theverge--2020-07-31--TikTok has a bold new plan to win over regulators

The Interface is a daily column and newsletter about the intersection of social media and democracy .
Subscribe here .
Programming note : It ’ s time for our summer vacation !
The stretch between January and today is the longest uninterrupted period we have ever written The Interface , and so we ’ re taking a break to recharge .
We return August 17th .
On any other day , the memo that Kevin Mayer published Wednesday might have been the talk of the tech world .
TikTok ’ s new CEO , who was thrust into a crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the moment he took the job , has quickly emerged as the company ’ s top diplomat .
In his blog post , he came bearing economic gifts for the country that is currently blocking his app from federal and military devices , and threatening to ban it completely — as India recently did .
Mayer promised to expand a fund for creators from $ 200 million to $ 1 billion .
He said the company would hire 10,000 Americans — no small thing during a global recession .
And most intriguingly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that lawmakers have often asked of other social networks , but so far none have even suggested they would consider : allowing regulators to inspect the company ’ s algorithms , which select which videos and accounts to promote throughout the app .
Mayer wrote : The idea that algorithms ought to be open for inspection comes largely from Republicans .
Senators including Josh Hawley ( R-MO ) have called for external audits of social network algorithms , nominally to examine them for signs of “ censorship.
” ( The idea that conservative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when they enjoy the broadest audience , and some of the widest support , in human history has become an article of faith for the Republican Party . )
We would all benefit , I think , from having greater insight into how social networks choose what to show us in our feeds .
It has long unsettled me that not a single engineer at Facebook , or Twitter , or YouTube , can tell me for sure why any particular post shows up in the feed where it does — they can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statistical probabilities , with many attendant blindspots that we learn about only years later .
Not that they would be able to explain things perfectly after inspecting TikTok ’ s algorithm , either .
The company told me that while it would make its source code open for review , it would not share information about individual users with reviewers for privacy reasons .
But it will give reviewers insight into the signals the app takes into account when choosing which videos to promote — a move that , the company hopes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used to push propaganda or influence campaigns at the direction of the Chinese Communist Party .
“ You ’ ll be able to see what informs our content ranking system , and how that information is used to make recommendations , ” said Michael Beckerman , a TikTok vice president and head of US public policy .
“ Clearly that ’ s something that our stakeholders , and certainly policy makers , have questions about broadly for the industry.
” The algorithms that inform that system are updated regularly , and so TikTok @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a select set of policy makers and experts , Beckerman told me .
( It also posted new tips for creators on Thursday , you really don ’ t have to add # fyp to every single post . )
The original idea was for TikTok to invite people to a physical office to inspect its source code and review its content moderation policies ; the pandemic has forced the company to reimagine the Transparency and Accountability Center as a virtual experience .
In time , though , the company hopes to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opening up the source code , such as giving creators too fine a sense of what will go viral , allowing them to game the system .
That ’ s part of the reason a virtual field trip to the accountability center won ’ t be available to everyone .
But the company believes that risk is outweighed by the potential trust it could earn by showing that it has nothing to hide , at least when it comes to content recommendation .
“ Seeing is believing , ” Beckerman said .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ position in the United States is so fraught that it would even consider opening up its source code to regulators .
And yet even just by introducing the idea , the company has meaningfully shifted the window of what we might consider possible .
For that , I ’ m grateful .
Then again , trust is in short supply everywhere these days , and even if regulators were to accept this compromise as a condition for letting TikTok continue to operate , I ’ m skeptical it would totally alleviate regulators ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a video gets promoted doesn ’ t guarantee you that some shadowy force isn ’ t working behind the scenes to put a thumb on the scale .
It ’ s hard to prove a negative .
“ We ’ ve had the conversation internally [ about whether ] someone could come in and say , ‘ that ’ s fake code , ’ ” Beckerman said .
But “ legitimate researchers and the people coming in will know that it ’ s real.
” And what if that still doesn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be forced to sell .
The reported valuation of the app — $ 50 billion — is stratospheric , at 50 times its projected earnings .
It ’ s hard to imagine anyone but a giant affording that purchase — and hard to imagine regulators in a time of antitrust approving it .
Which might make the middle ground more attractive to everyone , lawmakers included .
If TikTok is to survive in America , it has to find a way to earn officials ’ trust .
Opening up its algorithm is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ date , and it could be one of its best .
We ’ re a day out from the antitrust event of the summer , and I ’ m still catching up on all the reporting and commentary that has come out since .
Let ’ s take a quick look at what people are saying .
The most interesting stories to come out of the hearing are what people found among the 1.3 million documents collected by the House antitrust committee .
Like Mark Gurman writing about Apple ’ s sweetheart deal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ app onto the iPhone .
Or Jay Peters unearthing the emails in which Steve Jobs decreed that there would be no third-party bookstore on the iPhone .
Or Avery Hartmans , sharing all the texts between Kevin Systrom and Mark Zuckerberg leading up to the acquisition of Instagram in Business Insider .
Or , from today , Adi Robertson looking through documents from Facebook , where in 2012 Mark Zuckerberg worried that rivals were building faster by copying rivals : For whatever reason , Facebook never did really copy Pinterest .
Maybe someday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Many writers made the point that lawmakers at least seem united on the idea that Big Tech has become too powerful ; here is Alex Sherman making that point in CNBC and Franklin Foer doing the same in The Atlantic .
In the Washington Post , Geoffrey Fowler looked at the sweet little lies every CEO tells Congress .
( “ We ’ re not even that big !
” ) Kevin Roose argues that gaslighting was the main theme of the whole affair .
What ’ s next ?
The antitrust committee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recommendations for legislation , and legislation seems like to follow .
There are also now antitrust investigations underway against the giants by various permutations of the Department of Justice , the Federal Trade Commission , and state attorneys general .
Some writers thought a smart take about the hearing would sound something like : “ who cares , this won ’ t change anything.
” Those writers seemed to forget that the hearing was a middle step — one from which many possible endings could still result .
Today in news that could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ platforms .
Trending up : Twitter is supporting a campaign aimed at stopping internet shutdowns .
Targeted shutdowns have been used in recent months to silence dissent .
( Twitter ) Trending down : The fees that Amazon imposes on sellers make it nearly impossible for them to sustain a profitable business , according to a report from the Institute of Local Self-Reliance .
But Amazon ’ s monopoly ensures there ’ s an endless stream of people willing to try .
( Institute for Local Self-Reliance ) ⭐ European regulators are drafting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the big tech companies in a way that previously regulations have not .
One bill would make it illegal for Amazon and Apple to give their own products preferential treatment over those of rivals .
Here ’ s Adam Satariano at The New York Times : Google ’ s $ 2.1 billion bid for Fitbit is facing a full-scale EU antitrust investigation .
The company had recently offered to not use Fitbit ’ s health data to target ads , but apparently it wasn ’ t enough to quell regulator concerns .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Telegram has become the latest company to file an antitrust complaint to the EU for Apple ’ s App Store .
The company is taking issue with Apple ’ s argument that its 30 percent App Store commission keeps it running .
( Javier Espinoza / Financial Times ) Organizers of the Facebook ad boycott say the campaign is headed for Europe .
They ’ ll be pushing for major regulatory reform , some of which is already happening .
( Alex Heath / The Information ) The Chinese government , possibly in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ star Larry King into spreading disinformation through a fake interview with a Russian journalist .
( Renee Dudley and Jeff Kao / ProPublica ) China ’ s AI-powered surveillance tools are being exported to actual and would-be autocracies around the world .
Those technologies are quickly being refined , allowing for all-encompassing surveillance systems that will allow more dictators to essentially plug and play .
( Ross Andersen / The Atlantic ) ⭐ The big tech companies reported monster earnings today , ( Business Insider ) even as the US economy saw the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CNBC ) .
Good thing we held that antitrust yesterday hearing , before any of these CEOs could take a question about it !
Here ’ s where each company landed : • Amazon ’ s revenue was up 40 percent , to $ 88.9 billion .
Subscription services were up 29 percent to $ 6.02 billion .
( Emil Protalinski / VentureBeat ) • Facebook ’ s revenue was up 11 percent year over year , to $ 18.69 billion .
Daily users of Facebook increased 12 percent year over year , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its family of apps , which also include Instagram and WhatsApp , rose 14 percent , to 3.14 billion .
( Casey Newton / The Verge ) • Apple reported $ 59.7 billion in revenue and double-digit growth in its products and services segments .
The company also announced it plans to give investors three additional shares of Apple per share they own at the end of August as part of a 4-1 stock split .
( Kif Leswing / CNBC ) • Alphabet announced $ 38.3 billion in revenue .
It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first for the company .
( It still posted a $ 7 billion profit . )
YouTube ad revenue was $ 3.81 billion , while Cloud reported $ 3 billion in Q2 2020 .
( Abner Li / 9To5Mac ) Apple ’ s said this year ’ s new iPhone models will arrive a few weeks later than they have in years past .
The move means some revenue that typically comes at the end of September won ’ t come until the final quarter of the year .
( Ina Fried / @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speech and abuse are the norm .
Some describe hearing “ radio silence ” from Reddit administrators in response to their concerns , though they ’ re cautiously optimistic that could change with the platform ’ s new content policies .
( Margot Harris / Insider ) Moonbug Entertainment acquired two of the most popular kids channels on YouTube : Cocomelon , an animated show that is the most-viewed channel on the site , and Blippi , a program hosted by entertainer Stevin John .
( Lucas Shaw / Bloomberg ) Stuff to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ John Lewis wrote a final prayer for America before his death .
Read it .
“ Ordinary people with extraordinary vision can redeem the soul of America by getting in what I call good trouble , necessary trouble , ” he said .
Read a co-founder of the Federalist Society explain why President Trump ’ s tweet suggesting that the election be delayed is cause for impeachment by itself .
“ Until recently , I had taken as political hyperbole the Democrats ’ assertion that President Trump is a fascist , ” Steven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tweet is fascistic and is itself grounds for the president ’ s immediate impeachment again by the House of Representatives and his removal from office by the Senate.
” Send us tips , comments , questions , and those good TikToks : casey @ theverge.com and zoe @ theverge.com .

Programming note: It’s time for our summer vacation! The stretch between January and today is the longest uninterrupted period we have ever written The Interface, and so we’re taking a break to recharge. We return August 17th.
On any other day, the memo that Kevin Mayer published Wednesday might have been the talk of the tech world. TikTok’s new CEO, who was thrust into a crisis over the future of the Chinese-owned app from the moment he took the job, has quickly emerged as the company’s top diplomat.
In his blog post, he came bearing economic gifts for the country that is currently blocking his app from federal and military devices, and threatening to ban it completely — as India recently did. Mayer promised to expand a fund for creators from $200 million to $1 billion. He said the company would hire 10,000 Americans — no small thing during a global recession.
And most intriguingly, Mayer said TikTok would do something that lawmakers have often asked of other social networks, but so far none have even suggested they would consider: allowing regulators to inspect the company’s algorithms, which select which videos and accounts to promote throughout the app. Mayer wrote:
We believe our entire industry should be held to an exceptionally high standard. That’s why we believe all companies should disclose their algorithms, moderation policies, and data flows to regulators. We will not wait for regulation to come, but instead TikTok has taken the first step by launching a Transparency and Accountability Center for moderation and data practices. Experts can observe our moderation policies in real-time, as well as examine the actual code that drives our algorithms. This puts us a step ahead of the industry, and we encourage others to follow suit.
The idea that algorithms ought to be open for inspection comes largely from Republicans. Senators including Josh Hawley (R-MO) have called for external audits of social network algorithms, nominally to examine them for signs of “censorship.” (The idea that conservative voices are being censored during a time when they enjoy the broadest audience, and some of the widest support, in human history has become an article of faith for the Republican Party.)
We would all benefit, I think, from having greater insight into how social networks choose what to show us in our feeds. It has long unsettled me that not a single engineer at Facebook, or Twitter, or YouTube, can tell me for sure why any particular post shows up in the feed where it does — they can only describe for me a series of statistical probabilities, with many attendant blindspots that we learn about only years later.
Not that they would be able to explain things perfectly after inspecting TikTok’s algorithm, either. The company told me that while it would make its source code open for review, it would not share information about individual users with reviewers for privacy reasons. But it will give reviewers insight into the signals the app takes into account when choosing which videos to promote — a move that, the company hopes, will dispel fears that it will be used to push propaganda or influence campaigns at the direction of the Chinese Communist Party.
“You’ll be able to see what informs our content ranking system, and how that information is used to make recommendations,” said Michael Beckerman, a TikTok vice president and head of US public policy. “Clearly that’s something that our stakeholders, and certainly policy makers, have questions about broadly for the industry.”
The algorithms that inform that system are updated regularly, and so TikTok intends to keep an open door to a select set of policy makers and experts, Beckerman told me. (It also posted new tips for creators on Thursday, you really don’t have to add #fyp to every single post.) The original idea was for TikTok to invite people to a physical office to inspect its source code and review its content moderation policies; the pandemic has forced the company to reimagine the Transparency and Accountability Center as a virtual experience. In time, though, the company hopes to have visitors again.
There are risks to opening up the source code, such as giving creators too fine a sense of what will go viral, allowing them to game the system. That’s part of the reason a virtual field trip to the accountability center won’t be available to everyone. But the company believes that risk is outweighed by the potential trust it could earn by showing that it has nothing to hide, at least when it comes to content recommendation. “Seeing is believing,” Beckerman said.
It is likely only because TikTok’s position in the United States is so fraught that it would even consider opening up its source code to regulators. And yet even just by introducing the idea, the company has meaningfully shifted the window of what we might consider possible. For that, I’m grateful.
Then again, trust is in short supply everywhere these days, and even if regulators were to accept this compromise as a condition for letting TikTok continue to operate, I’m skeptical it would totally alleviate regulators’ concerns. Just because you know how a video gets promoted doesn’t guarantee you that some shadowy force isn’t working behind the scenes to put a thumb on the scale. It’s hard to prove a negative.
“We’ve had the conversation internally [about whether] someone could come in and say, ‘that’s fake code,’” Beckerman said. But “legitimate researchers and the people coming in will know that it’s real.”
And what if that still doesn’t convince people? Then TikTok will likely be forced to sell. The reported valuation of the app — $50 billion — is stratospheric, at 50 times its projected earnings. It’s hard to imagine anyone but a giant affording that purchase — and hard to imagine regulators in a time of antitrust approving it.
Which might make the middle ground more attractive to everyone, lawmakers included. If TikTok is to survive in America, it has to find a way to earn officials’ trust. Opening up its algorithm is the boldest move the company has made to date, and it could be one of its best.
After the hearing
We’re a day out from the antitrust event of the summer, and I’m still catching up on all the reporting and commentary that has come out since. Let’s take a quick look at what people are saying.
Or, from today, Adi Robertson looking through documents from Facebook, where in 2012 Mark Zuckerberg worried that rivals were building faster by copying rivals:
A chain of messages starts with Zuckerberg recounting a meeting with the founders of Chinese social networking app Renren. “In China there is this strong culture of cloning things quickly and building lots of different products,” he wrote. “Seeing all this and the pace that new mobile apps seem to be coming out from other companies makes me think we’re moving very slowly. ... I wonder what we could do to move a lot faster.” Other employees, some of their names redacted, agreed that “copying is faster than innovating,” even if they worried it would give Facebook a bad reputation in the industry. “We spend a lot of time on products and iterations on products that are not that used,” said one person. “If you gave the top-down order to go ahead, copy e.g. Pinterest or the gaming dynamics on Foursquare ... I am sure [a] very small team of engineers, a [product manager], and a designer would get it done super quickly.” “I would love to be far more aggressive and nimble in copying competitors at the interface / last mile level,” said another. “Let’s ‘copy’ (aka super-set) Pinterest!”
For whatever reason, Facebook never did really copy Pinterest. Maybe someday!
Elsewhere, there was commentary. Many writers made the point that lawmakers at least seem united on the idea that Big Tech has become too powerful; here is Alex Sherman making that point in CNBC and Franklin Foer doing the same in The Atlantic.
What’s next? The antitrust committee is expected to issue a report with recommendations for legislation, and legislation seems like to follow. There are also now antitrust investigations underway against the giants by various permutations of the Department of Justice, the Federal Trade Commission, and state attorneys general.
Some writers thought a smart take about the hearing would sound something like: “who cares, this won’t change anything.” Those writers seemed to forget that the hearing was a middle step — one from which many possible endings could still result.
The Ratio
Today in news that could affect public perception of the big tech platforms.
🔼 Trending up: Twitter is supporting a campaign aimed at stopping internet shutdowns. Targeted shutdowns have been used in recent months to silence dissent. (Twitter)
🔽 Trending down: The fees that Amazon imposes on sellers make it nearly impossible for them to sustain a profitable business, according to a report from the Institute of Local Self-Reliance. But Amazon’s monopoly ensures there’s an endless stream of people willing to try. (Institute for Local Self-Reliance)
Governing
⭐ European regulators are drafting new laws aimed a curbing the power of the big tech companies in a way that previously regulations have not. One bill would make it illegal for Amazon and Apple to give their own products preferential treatment over those of rivals. Here’s Adam Satariano at The New York Times:
Europe has embarked on its legal blitz just as the United States has started flexing its own tech regulatory muscles. On Wednesday, the chief executives of Amazon, Apple, Google and Facebook were grilled by lawmakers in a congressional hearing to scrutinize their power. All defended themselves against criticism from Democrats about anticompetitive business practices and accusations from Republicans that they were muzzling conservative voices. On Thursday, all four companies showed their financial muscle by reporting billions of dollars in profits and surging revenue. [...] If the proposed laws in Europe are enacted, the policies could lead to a major overhaul of the region’s digital economy, where there are more than 500 million consumers, by regulating the tech companies more like traditional industries such as telecommunications and finance.
Google’s $2.1 billion bid for Fitbit is facing a full-scale EU antitrust investigation. The company had recently offered to not use Fitbit’s health data to target ads, but apparently it wasn’t enough to quell regulator concerns. (Foo Yun Chee / Reuters)
Telegram has become the latest company to file an antitrust complaint to the EU for Apple’s App Store. The company is taking issue with Apple’s argument that its 30 percent App Store commission keeps it running. (Javier Espinoza / Financial Times)
Organizers of the Facebook ad boycott say the campaign is headed for Europe. They’ll be pushing for major regulatory reform, some of which is already happening. (Alex Heath / The Information)
The Chinese government, possibly in concert with Russia, manipulated former CNN star Larry King into spreading disinformation through a fake interview with a Russian journalist. (Renee Dudley and Jeff Kao / ProPublica)
China’s AI-powered surveillance tools are being exported to actual and would-be autocracies around the world. Those technologies are quickly being refined, allowing for all-encompassing surveillance systems that will allow more dictators to essentially plug and play. (Ross Andersen / The Atlantic)
Industry
⭐ The big tech companies reported monster earnings today, (Business Insider) even as the US economy saw the biggest quarterly plunge in activity ever (CNBC). Good thing we held that antitrust yesterday hearing, before any of these CEOs could take a question about it! Here’s where each company landed:
Apple’s said this year’s new iPhone models will arrive a few weeks later than they have in years past. The move means some revenue that typically comes at the end of September won’t come until the final quarter of the year. (Ina Fried / Axios)
Black Reddit moderators say hate speech and abuse are the norm. Some describe hearing “radio silence” from Reddit administrators in response to their concerns, though they’re cautiously optimistic that could change with the platform’s new content policies. (Margot Harris / Insider)
Moonbug Entertainment acquired two of the most popular kids channels on YouTube: Cocomelon, an animated show that is the most-viewed channel on the site, and Blippi, a program hosted by entertainer Stevin John. (Lucas Shaw / Bloomberg)
Things to do
Stuff to occupy you online during the quarantine.
John Lewis wrote a final prayer for America before his death. Read it. “Ordinary people with extraordinary vision can redeem the soul of America by getting in what I call good trouble, necessary trouble,” he said.
Read a co-founder of the Federalist Society explain why President Trump’s tweet suggesting that the election be delayed is cause for impeachment by itself. “Until recently, I had taken as political hyperbole the Democrats’ assertion that President Trump is a fascist,” Steven Calabresi writes. “But this latest tweet is fascistic and is itself grounds for the president’s immediate impeachment again by the House of Representatives and his removal from office by the Senate.”
Those good tweets
Talk to us


theverge--2020-07-31--Halo Infinite multiplayer will be free-to-play and up to 120fps, leaks reveal

An Irish retailer has revealed that Halo Infinite ’ s multiplayer mode will be free-to-play and support up to 120fps .
Smyths Toys Superstores briefly posted details ( Google Cache ) about Halo Infinite multiplayer on a promotional page this week before quickly removing them once the internet discovered the references .
“ The legendary Halo series returns with the most expansive Master Chief campaign yet and a groundbreaking free-to-play multiplayer experience , ” read the listing .
“ Enjoy up to 120 FPS and greatly reduced load times creating seamless gameplay with Xbox Series X.
” Klobrille , an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Infinite details , backed up the claims that the multiplayer mode will be free-to-play .
The leaker also claims the arena mode will aim for up to 120fps , and that multiplayer Halo Infinite will include a battle pass system and new customization options .
343 Industries hasn ’ t revealed much about the multiplayer aspects of Halo Infinite yet .
The game developer posted a lengthy blog post responding to Halo Infinite questions yesterday , including addressing the criticism around graphics and visuals in the game .
“ In many ways we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have work to do to address some of these areas and raise the level of fidelity and overall presentation for the final game , ” says John Junyszek , a community manager at 343 Industries .
“ The build used to run the campaign demo was work-in-progress from several weeks ago with a variety of graphical elements and game systems still being finished and polished .
”

Halo Infinite’s multiplayer mode will be free-to-play and support up to 120fps, Microsoft has announced. The news comes after a leak from Smyths Toys Superstores, which briefly posted details (Google Cache) about Halo Infinite multiplayer on a promotional page this week before quickly removing them once the internet discovered the references.
“The legendary Halo series returns with the most expansive Master Chief campaign yet and a groundbreaking free-to-play multiplayer experience,” read the listing. “Enjoy up to 120 FPS and greatly reduced load times creating seamless gameplay with Xbox Series X.”
The listing on Smyths Toys Superstores.
Klobrille, an Xbox leaker that accurately revealed previous Halo Infinite details, backed up the claims that the multiplayer mode will be free-to-play. The leaker also claims the arena mode will aim for up to 120fps — which Microsoft has also confirmed — and that multiplayer Halo Infinite will include a battle pass system and new customization options (which the company has not.)
343 Industries hasn’t revealed much about the multiplayer aspects of Halo Infinite yet. The game developer posted a lengthy blog post responding to Halo Infinite questions yesterday, including addressing the criticism around graphics and visuals in the game.
“In many ways we are in agreement here — we do have work to do to address some of these areas and raise the level of fidelity and overall presentation for the final game,” says John Junyszek, a community manager at 343 Industries. “The build used to run the campaign demo was work-in-progress from several weeks ago with a variety of graphical elements and game systems still being finished and polished.”


theverge--2020-07-31--Who wouldn’t want their Echo Dot to look like Baby Yoda?

There are plenty of things I could tell you about Otterbox ’ s new stand for the third-generation Amazon Echo Dot smart speaker .
I could tell you about its “ durable materials ” or how it ’ s designed to “ securely ” hold on to your Echo device .
The Amazon listing even claims its “ precision-fit , non-slip base ” is “ engineered for optimal audio output.
” But you and I both know that none of that really matters , because what ’ s really important here is that this base adds little tiny Emmy-nominated Baby @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Echo Dot .
If you want to pretend that you ’ re actually speaking to The Mandalorian character every time you ask Alexa to set a timer , then this is ( probably ) the easiest way to do it .
The stand is made by Otterbox , a company best known for its smartphone cases , but which has also put out a number of interesting gadget accessories over the years .
There ’ s the stackable wireless chargers that it announced last year , or the phone cases that came with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Baby Yoda Amazon Echo stand is available for pre-order on Amazon now , with a release expected on August 20th , for $ 24.95 .
For those keeping track , that ’ s a little under half the cost of the Amazon Echo Dot itself .
The stand is only designed to work with the third-generation smart speaker .
*Yes , I know the character is technically called “ The Child ” but please , I implore you , live a little .

There are plenty of things I could tell you about Otterbox’s new stand for the third-generation Amazon Echo Dot smart speaker. I could tell you about its “durable materials” or how it’s designed to “securely” hold on to your Echo device. The Amazon listing even claims its “precision-fit, non-slip base” is “engineered for optimal audio output.”
But you and I both know that none of that really matters, because what’s really important here is that this base adds little tiny Emmy-nominated Baby Yoda* ears to the sides of your Echo Dot. If you want to pretend that you’re actually speaking to The Mandalorian character every time you ask Alexa to set a timer, then this is (probably) the easiest way to do it.
It’s “engineered for optimal audio output,” apparently. Image: Otterbox
The stand is made by Otterbox, a company best known for its smartphone cases, but which has also put out a number of interesting gadget accessories over the years. There’s the stackable wireless chargers that it announced last year, or the phone cases that came with built-in PopSockets-style PopGrips.
OtterBox’s Baby Yoda Amazon Echo stand is available for pre-order on Amazon now, with a release expected on August 20th, for $24.95. For those keeping track, that’s a little under half the cost of the Amazon Echo Dot itself. The stand is only designed to work with the third-generation smart speaker.


theverge--2020-07-31--Oppo launches mid-range Reno 4 Pro for $470

Oppo has announced the Reno 4 Pro for international release .
It ’ s a mid-range phone that isn ’ t a million miles away from sister company OnePlus ’ new Nord in specs , design , and pricing .
The Reno 4 Pro has a matte back panel with a gradient design and a glossy finish on the quad camera bump .
It feels very thin and light by today ’ s standards , at 7.7mm thick and 161g .
The camera bump bears the legend “ INNOVATIVE QUADCAM ” in capital letters , which is a pretty amusing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but otherwise this is an attractive device .
The phone looks good from the front , too , with a 6.5-inch 90Hz 1080p AMOLED screen with the slightest of curves on the edges .
Unlike other curved screens , this panel doesn ’ t stretch right to the edge of the bezel , which could be a pro or con depending on your perspective .
The internal specs include a Snapdragon 720G processor ( versus the Nord ’ s 765G ) , 8GB of RAM , 128GB of storage , and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ SuperVOOC 2.0 flash charging that can fill the battery up in 36 minutes over USB-C , which is actually a little slower than the implementation of the tech on some other Oppo phones , but speedy when compared to almost any other company .
There ’ s no wireless charging , unsurprisingly for Oppo .
The camera setup includes a 48-megapixel main sensor , a 32-megapixel selfie camera , an 8-megapixel ultrawide , a 2-megapixel macro camera , and a 2-megapixel monochrome sensor .
One of the key camera features is a black-and-white @ @ @ @ @ @ @ colors , so you can make your home movies look like Sin City — it actually works pretty well .
The Reno 4 Pro will be available in various markets , and the Indian launch is on August 5th .
There ’ s just one 8GB/128GB model and it ’ ll sell for Rs .
34,990 ( $ ~470 ) .
That might be a tough sell against the OnePlus Nord : OnePlus dominates the premium market in India , and the equivalent 8GB/128GB model costs Rs .
27,999 ( $ 375 ) @ @ @ @ @

Oppo has announced the Reno 4 Pro for international release. It’s a mid-range phone that isn’t a million miles away from sister company OnePlus’ new Nord in specs, design, and pricing.
The Reno 4 Pro has a matte back panel with a gradient design and a glossy finish on the quad camera bump. It feels very thin and light by today’s standards, at 7.7mm thick and 161g. The camera bump bears the legend “INNOVATIVE QUADCAM” in capital letters, which is a pretty amusing thing to write on a camera bump, but otherwise this is an attractive device.
The phone looks good from the front, too, with a 6.5-inch 90Hz 1080p AMOLED screen with the slightest of curves on the edges. Unlike other curved screens, this panel doesn’t stretch right to the edge of the bezel, which could be a pro or con depending on your perspective.
The internal specs include a Snapdragon 720G processor (versus the Nord’s 765G), 8GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, and a 4,000mAh battery. Oppo has included 65W SuperVOOC 2.0 flash charging that can fill the battery up in 36 minutes over USB-C, which is actually a little slower than the implementation of the tech on some other Oppo phones, but speedy when compared to almost any other company. There’s no wireless charging, unsurprisingly for Oppo.
The camera setup includes a 48-megapixel main sensor, a 32-megapixel selfie camera, an 8-megapixel ultrawide, a 2-megapixel macro camera, and a 2-megapixel monochrome sensor. One of the key camera features is a black-and-white video mode that highlights people or individual colors, so you can make your home movies look like Sin City — it actually works pretty well.


theverge--2020-07-31--Google is now making it easier to find Black-owned businesses

Google is launching a new tool that allows businesses to identify themselves as Black-owned through the company ’ s Maps and Search listings .
The new feature is part of the company ’ s pledge announced last month to support the Black community with “ initiatives and product ideas that support long-term solutions.
” When searching for a business through Google.com or Google Maps , you ’ ll now be able to see a new badge to represent Black-owned businesses — it ’ s a black heart over an orange three-striped background , like the one you can see in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their business on Google and verify they own it by mail , phone or email before they can apply for the badge ; it ’ s not clear how or whether Google can actually tell if they ’ re Black-owned .
In 2018 , Google introduced similar badges for businesses to display if they were either “ Women-Led ” and/or friendly to members of the LGBTQ+ community .
Within the last few months , Google says it has seen “ a surge in online searches for Black-owned businesses ” as consumers look to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support amid the Black Lives Matter protests .
One of Google ’ s main business listing competitors , Yelp , which introduced its own Black-owned icon recently , has seen a similar increase in searches for the same type of businesses .
Yelp said in its Q2 earnings report that there were more than 2.5 million searches for Black-owned businesses between May 25th and July 10th .

Google is launching a new tool that allows businesses to identify themselves as Black-owned through the company’s Maps and Search listings. The new feature is part of the company’s pledge announced last month to support the Black community with “initiatives and product ideas that support long-term solutions.”
When searching for a business through Google.com or Google Maps, you’ll now be able to see a new badge to represent Black-owned businesses — it’s a black heart over an orange three-striped background, like the one you can see in these images. They need to claim their business on Google and verify they own it by mail, phone or email before they can apply for the badge; it’s not clear how or whether Google can actually tell if they’re Black-owned. In 2018, Google introduced similar badges for businesses to display if they were either “Women-Led” and/or friendly to members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Image: Google


theverge--2020-07-31--Gogo lays off 14 percent of its workers as airline industry struggles continue

In-flight Wi-Fi provider Gogo is laying off 143 people , or about 14 percent of its workforce , as people continue to avoid air travel during the COVID-19 pandemic .
The company previously furloughed 600 workers and cut executive pay in April , and said Thursday that it will “ continue certain furloughs and maintain the salary reductions that were previously implemented.
” The cuts will come “ predominantly from the Company ’ s Commercial Aviation business , ” according to a press release issued Thursday .
Gogo applied for CARES Act funding , but it ’ s unclear if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Based on our current expectations of the scope and timing of a recovery in the industry and our Commercial Aviation business , reducing our workforce has become a necessary step , ” Oakleigh Thorne , Gogo ’ s CEO said in a statement .
“ We do not take this action lightly , but we believe it is critical in our efforts to preserve our financial flexibility , while maintaining the quality of our service and relationships with our customers.
” Gogo has not turned a profit since it went public in 2013 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of sorts before the pandemic hit .
The company has been shifting its business to rely more on satellite-based internet for its in-flight Wi-Fi services .
because its current network is still heavily dependent on air-to-ground connections that are susceptible to interruptions and bandwidth issues .
The company previously said its plans to roll out a 5G network in 2021 were unaffected by the furloughs , but it ’ s not immediately clear if that has changed .
Gogo is not the only provider facing pandemic-related struggles .
Just last week , Global @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Southwest — filed for bankruptcy .

In-flight Wi-Fi provider Gogo is laying off 143 people, or about 14 percent of its workforce, as people continue to avoid air travel during the COVID-19 pandemic. The company previously furloughed 600 workers and cut executive pay in April, and said Thursday that it will “continue certain furloughs and maintain the salary reductions that were previously implemented.”
The cuts will come “predominantly from the Company’s Commercial Aviation business,” according to a press release issued Thursday. Gogo applied for CARES Act funding, but it’s unclear if it ever received any assistance.
“Based on our current expectations of the scope and timing of a recovery in the industry and our Commercial Aviation business, reducing our workforce has become a necessary step,” Oakleigh Thorne, Gogo’s CEO said in a statement. “We do not take this action lightly, but we believe it is critical in our efforts to preserve our financial flexibility, while maintaining the quality of our service and relationships with our customers.”
Gogo has not turned a profit since it went public in 2013, and was undergoing a strategic shift of sorts before the pandemic hit. The company has been shifting its business to rely more on satellite-based internet for its in-flight Wi-Fi services. because its current network is still heavily dependent on air-to-ground connections that are susceptible to interruptions and bandwidth issues. The company previously said its plans to roll out a 5G network in 2021 were unaffected by the furloughs. After this article was published, the company said the 5G network “remains a priority and we are continuing to invest in it. No testing yet still, but it remains a priority.”
Gogo is not the only provider facing pandemic-related struggles. Just last week, Global Eagle — which supplies in-flight Wi-Fi to Southwest — filed for bankruptcy.


theverge--2020-07-31--Three people have been charged for Twitter’s huge hack, and a Florida teen is in jail

Early on July 31st , the FBI , IRS , US Secret Service , and Florida law enforcement placed 17-year-old Graham Clark of Tampa , Florida , under arrest .
He ’ s accused of being the “ mastermind ” behind the biggest security and privacy breach in Twitter ’ s history , one that took over the accounts of President Barack Obama , Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden , Bill Gates , Elon Musk , Kanye West , Apple , and more to perpetrate a huge bitcoin scam on July 15th .
Apparently , he wasn ’ t alone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ revealed and after we published this story , two more individuals were formally charged by the US Department of Justice : 22-year-old Nima Fazeli in Orlando and 19-year-old Mason Sheppard in the UK .
They go by the hacker aliases “ Rolex ” and “ Chaewon , ” respectively , according to the DOJ .
The FBI says that two individuals in total are in custody .
An unidentified minor in California also admitted to federal agents that they ’ d helped Chaewon sell access to Twitter accounts .
But according to an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ probable cause to believe Clark , the Tampa teen , was the one who got access to Twitter ’ s internal tools and directly carried out the scam .
Specifically , he allegedly convinced a Twitter employee that he worked in the Twitter IT department and tricked that employee into giving him the credentials .
To wit : Clark without authorization gain [ sic ] access to Twitter Inc. ’ s Customer Service Portal .
Clack used social engineering to convince a Twitter employee that he was a co-worker in the IT department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ access the customer service portal .
Clark then accessed the Twitter accounts of prominent individuals , including VP Joe Biden , former President Barack Obama and business [ sic ] such as Apple and Coinbase .
Clark then posted on their Twitter accounts a communication that if Bitcoins are sent to accounts they will be doubled and returned to the victim .
Clark did not return the funds and he moved the funds to another account .
10 prominent people had their personal identification information in the form of a verifide [ sic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used [ sic ] in the fraudulent activity .
Clark received approximately $ 117,000 during the commission of his scheme to defraud .
How Twitter ’ s systems were accessed had been an open question ; Twitter merely said that it fell victim to a “ phone spear phishing attack ” , and previous reports suggested the hacker either found their way into Twitter ’ s internal Slack channel or managed to bribe an employee .
According to federal agents , Sheppard was found out partly because he used a personal driver ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Binance and Coinbase cryptocurrency exchanges , and his accounts were found to have sent and received some of the scammed bitcoin .
Fazeli also used a driver ’ s license to verify with Coinbase , where accounts controlled by “ Rolex ” allegedly received payments in exchange for stolen Twitter usernames .
Fazeli is facing five years in prison and a $ 250,000 fine for one count of computer intrusion .
Sheppard is being charged with computer intrusion , wire fraud conspiracy , and money laundering conspiracy , the most serious of which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 250,000 fine in the US .
Sheppard and Fazeli appear to just be middlemen for the scam — a hacker with the handle “ Kirk # 5270 ” is believed to be the one who got access to Twitter ’ s internal systems as of July 22nd .
It ’ s not clear if Clark is Kirk # 5270 , though it sounds like that ’ s the case based on the new affidavit .
However , the FBI says its investigation is ongoing and it ’ s still looking for more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claimed to be a Twitter employee , according to a Discord chat log : Either way , Clark is currently in jail and being charged with over 30 felony counts , including organized fraud , communications fraud , identity theft , and hacking , Hillsborough State Attorney Andrew Warren said in a news conference describing the arrest .
Local NBC affiliate WFLA alerted us to that news .
Initially , it wasn ’ t clear whether the 17-year-old was the only suspect in the case .
“ I can ’ t comment on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Warren , the Florida prosecutor .
He was arrested at his apartment where he lives by himself , authorities stated .
“ This was not an ordinary 17-year old ” — proscecutor He ’ s being charged as an adult — “ This was not an ordinary 17-year old , ” said the state attorney — and the press conference made clear that law enforcement is considering how bad consequences of the hack could have been , beyond the $ 100,000-plus in bitcoin that the teen is alleged to have scammed out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have had a massive , massive amount of money stolen from people , it could have destabilized financial markets within America and across the globe ; because he had access to powerful politicians ’ Twitter accounts , he could have undermined politics as well as international diplomacy , ” said Warren .
“ This is not a game ... these are serious crimes with serious consequences , and if you think you can rip people off online and get away with it , you ’ ll be in for a rude awakening , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ form of a 6 AM knock on your door from federal agents , ” he added later .
The teen Clark was “ taken into custody without any incident ” ; his first appearance may be as soon as tomorrow morning , Warren said .
He ’ s being prosecuted in Florida so he can be charged as an adult , suggesting that there may not currently be any federal charges against him .
Twitter provided the following tweet as its statement : Some private messages were also accessed In addition to scamming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accessed the private direct messages of 36 Twitter users , including one elected official , and may have downloaded even larger caches of data for seven other users .
Twitter claims that no verified users had their private messages or data caches compromised , though , suggesting that Biden , Obama , and others ’ DMs could have been safe .
President Trump ’ s Twitter account has long had extra protections , which could explain why it wasn ’ t hacked .
Here ’ s the whole press release from the Hillsborough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ info about the arrest as well as DOJ complaints about the other two individuals .
Tampa , FL ( July 31 , 2020 ) — Hillsborough State Attorney Andrew Warren has filed 30 felony charges against a Tampa resident for scamming people across America , perpetrating the “ Bit-Con ” hack of prominent Twitter accounts including Bill Gates , Barack Obama , and Elon Musk on July 15 , 2020 .
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Justice conducted a complex nationwide investigation , locating and apprehending the suspect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were perpetrated using the names of famous people and celebrities , but they ’ re not the primary victims here .
This ‘ Bit-Con ’ was designed to steal money from regular Americans from all over the country , including here in Florida .
This massive fraud was orchestrated right here in our backyard , and we will not stand for that , ” State Attorney Warren said .
The investigation revealed Graham Ivan Clark , 17 , was the mastermind of the recent hack of Twitter .
He was arrested in Tampa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s scheme to defraud stole the identities of prominent people , posted messages in their names directing victims to send Bitcoin to accounts associated with Clark , and reaped more than $ 100,000 in Bitcoin in just one day .
As a cryptocurrency , Bitcoin is difficult to track and recover if stolen in a scam .
“ I want to congratulate our federal law enforcement partners—the US Attorney ’ s Office for the Northern District of California , the FBI , the IRS , and the Secret Service—as well as the Florida @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quickly to investigate and identify the perpetrator of a sophisticated and extensive fraud , ” State Attorney Warren said .
“ This defendant lives here in Tampa , he committed the crime here , and he ’ ll be prosecuted here , ” Warren added .
The Hillsborough State Attorney ’ s Office is prosecuting Clark because Florida law allows minors to be charged as adults in financial fraud cases such as this when appropriate .
The FBI and Department of Justice will continue to partner with the office throughout the prosecution .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 100,000 OR 30 OR MORE VICTIMS ) – 1 count ACCESS COMPUTER OR ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITHOUT AUTHORITY ( SCHEME TO DEFRAUD ) – 1 count “ Working together , we will hold this defendant accountable , ” Warren said .
“ Scamming people out of their hard-earned money is always wrong .
Whether you ’ re taking advantage of someone in person or on the internet , trying to steal their cash or their cryptocurrency—it ’ s fraud , it ’ s illegal , and you won ’ t get away with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We had been continually updating this post , most prominently when the two additional individuals in the UK and Orlando were charged .
This marks a breaking point .
Update , 3:50PM ET : Added some of the specific charges against the 17-year-old .
Update , 6:28PM ET : Added that the FBI is still investigating , and authorities have taken two individuals in total into custody .
Update , 7:08PM ET : With new information that Clark is believed to have been the one to access Twitter ’ s internal tools .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the minor in California who also assisted Chaewon .

Hillsborough State Attorney’s Office tapped to prosecute worldwide “Bit-Con” hack of prominent Twitter users
Tampa, FL (July 31, 2020) — Hillsborough State Attorney Andrew Warren has filed 30 felony charges against a Tampa resident for scamming people across America, perpetrating the “Bit-Con” hack of prominent Twitter accounts including Bill Gates, Barack Obama, and Elon Musk on July 15, 2020.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Justice conducted a complex nationwide investigation, locating and apprehending the suspect in Hillsborough County.
“These crimes were perpetrated using the names of famous people and celebrities, but they’re not the primary victims here. This ‘Bit-Con’ was designed to steal money from regular Americans from all over the country, including here in Florida. This massive fraud was orchestrated right here in our backyard, and we will not stand for that,” State Attorney Warren said.
The investigation revealed Graham Ivan Clark, 17, was the mastermind of the recent hack of Twitter. He was arrested in Tampa early on July 31. Clark’s scheme to defraud stole the identities of prominent people, posted messages in their names directing victims to send Bitcoin to accounts associated with Clark, and reaped more than $100,000 in Bitcoin in just one day. As a cryptocurrency, Bitcoin is difficult to track and recover if stolen in a scam.
“I want to congratulate our federal law enforcement partners—the US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California, the FBI, the IRS, and the Secret Service—as well as the Florida Department of Law enforcement. They worked quickly to investigate and identify the perpetrator of a sophisticated and extensive fraud,” State Attorney Warren said.
“This defendant lives here in Tampa, he committed the crime here, and he’ll be prosecuted here,” Warren added. The Hillsborough State Attorney’s Office is prosecuting Clark because Florida law allows minors to be charged as adults in financial fraud cases such as this when appropriate. The FBI and Department of Justice will continue to partner with the office throughout the prosecution.
The specific charges Clark faces are:
ORGANIZED FRAUD (OVER $50,000) – 1 count
COMMUNICATIONS FRAUD (OVER $300) – 17 counts
FRAUDULENT USE OF PERSONAL INFORMATION (OVER $100,000 OR 30 OR MORE VICTIMS) – 1 count
FRAUDULENT USE OF PERSONAL INFORMATION – 10 counts
ACCESS COMPUTER OR ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITHOUT AUTHORITY (SCHEME TO DEFRAUD) – 1 count
“Working together, we will hold this defendant accountable,” Warren said. “Scamming people out of their hard-earned money is always wrong. Whether you’re taking advantage of someone in person or on the internet, trying to steal their cash or their cryptocurrency—it’s fraud, it’s illegal, and you won’t get away with it.”


theverge--2020-07-31--Google’s ‘trust tokens’ are here to take cookies down a peg

Google said earlier this year it would join other web browser companies to block third-party cookies in Chrome , and today , developers have their first chance to test a proposed alternative to tracking users across the web : trust tokens .
Unlike cookies , trust tokens are designed to authenticate a user without needing to know their identity .
Trust tokens would not be able to track users across websites , because they ’ re theoretically all the same , but they could still let websites prove to advertisers that actual users — not bots — visited a site @ @ @ @ @ @ @ An explainer on GitHub suggests that websites could issue multiple different kinds of trust tokens , though . )
Google ’ s been a little slower to adapt a solution for the third-party tracking cookies that everyone seemingly hates ; Safari and Firefox already block them by default , though Safari is more aggressive about it .
But Mike Schulman , Google ’ s vice president for ads privacy and safety , reiterated in a blog post that the company still plans to eventually phase out third-party cookies in Chrome as well .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ tweaks to the “ why this ad ” button that lets you see why some ads are targeted to you .
The new “ about this ad ” label will now provide the verified name of the advertiser , too , so you can tell which companies are targeting you , and make it clearer to people how Google collects personal data for ads .
The new labels will begin rolling out toward the end of the year .
The company also announced an extension for its Chrome browser , currently in alpha @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should provide “ detailed information about all the ads they see on the web.
” Users will be able to see details about ads on a given page , see why ads are shown on a page , and a list of other companies and services with a presence on the page , such as website analytics or content delivery networks .

Google said earlier this year it would join other web browser companies to block third-party cookies in Chrome, and today, developers have their first chance to test a proposed alternative to tracking users across the web: trust tokens.
Unlike cookies, trust tokens are designed to authenticate a user without needing to know their identity. Trust tokens would not be able to track users across websites, because they’re theoretically all the same, but they could still let websites prove to advertisers that actual users — not bots — visited a site or clicked on an ad. (An explainer on GitHub suggests that websites could issue multiple different kinds of trust tokens, though.)
In addition, Google is making some tweaks to the “why this ad” button that lets you see why some ads are targeted to you. The new “about this ad” label will now provide the verified name of the advertiser, too, so you can tell which companies are targeting you, and make it clearer to people how Google collects personal data for ads. The new labels will begin rolling out toward the end of the year.


theverge--2020-07-31--Apple is now the world’s most valuable publicly traded company

Apple is now the world ’ s most valuable publicly traded company , passing Saudi Arabia ’ s state-owned oil company Saudi Aramco .
As of close of business Friday , Apple has a market valuation of $ 1.84 trillion , while Saudi Aramco ’ s is $ 1.76 trillion , according to CNBC .
Apple ’ s stock , which has been on a largely-steady climb since the end of March , closed up more than 10 percent on Friday following the company ’ s record-breaking third-quarter earnings on Thursday , ending the day at $ 425.04 .
Apple @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 59.7 billion , up 11 percent from last year .
Strong Mac and iPad sales were a highlight , and the company likely saw increased demand for the devices while people have been sheltering in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic .
Apple also announced a four-for-one stock split as part of its third quarter earnings , which will lower the price of an individual stock .
Amazon , Facebook , and Google all announced earnings yesterday as well , and for the most part , they had pretty good quarters .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic .
Facebook saw a daily user increase of 12 percent year over year to 1.79 billion .
And combined , the four companies netted $ 28.6 billion in profits .
As my colleague Liz Lopatto put it , during the pandemic , the tech companies are raking it in .

Apple is now the world’s most valuable publicly traded company, passing Saudi Arabia’s state-owned oil company Saudi Aramco. As of close of business Friday, Apple has a market valuation of $1.84 trillion, while Saudi Aramco’s is $1.76 trillion, according to CNBC. Apple’s stock, which has been on a largely-steady climb since the end of March, closed up more than 10 percent on Friday following the company’s record-breaking third-quarter earnings on Thursday, ending the day at $425.04.
Apple’s total revenue for Q3 hit $59.7 billion, up 11 percent from last year. Strong Mac and iPad sales were a highlight, and the company likely saw increased demand for the devices while people have been sheltering in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Apple also announced a four-for-one stock split as part of its third quarter earnings, which will lower the price of an individual stock.


theverge--2020-07-31--Microsoft confirms Halo Infinite multiplayer will be free-to-play and up to 120fps

Halo Infinite ’ s multiplayer mode will be free-to-play and support up to 120fps , Microsoft has announced .
The news comes after a leak from Smyths Toys Superstores , which briefly posted details ( Google Cache ) about Halo Infinite multiplayer on a promotional page this week before quickly removing them once the internet discovered the references .
“ The legendary Halo series returns with the most expansive Master Chief campaign yet and a groundbreaking free-to-play multiplayer experience , ” read the listing .
“ Enjoy up to 120 FPS and greatly reduced load times creating seamless gameplay with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Xbox leaker that accurately revealed previous Halo Infinite details , backed up the claims that the multiplayer mode will be free-to-play .
The leaker also claims the arena mode will aim for up to 120fps — which Microsoft has also confirmed — and that multiplayer Halo Infinite will include a battle pass system and new customization options ( which the company has not . )
343 Industries hasn ’ t revealed much about the multiplayer aspects of Halo Infinite yet .
The game developer posted a lengthy blog post responding to Halo Infinite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around graphics and visuals in the game .
“ In many ways we are in agreement here — we do have work to do to address some of these areas and raise the level of fidelity and overall presentation for the final game , ” says John Junyszek , a community manager at 343 Industries .
“ The build used to run the campaign demo was work-in-progress from several weeks ago with a variety of graphical elements and game systems still being finished and polished.
” Update July 31st , 4:45 PM ET @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s multiplayer will be free-to-play .


theverge--2020-07-31--Rocket Lab says it has approval to return to flight after losing a rocket during launch

Less than a month after Rocket Lab lost one of its vehicles during a mission , the small satellite launcher has approval from the Federal Aviation Administration to start launching its Electron rockets again .
The company plans to launch its next rocket sometime in August from the company ’ s primary launch site in New Zealand .
On July 4th , Rocket Lab launched its 13th mission to space from New Zealand , carrying seven small satellites , most of which were designed to image the Earth from above .
Just a few minutes into the flight , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Electron shut down too early , according to Rocket Lab .
As a result , the rocket didn ’ t achieve orbit and fell back into Earth ’ s atmosphere where it burned up and destroyed all the satellites on board .
Rocket Lab claims that it kept getting data from the rocket after the early shutdown , allowing the company to figure out what went wrong .
“ The good news is — if there is any good news from an anomaly — is that the engine was shut down in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Rocket Lab ’ s CEO , said during a press conference .
Ultimately , Rocket Lab is blaming the issue on a faulty electrical connection .
As the launch progressed , the bad connection expanded , heated up , and actually liquified its surroundings .
That created a chain reaction that led to the shutdown .
“ The issue is well understood by the team.
” Beck says that the electrical problem evaded all of the company ’ s testing before the flight .
The engineers later realized that it took a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ show any problems , which is why the team missed it in the initial short tests leading up to the launch .
Beck says the engineers have been able to replicate the problem and are confident they ’ ll be able to screen for this issue with tests in the future .
“ The issue is well understood by the team , ” he said .
“ We have 600 people working at Rocket Lab , and this is everybody ’ s number one priority.
” However , Beck said the company isn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ due to bad manufacturing or bad assembly of the part .
Prior to the July launch , all of Rocket Lab ’ s flights had been more or less smooth , reaching orbit as expected and successfully deploying all satellites .
The only exception was the company ’ s first flight , technically a test mission , which made it to space but didn ’ t reach orbit .
Beck says that the accident didn ’ t cause any of Rocket Lab ’ s customers to abandon the company .
In fact , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for its next launch in the coming weeks .
While the company did take a financial hit , Beck says the company has enough cushion and had planned for any potential failures .
Plus , he says they were lucky that the rocket failed the way that it did , instead of failing on the launchpad , for instance .
“ As far as failures go , you know , this was a pretty good one , in a lot of respects , ” he said .

Less than a month after Rocket Lab lost one of its vehicles during a mission, the small satellite launcher has approval from the Federal Aviation Administration to start launching its Electron rockets again. The company plans to launch its next rocket sometime in August from the company’s primary launch site in New Zealand.
On July 4th, Rocket Lab launched its 13th mission to space from New Zealand, carrying seven small satellites, most of which were designed to image the Earth from above. Just a few minutes into the flight, the engine on the upper portion of the Electron shut down too early, according to Rocket Lab. As a result, the rocket didn’t achieve orbit and fell back into Earth’s atmosphere where it burned up and destroyed all the satellites on board.
Rocket Lab claims that it kept getting data from the rocket after the early shutdown, allowing the company to figure out what went wrong. “The good news is — if there is any good news from an anomaly — is that the engine was shut down in a very controlled manner,” Peter Beck, Rocket Lab’s CEO, said during a press conference. Ultimately, Rocket Lab is blaming the issue on a faulty electrical connection. As the launch progressed, the bad connection expanded, heated up, and actually liquified its surroundings. That created a chain reaction that led to the shutdown.
“The issue is well understood by the team.”
Beck says that the electrical problem evaded all of the company’s testing before the flight. The engineers later realized that it took a few minutes for the faulty connection to show any problems, which is why the team missed it in the initial short tests leading up to the launch. Beck says the engineers have been able to replicate the problem and are confident they’ll be able to screen for this issue with tests in the future. “The issue is well understood by the team,” he said. “We have 600 people working at Rocket Lab, and this is everybody’s number one priority.” However, Beck said the company isn’t sure if the problem was due to bad manufacturing or bad assembly of the part.
Prior to the July launch, all of Rocket Lab’s flights had been more or less smooth, reaching orbit as expected and successfully deploying all satellites. The only exception was the company’s first flight, technically a test mission, which made it to space but didn’t reach orbit.


theverge--2020-07-31--Microsoft’s US offices won’t reopen until January 2021 at the earliest

Microsoft isn ’ t planning to fully reopen its US offices until at least January 2021 .
Sources familiar with the company ’ s plans tell The Verge that Microsoft has selected January 19th , 2021 , as the earliest possible date for its US offices to be open for employees .
The software giant is currently planning a “ hybrid workplace ” for a phased reopening of its offices , and Microsoft has produced a six-stage dial that illustrates the return to normal for employees .
Stage six of the dial will be when offices are ready to fully @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Microsoft ’ s offices will return to normal operations only when most restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 outbreak have been lifted and health data suggests it ’ s safe to return .
These are the six stages of Microsoft ’ s workplace dial : “ In the United States , we have established that the earliest possible date for Stage 6 is now January 19 , 2021 , ” according to Kurt DelBene , Microsoft ’ s head of corporate strategy , in an internal memo seen by The Verge .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ return to normal operations while being prepared to back off to an earlier stage , if a significant resurgence in the virus occurs.
” We understand Microsoft will adjust and move the January 2021 date back as needed in response to the ongoing pandemic .
Microsoft originally allowed its employees to work from home back in March before enforcing a mandatory work from home policy as the pandemic spread across Seattle .
The company is currently in stage two of its workplace dial , which maintains the mandatory work from home order .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ plans to not return to offices until 2021 .
Google is planning to keep its employees working remotely until July 2021 , and Apple employees won ’ t be returning to offices until early next year .
Facebook employees are also allowed to work remotely until the end of 2020 , and Amazon is letting employees work from home until January 2021 .

Microsoft isn’t planning to fully reopen its US offices until at least January 2021. Sources familiar with the company’s plans tell The Verge that Microsoft has selected January 19th, 2021, as the earliest possible date for its US offices to be open for employees. The software giant is currently planning a “hybrid workplace” for a phased reopening of its offices, and Microsoft has produced a six-stage dial that illustrates the return to normal for employees.
Stage six of the dial will be when offices are ready to fully reopen for employees to return to work. Microsoft’s offices will return to normal operations only when most restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 outbreak have been lifted and health data suggests it’s safe to return.
These are the six stages of Microsoft’s workplace dial:
Stage 1: closed
Stage 2: mandatory working from home
Stage 3: working from home strongly encouraged
Stage 4: soft opening
Stage 5: open with restrictions
Stage 6: open
“In the United States, we have established that the earliest possible date for Stage 6 is now January 19, 2021,” according to Kurt DelBene, Microsoft’s head of corporate strategy, in an internal memo seen by The Verge. “Our goal for Stage 6 is to return to normal operations while being prepared to back off to an earlier stage, if a significant resurgence in the virus occurs.”
We understand Microsoft will adjust and move the January 2021 date back as needed in response to the ongoing pandemic.


theverge--2020-07-31--Dark Sky alternatives for Android weather watchers

If you ’ re a weather geek , you probably already know that Dark Sky , one of the most popular weather apps around , has been acquired by Apple and is probably being integrated into iOS 14 .
As a result , anyone who uses an Android device and has the Dark Sky app is going to lose access on August 1st .
( It was originally going to go away on July 1st , but the shutdown was delayed a month . )
In addition , a variety of other apps ( some not even weather-related ) will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
If you ’ re an Android user with Dark Sky and you ’ re wondering where to go now for your weather report , there are a few alternatives to choose from .
But first , here are a couple of things to consider .
Several Android weather apps have been found to ask for more permissions than they need and to have shared location data with advertisers and other third parties .
These privacy issues are detailed in a Vice article by Jason Koebler .
One suggestion is to simply use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its OS .
A way to get that somewhat elusive app to live on your home screen is described on GadgetHacks.com .
We tried it , and it works quite nicely .
If the Google app isn ’ t enough for you , here are six alternatives .
All have free versions with ads , and all have paid versions that not only remove the ads but add other features .
Besides the price of each app , I ’ ve also listed all the various permissions requested as listed on its Google @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some of these permissions are specific to certain features , so if you never use the feature , you won ’ t be asked for permission .
Some can be controlled within the app .
You can also refuse specific permissions that you feel are over the top by going to “ Settings ” > “ Apps & notifications , ” finding the app , selecting “ Permissions , ” and then tapping on the specific permission you want to deny .
Carrot may be known less for its weather predictions than for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in audio and / or text on the happenings of the day .
( Last month , for example , it snarked , “ I ’ m sending bad weather to all the people who refuse to wear masks to hide hideous faces.
” ) In fact , you can set its personality ( friendly , snarky , homicidal , or overkill ) and its politics ( liberal , conservative , centrist , libertarian , communist , or apolitical ) to suit your own tastes .
All that being said , Carrot is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a reasonable amount of data on current and upcoming weather .
It has been using the Dark Sky API for its data , which will disappear by the end of 2021 .
However , according to a tweet by creator Brian Mueller , other data sources will be available .
• Price : Free with ads .
“ Premium Club ” removes the ads and offers a widget and other features for $ 0.99 per month or $ 3.99 annually .
• Permissions requested : photos / media / files , Wi-Fi connection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others , including control vibration and network connections .
1Weather is a well-known app with a variety of screens showing the current weather , the forecast , precipitation , radar , and the Sun and Moon rise and set , among others .
I personally found the interface a bit crowded , but it does offer a lot of information , and it even has its own TV weather forecaster .
Unfortunately , besides the usual scrolling ads at the bottom , the app also includes full-page pop-up ads ; one that I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that I found annoying .
According to the app ’ s website , it gets its info using the Weather2020 platform , along with meteorologist Gary Lezak .
Permissions requested : photos / media / files , Wi-Fi connection information , storage , location , and others ( receive data from internet , view network connections , prevent device from sleeping , run at startup , full network access , set wallpaper , control vibration , read Google service configuration ) .
Anyone who ever watched cable TV or listened to the radio @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been used by many stations for their forecasts .
According to its website , it collects its own data using a combination of meteorologists , a global forecast engine , and other sources .
The app was recently redesigned with an attractive interface that offers immediate access to the current actual and “ RealFeel ” temperatures , along with alerts for any weather events in the next 60 minutes .
You can also see forecasts on an hourly and daily basis , along with current radar , using tabs at the bottom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , accesses via an icon at the top-right corner , offers videos on the latest weather-related disasters .
Price : Free with ads or $ 8.99 annually for no ads , weather alerts , and live forecast radar .
Permissions requested : storage , microphone , photos / media / files , location , Wi-Fi connection information , others ( receive data from internet , disable your screen lock , prevent device from sleeping , draw over other apps , run at startup , access Bluetooth settings , full network access , read @ @ @ @ @ @ @ settings , Google Play license check , pair with Bluetooth devices , view network connections , control vibration , connect and disconnect from Wi-Fi ) .
Today Weather may be the best-looking of all the apps listed here .
It ’ s got a straightforward interface that starts with a photo and today ’ s weather , and you can scroll down for details on the weather for the next 24 hours and seven days , air quality , and other categories .
You can scroll left for more details on any of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the US , you automatically get your data from weather.gov ( which is served by the National Weather Service ) ; paying customers can choose from a variety of data sources .
Price : Free with ads , $ 1.99 for six months , $ 2.99 for one year , or $ 6.99 forever .
The paid options remove ads , let you choose your data source , and add a few other features .
Permissions requested : location , photos / media / files , storage , camera , Wi-Fi connection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ internet , control vibration , run at startup , full network access , prevent device from sleeping , view network connections ) .
Appy Weather bills itself as “ the most personal weather app.
” It ’ s certainly privacy-conscious ; at the outset , it asks if you want to check the weather via your current location ( in which case it requires permission ) , or do a search for your location ( in which case it doesn ’ t ask for your location permission ) .
The interface was one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve seen , especially its timeline , which lets you scroll down to see the current weather and the upcoming forecast .
You can also scroll from left to right at the bottom to see the temperature , “ feels like , ” precipitation , etc .
Appy Weather currently uses Dark Sky for its data ; according to the developer , they are looking for alternative data sources .
Price : Free version with ads .
The Plus version costs $ 3.99 annually for no ads , radar , notifications , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Go Pro version adds custom notifications , more map layers , and premium weather providers for 99 cents per month or $ 9.99 per year .
Permissions requested : location and others ( control vibration , view network connections , full network access , prevent device from sleeping , run at startup , set an alarm ) .
Like Appy Weather , Overdrop has a simple , easy-to-understand interface with a reasonable , if somewhat limited , selection .
You can see the current weather , hourly weather , and weekly forecast ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ details .
However , its main advantage may be that , if you ’ re a paying customer , you can access 51 different weather widgets — something that widget fans may find worth the price .
At the time of the review , you could choose between Dark Sky ( which , presumably , will be going away soon ) or Weather Bit if you used the free version ; subscribers can also select AccuWeather .
Price : Free with ads ; Pro version costs $ 1.49 per month , $ 3.99 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The paid options remove ads , add a rain and humidity radar , unlock additional providers , add 51 widgets , and provide other features .
Permissions : storage , photos / media / files , storage , location , others ( receive data from internet , run at startup , prevent device from sleeping , set an alarm , Google Play license check , control vibration , full network access , view network connections ) .
This simple app goes to the source : the National Weather Service , run by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) .
It presents data from the NOAA in a clear , easy-to-read format : it opens to the weekly forecast , and you can tap on each day to get more data .
You can also get an hourly forecast and a weather map .
By the way , if you want to get your weather info directly from the NOAA , you can go to the site ( weather.gov ) , enter your zip code to get your local forecast , and then save the mobile page to your home screen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” dots in the upper-right corner of your browser and then selecting “ Add to Home screen ” ) .
Price : Free with ads .
$ 1.99 version removes ads and allows more than three saved locations .
Permissions : storage , location , photos / media / files , others ( receive data from internet , full network access , prevent device from sleeping , view network connections control vibration , run at startup ) It ’ s immediately apparent that FlowX ( once known as WeatherBomb ) is for weather @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it opens to a weather map and temperature / humidity charts rather than the usual text-based weather summary , and lets you choose what types of data the map shows .
You get a seven-day forecast ; slide your finger across the screen for each day ’ s forecast .
The free app gets its data from the NOAA ; the Pro version gives you more map styles , a graph editor , and access to more focused NOAA data for $ 4.99 / year .
The Silver Pro subscription ( $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sources , and the Gold Pro ( $ 19.99 / year ) even more , including the RTOFS ( Global Real-Time Ocean Forecast System ) .
Permissions : storage , location , photos / media / files , Wi-Fi connection , others ( receive data from internet , full network access , prevent device from sleeping , view network connections ) Update June 29th , 3:42PM ET : This article was originally published on April 1st , 2020 , and it has been updated to include two new apps and to update several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 2:30PM ET : This article was changed to update several of the entries .

One of the more popular uses for phones (besides taking photos and watching TikTok videos) is to check out the weather. As a result, there are myriad weather apps out there, making it really hard to pick which one to use. So we’ve put together this guide to what we think are some of the better ones out there.
With the exception of one that used to be very well-liked: Dark Sky. Back in March 2020, Dark Sky was acquired by Apple and almost immediately removed from the Google Play app store. Originally, the Dark Sky API was going to be pulled as well — leaving a lot of third-party apps desperately looking for a substitute — but that’s been put off until at least the end of 2022. (By the way, if you use the iOS version of Dark Sky, that’s going away at the end of 2022 as well.)
Of course, if you want, you can just settle for the “At a Glance” weather widget that Google includes on its homescreen; tap that, and you get a reasonably good weather report. But if you’re a weather geek, or you want to be able to tweak your weather report a little more than Google allows, we’ve got 10 alternatives here. All have free versions with ads, and all but one have paid versions that remove the ads and often include additional features.
Note: in earlier versions of this article, we listed the permissions that each app requested. However, since most weather apps seem to ask for pretty much the same permissions, we’ve removed the listings and suggest that you simply check out your chosen weather app’s list of permissions that’s at the bottom of its page in the Play Store. (That’s not a bad idea for any app, actually.)
Carrot greets the day with a snarky comment. Carrot offers data on current and upcoming weather.
Carrot may be known less for its weather predictions than for its personality, which offers tongue-in-cheek commentary in audio and / or text on the happenings of the day. (One day, for example, it snarked, “I’m sending bad weather to all the people who refuse to wear masks to hide hideous faces.”) In fact, you can set its personality (friendly, snarky, homicidal, or overkill) and its politics (liberal, conservative, centrist, libertarian, communist, or apolitical) to suit your own tastes.
All that being said, Carrot is a solid, good-looking app that offers a reasonable amount of data on current and upcoming weather. The Android app uses the Dark Sky API for its data; the iOS app, on the other hand, uses a variety of sources, such as Dark Sky, AccuWeather, AerisWeather, and Foreca. It also has several features that the Android app lacks, but in an email, creator Brian Mueller promised a major update in 2022.
Price: Free with ads. “Premium Club” removes the ads and offers a widget and other features for $0.99 per month or $3.99 annually.
1Weather offers a good amount of info. IWeather’s UI is frequently interrupted by ads.
1Weather is a well-known app with a variety of screens showing the current weather, the forecast, precipitation, radar, and the Sun and Moon rise and set, among others. I personally found the interface a bit crowded, but it does offer a lot of information, and it includes short weather-related articles. Unfortunately, not only do scrolling ads sit right in the center of the main screen, on other pages the ads take up a good third of the screen, and there are also full-page pop-up ads. According to the app’s website, it gets its info using the Weather 2020 platform, along with meteorologist Gary Lezak.
Price: Free with ads. Without ads: $1.99 one-time purchase.
AccuWeather’s recently redesigned interface is attractive and informative. Tabs at the bottom give you a number of options for weather predictions.
Anyone who ever watched cable TV or listened to the radio is probably familiar with AccuWeather, which has been used by many stations for their forecasts. According to its website, it collects its own data using a combination of meteorologists, a global forecast engine, and other sources. The app has an attractive interface that offers immediate access to the current actual and “RealFeel” temperatures. The Next 4-Hours MinuteCast tells you what kind of precipitation to expect (if any) over the next four hours. You can see forecasts on an hourly and daily basis, along with current radar, using tabs at the bottom of the screen; you can also track any approaching hurricanes. Tap the Eyewitness News icon at the top-right corner for the latest news.
Price: Free with ads or $8.99 annually for no ads, weather alerts, and live forecast radar.
Today Weather is a very attractive app. Scroll left for more details on the weather.
Today Weather may be the best looking of all the apps listed here. It’s got a straightforward interface that starts with a photo and today’s weather, and you can scroll down for details on the weather for the next 24 hours and seven days, live radar, air quality, and other categories. If you’re in the US, you can choose to get your data from a variety of sources, including Today Weather itself, the National Weather Service, Weatherbit.io, Open Weather Map, or YR.no / Met.no (the Norwegian Meteorological Institute). Paying customers can choose from even more data sources, including AccuWeather and Dark Sky.
Price: Free with ads, $1.99 for six months, $2.99 for one year, or $6.99 forever. The paid options remove ads, let you choose your data source, and add a few other features.
Appy Weather has a simple, straightforward interface. Besides the day’s timeline, you can get hourly and weekly reports.
Appy Weather bills itself as “the most personal weather app.” It’s certainly privacy-conscious; at the outset, it asks if you want to check the weather via your current location (in which case it requires permission), or do a search for your location (in which case it doesn’t ask for your location permission). The interface is straightforward and simple, especially its timeline, which lets you scroll down to see the current weather and the upcoming forecast. You can also scroll from left to right at the bottom to see hourly and daily forecasts. Appy Weather currently uses a variety of sources for its data, including Dark Sky, Foreca, and OpenWeather.
Price: Free version with ads. The Plus version costs $4.99 annually for no ads, radar, notifications, widgets, and other features. The Pro version adds custom notifications and premium weather providers for $9.99 per year. A second Pro version unlocks a variety of map layers; it costs $4.99 a month or $19.99 annually.
Overdrop has a simple, easy-to-understand interface. Scroll down for more weather data.
Like Appy Weather, Overdrop has a simple, easy-to-understand interface with a reasonable, if somewhat limited, selection. You can see the current weather, hourly weather, the air quality, a radar map, and weekly forecast; select a drop-down arrow to get more details. However, its main advantage may be that, if you’re a paying customer, you can access 54 different weather widgets — something that widget fans may find worth the price. At the time of the review, you could choose between Open Weather Map, Dark Sky, or Weatherbit if you used the free version; paid subscribers can also select AccuWeather.
Price: Free with ads; Pro version costs $1.59 per month, $7.99 annually, or $14.99 for a lifetime sub. The paid options remove ads, unlock additional providers, and add 54 widgets and 10 themes.
A great app if you want to get your data from the NOAA. The simple app offers a small but easily understood amount of data.
This simple app goes to the source: the National Weather Service, run by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). It presents data from the NOAA in a clear, easy-to-read format: it opens to the weekly forecast, and you can tap on each day to get more data. You can also get an hourly forecast and a weather map.
By the way, if you want to get your weather info directly from the NOAA, you can go to the site (weather.gov), enter your zip code to get your local forecast, and then save the mobile page to your homescreen (by tapping the three “More” dots in the upper-right corner of your browser and then selecting “Add to Home screen”).
Price: Free with ads. $1.99 version removes ads and allows more than three saved locations.
FlowX offers data maps for weather nerds. FlowX lets you adjust the data that it shows.
It’s immediately apparent that FlowX (once known as WeatherBomb) is for weather nerds: when you first install it, it opens to a weather map and temperature / humidity charts rather than the usual text-based weather summary, and it lets you choose what types of data the map shows. You get a seven-day forecast; slide your finger across the screen for each day’s forecast. The free app gets its data from the NOAA; the Bronze version gives you more map styles, a graph editor, and up to a 16-day forecast for $4.99 / year. The Silver subscription ($9.99 / year) adds RainViewer Radar and three regional weather models, among other features, and the Gold ($19.99 / year) adds even more, including models for Europe, global ocean temperature and current, and more.
Price: Free; $4.99 / year for the Bronze version, $9.99 / year for the Silver version, and $19.99 / year version for the Gold version.
Along with the temperature, you get the latest COVID-19 stats. Scroll down for the week’s weather and other data.
Yahoo Weather is a good-looking and solid weather app that lets you scroll sideways for different locations. You scroll down for the week’s weather, a weather map, wind and pressure, precipitation, and schedules for the Sun and Moon. The homepage features the latest coronavirus statistics (you can hide them if you wish), and there is no premium version, so you’re stuck with the ads. Still, this is a worthy app. (Note: I couldn’t find any first-hand information about the data source, but its weather maps are sourced from The Weather Channel.)
Price: Free
If you like sassy weather apps like Carrot, you might also want to try What The ForeCast?! It opens with an opinionated statement on the homepage; you can adjust the profanity level to either On, Some, Minimal, or Off and choose to make it vocal or silent. In fact, the UI settings are in general more varied than most other apps, letting you adjust it to fit your preferences. Scroll down for the daily and weekly forecasts; ads are at the bottom of the screen. You can also find data about the air quality index, bee index, and others via icons at the top of the homescreen. The app uses AerisWeather as a source.
Price: Free; $1.99 will remove the ads and another $1.99 will add a widget. The app also has its own Etsy page with various merch.
Update June 29th, 3:42PM ET: This article was originally published on April 1st, 2020, and it has been updated to include two new apps and to update several of the entries.
Update July 31st, 2:30PM ET: This article was changed to update several of the entries.