Just a few short days after Samsung announced not one but two “Ultra”-branded devices comes a report that Apple might be about to slap that same label on an upcoming iPhone. Over the weekend, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported that Apple’s 2022 flagship iPhone lineup could include its first Ultra model. Apparently there’s a chance it could offer a higher performance camera system, faster chip, and / or a larger display than the Pro Max.
Second, if you have even a passing interest in Mario Kart, The Last of Us, or Pedro Pascal, then I implore you to check out Pascal’s appearance on Saturday Night Live. I won’t spoil it, but it’s-a good stuff.
Finally, I want to highlight a couple of interesting reviews that went up over the weekend. Announced last week alongside the Samsung Galaxy S23 lineup, the SmartThings Station is not only a hub to control your smart home, but it’s also a controller button and a wireless charging pad — both functions that provide a great excuse to have it easily accessible at all times. There’s also this fantastically overkill gadget from Nix which aims to help athletes keep hydrated while exercising.
For now, here’s a silly tweet to start your day:
Stay tuned, as we continue to update this list with the most important news of today: Monday, February 6th, 2023.
Feb 7
Fitbit’s service was down, but your smartwatch can sync your steps again
Fitbit users couldn’t connect data from their wearables to the cloud, and attempting to fix the issue by uninstalling the app or logging out just made things worse.
Feb 6
Fox’s Super Bowl LVII ads won’t include any crypto companies
Don’t expect a repeat of last year’s ‘crypto bowl’ now that the companies behind those ads are experiencing bankruptcy and layoffs.
Feb 6
Here’s why Meta is shutting down Echo VR
Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth shared some context about why the company is shutting down the beloved VR game. John Carmack has weighed in, too.
Feb 6
Is that GPT-4 I can see?Microsoft is holding a special in-person event at its Redmond headquarters tomorrow, where it’s expected to announce a ChatGPT version of Bing. OpenAI powers ChatGPT and now CEO Sam Altman is posing for a selfie with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, confirming tomorrow is all about AI. With rumors of the unannounced GPT-4 powering Microsoft’s ChatGPT integration, it looks set to be an interesting day ahead. The Verge will be covering everything live as it happens.
Feb 6
Exclusive: Sonos’ next speakers will be called the Era 300 and Era 100
CEO Patrick Spence has said Sonos will “reset the bar” in its existing audio categories, and the Era speakers will lead that charge this year.
Feb 6
Microsoft announces surprise event for Tuesday with Bing ChatGPT expected
Microsoft is holding a special press event at its Redmond headquarters today, and it’s expected to focus primarily on its OpenAI partnership and ChatGPT for Bing.
Feb 6
Twitter can now default to the ‘Following’ timeline on iOS and Android
You no longer have to swipe to the left to get to the reverse chronological timeline.
Feb 6
To scam a scammer!Scam hunter Coffeezilla decided to see if influencer Dillon Danis really meant what he said about feeling bad about people who got NFT scammed. So he set up an obviously-fake NFT project to see if Danis would promote it.
Personally, my favorite part of this was discovering the going rate for NFT project promotion. It’s very cheap!
- Apple releases 16.3.1 to fix issues with Apple TVs and HomePods.
Following the launch of the new HomePod last week, Apple has pushed out a 16.3.1 update for its HomePod and tvOS software. The release notes are sparse: “general performance and stability improvements.”
But one Reddit thread points to this being a fix to reports of new HomePods getting stuck on configuring after failing to update to 16.3 (Apple shipped them with 16.0). According to the thread, Apple Support confirmed this issue is widespread and that 16.3.1 should provide a fix.
Apple has pushed a 16.3.1 update to HomePods and AppleTVs. Feb 6
Google announces ChatGPT rival Bard, with wider availability in ‘coming weeks’
Google is working on a competitor to OpenAI’s chatbot ChatGPT. The ‘experimental conversational AI service’ is called Bard and is only being tested by a limited group.
Feb 6
Tesla’s Cybertruck sounds like a manufacturing (and safety) nightmare.Elon Musk’s decision to use stainless steel for his long-delayed Cybertruck could push steel development forward, as one metallurgist told The New York Times. Or it could be a death trap for drivers and passengers alike.
Tesla has shared virtually no details about how it will overcome the challenges of working with stainless steel, which include safety. The steel used in most cars is designed to crumple in a crash, absorbing energy and protecting passengers. Stainless steel does not crumple as easily, exposing passengers to more of the force from impact.
Tesla’s Pickup Truck Is Coming Soon. Maybe.[The New York Times]
AMC is about to make paying for theater seats more like booking an airline ticket
AMC’s new plan for ticket pricing will make spots at the front of the theater cheaper, while good seats in the back get a bit more expensive.
Feb 6
Introducing the Overwatch 2 dating sim
In a limited-time Valentine’s Day event, players can participate in a dating sim mini-game, allowing them to pursue either Mercy or Genji.
Feb 6
Sony answers your burning PSVR2 questions in an extensive new FAQ
Ahead of the imminent launch of the next-generation VR headset, Sony has compiled an FAQ with a ton of information about what you can expect when it launches this month.
Feb 6
Getty Images sues AI art generator Stable Diffusion in the US for copyright infringement
Getty says Stability AI stole 12 million images without permission
Feb 6
Nothing, Forever, the Seinfeld AI show, has been temporarily banned from Twitch
Technical difficulties led to transphobic content accidentally getting broadcast.
Feb 6
The new season of Apex Legends won’t add a new character, but it does have a new weapon and team deathmatch.Respawn and EA’s battle royale shooter celebrates its fourth anniversary with a 16th season, dubbed “Revelry.” It arrives as its mobile version meets an untimely end, and players ask for changes to keep things fresh.
Polygon has more details, including a reclassification of the game’s characters, a playlist of rotating alternate modes, and bot matches to help new players get their feet wet when it launches on February 14th.
- Not everything needs to be a cinematic universe, Showtime.
Now that Paramount Plus and Showtime are becoming Paramount Plus with Showtime, parent company Paramount Global is reportedly planning to flood the new service with spinoffs of its Dexter and Billions series.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Showtime is considering up to four new shows connected to Billions — two of which might be titled Millions and Trillions — as well as a Dexter prequel with the possibility of more spinoffs focused on other characters from the serial killer franchise.
Feb 6
Apple’s second-gen AirPods Pro have returned to their best price yet
For the first time this year, multiple retailers are taking $50 off Apple’s latest pair of premium earbuds. If you prefer something cheaper, the third-gen AirPods are also on sale.
Feb 6
Matthew McConaughey is secret agent Elvis in new Netflix animated series
A first look at the show, which starts streaming in March.
Feb 6
But what makes these two Birkins different, and what small feature about them divides the Hermes collector community?All memes aside, Bloomberg reporter Isaiah Poritz says closing arguments are scheduled today in the “first ever NFT trademark jury trial in Manhattan.”
French luxury designer Hermès International SA is suing Mason Rothschild, the creator of “MetaBirkin” NFTs that are based on its iconic handbags. While Hermès views the collection as a ripoff, Rothschild says they’re art, and everyone else is wondering how NFTs are still a thing.
Feb 6
Samsung’s first OLED gaming monitor costs $1,499.99
Preorders are now open for the 34-inch monitor that has a streaming hub built in to play games without a PC or console directly attached.
Feb 6
Which M2 Mac is right for you?
Your favorite Verge reviewers walk you through Apple’s M2 Mac product line.
Feb 6
Green light.We’re back and will have our normal coverage today.
However, our thoughts are also with everyone affected by the disaster in Turkey and Syria where a pair of earthquakes, measured at 7.8 and 7.5, have reportedly killed over 2,300 people and left many trapped. The Associated Press, CNN, New York Times, and Reuters have the latest updates.
EMSR648: Earthquake in East Anatolian Fault Zone[COPERNICUS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SERVICE]
Feb 6
We’re getting the next episode of TLOU early thanks to the Super Bowl.The Last of Us Episode 5 will be available two days early on Friday, February 10th via HBO Max and HBO On Demand. It seems HBO isn’t keen on pitting its latest darling against the USA’s biggest sporting event, despite the game adaptation’s impressive viewership figures.
Feb 6
Dell to layoff 6,650 employees as demand for PCs plummets
The computing giant reportedly experienced a 37 percent decline in PC shipments in Q4, 2022 compared to the previous year.
Feb 5
It’s-a me, Pedro Pascal.Saturday Night Live had Pascal step into the shoes of Nintendo’s titular Italian plumber for a skit combining the mushroom-dominated worlds of Mario Kart and The Last of Us.
The premise works surprisingly well, and if this were an actual show, I’d totally watch it.
Feb 5
Apple could introduce a pricier iPhone ‘Ultra’ in 2024
Apple could release the high-end device alongside the iPhone Pro and Pro Max.
Samsung’s SmartThings Station is a smart home hub worth plugging in
The newest SmartThings hub can also charge your smartphone and find your keys — plus it’s a Matter controller and Thread border router. But there’s no support for Z-Wave, and too many features are only for Galaxy phones.
Feb 4
Nix’s Hydration Biosensor is for athletes who sweat the details
Hydration doesn’t have to be this high-tech or complicated, but nerdy endurance athletes might find the data worth the price.