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Daily Tech News Roundup - 2025-12-22

1. Honey: all the news about PayPal’s alleged scam coupon app
Source: https://www.theverge.com/24343913/paypal-honey-megalag-coupon-scam-affiliate-fees
Summary: PayPal’s Honey browser extension has been lauded for years as an easy way to find coupons online. But some are calling it a “scam” after a deep dive from YouTuber MegaLag, who accused Honey of “stealing money from influencers,” and returned one year later with a second video that says Honey targeted minors, collected data […]

2. Waymo resumes service in San Francisco after robotaxis stall during blackout
Source: https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/21/waymo-suspends-service-in-san-francisco-as-robotaxis-stall-during-blackout/
Summary: Waymo suspended its SF robotaxi service on Saturday evening after a massive blackout appeared to leave many of its vehicles stalled on city streets.

3. Frozen Waymos backed up San Francisco traffic during a widespread power outage
Source: https://www.theverge.com/news/848843/waymo-san-francisco-power-outage
Summary: A power outage struck San Francisco on Saturday that blacked out about 130,000 customers at its peak, according to Pacific Gas and Electric Company, but also caused another problem: stranded Waymo vehicles. Posts all over social media showed the company's autonomous SUVs sitting still in the streets and causing traffic jams. Some people posted videos […]

4. A rough week for hardware companies
Source: https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/21/a-rough-week-for-hardware-companies/
Summary: iRobot, Luminar, and Rad Power Bikes were very different companies, but they faced some similar challenges.

5. Some of our favorite gifts will cost you less than $25
Source: https://www.theverge.com/gadgets/780844/best-gifts-under-25-2025
Summary: Holiday shopping on a budget can feel constricting, especially if you've been invited to a white elephant or need a last-minute stocking stuffer. The good news is that, with this guide, you can leave that stress behind. Whether you're aiming for something practical or fun, we've found plenty of great gifts for under $25 - […]

6. TechCrunch Mobility: Bankruptcy takes out two
Source: https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/21/techcrunch-mobility-bankruptcy-takes-out-two/
Summary: Welcome back to TechCrunch Mobility, your hub for all things “future of transportation.”

7. You need to listen to these Christmas deep cuts
Source: https://www.theverge.com/column/848710/christmas-song-deep-cuts
Summary: It's the holiday season, and Christmas music is utterly inescapable. Look, I love Mariah Carey and Wham! As much as the next guy. But at some point, you get really tired of hearing the same handful of Christmas songs over and over again. So here are 10 suggestions to add to your holiday playlist that […]

8. The 35 best gifts that your teen will actually use
Source: https://www.theverge.com/tech/785418/best-teen-gift-ideas-2025
Summary: Between keeping up with TikTok trends and whatever new gadget just dropped, it's tough to know exactly what teens are into these days. Luckily, we can help. We may be older than teenagers, but many of us here at The Verge are kids at heart. Plus, we've also got a few staffers with older kids. […]

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