Amazon | The VergeThe Verge is about technology and how it makes us feel. Founded in 2011, we offer our audience everything from breaking news to reviews to award-winning features and investigations, on our site, in video, and in podcasts.2026-08-16T17:35:02+00:00https://www.theverge.com/rss/amazon/index.xmlhttps://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/verge-rss-large_80b47e.png?w=150&h=150&crop=1Terrence O’Brien<![CDATA[Amazon is trying to crush class-action suits before they get started]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=9807522026-08-16T13:35:02-04:002026-08-16T13:35:02-04:00
On Friday, Amazon customers received an email alerting them to an update to the site's terms and conditions. Most notably, it stated that disputes would now be resolved through arbitration and said users agree to a class action waiver.
Amazon framed this as a "fast and efficient" way to resolve issues, but it notably would prevent customers from seeking the involvement of a judge or jury in most circumstances. Customers can still take Amazon to small claims court in certain circumstances, though payouts are often limited to a few thousand dollars.
The relevant sections of Amazon's legal policies page now read:
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Jay Peters<![CDATA[Amazon gets out of the MMO game]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=9790702026-08-12T12:46:05-04:002026-08-12T12:46:05-04:00
Amazon is fully stepping back from MMOs. After saying last year that it would be halting "a significant amount" of its work on first-party AAA games, "specifically around MMOs," Amazon will be handing over live operations of Throne and Liberty and Lost Ark in the West to other companies, according to announcements on Wednesday. Throne and Liberty will be taken over by FirstSpark Games and NC in Q4 2026. Lost Ark will be run by Smilegate starting in early 2027.
When Amazon announced the broader strategy shift in October, the developers of a third MMO, New World: Aeternum, announced plans to stop offering new content updates. As of January, y …
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Mia Sato<![CDATA[Why your Amazon order confirmation emails have become so unhelpful]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=9777332026-08-11T09:27:20-04:002026-08-11T09:27:20-04:00
Earlier this summer, Amazon customers began noticing that emails related to their online orders looked sparse: Order confirmation emails didn't name specific items anymore, and instead listed only item categories.
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Terrence O’Brien<![CDATA[An Amazon data center could have the worst polluting power plant in the country]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=9771242026-08-10T07:06:58-04:002026-08-08T13:53:34-04:00
To power its new West Texas data center, Amazon is investing in the construction of a new power plant that could be one of the largest single producers of greenhouse gases in the US, according to The New York Times. The new gas-burning plant in Pecos County, Texas, has received significant investment from Amazon and, at least initially, would not be connected to the state's power grid. Instead, its 35 natural-gas turbines would primarily deliver its 7.65 gigawatts of electricity to the new data center.
According to Cleanview, which tracks data centers and their associated power projects, GW Ranch received a permit from Texas allowing for th …
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Andrew Liszewski<![CDATA[Ring upgraded its peephole doorbell camera to 2K]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=9755382026-08-05T10:01:20-04:002026-08-05T10:01:20-04:00
Ring has debuted a new version of its smart doorbell camera that's designed to be easily installed as a replacement for a door's peephole without drilling or running wires. The Peephole Cam 2K is a replacement for the brand's Door View Cam that first debuted in 2019 and, alongside a sleeker design, it features a bump from 1080P to 2K video recording, some tracking upgrades, and a cheaper price. It's available for preorder now for $99.99 with shipping expected later this month.
As with previous models, the Peephole Cam 2K is divided into two halves that connect to each other through your door's peephole. On the outside there's a camera, door …
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Sheena Vasani<![CDATA[The first-gen Kindle Scribe is a big e-reader and digital notebook that’s $150 refurbished]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=9745362026-08-03T13:17:54-04:002026-08-03T13:17:54-04:00
The Scribe comes with a Premium Pen, which includes a built-in eraser. | Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge
The Kindle Scribe is worth considering if you’re heading back to school, as its large 10.2-inch screen can displaytextbooks and ebooks, or let you jot down handwritten notes during class. Now through August 8th, the first-gen model (with a Premium Pen) is down to just $149.99 with 16GB of storage in refurbished condition at Woot when you apply the promo code KINDLE25 at checkout. That’s $220 off its original launch price from 2022 and even cheaper than the current Kindle Paperwhite, though you’ll only get Woot’s 90-day warranty. Woot doesn’t specify the exact condition of its refurbished devices, but it does offer a brief explanation here of what to expect.
The Kindle Scribe features a sharp 300ppi E Ink display that’s glare-free and supports adjustable color temperatures, making it easy to read whether you’re outside in the sun or studying late at night. Like all other Kindles, the Scribe gives you quick and easy access to Amazon’s massive store of digital books, so you can switch between assigned reading and your favorite novels without carrying multiple books or devices. It’s not waterproof like the Kindle Paperwhite, though, so you’ll want to keep it away from the pool and be careful when it rains.
It’s also a solid digital notebook, with the device offering a variety of pre-made templates for everything from lined paper and planners to to-do lists. After updating the software, the original Kindle Scribe also includes the same AI-powered note-taking features as the newer models, allowing you to jot down notes directly on compatible ebook pages, summarize and refine your handwritten notes, generate AI-powered summaries, and more.
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Emma Roth<![CDATA[Zoox can now charge for rides in its steering-wheel-free robotaxis]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=9730992026-07-30T10:35:43-04:002026-07-30T10:35:43-04:00
Zoox just got permission to charge for robotaxi rides in its boxy, steering-wheel-less vehicles. On Thursday, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced it has granted the Amazon-owned Zoox a temporary exemption, allowing it to deploy up to 2,500 vehicles annually over the next two years, as reported earlier by Reuters.
The NHTSA's decision exempts Zoox from rules requiring vehicles to have traditional controls, like a steering wheel, pedals, windshield defrosting, and mirrors. Zoox's vehicles are built with passengers in mind, rather than drivers, featuring an interior with two bench seats and sliding doors. Until now, Zo …
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Andrew Webster<![CDATA[Amazon’s short story collections are one of the best reasons to own a Kindle]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=9726122026-07-29T15:06:24-04:002026-07-30T08:30:00-04:00
Over the last few years, I've gradually shifted away from ebooks. It's been part of a general return to physical media, an attempt to create a deeper sense of ownership over the art I love and collect. A Kindle is obviously more convenient than a paperback: It's tiny, holds a huge library, and you can purchase new books instantly. But, much like with retro game cartridges, I find there's a deeper connection formed with a book dug out of a stack in a used book shop versus simply choosing the next thing in a series from a menu on an e-reader. But I haven't completely given up on my Kindle, and there's one big reason - actually, there are lots …
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Stevie Bonifield<![CDATA[Amazon’s trying to launch a global satellite cellphone network in 2028]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=9714372026-07-27T11:40:38-04:002026-07-27T11:40:38-04:00
Amazon filed an FCC application on Saturday to launch a new Leo satellite constellation that will provide direct-to-device satellite service for "voice, messaging, data, and emergency services." If approved, Amazon will begin deploying the new constellation of 5,105 satellites in 2028. It says it plans to partner with mobile network operators to offer direct-to-device satellite service, similar to Starlink's partnership with T-Mobile.
Earlier this year, Amazon announced it's acquiring Globalstar's satellite network and taking over its deal to provide direct-to-device satellite services for Apple devices. Amazon says its new constellation w …
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Andrew Webster<![CDATA[Blade Runner 2099’s moody dystopia streams on Amazon in November]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=9705242026-07-24T13:43:50-04:002026-07-24T13:40:00-04:00
After teasing the series with some first-look images yesterday, Amazon is finally properly unveiling its Blade Runner streaming series. Called Blade Runner 2099, the show hits Prime Video on November 25th with all eight episodes dropping at once. We also got the first trailer for the series, which is full of Blade Runner staples: a bleak futuristic LA, dramatic narration, and some really good coats.
The show is helmed by Silka Luisa, previously showrunner on Apple TV's adaptation of Shining Girls, while original Blade Runner director Ridley Scott is signed on as an executive producer. 2099 stars Michelle Yeoh and Hunter Schafer and, as the …
