If you want to know how Netflix’s plan to acquire Warner Bros. will affect you, I suggest not getting your answers from Netflix. Last weekend, the streaming giant emailed customers implying the deal was done (subject line: “Welcoming Warner Bros. to Netflix”) even though that’s far from being settled. Its press release and help page are only marginally more informative, provided you can sift through all the boilerplate proclamations and canned executive quotes. Ultimately this deal is about power. For Netflix, it’s a way to fulfill its goal of being a singular source for streaming, which in turn will help it raise prices, freeze out rivals, and tilt the distribution of movies and shows in its favor. Expect a lot of fighting between Netflix, rivals, and government regulators before that’s allowed to happen. Brand power Despite Netflix’s popularity, it does not control many established entertainment franchises. It has cultivated a handful, including Squid Game, Stranger Things, and Bridgerton, but none that truly rival those of Disney (Star Wars, Marvel), Paramount (Star Trek, Spongebob), or NBCUniversal (Despicable Me, Jurassic Park). Wikipedia’s list of the top-grossing media franchises only includes one from Netflix, and it’s Chronicles of Narnia, the rights to which it acquired in 2018. Buying Warner would give Netflix a stable of recognizable entertainment brands to build around, including DC properties such as Superman and Batman, kid-friendly franchises such as Minecraft and Looney Tunes, sci-fi staples such as The Matrix and Dune, and HBO hits such as Game of Thrones and The Sopranos. While Netflix says HBO Max will remain separate for now, its press release makes clear that the goal is to subsume Warner’s catalog and create new content around it. The broader content roster could potentially make Netflix better, but it will also help Netflix justify the price increases that have now become routine. It could also allow Netflix to expand other aspects of its business, such as video games and merchandising. (To that end, it’s taking over Warner’s gaming division as well.) Weakening rivals Ted Sarandos, who is now Netflix’s co-CEO, famously said in 2012 that the company’s goal was “to become HBO faster than HBO can become us.” Lately, though, it’s trying to be more like cable—a singular source of streaming that caters to a wide swath of interests—before cable becomes Netflix though its own array of streaming services. At the risk of being cynical, Netflix’s biggest motivation to take over Warner might be to keep it away from its competitors in the traditional TV business. Paramount and Comcast had also been bidding on Warner, and Paramount has now launched a hostile takeover bid in hopes of convincing Warner shareholders that it’s offering a better deal. Much like Netflix, Paramount was also looking to absorb the entire HBO Max catalog into its own Paramount+ streaming service. In this scenario, Paramount+ would become a serious competitor instead of an also-ran, and Netflix would have less latitude to raise prices without subscribers defecting. Netflix doesn’t even have to seal the deal to achieve its goal. As CNBC reporter Alex Sherman pointed out, Netflix has agreed to a $5 billion breakup fee if its Warner acquisition fails, but that’s nothing for a company worth $450 billion, and it could take a couple years for Warner to be up for sale again. In the meantime Netflix could further entrench itself by keeping the competition weaker. Shifting the movie business Warner’s current plan is to release 12 to 14 movies into theaters per year, and while Netflix says theatrical releases will continue, it wants to get them onto its streaming service sooner. In an analyst call last week, Sarandos said theatrical release windows would “evolve to be much more consumer friendly, to be able to meet the audience where they are, quicker.” That doesn’t mean Netflix would abandon theatrical releases outright, but the goal will shift toward promoting Netflix properties rather than boosting theater revenue for its own sake. As the New York Times notes, Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters Singalong has been a huge hit in theaters, and its series finale of Stranger Things—screening on 500 theaters in lockstep with the streaming release—is already sold out in many places. Expect more event-driven spectacles, fewer straightforward screenings, and a greater willingness to let people stay at home. What it’s not about: Live sports Another notable aspect of the Netflix deal is what’s missing: The company is not buying Warner’s cable channels, including TNT and TBS, as Warner plans to spin those off into a separate company. TNT will get its own sports streaming service when that happens, and its live sports coverage will disappear from HBO Max. That means Netflix won’t be getting any live sports as part of the deal. By contrast, Paramount wants to add Warner’s entire cable business, and could use it to transform Paramount+ into a major source of sports streaming. Netflix might have other reasons for passing over Warner’s cable business, such as not wanting to negotiate carriage deals or take on as much debt from Warner’s previous merger disasters. For now, though, it’s maintaining a conservative approach to live sports, avoiding expensive full-season rights deals in favor of scattershot events, such as Christmas NFL games, the Paul-Tyson fight, and the first MLB game of the season next year. Netflix’s goal to become more like cable doesn’t yet extend to sports, and acquiring Warner won’t change that. What’s next While Netflix is projecting confidence, it’s a long way from owning Warner Bros. in earnest. Antitrust hearings are likely, Paramount’s hostile takeover bid has to play out, and the Justice Department feels like a wild card under the Trump administration. Even if everything goes smoothly, Netflix says it’ll take 12 to 18 months for the deal to close. In the meantime, I’ll leave you with the one line in Netflix’s customer letter that we know for certain is true: “Nothing is changing today.” Sign up for Jared’s Cord Cutter Weekly newsletter for more streaming TV insights. Read...

I’ve been building computers for the better part of two decades. And most of them look like little avant-garde refrigerators. I don’t do RGB, and I definitely don’t do screens on the inside. So my immediate reaction to the Corsair Frame 3000D LCD RS ARGB is…well, to take a deep breath after saying that name. But my second reaction is to cringe at the tablet-sized touchscreen on the side. Not to yuck anyone’s yum [editor’s note: he’s absolutely doing that, what a hater], but at least with a Xeneon Edge touchscreen on the front of the case you can make a claim for utility. If it’s on the side, even if the case is on your desk, how are you going to actually get anything done with that touchscreen without reaching waaaaay over and tapping stuff? You’d have to angle it towards yourself…which I guess makes sense if the point of your desk setup is to show off $800 worth of RGB RAM sticks. But my point here is…what are you possibly doing on the 2560×720 screen bolted to the side of your PC that you couldn’t accomplish more easily with that screen sitting on your desk in front of your keyboard, which is already an option? Hell, what are you doing on that little mini screen that wouldn’t be better served by using your mouse and keyboard to operate your PC, with the one or more displays you already have on your desk? Am I crazy, or am I just getting old? Please don’t @ me, fellow kids, that was rhetorical. Corsair Aside from the side panel with that screen mounting kit, the Frame 4000 LCD RS ARGB is otherwise pretty similar to Corsair’s existing Frame 4000D, with support for 360mm radiators on the front, top, and side, with a maximum of 13 120mm fan mounting points and compatibility with motherboards that have rear-facing connections, like Asus’ BTF series. The case and screen combo is a hefty $400 USD, currently shipping on Corsair’s US store. But if you already have a 4000D or 5000D case, you can upgrade it with a side panel that fits in the screen, according to KitGuru. I have to admit that’s really cool…though between the $40 panel and the $250 Xeneon Edge touchscreen, you’re most of the way there in terms of price. But the screen now comes in Atomic Purple with a matching desk stand (which you should absolutely use instead of strapping it to your PC), so I am obliged to gush over it. Read...

It’s hard to find a graphics card that can do everything. The most powerful ones are usually hot, loud, and expensive, while the smallest ones just don’t have the performance you need to deliver high-resolution gameplay experiences. ZOTAC GAMING’s new GeForce RTX™ 50 Series GPUs are built to give the best of all worlds: Compact performance with quiet cooling, at an affordable price. If you’ve found your gaming system starting to lag during demanding gameplay, micro-stutters are throwing off your aim, or it’s outright freezing entirely, then it’s probably time to upgrade your graphics card. That doesn’t have to mean emptying your wallet, though. With the new ZOTAC GAMING GeForce RTX™ 5050 and 5060 Ti, you can get serious gaming power with support for all the latest features – and they’re quiet and compact, too. Cutting-edge tech without the sky-high price ZOTAC GAMING The ZOTAC GAMING GeForce RTX™ 5050 Solo Edition gives you every cutting-edge technology NVIDIA has to offer, but without the sky-high price tag of the flagship GPUs. It has full support for DLSS 4 and multi-frame generation, unlocking much higher frame rates in compatible games, letting you play at higher detail settings and resolutions, or enjoy smoother gameplay. Its low power consumption means it can run with a single fan, too, making it supremely cool and quiet to run. That’s ideal for small form factor and ultra-compact builds. If you’re upgrading an older GPU from a mini PC, you’ll be pleasantly surprised with just how far entry-level graphics cards have come in just a few years. This card can easily outpace the top-cards from just a few generations ago, and it does so far more efficiently, too. If you want to keep energy bills down as you move into the New Year, upgrading to an efficient modern GPU is a great way to do it. Buy the ZOTAC GAMING GeForce RTX™ 5050 Solo Edition at NeweggView Deal Buy the ZOTAC GAMING GeForce RTX™ 5050 Solo Edition at AmazonView Deal Unlock faster frame rates in AAA games ZOTAC GAMING If you have a little more space to work with and want to use it for more power, then the ZOTAC GAMING Twin Edge OC GeForce RTX™ 5060 Ti is a fantastic alternative. Boosting VRAM to 16GB of GDDR7 unlocks higher detail settings in even the most demanding games, and its more capable GPU core can hold fast even when gaming at 1440p and 4K resolutions. Perfect for enjoying the visuals of the latest AAA games – and powered by the NVIDIA Blackwell architecture, enables game-changing AI capabilities in the latest games and apps. Multiply performance with NVIDIA DLSS 4, enjoy realistic graphics with ray tracing, and take your creativity further with NVIDIA Studio. With next-generation NVIDIA RT cores, the GeForce RTX™ 5060 Ti is even ready for the most demanding of gaming features: Real time ray-tracing and path tracing. The best looking games often need the best hardware to run well, and with the ZOTAC GAMING GeForce RTX™ 5060 Ti Twin Edge OC you can rest assured that there isn’t a game out there you can’t run, and run well. To keep temperatures down with all that added power, the ZOTAC GAMING GeForce RTX™ 5060 Ti Twin Edge OC is fitted with ZOTAC GAMING’s IceStorm 2.0 dual-fan cooling system which keeps temperatures and noise levels down, even during demanding gaming sessions. When it’s not working so hard, the 0dB fan-stop technology means it’ll run completely silent until you need it for a cooler and calmer gaming experience. Buy the ZOTAC GAMING Twin Edge OC GeForce RTX™ 5060 Ti at NeweggView Deal Buy the ZOTAC GAMING Twin Edge OC GeForce RTX™ 5060 Ti at AmazonView Deal Read...

Accenture and Snowflake form a 5,000-strong AI data unit for enterprises, with Caterpillar among early clients and a new global CoE planned. Read...

Recently, I refreshed an older PC—that is, I reset Windows using the existing installation files on the laptop. When everything came up new again, I spotted several apps on the PC I didn’t want. Games whose origin I didn’t even know. Helper apps that I didn’t need. Bloatware. I also set up a new phone for a friend, and it really went hard with these extraneous apps. After spending more than an hour nuking unwanted programs, I realized companies have trained people out of recognizing bad software. How is a normal person supposed to immediately spot the difference between a legitimate game and malware in disguise, if your phone or PC already randomly installs new programs from the start? These days, laptops have become a bit less cluttered with this nonsense. Still, it’s an important skill to recognize what’s installed on your system from the beginning. Even if your PC isn’t a fresh install, taking inventory now is worthwhile. Open Settings > Apps > Installed Apps, then scroll through the list. All the programs there should be ones you chose to install—or know for sure are affiliated with standard Windows services. You should know the apps and browser extensions you have installed on your PC.Google Same goes for your browser, too. Browser extensions are essentially “little apps that live in [your] browser,” in the words of security expert Mike Danseglio, so they can be exploited and attacked similar to Windows programs. In both instances, you should know who created the app or extension, if they’re reputable, and if they likely have good security policies. (Why care about that last point? Legitimate software can be taken over by bad actors, who then turn the app into malware with an update.) Don’t recognize anything? Search for the app or extension name, plus the developer name, and then look for reputable sites or forums that describe its purpose. (I have to do this myself sometimes.) If not an integral part of Windows, nuke it. Same for any apps and extensions you no longer use and won’t in the future, since legit software can be taken over by hackers. Knowing and understanding what lives on your PC is key to spotting weird, unwanted apps. And the faster you notice them, the quicker you can avoid damage from nasty stuff like ransomware, infostealers, and the like. Antivirus is a key protection you should have active on your PC, yes, but it’s not failsafe. Be your own best backup. Read...

Everyone needs a bit of extra storage, and a microSD card is a great way to add more space in a tiny, portable form factor. Better yet, the 1TB Samsung Evo Select microSD is only $70 at Amazon right now, thanks to a 25% discount. (It normally costs $93.) This high-capacity card provides ample storage for all your digital needs. Whether you need one for your dashcam, your smartphone or tablet, or even your drone, Samsung’s Evo Select is a fantastic pick. Built for speed, the Evo Select features transfer speeds of up to 160 MB/s, which makes it ideal for capturing or transferring high-resolution 4K videos or loading large game files. The card meets U3, Class 10, A2, and V30 speed standards, ensuring smooth performance for all your apps. Samsung’s tiny microSD was built to survive all sorts of problems, including water, extreme temps, wear and tear, as well as magnets and X-rays. The best part is that it also comes with an SD card adapter since there’s a bigger chance you actually have a way to read that one. Don’t miss out on the sale for the 1TB Samsung Evo Select microSD for $70, since this deal can vanish at any time. That`s a great deal for a tiny 1TB microSDBuy now at Amazon Read...

I don’t know about you, but I love the holidays. The decorations, the hot cocoa, the snuggling under a fuzzy blanket with my Kindle. Yes, the holidays are great—save for the absolute madness of shopping malls. So, what do I do? I go shopping online. (Surprise!) And this year, I’m adding my own nerdy self to the holiday shopping list. I love all sorts of gadgets and gaming, and my friends and family do too. So, I went digging online for the perfect nerdy presents. Bottom line: I’d buy all these for myself in a blink. I’m PCWorld’s daily deals writer, so I did my best to focus on value, and zeroed in on top-rated products before sharing them with you. Take Pac-Man everywhere — My Arcade Pac-Man Pocket Player Pro My Arcade How cool is it that you can take Pac-Man with you anywhere you go? This legendary video game has been around for decades, and it’s been a part of many of our lives since we were kids, running around eating all the dots while avoiding those annoying ghosts. This thing needs four AA batteries or can be powered via USB-C. And while I picked Pac-Man because it’s one of my personal favorites, the same shop also sells editions for Street Fighter, Space Invaders, Ms PacMan, MegaMan, and Galaga. There’s also an Atari version with 100 separate games. The best part is these handhelds are quite affordable, with the most expensive one going for $40 right now. If you want the Pac-Man version, however, it’ll cost you only $30. View at Amazon Be on time — Nixie Tube Clock ClockTeck Do I even have to explain why I’d buy this in a blink for myself my friends? Look at it! How cool does this thing look?! The retro-future-looking tubes can tell the time in regular monochrome, or you can go RGB and bring color to your life. There are so many modes to choose from, it’ll be hard to pick one. This LED clock is a replica of a Nixie vacuum tube clock, making it much more affordable than the $300 versions you need to order from Eastern Europe. It can be linked to your local Wi-Fi, so it will always tell the time perfectly. You can also set up alarms and switch between a 12 and 24-hour format. If you guys want to get me one… just saying. This model from ClocTeck is $70 at the time of writing with no active discounts. View at Amazon Add magic to your bookshelf — Criolpo book nook kit Criolpo If you’re a book dragon who can’t help but always add new books to the cart, then you’re going to absolutely love this Criolpo Book Nook. I’m going to have to be completely honest here and say that I’ve already fallen for the cuteness of the book nook trend and bought one. The kit is not yet complete, but I’m working on it. I cannot wait to have it on the shelf between two heavy books and to light it up. It’s basically a 3D wooden puzzle. You assemble it yourself (and that’s more than half the fun!) to bring a miniature world into your home. What’s not to love? This one in the image above is $34 at the time of writing, but it’s on sale. If you want a more cyberpunk model, you can certainly find one of those too. View at Amazon We have arcade games at home — Foosball table Best Choice Products Now, don’t tell my husband, but I actually got him a foosball table for Xmas. Shh! This thing looks great, and it will be so much fun to play over the holidays. It’s perfectly sized for gamers of all ages, and even features two cup holders for, ehm, beer hot chocolate? You can play this one 1v1 or 2v2, so you can have tons of fun with friends. It also comes in multiple colors, so you can pick whichever matches your furniture better. It’s only $120 to get right now since it’s 25% off. Now, I have to figure out how to ensure my husband doesn’t read this article… View at Amazon Dungeons and Dragons (and dice) Zhoorqi/Medikaison Can we even talk about nerdy gifts without listing a few cool dice sets? We really don’t think you can. There are so many options out there that we’re having a hard time picking. My kid really loved these LED light-up rechargeable dice (I mean, fair, they’re gorgeous), while I’d go for something more practical like the metal dice on the right, especially since you can actually roll the dice in the box. Whatever floats your boat! There’s an endless list of possibilities when it comes to DnD dice sets. View at Amazon May the Funko Pop be with you — Darth Vader Funko Pop Suggesting Funko Pop figures for a present seems like a “duh” situation, but here we are — how about a Funko Pop with Darth Vader? If they’re into Star Wars, this one’ll definitely be a hit. But then again, Funko Pop has about a gazillion models for just about any fandom, from Stranger Things to Wicked, from Scream to Pokemon, sports teams, anime, Disney, music artists, Marvel, Harry Potter, and soooo much more. They’re pretty affordable, too. This Darth Vader one is only $10 right now. View at Amazon Play with energy — National Geographic Circuit Maker Kit National Geographic So, is this Epic Circuits Science Kit theoretically meant for kids? Sure. Does that mean you can’t have fun with it as an adult? Absolutely not! National Geographic has some insanely fun STEM kits, including this one where you can set up over 120 projects, figuring out how circuits work and more. You can even create songs or make cool light shows, and that’s fantastic at any age. Embrace the kid inside and snag one of these Nat Geo kits for $44. View at Amazon LEGO! — Boost Creative Toolbox 17101 LEGO Who doesn’t want LEGO as a gift? I mean, I don’t know anyone who’d pout over receiving a set like this? Especially this set. I actually bought this a while back, and it’s absolutely amazing. Insanely fun to play with, since you can build one of five models and then hook it up to a tablet and have fun. You can get the little robot to move in certain patterns, and then rebuild it into Frankie the Cat, or into a funky guitar to play music. The LEGO Boost Creative Toolbox is definitely pricey, but it’s a set you can have fun with for years to come. You can even pretend you got it for your kids… as I did. View at Amazon Rest your wrist — Strebito mini electric screwdriver set Strebito If you’re always tinkering with computers and other tech at home (or you know someone who is), then getting one of these 70-in-1 electric screwdriver kits makes perfect sense. The electric mechanism is powerful and will handle all those pesky screws in a blink. There are 64 magnetic bits in the set, so you can be sure those tiny screws won’t get dropped in the void, forever lost somewhere in the computer case. There are three torque levels to choose from, but you can also use it in manual mode if need be. The best part is that you can charge it via the USB-C port. Oh, and it’s only $50. View at Amazon DIY a tiny computer — RasTech Raspberry Pi 5 RasTech There’s an endless list of things you can do with a Raspberry Pi. This RasTech kit is absolutely tiny and it can be such a cool DIY project. The kit features a Pi5 8GB board, a 65GB card, two card readers, a cooler, a case, a power supply, and several cables. There’s even a tiny screwdriver in the pack, but you can always just get the Strebito electric one we mentioned just now. So, whether you want to turn your dumb TV into a smart one or you want to make an old-school gaming emulator, this kit is fantastic. Check out more awesome Raspberry Pi projects you can have fun with. View at Amazon Old school gaming, tiny mode — Retro mini Arcade Game Arcade Classics Hey, remember those big arcade games we used to play? Well, you have adult-money now, so you can get one. Joking. I mean, you can, but this $20 Retro Mini Arcade is probably the type of thing you could purchase without too much drama, right? This tiny handheld game console lets you use joysticks to play Pac-Man, Tetris, WWE, or Ms. Pac-Man. I mean, you could say they’re for kids, but we know who’s really going to play with them. View at Amazon Neat, organized, and pixelated — Numskull Minecraft gaming accessory locker & storage stand Numskull Listen, whatever your age, this Numskull Gaming Accessory Locker is absolutely cool. It’s shaped as a Creeper, and it’s (of course) Minecraft-green. There are four controller holders on the sides, and a “head” holder for headphones. There’s room for up to ten DVDs inside the locker, and the little drawer on the bottom can hold cables, remotes, and other accessories. You can set this thing up next to your console or on your desk and have everything within reach. There are other theme variations available too, like Harry Potter, Fortnite, or Sonic, to name a few. They’re all about $30. View at Amazon Bring your projects to life — Bambu Lab A1 mini 3D printer Bambu Lab Man, I have soooo many projects I could get done with a 3D printer. It’s something I’ve been waiting to get for a while, holding off mostly due to lack of space. But if I were to get one right now, it’s this one: the Bambu Lab A1. I have a friend who reviewed a ton of printers and he’s talked about this one several times. It’s not too big, it’s well-priced, and it’s also fairly quiet, AND it can print in color! View Deal Make it fly — DJI mini 4K drone DJI Haven’t you always wanted a drone to fly across an awesome landscape to record gorgeous video? Can’t just be me! This DJI Mini Drone captures 4K video, which is absolutely amazing considering just how your vids will turn out. Not only will the videos look gorgeous, but they’ll also be steady, given the 3-axis gimbal stabilization. The coolest part is that this drone is absolutely tiny. How tiny? Well, it weighs under 249 grams, and it fits in the palm of your hand. Just imagine what cool vacation vids you’ll capture. View at Amazon Germs be gone — PhoneSoap 3 phone sanitizer PhoneSoap Did you know how disgusting your phone is? You touch that thing all the time, you place it everywhere without worry, you take it with you anywhere you go — it’s so full of germs it might as well be a petri dish. Well, this portable phone sanitizer offers complete disinfection with the help of UV-C lights in just 10 minutes. You can take this with you anywhere you go since it features a battery, and you can recharge it with a USB-A or USB-C cable. Easy peasy! One of these is only $68 right now. Just think how useful it’s going to be to you, your family, and all your friends. Perfect stocking stuffer if you ask us! View at Amazon Read...

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