Kategorie: Tech, Gadgets & co

### Sonos Teases Its ‘Most Requested Product Ever’ for a Tuesday Launch  Sonos, a leader in high-quality audio products, has been creating quite the buzz with intriguing hints on both emails and social media. The company has been teasing what it refers to as its “most requested product ever,” slated for launch on May 21st, which is this Tuesday. ### The Big Reveal: Sonos Ace Wireless Headphones All signs point to the official unveiling of the Sonos Ace, marking Sonos’ first foray into the realm of wireless headphones. Speculation surrounding the Ace has been brewing for a while, with many eagerly awaiting its release. Although the Ace was expected to make its debut in June, the recent teasers and its sudden appearance for sale by authorized dealer Schuurman…

## The Smells and Tastes of a Great Video Game **Image: Samar Haddad / The Verge** As video games and movies grow increasingly immersive, it's becoming evident that certain sensations are missing in the experience. Have you ever found yourself playing *Gran Turismo* and wished you could smell the burning rubber and engine exhaust? Or imagined that a game of beer pong in *Horizon Worlds* would be even better if you could taste the hops? In this episode of *The Vergecast*, part of our miniseries exploring the five senses of video games, we dive into the fascinating topics of smell and taste in video gaming — and debate whether these senses could truly enhance the virtual experience for gamers. Essentially, we're asking: could Smellovision make a comeback for a new…

**Blue Origin's First Crewed Flight Since 2022: A New Chapter in Space Tourism** ![Screenshot: YouTube] **Jeff Bezos’ space tourism company is flying humans to space for the first time since 2022.** The private space industry has experienced significant growth and innovation over the past decade, spearheaded by several high-profile companies striving to make space more accessible to the public. Among these pioneering firms is Blue Origin, the brainchild of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. Recently, Blue Origin made headlines with the announcement of their first crewed flight since 2022—a significant milestone for both the company and the burgeoning field of space tourism. **A Pause and New Beginnings:** Blue Origin’s return to crewed flights marks the end of a hiatus that began after their last manned mission in 2022. This break was…

### The Five-Year Journey to Craft an Adventure Game from Ink and Paper **Image: John William Evelyn** --- “I couldn’t walk away from the pen and ink thing,” says John Evelyn, the visionary creator behind **The Collage Atlas**, a dreamlike storybook adventure that recently made its debut on Steam. What sets this game apart is that the entire world within it is meticulously hand-drawn, from the tiniest flowers and insects to massive buildings and the clouds that gracefully drift above them. As players explore this enchanting environment, they slowly uncover its surreal narrative, with the world dynamically transforming in response to their presence. “I had been drawing for many years before that […] and I’d always draw with ink straight away, without any kind of prior pencil work or sketching,”…

**The AI Assistants Are Getting Better Fast** *Image: David Pierce / The Verge* --- **Hi, friends! Welcome to Installer No. 38** Your ultimate guide to the best and most Verge-iest things in the world. If you’re new here, we're so psyched you found us! Feel free to catch up on all the previous editions on the [Installer homepage](#). **Here’s what I’ve been up to this week:** - **Writing** about iPads and the future of Google. - **Watching** *American Fiction* and *Bodkin*. - **Rewatching** *Her* (for, um, reasons…). - **Endlessly replaying** the songs of *Windows95man*. - **Learning how to make** better sandwiches. - **Testing Claude** for AI stuff. - **Listening to** the new-old Childish Gambino album. But that's not all! I have also stumbled upon a treasure trove of exciting things…

# Blue Origin Returns to Crewed Space Missions: Where and How to Watch **Image: Blue Origin** It's been a significant hiatus for Blue Origin, but the private spaceflight company is ready to return to crewed missions after more than a year and a half since their New Shepard rocket experienced a mid-flight failure. The last time Blue Origin sent passengers to space was over two years ago. Now, they're set to make a triumphant comeback by launching six people into space. ### Launch Details - **Date and Time**: The launch window opens at 6:30 AM PT / 9:30 AM ET. - **Live Stream**: Blue Origin will begin streaming the event 40 minutes before the launch on their [official website](https://www.blueorigin.com). Additionally, the company generally broadcasts their launches on their [YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/blueorigin),…

--- ### This Modder Proves Everything’s Better With a GBA SP Screen Attached  #### A Fusion of Creativity: The Charm of Retrohai hai Softbank's Mods Have you ever looked at a Nintendo DS and thought that it would be cooler if the top screen were swapped out for a Game Boy Advance SP’s? Or glanced at a Super Nintendo controller and felt it needed a GBA SP screen attached to the back? Whether these thoughts have crossed your mind or not, Hardware Modder Hairo Satoh, known online as Retrohai hai Softbank, has transformed these whimsical ideas into reality with his innovative and unorthodox console modifications. Satoh’s handiwork isn’t just about creating new gadgets; it’s about…

### Replacing the OLED iPad Pro’s Battery is Easier Than Ever  Apple’s newest iPad Pro is breaking new ground in terms of rigidity and repairability. Despite its remarkably thin design, this new iPad Pro model shows significant improvements when it comes to maintenance, particularly in the ease of replacing the battery, as demonstrated in a recent teardown by iFixit. #### A Shining Example of Improved Design During the teardown, iFixit revealed that the iPad Pro’s 38.99Wh battery, a component that will inevitably degrade over time, is actually far easier to access and replace than in previous generations. According to Shahram Mokhtari from iFixit, this design enhancement “could save hours in repair time” compared to earlier iPad Pro models,…

**Blog Post: Ecobee’s Smart Thermostat Premium Is Nearly Matching Its All-Time Low Price** --- *Summer Savings with Ecobee’s Smart Thermostat Premium: The Coolest Deal This Season!* The sweltering days of summer are fast approaching, and with them, inevitably higher cooling bills. However, before you start dreading those escalating energy costs, consider a sleek and smart solution: the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium. This innovative device not only promises to keep your home comfortable but also offers you a chance to save money on your energy bills. And the best part? It’s currently available at a fantastic price.  *Surprisingly, Ecobee's smartest thermostat also makes for a decent air quality monitor and smart speaker.* *Photo by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy / The Verge* **A Steal of a Deal** Ecobee’s Smart…

--- **Revolutionize Indoor BBQ with the GE Profile Smart Indoor Smoker** Gone are the days when barbecuing was an exclusive outdoor activity, frequently subjected to the whims of weather. With advancing technology, even cooking methods that traditionally demanded outdoor space can now be brought right into the comfort of your home. Enter the GE Profile Smart Indoor Smoker, an innovative appliance designed to make indoor barbecuing not just practical but incredibly convenient. ### What Makes It Smart? The centerpiece of this kitchen marvel is its smart technology, particularly its Wi-Fi connectivity. By integrating with the Smart HQ app, the GE Profile smoker allows you to control and monitor your cooking remotely. Imagine starting your barbecue while relaxing in another room, checking the temperature, and adjusting settings all from your smartphone.…