Author: News Room

Snapping up one of the best phones for photography is something more of us are doing, now that cameras have become the biggest differentiators between handsets. New hardware and software improvements are also coming thick and fast with each new launch. But which is the best? The reality, of course, is that not all smartphones are made equal, especially when it comes to camera performance. We’ve rounded up some of the best top-tier smartphone cameras for photography currently available, based on years of expertise. If you’re after the best cameraphone, look no further than this lot: Why you can trust…

Microsoft’s annual developer conference kicks off today in Seattle, Washington, during the same week Google hosts its own I/O developer event in Mountain View, California. Build will be focused on Microsoft’s latest platform changes for developers, including new AI announcements that are bound to go head-to-head with Google’s own news.Microsoft is streaming Build online free of charge and developers, students, and engineers will also be able to attend the in-person event at Seattle’s conference center. I’m expecting Microsoft to focus largely on AI this year, with emphasis on its push for AI agents that Microsoft envisions working alongside humans as…

Google I/O 2025 will kick off tomorrow, on 20 May at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California. Even though Google has shown of most of the biggest Android 16 announcements, there’s bound to be plenty of tasty treats for Android fans to sink their teeth into at Google’s annual developer event. And if you’re not fortunate enough to attend in person, fear not – there will be a Google I/O 2025 live stream for free online, to ensure you don’t miss a single thing. Google I/O 2025: when does it start in the US and UK? The Google I/O…

Apple Intelligence has been a wreck since its first features rolled out last year, and a big new report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman details why — and how Apple is trying to piece things back together. And much of its effort hinges on rebuilding Siri from the ground up.Gurman has reported in the past that Apple is working on what it’s internally calling ‘LLM Siri’ — a reworked, generative AI version of the company’s digital assistant. Apple’s previous approach of merging the assistant with the existing Siri hasn’t been working. Gurman describes in great detail a number of reasons why,…

China has launched the first 12 satellites of a planned 2,800-strong orbital supercomputer satellite network, reports Space News. The satellites, created by the company ADA Space, Zhijiang Laboratory, and Neijang High-Tech Zone, will be able to process the data they collect themselves, rather than relying on terrestrial stations to do it for them, according to ADA Space’s announcement (machine-translated).The satellites are part of ADA Space’s “Star Compute” program and the first of what it calls the “Three-Body Computing Constellation,” the company writes. Each of the 12 satellites has an onboard 8-billion parameter AI model and is capable of 744 tera…

For most of my life, I’ve relied on a paper map when I go outdoors. Then, in March, I joined my friend Rusty on the Appalachian Trail for two weeks. He told me to download FarOut.FarOut was my introduction to the world of app-based navigation. It’s focused on thru-hikers, and has useful details, including comments that tell you whether a specific water source is flowing, and if so, how well. It took me a minute to get the hang of it — I was hiking southbound, and it defaults to northbound — but once I did, I was impressed.FarOut works…

Hi, friends! Welcome to Installer No. 83, your guide to the best and Verge-iest stuff in the world. (If you’re new here, welcome, please don’t spoil Andor for me, and also you can read all the old editions at the Installer homepage.) This week, I’ve been reading about Mission: Impossible and Sam Altman’s kitchen and bad roommates, ranting to PJ Vogt about all the ways I’m trying to use my phone less, writing all my scratch notes in Antinote, deciding to be cautiously optimistic about The Paper, rewatching the last season of Mythic Quest, watching and reading about life as…

Loewe makes some of the top sound systems on the market. Not only do they sound great, but also look ridiculously sleek. I’ve got a set in my living room right now. But these new speakers are some of the best-looking I’ve ever seen. The Inicio passive speakers are limited-edition and handcrafted by Loewe. The Grand Inicio is a floor-standing unit, crafted from Fractal Walnut and dotted with titanium. It packs a 2-way bass reflex set-up, standing tall on a chunky aluminium stand that keeps things tight and rumble-free by decoupling the speaker from your floorboards. Then there’s the Regular Inicio, a…

Reckon you’ve got a good idea for a podcast? You only need one thing to make it happen: the best podcast microphone. Yes, we are truly living in the age of the podcast, whether blasting out from a Bluetooth speaker in the office or listening on headphones in bed. From football to fitness to films, no topic is too niche to be discussed at length for legions of listeners. This means you’re probably sitting on a pod-worthy pitch right now. Whether you’re ready to broadcast your hot take to the masses or reckon recording your voice just seems like good…

Yarbo’s robot lawnmower claims to do a bit more than mow your lawn. It’s pegged as the ultimate garden robot that mows the grass, clears snow, blows leaves, and could probably tow your barbecue back into the shed. That probably makes it the best bit of garden tech around. I know what you’re probably thinking, and I thought it as well at first – that’s an awfully big promise. But when this real, tank-tracked, yellow-and-black unit arrived on a pallet, it turns out, the Yarbo system manages to do everything it says. All of that functionality, doesn’t come cheap, however.…

Sonic kit can set you back hundreds, but you don’t need deep pockets to bag a pair of the best wireless earbuds. Want reliable ‘phones for everyday listening? The best cheap headphones make cord-free audio more affordable, without cutting corners where it counts. From accessible cans to budget earbuds, the list below features our pick of the top earphones available for less than $100/£100. They might not rival high-end headphones for outright feature-packed performance. But each pair promises to please the ears – and a few give premium competitors a good run for their money. Whether you want in-ears, on-ears…

Introduction The Hyundai Inster is my kind of EV. It’s small and efficient, but it also arrives packing lots of personality. Alongside the likes of the Renault 5, the Fiat Grande Panda, Citroen e-C3 Aircross and, more recently, the all-new Renault 4, I’m now spoilt for choice when it comes to affordable compact electric cars. That’s a good thing after being subjected to lots of battery-powered SUVs that, whilst being comfortable and all, often lack much in the way of charm. Frequently, they aren’t very efficient either. Refreshingly, the Hyundai Inster is a more reduced proposition, which falls nicely between…