Sphere Entertainment has announced two new immersive experiences coming to its 516-foot wide spherical venue in Las Vegas. An enhanced version of The Wizard of Oz will premiere on the Sphere’s 160,000 square foot screen on August 28th, 2025, while a new film by Academy Award-winning directors Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin (Free Solo) featuring climber Alex Honnold and other elite athletes is scheduled for 2026.

For The Wizard of Oz, Sphere Entertainment is collaborating with Warner Bros. Discovery, Google, and Magnopus – a studio who has previously created immersive experiences for Disney, Sony, and NASA. “Sphere will use cutting-edge technologies to enhance the original film,” according to the company. “The Wizard of Oz at Sphere will maintain the integrity of the original while pushing the boundaries of Sphere’s experiential medium.”

Although The Wizard of Oz received a 4K HDR restoration in 2020, the Sphere’s screen has a much higher resolution of 16,000 pixels by 16,000 pixels. The venue also offers multi-sensory experiences through sound and haptics and can recreate environmental elements like heat, wind, and scents, but details on what the immersive version of The Wizard of Oz will include haven’t been revealed yet.

From The Edge will feature extreme sports and five premier athletes – rock climber Alex Honnold, free diver Alenka Artnik, skier Markus Eder, surfer Kai Lenny, and BASE jumper Katie Hansen Lajeunesse – and is currently filming in locations including Jordan, Dubai, Switzerland, the Bahamas, Austin, Las Vegas, and Maui.

Both productions are coming from Sphere Studios, the company’s Burbank-based production studio that launched nearly two years ago and developed Sphere Entertainment’s Big Sky ultra-high-resolution camera system that’s currently being used to capture footage for From The Edge.

Amazon is comparing a new feature for the Kindle to the “Previously on…” segments that TV shows frequently use. But the Kindle’s Recaps feature is instead focused on book series and provides a “quick refresher on storylines and character arcs” before readers start the next book, Amazon says.

The short Recaps, which do include spoilers, are available to readers in the US for “thousands of bestselling English language Kindle books in series you have purchased or borrowed,” according to Amazon.

You can determine if a series you’re reading has Recaps available by looking for a View Recaps button “in the series page in your Kindle Library.” It will also be available in a three-dot menu where you see a series of books grouped together in the Kindle UI.

Recaps was first introduced on a Kindle software update released last week that also lets Kindle Colorsoft and 12th-gen Paperwhite Signature Edition users double-tap the back and sides of their e-readers to turn pages or scroll lists. The Recap feature will be available on a wider assortment of Kindle devices, including older models that are eligible for the 5.18.1 update.

Amazon says it’s being rolled out as an over-the-air update over the next several weeks, but it can also be downloaded from Amazon’s website and manually installed on Kindles immediately. Amazon also plans to soon make it available on its Kindle app for iOS.

With every new portable console comes a mountain of new third-party accessories. We’ve already seen Hori’s Piranha Plant alternative to the Switch 2’s USB-C camera, but Genki has announced a larger lineup of accessories designed to help protect the portable console while you’re playing away from home, plus some clever ways to keep it and its Joy-Con controllers charged.

The $49.99 Genki Joy-Station looks like a sleek way to avoid the annoying juggling act of keeping more than two Joy-Cons charged, with some additional, well thought-out functionality. The Joy-Cons attach to two delta-shaped grips turning each pair into standalone controllers. Two Joy-Cons can be simultaneously charged using a USB-C cable while attached to the grips – useful for those times when you want to play and the Joy-Cons are nearly dead – but they also charge when the grips are reattached to the charging base.

Thanks in part to a larger screen, the Switch 2’s battery life is estimated to be between two and 6.5 hours per charge. You can extend that using Genki’s $69.99 Energy Pack which is designed to conveniently magnetically attach to the back of the console and charge it at up to 30W speeds. The 10,000mAh Energy Pack is Qi2 compatible so you can also use it to wirelessly charge your phone, but the Switch 2 isn’t, so the battery instead connects to the console’s top USB-C port using a short included cable.

For gamers wanting added protection while they’re playing the Switch 2, Genki’s Attack Vector is a $49.99 three-piece dock-compatible protective shell that can be upgraded with a screen cover for an extra $10. Its most compelling feature is that it comes with three different sizes of sweat-resistant grips including a slim option designed for travel and a chunky option for maximum grip.

The $29.99 (or $39.99 with an optional screen cover) Force Field 2 shell is a cheaper alternative to the Attack Vector featuring a swing open design so you can detach and reattach the Switch 2’s Joy-Cons without having to fully remove it. It’s also dock-compatible, and allows for full use of the Switch 2’s folding stand.

If you’re simply looking for a way to keep the Switch 2 safe from dirt and scratches while it’s stuffed in a bag, Genki’s $42.99 Sleeper Case features a hidden zipper and a soft wool finish inside and out wrapped around a sturdy shell the company describes as both “crushproof” and “virtually indestructible.”

Genki has also introduced a $19.99 Switch 2 screen protector called the Aegis Shield, and the Mimic Chest: a $19.99 plastic case sold in three-packs that each hold 12 game cartridges. All of the accessories are available for preorder now and expected to ship sometime in May or June 2025. If you want them all, Genki also sells the collection as a bundle with either the Force Field 2 shell for $184.99 or the Attack Vector for $199.99.

Five years after Nikon released its entry-level and more affordable alternative to its original Z7 and Z6 full-frame cameras, the company is finally updating its Z5 with improved autofocus and image stabilization, and a much brighter electronic viewfinder. Nikon says the new Z5 II is also its first camera that can capture video in its proprietary 12-bit N-RAW video format directly to an SD memory card, instead of pricier CF Express type B cards.

The Nikon Z5 II will be available sometime in April 2025 starting at $1,699.95 for the body alone – which is about $300 more expensive than the original Z5. It will also be available in kits that include the Z5 II body and either the Nikkor Z 24-50mm f/4-6.3 lens for $1,999.95, or the Nikkor Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR lens with vibration reduction for $2,499.95.

The Z5 II is built around a 24-megapixel full-frame backside illuminated sensor powered by Nikon’s EXPEED 7 image processing engine borrowed from its higher-end Z8 and Z9 pro-level cameras. That enables the camera to shoot at up to 14 fps in JPEG or 11 fps in RAW using its mechanical shutter, or up to 30 fps (JPEG) and 15 fps (RAW) when using its electronic shutter.

It offers a pre-release capture mode that stores up to a full second worth of images before the shutter is pressed to help ensure important moments aren’t missed. And if 24 megapixels aren’t enough, the Z5 II has a pixel shift mode that moves the sensor around to capture images up to 96 megapixels in size, but you’ll need to use Nikon’s Studio NX software to process those images – it doesn’t happen in camera.

Video is still limited to 4K resolutions at 30 fps, but that can be boosted to up to 60 fps when using a smaller portion of the sensor. Dropping the video resolution to 1080p can further boost frame rates to 120 fps for capturing slow motion footage.

The Z5 II uses Nikon’s 3D tracking autofocus system to keep subjects in focus even while they’re moving quickly or erratically, and it can detect and prioritize nine different types of subjects when capturing stills or videos: people, dogs, cats, cars, birds, motorcycles, bicycles, planes, and trains. Capturing crisp images is also assisted by an in-body stabilization system that prioritizes regions that are in focus.

It’s also Nikon’s first full-frame camera to feature its automatic AF-A autofocus mode. The Z5 II will switch between AF-S (single) and AF-C (continuous) modes in response to subjects that start moving or sudden changes in composition while shooting photos. The feature can make it easier to capture properly focused images of pets and kids who don’t always cooperate and sit still.

Other upgrades include a dedicated Picture Control button providing quick access to up to 31 built-in color presets as well as additional Nikon Imaging Recipes that can be uploaded to the camera by users. Nikon says the electronic viewfinder on the Z5 II offers up to 3,000 nits of brightness making it six times “brighter than any competing model.” The camera’s 3.2-inch LCD touchscreen has also been upgraded so it can flip out to the side and rotate, instead of simply tilting up and down like it did on the original Nikon Z5.

Dbrand wants you to feel less guilty about having your face buried in a screen all day and not getting outside to ‘touch grass.’ The company’s latest collection of skins lets you wrap your gadgets in bright green artificial turf so you can touch grass whenever you want and no matter where you are.

The Touch Grass collection is available now through Dbrand’s website for more than 100 different devices with pricing similar to its other premium skins: $29.95 for smartphones, $49.95 for tablets, and $69.95 for laptops.

Despite the April 1st timing, the Touch Grass collection isn’t a prank, Dbrand CEO Adam Ijaz assures The Verge. “Each year, April 1st rolls around and companies trip over themselves to see who can be the least funny. We, on the other hand, take the opportunity to launch real products. Are they drenched in satire? Yes — but they’re real products you can buy.”

The skins are covered in thousands of tiny polyethylene strands using a technique called electrostatic flocking, Ijaz explains. “Each polyethylene strand is electrically charged, causing it to stand upright and propel directly onto an adhesive-coated surface. In this application, the adhesive …

Read the full story at The Verge.

The release of  Apple’s iOS 18.4 on Monday includes good news for robot vacuum owners. The update includes support for controlling robot vacuums and adding them to automations and scenes in the Apple Home app via the Matter protocol. With the official rollout of iOS 18.4, companies like Roborock, iRobot, and Ecovacs are introducing firmware updates so their robovacs will be fully compatible with Apple Home.

Roborock’s firmware update “enhances the implementation of the Matter protocol across several of its premium robot vacuum models,” according to a press release from the company. Roborock models that will be getting this expanded Matter support include the S8 MaxV Ultra, Saros Z70, Saros 10, Saros 10R, Qrevo Curv, Qrevo Edge, and Qrevo Master.

Roborock says the supported models will receive the firmware update sometime between April 1st and April 10th, allowing users to control their robovacs through the Home app on devices including the iPhone, Apple Watch, HomePod, and iPad. The update will also improve connectivity and Matter support with smart home platforms based on Google Home and Amazon Alexa. (That’s of course why Matter was created in the first place – to help make smart home devices platform-agnostic.)

Additional models, including the Roborock S8 Max Ultra and Qrevo Slim, will be getting Matter support in updates scheduled to be released “in the upcoming weeks and months.” 

iRobot announced that the Roomba Combo 10 Max robot and Auto Wash Dock, released last August, will be its first robovac “compliant with Matter protocol and compatible with the Apple Home ecosystem.” Users will be able to start, stop, and schedule cleanings for specific rooms using the Home app or voice commands through Siri. 

Several of Ecovacs’ robot vacuums, including the Deebot X2, X2 Combo, T50, T50 Max, and X8, will also be getting Matter 1.4 firmware updates starting today. The updates will start “rolling out across these models in phases,” Ecovacs’ Associate Brand Marketing Director, Michelle Jones, told The Verge in an email.

Apple originally announced support for robot vacuums in Apple Home through Matter during WWDC 2024 as one of the many changes coming with iOS 18, though the features will be limited to power control, switching between vacuuming and mopping modes, and specifying which rooms to clean. Matter doesn’t support more advanced cleaning features like mapping and configuring zones for robovacs to avoid, so those functions might only be available through each manufacturer’s own app.

Warner Bros. Discovery introduced new branding for its Max streaming service yesterday, alongside announcing availability in Australia. Although still simply called Max, the service has traded its bright blue appearance for a monochromatic black-and-white color palette that’s more reminiscent of the iconic HBO logo. The new look has already been introduced on the streaming service’s user interface and social media channels, and will “continue to be rolled out on marketing material over the next few months,” according to Variety.

In 2023, HBO Max and Discovery Plus streaming services were merged to create the unified Max streaming service following the merger of WarnerMedia and Discovery the year prior. When Max launched, it ditched the HBO branding altogether and the deep purple color palette of the HBO Max service for the bright blue that’s been in use for the past couple of years.

Max’s previously colorful branding was originally chosen to help promote the new service’s broader programming and make it appear more kid-friendly. “We all love HBO. And it’s a brand that has been built over five decades to be the edgy, groundbreaking trendsetter in entertainment for adults. But it’s not exactly where parents would most eagerly drop off their kids,” JB Perrette, president and CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery’s global streaming and games, said during a Max launch event in 2023.

Yesterday’s rebrand, which appears to realign the streaming service with HBO, which is known for its more mature programming, “may help consumers associate the two brands with one another,” Variety speculates.

After Google completed its acquisition of Fitbit in early 2021, the company integrated Fitbit’s services with its own and required users to migrate existing Fitbit accounts to a Google account by 2025. But in an email sent to Fitbit users today, Google now says that deadline has been extended until next year. 

“As we have previously shared, Fitbit is now a part of Google, and Fitbit Account holders will need to transition to Google Accounts to continue using Fitbit,” the email says. “If you want to keep using Fitbit, you must move to a Google Account by February 2, 2026.”

In addition to not being able to continue to use the Fitbit service after the new deadline, the email also warns users that “your historical data will not be retained beyond February 2, 2026 (except as needed to comply with laws), and your account and data will be deleted.” Those not wanting to migrate have the option to “download or delete your data anytime on or before” the new deadline.

Following the acquisition, Google had also announced that activating new Fitbit hardware (including the Pixel Watch 2 and Fitbit Charge 6), accessing new health features, or creating a new Fitbit account would require a Google account starting in 2023. The company positioned the requirements as being a more convenient unified login solution for Fitbit users who would also be able to manage their Fitbit health data through the Google Privacy Center.

Ploopy, a Canadian company known for its customizable open-source peripherals, has announced an upgraded version of its Classic trackball mouse. The Classic 2 has the exact same shape and ergonomics as the original but offers improved connectivity, a more accurate and reliable scroll wheel, and an upgraded design, making it easier to 3D print without the need for adding support materials.

The Ploopy Classic 2 is now available as a kit you’ll need to assemble and solder yourself for around $101 ($144.99 CAD), or you can get it already assembled for around $147 ($209.99 CAD). Due to the design of its PCBs, the original Classic can’t be upgraded to the Classic 2.

The most useful improvement on the Classic 2 is a switch from USB-B – that chunky USB port most often found on printers – to USB-C. The company originally went with USB-B because it found the connector to be “very mechanically strong,” but has since found USB-C to be just as reliable after using it on other products.

The Classic 2 also fixes an issue with the original’s scroll wheel. If spun too quickly, it would “act oddly” or “sometimes reverse direction unexpectedly.” The problem was caused by the microcontroller in the original Classic being too slow to keep up. The solution was to upgrade the Classic 2 with a Raspberry Pi RP2040 microcontroller, which “runs the scroll wheel algorithms fifteen times faster than the one in the original Classic.”

Ploopy still uses the same PMW-3360 optical sensor as the Classic, as well as D2LS-21 switches under its buttons for “fantastic clicks.” The Classic 2 also still runs on the open-source QMK firmware, so all the software stays on the trackball with nothing that needs to be installed on your computer. You can download all of the open-source plans for the Classic 2 on GitHub should you want to modify or alter the trackball’s design for your own needs.

Robosen’s partnership with Hasbro continues with a new Bumblebee self-transforming robot toy launching this summer. Powered by 31 servo motors, Bumblebee transforms from a bright yellow bot to a classic Beetle with a scaled-down design officially licensed by Volkswagen that can be driven using a smartphone and Robosen’s app. They even brought back Dan Gilvezan, who voiced Bumblebee in the ‘80s Transformers cartoon, to record over 200 lines of new dialogue.

Robosen’s Bumblebee is available for preorder through the company’s online store for $949, which is a limited time 30-day discount on its full $1,299 price tag. That’s slightly more expensive than Robosen’s $1,200 Megatron that launched last April, but much cheaper than its self-transforming Grimlock Dinobot that debuted in 2023 for $1,700.

Standing almost 15-inches tall in robot mode, Bumblebee responds to 48 voice commands but can also be controlled through Robosen’s mobile app over Bluetooth which includes a simplified block-based programming language letting you create long animated sequences.

Bumblebee shuffles along on two feet using a “new and more fluid bipedal walking algorithm,” according to Hasbro, and features a custom-designed rear axle servo-motor and steering mechanism for improved maneuverability in vehicle mode.

If you’ve got deep pockets, all four of Robosen’s Transformers toys can interact with each other and play out battle sequences, reacting to blaster hits and punches from other bots all while exchanging one-liners.

This isn’t Robosen’s first Bumblebee toy. In 2023, just ahead of the Grimlock reveal, the company released a cheaper $399 version of Bumblebee that offered similar features to this new version, including walking on two feet, but without the ability to transform into a Beetle.

Ahead of Star Wars Celebration Japan getting underway on April 18th in Tokyo, Audio-Technica has announced four new limited edition versions of its ATH-CKS50TW2 wireless earbuds that originally debuted at CES 2025. Functionality is the same, but the earbuds have gotten a Star Wars-themed makeover with new colors and details inspired by R2-D2, Grogu, the Mandalorian, and Darth Vader plus custom audio alerts that play sound effects like Vader’s ominous labored breathing or a sad whistle when the Artoo version disconnects from a device.

The limited edition Audio-Technica ATH-CKS50TW2 are priced a bit higher than the standard versions: $179 up from $149. They’ll be available at Star Wars Celebration Japan but can also be pre-ordered through Audio-Technica’s online store starting on April 21st with an expected release on May 4th, 2025.

The earbuds still offer up to 40 hours of battery life with ANC turned on and a “Magnetic Switch” feature that automatically powers them off when the earbuds are attached to each other using magnets. They each feature several different unique sound effects, themed to each character, used to audibly indicate when different functions and features have been activated or turned off.

Amazon has released a software update for the current-generation Colorsoft and Paperwhite that lets you double-tap on the sides or back of your Kindle to turn the page. The new feature, as spotted by The eBook Reader, is listed in the release notes for the 5.18.1 update and can be found in Settings > Device Options.

The new software wasn’t immediately available as an over-the-air update for my Kindle Colorsoft, but I was able to download it and install it manually following Amazon’s instructions. The feature works well using relatively light taps anywhere on the Colorsoft, and since it requires two taps in rapid succession, it’s not easy to trigger by mistake. Unfortunately, it’s limited to just one direction. You can either use it to jump to the next page, or scroll down a long list of books. Perhaps a future update will enable triple-taps as a way to scroll up or go back to a previous page.

Although the 5.18.1 software update is also available for older versions of the entry-level Kindle, Paperwhite, Scribe, and Oasis, the new double-tap feature is only available for the Colorsoft and 12th-generation Paperwhite, Amazon spokesperson Connor Rice confirmed to The Verge.

Update, March 26th: Added confirmation from an Amazon spokesperson.

Canon has announced an updated version of its EOS R50 with improved video capabilities, a smaller body, and a cheaper price tag — thanks in part to losing an electronic viewfinder. The original, which launched in 2023, was an entry-level mirrorless camera with 4K video capabilities that maxed out at 30fps. The new EOS R50 V bumps that to 4K at 60fps and borrows some features from the video-focused PowerShot V1 point-and-shoot Canon announced in February.

The Canon EOS R50 V will be available sometime in April at $649.99 (the original debuted at $680) for the camera body alone. It will also be sold in an $849.99 bundle that includes Canon’s new RF-S14-30mm F4-6.3 lens featuring optical image stabilization and powered zoom capabilities controlled by a ring instead of a button or a lever. Canon says the use of a ring makes it easier to smoothly control the lens’s zoom, whether using the camera in portrait or landscape modes or while shooting selfie videos.

The camera features the same 24.2-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor as the original EOS R50 and uses Canon’s Dual Pixel AF II system with focus breathing compensation that can also be found on the EOS R6 Mark II and the PowerShot V1. New video recording modes include options for slow or fast shutters depending on the type of action being captured. There’s also a video mode with electronic stabilization to smooth out footage captured while the camera is moving, but there’s still no in-body image stabilization.

Where the EOS R50 V differs from its predecessor is a complete lack of a built-in flash and no electronic viewfinder. Framing shots is all done either on an external screen or using the three-inch articulated touchscreen on the back of the camera. The EOS R50 V is also much easier to use in either vertical or landscape modes thanks to a redesigned grip, an additional tripod screw mount on the side of the camera, and a second video record button on the front.

Four different livestreaming modes are supported, accessible through a dedicated button, including HDMI and support for Canon’s Camera Connect and Switcher Mobile apps. Although the EOS R50 V may seem like an affordable cinema camera solution for filmmakers, its somewhat limited capabilities make it better suited for video content creators looking for an upgrade to the PowerShot V1 that will let them swap lenses.

Alongside today’s EOS R50 V news, Canon has also announced global availability for the PowerShot V1. The point-and-shoot was initially announced in February 2025 with a late April launch for a limited number of countries including Japan, Korea, China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Canon says that same shipping timeline will now include the US, with the camera priced at $899.99.

Sony has announced a successor to its budget-minded WF-C700N wireless earbuds from 2023. The new WF-C710N still lack a memorable name but introduce improvements like upgraded active noise cancellation and features borrowed from Sony’s more premium earbud offerings. And despite the rising cost of many electronics, the WF-C710N are available for preorder today for $119.99 — the same price as their predecessors.

One of our biggest complaints when we reviewed the WF-C700N was their lackluster ANC, which was really only capable of removing very low frequency hums and rumbling. Although we haven’t tested the capabilities of the new WF-C710N, Sony says it has improved the performance of both the ANC and ambient sound mode through the use of dual microphones. However, it doesn’t look like Sony is using the dedicated ANC processors found in its premium earbud offerings.

Better battery life is another reason to consider an upgrade. With ANC turned on, the WF-C700N offered up to 7.5 hours on buds alone, or up to 15 hours when paired with a charging case that offered just a single full charge. For the WF-C710N, battery life is expanded to 8.5 hours for the buds, or up to 30 hours when paired with their charging case. With ANC turned off, Sony says battery life maxes out at up to 40 hours.

Quick charging has also been improved. Once the WF-C710N buds have died, just five minutes in their charging case — down from 10 — is enough to revive them for an hour of playback.

Premium features that have finally trickled down from Sony’s more premium earbuds include a sensor that will automatically pause playback when the WF-C710N are removed from your ears. Sony has also switched from physical buttons on each earbud to touch sensors whose function can be configured in a mobile app. They can be used to control music playback, answer calls, adjust the volume, or launch your preferred music app. The earbuds are also IPX4 water-resistant (splashes are okay, but a complete dunking is not) and can connect to two Bluetooth devices for easy switching.

But if all you care about is how your earbuds look, the Sony WF-C710N are available in black, white, pink, and a new transparent blue color that makes the upgrade even more tempting.

Sometime earlier this month, Apple updated a section of its website that discloses how it collects and uses imagery for Apple Maps’ Look Around feature, which is similar to Google Maps’ Street View, as spotted by 9to5Mac. A newly added paragraph reveals that, beginning in March 2025, Apple will be using imagery and data collected during Look Around surveys to “train models powering Apple products and services, including models related to image recognition, creation, and enhancement.”

Apple collects images and 3D data to enhance and improve Apple Maps using vehicles and backpacks (for pedestrian-only areas) equipped with cameras, sensors, and other equipment including iPhones and iPads. The company says that as part of its commitment to privacy, any images it captures that are published in the Look Around feature have faces and license plates blurred. Apple also says it will only use imagery with those details blurred out for training models. It does accept requests for those wanting their houses to also be blurred, but by default they are not.

The Verge has reached out to Apple for confirmation on exactly what models will be trained using the imagery, and will update this story accordingly. Apple Intelligence has several features powered by AI image generation models. These include Image Playground, the Clean Up tool in Apple’s Photos app which can remove parts of an image, and advanced image recognition that improves the Photos app’s search capabilities.

Twelve South has released a new version of its AirFly Pro dongle, promising better performance when connecting wireless headphones to devices that lack Bluetooth support. Although the AirFly Pro 2 is marketed as a way to hook wireless headphones to airplane seatback entertainment systems, it’s still compatible with any device featuring a 3.5mm headphone jack. It’s available now for $59.99, which is a small price bump from the original’s $54.99.

Two of the AirFly Pro 2’s biggest upgrades include the addition of dedicated volume control buttons on the dongle — a feature carried over from the cheaper AirFly SE — and the use of a newer Qualcomm QCC3056 audio processor. Twelve South says the upgraded processor “optimizes sound quality and latency, making movies, music, and games sound even better,” while also reducing background noise for improved voice clarity.

Wireless headphones should also pair faster with the AirFly Pro 2, which still includes multipoint connectivity — letting two people stream audio to their headphones simultaneously. Twelve South promises 25 hours of use on a full charge. And like the original AirFly Pro, the Pro 2 can also function as an aux input source for your smartphone, so you can do things like play music on an older car’s stereo system via its input jack.

Apple’s release candidate for watchOS 11.4 came out today, providing an early look at some new features coming to the Apple Watch in the next few weeks. The OS update has some bug fixes, but more notably, it makes a change to the Apple Watch’s Silent Mode, allowing alarms to be heard while everything else is silenced.

Currently, with Silent Mode activated, the Apple Watch only delivers alerts to users through haptic vibrations. It helps keep notifications private, reduces distractions, and prevents the watch from making noise at inopportune times, like when you’re in a meeting.

The notes for the watchOS 11.4 release candidate describe the new feature as “an option to allow Sleep Wake Up alarm to break through Silent Mode.” Each individual alarm, including the one set in the Apple Watch’s sleep settings for waking up in the morning, will have a new option to “Break Through Silent Mode.” With it on, sounds and haptic vibrations will both play when an alarm goes off, according to 9to5Mac.

The change seems counterintuitive to Silent Mode, but even with the Apple Watch’s haptics set to Prominent, the highest possible intensity, I still frequently find myself sleeping through the vibrations of an alarm I’ve set. I refuse to turn Silent Mode off, which means I just don’t use my Apple Watch for any critical alarms, but that could soon change.

Alongside beefy wall chargers that can power up several devices simultaneously, Anker continues to refine the design and engineering of its basic single-port USB-C AC adapters making them smaller and smaller. Its new Nano 45W charger is now just 1.45 inches long and weighs 52 grams, which is about 17 grams lighter than the last version.

The charger is currently only available through Amazon for $34.99, and Anker includes a six-foot long USB-C charging cable.

Anker’s previous smallest 45W charger, the Nano II 713, measured 1.49 x 1.38 x 1.62 inches in size and weighed 69 grams. The new version shrinks that to 1.30 × 1.26 × 1.45 inches and 52 grams. It’s still even lighter when you factor in the extra weight of the bundled USB-C cable, which pushes the total weight to 58 grams.

As with older iterations, Anker’s new 45W Nano charger supports Samsung’s Super Fast Charging functionality which takes advantage of a USB Power Delivery (PD) specification called PPS. You can charge a dead Samsung S25 Ultra to around 70 percent capacity in 30 minutes, or fully recharge it in just under an hour.

Coca-Cola is installing what the company claims to be the world’s first hydrogen-powered vending machines at the World Expo 2025, which will open to the public in Osaka, Japan, on April 13th, 2025. Co-developed by Fuji Electric, the machines don’t need access to a power outlet and instead rely on replaceable hydrogen cartridges to fuel a chemical reaction that generates electricity, as spotted by SoraNews24.

The new vending machines have a slightly larger footprint thanks to an additional generator module on the side. That’s where the hydrogen cartridges are installed, and where the chemical reaction between the hydrogen and oxygen takes place, generating power that’s stored in a battery.

The company will install 58 vending machines at the Expo, and each will feature an informational display on the side educating visitors on how hydrogen power works.

Coca-Cola hasn’t shared specifics on how long the vending machines can be powered before their hydrogen cartridges need to be replaced. Cutting the power cord potentially allows these new machines to be installed almost anywhere, but the company will still need relatively easy access for regular maintenance. Even if the hydrogen fuel cell lasts for weeks, the vending machine’s stock of Coca-Cola and other drinks may not.

Segway has issued a recall for all of its Ninebot Max G30P and Max G30LP electric scooters due to a faulty mechanism that can cause the scooters’ handlebars and stem to fold while it’s in use, creating a fall hazard, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The company has received 68 reports of the failures occurring, resulting in 20 injuries ranging from bruises and abrasions to lacerations and even broken bones.

Around 220,000 of the recalled scooters have been sold since January 2020 at stores including Best Buy, Costco, Walmart, Target, Sam’s Club, and Amazon. The Ninebot Max G30P can be recognized by its gray and yellow color scheme, while the Max G30LP model is black with yellow accents.

Segway urges consumers to immediately stop using the recalled scooters, but it’s not replacing them. Instead, the company says owners can contact Segway “to receive information to determine whether the folding mechanism needs adjustment and to receive a free maintenance kit.” The kit includes instructions and tools for tightening the folding mechanism on either model, and keeping it maintained to ensure the folding mechanism remains locked while the scooters are being ridden.