theverge--2020-07-07--Sports bubbles are good places to study COVID-19

Sports are coming back in the United States , and as they do , professional leagues are creating conditions that researchers say are tailor-made to study COVID-19 .
They offer sizable groups of people who are regularly monitored by doctors .
When leagues enter a pandemic isolation zone , like the National Basketball Association plans to at Disney World , the controlled environment offers even more opportunities to understand the virus .
Whether sports should come back is still debatable — the pandemic is surging , and many experts are concerned that it ’ s not possible to create a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — but leagues are forging ahead with plans for reopening .
And as they do , they ’ re pushing medical and technical research along with it .
The sports “ bubbles ” are also home to experimental new tech and trials of new ways of testing for COVID-19 .
They might also tell us more about how the virus spreads .
“ There ’ s a lot of interest in sports coming back , and they could also be a plan for how we bring back universities , colleges and school safely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with a lot of people in close proximity to each other , ” says Priya Sampathkumar , an epidemiologist at the Mayo Clinic who ’ s working on an NBA antibody study .
“ It ’ s trying it out — if we can ’ t keep them safe , maybe it ’ s not safe to open up.
” Major League Baseball participated in the first nationwide coronavirus antibody study in April .
At the time , there hadn ’ t been any effort to check what percentage of the US @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The league has teams spread around the country , so testing players , support staff , and their families would give a snapshot of how widely the virus had spread .
“ The authors of the study realized they had a ready-made national network of medical providers — sports medicine physicians and orthopedists — who were scattered in a really broad number of markets and would be able to help conduct these tests .
It was really , really clever , ” says Zach Binney , an epidemiologist at Emory University .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ incredibly valuable : it found that less than 1 percent of MLB employees had antibodies to the coronavirus .
“ That was the moment for me to shut down pretty much any argument that there are just a ridiculous number of undiagnosed cases , ” Binney says .
“ That was the moment for me to shut down pretty much any argument that there are just a ridiculous number of undiagnosed cases.
” Sampathkumar is doing a similar antibody study with the NBA .
The league had a few high-profile positive cases back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ knew the virus was introduced into the league .
Because the players are in close contact , the virus probably had some amount of spread within the group , and some may not have shown symptoms .
“ It would be a way to assess the true spread of the infection within a sort of closed population , ” she says .
The closed-off NBA bubble is dedicated to basketball , but it ’ s also a makeshift COVID-19 research laboratory .
The league is helping trial a saliva-based COVID-19 test , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Yale School of Public Health validate their testing method .
Players in Orlando will be tested almost every day using the typical method : having a swab shoved deep inside their nose .
Players who enroll in the Yale study , though , will also give a saliva sample along with each test .
The team will compare the two types of tests and check if the saliva test is as accurate as the nose and throat swab .
The most important things the NBA offered were logistical The most important things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Anne Wyllie , a Yale research scientist leading the project .
Gathering a group of people to study is usually a huge challenge .
“ What just made this really possible was that they already had staff out there collecting samples , ” she says .
“ This really enabled us to do something that it ’ s hard to say if we would have been able to do otherwise.
” If saliva proves to work just as well as a swab , and gets authorization from the Food and Drug Administration , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ standard testing method .
The research team expects they ’ ll have results by the end of July .
A saliva-based test would be valuable for similar environments where testing has to happen regularly , Sampathkumar , who is not involved in that study , says .
“ It can potentially be scaled up and done for schools and colleges , because it ’ s relatively non-invasive.
” The NBA is also giving players the option of wearing a smart ring , made by Oura Health , that tracks things like heart rate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oura think that it can flag subtle changes that could indicate someone is sick before they feel symptoms .
Scientists at the University of Michigan will evaluate the data from athletes wearing the ring and flag anyone they think the data shows might have early signs of an illness .
The caveat : there ’ s still no published evidence showing that the ring can catch early signs of COVID-19 .
Like the saliva test , the system is an experiment .
Many researchers are skeptical that it would actually provide useful information @ @ @ @ @ @ @ idea at the University of California , San Francisco and West Virginia University .
Athletes will be tested almost daily for COVID-19 , so the league is not in any way relying on the ring to guide baseline testing — but the data might be used to flag players for additional tests , Oura Health CEO Harpreet Rai told The Verge .
Benjamin Smarr , a University of California , San Diego data scientist working with Oura on the studies , says that the information is still valuable , even if it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ illness .
Because they ’ re being tested anyway , he says , players can get a sense of how the data they see from the ring matches the way they feel and how that relates to their test results .
NBA athletes are also able to opt in to the University of California , San Francisco study on the Oura ring .
They ’ re being encouraged to do so , Rai says .
It ’ s unclear , though , how many players might decide to participate in the study or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ring at all .
Their data will be protected : the league ’ s policies make it clear that the teams won ’ t have access to player ’ s physiological data , and it won ’ t be able to be used in contract negotiations .
But some NBA athletes said on social media that they had some concerns about the device .
The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association did not respond to interview requests .
The goal , of course , is to keep the coronavirus shut out entirely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Orlando ( where the Women ’ s National Basketball Association , NBA and Major League Soccer will play ) and Utah ( where the National Women ’ s Soccer League Challenge Cup is underway ) .
It ’ s a challenge , particularly when athletes are traveling in from areas where the virus is widespread : players have already tested positive after arriving in the MLS isolation zone .
If the virus starts to spread within the isolation zones , it should be relatively easy to trace the path it traveled If the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ zones , though , it should be relatively easy to trace the path it traveled .
In the outside world , it ’ s hard for people to remember where they go and who they interact with , says Angela Rasmussen , a research scientist at the Center for Infection and Immunity at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health .
If you ’ re on a tight schedule and living in a central location , like athletes in these environments are , that information is easy to access .
“ You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of contacts you ’ ve had , but the types of interactions you have with those people.
” That will make it easier than usual for doctors to track down anyone who may have been exposed to the virus , which is important for the safety of the people inside the bubbles .
But hypothetically , it could also help scientists learn more about the coronavirus .
It might make it easier to learn how long it takes for people exposed to the virus to show up as positive on a test @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being tested close to every single day , so it ’ d be easier to pinpoint the moment they started to test positive .
Tracking people over a long period of time is one of the best ways to understand how the coronavirus spreads , but those types of studies are resource-intensive .
“ We ’ ve seen a study of 30 people here , a few people there , that have helped us understand a little bit more about , for example , asymptomatic transmission , ” Binney says .
“ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ points regularly , from the same person.
” At least one league , the NBA , is reportedly thinking about those issues .
The league is putting together a group of experts to think through research approaches to the bubble , Sampathkumar says .
“ They ’ re willing to share the data that they come up with , and are asking for input on the type of data they should collect , ” she says .
The information is important for the league itself because it helps it manage the health and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more about the virus and how it spreads is useful for everyone , not just professional athletes holed up at Disney World .
“ That could be really valuable information , ” Rasmussen says .
“ And that could be extrapolated to the larger population .
”

Sports are coming back in the United States, and as they do, professional leagues are creating conditions that researchers say are tailor-made to study COVID-19. They offer sizable groups of people who are regularly monitored by doctors. When leagues enter a pandemic isolation zone, like the National Basketball Association plans to at Disney World, the controlled environment offers even more opportunities to understand the virus.
Whether sports should come back is still debatable — the pandemic is surging, and many experts are concerned that it’s not possible to create a safe environment for the athletes and staff — but leagues are forging ahead with plans for reopening. And as they do, they’re pushing medical and technical research along with it. The sports “bubbles” are also home to experimental new tech and trials of new ways of testing for COVID-19. They might also tell us more about how the virus spreads.
“There’s a lot of interest in sports coming back, and they could also be a plan for how we bring back universities, colleges and school safely. It’s the same concept, with a lot of people in close proximity to each other,” says Priya Sampathkumar, an epidemiologist at the Mayo Clinic who’s working on an NBA antibody study. “It’s trying it out — if we can’t keep them safe, maybe it’s not safe to open up.”
League partnerships
Major League Baseball participated in the first nationwide coronavirus antibody study in April. At the time, there hadn’t been any effort to check what percentage of the US population had been infected with the coronavirus. The league has teams spread around the country, so testing players, support staff, and their families would give a snapshot of how widely the virus had spread.
“The authors of the study realized they had a ready-made national network of medical providers — sports medicine physicians and orthopedists — who were scattered in a really broad number of markets and would be able to help conduct these tests. It was really, really clever,” says Zach Binney, an epidemiologist at Emory University. And the data the study collected was incredibly valuable: it found that less than 1 percent of MLB employees had antibodies to the coronavirus. “That was the moment for me to shut down pretty much any argument that there are just a ridiculous number of undiagnosed cases,” Binney says.
“That was the moment for me to shut down pretty much any argument that there are just a ridiculous number of undiagnosed cases.”
Sampathkumar is doing a similar antibody study with the NBA. The league had a few high-profile positive cases back in March and April, so researchers knew the virus was introduced into the league. Because the players are in close contact, the virus probably had some amount of spread within the group, and some may not have shown symptoms. “It would be a way to assess the true spread of the infection within a sort of closed population,” she says.
Proving ground
The closed-off NBA bubble is dedicated to basketball, but it’s also a makeshift COVID-19 research laboratory. The league is helping trial a saliva-based COVID-19 test, and any players who opt in will help the Yale School of Public Health validate their testing method.
Players in Orlando will be tested almost every day using the typical method: having a swab shoved deep inside their nose. Players who enroll in the Yale study, though, will also give a saliva sample along with each test. The team will compare the two types of tests and check if the saliva test is as accurate as the nose and throat swab.
The most important things the NBA offered were logistical
The most important things the NBA offered were logistical, says Anne Wyllie, a Yale research scientist leading the project. Gathering a group of people to study is usually a huge challenge. “What just made this really possible was that they already had staff out there collecting samples,” she says. “This really enabled us to do something that it’s hard to say if we would have been able to do otherwise.” If saliva proves to work just as well as a swab, and gets authorization from the Food and Drug Administration, the NBA might adopt it as their standard testing method. The research team expects they’ll have results by the end of July.
A saliva-based test would be valuable for similar environments where testing has to happen regularly, Sampathkumar, who is not involved in that study, says. “It can potentially be scaled up and done for schools and colleges, because it’s relatively non-invasive.”
The NBA is also giving players the option of wearing a smart ring, made by Oura Health, that tracks things like heart rate and body temperature. Researchers working with Oura think that it can flag subtle changes that could indicate someone is sick before they feel symptoms. Scientists at the University of Michigan will evaluate the data from athletes wearing the ring and flag anyone they think the data shows might have early signs of an illness.
Coronavirus test swabs in Miami, Florida. Photo by David Santiago / Miami Herald / Tribune News Service via Getty Images
The caveat: there’s still no published evidence showing that the ring can catch early signs of COVID-19. Like the saliva test, the system is an experiment. Many researchers are skeptical that it would actually provide useful information, and scientists are still testing the idea at the University of California, San Francisco and West Virginia University. Athletes will be tested almost daily for COVID-19, so the league is not in any way relying on the ring to guide baseline testing — but the data might be used to flag players for additional tests, Oura Health CEO Harpreet Rai told The Verge.
Benjamin Smarr, a University of California, San Diego data scientist working with Oura on the studies, says that the information is still valuable, even if it’s not a proven way to detect illness. Because they’re being tested anyway, he says, players can get a sense of how the data they see from the ring matches the way they feel and how that relates to their test results.
NBA athletes are also able to opt in to the University of California, San Francisco study on the Oura ring. They’re being encouraged to do so, Rai says. It’s unclear, though, how many players might decide to participate in the study or how many will choose to use the ring at all. Their data will be protected: the league’s policies make it clear that the teams won’t have access to player’s physiological data, and it won’t be able to be used in contract negotiations. But some NBA athletes said on social media that they had some concerns about the device.
The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association did not respond to interview requests.
Easier detective work
The goal, of course, is to keep the coronavirus shut out entirely of the sports “bubbles” in Orlando (where the Women’s National Basketball Association, NBA and Major League Soccer will play) and Utah (where the National Women’s Soccer League Challenge Cup is underway). It’s a challenge, particularly when athletes are traveling in from areas where the virus is widespread: players have already tested positive after arriving in the MLS isolation zone.
If the virus starts to spread within the isolation zones, it should be relatively easy to trace the path it traveled
If the virus starts to spread within the isolation zones, though, it should be relatively easy to trace the path it traveled. In the outside world, it’s hard for people to remember where they go and who they interact with, says Angela Rasmussen, a research scientist at the Center for Infection and Immunity at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. If you’re on a tight schedule and living in a central location, like athletes in these environments are, that information is easy to access. “You can work out, not only the number of contacts you’ve had, but the types of interactions you have with those people.”
That will make it easier than usual for doctors to track down anyone who may have been exposed to the virus, which is important for the safety of the people inside the bubbles. But hypothetically, it could also help scientists learn more about the coronavirus. It might make it easier to learn how long it takes for people exposed to the virus to show up as positive on a test, for example. NBA players are being tested close to every single day, so it’d be easier to pinpoint the moment they started to test positive.
Tracking people over a long period of time is one of the best ways to understand how the coronavirus spreads, but those types of studies are resource-intensive. “We’ve seen a study of 30 people here, a few people there, that have helped us understand a little bit more about, for example, asymptomatic transmission,” Binney says. “The most interesting thing will be having data points regularly, from the same person.”
At least one league, the NBA, is reportedly thinking about those issues. The league is putting together a group of experts to think through research approaches to the bubble, Sampathkumar says. “They’re willing to share the data that they come up with, and are asking for input on the type of data they should collect,” she says.


theverge--2020-07-07--The Moto G 5G Plus is Motorola’s first midrange 5G phone, but it’s skipping the US

Motorola is bringing 5G connectivity to its midrange Moto G lineup with a new Moto G 5G Plus model — but it won ’ t be releasing in the US .
The Moto G 5G Plus features a 6.7-inch FHD+ display with a 90Hz refresh rate and two hole-punch cameras in it ( a 16-megapixel selfie camera and an 8-megapixel ultrawide , a first for Motorola ) .
There ’ s also a quadruple rear camera system : a 48-megapixel main lens , a 5-megapixel macro camera , an 8-megapixel ultrawide , and a 2-megapixel depth sensor .
Rounding out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 20W USB-C TurboPower fast-charging , NFC support , and a 3.5mm headphone jack .
( Notable absences include a fingerprint reader , wireless charging , and waterproofing , all of which have been absent from other midrange Motorola phones . )
But the key spec here is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765 processor , which features an integrated X52 5G modem , making the Moto G 5G Plus the cheapest 5G phone Motorola has sold yet .
The Snapdragon 765 only supports sub-6GHz 5G , so you won ’ t be able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s still a big step forward in making 5G more accessible .
Motorola has been making 5G devices for longer than nearly anyone else in the mobile phone business .
Thanks to the 5G Moto Mod for the Moto Z lineup , it arguably released the first “ 5G ” phone on the market .
But all of its 5G devices have been expensive : the Moto Mod cost $ 349.99 when it launched ( in addition to the cost of a Moto Z3 or Z4 phone ) .
And its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Edge Plus , cost $ 699 and $ 999 , respectively .
The Moto G 5G Plus looks to change that by offering 5G phones for under $ 500 .
It ’ ll come in two versions : a €349 ( roughly $ 392.27 ) model with 4GB RAM and 64GB of storage , and a €399 ( around $ 448.47 ) version with 6GB RAM and 128GB of storage .
That ’ s far less than any other 5G phone the company has sold so far .
The Moto G 5G @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 8th “ across Europe , ” with additional launches in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates planned “ in the coming months.
” US customers won ’ t be left completely out , though .
Motorola says that it ’ s “ committing to launch a sub- $ 500 5G device in North America this fall , ” although the company isn ’ t saying whether that will be a US version of the Moto G 5G Plus or an entirely different phone .

Motorola is bringing 5G connectivity to its midrange Moto G lineup with a new Moto G 5G Plus model — but it won’t be releasing in the US.
The Moto G 5G Plus features a 6.7-inch FHD+ display with a 90Hz refresh rate and two hole-punch cameras in it (a 16-megapixel selfie camera and an 8-megapixel ultrawide, a first for Motorola). There’s also a quadruple rear camera system: a 48-megapixel main lens, a 5-megapixel macro camera, an 8-megapixel ultrawide, and a 2-megapixel depth sensor.
Rounding out the spec sheet is a 5,000mAh battery, 20W USB-C TurboPower fast-charging, NFC support, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. (Notable absences include a fingerprint reader, wireless charging, and waterproofing, all of which have been absent from other midrange Motorola phones.)
Image: Motorola
But the key spec here is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765 processor, which features an integrated X52 5G modem, making the Moto G 5G Plus the cheapest 5G phone Motorola has sold yet. The Moto G 5G Plus only supports sub-6GHz 5G (even though the Snapdragon 765 can technically support mmWave, too) so you won’t be able to use it with mmWave networks, but it’s still a big step forward in making 5G more accessible, so you won’t be able to use it with mmWave networks, but it’s still a big step forward in making 5G more accessible
Motorola has been making 5G devices for longer than nearly anyone else in the mobile phone business. Thanks to the 5G Moto Mod for the Moto Z lineup, it arguably released the first “5G” phone on the market. But all of its 5G devices have been expensive: the Moto Mod cost $349.99 when it launched (in addition to the cost of a Moto Z3 or Z4 phone). And its other 5G phones, the Motorola Edge and Edge Plus, cost $699 and $999, respectively.
The Moto G 5G Plus looks to change that by offering 5G phones for under $500. It’ll come in two versions: a €349 (roughly $392.27) model with 4GB RAM and 64GB of storage, and a €399 (around $448.47) version with 6GB RAM and 128GB of storage. That’s far less than any other 5G phone the company has sold so far.
Image: Motorola
The Moto G 5G Plus is set to launch on July 8th “across Europe,” with additional launches in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates planned “in the coming months.”
US customers won’t be left completely out, though. Motorola says that it’s “committing to launch a sub-$500 5G device in North America this fall,” although the company isn’t saying whether that will be a US version of the Moto G 5G Plus or an entirely different phone.


theverge--2020-07-07--The OnePlus Nord will be officially revealed on July 21st

The midrange OnePlus Nord is due to be officially announced with an augmented reality event on July 21st , the company announced today .
OnePlus said the Nord will be a “ more affordable ” device compared to its recent flagships , and it ’ s initially due for release in Europe and India .
Along with the news of the launch , the company has also released the second part of its documentary series about the phone today .
OnePlus says you ’ ll be able to use its app to view the launch event in augmented reality on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ET / 7AM PT .
The app will be available for both iOS and Android .
OnePlus is also producing physical invitations to the event , which it says will give people a “ unique hands-on experience ” of the device in AR .
Physical invitations will contain a QR code that you can scan to access the AR experience .
This isn ’ t the first time OnePlus has experimented with new formats for its product launches ; it used a virtual reality event to announce the OnePlus 2 in 2015 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a couple of weeks away , we already have a pretty good idea about what form the OnePlus Nord will take , thanks to a combination of official announcements and unofficial leaks .
As well as confirming its name , OnePlus has also revealed that the phone will be powered by a Snapdragon 765G 5G processor , and it will cost less than $ 500 .
When an image of an early prototype was briefly shown in a recent video from OnePlus , it appeared to have dual selfie cameras contained within a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the device has been shown with a vertically orientated camera bump on its left .
Unofficially , reports also suggest that the phone will feature a 6.55-inch OLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate , 6GB of RAM , 128GB of storage , and a 4,300mAh battery with 30W fast charging , according to XDA-Developers .

The midrange OnePlus Nord is due to be officially announced with an augmented reality event on July 21st, the company announced today. OnePlus said the Nord will be a “more affordable” device compared to its recent flagships, and it’s initially due for release in Europe and India. Along with the news of the launch, the company has also released the second part of its documentary series about the phone today.
OnePlus says you’ll be able to use its app to view the launch event in augmented reality on July 21st at 3PM BST / 10AM ET / 7AM PT. The app will be available for both iOS and Android. OnePlus is also producing physical invitations to the event, which it says will give people a “unique hands-on experience” of the device in AR. Physical invitations will contain a QR code that you can scan to access the AR experience. This isn’t the first time OnePlus has experimented with new formats for its product launches; it used a virtual reality event to announce the OnePlus 2 in 2015.
Although its official launch date is still a couple of weeks away, we already have a pretty good idea about what form the OnePlus Nord will take, thanks to a combination of official announcements and unofficial leaks. As well as confirming its name, OnePlus has also revealed that the phone will be powered by a Snapdragon 765G 5G processor, and it will cost less than $500.
A prototype device briefly shown in a recent video has dual selfie cameras contained within a hole-punch notch. Image: OnePlus
When an image of an early prototype was briefly shown in a recent video from OnePlus, it appeared to have dual selfie cameras contained within a hole-punch notch. Meanwhile, the rear of the device has been shown with a vertically orientated camera bump on its left.


theverge--2020-07-07--Uber launches on-demand grocery delivery in Latin America and Canada

Uber is launching an on-demand grocery delivery service in Latin America and Canada , the company announced on Tuesday .
It ’ s Uber ’ s first major move into the competitive world of online grocery shopping since acquiring Cornershop , a leading online grocery provider in Chile , Mexico , Peru , Canada , Brazil , and Colombia .
Grocery delivery will be available through both Uber ’ s main app and its Uber Eats app .
Customers will see food delivery available from local grocery stores and will be able to receive their orders “ in as little @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to Uber Eats head of product Daniel Danker .
The service is available starting today in 19 cities across Latin America and Canada .
Later this month , it will be available in the US , Danker said .
And when it launches , it will be included in Uber ’ s subscription services , Rider Pass and Eats Pass , in which customers can get free delivery on orders over $ 30 .
“ I think this would make a lot of sense in a pre-COVID world.
” The announcement also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s $ 2.65 billion acquisition of Postmates .
Uber is scrambling to expand its food delivery options as the coronavirus pandemic continues to pummel its core ride-hailing business .
At the height of the pandemic in April , Uber said its ride-hailing division was down about 80 percent .
And now , with the number of cases spiking in many parts of the US , the company ’ s losses could continue to mount .
“ I think this would make a lot of sense in a pre-COVID world , ” Danker said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But our world has just fundamentally changed .
And so this represents even more of a huge responsibility for us.
” It ’ s not hard to see why Uber is banking so much on food delivery .
Bookings in the company ’ s Uber Eats division were up more than 54 percent year over year , thanks to increased demand for food deliveries , the company reported in May .
Meal delivery has seen an acceleration in demand since mid-March , with 89 percent year-over-year gross bookings growth in April excluding India @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fast to abandon its unprofitable markets , recently shuttering its Eats business in eight countries .
Uber is entering a crowded field , with huge companies like Amazon and Instacart jockeying for market share with major grocers like Kroger and Walmart .
And it ’ s not an obvious moneymaker either .
Last year , only 3 percent of grocery sales in the US take place online .
Sales are certainly increasing during the pandemic — US online grocery revenue hit a record $ 7.2 billion in June — but customers say they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for fear of being overcharged or experiencing late deliveries , according to a recent survey .
Cornershop was founded in 2015 in Santiago , Chile .
The company was almost acquired by Walmart for $ 225 million in 2018 , but Mexican antitrust regulators ultimately blocked the deal , arguing Walmart could not guarantee a level playing field for its rivals .

Uber is launching an on-demand grocery delivery service in Latin America and Canada, the company announced on Tuesday. It’s Uber’s first major move into the competitive world of online grocery shopping since acquiring Cornershop, a leading online grocery provider in Chile, Mexico, Peru, Canada, Brazil, and Colombia.
Grocery delivery will be available through both Uber’s main app and its Uber Eats app. Customers will see food delivery available from local grocery stores and will be able to receive their orders “in as little as one to two hours,” according to Uber Eats head of product Daniel Danker.
The service is available starting today in 19 cities across Latin America and Canada. Later this month, it will be available in the US, Danker said. And when it launches, it will be included in Uber’s subscription services, Rider Pass and Eats Pass, in which customers can get free delivery on orders over $30.
“I think this would make a lot of sense in a pre-COVID world.”
The announcement also comes on the heels of Uber’s $2.65 billion acquisition of Postmates. Uber is scrambling to expand its food delivery options as the coronavirus pandemic continues to pummel its core ride-hailing business. At the height of the pandemic in April, Uber said its ride-hailing division was down about 80 percent. And now, with the number of cases spiking in many parts of the US, the company’s losses could continue to mount.
“I think this would make a lot of sense in a pre-COVID world,” Danker said in a call with reporters. “But our world has just fundamentally changed. And so this represents even more of a huge responsibility for us.”
It’s not hard to see why Uber is banking so much on food delivery. Bookings in the company’s Uber Eats division were up more than 54 percent year over year, thanks to increased demand for food deliveries, the company reported in May. Meal delivery has seen an acceleration in demand since mid-March, with 89 percent year-over-year gross bookings growth in April excluding India. But the company has also moved fast to abandon its unprofitable markets, recently shuttering its Eats business in eight countries.
Uber is entering a crowded field, with huge companies like Amazon and Instacart jockeying for market share with major grocers like Kroger and Walmart. And it’s not an obvious moneymaker either. Last year, only 3 percent of grocery sales in the US take place online. Sales are certainly increasing during the pandemic — US online grocery revenue hit a record $7.2 billion in June — but customers say they feel hesitant to shop for groceries online for fear of being overcharged or experiencing late deliveries, according to a recent survey.


theverge--2020-07-07--Samsung’s Galaxy Note 20 Ultra appears to leak in first real-world images

Photos allegedly showing Samsung ’ s unannounced Galaxy Note 20 Ultra have been shared by YouTuber Jimmy Is Promo .
The pictures could be the first real-life glimpse we ’ ve seen of the new Note series .
Samsung tends to announce new Galaxy Note phones in August each year .
Although we can ’ t verify the images , they show a very similar device to one that was leaked earlier this month on Samsung ’ s own website .
They also include a view of the front of the phone for the first time , showing a centered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ display .
We can also see what looks to be the Note 20 Ultra ’ s volume rocker and power button located on the right side of the device , similar to the S20 .
On last year ’ s Note 10 they were positioned to the left of the screen .
Jimmy Is Promo also claims that the phone ’ s S Pen slot and bottom speaker are moving to the left of the charge port .
Overall , however , the changes seem minor compared to last year ’ s device @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we see a similar camera layout to the leaked images from earlier this month .
The rear camera layout appears to include a folded zoom lens , and SamMobile notes that the sensor to the right could be either a 3D ToF sensor or a laser autofocus .
In terms of software , the Note 20 is reportedly running version 2.5 of Samsung ’ s One UI .
Samsung tends to release its Galaxy Note phones in late summer , following an announcement in early August .
Barring a delay due to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could be just a few weeks away from an official reveal .

Photos allegedly showing Samsung’s unannounced Galaxy Note 20 Ultra have been shared by YouTuber Jimmy Is Promo. The pictures could be the first real-life glimpse we’ve seen of the new Note series. Samsung tends to announce new Galaxy Note phones in August each year.
Although we can’t verify the images, they show a very similar device to one that was leaked earlier this month on Samsung’s own website. They also include a view of the front of the phone for the first time, showing a centered hole-punch notch at the top of the display.
We can also see what looks to be the Note 20 Ultra’s volume rocker and power button located on the right side of the device, similar to the S20. On last year’s Note 10 they were positioned to the left of the screen. Jimmy Is Promo also claims that the phone’s S Pen slot and bottom speaker are moving to the left of the charge port. Overall, however, the changes seem minor compared to last year’s device.
On the rear of the phone, we see a similar camera layout to the leaked images from earlier this month. The rear camera layout appears to include a folded zoom lens, and SamMobile notes that the sensor to the right could be either a 3D ToF sensor or a laser autofocus. In terms of software, the Note 20 is reportedly running version 2.5 of Samsung’s One UI.


theverge--2020-07-07--How Twitter is shifting the power balance from companies to their employees

The Interface is a daily column and newsletter about the intersection of social media and democracy .
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Last week , the worlds of technology and journalism were transfixed by a conflict that played out across across Instagram , Twitter , and the upstart audio-only social network Clubhouse .
One reason it generated so much attention — you can read thorough accounts from varying perspectives at Vice , on Quora , or this venture capitalist ’ s Substack — is that you can approach the drama from so many angles .
But despite the best efforts of everyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clarifying way to understand the story of Steph Korey , Taylor Lorenz , Balaji Srinivasan , venture capital , and Clubhouse has mostly gone unspoken .
And those who fail to see it , I think , could be in for a rude awakening of their own .
Let me start with a brief recounting of events — and acknowledge that I played a role in some of them .
The conflict began with an investigation into the travel company Away in The Verge for which I served as an early editor ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , my partner in bringing this newsletter to you every week ; and the most recent controversy started after my friend Taylor Lorenz called attention to some comments that Korey , Away ’ s CEO and the subject of the original investigation , had made on Instagram .
( Among those comments : “ defamation lawsuits should be easier to pursue.
” ) Srinivasan , an investor and vocal media critic , took exception , and mocked Lorenz ’ s tweets .
Lorenz , in turn , said Srinivasan had been harassing her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s native tribalism took over .
Journalists and their allies rallied to Lorenz ’ s side , myself included — no journalist deserves to be harassed or threatened .
Other investors and those sympathetic to Srinivasan ’ s anti-journalism threads joined in the shouting .
From a distance , it seemed like little more than the latest salvo in a conflict between journalists and Silicon Valley that has escalated significantly this year .
But what if you take the whole discussion of “ tech versus journalism ” and reframe it as “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think , you get closer to the truth of what ’ s going on .
After all , this conflict started with employees .
They were the people who initially described their working conditions under Korey at Away , leading her to step aside as CEO .
( She later returned , only for the company to say she would step aside later this year after her comments about the media on Instagram . )
The employees made their comments at a time of increasing activism inside workplaces .
Since the Google @ @ @ @ @ @ @ startups and public companies have become increasingly comfortable in speaking out — often using social media platforms to call out their employers .
This trend has only accelerated since the Black Lives Matters protests swept the nation last month — which , among other things , led to the first-ever virtual Facebook walkout a few weeks later .
Until recently it was relatively unusual for employees to contact journalists directly with complaints about their workplaces — much less broadcast them on Twitter with no warning .
But the Google walkout — which took @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did outside the company ’ s offices — showed workers that their stories would find a sympathetic audience on social networks .
Workers still face significant obstacles as they lobby to create more fair and equitable workplaces .
But Twitter in particular has given them a place where not only can they be heard , but — crucially — employers can ’ t really fight back .
If you tweet that you hate your manager , your manager is almost certainly not going to tweet back at you .
( They can fire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s for unrelated reasons , and in fact they do this .
But this often leads to more tweets about how bad the manager is , which means mostly they do nothing immediately . )
Thus tweets have given workers an asymmetric advantage in the unrest — a one-sided argument is easy to win — and we ’ re seeing it play out in new ways all the time .
This dynamic , which is tilted heavily against bosses , goes a long way in explaining the disdain that the managerial class has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” A “ hit piece , ” in angry Twitter parlance , is typically a piece of journalism in which one or more employees are granted anonymity to talk about their working conditions .
Journalists , myself included , would simply call that reporting .
But it ’ s the kind of reporting that tilts the balance away from managers and toward their employees — and in ways that are difficult to fight back against .
It ’ s true that this dynamic raises questions of fairness .
Not every person who hates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yet , does anyone doubt that over the past 20 years , we ’ ve heard fewer accounts of the inner workings of big venture-backed companies than we would have liked to have ?
The inequalities that we have heard so much about in recent years took decades to build up , and during that time it has been relatively rare for a journalist to hear from employees directly on the subject .
Instead for the most part they were funneled to a public relations person , whose job was primarily to contain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s why , when I hear “ hit piece , ” I know I ’ m probably hearing from a manager .
Managers liked the pre-walkout world , for obvious reasons .
These recent pieces really do feel like hits , and the managerial class has no obvious way to hit back in a way that won ’ t harm its own reputation .
And so it shouldn ’ t be surprising , when a prominent reporter like Lorenz calls attention to posts like Korey ’ s , the managerial class rises @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CEOs can be held accountable not just for their working conditions but for social media defenses of their work , that represents a threat to the entire managerial tribe .
And that explains how venture capitalists , who have millions of dollars at their disposal and could comfortably retire without ever participating in a single Twitter fight , have nonetheless come to see themselves as the underdogs in this situation .
They got where they are in part because they ’ ve been good at winning arguments , and now they find themselves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ punished for arguing .
Certainly , the worlds of tech and venture capital have complaints about journalism that go beyond hit pieces .
Friends and sources criticize journalists for scapegoating them for larger issues — blaming Facebook alone for the election of Donald Trump , for example .
And journalists often wind up criticizing tech companies from both sides of an issue — complaining that they both leave up too many bad posts and take down too many good ones , for example .
The exasperation is real , even if the scrutiny @ @ @ @ @ @ @ company that aims to change the world .
But the next time you see journalists and tech overlords going a few rounds online , ask yourself whether what you ’ re looking at isn ’ t , on some level , a labor issue .
Journalists have lately been part of this story more than they are usually comfortable with .
But I wouldn ’ t make the mistake of thinking that this is primarily about us .
It might not be visible from the luxury Airbnbs where tech executives are riding out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resurgent labor movement in this country .
The pandemic has made clear that many of our most essential workers are also among the lowest paid — and even for the most comfortable , it ’ s clear that during a time of crisis neither their company nor the US government will fully protect them from disaster .
You can attribute it to the pandemic , the recession , police brutality , racism , or any number of other crises — but the result is a fire tornado of outrage that is sweeping across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are getting caught up in it , and many managers are finding themselves suddenly without jobs as a result .
( It is probably not a coincidence that this is most true of the media industry , whose workers are more adept at using Twitter to air their grievances than most . )
Workers are justifiably outraged about the state of affairs in this country , and some of that outrage is being captured by journalists .
I find it darkly comic that so many CEOs and tech world Twitter pundits , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thoughts , are committing the folly that goes back to Plutarch : getting some bad news , and then taking it out on the person who brought it to them .
If pundits succeeds in shooting all the messengers , what else will they fail to understand before it ’ s too late ?
Coming Tuesday : The Verge brings you further inside Clubhouse .
And in this column : what does the CEO ’ s past at Pinterest and Highlight tell us about his approach to moderation and privacy ?
Today in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the big tech platforms .
Trending up : Facebook pinned a box with information about voter registration on the top of the News Feed for every US user who is of voting age .
The box includes a link to your state ’ s registration website .
( Jay Peters / The Verge ) Trending down : An African American manager and two job applicants who were rejected by Facebook filed a complaint against the company .
They ’ re alleging that the social media giant is biased against black employees in evaluations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
( Elizabeth Dwoskin / The Washington Post ) ⭐ Google , Facebook , and Twitter won ’ t process user data requests from the Hong Kong government amid concerns that a new security law could criminalize protests .
It ’ s unclear what actions will be considered to violate the new law , but police arrested a man last week for brandishing a Hong Kong independence flag .
Here ’ s Kurt Wagner at Bloomberg : More than 400 brands , including Coca-Cola and Starbucks , stopped advertising on Facebook on Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advertisers before the boycott to explain how the company would handle hate speech on the platform .
( Sheila Dang and Katie Paul / Reuters ) Facebook ’ s tensions with advertisers have been brewing since long before the current boycott .
Marketers have long criticized the company for what some call a lack of commitment to brand safety — keeping their ads away from objectionable content .
( Sahil Patel and Nat Ives / The Wall Street Journal ) Walmart , American Express , and Home Depot have not pulled ads from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Facebook ads last year , only Microsoft , Starbucks and Pfizer have paused marketing on the platform .
( Brian Fung and Kaya Yurieff / CNN ) Joe Biden ’ s campaign is not pulling his advertising from Facebook .
A spokesperson said that while it shares the boycotters ’ concerns , it “ can not afford to cede these platforms ” to President Donald Trump .
( Sarah Mucha / CNN ) Facebook said right-wing pundit Ben Shapiro is breaking its rules by failing to disclose a financial relationship between The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and the notorious outlet Mad World News .
The Daily Wire gained record distribution on Facebook through a previously undisclosed relationship with Mad World News .
( Popular Information ) Twitter removed a picture from a tweet by President Trump after it received a Digital Millennium Copyright Act complaint from the New York Times , which owns the rights to the photo .
( Sara Fischer / Axios ) The Senate Judiciary Committee voted to approve the EARN IT Act , a bill that would weaken Section 230 protections to ensure social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their platforms .
The most recent version seems to pose less of a threat to encryption in messaging apps , but I still worry .
( Makena Kelly / The Verge ) Nextdoor CEO Sarah Friar said the company should have moved more quickly to protect posts related to Black Lives Matter by providing clearer guidance to moderators .
( Bobby Allyn / NPR ) Reddit communities that were recently banned in an effort to curb hate speech on the platform had already been relocating to other websites for months .
The news @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — and serving as a reminder that “ de-platforming ” often comes long after it could have done the most good .
( Sarah Emerson / OneZero ) Police monitored 100 million encrypted messages sent through Encrochat , a network used by career criminals to discuss drug deals , murders , and extortion plots .
It represents one of the largest law enforcement infiltrations of a communications network predominantly used by criminals ever .
( Joseph Cox / Vice ) Amazon ’ s contracted delivery drivers say that their workloads have dramatically increased @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have made conditions for the drivers grueling and dangerous .
( Lauren Kaori Gurley / Vice ) An international team of scientists has started to develop a model that could predict outbreaks about two weeks before they occur .
It could help state and local governments know when it ’ s safe to roll back shelter-in-place restrictions .
( Benedict Carey / The New York Times ) Clearview AI will stop offering its facial recognition services in Canada , following an investigation by privacy protection authorities in the country .
The investigation , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Canadians that Clearview has already collected , remains open .
⭐ Instagram expanded its TikTok rival called Reels in India , following the government ’ s decision to ban TikTok and dozens of other Chinese apps over security concerns .
In addition to India , Instagram Reels is live in Brazil , and as of recently , France and Germany .
Here ’ s Sarah Perez at TechCrunch : Also : Roposo , an Indian video-sharing app similar to TikTok , saw its user base jump by 22 million in the two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
( Sankalp Phartiyal / Reuters ) Facebook is shutting down Lasso , a TikTok look alike it launched a year and a half ago .
The app will shut down on July 10th .
( Manish Singh / TechCrunch ) Facebook is launching a curriculum on digital safety and online well-being and augmented reality for students and educators in India .
It hass partnered with the Central Board of Secondary Education , a government body that oversees education in private and public schools .
( Manish Singh / TechCrunch ) Facebook and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ masks .
An alert will appear at the top of News Feeds on Facebook that directs users to the COVID-19 Information Center .
Good !
( Kim Lyons / The Verge ) A Nigerian Instagram influencer was extradited to the US from Dubai to face fraud charges .
Ramon Olorunwa Abbas , widely known as “ Hushpuppi , ” faces criminal charges “ alleging he conspired to launder hundreds of millions of dollars from ‘ business email compromise ’ ( BEC ) frauds and other scams , ” according to the Department of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) Prison TikTok is the latest subgenre to gain popularity in the app .
Inmates use contraband cell phones to share dancing videos and funny skits , as well as broadcast information about conditions at their facilities .
( Louise Matsakis / Wired ) YouTuber Shane Dawson is struggling to address his past use of racist characters in videos .
His main channel lost nearly 1 million subscribers last week , and his corporate partners have started to drop him .
( Julia Alexander / The Verge ) Stuff to occupy you online @ @ @ @ @ @ @ party on Amazon .
Prime Video is the latest streaming service to offer the feature .
Build your own camera with a Raspberry Pi 4 .
The Verge ’ s Becca Farsace shows you how .
Host a charity stream .
Verge reporter Bijan Stephen explains how he did it , and how you can too .
Send us tips , comments , questions , and complaints about your boss : casey @ theverge.com and zoe @ theverge.com .

Last week, the worlds of technology and journalism were transfixed by a conflict that played out across across Instagram, Twitter, and the upstart audio-only social network Clubhouse. One reason it generated so much attention — you can read thorough accounts from varying perspectives at Vice, on Quora, or this venture capitalist’s Substack — is that you can approach the drama from so many angles. But despite the best efforts of everyone here, I still think the most clarifying way to understand the story of Steph Korey, Taylor Lorenz, Balaji Srinivasan, venture capital, and Clubhouse has mostly gone unspoken. And those who fail to see it, I think, could be in for a rude awakening of their own.
Let me start with a brief recounting of events — and acknowledge that I played a role in some of them. The conflict began with an investigation into the travel company Away in The Verge for which I served as an early editor; that story was written by Zoe Schiffer, my partner in bringing this newsletter to you every week; and the most recent controversy started after my friend Taylor Lorenz called attention to some comments that Korey, Away’s CEO and the subject of the original investigation, had made on Instagram. (Among those comments: “defamation lawsuits should be easier to pursue.”) Srinivasan, an investor and vocal media critic, took exception, and mocked Lorenz’s tweets. Lorenz, in turn, said Srinivasan had been harassing her with tweets for months, and Twitter’s native tribalism took over.
Journalists and their allies rallied to Lorenz’s side, myself included — no journalist deserves to be harassed or threatened. Other investors and those sympathetic to Srinivasan’s anti-journalism threads joined in the shouting. From a distance, it seemed like little more than the latest salvo in a conflict between journalists and Silicon Valley that has escalated significantly this year.
But what if you take the whole discussion of “tech versus journalism” and reframe it as “managers versus employees”? Then, I think, you get closer to the truth of what’s going on.
After all, this conflict started with employees. They were the people who initially described their working conditions under Korey at Away, leading her to step aside as CEO. (She later returned, only for the company to say she would step aside later this year after her comments about the media on Instagram.)
The employees made their comments at a time of increasing activism inside workplaces. Since the Google walkout in 2018, employees of venture-backed startups and public companies have become increasingly comfortable in speaking out — often using social media platforms to call out their employers. This trend has only accelerated since the Black Lives Matters protests swept the nation last month — which, among other things, led to the first-ever virtual Facebook walkout a few weeks later.
Until recently it was relatively unusual for employees to contact journalists directly with complaints about their workplaces — much less broadcast them on Twitter with no warning. But the Google walkout — which took place as much on Twitter as it did outside the company’s offices — showed workers that their stories would find a sympathetic audience on social networks.
Workers still face significant obstacles as they lobby to create more fair and equitable workplaces. But Twitter in particular has given them a place where not only can they be heard, but — crucially — employers can’t really fight back. If you tweet that you hate your manager, your manager is almost certainly not going to tweet back at you. (They can fire you, and say that it’s for unrelated reasons, and in fact they do this. But this often leads to more tweets about how bad the manager is, which means mostly they do nothing immediately.) Thus tweets have given workers an asymmetric advantage in the unrest — a one-sided argument is easy to win — and we’re seeing it play out in new ways all the time.
This dynamic, which is tilted heavily against bosses, goes a long way in explaining the disdain that the managerial class has for what they call “hit pieces.” A “hit piece,” in angry Twitter parlance, is typically a piece of journalism in which one or more employees are granted anonymity to talk about their working conditions. Journalists, myself included, would simply call that reporting. But it’s the kind of reporting that tilts the balance away from managers and toward their employees — and in ways that are difficult to fight back against.
It’s true that this dynamic raises questions of fairness. Not every person who hates their boss has been mistreated.
And yet, does anyone doubt that over the past 20 years, we’ve heard fewer accounts of the inner workings of big venture-backed companies than we would have liked to have? The inequalities that we have heard so much about in recent years took decades to build up, and during that time it has been relatively rare for a journalist to hear from employees directly on the subject. Instead for the most part they were funneled to a public relations person, whose job was primarily to contain any damage to the company.
That’s why, when I hear “hit piece,” I know I’m probably hearing from a manager. Managers liked the pre-walkout world, for obvious reasons. These recent pieces really do feel like hits, and the managerial class has no obvious way to hit back in a way that won’t harm its own reputation.
And so it shouldn’t be surprising, when a prominent reporter like Lorenz calls attention to posts like Korey’s, the managerial class rises to Korey’s defense. When CEOs can be held accountable not just for their working conditions but for social media defenses of their work, that represents a threat to the entire managerial tribe. And that explains how venture capitalists, who have millions of dollars at their disposal and could comfortably retire without ever participating in a single Twitter fight, have nonetheless come to see themselves as the underdogs in this situation. They got where they are in part because they’ve been good at winning arguments, and now they find themselves living in a world where they get punished for arguing.
Certainly, the worlds of tech and venture capital have complaints about journalism that go beyond hit pieces. Friends and sources criticize journalists for scapegoating them for larger issues — blaming Facebook alone for the election of Donald Trump, for example. And journalists often wind up criticizing tech companies from both sides of an issue — complaining that they both leave up too many bad posts and take down too many good ones, for example. The exasperation is real, even if the scrutiny is a natural consequence of starting a company that aims to change the world.
But the next time you see journalists and tech overlords going a few rounds online, ask yourself whether what you’re looking at isn’t, on some level, a labor issue. Journalists have lately been part of this story more than they are usually comfortable with. But I wouldn’t make the mistake of thinking that this is primarily about us.
It might not be visible from the luxury Airbnbs where tech executives are riding out the pandemic, but there is a resurgent labor movement in this country. The pandemic has made clear that many of our most essential workers are also among the lowest paid — and even for the most comfortable, it’s clear that during a time of crisis neither their company nor the US government will fully protect them from disaster.
You can attribute it to the pandemic, the recession, police brutality, racism, or any number of other crises — but the result is a fire tornado of outrage that is sweeping across the country. Any number of industries are getting caught up in it, and many managers are finding themselves suddenly without jobs as a result. (It is probably not a coincidence that this is most true of the media industry, whose workers are more adept at using Twitter to air their grievances than most.)
Workers are justifiably outraged about the state of affairs in this country, and some of that outrage is being captured by journalists. I find it darkly comic that so many CEOs and tech world Twitter pundits, who never stop congratulating themselves for thinking deep thoughts, are committing the folly that goes back to Plutarch: getting some bad news, and then taking it out on the person who brought it to them.
If pundits succeed in shooting all the messengers, what else will they fail to understand before it’s too late?
Coming Tuesday: The Verge brings you further inside Clubhouse. And in this column: what does the CEO’s past at Pinterest and Highlight tell us about his approach to moderation and privacy?
The Ratio
Today in news that could affect public perception of the big tech platforms.
🔼 Trending up: Facebook pinned a box with information about voter registration on the top of the News Feed for every US user who is of voting age. The box includes a link to your state’s registration website. (Jay Peters / The Verge)
🔽 Trending down: An African American manager and two job applicants who were rejected by Facebook filed a complaint against the company. They’re alleging that the social media giant is biased against black employees in evaluations, promotions, pay and hiring practices. (Elizabeth Dwoskin / The Washington Post)
Governing
⭐ Google, Facebook, and Twitter won’t process user data requests from the Hong Kong government amid concerns that a new security law could criminalize protests. It’s unclear what actions will be considered to violate the new law, but police arrested a man last week for brandishing a Hong Kong independence flag. Here’s Kurt Wagner at Bloomberg:
Facebook typically works with law enforcement to follow local laws where the company operates, but said it has paused sharing user data with Hong Kong authorities while it conducts a “human-rights” assessment. The pause applies to all Facebook properties, including its core social network, Instagram and WhatsApp. “Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right and support the right of people to express themselves without fear for their safety or other repercussions,” a Facebook spokesperson said in a statement. “We have a global process for government requests and in reviewing each individual request, we consider Facebook’s policies, local laws and international human-rights standards.”
More than 400 brands, including Coca-Cola and Starbucks, stopped advertising on Facebook on Wednesday. Facebook executives tried to meet with advertisers before the boycott to explain how the company would handle hate speech on the platform. (Sheila Dang and Katie Paul / Reuters)
Facebook’s tensions with advertisers have been brewing since long before the current boycott. Marketers have long criticized the company for what some call a lack of commitment to brand safety — keeping their ads away from objectionable content. (Sahil Patel and Nat Ives / The Wall Street Journal)
Walmart, American Express, and Home Depot have not pulled ads from Facebook. Of the 25 largest spenders on Facebook ads last year, only Microsoft, Starbucks and Pfizer have paused marketing on the platform. (Brian Fung and Kaya Yurieff / CNN)
Joe Biden’s campaign is not pulling his advertising from Facebook. A spokesperson said that while it shares the boycotters’ concerns, it “cannot afford to cede these platforms” to President Donald Trump. (Sarah Mucha / CNN)
Facebook said right-wing pundit Ben Shapiro is breaking its rules by failing to disclose a financial relationship between The Daily Wire, a website he founded, and the notorious outlet Mad World News. The Daily Wire gained record distribution on Facebook through a previously undisclosed relationship with Mad World News. (Popular Information)
The Senate Judiciary Committee voted to approve the EARN IT Act, a bill that would weaken Section 230 protections to ensure social media companies remove child abuse imagery from their platforms. The most recent version seems to pose less of a threat to encryption in messaging apps, but I still worry. (Makena Kelly / The Verge)
Nextdoor CEO Sarah Friar said the company should have moved more quickly to protect posts related to Black Lives Matter by providing clearer guidance to moderators. (Bobby Allyn / NPR)
Reddit communities that were recently banned in an effort to curb hate speech on the platform had already been relocating to other websites for months. The news suggests that users were expecting the ban — and serving as a reminder that “de-platforming” often comes long after it could have done the most good. (Sarah Emerson / OneZero)
Police monitored 100 million encrypted messages sent through Encrochat, a network used by career criminals to discuss drug deals, murders, and extortion plots. It represents one of the largest law enforcement infiltrations of a communications network predominantly used by criminals ever. (Joseph Cox / Vice)
Amazon’s contracted delivery drivers say that their workloads have dramatically increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Skyrocketing quotas have made conditions for the drivers grueling and dangerous. (Lauren Kaori Gurley / Vice)
An international team of scientists has started to develop a model that could predict outbreaks about two weeks before they occur. It could help state and local governments know when it’s safe to roll back shelter-in-place restrictions. (Benedict Carey / The New York Times)
Clearview AI will stop offering its facial recognition services in Canada, following an investigation by privacy protection authorities in the country. The investigation, which focuses in part on the information of Canadians that Clearview has already collected, remains open.
Industry
⭐ Instagram expanded its TikTok rival called Reels in India, following the government’s decision to ban TikTok and dozens of other Chinese apps over security concerns. In addition to India, Instagram Reels is live in Brazil, and as of recently, France and Germany. Here’s Sarah Perez at TechCrunch:
Unlike Lasso, which had been its own separate app, Reels has been designed to be a feature within Instagram itself. Reels allows users to create and post short, 15-second videos set to music or other audio, similar to TikTok. Also like TikTok, the feature offers a set of editing tools — like a countdown timer and those that adjust the video’s speed, for example — that aim to make it easier to record creative content. However, Instagram doesn’t have the same sort of two-tabbed, scrollable feed, like TikTok offers, just for watching Reels’ content.
Facebook is shutting down Lasso, a TikTok look alike it launched a year and a half ago. The app will shut down on July 10th. (Manish Singh / TechCrunch)
Facebook is launching a curriculum on digital safety and online well-being and augmented reality for students and educators in India. It has partnered with the Central Board of Secondary Education, a government body that oversees education in private and public schools. (Manish Singh / TechCrunch)
Facebook and Instagram are reminding people to wear face masks. An alert will appear at the top of News Feeds on Facebook that directs users to the COVID-19 Information Center. Good! (Kim Lyons / The Verge)
A Nigerian Instagram influencer was extradited to the US from Dubai to face fraud charges. Ramon Olorunwa Abbas, widely known as “Hushpuppi,” faces criminal charges “alleging he conspired to launder hundreds of millions of dollars from ‘business email compromise’ (BEC) frauds and other scams,” according to the Department of Justice. (William Clowes / Bloomberg)
Prison TikTok is the latest subgenre to gain popularity in the app. Inmates use contraband cell phones to share dancing videos and funny skits, as well as broadcast information about conditions at their facilities. (Louise Matsakis / Wired)
YouTuber Shane Dawson is struggling to address his past use of racist characters in videos. His main channel lost nearly 1 million subscribers last week, and his corporate partners have started to drop him. (Julia Alexander / The Verge)
Things to do
Stuff to occupy you online during the quarantine.
Throw a watch party on Amazon. Prime Video is the latest streaming service to offer the feature.
Build your own camera with a Raspberry Pi 4. The Verge’s Becca Farsace shows you how.
Host a charity stream. Verge reporter Bijan Stephen explains how he did it, and how you can too.
Those good tweets
Talk to us


theverge--2020-07-07--Samsung’s UV sterilizer and wireless charger officially announced globally

Samsung has announced a new 10W wireless charger that tops up your phone ’ s battery while sterilizing the device using UV-C light .
The company says the ultraviolet light can kill 99 percent of bacteria and germs , though marketing materials don ’ t mention whether it destroys the novel coronavirus responsible for the current global pandemic .
News of the charger first emerged last week from Samsung Thailand , but now the company has announced the product globally .
Right now , we ’ ve seen pages for the product in Samsung ’ s German , Romanian , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In Germany , it ’ s being sold for €58.38 ( around $ 65 ) .
The announcement comes at a time when people are particularly worried about the spread of COVID-19 , and products that claim to clean your phone and stop the virus are on the rise .
But , from a scientific perspective , these products can ’ t guarantee safety , and they ’ re no substitute for washing your hands , wearing a mask , and observing social distancing .
According to the National Academies of Sciences , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ probably ” kill the novel coronavirus based on the fact it can destroy other coronaviruses .
But , as CNET notes , there ’ s a lack of published peer-reviewed studies about the effect of UV light on the specific virus that causes COVID-19 .
Samsung says its dual UV lights take 10 minutes to sterilize your items from the top and bottom , after which they automatically turn off to avoid damaging your device .
However , even after the UV lights have turned off , the wireless charger will continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says the sterilizer ’ s internal compartment can fit any device up to 196 x 96 x 33 mm in size , so that will include most phones with a screen size of up to seven inches .
This isn ’ t the first time we ’ ve seen a company combine a wireless charger with a UV sterilizer .
Just last month , Mophie and Invisible Shield launched their own , similar products costing $ 80 and $ 60 respectively , TechCrunch reports .
If you ’ re not into the idea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , then SamMobile reports that Samsung also offers a free sanitizing service through its service centers and Experience Stores in select countries worldwide , which also rely on using UV light to clean your device .

Samsung has announced a new 10W wireless charger that tops up your phone’s battery while sterilizing the device using UV-C light. The company says the ultraviolet light can kill 99 percent of bacteria and germs, though marketing materials don’t mention whether it destroys the novel coronavirus responsible for the current global pandemic.
News of the charger first emerged last week from Samsung Thailand, but now the company has announced the product globally. Right now, we’ve seen pages for the product in Samsung’s German, Romanian, Singaporean, and Hong Kong stores. In Germany, it’s being sold for €58.38 (around $65).
The announcement comes at a time when people are particularly worried about the spread of COVID-19, and products that claim to clean your phone and stop the virus are on the rise. But, from a scientific perspective, these products can’t guarantee safety, and they’re no substitute for washing your hands, wearing a mask, and observing social distancing.
According to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, UV light can “probably” kill the novel coronavirus based on the fact it can destroy other coronaviruses. But, as CNET notes, there’s a lack of published peer-reviewed studies about the effect of UV light on the specific virus that causes COVID-19.
Samsung says the charger can fit phones with displays up to a 7-inches in size. Image: Samsung
Samsung says its dual UV lights take 10 minutes to sterilize your items from the top and bottom, after which they automatically turn off to avoid damaging your device. However, even after the UV lights have turned off, the wireless charger will continue to supply 10W of power. Samsung says the sterilizer’s internal compartment can fit any device up to 196 x 96 x 33 mm in size, so that will include most phones with a screen size of up to seven inches.
This isn’t the first time we’ve seen a company combine a wireless charger with a UV sterilizer. Just last month, Mophie and Invisible Shield launched their own, similar products costing $80 and $60 respectively, TechCrunch reports.


theverge--2020-07-07--Sega’s Astro City Mini is a tiny arcade cabinet

We may soon be reaching Peak Mini Retro Console .
After the excellent Genesis/Mega Drive Mini and the baffling Game Gear Micro , Sega has unveiled an even more improbable product : meet the Astro City Mini .
For those unfamiliar with the original Astro City , it wasn ’ t a platform per se but a specific sit-down arcade cabinet that operators could buy and install one of a huge variety of game boards inside .
Sega developed a whole range of “ City ” cabinets , with 1993 ’ s Astro City proving to be by far the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re still a very common sight in Japanese arcades .
As such , the Astro City Mini comes preloaded with a bunch of Sega arcade games .
There ’ ll be 36 in total , and here are the confirmed titles so far , via Game Watch : The Astro City Mini looks like a shrunken-down arcade cabinet , similar to the Neo Geo Mini .
Unlike that system , though , Sega says that the stick uses proper microswitches , so it should be a lot more satisfying to use .
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as well as two USB-A ports , a Micro USB port , and a headphone jack .
Unfortunately , there ’ s no word on whether it ’ ll have a built-in battery .
The Astro City Mini is set for a release in Japan around the end of the year , and it ’ ll cost 12,800 yen ( about $ 120 . )

We may soon be reaching Peak Mini Retro Console. After the excellent Genesis/Mega Drive Mini and the baffling Game Gear Micro, Sega has unveiled an even more improbable product: meet the Astro City Mini.
For those unfamiliar with the original Astro City, it wasn’t a platform per se but a specific sit-down arcade cabinet that operators could buy and install one of a huge variety of game boards inside. Sega developed a whole range of “City” cabinets, with 1993’s Astro City proving to be by far the most ubiquitous and iconic. They’re still a very common sight in Japanese arcades.
As such, the Astro City Mini comes preloaded with a bunch of Sega arcade games. There’ll be 36 in total, and here are the confirmed titles so far, via Game Watch:
Alien Syndrome
Alien Storm
Golden Axe
Golden Axe: The Revenge of Death Adder
Columns II
Dark Edge
Puzzle & Action: Tant-R
Virtua Fighter
Fantasy Zone
Altered Beast
The Astro City Mini looks like a shrunken-down arcade cabinet, similar to the Neo Geo Mini. Unlike that system, though, Sega says that the stick uses proper microswitches, so it should be a lot more satisfying to use. There’s an HDMI-out on the back as well as two USB-A ports, a Micro USB port, and a headphone jack. Unfortunately, there’s no word on whether it’ll have a built-in battery.


theverge--2020-07-07--Poco M2 Pro announced with big fast-charging battery for under $200

Newly independent Xiaomi spin-off Poco has announced its latest smartphone , further broadening the brand beyond the Poco F1 ’ s initial pitch of high specs for low prices .
Like the X2 , the M2 Pro is more of a mid-range affair : it ’ s basically a tweaked version of Xiaomi ’ s global Redmi Note 9 Pro that ’ s aimed at the Indian market .
No-one will mistake the M2 Pro ’ s spec sheet for that of a flagship , but it could be a compelling option for customers who prioritize battery life .
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 33W fast charger included in the box ; Poco says it should provide a 50-percent charge in 30 minutes .
Combined with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G processor , I ’ d expect this phone to last a pretty long time .
The M2 Pro has a 6.67-inch 1080p LCD with a 16-megapixel hole-punch selfie camera .
There ’ s a fingerprint sensor integrated into the power button .
The camera setup includes four sensors : 48-megapixel primary , 8-megapixel ultrawide , 5-megapixel macro , and 2-megapixel depth .
The phone is available in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ options , and there are models available with 4GB or 6GB of RAM and 64GB or 128GB of storage .
There ’ s also a microSD card slot .
The Poco M2 Pro will cost Rs .
13,999 ( ~ $ 185 ) for a model with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage .
Rs .
14,999 ( $ 200 ) for 6GB/64GB , and Rs .
16,999 ( $ 225 ) for 6GB/128GB .
It ’ ll be available in India exclusively on Flipkart on July 14th .

Newly independent Xiaomi spin-off Poco has announced its latest smartphone, further broadening the brand beyond the Poco F1’s initial pitch of high specs for low prices. Like the X2, the M2 Pro is more of a mid-range affair: it’s basically a tweaked version of Xiaomi’s global Redmi Note 9 Pro that’s aimed at the Indian market.
No-one will mistake the M2 Pro’s spec sheet for that of a flagship, but it could be a compelling option for customers who prioritize battery life. There’s a 5,000mAh battery with a 33W fast charger included in the box; Poco says it should provide a 50-percent charge in 30 minutes. Combined with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G processor, I’d expect this phone to last a pretty long time.
The M2 Pro has a 6.67-inch 1080p LCD with a 16-megapixel hole-punch selfie camera. There’s a fingerprint sensor integrated into the power button. The camera setup includes four sensors: 48-megapixel primary, 8-megapixel ultrawide, 5-megapixel macro, and 2-megapixel depth.
The phone is available in green, black, and blue color options, and there are models available with 4GB or 6GB of RAM and 64GB or 128GB of storage. There’s also a microSD card slot.


theverge--2020-07-07--TikTok pulls out of Hong Kong due to new security law

TikTok says it will stop offering its social video app in Hong Kong after the region adopted a new national security law granting expanded powers to the mainland Chinese government .
“ In light of recent events , we ’ ve decided to stop operations of the TikTok app in Hong Kong , ” a spokesperson tells Axios .
Global tech companies operating in Hong Kong have expressed concern that the new law could force them to comply with China ’ s draconian censorship standards and possibly send user data to the mainland .
Google , Facebook , and Twitter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ data from the Hong Kong government .
TikTok is owned by ByteDance , a major Chinese internet company .
But it has been at pains to differentiate the Western app from its parent and Douyin , the Chinese version of the platform .
While TikTok has long argued that it never shares data with the Chinese government , the new Hong Kong law would likely have undermined the company ’ s case if it continued to operate in the region .
TikTok continues to face scrutiny in the US and beyond .
Tonight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fox that the government is “ certainly looking at ” banning TikTok and various other Chinese social media apps .
TikTok was also banned in India last week alongside dozens of other Chinese apps amid increased tensions between the countries .

TikTok says it will stop offering its social video app in Hong Kong after the region adopted a new national security law granting expanded powers to the mainland Chinese government. “In light of recent events, we’ve decided to stop operations of the TikTok app in Hong Kong,” a spokesperson tells Axios.
Global tech companies operating in Hong Kong have expressed concern that the new law could force them to comply with China’s draconian censorship standards and possibly send user data to the mainland. Google, Facebook, and Twitter have already stopped processing requests for user data from the Hong Kong government.
TikTok is owned by ByteDance, a major Chinese internet company. But it has been at pains to differentiate the Western app from its parent and Douyin, the Chinese version of the platform. While TikTok has long argued that it never shares data with the Chinese government, the new Hong Kong law would likely have undermined the company’s case if it continued to operate in the region.


theverge--2020-07-07--Donkey Kong Country heads July’s Nintendo Switch Online games

Nintendo ’ s latest addition to the library of retro games that comes with its Switch Online subscription service includes @ @ @ @ @ Kong Country .
Rare ’ s 1994 side-scrolling platformer was one of the more conspicuous @ @ @ @ @ and its addition presumably opens the door for its two sequels down the line .
@ @ @ @ @ this month are a little more obscure .
1994 ’ s Natsume Championship Wrestling is @ @ @ @ @ SNES wrestling game with its Japanese licensing removed , while The Immortal is a 1990 @ @ @ @ @ action RPG originally developed for the Apple IIGS and published by EA .
All three @ @ @ @ @ the service on July 15th .
Nintendo Switch Online costs $ 19.99 a year and @ @ @ @ @ in games like Super Smash Bros .
Ultimate and Animal Crossing : New Horizons .

Nintendo’s latest addition to the library of retro games that comes with its Switch Online subscription service includes a big hitter: Donkey Kong Country. Rare’s 1994 side-scrolling platformer was one of the more conspicuous absences from the service, and its addition presumably opens the door for its two sequels down the line.
The other two games coming this month are a little more obscure. 1994’s Natsume Championship Wrestling is a US conversion of a SNES wrestling game with its Japanese licensing removed, while The Immortal is a 1990 NES conversion of a fantasy action RPG originally developed for the Apple IIGS and published by EA.


theverge--2020-07-07--iOS 14 might let you scan QR codes to use Apple Pay

Apple ’ s upcoming iOS 14 update might let you pay for items by scanning QR codes that activate Apple Pay , giving you another way to use the company ’ s digital payment platform .
9to5Mac found references to the as-yet unannounced feature in the newest iOS 14 developer beta released earlier today .
9to5Mac said it wasn ’ t able to get the feature to work , though , but it did find an image that appears to be instructing the user about how to use the new feature .
And 9to5Mac says it found the code for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which may indicate third-party apps could also let you scan QR codes to make purchases using Apple Pay .
iOS 14 is still only available as a developer beta , and Apple regularly tweaks and changes features in its upcoming software right up until it ’ s released to the public .
That means this feature , which hasn ’ t been announced and which we currently only know about because 9to5Mac went digging through iOS 14 code , may not actually see the light of day with the final release later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ learn more about what ’ s officially planned for iOS 14 , check out my colleague Dieter Bohn ’ s impressions of the first beta version of the new update .

Apple’s upcoming iOS 14 update might let you pay for items by scanning QR codes that activate Apple Pay, giving you another way to use the company’s digital payment platform. 9to5Mac found references to the as-yet unannounced feature in the newest iOS 14 developer beta released earlier today.
9to5Mac said it wasn’t able to get the feature to work, though, but it did find an image that appears to be instructing the user about how to use the new feature. And 9to5Mac says it found the code for the feature in a public system API, which may indicate third-party apps could also let you scan QR codes to make purchases using Apple Pay.
Image: 9to5Mac
iOS 14 is still only available as a developer beta, and Apple regularly tweaks and changes features in its upcoming software right up until it’s released to the public. That means this feature, which hasn’t been announced and which we currently only know about because 9to5Mac went digging through iOS 14 code, may not actually see the light of day with the final release later this year.


theverge--2020-07-07--Samsung’s Galaxy Note 20 event confirmed for August 5th

Samsung has announced that its next Galaxy Unpacked event will take place on Wednesday , August 5th , at 10AM ET .
The company is expected to reveal its new lineup of Galaxy Note 20 devices , along with a successor to its first foldable , the Galaxy Fold .
Samsung ’ s teaser is pretty cryptic , even by the standards of tech invitations , although the copper color splash does match the leaked images of the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra — the rumored flagship of the lineup — that were accidentally posted on Samsung ’ s Russian website @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are uncharacteristically quiet for what to expect , despite the fact that an announcement is set to arrive in less than a month .
Although at least one actual Note 20 Ultra device has made its way out into the world already .
The new flagship will supposedly feature a triple rear camera array , including a periscope-style lens , along with a 4th sensor that appears to be either a 3D ToF sensor or a laser autofocus .
Expect to see the usual bump in specs , too , with the inclusion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or possibly even the rumored Snapdragon 865 Plus — which , like the S20 lineup earlier this year , will make 5G the default for the new Notes in addition to a 120Hz refresh rate display option .
And of course , the Note 20 will feature an S-Pen , potentially with a new trick or two up its sleeve .
Samsung is also expected to have at least two Galaxy Note 20 models — a smaller Galaxy Note 20 , and the larger Note 20 Ultra , although details are slim on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from size . )
The follow-up to the Galaxy Fold — reportedly named the Galaxy Z Fold 2 , to join the branding of Samsung ’ s Galaxy Z Flip from earlier this year , per SamMobile — is rumored to feature a larger internal 7.7-inch display , possibly with a cut-out camera similar to Samsung ’ s other flagship phones .
Specs are also expected to get a boost , too , although there ’ s no specifics out there just yet .
Lastly , the event could see the announcement of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has already been revealed courtesy of China ’ s TENAA certification center .
That device will reportedly feature a Snapdragon 865 Plus processor and a slight drop in overall battery capacity compared to the earlier LTE version .

Samsung has announced that its next Galaxy Unpacked event will take place on Wednesday, August 5th, at 10AM ET. The company is expected to reveal its new lineup of Galaxy Note 20 devices, along with a successor to its first foldable, the Galaxy Fold.
Samsung’s teaser is pretty cryptic, even by the standards of tech invitations, although the copper color splash does match the leaked images of the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra — the rumored flagship of the lineup — that were accidentally posted on Samsung’s Russian website at the beginning of July.
Rumors are uncharacteristically quiet for what to expect, despite the fact that an announcement is set to arrive in less than a month. Although at least one actual Note 20 Ultra device has made its way out into the world already. The new flagship will supposedly feature a triple rear camera array, including a periscope-style lens, along with a 4th sensor that appears to be either a 3D ToF sensor or a laser autofocus.
Expect to see the usual bump in specs, too, with the inclusion of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 865 — or possibly even the rumored Snapdragon 865 Plus — which, like the S20 lineup earlier this year, will make 5G the default for the new Notes in addition to a 120Hz refresh rate display option. And of course, the Note 20 will feature an S-Pen, potentially with a new trick or two up its sleeve.
Samsung is also expected to have at least two Galaxy Note 20 models — a smaller Galaxy Note 20, and the larger Note 20 Ultra, although details are slim on what the differences will be (aside from size.)
The follow-up to the Galaxy Fold — reportedly named the Galaxy Z Fold 2, to join the branding of Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip from earlier this year, per SamMobile — is rumored to feature a larger internal 7.7-inch display, possibly with a cut-out camera similar to Samsung’s other flagship phones. Specs are also expected to get a boost, too, although there’s no specifics out there just yet.


theverge--2020-07-07--Audi reveals a sporty version of its upcoming electric Q4 SUV

Audi has unveiled concept renderings of a new “ Sportback ” version of the Q4 E-Tron electric SUV that it debuted last year .
Meant to serve as a smaller and more affordable option to the flagship E-Tron , the Q4s are expected to go on sale in 2021 and will start at around $ 45,000 .
The Q4 and the Q4 Sportback are “ identical twins ” from a technical perspective , according to Audi .
As such , the Sportback version will also be powered by parent company Volkswagen ’ s modular “ MEB ” platform ( an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ modular electric drive matrix ” ) that is going to power a wide range of vehicles across multiple brands .
This sets the Q4s apart from the original E-Tron and its variants , which are powered by an Audi-developed electric drivetrain .
Spec-wise , this means the Q4 Sportback will use a twin-motor setup that makes a total 225kW of power ( about 300 horsepower ) , with those motors pulling electricity from an 82kWh battery that lasts about 450 kilometers ( roughly 279 miles ) on a full charge .
The difference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Q4 Sportback .
Its roofline flows from front to back in a more uninterrupted manner .
There ’ s an aggressive rear spoiler and a more obvious racecar-inspired diffuser underneath the hatch door .
This will all make the Sportback slightly more aerodynamically efficient , though trade-offs will come in the form of lost headroom for rear seat passengers and slightly less cargo space overall .
Audi has now shown off seven electric vehicles that will be released by the end of next year .
And that is just one small section @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the overall Volkswagen Group , which is not even five years removed from when news of the Dieselgate scandal broke .
A vehicle like the Q4 Sportback illustrates just how complete Volkswagen ’ s push into the electric space will be .
In most ways , it ’ s hardly any different from the Q4 concept that Audi first teased last year , and that will likely still be true when both vehicles come to market .
Volkswagen not only intends to flood the market with its MEB-powered EVs , but the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also try to sell customers on smaller variations of those electric vehicles .

Audi has unveiled concept renderings of a new “Sportback” version of the Q4 E-Tron electric SUV that it debuted last year. Meant to serve as a smaller and more affordable option to the flagship E-Tron, the Q4s are expected to go on sale in 2021 and will start at around $45,000.
The Q4 and the Q4 Sportback are “identical twins” from a technical perspective, according to Audi. As such, the Sportback version will also be powered by parent company Volkswagen’s modular “MEB” platform (an abbreviation of the German phrase for “modular electric drive matrix”) that is going to power a wide range of vehicles across multiple brands. This sets the Q4s apart from the original E-Tron and its variants, which are powered by an Audi-developed electric drivetrain.
Spec-wise, this means the Q4 Sportback will use a twin-motor setup that makes a total 225kW of power (about 300 horsepower), with those motors pulling electricity from an 82kWh battery that lasts about 450 kilometers (roughly 279 miles) on a full charge.
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The difference really comes in the exterior styling of the Q4 Sportback. Its roofline flows from front to back in a more uninterrupted manner. There’s an aggressive rear spoiler and a more obvious racecar-inspired diffuser underneath the hatch door. This will all make the Sportback slightly more aerodynamically efficient, though trade-offs will come in the form of lost headroom for rear seat passengers and slightly less cargo space overall.


theverge--2020-07-07--Supreme Court says government debt collectors can’t robocall your cell anymore

The US Supreme Court has upheld a federal ban on robocalls to cellphones from 1991 , and it struck down a provision that exempted government-debt collectors .
“ Americans passionately disagree about many things , ” reads the majority opinion written by Justice Brett Kavanaugh .
“ But they are largely united in their disdain for robocalls.
” The ruling concerns the 1991 Telephone Consumer Protection Act ( TCPA ) , which prohibited “ almost all robocalls to phones.
” A 2015 amendment to the TCPA grants an exception to robocalls made solely to collect debt on behalf of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ united in their disdain for robocalls.
” The plaintiffs , a group of organizations that included the American Association of Political Consultants , argued that the ban violated the First Amendment by favoring debt collection speech over other forms of speech .
The court agreed — but instead of striking down the TCPA , it did away with the 2015 exemption .
That means the TCPA now applies to debt collection calls again .
“ The robocall restriction with the government-debt exemption is content-based , ” the opinion reads .
“ The government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exception is collecting government debt .
Although collecting government debt is no doubt a worthy goal , the Government concedes that it has not sufficiently justified the differentiation between government-debt collection speech and other important categories of robocall speech , such as political speech , charitable fundraising , issue advocacy , commercial advertising , and the like.
” So , in theory , government debt collectors aren ’ t allowed to send robocalls to your cellphone anymore .
In practice , that ’ s probably wishful thinking .
Despite the fact that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they ’ re certainly alive and well .
In 2019 , the Federal Communications Commission estimated that more than half of all calls placed that year would be robocalls .
Providers like Comcast , AT & T , and T-Mobile are in the process of rolling out promising call-verification technology , but the process has been slow , and it ’ s not clear yet when , or how well it will work .
Still , fingers crossed .

The US Supreme Court has upheld a federal ban on robocalls to cellphones from 1991, and it struck down a provision that exempted government-debt collectors.
“Americans passionately disagree about many things,” reads the majority opinion written by Justice Brett Kavanaugh. “But they are largely united in their disdain for robocalls.”
The ruling concerns the 1991 Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), which prohibited “almost all robocalls to phones.” A 2015 amendment to the TCPA grants an exception to robocalls made solely to collect debt on behalf of the US government.
“They are largely united in their disdain for robocalls.”
The plaintiffs, a group of organizations that included the American Association of Political Consultants, argued that the ban violated the First Amendment by favoring debt collection speech over other forms of speech. The court agreed — but instead of striking down the TCPA, it did away with the 2015 exemption. That means the TCPA now applies to debt collection calls again.
“The robocall restriction with the government-debt exemption is content-based,” the opinion reads. “The government’s stated justification for the government-debt exception is collecting government debt. Although collecting government debt is no doubt a worthy goal, the Government concedes that it has not sufficiently justified the differentiation between government-debt collection speech and other important categories of robocall speech, such as political speech, charitable fundraising, issue advocacy, commercial advertising, and the like.”
So, in theory, government debt collectors aren’t allowed to send robocalls to your cellphone anymore. In practice, that’s probably wishful thinking.