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Sean Hollister

Sean Hollister

Senior Editor

Senior Editor

    More From Sean Hollister

    Lenovo Legion Go review: the Swiss Army knife of handhelds

    6

    Verge Score

    It’s different, and different can be good.

    Sean Hollister
    Sean Hollister
    Sean Hollister
    VR / XR / AR shots fired.

    Meta’s CTO says there are reasons Meta thumbed its nose at Google re: AndroidXR (something The Info reported this morning). He suggests Google’s talking shit about Meta behind its back and demanding “restrictive terms.”

    I can see why Google might try: Oculus was once so willing to partner, it left Samsung and Xiaomi in charge of its mobile fate — and Google has a long, successful history of tying up partners with contracts in exchange for Google apps and a cut of search revenue. But does Meta need Google, or the other way round?

    Sean Hollister
    Sean Hollister
    The Expanse is getting action figures (assuming this Kickstarter pans out).

    The Nacelle Company got the official license to make these figs — while most are at the “digital render on Kickstarter” stage, one of the physical paint masters already made it onto the cover of ToyCollectr Magazine.

    Avasarala, as always, looks dressed to kill political opponents, Bobby’s in her power armor, and Miller can go hat or hatless. It’s $320 for the whole 8-figure set, $39 each, or $75 for the two-packs.

    Tap for larger image. Lots of cool accessories not pictured!
    Tap for larger image. Lots of cool accessories not pictured!
    Image: The Nacelle Company
    Sean Hollister
    Sean Hollister
    More evidence that Google wants to ship a new Chromecast.

    9to5Google APK sleuthing reveals Google is testing a new mystery Chromecast with Google TV. But it’s different than the last mystery Chromecast: “YTD” instead of “YTC”.

    Google also appears to be working on a new remote with more buttons, including one with a star. It hasn’t replaced its flagship 4K Chromecast since 2020, though it’s still one of our top picks.

    Sean Hollister
    Sean Hollister
    What is Microsoft teasing?

    Microsoft Design Week is an internal event, but... maybe there’s some particularly awesome concept it’ll share?

    Sean Hollister
    Sean Hollister
    GPD’s latest PC gaming clamshell comes with a VRR screen.

    One thing the Asus ROG Ally absolutely does better than the Steam Deck or Lenovo Legion Go: smooth out choppy gameplay with its variable refresh rate screen. Now, GPD will use a similar 7-inch 120Hz VRR screen on its 2024 Win Mini — and (sadly?) swap out the Oculink external GPU port for 10Gbps USB-A.

    The GPD Win Mini handheld PC.
    The GPD Win Mini handheld PC.
    Image: GPD
    Sean Hollister
    Sean Hollister
    Today I learned about the ‘80s Casio calculator that doubles as a massive lighter.

    I wanted it to be February’s Button of the Month — partly because its big honking button has an incredible click and shoots out a monster jet of flame, partly because it triples as an alarm clock (!), and partly ‘cuz it hearkens back to Casio’s original invention: a finger ring for cigarettes.

    Sadly, the Casio QL-10 seems rare. Last time one hit eBay, it sold for $499. Behold history through other people’s cameras in our gallery instead:

    <em>Makes for </em><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/44337451@N00/5677495372/"><em>an iconic photo</em></a><em>.</em>
    <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@slicerdroid/video/7278744766924492078"><em>Quite a flame</em></a><em>.</em>
    <em>An old ad that’s floating around the net.</em>
    <em>Was the flame </em><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/51764518@N02/29914333933/"><em>more like this</em></a><em> normally? </em>
    <em>Yep, there are </em><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7ihzXI1p1E&t=2s"><em>full unboxings on YouTube</em></a><em>.</em>
    <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7ihzXI1p1E&t=2s"><em>You can see</em></a><em> that the calculator is kind of embedded in the lighter.</em>
    <em>The yubiwa (finger ring) pipe, </em><a href="https://world.casio.com/corporate/history/"><em>Casio’s first publicized invention</em></a><em>.</em>
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    Makes for an iconic photo.
    Photo by Vincente Zorilla Palau
    Sean Hollister
    Sean Hollister
    Nvidia’s GeForce Now just got its first Battle.net games from Blizzard.

    You can now stream Call of Duty HQ, Overwatch 2, Diablo IV and Hearthstone using your Battle.net account. Hearthstone’s brand new to GFN, period — the others already worked with a Steam login because Blizzard’s playing nice with Steam.

    The GeForce Now app doesn’t yet support linking your entire Battle.net library, though, like it does with Steam, Epic, Xbox, and Ubisoft. Also: Nvidia says GFN day passes arrive next week.

    They’re live — I checked. Now where did I put that authenticator app...
    They’re live — I checked. Now where did I put that authenticator app...
    Screenshot by Sean Hollister / The Verge