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2026-01-14T15:05:07+00:00
In Photos: One Week Since the Shooting of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis
Protests across Minnesota—and around the country—are ongoing, as residents demonstrate against their federal government.
https://www.wired.com/story/photo-essay-one-week-since-renee-nicole-good-shooting-in-minnesota/
Technology
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2026-01-14T12:32:00+00:00
WIRED Tested Dozens of Blenders. These Are Our 8 Favorites (2026)
The perfect kitchen companions, these versatile blenders can whip up breakfasts, dips, milkshakes, cocktails, and everything in between.
https://www.wired.com/gallery/best-blender/
Technology
https://media.wired.com/…and%20Sauces.png
e089265ea13d14531f1211e4ff8365d43275701a907afd85db2f1c7895a36558
2026-01-14T12:06:00+00:00
The Merach Vibration Plate Is the Funniest Workout I've Ever Done
It turns out that this TikTok-viral vibration plate may have some surprising health benefits.
https://www.wired.com/story/the-merach-vibration-plate-rants-and-raves/
Technology
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2026-01-14T12:00:00+00:00
How AI Companies Got Caught Up in US Military Efforts
Two years ago, companies like Meta and OpenAI were united against military use of their tools. Now all of that has changed.
https://www.wired.com/story/book-excerpt-silicon-empires-nick-srnicek/
Technology
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2026-01-14T11:30:00+00:00
HHKB Professional Classic Type-S Review: A Brilliant but Niche Keyboard
The keyboard for someone who wishes they could buy a ’97 Tacoma off the lot today.
https://www.wired.com/review/hhkb-professional-classic-type-s/
Technology
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2026-01-14T11:30:00+00:00
TikTok Shop Showed Me Search Suggestions for Products With Nazi Symbolism
Even after TikTok removed swastika jewelry from its online shop, I was algorithmically nudged toward a web of Nazi-related products during searches, like “double lightning bolt” and “ss” necklaces.
https://www.wired.com/story/tiktok-shop-nazi-symbolism/
Technology
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2026-01-14T10:30:00+00:00
Best Bone Conduction Headphones (2026): Shokz, Suunto, Mojawa
Everyone needs a safe way to listen to music on outdoor runs. We’ve found the bone conduction headphones to grab on your way out the door.
https://www.wired.com/gallery/best-bone-conduction-headphones/
Technology
https://media.wired.com/…20Headphones.png
c1cb11c8c915d060afba5f1b215cb46160e04aa8c65c9274db771485640902b5
2026-01-14T10:00:00+00:00
7 Best Phones You Can’t Buy in the US (2026), Tested and Reviewed
Wondering what you’re missing out on? Here are our favorite smartphones that aren’t officially sold stateside but are available in markets like the UK and Europe.
https://www.wired.com/gallery/best-phones-you-cant-buy-in-the-united-states/
Technology
https://media.wired.com/…Simon%20Hill.jpg
e3134f05ee80a321c6514b659b5ae3ba36290738bc80e354d2e2e63be06bad17
2026-01-14T06:30:00+00:00
$50 Target Promo Code & Coupons | January 2026
Get $50 off your next order or up to 50% off sitewide with Target coupon codes and Circle deals.
https://www.wired.com/story/target-promo-code/
Technology
https://media.wired.com/…ED-Coupons-2.jpg
54b736caa038e2a7e03d5abe0e968733b3bc6191cbc1670032a3f5dc55c9e1c2
2026-01-13T23:47:17+00:00
The Fight on Capitol Hill to Make It Easier to Fix Your Car
As vehicles grow more software-dependent, repairing them has become harder than ever. A bill in the US House called the Repair Act would ease those restrictions, but it comes with caveats.
https://www.wired.com/story/repair-act-us-house-legislation-right-to-repair-your-car/
Technology
https://media.wired.com/…r-2254475597.jpg
37f9328eeaebf96b35f71a480c93b6ae8a3e47f65397cd185509f403187409a2
2026-01-13T18:59:02+00:00
Everything Is Content for the ‘Clicktatorship’
In the second Trump administration, online conspiracy theories are shaping real-world policies like never before.
https://www.wired.com/story/everything-is-content-for-the-clicktatorship/
Technology
https://media.wired.com/…s-2254306906.jpg
33bf97e75f3b169c3e0f122caa49bfe61a11cfe5e081064f9fbd46d25fdd8664
2026-01-13T18:54:50+00:00
Roblox’s AI-Powered Age Verification Is a Complete Mess
Kids are being identified as adults—and vice versa—on Roblox, while age-verified accounts are already being sold online.
https://www.wired.com/story/robloxs-ai-powered-age-verification-is-a-complete-mess/
Technology
https://media.wired.com/…e-2247401752.jpg
f5d136aa4535bcc7a868d3f6a33260d75acca36901fd8f8b95ce103efb277383
2026-01-13T18:44:50+00:00
Shortcut Your System With a Discounted Elgato Stream Deck +
Elgato’s Stream Deck + adds knobs and an LCD for even more info at a glance.
https://www.wired.com/story/elgato-streamdeck-plus-deal-126/
Technology
https://media.wired.com/…tream%20Deck.png
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2026-01-16T00:49:54+00:00
AI journalism startup Symbolic.ai signs deal with Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp
The startup claims its AI platform can help optimize editorial processes and research.
https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/15/ai-journalism-startup-symbolic-ai-signs-deal-with-rupert-murdochs-news-corp/
Technology
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747bb57d73f261d10403bf0eebaa572b13cfa6dc61692fb7a88eb9e977d8635b
2026-01-15T22:04:02+00:00
The AI lab revolving door spins ever faster
AI labs just can't get their employees to stay put. Yesterday’s big AI news was the abrupt and seemingly acrimonious departure of three top executives at Mira Murati’s Thinking Machines lab.
https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/15/the-ai-lab-revolving-door-spins-ever-faster/
Technology
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2026-01-15T20:52:44+00:00
Taiwan to invest $250B in US semiconductor manufacturing
The U.S. struck a trade deal with Taiwan as the country looks to help boost domestic semiconductor manufacturing.
https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/15/taiwan-to-invest-250b-in-us-semiconductor-manufacturing/
Technology
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2026-01-15T19:28:45+00:00
AI video startup, Higgsfield, founded by ex-Snap exec, lands $1.3B valuation
Higgsfield says it's on a $200 million annual revenue run rate. So it opened its previous Series A round back up and sold another $80 million in shares.
https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/15/ai-video-startup-higgsfield-founded-by-ex-snap-exec-lands-1-3b-valuation/
Technology
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2026-01-15T18:47:52+00:00
Iran’s internet shutdown is now one of its longest ever, as protests continue
Iran’s government-imposed internet shutdown enters its second week as authorities continue their violent crackdown on protesters.
https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/15/irans-internet-shutdown-is-now-one-of-its-longest-ever-as-protests-continue/
Technology
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2026-01-15T16:56:20+00:00
The US imposes 25% tariff on Nvidia’s H200 AI chips headed to China
The Trump administration formalized its 25% cut of H200 chip sales in China with a tariff that applies to certain semiconductors.
https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/15/the-us-imposes-25-tariff-on-nvidias-h200-ai-chips-headed-to-china/
Technology
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317d256cb9fe049251f7a7ce78ccc671d2ea05acce3535c3e0dcd75d4313167a
2026-01-15T16:31:00+00:00
OpenAI invests in Sam Altman’s brain computer interface startup Merge Labs
Merge Labs is a “research lab” dedicated to “bridging biological and artificial intelligence to maximize human ability.” OpenAI wrote the largest check in Merge Labs' $250 million seed round at an $850 million valuation.
https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/15/openai-invests-in-sam-altmans-brain-computer-interface-startup-merge-labs/
Technology
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2026-01-15T15:19:05+00:00
Wikimedia Foundation announces new AI partnerships with Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, Perplexity, and others
The AI partnerships allow companies to access the org's content, like Wikipedia, at scale.
https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/15/wikimedia-foundation-announces-new-ai-partnerships-with-amazon-meta-microsoft-perplexity-and-others/
Technology
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770ce8755367191c829b832d593f9254e96dbf0bd7e09cb5bf72a96458e1da60
2026-01-15T15:00:00+00:00
How one startup is using prebiotics to try and ease the copper shortage
Transition Metal Solutions is applying a special cocktail to coax microbes into unlocking more copper from ore.
https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/15/how-one-startup-is-using-prebiotics-to-try-and-ease-the-copper-shortage/
Technology
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edfff1b5765bfddf9b685cd36b86e17e67acf23dd81d63a0446d67ba67a00629
2026-01-15T15:00:00+00:00
US senators demand answers from X, Meta, Alphabet, and others on sexualized deepfakes
In a letter to the leaders of X, Meta, Alphabet, Snap, Reddit, and TikTok, several U.S. senators are demanding the companies provide proof that they have "robust protections and policies" in place, and how they plan to curb the rise of sexualized deepfakes on their platforms.
https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/15/us-senators-demand-answers-from-x-meta-alphabet-on-sexualized-deepfakes/
Technology
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54fe9da0830da0cb244f7add12e96fd3f8b031a712d62618f1c80d59c6a7e0a2
2026-01-15T14:32:12+00:00
Spotify raises its subscription prices in the US again
Spotify raised prices for its subscription plan in the U.S. for the third time in three years, as it hiked the monthly plan from $11.99 per month to $12.99 per month.
https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/15/spotify-raises-its-subscription-prices-in-the-u-s-again/
Technology
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b36868783c106ea4b6a2a33ccfd42912060d903e2ba05b6ed503af3eb385bedd
2026-01-15T14:24:46+00:00
Parloa triples its valuation in 8 months to $3B with $350M raise
The massive round was led by existing investor General Catalyst, with participation from other returning backers.
https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/15/parloa-triples-its-valuation-in-8-months-to-3b-with-350m-raise/
Technology
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2026-01-15T14:19:44+00:00
Tiger Global loses India tax case tied to Walmart-Flipkart deal in blow to offshore playbook
Tiger Global's case in India is being closely watched by investors.
https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/15/tiger-global-loses-india-tax-case-tied-to-walmart-flipkart-deal-in-blow-to-offshore-playbook/
Technology
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b4bc81f5cb0f335682c5616e8ff4e33eb6ddbda3bc9862961335673cc0210578
2026-01-15T12:23:07+00:00
After Italy, WhatsApp excludes Brazil from rival chatbot ban
WhatsApp is allowing AI providers to continue offering their chatbots to users in Brazil, days after the country's competition agency ordered the company to suspend its new policy that bars third-party, general-purpose chatbots from the app.
https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/15/after-italy-whatsapp-excludes-brazil-from-rival-chatbot-ban/
Technology
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2026-01-15T12:00:00+00:00
Indian SpaceX rival EtherealX hits 5x valuation as it readies engine tests
EtherealX is ramping engine tests and building a 150-acre rocket campus in India as it targets a 2027 launch mission.
https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/15/etherealx-jumps-5-5x-in-valuation-on-spacex-style-reuse-bet-from-india/
Technology
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3ecefbf5b835e6c364f485163c7200ff3e2054dfc3922d46485aa742432ebb57
2026-01-15T09:30:00+00:00
Microsoft taps India’s Varaha for durable carbon removal offtake
Microsoft is buying over 100,000 tons of carbon dioxide removal credits from India's Varaha over the next three years.
https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/15/microsoft-taps-indias-varaha-for-asia-first-durable-carbon-removal-offtake/
Technology
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3ed326fdf54efae081e71667e107bd7c5d6161b1a921d67658046506b0d3dc45
2026-01-15T02:16:37+00:00
Mira Murati’s startup, Thinking Machines Lab, is losing two of its co-founders to OpenAI
The abrupt change in personnel was in the works for several weeks, according to an OpenAI executive.
https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/14/mira-muratis-startup-thinking-machines-lab-is-losing-two-of-its-co-founders-to-openai/
Technology
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2e74c20e004dfbeb9bcf20c352c8a74689fc3b6181c8839cf9ec976beb3a9bc2
2026-01-15T00:27:54+00:00
The FTC’s data-sharing order against GM is finally settled
The order, first proposed a year ago, bans GM from collecting and then selling geolocation data to third parties, like data brokers and insurance companies.
https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/14/the-ftcs-data-sharing-order-against-gm-is-finally-settled/
Technology
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0910b152c334cfacce0052a27223c016ba1ff9fd3c98d9aba01d79d28a9ed230
2026-01-15T00:04:46+00:00
India’s Emversity doubles valuation as it scales workers AI can’t replace
Emversity has raised $30 million in a new round as it scales job-ready training in India.
https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/14/indias-emversity-doubles-valuation-as-it-scales-workers-ai-cant-replace/
Technology
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433ccc3935e893d183c20511f25868ba746d16c98f33eff2f7ab2b118f603dff
2026-01-14T22:42:51+00:00
Musk denies awareness of Grok sexual underage images as California AG launches probe
The California attorney general has opened a formal investigation into Elon Musk's xAI after its chatbot Grok began generating nonconsensual sexual images of real women and even children.
https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/14/musk-denies-awareness-of-grok-sexual-underage-images-as-california-ag-launches-probe/
Technology
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2286899c8466df6e12ca730c496fae9e70e18ceca837aeb3d50f87a884d4ec6d
2026-01-15T23:01:24+00:00
“I am very annoyed”: Pharma execs blast RFK Jr.’s attack on vaccines
Pharmaceutical executives are finally saying how they really feel about the extreme anti-vaccine agenda Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been ruthlessly implementing—and it's not pretty. According to reporting from Bloomberg at the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference that ended today in San Francisco, pharmaceutical executives who had previously been careful to avoid criticizing the Trump administration appear to have reached a breaking point, with Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla offering some of the most candid comments. "I am very annoyed. I'm very disappointed. I'm seriously frustrated," Bourla said. "What is happening has zero scientific merit and is just serving an agenda which is political, and then antivax." Read full article Comments
https://arstechnica.com/health/2026/01/big-pharma-is-openly-railing-against-rfk-jr-s-anti-vaccine-agenda/
Technology
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adfbeb3555d02fb0f2124fc68dab2b04e92a48cefefdf169c8a4fe1b9e8b9b27
2026-01-15T21:29:58+00:00
Why I’m withholding certainty that “precise” US cyber-op disrupted Venezuelan electricity
The New York Times has published new details about a purported cyberattack that unnamed US officials claim plunged parts of Venezuela into darkness in the lead-up to the capture of the country’s president, Nicolás Maduro. Key among the new details is that the cyber operation was able to turn off electricity for most residents in the capital city of Caracas for only a few minutes, though in some neighborhoods close to the military base where Maduro was seized, the outage lasted for three days. The cyber-op also targeted Venezuelan military radar defenses. The paper said the US Cyber Command was involved. “Turning off the power in Caracas and interfering with radar allowed US military helicopters to move into the country undetected on their mission to capture Nicolás Maduro, the Venezuelan president who has now been brought to the United States to face drug charges,” the NYT reported. Read full article Comments
https://arstechnica.com/security/2026/01/unnamed-officials-tell-nyt-precise-cyber-op-took-out-venezuelas-power-grid/
Technology
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f448c07ef9cd34becbf78b838c82a60f8082fdfd1c22cc4357ccea0487627bae
2026-01-15T21:09:10+00:00
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy tries something different, and I don’t hate it
Today is a good day to watch television. That's because the first two episodes of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy hit the Paramount+ streaming service, becoming the newest addition to the long-running Star Trek franchise. It's set in the late 32nd century, 120 years after the burn that ended all warp travel, and with it, most of Starfleet in the process. Now that warp travel is once again possible—you'll have to watch Discovery's final three seasons for more on that—the Federation is putting itself back together, and that includes reopening Starfleet Academy. That means this show is about young people in space, like Caleb Mir (Sandro Rosta), who was separated from his mother by Starfleet as a child, 15 years earlier. Mir and his mother, played by Tatiana Maslany, were traveling with a pirate—Nus Braka, played by a scenery-chewing Paul Giamatti—who killed a Federation officer while stealing food for them. The first episode opens on Braka and the Mirs being apprehended by Starfleet. Despite her misgivings, Captain Nahla Ake (Holly Hunter) carries out her order to separate mother and child. She's to go to a rehabilitation colony, he's to become a ward of the Federation and go to school on Bajor. At least that's the plan until he escapes a few minutes later. Then we jump forward 15 years. Ake is teaching on Bajor, having retired from the Federation, ashamed of what she'd done. Admiral Vance (Oded Fehr) shows up and asks her to become commandant at the newly reopened academy in San Francisco; for the past few decades, new recruits have been trained instead by the War College. But Starfleet needs explorers now, and having a rival school means they can show up at some point to challenge some of the show's protagonists to a Parrises Squares tournament. Read full article Comments
https://arstechnica.com/culture/2026/01/star-trek-starfleet-academy-tries-something-different-and-i-dont-hate-it/
Technology
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5113ff2906041e8f106709c60a14a3579e88b06e96f96b428bcea9936fc441e6
2026-01-15T20:19:41+00:00
NASA’s first medical evacuation from space ends with on-target splashdown
Two Americans, a Japanese astronaut, and a Russian cosmonaut returned to Earth early Thursday after 167 days in orbit, cutting short their stay on the International Space Station by more than a month after one of the crew members encountered an unspecified medical issue last week. The early homecoming culminated in an on-target splashdown in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego at 12:41 am PST (08:41 UTC) inside a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft. The splashdown occurred minutes after the Dragon capsule streaked through the atmosphere along the California coastline, with sightings of Dragon's fiery trail reported from San Francisco to Los Angeles. Four parachutes opened to slow the capsule for the final descent. Zena Cardman, NASA's commander of the Crew-11 mission, radioed SpaceX mission control moments after splashdown: "It feels good to be home, with deep gratitude to the teams who got us there and back." Read full article Comments
https://arstechnica.com/space/2026/01/nasas-first-ever-medical-evacuation-from-space-ends-with-on-target-splashdown/
Technology
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a89afa0ffa470e2420e75594c3988c631bf9105748b89debe0f8d758347b837c
2026-01-15T19:22:07+00:00
Spotify’s 3rd price hike in 2.5 years hints at potential new normal
After a dozen years of keeping subscription prices stable, Spotify has issued three price hikes in 2.5 years. Spotify informed subscribers via email today that Premium monthly subscriptions would go from $12 to $13 per month as of users' February billing date. Spotify is already advertising the higher prices to new subscribers. Although not explicitly mentioned in Spotify's correspondence, other plans are getting more expensive, too. Student monthly subscriptions are going from $6 to $7. Duo monthly plans, for two accounts in the same household, are going from $17 to $19, and Family plans, for up to six users, are moving from $20 to $22. Read full article Comments
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/01/spotify-to-raise-subscription-prices-by-up-to-2-in-february/
Technology
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2026-01-15T19:07:09+00:00
ChatGPT wrote “Goodnight Moon” suicide lullaby for man who later killed himself
OpenAI is once again being accused of failing to do enough to prevent ChatGPT from encouraging suicides, even after a series of safety updates were made to a controversial model, 4o, which OpenAI designed to feel like a user's closest confidant. It's now been revealed that one of the most shocking ChatGPT-linked suicides happened shortly after Sam Altman claimed on X that ChatGPT 4o was safe. OpenAI had "been able to mitigate the serious mental health issues" associated with ChatGPT use, Altman claimed in October, hoping to alleviate concerns after ChatGPT became a "suicide coach" for a vulnerable teenager named Adam Raine, the family's lawsuit said. Altman's post came on October 14. About two weeks later, 40-year-old Austin Gordon, died by suicide between October 29 and November 2, according to a lawsuit filed by his mother, Stephanie Gray. Read full article Comments
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/01/chatgpt-wrote-goodnight-moon-suicide-lullaby-for-man-who-later-killed-himself/
Technology
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2026-01-15T18:54:57+00:00
Six months later, Trump Mobile still hasn’t delivered preordered phones
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and 10 other Democratic members of Congress today urged the Federal Trade Commission to investigate Trump Mobile's broken promises related to Trump phone delivery dates and claims that it is "made in the USA." The request isn't likely to get very far. Trump declared early in his second term that independent agencies like the FTC may no longer operate independently from the White House, and FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson has backed Trump's claim of authority over historically independent agencies. The Supreme Court appears likely to approve Trump's firing of an FTC Democrat, giving him expanded power over the agency. The letter, led by Warren and other lawmakers, was sent to Ferguson. "We write today regarding questions about false advertising and deceptive practices by Trump Mobile, and to seek information on how the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) intends to address any potential violations of consumer protection law given the inherent conflicts of interest presented by the company’s relationship to President Donald Trump," the letter said. Read full article Comments
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/01/democrats-ask-trumps-ftc-to-investigate-trump-mobiles-broken-promises/
Technology
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c0126a47166c3d163d5155df75617ff85da6042b11d2d6a46e70ba9d6d910e3a
2026-01-15T18:37:34+00:00
Are people avoiding iOS 26 because of Liquid Glass? It’s complicated.
Last week, news about the adoption rates for Apple's iOS 26 update started making the rounds. The new update, these reports claim, was being installed at dramatically lower rates than past iOS updates. And while we can't infer anything about why people might choose not to install iOS 26, the conclusion being jumped to is that iPhone users are simply desperate to avoid the redesigned Liquid Glass user interface. The numbers do, in fact, look bad: Statcounter data for January suggests that the various versions of iOS 26 are running on just 16.6 percent of all devices, compared to around 70 percent for the various versions of iOS 18. The iOS 18.7 update alone—released at the same time as iOS 26.0 in September for people who wanted the security patches but weren't ready to step up to a brand-new OS—appears to be running on nearly one-third of all iOS devices. Those original reports were picked up and repeated because they tell a potentially interesting story of the "huge if true" variety: that users' aversion to the Liquid Glass design is so intense and widespread that it's actively keeping users away from the operating system. But after examining our own traffic numbers, as well as some technical changes made in iOS 26, it appears Statcounter's data is dramatically undercounting the number of iOS 26 devices in the wild. Read full article Comments
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/01/are-people-avoiding-ios-26-because-of-liquid-glass-its-complicated/
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75530194745c11a3f62a3eecd464a400e2d7c55100c15f47fde58318c1a7889e
2026-01-15T17:46:40+00:00
Many Bluetooth devices with Google Fast Pair vulnerable to “WhisperPair” hack
Pairing Bluetooth devices can be a pain, but Google Fast Pair makes it almost seamless. Unfortunately, it may also leave your headphones vulnerable to remote hacking. A team of security researchers from Belgium’s KU Leuven University has revealed a vulnerability dubbed WhisperPair that allows an attacker to hijack Fast Pair-enabled devices to spy on the owner. Fast Pair is widely used, and your device may be vulnerable even if you've never used a Google product. The bug affects more than a dozen devices from 10 manufacturers, including Sony, Nothing, JBL, OnePlus, and Google itself. Google has acknowledged the flaw and notified its partners of the danger, but it's up to these individual companies to create patches for their accessories. A full list of vulnerable devices is available on the project's website. The researchers say that it takes only a moment to gain control of a vulnerable Fast Pair device (a median of just 10 seconds) at ranges up to 14 meters. That's near the limit of the Bluetooth protocol and far enough that the target wouldn't notice anyone skulking around while they hack headphones. Read full article Comments
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/01/researchers-reveal-whisperpair-attack-to-eavesdrop-on-google-fast-pair-headphones/
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cedaa53deb411ec979059ccaf0432993bb8c4662236a6d47af49c6fc67329118
2026-01-15T16:23:14+00:00
Bully Online mod taken down abruptly one month after launch
A PC mod that added online gameplay to Rockstar's 2006 school-exploration title Bully was abruptly taken down on Wednesday, roughly a month after it was first made available. While the specific reason for the "Bully Online" takedown hasn't been publicly discussed, a message posted by the developers to the project's now-defunct Discord server clarifies that "this was not something we wanted." The Bully Online mod was spearheaded by Swegta, a Rockstar-focused YouTuber who formally announced the project in October as a mod that "allows you and your friends to play minigames, role-play, compete in racing, fend off against NPCs, and much more." At the time of the announcement, Swegta said the mod was "a project me and my team have been working on for a very long time" and that early access in December would be limited to those who contributed at least $8 to a Ko-Fi account. When December actually rolled around, though, a message on Swegta.com (archived) suggested that the mod was being released freely as an open source project, with a registration page (archived) offering new accounts to anyone. Read full article Comments
https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2026/01/online-mod-for-rockstars-classic-bully-is-abruptly-taken-down-after-one-month/
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bdb5e0d1ccec363bc661afbf47ae9323b36cd207674db4ec07838d5170729940
2026-01-15T15:25:52+00:00
Wikipedia signs AI training deals with Microsoft, Meta, and Amazon
On Thursday, the Wikimedia Foundation announced licensing deals with Microsoft, Meta, Amazon, Perplexity, and Mistral AI, expanding its effort to charge major tech companies for using Wikipedia content to train the AI models that power AI assistants like Microsoft Copilot and OpenAI's ChatGPT. While these same companies previously scraped Wikipedia without permission, the deals mean that most major AI developers have now signed on to the foundation's Wikimedia Enterprise program, a commercial subsidiary that sells API access to Wikipedia's 65 million articles at higher speeds and volumes than the free public APIs provide. The foundation did not disclose the financial terms of the deals. The new partners join Google, which signed a deal with Wikimedia Enterprise in 2022, as well as smaller companies like Ecosia, Nomic, Pleias, ProRata, and Reef Media. The revenue helps offset infrastructure costs for the nonprofit, which otherwise relies on small public donations while watching its content become a staple of training data for AI models. Read full article Comments
https://arstechnica.com/ai/2026/01/wikipedia-will-share-content-with-ai-firms-in-new-licensing-deals/
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b1205a642143f8c3b10231d9cf3d3467cc341c60d10d374ee6c1a91e9366ffa1
2026-01-15T15:15:15+00:00
Key Senate staffer is “begging” NASA to get on with commercial space stations
In remarks this week to a Texas space organization, a key Senate staff member said an "extension" of the International Space Station is on the table and that NASA needs to accelerate a program to replace the aging station with commercial alternatives. Maddy Davis, a space policy staff member for US Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, made the comments to the Texas Space Coalition during a virtual event. Cruz is chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and has an outsized say in space policy. As a senator from Texas, he has a parochial interest in Johnson Space Center, where the International Space Station Program is led. Read full article Comments
https://arstechnica.com/space/2026/01/key-senate-staffer-is-begging-nasa-to-get-on-with-commercial-space-stations/
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c2634d59c98cf67b60ff758a2786b7e60a179a5ee7083000467678edc1930319
2026-01-15T14:22:35+00:00
US government to take 25% cut of AMD, NVIDIA AI sales to China
US President Donald Trump has announced new tariffs on Nvidia and AMD as part of a novel scheme to enact a deal with the technology giants to take a 25 percent cut of sales of their AI processors to China. In December, the White House said it would allow Nvidia to start shipping its H200 chips to China, reversing a policy that prohibited the export of advanced AI hardware. However, it demanded a 25 percent cut of the sales. The new US tariffs on certain chips, announced on Wednesday, were designed to implement these payments and protect the unusual arrangement from legal challenges, according to several industry executives. Read full article Comments
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/01/us-government-to-take-25-cut-of-amd-nvidia-ai-sales-to-china/
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a4f6df74e4f6e1b8d03e033a53989f4c144196b2f87311c42e4778bd94fc3821
2026-01-15T12:00:57+00:00
The difficulty of driving an EV in the “most beautiful race in the world”
On the first day of this year’s Mille Miglia, a voice rose from the crowds gathered on the shore of Lago di Garda to shout “no sound, no feeling!”at my Polestar 3. Italians love their cars, and they revealed a clear preference for internal combustion engines over the next four days and over 1,200 km of driving. But plenty of other spectators smiled and waved, and some even did a double-take at seeing an electric vehicle amid the sea of modern Ferraris and world-class vintage racers taking on this modern regulation rally. I flew to Italy to join the Mille Miglia “Green,” which, for the past five years, has sought to raise awareness of sustainability and electric cars amid this famous (some might say infamous) race. And despite mixed reactions from the Italian crowds, our Polestar 3 performed quite well as it traced a historical route from Brescia to Rome and back. The route snaked a trail through the Italian countryside based on the original speed race’s first 12 outings, but instead of going for overall pace, we spent five days competing against six other EVs for points based on time, distance, and average speed. Our team included a Polestar 2 and 4, and we faced a Mercedes-Benz G 580 with EQ Technology, an Abarth 600e, a Lotus Eletre, and a BYD Denza Z9GT saloon. Read full article Comments
https://arstechnica.com/features/2026/01/the-difficulty-of-driving-an-ev-in-the-most-beautiful-race-in-the-world/
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7df5edc834e99c7f2b18be07658f6e8a5f8206a161c8e71d8177bd47106992a3
2026-01-15T08:00:15+00:00
Exclusive: Volvo tells us why having Gemini in your next car is a good thing
Next week, Volvo shows off its new EX60 SUV to the world. It's the brand's next electric vehicle, one built on an all-new, EV-only platform that makes use of the latest in vehicle design trends, like a cell-to-body battery pack, large weight-saving castings, and an advanced electronic architecture run by a handful of computers capable of more than 250 trillion operations per second. This new software-defined platform even has a name: HuginCore, after one of the two ravens that collected information for the Norse god Odin. It's not Volvo's first reference to mythology. "We have Thor's Hammer [Volvo's distinctive headlight design] and now we have HuginCore... one of the two trusted Ravens of Oden. He sent Hugin and Muninn out to fly across the realms and observe and gather information and knowledge, which they then share with Odin that enabled him to make the right decisions as the ruler of Asgard," said Alwin Bakkenes, head of global software engineering at Volvo Cars. "And much like Hugin, the way we look at this technology platform, it collects information from all of the sensors, all of the actuators in the vehicle. It understands the world around the vehicle, and it enables us to actually anticipate around what lies ahead," Bakkenes told me. Read full article Comments
https://arstechnica.com/cars/2026/01/exclusive-volvo-tells-us-why-having-gemini-in-your-next-car-is-a-good-thing/
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a20aa62a1b841e7ad146745cdfed6addb80995d52f352dcff79c6fb6a82de868
2026-01-15T00:01:59+00:00
A British redcoat’s lost memoir resurfaces
History buffs are no doubt familiar with the story of Shadrack Byfield, a rank-and-file British redcoat who fought during the War of 1812 and lost his left arm to a musket ball for his trouble. Byfield has been featured in numerous popular histories—including a children's book and a 2011 PBS documentary—as a shining example of a disabled soldier's stoic perseverance. But a newly rediscovered memoir that Byfield published in his later years is complicating that idealized picture of his post-military life, according to a new paper published in the Journal of British Studies. Historian Eamonn O'Keeffe of Memorial University of Newfoundland in St. John's, Canada, has been a Byfield fan ever since he read the 1985 children's novel, Redcoat, by Gregory Sass. His interest grew when he was working at Fort York, a War of 1812-era fort and museum, in Toronto. "There are dozens of memoirs written by British rank-and-file veterans of the Napoleonic Wars, but only a handful from the War of 1812, which was much smaller in scale," O'Keeffe told Ars. "Byfield's autobiography seemed to offer an authentic, ground-level view of the fighting in North America, helping us look beyond the generals and politicians and grapple with the implications of this conflict for ordinary people. Born in 1789 in Wiltshire's Bradford-on-Avon suburbs, Byfield's parents intended him to follow in his weaver father's footsteps. He enlisted in the county militia when he turned 18 instead, joining the regular army the following year. When the War of 1812 broke out, Byfield was stationed at Fort George along the Niagara River, participating in the successful siege of Fort Detroit. At the Battle of Frenchtown in January 1813, he was shot in the neck, but he recovered sufficiently to join the campaigns against Fort Meigs and Fort Stephenson in Ohio. Read full article Comments
https://arstechnica.com/science/2026/01/a-british-redcoats-lost-memoir-resurfaces/
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f863bb3801fe2761e5ac2b01bf5cf20f6079de4aab564722994e02d6c6ea7281
2026-01-14T23:43:46+00:00
Musk and Hegseth vow to “make Star Trek real” but miss the show’s lessons
This week, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth touted their desire to “make Star Trek real”—while unconsciously reminding us of what the utopian science fiction franchise is fundamentally about. Their Tuesday event was the latest in Hegseth’s ongoing “Arsenal of Freedom” tour, which was held at SpaceX headquarters in Starbase, Texas. (Itself a newly created town that takes its name from a term popularized by Star Trek.) Neither Musk nor Hegseth seemed to recall that the “Arsenal of Freedom” phrase—at least in the context of Star Trek—is also the title of a 1988 episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. That episode depicts an AI-powered weapons system, and its automated salesman, which destroys an entire civilization and eventually threatens the crew of the USS Enterprise. (Some Trekkies made the connection, however.) Read full article Comments
https://arstechnica.com/culture/2026/01/pentagons-arsenal-of-freedom-tour-borrows-name-from-star-trek-episode-about-killer-ai/
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007718fea579d1023200caa092a96653bf70e9a6d6b9f092ce5d4c25b6834851
2026-01-14T23:08:44+00:00
SC measles outbreak has gone berserk: 124 cases since Friday, 409 quarantined
A measles outbreak in South Carolina that began in October is now wildly accelerating, doubling in just the past week to a total of 434 cases, with 409 people currently in quarantine. Amid the outbreak, South Carolina health officials have been providing updates on cases every Tuesday and Friday. On Tuesday, state health officials reported 124 more cases since last Friday, which had 99 new cases since the previous Tuesday. On that day, January 6, officials noted a more modest increase of 26 cases, bringing the outbreak total at that point to 211 cases. With the 3-month-old outbreak now doubled in just a week, health officials are renewing calls for people to get vaccinated against the highly infectious virus—an effort that has met with little success since October. Still, the health department is activating its mobile health unit to offer free measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccinations, as well as flu vaccinations at two locations today and Thursday in the Spartanburg area, the epicenter of the outbreak. Read full article Comments
https://arstechnica.com/health/2026/01/sc-measles-outbreak-has-gone-berserk-124-cases-since-friday-409-quarantined/
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7ef402086ed55987b67972a3512c6cfac806c2425f7c3b0cc5cf749c30a0fc59
2026-01-14T22:03:11+00:00
A single click mounted a covert, multistage attack against Copilot
Microsoft has fixed a vulnerability in its Copilot AI assistant that allowed hackers to pluck a host of sensitive user data with a single click on a legitimate URL. The hackers in this case were white-hat researchers from security firm Varonis. The net effect of their multistage attack was that they exfiltrated data, including the target’s name, location, and details of specific events from the user’s Copilot chat history. The attack continued to run even when the user closed the Copilot chat, with no further interaction needed once the user clicked the link, a legitimate Copilot one, in the email. The attack and resulting data theft bypassed enterprise endpoint security controls and detection by endpoint protection apps. “Once we deliver this link with this malicious prompt, the user just has to click on the link and the malicious task is immediately executed,” Varonis security researcher Dolev Taler told Ars. “Even if the user just clicks on the link and immediately closes the tab of Copilot chat, the exploit still works.” Read full article Comments
https://arstechnica.com/security/2026/01/a-single-click-mounted-a-covert-multistage-attack-against-copilot/
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00b02be240efcce9aa4e203c5c19d19be394deea9f0b995894569da97a70f90c
2026-01-14T21:42:39+00:00
I can’t stop shooting Oddcore’s endless waves of weird little guys
Since the days of Wolfenstein 3D and Doom, the humble first-person shooter has flourished in myriad and complex directions. The genre has expanded in narrative and gameplay terms to include everything from sprawling sci-fi epics to dense objectivist allegories to multiplayer-focused military free-for-alls and practically everything in between. Sometimes, though, you just want an excuse to shoot a bunch of weird little guys in weird little spaces. For those times, there is Oddcore, a new Early Access, roguelike boomer shooter that is a stark contrast to the more sprawling self-serious shooters out there. The game's combination of frenetic, quick-moving action, semi-randomized scenarios, and well-balanced risk/reward upgrade system makes for a pick-up-and-play shooter that I find myself struggling not to pick up and play for a few more quick-hit sessions even as I write this. Read full article Comments
https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2026/01/i-cant-stop-shooting-oddcores-endless-waves-of-weird-little-guys/
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44fee9f4d68a57bcb729981edbbdda7775ce82c86822c34a03d521096a15b813
2026-01-15T23:40:32+00:00
Kathleen Kennedy Gives Some Intriguing ‘Star Wars’ Movie Updates After Her Lucasfilm Exit
The outgoing studio president weighs in on potential projects from James Mangold, Taika Waititi, Donald Glover, and more.
https://gizmodo.com/kathleen-kennedy-gives-some-intriguing-star-wars-movie-updates-after-her-lucasfilm-exit-2000710897
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874768b46782ede56547166e4fa95d81863ac69cd420e9762b4603d25eb2d7ef
2026-01-15T22:45:39+00:00
Senators Postpone Crypto Market Bill as Coinbase Flexes Its Muscle in Washington
Coinbase's CEO isn't happy. Senators pump the brakes.
https://gizmodo.com/senators-postpone-crypto-market-bill-as-coinbase-flexes-its-muscle-in-washington-2000710816
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9e0a4177fdc61dd6e38da5f063761db57658201f476e9ce26e79fa94f2da2f7c
2026-01-15T22:30:59+00:00
Dave Filoni Is Taking Over Lucasfilm From Kathleen Kennedy
The 'Clone Wars' and 'Rebels' creator will share 'Star Wars' duties with Lynwen Brennan.
https://gizmodo.com/dave-filoni-lucasfilm-kathleen-kennedy-2000706230
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9a3522113742e0901874e2d7dc279a18a325e09fd6b7d008161c3032332d9789
2026-01-15T22:15:55+00:00
Pebble’s Plans for Circular Smartwatches Could Bring Me Back to Wearables
The Pebble Round 2 and Index 01 are reminders of when tech didn't take itself 'too seriously.'
https://gizmodo.com/pebbles-plans-for-circular-smartwatches-could-bring-me-back-to-wearables-2000710823
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561c738b6079dafbd6db866c70b2f3c9761897110e1039d9a233a0a3d4c6c7a7
2026-01-15T22:00:05+00:00
‘All You Need Is Kill’ Spins a Trippy, Heart‑Flecked Loop That Only Partially Lands
Studio 4°C's anime film of Hiroshi Sakurazaka's beloved light novel, which also inspired the Tom Cruise adaptation 'Edge of Tomorrow,' hits theaters on January 16.
https://gizmodo.com/all-you-need-is-kill-spins-a-trippy-heart%e2%80%91flecked-loop-that-only-partially-lands-2000707828
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3d341b9ef3c08ec451644b4198437b0a9f7a0bdcbe7f74e84ca287b6de097496
2026-01-15T21:40:05+00:00
Smart Glasses for OnlyFans Live Streaming Have Arrived
It was only a matter of time, to be honest.
https://gizmodo.com/smart-glasses-for-onlyfans-live-streaming-have-arrived-2000710780
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c376b2730e862e0b4d92d1753150978cb5facde575e55107d99ebe0a582fd037
2026-01-15T21:15:17+00:00
You Need to Check Your Wireless Headphones for Updates, Right Now
Hackers can abuse a loophole to spy on conversations and track your location.
https://gizmodo.com/you-need-to-check-your-wireless-headphones-for-updates-right-now-2000710714
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9bbef0926c9f71df31ea05d9c9a24e321c3068975c8582b2a012a153877b3eec
2026-01-15T21:00:48+00:00
Five Years Later, Has the MCU’s TV Excursion Worked?
'WandaVision' put the MCU on a journey into television that took time for the megafranchise to fully adjust to.
https://gizmodo.com/five-years-later-has-the-mcus-tv-excursion-worked-2000709110
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e0470e113a2d86c9bd7103de728714900b22759637102d3eb1fd699558e3a161
2026-01-15T20:55:02+00:00
Self-Help Ghouls Are Charging People Absurd Prices to Talk to Impersonator Chatbots
Sure, it's exploitative, but it's also profitable.
https://gizmodo.com/self-help-ghouls-are-charging-people-absurd-prices-to-talk-to-impersonator-chatbots-2000710744
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f12abdc248f86d67e091b5662e690d1eca496539acc2d1259c0b17e54f97e538
2026-01-15T20:45:28+00:00
Finally, Some Good News in the Fight Against Cancer
The American Cancer Society’s annual report found that 70% of patients now survive at least five years after diagnosis.
https://gizmodo.com/finally-some-good-news-in-the-fight-against-cancer-2000710820
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0f8ad50b4ab7e1be60e78bd9d0efd533c389d34a562385ed80dd15bfb485c1c6
2026-01-15T20:25:58+00:00
Digg Relaunches From the Grave With Some ‘AI Enhancements’
For all the people who've abandoned or been kicked off Reddit, your Bluesky moment has arrived.
https://gizmodo.com/digg-relaunches-from-the-grave-with-some-ai-enhancements-2000710736
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f00b3d2b230a516c2ebdbaa4509d7b05662fb7b2fe6c9509971c6505706dbc6b
2026-01-15T20:00:20+00:00
Verizon Is Slipping Customers 20 Bucks to Pay for Yesterday’s Outage
The carrier is offering a $20 credit to customers affected by a widespread and hours-long service outage on Wednesday.
https://gizmodo.com/verizon-is-slipping-customers-20-bucks-to-pay-for-yesterdays-outage-2000710778
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8513fe7989aeb8550690fdd523d61a042db903eac5af3e54f32dc455c69d5917
2026-01-15T19:10:00+00:00
Spotify Is Seriously Playing With Fire
AI slop and price hikes may not be a winning combo when Apple Music is breathing down your neck.
https://gizmodo.com/spotify-is-seriously-playing-with-fire-2000710643
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8d4e9d70c32693a7fa2dedf71ce08ae40ef29c795813ac4c844e0426b98db13b
2026-01-15T19:00:53+00:00
‘The Bride!’ Creator Maggie Gyllenhaal on Why Jessie Buckley Is the Perfect Monster Heroine
The writer-director also explains the offbeat 1930s setting of her 'Bride of Frankenstein' riff, which hits theaters in March.
https://gizmodo.com/the-bride-creator-maggie-gyllenhaal-on-why-jessie-buckley-is-the-perfect-monster-heroine-2000709958
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85dad8bc7ca7ee07d733baa8f8663d87c6c966b9d7905081633a8802405034ea
2026-01-15T18:30:18+00:00
The Dogbert Puppet From the Lost ‘Dilbert’ Live-Action TV Show Is Haunting
"I think they spent upwards of $20, $25 on it," Scott Adams complained in 1999.
https://gizmodo.com/the-dogbert-puppet-from-the-lost-dilbert-live-action-tv-show-is-haunting-2000710684
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1ac4c4dea10ee6dced2250bccb05df7542d15c4a6c880e79c02cb52f9857b41a
2026-01-15T18:00:27+00:00
‘Starfleet Academy’ Begins With Something Old and Something New
'Kids These Days' and 'Beta Test' reflect the push and pull between 'Starfleet Academy' and its twin desires of feeling like 'Star Trek' while also trying something new.
https://gizmodo.com/starfleet-academy-premiere-recap-holly-hunter-paul-giamatti-2000710349
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32d0b56a4fdb6c6fdfd004e9fda871fc9838deb6744cfd434bf476cb88d1691a
2026-01-15T17:55:02+00:00
The RAM Shortage Could Be Killing Nvidia’s Cheapest GPU for 4K Gaming
We can already tell 16GB graphics cards will become an exclusive commodity in 2026.
https://gizmodo.com/the-ram-shortage-is-killing-nvidias-cheapest-gpu-for-4k-gaming-2000710662
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4209d0fca3d551587388018305f90b38cd3577d0968d0c830dbd9bb5893f6a48
2026-01-15T17:30:53+00:00
AI Tool Reportedly Sent ICE Recruits Into the Field Without Proper Training
Department of Homeland Security's AI initiatives in action...
https://gizmodo.com/ai-tool-reportedly-sent-ice-recruits-into-the-field-without-proper-training-2000710651
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https://gizmodo.com/app/…741-1280x893.jpg
b65c44c478c4fd7c12c43881b2c50c12d4c5a0696afb1fb26d0cae96ebedf0ef
2026-01-15T17:15:44+00:00
Elon Musk’s X Says It Will (Sort of) Crack Down on Grok’s Sexual Deepfake Problem
The company claims it’s adding new technical and geo-based restrictions to its Grok's image editing capabilties.
https://gizmodo.com/elon-musks-x-says-it-will-sort-of-crack-down-on-groks-sexual-deepfake-problem-2000710658
Technology
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1e7fe5c177c199cc58ba1aafbac471a44eb76cd685c8a136ea4d1e08311866fc
2026-01-15T17:15:32+00:00
T. Rex Took Its Sweet Time Getting Huge
A comprehensive analysis of Tyrannosaurus rex fossils is surprising scientists with just how long these apex predators took to become big boys.
https://gizmodo.com/t-rex-took-its-sweet-time-getting-huge-2000710650
Technology
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ae3744210c12785c60bb9c4c251450e8a575f34a2d80336089226a100ec0c5c8
2026-01-15T23:30:00-05:00
Casting is dead. Long live casting!
Read the full story at The Verge.
https://www.theverge.com/column/861948/casting-netflix-dead
Technology
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b29e1c549295963948f829e88e71b16f2a520061d61255dd8ee6ebf348830a5c
2026-01-15T21:01:35-05:00
Meta has discontinued its metaverse for work, too
Read the full story at The Verge.
https://www.theverge.com/tech/863209/meta-has-discontinued-its-metaverse-for-work-too
Technology
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d7e650eb46356ae1a973bd133875a7bc43798dbd0ae42eba326407a42009f812
2026-01-15T20:33:35-05:00
The best Sonos speakers to buy in 2026
After the self-induced tumult Sonos went through last year, I can understand why some people are reluctant to spend money on the company’s products. But newly appointed CEO Tom Conrad has shown that he’s determined to get back on track and revitalize Sonos as the leading whole-home audio brand. The contentious mobile app is in a much better place now than it was a couple of years ago, though some customers still encounter bugs and the frustration of speakers randomly vanishing from their system. It’s not all roses, but the situation is moving in the right direction — and I took Sonos’ decision to cancel its video player as a promising sign of renewed focus.  I’m not about to sell any of my Sonos gear. For one, the company’s whole-home platform offers conveniences that competitors don’t match — at least not without hassle. Most of the time, I’m streaming from Apple Music, Spotify, or YouTube Music. But if I’m watching a sports game on my TV, I can pipe the audio from my Sonos soundbar to a speaker in a different room to follow the action. Playing something over Bluetooth? With most of the company’s latest speakers, you can do the same thing and spread that music across your entire Sonos system. Why you should trust my Sonos recommendations I’ve covered Sonos extensively for several years at The Verge. This has included reporting on the company’s latest news, reviewing a lengthy list of Sonos products, and bringing attention to the app fiasco, which eventually led to the ouster of former CEO Patrick Spence. Audio and home theater are two of my primary focus areas in product reviews, so I’m well-versed when it comes to determining whether a speaker or soundbar is great — or just another also-ran product. I wouldn’t fault anyone for waiting to see where Sonos and its app go from here, especially given that Sonos raised prices on a number of products last year — including soundbars and smart speakers — due to the ongoing tariff situation in the US. The company still makes some genuinely terrific hardware, however, so if you’re wondering which are the true standouts, I’ve got you covered. The best Sonos speaker to start with Sonos Era 100 Score: 8ProsConsImproved sound (now in stereo)Bluetooth and line-in supportPrivacy-conscious microphone controlsNo more Google AssistantRejiggered controls have a learning curveLine-in requires USB-C dongle Where to Buy: $219 at Amazon $219 at Best Buy $219 at Sonos If you’re looking for a decent-sounding, compact speaker to put in the kitchen, office, or really anywhere in your home, the Era 100 is your best option. Sonos improved upon this speaker’s predecessors, the Play:1 and Sonos One, by upgrading to stereo drivers for richer, wider audio. Bluetooth playback is now supported, along with line-in audio (via an optional dongle). And the Era 100 also has reworked physical controls, including a volume bar you can slide your finger across and, finally, dedicated track controls.  The speaker has an elegant design, and you can use hands-free voice controls to summon Amazon Alexa or Sonos Voice Control to skip tracks or switch to a different playlist. Sonos dropped the Era 100’s price to $199 in April and then raised it again in September, though we’d argue that $219 is still fair for what you’re getting. Read our full Sonos Era 100 review. The best overall Sonos speaker Sonos Five ProsConsPowerful audio with impressive stereo separationCan crank loud without distortingRegular 3.5mm line-in: no adapter requiredLacks smart speaker functionalityEasily collects dustYou’ll end up wanting two, which gets very expensive Where to Buy: $599 at Amazon $599 at Sonos $599 at Best Buy The Sonos Five isn’t just Sonos’ best-sounding speaker; it’s at the top of the pack compared to all competitors. From an audio quality perspective, it beats the HomePod, the latest Echo Studio, and other mass market speakers — both those that are smart and not. Can you find better hi-fi bookshelf speakers? Absolutely, but those aren’t natively tied into music services like Sonos gear is. The Five is a hefty unit and takes up a decent amount of desk space. But once you throw some music on, its powerful stereo output is enough to handle any dinner party or weekend get-together.  There’s nothing “smart” about the Five. It lacks microphones and voice assistant functionality. But that simplicity is appealing in its own right: you’re getting a damn good speaker that ties into the Sonos platform. The Five also features a 3.5mm aux input, making it a good turntable companion — especially if you spring for a stereo pair.  The best portable Sonos speaker Sonos Move 2 Score: 9ProsConsImproved stereo soundMuch longer battery lifeSupports line-in playbackNo more Google AssistantCan’t be used as a speakerphoneHefty for a portable speaker Where to Buy: $499 at Amazon $499 at Best Buy $499 at Sonos When it comes to portable speakers, the Move 2 is in a whole different league than Sonos’ smaller Roam 2. It’s bigger and heavier, but a built-in handle makes it easier to lug the Move 2 around your home or out to the backyard. There’s no comparison between the two when it comes to audio: the Move 2 smokes the far more compact Roam 2. And like the Era 100, it uses a stereo driver arrangement, whereas the Roam mixes everything down to mono and sounds more muffled. The Move’s larger size gives it a clear advantage in terms of bass punch, and aside from playing music wirelessly, you’ve got the option of plugging in other devices over USB-C for line-in audio. I also continue to appreciate that the battery in the Move 2 is user-replaceable, which can’t be said of many Bluetooth speakers. You’ll be able to keep enjoying your investment for long, long into the future. And with a dust / water resistance rating of IP56, it can handle rain and splashes of water without problems; just don’t drop it into a pool. I prefer the Move 2 over traditional portable speakers since, at least whenever I’m home, the Sonos lets me play music over Wi-Fi at a higher fidelity than Bluetooth can offer. Plus, the Move 2 also supports Apple AirPlay and Spotify Connect, so it’s easy to just skip the Sonos app altogether if you wish. Read our full Sonos Move 2 review. The best Sonos soundbar for home theater enthusiasts Sonos Arc Ultra The Arc Ultra surpasses the original Arc soundbar with more immersive Dolby Atmos surround sound, much better bass, and the ability to play music over Bluetooth. Score: 8ProsConsMore immersive sound than original ArcBass gains are substantial enough to make this a viable standalone optionNow supports Bluetooth audioSonos app remains buggy for somePlay:1 and Play:3 no longer supported as surroundsStill no DTS:XFull surround setup skyrockets the cost Where to Buy: $1099 at Amazon $1099 at Best Buy $1099 at Sonos Introduced in late 2024, the Arc Ultra improves on the original Arc with significantly more powerful bass response. That’s largely thanks to the inclusion of Sonos’ newer SoundMotion technology, which manages to get a better low-end wallop from a soundbar that’s not much larger than the model it replaces. This means some buyers can get away with buying the Arc Ultra on its own without adding a subwoofer.  The Arc Ultra delivers Dolby Atmos surround sound that’s more convincing and immersive than any other Sonos soundbar to date, and it’s up there with the very best you can find from a single-enclosure speaker. Vocal clarity has also improved substantially thanks to better center channel performance. Another upgrade over the first Arc is the addition of Bluetooth audio support. Read our full review of the Sonos Arc Ultra. The best Sonos soundbar for smaller rooms Sonos Beam (Gen 2) The Beam isn’t as powerful as the Sonos Arc, nor can it match the flagship soundbar’s Dolby Atmos immersion bubble. But you still get room-filling surround sound for less money — and the Beam ties into the Sonos ecosystem for added convenience. Score: 8ProsConsWider, more expansive soundHDMI eARC brings better performanceSleeker design than first BeamNo up-facing Atmos speakersDoesn’t have automatic TrueplaySame acoustic architecture as prior model Where to Buy: $469 $469.99 at Amazon $499 $469.99 at Best Buy $499 at Sonos There are plenty of scenarios and TV rooms where the Arc Ultra might be too powerful. If you’re in a smaller space or don’t need the absolute best surround sound, the Beam (Gen 2) starts to make more sense. It still has Atmos, but the effect is virtualized since the Beam lacks the Arc Ultra’s upward-firing speakers. Even so, the home theater experience you’ll get from the Beam will blow away any speakers built into a TV.  Read our full Sonos Beam (Gen 2) review. The best Sonos subwoofer for most people Sonos Sub Mini Score: 7ProsConsSleek, unique designGood bass presence for its sizeEasy setup processNot suitable for large living roomsStill not cheap Where to Buy: $499 at Amazon $499 at Best Buy $499 at Sonos In the same vein, unless you’re hell-bent on rumbling your walls, the $499 Sub Mini subwoofer is more than enough for layering some extra oomph and growl onto Hollywood blockbusters and your favorite TV shows. The $899 Sub 4 is Sonos’ flagship subwoofer, but plenty of people have saved hundreds of dollars by pairing the Sub Mini with any of the company’s soundbars — and they’ve been ecstatic with the results.  As its name suggests, the Sub Mini is more compact than the Sub 4, which makes it easier to find an inconspicuous spot to place it. Even if you’re the type to do a sub crawl and put it somewhere in plain sight, I’d argue it looks more stylish than the blocky Sub 4.  Read my full Sonos Sub Mini review. The best budget Sonos speaker Ikea Symfonisk Bookshelf Speaker (Gen 2) Score: 7ProsConsAffordable way into Sonos ecosystemCan be mounted as a shelfSatisfactory sound for the sizeGood option for Sonos surround soundNo built-in mic for voice assistantsYou’ll want two for the best audio experienceNo 3.5mm aux input Where to Buy: $179.99 at Ikea Sonos and Ikea might have ended their partnership in 2025, but that doesn’t mean you should sleep on the existing Symfonisk products before they’re completely phased out. The second-gen Symfonisk bookshelf speaker, in particular, remains one of the most affordable ways into the Sonos ecosystem, even if Ikea raised the price before discontinuing the speaker. Sound-wise, it’s not far off from the old Sonos One / Play:1 and is a very enjoyable speaker. Plus, the lower price tag makes it easier to convince yourself to scoop up two for a stereo pair. These — or the Symfonisk Picture Frame Speaker — make great rear surround speakers if you’re on a budget. Read our full Ikea Symfonisk bookshelf speaker review. The Sonos product worthy of a second chance Sonos Ace Score: 7ProsConsStylish design and excellent comfortSound, ANC, and transparency are all goodTV Audio Swap is convenient, versatile, and suitable for gamingTV Audio Swap handoff can be glitchyHeadphones can’t be grouped with Sonos speakers Where to Buy: $399 $372 at Amazon $399 at Best Buy $399 at Sonos Boy oh boy, did Sonos’ wireless headphones come right at the worst possible moment. The company’s app crisis completely sidelined the Ace headphones upon their debut in 2024. Some customers were also disappointed that the Ace can’t play music over Wi-Fi or be grouped with the company’s in-home speakers. But here’s the thing: the Ace headphones are still fantastic. They’re comfortable, have a gorgeous design (with easily swappable ear pads), and sound detailed, powerful, and expressive. They support wired audio over USB-C in addition to Bluetooth. And the TV Audio Swap feature is a useful perk that I still often use late at night when my Arc Ultra would disturb others. You can route any audio that would normally come through the soundbar — from your TV, gaming console, or streaming device — through two pairs of headphones and listen privately (with spatial audio surround sound). The newer TrueCinema mode even lets you fine-tune the latter to better reflect the acoustics of your space. No, the Ace headphones aren’t what I’d consider the ideal of a wearable product from Sonos. But they remain a wholly impressive debut that fell victim to the company’s poor software decisions.  Read our full Sonos Ace review. Photography by Chris Welch / The Verge Update, January 15th: Adjusted pricing and availability. Brandon Widder also contributed to this post.
https://www.theverge.com/tech/652171/best-sonos-speakers
Technology
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da6f079f07f9be8eb9effab8a71bc6a2081fb8911d4e03c5742a3e3dea97b0ed
2026-01-15T18:33:29-05:00
Grok undressed the mother of one of Elon Musk’s kids — and now she’s suing
Read the full story at The Verge.
https://www.theverge.com/news/863097/ashley-st-clair-elon-musk-grok-undressing-lawsuit
Technology
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06b20e0039c2349596303d239c7f655236b43a29ea9c8d361e627e867daac461
2026-01-15T18:04:52-05:00
Dave Filoni takes charge of Star Wars as new president of Lucasfilm
Read the full story at The Verge.
https://www.theverge.com/entertainment/863065/dave-filoni-lucasfilm-president-star-wars
Technology
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6ae8471554d36ed039a0f38087109fd5028a6fb6b92102da984320fcc145b647
2026-01-15T17:46:27-05:00
Natural Cycles launches wristband to replace thermometers for its FDA-cleared birth control app
Read the full story at The Verge.
https://www.theverge.com/news/863046/natural-cycles-wristband-digital-birth-control
Technology
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45f2b0096107f2911f7da33b1eb19aa4461323426230460393ad4498225d3b38
2026-01-15T17:23:59-05:00
You can save over $1,500 on LG’s 65-inch C5 OLED TV
The 65-inch LG C5 OLED TV is rarely this affordable. LG might have just revealed its new C6 OLED TVs at CES 2026, but we still don’t know when they’ll actually hit stores. If you don’t want to wait — or spend a couple thousand dollars on a brand new model — the current-gen LG C5 OLED is a fantastic option now the 65-inch model is $1,197.59 ($1,502 off) when you use code FAVEFINDS20 at eBay. That’s just $2 shy of the TV’s all-time low price, though you’ll have to use that code by the end of January 20th to get the discount. LG C5 OLED TV Where to Buy: $2699.99 $1197.59 at eBay The C5 delivers the deep, inky blacks and rich colors you’d expect from an OLED TV, with Dolby Vision support helping movies and shows look brighter and more lifelike. Its AI Picture Pro feature further enhances image quality by adjusting brightness, resolution, clarity, and other settings based on what you’re watching. Plus, LG offers Dolby Atmos support for sound that feels more immersive, while offering easy access to popular streaming apps like Netflix, Max, Disney Plus, Hulu, and Apple TV Plus right out of the box. On the gaming side, the TV includes four HDMI 2.1 ports and support for AMD FreeSync Premium and Nvidia G-Sync. You also get a maximum 144Hz refresh rate, which helps motion look smoother not just when gaming, but also while watching fast-paced sports or action scenes. Rounding things out, the TV adds conveniences like a wand-style Magic Remote and built-in Amazon Alexa for hands-free control. You also get Matter support, so you can connect it with other smart home devices beyond Alexa.
https://www.theverge.com/gadgets/862989/lg-c5-oled-tv-ebay-deal-sale
Technology
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55328a5aee249cff7978461fe36236183e2a353ce1bee7d190e0d93cb4414ab4
2026-01-15T17:19:01-05:00
The best alternatives to Spotify for listening to music
If that concerns you (especially if you're a current Spotify subscriber), you'll be glad to know that there are quite a few alternatives available for good music listening, some with free versions (and some not), and some that can help you find new and lesser-known artists. Several, like Spotify, also offer podcasts. If you're someone who has decided to explore what music services ar … Read the full story at The Verge.
https://www.theverge.com/22910685/music-listening-service-spotify-apple-youtube-amazon
Technology
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4e87aa352c2ab0e8d15ba2ee7ba5d164f45d8c1a6657bc89b5d92e3ae011c6c9
2026-01-15T17:06:21-05:00
Asus says it’s dropping the RTX 5070 Ti as the memory shortage squeezes supply
Read the full story at The Verge.
https://www.theverge.com/news/863000/asus-nvidia-rtx-5070-ti-5060-ti-supply-rumors
Technology
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652a907957ee29db31749336dadb87aca72d11d266d419e9fc81614311ec85a0
2026-01-16T07:01:00+00:00
The BIGGEST holding in my stocks and shares ISA in 2026 is…
At the start of 2026, I hold 24 different businesses in my Stocks and Shares ISA. But the largest position by a significant margin right now is Shopify (NASDAQ:SHOP) – not because I’ve invested the most in this business, but because it’s been a stellar performer. Since I first bought its shares back in September 2017, the e-commerce fintech platform has expanded its market-cap by just shy of 2,700% – and that’s even after crashing by 85% a few years ago. While the volatility in 2022 was certainly unpleasant, the underlying company and its long-term potential remained perfectly intact. So while everyone else was selling, I was busy buying. And those more recent investments have also generated superb returns ranging 220%-360% over roughly the last three years. Needless to say, Shopify’s been a huge money-maker and market-beater for my ISA. But the question now is, can it do it all again? With a market-cap now sitting close to $214bn, I’m not expecting another 2,700% surge anytime soon. Even a 300% boost would be quite a challenging feat since it would require Shopify to grow to a roughly $850bn enterprise. However, that doesn’t mean to say it still can’t deliver robust wealth-building gains that outpace the US stock market’s 10% annualised average return. The bulk of the company’s cash flow stems from charging small transaction fees from each purchase made through a Shopify-powered website. In the US, that’s roughly 30% of all online stores today. But internationally, that figure drops to around 10%, revealing plenty of long-term growth potential. Combine that with free cash flow margins sitting in double-digit territory even after scaling operations rapidly, and the business is a self-sustaining, cash-generating machine. What’s more, that cash is most recently being put to work delivering new AI tools to help merchants reduce sales friction and improve customer experience – a technological advantage that many of its rivals are struggling to replicate. Despite my bullish outlook, even I have to admit Shopify’s valuation is definitely getting a bit stretched at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 88.5. In fact, this extreme valuation, combined with its dominance in my Stocks and Shares ISA, is why I’ve actually been trimming down my position. The vast gloomy predictions of a US recession prove accurate, its core customer base could suffer a rapid decline in shopping activity, directly impacting Shopify’s all-important transaction fee revenue stream. But the damage could spread even further. While a smaller part of the business, Shopify’s Buy Now Pay Later credits losses could expand as consumers fail to keep up with payments in a tough recessionary environment. The group’s financial strength means Shopify’s well prepared for a cyclical downturn. But at such a lofty valuation, it seems the market isn’t. And if the worse does come to pass, Shopify’s share price could see yet another 2022-style pullback. Bottom line: while I’m still bullish and intent on holding my shares, I think there are far better and more reasonably-priced growth opportunities for investors to consider for their Stocks and Shares ISAs today. The post The BIGGEST holding in my stocks and shares ISA in 2026 is… appeared first on The Motley Fool UK. When investing expert Mark Rogers has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for nearly a decade has provided thousands of paying members with top stock recommendations from the UK and US markets. And right now, Mark thinks there are 6 standout stocks that investors should consider buying. Want to see if Shopify made the list? More reading Zaven Boyrazian has positions in Shopify. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Shopify. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.
https://www.fool.co.uk/2026/01/16/the-biggest-holding-in-my-stocks-and-shares-isa-in-2026-is/
Business & Finance
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eb47f9f5ef0d3cb69c4a8b706f93ecc206de23dd5f90557c44a14e4fc78cab25
2026-01-16T07:01:00+00:00
Here’s how you could build a £23,455 second income with just £100 a month!
Looking to build a life-changing second income? For me, the best way to chase a strong and sustained income — and one that requires considerably less effort than most popular side hustles — is to invest in the stock market. Last year, the FTSE 100 delivered an enormous 25% total return to investors. For the S&P 500 index of US shares, the figure was 18%. Those buying stocks at the start of 2025 could have supercharged their portfolios, then, boosting their chances of eventually enjoying a large passive income. Returns were larger than usual, sure. But even at typical rates, a small investment can generate considerable wealth over time. The FTSE All-World Index of large- and mid-cap shares has delivered an average annual return of roughly 12% over the last five years. Here’s how investing just £100 in global stocks could eventually produce a £23,455 second income with minimal effort. One of the simplest ways to invest in stocks is with an index tracker fund. They allow individuals to own a slice of many different companies, spreading risk and providing exposure to a broad selection of growth and income opportunities. And all at relatively little cost, too. The Vanguard FTSE All-World ETF, for instance, tracks the performance of 3,657 stocks across regions and industries. And it has an ongoing charge of just 0.19%. If it can continue delivering the 12% annual return of recent years, a £100 monthly investment over 30 years will eventually turn into £335,074. If then invested in 7%-yielding dividend stocks, a portfolio of this size would generate a £23,455 passive income a year. Rather than gaining broad stock market exposure with a fund, investors can also choose to invest directly in companies. This requires a lot more effort than simply sticking your cash in an index tracker. However, it can also lead to far better results. I think a portfolio of 15-20 stocks offers excellent diversification to spread risk and aim for big returns. Games Workshop (LSE:GAW) is one of the FTSE 100’s finest growth stocks I’ve bought for my own portfolio. Thanks to its leading role in a rapidly growing market, the tabletop gaming specialist continues to enjoy booming profits even as the broader retail sector struggles. Last year it delivered a total return of 47%, smashing the broader FTSE index’s performance. Further price gains in 2026 mean the average annual return over the last decade is 45%. If you’d drip fed £100 each month into Games Workshop shares since then, you’d now be sitting on a cool £218,409 (assuming dividends were reinvested). Past performance isn’t always a reliable guide to future returns for any share. In the case of Games Workshop, returns could be impacted by rising competition that dampens sales and margins. It may also face rising cost pressures (including tariff-related expenses). However, I’m confident the Warhammer manufacturer can keep outperforming. The fantasy gaming market has considerable scope for growth, and Games Workshop is expanding to capitalise on this. Media deals like the one with Amazon to create film, TV, and video games content might also supercharge licensing revenues and boost sales of its miniatures and boxed games. The post Here’s how you could build a £23,455 second income with just £100 a month! appeared first on The Motley Fool UK. When investing expert Mark Rogers has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for nearly a decade has provided thousands of paying members with top stock recommendations from the UK and US markets. And right now, Mark thinks there are 6 standout stocks that investors should consider buying. Want to see if Games Workshop Group plc made the list? More reading Royston Wild has positions in Games Workshop Group Plc. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Amazon and Games Workshop Group Plc. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.
https://www.fool.co.uk/2026/01/16/heres-how-you-could-build-a-23455-second-income-with-just-100-a-month/
Business & Finance
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3349cb307f4d959c28709abf6567b06fafacfacfe195ee364d90db31cc67ae36
2026-01-16T06:56:00+00:00
I’d back these FTSE stocks will deliver double-digit growth in 2026
The FTSE 100 may not look obviously cheap at first glance, but dig beneath the surface — and to other areas of the UK market — and there are still pockets of real value. A handful of stocks appear mis-priced relative to their earnings recovery and medium-term growth outlooks. And these are simply the stocks I know best. Let’s explore. Marks and Spencer (LSE:MKS) has started 2026 positively after strong Christmas trading, yet the share price remains well below its 2025 highs. The reason is a cyberattack in April, which severely disrupted operations and forced analysts to downgrade earnings expectations for FY2026. At one stage, consensus EPS forecasts stood near 31p. Today, they sit closer to 23.2p. But with the financial year drawing to a close, attention is shifting to recovery. Forecast earnings per share for FY2027 are 34.1p, putting the shares on just 10 times forward earnings. To me that looks very cheap relative to its peers. It’s trading, adjusted for net debt, around 25% cheaper than its grocery peers. While net debt of £2.5bn may appear large in isolation, it is modest relative to the group’s market capitalisation and cash-generation potential. Risks remain, of course. It’s a premium brand — at least perception says so — and if consumer spending weakens again, Marks could lose out to cheaper peers. However, no investment is risk-free. Brokers are bullish too, with the average share price target 25% above the current position. TBC Bank (LSE:TBCG) is another share that stands out. This FTSE 250 stock trades at just 4.9 times forward earnings. But analysts expect revenue growth of around 17% and earnings growth of 11% across the next two years, placing it among the fastest-growing stocks in the FTSE All-Share. The bank experienced a pullback in 2025 as regulatory changes engendered a operational shift, but this appears transitional rather than structural. Operating across two of Eurasia’s faster-growing economies, TBC benefits from strong net interest margins and expanding digital reach. All four analysts covering the stock rate it’s a Strong Buy, and it also offers a dividend yield of roughly 6%. Risks? Well, geopolitics is worth considering given ongoing unrest in Iran, which could have knock-on effects across the broader Caucasus and Caspian region. However, I’m still very bullish on this company. Finally, Melrose Industries (LSE:MRO) offers a compelling growth-at-a-reasonable-price opportunity. The group operates within aerospace and defence, with around 70% of sales coming from sole-source positions. That gives it huge pricing power. The shares trade on about 16 times forward earnings, but earnings are forecast to grow by more than 20% per year through to 2029. That implies a price-to-earnings-to-growth (PEG) ratio comfortably below one. Execution risk remains, particularly around supply chains. However, compared with peers like Rolls-Royce, Melrose looks significantly undervalued on a growth-adjusted basis. Individually, each stock carries risk. However, coupled with other favourites of mine Jet2 and Arbuthnot, I believe these five stocks could deliver double-digit growth this year. That’s why I believe they’re all worth considering. The post I’d back these FTSE stocks will deliver double-digit growth in 2026 appeared first on The Motley Fool UK. When investing expert Mark Rogers has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for nearly a decade has provided thousands of paying members with top stock recommendations from the UK and US markets. And right now, Mark thinks there are 6 standout stocks that investors should consider buying. Want to see if Marks and Spencer Group plc made the list? More reading James Fox has positions in Arbuthnot Banking Group Plc, Jet2 Plc, Marks and Spencer Group, Melrose Industries Plc, and Rolls-Royce Plc. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Jet2 Plc, Melrose Industries Plc, and Rolls-Royce Plc. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.
https://www.fool.co.uk/2026/01/16/id-back-these-ftse-stocks-will-deliver-double-digit-growth-in-2026/
Business & Finance
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e55480bd702eb998fae89c6dd7dba7c38a457d252149639959995a8b8151a7cd
2026-01-16T06:25:00+00:00
Here’s the forecast for the HSBC share price and dividends in 2026!
The HSBC (LSE:HSBA) share price is actually trading above where most analysts believe it should be. That’s a real turnaround because UK banks, in recent years, traded at huge discounts to the share price targets. In fact, the stock’s now trading way above the commonly-used 50-day Simple Moving Average tool, suggesting recent gains have come quickly rather than steadily. So what’s changed? Investors often follow the money, and in HSBC’s case the direction’s become clearer. Materially higher interest rates for a sustained period have lifted net interest income, while cost discipline and asset sales have sharpened the group’s focus on its most profitable markets. At the same time, sizeable capital returns — through dividends and buybacks — have helped reset perceptions around shareholder value. And this creates its own momentum in time. And don’t get me wrong, momentum’s often one of the strongest indicators of forward performance. But it won’t go on forever if fair value’s significantly exceeded. And this is where investors have to be careful. Institutional analysts have been constantly revising their forecasts upwards for HSBC. That’s a really good sign. In fact, expectations for 2025 increased by around 15% during the year. However, as noted before, the share price now exceeds what analysts believe to be fair value by around 7.3%. The majority of ratings are Hold (eight), with five Buy ratings and two Strong Buys. Institutional analysts can be wrong, and I often question the quality of the analysts themselves. However, HSBC’s a fairly big assignment and I’d suggest these analysts are a little more senior than the ones covering Greggs. As such, it’s worth giving some credence to the forecasts. On dividends, the forward yield is expected to be around 4.7% for the coming 12 months. That’s above the index average and is covered two times by earnings. That’s a solid benchmark for sustainability. Personally, I believe most blue-chip UK banks are trading with similar valuations. Yes, some have larger dividend yields and some trade with lower price-to-earnings ratios, but when adjusted accordingly, they’re roughly the same. Having been a big bull on banks in recent years, I’m a little concerned that they may be peaking, in the near term at least. Remember, banks are cyclical and in the last 18 years there isn’t much precedent for banks trading with these multiples. For context, HSBC’s trading around 10.7 times expected earnings for the coming 12 months. What’s more, we need to remember they also reflect the health of the economies they serve. With that in mind, I’m increasingly moving to a more neutral position on UK banks. After all, the possibility of low/no economic growth in the UK in turn lead to fast declining interest rates, which could detract from the current shine. And yes, HSBC has global exposure. But the logic still stands. It might sound like I’m being downbeat, but I’m still positive in the long run, and I think HBSC’s worth considering. However, I appreciate there might be some near-to-medium-term volatility. The post Here’s the forecast for the HSBC share price and dividends in 2026! appeared first on The Motley Fool UK. When investing expert Mark Rogers has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for nearly a decade has provided thousands of paying members with top stock recommendations from the UK and US markets. And right now, Mark thinks there are 6 standout stocks that investors should consider buying. Want to see if HSBC Holdings made the list? More reading HSBC Holdings is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. James Fox has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Greggs Plc and HSBC Holdings. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.
https://www.fool.co.uk/2026/01/16/heres-the-forecast-for-the-hsbc-share-price-and-dividends-in-2026/
Business & Finance
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d4c9062ba217e3c4bfe3d6b3d3c6f889c089633668f1a93b4800edeb6f8ff345
2026-01-16T06:30:00+00:00
Altra Promo Codes: Get 10% Off Plus Free Shipping
Score big savings on Altra Running shoes with up to 50% off sale styles, 20% off select models, 10% off your first order when you sign up, plus free standard delivery on every purchase.
https://www.wired.com/story/altra-promo-code/
Technology
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2026-01-16T06:45:15+00:00
Silicon Valley’s messiest breakup is definitely headed to court
OpenAI and Microsoft tried to dodge a courtroom showdown with Elon Musk, but a federal judge on Thursday rejected their requests to dismiss the case.
https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/15/silicon-valleys-messiest-breakout-is-definitely-headed-to-court/
Technology
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2026-01-16T00:00:00
Humanoid robots step up their game: how useful are the latest droids?
Nature, Published online: 16 January 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-00164-0
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-00164-0
Academic Papers
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2026-01-15T00:00:00
Daily briefing: Cancer cells stay hidden using stolen mitochondria
Nature, Published online: 15 January 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-00181-z
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-00181-z
Academic Papers
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bb8eec3b631cc63d0167e808ee918c878176c96b259425bc581c8f5b44dd0918
2026-01-16T12:11:51+00:00
Porsche suffers biggest sales fall since 2009
German sports-car maker hit by lack of petrol variant for best-selling Macan and weak demand in China
https://www.ft.com/content/21760d4a-7150-43c5-b090-bd050c571d7e
Business & Finance
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d2dc643917a5068bf062b8d7ed06691adb0f58d642a9292277f9162f24cb2d54
2026-01-16T11:30:01+00:00
US accuses EU of seeking cheese ‘monopoly’ in South America
Bloc will sign trade agreement on Saturday after 25 years of talks
https://www.ft.com/content/1442abbb-2d06-4d5e-9951-3b1bcb211fa1
Business & Finance
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2026-01-16T14:30:00+00:00
Why a ‘hiccup’ in the AI supply chain is a top market risk for 2026
A compromised Fed and political tensions are also among the five factors worrying Scott Helfstein at Global X.
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/how-the-fragile-ai-ecosystem-may-be-one-of-the-biggest-risks-to-markets-this-year-27c3a394?mod=mw_rss_topstories
Business & Finance
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2026-01-16T14:28:00+00:00
14 million Americans are getting access to these game-changing investment accounts — without risking their Supplemental Security Income and Medicaid benefits
ABLE accounts have expanded eligibility to those up to age 46.
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/14-million-americans-are-getting-access-to-these-game-changing-investment-accounts-without-risking-their-supplemental-security-income-and-medicaid-benefits-afeb569d?mod=mw_rss_topstories
Business & Finance
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2026-01-16T14:26:00+00:00
Can I leave my 401(k) with my employer when I retire?
There are a few options for your 401(k) when you leave a job — some are better than others.
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/can-i-leave-my-401-k-with-my-employer-when-i-retire-08971d61?mod=mw_rss_topstories
Business & Finance
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2026-01-16T12:30:00+00:00
‘It all feels impossible’: I’m 57 and on disability. My boyfriend died of a heart attack. Do I buy a townhouse or a condo?
“I can afford a $175,000 cash purchase.”
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/it-all-feels-impossible-im-57-and-on-disability-my-boyfriend-died-of-a-heart-attack-do-i-buy-a-townhouse-or-a-condo-3a9ae9ef?mod=mw_rss_topstories
Business & Finance
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2026-01-16T12:09:00+00:00
Play the AI boom without the bubble risk via these ‘transition’ stocks, says Bank of America
Bank of America analysts suggest defense, infrastructure and transition materials represent the optimal indirect exposure to AI
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/play-the-ai-boom-without-the-bubble-risk-via-these-transition-stocks-says-bank-of-america-4c8f7217?mod=mw_rss_topstories
Business & Finance
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2026-01-16T11:42:00+00:00
I was asked, ‘Should we adopt AI?’ in a job interview. I said yes, but my answer fell flat. Was this a trick question?
The interviewer replied, “That would be nice, but we don’t have the money to integrate it right now.”
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/i-was-asked-should-we-adopt-ai-in-a-job-interview-i-said-yes-but-my-answer-fell-flat-was-this-a-trick-question-7eaa393c?mod=mw_rss_topstories
Business & Finance
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2026-01-16T14:43:56+00:00
Trump wants tech companies to foot the bill for new power plants because of AI
Utility bills are rising in many parts of the U.S. despite Trump's promise to lower energy prices during his presidential campaign.
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/16/trump-wants-tech-companies-to-foot-the-bill-for-new-power-plants-because-of-ai.html
Business & Finance
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2026-01-16T14:45:55+00:00
Machado presents her Nobel award to Trump, prompting incredulity in Norway
"This is incredibly embarrassing," Raymond Johansen, a Norwegian lawmaker for the center-left Labour Party, said in a Facebook post.
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/16/trump-machado-norway-.html
Business & Finance
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