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Showing posts from August, 2020

Sennheiser brings its top-notch sound quality to less expensive true wireless earbuds

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Image: Sennheiser Sennheiser is today introducing a lower-cost set of true wireless earbuds that slot in below the company’s flagship Momentum True Wireless 2 . At $199.95, the new “CX 400BT True Wireless” — so much for simple names, eh Sennheiser? — aim to retain the strong sound quality of the pricier set, though you’re losing out on active noise cancellation. The CX 400BT True Wireless are not what you’d call subtle. They come in either black or white, but there’s no getting around how big they look in the ear no matter which finish you choose. There’s been a trend recently of companies progressing towards more discreet true wireless earbud designs, but Sennheiser obviously isn’t going in that direction. Image: Sennheiser I don’t... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/1/21409705/sennheiser-cx-400bt-true-wireless-earbuds-announced-price-features

Apple will soon release two Apple Watches and a new iPad Air: report

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Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge Apple is planning to ship between 75 and 80 million 5G iPhones this year, according to a new Bloomberg report . The figure is in line with or slightly higher than iPhone launch shipments for the last couple of years, suggesting that Apple doesn’t expect the coronavirus pandemic to dampen demand — even though the company has already said the phones will be delayed into October. Bloomberg’s report also contains a broad roundup of what Apple is said to be planning for its fall hardware announcements. Here’s what Mark Gurman and Debby Wu expect: Four new iPhones with OLED screens coming in sizes of 5.4, 6.1, or 6.7 inches; the 6.1-inch size will be an option for both the steel-edged “Pro” line and the lower-end aluminum equivalent to the... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/1/21409882/apple-fall-hardware-lineup-iphone-ipad-air-apple-watch

Facebook may block news from being shared on its platforms in Australia

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Illustration by James Bareham / The Verge Facebook plans to block the sharing of local and international news stories on its platforms if legislation requiring tech platforms to pay publishers for content becomes law, the company said in a blog post Monday. “Australia is drafting a new regulation that misunderstands the dynamics of the internet and will do damage to the very news organisations the government is trying to protect,” Will Easton, managing director of Facebook Australia and New Zealand wrote in the blog post, arguing that the commission overseeing the process “ignored important facts,” including the relationship between social media and news media. “Assuming this draft code becomes law, we will reluctantly stop allowing publishers and people in Australia from... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/31/21409644/facebook-block-news-australia-legislation-google-publishers

Google’s Android TV dongle could cost just $50, according to this leak

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Image via XDA-developers Google’s Chromecast is a fantastic way to fling streaming video from phone to TV — but these days, you can often get a Roku Streaming Stick or Amazon Fire Stick with a dedicated remote control for the same money. But what if Google launched an Android TV dongle with its own remote control for the same $50 you’d pay for a high-end Roku or Fire stick? That’s exactly what 9to5Google seems to have discovered , thanks to a new Home Depot leak. The home improvement story briefly listed a Google “Sabrina” for $49.99, and 9to5Google ’s sources were able to provide pictures of that price tag in the Home Depot’s internal systems as well. Sabrina, of course, would be that Android TV dongle that leaked in June , only to seemingly appear again at the... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/31/21409621/google-android-tv-sabrina-hdmi-dongle-price-home-depot-leak

Ikea turned a virtual influencer into a physical installation

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This past weekend, the Ikea Harajuku location in Tokyo was home to something unique: an installation starring a virtual person. The retail giant partnered with Imma, a virtual influencer, in order to explore the concept of “happiness at home.” Over three days, those passing by the first floor could peer into Imma’s living room, watching as she lounged on a couch, mindlessly browsing her phone. Meanwhile, a view into her bedroom was streamed on a screen on the second floor, viewable from Harajuku Station. Of course, these weren’t real living spaces, since Imma is a CG model and not an actual human. But Ikea says that it created the installation using LED screens inside of the physical rooms, which were “curated” by Imma, to give the... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/31/21408626/ikea-tokyo-imma-virtual-influencer

Amazon’s Prime Air inches closer to takeoff in the US with FAA approval

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Amazon unveiled the latest version of its drone last year. | Image: Jordan Stead / Amazon Amazon has been given the Federal Aviation Administration’s approval to operate as a drone airline in the United States, paving the way for it to start offering commercial deliveries on a trial basis, Bloomberg reports . The FAA said that the ruling allows Amazon to “safely and efficiently deliver packages to customers,” according to CNBC , and let its drones carry packages outside of the operator’s visual line of sight. “This certification is an important step forward for Prime Air,” Amazon’s vice president in charge of Prime Air, David Carbon, told Bloomberg , adding that the decision “indicates the FAA’s confidence in Amazon’s operating and safety procedures for an autonomous drone delivery service that will one day deliver packages to... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/31/21408646/amazon-prime-air-drone-delivery-faa-clearance-approval-health-safety-alphabet-wi

Next on MarTech Live: Is this the time to be innovating with Your Martech stack?

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Technologists weigh in on keeping your martech stack as is or experimenting in a time of huge change. Please visit Marketing Land for the full article. Via Marketing Land - Internet Marketing News, Strategies & Tips https://ift.tt/2uxGgu1

Ed Markey’s stan army is taking politics by storm

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Alex Castro / The Verge And they may meme him into reelection Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/21408407/ed-markey-stans-fandom-politics-massachusetts-primary-joe-kennedy

8BitDo made a mod-friendly, wireless arcade stick for the Nintendo Switch and PC

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8Bitdo If you’re serious about fighting games, 8BitDo has announced a mod-friendly, wireless arcade stick that may interest you. It’s designed to work with PC and Nintendo Switch, and you can easily toggle between two sets of controls depending on the platform you’re using. It costs $89.99 and ships October 20th, but preorders are open now from the company’s site and Amazon . The wireless arcade stick supports Bluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless via a receiver hidden in its underside, though you can wire it directly with a USB-C cable (which you’ll need to do on occasion to recharge its 1,000mAh built-in battery). 8BitDo claims that it can last 40 hours per charge while using the 2.4GHz wireless receiver or up to 30 hours via Bluetooth. Wireless... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/31/21402897/8bitdo-wireless-arcade-stick-nintendo-switch-pc-price

Asus’ new ZenBook S has a pixel-packed 3:2 aspect ratio display

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Image: Asus Asus has taken the wraps off its new ZenBook S, a slim ultrabook that can be equipped with up to Intel’s Core i7-1065G7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB of fast PCIe-based storage. Asus gave its flagship laptop a glow-up in the screen department, going from a 16:9 aspect ratio in last year’s model to a taller 3:2 aspect ratio for this year’s 3300 x 2200 touchscreen. What’s more, the bezels surrounding it are thin, and the display is Pantone-validated with 100 percent coverage of the DCI-P3 color gamut. The ZenBook S has plenty of other traits that might make it a worthy contender for your next laptop. It features two Thunderbolt 3 ports that can be used for fast data transfer, connecting to an external monitor, or charging its battery.... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/31/21408478/asus-zenbook-s-flip-13-10th-gen-specs-features-battery-display

New GoPro Hero 9 leaks show off a full-color, front-facing display

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Photo by Brent Rose for The Verge GoPro may be adding one of its most useful new features to its main camera line with the upcoming Hero 9: a front-facing color screen. The feature, revealed in leaked renders obtained by WinFuture , wouldn’t be a first for GoPro; the company added such a screen to last year’s GoPro Max camera. But that device is a 360 camera costing $500 , so adding one to the presumably cheaper Hero 9 — so filmmakers (and especially vloggers) can see in full color what the shot looks like as they record — is a nice touch. The leaks indicate the new front-facing screen would remain the same size as the current monochrome status display, which sits on the front next to the lens. That screen typically displays information like frame rate, resolution, and... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/31/21408480/gopro-hero9-leak-render-front-facing-display-full-color

Capturing the Police

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Read this on TheVerge.com Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/21399867/new-civil-rights-movement-police-brutality-protests-film-videos-black-lives-matter

The Peace Reporters

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Read this feature on TheVerge.com Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/21399866/police-brutality-violence-video-effects-trauma-civil-rights-black-lives-matter

Rocket Lab returns to flight less than two months after launch failure

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Small satellite launcher Rocket Lab successfully returned to flight late Sunday night, less than two months after the company’s previous mission failed to reach orbit during launch. The company’s primary rocket, the Electron, took off from Rocket Lab’s launch facility in New Zealand, deploying a small Earth-observing satellite into orbit around Earth. The launch marked a quick turnaround for Rocket Lab after its failed launch on July 4th . During that mission, the company’s Electron also took off from New Zealand, carrying seven small satellites into space. But just a few minutes into the flight, a faulty electrical connection set off a chain reaction of events that caused the engine on the upper portion of the rocket to shut down early.... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/31/21408378/rocket-lab-electron-return-to-flight-capella-space-sequoia-satellite

The man who collects videos of police brutality

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Police arrive and use pepper spray after a man drove a tanker truck into a peaceful protest on the I-35W bridge over the Mississippi River on May 31, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. A large group of protesters had been marching over the bridge on both lanes before a truck drove into the crowd. | Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images T. Greg Doucette’s list is more than 800 entries long Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/21396100/police-brutality-videos-list-collection-archive-t-greg-doucette

How videos of police brutality can traumatize kids and teenagers

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A protester holds up their homemade sign that says, “Say Her Name” while holding her iphone to record a speaker during a protest at Trump Tower. This was part of the Black Womxn’s Empowerment March that started at Trump Tower and marched to Gracie Mansion. Protesters continue taking to the streets across America and around the world after the killing of George Floyd at the hands of a white police officer Derek Chauvin that was kneeling on his neck during for eight minutes, was caught on video and went viral. During his arrest as Floyd pleaded, “I Can’t Breathe”. | Photo by Ira L. Black/Corbis via Getty Images They’re harmful to the mental health of Black and Latinx adolescents and teenagers Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/21396050/police-brutality-videos-mental-health-ptsd-depression-kids-teenagers

Police body cameras don’t tell the whole story. This experiment shows it.

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Intent is in the eye of the beholder Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/21378159/police-brutality-protests-body-cameras-video-surveillance-black-lives-matter

Why police officers embraced a banned weapon of war

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Police advance on demonstrators who are protesting the killing of George Floyd on May 30, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was arrested for Floyd’s death and is accused of kneeling on Floyd’s neck as he pleaded with him about not being able to breathe. Floyd was pronounced dead a short while later. Chauvin and three other officers, who were involved in the arrest, were fired from the police department after a video of the arrest was circulated. | Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images Tear gas is legal to use on civilians, but illegal for use during war. What gives? Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/21396099/tear-gas-protests-police-weapon-warfare-history-crowd-control

How the police’s grasp on bureaucracy makes their budget so hard to cut

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Thousands of protesters gathered at McCarren Park in Brooklyn for a massive march around Williamsburg, making a loud call for the defunding of the police force. This comes after NYC Mayor Bill De Blasio promised ‘intense change’ with police reform proposals amid calls to defund law enforcement, including shifting resources from NYPD and publicizing officers’ disciplinary records. Brooklyn, NY on June 7th, 2020. | Photo by Erik McGregor/LightRocket via Getty Images Real change takes time, willpower, and sustained resistance — and the technology to make police brutality visible to policymakers Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/21377136/defund-the-police-george-floyd-protest-politics-budget-minneapolis-nyc-austin

You can cop-proof your phone, but there’s a better way to stay safe

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Protesters gathered on the final night of the Republican National Convention which is set to nominate Trump as the Republican candidate for a second term as U.S. President. Washington, D.C.on August 27th, 2020. | Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images The scramble to reclaim digital footprints can hide the deeper logic of protest and the trade-off between risk and reward Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/21396098/police-brutality-protests-phone-digital-footprint-cop-proof-solidarity-safety-secuirty

Surviving a police shooting turned a teenager into an activist

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Leon Ford was 19 when he was shot by police and paralyzed. | Photo by Emmai Alaquiva In 2012, Leon Ford was shot by the police. That was only the beginning of his journey. Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/31/21396054/leon-ford-shooting-pittsburgh-activist-journey-police-brutality

How to feed a protest

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A volunteer watches protesters from a mutual aid van on August 14, 2020 in Portland, Oregon. | Photo by Nathan Howard/Getty Images Amid police targeting, strenuous days, and COVID-19, mutual aid networks provide vital support Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/21377132/mutual-aid-solidarity-protests-food-assistance-police-brutality

The advantages of looking like a white dad at protests

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Protesters hold their hands in the air during a Black Lives Matter protest in front of the Multnomah County Justice Center on July 20, 2020 in Portland, Oregon. Monday night marked 54 days of protests in Portland following the death of George Floyd in police custody. | Photo by Nathan Howard/Getty Images The cops won’t bother you, for one thing. Verge contributor Sarah Jeong interviews a thirtysomething white man who regularly attends protests to find out more. Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/21396046/police-brutality-protest-treatment-white-age-man-dad-difference-black-lives-matter

Recording police brutality: how one snap decision changed this town

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‘It made me feel like I was going to get picked up by a black van one day’ Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/21378157/police-brutality-violence-recording-videos-black-lives-matter-consequences

Edison Mail’s new OnMail email service launches in public beta

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OnMail — the new email service from Edison Mail — is officially launching today in a public beta, offering the company’s reinvented take on email to the masses. Edison is best known for its regular email app (which recently debuted a new premium subscription service ), but at the end of the day, the original app is effectively just a fresh coat of paint and some additional nice features onto the regular Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, or iCloud mail experience. OnMail, on the other hand, is a more drastic attempt at fixing email from the ground up, offering a wholly new email service that’s designed around privacy and convenience. Interestingly, OnMail is second major new email service to launch in 2020 with an eye towards fixing... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/31/21405753/onmail-email-service-edison-mail-launch-public-beta-paid-free

Netflix makes Two Popes, Bird Box, and more available to watch for free

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Screenshot: Netflix Some of Netflix’s original TV shows and movies, including the Oscar-nominated Two Popes and horror thriller Bird Box, are now available to watch for free without a subscription, Gadgets360 reports . The free content, which also includes the first episode of Stranger Things , can be found here , and is available globally. Netflix confirmed the promotion in a statement given to Gadgets360 . “We’re looking at different marketing promotions to attract new members and give them a great Netflix experience,” a spokesperson said. The free content includes a selection of films that can be watched in their entirety, but for TV shows only the first episodes are available. Here’s a full list of the TV shows and films available to watch for free: S... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/31/21408344/netflix-watch-free-two-popes-bird-box-stranger-things-promotional-campaign

SpaceX launches the first south-bound rocket from Florida in decades

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This evening, SpaceX launched another rocket from Florida, but this vehicle took a very different kind of path than most flights from the East Coast. Rather than head eastward after launch as most Florida missions do, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket headed south after liftoff, skirting over Florida’s southeast coast and heading over Cuba. That’s because this mission was headed to what is known as a polar orbit — a path that runs mostly north-to-south over the Earth’s poles. It’s a type of mission you don’t normally see taking place from Florida. In fact, this will be the first time since 1969 that a rocket taking off from Florida heads southward. Up until now, most polar launches in the US have taken place from the southern coast of California.... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/30/21407389/spacex-falcon-9-rocket-launch-polar-orbit-cape-canaveral-florida

New trailers: The Comey Rule, Never Gonna Snow Again, The Doorman, and more

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Jeff Daniels as James Comey | Showtime After the sad news of Chadwick Boseman’s death, I planned a marathon of his movies this weekend. We’re still definitely planning to re-watch 42 and Get on Up , but so far we can’t stop watching Black Panther. Boseman is just so magnetic as T’Challa and everything about the movie is as stunning on the sixth or seventh watch as it was the first time— the acting, the cinematography, the music, the costumes, and of course the script— all amazing. If you have not seen it (honestly, why?) you should absolutely remedy that as soon as possible. In addition to four other trailers to check out this week, a bonus: Black Panther That’s the original Black Panther trailer from 2017. The movie went on to earn a Best Picture nomination and three Oscar... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/30/21407432/new-trailers-comey-rule-black-panther-social-dilemma-showtime-netflix

Republican leader shares faked video of disabled activist on Twitter

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Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge A Sunday tweet from Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) showing a video of activist Ady Barkan got a “manipulated media” label from Twitter. Barkan has ALS and speaks through voice assistance. In the video , a conversation between Barkan and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, Barkan asks “But do we agree that we can redirect some of the funding?” The version Scalise tweeted edits in the words “for police,” to the end of the question, words which Barkan says in a different context earlier in the video. A Twitter spokesperson confirmed in an email to The Verge that the tweet was labeled “based on our Synthetic and Manipulated Media policy.” The video was first noticed by Washington Post reporter Dave Weigel. There's a clip here of @... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/30/21407613/twitter-labels-tweet-scalise-video-ady-barkan-manipulated

ABC to air Black Panther ad-free on Sunday, followed by tribute to Chadwick Boseman

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Photo by Matt Kennedy / Marvel Studios ABC will show the 2018 movie Black Panther without commercials on Sunday night, followed by an ABC News special “Chadwick Boseman: A Tribute for a King.” The Walt Disney Co., which owns ABC, said in a statement that the special will “celebrate Boseman’s storied life, legacy and career,” and will “shine a light on the medical condition he privately battled.” Boseman died of colon cancer Friday at age 43, and according to a statement from his family , was first diagnosed with the disease in 2016. Tonight, ABC will celebrate the legacy of Chadwick Boseman with a special presentation of Marvel Studios’ Black Panther followed by the ABC News Special: Chadwick Boseman - A Tribute for a King. It all starts tonight at 8/7c on ABC. p... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/30/21407520/abc-black-panther-tribute-chadwick-boseman-cancer

Tesla rolls out software update to let its cars’ cameras see speed limit signs

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Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge Tesla is pushing a software update that will let its vehicles’ Autopilot system detect speed limit signs using their cameras, Elektrek reported . When the camera detects a speed limit sign, it will be displayed on the driver visualization in the car and used to set a speed limit warning, according to the software release notes. The latest software update also adds to its traffic light and stop sign control features, and will sound a chime when your Tesla is sitting at a stoplight that turns green. It’s only intended as a notification so it’s up to the driver to decide whether and when to actually move the car forward. In April, Tesla rolled out a software update in beta for its newer cars to allow them to see and respond to stop signs... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/30/21407438/tesla-software-speed-limit-self-driving-cars

Cloudflare is suffering a Sunday morning outage

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Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge Cloudflare was suffering an outage Sunday morning that appeared to be affecting multiple websites. The outage began early Sunday, and according to Cloudflare’s status page , it was seeing “an increased level of HTTP 5xx class errors,” such as 522 and 503, which indicates an issue with the server. In a later update Cloudflare said it had “identified an issue with a transit provider” as the cause of the issue, and that it was working on a fix. The outage was affecting all data centers that use the transit provider. Cloudflare is aware of network related issues caused by a third-party transit provider incident. We are working to mitigate the problem. Please follow the status page here: https://t.co/9DSYq0HIa7 — Cloudflare Help... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/30/21407429/cloudflare-down-websites-hulu-feedly-discord

Ubisoft to remove image of raised black fist from Tom Clancy’s Elite Squad

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Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge French game publisher Ubisoft is apologizing to fans after a video showing the opening sequence for Tom Clancy’s Elite Squad showed images of a raised black fist, which critics said was “insensitive” and appeared to connect the Black Lives Matter movement to a fictional terrorist organization in the game. The game’s opening sequence shows UMBRA, an anarchist group which the narrator explains is taking “advantage of escalating civil unrest” to “generate more chaos and weaken governments.” The black raised fist image was associated with UMBRA. After the video was uploaded, several fans criticized how the imagery, including the fist, appeared to cast the Black Lives Matter movement as a terrorist group. One Twitter user who is a senior... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/29/21406903/ubisoft-tom-clancy-elite-squad-raised-fist-black-lives-matter

New technology export rules in China could affect TikTok sale to a US company

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Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge Plans for a TikTok sale may have a new obstacle, with China implementing new rules on AI technology exports, The New York Times reported . The new export control rules, which focus on technology the Chinese government considers sensitive, could mean that TikTok’s parent company, Beijing-based ByteDance, might need a license before it can sell TikTok to an American company. The updated regulations prohibit exporting technology including text analysis, voice recognition, and content suggestions without a license from the Chinese government. According to The Wall Street Journal , a Chinese government official told state-run Xinhua News Agency that ByteDance should “seriously and cautiously” consider halting talks for a sale of TikTok. M... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/29/21406884/tiktok-china-tech-export-sale-microsoft-trump

The CDC’s testing guidance will make the pandemic worse

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Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge More than 180,000 people have died because of COVID-19 in the United States. And this week, the agency tasked with fighting the worst pandemic in a century recommended surrender. Earlier this week, the US Centers for Disease Control updated its COVID-19 advice to recommend fewer people get tested for the virus. The agency’s previous advice urged tests for “all close contacts” of infected people, stressing the importance of contacts being “quickly identified and tested.” Now, it says people without symptoms “do not necessarily need a test,” even if they were directly exposed or attended a large gathering in a viral hotspot. It makes exceptions for “vulnerable individuals” and adds a vague instruction to follow local health officials —... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/29/21404000/cdc-coronavirus-testing-guidance-asymptomatic-testing-bad-advice

Facebook pilot program linking its users’ news subscriptions could cut down on password fatigue

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It’s a mildly annoying problem: when you’re reading the snippet of a news article on Facebook and you click through to read the full article, even if you’re subscribed to the news publication, you hit its paywall and have to manually log in. Facebook says it’s now testing a feature that will help reduce how often you have to log in to news sites, allowing paying news subscribers to link their Facebook accounts to their subscriptions. The goal, according to Facebook , is to “provide a better news consumption experience on Facebook,” and allowing publishers to “deepen their relationships with subscribers.” Here’s how it works: Facebook identifies a subscriber from one of its publisher partners, and the subscriber is invited to link their... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/29/21406664/facebook-pilot-news-algorithm-publishers-subscriptions

This Game Boy Color is actually a portable Nintendo Wii and it’s so damn clean

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Transforming classic video game consoles into on-the-go gadget gaming goodness is practically a time-honored tradition — I remember writing about Bacteria’s bulbous portable Nintendo 64 a decade ago . But @GingerOfMods new “Wii Boy Color” (via NintendoLife ) is so clean, so compact, I just have to share it with you. OK, it’s a little bit thicker than an actual Game Boy Color if you count the rear triggers. But it’s remarkably close — and when have you had a Game Boy that can play Nintendo Wii and GameCube games on the go? Here it is side by side with gramps. pic.twitter.com/a2ubH1KLo1 — GingerOfMods (@GingerOfMods) August 27, 2020 And let me restate that this isn’t some insanely powerful Android smartphone running an emulator.... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2020/8/29/21406254/nintendo-modder-custom-wii-game-cube-game-boy

Google reportedly took five days to decide not to remove misleading ads about voting by mail

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Illustration by Alex Castro Google took five days to review several ads with misleading information about voting by mail before opting to approve them, The Washington Post reported . The ads were created by Protect My Vote— a group the Post refers to as “shadowy”— and appeared to target people in several US states, including Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Michigan, and Texas, showing up in response to searches for “mail-in voting.” One of the ads reads “think mail-in voting and absentee voting are the same. Think again! There are different safeguards for each,” a misleading and inaccurate claim. Google ultimately declined to remove the ads. Spokeswoman Charlotte Smith told the Post “We have zero tolerance for ads that employ voter suppression tactics or undermine... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/29/21406609/google-voting-mail-fraud-ads-trump-election-misinformation

A case of coronavirus reinfection shows the complexities of the pandemic

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Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge The scary thing finally happened: someone caught the coronavirus twice and got sicker the second time around. A 25-year-old man in Nevada got COVID-19 in March, got better in April, and got sick again in May. He had worse symptoms on the second bout, bad enough that he had to be hospitalized. Three other cases of confirmed reinfection were also reported this week: one in Hong Kong (the first documented case) and two in Europe. These don’t necessarily make me any more worried about our vaccine prospects, though, and they don’t mean the pandemic will go on forever. We have four documented cases of reinfection. But that’s out of the 24 million cases of this disease so far, and rare shit happens. Most experts expected that we’d see at least... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/29/21406019/covid-19-coronavirus-reinfection-immunity-antibodies-vaccine-test

I’m addicted to Instagram scams

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I moved to LA mid-pandemic and furnished my apartment almost exclusively from Facebook Marketplace, a luxurious garden of budget goods that exploits all my weak points: deals, online shopping, haggling with strangers on the internet. One of the first things I bought was a table and four chairs that was not cheap, by my standards ($225!), but did look unique compared to the countless IKEA offerings. When I went to pick it up, however, it was clear this was in fact an IKEA offering — one that had been shoddily hand-painted by the enthusiastic acting student who sold it to me. I no longer wanted to buy it (why spend $225 on old furniture that costs $120 new?), and I probably should have just told the guy I’d made a mistake... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/21405625/instagram-scams-facebook-marketplace-fraud

T-Mobile is offering a free iPhone 11 Pro to new and existing subscribers

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Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge At T-Mobile, you can get a free iPhone 11 Pro if you meet all of the carrier’s qualifications. First off, you have to switch from another carrier and trade in your old device, or if you’re an existing customer, you can get one by adding a line to your plan. For either one, you’ll pay for the phone up front, then T-Mobile will pay you back in billing credits each month over a 24-month period. It’s worth noting that Apple is likely a month out from announcing the rumored iPhone 12, and with any new iPhone release, there are usually a bunch of carrier incentives. Still, it’s a free iPhone now, if you want it and meet the criteria. Control Ultimate Edition just launched this week on Steam, following a yearlong exclusive stint... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/good-deals/2020/8/29/21405824/tmobile-free-iphone-11-pro-control-ultimate-edition-steam-pc-games-razer-deals-sale

Razer Blade Pro 17 review: big, bold, and powerful

A gaming laptop that doesn’t cut too many corners Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/21405760/razer-blade-pro-17-2020-review

Chadwick Boseman, star of Black Panther, dies at 43 after four year battle with cancer

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Steve Granitz/WireImage Actor Chadwick Boseman has died at 43 after battling colon cancer for four years, according to a statement posted on his Twitter account . “It is with immeasurable grief that we confirm the passing of Chadwick Boseman,” the statement reads. “It was the honor of his life to bring King T’Challa to life in Black Panther .” Boseman worked on a number of films and TV shows over the last two decades, including 42 where he portrayed iconic baseball player Jackie Robinson, James Brown in Get on Up, and Spike Lee’s Da 5 Bloods , but he was best known for his role as Black Panther in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Boseman first took on the role as T’Challa in Marvel’s 2016 film, Captain America: Civil War , before starring in his own Black Panther f... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/28/21406395/chadwick-boseman-death-cancer-black-panther-marvel-jackie-robinson

Elon Musk trots out pigs in demo of Neuralink brain implants

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Elon Musk’s brain-machine interface company Neuralink showcased a pig with the company’s device at an event livestreamed on YouTube. One pig, Gertrude, had a device recording signals from an area of the brain linked to her snout. She’d had the implant for two months at the time of the demonstration. As Gertrude’s snout touched things, an array of dots and a series of noises indicated when more neurons were firing. Pigs have large parts of their brains that are devoted to the snout, a sensitive sensing instrument. “Like a Fitbit in your skull.” The design of the Neuralink device has changed since it was unveiled last year, rendering the device itself hard to see on Gertrude. It is now coin-shaped, and meant to sit flush with the skull,... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/28/21406143/elon-musk-neuralink-ai-pigs-demo-brain-computer-interface

Mark Zuckerberg says Kenosha Guard rulings were ‘an operational mistake’

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In a companywide meeting on Thursday, Mark Zuckerberg addressed the recent shooting in Kenosha, Wisconsin, both in a seven-minute public address and in a heated series of questions from employees that was subsequently reported by Buzzfeed News . Protests in Kenosha erupted into violence on Tuesday night, as two people were killed by a bystander later identified as Illinois resident Kyle Rittenhouse. Rittenhouse has been charged with two murders in connection with the event, as well as reckless endangerment and unlawful possession of a firearm. In the wake of the shooting, Facebook has been criticized for allowing self-proclaimed militia groups to organize on the platform, including a group called the Kenosha Guard, which had solicited... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/28/21405790/zuckerberg-kenosha-guard-killing-kyle-rittenhouse-facebook-moderation

How to watch Elon Musk’s Neuralink demo at 6PM ET / 3PM PT

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Photo: Neuralink Amid the search for a COVID-19 vaccine and launch of a new Mars rover , there is yet another technological breakthrough on its way — at least, according to Elon Musk. Today at 6PM ET, his company Neuralink will demonstrate what may be one of the first “ultra-high bandwidth brain-machine interfaces to connect humans and computers.” Apparently, Neuralink is looking to connect to the human brain using flexible electrodes thinner than a human hair. And it is now willing to show us a working model. Interested? If so, you can watch the demo today and judge for yourself. When is the Neuralink demo? Today, Friday, August 28th, 2020, at 6PM ET (3PM PT). Where can I find the demo? The live stream will be shown here on Neuralink’s YouTube channel . ... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/28/21405911/elon-musk-neuralink-demo-live-stream-watch-start-time

New Google Assistant feature makes it easier to donate directly to important causes

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Google Assistant is getting a new feature that makes it easier to donate money to important humanitarian and nonprofit organizations, starting with the Center for Policing Equity, an organization that works to promote police transparency and accountability. The news was announced today to coincide with the 57th anniversary of the March on Washington . The new donation shortcut can only be accessed on mobile phones for now, either by saying “Hey Google, donate to racial justice,” to Assistant (either directly on Android or through the app on iOS) or by using a dedicated card in Google Assistant’s daily Snapshot view. The Center for @PolicingEquity is determined to identify and stop racial disparities in law enforcement. In the U.S., ask... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/28/21405770/google-assistant-feature-donation-center-of-policing-equity-racial-inequality

A former SpaceX intern is suing the company, claiming retaliation after reporting sexual harassment

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Photo by AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images A former intern at SpaceX is suing the aerospace company, claiming that SpaceX retaliated against her after she reported experiencing sexual harassment and gender discrimination while on the job, according to a new lawsuit. The suit alleges that the former intern was not extended a full-time job opportunity when she brought up inappropriate comments and actions made by her then manager. The plaintiff, Julia CrowleyFarenga, worked as a summer intern for SpaceX in 2015, 2016, and 2017, according to a lawsuit filed August 21st with Los Angeles County Superior Court and first reported by Business Insider . While at the company, she worked in the propulsion division under the same manager each summer, the suit says. During her last summer at... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/28/21405671/spacex-sexual-harassment-lawsuit-former-intern

The best streaming device to buy right now

Getting the most from your 4K HDR TV doesn’t cost much Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/21375098/best-streaming-device

Los Angeles city attorney charges popular TikTok creators for partying

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Bryce Hall and friends at a recent party. | Bryce Hall/Instagram Los Angeles city attorney Mike Feuer has charged four people, including TikTok creators Bryce Hall and Blake Gray, for allegedly throwing a series of parties in the Hollywood Hills area in violation of public health restrictions in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19. “We allege that these hosts have been incredibly irresponsible with a highly infection disease spreading,” Feuer said during a press conference. He announced that Hall and Gray were being charged with violating the Safer LA health order and the city’s party house ordinance . “These parties can be really out of control night clubs.” The charges follow complaints from neighbors and mayors about the supposedly raucous parties. Hall and Gray are two of TikTok’s most popular... Continue reading… source https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/28/21405427/tiktok-parties-los-angeles-criminal-charges-bryce-hall-blake-gray