The Verge - Wednesday’s top tech news: Hurray for foldable competitionhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/52801/VER_Logomark_32x32..png2022-11-23T17:22:09-05:00http://www.theverge.com/rss/stream/232388812022-11-23T17:22:09-05:002022-11-23T17:22:09-05:00Google Messages has started letting some users react with any emoji
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<img alt="Two screenshots, one showing the extra emoji button in the reactions pop-up, and the other showing the emoji picker that appears when you tap that button." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/XW4jKbauVJTOIeCx6XrxCPXBMLA=/0x0:1638x1092/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71668041/Reactions.0.png" />
<figcaption><em>And just like that, Messages are now way more fun.</em></figcaption>
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<p id="YlBslw">Google has started letting some users of its Messages app react to text messages with any emoji, instead of limiting them to the standard set of seven that have <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2020/5/13/21256975/google-android-messages-rcs-emoji-reactions-test">been available in the app for a while now</a> (<a href="https://9to5google.com/2022/11/23/google-messages-full-emoji-reactions/">via <em>9to5Google</em></a>). The feature’s similar to what other messaging platforms like Slack, <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2022/7/11/23203582/whatsapp-all-emoji-reactions-feature">WhatsApp</a>, and <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2022/9/19/23360878/telegram-emoji-reactions-status-profile-link-update">paid versions of Telegram</a> have — pressing and holding on a message gives you the standard emoji reactions, but you can then access the picker to react with whatever you want.</p>
<p id="9TaQPW">The expanded emoji reactions appear to be a limited test at this point — <em>9to5Google</em> says it’s heard two reports of it being rolled out, and while one person on <em>The Verge</em>’s staff has access to it, two other people who checked do not. Google didn’t immediately respond to...</p>
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https://www.theverge.com/2022/11/23/23475819/google-messages-any-emoji-reaction-testMitchell Clark2022-11-23T14:47:44-05:002022-11-23T14:47:44-05:00An alleged crypto scam involving a bank called Polybius is headed to court
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/A3nnMXzJL0am9YNYPHqRwknDJe4=/0x0:3000x2000/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71667390/acastro_170726_1777_0008.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge</figcaption>
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<p id="YI2shV">Two Estonians have been arrested and are facing extradition to the US after being accused of defrauding thousands of people out of around $575 million with a crypto Ponzi scheme, <a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdwa/pr/two-estonian-citizens-arrested-575-million-cryptocurrency-fraud-and-money-laundering">according to the US Department of Justice</a>. Sergei Potapenko and Ivan Turõgin, along with four unnamed co-conspirators, were allegedly behind a scam crypto mining company called HashFlare and a fake crypto bank project called Polybius.</p>
<p id="P7V4B7">The scheme began in 2013 when Potapenko, Turõgin, and the others started a company called HashCoins, according to an indictment, which you can read in full below. HashCoins said it built cryptocurrency mining equipment, though the DOJ says it actually only “sometimes” resold equipment and components that it bought off the shelf. By...</p>
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https://www.theverge.com/2022/11/23/23474163/hashflare-crypto-mining-alleged-scam-arrestsMitchell Clark2022-11-23T13:40:13-05:002022-11-23T13:40:13-05:00Elon Musk proposes letting nearly everyone Twitter banned back on the site
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<img alt="An image of Elon Musk in a tuxedo making an odd face. The background is red with weight scales on it." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/lqIaClmdS9aHUwEV-1TJCdOdeHE=/0x0:2040x1360/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71667069/VRG_Illo_STK022_K_Radtke_Musk_Scales_2.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Kristen Radtke / The Verge; Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="In8dj3">Now that Elon Musk has let us know that he’s totally <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2022/11/22/23474381/elon-musk-twitter-moderation-council-activist-promise">done with his moderation council myth</a>, he’s <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1595473875847942146">put up a new poll</a> asking users if he should let most suspended accounts back onto the site. On Wednesday, he asked: “Should Twitter offer a general amnesty to suspended accounts, provided that they have not broken the law or engaged in egregious spam?” He gave users 24 hours to vote, and so far, “yes” is ahead by a wide margin.</p>
<p id="r90Oaz">Musk <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2022/11/19/23467280/donald-trump-twitter-back-elon-musk-poll">previously ran a poll</a> asking whether he should allow former president Donald Trump back onto the site, with the “yes” responses winning out by a relatively narrow margin. The general amnesty poll has been up for less than an hour, so it’s too soon to tell how it’ll shake out.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Should Twitter offer a general...</p>
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https://www.theverge.com/2022/11/23/23475472/elon-musk-twitter-unbanning-suspended-accounts-law-spam-amnestyMitchell Clark2022-11-23T12:20:16-05:002022-11-23T12:20:16-05:00OnePlus Nord N300 5G review: fast charging isn’t enough
<p>OnePlus’ N300 comes with 33W wired charging and a very budget-friendly price tag, but it’s not enough to make up for a less-than-enjoyable experience.</p>
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https://www.theverge.com/23474116/oneplus-nord-n300-5g-review-screen-battery-cameraAllison Johnson2022-11-23T12:00:00-05:002022-11-23T12:00:00-05:00The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special turns Christmas into lore
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<img alt="A photo of Dave Bautista as Drax&nbsp;in the Guardians of the Galaxy holiday special." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Jpixbg4dkszoAOp82fcwNJOX6u4=/300x0:3540x2160/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71666495/ptk1570_comp_fra_v0060_r709_a1c0fd53.0.jpeg" />
<figcaption><em>Dave Bautista as Drax.</em> | Image: Disney</figcaption>
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<p id="BKDEkS">The sprawling Marvel Cinematic Universe has set its sights on the holidays. It started quietly, with <a href="https://www.theverge.com/23389129/werewolf-by-night-review-marvel-disney-plus">a black-and-white monster movie released ahead of Halloween</a>. But now, with <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2022/10/25/23423246/guardians-of-the-galaxy-holiday-special-trailer-marvel-disney-plus"><em>The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special</em></a> on Disney Plus, the MCU has gone ahead and turned the most wonderful time of the year into another piece of its complex and ever-expanding narrative.</p>
<p id="o6ivqu">Now, to be fair, it’s at least a <em>fun</em> addition to the MCU. The special clocks in at less than an hour and is basically a feel-good Christmas story with some sci-fi shenanigans thrown in. Peter Quill (Chris Pratt, <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2022/10/6/23390869/super-mario-movie-trailer-chris-pratt">doing his best Super Mario impression</a>) is understandably sad following the loss of Gamora (Zoe Saldaña), so his friends Drax (Dave Bautista) and Mantis (Pom...</p>
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https://www.theverge.com/23475046/guardians-of-the-galaxy-holiday-special-review-disney-plusAndrew Webster