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NYT Games launches "Year in Games": personalized 2025 puzzle roundups The New York Times Games team has released a "Year in Games" feature that summarizes readers’ 2025 play across its daily puzzles and word games. Users can view community stats or generate a personalized report showing activity for titles like Wordle, Connections, Spelling Bee and Strands. Personal summaries are available in the NYT iOS and Android apps and on a dedicated mobile web page. The feature highlights play trends, top answers, streaks and other fun metrics — designed for shareability and end‑of‑year reflection. What it includes Individual reports detailing how often you played, best streaks and notable answers for Wordle, Connections, Spelling Bee and Strands. Community statistics showing overall player behavior and popular puzzle moments from 2025. Availability through the…

CES 2026 preview: what to expect from tech’s biggest conference CES 2026 runs in Las Vegas January 6–9 (with pre-show events starting January 4). Early press schedules already point to a chip-heavy show, new display tech, high-profile keynotes and a continued push into robotics and AI-powered devices. Organizers have published a searchable directory and a full slate of panels. Early highlights include Samsung’s opening “First Look,” an expanded press day on January 5 packed with Intel, AMD, Sony Honda Mobility and NVIDIA keynotes, and Lenovo’s Tech World at Sphere on January 6. What to watch Chips: Intel will debut its Core Ultra Series 3 (Panther Lake) for premium laptops; AMD may reveal Ryzen updates including 9850X3D and Zen 5-based 9000G parts; Qualcomm is expected to push Snapdragon laptop silicon. Displays:…

Sonos issues another app & firmware update in December Less than two weeks after its previous release, Sonos has pushed another small software package for its Controller app and several speaker models. The update is being rolled out gradually to iOS and Android users and mainly includes bug fixes and minor adjustments to stabilize existing features. According to Sonos, the package is compact and focused — not a major feature release — but aims to improve day-to-day reliability for playback, connectivity and app interactions. Users should see incremental improvements rather than new functionality. What the update addresses Stability fixes for the Controller app on iOS and Android. Minor firmware adjustments for multiple Sonos speaker models to improve connectivity and playback consistency. Bug fixes that smooth out less common edge cases…

1&1 enables RCS on iPhone with iOS 26.2 1&1 has activated support for RCS messaging on Apple devices — but only after the release of iOS 26.2. With the latest iOS update installed, customers on the 1&1 network can enable the Rich Communication Services (RCS) successor to SMS and access richer messaging features when communicating with compatible contacts. RCS brings features beyond traditional SMS: higher-quality media transfers, typing indicators, read receipts and improved group messaging. The technical rollout is handled by 1&1, so users must update to iOS 26.2 and have a 1&1 SIM/profile to enable the service on their iPhone, iPad or Apple Watch where supported. How to get started Update your device to iOS 26.2 via Settings > General > Software Update. Make sure your 1&1 SIM/profile is…

dm‑med: dm launches its own online pharmacy for OTC and pharmacy‑exclusive products German drugstore chain dm has entered the online pharmacy market with dm‑med. Customers can now order non‑prescription products, pharmacy‑only items and selected pharmacy‑exclusive goods through dm’s webshop and the dm app. The service is operated from a Czech‑based online pharmacy, and dm says its offering includes several thousand medications plus a four‑digit selection of dermatological care products. The new shop aims to combine dm’s retail reach with the convenience of e‑commerce. Orders placed via the app or website are intended for home delivery, and the assortment covers everyday remedies, care items and niche dermatology lines that were previously only available in physical pharmacies. Key features Product range: Thousands of items spanning non‑prescription and pharmacy‑only categories, plus extensive dermcare…

PayPal applies to become a US bank — filings with FDIC and Utah regulators PayPal has submitted applications to form a U.S. bank, filing with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Utah Department of Financial Institutions (UDFI). If approved, the new entity — tentatively dubbed “PayPal Bank” — would be chartered in Utah and offer interest‑bearing savings accounts and other bank services. The company says it has provided more than $30 billion in loans and working capital to over 420,000 business accounts globally and frames the bank application as a way to improve access to capital for small businesses. PayPal already operates as a bank in Europe (Luxembourg); a U.S. charter would allow it to take deposits directly and expand its product set. Why PayPal is pursuing a…

PayPal applies to become a US bank — filings with the FDIC and Utah PayPal has submitted applications to form a U.S. bank, filing with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Utah Department of Financial Institutions (UDFI). The move would establish "PayPal Bank" (chartered in Utah if approved) and allow the company to offer interest‑bearing savings accounts and other banking services. The company says it has provided more than $30 billion in loans and working capital to over 420,000 business accounts globally and frames the bank application as a way to improve access to capital for small businesses. PayPal already operates as a bank in Europe (Luxembourg), but a U.S. charter would broaden its ability to take deposits and offer bank products directly. Why PayPal wants a bank…

Best subscription box gifts for 2025 — gifts that keep on giving Subscription boxes remain one of the most enduring gift ideas — you buy once and the surprises keep arriving for months. Engadget’s 2025 roundup highlights curated monthly boxes across categories: gadgets, books, snacks, collectibles and hands-on projects, making them ideal for recipients who love discovery. These services are especially good as presents because they combine tangible items with themed curation, and many offer gift options or short-term plans so you can tailor the commitment to your budget. Types of boxes to consider Gadget & tech: Small electronics, accessories and quirky tech toys for tinkerers and early adopters. Books: Curated reads with extras like bookmarks, author notes or themed swag. Snacks & food: International treats, artisanal snacks or themed…

Best subscription box gifts for 2025 — gifts that keep on giving Subscription boxes remain one of the most enduring gift ideas — you buy once and the surprises keep arriving for months. Engadget’s 2025 roundup highlights curated boxes across categories: gadgets, books, snacks, collectibles and hands‑on projects, so you can match a theme to the recipient’s interests. These services are especially good as presents because they combine discovery with tangible items and often offer gift options or short‑term plans for one‑time giving. Below are the main types of boxes and tips to choose the right one. Types of subscription boxes Gadget & tech: Small electronics, accessories and quirky tech toys for tinkerers and early adopters. Books: Curated reads with extras like bookmarks, author notes or themed swag. Snacks &…

Best subscription box gifts for 2025 — gifts that keep on giving Subscription boxes remain one of the easiest ways to give a gift that keeps delighting all year. Engadget’s 2025 roundup highlights curated monthly boxes across categories — gadgets, books, snacks, collectibles and hands-on projects — so you can match a theme to the recipient’s interests. These services are especially good gifts because one purchase turns into repeated surprises. Many boxes offer one-off gift options, short-term subscriptions, or multi-month plans, letting you tailor the commitment to your budget and the recipient’s tastes. Categories covered Gadget & tech boxes: Small electronics, accessories and quirky tech toys for tinkerers and early adopters. Book boxes: Curated reads with extras like bookmarks, author notes or themed goodies. Snack & food boxes: International treats,…