At this point in music, streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music lead the pack. You get a subscription (or not with ads) and listen to your music wherever. You will also likely create playlists. However, I have thousands of songs on the desktop that I ripped from CDs in FLAC format years ago.

Music-sharing platform SoundCloud is saying it “has never used artist content to train AI models,” and that it’s “making a formal commitment that any use of AI on SoundCloud will be based on consent, transparency, and artist control.” The update comes several days after artists reported that changes made last year to its terms of use could mean it reserved the right to use their music and other content to train generative AI tools.“The language in the Terms of Use was too broad and wasn’t clear enough. It created confusion, and that’s on us,” writes SoundCloud CEO Eliah Seton.The terms that SoundCloud is currently using were updated in February last year with text including this passage:In the absence of a separate agreement that states otherwise, You explicitly agree that your Content may be used to inform, train, develop or serve as input to artificial intelligence or machine intelligence technologies or services as part of and for providing the services.”But Seton says that “in the coming weeks,” that line will be replaced with this:We will not use Your Content to train generative AI models that aim to replicate or synthesize your voice, music, or likeness without your explicit consent, which must be affirmatively provided through an opt-in mechanism.Seton reiterates that SoundCloud has never used member content to train AI, including large language models, for music creation or to mimic or replace members’ work. And, echoing what a SoundCloud spokesperson told The Verge in an email over the weekend, Seton says if the company does use generative AI, it “may make this opportunity available to our human artists with their explicit consent, via an opt-in mechanism.”Ed Newton-Rex, the tech ethicist who first discovered the change, isn’t satisfied with the changes. In an X post, he says the tweaked language could still allow for “models trained on your work that might not directly replicate your style but that still compete with you in the market.” According to Rex, “If they actually want to address concerns, the change required is simple. It should just read “We will not use Your Content to train generative AI models without your explicit consent.” SoundCloud did not immediately respond to The Verge’s request for comment.

If you're a PlayStation Plus subscriber, there's a good chance you keep your eyes on the games you unlock every month simply by being a part of the service. Well, the company has confirmed the list of games it's planning to release for May, and things are looking pretty sweet.

Windows on Arm saw its breakout moment in 2024 after years of failed attempts at disrupting the dominance of x86 processors. Qualcomm's Snapdragon X chips were unveiled as part of new laptops from Microsoft, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Samsung, Asus, and others. The early skepticism over Qualcomm's battery life and performance claims gave way to mostly glowing reviews as Windows on Arm laptops registered a solid win.

A leak of old text messages sent to Steam customers with one-time codes for logins was “not a breach of Steam systems,” Valve says in a post published Wednesday.Valve’s response follows news that a hacker is allegedly in possession of 89 million user records and put them up for sale for $5,000, as BleepingComputer reports. BleepingComputer looked at 3,000 leaked files and found “historic SMS text messages with one-time passcodes for Steam, including the recipient’s phone number.”While one X user claimed that there is evidence tying the breach to Twilio, a Twilio spokesperson told BleepingComputer that “there is no evidence to suggest that Twilio was breached” and that “we have reviewed a sampling of the data found online, and see no indication that this data was obtained from Twilio.” Valve also told the X user that it does not use Twilio.“The leak consisted of older text messages that included one-time codes that were only valid for 15-minute time frames and the phone numbers they were sent to,” Valve says in its post. “The leaked data did not associate the phone numbers with a Steam account, password information, payment information or other personal data. Old text messages cannot be used to breach the security of your Steam account, and whenever a code is used to change your Steam email or password using SMS, you will receive a confirmation via email and/or Steam secure messages.”Valve adds that you don’t need to change your password or phone number following this leak, though it does recommend setting up the Steam Mobile Authenticator.The company says it’s “still digging into the source of the leak.”

If you're looking for storage that's fast, then an M.2 SSD is the way to go. The best thing about M.2 SSDs is that prices have started coming down a touch, making them viable options if you're looking to load up on storage for your desktop PC, laptop, or other devices.

The GB-001 is a modern take on the classic ‘80s boombox with features like Bluetooth and a rechargeable battery. | Image: We Are RewindWe Are Rewind, a Paris-based company that has relaunched the cassette player with modern features like support for wireless headphones and rechargeable batteries, has announced a larger boombox version. Streamlining the design of the portable stereos that were popular in the ‘80s, the €449 (around $500 USD) GB-001 can function as a Bluetooth speaker and stream audio from a mobile device. But its most appealing feature is its ability to play and record to cassettes, potentially reviving the mixtape for another generation.The GB-001’s cassette deck mechanism features a user-adjustable motor with internal speed regulation for accurate playback. It also has a “noise reduction circuit” that emulates Dolby B so it can properly play tapes recorded using that older noise reduction system without any loss in sound quality. It can record on tapes, too, from external sources that include a wired microphone or a pair of mics connected wirelessly over Bluetooth.The GB-001 has four speakers — two “powerful woofers for extended bass response” paired with two “soft dome tweeters for refined voices and treble.” We Are Rewind describes the GB-001 as having a “natural sound signature” so, unlike the boomboxes of the ‘80s, it’s not going to drown out lyrics with overpowering bass. And in keeping with current trends in audio gear, the GB-001 includes a “spatialisation function for a wider, more immersive stereo image.”A rechargeable, user-replaceable 3,000mAh battery provides up to 10 hours of playback through the speakers when playing a tape, or up to 15 using an external audio source. That jumps up to 15 and 28 hours, respectively, when using headphones, but We Are Rewind didn’t specify if that’s through the 3.5-millimeter audio jack or Bluetooth.Even if you’re not in need of its cassette capabilities, the design of the GB–001 still makes it an appealing alternative to Bluetooth speakers that often look like beach toys. It not only has a retro-looking folding carrying handle, it also sports a pair of functional analog VU meters that are backlit with a soft warm glow. For those of us who grew up enamored with the design of stereos from the ‘70s and ‘80s, the VU meters alone could help justify the splurge.

Growing up, some games really meant something, and left you feeling impacted in some way, becoming integral building blocks as we learned the language of games. Now, there are plenty of reasons why gamers at large don’t like the fact that we’ve entered an era of modern remasters and remakes — and one of them is the lack of new IPs, sure — but at the same time, let’s not forget that modern remakes do have their benefits when done right.

EA Sports FC 25. | Image: EAEA is asking employees to return to the office for three days per week under a hybrid model – and it sounds like the company will be significantly reducing remote hiring. CEO Andrew Wilson and president of EA Entertainment and technology Laura Miele sent emails to staff about the change, IGN reports, and corporate communications VP Justin Higgs confirmed the new hybrid model to The Verge.“We’ve adopted a globally consistent hybrid work model to bring teams together with greater clarity and intent – enabling faster decisions, sharper execution, and stronger connection to one another,” Higgs says. Hybrid roles will spend “at least three days a week in the office,” though there will be “flexibility” on other roles.Miele’s email details how EA locations will have a 30-mile radius around them to help determine if an employee falls under the on site, hybrid, or remote model for work, IGN reports. Here’s what Miele says, per IGN:Employees who live within 30-miles/48-km of an EA location will transition to a Hybrid work model.Employees who live outside the 30-mile/48-km radius will be considered remote unless their role is designated as On Site or Hybrid.The “offsite local” work model is going to be sunset within 3 to 24 months. In addition, “any work model exception and future Remote hires will require a CEO Direct’s /my approval,” Miele’s email says, according to IGN.The changes to EA’s policies follow recent layoffs of between 300 and 400 people, layoffs at BioWare announced in January, and a layoff of about 5 percent of its staff early last year.

Chapter 6: Siege - Part 1 in Doom: The Dark Agesintroduces the biggest map in the game yet. Going through an entire battlefield in the city outskirts, the Doom Slayer has plenty of hidden collectibles and secret areas to unlock in order to get 100% completion of this huge, sprawling level.

On May 13th, Steam users were faced with the news that a breach of some kind had affected gaming giant Valve, with a person going by the name of "Machine1337" selling a trove of data containing phone numbers, text metadata, and old Steam two-factor-authentication codes. While these codes were obviously long past their use-by date, it begged the question of who had suffered the breach. Initially, fingers were pointed at Twilio given their mention in the data, but Valve denied using Twilio's services, and Twilio denied suffering a breach. I reached out to Valve with a number of questions and received the following statement in response. In short, Valve confirms that the data is real, but denies suffering a breach of its own.

Desktop PCs aren't all that common anymore, especially with the popularity and power that laptops deliver. But if you have a screen, and you're looking for an affordable alternative, then a mini PC is the way to go. Not only are most devices now quite powerful, but you're also going to be able to save space when it comes to the clutter on your desk.