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The Verge
7 days ago
- Business
- The Verge
One company's quest for the perfect charger
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@ 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:
CNN
23-05-2025
- CNN
My favorite product releases this week: Dyson, Pokémon, Twelve South and more
This week, the deals team is focused on all things Memorial Day, but that doesn't mean we're completely ignoring our weekly launches series. Heading into the long weekend, I am tapping in to share my favorite product drops from the last seven days for you to pursue as the smoker heats up or you lounge around before a holiday picnic. This week brings the launch of a new twist on a conventional power cord from Twelve South, a sneak peek at the lightest stick vacuum yet from Dyson and a collection of Pokémon plush that I've already been shopping. A simpler way to recharge your iPhone This week, Twelve South has released its latest smartphone accessory. Longtime CNN Underscored readers will know I have a personal affinity for the brand, so this had to be the first product launch I dive into for this week's story. The new Twelve South PowerCord arrives as the only accessory you need to charge your iPhone or iPad, combining a 30W wall adapter with either 4- or 10-foot USB-C cables. Earlier in the year, I had a chance to talk with the company's co-founder, Andrew Green, about his inspiration for the PowerCord. Tech aficionados, like myself, love to obsess over the specifications for chargers. But not everyone needs to know that a cable is rated for 120W speeds or that a charger's GaN technology means it can prioritize power rates between multiple devices — most just want to know if it can quickly recharge their smartphone. That's where the PowerCord comes in, offering a single, simple charger that replaces the two accessories you'd normally need. I've been using one over the past week, and am convinced that it'll be the charger I recommend to friends and family going forward. Pricing starts at $40 for the shorter 4-foot cable version, while the 10-foot PowerCord clocks in at $50. Our best-tested stick vacuum just got slimmer Normally for these weekly product launch stories, we share gadgets that you can already buy. Today, I am going to break that rule and share something shipping in the future; the latest from Dyson is just so neat that I felt inclined to include anyway. And trust me, when you read about, you'll see why! Dyson's latest and greatest stick vacuums have been getting more powerful, as you'd expect. But, they've also been getting thinner, as well. The upcoming PencilVac takes that to a whole new level with a design that looks more like a broom than a traditional vacuum. It hides the battery, motor and even the dustbin in a thin handle that's the same size as Dyson's Supersonic R hair dryer. On top of being the lightest stick vacuum the brand has ever made, the PencilVac also introduces a new cleaning head. Four spinning brush bars at the end of the Dyson come together to form what the company calls Fluffycones. I mean, that is what they are, so the name fits. The reason for the new design is so Dyson can (hopefully) put an end to the issue that it has been trying to solve for years: hair getting stuck in the brush head. The new a conical design causes long hairs to slide down to the narrow end and subsequently fall off. Then, strands should get vacuumed up instead of lodging themselves into the brushes. I'll be excited to see just how the Dyson PencilVac fairs once my colleagues get their hands on it sometime in the future. In the meantime, be sure to shop our current picks for the best Dyson vacuum, if you're inclined to upgrade your cleaning routine ahead of time. The Pokémon Center used transform on these adorable plush The Pokémon Company keeps releasing new plush, and I keep buying them. This week, the Pokémon Center was stocked with some adorable new Ditto plushes, and I subsequently added a few of them to my cart. If you're unaware of Ditto, they're a fun little pocket monster that can turn their goopy pink form into the shape of other Pokémon. The one side effect to that transformation is that sometimes the form isn't quite right, leaving an adorable little smile instead of the subject's usual face design. The newest collection of plush span everything from fan-favorites like the Eeveelution lineup to Kanto staples of Snorlax, Magikarp and Dragonite. They're $20 each and likely won't be around for very long. The newest release from a CNN Underscored-favorite brand Now for a quick intermission from my colleague, Joe Bloss. Our associate testing writer, among other things, is a birdwatching enthusiast. So, when he messaged me asking to spotlight this new monocular from Nocs Provisions in our launches story, I knew to take his gear recommendation seriously. After all, Bloss wrote our guide to the best binoculars, so he knows a thing or two about these vision-enhancing devices. Bloss has been bringing the new monocular with him to baseball games, as well as to spot some avians. He shared how much of a beast (his words, not mine) the Zero Tube Monocular is with its 10 times magnification and crystal clear visuals. It's small enough to stow away in a pocket or just clip on to a belt or bag, making it even more convenient to tag along on trips to the ballpark. All that praise is no shock to me, as Nocs Provisions currently makes our pick for the best compact binoculars. You can buy the new Nocs Provisions Zero Tube Monocular for $175 at retailers like REI, as well as directly from Nocs Provisions. Bend this RGB rope light into any shape you'd like Nanoleaf has been lighting my home for nearly a decade with its funky multicolor accent lights. This week, it has a new way to add some mood lighting to your space with the debut of its Smart Multicolor Rope Light. The 16.4-foot light rope features a flexible build that can be bent or shaped into various designs. Mounting clips are included in the box that allow you to secure it onto your wall, under cabinets or behind a desk. Nanoleaf also backs that design with Matter support to integrate with all the major smart home systems from Apple, Google and Amazon. You can buy the Nanoleaf Matter Smart Multicolor Rope Light now for $60 directly from Nanoleaf's own online storefront. A new AMD chip and a fresh coat of green paint Back when my colleague first reviewed the original MSI Claw, one of the main takeaways was that it lacked the performance power to compete with the competition. MSI seems to have taken that critique to heart, and is improving its new edition of the handheld by making the switch from Intel over to the brand's first AMD processor in a portable gaming machine like this. The MSI Claw A8 now comes with a Ryzen Z2 Extreme chip. You'll also get a 1TB M.2 solid-state drive and upwards of 32GB of memory. Those internals all come packed into a familiar design that is still based around an 8-inch full HD display with 120Hz refresh rate. The new AMD-powered Claw A8 will also come in two colors: White and Lime Green. So, that's at least a fun visual change to help stand out from the sea of other identical-looking gaming handhelds. The new MSI Claw A8, AMD chip and all, is now available for purchase from Best Buy with a retail price of $1,000. This is for the high-end model with maxed out specs. I'll be excited to see if my colleagues end up giving the Claw a second chance, and if MSI has improved the product enough to actually earn a seat at the cramped gaming handheld table. Retro design backed by modern sound Marshall is out with its first-ever soundbar this week. The new Heston 120 is unmistakably a Marshall release, with a guitar amp-inspired design that fits right in with the rest of its speakers. Inside of the retro facade are 11 drivers backed by Dolby Atmos sound and DTS-X audio. On top of Bluetooth for directly connecting from your smartphone, there's also Wi-Fi support that enables Google Cast, AirPlay, Spotify Connect, and Tidal Connect. Or, you could just stream directly to the soundbar from Spotify and (if you're one of the dozen people still using it) Tidal. As someone who uses a Marshall speaker everyday, I have high hopes for the new soundbar. Will it replace my Sonos setup? Probably not. But for anyone who isn't several thousand dollars deep into a home theater system, the $1,000 price tag may be a good starting point. I've found that Marshall has some of the best EQ tuning out of any other speaker brands, so hopefully that caries over to its TV companion. I'm eager to hear how it sounds myself, and more importantly, to see if my friend and home audio expert, Henry T. Casey, approves of it for himself. As deals editors at Underscored, we are some of the first people to hear about the latest product news from reader-favorite brands. Our deals team — comprised of senior editor Rikka Altland, editor Jacqueline Saguin and associate editor Elena Matarazzo — is passionate about product launches that we would be tempted to shop, and we enjoy finding a coveted new item (especially one from a brand with top marks from our experts) because it means we're helping our readers make savvy buying decisions.
Business Wire
28-04-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
New Research Finds Building with Zinc Prevents Substantial Carbon Emissions
DURHAM, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Using zinc to build a single home prevents more than 50 tonnes in carbon emissions, and if just ten percent of new homes in North America were built using zinc, more than 40 million tonnes in carbon emissions would be prevented. These impressive numbers demonstrating zinc's success story as an agent of decarbonization are the first results of the International Zinc Association's new Zinc Enables Decarbonization (ZED) initiative, a partnership between the International Zinc Association and Environmental Economist Benjamin Cox, Program Director of the Bradshaw Research Institute for Minerals and Mining at the University of British Columbia. The ZED program quantifies zinc's impact with steel on decreasing life-time costs, decreasing carbon emissions, and increasing safety in housing, infrastructure, energy and transportation. The first phase has assessed the value in residential construction, where zinc is used to coat and protect the rebar used in the reinforced concrete of a home's foundation and in the sheeting of a metal roof. A zinc coating prevents corrosion and ensures longevity. 'Zinc plays a transformative role in building stronger, more sustainable communities, particularly in the decarbonization of residential buildings,' said Andrew Green, Executive Director of the International Zinc Association. 'From the foundation to the rooftop, zinc enables long-lasting, low-maintenance solutions that enhance a home's durability and environmental performance.' In a typical U.S. home, a traditional foundation may last 75 years and an asphalt roof as long as 25 years, but a home using galvanized steel in concrete reinforcement and in roofing materials can double the service life and avert future costs and emissions associated with repair and replacement, according to ZED research. The selection of galvanized steel for new roofs in Europe also can prevent more than ten tonnes of carbon emissions per home and provide substantial economic savings over using tile roofing materials. 'Our research finds that zinc provides long-term savings by preventing repeated repair and replacement of a home's roof and foundation,' said ZED Economist Benjamin Cox. 'But in addition to economic savings, we've also accounted for the extraordinary environmental benefit provided by zinc – preventing hundreds of millions of tonnes in carbon emissions.' The financial and environmental benefits are detailed in this graphic, showing the extended service life, lowered utility bill, and avoided environmental impact of a house built using zinc. 'Zinc's impact in housing increases with each year of service life, adding substantial economic and environmental value to every home and providing a bright outlook for zinc and the homes it enhances,' said ZED Director Eric Van Genderen. 'With these results, we can make the case to policy makers, investors, engineers, and builders to make zinc a permanent part of residential construction planning.' The first report from the ZED program focuses on zinc's impact on residential construction, particularly in the United States. ZED also will release reports quantifying zinc's impact in transportation infrastructure, energy infrastructure, and the automotive industry. About the International Zinc Association The International Zinc Association is a non-profit trade association working on behalf of the global zinc industry and its downstream users. IZA's mission is to provide global leadership, coordination, and value on strategic issues for the zinc industry, including market development, license to operate, communications, and sustainability.
National Post
28-04-2025
- Business
- National Post
New Research Finds Building with Zinc Prevents Substantial Carbon Emissions
Article content DURHAM, N.C. — Using zinc to build a single home prevents more than 50 tonnes in carbon emissions, and if just ten percent of new homes in North America were built using zinc, more than 40 million tonnes in carbon emissions would be prevented. These impressive numbers demonstrating zinc's success story as an agent of decarbonization are the first results of the International Zinc Association's new Zinc Enables Decarbonization (ZED) initiative, a partnership between the International Zinc Association and Environmental Economist Benjamin Cox, Program Director of the Bradshaw Research Institute for Minerals and Mining at the University of British Columbia. Article content Article content The ZED program quantifies zinc's impact with steel on decreasing life-time costs, decreasing carbon emissions, and increasing safety in housing, infrastructure, energy and transportation. The first phase has assessed the value in residential construction, where zinc is used to coat and protect the rebar used in the reinforced concrete of a home's foundation and in the sheeting of a metal roof. A zinc coating prevents corrosion and ensures longevity. Article content 'Zinc plays a transformative role in building stronger, more sustainable communities, particularly in the decarbonization of residential buildings,' said Andrew Green, Executive Director of the International Zinc Association. 'From the foundation to the rooftop, zinc enables long-lasting, low-maintenance solutions that enhance a home's durability and environmental performance.' Article content In a typical U.S. home, a traditional foundation may last 75 years and an asphalt roof as long as 25 years, but a home using galvanized steel in concrete reinforcement and in roofing materials can double the service life and avert future costs and emissions associated with repair and replacement, according to ZED research. The selection of galvanized steel for new roofs in Europe also can prevent more than ten tonnes of carbon emissions per home and provide substantial economic savings over using tile roofing materials. Article content 'Our research finds that zinc provides long-term savings by preventing repeated repair and replacement of a home's roof and foundation,' said ZED Economist Benjamin Cox. 'But in addition to economic savings, we've also accounted for the extraordinary environmental benefit provided by zinc – preventing hundreds of millions of tonnes in carbon emissions.' Article content The financial and environmental benefits are detailed in this graphic, showing the extended service life, lowered utility bill, and avoided environmental impact of a house built using zinc. Article content 'Zinc's impact in housing increases with each year of service life, adding substantial economic and environmental value to every home and providing a bright outlook for zinc and the homes it enhances,' said ZED Director Eric Van Genderen. 'With these results, we can make the case to policy makers, investors, engineers, and builders to make zinc a permanent part of residential construction planning.' Article content The first report from the ZED program focuses on zinc's impact on residential construction, particularly in the United States. ZED also will release reports quantifying zinc's impact in transportation infrastructure, energy infrastructure, and the automotive industry. Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content
Ottawa Citizen
28-04-2025
- Business
- Ottawa Citizen
New Research Finds Building with Zinc Prevents Substantial Carbon Emissions
Article content DURHAM, N.C. — Using zinc to build a single home prevents more than 50 tonnes in carbon emissions, and if just ten percent of new homes in North America were built using zinc, more than 40 million tonnes in carbon emissions would be prevented. These impressive numbers demonstrating zinc's success story as an agent of decarbonization are the first results of the International Zinc Association's new Zinc Enables Decarbonization (ZED) initiative, a partnership between the International Zinc Association and Environmental Economist Benjamin Cox, Program Director of the Bradshaw Research Institute for Minerals and Mining at the University of British Columbia. Article content Article content Article content The ZED program quantifies zinc's impact with steel on decreasing life-time costs, decreasing carbon emissions, and increasing safety in housing, infrastructure, energy and transportation. The first phase has assessed the value in residential construction, where zinc is used to coat and protect the rebar used in the reinforced concrete of a home's foundation and in the sheeting of a metal roof. A zinc coating prevents corrosion and ensures longevity. Article content 'Zinc plays a transformative role in building stronger, more sustainable communities, particularly in the decarbonization of residential buildings,' said Andrew Green, Executive Director of the International Zinc Association. 'From the foundation to the rooftop, zinc enables long-lasting, low-maintenance solutions that enhance a home's durability and environmental performance.' Article content In a typical U.S. home, a traditional foundation may last 75 years and an asphalt roof as long as 25 years, but a home using galvanized steel in concrete reinforcement and in roofing materials can double the service life and avert future costs and emissions associated with repair and replacement, according to ZED research. The selection of galvanized steel for new roofs in Europe also can prevent more than ten tonnes of carbon emissions per home and provide substantial economic savings over using tile roofing materials. Article content 'Our research finds that zinc provides long-term savings by preventing repeated repair and replacement of a home's roof and foundation,' said ZED Economist Benjamin Cox. 'But in addition to economic savings, we've also accounted for the extraordinary environmental benefit provided by zinc – preventing hundreds of millions of tonnes in carbon emissions.' Article content The financial and environmental benefits are detailed in this graphic, showing the extended service life, lowered utility bill, and avoided environmental impact of a house built using zinc. Article content 'Zinc's impact in housing increases with each year of service life, adding substantial economic and environmental value to every home and providing a bright outlook for zinc and the homes it enhances,' said ZED Director Eric Van Genderen. 'With these results, we can make the case to policy makers, investors, engineers, and builders to make zinc a permanent part of residential construction planning.' Article content The first report from the ZED program focuses on zinc's impact on residential construction, particularly in the United States. ZED also will release reports quantifying zinc's impact in transportation infrastructure, energy infrastructure, and the automotive industry. Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content
