Gadgets for the techie in your life this Christmas
From a Playstation 5 to the Dyson Airstrait, there is something out there at every price point
Sony
Barry McCormack: Painting Devils – Dublin songwriter’s eighth album is a hoot from start to finish
Former member of Jubilee All-Stars delivers insightful, witty lyrics with the mischief of Dylan and the rhythm of John Cooper Clarke
Paramount agrees Skydance merger in end to Redstone era
Ellison family and US investment group RedBird to invest $8 billion in group
YouTube seeks record label deals for new AI music tools
Licensing negotiations come as music industry wrestles with legal and creative impact of artificial intelligence
Sony and Apollo approach Paramount Global with €24bn bid outline
Expression of intent comes a day before exclusivity window is due to close for rival Skydance Media
Sony WF-1000XM5 wireless earbuds: another leap forward in quality and comfort
Tech review: Sony brings all its expertise to bear on these impressive noise-cancelling earbuds
Set up accounts, install updates and more: Here are the most important tech to-dos before Christmas
Avoid Christmas Day hassle and tears by getting new tech ready to go, and don’t forget to recycle
Nvidia played its way to the domination of AI
Games were at the cutting edge of computing long before machine learning
Hollywood writers reach tentative deal with studios
Breakthrough could pave way for agreement with striking actors’ union
Give Me a Crash Course in ... Starfield
There’s an official theme song by Imagine Dragons and a reported $200 million budget
Gran Turismo’s Jann Mardenborough: ‘It was the darkest moment of my personal and professional life’
The racing driver was keen for the tragedy of a crash that killed a spectator to be included in the exhilarating new film based on his career
Gran Turismo: The real-life story of Jann Mardenborough has heart and speed
Archie Madekwe is hugely likable as the Cardiff bedroom gamer who makes it big on the racetrack
Sony WF-1000XM5: ear buds with a reputation to uphold
Built in head-tracking technology make the sound feel even more immersive
Hollywood actors announce strike as Cillian Murphy and Oppenheimer cast walk out of premiere
Move expected to halt majority of productions and have major effects on broader LA economy
Hollywood actors’ union recommends strike as negotiation deadline passes
Strike is expected to have an immediate impact on publicity efforts for the summer’s top films
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse – Endlessly, dizzyingly imaginative, but also mildly disappointing
This film plugs straight into the aesthetic of the comic book, borrowing from Marvel’s artists of the silver age
Photographer refuses prestigious award after admitting image was AI-generated
German artist says he ‘applied as a cheeky monkey’ to find out if competitions are prepared for AI images to enter
Oops! AI did it again: the inexorable rise of music machines
Tech tools can be used to ingest the creativity of artists, learn from it, then spew out music and lyrics at scale. That’s not ideal
Global recorded music revenues increase 9% to €24.3bn
Rise in users of paid subscription services drives growth as industry figures call for higher prices
Smart devices’ limited supports are ridiculous and damaging
Many large appliances lose support for so-called smart features after just a couple of years. That’s not good enough
UK regulator deals blow to Microsoft’s €70bn Activision deal
Competition and Markets Authority proposes sell-off of blockbuster Call of Duty franchise as price for green-lighting record acquisition
The Last of Us has become a weapon in the biggest video games deal in history
HBO’s adaptation of the Sony PlayStation game has been cited as a reason regulators should approve Microsoft’s swoop on Activision Blizzard
Sony cuts projections for new VR headset after pre-orders disappoint
Move signals little improvement for the hyped-but-unproven virtual reality sector
Sony unveils new car partnership with Honda
Tech giant hopes to start shipping cars under Afeela brand in 2026
How to get your tech gifts working before they go under the tree this Christmas
If devices are on that festive list, it is inevitable there will be software updates to install before they can be used. Get the hassle under control in advance
Microsoft agrees to 10-year Call of Duty deal with Nintendo
Accord comes as US regulators scrutinise Microsoft’s acquisition on Activision
Donegal-based 3D Issue raises €750,000 for expansion
Funding will be used to add 24 jobs, bringing the number of employees to 40
Sony PlayStation Plus offers new benefits
Tech Tools: Three tiers of membership to choose from but it is curtains for PlayStation Now
Tech Tools: Linkbuds S give you all-the-time audio
Sony offers crystal-clear chat, immersive sound and high-resolution audio support
Honda warns of rising costs, forecasts weaker annual profit
Company has already slashed production due a severe shortage of semiconductors
Tech Tools: Ugreen wireless earbuds – affordable and functional
HiTune T3 buds include Bluetooth 5.2 and use AI to filter out background noise
Gaming helps Sony’s operating profit more than double
Strong performance at gaming and network services business lifts fourth quarter
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