Sonos has abandoned plans to release a streaming video player, the companyâs leadership announced in an all-hands call today. The product, codenamed Pinewood, was set to be Sonosâ next major hardware launch. It was already deep into development and has spent months in beta testing. But now the team behind it will be reassigned to other projects as interim CEO Tom Conrad reprioritizes the companyâs future roadmap and continues what he hopes will be a turnaround from a bruising 2024.
The cancellation of Pinewood leaves Sonos without a significant new product to ship in the second half of 2025. The company most recently released the Arc Ultra soundbar and Sub 4 at the end of last year. Internally, some employees were concerned that Pinewood would ultimately become a repeat of the Sonos Ace headphones and see the company trying to take on well-established players in a new product category.
The Verge has reached out to Sonos for comment.
Pinewood was designed to offer many of the same streaming video apps as other devices on the market. But as I reported last month, Sonos also planned for it to double as an HDMI switcher and support passthrough functionality for gaming console …
Federal Communications Commission chair Brendan Carr is asking the public to help him identify “unnecessary” regulations created by the agency so that he can eliminate them.
Carr announced “In re: Delete, Delete, Delete” on Wednesday, in response to President Donald Trump’s executive orders seeking to remove regulations across the government. One order that the FCC cited in its announcement calls for agencies to identify 10 regulations to repeal for every one they propose. Carr has so far made himself one of Trump’s most loyal lieutenants, taking up his preferred policies and investigatingmedia and tech companies Trump has long battled.
“For too long, administrative agencies have added new regulatory requirements in excess of their authority or kept lawful regulations in place long after their shelf life had expired,” Carr says in a statement. “This only creates headwinds and slows down our country’s innovators, entrepreneurs, and small businesses. The FCC is committed to ending all of the rules and regulations that are no longer necessary. And we welcome the public’s participation and feedback throughout this process.”
The FCC is asking for comments that identify rules and regulations that are outdated, create barriers to entry or “unfairly disadvantage American-owned businesses,” or have greater costs than benefits, according to the agency’s public notice. Anyone wishing to comment on the initiative can do so on the FCC website for the next 30 days.
On February 11th, as thousands of civil servants wondered whether they’d have a job — or whether their federal agencies would exist at all, as President Donald Trump and Elon Musk took a wrecking ball to the federal government — McLaurine Pinover had other things on her mind. Pinover, a political appointee of the Trump administration and the communications director at the Office of Personnel Management, was uploading her outfit to Instagram.
“Me and my emotional support shoulder sweater,” Pinover captioned a video (along with the hashtags #cozy, #petiteoutfitinspo, #dcstyle, and #classicwithatwist) as she posed for the camera. In another clip, uploaded January 29th, 2025, Pinover models a brown skirt and top, hands on hips. “New office, new office look,” she writes. “I’ve been sick + started a new job but excited to share my looks on this new adventure!” Here’s a quick reminder of what was happening that day in Washington, DC.
Pinover’s Instagram is long gone, deleted minutes after CNN reporters contacted her for a story revealing her side hustle, where she was also trying to monetize her content. But I was able to find a few of the cached pages on Google:
Luckily, I have an idea of where the OPM can start. Many of Pinover’s videos are filmed in a nondescript but tidy office. CNN, which broke the story, includes an incredible quote from a former OPM communications official: “I saw it, and I was like, ‘Are you kidding me, that’s my office.’” CNN also reports that Pinover’s Sears catalog-esque outfits were shared during working hours — seems wasteful to me! Pinover’s fashion account, @getdressedwithmc, only had around 800 followers, with some videos getting just a few dozen likes, which is not very efficient or effective. If you are going to use your government office on taxpayers’ dimes to film milquetoast outfit videos, at least have the decency to be good at it.
It is one thing to share your very normal and average outfits on a private account — still kind of cringe, but probably not worthy of news coverage. But according to CNN, Pinover was also trying to monetize her content via affiliate links. For actual influencers, affiliate links can be incredibly lucrative: they make a commission every time someone purchases a product using their link. But with 800 followers, it’s unclear if Pinover was making any money. She was trying, though, with CNN reporting she was hawking products like a $475 skirt. Government watchdog groups told CNN that Pinover’s actions appear to run afoul of rules against using government resources for a private business and other unauthorized purposes.
“Content creation” as a job has become more financially and socially viable in the last decade, and many people with day jobs dabble in making Reels or TikToks or YouTube vlogs. In 2022, I wrote about the trend of big tech employees going viral on the clock, recording footage in the offices of companies like Apple, Google, and Discord and discussing their careers and lifestyle. In this world, your day job is part of your content niche, blurring the lines between the role that pays your bills and your social media platform that you clearly want to bolster. While Pinover didn’t identify herself as a member of the Trump administration, her willingness to unabashedly promote her ShopMy affiliate links signals two things to me: these are not serious people; and also, this is what’s happening in workplaces across America, conflicts of interest and professional reputation be damned.
Then again, we have plenty of evidence that many connected to this administration think of themselves as influencers first and public servants second. The White House is but a backdrop for a pop-up Tesla dealership as Musk’s business flounders. Over on X, disgraced former member of the House of Representatives Matt Gaetz is busy being a shill for a random precious metals investment firm (seemingly without proper disclosures, I might add). The OPM did not immediately respond to my questions about whether Pinover’s actions constitute waste, fraud, or abuse — but I am not holding my breath, given what her bosses are up to. What’s that saying about when in Rome?
Moft’s Dynamic Folio case elevates and positions the iPad at different angles. | Image: Moft
Moft has announced a new folio-style cover case for iPads that could improve the tablet’s ergonomics for anyone working with the Apple Pencil or simply watching videos. The Moft Dynamic Folio uses an origami approach to transform into a stand that can elevate the tablet by up to three inches, while other configurations let you support a smartphone at the same time. The flexibility lets Moft’s case go above and beyond the limited folding functionality of Apple’s own Smart Folio iPad cases.
The company is making its new Dynamic Folio available to consumers through a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign that has already surpassed its $10,000 funding goal. The case will be available in three sizes and support the iPad Mini as well as 11 and 13-inch versions of the iPad, Pro, and Air. Early backers can preorder the Mini case for $34, the 11-inch version for $45, or the 13-inch for $55, while full pricing is expected to be closer to $39, $49, and $69, respectively. Shipping is expected to start as early as May 2025.
Made from fiberglass covered in Moft’s own scratch-resistant vegan leather alternative called MOVAS, the largest version of the Dynamic Folio adds 292 grams of weight to an iPad, so it’s also lighter than Apple’s iPad cases. It attaches magnetically so you can easily pop it off when you want to use your iPad without a case, but its design doesn’t completely protect the tablet on all sides like many silicone cases do. When attached, the Dynamic Folio will help protect the screen and back of the iPad from scratches, but it leaves several sides exposed. If you happen to drop it, there’s a chance the iPad could still get dinged and dented depending how it lands.
The primary use cases include two floating modes. One elevates the iPad two-inches at a lower 30-degree angle that’s useful for working, playing games, or browsing the web, while the other positions the iPad at a 60-degree angle three-inches above a desk or table for reading or watching videos.
Moft’s case can be folded in several other ways to support the tablet in portrait and landscape modes, to add an additional support for a smartphone, or to make it easier to balance the tablet on your knee when you don’t have access to a work surface. Moft also offers an optional Apple Pencil holder that magnetically attaches to the case and adds a bit more protection for the pricy stylus.
Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencerwarned in November that the mythical Xbox handheld is a few years away and only at the prototype stage right now. But if you read the headlines this week, you might think itâs actually arriving later this year.
A new report from Windows Central claims that âXbox’s new hardware plans begin with a gaming handheld set for later this year, with full next-gen consoles targeting 2027â and that Microsoft is working on a âProject Keenanâ handheld in partnership with an unnamed OEM. The report has generated plenty of headlines about an Xbox handheld arriving in 2025, but the reality is a little more complicated and related to Microsoftâs Xbox platform work to compete with SteamOS.
Sources familiar with Microsoftâs plans tell me the companyâs Xbox platform plans for this year and beyond are centered on one big goal: the unification of Windows and Xbox. Jason Ronald, VP of Xbox gaming devices and ecosystem, revealed to The Verge in January that the company is combining âthe best of Xbox and Windows togetherâ and that weâd start to see changes later in 2025.
I understand the Xbox work that has hit the headlines this week is actually c …
Poker Face’s first season was one of the best arguments to sign up for a Peacock subscription, and the show’s upcoming second season looks like it’s going to be even more of a blast.
Poker Face season 2 brings Charlie Cale (Natasha Lyonne) back for another round of Columbo-esque murder mystery solving, and a new trailer for the series teases how she’s once again going to be putting her unusual ability to tell when people are lying to good use. Like the last season, the next batch of Poker Face’s episodes will feature a cavalcade of celebrity guest stars like Cynthia Erivo, Katie Holmes, Giancarlo Esposito, Method Man, and John Mulaney — who seems to be playing an FBI agent.
The trailer doesn’t really give you all that many clues as to which of its new characters might be killers Charlie has to sniff out. But it does let us know that Poker Face will be making its triumphant return on May 8th.
Google is emailing Chromecast users today to apologize for an issue that’s been causing certain Chromecast models to fail when people try to cast to them. The company says that it’s working on a fix.
Below is the text from the email, which some Verge staffers received, titled, “Important information about your Chromecast.”
We’re contacting you because of a disruption affecting Chromecast (2nd gen) and Chromecast Audio devices. We apologize for the issue and understand your frustration. We are working to roll out a fix as soon as possible and will share updates and guidance on the Nest Community page. We appreciate your patience as we resolve this issue.
Chromecasts started failing over the weekend, giving “Untrusted device” errors on the devices that users were trying to cast with. When The Verge reached out, Google acknowledged that it was aware of the issue and said it would share more information as it was available.
Yesterday, a Google Nest Community Manager said that the team has “identified the cause of the issue” and that it was working on a fix.
Google hasn’t said what caused the issue, but one Reddit user claimed that it was “most definitely due to the certificate baked into the Chromecast having expired.” The user said that the certificate specified that it was no longer valid after March 9th, 2025, which was the day before the Chromecast models started failing.
The Discovery Plus app is getting a much-needed upgrade. On Wednesday, Warner Bros. Discovery announced that it’s finally migrating the service to the same technology used by its flagship streaming service Max, which should offer improved app and video performance.
The company says Discovery Plus will have a more “refined” homepage and navigation, along with better content recommendations. The video player will also now allow you to switch between episodes and content recommendations. I’m just hoping the update will make it easier to scrub through episodes, as the video player is currently very laggy.
Some other improvements include the ability to sign into the app using a QR code, as well as a way to share show recommendations through text or social media on mobile. The update is rolling out now to most devices in the US and Canada, but Warner Bros. Discovery spokesperson Jaclyn Mandelbaum said, “Updates may take a few days to roll out across platforms.”
Even after the launch of Max, which folds in a lot of Discovery Plus content like 90 Day Fiancé, Naked and Afraid, and Property Brothers, the standalone app has largely lagged behind. This update could at least help justify the $1 price hike Discovery Plus rolled out earlier this year, bringing the ad-supported plan to $5.99 / month and the ad-free plan to $9.99 / month.
The latest Tile Pro remains platform-agnostic while offering a wider Bluetooth range. | Photo: Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge
Brighter days and warmer weather indicate spring and summer are around the corner, meaning now is the time to start prepping for vacation. Investing in a Bluetooth tracker is one way to do so, as it helps you keep tabs on your luggage and various checked bags while you travel. Thankfully, the 2024 Tile Pro — one of our favorite location trackers — is on sale at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target starting at $24.49 (about $11 off), an all-time low.
The water-resistant Tile Pro is our No. 1 pick for Android device owners, though it works just as well with iOS devices, making it perfect for mixed households. It features the loudest ring and widest range of any item tracker Tile currently sells, too, allowing you to keep tabs on a wide range of valuables from 500 feet away — including suitcases, keys, bikes, parked cars, and even pets. Plus, it can tap into both the Tile Network and Amazon Sidewalk, which aren’t as extensive as Apple’s Find My network but still let you track items beyond the quoted Bluetooth range.
As of right now, the Tile Pro is the only Tile that comes with a replaceable CR2032 battery, meaning you won’t need to buy a new tracker when the battery inevitably dies after a year or so. Conveniently, it also can double as a panic button, allowing you to send SOS alerts to loved ones and Tile’s emergency dispatch center with a simple triple-tap of the button. Your phone will still need to be nearby and you’ll have to pay a $14.99 monthly subscription to take advantage of the feature, but hey, nobody says you can’t cancel your membership once you return from your trip.
A few more ways to save
If you record a lot of video, Anker’s MagGo USB-C Adapter is a useful gadget that’s currently available at Amazon starting at $21.99 ($3 off). That marks a new low on the MagSafe-compatible device, which functions as an SD and microSD card reader for laptops and other electronics. The USB-C port offers up to 42.5W of power output, and if you have a compatible iPhone 15 or 16 and a memory card that supports at least 220MB/s write speeds and 256GB capacity, it can even capture ProRes 4K recording at 60fps.
You can pick up the Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 at Amazon, Target, and Best Buy starting at $69.95 ($10 off), which is its second-best price to date. The Mini 12 is great for all ages because it’s easy to use, highly portable, and captures great photos, which are just a few of the reasons we consider it to be the best instant camera for most people. It doesn’t offer as much creative control as its pricier rivals, but it’s still fun to use thanks to a built-in selfie mirror and a handy Close-Up mode.
The second-gen Theragun Mini is on sale at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target for $149 ($50 off), which is $20 shy of its best price to date. The powerful three-speed massage gun can quickly melt away tension and comes with three swappable attachments that allow you to target certain areas, including your lower back. The compact USB-C device is highly portable and pairs with a companion app, too, letting you tap into personalized wellness routines in the Therabody app.
Sure, the games are fun, but they can also be reliable ways for the companies that offer them to make money from subscriptions. The New York Times puts a some features for its games behind a paywall. Apple’s games are only available to Apple News Plus subscribers. And Netflix is launching a daily word game to bolster its paid subscription for mobile games.
Here’s all of our coverage of news and word games. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to try to finish Connections without throwing my phone into the ocean.
Toyota announced updates to its European EV offerings, including an electric version of the Toyota C-HR called the C-HR Plus, and a refreshed bZ4X that addresses many of the electric crossoverâs shortcomings.
The C-HR Plus is built on Toyotaâs e-TNGA platform and comes in two battery options: 57.7 kWh with 455km (about 283 miles) of range, with a second trim with a 77 kWh battery that can power the vehicle for 600km (about 373 miles). Outwardly, the car has some noticeable differences from its hybrid predecessors, but keeps enough of the look to be recognizably part of the C-HR line.
The updated bZ4X â a naming strategy Toyota eventually plans to retire â will use the same dual-battery, e-TNGA platform setup as the smaller C-HR Plus, albeit with a slightly smaller 73.1kWh battery in the long-range version. Likewise, it has a lower cruising range of 445km (about 276.5 miles) or 573km (about 356 miles).
Those are some big range gains compared to the 2023 bZ4X, which our review concluded wasnât worth its ânearly $50,000 price tag.â The long-range version of that model offered an EPA-estimated 252 miles of range, which isnâ …
Google DeepMind is launching two new AI models designed to help robots “perform a wider range of real-world tasks than ever before.” The first, called Gemini Robotics, is a vision-language-action model capable of understanding new situations, even if it hasn’t been trained on them.
Gemini Robotics is built on Gemini 2.0, the latest version of Google’s flagship AI model. During a press briefing, Carolina Parada, the senior director and head of robotics at Google DeepMind, said Gemini Robotics “draws from Gemini’s multimodal world understanding and transfers it to the real world by adding physical actions as a new modality.”
The new model makes advancements in three key areas that Google DeepMind says are essential to building helpful robots: generality, interactivity, and dexterity. In addition to the ability to generalize new scenarios, Gemini Robotics is better at interacting with people and their environment. It’s also capable of performing more precise physical tasks, such as folding a piece of paper or removing a bottle cap.
“While we have made progress in each one of these areas individually in the past with general robotics, we’re bringing [drastically] increasing performance in all three areas with a single model,” Parada said. “This enables us to build robots that are more capable, that are more responsive and that are more robust to changes in their environment.”
Google DeepMind is also launching Gemini Robotics-ER (or embodied reasoning), which the company describes as an advanced visual language model that can “understand our complex and dynamic world.”
As Parada explains, when you’re packing a lunchbox and have items on a table in front of you, you’d need to know where everything is, as well as how to open the lunchbox, how to grasp the items, and where to place them. That’s the kind of reasoning Gemini Robotics-ER is expected to do. It’s designed for roboticists to connect with existing low-level controllers — the system that controls a robot’s movements — allowing them to enable new capabilities powered by Gemini Robotics-ER.
In terms of safety, Google DeepMind researcher Vikas Sindhwani told reporters that the company is developing a “layered-approach,” adding that Gemini Robotics-ER models “are trained to evaluate whether or not a potential action is safe to perform in a given scenario.” The company is also releasing new benchmarks and frameworks to help further safety research in the AI industry. Last year, Google DeepMind introduced its “Robot Constitution,” a set of Isaac Asimov-inspired rules for its robots to follow.
Google DeepMind is working with Apptronik to “build the next generation of humanoid robots.” It’s also giving “trusted testers” access to its Gemini Robotics-ER model, including Agile Robots, Agility Robotics, Boston Dynamics, and Enchanted Tools. “We’re very focused on building the intelligence that is going to be able to understand the physical world and be able to act on that physical world,” Parada said. “We’re very excited to basically leverage this across multiple embodiments and many applications for us.”
Federal Communications Chairman Brendan Carr wants to know whether YouTube TV has a policy that “discriminates” against faith-based channels. In a letter sent to Google CEO Sundar Pichai and YouTube CEO Neal Mohan, Carr cites a complaint raised by Great American Media, which claims the service “refuses” to carry one of its networks.
Carr notes that while the FCC currently has limited authority over virtual multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs) like YouTube TV, the agency is considering whether to expand its rules to include them. He adds that Google has benefitted from Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which shields online platforms from being held legally accountable for what their users post. Carr has said he wants to limit the protections for tech companies under the law.
“Importantly, these allegations of faith-based discrimination come at a time when American public discourse has experienced an unprecedented surge in censorship,” Carr wrote. “In too many cases, tech companies silenced individuals for doing nothing more than expressing themselves and in the digital town square.”
Carr asks Pichai and Mohan to brief the FCC on YouTube TV’s carriage negotiations process, “including the potential role of viewpoint-based discrimination.” The channel mentioned by Carr, Great American Family, is distributed across cable providers and digital services like Fubo, Sling, DirecTV Stream, and Hulu.
“We welcome the opportunity to brief the FCC on YouTube TV’s subscription service and the strategic business decisions we make based on factors like user demand, operational cost and financial terms, and to reiterate that we do not have any policies that prohibit religious content,” YouTube spokesperson Audrey Lopez said in a statement to The Verge. Great American Media still has a large presence across YouTube with its Pure Flix and Great American Family channels.
The new Siri was supposed to make the iPhone 16 a huge upgrade. It didn’t.
The onrushing AI era was supposed to create boom times for great gadgets. Not long ago, analysts were predicting that Apple Intelligence would start a âsupercycleâ of smartphone upgrades, with tons of new AI features compelling people to buy them. Amazon and Google and others were explaining how their ecosystems of devices would make computing seamless, natural, and personal. Startups were flooding the market with ChatGPT-powered gadgets, so youâd never be out of touch. AI was going to make every gadget great, and every gadget was going to change to embrace the AI world.
Since taking out that loan from the Carlyle Group and facing increasing competition from Chinese manufacturers, iRobot has not found a way to become profitable again and says it expects to incur losses for “the foreseeable future.” With no clear path to paying off the debt, the future looks bleak for the inventor of the robot vacuum.
In its quarterly financial report published March 12, the company, which saw its revenue in the U.S. drop by 47 percent in the fourth quarter, said it had “initiated a formal strategic review to evaluate a broad range of alternatives, including, but not limited to, exploring a potential sale or strategic transaction and refinancing our debt.”
If its new line of products is not a success, which the report notes is entirely possible due to “consumer demand, competition, macroeconomics conditions and tariff policies,” and no other recourse is found to pay off its debt, iRobot says the company may be unable to continue beyond 12 months.
For every memory seared into my brain, there are thousands of others I either canât retain or trust. I spent the last eight months forgetting to fix a homeowner association (HOA) violation despite numerous reminder emails. My cousins and I have been trapped in our own version of Akira Kurosawaâs Rashomon over who said what at grandmaâs funeral. Cursed with the working memory of a goldfish, Iâve apologized dozens of times to everyone for failing to do the things I said I would.
These are the problems that Bee, a $50 AI wearable, aims to solve.
Unlike the Rabbit R1 or the Humane AI Pin, Bee isnât a flashy gizmo designed to replace your smartphone. Instead, it looks like a 2015-era Fitbit and is intended to be your AI âmemory.â You strap it onto your wrist or clip it onto your shirt. Itâll then listen to all your conversations. Those conversations get turned into transcripts, though no audio is saved in the process. Depending on your comfort level, you can permit it to scan through your emails, contacts, location, reminders, photos, and calendar events. Every so often, itâll summarize pertinent takeaways, suggest to-do items, and create a searchable âhistoryâ …
Rivian is pushing a software update to its second-generation vehicles that includes a hands-free highway driving feature, the company said on Tuesday.
It was a notable announcement, considering the company has lagged behind its competitors in introducing partially automated driving features similar to Tesla’s Autopilot and General Motors’ Super Cruise.
The update enables drivers to take their hands off the steering wheel on “compatible highways,” covering 135,000 miles of road in the US and Canada. The company says it’s planning for a “significant” expansion in 2026, including “off-highway roads.”
Rivian said that the new Enhanced Highway Assist feature controls “steering, acceleration, and braking to make driving a less stressful and more comfortable experience—so you arrive at your destination feeling refreshed.” Drivers will need to keep their eyes on the road while using the new hands-free system. An infrared camera embedded in the rearview mirror will track eye movements and monitor driver attention. If the driver’s gaze strays from the road too long, the system will issue a series of warnings before disengaging.
Rivian plans on upgrading its driver-assist system further next year with the addition of a hands-off, eyes-off feature. In certain situations, such as low-speed stop-and-go traffic, drivers would not need to pay attention to the road. This type of driving, which is called Level 3 automation, is still very rare in the auto world, with most companies’ plans constrained by local regulations and liability concerns. Some experts have argued that Level 3 systems can be dangerous given the need for drivers to stay attentive despite the vehicle performing most of the driving tasks.
Like other automakers, Rivian sees partial automation more as a convenience feature than explicitly about safety. To be sure, drivers are adept at skirting the rules that govern driver-assist systems, according to a recent study conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. And when a car is traveling at much higher speeds than before, all it takes is a split second for something to go wrong.
Rivian also announced a new Rally drive mode for dual-motor vehicles. The mode is available when Off-Road Mode is selected and “delivers heightened throttle response and crisper steering on almost any terrain, including ice, mud, dirt, or asphalt,” the company says.
Also for dual-motor Rivian owners, the company is offering an over-the-air performance update for a one-time fee of $5,000. “The Performance Upgrade unlocks 665 horsepower and 829 lb.-ft. of torque, and introduces three new drive modes—Sport, Rally and Soft Sand—in addition to All-Purpose, All-Terrain, and Snow modes,” the company says.
Rivian included a number of lifestyle fixes as part of the update, such as making it easier to swap wheel sizes, sideview mirrors that automatically tilt down when parallel parking, and the ability to close the charge port door from the mobile app.
Niantic Labs has announced that it’s selling its video game division to Saudi Arabia-owned mobile developer Scopely for $3.5 billion after struggling to replicate the success of Pokémon Go across its other AR games. The newly inked agreement includes Niantic’s Pokémon Go, Monster Hunter Now, and Pikmin Bloom mobile gaming titles.
“Niantic games have always been a bridge to connect people and inspire exploration, and I am confident they will continue to do both as part of Scopely,” said Niantic CEO John Hanke. “I firmly believe this partnership is great for our players and is the best way to ensure that our games have the long-term support and investment needed to be ‘forever games’ that will endure for future generations.”
The acquisition is subject to regulatory approval and other closing conditions. Should the deal go through, it will also bring Niantic’s social companion apps for Pokémon Go — Campfire and Wayfarer — under Scopely ownership. Scopely says it will gain “Niantic’s entire team of exceptional gamemakers and category-leading games.” However, the Peridot and Ingress AR gaming titles, the latter of which is also supported by the Wayfarer mapping app, will remain under the ownership and development of Niantic Spatial.
Pokémon Go attracted more than 500 million players in its first year, but its popularity was impacted in 2020 when global covid lockdowns kept people inside their homes. The company has since canceled multiple projects and laid off at least 310 employees between 2022-2023 in an attempt to “weather the current challenges in the market.”
Today’s announcement is Saudi Arabia’s latest attempt to muscle its way into the gaming industry, having used its Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) to acquire stakes in Nintendo, Activision Blizzard, and EA. The PIF was also used to establish Esports and gaming company Savvy Games Group in 2021, which later acquired Monopoly Go! developer Scopely for $4.9 billion in 2023.
The announcement appears to be the 2025 “megadeal” that Scopely’s chief revenue officer Tim O’Brien teased last year, saying during a Q&A that it would involve “a scaled global franchise doing hopefully at least a billion dollars in revenue.” Niantic Labs doesn’t disclose its earnings to the public, but Scopely said in its announcement that Niantic’s gaming business drove $1 billion in revenue last year, and Pokémon Go alone is estimated to have brought in $7.9 billion in revenue since launching in 2016.
Google has now acknowledged the issues and “has been actively working on” a solution to fix them according to a new support page entry. “We’ve recently rolled out updates aimed at significantly improving media receiving performance,” said Google community manager Monika Y. “We’re hoping you’ll see a noticeable difference now. However, we also know that issues can be complex, and we’re committed to getting this right.”
Google hasn’t specified which media issues these Messages updates are addressing, but it’s likely making backend server changes as users aren’t required to download or install anything new. The fix also may not fully resolve the issues for everyone as Google is asking people to submit feedback if they’re “still seeing problems.” At least one impacted user has reportedly “noticed a difference recently in received RCS photos” since the updates started rolling out.
A little over a year after releasing two “open” Gemma AI models built from the same technology behind its Gemini AI, Google is updating the family with Gemma 3. According to the blog post, these models are intended for use by developers creating AI applications capable of running wherever they’re needed, on anything from a phone to a workstation with support for over 35 languages, as well as the ability to analyze text, images, and short videos.
The company claims that it’s the “world’s best single-accelerator model,” outperforming competition from Facebook’s Llama, DeepSeek, and OpenAI for performance on a host with a single GPU, as well as optimized capabilities for running on Nvidia’s GPUs and dedicated AI hardware. Gemma 3’s vision encoder is also upgraded, with support for high-res and non-square images, while the new ShieldGemma 2 image safety classifier is available for use to filter both image input and output for content classified as sexually explicit, dangerous, or violent.
Last year it was unclear how much interest there would be in a model like Gemma, however, the popularity of DeepSeek and others shows there is interest in AI tech with lower hardware requirements. Despite its claims of advanced capabilities, Google also says, “Gemma 3’s enhanced STEM performance prompted specific evaluations focused on its potential for misuse in creating harmful substances; their results indicate a low risk level.”
What exactly constitutes an “open” or “open source” AI model remains a topic of debate, and with Google’s Gemma, that has focused on the company’s license that restricts what people are allowed to use it for, which has not changed with this new release. Google is continuing to promote Gemma with Google Cloud credits, and the Gemma 3 Academic program will allow academic researchers to apply for $10,000 worth of credits to accelerate their research.
