For a number of years now, Moft has offered some of the most innovative gadget accessories. Theyre always interesting, if not necessarily useful. This new combination Find My wallet and stand manages to tick both boxes.The accessory was announced a couple of weeks out from CES, where it will be shown off for the first time. The product is an update to the Snap-On Phone Stand & Wallet announced several years ago.It utilizes the origami design that has been foundational to most of Mofts offerings and attaches via MagSafe.The headline new feature is, naturally, the addition of Apple-certified Find My integration, with pro-active notifications when the wallet is misplaced or moved from an area designated by the user.In wallet mode, the system is roughly 1.1 millimeters thick. That includes an 80 mAh battery on board for the Find My functionality.The new Snap-On Phone Stand & Wallet is set to start shipping in June, priced at $50, which puts it roughly in line with other iPhone wallets. Its also $10 less than what Apple charges for its own FineWoven wallet.

The U.S. Treasury told lawmakers in a letter Monday that it was hit by a cyberattack earlier in December, which the department has attributed to Chinese government hackers.In the letter shared with senior U.S. House lawmakers, which TechCrunch has seen, the Treasury said the hackers gained remote access to certain Treasury employee workstations and had access to unclassified documents, in what it described as a major cybersecurity incident.The Treasury said it was notified on December 8 by BeyondTrust, a company that provides identity access and remote support tech for large organizations and government departments, that hackers had gained access to a key used by the vendor for providing remote access technical support to Treasury employees. BeyondTrust disclosed the incident at the time, but did not say how the key was obtained.A spokesperson for BeyondTrust did not respond to a request for comment at press time.The letter said the department engaged U.S. cybersecurity agency CISA for assistance and, as of December 30, it has no evidence indicating the threat actor has continued access to Treasury information.The Treasury confirmed in the letter that it attributed the breach to a China state-sponsored advanced persistent threat group, indicating backing from the Chinese government. Its not clear which group was behind the intrusion, and a spokesperson would not say.In a brief statement, Treasury spokesperson Michael Gwin said that the hackers were able to remotely access several Treasury user workstations and certain unclassified documents maintained by those users.Treasury takes very seriously all threats against our systems, and the data it holds. Over the last four years, Treasury has significantly bolstered its cyber defense, and we will continue to work with both private and public sector partners to protect our financial system from threat actors, the spokesperson said.This is the latest cyberattack linked to China that has targeted the U.S. government in recent months. China-backed hackers dubbed Salt Tycoon were behind a wave of cyberattacks targeting U.S. phone companies and internet giants, including AT&T and Verizon, in a bid to get access to the private communications of senior U.S. government officials, including presidential candidates.A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C., did not immediately return a request for comment.Do you know more about the BeyondTrust cyberattack or the incident at the Treasury? Get in touch securely on Signal and WhatsApp at +1 646-755-8849 You can also send files and documents via SecureDrop.

The Razer Laptop Cooling Pad ranks as one of my new favorite laptop accessories thanks to its customizability and powerful cooling.

The Lenovo LOQ Tower 17IRR9 is a solid little machine capable of easily handling most workloads. And the best part is that it's inexpensive.

Nina Raemont/ZDNETThe new year is days away, but before we start thinking about all the technology that will emerge in 2025, let's take a look back and remember this year's greatest hits.I spend 40 hours a week testing products, writing reviews, and curating best lists (like the one you're about to read). To compile a list of the best products released in 2024, I considered a few things. The first is my pure enjoyment of the product; that is, how badly did I want to continue using it -- even after testing ended?Also: Everything you need to host a holiday partyThe second is how transformative or innovative the product is in its respective space -- like sleep tech, health tech, or audio tech. The third is how value-packed the product is for its price. Sure, a few of these products might be expensive, but I'm including them because this product is the crme de la crme for its price point.This was a big year for wearable health tech, from sleep earbuds that actually put me to sleep to smart rings that track my activity. But other products, like a great pair of earbuds for working out, also made the list.Oura Ring 4 Nina Raemont/ZDNETWhen the Oura Ring 4 came out this fall, the only smart ring it needed to beat was its predecessor, the Oura Ring 3. It did so with a flatter and more comfortable form factor, an additional day of battery life, and software upgrades that continued to demonstrate the Finnish smart ring brand is steps ahead of every competitor.The smart ring is around your finger all day as you exercise, work, and sleep, and provides a complete picture of your data on a daily, weekly, and longitudinal basis. You get scores for sleep, readiness, and activity, but also information about your cardio capacity, cardiovascular age, daytime stress, and historical resilience (how well your body bounces back from stress and activity).I've covered Oura all year long, and have yet to find a smart ring competitor that delivers such an accurate reading on overall health and churns out new features around the clock.Wearable health tech made major strides in 2024. Oura rolled out a Symptom Radar feature this month that notifies ring wearers ahead of illness. Because the smart ring monitors your vitals, it can detect data fluctuations in body temperature, heart rate, heart rate variability, and breathing rate, often before the ring-wearer begins experiencing symptoms of illness. This personalized approach to healthcare puts the ring-wearer and all of that data front and center, to provide health insights that cater specifically to them.Even before the feature rolled out, Oura's smart ring had a tendency to wave the red flag ahead of strain or illness. It warned Oura's VP of science that something was off and to take it easy, as his heart rate was 10 beats per minute higher than his baseline; that warning came two days before he went in for emergency dental surgery. I've read stories on Reddit of Oura providing users with the data they take to the doctor to receive diagnoses for autoimmune diseases.This use case -- employing wearable tech to get a medical professional's diagnosis -- seems to be the future of healthcare and health technology. Just this year, the FDA approved Apple's AirPods Pro 2 to be used as hearing aids that can not only help listeners hear their surroundings more clearly but also provide users with a hearing test, with results they can take to the doctor for a hearing loss diagnosis. Apple also developed a new sleep apnea detection feature on the Apple Watch Series 10 that monitors a user's breathing disturbances throughout the night and brings that data to a doctor for a diagnosis.Ozlo Sleepbuds Nina Raemont/ZDNETI've tested a few sleep earbuds for my job, but none have impressed me as much as the Ozlo Sleepbuds. Made by ex-Bose engineers, the Sleepbuds take some notes from the discontinued Bose Sleepbuds and implement them in a comfortable form factor that I had no problem wearing night after night. Perhaps the greatest hallmark of a product I have to test for my job is whether I'll continue using it after the testing period is over. That was the case, indeed, with these earbuds that have helped me fall asleep during the noisiest nights.My bedroom overlooks a busy street in Brooklyn. Throughout the summer, my neighbors would throw loud parties outside, or I'd be woken up by the sound of ambulances, police sirens, or firetrucks. One noisy weekend, I decided to test out the Sleepbuds, The earbuds' audio strength impressed me and put me to sleep immediately. In my review, I wrote that it was "somehow loud enough to completely mask external sounds outside my bedroom window while also being quiet and neutral enough to send me to sleep."The Sleepbuds prioritize comfort. The wingtip stabilizes the bud in your ear throughout the night, and the earbud itself is flatgreat for side sleepers like me.At $300, they aren't a cheap buy. But if you need to fall asleep and mask the noises around you, the Ozlo Sleepbuds get the job done.Nothing Ear (a) Nina Raemont/ZDNETSure, AirPods are nice. But I'd rather use the Nothing Ear (a) earbudsa cooler alternative to Apple's buds -- for a few reasons. The first reason is the earbuds' clear and powerful sound. The audio comes out balanced and wonderful, and the noise cancellation is strong without completely taking you out of your environment or building up pressure in your ear.I can't hear myself type or people talk around me when I've got these earbuds playing music in my ears. The second reason is that they are $100 $150 less than the AirPods Pro 2 -- and they have the same pinch controls for controlling audio, one of my favorite features that make using the Ear (a) ideal for exercising and moving around.The battery life in the buds is 10 hours long when the ANC is turned off. I used these to run my first half marathon and was happy with my choice. They kept the music loud, stayed put in my ears with their tactile ear tips, and made phone-free listening and song-skipping a reality thanks to the responsive pinch controls. After trying the Nothing Ear (a) out, I can't think of one reason to buy a pair of AirPods.Bose Ultra Open Nina Raemont/ZDNETOne 2024 trend I welcomed with open arms (pun intended) is the rise in popularity of open earbuds. It all started with these Bose Ultra Open earbuds, released earlier this year, that clip onto your ears, almost like clip-on earrings. The earbuds hang on the rims of your ears and offer up a wide, immersive, and loud soundstage while also keeping you aware of your surroundings. I had not seen a design this smart and functional before, with a button on the anchor for pausing, playing, and skipping music.Also: These are the best earbuds I've run inShortly after the debut of the Ultra Open, other brands released open earbuds of their own. Sony improved on its LinkBuds Open, though the Ultra Open beat them by a mile. Nothing Ear (Open) came in a close second and are a fraction of the Ultra Open's price. Plus, JLab debuted a kind of dupe to the Ultra Open, which I tested out for myself.Open earbuds' growth this year offers up an alternative to the noise-canceling-ification of headphone and audio technology. Some people are realizing that they don't want to be alienated from their environment with silence, and instead want to be out, about, and aware with open earbuds.Ultrahuman Ring Air Nina Raemont/ZDNETYes, Oura gets all the hype. But the top dog smart ring has a $6-a-month subscription, a notorious deterrent for many potential customers. If you don't want to pay that extra subscription to have access to your health data, I'd suggest the Ultrahuman Ring Air instead.I was impressed with its many new feature rollouts. Plus, when I tested the smart ring, the data it gathered offered up similar scores to Oura's.The Ultrahuman Ring Air takes a more hardcore, tech bro approach to health-tracking, compared to Oura. The Ring Air is the type of smart ring I imagine fitness enthusiasts, who are deadset on optimizing everything from their waking time and diet, to their exercise and sleep, to wear. But, as someone who isn't a fitness junkie, I still enjoyed the data it captured and illustrated.Featured reviews

China's Xiaomi SU7 Max electric car. Getty ImagesA seismic shift is taking place inside the electric vehicle (EV) market. Chinese automakers have surged ahead to dominate the EV space, leaving U.S. manufacturers scrambling. Former Nissan executive Andy Palmer, often called the Godfather of EVs, recently told Business Insider that China is now the undisputed leader in this EV manufacturing - sending a warning to Tesla, GM, Volkswagen and other EV makers. With over 4.3 million people employed in the U.S. auto industry, leaders in government and business have a vested interest in protecting American ingenuity in manufacturing - not to mention American jobs. However, threats from China are sending a warning (with dual motors and regenerative brakes) thats being heard all over the world.The Numbers Behind Chinas EV AscendancyChinas rise in the EV market is staggering. With over 200 brands offering electric cars, competition within Chinas domestic market has driven innovation at a breakneck pace.The Chinese government has poured billions into subsidies, research and development, and infrastructure to make the country the global hub for EV manufacturing. Last year, Chinas BYD (short for Build Your Dreams) noted 2.4 million new car insurance registrations - making it the number one EV brand in China with an 11% market share. Backed by Warren Buffet Berkshire Hathaway, the companys growth is explosive - considering the company started as a cell phone battery maker in the 90s, and launched it first fully-electric car in 2022. In contrast, Tesla produced 1.8 million cars in 2023 - second in worldwide EV production to (you guessed it) BYD.Contemplating Chinese competitive threats. Getty ImagesThe Chinese EV market has outpaced its Western rivals not just in scale but in the ever-increasing quality of its offerings. The best Chinese EVs can now travel 500 miles on a single charge and recharge to 80% in under 20 minutesmetrics that American automakers like General Motors and Ford can only dream of matching.MORE FOR YOUPerformance Meets Value, in ChinaOne of the most alarming aspects of Chinas EV dominance is the combination of performance and affordability. Models like the BYD Seal and the Wuling Hongguang Mini EV have redefined what consumers can expect from electric vehicles. The Seal offers luxury-level features at a fraction of the cost of a Tesla Model 3, while the Hongguang Mini EV retails for less than $5,000a price point that makes EV ownership accessible to the masses.Business Insider reports that the Chinese startup Zeekr unveiled new batteries for its 007 sedan that are able to charge to 80% from 10% in a little over 10 minutes. The worlds largest EV battery supplier, Chinas CATL, recently unveiled its Shenxing Plus battery. The company says it could provide over 370 miles of range after 10 minutes of charging.Global Implications for Chinas EVsThe rise of Chinese automakers and new players has changed the car industry quite a lot, said Honda CEO Toshihiro Mibe, citing technological trends of electrification at a Tokyo press conference. As Asian markets increasingly demand low-cost, high-performance vehicles, Chinese manufacturers are poised to expand aggressively. Chinese companies like BYD are making inroads into Europe and the Middle East, and expanding manufacturing to places like Mexico.American automakers, by contrast, are facing headwinds. Supply chain constraints, higher labor costs, and limited government support have hampered their ability to compete. General Motors (GM) has the second-largest market share for U.S. EVs, at 9.4%, according to industry reports. The company plans to cut about 3,000 jobs in total this year, in pursuit of $2 billion in cost savings. Ford, with its flagship F-150 Lightning truck, has reduced its workforce by 4,000 in Europe.Tesla Maintains 48% Market Share for U.S. EVs - Whats Happening in Germany and Japan?Even as companies like Tesla and Rivian push forward with innovative products, theyre at risk of being overshadowed by the sheer scale and efficiency of Chinese rivals. For German automakers, challenges and cutbacks are prevalent - and Europes appetite for EVs has captured Chinas attention. Noting that none of the top 10 selling EVs globally are made in Germany, BYD shipped its first order to Deutschland 10 months ago. A delivery of 3,000 electric vehicles landed in Bremehraven, and shipments have continued steadily since then.Elswehere, Japanese automaker Nissan is cutting 9,000 jobs globally and 20% of its global production capacity. Perennial powerhouse Honda has reported a 15% drop in quarterly profits, due to threats from China. Honda and Nissan are currently in talks to create a merger between Japans second and third largest brands, in an effort to battle back against Chinese exports.Lessons from Chinas Industrial Strategy for EVsThe success of Chinese EVs is rooted in a well-coordinated strategy that other nations have struggled to replicate. As Inside EVs notes, Chinas subsidies have created a robust ecosystem for EV development, from mining rare earth minerals to building charging stations nationwide. This end-to-end approach has slashed costs and boosted consumer adoption in country, and China has set its sights on expansion. So far, international sentiment towards Chinese trade practices has throttled back on Chinese exports. And U.S. tariffs are an effective protection for domestic production. But for how long?In the U.S., efforts to promote EVs have been piecemeal at best. While EVs represent less than 10% of the U.S. auto market, they represent a much larger portion of the future of domestic auto manufacturing. Look for leadership strategies and coordinated efforts to emerge during the Trump administration, in support of the domestic EV auto industry (one of many reasons why Tesla CEO Elon Musk is staying close to the president-elect). Tariffs and protectionism are not as important - or sustainable - as innovation and strategy. Government and industrial leaders need a coordinated effort around EVs to protect and encourage new manufacturing, and new jobs.

From deadly 'living fossils' to glowing sea angels, the ocean floor is home to creatures almost ... [+] alien to us. Here are five incredible creatures straight from the deep.gettyThe deep sea is a world few will ever see, but it is one teeming with impossibilities. Its a place where nature throws out the rulebook, crafting creatures that would feel at home in a sci-fi movie. At depths where sunlight cannot reach and temperatures drop to icy lows, life takes on strange forms.This underworld of extremes has given us some of the most impressive creatures ever discoveredsome hauntingly beautiful, others delightfully bizarre. Of all the beings weve unearthed in this alien landscape, a few stand out as particularly mind-bending.Meet five of the deep seas most remarkable residentsliving proof that when it comes to life beneath the waves, impossible is just around the corner.1. Sea AngelsThey Switch GendersBorn with the grace of angels but classified as mollusks, sea angels are a visual highlight even in ... [+] a blooming deep sea landscape.AFP via Getty ImagesReminiscent of tiny celestial beings, sea angels are a living contradictiondelicate and serene in appearance, yet ruthless predators when hunger strikes. They primarily hunt sea butterflies, which are tiny, shelled relatives of snails that drift through the ocean.MORE FOR YOUThese tiny, transparent, shell-less mollusks are a marvel of evolution, capturing attention with their graceful winged swimming and translucent bodies.Measuring only 1 to 3 inches in length, sea angels flap their wing-like finswhich are actually modified foot structureswith a rhythm that mimics flight. Their almost ghostly translucence reveals vibrant orange internal organs, lending them an otherworldly glow.Equally fascinating is their ability to switch genders. Born male, sea angels transition to female as they age, a process that ensures their reproductive success. This remarkable adaptation ensures flexibility in reproduction, allowing them to play either role depending on their stage of life and the needs of their population. When mating, they entwine in a slow, swirling embrace, creating an underwater dance that can last up to four hours.2. AnglerfishMasters Of Sexual ParasitismA hairy frogfish (a type of anglerfish) sits in the dark waiting to ambush prey in Lembeh Strait, ... [+] Indonesia. This well-camouflaged fish is armed with unique evolutionary adaptations like its bioluminescent fishing rod.gettyWith its needle-sharp teeth, elastic jaw and bioluminescent lure, the anglerfish is the embodiment of deep-sea weirdness. Found in depths ranging from 600 to 6,000 feet, this predator thrives in the twilight and midnight zones, where sunlight is as scarce as food.The anglerfish, encompassing over 200 species within the Lophiiformes order, boasts extraordinary adaptations that enable survival in one of the harshest environments on Earth. The most iconic feature of the anglerfish is its glowing fishing rod, a modified dorsal spine tipped with bioluminescent bacteria. This lure dangles just above its gaping jaws, enticing prey close enough to be devoured.The anglerfishs elastic jaw and expandable stomach allow it to consume prey up to twice its size, minimizing energy expenditure in a habitat where food is hard to come by. However, its most remarkable adaptation is arguably its reproductive strategy.Anglerfish exhibit extreme sexual dimorphism, with females growing up to four feet long and males reaching only a fraction of that size. In the vast emptiness of the deep sea, finding a mate is no small feat. To solve this, male anglerfish turn to a morbid solutionsexual parasitism.Upon locating a female using chemical cues, the male bites into her skin and fuses with her body, merging their circulatory systems. Over time, the male atrophies, becoming little more than a sperm-producing appendage. For the female, this ensures a reliable supply of sperm, while the male benefits from constant sustenance, eliminating the need to forage.3. Goblin SharkLooks As Though It Swam Right Out Of Prehistoric WatersWith a flat snout, retractable jaws and translucent pinkish skin, the goblin shark (Mitsukurina owstoni) is both fascinating and fearsomea creature that looks like it swam straight out of a prehistoric era.And it sort of did.Known as a living fossil, this rare species has remained largely unchanged for over 100 million years, making it one of the most ancient predators still patrolling the deep.It may be ancient in its origins, but the goblin shark has always been ahead of its time. Its long snout is equipped with sensory organs called ampullae of Lorenzini, which detect the weak electric fields emitted by nearby prey.Once the shark locks onto its target, its jaw catapults forward in a lightning-fast motion, snaring the victim with nail-like teeth. This unique mechanism is complemented by an oily liver which allows the goblin shark to float with near-neutral buoyancy.Grotesque as it may be, the goblin sharks evolutionary efficiency is undeniable. From its protrusible jaw to its ability to hunt in every environment, the goblin shark exemplifies adaptation to the extremes. While sightings are rare, this enigmatic predator remains a vivid reminder of the deep seas untamed and mysterious life forms.4. BlobfishPossibly The Ugliest Creature To Ever ExistThe blobfish (Psychrolutes phrictus), known for its "blob-like" appearance out of water, is a ... [+] deep-sea fish adapted to high-pressure environments, where its gelatinous body thrives.HUM Images/Universal Images Group via Getty ImagesThe blobfish has become an unlikely celebrity of the animal kingdom for its comically droopy appearance. But this fishs reputation as the ugliest animal in the world is a result of circumstance rather than its true form.Beneath the oceans surface, at depths of up to 1,200 meters, the blobfish looks more like a typical fish, with a soft, plump body suited for life under immense pressure.In its natural habitat, the blobfishs gelatinous body acts as a clever adaptation. With no swim bladder to regulate buoyancya structure that would collapse under such extreme pressurethe blobfish relies on its low-density, fatty tissue to hover effortlessly above the seafloor.However, when brought to the surface, the drastic change in pressure causes the blobfishs body to deform. Its soft tissues expand, and its structure collapses, creating the melting look that has fueled its notoriety.Far from being a fearsome predator, the blobfish is a docile and passive creature. It simply floats along, waiting for small crustaceans or edible particles to drift into its path. Its low-energy lifestyle is the ultimate adaptation for life in a resource-scarce environment, proving that in the deep sea, even laziness can be a survival strategy.5. Vampire SquidMassive Eyes Relative To Body SizeWith a name as evocative as Vampyroteuthis infernalisthe vampire squid from hellyou might expect a bloodthirsty predator. In truth, this enigmatic creature is neither a vampire nor a squid but a master of survival in one of Earths harshest environments: the oxygen-minimum zones of the deep sea.The vampire squids most striking feature is its enormous eyes, which, relative to body size, are the largest of any known animal. (In absolute terms, the creature with the largest eyes in the world is also a deep-sea squidthe colossal squid.)The vampire squids body, ranging in color from deep rust to inky black depending on its region, is capped with a pair of fins that help it hover effortlessly.When threatened, the vampire squid can deploy its cloak, wrapping its webbed arms around itself in a defensive pose that exposes spiny, iridescent cirri on its inner armsa spectacle scientists have nicknamed the pineapple pose.Its diet, however, is where the vampire squid truly sets itself apart.Far from a predator, it is the only known cephalopod scavenger, subsisting on marine snowa mix of dead organic matter, fecal particles and other detritus drifting from the oceans surface. To feed, it extends two long, adhesive-covered filaments to trap this debris, which is then bundled into mucus-coated dumplings and consumed.These deep sea marvels exemplify the animal worlds desire to survive, even in the harshest conditions imaginable. Does the natural resilience of these creatures inspire your own? Take a 2-minute test to see where you stand on the Connectedness to Nature Scale.

The big picture: When Apple launched iOS 18 earlier this year, it introduced an Enhanced Visual Search feature in the Photos app. It builds on the existing Visual Look Up tool, but also raises serious privacy concerns that have some users up in arms. Visual Look Up recognizes objects, animals, landmarks, and more from photos on your iPhone. For example, if you take a picture of a flower, the tool attempts to identify its species. It can do the same for dog breeds, car models, and other items.The original Visual Look Up prioritized privacy. Apple claimed it sent "limited" data to their servers, using a rotating ID number instead of anything personally identifiable. While location data was shared anonymously, the overall approach was minimal and privacy-conscious.Enhanced Visual Search, however, takes things a step further. A new privacy disclaimer explicitly states that the feature aims to "match places in your photos with a global index maintained by Apple" to identify landmarks. Even more troubling, this behavior is enabled by default.Apple maintains that Enhanced Visual Search is still a private process, employing encryption, differential privacy, and IP masking to safeguard user data. The company has even published a research paper outlining the technical details of this process. However, developer Jeff Johnson, who first noticed the new data-sharing behavior, criticized Apple's opt-out approach."This user never requested that my on-device experiences be 'enriched' by phoning home to Cupertino. This choice was made by Apple, silently, without my consent," he noted in a blog post. // Related StoriesHe argues that any data leaving the device for Apple's servers undermines their long-touted "what happens on your iPhone, stays on your iPhone" stance. On the other hand, one could argue that most cloud-based services inherently involve some level of data sharing.For privacy-conscious users who prefer not to participate, you can disable Enhanced Visual Search in your device settings. On iPhone, navigate to Settings > Apps > Photos and toggle off "Enhanced Visual Search" at the bottom. For Mac users, the option can be found under Photos > Settings. Disabling this feature prevents your photos and location data from being added to Apple's cloud-based search index.For everyone else, it's worth noting that the convenience of Enhanced Visual Search comes with increased data sharing with Apple's servers. An opt-in approach might have been a better way to avoid sparking this controversy.Image credit: Amanz

Google plans to prioritize scaling its Gemini AI for consumers in the new year, CEO Sundar Pichai told employees during a strategy meeting held earlier this month. The company is facing increased competition from rivals like Perplexity and OpenAI as emerging AI technologies reinvent web search. The company has come under added scrutiny from federal regulators as well this year.I think 2025 will be critical, Pichai remarked to employees assembled at Googles headquarters in Mountain View, California, as well as those attending virtually. I think its really important we internalize the urgency of this moment, and need to move faster as a company. The stakes are high. These are disruptive moments. In 2025, we need to be relentlessly focused on unlocking the benefits of this technology and solve real user problems.Recommended VideosTo that end, Pichai announced that the company will introduce a number of new AI features in the first half of next year, as well as roll out an update for its highly anticipated Project Asta.GoogleWhile Google enjoyed strong growth and revenue from its search ads and cloud products this year, recent legal rulings could significantly impact the companys industry dominance in 2025. In August, Google lost an antitrust case brought by the Department of Justice and 38 state attorneys general when a federal judge found that the company illegally holds a monopoly in the search and text markets. The DOJ subsequently requested in November that Google be compelled to divest from its Chrome browser division. The company also faces pressure from the U.K.s Competition and Markets Authority, which in September alleged that Google has harmed competition by using its dominance in online display advertising to favor its own ad tech services.RelatedIts not lost on me that we are facing scrutiny across the world, Pichai said.With the Gemini app, there is strong momentum, particularly over the last few months, Pichai said. But we have some work to do in 2025 to close the gap and establish a leadership position there as well. Google is already investing heavily in AI efforts and those investments are likely to increase next year.Scaling Gemini on the consumer side will be our biggest focus next year, he added.Editors Recommendations

Are you still on the hunt for headphone deals as the holiday season draws to a close? You may want to check out this offer from Amazon for the Beats Solo 4, which are on sale with a 35% discount. From their original price of $200, theyre down to a more affordable $130. Youll need to be quick in completing your purchase for these wireless headphones though with Beats among the most popular brands in the space, its possible that the stocks up for sale run out extremely soon. Hurry if you want to pocket the $70 in savings!We described the Beats Solo 4 as a gentle evolution to their predecessor, the Beats Solo 3, as the brands bestselling line of wireless headphones doesnt need a huge overhaul. The Beats Solo 4 are light and comfortable to wear with their ergonomic design and adjustable ear cups, and theyre compatible with both iOS and Android devices. They can last for up to 50 hours on a single charge, and Fast Fuel technology replenishes up to 5 hours of usage with just 10 minutes of charging.For Beats fans, our Beats Solo 4 versus Beats Studio Pro comparison discusses the differences between these two models. While the Beats Studio Pro have active noise cancellation and offer better sound quality, the Beats Solo 4 may be used even when their battery is drained through their 3.5mm audio cable. Both headphones support 24-bit/48kHz lossless audio via USB-C and spatial audio, but with the Beats Solo 4 selling for a much more affordable price and even lower with Amazons discount youll get immense value for your money with these wireless headphones.RelatedWere always on the lookout for Beats headphone deals because theres a lot of demand for the brands products, and you wouldnt want to miss this one from Amazon the Beats Solo 4 for only $130, following a $70 discount on their sticker price of $200. Were not sure how much time is remaining before this offer expires, so you have to move fast if you dont want to miss out. Proceed with your transaction for the Beats Solo 4 wireless headphones as soon as you can, while theyre still 35% off.Editors Recommendations