The iFixit portable soldering station. | Photo by Sean Hollister / The Verge My first USB-C soldering iron was a revelation. “You mean I can make liquid metal connections anywhere, in seconds, just by plugging this tiny stick into a USB cable?” Now, repair company iFixit is introducing its own take on the idea. It claims the iFixit FixHub Smart Soldering Iron is powerful enough for pros and easier for beginners than any others that have come before. So far, it’s not a new revelation, but after my first couple of hours, I’m loving iFixit’s improvements on an already great idea. For starters: the $80 iron comes with a heat-resistant magnetic storage cap so you can safely put it away at a moment’s notice, an LED warning light that tells you if it’s blistering hot, motion sensors to automatically shut it off if you... Continue reading…

Illustration: The Verge Google Wallet will start beta testing a digital ID soon that works at TSA checkpoints in almost half the country, including states like New York, California, Florida, Texas, and Illinois, but Google still advises that users keep their physical ID handy. Google says it’s also working with partners to use digital IDs for other purposes, like car rentals, account recovery, and identity verification. To create the digital ID, you’ll scan the security chip on the back of your passport into the Google Wallet app. Google will ask you to verify your identity with a selfie video and then generate the ID pass within a few minutes. The ID is encrypted, so you’ll need a passcode or fingerprint to access and share it. Image: Google ... Continue reading…

Ahead of the iOS 18 release, it seems Netflix might be planning to stop supporting old iOS and iPadOS versions. According to MacRumors' contributor Aaron Perris, code strings on the latest iOS update for the Netflix app reveal that the popular streaming service is about to end support for iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 devices. With the strings hidden in the latest update, it seems this change could happen as soon as next week, as iOS 18 is expected to be available to iPhone users on September 16. When Apple released iOS 17 a year ago, it stopped supporting a few iPhone and iPad models. With that, if you have one of the following Apple devices below, you won't be able to use Netflix very soon: iPhone 8 iPhone 8 Plus iPhone X iPad Pro (1st generation) iPad (5th generation) Luckily, once Netflix stops supporting these devices, other iPhone and iPad models will have a longer period working with the streaming service, as iOS 17 and iOS 18 support the same iPhone models. That said, iPadOS 18 ditches a few other iPads, such as the iPad Pro 2 and iPad 6, so they might stop working with Netflix in the future. While some users might get furious about this change, it's important to note that apps, in general, need to stop supporting older versions of a system to improve security and even add new features only available to newer models. One workaround for these devices can be using Netflix on Safari or other web browsers. Eventually, even accessing it on a browser will stop working, but it will at least grant users a few more years without requiring them to update their iPhone and iPad models. The same happens with WhatsApp and other popular apps. With that in mind, it's always a good idea to update your devices at least every once in a while. BGR will let you know once Netflix stops supporting iOS 16 devices. Don't Miss: iOS 18 release date: Here’s when the final version launches The post Netflix will soon stop working on these 5 Apple devices appeared first on BGR. Today's Top Deals Today’s deals: $100 off Sihoo Doro C300 Pro office chair, Rare Nintendo Switch OLED sale, Anker chargers, more Today’s deals: $40 Sony headphones, $50 Ninja blender, $140 AirPods 3, $60 foldable camera drone, more Best Fire TV Stick deals for September 2024 Today’s deals: $689 Apple Watch Ultra 2, $40 cordless Waterpik, $305 Lenovo IdeaPad 1 laptop, more

Since the dawn of humanity, countless civilizations have engaged in ritual sacrifice. Often, these sacrifices involved other humans, and were so common they were considered a normal aspect of life. In some cultures, it was even an honor to be the one chosen for sacrifice! Why Did Ancient Cultures Practice Sacrifice? Ritual sacrifice is a practice in which a living thing is killed as an offering to a higher power. This higher power is often seen as a god or gods, although in some cases it could be society as a whole. In communities where sacrifices are common, it is generally believed that they are a necessary part of life and help to restore a sacred order in the universe. This practice has existed for thousands of years in cultures across the world, and is actually one of the earliest known forms of worship in history. Many societies engaged in this gory ritual, but the ones discussed here stand out as the most gruesome and brutal. Each culture had its own form of ritual sacrifice. In some, animals have been killed and offered up as smaller sacrifices, while human sacrifice is reserved for grander events such as religious ceremonies. In others, humans were seen as the only living being worth offering to a higher power. Read moreSection: NewsGeneralHistory & ArchaeologyHuman OriginsReligionsMyths & LegendsAmericasAncient PlacesAmericasHistoryAncient TraditionsPreviewRead Later 

Pop megastar Taylor Swift took home seven trophies on Wednesday at MTV's Video Music Awards, tying her with Beyonce for the most lifetime honors in the 40-year history of the video accolades. Swift snagged the top prize, video of the year, for her bleak, black-and-white...

Francine weakened Thursday after striking Louisiana as a Category 2 hurricane that knocked out power to hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses, sent storm surge rushing into coastal communities and raised flood fears in New Orleans and beyond.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said Wednesday he will not endorse either Donald Trump or Kamala Harris, even as the former president continued to call Mahomes' wife, Brittany, a supporter of his campaign.

Jim Sasser, who served 18 years in the U.S. Senate and six years as ambassador to China, has died. He was 87. Gray Sasser, his son, said his father died Tuesday evening at his home in Chapel Hill, N.C., of an apparent heart attack. Sasser, a Democrat, represented Tennessee in...

The number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits increased marginally last week, pointing to a still-low level of layoffs even as the labor market slows.

U.S. wholesale price increases mostly slowed last month, the latest evidence that inflation pressures are cooling enough for the Federal Reserve to begin cutting interest rates next week.