Category: Technology

The uncomfortable truth about hybrid vehicles

This is The Stepback, a weekly newsletter breaking down one essential story from the tech world. For more on the EV struggle, follow Andrew J. Hawkins. The Stepback arrives in our subscribers’ inboxes at 8AM ET. Opt in for The Stepback here.How it startedApologies to the Toyota Prius, but the first hybrid vehicle of note was the Semper Vivus, developed by Ferdinand Porsche (yes, that Porsche) way back in 1900. The Semper Vivus (Latin for “always alive”) used two combustion engines to power generators, which then fed electricity to motors inside the wheel hubs. The fact that it took modern…

Apple’s website leaks MacBook ‘Neo,’ which could be its new cheaper laptop

During Apple’s week-long product launch event on Tuesday, a listing for the “MacBook Neo (Model A3404)” appeared on a regulatory compliance page on Apple’s website under its line-up of 2026 MacBooks. First spotted by MacRumors, the listing appears to be an accident and has since been removed, but may have been a leaked reference to a rumored entry-level MacBook. Unfortunately, it didn’t include any additional details beyond the device’s name and model number.Cool name https://t.co/OR4xRV6WGi- Mark Gurman (@markgurman) March 3, 2026Apple has reportedly been working on a budget-friendly MacBook…

Unihertz’s new QWERTY phone is even more like a Blackberry

Everybody’s trying to get in on Cosmic Orange. | Photo: Allison Johnson / The Verge Unihertz, known for its slab phone alternatives, has unveiled an evolution of its device with a physical keyboard: The Titan 2 Elite. It’s smaller and sleeker than the (aptly named) Titan that precedes it, comes in the orange color that’s all the rage right now, and looks a heck of a lot like a Blackberry. Unihertz teased the Elite in January; from the teaser it looked to be a smaller Titan 2 with rounded edges. Having seen it in person at MWC, I can confirm that’s exactly what it is. The keys are slightly…

2027 Audi RS5 first drive: Big thrills with a big battery

There's more waffling going on about the future of electric vehicles in America right now than you might expect at a Belgian breakfast buffet. Some brands like Hyundai are staying committed, some brands like Honda are dialing back, and everyone else is simply doing their damndest to provide as many propulsion options as possibleCount Audi in that last category. On the EV side, it recently launched the new Q6 E-Tron and refreshed the ballistic E-Tron GT. On the internal combustion side, it has a new A6, and there's a full-size, three-row SUV coming in the form of the Q9. The company'…

GE made a smaller version of its nugget ice maker that needs less counter space

GE is showing off prototypes of its new compact nugget ice maker at the KBIS trade show. | Image: GE GE has announced two new versions of its popular Opal nugget ice machines with smaller footprints that take up less counter space, and more affordable price tags. Like GE’s larger and pricier Opal 2.0 Ultra, the two new machines make nugget ice – frequently also referred to as chewable ice, or pellet ice – by freezing layers of ice flakes producing nuggets that are easier to chew with more surface area to cool drinks faster.Previously only available in restaurants, GE launched its first Opal…

Mastodon is testing easier ways to get you started in the fediverse

New users on the decentralized social network Mastodon could soon have an easier time getting started. Mastodon is running “onboarding experiments” to test ways to improve the new user experience, starting with default server recommendations. Now when new users join Mastodon from the mobile app, they may see a button to “join” a recommended server rather than the default “join mastodon.social” button that’s currently displayed. Unlike most other social platforms, Mastodon has hundreds of independent servers users can join, catering to different communities and niches. The addition of default…

Xenoblade Chronicles X is $20 off in time for its Switch 2 upgrade

Nintendo just released a Switch 2 upgrade for Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition. The upgrade is $4.99 for owners of the Switch game, or $64.99 if you buy the Switch 2 version. Don’t buy the Switch 2 version! Instead, score a deal on the digital Switch version that’s $39.99 (originally $59.99) at GameStop and Amazon. Then, make the upgrade for another $5. The physical version is discounted, too, but buying digitally is the fastest way to jump in.Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive EditionWhere to Buy: $59.99 $39.99 at Amazon (digital) $59.99 $39.99 at GameStop (digital)Xenoblade…