Author Archives: Lawrence Bonk

Spotify Wrapped 2025 is here and now it’s a competition?

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It's that time of year again, when all of our favorite streaming platforms start dropping personalized lists of what we've been consuming. Spotify Wrapped is perhaps the biggest of the bunch and it's available for perusal right now.

As always, users can access Wrapped to find their most listened-to genres, artists, songs, albums and podcasts from the past year. This information is shareable via social media if you want random bald eagle avatars to comment on your music taste, but there's a new interactive feature called Wrapped Party.

The tool in action.
Spotify

This is a game of a sort. Spotify says it "turns your listening data into a live competition." Wrapped Party hands out awards for stuff like listening to smaller artists and obsession with a particular artist, in addition to total minutes streamed. Finally, friends can settle the age-old debate of "who listens to music more."

Spotify Wrapped is also about the platform itself, so we have plenty of little tidbits from the global user base. Bad Bunny was named the most streamed artist in the world, just ahead of his Super Bowl performance that internet bozos have turned into a controversy for some reason. This is the fourth time he's come out on top in the past five years. He also had the most popular album of the year.

He wins an award.
Spotify

The global top song is something of a surprise, as it's not Bad Bunny or even Taylor Swift. It's the Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars duet "Die With a Smile." The top podcast is, as always, The Joe Rogan Experience. At least Spotify is getting what it paid for with Rogan.

If you don't use Spotify for whatever reason, other major streaming platforms offer something similar to Wrapped. Apple Music has Replay and Amazon Music has Delivered. Even YouTube got in on the act this year, unveiling a recap for video watchers.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/music/spotify-wrapped-2025-is-here-and-now-its-a-competition-130052418.html?src=rss

Raspberry Pi raises prices, thanks to AI

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Raspberry Pi is raising prices on many single-board computers, with increases going into effect immediately. The Raspberry Pi 4 and 5 modules are shooting up by $5 to $25, depending on the model and the included amount of RAM. The 16GB memory variants of the Compute Module 5 are going up by $20 and now start at $140.

This is a bummer and we know who to thank. It's the ultimate memory hog of all time, the AI industry.

"The current pressure on memory prices, driven by competition from the AI infrastructure roll-out, is painful but ultimately temporary," CEO Eben Upton wrote in a blog post. He also said that the company looks forward to "unwinding these price increases once it abates." Once a price shoots up it doesn't typically go down again, but we'll cross that bridge when we get to it.

A module.
Raspberry Pi

There is a spot of good news here. The company also announced a new 1GB variant of the Raspberry Pi 5 that costs just $45. This one includes a quad-core 2.4GHz Arm Cortex-A76 processor, dual-band Wi-Fi and a PCI Express slot.

AI companies hoover up RAM like a vacuum over kitty litter and Raspberry Pi is just the latest organization to face consequences. The skyrocketing price of RAM has impacted businesses like CyberPower PC, which recently announced that there would be no holiday sales on memory products.

Of course, AI companies also gobble up GPUs, which has placed a strain on the entire industry. But can you really put a price on an AI-created video of Pikachu getting cooked in a stew or a fake livestream? This is serious stuff that requires every iota of our water, electricity, attention and money.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/raspberry-pi-raises-prices-thanks-to-ai-190618469.html?src=rss

Fast & Furious director Justin Lin is making the Helldivers movie

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We've known there was a film adaptation of Helldivers coming for a while, but we now have a director and writer. Justin Lin will helm the movie and Gary Dauberman is writing the script, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Justin Lin is a great choice here. He directed many of the more beloved Fast & Furious entries and helmed the criminally underrated Star Trek Beyond. Helldivers is kind of a mix of both. It has outer space stuff, but also stylish action that occasionally borders on satire. Lin hasn't made that many movies in recent years, but did sign on to adapt the Keanu Reeves comic BRZRKR for Netflix.

However, he's been all over TV screens. Lin has become a prolific TV producer, with credits on shows like S.W.A.T., Scorpion, Magnum P.I. and Warrior.

As for the script, Dauberman penned both It and It Chapter Two. He also wrote Annabelle and both of its follow-ups, along with The Nun and a recent adaptation of Salem's Lot. He's mostly a horror guy, so we'll have to see how he does with over-the-top action.

For the uninitiated, Helldivers is a co-op shooter franchise that's heavily inspired by the movie Starship Troopers. The games are set in a hyper-patriotic dystopia called Super Earth. Helldivers 2 dropped in 2024, but just came out for Xbox earlier this year. Sony has yet to announce a release date for the film adaptation, so it might be a while.

As an aside, Helldivers 2 developer Arrowhead Game Studios just dropped a nifty update for the PC build. It brings the file size down to 23GB from 154GB. That's a massive reduction of 131GB. We aren't sure what kind of compression wizardry went into that. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/fast--furious-director-justin-lin-is-making-the-helldivers-movie-173429140.html?src=rss

December Game Pass additions include Mortal Kombat 1 and Dome Keeper

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It's that time of the month again. Xbox just announced some new games that are heading to Game Pass in December. Let's take a look.

The most renowned of the bunch is absolutely Mortal Kombat 1, which drops on December 10 for Ultimate and Premium subscribers. This is the latest game in the long-running fighting franchise that cut its teeth in darkened arcades throughout the 1990s.

Mortal Kombat 1 boasts an updated fighting system and plenty of new game modes. However, it's still basically the same gorefest we grew up with. Players can still access bloodsoaked fatalities and turn their opponents into cute little babies.

The long-gestating sci-fi horror game Routine is finally coming out on December 4, and it's a Game Pass day one release for Ultimate subscribers. This was first announced all the way back in 2012. It looks pretty fun, with a distinctly retro vibe.

Dome Keeper drops on December 9 for Premium and Ultimate Subscribers. This is a fun little roguelike that I've spent an unhealthy amount of time on. It's a fast-paced mining simulator with some light tower defense mechanics. You'll be saying "just one more run" long into the night with this one.

Lost Records: Bloom & Rage is available right now for Premium and Ultimate subscribers. This is the latest narrative adventure from the folks behind Life is Strange. It's set in the 1990s, so throw on some plaid or whatever.

A bunch of cool games are also spreading their wings and becoming available for Premium subscribers after being Ultimate exclusives. There are some real blockbusters here, like Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Monster Train 2, 33 Immortals and Spray Paint Simulator.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/xbox/december-game-pass-additions-include-mortal-kombat-1-and-dome-keeper-161232292.html?src=rss

YouTube just introduced a yearly recap of your watched videos

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YouTube has introduced a yearly recap to the main app for the first time ever, bringing the focus to video. This recap highlights a user's favorite channels, topics and other fun little nuggets sourced from viewing habits throughout the year. It's available for perusal right now for both free and premium users.

Just look for the "You" tab at the bottom of the app to get started. Alternatively, web users can head to youtube.com/recap to access the same information. This recap can be shared across social media, just like all of the other ones from platforms like Spotify and Apple Music.

A shot of the recap.
YouTube

Speaking of music, the yearly YouTube Music recap is still going, but there's a slight twist. Users will get shuttled to the Music app for a dedicated recap after working through the 2025 video highlight reel. This feature only triggers for users who have enjoyed the YouTube Music app for at least ten hours. 

These recaps are only available for adults, which should please parents who don't want to see an itemized list of all of the annoying loudmouths their kids watch on YouTube all day. This was the platform's 20th year, so we recently compiled our own list of our favorite videos going all the way back to 2005.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/youtube-just-introduced-a-yearly-recap-of-your-watched-videos-140016460.html?src=rss

Amazon Music’s year-end recap arrives today

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One of the newer traditions of the holiday season is reading itemized lists of what we watched, played and listened to on our favorite streaming platforms throughout the year. Spotify Wrapped is perhaps the most famous of the bunch, but Amazon Music has its own year-end recap called Delivered and this year's edition is available right now.

Favorite songs from the year.
Amazon

Amazon Music Delivered started last year and provides subscribers with a list of their favorite songs, artists and podcasts. It also shows off "the top request you've made with Alexa." I use Alexa primarily as an alarm, so that particular statistic won't be setting my world on fire.

This year, there's a "Best of 2025" section that highlights the biggest songs, albums and podcasts from every user across the app. This list includes songs by Taylor Swift, Geese, Bad Bunny and others. Finally, the app will generate a fake music fest based on a particular user's favorite artists.

A poster for a fest.
Amazon

Amazon Music Unlimited costs $11 per month for Prime members and $12 per month for everyone else. As previously mentioned, Prime members do get a streamlined version of the service as a perk.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/amazon-musics-year-end-recap-arrives-today-130029446.html?src=rss

Marques Brownlee’s controversial Panels app is shutting down

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Marques Brownlee's Panels app is shutting down on December 31. The creators blame this on a shifting development team, as they weren't able to "bring in collaborators who shared our passion and vision, and we weren't able to find the right fit."

Annual subscribers will get a refund when the app shutters and any downloaded wallpapers will still be available to use. Additionally, the developers will be making the app's code available to "allow anyone to build on what we started."

Brownlee, a popular tech YouTuber who goes by MKBHD, introduced the Panels app back in 2024. It sailed to the top of the various app charts, for a time, but was mired by controversy. It's basically just a marketplace for smartphone wallpaper images, but one that requires a steep subscription price for real access. Angry consumers also complained that the app was plagued by intrusive ads and mandated intrusive data-tracking permissions.

MKBHD tried to assuage concerns by introducing a cheaper subscription tier and improving the free experience. However, it looks like the damage was done. Panels was a tough sell even without the frustrations, as not that many people want to spend real money on smartphone wallpapers. Maybe that idea would've flown when smartphones were still new and exciting, but that ship sailed over a decade ago.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/marques-brownlees-controversial-panels-app-is-shutting-down-192224468.html?src=rss

Get the Amazon Smart Plug for a record-low price on Cyber Monday

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The Amazon Smart Plug is on sale for just $13 as part of a Cyber Monday promotion. This is a discount of $12 and represents a record low price. If you've been waiting to stock up on some smart plugs, now might be the time.

The Amazon product is one of our selections for the best smart plugs on the market. It's an excellent addition for homes that rely on a lot of Alexa-enabled devices. The smart plug can be easily set up in the Alexa app and is, appropriately, a plug-and-play part of your home's gadgetry.

Once connected, you'll be able to use any device with Alexa to control whatever it's plugged into. For instance, you can group multiple plugs together as lights and then just say "Alexa, turn all the lights off" and it'll do just that. They are compatible with just about any household device with a physical on/off switch, including lamps and coffee makers.

While these are the perfect smart plugs for Alexa households, they are only for Alexa households. The plugs don't integrate with any other digital assistant. They are still the best choice for those tied into the ecosystem. Other smart plugs on sale for Cyber Monday include the Kasa Mini smart plugs; you can get a four-pack for $24.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/get-the-amazon-smart-plug-for-a-record-low-price-on-cyber-monday-060008101.html?src=rss

Three months of Audible for $3 is still available the day after Cyber Monday

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Cyber Monday might be over, but some of our favorite subscription deals haven't gone away just yet. From video streaming services to budgeting apps, many services will have some promotion you may be able to take advantage of. One of the best we're tracking is for Audible. You can sign up and get your first three months for just $3 in total.

That's $1 per month for your first three months of audiobooks. Just make sure you cancel before the 90 days are up, otherwise the subscription will auto-renew for its normal $15 per month price. That's a solid deal if you want to sample Audible before you decide to commit.

Audible has a diverse catalog that goes beyond audiobooks. It also hosts podcasts and Audible Originals. Subscribers get to choose one audiobook each month to keep in their collection for free, including best-sellers or new releases. Users also get unlimited access to the Plus Catalog, which houses thousands of audiobooks. Finally, active members get discounts on many audiobooks when looking to purchase. Winter is coming and this is a good way to make sure you have plenty to listen to throughout the next three months. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/three-months-of-audible-for-3-is-still-available-the-day-after-cyber-monday-151010648.html?src=rss

Hytale’s early access build drops on January 13 and costs $20

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We finally have a release date for the early access build of Hytale. The fun starts on January 13. The game costs $20 and is available for PC. Preorders go up on December 13.

This is a true early access build, so don't go in expecting a polished experience. Developer Hypixel Studios says it's "still very much unfinished and will be buggy for a while" but that the team is committed to perfecting the game over time. Studio co-founder Simon Collins-Laflamme recently said "I don't think the game is good yet," so make of that what you will.

For the uninitiated, Hytale is a nifty-looking open world adventure game that looks to be visually inspired by Minecraft. It's been on our radar for years and development goes all the way back to 2015.

It's been a long road getting to early access, with enough twists and turns to fuel a boardroom drama. Riot bought the studio in 2020, ostensibly to continue work on Hytale. However, the company behind League of Legends soured on the concept after a few years. It shut down Hypixel Studios earlier this year and ended development of the game.

That should've been the end, but it wasn't. Hypixel managed to secure funding to buy the rights back from Riot and brought Hytale back from the dead. The company rehired a bunch of staffers that were impacted by Riot's decision and got to work. Hypixel showed off a bunch of new footage of the game just one day after it announced the acquisition. That's what the kids refer to as a "flex."

In any event, it's good to get a happy ending for once. Hytale may not be a polished product when the early access is released in January, but I have full confidence that it'll get there.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/hytales-early-access-build-drops-on-january-13-and-costs-20-164204422.html?src=rss