Thursday’s top tech news: chips, cars, and audiobooks – The Verge

The first smart deadbolt capable of wireless charging is coming this year

2023-01-07T15:19:11-05:00

Alfred’s new DB2S smart deadbolt will charge via Wi-Charge’s infrared power transmission, though the transmitter will be sold separately. | Image: Alfred

The first wirelessly powered smart deadbolt is launching later this year - but you'll have to wait for the wireless power. The Alfred DB2S is the first DIY-installable smart lock that can charge via infrared power transmission, and Alfred says it'll be available for $299 at The Home Depot, Lowe's, and other retailers in early Q2.

There's a slight catch, though: that $299 doesn't get you wireless charging, at least not yet. For that, you'll need a Wi-Charge charging kit, which won't be available through consumer channels until the second half of 2023 at the earliest. Pricing for the kit has not been set.

When it is available, the charging …

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The FTC wants to ban the noncompete clauses ensnaring some tech workers

2023-01-05T16:02:22-05:00

The Federal Trade Commission is looking to ban noncompete clauses in employment contracts, which companies put in place to prevent employees from going to work for competitors or leaving to start similar businesses. On Thursday, the regulator issued a notice of proposed rulemaking, saying that the clauses hurt innovation and "decrease competition for workers," which leads to lower wages overall.

While the proposed rule, which you can read here, would benefit workers across industries, it's especially relevant in tech.

For years, we've seen big tech companies attempt to get workers at every level to sign noncompete contracts - Kickstarter's …

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Razer’s Edge 5G handheld is coming to Verizon this month for $359.99

2023-01-05T13:06:49-05:00

The 5G version is coming very soon at a not-outlandish price. | Image: Razer

Razer and Verizon co-announced the pricing for the 5G-enabled Edge gaming handheld during CES 2023. It's launching on January 26th for $359.99 when you add it as a new tablet line to your account. With an installment plan, Verizon says the math works out to $10 per month for 36 months. This pricing is available for a limited time, but a timeframe wasn't provided by Verizon, so we've followed up to find out. The retail price for the 5G model is $599.99, which is $200 more than the Wi-Fi-only model.

We first heard about the Edge (Razer's revival of the awkward 2013 tablet-handheld hybrid) in October 2022. It has a 6.8-inch OLED screen with a …

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Google’s new split-screen look for Android Auto is rolling out to everyone

2023-01-05T13:00:44-05:00

The new split-screen Android Auto UI. | Image: Google

The Android Auto look and feel has evolved greatly since we reviewed it in 2015, but now its biggest update is starting to roll out to all users, introducing a split-screen UI that can let you see more things at once. Keeping the map on screen while also adding one or two other panes makes it a bit more like Apple's current approach to CarPlay, and Google says its focus is on creating a "more personal, easy-to-use experience from behind the wheel."

Wherever the inspiration comes from, I appreciate it. Dubbed "Coolwalk" in testing over the last year or so, the new UI has been publicly available in beta form for several months after it was pu …

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HTC’s new VR / AR headset is the $1,099 Vive XR Elite

2023-01-05T13:00:00-05:00

The HTC Vive XR Elite. | Image: HTC

HTC is opening preorders for a new virtual and augmented reality headset, the Vive XR Elite. The XR Elite is a $1,099 standalone headset that's designed to compete with Meta's Quest headsets and the rumored Apple AR / VR device. Shipping in late February worldwide, it supports the gamut of consumer games and software HTC has offered on past VR headsets, plus mixed reality experiences using full-color passthrough video.

The Vive XR Elite is aimed at consumers who want games, passive media, and productivity tools in a relatively lightweight package. HTC promised a small and light design, and the XR Elite weighs in at 625 grams, making it heav …

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Google’s new high-definition maps are arriving first on Volvo and Polestar electric vehicles

2023-01-05T13:00:00-05:00

Google is rolling out a brand-new high-definition version of Google Maps for cars with the tech giant's native Android Automotive operating system. The HD maps will provide granular details that were not previously available, like lane markings, road signs, and traffic barriers.

The first vehicles to get the new HD maps will be the Volvo EX90, the Swedish automaker's new flagship electric vehicle due out later this year, and the Polestar 3, the Volvo-backed performance marque's first SUV. The Volvo EX90 and Polestar 3 will share the same platform, Volvo's Scalable Product Architecture (SPA2), and both use Android Automotive, which is Google …

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Razer says its Kiyo Pro Ultra webcam can capture uncompressed 4K footage

2023-01-05T13:00:00-05:00

The Kiyo Pro Ultra’s shutter can be closed by twisting it, which is something the previous model couldn’t do. | Image: Razer

Razer's new 4K webcam, the $299.99 Kiyo Pro Ultra, is available starting today from Razer's site and at its retail stores. Razer promises DSLR-like video quality with its 1/1.2-inch Sony Starvis 2 sensor, which it claims is the largest ever in a webcam. This webcam offers an f/1.7 aperture that should allow for natural-looking bokeh and hopefully solid low-light performance, too.

Like many webcams these days, the Kiyo Pro Ultra was made to tempt creators away from buying a pricey DSLR camera. The Pro Ultra even looks like a DSLR lens, a design it shares with 2021's Kiyo Pro, a promising but slightly underwhelming 1080p 60fps webcam. It's ki …

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Mercedes-Benz and ChargePoint are going to install thousands of EV fast chargers in the US

2023-01-05T12:45:00-05:00

Mercedes-Benz, MN8, and ChargePoint are joining forces to install 400 fast electric vehicle charging hubs across the US in a major bid to boost EV sales and improve the nation's struggling EV charging infrastructure. The project will cost approximately €1 billion ($1 billion), which will be split 50-50 between Mercedes and MN8.

Starting this year, the companies will begin the work to construct hundreds of new hubs, which will include more than 2,500 DC fast charging plugs. MN8 Energy, an offshoot of Goldman Sachs Asset Management focused on solar power and energy storage, will help finance the project using ChargePoint's EV charging hardwar …

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Victrola announces the Victrola Stream Onyx, a cheaper version of its Stream Carbon turntable

2023-01-05T12:00:00-05:00

Want the joys of analog audio but the convenience of wireless speakers? Victrola has an option for you: at CES, the company is introducing a new turntable called the Stream Onyx that's capable of streaming records straight to a Sonos system.

The Stream Onyx is certified for Works With Sonos, meaning it can wirelessly transmit audio to Sonos speakers. As a result, you can easily play vinyl records through your entire Sonos system without needing to install any extra equipment. Instead, you use the Victrola app to connect the turntable to your Wi-Fi and Sonos system.

This is Victrola's second Works with Sonos turntable, following last year's …

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The Lenovo ThinkPhone by Motorola is a collaboration nine years in the making

2023-01-05T11:00:00-05:00

It's usually tough to get excited about a rugged phone for enterprise customers, but the ThinkPhone by Motorola is a little different. It's the first co-branded device since Lenovo bought the mobile company nine years ago and, unsurprisingly, is designed to work with Lenovo's ThinkPad laptops. It's heavy on security features and ThinkPad integrations, like a shared clipboard and automatic connection over Wi-Fi, along with a durable exterior and a customizable red button that look right at home with the company's PC line.

The ThinkPhone uses a Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chipset - not the very latest from Qualcomm but still an extremely capable …

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