Anthropic is now valued at $183 billion
Anthropic, the AI startup behind Claude and one of OpenAI’s chief competitors, emerged from the holiday weekend with big news: A completed funding round of $13 billion, awarding the company a $183 billion post-money valuation. The company said in a press release that between the start of 2025 and August — less than nine months — […]
A Call of Duty movie is coming
Call of Duty is being adapted into a live action film as part of a new deal signed by Activision and Paramount. Paramount, the film studio behind Top Gun: Maverick, will “develop, produce, and distribute a live-action feature film” based on the franchise, and “both companies are committed to honoring the brand’s rich narrative and […]
You can charge your Apple Watch, phone, and laptop all at once with this 240W USB-C cable
It’s not an entirely new idea given Nomad’s Universal Cable from earlier this year can charge an Apple Watch and an additional device at the same time, but Zens’ new Pro 2 and Pro 3 USB-C cables offer additional functionality and some welcome future-proofing as chargers become more powerful. The cheaper of the two is […]
Why are online puzzle games having a moment?
Hooked on LinkedIn’s Queens? Gotta extend your Wordle streak in the New York Times games app before you start your day? You’re in good company on today’s Vergecast episode. Allison Johnson is joined by Simon Anthony and Mark Goodliffe, world-class puzzle champs and hosts of the delightful Cracking the Cryptic, a YouTube channel where they […]
The Backbone Pro controller is $20 off for a limited time
If you’ve ever thought “it’d sure be nice to have just one controller to use between my phone, tablet, and TV,” then the Backbone Pro might be made for you. Backbone’s newest gamepad has the same phone-hugging design as its 2020 predecessor, but comes with a handful of distinct features — the most notable being […]
Amazon ends shared Prime free shipping outside your home
Amazon is axing the program that lets Prime members share their free shipping perk with people outside their household. In an update to its support page, Amazon says it will cut off Prime benefit sharing on October 1st, 2025, prompting invitees who don’t live with the account holder to sign up for their own subscription […]
My favorite cooking gadget is getting a big upgrade
I’ve owned a Thermomix TM6 for about five years, and I use it multiple times a day for everything from making smoothies in the morning to steaming veggies for dinner, whipping up a sauce, or cooking some rice. It’s the most versatile smart gadget in my kitchen. Now its successor, the Thermomix TM7, has arrived […]
Samsung’s trifold might be launching pretty soon
We know officially that Samsung is planning to launch its first trifold phone this year, and recent rumors suggest that might mean either this month or next. Just don’t expect it to appear at this week’s Unpacked event, which promises products ranging from “premium AI tablets to the newest member of the Galaxy S25 family.” […]
Dolby Vision 2 goes beyond HDR with more AI and ‘authentic motion’ smoothing
More than 10 years after the launch of Dolby Vision, the next generation of the HDR format is here, and it aims to do more than just optimize tone and brightness level for different scenes. The new version, called Dolby Vision 2, has new “Content Intelligence” tools that use AI to automatically optimize your TV […]
Google Play Games is about to show people what you play
Google is updating user profiles for its Play Games service on Android devices to display gaming stats, achievements, and social features. The changes include a suite of new capabilities for “showcasing and tracking your game progress and stats, new ways to build your gaming community, and allowing you to tailor your profile to your liking,” […]