GM eliminated Apple CarPlay and Android Auto from its EVs — this upgrade adds them back

Photo by Andrew J. Hawkins / The Verge What GM takes away, the aftermarket restores. General Motors’ controversial decision to drop Apple CarPlay and Android Auto from most of its electric vehicles now has a possible workaround. As noticed by InsideEVs, a company called White Automotive and Media Services (WAMS) is advertising a new aftermarket … Read more

Uber for AI labeling

Image: The Verge Uber is using gig workers to get into the AI labeling business, Bloomberg reports. It’s a sign that the ridehail and delivery company is interested in expanding its independent contractor-powered business model to meet the demands of the fast-growing world of machine learning and large-language models. The company’s new “Scaled Solutions” division … Read more

Starlink’s direct-to-cell satellite service is the first to receive FCC approval

Image: Nikolas Kokovlis/NurPhoto via Getty Images The Federal Communications Commission cleared SpaceX to use its Starlink broadband satellites to provide T-Mobile customers with direct-to-phone service. The T-Mobile license is the first collaboration between a satellite operator and wireless carrier to be approved by the FCC to provide supplemental cell coverage from space. “The Commission recognized … Read more

You can now wear Apple’s running shoe emoji

The Shoe 1’s design was inspired by Apple’s running shoe emoji. | Image: Jose Wong Artist and designer Jose Wong has turned Apple’s running shoe emoji into a real sneaker that’s now available through their website in sizes ranging from five to 12. The Shoe 1, released through Wong’s ABCD brand, will set you back … Read more

Porsche is holding on to gas cars for a bit longer

Photo by Sean O’Kane / The Verge Porsche is not ready to turn in its gas caps for charging ports just yet. The company reportedly plans to launch more internal combustion engine models due to a slowdown in EV sales, according to Automotive News Europe. The automaker’s CFO, Lutz Meschke, told the outlet, “What is … Read more

ISPs say there’s no need for new customer service rules; everything is great

Cath Virginia / The Verge | Photo from Getty Images Trade associations involved in US broadband and wireless service say competition forces them to have good customer service, which may be news to many customers. The comments are in response to the FCC’s October inquiry reviewing the quality of internet and phone providers’ customer support. … Read more

Google’s connecting Spotify to its Gemini AI assistant

Cath Virginia / The Verge Spotify is getting support for Google’s Gemini Extensions, which will allow users to search for and play music using the generative AI assistant with natural language requests. The extension was first spotted in the code of the Google app in June, and now it’s rolling out to compatible Android devices, … Read more

More retractable cables, please

The Charger by Counterpart has a built-in 4-foot USB-C cable that can be retracted with the press of a button. | Image: Counterpart The switch to USB-C has vastly simplified my life, and I am very grateful for it, but I still struggle with cable clutter. Dealing with gadgets and gizmos for a family of … Read more

Threads says 35 million users signed up in November

Image: The Verge Meta’s Threads has accrued over 35 million signups so far in November and is “going on three months with more than a million signups a day,” Meta spokesperson Alec Booker told The Verge in an email today. 20 million of those signups have come since November 14th, as Axios notes. That’s on … Read more

Bang & Olufsen’s new $499 earbuds have better ANC and replaceable batteries

The Bang & Olufsen Beoplay Eleven wireless earbuds will be available in natural aluminum and copper tone colorways. | Image: Bang & Olufsen Bang & Olufsen announced its new Beoplay Eleven wireless earbuds today, carrying forward a stem design similar to Apple’s AirPods that the company first introduced with its Beoplay EX. The Beoplay Eleven … Read more

Elon Musk learns how EV charging works from Pete Buttigieg

Image: Hugo Herrera / The Verge You’d think Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and its wide-reaching Supercharger network, would already know about the workings of the federal National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program that has dedicated $7.5 billion to building a national charging network. However, he needed Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg to chime … Read more

Atlantic hurricane season is coming to an end — will the US be ready for the next one?

A hurricane specialist works on tracking Hurricane Beryl at the National Hurricane Center on July 1st, 2024, in Miami, Florida.  | Photo by Joe Raedle / Getty Images This is the last week of a truly shitty Atlantic hurricane season. It was record-breaking. People are still recovering. Misinformation managed to make things even worse. Now, … Read more

Wear OS 5.1 could let you play music on your built-in Android watch speakers

Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge Google is testing out media playback straight from Android smartwatches’ built-in speakers in Wear OS 5.1, according to Android developer release notes spotted by Mishaal Rahman. That’s in addition to adding support for credential managers in the coming update, which Google revealed is based on Android 15. … Read more

BioWare veteran’s studio shuts down before releasing a game

Image: Humanoid Origin Humanoid Origin, the game studio founded by former BioWare general manager Casey Hudson, is shutting down operations. The closure was announced in a post on the company’s LinkedIn page. “Despite efforts to shield the studio from broader challenges in the industry, an unexpected shortfall of funding left us unable to sustain operations,” … Read more

The small thing that can keep drivers attentive while using partial automation

Image: Ford With more cars equipped with partial automation hitting the road, safety researchers are growing increasingly worried about driver attention and the potential for these systems to cause crashes. A new survey has a possible solution to the problem of wandering attention while using partial automation: let drivers adjust the steering. The Insurance Institute … Read more

Anker’s 8-in-1 charging station is nearly half off

Anker’s orb-like charging stand can power up eight devices, including iPhones, for just $56. | Image: Nathan Edwards / The Verge If you’re tired of cluttering up your desk with multiple chargers, check out Anker’s MagGo Magnetic Charging Station 8-in-1, because it can probably replace all of them. It’s one of our favorite MagSafe chargers … Read more