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It’s been nearly two years since we wrote that New York City would finally be upgrading its transit system to take “tap-to-pay” contactless payments, but Apple’s Tim Cook says it’s finally coming true — on the company’s Q2 earnings call today , the CEO told investors that Apple Pay will begin rolling out to New York City’s MTA transit system starting in “early summer” of this year, letting you tap a phone or watch to pay instantly. But it probably won’t just be Apple Pay, because a few quick web searches show that NYC has actually already announced a specific date for a contactless payment system that should support other phone-based wallets (perhaps rival Android Pay?) and even contactless credit cards. It’s called OMNY (you know, like... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/30/18524761/nyc-mta-subway-bus-apple-pay-omny-contactless-payment-may-31-summer-launch

Spoiler alert: Spoilers ahead for Game of Thrones season 8, episode 3, “The Long Night.” Perhaps you, like countless other that have sounded off on social media in the past few days, had trouble viewing the most recent episode of Game of Thrones , in which the living faced off against the dead in the dark of night . There was plenty of fire to go around, but for the most part, the episode was a flurry of hard-to-see action taking place in poorly lit environments . Even diehard fans were complaining en masse . Know that the decision to film the episode in such a fashion was a purposeful one, according to cinematographer Fabian Wagner, and that he blames your TV settings or the quality of your screen if you had trouble making out what was... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/tldr/2019/4/30/18524679/game-of-thrones-battle-of-winterfell-too-dark-fabian-wagner-response-cinematographer

Facebook introduces Business Catalog for WhatsApp to showcase products. The post WhatsApp future vision: ‘Private commerce’ and payments appeared first on Marketing Land. Please visit Marketing Land for the full article. Via Marketing Land - Internet Marketing News, Strategies & Tips https://mklnd.com/2uxGgu1

Eric Schmidt will depart Alphabet’s board this June, after holding a seat for 18 years. His departure comes just over a year after Schmidt stepped down from his role as Alphabet’s executive chairman — it also comes as Google struggles with internal turmoil over its involvement with US military contracts , potential business in China , and reported cover-ups of sexual misconduct . Schmidt has been a key presence at Google during his time with the company. He initially took a board seat in 2001, when he was made CEO of Google — a role he was given essentially to lend business expertise to what company founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin had been building. In 2011, he left the CEO position and become Google’s executive chairman. At the... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/30/18524495/google-alphabet-board-eric-schmidt-steps-down-18-years

Workplace communication platform Slack says it will be deactivating a public channel dedicated to giving away $1,000 per day to anyone that can guess that day’s selected vocabulary word, citing company policies. The game, called The Word of the Day Is , was started by Gabriel Whaley last week as an experiment. It used a Slack bot to monitor entries, which were any one-word messages entered into the public channel. Winners were then sent the money via Venmo. Whaley, the founder and CEO of a New York City-based creative agency called MSCHF Internet Studios, told The Verge at the time that he was “just trying to keep the internet a fun place and an escape.” In quick order, the game gained popularity and write-ups from major news... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/30/18524451/slack-word-of-the-day-game-banned-violate-policies

The podcast wars are coming. After Luminary’s troubled launch, The Verge ’s Nilay Patel and Ashley Carman sit down with podcast expert Nick Quah of Hot Pod to discuss if Luminary or anyone could be “the Netflix of podcasts” and where the industry is headed. You can listen to the discussion in its entirety on The Vergecast right now. Below is a lightly edited excerpt from the interview. Nilay Patel: I think the podcast war is coming. I think the question of “why isn’t the podcast industry more like TV” is because all of those TV companies have their own distribution. NBC owns antennas in the world, and they control a massive distribution point: cable companies they sell to other cable companies, and that’s a massive distribution point.... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/30/18524296/podcast-wars-apple-luminary-spotify-nick-quah-hot-pod-interview-vergecast

YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki published a blog post today addressing some of creators’ biggest concerns and frustrations, including copyright claims removing ads from their videos, the site’s trending section not showing some of the most popular uploads, and comments being removed for family vloggers. It’s clear from Wojcicki’s blog that addressing the community’s most consistent complaints was a top priority — and chief among those is copyright claims. Copyright claims on videos, which lead to YouTubers not earning ad revenue, are a constant source of aggravation. Many of the situations that Wojcicki indirectly refers to in the blog post are from top creators, like Jimmy “MrBeast” Donaldson, who has spoken about losing out on ad revenue... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/30/18524426/youtube-ceo-creators-copyright-claims-infringement-trending-section-comments

Facebook’s F8 developer conference kicked off today, and the company just finished its opening keynote. Its overwhelming theme, according to CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is that “the future is private.” After a year plagued by controversy over whether Facebook is invading its users’ privacy and encouraging social division, it’s pushing hard on helping people connect with close family and friends. During the keynote, Facebook announced updates to Instagram, Facebook Messenger, and Facebook’s core service. We also got more news about the Oculus Quest and Rift S virtual reality headsets — and about a new dating feature that could spark some very intense interactions between you and your friends. Facebook is being redesigned around groups and events ... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/30/18524068/facebook-f8-2019-keynote-highlights-summary-news-feed-messenger-instagram-oculus

Apple just reported its second quarter financial results , posting quarterly revenue of $58 billion (down 5 percent from the same quarter a year ago) earnings per share of $2.46. The company said its crucially important services division hit an all-time high of $11.5 billion in revenue. iPhone revenue came in at $31.05 billion, still down year over year but enough to make up over 53 percent of Apple’s entire revenue. Mac sales were down, but the iPad, wearables/home/accessories, and services units of Apple’s business all saw gains. “We delivered our strongest iPad growth in six years, and we are as excited as ever about our pipeline of innovative hardware, software and services,” CEO Tim Cook said in the accompanying press release.... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/30/18524404/apple-q2-2019-earnings-iphone-services-ipad-mac-sales-drop

Invest in your customer base in the same way you want them to invest in your company. These three steps can get you started. The post How connected are you to your brand’s customer service? appeared first on Marketing Land. Please visit Marketing Land for the full article. Via Marketing Land - Internet Marketing News, Strategies & Tips https://mklnd.com/2uxGgu1

Earlier this month, nearly two thousand senior-level marketers gathered in San Jose for MarTech®. It was three days packed with learning and networking — strategies and solutions. Couldn’t make it to the show? Fear not. I’ve compiled a list of top-notch event coverage on everything from the... Please visit Marketing Land for the full article. Via Marketing Land - Internet Marketing News, Strategies & Tips https://mklnd.com/2uxGgu1

The National Academy of Sciences took a major step today to oust sexual harassers when members at its annual meeting voted to approve a new amendment that would allow the organization to kick out people who badly violate its new code of conduct . This vote isn’t the final verdict, however: the entire membership of the NAS still needs to weigh in — a process that’s expected to be wrapped up by mid-June. The National Academy of Sciences, or NAS, was founded in 1863, and is one of the three academies that make up the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Together, they conduct massive research analyses and produce reports to help “solve complex problems and inform public policy decisions,” according to their website .... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/30/18524350/national-academy-of-sciences-remove-sexual-harassment-vote

Spoilers ahead for Game of Thrones, season 8, episode 3, “The Long Night” As Game of Thrones moves into the second half of its final season, we’re in the endgame — not just for the remaining contenders for the Iron Throne, but also for the behind-the-scenes string-pullers with their own grandiose plans for the fate of Westeros. Littlefinger’s cunning, Varys’ spy networks, Tyrion’s battle strategies, and Melisandre’s prophecies and fire magic have all been involved in manipulating and shaping the kingdom’s current chaos. But the show has not been friendly to any of its masterminds. In the season 8 premiere, Varys, Tyrion, and Davos Seaworth watch Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen from a distance, musing over their suitability as a marriage... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/30/18522060/game-of-thrones-got-season-8-hbo-final-melisandre-tyrion-lannister-long-night-prophecies-tactics

Google employees say they will hold a sit-in tomorrow to protest alleged retaliation against workers. In a tweet, the organizers of last year’s walkout of Google employees said the sit-in was scheduled for 11AM. From being told to go on sick leave when you're not sick, to having your reports taken away, we're sick of retaliation. Six months ago, we walked out. This time, we're sitting in. 11am tomorrow. #NotOkGoogle #GoogleWalkout pic.twitter.com/GCq0x1O8cZ — Google Walkout For Real Change (@GoogleWalkout) April 30, 2019 “From being told to go on sick leave when you’re not sick, to having your reports taken away, we’re sick of retaliation,” the organizers said in the tweet. “Six months ago, we walked out. This time, we’re sitting... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/30/18524374/google-employee-sit-in-may-1-protest

Facebook announced at its annual F8 developer conference today that its Portal and Portal Plus video calling devices will soon be available in Canada and Europe, starting this fall. The device will also support WhatsApp calls, and all calls will have end-to-end encryption. The $199 Portal and the larger $349 Portal Plus launched last year at a time when consumer trust in Facebook was waning after a string of privacy scandals, and the product had to be delayed for several months in the wake of the Cambridge Analytica data breach. Despite this, Facebook shared onstage today that Portal sales have exceeded expectations, and it’s notable that the company is expanding distribution for the product. Among some of the other features announced... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/30/18524292/facebook-portal-whatsapp-encryption-canada-europe-f8-2019

After announcing plans to reshape Facebook around privacy last month, Mark Zuckerberg used the company’s annual F8 conference to outline more of what that might look like. Zuckerberg opened the conference stating, “The future is private ... So today, we’re going to start talking about what this could look like as a product.” The initiative is still in very early stages, though, and so many of the announcements hint at that direction without actually taking the large steps needed to offer a truly private experience. Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/30/18524255/facebook-8-announcements-instagram-oculus-messenger-whatsapp-redesign-dating-crushes-likes

A lot more convenient, but it’s still first-generation VR Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/30/18523000/oculus-quest-review-vr-headset-price-specs-features

One big upgrade, more small trade-offs Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/30/18523941/oculus-rift-s-review-vr-headset-price-specs-features

Instagram announced at its F8 developer conference today that it’ll start testing a new feature later this week that’ll hide users’ public like counts on videos and photos. The test will only be in Canada, and likes will be hidden in the Feed, permalinked pages, and on profiles. Instagram says it wants followers to “focus on the photos and videos you share, not how many likes they get.” Only the person who owns the account will be able to see how many likes their content received. We thought a feature like this might be in the works. Code hunter Jane Wong published screenshots of this test earlier this month, and at the time, Instagram said it hadn’t tested the feature. Now, we can see it was prepping for the test to run after F8. A... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/30/18523847/instagram-hide-likes-test-canada

Facebook announced an overhaul of its main mobile app today that puts more emphasis on two of its most critical features: events and groups. The company says it’s placing groups front and center as a cornerstone of how it wants users to think of the main Facebook app, while events is getting a fresh coat of paint as one of the most-used parts of the app that keeps users coming back day in and day out. “There are tens of millions of active groups on Facebook. When people find the right one, it often becomes the most meaningful part of how they use Facebook. And today, more than 400 million people on Facebook belong to a group that they find meaningful,” the company said in a blog post. “With this in mind, we’re rolling out a fresh new... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/30/18523265/facebook-events-groups-redesign-news-feed-features-f8-2019

Facebook Messenger’s mobile app for iOS is about to shrink. The company said today that it is working on a new version of Messenger that will be fewer than 30MB (or about 20 percent the size of the current app). The new version of Messenger, which is expected to arrive later this year on iOS, was rewritten from the ground up, the company said. It should launch in two seconds or under, the company said. There are currently no plans to bring it to Android where Messenger Lite has been available since 2015. The move represents Facebook’s latest step to return Messenger to its lightweight roots. After years of expanding into bots, payments, games, and areas, the app had become cluttered and slower to navigate than rivals like iMessage and... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/30/18522871/facebook-messenger-app-size-smaller-download-launch-speed-30mb-f8-2019

Facebook’s plans to pivot into private messaging now have a desktop software component. The company said today that it would bring Messenger, its popular messaging client, to Mac and Windows later this year. Facebook made the announcement at its F8 developer conference in San Jose, California. There are far more mobile phones in the world than desktop computers, and the pace of development for computers has slowed accordingly. But for office workers who spend most of their days using a Mac or PC, messaging is a core function, and a dedicated messaging app could keep them inside Facebook’s ecosystem for hours a day. “People want to seamlessly message from any device, and sometimes they just want a little more space to share and connect... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/30/18522730/facebook-messenger-desktop-mac-windows-availability-f8-2019

Instagram is announcing a couple of new features today that are designed to make the app more appealing to influencers, creators, and online business owners. It’s part of a broader shift within the company to position its photo-sharing app, which is now used by more than 1 billion people every month, as a kind of Facebook replacement. Younger users have for years been leaving the main app for greener, more hip pastures, and Facebook seems to recognize that Instagram is now at a scale and level of cultural ubiquity that it can begin carrying the torch — at least partially. The first new feature, announced today at Facebook’s F8 developer conference, is a redesigned camera with what Instagram is calling Create Mode. The new mode will make... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/30/18523637/instagram-camera-redesign-create-mode-shopping-tags-facebook-f8-2019

Facebook Dating still isn’t available in the United States. But in the five countries where it launched already — and the 14 more that are joining the service today — there’s a new way to see which friends might be romantically interested in you. “Secret Crush,” as the feature is called, lets you express interest in up to nine friends. If that friend has opted into Facebook Dating and likes you back, they get a notification saying someone likes them. If they pick you as one of their secret crushes, you both get notified. You won’t be able to add anyone who hasn’t created a Dating profile, the company said. That could entice more reluctant Facebook users to give Dating a shot — who isn’t curious to see whether a friend secretly likes... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/30/18522924/facebook-f8-secret-crushes-dating-app-hinge-feature

The company announced original content deals with several news and entertainment organizations, including Univision, Wall Street Journal, Live Nation and MTV. The post Twitter puts focus on exclusive media partnerships to attract video advertisers appeared first on Marketing Land. Please visit Marketing Land for the full article. Via Marketing Land - Internet Marketing News, Strategies & Tips https://mklnd.com/2uxGgu1

NASA engineers are investigating a power issue on the International Space Station , which is delaying an upcoming flight to the orbiting lab. On Monday, a switch failure caused some of the station’s power channels to go down. The ISS still has power, though, and the problem doesn’t pose any threat to the crew, but NASA needs to replace the switch before spacecraft can visit the ISS again. To generate power, the ISS boasts eight long solar arrays on the outside of the station that convert sunlight into electricity. That electricity is then rerouted throughout the ISS via four switches known as MBSUs. But now, one of those four switches is acting up. As a result, two of the eight power channels that provide electricity to the station aren’t... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/30/18523864/nasa-international-space-station-spacex-power-channel

Aperture, Apple’s professionally minded photo editing software, will no longer operate on macOS after Mojave, the current version of the Mac operating system. The announcement was quietly made on an Apple support page that was spotted by MacRumors , which gives instructions on how users should import their images into either Adobe Lightroom or Apple Photos. The demise of Apple’s legacy software isn’t exactly unexpected. Apple ceased development of the program back in 2014 , and the following year, it and iPhoto were replaced with the much simpler Apple Photos . Aperture disappeared from the Mac App Store in the same month, but since then, existing owners have been able to continue to use it. That will change in September when macOS 10.14... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/30/18523939/apple-aperture-photo-editing-software-discontinued-macos-mojave

If you want to avoid spoilers, stay current, or participate in social media conversations, you have to watch Game of Thrones the moment it airs. If you have cable, you probably don’t think twice about it. But if you’re looking for an alternative method, one site always seems to have people covered: Twitch. On Twitch, streamers are regularly servicing Game of Thrones fans who want to watch the latest episode for free as it airs — and it’s not exactly with HBO’s approval. With just a few seconds of browsing Twitch’s “Just Chatting” category each Sunday night, it’s easy to come across an assortment of streams showing the new episode. There seemed to be more people streaming the premiere a couple of weeks ago than there were streaming the... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/30/18485658/game-of-thrones-season-8-twitch-stream-hbo-now

Now it's easier to add Pinterest and Quora ads pixels to your site in GTM. The post Quora, Pinterest ads pixel integrations now available in Google Tag Manager appeared first on Marketing Land. Please visit Marketing Land for the full article. Via Marketing Land - Internet Marketing News, Strategies & Tips https://mklnd.com/2uxGgu1

Airbnb is turning its eye towards developing original shows in an effort to create lasting relationships with travelers, Reuters reported last week. It seems like every company is getting into the media game these days, with the scope of projects limited only by their resources. But, by going... Please visit Marketing Land for the full article. Via Marketing Land - Internet Marketing News, Strategies & Tips https://mklnd.com/2uxGgu1

Right now, hundreds of space startups are racing to develop newer, smaller rockets, in order to take advantage of the proliferation of smaller satellites within the aerospace industry. Many of these companies want to get to space the old-fashioned way, by making a rocket that takes off vertically from the ground. But one company has eyed another method for getting to space — by launching underneath the wing of a giant airplane. This is the strategy of Virgin Orbit, the sibling company to Richard Branson’s space tourism venture Virgin Galactic. Virgin Orbit has developed a small rocket called LauncherOne that can put satellites the size of washing machines into orbit. And its launchpad resides at 35,000 feet. Virgin Orbit owns a Boeing... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/30/18522513/virgin-orbit-cosmic-girl-747-boeing-plane-kelly-latimer

Spring is a time of change and gift giving. Lots of people are graduating from high school or college, and either heading into the workforce by getting a job or continuing their education. So as it is customary to gift these individuals for their graduations, we have pooled The Verge staff’s expertise into a list of great gift ideas. These things have either served the staff well, or are things they wish they had when they graduated and moved into new periods of their lives. And so, compiled below is a list of 47 things from Ikea’s Frakta bags at around $5 to the Apple Macbook Pro at $1,799 that would be a great gift for any graduate at any price point. Credits Editorial lead: Michael Moore Art direction: James Bareham Photography:... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/30/18514336/graduation-gift-ideas-grads-college-dorm-2019

Today, PS2 classic Final Fantasy XII is launching on the Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. It’s the same enhanced remake of the game that hit the PS4 two years ago , which proved that, in many ways, FFXII was an experience ahead of its time. Fourteen years ago, the game represented a strange turn for the ever-changing role-playing series, introducing features like real-time combat and a sprawling open world that felt foreign to many players. Today, FFXII feels downright modern — but it doesn’t just hold up well for players. Alexander O. Smith has worked on translating Japanese games into English since the late 1990s. He says that, despite such a long career, FFXII is one of the few games he’s worked on where he doesn’t feel the desire to go... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/30/18523106/final-fantasy-12-phoenix-wright-translation-localization-alex-o-smith-interview

Sphero’s founders just wanted to make robots. In 2010, Adam Wilson and Ian Bernstein asked investors for money to build a business around their clever phone-controlled robotic ball. But in some cases, investors wanted to know what more the business could offer: after they sold one robot to a customer, what came next? The answer was one that many hardware companies have turned to: a recurring revenue model that allows them to rely on customers paying every month or year. To find that model, Sphero experimented with turning the robot into a gaming device, but later, it decided to go all in on its developer tools and make the robots into coding toys that would appeal to schools. At that point, the team pivoted to education as a main focus,... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/30/18522990/recurring-revenue-gadgets-hardware-profit-subscription

Amazon wants to get inside your car. Last year, the e-commerce giant launched a new service that allowed customers to have packages delivered to the trunks of their vehicles. To start out, only General Motors and Volvo vehicles were eligible. Today, that service has been expanded to include 2017 model year and newer Ford and Lincoln vehicles. There are a few caveats: the service is limited to 50 US cities, and the vehicles must come equipped with a modem that allows them to connect to Ford’s connected car cloud services, FordPass Connect and Lincoln Connect. Only Amazon Prime subscribers are eligible. Packages that weigh over 50 pounds, are larger than 26 x 21 x 16 inches in size, require a signature, are valued over $1,300, or come... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/30/18523216/amazon-key-ford-in-car-package-delivery

Microsoft’s Xbox Adaptive Controller started out as two hackathon projects at the company after an idea from a veteran with limited mobility. Designed for gamers with disabilities, the controller has two large programmable buttons and 19 jacks that can be connected to various accessories to make Xbox and PC gaming far more accessible for a number of players. Microsoft is now partnering with the US Department of Veteran Affairs to provide 22 rehab centers with Xbox Adaptive Controllers and allow veterans with limited mobility the ability to play games again. These controllers, which starred in the company’s Super Bowl commercial earlier this year , will be used in therapeutic and rehabilitative activities for veterans, and they’re designed... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/30/18523449/microsoft-xbox-adaptive-controller-military-veterans-partnership

Facebook’s developer conference has become a strange affair. Each year in April, the social network convenes a gathering dedicated to its sprawling platform in San Jose, California, for the thousands of companies, creators, and programmers that depend on it. The conference typically includes announcements for new features coming to Facebook’s suite of apps, along with updates on its more experimental efforts in virtual and augmented reality and artificial intelligence. In recent years, the conference has been overshadowed by controversies related to data privacy, security, moderation, and other topics revolving around Facebook’s struggle to police its platform and reckon with its global influence. Last year, Facebook reportedly delayed... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/30/18522829/facebook-f8-developer-conference-oculus-messenger-instagram-how-to-watch

Tesla plans to sell its solar panels at a price that’s 38 percent lower than the national average in an attempt to halt the decline of its solar business. The New York Times notes that the head of Tesla’s solar department, Sanjay Shah, wants to sell panels for between $1.75 and $1.99 a watt, compared to the national average of $2.85. Shah highlights two main ways Tesla will achieve these price reductions. The first is by standardizing more of its installations. Customers will now only be able to purchase panels in increments of 4kW or 12 panels. Secondly, they will be asked to perform parts of the home installation process such as photographing electric meters and circuit breaker boxes that would have normally required a visit from... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/30/18523750/tesla-solar-panels-price-slash-decline-sales-roof

The ads.txt standard will be the default setting for campaigns in Display & Video 360 as of August. The post Google Display & Video 360 to default to ads.txt inventory, support app-ads.txt appeared first on Marketing Land. Please visit Marketing Land for the full article. Via Marketing Land - Internet Marketing News, Strategies & Tips https://mklnd.com/2uxGgu1