This week, Samsung has not only launched its new smartphones in the Galaxy S25 series (including a surprise revelation from the Galaxy S25 Edge), but we have also seen a multitude of major technological news that you may have missed.
OPENAI has teased its operator agent, Netflix has (still) increased its prices and Tiktok has been prohibited and not prohibited – but its fate is still at stake as its rivals set up. You can make up for all this and much more by scrolling down.
Once you have finished this week’s Icymi, see our selection of the 7 new films and television programs to broadcast this weekend (January 24).
7. Samsung Galaxy Unpacked presented the S25 series …
Another year, another Samsung Galaxy Unpacked to unpack (sorry!). The latter edition saw the Korean giant launching the Samsung Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25 Plus and Galaxy S25 Ultra. At the same time, a fourth device – the Galaxy S25 Edge – was announced at the end of the presentation as “soon available”.
So what’s new? The three new smartphones have the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, 12 GB of RAM and a multitude of new Galaxy AI features, including Now Brief and Eraser Audio. The Ultra has benefited from an overhaul similar to that of the iPhone and Samsung added Galaxy Z Fold 6 style camera to each model in the range. The Galaxy S25 EDGE, on the other hand, will be an ultra -fine (we think) version of the 6.2 -inch Galaxy S25, but Samsung has not yet shared official details on this phone (apart from its name).
We were on the ground at Galaxy Unpacked and have already manipulated the three new S25 devices, so consult our practical examination of the Samsung Galaxy S25, our practical exam of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus and our practical exam of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra for our first impressions.
6. … and play us with the new goodies Galaxy Ai
The launch of the S25 range was really focused on Galaxy AI, Samsung’s general name for all integrated AI features in these new thin and futuristic phones. By detailing all AI capabilities before phones, Samsung seems to think that AI’s features are more important than the real specifications of the phone, so why is the Korean company so enthusiastic?
Now Brief and Now Bar are the two remarkable features of Galaxy AI, and they essentially look like super powerful notifications. Because they are linked to all the other applications on your phone, not to mention all your other Samsung devices, you will find that they can start suggesting things you should do before you have to do or things you will have to Perhaps being aware, as an intense traffic on the way back.
Security is obviously a big problem with AI and Samsung wishes to focus on the new engine of personal data. This keeps all your personal data on your device when the AI operates its magic with it, so you don’t have to worry about their flight on the cloud.
5. Fitbit issued a warning concerning his batteries
A difficult year 2024 for Fitbit paved the way at the start of 2025 even more difficult. While you would have hoped that your best Fitbit could help you take your New Year’s resolutions to start January, the company is actually struggling against a serious problem of drums. .
The company warned users that Fitbit Sense and Versa 3 are both at risk and could present a potential risk for users. The update is already being deployed, but this is not all good news. Customers are encouraged to verify the eligibility of their device and will receive a notification asking them to update their firmware.
The update will reduce the risk of overheating the batteries concerned, but will be made at a reduced capacity, which means that your device will have to be recharged more often.
It is not ideal and Fitbit offers $ 50 to customers concerned as compensation. With the abolition of Fitbit by Google in favor of the Pixel Watch range, they may have to spend this money on a new smart watch.
4. Tiktok and other applications have turned off and returned
Tiktok was released for a day before being authorized to return to the United States thanks to a decree signed by Donald Trump, even if questions remain as to his lifespan. In addition, it was not the only service to become dark.
Marvel Snap and Capcut have become dark – alongside other companies belonging to Bytedance – even if some (like the own developers of Marvel Snap) thought that their software would be exempt from the prohibition. This has aroused a wave of reactions from applications and their rivals – Marvel Snap is looking for a new publisher and Instagram announced Edits (its own Capcut rival).
There is still a question about Tiktok’s fate, but it seems that many are preparing for it to be prohibited in the United States again if a sale does not take place, so you may want to prepare for it also.
3. Netflix has increased price – again
We left: Netflix undergoes a price increase in the United States with immediate effect-Youpi…
The standard package with advertisements goes from $ 1, going from $ 6.99 to $ 7.99 per month, the standard package (without advertising) goes from $ 15.49 to $ 17.99, and the premium package will cost you 24 , $ 99 per month instead of $ 22.99.
Netflix said that it will occasionally ask our members to pay a little more so that we can reinvest to further improve Netflix “, in order to rule out criticism. Even if the increase is not massive (and has not yet reached the United Kingdom or Australia), these slow and regular increases have rendered the service considerably more expensive over time, and this brings us to We ask if we should just abandon the service. streaming service once and for all.
2. The first Openai IA agent arrived
The IA agents will be a big trend in 2025, and Openai officially launched its first, called “operator” from January 23, 2025, as a search overview for the Chatgpt Pro subscriptions. The main thing here is that it is a computer using an agent, essentially an AI that can perform web tasks for you because it lives in a browser. He uses the GPT-4O visual with advanced reasoning to allow him to navigate the web and understand various elements.
Essentially, as shown in a shared demo, it can fill out forms for you, find a restaurant, then reserve it for you on open. OPENAI even says that he can self-body, even if we will have to see what it looks like in practice. This is only the beginning, but Operator is exciting and Openai also works on other AI agents.
1. Oscar appointments have aroused negative AI reactions
The Brutalist – in the running for 10 Oscars – and Emilia Pérez de Netflix – in the running for a record of 13 Oscars, the record never recorded for a foreign film – were criticized this week for their use of Respeecher, a voice change tool based on AI.
It was used to make the actors of The Brutalist such as Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones more authentically Hungarian and to increase the range of song by Karla Sofìa Gascón d’Emilia Pérez by combining her voice with the French pop star Camille.
The creative teams of the films argued that AI simply increased the incredible performance of these actors in the same way as traditional assembly and that even if AI was used to accelerate the assembly process, it always required care and the attention of human editors. . However, this left a bitter taste in the mouth of many people, especially after the major Hollywood strike in 2023, which rebelled against the use of AI in films – some calling for disqualification of disqualification These films because they used AI.
