give

It has taken years of development to give them a V6 engine

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“The Quadrifoglio is the most authentic expression of sportiness at Alfa Romeo and our cars are designed by true driving enthusiasts, we always put the focus on the driver” The words are from Santo Ficili, CEO of Alfa Romeo, who confirmed With them the Italian company once again put on sale the most special versions of the Alfa Romeo Giulia and Stelvio. And the company has resurrected the Quadrifoglio version, the one with a four-leaf clover on the side, four exhaust pipes at the rear and a brute V6 under the hood. The movement is the consequence of another mistake at the time. Stellantis has decided to put the sportiest and most special versions of its brand’s flagships back on the streets. The problem is that this movement is only the visible part of the iceberg. The one that is submerged is a real problem. A problem. The trees that don’t let you see the forest Yes, Alfa Romeo will bring the Quadrifoglio versions of its Giulia and Tonale to its European configurators. The sedan and the SUV will once again have specific sports versions, with all the aesthetic features but, above all, with an engine 2.9 liter V6 520 HP and 600 Nm. We are the first to celebrate it. But although the company has emphasized that the focus is once again placed on the most passionate about the brand and those seeking pure driving sensations, the truth is that the movement is simply a concatenation of errors. Just a year ago, Alfa Romeo confirmed that stopped selling the more performance versions and the 280 HP gasoline engine of its Giulia and Stelvio. A stage was closing. A few months before, Carlos Tavares had resigned (or had been resigned) from Stellantis. Another stage was closing. The Portuguese had become a kind of Carlos Ghosn in tiny A new “cost killer” had taken the reins at Stellantisthe largest automotive group in the world by number of brands in its portfolio. Brands that, since the company was born, have had to demonstrate their profitability. And Alfa Romeo was one of those that had the most complicated role. Tavares made decisions that, over time, are considered more than controversial. The first was to keep the brand portfolio intact. Of course, forcing companies to demonstrate how far they were capable of going and confirm for themselves that they were profitable. His inflexible hand ended up sending cars to the United States for which there was no outlet despite the fact that from the other side of the pond they already told him that there was no way to sell, for example, an electric Fiat 500. Solution? Little less than giving them away. The second was to bring the entire group into line. Same platform for what was to come, with a clear focus on electrification. The immediate result was a brutal cost reduction. The consecutive was a total loss of identity. Believing that the same plan could be equally successful for Citroën, RAM, Alfa Romeo or Maserati did not bode well. And so it has happened. The company has seen how billions were thrown away of euros in development. And how its sales have suffered until assume an impact on the accounts of 22,000 million of euros. The European Union has left a loophole open to combustion, has made medium-term objectives more flexible, The United States has lifted any environmental restrictions. Along the way, many of its brands have lost their identity. Maserati has run into a problem: the rich don’t want electric sports cars. And they have had to cancel a project in which They had invested more than 3,000 million euros. In the United States They had retired their well-known HEMI V8 engine and they have also had to back down because the path to complete electrification of brands like RAM was up in the air. Now, the same has happened with Alfa Romeo. Stellantis opted to completely electrify it and he made the same mistake as with Maserati or RAM, he lost identity. Alfa Romeo has generally had worse finishes than its premium rivals but was supported better or worse by a loyal public that accepted risky and different designs, a distinctive driving feel and engines like the V6 Busso which was, among other incentives, the company’s assets. Strip Alfa Romeo of any identityfrom any minimally aspirational halo to shoehorn it onto the same platform that all Stellantis’ small or medium-sized cars mount and make a Opel Frontera with the Italian brand’s bodywork it didn’t seem like the best idea. Especially if the ultimate intention is to sell cars. The results are being calamitous for Alfa Romeo. Junior doesn’t sell much and Tonale He is almost missing in action. The Alfa Romeo Giulia and Stelvio are cars with a decade behind them, which makes them anticompetitive in the market. Giving them back their V6 engine is a small marketing exercise to boost sales of two cars that seem to have left the collective imagination when looking for a new car. The company, at least, once again has those halo cars that can attract the public and, at least temporarily, put the brand on the market. But if they are with us it is because Stellantis has thrown away the development of the future fully electric models that were going to replace them. These Quadrifoglio versions are also born with an expiration date. In a few months they will have to comply with Euro 7 and nothing confirms that with pure combustion they can be sold without making any adjustments. In 2027, if the plans end up being fulfilled, a completely renewed Stelvio should arrive with a new generation. Considering that they should ride the same platform, the same should happen with the Giulia. Yes, we welcome that both cars can be available. But it’s just a band-aid to stem the bleeding from a much deeper wound. Photo | Alfa Romeo In Xataka | Europe has been filled with Stellantis … Read more

In Ireland they fear that artists will go without food because of AI. So he’s going to give them a basic income.

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The AI ​​is putting into serious doubt the continuity of different sectors as varied as the programmersthe music producerscinema and even illustrators. Creating a painting, a song, a video clip or an app used to involve having talent and the necessary knowledge. Now it is enough to choose the right AI model. A few days ago, the United Kingdom government was considering the possibility of implement a universal basic income to alleviate the effects of AI. The Irish government has gone ahead of them and has already launched an initiative in which it provides a basic monthly income to 2,000 artists. According to an official report of the impact of the measure, each public euro contributed to this basic income generates 1.39 euros of return. A test that is consolidated. In 2022, Ireland launched a pilot project of universal basic income for artists with which it sought to reduce the impact of COVID-19 on the cultural industry. The test turned out to be an unexpected success, so the Irish Administration has chosen to consolidate it by turning the Basic Income for the Arts into a tool against the precariousness of artists, and prevent them from abandoning their creative work. for economic reasons. According what was published by EFEthe Irish executive has provided the project with a budget item of 18.27 million euros so that 2,000 artists benefit from a payment of 325 euros per week. “This is an important milestone for the arts in Ireland and how we support them,” said Patrick O’Donovan, Ireland’s Minister for Arts and Culture. “Ireland is a world leader in supporting artists thanks to the BIA (Basic Income for the Arts),” he added in the official statement of the measure. A test that was a success. The pilot program started in November 2022 after the pandemic, selecting 2,000 artists from 9,025 applications through a lottery to avoid bias. Each one received 325 euros net per week for 36 months, equivalent to 16,900 euros per year, tax-free and without working conditions. The composition reflected the diversity of the sector: 707 in visual arts such as painters and sculptors, 584 musicians and composers, 204 filmmakers and audiovisuals, 170 writers and poets, 160 in theater and dance, plus 175 in mixed areas such as design or performance. This randomized design allowed us to measure real effects without bias for successful profiles. The pilot test was subjected to a study constant from independent entities, which were able to measure the benefits of the measure. The pilot demonstrated with data that 325 euros per week was enough to cover part of the basic expenses, freeing up to 25 extra hours per week so that the artists could dedicate time to creating. That is, it was low enough to allow artists to dedicate time to their artistic production, but not so low as to make them dependent on it. It is a basic income, but with conditions. The measure allows maintaining the same economic conditions as the 2022 program, but incorporates a series of conditions that avoid dependency by assigning it to alternative three-year periods. That is, the beneficiaries of the income in the 2026-2029 cycle cannot opt ​​for the 2029-2032 cycle, but they are eligible again for the 2032-2035 cycle. In addition, at the end of each cycle, there is a gradual three-month decrease in income, where the payment drops by 25% per month to facilitate the transition until they stop receiving it. More art, less precariousness. The more consolidated results of the pilot test published in September 2025, indicated that the initial investment in the project was 105 million euros, of which only 72 million were executed. However, that was enough to obtain a return of around 80 million euros. The artists who participated in the test increased their monthly income by an average of 500 euros, while their income from non-artistic activities was reduced by an average of 280 euros. That is, the basic income allowed artists to concentrate on their creations and make them profitable, allowing them live from his art and not from precarious or part-time jobs. “The economic return on this investment in Ireland’s artists and creative arts workers is having an immediate positive impact for the sector and the economy in general,” said the Irish culture minister. In Xataka | Barcelona tested a basic income of 1,297 euros per month and the job search was reduced by 22%: the test was a success Image | Unsplash (Dillon Wanner)

Seven great ideas to give technology as a gift (for less than 100 euros) this Valentine’s Day

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I have a budget of 100 euros, what can I give to a person? techie? Fortunately, today we can find countless things. Some more original than others, but in any case good gifts. For this same reason, today we are going to give seven interesting ideas under 100 euros. Huawei Watch Fit 3 by 79 eurosa great smartwatch to keep better control over physical activities. Elgato Stream Deck Neo by 84.99 eurosa very practical device for playing computer games and even for productivity. Xiaomi Redmi Buds 6 Pro by 59.90 eurosgood Bluetooth headphones with noise cancellation. Woxter Scriba 195 S by 67.99 euros When you add to cart, a small eReader to devour books anywhere. Fire TV Stick 4K Select by 35.99 eurosa great device for old televisions. Chilly’s Series 2 by 38 eurosa thermal coffee cup with Biocote technology for the most coffee lovers. Kodak photo frame by 51.28 eurosa digital photo frame that also plays music. Huawei Watch Fit 3 For the price of 79 euros that he has right now Huawei Watch Fit 3It is a great gift if your partner wants a smartwatch with many sports functions. Specifically, the version with gray strap I find it the most interesting (it’s the one I have) because it’s not like the traditional ones, which often break from use. The screen looks great even outdoors and the rotating crown is a success. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Elgato Stream Deck Neo If your partner loves computer games or wants a device to improve productivity, the Elgato Stream Deck Neo is on sale right now for 84.99 euros. It includes eight fully customizable macro keys, plus a screen on the bottom side. The configuration options it offers are very varied, whether you want to play or work. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Xiaomi Redmi Buds 6 Pro Given so many models, which Bluetooth headphones to buy? The Redmi Buds 6 Pro from Xiaomi have a very good quality-price ratio, especially now that they are on sale for 59.90 euros. Have noise cancellationtheir battery is up to 36 hours and they are quite comfortable to use even for hours. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Woxter Scriba 195 S If your partner usually travels a lot by train, subway or bus and wants to spend time reading, there is no need to spend a lot of money to have an eReader or digital book reader. He Woxter Scriba 195 S It is perfect to carry in your pocket thanks to its 4.7-inch screen. It is controlled through the keypad and comes with 4 GB of storage, which can store many digital books. Its price at MediaMarkt is 79.99 euros, but when you add it to the cart it remains at 67.99 euros. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Fire TV Stick 4K Select If you have an old television at home and you want to use it more, a good gift for your partner or for both of you is the Fire TV Stick 4K Select. Right now it is on sale for 35.99 euros and offers 4K resolution. Furthermore, thanks to its operating system You can download streaming apps like Netflix. It also incorporates Alexa and comes with a remote control with direct access to some applications. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Chilly’s Series 2 Although it is somewhat less technological, for coffee lovers the Chilly’s Series 2 It can be very attractive. By 38 eurosit is a thermal coffee cup that, according to the brand, can stay warm for four hours. It comes with a mechanism to close it hermetically, the mouthpiece is designed to be soft to the touch and has Biocote anti-microbial technology that eliminates bad odors. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Kodak photo frame Finally, if you want to go more for the classic, this photo frame Kodak costs 51.28 euros and it is ideal to remember moments as a couple. It is a digital frame with a 10.1-inch screen that allows you to change photographs, but it can also play videos and music. It includes a remote control, allows you to rotate the image and add photos, videos and files via an SD card. 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 | Jose GarciaHuawei, Stream Deck, Xiaomi, Woxter, Amazon, Chilly’s, Kodak In Xataka | The best smartwatches (2026): their analyzes and videos are here In Xataka | Best eBooks. Which eBook to buy and 11 recommended models

how and when to give it

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Leaving a job by choice It is a right of the worker included in the Workers Statutebut it’s not enough to say “I’m leaving.” Spanish labor legislation establishes a series of steps to formalize the decision to quit the job that should be complied with to avoid later problems, from discounts in the settlement to unnecessary legal conflicts. One of the key points of this process is the notice of voluntary withdrawal to the company and one of the points that generates the most doubts: how many days must be given, how to do it correctly and what happens if the deadline is not respected. What is a voluntary withdrawal? Voluntary termination is the legal way to terminate an employment contract by decision of the employee. Voluntary resignation from the job is included in article 49.1.d of the Workers’ Statute and does not require the employee to give explanations nor justify the reasons for leaving. As it is a personal decision, voluntary resignation does not give the right to collect unemployment or receive severance pay since, ultimately, the company has not breached its part of the contract. The SEPE considers that there is no legal situation that justify unemployment benefit given that it is the worker himself who ends the employment relationship by his own decision. Which If it corresponds, it is the settlementwhich includes the pending salary, the vacation not enjoyed and the proportional part of the extra payments if they are prorated. However, it is advisable not to confuse a voluntary resignation with other cases, regulated in article 50 of the Workers’ Statute, in which employees can also resign from their employment. One of these cases is the termination of the contract due to serious breaches by the company (recurrent non-payment of wages, abusive changes in working conditions, etc.). In these cases, and as long as the conditions are met, the worker can terminate the employment relationship and have the right to compensation or unemploymentbut it is not a voluntary withdrawal per se. In which cases can the worker request voluntary leave? A worker can ask for voluntary withdrawal at any time, without having to spend a minimum amount of time in the company. The only obligation is to respect the notice period established in the collective agreement or indicated in the contract. Unlike dismissal, in voluntary dismissal it is not necessary justify the reason for resignationalthough among the most common cases are job changes due to having received a better job offerin response to a toxic work environment by their colleagues or superiors. In any case, the employee can reserve this reason and not state it in his request for voluntary resignation or in the exit interview that some companies do for those who choose this route. How to notify the company of a voluntary withdrawal The law does not require the use of a specific format, as long as there is evidence that the company has received the voluntary withdrawal request. However, it is best to always do it in writing. Verbal communication can give rise to misunderstandings or to discussions about dates. The usual thing is to deliver a signed and dated letter, requesting a sealed copy. It is also valid to send it by burofax or by corporate email, as long as there is evidence that the company has received it and the date on which it was notified is recorded. The objective of doing so in writing is to make it clear that the decision is voluntary, to record the date on which it is communicated and, therefore, the notice period begins, and what the last day of effective work will be (end of the notice period). How many days’ notice is needed for voluntary withdrawal The Workers’ Statute does not establish a specific period of days of notice. Instead, it refers to what is established in the collective agreement or indicated in the employment contract. In practice, the most common period is 15 calendar days, but it is not a universal rule. Some agreements extend this period to 30 or 60 days or adjust it depending on the position or seniority of the employee. If neither the contract nor the collective agreement establishes a specific period, this 15-day notice is usually applied as a general reference. Therefore, before communicating the termination, it is important to review which agreement actually applies or carefully review the employment contract to avoid surprises. However, even once the request for voluntary leave has been communicated to the company, the employee has the possibility of regret and cancel that resignation. However, depending on when this rectification occurs, it may or may not be accepted. The Supreme Court jurisprudence has made it clear that the worker can retract his decision as long as the notice is still in progress and the employment contract remains in force. That is, until the effective date of the withdrawal arrives, which must be indicated in the voluntary withdrawal letter. If the worker communicates that he is leaving but, before the notice ends, communicates in writing and verifying that the company has been notified of his desire to continue, the company should accept it. In fact, if the company does not accept this rectification without justified cause, it could be considered an unfair dismissal and, in that case, it should compensate the employee. Now, this possibility is not automatic. The Social Chamber of the Supreme Court also has passed sentence establishing that, if the company has already acted based on that departure, for example, hiring another person to replace the employee who had resigned, the retraction may not have effect and the company would be exempt from accepting his reinstatement, without this meaning that an unfair dismissal has been incurred. In other words, you can reconsider the voluntary resignation and regret it until the company has hired a substitutebut not beyond, even if you are still in the notice period. What happens if the notice days are not met? Failure to respect the … Read more

Productivity had become an obsession. Until leisure has started to give better results at work

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The constant pressure to perform to the maximum has marked work life for a long time, leaving rest almost forgotten. A recent study shows how reserving well-planned leisure time changes the perception of daily routines and contributes to improved performance at work. Experts have verified that organize free time actively through crafts or other forms of abstraction brings improvements to creativity and motivation in your work tasks. This finding questions the belief that only by working non-stop can we achieve good work results. Let the brain create things. A group of researchers from the University of East Anglia in the United Kingdom and Erasmus University Rotterdam in the Netherlands investigated on the effects of creative craft-based entertainment during employees’ leisure time. The result of the experiment was not an improvement in the morale and motivation of the employees who participated in the study, but rather it contributed to these employees offering a more creative response in solving the problems that arose at work. Improvements in daily work life. The workers who participated in the study felt that, by exercising new manual skills, they better appreciated the processes of their crafts, making them gain value. The curious thing is that the change was bigger in the workplace than in his personal life, even though it was his leisure time. “We were surprised to see that crafts had a greater impact at work than in personal life. We expected similar benefits in both areas,” explains Professor George Michaelides, from UEA Norwich Business School. Curiously, the group that noticed this improvement the most was the one formed by the most senior employeesthose over 61 years of age. The explanation for this phenomenon is found in cognitive aptitude, a brain condition that is activated during learning processes. Gymnastics for the brain. Just as they collect the studies of Professors Gilkey and Kilts, of the schools of medicine and business at Emory University, carry out various creative activities that require a motor and cognitive combinationlike playing the guitar, juggling or learning a new language, helps expand the neural system and makes it more communicative. That is, the development of new skills through crafts was improving the “physical fitness” of the employees’ cognitive system, and the results were more visible in those more prone to cognitive decline and memory deterioration due to age. Keep “fit“Cognitive aptitude improves performance in decision making and problem solving, as well as in the generation of new ideas. The capacity for abstraction. One of the keys to the use of crafts or pleasurable leisure activities is that they act as a natural stress reducer and depressive symptoms. “Hobbies are already known to be good for well-being. But our study shows that hobbies not only make you happier, they can also help you feel more fulfilled and creative at work. This goes beyond simply relaxing or having fun (like watching Netflix non-stop) and turns hobbies into something that helps people grow,” says Dr. Paraskevas Petrou, the lead author of the study. Beyond the cognitive improvement derived from the development of the neural system, a study from Cardiff University found that the use of crafts or repetitive activities, how to knitinduces the brain into a state of full attention that increases abstract thinking activity by up to 25%, which contributes to the generation of new ideas and improves problem solving. In Xataka | Feeling overwhelmed at work is normal, but it is not ideal: six techniques to avoid it and be much more productive Image | Unsplash (Elena Mozhvilo)

give 600 euros to its owners

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Talking about Barcelona is talking about a city full of motorcycles. In fact, it leads the ranking with more than half a million registered motorcycleswell above Madrid. There is a type of motorcycle that is especially noisy and polluting, one that those of us who started out in the world of motorcycles started out with when we were minors: the motorcycle moped. 49cc. Barcelona has set out to put an end to him. 32,000 mopeds registered. The moped has several key differences from the traditional motorcycle. Teenagers from 15 years old can drive it. Your AM license is approved with a closed-circuit skill test It is not allowed to carry a passenger until they are 18 years old. Vehicles larger than 50cc cannot be driven or exceed 45km/h. By having such restrictive conditions regarding the engine, and minimizing the access barrier, mopeds are the most economical type of motorcycle that can be purchased. Of the 32,000 registered in Barcelona, ​​24,000 are combustion. The subsidy. The Government Commission has approved the bases for a new aid program aimed at replacing combustion mopeds with electric ones, with an initial budget of 15 million euros and with the aim of extending it until 2030. Concretizing. The aid will consist of a single amount of 600 euros, an amount that, according to the Ministry of Transport and Mobility, represents between 16% and 40% of the current cost of equivalent electric mopeds. The condition. To access this aid, it will be mandatory to scrap a combustion moped. With the aim of facilitating the process, the City Council has enabled the Serveis Municipals Barcelona depots, where scrapping can be carried out free of charge and the certificate necessary to apply for the subsidy can be obtained at the same time. And where do I load it?. The golden question when buying any electric vehicle is on the loadin a country of flats and rooms shared. An investment of three million euros is secured to create a battery exchange network, a program that will begin operating this year. The ultimate goal. The Barcelona City Council aims to incorporate up to 20,000 electric vehicles into its city, carrying out a practically complete replacement of each and every one of the gasoline mopeds that travel its streets. Image | Unsplash (Logan Armstrong) In Xataka | The first commercially ready solid-state battery is here. And an electric motorcycle is going to take it

give it a second life on your Smart TV or PC

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Let’s tell you How to give a second life to your old mini or micro systemso that you can reuse it, especially its speakers. Thus, if you have one at home or see one that is quite cheap second-hand, you should know that it may be better for you to reuse it than to buy a sound bar for your TV or speakers for your computer. Let’s start by telling you about the limitations you will have if you want to do this, such as limited audio formats or no network access. Then, we’ll tell you what you’ll need and how to proceed. These are the limitations The first limitation that you are going to find is in some audio formats. If you connect the mini system to a device such as a TV or computer, you can play almost all types of files, although you will not have support for Dolby Digital, DTS or Dolby AtmosFor example. What you will have is support for great audio quality, since the speakers are connected. The other limitation will be in the connectivity that your chain supports. The safest thing, being a few years old, is that you do not have support for USB-C or HDMI, and possibly not WiFi or Bluetooth support either. Mini chains that are a few years old will surely be limited to analog audio inputs by RCA-type coaxial cable, and it probably has two different inputs, one for the left speaker and the other for the right. The speakers you bring may also be connected to the micro system via a specific speaker cable. This is what you can do If your TV has support for RCA coaxial cables, there is no problem, because you just have to connect them to the micro system, and then the speakers to it. But not all TVs have this support, and of course your computer will not have it. For these cases, there are two solutions. The “easy” solution is to opt for a 3.5mm jack cable. Many TVs and some computers may have one of these connectors, the headphone jack for life, and many micro systems may also have an input to use them. Then, on the device you will have the option to output the audio to speakers or headphones. If your chain doesn’t support it, there are 3.5mm jack to RCA cable adapters, another good option. However, the best option is to buy a DACespecially if you want to reuse the mini system on a computer. These are small boxes that are responsible for converting digital audio into analog. This means that you can connect your computer or TV to the DAC via USB, and after the DAC the RCA cables come out. In fact, you can even use DACs as intermediaries for other PC speakers you have, because they usually improve the sound a lot. This is how I told you back in the day when I explained to you how to improve the sound of your computer. The negative part here is that DACs have a cost. I use a Fiio K7 with support for Hi-Res audio, and Its price is about 200 euros. You can also buy others for less than 100 or less than 50 euros in stores like Aliexpres, they will also work for you. There are many models and many prices, and it all depends on the use you want to give it. Some DACs even have Bluetooth support, which will add this connectivity to your micro system. Regardless of the method used, once you have connected your TV or computer to the micro system, then turn it on in the INPUT options choose the auxiliary or the one designated to input sound from another device you have connected. Reusing speakers is not easy Reusing only the speakers of a micro system without the device itself and its electronic part is a little more complicated. This is only possible if the speakers have passive filters for the frequency range already installed inside them. Almost all speakers are two or more ways, with at least one driver for treble and another for bass-midrange. For everything to sound correctly, the speakers need to send the corresponding frequency range to each driver through prior filtering. These filters can be passive with a filter made up of capacitors, resistors and coils, or electronically active. The normal thing is that the technology to be able to do this is within the microchain itselfso separate speakers sometimes won’t do. In Xataka Basics | Improve the sound of your computer: basic tips and what you can do to make music sound better

Disney+ has discovered that Generation Z does not want to watch its two-hour movies. So he’s going to give them vertical microdramas

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Disney+ has decided to join the battle for the viewer’s thumb. The company announced this week at CES that will incorporate vertical videos to its platform during 2026, a commitment to the format that dominates TikTok and Instagram. The news marks a strategic shift for a giant traditionally associated with the traditional (and horizontal) cinematographic experience. What does it consist of? If Disney previously sold large screens in dark rooms, now it is not exactly seeking to replace them, but rather to create a new habit: that opening Disney+ is a gesture as automatic as doing so with any social network. Netflix measures its impact in monthly viewing hours, but Disney wants what YouTube and TikTok already have: compulsive daily views. In an industry where engagement Everyday life has become the battlefield, Mickey and Spider-Man will learn to do choreography in vertical format. What will it include? Now, as explained by Erin Teagueexecutive vice president of product management, the plan aims for a feed personalized with algorithms that will mix news and entertainment. The raw material will be varied: from original productions designed for vertical format to recycled material from social networks and scenes from series or movies reformatted for mobile screens. Teague acknowledges that what they intend is to turn Disney+ into “a must-visit destination every day.” It is no longer enough to be the service where you can watch the latest season of something, but to be the one that you open without thinking, several times a day, just like you do with other apps that don’t even charge a subscription. where does it come from. The strategy does not come from nowhere. Disney had already tested the waters with the so-called “Verts” in the renewed ESPN application, launched in August 2025. Those vertical sports clips (highlights, quick analyzes, statements) functioned as a laboratory before escalating the bet to the rest of the Disney+ ecosystem. Rita Ferro, global head of advertising at Disney, commented in the presentation that ESPN had captured 33% of all live sports audiences during 2025 in the United States, leaving its closest competitor at 20%. The evolution of the vertical format. The vertical format has been redefining how we consume audiovisual content for years. Teague herself, before signing for Disney, worked for years on YouTube and witnessed from the inside how Google initially underestimated TikTok’s push. The answer (YouTube Shorts) was a long time coming, but when it did it changed many preconceptions: most of these short videos they end up consuming themselves on televisionsnot on mobile phones. The vertical conquered the living room, and that’s where Disney+ wants to be. Aside from this, Netflix tried publishing vertical anime videos in 2021, but never took the proposal beyond limited experiments. No competitor has yet found the formula, and Disney wants to be the first to get it right. Who has already done it. None other than Procter & Gamble, the multinational consumer products companyreinvent the soap opera and launch this January ‘The Golden Pear Affair‘, a “micro soap opera” of 50 episodes designed specifically for consumption on social networks, since its distribution will start on platforms such as Instagram and TikTok before migrating to its own mobile application. This is not advertising disguised as content: it is content designed from scratch to sell products: if the product placement classic interrupted the narrative, here the narrative is born to serve the product. Meanwhile, the fever of microdramas that conquered Asia a few years agoreaches other continents with production companies like TelevisaUnivision making compressed soap operas. The Spanish-speaking network has been exploring the “microdramas”ultra-brief versions of the soap opera format. and disney you know this works: Apps like ReelShort and Crazy Maple Studio have been dominating niche markets with sixty-second vertical dramas for years. Its model (free hook episodes, payment to unlock more chapters) has shown that addictive narrative works even atomized. These Asian platforms generate tens of millions annually with content that Hollywood would have considered impossible to make profitable a few years ago. Advertising implications. The vertical format is not just an aesthetic or generational issue. It is, above all, a new advertising space: Disney announced a metric that merges Disney’s own data with information from external providers, saying that the format was a very attractive space for advertisers. And it also introduced an artificial intelligence-powered video generation tool that allows advertisers to convert existing materials into renewed ads. It is no longer necessary to produce spots from scratch; just feed the machine with assets priors and brand guidelines. So now Disney’s recent deal with OpenAI does. acquires a renewed meaning. Transformation or concession. Teague openly acknowledged that “Gen Z and Gen Alpha aren’t necessarily thinking about sitting through two-and-a-half-hour long content on their phones.” Disney does not want to attract new generations to its classic catalog, but rather to speak in the same language as these young people who have always been its potential audience. For millions of users, cinema is no longer the basic unit of entertainment, and Disney has decided that, rather than compete with Netflix, it has to do so with WhatsApp, Instagram and TikTok. In Xataka | “I cried 152 times in 2025”: Generation Z lists their emotional crises and turns them into infographics

what they are and how to use them to give ChatGPT more functions

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Let’s explain to you What ChatGPT applications are and how to use thema functionality with which you can connect the artificial intelligence to third party services. This way, you can use features from Photoshop, Canva, TripAdvisor, Apple Music and many others right from the app. ChatGPT. We are going to start the article by explaining in a simple way what exactly these applications are and what you should know about their use. Then, we will tell you step by step how to use them. What are ChatGPT applications ChatGPT applications, also called GPT Apps or connectors, are extensions that allow AI to connect with external services to perform specific tasks. ChatGPT has several uses, but there are functions that it misses, ranging from precise edits to searching for your local or personal information. Therefore, where the limits of AI do not reach are those of the applications to which it connects. For example, you can connect with Google Drive, Outlook, Canva, TripAdvisor, TheFork, Apple Music, Photoshop, Teams, Dropbox, and many more. This will allow OpenAI’s artificial intelligence to gain other special powers, from search and reserve restaurants even checking documents in the cloud or your email. You will even be able to automate tasks and actions on other platforms. Here you should know that some of these interactions will require access to your accounts of these services, such as when you want to check your email or make a reservation. However, if you are only looking for general information it will not be necessary. If you need to link your personal account to this service, then you will be asked and given explicit permission, ChatGPT will not log into your account itself. When it accesses the data, it will do so with the permissions you give it, just like Google and so on. ChatGPT will not be able to see your passwords, but if it accesses your data, keep in mind that you will be sharing it with OpenAI, so be careful if you are concerned about your privacy on topics like emails, your Google Drive files, or social media data. How to use apps in ChatGPT There are two ways to use applications in ChatGPT. The first is click on the section Applications which you will find in the left panel, above the chat history. This will take you to a screen that is an index where you can browse all the available ones or use the search engine to find one. The second option is put an at sign @ and start typing your name in the chat where you write the prompts by ChatGPT. This will open a window where the names of the applications will appear as you type. When you tap on an app, you will go to the screen where you can connect it to ChatGPTchoosing whether you want it to use relevant memories and share its data with the application. If you don’t need to link your accountit will just be a switch. But some applications will ask you to link your account in them. In these cases, the screen will have a button linking to the service, for example Outlook, so you can log in and give access to ChatGPT. And now, all you have left is start using these apps. If you access them from the apps menu, you will have the option to start a chat with this service. If you access from the normal chat, just mention them with the at sign to write the prompt and ask them to do something. You can also attach elements or whatever is necessary for what you are going to ask them for. In Xataka Basics | 18 simple Christmas images that you can make with ChatGPT in a couple of clicks or a single prompt

give a twist to Quantum Dots

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TCL has been one of the leading proponents of democratization of MiniLED panelstechnology that it has carried to its entire range from 2025. Therefore, it has not surprised anyone that in 2026 it maintains its commitment to this technology. However, your proposal is different from Samsung either Hisense that are committed to changing the backlight matrix with Micro LED RGB systems. TCL has presented at CES 2026 a new technology called SQD-MiniLED that promises to change the landscape of high-end televisions. The proposal consists of combining the Mini blue LEDs with improved quantum dots to maintain brightness. that Mini LED screens provideapproaching the color purity of OLEDs. SQD-MiniLED: Vitaminized Quantum Dots by TCL TCL’s new technology focuses on the quantum dot filter responsible for breaking down and filtering the white or blue light emitted by the MiniLED diode array. The SQD that has been added to the name of this technology refers to Super Quantum Dot (or super quantum dots), the filter that contains the Super QLED Crystalswhich represent an evolution in the performance of the QD filters used in their televisions today. As the brand explained, the improvement in color volume of this technology is notable. Conventional MiniLED televisions reach approximately 83% of the BT.2020 color space, while the new X11L SQD, the only TCL television that will mount this new system, promises cover 100% of BT.2020. That means purer colors and a more complete visual palette. In addition, the new light filter is complemented by a new UltraColor filter with ultrafine particles (5 nanometers) that carries out a second filtering pixel by pixel, thus avoiding color interference and reducing the effect blooming (that halo that appears around bright objects on dark backgrounds, like subtitles). More dimming zones, more light control However, the development of the SQD filter for MiniLED is not the only improvement that TCL proposes to improve the image quality of its future televisions. Most high-end MiniLEDs offer between 1,000 and 5,000 local dimming zones, which is not bad at all. The X11L SQD, on the other hand, multiplies that figure up to 20,736 dimming zones for the 98 inch model. This increase is also supported by a 26-bit backlight controller capable of managing millions of control points, what TCL calls Precise Dimming Series. This combination is important because more dimming zones mean tighter control over which parts of the screen should brighten and which should remain dark. When you view a scene with stars against a night sky, that granular control allows the stars to shine without the glare spreading to dark areas. This is what allows us to combine deep blacks similar to those of an OLED, with peaks of extremely high brightness. The X11L SQD that TCL has presented as a test table for its latest technologies reaches the 10,000 nits maximum brightnessthe upper limit allowed by the Dolby Vision HDR standard. The combination of 20,736 dimming zones, together with 10,000 nits of brightness and 100% BT.2020 coverage, results in blacks controlled with extreme precision and a wider color volume than those currently offered by conventional MiniLED televisions. However, improving the panel’s performance does not imply an improvement in itself if that improvement is not well managed. Hence TCL has developed the new TSR AI processor with Super Resolution to manage the new capabilities of your SQD Mini LED panel by applying AI algorithms. The TCL will arrive soon to the United States and will start at $6,999 for the 75-inch models, increasing to $7,999 for the 85-inch version and $9,999 for the 98-inch ones. The brand has not confirmed its arrival in Europe and Spain, nor its price for the old continent. In Xataka | The television market is more alive than ever: Chinese manufacturers are eating up historical brands Image | TCL

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