Mashable

Live Nation, parent company of infamous live event ticket platform Ticketmaster, has violated federal and state antitrust laws in its dominance of the market, a federal jury ruled Wednesday.

A judge will choose what remedy fits the crime, which could include forcing a breakup of Live Nation and Ticketmaster, the New York Times reported. Live Nation will be ordered to pay monetary damages, as well.

SEE ALSO: Parents are turning their teens' texts into AI emo songs

The industry has been waiting for this decision for years, following the federal government's 2024 filing alleging the company uses "unlawful, anticompetitive conduct," including long-term exclusive contracts with venues and threats of financial retribution against venues and artists, to retain a "monopolistic control" over the live entertainment market.

"The result is that fans pay more in fees, artists have fewer opportunities to play concerts, smaller promoters get squeezed out, and venues have fewer real choices for ticketing services. It is time to break up Live Nation-Ticketmaster," the initial filing read.

The move was partially inspired by extremely high ticket prices for popular, international tours and an outcry from the artists themselves, including Taylor Swift and her army of legally adept fans. Music industry giants, including Pearl Jam, have for decades attempted to break up Ticketmaster's control over live entertainment.

Live Nation has faced several legal battles related to its alleged market monopoly, including a lawsuit filed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in September, which alleged that the company made billions off of deceptive ticket resale practices.

The Justice Department settled with Live Nation last month, a move that has been scrutinized by congressional leaders. But 34 states remained on the case, and their recent win may profoundly shift the industry.

Amazon's first true rival to Samsung's The Frame finally has a release date. The Amazon Ember Artline, a 4K QLED TV that can display artwork, will launch in the U.S. on Wednesday, April 22, according to a company press release. Preorders are now open.

The Ember Artline comes in a 55-inch size ($899.99) and a 65-inch size ($1,099.99). Shoppers can take their pick from 10 interchangeable frame colors.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon 55-inch Ember Artline 4K QLED TV $899.99 at Amazon
  Pre-order Here Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon 65-inch Ember Artline 4K QLED TV $1,099.99 at Amazon
  Pre-order Here

Amazon originally unveiled the Ember Artline at the Consumer Electronics Show in January, where it also announced that it would be rebranding all of its smart TVs with the "Ember" moniker. (The Fire TV name will still apply to Amazon's TV interface, streaming media players, and soundbars.) Amazon's TV listings had been updated to reflect the new branding by the time of writing on Wednesday, April 15.

SEE ALSO: What to look for when buying a TV, as told through this easy TV specs guide

Ember Artline owners get access to a library of over 2,000 art pieces for free, per the press release:

There’s no extra cost or subscription required to access the thousands of free art pieces available on the Amazon Ember Artline. Our collection spans artistic movements and includes Impressionist classics by Monet, Degas, and Renoir, alongside contemporary works of street art, murals, mixed media, and photography. Customers also have access to 60 exclusive motion video pieces commissioned by documentary filmmaker Sam Nuttmann, who traveled the world capturing landscape and wildlife scenes.

If you're not sure which pieces will look best on your wall, the Ember Artline can offer suggestions using its AI-powered "Match the Room" feature. Simply upload a couple of pictures of your room by scanning a QR code with your phone. The TV will pull artwork options based on the colors and decor style of your space, as well as any "recurring themes" in your existing wall art, Amazon said.

You can also have the Ember Artline display slideshows and collages of your personal snapshots by connecting it to your Amazon Photos account.

Amazon's AI-powered "Match the Room" feature can suggest art pieces that fit your home's vibe. Credit: Amazon

Notably, the Ember Artline is the only TV in Amazon's lineup with a matte finish, which makes it more convincing as artwork than a traditional screen.

Billed as "Amazon's first lifestyle TV," the Ember Artline is now the most affordable alternative to Samsung's The Frame, a popular premium 4K QLED TV that doubles as artwork. Competing options like the Hisense CanvasTV and the TCL NXTVISION TV cost $999.99 and $1,299.99, respectively, in 55-inch sizes. Samsung's latest 55-inch The Frame also goes for $1,299.99.

SEE ALSO: Best 65-inch+ TVs for watching in dark and bright rooms

In 2022, Amazon updated its cheaper Fire TV Omni QLED Series (now Ember QLED Series) with an "Ambient Experience" gallery feature that replicates The Frame's Art Mode, letting it display art or photos. However, that model lacks a matte finish and picture frame-like bezel — meaning the Ember Artline is Amazon's first proper The Frame dupe.

Price aside, the Ember Artline's extensive and completely free library also makes it a compelling buy. The Frame owners get access to a rotating selection of only 30 pieces per month; its full library of 5,000-plus pieces is locked behind a Samsung Art Store subscription ($4.99 per month or $49.99 per year). The Hisense CanvasTV is preloaded with around 1,000 pieces, while the TCL NXTVISION TV has access to only 350-plus artworks, but over 100,000 pieces of AI-generated art.

The Ember Artline includes access to more than 2,000 free art pieces. Credit: Amazon

Based on a cursory glance at its spec sheet, the Ember Artline's only major downsides appear to be its lack of Dolby Atmos support and its basic 60Hz refresh rate. With smoother refresh rates of 120Hz to 144Hz, its rivals are better for gamers and hardcore movie buffs.

The Ember Artline comes with a custom wall mount, but if you'd rather prop it up on a console, you can buy legs for it for $19.99. Extra frames start at $74.99 apiece.

You know the drill. Every once in a while you have to go through your devices and delete the photos, videos, and games eating up your storage so you can download new stuff and keep your device — and your productivity — flowing. 

The process can feel like a time suck, sure. But nothing kills momentum faster than trying to offload photos from your latest trip or client shoot and realizing you’ve got nowhere to put them. Or sitting down to build that awesome slide deck, packed with high-res images and videos, only to hit a "storage almost full" warning halfway through. 

If you think the only way to solve your storage conundrum is to upgrade your device, think again. Sandisk’s lineup of portable flash drives, internal solid-state drives (SSDs), microSD™ cards, and more lets you offload and safely store your files so you can keep shooting, editing, and creating your heart out. 

Check out this roundup of top Sandisk picks to help free yourself from storage anxiety.

Plug-and-stay USB-C storage Opens in a new window Credit: SANDISK Extreme® Fit USB-C™ Flash Drive $219.99 at SANDISK
$274.99 Save $55   Get Deal

The SANDISK Extreme® Fit USB-C™ Flash Drive packs an incredible amount of data storage into its thumb-sized package, allowing you to effortlessly offload large files from your laptop, desktop, tablet, and other USB-C devices. 

Whether you want up to 64GB [1] or a full 1TB [1] of additional storage, this drive transfers files at read speeds up to 400MB/s [2] and helps to safely tuck them away, giving your device the space it needs to perform at its peak. It also checks the portability box. Just plug it in and leave it, and it’ll give you access to your data without having to rely on the cloud or unreliable internet speeds. 

An instant phone-storage hack Opens in a new window Credit: SANDISK Phone Drive with USB-C $134.99 at SANDISK
$174.99 Save $40   Get Deal

Think you need to buy a new phone to score more storage for your photos and videos? Nope. The SANDISK Phone Drive with USB-C is a game-changer for busy students, parents, content creators, videographers, or anyone else who lives on their phones but is constantly hitting walls with their device’s limited storage.

Available with up to 1TB [1] of space, just plug it into your compatible iOS or Android phone, quickly transfer files to your USB-C laptop or tablet at speeds up to 150MB/s [2], and get right back to shooting high-res photos and high-def videos on your now-freed-up phone. The drive also comes in four colors that match the iPhone 16 lineup. 

A boost for your gaming handheld console Opens in a new window Credit: SANDISK microSD Card for ROG Xbox Ally X $99.99 at SANDISK
  Get Deal

Sandisk also delivers fast, reliable, and durable storage solutions designed to keep up with today’s powerful handheld gaming devices, making it easy for gamers to expand their libraries and play with confidence anywhere.

The SANDISK microSD™ Card for ROG Xbox Ally X is an ideal storage upgrade for your ROG Xbox Ally X or ROG Xbox Ally, engineered to match the power and portability of these handhelds. Available in up to 2TB capacities [1], this microSD card lets you carry up to 50 games [3] without juggling space.

Designed with full Xbox integration for seamless compatibility, it delivers up to 200MB/s transfer speeds [2] for quicker load times and smoother gameplay, plus high write speeds for speedy downloads and installs. Built tough with drop, shock, and X-ray protection [4], the new microSD card from Sandisk is certified, tested, and engineered specifically for Xbox and ASUS’ new handheld device, allowing gamers to take their library of games anywhere.

Opens in a new window Credit: SANDISK microSD Express Card $99.99 at SANDISK
$111.99 Save $12   Get Deal

For other new, popular gaming handheld consoles, there’s the SANDISK microSD Express Card. This card is designed with fast read and write speeds, helping to reduce load times, speed up downloads, and enable access to large game files. 

Sandisk’s trusted reliability means your game library stays protected, whether you’re installing massive AAA releases or managing frequent updates. Built for durability, it’s ready for life on the go, from backpacks to travel cases. If you want storage that matches the power of your favorite handheld, this microSD Express Card is a smart upgrade.

This portable 4TB SSD can take it Opens in a new window Credit: SANDISK Extreme Portable SSD $224.99 at SANDISK
$282.99 Save $58   Get Deal

You’re traversing the jungle — leafy or concrete — shooting tons of content and, suddenly, your phone runs out of storage and freezes up. Let the new-generation and very durable SANDISK Extreme Portable SSD save the day. Not only can you transfer 1,000 high-res photos from your phone to the drive in under a minute [5], but you can also safely store up to 4TB [1] of data on it, and the drive is drop, water, and dust-resistant [6].

You can access your files and projects from anywhere, no cloud access or WiFi necessary, while password protection and built-in 256-bit AES encryption [7] help keep your goods protected. Clip this pocket-sized storage life saver to your backpack or slide it into your cargo-pants pocket and get out there with confidence that you won’t run out of storage.  

Forget about having to upgrade your device in order to score more storage. Sandisk offers a range of easy to use and carry data-storage solutions for your compatible phone, laptop, tablet, or other device with the space it needs to perform.

Disclaimers from Sandisk

1. 1GB = 1,000,000,000 bytes. 1TB = 1,000,000,000,000 bytes. Actual storage available to the user is less.

2. Speeds vary by product and capacity. Based on internal testing; performance may be lower depending upon host device, interface, usage conditions and other factors. 1MB=1,000,000 bytes.

3. Number of games based on an average of 36 GB per game stored on a 2 TB SANDISK microSD card for ROG Xbox Ally (X). The number of games will vary depending on file size, format, and other software and other factors.

4. Card only. See product packaging and www.sandisk.com/proof for additional information and limitations.

5. Based on internal testing with an average PNG file size of 30.4 MB; performance may be lower depending on host device, interface, usage conditions and other factors. 1MB=1,000,000 bytes.

6. Based on internal testing. IEC 60529 IP65: Tested to withstand water flow (30 kPa) at 3 min.; limited dust contact does not interfere with operation. Must be clean and dry before use.

7. Password protection uses 256-bit AES encryption and is supported by Windows 10+ and macOS v13+. Software download required, see www.sandisk.com/memoryzone.

SANDISK, the SANDISK logo, and SANDISK Extreme Fit are registered trademarks or trademarks of Sandisk Corporation or its affiliates in the US and/or other countries. Android is a trademark of Google LLC. iPhone is a trademark of Apple Inc. USB Type-C is a registered trademark of USB Implementers Forum.  All other marks are the property of their respective owners. Product specifications subject to change without notice. Pictures shown may vary from actual products.