Bending Spoons remains largely unknown, even as its portfolio of products has served more than a billion people.

Get caught up on the latest technology and startup news from the past week. Here are the most popular stories on GeekWire for the week of Jan. 18, 2026.

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Most popular stories on GeekWire

The Microsoft-OpenAI Files: Internal documents reveal the realities of AI’s defining alliance

Internal emails, texts, slide decks, and deposition testimony show how Microsoft went from being sidelined at OpenAI’s founding to wielding decisive influence over the AI lab that launched the generative AI era — and how that power is now being tested as OpenAI emerges as a platform company with leverage of its own. … Read More

Tech Moves: Amazon employee retiring after 20 years; former Oracle and Microsoft execs take new roles

A longtime leader for Fulfillment by Amazon retires and offers parting thoughts, while former executives with Oracle, Microsoft and LevelTen take new roles. … Read More

Seattle’s ORCA transit system gets major tech upgrade with new ‘Tap to Pay’ feature

Seattle’s ORCA transit system is rolling out an upgrade that will let riders pay fares by tapping their credit card or smartphone — no dedicated ORCA card required. … Read More

‘Wildly productive weekend’: Former Amazon exec’s vibe coding post sparks debate over viral AI tools

A weekend vibe-coding project by the startup leader and former Amazon Worldwide Consumer CEO sparked debate over the speed, scalability, and real‑world value of increasingly popular AI development workflows. … Read More

Reports: Amazon’s latest layoffs could begin next week

Amazon laid off about 14,000 workers globally in October. … Read More

Meta laying off 331 workers in Washington state as part of broader cuts to Reality Labs division

The heaviest hit facility is the Reality Labs office in Redmond, followed by the Spring District office in Bellevue, according to a state filing. … Read More

Seattle startup that brings hedge fund investing capabilities to anyone raises $1.2M

The company aims to give everyday investors access to strategies traditionally reserved for hedge funds and ultra-wealthy clients. … Read More

The race to replace lithium: Seattle startup lands funding for salt-powered battery technology

Seattle startup Emerald Battery Labs raised just under $1.1 million in a pre-seed round to continue scaling its sodium-ion battery technology. … Read More

Tech Moves: Former Microsoft CVP joins Amazon; Chronus names CEO; REI hires AI leader

Amazon Quick Suite has a new vice president, Chronus named a CEO, Supio added to its C-suite, and REI got an AI lead, among other Seattle area tech moves. … Read More

Satya Nadella’s new metaphor for the AI Age: We are becoming ‘managers of infinite minds’

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella riffed on some famous lines from tech leaders past this week in an appearance at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, and offered up his own trippy candidate to join the canon of computing metaphors.  Read More … Read More

Mark Gurman / Bloomberg:
A deep dive into Apple's AI strategy reset, as it prepares to announce a Gemini-powered personalized Siri next month and a reimagined chatbot-like Siri at WWDC  —  Apple shakes up its AI efforts with a Google partnership, management changes and two new versions of Siri.

The thought of replacing a video card, RAM, or other PC components right now sounds about as fun as setting your wallet on fire. When r/PCMasterRace user ComplexSuperMarket89 (CSM89) realized he needed to address persistent heat issues with his RTX 3080 Ventus, he took a different route. Using spare parts...

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Fresh information from a reliable Chinese tipster suggests the OnePlus 15T may play it safe with the cameras, reusing familiar hardware while focusing on performance gains and battery capacity in a compact flagship form factor.

The post OnePlus 15T leak spills details on a curious camera situation appeared first on Digital Trends.

This week on You Asked, we tackle some of the most common TV buying questions right now, from choosing between LG and Samsung’s latest OLEDs to which brands handle upscaling best. We also dig into whether Dolby Vision 2 is a reason to hold off on a new TV purchase, or if today’s high-end sets are already good enough.

The post You Asked: OLED decisions, upscaling truths, and Dolby Vision 2 appeared first on Digital Trends.

WhatsApp's upcoming group chat history sharing feature aims to eliminate confusion for newly added members by letting admins share up to 100 recent messages.

The post WhatsApp has begun testing a long-overdue group chat feature appeared first on Digital Trends.

Running old CD-ROM games on modern Windows isn't too hard if you know how to manage Windows' compatibility software. But what if you have a Linux desktop and don't want to leave your old Windows games behind?

Windows' built-in search has never really clicked for me. It’s often slower than I expect, mixes in results I didn’t ask for, and somehow still struggles to surface the exact file or app I’m thinking about. Over the years, I’ve tried to make peace with it, tweaking settings and changing habits, but I always end up feeling like I’m working around search instead of letting it work for me.

One of the biggest shows available to stream concluded in 2025, with a finale that sparked mixed reactions and criticism. But the reactions were not surprising, nor was the way the finale fell through.

Android has evolved by leaps and bounds since the early days, and as a result, dozens of helpful features are hiding all over the place. Whether you're a long-time user or just switched from the iPhone, here's a hidden feature I use daily that most people have forgotten even exists.

We all dream of having a perfectly organized home with a place for everything and everything in its place. Achieving that dream is harder than it seems, but I've found a techie solution that's extremely cheap and easy to set up.

A growing number of chart watchers are pointing to a long stretch of sideways trading for XRP and saying this setup has come before big rallies. According to a widely followed analyst known as CryptoBull, the current price action echoes earlier runs in the token’s history.

The signal is simple: long quiet periods sometimes lead to sharp moves when buying pressure returns. That does not mean a jump is guaranteed. Markets can stay quiet for a long time, and timing is uncertain.

Pattern Mirrors Prior Cycles

Based on reports, XRP’s weekly structure shows a stretch of range trading after strong breakouts from earlier years. The comparison reaches back several cycles. In past examples, long ranges eventually gave way to impulsive runs that pushed the price far above prior highs.

The next impulse will take #XRP to $11 and the last wave to $70. The price pattern is copying the previous bullrun, only difference is time, which makes sense, as we need longer accumulation for higher prices. pic.twitter.com/WJxzYDVRKT

— CryptoBull (@CryptoBull2020) January 23, 2026

CryptoBull argues the present consolidation has lasted longer than previous ones, which, he says, could compress price action and build fuel for a larger expansion when momentum flips. The idea rests on history repeating itself in broad strokes, not in exact moves.

Longer Accumulation Could Support Bigger Targets

Some analysts see a sixfold move as plausible if the same pattern plays out. That kind of rise would put XRP near $11, a figure being discussed by multiple commentators. There is also talk of a further, final wave lifting the token much higher in a later stage — talk that reaches $70 in extreme scenarios.

A bottom test—where price revisits support to confirm strength before a new push—has appeared in a few past cycles and is being watched closely now.

The presence of such tests can either validate a base or warn that the range has more work to do. Timelines are vague, and a long accumulation period can stretch for years before any decisive breakout.

RLUSD Rumors Fuel Speculative Calls

Reports that BlackRock may use Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin have added fuel to the fire. News like that has pushed sentiment upward and sparked fresh technical calls, with some forecasts ranging from $6 to $14 in near- to mid-term scenarios.

Other voices go far beyond, naming targets that would imply market caps so large they would be hard to reconcile with today’s market size.

These more extreme numbers should be treated with caution, because they assume near-perfect conditions and massive capital flows that may never arrive. Still, adoption whispers can tilt sentiment and speed up moves when buyers pile in.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

“Bitcoin is the digital gold” is one of the most popular narratives in the cryptocurrency industry, reiterating BTC’s growing status as a formidable store of value. However, while the premier cryptocurrency has floundered over the past months, gold and the metals market have largely witnessed explosive growth.

These contrasting performances have led to conversations about capital rotation between Bitcoin and gold, as the crowd expects one to always outperform the other at any given time. Recent data, however, suggests that the relationship between the BTC and gold price action is overrated.

Capital Flow Link Between BTC And Gold Overestimated 

In a January 24 post on the X platform, on-chain analyst with the pseudonym Darkfost weighed in on the discourse surrounding capital rotation between gold and Bitcoin. According to the market pundit, the idea that investor funds flow from gold to Bitcoin is somewhat overblown.

To highlight this overestimation, Darkfost shared a chart showing periods where BTC outperforms or underperforms depending on gold’s trend. This chart typically provides two signals: positive (BTC above the 180-day moving average [MA] and gold below the 180-day MA) and negative (BTC below the 180-day moving average and gold below the 180-day MA).

As observed in the chart above and stated by Darkfost, the relationship between Bitcoin and gold does not appear to be fully substantiated. The on-chain analyst revealed that there have been as many positive periods as the negative ones, suggesting that the flagship cryptocurrency moves independently of gold.

Darkfost wrote:

This suggests that BTC continues to evolve independently, without clear evidence of a sustained capital rotation from gold.

Furthermore, Darkfost noted that a positive signal does not necessarily mean that capital is flowing out of gold into Bitcoin. According to the on-chain analyst, it is simply not possible to determine whether there is a capital flow relationship between the world’s largest cryptocurrency and gold.

Bitcoin & Gold Price Overview

While Bitcoin started the new year on a pretty strong note, the bullish momentum has pretty much waned over the past two weeks. Meanwhile, the gold price has continued to flourish this year, recently reaching a new all-time high above $4,900 per ounce.

As of this writing, the price of BTC stands at around $89,230, reflecting no significant movement in the past 24 hours. According to data from CoinGecko, the flagship cryptocurrency is nearly 30% adrift its all-time high above the $126,000 level.

Government security leaders are struggling. Cyber investments are lagging. Resources are being cut. The problem is getting worse. Let’s explore solutions.

The post Cybersecurity’s New Business Case: Fraud appeared first on Security Boulevard.

The 'Dragon Ball' anime is turning 40, and its future involves a return to 'Super' and a brand new Bandai Namco game.

In this Saturday Night Live sketch featuring this weekend’s host, Teyana Taylor, the Golden Globe winner plays one of several overly inquisitive students in a confidence class led by Ashley Padilla.

Padilla’s character explains she started teaching confidence after bombing a job interview, a seemingly simple confession that immediately sends the class spiraling. What begins as encouragement quickly devolves into an aggressive group interrogation, with Taylor, Mikey Day, Kenan Thompson, and Marcello Hernández fixating on every possible detail.

Naturally, the questions get unhinged fast. What was she wearing? Leather gloves and "nice leather pants." What was the job? Michelle Obama’s speechwriter. The room grows increasingly skeptical, especially after Padilla’s résumé comes into play, which proudly lists skills such as "do voices" and 9 years of experience as a Dolly Parton impersonator.

Asked to do the former, she does a questionable Yoda voice. Then, when asked to do the latter, she refuses as it's too close to the Yoda voice. Amazing stuff.

SAVE UP TO 78%: If you commit to a two-year plan, you can save up to 78% on ExpressVPN and get four extra months for free. It's one of the best VPNs for streaming sports — including the NFL.

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A VPN hides your real IP address and connects you to a secure server in another location. It may not be the most honest way to watch sports, but it does often make it the cheapest. And as of Jan. 23, one of the best VPNs for streaming is running a winter sale that knocks the price down even further. There's just one catch.

ExpressVPN's winter sale lets you sign up for as low as $2.79 per month (Basic plan), which is 78% off its usual cost of $12.99. The catch is you'll have to commit to a two-year plan to score that price. The Standard tier is down to just $3.59 per month (reg. $13.99) and the Pro tier is down to $5.99 per month (reg. $19.99). As a bonus, when you sign up for two years, you'll get an extra four months for free.

The VPN's new tier pricing structure is a little confusing, but what it boils down to is the longer you commit, the cheaper the monthly price — especially during the sale.

With the NFC and AFC Championship games this weekend, and the Big Game coming in just a few weeks, it's a great time to lock in a VPN subscription. ExpressVPN, a top choice for uninterrupted streaming, essentially lets you watch NFL games for free (including the playoffs) by unblocking international streaming sites like Australia's 7plus from anywhere in the world.

ExpressVPN offers all the stuff you want in a VPN, including ad blocking, malware detection, and password management. But its ability to unlock streaming sites really sets it apart. It's usually a bit pricey compared to other options, but this winter sale knocks it down to a much more wallet-friendly price.

James Austin Johnson doing Donald Trump in Saturday Night Live’s cold open. Name a more iconic duo.

Or, depending on who you ask, a more overplayed one. Either way, Johnson’s Trump impression once again kicked off Saturday night with a brand-new fictional awards show: The Trumps.

The premise was exactly what it sounds like. Much like Trump’s being given the Nobel Peace Prize second-hand or FIFA creating an entire award just for him, the Trumps exist solely to celebrate Trump, by Trump, for Trump. Among the evening’s "prestigious" honors were Best Picture and Best Kiss, both of which Trump, unsurprisingly, won himself.

The biggest surprise came with the Lifetime Achievement Award for Comedy, which — based on the title alone — you could probably guess went to Elon Musk (played by the always amazing Mike Myers).

There's a new trailer for the upcoming Super Mario movie, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, and it confirms some beloved characters are joining the crew for its latest adventure. The trailer provides our first official look at Yoshi in the new movie, whose appearance was leaked back in the fall by a Pillsbury cookie box design. And, just as exciting, we also see Birdo in the mix. The trailer was released during Nintendo's The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Direct.

The short event also confirmed that the movie is now in post-production. While a previous trailer set the release date at April 3, the movie is now scheduled to come out two days earlier, on April 1. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie stars Chris Pratt voicing Mario, Anya Taylor-Joy as Peach and Charlie Day as Luigi, along with Jack Black (Bowser), Keegan-Michael Key (Toad), Benny Safdie (Bowser Jr.), Kevin Michael Richardson (Kamek) and Brie Larson (Rosalina).

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/yoshi-and-birdo-arrive-in-new-trailer-for-the-super-mario-galaxy-movie-along-with-an-earlier-release-date-154455021.html?src=rss

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