Illustration: The Verge Google Gemini can now “remember” certain things about you, such as your interests and personal preferences. The change is rolling out to subscribers with access to Gemini Advanced, and it will allow the AI chatbot to tailor its responses based on your needs, according to Gemini’s most recent release notes. As noted by Google, you can share your interests, as well as details about your work, hobbies, or aspirations, while chatting with Gemini. You can also enter relevant details about yourself within the bot’s “Saved Info” page, such as telling it to only suggest vegetarian recipes, or that you work as an accountant. Rolling out starting today, you can ask Gemini Advanced to remember your interests and preferences for more helpful,... Continue reading…

The original Steam Controller, and a prototype that preceded it. | Image: Sean Hollister / The Verge Two years ago, Valve told The Verge it wanted a successor to its cult classic Steam Controller, whose incredibly customizable buttons and touchpads paved the way for the Steam Deck handheld PC. Now, Valve watcher Brad Lynch claims a Steam Controller 2 — codename “Ibex” — is actually getting made. His sources tell him the Steam Controller 2 is currently being tooled for mass production, and it’s apparently not the only new Valve gamepad on the way! Codename for Steam Controller 2 is “Ibex”Separate product from Deckard’s “Roy” controller(s)Both are being tooled for a mass production goal in their factories right now. That’s why I know they’re in later stages of productization— Brad Lynch (@SadlyItsBradley) November 19, 2024 Remember t... Continue reading…

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge Google has given us a glimpse at what’s coming in the next major version of Android. The first preview release for Android 16 is available for developers starting today, which expands the photo library and medical data-sharing capabilities in apps. A change moving Android’s release timeline forward was announced last month, which could help third-party Android phones released in 2025 avoid waiting months to receive the latest major updates. Android Developer head Matthew McCullough says, “This is the start of Android having more frequent API releases as part of our effort to drive faster innovation in apps and devices.” The preview available today allows developers to embed Android’s photo picker — the menu that lets users select... Continue reading…

Apple has just released iOS 18.1.1 ahead of the launch of iOS 18.2. At this moment, it's unclear what's new with this software update besides "bug fixes and improvements." BGR will let you know once Apple makes it clearer. iOS 18.1.1 was released a few weeks after iOS 18.1. This software marks the beginning of Apple Intelligence features, as it unlocked new AI capabilities for iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 users. While iOS 18.1.1 is available to all iPhone users, we're in the middle of the iOS 18.2 beta cycle. This upcoming software update will bring more Apple Intelligence features, including: Image Playground: Users can create playful images in seconds, choosing from Animation, Illustration, or Sketch. This app is built right into apps like Messages and is also available in a dedicated app; having trouble with the waitlist? Check this; Genmoji: Create custom emojis by combining two figures; users can type a prompt like “monkey with pink hat” to make an entirely new emoji; here’s how to use it; Image Wand: “Rough sketches can be turned into delightful images, and users can even select empty space to create an image using context from the surrounding area” in the Notes app; ChatGPT integration: When you feel Apple Intelligence isn’t enough, you can allow ChatGPT to access Writing Tools and other features for a better response; if you are tired of Apple Intelligence asking to confirm every prompt, do this; Create Images expansion: Another Apple Intelligence feature available with iOS 18.2 beta is the ability to create an image when you highlight text in the Notes app. In addition to these Apple Intelligence functions, which are included with iOS 18.2, Apple continues to add other features during the beta cycle. All-new Mail app: Mail is introducing new ways for users to manage their inboxes. On-device categorization organizes and sorts incoming emails into Primary for personal and time-sensitive emails, Transactions for confirmations and receipts, Updates for news and social notifications, and Promotions for marketing emails and coupons. Mail also features a new digest view that pulls together all of the relevant emails from a business, allowing users to quickly scan for what’s important at the moment. Change default apps: iOS 18.2 beta lets iPhone users change the Messages and Phone default apps. Volume Limit: The Settings app now has a new Volume Limit control. This lets you limit how loud your iPhone speakers can play media. BGR will let you know if we find anything new with iOS 18.1.1. Alongside this software update, Apple has also released macOS Sequoia 15.1.1 and iPadOS 18.1.1. Don't Miss: iOS 18: Features, release date, beta, download, Apple Intelligence The post Apple releases iOS 18.1.1 ahead of iOS 18.2 launch appeared first on BGR. Today's Top Deals Best Fire TV Stick deals for November 2024 Today’s deals: $30 in Amazon credit, $149 Roomba, $100 Fitbit, $180 Ninja CREAMi Deluxe, more Amazon gift card deals, offers & coupons 2024: Get $415+ free Today’s deals: $270 Nintendo Switch OLED, $20 waterproof Bluetooth speaker, 20% off Peloton Bike+, more

Apple released iOS 18 this year, but if any of your Apple devices are somehow still running iOS 8 or earlier, it's time to update. This week, Apple published a support document online revealing that any iCloud device backups will require iOS 9 or later starting December 18, 2024. After that date, your backup data will be deleted if you haven't updated. The company goes on to explain that if any device is still running iOS 5 to iOS 8 after December 18, you won't be able to create new backups or access existing backups. You can still manually back up your device to a Mac or PC with iTunes or Finder. As long as you have an iPhone 4S or later, iPad 2 or later, or iPod touch (5th generation) or later, you can install iOS 9 to continue using iCloud Backup. If you want to update, head to Settings > General > Software Update or follow the steps below: Connect your iPhone to your computer. On your computer, open Finder, Apple Devices, or iTunes, then click the Device button. Click Summary. Click Check for Update. To install an available update, click Update or Download and Update. You can now continue to back up your data in the cloud for the foreseeable future. On the other hand, your device might be so old that it can't update to iOS 9, or maybe you don't want to update. If that's the case, here's how you can continue to back up your device manually even after Apple stops supporting iCloud Backup on your phone: Back up your device with Finder in macOS Catalina or later With a USB cable, connect your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to your Mac with macOS Catalina or later. On your Mac, click the Finder icon in the Dock to open a window in the Finder. Select your device from the list in the sidebar of the window. Don't see your device? At the top of the Finder window, click General. Select “Back up all of the data on your iPhone to this Mac.” To encrypt your backup data and protect it with a password, select “Encrypt local backup.” Click Back Up Now. Back up your device with Apple Devices or iTunes in Windows or older macOS versions With a USB cable, connect your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to your computer. On your computer, open Apple Devices or iTunes, then click the Device button. Click Summary. Click Back Up Now (below Backups). To encrypt your backups, select “Encrypt [device] backup," type a password, then click Set Password. In related news, Apple is also ending support for syncing or accessing bookmarks with iCloud Bookmarks on iOS 10 or earlier. In another support document, Apple explained that devices will require iOS 11 or later, iPadOS 11 or later, or macOS Sierra 10.12.6 or later to sync bookmarks or access bookmarks on iCloud.com starting on December 18, 2024. Don't Miss: iPhone 17 Air will be the thinnest iPhone ever made, new rumor claims The post Apple is about to delete your iCloud backups if iOS on your iPhone is too old appeared first on BGR. Today's Top Deals Today’s deals: $30 in Amazon credit, $149 Roomba, $100 Fitbit, $180 Ninja CREAMi Deluxe, more Today’s deals: $270 Nintendo Switch OLED, $20 waterproof Bluetooth speaker, 20% off Peloton Bike+, more Awesome new T-Mobile promo gets you 4 new iPhone 16 and 4 lines for $25/line Today’s deals: $120 Segway Ninebot eKickScooter C2 Lite, $20 Android smartwatch, $22 Fire TV Stick 4K, more

The legendary Arslan Kaya monument (i.e., lion rock), features a heavily damaged inscription that has been difficult to decipher for ages, and is 2,600 years old. Now, a professor and archaeologist from the USA claims to have deciphered it, saying it spells out ‘Materan,’ referring to a Mother goddess of the Phyrgians, whose worship flourished in Turkey between 1200 and 600 BC. Apart from weathering and erosion, the monument is also heavily damaged from looters and raiders. Behistun Inscription, The Rosetta Stone of Persia Anatolian History: Emerging Empires and Lands Changing Hands Let There Be Light! Dated to the first half of the 6th century BC, the inscription could only be rescued through capturing it in very precise light during specific times of the day, which enhanced its legibility. The research, carried out by Professor Mark Munn, a specialist in ancient Greek history and archaeology at Pennsylvania State University, has been published in the journal Kadmos, a platform for pre-Greek and Greek epigraphy. Read moreSection: ArtifactsAncient WritingsNewsHistory & ArchaeologyAncient PlacesAsiaRead Later 

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