show With Stephen Colbert last month. But now that all the dust has settled, we can all step back and plainly see what these deals were for: to get some shareholders paid.

From their privacy-first design and secure roots to their resource-efficient nature, Linux distributions offer plenty of neat perks compared to Windows and macOS. That’s before you consider the endless customizability offered by Linux systems, with most general-purpose distros letting you modify practically every aspect of their UI, be it the desktop environment, dock, or even the terminal interface.

During today's Nintendo Indie World showcase, I had two epiphanies. The first was the realization that friendslop games are about to hit the Switch 2 like a falling piano in a Road Runner cartoon. The second was that I love that for me, because that means I can finally play them.My friends love "friendslop," the initially derisive but now descriptive nickname given to indie co-op games with a loose gameplay structure that permits the kind of chaos that can make games go viral on social media. And from what I've seen, I would love it, too. Friendslop is known for low-quality graphics (hence the "slop" part) that give a game a stylized look …Read the full story at The Verge.

Out of the box, a Raspberry Pi is configured for general use, but there are several settings you can tweak to make it more secure, efficient, and tailored to your projects. Whether you're running a headless server or building a desktop-like experience, changing a few defaults can make a big difference. These adjustments don't take long but can significantly improve how your Pi performs and interacts with your network or hardware.

GPT-5 has finally arrived. Along with the announcement of the highly anticipated AI model, OpenAI also previewed several updates coming to ChatGPT, ranging from visual changes to improvements to the chatbot’s performance.Here’s a rundown of all of the changes you can expect to see in ChatGPT.Say goodbye to the model pickerWith the rollout of GPT-5, OpenAI is getting rid of the model picker and retiring many of its older models, including GPT-4o, GPT-4.1, and GPT-4.5. ChatGPT now runs on GPT-5 by default, and has a “single auto-switching system” that combines its previous models into a “faster, smarter model,” theoretically eliminating the need to swap between models for different purposes.However, ChatGPT Plus, Pro, and Team users can still use a model picker that allows them to switch between GPT-5 or GPT-5 Thinking. Pro and Team users will also get access to GPT-Thinking Pro.OpenAI gives ChatGPT “personalities”One of the biggest updates coming to ChatGPT is the ability to select from four new “personalities” for text-based responses. Here’s how OpenAI describes each of them:Cynic: Sarcastic and dry, delivers blunt help with wit. Often teases, but provides direct, practical answers when it matters.Robot: Precise, efficient, and emotionless, delivering direct answers without extra words.Listener: Warm and laid-back, reflecting your thoughts back with calm clarity and light wit.Nerd: Playful and curious, explaining concepts clearly while celebrating knowledge and discovery.These new personalities sound like they might be fun to play around with. But if you’re not a fan, you can always switch back to ChatGPT’s “default” style.Better vibe coding capabilitiesVibe coding, or the process of having AI generate code based on natural language prompts, just got an upgrade on ChatGPT. OpenAI says GPT-5 is even better at processing complex and descriptive prompts when asking it to create an app or website. You can then see — and interact — with a preview of what the AI chatbot has built by opening Canvas.More app customizationOpenAI is rolling out new ways to customize ChatGPT’s interface. With this update, you can set an accent color that will change the appearance of your conversation bubbles, voice button, and highlighted text.To do this on the web, click your profile icon, select Settings > General. From there, select an option from within the Accent color drop-down. You can do the same thing on mobile by tapping your profile picture, heading to Personalization, and tapping Color Scheme.Advanced voice mode can “adapt” to youChatGPT’s advanced voice mode, which allows for more natural-sounding spoken conversations, is getting an update for paid users that will make it better at understanding instructions, as well as allow subscribers to tweak its speaking style.OpenAI also announced that it’s retiring standard voice mode, but it’s offering “near-unlimited” use of advanced voice mode for paid users, and bringing “hours” of extra usage to free users in exchange. Advanced voice mode now works with custom GPTs, too.Easily connect your Gmail and Google CalendarLastly, OpenAI is making it easier to link your Gmail account and Google Calendar to ChatGPT. As explained in a demo, ChatGPT will now ask you to connect your Gmail or Calendar when you enter a prompt, such as “help me plan my schedule tomorrow.” Once you link your account, ChatGPT will draw from your schedule and your emails to plan out your day, notify you about missed emails, and more.The ability to connect these accounts is coming to Pro users next week, “with other tiers coming next.”

You can save $150 on various iPad Air configurations. Laptops are great, but sometimes it’s simply just more convenient to use a tablet like the iPad Air. The Air’s easier to carry, after all, and still powerful enough to handle everything from streaming to taking notes and reading. And right now, the latest version of the Air is down to a new low price. The M3-powered 11-inch iPad Air with 128GB tablet is available for $449 ($150 off) at  Amazon, Best Buy, Target, and Walmart. The 13-inch 128GB model is on sale as well, starting at $649 ($150 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target.As the midrange tablet in Apple’s lineup, the iPad Air combines everything we love about the entry-level iPad with many of the iPad Pro’s most useful features. It’ll support windowed multitasking when iPadOS 26 becomes available this fall. (My colleague Todd Haselton has called windowed multitasking the iPad’s “best new feature in 15 years.”) Powered by the M3 chip, the Air is more powerful than the entry-level iPad and works with both the Apple Pencil USB-C and the Apple Pencil Pro, the latter of which has features like Find My support and squeeze gestures for quickly switching tools. Plus, the Air comes with support for Apple Intelligence, so you can take advantage of extra perks like generative AI-powered writing and image editing tools.The top-of-the-line M4-powered iPad Pro is still the most powerful iPad, capable of handling demanding games and advanced creative apps. But if you’re looking for a fast tablet for everyday work and play, the iPad Air strikes the perfect balance especially now it’s cheaper than ever.Read our M3-powered iPad Air review.11-inch iPad Air M3The latest 11-inch iPad Air features Apple’s fast M3 chip with GPU upgrades like dynamic caching for smoother performance in demanding apps. It also supports the Apple Pencil Pro and the new Magic Keyboard, which features a larger build and a 14-key function row. Read our review.Where to Buy: $599 $449 at Amazon (128GB, Wi-Fi) $599 $449 at Best Buy (128GB, Wi-Fi) $599 $449 at Target (128GB, Wi-Fi)13-inch iPad Air M3In addition to the 11-inch model, the iPad Air is also available in a 13-inch configuration with Apple’s M3 processor. Where to Buy: $799 $649 at Amazon (128GB, Wi-Fi) $799 $649 at Best Buy (128GB, Wi-Fi) $799 $649 at Target (128GB, Wi-Fi)

The Buds FE come with a charging case that provides up to 30 hours of listening time. | Image: The Verge Samsung’s latest Unpacked event came and went with no major announcements related to the company’s Galaxy Buds lineup. However, if you don’t want to wait for what’s next, you can currently save on the Samsung Galaxy Buds FE, which are down to $46.99 ($53 off) at Woot. That’s their best price yet and a deal that will run until September 2nd or while supplies last.Samsung Galaxy Buds FEWhere to Buy: $99.99 $46.99 at WootDespite being nearly two years old, the Buds FE remain a solid pair of wireless earbuds. They offer good sound and impressive noise cancellation for the price, but it’s the fit that really stands out. Unlike the pricier Galaxy Buds 3 and Buds 3 Pro, the Buds FE feature a wing tip design that provides a more comfortable, secure fit. Meanwhile, a flattened touchpad area makes pausing, playing, and skipping tracks more foolproof.The Buds FE miss out on more advanced features, including a conversation mode and proper multipoint Bluetooth support. They also lack wireless charging and carry a meager IPX2 rating for water resistance, which means they could get damaged if dropped into a pool of water. That being said, a transparency mode ensures you stay aware of your surroundings by letting ambient noise in, and battery life is solid enough to last a full day.Read our Galaxy Buds FE review.More deals to check outThe second-gen Backbone One with USB-C is down to $69.99 ($30 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Backbone’s storefront, matching the largest discount we’ve seen this year. The controller is one of our favorites for gaming on the go, especially when playing titles like Resident Evil 2. It boasts a compact design complete with analog sticks, a D-pad, and a 3.5mm headphone jack to connect wired headphones. Meanwhile, its USB-C connector means it can work with both Android smartphones and the iPhone 15 or newer. It also supports passthrough charging, so you don’t have to stop your game because of a low battery notification.The Dyson Zone are currently down to $199 ($500 off) at Woot through the end of the day, the lowest price we’ve seen on the noise canceling headphones. What makes them unique — aside from their retro-future look — is the Zone come with an air purifier you wear over your mouth. The magnetic visor does a decent job filtering pollutants, giving you clean air wherever you may be. They also deliver top-notch noise cancellation — better than the AirPods Max — and are comfortable despite being relatively heavy at 1.3 pounds. Read our review.The starting price of the Switch 2 Pro Controller was recently raised to $89.99 following Nintendo’s sweeping price hikes. However, you can still get it for $74.99 ($15 off) at Costco if you have a membership. The controller features two extra programmable buttons embedded into its grips, a dedicated GameChat button, and a 3.5mm headphone jack that can output game audio to wired headphones. While it’s a nice upgrade over the original Switch Pro Controller, it still includes drift-prone potentiometer joysticks instead of the more durable Hall effect or TMR joysticks. Read our review.

Zach Cregger's first major film Barbarian was tense and frightening, but it was also infused with a healthy dose of absurdity. The movie's twisted sense of humor made it easier to stomach its grotesque violence and a bit more difficult to anticipate how its unhinged story would unfold. But Barbarian also worked surprisingly well as a commentary on who really benefits from the redevelopment of decaying cities.Barbarian's unpredictable tonal shifts and impressive production value made it feel like Cregger had captured lightning in a bottle - the kind that is often difficult to replicate. But with his new thriller, Weapons, Cregger proves tha …Read the full story at The Verge.

Home labs, by their very definition, are all about experimenting with different services and gaining new insights into the server side of computing. But in my experience, the learning part mostly comes from accidentally messing things up, troubleshooting the source of the error(s), and restoring the home lab to its healthy state – or starting from scratch while creating a mental memo to never repeat the same mistakes again.

Replacing the thermal paste is one of those PC maintenance tasks most people, including myself, don't think about until performance seems off. You apply it when you first build your PC, or it comes pre-applied from the factory in the case of CPU coolers and GPUs, and it quietly does its job for years without any obvious signs of wear. The thing is, thermal paste doesn't last forever, even the expensive ones. Over time, it dries out, loses its consistency, or simply stops performing as well as it did when it was fresh.

Meta’s consumer VR headsets are already among the best you can get for their price points, but at a conference next week, the company is showing off some impressive-sounding research prototypes that could be a peek at what its headsets might be capable of in the future. One headset, called “Tiramisu,” brings a “new milestone for realism in VR,” Meta says in a blog post. Tiramisu has “high contrast — roughly 3x that of Meta Quest 3 — combined with an angular resolution of 90 pixels per degree (PPD) — 3.6x that of Quest 3 — and brightness up to 1,400 nits — 14x that of Quest 3.” There are apparently some trade-offs, including that it’s “bulkier and heavier” than consumer headsets available today and has a limited field of view (FOV), but it’s “the closest we’ve come to a visual experience that passes the visual Turing test yet.”Two other headsets, the “Boba 3” and the “Boba 3 VR,” instead have a very wide FOV. While the Quest 3 has a horizontal FOV of 110 degrees and a vertical FOV of 96 degrees, the Boba 3 headsets have a horizontal FOV of 180 degrees and vertical FOV of 120 degrees. That horizontal FOV brings the headsets much closer to the FOV of the human visual system, which Meta says is “roughly” 200 degrees.The Boba 3 headsets, which leverage “displays in mass production and similar lens technologies to those found in Quest 3,” have a display resolution per eye of 4K by 4K. That’s higher than the 3K by 3K display resolution per eye of last year’s Boba 2 prototype and the 2K by 1K display resolution per eye of the previous Boba 1 prototype.The prototype headsets will be shown at next week’s SIGGRAPH 2025 conference, and I recommend checking out Meta’s blog post to see videos of them in action. While Meta says they are “purely research prototypes, with novel technologies that may never make their way into a consumer product,” you can see how they might eventually lead to headsets that can offer much more immersive VR experiences.

Did anyone else play Road Rash? It was one of my favorite games on the Sega Genesis as a kid. The gist was that you were in a motorcycle race where you could punch, bump, and swing weapons at your rivals while dodging the cops. I really enjoyed it, and growing up, I was sad to see that nobody else really did anything with that formula.