SCROLL NEWS / DISCOVERY
Search headlines
Find the stories shaping the conversation.
Results for " verge " 2,067 found 🔀 AI-powered Shuffle
Microsoft is bringing original Xbox games to PC
Xbox backward compatibility for PC allows original Xbox console games to officially run on Windows.
Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 9 and Ultra 2 bet big on battery
The Ultra 2 has an 800mAh battery! 800!
I almost forgot Samsung’s Z Flip 8 was a foldable
If you wanted to use the square screen all the time, you’re in luck.
Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2026: The 6 biggest announcements
A redesigned wide Z Fold 8 and a new ‘Ultra’ Fold.
How Troy Jackson went from an anti-abortion Republican to the Democrats’ hope for defeating Susan Collins
Troy Jackson is on the verge of replacing Graham Platner as the Democratic nominee for Senate in Maine after harnessing the enthusiasm of former Platner supporters who were galvanized by the oyster farmer’s insurgent campaign.
Neill Blomkamp’s new zombie AI ‘film’ is just slop warmed over
AI text-to-video generators still can’t churn out quality films.
Apple’s rumored ‘Upgrade’ program brings lease-to-own pricing for iPhones, Macs, and iPads
Can a new upgrade program make up for higher prices?
Instagram will let users endlessly swap the audio on old posts
Recent features make sense for creators — not so much average users
Samsung can’t afford to play it safe with Apple’s first foldable looming
Samsung is ready to take a risk.
The Light Flip is a minimalist flip phone with a point to prove
Job number one: don’t look like a smartphone.
Google launches a cheaper alternative to large AI security models like Mythos
Google says it achieved “competitive performance” compared to larger models.
A touchscreen and light make the new X4 Pro the best version of Xteink’s tiny e-readers
The X4 Pro is Xteink’s best pocket-friendly e-reader yet.
Garmin’s new screen-free fitness tracker doesn’t require a subscription
Garmin’s new Whoop competitor is the screen-free Cirqa smart band.
Halliday’s latest smart glasses feature a much-improved display
The new display is 1,000 percent less stupid.
Nintendo keeps making shooters more friendly and approachable
A fresh take on looter shooters.
Here are the 30,000 songs Sony is suing Udio’s AI music generator over
Sony claims Udio “copied and ingested” its music.
LG’s glossy OLED gaming monitor is rare to find under $400
A bargain if you’re looking for WOLED.
LG’s monitors come with an unwanted addition for Windows: McAfee pop-up ads
No one asked for this.
Adobe’s ‘natural look’ camera app embraces generative AI
The update leans on Google’s Nano Banana model.
Kodak EC35 is a dirt-cheap point-and-shoot film camera
The film photography renaissance continues and gets more affordable.
I hate that I don’t hate this song made with Suno
1010Benja shows Suno can be more than a slop engine in the right hands.
Orchid is a delightfully retro and approachable hipster synth
A modern take on vintage chord organs from Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker.
A Major Ocean Current Is On The Verge of Collapse. Scientists Say The Effects May Reach California
The AMOC is slowing down.
Kool-Aid McKinstry is about to silence every doubter
Kool-Aid McKinstry flashed elite playmaking ability in 2025, but inconsistency kept him from reaching the next level. With Brandon Staley’s new defensive system in place, the young Saints cornerback could be on the verge of becoming one of the NFL’s premier shutdown defenders in 2026.
Google might not kneecap the Pixel 11a with an old processor
It should also have a more reliable MediaTek modem.
Sony’s flagship RGB LED TV is incredible
The best RGB LED TV is still a step behind OLED, though.
Shark’s versatile ChillPill cooling system is back to its best price
Costco’s throwing in free accessories too.
Pebble founder Eric Migicovsky says his 30-day warranty is all about trust
Pebble is back for a good time, but what about a long time?
Samsung’s redesigned Z Fold 8 with a wide display just leaked
The leak also includes some of the foldable’s specs.
Bethesda teases Fallout 5 soon after Xbox’s mass layoffs
Microsoft’s gaming division attempts to share some good news amid the fallout of its large-scale ‘reset.’
Even Microsoft couldn’t make Windows 11 work well on 8GB of RAM
RAMageddon claims another.
The war on ‘woke science’ comes for space research
The proposal could cause “concrete harm” to space science.
Sports without politics is a fantasy and the World Cup proves it
From ancient Greece to Nazi Germany, sport and politics have long been intertwined. Nevertheless, we still imagine that international sport can be kept above the fray and serve as a neutral arena where nations compete on merit alone. In this article, diplomacy scholar Geoffrey Allen Pigman argues the 2026 FIFA World Cup shows this is a dangerous illusion. When international sport is left entirely to revenue-maximizing private bodies like FIFA, it doesn't escape politics, but rather surrenders to its worst expressions. With the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics fast approaching, the IOC must decide whether to learn that lesson or repeat the same mistakes. The largest and most lucrative FIFA World Cup ever draws toward its climactic conclusion amidst a swirl of controversy. Team members, staff, fans, and spectators have been denied their right to enter the United States to participate, and US President Donald Trump intervened with FIFA boss Gianni Infantino to overturn a referee’s call that Trump believed disadvantaged the US national team. It is a moment to step back and reflect on what the purposes of international sport mega-events like the World Cup, and international sport more broadly, are, and what they should be. Does international sport serve public purposes? Is there a public interest? Or is it primarily a private endeavor organized by commercial enterprises to entertain the global public (and generate profit in the process), which is occasionally used by governments and leaders for raisons d’etat? Central to the idea of sport is the principle of fair play, which in the international context demands that games be free from political interference. However, it is impossible to separate sport from politics, all claims to the contrary notwithstanding. The most positive political use of international sport through the millennia has been to facilitate diplomacy. The use of international sport for diplomatic objectives has existed since at least the time of the ancient Olympic Games, around which was instituted the custom of the Ekecheiria, or Olympic Truce, between participating states to facilitate fair competition and diplomatic achievements by ensuring that participants could travel safely to the Olympiad. In his seminal work On Diplomacy (1987), diplomacy scholar James Der Derian characterized the objectives of diplomacy as overcoming alienation and mediating estrangement between governments and between peoples. One increasingly important diplomatic tool in the technology-infused media environment over the past century has been public diplomacy, under which governments and non-state diplomatic actors (e.g. transnational corporations) communicate to global publics about their international policy objectives and to shape their global brand image. Political scientist Michał Kobierecki, in his important book Sports Diplomacy (2020), views sports diplomacy as falling broadly within the ambit of public diplomacy, as international sport intimately involves the participation of global publics as spectators and consumers of global media. Diplomacy scholar Stuart Murray and this author, in a 2013 article, distinguish between international sport used for diplomatic purposes and international sport-as-diplomacy, which encompasses the range of diplomacy that occurs as teams and competitors, spectators and fans, and government officials all converge for international sporting events like the Olympic Games and FIFA World Cup. Diplomacy scholar H.E. Chehabi, in a 2001 article on US-Iran sports diplomacy, describes the interaction between spectators and fans at international sporting events as “people-to-people diplomacy,” in which relationships develop independently of governments and their objectives. Diplomacy by the aforementioned definitions is often unsuccessful. Moreover, all too often the tools of diplomacy may be employed by governments and other actors to thwart or oppose the objectives of diplomacy as characterized by Der Derian. Governments routinely use the tools of public diplomacy to disseminate propaganda, spreading misinformation in the attempt to deceive global publics about their objectives and to create misleading impressions about their brand identity. Within sports diplomacy, the term “sportswashing” has been coined recently to describe how governments invest in and promote international sport to create positive global public impressions of their nations and, in doing so, to distract the global public from their deficient records in areas such as human rights and democratic governance. Murray, in his 2018 book Sports Diplomacy: Origins, Theory and Practice, introduces the concept of sports anti-diplomacy, wherein governments intentionally use international sport to advance aggressive and nationalistic objectives. Obvious historical examples include Hitler’s use of the 1936 Berlin Olympics to glorify his Third Reich and the 1969 El Salvador-Honduras football “war.” SUGGESTED READING The beautiful game made ugly By Emily Ryall FIFA argues that it is and seeks to be apolitical in its stewardship of international Association Football (soccer). FIFA policies governing bids to host the World Cup require uninhibited and non-discriminatory access for players, team staff, and spectators of all participating countries to host nations and venues. It became clear soon after Trump returned to power in the United States in January 2025 that Trump’s political intentions and objectives to limit non-US citizens from living and working in the United States and, in numerous cases, even visiting the country, would collide with FIFA’s host nation policies. Beginning soon after the start of the second Trump administration, US federal authorities imposed restrictions on entry to the United States of citizens of between 20 and 40 countries for any purpose, with only limited exceptions. Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) began arresting non-US citizens in the United States, including persons with and without legal status, holding them in jails, concentration camps, and other detention facilities until they were deported to their home or third countries, where they faced substantive risks to their personal safety. FIFA boss Gianni Infantino, in an effort to ensure the most successful and lucrative World Cup in history, engaged diplomatically with President Trump in an attempt to facilitate entry to the US for World Cup participants. Infantino did all in his power to ingratiate himself with Trump, to the extent of creating a FIFA “Peace Prize,” which he awarded to Trump in December 2025 at a ceremony in the then Trump-controlled John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, on the occasion of the World Cup draw. The prize was an ersatz consolation for someone who aspired in vain to win the rather more prestigious and well-known Nobel Peace Prize. And in the run-up to the World Cup, conditions became worse. In February 2026, Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu launched a war of aggression against Iran, illegal under international law, under the false pretence that Iran’s government was preparing to attack the United States and Israel. During the US aerial bombardment of Iran, US planes bombed Azadi Stadium, the facility where Iran’s national football team trained. As the 2026 FIFA World Cup began, it was clear that Infantino’s efforts had been for naught: the Trump administration would not adhere to FIFA policies governing access to World Cup host nations. World Cup referee Omar Artan, a citizen of Somalia, was denied a US visa to enter the United States to participate in the World Cup. Trump’s government only granted US visas to Iran’s football team ten days before they were scheduled to arrive for the tournament. Numerous members of the support staff for Iran’s team were denied US visas. Iran’s team, which had been scheduled to train in Arizona, was directed to shift its training site to Tijuana, Mexico, notwithstanding that all three of their group stage matches took place at US venues. The US Department of Homeland Security only permitted the Iranian team to enter the US on the day before each scheduled match and then to return to Mexico immediately after playing. Members of Iraq’s and Switzerland’s football teams were delayed for hours by US officials at the US border, and an Iraqi team photographer was refused entry. Spectators and fans from Haïti and Iran were denied entry to the United States altogether. A large number of fans from a range of countries had their applications for US visas rejected. There were multiple off-ramps through which participants could have avoided the negative consequences of Trump’s decisions for the 2026 World Cup. Once it was clear that the Trump government intended to violate the established expectations for World Cup hosts, FIFA could have shifted the matches scheduled to take place in the United States to Mexico and Canada. The three nations were already designated as co-hosts, and host cities and venues had been selected. Once it was clear that FIFA, governed by FIFA boss Gianni Infantino’s dependent and dysfunctional relationship with Trump, would never consider this option on its own, it fell to the national football federations to act. The national federations, particularly some combination of federations of the leading contenders (France, Spain, Brazil, Argentina, Morocco, England, Germany, etc.), could have refused to participate under the US-imposed conditions or, at the least, demanded an ironclad agreement with the Trump government that FIFA policies on access would be respected. ___ International sport is inextricably entangled with diplomacy of different sorts, for good or ill, it cannot be considered to be in the purely private realm and left to revenue-maximizing private actors. ___ Why did neither FIFA nor the national football federations act to protect the interests of players, team staff, referees, fans, and spectators? In essence, the relentless engines of capitalism prevailed over norm observance, ethics, and fair play. The revenue interests of FIFA, sponsors, global media, and host cities won out. FIFA’s managers viewed hosting another World Cup principally in the United States as a veritable pot of gold for FIFA and its collaborators. FIFA has estimated its own revenue over the 2023-26 budget cycle, which includes the 2026 World Cup, at $13 billion, revised up from an initial projection of $11 billion, and 72% higher than the previous revenue cycle. Of that total, FIFA is estimated to have generated $8.9 billion from the Cup itself in revenue from TV rights ($3.92 billion), sponsorships ($2.69 billion), ticket sales ($3.1 billion), licensing rights, and other sources. A joint study by FIFA and the World Trade Organization estimates that the World Cup will contribute over $40 billion to global GDP, including nearly $14 billion in direct visitor spending in the three host countries (but principally in the United States, which hosted the lion’s share of the matches). The FIFA World Cup is now reportedly “the single most lucrative recurring commercial property in global sport.” And yet, notwithstanding the Trump government’s uses of the World Cup for sports anti-diplomacy, and the climate of anxiety that this created for participants and spectators, diplomacy that did not depend upon governments was able to thrive at the World Cup. Examples of successful people-to-people diplomacy were legion, as citizens of towns and cities across the States, as well as in Mexico and Canada, welcomed team members, their families and supporters, to training sites across North America. Fans of different teams joined together in person in stadiums for matches, at watch parties and bars, and at welcome events sponsored by host cities. The joy and camaraderie shared between the citizenry of Boston and Scotland’s “Tartan Army” of fans is but one example of how the “Beautiful Game” brings people together. Friendships forged across continents are likely to endure well beyond the Cup final. Even those achievements cannot be seen as unalloyed, however. As South African football fan Byron Pillay commented to Al Jazeera, “Football is called the Beautiful Game for a reason, for its ability to unite people. But it’s hard to believe in that magic with the politics and war rhetoric off the field of play, especially when one of the tournament hosts is central to that.” Ultimately, the experience of the 2026 FIFA World Cup illustrates that, as international sport is inextricably entangled with diplomacy of different sorts, for good or ill, it cannot be considered to be in the purely private realm and left to revenue-maximizing private actors. As long as there is the possibility of diplomatic progress in mediating estrangement between governments or between peoples, there is a broad and overarching public interest in international sport. Likewise, as it would be difficult to put on an international sport mega-event without international sporting organizations like FIFA and the International Olympic Committee (IOC), global media firms, and companies purchasing sponsorships, public and private interests in international sport must coexist, most likely somewhere on a shifting spectrum between partnership and rivalry or cross purposes. As the World Cup wraps up, the IOC needs to consider its lessons before the scheduled 2028 Los Angeles Olympics if they want to avoid a media-hyped Trump version of the 1936 Berlin Olympiad. The IOC and the National Olympic Committees need to set conditions on and make demands of Trump’s government with clearly articulated consequences for non-compliance, up to and including cancellation of the Games. Time is running out for the IOC, as unlike with the FIFA World Cup, there is no at-the-ready alternate venue for Los Angeles.
Google is better at playing the EU regulations game
Google scored a grace period to bring Android in line with EU rules, while Apple must make Siri AI compliant before launch.
Apple’s OLED iPad Mini upgrade is on the way as prices continue to rise
How much will it cost?
Google ordered to open Android and Search to rivals in Europe
The EU says Google must let rival search engines and AI assistants have comparable access to Android and some Search data to comply with the DMA.
COMPUTER COPS: Inside the big business of selling AI to the police
From data gathering to decision making, there’s a gold mine in police funding.
OnePlus officially gives up on the US and Europe
Existing OnePlus devices will transition to Oppo’s ColorOS for future software updates.
Google and Epic Abandon Settlement, Clearing the Way for Rival Android App Stores
Google and Epic Games this week withdrew their joint settlement agreement after it became clear the court was unlikely to allow it. With the settlement out, Google is bound by a permanent injunction issued in October 2024 requiring it to allow alternative app stores on Android devices. In a court filing [PDF], Google said that it plans to begin supporting alternative app stores on July 22. In a statement to The Verge, Google said it decided to withdraw the motion to avoid a prolonged legal fight.
Skullcandy’s bass-boosting Crusher headphones now come with Bose’s ANC
Skullcandy’s new headphones are the first to feature a collection of Bose’s technologies.
Valve says iFixit will keep selling Steam Deck batteries after all
The Steam Deck LCD will keep on going.
AI slop movies are the new direct-to-video cash grabs
An AI startup is trying to capitalize on the hype for Nolan’s The Odyssey.
Netflix tries to recapture Stranger Things magic with nostalgic re-release
It’s even more ‘80s now.
Samsung shows off ‘brand new shape’ for Z Fold 8 in Spider-Man teaser
Spidey 3D prints his own Galaxy Z Fold 8.
OpenAI finally launches hardware… for Codex
The collaboration with Work Louder is separate from OpenAI’s main hardware project, rumored to be some kind of smart speaker.
Google and Epic give up fighting — third-party Android app stores are coming next week
Is the Epic Google case finally over?
OpenAI may announce a ChatGPT smart speaker this year
And it’s working on even more hardware projects.
House to vote Tuesday on bill to enact year-round Daylight Saving Time
The US House will vote Tuesday on a measure to enact year-round Daylight Saving Time across the country, springing Congress forward into an issue that has long stumped lawmakers and spurred impassioned pleas by parents, farmers and others with sharply divergent views.
Nintendo’s Switch 2 bundle that includes a game is $50 off
The included game is effectively free.
The Google Images homepage will recommend photos even before you search
AI Overviews will also be able to generate images.
The Latest: Supreme Court justices set to testify in rare appearance before Congress
The U.S. and Iran are once again on the verge of all-out war
Microsoft tests Windows Search without all the ads and fluff
A much cleaner search experience.
The Shokz OpenRun Pro are the cheapest they’ve been since January
They cost $70 less than the Pro 2.
Siri AI makes the Apple Watch finally feel like a wrist computer
Or you could just use Siri to set timers — it still does that well.
Siri AI is already changing how I use my iPhone
Its full capabilities require heavy developer support, so the public beta feels more like a glimpse at the future.
This free Mac app reveals the truth about your mystery USB-C cables
WhatCable does the job for free.
DGIST secures four projects under the Ministry of Science and ICT’s Group Research Support Program, spanning basic science to cutting-edge deep tech
- DGIST secured one Science Research Center (SRC) project and three Basic Research Laboratory (BRL) projects, taking the lead in addressing national challenges in science and technology - DGIST reaffirms its world-class convergence research capabilities spanning AI, robotics, and advanced biotechnology
Something is wrong with Buddy.
Our first few looks at the upcoming feature film debut from Casper Kelly, the deranged human behind Too Many Cooks, played it completely straight. But with the first official teaser, it’s clear that Kelly is taking the “horror” part of “horror comedy” seriously. [Media: https://youtu.be/0mil0YgOtu8]
Apple’s failed self-driving car program left a legacy of powerful AI chips
It’s the origins of the Neural Engine in Apple Silicon.
One of SteelSeries’ best gaming headsets is over $100 off
Let’s be real, you were going to recycle the box anyway.
How Philips Hue got the smart home right
On Version History: How some outrageously expensive lightbulbs became a big hit.
Blue Prince became a bonding — and learning
Gaming together has helped my son explore and grow.
After years of teasing, the viral Nopia synth is ‘basically finished’
The “harmony machine” will be out by the end of the year for “around £550.“
The perfect kit for all your tiny repairs
In this week’s Installer: Earbuds, Voice Mode, and Play-Doh.
UN aid groups say quake-hit areas on verge of health crisis
CATIA LA MAR, Venezuela -- Victims of the powerful twin earthquakes that jolted Venezuela last month and those spared by the destruction flooded relief services offered by nongovernmental organizations in the hardest-hit areas on Thursday.
The FCC is cracking down on DJI tech that dodged the foreign drone ban
These companies have 10 days before the FCC takes further action.
A decade later, Pokémon Go finally made good on its original promise
Tell Mewtwo to keep its head on a swivel.
Spotify will let you fine-tune your weekly Release Radar playlist
Focus on a specific genre, new artists, and more.
Anker’s 3-in-1 Qi2.2 charging station is $95 off
The Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 also come with a $30 gift card.
Xreal’s new AR glasses are way cheaper and almost just right
The A01 Plus are flimsier and have fewer features than the 1S, but they might deliver exactly what you’re looking for.
Google’s Nest Thermostat has hit its best price of the year
It helps cut down on energy bills and usage.
Microsoft’s patch Tuesdays are about to get bigger
Microsoft’s using AI to fix security issues faster.
The PocketMage resurrects the PDA with an e-paper screen
The PDA lives on thanks to the pocketable PocketMage.
Sony brings back the superzoom RX10 with a stacked sensor and a high price
New sensor and autofocus. Same old lens.
Say hello to Claude Wrapped
It allows you to see an analysis of your usage data over the past month, three months, six months, or year.
Microsoft’s Xbox reset is pivoting Obsidian to make Fallout instead of Avowed
There hasn’t been a new Fallout game since 2018.
Cockroaches will learn to fear my SwitchBot Bot Rechargeable
A clever and cheap way to automate light switches.
The Steam Machine fits my TV, my desk, and my life
I’m a little obsessed with Valve’s game cube.
Meta’s glasses will turn off the camera if you tamper with the privacy light
Meta has tried to discourage tampering with the LED.
Of course viewers are giving up on Netflix shows
Pivoting to short form video isn’t going to fix things.
Anthropic is launching Claude Cowork on mobile and web
Claude Cowork will also run in the cloud now, so it can keep working on tasks even when you close your laptop.