Business Articles

Laura Fryer, who helped launch the first Xbox console, has recounted a disturbing encounter during the 2004 GDC. In a hotel room with another executive, she denied a request to wear a bathrobe. After pressured to leave her position, Phil Spencer invited her to join his publishing team at Microsoft.

Gaming researcher Michael Pachter isn’t hopeful about the next Xbox console. Game Pass will be a focal point of the system, but the Ultimate tier with day-one games strains budgets. Pachter expects the console to fail unless Microsoft makes drastic changes to the subscription service.

Matrox has launched the Luma Pro Octal, which appears to be a new Intel Arc A380E-based enterprise GPU, in Japan. With a whopping eight mini DisplayPort 2.0 ports, the card can simultaneously output video to eight 5K or 4K screens.

Higher memory costs haven’t yet prompted an official Switch 2 price hike. Still, an industry consultant points out that some gamers are already paying more for the console. Matthew Ball thinks that Nintendo axed the Mario Kart World bundle to protect profits during the component shortage.

Burger King is testing an AI assistant integrated into employees’ headsets – a system designed not only to streamline operations but also to assess how friendly staff are during customer interactions. The trial has sparked strong criticism on Reddit, where many users describe the technology as AI-driven surveillance.

According to a Korean publication, Apple will now pay Samsung twice as much as it did before for LPDDR5X memory. Considering just how crucial consumer-grade RAM is for Apple's business, there appears to have been no other way to secure supply.

An AI-powered kitchen has secured first place at the Robotics Award 2026. The system is capable of preparing multiple dishes simultaneously and is designed to produce several thousand meals per day.

BenQ has released a new short throw projector, the LW830ST WXGA. Designed for business use, this laser simulation projector is said to offer up to 4,000 lumens brightness. Other features include support for multi-projector installations, a range of preset color modes and an integrated speaker.

Sometimes laptops are best suited for a certain use case. With the Lenovo ThinkPad L16 Gen 2 AMD, it is very clear: This is not a laptop you want to use on the go that often.

According to a report by The New York Times, US intelligence agencies warned senior technology executives in a classified 2023 briefing about a potential escalation between China and Taiwan. Officials cautioned that such a conflict could trigger the most severe global economic crisis since the Great Depression.

A thief has stolen more than $11,000 worth of GPUs from a store in Korea. We saw similar GPU theft unfold during the COVID-era GPU shortage. It is quite easy to see that stolen desktop GPUs will end up in the hands of scalpers who will then charge much more than the official MSRP.

Starlink is planning to launch a 5G phone service anywhere in the world with download speeds that are 50% higher than initially envisioned. SpaceX has the FCC nod to launch up to 15,000 direct-to-cell satellites to back Starlink Mobile.

DJI has filed a petition in the Ninth Circuit challenging the FCC’s decision to add the company to the Covered List. The designation blocks new equipment authorizations and could restrict future DJI drone imports and product launches in the US.

Meta and AMD have announced a multi-year AI infrastructure partnership to deploy up to 6GW of AMD Instinct GPUs. AMD says the first 1GW shipments are expected in 2H 2026, and the deal includes a performance-based warrant tied to deliveries.

Previously, the PS Store did not disclose how the price of a PS5 game had changed over time. In some regions, the marketplace now lists the launch price of a title. Regardless, critics believe that Sony has a monopoly on digital sales, which may prevent more attractive deals.

YouTube is adding background playback and offline downloads to its $7.99-per-month Premium Lite plan, features that were previously exclusive to the full Premium tier. The update makes the lower-cost subscription more practical for everyday use, especially for multitasking and offline viewing. However, Premium Lite will still include limited ads on certain content.

Apple has announced that the company will soon start assembling the Mac mini in Houston, Texas. With this development, the Mac mini will become the second Mac alongside the Mac Pro to be assembled within the US.

Tesla is replacing Chinese-made cells in all products that it is selling in America, from electric cars to energy storage systems. The shift aims to reduce exposure to China-related tariffs or any import restrictions while helping Megapacks qualify for “made-in-America” subsidies.

The new Taara beam uses near-infrared light to bring high-speed internet to remote areas. Thanks to a newly developed chip, the Beam is 50% smaller than Taara’s previous "Lightbridge" device, which weighed 29 pounds.

Apple is staggering the release of the iPhone 18, the iPhone Air 2, and the iPhone 18 Pro/Pro Max. As a result, it is now reported that the total iPhone 18 series shipments for 2026 are set to reduce by 20%. However, the financial hit of the lower shipments is expected to remain small.

A designer of the first Xbox console predicts that Microsoft Gaming will become reliant solely on AI. Seamus Blackley doubts that its new CEO, Asha Sharma, will return the brand to its core principles. Xbox may fade, as it becomes one of many AI-powered endeavors led by Satya Nadella.

Former Xbox President, Sarah Bond, may have championed the criticized This Is an Xbox initiative. In a report from The Verge, co-workers shared concerns about the devaluing of Xbox consoles. New Microsoft Gaming CEO Asha Sharma hinted that the company realizes the importance of first-party hardware.

Reports from earlier in the year claimed OnePlus had shelved its plans to release the OnePlus 15s. The 15s, meant to be a direct successor to last year's OnePlus 13T-based 13s, now looks to be back on the cards, however.

According to a recent letter circulated by Lenovo, the company will soon introduce price hikes affecting its IDG and ISG groups responsible for commercial PCs and data center infrastructure respectively. This was done, unsurprisingly, to keep up with the volatility surrounding the DRAM industry in particular.

Garmin offers a paid premium service for its wearables. Many users have strongly criticized this kind of paywall, but it probably won’t go away anytime soon.

Former Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer first considered leaving the company later in 2025. Still, he may have intended to delay retirement until after the next Xbox console shipped. A leaker who predicted the move blames the sudden shakeup on dwindling hardware and software sales.

Phil Spencer is stepping down as CEO of Microsoft Gaming, while Xbox President Sarah Bond is also leaving the company. Asha Sharma, formerly head of Microsoft’s CoreAI division, will assume leadership. Her appointment has sparked concern within the community, with many fearing a stronger push toward generative AI.

Nvidia has announced a special chip reveal at GTC 2026. CEO Jensen Huang spoke of processors that will “surprise the world.” All indications suggest the focus will be on AI hardware rather than new consumer graphics cards. The next Rubin generation, likely paired with HBM4 memory and advanced integration technology, is considered a strong contender for the unveiling.

Labeled as “significant restructuring,” the layoffs reverberated across the entire studio, affecting several co-founders.

With Lyria 3, Google is integrating a music generation tool into the Gemini app for the first time. Users can create 30-second songs complete with automatically generated lyrics, sung vocals, and cover artwork simply by entering a text prompt or uploading an image. The feature is currently available in the Gemini beta.

Toto, a high-end toilet maker from Japan, holds key tech that could make it integral to the memory/storage supply change. Its ceramics can withstand incredibly low temperatures, making them a key component in NAND manufacturing.

Finnish startup Donut Lab wants to shake up the market with its own solid-state battery. The company’s upcoming energy storage system supposedly leaves nothing to be desired. But how plausible are these marketing claims?

Following a high-profile armed robbery, a New York City Pokémon store has a new name. The Poké Court is now called The Trainer Court to avoid potential trademark infringement. Nintendo requested the rebranding, but its response to the shop’s misfortune is being criticized as lacking empathy.

Meta has obtained a patent for an AI system designed to automatically continue the social media accounts of deceased or long-term inactive users. While the technology may appear practical for influencers, it has triggered significant backlash on Reddit – particularly in cases involving accounts of people who have passed away.

Top tech CEOs warn AI could automate most white-collar jobs within years, with lawyers, accountants, and project managers among those at risk. Mass layoffs are already underway, though some researchers question whether AI is truly to blame.

Following a Munich court ruling, Asus has confirmed that it has suspended direct sales of select laptops and desktop PCs in Germany. The company stated that after-sales services will remain unaffected while it evaluates further legal options.

WhatsApp is testing a major redesign in its latest Android beta. In the future, status updates may appear directly within the “Chats” tab, significantly increasing their visibility. This change could affect the app’s overall clarity and shift its focus further toward a social media experience rather than a purely messaging service.

Until now, Geekom has mainly been known for compact mini PCs - now the manufacturer is venturing into the notebook market. With the GeekBook X14 Pro, the company is launching an ultra-light 14-inch ultrabook with an OLED display and Intel Core Ultra platform. Can the debut model convince in the premium segment, or is there still some catching up to do?

As per official confirmation, Valve is now also affected by the current RAM and storage crisis. Consequently, the Steam Deck is no longer available, at least depending on the model variant. The affordable entry-level model has already been discontinued and is currently no longer in stock.

Epson has revealed the EB-870Ei, a new interactive ultra short throw projector designed for use in the classroom. This 4K laser model can throw images up to 130 inches wide and offers a range of connectivity options. Other features include an easy to install wall mount, a new control box and improved interactive pens.

The AI boom appears to be creating the next bottleneck. After RAM prices have already risen, hard drive prices may soon follow. Western Digital reports that its HDD production capacity for 2026 is almost fully booked.

A court ruling in Munich has forced Acer and Asus to suspend direct PC and laptop sales in Germany following a patent dispute with Nokia. It’s over the HEVC codec, but retailers can still sell existing inventory as appeals and licensing negotiations move forward.

A breakthrough facility in Qinghai province has pushed lithium recovery rates from salt lakes past 90%, establishing a greener, more efficient standard for the global EV battery supply chain.

The tech industry may be heading toward a new supply chain problem. Specifically, the back-end production of processor chips could run into capacity limits because of a product that most consumers have probably never heard of.

Corsair has a new strategy to curtail fraudulent returns and sellers intent on scamming buyers. Revamped packaging for Vengeance DDR5 RAM makes it more challenging to hide fake memory inside. Despite the change, there have been claims of Corsair itself exploiting the shortage.

Anthropic’s Head of AI Security, Mrinank Sharma, has stepped down with immediate effect. He cited ethical concerns as the reason for his departure – raising urgent warnings that extend beyond the field of artificial intelligence.

The Pokémon Company has unveiled a new collector’s item designed to excite fans – an animatronic Pikachu described as the most lifelike version of the iconic Electric-type mascot to date.

The latest Amazon US CPU sales data for January 2026 shows a concerning trend. Many consumers are not buying new CPUs, as CPU sales have seen an enormous 51% decline from January 2025 to January 2026. The relative position of AMD Ryzen and Intel Core processors has remained unchanged, as AMD CPUs remain at the top of the sales chart.