The Verge·2yAll three game console makers have now abandoned X
Nintendo has discontinued support for X integration on the Switch console, following Microsoft and Sony. The update removed the ability to link X accounts and share in-game screenshots. Microsoft and Sony also disabled X access without explicitly mentioning the reason.
The Verge·2yApple’s standalone Passwords app works across iOS, iPad, Mac, and Windows
Apple has released a standalone Passwords app that syncs passwords across iOS, iPad, Mac, and Windows. It integrates deeply with Apple logins and family sharing setups and is considered a safer option for security-conscious users.
The Verge·2yFramework Laptop 16, six months later
The Framework Laptop 16 offers great modularity, allowing users to swap out the keyboard, touchpad, ports, and discrete GPU. Initial reviews were critical due to stability issues, but a newer unit with updated firmware has shown improvements. Despite better stability, heat, noise, and some recurring glitches remain concerns. The laptop's unprecedented modularity and repairability are valuable, but performance issues suggest waiting for a future revision.
The Verge·2yRemote workers using ‘mouse-mover’ technology are getting caught
Employees using 'mouse-mover' technology to simulate productivity on their computers are being caught and fired, as companies rely on monitoring tools to ensure remote employees are actually working. The popularity of working remotely has increased the use of 'mouse jigglers,' creating a cat-and-mouse game between the technology and detection tools. Companies may need to redefine how they measure productivity for employees outside of the office as remote work continues to grow.
The Verge·2yGoogle is killing infinite scroll on search results
Google is discontinuing continuous scrolling on its search results. Introduced for mobile in 2021 and desktop in late 2022, the feature will be replaced by Google's classic pagination bar on desktop and a 'More results' button on mobile. Google aims to serve search results faster by only loading results that users explicitly request.
The Verge·2yThis prototype turns your car’s windshield into a giant AR display
Distance Technologies has created a prototype that turns car windshields into large 3D AR displays. Demonstrated at the Augmented World Expo, it features a parallax barrier LCD panel and an eye-tracking system to provide a dynamic, semi-transparent 3D display. However, the prototype has challenges, including brightness issues, high latency, and potential eye strain for users. The technology has exciting potential for AR integration in cars and planes, but significant refinement and robust fail-safes are needed for practical use.
The Verge·2yGoogle Gemini, explained
Gemini is a chatbot and large language model created by Google. It offers different versions, including Ultra, Pro, Flash, and Nano. Gemini 1.5 Pro is a mid-sized multimodal model that can accept prompts in various modes of communication. Users can sign up for Gemini 1.5 Pro through a subscription.