Author: Geek Planet

Last week, Digiday noted how 2025’s mergers and acquisitions were characterized more by a whimper than a bang, and the following day, that rang true with Integral Ad Science confirming its public market exit. The question is, just how many more deflated exits can we expect?  IAS will be acquired by Novacap in a $1.9 billion all-cash deal, ending months of speculation over the ad verification company’s future ownership, with the private equity firm set to pay a 22% premium for IAS.  The deal is expected to close before the end of 2025, with Vista Equity Partners, IAS’ largest shareholder, will…

The Carl Pei-led smartphone manufacturer Nothing is gearing up to launch two new smartphones: the Phone 4a and the Phone 4a Pro. How do we know that? Well, the handsets have been appearing in various regulatory databases, with the most recent listings from authorities in the UAE and the EU. First, let’s talk about the cheaper model of the two, the Nothing Phone 4a. It has recently appeared on the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) certification database in the UAE. With the model number “A069” (via Gadgets360). Early clues from global certifications It could cost around $475 for…

Ad creatives are becoming more forgiving about the use of generative AI outside the office walls. Creative agencies used to maintain red lines over AI usage — limiting tools like ChatGPT, Midjourney and Stable Diffusion for repetitive, time-consuming tasks like storyboarding that wouldn’t make it to the TV screen — reserving actual production to people with cameras and clackerboards. That’s changed in the last year. Hundreds of brands have now released AI ads made from whole cloth for TV and social. “We have seen a shift in client openness to fully AI developed campaigns,” said Christian Pierre, global chief intelligence officer, Gut. “Generative…

Samsung has finally confirmed one of the most interesting and useful Galaxy S26’s new “Privacy Display” feature. We’ve been hearing about it for quite some time, as the initial rumors surfaced in the third quarter of 2025, but the company announced it earlier today with a newsroom post and a couple of videos. “Samsung will soon unveil a new layer of privacy to shield your phone from shoulder surfing wherever you go,” writes the company. The “new layer of privacy” refers to a screen with variable visibility from different viewing angles. What exactly is Samsung’s “Privacy Display” Have you ever…

The shift to macOS Tahoe introduced a whole bunch of upgrades to core Mac systems. Spotlight, in particular, got some noteworthy tweaks such as support for custom shortcuts and an improved AI-powered search system. The disappearance of LaunchPad, however, proved to be a controversial change. Apple also didn’t pay attention to deeper cross-app integrations that have made apps such as RayCast a hot favorite in the user community. The new Spotlight wants to be the hub of your core Mac activities, but not without its fair share of clutter and a few big omissions. And let’s not forget the Dock has remained…

We tend to associate heavy smartphone and internet use with negative mental health outcomes, as we should, but what about the spiritual side effects of the technology? What is social media, pornography, and the litanies of short-form content doing to the souls of kids? To everyone? Jonathan Haidt, the social psychologist at New York University, offered us a frightening proposition to the question in a new essay at The Free Press, later published at his Substack, After Babel. Haidt references a trend to ask ChatGPT that, if the bot were the devil, how it would “ruin the next generation.” Essentially,…

Apple just dropped the latest beta build of iOS 26.3, introducing a new feature that allows users to limit how precisely carriers can track their location. In addition, the company has quietly released an update for a handful of older iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch models, delivering an important upgrade that could keep them out of the landfill a little longer. According to 9to5Mac, the company is rolling out iOS 12.5.8 and iPadOS 12.5.8 for a few legacy devices, including the iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPad Air, iPad mini 2, iPad mini 3, and the iPod touch…

Samsung has finally put a price tag and a confirmed US release date on its boldest phone yet, and the Galaxy Z TriFold might just be the most talked-about gadget of early 2026. After limited regional launches, Samsung has confirmed the TriFold will arrive in the United States on January 30, 2026, with a $2,899 price for the 16GB RAM, 512GB storage configuration. That makes it one of the most expensive phones you can buy, and it clearly leans into premium ambition over mass appeal. Why the Galaxy Z TriFold is Samsung’s boldest bet yet Samsung’s first tri-fold phone is…

It’s nearing that time of year again — the holiday season is approaching, and brands and retailers are preparing their end-of-year sales plans. Digiday+ Research examined which commerce channels are dominating their holiday strategies this year. We also looked at the discounts brands and retailers are offering and the revenue expectations that are guiding their marketing decisions during the essential fourth quarter. To do so, Digiday+ Research surveyed 68 brand and retailer professionals about their past and current use of sales channels during the holidays, their past and current holiday marketing tactics, as well as how their current holiday season…

For years, the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) has evolved from a consumer-electronics showcase to a global premier launchpad for chipmakers, turning the event into a key battleground for leadership in computing and AI hardware. The upcoming 2026 edition is expected to be no less.  AMD has confirmed that President and CEO, Dr. Lisa Su will deliver the opening keynote on January 5, outlining the company’s AI vision across cloud, enterprise, edge, and consumer devices. While we aren’t expecting any major announcements like a new GPU generation or a surprise Zen 6 tease (though we can still dream), expect some important…