US Bans Foreign-Made Drones as Foldable Phone Prices Rise

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has officially prohibited the import of new foreign-made drones and critical components into the United States. This decision follows determinations by national security agencies that these unmanned aircraft systems pose an unacceptable risk. FCC Chair Brendan Carr clarified that the ban applies only to new imports, allowing existing drones to remain in use.

In the consumer electronics sector, foldable phone manufacturers have largely solved hardware limitations regarding size and weight. However, affordability remains a significant barrier for consumers. Samsung's latest Galaxy Z Fold 7 launch price highlights this trend, sitting higher than previous models. Additionally, a major data breach occurred involving Spotify, as the shadow library group Anna's Archive announced the successful scraping of the platform's entire music metadata collection.

The Federal Communications Commission has assigned foreign-made drones and their critical components as prohibited imports into the US. The agency stated that several national security agencies have determined that unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) produced in foreign countries pose an unacceptable risk to the United States' national security.

FCC Chair Brendan Carr clarified on social media that the ban does not affect previously sold drones. People can continue using devices they have already purchased, and retailers can keep selling models already approved by the agency.

One of the most well-known brands affected by the ban is the Chinese company DJI. A spokesperson for the company expressed disappointment regarding the agency's decision, noting that while DJI was not singled out specifically, no information has been released regarding what data was used by the Executive Branch to reach this determination.

Manufacturers like Google and Samsung have iterated on their large foldable devices year after year, addressing prior flaws and issues. In 2025, both companies delivered significant improvements. With the Galaxy Z Fold 7, Samsung achieved a notable accomplishment by creating a foldable phone of essentially the same size and weight as its own S25 Ultra.

Despite these hardware advancements, the one issue manufacturers have not solved is affordability. The launch price of the Z Fold 7 is $2,000, which is $200 higher than the Z Fold 5's debut price. This indicates that pricing is actually moving backward rather than forward, with the OnePlus Open from 2023 costing $1,500 after rebates.

The open-source search engine Anna's Archive claims to have scraped Spotify's entire music library. The group acquired metadata for approximately 256 million tracks, including 86 million songs, with a total size just under 300 TB. The group stated they discovered a way to scrape the platform at scale to build a music archive aimed at preservation.

In response, Spotify confirmed that it identified and disabled the user accounts engaged in unlawful scraping. The streamer has implemented new safeguards for these types of anti-copyright attacks and is actively monitoring for suspicious behavior.

Meanwhile, Amazon has updated its Alexa Home Theater feature with spatial surround sound. Users can link up to five Echo speakers and a subwoofer for a wireless cinematic experience. While the setup is easy, the high price tag of a full Echo Studio array and limited EQ controls suggest it is best suited for those already invested in the Amazon ecosystem.

Paramount has submitted an updated bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, signaling continued consolidation in the media landscape. In gaming, Nintendo is offering huge discounts on Switch 2 games during its holiday sale.

For those looking for new titles, several games were highlighted as top picks for the year, including the long-awaited Silksong, the critically acclaimed Expedition 33, and Baby Steps. Additionally, smartphone games such as Spooky Express, Is This Seat Taken, and Umamusume: Pretty Derby are noted as worthy time-killers.