Japanese conglomerate; electronics, entertainment, and tech giant
Verizon is rolling out early Black Friday offers across smartphones, including free smartwatches and earbuds with select devices when paired with a Simplicity and Watch Plan. Discounts on flagship phones are applied as monthly credits, with free accessories shipping after activation.
ZDNet has reported that most people no longer need flagship levels of phone storage or RAM. For storage, 128GB or 256GB will suit most users who stream and use cloud backups; 64GB is now the bare minimum. For RAM, 8GB–12GB will cover most use cases while high-tier RAM is driving device price increases in 2026.
Memory prices for DRAM and related chips have spiked as demand from AI-focused data centers, smartphones and consoles outpaces supply. Producers are locking up long-term memory supply, raising costs for consumer devices and cloud services. Apple is testing CXMT memory amid broader price pressures.
Rockstar Games has opened digital-only preorders for Grand Theft Auto VI, offering a $79.99 Standard Edition and a $99.99 Ultimate Edition for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. The game has faced repeated delays, an extensive leak campaign, and accusations of union-busting after Rockstar fired more than 30 employees; a Netflix preview event and leaked clips have already circulated.
Xbox announces a disc-to-digital program that will let players claim a digital entitlement for most Xbox One and Series X titles by inserting the disc. The entitlement enables digital play, cross‑play features, and backward compatibility on future hardware. Not all titles are included and some licensing constraints apply. Sony has announced a shift toward a digital future with no more physical discs for new PlayStation games from January 2028.
Sony Music Publishing and Warner Chappell have filed a federal lawsuit accusing Anthropic and its founders of illegally torrenting and using tens of thousands of copyrighted lyrics and sheet music to train Claude. The publishers say Claude can reproduce protected lyrics verbatim and generates AI songs that compete with human composers; they seek statutory damages and an injunction.
Roku has introduced its first OLED TVs, the Pro Series and Pro Series LX, priced aggressively to challenge LG and Samsung. The 55" and 65" models are available now on Amazon, with LX offering brighter panels and 144Hz VRR. Roku claims competitive pricing, backlit remotes, and a user-friendly OS to appeal to home-theater fans.
Labor Day deals remain available across tech, home, mattresses and fashion, but savings have cooled since the peak. Shoppers should act quickly as many offers expire tonight or soon, with some brands already returning to regular pricing.
The New York Post highlights a Labor Day sale on Apple AirPods 4 with a redesigned H2 chip, improved sound, and USB-C charging. The deal offers the earbuds under $100 for a limited time amid broader discounts.
The White House has put up arcade-style games on its site to promote policy, including a Tetris-inspired Build the Wall. Tetris Corp denies involvement and says it takes copyright infringement seriously; takedown reports follow as other games remain online.
A wave of reviews from BBC, The Independent and The Guardian assess Marvel’s Wolverine, praising its combat and visual design while debating its linear structure and violence. Insomniac’s shift from Spider-Man’s open world to a more guided path is seen as a gamble with potential rewards and drawbacks.
Silent Hill: Townfall places a Scottish coastal village at the heart of a major horror game. Set in St. Amelia, inspired by St Monans in Fife, the game blends authentic local atmosphere with psychological horror, featuring a US protagonist and a chilling fog-drenched landscape.
PS5 emulators and related tools are expanding the accessibility of recent PlayStation games on PC, including Astro Bot and Demon’s Souls, with projects like SharpEmu, KytyPS5, and AnyPS5 driving playable states across multiple titles. The wave raises questions about legality, originality, and the boundaries of game ownership.
Prime Day has delivered notable discounts across TVs and monitors. The Frame TV is discounted with a free bezel, while Alienware's AW2725DF monitor and other models are on sale, offering strong value for gaming and productivity.
A wave of Prime Day and seasonal discounts focuses on mini-LED TVs and smart displays. Deals cover Hisense, TCL, Samsung Frame, and Echo Show 8, with prices slashed and features highlighted for gaming, HDR, and home automation.
Retailers have rolled out early Black Friday discounts on a wide range of headphones and earbuds. Budget models such as Soundcore Space 2 and Sony WH-CH530 have deep cuts; Shokz OpenRun Pro bone-conduction models and Bose QuietComfort headphones are on significant sale; Apples AirPods line, including AirPods 5 and AirPods Pro 3, have received price reductions and remain top recommendations in reviews.
Global markets are volatile as AI-linked shares retreat amid funding risks. SK Hynix’s Solidigm reviews have been halted due to market conditions, while other AI infra players face investor scrutiny. The Kospi, Nasdaq, and European indices are all showing declines as inflation and rate expectations fuel selling.
Documentary on Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes has sparked varied reactions in tech circles as audiences, investors and insiders react to the film and its portrayal of Holmes’ rise and fall, with new details about Evans and Theranos 2.0 coming to light.
Business-insider, ZDNet and Independent guide this year’s Black Friday previews, noting early savings across streaming bundles, games, consoles and iPhone deals. Deals begin before Thanksgiving and stretch into Cyber Week, with retailers like Walmart, Amazon and Currys launching preludes in October.
Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiring to collude with foreign forces under the citys national security law. He had already been serving a separate national-security term and had been due for release in January 2027; the new sentence will extend his detention.
Retailers have begun rolling out early Black Friday discounts across electronics, home goods and clothing. The coverage pulls from multiple outlets, noting significant savings ahead of the official Black Friday date. Brands include Macy’s, Wayfair, Best Buy, Kohl’s, Nordstrom, Target, Amazon and Home Depot, with deals ranging from TVs and appliances to fashion and furniture.
Toyota reports a 34% rise in quarterly operating income, driven by strong hybrid demand and cost cuts. The company plans to invest heavily in R&D and robotics, while continuing to navigate Middle East tensions and material costs. Strong results come as China pressure persists and EV competition intensifies.
Sony’s Bravia 7 II, with True RGB backlighting and Cinema-like sound, is at a strong early discount. The 65-inch model is $1,499.99 at Sony or $1,599.99 at Best Buy, with free installation and streaming perks at the retailer.
Sony has reintroduced the MDR-3R headphones, a modern nod to the 1979 MDR-3 Walkman era. The wired design keeps classic aesthetics with orange/blue ear cushions and 23mm drivers, now featuring USB-C and a built-in mic for calls. Reviews note bright mids and highs, with no strong bass, appealing to nostalgia while leaning into a renewed interest in wired audio.