Qualcomm is acquiring DIY electronics platform Arduino

Qualcomm is acquiring Arduino, the Italian open-source electronics platform behind a range of boards for tinkerers, DIY hobbyists, and educators, for an undisclosed amount. In an announcement on Tuesday, Qualcomm says the Arduino “brand, tools, and mission” will remain independent while still building microcontrollers and microprocessors with chips from multiple manufacturers. In addition to the … Read more

Google hints at a new Nest Hub

Google says it’s committed to the smart display category, meaning we may see new versions of its Nest Hub and Nest Hub Max “soon.” Last week, Google announced a new smart speaker for its AI-infused Gemini smart home platform, but there was no sign of a new smart display. The good news for fans of … Read more

The excellent Pixel 9A has dropped to just $349 for Amazon’s fall Prime Day

Amazon’s current promo applies to all four colors, including the vibrant pink “peony.” Google’s smartphone lineup has never been better, thanks to the recent launch of its Pixel 10 lineup, but the Pixel 9A remains a smart buy. It’s our favorite midrange phone, one that’s remarkably well-balanced in terms of hardware, features, and value. And … Read more

Google’s extreme smart home makeover

Google has a long history of building something interesting, making a lot of big promises about its future, then seemingly forgetting it exists and killing it a few months or years later. Over the last few years, you’d be forgiven for thinking the smart home was one of those things, as Google Home and Nest … Read more

California bans noisy ads on Netflix, YouTube, and other streaming services

California has ordered streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, and YouTube to stop cranking up the volume during commercial breaks. Under a law signed by California Governor Gavin Newsom on Monday, advertisements will be required to air at the same volume as content being streamed on the provider’s platform starting July 2026. Bill 576 … Read more

The best October Prime Day deals at Walmart

The latest Beats Pill Bluetooth speaker is one of the best deals you can get during Walmart’s event. Amazon is the retailer to beat when it comes to offering deals to compete with Amazon’s October Prime Day event. Walmart has proven to be a contender this year, matching the prices on several discounts and marking … Read more

The 180 best October Prime Day deals

Amazon’s October Prime Day sale (aka Prime Big Deal Days) is finally here, and we’ve collected the best deals we could find on everything from noise-canceling headphones and robot vacuums to 4K OLED TVs. The majority of our recommendations have been thoroughly tested by Verge writers and editors, and we are just as confident in our recommendations … Read more

Windows 11’s dark mode is getting more consistent in File Explorer

Microsoft first quietly started testing improvements in Windows 11’s dark mode in August preview builds of the operating system. Now it’s making the changes official, with improvements to the dark mode consistency throughout File Explorer actions like copying, moving, or deleting files and folders. If you try to copy a large file in Windows 11 … Read more

Sam Altman says there are no current plans for ads within ChatGPT Pulse — but he’s not ruling it out

In a Q&A with reporters Monday at OpenAI’s DevDay event in San Francisco, CEO Sam Altman said the recently-launched ChatGPT Pulse was his “favorite feature we’ve launched in a long time,” and he didn’t rule out including ads in the future. Pulse is OpenAI’s latest personalization play for ChatGPT. It allows the chatbot to learn about … Read more

Dune: Awakening developer Funcom is laying off staff and shutting down a studio

Funcom, the Tencent-owned company behind the survival MMO Dune: Awakening, is making some major changes, including laying off staff and shutting down Metal: Hellsinger developer The Outsiders. Dune: Awakening had a promising launch, selling a million copies and becoming the company’s “fastest selling game ever” less than two weeks after its June release. And in … Read more

CBS News was just taken over by a Substack

Bari Weiss started The Free Press (formerly Common Sense) on Substack in 2021. Paramount is acquiring The Free Press, an independent media publication started on Substack. As part of the deal, Paramount is installing The Free Press’s founder, Bari Weiss, as the editor-in-chief of CBS News, according to an announcement on Monday. Before starting The … Read more