theverge--2020-03-30--Amazon warehouse workers walk out in rising tide of COVID-19 protests

Workers at Amazon ’ s Staten Island , New York , fulfillment center walked out today to protest the company ’ s response to COVID-19 infections among its warehouse employees .
Amazon has confirmed one case of COVID-19 at the New York facility , but workers say there have been at least 10 and that the company has failed to notify workers or properly clean the warehouse .
Now , they are calling for Amazon to shut down the facility for two weeks for deep cleaning .
“ The goal is to get that building shut down , and they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ packages , nothing gets out the building without associates , ” says Derrick Palmer , who has worked at the facility , JFK8 , for four and a half years .
“ This is a pandemic .
People are literally losing their lives because of this virus .
And [ Amazon is ] not taking this seriously .
They ’ re not giving us our respect that we demand .
We ’ re not going to ask for it .
We ’ re going to demand it , because at the end of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heart and soul of that building , not the managers .
They ’ re back in the office .
We ’ re in the front lines working.
” Amazon has closed facilities only when forced to do so by government order or worker protest Workers at 19 US Amazon warehouses have tested positive for COVID-19 , according to local news reports .
So far , Amazon has closed facilities only when forced to do so by government order or worker protest .
Last week , the company indefinitely closed a returns processing warehouse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers tested positive and the governor ordered it shuttered .
On March 18th , a sortation center in Queens , New York , was temporarily closed for cleaning after workers walked out upon learning of a positive COVID-19 case .
Employees learned about the case from co-workers and say they had been expected to come to work .
The failure to notify workers when someone at a facility tests positive appears to be systemic .
Last week , The Verge spoke with workers at several warehouses across the US who learned of COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Palmer says the first case was confirmed on March 12th , but workers were only told several days afterward when managers walked the floor and told employees in person .
But the facility is staffed by more than 4,000 workers and is 855,000 square feet , so many learned of the incident through hearsay much later .
Amazon has a strong infrastructure for keeping its warehouse employees informed .
For example , when the company announces mandatory overtime , Palmer points out , the company sends out texts and emails to every worker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have not sent out one text — nothing at all , ” Palmer says .
Amazon says it has intensified the cleaning of its warehouses in response to the COVID-19 pandemic , but workers at JFK8 and elsewhere say the measures fall far short of what ’ s needed .
Palmer says shifts of about a dozen cleaners work at JFK8 , too few to properly disinfect such an enormous building .
( Workers in other warehouses in the US have expressed similar concerns about understaffing of cleaning crews . )
While Amazon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ schedules to minimize workers clustering together , certain roles in the warehouse , like the packing department , still require employees to stand in close proximity , and workers often pass items between each other .
JFK8 is the first major action at an Amazon fulfillment center “ The way that the department is set up , everyone is on top of each other , ” Palmer says .
“ It is literally impossible to maintain the social distance within those departments , and they haven ’ t been practiced , they haven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all because there ’ s no way they can do it.
” In Italy and Spain , where COVID-19 outbreaks have been spreading longer , Amazon refused to shut down facilities after workers became infected , prompting protests .
Earlier this month , a group of senators wrote a letter to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos expressing concern for the safety of Amazon workers and asking , among other things , whether the company would temporarily shut down facilities and provide paid leave for workers if someone tests positive for COVID-19 .
A petition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has garnered more than 1,500 signatures .
The workers at JFK8 are also calling for paid leave while the facility is shut down for cleaning .
In a statement , Amazon called the workers ’ claims “ unfounded ” and said its employees are “ heroes.
” The company is taking worker safety extremely seriously and has instituted several changes , the company said , including intensifying cleaning and screening worker temperatures .
Regarding closing buildings , the company said it consults with health authorities and medical experts , and if a diagnosed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ building for some time or if the area where they worked has already been cleaned during the regular course of business , the facility may not need to be closed .
The pandemic has shown a spotlight on the role of workers at Amazon , Instacart , and other goods-delivering tech companies .
No longer laboring in the background of digital interfaces , they ’ re increasingly being recognized as frontline workers providing a vital service to millions of Americans who are being told to stay home .
Both companies are trying to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meet surging demand .
Amazon is giving its workers letters to carry saying they are “ essential ” employees , delivering “ critical supplies directly to the doorsteps of people who need them ” and should be allowed to continue their jobs amid shutdowns .
But the pandemic also exposes these workers to new risks , and workers say companies have been slow to adjust policies and protections .
Instacart and Amazon now offer workers diagnosed with COVID-19 or placed into quarantine two weeks ’ paid leave , but that doesn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can ’ t get tested .
Amazon warehouses have been optimized for speed and efficiency , and workers say the intense pace leaves them little time to use cleaning material that is often in short supply .
Today , Instacart workers are going on strike , calling for expanded sick leave , hazard pay , and protective equipment .
Workers at Whole Foods , which is also owned by Amazon and faces unprecedented demand for delivery , are striking tomorrow .
JFK8 marks the first major action at an Amazon fulfillment center , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country have expressed similar concerns .
“ Alexa , please shut down and sanitize the building.
” Shutting down a fulfillment center for a prolonged period would threaten Amazon ’ s ability to continue delivering products , but refusing to do so and failing to assure employees their safety is being taken seriously pose potentially greater threats to the company .
Already , workers are staying home rather than venturing into crowded warehouses , choosing to forgo pay that Amazon recently increased rather than risk getting infected .
Delivery times for some items @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Now , at JFK8 , workers frustrated with the company ’ s coronavirus response are trying to shut down the facility themselves .
Around 1PM on March 30th , workers filed out of the New York warehouse , many wearing masks and bandanas over their faces .
“ Alexa , please shut down and sanitize the building , ” read one of the signs .
On a live stream of the protest , workers expressed frustration with not being told about infections at the warehouse and said many were choosing to stay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re not done here .
Today was a cry for help , ” said Chris Smalls , a worker at the facility and one of the walkout organizers , wearing a black bandana as he addressed protesters .
“ Today was a win for us , but it ’ s a battle and the war is not over .
We ’ re going to go to City Hall possibly tomorrow morning .
We ’ ve got to get the government ’ s attention .
Just like in Kentucky , the government has to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Update 3PM ET : The story has been updated to identify one of the speakers at the protest , Chris Smalls .

Workers at Amazon’s Staten Island, New York, fulfillment center walked out today to protest the company’s response to COVID-19 infections among its warehouse employees. Amazon has confirmed one case of COVID-19 at the New York facility, but workers say there have been at least 10 and that the company has failed to notify workers or properly clean the warehouse. Now, they are calling for Amazon to shut down the facility for two weeks for deep cleaning.
“The goal is to get that building shut down, and they will shut it down, because no packages, nothing gets out the building without associates,” says Derrick Palmer, who has worked at the facility, JFK8, for four and a half years. “This is a pandemic. People are literally losing their lives because of this virus. And [Amazon is] not taking this seriously. They’re not giving us our respect that we demand. We’re not going to ask for it. We’re going to demand it, because at the end of the day, we’re the heart and soul of that building, not the managers. They’re back in the office. We’re in the front lines working.”
Amazon has closed facilities only when forced to do so by government order or worker protest
Workers at 19 US Amazon warehouses have tested positive for COVID-19, according to local news reports. So far, Amazon has closed facilities only when forced to do so by government order or worker protest. Last week, the company indefinitely closed a returns processing warehouse in Shepherdsville, Kentucky, after three workers tested positive and the governor ordered it shuttered. On March 18th, a sortation center in Queens, New York, was temporarily closed for cleaning after workers walked out upon learning of a positive COVID-19 case. Employees learned about the case from co-workers and say they had been expected to come to work.
Image: Make the Road NY
The failure to notify workers when someone at a facility tests positive appears to be systemic. Last week, The Verge spoke with workers at several warehouses across the US who learned of COVID-19 cases from co-workers. At JFK8, Palmer says the first case was confirmed on March 12th, but workers were only told several days afterward when managers walked the floor and told employees in person. But the facility is staffed by more than 4,000 workers and is 855,000 square feet, so many learned of the incident through hearsay much later.
Amazon has a strong infrastructure for keeping its warehouse employees informed. For example, when the company announces mandatory overtime, Palmer points out, the company sends out texts and emails to every worker. “With this incident, they have not sent out one text — nothing at all,” Palmer says.
Amazon says it has intensified the cleaning of its warehouses in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, but workers at JFK8 and elsewhere say the measures fall far short of what’s needed. Palmer says shifts of about a dozen cleaners work at JFK8, too few to properly disinfect such an enormous building. (Workers in other warehouses in the US have expressed similar concerns about understaffing of cleaning crews.) While Amazon has stopped daily stand-up meetings and staggered schedules to minimize workers clustering together, certain roles in the warehouse, like the packing department, still require employees to stand in close proximity, and workers often pass items between each other.
JFK8 is the first major action at an Amazon fulfillment center
“The way that the department is set up, everyone is on top of each other,” Palmer says. “It is literally impossible to maintain the social distance within those departments, and they haven’t been practiced, they haven’t tried to adjust that at all because there’s no way they can do it.”
Image: Make the Road NY
In Italy and Spain, where COVID-19 outbreaks have been spreading longer, Amazon refused to shut down facilities after workers became infected, prompting protests. Earlier this month, a group of senators wrote a letter to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos expressing concern for the safety of Amazon workers and asking, among other things, whether the company would temporarily shut down facilities and provide paid leave for workers if someone tests positive for COVID-19. A petition among workers calling for a similar approach has garnered more than 1,500 signatures. The workers at JFK8 are also calling for paid leave while the facility is shut down for cleaning.
In a statement, Amazon called the workers’ claims “unfounded” and said its employees are “heroes.” The company is taking worker safety extremely seriously and has instituted several changes, the company said, including intensifying cleaning and screening worker temperatures. Regarding closing buildings, the company said it consults with health authorities and medical experts, and if a diagnosed worker hasn’t been in the building for some time or if the area where they worked has already been cleaned during the regular course of business, the facility may not need to be closed.
The pandemic has shown a spotlight on the role of workers at Amazon, Instacart, and other goods-delivering tech companies. No longer laboring in the background of digital interfaces, they’re increasingly being recognized as frontline workers providing a vital service to millions of Americans who are being told to stay home. Both companies are trying to hire tens of thousands more people to meet surging demand. Amazon is giving its workers letters to carry saying they are “essential” employees, delivering “critical supplies directly to the doorsteps of people who need them” and should be allowed to continue their jobs amid shutdowns.
But the pandemic also exposes these workers to new risks, and workers say companies have been slow to adjust policies and protections. Instacart and Amazon now offer workers diagnosed with COVID-19 or placed into quarantine two weeks’ paid leave, but that doesn’t help workers who have COVID-19 symptoms but can’t get tested. Amazon warehouses have been optimized for speed and efficiency, and workers say the intense pace leaves them little time to use cleaning material that is often in short supply.
Image: Make the Road NY
Today, Instacart workers are going on strike, calling for expanded sick leave, hazard pay, and protective equipment. Workers at Whole Foods, which is also owned by Amazon and faces unprecedented demand for delivery, are striking tomorrow. JFK8 marks the first major action at an Amazon fulfillment center, and workers at Amazon warehouses across the country have expressed similar concerns.
“Alexa, please shut down and sanitize the building.”
Shutting down a fulfillment center for a prolonged period would threaten Amazon’s ability to continue delivering products, but refusing to do so and failing to assure employees their safety is being taken seriously pose potentially greater threats to the company. Already, workers are staying home rather than venturing into crowded warehouses, choosing to forgo pay that Amazon recently increased rather than risk getting infected. Delivery times for some items now stretch to a month or more. Now, at JFK8, workers frustrated with the company’s coronavirus response are trying to shut down the facility themselves.
Around 1PM on March 30th, workers filed out of the New York warehouse, many wearing masks and bandanas over their faces. “Alexa, please shut down and sanitize the building,” read one of the signs. On a live stream of the protest, workers expressed frustration with not being told about infections at the warehouse and said many were choosing to stay home without pay.
“We’re not done here. Today was a cry for help,” said Chris Smalls, a worker at the facility and one of the walkout organizers, wearing a black bandana as he addressed protesters. “Today was a win for us, but it’s a battle and the war is not over. We’re going to go to City Hall possibly tomorrow morning. We’ve got to get the government’s attention. Just like in Kentucky, the government has to step in and close the building down.”


theverge--2020-03-30--Virgin Orbit plans to mass-produce new medical breathing device to help fight coronavirus pandemic

Richard Branson ’ s aerospace company Virgin Orbit , which is primarily focused on developing rockets to launch small satellites into space , is shifting gears during the coronavirus pandemic and has created a new medical device to help health care workers treat patients with COVID-19 .
The company is hoping to mass-produce the new device after receiving the necessary approvals from the FDA .
The device that Virgin Orbit has created is one that can help people get much-needed oxygen when they ’ re short of breath .
The machine automatically pumps what are known as ambulatory bags , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ air into a patient ’ s lungs .
The idea is that these machines will pump the bags on their own for patients who need oxygen but don ’ t need to be hooked up to a ventilator .
That will then free up ventilators for people who need them most , as well as free up the time of responders and health care workers to treat patients who are in critical need .
The idea for the device came after Virgin Orbit employees started looking for ways to help with the COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hey , we ’ re not doctors , and we ’ re not medical device manufacturers ; that ’ s not the background we come from , and we have enormous respect for those people , ” Will Pomerantz , vice president of special projects at Virgin Orbit , tells The Verge .
“ But on the other hand , we ’ ve got a lot of engineers ; we ’ ve got a great factory ; and we ’ ve got a great fabrication facility machine shop .
There must be something @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve got a great fabrication facility machine shop .
There must be something we can try.
” The company reached out to California governor Gavin Newsom , who put the team in touch with the California Emergency Medical Services Authority .
The organization turned Virgin Orbit over to the Bridge Ventilator Consortium , which includes researchers at the University of California , Irvine and the University of Texas , Austin .
They provided guidance on what kinds of devices would most benefit the medical community right now .
After consulting with them , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on ideas for devices that could be made as simply as possible , as quickly as possible , and as cheaply as possible to fill in the gaps in the health care system .
They ultimately came up with this automatic pump and started building it with materials and tools already located at the company ’ s factory in Long Beach , California .
“ We largely started from scratch on the simple device that goes and squeezes that bag in a reliable pattern , ” says Pomerantz .
The device provides a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but Pomerantz says the Virgin Orbit machine is largely original to the company .
Virgin Orbit is still open for business in California as it has been deemed an essential business by the state , due to the company ’ s contracts with NASA and the Department of Defense .
In normal times , the company is mostly focused on developing its new rocket , called LauncherOne , which is designed to launch satellites the size of washing machines into orbit .
LauncherOne is meant to take off from underneath the wing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Orbit owns called Cosmic Girl .
The rocket has yet to fly , but Virgin Orbit is aiming to conduct the first test launch this year ( though there will undoubtedly be impacts to the schedule because of the pandemic ) .
While employees at the company are still working on-site to get LauncherOne ready for its debut , other employees will also start mass-producing the new medical device once Virgin Orbit gets clearance from the FDA .
Virgin Orbit says that it has a talented team of both mechanical and software engineers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nice bonus was we defined a few members of our staff who had at previous stops in their career worked on medical devices , ” says Pomerantz .
“ And so they were a little bit more familiar with some of the terminology , and some of the different specifications that the industry was looking at.
” Virgin Orbit isn ’ t the only company pivoting to medical devices right now .
Companies like Dyson , Tesla , General Motors , Ford , and more have all committed to mass-producing critical tools like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ US .
The plan for Virgin Orbit is to make the devices while they ’ re needed for the pandemic , but the company doesn ’ t have any long-term ambitions of getting into the medical device business .
“ We want to get these things to hospitals as quickly as possible , get this crisis over , and then keep on building rockets , ” says Pomerantz .

Richard Branson’s aerospace company Virgin Orbit, which is primarily focused on developing rockets to launch small satellites into space, is shifting gears during the coronavirus pandemic and has created a new medical device to help health care workers treat patients with COVID-19. The company is hoping to mass-produce the new device after receiving the necessary approvals from the FDA.
The device that Virgin Orbit has created is one that can help people get much-needed oxygen when they’re short of breath. The machine automatically pumps what are known as ambulatory bags, which emergency responders squeeze manually to pump air into a patient’s lungs. The idea is that these machines will pump the bags on their own for patients who need oxygen but don’t need to be hooked up to a ventilator. That will then free up ventilators for people who need them most, as well as free up the time of responders and health care workers to treat patients who are in critical need.
The idea for the device came after Virgin Orbit employees started looking for ways to help with the COVID-19 response. “[We] said hey, we’re not doctors, and we’re not medical device manufacturers; that’s not the background we come from, and we have enormous respect for those people,” Will Pomerantz, vice president of special projects at Virgin Orbit, tells The Verge. “But on the other hand, we’ve got a lot of engineers; we’ve got a great factory; and we’ve got a great fabrication facility machine shop. There must be something we can try.”
“we’ve got a great fabrication facility machine shop. There must be something we can try.”
The company reached out to California governor Gavin Newsom, who put the team in touch with the California Emergency Medical Services Authority. The organization turned Virgin Orbit over to the Bridge Ventilator Consortium, which includes researchers at the University of California, Irvine and the University of Texas, Austin. They provided guidance on what kinds of devices would most benefit the medical community right now. After consulting with them, Virgin Orbit employees started to home in on ideas for devices that could be made as simply as possible, as quickly as possible, and as cheaply as possible to fill in the gaps in the health care system. They ultimately came up with this automatic pump and started building it with materials and tools already located at the company’s factory in Long Beach, California.
“We largely started from scratch on the simple device that goes and squeezes that bag in a reliable pattern,” says Pomerantz. The device provides a similar function to one created by MIT, but Pomerantz says the Virgin Orbit machine is largely original to the company.
Virgin Orbit is still open for business in California as it has been deemed an essential business by the state, due to the company’s contracts with NASA and the Department of Defense. In normal times, the company is mostly focused on developing its new rocket, called LauncherOne, which is designed to launch satellites the size of washing machines into orbit. LauncherOne is meant to take off from underneath the wing of a giant 747 airplane that Virgin Orbit owns called Cosmic Girl. The rocket has yet to fly, but Virgin Orbit is aiming to conduct the first test launch this year (though there will undoubtedly be impacts to the schedule because of the pandemic).
While employees at the company are still working on-site to get LauncherOne ready for its debut, other employees will also start mass-producing the new medical device once Virgin Orbit gets clearance from the FDA. Virgin Orbit says that it has a talented team of both mechanical and software engineers working on the device. “A nice bonus was we defined a few members of our staff who had at previous stops in their career worked on medical devices,” says Pomerantz. “And so they were a little bit more familiar with some of the terminology, and some of the different specifications that the industry was looking at.”


theverge--2020-03-30--Good Job! lets you chaotically smash through your office complex from home

Good Job !
was one of the multiple titles Nintendo surprise-dropped in its Nintendo Direct Mini presentation last week , and it arguably couldn ’ t have come out at a better time .
It ’ s a lighthearted and chaotic puzzle game set at an office complex that ’ s a perfect , bite-sized replacement for anyone missing their day-to-day work life .
The brightly animated world appears to be based on road or safety signs , and puts players in the role of a featureless caution sign person who we ’ re told is the “ clumsy ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ start off — literally — at the bottom , working your way up through the company by completing puzzles in the charming , isometric office environments .
Each level assigns players a simple office task to perform , like sorting packages or setting up a projector .
The environments are highly detailed , with plenty of objects scattered throughout the floor plan , nearly all of which can be moved , thrown , or smashed .
In theory , the goal is to accomplish your objective as quickly as possible , while causing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your father ’ s company .
There was a moment , playing an early level of Good Job !
, when I could feel those two gameplay paths diverging .
The “ right ” way to solve the puzzle was to carefully walk the projector I needed down the stairs and plug it in .
I had figured out the solution of plugs and cables needed to get all the doors open with a minimal amount of destruction .
It would have been simple to complete the level .
The game seems to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of play But what I actually did was stretch a plug across a doorway and use it to fling the projector through a wall , a plate glass window , and the unsuspecting audience below in a show of rubble .
Your co-workers at the company certainly seem to have no preference as to how you achieve the goal , which makes standing in the wreckage of a conference room with scattered couches and shelves somehow even funnier .
The nice part of Good Job !
is that the game seems to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ play .
Complete a mission slowly but conscientiously , and it ’ ll grade you well for avoiding breaking objects and causing a minimal amount of damage .
Smash your way through the cartoonish physics to achieve your goal , and it ’ ll grade you well for speed .
There ’ s a co-op mode , too , which theoretically lets players speed through the levels more efficiently , with the chance to strategically work together to complete objectives .
In practice , this usually tends to just mean twice the slapstick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ furniture through walls instead of one .
It ’ s a great game for the moment , where many people are stuck at home looking for entertainment .
Miss the day-to-day hustle and bustle of your 9-to-5 cubicle or loading dock ?
Good Job !
will scratch that itch — or at least let you take out your frustrations in chaotic fashion by destroying the office complex you can ’ t get to .
Each level is also just a few minutes long , making it a great choice to pick up and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from working from home .
Good Job !
is available now on the Nintendo Switch .

Good Job! was one of the multiple titles Nintendo surprise-dropped in its Nintendo Direct Mini presentation last week, and it arguably couldn’t have come out at a better time. It’s a lighthearted and chaotic puzzle game set at an office complex that’s a perfect, bite-sized replacement for anyone missing their day-to-day work life.
The brightly animated world appears to be based on road or safety signs, and puts players in the role of a featureless caution sign person who we’re told is the “clumsy” child of the company CEO. You start off — literally — at the bottom, working your way up through the company by completing puzzles in the charming, isometric office environments.
Each level assigns players a simple office task to perform, like sorting packages or setting up a projector. The environments are highly detailed, with plenty of objects scattered throughout the floor plan, nearly all of which can be moved, thrown, or smashed. In theory, the goal is to accomplish your objective as quickly as possible, while causing a minimum amount of property damage to your father’s company.
There was a moment, playing an early level of Good Job!, when I could feel those two gameplay paths diverging. The “right” way to solve the puzzle was to carefully walk the projector I needed down the stairs and plug it in. I had figured out the solution of plugs and cables needed to get all the doors open with a minimal amount of destruction. It would have been simple to complete the level.
The game seems to be equally willing to reward both styles of play
But what I actually did was stretch a plug across a doorway and use it to fling the projector through a wall, a plate glass window, and the unsuspecting audience below in a show of rubble. Your co-workers at the company certainly seem to have no preference as to how you achieve the goal, which makes standing in the wreckage of a conference room with scattered couches and shelves somehow even funnier.
The nice part of Good Job! is that the game seems to be equally willing to reward both styles of play. Complete a mission slowly but conscientiously, and it’ll grade you well for avoiding breaking objects and causing a minimal amount of damage. Smash your way through the cartoonish physics to achieve your goal, and it’ll grade you well for speed.
There’s a co-op mode, too, which theoretically lets players speed through the levels more efficiently, with the chance to strategically work together to complete objectives. In practice, this usually tends to just mean twice the slapstick chaos, with two people flinging office furniture through walls instead of one.
It’s a great game for the moment, where many people are stuck at home looking for entertainment. Miss the day-to-day hustle and bustle of your 9-to-5 cubicle or loading dock? Good Job! will scratch that itch — or at least let you take out your frustrations in chaotic fashion by destroying the office complex you can’t get to. Each level is also just a few minutes long, making it a great choice to pick up and play if you need a quick break from working from home.


theverge--2020-03-30--Microsoft’s new Edge vertical tabs look ideal for 16:9 screens

Microsoft unveiled its new Microsoft 365 subscription plans today and some new Edge browser features .
The biggest new addition is vertical tabs for Edge , which will allow users to stack tabs at the side of the browser instead of the traditional long list of tabs at the top .
While it might look a little peculiar at first , it will be ideal for 16:9 monitors and laptops .
Websites typically look stretched out on these types of displays , with a lot of wasted vertical space .
If you ’ re using a 3:2 display , then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ efficient .
You ’ ll be able to click to switch between tabs like you normally do or group tabs together and move them into the vertical list .
Most vertical tab features in browsers like Firefox or Chrome require an add-in these days , despite early implementations of vertical tabs many years ago .
Microsoft claims it ’ s now “ the only browser that allows you to manage your tabs on the side with a single click.
” The vertical tabs are expected to come to beta and canary versions of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so you won ’ t be able to try this new feature for a while yet .

Microsoft unveiled its new Microsoft 365 subscription plans today and some new Edge browser features. The biggest new addition is vertical tabs for Edge, which will allow users to stack tabs at the side of the browser instead of the traditional long list of tabs at the top. While it might look a little peculiar at first, it will be ideal for 16:9 monitors and laptops.
Websites typically look stretched out on these types of displays, with a lot of wasted vertical space. If you’re using a 3:2 display, then the regular tabs will likely be more efficient. You’ll be able to click to switch between tabs like you normally do or group tabs together and move them into the vertical list.
Most vertical tab features in browsers like Firefox or Chrome require an add-in these days, despite early implementations of vertical tabs many years ago. Microsoft claims it’s now “the only browser that allows you to manage your tabs on the side with a single click.”


theverge--2020-03-30--Free Zoom backgrounds you can use to disguise your messy remote work rooms

Now that people are finding themselves working remotely or setting up virtual parties to chat with friends and family while maintaining social distance , Zoom is quickly becoming the go-to source for those gatherings .
But when you spend days quarantining at home , cleaning up for a Zoom call might be the last thing on your mind .
Verge reviews editor Barbara Krasnoff has already told you how you can make use of Zoom ’ s custom background tool to hide messy backdrops or running children and pets .
But if you need some resources on what backgrounds to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here are a few places to browse , plus some of The Verge staff ’ s favorites .
Canva is a design resource service , and it ’ s offered several free templates for you to use on Zoom to customize your virtual space .
Choose from animated backgrounds ( a word of warning that these will require more processing power to run smoothly ) or static images like your astrological sign or a custom placard with your name and title .
Personally , I ’ m a big fan of the Conference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resource for high-quality stock images , and these have become super handy to use as Zoom backgrounds .
Whether you want to replicate a workspace , “ hang ” in your favorite coffee shop , or pretend you ’ re on the beach , Unsplash probably has something that suits the mood .
Redesigning your home at this moment might be a bit difficult , so e-interior design service Modsy has rendered a few pop culture homes for you to live in on Zoom .
Pick from Carrie Bradshaw ’ s apartment from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friends lofts , Seinfeld living rooms , and more .
We ’ re an eclectic bunch , so let some of my colleagues explain the reasons behind their favorite Zoom backgrounds that they ’ re sharing to create calm — or , in some cases , absolute chaos .
If you want to feel like you ’ re in an ‘ 80s yearbook , we ’ ve got two options for you : Headshot Gray and True ‘ 80s .
I ’ d love to see a whole Zoom meeting of people posing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ school photos with this background .
Feel free to cuddle a cat or dog to spice it up .
—Michele Doying , multimedia designer Use this background to pretend like you ’ re playing Animal Crossing : New Horizons when you ’ re actually working .
And let ’ s be real , you ’ re really thinking about your island while you ’ re on that Zoom call , anyway .
—Jay Peters , news writer Show everyone what a true Zoom enthusiast you are by living inside a giant virtual Zoom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Let ’ s face it .
If you ’ re working from home then it ’ s only a matter of time before one of your video calls gets interrupted by a pet / small child / housemate / significant other / all of the above .
So why not get ahead of the curve and use your Zoom virtual background to ruin your own call with one of the most famous photobombs of all time ?
Robert Kelly ’ s daughter made international headlines when she swaggered through her father ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ News , and now , thanks to the magic of virtual backgrounds , you can relive the magic on every call .
Bonus points if you can be bothered to photoshop Kelly out for a completely immersive experience .
—Jon Porter , international news writer Pee-wee Herman has been Zooming on Magic Screen for decades .
We can honor him with the Playhouse background .
—Andrew Marino , audio engineer This is not technically one you can easily download , but you can make your own by recording a video of yourself ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ making a GIF out of it to use as your Zoom background .
( Here ’ s the guide to making a GIF , if you don ’ t know how to go about it . )
I ’ m a fan of former Vox Media engineer / Mailchimp manager David Zhou ’ s rendition , where he walks in on himself casually enjoying a snack .
—Natt Garun , senior reviewer Who doesn ’ t identify with Confused Travolta in these trying times ?
Not only can you also look confused about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now , but the meme is also a great way to pretend like you have a version of Mia Wallace ’ s vintage reel to reel tape deck in your living room .
—Nick Statt , news editor

Now that people are finding themselves working remotely or setting up virtual parties to chat with friends and family while maintaining social distance, Zoom is quickly becoming the go-to source for those gatherings. But when you spend days quarantining at home, cleaning up for a Zoom call might be the last thing on your mind.
Verge reviews editor Barbara Krasnoff has already told you how you can make use of Zoom’s custom background tool to hide messy backdrops or running children and pets. But if you need some resources on what backgrounds to use as your virtual teleconferencing room, here are a few places to browse, plus some of The Verge staff’s favorites.
Canva
Canva is a design resource service, and it’s offered several free templates for you to use on Zoom to customize your virtual space. Choose from animated backgrounds (a word of warning that these will require more processing power to run smoothly) or static images like your astrological sign or a custom placard with your name and title. Personally, I’m a big fan of the Conference Call Bingo.
Unsplash
Unsplash is a free resource for high-quality stock images, and these have become super handy to use as Zoom backgrounds. Whether you want to replicate a workspace, “hang” in your favorite coffee shop, or pretend you’re on the beach, Unsplash probably has something that suits the mood.
Unsplash / Samuel Foster
Modsy
Redesigning your home at this moment might be a bit difficult, so e-interior design service Modsy has rendered a few pop culture homes for you to live in on Zoom. Pick from Carrie Bradshaw’s apartment from Sex and the City, your favorite Friends lofts, Seinfeld living rooms, and more.
The Verge staff favorites
We’re an eclectic bunch, so let some of my colleagues explain the reasons behind their favorite Zoom backgrounds that they’re sharing to create calm — or, in some cases, absolute chaos.
Previous Next
1 / 2 Michele Doying / The Verge Previous Next
1 / 2 Michele Doying / The Verge
If you want to feel like you’re in an ‘80s yearbook, we’ve got two options for you: Headshot Gray and True ‘80s. I’d love to see a whole Zoom meeting of people posing like they’re taking their high school photos with this background. Feel free to cuddle a cat or dog to spice it up. —Michele Doying, multimedia designer
Use this background to pretend like you’re playing Animal Crossing: New Horizons when you’re actually working. And let’s be real, you’re really thinking about your island while you’re on that Zoom call, anyway. —Jay Peters, news writer
Show everyone what a true Zoom enthusiast you are by living inside a giant virtual Zoom call. —Jake Kastrenakes, reports editor
Let’s face it. If you’re working from home then it’s only a matter of time before one of your video calls gets interrupted by a pet / small child / housemate / significant other / all of the above. So why not get ahead of the curve and use your Zoom virtual background to ruin your own call with one of the most famous photobombs of all time? Robert Kelly’s daughter made international headlines when she swaggered through her father’s study door as he talked on BBC News, and now, thanks to the magic of virtual backgrounds, you can relive the magic on every call.
Bonus points if you can be bothered to photoshop Kelly out for a completely immersive experience. —Jon Porter, international news writer
Pee-wee Herman has been Zooming on Magic Screen for decades. We can honor him with the Playhouse background. —Andrew Marino, audio engineer
This is not technically one you can easily download, but you can make your own by recording a video of yourself (or anything else, really) and making a GIF out of it to use as your Zoom background. (Here’s the guide to making a GIF, if you don’t know how to go about it.)
I’m a fan of former Vox Media engineer / Mailchimp manager David Zhou’s rendition, where he walks in on himself casually enjoying a snack. Or combine a mix of stock / meme videos and your GIF making abilities like our Dieter Bohn has for extremely unnerving results. —Natt Garun, senior reviewer


theverge--2020-03-30--Airbnb further extends refund window to May 31st and sets aside $250 million for hosts

Airbnb has further extended its full cancellation policy due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and has set aside $ 250 million to help pay hosts for missed or canceled bookings , according to a letter sent to Airbnb hosts on Monday , which the company shared with The Verge .
CNBC was first to report the news earlier today .
Now , guests who had previously booked stays on the platform with a check-in between March 14th and May 31st are now eligible for full refunds under the company ’ s “ extenuating circumstances ” policy , regardless of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the booking was made before March 14th .
And Airbnb will now use the funds it set aside to ensure hosts can recoup some of the lost money .
“ I deeply regret the way we communicated this decision.
” Prior to this announcement , Airbnb had expanded its “ extenuating circumstances ” policy to cover bookings between March 14th and April 1st ; the company later expanded that coverage again to cover bookings made up to April 14th .
Still , it did not have any form of coverage for hosts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Airbnb was overriding their cancellation preferences and not providing any form of financial safety net .
That ’ s because the refunds Airbnb promised guests started coming from the hosts , not the company itself .
Now , Airbnb says it will provide its own assistance , and Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky apologized for the sloppy messaging around the policy changes this past month .
“ I deeply regret the way we communicated this decision , and I am sorry that we did not consult you — like partners should , ” Chesky @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have heard from you and we know we have let you down .
You deserve better from us.
” Airbnb has also donated $ 10 million to a fund to help its “ superhosts ” and those who ’ ve been offering Airbnb ’ s tour guide-style Experiences .
Hosts can apply for $ 5,000 grants from the fund starting next month .
“ Trust is the foundation of a partnership , and it is built over time .
We know that we have some work to do in strengthening yours , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are committed to it .
When travel comes back — and it will — we look forward to welcoming millions of guests together again , ” Chesky adds .
Because its business is entirely dependent on travel and tourism , Airbnb has been one of the hardest hit tech platforms during the coronavirus pandemic .
The company has seen mass cancellations due to a mix of strict travel restrictions , countless countries advising or ordering citizens to self-isolate , and the cancellation of virtually every event involving mass gatherings of people in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The White House on Sunday extended its federal guidelines for social distancing in the US to April 30th , signaling that many cities throughout the country will do the same in short order .
According to the most recent data , the US has more than 160,000 confirmed cases and more than 3,000 deaths , making it the new global epicenter of the pandemic .

Airbnb has further extended its full cancellation policy due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and has set aside $250 million to help pay hosts for missed or canceled bookings, according to a letter sent to Airbnb hosts on Monday, which the company shared with The Verge. CNBC was first to report the news earlier today.
Now, guests who had previously booked stays on the platform with a check-in between March 14th and May 31st are now eligible for full refunds under the company’s “extenuating circumstances” policy, regardless of the host’s cancellation preference so long as the booking was made before March 14th. And Airbnb will now use the funds it set aside to ensure hosts can recoup some of the lost money.
“I deeply regret the way we communicated this decision.”
Prior to this announcement, Airbnb had expanded its “extenuating circumstances” policy to cover bookings between March 14th and April 1st; the company later expanded that coverage again to cover bookings made up to April 14th. Still, it did not have any form of coverage for hosts, some of whom were enraged that Airbnb was overriding their cancellation preferences and not providing any form of financial safety net. That’s because the refunds Airbnb promised guests started coming from the hosts, not the company itself.
Now, Airbnb says it will provide its own assistance, and Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky apologized for the sloppy messaging around the policy changes this past month. “I deeply regret the way we communicated this decision, and I am sorry that we did not consult you — like partners should,” Chesky writes in the letter. “We have heard from you and we know we have let you down. You deserve better from us.”
Airbnb has also donated $10 million to a fund to help its “superhosts” and those who’ve been offering Airbnb’s tour guide-style Experiences. Hosts can apply for $5,000 grants from the fund starting next month. “Trust is the foundation of a partnership, and it is built over time. We know that we have some work to do in strengthening yours, but it’s our priority and we are committed to it. When travel comes back — and it will — we look forward to welcoming millions of guests together again,” Chesky adds.
Because its business is entirely dependent on travel and tourism, Airbnb has been one of the hardest hit tech platforms during the coronavirus pandemic. The company has seen mass cancellations due to a mix of strict travel restrictions, countless countries advising or ordering citizens to self-isolate, and the cancellation of virtually every event involving mass gatherings of people in the US and other countries around the world.


theverge--2020-03-30--Instacart claims ‘absolutely no impact’ from planned workers’ strike

Grocery delivery company Instacart said today that a planned work stoppage by its shoppers had “ absolutely no impact on Instacart ’ s operations ” and claims it sold more groceries over the past 72 hours “ than ever before.
” “ Today , we saw 40 percent more shoppers on the platform compared to the same day and time last week , ” the company said in a statement emailed to The Verge .
“ In the last week alone , 250,000 new people signed up to become Instacart full-service shoppers and 50,000 of them have already started shopping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seeking hazard pay and better protections from COVID-19 exposure Last week , Instacart shoppers , who are largely contract gig workers not eligible for benefits , said they would refuse new orders today because they did not think the company had done enough to protect them during the COVID-19 outbreak .
( Some Instacart workers , like a group that unionized in February in the Chicago suburb of Skokie , are in-store part- and full-time workers , separate from standard contract shoppers . )
The shoppers want Instacart to provide protective gear such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 5-per-order hazard payment , and expand its sick leave policy .
Instacart said late Sunday it had made and was planning to distribute hand sanitizer to all shoppers who wanted it .
The company announced March 9th it was giving 14 days of paid leave to any part-time workers or shoppers who had been diagnosed with COVID-19 or who have been put into mandatory quarantine .
It later extended that benefit through May 8th .
Instacart also introduced a bonus program , additional promotions for full-service shoppers to earn more based on regional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in its app .
In a statement Sunday , the workers called the hand sanitizer and tip adjustments “ a sick joke , ” adding that the tip structure was likely to “ provide no meaningful benefit to shoppers.
” Instacart has announced plans to hire 300,000 new shoppers due to the overwhelming demand for grocery delivery during the COVID-19 outbreak .
We reached out to the organizers of the work stoppage and will update if we hear back .

Grocery delivery company Instacart said today that a planned work stoppage by its shoppers had “absolutely no impact on Instacart’s operations” and claims it sold more groceries over the past 72 hours “than ever before.”
“Today, we saw 40 percent more shoppers on the platform compared to the same day and time last week,” the company said in a statement emailed to The Verge. “In the last week alone, 250,000 new people signed up to become Instacart full-service shoppers and 50,000 of them have already started shopping on the platform.”
The shoppers were seeking hazard pay and better protections from COVID-19 exposure
Last week, Instacart shoppers, who are largely contract gig workers not eligible for benefits, said they would refuse new orders today because they did not think the company had done enough to protect them during the COVID-19 outbreak. (Some Instacart workers, like a group that unionized in February in the Chicago suburb of Skokie, are in-store part- and full-time workers, separate from standard contract shoppers.)
The shoppers want Instacart to provide protective gear such as hand sanitizer, add a $5-per-order hazard payment, and expand its sick leave policy. Instacart said late Sunday it had made and was planning to distribute hand sanitizer to all shoppers who wanted it.
The company announced March 9th it was giving 14 days of paid leave to any part-time workers or shoppers who had been diagnosed with COVID-19 or who have been put into mandatory quarantine. It later extended that benefit through May 8th. Instacart also introduced a bonus program, additional promotions for full-service shoppers to earn more based on regional demand, and updated the tipping option in its app.
In a statement Sunday, the workers called the hand sanitizer and tip adjustments “a sick joke,” adding that the tip structure was likely to “provide no meaningful benefit to shoppers.”


theverge--2020-03-30--How to set up a Slack account

How to set up a Slack account

Now that we ’ re spending more time indoors , we ’ re finding new platforms — and new ways to use old platforms — to stay in touch , whether it ’ s for work or with friends .
This is the case with Slack , an instant-messaging platform which functions somewhere in the space between email and text messages .
Designed for quick communication , Slack became an important tool for a lot of workplaces well before everyone started working from home .
But you can use it for pretty much anything : friends , group activities , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has a free version and offers several paid plans .
You start by setting up a workspace ( which is your main area of operations , and contains your network of contacts ) on Slack .
In your workspace , you create channels , which are like chat rooms or group chats .
In those channels , you and your friends / family / team members can text chat , exchange files , integrate with other apps such as Google Docs and Office 365 , and even have video chats ( although if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , you can only do a one-to-one video chat ) .
If you ’ re not already familiar with it , though , Slack takes some getting used to , so we ’ ve put together a step-by-step guide to help you get started .
Be aware that Slack is rolling out a new version , and the instructions below may differ depending on whether you ’ re using a free or paid version .
When you ’ re creating an account , you can , if you wish , just join an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ friend , or colleague has one they can add you to ) .
But you can also make your own workspace .
Here ’ s how .
• Click “ Get Started ” and then “ My team isn ’ t using Slack yet.
” • Slack will ask you to verify your email with a code .
Go to the email Slack just sent you to retrieve the code and enter it .
• Choose a name for your workspace .
Click “ Next.
” • Slack will ask you to type @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re working on .
Enter it and click “ Next.
” This will create your first Slack channel .
• On the next screen , you can enter the names and email addresses of people you ’ d like to add to your Slack workspace , and Slack will send them invitations .
You can also use an invite link .
But if you ’ re not ready to invite anyone yet , you can skip this page ( you ’ ll get a chance to add people later ) .
• @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ See Your Channel in Slack.
” • You ’ re now on Slack — or , at least , on Slack ’ s welcome page .
There are a number of things here you can do to set up your channel .
For example , you get your second chance to add people by email or share an invite link .
• On the same page , if you scroll down , you can choose a greeting , which is the message your teammates will see when they open up Slack .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and you ’ ll get a couple of samples ( which you can edit ) , or you can click “ Custom ... ” to draft your own message .
Click “ Save ” when you ’ re done .
• Below that , you can enter the first message for your channel .
Click “ Send ” when you ’ re done .
• Slack may automatically take you to the screen for setting up a username and password , or it may take you straight to your channel .
If you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ setting up a name and password , you can access it by clicking the “ Get started ” button in the upper left corner below your username on the main page and then clicking “ Finish setup.
” Choose a name and a password , and click “ Next.
” • Choose a name and a unique URL for your workspace that others can use to join .
Click “ Finish ” to complete your setup and click “ Explore Slack ” to start using Slack .
To join an existing Slack workspace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ permission from whoever owns that workspace .
Usually they will send you an email invitation which you can use to join , but sometimes you have other options .
Some workplaces allow anyone with an email address from a specific domain to join , and in some cases , you can authenticate your account using your organization ’ s single sign-on program ( like G Suite or Okta ) .
• Type in a new username and password .
You ’ ll need to do this for each workspace you join , since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ each workspace , even if they all use the same email address .
Otherwise , to join an existing workspace : • Type in your email address and click “ Confirm.
” • Go to the email Slack just sent you and click “ Confirm Email Address.
” • Slack will open up a window showing you which workspaces you ’ re a part of ( if any ) and , below that , any additional ones you can join .
Under “ Join another workspace , ” find the workspace you ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” next to it .
• Type in a username and password and then click “ Create Account.
” • After joining , you ’ ll be taken to a welcome page , which gives you the option to send a message .
Type in a message and click “ Send ” to move on to the main page .
The welcome page also allows you to add a profile photo , set up notifications , download the desktop app , and connect Slack to Google Drive .
You don ’ t need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ move forward , and you can access the welcome screen anytime by clicking “ Get started ” under your username in the upper left-hand corner .
Now you ’ re in Slack !
Any current conversation , whether it ’ s a channel or direct-message thread , will show up on your screen .
On the left-hand side , a bar will show you all of the channels you ’ re in , and beneath that , all of your direct messaging ( in other words , private ) conversations .
If you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a good idea to download the desktop app for Mac or Windows , so that you can use the app separately from any online work you ’ re doing .
There are also apps available for iOS and Android , so you can use Slack from your smartphone .
Vox Media has affiliate partnerships .
These do not influence editorial content , though Vox Media may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links .
For more information , see

Now that we’re spending more time indoors, we’re finding new platforms — and new ways to use old platforms — to stay in touch, whether it’s for work or with friends. This is the case with Slack, an instant-messaging platform that functions somewhere in the space between email and text messages. Designed for quick communication, Slack became an important tool for a lot of workplaces well before everyone started working from home. But you can use it for pretty much anything: friends, group activities, clubs, or online communities.
Slack has a free version and offers several paid plans. You start by setting up a workspace (which is your main area of operations and contains your network of contacts) on Slack. In your workspace, you create channels, which are like chat rooms or group chats. In those channels, you and your friends / family / team members can text chat, exchange files, integrate with other apps such as Google Docs and Office 365, and even have audio or video chats (although if you’re using the free version, you can only do a one-to-one video chat).
If you’re not already familiar with it, though, Slack takes some getting used to. Here, we’ve put together a step-by-step guide to help you get started — we’re using the web-based version, but using the desktop app is a similar experience. Be aware that the instructions below may differ depending on whether you’re using a free or paid version.
Create a new account and workspace
As we just said, when you use Slack, you will be starting with a main workspace and then creating a variety of subspaces (known as channels) for your conversations. You can belong to more than one workspace, but for each workspace, you have to create a separate account.
We’ll deal with how to join an existing workspace a little later. Let’s start by looking at how to create a new workspace.
Go to slack.com and select “Try for free.”
Enter your email. (If you use a personal email address, you may be asked to use a work email. Don’t worry about it — just put in your usual email address.)
Slack may ask for a work email address. Don’t sweat it — use whatever address you want.
Slack will ask you to verify your email with a code. Go to your email account, retrieve the code, return to the Slack registration page, and enter it.
You will then be invited to create a workspace. Slack may also suggest an existing workspace that you can join (assuming that somebody has already invited you to one).
You can create a workspace or join an existing one.
Click on “Create a Workspace.” Slack will ask you for the name of your company or team; what it’s really asking for is a name for your workspace. Type in a name and click “Next.”
First, you’ll create a name for your workspace.
Slack will ask you to type in a name for a project you’re working on. Enter it and click “Next.”
Then, you’ll enter a project name.
On the next screen, you can enter the names and email addresses of people you’d like to add to your Slack workspace, and Slack will send them invitations. You can also use a shareable invite link. If you’re not ready to invite anyone yet, you can skip this page. (If you click “Skip this step,” you may get a pop-up urging you to add members now. Don’t worry about it; you’ll get a chance to add people later.
You may have noticed that your Slack workspace is being built to the left. Your channels will be listed here, while “Direct messages” will list anyone you’ve sent a private message to.
You’ll want to invite people to share in your Slack conversations.
That’s it! You can now open Slack in your browser. If you use Slack regularly, it might be a good idea to download the desktop app for Mac or Windows so that you can use the app separately from any online work you’re doing. There are also apps available for iOS and Android.
You can now start using your Slack workspace.
The first time you open Slack in a browser or as an app, you will probably get an automated walk-through showing off some of the features — it’s worth taking a minute or two to see what’s what. A couple of things to start with:
Select “Add teammates” from the side column to invite people to your workspace.
Hover your cursor over the word “Channels” on the left side until you see the plus sign, and then click on that to add a new channel.
Join an existing workspace
To join an existing Slack workspace, you’ll need to get permission from whoever administers that workspace. Usually, they will send you an email invitation which you can use to join, but there can be other options. Some workplaces allow anyone with an email address from a specific domain to join, and in some cases, you can authenticate your account using your organization’s single sign-on program (like G Suite or Okta).
If you’ve received an email invitation:
Click “Join Now” in the email.
You can sign in with an existing Google or Apple account or type in your email address. If you choose the email route, you’ll then be asked to put in a name and create a password.
Once you’ve created the account, you will then be taken to that Slack workspace.
To join without an email invitation:
Go to slack.com/get-started
Type in your email address and click “Continue.”
Go to the email Slack sent you to get the confirmation code and enter it into the appropriate spaces.
You don’t need an email to join a workspace, but unless it’s public, you do need an invite.
Slack will open up a window that lets you create a new workspace and shows you which workspaces you’re a part of as well as any you’ve been invited to.
While most Slack workspaces are restricted to people who have been invited to them, there are some public workspaces around. You can find lists of these by following interest groups or by checking out resources such as r/SlackHangouts and Slofile.


theverge--2020-03-30--The Office’s John Krasinski launched a YouTube channel dedicated to good news

John Krasinski , best known for playing Jim Halpert on NBC ’ s The Office , is back behind a desk and talking into a camera — this time , in a video on his new YouTube channel dedicated to sharing good news .
The show is exactly what it sounds like : Krasinski will talk about a few heartwarming , good stories that people might be looking for right now while stuck at home during the COVID-19 pandemic .
There are stories about the support cities around the world have shown health care workers from their own apartments , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There are stories about a homeowner making a delivery driver ’ s day by leaving gifts on the porch .
There are even stories about a man who purchased 100 lobsters in Maine to help a local fisherman .
It ’ s an adorable video , made all the cuter by Krasinski ’ s sincerity .
“ I ’ m John Krasinski , and if it isn ’ t clear yet , I have absolutely no idea what I ’ m doing , ” he says .
But since this is John Krasinski @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that make it a little more than a regular vlog .
Krasinski is joined halfway in by Steve Carell , who played opposite him in The Office .
The show just celebrated its 15-year-anniversary , and the two spoke a little about being on the series together , the lasting success it ’ s had , and their favorite scenes .
Then , toward the end of the video , Krasinski talks to a teenager who went viral over the weekend .
Courtney “ Coco ” Johnson returned home from her last chemotherapy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a group of her friends welcoming her back — from a safe social distance .
“ I wrote to your mom and told her that I cried for a very long time after watching that , just pure joy , ” Krasinski tells her .
“ You guys rock for sharing that with the rest of the world.
” Krasinski isn ’ t the first celebrity to turn to YouTube during the pandemic , but he is one of the first to do so just for fun .
Late-night comedians like Seth Meyers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Stephen Colbert have uploaded daily “ mini ” versions of their shows from home .
Like the late-night hosts , Krasinski ’ s tech setup isn ’ t superb by any stretch of the imagination .
The artwork is drawn by his daughters , there ’ s no microphone for Krasinski to speak into , and it kind of looks like he ’ s filming with a low-grade webcam .
“ I ’ m John Krasinski , and if it isn ’ t clear yet , I have absolutely no idea what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adds to the appeal of the video .
This isn ’ t a big production designed to garner millions of subscribers and land top sponsorships .
Although , at the time of this writing , Krasinski ’ s channel has more than 335,000 subscribers .
His video also landed at the top of YouTube ’ s Trending page and amassed more than 3.1 million views .
Krasinski is vlogging because that ’ s a way for him to connect with people .
Like Meyers , Fallon , Kimmel , and Colbert , creating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extremely busy people , and uploading helps distract people who are stuck at home from what ’ s happening .
In many ways , Krasinski is the quintessential YouTuber : someone with the time , audience , and desire to make videos , directly from his home and without a big production team .
It ’ s unclear how often Krasinski will vlog , but he ends the first episode teasing that new episodes will be uploaded to the channel .
The only thing missing is a sign-off from The Office actor asking @ @ @ @ @ @

John Krasinski, best known for playing Jim Halpert on NBC’s The Office, is back behind a desk and talking into a camera — this time, in a video on his new YouTube channel dedicated to sharing good news.
The show is exactly what it sounds like: Krasinski will talk about a few heartwarming, good stories that people might be looking for right now while stuck at home during the COVID-19 pandemic.
There are stories about the support cities around the world have shown health care workers from their own apartments, clapping and cheering out their windows. There are stories about a homeowner making a delivery driver’s day by leaving gifts on the porch. There are even stories about a man who purchased 100 lobsters in Maine to help a local fisherman. It’s an adorable video, made all the cuter by Krasinski’s sincerity.
“I’m John Krasinski, and if it isn’t clear yet, I have absolutely no idea what I’m doing,” he says.
But since this is John Krasinski, there are a few guest appearances that make it a little more than a regular vlog. Krasinski is joined halfway in by Steve Carell, who played opposite him in The Office. The show just celebrated its 15-year-anniversary, and the two spoke a little about being on the series together, the lasting success it’s had, and their favorite scenes.
Then, toward the end of the video, Krasinski talks to a teenager who went viral over the weekend. Courtney “Coco” Johnson returned home from her last chemotherapy treatment last week and was surprised by a group of her friends welcoming her back — from a safe social distance.
“I wrote to your mom and told her that I cried for a very long time after watching that, just pure joy,” Krasinski tells her. “You guys rock for sharing that with the rest of the world.”
Krasinski isn’t the first celebrity to turn to YouTube during the pandemic, but he is one of the first to do so just for fun. Late-night comedians like Seth Meyers, Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, and Stephen Colbert have uploaded daily “mini” versions of their shows from home. Like the late-night hosts, Krasinski’s tech setup isn’t superb by any stretch of the imagination. The artwork is drawn by his daughters, there’s no microphone for Krasinski to speak into, and it kind of looks like he’s filming with a low-grade webcam.
“I’m John Krasinski, and if it isn’t clear yet, I have absolutely no idea what I’m doing.”
That only adds to the appeal of the video. This isn’t a big production designed to garner millions of subscribers and land top sponsorships. Although, at the time of this writing, Krasinski’s channel has more than 335,000 subscribers. His video also landed at the top of YouTube’s Trending page and amassed more than 3.1 million views.
Krasinski is vlogging because that’s a way for him to connect with people. Like Meyers, Fallon, Kimmel, and Colbert, creating maintains a sense of normalcy for otherwise extremely busy people, and uploading helps distract people who are stuck at home from what’s happening. In many ways, Krasinski is the quintessential YouTuber: someone with the time, audience, and desire to make videos, directly from his home and without a big production team.


theverge--2020-03-30--The MLB will stream classic games online for fans waiting out the delayed regular season

Baseball season might be indefinitely delayed , but the MLB is doing its best to fill the baseball-shaped hole in fans ’ hearts with a new “ MLB At Home ” initiative that will see classic games and events , like the Home Run Derby , streamed nightly on YouTube , Facebook , and Twitter .
The MLB already started streaming games last week for its “ Opening Day At Home , ” where it broadcast 30 games ( featuring a momentous victory for each of the 30 MLB teams ) to mark the missed start of the 2020 season @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continuation of that , as well as an effort to try to bring back some semblance of normal scheduling and give fans a regularly scheduled game to look forward to .
The MLB At Home streams begin tonight , March 30th , at 7PM ET with a broadcast of the 2019 T-Mobile Home Run Derby from Cleveland .
The full schedule for the coming week can be seen in the image below , too .
The MLB will continue to announce streaming schedules on a weekly basis , with plans to devote days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ performances , wild walk-offs/unlikely comebacks and Postseason classics .
”

Baseball season might be indefinitely delayed, but MLB is doing its best to fill the baseball-shaped hole in fans’ hearts with a new “MLB At Home” initiative that will see classic games and events, like the Home Run Derby, streamed nightly on YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter.
MLB already started streaming games last week for its “Opening Day At Home,” where it broadcast 30 games (featuring a momentous victory for each of the 30 MLB teams) to mark the missed start of the 2020 season. The new effort is effectively a continuation of that, as well as an effort to try to bring back some semblance of normal scheduling and give fans a regularly scheduled game to look forward to.
The MLB At Home streams begin tonight, March 30th, at 7PM ET with a broadcast of the 2019 T-Mobile Home Run Derby from Cleveland. The full schedule for the coming week can be seen in the image below, too.


theverge--2020-03-30--Valve will delay some Steam auto-updates to preserve bandwidth

Valve announced today that it won ’ t automatically update games in customers ’ libraries as regularly as before to help preserve bandwidth during the novel coronavirus pandemic .
Starting this week , Valve says Steam will only immediately auto-update games you ’ ve played in the last three days .
Otherwise , Valve says Steam will be spreading out updates over several days .
Steam had already been scheduling game updates for “ the next off-peak local time period , ” according to Valve , though if you want to update a game manually , you can still initiate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ schedule auto-update windows and even self-throttle your connection to Steam if you want to additionally optimize how much of your bandwidth Steam uses at any given time .
Valve joins Sony and Microsoft in adjusting video game downloads to help reduce internet traffic while many people are self-quarantining at home .
Sony announced it would slow down PlayStation game downloads in Europe on March 24th , and the company extended that policy to the US on March 27th .
Microsoft said on March 28th that it ’ s working to “ deliver higher-bandwidth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” in partnership with Xbox game publishers .
Streaming video providers , including Amazon , Apple , Disney , Netflix , YouTube , have also reduced streaming quality in an attempt to lower network traffic .
Steam has broken its own concurrent user records multiple times this month , most recently having more than 23 million concurrent players over the weekend .

Valve announced today that it won’t automatically update games in customers’ libraries as regularly as before to help preserve bandwidth during the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Starting this week, Valve says Steam will only immediately auto-update games you’ve played in the last three days. Otherwise, Valve says Steam will be spreading out updates over several days. Steam had already been scheduling game updates for “the next off-peak local time period,” according to Valve, though if you want to update a game manually, you can still initiate that yourself. Valve already lets you schedule auto-update windows and even self-throttle your connection to Steam if you want to additionally optimize how much of your bandwidth Steam uses at any given time.
Valve joins Sony and Microsoft in adjusting video game downloads to help reduce internet traffic while many people are self-quarantining at home. Sony announced it would slow down PlayStation game downloads in Europe on March 24th, and the company extended that policy to the US on March 27th. Microsoft said on March 28th that it’s working to “deliver higher-bandwidth activities like game updates during off-peak hours” in partnership with Xbox game publishers. Streaming video providers, including Amazon, Apple, Disney, Netflix, YouTube, have also reduced streaming quality in an attempt to lower network traffic.


theverge--2020-03-30--Twitter removes tweets by Brazil, Venezuela presidents for violating COVID-19 content rules

Twitter has made good — so far — on its pledge to crack down on tweets that contain false or misleading information about COVID-19 cures .
The platform has deleted tweets by the presidents of Brazil and Venezuela and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani for violating its ban on novel coronavirus-related content that “ goes directly against guidance from authoritative sources of global and local public health information.
” “ We ’ re focused on protecting the public conversation and helping people find authoritative sources of information on Twitter .
There have been a number of measures we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” a Twitter spokesperson said in an email to The Verge .
“ We ’ ll continue to review and require the removal of Tweets that do not follow the Twitter Rules .
This is an evolving global conversation and we ’ re committed to remaining vigilant.
” President Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil had two tweets removed on Sunday which included videos of him endorsing hydroxychloroquine and calling for an end to social-distancing efforts , BuzzFeed News reported .
Both chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine are still unproven as potential treatment options for COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ videos that he has been hearing from Brazilians that they want to return to work .
“ Brazil can not stop or we ’ ll turn into Venezuela.
” Facebook also removed a video of Bolsonaro from its main social network and Instagram on Monday , according to BBC News Brasil .
“ We remove content on Facebook and Instagram that violates our Community Standards , which do not allow misinformation that could lead to physical harm , ” said Facebook in a statement about the removal to The Verge .
Facebook removed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ endorsement of hydroxychloroquine , reports BuzzFeed News ’ Ryan Mac .
The company confirmed that reasoning to The Verge .
Twitter had earlier removed a tweet by Venezuela ’ s President Nicolás Maduro ( which is probably not what Bolsonaro was referring to ) that endorsed a “ brew ” that would “ eliminate the infectious genes ” of the novel coronavirus .
Twitter has had a long-standing position against removing tweets by world leaders unless the tweets violated Twitter ’ s rules with no room for interpretation , as BuzzFeed News notes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a tweet from Giuliani which quoted a tweet by conservative writer Charlie Kirk suggesting that hydroxychloroquine had a “ 100 % effective rate treating COVID-19 , ” Mediaite reported .
Kirk ’ s tweets were also deleted .
Twitter outlined its COVID-19 policies in a blog post on March 4th , stating that it was taking a “ zero-tolerance approach to platform manipulation and any other attempts to abuse our service at this critical juncture.
” It ’ s since removed misleading COVID-19 tweets by the likes of actress Alyssa Milano and businessman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Federalist ’ s Twitter handle after it promoted tweets endorsing so-called coronavirus chicken pox parties where people would deliberately expose themselves to infection .
This is not recommended by medical authorities .
Update March 30th , 8:01PM ET : Added confirmation that Facebook removed Bolsonaro ’ s video because of his endorsement of hydroxychloroquine .

Twitter has made good — so far — on its pledge to crack down on tweets that contain false or misleading information about COVID-19 cures. The platform has deleted tweets by the presidents of Brazil and Venezuela and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani for violating its ban on novel coronavirus-related content that “goes directly against guidance from authoritative sources of global and local public health information.”
“We’re focused on protecting the public conversation and helping people find authoritative sources of information on Twitter. There have been a number of measures we’ve taken in regard to COVID-19,” a Twitter spokesperson said in an email to The Verge. “We’ll continue to review and require the removal of Tweets that do not follow the Twitter Rules. This is an evolving global conversation and we’re committed to remaining vigilant.”
President Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil had two tweets removed on Sunday which included videos of him endorsing hydroxychloroquine and calling for an end to social-distancing efforts, BuzzFeed News reported. Both chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine are still unproven as potential treatment options for COVID-19.
Bolsonaro said in one of the videos that he has been hearing from Brazilians that they want to return to work. “Brazil cannot stop or we’ll turn into Venezuela.”
Facebook also removed a video of Bolsonaro from its main social network and Instagram on Monday, according to BBC News Brasil. “We remove content on Facebook and Instagram that violates our Community Standards, which do not allow misinformation that could lead to physical harm,” said Facebook in a statement about the removal to The Verge. Facebook removed the video because of Bolsonaro’s endorsement of hydroxychloroquine, reports BuzzFeed News’ Ryan Mac. The company confirmed that reasoning to The Verge.
Twitter had earlier removed a tweet by Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro (which is probably not what Bolsonaro was referring to) that endorsed a “brew” that would “eliminate the infectious genes” of the novel coronavirus. Twitter has had a long-standing position against removing tweets by world leaders unless the tweets violated Twitter’s rules with no room for interpretation, as BuzzFeed News notes.
And on Friday, Twitter removed a tweet from Giuliani which quoted a tweet by conservative writer Charlie Kirk suggesting that hydroxychloroquine had a “100% effective rate treating COVID-19,” Mediaite reported. Kirk’s tweets were also deleted.
Twitter outlined its COVID-19 policies in a blog post on March 4th, stating that it was taking a “zero-tolerance approach to platform manipulation and any other attempts to abuse our service at this critical juncture.”
It’s since removed misleading COVID-19 tweets by the likes of actress Alyssa Milano and businessman John McAfee. It also locked The Federalist’s Twitter handle after it promoted tweets endorsing so-called coronavirus chicken pox parties where people would deliberately expose themselves to infection. This is not recommended by medical authorities.


theverge--2020-03-30--Apple reportedly letting select employees work on early-stage products at home

With all the uncertainty over when “ shelter in place ” orders will be lifted , Apple has recently been more willing to let early-stage products leave its campus for further development at the homes of its employees .
This is according to Bloomberg ’ s Mark Gurman , who today reported about how Apple has been adapting to the work-from-home culture that ’ s now the norm across Big Tech and countless other companies around the world .
Apple is known for maintaining tight secrecy around unreleased hardware and software , and Bloomberg makes clear that employees must go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to take an in-the-works device home .
A vice president must sign off , and the list of employees in possession of future products is regularly reviewed by the company ’ s most senior leadership .
Currently , Apple is at work on “ new versions of the HomePod speaker , Apple TV set-top box , MacBook Pro , budget iPads , Apple Watch and iMac for as early as later this year , ” according to the report .
And the company is said to be on track for the usual fall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are crucial days if all of those things are going to hit their release targets .
Bloomberg noted that “ for some work that requires hands-on development , some hardware engineers in Silicon Valley are allowed into the office.
” Upcoming software releases are also under continued development , and Apple is similarly rigorous about keeping track of who ’ s got at-home access to iOS 14 , the next version of macOS , and other projects .
Those releases are said to be running on schedule , according to Bloomberg , despite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” and “ distractions ” cited by some Apple software engineers .
Even with the company ’ s obsession with secrecy , sometimes things do still slip out .
Early iOS 14 code recently leaked , spilling the details on new software features and corroborating some of Apple ’ s hardware plans like a lower-cost iPhone 9 and Tile-like “ AirTag ” trackers .
Earlier this month , Apple announced its first new products since the COVID-19 pandemic took hold — an updated MacBook Air and iPad Pro — and those devices are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the company ’ s retail stores outside China remain closed “ until further notice.
” Apple has offered to cover home office costs ( desks , computer monitors , etc . )
as the quarantine stretches on , according to Bloomberg ’ s report , and has started up a contest that has employees showcasing their workspaces .
“ Whether you ’ re working at home or at the office , it ’ s always critical to keep confidential work confidential .
While working remotely , use the same care and always securely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in use , ” the company said in a notice to staff .
Work-from-home edicts in the Bay Area have been extended through May 1st at the earliest .

With all the uncertainty over when “shelter in place” orders will be lifted, Apple has recently been more willing to let early-stage products leave its campus for further development at the homes of its employees. This is according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who today reported about how Apple has been adapting to the work-from-home culture that’s now the norm across Big Tech and countless other companies around the world.
Apple is known for maintaining tight secrecy around unreleased hardware and software, and Bloomberg makes clear that employees must go high up the executive ladder for permission to take an in-the-works device home. A vice president must sign off, and the list of employees in possession of future products is regularly reviewed by the company’s most senior leadership.
Currently, Apple is at work on “new versions of the HomePod speaker, Apple TV set-top box, MacBook Pro, budget iPads, Apple Watch and iMac for as early as later this year,” according to the report. And the company is said to be on track for the usual fall launch of its next iPhones. These are crucial days if all of those things are going to hit their release targets. Bloomberg noted that “for some work that requires hands-on development, some hardware engineers in Silicon Valley are allowed into the office.”
Upcoming software releases are also under continued development, and Apple is similarly rigorous about keeping track of who’s got at-home access to iOS 14, the next version of macOS, and other projects. Those releases are said to be running on schedule, according to Bloomberg, despite the “difficulties of working from home” and “distractions” cited by some Apple software engineers.
Even with the company’s obsession with secrecy, sometimes things do still slip out. Early iOS 14 code recently leaked, spilling the details on new software features and corroborating some of Apple’s hardware plans like a lower-cost iPhone 9 and Tile-like “AirTag” trackers.
Earlier this month, Apple announced its first new products since the COVID-19 pandemic took hold — an updated MacBook Air and iPad Pro — and those devices are now shipping, even as all of the company’s retail stores outside China remain closed “until further notice.”


theverge--2020-03-30--Go read about how the original Xbox creator baked ancient Egyptian-style bread with 4,000-year-old y

Go read about how the original Xbox creator baked ancient Egyptian-style bread with 4,000-year-old yeast

As more people are faced with endless hours at home due to self-quarantine and social distancing , there ’ s been a surge in home bread baking show-and-tell on the internet over the past few days .
But it ’ s safe to say that no one has been baking bread quite like Seamus Blackley , who finally has achieved his goal to re-create ancient Egyptian bread using yeast cultivated from samples that were over 4,000 years old and traditional tools and techniques dating back to that time period .
The thread is actually a culmination of Blackley ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cultivated by samples obtained from ancient pottery since their porous structures helped preserve some of the original microorganisms .
( Blackley , when not trying to re-create ancient breads , is better known as one of the creators of the original Xbox and the man behind the infamous “ Duke ” controller . )
As Blackley explains on Twitter , the most recent development in the project saw the team build a custom , conical clay pot called a “ bedja ” to bake the bread outside in a series of fire pits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the most authentic ancient Egyptian bread baked in thousands of years .
An additional thread from Serena Love , the Egyptologist working with Blackley on the project , explains why the experiment is so significant and how archeologists have even figured out how ancient Egyptians baked in the first place .
The entire journey is worth a read , starting with Blackley ’ s original thread from last July In it , he describes the process in which he , Love , and Richard Bowman ( the microbiologist who also worked on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yeast and revive it to a live culture .
A subsequent thread in August details when Blackley baked with it for the first time .

As more people are faced with endless hours at home due to self-quarantine and social distancing, there’s been a surge in home bread baking show-and-tell on the internet over the past few days. But it’s safe to say that no one has been baking bread quite like Seamus Blackley, who finally has achieved his goal to re-create ancient Egyptian bread using yeast cultivated from samples that were over 4,000 years old and traditional tools and techniques dating back to that time period.
The thread is actually a culmination of Blackley’s year-long efforts to bake bread using yeast cultivated by samples obtained from ancient pottery since their porous structures helped preserve some of the original microorganisms. (Blackley, when not trying to re-create ancient breads, is better known as one of the creators of the original Xbox and the man behind the infamous “Duke” controller.)
As Blackley explains on Twitter, the most recent development in the project saw the team build a custom, conical clay pot called a “bedja” to bake the bread outside in a series of fire pits, resulting in what’s likely the most authentic ancient Egyptian bread baked in thousands of years. An additional thread from Serena Love, the Egyptologist working with Blackley on the project, explains why the experiment is so significant and how archeologists have even figured out how ancient Egyptians baked in the first place.


theverge--2020-03-30--Ford will make ventilators for GE, joining General Motors

Ford is the latest automaker to announce that it will start making desperately needed ventilators that are crucial for treating the worst symptoms of COVID-19 .
The automaker announced Monday that it will manufacture ventilators for General Electric ’ s health care division , which has licensed a “ simplified ” design that does not need electricity from a Florida ventilator company called Airon — and one that is already approved by the Food and Drug Administration .
Ford has already been working with GE to increase production of its own ventilators , and will soon start helping Airon increase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Florida .
The automaker is already helping make masks and protective hoods for health care workers .
Ford will pay 500 United Auto Workers-represented volunteer employees to build the ventilators at one of the automaker ’ s components factories in Ypsilanti , Michigan , which is currently shut down due to the novel coronavirus pandemic .
The company will build the ventilators “ around the clock ” starting the week of April 20th .
Ford says it expects to be able to build 1,500 of them by the end of April , 12,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 50,000 by July , eventually reaching a rate of 30,000 per month .
The ventilator doesn ’ t need electricity , and Ford says it can make a lot of them Adrian Price , director of Ford ’ s global manufacturing core engineering division , said Ford and GE Healthcare believe the unpowered ventilator design is “ absolutely robust in terms of its capability.
” Perhaps more importantly , Price said it ’ s a simple design that can be quickly scaled up .
When it comes to protecting the workers who will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s working with the UAW to make sure they ’ re properly screened and set far enough apart so they don ’ t risk spreading the novel coronavirus .
The company will also use barriers , shields and protective devices as well .
Price said the automaker is “ also looking at deploying some new technology that can can help us in in the fight on COVID , ” but did not go into any further detail .
Ford has already lost two employees to COVID-19 in the US , and fellow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Ford joins fellow Detroit automaker General Motors in helping make ventilators , which are expected to be in short supply as the number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise in the US and around the world .
GM announced on Friday that it will start manufacturing more complicated ventilators in April on behalf of Ventec Life Systems , hours before President Trump announced he was invoking the Korean War-era Defense Production Act to force the automaker to help with the shortage .
GM plans to eventually make 10,000 powered ventilators per month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” in April , according to Ventec .
Tesla and Virgin are also working on sourcing and building ventilators and similar equipment to fight COVID-19 Tesla is also examining how to help manufacture ventilators for a company called Medtronic , and has even bought some from China to send to hospitals in the meantime .
Earlier on Monday , the rocket-launching arm of Richard Branson ’ s space company announced it has also developed a device that could help patients who are having trouble breathing due to COVID-19 .
In response to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the economic impact of the pandemic , a number of workers in GE ’ s aviation division decided to protest cuts the company made on Monday .
The union workers called on the company to let them make ventilators instead .
GE Healthcare is already a large manufacturer of ventilators .
When asked why GE Healthcare is tapping Ford to make these ventilators instead of its own workers , Tom Westrick , the division ’ s vice president and chief quality officer , said : “ Our decision to select Ford was based @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to increase capacity as fast as we could.
” Correction : An earlier version of this story claimed the GE aviation workers stopped work .
The protest happened outside the facility while they were off duty .
We regret the error .

Ford is the latest automaker to announce that it will start making desperately needed ventilators that are crucial for treating the worst symptoms of COVID-19. The automaker announced Monday that it will manufacture ventilators for General Electric’s health care division, which has licensed a “simplified” design that does not need electricity from a Florida ventilator company called Airon — and one that is already approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
Ford has already been working with GE to increase production of its own ventilators, and will soon start helping Airon increase the company’s production capacity in Florida. The automaker is already helping make masks and protective hoods for health care workers.
Ford will pay 500 United Auto Workers-represented volunteer employees to build the ventilators at one of the automaker’s components factories in Ypsilanti, Michigan, which is currently shut down due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. The company will build the ventilators “around the clock” starting the week of April 20th. Ford says it expects to be able to build 1,500 of them by the end of April, 12,000 by the end of May, and 50,000 by July, eventually reaching a rate of 30,000 per month.
The ventilator doesn’t need electricity, and Ford says it can make a lot of them
Adrian Price, director of Ford’s global manufacturing core engineering division, said Ford and GE Healthcare believe the unpowered ventilator design is “absolutely robust in terms of its capability.” Perhaps more importantly, Price said it’s a simple design that can be quickly scaled up.
When it comes to protecting the workers who will build the ventilators, Ford says it’s working with the UAW to make sure they’re properly screened and set far enough apart so they don’t risk spreading the novel coronavirus. The company will also use barriers, shields and protective devices as well. Price said the automaker is “also looking at deploying some new technology that can can help us in in the fight on COVID,” but did not go into any further detail. Ford has already lost two employees to COVID-19 in the US, and fellow Detroit automaker Fiat Chrysler has lost four.
Ford joins fellow Detroit automaker General Motors in helping make ventilators, which are expected to be in short supply as the number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise in the US and around the world. GM announced on Friday that it will start manufacturing more complicated ventilators in April on behalf of Ventec Life Systems, hours before President Trump announced he was invoking the Korean War-era Defense Production Act to force the automaker to help with the shortage. GM plans to eventually make 10,000 powered ventilators per month, but will start with “hundreds” in April, according to Ventec.
Tesla and Virgin are also working on sourcing and building ventilators and similar equipment to fight COVID-19
In response to the need for ventilators, as well as the economic impact of the pandemic, a number of workers in GE’s aviation division decided to protest cuts the company made on Monday. The union workers called on the company to let them make ventilators instead. GE Healthcare is already a large manufacturer of ventilators.
When asked why GE Healthcare is tapping Ford to make these ventilators instead of its own workers, Tom Westrick, the division’s vice president and chief quality officer, said: “Our decision to select Ford was based specifically on speed, and our ability to increase capacity as fast as we could.”


theverge--2020-03-31--Spotify is bringing its kids app to the US, Canada, and France

Spotify ’ s expanding the rollout of its kids app , just as more kids are at home with nothing to do .
The company announced that it ’ s bringing Spotify Kids to the US , Canada , and France today .
The ad-free iOS / Android app is only available to Spotify Premium Family subscribers and features content appropriate for kids ages three and older .
Spotify first launched the app in Ireland in October , and since then , it ’ s made multiple product adjustments , although the app is still considered to be in beta @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Spotify says the app now has more than 8,000 songs in its catalog , an increase of 30 percent , and 50 percent of that content is localized .
The app also features 60 hours of audiobooks and stories , as well as more bedtime content , like lullabies , calming music and sounds , and bedtime stories .
In the US , kids will have access to 125 playlists , including themes like Spanish-language , country , Christian , Motown , and a soul dance party , as well as playlists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ World Tour .

Spotify’s expanding the rollout of its kids app, just as more kids are at home with nothing to do. The company announced that it’s bringing Spotify Kids to the US, Canada, and France today. The ad-free iOS / Android app is only available to Spotify Premium Family subscribers and features content appropriate for kids ages three and older. Spotify first launched the app in Ireland in October, and since then, it’s made multiple product adjustments, although the app is still considered to be in beta.
In the five months since launching, Spotify says the app now has more than 8,000 songs in its catalog, an increase of 30 percent, and 50 percent of that content is localized. The app also features 60 hours of audiobooks and stories, as well as more bedtime content, like lullabies, calming music and sounds, and bedtime stories. In the US, kids will have access to 125 playlists, including themes like Spanish-language, country, Christian, Motown, and a soul dance party, as well as playlists tied to cultural moments like the Trolls World Tour.