Gadgets

The Vergecast crew will be live in 30(ish) minutes, at 1PM ET, running down all the details on the new Pixel phones, Pixel Watch, Pixel Tag, and everything else. We’re going to have a lot of feelings about photos, how we capture them, and what they even are anymore. Hope to see you there!

Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney’s Computer Space is considered the first arcade machine that even predates Pong. This two-player version now up for auction is even rarer than the single player machine that preceded it in 1971. It’s expected to go for over $20,000 when the auction ends on August 20th.

Ahead of Gears of War: E-Day releasing in October, Microsoft opened preorders for a new $89.99 Xbox controller featuring “3D molded, laser-etched details of cracked asphalt with red, glowing cracks.” On September 30th the Xbox Design Lab will also introduce a new E-Day design with a top case featuring artwork by illustrator Luke Preece.

Samsung’s online-exclusive “Pistachio” version of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 looks great, and has apparently been selling well. But I’m a much bigger fan of Google’s Pixel 11 finish by the same name. It looks a lot closer to the color of a good pistachio gelato, unlike whatever minty nonsense Samsung is up to.

It’s not a brand-new set of earbuds, but in addition to a new olive color, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 will get a firmware update that can improve ANC based on how the buds sit in your ears. Expect the update to roll out sometime in September.

Wahoo is revamping its app to expand beyond its core cycling hardware to become a “connected training ecosystem.” And that means subscriptions. Under its new three-tier model, basic Wahoo device support is still free; $4.99/month adds performance analytics, insights, and training load tracking for self-guided athletes; and $17.99/month adds structured training guidance.

The CMF Clip Pro open wireless earbuds were announced just a few days ago, but they’re already seeing their first discount. Normally $99, Amazon has the earbuds marked down to $79 in all three colors: light grey, dark grey, and coral. They have enough battery life for up to 10 hours of playback on their own, and up to 33 hours total with the charging case, which has a smart dial for adjusting volume and controlling media.

The TAC-2 (totally accurate controller) first launched 43 years ago for Atari and Commodore personal computers. It’s still in demand today among retro enthusiasts, so the creators of the C64 Ultimate are bringing it back starting at $49.99 with a stronger steel joystick shaft and a bunch of new color options.

The original version of the ChargeView debuted in April with four USB-C ports and a total output of 140W for $99.99. The new version carries forward the status display but bumps the charger’s connectivity to six USB-C ports and increases the shared power output to up to 240W for $149.99.

The new version of the read-it-later app has “firmware-level integration” that Boox says significantly reduces screen ghosting and offers a faster refresh rate. It’s rolling out now on the Palma 2 and Palma 2 Pro in the V4.2 firmware update.

The FDA-approved hearing aid feature will arrive on the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro and Galaxy Buds 4 Pro in the US and select markets later this year. Samsung has also announced that users will be able to perform a hearing test with the buds, which will use the results to amplify the sounds they have trouble hearing the most.

Although the pairing may seem counterintuitive, bread machines are very good at stirring thick mixtures. In addition to mixing dough in a heated baking pan, Panasonic’s new multi-tasking but compact SD-PMC100 can churn ice cream ingredients in an included insulated bowl you freeze for at least eight hours ahead of time.

It’s been nearly six years since Nintendo stopped making the 3DS but that hasn’t preevnted the console from learning new tricks. If you’ve got a 3DS that can run homebrew apps you can turn the clamshell into a wireless remote for controlling Spotify using files and instructions you’ll find on GitHub.

Windows Central shared photos showing what appears to be a prototype of a rumored, unreleased Windows phone “that was expected to ship in 2014 under the Surface moniker.” It even has a design similar to a Surface laptop and reportedly included a Qualcomm chip and a 720p display.

The Guardian reports that Meta glasses, and any others with cameras, will be confiscated on entering judicial buildings, and returned on departure. It follows New York’s similar ban last month. Taking photos or videos is already prohibited in UK courts, but smartphones are allowed in; smart glasses aren’t getting that benefit of the doubt.

The now-former chief scientist of Google DeepMind has shared a pic of the HP laptop he turned in on the way out the door. While he notes that he also had a MacBook to use at home, his “second (& primary)” machine looks to be a five- or six-year old HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook.

The outcome of many medieval battles could have been much different if either side had access to this custom trebuchet designed and built by Tom Stanton. It’s still powered by weights and gravity but by wrapping the sling around a spinning drum it managed to launch a small projectile at a staggering 776 mph.

While it’s just a small price reduction, Costco members might appreciate a $5 discount on a digital code for Splatoon Raiders for the Nintendo Switch 2, costing $44.99. The latest iteration of Nintendo’s third-person shooter is less competitive and more cooperative than prior titles. Read our review.

Sony’s quest to bring good cybersecurity practices to its headphone names continues with the rumored WH-1000XM4C.