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As we wrap up 2025, were looking at the years biggest winners: the people, companies, products and trends that made the most impact over the year. Almost at the top of the pile, of course, are the tech billionaires. According to a recent report by Oxfam, the 10 richest US billionaires (who are all tech leaders, save for Warren Buffet) increased their wealth by $698 billion in 2025. Some of that has been spent treating and lavishing donations on President Trump. Elon Musk reportedly donated nearly $300 million to Trump and Republican allies, and several tech companies have pitched in to build the presidents White House ballroom. ALLISON ROBBERT via Getty Images Thanks to updates from Meta, Google, OpenAI and others, AI video is more realistic and easier to make than ever. AI video is everywhere. Its not only overtaken your Facebook and Instagram recommendations, but Meta created an entirely separate feed just for users AI-generated fever dreams. The numbers are huge: OpenAIs Sora, which lets you make AI videos of real people, was downloaded a million times in just a few days. And Googles Veo generated more than 40 million videos in a few weeks of launching. AI slop is here to stay, and its everywhere. We didnt say the winners would all be positive. But hey, the Switch 2 is great. Mat Smith The other big stories this morning Google and Apple partner on better AndroidiPhone switching Team Cherry is working on more Silksong content but wont say when itll be released How Google is laying the foundation for our mixed reality future Paramount and Netflix both want to spend billions on Warner Bros. Discovery Good news for WBD? The Warner Bros. studios water tower. (Reuters / REUTERS) Paramount wasnt going to let Netflix pick up Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) without a fight. Following the streaming services $82.7 billion deal to buy much of WBD, Paramount is making a hostile takeover bid of $108 billion, pitching directly to WBD shareholders with an all-cash offer of $30 per share, which expires on January 8. Last week, the WBD board unanimously accepted Netflixs offer of $27.75 per share. That breaks down to $23.25 per share in cash and another $4.50 per share in Netflix stock. Paramount, however, wants to pick up the entirety of WBD, while Netflix only wants the studios and streaming businesses. Whoever bought (or buys?) WBD would face government opposition from all sides. Paramount had already sent WBD a letter questioning the fairness and adequacy of the acquisition bidding process before its hostile takeover bid. President Trump warned the Netflix deal could be a problem. According to data from JustWatch, a combined Netflix and HBO would account for 33 percent of the US streaming video market. Continue reading. Tekken director Katsuhiro Harada is leaving Bandai Namco Tekkens leading face and voice for decades. Katsuhiro Harada is departing Bandai Namco at the end of 2025. He announced the news both with a farewell note shared on X and, of course, an hour-long DJ mix. Haradas 30-year career has been most closely involved with Tekken, and hes a familiar face in the fighting game community. Harada wrote on X: To everyone who has supported me, to communities around the world, and to all the colleagues who have walked alongside me for so many years, I offer my deepest gratitude. Continue reading. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/the-morning-after-engadget-newsletter-122328464.html?src=rss
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Travelodge is launching free wrapping rooms at three UK locations this December, responding to research showing that 40% of parents worry about their children discovering gifts before Christmas morning.
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Two years ago, Fairphone launched a pair of modular, fully-repairable headphones called the Fairbuds XL. Now, the Dutch social enterprise is releasing an updated version where the focus isnt just on the quality of its hardware, but on the merits of its raw materials. The 2025 Fairbuds XL ship with new premium 40mm dynamic drivers and stronger N52 rated magnets for more power and enhanced bass response. Listeners should expect to hear improved accuracy in mid and high frequencies thanks to improved audio tuning. And theres a new paper-based speaker membrane thats more refined than what went before.Sound-quality is certainly improved over the predecessor, with cleaner bass and sharper mid and high tones. You can really hear how clean the sound is, especially when youre listening to something lush and orchestral. Going by my memory from two years ago, the ANC seems to be unchanged, able to deal with unwanted sounds like the tapping of my own keyboard with ease. Obviously, you shouldnt go in expecting the same sort of brilliant sound youd get from top tier manufacturers. Although I think Fairphone has likely closed the gap so while youre still a generation or two behind the bleeding edge, its not by a shameful degree. And, if were honest, if youre looking for a pair of cans thatll last you years and years, youre likely able to forgive the absence of the shiniest bells and whistles. Closeup image of the Fairbuds XL (2025) Daniel Cooper for EngadgetIts easy to notice the design changes, too, with the more austere Fairphone logo and the use of solid plastic in place of the original speckled pattern. Sadly, that extends to the little pop of copper found on the four way joystick, which is now a different shade of the same colorway. I get it: A lot of people want their consumer electronics to blend in, but the loss of whimsy pains me a little. Theres some fairly minor but welcome quality of life improvements, including adding automatic power off after 30 minutes. Plus, buyers get the benefit of a three year warranty, and can rest assured the XL are Longtime certified. Longtime is a new European labeling standard for gear built to be long-lived, repairable and supported by a robust repair infrastructure. And, if you already own a pair of XLs, you can buy the new drivers and slot them into your existing cans.Side showing logo.Daniel Cooper for EngadgetBut, in line with Fairphones founding principles, the update is equally focused on the raw materials that have gone into making the 2025 XLs. The PU leather found in the ear cushions hardly a climate friendly material has been ditched in favor of Birds Eye Fabric. Thats a cotton fabric produced with a series of air holes for breathability more commonly found in athleisure products. Similarly the PU found in the headband gets replaced with fabric that reminds me of plenty of other high end sport headphones.Beneath the surface, the new model contains 100 percent fair mined cobalt, copper and silver via mining credits, at least. The rare earth metals used in the speaker magnets are now 100 percent recycled, and they were assembled in a facility using 100 percent renewable energy. Youll also find more than 90 percent recycled aluminum, and 80 percent recycled plastics, with the company pledging to recycle an equal amount of e-waste to every pair sold. Plus, as usual, Fairphone will pay the people who assemble the hardware a living wage bonus to ensure workers can cover their familys needs. Fairbuds XL are available to order today in Europe both from the Fairphone website and select third party retailers. If youre in the US, youll need to wait until later this month, but youll be able to pick them up via Amazon for $229. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/fairphone-updates-its-over-ear-headphones-with-better-sound-080000773.html?src=rss
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