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The Verge

Tech, science, and culture news · full text

  1. 1. Spider-Man: Brand New Day leak racks up millions of views

    1 Aug 2026

    A bootleg of Spider-Man: Brand New Day was up on X for over seven hours before eventually being pulled. During that time, it reached over 5.9 million accounts and accumulated over 143,000 likes. Other accounts have reposted the leaked film, but none have lasted particularly long, as Disney now seems to be on top of issuing takedown requests. The leak is unlikely to slow down the box office juggernaut, which is already shattering records. It raked in $72 million in previews this week. The previous record holder was Avengers: Endgame, which grossed $60 million during its previews way back in 2019. Endgame went on to set staggering records for … Read the full story at The Verge.

  2. 2. Trump blames Tim Walz for water hacks even though it’s probably Iran

    1 Aug 2026

    Donald Trump speaks during the House Republican Party member retreat. | Image: Mandel NGAN / AFP via Getty Images The FBI, the EPA, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) have stopped short of officially blaming Iran for a spate of cyberattacks on Minnesota's water systems, but consensus is that Iran is likely behind them. That, of course, hasn't stopped Donald Trump from sharing his own theory - that Governor Tim Walz is to blame and telling reporters that "I don't think there was an Iranian cyberattack." Trump's comments come shortly after the FBI issued a warning that the cyberattacks on American infrastructure were spreading to other states. In Minnesota alone, at least 30 community water systems had been targeted in what a … Read the full story at The Verge.

  3. 3. The Verge’s 2026 back-to-school shopping guide

    1 Aug 2026

    Knowing exactly what your student needs for the school year ahead is next to impossible. Sure, you'll probably nail the essentials, but there will likely be a few items you forgot to buy, or didn't think they'd need to have. We're pulling our weight during the back-to-school season with a new shopping guide that's a mix of practical and aspirational products for students to use in and out of the classroom. We're covering items that make writing easier and more satisfying, alarm clocks that can rattle even the most sleep-deprived students from a deep slumber, bags that are just as great for the gym as they are for the weekend away, and more. … Read the full story at The Verge.

  4. 4. You could be taking way better photos on your phone

    1 Aug 2026

    Your smartphone photos can look way better. If you're willing to put in a little extra work, use third party apps and spend a bit of time editing, it's possible to take photos that - under the right circumstances - can rival dedicated digital cameras. I post a lot of smartphone photos online, and "How do I take better photos on my phone?" is a question I get practically every day. It makes sense. As the saying goes, "The best camera is the one you have on you," and we practically always have our phones on us these days. Over the last few years, smartphone camera sensors have gotten bigger, with better light gathering capabilities and highe … Read the full story at The Verge.

  5. 5. The Mermaid Mask is a perfect vacation murder mystery

    1 Aug 2026

    The Mermaid Mask, the next point-and-click game from Tangle Tower developer SFB Games, has everything you could ask for in a great murder mystery. It starts with a compelling setup: The captain of a submarine is found dead in a locked room, his body next to a mysterious cauldron with blood trickling across the floor. The colorful cast of suspects stationed aboard are delightful to talk to, including a grumpy author trying to draft a sequel to his hit novel, an actor playing the lead in a movie based on that novel, a young woman who puts on elaborate illusion performances, and even a man who studies dreams. The submarine works as an excellen … Read the full story at The Verge.

  6. 6. The OG reading app just got a big update

    1 Aug 2026

    Hi, friends! Welcome to Installer No. 138, your guide to the best and Verge-iest stuff in the world. (If you're new here, welcome, happy August, and also you can read all the old editions at the Installer homepage.) This week, I've been reading about microwave sounds and Meta glasses and Alex vs. Alix, testing the Logitech Alto Keys K98M to see if I'm ready for the mechanical keyboard life, digging into the history of the first chatbot, clearing space on my desk for a Bob Ross deskmat, doing a full Ted Lasso rewatch ahead of the new season next week, finally getting into Cyberpunk 2077 now that it's so cheap, cackling and nodding at this A … Read the full story at The Verge.

  7. 7. With Switch 2, iPhone, and laptop tricks, the Sharge Disk Pro 2 is finally a worthy EDC

    31 Jul 2026

    The Sharge Disk Pro 2. | Photo by Sean Hollister / The Verge Sharge, the company that makes delightful retro Mac-shaped chargers and see-inside batteries, is finally impressing me with a portable SSD. I couldn't recommend the Sharge Disk, Disk Plus, or even the Disk Pro, but I'd be happy to own the new Disk Pro 2 Ultra. This isn't just a drive. It's a 4K HDMI dock and a USB-C hub too. It's a veritable USB-C Swiss Army Knife for all your main gadgets: laptop, tablet, phone, Steam Deck, even the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2. And this USB multitool has built-in MagSafe pattern magnets to stick it to your iPhone, Pixel, or anything where you're willing to stick a magnetic ring. (One stick-on ring is in … Read the full story at The Verge.

  8. 8. Apple’s new AirTags are back down to their best price

    31 Jul 2026

    Both Amazon and Costco are offering some solid deals. | Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge We spotted a great deal on Tile trackers earlier this week that’s still live, but if you’re an iPhone owner, we ultimately recommend Apple’s latest AirTag. Right now, you can pick up a four-pack for $89 ($10 off) at Amazon and Target, matching the bundle’s all-time low price. If you’re a member, Costco also has a deal that throws in a fifth AirTag for free. Apple AirTags (second-generation) Where to Buy: $99 $89 at Amazon (pack of four) $99 $89.99 at Target (pack of four) A growing number of Bluetooth trackers can tap into Apple’s Find My network these days, but none combine that with Apple’s latest ultra wideband (UWB) chip, which powers even better Precision Finding than before. Precision Finding uses on-screen arrows and distance indicators in the Find My app to guide you directly to a misplaced item, while the second-generation AirTag’s upgraded chip and extended Bluetooth range make it faster and more reliable to locate tags, even in multistory homes. You can also use Precision Finding to find lost items on an Apple Watch, provided you have a Series 9 or later. And if all else fails, the built-in speaker is noticeably louder than before, making it easier to track down an AirTag by sound. Plus, like its predecessor, the second-generation AirTag comes with a handful of features that are especially useful if you’re traveling this summer. AirTag sharing lets up to five people keep track of the same item, while Apple’s Share Item Location feature allows you to temporarily share an AirTag’s location with participating airlines, including United, Delta, and American Airlines. It’s still a shame Apple doesn’t include a built-in lanyard hole, meaning you’ll need to buy a separate loop or holder, but the tracker continues to use a replaceable CR2032 battery, so you won’t have to replace the entire device when it eventually runs out of power. And at $89 for a four-pack, it’s also a little easier on your wallet today. Read our second-generation AirTag review.

  9. 9. Google Earth’s AI deepfake tool only lasted one day

    31 Jul 2026

    Pompeii reimagined with Nano Banana 2 in Google Earth. | Image: Google Google has shut down Google Earth feature it launched Thursday that allowed users to edit satellite images with text prompts using AI. The tool essentially let users create AI deepfakes of the real world using text prompts; Digital Digging's Henk van Ess, for example, intentionally generated images adding things like refugees near the Mexican border and a bomb crater by a hospital in Gaza. On Thursday, Google's initial response to van Ess noted that images generated with Nano Banana 2 in Google Earth included a digital watermark and that the company prevented "image creation on harmful topics." One day later, Google's new statement says tha … Read the full story at The Verge.

  10. 10. The NHTSA is investigating 1.2 million Tesla vehicles over suspension failure reports

    31 Jul 2026

    The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is probing nearly 1.2 million Tesla vehicles after receiving complaints about a suspension failure that could cause "a loss of vehicle directional control," as reported earlier by Reuters. The preliminary investigation includes the 2018-2020 Model 3 and 2021-2023 Model Y, according to a filing from the NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. The NHTSA says it received 156 complaints about the issue, which "involves the detachment of the front lower lateral link." In most cases reviewed by the NHTSA, failure occurred with "no advance warning," but some "cite noises occurring prior t … Read the full story at The Verge.