Gadgets

Yes, it’s bigger than the 3.8-liter Steam Machine and the 4.5-liter Framework Desktop, but nicnic’s DIY desktop oozes style — and fits Valve’s open-source “Inkterface” e-paper status screen. If you don’t care for slime green, why not print your own in any color you like? The files are free.

You have questions. We have (some) answers! For this week’s hotline episode, Travis Larchuk asks David your questions about E Ink-ish screens, federated messaging, minimalist phones, AI wearables, and what we got wrong about wide foldables. And don’t forget, you can always call 866-VERGE11 or email vergecast@theverge.com to get your questions in about anything and everything. Bonus points if it involves popping your two collars.

Right now, I can see two images and a video on CMF by Nothing’s X feed about its Clip Pro earbuds that include hard-to-see disclosures about the use of AI: “Contains AI-generated imagery. Any resemblance to real persons is purely coincidental.” 9to5Google reports that some other images have been deleted as well.

And it’s got its own little kickstand to prop it up separately?? WANT. Check out more photos of NefariousnessWhole25’s prototype (and a few other cool Steam Machine faceplates from Reddit) in our gallery below.

Big Walk came out this week, and it seems like a hoot if you have friends or family to play with. It’s $14.99 (down from $19.99) on Steam. Peak, which popularized the “friendslop” subgenre of co-op games, is even cheaper at Fanatical. You can grab the game for $3.75 (usually $8) today.

I recently revealed our weekly Today I’m Toying With giveaway technically goes live at 9AM ET each Wednesday… someone was paying attention, because they’ve already entered this week’s! Join them for a chance at LOTS more gadgets we can’t ethically keep. The biggest prizes are still available, and there’s an email entry option in the official rules.

9to5Google obtained images of the unannounced device — I included one below, but check 9to5’s story to see them all. Lenovo Googlebook devices also leaked recently.

Woot has the unlocked 256GB Google Pixel Fold discounted to $459.99, coming close to its lowest price ever. While the 2023 model can’t hang with the latest in terms of performance or durability, it’s a way to try out a foldable without spending $1,000 or more. Plus, it will get software updates until June 2028. Read our review.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

For the last few years, the trend in wearables has been all about screens. As many of them as possible. But now, companies like Whoop, Fitbit, and Garmin are creating new products that ditch the display entirely. The Verge’s Victoria Song explains why no-screen is the new screen, why even the most quantified athletes might not want a display on their wrist, and whether Whoop and the Whoop dupes are a sign of a broader trend.

A report from ET News suggests that Samsung is planning to ditch the 10-megapixel 3x telephoto lens on its next-gen flagship, leaving it with a 50MP 5x telephoto lens and third camera. Samsung is reportedly making the change to cut costs amid surging chip prices.

From tackling pollen to helping keep indoor air cleaner during wildfire season, the Coway Airmega Mighty2 is a useful device to have this time of year. Now down to a new low of $215.99 ($54 off), it cleans spaces up to 1,800 square feet in an hour, automatically adjusts to air quality, and reminds you when it’s time to clean or replace its filters.

Apple is struggling to keep the laptop in stock, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, with new orders on some configurations experiencing “essentially unprecedented” delays of roughly a month. This joins the shortages for the Mac Mini and Studio, all of which are seemingly connected to the ongoing memory crisis.

The school year is coming up quickly, and Best Buy is helping to ease the financial burden of getting a laptop. HP’s OmniBook X Flip is $649.99 (usually $1,299.99), and has a 14-inch OLED panel with a 1920 x 1200 resolution, which is great for YouTube or homework, a Ryzen AI 5 430 CPU, 16GB of LPDDR5X memory, and 512GB of storage.

At $75 early bird Kickstarter or $90 retail, the Sharge Disk Pro 2 Ultra is a magnetic USB-C hub that doubles as a Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 dock, triples as a bring-your-own-SSD, and unlocks speedy ProRes storage for iPhone. Update: Here’s my full hands-on preview.