America Online is applying its clout to the world of podcasting. Its AOL.com portal will attract audiences to the increasingly popular medium with original programs, repurposed audio content and powerful search capabilities brought together under the rubric of Podcasting 101. The main page will highlight the 11 most popular podcasts along with a few others chosen by the service's editors. Among those being showcased are content from CNN, KCRW's "Morning Becomes Eclectic" and Harry Shearer's "Le Show," the BBC's "Today" and "From Our Own Correspondent," Sci Fi Channel's "Battlestar Galactica," AOL's own "SportsBloggersLive" and Michael Geoghegan's "Reel Reviews." AOL Music and AOL Radio executive director of music industry relations Jack Isquith said Moviefone's "Unscripted" was a good example of existing programming that he expected to do well as a podcast. "No one's really the interviewer, no one's really the interviewee," he said. "Two of the stars involved in a movie just talk to each other. It's perfect for podcasting. That was created not with podcasting in mind but is a great extension."
The global smartphone market closed 2025 with a story less about recovery and more about transformation. Premium product, ecosystem lock-in, and manufacturing scale are now the forces shaping competition. For business and technology leaders, the latest IDC market study data confirms that smartphones remain a critical indicator of consumer demand, supply chain health, and AI commercialization at the edge. Smartphone Market Development Global smartphone shipments grew 2.3 percent year-over-year in Q4 2025, reaching 336.3 million units and bringing full-year volumes to 1.26 billion units — a modest 1.9 percent annual increase, according to IDC. This smartphone growth emerged despite a memory shortage crisis, tariff volatility, supply chain disruption, and macroeconomic headwinds. What stabilized demand? Two factors: sustained growth in premium devices and strong foldable momentum, combined with accelerated purchases as consumers bought ahead of anticipated price increases. Buyers weren...