theverge--2020-10-20--Apple iPhone 12 review: raising the bar

Apple iPhone 12 review: raising the bar

More than most years , there are a lot of things that are new in the iPhone 12 .
Apple has loaded in the usual upgrades like a faster processor and improved camera , but that ’ s something we ’ ve come to expect .
In addition to all of that , there ’ s a new design , a new OLED screen , an entirely new charging and accessory ecosystem with MagSafe , and , of course , 5G .
It seems obvious that both Apple and its carrier partners are trying to align to make this a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new stuff is also paired with both a higher price ( $ 829 for the base 64GB model ) and discounts and heavily marketed carrier trade-in and installment plans .
In the midst of a pandemic-induced economic downturn , it could be a hard sell .
It ’ s easy to recommend the default iPhone for the times when you need a new phone anyway , but it ’ s much more difficult to say whether all of this new stuff adds up to something that could compel you to upgrade earlier than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is reviewing the iPhone 12 Pro separately , here .
Both the smaller iPhone 12 mini and the iPhone 12 Pro Max with its better cameras won ’ t arrive for a little while .
There ’ s reason to consider all of them , but the standard iPhone 12 is the one I think most people who need a new iPhone will want to get .
I love the new design for the iPhone 12 .
In addition to being smaller and lighter than the iPhone 11 , it has flat sides @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve been living with curved edges on iPhones for six years , since 2014 ’ s iPhone 6 .
So part of my affection might just be that the iPhone 12 feels new .
But it ’ s also that it feels like a throwback to the iPhone 4 and 5 models , which were the last iPhones whose design I truly loved .
Despite all of those flat edges , the seams and the corners are beveled just enough to make it comfortable to hold .
The rails on the iPhone 12 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prefer them to the glossy steel on the Pro models .
Unfortunately , the rear glass is super glossy , super prone to picking up fingerprints , and as susceptible to picking up tiny little micro-abrasions as ever .
Most people will put a case on their phone anyway .
The front of the iPhone 12 isn ’ t technically glass at all , but a glass-ceramic hybrid Apple has branded “ Ceramic Shield.
” It uses ceramic crystals within the glass itself to improve drop resistance over the iPhone 11 .
Apple @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which is a good thing because screen repair costs have gone up this year .
I can ’ t test that with our review unit ( at least , not intentionally ) , but I did have a totally accidental drop to concrete from three feet that stopped my heart but only put a barely perceptible ding in the aluminum .
Scratch resistance should be about the same as last year .
If you look at the aluminum rail , you ’ ll see a bunch of antenna lines and even a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Ultra Wideband ( UWB ) mmWave antenna .
They break up the symmetry a bit ( especially on the bottom ) , but it doesn ’ t bother me .
I ’ ve also become notch-blind at this point , but I should note that Face ID still requires a very big cutout at the top of the screen .
The ceramic-glass hybrid screen should be more resistant to breaking from drops There ’ s no fingerprint sensor , and though I didn ’ t really expect one , during the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suppose the one silver lining for Android manufacturers mostly whiffing on Face Unlock is that their phones are easier to get into when you ’ re wearing a mask .
Overall , though , this design just feels more elegant and confident than the past few years of iPhones , including even the big iPhone X redesign .
And the smaller size is the best part ; the iPhone XR and iPhone 11 always felt just a little too big .
If this is the design we ’ ll be living with for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t complain .
One of the reasons Apple was able to reduce the size of the iPhone 12 is that it has switched over to an OLED screen .
That helps reduce the bezels and also keeps them perfect even all the way around the phone , while at the same time keeping the actual viewable screen the same 6.1 inches as the iPhone 11 .
I prefer the look of OLED to LCD because of its blacker blacks , so I ’ ve been waiting for this change .
Along with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also increased the pixel count to 1080 x 2340 .
If you haven ’ t been immersed in smartphone tech discussions , you have blessedly avoided the complaining that previous iPhones didn ’ t even technically hit 1080p .
Now they have , and those complaints can finally cease .
But they ’ ll be replaced with another argument : whether the iPhone ought to have a high refresh rate screen .
Many Android phones at this price point ( and nearly all of them that cost more ) have a 90 or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and animations smoother .
The iPhone ’ s is locked to the same 60Hz it ’ s always been .
This is a tech spec argument , but it is something that you can feel when you scroll or navigate around a phone .
Apple ships such a screen on the iPad Pro .
I think the iPhone 12 gets away with leaving it out for two reasons : one , iOS already feels smooth and fast natively , and two , this is the lower-cost iPhone , so it isn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rate .
The iPhone 12 Pro models lacking 120Hz is a little more jarring .
The iPhone 12 Pro does have one screen advantage over this phone : it can reach a higher level of brightness in regular use .
I didn ’ t have any complaints about screen brightness on this iPhone 12 , however , even outdoors .
And when watching HDR content , both phones can still reach peak brightness of 1,200 nits .
Overall , the OLED screen is a noticeable improvement for me mainly because of its improved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ count .
I ’ m also happy to report that Apple hasn ’ t compromised on its color science either — colors are as accurate as ever .
Of all the new things on the iPhone 12 , I think MagSafe is the most interesting .
It ’ s an entire system for attaching things to the back of the iPhone via magnets : wireless chargers , cases , car mounts , wallets , and eventually , other things like gimbals or something I haven ’ t thought of yet .
The premiere @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 39 puck that snicks onto the back of the phone with a satisfying clap and then wirelessly charges it .
The iPhone has a second NFC chip for MagSafe that identifies what ’ s been attached to it .
When it ’ s a MagSafe charger , it will allow the phone to power up at 15 watts instead of the usual 7.5 , provided you have at least a 20-watt power brick .
( The MagSafe charger doesn ’ t come with one .
Apple will sell you a 20-watt USB-C @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can use one from another device such as a laptop . )
It ’ s the difference between wireless charging being annoyingly slow and being acceptable .
In my testing , I would get around 40 percent charge in an hour .
That ’ s slower than the fastest wireless charging systems out there and much slower than a cable , but it ’ s also easy and convenient .
Apple ’ s puck is thin and light and attaches firmly enough that you can pick up the phone and use it without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wants to make a charging puck , they ’ ll need to use Apple ’ s “ Made for iPhone ” ( MFI ) program .
Other fast wireless chargers still charge the iPhone at the usual rate ; new ones will need to use that NFC handshake as necessary for the faster charging .
( And no , apps can ’ t access this NFC chip directly , so payments and other uses are still more locked down than on Android . )
NFC also lets Apple do cute little things like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when it detects that an accessory has been attached .
There ’ s a blue ring for a blue case , for example .
Apple is selling a series of MagSafe cases that it claims are easier to snap on and off , but they ’ re not appreciably different than the silicone cases from prior years .
There ’ s also a wallet that can hold three cards with special shielding to keep them from getting de-magnetized .
It ’ s nice enough for what it is , but you have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out or to wirelessly charge the phone .
I ’ m excited to see what third-party companies come up with for these magnets .
They don ’ t need to participate in MFI to simply make magnetic accessories , and car mounts are already on the way .
I ’ m hoping to see a bunch of photography and video accessories , too .
The magnets are strong enough to hold the phone up against light jostling , but stuff like bike mounts will still need a sturdier attachment .
One last word @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the subject .
Apple has indeed taken the AC adapter out of the box and included a USB-C to Lightning cable , so if you don ’ t have a USB-C charger , you ’ ll need to get one .
Even though the environmental benefits may not be huge , I am still in favor of this decision .
I ’ m less in favor of the decision to stick to the Lightning port for charging .
A major redesign is an opportunity to switch over to the more common USB-C port @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s own computers and tablets use along with every other Android phone and many , many other gadgets .
The fact that Apple didn ’ t have the courage to do so tells me that its long-term plans may have more to do with MagSafe than anything else .
I don ’ t love Lightning , but I have to admit it ’ s better than literally nothing when it comes to wired charging .
Apple has joined the 5G Hype Industrial Complex .
It is promoting 5G as the flagship feature on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ promising incredibly fast download speeds .
The reality in the US is that getting those speeds is a matter of being in the right city and sometimes the right city block .
Heck , the ultra-fast millimeter-wave ( mmWave ) version of 5G requires being literally on the right street corner .
The networks simply aren ’ t built-out yet , and despite lofty promises from carriers , I don ’ t know how long it will be until they are .
Your experience with 5G will vary widely depending on your location @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my testing in Oakland and San Francisco on both T-Mobile and Verizon , I found myself with an LTE signal as often as I did 5G — if not more .
When I did get 5G , my download speeds varied from just barely better than LTE to about two times faster .
But when I consciously sought out the sidewalks where Verizon ’ s mmWave network is live , the speeds were mind-boggling .
All of which is to say that your experience with 5G is completely dependent on where you are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and how lucky you are in finding the right signal .
Getting 2,400Mbps and using it to download an entire Netflix season really is awe-inspiring .
Walking half a block and seeing speeds drop down to plain old LTE speeds is not .
As far as the iPhone itself goes , it performs as well or better than 5G Android phones .
It can certainly handle the speed , and it appears to pick up signal without issue .
It does get hot on mmWave , and it does impact battery life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is , however , doing a lot of work under the hood in iOS to tweak the 5G experience .
By default , every 5G phone will have a “ Smart Data mode ” enabled .
It drops the iPhone 12 down to LTE speeds unless Apple ’ s software believes you really need them .
It ’ s a little unclear what circumstances will trigger a bump up to 5G speeds , but it ’ s some combination of what kind of data you ’ re downloading and perhaps what app you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weird is that when the iPhone is limiting you to LTE speeds , it will still display the 5G icon in the status bar .
It ’ s now an indicator of the best speed available to you , not the actual type of connection that ’ s actively in use .
You can turn Smart Data off if you like , but I left it on and honestly never really felt like I was being throttled .
There are other nuances with 5G .
Although Apple has done a remarkable job ensuring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ US network , there are some band differences internationally ( where mmWave isn ’ t necessarily included ) , so double-check if you move or ever get to travel again .
And if you use both the physical SIM and the eSIM on your iPhone , it turns out that the Dual SIM Dual Standby spec can ’ t handle having 5G lit up on both networks at the same time .
If you have them both active , you ’ ll get 4G .
But you can get 5G on either on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Verizon — require you to get a new 5G-compatible SIM card .
So if you ’ re not getting 5G and you think you should be , that may be the issue .
You may also need to adjust your plan .
The iPhone will also try to be aware of your data plan , and if it knows you have unlimited , it will use 5G more freely for certain things .
Apple will even allow it to download full iOS updates over 5G if you ’ re on unlimited .
If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t want it to do that , you might need to go diving through various settings .
Apple also says that you might get faster tethering speeds over Wi-Fi than tethering over a wired Lightning cable , thanks to optimizations it has made .
Wi-Fi tethering could be as much as four times faster than before in optimal conditions ( including , perhaps Wi-Fi 6 on the tethered device ) .
Since it ’ s a hassle for me to even find an mmWave signal , I haven ’ t had a chance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 5G won ’ t work on your iPhone if your carrier doesn ’ t directly work with Apple to light it up .
Unlike previous networks , you can ’ t go in and just manually set an APN and MMS settings and be good to go on 5G .
That shouldn ’ t be a problem for the vast majority of people , though .
Apple has worked with over 100 carriers in 30 markets to enable 5G on the iPhone , including all three major carriers in the US — but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should double-check that 5G will work before you buy .
You really shouldn ’ t have to worry about most of these 5G details .
If you happen to get 5G speeds where you live and work , bully for you .
If you don ’ t , they will hopefully come to you soon , and hopefully the networks will continue to be fast even after all these 5G iPhones start filling up the channels .
Either way , right now , it ’ s not a good idea to buy an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s a nice bonus , but not more than that yet .
The most important changes to the camera in the iPhone 12 aren ’ t in the sensors or the lenses .
They are completely unchanged except for the main wide-angle camera going from an ƒ/1.8 aperture to ƒ/1.6 to allow in slightly more light .
Instead , the bigger differences come from software and from unlocking new capabilities , thanks to the new A14 Bionic processor that runs everything on the phone .
The iPhone 12 camera is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the iPhone 11 If you ’ re comparing iPhone 12 models , the key things to know is that the regular iPhone 12 and the 12 mini have the same camera system .
The iPhone 12 Pro adds telephoto , LIDAR for low-light focusing and depth calculations , and some more encoding options for photo and video .
The iPhone 12 Pro Max has a bigger upgrade with a larger main camera sensor and improved image stabilization .
Nilay Patel ’ s review of the iPhone 12 Pro has details on some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more in-depth on video quality .
Apple is making big claims around HDR , dubbing this a Dolby Vision camera .
I ’ ll let Nilay give you all the nitty-gritty details on that .
For my part , I ’ ll just say that video quality continues to be excellent and is challenged only by the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra , but I give the edge to the iPhone .
But back to the A14 Bionic .
It has unlocked night mode for all of the cameras on the iPhone 12 ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even a night portrait mode .
Apple has also made some tweaks to its system for combining multiple frames into a single image , called Smart HDR 3 .
That system should also be better at recognizing things like faces or the sky and tweaking the photos to optimize their appearance .
In fact , there ’ s even a new setting called “ Scene Detection ” if you want to toggle it .
In general , the iPhone 12 does a better job on fine detail in regular lighting conditions .
Apple @ @ @ @ @ @ @ applying its Deep Fusion algorithms in more situations this year .
I still like the Pixel ’ s signature , contrast-y look , but Apple seems to be moving in its direction just a little .
The iPhone 12 ’ s photos seem to finally be stepping back from over-brightening shadows on faces .
But it ’ s a minor tweak , the bigger changes come in more extreme conditions .
Compared to the iPhone 11 , the iPhone 12 needs to drop into night mode less often , thanks to that faster @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I ’ m getting clearer , brighter shots .
In the very darkest conditions , the Pixel 5 still handles itself a little better , but it ’ s much , much closer than it ’ s ever been .
Night mode portraits are one of the major new features , and they ’ re worth a try , but the range of lighting conditions where they ’ ll look good isn ’ t massively bigger .
One nice thing is that the iPhone 12 passes the glasses test with flying colors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blurred .
I ’ m less impressed with night mode selfies portraits .
There ’ s no way to turn the screen flash off in this mode , which is a problem if you wear glasses .
Many of those software enhancements have also come to the ultrawide camera , and so its quality is also improved .
However , it is still a fundamentally worse sensor and lens combo , and you can see grain in the details if you look even a little closely .
It ’ s good for landscapes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has done more tuning to compensate for lens distortion at the edge of ultrawide shots , especially for faces and architecture .
I do think it helps but only a little .
This photo of the Golden Gate bridge still has a clear bend to it .
For me , the bottom line on the cameras is I definitely see a marked improvement over the iPhone 11 , but they ’ re not enough to compel an upgrade .
That doesn ’ t mean the iPhone 12 isn ’ t a massively good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ combination of performance , simplicity , and just plain good quality continues to impress .
It should not come as any kind of surprise to you that the iPhone 12 is blisteringly fast .
The new A14 Bionic chip is built on a new 5nm process — one that we expect will also power upcoming Mac computers .
Games load fast and there ’ s no lag , webpages render without hassle , and I ’ m seeing fewer apps need to reload when multitasking .
Battery life is acceptable but doesn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 11 — and pay attention to your UWB 5G use But in actual day-to-day use , I suspect nobody will see an appreciable difference from the iPhone 11 , which was and is very fast , too .
The importance of the iPhone 12 ’ s speed isn ’ t that it ’ s fast today ; it ’ s that it ’ s likely to still be fast in three or even five years .
Battery life is good but does seem to be a small regression from the iPhone 11 ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fact that Apple felt the need to create a special mode for silently turning off 5G is a little worrying in terms of battery life .
Luckily , I don ’ t think the battery life on the iPhone 12 is bad at all .
I can get through a full day without much issue .
On the other hand , I have to admit that it ’ s easier to kill this thing with a full day of heavy use than the iPhone 11 .
As for iOS 14 , I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s review as his thoughts mirror my own .
I really like having widgets on the main home screen , although I wish there was a wider selection from my favorite apps .
Speaking of wishes , I wish Apple would put much more effort into making Siri a little more competitive with the Google Assistant .
The iPhone 12 is the first iPhone in several years that really does feel like something new .
But I can ’ t point to any specific single feature that makes it feel that way .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ convenient , but we ’ ll have to see if there ’ s a real ecosystem there .
The OLED screen is lovely but also kind of table stakes for smartphones these days .
The new design is elegant and modern , but it ’ s hard to tell you to buy a phone because it ’ s pretty .
The iPhone 12 is the new default choice — and it ’ s a good one The iPhone 12 is going to be the default choice for a lot of people buying an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s frankly fortunate that the default iPhone is so good .
I think most people should get this instead of the iPhone 12 Pro .
But I also think if you have an iPhone that ’ s working for you just fine , there ’ s not a must-have got ta -get-it feature here to compel you to upgrade .
That ’ s how default phones work : when you need one , get one , and it will be way better than what you were using .
When you don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t .
But when the time comes for you to get a new phone and if you end up with this iPhone 12 , I think you ’ re going to love it .

More than most years, there are a lot of things that are new in the iPhone 12. Apple has loaded in the usual upgrades like a faster processor and improved camera, but that’s something we’ve come to expect. In addition to all of that, there’s a new design, a new OLED screen, an entirely new charging and accessory ecosystem with MagSafe, and, of course, 5G.
It seems obvious that both Apple and its carrier partners are trying to align to make this a supercycle for upgrades. All of that new stuff is also paired with both a higher price ($829 for the base 64GB model) and discounts and heavily marketed carrier trade-in and installment plans. In the midst of a pandemic-induced economic downturn, it could be a hard sell.
It’s easy to recommend the default iPhone for the times when you need a new phone anyway, but it’s much more difficult to say whether all of this new stuff adds up to something that could compel you to upgrade earlier than you’d planned.
Nilay Patel is reviewing the iPhone 12 Pro separately, here. Both the smaller iPhone 12 mini and the iPhone 12 Pro Max with its better cameras won’t arrive for a little while. There’s reason to consider all of them, but the standard iPhone 12 is the one I think most people who need a new iPhone will want to get.
The iPhone 12 in blue.
iPhone 12 design
I love the new design for the iPhone 12. In addition to being smaller and lighter than the iPhone 11, it has flat sides and a flat screen. We’ve been living with curved edges on iPhones for six years, since 2014’s iPhone 6. So part of my affection might just be that the iPhone 12 feels new. But it’s also that it feels like a throwback to the iPhone 4 and 5 models, which were the last iPhones whose design I truly loved.
Despite all of those flat edges, the seams and the corners are beveled just enough to make it comfortable to hold. The rails on the iPhone 12 are matte finish aluminum, and I prefer them to the glossy steel on the Pro models. Unfortunately, the rear glass is super glossy, super prone to picking up fingerprints, and as susceptible to picking up tiny little micro-abrasions as ever. Most people will put a case on their phone anyway.
The iPhone 12 looks great. The new design feels both modern and classic. The iPhone 12 is noticeably smaller than the iPhone 11.
The aluminum rails have a matte finish and are flat instead of curved. There are antenna lines and this little plastic window for Ultra Wideband antennas.
The front of the iPhone 12 isn’t technically glass at all, but a glass-ceramic hybrid Apple has branded “Ceramic Shield.” It uses ceramic crystals within the glass itself to improve drop resistance over the iPhone 11. Apple says it’s four times better, which is a good thing because screen repair costs have gone up this year. I can’t test that with our review unit (at least, not intentionally), but I did have a totally accidental drop to concrete from three feet that stopped my heart but only put a barely perceptible ding in the aluminum. Scratch resistance should be about the same as last year.
If you look at the aluminum rail, you’ll see a bunch of antenna lines and even a small plastic section on the side for the Ultra Wideband (UWB) mmWave antenna. They break up the symmetry a bit (especially on the bottom), but it doesn’t bother me. I’ve also become notch-blind at this point, but I should note that Face ID still requires a very big cutout at the top of the screen.
The ceramic-glass hybrid screen should be more resistant to breaking from drops
There’s no fingerprint sensor, and though I didn’t really expect one, during the pandemic, it is a frustration. I suppose the one silver lining for Android manufacturers mostly whiffing on Face Unlock is that their phones are easier to get into when you’re wearing a mask.
Overall, though, this design just feels more elegant and confident than the past few years of iPhones, including even the big iPhone X redesign. And the smaller size is the best part; the iPhone XR and iPhone 11 always felt just a little too big. If this is the design we’ll be living with for the next six years, I won’t complain.
The iPhone 12’s OLED screen is excellent.
iPhone 12 screen
One of the reasons Apple was able to reduce the size of the iPhone 12 is that it has switched over to an OLED screen. That helps reduce the bezels and also keeps them perfect even all the way around the phone, while at the same time keeping the actual viewable screen the same 6.1 inches as the iPhone 11. I prefer the look of OLED to LCD because of its blacker blacks, so I’ve been waiting for this change.
Along with the switch to OLED, Apple has also increased the pixel count to 1170 x 2532. If you haven’t been immersed in smartphone tech discussions, you have blessedly avoided the complaining that previous iPhones didn’t even technically hit 1080p. Now they have, and those complaints can finally cease.
The OLED screen is excellent, with great contrast and colors — but no high refresh rate
The large Face ID notch is still there, but it eventually feels normal.
But they’ll be replaced with another argument: whether the iPhone ought to have a high refresh rate screen. Many Android phones at this price point (and nearly all of them that cost more) have a 90 or 120Hz refresh rate, which makes scrolling and animations smoother. The iPhone’s is locked to the same 60Hz it’s always been.
This is a tech spec argument, but it is something that you can feel when you scroll or navigate around a phone. Apple ships such a screen on the iPad Pro. I think the iPhone 12 gets away with leaving it out for two reasons: one, iOS already feels smooth and fast natively, and two, this is the lower-cost iPhone, so it isn’t a surprise to see a standard refresh rate. The iPhone 12 Pro models lacking 120Hz is a little more jarring.
The iPhone 12 Pro does have one screen advantage over this phone: it can reach a higher level of brightness in regular use. I didn’t have any complaints about screen brightness on this iPhone 12, however, even outdoors. And when watching HDR content, both phones can still reach peak brightness of 1,200 nits.
Overall, the OLED screen is a noticeable improvement for me mainly because of its improved contrast and HDR, not the pixel count. I’m also happy to report that Apple hasn’t compromised on its color science either — colors are as accurate as ever.
The MagSafe charging puck is thin, light, and can power the iPhone 12 at 15W.
MagSafe
Of all the new things on the iPhone 12, I think MagSafe is the most interesting. It’s an entire system for attaching things to the back of the iPhone via magnets: wireless chargers, cases, car mounts, wallets, and eventually, other things like gimbals or something I haven’t thought of yet.
The premiere accessory is the MagSafe charger, a $39 puck that snicks onto the back of the phone with a satisfying clap and then wirelessly charges it. The iPhone has a second NFC chip for MagSafe that identifies what’s been attached to it. When it’s a MagSafe charger, it will allow the phone to power up at 15 watts instead of the usual 7.5, provided you have at least a 20-watt power brick. (The MagSafe charger doesn’t come with one. Apple will sell you a 20-watt USB-C charger for $19, or you can use one from another device such as a laptop.)
It’s the difference between wireless charging being annoyingly slow and being acceptable. In my testing, I would get around 40 percent charge in an hour. That’s slower than the fastest wireless charging systems out there and much slower than a cable, but it’s also easy and convenient.
The MagSafe puck attaches via magnets.
The magnets mean you can use the phone while it’s wirelessly charging instead of leaving it on the pad.
Apple’s wallet attachment holds three or so cards, but you need to remove it from the back of the iPhone to easily access them.
Apple’s puck is thin and light and attaches firmly enough that you can pick up the phone and use it without it getting disconnected. If anybody else wants to make a charging puck, they’ll need to use Apple’s “Made for iPhone” (MFI) program. Other fast wireless chargers still charge the iPhone at the usual rate; new ones will need to use that NFC handshake as necessary for the faster charging. (And no, apps can’t access this NFC chip directly, so payments and other uses are still more locked down than on Android.)
NFC also lets Apple do cute little things like light up a ring on the screen when it detects that an accessory has been attached. There’s a blue ring for a blue case, for example. Apple is selling a series of MagSafe cases that it claims are easier to snap on and off, but they’re not appreciably different than the silicone cases from prior years. There’s also a wallet that can hold three cards with special shielding to keep them from getting de-magnetized. It’s nice enough for what it is, but you have to take it off to get a card out or to wirelessly charge the phone.
I’m excited to see what third-party companies come up with for these magnets. They don’t need to participate in MFI to simply make magnetic accessories, and car mounts are already on the way. I’m hoping to see a bunch of photography and video accessories, too. The magnets are strong enough to hold the phone up against light jostling, but stuff like bike mounts will still need a sturdier attachment.
One last word about charging while we’re on the subject. Apple has indeed taken the AC adapter out of the box and included a USB-C to Lightning cable, so if you don’t have a USB-C charger, you’ll need to get one. Even though the environmental benefits may not be huge, I am still in favor of this decision.
I’m less in favor of the decision to stick to the Lightning port for charging. A major redesign is an opportunity to switch over to the more common USB-C port, the same port that Apple’s own computers and tablets use along with every other Android phone and many, many other gadgets. The fact that Apple didn’t have the courage to do so tells me that its long-term plans may have more to do with MagSafe than anything else. I don’t love Lightning, but I have to admit it’s better than literally nothing when it comes to wired charging.
5G is great if you can find it.
5G on the iPhone 12
Apple has joined the 5G Hype Industrial Complex. It is promoting 5G as the flagship feature on all of its new iPhone models and promising incredibly fast download speeds. The reality in the US is that getting those speeds is a matter of being in the right city and sometimes the right city block. Heck, the ultra-fast millimeter-wave (mmWave) version of 5G requires being literally on the right street corner.
The networks simply aren’t built-out yet, and despite lofty promises from carriers, I don’t know how long it will be until they are.
Your experience with 5G will vary widely depending on your location, carrier, and data plan
In my testing in Oakland and San Francisco on both T-Mobile and Verizon, I found myself with an LTE signal as often as I did 5G — if not more. When I did get 5G, my download speeds varied from just barely better than LTE to about two times faster. But when I consciously sought out the sidewalks where Verizon’s mmWave network is live, the speeds were mind-boggling.
All of which is to say that your experience with 5G is completely dependent on where you are, what network you’re on, and how lucky you are in finding the right signal. Getting 2,400Mbps and using it to download an entire Netflix season really is awe-inspiring. Walking half a block and seeing speeds drop down to plain old LTE speeds is not.
As far as the iPhone itself goes, it performs as well or better than 5G Android phones. It can certainly handle the speed, and it appears to pick up signal without issue. It does get hot on mmWave, and it does impact battery life significantly if you overdo it. Apple is, however, doing a lot of work under the hood in iOS to tweak the 5G experience.
Agree to Continue: iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max Every smart device now requires you to agree to a series of terms and conditions before you can use it — contracts that no one actually reads. It’s impossible for us to read and analyze every single one of these agreements. But we’re going to start counting exactly how many times you have to hit “agree” to use devices when we review them since these are agreements most people don’t read and definitely can’t negotiate. To use any of the iPhone 12 models, you have to agree to: The Apple terms of service agreement, which you can have sent to you by email
Apple’s warranty agreement, which you can have sent to you by email These agreements are nonnegotiable, and you cannot use the phone at all if you don’t agree to them. The iPhone also prompts you to set up Apple Cash and Apple Pay at setup, which further means you have to agree to: The Apple Cash agreement, which specifies that services are actually provided by Green Dot Bank and Apple Payments, Inc. and further consists of the following agreements:
The Apple Cash terms and conditions
The electronic communications agreement
The Green Dot bank privacy policy
Direct payments terms and conditions
Direct payments privacy notice
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By default, every 5G phone will have a “Smart Data mode” enabled. It drops the iPhone 12 down to LTE speeds unless Apple’s software believes you really need them. It’s a little unclear what circumstances will trigger a bump up to 5G speeds, but it’s some combination of what kind of data you’re downloading and perhaps what app you’re using.
What’s weird is that when the iPhone is limiting you to LTE speeds, it will still display the 5G icon in the status bar. It’s now an indicator of the best speed available to you, not the actual type of connection that’s actively in use. You can turn Smart Data off if you like, but I left it on and honestly never really felt like I was being throttled.
(As long as we’re talking about inaccurate status bar icons, I will point out that AT&T’s deceitful “5G E” indicator for its LTE Advanced network is sticking around. Shame on AT&T for this branding and on Apple for enabling it.)
There are other nuances with 5G. Although Apple has done a remarkable job ensuring the iPhone 12 will work on any US network, there are some band differences internationally (where mmWave isn’t necessarily included), so double-check if you move or ever get to travel again. And if you use both the physical SIM and the eSIM on your iPhone, it turns out that the Dual SIM Dual Standby spec can’t handle having 5G lit up on both networks at the same time. If you have them both active, you’ll get 4G. But you can get 5G on either on its own.
Some networks — including Verizon — require you to get a new 5G-compatible SIM card. So if you’re not getting 5G and you think you should be, that may be the issue. You may also need to adjust your plan.
The iPhone will also try to be aware of your data plan, and if it knows you have unlimited, it will use 5G more freely for certain things. Apple will even allow it to download full iOS updates over 5G if you’re on unlimited. If you change your plan or don’t want it to do that, you might need to go diving through various settings.
Apple also says that you might get faster tethering speeds over Wi-Fi than tethering over a wired Lightning cable, thanks to optimizations it has made. Wi-Fi tethering could be as much as four times faster than before in optimal conditions (including, perhaps Wi-Fi 6 on the tethered device). Since it’s a hassle for me to even find an mmWave signal, I haven’t had a chance to fully test this.
Finally, 5G won’t work on your iPhone if your carrier doesn’t directly work with Apple to light it up. Unlike previous networks, you can’t go in and just manually set an APN and MMS settings and be good to go on 5G. That shouldn’t be a problem for the vast majority of people, though. Apple has worked with over 100 carriers in 30 markets to enable 5G on the iPhone, including all three major carriers in the US — but if you use an MVNO, you should double-check that 5G will work before you buy.
You really shouldn’t have to worry about most of these 5G details. If you happen to get 5G speeds where you live and work, bully for you. If you don’t, they will hopefully come to you soon, and hopefully the networks will continue to be fast even after all these 5G iPhones start filling up the channels. Either way, right now, it’s not a good idea to buy an iPhone just because it has 5G. It’s a nice bonus, but not more than that yet.
The dual-camera system on the iPhone 12.
iPhone 12 camera
The most important changes to the camera in the iPhone 12 aren’t in the sensors or the lenses. They are completely unchanged except for the main wide-angle camera going from an ƒ/1.8 aperture to ƒ/1.6 to allow in slightly more light. Instead, the bigger differences come from software and from unlocking new capabilities, thanks to the new A14 Bionic processor that runs everything on the phone.
The iPhone 12 camera is a clear, though not massive, improvement on the iPhone 11
If you’re comparing iPhone 12 models, the key things to know is that the regular iPhone 12 and the 12 mini have the same camera system. The iPhone 12 Pro adds telephoto, LIDAR for low-light focusing and depth calculations, and some more encoding options for photo and video. The iPhone 12 Pro Max has a bigger upgrade with a larger main camera sensor and improved image stabilization.
Nilay Patel’s review of the iPhone 12 Pro has details on some of its distinct features and also goes more in-depth on video quality. Apple is making big claims around HDR, dubbing this a Dolby Vision camera. I’ll let Nilay give you all the nitty-gritty details on that. For my part, I’ll just say that video quality continues to be excellent and is challenged only by the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, but I give the edge to the iPhone.
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But back to the A14 Bionic. It has unlocked night mode for all of the cameras on the iPhone 12 (including the front selfie camera) and even a night portrait mode. Apple has also made some tweaks to its system for combining multiple frames into a single image, called Smart HDR 3. That system should also be better at recognizing things like faces or the sky and tweaking the photos to optimize their appearance. In fact, there’s even a new setting called “Scene Detection” if you want to toggle it.
In general, the iPhone 12 does a better job on fine detail in regular lighting conditions. Apple says this might be because it is applying its Deep Fusion algorithms in more situations this year. I still like the Pixel’s signature, contrast-y look, but Apple seems to be moving in its direction just a little. The iPhone 12’s photos seem to finally be stepping back from over-brightening shadows on faces. But it’s a minor tweak, the bigger changes come in more extreme conditions.
iPhone 12 (left) vs iPhone 11 (right) in night mode. The iPhone 12 has more detail and also doesn’t need to even trigger night mode as often in the first place.
Compared to the iPhone 11, the iPhone 12 needs to drop into night mode less often, thanks to that faster lens. And even when it does, I’m getting clearer, brighter shots. In the very darkest conditions, the Pixel 5 still handles itself a little better, but it’s much, much closer than it’s ever been.
Night mode portraits mean you can try them in more conditions, but the quality is best in good light. Even in low light, the iPhone 12’s portrait mode passes the “glasses test,” properly keeping them in focus instead of blurring them.
Night mode portraits are one of the major new features, and they’re worth a try, but the range of lighting conditions where they’ll look good isn’t massively bigger. One nice thing is that the iPhone 12 passes the glasses test with flying colors; they never seem to get accidentally blurred. I’m less impressed with night mode selfies portraits. There’s no way to turn the screen flash off in this mode, which is a problem if you wear glasses.
iPhone 12 (left) vs Pixel 5 (right) in ultrawide night mode. The Pixel clearly has more detail, but the iPhone’s aesthetics work well for its limitations.
Many of those software enhancements have also come to the ultrawide camera, and so its quality is also improved. However, it is still a fundamentally worse sensor and lens combo, and you can see grain in the details if you look even a little closely. It’s good for landscapes, though.
Apple’s algorithms for its ultrawide camera are improved, but there’s only so much software can do.
Apple says that it has done more tuning to compensate for lens distortion at the edge of ultrawide shots, especially for faces and architecture. I do think it helps but only a little. This photo of the Golden Gate bridge still has a clear bend to it.
For me, the bottom line on the cameras is I definitely see a marked improvement over the iPhone 11, but they’re not enough to compel an upgrade. That doesn’t mean the iPhone 12 isn’t a massively good camera. It is, and the combination of performance, simplicity, and just plain good quality continues to impress.
The rear of the iPhone 12 is glossy, and it picks up both fingerprints and micro-scratches fairly easily. Use a case.
iPhone 12 performance, battery life, and software
It should not come as any kind of surprise to you that the iPhone 12 is blisteringly fast. The new A14 Bionic chip is built on a new 5nm process — one that we expect will also power upcoming Mac computers. Games load fast and there’s no lag, webpages render without hassle, and I’m seeing fewer apps need to reload when multitasking.
Battery life is acceptable but doesn’t quite live up to the iPhone 11 — and pay attention to your UWB 5G use
But in actual day-to-day use, I suspect nobody will see an appreciable difference from the iPhone 11, which was and is very fast, too. The importance of the iPhone 12’s speed isn’t that it’s fast today; it’s that it’s likely to still be fast in three or even five years.
Battery life is good but does seem to be a small regression from the iPhone 11 (an absolute battery champion). The fact that Apple felt the need to create a special mode for silently turning off 5G is a little worrying in terms of battery life. Luckily, I don’t think the battery life on the iPhone 12 is bad at all. I can get through a full day without much issue. On the other hand, I have to admit that it’s easier to kill this thing with a full day of heavy use than the iPhone 11.
As for iOS 14, I’ll point you to Chris Welch’s review as his thoughts mirror my own. I really like having widgets on the main home screen, although I wish there was a wider selection from my favorite apps. Speaking of wishes, I wish Apple would put much more effort into making Siri a little more competitive with the Google Assistant.
The iPhone 12.
The iPhone 12 is the first iPhone in several years that really does feel like something new. But I can’t point to any specific single feature that makes it feel that way. The 5G is fine. MagSafe is convenient, but we’ll have to see if there’s a real ecosystem there. The OLED screen is lovely but also kind of table stakes for smartphones these days. The new design is elegant and modern, but it’s hard to tell you to buy a phone because it’s pretty.
The iPhone 12 is the new default choice — and it’s a good one
The iPhone 12 is going to be the default choice for a lot of people buying an iPhone over the next year, and it’s frankly fortunate that the default iPhone is so good. I think most people should get this instead of the iPhone 12 Pro. But I also think if you have an iPhone that’s working for you just fine, there’s not a must-have gotta-get-it feature here to compel you to upgrade. That’s how default phones work: when you need one, get one, and it will be way better than what you were using. When you don’t need one, don’t.
But when the time comes for you to get a new phone and if you end up with this iPhone 12, I think you’re going to love it.
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theverge--2020-10-20--Photoshop’s AI neural filters can tweak age and expression with a few clicks

Artificial intelligence is changing the world of image editing and manipulation , and Adobe doesn ’ t want to be left behind .
Today , the company is releasing an update to Photoshop version 22.0 that comes with a host of AI-powered features , some new , some already shared with the public .
These include a sky replacement tool , improved AI edge selection , and — the star of the show — a suite of image-editing tools that Adobe calls “ neural filters.
” These filters include a number of simple overlays and effects but also tools that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ portraits .
With neural filters , Photoshop can adjust a subject ’ s age and facial expression , amplifying or reducing feelings like “ joy , ” “ surprise , ” or “ anger ” with simple sliders .
You can remove someone ’ s glasses or smooth out their spots .
One of the weirder filters even lets you transfer makeup from one person to another .
And it ’ s all done in just a few clicks , with the output easily tweaked or reversed entirely .
“ We can now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s most advanced AI application ” “ This is where I feel we can now say that Photoshop is the world ’ s most advanced AI application , ” Maria Yap , Adobe ’ s vice president of digital imaging told The Verge .
“ We ’ re creating things in images that weren ’ t there before.
” To achieve these effects , Adobe is harnessing the power of generative adversarial networks — or GANs — a type of machine learning technique that ’ s proved particularly adept at generating visual imagery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ locally and some in the cloud , depending on the computational demands of each individual tool , but each filter takes just seconds to apply .
( The demo we saw was done on an old Mac Book Pro and was perfectly fast enough . )
Many of these filters are familiar to those who follow AI image editing .
They ’ re the sort of tools that have been turning up in papers and demos for years .
But it ’ s always significant when techniques like these go from bleeding-edge experiments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the know , to headline features in consumer juggernauts like Photoshop .
As always with these sorts of features , the proof will be in the editing , and the actual utility of neural filters will depend on how Photoshop ’ s many users react to them .
But in a virtual demo The Verge saw , the new tools delivered fast and good quality results ( though we didn ’ t see the facial expression adjustment tool ) .
These AI-powered edits weren ’ t flawless , and most professional retouchers would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adjustments of their own afterwards , but they seemed like they would speed up many editing tasks .
AI tools like this work by learning from past examples .
So , to create the neural filter that ’ s used to smooth away skin blemishes , for example , Adobe collected thousands of before and after shots of edits made by professional photographers , feeding this data into their algorithms .
The GANs operate like a paired student and teacher , with one part trying to copy these examples while the other tries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ training data .
Eventually , when even the GAN is getting confused trying to tell the difference between the two , the training process is complete .
“ Basically , we ’ re training the GAN to make the same corrections a professional retoucher would do , ” Alexandru Costin , Adobe ’ s vice president of engineering for Creative Cloud , told The Verge .
It sounds straightforward , but there are lots of ways this training can go wrong .
A big one is biased data .
The algorithms only know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if you only show them images of , say , white faces , they won ’ t be able to make edits for anyone whose complexion doesn ’ t fit within this narrow range .
This sort of bias is why facial recognition systems often perform worse on women and people of color .
These faces just aren ’ t in the training data .
Costin says Adobe is acutely aware of this problem .
If it trained its algorithms on too many white faces , he says , its neural filters might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complexions ( a problem we ’ ve seen in the past with other ML applications ) .
“ One of the biggest challenges we have is preserving the skin tone.
” “ One of the biggest challenges we have is preserving the skin tone , ” says Costin .
“ This is a very sensitive area.
” To help root out this bias , Adobe has set up review teams and an AI ethics committee that test the algorithms every time a major update is made .
“ We do a very thorough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ look at this criteria and try and raise the bar.
” But one key advantage Adobe has over other teams building AI image-editing tools is its catalog of stock photography — a huge array of images that span different ages , races , genders .
This , says Costin , made it easy for Adobe ’ s researchers to balance their datasets to try to minimize bias .
“ We complemented our training data with Adobe stock photos , ” says Costin , “ and that allowed us to have a good as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ course , all this is no guarantee that biased results won ’ t appear somewhere , especially when the neural filters get out of beta testing and into the hands of the general public .
For that reason , each time a filter is applied , Photoshop will ask users whether they ’ re happy with the results , and , if they ’ re not , give them the option of reporting “ inappropriate ” content .
If users choose , they can also send their before and after images anonymously to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way , the company hopes to not only remove bias , but also expand its training data even further , pushing its neural filters to greater levels of fidelity .
This sort of speedy update based on real-world usage is common in the fast-moving world of AI research .
Often , when a new machine learning technique is published ( usually on a site named arXiv , an open-access collection of scientific papers that haven ’ t yet been published in a journal ) , other researchers will read it , adopt it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sharing results and tips with one another on social media .
Some AI-focused competitors to Photoshop distinguish themselves by embracing this sort of culture .
A program like Runway ML , for example , not only allows users to train machine learning filters using their own data ( something that Photoshop does not ) , but it operates a user-generated “ marketplace ” that makes it easy for people to share and experiment with the latest tools .
If a designer or illustrator sees something cool floating around on Twitter , they want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than wait for it to trickle into Photoshop .
Adobe wants to bring the fast pace of AI research to Photoshop As a widely used product with customers who value stability , Adobe can ’ t truly compete with this sort of speed , but with neural filters , the company is dipping a toe into these fast-moving waters .
While two of the filters are presented as finished features , six are labeled as “ beta ” tools , and eight more are only listed as names , with users having to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ full list of the different filters and their respective tiers below : Yap says this sort of approach is new to Photoshop but will hopefully let Adobe temper users ’ expectations about AI tools , giving them the license to update the tools more quickly .
“ We ’ ve built this framework that allows us to bring models [ to users ] faster , from research to Photoshop , ” says Yap .
“ Traditionally when we do features , like sky replacement , they ’ re really deeply integrated into the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to mature.
” With neural filters , that update cycle will ideally be much faster .
“ It ’ s this pace that we ’ re trying to bring into Photoshop , ” says Costin .
“ And it will come at the cost of the feature not being perfect when we launch , but we ’ re counting on our community of users to tell us how good it is [ ... ] and then we will take in that data and refine it and improve it.
” In other words : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more users create more data that creates better tools , is coming to Photoshop .
Tweaking someone ’ s age is just the start .

Artificial intelligence is changing the world of image editing and manipulation, and Adobe doesn’t want to be left behind. Today, the company is releasing an update to Photoshop version 22.0 that comes with a host of AI-powered features, some new, some already shared with the public. These include a sky replacement tool, improved AI edge selection, and — the star of the show — a suite of image-editing tools that Adobe calls “neural filters.”
These filters include a number of simple overlays and effects but also tools that allow for deeper edits, particularly to portraits. With neural filters, Photoshop can adjust a subject’s age and facial expression, amplifying or reducing feelings like “joy,” “surprise,” or “anger” with simple sliders. You can remove someone’s glasses or smooth out their spots. One of the weirder filters even lets you transfer makeup from one person to another. And it’s all done in just a few clicks, with the output easily tweaked or reversed entirely.
“We can now say that Photoshop is the world’s most advanced AI application”
“This is where I feel we can now say that Photoshop is the world’s most advanced AI application,” Maria Yap, Adobe’s vice president of digital imaging told The Verge. “We’re creating things in images that weren’t there before.”
To achieve these effects, Adobe is harnessing the power of generative adversarial networks — or GANs — a type of machine learning technique that’s proved particularly adept at generating visual imagery. Some of the processing is done locally and some in the cloud, depending on the computational demands of each individual tool, but each filter takes just seconds to apply. (The demo we saw was done on an old Mac Book Pro and was perfectly fast enough.)
Many of these filters are familiar to those who follow AI image editing. They’re the sort of tools that have been turning up in papers and demos for years. But it’s always significant when techniques like these go from bleeding-edge experiments, shared on Twitter among those in the know, to headline features in consumer juggernauts like Photoshop.
As always with these sorts of features, the proof will be in the editing, and the actual utility of neural filters will depend on how Photoshop’s many users react to them. But in a virtual demo The Verge saw, the new tools delivered fast and good quality results (though we didn’t see the facial expression adjustment tool). These AI-powered edits weren’t flawless, and most professional retouchers would want to step in and make some adjustments of their own afterwards, but they seemed like they would speed up many editing tasks.
Neural filters can be used to colorize old photos — a popular application of machine learning. Image: Adobe
Trying to beat AI bias
AI tools like this work by learning from past examples. So, to create the neural filter that’s used to smooth away skin blemishes, for example, Adobe collected thousands of before and after shots of edits made by professional photographers, feeding this data into their algorithms. The GANs operate like a paired student and teacher, with one part trying to copy these examples while the other tries to distinguish between this output and the training data. Eventually, when even the GAN is getting confused trying to tell the difference between the two, the training process is complete.
“Basically, we’re training the GAN to make the same corrections a professional retoucher would do,” Alexandru Costin, Adobe’s vice president of engineering for Creative Cloud, told The Verge.
It sounds straightforward, but there are lots of ways this training can go wrong. A big one is biased data. The algorithms only know the world you show them, so if you only show them images of, say, white faces, they won’t be able to make edits for anyone whose complexion doesn’t fit within this narrow range. This sort of bias is why facial recognition systems often perform worse on women and people of color. These faces just aren’t in the training data.
Costin says Adobe is acutely aware of this problem. If it trained its algorithms on too many white faces, he says, its neural filters might end up pushing AI-edited portraits toward whiter complexions (a problem we’ve seen in the past with other ML applications).
“One of the biggest challenges we have is preserving the skin tone.”
“One of the biggest challenges we have is preserving the skin tone,” says Costin. “This is a very sensitive area.” To help root out this bias, Adobe has set up review teams and an AI ethics committee that test the algorithms every time a major update is made. “We do a very thorough review of every ML feature, to look at this criteria and try and raise the bar.”
Users will be able to send “inappropriate” results to Adobe to improve the filters.
But one key advantage Adobe has over other teams building AI image-editing tools is its catalog of stock photography — a huge array of images that span different ages, races, genders. This, says Costin, made it easy for Adobe’s researchers to balance their datasets to try to minimize bias. “We complemented our training data with Adobe stock photos,” says Costin, “and that allowed us to have a good as possible, distributed training set.”
Of course, all this is no guarantee that biased results won’t appear somewhere, especially when the neural filters get out of beta testing and into the hands of the general public. For that reason, each time a filter is applied, Photoshop will ask users whether they’re happy with the results, and, if they’re not, give them the option of reporting “inappropriate” content. If users choose, they can also send their before and after images anonymously to Adobe for further study. In that way, the company hopes to not only remove bias, but also expand its training data even further, pushing its neural filters to greater levels of fidelity.
Selecting a new light source is another application of neural filters. Image: Adobe
Machine learning at speed
This sort of speedy update based on real-world usage is common in the fast-moving world of AI research. Often, when a new machine learning technique is published (usually on a site named arXiv, an open-access collection of scientific papers that haven’t yet been published in a journal), other researchers will read it, adopt it, and adapt it within days, sharing results and tips with one another on social media.
Some AI-focused competitors to Photoshop distinguish themselves by embracing this sort of culture. A program like Runway ML, for example, not only allows users to train machine learning filters using their own data (something that Photoshop does not), but it operates a user-generated “marketplace” that makes it easy for people to share and experiment with the latest tools. If a designer or illustrator sees something cool floating around on Twitter, they want to start playing with it immediately rather than wait for it to trickle into Photoshop.
Adobe wants to bring the fast pace of AI research to Photoshop
As a widely used product with customers who value stability, Adobe can’t truly compete with this sort of speed, but with neural filters, the company is dipping a toe into these fast-moving waters. While two of the filters are presented as finished features, six are labeled as “beta” tools, and eight more are only listed as names, with users having to request access. You can see a full list of the different filters and their respective tiers below:
Featured Neural Filters: Skin Smoothing, Style Transfer
Beta Neural Filters: Smart Portrait, Makeup Transfer, Depth-Aware Haze, Colorize, Super Zoom, JPEG Artifacts Removal
Future Neural Filters: Photo Restoration, Dust and Scratches, Noise Reduction, Face Cleanup, Photo to Sketch, Sketch to Portrait, Pencil Artwork, Face to Caricature
Yap says this sort of approach is new to Photoshop but will hopefully let Adobe temper users’ expectations about AI tools, giving them the license to update the tools more quickly. “We’ve built this framework that allows us to bring models [to users] faster, from research to Photoshop,” says Yap. “Traditionally when we do features, like sky replacement, they’re really deeply integrated into the product and so take a longer time to mature.” With neural filters, that update cycle will ideally be much faster.
“It’s this pace that we’re trying to bring into Photoshop,” says Costin. “And it will come at the cost of the feature not being perfect when we launch, but we’re counting on our community of users to tell us how good it is [...] and then we will take in that data and refine it and improve it.”


theverge--2020-10-20--The US government plans to file antitrust charges against Google today

Attorney General William Barr is set to file suit against Google today for illegal monopolization of the search and ad markets , kicking off one of the largest antitrust cases in US history .
The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the case will focus on search and search-focused advertising , rather than the company ’ s broader targeted ad business .
According to the Journal ’ s sources , the Justice Department will allege that Google “ is maintaining its status as gatekeeper to the internet through an unlawful web of exclusionary and interlocking business agreements that shut out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rosen has announced a briefing later this morning , which is likely to provide more details on the case .
The case is one of the most ambitious antitrust actions ever undertaken against a tech company , drawing together parallel investigations from the Department of Justice and a range of state attorneys general .
The Department of Justice briefed state AGs on the case at the end of September , according to a report from The Washington Post .
More than 10 state attorneys general are expected to sign onto the case , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely to file separate antitrust charges .
Google has faced antitrust action before , but never on this scale .
The most significant investigation concluded in 2013 , when the company changed its AdSense policies to resolve a Federal Trade Commission investigation without formal legal action .
Google has also faced a string of fines from regulators in the European Union , including €1.5 billion over its AdSense policy , €4.3 billion over software bundling in Android , and €2.4 billion for manipulating shopping results in Google search .
Google drew significant criticism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hearing in July , suggesting the company may have few allies left in Washington .
In opening remarks , Rep. David Cicilline ( D-RI ) accused the company of using its privileged position as a search engine to crush competitors in other areas .
“ It is Google ’ s business model that is the problem , ” Cicilline said .
“ Our documents show that Google evolved from a turnstile to the rest of the web to a walled garden that increasingly keeps users within its sites.
” At the time , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s actions as part of a broader commitment to serving users .
“ When I run the company , I ’ m really focused on giving users what they want , ” Pichai said .
“ We conduct ourselves to the highest standard .
”

The Justice Department filed suit against Google on Tuesday for illegal monopolization of the search and ad markets, kicking off one of the largest antitrust cases in US history. As first reported by The Wall Street Journal, the case focuses on search and search-focused advertising, rather than the company’s broader targeted ad business.
“Countless advertisers must pay a toll to Google’s search advertising and general search text advertising monopolies,” the complaint reads, “American consumers are forced to accept Google’s policies, privacy practices, and use of personal data; and new companies with innovative business models cannot emerge from Google’s long shadow.”
“New companies with innovative business models cannot emerge from Google’s long shadow”
In a call this morning, Justice Department officials emphasized the scale and power of Google’s control over the search market. “Google’s conduct is illegal under traditional antitrust principles and must be stopped.... Google owns or controls search distribution channels accounting for about 80 percent of general search queries in the United States,” said Ryan Shores, the Justice Department’s senior advisor for tech industries. “We’re asking the court to break Google’s grip on search distribution so that competition and innovation can take hold.”
Google disagrees, insisting that its high share of the search market is the result of consumer choice. “Today’s lawsuit by the Department of Justice is deeply flawed,” the company said in a statement. “People use Google because they choose to — not because they’re forced to or because they can’t find alternatives.
The case is one of the most ambitious antitrust actions ever undertaken against a tech company, drawing together parallel investigations from the Department of Justice and a range of state attorneys general. The Department of Justice briefed state AGs on the case at the end of September, according to a report from The Washington Post. Eleven different state attorneys general are expected to sign onto the case, per the Journal, but others are likely to file separate antitrust charges.
Google drew significant criticism from lawmakers at Congress’ tech antitrust hearing in July, suggesting the company may have few allies left in Washington. In opening remarks, Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI) accused the company of using its privileged position as a search engine to crush competitors in other areas. “It is Google’s business model that is the problem,” Cicilline said. “Our documents show that Google evolved from a turnstile to the rest of the web to a walled garden that increasingly keeps users within its sites.”
At the time, Google CEO Sundar Pichai defended the company’s actions as part of a broader commitment to serving users. “When I run the company, I’m really focused on giving users what they want,” Pichai said. “We conduct ourselves to the highest standard.”
Update 10:31AM ET: Updated with statements from Google and the Justice Department.


theverge--2020-10-20--Fast & Furious can’t resist that joke about turning it up to 11, so you get one last movie

The Fast & Furious saga will finally end after its 11th installment , Deadline and Variety report — which , if you ’ re counting , is one more movie than we were expecting until now .
Justin Lin , who directed five of the past eight F & F films ( counting the upcoming F9 ) , is reportedly set to direct the last two as well .
Of course they were going to make another movie .
Unlike Chaim and Julia , I may know next to nothing about Fast ’ s plot or characters , but I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no way in hell a $ 5+ billion box office blockbuster franchise , a series whose every installment attempts to jump the shark in the most spectacular ways possible , and a series that ’ s literally about tuning cars to the max , wasn ’ t going to turn it all the way up to 11 .
Also , that money .
Money is a big reason .
Whether or not the series actually ends at 11 will likely depend on how many theaters continue to exist .
Regal and Cineworld shut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of cash .
F9 had already been delayed till April 2021 due to the pandemic , and it ’ s not yet clear when an F10 or F11 would debut .
But it helps that Fast & Furious is a global cultural phenomenon , not just a US-centric one , with Variety pointing out that less than a quarter of Hobbs & Shaw ’ s box office totals came from the US .
If F9 does well , they ’ ll no doubt be thinking about an F12 — or at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already two in development . )
I ’ ve got to agree with box office analyst Jeff Bock :

The Fast & Furious saga will finally end after its 11th installment, Deadline and Variety report — which, if you’re counting, is one more movie than we were expecting until now. Justin Lin, who directed five of the past eight F&F films (counting the upcoming F9), is reportedly set to direct the last two as well.
Of course they were going to make another movie. Unlike Chaim and Julia, I may know next to nothing about Fast’s plot or characters, but I do know spectacle — and there was no way in hell a $5+ billion box office blockbuster franchise, a series whose every installment attempts to jump the shark in the most spectacular ways possible, and a series that’s literally about tuning cars to the max, wasn’t going to turn it all the way up to 11.
Also, that money. Money is a big reason.
There’s a Spinal Tap fan born every minute
Whether or not the series actually ends at 11 will likely depend on how many theaters continue to exist. Regal and Cineworld shut their doors, and AMC is running out of cash. F9 had already been delayed till April 2021 due to the pandemic, and it’s not yet clear when an F10 or F11 would debut. But it helps that Fast & Furious is a global cultural phenomenon, not just a US-centric one, with Variety pointing out that less than a quarter of Hobbs & Shaw’s box office totals came from the US.


theverge--2020-10-20--The Hummer is back as a 350-mile range ‘electric supertruck’ that can drive diagonally

Share All sharing options for : The Hummer is back as a 350-mile range ‘ electric supertruck ’ that can drive diagonally The Hummer — symbol of pre-2008-recession , gas-guzzling excess — has been resurrected as a 350-mile range “ electric supertruck ” with three electric motors , 1,000 horsepower adjustable air suspension , and a diagonal driving feature called “ Crab Mode.
” The electric truck is set to go into production in late 2021 , possibly ahead of Tesla ’ s Cybertruck .
The Hummer EV is arguably the most important vehicle to be announced as part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It was revealed during a virtual event set to air during the World Series , “ The Voice , ” and across a barrage of social media and streaming platforms .
The electric truck will be the first vehicle to feature General Motors ’ new modular electric vehicle platform and battery , known as Ultium .
the first vehicle to feature GM ’ s Ultium battery The resurrected Hummer will be made and sold under the GMC brand at GM ’ s Detroit-Hamtramck factory — recently renamed Factory Zero — which the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as it gears up to mass-produce electric vehicles .
Initially , the Hummer EV will be offered in four variants , none of which are cheap .
Starting in fall 2021 , the Hummer EV Edition 1 will go on sale for a suggested price of $ 112,595 .
This version will include Crab Mode and Extract Mode , which allows the truck ’ s suspension height to be raised approximately six inches ( 149 mm ) to help negotiate “ extreme off-road situations such as clearing boulders or fording water , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Hummer EV3X , available in fall 2022 , with a three-motor setup , 0-60 mph acceleration in three seconds , and a suggested price of $ 99,995 .
Following that will be the Hummer EV2X , available in spring 2023 , with Crab Mode , Extract Mode , and a suggested price of $ 89,995 .
Last will be the Hummer EV2 , available spring 2024 , with just two motors and a suggested price of $ 79,995 .
All four trim levels are expected to have over 350 miles of range @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Hummer in 2010 .
At the time , the boxy behemoth had become a symbol for pre-financial-crisis excess that was made famous by its inclusion in rap videos and television shows like The Sopranos and Entourage .
But once the global recession hit , and fuel prices stared to rise , Hummer sales dropped and the vehicle was discontinued .
“ The name Hummer can polarize people .
There ’ s no question about that.
” Bringing it back as an EV is a risky move .
Many people still remember the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an oversized road hog .
And those impressions still linger , Phil Brook , vice president of GMC marketing , told The Verge , citing market research conducted by the automaker .
“ The name Hummer can polarize people , ” Brook said .
“ There ’ s no question about that.
” That impression melted away , though , when focus groups learned that the Hummer would be all-electric .
As for the vehicle ’ s excessive size — especially its wider-than-average road stance — Brook said the vehicle ’ s 18-camera @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as front and rear pedestrian alerts , will help drivers see all their surroundings .
“ We ’ re very comfortable with where we ’ ve landed , ” he added .
The Hummer EV won ’ t be your average pickup truck .
It will be a sideways-scuttling high-torque off-roader with adjustable height , partially autonomous driver assist and a bevy of social media-friendly brand name features .
Take Crab Mode , for example .
The rear-wheel-steering function enables all four wheels to turn in the same direction and move the vehicle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the summer , tweeting a Hummer badge with a crab graphic .
But don ’ t expect to be able to zag sideways at highway speeds .
GMC says the feature , which is designed for “ even greater maneuverability on challenging terrain , ” is only available at “ low speeds.
” No doubt the automaker is looking to steal some thunder from EV startup Rivian , which has said its RT1 truck is capable of a “ tank turn ” that allows the truck to spin in circles in dirt .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ parallel parking ?
Only a real-world test can say for sure .
Then there ’ s the adaptive air suspension system called Extract Mode that can raise or lower the vehicle by six inches .
But don ’ t confuse this with a lowrider ’ s hydraulic system .
This feature is designed for off-roading , when a driver needs to clear especially large objects like boulders .
( A variety of vehicles offer adjustable suspension , including Tesla Model S and X vehicles .
Tesla is also working on an updated dynamic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . )
GMC added steel plating to the Hummer ’ s underbody to better protect the battery , which rests in the floor of the vehicle .
And the vehicle ’ s 18-camera Ultravision system ( another Hummer-specific brand name ) includes front and rear underbody cameras to better protect against damage .
The cameras will also be equipped with a wash function to clean off debris and dirt .
Speaking of the battery , the Hummer EV will come with a 24-module , double-stacked Ultium propulsion system that will deliver at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three motors .
With three motors and two drive units , the truck is expected to get up to 1,000 horsepower and an estimated 11,500 pound-feet of torque — a staggering number that ’ s also a bit misleading thanks to some creative math ( see this piece in Roadshow for a more complete explanation ) .
GMC didn ’ t close the towing capacity nor the volume of the rear cargo space before the official announcement on October 20th .
the Hummer EV will come with a 24-module , double-stacked Ultium propulsion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will have the capability to charge at rates of up to 100 miles in 10 minutes — which translates to a full charge in less than 40 minutes .
This charging time is possible by using a 800-volt charger with a peak charging rate of over 300 kW .
The “ Infinity Roof ” features four pop-out “ Sky Panels ” that can be removed and stored in the “ frunk ” ( or front trunk ) for a “ unique open-air experience.
” The four roof panels and front T-bar will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ person , and there will be no connector over the top of the front and rear window .
Inside the vehicle , a 13.4-inch diagonal infotainment screen sits in the center console , while a 12.3-inch diagonal driver information center functions as a digital instrument cluster with all the relevant information about the status and performance of the vehicle .
Information will be presented via smartphone-style “ widgets , ” particularly as it relates to off-roading details like terrain status .
GMC partnered with Fortnite creator Epic Games to use the game maker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the Hummer ’ s in-car software , an industry first .
Because Unreal Engine is designed to enable photorealistic computer-generated graphics , the software can display full , high-resolution renders of the vehicle as well as its various internal and underside parts and mechanical and software mechanisms .
“ The graphics are unbelievable , ” GMC ’ s Brook said .
“ They ’ re very hard to describe , you really need to see them.
” GM is reviving the Hummer at a time of skyrocketing SUV and pickup truck sales @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make more profit on bigger vehicles than sedans : GM said in a recent earnings call that the average transaction price for its full-size pickups increased by $ 1,526 compared to the first quarter of this year despite the pandemic and resulting recession .
The truck and SUV boom has a human cost too , in the form of a major jump in global CO2 emissions for the sector as well as a dramatic rise in pedestrian deaths .
An electric Hummer might help mitigate the former , but it ’ s not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It probably will still be a big beefy vehicle , but it won ’ t necessarily have the negative imagery of being particularly wasteful or really useless ” In fact , GMC ’ s ability to resurrect the Hummer depends on its buyers ’ good behavior .
If it ’ s used to terrorize residential communities like its gas-powered predecessor , it ’ s unlikely to be greeted happily , says Jessica Caldwell , Edmunds ’ executive director of insights .
“ It probably will still be a big beefy vehicle , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ negative imagery of being particularly wasteful or really useless , ” Caldwell said .
The Hummer pickup truck is slated to go into production in late 2021 , with deliveries starting shortly after .
That ’ s right around when Tesla ’ s Cybertruck is supposed to hit the road and just a few months after EV startup Rivian will start shipping its own electric pickup and SUV .
GMC also plans on making an electric Hummer SUV , though there is currently no timeframe for that vehicle .
It ’ s been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a convoy of military Humvees driving down the street in Washington , DC , and had the idea of acquiring one for himself .
But the Terminator actor and former California governor won ’ t be the spokesperson for this resurrected Hummer , despite Schwarzenegger ’ s current job advocating for electric transportation .
The new spokesperson will be LeBron James , fresh off his recent NBA championship .
“ Any time I have any type of partnership , it ’ s always pretty simple , ” James said of the endorsement deal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and then is something that I have a good deal of respect for.
” Organic .
Now there ’ s a word that ’ s never been used to describe a Hummer .
Until now .

The Hummer — symbol of pre-2008-recession, gas-guzzling excess — has been resurrected as a 350-mile range “electric supertruck” with three electric motors, 1,000 horsepower adjustable air suspension, and a diagonal driving feature called “Crab Mode.” The electric truck is set to go into production in late 2021, possibly ahead of Tesla’s Cybertruck.
The Hummer EV is arguably the most important vehicle to be announced as part of General Motors multi-billion dollar pivot to electrification. It was revealed during a virtual event set to air during the World Series, “The Voice,” and across a barrage of social media and streaming platforms. The electric truck will be the first vehicle to feature General Motors’ new modular electric vehicle platform and battery, known as Ultium.
The resurrected Hummer will be made and sold under the GMC brand at GM’s Detroit-Hamtramck factory — recently renamed Factory Zero — which the automaker is pumping $2.2 billion into as it gears up to mass-produce electric vehicles.
Initially, the Hummer EV will be offered in four variants, none of which are cheap. Starting in fall 2021, the Hummer EV Edition 1 will go on sale for a suggested price of $112,595. This version will include Crab Mode and Extract Mode, which allows the truck’s suspension height to be raised approximately six inches (149 mm) to help negotiate “extreme off-road situations such as clearing boulders or fording water,” GMC says.
Next up will be the Hummer EV3X, available in fall 2022, with a three-motor setup, 0-60 mph acceleration in three seconds, and a suggested price of $99,995. Following that will be the Hummer EV2X, available in spring 2023, with Crab Mode, Extract Mode, and a suggested price of $89,995. Last will be the Hummer EV2, available spring 2024, with just two motors and a suggested price of $79,995. All four trim levels are expected to have over 350 miles of range on a full battery.
GM retired the Hummer in 2010. At the time, the boxy behemoth had become a symbol for pre-financial-crisis excess that was made famous by its inclusion in rap videos and television shows like The Sopranos and Entourage. But once the global recession hit, and fuel prices stared to rise, Hummer sales dropped and the vehicle was discontinued.
“The name Hummer can polarize people. There’s no question about that.”
Bringing it back as an EV is a risky move. Many people still remember the Hummer as a voracious gas guzzler and an oversized road hog. And those impressions still linger, Phil Brook, vice president of GMC marketing, told The Verge, citing market research conducted by the automaker.
“The name Hummer can polarize people,” Brook said. “There’s no question about that.”
That impression melted away, though, when focus groups learned that the Hummer would be all-electric. As for the vehicle’s excessive size — especially its wider-than-average road stance — Brook said the vehicle’s 18-camera “Ultravision” system, as well as front and rear pedestrian alerts, will help drivers see all their surroundings. “We’re very comfortable with where we’ve landed,” he added.
The Hummer EV won’t be your average pickup truck. It will be a sideways-scuttling high-torque off-roader with adjustable height, partially autonomous driver assist and a bevy of social media-friendly brand name features.
Take Crab Mode, for example. The rear-wheel-steering function enables all four wheels to turn in the same direction and move the vehicle sideways. GMC teased this feature over the summer, tweeting a Hummer badge with a crab graphic.
But don’t expect to be able to zag sideways at highway speeds. GMC says the feature, which is designed for “even greater maneuverability on challenging terrain,” is only available at “low speeds.” No doubt the automaker is looking to steal some thunder from EV startup Rivian, which has said its RT1 truck is capable of a “tank turn” that allows the truck to spin in circles in dirt. Will it allow for greater flexibility while parallel parking? Only a real-world test can say for sure.
an adaptive air suspension system called Extract Mode
Then there’s the adaptive air suspension system called Extract Mode that can raise or lower the vehicle by six inches. But don’t confuse this with a lowrider’s hydraulic system. This feature is designed for off-roading, when a driver needs to clear especially large objects like boulders. (A variety of vehicles offer adjustable suspension, including Tesla Model S and X vehicles. Tesla is also working on an updated dynamic suspension for the Cybertruck electric pickup truck.)
GMC added steel plating to the Hummer’s underbody to better protect the battery, which rests in the floor of the vehicle. And the vehicle’s 18-camera Ultravision system (another Hummer-specific brand name) includes front and rear underbody cameras to better protect against damage. The cameras will also be equipped with a wash function to clean off debris and dirt.
Speaking of the battery, the Hummer EV will come with a 24-module, double-stacked Ultium propulsion system that will deliver at least 350 miles of range and power to three motors. With three motors and two drive units, the truck is expected to get up to 1,000 horsepower and an estimated 11,500 pound-feet of torque — a staggering number that’s also a bit misleading thanks to some creative math (see this piece in Roadshow for a more complete explanation).
GMC didn’t close the towing capacity nor the volume of the rear cargo space before the official announcement on October 20th.
the Hummer EV will come with a 24-module, double-stacked Ultium propulsion system
GMC claims claims the Hummer EV will have the capability to charge at rates of up to 100 miles in 10 minutes — which translates to a full charge in less than 40 minutes. This charging time is possible by using a 800-volt charger with a peak charging rate of over 300 kW.
The “Infinity Roof” features four pop-out “Sky Panels” that can be removed and stored in the “frunk” (or front trunk) for a “unique open-air experience.” The four roof panels and front T-bar will be able to be removed manually by one person, and there will be no connector over the top of the front and rear window.
Inside the vehicle, a 13.4-inch diagonal infotainment screen sits in the center console, while a 12.3-inch diagonal driver information center functions as a digital instrument cluster with all the relevant information about the status and performance of the vehicle. Information will be presented via smartphone-style “widgets,” particularly as it relates to off-roading details like terrain status.
GMC partnered with Fortnite creator Epic Games to use the game maker’s Unreal Engine game development platform for the Hummer’s in-car software, an industry first. Because Unreal Engine is designed to enable photorealistic computer-generated graphics, the software can display full, high-resolution renders of the vehicle as well as its various internal and underside parts and mechanical and software mechanisms.
“The graphics are unbelievable,” GMC’s Brook said. “They’re very hard to describe, you really need to see them.”
GM is reviving the Hummer at a time of skyrocketing SUV and pickup truck sales in the US. Conveniently, automakers make more profit on bigger vehicles than sedans: GM said in a recent earnings call that the average transaction price for its full-size pickups increased by $1,526 compared to the first quarter of this year despite the pandemic and resulting recession.
The truck and SUV boom has a human cost too, in the form of a major jump in global CO2 emissions for the sector as well as a dramatic rise in pedestrian deaths. An electric Hummer might help mitigate the former, but it’s not likely to make pedestrians safer.
“It probably will still be a big beefy vehicle, but it won’t necessarily have the negative imagery of being particularly wasteful or really useless”
In fact, GMC’s ability to resurrect the Hummer depends on its buyers’ good behavior. If it’s used to terrorize residential communities like its gas-powered predecessor, it’s unlikely to be greeted happily, says Jessica Caldwell, Edmunds’ executive director of insights.
“It probably will still be a big beefy vehicle, but it won’t necessarily have the negative imagery of being particularly wasteful or really useless,” Caldwell said.
The Hummer pickup truck is slated to go into production in late 2021, with deliveries starting shortly after. That’s right around when Tesla’s Cybertruck is supposed to hit the road and just a few months after EV startup Rivian will start shipping its own electric pickup and SUV. GMC also plans on making an electric Hummer SUV, though there is currently no timeframe for that vehicle.
It’s been nearly 30 years since Arnold Schwarzenegger saw a convoy of military Humvees driving down the street in Washington, DC, and had the idea of acquiring one for himself. But the Terminator actor and former California governor won’t be the spokesperson for this resurrected Hummer, despite Schwarzenegger’s current job advocating for electric transportation. The new spokesperson will be LeBron James, fresh off his recent NBA championship.
“Any time I have any type of partnership, it’s always pretty simple,” James said of the endorsement deal, “anything that’s organic and then is something that I have a good deal of respect for.”


theverge--2020-10-20--Netflix is experimentally giving an entire country two days of Netflix for free

Netflix is planning a two-day “ event ” that will allow non-subscribers in India to stream the company ’ s library without a subscription plan .
The move follows news that Netflix has ended free trial periods , choosing instead to focus on other marketing promotions to try and amass new subscribers .
Netflix ’ s chief operating officer Greg Peters confirmed the promo on the company ’ s third quarter earnings call , calling it “ StreamFest , ” and that it ’ s just for India for now .
Peters believes that something like StreamFest “ could really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will kick off on December 4th , Variety confirmed .
Peters did not offer any information on whether or not it ’ ll come to the United States .
Protocol first reported the story .
“ We ’ re always looking at different marketing promotions to attract new members and give them a great Netflix experience , ” a Netflix spokesperson told The Verge prior to the earnings call .
Earlier this month , Netflix discontinued its option that allowed potential subscribers to test the service via a free 30-day trial .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including removing the paywall for some of its movies and shows this year .
Update October 20th , 7:14PM ET : The story has been updated with confirmation from Netflix ’ s third quarter earnings call .

The move follows news that Netflix has ended free trial periods, choosing instead to focus on other marketing promotions to try and amass new subscribers. Netflix’s chief operating officer Greg Peters confirmed the promo on the company’s third quarter earnings call, calling it “StreamFest,” and that it’s just for India for now. Peters believes that something like StreamFest “could really create an event.” The free trial will kick off on December 4th, Variety confirmed. Peters did not offer any information on whether or not it’ll come to the United States. Protocol first reported the story.


theverge--2020-10-20--NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft successfully taps an asteroid in attempt to grab a sample

This afternoon , a NASA spacecraft more than 200 million miles from Earth successfully touched the surface of an asteroid , in an attempt to grab a handful of pebbles and dust from the space rock .
Data from the spacecraft confirmed that the vehicle did indeed touch the asteroid today , but NASA won ’ t know until tomorrow if it actually snagged a sample of material .
“ Touchdown declared , ” a mission controller announced when the team received data confirming the maneuver .
“ Sampling in process.
” The news of the success was met with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the procedure .
The spacecraft that just tapped the asteroid is OSIRIS-REx , and this sampling maneuver has been years in the making .
The main purpose of the spacecraft is to bring a pristine sample of an asteroid back to Earth , so that scientists can study the material in a lab .
Asteroids are considered to be primordial remnants of the early Solar System — objects that have remained relatively unchanged since the dawn of the planets .
Analyzing just a tiny piece of an asteroid could give scientists a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ materials that were present when the Solar System was just getting started .
But if all went well with the sampling , OSIRIS-REx ’ s haul won ’ t be tiny .
The mission team is hoping to snag up to 60 grams ( 2.1 ounces ) of dirt from the spacecraft ’ s target asteroid , named Bennu .
If OSIRIS-REx grabbed that much material , it will be the largest sample from an asteroid ever collected — and the largest sample of material gathered from another space body since the Apollo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sampled asteroids before , but their caches were in the milligram range .
And OSIRIS-REx could possibly get much more , with the capability of gathering up to 2 kilograms ( 4.4 pounds ) of asteroid samples .
To collect the sample , the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft is equipped with a long , thin robotic arm , with a cylindrical collection device attached to the end .
This afternoon , the spacecraft descended to the surface of Bennu with the arm extended and gently touched the asteroid for just a few seconds .
Right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vehicle released a blast of nitrogen gas that hopefully stirred up the rocks on the surface of the asteroid .
That should have pushed a sizable amount of material into the collector at the end of the arm .
OSIRIS-REx had to do all of this on its own too , as one radio signal currently takes more than 18 minutes to arrive from Earth .
NASA expects to know by tomorrow if OSIRIS-REx got a sample when images from the spacecraft start to come in .
“ That will give us a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a sample or not and how the spacecraft is actually performing , ” Beth Buck , the mission operations program manager for OSIRIS-REx at Lockheed Martin , said during a press conference before the sample maneuver .
“ But we ’ ll continue to analyze that over the next 10 days or so ... as we proceed forward.
” “ We made it down to the asteroid surface .
We were in contact.
” Over the weekend , the mission team will attempt to quantify just how much material OSIRIS-REx scooped up .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the engineers will spin the spacecraft with the sampling arm extended .
When they compare the spinning vehicle ’ s inertia to earlier data from an emptier spacecraft , the mission team should get a clear idea of just how much they scooped up .
If they decide they did collect more than 60 grams of material , the team will likely declare a success and start preparing for OSIRIS-REx to depart Bennu in March .
The spacecraft is slated to arrive back on Earth in September 2023 .
At that point @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the surface , landing in the Utah desert .
If the team finds out they didn ’ t get what they wanted , there are options to try again .
OSIRIS-REx can do up to two more sample attempts , as it has two extra bottles of nitrogen gas on board to stir up material .
Those decisions will come later , though .
For now , the team is celebrating just touching the asteroid with OSIRIS-REx .
“ We have overcome the amazing challenges that this asteroid has thrown at us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operated flawlessly , ” Dante Lauretta , he principal investigator of OSIRIS-REx at the University of Arizona , said during a livestream of the maneuver .
“ We made it down to the asteroid surface .
We were in contact .
”

This afternoon, a NASA spacecraft more than 200 million miles from Earth successfully touched the surface of an asteroid, in an attempt to grab a handful of pebbles and dust from the space rock. Data from the spacecraft confirmed that the vehicle did indeed touch the asteroid today, but NASA won’t know until tomorrow if it actually snagged a sample of material.
“Touchdown declared,” a mission controller announced when the team received data confirming the maneuver. “Sampling in process.” The news of the success was met with cheers and applause from engineers following along with the procedure.
The spacecraft that just tapped the asteroid is OSIRIS-REx, and this sampling maneuver has been years in the making. The main purpose of the spacecraft is to bring a pristine sample of an asteroid back to Earth, so that scientists can study the material in a lab. Asteroids are considered to be primordial remnants of the early Solar System — objects that have remained relatively unchanged since the dawn of the planets. Analyzing just a tiny piece of an asteroid could give scientists a wealth of knowledge about the types of materials that were present when the Solar System was just getting started.
“Touchdown declared.”
But if all went well with the sampling, OSIRIS-REx’s haul won’t be tiny. The mission team is hoping to snag up to 60 grams (2.1 ounces) of dirt from the spacecraft’s target asteroid, named Bennu. If OSIRIS-REx grabbed that much material, it will be the largest sample from an asteroid ever collected — and the largest sample of material gathered from another space body since the Apollo missions. Two other Japanese missions have sampled asteroids before, but their caches were in the milligram range. And OSIRIS-REx could possibly get much more, with the capability of gathering up to 2 kilograms (4.4 pounds) of asteroid samples.
To collect the sample, the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft is equipped with a long, thin robotic arm, with a cylindrical collection device attached to the end. This afternoon, the spacecraft descended to the surface of Bennu with the arm extended and gently touched the asteroid for just a few seconds. Right as the arm made contact, the vehicle released a blast of nitrogen gas that hopefully stirred up the rocks on the surface of the asteroid. That should have pushed a sizable amount of material into the collector at the end of the arm. OSIRIS-REx had to do all of this on its own too, as one radio signal currently takes more than 18 minutes to arrive from Earth.
NASA expects to know by tomorrow if OSIRIS-REx got a sample when images from the spacecraft start to come in. “That will give us a much better feel for whether we have a sample or not and how the spacecraft is actually performing,” Beth Buck, the mission operations program manager for OSIRIS-REx at Lockheed Martin, said during a press conference before the sample maneuver. “But we’ll continue to analyze that over the next 10 days or so ... as we proceed forward.”
“We made it down to the asteroid surface. We were in contact.”
Over the weekend, the mission team will attempt to quantify just how much material OSIRIS-REx scooped up. With the spacecraft backed away from Bennu, the engineers will spin the spacecraft with the sampling arm extended. When they compare the spinning vehicle’s inertia to earlier data from an emptier spacecraft, the mission team should get a clear idea of just how much they scooped up.
If they decide they did collect more than 60 grams of material, the team will likely declare a success and start preparing for OSIRIS-REx to depart Bennu in March. The spacecraft is slated to arrive back on Earth in September 2023. At that point, the sample material will parachute down to the surface, landing in the Utah desert.
If the team finds out they didn’t get what they wanted, there are options to try again. OSIRIS-REx can do up to two more sample attempts, as it has two extra bottles of nitrogen gas on board to stir up material. Those decisions will come later, though. For now, the team is celebrating just touching the asteroid with OSIRIS-REx.