Gucci-branded Google smart glasses are coming next year
Google is reportedly partnering with Gucci to make a pair of AI smart glasses stylish enough people might actually want to wear them. According to Reuters, Gucci parent company Kering is planning to launch the glasses sometime in 2027.
Google's first pair of Android XR glasses, "Project Aura," are expected to launch this year. They feature essentially the same look as Meta's Ray-Ban glasses, with chunky, black plastic frames. They'll usher in Google's second attempt at smart glasses, after Google Glass infamously failed to catch on over a decade ago.
Last year, Google also announced glasses partnerships with Warby Parker and Gentle Monst …
Ballmer gives $80 million to NPR, with strings attached
Connie Ballmer, wife of former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and co-founder of the Ballmer Group, has given $80 million to NPR. That's roughly seven years' worth of government funding ($11.2m) after Trump and Congress cut funds for public media, but only a fraction of NPR's full annual budget of $300 million. NPR may still cut jobs because the money has strings attached.
The money is specifically "to support the digital innovation that is essential to meeting the needs and serving the interests of public media audiences wherever they are and whenever they seek information," according to a press release. NPR journalist David Folkenflik writes …
Netflix embraces vertical video with major mobile app update
Netflix announced on Thursday that it will be launching a redesigned mobile app, which will include a vertical video feed, at the end of April. "This redesign will better reflect our expanding entertainment offering and make it easier for members to engage how and when they want," the company said in its Q1 2026 earnings letter to shareholders.
In Thursday's letter, the company said that the lines between "entertainment on TV and mobile devices are blurring," noting that video podcasts "over-index" on mobile. Co-CEO Greg Peters said in January that the company was planning to revamp its mobile UI as a way to "better serve the expansion of o …
Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings is officially leaving the company
Netflix co-founder and chairman Reed Hastings plans to leave the company after nearly 30 years. The news comes as part of Netflix's Q1 2026 earnings results released on Thursday, which says Hastings "will not stand for re-election to our Board when his current term expires at the Annual Meeting in June."
After co-founding Netflix in 1997, Hastings served as CEO from 1999 to 2023, when he stepped down and took on the role of chairman. "My real contribution at Netflix wasn't a single decision; it was a focus on member joy, building a culture that others could inherit and improve, and building a company that could be both beloved by members an …
Live Nation says it will fight monopoly suit loss
After a jury found that Live Nation-Ticketmaster violated antitrust law on several counts, the company warns in a blog post that the verdict "is not the last word on this matter."
The company plans to renew a motion for the judge to issue a ruling against the states, claiming that they did not prove their case as a matter of law. It also awaits the court's decision on a separate motion to strike the testimony of one of the states' expert witness, whose analysis they say helped inform the jury's damages award. The jury found that Ticketmaster overcharged consumers $1.72 per ticket.
"Of course, Live Nation can and will appeal any unfavorable …
Ozlo’s comfy Sleepbuds are nearly 30 percent off in the run-up to Mother’s Day
If you’re struggling to get a full night of rest, a good pair of sleep earbuds can help you tune out unwanted distractions. The Ozlo Sleepbuds are one such option, and they’re currently available for $249 ($100 off) in the run-up to Mother’s Day at Amazon and Ozlo’s online storefront, which is easily the lowest price we’ve seen.
Made by former Bose engineers, Ozlo’s Sleepbuds are extremely similar to Bose’s discontinued Sleepbuds. They work well as a white noise machine and helped our reviewer, Victoria Song, get better sleep during her testing. The biggest upgrade over the Bose Sleepbuds II is that you’re no longer limited to a small library of white noise sounds. The Ozlo buds let you play your own audio, then switch back to white noise once you’ve fallen asleep. In our experience, that feature is a bit hit-or-miss, but when it does work, it’s helpful. In November, Ozlo added a host of sleep tracking features to both the earbuds and their charging case as part of a beta, allowing you to track your sleeping habits and the factors that might disrupt your cycle (we’ve yet to test them).
Otherwise, the Ozlo Sleepbuds are largely similar to the last-gen Bose. They’re lightweight, comfortable for side sleepers, and stay put overnight. Battery life still lasts up to 10 hours, which is enough for a full night, and you can set private alarms that won’t disturb anybody else. They’re not quite as advanced as Soundcore’s newer Sleep A30 earbuds — which offer active noise cancellation and an adaptive snore masking feature — but if you just want a comfortable pair of earbuds built specifically to help you sleep, they do the job quite nicely.
Teenage Engineering might be getting into instrument amps next
An unannounced Teenage Engineering device, the KO-Amp 35, can be found over at the FCC in a new filing. The label clearly marks it as a member of the mid-range EP family instruments, which currently includes the KO-II and its spinoffs, the Riddim and the Medieval. The name suggests that TE could be getting into the budget guitar and instrument amp space, but the filing reveals very little.
All we know is that it has a built-in rechargeable battery and Bluetooth, but little else. There is also a "model difference statement," which suggests the KO-Amp will come in multiple colors. The angle and distance of the images in the filing make it dif …
The only way to fight deepfakes is by making deepfakes
I was unsure if my parents would notice that the voice on the other end wasn't mine - or that it was mine, sort of, but it wasn't me. The voice said hello, asked my dad how he was doing, and asked again when he didn't respond quickly enough. "What is that, Gaby?" He realized something was wrong almost immediately. I explained I had tried to trick him and it clearly hadn't worked. "It didn't," he said. "It sounded like a robot."
It wasn't a perfect experiment. My parents were out of the country, which made for a shoddy connection. They were having lunch with friends, and the voice couldn't deal with crosstalk or delays in the audio - it trie …
Casely has reannounced a power bank recall from 2025 following a fatality
Casely first recalled over 429,000 of its 5,000mAh Power Pods wireless power banks in April 2025 following 51 reports of their lithium-ion batteries "overheating, expanding or catching fire," resulting in six minor burn injuries. Both the company and the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (USCPSC) are reannouncing the same recall today following 28 additional reports of batteries overheating. Those include a serious incident on a plane and the death of a 75-year-old New Jersey woman who "suffered second and third degree burns and later passed away from complications from her injuries" following an explosion, according to the USCPSC.
The …
The nine best ways to protect, customize, and accessorize your MacBook Neo
The MacBook Neo is poised to be a top-selling laptop in 2026, thanks in large part to its affordable $599 entry price. Despite launching at a more accessible price point than Apple’s $1,099 (though often discounted) 2026 MacBook Air, the Neo makes surprisingly few concessions in terms of build quality. Its design has the same level of precision as pricier Apple products, and we found in a hands-on comparison that it handily outclasses similarly priced Windows laptops in just about every way despite running on an iPhone chipset.
In short, you might want one, or perhaps you already have one. Whatever your situation is, it’s possible that you may also want a couple of accessories to get the most out of your Neo. We have nine recommendations — a MacBook Neo accessory starter kit, if you will — that can help you protect it, customize it, or just use it more comfortably in your day-to-day life.
A USB-C monitor to use as a second screen
Not every computer monitor supports USB-C video input, so the selection of ones that do is smaller (and often pricier) than if you just want a cheap model that only boasts HDMI or DisplayPort inputs. Whether you find a deal or not, the Asus ProArt PA278CV is an appealing (and relatively inexpensive) monitor that offers USB-C video-in as well as passthrough charging to keep your Neo charged.
It’s a 27-inch 1440p monitor with a 75Hz refresh rate that’s color accurate. It features built-in speakers and can deliver 65W of power via USB-C, which is more than enough to keep the Neo charging at its peak 30W speed (faster than the 20W charger that Apple includes). It’s typically priced at $299 at retailers like Amazon and B&H Photo, but you might find it for as low as $209 if you’re lucky.
If you want something cheaper and small enough to fit in a bag (but with even better contrast), portable OLED monitors might be a better fit. Brands like Innocn make them in various sizes with different screen capabilities, but the company’s 13.3-inch 1080p model — which connects via USB-C — is a steal at $99.99, its current price for Amazon Prime members. Otherwise, it’s $129.99 on Amazon for those without a premium membership.
Innocn 13.3-inch OLED Full HD 1080p Portable Monitor
Where to Buy:
A USB-C hub for connecting accessories and a display
The great thing about laptops with USB-C ports is that the ecosystem of compatible accessories is vast. However, the Neo has only two USB-C ports, meaning you’ll likely need to prioritize which devices to plug in at any given moment. Thankfully, you can easily expand your Neo’s capabilities with an affordable USB-C hub like Anker’s 7-in-1 model, which can expand a single port into seven for around $26 at Amazon and through Anker directly.
Not only can you use it to charge your laptop (it supports up to 85W passthrough speeds), but it also provides an HDMI port and another USB-C port, plus two USB-A ports and both full-size and microSD card readers. It’s a must-have, if you don’t already have one.
A screen protector to shield the Neo’s most fragile component
The first accessory I put on all my pricey devices that have a display is a screen protector. Several brands make them, but I always gravitate toward amFilm, which makes a tempered glass protector for the Neo that’s currently going for just $19.99 on Amazon.
Not everyone will feel the urge to buy this upgrade. But it’s never a bad idea to protect your purchase, since it might just save you from a pricey repair down the road. The protector from amFilm is easy to install, and it’s anti-scratch and anti-fingerprint, too.
A snap-on shell to keep your Neo scratch-free
If you, like me, are someone who absolutely babies their tech, you may also feel inclined to get a snap-on shell that can fit perfectly around your MacBook Neo without hiding its sleek design or color. The multicolored, matte-textured options from Mosiso seem nicer than other options, and it’s about $24 at Amazon. The plastic shells typically cost around $20, and the company claims that they don’t hinder the Neo’s ability to close. They’re also built to resist scratches, fingerprint smudging, and unwanted cracks.
A collapsible laptop stand when you need it
Laptop stands serve different purposes for different folks. Some people want to use their laptop’s keyboard at an angle that’s more ergonomically friendly, while others may simply want to bring their laptop’s display closer to eye level. And some people may want all of those benefits. Whatever your need, Moft’s $25 Adhesive Stand is great because it’s only there when you need it. The handy laptop stand folds into itself (unlike pricier, bulkier options) and features a low-profile design that’s barely there when you need to slide your Neo into a bag.
A thin keyboard cover to keep out debris
Liquid ingress in a keyboard is one of the main reasons why a laptop dies before its time. Dust and crumbs certainly don’t help, either, as they can clog things up and prevent your keys from pressing. A lightweight keyboard cover that gently lies over the keys, thus preserving their look, feel, and backlighting, is a nice, cheap accessory that can keep dust out. Uppercase’s GhostCover is just under $13 at Amazon. It may not stop a flood of water, coffee, or your beverage of choice from getting into your Neo after a spill, but it’ll likely help limit the damage.
One important note is that this keyboard cover is only compatible with the $699 version that has a 512GB SSD and, crucially, a Touch ID fingerprint sensor. It won’t fit the $599 version correctly.
A spare trackpad or wireless mouse
The Neo’s built-in trackpad is large and responsive, but you may want to use an input off to the side for ergonomic reasons (you might also be more comfortable with a mouse). In the case of mice, there are numerous models that work with macOS — either dongle-free over Bluetooth or with a USB receiver — but the best, most feature-packed model you can currently buy is the $119.99 Logitech MX Master 4 from Amazon, Newegg, and Logitech directly. It’s a right-handed mouse that’s comfortable and high-end, with a haptics-based thumb button that can surface on-screen shortcuts to make navigating both a bit faster and easier. It also connects via Bluetooth or with its included USB-C dongle.
Logitech MX Master 4 wireless mouse
Where to Buy:
Another option for trackpad lovers is Apple’s official Magic Trackpad. It’s a bigger standalone trackpad than the one built into the Neo, but you can position it wherever you’d like. It starts at $119.99 from Amazon and is rechargeable via USB-C, just like the laptop, and connects wirelessly over Bluetooth.
Apple Magic Trackpad (USB-C)
Where to Buy:
A capable charger when you’re away from an outlet
As often as you may be at home or otherwise near a power outlet while using your MacBook Neo, sometimes you need to take it on the go. A power bank is great for rescuing depleted gadgets, or keeping them topped off until you settle down again with a power outlet. They range in price and capabilities, but given the Neo’s 30W peak charging speed, you don’t need anything extravagant on that front.
Baseus’ 20,000mAh power bank with two built-in USB-C cables, which can supply up to 45W of power, should more than suffice. It’s on sale at Amazon for $31.99 right now, and its size should allow it to charge your Neo at least once, or you can charge your laptop alongside up to three other devices at reduced charging speeds.
Baseus EnerFill FC11 Power Bank with Dual Built-in Cables
Where to Buy:
For something with more capacity that offers similar versatility thanks to its two built-in USB-C cables (one of which can extend), Anker’s 25,000mAh Laptop Power Bank is a popular choice among Verge readers. It’s significantly pricier at around $120 — though it’s currently on sale for $95.99 at Best Buy, Amazon, and Walmart — and it can deliver a combined output of 165W when charging multiple devices at once.
Anker Laptop Power Bank
Where to Buy:
For tinkerers, mix and match official Apple components for a customized look
It was recently discovered that Apple sells spare parts for the MacBook Neo, which are intended for repair, not necessarily for the funsies I’m about to describe. That said, you can buy parts in the color of your choosing (silver, indigo, blush, citrus) to make a fun, unique Neo that will likely attract some eyeballs when you use it in public.
Granted, it’s not affordable to make these customizations; the bottom metal case is the cheapest upgrade at $34.32, and a complete set of key caps runs $39. You’re also on your own when it comes to installing them, so it’s not a project that I’d recommend for beginner tinkerers, since you’re at risk of damaging your laptop.