How Twelve South tried to build a universal charger

Tech-news crypto, Gadgets, Podcasts, Tech, USB-C, Vergecast June 3, 2025

As the tech world has standardized on USB-C, charging your devices has become much simpler. But it’s still not simple enough. Sure, most things plug into most other things, but now you have to worry about power and data throughput, making sure that everything works properly with everything else. That’s why we’ve spent years longing for what we call the God Cable: the one with fast enough everything to be the perfect charger for devices from phones to power tools.

On this episode of The Vergecast, we start by talking about one company’s effort to build its own version of the perfect charger. Twelve South didn’t try to build the God Cable, and founder Andrew Green argues that you probably wouldn’t want it even if he could get it made. He walks us through how his team developed the new PowerCord, why he thinks an integrated charger still makes sense for lots of people, and all the decisions you have to make to get your charger just right.

After that, The Verge’s Tina Nguyen joins the show from the Bitcoin 2025 conference in Las Vegas to talk all things crypto and politics. She tells us about the rise of $TRUMP, what the crypto community and the Trump administration want from each other, and whether the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Act will actually amount to anything.

Finally, we answer a question on the Vergecast Hotline (call 866-VERGE11 or email vergecast@theverge.com!) about which tasks we might be willing to offload to AI agents. It’s a good question, and a tricky one, and we want to hear from you about it. Call the hotline, send us an email, and let us know: what are you willing to let an AI bot do you for, and what do you hope they might be able to do soon? And what are your big-screen tasks now?

If you want to know more about everything we discuss in this episode, here are some links to get you started:

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#Twelve #South #build #universal #charger

Tag crypto Gadgets Podcasts Tech USB-C Vergecast

Dick’s Sporting Goods Launches Walter Hagen U.S. Open Collection: Shop the Best Looks Here

The Polestar 4 now comes from South Korea instead of China

VivoBook and ZenBook laptops are quite the hotcakes in the Indian market, simply because they strike the right balance between portability and performance. Keeping up that momentum, the Taiwanese laptop maker has opened pre-orders for its latest premium Zenbook lineup in India, introducing a range of new laptops focused on design, portability, and AI-powered performance. The lineup includes the Zenbook S14, Zenbook DUO, Zenbook A14, and the upcoming Zenbook A16, alongside refreshed Vivobook models. Prices for the ZenBook series start at ₹1,79,990, while the Vivobook lineup begins at ₹98,990. Here’s everything you need to know about them.

What’s New with the ZenBooks & VivoBooks?

ASUS is doubling down on its “Design You Can Feel” philosophy with this launch. One of the key highlights is Ceraluminum, a proprietary material that aims to combine durability with a lightweight, premium finish. The flagship Zenbook S14, for instance, features an ultra-slim profile of around 1.1cm and weighs roughly 1.2kg, making it highly portable. It also gets a 14-inch 3K OLED display and a claimed battery life of up to 27 hours. Under the hood, the ZenBook S14 series packs Ultra Series 3 processors, with the highest tier going to the Ultra 9.

Meanwhile, the newest version of my favorite ZenBook Duo takes things to another level by packing dual 14-inch 3K 144Hz ASUS Lumina Pro OLED touch displays. It’s powered by Intel’s latest Core Ultra 7-series processors and offers 32 hours of claimed battery life. Lastly, there’s the Zenbook A Series (A14 & A16), which targets more casual, yet premium users. It’s made from the same Ceraluminum material and focuses primarily on portability, weighing under 1 kg. On the power side, the ZenBook A series uses the Snapdragon X2 series processors. While this should pay pretty big dividends in the battery life department, we have yet to test the laptops, so stay tuned for a full review.

The next-gen VivoBook classic series will be powered by the updated Intel Core Ultra 5 Series 3 processors, delivering 47 TOPS of NPU performance for all your AI tasks. On the other hand, the Vivobook S14 and S16 will feature sleeker metallic designs and Ultra 7 Series processors with up to 49 TOPS of NPU performance. Battery life for these is rated for 29 hours.

#ASUS #Launches #Gen #ZenBook #S14 #Duo #Aseries #VivoBook #Lineup #IndiaAsus">

mwasimuddin125 0

VivoBook and ZenBook laptops are quite the hotcakes in the Indian market, simply because they strike the right balance between portability and performance. Keeping up that momentum, the Taiwanese laptop maker has opened pre-orders for its latest premium Zenbook lineup in India, introducing a range of new laptops focused on design, portability, and AI-powered performance. The lineup includes the Zenbook S14, Zenbook DUO, Zenbook A14, and the upcoming Zenbook A16, alongside refreshed Vivobook models. Prices for the ZenBook series start at ₹1,79,990, while the Vivobook lineup begins at ₹98,990. Here’s everything you need to know about them.

What’s New with the ZenBooks & VivoBooks?

#ASUS #Launches #Gen #ZenBook #S14 #Duo #Aseries #VivoBook #Lineup #IndiaAsus">ASUS Launches Next Gen ZenBook S14, Duo, A-series & VivoBook Lineup In India

The Asus VivoBook and ZenBook laptops are quite the hotcakes in the Indian market, simply because they strike the right balance between portability and performance. Keeping up that momentum, the Taiwanese laptop maker has opened pre-orders for its latest premium Zenbook lineup in India, introducing a range of new laptops focused on design, portability, and AI-powered performance. The lineup includes the Zenbook S14, Zenbook DUO, Zenbook A14, and the upcoming Zenbook A16, alongside refreshed Vivobook models. Prices for the ZenBook series start at ₹1,79,990, while the Vivobook lineup begins at ₹98,990. Here’s everything you need to know about them.

What’s New with the ZenBooks & VivoBooks?

#ASUS #Launches #Gen #ZenBook #S14 #Duo #Aseries #VivoBook #Lineup #IndiaAsus

Three months until Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and we’ve got a look at some of its Lego toys.

Revealed a few days ago, buyers can look forward to two sets and one figure based on the film. The first set, “Prison Transport Chase,” comes in 367 pieces and has Spidey going up against Tarantula and Tombstone, with a DODC guard along for the ride. Users can build the transport and have it so that Spider-Man’s trying to stop Tarantula from busting out Tombstone, or he’s fighting both enemies and protecting the guard at the same time. Since we know Spidey fights ninjas in the prison at some point in Brand New Day, think of the toy as a potential appetizer for that setpiece.

“Spider-Man vs. Hulk Epic Clash” teams Peter with the strongest Avenger to fight Scorpion, Tarantula, and Boomerang to save a hot dog vendor. A trigger in the building’s rear makes the 534-piece set’s front blast open to reveal the large Hulk figure, and posting sticks will let you put characters on the DODC building’s upper levels to simulate midair fights.

Lastly, we’ve got a Spider-Man Hero Figure. At 813 pieces, you can recreate the hero and use detachable webs so he can swing cinematically. It also comes with a little Spider-Man minifig, helpful if you need to replace one you lost.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is in theaters on July 31. All three of these release on June 1 and will individually cost you $50 for “Prison Transport, $90 for “Spider-Man vs. Hulk”, and $100 for the Spidey figure.

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

#SpiderMan #Brand #Day #Legos #Arrive #SummerLego,Spider-Man,Spider-Man: Brand New Day">

mwasimuddin125 0

Three months until Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and we’ve got a look at some of its Lego toys.

Revealed a few days ago, buyers can look forward to two sets and one figure based on the film. The first set, “Prison Transport Chase,” comes in 367 pieces and has Spidey going up against Tarantula and Tombstone, with a DODC guard along for the ride. Users can build the transport and have it so that Spider-Man’s trying to stop Tarantula from busting out Tombstone, or he’s fighting both enemies and protecting the guard at the same time. Since we know Spidey fights ninjas in the prison at some point in Brand New Day, think of the toy as a potential appetizer for that setpiece.

“Spider-Man vs. Hulk Epic Clash” teams Peter with the strongest Avenger to fight Scorpion, Tarantula, and Boomerang to save a hot dog vendor. A trigger in the building’s rear makes the 534-piece set’s front blast open to reveal the large Hulk figure, and posting sticks will let you put characters on the DODC building’s upper levels to simulate midair fights.

Lastly, we’ve got a Spider-Man Hero Figure. At 813 pieces, you can recreate the hero and use detachable webs so he can swing cinematically. It also comes with a little Spider-Man minifig, helpful if you need to replace one you lost.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is in theaters on July 31. All three of these release on June 1 and will individually cost you $50 for “Prison Transport, $90 for “Spider-Man vs. Hulk”, and $100 for the Spidey figure.

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

#SpiderMan #Brand #Day #Legos #Arrive #SummerLego,Spider-Man,Spider-Man: Brand New Day">First ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ Legos Arrive This Summer

Three months until Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and we’ve got a look at some of its Lego toys.

Revealed a few days ago, buyers can look forward to two sets and one figure based on the film. The first set, “Prison Transport Chase,” comes in 367 pieces and has Spidey going up against Tarantula and Tombstone, with a DODC guard along for the ride. Users can build the transport and have it so that Spider-Man’s trying to stop Tarantula from busting out Tombstone, or he’s fighting both enemies and protecting the guard at the same time. Since we know Spidey fights ninjas in the prison at some point in Brand New Day, think of the toy as a potential appetizer for that setpiece.

“Spider-Man vs. Hulk Epic Clash” teams Peter with the strongest Avenger to fight Scorpion, Tarantula, and Boomerang to save a hot dog vendor. A trigger in the building’s rear makes the 534-piece set’s front blast open to reveal the large Hulk figure, and posting sticks will let you put characters on the DODC building’s upper levels to simulate midair fights.

Lastly, we’ve got a Spider-Man Hero Figure. At 813 pieces, you can recreate the hero and use detachable webs so he can swing cinematically. It also comes with a little Spider-Man minifig, helpful if you need to replace one you lost.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is in theaters on July 31. All three of these release on June 1 and will individually cost you $50 for “Prison Transport, $90 for “Spider-Man vs. Hulk”, and $100 for the Spidey figure.

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

#SpiderMan #Brand #Day #Legos #Arrive #SummerLego,Spider-Man,Spider-Man: Brand New Day

Every time I’ve written about Meta’s AI-enabled glasses, I invariably get asked these questions: Why do you even want these? Why do you want smart glasses that can play music or misidentify native flora in a weirdly cheery voice? I am a lifelong Ray-Ban Wayfarer wearer, and I’m also WIRED’s resident Meta wearer. I grab a pair of Meta glasses whenever I leave the house because I like being able to use one device instead of two or three on a walk. With Meta glasses, I can wear sunglasses and workout headphones in one!

Meta sold more than 7 million pairs in 2025. Take a look at any major outdoor or sporting event, and you’ll see more than a few people wearing these to record snippets for Instagram or TikTok. Meta’s partnership with EssilorLuxottica has made smart glasses accessible, stylish, and useful and is undoubtedly the reason why Google, and now Apple, are trying to horn in on the market. After the notable flop that is the Apple Vision Pro, Apple is recalibrating its face-wearable strategy, moving away from augmented reality (AR) toward simpler, display-less, and hopefully good-looking glasses.

That’s not to say that you shouldn’t be careful how you use these glasses. Meta doesn’t have the greatest track record on privacy, and the company has continued to push forward with policies that are questionable at best. Even if you’re not concerned that face recognition will allow Meta to target immigrants or enable stalkers to find their victims, at the very least, people really do not like the idea that you could start recording them at any moment.

Probably the biggest hurdle to wearing Meta glasses is that even doing so seems like a gross violation of the social contract. After all, these are Mark Zuckerberg’s “pervert glasses.” When I pop these on my head, I’ve had friends (and my spouse) recoil and say, “I have apps to warn me away from people like you.” The best part, though, is that Oakley and Ray-Ban already make really great sunglasses. Even if the battery runs out or you don’t use Meta AI at all, these are stellar at shading your eyes from the sun.

Anyway, if you decide to try them, here’s what you should get. If you do chicken out, check out our buying guides to the Best Smart Glasses or the Best Workout Headphones for more.

Table of Contents

Best Overall

Photograph: Boone Ashworth

Ray-Ban

Meta Glasses (Gen 2)

Last year, Meta upgraded the original Meta Ray-Ban Wayfarers that became a smash hit. These are Meta’s entry-level glasses, and they come in a variety of lens styles. You can order them with clear lenses, prescription lenses, transition lenses, or the OG sunglass lenses, as well as in a variety of fits, including standard, large, or high-bridge frames. Improvements to this generation include an upgrade to a 12-MP camera and up to eight hours of battery life; writer Boone Ashworth’s testing clocked in at five to six hours.

#Meta #Glasses #Comfortable #Functional #Spouse #Recoil #Fearbuying guides,accessories and peripherals,wearables,meta,smart glasses,shopping,outdoors,fashion,lifestyle">

Meta Glasses Are Comfortable, Functional, and Make My Spouse Recoil in FearEvery time I’ve written about Meta’s AI-enabled glasses, I invariably get asked these questions: Why do you even want these? Why do you want smart glasses that can play music or misidentify native flora in a weirdly cheery voice? I am a lifelong Ray-Ban Wayfarer wearer, and I’m also WIRED’s resident Meta wearer. I grab a pair of Meta glasses whenever I leave the house because I like being able to use one device instead of two or three on a walk. With Meta glasses, I can wear sunglasses and workout headphones in one!Meta sold more than 7 million pairs in 2025. Take a look at any major outdoor or sporting event, and you’ll see more than a few people wearing these to record snippets for Instagram or TikTok. Meta’s partnership with EssilorLuxottica has made smart glasses accessible, stylish, and useful and is undoubtedly the reason why Google, and now Apple, are trying to horn in on the market. After the notable flop that is the Apple Vision Pro, Apple is recalibrating its face-wearable strategy, moving away from augmented reality (AR) toward simpler, display-less, and hopefully good-looking glasses.That’s not to say that you shouldn’t be careful how you use these glasses. Meta doesn’t have the greatest track record on privacy, and the company has continued to push forward with policies that are questionable at best. Even if you’re not concerned that face recognition will allow Meta to target immigrants or enable stalkers to find their victims, at the very least, people really do not like the idea that you could start recording them at any moment.Probably the biggest hurdle to wearing Meta glasses is that even doing so seems like a gross violation of the social contract. After all, these are Mark Zuckerberg’s “pervert glasses.” When I pop these on my head, I’ve had friends (and my spouse) recoil and say, “I have apps to warn me away from people like you.” The best part, though, is that Oakley and Ray-Ban already make really great sunglasses. Even if the battery runs out or you don’t use Meta AI at all, these are stellar at shading your eyes from the sun.Anyway, if you decide to try them, here’s what you should get. If you do chicken out, check out our buying guides to the Best Smart Glasses or the Best Workout Headphones for more.Table of ContentsAccordionItemContainerButtonBest OverallPhotograph: Boone AshworthRay-BanMeta Glasses (Gen 2)Last year, Meta upgraded the original Meta Ray-Ban Wayfarers that became a smash hit. These are Meta’s entry-level glasses, and they come in a variety of lens styles. You can order them with clear lenses, prescription lenses, transition lenses, or the OG sunglass lenses, as well as in a variety of fits, including standard, large, or high-bridge frames. Improvements to this generation include an upgrade to a 12-MP camera and up to eight hours of battery life; writer Boone Ashworth’s testing clocked in at five to six hours.#Meta #Glasses #Comfortable #Functional #Spouse #Recoil #Fearbuying guides,accessories and peripherals,wearables,meta,smart glasses,shopping,outdoors,fashion,lifestyle

mwasimuddin125 0

Every time I’ve written about Meta’s AI-enabled glasses, I invariably get asked these questions: Why do you even want these? Why do you want smart glasses that can play music or misidentify native flora in a weirdly cheery voice? I am a lifelong Ray-Ban Wayfarer wearer, and I’m also WIRED’s resident Meta wearer. I grab a pair of Meta glasses whenever I leave the house because I like being able to use one device instead of two or three on a walk. With Meta glasses, I can wear sunglasses and workout headphones in one!
Meta sold more than 7 million pairs in 2025. Take a look at any major outdoor or sporting event, and you’ll see more than a few people wearing these to record snippets for Instagram or TikTok. Meta’s partnership with EssilorLuxottica has made smart glasses accessible, stylish, and useful and is undoubtedly the reason why Google, and now Apple, are trying to horn in on the market. After the notable flop that is the Apple Vision Pro, Apple is recalibrating its face-wearable strategy, moving away from augmented reality (AR) toward simpler, display-less, and hopefully good-looking glasses.
That’s not to say that you shouldn’t be careful how you use these glasses. Meta doesn’t have the greatest track record on privacy, and the company has continued to push forward with policies that are questionable at best. Even if you’re not concerned that face recognition will allow Meta to target immigrants or enable stalkers to find their victims, at the very least, people really do not like the idea that you could start recording them at any moment.
Probably the biggest hurdle to wearing Meta glasses is that even doing so seems like a gross violation of the social contract. After all, these are Mark Zuckerberg’s “pervert glasses.” When I pop these on my head, I’ve had friends (and my spouse) recoil and say, “I have apps to warn me away from people like you.” The best part, though, is that Oakley and Ray-Ban already make really great sunglasses. Even if the battery runs out or you don’t use Meta AI at all, these are stellar at shading your eyes from the sun.
Anyway, if you decide to try them, here’s what you should get. If you do chicken out, check out our buying guides to the Best Smart Glasses or the Best Workout Headphones for more.
Table of Contents

Best Overall

Photograph: Boone Ashworth

Ray-Ban

Meta Glasses (Gen 2)

#Meta #Glasses #Comfortable #Functional #Spouse #Recoil #Fearbuying guides,accessories and peripherals,wearables,meta,smart glasses,shopping,outdoors,fashion,lifestyle">Meta Glasses Are Comfortable, Functional, and Make My Spouse Recoil in Fear

Anyway, if you decide to try them, here’s what you should get. If you do chicken out, check out our buying guides to the Best Smart Glasses or the Best Workout Headphones for more.

Table of Contents

Best Overall

Photograph: Boone Ashworth

Ray-Ban

Meta Glasses (Gen 2)

#Meta #Glasses #Comfortable #Functional #Spouse #Recoil #Fearbuying guides,accessories and peripherals,wearables,meta,smart glasses,shopping,outdoors,fashion,lifestyle

Dick’s Sporting Goods Launches Walter Hagen U.S. Open Collection: Shop the Best Looks Here

The Polestar 4 now comes from South Korea instead of China

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What’s New with the ZenBooks & VivoBooks?

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Best Overall

Meta Glasses (Gen 2)

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Meta Glasses (Gen 2)

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