AllYouCanTech

Disney Allocates $1 Billion to OpenAI for Incorporating Mickey Mouse into Text Prompts

Disney’s Enormous Sora Investment Poses Threats to ‘Digital Chaos’

Key Points to Consider

– Disney is committing $1 billion to OpenAI for the integration of Sora into its framework beginning in 2026.
– Users will be able to produce short videos with more than 200 licensed characters from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars.
– The agreement does not permit the use of real actor likenesses or voices, meaning digital replicas of stars cannot be created.

Recently, the entertainment sector regarded AI as a potential danger. However, Disney’s $1 billion investment in OpenAI signifies a change in the collaboration dynamics of studios with generative AI. From 2026 onward, OpenAI’s Sora text-to-video framework will be linked with Disney’s proprietary assets. Users can craft short films featuring over 200 characters from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars, as stated in a joint announcement.

This encompasses characters like Iron Man, Captain America, The Mandalorian, and Rey. Iconic animated characters such as Mickey Mouse, Minnie, Simba, and Baymax will also be included. Users can utilize costumes, props, and vehicles to create personalized clips simply by entering a prompt.

Severe Restrictions Are in Place

Disney restricts the use to animated, masked, and creature characters exclusively. This arrangement excludes actor likenesses and vocal performances, disallowing the generation of digital representations of stars such as Robert Downey Jr. or Mark Hamill.

Though the technology is remarkable, there are concerns that making these characters widely accessible dilutes Disney’s narrative quality. Despite these worries, Disney intends to handpick specific fan-generated videos for streaming on Disney Plus, which could enhance fan interaction or impact the platform’s reputation.

Additionally, Disney plans to leverage OpenAI’s tools internally, aiming to become a significant consumer by employing ChatGPT for the creation of new products and experiences. The launch is set for early 2026. Whether this initiative results in a new chapter of creativity or an inundation of digital clutter is yet to be determined.

Satechi’s Latest Magnetic 7-in-1 USB-C Hub: Includes HDMI, USB-A, SD/MicroSD Reader, 100W USB PD Charging, and Gigabit Ethernet

This USB-C hub provides all the connections you require without occupying too much space.

AYANEO Pocket PLAY Teaser Trailer Unveiled, Sparking Further Questions

Fingers crossed we won’t have to wait until 2027 for AYANEO’s inaugural phone.

What you need to know:

– Following months of anticipation, the AYANEO Pocket PLAY was officially unveiled in a teaser video.
– This marks AYANEO’s first foray into the smartphone market, following years of concentrating on Android and Windows gaming handhelds.
– The phone boasts a sliding design, reminiscent of the Sony Xperia Play, with controls accessible after sliding the screen upwards.
– While a Kickstarter campaign landing page is active, there are currently no specifics regarding specifications, pricing, or availability.

In early August, AYANEO, creator of some of the finest Android gaming handhelds, began teasing the launch of its first smartphone. Late last night, further details surfaced, as the AYANEO Pocket PLAY was showcased in the teaser video below.

This seeks to be the first phone with an integrated gamepad in at least a decade, as Sony held the patent that officially expires in early 2025. Since that time, we’ve only seen one brand release something even remotely similar to the Xperia Play, with the Anbernic RG Slide arriving in June 2025.

The teaser trailer manages to effectively highlight the phone from all perspectives, although it refrains from offering too many specifics. Consequently, AYANEO has yet to disclose any information about specifications, pricing, or availability.

That said, there are no mysteries regarding the overall design, as the Pocket PLAY appears to consist of a mix of aluminum and glass. One can only wish some plastic is included somewhere, otherwise, this is going to be quite a hefty smartphone.

The screen slides upwards, locking into a flat orientation, which may disappoint those who might have preferred an angled design. Still, after moving the screen aside, we are welcomed with a complete set of gamepad controls.

These exceed the typical ABXY+D-pad layout, as there are two “Smart Dual-Mode Touchpads.” This simply means that each touchpad can function as either a virtual joystick or a trackpad. This is likely similar to the AYANEO Pocket DMG, which features one physical joystick, and a touchpad area that acts as the second joystick.

From there, the Pocket PLAY provides an assortment of other buttons, including the standard Start+Select combination, along with a dedicated AYANEO button. However, there are a few buttons on the front, particularly the red one, whose function remains unclear.

Moving beyond the gaming features, it’s quite likely you won’t see the Pocket PLAY compared to the Galaxy S26 Ultra or iPhone 17 Pro once it launches. At least, not in terms of camera quality. On the back of the phone, there are three cutouts, with the top two containing the sensors and the bottom one designated for the flash.

Even with AYANEO attempting to evoke the nostalgia of a modern Sony Xperia Play, the company faces several challenges. For starters, we remain unaware of the device’s actual price, nor do we know if AYANEO will target global distribution. If that’s the case, it will need to obtain FCC certification for U.S. sales, which is already a significant task, especially for a start-up.

Then there’s the question of when the Pocket PLAY will actually hit the market. Recent launches, such as the Pocket DS and KONKR Pocket FIT, suggest that AYANEO might be having difficulty keeping up with production. Not to mention that they keep unveiling new devices on what seems like a monthly basis.

Nonetheless, when the AYANEO Pocket PLAY is finally released, there’s a strong chance I’ll be looking to get one. Speaking of which, there’s an active Kickstarter campaign landing page, which already has more than 1,000 “followers.” Now, it’s just a matter of playing the waiting game.

A true gaming phone

After the Xperia Play, I never expected to see another Android gaming phone with a sliding mechanism being introduced. Yet, that’s precisely what AYANEO aims to accomplish with the Pocket PLAY, which is quite ambitious for the company’s first smartphone.

Epic Games’ Fortnite Makes a Comeback on the Play Store as a Successful Battle Royale Game

Guess who has made a comeback.

Best Buy Presents $400 Savings on Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra for Holiday Sale

The offer arrives shortly after Cyber Monday and Black Friday, reducing the tablet’s price to just $800.

Trump’s Suggested Travel Regulation Mandates Visitors to Submit Social Media Background

This examination of tourists’ experiences is just the beginning, with intentions to delve into the lives of those nearest to you.

Qualcomm Unveils Two New Snapdragon Processors for Mid-Range Devices

Qualcomm has unveiled the introduction of two new chips designed to boost the performance of budget-friendly devices, emphasizing advancements in AI and photography. The Snapdragon 6s 4G Gen 2 and Snapdragon 4 Gen 4 are tailored for the mid-range and entry-level segments, respectively, delivering substantial performance enhancements.

The Snapdragon 6s 4G Gen 2 incorporates Kryo CPU cores with clock speeds reaching 2.9GHz and features an upgraded Adreno GPU, resulting in a 20% increase in graphical performance. It accommodates 120fps and low-latency on FHD Plus displays, rendering it perfect for seamless visuals and effective multitasking. This chip also advances photography skills, facilitating support for cameras up to 108MP and enabling simultaneous multi-photo and video capture. AI improvements comprise enhanced voice assistant response times, improved microphone functionality, and echo cancellation.

The Snapdragon 4 Gen 4, while sharing some features, prioritizes battery efficiency through Quick Charge 4 Plus technology, enabling devices to charge from 0% to 50% in approximately 15 minutes. It also accommodates 108MP cameras and integrates hardware-based multi-frame noise reduction to minimize graininess in images. Both chips are part of Qualcomm’s mobile strategy, concentrating on the budget device market with notable AI and photography advancements.

Huawei Mate X7’s Cameras Dazzle with Breathtaking Images of the Globe’s Highest Structure

Huawei is elevating foldable cameras with the Mate X7.

Moto G 2026: An Excellent $199 Smartphone Now Offered in Distinctive Colors and Materials, Featuring a Vibrant Pink Variant

The Moto G 2026 has officially launched in the U.S. and Canada.

Meta’s Quest 4 Approach: Reality Labs Focuses on Gaming by Optimizing Operations

No, Meta is not withdrawing from VR or “implementing significant reductions,” as some may have you think. It is returning to its roots and what initially made Quest exceptional.

Recently, a flurry of news articles and analyst evaluations concentrated on Meta’s “substantial cuts” within its Metaverse division. This new division of Reality Labs, established just a month ago, was designed to neatly divide Reality Labs into more concrete business objectives, and it was clearly set up prior to the significant developments we witnessed in the last two weeks.

According to a Bloomberg report, Meta might be initiating 30% reductions to the division starting in January. That was sufficient for numerous outlets to rally and proclaim that “VR is dead” yet again, a refrain that far too many technology-oriented publications enjoy shouting year after year. However, the actual situation contradicts that narrative entirely. In fact, the truth is quite the opposite of what these sources suggest.

Right before this news broke, Meta hired two elite designers from Apple, and this news surfaced just days after new leaks indicated a gaming-centric, high-end Meta Quest 4 in development. Ironically, all of this transpires as CTO Andrew Bosworth’s assurance that 2025 will be “the work of visionaries or a legendary misadventure” nears its end, signaling that the company’s preoccupation with Horizon Worlds as the primary “metaverse” has been the issue all along.

Returning to fundamentals

The primary Reality Labs division was established on August 25, 2020, right before the Meta Quest 2’s debut. Since then, this division has been in charge of developing VR headsets, smart glasses, Horizon Worlds, sEMG gesture bands, the Horizon operating system, next-gen realistic avatars, and more.

Meta invests billions in Reality Labs technology each quarter, with expenditures rising from around $2 billion in Q4 2020 to an astounding $6.05 billion in Q4 2024. Since 2022, over 50% of Reality Labs’ budget has been allocated to developing genuine AR glasses like Meta Orion, although the closest Meta has come to launching a consumer product is the Ray-Ban Display Glasses.

Since late 2022, Meta has been reducing spending across most divisions by about 10% annually to regain financial control. Due to Reality Labs’ unchecked spending growth, Zuckerberg allegedly requested a 20% reduction in expenditure by the end of 2025. That reportedly never materialized.

Now, the division needs to reduce spending by 30% to align with the 10% annual cut plus the 20% 2025 cut that did not occur. That’s not a drastic cut; it’s an alignment with all other divisions within Meta.

Meta is not abandoning VR whatsoever, quite the contrary. However, I believe the company is making crucial transitions away from unsuccessful projects like Horizon Worlds and toward the creation of new mixed-reality glasses. The December 4 report from Business Insider supports this viewpoint, and new leaks regarding a gaming-focused, ultralight Meta Quest 4 further elucidate what is unfolding at Meta.

Now, does that imply Horizon Worlds will vanish tomorrow? Certainly not. Meta has notably redesigned the operating system that powers the Meta Quest (referred to as Horizon OS) to focus on utilizing Horizon Worlds as a central social platform. Some aspects of this transition have proven beneficial to the Quest’s OS, such as more straightforward ways to connect and communicate with friends and decreased barriers for new users.

Instead, I believe Meta will now re-emphasize game developers as it seeks to mend relationships that suffered when it fully committed to Horizon Worlds integration. VR games have been obscenely challenging to locate on the official Meta Quest store because Horizon Worlds content has dominated the forefront for the last 15 months or so, leading to significant issues for developers and sales of Meta Quest games.

With all of this clarified, it creates a much clearer understanding of Reality Labs’ activities and what Meta’s future offerings will resemble. For now, Meta Quest headsets, alongside smart glasses like Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2 and Oakley Meta HSTN, will continue generating about a billion in revenue each quarter, with Meta anticipating further growth in these areas as it begins to substantially reduce expenditures.

That is not Meta surrendering on VR or “the Metaverse,” as many like to claim. That’s the company ensuring that the products and services that matter to people remain available long-term and continue to evolve as users engage with them. Services like Horizon Worlds are fading, while ultralight hardware with the same beloved capabilities we know today (like Android XR’s Project Aura) is becoming the new trend.

Meanwhile, Quest gamers can still look forward to thrilling games such as Batman: Arkham Shadow, Deadpool.