Microsoft’s executive shake-up continues as developer division chief resigns
Microsoft is losing another veteran executive. Julia Liuson, head of Microsoft's developer division (DevDiv), is resigning from the software giant after 34 years. Liuson spent the past 12 years leading Microsoft's developer business, during a period Microsoft focused more on open source projects and acquired GitHub for $7.5 billion.
Liuson will continue as head of DevDiv until the end of June, and then move to an "advisory role" reporting to Microsoft CoreAI chief Jay Parikh, according to an internal memo seen by The Verge. It's not immediately clear who will replace Liuson, or whether the DevDiv team will simply report up to Parikh in the …
Meta is reentering the AI race with a new model called Muse Spark
Meta Superintelligence Labs is launching its first model since Mark Zuckerberg spent billions overhauling the company's AI efforts. Called Muse Spark, the model now powers the Meta AI app and the Meta AI website in the US, per the company's announcement. In the coming weeks, Meta says, it will appear in WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, Messenger, and Meta's smart glasses, as well as roll out in other countries.
Like Google Gemini, which easily integrates into Google's product suite, Meta touts Muse Spark as "purpose-built for Meta's products." The model, the first in a new series, will also be available to some of Meta's partners in private …
Amazon’s Smart Thermostat can help lower your energy bills, and it’s down to $62
With temperatures on the rise and Earth Day right around the corner, now’s a good time to invest in a smart thermostat if you haven’t already. A good one like Amazon’s Smart Thermostat can help reduce energy use and lower your bills without sacrificing comfort, and right now it’s just $61.99 ($18 off) at Amazon. Aside from a brief drop during Amazon’s Big Spring Sale, it’s spent most of 2026 at full price, making this the best deal we’ve seen since it dropped to $51.99 on Black Friday.
Amazon Smart Thermostat
Where to Buy:
My colleague Jennifer Pattison Tuohy was impressed by how much the smart thermostat delivers for the price. It can learn your habits over time so you can set it and forget it, which is a feature typically found in more expensive options, and it can automatically adjust based on whether you’re home, away, or asleep. You can also create schedules, tweak settings remotely from your phone, and track your HVAC energy usage in the app, which makes it easier to spot patterns and cut down on your monthly bill.
The thermostat also integrates with Amazon Alexa, letting you adjust your home’s temperature using voice commands, and works with most 24-volt HVAC systems. Despite its low price, it doesn’t look cheap either, offering a sleek, minimalist design with a simple, intuitive interface that’s easy to use at a glance.
Of course, to keep costs down, there are some features you’ll have to do without. It doesn’t include native temperature sensors, for example, and it doesn’t support voice assistants beyond Alexa. But it still covers the essentials and can help you save on energy costs over time, making it a smart buy for the price.
Read our Amazon Smart Thermostat review.
Three more deals worth a look:
- You can pick up the Anker 45W USB-C Fast Charger for $19.99 ($15 off) at Amazon and directly from Anker with code WS7DV28JGN0M; that price is just $2 shy of its all-time low. The GaN charger is small enough to slip into a pocket yet capable of delivering up to 45W of power, which is enough to charge an iPhone 17 Pro Max to around 50 percent in about 20 minutes. It can also power tablets, earbuds, and other USB-C devices, and it comes with a six-foot USB-C cable for added convenience.
- Woot’s selling the international version of the Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro for a new low price of $199.99 ($50 off), though note it comes with a 90-day Woot warranty instead of Samsung’s one year warranty. The buds improve on the previous model with much better noise cancellation and upgraded woofers for better sound. They’re a particularly great option for anyone with a Galaxy phone, who get access to extra features like live translation, easy switching between devices, and hi-res audio support. Read our review.
- The Echo Show 5 Kids smart display is on sale for $64.99 ($35 off) at Amazon, which is its best price since December and $15 shy of its all-time low. It’s identical to the standard Echo Show 5 and offers the same 5.5-inch display that works well as a bedside alarm clock, but adds parental controls and a two-year warranty. Kids can also ask Alexa to play music, read bedtime stories, help with homework, or even create interactive stories, while a free year Amazon Kids Plus grants kids access to thousands of audiobooks, podcasts, and games.
The Miniature Wife was an exercise in visual trickery
In Manuel Gonzales' 2013 short story "The Miniature Wife," a woman starts to become a different kind of person after her husband accidentally shrinks her down to the size of a coffee mug. Because of her new stature, the woman is more physically vulnerable, and it's difficult for her to effectively communicate with normal sized people. But for all the danger that the woman's tininess puts her in, it also pushes her to tap into a strength that takes her husband by surprise.
The marital dynamics are very similar in Peacock's new The Miniature Wife series adaptation starring Elizabeth Banks and Matthew Macfadyen. The show adds depth to both of …
The vibes are off at OpenAI
OpenAI is in a relatively precarious position. The company is and has been a funding behemoth - just over a week ago, it closed $122 billion in funding at a post-money valuation of $852 billion. It's potentially planning for an IPO later this year. ChatGPT's longtime lead in consumer-facing AI led it to name-brand status akin to "Kleenex" for tissues. But in recent months, a slew of executive reshufflings, discontinued projects, and other news has raised questions about how stable the company really is - and how long it may be able to stay on top.
OpenAI's current batch of public controversies started early in the year. At the end of Febru …
Tractive’s new dog and cat trackers provide more health insights for your pets
After acquiring its competitor Whistle from Mars Petcare nearly a year ago, Tractive is introducing two new pet trackers today. The Cat 6 Mini features a sleeker design than Tractive's current smart cat tracker and monitors additional vital signs. The Dog 6 XL, specifically designed for larger breeds, is now lighter and more durable with improved battery life.
Both the $79 Cat 6 Mini and $89 Dog 6 XL trackers are available starting today through the company's online store and other retailers in multiple colors - beige, black, and purple for the cat's and beige and black for the dog's. Each also requires a subscription. The Basic Plan, which …
Xbox’s new era needs games like Forza Horizon 6
It's a weird time at Xbox. Microsoft's gaming division is under new management, with its current leadership intent on what it describes as "a renewed commitment to Xbox." But given that no one really knows what an Xbox is at this point, that could mean many things. What Xbox needs is a game to signal to players what the brand is really about, and what it is actually committing to. What Xbox needs is more games like Forza Horizon 6, which is coming at exactly the right time.
The open-world racing game launches next month, but I recently had the chance to play a preview version to get a sense of what to expect. Even with just a brief taste of …
The only USB-C AA battery I’d buy for myself is the Zepath 3600
Last September, a company named Lumafield scanned 1,000 cylindrical lithium-ion batteries to shine a light on the hidden risks of cheaping out. At roughly the same time, I found myself testing two awesome new kinds of AA battery that recharge using USB-C cables.
It gave me an idea. Could we find the very best USB-C AA batteries by combining my own anecdotal testing with Lumafield's scanning tech?
The answer seems to be yes! Knowing what I now know, the Zepath 3600mWh is the only rechargeable lithium-ion AA I'd buy for myself - even though USB-C is in the charger, rather than each individual cell.
Zepath 3600mWh USB-C Li-ion AA (8-pack)
Wh …
Insta360’s Snap is a tiny magnetic phone screen for taking rear-camera selfies
Insta360 just announced the Snap, a new smartphone accessory designed to improve the quality of your selfies. It works like a digital mirror magnetically attached to the back of your Android or iOS smartphone so you can preview and properly frame shots using its more capable rear cameras, while touchscreen functionality lets you control camera apps without having to constantly flip your phone around. After testing the Snap with my iPhone 16 Pro for a week I found it to be an effective way to use my phone's multiple rear cameras for selfies, but the accessory is not without some frustrating quirks.
The Insta360 Snap Selfie Screen is availabl …
Unionized ProPublica staff are on strike over AI, layoffs, and wages
Unionized staff at ProPublica, one of the country's leading nonprofit newsrooms, are walking off the job for 24 hours beginning Wednesday and asking the public to honor a digital picket line.
The roughly 150 members of the ProPublica Guild are in the midst of negotiating a collective bargaining agreement after unionizing in 2023. The union says key issues are still in contention, including protections around the use of AI, "just cause" provisions around disciplining or firing an employee, layoff protections, and wages.
"We've been working to resolve this quietly for over two years," says Katie Campbell, a ProPublica Guild member. "This is …