Technology

The Verge’s 2024 Mother’s Day gift guide

Published

2 years ago

May 4, 2024

Press Room

The Verge’s 2024 Mother’s Day gift guide

Uno Show ‘Em No Mercy

If we’re being honest, you may no longer be your mom’s favorite after you’ve both indulged in a round of Uno Show ’Em No Mercy. The updated version of Mattel’s classic card game sends game-turning betrayals into overdrive with more skips, more draw cards, and new stacking rules that let you pile on a truly absurd number of cards (a punishing Draw 10 included).
Price: $9.49+

Lego Icons Tiny Plants

Why not skip the perennials this year and opt for something that will actually survive beyond Mother’s Day? Lego’s latest botanical set lets you build nine plastic plants — including a mix of arid, tropical, and carnivorous species — all of which are treated to their own desk-friendly terracotta brick planter. Just don’t expect to receive a cutting anytime soon.
Price: $49.49+

Ember Mug 2

If your mom is a coffee lover, how about gifting her something a little snazzier than another “World’s Best Mom” mug? Ember’s latest smart mug is pricey, yes, but the heated receptacle can ensure her morning mood elixir never falls below her preferred temperature. The mug itself can last up to 80 minutes on a single charge or the entire day using the included charging coaster.
Price: $103.99+

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition

Amazon’s step-up Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition adds wireless charging and an automatic backlight to one of our favorite ebook readers. It’s just as comfortable to hold and easy on the eyes as the standard model, with crisp 300ppi resolution, 32GB of storage, and Bluetooth support so she can listen to her favorite beach read via Audible, rather than, huh, read it.
Price: $189.99

Thermomix TM6

The Thermomix TM6 may be the last kitchen appliance your mom will ever need. It offers a multitude of functions — including the ability to chop, blend, mix, grind, sauté, and steam — and you can even use it to weigh food. The fact that it features a built-in touchscreen so she can browse more than 80,000 tasty recipes is just the proverbial cherry on top.
Price: $1,499

Apple iPad (10th-gen)

If you’re looking to make a big splash this year, you can’t go wrong with an iPad. Apple’s latest entry-level model is still very capable thanks to its reliable battery life and A14 Bionic chipset, which can run most modern apps and games with ease. Plus, with several fun colors to choose from, you’re likely to land on something that fits her style.
Price: $349+

Apple Watch Series 9

The Apple Watch Series 9 is a great gift for someone who already lives inside Apple’s walled garden. It’s a fitness companion, a personal navigator, a notification display, a calendar, and a clock all wrapped into one. The newest model also supports Apple’s new double-tap feature and Precision Finding, allowing your mom to easily locate her phone should she ever lose it.
Price: $299+

Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Light Bulb (two-pack)

A pack of smart bulbs is a terrific gift for smart home newbies. Kasa’s inexpensive RGB bulbs are reliable, easy to use, and decently bright at 800 lumens. They don’t require any hubs or controllers, either; just screw them into your favorite lamp and set the brightness, color, and scene using the Kasa app or a virtual assistant like Amazon Alexa.
Price: $12.99+

Sophie Faux Fur Throw Blanket

It might be getting warmer outside, but that doesn’t mean you can’t snuggle up on a lazy day. Thankfully, Anthropologie’s polyester throw blanket is one of the plushest around — at least according to my cozy Verge colleagues. It’s also available in seven attractive colors, including mint green, cocoa, and a vibrant hot pink shade for those still living their Barbie best.
Price: $98

Tile Mate (2022)

Like AirTags, the Tile Mate can help you keep tabs on your personal belongings. Tile’s Bluetooth trackers are a little more basic than Apple’s, but they work with both Android and iOS devices. That means your mom will be able to see the last known location of whatever she’s looking for and sound an alarm within 250 feet, regardless of whether she’s rocking a new Galaxy S24 Plus or your hand-me-down iPhone.
Price: $19.99

Nixplay 10.1-inch HD Touch Screen Wi-Fi Digital Frame

Nixplay’s photo frames are straightforward, sharp, and bright enough to display family photos in any lighting. The app lets you wirelessly and securely share photos directly to the frame or via Google Photos, and it can regularly cycle through a gallery of images. The 10.1-inch model is available with a variety of muted bezels, too, including an attractive wood grain finish.
Price: $154.99+

Eater Wine Club subscription

Whether your mom considers herself an amateur sommelier or just likes a good Georgian orange, our sister site Eater offers a wine club subscription that automatically delivers a batch of hand-selected wines every month. Each box contains either two or four bottles, depending on the subscription, and is often centered on a particular season, celebration, or notable slice of history.
Price: $70+

Amazon Echo Dot with Clock (fifth-gen)

Amazon’s orb-shaped Echo Dot is a good little Alexa bot, one that can serve double duty on your mom’s nightstand. She can use the clock-equipped smart speaker to hit the lights and begin playing soothing sleep tracks or simply to check the news and take hands-free control of any other smart home gadgets she might have.
Price: $39.99

Stanley Go Everyday Wine Tumbler

If you’re already planning on gifting a bottle of wine this year, pairing it with a quality tumbler isn’t a bad idea. Stanley’s vacuum insulated stainless steel mug can keep drinks hot for up to 1.5 hours or cold for up to 20 hours, depending on how much ice you toss in. It’s simple, effective, and holds up to 10 ounces of the “good stuff,” whatever that might be.
Price: $20

Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony’s latest pair of premium headphones aren’t just a great gift for audiophiles — they’re ideal for anyone who wants a better way to tune out while listening to music or traveling. While expensive, we still consider them the best headphones for most people thanks to their well-balanced sound, superb noise cancellation, and several ambient audio features.
Price: $348+

Roborock Q5 Pro Robot Vacuum and Mop

Picking up after children can be a full-time job, which makes a robot vacuum a cheeky way to thank your mom for the countless days she did it on your behalf. Roborock’s Q5 Pro is one of our favorite models, particularly for pet owners, as it can handle carpet and hardwood floors with relative ease. You can even attach mopping pads for light upkeep and tackling fresh spills.
Price: $299.99

Kombucha Brewing Kit

The Kombucha Shop’s entry-level kit is a terrific starting point for those interested in brewing their own fermented teas. It includes organic kombucha cultures, teas, and cane sugar, all of which are shelf-stable. You’ll also find instructions and equipment in the box, including a gallon jar, pH test strips, and a temperature monitor.
Price: $49.99

Fitbit Inspire 3

The lightweight Fitbit Inspire 3 is a great gift for someone looking to dip their toes into wearables. The throwback fitness band is an affordable way to add heart rate monitoring, smartphone notifications, and sleep / workout tracking to your wrist. It’s basic, sure, but how many other wearables let you wear them as a clip and last up to 10 days on a single charge?
Price: $89+

JLab Go Air Pop

If you’re looking for a cheap pair of earbuds so your mom can listen to her glut of true crime podcasts on the go, JBL’s Go Air Pop cost less than a Mother’s Day mimosa. The reliable earbuds pack decent specs for the price, too, including IPX4 water resistance, three distinct EQ modes, and 32 hours of runtime with the included charging case.
Price: $19.99+

Click and Grow Smart Garden 3

The Click and Grow Smart Garden 3 makes it almost too easy to grow fresh herbs and veggies at home. The small self-watering base fits on a windowsill and holds up to three biodegradable “pods,” each chock-full of seeds and other vital nutrients. Three basil pods are included, but if you want more, you can pick up more than 70 other varieties for about $4 a pop.
Price: $79.95+

Sonos Roam

With the Sonos Roam, versatility is the name of the game. The rugged smart speaker functions like any other Bluetooth speaker when you’re away; however, when at home, it easily slots into a larger Sonos system. It’s light on bass compared to traditional Sonos products, but it still offers great sound, Qi wireless charging, and — unlike newer Sonos speakers — support for both Alexa and Google Assistant.
Price: $179+

DJI Osmo Pocket 3

The DJI Osmo Pocket 3 could be the ideal vlogging camera for moms hoping to capture their kids growing up, newfound empty nesters looking for a hobby, or truly anyone looking to shoot 4K/120fps video. It’s small, (relatively) affordable, and lightweight like a smartphone but offers better video quality with unrivaled stability thanks to a built-in mechanical gimbal.
Price: $519+

Yankee Candle (22-ounce)

They might be the most cliché gift on our list, but aromatic gifts can also be some of the best. Yankee’s 22-ounce jars come in a smorgasbord of classic and less than classic scents, from lavender and birch to vanilla and… stargazing? Either way, each candle offers 110 hours of burn time, which is exceptional considering the reasonable cost.
Price: $16.88+

Eve Smart Plug & Power Meter

If your mom’s smart home experience stopped at bulbs, try introducing her to the Eve Smart Plug & Power Meter. She can use it to remotely turn on or schedule a routine for anything plugged into it, which makes it great for automating an old coffee maker or an oil diffuser. Eve’s latest smart plugs also support the new Matter standard, meaning they’ll work across smart home platforms.
Price: $37.99+

Houdini Electric Corkscrew

Uncorking a nice bottle of wine doesn’t have to be a painful experience. Houdini’s electric corkscrew can remove it with ease at the touch of a button. It’s made of a mix of stainless steel and black polycarbonate plastic, and it can uncork quite a few bottles (at least a dozen or more) before the battery needs changing.
Price: $19.99

Burt’s Bees Tips and Toes Kit

Aging might be a fact of life, but a little self-care can go a long way in preserving healthy skin. Thankfully, Burt’s Bees Tips and Toes Kit opts for coconut, honey, grapeseed, and other natural ingredients over parabens, which have shown to impact the body’s hormone levels. The six-piece kit consists of several distinct pieces, too, including creams, butters, lip balms, and salves.
Price: $11.99

Nutribullet Pro 900

Your mom can skip her weekly trip to Jamba Juice and make her own concoction at home with the Nutribullet Pro 900. Its stainless steel blades are strong enough to pulverize produce and thicker fruit, and it comes with two sleek 32-ounce jars with matching lids and handles. The latter makes it easy to bring smoothies on the move, regardless of where she goes.
Price: $79.99+

ESR Magnetic Car Phone Mount (HaloLock)

A phone mount is an essential piece of kit for road warriors who use their phones as a heads-up display, whether for navigation or to cycle through the latest Beyoncé tracks. If you use an iPhone 12 or later, you can clip ESR’s adjustable MagSafe mount to your air vent and attach your phone — that is, without fiddling with pesky latches or buttons.
Price: $17.99+

The Appreciation Sugarwish

Sugarwish is a great gifting service if you need something delivered. You can drum up a personalized card and choose from one of several boxes, which allow your mom to select her own mix of sweets, candles, savory snacks, and even wine. The Appreciation box offers a wide variety of choices and starts at just $25, letting her indulge her sweet tooth even if you can’t be around.

Price: $25+

Baseus Airpow Power Bank 20W 10000mAh

Baseus’ Airpow Power Bank is an affordable pick if you want a 10,000mAh battery pack with both USB-A and USB-C Power Delivery capabilities. It lets you juice smartphones, tablets, and other devices at moderate speeds, yet it’s slim enough you can tuck it pretty much anywhere before heading out the door.
Price: $17.99+

Furbo 360° Dog Camera

Dog moms might squeal when they see the Furbo. The interactive 1080p camera features a remote treat dispenser and two-way audio, allowing her to keep an eye on her pup and sling treats while she’s away. The newest model also sits on a swiveling 360-degree base and provides real-time barking alerts, though, the latter requires a monthly Dog Nanny subscription.
Price: $168+

Technology

How Last Samurai Standing adds kinetic action to the Battle Royale formula

Published

2 hours ago

December 23, 2025

Press Room

How Last Samurai Standing adds kinetic action to the Battle Royale formula

Last Samurai Standing begins with a familiar premise. Desperate samurai dispossessed by the restoration of the emperor enter into a deadly game for a life-changing cash prize — all for the entertainment of anonymous elites. Unlike its inspirations Battle Royale and Squid Game, however, Last Samurai Standing’s violence is chaotic, fast-paced, and kinetic, though it hides a careful choreography that makes the series a more electric proposition than its predecessors.

Viewers have Junichi Okada to thank for that. As well as starring in and producing Last Samurai Standing, he serves as the series’ action planner. Many will be familiar with the results of an action planner’s work — sometimes called an action director, elsewhere a “coordinator,” and even “choreographer” — though perhaps not what the role entails. In the case of Last Samurai Standing, it’s a role that touches on nearly every aspect of the production, from the story to the action itself.

“I was involved from the script stage, thinking about what kind of action we wanted and how we would present it in the context of this story,” Okada tells The Verge. “If the director [Michihito Fujii] said, ‘I want to shoot this kind of battle scene,’ I would then think through the content and concept, design the scene, and ultimately translate that into script pages.”

The close relationship between the writer and director extends to other departments, too. Though an action planner’s role starts with managing fight scenes and stunt performers, they also liaise with camera, wardrobe, makeup, and even editorial departments to ensure fight scenes cohere with the rest of the production.

Image: Netflix

It’s a role which might appear a natural progression for Okada, who is certified to teach Kali and Jeet Kune Do — a martial art conceived by Bruce Lee — and holds multiple black belts in jiujitsu. Though the roots of his progression into action planning can be traced back further, to 1995 when he became the youngest member of J-pop group V6.

“Dance experience connects directly to creating action,” he says. “[In both] rhythm and control of the body are extremely important.” Joining V6 at the age of 15, that experience has made Okada conscious of how he moves in relation to a camera during choreography, how he is seen within the structure of a shot, and, critical to action planning, how to navigate all of that safely from a young age.

That J-pop stardom also offered avenues into acting, initially in roles you might expect for a young pop star: comic heartthrobs and sitcom sons. But he was steadily able to broaden his output. A starring turn in Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Hana followed, as did voice acting in Studio Ghibli’s Tales From Earthsea and From Up on Poppy Hill. A more telling departure was a starring role in 2007’s SP, in which he played a rookie in a police bodyguard unit, for which he trained for several years under shootfighting instructor Yorinaga Nakamura.

“What I care about is whether audiences feel that ‘this man really lives here as a samurai.’”

In the years since, Okada has cemented himself as one of Japan’s most recognizable actors, hopping between action starring roles in The Fable to sweeping period epics like Sekigahara. Those two genres converge in his Last Samurai Standing role of Shujiro, a former Shogunate samurai now reduced to poverty, working through his PTSD and reckoning with his bloodthirsty past in the game. These days, it’s less of a concern that the character butts up against his past idol image, he suggests. “What I care about is whether audiences feel that ‘this man really lives here as a samurai.’”

For Okada’s work on Last Samurai Standing, as both producer and action planner, that involved lacing high-octane but believable action with the respect for history and character studies of the period dramas he loves. “Rather than being 100 percent faithful to historical accuracy,” he adds, “my goal was to focus on entertainment and story, while letting the ‘DNA’ and beauty of Japanese period drama gently float up in the background.”

A focus on what he defines as “‘dō’ — movement,” pure entertainment that “never lets the audience get bored” punctuated — with “‘ma,’” the active emptiness that connects those frenetic moments. Both can be conversations, even if one uses words and another communicates dialogue through sword blows. This is most apparent when Shujiro faces his former comrade Sakura (Yasushi Fuchikami) inside a claustrophobic bank vault that serves as a charnel house for the game’s less fortunate contestants.

“The whole battle is divided into three sequences,” Okada says. The first starts with a moment of almost perfect stillness, a deep breath, before the two launch into battle. “A fight where pride and mutual respect collide,” he says, “and where the speed of the techniques reaches a level that really surprises the audience.” It’s all captured in one, zooming take with fast, tightly choreographed action reminiscent of Donnie Yen and Wu Jing in Kill Zone.

So intense is their duel that both shatter multiple swords. The next phase sees them lash out in a more desperate and brutal manner with whatever weapons they find. Finally, having fought to a weary stalemate, the fight becomes, Okada concludes, “a kind of duel where their stubbornness and will are fully exposed” as they hack at each other with shattered blades and spear fragments.

A still image from the Netflix series Last Samurai Standing.

Image: Netflix

It’s a rhythm that many fights in Last Samurai Standing follow, driven by a string of physical and emotional considerations that form the basis of an action planner’s tool kit: how and why someone fights based on who they are and their environment. Here it is two former samurai in an elegant and terrifyingly fast-paced duel. Elsewhere we see skill matched against brutality, or inexperience against expertise.

“I define a clear concept for each sequence,” Okada says, before he opens those concepts up to the broader team. From there, he might add notes, but in Last Samurai Standing, action is a collaborative affair. “We keep refining,” he says. “It’s a back-and-forth process of shaping the sequence using both the ideas the team brings and the choreography I create myself.”

There is a third factor which Okada believes is the series’ most defining. “If we get to continue the story,” he says, “I’d love to explore how much more we can lean into ‘sei’ — stillness, and bring in even more of a classical period drama feel.”

As much of a triumph of action as Last Samurai Standing is, its quietest moments are the ones that stay with you. The charged looks between Shujiro and Iroha (Kaya Kiyohara) or their shuddering fright when confronted with specters of their past. Most of all, Shujiro watching his young ward, Futaba Katsuki (Yumia Fujisaki), dance before a waterlogged torii as mist hovers. These pauses are what elevate and invigorate the breathless action above spectacle.

The pauses are also emblematic of the balance that Last Samurai Standing strikes between its period setting and pushing the boundaries of action, all to inject new excitement into the genre. “Japan is a country that values tradition and everything it has built up over time. That’s why moments where you try to update things are always difficult,” Okada says. “But right now, we’re in the middle of that transformation.”

That is an evolution that Okada hopes to support through his work, both in front of and behind the camera. If he can create avenues for new generations of talent to carry Japanese media to a broader audience and his team to achieve greater success on a global stage, “that would make me very happy,” he says. “I want to keep doing whatever I can to help make that possible.”

_{The first season of Last Samurai Standing is streaming on Netflix now, and a second season was just confirmed.}

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Geoffrey Bunting

Technology

Free up iPhone storage by deleting large attachments

Published

2 hours ago

December 23, 2025

Press Room

Free up iPhone storage by deleting large attachments

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If your iPhone keeps warning you about low storage, your Messages app may be part of the problem. Photos, videos and documents saved inside your text threads can stack up fast. The good news is that you can clear those big files without erasing entire conversations.

Below, you will find simple steps that work on the latest iOS 26.1. These steps help you clean up storage while keeping your messages right where you want them.

If you haven’t updated to iOS 26.1, go to Settings > General > Software Update to install the latest version.

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‘CLOUD STORAGE FULL’ SCAM STEALS YOUR PHOTOS AND MONEY

An iPhone displays a low-storage alert as large photos, videos and documents saved in Messages fill device space, prompting users to remove files without deleting entire conversations. (Cyberguy.com)

Why clearing attachments helps your iPhone run better

Removing large attachments gives you quick breathing room on your iPhone. It can free up gigabytes in seconds, especially if you text lots of photos or videos. Clearing old files also keeps your message threads tidy and helps your device run more smoothly by reducing the amount of storage your system needs to manage. The best part is that you can clean up everything without losing a single conversation.

How to delete attachments but keep your conversations on iPhone

These quick steps help you clear large files from Messages while keeping every conversation intact.

Launch the Messages app on your iPhone
Open the conversation thread that holds the attachments you want to delete.
Tap on the name of the contact(s) in the text thread.

To the right of Info, click on Photos or Documents; you may need to swipe over other tabs to see these. Photos will also contain videos and GIFs, while documents will contain Word documents, PDFs and other types of files.

Hold your finger and long-press on a photo, video or document until a menu appears.
Tap Delete to remove that single file.

Then confirm Delete when asked.

How to delete multiple files on your iPhone at once

To clear out several attachments at once, follow these quick steps on your iPhone.

Deleting attachments in Messages quickly frees space without losing your conversations. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

Go back to the Photos or Documents tab.
Tap Edit.
Click Select documents or Select Photos
Tap on the photos or documents that you want to remove. You will see a blue checkmark appear in the bottom-right corner.
Tap the trash icon in the bottom right corner.

Confirm you want to delete the selected attachments by clicking Delete Photos.

These steps work almost the same way on an iPad. After you finish, you will often see an instant boost in available storage.

How to review large attachments in settings and delete them

If you want to clear the biggest files on your device, you can check them from your iPhone’s storage screen and delete them:

Open Settings
Tap General
Choose iPhone Storage
Tap Messages
Click Review Large Attachments to see photos, videos and attachments taking up storage in Messages.
Click Edit.
Select items to delete by clicking the circle next to the attachment you want to delete. A blue checkmark will appear.

Then, tap the trash can icon in the upper right to delete it.

APPLE RELEASES IOS 26.1 WITH MAJOR SECURITY IMPROVEMENTS AND NEW FEATURES FOR IPHONE USERS

This method gives you a quick overview of what takes up the most space and lets you delete it quickly.

IPhone users can clear large photos, videos and files from Messages using built-in storage tools, helping free space, keep conversations intact and improve device performance. (Cyberguy.com)

Take my quiz: How safe is your online security?

Think your devices and data are truly protected? Take this quick quiz to see where your digital habits stand. From passwords to Wi-Fi settings, you’ll get a personalized breakdown of what you’re doing right and what needs improvement. Take my Quiz here: Cyberguy.com.

Kurt’s key takeaways

Freeing up storage doesn’t have to be confusing. A few quick taps can remove bulky files and keep your conversations intact. With these simple steps, your iPhone stays organized, runs smoothly and is ready for more photos, videos and apps.

What is the one type of attachment that takes up the most space on your iPhone? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com

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Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

Technology

The FCC’s foreign drone ban is here

Published

14 hours ago

December 22, 2025

Press Room

The Federal Communications Commission has banned new drones made in foreign countries from being imported into the US unless the Department of Defense or the Department of Homeland Security recommends them. Monday’s action added drones to the FCC’s Covered List, qualifying foreign-made drones and drone parts, like those from DJI, as communications equipment representing “unacceptable risks to the national security of the United States and to the safety and security of U.S. persons.”

DJI is “disappointed” by today’s action, Adam Welsh, DJI’s head of global policy, says in a statement. “While DJI was not singled out, no information has been released regarding what information was used by the Executive Branch in reaching its determination.” Welsh adds that DJI “remains committed to the U.S. market” and noted that existing products can continue operation as usual. Other items on the FCC’s list include Kaspersky anti-virus software (added in 2024) and telecommunications equipment from Huawei and ZTE (added in 2021).

The FCC says it received a National Security Determination on December 21st from an interagency body saying that “uncrewed aircraft systems” (UAS) and critical UAS components produced in a foreign country could “enable persistent surveillance, data exfiltration, and destructive operations over U.S. territory” and that “U.S. cybersecurity and critical‑infrastructure guidance has repeatedly highlighted how foreign‑manufactured UAS can be used to harvest sensitive data, used to enable remote unauthorized access, or disabled at will via software updates.”

If you already own a drone made outside the US, you will still be able to use it, according to the FCC’s fact sheet. Drones or drone components can be removed from the Covered List if the DoD or DHS “makes a specific determination to the FCC” that it does not pose unacceptable risks.

“Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), also known as drones, offer the potential to enhance public safety as well as cement America’s leadership in global innovation,” FCC chairman Brendan Carr says.