Spotify slashed nearly €500M in marketing, R&D spending, and general administrative expenses in 2024, which helped the company swing to a net income of €1.1B (Financial Times)

Streaming platforms like Netflix are aggressively pursuing YouTubers like Dude Perfect and Mark Rober for big streaming deals, following the success of MrBeast's Beast Games. Amazon has reportedly made over $100 million in profit from the show and is negotiating for two more seasons with MrBeast asking over $150 million per season. Netflix has approached Rober and Dude Perfect, but its restrictions on sales promotions in shows it funds have been a sticking point in...

Baidu has introduced two new AI models, Ernie 4.5 and Ernie X1, with the latter boasting performance comparable to DeepSeek R1 at a lower cost and the former showcasing high EQ for understanding memes and satire. Both models offer multimodal capabilities for processing video, images, audio, and text. Despite initial struggles with adoption, Baidu plans to release Ernie 5 later this year with further multimodal improvements. Full Article

President Trump and Sean Hannity pledged to support Tesla by buying Model S vehicles, in response to backlash against Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency tactics. However, analysts predict that even with conservative support, Tesla's slipping sales are largely due to Democrats fleeing the brand. Despite this, Tesla remains the top-selling electric vehicle brand in the U.S., with loyal customers like Josh Anders who value the company's innovation and progressiveness. Full Article

In a world flooded with mobile accessories, wireless chargers like the Anker MagGo 3-1 and Qdos SnapStand 3-1 stand out as top contenders, offering 15W fast charging and the ability to charge multiple Apple devices simultaneously. These chargers feature unique designs, with the Anker being foldable for easy transport and storage, while the Qdos offers a stacked ring design that allows the iPhone to be in standby mode when turned 90 degrees. Both options provide...

A survey by Emailtooltester reveals that many employees feel pressured to respond to work emails after hours, with only 41.7% deemed relevant. Three in four workers check emails while on vacation, leading to email anxiety and mental health issues. 90.4% of American workers support a "right-to-disconnect" law, despite 70.6% believing their bosses would resist it, highlighting the need for boundaries between work and personal life in the digital age. Full Article

Microsoft's ending of free security updates for Windows 10 in October poses challenges for charities refurbishing older computers, as 240 million PCs can't meet Windows 11 requirements. Options include insecure Windows 10 systems, e-waste disposal, or Linux adoption. Charities face compliance risks, e-waste concerns, and financial implications, as many users may continue using Windows 10 despite security risks and potential environmental impact. Full Article