Amazon

Amazon rainforest fires got even worse last year

Fires in the Amazon reached devastating new levels in 2020, new NASA satellite imagery shows. The space agency developed a new tool to track fires from space after Brazil’s Amazon suffered a record-breaking year of fires in 2019. Specialized sensors on satellites collect visible and infrared imagery, which NASA uses to detect thermal anomalies —… Read more

Spotify HiFi tier (finally) launching to offer CD-quality streaming

Home News (Image credit: Spotify) Spotify HiFi is official. Almost four years after it was first teased, a CD-quality tier is finally coming to the world’s most popular streaming service, the green giant has revealed during its ‘Stream On’ online event today. Spotify will join the likes of Tidal, Qobuz, Deezer and Amazon in offering… Read more

Spotify HiFi is a lossless streaming tier coming later this year

Spotify is going hi-fi. Well, “HiFi.” It’s taken longer than competitors like Tidal and Amazon Music, but today, the leading subscription music service announced a new lossless streaming tier that will allow listeners to get the most from their digital music library. The news came at the company’s Spotify “Stream On” virtual event. Spotify HiFi… Read more

The best streaming device to buy in 2021

If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement. Looking for a new TV gadget to stream all of your favorite entertainment? Buying an excellent streaming device is easier in 2021 than ever before — and the prices only continue to drop and get more appealing:… Read more

JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam review: The best all-in-one soundbar solution?

(Pocket-lint) – If you’ve got a medium-to-large size telly and want some extra audio grunt then there are plenty of soundbar or soundbase options to choose from. Many are complex and expensive though. The JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam, on the other hand, takes a simple approach: it’s an all-in-one box solution – so no fuss… Read more

Dolby Vision IQ: everything you need to know

Home Advice (Image credit: Dolby) Dolby Vision IQ aims to solve a problem with which we’re probably all familiar. How many times have you watched a TV drama and found it was too dark for you to make out all the details? The Game of Thrones finale was marred for many by being too gloomy… Read more

Furosystems Aventa e-bike review: ice breaker

Ease your way into the joys of commuting by electric bike Aventa is a new electric bike with a secret: its battery is removable despite the clean design. London-based Furosystems just launched the Aventa series of pedal-assist e-bikes into the European market. A more powerful US model is planned for later this year, or early… Read more

Tech groups are suing to halt Maryland’s new digital services tax

A coalition of tech and business groups have joined together for a lawsuit challenging Maryland’s newly passed digital services tax, as first reported by The Washington Post. The lawsuit, filed in federal district court in Maryland, argues the state tax is preempted by federal law and violates various constitutional prohibitions against state taxes on out-of-state… Read more

Amazon Fire TV Stick (2020) review: just get a 4K model

If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement. Amazon’s new Fire TV Stick is a $39.99 streaming dongle that’s aimed at people who haven’t yet made the upgrade to a 4K TV — and don’t intend to anytime soon. It maxes out at 1080p video… Read more

NASA is set for its most daring attempt to land on Mars in a search for ancient life

On February 18th, NASA will make a daring attempt to land a car-sized rover on Mars in its most complex mission yet to hunt for ancient extraterrestrial life. If it survives the plunge through the Red Planet’s atmosphere, the Perseverance rover will kick off the first leg of a grand relay race to capture humanity’s… Read more

MWC insists on holding potential COVID-19 superspreader event in Barcelona

The world’s largest phone show, Mobile World Congress, is moving forward with an in-person event in June, despite the risks that it could turn into a COVID-19 superspreader event. Over 100,000 people usually attend MWC. John Hoffman, the CEO of the GSM Association (which organizes the show) says those numbers will be scaled back this… Read more

HP Spectre x360 14 Review: The New Best 2-in-1 Laptop

Our Verdict The HP Spectre x360 14 is a beautifully constructed 2-in-1 laptop with a vibrant 3:2 OLED touch screen to showcase your work. It has an excellent keyboard and a variety of ports for all of your accessories. Those who prioritize battery life may want to consider a non-OLED configuration, however. For Sleek, attractive… Read more

Los Angeles police used Amazon Ring footage to investigate police brutality protests

The Los Angeles Police Department requested access to Amazon Ring footage while investigating vandalism during last summer’s anti-racism and police brutality protests, according to newly released emails. The Electronic Frontier Foundation calls it the first evidence of police trying to identify protest attendees with home surveillance cameras — although it’s part of a much longer… Read more

Amazon changed traffic light timing during union drive, county officials say

As part of its ongoing fight over an Alabama warehouse’s efforts to unionize, Amazon reportedly changed the timing of a traffic light outside the warehouse, according to reporting by More Perfect Union. Union organizers at the site had previously accused the company of altering the timing so that pro-union workers would not be able to… Read more

The Mac mini with the M1 processor is discounted at several retailers

Apple’s new Mac mini with the M1 chip is on sale at select retailers. If you are looking to buy the base configuration, which has 8GB of memory and 256GB of SSD storage, you can grab it for as low as $600 at Costco, but please note membership is required. If you don’t want a… Read more