Tom Warren
@tomwarren.social
Senior Editor at The Verge ║ I cover all things PC, console, and Microsoft ║ DMs open║ Got a news tip? msg me on Signal: +442081230413
welcome to Notepad, my new weekly newsletter on Microsoft's era-defining bets on AI, gaming, and the future of computing. Notepad is designed to uncover the secrets and strategy behind Microsoft’s big moves. You can read all about it and subscribe here: www.theverge.com/2024/5/15/24...
Welcome to Notepad, a newsletter on Microsoft’s era-defining bets by Tom Warren
Notepad will include analyses and scoops from a veteran Microsoft reporter.
www.theverge.comscoop: Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella wants employees to never make a security tradeoff, even if it means dropping legacy support. "If you’re faced with the tradeoff between security and another priority, your answer is clear: Do security." Full memo here👇 www.theverge.com/24148033/sat...
Read Satya Nadella’s Microsoft memo on putting security first
Nadella doesn’t want Microsoft employees making security tradeoffs.
www.theverge.comMicrosoft’s billion-dollar OpenAI investment was trigged by Google fears, an internal email has revealed. Microsoft was "very worried" it was "multiple years" behind Google's AI efforts. Details below 👇 www.theverge.com/2024/5/1/241...
Microsoft’s billion-dollar OpenAI investment was trigged by Google fears, emails reveal
Microsoft has now invested billions in OpenAI.
www.theverge.comNvidia’s AI chatbot now supports Google’s Gemma model, voice queries, and more. You'll need an RTX 30- or 40-series GPU to power ChatRTX and it runs locally on a Windows PC. Details below 👇 www.theverge.com/2024/5/1/241...
Nvidia’s AI chatbot now supports Google’s Gemma model, voice queries, and more
Nvidia keeps improving its ChatRTX demo app.
www.theverge.comMicrosoft has open sourced MS-DOS 4.0. Microsoft worked with IBM to release the source code under the MIT license cloudblogs.microsoft.com/opensource/2...
Sony wants game devs to create an exclusive graphics mode for the PS5 Pro. It will include 60fps, upscaling to 4K using PSSR, and ray tracing. The PS5 Pro will also have an ‘ultra-boost’ mode for games that don’t get enhancements. Full details below 👇 www.theverge.com/2024/4/16/24...
Sony wants 60fps PS5 Pro “Enhanced” games, but it’s happy to settle for less
The PS5 Pro will boost older games, too.
www.theverge.comSony’s PS5 Pro is real and developers are getting ready for it. Here's everything I know about the PS5 Pro after seeing dev docs 👇 www.theverge.com/2024/4/15/24...
Sony’s PS5 Pro is real and developers are getting ready for it
Sony is pushing developers to focus on ray tracing.
www.theverge.comMicrosoft is holding a special Windows and Surface AI event in May. Ahead of Build 2024, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella will share the company’s "AI vision" for both software and hardware. Full details below 👇 www.theverge.com/2024/3/18/24...
Microsoft to hold a special Windows and Surface AI event in May
It’s the year of the AI PC.
www.theverge.comWooting built the best gaming keyboard — now, a new model introduces "Rappy Snappy." Wooting’s popular Rapid Trigger feature is about to evolve on its new 80HE. Details below 👇 www.theverge.com/2024/3/14/24...
Wooting built the best gaming keyboard — now a new model introduces “Rappy Snappy”
Rappy Snappy is the evolution of Rapid Trigger.
www.theverge.comIntel's new Core i9-14900KS processor goes on sale today, priced at $699. It includes boost clocks up to 6.2GHz, and is likely to be one of the last LGA 1700 processors before Intel moves to a new socket and generation. Details below 👇 www.theverge.com/2024/3/14/24...
Intel’s new Core i9-14900KS arrives today for $699 with boosts up to 6.2GHz
This will probably be one of the last LGA 1700 processors.
www.theverge.comDiablo IV’s ray tracing update arrives March 26th. It will include ray-traced reflections for armor, water, and windows, alongside ray-traced shadows. Details below 👇 www.theverge.com/2024/3/14/24...
Diablo IV’s ray tracing update arrives March 26th.
Diablo IV is getting a ray tracing upgrade later this month. Armor, water, windows, and other reflective surfaces will all have ray-traced reflections for more detail and lighting accuracy. Shadows th...
www.theverge.comMicrosoft Teams is finally moving to a single app for personal and work. The new app will have an account switcher multiple tenants and personal or work account types, so no more separate and confusing apps. Full details below 👇 www.theverge.com/2024/3/13/24...
Microsoft Teams is finally moving to a single app for personal and work
The new Teams app is available to test right now.
www.theverge.comSony is rolling out a new PS5 update today. It improves the DualSense speaker output and microphone, adds emoji and pointers to the Share Screen feature, and lets you adjust the PS5 power indicator brightness. Details below 👇 www.theverge.com/2024/3/13/24...
Sony’s new PS5 update includes improved DualSense audio and screen sharing
The update is now rolling out worldwide.
www.theverge.comLogitech’s best gaming mouse just got better. Logitech is now rolling out a firmware update to its PRO X Superlight 2 mouse to enable 4kHz response rates. Details below 👇 www.theverge.com/2024/3/8/240...
Logitech’s best gaming mouse just got better
The G Pro X Superlight 2 gets a 4kHz response rate.
www.theverge.comApple has reversed its ban of Epic Games' developer account, following an inquiry from the European Commission. Epic is now "moving forward as planned to launch the Epic Games Store and bring Fortnite back to iOS in Europe." www.theverge.com/2024/3/8/240...
Microsoft says Russian hackers stole source code after spying on some of its executives. The hackers got into Microsoft executive email accounts and have now accessed the company’s source code repositories and internal systems. Details below 👇 www.theverge.com/2024/3/8/240...
Microsoft says Russian hackers stole source code after spying on its executives
Hackers originally gained access last year.
www.theverge.comMicrosoft has quietly announced a “digital event” for Surface, Windows, and Copilot later this month. New Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6 devices are expected to be unveiled, alongside the start of Microsoft's "AI PC" push. Details below 👇 www.theverge.com/2024/3/7/240...
Microsoft confirms Surface and Windows AI event for March 21st
A Surface spring event has sprung.
www.theverge.comMicrosoft's Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6 devices are on the way. Business editions (refreshed chips) will come first at a March event, but an OLED Surface Pro 10 and new Surface Laptop 6 design are coming later this spring. Details 👇 www.theverge.com/2024/3/5/240...
Microsoft to reveal Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6 later this month
New Surface hardware is arriving this spring.
www.theverge.comNvidia is finally combining GeForce Experience and Nvidia Control Panel into a single app 🥳 Say hello to the new Nvidia app, which launches into beta today and includes some interesting improvements to the overlay. Full details below 👇 www.theverge.com/2024/2/22/24...
Nvidia’s finally replacing GeForce Experience with this all-in-one “Nvidia app”
Nvidia owners can join the beta starting today.
www.theverge.comSony is now testing PSVR2 support for PC. It looks like PSVR2 owners are going to be able to use the VR headset on a PC later this year 🙏 full details below 👇 www.theverge.com/2024/2/22/24...
Microsoft and Intel strike a custom chip deal that could be worth billions. Intel will be producing custom chips, designed by Microsoft for Microsoft, as part of a deal that Intel says is worth more than $15 billion www.theverge.com/2024/2/21/24...
Microsoft and Intel strike a custom chip deal that could be worth billions
Microsoft is a big win for Intel’s chip foundry business.
www.theverge.com
Microsoft and OpenAI are both revealing today that hackers are using tools like ChatGPT to improve cyberattacks. A number of nation-backed groups are starting to use large language models to help with research, scripting, and phishing emails. Details 👇 www.theverge.com/2024/2/14/24...
Microsoft and OpenAI say hackers are using ChatGPT to improve cyberattacks
Hackers are using AI tools to improve scripts, phishing emails, and more.
www.theverge.com
scoop: Microsoft is preparing to take Xbox everywhere. With rumors of some Xbox games coming to Nintendo Switch and PS5, here's what's really happening. Details below 👇 www.theverge.com/2024/2/12/24...
Microsoft prepares to take Xbox everywhere
Some Xbox games are coming to PS5 and Switch.
www.theverge.comMicrosoft’s next big AI push is here. After a year of Bing, Microsoft is heading to the Super Bowl with a Copilot ad. I spoke to Yusuf Mehdi about the year of Bing and what's next for Microsoft's AI efforts 👇 www.theverge.com/2024/2/7/240...
Microsoft’s next big AI push is here after a year of Bing
Microsoft has an AI Super Bowl commercial ready.
www.theverge.comthis Microsoft hack is wild. The most valuable company in the world was breached by Russian hackers just days after it announced a major software security overhaul. Microsoft only discovered the breach last week, and it started at the end of November 😬 www.theverge.com/2024/1/19/24...
Microsoft “senior leadership” emails accessed by Russian SolarWinds hackers
The hackers were able to steal emails and documents in a November attack.
www.theverge.comMicrosoft "senior leadership" emails have been accessed by Russian SolarWinds hackers in a security incident in November 2023. Microsoft has just revealed the details in a Friday news dump. Full details below 👇 www.theverge.com/2024/1/19/24...
Microsoft “senior leadership” emails accessed by Russian SolarWinds hackers
The hackers were able to steal emails and documents in a November attack.
www.theverge.comMicrosoft Teams meeting reminders are coming to the Windows 11 Start menu. Improved access to your Android smartphone photos is also on the way. Details below 👇 www.theverge.com/2024/1/18/24...
Microsoft Teams meeting reminders are coming to the Windows 11 Start menu
Microsoft is also testing a new Android photos experience.
www.theverge.comThe first Xbox event of the year will feature Indiana Jones and Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II. Here's how to tune into today's Xbox Developer_Direct at 3PM ET / 12PM PT / 8PM UK www.theverge.com/2024/1/18/24...
Is Microsoft about to launch Xbox exclusives on PlayStation and Nintendo Switch? Here are my thoughts on the rumors and the comments from Microsoft executives 👇 www.theverge.com/2024/1/18/24...
Why Microsoft might be considering Xbox exclusives on PlayStation and Nintendo Switch
Rumors have Xbox fans wondering what’s going on.
www.theverge.cominterestingly, Samsung has chosen to partner with Google, not Microsoft, for its generative AI features on the Galaxy S24 series. Samsung is also one of Google's first customers to test Gemini Ultra, and will use Gemini Nano as part of Android 14 www.theverge.com/2024/1/17/24...
The Galaxy S24 Ultra is smarter, pricier, and just as big as ever
AI everything and then some.
www.theverge.comThe UK’s biggest video game retailer, GAME, is ending trade-ins for physical games next month. It hands over the entire market to CeX, just as digital game sales continue to dominate www.theverge.com/2024/1/17/24...
GAME is ending video game trade-ins.
The UK’s biggest video game retailer, GAME, is phasing out trade-ins for physical games next month. Eurogamer first reported the news earlier this week, and a spokesperson for the chain has since co...
www.theverge.com
yeah I wish the RTX 4070 had launched like this, much better perf for the price tag
Cheating in Call of Duty? The game will ALT + F4. Activision has started warning Call of Duty cheaters that if they attempt to activate aim assist while using a mouse and keyboard the game will automatically close 😅 www.theverge.com/2024/1/17/24...
Nvidia RTX 4070 Super review: a super performance bump for $599. I've spent the past week testing Nvidia's first 40-series Super card and it's around 15% better than the base RTX 4070. Full review below 👇 www.theverge.com/24039832/nvi...
Nvidia RTX 4070 Super review: a super performance bump for $599
Better performance for the same $599 price point.
www.theverge.comMicrosoft is unlocking Copilot AI inside Office apps for all businesses this week. Copilot for Microsoft 365 will now be available for businesses large and small, as Microsoft is removing the 300-seat purchase requirement. Details below 👇 www.theverge.com/2024/1/15/24...
Microsoft unlocks Copilot AI inside Office apps for all businesses
Businesses no longer need to sign up for 300 seats minimum.
www.theverge.comMicrosoft is launching Copilot Pro this week, a $20 monthly subscription that includes AI-powered Office features for consumers. Copilot Pro also offers up the latest OpenAI models, priority access, and more. Details below 👇 www.theverge.com/2024/1/15/24...
Microsoft’s new Copilot Pro brings AI-powered Office features to the rest of us
You’ll need to pay $20 per month extra to get all the new AI-powered features in Office.
www.theverge.comupdate: Microsoft has clarified that Copilot in Windows will automatically open at boot on 27-inch and above monitors that are running at 1920 pixel width. It's just a test for now, but could be the default www.theverge.com/2024/1/12/24...
Microsoft wants to automatically launch its Copilot AI on some Windows 11 devices
Another feature you’ll need to disable in Windows.
www.theverge.comupdate: Microsoft has clarified that Copilot in Windows will automatically open at boot on 27-inch and above monitors that are running at 1920 pixel width. It's just a tell for now, but could be the default www.theverge.com/2024/1/12/24...
Microsoft wants to automatically launch its Copilot AI on some Windows 11 devices
Another feature you’ll need to disable in Windows.
www.theverge.comMicrosoft wants to automatically launch its Copilot AI on some Windows 11 devices. A new test involves Copilot opening at startup on "widescreen devices." Details below 👇 www.theverge.com/2024/1/12/24...
Microsoft wants to automatically launch its Copilot AI on some Windows 11 devices
Another feature you’ll need to disable in Windows.
www.theverge.comDiscord is laying off 17 percent of employees 😔 In an internal memo, CEO Jason Citron said the company grew headcount too quickly over the past few years www.theverge.com/2024/1/11/24...
Discord is laying off 17 percent of employees
170 people are being laid off by the popular messaging app.
www.theverge.comI hate cables and so do Corsair, Asus, MSI, and many others. It’s now getting much easier to build a beautiful PC. More on that below 👇 www.theverge.com/2024/1/11/24...
Corsair, Asus, and others are making it easier to build a beautiful PC
Say hello to the zero build.
www.theverge.com