Best of The Verge — 2025

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    Article
    Avatar of thevergeThe Verge·50w

    Sam Altman claims an average ChatGPT query uses ‘roughly one fifteenth of a teaspoon’ of water

    OpenAI CEO Sam Altman claims that an average ChatGPT query consumes approximately 0.34 watt-hours of energy and 0.000085 gallons of water (roughly one-fifteenth of a teaspoon). These unsourced statistics were shared in a blog post about AI's future impact. The claims come amid growing scrutiny over AI's environmental costs, with researchers predicting AI could consume more power than Bitcoin mining by year-end. Previous studies have shown significant variation in AI energy consumption depending on data center location and specific use cases.

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    Article
    Avatar of thevergeThe Verge·23w

    The best thing I bought this year: a portable mechanical keyboard

    The NuPhy Air60 V2 mechanical keyboard with Moss switches has become an essential tool for distraction-free writing. Its low-profile design, satisfying tactile feedback, and portability make it ideal for pairing with devices like the Boox Palma 2 e-reader. The keyboard supports three-device pairing, fits over MacBook keyboards, and comes with the NuFolio case that doubles as a stand. While the 64-key layout can feel cramped and the shallow angle may be uncomfortable for desk work, it excels at standing desks or mobile writing sessions. The typing experience is significantly better than laptop keyboards, offering enough thock without being disruptively loud in public spaces.

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    Article
    Avatar of thevergeThe Verge·35w

    Logitech’s new light-powered keyboard doesn’t even need the sun

    Logitech launches the Signature Slim Solar Plus K980, a $99.99 keyboard that charges exclusively through light sources including artificial light at 200 lux minimum. The keyboard features a 10-year battery life, 4-month usage in darkness when fully charged, user-replaceable battery, and includes an AI Launch key for accessing Copilot or ChatGPT. It supports three Bluetooth device connections and offers customizable function keys through Logitech's Options Plus app.

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    Article
    Avatar of thevergeThe Verge·1y

    Microsoft reveals its rejected Start menu redesigns

    Microsoft has revealed several concept designs for the Windows 11 Start menu, showcasing alternative layouts that were considered before finalizing the new design. Key features include greater customizability and the option to disable the recommended feed, enhancing user accessibility and personalization. The redesign process involved testing with more than 300 users, using eye-tracking and feedback to refine the design, which is currently being tested with Windows Insiders.

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    Article
    Avatar of thevergeThe Verge·1y

    Microsoft’s new Windows 11 Start menu is bigger and fixes a major pain point

    Microsoft is redesigning the Windows 11 Start menu, making it larger and more customizable. The updated menu allows users to disable the recommended feed of files and apps, pin more apps, and access all apps on a single scrollable page. This new design is being tested in the 24H2 builds and has been backported to 23H2 versions, suggesting a wider release soon.

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    Article
    Avatar of thevergeThe Verge·34w

    Keychron mechanical keyboards are up to 62 percent off

    Woot is offering significant discounts on Keychron mechanical keyboards, with savings up to 62% off. Featured deals include the wired V1 for $45, hot-swappable Q7 for $75, and various full-size and compact models. The sale covers both wired and wireless options with different switch types and RGB lighting features.

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    Article
    Avatar of thevergeThe Verge·28w

    Sandisk’s new 1TB USB-C SSD is so small you never need to take it out

    Sandisk launched the Extreme Fit, claiming it's the world's smallest 1TB USB-C flash drive. The L-shaped device is designed to stay plugged into laptops permanently, protruding vertically rather than horizontally to remain flush with the device. It offers capacities from 64GB to 1TB with transfer speeds up to 400MB/s using USB 3.2 Gen 1. Pricing ranges from $15.99 for 64GB to $117.99 for the 1TB model, now available in the US and other markets.

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    Article
    Avatar of thevergeThe Verge·43w

    Pebble is officially Pebble again

    Pebble smartwatches are making an official comeback with their original name after Core Devices CEO Eric Migicovsky successfully recovered the Pebble trademark. The devices, previously called Core 2 Duo and Core Time 2, will now be marketed as Pebble 2 Duo and Pebble Time 2. This follows Google's decision to open-source Pebble's software after acquiring it through Fitbit. The trademark recovery is significant for the loyal Pebble community, including the Rebble grassroots group that kept legacy devices functional during the brand's absence.

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    Article
    Avatar of thevergeThe Verge·37w

    Google finally details Gemini usage limits

    Google has clarified usage limits for its Gemini AI service across different subscription tiers. Free accounts get 5 daily prompts with Gemini 2.5 Pro, 5 Deep Research reports, and 100 generated images. AI Pro subscribers receive 100 daily prompts and 1,000 images, while AI Ultra offers unlimited access. This replaces previous vague descriptions with specific numerical limits.

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    Article
    Avatar of thevergeThe Verge·37w

    The influencer in this AI Vodafone ad isn’t real

    Vodafone is experimenting with AI-generated presenters in their TikTok advertisements, creating artificial influencers that exhibit telltale signs of generative AI like unnatural hair movement and facial expressions. The company justifies this approach by stating that AI has become integral to everyday life, following a broader trend of fake AI influencers gaining popularity in digital marketing campaigns for major brands.

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    Article
    Avatar of thevergeThe Verge·33w

    If you can get past the terrible logo, Audacity 4 looks pretty great

    Audacity 4, scheduled for early 2026, introduces major UX improvements to address longstanding usability issues. Key updates include removing restrictive interaction modes, adding per-track meters, simplified clip trimming and time stretching via drag-and-drop, and a new split tool. The redesign eliminates many "Audacity says no" moments where the software blocked common operations without explanation. The Sync Lock feature is being replaced with a more intuitive approach to multi-track synchronization, alongside a modernized, customizable interface.

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    Article
    Avatar of thevergeThe Verge·35w

    Windows 11 is getting a video wallpaper feature

    Microsoft is testing video wallpaper functionality in Windows 11, allowing users to set MP4 or MKV files as animated desktop backgrounds. This brings back the DreamScene feature from Windows Vista and could reduce reliance on third-party solutions like Wallpaper Engine, which remains popular among Windows users for desktop customization.

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    Article
    Avatar of thevergeThe Verge·29w

    Ikea’s new smart home collection is entirely Matter-compatible

    Ikea launched 21 new Matter-over-Thread smart home devices, including the Kajplats smart bulb collection, Bilresa wireless remotes, Grillplats smart plug, and five sensors for motion, doors/windows, water leaks, temperature/humidity, and air quality. The devices work across different brands and platforms, with US availability starting January 2026 for remotes and sensors, and April 2026 for bulbs. Ikea's Dirigera hub now officially supports Matter controller functionality, allowing users to control Matter devices from other manufacturers through Ikea's Home Smart app.

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    Article
    Avatar of thevergeThe Verge·32w

    MacBook Pro rumor points to OLED, touchscreen upgrades next year

    Bloomberg reports that Apple's 2026 MacBook Pro refresh will feature OLED displays, touchscreen capability, and M6 processors with a hole-punch webcam design similar to iPhone's Dynamic Island. The redesign will include a thinner, lighter frame and reinforced hinges, but is expected to cost several hundred dollars more than current models. Apple may also transition from Touch ID to Face ID authentication in future iterations, though that change is still years away.

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    Article
    Avatar of thevergeThe Verge·41w

    Terraform co-founder Do Kwon pleads guilty over $40 billion crypto collapse

    Do Kwon, co-founder of Terraform Labs, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and wire fraud charges related to the 2022 collapse of Terra stablecoin and Luna token that wiped out $40 billion in investor funds. Kwon admitted to knowingly defrauding customers and artificially inflating Terra's $1 peg. He faces up to 25 years in prison with sentencing scheduled for December 11th, following his extradition from Montenegro to the US.

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    Article
    Avatar of thevergeThe Verge·31w

    Meet Mico, Microsoft’s AI version of Clippy

    Microsoft introduces Mico, a new AI-powered virtual character for Copilot's voice mode that responds with real-time expressions during conversations. The bouncing orb assistant includes memory features, a Learn Live tutoring mode with interactive whiteboards, and Easter eggs reminiscent of Clippy. Available initially in the US, UK, and Canada, Mico represents Microsoft's renewed effort to encourage voice interaction with computers, following previous attempts with Clippy and Cortana.

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    Article
    Avatar of thevergeThe Verge·46w

    Perplexity just launched an AI web browser

    Perplexity has launched Comet, an AI-powered web browser that integrates the company's search engine and AI assistant directly into browsing sessions. Currently exclusive to $200/month Perplexity Max subscribers, Comet is built on Chromium and features a sidebar AI assistant that can perform tasks like booking meetings, sending emails, and making purchases. The browser represents Perplexity's challenge to Google's search dominance and is available on Windows and Mac with plans for broader rollout.

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    Article
    Avatar of thevergeThe Verge·41w

    Microsoft releases lightweight Office taskbar apps for Windows 11

    Microsoft is rolling out lightweight taskbar companion apps for Microsoft 365 business users on Windows 11. The three apps provide quick access to contacts and org charts (People), file search across Microsoft 365 services (File Search), and calendar viewing (Calendar) directly from the taskbar. These apps automatically launch at startup but can be disabled by IT admins or end users. The rollout follows a beta period and represents Microsoft's effort to integrate productivity tools more deeply into the Windows 11 experience.

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    Article
    Avatar of thevergeThe Verge·49w

    Download these now free retro mobile games before Sega removes them

    Sega is discontinuing support for nine retro mobile games that were part of their Forever program, including Crazy Taxi Classic, Streets of Rage, Sonic CD Classic, and others. The company has made all these games completely free and removed in-app purchases before they are eventually delisted from iOS and Android app stores. Users can still download and play these games offline even after they are removed from the stores, but should grab them now while they are still available.

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    Article
    Avatar of thevergeThe Verge·30w

    ‘There isn’t really another choice:’ Signal chief explains why the encrypted messenger relies on AWS

    Signal president Meredith Whittaker defends the encrypted messenger's reliance on AWS following a major outage, explaining that AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud are the only viable options for providing global-scale, low-latency communication services. She emphasizes that the real issue isn't Signal's choice, but the concentration of power among 3-4 cloud infrastructure providers, making it practically impossible for services to avoid dependency on these hyperscalers without spending billions to build their own infrastructure.

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    Article
    Avatar of thevergeThe Verge·50w

    Here’s the $2,000 fully AI-generated ad that aired during the NBA Finals

    Betting platform Kalshi aired a fully AI-generated advertisement during the NBA Finals that cost only $2,000 to produce using Google's Veo 3 text-to-video generator. The ad took 2-3 days to create with 300-400 generations needed for 15 usable clips, representing a 95% cost reduction compared to traditional advertising. The process involved writing a script, using Gemini to generate shot prompts, and editing the final video with standard tools like CapCut or Adobe Premiere Pro.

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    Article
    Avatar of thevergeThe Verge·1y

    Philips will let you fix your trimmer with 3D printable parts and accessories

    Philips has launched an initiative named 'Philips Fixables' which allows consumers to 3D print replacement parts for their personal health products, starting with an adjustable comb for the OneBlade trimmer. The initiative aims to encourage sustainability by enabling users to fix rather than replace their devices. The project is in collaboration with Prusa Research, ensuring quality and safety in the printed parts. Philips plans to expand the range of available 3D files but has only released one so far. Customers can also request specific parts though there are no guarantees or timelines provided.

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    Article
    Avatar of thevergeThe Verge·29w

    Amazon and Perplexity have kicked off the great AI web browser fight

    Amazon has demanded that Perplexity stop allowing its Comet AI browser to purchase products on behalf of users, claiming it degrades the shopping experience. Perplexity responded by accusing Amazon of bullying and prioritizing ads over customer convenience, arguing that AI shopping agents should be allowed to operate freely. The dispute highlights emerging tensions between traditional ecommerce platforms and AI-powered shopping assistants that automate purchasing decisions.

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    Article
    Avatar of thevergeThe Verge·1y

    Las Vegas police release ChatGPT logs from the suspect in the Cybertruck explosion

    Las Vegas police release details about the Cybertruck explosion involving a US Army soldier who used ChatGPT to ask about explosives and weapons. OpenAI confirmed ChatGPT provided public information with safety warnings. Law enforcement continues to investigate the explosion's cause and the implications of AI tool usage in criminal activities.

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    Article
    Avatar of thevergeThe Verge·39w

    Bye-bye barrel jack: Framework brings 240W USB-C charging to laptops

    Framework launches the first standards-compliant 240W USB-C PD power adapter for laptops, priced at $109. This breakthrough eliminates the need for traditional barrel jack chargers and can fully power high-performance laptops without battery drain during intensive gaming. Framework also introduces an upgradeable RTX 5070 graphics card for their modular laptop, featuring a 240W-capable USB-C port for single-cable docking solutions.

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