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Close to a year after the enactment of the UK's age assurance law, the Online Safety Act, Ofcom, the UK's communications regulator, has released a report on its progress.

The Online Safety Act requires robust age checks for sites that have content "restricted to adults," which extends from pornography to non-explicit content like the r/stopsmoking subreddit.

UK age verification, one year later

Ofcom has found that these age checks are now being deployed on an "unprecedented scale" across various sectors: porn, social media, dating, and gaming. Between July 2025, when the law went into effect, and Jan. 2026, the proportion of children "being asked to prove their age who encountered highly effective age checks" increased from 25 to 43 percent.

SEE ALSO: EU plans to restrict social media for kids under 13

Between July and Dec. last year, 69 million age checks were completed across a sample of 32 services, which Ofcom says is a 23-fold increase on the previous six months.

According to Ofcom's Children's Passive Online Monitoring study, eight percent of children aged 8 to 14 who participated visited porn providers. Half of them only reached sites with age checks in place. The majority, 87 percent, of these porn site visits were for under 30 seconds, and 65 percent were for less than 10 seconds.

Shortcomings of the Online Safety Act

Ofcom also found that all of the UK's top 10 porn sites, and 64 out of the top 100 most popular porn sites in the country, have installed age assurance as of last month, and 10 have geo-blocked UK users. Despite this, though, Ofcom stated that "too many porn sites still don’t have age checks in place." It's opened 23 investigations into providers of 88 adult services.

Another result of the report is that children are finding porn sites without age checks via search. A third (33 percent) of Google Search results on the first page were porn sites without age checks or geo-blocking, while this was the case for 54 percent of first-page Bing results.

Ofcom stated that Google and Bing are working with it "to tackle the discoverability of porn sites without age checks via their services," though the Online Safety Act doesn't require search providers to use age assurance to prevent minors from viewing porn.

The report also stated that over 10 percent of 15 to 17-year-olds accessed three popular dating apps in Dec. 2025, despite age checks, so these services need to ensure their age checks are effective.

Finally, the report also casts doubt on age-inference methods, which estimate a user's age from their behavior.

"Our message to social media companies is clear: those which use age inference models to comply with their child protection duties should switch to other methods listed in our guidance as highly effective without delay," Ofcom stated in a press release shared with Mashable. 

This will become increasingly relevant as the UK bans social media for children under 16. The UK government is planning to use similar age-assurance methods as the Online Safety Act. A recent study on Australia's social media ban found it ineffective, partly because age estimations don't require younger users to undergo additional checks.

Ofcom states it will deliver an assessment of what "highly effective age checks" will look like to determine someone is over 16 to Parliament by the end of Oct. It will also publish a report on app-store-level age verification by Jan. 2027.

In addition to the broad social media ban for under-16s, the UK also just announced a social media curfew for teenagers aged 16 and 17.

Every Android phone brand likes to do its own thing when it comes to the launcher and overall look of its phones. Some (like Xiaomi) opt to make their phones look and feel more like Apple's iOS, but Samsung has been putting years and years into the development of its One UI.

If you were on TikTok in the early 2020s, you're probably deeply familiar with the GE Profile Opal Nugget Ice Maker. It went super viral as creators made content about their iced coffee concoctions, sodas, and even water recipes.

But for most people, the price and size of the Opal ice maker made it an impractical purchase. At a press event with GE Profile in New York City, André Zdanow, executive director of Small Appliances, FirstBuild, and CoCreate at GE Appliances, told me that the most common suggestion his team hears from customers is to make a smaller version of the Opal. So, they listened.

As of July 14, the brand has launched the GE Profile Opal Mini Nugget Ice Maker. It's 30 percent smaller than the Opal Ultra ice maker, shaving off two inches from both the height and the width, making it easier to store on a countertop.

"The Opal Mini lineup delivers the same craveable nugget ice customers know and love — now in a more compact design, with meaningful performance improvements, easier maintenance, and new finishes," Zdanow said in a press release.

Opal Mini Nugget Ice Maker price and specs

There are three versions of the new ice maker: the Opal Mini ($279 to $299), Opal Mini Pro ($379), and Opal Mini Pro+ ($399).

The Opal Mini features a top-fill water reservoir, ditching the side tank design for a smaller footprint. However, the Mini Pro and Mini Pro+ feature a large-capacity side tank in addition to the top-fill reservoir for fewer refills.

The Mini Pro models include a side tank. Credit: Miller Kern / Mashable

The Opal Mini produces up to 36 pounds of ice per day, and can hold up to two pounds of ice at a time, compared to the Opal Ultra's three pounds. Zdanow said the idea is that two people can fill up a 40-ounce Stanley cup with nugget ice from the machine at the same time. So, you won't have to fight your roommate or partner over who gets a cup full of deliciously cold and crunchy bev in the morning.

While the larger versions are obviously better for hosting large groups, the Mini Pro models bring a new life to the party. They're compatible with GE's SmartHQ app, where you can control a color-changing light in the ice bin. Within the app, you're also able to schedule when you want the ice maker to produce ice.

At launch, the Opal Mini is available in stone grey, charcoal grey, steel grey, and stainless steel finishes. Color expansions are coming this fall, with peony pink, moss green, and moonstone blue options available, likely in October. They're all super cute, and I'm definitely eyeing the moss green one for my kitchen.

The Opal Mini will be available in peony pink, moss green, and moonstone blue color options this fall. Credit: Miller Ken / Mashable Where to buy the GE Profile Opal Mini Nugget Ice Maker

As of July 14, the GE Profile Opal Mini in stone grey ($299) is available on geappliances.com and other retailers as stock becomes available. The Opal Mini in charcoal grey ($279) is available on geappliances.com and exclusively at Walmart. The Opal Mini Pro in steel grey and Mini Pro+ in stainless steel are available on geappliances.com and at select retailers as they receive stock.

GE Profile Opal Mini Nugget Ice Maker (stone grey) $299 at Wayfair
  Shop Now at Wayfair Shop Now at GE Appliances Shop Now at Amazon GE Profile Opal Mini Nugget Ice Maker (charcoal grey) $279 at Walmart
  Shop Now at Walmart Shop Now at GE Appliances GE Profile Opal Mini Pro Nugget Ice Maker (steel grey) $379 at Amazon
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OpenAI's long-anticipated entry into consumer hardware has arrived, but it's not the Jony Ive collab everyone has been waiting for.

The company has launched Codex Micro, a $230 mechanical keypad developed with peripheral maker Work Louder, sold through OpenAI's "Supply Co." storefront as part of a "Work Louder Co-Lab" collaboration.

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The device is a compact 13-key controller designed to work alongside OpenAI's Codex coding assistant. It features a rotary dial to adjust the AI's "reasoning level," a joystick to trigger coding workflows such as reviewing pull requests or debugging errors, programmable command keys for actions like accepting or rejecting suggestions, and RGB backlighting that changes color to reflect what an active Codex session is doing.

Credit: OpenAI

It ships with 32 interchangeable keycaps, connects via Bluetooth or USB-C, and is compatible with Mac and Windows. Pre-orders list an estimated ship date of July 24.

The launch stands in contrast to OpenAI's other hardware effort: a screenless, "humanlike" AI companion device in development with former Apple designer Jony Ive, whose startup io OpenAI acquired last year. That product, described in recent reporting as capable of tracking a user's surroundings and habits, has yet to reach the market. Previous AI devices, including Humane's AI Pin and the Friend pendant, both struggled to gain traction after launch.

Reaction to Codex Micro has been mixed online, with some on Reddit questioning whether the release was a joke and criticizing its price as steep for a peripheral aimed at a narrow set of developer workflows.

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April 2025 filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

Three-row SUVs have become increasingly expensive, with many popular family haulers now starting well above the $40,000 mark. For shoppers on a tighter budget, finding one with enough seating for the whole family often means making significant compromises or shopping used.

You might just have a solution if you need an extra-tiny board for your do-it-yourself electronics projects. Moddo has made what it says is the "world's smallest" Arduino-compatible board, the Pinch.

If you think that you have to have expensive or powerful hardware to run your homelab, then you're sorely mistaken. Here are four open-source Docker containers that will turn your beginner homelab into a powerhouse, even without expensive hardware.

Professional cyclist Willie Smit went 14 years without being disqualified from a race. Then he put on a pair of smart glasses.

The 33-year-old South African veteran cyclist was removed from the opening stage of the Tour of Magnificent Qinghai after officials determined that his video-recording glasses violated Union Cycliste Internationale rules governing onboard technology. Smit, who was racing for China’s Anta-Mentech Cycling Team, announced the disqualification on X and posted footage captured from the glasses during the race.

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“Today I was disqualified for the first time in my cycling career,” Smit wrote. He said he had not known about the restriction and argued that “a warning, fine or yellow card” would have been enough.

Why did smart glasses break the rules?

The rule is fairly simple once the technical language is stripped away: Cyclists can record races, but the camera generally has to be attached to the bicycle. Riders cannot wear a recording device on their bodies unless the rules for that particular type of cycling specifically allow it.

Smit’s camera was built into his glasses, though, which meant it was sitting on his face rather than mounted on his bike. The UCI confirmed that newer smart glasses capable of recording video are therefore prohibited during its sanctioned competitions. Breaking the rule can result in a rider being prevented from starting, eliminated, or disqualified. Smit was disqualified after completing the first stage.

Smit described the restriction as a new rule introduced in April. The section of the UCI rulebook covering onboard technology was first added in 2021, although the organization has continued updating its equipment rules as cameras, GPS computers, sensors, and other devices have become more advanced.

He also questioned why cyclists at the Tour de France have been allowed to film during stages while his glasses produced an automatic disqualification. Smit pointed to footage of Lidl-Trek rider Toms Skujiņš interviewing fellow cyclist Victor Campenaerts in the middle of a Tour de France stage.

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There was one crucial difference, though: The camera used for Skujiņš’s video was mounted to his bicycle, placing it within the UCI’s rules, while Smit’s camera was sitting on his face.

Smit maintained that he used the glasses only to record his view of the race. He said their AI capabilities did not work without a connected phone and that, while he was riding, the glasses could “do nothing but record video.” There is no indication that he used them to receive coaching, performance information, or help from anyone outside the race.

Social media users immediately noticed the irony and criticized the response.

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Smart glasses are also only the latest highly specific piece of equipment to get a rider in trouble. Cyclists have recently been disqualified over an underweight bike, handlebars that were too narrow, a prohibited riding position, and clothing that did not comply with UCI rules.

Meta designed the glasses for sports

The unusual part of Smit’s disqualification is that the Oakley Meta Vanguard glasses were created specifically for athletes. Meta describes them as “Performance AI glasses” for high-intensity sports and says their wraparound shape is designed to fit underneath cycling helmets. The company even promoted the glasses during the 2026 Super Bowl, with iShowSpeed and former NFL player Marshawn Lynch wearing the Vanguard model in its ad campaign.

The glasses contain a 12-megapixel camera that can record video in up to 3K resolution, along with microphones and speakers that allow the wearer to listen to audio and speak to Meta AI. When connected to a compatible Garmin device, they can provide spoken updates about a cyclist’s heart rate, speed, and pace. They can also automatically record clips when an athlete reaches certain distances, speeds, elevations, or heart-rate levels, and add Strava data to photos and videos afterward.

Oakley Meta HSTN 3K Recording Smart AI Glasses (Light Curry, Transitions Brown Lenses) $459.84 at Amazon
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None of that means Smit was using every feature during the race. The UCI did not accuse him of receiving AI coaching or using live fitness information. Under its rules, officials did not need to prove that he was using those tools, just that he was wearing the device.

The incident comes as Meta is trying to make smart glasses more common both in sports and everyday life. In June, the company introduced 26 versions of its new Meta-branded frames, including an oval pair designed with Kylie Jenner, while continuing to sell its Ray-Ban and Oakley models.

This release has brought attention to the glasses’ ability to record people nearby. Meta says a white light on the front of every pair blinks while the camera is taking a photo or recording video and has no off switch. But those safeguards haven't been entirely effective — three women told CNN that men secretly recorded conversations with them and later uploaded the videos to social media without their consent. One said footage of her being approached in a grocery store received nearly 20 million views, even though she had asked the man not to post it.

Concern has produced restrictions. The College Board prohibits smart glasses during the SAT, the New York State court system is banning eyewear containing recording equipment beginning July 20, and a Florida school district has prohibited students from bringing the devices onto campuses or school buses. South Korean prosecutors have also brought a criminal case against a man accused of using AI-powered glasses to cheat on a national licensing exam.

On the pop-culture beat, Lorde has also criticized smart glasses from the stage at Madrid’s Mad Cool festival, calling them "not sexy."

Ultimately, the Oakley Meta Vanguard may have been built for cycling, but during a UCI race, its safest position appears to be inside the team car.

I’m no Apple fanboy, but I’m not afraid to admit that when it comes to streaming devices, Apple TV has been my go-to for years. One sits under the TV in my main home theater; my family uses iPhones and iPads, and it's the hub of our entertainment at home. But when I needed streaming devices for the older TV at our family cottage and for a second TV at home, the math got ugly — Apple's box currently costs over $200 new, and multiplying that across rooms that will mostly run rainy-day movies and the occasional Netflix binge felt like overkill.

A New York school district is piloting a humanoid robot teacher to help students with summer school classes.

Announced earlier this year, Salamanca City Central school district, located in Salamanca, New York, and Toronto-based robotics company Realbotix have partnered to integrate a new AI teachers' assistant into classrooms — and potentially debut a fleet of robot tutors this fall.

The AI, called Optio, will be available for students in classrooms and outside school hours, including 24/7 homework support. The robot, part of Realbotix' M-Series and named Sally, will be present in select Salamanca City Central high school AI and Robotics courses.

SEE ALSO: Should kids use Google AI search? These experts say no.

The company explains Sally uses natural language processing, facial expressions, and live feedback to provide classroom support, with "education-specific safety guardrails" in place. The robot has a human-like appearance and will remain seated at a desk, with partial upper-body movements. Students must provide Sally with their student ID number, which the robot uses to bring up personalized student learning data.

The school is part of the the Woz ED STEM Pathway curriculum program, started by Apple founder Steve Wozniak to boost STEM education.

"This deployment in a working school district represents a landmark moment for both AI and humanoid robotics,” Realbotix CEO Andrew Kiguel, said in a press release at the time. "We are moving beyond lab demonstrations and pilots to deliver real, embodied AI directly into classrooms — supporting teachers, engaging students, and proving that advanced robotics can thrive in live educational environments. Salamanca marks the beginning of a new era where humanoid robots and intelligent AI assistants become standard tools in STEM education."

Realbotix, formerly known as Tokens.com, rebranded after acquiring the hyperrealistic sex doll company RealDoll in 2024. The company recently debuted a new line of unsettlingly lifelike robot companions.

While AI embeds itself deeper in classrooms, tech watchdogs have warned that the technology may exacerbate bias and worsen inequality, especially among already underserved populations. Critics of classroom AI also warn that the technology could be used as a subpar replacement for human educators in districts with strained resources.

Notably, the Salamanca City Central district is located in part of the Seneca Nation of Indians Reservation, and more than a third of its students are Indigenous. Around 79 percent of the district's students are economically disadvantaged, New York Focus reports.

"This partnership gives all students controlled, equitable access to safe and powerful AI resources while fostering learning — not replacing it," said district Superintendent Mark Beehler.

Firmly grasp it — your wallet, that is. Lego unveiled two new SpongeBob Squarepants-themed building sets this week, its first in nearly 15 years.

The new Lego Icons SpongeBob SquarePants: Bikini Bottom set marks the inaugural SpongeBob Lego kit geared toward adults, while the new Lego BrickHeadz SpongeBob SquarePants Figure is the latest entry in its blocky line for kids. Both sets are slated for release on Sept. 1 and available for preorder now exclusively at the Lego Store.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Icons SpongeBob SquarePants: Bikini Bottom (11386) $219.99 at Lego.com
  Pre-order Here Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego BrickHeadz SpongeBob SquarePants Figure (40858) $12.99 at Lego.com
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According to a company press release, the Bikini Bottom set was made in partnership with Paramount Products & Experiences in honor of the first-ever SpongeBob Day on July 14. That's SpongeBob’s birthday in his eponymous show; this year, he turns 40. (The SpongeBob Squarepants franchise is owned by the Nickelodeon Group, a Paramount subsidiary.)

Priced at $219.99, the set contains 1,794 pieces that build into the iconic homes of Sponge boy me Bob and his neighbors, Patrick and Squidward. Each one has a decked-out living space on the inside with tiny beds, TVs, and furnishings. Squidward even gets his own bubble bath, tanning bed, clarinet, and sheet music stand.

The gang's all here. Credit: Lego

The set comes complete with minifigures of the aforementioned characters, plus SpongeBob's pet snail, Gary, and 2D evil twin, DoodleBob. Lego also throws in a brickified Boatmobile, a patch of the Jellyfish Fields, a Bikini Bottom city sign, and a bubblestand.

SpongeBob voice actor Tom Kenny showcased the set in videos posted to the official @spongebob TikTok account on Tuesday. "Whether you're an old-school collector like me or looking for a great holiday gift, this set bursts with nautical nonsense!" he said in one clip.

The minifigures come with accessories, like a jellyfishing net and an ice cream cone. Credit: Lego Take that net on over to Jellyfish Fields. Credit: Lego

Heads up that shoppers who preorder the SpongeBob Squarepants: Bikini Bottom set before July 23 will receive a free Tom Nook and Flying Present set with their order. If you're a member of the Lego Insiders loyalty program — it's free to join — you'll also get a bonus Restaurants of the World: Japan set featuring a tiny sushi bar. They're worth $4.99 and $19.99, respectively.

He's ready. Credit: Lego

The BrickHeadz figure of The Sponge is geared toward ages 10 and up. It contains 72 pieces, including a jellyfishing net, and stands a little over three inches tall. It'll cost you $12.99.

2026 isn't just the year SpongeBob celebrates the big 4-0. It also marks two decades since Lego released its very first SpongeBob-themed set: a 295-piece build of the Krusty Krab. The company came out with at least two new SpongeBob sets every year through 2012 before putting the series on hiatus — until now.

A new mainstream SUV now costs enough that it opens the door to something many buyers never consider: a lightly used luxury model. Thanks to steep depreciation, premium crossovers that sold for well over $50,000 just a few years ago can now be found for the same money as a brand-new family SUV.

England and Argentina are playing for a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, and just as they did before Spain versus France, the internet’s astrologers are looking for clues about what might happen next.

The predictions are not perfectly aligned, pun intended. Several forecasts give Argentina the edge, with some pointing to the Leo moon and England’s weaker planetary support. Others predict an England victory, while at least one reading found the chart almost evenly divided, with only a slight advantage for the Three Lions.

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England supporters also have a larger omen to hold onto. The country’s only World Cup victory came in 1966, a Fire Horse year in the Chinese zodiac, and 2026 marks the Fire Horse’s first return in 60 years. Whether that means football is coming home or merely bringing more stress with it remains open to interpretation.

The moon and Jupiter are both in Leo on July 15, a sign astrologers associate with confidence, leadership, and players rising to a major occasion. Mercury remains retrograde in Cancer, however, which could make the match less predictable and communication more fuzzy.

Astrology cannot tell us who will score, save a penalty, or advance to the final. But it can offer another way to look at how each player may respond to the pressure of the match. Here is what the birth charts of six key players suggest about England versus Argentina.

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The players’ birth-chart information and planetary placements were sourced from Astro-Charts and Astrotheme. Because the birth times of several players are unknown, rising signs were not included. Astrology is interpretive and cannot reliably predict the result of a match.

EnglandHarry Kane: Leo sun, Sagittarius moon This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Harry Kane has 6 goals at this World Cup, according to Google, tying Jude Bellingham for the most on England and leaving both players two behind Messi. The 32-year-old’s Leo sun suits the visibility and pressure that come with captaining the team, while his Sagittarius moon points to confidence and the ability to keep believing even when a match gets difficult. Mars in Virgo adds discipline and precision, which fits a striker who can finish chances but also move back toward midfield to help create them.

Kane enters the semifinal with several favorable parts of his chart working in his favor. Jupiter is moving almost directly over his Leo sun, a connection astrologers often link with opportunity and recognition, while the moon and Mars also give his natal Jupiter some support. The picture is not entirely easy, though. Mercury is putting pressure on his Uranus and Neptune, which could bring confusion or sudden shifts in momentum, and Pluto sits opposite his sun, adding even more weight to the moment. Kane may have chances to shape the game, but he will likely have to manage plenty of pressure along the way.

Jude Bellingham: Cancer sun, Cancer moon This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Jude Bellingham scored both of England’s goals in its 2–1 quarterfinal win over Norway, including the winner in extra time. At 23, he has already become the player England looks to when a match needs to shift. His sun, moon, Mercury, and Saturn are all in Cancer, which points to a player who relies heavily on instinct and reads the mood of the game quickly. His Mars sits close to Uranus in Pisces, giving him a sudden, hard-to-predict quality that fits his ability to move from midfield into scoring positions.

Bellingham is also at the start of his Jupiter return, a cycle often linked with expansion and major opportunities. On Wednesday, Uranus makes a tense angle to his natal Mars and Uranus, which could bring sharp changes in pace or another unexpected moment. He has already shown that he can appear in the right place before anyone else sees the opening, and this chart suggests that ability could matter again.

Bukayo Saka: Virgo sun, Aries moon This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Bukayo Saka, 24, has 3 assists at this World Cup, and remains one of England’s biggest attacking threats. He plays on the right side, where he tries to get past defenders before either passing the ball into the middle or cutting toward goal himself. Norway often sent two players to stop him in the quarterfinal, but he still found ways to create chances. His Virgo sun fits the careful, controlled side of his game, while his Aries moon adds speed, confidence, and a willingness to take defenders on.

Wednesday’s astrology could help bring out both sides of his game. The Leo moon falls close to Saka’s Venus and connects well with his Aries moon, which astrologers may link to creativity and better teamwork. Mars adds more energy, although it could also make him frustrated if Argentina keeps blocking his path.

ArgentinaLionel Messi: Cancer sun, Gemini moon This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Lionel Andrés Messi, 39, has scored 8 goals and added two assists at this World Cup, bringing his career tournament total to a record 21 goals. His Cancer sun, Mercury, and Mars reflect his instinctive style, while his Gemini moon points to quick thinking and adaptability. Messi can change direction, find a pass, or create a shot before defenders ever have time to react.

Wednesday’s sun falls almost exactly on Messi’s natal Mars, the planet astrologers connect with competition, energy, and taking action. Mercury retrograde is also close to his natal Mercury and Mars, making that part of his chart especially active. Astrologers may see this as a sign that Messi will be heavily involved (as usual), although the retrograde could also make the match harder to control.

Julián Álvarez: Aquarius sun, Sagittarius moon This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Julián Álvarez, 26, is one of Argentina’s main forwards and plays close to goal, where he looks for open space and chances to shoot. He can also move deeper or toward either side of the field to help create an attack, making him difficult for defenders to track. His Aquarius sun fits that versatile style, while his Sagittarius moon points to boldness and a willingness to keep making runs toward goal.

Álvarez also has some of the strongest astrology in the match. Right now, Jupiter sits almost exactly on his North Node at 3 degrees Leo, a point astrologers connect with destiny and major opportunities. Along with Mars supporting his sun, that could help him break through England’s defense, force an error, or appear in the right place when Argentina needs a goal.

Alexis Mac Allister: Capricorn sun, Pisces moon

Alexis Mac Allister, 27, plays in the center of Argentina’s midfield, where he helps win the ball and pass it forward to the team’s attackers. His Capricorn sun fits his steady, disciplined style, while his Pisces moon points to strong instincts and an ability to read where the game is moving.

On Wednesday, Mars sits directly opposite Mac Allister’s Mercury, which astrologers may connect with quick thinking, sharp passes, and faster decisions. It could also make him rush or become frustrated under pressure. Venus makes a more supportive connection to his sun, however, which may help him stay composed and work smoothly with his teammates.

Popular AI chatbots such as Claude, Gemini, and ChatGPT can analyze data from spreadsheets and other uploaded files. You can upload spreadsheets and ask them to create summaries, find patterns, and more. I wanted to use ChatGPT to analyze my spending to see if it could find ways to save money, but I didn't want to upload my personal information to the cloud. Using a PII-detection tool and a local LLM, I was able to strip away the personal information before I uploaded my files.

Google Maps is an easy part of our routines, and over time, it builds a collection of our favorite places and travel plans. Saving locations is one of its most useful features, but this also means the app may reveal more about you than you realize when someone else uses your phone.

Yesterday, Hinge founder Justin McLeod shared more details about his next venture, an AI matchmaking service called Overtone.

McLeod announced his departure from Hinge back in Dec. 2025 to focus on Overtone, which he plans to launch later this year in select locations. (You can put yourself on the waitlist if you're interested.)

SEE ALSO: Your friends can now add to your Hinge profile

"Overtone is not a dating app," McLeod wrote in the latest blog post. "By that I mean it's not a social platform with profiles that reduce people to stats, quotes and photos. There are no opaque, algorithmic feeds trained on split-second impulses. And there’s no juggling likes, matches and chats across many people at once."

Rather, the post goes on, Overtone is a service. McLeod promises Overtone will make only introductions "worth making" and will explain why someone is a match. He wants to bring back matchmaking, a longtime practice. These days, it's pretty limited to those who can spend thousands of dollars on a personal matchmaker, like in the movie Materialists.

"But this time with the reach and diversity of modern networks, the collective wisdom of relationship science, and the conviction that when it comes to options, all you need is less™," he wrote (yes, including the trademark).

Details of what Overtone will look like are scarce, but McLeod also announced the company has raised $18 million from FirstMark Capital, Pace Capital, and Match Group. The latter is the dating app conglomerate that owns Hinge.

Additionally, Match Group and Tinder CEO Spencer Rascoff has joined the board, as have executive leadership adviser and founder of The Signal Institute, Diana Chapman, and famed relationship psychotherapist Esther Perel (who partnered with Hinge last year).

Overtone will come at a time when some daters are skeptical about using AI to find them a match. When Bumble founder and CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd announced earlier this year that Bumble is killing the swipe and ushering in an AI matchmaker, the reaction online was largely negative. But there are budding AI matchmakers out there, such as Sitch Matchmaking and Ditto AI.

There's no shortage of aging desktop CPUs on the used market. If you're thinking about buying one—or already have one in your system—and keep hearing that it's no longer worth using, it can be hard to know whether that's actually true.

Asus will sell a standalone version of its upcoming OLED Xbox Ally X20, according to a report from The Verge, walking back earlier plans that would have required buyers to purchase the handheld bundled with a pair of Xreal AR glasses.

An Asus spokesperson confirmed the change to The Verge, saying, "We are actively discussing the release schedule for a standalone version of the new Ally. Please stay tuned for upcoming announcements."

Our big Guessing Game is back! Enter now for a chance to win an Apple Watch.

SEE ALSO: Microsoft cuts 3,200 Xbox jobs, spins off four studios in major layoffs Credit: Asus

The Verge's Sean Hollister, who spent two hours testing the device at Asus's California offices, wrote that the OLED Ally could prove competitive with the recently released MSI Claw 8 EX AI Plus. The review also highlighted ergonomic upgrades over last year's Xbox Ally X, including new rubberized grips, quieter face buttons, and a reworked cooling system. Hollister singled out a "transforming" D-pad that can rotate between eight-way and four-way configurations, saying it made a noticeable difference in games like Hollow Knight: Silksong.

The Verge did not report specific pricing or a release date for the standalone OLED Ally, though Hollister noted the device will likely cost more than the current $1,000 Xbox Ally X. The bundle with the ROG Xreal R1 Gaming Glasses could cost up to $2,000, though no price or launch date has been confirmed yet.

Internet, meet the nine brand new emoji that will be coming to your keyboards.

The Emoji Standard and Research Working Group at the Unicode Consortium will soon introduce nine new emoji, and these additions are now being revealed ahead of World Emoji Day on July 17. (Why is July 17 known as World Emoji Day? If you check the calendar emoji, you'll see the 17th date of the month is displayed.)

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The new emoji class of 2026 includes:

• Lighthouse

• Eraser

• Leftwards Thumb Sign

• Rightwards Thumb Sign

• The Cracked Smiling Face

• Net with Handle

• The Meteor

• The Pickle

• The Monarch Butterfly

Here are the nine new emoji coming to your keyboard by next Spring. Credit: Did Someone Say Emoji? Substack

A sneak peek at the designs was shared by Unicode Emoji Subcommittee-Chair Jennifer Daniel on her Substack newsletter, "Did Someone Say Emoji?" Daniel says they should arrive on your keyboard by next spring.

Some of these new emoji additions are interesting. For example, it's hard to believe that there wasn't already a Lighthouse or Eraser emoji. Pro wrestling fans will likely get some use out of the leftwards and rightwards thumb signs, as they are perfect for Rob Van Dam's infamous signature pose when used in tandem. The phallic Pickle is sure to be popular for sexting.

However, the Cracked Smiling Face will surely run away as the true crowd-pleaser of the bunch, just like Hairy Creature (aka Bigfoot) was a fan favorite in the new 2025 emoji. Cracked Smiling Face looks like the perfect emoji to sum up 2026. Yes, the emoji won't come out until next year. But that'll be perfect timing for the emoji to sum up 2027, 2028, and then every year beyond that as well. Interestingly, the Cracked Smiling Face is the absolute newest even among its debuting peers. When these nine new emoji were proposed by Unicode earlier this year, the Cracked Smiling Face was originally a completely different emoji known as Smiley Face with Squinting Eyes.

Variations of the Smiley Face with Squinting Eyes from the Unicode Consortium's proposal for the emoji. Credit: Unicode Consortium

Some of these new additions might look familiar. You may be checking your keyboard for the Pickle, Monarch Butterfly, and Meteor emoji. You won't find them. But you will find a Cucumber, a Morpho Butterfly, and a Comet emoji.

As Daniel writes in her Substack, these are all very different emoji, and some changes will be made to the existing emoji to make them all much more visually distinct. For example, the Morpho Butterfly is just a blue butterfly, whereas the Monarch Butterfly will actually look like the majestic orange-and-black butterfly. The Comet emoji and Meteor emoji will also be distinct, with the former showing as a blue streak rocketing through the sky and the latter looking like a flaming meatball.

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