A week of stories all about the pros and cons of the tech standards that control our lives.
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So much of our online and technological lives rely on standards, the sets of rules designed to make sure our favorite gadgets and services work together. At their best, they make everything work seamlessly, and we never need to worry about what’s happening behind the scenes. But at their worst, they leave us perplexed about why our new stuff just won’t work — and wondering how we could make it better.
In this special issue from The Verge, we explore the way specs and protocols affect our productivity and passions — from the promise of a more efficient streaming video codec, to the power of the watt as a way to understand our gadgets, to our perpetual frustration with Micro USB. These are the ways specs and standards run our digital lives.
Nintendo has moved beyond specs
The company is as popular as it has ever been — and it owes it to leaving the technological arms race behind.
Andrew WebsterMar 31
When will physical video games go away?
The era of playing a game off a disc might basically be over.
Jay PetersMar 31
How to calculate your home battery needs for the next blackout
Understanding watt-hours will help you survive power outages and off-grid adventures.
Thomas RickerAn hour ago
Why the watt is the most important spec in battery-powered devices
Forget mAh, and stop sweating megahertz. The watt reigns supreme, if only companies would share it with us.
Sean Hollister50 minutes ago
Nintendo has moved beyond specs
The company is as popular as it has ever been — and it owes it to leaving the technological arms race behind.
Andrew WebsterMar 31
When will physical video games go away?
The era of playing a game off a disc might basically be over.
Jay PetersMar 31
How to calculate your home battery needs for the next blackout
Understanding watt-hours will help you survive power outages and off-grid adventures.
Thomas RickerAn hour ago
Why the watt is the most important spec in battery-powered devices
Forget mAh, and stop sweating megahertz. The watt reigns supreme, if only companies would share it with us.
Sean Hollister50 minutes ago