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Today’s Storystream

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Phone customization on another level.

While iPhone owners are getting access to new homescreen personalization options today, Nothing wants to help you customize your actual phone. The company published specs for CMF’s Phone 1 so users can make or 3D print their own accessories for its modular back panel. That’s rad, and honestly anything that takes us closer to bringing Moto Mods back is a step in the right direction.


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J.D. Vance has flip-flopped on climate change like he’s flip-flopped on Trump.

Trump’s new running mate went from saying “we have a climate problem” in 2020 to being “skeptical of the idea that climate change is caused purely by man,” The New York Times reports. (Research shows greenhouse gas emissions from human activity are to blame.) Vance suddenly threw his support behind Trump, pushed to repeal EV tax credits and rollback pollution regulations.


The Verge’s guide to Amazon Prime Day 2024

We’re here to bring you the best deals and discounts from Amazon’s exclusive two-day sales event.

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Amazon’s quality control issues led to the shipment of a dirty diaper.

A report from Bloomberg highlights how a couple’s washable swim diaper business suffered after Amazon’s returns service recirculated a used diaper, leading to a scathing review that hurt sales:

The Barons told Amazon repeatedly that they weren’t at fault and that the review should be taken down. Yet it remains on the site, inflicting lasting harm. The couple says they’re $600,000 in debt, including a loan secured by their home that complicates the prospect of filing for bankruptcy.


Biden’s top tech adviser says AI is a ‘today problem’

Arati Prabhakar, a former DARPA chief and now director of the White House’s OSTP, says the time to regulate AI is now.

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Kaspersky Labs is closing its business in the US.

The Russian cybersecurity company confirmed the move in a statement to Zero Day, saying business opportunities in the US “are no longer viable” and that it’s laying off less than 50 workers.

Last month, the US government announced a ban on Kaspersky’s antivirus software over concerns about national security.


A supercheap Android phone with looks to spare

Plus, in this week’s Installer: Samsung’s first smart ring, Diggnation’s reunion show, a new Apple TV sci-fi show, and much more.

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Musk finally confirms Tesla robotaxi delay.

In a post on X, the CEO said the event to reveal the company’s long-promised fully autonomous robotaxi was delayed to make time for more design changes, include an ‘important’ change to the front of the vehicle. Musk also teased “a few other things” that will shown at the October event. The event was supposed to take place on August 8th, but now has been delayed until sometime in October. Tesla still hasn’t confirmed an exact date.


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Remember Amazon’s Dash buttons?

Amazon’s brand-specific reordering buttons only lasted from 2015 through 2019, but in that time, they made enough of an impact to earn an eventual featured spot as a Button of the Month.

Some people did try to keep using them — let us know if your hacks are still working.


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Mark Zuckerberg and Jensen Huang will be onstage together later this month.

The two tech CEOS (and jacket-swapping friends) will have a live-streamed “fireside chat” at the SIGGRAPH conference to discuss AI. Their conversation will take place on July 29th at 6PM ET.


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Hyperkin’s modern Xbox ‘Controller S’ remake ships in August.

Pre-orders are available for the Hyperkin DuchesS, which re-imagines Microsoft’s Xbox Controller S (the one that replaced the console's original “The Duke” gamepad) for Xbox One and Series X / S consoles, and PC.

The wired controller is available in White or Black variants, both priced at $49.99. Hyperkin says pre-orders will ship on August 21st.


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Watch this ping-pong-playing droid flex its un-robotic moves.

IHMC showcased improvements to its Nadia robot that lower the latency of its VR-controlled inputs enough to play table tennis against a human.

The ultimate design goal for Nadia — named after famed gymnast Nadia Comăneci — is to achieve a human range-of-motion, having demonstrated its boxing capabilities last year in a Real Steel-like fashion.


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The Stranger Things cast is looking real grown up ahead of season five.

We all knew the Stranger Things kids would look a bit older for the show’s fifth and final season, but seeing them all back in Hawkins High in this new behind the scenes video really emphasizes how the show’s last chapter can’t get here fast enough.


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The classified documents case against Trump has been dismissed.

Judge Aileen Cannon bucked precedent and found that the special counsel leading the prosecution had been illegally appointed. The ruling can be appealed, but it puts another huge blockade in the case over whether Trump improperly held onto caches of classified documents and carelessly stored them at his Florida resort.


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Ford’s answer to Texas blackouts: loads of generators on wheels.

Ford is taking the opportunity to advertise its Pro Power Onboard generators available in some F-150 models, including gas and Lightning EV versions, after Hurricane Beryl caused major outages in the Houston area. Communications director Mark Levine posted a map showing where F-150 trucks generated at least one kilowatt of electricity.


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Boox is improving the user experience of its e-readers.

The company is rolling out new firmware (V3.5.3) that will address a common complaint with its E Ink devices. The update includes a redesigned user interface with cleaner icons plus navigation elements and toolbars that are more intuitive.

The new firmware also introduces a new system-wide annotation tool, screen mirroring to any device with a browser, and a Dark Mode that boosts contrast by inverting text.


How one small company’s SEO garbage made it to Sports Illustrated and USA Today

The man behind the AI gaffes has a yearslong history of filling the internet with garbage.

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AMD’s Zen 5 processors will arrive on July 31st.

There are four CPUs in the new Ryzen 9000 series, which includes the beastly 16-core, 32-thread Ryzen 9 9950X flagship. Pricing still hasn’t been disclosed, but it’s currently expected to align with the Zen 4 series chips.


A lineup of the new AMD Ryzen 9000 series processors, alongside a July 31st release date.
Image: AMD
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$1000 discount for people burned by VanMoof bankruptcy.

A nice gesture from the new owners who have everything to lose if they don’t earn back trust:

The new VanMoof has launched a global initiative to help riders who ordered a bike before the bankruptcy and never received it. The company offers a €1000 / $1000 / £850 discount code off a VanMoof S5, A5 or future product to riders affected by this issue.

“Future product” presumably applies to the new electric scooter that should be launching soon, or even the dual-motor V superbike that’s still planned. You can apply for the discount here which is valid until the end of 2027.