Asus pauses phone production, new OpenAI hostnames reference “Sonata”, Anna’s Archive faces new pressure in the U.S.
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Show Notes
Asus Pauses Phone Production
Asus is pausing phone production, effectively ending its Zenfone and ROG Phone lines. The company says it “will no longer add new mobile phone models” and is shifting to “indefinite observation” while still supporting existing owners. The Zenfone 12 Ultra and ROG Phone 9 FE from 2025 may be the final models, though neither shipped in the U.S. Asus hasn’t confirmed a full exit.
OpenAI Hostnames Hint at New Feature
New OpenAI hostnames referencing a feature codenamed Sonata—sonata.openai.com and sonata.api.openai.com—were spotted by Tibor on X. The functionality is unclear but could involve music or audio. This comes as ChatGPT rolls out improvements to chat recall and dictation.
OpenAI CFO Defends Compute-Heavy Investments
CFO Sarah Friar highlighted OpenAI’s tripling of revenue to $20B in 2025 alongside 3x year-over-year compute growth, reaching 1.9 GW. OpenAI shifted from relying solely on Microsoft to multiple infrastructure providers and now supports diversified revenue streams including ChatGPT subscriptions, ad- and commerce-supported free users, and developer APIs, with plans for licensing and outcome-based pricing.
Amazon Ends Commingling, Updates Barcodes
Amazon will end commingling across its fulfillment network on March 31 and revise barcode rules. Brand owners can use manufacturer barcodes, but resellers must apply Amazon barcodes even if UPCs exist. Items without manufacturer barcodes will require Amazon labels. The change allows Amazon to maintain fast delivery while keeping inventory closer to customers.
Read more – Amazon Seller Central
U.S. Court Targets Anna’s Archive
Shadow library Anna’s Archive faces new legal pressure after losing control of its .org and .se domains. A federal court in Ohio issued a default judgment and permanent injunction barring the site and third parties from storing or distributing OCLC’s WorldCat data. The injunction is expected to push hosting and domain providers to take further action.
CISA Acting Director Blocked from CIO Ouster
CISA acting director Madhu Gottumukkala attempted to remove CIO Robert Costello via reassignment, but senior DHS political appointees intervened. The decision, approved without warning, prompted internal backlash. Costello is seen as one of the agency’s top remaining technical leaders.
Xbox Cloud Gaming May Get Ad-Supported Tier
Xbox Cloud Gaming could soon offer ad-supported access for users who buy games but don’t subscribe to Game Pass. Early messages reference “1 hour of ad-supported play per session.” The feature may expand cloud gaming in regions with high hardware costs while keeping Azure servers active. Rollout could coincide with broader expansion in Asia, Africa, and India.
‘Zootopia 2’ Breaks Box Office Records
Disney’s “Zootopia 2” has grossed $1.7B worldwide after eight weekends, surpassing Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” and becoming Hollywood’s top-grossing animated film of 2025. Its success is driven by China, nearing $619M, and strong performance in Japan. The film now ranks No. 9 on the all-time global box office list before inflation.