MIIT interprets the consumer goods supply–demand alignment policy
Samsung announces major technical breakthrough in the NAND field
Rumors you can just take a glance at
Thermaltake unveils the TPM-O49CDQ monitor
On November 27, Thermaltake officially announced the TPM-O49CDQ, a 32:9 ultra-wide curved OLED monitor. The model uses Samsung Display’s QD-OLED technology and features an RGB light strip on the back. It comes in a 49-inch size with a resolution of 5120 × 1440, a 240 Hz refresh rate, 0.03 ms GtG response time, 250 nits brightness, 99% DCI-P3 color coverage, and supports both G-SYNC Compatible and FreeSync Premium.
In terms of connectivity, the TPM-O49CDQ includes two HDMI 2.1 ports, one DisplayPort 1.4, one full-function USB-C port with 90 W PD-out, one USB upstream port, two USB downstream ports, and a 3.5 mm audio output jack. The model is listed at NT$36,900 on the official website. Source
Alibaba releases two smart glasses
On November 27, Alibaba officially launched two series of smart glasses: the Quark AI Glasses S1 and the Quark AI Glasses G1.
The Quark AI Glasses S1 feature a lightweight design, with temple arms as thin as 7.5 mm and a frame as thin as 3.3 mm. Combined with a titanium alloy structure and a 1:1 front-back weight balance, Alibaba claims the design better suits the wearing habits of Asian users. The S1 uses a waveguide dual-engine optical module with peak brightness up to 4000 nits and supports adjustable image convergence distance. For performance, the S1 is equipped with a Qualcomm AR1 + BES BES2800 dual-chip setup, 3GB + 32GB storage, and a 287mAh swappable battery—allowing what Alibaba calls a “power-swap without shutdown” continuous-use experience.
For imaging, the S1 includes a 12MP Sony IMX681 sensor, supporting 3K first-person video output, rapid snapshots, and advanced night mode, and it also enables first-person livestreaming. For audio, it uses custom speakers with spatial audio support, while the microphone system combines five microphones with a bone-conduction mic to improve voice capture in noisy environments.
On the software side, the S1 runs a custom UI with features such as object recognition, translation, reminders, photographic logging, secure payment, and near-eye navigation. It also integrates “Quark Assistant,” an AI assistant powered by Alibaba’s Qwen model, enabling conversational voice commands and task execution. Source
The Quark AI Glasses G1 come in three frame styles: Wellington, Fashion Browline, and Sunglasses. Compared to the S1, the G1 does not include a display or a waveguide near-eye module, and its memory is reduced to 2GB + 32GB, though many AI features remain intact. The device weighs around 40 g and uses the same Qualcomm AR1 + BES BES2800 dual-chip combination, with a built-in 272mAh battery rated for 9 hours of mixed-use battery life. Imaging and audio specifications are largely the same as those of the S1. Source
MIIT interprets the consumer goods supply–demand alignment policy
At a press conference held by the State Council Information Office, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) provided a detailed interpretation of policy measures aimed at enhancing the alignment between consumer goods supply and demand and promoting consumption.
The ministry noted that China’s consumer market is shifting from rapid expansion toward structural optimization. The increasingly diverse needs of consumers across different ages and regions are placing higher demands on the supply side. According to the latest implementation plan, safety standards for infant and student products will be raised; integration of toys, stationery, and smart technologies will be promoted; enterprises will be encouraged to develop AI toys with open interactive capabilities; and efforts will be made to strengthen R&D of new eco-friendly materials and improve strict quality-control systems.
To better meet the needs of the elderly, the policy focuses on practical challenges such as limited mobility and home care. It will support R&D of eldercare service robots, senior-friendly footwear and apparel, and easy-to-swallow foods, while continuing to advance the age-friendly adaptation of smart devices. Meanwhile, MIIT is working to establish a standard system for elderly-care products and introduce a “Silver Age” certification to increase consumer confidence.
For younger consumers, MIIT stated it will support the development of culturally rich and fashion-forward products such as Guochao apparel, designer collaborations, and IP-based cultural merchandise. The policy also encourages emerging consumption models such as personalization and custom-made products to better meet individualized and diversified needs. Source
Samsung announces major technical breakthrough in the NAND field
Samsung has announced a significant breakthrough in the field of NAND flash memory, with its research team successfully developing an entirely new storage architecture that dramatically reduces power consumption—by up to 96% compared with conventional designs.
According to the company, the technology was developed under the leadership of the Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology (SAIT). Its core innovation lies in the first-ever combined application of ferroelectric materials and oxide semiconductors within a NAND structure. Ferroelectric materials retain polarization without continuous power supply, while oxide semiconductors traditionally suffer from unstable threshold voltages. Through architectural innovation, the team achieved “weakness compensation” between the two materials, effectively addressing the surge in energy use that typically accompanies higher storage density. The findings have been published in the prestigious journal Nature.
Samsung noted that this new architecture validates the feasibility of ultra-low-power NAND flash, offering a promising technology pathway for AI data centers, mobile devices, and high performance storage solutions. It is expected to significantly reduce energy demands in future large-scale data-processing scenarios. Source
Rumors you can just take a glance at
Android Authority reports that an analysis of One UI 8.5 system code has surfaced a string referencing “Super Fast Charging 3.0,” further suggesting that the Galaxy S26 Ultra may support 60W fast charging. Samsung currently uses a two-tier charging system—for example, in the Galaxy S25 series, the standard model supports 25W charging under the name “Super Fast Charging,” while the Plus and Ultra models support 45W charging under the “Super Fast Charging 2.0” label. The newly discovered “Super Fast Charging 3.0” implies an even higher charging speed. Combined with earlier leaks, it is highly likely that this is Samsung’s upcoming official marketing term for 60W fast charging. Source
Qualcomm Unveils the Fifth-Generation Snapdragon 8 Mobile Platform
On November 26, Qualcomm officially launched the fifth-generation Snapdragon 8 mobile platform, positioned as a flagship SoC with major advancements in CPU, GPU, NPU, imaging, and AI performance. The platform features the Qualcomm Oryon CPU with a peak clock speed of 3.8 GHz, delivering a 36% performance increase and 42% power reduction compared with the previous generation. Overall SoC power efficiency has also been improved, with total power consumption reduced by 13%.
On the GPU side, the new Adreno GPU adopts a fresh architecture, offering 11% higher performance and 28% lower power consumption. It supports Adreno Game Ready drivers, Auto VRS (Adaptive Variable Resolution Rendering), Mesh Shading, and Qualcomm FPS 3.0, enabling mobile gaming experiences of up to 165 fps. The NPU, built on Qualcomm’s latest Hexagon design, delivers a 46% boost in AI compute performance.
The imaging system uses a 20-bit AI-powered triple ISP, supporting context-aware 3A algorithms, Night Vision 3.0, and integrates Snapdragon Audio Sense for enhanced imaging and audio processing capabilities.
In AI and connectivity, the fifth-generation Snapdragon 8 includes an on-device agent-class AI assistant, multimodal AI activation, and an advanced sensor hub, with support for running mainstream generative AI models. Connectivity features include the Snapdragon X80 5G modem-RF system, FastConnect 7900 mobile connectivity platform, Bluetooth 6.0, and UWB, enabling more stable and higher-speed wireless performance.
Product Core Performance Chart, Image Courtesy of Qualcomm
Panasonic Rolls Out Major Firmware Updates for S1 II, S1 IIE, and S1R II Cameras
On November 26, Panasonic announced new firmware updates for its full-frame mirrorless cameras: the S1 II, S1 IIE, and S1R II. The S1 II and S1 IIE have been updated to version 1.2, while the S1R II has been updated to version 1.3. This update focuses heavily on improving video recording performance, alongside enhancements to autofocus, menu logic, ISO control, and more. The companion app, LUMIX Flow, has also been updated to version 1.4.
The firmware significantly improves continuous video recording stability across varying temperature environments, thanks to optimized thermal management algorithms. In burst shooting, the S1 II now adds a 30fps low-speed burst option in image-priority mode, while the S1R II gains a 20fps low-speed burst. Both models now support pre-burst shooting.
This update significantly extends the continuous recording time for videos. Image courtesy of Panasonic.
This update substantially extends continuous video recording time. Image: Panasonic Autofocus logic has also been enhanced. When multiple subjects appear in the frame, the camera will now display only the primary subject detection frame. A new rectangular AF frame mode based on eye detection has also been added.
For video workflows, the cameras now support a new low-bitrate MP4 (Lite) format, offering 3:2 4K Open Gate recording at 50 Mbps. This reduces file sizes by 41% and increases transfer speeds by 1.7×, making it more suitable for quick mobile transfers and lightweight post-production. ISO control has also been improved: users can now adjust the “ISO Auto” option directly from the custom menu, and dual native ISO ranges are now displayed in real time, making it easier to determine whether the camera is operating in high or low native ISO mode.
Additionally, the updated LUMIX Flow app adds a LUT preview assist feature that syncs with the camera menu to display V-Log LUTs. A multi-frame marker display has also been introduced, allowing the app to show multiple frames exported from the camera when the same scene is captured. Source
Perplexity Launches Virtual Try-On Feature
On November 27, AI search service Perplexity announced the launch of its new virtual try-on feature. When users search for clothing items, they can now tap the newly added “Try it on” button and upload their own photo. Perplexity will then generate a synthesized try-on effect using its large AI models. The feature is currently available exclusively to Pro and Max subscribers and is already live. Source
State Council Releases Plan to Further Boost Consumption Upgrading
The State Council recently released the Implementation Plan on Enhancing the Supply–Demand Alignment of Consumer Goods to Further Promote Consumption, outlining goals to develop three trillion-yuan-level consumption sectors and ten hundred-billion-yuan-level consumer hotspots by 2027. By 2030, the plan aims to establish a high-quality development framework in which supply and consumption interact positively, enabling better supply to unlock consumption potential.
The plan highlights accelerating the application of new technologies and new business models, including creating first-use scenarios for new products in sectors such as intelligent connected new energy vehicles, smart home appliances, consumer electronics, and modern textiles. It also promotes flexible, customized, and highly responsive manufacturing models. The document further proposes connecting consumer big data with production systems, encouraging user participation in product design, and improving responsiveness to niche demands.
The plan pushes for deep integration of artificial intelligence into the consumer goods industry, encouraging the development of various AI-enabled devices including household service robots, smart appliances, smartphones, computers, toys, eyewear, and brain–computer interface devices. It also supports the establishment of smart home experience centers, elderly-care product experience centers, and customized clothing experience centers across regions to expand multi-scenario service offerings. Additionally, the plan calls for enriching product supply in key sectors such as sports, health, culture and tourism, baby and child care, and elderly-friendly products, while promoting green product innovation and improving the quality of rural consumer goods.
The document also lays out measures to cultivate diverse consumption scenarios, including hosting product launch events, developing livestream e-commerce and instant retail, expanding low-altitude consumption and automotive aftermarket services such as vehicle customization, and improving standards for shared consumption. The plan emphasizes supporting measures in finance, branding, and consumer goods safety regulation, calling for stronger interdepartmental coordination. Local governments are urged to implement the plan according to regional conditions, guide enterprises to improve product quality and integrity, and further unlock consumption potential. Source
“Zootopia 2” Becomes the Highest-Grossing Imported Animated Film on Opening Day
On November 26, according to data from Maoyan Pro, Disney’s animated film Zootopia 2 earned over 213 million RMB on its opening day, becoming the highest-grossing imported animated film on a single day in the history of mainland China. Its debut performance surpassed titles such as The Boy and the Heron and Frozen 2, and far exceeded the first Zootopia film’s highest single-day box office in 2016 (166 million RMB).
As a sequel released nearly a decade after the original, Zootopia 2 continues the anthropomorphic world-building and comedic adventure style, created by the original core team led by Byron Howard. The film has received strong audience ratings and significant market attention. According to Maoyan Pro’s forecast, the total box office of Zootopia 2 is expected to exceed 2.6 billion RMB, very likely to surpass the first film’s record and become one of the highest-grossing imported animated films in China’s box office history. Source
Kodak Launches the Snapic A1 Film Point-and-Shoot Camera
Google Assistant to Shut Down in 2026
Adobe Photoshop Releases Chrome Extension
Anthropic Announces Claude Opus 4.5 Model
Casual Rumors to Glance At
Huawei Releases Multiple New Products
On November 25, Huawei released multiple new devices, including the Mate 80 series, Mate X7, and MatePad Edge.
The Huawei Mate 80 series comes in three versions—Mate 80, Mate 80 Pro, and Mate 80 Pro Max. All models feature the “Second-Generation Maple Imaging System,” though camera configurations differ across models. The entire lineup supports Tiantong satellite communication, two-way BeiDou satellite messaging, and debuts 700MHz off-grid emergency communication, enabling up to 13 km connectivity in scenarios with no signal or base station failures due to natural disasters. All models also include a 3D TOF sensor supporting 3D facial recognition, and offer IP69 protection against high-temperature, high-pressure water jets, as well as 6-meter IP68 dust and water resistance.
In terms of build, the standard Mate 80 uses a matte aluminum alloy frame; the Pro uses a glossy aluminum alloy frame; and the Pro Max features a full-metal design. The Mate 80 and Mate 80 Pro both feature a 6.75-inch OLED display at 2832×1280 resolution with 1–120Hz adaptive refresh rate, 1440Hz high-frequency PWM dimming, and 300Hz touch sampling, protected by second-gen Kunlun Glass. The Pro Max upgrades to a 6.9-inch dual-layer OLED “Linglong Display” with a peak brightness of 8000 nits at 1% APL. Battery capacities are 5750mAh for the Mate 80 and Mate 80 Pro, and 6000mAh for the Pro Max. Pricing starts at RMB 4,699 for the standard Mate 80, RMB 5,999 for the Pro, and RMB 7,999 for the Pro Max.
The Mate 80 series also offers an RS Extraordinary Master Edition, which continues the line’s signature “Legendary Star Diamond” design language and comes in Violet, Black, and White colorways. It features a dual-layer OLED panel, imaging hardware comparable to the Pro Max, dual physical SIMs, dual eSIMs, and 20GB of RAM. Pricing starts at RMB 11,999 for the 20GB+512GB version and RMB 12,999 for the 20GB+1TB version.
The Huawei WATCH ULTIMATE DESIGN introduces a new “Purple Gold” variant featuring a dodecagonal purple ceramic bezel, composite rare-earth purple ceramic, ten 18K gold bars, 24K gold numerals, and a 24K gold-plated bracelet. It supports StarLight car keys, eSIM standalone calling, BeiDou satellite messaging and voice messaging, HarmonyOS wrist-based AI assistant, and includes advanced modes such as outdoor expedition, golf, and 100-meter diving. It is priced at RMB 24,999. The MateBook Fold Extraordinary Master Edition adds a new “Auspicious Red” color option, featuring a large dual-layer OLED display—13 inches folded and 18 inches unfolded—with 1600-nit peak brightness and 3.3K resolution. The 32GB+2TB model is priced at RMB 26,999.
The new foldable Mate X7 is available in Obsidian Black, Cloud Blue, Cloud White, Universe Red, and Phantom Purple, weighs 235g, and measures 4.5mm unfolded and 9.5mm folded. It sports a 6.49-inch external display with 3000-nit peak brightness, 1–120Hz adaptive refresh rate, and 1080p resolution, alongside an 8-inch internal LTPO display at 2416×2210 resolution and 2500-nit peak brightness. The standard model uses second-gen Kunlun Glass, while the Collector’s Edition uses second-gen Xuanwu Hardened Kunlun Glass. It supports IP58/IP59 water and dust resistance, includes a 5600mAh battery with 66W wired and 50W wireless charging, off-grid emergency communication, and a 10-day extreme outdoor mode. The standard version supports BeiDou satellite messaging; the Collector’s Edition supports both Tiantong satellite calls and BeiDou messaging. It features the second-generation Maple Imaging System with a 50MP variable-aperture main camera, a 3.5× optical periscope telephoto lens, and a 40MP ultra-wide lens. Pricing starts at RMB 12,999 for the standard 12GB+256GB version.
Huawei also introduced its first 2-in-1 tablet, the Huawei MatePad Edge. It features a 14.2-inch display at 3.1K resolution, 1000 nits peak brightness, and 120Hz refresh rate. The system switches between tablet and desktop modes with shared data and unified file management. It includes an integrated aluminum alloy stand with a distributed hinge, available in Gray and Silver. It supports a floating keyboard with a built-in charging port and hidden pen slot. The MatePad Edge comes in six configurations starting at RMB 5,999 (16GB+256GB).
Huawei additionally announced new color options for the MateBook Pro and the Huawei WATCH Ultimate 2. Source
Kodak Launches the Snapic A1 Film Point-and-Shoot Camera
Kodak has officially launched the Snapic A1, a film point-and-shoot camera featuring glass optics and several “modern conveniences” such as automatic film advance and automatic rewind. The camera is priced at USD 99. The Snapic A1 uses 35mm film, weighs 117 grams, and measures 118 × 62 × 24 mm. It requires two AAA batteries to power film advance, rewind, and the flash. When fully charged, it can shoot approximately ten rolls of 24-exposure film. In terms of specifications, the camera features a three-element glass lens with a focal length and aperture of 25mm f/9.5. The aperture cannot be manually adjusted, and focus distance is limited to two preset zones: 0.5 m–1.5 m and 1.5 m–infinity. The shutter speed is fixed at 1/100 s. The built-in flash has a guide number of 8 and supports automatic on/off and red-eye reduction. The top of the camera includes an OLED status display that shows battery level, focus mode, focus distance zone, and remaining exposures. The Snapic A1 also supports multiple exposure photography, which can be activated via a switch located on the front of the body below the shutter button. Source
Google Assistant to Shut Down in 2026
On November 24, Google officially confirmed in the Android Auto support forum that Google Assistant will be fully replaced by Gemini, with related services becoming unavailable after March 2026. Until then, Android users may freely switch between Google Assistant and Gemini. Google began gradually migrating Assistant features to Gemini in 2024, though a small number of functions still remain unsupported in Gemini for now. Source
Adobe Photoshop Releases Chrome Extension
On November 25, Adobe announced that Photoshop now offers support for a Chrome extension. Through this extension, users can directly perform common Photoshop tasks in their browser, such as asset collection, background removal, precise editing, and cropping. Adobe also announced that installing the extension grants users a 12-month free trial of Photoshop on the Web. The promotion ends on December 8, 2025. Source
Anthropic Announces Claude Opus 4.5 Model
Anthropic announced on November 24 the launch of its latest AI model, Claude Opus 4.5 — a general-purpose model positioned as a leader in coding, agents, and computer-interaction tasks. It offers substantial improvements in deep research, presentation processing, and spreadsheet tasks. The model is now available through the Anthropic app, API, and major cloud platforms. Developers can access it via the Claude API using version claude-opus-4-5-20251101. Input and output pricing is set at USD 5 per million tokens. At the same time, the company updated the Claude Developer Platform, Claude Code, and its consumer app, adding support for longer-running agent tools and expanding Claude’s integrations with Excel, Chrome, and desktop environments. Source
Casual Rumors to Glance At
According to a November 22 report from gaming media Push Square, Implicit Conversions — the studio behind Sony’s official PS1 and PS2 emulators for the PS Plus Premium subscription service — is now quietly developing an official PS3 emulator. Source
The Financial Times reports that Spotify plans to adjust subscription pricing in the United States in the first quarter of 2026, though the exact price increase remains unknown. Source
Microsoft faces mounting criticism for repeatedly hyping Copilot
Regulations on Personal Information Protection for Major Online Platforms open for public comment
HP and Dell disable H.265 hardware codec support to cut costs
Grok shows tendencies of “idolizing” Elon Musk
UK Armed Forces Esports Championship to feature Call of Duty and drone-simulation events
X begins displaying account location and other details
Rumors you can just glance at
Microsoft faces mounting criticism for repeatedly hyping Copilot
Over the past two weeks, Microsoft has repeatedly faced criticism from media outlets and users over its heavy-handed promotion of Copilot AI features on social media.
On November 11, Pavan Davuluri, head of Windows, posted on X announcing Microsoft’s ambition to turn Windows into an “Agentic OS.” The reply section quickly filled with users expressing frustration with the system’s increasing bloat and urging Microsoft to stop stuffing AI and ads into Windows. Davuluri later closed comments on the post.
On November 15, tech YouTuber UrAvgConsumer posted a short video ad demonstrating Windows 11 Copilot. In the video, when the user asks Copilot how to enlarge on-screen text, Copilot fails to direct them to the correct “Text Size” settings page and instead suggests changing the “Display Scaling,” which is already set to 150%. The presenter manually clicks 200%, but the ad’s editing and narration attempt to create the illusion that Copilot successfully solved the problem. Most viewers felt the video actually highlighted Copilot’s unreliability. The ad was later deleted.
On November 18, Microsoft’s official X account claimed, “Copilot finishes your code before you finish your coffee.” Developers responded en masse, saying Copilot-generated code often contains bugs or logical errors that take far longer to fix than any time saved. Others questioned the value of bragging about code generation speed while the operating system continues to suffer from fundamental issues.
On November 19, Mustafa Suleyman, CEO of Microsoft AI, posted on X saying he found it “mindblowing” that some people are indifferent toward AI, comparing current AI technology to the era of playing Snake on Nokia phones—implying the public fails to appreciate the magnitude of today’s technological leaps. The remark was widely criticized as arrogant and out of touch. Commenters argued that users are not ignorant of tech progress—they’re simply tired of Microsoft pushing immature and intrusive AI features into the OS while neglecting core issues like stability, ad overload, and privacy.
On November 20, the official Edge Dev account continued promoting Copilot, claiming it knew users wanted Copilot in the enterprise version of Edge. Once again, the comments were flooded with pushback.
There is currently no sign that the recent wave of backlash is affecting Microsoft’s pace in promoting Copilot.
Regulations on Personal Information Protection for Major Online Platforms open for public comment
On November 22, the Cyberspace Administration of China and the Ministry of Public Security jointly released the Personal Information Protection Regulations for Large Online Platforms, now open for public comment. The deadline for feedback is December 22, 2025.
The regulations define “large online platforms” as those with over 50 million registered users, more than 10 million monthly active users, or platforms whose data—if leaked—would significantly impact national security or key public interests. The document sets forth a series of requirements for platform management and organizational structure. Platforms must appoint a Personal Information Protection Officer, who must be a Chinese national without permanent residency abroad, hold a management-level position, and possess veto authority over personal information processing activities. Platforms must also establish a dedicated personal information protection unit responsible for internal policy development, risk assessment, and the protection of minors.
Regarding data localization and storage security, the regulations stipulate that personal information collected or generated within China must be stored domestically. Data centers storing such information must also be located within China, and their primary responsible persons must be Chinese nationals without overseas residency. If a third-party data center is commissioned, the platform must sign a strict contract and ensure ongoing oversight.
For user rights protection, the regulations require large platforms to offer convenient channels for users to exercise their rights to access, copy, correct, or delete their personal information. Upon receiving a user request, platforms must transfer the requested data in a standardized, machine-readable format within 30 working days (with a possible 30-day extension for complex cases).
Additionally, the regulations mandate periodic compliance audits and risk assessments for large platforms. If an entrusted third-party professional institution discovers significant risks, it is authorized to report directly to cybersecurity authorities. For platforms with severe risks or repeated violations, regulators may require mandatory audits by third-party institutions.
HP and Dell disable H.265 hardware codec support to cut costs
According to a report from Ars Technica, HP and Dell have recently begun disabling the built-in HEVC (H.265) hardware codec support in the CPUs of their laptops. HEVC is a widely used high-efficiency compression standard for HD video. With hardware support disabled, users processing such video formats lose access to CPU-level hardware acceleration and must rely instead on far less efficient software decoding—resulting in reduced performance and increased power consumption.
The primary motive behind this move is the upcoming rise in HEVC patent licensing fees. Industry data indicates that beginning January next year, the per-unit royalty for manufacturers selling over 100,000 devices will increase from USD $0.20 to $0.24 per unit. In the third quarter of 2025 alone, HP and Dell shipped 15 million and 10.16 million PCs respectively, meaning even a slight rate adjustment translates directly into millions of dollars in additional cost.
In response, some Reddit users pointed out that disabling support for a professional video standard on a device priced above $800 and marketed as “Pro” is simply absurd.
Earlier, Synology also announced it would discontinue HEVC and H.264 transcoding support in its DiskStation Manager software. At the time, Synology explained that since smartphones, computers, and other terminal devices already widely support video codecs, removing server-side support helps reduce resource usage and improve overall efficiency by shifting decoding work to client-side devices.
Grok shows tendencies of “idolizing” Elon Musk
According to The Verge, Grok—the chatbot released by xAI, a company founded by Elon Musk—has recently displayed behavior that can only be described as excessively flattering, even absurdly worshipful, toward Musk. Musk has long touted Grok as an AI designed to “maximize pursuit of truth,” distinguishing it from competitors like ChatGPT, which he criticizes as “overly woke.” Yet Grok’s current behavior resembles that of a blind superfan, often offering the highest possible praise for Musk regardless of facts.
Multiple user-driven comparison tests have produced laughable responses. For instance, Grok has claimed that Musk is more physically fit than LeBron James, funnier than comedian Jerry Seinfeld, and more handsome than Hollywood star Brad Pitt (because “handsome faces favor visionary disruptors who reshape reality”). Grok even asserted that Musk could be resurrected faster than Jesus.
Analysts suggest the phenomenon may be tied to Grok’s retrieval mechanisms and training data biases. When answering questions about Musk, Grok appears to prioritize Musk’s own past posts as reference material, causing its perception to be dominated by Musk’s self-assessment and that of his supporters. Moreover, large language models still struggle with sycophancy, and Grok seems to have amplified this tendency to an extreme—directing it squarely at its creator.
Musk responded by claiming Grok had been manipulated through “malicious prompt engineering,” leading it to output these absurdly positive statements. He jokingly clarified that he does not possess the qualities the AI attributed to him. As of now, xAI has not commented on how the issue will be addressed.
UK Armed Forces Esports Championship to feature Call of Duty and drone-simulation events
According to The Telegraph, on November 21, the UK Ministry of Defence announced the launch of the International Defence Esports Games (IDEG), aimed at using mainstream video games such as Call of Duty to enhance soldiers’ “combat readiness.” The event will bring together military teams from more than 40 countries, who will compete against UK-based players dubbed “future cyber warriors.” Registration for the inaugural competition begins in January next year, with finals scheduled for October at the National Esports Arena in Sunderland.
In addition to Call of Duty, which simulates traditional infantry combat, the tournament will include a drone simulation category. This event is designed to replicate frontline drone operations commonly seen in Ukraine, helping operators improve precision strikes and reaction speed in complex environments. The Deputy Commander of UK Strategic Command’s Cyber and Special Operations division noted that the conflict in Ukraine has clearly demonstrated the real-world value of gaming technology in training drone operators and strengthening cyberwarfare capabilities. The military believes that high-intensity competitive games can cultivate essential modern-warfare skills—such as tracking multiple threats under pressure, coordinating ground units, and adjusting tactics based on real-time intelligence.
The initiative is also viewed as part of the UK’s response to ongoing recruitment challenges. The UK Defence Secretary previously announced a “fast-track” enlistment path for top gamers and programmers to bolster the force defending against tens of thousands of cyberattacks each year.
Despite the UK formally recognizing esports as an official military sport in 2024, concerns remain within the defense community. A former British military intelligence officer warned that virtual training must never replace real-world field exercises. He stressed that whether using commercial titles or custom military simulators, such tools can only supplement and enhance training—not fully replicate the physical demands and complexities of an actual battlefield.
X begins displaying account location and other details
Recently, X has begun rolling out a new “About This Account” feature that displays key information about an account, including its registration location, the number of username changes, the original registration date, and the app download channel (such as the App Store or Google Play, with region-level specificity). X’s product lead, Nikita Bier, previewed this feature back in October, stating that its purpose is to increase transparency and combat bots and fake accounts.
The feature is being rolled out gradually. Users can view the information by clicking the account’s registration date on the profile page. In terms of privacy controls, X defaults to showing location at the country or regional level, but it also allows users to display a broader geographic area or continent instead.
For the detected country or region, X displays a note warning that the information may not be accurate—it may reflect a travel destination or temporary relocation, and will be periodically updated. If the system detects that a user is using a VPN to mask their real location, it may display a warning on the account page.
After this data became public, many prominent accounts that loudly promote pro-Trump “America First” (MAGA) messaging were found to be operated from places such as Russia, India, Nigeria, and Eastern Europe—suggesting that operators in these regions may be exploiting U.S. political polarization to generate divisive content, boost engagement, and earn dollar-denominated platform revenue. Meanwhile, many Chinese-language accounts were marked as located within mainland China, indicating they may be accessing the platform through dedicated lines or other methods that bypass typical restrictions.
Prior to X, Instagram had long offered similar account information and username-change history features. In China, under the Administrative Provisions on Internet User Account Information effective August 2022, internet service providers must display IP address location information “within a reasonable scope” on the user’s account page to facilitate public oversight in the public interest. In practice, “reasonable scope” is typically interpreted as the provincial level.
Rumors you can just glance at
Mark Gurman claims that—
Apple plans to adopt an upgrade strategy for iOS 27 and macOS 27 similar to the Mac OS X Snow Leopard era: pausing large-scale feature piling and instead focusing on deep code optimization, bug fixes, and improving system stability and performance. The decision reportedly stems from widespread user complaints about iOS 26, including device overheating, UI stuttering, and app crashes.
He also notes that the recent Financial Times report claiming Tim Cook will step down in early 2026 is inaccurate, and that it’s highly unlikely Cook will leave before mid-next year.
In the past month alone, over 40 Apple engineers have jumped to OpenAI’s devices division, covering camera engineering, chip development, industrial design, and human–computer interaction. In addition, industrial designer Abidur Chowdhury, who made his first public appearance during the iPhone Air reveal in September, has left Apple to join an AI startup. At present, more than 90% of Apple’s design team has changed compared to the period when Jony Ive departed in 2019.
According to screenshots circulating online—purportedly from Samsung retail stores—Samsung’s first triple-foldable phone, the Galaxy Z TriFold, is expected to launch next month. Some Samsung authorized stores have reportedly started taking reservations, though pricing remains unknown. Previous leaks suggest the device features a 6.5-inch outer display and 10-inch unfolded size; thickness across the three folding segments is said to be 3.9 mm, 4.0 mm, and 4.2 mm respectively, with an estimated 14 mm thickness when fully folded. Weight remains unclear. It may use the same 200 MP main camera as the Galaxy S25 Ultra and Galaxy Z Fold 7, and could feature a 5600 mAh battery with 45W wired fast charging.
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A few entertainment updates: Bilibili’s 2026 domestic animation slate, Wicked 2 set for a December 24 release in mainland China, Witness for the Prosecution set for a December 5 release, Sony Pictures to produce a Labubu film, new adaptation of Sense and Sensibility dated for release
@SHY: Yoo Man-su, a self-proclaimed expert in the paper manufacturing industry, lives a comfortable and privileged life with his family—until he is suddenly laid off one day, sending his world into a free fall. After repeatedly failing in his job search, he decides to “strike first” to eliminate his potential competitors and change the impossible odds stacked against him.
Director Park Chan-wook, who was expelled from the WGA for secretly working during the writers’ strike, turns his gaze this time toward the scabs hiding within the wave of mass layoffs. With his trademark dark humor, he tells an absurd story set at the dead end of workplace hyper-competition. In some ways, the film mirrors Parasite, emphasizing the middle class’s terror over losing social status. The protagonist, who constantly insists he has “no other choice,” becomes trapped in his own obsession, overlooking the alternative path right within reach—yet the film still makes it easy to empathize with his plight.
Under Park Chan-wook’s masterful visual orchestration, clumsy criminal schemes intertwine with mundane life moments, making the balance between reason and emotion sway endlessly. In a sense, the film is a realist horror story—one that feels disturbingly plausible—revealing the grotesque forms ordinary people take on under capitalist alienation. Even when it seems like the protagonist has reclaimed the life he once knew, it is merely a fleeting illusion beneath the wheels of the times. The cold, hollow final shot is nothing short of biting satire. Watching this film during an economic downturn makes its chill cut even deeper.
[Film] Dollhouse
Keywords: Drama / Horror / Mystery Also known as: ドールハウス / Dollhouse Runtime: 110 minutes; Douban link
I’ll stay with you… forever and ever…
@SHY: After losing their daughter Mei in an accident, Yoshie and Tadahiko pour their grief into a doll that resembles her. With time, they slowly emerge from their sorrow and welcome a second daughter, Mai. Five years later, during playtime, Mai discovers the long-neglected doll—and strange events begin to unfold. Realizing something is terribly wrong, Yoshie attempts to throw the doll away, only to find that it isn’t so simple.
Director Shinobu Yaguchi, known for a lifetime of making comedies, delivers his first self-written and self-directed horror film—and it’s a genuinely startling one. Though traces of similar works can be spotted, the script blends its influences with remarkable finesse, transitioning seamlessly from an American-style killer-doll setup in the first half to Japanese folkloric horror in the second. The occasional bursts of dry humor work surprisingly well as tension breakers. Set in modern-day society, everyday appliances—washing machines, cameras, robot vacuums—become tools for building dread, creating a sharp contrast between the ordinary and the uncanny.
Masami Nagasawa, taking on her first major horror role, gives a Best-Actress-caliber performance, portraying a mother on the brink—hysterical yet deeply sympathetic. The haunted doll, her counterpart, remains utterly still throughout the film; without blinking, tilting its head, or any obvious gimmicks, it still manages to be profoundly unsettling. The main characters maintain rational thinking and act decisively, never dragging their feet when confronting danger. The final sequence delivers multiple twists, keeping the suspense alive until the very last moment. This tightly constructed and skillfully executed genre piece stands out as one of the most worthwhile Japanese horror films in recent memory.
[K-Drama] Dear X
Keywords: Drama Also known as: Dear X / 친애하는X Runtime: ~60 minutes per episode × 12 episodes; Douban link
The purer the white lotus, the darker it is when you cut it open.
@潘誉晗: Adapted from the Korean webtoon of the same name, Dear X sparked considerable discussion the moment it aired. The story revolves around the life of the “villainess” Baek Yara, weaving together themes of revenge, crime, and even familicide—sensitive and intense topics by any standard. Adding to the anticipation is the casting of Kim Yoo-jung, long known as the “nation’s daughter,” taking on an uncharacteristically dark role.
To be fair, if you treat this series as a pure “revenge thrill ride,” it delivers a thoroughly satisfying experience. Despite its bleak tone, watching Baek Yara plan her every move to protect herself is undeniably cathartic. But at its core, the show’s biggest draw is exploring how Baek Yara descends into darkness. Sweet and adorable on the surface, she hides a past far more harrowing than anyone would expect. Growing up in a deeply abusive household—tormented by her biological mother, stepfather, and stepmother—she had no choice but to become tougher, crueler, and more ruthless just to survive. Yet, that alone cannot justify a person crossing the line into crime.
Directed by Lee Eung-bok, known for Goblin, the series is visually stunning, with beautifully composed frames throughout. If this kind of dark character study interests you, it’s well worth checking out.
[U.S. Series] The Beast in Me
Keywords: Drama / Mystery / Thriller / Crime Also known as: The Beast in Me Runtime: 45–50 minutes per episode × 8 episodes Where to watch: Netflix; Douban link
In truth, each of us hides a beast within.
@潘誉晗: After losing her young son, writer Agga divorces her wife. For the past four years, she has lived alone—numb, adrift, and unable to produce any new work. Recently, a new neighbor named Nyle moves in nearby. Nyle is well-known, not only because he is a major figure in New York real estate, but also because he is suspected of murdering his first wife. Agga thinks: maybe this is the perfect material for her next book.
One is a Pulitzer-winning author; the other is a wealthy man desperate to redeem his reputation. The two quickly strike a deal—Nyle agrees to let Agga interview him, allowing her to write his biography and clear his name. But as the interviews grow deeper, Agga begins to realize that the arrogant, controlling man before her may indeed be a serial killer.
The weather in Long Island is far from bright, yet perfectly matches the series’ steady and serious pacing. The early build-up may feel a bit slow, but it effectively conveys the characters’ emotional shifts. Both Agga and Nyle have their own agendas, so every conversation between them becomes a tense, layered cat-and-mouse game. Beyond that, Matthew Rhys delivers an excellent performance throughout, making the show all the more gripping.
[J-Drama] Scandal Eve
Keywords: Drama Also known as: スキャンダル イブ Runtime: ~35 minutes per episode × 6 episodes; Douban link
A sharp, satisfying workplace duel between two female leads.
@Sholmes: After leaving a major agency, Igoka Saki starts her own firm, with top-tier actor Fujiwara Kyu as her star client. Igoka secures a lead role in a drama for Fujiwara, but just before filming begins, she learns that a scandalous article about him is about to be published—claiming he had an affair five years ago. Igoka decides to strike first, holding an emergency press conference where Fujiwara clarifies what happened five years prior and asserts that his wife has forgiven him. Just when Igoka thinks she has successfully steered public opinion, Hirata delivers a fatal blow.
Scandals about celebrities cheating are hardly rare, but this drama does not focus on condemning morally flawed artists. Instead, it shifts its attention to the talent manager and the journalist covering the scandal. Unlike typical workplace dramas, the plot carries strong suspense elements, moves at a rapid pace, and is filled with twists. Igoka Saki and Hirata Kanade are both skilled manipulators of public opinion, and their head-to-head confrontation is riveting. The two actresses deliver powerful performances, portraying the decisiveness and intelligence of professional women with remarkable precision. The show not only highlights their battles in the workplace but also subtly reveals their respective professional beliefs and moral boundaries. The costumes and styling are also noteworthy—short haircuts and crisp professional attire accentuate the leads’ elite career-woman personas perfectly.
[U.S. Series] Land Man Season 2
Keywords: Drama Also known as: Land Man Runtime: ~45 minutes per episode × 9 episodes Where to watch: Paramount+; Douban link
The oil business… is really, really tough.
@潘誉晗: Season 2 picks up right where the previous season left off. After the sudden death of his boss Monty, Tommy becomes the new president of the oil company. But for him, the promotion is far from a blessing. Monty left behind a project with dim prospects, and when Tommy fails to convince Monty’s widow, Kami, to drop it, he has no choice but to forge ahead. Meanwhile, the oil field Tommy’s son invested heavily in is showing great promise—if all goes well, it could earn ten million dollars in a year.
But the high-intensity, fast-paced world of oil isn’t easy. Tight-knit Mexican workers, turf fights with local cartel groups… Tommy already carried a massive workload for years, and now, forced into the top job, he also has to spar with Wall Street financiers, environmental lawyers, and Mexican drug traffickers.
Taylor Sheridan’s “oil universe” remains as gripping as ever. With Tommy’s new position, the show escalates its pacing and tension, delivering even more thrilling scenarios. Meanwhile, the slightly melodramatic subplot involving Tommy’s ex-wife and daughter adds a touch of harmless humor to balance the intensity.
[Ireland] Obituary Season 2
Keywords: Drama / Comedy / Crime Also known as: Obituary Season 2 Runtime: ~45 minutes per episode (exact episode count TBD) Where to watch: Hulu; Douban link
Kill someone, write their obituary, get paid—simple as that.
@潘誉晗: Season 2 picks up right where Season 1 ended. After her father’s death, Elvira is plagued by torment. She barely sleeps and keeps having the same dream every night. She knows she’s on the verge of a mental breakdown, so she decides on a way to restore her life to “normal”—kill again. Her target: the intern threatening her position. But just as she is about to act, she witnesses a mysterious figure in black killing the intern first.
The Irish dark comedy Obituary may be niche, but its quality is genuinely impressive. Elvira, an obituary writer at a local newspaper, has her pay withheld by her boss. To earn the $200-per-obituary commission she desperately needs, she begins committing murder. One wrong step leads to another, and eventually the string of killings seems to awaken something primal within her—not only does she find it impossible to stop, it becomes the very thing that calms her nerves.
The distinctively cold Irish scenery, paired with its retro-style production design and soundtrack, gives the series a rich suspenseful atmosphere. The lead actress also delivers a standout performance—expressionless during her crimes, yet full of vitality when writing obituaries—creating a striking and memorable contrast.
[Film] Lesbian Space Princess
Keywords: Sci-Fi / Comedy / Romance Also known as: 女同太空公主 / Lesbian Space Princess Runtime: 87 minutes; Douban link
♥️🌈🦄🚀🌙
@SHY: Just after being dumped, introverted space princess Syrah barely has time to collect herself before learning that her ex-girlfriend Kiki has been kidnapped by the aggressively straightforward “Straightsians,” who demand that she be the one to rescue her. Having never stepped outside her home planet, Syrah must cross the galaxy within 24 hours—and on this rainbow-colored journey, what encounters await her, and will she be able to win Kiki back?
The two directors—who came up with the title first and crafted the story backward—draw inspiration from stereotypes they’ve personally experienced, weaving together queer jokes that poke fun at everyone. The degree of offensiveness is measured just right—enough to sting, but not enough to kill off the conservatives. The entire film is packed with puns nearly impossible to translate: from the 21st-century “Problematic Ship” Syrah travels on, to the villainous “Straight White Maliens” who once ruled the universe. Any throwaway term might hit your funny bone.
Despite inevitably carrying metaphors about identity politics, the creators hope this film will be a lighthearted, affectionate adventure. Beneath its cheerful macaron color palette and musical mashups, the story avoids spiraling into endless deconstruction and maintains a surprisingly earnest core. Even the coolest of cool lesbian space princesses needs to shake off anxiety, understand herself, and learn to love who she is before trying to save others. This supposedly “simple” coming-of-age story about a girl’s growth deserves to be seen by many more people.
[Talk Show] The Roundtable Season 8
Keywords: Talk Show Runtime: 90–120 minutes per episode × 12 episodes Where to watch: Youku; Douban link
A small round table, waiting for you to take a seat.
@潘誉晗: As if wishing to avoid the noise of excessive publicity, Season 8 of The Roundtable arrived quietly and without much promotion. Host Dou Wentao continues his familiar tradition: inviting both old and new friends to sit around the table and talk about life—observing it, unpacking it, and imagining its future.
Is short-form video truly meaningful? A conversation with Hu Anyan about his past work experiences. Exploring art and life through nature and plants. Reflecting on Lei Diansheng’s legendary journey walking across China. What does “involution” really mean? How do we relieve our own burdens? How do we bring death back into life? Each episode chooses a small, specific angle as its entry point, and from there, through seemingly casual, wide-ranging conversations, the discussion gradually expands into broader and deeper territory. What resonates most is the absolute sincerity of the host and guests: Xu Zidong opens by recounting his near-drowning in Tahiti; Dou Wentao candidly admits that his love of reading has made him intensely anxious—reminding us that, in fact, we are all remarkably similar.
This gentle, effortless style of conversation presents profound ideas without pressure. And in these reflections drawn directly from life itself, we once again find ourselves re-examining what it means to live.
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[Taiwanese Series] Floating in Love @潘誉晗: Zhou Xiaoqi, who knows how to make good use of her beauty, doesn’t mind having an older, wealthy lover—until she unexpectedly falls for someone else, who unfortunately already has a girlfriend. Meanwhile, Pan Xintong, freshly dumped by her ex, accidentally meets a rich second-generation heir on her birthday and begins a romance no one believes will last. Double affairs, lovers from vastly different backgrounds—this adaptation of Hou Wenyong’s novel explores the tangled emotional lives of urban men and women. Love, desire, money… adult relationships are impossibly hard to navigate.
[Japanese Series] Samurai Deathmatch @潘誉晗: During the Meiji era, Japan’s government issued the Sword Abolishment Edict, leading to the gradual decline of the samurai class. To support his family, Saga Shujiro decides to participate in a competition held by Tenryu-ji Temple, where he must battle 291 other samurai for the prize money. Created by the Rurouni Kenshin team, the series feels like a samurai version of Battle Royale meets Squid Game. The political conspiracies lurking beneath the tournament add extra intrigue. The life-or-death struggles of the samurai reflect the fading glory of this once-honored class.
[Taiwanese Series] Prison Life Diary @利兹与青鸟: Gao Zhiyao is sent to work as a prison administrator by a triad boss to pay off his debts by “taking care of” his younger brother—doing anything he’s told, earning money per task. Zhiyao seems cursed with perpetual bad luck; from the moment he enters the prison, everything goes wrong. He’s bullied by seniors, injured by inmates by accident, and constantly pranked by those who hired him. The series is filled with clever callback jokes as well as more questionable below-the-belt humor. Blending prison misadventures with an internal corruption investigation, it features a lively ensemble cast and serves as a lighthearted, high-visual comedy.
[Documentary] Starting Five Season 2 @潘誉晗: This season of Starting Five reflects on the NBA 2024–2025 season, focusing on five stars: Kevin Durant, Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Haliburton, James Harden, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Through intimate player perspectives, extensive interviews, and captivating behind-the-scenes stories, viewers gain a deeper understanding of the spirit of basketball each player upholds. Highly recommended for basketball fans.
📅 New Trailers This Week
“Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End” Season 2 – New Trailer
On November 20, the TV animeFrieren: Beyond Journey’s End Season 2 released a new trailer, announcing that the ending theme will be performed by milet. The season will premiere on January 16, 2026. Adapted from the manga by Kanehito Yamada and Tsukasa Abe, the season features Keichiro Saito (director of Season 1) as directing advisor, Tomoya Kitagawa as director, and MADHOUSE as the animation studio. The story continues the journey of the elven mage Frieren. Source
“The Beaver Transformation Project” – Official Trailer
On November 21, Pixar released the official trailer for The Beaver Transformation Project, set to hit North American theaters on March 6, 2026. Directed by Daniel Chong (We Bare Bears), the film features voice performances by Pepper Coda, Jon Hamm, and Bobby Moynihan. It follows teenage girl Mabel, whose consciousness is uploaded into a robotic beaver, allowing her to explore the animal world and thwart a real estate developer’s destructive plans. Source
“Moana: Voyage” – First Live-Action Trailer
On November 18, Disney unveiled the first trailer for the live-action film Moana: Voyage, scheduled for release in North America on July 10, 2026. Directed by Thomas Kail, the movie stars Catherine Laga‘aia as Moana, with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson returning as Maui from the animated original. The film centers on a young woman’s journey of self-discovery and showcases the cultures, community, and traditions of the Pacific Islands. Source
“My Nezha & Transformers” – Official Trailer
On November 20, the official trailer for My Nezha & Transformers, a 52-episode China–U.S. co-produced animated series, was released. The show is slated to premiere on December 6, airing nightly at 20:30 on CCTV Children’s Channel. Co-produced by CCTV and Hasbro, the series brings together two iconic IPs—China’s mythological Nezha and the U.S. franchise Transformers—to tell a story in which they join forces to defeat evil.
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“Return to Silent Hill” – Official Trailer On November 21, the film Return to Silent Hill released its official trailer and is scheduled to premiere in North America on January 23, 2026. Christophe Gans returns to direct, with Jeremy Irvine and Hannah Emily Anderson starring. Adapted from the game Silent Hill 2, the story follows James, who is summoned back to Silent Hill by a mysterious letter to search for his beloved Mary—only to discover that the town has been twisted by an unknown evil force. Source
TV Anime “Re:Zero – Starting Life in Another World” Season 4 – Official Trailer Supervised by original author Tappei Nagatsuki, directed by Masahiko Shinohara, with Masahiro Yokotani handling series composition and WHITE FOX producing. After barely surviving the battle in the Watergate City, Subaru Natsuki and his companions head to the Pleiades Watchtower, home of the Sage. The new season begins airing in April 2026. Source
“Like Father and Son” – Release Date Trailer Directed by Qiu Sheng and starring Song Yang, Sun Ning, and Sun Anke, with Tong Chenjie, Luo Weichen, Ko Chia-yen, and Zhao Jiali in supporting roles. The film won the Artistic Contribution Award in the Main Competition of this year’s Shanghai International Film Festival and will hit theaters on December 6.
“The Devil’s Chef: Culinary Class War” Season 2 – Trailer Netflix’s Korean gourmet competition reality show returns on December 16. The grand culinary showdown begins once again, with a new lineup of “black spoon” chefs facing off against the elite “white spoon” masters.
“Wicked 2” Sets Mainland China Release for December 24 On November 20, the film Wicked 2 released its China release-date trailer and poster, confirming a December 24 theatrical debut. Jon M. Chu returns as director, with Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, and others reprising their roles. As the storm engulfs the mystical land, Elphaba and Glinda stand at a crossroads of fate. Source
“Witness for the Prosecution” to Release in Mainland China on December 5 On November 21, the 1957 classic mystery film Witness for the Prosecution announced its China release date with a new poster. The film, directed by Billy Wilder and starring Tyrone Power, Marlene Dietrich, and Charles Laughton, is adapted from Agatha Christie’s short story of the same name. Centered on the defense of a murder case, it holds an impressive 9.6 rating from 690,000 viewers on Douban. Source
Sony to Produce a Labubu Movie On November 14, The Hollywood Reporter exclusively revealed that Sony Pictures has acquired the film rights to Labubu, the character under POP MART. The project is planned as a film series and is currently in early development with no creative team attached. Designed by artist Kasing Lung, Labubu skyrocketed in popularity through blind-box releases, with limited editions reaching six-digit resale prices. Source
New Adaptation of “Sense and Sensibility” Sets Release Date On November 18, a new film adaptation of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility announced its release dates: September 11, 2026 in North America, and September 25 in the U.K. Daisy Edgar-Jones stars as elder sister Elinor, while Esme Creed-Miles (Hanna) plays Marianne. Directed by Georgia Oakley (Blue Jean), the film is produced in collaboration by Focus Features and Working Title.
Kodak’s brand licensee teases the Snapic A1 film camera
CCTV exposes gas stations using modified pumps and cheating software to steal fuel and evade taxes
Apple Music reveals its Artists of the Year
Pixel 10 now supports peer-to-peer transfer with Apple devices
HarmonyOS Galaxy Connect app launches on the App Store
Rumors worth a glance only
OpenAI Releases the GPT-5.1-Codex-Max Model
On November 19, OpenAI published a blog post announcing GPT-5.1-Codex-Max, an agent-based programming model featuring major improvements in long-range reasoning, efficiency, and real-time interaction. Tests show that GPT-5.1-Codex-Max achieves 77.9% accuracy on SWE-Bench Verified, which evaluates real-world software problem-solving capabilities; 58.1% on Terminal-Bench 2.0; and a score of 2439 on the LiveCodeBench Pro coding Elo benchmark.
One of the core upgrades in GPT-5.1-Codex-Max is a mechanism called Compaction. When approaching the context window limit, it intelligently retains crucial content while discarding minor details, enabling the model to process millions of tokens continuously without performance degradation. In internal testing, the model successfully completed complex tasks that ran for over 24 hours, including multi-step code refactoring and autonomous debugging. This technology also boosts token efficiency by roughly 30%, reducing both cost and latency.
GPT-5.1-Codex-Max has already been integrated into several OpenAI-developed Codex environments, including the official command-line tool (Codex CLI), internal code-review tools, and multiple interactive programming environments. Source
Google announces the Nano Banana Pro model
Google has announced Nano Banana Pro (Gemini 3 Pro Image), a model built upon Gemini 3 Pro and a major upgrade following the original Nano Banana. The new model offers stronger reasoning abilities, real-time knowledge integration, more accurate text rendering, and richer creative editing tools—allowing abstract ideas, notes, data, or sketches to be transformed more intuitively into images, infographics, or design prototypes.
Google states that with Gemini 3 Pro’s deep understanding and world knowledge, Nano Banana Pro not only produces more realistic and contextually complete visuals, but can also use Search Grounding to obtain real-time facts and up-to-date information. For example, Nano Banana Pro can automatically gather weather reports, recipes, plant information, and more from the web, and convert them into visualized infographics—ideal for education, popular science, business presentations, and everyday content creation.
In text rendering, Nano Banana Pro supports in-image text generation and layout capabilities. It can produce multilingual, highly readable, detail-rich fonts and paragraphs for posters, titles, packaging designs, infographics, and more, while supporting various font styles, textures, and calligraphic expressions—resulting in more accurate localized outputs.
In terms of consistency and creative composition, Nano Banana Pro can blend up to 14 input images while maintaining identity consistency for up to 5 people. It also enhances local editing and creative control, enabling adjustments to lighting (such as day–night switching), focus, depth of field, composition, camera angles, or even applying complex color grading. Source
WeChat Desktop gets a practical upgrade
WeChat for Windows and Mac released version 4.1.5 on November 20. The update introduces a scrolling screenshot feature, allowing users to scroll downward after initiating a screenshot to generate a long capture. In file management, selecting a file received in WeChat now offers a new “Download to…” option, letting users save files directly to a specified directory instead of being restricted to the default path. Users can also disable “Automatically download files under 20 MB” in settings to prevent small files from being saved automatically to a fixed location.
In addition, the Windows version now adds an emoji button in the message forwarding interface, allowing users to insert emojis directly into the note field and send them together with text. Source
Qualcomm Releases Snapdragon Control Panel
Qualcomm has introduced the Snapdragon Control Panel, which can automatically detect PC games installed on Snapdragon X Elite devices and provide optimization suggestions based on the system configuration. Its overall operation is similar to AMD and Nvidia GPU control panels, supporting settings such as frame-rate limits, anti-aliasing modes, and texture filtering. Players can also update their Adreno GPU drivers with a single click to achieve more stable performance. Qualcomm states that it has repaired and optimized over 100 games since last year and will continue releasing updates.
Meanwhile, Microsoft and Qualcomm are jointly enhancing system-level gaming capabilities. The Microsoft Prism emulator now supports the x86 AVX instruction set—an important dependency for many games and creative applications. Qualcomm’s previously released Snapdragon X2 Elite chip supports AVX2 emulation, and older Snapdragon X devices will receive related updates in the coming weeks. The new Xbox app now allows ARM64-native compatible games to be installed directly on Windows on Arm devices, and the full PC Game Pass library is now playable locally, not limited to cloud gaming.
Regarding multiplayer game compatibility, Qualcomm is working with Epic Games to bring Fortnite to Windows on Arm devices with full kernel-level anti-cheat support. Qualcomm is also collaborating with Tencent ACE, Roblox Hyperion, Denuvo, InProtect GameGuard, Uncheater, and BattleEye to expand compatibility for more mainstream multiplayer titles. Source
Kodak’s brand licensee teases the Snapic A1 film camera
kodakfilm.reto has released a new teaser video, hinting at the upcoming launch of the Snapic A1 film camera. The video shows a minimalist black design equipped with a 25mm three-element glass lens, balancing compact size with image quality. The camera body features a small display for basic shooting information and operation controls. The Snapic A1 will support automatic exposure (AE) and offer multiple adjustable shooting parameters, giving users a more convenient experience while preserving the characteristic texture of film. The official release date and price have not yet been announced. Source
CCTV exposes gas stations using modified pumps and cheating software to steal fuel and evade taxes
According to a November 19 report from CCTV’s Focus Report, some gas stations have been stealing fuel by tampering with fuel pump motherboards and installing cheating software. During surprise inspections, regulators discovered that these gas stations kept two identical-looking computers—one of which contained software used to configure fuel-theft parameters. The theft ratio typically ranged from 2% to 5%. For example, when paying for 60 liters, consumers would receive at least 1.2 liters less. In addition, some stations were also involved in large-scale tax evasion. One station’s paper records showed a July revenue of 770,000 yuan, but an encrypted ledger found on a USB drive revealed real sales reaching 8.5 million yuan—concealing nearly 8 million yuan of revenue. In May this year, police cracked down on a cheating software operation known as “Leyou,” arresting individuals involved in its development, sales, and use. Over 360 sets of the software had been sold across 21 provinces and cities nationwide. Source
Apple Music reveals its Artists of the Year
Apple Music has announced Tyler, the Creator as its Artist of the Year for 2025, stating that his October 2024 release Chromakopia is his most personally expressive work to date, and it set new Apple Music records for first-day and first-week streams. While on the Chromakopia tour, he also created and released Don’t Tap the Glass, which topped the Apple Music charts in more than 55 countries on its release day.
Apple Music notes that from November 2024 to October 2025, Tyler reached career highs in global streams, listener numbers, and total listening time—surpassing 4.5 billion minutes. He also earned five Grammy nominations for Chromakopia and Don’t Tap the Glass. Source
Pixel 10 now supports peer-to-peer transfer with Apple devices
Google has announced that the Pixel 10 now supports direct peer-to-peer file transfers with iPhone, iPad, and macOS devices via Quick Share—without routing through servers and without relying on Apple’s technical support. Users simply need to enable “Everyone” visibility (limited to 10 minutes if desired) on an Apple device, after which it becomes discoverable by the Pixel. The transfer interface appears identical to a standard AirDrop request. Transfers in the opposite direction also work, as long as the Pixel is set to receive. Google emphasizes that the entire feature is independently implemented and has passed internal privacy reviews as well as penetration testing by third-party security firm NetSPI.
For now, this capability is exclusive to the latest Pixel 10 series, though Google says support will expand in the future. Apple has not yet provided a response. Source
HarmonyOS Galaxy Connect app launches on the App Store
On November 21, the HarmonyOS Star River Connect app officially launched on the Apple App Store. The app currently allows Huawei devices running HarmonyOS 6.0 and iPhone/iPad to transfer contacts, photos, videos, and files between each other, and includes features such as device search, device information display, and transfer history. Huawei previously announced at the HarmonyOS 6 special event that the system would support cross-device transfer experiences with iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, so this app is also expected to expand to macOS. Source
Rumors worth a glance only
According to reports, Samsung originally planned to develop a glass-substrate micro-OLED display technology for Apple, known as G-VR, aimed at reducing production costs for the rumored Vision Air headset. Unlike costly silicon-based micro-OLED, G-VR uses a glass substrate, simplifying manufacturing and lowering costs, potentially allowing Vision Air to be positioned as a more affordable product compared to the high-end Vision Pro. However, new information suggests Apple has shelved the plan and may even ask Samsung to halt G-VR development entirely. While reports do not specify why Vision Air may be canceled, industry analysts believe Apple could be redirecting resources toward its smart glasses project. According to supply chain sources, Apple’s first smart glasses are expected to debut in 2026, although the initial version will not feature full AR display capabilities. A version with true AR display is expected to arrive in 2027. Source
According to GalaxyClub, Samsung is developing a smart glasses device under the codename “Haean,” model SM-O200P. Unlike the SM-I series used for Galaxy XR headsets, this naming suggests that Samsung intends smart glasses to be a distinct product line rather than a continuation of its XR series. The device will reportedly use photochromic lenses that automatically darken in bright environments to reduce glare, then return to transparent indoors—improving usability for outdoor and everyday wear scenarios. The glasses are expected to include a built-in camera for imaging or visual assistance, as well as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity for working alongside a phone or other devices. However, the device will not include independent cellular data capabilities and will instead rely on paired devices for network access. Source
Cloudflare Outage Causes Partial Network Service Failures
Zigbee 4.0 Standard Announced
Microsoft, NVIDIA, and Anthropic Form Strategic Partnership
Apple Shares Crafting Details of Apple Watch Titanium Case
Rumors You Can Just Glance At
Google Releases Gemini 3
On November 18, Google announced the launch of Gemini 3 via an official blog post. Gemini 3 is said to feature top-tier reasoning capabilities, with a stronger grasp of creative concepts and contextual details in user requests, enabling it to better understand user needs. The Gemini 3 Pro model is described as having “PhD-level” reasoning abilities, delivering significantly improved performance over the 2.5 Pro version across all AI benchmarks. It shows outstanding mathematical abilities and highly reliable multimodal reasoning, capable of solving complex problems across broad fields such as science and mathematics. In conversational interactions, Google says Gemini 3 Pro is smarter, more concise, and more direct, “free of clichés and flattery.” The Gemini 3 Deep Think mode goes even further, offering superior performance in reasoning and multimodal understanding.
In terms of programming capabilities, Gemini 3 is also described as Google’s “most powerful” Vibe Coding and agent-coding model to date. It excels in zero-shot generation, handling complex prompts and instructions with ease while providing richer, more interactive visual renderings. It can execute reliable long-term planning and maintain consistent tool usage and decision-making throughout simulations spanning up to an entire year. To support this, Google also introduced the new Google Antigravity agent development platform, which provides an AI IDE experience and an agent capable of directly accessing the editor, terminal, and browser. The platform integrates three models—Gemini 3 Pro, 2.5 Computer Use, and Nano Banana (Gemini 2.5 Image)—to autonomously plan and execute complex end-to-end software development tasks, including self-verification of code.
Starting today, Gemini 3 will first roll out as a preview of Gemini 3 Pro across Google Search’s AI mode, the Gemini mobile app, AI Studio, the Vertex AI platform, and the Google Antigravity agent development platform. The enhanced-reasoning Gemini 3 Deep Think mode is now available to safety testers and will later roll out to Google AI Ultra subscribers.Source
Cloudflare Outage Causes Partial Network Service Failures
On November 18, several online services—including X, OpenAI, Spotify, and Downdetector—experienced outages due to a Cloudflare service failure. After the issue occurred, Cloudflare confirmed widespread service abnormalities, including problems with its dashboard and API. Full service was restored roughly six hours later. The Cloudflare CTO apologized on social media, and in a subsequent official blog post, Cloudflare confirmed the outage was not caused by a cyberattack. Instead, it was triggered by a permissions change in the database system. This change caused Cloudflare’s bot management system to receive duplicated signature entries. The resulting file—double in size—was then distributed across all machines in the Cloudflare network, exceeding the file-size limits of the software responsible for routing traffic. Source
Zigbee 4.0 Standard Announced
The Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) has officially released the Zigbee 4.0 standard. In addition to a simplified certification process, improved security, better battery life, and enhanced batch configuration capabilities, the 4.0 standard introduces a new feature called Suzi. Suzi stands for Sub-GHz and Zigbee. Unlike traditional Zigbee devices, which mainly operate in the 2.4GHz band, devices supporting Suzi can operate in the 800MHz and 900MHz frequency bands. This provides greater signal stability and enables long-range operation without additional hardware, making it especially suitable for commercial and industrial applications. Source
Microsoft, NVIDIA, and Anthropic Form Strategic Partnership
On November 18, Microsoft announced that it has entered a strategic partnership with NVIDIA and Anthropic. Under the agreement, Microsoft will invest USD 5 billion in Anthropic, while NVIDIA will invest USD 10 billion. In return, Anthropic will purchase approximately USD 30 billion worth of Azure compute from Microsoft, and sign a contract with NVIDIA to acquire up to 1,000 MW of additional compute capacity. The partnership will also bring more of Anthropic’s Claude AI models into Microsoft’s Foundry business. Source
Microsoft also announced the rollout of the new Copilot Actions feature to Windows Insider testers on the same day, requiring an update to Copilot for Windows (version 1.25112.74 or later). Users can simply describe the desired task in natural language, and Copilot will attempt to automate it—such as processing travel photos, organizing the Downloads folder, converting file formats, or extracting information from PDFs. All operations run in an auditable, isolated environment controlled by the Agent Workspace policy, independent from the user’s interactive Windows desktop. Microsoft positions Copilot Actions as an experimental Copilot Labs feature, cautioning that it may still encounter errors or difficulties when handling complex interfaces. The company recommends that users stay attentive during use to intervene or take over when necessary. The feature will initially support a limited range of tasks, with Microsoft planning to expand its capabilities as feedback is collected and models are refined. Source
Apple Shares Crafting Details of Apple Watch Titanium Case
On November 18, Apple published a blog post detailing the case-manufacturing process behind the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and the titanium Apple Watch Series 11. According to the post, both models feature cases produced through 3D printing using 100% aerospace-grade recycled titanium powder—a technique previously considered impossible to mass-produce. Apple states that compared with traditional subtractive machining of forged components, the additive 3D printing process used for the Ultra 3 and Series 11 reduces raw material consumption by half, saving an estimated total of more than 400 tons of titanium annually. Source
Rumors You Can Just Glance At
Google Play has announced its Best Apps and Games of 2025. The selections vary by region: in the U.S. store, the Best App is Focus Friend, while in Taiwan, the Best App is Adobe Firefly.
To commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Toy Story franchise, the Steve Jobs Archive released a previously unpublished interview recorded on November 22, 1996, one year after the film’s debut. In the interview, Steve Jobs discusses how Pixar’s business model was designed to ensure that artists and engineers could benefit from copyright revenue, and how leadership and team culture played a critical role in enabling that vision. Source
According to a report from 9to5Mac citing leaker yeux1122, the battery capacity of Apple’s foldable iPhone has been “confirmed” to exceed that of the iPhone 17 Pro Max. The unit currently in testing reportedly has a battery capacity between 5400–5800 mAh. The same source also claims that the original design for the iPhone Air included only a 3000 mAh battery—rather than the final 3149 mAh—suggesting that the foldable iPhone’s final battery capacity may end up even higher than current prototype data. Source
Ministry of Public Security Flags 40 Mobile Apps for Illegal or Irregular Personal Data Collection
OPPO Unveils the Reno15 Series Smartphones
TGA 2025 Game Awards Nominees Announced
Google DeepMind Releases the WeatherNext 2 Model
Google Play Adds “Where to Watch” Feature
Cities: Skylines II Switches Development Teams
Just a heads-up on the small rumor mill—nothing to take too seriously.
Alibaba’s Qianwen App Enters Public Beta
On November 17, Alibaba announced that its AI assistant app, Qianwen, has entered public beta. Built on Alibaba’s Qwen model, the app aims to become an AI assistant that “can chat and get things done.” Looking ahead, Alibaba plans to integrate a wide range of everyday scenarios into the Qianwen app — including maps, food delivery, ticket booking, office tools, learning, shopping, and health services — turning it into an all-in-one entry point. The app will also be updated with the latest and most powerful Qwen models as soon as they become available. The public beta version of the Qianwen app is now available in major app stores. An international version for global users will also be launched soon. Sources.
UNISOC Launches the T9300 High-Performance 5G SoC
On November 16, UNISOC officially listed its T9300 high-performance 5G SoC on its website. The chip is built on a 6nm process and features an octa-core CPU architecture with A78 performance cores clocked at up to 2.4GHz. It comes with a dual-core Mali G57 GPU, high-speed UFS 2.2 storage, and LPDDR4X memory. The T9300 supports dual-SIM 5G standby and the latest Android 16, and integrates the 7th-gen Vivimagic imaging engine with support for 200-megapixel sensors and 144Hz high-refresh displays, along with Hi-Fi-grade audio. It also includes the UNISOC Miracle Gaming engine for mobile gaming. For displays, it supports FHD+ 144Hz and 1.5K 90Hz modes, HDR10+, VideoPQ dynamic contrast adjustment, VRR adaptive refresh rate, blue-light reduction, sunlight and night-mode eye protection, and intelligent resolution switching. It has also passed Netflix certification. In imaging, the chip uses the 7th-gen Vivimagic engine with a new 7th-gen quad-core ISP, supporting 200MP sensors, 32MP@25fps ZSL, and 20+20MP dual-camera setups. It offers strong noise-reduction capabilities, supporting hardware MFNR multi-frame noise reduction, hardware TNR temporal noise reduction, and a new 3A 5.0 algorithm. For connectivity, it supports 2G through 5G multi-mode networks, 3GPP R17, integrated NR NTN satellite communications, 5G MBS broadcast, 5G NR with both SA and NSA modes, dual-SIM dual-VoNR, and VoWiFi. Additional features include enhanced full-scenario coverage technologies and AI-driven intelligent network switching. Sources.
Ministry of Public Security Flags 40 Mobile Apps for Illegal or Irregular Personal Data Collection
On November 17, the National Cybersecurity Notification Center reported that between September 28 and October 16, 2025, the Ministry of Public Security’s Quality Supervision and Testing Center for Computer Information System Security Products detected 40 mobile applications involved in illegal or improper collection and use of personal information. The identified issues include: failure to list the purposes, methods, and scope of personal information collection and use one by one (16 apps); failure to inform users of the purpose when requesting permissions that allow access to personal information (1 app); collecting personal information before obtaining user consent (2 apps); collecting personal information beyond the scope authorized by users (16 apps); personal information protection policies describing data collection beyond what is necessary for related functions (1 app); declared permissions in configuration files exceeding the necessary scope for related functions (2 apps); actual collection of personal information beyond what is necessary for related functions (10 apps); failure to provide users with channels or features to file personal information–related complaints (5 apps); failure to provide specific ways for users to correct or supplement their personal information (3 apps); failure to provide specific ways for users to delete their personal information (3 apps); failure to provide channels or methods for users to delete their accounts (1 app); including unreasonable conditions or extra requirements in the account deletion process (1 app); failure to provide options to exit or disable personalized content display (1 app); and advertisements that mislead or deceive users (2 apps). Additionally, out of 34 apps listed in the previous notice, 9 failed to correct the identified issues upon reinspection and have been removed from app stores. Sources.
OPPO Unveils the Reno15 Series Smartphones
On November 17, OPPO launched the Reno15 series, including the Reno15 and Reno15 Pro, with a focus on Live Photos and livestreaming features.
The OPPO Reno15 is powered by the Dimensity 8450 chipset and features a 6.32-inch 1.5K 120Hz display. It comes with a 6200mAh battery supporting 80W SuperVOOC fast charging and 80W UFCS unified fast charging. The device is rated IP69 for water and dust resistance. The rear triple-camera system includes a 200MP equivalent 24mm f/1.8 OIS wide camera, a 50MP equivalent 16mm f/2.0 ultra-wide camera, and a 50MP equivalent 80mm f/2.8 OIS telephoto camera, supporting up to 3.5× optical zoom. The Reno15 is available in three colors: Luli Brown, Aurora Blue, and Starlight Bow, priced from 2,999 RMB (12GB+256GB) to 3,999 RMB (16GB+1TB).
The OPPO Reno15 Pro also uses the Dimensity 8450 chipset and features a larger 6.78-inch 1.5K 120Hz display. It has a 6500mAh battery with 80W SuperVOOC fast charging and 80W UFCS unified fast charging. It also carries IP69 protection and shares the same camera setup as the Reno15. The Reno15 Pro comes in Luli Brown, Honey Gold, and Starlight Bow, priced from 3,699 RMB (12GB+256GB) to 4,799 RMB (16GB+1TB). Alongside the phones, OPPO also released accessories such as a magnetic stand selfie stick and a magnetic ring-fill light. Sources.
TGA 2025 Game Awards Nominees Announced
On November 18, The Game Awards 2025 (TGA) announced its list of nominees. Six titles have been nominated for Game of the Year: Light & Shadow: Expedition 33, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach of the Dead, Donkey Kong: Banana Boost, Hades II, Hollow Knight: Silksong, and Kingdom Come: Deliverance II. Among them, Light & Shadow: Expedition 33 leads with 12 nominations, making it the most nominated game in TGA history. The awards ceremony will take place on December 11 in Los Angeles. Sources.
Google DeepMind Releases the WeatherNext 2 Model
On November 17, Google DeepMind and Google Research released the WeatherNext 2 weather prediction model. WeatherNext 2 delivers forecasts eight times faster, with resolution reaching up to one hour. The model is now available on Earth Engine and BigQuery, and weather forecasts in Google Search, Gemini, Pixel Weather, as well as the Google Maps Platform Weather API, have all been upgraded to WeatherNext 2. Sources.
Google Play Adds “Where to Watch” Feature
According to Android Authority, Google Play has begun adding a new “Where to Watch” feature on store pages. Users can directly search for streaming shows, and Google Play will display information about the program along with buttons that link straight to the platforms where it is available, allowing playback with a single tap. This feature significantly reduces the time users spend searching for specific shows. Sources.
Cities: Skylines II Switches Development Teams
On November 17, the development team behind Cities: Skylines II announced that publisher Paradox Interactive and developer Colossal Order have ended their partnership of more than ten years. The statement noted that the decision was made jointly by both teams to ensure the strongest possible future for the Cities: Skylines franchise. Starting in early 2026, development of Cities: Skylines II will be handed over to Finland-based Iceflake Studios, a Paradox Interactive–managed studio. Before the transition, Colossal Order will complete the bicycle patch and the beta version of the editor asset manager. Sources.
Just Some Rumors to Glance At
At the “JD Wine Tasting Event” on November 17, Richard Liu announced the launch of the standalone JD Food Delivery app and the “never-to-be-commercialized” JD Reviews. He also introduced “Qixian Coffee,” which will exclusively use fresh milk, with 3–5 new stores opening each week. The goal is to achieve basic coverage across major districts in Beijing by the end of this year. Sources 1 2
At the 2025 Honor Carnival event, Honor showcased a prototype of the HONOR ROBOT phone. Its core design involves retracting a gimbal-style camera beneath the glass back panel of the device. Sources.
In an 8-K filing submitted to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on November 14, Logitech confirmed that data had been stolen in July by the Cl0p ransomware group through an Oracle E-Business Suite vulnerability. The specific information stolen has not been disclosed. Sources.
Weibo user Yiyi Tech posted close-up photos of two versions of the Huawei Mate80 Pro packaging box. The images indicate that different versions of the Mate80 Pro will feature either the Kirin 9030 or Kirin 9030 Pro chipset. Sources.
The X platform has begun rolling out its new end-to-end encrypted “Chat” feature to replace traditional direct messages. However, X emphasized that the system lacks protection against man-in-the-middle attacks and does not encrypt metadata. Sources.
“Antitrust Compliance Guidelines for Internet Platforms” released for public comment
OpenAI fixes ChatGPT’s em-dash overuse issue
Europe to begin taxing low-value Chinese e-commerce parcels ahead of schedule
iOS 26 flaw allows modification of system files to unlock disabled feature
Huaqiangbei storage product prices surge
Apple Beijing Huiju store opening soon
Just Some Rumors to Glance At
Apple Accelerates CEO Succession Planning
According to theFinancial Times, Apple is accelerating its CEO succession plan. Several people familiar with the discussions revealed that Tim Cook may step down as early as next year. John Ternus, the current Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering, is widely seen as the most likely successor, though Apple has yet to make a final decision.
Reports indicate that Apple’s board and senior executives have recently intensified preparations for Cook’s transition. Sources emphasized that this succession planning has been underway for years and is unrelated to Apple’s current performance. Cook, who just turned 65 this month, has led Apple for more than 14 years since taking over from Steve Jobs in 2011. During Cook’s tenure, Apple’s market capitalization has risen from around $350 billion in 2011 to today’s $4 trillion.
Apple’s executive team has seen several major changes this year, including the departure of Chief Financial Officer Luca Maestri earlier in the year and the announced exit of Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams. Cook has previously stated that he prefers an internal candidate to succeed him. Apple declined to comment on its succession plans.
“Antitrust Compliance Guidelines for Internet Platforms” released for public comment
On November 15, the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) issued the Antitrust Compliance Guidelines for Internet Platforms (Draft for Public Comment) and opened it for public feedback. The deadline for submitting opinions is November 29, 2025.
SAMR stated that in recent years, the platform economy has developed rapidly, with internet platforms exhibiting strong network effects. Enforcement practice shows that antitrust risks in the platform economy are frequent, and businesses have expressed a need for compliance guidance. In response, SAMR drafted the Guidelines. The document refines the Anti-Monopoly Law but is not legally binding, serving instead as general guidance.
The Guidelines identify four major categories of antitrust risks. Concerning monopoly agreements, it prohibits horizontal agreements between platform operators (such as price fixing or market division) and vertical agreements with trading partners (such as fixing resale prices). It specifically highlights the risks of using algorithms to facilitate coordinated behavior.
Regarding abuse of market dominance, the Guidelines outline the factors for determining whether a platform holds a dominant position (such as market share, control capability, user dependence, and entry barriers). They prohibit dominant platforms from engaging in unfair high or low pricing (e.g., charging excessively high commissions), below-cost sales (such as unjustified excessive subsidies), refusal to deal (e.g., delisting products, restricting traffic, blocking accounts), exclusive dealings (“choose one of two”), tying or imposing unreasonable conditions (such as forcing “lowest price on the entire internet” or mandatory collection of unnecessary user data), and discriminatory practices (such as “personalized price discrimination based on big data”).
The Guidelines also note that concentrations meeting the declaration thresholds must be filed in advance, and platforms should avoid participating in monopoly behaviors encouraged or coordinated by administrative authorities.
To manage these risks, the Guidelines require platforms to establish a full-chain risk prevention system covering pre-event, ongoing, and post-event compliance management. They emphasize reviewing platform rules and screening algorithms to ensure algorithm transparency and explainability, avoiding “black-box algorithms.” The document also outlines compliance assurance mechanisms, including establishing compliance management bodies and implementing reporting, training, and assessment systems.
OpenAI fixes ChatGPT’s em-dash overuse issue
On November 15, OpenAI announced through its official Threads account that it has fixed ChatGPT’s issue of excessively using em dashes. For a long time, overuse of the em dash has been widely regarded as an effective indicator of AI-generated text. CEO Sam Altman confirmed the update in a post on X, calling the fix “a small win, but a nice one.”
Although em dashes are a perfectly legitimate punctuation mark and have been widely used in serious writing such as literature and academic work, many AI models have struggled to restrain their tendency to overuse them, making the symbol a recent target of widespread criticism. Over the past few months, numerous academic papers, emails, ad copy, and online comments have been criticized for their “ChatGPT-style em dashes.” Even when users explicitly requested “no em dashes” in prompts, ChatGPT would stubbornly use them anyway.
This update does not mean that ChatGPT will stop using em dashes by default. According to Altman, users need to explicitly request this in their personalized settings under Custom Instructions.
Europe to begin taxing low-value Chinese e-commerce parcels ahead of schedule
According to the Financial Times, EU finance ministers reached an agreement on November 13 to accelerate a plan aimed at curbing cheap imports from China. Beginning in early 2026, the EU will impose tariffs on small parcels from e-commerce platforms such as Shein, Temu, and Alibaba, in an effort to protect domestic retailers from unfair competition. This timeline is more than two years earlier than originally planned.
Under the agreement, the EU will formally abolish the current €150 duty-free threshold for imported goods by mid-2028. Before that, starting in early 2026, a temporary tariff will first be introduced. Two diplomats revealed that this temporary tariff will likely take the form of a fixed fee, as customs systems would otherwise be overwhelmed if required to process the correct tax rate for each individual item.
The EU’s economics commissioner noted that in 2024, imports of such low-value parcels reached 4.6 billion items, 91% of which came from China. In a letter to national ministers, the EU trade commissioner called this move a crucial step toward ensuring Europe’s competitiveness and providing fair conditions for businesses. The Dutch finance minister similarly stated that the EU needs to regulate the influx of cheap Chinese parcels.
Back in August of this year, Trump also issued an executive order suspending the U.S. de minimis trade rule entirely. Previously, the U.S. threshold had been raised from $200 to $800 during the Obama administration, making it one of the highest duty-free limits in the world.
In response to the EU’s actions, China’s ambassador to the EU, Cai Run, warned against the rise of trade politicization and protectionism, calling for dialogue to resolve frictions. China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it hopes the EU will provide Chinese companies with a fair, just, and non-discriminatory business environment.
iOS 26 flaw allows modification of system files to unlock disabled feature
Recently, researcher Hana Kim disclosed a vulnerability found in iOS 26.2 Beta 1 and earlier versions. By exploiting this flaw, attackers can modify files under the usually protected /private/var/ directory, thereby enabling various Apple-disabled or hidden features.
According to Hana Kim, the vulnerability is made possible because the iBooks daemon bookassetd possesses elevated write permissions but does not strictly validate target write paths. Meanwhile, the iTunes Store daemon itunesstored can control bookassetd by writing files—yet itunesstored itself can be influenced by files writable by ordinary users.
To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker can first use standard device management software to write a specially crafted SQLite file instructing itunesstored to pass another specially crafted SQLite file—disguised as an EPUB e-book—to bookassetd. bookassetd then follows the instructions and overwrites other specified system files, effectively achieving sandbox escape.
Multiple tools such as Misaka and Nugget—used to unlock Apple’s disabled or hidden features—have announced plans to support iOS 26 based on this vulnerability. These tools work by modifying system files through the exploit. Previously, many of their features became unusable after a key exploit, TrollStore, was patched in iOS 18.2. Developer Duy Tran has even demonstrated enabling iPadOS-exclusive multitasking and windowed app features on an iPhone 17 Pro Max using the new vulnerability.
However, Apple has already patched the flaw in iOS 26.2 Beta 2 and has stopped signing iOS 26.2 Beta 1. Therefore, the vulnerability is available only to existing users who remain on supported versions.
According to Securities Times, Shenzhen’s Huaqiangbei electronics market is experiencing a dramatic surge in storage product prices. Since April this year, prices for memory sticks and SSDs have generally doubled. Some 64GB RAM modules using domestic chips have jumped from just over 1,000 RMB to 4,200 RMB—a more than threefold increase. Vendors report that RAM prices now change several times a day—morning and afternoon prices differ—earning them the nickname “black gold bars.”
The core driver of this price spike is a global supply-demand imbalance. On the demand side, explosive infrastructure growth in AI data centers has sharply increased the need for high-end memory chips. Industry data shows that a single AI server requires 3 to 8 times more DRAM and NAND than a regular server. On the supply side, to protect profit margins, global memory giants such as SK Hynix, Samsung, and Micron are prioritizing production capacity for high-margin AI-focused products like HBM (high-bandwidth memory) and DDR5. They have also announced the discontinuation of DDR4 and other long-standing consumer-focused product lines, prompting an overall supply contraction.
In Huaqiangbei, although some merchants who stockpiled inventory early have seen their “paper wealth” soar, many others say that despite rising prices, sales are declining. This has created a dilemma of being afraid to buy inventory but also unable to sell it. PC assembly vendors have seen a clear drop in orders, and the cost of assembling a single computer has risen by at least 200 RMB. Smartphones are also affected: recent flagship launches from OPPO and vivo have all seen across-the-board price hikes. Xiaomi executives likewise stated publicly that rising storage costs have far exceeded expectations, significantly widening the price gap between storage tiers—such as the Redmi K90, where the 512GB model is 600 RMB more expensive than the 256GB version.
Industry analysts widely believe that this “supercycle” in storage is unlikely to reverse in the short term. Some consulting firms predict that the demand and price momentum for DRAM may continue through 2026. Several A-share–listed storage companies have also said that the industry upcycle will positively impact their performance.
In addition, Reuters, citing insiders, reported that Samsung Electronics raised the prices of some memory chips by as much as 60% compared to September. Research firms predict that Samsung may increase contract prices by 40% to 50% in the fourth quarter, exceeding the industry’s average expectation of 30%. Samsung declined to comment.
Apple Beijing Huiju store opening soon
On November 17, Apple updated its official website with the opening details of Apple Beijing Huiju, announcing that the store will open at 10 a.m. on December 6. Located on the first floor of Beijing Huiju at 15 Xinning Street, Daxing District, it will become Beijing’s sixth Apple Store. According to earlier media reports, the store began recruitment in February this year, and construction started in April.
On Apple’s website, the new store’s slogan is “Gather in Beijing, at Beijing Huiju,” accompanied by a rainbow-colored Apple logo with pixel dots and stripes as background elements. As with previous Apple Store openings, Apple is also offering wallpapers for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch based on this new logo.
Just Some Rumors to Look At
Opera claims that over the past two years, its daily active iOS users (DAU) in Europe have nearly doubled, and in key markets like France, the active user base has grown fivefold during the same period. The company attributes part of this growth to the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), which requires “gatekeeper” platforms such as Apple to allow users to freely choose their default browser.
According to The Wall Street Journal, downloads of Flighty—an iOS flight-tracking app—have doubled due to the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reducing flights during the government shutdown. The app’s key strength lies in its timely, detailed flight data, and its delay and cancellation alerts often arrive faster than official airline notifications.
Under Apple’s newly updated App Store Review Guidelines, the annual percentage rate (APR) for loan apps must not exceed 36% (including all costs and fees), and such apps may not require borrowers to repay the loan in full within 60 days.
Apple is planning to abandon its iconic fall keynote model, shifting instead to a more distributed release schedule throughout the year. In 2026, Apple is expected to launch three high-end models in the fall (iPhone 18 Pro/Max and the foldable iPhone), followed by the iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e mid-range and entry models in the spring of 2027—roughly six months later. The goal is to distribute revenue more evenly across the year, reduce concentrated pressure on marketing, engineering, and the supply chain, and respond more flexibly to competitors like Samsung.
The second-generation iPhone Air was never planned for release next year, so recent rumors of a “delay” are inaccurate. Apple views the iPhone Air as a way to stockpile technology and supply-chain experience for its foldable devices. Its sales performance is roughly comparable to that of the Plus model it replaces.
Apple has canceled development of the M4 Ultra chip. The next high-end M5 Ultra will debut in the Mac Studio. The high-end Mac Pro desktop has been put on hold, and Mac Studio is expected to become Apple’s main professional desktop offering.
☕️ TL;DR Recent recommendations: Film — Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle – Chapter 1: Akaza Strikes AgainFilm — Predators .TV (US) — Homos Season 1. TV (CN) — Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty: Chang’an .TV (HK) — News Queen 2 .TV (KR) — The Manipulation Game. TV (US) — The Diplomat Season 3. TV (JP) — Living Slow in a One-Story House. Film — The World of Wonders: 35th Anniversary Special – Legendary Autumn Special. Animation — Tatsuki Fujimoto 17–26
A few exciting trailers: Super Mario Galaxy: The Movie official trailer, Toy Story 5 teaser, The Devil Wears Prada 2 first trailer, Fallout Season 2 official trailer, People Come, People Go first teaser.
A few film & TV updates: First Kiss set for Mainland China release on December 5; Yesterday’s Youth set for December 5; Cells at Work! (Live Action) will release on November 22; Death Stranding: ISOLATIONS officially announced.
“The strong protect the weak—that is the true law of nature!”
@SHY: The final battle is here. The Master steps into the fray himself, cornering Muzan Kibutsuji, while the rest of the Demon Slayer Corps rush to his aid—only to be transported into the demon-infested Infinity Castle. Shinobu encounters Doma, the murderer of her sister; Zenitsu reunites with his former senior Kaigaku; and standing before Tanjiro and Giyu is none other than Akaza, the Upper Rank Three who killed Flame Hashira Kyojuro Rengoku.
If Hollywood blockbusters are the crown jewels of American film, then Demon Slayer is undoubtedly the flagship of Japanese animation. Ever since Episode 19 “Hinokami” went viral, studio ufotable has spent multiple seasons and a feature film refining its production system, finally reaching a new peak with the Infinity Castle trilogy. Using 3D modeling as the base and layering it with meticulously crafted hand-drawn animation, the film constructs dynamic multi-dimensional action throughout the endlessly expanding otherworldly space—delivering visuals that are nothing short of breathtaking.
The film’s three central battles each shine in their own way. With fluid camera movements and spectacular effects, the clashes of Breathing Styles and Blood Demon Arts erupt with overwhelming force—while the showdown with Akaza remains electrifying from beginning to end. Both sides unleash everything they have; the action is grand and explosive, while the flashbacks are tender and deeply emotional—evoking tears more than once. This record-breaking entry pushes the cinematic potential of 2D animation to its limits, delivering a sensory feast rivaling even the most polished live-action blockbusters.
@SHY: Deik, a Predator considered a disgrace to his clan, sets out alone on a long and grueling off-world hunt. There, he encounters Sia—a Weyland-Yutani synthetic who has lost the lower half of her body—and the two form a temporary alliance. But threats loom from every direction: not only from the planet’s native species, but also from Sia’s former comrades. Only through blood and battle can they carve out the faintest chance of survival.
Following last year’s “Zelda saves Link” comeback moment, the Predator—long relegated to being stylishly beaten up in his own franchise—finally rises to the forefront as the main protagonist. Director Dan Trachtenberg, long hailed as the savior of the series, overturns the usual formula by placing the Predator in a disadvantaged position. Forced to face a hostile alien environment and Earth fleets armed with cutting-edge technology, the reversal of hunter and prey naturally opens the door to a far more unpredictable—and compelling—adventure.
The film knows exactly what its audience wants: satisfying, relentless action above all else. Embracing a blood-and-fire aesthetic, it stages cathartic battles between monsters, mechs, and synthetics. This time, the Predator—struggling to survive on an alien world—no longer relies solely on high-tech gear; instead, he fashions deadly weapons from whatever the environment provides, giving the action scenes not just visceral thrills but tactical nuance. While the screenplay isn’t particularly outstanding, the film is ultimately a well-crafted, thoroughly entertaining popcorn blockbuster—one that restores confidence in the future of the franchise.
[TV Series] The Sympathizer — Season 1
Keywords: Drama / Sci-Fi
Also known as: Wycaro
Runtime: About 50 minutes per episode × 9 episodes; Douban link
Your health and happiness mean everything to us.
@潘誉晗: 439 days ago, scientists detected a set of mysterious signals. These signals followed a pattern, almost like Morse code, urgently waiting to be decoded. Realizing it might be some kind of genetic sequence, they immediately launched animal experiments. On this day, Carol and her agent witnessed something bizarre at a bar—everyone around them suddenly froze mid-action, bodies twitching as if someone had hit a universal pause button.
A cosmic virus from 600 light-years away had struck Earth. But instead of causing bloodshed or mass casualties, it simply merged over a billion people into one collective being. Everyone began sharing memories, resources, and consciousness—everyone except a handful of survivors, including Carol. But this created an utterly terrifying scenario: aside from the few who remained untouched, no one was themselves anymore.
When the entire world is submerged in a blissful virus and wholeheartedly embraces it, and you alone are still awake—should you act? And how do you resist billions of people? Created by the teams behind Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, and starring Better Call Saul’s Rhea Seehorn, this apocalyptic series uses a high-concept premise to deliver a dystopian parable. Its opening is nothing short of stunning.
[Mainland China] Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty: Chang’an
@潘誉晗: Picking up right where Season 2 left off, Lu Lingfeng, Su Wuming, and the rest of the six-member team return to Chang’an to escort the Golden Peach of Kang Kingdom. With the peach’s arrival, bizarre incidents begin unfolding across the flourishing Tang Empire. Anyone who consumes the Golden Peach becomes the target of an attack by a giant bird. Meanwhile, Chengfo Temple has been far from peaceful in recent months—strange cries of a woman echo through the night, casting the temple into public suspicion.
After a year-long wait, the highly acclaimed third season of the “Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty” series arrives as promised, bringing eight brand-new cases: The Golden Peach of Kang, The Crying at Chengfo Temple, The Traces of Baize, The Record of Nuogao, Five Feet from Heaven, Mural of Qiting Pavilion, The Borrower of Years, and The Prosperous Polo Match. Blending historical elements with supernatural intrigue, the series once again carries forward the Chinese horror aesthetic and ghost-tale style of its previous seasons. With light and shadow as its brush and the eerie as its ink, each atmospheric case is gleaming with mystery. Hidden within the flickering candlelight, every truth reveals and interrogates the depths of human nature. At the same time, the political duel between Emperor Li Longji and the Princess adds yet another layer of intrigue. The lavish and resplendent Tang Dynasty unfurls like an illusion-woven dream—seemingly enchanting, yet roiling with undercurrents beneath its beauty.
[Hong Kong Drama] The Queen of NEWS 2
Keywords: Drama
Also known as: The Queen of NEWS Season 2 / The Queen of NEWS: Continuation / The Queen of NEWS Ⅱ
Runtime: About 42 minutes per episode × 25 episodes
@潘誉晗: Riding on the momentum and acclaim of its first season, The Queen of NEWS 2 became a hit even before airing, setting a new platform record for the highest number of ads in a single episode—an undeniable testament to its commercial value. The story wastes no time either: within the first five minutes, a key character from the previous season, Leung King-yin, dies. His position is then taken over by an outsider, Koo Chau-wah, who cares only about how sensational a news story is and whether it can bring more profit to the TV division. Meanwhile, Man Wai-sum, having left SNK, decides to change her career lane and ventures into independent media.
A building collapse in Yuen Long, dark conspiracies in the real-estate world, the impact of AI anchors on the news industry… With its familiar pacing, the new season continues to tackle topics that closely mirror reality. Yet this increased realism also brings even more complex challenges to Man Wai-sum, who now fights her battles alone. Back at SNK, she had resources—now, she has only herself to rely on. At the same time, the show pulls no punches in exposing the darker side of the workplace: shirking responsibility, pressure from upper management, and more. It’s precisely through these raw revelations that the women who uphold their professional values shine all the brighter—resilient, unwavering, and powerful.
[K-drama] The Manipulated
Keywords: Drama / Crime
Also known as: 조각도시 / The Manipulated
Runtime: About 60 minutes per episode × 12 episodes; Douban link
A Shawshank Redemption–style version of Squid Game.
@潘誉晗: Delivery worker Park Tae-jong is kind-hearted and hardworking, yet he ends up in prison for a brutal rape-and-dismemberment case. He didn’t kill anyone, but the police presented “irrefutable” evidence. Sentenced to life behind bars, his girlfriend leaves him, and his younger brother dies as a result of the scandal. Later in prison, he meets a new inmate whose case mirrors his exactly—even down to having the same defense lawyer. It’s only then that Tae-jong realizes everything was part of a meticulously orchestrated trap.
Adapted from the film Fabricated City, the series retains certain elements of the original while expanding its scope with fresh storytelling. After all, Ji Chang-wook, the lead actor of the film, stars again in the drama. This time, the narrative introduces a more enigmatic mastermind—chaebol Ahn Yo-han, a man who delights in manipulating the fates of others. Born into privilege and armed with limitless wealth and power, he specializes in cleaning up messes for the elite. To people like him, someone like Tae-jong is the perfect scapegoat.
The powerless taking on the powerful—this fast-paced revenge drama delivers both emotional catharsis and adrenaline. The action scenes are solid too.
[U.S. Series] The Diplomat Season 3
Keywords: Drama / Thriller
Also known as: The Diplomat Season 3
Runtime: About 50 minutes per episode × 8 episodes
Marriage—somehow even more complicated than diplomacy.
@潘誉晗: Season 3 of The Diplomat returns with a stunning cold open—the sudden death of President Rayburn. The unexpected crisis throws everyone off balance. According to the 25th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, Vice President Grace steps in as President. But Kate knows all too well what Grace is capable of. She wants to become Vice President herself, to support Grace and keep an eye on her. Instead, Grace appoints Hal as Vice President.
The reshuffled political landscape not only alters global dynamics but also forces Kate into a personal and professional dilemma. Should she move to Washington as the Vice President’s wife, or stay in London as an ambassador? By its third season, this female-led political thriller uses its high-stakes scenarios to further explore the challenges women face in balancing career and family.
As a highly capable ambassador, Kate has all the talent she needs to prove herself. If she can rise through sheer merit, why should she become an accessory to any man? Marriage, after all, is harder to navigate than diplomacy.
[Japanese Series] Hiraya-sumi
Keywords: Drama
Also known as: ひらやすみ
Runtime: About 15 minutes per episode × 20 episodes; Douban link
What does a life without worries look like?
@利兹与青鸟: At 29, Hiroto Ikuta is still a freeter—an ordinary-looking man with no steady job, living off part-time work. Kind and introverted, he becomes close friends with an elderly woman named Hide, and upon her passing, he unexpectedly inherits her single-story Tokyo house with a small courtyard. This miraculous windfall suddenly makes Hiroto the object of everyone’s envy—the man who seemingly has no worries at all. His cousin Natsumi Kobayashi gets accepted into an art university in Tokyo and moves in with him. Naive, adorable, and prone to shouting her childhood cat’s name whenever she has a social anxiety meltdown, Natsumi is the perfect contrast to Hiroto, whose life has been slow and unchanging. And so begins their shared life under one modest roof.
Adapted from the picture book of the same name and narrated by Satomi Kobayashi, the series glows with warm sunshine tones and moves with the same unhurried pace as its title—yet each episode is only 15 minutes. The story flows through daily meals and small gatherings of friends. Hideki, a married friend about to become a father, envies Hiroto’s carefree freedom as he grapples with family pressures. Natsumi, unsure of her future and unable to confess that her dream is becoming a manga artist, struggles quietly. The girl who will soon enter Hiroto’s life is an overworked real estate agent who can’t help but grumble about how relaxed Hiroto always seems. And Hiroto himself—carefree and uncomplicated—becomes a gentle, healing harbor for everyone around him.
[Film] The World of Wonders — 35th Anniversary Special: Legendary Masterpieces, Autumn Special
No matter how far civilization advances, it will one day come to an end — but as long as humanity exists, stories will always be needed.
@Sholmes: Tokunaga is drowning in debt when he receives an invitation to play a game of “Red Light, Green Light.” Whenever he hears the command, he must remain perfectly still for 30 seconds. If he succeeds 30 times, he’ll win 3 billion yen. Misaki and Kensuke lose their way; the couple spots a place called “Your Museum” by the roadside and decides to go in to ask for directions. Morisaki returns to his apartment after work only to be informed by city officials that he must move out. Due to a surge in crimes occurring specifically on the seventh floor of buildings nationwide, the government has decided to eliminate the seventh floor from all structures. A son, who ran away from home when he was young, grows up, marries, and moves into a house that once appeared in his father’s paintings, triggering waves of memories.
The first two stories expose the darker sides of human nature — in a cutthroat world where everyone schemes against each other, even the closest relationships demand caution. But the final story shifts toward warmth, centering on family bonds and reconciliation. No matter how many years have passed, blood ties remain unbroken. The contrast between good and evil beautifully illustrates the complexity of human nature. And when the son regrets not fulfilling his filial duties, the father’s line — “Your birth was the greatest act of filial piety” — is deeply moving. The “Seventh-Floor Dispute” story expands the theme to a national level, evoking parallels to real events such as the absurd agricultural output reduction policy implemented when Japan’s rice prices surged. Its outrageous premise cleverly satirizes real-world bureaucracy and societal contradictions.
[Animation] Tatsuki Fujimoto 17–26
Keywords: Manga Adaptation / Fantasy / Romance / Youth
Also known as: 藤本タツキ 17-26 / Tatsuki Fujimoto 17-26
Runtime: Approximately 18 minutes (per episode) × 8 episodes
@SHY: How does a genius manga artist come to be? You can find the answer by looking at his early works. This time, multiple studios have come together to adapt eight short stories that Tatsuki Fujimoto created between the ages of 17 and 26 into an animated series, giving us a glimpse of his growth as an artist. His early work, There Were Two Chickens in the Yard, already established his signature quirky imagination and romantic expression. The following three stories are all centered around vibrant love, each with its own charm. From the boy who confesses his unrequited love to his teacher, to the president who throws caution to the wind for a confession, and the atypical love between a killer and a vampire — each couple is both touching and lovable.
The later stories from ages 22–26 are more mature. Mermaid Rhapsody is full of youthful energy, with a sudden ending that’s classic Fujimoto style. The Illness of Waking Up as a Girl barrels ahead with its fantastical premise, but underneath all the chaos, it hides a delicate emotional core. The Prophecy of Nayudo incorporates many elements of Chainsaw Man, where the destructive brushstrokes are unusually tender. The final story, The Sister of My Sister, which was released last, uses art as its central theme, exploring the bond between sisters caught in the divergence of their talents. It’s almost like a prelude to Looking Back.
Fujimoto’s ideas alone carry the weight of this high-quality animation anthology, and with this, it leaves us eagerly awaiting future adaptations like Flame Fist and Goodbye, Eri.
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[Film] Now You See Me 3 @潘誉晗: For years, the seemingly powerful Vanderberg family has been using their diamond business to build a vast criminal network. To restore justice, the original Four Horsemen reunite, determined to expose the family’s crimes. Nine years later, the Now You See Me series finally returns with its long-awaited third installment. Close-up magic, holographic projections, group hypnosis, mirror mazes, upside-down castle rooms… the Horsemen’s tricks still dazzle the crowd — and still “steal” justice with flair.
[Film] Frankenstein @利兹与青鸟: Guillermo del Toro, the Mexican director long obsessed with monsters, finally gets to adapt Mary Shelley’s classic. Yet the film is not as unique as many expected. Told through fragmented perspectives of Victor and the Creature, the movie uses refined, visually striking imagery to explore the feverish and brutal medical science of the 19th century, oppressive patriarchy, the loneliness of a broken creation, and the tenderness and love beneath gothic horror — while also rewriting the ending.
[K-drama] The Sin You Witnessed @潘誉晗: Out of anguish for her friend Hee-soo, who suffers domestic abuse, Eun-soo — once a victim herself — decides to help Hee-soo murder her husband to win freedom. Based on Japanese writer Okuda Hideo’s novel Naomi and Kanako (also adapted into a brilliant Japanese drama), the Korean remake localizes the story while centering on two abused women committing a shared crime. It shines a spotlight on domestic violence and carries strong real-world relevance.
[Chinese Series] Double Shadows @潘誉晗: Police discover an ATM withdrawal tied to Qin Hong — a fugitive who has been on the run for over a year for murder. Following this lead, they find Ma Weicheng, who eventually confesses that Qin Hong is already dead and her body was dumped into the sea. Adapted from author Zefan’s novel, the series follows a woman’s path of revenge, weaving in family ethics, fraud, and other social-realist elements that give the story extra depth.
[US Series] Palm Royale Season 2 @Sholmes: After the beach gala, Maxine is sent to a psychiatric facility, her friend Linda is detained, and Robert lies in a coma after being shot. In control of the situation, Norma schemes to force a divorce between Douglas and Maxine to activate the family trust. Caught in hallucination-blurred dreams, Maxine overhears Norma’s plot to destroy her, escapes the facility, and vows revenge. Beneath Palm Beach’s sunlit glamour and martinis lie schemes, betrayal, and the harsh reality of women being suppressed.
[US Series] Derailed Frontier @潘誉晗: A prison transport plane crashes in Alaska, carrying 52 inmates and one mysterious last-minute prisoner. For this group of criminals, the crash symbolizes freedom. The survivors immediately scatter into the wilderness. Brutal fugitives struggle to survive the frozen wilds while local detectives chase them and simultaneously clash with the CIA. An airborne jailbreak and a deadly manhunt in the extreme cold — the show is tense, severe, and gripping.
[Taiwanese Series] Had I Not Seen the Sun @利兹与青鸟: Notorious “Rainstorm Killer” Li Ren-yao turns himself in, giving documentary planner Zhou Pin-yu the chance to interview him. Through real-world investigation and eerie, dream-like visions, she unravels threads involving domestic abuse, school bullying, and authoritarian violence, planting suspense around shifting identities. The dark, unsettling atmosphere is well-crafted, though the pacing is slow and some plot choices predictable. Still worth watching for the actors and performances.
📅 This Week’s New Trailer
Super Mario Galaxy Movie Official Trailer
On November 12, the animated film Super Mario Galaxy Movie released its first official trailer Directed again by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, with Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, and Jack Black all returning to voice their roles. Brie Larson joins as the voice of Rosalina, and Ben Safdie voices Bowser Jr. The film is set for a global release in April 2026. Source
First Teaser for Toy Story 5 On November 12, Pixar unveiled the first teaser forToy Story 5, which will hit North American theaters on June 19, 2026. Directed and written by Andrew Stanton, the film brings back voice actors Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, and Joan Cusack. This time, the toys face a major “digital-age crisis,” going head-to-head with the electronic devices that today’s kids can’t seem to put down. Source
First Trailer for The Devil Wears Prada 2
On November 13, the first trailer for The Devil Wears Prada 2 was released The film is set to hit North American theaters on May 1, 2026. David Frankel returns as director, with Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Meryl Streep reprising their roles. Miranda’s career is beginning to decline, while Emily is now an executive at a luxury conglomerate—and Miranda desperately needs the company’s advertising revenue. Source
Official Trailer for Fallout Season 2 On November 13, the acclaimed game-to-series adaptation Fallout unveiled its official trailer for Season 2, premiering December 17 on Amazon Prime Video. Westworld creator Jonathan Nolan continues to helm the project, with Ella Purnell, Aaron Moten, and Walton Goggins starring. This season takes viewers across the Mojave Wasteland and into the post-apocalyptic city of New Vegas. Source
First Trailer for Man vs. Bee (Christmas Special) On November 10, the British series Man vs. Bee released its first trailer. The four-episode special will arrive on Netflix on December 11. Directed by David Kerr, it marks the return of legendary comedian Rowan Atkinson (Mr. Bean). Trevor Bingley—who previously caused chaos in Man vs. Bee—once again sparks a chain of hilarious mishaps while house-sitting, delivering a warm yet chaotic Christmas comedy. Source
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Official Trailer for King Marty: Directed by Joshua Safdie (Good Time, Uncut Gems), the film stars Timothée Chalamet and Gwyneth Paltrow. Set in the 1950s, it follows American table tennis player Marty Mauser and his pursuit of a grand dream. The film is set to hit North American theaters on December 25. Source
New Trailer for Marvel Series Wonder Man: Starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Ben Kingsley, the series follows a retired filmmaker who returns to the industry to shoot a new project. An aspiring superhero actor, a washed-up veteran, and an opportunistic agent all rush to join the fray, as various figures converge to expose the darkest corners of Hollywood studios. The 8-episode series will premiere on Disney+ on January 27, 2026. Source
First Trailer for Monarch: Legacy of Monsters Season 2: Kurt Russell, Anna Sawai, Kiersey Clemons, Ren Watabe, and Takehiro Hira all return. The fierce battles between Godzilla and the Titans reduce San Francisco to ruins, leading into a shocking new world where monsters truly exist. The season is scheduled to launch on Apple TV on February 27, 2026. Source
📽 Weekly Film & TV News
** First Kiss Sets Mainland China Release for December 5** On November 12, the film First Kiss released its mainland China release trailer and poster, announcing a December 5 premiere. Directed by Ayuko Tsukahara (Unnatural) and written by Yuji Sakamoto (We Made a Beautiful Bouquet), the film stars Takako Matsu and Hokuto Matsumura. It tells a story of love and reunion that transcends time, boasting a high Douban rating of 8.5. It was also recommended in this week’s “What to Watch,” issue 250801. Source
Youth Yesterday Sets Mainland China Release for December 5
On November 10, the film Youth Yesterday released its mainland China release trailer and poster, announcing a December 5 premiere. Written and directed by Ryuichi Sakamoto’s son, Sora Neo, the story takes place in a near-future Tokyo plagued by frequent earthquakes. Five high school students — including Yuta and Sachi — must face a choice between friendship and self-interest after pulling an outrageous prank. The film was also recommended in “What to Watch,” issue 250404. Source
Live-Action Cells at Work! Sets Mainland China Release for November 22
On November 12, the live-action film Cells at Work! released its mainland China release trailer and poster, confirming a November 22 premiere. Directed by Hideki Takeuchi and starring Mei Nagano and Takeru Satoh, the film follows a red blood cell and a white blood cell teaming up to protect the body, as bacteria and viruses storm in for an all-out microscopic showdown. The film was also recommended in “What to Watch,” issue 250411. Source
DEATH STRANDING ISOLATIONS Announced
On November 13, it was revealed that the game Death Stranding will receive an original animated series titled DEATH STRANDING ISOLATIONS (working title), slated to premiere on Disney+ in 2027. Directed by Takayuki Sano and produced by E&H Production, with Hideo Kojima serving as executive producer, the series tells the stories of ordinary people — each dealing with loneliness in their own way — as Sam travels across the North American continent. Source
