Tech

Original title: The ‘Final Fantasy Tactics’ Refresh Gives Its Class-War Story New Relevance Kazutoyo Maehiro is feeling the pressure. Nearly 30 years after working on the original version of Final Fantasy Tactics—one of the role-playing series’ most adored games—he’s returned to pilot a remake of the game, switching titles from events planner to director. Besides that, little has changed, including how Maehiro himself thinks about game design. “Really, the approach that we wanted to take was modernizing [Final Fantasy Tactics],” he tells WIRED via a translator. “Players today expect a higher standard.” When the game launches on Nintendo Switch systems, PlayStation 4/5, Steam, and Xbox Series X/S on September 30, players won’t notice a major overhaul. Instead, the $50 update will feature some tweaks to the game’s interface, plus some additional dialog and voice work. By and large, Final Fantasy Tactics—The Ivalice Chronicles (it was given this new name to distinguish it from the older version) will be the same game that players of the original will remember. Battles are turn-b ...

Original title: You can charge your Apple Watch, phone, and laptop all at once with this 240W USB-C cable is a senior reporter who’s been covering and reviewing the latest gadgets and tech since 2006, but has loved all things electronic since he was a kid. Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. It’s not an entirely new idea given Nomad’s Universal Cable from earlier this year can charge an Apple Watch and an additional device at the same time, but Zens’ new Pro 2 and Pro 3 USB-C cables offer additional functionality and some welcome future-proofing as chargers become more powerful. The cheaper of the two is the €49.99 (around $58) Pro 2 USB-C charging cable that includes an inline Qi2 charging puck that can wirelessly charge a smartphone or earbuds at up to 15W speeds. It’s not Qi2.2 compatible so you won’t get faster 25W wireless charging, but it is compatible with 140W chargers so you can plug in a power-hungry laptop, and Zens says the cable also supports charging rates up to 240W once more powerful chargers become common. The pricier Pro ...

Original title: A Call of Duty movie is coming is a news editor covering technology, gaming, and more. He joined The Verge in 2019 after nearly two years at Techmeme. Call of Duty is being adapted into a live action film as part of a new deal signed by Activision and Paramount. Paramount, the film studio behind Top Gun: Maverick, will “develop, produce, and distribute a live-action feature film” based on the franchise, and “both companies are committed to honoring the brand’s rich narrative and distinctive style,” the companies say in a press release. Years ago, Activision was working on a Call of Duty film that never ended up getting released, but this new movie could be a huge deal. The Call of Duty series has sold more than 500 million copies globally and the campaigns in the games tell big, cinematic, action-packed stories. A Call of Duty-style story could be a good fit for a movie, though obviously we’ll have to wait and see the final product to know how it turns out. The two companies haven’t shared any details about a potent ...

Original title: AirTag 2 May Debut at iPhone 17 Event Next Week With These Features After more than a four-year wait, the long-awaited AirTag 2 could finally debut at Apple’s annual iPhone next week, if a previous rumor is still accurate. From a 9to5Mac report in June: According to reliable 9to5Mac sources, Apple is now aiming at a Fall release, likely putting its announcement around the time of the iPhone event, which usually takes place in September. Apple introduced the current AirTag during its April 2021 event. For those unfamiliar with the AirTag, it is a Bluetooth accessory that you can attach to items like a backpack and keys, and you can then track the location of those items in the Find My app across the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and iCloud.com. Similar item trackers are sold by brands like Tile, Samsung, Chipolo, and Pebblebee. Below, we have recapped some of the key rumored AirTag 2 features. Apple’s event begins on Tuesday, September 9, at 10 a.m. Pacific Time. AirTag 2: Rumored Features The following changes have been rumored: In a November 2024 ed ...

Original title: iPadOS 26 to Bring These Mac-Like Features to Your iPad The lines between iPad and Mac have never been blurrier – and with iPadOS 26, currently in beta and expected later this month, Apple is leaning further into that overlap than ever before. The update brings a suite of powerful new features that elevate the iPad’s utility, bridging the gap between touch-first tablet and full-fledged desktop machine. From enhanced multitasking to advanced file management, iPadOS 26 pushes Apple’s tablet deeper into Mac territory, without sacrificing the unique strengths that make the iPad so versatile. Here are just some of the ways iPadOS 26 makes the iPad feel more like a Mac than ever – coming soon to a device near you. Menu Bar Within any active app, swipe down from the top of the screen and you will see a new, fully functioning macOS-style menu bar. With the foremost dropdown menu being the app’s name (where app settings are typically accessed), other standard menus can include File, Edit, Format, View, Window, and Help. As you’d expect, the menu bar ...

Original title: Beats x JENNIE: Limited-Edition Solo 4 Headphones Launch This Week Apple today announced it has teamed up with South Korean singer Jennie Kim on new limited-edition Beats Solo 4 on-ear headphones. The special “JENNIE” edition Solo 4 headphones feature a Ruby Red finish, two attachable red bows, and a color-matched carrying case. In addition, one of the ear cushions has symbols inspired by JENNIE printed on it. The headphones will be available on Apple.com starting this Friday, September 5, in the U.S., U.K., China, Japan, and South Korea. The headphones will also be available at the following Apple Store locations: Apple The Grove — Los Angeles Apple Jing’an — Shanghai Apple Omotesando — Tokyo Apple Myeongdong — Seoul You can sign up to be notified when availability begins. In the U.S., pricing is set at $199.99, which is the same price as regular Beats Solo 4. Only the extra design elements are new, with tech specs and features unchanged. Beats frequently releases limited-edition products in collaboration with musicians, artists, athletes, and other ...

Original title: Apple Podcasters Launch Childhood Cancer Fundraiser — Donate Today September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. To support this important cause, well-known podcast network Relay has launched its annual fundraiser for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, located in Memphis, Tennessee. Since 2019, the Relay community has raised more than $4 million for the hospital. St. Jude’s mission statement is that no child is denied treatment: The mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. Consistent with the vision of our founder Danny Thomas, no child is denied treatment based on race, religion or a family’s ability to pay. Relay has multiple Apple-related podcasts, such as Connected, hosted by Stephen Hackett, Myke Hurley, and Federico Viticci. Hackett’s son received treatment at St. Jude as an infant, so this initiative is near and dear to him and his family. Donations can be made on the Relay for St. Jude website, with rewards such as Rel ...

Original title: Samsung’s End of Summer Sale Includes Steep Discounts on Monitors, TVs, and More Samsung is hosting a new end of Summer sale, and it includes savings on monitors, TVs, Galaxy products, and more. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Samsung. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. One of the best overall deals during this sale is on The Frame TVs, which are available for up to $500 off, depending on the size of the model you purchase. The popular 65-inch The Frame TV available for $1,499.99, down from $1,999.99. The best monitor deals include the entire lineup of Samsung’s 2025 Smart Monitor on sale at notable low prices, including up to $300 off these monitors. All three monitors have received advanced AI features, while the flagship M9 model features a 32-inch 4K QD-OLED panel to deliver deep contrast and vibrant color. You’ll also find the popular 27-inch ViewFinity S9 5K Smart Monitor for $999.99, down from $1,599.99. At $600 off this is a solid second-best price on the display, whi ...

Original title: 9 Best Electric Cargo Bikes for Families (2025), Tested and Reviewed There are several physical, philosophical, environmental, and logistical reasons why it’s better to hop on an electric cargo bike than it is to drive a car. Sitting in traffic is mind-numbing. Earth is on fire. Yet somehow it’s easy to ignore all this when you’re late to work and have yet to wrestle pants onto your screaming toddler. If you’re trying to reconcile your carefree biking days of yore with your current life as a family chauffeur—or you just want a bike for trips to the supermarket or hardware store—I highly recommend getting an electric cargo bike. Mine has transformed my life, turning my dull, daily errand-running into a multitasking combination of joyride and workout. I ride each bike for around 20 miles, hauling my kids to school or the dog to the vet, toting large zucchinis or who knows what. Our new top pick is the Urban Arrow FamilyNext Pro ($8,999), and my own personal favorite is the Surly Skid Loader ($4,999). OK, great! Now you have a bike. Now you just need one o ...

Original title: The Backbone Pro controller is $20 off for a limited time is an editor covering deals and gaming hardware that he thinks you’ll like. He joined in 2018, and after a stint at Polygon, he rejoined The Verge in May 2025. If you’ve ever thought “it’d sure be nice to have just one controller to use between my phone, tablet, and TV,” then the Backbone Pro might be made for you. Backbone’s newest gamepad has the same phone-hugging design as its 2020 predecessor, but comes with a handful of distinct features — the most notable being that it can be paired via Bluetooth to any number of devices, not just phones. The rechargeable controller just got its first temporary price cut, going from $169.99 to $149.99 at Amazon and Best Buy. Best Buy indicates this sale will expire at the end of the day. The Pro features more robust grips and bigger analog sticks (they’re ALPS, not Hall effect, sadly) while retaining the original’s hallmark feature, which is that Android and iPhone models with a USB-C port can be inserted into the controller, from which you can ...