Microsoft achieves 100% renewable energy match for global electricity use

Microsoft today announced it has achieved a key sustainability milestone: matching 100% of its annual global electricity consumption with renewable energy as of 2025.

The milestone marks significant progress in Microsoft’s 2020 commitment to become carbon negative by 2030 and reflects more than a decade of investment in renewable energy infrastructure worldwide.

Since announcing its carbon negative ambition, Microsoft has contracted 40 gigawatts (GW) of new renewable energy capacity across 26 countries, working with more than 95 utilities and energy developers through 400+ contracts.

This milestone positions Microsoft among the largest corporate purchasers of renewable energy globally and reinforces the company’s leadership in driving market investment in carbon-free energy systems. According to Microsoft Ireland’s most recent economic and social impact report, the company has made an investment in 1GW of renewable energy capacity in Ireland.

“In 2020, Microsoft announced a moonshot commitment to become carbon negative by 2030, accelerating work across our company to advance the partnerships and technologies needed to advance sustainability for our businesses, our customers and the world,” said Microsoft’s Chief Sustainability Officer, Melanie Nakagawa and President of Cloud Operations + Innovation at Microsoft, Noelle Walsh. “A key milestone on this journey was our aim to match 100% of our annual global electricity consumption with renewable energy by 2025. Today, we are pleased to share that Microsoft has achieved this milestone. This progress helps drive investment into the power systems where we operate, expand clean energy supply and advance broader energy innovation.”

Driving global clean energy investment

Microsoft’s renewable energy journey began in 2013 with a single 110 MW power purchase agreement in Texas. Since then, its portfolio has expanded into one of the world’s largest corporate clean energy programmes, with partnerships with over 95 global energy suppliers.

The company has also pioneered innovative procurement models, helping scale repeatable and bankable clean energy frameworks across multiple markets, including first-of-their-kind corporate Power Purchase Agreement (PPAs) in Japan and hybrid renewable agreements in India.

Supporting communities and infrastructure

Microsoft’s renewable energy agreements have mobilised billions of dollars in private investment, supported thousands of jobs and embedded community-focused benefits including workforce training, local grants and infrastructure development. The company continues to work closely with energy developers and community partners to ensure clean energy projects deliver local economic and social value alongside environmental benefits.

Looking ahead: expanding carbon-free energy technologies

As global electricity demand accelerates – driven by electrification, AI and digital infrastructure – Microsoft says achieving 100% renewable energy matching is a milestone, not the endpoint.

Microsoft’s Climate Innovation Fund has allocated $806 million to 67 climate-focused investees, with 38% directed toward energy systems innovation.

The company is also deploying AI-driven tools to accelerate power system design, permitting and grid optimisation.

NBI and GAA+ partner to reward broadband customers with streamed championship games

National Broadband Ireland (NBI), the company delivering the new future-proofed, high-speed Fibre-to-the-Home network under the National Broadband Plan (NBP) on behalf of the Government, has announced an exciting new partnership with GAA+, the GAA’s live and on-demand streaming platform.

GAA+ is offering a schedule of c.40 exclusive games for the Championship 2026 season and those new customers ordering a broadband service on the NBI network before 31st March can receive an annual subscription pass valued at €95.

By combining next‑generation broadband infrastructure with modern sports broadcasting, the reward highlights how digital connectivity can bring local sporting moments to audiences right across rural Ireland and the GAA heartland.

Jarlath Burns, GAA President, expressed his excitement at the launch of this partnership: “The GAA is rooted in every community in Ireland, regardless of its urban or rural setting. Making GAA+ as accessible and enjoyable as possible remains a consistent aim and this new partnership with National Broadband Ireland clearly speaks to that ambition.”

“Our platform will once again provide a comprehensive live and exclusive broadcast schedule to supporters across web, connected TVs and apps throughout the Championship from Saturday, April 11th. Working closely with National Broadband Ireland will ensure thousands of our members can avail of enhanced connectivity in their area and look forward to coverage from Provincial Championship and All-Ireland series stages on any connected device in the comfort of their own home.”

The partnership forms part of NBI’s wider efforts to enhance end user experience and highlight the everyday benefits that high‑speed broadband can bring to households and communities.

Speaking of the announcement T.J. Malone, Chief Executive Officer, National Broadband Ireland: “We are very proud to announce our partnership with GAA+ considering that both organisations have such a strong focus on community. NBI’s rollout of high‑speed broadband infrastructure into rural areas is creating new opportunities for families, clubs and supporters to stay connected – whether that is working, learning or watching their county team compete.”

“We see our partnership with GAA+ as a great way to support broadband take-up by giving new customers that order before the end of March, access to 40 exclusive streamed games.” Mr. Malone concluded: “We also believe watching the GAA+ games over the NBI network will enhance the streaming experience.”

More than 451,000 premises across Ireland can now order fibre broadband on the NBI network, with over 165,000 already having done so.

NIKON Introduces Light Weight 50MM-DIAMETER Objective Lens Binoculars

Nikon extends the MONARCH M5 and PROSTAFF P7 lineups with the lightest 50mm-diameter objective lens binoculars in their class.

Designed for maximum portability and comfortable handling without compromising performance, these new models are perfect for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers who want powerful viewing without the weight of traditional 50mm binoculars.

With their streamlined, ultra-lightweight construction, the new MONARCH M5 and PROSTAFF P7 50mm-diameter objective lens models prove that full-size binoculars don’t have to be heavy. The MONARCH M5 10×50 binoculars weigh just 640 g, and the 12×50 model weighs 650 g. The PROSTAFF P7 10×50 binoculars weigh 630 g, and the 12×50 model weighs 645 g. Easy to carry and handle, they’re ideal for bird or nature watching and can be comfortably used during longer observation sessions without a tripod.

Despite their minimal weight, the new binoculars offer well-balanced, all-round optical performance. The large 50mm objective lenses provide excellent light-gathering capability while Nikon’s superior optics and advanced multilayer lens coatings reveal fine details with brilliant clarity. From birdwatching at dawn to stargazing after sunset, outdoor users of all ages will be able to enjoy beautifully bright views even in low-light conditions.

Elena Korotiy, Senior Manager Sport Optics Nikon Europe says: “By achieving class-leading weights alongside excellent optical performance, Nikon have removed the traditional trade-off between size, weight, and performance. These binoculars are light enough to take anywhere, yet powerful enough to encourage observation in challenging lighting conditions: they’re perfect for anyone who wants to enjoy a clearer view without worrying about the size or weight of their gear.”

New key features: MONARCH M5 and PROSTAFF P7 10×50 and 12×50

Incredibly lightweight 50mm objective lens binoculars: excellent portability, superior light-collecting capability, and superb optical performance for detailed, high-resolution views and more comfortable handling.

Streamlined MONARCH M5: 10×50 model weighs 640 g, 12×50 model weighs 650 g.

Streamlined PROSTAFF P7: 10×50 model weighs 630 g, 12×50 model weighs 645 g.

Wide apparent field of view: moving subjects can be quickly spotted thanks to a wide 60.8° apparent field of view in the 12×50 models. The 10×50 models have a 55.3° apparent field of view.2

Refined exterior design: the lightweight, streamlined body uses fibreglass-reinforced polycarbonate resin and fits comfortably in the hand. The Nikon and MONARCH M5 or PROSTAFF P7 logos are engraved in Nikon’s yellow.

Optional TRA-3 tripod adaptor: compatible with the new 10×50 and 12×50 models.

Additional key features: MONARCH M5

Renowned Nikon optics: multilayer lens and prism coatings, ED glass, and a dielectric high-reflective multilayer coating for bright, high-contrast views with natural colour.

Waterproof and fogproof: waterproof (up to 1 m for up to 10 minutes), with O-ring seals and nitrogen gas.

Long eye relief: ensures a clear field of view, even if wearing glasses.

Multi-click turn-and-slide rubber eyecups: make it easy to position eyes at the correct eyepoint.

Rubber armour: provides a firm, comfortable grip and protects from bumps, knocks, and drops.

Flip-down objective lens caps: to prevent loss of the lens caps.

Additional key features: PROSTAFF P7

Renowned Nikon optics: multilayer lens and prism coatings, a dielectric high-reflective multilayer coating, and phase-correction prism coatings for bright, high-contrast views with natural colour.

Easy to care for: oil- and water-repellent coatings make it easy to wipe away moisture, fingerprints, and smudges.

Dioptre adjustment ring locking system: once the dioptre is set, it can be locked in place.

 

 

Waterproof and fogproof: waterproof (up to 1 m for up to 10 minutes), with O-ring seals and nitrogen gas.

Long eye relief: ensures a clear field of view, even if wearing glasses.

Multi-click turn-and-slide rubber eyecups: make it easy to position eyes at the correct eyepoint.

Rubber armour: provides a firm, comfortable grip and protects from bumps, knocks, and drops.

The Coombe Hospital takes top prize – 2026 National Digital Awards

Digital Business Ireland, the country’s largest representative body for digital and online businesses, recognised The Coombe Hospital with the National Website of the Year Award at an awards ceremony in Dublin last night.
The 2026 National Digital Awards were held at Pitch Dublin where The Coombe Hospital was crowned alongside other winners and runners-up in front of over 250 attendees from the digital sector. 
The sold-out event recognised the best digital achievements in businesses throughout the country. It consisted of 16 categories featuring the best websites, people, and digital innovations of the year across all sectors. The Coombe, a leading hospital for maternity and women’s healthcare was the winner of the Most Trusted Website of the Year as well as taking home the top prize of National Website of the Year winner, selected from all of the finalists in the website categories.
The event marked the sixth year of the awards, with high quality submissions from more than 300 businesses, people, and organisations from across Ireland.
Digital Business Ireland also presented the Taoiseach with the Digital Changemaker of the Year award, awarded to worthy individuals who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and impact in advancing Ireland’s digital transformation. The organisation’s selection panel selected the Taoiseach in recognition of his personal leadership in advancing Ireland’s AI and digitalisation agenda, the appointment of Ireland’s first Minister of State for AI and the establishment of the National AI Office, and his continued advocacy for innovation to promote economic growth.
2026 saw the highest-ever number of entries for the Best New AI & ML Project Award, which was won by AI solutions provider Galvia AI. Other notable winners included the female education and empowerment charity, The Shona Project, which took home the Progressing Diversity Award, as well as placing as runner up in the Marketing Campaign of the Year category.
This year’s awards were supported by key sponsors including Byrne Wallace Shields, All Human, Core Optimisation, Hibernia Venture Labs, .IE, Truffle Hog, the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland, Pitch, Rockwood Public Affairs and Strike Digital.
Speaking of the awards, Victor Timon, Chairperson of Digital Business Ireland said: “Over the past six years, the National Digital Awards have witnessed tremendous growth in entry numbers and quality, demonstrating the growing importance of the sector and the ways in which businesses are embracing digital tools to increase efficiency and change. Throughout the judging process, we have been inspired by the dynamism, ingenuity, innovation, and talent of the organisations, businesses, and the people involved. 
I would like to congratulate the winners and runners-up in each of the 16 categories this year, and in particular our Digital Changemaker of the Year Winner, An Taoiseach Micheál Martin, who’s sustained commitment to positioning the country at the forefront of technological change has been an enormous boon to  Ireland’s digital ecosystem. However, I would also like to offer my sincere thanks to all who entered this year’s awards, and I encourage those who have not been successful this year to take the key learnings on board from this year’s process and get involved once again for the 2027 iteration.”
The sold-out event was held in Pitch Dublin, with MC Anna Daly, the Irish television presenter and former host of TV3’s breakfast show, Ireland AM, as the Master of Ceremonies for the evening.
Digital Business Ireland (DBI) is the voice of the Irish digital commerce sector. Set up in 2019, DBI is comprised of a community of over 8,000 businesses and counts a number of national trade representative bodies, large technology companies and SMEs among its members.
The organisation consists of a wide range of online and digital businesses including retail, hospitality, professional services, travel, technology, transport, education, leisure, agri-business and property.
Digital Business Ireland is a member of the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment’ Digital Advisory Forum and the Retail Forum.
SEE THE FULL LIST OF WINNERS HERE
Awards
Winner
Runner Up
National Website of the Year
The Coombe Hospital
GPO Museum
Marketing Campaign of the Year
Musgrave Group Daybreak
The Shona Project
Sustainable Business of the Year
Revolution
Esri Ireland
Best New AI and ML Project
Galvia
Irish Life and Kreoh
Mobile App Excellence Award
Express Merchants
AddJust
Ecommerce Business of the Year
EZ Living Furniture
Hotel&SpaResorts.com
Digital Impact of the Year Award
ALONE
TURN2ME
Next Generation Award (Under-30)
Chris Barrett, RDI Hub
Eve Lawler, Circular Style
Women in Digital Award
Melissa Proxenos, Brightbeam
Kate Colleary, Pembroke Privacy
Progressing Diversity Award
Ellen Conway, The Shona Project
Jennifer Keane, PayGap.ie
Digital Trailblazer of the Year
Brian Hanly, Brightbeam
Kathrin Chambers, Fáilte Ireland
Digital Changemaker OTY
Taoiseach Micheál Martin
Large Business Website of the Year
EZ Living Furniture
Fintua
Most Trusted Website of the Year
The Coombe Hospital
RIP.ie
New Website of the Year
GPO Museum
Activity Time
Medium Business Website of the Year
Expert Ireland
Carraig Donn
Small Business Website
Babogue
Dingle Sea Safari

Apple opens new Dublin Office and expands in Cork

IDA Ireland today welcomes Apple’s official opening of its new Hollyhill 5 building in Cork, representing another strong endorsement of Ireland as a location for global innovation and advanced operations. The purpose‑built facility, which can accommodate 1,300 employees, reinforces Apple’s long-term commitment to the South West region and builds on more than four decades of continuous strategic investment in Ireland.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD said: “I’m delighted to open this state-of-the-art new facility in Hollyhill today and to see firsthand the major investment that Apple is making here. The contribution Apple has made in Cork and Ireland over the last 45 years cannot be overstated  – creating thousands of highly-skilled roles and continually investing in their Irish operations.”

Apple’s presence in Ireland has evolved significantly since 1980, growing from a small manufacturing facility to become the company’s European, Middle East, India and Africa headquarters. Its continued expansion reflects both the strength of the Irish talent pool and the competitive environment that supports global technology leaders.

Cathy Kearney, Vice President, Operations, Apple said: “We’ve called Ireland home for more than 45 years and are proud to continue expanding our operations and investing in our people and community here. Our 6,000 team members in Ireland play a critical role in supporting Apple’s customers in Europe and beyond and we’re delighted to build on this later this year with our new office in Dublin.”

IDA Ireland also congratulates Apple on the opening of its new Dublin office – the company’s first permanent presence outside Cork –  which will support the ongoing diversification and development of its Irish operations.

Dónal Travers, Executive Director, IDA Ireland, said: “Apple’s continued investment demonstrates clear confidence in Ireland as a strategic base for its global operations. The new Hollyhill 5 facility, together with Apple’s new Dublin City Centre office, further strengthens the company’s ability to grow, attract talent and innovate from Ireland. We look forward to deepening our partnership with Apple and supporting its continued success.”

FUJIFILM instax mini Evo Cinema Review

The FUJIFILM instax mini Evo Cinema has been one of the most questioned about devices I have had to date and quite the talking point at home and when out and about especially when testing it out along with the instax mini Link+ smartphone printer.

This camera also comes with an on board printer and an app which transfers data from the camera to your phone and you can edit shots in there and see all your videos an photos you have taken.

This is a one handed device looks cool and full of switches and dials and the main feautre is the dial that allows you to turn back time giving your videos that retro look we have some samples below so you can see what this is all about. You can pick between the 1920s up to the 2020s on the dial and see the differences with them.

On the side there is the on/off button still and cine and framing button along with the zoom and print options. You can also adjust the lens for more effects and there is a clip on eye piece there. All of this might sound cumbersome but it is not and still looks super cool and again you can print on the go which is neat. On the back is an LCD monitors a naviwheel for adjusting settings and several other buttons one being a back button play button and menu button.

On the front is your adjustable lens your mirror for selfies for photos and videos your flash and the capture button for videos and photos, the clips can be up to 15 seconds for videos only.

After you go through the settings let the nostalgia begin with videos and photos you can replay or look and images and videos on the camera itself or have them auto transfer to your smartphone and do some more like editing and so on, we have some clips to shows you with different years and editing below..

Overall this is a niche camera but fun and looks great, there was some lag during testing and battery life not great but enough for what most will use it for and with USB-C charging it will charge faster than previous cameras and it is a joy to use looks great and a great conversation starter and not forgetting you do not need a separate printer as there is on built in which makes this shine even more.

 

Mini Evo App

 

Main Features: 

Eras Dial™

The mini Evo Cinema hybrid instant camera features a first for instax™ cameras – the Eras Dial™, which allows users to apply photo effects from 10 different eras to their image – from the grainy, pale tones of the 1930s, to a 1960s effect inspired by 8mm film cameras, to the vibrant colors of the 1980s, and to the sharp, rich imagery of the 2020s. Each era is designed to capture the look and feel of the imagery of that time.

Degree Control Dial

Content created in each era can be fine-tuned with any of the 10 effects from the Degree Control Dial on the lens. By simply rotating the dial to precisely adjust color, contrast, and noise expression – users can create up to 10 creative variations per era.

Frame Switch

Once an era is chosen and the intensity of the era is selected via the Degree Control Dial, users can continue to personalize by adding a frame to every shot or video clip utilizing the Frame Switch. There’s a frame for every era, each paying homage to the characteristics, media, and playback devices that defined that time.

CINE/STILL Modes

Users can easily switch between “CINE” and ”STILL” modes to capture either a video or photo, respectively, with ease. In CINE mode, users can shoot a series of clips – up to 15 seconds in total – and the camera will stitch them into one smooth video automatically. Via the free, downloadable instax mini EvoTM smartphone app, users can connect via Bluetooth® and extend video creations to 30 seconds by adding or reordering clips.

Zoom Lever

The mini Evo Cinema features built-in digital zoom. The tactile Zoom Lever lets you dial up the intimacy of the shot or pull back for greater scope and more atmosphere.

“My Gallery”

Within the instax mini Evo™ app, the My Gallery section provides users a secure place to store the images and videos they create, segmented into categories including Favorites, Printed, Video, Photo, Projects. Through this function, users can also save printed images digitally to their smartphone’s camera roll, finished with the iconic instaxTM mini border.

Video Printing

Users can access videos via a one-of-a-kind instax™ mini instant photo printed with a QR code ready to be scanned and played back on a smartphone. Video is captured as standard at 600 x 800, and with the 2020 Era selection is captured at 1080 x 1440.

Timeless Design

With sleek black, vertical grip design (inspired by Fujifilm’s “FUJICA Single-8”, an 8mm camera introduced in 1965); and analog-inspired details, this hybrid instant camera is meticulously crafted for those who appreciate tactile functions alongside beauty and elegance.

Additional camera features include:

 

  • Remote shooting capability (via app)
  • Integrated Selfie Mirror and Self-Timer
  • 1.54-inch high-resolution LCD Monitor
  • Print Lever
  • The camera features an analog-style printing operation lever – lift and twist to print a photo.
  • Accessories
      • The mini Evo Cinema includes viewfinder and grip attachments, and a premium hand strap.
  • USB-C & Micro SD Card Slots
  • Integrated flash/continuous light source

 

BUY visit https://instax.ie/cameras/mini-evo-cinema/

Other instax reviews

Video Review 

Hosting Holidays Stress-Free: Pre-Party Prep and Post-Party Cleanup

There is a specific kind of anxiety reserved for anyone who has ever hosted a dinner party or a holiday gathering. It starts about four hours before the guests arrive. You are trying to marinate the roast, arrange the flowers, and shower—all at the same time. Then, you look down.

The floor is dusty. There are dog hair tumbleweeds in the hallway. The kitchen tiles have flour on them.

In that moment, you have a choice: Do you spend 45 minutes sweating over a broom and mop, or do you ignore it and hope the lighting is dim enough?

For the modern host, this dilemma is obsolete. The art of stress-free entertaining isn’t about lowering your standards; it’s about delegating the labor. By utilizing a “Two-Phase” cleaning strategy, you can ensure your home is pristine before the doorbell rings and effortlessly restored after the last guest leaves.

This strategy relies on two distinct tools: a vacuum and mop combo for the preparation, and a powerful wet/dry system for the recovery.

Phase 1: The “Invisible” Prep Team

The hours leading up to a party are precious. Every minute spent cleaning floors is a minute taken away from food preparation or your own relaxation. This is where automation becomes your best co-host.

The goal of pre-party cleaning is “Visual Perfection.” You want the floors to shine, the carpets to have those fresh vacuum lines, and the dust bunnies to be banished. However, you do not need to do this yourself.

By deploying a robot vacuum and mop in the morning, you delegate the most physically demanding part of the prep. While you are at the grocery store or prepping ingredients, the robot is systematically navigating your home.

A high-quality combo unit is essential here because it handles dual tasks. It vacuums the high-traffic areas where guests will congregate—the living room, the dining room, the entryway—while simultaneously damp-mopping the hard floors to remove fine dust and footprints.

When you walk into the kitchen to start cooking, the floors are already done. You haven’t lifted a finger. The air feels fresher because the dust has been removed, not stirred up. This psychological win cannot be overstated; starting your evening with a clean slate sets the tone for a relaxed, confident host.

Phase 2: The “Chaos” of the Event

Parties are messy. That is the sign of a good time. People track in dirt from outside. Appetizers get dropped. Drinks get spilled.

In the past, a spilled glass of red wine on a hard floor was a “stop the music” emergency. The host would rush out with paper towels and spray bottles, scrubbing on their hands and knees while guests watched awkwardly.

With the right tools waiting in the wings, you can adopt a more relaxed attitude. You know that no matter what hits the floor—gravy, wine, dip, or mud—you have a solution that doesn’t involve a roll of paper towels.

Phase 3: The Morning After Recovery

The real challenge of hosting isn’t the preparation; it’s the aftermath.

The “Morning After” is usually grim. You wake up to sticky floors. There are crumbs embedded in the rug. The kitchen floor is a map of last night’s cooking spills—droplets of sauce, sticky cocktail residue, and whatever the dog tracked in.

A standard vacuum is dangerous here. If you suck up wet food or sticky liquid, you will ruin the motor and make the canister moldy. A robot is also not the right tool for this level of grime; it is designed for maintenance, not disaster recovery.

This is the domain of the wet dry vac. This device is the ultimate “reset button” for your home.

Unlike a mop, which would just smear the sticky residue around, a wet/dry vacuum washes the floor with fresh water and high-speed scrubbing. It literally eats the mess.

Imagine the post-party kitchen floor:

  1. Solid Debris: Crushed chips, dropped vegetables, breadcrumbs.
  2. Liquid Mess: Dried wine spots, sticky soda, water spills.

With a wet/dry unit, you do not need to sweep first. You simply turn it on and walk forward. It vacuums the solids and washes the liquids in a single pass. The dirty water is extracted instantly, leaving the floor dry and streak-free.

You can clean the entire party zone—kitchen, dining, and living area—in roughly 15 minutes. It transforms a task that usually takes all Sunday morning into a quick, satisfying chore.

The Host’s Secret Weapon

The difference between a stressed host and a gracious one often comes down to logistics.

If you are worried about the cleaning, you cannot enjoy the company. By automating the prep with a robot, you buy yourself time. By securing the cleanup with a wet/dry vacuum, you buy yourself peace of mind.

You no longer have to fear the “red wine spill” or the “muddy shoes.” You know that your home system can handle it. This allows you to focus on what actually matters: the conversation, the food, and the memories.

Ultimately, these tools don’t just clean your floors; they protect your weekends. They ensure that hosting a party doesn’t mean sacrificing your Sunday to the mop bucket.

eBay to Acquire Depop from Etsy

eBay Inc. a global commerce leader that connects millions of buyers and sellers around the world, and Etsy, Inc. the global marketplace for unique and creative goods, today jointly announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which eBay will acquire Depop, a leading C2C fashion marketplace with deep recommerce roots and a highly-engaged Gen Z and Millennial customer base, for approximately $1.2 billion in cash, subject to certain purchase price adjustments.

Depop is a mobile-first, community-powered fashion marketplace experiencing strong momentum with annual gross merchandise sales (GMS) of approximately $1 billion in 2025, including nearly 60% year-over-year growth in the U.S. As of December 31, 2025 the marketplace had 7 million active buyers, nearly 90% of which are under the age of 34, and more than 3 million active sellers — Depop has built a platform where anyone can buy, sell, explore and discover incredible secondhand fashion.

“Depop has built a trusted, social-forward marketplace with strong momentum in the pre-loved fashion category, and we are confident that as part of eBay, Depop will be even more well-positioned for long-term growth, benefiting from our scale, complementary offerings, and operational capabilities,” said Jamie Ianonne, Chief Executive Officer of eBay. “A key C2C driver, fashion represents more than $10 billion in annual gross merchandise volume (GMV) for eBay and delivered 10% year-over-year GMV growth in the U.S. in 2025. This acquisition presents an opportunity to advance one of our newest and fastest-growing Focus Categories with a marketplace that complements our existing presence, and enables us to reach a younger demographic across the expanding recommerce landscape. We’re excited to welcome the Depop team to eBay, and look forward to building on what makes them unique – their brand, culture and community – to deliver compelling benefits to buyers and sellers.”

“We are excited that this transaction allows us to focus exclusively on the compelling opportunity we see in front of us: to grow the Etsy marketplace in ways that matter most to our buyers and sellers,” said Kruti Patel Goyal, Chief Executive Officer of Etsy. “We believe this transaction is a great outcome for Etsy’s shareholders, and a positive next step for all involved. We are proud of what the Depop team has built – a truly differentiated brand and product, grounded in clear purpose and strong community – becoming one of the fastest-growing fashion resale marketplaces in the U.S. I am confident that Depop is well-positioned for its next phase of growth as part of eBay.”

The addition of Depop will accelerate eBay’s C2C strategy by deepening its reach with younger, fashion-forward consumers and expanding its presence in one of the most dynamic areas of resale. As part of eBay, Depop will benefit from eBay’s global scale and suite of capabilities, including its financial services, shipping solutions, and trusted experiences like Authenticity Guarantee to further accelerate growth and enhance the buyer and seller experience. eBay will also expand the visibility of Depop’s inventory, including through cross-listing opportunities, which will amplify global demand and unlock additional market opportunity.

Peter Semple, Chief Executive officer of Depop, added, “We’re thrilled to begin this next chapter with eBay, whose experience in the C2C fashion space and shared belief in people, opportunity, and a more sustainable future positions us to meaningfully accelerate our marketplace in the U.S. and beyond. This transaction is a testament to the significant growth we have delivered as we have evolved our product experience and strengthened our brand’s place in the world. We’re very grateful to Kruti and the Etsy team for their partnership in advancing Depop’s business and mission to make fashion circular.”

Transaction Details and Closing

eBay intends to fund the transaction with cash on hand. Etsy plans to utilize the proceeds for general corporate purposes, continued share repurchases and investment in its core marketplace.

The transaction, which has been unanimously approved by eBay’s and Etsy’s Board of Directors, is currently expected to close in the second quarter of 2026, subject to the satisfaction of certain closing conditions and receipt of required regulatory approvals.

Following the closing of the transaction, Depop is expected to retain its name, brand, platform, and complementary culture.

Earnings Results and Investor Calls

In a separate press release issued today, eBay reported its fourth quarter and full year 2025 financial results and provided its outlook for first quarter 2026. eBay will host a conference call to discuss its results and the acquisition of Depop at 2:00 PM PT / 5:00 PM ET today.

Tomorrow, Etsy will report its fourth quarter and full year 2025 financial results and provide its outlook for first quarter 2026. Etsy will host a conference call to discuss its results and provide additional commentary on its sale of Depop at 5:30 AM PT / 8:30 AM ET tomorrow.

A live webcast of each company’s investor conference calls can be accessed through eBay’s and Etsy’s investor relations websites, respectively.

Gemini app: Create custom music tracks with Lyria 3

Since launching the Gemini app, they built tools to encourage creative expression through images and video. Today, Gemini is taking the next step: custom music generation. Lyria 3, Google DeepMind’s latest generative music model, is rolling out today in the Gemini app. Just describe an idea or upload a photo, like a comical R&B slow jam about a sock finding their match” and in a matter of seconds, Gemini will translate it into a high-quality, catchy track. To push the creative envelope further, you can even ask Gemini to take inspiration from something you upload. See more below.

Lyria 3 improves on audio generation from the previous model version in three important ways: 

  1. No need to provide your own lyrics! They’ll be generated for you based on your prompt.

  2. You have more creative control over elements like style, vocals and tempo you want.

  3. You can create more realistic and musically complex tracks. 


Here’s how you can use it:

  • Text to tracks: Describe a specific genre, mood, inside joke, or memory to create unique tracks with lyrics or instrumental audio that fits your vibe. “Create a track about my favorite meal my mom used to make, it was made of rice, plantains and beans. Use an Afrobeats vibe and the singer should sound West African.” 

  • From photos and videos to track: Upload a photo or video and watch Gemini use the content to compose a track with lyrics that fit the mood perfectly. “Use these photos to create a track about my dog Duncan on a hike in the woods.” 


The Gemini app creates 30-second tracks with custom cover art generated by Nano Banana. This makes it easy to quickly share with friends by downloading or simply clicking the share link. The goal of these tracks isn’t to create a musical masterpiece, but rather to give you a fun, unique way to express yourself.

Creators can also explore Lyria 3 on YouTube’s Dream Track. Available in the U.S. and now rolling out to YouTube creators in other countries, Lyria 3 will enhance the quality of each unique Shorts soundtrack. Whether it’s creating a lyrical verse or a vibey backing track, being able to better customize the soundtrack will take creators’ Shorts to the next level.

New audio verification capabilities 

All tracks generated in the Gemini app are embedded with SynthID, our imperceptible watermark for identifying Google AI-generated content. We are also giving you more tools to help identify AI content, broadening our verification capabilities in the Gemini app to include audio. Simply upload a file and ask if it was generated using Google AI, and Gemini will check for SynthID and use its own reasoning to return a response.

Our commitment to developing generative AI responsibly 

Since we first launched Lyria in 2023, we’ve sought to develop this technology responsibly in collaboration with the music community. We’ve learned a lot through these collaborations and our experiments, like Music AI Sandbox, and have been very mindful of copyright and partner agreements as we’ve trained Lyria 3. 


Music generation with Lyria 3 is designed for original expression, not for mimicking existing artists. If your prompt names a specific artist, Gemini will take this as broad creative inspiration and create a track that shares a similar style or mood. We also have filters in place to check outputs against existing content. We recognize that our approach might not be foolproof, so you can report content that may violate your rights or the rights of others. Additionally, in order to use our products, users must adhere to our Terms of Service and Gen AI prohibited use policies, which prohibit violations of others’ intellectual property and privacy rights. 


Lyria 3 is available in the Gemini app for all users 18+ in English, German, Spanish, French, Hindi, Japanese, Korean and Portuguese, with plans to expand quality and coverage of more languages. And Google AI Plus, Pro and Ultra subscribers will enjoy higher limits. Our goal with music generation in the Gemini app is to help you add a fun, custom soundtrack to your daily life. Try it out today at gemini.google.com.