Month: February 2026

MásMóvil has said goodbye to triple coverage. Although it may seem like it, it is not bad news.

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Until now, the MásMóvil group had an important competitive advantage over the rest of the MVNOs: triple coverage. The group had access to Movistar coverage when the MásOrange network was not available, a feature that the operator’s customers will no longer enjoy. But it’s not all bad news. What did we have?. In April 2024, Orange and MásMóvil merged, creating MoreOrangebecoming the first operator in Spain in number of clients. From that moment on, the group’s clients began to enjoy triple coverage: The Orange one That of the extinct Yoigo And that of Movistar Automatically and depending on network availability, our SIM card was capable of switching between the three connectivity modules. what has happened. As explained Xataka Mobilewith statements from MasOrange, the Movistar network will no longer be available on the group’s brands. “In the old MásMóvil brands that are under the MasOrange umbrella, we are stopping using Movistar’s 4G network because our customers already have complete coverage through the MasOrange network (4G, 5G SA, 5G Advanced, depending on each case), our own, modern and high-performance network. Our commitment is that all customers always have the best possible experience.” Why is it important. Although the loss of access to the Movistar network may seem like a step backwards, the move is logical. The group has been strengthening its network coverage for years, announcing just a few hours ago important advances in its first 5G Advanced network. MásOrange network coverage map. Behind this name is the prelude to the arrival of the future 6G generation and, currently, MasOrange allows access to speeds greater than 5 Gbps with latencies of less than a second. In other words: they let Movistar go to make room for their best network. An aggressive strategy. During the last year, MásMóvil has centralized efforts to be the most competitive MasOrange low-cost. Focusing on this OMV, saying goodbye to historical ones like Lycamobileand with key alliances like the one they have with Starlink to provide its clients with satellite connectivity in the future, this goodbye is not a loss for the group: it is a strategy. In Xataka | The best cheap mobile contract rates in 2026 and comparator with all telephone companies

Spain has been dealing with the weather in the United Kingdom for a month and a half. And that forces us to rethink how we build our roads

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Roads closed, prohibited overtaking and new speed restrictions, landslides that are swept away by a moving car or potholes that become sinkholes with the continued passage of vehicles. The roads in Spain have suffered greatly with a month and a half in which a succession of storms has barely given any respite. But is the fault of the investments or is it that we are not prepared for this climate? Potholes, sinkholes and closed roads. We have experienced a beginning of 2026 where news of intense snowfalls and continued rains have accumulated. And that has had an impact on the way we move. In some cases, airports have been forced to stop their activitythe trains have stopped due to the wind and, on the road, we have had all kinds of problems. Videos have become popular on social networks where a string of cars suffers the consequences of a sinkhole. Or the statements of those who affirm that in the same service area they have had to rescue a good handful of cars due to blowouts as a result of the poor condition of the roads. There is information that points to all types of roads: those managed by the Statethose that are from autonomous ownership and those that are from municipal ownership. We have had complaints for everyone. An unexpected event. Beyond the money dedicated to our roads, what seems clear is that a perfect storm has occurred: roads that should be better maintained and a succession of storms for which our roads are not prepared. If we look back, in the first 40 days of the year it rained in Spain triple the average recorded between 1991 and 2020. The recorded figure not only confirms that the swamps have filledalso calls into question to what extent Spain is becoming in a rainy country. And, above all, how we can prepare for climate change with more extreme weather events, repeated more frequently and further away from the typical climate of our country. Are we prepared? The truth is that our roads are prepared for something else. In Spain, roads are based on the PG3 regulations that draws on the European guidelines. Most of them respond to the premises aimed at building roads in hot climates. In fact, the next category is for a “medium” thermal zone and the next is considered “temperate.” This is important because as I said Francisco José Lucas Ochoatechnical and business development director at Repsol in his Twitter account, some time ago, on these roads A bitumen is used that is harder and withstands high temperatures better.. In the wetter climates A softer bitumen is used, as in the United Kingdom, but this can soften and melt if it is very hot. Our disadvantage? Asphalt resists high temperatures better but is more fragile and breaks more easily. This structure on our road leaves us, in most of the country (because high mountain roads are slightly different), roads that are less permeable to the passage of water. And the main objective has never been to resist humidity, it has been to resist extreme heat and fatigue due to the passage of numerous vehicles, since Spain is the second country in Europe with the highest heavy vehicle traffic. What consequences does it have? Asphalts designed for dry climates that have to suffer constant punishment from rain and humidity are more likely to accumulate water and encourage aquaplaning. But when the absorption of water is continuousthe problems are bigger. If the soil receives a constant amount of water, there comes a point where the layers beneath the asphalt remain constantly moist. This alters its ability to distribute loads, which is essential when you have a more rigid or less elastic asphalt like ours. This limited distribution of loads favors the fracture of the upper layer, generating potholes that end up becoming sinkholes both due to the action of the vehicles themselves and the punishment inflicted by the constant fall of water, further delving into the depth of the hole that is exposed. In addition, the useful life of asphalt is limited. Where it doesn’t rain and where it does rain. The added problem is that this train of storms has left a lot of rain where the roads are directly designed to withstand intense vehicle traffic circulating in a dry and hot climate. Andalusia and Extremadura have faced rains typical of Cantabria but, curiously, in Cantabria it has barely rained. In United Kingdomwhere the problem of water on the road is a constant, the construction of roads plays with the porosity of the asphalt, with the aim of making the soil capable of absorbing as much water as possible. A technique that is applied to the surface itself but in which the ditches are also taken into account so that the accumulated water does not infiltrate and, as we said, change the ideal load distribution. This type of asphalt is limited in Spain to very specific areaswith limited traffic and low risk of snow and smelt. In cold and humid climatesFor example, they have to deal with asphalt that is also more rigid but without losing sight of the accumulation of water. There the problem is not so much the latter as it is the formation of ice and the passage of vehicles equipped with studded tires on depending on which roads. If the road were as porous as in the United Kingdom, water would accumulate in the small gaps in the road surface and freeze, turning the road into a skating rink. Is there a solution? Yes and it seems to be underway. From 2021the Center for Studies and Experimentation of Public Works (CEDEX) coordinates the Transversal Working Group on Climate Change and Resilience in Roads. This group is analyzing the current situation of Spanish roads and infrastructure such as bridges, tunnels or aqueducts and what investments must be made to adapt them to the new meteorological reality of our country. Furthermore, in collaboration with CEDEX … Read more

Four centuries ago Montaigne already found the vaccine against polarization

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More than as a philosopher, writer, humanist, statesman and father of the modern essayto Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592) you are reminded as “the most classic of the modern and the most modern of the classics.” And that’s not just any title. The Frenchman knew how to incarnate like few others the spirit of the Renaissancea turbulent time politically and optimistic intellectually, an era of discoveries in which man vindicated himself as center and measure of the universe. Montaigne not only tuned in to that philosophical torrent. He did it with his own, personal style, which he maintained despite not exactly arousing passions among his contemporaries. He didn’t seem to care much either. “I myself am the subject of my book: there is no reason for you to occupy your leisure in such a frivolous and vain subject,” wrote in the preface of his ‘Essays’anticipating possible indignant readers with a tone halfway between pride and (false?) modesty. Another ESO philosopher? Today the name of Montaigne perhaps sounds extemporaneous, ‘one of so many (so many) philosophers who dusts himself off from time to time to recapture witty phrases’, it could be argued. It’s not like that. Although he wrote his works ago more than four centuriesthe words of the French humanist continue to have rabid validity. His form may sound old, but once you review the background and even the reason for his words, they fit in 2026 like a glove. The teacher remembered it a few years ago. Sarah Bakewell in the wonderful book he dedicated to Montaigne. In the 16th century, the French intellectual promoted an approach that will sound very normal to any reader/writer/network user, but was not so normal in the Europe of four centuries ago: “Write about oneself to create a mirror in which other people could recognize their humanity.” “Unlike most memorialists of his time, he did not write to record his great feats and achievements. Nor did he write an eyewitness account of historical events, although he could have done so,” Bakewell claims. “A member of a generation stripped of the hopeful idealism enjoyed by his father’s contemporaries, he endured public suffering by focusing his attention on his private life.” The other reason for Montaigne’s validity is what led him to write. Or rather, what question did he seek to clarify every time he sat down with pen in hand to write down his torrent of reflections. Although it could deal with different topics, in its “very free” pages, the same question always arises, which is still as relevant today as in 1580: How the hell do we live? How to manage our days to enjoy a full, honest and satisfying life? With such a history it will be better understood that a few days ago he turned to the pages of Montaigne in search of answers to one of the great challenges of our time: polarization“the background noise of our public life and an uncomfortable presence in our private one,” as I defined it in December More in Common, an organization that has dedicated itself to monitoring the tension. It may sound exaggerated, but according to your data 14% of Spaniards Has broken any relationship with family or friends in the last year for no more and no less than that: apparently unresolvable discussions about political issues. In a country where a quarter (25%) of those surveyed claim to have felt “attacked” or very “criticized” for expressing their ideas and 65% admit that we live in a fragmented society, how on earth do we deal with tension? How to calm the debate with almost half of the population immersed in ‘echo chambers’ in which practically everyone around them thinks the same or in a very similar way? Does Montaigne have any advice from 16th century France? The answer is in the most famous work from French, Essays (available by the way on the Cervantes Virtual Library website). Over there, at first From the first chapter of the third book, as a highlighted phrase, Montaigne leaves us an aphorism as resounding as it is appropriate for the problem at hand: “No one is free to say stupid things, the bad thing is to say them with emphasis.” The translations may vary (not all of them are so foul-mouthed), but the bottom line is always the same. Next, the author slips in another Latin phrase inspired by Terence: “This man has said great nonsense with great effort.” What does Montaigne want to tell us? That we can all make mistakes. Even the wisest ones. Even himself, so when it comes to sitting down to confront ideas there are three words that should not be forgotten. Three words that sound like a vaccine in times of tension. Honesty. Moderation. Prudence. “A man of excellent habits can harbor fake opinions; a wicked man to preach the truth, even to him who does not believe in it,” writes the humanist after reminding us that “saying” is something very different from “doing” and it is often useful to analyze separately the preacher and what he preaches. Throughout his ‘Essays’ Montaigne even reminds the reader: “There have never been two identical opinions in the world, nor have there been two identical hairs, nor two identical grains. The most universal quality of those is diversity.” Does that mean that everything is relative or that ideas cannot be discussed? At all. The important thing, Montaigne seems to remember from his desk illuminated by candlelight, is to keep in mind that not even the wisest of the wise is free from making mistakes and saying “stupid things.” And nothing happens because that happens. The important thing is how these ideas are presented (“say them with emphasis”). His work is splashed of similar messages connected with Stoicism, as when he reminds: “True freedom consists in absolute self-control.” A vaccine against tension at a time when public debate is pulling at the seams of society and we seem more willing than ever (remember that 14% … Read more

An archaeologist believes his mental rigidity was more lethal than the sapiens’ spears

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For decades, the million-dollar question in paleoanthropology has always been the same: how on earth do we Neanderthals disappeared? We have blamed climate changeto the lower cognitive capacity, to the diseases and even a violent genocide perpetrated by us, the Homo sapiens. However, the French paleoanthropologist Ludovic Slimak has put another theory much more uncomfortable on the table. The theory. Through his latest book, ‘The last neanderthal‘, and in recent statementsthe French paleoanthropologist has pointed out that the Neanderthals were not swept away by an external force, but rather suffered an internal collapse. A true “individual and social suicide” caused by their own cultural rigidity and their refusal to connect. The specimen. Slimak is not an armchair theorist, but has spent decades digging in Grotte Mandrin (France), a key site that has revolutionized what we know about the transition between Neanderthals and modern humans. Here the cornerstone of his argument is “Thorin”, a late Neanderthal whose remains were analyzed in a genomic study published in Cell Genomics. What was seen. In this specimen it was seen that, despite living about 42,000-50,000 years ago (relatively “close” to the end), Thorin’s lineage had been genetically isolated for 50,000 years. This is in addition to the fact that, although there were other Neanderthal populations just two weeks away, they did not mix. They lived in a genetic and social bubble for millennia without gene flow either with other Neanderthals or, of course, with the sapiens who were already around the area. Slimak interprets this isolation not as a physical impossibility, but as a cultural choice. Thorin’s Neanderthals, according to his reading, rejected interaction. A clash of values. Based on this isolation of Thorin and on the lithic technology found in Mandrin, which are very creative but poorly standardized tools, Slimak draws two opposing “mental spheres.” The first of them is the ‘sapiens model’, where vast and interconnected communities meant that, if one group failed, the entire network could be sustained thanks to the efficiency and homogenization. At the other extreme we have the ‘Neanderthal model’ where small, independent and highly creative groups existed, but fragmented. Simply put, each clan was a world where there was no interconnection. The metaphor of ‘suicide’. The author in this case is not referring to them taking their own lives individually, but rather to a collapse of their values. Upon encountering the social “machine” of the Sapiens, the Neanderthal worldview of isolated groups became unsustainable, since, according to Slimaksome groups “decided to become invisible” or their social structure simply imploded due to the efficiency of human networks. The scientific consensus. Although Slimak’s narrative is literary powerful, the current scientific consensus prefers less romantic and more mathematical explanations. Most paleoanthropologists do not see conscious “suicide,” but rather a structural disadvantage. Recent literature explains extinction through a combination of factors such as demographics. In this case, stochastic drift models show that, if you have very small and dispersed populations (like Neanderthals), a very slight disadvantage in the reproduction or survival rate is enough for the species to become extinct in a few thousand years. There is more. Coinciding with Slimak’s data, there are different investigations that accept that Sapiens They had broader social networks. This can allow for help in a major crisis, such as a local drought, where neighbors can help others move forward. In the case of Neanderthals, being isolated, as Thorin demonstrates, they were vulnerable to any ecological “bump.” In addition to all this, we cannot forget about endogamy. Here a genetic analysis confirms that inbreeding weakened Neanderthals, reducing their fertility and biological resistance, without the need to invoke psychological factors. Something that also anticipated his complete disappearance from this planet. Images | 12019 In Xataka | A 4,000-kilometer “hybrid zone” in the heart of Europe: what we know about Neanderthals has just changed

How the new document that registers the fingerprint and iris of citizens works

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The Government of Mexico has decided to update the identity document of its citizens. The Unique Population Registry Code (CURP) goes from its classic 18-character format to become a biometric document which incorporates fingerprints, facial photography, electronic signature and even iris scanning. The change is no small feat, since it affects the entire population. And that is precisely why there have also been certain doubts about its implementation. What exactly is biometric CURP. The CURP is the personal identifier that the Mexican State assigns to each citizen and resident of the country. In its traditional version, it was simply an alphanumeric key printed on paper. This new biometric version maintains this, but now also includes a photograph of the holder, electronic signature, QR code with cryptographic authentication and, in most cases, iris registration. Management is carried out by the National Population Registry (RENAPO). What is it for and what problem does it seek to solve. The Government of Claudia Sheinbaum has placed the fight against disappearances in Mexico as one of the main arguments to promote this new measure. By integrating biometric data into the ‘Single Identity Platform’, authorities will be able to carry out identity searches and validations on site, connecting the RENAPO bases with the National Forensic Data Bank and with records from institutions such as the Attorney General’s Office (FGR) or state intelligence bodies. Beyond that, the document also seeks to combat identity theft, reduce the proliferation of falsified documents and simplify procedures such as opening bank accounts, accessing health services, applying for a passport or school registrations. What data does it collect and how does the document look like? Citizens have to appear at the Civil Registry, and the process usually takes between 20 and 30 minutes. During that time, ten fingerprints, a scan of the iris of both eyes, a photo, and the applicant’s digital signature are taken. The document is issued in physical and digital format, and includes the usual personal data (name, date and place of birth, sex, nationality) along with the new biometric elements and a QR code that gives encrypted access to all that information. As the Government assures, the document is valid both nationally and internationally. Who should process it and when. The decree establishes that the biometric CURP will be mandatory for all Mexican citizens and legal residents. However, its implementation is being gradual. The measure came into force last Octoberwith a pilot phase that involved Mexico City, the State of Mexico and Veracruz, and since then the expansion has reached other regions, including Jalisco, Nuevo León, Querétaro and Tlalnepantla. According to RENAPO, from October 2025 145 modules operate throughout the country. Starting this month of February, this document will be requested for certain government and private services. Although the traditional CURP will continue to be valid during this transition period, public institutions and banks will progressively require the biometric version for new procedures or data updates. What documents do you have to bring? The process is in person, free and is carried out only once. To attend the module, you must present: Original birth certificate or certified copy Valid official identification with photograph (INE, passport or professional ID; for minors, school ID) Validated traditional CURP Proof of address no older than three months personal email According to the authorities, in the case of minors, they must be accompanied by their mother, father or legal guardian. Where is it processed? The enabled modules include RENAPO offices, Civil Registry offices, the CURP Mobile service and itinerant modules installed in schools and community centers. The institution recommends managing the prior appointment through the official website from RENAPO. Issues. Despite the official argument to implement the measure, the project has not been without criticism. The fact of being obliged to transfer biometric data to the State (fingerprints, irises, photographs) has generated discomfort among citizens, especially those who fear improper use of this information or an expansion of mass surveillance. The decree establishes that the data will be stored under strict security protocols and with audited access in accordance with the General Law on Protection of Personal Data, although the real effectiveness of these guarantees is, reasonably, a matter of debate. From GQ Mexico express that some citizens do not feel comfortable providing information of this nature to the Government, although others consider that it is not new given the level of personal data that already circulates on the Internet. What happens if it is not processed. There are no economic sanctions if a citizen does not request the biometric CURP, but there are practical consequencesespecially in terms of blocking access to certain services. And those who do not have it when it is required may see their request rejected in public or banking procedures, longer waits in administrative procedures or incompatibilities in digital identity records. How to check if you already have it. To know if the biometric registration has already been processed, simply access the official portal of the CURP. If the receipt shows “CURP Biometric – Verified with RENAPO and Civil Registry”, the record is already updated. You can also go directly to any Civil Registry or RENAPO module to confirm it in person. Cover image | SEGOB and Onur Binay In Xataka | The US closed the El Paso airport and everyone looked at the Mexican cartel. It was worse: it was the US with a weapon that it did not know how to use

Spanish ants are using other species as “sexual livestock” to expand across Europe. And it’s working for them

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Nature has given us many ways to reproduce. From the simplest mechanism (clonality) to really very elaborate systems of sexual reproduction: where some species generate males and females, others produce a huge number of ‘morphs’ depending on the season, population density or social caste. But in all these cases, even the most complex ones, “the phenotypes produced by a female invariably belong to the same species.” Or so we believed. Because the Spanish ants have done so by jumping that “apparently universal restriction” into the air and are taking advantage of it to domesticate other species at will. They are doing what? As it sounds: after examining more than 120 populations and sequences of almost 400 different individuals, researchers from the University of Montpellier they came to the conclusion that the queens of Messor ibericus they are cloning males Messor structor to create hybrid workers that allow them to progressively expand throughout Europe. Evidently, although these hybrid workers are used as the workforce of the anthill, we are not talking about a system of slavery of other species analogous to the human systems of ancient times. However, it is fun and very interesting. Juvé et al. (2025) Why is this happening? When we talk about cocial insects, colonies function almost as if they were factories: if there are no workers, there is no nest, no food, and no viable reproduction. What happens in this case is that (according to the researchers) the queens of the Messor ibericus They cannot produce viable workers without the genetic contribution of other species. And, without thinking twice, they do it. Why is it important? For many reasons, but above all because it opens up an incredible melon: it brings back to the debate table the real meaning of “being a species.” It also forces us to rethink what we know about sexual reproduction and allows us to understand colonies as ‘superorganisms’ that are much more complex than we believed until now. So… can we really talk about sexual domestication? In this context, ‘sexual domestication’ appears as a visual metaphor of a complex process. However, there is no doubt that the appearance of colonies with internal reproductive ‘livestock’ changes the rules of the game. And not only on a scientific level: the fact that they are gaining ground throughout the continent shows that the strategy is successful. Very successful. Towards a European hegemony of the Spanish ant… No no. We can hardly say that. Today, all the ants on the continent are experiencing a real invasion: that of the Argentine or red fire ants. This is a biological invasion linked to globalization. In this case, what is happening is that by freeing yourself from dependence on M. builder (because it can produce reserves of its genetic material without needing colonies of this species), the M. ibericus They can move with complete freedom and that means they are moving into new and unexplored territories. But the complete battle, facing the fire ant, is yet to come. And they are already losing it. Image | Phil Honle In Xataka | New species of insects are not discovered in exotic places: we have just found two new ants in Andalusia

After comparing many OLED monitors, my next desktop display is going to be a TV

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choose a good screen to work or study on the computer, especially if we spend long days in front of it, is not an easy task: there is a very wide variety of options on the market, with a thousand different technologies and it is easy to get lost among them. However, if we prioritize the best image quality, brutal contrast and pure blacks, then the search is much simplified: OLED panels They are the best choice. LG OLED42C54LA – TV 42″, OLED EVO 4K The price could vary. We earn commission from these links In this sense, today there are more and more models of OLED monitors for PC and consoles. However, most of them are designed to enjoy video gamesadding a good handful of features and gaming technologies that increase its price. If the use we plan to give to the screen is not to play, then we are going to waste all those technologies and we will end up paying for functions that we do not need. Without overlooking that, usually, They have quite aggressive designswith striking lines, RGB lights that are anything but discreet and bases and supports that follow the same line. Using a television for the PC is a great idea in this case At this point, the alternative is very clear: use an OLED television (relatively contained diagonal) as a desktop screen for the computer. A great idea if what we are looking for is that OLED technology and we do not need everything associated with gaming screens: DisplayPort portshigh refresh rates, minimum response times, VRR technologies or designs like the ones we have mentioned. It must be taken into account, however, that although technology has advanced a lot In this sense, OLED televisions still have some risk of burn-in when using still images repeatedly. To avoid this, manufacturers like LG usually include specific technologies. And even we ourselves can help avoid it with such simple practices such as using dark mode in the operating system, hiding the taskbar automatically when we are not using it or setting a screensaver after short periods of inactivity on the computer. Taking all this into account, televisions like this 42-inch LG OLED They are a great purchasing option for several reasons: Its 42-inch diagonal It is acceptable for use at close range without making it uncomfortable It mounts a 3840 x 2160p Ultra HD panel that, in combination with those 42 inches, results in great clarity (vital to use up close without blurring texts, icons…) It has four ports HDMI 2.1 where to connect without complications any PC, laptop and even game console It reaches 120 Hz, which translates into greater fluidity of everything that appears on the screen, making transitions and scroll more comfortable for the eyes In addition to all this, it is still a television that we can take advantage of for purely “television” use. This is: watch movies, series and any compatible content from platforms such as Netflix, Prime Video or YouTube, among others. In addition to the DTT channels, of course. And in all cases, with great image quality thanks to its OLED panel. As an alternative to the LG, this other Samsung that goes up to 48 inches It is also an excellent option: it has a similar price (849 euros) and gives us that extra diagonal if we prefer somewhat larger screens. ⚡ IN SUMMARY: LG OLED evo 42″ OLED42C54LA ✅ THE BEST Great image quality: The OLED panel of this television offers pure blacks, high contrast and very vivid colors Allows you to play with a good experience: Thanks to its HDMI 2.1 and 120 Hz refresh rate, it is a good complement to latest generation video game consoles ❌ THE WORST Not best for avid gamers: For gaming PCs or high-end laptops, it falls somewhat short by not reaching 144 Hz Diagonal a bit big for some users: At 42″, it can seem somewhat annoying if we sit too close and it is difficult to find OLED televisions of 32 inches or less 💡 BUY IT IF… You do not need functions dedicated to gaming, you do not plan to play on it at high FPS rates and you prefer a more sober design ⛔ DON’T BUY IT IF… You are an enthusiastic gamer who values ​​reaching 144 FPS (or more) and prefers more contained diagonals You may also be interested The price could vary. We earn commission from these links PlayStation 5 Pro + EA FC26 The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Some of the links in this article are affiliated and may provide a benefit to Xataka. In case of non-availability, offers may vary. Images | Xataka, LG In Xataka | What is the best laptop for working in 2026. Tips and recommendations In Xataka | Best keyboards for writing and working: which one to buy and six recommended models

They will now require VPN providers to also block IPs

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According to an information note from LaLiga, the Commercial Court No. 1 of Córdoba has issued several orders granting LaLiga and Telefónica precautionary measures “unaudita parte” (“without hearing the other party”, without previously hearing the defense). These measures specifically target two of the providers of VPN services best known on the market: NordVPN and ProtonVPN. The consequences are very important. Dynamic blocking obligation. The court order – to which we have not had access, and which is mentioned in LaLiga – requires that both NordVPN and ProtonVPN must: “Immediately implement in its internal systems the appropriate measures to make it possible for the IP addresses provided by the plaintiffs, in which the illegal broadcast of protected audiovisual content has been verified, to become inaccessible from Spain.” Is absolutely unheard of. VPN providers as part of the problem. These orders, they say in LaLiga, “recognize that VPN service providers are technological intermediaries” that are within the application of the European Digital Services regulations, and therefore must prevent infringements from being committed through their infrastructures. The proceedings also highlight that VPNs are an “extremely effective and accessible means of generating the possibility of access to content that is not accessible in certain geographic locations.” Javier Tebas, president of LaLiga, I already pointed out recently to the objective of imposing its demands on VPN providers. And on top of that take advantage of that activity. According to the documents cited by LaLiga, these VPN service providers not only facilitate access to geographically restricted content, but also actively advertise this ability to bypass the massive IP blocks ordered by LaLiga. According to the judge, these campaigns “distort the real location” and contribute to avoiding the restrictions already decreed by other courts. Unheard of part. That legal term sounds complex, but its meaning is quite direct. It literally means “without hearing the other party.” We are – if the orders are confirmed, to which we insist, we have not had access – facing a unilateral resolution. The normal thing is that the other party can defend itself, but we are facing a (another) legal exception reserved for emergency situations that they have taken advantage of in LaLiga for their policies of massive and indiscriminate blockades, regardless of the damage to third parties. NordVPN and ProtonVPN may oppose each other. In LaLiga they talk that we are facing precautionary measures, something also important because with them we do not have a final sentence. The affected companies have the right to oppose these measures once they have been notified to try to have the judge revoke them after hearing their arguments. Even so, LaLiga also indicates that the measures are for “immediate implementation”, which leaves these companies in a difficult defensive position. What ProtonVPN says. A company spokesperson has indicated in comments to Xataka Móvil that they were “not aware of any proceedings that may be underway” before the information came out. Likewise, it states that any court order issued “without due notification to the affected parties” would be “invalid from a procedural point of view.” They want the opportunity to present their case before a binding ruling is made. What NordVPN says. At Xataka we have contacted those responsible for NordVPN to clarify the matter. At the moment we have not received a response, but we will expand this information if we obtain new information. AND the tests, what? LaLiga also indicates that the orders oblige LaLiga and Telefónica to “preserve sufficient digital evidence of the illicit broadcast of the protected content” to notify the defendants. This requirement is a measure to legally ensure that the IPs that are ordered to be blocked were actually being used for these illegal broadcasts. They are not Spanish companies. There is some uncertainty here about whether these companies, which have headquarters outside the EU (like Panama in the case of NordVPN), will comply with an order from a Spanish court of first instance. If they don’t, national operators could be forced to block those VPN providers’ own nodes, but this is an even more drastic and terrible scenario: under the current announcement, users can continue using NordVPN and ProtonVPN normally for everything, but they will be just as affected by the blocks as if they were not using those VPNs. If this other measure were applied, it would not be possible to access these providers conventionally in Spain. VPNs filtering content? If they have to comply with these regulations, VPNs could become dangerous intermediaries for all the content that is transferred through their services. Many users take advantage of the layer of privacy these VPNs offer for teleworking and secure connections, but if VPNs agree to filter content, users could lose critical network access tools. What LaLiga says is one thing, what NordVPN and ProtonVPN do is another.. This entire process is still at an uncertain moment, because no matter how much LaLiga has achieved such privileges, it remains to be seen whether these suppliers will comply with these decisions. So, we will see how these suppliers respond to these demands. In Xataka | Football has become the anchor of operator subscriptions. And LaLiga is making more money than ever

Steam Deck is out of stock, and PS6 and Switch 2 are already shaking

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Considerable tension in the video game industry at a point in which it is perhaps not going through its healthiest moment. The last slap that shakes a sector that already balances in a moment of perfect storm is the shortage of DRAM chips, driven primarily by the demands of the artificial intelligence industry and its demands regarding data centers. Valve has already announced that hard times are coming for its warehouses and stocks, and rumors about changes in stock, prices and launches of Switch 2 and Playstation 6 are constant. The first, the Steam Deck. If you tried to buy a Steam Deck from the United States last week, you would see the ‘Out of stock’ message. Was a disappearance without warning and that affected the 512 GB and 1 TB OLED models (the 256 LCD has not been available for several months). It is something that, at the moment, only affects to Valve’s home country and Canada: In most European countries and some Asian markets it is still available. With a brief note, Valve has confirmed it from the website: The component crisis due to the demands of the AI ​​market has left the console models that were still available out of stock. And remember that when the LCD 256GB stock runs out, that will be all for that model. At the moment there are no clues about when the missing consoles will be back on sale or if prices will increase. Delays at Valve. There is another consequence of this component crisis: the delay of the company’s next releases, the Steam Machine, the Steam Frame and the new Steam Controller. In it steam hardware blog The company acknowledged that it was not able to offer prices or launch dates, despite the initial intention to launch them in the first quarter of the year. The launch window was moved from “beginning of 2026″ to “first half of 2026”. As for the price, which remains unknown, the analysts’ first intuitions set it for the Steam Machine between 700 and 800 dollars. Since then, subsequent calculations have skyrocketed beyond a thousand dollars. Could be, As some analysts commentthat Valve is prioritizing the available memory stock towards the Steam Machine, leaving its laptop on a secondary level, and hence the lack of stock? In any case, the second-hand market rubs his ditto. The devastating DRAM crisis. The problem behind this shortage is the supply crisis of DRAM, a type of memory present in computers, consoles or smartphones. The three manufacturers that control 90% of production (Samsung, SK Hynix and Micron) have been overwhelmed by demand for artificial intelligence data centers. Some reports speak of something that goes beyond a conventional cyclical shortagewhich points to a necessary reformulation of needs and prices. The problem is that manufacturing HBM (High Bandwidth Memory), the high-density and extremely high-performance variant that powers the AI ​​centers, makes Samsung and company have to limit DRAM production, and LPDDR5 production, the standard used by devices like the Steam Deck, plummets. Consequence: DRAM prices increased by around 50% throughout 2025, with another 30% increase in the fourth quarter of the year, followed by a further increase of around 20% so far this year. The situation does not seem to be going well finish in the next few months. Collateral damage 1: PS6. Bloomberg was the one who gave the alarm voice: Citing sources close to Sony, he revealed that the company was thinking of delaying the launch of PS6 until 2028 or 2029. If this last possibility happens, we would be in the longest interval between Playstation generations in history: nine years. Beyond the wait it entails for the players, it also disrupts developers’ plans and projects which, according to most sources, would have planned their launches around 2027. Technically, and although with PS6 we are in rumor territorythe console would arrive equipped with 30 GB of GDDR7 RAM, fourteen gigabytes more than PS5. At a time when Samsung has sold all its production capacity by 2026 and Micron has confirmed which does not have the capacity for new contracts until 2027, mass manufacturing PS6 is unfeasible. At least with PS5 there is no need to worry: Sony has confirmed which has enough memory to cover its needs for 2026 and 2027, which also guarantees that there will be no price increases. Collateral Damage 2: Switch 2. The ballot that Nintendo has in its hands is even more problematic, because Switch 2 It is already on the market, but it may have no choice but to raise the price in 2026. Bloomberg reported it in the same PS6 article, also citing people familiar with the crisis. Significantly, Nintendo was one of those responsible for the memory supply during 2025 being strained: its splendid launch and sales are, in part, responsible for the current situation. According to different sourcesNintendo would currently be paying 41% more for the 12 GB of RAM that is in each Switch 2 unit, compared to the cost anticipated in its original projections. Maintain current price would suppose a loss of $50 per unit sold during 2026: a drain (the console has already sold almost 18 million units) that not even the Japanese giant can afford. At the moment there are no official decisions, but the president of Nintendo recognized that “the current memory market is very volatile”: in the presentation of results admitted that the increase in component prices “exceeds our expectations”, although also that the company has accumulated inventory and closed long-term supply agreements. Nobody escapes. We have before us the three great sectors of the world gaming: PC, home console and hybrid consoles. All three have the same problem, and it cuts across the most powerful companies, which tells us not about a specific crisis, but about one that has structural overtones, and that goes beyond the video game sector. For example, PC users are already facing price increases or manufacturers like Dell and Lenovo considering reducing the RAM of your laptops mid-range. … Read more

In 2025, AI seemed to have hit a wall of progress. A volatilized wall in February 2026

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I fondly remember that time in which Intel and AMD fought to create the first CPU capable of reaching 1 GHz clock frequency. That race AMD won it (surprise!)but until that milestone occurred the pace was dizzying. Or so it seemed to us, because with AI the pace of launches is absolutely crazy. What a few weeks we’ve had, dear readers. Let’s see: January 27: Kimi.ai lance Kimi J2.5 February 5: Anthropic lance Claude Opus 4.6 February 5: Same day OpenAI lance GPT-5.3-Codex February 5: Kuaishou lance Kling 3.0 February 12: Z.ai lance GLM-5 February 12: ByteDance lance Seedance 2.0 February 12: MiniMax lance MiniMax 2.5 February 16: Alibaba lance Qwen3.5-397B-A17B Coming soon: DeepSeek v4, Does it call?, Gemini 3.1, … The pace is absolutely frenetic, and the LLMs that a few years ago months weeks seemed to be fantastic now they are not so much. The new versions of these language models do not stop evolving, and AI companies continue to constantly offer new developments. Almost dizzying. That, of course, has its good side and its bad side. We end 2025 with a certain boredom in the face of an AI that promised a lot but ended up changing hardly anything. Only at the end of the year was a palpable revolution seen with that spectacular combination formed by Claude Code and Opus 4.5. The Anthropic binomial amazed the developers, who for the first time seemed to agree when it came to declaring that with this type of platform they could ask the AI ​​for whatever they wanted, and that it would program it for you at once and almost always without problems. Of course there was some exaggeration in that speech, but certainly the capacity of Opus 4.5 and the degree of autonomy and Claude Code’s versatility They seemed to mark a turning point. Then OpenClaw arrived and that expectations for AI agents have once again skyrocketedbut in parallel we are seeing a real fever of launches of new generative AI models, both in video (Kling 3.0 and especially Seedance 2.0 They have been viral phenomena in themselves) as in text/code. And with each new model, the promise of performance surpassing the previous generation. At least, of course, in the benchmarks. On the left, Alibaba’s internal benchmarks for Qwen3.5. On the right, those from Anthropic for Opus 4.6. Each one compares himself with whoever he considers appropriate. Those bar graphs in the image above have become a constant, especially when the model is launched by a Chinese company. If the launcher is OpenAI, Google or Anthropic, tables are preferred. Be that as it may, the result always leads us to the same thing: each model is better than its predecessor and, normally, than many of the competition. AI Subscription Fatigue The problem with this is that this race never seems to end, and a model that seems fantastic today is not so great tomorrowwhen its competitor can barely outperform it, but it can also be considerably cheaper – Chinese models usually are – or offers other advantages such as larger context windows so that we can enter longer and longer texts – for example, large code repositories – as part of the prompt. And of course, that poses a problem for users. If Opus 4.5 was so good, one could sign up for the Pro or Max plan and pay a year in advance, but that is a priori risky, because although you will have access to new models when you release them, you will have dedicated your investment in AI subscriptions to the Anthropic model without having as much room to try those of rivals. Here short subscriptions are required: Subscribe to one model for one month so that I have some leeway in case I want to try another model the next month (or try two or three models in the same month, which is also a common case). The prices of subscriptions to AI services are also not facilitators of these multiple tests. The normal thing is to pay 20 euros for a one-month subscription, and although Chinese models are usually much cheaper, they are also usually one step behind in capacity if one needs maximum performance. But here the problem is repeated again and again: if I subscribe now to GPT-5.3-Codex, which everyone says is fantastic, how long do I pay for it, one month? Or do I also subscribe to GLM-5 to try, and next month I will try Opus 4.6 and MiniMax 2.5? All of these decisions are difficult because the perception of each model depends on each user. Each of them has their needs, their budget and their own experiences with each model, so as much as the benchmarks say one thing, With AI models it is happening to us like with wines: No matter how much they tell us that one is better than the other, we perceive them in a very personal way. And this frenetic advance also means that the expectation for models that really make a difference has been recovered. Vibe coding is not perfect, but it solves our needs better and better, and the same goes for AI agents like OpenClaw, which with their lights and shadows demonstrate that the future in which we have an AI employee—although at first they may be somewhat clumsy—working 24/7 does not seem to be that far away. These are dizzying and fascinating times for AI. Again. Image | Mohammad Rahmani In Xataka | China brought humanoid robots to the country’s biggest television show: it made them practice kung-fu with millimeter precision

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