The best deals on MacBooks right now

The best deals on MacBooks right now

The 2020 MacBook Air, one of the best laptops you can get, is frequently on sale. | Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge

With multiple configurations and various models to choose from, finding a deal on a Mac equipped with an M-series chip is not all that difficult. It’s sometimes a slightly different story for the MacBook Pros with beefier M1 Pro and M1 Max CPUs, but with a little luck, you can score those excellent laptops for as much as $400 off. As for the most recent batch of M2-powered 13-inch MacBook Pro and MacBook Air, they, too, get their fair share of modest savings with some regularity. And with the recent introduction of M2 Pro and M2 Max 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros, it’s probably just a matter of time until you can save some money on those refreshed models, too.

Here, we’ll run through the discounts that are currently available for Apple’s latest laptops, all of which run Apple’s own silicon. If you come across any deals on older, Intel-based configurations still lying around, we strongly recommend avoiding them. While the last bastions of Intel Macs are compatible with macOS Ventura, they’re getting pretty old and not really worthwhile, even at a steep discount. Rest assured: there’s really no downside to opting for a Mac with Apple’s own chips, save for the sickos out there that swear they still need Windows Boot Camp.

Alternatively, purchasing refurbished is another way to save money on an Apple computer. Apple’s refurbished store provides a one-year warranty on all products and generally offers discounts of up to 15 to 20 percent off the price of a new unit. If you’re looking for a new model, however, here are the best MacBook Air and MacBook Pro deals available.

The best MacBook Air deals

The MacBook Air is Apple’s entry-level laptop. It’s best suited for typical productivity work, with a comfortable keyboard, excellent trackpad, and all-day battery life. The redesigned M2 version of the MacBook Air is out, but even with the arrival of that pricier model, the 2020 version with an M1 processor and fanless design remains in the lineup as the budget option. For most people, the M1 Air ticks all the right boxes when it comes to performance and price, which is why it’s the one we recommend for budget-minded MacBook seekers in our guide to the best laptops, even with the M2 model now available.

The base MacBook Air with the M1 chip comes with 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. It typically sells for $999, but B&H Photo and Adorama currently have it for $899 ($100 off). That’s not quite as good as it gets on the M1 Air, but it’s a good price on a laptop that still represents an excellent value more than two years after its release.

As for the newer, fancier M2 MacBook Air, it’s currently on sale with 256GB of storage and an 8-core GPU for $100 off at B&H Photo. That drops the price of the base, MagSafe-equipped laptop to $1,099. It’s a solid deal, but we’ve seen it drop as low as $999. If you’re looking for a better value, B&H Photo is also selling an upgraded configuration with a 512GB SSD and 10-core GPU for $1,349 ($150 off).

The new MacBook Air is a super slim and light laptop with a 1080p webcam that’s actually usable, as well as a handy magnetic charger that frees up one of its precious two USB-C ports. Its M2 processor didn’t kick-start a revolution like the M1 generation, but it's a great performer for any user outside of more demanding creatives.

It does have some slight downsides, like slower storage in the base configuration and a notch cutout in its otherwise excellent screen. But even so, there hasn’t been a more travel-friendly laptop offered by Apple since the days of the polarizing 12-inch MacBook, and this one’s good enough to be the No. 1 laptop we now recommend in our buying guide.

The best MacBook Pro deals

The MacBook Pro line has been split into two different segments — for the time being. The M1-powered MacBook Pro of 2020 and its 2022 replacement with the M2 processor remain the Touch Bar holdouts. These are siblings to the 2020 MacBook Air, with similar designs save mostly for a fan that allows them to run at peak performance for longer.

At this point, it’s best to avoid the older 13-inch M1 MacBook Pro and opt for the newer M2 version with its exceptional battery life. Yes, it’s still plagued by the Touch Bar, and its base model has its shortcomings when it comes to speed, but we’re occasionally seeing discounts on the newer laptop.

Right now, the best deal on the 13-inch M2 MacBook Pro is B&H Photo's $150 discount on the 256GB model with 8GB of RAM. That drops the price from $1,299 to $1,149. That said, for an additional $150, you can get the 512GB model that’s currently discounted to $1,299 ($200 off). Neither is a bad deal, but you folks who do intensive creative work may still be better served spending more on the more capable 14-inch MacBook Pro if you can stretch your budget (see below).

As for the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros, we’re in a transitional moment. The M1 Pro / M1 Max models from late 2021 are being replaced by the M2 Pro and M2 Max models, which are mostly a spec-bumped refresh with the 16-inch M2 Max MacBook Pro also showcasing some excellent battery life gains thanks to the efficiency of the new chips. As good as the new generation is, however, we’re probably going to have to wait a little while before we start seeing discounts on the new models. For now, the 2021 MacBook Pros are fine machines, though you may consider opting for a 2023 model if you can’t find a deal good enough deal on a last-gen configuration.

Currently, the 14-inch M1 Pro-equipped base model with 512GB of storage is on sale for $1,699 ($300 off) at B&H Photo. That’s $100 more than the lowest price we’ve seen on the laptop. As for the 1TB version, it’s currently discounted to $2,199 ($300 off) at Amazon.

As for the 16-inch MacBook Pro, it’s on sale at Amazon or B&H Photo with 512GB of storage and an M1 Pro for $2,099, which is an excellent $400 off. A close-but-not-quite-as-good $300 discount is running on the 1TB variant at Amazon, dropping the price to $2,399. That discount on the 16-inch base model is as good as it gets for such a workhorse laptop. If you cherish a beastly MacBook for performance, appreciate a big screen, and are in the market to make a purchase now, this deal is for you.

Our reviews of Apple’s M1 Pro and Max MacBook Pro lineup were absolutely beaming with praise. Whether it was the beautiful display or the remarkable performance and battery life they exhibited, these premium laptops are investments that we still recommend — at least, until the newer M2 generation starts seeing discounts. It’s great to see the return of more ports and an SD card reader, as well as MagSafe charging, to some Mac laptops we can once again say are well poised for actual pros. Just mind the notch — or better yet, make it more useful with software.

Google wants to help developers make experiences like Maps’ new ‘immersive’ view

Google wants to help developers make experiences like Maps’ new ‘immersive’ view

Image: Google

Google wants to make it easier for others to make powerful mixed reality experiences with the official release of a new Google Cloud tool, Immersive Stream for XR. The tool lets you scan a QR code or click a link to access a mixed reality experience, and behind the scenes, Google Cloud GPUs will host, render, and stream those experiences to your device, according to a blog post.

Google says it’s already using the technology for its new immersive view in Google Maps, which lets you look at a 3D model of certain cities overlaid with details like traffic and nearby restaurants. But the company is also highlighting other ways to use Immersive Stream for XR, like for placing virtual furniture in augmented reality (not exactly a new idea) or seeing virtual cars while shopping (also not the newest idea).

Immersive Stream for XR was first announced at Google I/O in 2022, but alongside its wide availability on Thursday, Google also revealed that it now supports content made in Unreal Engine 5. Unreal Engine is growing steadily more popular among game developers, but it’s used for many non-game applications as well, and the addition of support for UE5 could be a boon for developers looking to take advantage of Immersive Stream for XR.

Google’s broader ambitions for mixed reality are somewhat up in the air now that we know Google Labs VP Clay Bavor will be leaving the company in March. Google won’t be replacing Bavor; instead, his remit will be split up under other executives at the company.

Kraken pays a $30 million fine and shuts down crypto staking in the US

Kraken pays a $30 million fine and shuts down crypto staking in the US

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

Kraken will end its crypto staking program in the US and pay $30 million in penalties as part of a settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The regulator charged the company with selling unregistered securities through its “crypto asset staking-as-a-service program.” It’s been clear for a while now that the SEC was planning to clamp down on crypto yield programs. In 2021, it got into a spat with Coinbase over the exchange’s plans to launch a lending feature in the US, and last year, it (and several states) settled with BlockFi for $100 million over the company’s interest accounts.

Kraken will continue to offer staking outside the US via a separate subsidiary

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong tweeted concern about “rumors” the SEC would like to get rid of crypto staking in the US, claiming it’s “important innovation” and “not a security” — important since labeling it that way makes these businesses and, potentially, proof-of-stake blockchain operations like Ethereum 2.0 — subject to much stricter laws.

SEC Chair Gary Gensler appears to disagree, which could be bad news for others offering staking to customers in the US. This agreement should “make clear to the marketplace that staking-as-a-service providers must register and provide full, fair, and truthful disclosure and investor protection,” Gensler said in a press release.

When news of the settlement broke via a report on CoinDesk at 2:30PM ET, the price of Ethereum dropped sharply, falling over 4 percent in 30 minutes.

According to the SEC, Kraken took investors’ crypto and put it into a staking pool with the hopes of earning rewards. (Those rewards are meted out for being part of the validation process used by some blockchains.) In return for having their crypto locked up, Kraken’s customers would, in theory, earn interest on that crypto. But the regulator says that the returns Kraken promised were “untethered to any economic realities” and that the exchange provided “zero insight into, among other things, its financial condition and whether it even had the means of paying the marketed returns in the first place.”

The SEC also takes issue with the lack of consumer protections available for Kraken’s staking service, saying that the exchange “retained the right to pay them no returns at all.”

In a statement posted on its blog, Kraken says it’ll continue offering its staking services outside the US. It also says that its clients in the US will automatically have their non-Ethereum crypto unstaked, and their Ethereum stakes will be removed as soon as possible.

The regulator says that this settlement should “make clear to the marketplace that staking-as-a-service providers must register and provide full, fair, and truthful disclosure and investor protection.” The action comes after a year of seeing major crypto firms — including ones involved in interest programs — going bankrupt.

TikTok: how the west has turned on gen Z’s favourite app

TikTok: how the west has turned on gen Z’s favourite app

US and European fears about China exploiting TikTok’s data harvest and promoting Beijing’s worldview look set to inspire an urgent overhaul in data privacy laws

The FBI has called it a national security threat. The US government has passed a law forcing officials to delete it from their phones. Texas senator Ted Cruz has denounced it as “a Trojan horse the Chinese Communist party can use to influence what Americans see, hear, and ultimately think”. And in March its CEO will defend its existence before the US Congress. For those unaware of the debate broiling on the other side of the Atlantic, the target of this strong rhetoric might prove surprising: an app best known for viral dances, launching generation Z media stars, and sucking teens down an hours-long content abyss.

But the rancorous debate over TikTok that began under the Trump administration has rolled on under President Biden. In addition to a ban of the app on all federal government devices, at least 27 states have blocked TikTok on devices they’ve issued, affecting a number of state schools and universities, too. A bipartisan bill, introduced in Congress last December, stipulates banning the app’s use by everyone in the United States.

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Five Takeaways From the House G.O.P. Hearing With Former Twitter Executives

Five Takeaways From the House G.O.P. Hearing With Former Twitter Executives The Oversight Committee called the session to scrutinize whether the social media platform has censored the right, but it yielded new revelations about the company’s permissive approach.

Twitter Glitches Pile Up as Key Features Fail

Twitter Glitches Pile Up as Key Features Fail Many users said they could not post tweets or message one another on Wednesday as the #TwitterDown hashtag began trending.

Disney’s laying off 7,000 as streaming boom comes to an end

Disney’s laying off 7,000 as streaming boom comes to an end

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

Disney is planning to lay off 7,000 workers to cut costs across the company. CEO Bob Iger announced the news in an earnings call on Wednesday, stating that the move is “necessary to address the challenges we’re facing today.”

Like many other companies across the country, Disney’s making the changes as part of its efforts to reduce costs in a “challenging economic environment.” Iger says he’s “targeting $5.5 billion of cost savings across the company” and that the layoffs will “help achieve this.” Iger didn’t say which departments the layoffs will affect.

Rumors about layoffs began emerging shortly after Iger took over for outgoing Disney CEO Bob Chapek last November. Iger initially stepped down from the role in 2020, and his takeover has already led to major organizational changes for the company. Iger’s also establishing three core divisions at the company: Disney entertainment, ESPN, and Disney Parks experiences and products.

Iger still has his sights set on streaming despite a slowdown in subscriber growth. Disney Plus added just 200,000 subscribers in the US and Canada for a total of 46.6 million, while its international offering (excluding HotStar) saw the addition of 1.2 million members. Hulu and ESPN Plus had similarly slow growth, with each adding 800,000 and 600,000, respectively.

Disney’s direct-to-consumer division, which includes its streaming services, saw a 13 percent increase in revenue to $5.3 billion. But it still had an operating loss of around $1.1 billion, which the company attributed to higher costs at Disney Plus and Hulu. The company’s streaming business lost around $1.5 billion last quarter.

“Our priority is the enduring growth and profitability of our streaming business,” Iger says. “Our current forecasts indicate Disney Plus will hit profitability by the end of fiscal 2024, and achieving that remains our goal.”

Since the results span the last three months of 2022, it’s still too early to tell how much of an effect the $7.99 per month ad-supported tier will have on Disney Plus’ subscriber numbers. This is something Disney chief financial officer Christine McCarthy reflected on during the call, noting the company doesn’t “expect the launch of the Disney Plus ad tier to provide a meaningful financial impact until later this fiscal year.”

It’s possible that more people are dropping the service now that the three-year bundle it rolled out with the launch of Disney Plus is starting to expire. While Disney does offer a bundled plan with Disney Plus, Hulu, and ESPN Plus, it’s still more expensive than the original offer and reflects last year’s price hikes.

Ex-Twitter exec details ‘homophobic and antisemitic’ abuse over handling of Hunter Biden story

Ex-Twitter exec details ‘homophobic and antisemitic’ abuse over handling of Hunter Biden story

Yoel Roth testifies before congressional committee that Elon Musk’s release of company’s internal records led to harassment

A former Twitter executive testified on Wednesday that he was forced to leave and sell his home following a campaign of “homophobic and antisemitic” harassment over the company’s handling of a New York Post story about Hunter Biden.

Yoel Roth, the former head of safety at Twitter, made the comments while speaking to a committee in the newly Republican-controlled House of Representatives, at a hearing convened to scrutinize the social network’s handling of a 2020 report on Joe Biden’s son.

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Ex-Twitter execs to testify in Congress on handling of Hunter Biden laptop reporting

Ex-Twitter execs to testify in Congress on handling of Hunter Biden laptop reporting

Company temporarily restricted New York Post article in 2020 about contents of the abandoned computer of Joe Biden’s son

Former senior staff at Twitter will testify on Wednesday before the House oversight committee about the social media platform’s handling of reporting on Joe Biden’s son Hunter Biden.

The hearing has set the stage for the agenda of a newly Republican-controlled House, underscoring its intention to home in on longstanding and unsubstantiated allegations that big tech has an anti-conservative bias.

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Scottish MP Stewart McDonald fears emails hacked by Russia-linked group

Scottish MP Stewart McDonald fears emails hacked by Russia-linked group

SNP MP for Glasgow South says he is victim of ‘sophisticated and targeted spear phishing’ attack

An SNP MP whose emails were hacked has spoken out because he fears they were stolen by a group linked to Russia and will be published.

Stewart McDonald’s emails were compromised last month after he clicked on a message from a member of his staff on his private MP’s account.

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Here are the best iPad deals right now

Here are the best iPad deals right now

Select iPad models go on sale quite regularly. | Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge

While the best iPad deals come around during major sales events like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Amazon Prime Day, you can still find plenty of great discounts at all times of the year if you know where to look. Whether you’re after the high-end iPad Pro or the most affordable entry-level iPad, there’s likely a sale going on somewhere you may be interested in.

Of course, it’s difficult to know exactly where you can find the most notable deals unless you’re scouring the major retailers on a daily basis. But that’s often what our deal hunters at The Verge are doing each and every day, so let us help you out. Below, we’ve listed the best deals you can get on each iPad model that is currently available, including the latest ones equipped with Apple’s powerful M1 and M2 chips.

The best iPad (2021) and iPad (2022) deals

Announced alongside the iPhone 13, the 2021 iPad is Apple’s entry-level tablet that replaced the eighth-gen model from 2020. The ninth-generation iPad starts at $329, just like its predecessor, though the entry-level model has 64GB of storage instead of 32GB. The base configuration with Wi-Fi is currently available at Best Buy and Target for the lowest price of $249.99 (about $80 off) or a somewhat close second at Walmart for $269 ($60 off).

As for the next bump up in storage, 256GB, it normally costs $479, but Walmart and Best Buy have that configuration with Wi-Fi for $399 and $399.99, respectively. This is a very good deal, especially as it normally only drops to only $429. If you prefer your iPad to include cellular connectivity, the 64GB model normally runs $479 (though Best Buy has it for about $80 off), and the 256GB variant is $609 (though Best Buy and Walmart are selling it for $529.99).

A last-gen model is still worth considering

The 2021 model iPad uses an A13 Bionic processor and a 12MP wide-angle camera with Center Stage, a feature designed for keeping you framed up and centered while on video calls. Many other features carried over from its predecessor, such as the 10.2-inch display, a Touch ID fingerprint sensor built into the home button, and a Smart Connector for connecting a Smart Keyboard.

Although the newer, 10th-gen iPad came out in October of 2022, the last-gen model is still worth considering. The latest iPad modernizes the design with a switch to USB-C, uniform bezels with no home button, a side power button with a fingerprint sensor, and a larger display, but it excises the headphone jack and costs a much steeper $449. That’s not much of an entry-level price, so hopefully, the ninth-gen sticks around and continues to see moderate discounts.

However, if you do find the updates of 10th-gen iPad appealing, you can at least get the base 64GB configuration with Wi-Fi on sale for $399 ($50 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target. That $50 discount is also present on the 256GB model — selling for $549 at Best Buy and Target — though once you climb that high, it may be worth considering an iPad Air (see below). But hey, if you just love the color yellow, I won’t stop you.

The best iPad Mini (2021) deals

The sixth-generation iPad Mini has a larger screen than its predecessor, along with a top-of-the-line processor, support for USB-C, and options for 5G. It has forfeited its 3.5mm headphone jack and dedicated home button in the process, but overall, it’s a solid device that brings a fully refreshed design to Apple’s small tablet form factor.

The changes and refinements to the new iPad Mini come at a heftier price, however, and the new 64GB Wi-Fi model now starts at $499. Electing for 256GB of storage brings the price up to $649, while the 5G cellular models are $649 for 64GB and $799 for 256GB. These are some big numbers for a small iPad, and the larger iPad Air might be worth considering if you prefer your dollar to go further with more screen real estate. But if you want the latest and greatest from Apple in a smaller format, this is where the action is.

There have been some sizable discounts on the sixth-gen Mini at times, and right now, Best Buy, Target, and Amazon have the 64GB base model for $399.99 ($100 off). If you’re in need of additional storage, Amazon has the 256GB Wi-Fi model for $539.99 (about $109 off) after an additional $10 discount at checkout, and Best Buy has it for a close second of $549.99.

As for the 5G-equipped variant, the 64GB model is $100 off, dropping to $549.99 at Best Buy, Target, and Amazon. The 256GB version, however, is $109 off at Amazon after an additional $10 off at checkout, making it $689.99. The cellular models normally sell for $649 and $799, respectively.

The best iPad Air (2022) deals

The latest iPad Air usually costs $599, but we’ve seen it dip as low as $499.99 (around $100 off) on occasion, and that’s where it is at right now from both Amazon and Target. That’s an excellent value for the 10.9-inch tablet that borrowed its M1 processor from the pricier iPad Pros of its generation. For those who crave more storage, the 256GB configuration is available for $649.99 at Target (also around $100 off). Like the base model, that’s about as good as it gets for non-cellular iPad Air prices.

If you find yourself needing a 5G connection for your iPad, the cellular model with 64GB is $689 ($60 off) at B&H Photo and $699 at Amazon.

The 2022 iteration of Apple’s lightweight tablet is similar in terms of its capabilities when measured against the previous-gen model but still offers a handful of iterative upgrades. The most pronounced improvement is the M1 processor, which offers better performance, and the front-facing 12MP camera comes equipped with Apple’s Center Stage feature that helps to keep a moving subject centered when recording video or during video calls.

The best iPad Pro (2022) deals

The latest generation of iPad Pros looks a whole lot like the prior model from 2021, as the changes are primarily on the inside. The new Pros still come in 11-inch and 12.9-inch sizes, with the better-looking Mini LED panel once again reserved for the larger model, though both now pack Apple’s newer M2 CPU for even better processing power.

Striking resemblance to the prior generation aside, there are a few reasons to opt for a Pro over something like an Air, such as Face ID unlocking and additional base storage. If display quality is the most important factor in your purchasing decision, the 12.9-inch version is the way to go, as its Mini LED display achieves deeper blacks and better contrast, much like an OLED panel.

Aside from that, as well as a nifty new hover feature that shows where your second-gen Apple Pencil’s tip will land before you touch the screen, they’re very similar to the older models from 2021. The 128GB base models even start at the same price — the 11-inch and 12.9-inch models retail for $799 and $1,099, respectively, and go up from there. As for 5G cellular versions, the 11-inch starts at $999, and the 12.9-inch starts at $1,299.

While some steep discounts and closeout sales on the 2021 iPad Pros have led to them selling out pretty much everywhere, there are some small deals starting to appear on Apple’s newer, high-end tablets of 2022.

Right now, for instance, you can get the 11-inch M2 iPad Pro with 128GB of storage for $769 ($30 off) at Amazon or B&H Photo. The 512GB model is where you start to see a steeper discount of about $49 off, dropping it to $1,049.99 at Amazon. And as for cellular models, the only deal is the 128GB 5G version for $939 ($60 off) at Amazon.

If you prefer the larger 12.9-inch model with its lovely Mini LED display, B&H Photo is selling the M2 tablet for $1,049 ($50 off). Stepping up to the 256GB model gets you a $70 discount from B&H Photo, where it’s currently $1,129, or you can get the beefy 512GB storage model for $1,319 ($80 off) from the same retailer.

That’s as good as it gets for now, though we did once see the 12.9-inch get a sweet $100 discount for a very brief window of time. Perhaps now that we’re in the new year, we’ll see more substantial discounts across both models.

TechScape: Why Twitter ending free access to its APIs should be a ‘wake-up call’

TechScape: Why Twitter ending free access to its APIs should be a ‘wake-up call’

In this week’s newsletter: The social media network is putting its APIs – the under-praised tool that keeps the internet as we know it going – behind a paywall. And the ramifications are huge

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APIs may not seem like the sexiest thing to write about in a tech newsletter, but bear with me. Because APIs – or application programming interfaces – are important. They’re the synapses of our digital world: without them, our current ways of living wouldn’t work.

For example, when you visit a website that requires you to log in, and you choose to connect with a Google or Facebook account, you’re utilising an API. That click of a button that links your existing account on one platform with a new account on another is enabled by an API. They spring into action whenever one type of work interacts with another, working to bridge that gap. APIs are the overlooked and under-praised army that keeps the internet as we know it going.

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Meta, Long an AI Leader, Tries Not to Be Left Out of the Boom

Meta, Long an AI Leader, Tries Not to Be Left Out of the Boom It has long had technology to rival chatbots like ChatGPT, but can’t afford to back artificial intelligence that can spread misinformation and toxic content.

Tuesday’s top tech news: a new era for Microsoft’s Bing

Tuesday’s top tech news: a new era for Microsoft’s Bing

Image: The Verge

Plus two new Eras for Sonos

Perennial search engine also-ran Bing looks set to get a massive shot in the arm amid reports that operator Microsoft is preparing to announce some kind of ChatGPT integration for the service later today. News of the event seemed to have spooked Google, with the search giant making the surprise announcement on Monday that it’s working on its own “experimental conversational AI service.” The Verge will be in attendance at Microsoft’s event, so stay tuned for all the details as they’re announced.

And speaking of new Eras, my colleague Chris Welch has a scoop on Sonos’ upcoming speaker lineup set to debut in the coming months. We now know that they’re set to be branded as “Era,” with specific models including the Era 300 and Era 100. The former will apparently focus on spatial audio, and support playback of Dolby Atmos content.

Finally, this year’s Super Bowl looks like it’s going to be free of the cryptocurrency promotions that filled its ad spots last year. It’s yet another sign of the winter that the crypto industry is currently in.

And now, here’s a silly tweet to start your day.

pic.twitter.com/7va5LXj90Z

— Swayzine ITYSL Fan Art (@GarvestonReggie) February 6, 2023

Stay tuned, as we continue to update this list with the most important news of today: Tuesday, February 7th, 2023.

The Last of Us recap episode four – ambush in Kansas!

The Last of Us recap episode four – ambush in Kansas!

Ellie gets to grips with a gun, Joel has a rude awakening – and here’s Melanie Lynskey as the revolutionary Kathleen. But don’t be fooled by her dulcet tones … she’s as twisted as they come

This article contains spoilers for The Last of Us TV series. Do not read unless you have seen episodes one to four …

After the heartbreaking spectacle of Bill and Frank’s two-hander, here we saw Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) return to centre stage as they embarked on an epic road trip and adjusted to life post-Tess.

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Some popular accounts likely to disappear from Twitter as Elon Musk ends free access to API

Some popular accounts likely to disappear from Twitter as Elon Musk ends free access to API

Move to pay-for-access application program interface continues platform owner’s push for revenue

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The latest set of changes to Twitter will likely spell the end of some of your favourite accounts, tools and features, as the platform’s owner, Elon Musk, continues to look for ways to increase revenue.

In a post on Thursday morning, Twitter’s developer account announced free access to its application program interface (API) would be cut off and replaced with a paid version from 9 February.

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Microsoft Authenticator drops support for Apple Watch

Microsoft Authenticator drops support for Apple Watch

Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

Microsoft Authenticator is ending support for the Apple Watch. Unfortunately, this means you’ll no longer be able to conveniently log in to your connected accounts using just the wearable, as reported earlier by MacRumors.

While the app’s 6.7.3 iOS update states that it “removes Microsoft Authenticator from Apple Watch,” it also notes that you can still mirror any Microsoft Authenticator notifications you receive on your iPhone to your Apple Watch.

Microsoft first introduced Authenticator for the Apple Watch in 2018, and it’s proven useful for anyone looking to streamline their multi-factor authentication (MFA) sign-ins. Instead of having to open the Microsoft Authenticator app on your phone to verify your identity, you could instead approve the log-in through a notification that appears on your watch.

We first heard about the shutdown in December, after Microsoft quietly updated its FAQ page to note that you won’t be able to install or use Authenticator on Apple Watch. It’s unclear why Microsoft’s choosing to drop support for the Apple Watch now and vaguely states that watchOS is “incompatible with Authenticator security features.”

Over the course of several years, watchOS has lost a number of noteworthy apps, including Pokémon Go, Uber, Instagram, and more, proving that not every service out there needs a presence on your wrist. But out of all these apps, the Microsoft Authenticator companion app is perhaps the most practical, and it’s a bummer that it’s going away.

Otherweb Can Help Avoid Fake News Embarrassment

Otherweb Can Help Avoid Fake News Embarrassment

Otherweb is a fascinating effort to help people get to the truth, not by moderating the fake news, but by helping you fact-check it yourself. The post Otherweb Can Help Avoid Fake News Embarrassment appeared first on TechNewsWorld.

Rivian is working on an e-bike

Rivian is working on an e-bike 

Would you buy a Rivian e-bike? | Photo by Nilay Patel / The Verge

Electric automaker Rivian is developing an electric bike, according to sources speaking to Bloomberg. CEO RJ Scaringe apparently told staff about the e-bike effort during a company meeting on Friday, noting that a small team is currently working on it.

Bloomberg says it’s unclear if Scaringe was talking about a battery-assisted bicycle (aka an e-bike) or an electric motorcycle. However, Scaringe has teased an entry into micromobility in the past and the company has patents for e-bike designs and components.

Despite all the hype behind EVs, electric bikes have actually outsold electric and plug-in hybrid cars in this US since 2021. And in Europe, e-bike sales are on track to overtake the number of all cars sold, electric or not. That’s a tempting category to enter for a company trying to find a path to profitability.

E-bikes are on track to outsell all cars sold

Last week, Rivian laid off about six percent of its workforce for the second time in less than a year as part of broad cost-cutting efforts. Rivian has struggled to hit manufacturing targets amidst supply chain problems and a looming EV price war.

Despite the revenue opportunity presented by the new category, car makers have yet to find any notable success with their e-bikes despite brands like Porsche, Mercedes, Jeep, GM, Hummer, and others all giving it a go. Even e-bike darlings like Rad Power and VanMoof have struggled recently after finding success during the covid lockdowns. Would you buy a Rivian e-bike?

‘Get something that’s fun to play, then think about the story’: how Nintendo keeps levelling up

‘Get something that’s fun to play, then think about the story’: how Nintendo keeps levelling up

With 100m sales of its Switch console, a new Mario movie and even a California theme park, the Japanese tech giant is riding high again. What’s its secret?

Every Nintendo fan remembers the game that converted them. Perhaps it was running and jumping around as Mario in an abstract, toylike playspace, thrilling at the lightness and precision of his movement. It could have been becoming hypnotised by falling Tetris blocks on the Game Boy’s tiny monochrome screen, or choosing a first Pokémon, marvelling at how the little collection of fat pixels representing your chosen critter instantly assumed an imagined personality. Millions of people had their first Nintendo moment during 2020’s lockdowns, moving to a virtual deserted island full of quirky neighbours in Animal Crossing.

For more than 40 years, this Japanese giant of entertainment has been making video games that have shaped the tastes of the people who played them as children; there is surely no game developer working today who is untouched by its influence. Its latest console, meanwhile – the Nintendo Switch, released in 2017 – recently became the fastest ever to reach 100m sales, and stands a good chance of becoming the bestselling console ever. Barring an extremely unlikely sales slump over Christmas, the Switch will leapfrog to No 3 on the bestselling list when Nintendo announces its quarterly results this week. Only the DS and Sony’s PlayStation 2 are ahead of it.

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Hi-Fi Rush review – a brawler set to the beat of a drum

Hi-Fi Rush review – a brawler set to the beat of a drum

TK; Xbox
This music-centred adventure, an unexpected release, pits a teenage boy against robotic assassins in a colourful title for gamers of all talents

The video game industry’s hype cycles are typically measured in months and years, not minutes and seconds. So the simultaneous announcement and release in late January of Hi-Fi Rush – the kind of “go and buy it right now” revelation Apple is known for – feels breezily countercultural. So too does its bright, cartoonish styling: this game is as brazenly colourful as a Jet Set Radio fever dream, and even as plastic Guitar Hero instruments clog up the nation’s cupboards, it’s refreshing to play a game that is so unashamedly music-centred.

This is a brawler set to the beat of a drum. You play as Chai, an ebullient teenage boy who enrols in a biological augmentation program with a shady pharmaceutical company. The operation goes wrong when an old iPod-style music player is fitted to Chai’s chest. Marked for extermination, you must guide Chai to safety, then help him to take down his oppressor. As you move through these Shibuya-inspired streets, the world and everything in it pulses to the rhythm of the game’s soundtrack (a blend of originals and licensed tracks from bands such as the Black Keys and Nine Inch Nails).

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Do You Work in the Auto Industry? We Want to Hear From You.

Do You Work in the Auto Industry? We Want to Hear From You. Sales of electric vehicles are growing fast, and automakers are investing billions of dollars in new technology and factories. We want to know how jobs are changing.

Monday’s top tech news: an ultra year for tech?

Monday’s top tech news: an ultra year for tech?

Last year’s iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max. | Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

Apple is reportedly thinking about introducing a higher tier iPhone this year

Just a few short days after Samsung announced not one but two “Ultra”-branded devices comes a report that Apple might be about to slap that same label on an upcoming iPhone. Over the weekend, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported that Apple’s 2022 flagship iPhone lineup could include its first Ultra model. Apparently there’s a chance it could offer a higher performance camera system, faster chip, and / or a larger display than the Pro Max.

Second, if you have even a passing interest in Mario Kart, The Last of Us, or Pedro Pascal, then I implore you to check out Pascal’s appearance on Saturday Night Live. I won’t spoil it, but it’s-a good stuff.

Finally, I want to highlight a couple of interesting reviews that went up over the weekend. Announced last week alongside the Samsung Galaxy S23 lineup, the SmartThings Station is not only a hub to control your smart home, but it’s also a controller button and a wireless charging pad — both functions that provide a great excuse to have it easily accessible at all times. There’s also this fantastically overkill gadget from Nix which aims to help athletes keep hydrated while exercising.

For now, here’s a silly tweet to start your day:

"Hotep Steve Martin" is straight-up a twitter handle https://t.co/UfW7U8hlAt

— Moloch Meldrum (@SlayerRules_420) February 2, 2023

Stay tuned, as we continue to update this list with the most important news of today: Monday, February 6th, 2023.

At This School, Computer Science Class Now Includes Critiquing Chatbots

At This School, Computer Science Class Now Includes Critiquing Chatbots Move over, coding. Some schools are asking student programmers to think critically about rapid advances in artificial intelligence.

Blueprints for a dream: the new age of virtual architecture

Blueprints for a dream: the new age of virtual architecture

Aspiring architects are using using social media, AI and digital technology to showcase their fantastical creations to the full

“Something big is happening,” says Hamza Shaikh. “Architecture is entering a new age.” The ways in which buildings are imagined and communicated are, he argues, being transformed by a combination of social media and the ever-evolving techniques of digital drawing, to which artificial intelligence is adding new capabilities. And indeed, if it is not yet clear how blocks of flats or schools or shopping centres near you might be changed by this revolution, the energy and invention behind it are undeniable.

There is also, as Shaikh justifiably claims, a social transformation. If, in the past, aspiring architects had to claw their way up a profession that favoured those with connections and money, now anyone from anywhere can make a name for themselves, if they have the talent, determination and access to technology. They do this not by realising completed buildings, but through compelling images of imaginary architecture. They don’t all use the most advanced techniques all the time – some work by hand, some (Shaikh included) with hybrids of manual and digital – but all use the internet to spread their work and exchange ideas.

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‘It’s heartbreaking’: mother of Archie Battersbee says he was bullied online

‘It’s heartbreaking’: mother of Archie Battersbee says he was bullied online

Exclusive: Hollie Dance, who fought legal battle to stop her son’s life support being switched off, says he received threatening messages

From discovering her son unconscious with a ligature over his head to the lengthy but ultimately unsuccessful legal battle to stop his life support being switched off, Archie Battersbee’s mother has experienced heartbreak that is hard to imagine.

That pain has now been compounded by the recent discovery that Archie was bullied online in the months before the catastrophic brain injury on 7 April last year, she told the Guardian.

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‘They filmed me without my consent’: the ugly side of #kindness videos

‘They filmed me without my consent’: the ugly side of #kindness videos

Some social media users are building a following through ‘feelgood’ videos, in which, for instance, they give flowers to a stranger. The stranger then becomes their clickbait. Is there anything we can do to stop this?

Maree only wanted to buy some shoes. A pair that she liked the look of had gone on sale, so she made a trip into the city to try them on. It was late in the day in June, mid-winter in Melbourne, and the shopping centre was quiet. After making her purchase, Maree stopped for a coffee. “And that’s when it happened,” she says.

A young man approached her holding a posy of flowers. He asked Maree to hold them for him as he put on his jacket. “I wish I’d trusted my instincts and said no,” she says. “It was all so quick.” Maree took the flowers – then the man walked away, wishing her “a lovely day”. She held them out after him, bemused.

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TikTok: how the west has turned on gen Z’s favourite app

TikTok: how the west has turned on gen Z’s favourite app

US and European fears about China exploiting TikTok’s data harvest and promoting Beijing’s worldview look set to inspire an urgent overhaul in data privacy laws

The FBI has called it a national security threat. The US government has passed a law forcing officials to delete it from their phones. Texas senator Ted Cruz has denounced it as “a Trojan horse the Chinese Communist party can use to influence what Americans see, hear, and ultimately think”. And in March its CEO will defend its existence before the US Congress. For those unaware of the debate broiling on the other side of the Atlantic, the target of this strong rhetoric might prove surprising: an app best known for viral dances, launching generation Z media stars, and sucking teens down an hours-long content abyss.

But the rancorous debate over TikTok that began under the Trump administration has rolled on under President Biden. In addition to a ban of the app on all federal government devices, at least 27 states have blocked TikTok on devices they’ve issued, affecting a number of state schools and universities, too. A bipartisan bill, introduced in Congress last December, stipulates banning the app’s use by everyone in the United States.

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AI Seinfeld: the show about nothing is back – and now it’s written by robots

AI Seinfeld: the show about nothing is back – and now it’s written by robots

The surreal Nothing, Forever, streaming 24 hours a day, is an eerie experiment in digital creativity

Seinfeld went off the air in 1998, but it’s never really gone away – it’s been the subject of modern recreations, dedicated social media accounts and hip-hop/TV fusions. Its latest incarnation, however, is the oddest yet.

Nothing, Forever is an endless, AI-generated version of the show that has been streaming on Twitch since mid-December. It tells the “story” – if you can call it that – of four characters, Larry, Fred, Yvonne and Kakler, who look like what would happen if Jerry, George, Elaine and Kramer were sucked into a 1990s computer game. They spend their days discussing their lives and other trivial matters. And it never, ever stops: log on at any hour and there they are, talking about coffee quality or a difficult Monopoly game.

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Tesla bumps up Model Y price after EV tax credit adjustment

Tesla bumps up Model Y price after EV tax credit adjustment

The Model Y just got more expensive. | Image: Getty Images

Tesla raised the price of its Model Y electric vehicle (EV) just hours after the US Treasury Department adjusted its EV tax credit rules, as first reported by Bloomberg. While the Tesla Model Y Long Range now costs $1,500 more at $54,990, the Model Y Performance went up by $1,000 to $57,990, excluding shipping fees.

On Friday, the Treasury Department updated the way it classifies vehicles that qualify for its $7,500 EV tax credit as part of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The change should allow more vehicles — including the Model Y — to qualify for the credit, as it no longer puts certain SUV crossovers in the same category as sedans.

Previously, some models of the Model Y, alongside the Cadillac Lyriq, weren’t eligible for the EV tax credit because their sticker prices exceeded the maximum $55,000 suggested retail price for sedans. Tesla slashed prices across its entire lineup last month to boost sales and allow its five-seater Model Y to qualify for the federal tax credit, a major shift from the pattern of price increases we saw last year.

But now that the government uses the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Fuel Economy Labeling standard instead of the EPA’s corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standard to classify vehicles, the Model Y and Cadillac Lyriq now fall under the SUV category. This gives Tesla more wiggle room when it comes to pricing, as vehicles in this category can be priced at up to $80,000 to qualify for the tax credit.

It’s still unclear how the Treasury Department’s list of qualified vehicles will change come March, though. That’s when the agency’s expected to release its guidance on how to apply the IRA’s strict rules surrounding the sourcing and manufacturing of the minerals and battery components used in EVs.

‘I’m not Snow White. I have to think like a criminal’: how I became a burglar for hire

‘I’m not Snow White. I have to think like a criminal’: how I became a burglar for hire

Jenny Radcliffe is a professional ‘people hacker’ – someone who claims she can get past anyone and get in anywhere. No building is secure. How does she do it? Plus, an extract from her memoir

‘Do I look like someone to mess with?” says Jenny Radcliffe, folding her arms in a really-don’t-mess-with-me kind of way. Her tattoos seem to be making the point, too. On her left forearm is a Latin phrase – facta non verba, actions not words – with a pair of devil’s horns; on her right, a feather, from the wings of an angel. Which is she, I wonder. Her boots – DM-like, many eyelets – suggest no angel; but the T-shirt is emblazoned with “Trust Me”.

Radcliffe has an unusual job: she’s a social engineer. “Also known as a professional burglar, physical penetration tester … though it’s difficult to say that one to old ladies on trains,” she says. Yes, I can see that.

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Artists must be protected from piracy in the new world of AI | Letter

Artists must be protected from piracy in the new world of AI | Letter

We must recognise the critical importance of strong copyright law and fair remuneration, writes Christian Zimmermann

Artists, illustrators and photographers have often led the way in embracing new technology. The concerns that creators such as Harry Woodgate have about AI programs (‘It’s the opposite of art’: why illustrators are furious about AI, 23 January) that “rely entirely on the pirated intellectual property of countless working artists, photographers, illustrators and other rights holders” must be heeded.

Evidence published recently by the House of Lords, gathered from the first-hand experience of visual artists, galleries and experts, demonstrates that the government’s proposed copyright exception will have far-reaching, detrimental consequences.

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Are You Switching to a Heat Pump? We Want to Hear From You.

Are You Switching to a Heat Pump? We Want to Hear From You. Some people in extremely cold areas of the U.S. are switching to heat pumps from oil or gas furnaces. But others are not convinced that these devices are right for them.

Advisory Firm Sues Elon Musk’s Twitter, Saying It Hasn’t Been Paid

Advisory Firm Sues Elon Musk’s Twitter, Saying It Hasn’t Been Paid Innisfree M&A says Twitter, which Elon Musk bought last year, has not paid it $1.9 million for services it rendered for the deal.

Contractors who work on YouTube Music are striking

Contractors who work on YouTube Music are striking

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

Over 40 contractors for YouTube Music are going on strike — a first at Google, according to the Alphabet Workers Union (or AWU). The action is in response to an order to return to in-person work next week, something that many of the workers say they can’t do. They’re demanding a return-to-work policy that’s “fair, flexible, and does not threaten the safety and livelihoods of workers,” according to an AWU press release.

The workers are part of the YouTube Music Content Operations team via Cognizant, a subcontractor for Alphabet, Google and YouTube’s parent company. Their jobs are to “ensure music content is available and approved” for the platform, according to a prior press release from the AWU.

The objections to the return to office plan stem from pay and availability. According to the AWU, the contractors are paid as little as $19 an hour, making it difficult to afford the relocation, travel, or childcare costs that they didn’t have to pay when working remotely, instead of at an office in Austin, TX.

An unnamed spokesperson for Cognizant told Engadget that the return to office policy had been “communicated to [the workers] repeatedly since December 2021,” and that they had taken the positions “with the understanding that they were accepting in-office positions, and that the team would work together at a physical location based in Austin.” Google would not provide an on-the-record comment for this story, but the company has told the National Labor Relations board that it does not see the workers as its employees, according to Bloomberg.

The contractors are currently attempting to unionize with the AWU, which filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board to represent the contractors in October. Last week, the AWU filed an unfair labor practice charge against Alphabet and Cognizant, claiming that the return to office was being used to “interfere with the fair voting conditions mandated by federal law,” as Sam Regan, one of the workers put it in a press release.

There have been previous organized labor actions at Google. In 2018, tens of thousands of workers walked out to protest how Google handled sexual harassment, spurred on by reports that it had paid Android co-founder Andy Rubin $90 million in severance after he was accused of sexual assault. And in 2022, a group of Cognizant contractors working on Google Maps were able to get their return-to-office pushed back after threatening to strike.

Electrify America is increasing prices at its DC fast charging stations

Electrify America is increasing prices at its DC fast charging stations

Photo by Umar Shakir / The Verge

Remember how rising gas prices weren’t a concern to electric car owners? Electrify America is giving users of its DC fast charging network a reminder about one of the biggest frustrations of owning internal combustion engine cars again — by increasing electricity rates at its stations (via Ars Technica).

Starting on March 6th, Electrify America will be charging US customers a standard rate of $0.48 per kilowatt hour. The company, a subsidiary of Volkswagen Auto Group, was charging $0.43 per kWh, but now, it is emailing customers to share the price increase details.

Tara Geiger of Electrify America’s corporate communications emailed the company’s statement on the price changes to The Verge:

Electrify America has been able to maintain consistent and uniform pricing since September 2020; however, rising operational and energy costs have now made adjusting our pricing necessary. Our focus remains on meeting the needs of electric vehicle drivers of today and tomorrow by investing in our network expansion and enhancement to customer experience.

Customers paying for Electrify America’s $4 per month Pass Plus subscription will also be affected. The company had advertised that Pass Plus saves “about 25 percent on charging” with the monthly fee plus a reduced $0.31 per kilowatt hour rate. Now that rate is increasing to $0.36 per kilowatt hour. Geiger adds that Pass Plus subscribers “can still benefit from savings of about 25% on charging,” confirming that the announced price increases apply to Electrify America only and that they are not temporary.

Electrify America raising prices in March. pic.twitter.com/0zEQFui6bO

— Phillip.png (@pmsyyz) February 3, 2023

Electrify America also is increasing per-minute charging rates in applicable states like Massachusetts and Texas, where companies aren’t allowed to directly bill customers by the kWh. Users in those states will now be paying $0.19 per minute for sessions with peak charging speeds up to 90kW, up from $0.16. For quicker charging cars, up to 350kW, the rate is increasing from $0.32 per minute to $0.36.

And Pass Plus subscribers in those states will see rates increase from $0.12 per minute to $0.15 for sessions peaking up to 90kW and $0.24 per minute to $0.29 for quicker charging cars.

Comparatively, Tesla owners using the Supercharger network pay variable rates that can range from around $0.25 per kWh to as much as $0.50 depending on the state and time of use. Tesla has been increasing Supercharger prices for years but has also recently decreased prices in some areas.

Personally, I’ve experienced an average rate of $0.38 per kWh at Superchargers while driving in the Mid-Atlantic region this past December. In one session, I’ve added 46kWh of electricity to my battery, which cost me about $17. If the rates matched that of Electrify America, it would have cost me about $20 at the old standard rate and $22 at the new one.

Electrify America, after Tesla, is the largest coast-to-coast fast charging network in the US. In addition to its 800-plus stations in North America, the company is working with Ikea and TravelCenters of America to increase its reach to EV drivers. There are even cool Electrify America Sky Club Lounge-like locations in the works, which might just make the whole price increase worth it — whenever it gets built.

Google is holding an event about search and AI on February 8th

Google is holding an event about search and AI on February 8th

Illustration: The Verge

Google is about to share more about its work in artificial intelligence. Next week, Google will be holding an event about how it’s “using the power of AI to reimagine how people search for, explore and interact with information, making it more natural and intuitive than ever before to find what you need,” according to an invite sent to The Verge. The 40-minute event will be streamed on YouTube on February 8th at 8:30AM ET.

The timing of the event is interesting given that Google CEO Sundar Pichai just announced that the company is planning on letting people “interact directly” with its “newest, most powerful language models as a companion to search” soon. Google, long the de facto way to find information on the internet, is likely facing some pressure from Microsoft, which is reportedly planning on integrating ChatGPT into Bing. That could allow Bing to offer more intelligent summaries and results, which is something that Google has struggled with.

Image: Google

An image from Google’s invite.

Of course, it’s very possible the presentation will be more about tools we’re already familiar with; the invitation contains references to Google Lens, Translate, Shopping, and Maps. It’d be hard to complain if the show is just about small improvements to those tools, as those can make a big difference for some of the millions of people who use them a day.