“All I know is I’m good for my $80 billion.”
Technology
The AI spending frenzy is just getting started
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Rarely does a one-liner so perfectly capture the state of the moment. Here, you have Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella saying he’s “not in the details” about Stargate, the supposedly multi-hundred-billion AI infrastructure project driven by his marquee investment, OpenAI.
Nadella not being read in on the nebulous details of Stargate says a lot about how much Microsoft and OpenAI have drifted apart. Microsoft is mentioned in the Stargate press release since OpenAI’s models are still exclusive to Azure. But the most striking aspect of Stargate is not that the money isn’t there for it yet; it’s that OpenAI’s biggest backer has decided to not participate in what Sam Altman is calling “the most important project of this era.” As Nadella made clear on CNBC this week, he’s running his own, $80 billion AI infrastructure buildout and, going forward, OpenAI can get additional compute — with his blessing — elsewhere.
While it received fewer headlines this week, I found Nadella’s response to Elon Musk on X even more illuminating. In his response to Musk saying, “on the other hand, Satya definitely does have the money,” Nadella responded: “😂 And all this money is not about hyping AI, but is about building useful things for the real world!”
That post can only be interpreted as a dig at Altman. Nadella could have funded Stargate for OpenAI. He didn’t. What does he know that the rest of us don’t?
The splashy Stargate unveiling at the White House certainly accomplished its goal, which was clearly getting everyone to talk about big numbers. The headlines it generated prompted Mark Zuckerberg to make sure everyone ended the week knowing his data center will be even bigger than Stargate.
In a Friday post on his Facebook page, Zuckerberg said that Meta’s planned 2GW data center in Louisiana “is so large it would cover a significant part of Manhattan,” with a map view of the square footage overlaid on the city to send the point home.
From his post (my emphasis added): “We’ll bring online ~1GW of compute in ‘25 and we’ll end the year with more than 1.3 million GPUs. We’re planning to invest $60-65B in capex this year while also growing our AI teams significantly, and we have the capital to continue investing in the years ahead.”
I have no doubt that Altman, Masayoshi Son, and Larry Ellison will be able to raise the billions they need to lessen OpenAI’s dependence on Microsoft for compute. (The US government isn’t giving money to Stargate, which makes the optics of announcing it alongside Trump all the more bizarre.) Ultimately, this all points to the theme that is quickly coming to define 2025: Big Tech sees AI as the most existential technology of the coming era and will keep spending like hell to make sure OpenAI doesn’t completely run away with it.
AMA with spez
Few companies had as good of a 2024 as Reddit. Since going public last March, the company’s stock has soared 300 percent, giving the social network a valuation of $32 billion.
It’s an about-face from where Reddit was before going public, when its moderators were raging against its hurried platform changes and there was backlash to the company selling its data to Google and OpenAI.
With those controversies now seemingly in the rear-view mirror, Reddit is focused on growing its user base, staying profitable, and using AI to help people search its site more easily. I caught up with CEO Steve Huffman at CES a few weeks ago to hear his priorities for 2025, how he’s leading Reddit, his thoughts on the AI scaling debate, content moderation, and more…
The following interview has been edited for length and clarity:
Your IPO did very well. What have the last nine months or so been like for you personally?
We have a saying at Reddit that good numbers make good meetings. So we’ve had some good meetings.
Preparing to go public was intense. It’s telling the story over and over and over, which I enjoy doing, but it’s a lot of work. I think more than most new companies, we are in the public company rhythm already: close the quarter, do the audits, do the board meeting, earnings, and all of that. So it hasn’t been a major change for us from an operating point of view.
It’s a really exciting time for the new investors and employees. You won’t catch us complaining. What I keep telling the company is that everyone should be very proud of the work they’ve done and don’t take these moments for granted. I just tell them, look, enjoy the view. If you look at our history, there are lots of ups and downs. No doubt there are challenges in our future.
With your market cap where it is now, are you thinking of making swings you didn’t think you could make a year ago?
There are two classes of things that we would do. One is to execute the core strategy. We’ve got to hire. We’ve got to build. I think we’re very reasonable in terms of our investment size. The one sentence strategy for us is to grow the product and stay profitable.
What can you do with a high stock price? Maybe you can look at M&A that you wouldn’t otherwise. I’d say that’s not really our orientation right now because the acquisitions we’ve done over the last two years have been these 25-to-50-million-dollar deals. It’s kind of a sweet spot for us to get tech and teams. I’d say we’re always watching the market, but we’re not pursuing anything big or crazy right now because I like the core strategy. I think we can do what we want to do within our current capabilities.
What’s the main product focus for Reddit this year?
The first is the core of Reddit, which is community conversations. Everyone has a home on Reddit, but do you see that home in your first session? There’s a whole other dimension to our work, which is Reddit as an information source. Reddit has all of this incredible information. For the users who have a question that needs an answer, can we give them that answer? We just got into testing Reddit Answers. I’m finding that really helpful for searches about current events. A year from now, it’s a monetization product. It’s one of the few products where it kind of scratches every itch, so it’ll be a big focus.
What do you make of this debate about whether the AI industry has run out of data?
I think we’d have a different answer to that question literally every month. We want to have good relationships with other people in this space. We’re open for business.
At the same time, we want to maximize the value we get out of our own data. We have not experienced conflict between the two at this point. I love the [data licensing] relationships we have — the major ones being Google and OpenAI. At this point, we don’t need to make any particular partnership. I’d say they’re all nice to have but nothing is existential for us.
One of the challenges is that the AI companies don’t know what product they’re building. It’s not a bad thing. They are iterating themselves. ChatGPT itself, the central product in this conversation, was a demo. Then, a year later, it’s the most important piece of enterprise technology on Earth with questionable economics. That makes it very exciting. I don’t think any of these companies would be offended to hear me say that.
You were one of the first social media CEOs I saw to be very critical of TikTok. How does a US ban affect Reddit?
If you look at Reddit’s traffic graph over the last 19 years, you will not see the rise and fall of any particular platform. I think every content type should work on Reddit. Video on Reddit is largely camera-out — what I’m looking at — as opposed to camera-in, or who am I? That’s social media. I think the ban is the right thing to do for reasons I’ve mentioned that honestly have nothing to do with competition.
With Meta’s moderation changes, the broader conversation around social media feels like it’s changing right now.
For the last 10 years, people have been talking about whether speech is the problem, which is a crazy thought. You can’t have freedom without speech. I think that detour through questioning and relitigating core values of America, hopefully that era is coming to a close.
Are people playing politics? Of course, people always are. On the topic of moderation, we always just try to do things the right way, which, not coincidentally, are aligned with American values. It’s a Democratic platform. We believe very much in the power of people and the wisdom of crowds and voting processes. That is Reddit. So I’m glad to see a return to where we have been most of my life, which is an appreciation for free speech.
Elsewhere
- Competitors pounce on TikTok: With TikTok no longer available in US app stores and its in-app functionality technically constrained, everyone is doing their damndest to take advantage of the situation. Meta pre-announced its Capcut competitor and is trying to lure creators away with cash. Substack, Bluesky, and X are all making moves to encourage more video consumption. Meanwhile, President Trump says he’s OK with Elon Musk or Larry Ellison buying it. ByteDance is saying it wants to do a deal but seems increasingly backed into a corner. Ellison may have the guarantee that Oracle won’t be fined out of existence for violating the law right now, but Apple and Google have shown they are going to follow the letter of the law. With TikTok still not available to download in the US, its competitive threat to Meta, YouTube, and others decreases every day.
- Trump gets to work for Big Tech: Why are Zuckerberg and other CEOs bending the knee? Look no farther than the comments the president made at the World Economic Forum this week, where he trashed the EU’s Digital Markets and Services Acts as a form of “taxation.” This kind of push back is exactly what Meta and other US companies have been praying for. We’ll see if it works for them.
- More headlines: OpenAI released its AI agent called “Operator” for pro-tier subscribers… Musk told X employees that “user growth is stagnant, revenue is unimpressive, and we’re barely breaking even”…. Apple reorged again as it plays catch-up in AI… Google is putting another $1 billion into Google Cloud via Anthropic and acquired part of HTC’s Vive team to beef up its Android XR efforts (yes, get ready for the return of Glass)… Epic Games gave an update on its push to compete with Roblox… Meta made a rare investment in Databricks.
More links
- What led to the DOGE falling out between Vivek Ramaswamy and Elon Musk.
- A profile of DeepSeek, the Chinese firm that has a bunch of CEOs worried about how much they’re spending on models.
- Dan Shipper’s hands-on experience using OpenAI’s Operator agent.
- The “Humanity’s Last Exam” AI dataset.
- Brian Armstrong’s takeaways from Davos.
- A whistleblower is claiming Amazon’s $400 million deal for most of Covariant AI was a “reverse acquihire” designed to avoid antitrust scrutiny.
- Nvidia is the top tech company in Glassdoor’s latest list of the top places to work.
- The rise of the MAGA-bro podcast.
If you haven’t already, don’t forget to subscribe to The Verge, which includes unlimited access to Command Line, all of our reporting, and an improved ad experience on the web.
As always, I want to hear from you, especially if your data center is even bigger. Respond here, and I’ll get back to you, or ping me securely on Signal.
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Steven Garcia, as told to Gaby Del Valle:
I was in the middle of a frozen lake when I got the notification from the Minnesota Star Tribune that there had been a shooting. I was on assignment at a pond hockey event, and someone who was supposed to play later that evening said he probably wouldn’t be able to make it — they knew there would be protests and demonstrations happening.
I arrived a little over three hours later. Federal officers had already cleared the scene — the FBI had been there investigating — so the only law enforcement present were state and local officials: the Minneapolis Police Department, their SWAT team, the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, and the Minnesota State Patrol.
There were protesters at multiple intersections. People had blocked off the streets with trash cans and dumpsters, and there were mattresses on the ground. Protesters were heckling officers, but there were no physical altercations. Eventually law enforcement retreated by a block and started throwing tear gas. They drove their trucks over the mattresses as they left.
When those tear gas canisters go off, they pop and bang, kind of like a firework. Dozens of canisters were going off. Even initially, there were four, five, six canisters at a time that they were throwing. I had to duck in an alley for a little bit because it got through my mask. It’s not a fun experience, even in very small amounts. You have to keep your eyes closed. It burns your eyes, it burns your mouth. For some people, it causes nausea and burning on the skin. Another local reporter told me his neck was burning and he had to use a decon wipe.
I think because of George Floyd in 2020, people knew how to respond. Gregory Bovino, the head of the US Border Patrol who has been here the whole time, has said community members in Minneapolis are really prepared. A lot of people I’ve talked to have said, “I had my respirator ready from 2020,” and they just restocked on safety supplies, decon wipes, and first aid kits. Even if they weren’t immediately prepared, they could rapidly respond to these kinds of events. At all the events I’ve been to, people will set a table to hand out food and water and hand warmers. It was especially cold today — it wasn’t supposed to get above 0 degrees.
After the officers cleared the scene, everyone convened at the intersection of 26th and Nicolette, just a couple hundred feet from where Alex Pretti was shot. Some community members started a makeshift vigil for him at the location where he was killed. People were spelling his name out with pinecones and starting to leave flowers.
States prepare for massive winter storm
FOX Weather meteorologist Bayne Froney joins ‘America’s Newsroom’ in Dallas, Texas as the first signs of a massive winter storm begin to show. Texas is preparing accordingly following the devastating winter storm five years ago.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Weather forecasters are warning that a major winter storm is expected to impact large portions of the United States starting Friday. Forecasts call for snow, freezing rain and ice stretching from Texas and the Southern Plains through the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic and into the Northeast. This system is concerning because it combines ice accumulation, gusty winds and plunging temperatures. In many regions, especially across the South and parts of the Mid-Atlantic, infrastructure is not designed to handle prolonged ice events.
That increases the risk of extended power outages and disrupted cell service. When the grid goes down, everyday tech becomes critical. Phones, alerts, vehicles and apps may be your only connection to updates and emergency help. Preparing now matters far more than reacting later.
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RUSSIAN WINTER STRIKE LEAVES NEARLY 800K HOMES WITHOUT POWER AND HEAT IN UKRAINE’S DNIPRO REGION
Ice storms can take down power lines fast, leaving homes without electricity and cell service for hours or even days. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Why ice storms are especially disruptive
Ice storms cause more damage than most people expect. Unlike snow, ice sticks to everything and adds significant weight. Ice builds up on trees and power lines, causing branches to snap and lines to fall. Utility crews often cannot begin repairs until conditions improve, which delays restoration. Forecasters at Fox Weather warn that freezing rain across the South and interior Southeast could be particularly damaging, while snow and wind farther north may slow emergency response.
Even if cell towers remain standing, networks often overload during severe weather. When thousands of people try to call at once, connections fail. Texts and alerts usually have a better chance of getting through. That is why you should assume you may be offline longer than expected.
Immediate tech actions to take before the storm hits
These steps are simple, but timing matters. Do them before the weather conditions worsen.
Charge devices and prepare backup power
- Charge all phones, laptops, tablets and battery packs
- Fully charge wearable devices like smartwatches
- Turn on Low Power Mode on phones now
- Lower screen brightness to extend battery life, and check out these other tips to keep your phone battery charged longer
- Make sure you have a reliable portable charger on hand, like those highlighted in our 5 best portable chargers for emergencies on Cyberguy.com
- For outages that could last days in this winter storm, a good generator can keep your home powered the longest and safest
- Reliable lighting matters during storms and blackouts. Invest in a high-output flashlight and hats with built-in lights that can be especially useful when visibility is poor
- Keep a battery-powered weather radio on hand so you can receive emergency updates even if power and cell service go out
A fully charged phone, smart power settings and a reliable portable charger can keep you connected early in an outage while longer-term home power solutions carry you through the days ahead.
A woman walks with an umbrella in the rain in the Manhattan borough of New York, Feb. 5, 2014. (REUTERS/Carlo Allegri)
Plan for offline communication and limited cell service
- Download offline maps for your area.
- Save emergency contacts locally on your device.
- Write down key phone numbers on paper.
- Plan to text instead of calling if networks are congested. Text messages use less bandwidth and often go through when calls fail.
- Cold weather can also make phones harder to use. Touchscreen-compatible winter gloves let you stay connected without exposing your hands to the cold.
Set up a family check-in plan before the storm
- Agree on specific check-in times
- Choose one out-of-area contact everyone can message
- Avoid constant calling, which can overload networks
Clear expectations reduce panic and unnecessary phone use
Make sure emergency alerts are enabled
Emergency alerts can reach your phone even when apps and social media cannot. They are designed to cut through network congestion and deliver critical warnings.
How to turn on emergency alerts on iPhone
- Open Settings
- Tap Notifications
- Scroll to Government Alerts
- Turn on Emergency Alerts
- Enable Always Play Sound
- Turn on Imminent Threat Alerts under Enhanced Safety Alerts
US POWER CRUNCH LOOMS AS OKLO CEO SAYS GRID CAN’T KEEP UP WITHOUT NEW INVESTMENT
Ice storms add heavy weight to trees and power lines, causing widespread damage and outages that can overwhelm repair crews and communication networks for longer than expected. (AP/Craig Ruttle)
How to turn on emergency alerts on Android
Settings may vary, depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer
- Open Settings
- Tap Safety and emergency or Notifications
- Select Wireless emergency alerts
- Turn on Severe threats and Extreme threats
- Enable Allow alerts and Alert sound
On some phones, you may also see options for Public safety messages or Emergency alerts, which should be turned on. These alerts may include evacuation notices, shelter updates and severe weather warnings.
Both iPhone and Android let you preview alert sounds and settings in these menus, so take a moment to test them now and make sure alerts are loud enough before severe weather hits.
Know how to use Emergency SOS on your phone
If you need help during a winter storm, Emergency SOS can contact emergency services even when you cannot unlock your phone or make a normal call. Set this up now. Do not wait until you are stressed, cold or without power.
How to set up and use Emergency SOS on iPhone
- Open Settings
- Tap Emergency SOS
- Turn on Call with Hold and Release or Call with 5 Button Presses
- Scroll down and add emergency contacts
To activate Emergency SOS during an emergency, press and hold the side button and a volume button, or quickly press the side button five times, depending on your settings.
How to set up and use Emergency SOS on Android
Settings may vary, depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer
- Open Settings
- Tap Safety and emergency or Privacy and safety
- Select Emergency SOS
- Turn on Use Emergency SOS
- Choose how SOS is triggered, such as Require to swipe to call
- Add emergency contacts and medical information by clicking Emergency sharing settings
On many Android phones, pressing the power button five times will trigger Emergency SOS. Emergency SOS can call for help, share your location and alert emergency contacts when conditions are dangerous.
If cell towers go down during this storm, features like Emergency SOS can still help you reach emergency services. Our guide explains in more detail how these lifesaving settings work.
Apps you should have installed ahead of time
The right apps can deliver critical updates when power is out, cell networks are strained and social media is unreliable. Install and set these up before the storm arrives.
Weather and severe alert apps
- Fox Weather app: A trusted option for real-time forecasts, winter storm alerts, radar tracking and location-based notifications. Make sure local alerts are turned on.
- MyRadar Weather Radar: A highly rated radar app that shows storm movement in real time and sends push alerts when severe weather is approaching your area.
- Storm Shield Severe Weather App: Delivers National Weather Service alerts based on your exact location, similar to NOAA weather radio warnings, with clear push notifications for winter storms and ice events.
- NOAA Weather Radio apps (iPhone and Android): These apps stream official NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts, providing continuous updates, watches and warnings directly from the National Weather Service. Weather radio streams often remain available even during major outages.
Using more than one weather app can give you redundancy if one service is delayed or overloaded.
Utility and outage tracking apps
- Your local power utility app: Most utilities offer apps that allow you to report outages, view outage maps and track restoration progress in real time.
- FEMA App: Provides official weather alerts, disaster resources, shelter locations and safety guidance during severe weather events.
These apps can confirm outages, provide restoration updates and reduce unnecessary calls to utilities when systems are overwhelmed.
Do not overlook vehicle tech and preparedness
Your vehicle may become a critical resource during extended outages.
Prep your car before conditions worsen
- Fill your gas tank early. A full tank allows you to run the engine briefly for heat or charging if needed.
- Keep a phone charger in the car.
- Store a fully charged portable power bank in the glove box or center console. This gives you emergency phone power if your car battery dies or you cannot run the engine.
- Download weather and road condition alerts.
- Also, consider buying a Snow brush and ice scraper, jumper cables, a set of 6 LED Road Flares Emergency Lights and a First Aid Trauma Pack with QuikCloth, so you will not be caught off guard in an emergency.
- There are also portable tech solutions designed to help you stay warm and powered during outages or roadside delays, including heated gear worth purchasing in advance.
Storms also bring scams and fraud attempts
Severe weather creates ideal conditions for scams. Power outages, delayed responses and anxiety make people more likely to trust messages that appear urgent or official.
Fake utility and restoration scams
Scammers often impersonate electric, gas or water utilities.
- Texts or calls claiming your power will be restored sooner if you pay
- Messages warning service will be shut off unless you act immediately
- Spoofed phone numbers that look like your local utility
What to know: Utilities do not charge fees to restore power and do not demand payment by text, gift cards or apps.
Emergency aid and disaster relief scams
These scams spike right after storms hit.
- Messages promising emergency funds, fuel vouchers or hotel assistance
- Fake charity links claiming to help storm victims
- Social media posts asking for donations using stolen images
What to know: Legitimate aid is announced through official government or well-known nonprofit channels, not unsolicited messages.
Fake delivery, fuel and repair service scams
Storms disrupt normal services, which scammers exploit.
- Links claiming fuel delivery is available in your area
- Messages about delayed packages that require confirmation
- Ads for emergency home repairs that ask for upfront payment
What to know: Do not click links or pay deposits without verifying the company independently.
Charging your devices and lining up backup power now can make the difference between staying informed during an outage and being cut off once the storm hits. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
Account takeover and identity theft attempts
Storm chaos makes it easier for attackers to slip through unnoticed.
- Password reset emails pretending to be from banks or retailers
- Login alerts asking you to “secure” your account immediately
- Calls claiming suspicious activity that push you to share codes
What to know: Never share one-time codes or login details, even if the message looks legitimate.
How to protect yourself before and during the storm
Taking a few precautions now can help you avoid costly mistakes when outages, delays and scam messages start piling up.
1) Slow down and verify every urgent message
Scammers rely on panic. If a message pressures you to act fast, stop and verify it through a trusted source.
2) Avoid clicking links in unsolicited messages and use strong antivirus software
Go directly to official websites or apps instead of tapping links in texts or emails. Keep your operating system up to date, and use strong antivirus software to block malicious links and fake websites.
The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have strong antivirus software installed on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe.
Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at Cyberguy.com.
3) Lock down accounts before outages hit
Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on email, banking, and utility accounts so stolen passwords cannot be used alone.
4) Reduce your exposure with a data removal service
Many storm scams work because criminals already have your phone number, address or email. Using a data removal service to opt out of data broker sites can reduce how easily scammers target you during emergencies.
While no service can guarantee the complete removal of your data from the internet, a data removal service is really a smart choice. They aren’t cheap, and neither is your privacy. These services do all the work for you by actively monitoring and systematically erasing your personal information from hundreds of websites. It’s what gives me peace of mind and has proven to be the most effective way to erase your personal data from the internet. By limiting the information available, you reduce the risk of scammers cross-referencing data from breaches with information they might find on the dark web, making it harder for them to target you.
Check out my top picks for data removal services, and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com.
Get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web: Cyberguy.com.
5) Never pay to restore power or receive aid
Utilities and government agencies do not charge fees to restore service or release emergency assistance.
When power and internet access are limited, it is harder to verify messages quickly. That makes preparation just as important as awareness. A little skepticism now can prevent financial loss and identity theft when help is hardest to reach.
Take my quiz: How safe is your online security?
Think your devices and data are truly protected? Take this quick quiz to see where your digital habits stand. From passwords to Wi-Fi settings, you’ll get a personalized breakdown of what you’re doing right and what needs improvement. Take my Quiz here: Cyberguy.com.
Kurt’s key takeaways
Winter storms can turn small tech decisions into critical ones. Ice, power outages and overloaded cell networks can leave people cut off faster than expected, especially in regions not built for prolonged winter weather. Preparing your devices, alerts, vehicles and accounts ahead of time gives you more control when conditions worsen. It also reduces panic and limits your exposure to scams that thrive during emergencies. A little planning now can make a big difference when help is harder to reach.
Have you taken steps to prepare your tech for this winter storm, or did this checklist highlight something you still need to do? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.
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Welcome to the weekend, friends! We’re still in a bit of a deals lull before the Presidents Day and V-Day sales begin, the bulk of which we anticipate kicking off the first week of February. However, for now, we’re still seeing some solid discounts on a few newer gadgets and some old, Verge-approved favorites. Anker’s Nano Travel Adapter has returned to its best price to date, for instance, as has Samsung’s last-gen Frame TV. You’ll also find discounts on microSD Express cards, budget-friendly robot vacuums, and more, so let’s get into it.
If you have plans to spend some time outside of the US this year, Anker’s versatile Nano Travel Adapter is on sale at Amazon in black and white — and directly from Anker with code WS7DV21AXQQZ — for $19.99 ($6 off), matching its lowest price to date.
Anker’s thin, foldable charger measures a mere 0.98 inches thick and sports a pair of USB-C ports, two USB-A ports, and a US-style Type A outlet on the front, in addition to four plug types (Type A, C, G, and I). The main drawback, aside from the lack of a voltage converter, is that the maximum power output is 20W (or 15W when sharing power across all four USB ports), meaning you’ll need to bring another adapter if you want to charge a laptop or any other power-hungry device.
It’s been nearly eight months since the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 — meaning, if you haven’t already purchased a microSD Express card to level up your storage capacity of your console, you’ll likely need to do so soon. Fortunately, Samsung’s P9 microSD Express card is currently on sale at Amazon and B&H Photo with 256GB of storage starting at $39.99 ($15 off), matching its second-best price to date.
As you might expect, P9 is built to handle the Switch 2’s faster storage speeds, with sequential read speeds of up to 800 MB/s, resulting in quicker load and launch times. The Switch 2 features 256GB of internal storage, meaning you’re doubling your storage capacity with a 256GB card, or tripling it in the case of Samsung’s 512GB variant. Most first-party Nintendo games aren’t massive, mind you, but third-party titles like Split Fiction (69GB) and Madden NFL 26 (59GB) can quickly devour dozens of gigabytes. That makes picking up a discounted microSD Express card a no-brainer, especially since they’re also compatible with cameras, drones, and any gadget with a microSD USH-I slot.
I hate to break it to you, but so-called “art TVs” are not exceptional TVs, at least not in a traditional sense. Still, Samsung’s 2025 Frame TV — which is on sale at Woot in its 43-inch configuration starting at $597.99 ($302 off) through January 31st — is likely to look far better in your living room when idle than your typical LCD or OLED TV.
Samsung’s last-gen 4K TV is vastly different than the company’s 2026 panels, either. The slim QLED display can cycle through a small selection of free art pieces when idle, all of which take on a more textured, canvas-like appearance thanks to an anti-glare matte coating that helps curb unwanted reflections. The Frame is plenty good enough for bingeing Slow Horses and Stranger Things, even if the refresh rate is capped at 60Hz, and you still get support for both HDR10 Plus and Dolby Atmos, along with access to all your favorite streaming apps.
DJI’s drones might have been banned in the United States, but you can still pick up some of the company’s other gear stateside (at least for now). Take DJI’s Mic Mini, for instance, which is currently on sale at Amazon with a single mic and two transmitters for $59.99 ($20 off), matching the record-low first set during this time last year.
If you want to capture audio that sounds more professional than your smartphone can deliver on the go, the Mic Mini is a commendable option. The compact, 10-gram wireless microphone plugs directly into your phone via USB-C, Lightning, or a standard 3.5mm audio cable, and it can be clipped to clothing or worn using a magnetic mount or lanyard. The receiver lasts up to 10.5 hours and includes an onboard dial, which lets you fine-tune gain settings and adjust your volume levels. The pair of included transmitters, meanwhile, can run for up to 11.5 hours on a single charge and capture audio from up to about 400 meters away, provided they’re connected simultaneously.
Just don’t expect built-in backup recording or the option to connect a smaller lav mic, neither of which is available on the Mic Mini.
More ways to save this weekend
- Of all the games coming out this year, Resident Evil Requiem might be at the top of my list. If you’re in the same camp, you can preorder the Steam version (via a digital key) for PC through Fanatical for $57.39 (about $13 off), which is likely the best price we’re going to see in the next mainline RE before it launches on February 27th. I, for one, can’t wait for my return to Racoon City, especially since the ninth installment of the survival horror game will let you toggle between first- and third-person perspectives on the fly.
- If you find the price of most robot vacuums intimidating, Tapo’s RV30 Max Plus is down to an all-time low of $179.99 ($150 off) at Amazon. The RV30 remains our favorite budget vacuum / mop, namely because it offers a bevy of features found in robovacs that cost twice the price, including an auto-empty dock, smart lidar-based navigation, multiple suction and water levels, and room-specific cleaning with the ability to add virtual walls and no-go zones via the app. You also get a large 300ml tank and 5,200Pa of suction power, which is terrific for a bot in this price range.
- The JLab Go Air Pop ANC are on sale at Amazon, JLab, and Best Buy for $19.99 ($10 off), which is about $2 shy of their best price to date. They come up a little short in terms of audio quality, but you’d be hard-pressed to find another pair of wireless earbuds that offer a customizable EQ, ANC, multipoint connectivity, and seven hours of playback for under $20. Then there’s the translucent design, which is an even bigger selling point in my book.
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