watch

Nintendo knows that most people who go to its parks and watch its movies have never touched a video game. and he loves it

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The success of the park Super Nintendo World and of the Mario’s first animated film (with a sequel just around the corner that also promises to break the box office) has confirmed what the company has known for years: that its characters are worth as much inside a console as in an outdoor version. The strategy coordinated by Shigeru Miyamoto, creator of Mario, points towards an entertainment model where the video game is only the origin, not the objective. Not just video games. Shinya Takahashi, senior CEO of Nintendo, He has been repeating a phrase for years which sounds almost like a wake-up call: “People see us as a video game company. But we have always considered ourselves an entertainment company.” The distinction is important: Nintendo was founded in 1889 in Kyoto as a manufacturer of Hanafuda cards. It went through toys, taxis and hotels before reaching video games in the seventies. Software and consoles have been its core business for decades, but they were never the only thing the company thought it could do with its characters. The problem is that for a long time all of the company’s forays outside of video games had been failures. 1993: disaster. The most famous case is the live-action Super Mario Bros. movie from 1993. Nintendo transferred the rights through a simple licensing agreement and did not participate in the production. The result was an experiment that It raised only 40 million dollars with a budget close to 50 and which is remembered as one of the worst video game adaptations in history (although over time it has acquired, thanks to its outlandish production design, a well-deserved cult status). Miyamoto himself acknowledged the root of the problem with that film in an interview, and why it took them so long to try again: “We were afraid of all the failures of IP adaptations of the past, where there is a license and a distance between the original creators and those of the films.” The consequence of that failure was almost thirty years without giving up film rights to its main franchises. Nintendo stopped licensing its IP to external studios and only allowed occasional appearances of his characters in films like ‘Wreck-It Ralph!’ or ‘Pixels’, none with real creative control. New adaptations. When Nintendo sat down to negotiate with Universal and Illumination for an animated film, the conversation started from a different beginning. Miyamoto served as executive producer and was involved in every significant decision, from casting to animating key characters. The same logic was applied to the construction of their first amusement park, Super Nintendo Worldin collaboration with Universal and announced in May 2015. Construction of the park in Osaka began in 2017. The investment reached 351 million dollarsa scale comparable to what Universal once dedicated to the Harry Potter franchise. A real game. Super Nintendo World is designed so that visitors feel like they are in Mario’s world. They wear an NFC bracelet with which they interact with the question blocks, collect coins, complete challenges and end up facing Bowser Jr. as the final boss. There is no controller, but there are game mechanics, score markers, hidden secrets, and a slight internal narrative. Attention to detail permeates spaces such as bathrooms and restaurants. Nintendo is doing well. The financial results support the bet. According to Comcast data released during an earnings call, CFO Jason Armstrong noted that Universal Studios Hollywood (home to one of the two Super Nintendo Worlds in the United States) recorded its best gross profit in that period of the year in its entire history, thanks to the impact of the Nintendo park, and experienced an increase in visitors of 15%. The Super Mario movie has also been extremely profitable: 1.36 billion dollars worldwidebecoming in just 26 days the first adaptation of a video game to exceed one billion. It was the second highest-grossing film of that year, only behind ‘Barbie’. New philosophy. There is a quote from Takahashi that sums up this new business philosophy: “We knew that Mario was adored by video game fans, but the park helped us understand that Mario also has non-gaming fans.” and Miyamoto adds: “There are many people who know who Mario is but have never played the game.” The park’s target audience, according to Takahashi, is not any age group or any specific player profile: “It’s all-encompassing, whether it’s someone who knows Mario from the games or a kid who’s never played before.” Mario is an IP that generates value regardless of whether its audience has ever touched a controller. In other words, he is a much more valuable client, because there are no limits regarding age or hobbies. It doesn’t stop, it doesn’t stop. The expansion continues: Donkey Kong Country opened in Osaka in December 2024, expanding the space of Super Nintendo World by 70%. Epic Universe, Universal’s new park in Florida inaugurated in May 2025has its own Super Nintendo World. And there is a version under construction in Singapore. Takahashi has mentioned that franchises such as ‘Splatoon’ or ‘Zelda’ are part of the expansion plans into new media, although there are hardly any specific announcements. Of course, the sequel ‘Super Mario Galaxy’ arrives on April 1. Video games are just one more link in a chain of dividends that have turned Nintendo into a very different company than it was a few years ago. In Xataka | No one would think of leaving ‘Super Mario 64’ on for 14 months. But whoever does it will find a surprise

I am a paddle tennis player and finally a smart watch brand has remembered me

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I have carried a paddle tennis racket in my hand since I was little. I am worse than hunger, I am not hiding, but I like this sport and I must admit that I look with envy at the fans of, for example, golf or the running. As a lover of smart watches, I have always seen from afar manufacturers launch specific models and functions for runners and golf players with cool metrics, interesting analyzes and specific functions: yes, 3D courses, yes, footfall analysis, yes, that niche data that only the pros care about… And meanwhile, the padel players we were still thereusing the “tennis” mode that tells us little or nothing or, if available, the “paddle” mode that also does not give information about performance in the match. That’s why, walking through the halls of the Mobile World Congress, I couldn’t help but stop at the Mibro stand. Because? Because their watches have a paddle mode, but a useful one with relevant information for players of this sport. Yes, we really exist. Padel mode in the Mibro GS Explorer S-Ti | Image: Xataka My what? Mibro, “your brother in sport”, as one of the company’s workers at the stand tells me with a laugh. Mibro is a company of Zhenshi Information Technology, a Chinese company founded in 2015 with financing from Xiaomi and Nokia. The company specializes in sports wearables and has found a way to increase its presence in the European market in paddle tennis. In fact, they openly recognize it: it is not that padel is gaining traction in China, it is that they know that it is important in Europe and they believe they have a way to differentiate themselves there. And what do they offer? The company has a catalog of watches with a rather high-mid-range price. The most expensive model is the Mibro GS Explorer Swhich costs 349.99 euros and is made of titanium (it is the one in the photos and I must admit that it feels scary, although I would change the strap, which looks very good, for a silicone one for sports). However, it has cheaper models, such as the GS Active2which remains below 100 euros. The operating system is Mibro Galaxy OS 2.0, a very fancy to call an RTOS system that is very reminiscent of Huawei’s HarmonyOS. An example of the metrics associated with paddle tennis | Image: Xataka But let’s talk about padel. The key to these watches, and the reason why they have caught my attention, is because of their paddle tennis analysis. For the uninitiated, in paddle tennis there are different shots: forehand, backhand, volleys, spikes, layups, lobs, drop shots, etc. Understanding well which shots you are doing the most and why can help you understand a match and discover your areas for improvement. For example: if you have lost a match in which you have made many layups (cut, high and deep shot to keep the net), you may have to work on the volley and the force you apply when hitting, because they have been constantly knocking you out of the net with lobs (high and deep balls). If you have made many lobs and few volleys, layups or shots, it is probably because they have managed to keep you down and have not let you go up to the net to attack. Analysis of forehands and backhands | Image: Xataka And that’s where Mibro comes in.. As they have shown us at the stand, the watch is capable of detecting the number and percentage of each of the shots we make in a match. The watch allows us to know how many backhands, drives, layups, spikes, forehand and backhand lobs and forehand and backhand drop shots we have made and, for example, manually cross-check them with our heart rate to see which points have put us in trouble. Example of analysis of blows | Image: Xataka Speed ​​of blows | Image: Xataka It also counts calories and, even more importantly, the speed of the strokes. Although it is easy to associate paddle tennis with strong and very loud hits, the truth is that playing slowly is usually much more effective against players… nervous, let’s say. A weak ball to the side wall will probably do more damage than a strong shot or volley, in the same way that a layup does not necessarily have to be very fast. Knowing that information that, until now, we could not know, can be useful to focus training or take action. To recognize hits, the device is based on a six-axis accelerometer and intelligent algorithms, as is already done in many other watches and many other sports. How does it work? Unfortunately, and although we always want a padel, we have not had the opportunity to pick up the racket and throw some balls in the halls of the MWC, but the fact that it exists is already progress. Counting layups and shots | Image: Xataka An ideal world. At the expense of testing the watch in a real match situation, a function that would make a lot of sense (even via AI) is to be able to cross-reference the heart rate with the shot you have made or with the duration of the points, as well as the number of shots. That would allow us to see at what level of intensity we start to make mistakes, what shots we make when we are tired (perhaps we abuse the shot or miss more layups). The higher the intensity, the more the technique is distorted, and that causes errors. That type of information, well interpreted, is valuable if you are looking to train and improve. Images | Xataka In Xataka | I have been playing paddle tennis for years and I think Playtomic is an absolutely brilliant invention

OPPO Watch X2 Mini, analysis

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Wear OS left behind the obligation to charge watches every day with the enormous step forward that the OnePlus Watch 2. I was able to analyze it and was surprised by its duality: dual processor and dual operating system. OnePlus has promoted this innovation, so has OPPO. The Watch X2 Mini that I have tested is a worthy heir. Very compact, loaded with features despite being contained, with five days of autonomy and good performance in the sports record. At least for a smartwatch that is not specifically geared toward workouts. With these credentials, I have to say that the OPPO Watch X2 Mini seems like a great recommendation to me. I explain step by step why. OPPO Watch X2 Mini technical sheet OPPO Watch X2 Mini SCREEN 1.32 inch round AMOLED panel 466 x 466 pixel resolution 352 PPI Brightness from 600 to 1000 nits 2.5D Crystal DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT 43.2 x 43.2 x 11mm 37.8 grams PROCESSOR Qualcomm Snapdragon W5+ BES2800BP RAM 2GB STORAGE 32GB BATTERY 354mAh 6.5W magnetic charging Autonomy from 2.5 to 7 days OPERATING SYSTEM Android 14 with ColorOS Watch 7.0 RTOS Compatible with Android 10 and iOS 14 CONNECTIVITY eSIM 5G and 2.4G WiFi NFC Bluetooth 5.2 OTHERS Resistance 5 ATM and IP68 Optical heart rate and blood oxygen sensor Compass Barometer Stainless steel case PRICE 299 euros OPPO Watch The price could vary. We earn commission from these links OPPO Watch X2 Mini, our experience Design: classic and with exaggerated frames. The watch is quite small for a large wrist like mine. Even so, it does not give a reduced experience, quite the contrary: OPPO has made an effort to maximize the X2 Mini in all aspects. From its excellent stainless steel case to the hardware that beats under the 1.32-inch round screen. The watch is mini, the front shows it. Even so, the frames are thick: around 5 mm. It includes two control buttons that are enough to control anything that is beyond touch. And the back side maintains the heart sensors and a POGO connector for charging. The alignment with the charger is magnetic and said charger has a USB-C port. This way the cable, which also comes in the box, is not damaged. The OPPO Watch X2 Mini seems like the perfect watch for those looking for a complete smartwatch without feeling like they are lifting weights every time they raise their arm. He’s small, but he’s tough. And with a detail: the strap pin is the standard 18 mm. Finding compatible straps is as simple as it is cheap. Blood oxygen saturation measurement The screen shines with its own light. OPPO mounts an OLED panel that is perfectly visible outdoors, even training in sunlight. The brightness is automatic and adapts without problems to the light conditions. It is compatible with Always On, with what that entails: battery life is reduced in that mode. The screen has smoothed edges so that the edges do not interfere with gestures. It is tactile and is protected with hardened glass: I did not scratch it during the weeks of testing (miracle). The watch includes a good number of watch faces, supports video watchfaces, and is compatible with the thousands of Wear OS on Google Play. It’s impossible to get bored. Two is much more than double. When I tested the OnePlus Watch 2 I marveled at the idea of ​​including a dual processor and dual operating system. After the evolution, the OPPO Watch For me it is the way to go in Wear OS. Smartwatch and activity bracelet chip; with software that maintains this duality: Wear OS when the watch uses apps and RTOS for the rest of the tasks. The result is an experience out of ten: the X2 Watch Mini 2 switches between the SoC and soft tandem without the user noticing anything. I have not seen it slow, the jump between sports activities is fast, the registrations are accurate, it has access to Google Play and there are no problems with NFC payments. OPPO has the recipe for the best smartwatch and knows how to cook it perfectly in the Watch X2 Mini. What do smartwatch manufacturers have against mountain biking? A good watch for amateur athletes. Although I play sports every day (or try to), I do not consider myself an athlete. Yes, I like to keep track of all the training sessions to see the evolution. I use a Garmin Epix 2 and it’s fantastic for me. Well: the OPPO Watch X2 Mini is not far behind. I have tested the watch running, walking, high intensity routines, strength training and mountain bike rides. The results have been good for a general purpose smartwatch: It supports more than 100 sports training modes. Too bad the mountain bike is not available (neither is the padel, sorry). Heart rate tracking is sufficiently accurate at low and medium heart rate. Above 150-160 I have seen a margin of error of up to 40 keystrokes. Everything compared to a chest strap connected to the Garmin. Above, OPPO Watch X2 Mini; Below, chest strap connected to Garmin. The OPPO does not register variations or very high heart rates as well. Same exercise: 6.08 km run Related to the previous point, the Watch X2 Mini follows pulse variations as long as they are not triggered by high-intensity interval exercise. In outdoor distance measurements, the positioning system remains at a very good level: the margin of error of the routes is around 50 meters per kilometer. Very quick positioning before the start of practice: less than ten seconds is usually enough. The track record has some saw teeth and may not follow the paths on the map 100% accurately. In terms of total distances, the overall result is decent. Left, Garmin GPS; right, Vivo GPS. About mountain biking practice The personal trainer is suitable for practice, the watch looks great outdoors and withstands harsh weather conditions. Also sweat. Recording height is also suitable: use the … Read more

in a 34 gram running watch

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The Huawei Watch GT Runner 2 arrives with two great arguments under its arm: It is the clock running in titanium, lightest in its categorywithout direct competition from Amazfit or Garmin in that material. And it debuts a completely redesigned GPS antenna architecture that promises 20% more precision compared to the GT6. With all this, Huawei aims directly at the high-end of the category, with models such as the Garmin Forerunner 970 or the Coros Pace 4. Technical data sheet of the Huawei Watch GT Runner 2 HUAWEI WATCH GT RUNNER 2 DIMENSIONS 43.5 × 43.5 × 10.7mm WEIGHT 43.5g (with strap) / 34.5g (without strap) SCREEN AMOLED, 3,000 nits GLASS Kunlun Glass 2nd generation CASING Aerospace grade titanium alloy BATTERY 540 mAh / up to 14 days normal use / 32 h outdoor training GPS Dual band, all systems (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, QZSS) HEART RATE Continuous, 99% accuracy vs. chest band HEALTH ECG, arrhythmia detection, continuous HRV (including sleep), SpO2 BELT AirDry Nylon + Fluoroelastomer (22mm standard) COMPATIBILITY iOS and Android APP Huawei Health (AppGallery, App Store, Galaxy Store) PAYMENTS Independent NFC PRICE 399 euros Titanium where no one else uses it The decision to build the case in aerospace grade titanium alloy has a clear logic in the watch segment. running pure: neither the Garmin Forerunner 970 nor the Coros Pace 4, the rivals it targets, offer titanium at this weight level. Garmin does use titanium in its Fenix ​​range, but they are larger, thicker and heavier watches, aimed at multisport adventure. The result is a weight of just 34.5 grams without the strap, which with the included nylon strap rises to 43.5 grams, compared to the 56 g of the Forerunner 970 or the 50 g of the Coros Pace 4 with their respective straps. To maintain that weight without sacrificing durability, Huawei has replaced the sapphire glass of previous generations with its own Kunlun Glass second generation. It’s a trade-off that not everyone will like, although the 3,000-nit AMOLED screen more than makes up for it in outdoor visibility. Image: Xataka. The 44mm case and 10.7mm thickness, 2.2mm thinner than the Forerunner 970, are deliberately unisex decisions: this watch can be a little small for some and a little big for othersand it is a risk he takes to try to get closer to a middle point. Standard 22mm interchangeable straps allow compatibility with virtually any accessory on the market. The nylon strap incorporates AirDry technology, with more holes to improve breathability by 25% and accelerate drying. Sweat and shower are not usually friends of this type of straps and Huawei believes that with this jump it will be somewhat more bearable. The big leap: a GPS antenna that comes out of the motherboard The most ambitious technical change in the GT Runner 2 is in the GPS. Huawei has removed the antenna from the motherboard and created a 3D floating antenna on the outside of the watch, with a dielectric bezel under the titanium bezel acting as a signal polarizing element. The system, which they call sunflowermaintains a simultaneous connection with two GPS signals. Image: Xataka. Image: Xataka. The real-life result is a 20% improvement in accuracy over the GT6, with coverage even in tunnels, and a 10% improvement in distance and pace data. The comparative graphs against the Forerunner 970 (Huawei has become obsessed with it in its comparisons) in dense urban environments, the worst possible scenario for any GPS, show a trajectory noticeably more faithful to the real route. Health and metrics: this is for very methodical runners Heart rate monitoring reaches, according to Huawei, 99% accuracy compared to chest bands in training, a figure that they themselves support with internal tests on a sample of more than 42 people. The watch includes 5-second ECG, arrhythmia detection, and continuous heart rate variability, even during sleep. There are two new metrics that deserve special attention: The first is the racing powerwhich combines terrain resistance via GPS, air resistance estimated through the weather app and resistance by inclination. It is an estimate, not a direct measurement, and should be taken into account. The second is the real-time lactate threshold detection using an algorithm developed with the Beijing Sports University. This is a metric that in real time normally requires laboratory blood analysis. AI training and marathon mode The GT Runner 2 relies heavily on personalized training plans generated by AI, which dynamically adjust based on the results of each session, sleep status and stress. If one day you train more or less than planned, the app automatically reorganizes the entire planning. Image: Xataka. The so-called marathon mode (although the distance is configurable to any race) allows you to record a specific event, such as the Barcelona Marathon, and The app generates a week-by-week plan with days of running, strength and legs, synchronizable directly with the mobile calendar. During the race, the watch acts as a coach on the wrist with mileage pace guidance and refueling strategy. Good detail that we will try later. Something unique is the integration with Kotcha, the AI ​​training app used by Eliud Kipchoge’s team. Also compatible with Intervals.icu, Strava, Komoot and import of GPX routes. Price and availability of the Huawei Watch GT Runner 2 Each box includes two straps, AirDry nylon and fluoroelastomer. All colors are unisex. The price in Spain is 399 euros, although there are some stores that are already selling it for 379 euros. HUAWEI Watch GT Runner 2 Black Featured image | Xataka In Xataka | Huawei Mate X7, analysis: a powerful camera for a foldable that doesn’t need Google for (almost) anything

The new HUAWEI WATCH GT Runner 2 is now on sale and it does so with a launch promo: it comes with a discount and gifts

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HUAWEI continues to strengthen (a lot) its line of watches. We already loved his last WATCH GT 6but now it brings something different. This is the HUAWEI WATCH GT Runner 2, a lightweight device that is ideal for those who like running, although all without giving up being a complete smartwatch. And be careful, because brings a launch promo that is very worthwhile. Designed for running, but also for everyday life This new HUAWEI watch is, as we said above, very light. It has a titanium case and, with the strap, it weighs less than 45 grams. This will allow you to feel like you don’t have a thing on your wrist all day long, and that’s not to mention that you won’t suffer from annoying bounces when running. But, despite being compact and light, it has plenty of battery: offers up to 7 days of normal use which we can stretch to 14 days in its low consumption mode. Its use is very oriented to all those people who like to go running. Whether you are looking to improve or are already thinking about doing a marathon, with the WATCH GT Runner 2 you will have metrics that are not usually present in most watchessuch as ground contact time or the running ability index (RAI), a parameter that will help you evaluate each race and is based on pace and heart rate. More things to highlight. It has a new 3D floating antenna with a signal that is 3.5 times more powerful than the previous generation. What does that mean? That the watch will track each of your races much more accurately, without interruptions in areas with poor signal that can ruin the measurement of your times. All added to a ‘Smart Marathon Mode’, which allows you to both prepare for one of these events and manage your effort and recovery during it. But we must be clear about one thing: is a very complete smartwatch. Beyond the fact that it is compatible with both iOS and Android, it should be noted that it has an integrated ECG (so you can monitor your heart), microphone and is compatible with sensors from other manufacturers such as chest straps or pedometers. You have it cheaper, with two extra straps and more We always say that when it comes to a new device, it is better to wait. However, there are launch promos like the one for this HUAWEI WATCH GT Runner 2 that make it worth jumping into it at the start. The price of the device is 399 euros, but if we use the code ‘ARN2XA‘, we can take advantage of a direct discount of 50 euros. Therefore, It remains at 349 euros in the HUAWEI Store. But that’s not the only thing that makes it worth it. In addition to the discount, We will also take two extra straps. This is ideal for two things: it allows you to change the design of your watch so you don’t get bored and it allows you to have spare parts. Along with these, we will also get what HUAWEI calls MultiPass, a package valued at 116 euros and that includes several benefits such as 90 days of HUAWEI Health+ or Komoot, among other things. {“videoId”:”x9zwr94″,”autoplay”:true,”title”:”The pendrive is not dead: 7 ways to give it a second life”, “tag”:”Webedia-prod”, “duration”:”856″} What if you also want headphones? Then one of the two packs that are available may suit you better. The first of them, called ‘Sports Pack‘, includes, in addition to this new watch, the two extra straps and the MultiPass, some HUAWEI FreeArc. This pack would have a value of 587 euros, although it is now reduced to 449 euros. With the code ‘ARN2XA’, its price remains at 449 euros. In Xataka Smart Home New at Lidl (starting next February 23): a power strip for the garden or terrace for less than 10 euros 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 | HUAWEI In Xataka | The best smartwatches: their analyzes and videos are here In Xataka | Best smartwatch in quality price. Which one to buy and 10 recommended smart watches (function() { window._JS_MODULES = window._JS_MODULES || {}; var headElement = document.getElementsByTagName(‘head’)(0); if (_JS_MODULES.instagram) { var instagramScript = document.createElement(‘script’); instagramScript.src=”https://platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js”; instagramScript.async = true; instagramScript.defer = true; headElement.appendChild(instagramScript); – The news The new HUAWEI WATCH GT Runner 2 is now on sale and it does so with a launch promo: it comes with a discount and gifts was originally published in Xataka by Juan Lorente .

We send you a free VPN so you can watch football for free. Sincerely, the US Department of State

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The US State Department has announced one of the most unusual moves in recent digital diplomacy: the launch of freedom.gov, a portal designed to help citizens in Europe and other regions circumvent content restrictions imposed by their own governments. Among many other implications, this would allow LaLiga’s indiscriminate IP blocking to be avoided, which would make freedom.gov a great way to watch football for free via IPTV. What irony. what has happened. The Trump administration, under the direction of Undersecretary of Public Diplomacy Sarah Rogers, has announced this project that would offer VPN-type tools to route traffic through US servers. According to Reuterswhich cites three sources familiar with the plan, the launch was scheduled for the Munich Security Conference, but was delayed for reasons that the State Department has not clarified, although some of Rogers’ team’s own lawyers are known to have expressed internal reservations. Europe censored, and rightly so. The DSA The initiative is a frontal attack on the most recent European digital regulations, and especially the Digital Services Act (DSA). In the EU, large technology platforms face million-dollar fines if they do not quickly eliminate hate speech, disinformation or terrorist propaganda. For exampleX (formerly Twitter) received a fine of 120 million euros last December for non-compliance with the DSA. This protection of this type of speech was also clearly reflected in the efforts that Germany made in 2024: nearly 500 removal orders of content related to terrorism, which ended up resulting in more than 16,000 deleted contents. The freedom of expression argument. From the perspective of Washington—or more specifically, the Trump administration—these laws are a cover to silence conservative voices. Freedom.gov is like a shield under the umbrella of freedom of speech. One that would allow any citizen to access content blocked in their country. The domain, which was apparently registered on January 12, currently only displays the National Design Studio logo, the words “fly, eagle, fly” and a login form. The promise at the moment is that said platform will not track the activity of its users. The networks breathe fire. The comments on social networks have been numerous. Reception of the news mixes disbelief with sarcasm and the indignation. In Bluesky and Maston the most repeated criticism is that of double standards: the US trimmed funding the Tor project while at the same time building a portal for European citizens to access prohibited content. Renee DiResta, journalist for The Atlantic, summed it up well with the question: “Is the State Department going to set up a Nazi website?” Other comments opt for humor and compare this initiative with the 4chan platform (“4chan.gov”, they said some), known for its controversial lack of censorship. Transatlantic tension. Brussels maintains that its regulations protect European democracies from extremist propaganda, a strong argument considering that the continent experienced totalitarianism firsthand. That an ally like the United States actively encourages disobedience to local laws and invites Europeans to bypass blockades is disturbing. The paradox is notable: the same country that for years warned of foreign interference in its internal processes is now studying offering tools precisely to do the same in Europe and other regions. This affects Tebas and LaLiga. The measure could have a curious side effect and become the worst nightmare for Javier Tebas and LaLiga. Tebas, president of that organization, has for years led the most aggressive legal crusade in Europe against illegal streaming football broadcasts. He has been pressuring operators for years to indiscriminately block IPs corresponding to IPTV services. The effectiveness of these measures depends on a fundamental assumption: that users do not have easy, free and reliable access to a VPN. Thebes knows this, and in fact These days he has attacked two suppliers of this type of services alleging that new court orders force them to also block said IPs. Freedom.gov threatens precisely that scenario. If the portal ends up functioning as a secure tunnel to American servers, any fan of soccer broadcasts in Spain would have a couple of clicks away with a perfect tool to mask their IP, avoid their operator and transparently access the illegal IPTV channels that LaLiga was blocking with its legal efforts. Therefore, there would be no need to pay a subscription to NordVPN or its rivals or configure anything: just enter the freedom.gov domain. LaLiga Indian in November 2024 that in Spain “live sports content is pirated more than 25% above the European average”, which amplifies this potential impact. The irony is extraordinary. A foreign policy maneuver designed to promote the Trump Administration’s peculiar vision of freedom of expression could turn the Washington government into the ideal solution for “free football” in our country. Image | Chris Robert | Peter Glaser In Xataka | Football has become the anchor of operator subscriptions. And LaLiga is making more money than ever

which artists participate, schedule and how to watch the online music contest

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Let’s explain to you when and how to watch the final of Benidorm Fest 2026the RTVE musical competition. This is the contest from which in recent years the song that would go to Eurovision has emerged, but which continues despite the fact that Spain has withdrawn from the European event. Let’s start by telling you which artists with which songs will participate in the final of the Benidorm Fest in 2026. Then, we will remind you of the date and time of the final, because the schedule is different from that of the semifinals. And we’ll finish by telling you how you can watch the show. Benidorm Fest 2026 finalists Below we leave you the list of finalists of this musical contest. In it, we will tell you first the artist and then the song with which they perform. And then, with the votes of the public and jury, the winner will emerge from among them. Tony Grox & LUCYCALYS with I WILL LOVE They raise moons with What are you going to do? KITAI with Love makes you afraid Mikel Herzog Jr. with My Half Kenneth with The eyes don’t lie María León ft. Julia Medina with Ladies and the Tramp Miranda! & dance momma with I wake up loving you MAY with touch me Rosalinda Galan with Mataora Dani J with Dancing you The Quinquis with You Don’t Love Me ASHA with Tourist Date and time of the Benidorm Fest 2025 final The final of Benidorm Fest 2026 will be today, Saturday February 14 2026. The final will begin at 22:00ten at night, in pure prime time. It is important to remember this, because the semifinals were almost an hour later. By 1 in the morning the winner will be known, since that will be when the press conference will be held. How to watch the final of Benidorm Fest 2025 The final of Benidorm Fest 2026 will be broadcast live on Spanish Television La1. This means that you will be able to watch the contest openly and for free from any television with access to DTT. You can also see it online from the RTVE Play website or mobile applicationin rtve.es/play. But if you prefer, you can also see it with the official RTVE Play app on Google Play for Android, and in the App Store for iOS. This will allow you to watch it on mobile phones, tablets and devices with Android TV or Apple TV. There are also official applications for Smart TVs from the main manufacturers. And as an alternative, you can also use applications that allow you watch DTT live online on any device, such as TiViFy, DTT Channels and other similar alternatives. In Xataka Basics | Free TV and DTT channels for your TV: guide with 26 services and apps with hundreds of channels without having to pay

Dates, time and how to watch the semifinals of the Spanish music festival online

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Let’s tell you when and how you can watch the semi-finals of Benidorm Fest 2026, the popular annual music competition. Until now, this contest was used to decide who would go to Eurovision, but even though they will not attend in 2026, the contest continues, and this week the semifinals are held. In each of these two semi-finals, after the performance of the artists, the vote of the public and the jury of experts will arrive, and with the sum of all The artists who go to the final will be decided. Each semi-final is on a different day, and we are going to explain how you can watch them. Dates and times of the Benidorm Fest semi-finals There are two semi-finals of the Benidorm Fest 2026, and they will be held on February 10 and 12. Therefore, as usual, the first will be on Tuesday and the second on Thursday of this week. Then, The final will be on Saturday February 14. Each of the programs will be held at the Palau d’Esports l’Illa in Benidorm. The two semi-finals They will start at 11:00 p.m.right after the program “The Revolt”and will last until 1:20. On both days, the contest will begin at the same time. In each of the semi-finals there will be a group of eight aspiring artists who will perform their songs for the first time. These are the participants of the first semi-final: KITAI – Love scares you María León ft. Julia Medina – Ladies and the Tramp Luna Ki – Love Bomb Greg Taro – Velita Izan Llunas – What are you going to do? Dora & Marlon Collins – Rakata Tony Grox & LUCYCALYS – T AMARÉT AMARÉ Mikel Herzog Jr. – My half Kenneth – Eyes don’t lie These are the participants of the second semi-final: ASHA – Tourist KU Minerva – I will not cry again Tightrope walker – SOBRAN GILIPO**AS Dani J – Dancing you The Quinquis – You don’t love me Atyat – Dopamine Rosalinda Galán – Mataora MAY – Touch me Miranda! & bailamamá – I wake up loving you How to watch the Benidorm Fest semi-finals The semi-finals of this new edition of the Benidorm Fest will be broadcast by Spanish Television La1. This means that you will be able to watch it for free on any television where you have this channel, whether it is DTT or streaming services with access to television channels. You will also be able to watch the semifinals through the Internet, specifically through the the RTVE Play website or mobile applicationwhich is available in rtve.es/play. There, at the time the broadcast begins, you will have the option to watch the semifinals live. Another option available is to see them from apps for smart devices. You can do this with the official RTVE Play app on Google Play for Android, and in the App Store for iOS. These applications are also available on all Android and iOS-based platforms, including devices with Android TV or Apple TVs. There are also official applications for Smart TVs from the main manufacturers. And as an alternative, you can also use applications that allow you watch DTT live online on any device, such as TiViFy, DTT Channels and other similar alternatives. In Xataka Basics | Free TV and DTT channels for your TV: guide with 26 services and apps with hundreds of channels without having to pay

13 premiere movies and series to watch in February 2026 on Netflix, Prime Video, HBO Max and streaming

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Christmas is definitely behind us and the platforms greet 2026 with a few powerful premieres, some expected returns and a resurgence of the platform fight. Choose your favorite, because we bring you the juiciest news of February in terms of streaming. The queen of chess If you think that ‘Queen’s Gambit‘ is among the best things Netflix has ever produced, check out this documentary that tells the true story of the legendary Hungarian chess player Judit Polgár. Overcoming the sexism of a space controlled by men, she challenged champions like Garry Kasparov to become a champion of the sport with a career that began when she was only 12 years old, as the result of her parents’ experiment to raise geniuses. On Netflix February 6 Samuel After a triumphant stint on RTVE, this acclaimed Franco-Spanish series comes to Netflix, consisting of a single season of 21 four-minute episodes. An endearing and sometimes somewhat crude vision of the transition from childhood to adolescence through Samuel’s personal diary, which narrates his concerns, fears, goals and feelings, including everything from unrequited love to experiences such as the death of a friend’s grandmother. The minimalist visual style has a spontaneous touch that tends towards graphic experimentation, and gives rise to a little gem that adds to the best of Netflix’s animation section. On Netflix February 5 Stargate SG1 By surprise and in anticipation of the new series that Prime Video will produce, this modern classic of television science fiction arrives on Netflix. Although the platform has not specified what we can expect from this recovery, we trust that we will have at our disposal the ten seasons of which it consisted, no less than 214 episodes in total. A year after Roland Emmerich’s 1994 film tells the story, it starts with the idea that Ra was not the only alien who used stargates to transport human slaves to multiple planets. Let’s hope things go well for Netflix and we can enjoy successive spin-offs like ‘Atlantis’, ‘Universe’ and even the two direct-to-DVD movies. On Netflix February 15 The deception The Russo brothers are behind the production of this film that recovers the trope of the expert assassin retired and far from the madding crowd, but in a pirate key: Ercell “Bloody Mary” Bodden thought she had escaped her violent past, finding peace in the Cayman Islands with her husband, her son and her sister-in-law. But when her infamous ex-captain arrives seeking revenge, her world falls apart and she is forced back into action. The cast is headed by Priyanka Chopra, whom the Russos already showed us in ‘Citadel‘ and the always reliable Karl Urban. On Prime Video on February 25 Ponies Emilia Clarke and Haley Lu Richardson star in this spy comedy that promises excitement and entanglement with airs vintage thanks to its setting in the late seventies. In Moscow, two ponies (“people of no interest”) work as secretaries at the United States embassy until their husbands are murdered under mysterious circumstances. That’s when they become CIA agents. One of them is the daughter of Soviet immigrants, speaks Russian and is overqualified. His companion, the complete opposite: a somewhat reckless village girl. Together, they try to uncover a great conspiracy in the middle of the Cold War. Now available on SkyShowtime Neighbors The trendy indie production company in Hollywood, A24, is behind this documentary series that sometimes seems like a sitcom and sometimes like a demented thriller: it examines stories of absurd, scandalous and dramatic residential conflicts, starring a fauna of extravagant characters spread across the United States. Each episode features a group of neighbors in conflict, with protests ranging from property lines to the use of pets or the appearance with which they go out on the street. Surviving Paradise: Beyond Jehovah’s Witnesses For a long time, Jehovah’s Witnesses have been part of the friendlier landscape of Spanish religion. But hidden behind absolute secrecy was what many former members of the organization describe as a much more disturbing reality. This documentary goes into the annulment methods typical of a sect that many former members claim are practiced in secret: three episodes that talk about the passage of these former Witnesses through the group, their abandonment of it and the subsequent organization until reaching the trials in 2022. Rafaela and her crazy world This new series from the Chanante universe, created by Aníbal Gómez and based on his own book ‘The amazing world of Rafaella Mozarella’, promises to be absolutely insane. It is directed by Ernesto Sevilla and on board are many of the usual suspects: Aníbal himself, Ingrid García-Jonsson, Carlos Areces, Joaquín Reyes and Arturo Valls. Surreal and hooligan, it will tell us the life of a teenager who lives immersed in a dysfunctional family accompanied by three friends and a poodle. At Atresplayer on February 15 The Muppet Show (2026) Let’s get rid of comebacks that don’t interest anyone. This is the most anticipated reboot in television history since ‘DuckTales’ returned: all the classic characters in a legendary program with, how could it be otherwise, a special guest. In this case, Sabrina Carpenter with the help of the great comedian Maya Rudolph. Produces a certified Muppet fan, Seth Rogen, on a roll since he made ‘The Studio’. If this turns out half as well, we have Muppets for a while. On Disney+ on February 4 In an instant (In the Blink of an Eye) He directed two of Pixar’s best films, ‘WALL-E’ and ‘Finding Nemo’, and the industry fell on him when he signed a box office disaster that almost took down Disney, the highly underrated ‘John Carter’. It seems that Hollywood has forgiven him, and Andrew Stanton returns with a film that exhibits declared influences from ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’, ‘Magnolia’ and ‘Interstellar’. The film features three interconnected stories spanning thousands of years exploring the entire history of the world, and was presented at Sundance, where it won the prestigious Alfred P. Sloan Award (awarded for the best representation of science, … Read more

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

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