Tech
Redbox’s Parent Company Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment Filed for Bankruptcy
The parent company of Redbox, Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, has filed for bankruptcy. Details regarding the financial situation of the company, which has a long history in the media and entertainment sector, can be found here.
Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, the parent company of the CD/DVD rental company Redbox, demonstrated once again the strong position of its streaming services by filing for bankruptcy. The parent company applied for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Saturday. Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment has nearly $1 billion in debt and is facing issues with being able to pay its employees’ salaries and benefits.
Having gone public in 2017 and acquiring various digital services, the company purchased Redbox in 2022 for $375 million after acquiring platforms like Popcornflix and Crackle. Redbox was known for its video rental services as well as its automated machines for physical media distribution. The company burdened with debt under Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment may sell Redbox to an interested buyer.
Redbox had over 43,000 locations in the early 2010s and reportedly still has over 34,000 locations distributing DVDs and Blu-Rays. However, with some machines being shut down and a decline in physical media, the future of Redbox remains uncertain.
The Decline of Physical Media
Redbox’s situation is indicative of the decline in physical media consumption. Retail giants like Best Buy and Target decided to end DVD and Blu-Ray sales last year. Similarly, Netflix completely discontinued its physical media rental service.
According to the 2023 report from the media industry analysis group Digital Entertainment Group, only 3.6% of home video revenue in the US comes from physical media, a 25% decrease compared to the previous year. Digital platforms and streaming services are increasingly taking the place of physical media.
Tech
Tesla Semi Fire: NTSB Preliminary Report Released
The NTSB’s preliminary report on the Tesla Semi fire has been released. This content includes important information about the details of the incident, the causes of the fire, and Tesla’s safety measures. Explore the impact on Tesla’s electric vehicles and its future steps.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released a preliminary report stating that a Tesla Semi electric truck in California required firefighters to use “50,000 gallons” (approximately 190,000 liters) of water to extinguish a roadside fire. Firefighting teams also deployed an aircraft to drop fire retardant on nearby areas as a precautionary measure to control the fire.
The accident occurred on August 19 at 3:13 AM local time on the I-80 highway east of Sacramento. The electric truck went off the road while navigating a curve, collided with a roadside boundary marker, and then struck a tree, coming to a stop. Fortunately, the driver was not injured in the accident; however, considering their health condition, they were taken to the hospital.
The Tesla Semi’s large 900 kWh battery caught fire upon impact, and toxic smoke began to spread during the fire. While the fire continued with temperatures reaching up to 538°C, firefighters worked intensively to cool the blaze with water. However, due to the fire’s effects, the vehicle continued to burn until late in the afternoon. Meanwhile, Tesla sent a technical expert to the scene regarding fire safety and high voltage hazards.
The highway reopened to traffic at 7:20 PM local time, 16 hours after the accident. The NTSB, as an organization that can only make recommendations and cannot enforce regulations, sent a team to the area for investigation purposes. This major accident raised several issues, including dangerously hot fires and toxic smoke, which will attract the attention of many international organizations.
The NTSB had previously stated in 2021 that fires in the batteries of electric vehicles pose serious risks to emergency response teams and that the guidelines provided by manufacturers for such fires are inadequate.
Tech
New Leaks and Features About the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Discover the latest leaks and features about the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. Equipped with new technologies and advanced features, this smartphone elevates the user experience to a new level. Check it out for details!
New Leaks About Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Samsung is expected to introduce the Galaxy S25 Ultra along with the Galaxy S25 series at the beginning of 2024, likely in January. Although no official announcement has been made yet, leaks regarding the upcoming flagship continue to spread rapidly on the internet. Notable leak source IceUniverse shared several new visuals of the Galaxy S25 Ultra in a post on the X platform. These visuals reveal the design differences between the Galaxy S25 Ultra and the Galaxy S24 Ultra.
One of the notable features in the leaked images of the Galaxy S25 Ultra is the rounded corners of the phone. In contrast, this year’s Galaxy S24 Ultra has quite sharp corners, which has led to feedback from some users indicating discomfort while holding the device. Previous leaks have suggested that the Galaxy S25 Ultra may be somewhat larger.
A tweet shared by IceUniverse: Galaxy S25 Ultra Image
According to leaks, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is expected to be thinner and lighter compared to previous models. In August, rumors emerged that the upcoming Galaxy S25 Ultra would be lighter than its competitors, with a weight of under 221 grams.
Another image featured in IceUniverse’s post shows close-ups of the sides of both next year’s expected flagship phone and Samsung’s current flagship. In this image, the side of the Galaxy S25 Ultra appears flatter with rounded corners. While these changes may not create a major revolution, they will generally positively affect the feel of the phone in hand.
Looking at other rumors about the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, it is expected that the company will offer top-tier screen and camera upgrades next year. Additionally, there is a strong expectation that the satellite connection feature will also be introduced alongside the Galaxy S25.
Tech
iOS 18 Officially Released: Innovations and Features
iOS 18 has been officially released! This update, packed with new features and innovations, elevates the user experience to the next level. Check out our article for details and discover the new offerings of iOS 18!
iOS 18 Officially Released: Here Are the Innovations!
Apple officially launched iOS 18 yesterday, as promised. After a long beta testing phase, this update brings many exciting new features for iPhone users.
New Features in iOS 18
- Advanced Customization Options on the Home Screen: With iOS 18, users can now arrange app icons freely without sticking to the traditional grid layout. Additionally, there’s an option to change the colors of the icons and adjust their darkness levels. In short, you are no longer bound to a boring layout. It raises questions why Apple waited until 2024 to offer this feature.
- Revamped Control Center: The Control Center is completely redesigned in iOS 18. Users will be able to group controls more comfortably, and developers can easily add controls from their applications. Also, there’s an option to divide the Control Center into pages, allowing different controls on each page.
- RCS Messaging Support: With iOS 18, Apple introduces Rich Communication Services (RCS) messaging support. Users can add various effects to their texts and react with new emojis for more colorful responses.
- Updated Photos App: The Photos app is presented with a new opening page and a modern layout. Users can now browse photos by time, people, and many other criteria, reorder media files, and explore more with the “Collections” feature.
- App Lock Feature: Users can now lock specific applications. For example, they can activate Face ID protection from the menu that appears when long-pressing an app icon. Thus, anyone wanting to open the app will have to pass the Face ID protection first.
- Apple Intelligence: One of the important features of iOS 18 is Apple’s artificial intelligence kit, Apple Intelligence. However, to fully benefit from this feature, you’ll need to wait for the iOS 18.1 update. More information about Apple Intelligence can be found here.
How to Install iOS 18?
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap on General.
- Select Software Update.
- Your iPhone will notify you that the new iOS 18 update is available.
- Click on “Download and Install” and follow the on-screen instructions.
Which iPhone Models Can Install iOS 18?
- iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max
- iPhone 11
- iPhone 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max
- iPhone SE (2nd generation)
- iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12
- iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max
- iPhone 13 mini and iPhone 13
- iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max
- iPhone SE (3rd generation)
- iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus
- iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max
- iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus
- iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max
- iPhone 16
- iPhone 16 Plus
- iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max
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