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Internet celebrity turned boxer Jake Paul will fight UFC legend Anderson Silva on October 29. Paul vs. Silva will be a Showtime pay-per-view event airing October 29 at 9 p.m. How to watch Paul vs. SilvaYou can watch Paul vs. Silva on October 29 at 9 p.m. Paul vs. Silva (PPV Fight) Internet celebrity turned boxer Jake Paul will fight UFC legend Anderson Silva on October 29. Paul vs. Silva fight card

☆ U.S. tech giants face pressure from Europe's telcos to pay for building the internet
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Michael Bocchieri | Getty ImagesIn Europe, the battle between U.S. Big Tech companies and telecommunications firms has reached fever pitch. In May 2022, EU competition chief Margrethe Vestager said she would look into requiring Big Tech firms to pay for network costs. In South Korea, companies have similarly lobbied politicians to force "over-the-top" players like YouTube and Netflix to pay for network access. Tech companies, naturally, don't think they should pay for the privilege of sending their traffic to consumers. There's also the matter of why internet users pay their providers in the first place.

☆ Xbox Boss Phil Spencer Wants to Sever Apple-Google ‘Duopoly’ in Mobile Games
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-27 | by ( Sebastian Herrera | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

LAGUNA BEACH, Calif.— Microsoft top videogame executive said the company is betting heavily on the future of mobile games and hopes that it will be able to overcome the power that Apple Inc. and Google have over how people play on smartphones. Phil Spencer , Microsoft’s chief executive of videogames, said the company’s ambition in mobile games is the main driver of its planned $75 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard which is being reviewed by competition regulators.

☆ Xbox boss says that the current metaverse is a 'poorly built video game' and is 'not how I want to spend my time'
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-27 | by ( Travis Clark | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Xbox chief Phil Spencer compared the metaverse to a "poorly built video game" and a "living room." Spencer compared the metaverse to a "poorly built video game" during The Wall Street Journal's Tech Live conference on Wednesday, but admitted that it would "evolve." "Today it's a poorly built video game," Spencer said. What I see in the metaverse world is that we're at the early stage and this will evolve." Microsoft, which owns Xbox, has struggled to enter the metaverse, according to a Wall Street Journal report published on Wednesday.

☆ From Apple AirPods and Squishmallows to 'Encanto' toys, here are some of the most anticipated gifts this holiday season, according to Adobe
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-27 | by ( Sarah Belle Lin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

"The shape of the holiday season will look different this year, with early discounting in October," Patrick Brown, Adobe vice president of growth marketing and insights, said in a statement. Here are the toys, gaming devices, games, and other gifts that Adobe predicts will be the most popular items this holiday season. SquishmallowsThe stuffed animals come in all sizes, shapes, and colors and are expected to once again be popular this holiday season. Xbox Series XThe Xbox Series X is the fastest, most powerful Xbox yet, per Microsoft. Apple Watch Series 8/UltraThe new Apple Watch Series 8 comes in eight different colors, with either a 41-millimeter or 45-millimeter case.

The Sega Genesis Mini 2 launched on October 27 exclusively at Amazon. The retro gaming console features 60 games from the Sega Genesis and Sega CD. Like the earlier model, the Genesis Mini 2 is designed to let buyers play retro Sega games on their TV. The Genesis Mini 2 has 60 games, while the original Genesis Mini had 42. Are there other ways to play classic Sega Genesis games?

Sony's $200 DualSense Edge is a premium controller for PlayStation 5 with customizable buttons. DualSense Edge releases January 26, 2023, and you can preorder it now from the PlayStation Direct store. DualSense Edge is Sony's response to the popular Xbox Elite controller, which is one of this year's bestselling gaming peripherals. So far, preorders for the DualSense Edge controller are only available from the PlayStation Direct store. Sony will also sell replacement analog sticks for the DualSense Edge starting January 26 for $20 — though we hope the original sticks included with the DualSense Edge are durable enough to last for a while without replacement.

☆ Microsoft exec says gaming is 'somewhat resilient' to economic weakness
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( Jordan Novet | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Microsoft's head of gaming said Wednesday that video games can stand up to economic weakness, even as the software maker expects slower pickup in other parts of its business targeting consumers. Gaming remains a high priority for Microsoft, with the company working to close its $68.7 billion acquisition of publisher Activision Blizzard . Phil Spencer, CEO of Microsoft Gaming, sounded optimistic about the prospects of the unit. "The video game industry has never been 'recession-proof,' but that line gets brought out every time the r-word is mentioned," Mat Piscatella, executive director and video game industry advisor at market researcher NPD Group, wrote in a July tweet. "People can play video games for hundreds of hours," he said.

☆ Microsoft earnings hit by personal computing slowdown
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( Catherine Thorbecke | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN Business —Microsoft posted a double-digit profit decline in the three-month period ending in September as the company confronted a slowdown in the personal computing industry and a broader economic downturn. Microsoft (MSFT)’s revenue, meanwhile, grew a modest 11% to $50.1 billion. Other parts of Microsoft’s business declined. Microsoft said revenue from its Windows OEM operations fell 15% from the year prior, which comes as demand for personal computers has fallen sharply on the heels of a pandemic-fueled boom. Shares of Microsoft fell 2% in after-hours trading Tuesday following the earnings report.

☆ Microsoft's drop on a weaker guide doesn't reflect the long-term potential of the stock
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( Zev Fima | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +10 min

Despite strong headline results, shares fell roughly 6.5% in extended trading on lighter Azure cloud growth and weaker forward guidance. Note: Constant currency growth rates, which is what we will cite in this report, help strip out fluctuations in foreign currency, namely a strong U.S. dollar, to provide a clearer financial picture. Xbox Content and Services revenue ticked up 1% in constant currency, while Xbox hardware sales jumped 19% in constant currency. Management expects Azure revenue growth to be lower sequentially by roughly five percentage points on a constant currency basis. Despite coming up a bit short versus estimates, Microsoft is still generating a ton of cash.

☆ Microsoft powers up search for Chinese gaming hits in race against Sony
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-24 | by ( Josh Ye | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterGrowing Western interest in Chinese games reflects a maturing of China's game development industry, analysts said. Chinese games are now on a par with big-budget Western games, said Daniel Ahmad, senior analyst at researcher Niko Partners. "Chinese game developers are trying to standardise their development tools, create advanced production processes, invest in really large-scale teams," Ahmad said. Microsoft has been building a team to scout for Chinese games, two industry sources said. Gaming executives now point to "Genshin Impact" as a global industry milestone, lauding its production value and seamless cross-platform game play.

UFC 280 will stream live on October 22, with the main card starting at 2 p.m. UFC 280 returns to the "Fight Island" venue in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, that hosted multiple events during the COVID-19 pandemic. How to watch UFC 280You can watch the main event of UFC 280 on ESPN+ at 2 p.m. Ways to save on the UFC 280 pay-per-view priceIf you plan on signing up for ESPN+ to watch UFC 280, you can take advantage of a special discounted package. Here's the fight card for UFC 280: Oliveira vs. MakhachevESPNPrelims — 10 a.m.

☆ Microsoft quietly laid off under 1,000 employees in teams across the company, from Xbox to government tech
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( Ashley Stewart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Microsoft laid off employees across the company, with a person familiar saying it affected under 1,000 jobs. Microsoft in July said it planned to lay off less than 1% of its 180,000-person workforce. Microsoft laid off employees in teams across the company, according to affected employees who spoke to Insider. This week's layoffs affect less than 1,000 employees, according to a person familiar with the matter. Zach Kramer, who runs Microsoft's Mission Engineering team, in an email viewed by Insider notified employees that the group would be "deprioritizing work already underway."

☆ Influencers Are Getting Rich by Hawking Dubious Financial Advice
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( Jordan Parker Erb | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

On TikTok and YouTube, "passive income" side-hustles have skyrocketed in popularity. On TikTok and YouTube, influencers are getting rich while spreading dubious financial advice for how to make money fast — and failing to give viewers a full picture of the risks involved. Followers can make hundreds — if not thousands — of dollars in passive income by renting out property, day-trading, or dropshipping, influencers say. Instead, creators sell courses that promise to teach people how earn money through passive income — helping them get rich while selling the dream of easy cash. These financial influencers are drawing in a lot of young people: A recent survey found that 34% of Gen Z consumers obtain financial advice from TikTok, while only 24% of this age group seek advice from financial advisors.

☆ Microsoft says UK influenced by Sony in probing Activision Blizzard deal
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Microsoft could use its control over popular games to harm rivals, including those operating in multi-game subscription services and cloud gaming, it said. Microsoft said the CMA had adopted Sony's complaints without the "appropriate level of critical review". The Phase 1 decision identified three areas where the deal could cause harm: gaming consoles, multi-game subscription services and cloud gaming services," a CMA spokesperson said in a statement. A spokesperson for Microsoft said: "This deal will benefit gamers, developers, and the industry as we seek to bring more games to more people." A spokesperson for Sony PlayStation reiterated its view that the deal was "bad for competition, bad for the gaming industry and bad for gamers themselves".

☆ Facebook competed fiercely with Google and Microsoft for years. Now it's working with former rivals as CEO Mark Zuckerberg pushes for an 'open' metaverse.
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-11 | by ( Kali Hays | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Facebook CEO's Mark Zuckerberg's vision for the metaverse is one that is "open" and "interoperable." In an effort to get there, Facebook will join with the likes of Microsoft for work tools and games. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg needs his expensive bet on the metaverse to work, and now he's talking up and partnering with rival companies to support that outcome. "I strongly believe an open and interoperable metaverse will be better for everyone," Zuckerberg said at the conference. Besides Microsoft, Facebook teamed up with Zoom and Accenture.

☆ Meta’s headset makeover yields a $1,500 toy in search of a purpose
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-11 | by ( Allison Morrow | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

On Tuesday, Meta unveiled its latest effort in that mission, the Meta Quest Pro headset. But it costs $1,500 — nearly four times that of the company’s cheapest Quest 2 headset. Wages are up an estimated 5% this year in manufacturing — that’s not keeping up with inflation, but it is in line with the national average. “But by and large our manufacturing jobs today are high tech.”Bottom line: The labor story in America remains one where the narrative of recent history doesn’t quite hold. In most downturns, we’ve seen manufacturing decline, giving it a bad rap as a job that’s going extinct.

☆ Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg debuts Meta Quest Pro VR headset that will cost $1,500
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-11 | by ( Jonathan Vanian | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Mark Zuckerberg, chief executive officer and founder of Facebook Inc., demonstrates an Oculus Rift virtual reality (VR) headset and Oculus Touch controllers. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said on Tuesday that his company's newest virtual reality headset, dubbed the Meta Quest Pro, will cost $1,500 and start shipping on Oct. 25. Zuckerberg debuted the device at Meta's Connect conference, geared toward VR and augmented reality developers. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella also appeared during the online event and discussed a partnership with Meta intended to bring some of his company's work-collaboration apps to Quest VR devices. WATCH: Meta to release new high-end VR headset

☆ These 15 top Microsoft Advertising execs are behind the company's plan to double its ad revenue to $20 billion
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-10 | by ( Ryan Joe | Lara O'Reilly | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Microsoft posted $10 billion in ad revenue last year and it's positioning itself to double that to $20 billion. It's signed a deal to sell ads for Netflix and is building out its Xbox ads division. But recently, Microsoft has shown signs it's regaining its advertising mojo. Microsoft posted $10 billion in ad revenue last year, and Wilk recently told Insider he plans to double that number to $20 billion, though he didn't say when. And ads are a feature in Microsoft's pending $68.7 billion deal to acquire "Call of Duty" games publisher Activision.

☆ Microsoft’s Real Game With Activision
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-23 | by ( Dan Gallagher | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

If Microsoft wants to make investors some real money, here’s an idea: It should openly promise to keep “Call of Duty” on the PlayStation forever. Concern about what will Microsoft ultimately do with the blockbuster videogame franchise continues to hang over the software giant’s proposed bid to acquire Activision Blizzard . Last week, the U.K.’s Competition and Markets Authority said it is escalating its investigation into the $75 billion deal on the concern that combining the Xbox maker with the world’s largest third-party videogame publisher by annual revenue will stifle competition. Chief among its worries, according to a statement by the agency earlier in the month, is that Microsoft could harm rivals “by refusing them access to Activision Blizzard games or providing access on much worse terms.”

☆ Wall Street's biggest investors can't shake a nightmare about the US economy. And that fear is much worse than a recession.
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-18 | by ( Aaron Weinman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Talk of a recession, rough inflation data, and the persistent increase in costs of certain staple goods has got Wall Street's biggest investors living in fear of an economic nightmare. Wall Street has been hit by a brutal market sell-off this year. Wall Street investors fear an economic nightmare. BMO Capital Markets is cutting jobs amid the broader downturn in dealmaking, according to Bloomberg. Private-equity investment firm Corsair has made an investment in Miracle Mile Advisors, a wealth advisory firm based in Los Angeles.

☆ Canelo Alvarez will face Gennadiy Golovkin for the title of undisputed super middleweight champion — here's how to livestream the fight
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-16 | by ( Kevin Webb | Video Game Reporter | Read More | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Saul "Canelo" Alvarez will defend his four super middleweight belts against Gennadiy "GGG" Golovkin. He'll move up to the super middleweight class for the first time to fight Alvarez once more. How to watch Canelo vs. GGG 3You can watch Canelo vs. GGG 3 as a pay-per-event on the DAZN streaming service. Canelo Alvarez and Gennadiy Golovkin are expected to make their ring walks at 11 p.m. Canelo vs. GGG 3 fight card

☆ 8 companies Amazon, Microsoft, or Google might buy as they shop for deals amid the market downturn, including Workday, Unity, and Roku
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-15 | by ( Belle Lin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

That means Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud could be poised for a merger-and-acquisition spree. As for cloud acquisitions, analysts said Amazon's cloud unit didn't often buy companies. Cybersecurity has been a greater focus for Microsoft, AWS, and Google Cloud after the hack of the IT-software company SolarWinds in 2020. In 2019, Google purchased the data-analytics company Looker for $2.6 billion in cash under Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian. With Kurian at the helm, bringing with him the Oracle acquisition playbook, Google Cloud may now have a bigger M&A appetite.

Check out the trailer for 'The Handmaid's Tale' season 5"The Handmaid's Tale" has received numerous awards, including an Emmy for outstanding drama series in 2017, and a Golden Globe for best drama series in 2018. How to watch 'The Handmaid's Tale'You can watch "The Handmaid's Tale"s season five on Hulu starting September 14. In addition to the new season, you can also watch seasons one through four of "The Handmaid's Tale" on Hulu. Will season 5 of 'The Handmaid's Tale' be the last season? "The Handmaid's Tale" season five will not be the show's last season.

UFC 279 will stream live on September 10, with the main card starting at 10 p.m. Chimaev versus Holland and Diaz versus Ferguson are both scheduled for five rounds. How to watch UFC 279You can watch the main event of UFC 279 on ESPN+ at 10 p.m. Ways to save on the UFC 279 pay-per-view priceIf you plan on signing up for ESPN+ to watch UFC 279, you can take advantage of a special discounted bundle. Here's the fight card for UFC 279: Diaz vs. FergusonEarly Prelims — 6 p.m.

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