In a significant move to address the growing concerns around AI-generated music, Meta and Universal Music Group (UMG) have expanded their existing licensing agreement. The new agreement focuses on protecting artists' rights and preventing the unauthorized use of AI in music creation.

The partnership, announced on August 12, aims to establish a framework for addressing the challenges posed by artificial intelligence in the music industry. With the rapid advancement of AI technology, concerns have been raised about the potential misuse of artists' voices and styles to create synthetic music without proper compensation.

Under the expanded agreement, Meta and UMG will collaborate to develop strategies to combat deep fakes and other AI-generated content that infringe on artists' intellectual property. The companies will also explore ways to leverage AI to benefit artists and the music industry responsibly.

"We are delighted that Meta shares our artist-centric vision for respecting human creativity and compensating artists and songwriters fairly," said UMG Chief Digital Officer Michael Nash. "We look forward to continuing to work together to address unauthorized AI-generated content that could affect artists and songwriters."

The expanded agreement marks a new chapter in the Meta-UMG partnership, including music licensing for WhatsApp for the first time. This opens doors for potential new music-centric features on the messaging platform. While speculative, WhatsApp could incorporate Reels, similar to its integration on Facebook. Beyond WhatsApp, the deal grants Meta's entire platform ecosystem, encompassing Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and Horizon, the rights to utilize UMG-licensed music.

Building upon their initial 2017 agreement, this collaboration could set a precedent for the music industry and other creative fields as AI technology evolves.

Nothing is back in the news, albeit in a non-official capacity this week, where we have some exciting updates about the Nothing Phone 3 launch timeline. The company could make its big reveal in early 2025 via a leaked internal mail from Nothing CEO Carl Pei, quoted by the reliable tipster Evan Blass, aka EvLeaks on X.

The leak, which surfaced online, purportedly shows an internal email from Nothing CEO Carl Pei, hinting at an imminent launch timeline. While not explicitly stating a release date, the email emphasises the importance of a swift product cycle and a focus on early market entry.

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"We need to move faster," the alleged email excerpt reads. "The market waits for no one. We must ensure the Phone (3) reaches consumers as quickly as possible." This message suggests that Nothing aims for a rapid turnaround and will likely capitalise on the early part of the year.

The Nothing Phone 2, with its distinctive Glyph interface and transparent design, garnered significant attention. The Phone 3 is expected to build upon this foundation, featuring upgraded hardware, refined software, and innovative design elements.

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Rumours suggest that the Phone 3 might incorporate Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon processor, offering improved performance and efficiency. Upgrades to the camera system, including improved sensors and AI-powered features, are also highly anticipated.

While this leak should be taken with a grain of salt until official confirmation from Nothing, it adds fuel to the speculation surrounding the Phone 3. Tech enthusiasts eagerly await further announcements from Nothing regarding its next flagship smartphone's launch date, pricing, and specifications.

Apple is set to unveil a new Apple Watch SE later this year, alongside refreshed versions of the Apple Watch Series 11 and Ultra 3, making it an exciting year for Apple Watch enthusiasts.

The upcoming Apple Watch SE is expected to feature a fresh design, moving away from the current model, which is based on the 2018 Apple Watch Series 4. It might adopt a look similar to the 2021 Apple Watch Series 7 or introduce something entirely new.

There’s also speculation that the new model could feature a plastic body, potentially paired with a variety of fun color options. If you're planning to purchase an Apple Watch SE, holding out for this updated version might be a smart choice.

Apple Watch Series 11 and Ultra 3 to Feature Blood Pressure Monitoring and Enhanced Connectivity

Apple's 2025 Apple Watch lineup promises exciting advancements in health and connectivity features. The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is set to introduce satellite connectivity and 5G RedCap support, offering users greater flexibility to stay connected even in remote areas. Meanwhile, both the Apple Watch Series 11 and Ultra 3 are rumored to debut a groundbreaking blood pressure monitoring feature. Rather than providing specific systolic or diastolic readings, this feature is designed to alert users to potential hypertension, helping them take proactive steps for their health. Originally expected in the Series 10, the blood pressure feature was delayed but is now ready to launch. These updates reflect Apple's commitment to combining cutting-edge technology with health-focused innovations, making their watches indispensable for users seeking advanced tools to stay connected and monitor their well-being.

Summary

The Apple Watch Series 11 and Ultra 3 are set to feature enhanced connectivity, including satellite support and 5G RedCap, along with innovative blood pressure monitoring. These upgrades position Apple’s latest watches as essential tools for both health tracking and staying connected, marking a significant leap in wearable technology.

Samsung has announced that it will unveil its next-generation Galaxy S devices, anticipated to be the Galaxy S25 series, on January 22. Before their expected launch, a source has revealed the smartphones' images that highlight certain design modifications anticipated with the latest models. The Galaxy S25 Ultra seems to have the most prominent design modifications, featuring rounded corners. In another development, comprehensive details about all three rumored models in Samsung's forthcoming range have also been revealed.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Series Expected Design
Tipster Evan Blass released the “first official” renders of the Galaxy S25 series through Substack, indicating that the standard model and the Galaxy S25+ will look similar to their earlier versions. Both smartphones feature a camera unit on their backs with identical recognizable camera rings. In the meantime, the front features a matching hole-punch cutout for the front-facing camera.

Nevertheless, that is not true for the alleged Galaxy S25 Ultra. The images support earlier leaks suggesting that the leading Galaxy S model from the South Korean tech giant may feature rounded corners, moving away from the boxy style that has become associated with its 'Ultra' variants in recent years.

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Samsung Galaxy S25 Series Leaked Features
As reported by Android Headlines, the complete Galaxy S25 lineup is anticipated to feature Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC with 12GB of RAM as the standard configuration, though it is still uncertain if this will apply to every region. All models are said to include features like dual-SIM support (including e-SIM), Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3, and a 12-megapixel front-facing camera. They are expected to operate on One UI 7 based on Android 15, which was revealed in October.

The standard Galaxy S25 is rumored to feature a 6.2-inch (2,340×1,080 pixels) Dynamic AMOLED 2X display along with a refresh rate of 120Hz. It might be available in three storage variants: 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB. The device is said to include a 4,000mAh battery that supports both 25W wired and wireless charging. Regarding its size, it might have dimensions of 146.9×70.5×7.2mm and a weight of 162g.

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In the meantime, the Galaxy S25+ is said to feature a bigger 6.7-inch (3,120×1,440 pixels) Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a refresh rate of 120Hz. It is probable that only 256GB and 512GB storage versions will be available, and it might be supported by a 4,900mAh battery with 45W wired charging capability.

The alleged Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25+ might feature a triple rear camera system, including a 50-megapixel main camera, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide lens, and a 10-megapixel telephoto lens with optical image stabilization (OIS) and 3x optical zoom. They are anticipated to feature a 12-megapixel camera with f/2.2 on the front for taking selfies and making video calls.

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is anticipated to be the largest in the lineup, featuring a 6.9-inch (3,120×1,440 pixels) Dynamic AMOLED 2X screen with a 120Hz refresh rate. It is reported to be released in three storage options — 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB. The device might feature a 5,000mAh battery offering 45W fast charging (wired), like the Plus variant. In terms of optics, it will feature a quad camera arrangement. It is anticipated to include a 200-megapixel main lens, a 50-megapixel ultra-wide camera, a 50-megapixel telephoto lens featuring OIS and 5x optical zoom, as well as an additional 10-megapixel telephoto camera with OIS and 3x optical zoom.