Jess Weatherbed

Did you know there’s a website you can check to see if Flock customers (like policing and surveillance agencies) have searched for your license plate number? Have I Been Flocked? warns users that its data is incomplete, but developer Cris van Pelt told Business Insider that visits to the database have “exploded.” [Link: Have I Been Flocked? – Search Flock ALPR Audit LogsHave I Been Flocked?

Gamescom 2026 is about to kick off in Cologne, Germany, and Microsoft is setting the scene with a local billboard teasing its upcoming 25th anniversary Xbox Series X console. Xbox still hasn’t confirmed a specific release date or price, but a recent leak suggests it may cost $900. [Image: Thanks for the reminder Xbox, but when can we actually buy it? https://platform.theverge/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/HQjznmcbEAA0hGi.jpg?quality=90&strip=all]

Android users will now see more information about non-contact callers, such as what country the number is from and if you have groups in common. Starting today, WhatsApp also lets you add full passwords to two-factor verification, and multiple passkeys to Android and iOS devices. [Image: More than 1 billion people have set up a passkey to log into the app, according to WhatsApp. https://platform.theverge/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/English_WhatsApp_account-security-bundle-1.png?quality=90&strip=all]

24 years after the first Ali G movie, Sacha Baron Cohen has revived the character again for his new film Ali G: Who Iz I?, which is coming to theaters on October 23rd. It seems more like Da Ali G Show (2000), given the trailer shows Ali G inflicting himself upon US Brigadier General Stewart Rodeheaver and Nobel Prize winning astrophysicist Arthur B. McDonald. [Media: https://www.youtube/watch?v=kpIoECg56bM]

Anthropic has added memory to Cowork, and it’s the same one Claude’s chatbot already uses, making it easier to pick up tasks without re-explaining important information. Memory is on by default, but won’t save sensitive topics like health or beliefs unless you manually enable that setting. [Image: You can edit or delete any of the saved memories in Claude and Cowork by checking topics under the settings menu. https://platform.theverge/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/Claude-Cowork-memory.jpg?quality=90&strip=all]

20 pts Some pieces in the Yxstaby collection are more obviously Xbox-inspired than others. | Image: Ikea Ikea has teamed up with Microsoft to launch a new assortment of gaming-inspired furniture and home accessories, coinciding with the 25th anniversary of the first Xbox console. The nine-piece Yxstaby collection…

After teasing them back in March, Lego has now officially unveiled its first Mario-themed collection to come with character minifigures. There are eight sets launching on January 1st, 2027, which start from $9.99 and are suitable for children aged four or older. Click through the images below for the full price details. [Image: https://platform.theverge/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/72054-Racing-with-Mario-Set.png?quality=90&strip=all] [Image: https://platform.theverge/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/72052-Marios-Pipe-Jump-Set.png?quality=90&strip=all] [Image: https://platform.theverge/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/72061-Fire-Luigi-vs.-Koopa-Troopa-Battle-Set.png?quality=90&strip=all] [Image: https://platform.theverge/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/72060-Fire-Mario-Bowsers-Castle-Set.png?quality=90&strip=all] [Image: https://platform.theverge/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/72058-Bowsers-Rumbling-Race-Set.png?quality=90&strip=all] [Image: https://platform.theverge/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/72057-Yoshi-at-Marios-House-Set.png?quality=90&strip=all] [Image: https://platform.theverge/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/72056-Luigi-Bowser-Jr.s-Race-Set.png?quality=90&strip=all] [Image: https://platform.theverge/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/72055-Marios-Beach-Adventures-Set.png?quality=90&strip=all]

11 pts SoundCloud has launched a new beta feature that allows artists on the audio streaming platform to sell music directly from their profiles, instead of diverting fans to purchase from third-party services like Bandcamp and Beatport. The feature aims to give listeners a better way to support the musicians behind…

It also removes “ums” and other filler words for you.

12 pts Google has updated Gemini Audio with some new Gemini 3.5 models, introducing new transcription capabilities that automatically detect specialized jargon and more than 85 languages. Gemini 3.5 Live, 3.5 Live Experimental, and 3.5 Transcribe are designed to provide better precision for Google's voice-controlled…