If you’re sick and tired of other human beings standing between you and your Whopper and simply can’t comprehend the concept of cooking your own food, you’re in luck, 2022 might just be the year for you!
A new pilot program running out of City Hall makes Fort Worth the first city in the U.S. to actively mine Bitcoin. An official press release from the city posted Tuesday reads:
The World Health Organization reported the lowest weekly death toll since 2020, but scientists warn undercounting COVID cases may have consequences.
Two of the largest American cable providers are joining forces to adapt to the internet era. Charter and Comcast have unveiled a joint venture that will create a “next-generation” streaming platform for a range of branded media devices and smart TVs. It will be based on Comcast’s Flex, and will unsurprisingly include services like Peacock and the free-to-watch Xumo alongside “all the top apps.”
The platform will be available on Comcast’s XClass TVs, while Charter will provide streaming devices with voice remotes starting in 2023. Flex and Xumo will still be available as independent products, so you won’t have to buy new hardware.
The telecoms stressed that they each had equal stakes in the joint venture, and that their cable and broadband services weren’t involved. Charter will initially pour $900 million into the project over “multiple years.”
The team-up isn’t shocking. Both Charter and Comcast face ongoing pressure from a growing number of streaming services, including Disney+ and the eventual combination of Discovery+ and HBO Max. It’s also known that Comcast’s Peacock, while moderately successful, remains small compared to heavyweights like Amazon Prime Video and Netflix. The new platform could help the cable companies thrive even if their conventional TV subscriptions continue to decline, and might boost services like Peacock and Xumo in the process.
Apple made good on its promise to allow users to repair their own iPhone and Mac devices with a new website that offers parts, tools, and assistance.
Want to hear about Batman’s new Batcycle, Black Adam fighting a helicopter, Aquaman’s latest ally, and Shazam dating Wonder Woman? Of course you do. All that and more was in the footage Warner Bros. showed at CinemaCon this week from their next four live-action DC movies: Black Adam, Shazam: Fury of the Gods, Aquaman…
At one point Elon Musk pledged to give away half his fortune. Now, he’s spending $44 billion to control Twitter.
The biggest Twitch streamers might not rake in as much money in the future. Bloombergsources say Twitch is considering multiple proposals to rethink payment structures, including one that would cut top streamers’ share of subscriptions from 70 percent to the usual 50 percent. Another would establish multiple pay tiers with different requirements, and broadcasters might receive further incentives to run more ads for unsubscribed viewers.
A revamp might offer more freedom, according to the insiders. In return for this less lucrative pay structure, Twitch might drop exclusivity terms and let members of the Partner program stream on rival services like Facebook Gaming or YouTube.
Twitch has declined comment. Bloomberg‘s sources said the revamped terms could be changed or dropped.
The reported proposals come after Twitch implemented multiple efforts to boost long-term profits and satisfy its parent company Amazon. The service recently introduced a program that motivates frequent streamers to run more ads, for instance. While Twitch already figures prominently in Amazon’s business with links to Prime, Luna and Music, it’s clear the online shopping giant wants livestreaming to be more successful on its own terms.
A reduced cut for top-tier streamers might prove risky. Stars like DrLupo and Timthetatman left Twitch for YouTube — while big names like Ninja have returned to Twitch or otherwise signed multi-year deals, they might not be inclined to stay if they think they could earn more at a competing service. There are also longstanding concerns that Twitch hasn’t addressed problems with full-time streaming, such as long hours and the difficulty of taking vacations (subscriptions can plummet even after short breaks). Larger profits might not matter if fewer major creators can justify sticking around.
There’s not a single 2022 F-150 Lightning in the hands of owners and Ford is already done selling them.
Robinhood’s band of merry men is rapidly shrinking, as the investment app’s CEO announced they were laying off 9% of the company in a notice posted to the company’s website.
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