Emma Roth is a news writer at The Verge, where she covers just about everything in the world of tech. Some of her favorite topics to follow include the ever-evolving streaming industry, the latest in artificial intelligence, and changes to the way our government interacts with Big Tech. Previously, Emma wrote and edited technology news and how-to articles for MUO.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman says that the next version of Apple’s ultra-slim device could arrive in spring 2027, echoing a previous report from The Information. Apple is reportedly working to improve the iPhone Air’s battery life and may add an ultrawide camera.
The new “Collections” feature is included in Mastodon’s 4.6 update, which will also allow you to hide the “Media” or “Featured” tabs on your profile and let people subscribe to your posts via email, even if they don’t have a Mastodon account.
[Mastodon Blog]
A new dashboard will show a creator’s most popular AI characters, along with metrics including interactions, likes, and discoveries. Character.AI is also launching a feature that will notify followers when a creator launches a new chatbot.
What’s left of the shoe company after its pivot to AI (which is mostly its stock listing) has a new name and CEO, Nadia Carlsten. Smartbird also completed the sale of the Allbirds brand as it shifts its focus toward offering access to AI infrastructure and enterprise-focused AI systems.
[The Wall Street Journal]
In response to the Stop Destroying Videogames initiative, the European Commission said it can’t propose legislation to keep games playable after they’re removed from sale due to intellectual property rights. Instead, the Commission will work to develop new industry standards for video game shutdowns.
In a post on Reddit, Sonos CEO Tom Conrad says the company is rolling out a beta this week that will introduce tabbed navigation, a volume interface “that is easier to grab and fine tune,” and more control over player organization. It’s part of Conrad’s efforts to clean up the app more than two years after a messy redesign.
[Reddit r/Sonos]
With EA Advertising, companies can place ads across stadium signage, scoreboards, sponsored replays, and other in-game content in “a way designed to enhance, not disrupt, the player experience,” according to an announcement. EA has already partnered with brands like Visa, Lowe’s, Red Bull, and Xfinity to embed ads in its games.
