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Ben Affleck is running for mayor of L.A. when his son is kidnapped in ‘Animals’ teaser
Ben Affleck plays a man running for Los Angeles mayor whose son is kidnapped in the first teaser for ‘Animals.’ The thriller also stars Kerry Washington, Gillian Anderson, Steven Yeun, and more.
John Cena shares his unique take on WB shelving ‘Coyote vs. Acme’: ‘My answer’s not the common one’
‘Coyote vs. Acme’ star John Cena looks back on the live-action and animated comedy’s bumpy road to the big screen, telling EW he has no hard feelings about the movie initially being shelved as a tax write-off.
Report: Nate Wiggins avoided structural damage in Tuesday's injury
Ravens head coach Jesse Minter said there was optimism that cornerback Nate Wiggins avoided a serious injury after Wiggins was carted off at Tuesday's practice and further testing reportedly supported that feeling.
3 main takeaways from Cowboys’ joint practice with Rams
The Dallas Cowboys got their first opportunity to test themselves against team during Tuesday’s joint practice with the Los Angeles Rams, and there was plenty to like — especially on defense. Facing reigning MVP Matthew Stafford and a Rams team off a trip to the NFC Championship Game provided Dallas with a strong measuring stick before preseason action. The Cowboys defense answered the challenge, creating turnovers and consistently disrupting Los Angeles’ offense.
Kansas City Royals news: Caglianone shines under LA’s bright lights
The Kansas City Royals are mired in a West Coast road trip, but one of their youngest players is standing tall in LA.
‘The Traitors: New Blood’ first ever all-civilian cast revealed (exclusive)
‘The Traitors: New Blood’ first ever all-civilian cast is revealed with photos, bios, and interviews with the 22 new Faithfuls and Traitors.
How Many Steps To Walk For Better Mental Health, Per Psychiatrist
In TODAY.com’s Expert Tip of the Day, a psychiatrist offers her simple prescription for improving mental health with walking, which can reduce depression and anxiety.
Altru’s Home Health Services to close Sept. 1
Team members provide health care services for patients in an area extending from Devils Lake to Thief River Falls, Minnesota. Transition planning for patients is in progress, an official says.
Cyberattacks on US water systems raise alarms, but Congress faces hurdles on a fix
After recent cyberattacks targeted water systems, local leaders are urging Congress to boost protections before a more serious breach disrupts drinking water supplies.
Aaron Rodgers: I don't think there's any advantage to playing in the preseason
The Steelers haven't decided if Rodgers will play on Thursday.
Screwworm neutralizer: insect sterilization | Investors Lab
The fight against screwworm has moved beyond traditional government programs into an arena ripe for biotech intervention:
The ‘little secret weapon' who keeps turning heads at Eagles training camp
Eagles interior offensive lineman Willie Lampkin is undersized but proving himself in training camp.
How to watch the Made by Google event stream and Pixel 11 announcement
You might think you know everything about Google’s next-gen Pixel 11 lineup, but the company is still hoping to surprise...
Sean Payton, Dan Campbell reflect on Teddy Bridgewater's 5-0 run with the 2019 Saints
When Drew Brees got hurt, Bridgwater kept the Saints' season alive.
Nuclear power push ramps up uranium mill
Federal efforts to revive uranium mining in the West and decrease reliance on Russian uranium raise concerns about drinking water for tribal communities reckoning with the industry's deadly legacy.
Yankees news: Giancarlo Stanton runs bases as rehab continues
Stanton getting close; Yanks get $2.6 billion investment; Gil at Hudson Valley; veteran reliever released at Triple-A
Four takeaways from Tuesday's primaries in six states
Voters in half a dozen states went to the polls Tuesday, and results highlight the ongoing conflicts within both parties ahead of the November midterms.
Pritt Investment Partners Introduces a Long-Term Investment Philosophy Centered on Viable Businesses Rather Than Unicorns
RESTON, Va., Aug. 12, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- For decades, much of the venture capital industry has focused on finding the next billion-dollar ...
Google TV just got 10,000 free movies and shows to binge
Google TV Freeplay now offers more than 10,000 free movies and TV shows on demand, with no subscription required.
‘Glow Life’ brings Smokies science to fifth-grade classrooms
Fifth graders across East Tennessee and Western North Carolina will have a chance to explore one of the Great Smoky Mountains’ most fascinating natural wonders — and their creativity could earn them a trip to Dollywood. Smokies Life and its partners are launching “Glow Life” for the 2026-27 school year, a science-based educational project centered […]
Google sends out $150 discount codes ahead of Pixel 11 pre-orders
With less than 24 hours to go until the company’s Pixel 11 launch event, Google is sending $150 discount codes...
Lake Ozark aldermen approve teen curfew for Bagnell Dam Strip, easing business liability
the City of Lake Ozark Board of Alderment there this evening voted to establish a teen curfew on the bagnell dam strip.The vote count was unanimous.The modified
San Mateo County may require permit for businesses using humanoid robots
San Mateo County is considering a plan surrounding the use of humanoid robots to help firefighters put out fires caused by lithium-ion batteries.
Politics Report: Baños Cerrados
Last week, former San Diego City Councilmember Donna Frye sent one of the staffers for Mayor Todd Gloria a picture of poop. “This Kodak Moment is from Mission Bay Park this morning near one of the closed bathrooms. Please share with the mayor.”
Saber denies replacing Rideshare Stimulator’s writers with ChatGPT
Stella Sacco says Saber is “trying to have it both ways” on AI.
Cameron Holmes embracing versatility as Arizona freshman finds his footing
Cameron Holmes is seeing playing time "everywhere" as Tommy Lloyd tinkers with configurations ahead of Arizona's upcoming Lithuania trip.
KCMO City Council moves to repeal, replace 45-year-old minority, women's business program
The Kansas City, Missouri, Finance, Governance and Public Safety Committee advanced two ordinances Tuesday that would dismantle the existing Minority and Women Business Enterprise Program.
Sean McVay: "No new news" on Aaron Donald
Everyone is waiting for Aaron Donald to decide whether he'll end a two-year retirement and return to football.
Tiffany Haddish pleads guilty in DUI case, avoiding more jail time
Tiffany Haddish pleaded guilty in a Georgia DUI case, avoiding more jail time. The ‘Girls Trip’ actress was sentenced to 12 months probation.
Xbox Elite 3 prototype pad leaks with tiny built-in screen
Not a screen for your games, though.
Nicholas Hoult cast in HBO’s ‘Harry Potter’ season 2 as Gilderoy Lockhart
Nicholas Hoult is joining the second season of HBO’s ‘Harry Potter’ show as Gilderoy Lockhart, the wizard previously played by Kenneth Branagh on the big screen.
2 men used counterfeit money at Bucks County businesses, police say
The duo used fake money at an Arby's and Taco Bell, and police said they believe other businesses in the Feasterville area were targeted.
California to phase out paraquat, a powerful weedkiller associated with serious health issues
The California Department of Pesticide Regulation said all manufacturers of pesticide products containing paraquat have "voluntarily canceled" their product registrations.
Apple extends 2026 Back to School deals on Macs and iPads until September 24
College students in the United States just got a few extra weeks to claim Apple’s 2026 Back to School deals on select Macs and iPads.
Free agent CB Terrion Arnold to visit Giants next
Free agent cornerback Terrion Arnold has made the rounds since the Lions cut him on June 29.
An FCC filing points to new Sonos headphones coming soon
An FCC filing detailed new wireless headphones are coming.
Democrat Amy Acton breaks with party to support Issue 3
Democratic candidate for Ohio governor Amy Acton is breaking with her party to support Issue 3, an amendment enshrining the state's voter photo identification requirement in the state constitution.
5 questions parents may have after Trump's latest vaccine move
Parents may be confused about the status of vaccines for their kids after President Trump's new executive order. It's important to know nothing is changing right away.
iPhone 18 Pro: Three new camera upgrades are coming
Rumors indicate iPhone 18 Pro could bring an especially noteworthy batch of camera upgrades. Here are the three main features rumored.
Rare Mario Brothers cartridges being auctioned off for sale after unique find in Wisconsin
A set of unique, extremely rare Super Mario cartridges was found in a gaming store in Waukesha, Wisconsin, and will be auctioned off starting Friday.
‘Everyone’ at Apple uses iPhone Ultra name, says Mark Gurman
Mark Gurman says that ‘iPhone Ultra’ is the name widely used within Apple when referring to the upcoming foldable model.
Jenna Ortega would go ‘all day without eating or drinking’ as a kid on set to ‘not be in the way’
Jenna Ortega was so desperate to ‘not be in the way of anybody’ on set when she was a child actor that she would ‘go all day without eating or drinking.’
AirPods Pro 3 and more just got new public beta firmware
Apple released iOS 27 public beta 3 today, and now new beta firmware has also arrived for AirPods Pro 3, AirPods Pro 2, and more.
Google’s free streaming service now lets you pick shows and movies to watch
More free stuff to watch.
Ari Emanuel's events business will acquire theater owner ATG Entertainment
Mari, an events and experiences business founded by Ari Emanuel, plans to acquire ATG Entertainment, the owner of theater venues in areas including London's West End. The financial terms were not disclosed.
Ari Emanuel's events business will acquire theater owner ATG Entertainment
Mari, an events and experiences business founded by Ari Emanuel, plans to acquire ATG Entertainment, the owner of theater venues in areas including London's West End. The financial terms were not disclosed.
Eagles training camp observations: Elijah Moore making roster push
Here are our notes from Day 10 of Eagles training camp in 2026.
iOS 27 public beta 3 is here with Siri AI, iPhone speed upgrades, and more
The third iOS 27 public beta is now available for iPhone. It gives users an early chance to try Apple’s...
Grok Bot is an all-new iPhone and Mac app from SpaceXAI and Cursor
SpaceXAI and Cursor are in the process of becoming a single company, but first, the two firms are releasing an...
Google’s upcoming Pixel phones are for the fans, even if its launch event isn’t
Notification lights are back back back.
Lucas Museum announces new restaurant inspired by Skywalker Ranch
The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art on Tuesday announced its flagship restaurant, Skywalker Grill. Nestled at the top of the museum with sweeping city views, the classic American eatery is now taking reservations.
iPhone Users Who Pay for Enough iCloud Storage Get New iOS 27 Perks
If you are subscribed to an iCloud+ plan with at least 2TB of storage, you will receive new perks in the Home app on iOS 27, according to Apple. Starting with iOS 27, Apple said iPhone users who are subscribed to an iCloud+ plan with at least 2TB of storage receive access to three new Apple Intelligence features in the Home app: generated video descriptions for HomeKit Secure Video cameras, the ability to search for camera clips, and automatic surfacing of noteworthy clips.
iPhone Ultra will have two features that ‘Pro’ users should love
iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone Ultra? That’s the decision upgraders will soon face. Here are two iPhone Ultra features that ‘Pro’ users should love.
UCSD researcher wins America’s oldest science prize
Mark Thiemen's decades of research on isotopes changed what scientists know about earth’s origins.
‘Star Wars’ and Marvel set first-ever crossover with Kevin Smith-penned comic event
‘Star Wars’ and Marvel collide in first-ever crossover. See an exclusive look at the Kevin Smith-written comic book event, ‘Hope Assembles.’ (exclusive)
Samsung’s Galaxy Buds are getting an FDA-approved hearing aid feature
Samsung has been approved for a hearing aid feature on its Galaxy Buds that will roll out later this year.
‘Zoomsday’ hack uncovered using fewer than 20 AI prompts
The Zoom vulnerability allowed hackers to take over everyone’s device on a call, security researchers say.
I tracked my daughter's road trip all night
When my 19-year-old drove to another state for a concert, I realized the trip wasn't just about her independence. It was about mine, too.
New images of the sun show its surface in the finest detail yet
It’s dangerous to look directly at the sun without proper eye protection. But researchers were able to peek at its scorching surface with the help of the National Science Foundation’s Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope.
‘Toy Story 5’ deleted scene reveals cut Jessie, Emily reunion (exclusive)
‘Toy Story 5’ deleted scene reveals the emotional reunion between Jessie and older Emily. The director explain why they cut it from the film.
iOS 27 beta 5 adds option to upgrade iCloud+ subscription for more AI
iOS 27 beta 5 includes confirmation of something Apple has hinted before: paying for higher iCloud+ tiers unlocks more access to AI features.
LeBron James set to return to L.A. for Lakers-76ers Christmas matchup
LeBron James, who signed with the Philadelphia 76ers last month, will be making his return to Los Angeles on Dec. 25 when the Lakers host Philadelphia at Crypto.com Arena.
Galaxy Z Fold 8’s wider shape still survives bend test, teardown shows off titanium and poor Qi placement [Video]
Durability is perhaps the single-biggest hesitation about folding phones, but Samsung has proven time and time again that its foldables...
Why your Amazon order confirmation emails have become so unhelpful
Why you’re getting emails about “Your Beauty and Electronics items”
Why GameStop’s bold $56-billion play for eBay is suddenly in doubt
(Bloomberg) -- GameStop Corp., led by Chief Executive Officer Ryan Cohen, is considering withdrawing its $56 billion bid for eBay Inc., according to people familiar with the matter.
Live updates: Christian Gonzalez absent for Patriots-Colts joint practice
The Colts are in Foxboro for what's sure to be a spirited joint practice session with the Patriots. Follow along for updates all day.
iOS 27 code reveals six unreleased iPhone 18 models
iOS 27 beta 5 references six unreleased iPhones, from the iPhone 18 lineup to the foldable iPhone Ultra. Here's the full roadmap.
College sports bill doesn’t get vote, but does get spot on the Senate’s September calendar
The Protect College Sports Act failed to reach a vote during an all-night, pre-recess session in the Senate that ended early Saturday, though the bill did gain a spot on next month’s calendar after the chamber comes back from its summer break.
John Hinckley Jr. shares a message for Jodie Foster in rare interview (exclusive)
What John Hinckley Jr. wants to say to Jodie Foster, more than 40 years after he attempted to assassinate President Reagan.
Education: New Hope, Caledonia schools among MDE’s Science of Reading awardees
Mississippi Department of Education recognized Caledonia Elementary, New Hope Lower and New Hope Upper Elementary Aug. 3 as Mississippi Emerging Science of Reading schools for the 2026-2027 school year.
News | Why Nicole Mihalka sees LA's entertainment industry overcoming challenges
The CBRE executive has spent decades navigating Hollywood
The AI takeover of mathematics has begun
OpenAI showed that AI can tackle long-standing problems in mathematics. Experts are excited about the possibilities — and worried about what comes next for their field.
‘Extremely confident in myself:' Can Jake Elliott rebound from 2 dismal seasons?
Jake Elliott feels confident entering the season despite struggling from long range the past two years.
Drew Kendall stepping into important role for Eagles in 2026
Eagles second-year offensive lineman Drew Kendall’s stock is up at training camp this summer.
Lincoln’s Kevin Kugler climbed his way to the peak of sports broadcasting and will be etched into Nebraska Broadcasters’ history
Kevin Kugler grew up in Lincoln, announced Husker and high school sports at Nebraska Public Media, and has climbed to the national stage of sports broadcasting. On Tuesday, he will enter the Nebraska Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame.
New Purdue AD had the guts to rip Indiana. Then he folded
Purdue's new AD leaned into Indiana rivalry with one comment. What should worry Boilermaker fans isn't what he said. It's how quickly he took it back.
OpenAI targets heavy users with premium ChatGPT Business seats
Analysts say enterprise AI vendors are redesigning pricing models to better monetise high-intensity and agentic workloads.
Lens Away: A European Taste of What’s to Come
With European away days finally on the horizon, one Sunderland supporter’s trip to Lens offered a glimpse of the football, culture and chaos still to come.
The Weeknd says he’s not changing his stage name as planned: ‘Imma be here forever with you’
The Weeknd has talked about changing his stage name for years. Now he might not change it at all.
Business owners reflect on anniversary of fire that destroyed historic restaurant
On the night of August 11th, 2025, a crippling problem erupted.It tested the spirit of endurance of Jason LeCates and Matt Crandall, business partners at The Bo
Phillies survive extremely shorthanded bullpen for win over Cards
The Phillies held on to win 6-5 in the series opener in St. Louis.
Why LA Council chief says Nithya Raman reached ‘political bottom of barrel'
Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson says despite Raman’s claims that she’s being punished for running for mayor against Karen Bass, she knew about her committee assignment change. Conan Nolan reports for the NBC4 News at 7 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 10, 2026.
Leucadia businesses say Highway 101 construction is driving customers away
Businesses along Highway 101 in Leucadia say ongoing construction is driving away customers and creating safety concerns.
Gardner could be home to planned 335-acre arts, education and entertainment district
The plans for a proposed development near 175th Street and Interstate 35 in Gardner include a 15,000-seat concert venue, a media college and an esports arena.
Man arrested after $12K sports card theft at Rosemont convention
A man was arrested for contributing to the delinquency of a minor after a $12,000 sports card was stolen at a convention in Rosemont, officials said.
Neil Leibman exits Texas Rangers chairman role to pursue new business opportunities
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Neil Leibman stepped down Monday from his role with the Texas Rangers as chairman of the company that oversees local television broadcasts of games, and the MLB team’s sports and entertainment group. The Rangers said Leibman, part of the ownership group that bought the team in 2010, left his position with the club to focus on…
Dodgers' Kyle Hurt: Sent to Triple-A
Dodgers' Kyle Hurt: Sent to Triple-A
Entertainment and trial attorney on legal issues shaping Tupac Shakur murder trial
Nearly 30 years after rapper Tupac Shakur was fatally shot in a drive-by shooting on the Las Vegas Strip, the murder trial of Duane "Keffe D" Davis has begun with jury selection in a Las Vegas courtroom.
Neil Leibman exits Texas Rangers chairman role to pursue new business opportunities
Neil Leibman has stepped down from his role with the Texas Rangers as chairman of the company that oversees local television broadcasts of games, and the MLB team’s sports and entertainment group.
Mark Zuckerberg doesn’t understand how to live
An AI future of sleek, streamlined, and totally empty relationships.
Anker’s travel charger works in almost any country and is down to $20
It can fit in your palm.
After his Reflecting Pool vandalism case is dismissed, David Hearn looks for closure
The ex-Olympian accused of damaging the reflecting pool tells NPR the experience has been "Orwellian" and "Kafkaesque." And it's not over yet: His lawyers are fighting to close the case permanently.
'Game of Thrones' fans gush over 'Mad King' at Royal Shakespeare Theatre
"Game of Thrones: The Mad King," the first stage adaptation of writer George R. R. Martin's bestselling fantasy saga, opened Saturday at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre with Martin — and rapturous fans — in attendance.
Saber's newest game trailer takes a shot at Gearbox's CEO, if you look closely
The first hint that something might be up with the recent debut trailer for Saber Interactive’s Rideshare Stimulator is an unusual choice of words—aside from that second one in the game’s title. “Don’t take your passengers too seriously,” the trailer’s narrator says, as he describes this upcoming game. It a car game about the gig work of driving eccentric people to their destinations, a riff on Crazy Taxi. And then, he says: “When I think I’ve met the randiest of passengers, someone even stranger gets in.” “Randiest”? That suggests “randy,” which usually means having strong sexual desire. Yet none of the oddball backseat occupants featured in the trailer seem particularly lustful. One is an old man who considers his grandson a failure, another shares the theory that birds might control traffic lights, another says he’s banned from an aquarium. A little later, there’s a license plate, shown 63 seconds into the trailer, on the front of an SUV: USB DRV It’s a Texas plate. The symbol between those letters is a cog wheel. If you know, you know. That’s a reference to Texas-based Borderlands game development studio Gearbox Software (their logo features a cog wheel). More specifically, it’s a reference to Gearbox’s CEO Randy Pitchford, who in 2018 found himself explaining the nature of video he’d saved on a USB drive that was found at a Medieval Times restaurant before being returned to the studio: “It was ‘barely legal’ porn. This girl’s handle was ‘Only 18.’” The “girl” in the video had committed a solo sex act that Pitchford, an avid practitioner of magic, found remarkable. “I realized, this is not a sex worker…This is a fucking magician.” Back then, the USB drive was central to competing lawsuits against Gearbox by the studio’s former lawyer and by Gearbox against him. A settlement in late 2019 “exonerated” Pitchford, per the Hollywood Reporter. The USB story has resurfaced at times, now in a trailer from a company that not long ago was corporate brethren with Gearbox. Saber vs. Gearbox The head of Saber told Game File that the reference is payback. “The dig is because Randy took shots at Embracer in Borderlands 4,” Saber CEO Matt Karch told me when I asked him about the license plate. “Without Embracer, Randy is performing magic tricks at birthday parties for a living.” Having interviewed Karch during a cross-country flight in late 2024, I can confirm that Karch was unimpressed with Pitchford during their time both working in the Embracer group. I’d approached him not out of surprise that there was animosity but that it was manifesting publicly now. Gearbox was founded in 1999, worked on a port of Halo early on, and developed hit series such as the loot-based sci-fi shooter Borderlands before it was purchased by The Embracer Group in early 2021 for $363 million (with a possible earn-out of over $1 billion, if certain targets were hit by 2027). Saber was founded in 2001, worked on a remaster of Halo early on, had a big hit with zombie shooter World War Z and was purchased by Embracer in early 2020 for $150 million, with a potential earn-out of up to $375 million. For a few years, the Embracer group was a voracious acquirer of game studios. Then, as investment dried up, it choked. In March 2024, Embracer sold Saber to an investment company controlled by Saber CEO Matt Karch, and it sold Gearbox in an all-stock deal to long-time Borderlands publisher Take Two Interactive. Other studios were shut down. Hundreds of developers were laid off. Gearbox didn’t say much about their Embracer experience, nothing too direct, at least. In the summer 2024, Pitchford told reporter and occasional Game File contributor Nicole Carpenter that Borderlands 4’s story was in some way thematically connected to Gearbox’s experience at Embracer: “There’s this cultural and emotional shift in me, personally, and at the studio. What does it mean to trade some autonomy for organization?” When Borderlands 4 came out, there was something stranger: the matter of “Embracer’s Bluff,” a location in the game featuring an AI-powered toilet and a large trash dump, according to a detailed Kotaku account of the place. Gearbox never commented on it; Take Two never got back to me about it when I asked them last year. By contrast, since Saber exited Embracer, Karch has been one of Embracer’s biggest defenders, casting their management as well-meaning and supportive despite the layoffs and studio closures that resulted from their excessive expansion. Like others, Saber’s Karch saw Embracer’s as a shot. With Rideshare Stimulator’s trailer, he’s returned fire. “It’s amazing to me how fast people forget those who went above and beyond for them,” Karch told Game File. A rep for Gearbox did not comment by press time. Game File is a reader-supported publication. Your backing makes my reporting—including any coverage of trailer-based beefs—possible. Good news! I’m currently running Game File’s first big sale of 2026. You can get a one-year subscription for 23% off. Click here to take advantage of the limited-time offer. And thank you for your support! Item 2: In brief… 🚫 Wal-Mart has laid off the staff of Restart, a games media outlet launched in 2024, Aftermath reports. 🟥 A GTA VI preview is on the way, at last, via an “extended look” that will premiere, unusually, on Netflix at 3pm ET on August 27, then officially go live elsewhere six hours later. Last week, Game File noted that Take Two label Rockstar Games is overdue for showing off GTA VI, based on the timing of the initial hands-off previews of GTA V and Red Dead Redemption 2. During a call with investors, Take Two CEO Strauss Zelnick said pre-orders for GTA VI were “unprecedented and astonishing,” but added the company can’t predict how many of those pre-orders represent bonus sales vs. sales that otherwise would have been made at launch. During the same call, Zelnick was noticeably bullish on the future of playing games over streaming cloud connections (predicting wider adoption in three or so years). He sounded unbothered by Sony’s plans to stop making discs for new games (he said the business is 90% digital already and predicted that there could still be limited edition physical editions of games “in the same way there’s still vinyl in the recorded music business.”) 👀 Take Two wrote off $43 million in their spring quarter after deciding “not to proceed with further development of an unannounced title in its pipeline from a third-party developer.” 🤔 Some rare age-demographics from a big publisher: Capcom recently told investors that “users in their 20s account for approximately half of the users of both Pragamata and Resident Evil Requiem.” Item 3: The week ahead Tuesday, August 11 Game releases: The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered (Switch 2; already out for PC, PS5, Xbox) continues the Bethesda strategy of putting Elder Scrolls games on everything; Royalty Free-For-All is a Smash Bros.-style fighting game featuring public domain characters such as Mother Goose brawling with Oliver Twist in a stage based on the original Little Shop of Horrors movie. Wednesday, August 12 Game release: Pro Jank Footy (PC, console) is an arcade-style Australian Rules Football game with increasingly ridiculous rules, the more you play (I enjoyed the Steam demo) Thursday, August 13 Game release: Super Mario Sunshine (Switch 2, originally released in 2002 on the GameCube) is released for Switch 2’s Nintendo Switch Online service. This game is the black sheep of 3D Mario games. It’s the successor to the breakthrough Super Mario 64 and the rare Mario game built around a single (vacation resort) theme. Mario’s got a water-spraying backpack, a Yoshi pal and a lot of blue coins to collect.
Google’s base Pixel 11 probably won’t have ‘HiLight’ but will actually have enough RAM
With just hours left to go for Google’s Pixel 11 launch event, details keep on leaking out, with some clarification...
California may fine content creators who don't disclose they were paid to post about politics
States are debating whether to crack down on social media influencers making political advertisements without disclosing that they were paid.
Apple is working on a way to authenticate that a photo came from an iPhone camera
References included in iOS 27 beta 5 point to a new feature designed to authenticate the camera source of an iPhone photo.
Galaxy S26 FE specs leak alongside a higher price tag
Ahead of its launch that will likely happen next month, Samsung’s Galaxy S26 FE has had its full specs leak...
Someone Made a Terrific Deal in the Peacock/YouTube Premium Partnership…But Who?
(Welcome to the “Most Important Story of the Week”, my bi-weekly strategy column analyzing the most important (but often not buzziest) news story of the last two weeks. I’m the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a former streaming executive who now analyzes business strategy in the entertainment industry. Please subscribe.) I hope everyone around the world suffering from record heat waves is doing okay. The temperature is already up in Southern California, but obviously not nearly as bad as parts of Europe. With a super El Nińo coming this year, I worry it will get even worse. Yes, we know what’s causing this heat—it’s the carbon, duh—but we really aren’t making enough progress. I’m not “environmental strategy guy”, but if I were, I’d have some ideas of what I’d try. Honestly, for years I’ve been intrigued by the work of the folks at MEER—whose plan, super simply, is to put up mirrors to reflect heat (while continuing the important work of decarbonization)—but I’m frustrated this idea hasn’t made more progress. (Other geo-engineering groups seem to get better press.) With heat like this—cancelling events, hurting economies and, most importantly, killing people—it seems like the time to push solutions! The “mirrors on the ground” solution has barely been tried.1 While entertainment companies may not “feel the heat”, lots of outdoors/experiential industries—concerts, theme parks and so on—will. Even movie theaters could benefit, since mirrors could help lower AC costs, which I imagine is not an insignificant expense, especially in the hotter areas of the country. So I do think the entertainment industry should prioritize this issue. Anyways, let’s get back into the entertainment strategy. I was about to write, “Hey, this week we don’t have any mergers and entertainment news to dive into,” but that’s not really true, since we had more updates on Paramount-Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery. But the big story of the week involves a streamer and a Big Tech platform bundling their respective streamers. So I’ll write about the updates on Paramount buying Warner Bros., Versant making some moves, and a whole lot more. But we start with a surprising deal: Peacock licensing their content to YouTube Premium. Let’s dive in! Subscribe Most Important Story of the Week - Peacock’s Pricey Premium Partnership The story of the week is Comcast’s2 NBC-Universal’s Peacock making a deal with Google’s YouTube’s YouTube Premium subscription product to embed their content. And I’ll say this up front: Someone made a terrific deal. The question is who. And I’ll be honest: I don’t know. Let me explain why, including why this deal exists, the pros and cons for each side, the biggest unknown, and what that says about the streaming wars. Customers Love Bundles (But YouTube Has Its Own Issues) We’re just getting started with this issue, but the rest is for paid subscribers of the Entertainment Strategy Guy, so if you’d like to find out… Why customers love bundles… But why I’m worried about YouTube’s integration... How Peacock is trading scale for control… And the reason they likely made this deal... The odd budget math for this deal... Whether or not I think the Paramount-Skydance/WBD deal is more likely after the latest settlement... Versant making moves and why that’s good for Hollywood… Another distributor going out of business… ...and a whole lot more! ...please subscribe! We can only keep doing this great work with your support.
Christian McCaffrey sore, but OK as 49ers manage his workload
While Christian McCaffrey did not practice on Monday, the team is not concerned about his status heading into the season.