22302974 – Breaking News & Latest Updates 2026
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Back to school / Before the bell rings, we’ve got some tech picks for students (and their parents).

The Verge’s 2026 back-to-school shopping guideThe Verge’s 2026 back-to-school shopping guide

From necessities to nice-to-haves, we’ve gathered 28 products that will make this year at school the best it can be.

Cameron Faulkner, Brad Bourque and 1 more
Skylight Calendar Max review: a game-changer for busy parents 

An AI-powered Sidekick kicks this smart calendar display up a gear.

Jennifer Pattison Tuohy
I tested three Windows laptops in the MacBook Neo’s price range — there’s no contest

The cut corners of these Asus, Lenovo, and Acer laptops are glaringly obvious next to the Neo.

Antonio G. Di Benedetto
The Fitbit Ace LTE is like a Nintendo smartwatch for kids

This smartwatch for kids offers a fresher take on gamifying activity, while also enabling GPS tracking for parents.

Victoria Song

You reap what you SEO / Search engine optimization has reshaped the internet as we know it.

Can AI responses be influenced? The SEO industry is tryingCan AI responses be influenced? The SEO industry is trying

The explosion of AI search has created a gold rush for firms claiming they can change what gets cited.

Mia Sato
The people who ruined the internet

SEO experts got very rich filling the web full of garbage. But are they to blame, or is Google?

Amanda Chicago Lewis
Jeffrey Epstein’s digital cleanup crew

According to recently released documents, the convicted sex offender had a vast network of people working to whitewash his digital presence.

Mia Sato
The end of the Googleverse

For two decades, Google Search was the invisible force that determined the ebb and flow of online content. Now, for the first time, its cultural relevance is in question.

Ryan Broderick

Dynamic range / The latest ways to take photos and record video.

You could be taking way better photos on your phoneYou could be taking way better photos on your phone

It takes a little more work, but phones can now legitimately rival point-and-shoot cameras.

David Imel
A second lens makes DJI’s Osmo Pocket 4P my new favorite video camera

This is bigger than the Pocket 4, but definitely better.

Dominic Preston
This jumping $800 robot camera dog filled me with joy

Beni is a trip — and when it trips, it gets back up again.

Sean Hollister
Kodak EC35 is a dirt-cheap point-and-shoot film camera

The film photography renaissance continues and gets more affordable.

Terrence O'Brien

Staff picks / Our favorite stories you don’t want to miss.

This tattoo is permanent, pain-free, and might soon come in the mailThis tattoo is permanent, pain-free, and might soon come in the mail

Applied without scary needles or noise.

Jess Weatherbed
Foldables are sort of boring now — and that’s great news for Apple

Folding screens are no longer novel, but they’re finally good enough for an iPhone.

Dominic Preston
Maybe we shouldn’t give 24-year-olds billions of dollars to bet on AI

This 24-year-old first-time hedge funder screwed up his AI fund with one weird trick.

Elizabeth Lopatto
Is paying artists enough to convince them to embrace AI?

Pippa is trying to entice artists with a revenue share system.

Charles Pulliam-Moore
Elizabeth Lopatto
Elizabeth Lopatto
Happy “There Will Come Soft Rains” day!

One day we will have a talk with the people who don’t understand what science fiction is (writing about politics with plausible deniability). Until then, please enjoy Ray Bradbury’s “There Will Come Soft Rains,” originally published in Collier’s in 1950 and taking place on April 28th, 1985. In The Martian Chronicles, the date is revised to August 4, 2026 and guess what! That’s today.

If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.

There Will Come Soft Rains

[Library of Short Stories]

Jay Peters
Jay Peters
New Jersey is suing Amazon, alleging it “unlawfully maintains” power over contract delivery drivers.

The antitrust lawsuit alleges that Amazon prevents unionization and restricts delivery network companies from hiring drivers at other companies, resulting in lower wages and “harsher working conditions” for “thousands” of New Jersey residents. You can read the complaint here.

Andrew Liszewski
Andrew Liszewski
Casio’s new ring watch adds vibrating alerts and heart rate tracking.

The company’s original smart ring is getting some big upgrades to compete with the Oura ring. The CRW-H001M-8 will launch in China first for around $295 with fitness tracking that includes a heart rate monitor and thermometer plus vibrating alerts for notifications from a connected phone. But you’ll need to charge the new model with a proprietary cable.

<em>Unlike the previous versions of Casio’s ring watch, the new smart model needs to be regularly charged using a proprietary cable.</em>
1/3Image: Casio
T-Mobile’s $0-down financing plan bundles taxes and feesT-Mobile’s $0-down financing plan bundles taxes and fees

The new option allows you to pay for a device, taxes, and fees over 36 months.

Emma Roth
Samsung’s HDR10 Plus Advanced is launching this month on Prime VideoSamsung’s HDR10 Plus Advanced is launching this month on Prime Video

Samsung’s next-gen HDR spec is beating Dolby Vision 2 to the punch, but only on Samsung’s new TVs, and only for supported titles on Prime Video.

Stevie Bonifield
Jay Peters
Jay Peters
At least 37 people have reportedly been arrested for protesting data centers.

Futurism made the tally. The publication also found 12 cases involving police intervention to try and stop protestors from “from confronting civic leaders,” though noted that the tally is “likely much higher.”

Texas says data centers must pass an audit before connecting to the gridTexas says data centers must pass an audit before connecting to the grid

It’s the second-largest data center market behind Virginia.

Lauren Feiner
The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 is at one of its lowest pricesThe Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 is at one of its lowest prices

Plus, we found deals on a cooler that doubles as a speaker, and a 100W display-equipped USB charger.

Sheena Vasani
Andrew Liszewski
Andrew Liszewski
Microsoft Paint is now one of the weirdest ways to play Doom.

The humble drawing app has gotten several useful upgrades over the past few years, but Mark Russinovich, the Microsoft Azure CTO, has found a way for Paint to play Doom… kind of. Instead of actually running the game, DoomPaint loads rendered frames into the app from the Windows clipboard at a very playable 35fps.

A screenshot of Microsoft Paint showing a frame from Doom loaded as a document.
Image: Mark Russinovich
Jess Weatherbed
Jess Weatherbed
Bending Spoons is buying Airtable.

The software conglomerate has agreed to acquire Airtable for around $1.29 billion in cash — a fraction of the more than $11 billion it was once valued at in 2021. This is just the latest feather in Bending Spoon’s cap, which has built a reputation for buying software companies that are past their heyday.

Apple is working on iPhone-to-Windows copy-pasteApple is working on iPhone-to-Windows copy-paste

The planned feature will allow EU users to copy content on their iPhone and paste it onto their PC.

Emma Roth
Andrew Liszewski
Andrew Liszewski
You can now preorder Godox’s quirky camera with a transparent LCD viewfinder.

After launching in China last month, Godox’s C100 digital camera is now available for preorder in the US through Amazon for $44.90. That makes it more expensive than the smaller $35 Kodak Charmera, but in addition to its unique viewfinder, the C100 offers a slight bump in photo and video resolution to 1920x1080.

If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.

A close-up of the Godox C100’s transparent viewfinder framing an outdoor scene.
Image: Godox
Jess Weatherbed
Jess Weatherbed
Streamlabs can use your old phone as a relay link.

Network Boost is a new feature that aims to provide reliable connectivity for IRL streamers. It requires a Streamlabs Ultra subscription (which starts from $27 per month) and works by pooling cellular and local Wi-Fi connections together on both the iPhone you’re broadcasting on, and a secondary iPhone or Android device running the Streamlabs Controller app.

Andrew Webster
Andrew Webster
Nintendo is on fire (emblem).

The company has been on a pretty solid run, and it looks like that could continue with the next Fire Emblem. Nintendo just showed off 20 minutes of Fortune’s Weave, getting into both the continent-spanning story and the nitty gritty of the strategy combat. It hits the Switch 2 on September 17th.

Jess Weatherbed
Jess Weatherbed
WhatsApp now lets you ping the entire group chat.

The communications app has introduced an “@all” alert to get everyone’s attention instead of tagging people individually — a feature that’s thankfully restricted to admins for group chats with more than 32 members. You can now also start new group chats from existing groups, and polls have been updated, adding the ability to hide voter names, edit questions, and set voting deadlines.

Andrew Liszewski
Andrew Liszewski
DJI’s upgraded Mic Mini 2S is now available everywhere except the US.

First announced nearly a month ago in China, DJI’s wireless Mic Mini 2S that adds redundant recording with 14.5GB of storage in each transmitter is now available globally, but not the US. A kit with two mics, a receiver, and a charging case is €189, £169, or CAD $265, according to PetaPixel.

If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.

A person removes one of the wireless transmitters from the DJI Mic Mini 2S’ charging case.
Image: DJI
Charles Pulliam-Moore
Charles Pulliam-Moore
David Ellison promises he’s not going to ruin CNN.
Our favorite memories at the moviesOur favorite memories at the movies

As the box office heats up this summer, The Verge reflects on the magic of theaters

TC Sottek
We’re giving away a back-to-school bag filled with over $800 of free techWe’re giving away a back-to-school bag filled with over $800 of free tech

Back-to-school season also means giveaway season here at The Verge.

Cameron Faulkner
Stevie Bonifield
Stevie Bonifield
Apple’s limiting bug report submissions after getting flooded with “AI slop.”

According to the Financial Times, Apple “has introduced a cap and a 30-day cool-off period” for researchers’ vulnerability reports for its operating systems due to an uptick in reports using AI that “can hallucinate security risks.” Apple is also reportedly using AI internally to help manage the recent “upsurge” in bug reports.

Andrew Liszewski
Andrew Liszewski
These trackable batteries could help you locate a missing camera.

In addition to built-in USB-C charging ports, Falcam’s new 2,600mAh TagBatt rechargeable batteries support Apple’s Find My tracking network so you can potentially use them to find a camera that’s been misplaced or stolen. They’re available now in a $69.99 Sony NP-FZ100 version, and a $64.99 LP-E6 option for Canon cameras.

A Falcam camera battery next to a device with a tracking map on screen.
Falcam’s trackable batteries are a more discreet alternative to accessories like lens caps that hide an Apple AirTag on the outside of your camera.
Image: Falcam
Nothing CMF is launching its first open earbudsNothing CMF is launching its first open earbuds

The $99 CMF Clip Pro includes a dial on the case for adjusting volume, playback, and more.

Jess Weatherbed
Peak Design’s latest bags have clever integrated hooksPeak Design’s latest bags have clever integrated hooks

The City Line comes in two sizes of lightweight and weatherproof backpacks and crossbody bags, one sling, and one tote.

Thomas Ricker
Apple briefly yanked Telegram from the App Store over CSAM violationsApple briefly yanked Telegram from the App Store over CSAM violations

Telegram came back to the App Store after it took down the illegal content and banned the user who posted it.

Emma Roth
OpenAI drags Apple’s lawsuit into the court of public opinionOpenAI drags Apple’s lawsuit into the court of public opinion

The ChatGPT maker has published message exchanges as evidence that ‘Apple is getting this wrong.’

Jess Weatherbed
The next Xbox could play every Xbox game ever madeThe next Xbox could play every Xbox game ever made

One Xbox to play them all?

Sean Hollister
Thomas Ricker
Thomas Ricker
Spotify hits 300 million paid subscribers.

It’s the first company to reach the audio streaming milestone, showing 9 precent year-over-year growth in premium subscribers. Monthly active users climbed to 777 million, up 12 percent since the same quarter last year.

Robert Hart
Robert Hart
15 AGs tell OpenAI to preserve records on Hugging Face hack.

In a letter to CEO Sam Altman, a coalition of red-state attorneys general demanded the company retain information and halt risky cybersecurity testing after an AI agent escaped confinement and went on a hacking spree during testing. “OpenAI’s inability or unwillingness to ensure the safety of its products poses an imminent risk of substantial harm to our States,” the AGs wrote.

The request comes as the White House reportedly briefs tech leaders on a voluntary model testing framework.

Thomas Ricker
Thomas Ricker
EchoStar’s Hughesnet falls victim to Starlink.

The original satellite internet company “for rural America” has filed for bankruptcy after running out of cash and hemorrhaging subscribers to SpaceX. The service will continue to operate during proceedings, but will pivot away from consumers to focus on businesses and governments. It follows EchoStar’s Dish filing for chapter 11 protection in June.

Thomas Ricker
Thomas Ricker
TikTok privately settles three more teen addiction cases.

Only 3,300 more lawsuits to go, all filed by minors claiming that TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat were designed to be addictive, resulting in harm to their mental health. The plaintiffs’ claims against Meta, Google, and Snap are still on track for a bellwether trial in October. The first case to reach trial resulted in a $4.2 million verdict against Meta and $1.8 million against Google.

Thomas Ricker
Thomas Ricker
Amazon is now worth over three Elon Musks.

AMZN surpassed $3 trillion in market value for the first time on the strength of accelerating cloud-computing revenue. It joins only Nvidia, Alphabet, Microsoft, and Apple in ever reaching the milestone. It first crossed the $1 trillion mark in 2018.

David Imel
David Imel
Telegram briefly vanished from Apple’s App Store.

After a few hours, the app reappeared around 10:45PM ET. Apple issued the following statement:

We briefly removed Telegram from the App Store after our review found content that violates our strict guidelines prohibiting child sexual abuse material. The app was subsequently restored after the developer promptly removed the content and banned the user who posted it.

Telegram, in response:

I’m sure this stance will be applied equally to all other apps in the store, in the future right?

Update: Added Apple and Telegram statements.

Jay Peters
Jay Peters
The White House will brief AI companies about its model testing framework on Tuesday.

Anthropic, OpenAI, and Google are all expected to attend the meeting, CNBC reports.

Jay Peters
Jay Peters
Who needs IMAX when you have iMacs?
Your Fitbit data can now connect directly to Apple HealthYour Fitbit data can now connect directly to Apple Health

Google Health can sync your workouts, steps, and vitals to Apple Health.

Emma Roth
Samsung’s discounted smart monitor is $349.99, its lowest price yetSamsung’s discounted smart monitor is $349.99, its lowest price yet

This 4K smart monitor is loaded with features like streaming apps, cloud gaming apps, and a webcam.

Brad Bourque
Jay Peters
Jay Peters
T-Mobile shut down its 2G service today.
Andrew Webster
Andrew Webster
Amazon might have its new Kratos.

Deadline reports that Dave Bautista is in talks to take over the role, which has been vacant ever since original star Ryan Hurst was seriously injured on set. There’s no official word on casting from Amazon just yet.

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