Nanoleaf bets its future on robots, red light therapy, and AI
Smart lighting company Nanoleaf has been unusually quiet recently. While competitors such as Govee and Philips Hue have been pumping out new products and innovative features at an impressive pace, Nanoleaf has launched just a handful of smart lighting products in the last two years. There's a reason for this lull - the company has been going through a "brand evolution" focused on wellness, robotics, and, of course, AI.
"The smart home is getting kind of boring," says the ever-candid Gimmy Chu, CEO and cofounder of Nanoleaf, which he now doesn't want me to call a smart lighting company. "Our brand needs to evolve to incorporate some of the …
Apple’s education discount now requires proof that you’re a student
Apple now requires proof of eligibility from US customers who purchase products online at discounted education rates, which also apply to the Apple Watch for the first time. According to a new pop-up message displayed on Apple's education webstore, Apple is directing students, parents, and teachers to verify their status via Unidays' third-party verification service - a system the Cupertino company has already implemented in other countries, including the UK.
Apple Insider reports that the Unidays service is now also being rolled out to Apple customers in Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, Turkey, and Chile. Eligible customers can use an email a …
Sony’s PS5 sales plummet amid price rises and a memory crisis
Sony sold just 1.5 million PS5 consoles in its most recent fourth fiscal quarter, down 46 percent year over year. The slump in PS5 sales comes after Sony raised the price of its PS5 consoles twice over the past year, pushing the price of the regular PS5 from $499.99 all the way up to $649.99.
Sony blamed "continued pressures in the global economic landscape," for the price hikes in March, amid an ongoing memory crisis and pressure from the war in Iran. Sony now forecasts that annual gaming revenue will drop 6 percent, but these forecasts could be impacted by ongoing memory costs. "We plan to base our PS5 hardware sales in FY26 on the volume …
Nintendo is raising Switch 2 prices
Nintendo is raising the price of its Switch 2 console globally, "in light of changes in market conditions," and is now forecasting a drop in sales over the next year. Starting September 1st, the Switch 2 will cost $499.99 in the US, up from its current $449.99 price.
At the same time, prices will also increase by $50 in Canada ($679.99, up from $629.99) and €40 in Europe, bringing it to €499.99 (about $587). The price increases in Japan go into effect sooner, on May 25th, and impact a greater range of Switch products. The Switch 2 will increase from ¥49,980 (about $318) to ¥59,980 (about $382), with similar increases being applied to the o …
Canvas is online again after ShinyHunters threaten to leak schools’ data
The Instructure-owned learning management platform, Canvas, is now online again after it went down following a massive data breach that impacted student names, email addresses, ID numbers, and messages. Before systems were restored, students who attempted to access the system on Thursday saw a message from the hacking group ShinyHunters, which claimed responsibility for the attack:
ShinyHunters has breached Instructure (again). Instead of contacting us to resolve it they ignored us and did some "security patches." If any of the schools in the affected list are interested in preventing the release of their data, please consult with a cyber …
Mira Murati’s deposition pulled back the curtain on Sam Altman’s ouster
The week leading up to Thanksgiving 2023 was the AI industry's biggest soap opera moment. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman was abruptly ousted from his role at the ChatGPT maker. The explanation? That Altman was "not consistently candid in his communications with the board." Now, via witness testimony and trial exhibits in Musk v. Altman, the public is getting a concrete look behind the scenes of that dramatic weekend for the first time, much of it centered on former CTO Mira Murati.
It was a unique situation in that the roller coaster of a power play - which seemed to change every hour - took place, in many ways, publicly. The board's strikingly vagu …
Apple’s AirPods with cameras for AI are apparently close to production
Apple's rumored AirPods with cameras are nearing a stage where the company will test early mass production, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports. Currently, Apple testers are "actively using" prototypes that are in the design validation test stage, which is one step before the production validation test stage.
The AirPods' cameras "aren't designed" to snap photos or video but instead can take in "visual information in low resolution" that users can query Siri about, like asking the AI assistant what they should cook with the ingredients they have in front of them, according to Gurman. They may also use the cameras to help with things like turn-b …
SpaceX has a $55 billion plan to build AI chips in Texas
Elon Musk's plans to get into the AI chip manufacturing business are going to be costly. As the The New York Times and CNBC report, SpaceX is planning to invest at least $55 billion into its "Terafab" chip plant in Austin, Texas. That's according to the details of a public hearing notice filed in Grimes County, Texas, for a meeting to request tax breaks for the project.
The company says that if additional phases are constructed, its investment could someday balloon to $119 billion total. When Musk initially announced the project in March, he shared ambitious plans for it to produce enough chips to support up to 200 gigawatts per year of com …
Peak Design is taking up to 50 percent off some of our favorite camera bags
To celebrate founder Peter Dering’s birthday, Peak Design is taking up to 50 percent off a host of bags and accessories through May 8. The sale includes steep discounts on many of the company’s most popular backpacks and bags, as well as a couple of other items, including camera accessories.
Many Verge staffers are fans of Peak Design, in part because the company is known for making durable, weatherproof products that can house a range of gadgets. Most of its bags are built to carry a lot of gear without feeling bulky or disorganized, thanks to thoughtful extras like expandable storage, quick-access openings, and customizable dividers, which make them great for daily commutes and summer travel alike. Plus, most Peak Design gear is backed by a lifetime warranty, so if something breaks or stops working during normal use, the company will repair or replace it.
Below, we’ve highlighted some of our favorite deals from Peak Design’s ongoing sale, including backpacks, carry-on roller bags, camera organizers, and more.
Peak Design Everyday Backpack Zip
The Peak Design Everyday Backpack Zip features an all-around zipper that makes it easy to quickly access your items from the top or sides. Its weatherproof canvas shell protects valuables, while flexible internal dividers help keep cameras and other tech organized rather than piling at the bottom. It also features dedicated sleeves for a 14-inch laptop or tablet, expandable pockets for water bottles and carry straps, slip pockets for smaller items, and a built-in key tether.
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Peak Design Field Pouch V2
The weather-resistant Peak Design Field Pouch V2 works as a small sling or crossbody bag with an adjustable strap, a belt pouch, or an organizer you can stash inside a larger backpack. Its roll-top design lets the pouch expand to hold more gear or compress down to save space, while internal stretch and zip pockets help you better organize accessories like cords and lenses.
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Peak Everyday Sling
The Peak Design Everyday Sling is a small, weatherproof crossbody bag that comes in multiple sizes, depending on how much gear you carry, whether that’s a single lens, a DSLR camera, or even a 13-inch laptop. It features adjustable internal dividers to keep gear organized and protected, along with and adjustable strap and expandable internal pockets for stashing smaller accessories.
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Peak Design Roller Pro
Peak Design’s four-wheeled Roller Pro is easy to carry yet maximizes packing space. Its front opening lets you unpack in tight spaces, while exterior pockets keep essentials like passports easily accessible. It also has both internal and external straps to help secure or carry extra gear, as well as a magnetically sealed laptop sleeve for stowing a 16-inch MacBook Pro. Read our review.
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Peak Design Everyday Backpack
Peak Design’s Everyday Backpack is a weatherproof camera and everyday bag with a magnetic top clasp and side zippers for quick access to your gear. It features three adjustable internal dividers for organization, an Anchor Link key tether, expandable side pockets for water bottles or tripods, and space for a 16-inch laptop. Adjustable shoulder straps, a removable chest strap, and external carry straps also make it comfortable to carry a wide range of gear. Read our review.
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Peak Design Outdoor Backpack (25-liter)
Peak Design’s lightweight Outdoor Backpack features a roll-top design that expands from 20 to 25 liters for extra storage. A large zip panel makes organizing gear easier, while oversized external pockets provide quick access to items like water bottles or jackets. It also includes external carry cords, a built-in key tether, attachment points for Peak Design’s Capture Clip system, and compatibility with Peak Design’s Camera Cubes. Read our review.
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Peak Design Motorcycle Mirror Phone Mount
Peak Design’s Motorcycle Mirror Phone Mount securely attaches your phone to your motorcycle or scooter, keeping it visible while you ride. It’s easy to snap off with a press of a button, even with gloves on, and it’s fully adjustable for better viewing angles. The weather-resistant mount is also available with optional support for Qi2 wireless charging, so you can charge your phone while you’re out and about.
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Peak Design Camera Cube (refurbished)
Peak Design’s Camera Cubes are padded, weatherproof organizers that allow you to safely store camera, video, or drone gear in a backpack or travel bag. They come with customizable internal dividers to help you organize different kinds of gear, and each cube features weather-resistant zippers and wide zip openings for easier access.
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Peak Design Leash (refurbished)
The Peak Design Leash is a lightweight, minimalist camera strap designed for photographers. It can be worn as a sling, neck strap, or safety tether, and it’s relatively easy to remove. Dual quick-adjusters also make it easy to tighten or loosen the strap with one hand, while its slim design makes it easy to stash it in a pocket or camera bag when not in use.
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Peak Design Anchor Links (refurbished)
Peak Design’s Anchor Links are small clips that make it faster and easier to attach or remove straps from cameras, binoculars, or other gear. Instead of repeatedly threading straps through tiny loops every time you want to remove them, you leave the small “Anchor” loops attached to your device, letting you click compatible straps on and off in seconds.
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Valve is fighting Steam Controller scalpers with a new reservations system
Valve's new Steam Controller sold out quickly when it went on sale on Monday, and the company is going to open a "reservations queue" on Friday at 1PM ET for anyone who missed that initial run.
When the controller initially went on sale, many potential buyers experienced difficulties checking out before the controller went out of stock, and some sellers on eBay posted listings for the controllers that were considerably more expensive than Valve's $99 asking price. "While we were happy to see such a high level of interest, the experience for a lot of you trying to buy it was incredibly frustrating," Valve says. It's making changes to "improv …