Technology

Reservoir has built an ultra-efficient water heater that can predict hot water demand, store energy, and detect plumbing leaks throughout a home.

TechCrunch · 40 minutes ago

Yulu aims to have a fleet of 200,000 bikes in the next two years and faster electric two-wheelers, aiming at new logistics use cases.

TechCrunch · about 6 hours ago

After a former lead writer claimed Saber "replaced me with ChatGPT," CEO Matthew Karch now claims, "Neither Saber nor Unigine have replaced any writers with AI," for the Rideshare "Stimulator" game announced last month, developed by Unigine. The writer, Stella Sacco, says differently, however, posting on Bluesky that "I was lead writer on this one! And Saber replaced me with ChatGPT midway through development. All the passenger voices were AI too. Either they changed direction at some point or they're not disclosing it on Steam." Saber describes Rideshare "Stimulator" as an "immersive driving simulation game that puts you behind the wheel … Read the full story at The Verge.

The Verge · about 10 hours ago

Did a prototype Microsoft gamepad fall off the back of a truck? We can't say, but a Redditor has legit-looking photos of a prototype Xbox controller that's almost certainly the Xbox Elite Series 3. Incredibly, they claim they bought the pad for $200 on OfferUp. In May, a Brazilian regulator's leaked images revealed that Xbox Elite 3 would have new two new scroll wheels on the bottom edge, a second wireless mode to connect directly to Xbox Cloud Gaming servers, and a new "Pair Button" that can also switch between those servers and your console. Where might that pair button live? Today, we have a possible answer: it might sit right next to t … Read the full story at The Verge.

The Verge · about 12 hours ago

Phia, the shopping startup co-founded by Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni, is once again under fire for its alleged business practices.

TechCrunch · about 13 hours ago

The U.S. VC firm still has more than 55% of its previous $650 million India fund available for deployment.

TechCrunch · about 13 hours ago

It looks like we'll be getting a successor to the Sonos Ace headphones sometime this fall, which was hinted at by CEO Tom Conrad during a third quarter earnings call. As reported by What Hi-Fi?, an FCC filing by Sonos, Inc reveals details about upcoming wireless headphones with the model number S52A. In addition to the S52A designation, one of the submitted documents shows an oval diagram - likely the ear cup - marked with the name Sonos Ace Ultra, although that name isn't listed anywhere else. It follows the naming scheme Sonos has used in the past with its Arc and Arc Ultra soundbars. The documents also list color options we'll likely see … Read the full story at The Verge.

The Verge · about 13 hours ago

The divestiture comes as the two once-tight companies have started to diverge on the business side.

TechCrunch · about 15 hours ago

That’s a lot of people chatting with their AI friends all day. | Image: Google For the 14th time, a Google product has hit 1 billion users. Google CEO Sundar Pichai posted on X that a billion people are using Gemini every month, and that Gemini is Google's fastest-growing product ever. A billion users is a huge milestone, but Google isn't the first AI app to hit it. OpenAI's ChatGPT hit the mark a few weeks ago, though the company buried the announcement that "more than 1 billion people are putting ChatGPT to work" in an otherwise anodyne blog post about how people use AI. External data suggested ChatGPT crossed 1 billion users as early as this June, but OpenAI hadn't announced anything until that post on August 6th. … Read the full story at The Verge.

The Verge · about 15 hours ago

In a new alert, the FBI said cybercriminals are targeting adults and minors in an attempt to steal their personal and intimate pictures in extortion campaigns.

TechCrunch · about 15 hours ago

OpenAI is finally bringing a dedicated ChatGPT desktop app to Linux operating systems.

TechCrunch · about 15 hours ago

Meta has launched a Threads app for Meta Quest VR headsets, the company announced on Tuesday. The launch follows Meta bringing the app to its Ray-Ban Display AR glasses last month and the recent news that the platform has crossed 500 million monthly active users. It seems like a pretty full-featured app. Meta says that with the Threads VR app, you can do things like browse feeds, make posts, like and reply to posts, visit profiles, search, and watch videos - you know, Threads stuff. "We designed the new Threads app for Meta Quest to make using VR more social than ever," Meta says. "Whether you want to keep up with conversations during a ga … Read the full story at The Verge.

The Verge · about 16 hours ago

Google also shared numbers of how people are actually using the chatbot, with 63% of Gemini users talking directly to the assistant using the voice feature. Plus, Gemini now generates more than 150 million images every day, according to Google.

TechCrunch · about 16 hours ago

Google TV Freeplay, the company's free, ad-supported streaming service, now supports video on demand. Instead of tuning into Google TV Freeplay's selection of always-on channels, you can now choose from over 10,000 shows and movies to watch whenever you want. The update introduces titles like Lady Bird, Seventeen Again, and Hell's Kitchen, according to Google's announcement. The company has also expanded its live TV lineup to include more than 300 channels dedicated to news, sports, reality TV, true crime, and more. Some of these new channels include World of Love Island, Yahoo! Sports Network, Bloomberg TV Plus, and The Martha Stewart Chan … Read the full story at The Verge.

The Verge · about 16 hours ago

Brad Lightcap, OpenAI's special projects lead and the company's former COO, announced his departure after an eight-year stint at the AI lab. In an internal memo he later posted to X, Lightcap told colleagues he'd be starting "something new." "Over the last few months, I've been focused on the next horizon and what would stand in the way of mission success," Lightcap wrote. "I believe there are a few important new things the world will need to get right as we enter this next period. I … am excited to help you all advance the mission from a different vantage point." He added that he'd still be around for the next few weeks. Lightcap's role … Read the full story at The Verge.

The Verge · about 17 hours ago

Over a year following its post-election surge, Bluesky’s mobile app is seeing a continued decline in active users, though its remaining community is still relatively engaged.

TechCrunch · about 17 hours ago

Scaleup Europe, a public-private fund with a $5.7 billion target, made its first investment by backing Finnish satellite company ICEYE.

TechCrunch · about 17 hours ago

The Google Pixel Buds 2a in hazel. | Image: The Verge Looking for great pair of earbuds that work particularly well with Android phones? The Google Pixel Buds 2a are currently discounted to $99 (usually $129) at various retailers, including Amazon, Best Buy, and directly from Google. These very capable Bluetooth earbuds come in four colors, with a lightweight fit that helps them disappear into your ears. With ANC and transparency mode support, and a close integration with Gemini, they’re a great choice for anyone with a Pixel or other Android device. Pixel Buds 2a Google’s latest pair of wireless earbuds feature crisp sound quality, a comfortable design, and solid active noise cancellation, which is great considering the budget-friendly price tag. They even offer built-in support for Gemini and, unlike the entry-level AirPods, a purple option! Read our review. Where to Buy: $129 $99 at Amazon $129 $99 at Google $129 $99 at Best Buy My colleague David Pierce reviewed the Pixel Buds 2a on their release in October of 2025, and was impressed by the excellent sound quality, impressive ANC and transparency modes, and comfortable fit, particularly at the price point. The biggest complaint we had about these earbuds is that they lack some of the advanced features when paired with an iPhone or iPad, similar to how AirPods don’t support their full feature suite with Android phones. Read our Pixel Buds 2a review. window.HYPE_DESK_CONFIG = { productImageUrl: "https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/06_pro_phone_16x9.png", productImageAlt: "iPhone 17 Pro Max Unlocked", productTitle: "iPhone 17 Pro Max Unlocked", shortDescription: "The flagship iPhone, without the flagship price tag.", longDescription: "The 17 Pro Max is Apple's best phone, and Back Market is where you get it for less without giving anything up. The A19 Pro chip handles everything you throw at it, the triple 48MP camera system shoots photos and 4K video that will genuinely impress you, and the 6.9-inch ProMotion display makes everything look better than it has any right to. Every unit is professionally refurbished, unlocked for any carrier, and backed by a one-year warranty and 30-day return policy through the Back Market Promise.", purchaseUrl: "https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=18275&awinaffid=173843&campaign=VergeHypeDesk&clickref=AugustArticle1&platform=dl&ued=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.backmarket.com%2Fen-us%2Fp%2Fiphone-17-pro-max-256-gb-deep-blue-unlocked%2F04896795-8ba2-4187-8fb9-d32a631d0aa6", purchaseLinkText: "Buy at Back Market" }; Other deals to consider Costco members can grab a discount on Star Fox for Nintendo Switch 2. Normally $49.99, digital codes for the game are only $42.99 and deliver via email so you can get playing right away. This reimagining of the classic Nintendo 64 game adds in cinematic new cutscenes and updates the graphics to modern day standards, showing off the improved power of the Switch 2. Read our review. Looking for a charging block with a little attitude? The Anker Nano Smart Display Charger is discounted to $25.99 (usually $39.99) at Amazon and supports up to 45W of power over USB-C. It has a tiny screen that can show charging and device info, or a cute little face in case you need some company while waiting for your phone to recharge. Read our hands-on. Amazon has the Philips SmartSleep Wake-up Light discounted to $76.29, a 30 percent discount from its usual price of $108.95, and just slightly above its all-time low price. In addition to slowly lighting up in the morning to help you wake up smoothly, it also functions as an FM radio for quiet music at bedtime, and a reading light with 20 different settings.

The Verge · about 17 hours ago

The Pixel 11 Pro has a flashy new light on the back. | Image: Google Last year's Made by Google event for the Pixel 10 resembled a late night talk show, complete with Jimmy Fallon as host, and it aired an hour after the phones were revealed. Spec dives and executive appearances were replaced with celebrity cameos and awkward skits, to the confusion of many diehard Pixel fans. But it served its purpose in reaching a broader audience: Last year's stream racked up 8.4 million viewers on YouTube; the launch the year before only managed 1.4 million. This year, Google has only escalated matters. For tomorrow evening's livestream, Fallon has been replaced by Trevor Noah, who will lead a "stacked" lineup of celebrit … Read the full story at The Verge.

The Verge · about 18 hours ago

Google is gearing up to reveal a bunch of new Pixel devices on August 12th. A series of leaks leading up to the event suggest that the Pixel 11 lineup will come in an array of colors, with signs pointing to a built-in light coming to Pro models. Teasers from Google also indicate that it will show off a next-gen Pixel Fold alongside a Pixel Watch 5 in four different finishes. There might be a new Pixel Tag tracker as well. Google may take the wraps off the new devices well ahead of its Made by Google livestream. On Google’s website, the countdown for preorders ends on August 12th at 10AM ET — eight hours before its event at 6PM ET. Comedian Trevor Noah will host this year’s show, featuring notable guests like NBA star Stephen Curry, podcaster Alex Cooper, Indian cricketer Shubman Gill, and Japanese actress Ayami Nakajo. We’ll be live blogging the event, so stay tuned! Follow along for all the latest news about Google’s Pixel devices. Google’s upcoming Pixel phones are for the fans, even if its launch event isn’t What to expect from Google’s 2026 Pixel hardware launch event

The Verge · about 18 hours ago