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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
Now you can securely link multiple phones to one Signal accountNow you can securely link multiple phones to one Signal account

Signal’s secure messenger can easily work across multiple Android devices and iPhones now.

Stevie Bonifield
AMD’s datacenter business is booming while gaming takes a backseatAMD’s datacenter business is booming while gaming takes a backseat

The company’s data center revenue has more than doubled, hitting $6.7 billion.

Stevie Bonifield
Emma Roth
Emma Roth
The FCC might ban optical transceivers from China.

Sources tell Reuters that the Trump administration is considering blocking Chinese imports of the component due to security concerns. Optical transceivers are used across data centers and the telecommunications industry to quickly transmit information, with China’s Zhongji Innolight currently making up 27 percent of the transceiver market, according to Counterpoint.

TC Sottek
TC Sottek
Flock cameras? Target practice.

As BoingBoing notes, a Tennessee candidate for Congress was charged for four counts of felony vandalism for allegedly shooting up Flock cameras. The Blount County sheriff’s office says the suspect admitted to shooting the “ALPR systems” over about a week in July. To say these systems are unpopular is becoming an understatement.

SpaceX made more revenue as an AI company than a space companySpaceX made more revenue as an AI company than a space company

But it’s still losing money overall.

Elizabeth Lopatto
Emma Roth
Emma Roth
Paramount and WBD’s antitrust trial is set for March 2027.

The March 2nd start date will cost Paramount millions of dollars, as it must pay $7 million each day the deal doesn’t close after September 30th.

Separately, Paramount revealed in its Q2 2026 earnings report (pdf) that its streaming service gained 2 million subscribers over the past few months and will soon add a short-form video feed, similar to HBO Max and Netflix.

EA is now a private companyEA is now a private company

The $55 billion deal has closed.

Jay Peters
Jennifer Pattison Tuohy
Jennifer Pattison Tuohy
GE Appliances doubles down on US-made chips.

The Chinese-owned appliance manufacturer announced it will use US-manufactured Texas Instruments semiconductors in its new laundry machines made at its Louisville, Kentucky, headquarters. Along with its Wi-Fi and BLE connectivity solutions, GE Appliances says it’s exploring using TI’s intelligent microcontroller platform to bring advanced AI to its washers and dryers.

Image: GE Appliances
TC Sottek
TC Sottek
We’d love to hear about your favorite theater experiences.

Verge staff had a long chat yesterday about our memories at the movies, and we’ve already received some wonderful and touching stories from readers. Thank you for sharing! We’d love to hear more — please jump into the comments in the original post found here:

Jay Peters
Jay Peters
The White House reportedly isn’t planning to publicly share its AI testing framework.

However, Axios says the White House did meet with AI companies on Tuesday to discuss the finalized framework, which was created following an executive order signed in June.

David Pierce
David Pierce
Today’s Vergecast: What’s really open about open-weight AI?

Everyone in AI is talking about open-weight models right now. Some see them as the ticket to faster, more efficient development; others see them as an economic threat; they’re either a security risk or the only security solution, depending who you ask. The Verge’s Robert Hart explains how open-weight models work, why they’re suddenly at the center of discussions about AI safety, and whether the only way to stop a bad guy with AI is a good guy with AI.

Nathan Edwards
Nathan Edwards
My spoon is too big.

If you said that in your head in a weird little voice, good news: Dropout is now streaming Don Hertzfeldt’s legendary animated films, from Rejected to World of Tomorrow. Paper Trail, which just won the short film category at the Annecy Festival, will be available September 1st.

Telegram CEO says an extortionist planted CSAM in a chat to get it pulled from the App StoreTelegram CEO says an extortionist planted CSAM in a chat to get it pulled from the App Store

Pavel Durov claims attackers post illegal content and manipulate reports to ‘trigger the removal of legitimate communities.’

Emma Roth
Andrew Liszewski
Andrew Liszewski
1.5 million rechargeable hand warmers have been recalled following a fatality.

Several different models sold through Amazon, Walmart, and Ocoopa’s online store have been recalled after 1,480 reports of the devices overheating resulting in 15 fires, 350 burns, and the death of an 83-year-old in California, according to the USCPSC. Consumers with recalled hardware can reach out to Ocoopa for a full refund.

1/6Image: Ocoopa
How an OpenAI influencer trip backfired How an OpenAI influencer trip backfired 

What did the content creators learn about ChatGPT at the “summer club” weekend trip?

Mia Sato
Stevie Bonifield
Stevie Bonifield
Gigabyte’s bringing back AM4 motherboards.

It’s launching a new B550 X series “engineered to be the most powerful refresh of the AM4 platform,” which is now 10 years old, as PC Gamer reports. The new motherboards were designed around the Ryzen 7 8500X3D that AMD recently relaunched as component shortages continue to drive up prices.

Lenovo’s Legion Go S with SteamOS is down to its lowest price everLenovo’s Legion Go S with SteamOS is down to its lowest price ever

The Steam Deck OLED recently got a price bump, but the next best SteamOS handheld just got cheaper.

Brad Bourque
‘Not healthy’ LLM use is more common than you think‘Not healthy’ LLM use is more common than you think

It’s not just Hank Green.

Robert Hart
BMW’s in-car Spider-Man ad is villain behaviorBMW’s in-car Spider-Man ad is villain behavior

My commodification-sense is tingling.

Jess Weatherbed
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
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