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Before the multiverse, magic, or any of Marvel's streaming series were important parts of the studio's cinematic universe, there was Iron Man. After years of so-so movies, Iron Man reminded everyone that Marvel's big-screen adaptations could be amazing with the right creative teams and stars attached. Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark was the MCU's centerpiece and a prime example of how the House of Ideas could make box office record-breaking icons out of its lower-profile characters. A couple of the Iron Man films were terrible, sure, but they each played a role in shaping the larger story. And by spending…

The Mavic 4 Pro, folded, with a DJI RC2 controller. Is DJI exiting the US drone market? The company says no - but it would not explain to The Verge what has changed such that it can't even keep a single drone on shelves. When I walked into my local Best Buy store today, June 24th, there were zero DJI drones available to purchase. There wasn't even an empty spot for each drone to go. The entire DJI aisle had been swept clean of price tags, lockers, and products - save a handful of motorized gimbals, action cameras, a single…

In the midst of the covid-19 pandemic, a health products company called Xlear began advertising its saline nasal spray to people desperately searching for ways to protect themselves from a new virus. In its marketing, Xlear pointed to studies that it said supported the idea that ingredients in the spray could block viruses from sticking to the nasal cavity. Based on its interpretation of the science, Xlear promoted the product as one part of a "layered defense" against contracting covid. In 2021, the Federal Trade Commission, in a bipartisan vote, decided to sue Xlear for making allegedly "unsupported health claims,"…

Build a Rocket Boy has confirmed previous reports from IGN that it is undergoing layoffs less than a month after the tumultuous release of its first game MindsEye. The Verge reached out to Build a Rocket Boy to confirm the layoffs, but they did not respond. In a statement made to IGN, Build A Rocket Boy wrote: We can confirm that we have had to make the painful decision to notify our hardworking team of some internal changes at Build A Rocket Boy. While we are working to reassign roles for as many of those impacted by these changes as…

The Tongass National Forest on Prince of Wales Island, Alaska, Friday, July 2, 2021. | Photo: Getty Images The Trump administration wants to open up tens of millions of acres of national forest to development. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced yesterday that it’s rescinding a landmark rule that prevents road construction and timber harvesting in the last unfragmented stretches of national forest.  The USDA says the move will boost timber production, while helping officials manage wildfire-prone lands. Conservation groups say this is simply an industry-led land grab that could level pristine forests and increase the risk of wildfire.…

Jony Ive onstage at the Code Conference in 2022. Thanks to a related trademark lawsuit, we know what OpenAI and Jony Ive's first AI device won't be. In court filings submitted this month, leaders from io - the consumer hardware team OpenAI recently acquired from Jony Ive's design studio for $6.5 billion - testified that the first device they plan to release won't be an "in-ear device" or a "wearable." They also say the AI device won't ship until "at least" 2026. "The prototype Sam Altman referenced in the video is at least a year away from being offered for…

Yale’s new Matter-over-Thread smart lock is designed for Google Home. The Yale Smart Lock with Matter is launching tomorrow, June 24th, for $189.99 — $20 more than when it was first announced in March. Yale tells The Verge the price increase is due to the impact of tariffs. The lock will be available on Amazon and Yale’s website. According to Yale, the new smart lock was built for Google Home and Matter and designed specifically to complement Google Home’s Nest video doorbells. However, thanks to its Matter-over-Thread connectivity, it can work with multiple smart home platforms, including Apple Home, Amazon Alexa,…

Let’s see what unfolds. Samsung’s summer Unpacked is officially on, starting at 10AM ET on Wednesday, July 9th. The invitation features a jazzy little bop and the words “Ultra Unfolds,” so I think it’s safe to assume we’re getting that foldable Ultra phone the company previously hinted at. The event is set to take place in Brooklyn, but you can watch along over at Samsung’s YouTube channel. The invitation seems to suggest a thinner device, or at least that’s how I’m reading it. That would line up with some of the rumors, and super-thin foldables has certainly been a trend…

T-Satellite is go for takeoff. After spending the first half of the year in beta testing, T-Mobile’s Starlink-powered satellite service will go public on July 23rd. While it will only include messaging at launch, the company has some ambitious plans to expand the service before the end of the year. When it goes live next month, “T-Satellite” will be available as an included service with just one T-Mobile plan — Experience Beyond — and will otherwise cost $10 per month. Like the beta service, it will be available to anyone in the US, not just T-Mobile customers. At launch, T-Satellite…

Image: The Verge | Image: The Verge If you missed the chance to pick up Nintendo’s new GameCube Controller for the Switch 2, your time has come. It’s back in stock for $64.99 at the My Nintendo Store. To add one to your collection, you’ll need to have a Nintendo Switch Online subscription, which starts at $19.99 a year for individuals. Once signed up, you can place an order by signing into your Nintendo Account and adding the gamepad to your cart, though you’re still limited to one controller per account. As fun as it’s been playing Mario Kart World…