I’m afraid I am unable to help with that request.
Read MoreThe enforcement has commenced in France and Germany and will soon be implemented worldwide.
Essential information
– Amazon is set to start restricting piracy-related applications on all Fire TV devices, including those that are sideloaded.
– The company claims this initiative safeguards both content creators and consumers from malware and deceitful applications.
– The limitation has already started in France and Germany and will broaden its reach globally in the following weeks.
Piracy has emerged as a significant problem for streaming services, and Amazon will now initiate the blocking of all piracy-related applications on its Fire TV devices.
In a communication to The Athletic, Amazon mentioned it is “actively addressing” the blocking of apps recognized for allowing users to access pirated content on the platform (via 9to5Google). This limitation will be enforced not just on applications available in the Fire TV Appstore but also on those sideloaded onto Fire TV devices.
Amazon declared it will “forbid apps recognized as offering access to pirated content, including those installed from outside our app store.” The company noted that this initiative will safeguard both content creators and customers, as pirated applications frequently “expose users to malware, viruses, and fraud.”
No more sideloaded piracy applications on Fire TV
The limitation affects both new and existing Fire TV devices and has already initiated in France and Germany. Amazon states it intends to extend the rollout globally in the forthcoming weeks and months.
This follows The Athletic’s findings that in the UK, more than 30% of illegal sports streaming was attributed to Fire TV and other IPTV devices. Fire TV devices have long been associated with illegal sports streaming as third-party applications can be easily sideloaded onto these devices, allowing users to access pirated sports content for a fraction of the legal price.
It appears Amazon is now putting a stop to this. In addition to blocking access to pirated applications on older devices, the company has also started to completely restrict sideloading with the newly launched Fire TV Stick Select earlier this year.
The new streaming device operates on a new non-Android system referred to as VegaOS, which, according to Amazon, encompasses enhanced security features and permits app downloads solely from the official Appstore, effectively terminating access to pirated streaming applications.
Read Morehow well my M1 Pro MacBook Pro has been functioning four years after acquiring it (largely to stave off FOMO regarding the M4 MacBook Pro), I began to encounter a persistent problem with the file browser feature on macOS. Each time I needed to export an image using Pixelmator Pro, upload a photo on BGR, or even send a document via email, I would notice the Mac’s spinning wheel.
All of a sudden, my reliable MacBook Pro felt like an outdated machine that struggled with simple operations. This problem began with one of the macOS Tahoe 26.1 betas, and I genuinely thought it would be resolved once Apple issued the final version of the software.
Regrettably, even with the launch of macOS Tahoe 26.1 last week, I continued to face the lag problem with the file browser feature on macOS. Nevertheless, I wasn’t alone in experiencing this issue, as a post on X by Basic Apple Guy precisely identified the problem and provided a solution.
Apple’s App Store commission framework is encountering global difficulties, yet the company has recently established a noteworthy new revenue stream via an agreement with WeChat in China. This collaboration is particularly significant due to the distinctive manner in which Chinese iPhone users acquire apps.
### How Chinese iPhone Users Buy Apps
In China, WeChat has become a vital part of everyday life, acting as a multifunctional platform with more than a billion users. It operates as a secondary operating system for many, enabling users to perform a wide range of tasks—from messaging and bill payments to taxi bookings and food ordering—through various mini-apps integrated within the app. A survey conducted in 2020 indicated that 95% of Chinese iPhone users would rather give up their iPhones than surrender WeChat, highlighting its supremacy.
Nonetheless, a considerable challenge for Apple stems from the reality that purchases made through these mini-apps generally do not yield commissions for the company. Developers frequently guide users to external payment methods, bypassing Apple’s standard commission costs.
### WeChat Deal Gives Apple a 15% Commission
Following prolonged negotiations, Apple has secured a deal with Tencent, the creator of WeChat, to permit Apple to manage payments for purchases made within WeChat’s mini-games and apps. As reported by Bloomberg, this agreement will allow Apple to receive a 15% share of these transactions, a rate that is notably lower than the usual 30% commission charged by the App Store.
This arrangement not only opens a new revenue channel for Apple but also alleviates pressure on Tencent, which runs WeChat at the core of millions of Chinese users’ lives. The financial ramifications of this deal could be considerable, potentially amounting to billions of dollars for Apple.
In conclusion, while Apple confronts regulatory hurdles regarding its App Store commissions in different nations, the WeChat collaboration signifies a strategic maneuver to bolster its earnings in one of the largest smartphone markets globally.
Read MoreDirectly sourced from Evan Blass.
Notice
Read More
Samsung is reportedly implementing substantial design alterations to its forthcoming Galaxy Z Flip 8, with the goal of decreasing the device’s thickness and weight by over 10%. This initiative is part of Samsung’s approach to enhance sales following the Galaxy Z Flip 7’s disappointing market results. The company is concentrating on significant design enhancements for the Z Flip 8, anticipating that it will lead to a 10% rise in foldable sales next year.
The Galaxy Z Flip 8’s more streamlined and lighter design is regarded as a vital element in boosting its attractiveness, particularly as Samsung braces for rivalry from Apple’s rumored foldable smartphone debut. The Z Flip 7, despite featuring a larger cover screen and a more recent Snapdragon processor, fell short of sales targets, unlike the more successful Galaxy Z Fold 7. Samsung’s initiatives to refine the Z Flip 8’s design form part of a wider strategy to uphold its dominance in the foldable phone industry and counter potential threats from Apple.
Read Morealongside iOS 26.2, iPadOS 26.2, and others. With the second iteration of this anticipated operating system update, the company has introduced a new feature set to be included in the official launch next month, known as Edge Light. This capability generates a virtual ring light to enhance your video calls, such as FaceTime, Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, and more.
Edge Light complements other video conferencing features Apple has included over the years, such as Studio Light, Portrait mode, virtual backgrounds, and Voice Isolation. While this feature is accessible on all Mac models equipped with Apple Silicon, only users with models released in 2024 and beyond can select to have the effect activate automatically when ambient lighting is insufficient.
This feature utilizes the Apple Neural Engine, which identifies faces, their relative sizes, and positions within the camera feed. The Image Signal Processor analyzes light conditions to adjust the auto brightness, thus enhancing the video conferencing experience even further.
the iPhone Fold, the device will resemble Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold series, although it may have a different aspect ratio. A recent article from the Korean outlet The Bell indicates that Samsung perceives the iPhone Fold as a danger to its entire foldable smartphone sector, not solely the Galaxy Z Fold lineup. Consequently, Samsung aims for its 2026 foldable phones to be more competitive, ensuring the forthcoming iPhone Fold does not jeopardize its leading market share. Per the report, Samsung intends to sell 10% more combined units of Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Flip 8 compared to their earlier versions. To achieve this, the company is concentrating on the Galaxy Z Flip model, with plans for a significant redesign of the clamshell phone.
The report mentions that Samsung’s ambition to boost Galaxy Z Flip 8 sales is a direct reaction to Apple launching its first foldable phone next year. The Bell states that Apple’s intentions to unveil a foldable iPhone came to the attention of senior Samsung executives in early 2024 through reports from U.S. media, raising concerns. A high-ranking executive allegedly instructed Samsung’s mobile division to enhance the competitiveness of the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7 models. Apple’s venture into the foldable arena could broaden the market, but it might also endanger Samsung’s standing in ways that Chinese competitors could not.
Samsung introduced its inaugural foldable phone in 2019, a Fold-type device. Since then, Chinese smartphone manufacturers have released various innovations in this domain that Samsung was slow to adopt. Honor produced ultra-thin Fold-type foldables for years before Samsung matched that dimension. Oppo unveiled a larger cover screen on a clamshell phone ahead of the Galaxy Z Flip’s introduction of one.
RSplaneta/Shutterstock
HDMI is undoubtedly one of the most favored connection types for smart televisions. With its ability to carry both video and audio signals through a single cable, finding a QLED or OLED TV without at least a couple of HDMI ports is quite rare, as some models even offer three or four. However, it’s important to remember the devices that connect to our TVs without using an HDMI cable. There was a time when we connected cable boxes and AV devices to the TV using RCA and coaxial cables.
Whether utilizing composite connections — red and white for audio, yellow for video — or investing in pricier component video cables for optimal picture quality, the period before HDMI was significantly more cluttered regarding cabling. While HDMI ports are prevalent in modern smart TVs, alternative connection devices are still in use. From soundbars and vintage VCRs to laptops and smartphones, all these gadgets can easily link to your smart TV without needing an HDMI cable.
a fresh video conferencing capability named Edge Light in macOS Tahoe 26.2 beta 2, the firm is also actively developing additional functionalities for iPhone users. Notably, Apple is still refining the Liquid Glass design.
As observed by X user Aaron, Apple has enhanced the Liquid Glass animation, achieving UI quality reminiscent of WWDC. With iOS 26.2 beta 2, the Liquid Glass appears more lively and dynamic, reminiscent of the presentation Apple showcased during the WWDC 2025 keynote in June. We’ll have to await future betas to discover how Apple will further refine its emerging visual style.
The Liquid Glass animation in iOS 26.2 beta 2 is incredible, feels like what was demonstrated at WWDC pic.twitter.com/J6YruZz4cR
— Aaron (@aaronp613) November 12, 2025
In addition, the Measure app is the most recent stock application to receive the Liquid Glass makeover. Now, instead of displaying white circles for measurements, Apple has introduced two Liquid Glass bubbles. Here’s everything else that is new with the second iOS 26.2 beta.
<div class="slide-key image-holder gallery-image-holder credit-image-wrap " data-post-url="https://
Read More
