Apple’s HomeView could add security camera features
Reddit user pdfu found hints hidden in the HomeView 27.2 code that Apple could be adding security camera features to its smart home hub. The strings describe a security camera mode with motion detection, live streaming, and recording options, as well as privacy functions. According to pdfu, there is a setup page that even explicitly reads: "Your HomeView can be used as a security camera with HomeKit Secure Video."
Supposedly, the video feeds will only be visible to members of the home, and will both show an indicator light and play a sound when either someone is watching the camera feed or when it starts to record. Home members will also ge …
A fully playable version of Portal prequel F-Stop leaked
Leakers have pieced together a playable version of the canceled Portal prequel F-Stop. Most of the assets came from the massive 12-terabyte leak that dropped this August. That didn't include the game's source code or map data, but those final pieces apparently hit the Valve Cut Content Discord this week, allowing a nearly complete version to be pieced together.
Some dialog and elements of F-Stop eventually found their way into Portal 2. But it differs dramatically from the mainline Portal games in that it's built around a camera mechanic that lets you capture an item by taking its picture and place it elsewhere using the resulting Polaroid …
North Korea linked to massive Binance crypto heist
The FBI says North Korea was behind the massive $6.3 billion crypto heist that hit Binance on October 29th. The FBI labeled the activity "TraderTraitor" and said that it had observed actors it has connected to hack converting the tokens to Ethereum and preparing for further laundering of the funds. The agency offered few other details or evidence. The statement says:
North Korea Responsible for $6 Billion+ Binance Attack
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is releasing information advising the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) was responsible for the theft of more than $6 billion USD in virtual assets from crypto …
HomePod Mini 2 first look: Three things I love and one disappointment
When I first heard about the new $149 HomePod Mini 2 at Apple's Welcome Home event last month, I was disappointed. It's been six years since Apple launched its entry-level smart speaker, and all it got in the second gen was a chip bump, some color glowy stuff, and better AirPlay? For $50 more than the original, which launched at $99, Apple didn't even upgrade the sound system. It felt like the company phoned this one in.
Now that I've got my hands on a couple and set them up in my home office, I'm more enthused. The Mini 2 is so much faster than the first-gen Mini, playing music in a few seconds and responding to smart home commands just as …
New Zelda and GTA represent a games industry that no longer exists
This is The Stepback, a weekly newsletter breaking down one essential story from the tech world. For more on the biggest game releases of the year, follow Andrew Webster. The Stepback arrives in our subscribers' inboxes on Sunday at 8AM ET. Opt in for The Stepback here.
How it started
The two biggest games of 2026 are set to launch just a few weeks apart in November.
On the one side you have the behemoth that is Grand Theft Auto VI, an experience 13 years in the making, and the sequel to one of the best-selling games in history. Its predecessor, GTA V, has sold a staggering 230 million copies since it launched in 2013, and was re-released …
Prop 45 in California could be hiding a loophole for data centers
A high-stakes California ballot measure pitched as a fast track for "essential" infrastructure could wind up giving data center developers a loophole to evade public scrutiny, environmental advocates warn.
Proposition 45 would shorten timelines for state-mandated environmental assessments for eligible projects and make it more difficult for residents to challenge those projects in court. Proponents say passing the measure would help alleviate the state's housing shortage and meet rising electricity demand with new renewable energy projects. Environmental groups and some legal experts, however, warn that data center developers backing the pr …
Get in the spooky spirit with these horrors from YouTube
Rather than recommend a single horror film or an unsettling album for our final installment of spooky season recs, I present you with a small selection of creepy, disturbing, and just plain weird videos from YouTube. There's a little something for everyone here. Whether you're a fan of surreal art house shorts, cosmic horror, or classic viral clips, you're bound to find something below that will get you in the Halloween spirit.
This 1983 short film from Cecelia Condit found its audience over 30 years later when it was uploaded to YouTube and eventually found its way to Reddit. If you've ever wondered what a feminist mu …
Keyboards of The Verge
What is a keyboard if not the original brain-computer interface? You can tap on a touchscreen or talk to the computer, but if your work involves getting information out of your head and into the computer, you're probably spending a lot of time using a keyboard.
We've written about many keyboards over the years, from the legendary Optimus Maximus to the ultra-luxe Seneca to even stranger fare. But I wanted to know what my coworkers actually use. As I'd hoped, there's a wide range. Some of us are strictly utilitarian, optimizing for ergonomics or functionality. Others obsess over every detail of feel, sound, layout, and looks. Still oth …
Binance CEO says 90 percent of stolen assets have been ‘replenished’
After hackers stole a shocking $6.3 billion from Binance customers in a record-breaking crypto heist, the company's CEO says that 90 percent of the funds have been replaced, and the company plans to cover the remaining 10 percent as well. Binance is covering the stolen funds directly, and the remaining 10 percent consists of "less liquid" tokens, which the company says may take longer to acquire.
The company also said in a post on X that, while withdrawals remain paused, they're on track to be enabled on Sunday.
Our commitment remains the same: Binance will fully cover the financial impact of the funds stolen in this incident. We will co …
Happy Pikmin Day Eve
This morning, Nintendo announced that tomorrow, November 1st, would be the first annual Pikmin Day. As part of the short Pikmin Day Direct, Shigeru Miyamoto shared new info about Pikmin 4 for the Switch 2, as well as an update for the mobile app Pikmin Bloom, and announced the Hello! Pikmin series of shorts.
Players will be able to use the Switch 2's built-in microphone to issue voice commands to Oatchi, the space dog. Pikmin 4 will also have a Dandori Academy mode that will test players' skills in specific challenges. There will be limited tests on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, complete with leaderboards where players can compare stats. Pi …