2025-06-03 06:40:34
Microsoft’s changes in response to the Digital Markets Act already included allowing Windows machines in the regions it covers to uninstall Edge and remove Bing results from Windows search, but now the list is growing in some meaningful ways. New features announced Monday for Microsoft Windows users in the European Economic Area (the EU plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway) include the option to uninstall the Microsoft Store and avoid extra nags or prompts asking them to set Microsoft Edge as the default browser unless they choose to open it.
That last one is one I’d like to have readily available in the United States, and according to Microsoft, it’s already live in the EEA, starting with Edge version 137.0.3296.52 that rolled out on May 29th.
Additionally, setting a different browser, like Chrome, Firefox, Brave, or something else, will pin it to the taskbar unless the user chooses not to. While setting a different browser default already attaches it to a few link and file types like https and .html, now users in the EEA will see it apply to more types like “read,” ftp, and .svg. The default browser changes are live for some users in the beta channel and are set to roll out widely on Windows 10 and Windows 11 in July.
Microsoft also explained that even after removing the Store app from Start and Settings, “Apps installed and distributed from the Microsoft Store will continue to get updates,” and it can always be reinstalled.
Other changes mentioned include automatically enabling third-party apps to add their web search results in Windows Search upon installation, and the option to move search providers around based on user preference. With updates rolling out in “early June,” the Microsoft Bing app, as well as the Widgets Board and Lock Screen, will open web content with the default browser instead.
2025-06-03 06:10:07
Ukraine launched a surprise attack on Russia that targeted more than 40 of the country's military aircraft on Sunday. The mission, called Operation Spiderweb, involved sending 117 drones over Russia's borders and into several of its airfields. It was the Ukrainian military's longest-ranged attack yet, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, but it also pulls back the curtain on an elaborate campaign to put raw footage of the strike in front of a global audience.
Within just hours, three videos of the strike spread from Ukraine's federal security agency to a journalist based in the country, later spilling into social media and news outlets worldwide. The videos appear to be filmed from the perspective of a drone, complete with an overlay of information about the drone's telemetry.
In one video, the drone flies over an airfield, passing clouds of dark gray smoke billowing from multiple warplanes. Another clip apparently captures the moment a plane explodes into a tower of flames. The third shows a drone descending toward an aircraft, with the video suddenly freezing and displaying the message "Warning no data" upon reaching the plane. The Ukrainian government would later repor …
2025-06-03 05:46:07
Texas moved closer to becoming the next state with a right to repair law on the books, as the state Senate unanimously voted 31 – 0 to finalize HB 2963 this weekend. It would require manufacturers to make spare parts, manuals, and necessary tools available for equipment sold or used in the country’s second most populated state.
As more states have passed right to repair laws, we’ve seen repair options and information becoming more widely available nationwide from companies like Apple and Samsung. If the bill is signed into law by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, that will add another significant market with these requirements in place.
A press release from the United States Public Interest Research Group (PIRG), which has pushed for repairability laws nationwide, noted that this would make Texas the ninth state with a right to repair rule, and the seventh with a version that includes consumer electronics. It follows New York, Colorado, Minnesota, California, Oregon, Maine, and most recently, Washington, and would be the first state on the list with a Republican-controlled government.
“More repair means less waste. Texas produces some 621,000 tons of electronic waste per year, which creates an expensive and toxic mess. Now, thanks to this bipartisan win, Texans can fix that,” said Environment Texas executive director Luke Metzger.
2025-06-03 05:16:08
If you know where to look, you can often score discounts on Apple’s ever-expanding AirPods lineup. Both the new AirPods Max and AirPods 4 (with and without ANC) now consistently receive discounts, as do the latest AirPods Pro with USB-C. The same goes for the original AirPods Max, which are nearly indistinguishable from the last-gen model aside from the switch to a USB-C connector and a few new color options.
Below, we’ve rounded up the best deals currently available on each model, including both iterations of the AirPods 4, the latest AirPods Pro, and the AirPods Max.
At its September event, Apple introduced the AirPods 4, a pair of wireless earbuds available in two variations: a $129 standard model and a $179 noise-canceling model. Both versions represent significant upgrades over the third-gen AirPods, with a more comfortable design and improved audio performance. They’re also better for taking calls thanks to Apple’s Voice Isolation feature, which focuses the mics on your voice so you can be heard more clearly in noisy environments.
The $179 AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation offer a surprisingly effective noise-canceling mode, a helpful transparency mode, and several other Pro-level features. The latest AirPods Pro do a better job of tuning out noise, but the AirPods 4 with ANC still do a good job of reducing sound. They also feature other perks formerly reserved for Apple’s top-of-the-line earbuds, including wireless charging and a case with a built-in speaker that allows you to easily track it down via Apple’s Find My app.
Although they launched at the end of last year, we’ve consistently been seeing discounts on both versions of the AirPods 4. Right now, for instance, the standard AirPods 4 are on sale for $119 ($10 off) — about $20 shy of their all-time low — at Amazon, Walmart, and Staples. The AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, meanwhile, are on sale at Walmart for $158.59 ($19 off), which is $10 shy of their best price to date. If you prefer a different retailer, you can also buy them for around $169 at Amazon and Staples.
In 2022, Apple released the second-gen AirPods Pro, which feature a similar build to the first-gen model but offer better noise cancellation, swipe-based controls, and an extra-small pair of swappable silicone ear tips for smaller ears. Apple followed up a year later with a minor refresh, one that features a USB-C charging case and an upgraded IP54 rating for water and dust resistance. The newest model also supports lossless audio when used with Apple’s new Vision Pro headset and doubles as a pair of FDA-approved hearing aids.
As far as deals go, Apple’s updated AirPods Pro with USB-C are currently available at Amazon and Walmart for $199 ($50 off), which is their typical sale price and a far cry from their all-time low of $153.99.
The AirPods Max aren’t the iconic in-ears that have become synonymous with the AirPods name. They’re large and luxurious, comprised of aluminum, steel, and mesh fabric that remains comfortable during extended listening sessions. They also sport excellent noise cancellation, Apple’s spatial audio feature, and expansive, balanced sound, even if they lag behind some of their peers when it comes to bass response and features. They’re not the best noise-canceling headphones for most people — blame the sticker price — but it’s hard to find a better pair of Bluetooth headphones if you’re an iPhone user.
At the beginning of September, Apple replaced the first-gen Max with a new model that features support for USB-C charging and a few new color options. They’re currently on sale at Amazon and Walmart starting at $479.99 ($70 off), which is their second-best price to date and $30 shy of their all-time low. Keep in mind that you can also occasionally pick up the first-gen model for less than $400, but right now, we’re not seeing any deals of note on the original pair.
2025-06-03 04:57:31
Google Wallet will soon no longer let you pay with your PayPal account in the US. On a help center page spotted by Android Authority, Google says it will stop supporting the payment method and automatically delete linked PayPal accounts on June 13th, 2025.
The company has also stopped letting users link PayPal accounts to Wallet as of April 11th. Now, users who previously relied on PayPal to quickly connect their payment methods with Google Wallet will have to manually add a credit card, debit card, or bank information if they want to keep using the app.
Google notes that it will still accept PayPal-branded debit cards. “To deliver smart, flexible, and more rewarding ways to pay, PayPal constantly improves their offerings,” Google writes in a FAQ, while referring users to an email sent by PayPal.
The Verge reached out to PayPal with a request for more information but didn’t immediately hear back.
If you use a linked PayPal account for recurring payments, Google says you’ll need to change your payment method on the merchant’s website to keep using the service. Google Wallet will also no longer display your PayPal transaction history, which you’ll now have to view on PayPal’s website or app. Google Wallet’s PayPal integration will still work for users in Germany.
PayPal first rolled out support for Google Wallet — then called Android Pay — in 2017. Its rival digital wallet also continues to evolve, with the PayPal app adding tap-to-pay on iPhones in Germany and rolling out a way for groups to pool money.
2025-06-03 04:25:36
Rivian is overhauling the charging experience for its EV customers, offering them more information about how their battery-powered vehicles take in and use energy.
The automaker is rolling out a software update to its vehicles and smartphone app that aims to give its customers a more thorough and holistic view of their vehicle’s charging capabilities, while also offering faster charging speeds to all of its EVs. The changes come as Rivian navigates a tougher charging environment, with public EV charging still experiencing notable gaps and federal spending on charging installations drying up.
The new update allows Rivian owners to see “where their energy is going” in real time, says Wassym Bensaid, chief software officer at the company. The updated Energy app will display detailed graphs explaining how energy is used when the vehicle is idle and will provide tips on how to best conserve energy and range, he says.
“The idea is [to] democratize the access in terms of ‘energy in’ with charging and then ‘energy out’ with how you’re spending your range” Bensaid says.
The Energy app will also now include two tabs: “Charging” for energy intake and “Energy Monitor” for energy output. The Charging tab shows EV owners how much energy is flowing directly into their battery pack during a charge session, as compared to the energy being used by other vehicle systems.
When they’re actively charging, the app provides a detailed breakdown of where the energy is going, including battery, overall system consumption, HVAC usage, and any connected accessories. And in the Energy Monitor tab, there’s a new chart that shows customers how climate, outlets, and drive systems are consuming energy when they’re driving or parked.
A new “Trip Target” feature provides charging recommendations when using navigation for a trip that includes a charging stop. Once the charging session has started, the app will calculate and notify the customer the moment they reach the ideal charge level for the rest of the trip. No more waiting until it gets to 100 percent (or 80 percent if you’re concerned about battery health).
Under Energy Monitor, there’s a new interactive graph that shows projected range impact over time while driving or parked, based on insights from the owner’s recent driving history. An animated Yeti character (Rivian’s mascot) will use facial expressions to show whether the owner’s efficiency is high, low, or normal for current conditions, and there will be helpful tips for maximizing a vehicle’s efficiency.
In addition to the app improvements, Rivian is also making it easier — and faster — to charge its vehicles. The company is adding a “highly requested” feature to precondition the battery on demand. Owners can warm or cool their battery pack when they want, even before navigating to a charger, which can help optimize charging speeds. A clear banner will indicate when the battery is warming or cooling and when preconditioning is complete.
“The idea is [to] democratize the access in terms of ‘energy in’ with charging and then ‘energy out’ with how you’re spending your range.”
Both Rivian’s first-generation and second-generation EVs are getting faster DC charging thanks to a software update. The Gen 2 Large Pack gets an extra boost, charging even faster at a speed of up to 215kW, which can add 15 percent of range in just 15 minutes of charging, the company says. Rivian achieved this by optimizing battery temperatures in simulation through individual cell improvements and then virtually testing and refining the solutions in a simulated environment with real-world conditions. The company’s engineers then validated the new optimized temperatures with actual vehicles.
But this update is just the beginning of Rivian’s planned improvements to the charging experience. Bensaid says that in the coming month, the company will roll out a new “Smart Charging” feature that allows customers to time their home-charging sessions to save money on their energy bill, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and reduce their carbon footprint. Next year, Rivian will launch a new bidirectional charging feature that allows people to use their vehicles as mobile power generators to send power to electronic devices, other EVs, or even their own home.
“Utilities and the grid is so fragmented, like I’m personally even not aware about promotional rates in my area,” Bensaid says. “Having a solution where we make that super easy for customers — you just configure things once and then software does it for you automatically behind the scenes — I mean, that will be a game changer.”
