The Verge reports that the ecommerce giant Amazon has reached a deal to acquire the film and TV company MGM for $8.45 billion, both companies announced today. It’s a significant acquisition for the e-commerce giant, and it means it will own a library of content that’s reported to consist of around 4,000 films and 17,000 […]
Apple might have discontinued the original, full-size HomePod smart speaker, but the company is continuing to add new functionality to it, although, as The Verge reports, the latest one relies on you also buying the new, second-generation Apple TV 4K. But, if you own both products, there’s now built-in support for HDMI ARC and eARC, […]
Spotify is adding the ability to download playlists, albums, and podcasts on Apple Watch to play offline, the company announced last Friday. Users will be able to stream audio in 96kbps, add and delete Spotify content on their phones, and sync with the Watch. “Being able to download music and podcasts complements the existing feature of […]
Last Friday, Microsoft outlined its vision for the future of meetings. After a year that’s seen more people dialing into the office remotely, the company is once again banging the drum for hybrid work: a model that combines remote access with in-person work. While the company has been teasing new concepts for Microsoft Teams in recent months, […]
Balmuda, a Japanese design company known for its stylish (and somewhat pricey) appliances, has announced plans to make a smartphone. There aren’t many details on the device itself yet, but it’ll be a 5G handset that’s expected to be released in November. SoftBank will sell it as a carrier model, while Balmuda will also offer an unlocked […]
The Verge reports that Ireland’s High Court has dismissed Facebook’s bid to block a European Union privacy regulation — created by the Irish Data Protection Commission (IDPC) — that could interrupt the flow of data from the EU to the US, The Wall Street Journal reports. Facebook first appealed the order in part because it claimed the Commission […]
If you want a space gray Apple accessory, such as a Magic Mouse, Keyboard, or Trackpad, now is the time to get one because they’re being discontinued. On Apple’s store page, they’re currently for sale but with a “while supplies last” message (via MacRumors). Apple confirmed to The Verge that it will no longer sell the space gray […]
Google is rolling out the ability to access Chat messages right from Gmail to more iOS and Android users, after introducing it as a feature for Google Workspace users last July (via 9to5Google). It’s still a test feature, so getting access to it can take a bit of work, and it may not be available to your depending […]
Google Photos’ “free and unlimited storage” will be a thing of the past as of June 1st — which means that you’ve only got a few weeks left to upload all your pictures and videos before the company’s new 15GB cap kicks in. As the company had previously announced last fall, Google Photos’ beloved policy […]
Microsoft has been trying to build a lighter version of Windows for more than 10 years without success. The latest effort, Windows 10X, has reportedly now been shelved, in favor of improving Windows 10 instead. Petri reports that Windows 10X will no longer ship this year, and the OS will likely never arrive in its current form. […]