Apple’s AirTags are available at a rare discount

Apple’s AirTags are available at a rare discount

You can get a discount no matter whether you buy a single AirTag or a set of four today. | Image: Vjeran Pavic / The Verge

Memorial Day is just around the corner, and if you’ve got plans to travel, today’s deal on Apple’s AirTags has landed at the perfect time. Right now, you can buy a single AirTag for $25 ($4 off) at Amazon and Best Buy, which is the lowest price we’ve seen so far this year. If you’d like to buy a set for the whole family, you can also buy a pack of four for $89.99 ($10 off) from Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy. Even better? If you order from Walmart or Amazon in the next few hours, you may still be able to get the set in time by Mother’s Day.

Apple’s ultra wideband-capable Bluetooth tracker can help you keep tabs on everything from keys to suitcases, allowing you to easily find your belongings should they get lost. The location tracker also features other cool perks, like IP67 water and dust resistance and user-replaceable batteries. Just be mindful that it lacks a built-in lanyard hole, so you’ll need an extra accessory like an AirTag Loop to attach it to your keys and other items. Read our review.

After years of waiting, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has finally landed on the Nintendo Switch. And as if the release of the year’s most anticipated game wasn’t exciting enough, you can also save some money if you’re a Nintendo Switch Online subscriber.

As we’ve written about before, you can still buy a Nintendo Switch Game Voucher which, for $99.98, will allow you to buy two games featured on this game list. That includes Tears of the Kingdom as well as Splatoon 3, Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp, and forthcoming titles like Pikmin 4. Essentially, that means you’d be paying $49.99 for each game, thus saving you even more money if you were planning on buying a second game anyway.

My colleague Ash Parrish just published her full review of the latest Zelda title, which you can read in full here. In a nutshell, it’s very similar in story to its predecessor, Breath of the Wild, but with some fun new weapons, capabilities, and other features. Admittedly, we haven’t felt it inspires the same sense of awe as Breath of the Wild, but don’t feel too disappointed — it’s still an absolute pleasure to play. Read our review.

Speaking of recent releases, Google just launched its latest midrange phone, the Pixel 7A. Thankfully, if you’re hoping for some early bird incentives, Google is currently throwing in a $100 credit toward a pair of Pixel Buds and a free Case-Mate case (a $25 value) when you pick up the budget-friendly Android phone for its regular price of $499. Retailers like Best Buy and Amazon, meanwhile, are offering a $50 gift card with your purchase.

The 7A costs $50 more than the Pixel 6A it replaces, but that extra money nets some nice upgrades — including wireless charging, a faster 90Hz screen for smoother scrolling, and a more refined dual camera setup. It doesn’t skimp on the processor, either, as it borrows the Tensor G2 from the flagship Pixel 7 and 7 Pro. It’s the best midrange Pixel to date, so barring the unforeseen hiccups that sometimes plague Pixel phones, it feels worthwhile to take advantage of these early adopter deals while you still can. Read our review.

If you’re looking for a pair of wireless earbuds that’ll help you drown out the world so you can better focus on the task at hand (or just listen to T-Swift), Bose’s QuietComfort Earbuds II are on sale for $249 ($50 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and direct from Bose.

In a nutshell, the QC Earbuds offer dependable performance, terrific sound quality, and the most powerful noise cancellation on the market. Plus, they sport an excellent transparency mode for when you actually do want to let some noise in. While it’s a shame they lack support for wireless charging, they’re an otherwise excellent pair of earbuds that’ll silence your surroundings like no other. Read our review.

A few more deals to welcome the weekend with

• If you’d like to cut down the amount of time you spend cleaning, the Roborock S7 is on sale for $399.99 ($250 off) at Amazon, Walmart, and Roborock. The robovac / mop hybrid does a great job of cleaning hardwood floors, and you can program it to stay away from certain areas. It’s also compatible with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri, letting you control it with your voice. Read our Roborock S7 Plus review.
• The 42mm, Bluetooth-enabled Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic is on sale in silver for $129 ($221 off) at Walmart. Unlike the newer Galaxy Watch 5, the last-gen wearable sports a unique rotating bezel, though its battery life isn’t quite as good. Read our review.
• Humble is currently selling the Capcom Heroic Collection, which contains a total of 10 PC games, for just $30. The bundle includes games like Monster Hunter Rise and Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection, and will be available at a discounted price until May 24th.
• You can still buy the Amazon Echo Studio for $159.99 ($40 off) at Amazon and Best Buy. While it can’t exactly match the prowess of newer smart speakers like the Sonos Era 100, the Alexa-enabled device remains Amazon’s best-sounding Echo. It can even function as a Dolby Atmos speaker when paired with a compatible Fire TV device. Read our review.

A moment’s silence, please, for the death of the Metaverse

A moment’s silence, please, for the death of the Metaverse

Meta sank tens of billions into its CEO’s virtual reality dream, but what will he do next?

Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to remember the metaverse, which was quietly laid to rest a few weeks ago by its grieving adoptive parent, one Mark Zuckerberg. Those of you with long memories will remember how, in October 2021, Zuck (as he is known to his friends) excitedly announced the arrival of his new adoptee, to which he had playfully assigned the nickname “The Future”.

So delighted was he that he had even renamed his family home in her honour. Henceforth, what was formerly called “Facebook” would be known as “Meta”. In a presentation at the company’s annual conference, Zuckerberg announced the name change and detailed how his child would grow up to be a new version of cyberspace. She “will be the successor to the mobile internet”, he told a stunned audience of credulous hacks and cynical Wall Street analysts. “We’ll be able to feel present – like we’re right there with people no matter how far apart we actually are.” And no expense would be spared in ensuring that his child would fulfil her destiny.

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Can Google’s Pixel Fold really hang?

Can Google’s Pixel Fold really hang?

For US buyers, the Pixel Fold is the first credible alternative to Samsung’s Galaxy Fold series. | Photo by Dan Seifert / The Verge

Google’s debut foldable makes a strong first impression. But if recent Pixels are anything to go by, the company has a lot to prove when it comes to performance and dependability.

I don’t give a damn about the bezels. Just let me get that part of Google’s new $1,799 Pixel Fold out of the way. They’re fine. And I’m absolutely on board with the squat form factor: having this phone / tablet hybrid feel like a notepad in hand when it’s closed seems like a far better solution than Samsung’s tall boy.

The Galaxy Fold 4 is too narrow for us large-handed humans, and when opened up, its square-ish inner display leaves sizable black bars when watching videos. In his Pixel Fold hands-on, my colleague Dan Seifert found Google’s wider aspect ratio to feel more natural for multitasking — and it should make for a better entertainment device, too.

There’s a lot that’s promising about the Pixel Fold, actually. I’m not worried about the software or cameras. It might not offer a sensor of the same size as the 7 and 7 Pro, but I still trust Google’s computational photography to nail shots on the first try more than phones from any other manufacturer. I’ve come to enjoy Android’s colorful Material You UX, and I think we’ll keep seeing developers release apps that are optimized for foldables.

But I do have some hang-ups over this $1,800 gadget, and they boil down to performance, reliability, and customer service. At the moment, all three remain total unknowns.

Google’s Tensor chips aren’t the most efficient and can run hot

Google’s self-branded processors routinely trail Qualcomm and Apple in benchmarks — sometimes substantially — but they’re more than powerful enough to provide a smooth day-to-day smartphone experience. It seems like that’s all Google ever really wanted. They’re perfectly adequate.

Except in those moments when they’re not.

As someone who’s owned a Pixel 6, Pixel 6A, and most recently, a Pixel 7, I can attest that both the Tensor G1 and G2 have demonstrated a tendency to run warm. Not always. Some days are better than others. But when things heat up, the Pixel phones will often disable features like 4K video recording or even something as simple as a camera flash. Are you using your device while it’s plugged in? Expect sluggish charging speeds if the battery percentage climbs at all. The Pixel 7 hasn’t gotten nearly as hot as the 6 series did in my experience so far. But then again, these phones haven’t even faced their first summer yet: the Pixel Fold is arriving just as temperatures rise across the US.

If you look around the very active Pixel subreddit and other social media, similar reports aren’t uncommon. With Tensor G2, Google overcame the woeful cellular reception challenges that some Pixel 6 and 6 Pro owners encountered. But the simple truth of the matter is that these chips aren’t as efficient as Qualcomm’s latest and greatest.

Photo by Dan Seifert / The Verge

If I’m being honest, I expect Samsung’s next Galaxy Fold to absolutely smoke the Pixel Fold in performance. But that won’t matter to everyone.

When the Galaxy Fold 5 is released this summer, likely powered by some variant of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, we could see a significant divide between it and the Pixel Fold when it comes to thermal performance. A cooler processor tends to result in better battery life. And the Fold’s battery estimates already seem rather optimistic when you consider it houses two 120Hz displays that can crank very bright.

Tensor’s quirks, typically attributed to its Exynos DNA, are somewhat excusable with phones costing between $400 and $900. But if a $1,800 foldable starts overheating and disabling software features during normal summer activities, people are going to lose it.

If there’s one core element of the Pixel Fold that’s giving me pause, it’s the silicon. I’m doing my best to believe that Google has thought all of this through, made some cooling tweaks for this form factor, and it’s not going to become A Thing. We’ll start finding out in late June.

How are you supposed to get this thing fixed?

I’m quick to admit that those of us who live in or near New York City are outright spoiled when it comes to easy solutions for our tech dilemmas. There are plenty of Apple stores within a few-mile radius, the only two Google Store locations are based here, and Samsung 837 can provide speedy scheduled repairs even for its foldables, covering screen protector replacements — yes, the Pixel Fold has one of those — and other hardware issues.

But there will be plenty of Pixel Fold buyers that live far from this city, San Francisco, or any other major metro hub. And their repair options for the Pixel Fold are very unproven at this point. Samsung might not have the same expansive retail presence as Apple, but it has at least teamed with Best Buy for authorized repairs.

In the past, Google has partnered with the Asurion-owned uBreakiFix for its extended warranty plan. That same arrangement seems to be continuing with the Pixel Fold, with coverage running $15 per month or $279 for two years of coverage (including accidental damage).

Now, I’m not exactly a champion of the Genius Bar or Geek Squad, but reviews for uBreakiFix are often mixed, and if you want the best experience, one pro tip I’ve picked up on is to make sure you’re visiting a corporate Asurion location.

If you’re curious, here’s what Google says about service fees for repair visits:

For Pixel Fold, Pixel 7a, service fees for walk-in screen repairs are $29. For Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 6, and Pixel 6 Pro and Pixel 6a, service fees for walk-in screen repairs are $29* while the service fee for other repairs or replacements (including mechanical/electrical breakdown and all other accidental damages) is $49 for Pixel Tablet, $49 for Pixel 7a, $129 for Pixel Fold, $49 for Pixel 6a, $79 for Pixel 7, $99 for Pixel 7 Pro, $99 for Pixel 6, and $149 for Pixel 6 Pro.

uBreakiFix says “most” repairs can be completed in 45 minutes. But since the Pixel Fold still hasn’t been released, we don’t know if that will be true of Google’s foldable. Will only certain locations have the right parts and tools? Will Google’s default response be sending customers a new Fold, which would likely require another $1,800 hold on a credit card?

For the money it’s asking, I’m hopeful Google is going to do well by Pixel Fold customers and focus on top-tier service. But the company hasn’t yet established such a reputation. And considering its regular slab phones continue to exhibit problems — like the camera glass randomly shattering on some Pixel 7 and 7 Pro units — there’s a lot riding on how the Fold fares in hardware reliability. When you’re spending upward of $2,000 on a phone after tax, you deserve some serious white glove treatment.

I still can’t wait to try one

Again, owing to its design, sleek software, and surefire camera, the Pixel Fold is immediately more appealing to me than Samsung’s Galaxy Fold. Do I want to give Google’s first foldable a spin? Most certainly. I’m curious how other aspects of its hardware like the speakers and haptics will shake out.

But I also have the good fortune of working at The Verge, where I’ll be able to spend time handling a Pixel Fold without bidding farewell to $1,800 of my own money. As it stands, and as tempting as the whole package looks, I don’t think I’d be able to hit the preorder button if I didn’t. Maybe that pause will fade away when the first reviews hit, and we’ll confidently be able to take another step into the foldable future.

Ministers not doing enough to control AI, says UK professor

Ministers not doing enough to control AI, says UK professor

Stuart Russell, former government adviser, says ChatGPT could become part of super-intelligent machine that can’t be constrained

One of the professors at the forefront of artificial intelligence has said ministers are not doing enough to protect against the dangers of super-intelligent machines in the future.

In the latest contribution to the debate about the safety of the ever-quickening development of AI, Prof Stuart Russell told the Times that the government was reluctant to regulate the industry despite the concerns that the technology could get out of control and threaten the future of humanity.

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Amazon’s working on a secret new home robot that could be more like Rosie

Amazon’s working on a secret new home robot that could be more like Rosie

Amazon is looking to improve on its current home robot Astro by adding ChatGPT-like features to future versions | Photo by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy / The Verge

As a smart home reviewer of a certain age, all I’ve ever wanted for my home is a Rosie the Robot. The Jetsons’ mechanical housekeeper was the example I held Amazon’s Astro to when I tested the company’s first home robot — and it unsurprisingly failed. Not just because it had no arms, but because it couldn’t really do anything.

Now, according to internal documents from Amazon seen by Insider, the company thinks it has found the keys to unlock Astro’s potential. Burnham is a secret new AI robot project Amazon is developing that, according to the documents, adds a layer of “intelligence and a conversational spoken interface” to a smart home robot, reports Insider.

An upgraded Astro powered by Burnham could use large language models, and other advanced AI, to become a home robot that understands the context of a busy household and responds appropriately. According to Insider, the documents indicate that the technology “remembers what it saw and understood” and the robot can then “engage in a Q&A dialogue on what it saw” and use AI powered by LLMs to act on it.

For example, the documents describe an Astro product using Burnham as able to find a stove left burning or a faucet left running and track down its owner to alert them. It could check on someone who has fallen and call 911 if it’s an emergency. It could help find your keys, check if a window was left open overnight, and monitor whether kids had friends over after school, according to the documents. These are all things you can do to some extent with existing smart home tech, but they require multiple steps, devices, and actions, as opposed to one — Astro.

Most interestingly, though, Amazon appears to be exploring initiating more complex tasks. An example given was a robot that sees broken glass on the floor, knows that it presents a hazard, and prioritizes sweeping it up before someone steps on it — essentially, spot problems and potentially solve them.

This “Contextual Understanding,” as Amazon describes the tech in the documents, is its “latest and most advanced AI technology designed to make robots more intelligent, more useful, and more conversational.” So, basically, Rosie the Robot (but without the arms).

However, Burnham isn’t coming to a robot near you anytime soon. Amazon acknowledges in the documents that it still has a long way to go before Burnham can be put into a product. You also still can’t buy the current, not-so-smart Astro without an invite, its price just went up to $1,600, and Insider notes Amazon scrapped plans to release a cheaper version.

Even amid the rapid adoption of generative AI by tech companies like Amazon, a home robot as capable as Rosie is still just a character in science fiction. Although Amazon’s statement in one document, "Our robot has a strong body. What we need next is a brain,” makes me think twice about how much I really want an intelligent, AI-powered robot roaming around my home.

These smart lights can also monitor your home

These smart lights can also monitor your home

WiZ’s new home monitoring service uses light bulbs and cameras to protect your space. | Image: Signify

WiZ is launching a new home monitoring feature that leverages the smart lighting company’s existing motion-sensing Wi-Fi smart bulbs. Paired with a new $70 indoor security camera, WiZ Home Monitoring can alert you to potential intruders in your home. Using WiZ’s unique SpaceSensing feature — which detects changes in Wi-Fi signal strength caused by movement to turn lights on or off the lights — the system can send an alert to the WiZ app when motion is detected. The new camera can then show you what’s going on.

The WiZ Home Monitoring Starter kit, which includes three WiZ A19 full-color smart bulbs and one camera, will be available starting June 15th for 159.99 Euro with US pricing not set. Or, if you already have a couple of WiZ bulbs or lights, you can pick up the camera for $69.99 (89.99 Euro) later this month. (At least two bulbs are needed for SpaceSense to work.)

Image: Signify

The WiZ Indoor Wi-Fi Camera works with WiZ’s smart lighting line as part of its new Home Monitoring feature.

Wi-Fi sensing is a very promising ambient technology for the smart home, and this isn’t the first system to leverage it. Hex by Origin Wireless is a smart security system that uses the tech and Linksys Wi-Fi routers can detect motion in your home.

However, WiZ’s option is a super simple solution from a hardware perspective. While not as robust as a full security system with sensors on every door and window, it’s infinitely easier to set up: most people know how to screw in a lightbulb.

There’s no hub or siren or professional monitoring. Instead, when the “alarm” is triggered by any motion, the lights can be set to flash erratically to scare off a potential intruder. The Home Monitoring feature is free and works in WiZ’s newly launched WiZ V2 app. You can also customize the monitoring to just certain areas of the home. That may be useful for making sure your roommate doesn’t pinch your leftovers from the fridge.

You can set customizable routines that control the lights and activate the monitoring, which can be turned on and off manually in the app or set on a schedule. The monitoring feature also includes presence simulation, which can turn lights on and off automatically to make it seem like someone is at home.

Image: Signify

WiZ’s SpaceSense technology uses Wi-Fi signals to detect people in a room. At least, we think that’s what this image is trying to tell us... .

WiZ, which is owned by Signify, says 80 to 90 percent of its existing lights and all its new products work with SpaceSense and will be compatible with Home Monitoring. That includes all Connected by WiZ brand lights.

At launch, you do need the new WiZ Indoor Camera to use the home monitoring features. WiZ says the camera is the first of many home monitoring products the company is planning.

The WiZ Indoor Camera streams and records in 1080p and has a 120-degree field of view. Infrared night vision, image-based motion detection, and two-way audio add to its security features, plus the camera’s onboard microphone can listen for sudden loud noises and send notifications when it hears glass breaking or a smoke alarm going off.

An onboard microSD card can record footage locally, or you can subscribe to cloud storage for up to 30 days of recordings (pricing for this was not announced). The company said all cloud footage is end-to-end encrypted, and even the local SD card storage is encrypted, with footage only accessible through the WiZ app. The subscription also adds the option of using activity and privacy zones with the camera and the ability to start a manual recording while streaming.

The camera is fairly basic in terms of hardware, but it’s the software features that are the star of the show here. If the system can deliver what it promises, the simplicity and low price point make it a very intriguing home security solution, particularly for apartments and smaller homes.

‘Beyond expectation’: Nintendo’s latest Zelda title launches to critical acclaim

‘Beyond expectation’: Nintendo’s latest Zelda title launches to critical acclaim

Tears of the Kingdom set to continue success of fantasy series, already being called one of the greatest video games ever made

If university lecture halls and offices looked a little quiet on Friday, it may be down to Nintendo.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – the latest in Nintendo’s long-running series of vast, life-absorbing adventure video games – has launched for the firm’s Switch console to a chorus of critical praise.

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The lawyer whose sex trafficking case against Instagram could spell trouble for big tech

The lawyer whose sex trafficking case against Instagram could spell trouble for big tech

Annie McAdams represents clients who claim Meta’s products connect vulnerable people with sex buyers

On 14 March 2022, Annie McAdams, a personal injury lawyer running a small firm in Houston, Texas, filed a civil action suit on behalf of one of her clients. The plaintiff was a 23-year-old woman, who had endured years of sexual exploitation at the hands of a convicted trafficker. The defendant was one of the most powerful technology companies in the world.

Contained within McAdams’s federal suit was a series of allegations that Meta – the owner of Facebook and Instagram, which are used by more than 3 billion people every day – had knowingly created a breeding ground for human trafficking and was actively facilitating the buying and selling of people for sex online.

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‘Why would we employ people?’ Experts on five ways AI will change work

‘Why would we employ people?’ Experts on five ways AI will change work

From farming and education to healthcare and the military, artificial intelligence is poised to make sweeping changes to the workplace. But can it have a positive impact – or are we in for a darker future?

In 1965, the political scientist and Nobel laureate Herbert Simon declared: “Machines will be capable, within 20 years, of doing any work a man can do.” Today, in what is increasingly referred to as the fourth industrial revolution, the arrival of artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace is igniting similar concerns.

The European parliament’s forthcoming Artificial Intelligence Act is likely to deem the use of AI across education, law enforcement and worker management to be “high risk”. Geoffrey Hinton, known as the “godfather of AI”, recently resigned from his position at Google, citing concerns about the technology’s impact on the job market. And, in early May, striking members of the Writers Guild of America promised executives: “AI will replace you before it replaces us.”

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Twitter’s new CEO is probably this NBC exec

Twitter’s new CEO is probably this NBC exec

NBCU’s head of global advertising and partnerships, Linda Yaccarino. | Photo: Charles Sykes/NBCUniversal via Getty Images

Elon Musk says he has found a new CEO for Twitter and that “she” will start in a matter of weeks. It’s most likely going to be Linda Yaccarino, the current head of advertising and partnerships for NBCUniversal.

I wish I could say with certainty that it’s her, though the deal doesn’t seem to be totally done. The Wall Street Journal is reporting that she’s “in talks” for the job, and Dylan Byers of Puck says Musk “plans” to give it to her. Unfortunately, her spokesperson is ghosting me and Twitter has resorted to responding to press inquiries with a poop emoji.

I do know, however, that Yaccarino has been angling for the job and telling friends she wants it. The advertising world is certainly gossiping that it’s her. She recently hosted Musk at her “Possible” advertising conference in Miami for a gushing interview and has been tweeting up a storm, including about how excited she is for NBC to partner with Twitter for the next Olympics.

In his tweet today, Musk said that, once his mysterious new CEO starts in about six weeks, he will “transition to being exec chair & CTO, overseeing product, software & sysops.”

Excited to announce that I’ve hired a new CEO for X/Twitter. She will be starting in ~6 weeks!

My role will transition to being exec chair & CTO, overseeing product, software & sysops.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 11, 2023

That means his CEO will be almost solely focused on the business, which Yaccarino is certainly qualified for. She already runs a multi-billion-dollar ads business and is well respected among the cohort of CMOs who need to be convinced to spend on the platform again. Importantly, I’m told that she and Musk also see eye to eye politically.

“She’s tough as fucking nails and she’s always wanted this job,” a former colleague says. “It’s perfect.”

If I had to guess, the reason Musk didn’t announce the name is because of unfortunate timing on Yaccarino’s end. NBCU is slated to give its annual Upfront presentation to advertisers on Monday, which Yaccarino is apparently in rehearsals for today. Awkward!

This story ran in today’s edition of my Command Line newsletter, which you can sign up for below:

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The best Mother’s Day gifts on a budget

The best Mother’s Day gifts on a budget

Illustration by William Joel / The Verge

It’s okay to cheap out on a gift for mom as long as you go with something thoughtful. Lucky for you, we’ve gathered recipe books, board games, and plenty of other ideas to consider.

Mom deserves a break... or at the least a show of appreciation when Mother’s Day rolls around on Sunday. We’ve already pooled together a variety of gift ideas that we’re confident will make a pleasant present for moms of all molds, but with this mini gift guide, we’re focusing on budget-friendly ideas that are just as clever.

Some affordable gifts highlighted below include a one-of-a-kind phone case decked out in Japanese decoden-style adornments, a cheap fitness tracker, and even an adorable recipe book featuring cat-inspired cookies and cakes. Even if you normally just treat your mom to a fancy brunch or dinner on the day of, showing up with one of these small gifts can help ensure her Mother’s Day will be a memorable one.

Obviously, at this point, it’s getting difficult to order something that will arrive in time for the imminent holiday, but even if one of these gifts is late, you can rest assured it will feel worth it.

The best Mother’s Day gifts under $50

Lego Orchid

Keeping a lovely plant like an orchid alive for long is tough, and if mom doesn’t have the greenest thumb, then Lego’s version makes for a more enjoyable experience — one that won’t ever be soured due to lack of water. The 608-piece kit takes a couple of hours to build, and this includes the cute pot that allows mom to showcase her new plant.

Apple AirTag

Moms often have too many things to worry about, so a little assistance tracking a set of keys or a bag goes a long way. Fortunately, if your mom owns an iPhone or iPad, then an AirTag makes for a handy low-cost gift that will allow her to easily keep tabs on her most vital belongings.

AeroPress Original Coffee Maker

Putting on a whole pot of coffee is overkill if you just need one good cup for yourself. The AeroPress is a simple manual brewer that makes an amazing cup of the black stuff or up to three espressos even when you’re away from home. They’re great for camping and other forms of travel, too, especially if you hate the tar that typically gets served at hotels.

Belkin BoostCharge Magnetic Wireless Power Bank 2.5K

If your mom owns a MagSafe-compatible iPhone, a magnetic power bank is a great everyday charging accessory. The 2,500mAh Belkin BoostCharge is good for small to medium top-ups, and it’s compact enough that it can easily fit in a bag or purse. The best part is that your mom doesn’t have to worry about toting a cable along with it — she merely needs to stick it to the back of her phone and go.

A lovely board game about growing plants

Tabletop games are no longer about antiquated property buying or complex dungeon crawls, at least not all of them. In Planted, two to five players compete to nurture the best collection of houseplants. It’s easy to learn, family-friendly, and filled with zen vibes. Plus, if you can’t keep a mistletoe cactus alive in real life, at least you can pretend here.

Gold Leaf Soft Touch Gloves

For moms with actual green thumbs, get them the best gloves. The Gold Leaf gardening gloves are the same ones trusted by Great Britain’s Royal Horticultural Society and the pro gardeners of Buckingham Palace. They’re a nice reminder that mom should feel posh and appreciated, even when she’s getting dirty in the garden.

Coowoz Large Travel Backpack

A stylish and functional backpack is a must for traveling. Coowoz’s lightweight pack comes in a range of pleasant colors and holds a whole lot, including a 14-inch laptop. The inner cavity is spacious enough to accommodate clothes, too, and even features a separate shoe compartment, which can be a deciding factor if you’re thinking about checking a bag or sticking with your carry-on.

StylusHome pencil for iPads

A second-gen Apple Pencil is a great — albeit, pricey — accessory for an iPad user, but it’s a bit overkill if you just want to take notes by hand or draw some fun doodles. This third-party stylus alternative by StylusHome offers most of the Apple Pencil experience with just small sacrifices in the software integration department.

An adorable decoden-style phone case

Phones are pretty much designed to go into cases these days, and few options are as cute as those dripping with the decoden aesthetic. “Decoden” is coined from “decorated” and “denwa” (Japanese for “phone”), and while cases with excessive amounts of kawaii tchotchkes may block conveniences like wireless charging, they’re just so joyous.

Madewell MWL Keeta Sport Sunglasses

You don’t need to spend a ton of money to get a quality pair of sunglasses with exquisite style. The Keeta Sport Sunglasses from Madewell’s MWL athleisure line are light enough to wear on a casual run or bike ride and sleek enough for a spring afternoon on the town.

Amazfit Band 7

Amazfit’s Band 7 is a great fitness tracker that nails the essentials for a mere $50. It packs a nice OLED display, a comfy design, and up to two weeks of battery life (or slightly under a week if using the always-on display). Just try and hit those numbers with an Apple Watch.

An Igloo cooler straight out of the ’90s

Whoa, that’s one totally tubular cooler, umm... Mom. This endearing Igloo is big enough for stowing lunches and drinks at the beach along with groceries on the way home, making it a great everyday helper. It can fit up to 36 cans of what I assume should be Mountain Dew. You know, to go with the vibe.

The best Mother’s Day gifts under $25

Cushionaire Feather Slide sandals

A comfortable pair of sandals is a small blessing during the warmer months of the year, and Cushionaire’s Feather Slides offer nearly two inches of support. Your mom will feel both comfortable and tall while wearing them, so really, it’s a win-win.

The Great British Baking Show: A Bake for All Seasons

Is mom more of a Paul Hollywood or Prue Leith? (I’m hoping, for your sake, it’s the latter.) Either way, any Great British Bake Off fan shouldn’t be without this recipe book, which collects a wide variety of their bakes. It’s the kind of gift that gives year-round, too, since the recipes take into account seasonal ingredients inspired by nature.

Anker 313 Magnetic Wireless Charger (with USB-C adapter)

A magnetic charger is a handy way to charge a newer MagSafe-compatible iPhone overnight. Even when you’re exhausted, all you need to do is plop your phone onto it and let the magnets snap it into place. Anker’s 313 charger may not offer the fastest speeds, but it’s relatively affordable and features a lengthy built-in cable.

Apple Arcade subscription ($4.99 a month)

There are plenty of great mobile games you can get into with an Apple Arcade subscription, including Pocket Card Jockey: Ride On! and Monument Valley 2+. One of the best aspects of the service, however, is that mom never has to worry about annoying ads or predatory microtransactions. The one downside is that the only way to gift it is with a standard Apple gift card.

Bake Me a Cat

Bake Me a Cat is a cake and cookie recipe book that instills the essence of author Kim-Joy’s quirky and cutesy baking style. You don’t have to be a Bake Off fan to enjoy the recipes, art, and photos in this book, as long as mom is a fan of cats, sweets, and some sweet cats.

AmorArc cat and dog mugs

Dog and cat moms, we see you, too. AmorArc’s matching set of ceramic mugs makes a nice gift for any pet owner, especially since each extra-large vessel holds up to 22 ounces of liquid.

E-Senior Collapsible Water Bottle

You gotta stay hydrated, and a collapsible bottle is one of the easiest ways to do that, regardless of where you are. E-Senior’s cute milk carton-like bottle allows you to stow up to 20 ounces of water and, when empty, rolls up so that it easily fits in your bag or purse.

Kodak M35 Film Camera

Anyone can appreciate the charm of analog photography (and should) with an easy-to-use camera. The Kodak M35 is kind of like a classic disposable 35mm camera that’s reusable, one that comes in a slew of vibrant colors. It may not produce the sharpest photos, but the beauty is in the process and the slight imperfections.

Amazon Smart Plug

Does your mom hate it when you leave a certain light on? Do yourself a favor and pick up an Amazon Smart Plug. The handy device will allow her to make that light — or any other device — smart so she can set it on a timer or turn it off remotely using a phone or tablet.

Stars Above Cotton Gauze Top

Comfort is key. If your mom enjoys spending time relaxing at home, then a gift of casual comfort that still looks fashionable may be just the ticket. This cotton gauze top from Stars Above is perfect for those quiet spring or summer days (as rare as they may be).

A foldable, washable picnic blanket

Whether for a beach day or a picnic in the park, these foldable blankets are a perfect fit for lounging or eating outside on a lovely day. They can fit a couple of adults and small kiddos, and their waterproof material makes it easy to rinse off messes. Plus, the extra large blankets fold down nice and small, complete with a carrying handle.

The Verge Mug

Your mom is cool and hip. The Verge is cool and hip (we swear). So just imagine how cool and hip your mom will look sipping from one of these sweet mugs. The mug is microwave- and dishwasher-safe, too, and comes in orange, yellow, and pink.

Subpar Parks

Subpar Parks started out as a light-hearted Instagram account that used quotes from bad national park reviews as inspiration for cheeky, tourism-style illustrations. Now, however, you can view them in a beautiful coffee table book. The lovely art, which depicts famous institutions like Yellowstone and Yosemite, is paired with hilarious real-world reviews like, “Save yourself some money, boil some water at home.”

Taiwan Is Running Low on a Strategic Asset: Engineers

Taiwan Is Running Low on a Strategic Asset: Engineers Taiwan’s world-dominating microchip sector was built by TSMC’s skilled employees. But a demographic crisis, demanding work culture and flagging interest threaten its lead.

On the trail of the Dark Avenger: the most dangerous virus writer in the world

On the trail of the Dark Avenger: the most dangerous virus writer in the world

Bulgaria in the 1980s became known as the ‘virus factory’, where hundreds of malicious computer programs were unleashed to wreak havoc. But who was writing them, and why?

In the 1980s, there was no better place than Bulgaria for virus lovers. The socialist country – plagued by hyperinflation, crumbling infrastructure, food and petrol rationing, daily blackouts and packs of wild dogs in its streets – had become one of the hottest hi-tech zones on the planet. Legions of young Bulgarian programmers were tinkering on their pirated IBM PC clones, pumping out computer viruses that managed to travel to the gleaming and prosperous west.

In 1989, an article appeared in Bulgaria’s leading computer magazine saying the media’s treatment of computer viruses was sensationalist and inaccurate. The article, in the January issue of Bulgaria’s Computer for You magazine, titled The Truth About Computer Viruses, was written by Vesselin Bontchev, a 29-year-old researcher at the Institute of Industrial Cybernetics and Robotics at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences in Sofia. Fear of computer viruses, Bontchev wrote, was turning into “mass psychosis”.

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Canon’s PowerShot V10 is a vlogging-centric callback to old Flip Video cams

Canon’s PowerShot V10 is a vlogging-centric callback to old Flip Video cams

It’s actually kinda cute for a simple black-and-silver design. | Image: Canon

Canon is finally stepping into the vlogging camera arena, and it’s doing so with a quirky new point-and-shoot geared toward a mindless “set-it-and-forget-it” crowd I’m not sure exists. The $429.99 Canon PowerShot V10 is an adorable little camera about the size of an extra-thick deck of cards that packs a fixed 19mm equivalent f/2.8 lens and marries it to a 20.9-megapixel one-inch-type sensor.

It records 4K at up to 30 fps and is geared toward filming yourself with an articulating screen, front and rear record buttons, stereo mics with a 3.5mm mic jack, a Micro HDMI port, digital image stabilization, and a kickstand for propping it up. It’s expected to launch in June.

More YouTube than TikTok

What makes the V10 interesting is its throwback design, which reminds me a little of those ancient Flip Video cameras. And like those long-dead cameras, when held upright, it films horizontally, which makes it seem more suited for YouTube content creation than TikTok or Instagram Reels. You can turn it sideways for vertical recording, of course, but the built-in kickstand isn’t really designed to hold it up that way.

Image: Canon

The two-inch touchscreen tilts forward 180 degrees for self-recording.

The PowerShot V10 does not have many buttons, as it partially relies on touch controls using its postage stamp of a two-inch 3:2 LCD. Its simplistic offering of controls echoes the V10’s approach to entry-level content creation. It’s not a camera designed to offer control over every little setting, which is unfortunate since that can be helpful for beginners to grow and learn with.

For example, its ISO range of 125 to 12,800 in stills mode is not even manually selectable, and the camera doesn’t support any kind of manual focusing. Perhaps those are fine if someone is only taking on-the-go videos, but the V10’s limitations remind me of the bad old days of digital point-and-shoot cameras — where settings are limited because you’re not to be trusted or respected enough to use them correctly. That ISO range, by the way, gets cut down to a maximum of 3200 for 4K filming and 6400 in 1080p. Also, the 20.9-megapixel sensor is only using an effective 13.1 megapixels for video and 15.2 megapixels for stills. Oh, but don’t worry, it’s got five levels of software skin smoothing.

Since the V10 is video-focused, it’s got some convenient features like a built-in neutral density filter, and its contrast-based autofocus supports face detection that can sense when you’re holding up a product to focus on it. But there’s no eye detection to speak of and no log recording or raw capture for photos, either. You’re limited to 8-bit recording in Rec.709 color with MP4 files. And the V10’s small stature (which weighs just 211 grams) means it only supports microSD cards, with a built-in 1,250mAh battery that recharges via USB-C and tops out at an estimated 55 minutes of 4K video recording.

Image: Canon

The built-in kickstand won’t help much for vertical filming, but there’s a tripod mount on the bottom.

Image: Canon

There’s just a small handful of buttons on the rear of the PowerShot V10.

The V10’s restrictions and omissions may not be deal-breakers if you use the camera for portable vlogging and simple livestreaming and barely ever worry about fine-tuned controls. But content creators, even beginners, are not stupid. Many of these creators are already filming on their very capable phones, which does offer some room to grow if you opt for third-party accessories like a gimbal or apps like Halide, and making the jump to a dedicated camera needs to respect their capabilities and show more upside than just a larger sensor to record on.

But since this is the start of a new line for Canon, perhaps it’s just the first peek at what’s to come. When I asked Canon if we can assume more vlog-centric cameras are still to come, Drew MacCallum, senior manager of camera product planning for Canon USA, said “absolutely.” With this new line, Canon seems aware that vlogging is one of the last vestiges for dedicated point-and-shoot cameras, so here’s to hoping future models don’t endlessly slip into the same PowerShot trappings of old. There’s a reason most of those types of point-and-shoots died off.

Google’s Bard AI chatbot launches in Australia with vow to develop it ethically

Google’s Bard AI chatbot launches in Australia with vow to develop it ethically

Company says its AI programs will include watermarks and metadata saying content is AI-generated as ChatGPT rival rolls out in more than 180 countries

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Google’s AI chatbot Bard launched for Australian users on Thursday as the company showcased its advancements in artificial intelligence and pledged to roll out the technology ethically.

Until now, Bard was only available in the US and the UK, but on Thursday at the company’s annual I/O conference Google announced it would open up the chatbot to users in more than 180 countries around the world, including Australia.

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The Verge’s 2023 Mother’s Day Gift Guide

The Verge’s 2023 Mother’s Day Gift Guide

Illustration by William Joel / The Verge

From transparent chargers and TikTok gems to the latest wearables, we’ve curated a batch of unique gifts fit for any mom worth celebrating.

The pandemic might be over, but that doesn’t mean being a mom is suddenly a leisurely stroll in the park. It’s a tough job for any parent charged with raising a child in this day and age, whether it’s their own or simply another kid in need of some love and support.

That’s why we’ve put together a list of gifts intended to acknowledge everything moms do, all of which can help your mom rest easier, breathe deeper, and find enjoyment in the everyday. As in previous years, we’ve included staples like Apple’s second-gen AirPods Pro and the Roomba i3 Evo, as well as translucent phone chargers, TikTok-fueled tumblers, and a 746-piece bouquet that is built to stand the test of time — or at least longer than the flowers you were thinking of picking up from the grocery store on the way home.

Take a look and see if you can find something of note for your mom, grandparent, daughter, partner, or that hard-to-buy-for motherly figure in your life ahead of the big day on May 14th.

Twitter launches encrypted DMs behind a paywall

Twitter launches encrypted DMs behind a paywall

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

In a new support document, Twitter has detailed what you can expect from the first version of the platform’s encrypted direct messages. Perhaps most notably, to be able to send and receive encrypted messages, you’ll have to pay Twitter for the ability to do so. Platforms like WhatsApp, Messenger, Signal, and iMessage already offer encrypted messaging for free, so having to pay for the feature on Twitter might be a hard pill to swallow.

According to the document, encrypted DMs are only available if you are a verified user (somebody who pays for Twitter Blue), a verified organization (an organization that pays $1,000 per month), or an affiliate of a verified organization (which costs $50 per month per person). Both the sender and recipient must be on the latest version of the Twitter app (on mobile and web). And an encrypted DM recipient must follow the sender, have sent a message to the sender in the past, or accept a DM request from the sender at some point.

If you are a person who can send encrypted messages to somebody who can receive them, you’ll see a lock toggle while you’re drafting a message. In an encrypted conversation, you’ll also see a small lock icon next to the avatar of the person you’re chatting with. Encrypted DMs will be separate from unencrypted ones.

Encrypted DMs currently have a few limitations and a very big flaw. You can only send them in one-on-one conversations; Twitter says it will “soon” bring the feature to groups. You can only send text and links. And Twitter warns that it doesn’t have protections against man-in-the-middle attacks. “As a result, if someone — for example, a malicious insider, or Twitter itself as a result of a compulsory legal process — were to compromise an encrypted conversation, neither the sender or receiver would know,” Twitter says.

The company is planning mechanisms to make man-in-the-middle attacks more difficult and alert users if one happens. “As Elon Musk said, when it comes to Direct Messages, the standard should be, if someone puts a gun to our heads, we still can’t access your messages,” the company wrote. “We’re not quite there yet, but we’re working on it.”

Twitter also notes that while messages and reactions to encrypted DMs are encrypted, “metadata (recipient, creation time, etc.) are not, and neither is any linked content (only links themselves, not any content they refer to, is encrypted).”

Encrypted DMs seem to be a priority for Musk; it’s a feature he spelled out as part of “Twitter 2.0” for employees in November. But blue checkmarks are already unpopular enough, and I doubt that forcing you to pay for an important feature you can easily get for free elsewhere is going to improve their reputation.

Google and Taito are teaming up on an AR Space Invaders game

Google and Taito are teaming up on an AR Space Invaders game

Image: Google

Google and Taito are partnering on a new augmented reality version of the arcade classic Space Invaders. The new game, Space Invaders: World Defense, will use Google tools like ARCore and newly-announced Geospatial Creator to let AR Space Invaders aliens fly around real-world locations.

Based on a GIF in a Google tweet, it appears you’ll play the game kind of like a shooting gallery. In the GIF, a handful of aliens appear near and around a static city image, and a reticle appears so that the player can blast the aliens out of the sky. I get the sense this footage might not be fully representative of the final game, though — it kind of looks like the aliens have just been animated over a stock photo.

Just announced at #GoogleIO!

Google and @TAITO are partnering to launch SPACE INVADERS: World Defense, 45 years after the original game’s release → https://t.co/802MOp7EMb

Launching later this summer, this immersive AR game transforms your city into a virtual playground! pic.twitter.com/RuYocQESzI

— Google AR & VR (@GoogleARVR) May 10, 2023

Google and Taito also released a promotional video that we’ve included at the top of this post, but it doesn’t appear to show anyone actually fending off aliens in World Defense. The game’s website is frustratingly bare, only including the promo video and this description of what you can expect:

For the last 45 years, SPACE INVADERS have tried to conquer the world. They are back and this time coming from another dimension. As one of Earth’s top pilots, you must use your spaceship’s advanced technology and your expert skills to travel between dimensions and defend the planet. The future of the Earth is in your hands! This unique, immersive game is powered by ARCore and Google’s Geospatial Creator to create a real-world playground in AR and 3D. Enjoy the classic gameplay in a whole new dimension: explore, find, and defeat SPACE INVADERS in your neighborhood!

And confusingly, the World Defense website shows a screenshot of a ship taking on aliens in a wireframe trench, so maybe that will be an element of the game, too.

Image: Taito

According to the promo video’s description, the game is set to release later this summer. Hopefully it fares better than some other AR games.

Twitter admits to ‘security incident’ involving Circles tweets

Twitter admits to ‘security incident’ involving Circles tweets

Feature allows users to set a list of friends and post tweets that only they are supposed to be able to read

A privacy breach at Twitter published tweets that were never supposed to be seen by anyone but the poster’s closest friends to the site at large, the company has admitted after weeks of stonewalling reports.

The site’s Circles feature allows users to set an exclusive list of friends and post tweets that only they can read. Similar to Instagram’s Close Friends setting, it allows users to share private thoughts, explicit images or unprofessional statements without risking sharing them with their wider network.

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AI is feared to be apocalyptic or touted as world-changing – maybe it’s neither

AI is feared to be apocalyptic or touted as world-changing – maybe it’s neither

Too much discourse focuses on whether AIs are the end of society or the end of human suffering – I’m more interested in the middle ground

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What if AI doesn’t fundamentally reshape civilisation?

This week, I spoke to Geoffrey Hinton, the English psychologist-turned-computer scientist whose work on neural networks in the 1980s set the stage for the explosion in AI capabilities over the last decade. Hinton wanted to speak to deliver a message to the world: he is afraid of the technology he helped create.

You need to imagine something more intelligent than us by the same difference that we’re more intelligent than a frog. And it’s going to learn from the web, it’s going to have read every single book that’s ever been written on how to manipulate people, and also seen it in practice.”

He now thinks the crunch time will come in the next five to 20 years, he says. “But I wouldn’t rule out a year or two. And I still wouldn’t rule out 100 years – it’s just that my confidence that this wasn’t coming for quite a while has been shaken by the realisation that biological intelligence and digital intelligence are very different, and digital intelligence is probably much better.”

A document from a Google engineer leaked online said the company had done “a lot of looking over our shoulders at OpenAI”, referring to the developer of the ChatGPT chatbot.

“The uncomfortable truth is, we aren’t positioned to win this arms race and neither is OpenAI. While we’ve been squabbling, a third faction has been quietly eating our lunch,” the engineer wrote.

Giant models are slowing us down. In the long run, the best models are the ones which can be iterated upon quickly. We should make small variants more than an afterthought, now that we know what is possible in the <20B parameter regime.

On the trail of the Dark Avenger: the most dangerous virus writer in the world.

For more on Hinton, I spoke on the Today in Focus podcast about why he thinks humanity is at a crossroads.

Meanwhile, AI is quietly authoring more and more of the internet. When I turn my attention away from Hinton’s nightmares, this is the type of transformation that concerns me most.

Would-be Twitter-replacement Bluesky (I’ll write about it in next week’s newsletter) has asked users not to invite heads of state on to its platform.

Google tried to fix the web – by taking it over. When the company’s AMP product launched, it was the good cop to Facebook’s Instant Articles bad cop. But now it doesn’t look so shiny.

Ministers have been warned that WhatsApp isn’t bluffing when it says it wouldn’t be able to operate in the UK if the “intentional ambiguity” of the online safety bill isn’t solved.

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VanMoof S4 e-bike review: the one to buy

VanMoof S4 e-bike review: the one to buy

More simple, more accessible, more reliable, less money.

Well, this is a surprise. Despite saying they’d be skipping straight from the 3-series to the 5-series of electric bikes, VanMoof just announced two new e-bikes — the full-size S4 and smaller X4 — days after its $4,000 S5 and A5 e-bikes started shipping. At $2,498 / £2,198 / €2,198 the S4 and X4 models are not only priced to compete, they should also require fewer support calls since there’s a lot less that can go wrong.

The S5 and A5’s fancy Halo Ring displays are gone, as are the integrated Apple Find My tracking, complicated three-speed automatic e-shifter, and superfluous multifunction buttons that most regular commuters don’t need.

VanMoof’s e-bikes have been notorious for initial quality issues and you can readily find complaints about long wait times for support on Reddit, the Vanmoof-ing Facebook fanpage, and comment threads here on The Verge.

According to VanMoof’s co-founders (and brothers) Taco and Ties Carlier, the S4 and X4 are meant to address concerns that VanMoof’s e-bikes have become too complicated for their own good.

More simple, more accessible, and more reliable

“We spend a lot of time listening to our prospective rider. And what we heard clearly,” says Ties Carlier, “was the desire for our key features and iconic VanMoof design — in an e-bike that was even more simple, more accessible, and more reliable. We designed the S4 & X4 with iconic VanMoof tech and design but a massively simplified user experience specifically to meet their needs.”

We’ll see about the reliability claim. But what I can say already after riding an “evergreen” colored S4 for the last five days is this: If you’re in the market for a VanMoof, then the S4 and X4 are the e-bikes most people should buy — not the more expensive S5 or A5.

The S4 and X4 are essentially the same bike with different frame types and wheel sizes. Referred to collectively as SX4, they’re assembled from a mix of tech inherited from VanMoof’s older e-bikes and new flagship SA5 models. Notably, the SX4 have the better kick lock from the SA5 and use an improved two-speed internal gear hub like you’d find on the company’s e-bikes from before 2020’s SX3 series. The S4 is based on the taller S3 frame so choose the X4 model if you’re not at least 170cm (5 feet 7 inches).

Here’s a full breakdown that compares the SX4 with the discontinued SX3 and new SA5 models:

Source: VanMoof

VanMoof S4 and X4 compared to the previous generation S3 and X3 and new S5 and A5.

There’s no display of any kind on the SX4 models which is fine by me. But the SX4 ship with an SP Connect phone mount (you provide the case) that lets you fire up the very good VanMoof app to use as a dashboard if you want. Unfortunately, the SX4 models lack the SA5’s USB-C charging port, but you do get hydraulic disc brakes which is the norm for VanMoof.

Improved two-speed internal gear hub has its legacy in VanMoof’s pre-S3 e-bikes.

Riding the S4 is a treat. I’m six feet tall (183cm) and prefer the S4 which stands a few inches taller than the S5. And since I live in a city that doesn’t require a car, I appreciate the new 27.5-inch wheels with wide 2.25-inch puncture resistant tires as someone who, for twenty years, has bicycled daily in all kinds of weather. I need a strong base to carry the kids to school, commute to an office, and then return home with groceries, small appliances, or the occasional Christmas tree. The wider tire width does, however, present a challenge in some bicycle racks designed for standard tires.

And despite lacking a torque sensor found in the SA5, the S4’s 250W front-hub motor tied to the automatic (mechanical) two-speed shifter and RPM sensor still offered a rather intuitive pedal-assisted ride, especially when supplementing things with the occasional press of the boost button. The ride could be improved, however.

The pedals can be slippery when it’s wet outside, and sometimes the S4’s pedal-assisted power can be supplied for a split second too long after pedaling stops. And often after coasting at medium-to-high speeds, stepping on the pedals will cause them to spin freely for up to a full revolution before reengaging with the chain drive. You’ll know the feeling if you ever rode a VanMoof S2 or X2.

Still, I’ll echo what I said in the VanMoof S5 review, I wish VanMoof offered a single-speed belt-drive option paired with that boost button. That would be magical and further reduce the chances of things going wrong.

I don’t have enough data for a range test, yet — I’ll update this review with real-world numbers as soon as I have them. VanMoof says that the SX4 should get the same 60km (37 miles) range as the SX3 and SA5 in max power mode and my testing on both of those e-bikes was between 47km / 29.2 miles (S3) and 48.6km / 30.2 miles (S5). I’d expect the same from the S4 and its 478WH battery, maybe more since it’s not affected by the idle battery drain issue I discovered on the S5. Notably, the SX4’s batteries charge from 0 to 100 percent in 4 hours and 30 minutes with the included charger — two hours faster than the flagship SA5 series.

The SX4 models — like all VanMoofs — don’t have user removable batteries which is a problem for anyone faced with hoisting the 21.6kg (47.6 pounds) e-bike up stairs. VanMoof does offer a $348 / €348 378Wh PowerBank range extender option for the S4 that can be charged inside.

The S4 at home in Amsterdam.

The S4 is defined by what it is not. At $2,498 it’s not expensive for a premium e-bike in 2023, a price that undercuts the Cowboy 4 series by $1,000. The S4 also isn’t overloaded with features most daily commuters don’t need and that could create service headaches down the road.

One thing the SX4 models do add is color. You can choose a deep green like my review bike, a purple pastel, yellow, and a don’t call it white “foam green.” Colors that should help brighten up the most dour city streets.

Image: VanMoof (edited by The Verge)

The VanMoof X4 showing all four color options for it and the S4.

The S4 I’ve been testing is an excellent e-bike — one of the best, and superior to the VanMoof S5 in terms of value for money. Whether the S4 and X4 continue to be great e-bikes after months of wear and tear is anyone’s guess.

I asked VanMoof to respond to owner concerns about reliability and support. Here’s the statement I received from CEO and co-founder Taco Carlier:

Improving service is our priority. Higher reliability sits at the core of the S4 and X4 design and development process with tackling the top 6 challenges of the S3 and X3 and incorporating learnings from the SA5. Our Service network strategy has expanded towards more focus on bike servicing to get closer to our riders, offer more options and more capacity. More news here will follow in the next few weeks.

Yes, I’m also curious to hear what’s coming.

VanMoof currently offers one of the most extensive networks of service hubs available in cities around Europe, Japan, and the US. That’s important because most VanMoof e-bike parts are custom made and only available from VanMoof — so make sure you have a service center nearby if you’re interested in buying. You’re also covered by a two-year warranty in Europe, one in the US, and free 14-day returns.

Sales begin now on a staggered basis before they’re scheduled to ship in August. You can preorder the S4 and X4 in the same “evergreen” color I reviewed starting today, purple in late May, yellow in late June, and “foam green” in late July.

I’d suggesting waiting a tick if you’re tempted to buy. Let the early adopters test VanMoof’s claims of improved reliability and service — you’ve got better things to do with your time.

All photography by Thomas Ricker / The Verge

The Discreet Thrill of Lurking Online

The Discreet Thrill of Lurking Online There’s a world of wholesome drama out there in strangers’ social media content, if you know where to look. You don’t even need to post yourself.

Volvo’s next electric vehicle is a small SUV called the EX30

Volvo’s next electric vehicle is a small SUV called the EX30

Image: Volvo

Volvo’s new, next-generation electric vehicle, the luxuriously appointed, three-row EX90 SUV, isn’t even out yet, but the Swedish company is already talking about the follow-up. The Volvo EX30 will be a small SUV that will have its global debut on June 7th. US reservations will also open up on that date.

The EX30 name had been floating around for a few weeks now, but knowing that the EV will be getting a proper debut relatively soon is sure to excite fans of Swedish design and the company’s commitment to leveraging technology to enhance the vehicle’s safety.

Interestingly, Volvo is going all in on the size of the vehicle

Interestingly, Volvo is going all in on the size of the vehicle. “Thinking small is one of our biggest ideas,” the company says in its press release. And indeed, the vehicle is likely to slot in underneath Volvo’s 40 series of EVs, including the C40 Recharge and XC40 Recharge.

But it will still retain its SUV shape, which means it will probably ride higher than the C40 Recharge. Volvo is going after younger car buyers with this EV, the types of customers who have yet to move out to the suburbs to start a family. Expect something sporty, with an emphasis on adventure seeking, but compact enough to parallel park on a city street.

Volvo’s CEO said as much last year when the company first teased its upcoming slate of EVs. “Take a smaller SUV, which is more for city driving, maybe for first-time buyers,” Jim Rowan explained, according to Top Gear. “Gen Z — 18-, 19-year-olds — is our next market. We don’t talk to Gen Z right now, the brand has never really spoken to that younger demographic. We are absolutely heading in that direction.”

Still, the EX30 is likely to have a lot of competition when it comes out. In addition to the compact, two-row electric SUVs currently dominating the market — Tesla Model Y, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai Ioniq 5, and Kia EV6 — there is also a slew of new models coming out that Volvo will need to contend with, including the Chevy Equinox and Blazer EVs, Polestar 3, and Honda Prologue.

Apple co-founder warns AI could make it harder to spot scams

Apple co-founder warns AI could make it harder to spot scams

Steve Wozniak says content created with artificial intelligence should be labelled and calls for regulation

Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak has warned that artificial intelligence could be used by “bad actors” and make it harder to spot scams and misinformation.

Wozniak, who was one of Apple’s co-founders with the late Steve Jobs and invented the company’s first computer, said AI content should be clearly labelled, and called for regulation for the sector.

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