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Stephen Robles (@beardfm) joins us on The Vergecast today to share some of his Shortcuts tips.
The Verge· 2025-10-28 19:37
So, here's the shortcut. You put in your home. That's not my home address.So, you could show it on screen. It's fine. >> Sure.Okay. >> You put in your address. Another action.Get driving directions from current location to that address. I created this text which you can customize. Be home in so many minutes.And then I'm going to send the message. So, four actions and that's it. And you can send this and you can put this on your Apple Watch.You can run it from wherever. And this one I I used all the time whe ...
Meta’s smart glasses feel spy-like #Vergecast
The Verge· 2025-10-28 18:44
There are some times where I feel like a super spy and that can be cool and that can also feel terrible because um why would you want to be a spy. There were some points when testing this where I felt like a lot of what makes it so impressive, a lot of what makes it so mindblowing is the fact that no one knows what I'm doing. And then you think about that and then suddenly the magic feels like dark sorcery and you're like hm are we playing with fire in that sense because let's imagine a world where they fig ...
An Apple Shortcuts masterclass | Vergecast
The Verge· 2025-10-28 12:00
Smart Glasses Analysis - Meta's new Display glasses aim to offer more functionalities compared to their previous smart glasses [1] - The report discusses the usability of Meta's smart glasses, highlighting both impressive hardware and underwhelming software capabilities [1] - Privacy concerns and ethical implications related to the use of smart glasses are addressed [1] Apple Shortcuts Discussion - The discussion revolves around the utility and potential of Apple Shortcuts [1] - Apple Shortcuts can enhance screenshots with iPhone frames [1] - Users can create and share shortcuts to automate daily tasks [1] - Advanced shortcuts and their integration with Apple Intelligence are explored [1] - Building custom shortcuts for unique user needs is emphasized [1] - The future of shortcuts and their integration with AI is considered [1] - Challenges and potential improvements in Apple Shortcuts are discussed [1]
Modern games could use a little Star Power. #VersionHistory
The Verge· 2025-10-27 14:01
Game Mechanics & Design - The industry could benefit from incorporating a "Star Power" mechanic, similar to Guitar Hero, into modern games [1][2][3] - Star Power allows players to build up a resource and deploy it for advantages like higher scores or overcoming difficult sections [2] - This mechanic could provide a way for players to improve or progress through challenging parts of a game without resorting to patronizing difficulty adjustments [2] - The "tilting up the guitar" action to activate Star Power was a cool and engaging feature [3] Player Experience - The concept of being "bad but doing one sick thing" and being "back" resonates with players [3]
PSA: Throw away your old surge protectors #Vergecast
The Verge· 2025-10-26 16:01
Safety Warning - Old surge protectors, especially those 15-20 years old, pose a fire risk [1][3] - A faulty surge protector can melt outlets, singe walls, and cause electrical fires [2][3] - Instead of protecting from surges, old surge protectors can cause fires due to loose connections [4] - It is recommended to discard old surge protectors as a preventative measure [1][4] Incident Details - A surge protector, approximately 15-20 years old, caught fire, melting the outlet and singeing the wall [1][2][3] - The incident led to a temporary evacuation and a fire department response [2] - Electricians inspected the property the following morning and confirmed that everything else was fine [3]
This week on Version History, we revisit the 2005 smash hit that made everyone a gamer.
The Verge· 2025-10-26 15:01
Market Performance & Trends - By 2010, Guitar Hero game sales reached $247 billion, while Rock Band sales hit $12 billion [1] - Call of Duty generated $1 billion annually by 2010, highlighting its significant market presence [1] - Guitar Hero's popularity declined sharply after initial success, suggesting market saturation [1] Consumer Behavior & Appeal - Guitar Hero and Rock Band had broad appeal, attracting non-video game players [2][3] - The games were universally appealing and easy for anyone to pick up and enjoy [3] - Despite initial popularity, the games were easy to put down and lacked long-term engagement [3] Product & Retail Dynamics - Guitar Hero controllers for the Wii were highly sought after due to the console's crossover appeal [5] - Secondhand Guitar Hero controllers remain consistently available and in demand [5][6] - Retailers like FYE sold video games and Guitar Hero controllers, indicating their market presence [4][5]
On Version History: we look back at the iconic Guitar Hero controller inspired by the Gibson SG.
The Verge· 2025-10-26 14:01
One of the things I thought was really interesting about the way that they made this controller was that they wanted to have a guitar that actually felt like playing guitar, which is like it it did and it didn't work. You know what I mean. Like we were all just playing earlier and like I play that a lot better than I play guitar and I don't play that very well.But uh they based this thing on a Gibson SG uh which means nothing to me but certainly will mean some things to other people. And the thing that they ...
AI browsers are the theme of 2025, but are they actually useful yet? #Vergecast
The Verge· 2025-10-25 17:00
Industry Trend - AI browsers are emerging as a significant theme, aiming to compete with Google [1] - Browsers are evolving into super-agentic platforms, assisting users with tasks like online shopping and research [1] - The browser is transitioning from a document viewer to a platform for running next-generation applications [3] Competition and Technology - Companies are recognizing the need to develop browsers to control the user experience and application access [4] - Many new AI browsers are built on Chromium, sharing fundamental similarities [5] - The key question is which company can effectively implement and optimize these AI browser functionalities first [6] Strategic Implications - Companies are following a similar path to Google, seeking to own the user interface where searches and other activities occur [5] - The browser could become the new operating system, with AI agents interacting with applications on behalf of users [4]
Meta is axing 600 roles across its AI division. #Vergecast
The Verge· 2025-10-25 16:00
Meta has all the resources and money in the world and they from what I gather keep spending billions of dollars to hire single AI researchers and then firing 500 AI employees and it's like I the whiplash of Meta spending all of the money it has to hire like one guy and then like 3 weeks later fire 600 people which it just did this week. I can't explain it. Can you explain it.Well, I can tell you what they told me, which is that uh they're really I mean they are really, you know, trying to control the narrat ...
Would you be able to spot an AI-generated video in the wild? Here's a test.
The Verge· 2025-10-25 15:00
AI Detection & Impact - AI is being used to create feel-good videos, such as dogs saving babies, potentially blurring the lines between reality and simulation [2] - The creation of AI-generated content mirrors the trend of "Facebook slop," raising concerns about the quality and authenticity of online content [3] - The document questions the ease with which individuals can distinguish between real and AI-generated videos [3] Ethical Concerns - The report highlights the creation of potentially dangerous scenarios, like a baby near an electrical socket, solely for the purpose of creating a dramatic rescue video [3] - The blurring of watermarks in AI-generated content raises questions about copyright and authenticity [2]