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Tech

AI Summary

  • Investors are vying for a deal to purchase TikTok's U.S. operations, potentially boosting the platform's valuation to over $60 billion amid ongoing regulatory scrutiny.
  • Meta has acquired AI startup Manus for over $2 billion, intending to integrate its capabilities into platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp while allowing it to operate independently.
  • The concept of social media follower counts is becoming less significant, as industry leaders note a shift towards algorithm-driven content discovery that prioritizes engagement over mere follower numbers.
  • AI spending is projected to undergo scrutiny in 2025, with a growing emphasis on business models and sustainable practices following a rapid expansion in the sector.
  • The tech landscape is gearing up for CES 2026, with a strong focus on AI innovations, next-gen hardware, and product announcements across multiple industries, promising a rich showcase for attendees.

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Engadget

  • Meta buys startup known for its AI task automation agents an hour ago by Steve Dent
    Investment & Company Information, Finance, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Steve Dent

    Meta has acquired an AI startup called Manus — known for its custom research and website-building agents — in a deal valued at more than $2 billion, according toThe Wall Street Journal. It's reportedly one of the largest acquisitions yet involving a startup nurtured in China's AI ecosystem.  Manus arrived in March 2025, shortly after another Chinese AI startup, DeepSeek appeared on the scene. The company (called Butterfly Effect at the time) originally described it as "the first general AI agent" to perform complex tasks autonomously, rather than just generating ideas. It draws from several third-party models, particularly Anthropic's Claude 3.5

  • TCL introduces its own take on a color Kindle Scribe an hour ago by Ian Carlos Campbell
    Technology & Electronics, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Ian Carlos Campbell

    Hot on the tail of Amazon's Kindle Scribe Colorosoft, TCL is introducing its own take on a distraction-free note-taking and reading device. Unlike the new Scribe, however, it doesn't use E Ink. The TCL Note A1 NXTPAPER is the company's latest device to use NXTPAPER, TCL's custom paper-like LCD screen, which offers some of the qualities of E Ink without the limitations. TCL says the 11.5-inch color "NXTPAPER Pure" display on the Note A1 has a 2,200 x 1,440 resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate, which should mean it looks clearer and feels much smoother to interact with than the color

  • How to watch the NVIDIA CES 2026 presentation live 2 hours ago by Katie Teague
    Technology & Electronics, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Katie Teague

    CFOTO via Getty Images At CES 2025, NVIDIA spent the bulk of its presentation touting (what else) its leading position in the artificial intelligence arena. But it also spent time talking up new hardware, including its RTX 5000-series GPUs and Project Digits desktop supercomputer (later redubbed Spark). This year, the company's website says it's "lighting up CES 2026 with the power of AI." To that end, NVIDIA is pulling out all the stops at its Vegas installation, promising hands-on demos in its booth at the Fontainebleau, replete with the "latest NVIDIA solutions driving innovation and productivity across industries." But don't worry if

  • The Morning After: What to expect at CES 2026 3 hours ago by Mat Smith
    Celebrities, Technology & Electronics, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Mat Smith

    CES 2026 is right around the corner, and the pre-show hype cycle/ early reveals suggest, yes, there’s going to be an awful lot of AI-powered insert-product-category-here alongside, thankfully, some major announcements from the likes of Intel, Sony and NVIDIA. Intel is finally unveiling its Panther Lake (Core Ultra Series 3) chips. The first chips built on Intel’s 2nm process could offer a 50 percent performance boost, which is sorely needed amid intense competition. NVIDIA’s Jensen Huang is taking the stage for a keynote expected to feature a lot of AI hype, while AMD’s Lisa Su will likely counter with new Ryzen

  • The best iPad cases for 2026 5 hours ago by Valentina Palladino
    Technology & Electronics, Handheld & Connected Devices, site|engadget, provider_name|Engadget, region|US, language|en-US, author_name|Valentina Palladino

    An iPad is a great all-purpose device, but it also needs protection if you want it to last. A good case can guard against drops, add a stand for videos or sketching sessions and even make your iPad feel more like a lightweight laptop. Whether you prefer something slim, rugged or packed with useful features, there is a case that fits the way you use your tablet. From keyboard folios to minimalist covers with room for your Apple Pencil, we rounded up the best iPad cases that keep your tablet safe without weighing it down. BEST IPAD CASES FOR 2026 WHY DO I


The Verge

  • The Canon EOS R6 Mark III is great, but this lens is amazing an hour ago by Antonio G. Di Benedetto
    Camera Reviews, Cameras, Gadgets, Hands-on, Reviews, Tech

    An f/1.2 aperture is a beautiful thing. Canon's new EOS R6 Mark III is an excellent camera. It's not a groundbreaking upgrade to the 3-year-old R6 Mark II, but it takes the same body with great ergonomics and adds more resolution, video that now goes up to 7K with open-gate filming, and improved autofocus performance. If you're in need of an impeccably good all-around camera for anything from wildlife photography to weddings and videography, you can't go wrong. It's an easy recommendation, especially if you already shoot Canon and are due for an upgrade. (But a used R6 Mark II is

  • Free speech’s great leap backwards 2 hours ago by Felipe De La Hoz
    Analysis, Policy, Report, Speech

    In early December, Joshua Aaron, the developer behind the ICEBlock app - designed to let people alert others about the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents - filed a federal lawsuit alleging his First Amendment rights were violated. The Department of Justice had urged Apple to remove Aaron's app from its App Store, which the suit called unconstitutional. And Apple had complied - in the process, setting its own precedent for suppressing anti-ICE speech. The year 2025 has marked perhaps the biggest leap back for American free speech in generations. The Trump administration's war on immigrants and civil liberties

  • LG is announcing its own Frame-style TV at CES 14 hours ago by John.Higgins
    CES, Gadgets, News, Tech, TVs

    In just the past couple years, the art TV category that's been dominated by Samsung's The Frame has seen growth, with additions from both TCL and Hisense. Now LG has announced its own entry, the LG Gallery TV. The TV will leverage the Gallery+ service that LG released earlier this year, which includes thousands of display visuals ranging from pieces of art to cinematic images to gaming scenes. Much like Samsung's Art Store, Gallery+ has a limited free option, but its full capability requires a subscription. The new Gallery TV shouldn't be confused with the G Series OLED TVs, like the

  • GOG’s Steam-alternative PC game store is leaving CD Projekt, staying DRM-free 21 hours ago by Emma Roth
    Gaming, News, PC Gaming

    GOG is splitting from CD Projekt, the game company that launched the preservation-focused PC gaming marketplace in 2008. In an update on Monday, GOG announced that its cofounder, Michał Kiciński, has acquired the digital storefront and its online gaming platform GOG Galaxy from CD Projekt - which he also cofounded - for $25.2 million. The acquisition isn't changing anything about GOG's mission to keep games DRM-free, according to the announcement that says it's "more central to GOG than ever:" > GOG has always been built on strong values and clear principles. When Marcin Iwiński and Michał Kiciński first came up with the

  • Turn your PC into a Super Nintendo with Epilogue’s new USB dock a day ago by Andrew Liszewski
    Gadgets, Gaming, News, Nintendo, PC Gaming

    After announcing and teasing its design well over a year ago, Epilogue's new SN Operator will finally be available for preorder starting tomorrow. Like the company's GB Operator that debuted in early 2021, the SN Operator is a standalone USB cartridge slot that lets you play and archive old Nintendo console games on PCs, Macs, or handhelds like the Steam Deck using their original carts. But where the GB Operator was built for Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and GBA games, the SN Operator instead supports any Super Nintendo and Super Famicom game. Preorders for the SN Operator will open at


Wired

  • Commodore 64 Ultimate Review: An Astonishing Remake 3 hours ago by Matt Kamen
    Gear, Gear / Reviews, Gear / Products / Gaming, Product, Review

    The reborn Commodore 64 is an astonishing remake—but daunting if you weren’t there the first time around.

  • What Is a Preamp, and Do I Really Need One? 3 hours ago by Simon Lucas
    Gear, Gear / How To and Advice, Gear / Products, Gear / Products / Audio, Sound, Advice

    If you've wondered what a preamplifier is, what it exactly does, and whether your audio setup is missing one, we've got the answers—as well as some of our top recommendations.

  • 7 Best Digital Notebooks (2026): reMarkable, Kobo, Kindle 3 hours ago by Nena Farrell
    Gear, Gear / Buying Guides, Gear / Products / Accessories, Buying, Guide

    These nifty tools combine the ease of jotting notes by hand with the power of saving them digitally.

  • The Great Big Power Play 4 hours ago by Molly Taft
    Science, Science / Environment, EXPIRED/TIRED/WIRED

    US support for nuclear energy is soaring. Meanwhile, coal plants are on their way out and electricity-sucking data centers are meeting huge pushback. Welcome to the next front in the energy battle.

  • Tips for Keeping a Digital Diary and Why You Should 4 hours ago by Jill Duffy
    Gear, Gear / How To and Advice, Write, Right

    After 10 years of journaling, my only regret is not starting sooner.


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