Tech Archive

Alex CranzJan 17, 2024

The ability to use AirPlay in hotels is technically coming to iOS 17.3.

I say “technically” because while the feature will finally be on phones updated to 17.3, we still don’t know what hotels and hotel groups will actually support it.

When Apple originally announced the feature last year IHG Hotel and Resorts confirmed it would be coming to their properties, which includes the Holiday Inn, Kimpton, and Intercontinental brands. We haven’t heard much since.

Hopefully that changes soon.

iOS 17.3 Allows iPhones to Connect to Some Hotel Room TVs via AirPlay

[MacRumors]

Emma RothJan 17, 2024

Google is bringing “AI-powered insights” to multisearch.

The company’s multisearch feature already lets you search with images and text with Lens, but these new AI insights are supposed to take things a step further by letting you ask questions about the image you’re searching for.

As an example, Google says you can take a picture of a board game and type “how do you play this?” Lens will then offer up an AI-generated answer that gives you more information about the game. This feature is rolling out this week in the US on the Google app for Android and iOS.

GIF: Google

Chris WelchJan 17, 2024

Google’s Circle to Search feels like a modern take on a very old Android feature.

Today Google and Samsung introduced Circle to Search, a new way of searching for information about something on your phone’s screen without switching apps.

I’ve been at The Verge long enough to remember Now on Tap — an Android feature that Google announced way back in 2015. The concept was very similar: hold down the home button, and Google would hunt for more details about whatever content was on your display at that moment.

They’re not identical, mind you. With the newer approach, you’re circling something to make your interest much more obvious. And AI smarts have (hopefully) come a long way compared to Now on Tap’s inconsistent performance.

Tesla’s Cybertruck is having trouble living up to the hype

Emma RothJan 17, 2024

Shelly’s new climate sensor cuts the cloud and adds Matter

Amrita Khalid and Jennifer Pattison TuohyJan 17, 2024

CNN’s big plan to save itself is to be everywhere your phone is

Alex CranzJan 17, 2024

The next iOS update will make it harder to break into your iPhone

Wes DavisJan 17, 2024

What’s Rabbit working on with Perplexity AI?

Perplexity AI, a company that uses generative AI for search, will co-announce something it’s working on with Rabbit, the company behind the fast-selling Rabbit R1 AI not-a-phone gadget, tomorrow at 2PM PT / 5PM ET.

Google’s Circle to Search is a dead-simple way to find what you’re looking for

Allison JohnsonJan 17, 2024

The Galaxy S24 Ultra is smarter, pricier, and just as big as ever

Allison JohnsonJan 17, 2024

Samsung’s S24 and S24 Plus put new AI smarts in a polished package

Jon PorterJan 17, 2024

Allison JohnsonJan 17, 2024

Unpacked in the house.

Samsung is hosting today’s event in an NHL arena, and if you’re wondering whether that means arena-level audio and visuals, boy does it ever. It all gets started at 1PM ET / 10AM PT — watch along to learn all about the most AI phones that ever AI’ed. Until then, I’ll be watching the same Galaxy commercial on a giant screen on repeat, apparently.

Image of arena with Unpacked presentation on screen.

Photo by Allison Johnson / The Verge

David PierceJan 17, 2024

Today on The Vergecast: the sound of North Sea TikTok, and a preview of the 2024 streaming wars.

Netflix: probably a winner in 2024. Disney Plus: rough times ahead. Peacock? Paramount Plus? Will they even exist in 12 months? Alex Cranz and I get to the bottom of this year’s streaming wars, and also maybe talk E Ink a little. But first: you know that creepy sound on TikTok videos about the North Sea? We have a story for you about that.