Hundreds of creatives warn against an AI slop future
Around 800 artists, writers, actors, and musicians signed on to a new campaign against what they call "theft at a grand scale" by AI companies. The signatories of the campaign - called "Stealing Isn't Innovation" - include authors George Saunders and Jodi Picoult, actors Cate Blanchett and Scarlett Johansson, and musicians like the band R.E.M., Billy Corgan, and The Roots.
"Driven by fierce competition for leadership in the new GenAI technology, profit-hungry technology companies, including those among the richest in the world as well as private equity-backed ventures, have copied a massive amount of creative content online without authori …
Blue Origin’s Starlink rival TeraWave promises 6-terabit satellite internet
SpaceX has the most internet-beaming satellites in its constellation, but the competition is coming, and now Jeff Bezos' space company, Blue Origin, has announced the TeraWave network. It says TeraWave will offer bandwidth of up to 6Tb available anywhere on Earth, for both upload and download.
The only wrinkle? Even after satellite deployments are scheduled to start near the end of 2027, you probably won't be able to connect directly. That's by design, as former Amazon Alexa boss and current Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp said in a post that it's "purpose-built for enterprise customers."
Blue Origin's network has a "multi-orbit" design of 5,408 …
Everyone can hear your TV in their headphones using this transmitter
As we've previously lamented, one of Bluetooth's best modern features isn't being embraced by the tech world, but that's changing. Sennheiser has announced a new pair of wireless headphones and a transmitter designed for private TV watching that both use a Bluetooth feature called Auracast. Like tuning into a radio station broadcast from a tower, multiple headphones, earbuds, hearing aids, and even speakers can tune into audio from the Sennheiser BTA1 digital transmitter without the hassles and limitations of pairing - if they're Auracast compatible.
Sennheiser's $299.95 RS 275 TV Headphones bundle will be available for preorder starting th …
Here are the best Kindle deals right now
When it comes to finding a device to read ebooks, you have a few options to choose from. You can always buy a tablet or use your phone, but those devices are multipurpose and can be used for a ton of things, like surfing the web or doomscrolling on X or Bluesky. If you are looking for something to strictly read books, e-readers, while niche, are designed to store all of your books in a virtual library with limited functionality.
Amazon, one of the pioneers of the e-reader, has dominated the space for years with its ever-expanding Kindle lineup, which consists of several unique models with their own pros and cons. The bulk of the devices function as simple ebook readers; however, with the Kindle Scribe, Amazon is moving beyond books and into the realm of writing — something that should make future Kindles function more akin to physical paper.
In fact, two new Scribes have just hit the market: a snazzy color model called the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft and a black-and-white mid-tier model called the Amazon Kindle Scribe 32GB. A new entry-level Scribe without a front light will also be available soon, though Amazon has yet to provide a specific release date.
Meanwhile, many of Amazon’s last-gen e-readers are still available (and at nice discounts).
The best Kindle (2024) deals
What does it mean when a Kindle is “ad-supported”?
Amazon Kindle e-readers come in different storage configurations, but there is also an additional option that allows you to buy the e-reader with or without ads. Ad-supported Kindles will display personalized advertisements on the lock screen when in sleep mode or at the bottom of the homescreen when the device is connected to Wi-Fi. Typically, you save about $20 by buying the ad-supported version, but if you decide to remove ads later, you can make a one-time payment to cover the difference.
The most recent entry-level Kindle — which starts at an MSRP of $109.99 — was introduced in 2024. It boasts a bright 94-nit display, fine contrast levels, and slightly faster page turns than the 2022 version. It also comes in a “matcha” green, just in case you’re not a fan of the default black color. Otherwise, though, it’s nearly identical to its predecessor, with the same six-inch 300ppi screen, support for USB-C, and 16GB of base storage.
In the past, Amazon’s ad-supported Kindle has dropped to as low as $79.99 ($30 off) with three months of Kindle Unlimited. Right now, however, you can buy the base-model Kindle at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target for its full retail price of $109.99.
The best Kindle Kids (2024) deals
Amazon also updated its kid-friendly Kindle in late 2024. The latest Kindle Kids is identical to the standard model but comes with several accessories and provides age-appropriate content for younger readers who prefer digital books. Like the last-gen Kindle Kids, the latest model retails for $20 more than the base model, bringing the MSRP to $129.99.
In terms of add-ons, the newest Kindle Kids edition consists of four items: the device, a protective case, a two-year extended replacement guarantee (in the event the device breaks), and six months of Amazon Kids Plus. The last feature is the biggest selling point of the device aside from the kid-friendly patterns and lack of ads, as it allows parents to grant their child access to games, videos, and books — including those in the Percy Jackson and Harry Potter series — at no additional cost.
Previously, we’ve seen the latest Kindle Kids sell for as low as $94.99 ($35 off). Right now, however, you can only pick it up at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target at its full price of $129.99.
The best Kindle Paperwhite (2024) deals
The latest Kindle Paperwhite, which launched in 2024, is Amazon’s 12th-gen model. Considering it’s one of the company’s higher-end configurations, it offers all the features found in the entry-level Kindle, including USB-C charging and a crisp 300ppi display. It’s noticeably faster than Amazon’s base ebook reader and features IPX8 waterproofing, a larger seven-inch display, and longer battery life.
During events like Black Friday and Cyber Monday, we’ve seen the standard Paperwhite drop to as low as $124.99. Sadly, the standalone model is currently only available at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target starting at $159.99 (its full retail price). If you’re okay with purchasing a bundle, you can grab it at Amazon with a power adapter and either a green, pink, or black fabric cover for $196.97 ($20 off); it’s also available at Amazon with a plant-based leather cover in green, pink, or black for $202.97 (also $20 off).
Read our full Kindle Paperwhite (2024) review.
Kindle Paperwhite (2024)
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2024 Kindle Paperwhite Essentials Bundle (with ads)
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Like other Kindles, the newest Paperwhite is available in a few different configurations — including an ad-free Signature Edition that’s identical to the standard model but comes with 32GB of storage, Qi wireless charging, and a backlight that automatically adjusts when needed.
In the past, the Signature Edition has been discounted to $149.99 ($50 off). Currently, however, it is only available at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target for its usual price of $199.99. You can also pick it up at Amazon with a wireless charging dock and a black, green, or pink fabric cover starting at $251.97 ($30 off). It’s also available at Amazon with a plant-based leather cover in black, green, or pink for $257.97 (also $30 off).
Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition (2024)
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Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition Essentials Bundle
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The best Kindle Paperwhite Kids (2024) deals
Amazon also rolled out a Kindle Paperwhite Kids for $179.99 in 2024. It’s identical to the standard Kindle Paperwhite, with the same waterproof design and sharp, seven-inch display. However, like the Kindle Kids, the e-reader is free of ads and offers optional parental controls. It also comes bundled with a kid-friendly cover, a two-year extended replacement guarantee, and six months of Amazon Kids Plus.
Although the Kindle Paperwhite Kids has been known to occasionally drop to $129.99 ($50 off) during special sales events, it’s currently only available for its usual price of $179.99 at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target.
The best Kindle Scribe (2025) deals
The third-gen Kindle Scribe, which launched late last year, is even bigger than its 10.2-inch predecessor. It offers an 11-inch display with 300ppi resolution, 32GB of storage, and the same great battery life for which Kindles are known. What separates the Scribe from other Kindles is that it comes with a stylus, which can be used to jot down notes or doodle in the ebook reader’s built-in notebook. With the last Scribe, Amazon introduced a new Active Canvas feature — letting you scribble notes directly on ebook pages — as well as a suite of AI-powered features that can summarize your notes and refine your handwriting. The latest version adds a Premium Pen, a front light, and slimmer bezels than its second-gen cousin.
Amazon’s third-gen Scribe is currently selling for $499.99 at Amazon and Best Buy, which is the typical MSRP. A less expensive version should also be available soon; it drops storage to 16GB and removes the front light, but still includes A Premium Pen. It will be priced at $429.99 at launch.
The recently launched Kindle Scribe Colorsoft adds — you guessed it — color to the mix, while offering the same dimensions as the third-gen Scribe, plus front lighting, the ability to take and upload notes, and great battery life. However, our reviewer noted that the colors aren’t particularly vibrant and that there’s minimal ghosting. She also found the device’s thinness somewhat limiting, making it more challenging to use in certain situations, such as while riding the bus one-handed.
The new Scribe Colorsoft is currently available at Amazon and Best Buy with 32GB of storage for $629.99; if you want an expanded 64GB of storage, you’ll have to pony up the full $679.99 at Amazon or Best Buy.
Read our full Kindle Scribe Colorsoft review.
Kindle Scribe Colorsoft
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If you want to save a bit of cash, you can pick up the second-gen (but still excellent) Kindle Scribe, which is available with 16GB and a Premium Pen for $399.99 at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target. You can also get the 32GB version for $20 more at Amazon and Best Buy, or pick up the 16GB Scribe at Amazon as a part of a bundle with a 9W power adapter, a Premium Pen, and a plant-based leather cover starting at $444.97 ($55 off).
Read our full Kindle Scribe (2024) review.
Kindle Scribe (2024)
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Kindle Scribe Essentials Bundle
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The best Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition deals
Toward the end of 2024, Amazon announced its first color e-reader, the Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition. Like the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, it boasts a seven-inch display with a crisp 300ppi resolution, IPX8 water resistance, wireless charging, and 32GB of storage. However, unlike the Paperwhite, the e-reader offers a color mode, which cuts the resolution in half. Thankfully, it’s still vibrant for a color E-Ink screen despite the lower resolution, rendering it particularly ideal for reading comic books and manga.
More recently, Amazon introduced a cheaper Colorsoft, one that comes with only 16GB of storage. It lacks wireless charging and an auto-adjusting front light, but it’s otherwise identical to the first-gen model. The 16GB version has a full retail price of $249.99 — which is the current price at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target — though we’ve seen it fall to as low as $199.99 during tentpole shopping events like Black Friday. The 32GB Signature Edition, meanwhile, is only available at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target for its usual asking price of $279.99.
That said, you can save some money at Amazon on the step-up model if you buy it as part of a bundle for $327.97 ($40 off), which nets you a wireless charging dock and plant-based leather cover in black, pink, or green. If you want a more premium experience, Amazon also sells it with a leather cover in red or black for $349.97 (also $40 off).
Read our full Kindle Colorsoft review.
Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition
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Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition Essentials Bundle
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The best Kindle Colorsoft Kids deals
In July of 2025, Amazon announced a kid-friendly version of the Colorsoft with 16GB of storage and an MSRP of $269.99. Like the Signature Edition, the Kindle Colorsoft Kids offers a seven-inch color display and IPX8 water resistance, but it lacks wireless charging. The ad-free ebook reader also comes with one of two covers, a one-year subscription to Amazon Kids Plus, an extended two-year warranty, and optional parental controls.
Although it fell to $189.99 ($80 off) as recently as November, the Colorsoft Kids is currently only available for its full retail price of $269.99 at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target.
Update, January 21st: Adjusted pricing / availability and added several related links.
Apple is reportedly working on an AirTag-sized AI wearable
Apple is working on an AI-powered wearable pin with cameras and microphones designed to pick up a user's surroundings, according to a report from The Information. The rumored device is reportedly the size of an AirTag, with "thin, flat, circular" housing made from aluminium and glass.
The Information reports that Apple's rumored AI pin will have a standard lens and a wide-angle lens, along with three microphones, a speaker, a physical button on one of its sides, and support for wireless charging. The device is still in the "early stages" of development and could arrive as soon as 2027, according to The Information.
Along with this rumored …
Anthropic’s new Claude ‘constitution’: be helpful and honest, and don’t destroy humanity
Anthropic is overhauling Claude's so-called "soul doc."
The new missive is a 57-page document titled "Claude's Constitution," which details "Anthropic's intentions for the model's values and behavior," aimed not at outside readers but the model itself. The document is designed to spell out Claude's "ethical character" and "core identity," including how it should balance conflicting values and high-stakes situations.
Where the previous constitution, published in May 2023, was largely a list of guidelines, Anthropic now says it's important for AI models to "understand why we want them to behave in certain ways rather than just specifying w …
Apple is turning Siri into an AI bot that’s more like ChatGPT
Apple is planning a big Siri overhaul that will transform the voice assistant into an AI chatbot built directly into its iPhone and Mac, according to Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman. The update is reportedly coming later this year and will replace the existing Siri interface, allowing users to interact with the assistant by both typing and talking, similar to the chatbots available from Google, OpenAI, Anthropic, and others.
As noted by Bloomberg, this change is separate from the AI-powered personalization features coming to Siri in the next few months. Like that updated version of Siri, the chatbot will reportedly use a custom Google Gemini …
Samsung Galaxy S26 battery pack leak points to Qi2 charging support
It looks like Samsung is preparing to launch a new Qi2 battery pack for the upcoming Galaxy S26, which is rumored to support the upgraded charging standard. A report from Winfuture shows off leaked images of what appears to be the new accessory, outfitted with a magnetic Qi2 charging ring that delivers up to 15W of power, along with a USB-C cable offering up to 20W.
Winfuture suggests that the wireless power bank itself will have a 5,000mAh battery capable of charging at up to 25W. The battery pack also appears to come with an arm that you can fold out to use as a stand. This isn't the first time we're hearing about this accessory; last Dec …
Volvo aims for an EV reset with the new EX60 crossover
Volvo's EX60, with fast-charging capabilities and a brand-new electric architecture, made its official debut today, with the Swedish automaker positioning the crossover EV as a new direction for its battery-powered lineup. With up to 400 miles of estimated range and an 800-volt architecture for ultra-fast charging, the EX60 feels like a concerted effort by Volvo to address some of the most common pain points of EV ownership. But it also represents Volvo's effort to reshuffle its supply chain and production process for a better chance at earning a profit on its EV lineup.
At first glance, the EX60 looks a little familiar, with an exterior de …
Ubisoft cancels Prince of Persia remake as part of major reorganization
Ubisoft is announcing a major reorganization, and with the changes, it's refocusing its portfolio and canceling some games, including the beleaguered remake of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. With the reorganization, Ubisoft will focus its efforts on big open worlds and live service games and is making "accelerated investments" in "player-facing Generative AI."
In the new structure, which goes into effect in April, Ubisoft's new operating model will "be structured around five Creative Houses," supported by a "Creative Network providing development resources, shared Core Services and a reshaped HQ." The brands under each Creative House, …