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GuliKit’s new Switch controller features next-generation anti-drift thumbsticks

11 August 2026 at 14:00
The GuliKit ES Max wireless controller on a wooden desk next to a laptop.

GuliKit announced its first wireless controller to use an improved version of the anti-drift tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) thumbsticks featured in its budget-friendly ES Pro that debuted nearly a year ago. Available now for $49.99, the new GuliKit ES Max is more expensive than last year's $29.99 ES Pro, but still cheaper than Nintendo's Switch 2 Pro Controller, while offering more features and functionality without the risk of stick drift that plagued the original Switch.

The TMR thumbsticks in the ES Max don't feature a complete reimagining of the technology but measure stick movement in a slightly different way that improves performa …

Read the full story at The Verge.

Should people marry AI agents?

11 August 2026 at 13:00
The widespread use of conversational platforms such as ChatGPT and Gemini is raising important new ethical, anthropological and legal questions regarding the potential risks, misuses and shortcomings of artificial intelligence (AI). In discussing their personal experiences, some people have shared that they formed emotional attachments to AI agents or even felt that they had formed romantic relationships with them.

Your future self will thank you for slipping this $23.99 Find My tracker into your wallet

11 August 2026 at 09:00

Macworld

TL;DR: Never lose track of your essentials with the MagTag Ultra Slim Tracker Card. It works with Apple’s Find My app, fits in your wallet like a credit card, and is on sale for just $23.99 (MSRP $59.99).

Losing your wallet is one of those experiences that somehow makes five minutes feel like five years. Before you start retracing every step you’ve taken today, there’s an easier backup plan. The MagTag Ultra Slim Tracker Card slips into your wallet, passport holder, backpack, or luggage and works with Apple’s Find My app to help you locate your essentials. Right now, it’s just $23.99 (MSRP $59.99).

At only 1.5mm thick, it’s about the size of a credit card, so you won’t even notice it’s there — until you need it. You’ll get left-behind alerts if you wander off without your belongings, real-time tracking through Apple’s Find My network, and a loud beep to help you zero in when something’s hiding in plain sight.

The rechargeable battery lasts up to five months, supports Qi wireless charging, and the IP68 waterproof rating means it’s ready for everyday mishaps and travel alike.

Slip one into your wallet before your next “where did I put that?” moment.

Get the MagTag Ultra Slim Tracker Card for just $23.99 (MSRP $59.99).

MagTag Ultra Slim Tracker Card – Works with Apple Find My AppSee Deal

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Anker’s travel charger works in almost any country and is down to $20

10 August 2026 at 22:18
Anker Nano Travel Adapter
Anker’s Nano Travel Adapter can power up to five devices at once. | Image: Anker

If you’ve got international travel coming up, an adapter is essential for keeping your phone, earbuds, power banks, and other gadgets charged. Anker’s Nano Travel Adapter is one of our picks from our guide to the best gadgets for summer travel because it can charge up to five devices at once, yet it’s small enough to fit in the palm of your hand. It’s also available in black for just $19.99 ($6 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and directly from Anker (with code WS7DV2BNB82J) matching its best price to date.

The Nano’s four built-in sets of prongs should keep you covered in “over 200 countries and regions,” according to Anker. It also features two USB-C ports and two USB-A ports, along with an AC outlet for plugging in a standard wall charger. A single USB-C port delivers up to 20W, which should be enough to get an iPhone 17 to 50 percent in less than 30 minutes. That’s not enough power to charge most laptops, making the USB ports better suited for smaller gadgets like phones, tablets, earbuds, and power banks. You can still charge your laptop, however, by plugging its wall charger into the AC outlet.

What’s more, it’s designed to take up as little space as possible. The adapter’s only an inch thick with its prongs folded in and, at 3.8 ounces, weighs less than a smartphone. Just keep in mind that the Nano doesn’t convert voltage, so you’ll want to make sure gadgets like hair dryers and electric razors support the voltage at your destination before plugging them in. 

'You're a 4 out of 10': The troubling rise of AI appearance ratings

10 August 2026 at 18:00
A teenager joins an online video chat. Within seconds, artificial intelligence analyzes their face and gives them a score out of 10 for "attractiveness." They are compared in real time with another user who scores higher and is declared the winner. The game is live-streamed, and the audience ridicules the loser in the chat.

Der bessere Airtag: Bluetooth-Tracker im Kartenformat mit “Wo ist?”-Tracking heute noch zum Tiefstpreis

9 August 2026 at 10:17

-36 %

Neuer Bluetooth-Tracker im Kartenformat zum Bestpreis

Nur 15,99 Euro statt 24,99 Euro UVP

Objekt-Tracker im Kartenformat sind vor allem dann praktisch, wenn Sie Geldbörse, Reisepass, Tasche oder Schlüssel gerne mal verlegen (mir passiert das ständig). Statt lange zu suchen, können Sie den Tracker über die Apple-“Wo ist?”-App orten oder in der Nähe einen Signalton abspielen lassen. Gerade auf Reisen oder im Alltag mit vielen Gegenständen kann das Zeit und Stress sparen.

Bei Amazon gibt es den Ugreen Finetrack Slim heute noch im Angebot für 15,99 Euro. Die UVP liegt bei 24,99 Euro, daraus ergibt sich eine Ersparnis von 36 Prozent. Das seit diesem Jahr verfügbare Modell war vor zwei Wochen erstmals zu diesem niedrigen Preis verfügbar, davor und in der Zwischenzeit lag der Preis bei 16,99 bis 18,99 Euro. Sie bekommen den dünnen Tracker im Kartenformat also erneut zum Tiefstpreis.

Was der Ugreen Finetrack Slim zu bieten hat

Der Ugreen Finetrack Slim ist ein Bluetooth-Tracker im Kartenformat und richtet sich ausschließlich an Nutzer von iOS-Geräten. Er ist mit Apples “Wo ist?”-Netzwerk kompatibel und lässt sich ohne zusätzliche App mit der “Wo ist?”-App verbinden. Android und HarmonyOS werden nicht unterstützt.

Ein wesentlicher Unterschied zum bisherigen normalen Modell ist die Ladefunktion. Während das ältere Modell zwar minimal dünner war, aber mit einem speziellen Kabel geladen werden musste, unterstützt diese neue Version magnetisches, kabelloses Laden. Laut Hersteller sind Qi- und Magsafe-Ladestandards nutzbar. Das erleichtert die Anwendung im Alltag, weil kein separates Spezialkabel nötig ist. Ein Ladegerät gehört allerdings nicht zum Lieferumfang.

Pro Ladung soll der Tracker bis zu ein Jahr Akkulaufzeit bieten. Der integrierte Lithium-Polymer-Akku ist fest integriert und mehrfach aufladbar. Den Akkustand können Sie laut Hersteller jederzeit per App prüfen.

Für das Wiederfinden in der Nähe ist ein integrierter Lautsprecher vorhanden. Der Piepton spielt einen Alarm ab, der bis zu 100 Dezibel laut ist. Der Ton lässt sich über “Wo ist?” oder per Siri auslösen. So können Sie den Tracker akustisch suchen, wenn er sich etwa in einer Tasche, unter einem Kissen oder in der Nähe des Schreibtischs befindet.

Der Tracker ist nach IP68 gegen Staub und Wasser geschützt. Laut Angaben hält er bis zu 60 Minuten in bis zu 1 Meter Wassertiefe aus. Für Regen, Staub oder den normalen Alltag ist das sinnvoll, auch wenn der Tracker dadurch nicht für dauerhaftes Untertauchen gedacht ist.

Beim Datenschutz verweist Ugreen auf die Apple-“Wo ist?”-Zertifizierung und verschlüsselte Standortdaten. Laut Hersteller haben weder Ugreen noch Dritte Zugriff auf die Standortinformationen. Das ist besonders relevant, weil der Tracker für persönliche Gegenstände wie Portemonnaie, Reisepass, Tasche oder Schlüssel gedacht ist.

Warum sich das Angebot lohnt

Für 15,99 Euro ist der Ugreen Finetrack Slim aktuell besonders interessant, weil das neue kabellos ladbare Modell erstmals zum Bestpreis erhältlich ist. Gegenüber dem normalen Modell ist die Bedienung im Alltag etwas komfortabler, weil kein spezielles Ladekabel mehr nötig ist. Wer bereits im Apple-Ökosystem unterwegs ist und einen Tracker für Geldbörse, Reisepass, Tasche, Schlüssel oder Gepäck sucht, bekommt hier eine kompakte Lösung mit langer Akkulaufzeit, IP68-Schutz und Anbindung an Apples “Wo ist?”-Netzwerk.

Die Nutzerbewertungen fallen mit 4,6 von 5 Sternen bei knapp 470 Bewertungen insgesamt positiv aus. Käufer loben vor allem die Funktionalität, die Lautstärke, die Verarbeitung und die einfache Installation. Auch das Preis-Leistungs-Verhältnis wird positiv bewertet. Sie sollten aber wissen, dass dieses Modell etwas dicker ist als die alte Karte, die per Kabel aufgeladen wird. Für sehr dünne Geldbörsen kann das also ein Punkt sein, den Sie vor dem Kauf berücksichtigen sollten.

Musician and entrepreneur Tom Vek is building a digital music player, but don’t call it retro

8 August 2026 at 16:00
Musician Tom Vek taking a selfie with his Sleevenote music player.
Tom, we can’t see your face. | Image: Tom Vek

Tom Vek burst onto the scene in 2005 with his album We Have Sound, which garnered a solid 7.6 from the tastemakers of the day over at Pitchfork. His undeniably catchy brand of dancy indietronica landed him an appearance on The OC and placement on the Grand Theft Auto IV soundtrack. His follow-up, Leisure Seizure, had a lengthy gestation period, but arrived in 2011 to similar success, reaching No. 79 on the UK charts.

Vek has continued to release music at regular intervals over the last 15 years, dropping Newer Symbols in 2022. But in 2020 he started toying with this idea he had for a music player called Sleevenote. Inspired by viny …

Read the full story at The Verge.

Is this $450 laptop from an unknown brand too good to be true?

A Chuwi UniBook laptop, facing away from the camera to show its lid. It’s sitting on a glss table admist a plush meeting space filled with colorful couches and chairs.
Cute name, especially if it were a wookiee. | Photo: Antonio G. Di Benedetto / The Verge

Finding a good laptop under $500 was hard enough before RAMageddon. They nearly always had cheap hardware and underpowered, often outdated chips. That's what made the MacBook Neo so disruptive: It offered great build quality and good-enough performance starting at $599. Windows laptops couldn't touch it. Even though it's gone up to $699, it's still the laptop to beat.

So when little-known Chinese brand Chuwi announced a $450 Windows laptop with an aluminum build and a brand-new Intel Wildcat Lake processor, it sounded too good to be true.

It is.

Chuwi UniBook

Score: 3

ProsCons
  • It's $450
  • Tons of ports for a small laptop (though none are very …

Read the full story at The Verge.

My favorite feel-good show is back

8 August 2026 at 13:00

Hi, friends! Welcome to Installer No. 139, your guide to the best and Verge-iest stuff in the world. (If you're new here, welcome, barbecue sauce, and also you can read all the old editions at the Installer homepage.)

This week, I've been reading about Johnny Knoxville and Google Zero and the history of the bicycle, @all-ing everyone in all my WhatsApp chats just because I can now, rereading There Will Come Soft Rains because this week is when it happens, seeing if Sabbath can help fix my screentime problems, once again moving everything around in my home office, eating altogether too much of the fabulous Trader Joe's snack mix, testing th …

Read the full story at The Verge.

Thinking about trading your car in for an EV? Here's a compelling new reason to do it now

6 August 2026 at 19:00
In recent months, American drivers have felt the pain of increased prices at the gas pump. There's some evidence that higher prices may be fueling interest in greener ways of getting around. Battery electric cars, more commonly called electric vehicles or EVs, can be cheaper to own and operate than gas-powered internal combustion engine cars, and they offer considerable sustainability benefits. But just how much better for the planet are electric vehicles, really?

Apple and Android users, skip the bulky trackers—this slim SmartCard is just $32

6 August 2026 at 09:00

Macworld

TL;DR: This KeySmart SmartCard Gen 3 slips into your wallet, works with Apple Find My or Google Find Hub, and helps you track your valuables without the bulk of a traditional tracker—and it’s on sale for just $31.99 (reg. $39.99).

We’ve all had that moment: you’re ready to leave the house, but your wallet has mysteriously disappeared. Couch cushions get flipped, jacket pockets get searched, and somehow you’re already running late.

The KeySmart SmartCard Gen 3 is designed to make those moments a lot less stressful. For just $31.99 (reg. $39.99), this ultra-thin tracker slips into your wallet like a credit card and works with either Apple Find My or Google Find Hub, so you can locate it right from your phone.

Unlike bulky trackers that create an awkward lump in your wallet, SmartCard measures just 1.8mm thick—roughly the thickness of two credit cards. It’s also rechargeable, so there’s no need to keep buying replacement batteries.

The upgraded Atlas Gen 3 chipset delivers faster processing and a stronger connection than previous versions, while separation alerts can notify you if you accidentally leave your wallet behind. It’s also IPX8 waterproof, so rain, spills, and everyday mishaps won’t slow it down.

Whether you’re prone to misplacing your wallet or just want a little extra peace of mind, SmartCard offers a simple upgrade that’s easy to carry because you’ll barely notice it’s there—until you need it.

Get the KeySmart SmartCard Gen 3 for just $31.99 (reg. $39.99) right now.

KeySmart SmartCard Gen 3 – Apple Find My and Android | Wireless ChargingSee Deal

StackSocial prices subject to change.

The best microwaves in the UK for every kitchen and budget – tested

4 August 2026 at 15:00

They’re perfect for time-poor cooks, but which deserves your counter space? From combi models to smart designs, here’s what our expert recommends

• The best air fryers

If you’re at a restaurant and hear a ping a couple of minutes before your meal arrives at your table, it’s unlikely to be a good sign. But microwave ovens are a brilliant tool in the home kitchen. They’re fearsomely fast at heating up – or even cooking – food when you’re time-poor and lacking the energy to make something wholesome after a hard day at work. And in hot weather, cooking by microwave isn’t just quick: it also won’t warm your home.

Microwaves work best for heating food with a high water content (they make the water molecules in food vibrate to create heat). However, before testing, I asked around to find out what people use theirs for most, with a view to using this information to shape my tests. I learned a few things – like lots of people eat mug cakes. Who knew? And that wheat bags are a popular alternative to hot-water bottles. But the majority of folk use their microwave for reheating cold cuppas, defrosting frozen batch-cooked meals, warming food, popping microwave popcorn – and, of course, cooking jacket potatoes more quickly. I used these insights to shape my testing.

Continue reading...

© Composite: PR Image

© Composite: PR Image

© Composite: PR Image

Skylight’s smart calendars are up to $90 off during its back-to-school sale

2 August 2026 at 16:00
A photo of a person using the Skylight Calendar 2.
The 15-inch Skylight Calendar 2 can stand on a table or mounted to the wall. | Image: Skylight

The start of a new school year can feel hectic, as parents juggle their kids’ classes, extracurriculars and sports on top of work, appointments, and other responsibilities. It’s easy for things to slip through the cracks, but Skylight’s shared smart calendars can help keep everyone on track, and from August 2nd through August 9th they’re up to $90 off.

The sale includes the 10-inch Skylight Calendar for $119.99 ($50 off), the 15-inch Skylight Calendar 2 for $259.99 ($20 off), and the 27-inch Skylight Calendar Max for $479.99 ($90 off). The 10-inch model takes up the least amount of space, though the newer, larger 15-inch Calendar 2 features faster performance, a brighter display, and swappable magnetic frames. The 27-inch Calendar Max, meanwhile, offers the sharpest and largest screen and must be mounted to the wall (the other models can stand on a table or be mounted), making it the easiest option for large families to view from across the room. 

Regardless of which model you choose, every Skylight Calendar includes the same set of organizational features. Each member of your household can have their own color-coded profile, and each can sync events from Google, Outlook, Apple, Cozi, or Yahoo calendars. You can also create shared lists for groceries, chores, and other to-dos that everyone can access from the calendar or the companion mobile app, and even send your grocery list to Instacart with a couple of taps. Built-in weather forecasts also can help you plan around upcoming events, and you can also share calendar access with family members and trusted contacts. 

You get even more perks if you subscribe to the $79 per year Plus Plan (the first month of the service is free to try). Skylight uses AI to automatically turn emails, photos, flyers, and spreadsheets into calendar entries. It also adds meal planning, tools for assigning and rewarding completed chores, and a mode that displays your photos like a digital picture frame.

Read our Skylight Calendar Max review.

HP’s HyperX Omen 15 isn’t quite the budget-friendly gaming laptop its predecessor was

A HyperX Omen 15 gaming laptop on a wood table, in front of a splash of cyan colored light.
Tough sell. | Photo: Antonio G. Di Benedetto / The Verge

The HP HyperX Omen 15, which I first saw at CES, replaces the HP Victus 15, a longtime bestselling budget gaming laptop. The Victus cost just $800, or less when on sale, and was a good entry point to decent laptop gaming.

The Omen 15 has nice little upgrades over the Victus. Its RTX 5050 Laptop GPU can play 2026's latest games, albeit on low-ish settings. But it's also got a brighter 16:10 aspect ratio display with higher refresh rate, and a 1080p webcam to make it a little better for non-gaming stuff.

I'd call it a working-class gaming laptop, but thanks to RAMageddon, the Omen 15 starts at $1,200 - a far cry from the $800 that made its …

Read the full story at The Verge.

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