Walmart’s Next Streaming Stick Will Run Google TV Again
Walmart is set to release an updated Onn Full HD Streaming Device that runs Google TV, mirroring the 2023 model in design and specifications. The new stick is produced by Skyworth in Mexico, replacing the previous Luxshare‑made version built in Vietnam. While the hardware remains unchanged, the shift reflects Walmart’s effort to diversify its supply chain. The retailer continues to favor Google TV for its budget streaming line despite acquiring Vizio last year.
Disney Bets on AI -- and the Backlash Against It
Disney announced a $1 billion investment in OpenAI to license its characters for the AI video app Sora, positioning generative AI as a long‑term strategic opportunity. However, OpenAI abruptly shut down Sora in March, prompting Disney to suspend the planned investment....
Netflix Tests Its Own AI-Powered Voice Search
Netflix has begun beta testing an AI‑powered native voice search, letting users press the remote’s Netflix button and speak natural‑language requests for recommendations. The feature offers preset prompts such as “I need a good cry” and an “Ask” option that...
The TV OS Wars Continue
Omdia’s latest forecast shows Europe’s smart‑TV operating system market remaining fragmented through 2030, with four vendors each holding over 10% share and two more at roughly 5%. Google’s Android TV/Google TV platform, the current leader, peaked at one‑third of shipments...
25 Years Later, Is It Time for a New iPod?
Marking the iPod’s 25th anniversary, interest in dedicated MP3 players is resurging. Google searches for “MP3 player” have tripled, a Reddit community attracts 90,000 weekly visitors, and The New York Times notes teens treating iPods as retro fashion. Apple discontinued...
Amazon Releases Second Fire TV Stick with Vega OS, Plans to Bring It to All Future Models
Amazon announced the Fire TV Stick HD, its slimmest streaming stick yet, slated for release at month‑end. The device adds Wi‑Fi 6 and is claimed to be 30% faster than its predecessor. Unlike earlier models, the new stick runs Vega, Amazon’s...
Niantic Spatial’s John Hanke: The Don’t-Call-It an Exit Interview
Niantic, the creator of Pokémon Go, has completed a major transformation by selling its gaming division and rebranding as Niantic Spatial, a pure‑play mapping and geospatial‑AI firm. At the end of last month the company appointed former IBM executive Inhi Cho Suh as...
Scoop: Meta Gets Ready to Launch Two New Ray-Ban AI Glasses
Meta and its hardware partner EssilorLuxottica are preparing to launch two new Ray‑Ban AI glasses, as indicated by recent FCC filings that list the devices as production‑ready units. The filings suggest the models are close to market, echoing the rapid...
Meta Exec Hopes VR Teens Will Stick Around
At GDC, Meta Reality Labs games director Chris Pruett warned that the VR gaming market is experiencing its toughest period ever. Meta has cut more than 1,000 VR‑related jobs and shuttered several first‑party studios, yet Quest store revenue edged up...