Richard Lawler

Senior News Editor

Richard LawlerJul 24, 2023

Google is ending Play Services support for Android KitKat.

After ten years, it’s time to call it for Android 4.4. The Google packages that enable tons of apps and features will cut out that version of Android starting... now.

Android Developers Blog:

As of July 2023, the active device count on KK is below 1% as more and more users update to the latest Android versions. Therefore, we are no longer supporting KK in future releases of Google Play services.

The candy-branded version of Android that was “more google than ever” had both Chromecast streaming and support for IR blasters. It truly contained multitudes.

Google's next generation: Nexus 5, Android 4.4 KitKat, and more

Richard LawlerJul 24, 2023

The cable company that paid $200 million for the “CNBC for millennials” is reportedly trying to unload it.

You’re most likely familiar with Cheddar TV as a network that plays on the screen at the gas pump (and you may have seen some of your favorite Verge editors on there).

It was founded by a former Buzzfeed exec (Mia Sato can tell you more about how that’s been going), and in 2019, Altice USA bought it, hoping to carve out a foothold in live news that hasn’t entirely materialized.

Richard LawlerJul 24, 2023

What’s next for ESPN?

CNBC’s Alex Sherman reported on Disney’s discussions with the NBA and NFL about becoming partners in ESPN as it moves from cable into the streaming future.

On the Front Office Sports podcast (starting at about 4 minutes 55 seconds), he went a little more in-depth, saying he sees the talks as “throwing ideas at the wall” while discussing some of the potential complications we mentioned previously, as well as the idea that Disney, which will apparently need to find a replacement for CEO Bob Iger eventually, might become an acquisition target itself.

Richard LawlerJul 22, 2023

Just logging on to defend NFTs for a moment.

This Threads post about the NFT for Jack Dorsey’s first tweet isn’t quite right. There is a $3~ bid, but another one is nearly $2,000, and the owner, Sina Estavi, has claimed he might never sell anyway.

On the other hand... that was after Estavi was imprisoned for a bit under crypto scam allegations, he’s currently shilling a new crypto x AI token scheme, and he said he’d never sell the Dorsey NFT after attempting to do so and drawing a high bid of only $280.

Richard LawlerJul 22, 2023

SDCC 2023: Invincible’s Atom Eve has her own episode, and you can watch it today on Amazon.

Along with the Invincible S2 release date, details, and trailer, Prime Video announced a special episode for Atom Eve, one of the other characters on the show.

While you’ll have to wait until November 3rd for the Invincible premiere, the Atom Eve episode is available right now for streaming; check out the trailer below.

Richard LawlerJul 22, 2023

SDCC 2023: Netflix’s One Piece live-action series has a new trailer too.

This isn’t our first look at One Piece, but it’s a longer one this time, clocking in at about three minutes. Netflix’s Tudum site has more details on the production, but for now, you can just press play and wait for the premiere of the eight-episode series on August 31st.

Richard LawlerJul 22, 2023

SDCC 2023: Say hello to season two of Invincible before it debuts on November 3rd.

Amazon Prime Video’s animated superhero series just dropped a teaser trailer for season two at San Diego Comic-Con, and you can watch it right here. When it starts streaming, Prime Video will release the first eight episodes on a weekly basis, then take a midseason break and release the rest in 2024.

If you can’t wait until then, a new Atom Eve episode is available now on Amazon.

From the summary for Invincible S2:

The story revolves around 18-year-old Mark Grayson (voiced by Steven Yeun), who’s just like every other guy his age—except his father (J.K. Simmons) is (or was) the most powerful superhero on the planet. Still reeling from Nolan’s betrayal in Season 1, Mark struggles to rebuild his life as he faces a host of new threats, all while battling his greatest fear - that he might become his father without even knowing it.
Joining the Season 2 cast are Sterling K. Brown, Peter Cullen, Rob Delaney, Calista Flockhart, Phil LaMarr, Luke MacFarlane, Tatiana Maslany, Scott McNairy, Jay Pharoah, Ella Purnell, Tim Robinson, Ben Schwartz, Rhea Seehorn, Lea Thompson, Paul F. Tompkins, Shantel VanSanten, and more.

Richard LawlerJul 22, 2023

Cringe rapper and alleged Bitcoin launderer Razzlekhan is reportedly close to copping a plea.

Remember the “Crocodile of Wall Street,” aka Razzlekhan, aka Heather Morgan? She and her husband were arrested in 2022 on charges of trying to launder billions of dollars worth of Bitcoin stolen in the 2016 hack of Bitfinex. She’s also a rapper, among many other things.

Now Reuters reports she and her husband have reached a plea deal with prosecutors and are set to have a hearing on August 3rd.