The Loop Micro Mount is an ultra-compact bicycle phone mount that has quickly become a favorite for cyclists. Despite its tiny size, it securely holds even the largest phones. Having used many mounts since 2008 in bike-centric Amsterdam, the author finds this $49.95 mount to be a game-changer. It is easy to install, discreet, and reliable, making it perfect for guiding riders with GPS navigation without getting in the way. The mount combines convenience, durability, and functionality in a small package, offering excellent value compared to previous mounts that were often lost or broken.
Viewers of Crunchyroll's latest anime, Studio Gokumi's Necronomico and the Cosmic Horror Show, encountered subtitles riddled with typos, grammatical mistakes, and overt mentions of ChatGPT. These subtitles appeared to be AI-generated by ChatGPT and were used without adequate proofreading and correction, resulting in an embarrassing display of poor quality subtitles. Such mistakes in subtitles are uncommon but were glaring here, including phrases like "Is gameorver. if you fall, you …" indicating a lack of human review.
Amazon is currently offering refurbished 2024 models of the Kindle Paperwhite and Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition at significantly reduced prices. The refurbished Kindle Paperwhite is available for $106.99, down $37 from its usual price, while the Signature Edition is offered at $126.99, a $53 discount. Both models come in like-new condition and represent the lowest prices ever for these e-readers. The Kindle Paperwhite features a 7-inch display with 300ppi resolution, adjustable warm front light, waterproof design, and up to 12 weeks battery life per charge. The Signature Edition provides additional perks like double the storage, an ad-free experience, Bluetooth support for audiobooks, auto-adjusting front light, and wireless charging. Both devices are powered by a dual-core processor for fast and responsive performance. Amazon refurbishes these products with thorough inspection and testing and backs them with a one-year limited warranty. These discounts are ideal for readers looking to enjoy digital books conveniently before Prime Day and the upcoming movie adaptation of Andy Weir’s "Project Hail Mary".
A French court has convicted three former Ubisoft executives—Serge Hascoet, Tommy Francois, and Guillaume Patrux—of sexual and psychological harassment following a lengthy investigation. Hascoet, the ex-chief creative officer, was accused of inappropriate comments about improving a female employee’s mood through sex. Francois, former editorial vice president, was found guilty of attempted sexual assault and harassment, linked to an incident where he tried to forcibly kiss a female employee while others restrained her. Patrux, a former game director, engaged in aggressive behavior including throwing furniture and drawing swastikas on a colleague’s notebook. These revelations emerged amid a 2020 #MeToo movement wave in the gaming industry, with many Ubisoft employees sharing experiences of harassment and bullying. Internal surveys showed significant workplace misconduct and unsafe environments. The fallout led to resignations and arrests of several executives. Francois cited the company culture as a contributor to his actions, describing it as pervasive and normalized at Ubisoft. Ubisoft has been contacted for comment by The Verge.
Amazon has kicked off early deals ahead of its Prime Day sale starting July 8th, offering significant discounts on a range of tech gadgets and smart home devices. Highlights include the 2023 Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet, Fire TV Stick 4K, Fire TV Cube, Luna Controller, Samsung 2TB T9 portable SSD, Fire TV Omni Mini-LED TVs, Echo Show 8, Echo Pop, Echo Frames, and smart air quality monitors, among others. Many deals are exclusive to Prime members, but some retailers are price-matching these offers. Products span from streaming devices, smart home controls, vacuum cleaners, smart speakers to portable power stations. Discounts also extend to Kindle Unlimited subscriptions and popular smart vacuum robot Roomba models. This comprehensive guide will be updated as new deals drop, so shoppers should check back frequently.
Banks operating Zelle, including JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, and Capital One, face intensified scrutiny from lawmakers over significant scam and fraud issues on the payment platform. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Richard Blumenthal, along with Representative Maxine Waters, have questioned these banks on the frequency of scams reported by customers, particularly those originating from social media. Previously, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) sued major banks for inadequate fraud protections after Zelle's 2017 launch, citing over $870 million lost to scams. Although the CFPB lawsuit was dropped in 2020, lawmakers are now seeking direct answers from the banks about their fraud detection improvements and reimbursement policies. Zelle claims to have robust anti-fraud and reimbursement policies, defending its position against former CFPB criticisms. The banks are required to respond by July 14th to the inquiries about their efforts to combat fraud on Zelle and reimburse affected customers.
Microsoft Gaming CEO and Xbox head Phil Spencer has dismissed rumors about his retirement, with the company confirming he is not stepping down soon. The speculation arose following Microsoft’s recent layoffs and a claim by a Call of Duty leaker that Spencer would retire after the next Xbox launch, with Xbox president Sarah Bond succeeding him. Spencer, who has led Xbox since 2014, has been instrumental in major initiatives like launching Xbox Series X / S, expanding Xbox Game Pass, and acquiring companies such as Activision Blizzard. Meanwhile, Microsoft is undergoing significant cuts affecting Xbox studios and employees.
Universal USB-C ports are expected to be versatile, but Nintendo has taken a different approach with the Switch 2. Unlike earlier cases where USB-C issues were due to poor design or cost-cutting, Nintendo intentionally restricted the Switch 2's USB-C compatibility. The new console uses a specialized encryption scheme and an encryption chip, which prevents third-party video glasses and TV docking devices from working correctly, according to accessory makers interviewed by The Verge.
On July 2nd, Microsoft announced significant layoffs affecting up to 9,000 employees, deeply impacting Xbox studios. The Initiative’s Perfect Dark was cancelled and the studio closed. Rare's Everwild was also cancelled. Additionally, Turn 10 Studios, developer of Forza Motorsport, will lose over 70 employees. Phil Spencer, Microsoft Gaming CEO, emphasized prioritizing strong opportunities for future success and confirmed he is not retiring anytime soon. This restructuring aims to focus resources on the most promising areas to deliver exceptional gaming experiences.
Google is launching a mandatory Android 16 update for Pixel 6A devices starting July 8 to reduce battery overheating risks. This update specifically targets 'Impacted Devices' and will lower battery capacity after 400 charging cycles. Users will be notified at 375 cycles about upcoming battery management changes, which may reduce battery life between charges and alter charging performance. Affected users are eligible for free battery replacements. Google previously addressed similar battery issues in Pixel 4A and currently offers repair programs for Pixel 7A.