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Xbox CEO refuses to confirm whether next console Helix will have a disc drive
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has declined to confirm whether Microsoft’s next console, codenamed Project Helix, will include a disc drive, deflecting repeated questions from the BBC about the future of physical media. The evasiveness matters because it fuels ongoing concerns among gamers that the games industry is moving inexorably towards an all-digital future, even as…
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Badenoch appoints architect of Truss’s mini-Budget to replace Mel Stride as shadow chancellor
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has sacked shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride and replaced him with Andrew Griffith, promoting him from shadow business secretary in what is being seen as a shift towards a bolder, more tax-cutting economic stance. The appointment is notable because Griffith was financial secretary to the Treasury under Liz Truss and helped…
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Anthropic sued over alleged theft of ‘tens of thousands’ of songs
Sony Music Publishing and Warner Chappell have filed a multibillion-dollar lawsuit against Anthropic, alleging the AI company unlawfully used “tens of thousands” of copyrighted songs, including tracks by Mariah Carey, Marvin Gaye and Survivor, to train its Claude chatbot. The publishers, who manage rights on behalf of songwriters, describe it as “one of the largest…
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From watches to passwords on paper, everything that’s old is new again
This week’s episode of The Register’s Kettle podcast takes a break from AI coverage to explore a nostalgic theme: how older, simpler technology is regaining appeal as modern systems grow more resource-hungry and complex. Host Brandon Vigliarolo is joined by reporters Liam Proven and Richard Speed to discuss Windows XP’s 25th anniversary, Casio’s revival of…
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8 Best Steamy Adult Series to Stream on HBO Max
This Collider article rounds up eight adult drama and comedy series available to stream on HBO Max that push the boundaries of mature content, from sex and nudity to violence and swearing, benefiting from streaming’s fewer restrictions compared to network television. It highlights shows praised both for their bold storytelling and for their quality, positioning…
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Court ruling closes £1bn empty-property rates loophole
A court of appeal ruling last month has effectively ended “box shifting”, a legal loophole exploited by property owners for almost two decades to avoid paying business rates on empty commercial buildings, a scheme estimated to have cost local authorities in England more than £1bn. The case centred on 2 America Square, an office block…
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Elite Premier League Clubs Race Transfer Deadline as Arsenal and Newcastle Navigate Complex Moves
Manchester United academy graduate Kobbie Mainoo drew strong praise from teammate Harry Maguire after a standout midfield display in United’s 5-2 win over Ipswich, a result made notable by the fact United had spent £150 million rebuilding their midfield over the summer. The episode underlined a broader theme of the closing days of the transfer…
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Documentary follows Buffalo Starbucks workers’ union campaign
A new documentary, Baristas vs Billionaires, tells the story of Starbucks workers in Buffalo, New York, who launched a union-organising campaign in 2021, and the company’s fierce response, including intervention by billionaire founder Howard Schultz. Director Mark Mori, a former steelworker and union member, says he was drawn to the project by parallels between the…
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One of the great ‘what if’ moments in rock history: Ace by Desperado. “Had this been released in the early 80s, it would have gone down a storm”
This is an Album of the Week Club feature revisiting Ace, the sole album by Desperado, the short-lived band Dee Snider formed with ex-Iron Maiden drummer Clive Burr and guitarist Bernie Tormé after Twisted Sister split in 1988. Originally scheduled for release in May 1990, the blues-infused heavy metal record was shelved by Elektra as…