theverge--2020-08-21--Leaked Google Pixel 5 renders show dual rear camera and fingerprint sensor

Google launched the Pixel 4A in August but told us we ’ d have to wait to see the Pixel 5 and Pixel 4A 5G .
They ’ re due to arrive sometime this fall ( probably in early October ) , but new renders purportedly showing the Pixel 5 give us some idea what to expect .
The renders come from regular leaker @ OnLeaks and Indian tech site PriceBaba .
There are no real surprises here , with the images showing a fingerprint sensor on the rear ; square-shaped camera array containing what looks to be two cameras @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sensor ; and a holepunch front-facing camera in the top left of the display .
It ’ s hard to judge the render ’ s authenticity , but the sand-blasted texture on the case looks the same as the side-on peek of the Pixel 5 and Pixel 4A 5G Google shared earlier this year .
What ’ s a little surprising is that OnLeaks claims the Pixel 5 will have a screen size of between 5.7 and 5.8 inches .
That ’ s the same or perhaps smaller than the 5.8-inch screen on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ welcome a moderately-sized screen , but the Pixel 5 will look a bit undersized compared to devices like Samsung ’ s S20 flagship with its 6.2-inch display .
A few other specs about the Pixel 5 have been rumored , but there ’ s nothing definite yet .
The device might have a rather meagre 3,080mAh battery ( according to Android Headlines ) and some sources have suggested it ’ ll be powered by a Snapdragon 765G processor , which supports 5G but is a step down from the Snapdragon 855 used in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re looking for more purported renders of the 5G including a 360-degree video , you can head over to Pricebaba ’ s post .
Otherwise we ’ ll be on the lookout for more leaks between now and ( probably ) October .

Google launched the Pixel 4A in August but told us we’d have to wait to see the Pixel 5 and Pixel 4A 5G. They’re due to arrive sometime this fall (probably in early October), but new renders purportedly showing the Pixel 5 give us some idea what to expect.
The renders come from regular leaker @OnLeaks and Indian tech site PriceBaba. There are no real surprises here, with the images showing a fingerprint sensor on the rear; square-shaped camera array containing what looks to be two cameras, a flash, and an unknown sensor; and a hole-punch front-facing camera in the top left of the display.
It’s hard to judge the render’s authenticity, but the sand-blasted texture on the case looks the same as the side-on peek of the Pixel 5 and Pixel 4A 5G Google shared earlier this year.
Previous Next
1 / 4 Previous Next
1 / 4
There’s already some dispute about the Pixel 5’s screen, though. OnLeaks claims the Pixel 5 will have a screen size of between 5.7 and 5.8 inches, which would be the same, or perhaps smaller, than the 5.8-inch screen on the Pixel 4A. Meanwhile, Android Central says the Pixel 5 will be equipped with a 6-inch, 90Hz OLED panel, which makes a bit more sense — at 5.8 inches, the Pixel 5 will look a bit undersized compared to devices like Samsung’s S20 flagship with its 6.2-inch display.
A few other specs about the Pixel 5 have been rumored, but there’s nothing definite yet. Android Headlines suggested the device might have a rather meager 3,080mAh battery, while Android Central claims that rumor is “entirely false” and the battery will actually be larger than the Pixel 4.
At least the rumors seem to agree on one thing: it may be powered by a Snapdragon 765G processor, which supports 5G but is a step down from the Snapdragon 855 used in the Pixel 4. We’ve also heard 8GB of RAM a few times now, and Android Central claims you’ll also get 128GB of storage, 15W Qi wirelss charging, and 5W reverse wireless charging (for your Bluetooth earbuds, perhaps) as well.
An official peek of the Pixel 5 and Pixel 4A 5G from Google. Image: Google
If you’re looking for more purported renders of the 5G, including a 360-degree video, you can head over to Pricebaba’s post. Otherwise, we’ll be on the lookout for more leaks between now and (probably) October.


theverge--2020-08-21--What we listen to while working from home

If you ’ re used to working in an office full of coworkers , but are now forced to labor from home , you may be feeling that things are a little quiet — too quiet .
The solution might be to listen to whatever music , talk , or other background audio can keep your spirits up and your attention focused .
You may be listening to the same music or podcasts that you listened to through your headphones in the office .
Or you may have decided you need something completely different to get you through your work-at-home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Verge to find out what what they are listening to during working hours , be it a podcast , an album , a favorite musician , a music genre , whatever .
Here ’ s what they told us .
Read on — and who knows ?
You might be motivated to try a whole new audio experience .
When I write , I tend to adopt the mood and rhythm of whatever I ’ m listening to .
If I have written a particularly aggro piece , odds are I was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ / Apple Music / Amazon Music ) , Ride the Lightning ( Spotify / Apple Music / Amazon Music ) , or Cowboys from Hell ( Spotify / Apple Music / Amazon Music ) .
In fact , I tend to rely on metal if I have to bang something out as quickly as possible .
Complex pieces , particularly ones with involved edits , usually call for something like Philip Glass or Steve Reich : repetitive , rhythmic , deliberate , satisfying .
—Elizabeth Lopatto , Deputy editor In the morning , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on my local NPR station .
He ’ s my favorite political commentator ; he is laid back and non-confrontational , and open to opposing opinions while making his own very clear when necessary .
He deals with both local and national issues , but always makes them relevant to his NYC audience .
He ’ s a sane voice in an insane world , so I find him very comforting .
In the afternoon , I might choose from a whole range of musical genres , but my main thing is ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ musicals ( Spotify / Apple Music / Amazon Music ) .
My favorites are Sondheim , Bernstein , and Gilbert and Sullivan ( okay , they ’ re officially operetta , but let ’ s not nitpick ) , but I ’ ll also go for Irving Berlin , George Gershwin ( Porgy and Bess : musical , operetta , or opera ? )
, Kurt Weill , Rogers and Hart , and Lin-Manuel Miranda .
If I ’ m working on something that needs a lot of concentration , then I may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Spotify , but musicals cheer me up and keep me alert , which is something that is always helpful these days .
—Barbara Krasnoff , Reviews editor More often than not , I can ’ t concentrate on work if I ’ m listening to music that ’ s sung in English .
As an English speaker , I think in English , so it ’ s like having another person in my head .
There are exceptions , though , like if a singer really twists words around in an interesting way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Spotify / Apple Music / Amazon Music ) , Talk Talk ( Spotify / Apple Music / Amazon Music ) , and TV on the Radio ( Spotify / Apple Music / Amazon Music ) have recently been great to listen to .
Otherwise , to stay focused I ’ ve got to listen to either instrumental music , or music sung in a different language .
For instrumental , I usually rely heavily on Tortoise ( Spotify / Apple Music / Amazon Music ) , Jamie XX ( Spotify / Apple Music @ @ @ @ @ @ @ game soundtracks .
Cornelius ( Spotify / Apple Music / Amazon Music ) is great because it ’ s mostly instrumental , and what spoken word there is , I can ’ t understand since it ’ s Japanese .
To that end , I ’ ve also been sticking with Yura Yura Teikoku ’ s ( Spotify / Apple Music ) catalog , as well as mei ehara ( Spotify / Apple Music / Amazon Music ) and Lamp ( Spotify / Apple Music / Amazon Music ) .
Those last two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put on .
Arthur Verocai ’ s ( Spotify / Apple Music / Amazon Music ) self-titled record also keeps me productive ( although it ’ s far too fleeting of an album ) .
—Cameron Faulkner , Writer When I was young I used to listen to Terry Pratchett ’ s Discworld audiobooks every night as I went to sleep .
I had the books on tape along with a bulky silver CD/tape player that was the first “ adult ” piece of technology I owned .
If I close my eyes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fitting a tape in place and the feeling of lying in bed while the player whirred away in the darkness of my room like an animal .
Every now and again it used to go ker-klunk as the tape turned over in the tray ( the height of technological sophistication back then , I assure you ) .
I don ’ t listen to anything while working now .
In fact , I hate noise when writing and wear ear plugs most of the time .
But as lockdown began I started buying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ phone once more and now I ’ m addicted .
I listen to them when exercising and in the evening as a way to wind down and I listen in bed .
They ’ re comfort food , I know , and hardly challenging material .
But the stories hold up remarkably well and I find Pratchett ’ s cynical but affectionate take on human nature as grounding now as I did back then .
People can be bad , says Pratchett , but more often than not they ’ re scared or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ message , though I still miss the whirr of the tape .
—James Vincent , Senior reporter I haven ’ t been able to go home to California since the pandemic started , so I ’ ve got a West Coast playlist for whenever I need some sunshine to get me through the day .
There ’ s nothing like a summer in Los Angeles .
For some conscious underground hip hop , Bambu DePistola ( Spotify / Apple Music ) and Ruby Ibarra ( Spotify / Apple Music / Amazon Music ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a COVID vaccine ” — are go-to ’ s .
Klassy ’ s album Dirty Cortez ( Spotify / Amazon Music ) is a love letter to the OGs of LA ’ s Echo Park .
Another LA staple : Las Cafeteras ( Spotify / Apple Music / Amazon Music ) .
The ultimate old-school SoCal summer anthem : The Dove Shack ’ s Summertime in the LBC ( Spotify / Apple Music ) .
—.Justine Calma , Science reporter I usually can ’ t write and listen to music in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far too easily , and hearing any lyrics usually just jumbles my thoughts with what I ’ m trying to write .
But every once in a while , I use music to get into a zone , and I most often pull that off by listening to *pushes up glasses* video game soundtracks .
Recently , I ’ ve been gravitating toward compilations of music from Final Fantasy VII Remake .
I thought Square-Enix did a beautiful job with the soundtrack in that game .
Every once in a while , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ music from The Legend of Zelda : Majora ’ s Mask , picking whichever of the three variations best suits my mood that day .
( Day 1 and Day 2 are pretty calming , while Day 3 has a foreboding sense of urgency that sometimes gives me the kick in the pants I need to finish a big project . )
And sometimes I just search for “ [ game name ] music + extended ” on YouTube to get extra-long tracks of music from that game .
I had never consciously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while listening to game music , but it occurred to me while writing this blurb that most video game music is already designed to be something that loops ambiently in the background of a virtual world while I ’ m focused on another task .
Maybe that ’ s why I can sometimes deploy it for tasks in the real world , too .
—Jay Peters , news writer I so envy people who can listen to podcasts while working ; I need all my focus on one or the other , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Sometimes if I really need to hunker down ( like on deadline ) I ’ ll put on the noise-canceling headphones and listen to electronica , relying on Spotify for recommendations , but it has to be music with few or no lyrics .
Paul Kalkbrenner ( Spotify / Apple Music / Amazon Music ) has been heavy in the rotation recently .
But really the soundtrack I use most often when working remotely is keeping the TV on at a low volume on a news channel .
I think it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a newsroom environment that lets me get into work brain more easily .
—Kim Lyons , weekend editor I have the kind of brain that can ’ t function without music playing in the background .
But if I ’ m working , my brain needs something primarily without lyrics , whether that ’ s classical , jazz , soundscapes , or even the much fawned over ( but ultimately pretty boring ) “ lofi hip hop beats to relax/study to.
” I ’ m terrible at finding new musicians , and I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the keys to Spotify ’ s algorithm , so I subscribe to a couple of newsletters for my recommendations .
Two of the best are Flow State and Caesura Letter .
Flow State , which is run “ semi-anonymously by a guy based in New York named Marcus , ” sends you two hours worth of music every day that ’ s great for working .
Caesura Letter is by a friend of mine named Matt Pinto who also records music under the moniker Healthy Lives ( Spotify / Apple Music / @ @ @ @ @ @ @ internet crate-digging , whether it ’ s trance compilations from the early 90s or an ambient office noises soundboard for those who miss being around their coworkers .
( Like me . )
If I ’ m outside riding my bike or back home doing dishes , I throw on a podcast .
Lately I ’ ve been enjoying Binge Mode by the Ringer , The Prof G Show with Scott Galloway , and The War on Cars .
—Andrew J. Hawkins , senior reporter Most of the day I ’ m not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because I frequently have to jump on calls or watch in-progress video that our video team produces before we publish it .
But when I need to really focus and get some work done , my music of choice is the ambient , electronic soundscapes of Tycho ( Spotify / Apple Music / Amazon Music ) , an artist who may be familiar to some long-time Verge readers .
For the past decade it ’ s been my go-to music whenever I need to tune out the world and jam out a writing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this right now ) .
Tycho ’ s music has just the right amount of soothing sounds and driving beats to keep me focused on what I need to get done and not actually fall asleep .
I most prefer the 2011 album Dive , but oftentimes I just put Spotify ’ s This is Tycho playlist or the Tycho radio station on and let it play .
I just have to skip the newer tracks that have incorporated vocals — they are fine , but they don ’ t have the productivity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to this puzzle is a set of comfortable , good sounding , noise canceling headphones that I can use to envelope myself in the soundforms .
My current choice are Microsoft ’ s Surface Headphones 2 .
—Dan Seifert , Deputy editor I ’ ve found chill , ambient music essential to working from home .
I want something cool , but my brain is hardwired to key in on lyrics , so vocals are a problem .
My go-to for nearly 20 years has been Soma.fm , an internet radio station out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way back in 1999 .
Soma.fm has a bunch of different stations .
Groove Salad is my go-to , and Indie Pop Rocks is was the best way for me to find new music in the early 2000s .
But my favorite is probably Secret Agent , which is like a late 60 ’ s James Bond vibe ( minus the misogyny ) translated through chillwave .
Don ’ t worry if none of that makes sense , just know it is very cool and you should check it out .
You can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ try looking around for a dedicated internet music player if you want more convenient controls — I use Triode from iconfactory .
The nice thing about using internet radio for radio is that your plug-in-and-focus music is kept siloed from your Spotify algorithm .
—Dieter Bohn , executive editor As the oldest of five children , growing up it was always noisy .
There was always conversation , oftentimes loud — sometimes fights — even when it was time to study for a test , or focus on schoolwork .
Hence , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ noise in order to focus .
Nothing is as distracting as a quiet office to me , even more disquieting is a quiet home .
My solution : morning television .
When I work , I have GMA , or The Today Show in the background .
I have my coffee with the ladies of The View , and if I have a particularly tough day of work ahead , Wendy Williams becomes my office mate .
The combination of heartwarming stories and bickering puts me right in the zone , and it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the background and feel like you ’ re with people .
The afternoons get a little harder for me right until the problematic Dr. Oz or Ellen come on… too bad that the Harry Connick Jr. talk show didn ’ t work out .
—Esther Cohen , Social media manager Podcasts , classical music , video game music , trance , white noise : I ’ ve tried it all , and none of it seems to matter one bit .
Personally , I go into a state of hyperfocus during most of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t wind up “ hearing ” any of it — unless it ’ s so interesting or such a devastating earworm that I wind up hyperfocused on that instead .
For me , it ’ s more about avoiding Baby Shark than proactively finding something to listen to .
On the plus side , it means I don ’ t have to wear headphones at work !
—Sean Hollister , Senior news editor

Part of / The Verge Guide to Working from Home 2021
If you’re used to working in an office full of coworkers, but are now forced to labor from home, you may be feeling that things are a little quiet — too quiet. The solution might be to listen to whatever music, talk, or other background audio can keep your spirits up and your attention focused.
You may be listening to the same music or podcasts that you listened to through your headphones in the office. Or you may have decided you need something completely different to get you through your work-at-home days.
We polled the staff of The Verge to find out what what they are listening to during working hours, be it a podcast, an album, a favorite musician, a music genre, whatever. Here’s what they told us. Read on — and who knows? You might be motivated to try a whole new audio experience.
Write to a mood
When I write, I tend to adopt the mood and rhythm of whatever I’m listening to. If I have written a particularly aggro piece, odds are I was listening to Appetite for Destruction (Spotify / Apple Music / Amazon Music), Ride the Lightning (Spotify / Apple Music / Amazon Music), or Cowboys from Hell (Spotify / Apple Music / Amazon Music). In fact, I tend to rely on metal if I have to bang something out as quickly as possible. Complex pieces, particularly ones with involved edits, usually call for something like Philip Glass or Steve Reich: repetitive, rhythmic, deliberate, satisfying. —Elizabeth Lopatto, Deputy editor
Brian Lehrer, Stephen Sondheim, and Lin-Manuel Miranda
Hamilton Photo: Disney Plus
In the morning, I listen to the Brian Lehrer Show on my local NPR station. He’s my favorite political commentator; he is laid back and non-confrontational, and open to opposing opinions while making his own very clear when necessary. He deals with both local and national issues, but always makes them relevant to his NYC audience. He’s a sane voice in an insane world, so I find him very comforting.
In the afternoon, I might choose from a whole range of musical genres, but my main thing is (yes, I admit it) Broadway musicals (Spotify / Apple Music / Amazon Music). My favorites are Sondheim, Bernstein, and Gilbert and Sullivan (okay, they’re officially operetta, but let’s not nitpick), but I’ll also go for Irving Berlin, George Gershwin (Porgy and Bess: musical, operetta, or opera?), Kurt Weill, Rogers and Hart, and Lin-Manuel Miranda. If I’m working on something that needs a lot of concentration, then I may segue to a classical music station on Spotify, but musicals cheer me up and keep me alert, which is something that is always helpful these days. —Barbara Krasnoff, Reviews editor
Stay away from English
More often than not, I can’t concentrate on work if I’m listening to music that’s sung in English. As an English speaker, I think in English, so it’s like having another person in my head. There are exceptions, though, like if a singer really twists words around in an interesting way. So bands like Dirty Projectors (Spotify / Apple Music / Amazon Music), Talk Talk (Spotify / Apple Music / Amazon Music), and TV on the Radio (Spotify / Apple Music / Amazon Music) have recently been great to listen to.
Come to Discworld
A collage of Discworld book covers. Image: Penguin Random House
When I was young I used to listen to Terry Pratchett’s Discworld audiobooks every night as I went to sleep. I had the books on tape along with a bulky silver CD/tape player that was the first “adult” piece of technology I owned. If I close my eyes I can still remember the click-clack of fitting a tape in place and the feeling of lying in bed while the player whirred away in the darkness of my room like an animal. Every now and again it used to go ker-klunk as the tape turned over in the tray (the height of technological sophistication back then, I assure you).
I don’t listen to anything while working now. In fact, I hate noise when writing and wear ear plugs most of the time. But as lockdown began I started buying Discworld audiobooks (Amazon) on my phone once more and now I’m addicted. I listen to them when exercising and in the evening as a way to wind down and I listen in bed. They’re comfort food, I know, and hardly challenging material. But the stories hold up remarkably well and I find Pratchett’s cynical but affectionate take on human nature as grounding now as I did back then. People can be bad, says Pratchett, but more often than not they’re scared or confused. It’s a good message, though I still miss the whirr of the tape. —James Vincent, Senior reporter
Underground hip hop
Video Game Soundtracks
Final Fantasy VII Remake Image: Square Enix Co., LTD
I usually can’t write and listen to music in the background. I find I get distracted far too easily, and hearing any lyrics usually just jumbles my thoughts with what I’m trying to write. But every once in a while, I use music to get into a zone, and I most often pull that off by listening to *pushes up glasses* video game soundtracks.
Recently, I’ve been gravitating toward compilations of music from Final Fantasy VII Remake. I thought Square-Enix did a beautiful job with the soundtrack in that game. Every once in a while, I’ll turn on the Clock Town music from The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask, picking whichever of the three variations best suits my mood that day. (Day 1 and Day 2 are pretty calming, while Day 3 has a foreboding sense of urgency that sometimes gives me the kick in the pants I need to finish a big project.) And sometimes I just search for “[game name] music + extended” on YouTube to get extra-long tracks of music from that game.
I had never consciously thought about why I can sometimes work while listening to game music, but it occurred to me while writing this blurb that most video game music is already designed to be something that loops ambiently in the background of a virtual world while I’m focused on another task. Maybe that’s why I can sometimes deploy it for tasks in the real world, too. —Jay Peters, news writer
Electronica and TV
I so envy people who can listen to podcasts while working; I need all my focus on one or the other, and listening to someone talk is too distracting. Sometimes if I really need to hunker down (like on deadline) I’ll put on the noise-canceling headphones and listen to electronica, relying on Spotify for recommendations, but it has to be music with few or no lyrics. Paul Kalkbrenner (Spotify / Apple Music / Amazon Music) has been heavy in the rotation recently. But really the soundtrack I use most often when working remotely is keeping the TV on at a low volume on a news channel. I think it’s because that level of noise simulates a newsroom environment that lets me get into work brain more easily. —Kim Lyons, weekend editor
Recommendations from newsletters
The Prof G Show with Scott Galloway Photo: Westwood One
I have the kind of brain that can’t function without music playing in the background. But if I’m working, my brain needs something primarily without lyrics, whether that’s classical, jazz, soundscapes, or even the much fawned over (but ultimately pretty boring) “lofi hip hop beats to relax/study to.” I’m terrible at finding new musicians, and I don’t want to fully hand over the keys to Spotify’s algorithm, so I subscribe to a couple of newsletters for my recommendations.
If I’m outside riding my bike or back home doing dishes, I throw on a podcast. Lately I’ve been enjoying Binge Mode by the Ringer, The Prof G Show with Scott Galloway, and The War on Cars. —Andrew J. Hawkins, senior reporter
Choosing Tycho
Most of the day I’m not listening to any music or audio, because I frequently have to jump on calls or watch in-progress video that our video team produces before we publish it. But when I need to really focus and get some work done, my music of choice is the ambient, electronic soundscapes of Tycho (Spotify / Apple Music / Amazon Music), an artist who may be familiar to some long-time Verge readers.
For the past decade it’s been my go-to music whenever I need to tune out the world and jam out a writing assignment (like I am doing with this right now). Tycho’s music has just the right amount of soothing sounds and driving beats to keep me focused on what I need to get done and not actually fall asleep.
I most prefer the 2011 album Dive, but oftentimes I just put Spotify’s This is Tycho playlist or the Tycho radio station on and let it play. I just have to skip the newer tracks that have incorporated vocals — they are fine, but they don’t have the productivity juice I crave.
The final piece to this puzzle is a set of comfortable, good sounding, noise canceling headphones that I can use to envelope myself in the soundforms. My current choice are Microsoft’s Surface Headphones 2. —Dan Seifert, Deputy editor
Internet radio
Soma.fm
I’ve found chill, ambient music essential to working from home. I want something cool, but my brain is hardwired to key in on lyrics, so vocals are a problem. My go-to for nearly 20 years has been Soma.fm, an internet radio station out of San Francisco that got its start way back in 1999. Soma.fm has a bunch of different stations. Groove Salad is my go-to, and Indie Pop Rocks is was the best way for me to find new music in the early 2000s.
But my favorite is probably Secret Agent, which is like a late 60’s James Bond vibe (minus the misogyny) translated through chillwave. Don’t worry if none of that makes sense, just know it is very cool and you should check it out.
You can listen in a web browser, but try looking around for a dedicated internet music player if you want more convenient controls — I use Triode from iconfactory. The nice thing about using internet radio for radio is that your plug-in-and-focus music is kept siloed from your Spotify algorithm. —Dieter Bohn, executive editor
Needing the noise
The View Photo: Walt Disney Television
As the oldest of five children, growing up it was always noisy. There was always conversation, oftentimes loud — sometimes fights — even when it was time to study for a test, or focus on schoolwork. Hence, I have developed this need for constant background noise in order to focus. Nothing is as distracting as a quiet office to me, even more disquieting is a quiet home. My solution: morning television. When I work, I have GMA, or The Today Show in the background. I have my coffee with the ladies of The View, and if I have a particularly tough day of work ahead, Wendy Williams becomes my office mate. The combination of heartwarming stories and bickering puts me right in the zone, and it’s comforting to have chatter in the background and feel like you’re with people. The afternoons get a little harder for me right until the problematic Dr. Oz or Ellen come on… too bad that the Harry Connick Jr. talk show didn’t work out. —Esther Cohen, Social media manager
Avoiding earworms — and Baby Shark
Podcasts, classical music, video game music, trance, white noise: I’ve tried it all, and none of it seems to matter one bit. Personally, I go into a state of hyperfocus during most of my work day, and I don’t wind up “hearing” any of it — unless it’s so interesting or such a devastating earworm that I wind up hyperfocused on that instead. For me, it’s more about avoiding Baby Shark than proactively finding something to listen to.


theverge--2020-08-21--Minecraft Education is perfectly suited for this surreal back-to-school moment

When the pandemic hit this spring , a lot of teachers turned to Minecraft during their mad scramble for tools that could make remote learning work .
Earlier this year , Microsoft added an “ education ” section to the Minecraft marketplace , and since March , 63 million pieces of content have been downloaded .
While Minecraft : Education Edition isn ’ t new , its digital nature makes it an almost ideal tool for this strange time .
It allows for multiplayer activities , is available on a large range of devices , and — perhaps most importantly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We already had a lot of the features in the game , so we were well-suited from the beginning , ” says Deirdre Quarnstrom , GM of the Minecraft Atlas division , which focuses on broader initiatives like education .
The educational offshoot of Minecraft officially launched in 2016 , though the game was used in schools for years prior to that , thanks to grassroots efforts from various teachers dating back nearly a decade .
( Quarnstrom says that this was part of the appeal when Microsoft acquired Minecraft studio @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saw the potential to make that something much , much bigger.
” ) With Education Edition , Microsoft created a more formal structure , with pre-made lessons covering everything from chemistry and coding to giving students the opportunity to explore the International Space Station .
You can even play that old classroom staple The Oregon Trail .
There are plenty of games designed explicitly for education , as well as popular games adapted for the classroom .
But part of what has made Minecraft so successful is its combination of ubiquitous popularity and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a game where you can do everything from build a library that houses censored journalism to attend a virtual rock concert .
Minecraft is also different from other educational games , which are often rigid and , well , boring .
It ’ s actually entertaining .
That ’ s true whether you ’ re messing around with friends in survival mode or doing coding lessons in class .
” We started with this premise that Minecraft is a game used in education , and not an educational game , ” says Quarnstrom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was really important .
We ’ ve seen educational games that are just not fun , not engaging , that come and go .
We wanted to make sure we protected what made Minecraft so immersive and so engaging in the learning environment .
As we ’ ve introduced new features , that ’ s really helped guide our decisions.
” ” We started with this premise that ‘ Minecraft ’ is a game used in education , and not an educational game.
” All of this combined for a perfect storm as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ learning this year .
Minecraft was something many kids already understood , it allowed for real-time interaction between students and teachers , and Microsoft had spent years prior building a fairly robust library of lesson plans covering science , writing , history , math , computer science , and art .
The educational version of Minecraft is functionally identical to the base game ; it looks and controls the same , and you can still play in groups and build things .
But whereas Minecraft is typically about freeform creation or survival , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In one lesson , students are asked to explore a beehive , where they learn about bee castes by helping out worker bees and feeding larvae .
In another , they ’ re given time to explore a shipwreck at the bottom of the ocean , and then asked to write a story about how the ship ended up there .
There are also build challenges where teams have to work together to recreate things like a Mars rover , coral reef , or a human eye .
In most cases , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kids will read or watch videos on a particular subject as a primer , spend some time in the Minecraft lesson ( either individually or in groups ) , and then follow that up with a discussion or written assignment .
Despite the influx of new users , Quarnstrom says that Microsoft didn ’ t make many changes to the game itself .
Instead , the company put more focus on the way it interacts with the community .
“ The shift we made was in how we were packaging things , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” says Quarnstrom .
That meant putting together new remote learning kits for teachers , as well as additional resources for parents to help kids get set-up while at home .
The game ’ s website also gives interested educators the ability to connect with each other to share ideas and tips .
“ There are a lot of questions and a lot of uncertainty.
” Some of these initiatives were already in the works but fast-tracked due to the pandemic .
Perhaps the most significant is the recent announcement that Minecraft : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ game is already available on PC , Mac , and iPad , but Chromebooks are widely used in schools and , crucially , are relatively inexpensive .
The shift to remote learning has also raised concerns about equity , as not every student has access to the same tools or parental guidance while at home .
Minecraft still isn ’ t perfect in this regard — you still need a laptop or tablet , and a decent internet connection — but it ’ s getting better .
“ Broadening which devices we ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of those equity concerns , ” says Quarnstrom .
Minecraft is used differently depending on the age of the students involved .
There are arts lesson plans for kids as young as six , while high school level courses are generally focused on the STEM subjects .
Meanwhile , college students seem to be more focused on the social aspect of Minecraft , using the base game to re-create their campuses .
But either way it offers something unique .
As educators struggle with keeping students engaged while learning remotely , here ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they already are .
“ There are a lot of questions and a lot of uncertainty , ” Quarnstrom says .
“ My hope is that a tool like Minecraft that is adaptable will help provide some stability .
”

When the pandemic hit this spring, a lot of teachers turned to Minecraft during their mad scramble for tools that could make remote learning work. Earlier this year, Microsoft added an “education” section to the Minecraft marketplace, and since March, 63 million pieces of content have been downloaded.
While Minecraft: Education Edition isn’t new, its digital nature makes it an almost ideal tool for this strange time. It allows for multiplayer activities, is available on a large range of devices, and — perhaps most importantly — is something kids already enjoy doing. “We already had a lot of the features in the game, so we were well-suited from the beginning,” says Deirdre Quarnstrom, GM of the Minecraft Atlas division, which focuses on broader initiatives like education.
The educational offshoot of Minecraft officially launched in 2016, though the game was used in schools for years prior to that, thanks to grassroots efforts from various teachers dating back nearly a decade. (Quarnstrom says that this was part of the appeal when Microsoft acquired Minecraft studio Mojang in 2014. “We really saw the potential to make that something much, much bigger.”) With Education Edition, Microsoft created a more formal structure, with pre-made lessons covering everything from chemistry and coding to giving students the opportunity to explore the International Space Station. You can even play that old classroom staple The Oregon Trail.
There are plenty of games designed explicitly for education, as well as popular games adapted for the classroom. But part of what has made Minecraft so successful is its combination of ubiquitous popularity and a flexible nature. It’s a game where you can do everything from build a library that houses censored journalism to attend a virtual rock concert.
Minecraft is also different from other educational games, which are often rigid and, well, boring. It’s actually entertaining. That’s true whether you’re messing around with friends in survival mode or doing coding lessons in class. ”We started with this premise that Minecraft is a game used in education, and not an educational game,” says Quarnstrom. “And that was something that was really important. We’ve seen educational games that are just not fun, not engaging, that come and go. We wanted to make sure we protected what made Minecraft so immersive and so engaging in the learning environment. As we’ve introduced new features, that’s really helped guide our decisions.”
”We started with this premise that ‘Minecraft’ is a game used in education, and not an educational game.”
All of this combined for a perfect storm as schools were forced to shift to remote learning this year. Minecraft was something many kids already understood, it allowed for real-time interaction between students and teachers, and Microsoft had spent years prior building a fairly robust library of lesson plans covering science, writing, history, math, computer science, and art. The educational version of Minecraft is functionally identical to the base game; it looks and controls the same, and you can still play in groups and build things. But whereas Minecraft is typically about freeform creation or survival, the educational version is slightly more directed.
In one lesson, students are asked to explore a beehive, where they learn about bee castes by helping out worker bees and feeding larvae. In another, they’re given time to explore a shipwreck at the bottom of the ocean, and then asked to write a story about how the ship ended up there. There are also build challenges where teams have to work together to recreate things like a Mars rover, coral reef, or a human eye. In most cases, there are before and after elements: kids will read or watch videos on a particular subject as a primer, spend some time in the Minecraft lesson (either individually or in groups), and then follow that up with a discussion or written assignment.
Despite the influx of new users, Quarnstrom says that Microsoft didn’t make many changes to the game itself. Instead, the company put more focus on the way it interacts with the community. “The shift we made was in how we were packaging things, and onboarding educators and communicating to them,” says Quarnstrom. That meant putting together new remote learning kits for teachers, as well as additional resources for parents to help kids get set-up while at home. The game’s website also gives interested educators the ability to connect with each other to share ideas and tips.
“There are a lot of questions and a lot of uncertainty.”
Some of these initiatives were already in the works but fast-tracked due to the pandemic. Perhaps the most significant is the recent announcement that Minecraft: Education Edition now supports Chromebooks. The game is already available on PC, Mac, and iPad, but Chromebooks are widely used in schools and, crucially, are relatively inexpensive. The shift to remote learning has also raised concerns about equity, as not every student has access to the same tools or parental guidance while at home. Minecraft still isn’t perfect in this regard — you still need a laptop or tablet, and a decent internet connection — but it’s getting better. “Broadening which devices we’re available on will help address some of those equity concerns,” says Quarnstrom.
Minecraft is used differently depending on the age of the students involved. There are arts lesson plans for kids as young as six, while high school level courses are generally focused on the STEM subjects. Meanwhile, college students seem to be more focused on the social aspect of Minecraft, using the base game to re-create their campuses. But either way it offers something unique. As educators struggle with keeping students engaged while learning remotely, here’s a chance to meet kids where they already are.


theverge--2020-08-21--Brydge’s latest keyboards turn a Surface Pro or Go into a standard laptop

Brydge , the maker of keyboard accessories for iPads and other tablets , has a line of new accessories for Windows 10 devices that includes two new keyboards for the Surface Pro and Surface Go : the $ 149.99 Brydge 12.3 Pro Plus and $ 139.99 Brydge 10.5 Go Plus .
Both keyboards are designed to do the same thing : turn your Surface device into a traditional clamshell laptop .
And after testing both models for a couple of weeks with a Surface Pro 5 and a Surface Go 2 , I can confirm they do exactly that .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Brydge has for Apple ’ s iPad : they connect to your device via Bluetooth and have hinge clamps the tablet slides into .
The hinges are stiff , so the tablet doesn ’ t move when you touch it or are using it on an unstable platform such as your lap , and they allow you to close it all up just like you would a standard laptop and throw it in your bag .
When you want to use your device as a tablet , just pull it out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Brydge has had a keyboard for the Surface Pro for some time now — this new model has a redesigned hinge , 70 percent larger trackpad , native multi-touch control in Windows , updated Bluetooth connectivity , and a plastic deck as opposed to aluminum .
( The bottom of the keyboard is still metal . )
It also weighs 70 grams less .
The 10.5 Go Plus is the first model from Brydge for the Surface Go .
Compared to Microsoft ’ s own Surface Type Cover , the Brydge models @ @ @ @ @ @ @ laptop and provide a much more stable platform to work on .
Both are made of metal bases with textured plastic decks and thick rubber feet on the bottom .
They have a smaller footprint than Microsoft ’ s keyboards since they don ’ t rely on the Surface ’ s kickstand to prop up the tablet .
That ’ s helpful when you ’ re in tight quarters , such as when using an airplane tray table .
They also avoid the “ thunk thunk ” echoing sound that you get with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re typing quickly , due to its elevated design .
Both keyboards are backlit and have full layouts , including function keys for media control , display brightness , and keyboard backlight .
The keys have good feedback and travel — I ’ d rate them on the better side of most laptop keyboards I ’ ve used — and while the backlight does spill out from around the keys a bit , they are otherwise evenly lit .
The 12.3 Pro Plus has comparably sized keys to the Surface Pro keyboard , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are slightly smaller than Microsoft ’ s version .
But either one is comfortable to type on after a brief period of getting used to its size .
Additionally , both keyboards have Windows Precision trackpads , with support for all of the usual multitasking gestures .
Both have good tracking and a smooth finish , although they are small — even smaller than Microsoft ’ s own , already cramped trackpads .
But aside from the size , I have no complaints about the usability or performance of the trackpads .
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Brydge keyboards .
The most obvious one is that they connect to the tablet over Bluetooth instead of the pogo pins that Microsoft ’ s keyboard uses .
That means they need to be manually paired ( a relatively painless process you only do once ) and charged up occasionally .
A USB-C port on the side of the keyboard is used for charging , and the keyboard comes with a cable but not a charging brick .
You can charge it off the tablet itself or use a wall charger or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the tablet is awkward , as you have a gangly cable running between the Surface and the keyboard , and in the case of the Go Plus model , the charging port is on the opposite side of the Surface Go ’ s USB port .
Brydge claims that the battery lasts up to three months , so hopefully charging is an infrequent hassle .
The other big compromise is in size and weight .
The Brydge keyboards are thicker and heavier than Microsoft ’ s .
They are approximately two-thirds as thick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thickness of Microsoft ’ s Type Cover .
Those metrics sound like a lot , but in practice , the keyboards are quite thin .
Even when fully closed , neither is particularly chunky .
The Brydge keyboards do add noticeable heft , however .
According to my scale , the Surface Go 2 with the Brydge 10.5 Go Plus weighs 1,036 grams , or just over two pounds , four ounces , compared to 793 grams / one pound , 12 ounces with the Type Cover .
The Surface Pro 5 with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at 1,466 grams or about three pounds , four ounces , about 365 grams or 13 ounces more than with the Type Cover .
Both are significantly heavier , but either one is still very portable , and in everyday use , the weight has not been an issue .
Since both keyboards were designed in partnership with Microsoft , they work exactly as expected with Windows 10 , and all of the function keys mirror what ’ s available on the Type Covers .
The only hiccup is when you touch a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ screen , which causes the on-screen keyboard to pop up , even if you have the Brydge keyboard paired and connected .
This doesn ’ t happen with Microsoft ’ s Type Cover and is a small annoyance .
Finally , the keyboards are expensive and slightly more than what Microsoft ’ s Type Covers typically can be found for .
If you already own a Type Cover because it came bundled with your Surface device , it might be a hard sell to drop $ 140 or $ 150 on one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already have a Type Cover , you ’ ll still pay more for the Brydge models : the Go Type Cover is listed at $ 129.99 , but it can often be found for around $ 100 , while the Pro Type Cover also has a sticker price of $ 129.99 but is regularly on sale for less than $ 100 .
Still , I ’ ve found the Brydge keyboards to be pleasant to use with few headaches , and I like how they are more stable in whatever random situation I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people , the primary way I use a Surface is as a laptop , so making it behave more like a traditional clamshell laptop while still preserving the tablet flexibility is welcome .
I ’ m particularly fond of the 10.5 Go Plus model , as it turns a Surface Go or Go 2 into a modern netbook that you can actually get real work done on while maintaining its exceptional portability .
( I ’ m writing this entire piece on the Go 2 with the Go Plus keyboard right now .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ compatible with the Surface Pro 4 , 5 , 6 , and 7 , and it comes in black or silver .
The 10.5 Go Plus works with either the Surface Go or Go 2 and is only available in silver .
Both models are available to order from Brydge now and will be shipping at the end of August or early September .

Brydge, the maker of keyboard accessories for iPads and other tablets, has a line of new accessories for Windows 10 devices that includes two new keyboards for the Surface Pro and Surface Go: the $149.99 Brydge 12.3 Pro Plus and $139.99 Brydge 10.5 Go Plus. Both keyboards are designed to do the same thing: turn your Surface device into a traditional clamshell laptop. And after testing both models for a couple of weeks with a Surface Pro 5 and a Surface Go 2, I can confirm they do exactly that.
The keyboards function similarly to the models that Brydge has for Apple’s iPad: they connect to your device via Bluetooth and have hinge clamps the tablet slides into. The hinges are stiff, so the tablet doesn’t move when you touch it or are using it on an unstable platform such as your lap, and they allow you to close it all up just like you would a standard laptop and throw it in your bag. When you want to use your device as a tablet, just pull it out of the hinge and go on your way.
Brydge has had a keyboard for the Surface Pro for some time now — this new model has a redesigned hinge, 70 percent larger trackpad, native multi-touch control in Windows, updated Bluetooth connectivity, and a plastic deck as opposed to aluminum. (The bottom of the keyboard is still metal.) It also weighs 70 grams less. The 10.5 Go Plus is the first model from Brydge for the Surface Go.
Brydge 12.3 Pro Plus keyboard / Compatible with the Surface Pro 4, 5, 6, and 7 $149.99 at Brydge
Brydge 10.5 Go Plus keyboard / Compatible with the Surface Go and Go 2 $139.99 at Brydge
The 12.3 Pro Plus has all of the same keys and features as Microsoft’s Surface Type Cover
Compared to Microsoft’s own Surface Type Cover, the Brydge models make the Surface feel more like a laptop and provide a much more stable platform to work on. Both are made of metal bases with textured plastic decks and thick rubber feet on the bottom. They have a smaller footprint than Microsoft’s keyboards since they don’t rely on the Surface’s kickstand to prop up the tablet. That’s helpful when you’re in tight quarters, such as when using an airplane tray table. They also avoid the “thunk thunk” echoing sound that you get with the Surface Type Cover when you’re typing quickly, due to its elevated design.
Both keyboards are backlit and have full layouts, including function keys for media control, display brightness, and keyboard backlight. The keys have good feedback and travel — I’d rate them on the better side of most laptop keyboards I’ve used — and while the backlight does spill out from around the keys a bit, they are otherwise evenly lit. The 12.3 Pro Plus has comparably sized keys to the Surface Pro keyboard, while the 10.5 Go Plus’ keys are slightly smaller than Microsoft’s version. But either one is comfortable to type on after a brief period of getting used to its size.
Additionally, both keyboards have Windows Precision trackpads, with support for all of the usual multitasking gestures. Both have good tracking and a smooth finish, although they are small — even smaller than Microsoft’s own, already cramped trackpads. But aside from the size, I have no complaints about the usability or performance of the trackpads.
The Brydge keyboards are thicker and heavier than Microsoft’s, but not so much to affect the portability of the Surface A USB-C port is used to charge the Brydge’s battery
There are some other compromises you make with the Brydge keyboards. The most obvious one is that they connect to the tablet over Bluetooth instead of the pogo pins that Microsoft’s keyboard uses. That means they need to be manually paired (a relatively painless process you only do once) and charged up occasionally.
A USB-C port on the side of the keyboard is used for charging, and the keyboard comes with a cable but not a charging brick. You can charge it off the tablet itself or use a wall charger or a standard USB battery. Charging off the tablet is awkward, as you have a gangly cable running between the Surface and the keyboard, and in the case of the Go Plus model, the charging port is on the opposite side of the Surface Go’s USB port. Brydge claims that the battery lasts up to three months, so hopefully charging is an infrequent hassle.
The other big compromise is in size and weight. The Brydge keyboards are thicker and heavier than Microsoft’s. They are approximately two-thirds as thick as the tablets and about twice the thickness of Microsoft’s Type Cover. Those metrics sound like a lot, but in practice, the keyboards are quite thin. Even when fully closed, neither is particularly chunky.
The Brydge keyboards do add noticeable heft, however. According to my scale, the Surface Go 2 with the Brydge 10.5 Go Plus weighs 1,036 grams, or just over two pounds, four ounces, compared to 793 grams / one pound, 12 ounces with the Type Cover. The Surface Pro 5 with the 12.3 Pro Plus tips the scale at 1,466 grams or about three pounds, four ounces, about 365 grams or 13 ounces more than with the Type Cover. Both are significantly heavier, but either one is still very portable, and in everyday use, the weight has not been an issue.
The 10.5 Go Plus’ keys and trackpad are smaller than the Type Cover’s, but they are easy to get used to
Since both keyboards were designed in partnership with Microsoft, they work exactly as expected with Windows 10, and all of the function keys mirror what’s available on the Type Covers. The only hiccup is when you touch a text field on the tablet’s screen, which causes the on-screen keyboard to pop up, even if you have the Brydge keyboard paired and connected. This doesn’t happen with Microsoft’s Type Cover and is a small annoyance.
Finally, the keyboards are expensive and slightly more than what Microsoft’s Type Covers typically can be found for. If you already own a Type Cover because it came bundled with your Surface device, it might be a hard sell to drop $140 or $150 on one of these. If you don’t already have a Type Cover, you’ll still pay more for the Brydge models: the Go Type Cover is listed at $129.99, but it can often be found for around $100, while the Pro Type Cover also has a sticker price of $129.99 but is regularly on sale for less than $100.
Still, I’ve found the Brydge keyboards to be pleasant to use with few headaches, and I like how they are more stable in whatever random situation I might find myself working. Like most people, the primary way I use a Surface is as a laptop, so making it behave more like a traditional clamshell laptop while still preserving the tablet flexibility is welcome. I’m particularly fond of the 10.5 Go Plus model, as it turns a Surface Go or Go 2 into a modern netbook that you can actually get real work done on while maintaining its exceptional portability. (I’m writing this entire piece on the Go 2 with the Go Plus keyboard right now.)
The hinges hold the tablet well and there is no wobble or bounce when you touch the screen.
The Brydge 12.3 Pro Plus is compatible with the Surface Pro 4, 5, 6, and 7, and it comes in black or silver. The 10.5 Go Plus works with either the Surface Go or Go 2 and is only available in silver. Both models are available to order from Brydge now and will be shipping at the end of August or early September.


theverge--2020-08-21--School nurses are on the frontlines of the pandemic

When most school buildings shuttered in April , the National Association of School Nurses ( NASN ) sent out a survey to its members .
The nonprofit specialty nursing organization wanted to know what school nurses were doing during the pandemic .
The findings showed that school nurses were still working with students and families , even if they couldn ’ t see them in person .
Of the nearly 5,000 nurses who responded , over 70 percent said they were still helping to manage the health plans of students with chronic health conditions .
Over 40 percent were holding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were assisting with remote meal deliveries .
“ School nurses have a role whether school is meeting virtually or in person , ” says Donna Mazyck , executive director of the NASN .
They ’ re working on their school ’ s pandemic plans , educating students and staff on COVID-19 , and screening the sick — all while continuing their normal task of helping kids with chronic illnesses , checking in on the emotional health of their students , and making sure immunizations are up to date .
Mazyck spoke to The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nurse during a pandemic and why they ’ re more important than ever .
This interview has been lightly edited for clarity .
Some schools are planning for in-person instruction this year or at least part-time in-person instruction .
How do school nurses help plan for that ?
It ’ s working with school facilities , leaders , and experts and making sure that the physical space is the way it needs to be .
They need to be in collaboration with the local health department to make sure that there is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happens when there are students or staff who have symptoms of COVID-19 .
Nurses make sure there are isolation rooms , and that there ’ s enough ventilation in the buildings .
If there are cases of COVID-19 , they work with the health department to find close contacts of those cases .
The idea is to make sure that there ’ s a pandemic plan for the school and that there are clear steps to take when there ’ s a case .
It ’ s also making sure there are clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ close .
That takes resources and funding .
The NASN believes that federal investments are critical to make sure that school districts are able to have the funds they need , and we ’ re advocating for that .
Around 25 percent of schools don ’ t have nurses .
That ’ s a concern all the time , but is it more worrisome this year ?
We ’ re living in an infectious disease pandemic .
And when you have an infectious disease pandemic , you want to make sure you have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which is a school nurse .
When a school doesn ’ t have that , there are things they can do — make sure kids wash their hands , keep their distance , wear face coverings .
But it ’ s thorough assessments and health care decisions made by professionals that you need in a time like this .
With flu season coming up , and under-vaccination of school-aged children generally , there ’ s a huge potential for an infectious disease outbreak in a school building .
A school should want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can help with that .
“ When you have an infectious disease pandemic , you want to make sure you have experts in infection control on hand , which is a school nurse.
” There ’ s a gap when there ’ s not a school nurse in the building to help work through all of the issues around infection control .
Some schools have already said they ’ ll be online-only this fall .
How do nurses work with students from a distance ?
They ’ ll be providing for students ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could be virtual office visits or something more like telehealth .
For a student who may have Type 1 diabetes and is learning how to take care of it , school nurses could speak to that student on the phone or in a video chat to walk them through the process of checking their blood glucose .
For a student with asthma , they could ask them if they ’ re sleeping or if they ’ re coughing to detect if their asthma is controlled .
Then they can offer guidance or let @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in with their primary care provider .
These are things they would be doing during a normal year , it ’ d just happen over the phone .
One of the key roles that the school nurse will play is addressing the issue of under-vaccination for students right now .
There weren ’ t many well visits to doctors in the spring , so many kids may be behind schedule .
Nurses always review immunization records , and that ’ s just as important when they ’ re virtual .
School nurses can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , especially for those students who may not have caught up .
What platforms are school nurses using to connect with students and families ?
Generally speaking , it ’ s been by telephone or some of the videoconferencing platforms .
Some school nurses are also making and uploading videos for students on things like how to wear a mask .
School districts or school websites have information on how to connect with nurses .
That information is available , and it ’ s definitely being used .
That ’ s what I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ m in touch with .
Nurses are the medical professionals that have relationships with students and their families , so they ’ ve been available .

When most school buildings shuttered in April, the National Association of School Nurses (NASN) sent out a survey to its members. The nonprofit specialty nursing organization wanted to know what school nurses were doing during the pandemic.
The findings showed that school nurses were still working with students and families, even if they couldn’t see them in person. Of the nearly 5,000 nurses who responded, over 70 percent said they were still helping to manage the health plans of students with chronic health conditions. Over 40 percent were holding virtual office hours, and nearly one-third were assisting with remote meal deliveries.
A newsletter highlighting the COVID-19 research, developments, and stories that matter. Subscribe here!
“School nurses have a role whether school is meeting virtually or in person,” says Donna Mazyck, executive director of the NASN. They’re working on their school’s pandemic plans, educating students and staff on COVID-19, and screening the sick — all while continuing their normal task of helping kids with chronic illnesses, checking in on the emotional health of their students, and making sure immunizations are up to date.
Mazyck spoke to The Verge about the role of a school nurse during a pandemic and why they’re more important than ever.
This interview has been lightly edited for clarity.
Some schools are planning for in-person instruction this year or at least part-time in-person instruction. How do school nurses help plan for that?
It’s working with school facilities, leaders, and experts and making sure that the physical space is the way it needs to be. They need to be in collaboration with the local health department to make sure that there is a plan for the school and for what happens when there are students or staff who have symptoms of COVID-19. Nurses make sure there are isolation rooms, and that there’s enough ventilation in the buildings. If there are cases of COVID-19, they work with the health department to find close contacts of those cases.
The idea is to make sure that there’s a pandemic plan for the school and that there are clear steps to take when there’s a case. It’s also making sure there are clear things that would trigger the school to close.
That takes resources and funding. The NASN believes that federal investments are critical to make sure that school districts are able to have the funds they need, and we’re advocating for that.
Around 25 percent of schools don’t have nurses. That’s a concern all the time, but is it more worrisome this year?
We’re living in an infectious disease pandemic. And when you have an infectious disease pandemic, you want to make sure you have experts in infection control on hand, which is a school nurse. When a school doesn’t have that, there are things they can do — make sure kids wash their hands, keep their distance, wear face coverings. But it’s thorough assessments and health care decisions made by professionals that you need in a time like this. With flu season coming up, and under-vaccination of school-aged children generally, there’s a huge potential for an infectious disease outbreak in a school building. A school should want to have every possible person on board who can help with that.
“When you have an infectious disease pandemic, you want to make sure you have experts in infection control on hand, which is a school nurse.”
There’s a gap when there’s not a school nurse in the building to help work through all of the issues around infection control.
Some schools have already said they’ll be online-only this fall. How do nurses work with students from a distance?
They’ll be providing for students’ health and safety needs virtually. That could be virtual office visits or something more like telehealth.
For a student who may have Type 1 diabetes and is learning how to take care of it, school nurses could speak to that student on the phone or in a video chat to walk them through the process of checking their blood glucose. For a student with asthma, they could ask them if they’re sleeping or if they’re coughing to detect if their asthma is controlled. Then they can offer guidance or let them know if they need to check in with their primary care provider. These are things they would be doing during a normal year, it’d just happen over the phone.
One of the key roles that the school nurse will play is addressing the issue of under-vaccination for students right now. There weren’t many well visits to doctors in the spring, so many kids may be behind schedule. Nurses always review immunization records, and that’s just as important when they’re virtual. School nurses can give those recommendations to parents or families, especially for those students who may not have caught up.
What platforms are school nurses using to connect with students and families?
Generally speaking, it’s been by telephone or some of the videoconferencing platforms. Some school nurses are also making and uploading videos for students on things like how to wear a mask.


theverge--2020-08-21--Samsung’s Galaxy S20 is receiving Note 20 features with new One UI update

The latest version of Samsung ’ s One UI software , which was announced alongside the Galaxy Note 20 earlier this month , has started rolling out for the Galaxy S20 , the company has announced .
SamMobile reports that the update is already appearing in select European countries including Italy , Hungary , Portugal , and the Netherlands .
The 5G Galaxy S20 , S20 Plus , and S20 Ultra are reportedly among the first to be getting the update .
One UI 2.5 brings a number of the Galaxy Note 20 ’ s features to the S20 lineup @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support for Wireless DeX , which lets you mirror your phone ’ s screen to supported TVs and use it as a touchpad .
There are also a couple of new camera features , like the fact that Pro Video Mode can now manually switch between the phone ’ s different mics , and supports 8K video recording at 24fps .
The notes app is also getting updated , and can now sync audio recordings with written notes .
One UI 2.5 also makes it easier to share Wi-Fi credentials with other Galaxy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is rolling out starting today , August 21st , for the Galaxy S20 lineup , but doesn ’ t provide country specifics .
As well as the Galaxy S20 series the update is also “ gradually ” coming to other Samsung flagships including the Galaxy S10 , the Galaxy Note 10 , and Samsung ’ s recent foldable phones like the Galaxy Fold and the Galaxy Z Flip 5G , the company says .

The latest version of Samsung’s One UI software, which was announced alongside the Galaxy Note 20 earlier this month, has started rolling out for the Galaxy S20, the company has announced. SamMobile reports that the update is already appearing in select European countries including Italy, Hungary, Portugal, and the Netherlands. The 5G Galaxy S20, S20 Plus, and S20 Ultra are reportedly among the first to be getting the update.
One UI 2.5 brings a number of the Galaxy Note 20’s features to the S20 lineup. The most interesting of these is support for Wireless DeX, which lets you mirror your phone’s screen to supported TVs and use it as a touchpad.
The enhanced Pro Video Mode gives you more control over which mic you record sound with. Image: Samsung
There are also a couple of new camera features, like the fact that Pro Video Mode can now manually switch between the phone’s different mics, and supports 8K video recording at 24fps. The notes app is also getting updated, and can now sync audio recordings with written notes. One UI 2.5 also makes it easier to share Wi-Fi credentials with other Galaxy devices.
One UI 2.5 makes it easier to share your Wi-Fi credentials. Image: Samsung


theverge--2020-08-21--Ikea gives its 2021 catalog an Animal Crossing-themed makeover in Taiwan

After the latest Animal Crossing became a worldwide phenomenon with its compelling combination of fishing , hunting , and interior design , it was only a matter of time before a major outlet tried to capitalize on its success .
Now , Ikea Taiwan has done exactly that by recreating a number of pages from its iconic catalog using characters and in-game items from the Nintendo title .
It posted the results on its official Facebook page .
The Animal Crossing-themed catalog isn ’ t a perfect facsimile due to the limitations of the game ’ s interior design options @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good attempt .
I particularly like how they ’ ve used the game ’ s colorful cast of characters and matched their outfits almost exactly to Ikea ’ s models .
Of course , shopping for furniture in Animal Crossing doesn ’ t work quite how it does in Ikea .
In Animal Crossing , shopping for furniture is a frustrating process of continuously visiting the in-game shop and hoping the items you need to complete your collection are in stock .
But in Ikea , shopping for furniture is instead a frustrating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its labyrinthine interior in order to hunt down the one item you need .
Crucially , at least there are meatballs .
Here ’ s a selection of the images Ikea Taiwan shared on its Facebook page alongside the pages from its real-life catalog .
If you ’ re viewing them on desktop , you can hover over them to show the difference between the two versions .
Ikea is just the latest company to have latched onto Animal Crossing : New Horizons , which PR Week said back in May had become @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( nauseating , I know ) .
Sure , maybe it ’ s a little sad to see corporate brands hijack a simple game about relentlessly harvesting an island ’ s natural resources to pay off an exorbitant mortgages you were tricked into taking out by capitalist overlord Tom Nook , but what else did you expect ?

After the latest Animal Crossing became a worldwide phenomenon with its compelling combination of fishing, hunting, and interior design, it was only a matter of time before a major outlet tried to capitalize on its success. Now, Ikea Taiwan has done exactly that by recreating a number of pages from its iconic catalog using characters and in-game items from the Nintendo title. It posted the results on its official Facebook page.
The Animal Crossing-themed catalog isn’t a perfect facsimile due to the limitations of the game’s interior design options. But it’s a damn good attempt. I particularly like how they’ve used the game’s colorful cast of characters and matched their outfits almost exactly to Ikea’s models.
Of course, shopping for furniture in Animal Crossing doesn’t work quite how it does in Ikea. In Animal Crossing, shopping for furniture is a frustrating process of continuously visiting the in-game shop and hoping the items you need to complete your collection are in stock. But in Ikea, shopping for furniture is instead a frustrating process of being forced to walk round its labyrinthine interior in order to hunt down the one item you need. Crucially, at least there are meatballs.
Here’s a selection of the images Ikea Taiwan shared on its Facebook page alongside the pages from its real-life catalog. If you’re viewing them on desktop, you can hover over them to show the difference between the two versions.


theverge--2020-08-21--An innocent typo led to a giant 212-story obelisk in Microsoft Flight Simulator

Microsoft Flight Simulator players spotted a giant mountain-high obelisk in Australia this week .
While Flight Simulator has done a great job at recreating the real world , this unusually huge structure doesn ’ t exist in real life .
Players have now discovered that its existence stems from a simple typo .
University student Nathan Wright made an edit to OpenStreetMap data for part of his degree work last year , adding more than two hundred stories to a building that ’ s actually just two stories .
Wright meant to type 2 , but instead he typed 212 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I think it ’ s so funny as it was the first time I was using OpenStreetMap , ” says Wright in an email to The Verge .
“ I was using it for a university task and had to add data for class .
I didn ’ t think I would have to see it again.
” His university work is now internet famous , especially with the Microsoft Flight Simulator community .
The typo made its way into Microsoft ’ s Bing Maps data , which Asobo Studio , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to map out the world in the game .
Flight Simulator uses Azure-powered procedural generation technology , combined with Bing Maps data , to recreate virtual buildings like this 212-story obelisk .
Another OpenStreetMap user has since corrected the data typo , but it ’ s already made its way into Flight Simulator and internet history .
“ I find it really funny that it made it into the game and that I was tracked down so quickly , ” says Wright .
It ’ s a hilarious glitch , but it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Flight Simulator .
Players have also discovered Buckingham Palace turned into an office block , palm trees transformed into teeth-like structures , and trucks glued to the side of a bridge in Portland .
This particular mountain-high obelisk will likely disappear from Microsoft Flight Simulator once Bing Maps absorbs the latest OpenStreetMap data from Australia , or if Microsoft decides to remove the giant structure manually .
If you ’ re interested in visiting the glitch before it disappears , there ’ s already a YouTube video tutorial that even includes a successful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Microsoft Flight Simulator players spotted a giant mountain-high obelisk in Australia this week. While Flight Simulator has done a great job at recreating the real world, this unusually huge structure doesn’t exist in real life. Players have now discovered that its existence stems from a simple typo.
University student Nathan Wright made an edit to OpenStreetMap data for part of his degree work last year, adding more than two hundred stories to a building that’s actually just two stories. Wright meant to type 2, but instead he typed 212 in the data section for floors. “I think it’s so funny as it was the first time I was using OpenStreetMap,” says Wright in an email to The Verge. “I was using it for a university task and had to add data for class. I didn’t think I would have to see it again.”
The 212-story obelisk from the ground.
His university work is now internet famous, especially with the Microsoft Flight Simulator community. The typo made its way into Microsoft’s Bing Maps data, which Asobo Studio, the developers behind Microsoft Flight Simulator, uses to map out the world in the game. Flight Simulator uses Azure-powered procedural generation technology, combined with Bing Maps data, to recreate virtual buildings like this 212-story obelisk.
Another OpenStreetMap user has since corrected the data typo, but it’s already made its way into Flight Simulator and internet history. “I find it really funny that it made it into the game and that I was tracked down so quickly,” says Wright.
It’s a hilarious glitch, but it’s not the only one in Microsoft Flight Simulator. Players have also discovered Buckingham Palace turned into an office block, palm trees transformed into teeth-like structures, and trucks glued to the side of a bridge in Portland.


theverge--2020-08-21--Facebook’s old web design will disappear in September

Facebook ’ s “ classic ” experience , the interface with the iconic blue navigation bar at the top , is disappearing for good in September .
Engadget reports that a Facebook support page has been updated saying everyone will soon have the new design .
Although you can temporarily switch back to the old interface on Facebook ’ s site , the button warns that “ the classic Facebook will no longer be available starting in September.
” The new design was announced at Facebook ’ s developer conference last year , and initially rolled out on the service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In March it got a widespread release on desktop as an opt-in feature , leaving people free to continue using the old design if they want to .
Come September , however , the old design will disappear for good .
The new interface is a big change from what Facebook has used for most of its existence .
It ’ s a lot cleaner , includes a lot more white space , and there ’ s also a dark mode for people who are into that sort of thing .
Functionally , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the service ’ s Groups features , as well as prominently displaying links to Facebook ’ s Watch , Marketplace , and Gaming sections in its top navigation bar .
It ’ s a much-needed update compared to the cluttered look of yore , but it ’ s hard to see it bringing back any Facebook users who ’ ve abandoned the service in recent years .

Facebook’s “classic” experience, the interface with the iconic blue navigation bar at the top, is disappearing for good in September. Engadget reports that a Facebook support page has been updated saying everyone will soon have the new design. Although you can temporarily switch back to the old interface on Facebook’s site, the button warns that “the classic Facebook will no longer be available starting in September.”
The new design was announced at Facebook’s developer conference last year, and initially rolled out on the service’s iOS and Android apps. In March it got a widespread release on desktop as an opt-in feature, leaving people free to continue using the old design if they want to. Come September, however, the old design will disappear for good.
Attempting to switch back to the old interface now shows a warning saying it won’t be available from September. Screenshot: Facebook
The new interface is a big change from what Facebook has used for most of its existence. It’s a lot cleaner, includes a lot more white space, and there’s also a dark mode for people who are into that sort of thing. Functionally, it also places a bigger focus on the service’s Groups features, as well as prominently displaying links to Facebook’s Watch, Marketplace, and Gaming sections in its top navigation bar.


theverge--2020-08-21--Apple reportedly using cheaper iPhone battery parts to offset 5G cost

Facing higher production costs due to the inclusion of 5G hardware in this year ’ s “ iPhone 12 ” series , Apple is attempting to use less expensive components in other areas , according to analyst Ming-chi Kuo ( via MacRumors and AppleInsider ) .
One of the biggest cost reductions is believed to come from battery technology ; Kuo says Apple is reducing the number of layers in the battery board and placing cell components in a smaller area .
This will result in a battery board that ’ s 40 to 50 percent cheaper than the iPhone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Kuo , and next year ’ s iPhone batteries will get a further 30 to 40 percent price decrease due to additional design changes .
Apple is also said to be trimming battery costs for a third-generation AirPods release next year by switching to a “ system-in-package ” design similar to what ’ s used on the AirPods Pro .
These changes won ’ t offset the 5G hardware alone .
Kuo believes that including millimeter wave technology on the iPhone will cost Apple between $ 125 to $ 135 a unit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for sub-6GHz .
But between this and the reported decision not to include a power brick or earphones in the box , it looks like Apple is doing what it can to reduce costs across the board .
This year ’ s iPhones are expected to be available in October , a few weeks later than usual — though it ’ s unclear whether Apple will stick to its traditional September announcement .

Facing higher production costs due to the inclusion of 5G hardware in this year’s “iPhone 12” series, Apple is attempting to use less expensive components in other areas, according to analyst Ming-chi Kuo (via MacRumors and AppleInsider). One of the biggest cost reductions is believed to come from battery technology; Kuo says Apple is reducing the number of layers in the battery board and placing cell components in a smaller area.
This will result in a battery board that’s 40 to 50 percent cheaper than the iPhone 11’s equivalent part, according to Kuo, and next year’s iPhone batteries will get a further 30 to 40 percent price decrease due to additional design changes. Apple is also said to be trimming battery costs for a third-generation AirPods release next year by switching to a “system-in-package” design similar to what’s used on the AirPods Pro.
These changes won’t offset the 5G hardware alone. Kuo believes that including millimeter wave technology on the iPhone will cost Apple between $125 to $135 a unit, plus $75 to $85 for sub-6GHz. But between this and the reported decision not to include a power brick or earphones in the box, it looks like Apple is doing what it can to reduce costs across the board.


theverge--2020-08-21--Two of Hasbro’s remastered Super Soakers are being recalled

When Hasbro brought back three classic Super Soakers this spring , I was pretty pumped — but now , two of them are being recalled .
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission ( CPSC ) has announced that the Super Soaker XP20 and XP30 used too much lead in the ink when the manufacturer printed their labels , and should be immediately be returned to Hasbro for a full refund .
They were exclusively sold at Target between March and July of this year , and the CPSC says that Hasbro managed to ship some 52,900 of them so far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those nearly 53,000 buyers , you can email SuperSoakerRecall @ Hasbro.com or click here for an online form .
You also might be wondering : did these new Super Soakers turn out any good ?
I ’ ve only had a chance to try the blue Super Soaker XP100 so far , and ...
I can ’ t say it ’ s my favorite , but it is fun .
It shoots a nice sharp stream of water , and I like how it ’ s now got a quick-release tank instead of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time you need a refill .
Unfortunately — perhaps due to Hasbro using the original , classic pinch-trigger mechanism , see BlasterHub ’ s review here — it also has a tendency to leak all over the place , constantly dribbling or even spraying water out the end if you pump it up to full pressure .
I still want a CPS2000 instead .
As before , I ’ ll leave you with this excellent oral history of the Super Soaker , and this video about the black NASA scientist , Lonnie Johnson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ idea .

When Hasbro brought back three classic Super Soakers this spring, I was pretty pumped — but now, two of them are being recalled. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has announced that the Super Soaker XP20 and XP30 used too much lead in the ink when the manufacturer printed their labels, and should be immediately be returned to Hasbro for a full refund.
They were exclusively sold at Target between March and July of this year, and the CPSC says that Hasbro managed to ship some 52,900 of them so far. If you’re one of those nearly 53,000 buyers, you can email SuperSoakerRecall@Hasbro.com or click here for an online form. Hasbro tells The Verge there haven’t actually been any injuries or complaints, and “the presence of lead is limited to the decorative sticker that appears on the water tank of the blasters.”
(If you’re not sure which Super Soakers we’re talking about, take a look at the pictures above and below.)
Image: Hasbro
You also might be wondering: did these new Super Soakers turn out any good? I’ve only had a chance to try the blue Super Soaker XP100 so far, and... I can’t say it’s my favorite, but it is fun! It shoots a nice sharp stream of water, and I like how it’s now got a quick-release tank instead of having to painstakingly screw and unscrew every time you need a refill.
Unfortunately — perhaps due to Hasbro using the original, classic pinch-trigger mechanism, see BlasterHub’s review here — it also has a tendency to leak all over the place, constantly dribbling or even spraying water out the end if you pump it up to full pressure.
I still want a CPS2000 instead. As before, I’ll leave you with this excellent oral history of the Super Soaker, and this video about the black NASA scientist, Lonnie Johnson, who originally came up with the idea.
In case you’re wondering how the stickers managed to make it into production, here’s Hasbro’s statement:
In this case, a third-party manufacturer sourced these stickers from an unauthorized supplier, without our consent and in violation of our quality assurance procedures and requirements. As soon as we became aware of the potential issue, we immediately launched an investigation and implemented precautionary containment measures. Upon concluding our investigation, we put corrective actions in place with the third-party manufacturer, and as part of our continuous improvement process, we launched re-training across our entire supply chain to ensure strict adherence to our procedures and requirements.


theverge--2020-08-21--Palantir still relies heavily on government contracts despite push for more corporate customers

Palantir , the controversial analytics and data mining firm , still relies heavily on its US government contracts for revenue despite its public statements that it was branching out into more corporate clients , according to screenshots of the company ’ s S-1 filing acquired by TechCrunch .
The financials , which the New York Times also has viewed , show Palantir has not once turned a profit since its founding in 2003 .
Add to that the news it ’ s moving out of Silicon Valley because of “ increasing intolerance and monoculture , ” and you end up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doesn ’ t have a lot of growth potential .
It ’ s now clear Palantir is dependent on the current administration in Washington to maintain its existing revenue streams .
Palantir confidentially filed for an IPO last month , but has yet to announce when it will go public .
The S-1 filing shows Palantir had revenue of $ 742.5 million in 2019 , a 25 percent increase from the same period a year earlier .
But that wasn ’ t enough to cover expenses ; the company had a net loss @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Times .
It has a private market valuation of $ 20 billion , and has raised more than $ 3 billion in funding .
That net loss is partly explained by how much money Palantir is burning on marketing — the company spent $ 450 million on marketing in two years .
As for the increase in revenue , $ 102 million came from existing Palantir customers , according to TechCrunch ’ s analysis .
Palantir brought in $ 345.5 million from work with the US government last year , and $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Times .
Palantir is best known for its work with the US government , which have included a contract with the Army to develop a new intelligence interpretation platform , worth an estimated $ 823 million .
It ’ s also worked in the past with US Customs and Border Protection to track immigrants and travelers at the border , and in 2018 , was found to be secretly testing its predictive policing software in New Orleans .
More recently , Palantir was discovered to be building a tool for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ HHS ) to track the spread of the coronavirus .
It remains unclear how that data is being used and collected .
Palantir co-founder Peter Thiel supported President Trump ’ s election in 2016 , and he has reportedly used his status as a member of Facebook ’ s board of directors to push policies that help the president , especially when it comes to oversight of political ads on the platform .
Early on , Thiel supported the president ’ s reelection , but last month reportedly said he was distancing himself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been a tough time for unicorns ; the much-anticipated WeWork IPO flopped and was withdrawn , resulting in co-founder Adam Neumann leaving ( with a $ 1.7 billion payout ) and suing investor SoftBank for breach of contract .
Short-term rental platform Airbnb confidentially filed for an IPO last week , with the Wall Street Journal valuing the company at about half of its peak 2017 value .
So it ’ s hard to predict who , in 2020 , would seek to buy stock in a company known for its secrecy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Especially since these documents suggest Palantir falls short of the hype .

Palantir, the controversial analytics and data mining firm, still relies heavily on its US government contracts for revenue despite its public statements that it was branching out into more corporate clients, according to screenshots of the company’s S-1 filing acquired by TechCrunch. The financials, which the New York Times also has viewed, show Palantir has not once turned a profit since its founding in 2003.
Add to that the news it’s moving out of Silicon Valley because of “increasing intolerance and monoculture,” and you end up with a picture of a company that doesn’t have a lot of growth potential. It’s now clear Palantir is dependent on the current administration in Washington to maintain its existing revenue streams.
Palantir confidentially filed for an IPO last month, but has yet to announce when it will go public. The S-1 filing shows Palantir had revenue of $742.5 million in 2019, a 25 percent increase from the same period a year earlier. But that wasn’t enough to cover expenses; the company had a net loss of $580 million, according to the Times. It has a private market valuation of $20 billion, and has raised more than $3 billion in funding. That net loss is partly explained by how much money Palantir is burning on marketing — the company spent $450 million on marketing in two years.
As for the increase in revenue, $102 million came from existing Palantir customers, according to TechCrunch’s analysis. Palantir brought in $345.5 million from work with the US government last year, and $397 million from commercial clients, according to the Times.
Palantir is best known for its work with the US government, which have included a contract with the Army to develop a new intelligence interpretation platform, worth an estimated $823 million. It’s also worked in the past with US Customs and Border Protection to track immigrants and travelers at the border, and in 2018, was found to be secretly testing its predictive policing software in New Orleans.
More recently, Palantir was discovered to be building a tool for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to track the spread of the coronavirus. It remains unclear how that data is being used and collected.
Palantir co-founder Peter Thiel supported President Trump’s election in 2016, and he has reportedly used his status as a member of Facebook’s board of directors to push policies that help the president, especially when it comes to oversight of political ads on the platform. Early on, Thiel supported the president’s reelection, but last month reportedly said he was distancing himself from Trump.


theverge--2020-08-21--WordPress founder claims Apple cut off updates to his completely free app because it wants 30 percen

WordPress founder claims Apple cut off updates to his completely free app because it wants 30 percent

WordPress , the iOS app , lets you build and manage a website right from your iPhone or iPad , for free .
Separately , WordPress.com also happens to sell domain names and fancier website packages .
Now , WordPress founding developer Matt Mullenweg is accusing Apple of cutting off the ability to update that app — until or unless he adds in-app purchases so the most valuable company in the world can extract its 30 percent cut of the money .
Here ’ s the thing : the WordPress app on iOS doesn ’ t sell anything .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Ben Thompson .
The app simply lets you make a website for free .
There isn ’ t even an option to buy a unique dot-com or even dot-blog domain name from the iPhone and iPad app — it simply assigns you a free WordPress domain name and 3GB of space .
Apple admitted to The Verge that it ’ s involved , reminding us that in-app purchases are required whenever apps “ allow users to access content , subscriptions , or features they have acquired in your app on other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again , the WordPress app doesn ’ t sell anything itself , and it sounds like you can ’ t do anything special with anything you ’ ve purchased from WordPress.com ( beyond uploading additional files or selecting website themes ) from the app , either .
WordPress offered to block the only place iOS users could see paid features — but Apple rejected it While Mullenweg says there technically was a roundabout way for an iOS to find out that WordPress has paid tiers ( they could find it buried in support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s site from a preview of their own webpage ) , he says that Apple rejected his offer to block iOS users from seeing the offending pages .
Mullenweg tells The Verge he ’ s not going to fight it anymore , though — he will add brand-new in-app purchases for WordPress.com ’ s paid tiers , which include domain names , within 30 days .
Apple has agreed to allow Automattic to update the app while it waits .
( The last update was issued yesterday . )
In other words @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the world just successfully forced an app developer to monetize an app so it could make more money .
It ’ s just the latest example of Apple ’ s fervent attempts to guard its cash cow resulting in a decision that doesn ’ t make much sense and doesn ’ t live up to Apple ’ s ethos ( real or imagined ) of putting the customer experience ahead of all else .
Mullenweg , of course , is only one of those speaking out publicly about the Apple tax and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its rules .
Yesterday , a group of major news publishers banded together to ask why Amazon , and not them , should get a sweetheart deal that allows the giant e-tailer to pay 15 percent instead of 30 percent for Prime Video .
And all of this , of course , is happening in the shadow of Epic Games ’ gigantic fight against Apple , one that Apple responded to this very afternoon , complete with a cache of emails from Epic ’ s own Tim Sweeney .
You might want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Mullenweg tells us his tweet was really for the WordPress community , not necessarily to rile up anger against the Apple tax ; he says he anticipates pushback from the community when they suddenly see WordPress asking them if they ’ d like to purchase a .com upgrade .
Update , 6:44 PM ET : Added comment and confirmation from WordPress ’ s Mullenweg that the company has already caved ; it has agreed to add in-app purchases within 30 days .
Update , 7:50 PM ET : Added that WordPress will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paid plans ( which include domain names ) , not simply its domain name purchases .
Update , 9:11 PM ET : Added Apple comment , and more details from Mullenweg about what Apple rejected .

WordPress, the iOS app, lets you build and manage a website right from your iPhone or iPad, for free.
Now, WordPress founding developer Matt Mullenweg is accusing Apple of cutting off the ability to update that app — until or unless he adds in-app purchases so the most valuable company in the world can extract its 30 percent cut of the money.
Here’s the thing: the WordPress app on iOS doesn’t sell anything. I just checked, and so did Stratechery’s Ben Thompson. The app simply lets you make a website for free. There isn’t even an option to buy a unique dot-com or even dot-blog domain name from the iPhone and iPad app — it simply assigns you a free WordPress domain name and 3GB of space.
Apple admitted to The Verge that it’s involved, reminding us that in-app purchases are required whenever apps “allow users to access content, subscriptions, or features they have acquired in your app on other platforms or your web site.” But again, the WordPress app doesn’t sell anything itself, and it sounds like you can’t do anything special with anything you’ve purchased from WordPress.com (beyond uploading additional files or selecting website themes) from the app, either.
WordPress offered to block the only place iOS users could see paid features — but Apple rejected it
While Mullenweg says there technically was a roundabout way for an iOS user to find out that WordPress has paid tiers (they could find it buried in support pages, or by navigating to WordPress’s site from a preview of their own webpage), he says that Apple rejected his offer to block iOS users from seeing the offending pages.
Mullenweg tells The Verge he’s not going to fight it anymore, though — he will add brand-new in-app purchases for WordPress.com’s paid tiers, which include domain names, within 30 days. Apple has agreed to allow Automattic to update the app while it waits. (The last update was issued yesterday.)
In other words, Apple won: the richest company in the world just successfully forced an app developer to monetize an app so it could make more money. It’s just the latest example of Apple’s fervent attempts to guard its cash cow resulting in a decision that doesn’t make much sense and doesn’t live up to Apple’s ethos (real or imagined) of putting the customer experience ahead of all else.
Mullenweg, of course, is only one of those speaking out publicly about the Apple tax and the company’s uneven enforcement of its rules. Yesterday, a group of major news publishers banded together to ask why Amazon, and not them, should get a sweetheart deal that allows the giant e-tailer to pay 15 percent instead of 30 percent for Prime Video. And all of this, of course, is happening in the shadow of Epic Games’ gigantic fight against Apple, one that Apple responded to this very afternoon, complete with a cache of emails from Epic’s own Tim Sweeney. You might want to give these links a look:
Interestingly, Mullenweg tells us his tweet was really for the WordPress community, not necessarily to rile up anger against the Apple tax; he says he anticipates pushback from the community when they suddenly see WordPress asking them if they’d like to purchase a .com upgrade.
Update, 6:44 PM ET: Added comment and confirmation from WordPress’s Mullenweg that the company has already caved; it has agreed to add in-app purchases within 30 days.
Update, 7:50 PM ET: Added that WordPress will specifically be adding in-app purchases for its paid plans (which include domain names), not simply its domain name purchases.
Update, 9:11 PM ET: Added Apple comment, and more details from Mullenweg about what Apple rejected.