theverge--2020-12-30--Trade-in site Gazelle is ending trade-ins

Gazelle , one of the longest-running used smartphone buyers in the US , has announced the end of its core trade-in program , which let phone owners mail in phones and other electronics devices in exchange for cash .
The news , revealed in an email Gazelle sent to some customers on Wednesday and shared with The Verge , means any prospective Gazelle customers will have to receive a quote and initiate the trade-in process by January 31st , 2021 ( allowing 30 days to mail in the phone ) if they want to take advantage of the program .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ February 1st , while any active trade-ins will be honored , the company says .
Gazelle will still accept used smartphones through its ecoATM kiosks This isn ’ t the end of Gazelle ’ s business .
Gazelle ’ s parent company ecoATM , which has been around since 2006 , operates kiosks that let you get instant cash for a used device , and the Gazelle website is now used as a retailer for selling those devices at reduced prices after they ’ re then refurbished .
( The catch is that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the traditional Gazelle mail-in program , which typically has offered more than $ 300 or so for a prior year ’ s flagship like the iPhone 11 Pro . )
Gazelle doesn ’ t give a reason for the decision , but there are a few major trends in the US mobile business that point toward a general decline in the benefits of cash trade-in services .
For one , many more people now than in years past lease their smartphones instead of buying them outright , a broad shift from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ phones in exchange for firm two-year contracts .
Now , it ’ s quite easy to pay a modest monthly fee for a phone through a program like AT & T Next Up or Apple ’ s iPhone Upgrade Program , with the option to trade that device in for a new one after a designated amount of time .
Unless you decide to pay off your leased phone early , you can ’ t turn around and sell it to Gazelle — and you wouldn ’ t necessarily want to do that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ financial sense .
Additionally , Gazelle ’ s early business boomed on iPhone trade-ins back when selling your phone to get the latest Apple product was a popular strategy for early adopters .
Now , Apple has a robust trade-in program of its own ( in addition to the leasing program ) that pretty much gets you the same result .

Gazelle, one of the longest-running used smartphone buyers in the US, has announced the end of its core trade-in program, which let phone owners mail in phones and other electronics devices in exchange for cash.
The news, revealed in an email Gazelle sent to some customers on Wednesday and shared with The Verge, means any prospective Gazelle customers will have to receive a quote and initiate the trade-in process by January 31st, 2021 (allowing 30 days to mail in the phone) if they want to take advantage of the program. The service will shut down officially on February 1st, while any active trade-ins will be honored, the company says.
Gazelle will still accept used smartphones through its ecoATM kiosks
This isn’t the end of Gazelle’s business. Gazelle’s parent company ecoATM, which has been around since 2006, operates kiosks that let you get instant cash for a used device, and the Gazelle website is now used as a retailer for selling those devices at reduced prices after they’re then refurbished. (The catch is that ecoATMs may not pay out as much as the traditional Gazelle mail-in program, which typically has offered more than $300 or so for a prior year’s flagship like the iPhone 11 Pro.)
Gazelle doesn’t give a reason for the decision, but there are a few major trends in the US mobile business that point toward a general decline in the benefits of cash trade-in services. For one, many more people now than in years past lease their smartphones instead of buying them outright, a broad shift from the days when US carriers offered reduced price phones in exchange for firm two-year contracts.
Now, it’s quite easy to pay a modest monthly fee for a phone through a program like AT&T Next Up or Apple’s iPhone Upgrade Program, with the option to trade that device in for a new one after a designated amount of time. Unless you decide to pay off your leased phone early, you can’t turn around and sell it to Gazelle — and you wouldn’t necessarily want to do that as it doesn’t make much financial sense.


theverge--2020-12-30--Metro: Last Light Redux is free on GOG

Metro: Last Light Redux is free on GOG

Only the best deals on Verge-approved gadgets get the Verge Deals stamp of approval , so if you 're looking for a deal on your next gadget or gift from major retailers like Amazon , Walmart , Best Buy , Target , and more , this is the place to be .
If you ’ ve never gotten around to buying and playing Metro : Last Light , the remastered version is free on the GOG store today and tomorrow ( via Polygon ) .
The game has been out for a while now , but it ’ s still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you ’ re playing it for a second or third time .
And , when you get a game from GOG , it comes without any DRM , so your copy of the game isn ’ t tied to any particular platform .
You can download the files to your hard drive , and it ’ ll still run without GOG ’ s launcher installed .
The process of claiming the game is a little non-obvious , as the “ Metro : Last Light giveaway ” link at the very top of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ search screen .
To claim the free game , you ’ ll first want to log in ( or create an account if you don ’ t have one ) , then go to the homepage .
Scroll down until you see banner with a button that says “ Yes , and claim the game ” .
The “ yes ” , by the way , is you opting in to marketing emails from GOG , so be aware of that before clicking .
Clicking the button should add the game to your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and download it .
Offering a free , genuinely very good game may be an attempt by GOG ’ s owner , CD Projekt Red to try to earn back some of the goodwill that it ’ s lost this month .
The company has been dealing with the botched release of Cyberpunk 2077 , as well as a PR crisis concerning GOG itself : there are concerns by some that the company capitulated to the Chinese government by rolling back its decision to carry Red Candle Games ’ s Devotion , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in an early version .
If you ’ ve decided not to use CD Projekt Red ’ s services for whatever reason , and don ’ t mind the game being stuck on a single platform , you can still pick it up pretty cheap on Steam — it ’ ll be $ 3.99 there until January 5th .
No matter which platform you pick , Metro : Last Light is a great game with a solid story — and a lot of tense and heart-pounding moments .
I played it when I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and it resulted in a fair share of nightmares , so it may not be for the faint of heart .
If you ’ re itching for more free games , Torchlight II is free on the Epic Games Store today .

If you’ve never gotten around to buying and playing Metro: Last Light, the remastered version is free on the GOG store today and tomorrow (via Polygon). The game has been out for a while now, but it’s still as terrifying as ever, even if you’re playing it for a second or third time. And, when you get a game from GOG, it comes without any DRM, so your copy of the game isn’t tied to any particular platform. You can download the files to your hard drive, and it’ll still run without GOG’s launcher installed.
The process of claiming the game is a little non-obvious, as the “Metro: Last Light giveaway” link at the very top of the page just leads to GOG’s search screen. To claim the free game, you’ll first want to log in (or create an account if you don’t have one), then go to the homepage. Scroll down until you see banner with a button that says “Yes, and claim the game”. The “yes”, by the way, is you opting in to marketing emails from GOG, so be aware of that before clicking. Clicking the button should add the game to your library, where you can then go and download it.
That big green button is the only thing you can click that will actually get you the game.
Offering a free, genuinely very good game may be an attempt by GOG’s owner, CD Projekt Red to try to earn back some of the goodwill that it’s lost this month. The company has been dealing with the botched release of Cyberpunk 2077, as well as a PR crisis concerning GOG itself: there are concerns by some that the company capitulated to the Chinese government by rolling back its decision to carry Red Candle Games’s Devotion, which contained unflattering references to the Chinese president in an early version.
If you’ve decided not to use CD Projekt Red’s services for whatever reason, and don’t mind the game being stuck on a single platform, you can still pick it up pretty cheap on Steam — it’ll be $3.99 there until January 5th. No matter which platform you pick, Metro: Last Light is a great game with a solid story — and a lot of tense and heart-pounding moments. I played it when I was admittedly maybe a bit too young, and it resulted in a fair share of nightmares, so it may not be for the faint of heart.


theverge--2020-12-30--Maneater and the latest Tomb Raider are among the latest free games for PS Plus subscribers

Sony has announced its January lineup of games that are free for PS Plus subscribers to download .
Starting January 5th , you ’ ll be able to get the PS5-only version of Maneater , the eat-em-up game that Polygon ’ s Chris Plante described in his entertaining review as “ the best shark game ... ever ?
” , as well as two other PS4 games , Greedfall and Shadow of the Tomb Raider — both of which are playable on PS5 .
Unfortunately , the PS4 version of Maneater isn ’ t available for people who haven ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PS5 , so PS4 owners get just two games this month .
This bundle will no longer be available after February 1st , 2021 .
It seems like Sony has established a formula for its monthly batch of complimentary games , with one PS5 game serving as the highlight and two PS4 games to round it out ( and to keep doling out some small gifts for people who don ’ t yet have a PS5 ) .
Speaking of PS5 games , go ahead and download Bugsnax for free while you can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a perk for PS Plus subscribers after January 4th .
We don ’ t usually know what will be in each monthly collection of games , but Sony has already shared that its Destruction AllStars , the vehicular combat game that was delayed past the console ’ s launch date , will be February ’ s freebie for the PS5 .

Sony has announced its January lineup of games that are free for PS Plus subscribers to download.
Starting January 5th, you’ll be able to get the PS5-only version of Maneater, the eat-em-up game that Polygon’s Chris Plante described in his entertaining review as “the best shark game... ever?”, as well as two other PS4 games, Greedfall and Shadow of the Tomb Raider — both of which are playable on PS5. Unfortunately, the PS4 version of Maneater isn’t available for people who haven’t yet made the jump to the PS5, so PS4 owners get just two games this month. This bundle will no longer be available after February 1st, 2021.
It seems like Sony has established a formula for its monthly batch of complimentary games, with one PS5 game serving as the highlight and two PS4 games to round it out (and to keep doling out some small gifts for people who don’t yet have a PS5). Speaking of PS5 games, go ahead and download Bugsnax for free while you can. It will no longer be available as a perk for PS Plus subscribers after January 4th.


theverge--2020-12-30--Amazon buys Wondery, setting itself up to compete against Spotify for podcast domination

Wondery , one of the last major independent podcast networks , might soon be owned by Amazon .
The companies announced an acquisition deal today , ending speculation about who might eventually buy the network , which is most well-known for true crime podcasts like Dirty John .
( Apple and Sony were also reported to have at least discussed a possible purchase . )
Amazon didn ’ t disclose the acquisition price , although earlier reports from Bloomberg and The Wall Street Journal suggested Wondery ’ s value was at least $ 300 million .
Wondery would technically be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ podcast support in September this year .
Wondery CEO Hernan Lopez will step down and leave the company when the deal closes , and COO Jen Sargent will take over , according to Wall Street Journal reporter Ben Mullin .
The acquisition is a notable one , if only because it sets Amazon up to better compete against Spotify , which has been acquiring networks and exclusive talent for over a year .
Amazon says this Wondery deal doesn ’ t change existing shows — they ’ ll still be available through “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says it hopes buying Wondery will “ accelerate the growth and evolution of podcasts by bringing creators , hosts , and immersive experiences to even more listeners across the globe.
” Of course , Amazon Music would likely promote Wondery shows over other programs and possibly put even more marketing spend behind them , especially globally .
Interestingly , Audible isn ’ t mentioned in the news release , even though the Amazon-owned company creates its own exclusive podcasts , as well as publicly available ones , and recently launched a cheaper price @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to hear Audible exclusives .
Correction 12/30 , 1:29 PM ET : This story previously stated that Wondery is now owned by Amazon , but the deal has not yet closed .
Update 12/30 , 3:13 PM ET : Updated to reflect that Hernan Lopez will leave Wondery when the deal closes .

Wondery, one of the last major independent podcast networks, might soon be owned by Amazon. The companies announced an acquisition deal today, ending speculation about who might eventually buy the network, which is most well-known for true crime podcasts like Dirty John. (Apple and Sony were also reported to have at least discussed a possible purchase.)
Amazon didn’t disclose the acquisition price, although earlier reports from Bloomberg and The Wall Street Journal suggested Wondery’s value was at least $300 million. Wondery would technically be part of Amazon Music, which launched podcast support in September this year. Wondery CEO Hernan Lopez will step down and leave the company when the deal closes, and COO Jen Sargent will take over, according to Wall Street Journal reporter Ben Mullin.
The acquisition is a notable one, if only because it sets Amazon up to better compete against Spotify, which has been acquiring networks and exclusive talent for over a year. Amazon says this Wondery deal doesn’t change existing shows — they’ll still be available through “a variety of providers.” But Amazon says it hopes buying Wondery will “accelerate the growth and evolution of podcasts by bringing creators, hosts, and immersive experiences to even more listeners across the globe.”
Of course, Amazon Music would likely promote Wondery shows over other programs and possibly put even more marketing spend behind them, especially globally. Interestingly, Audible isn’t mentioned in the news release, even though the Amazon-owned company creates its own exclusive podcasts, as well as publicly available ones, and recently launched a cheaper price tier specifically for people who might want to hear Audible exclusives.
Correction 12/30, 1:29 PM ET: This story previously stated that Wondery is now owned by Amazon, but the deal has not yet closed.


theverge--2020-12-30--A quirk of COVID-19 tests can track the new coronavirus variant

Health officials in the United States may be able to use a fluke of COVID-19 testing to monitor the spread of a more contagious form of the virus , which was identified in the country for the first time this week .
The variant is spreading widely across the United Kingdom , and has been found in over a dozen countries so far — including the US .
Experts don ’ t think the coronavirus variant is more deadly than other forms of the virus , and the vaccines already developed should still protect against the new strain .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ easily , and uncontrolled outbreaks would overwhelm hospitals more quickly .
So far , two US cases have been detected in patients with COVID-19 , one in Colorado and one in California .
Colorado health officials said that the Colorado patient hasn ’ t traveled out of the country , indicating that the variant may have been circulating before now , and that it may already have a foothold in the country .
Unlike the UK , the US is doing very little analysis of virus samples from COVID-19 patients to check for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it may have gone undetected until now .
The US is doing very little analysis of virus samples from COVID-19 patients to check for mutations and variants In the absence of widespread viral analysis , officials may be able to track the variant , known as B.1.1.7 , through standard COVID-19 testing .
“ It ’ s a serendipitous thing , not something we intended to happen , ” says Theo Sanderson , a geneticist at the Francis Crick Institute in London .
Most typical , gene-based COVID-19 tests work by searching for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a swab of spit and mucus collected from patients .
The virus has a long genome , and the tests aren ’ t looking for evidence of the whole thing .
Instead , they usually search for two or three sections .
In some COVID-19 tests , one of the snippets is on the coronavirus S gene — the gene that codes for the virus ’ s spike protein , which lets the virus bind to cells .
That ’ s also the gene where one of the mutations in the new variant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a virus with that specific mutation , the test — which is designed based on the non-mutated form of the gene — won ’ t be able to see the variant version .
Since the test would still be able to see the other sections of the virus , it would still come back positive — just without the S gene .
Researchers call it an S gene dropout .
In the UK , experts have been able to use S gene dropout as an unofficial measurement for the amount of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country .
“ It ’ s been very useful , ” Sanderson says .
It ’ s not a perfect metric : mutations in the S gene also appear in other variants that don ’ t share B.1.1.7 ’ s characteristics .
Not every S gene dropout flagged on a test is a B.1.1.7 virus , but researchers in the UK have managed to untangle the data and figure out how much dropout is from the new variant .
As the infection rate of the B.1.1.7 variant has increased , the rate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with it more and more closely .
Some labs in the US are starting to adopt the strategy .
Both the Colorado and California variant cases were found after labs flagged COVID-19 test results that had S gene dropouts for a full analysis .
The California-based genomics company Helix , which conducts COVID-19 testing , is also analyzing their samples for evidence of S gene dropout .
In October , the Helix research team found that 0.25 percent of their tests had an S gene dropout , which rose to around 0.5 percent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parts of the UK , over 75 percent of tests show this pattern . )
Based on that data , the variant is probably still rare in the US .
“ You can sort of put an upper bound on how much of the B.1.1.7 would be in a place , because if you ’ re not seeing the dropout , then you do know that the B.1.1.7 isn ’ t there , ” Sanderson says .
Helix is planning to analyze its virus samples to check for the B.1.1.7 variant , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Helix .
“ We are still determining the percent correlation between samples with S gene dropout and the B.1.1.7 variant .
We ’ re hoping to learn from sequencing how strong of a proxy it is , ” he wrote in an email to The Verge .
“ We ’ re hoping to learn from sequencing how strong of a proxy it is ” If there proves to be a strong relationship between them , Helix will track the rate of S gene dropout on a regular basis , Lu said .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sharp increase in the amount of S gene dropout in a particular region , Sanderson says ; that was the indicator in the UK that the new variant was spreading widely .
“ If you saw that in some particular area of the US that would be very worrying , ” he says .
Ideally , the US will scale up its viral analysis to more closely follow the spread of the B.1.1.7 variant , as well as flag any new variants that occur .
“ Genomic surveillance is always going to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in its absence , monitoring S gene dropout could be a good start , he says .
“ It ’ s always useful to have more data.
” Update December 30th , 5:01PM ET : Updated with information on the California case .

Health officials in the United States may be able to use a fluke of COVID-19 testing to monitor the spread of a more contagious form of the virus, which was identified in the country for the first time this week. The variant is spreading widely across the United Kingdom, and has been found in over a dozen countries so far — including the US.
Experts don’t think the coronavirus variant is more deadly than other forms of the virus, and the vaccines already developed should still protect against the new strain. But the variant does appear to spread more easily, and uncontrolled outbreaks would overwhelm hospitals more quickly.
So far, two US cases have been detected in patients with COVID-19, one in Colorado and one in California. Colorado health officials said that the Colorado patient hasn’t traveled out of the country, indicating that the variant may have been circulating before now, and that it may already have a foothold in the country. Unlike the UK, the US is doing very little analysis of virus samples from COVID-19 patients to check for mutations and variants, which is why it may have gone undetected until now.
The US is doing very little analysis of virus samples from COVID-19 patients to check for mutations and variants
In the absence of widespread viral analysis, officials may be able to track the variant, known as B.1.1.7, through standard COVID-19 testing. “It’s a serendipitous thing, not something we intended to happen,” says Theo Sanderson, a geneticist at the Francis Crick Institute in London.
Most typical, gene-based COVID-19 tests work by searching for evidence of the coronavirus genetic material in a swab of spit and mucus collected from patients. The virus has a long genome, and the tests aren’t looking for evidence of the whole thing. Instead, they usually search for two or three sections.
In some COVID-19 tests, one of the snippets is on the coronavirus S gene — the gene that codes for the virus’s spike protein, which lets the virus bind to cells. That’s also the gene where one of the mutations in the new variant occurred. If a patient was infected with a virus with that specific mutation, the test — which is designed based on the non-mutated form of the gene — won’t be able to see the variant version. Since the test would still be able to see the other sections of the virus, it would still come back positive — just without the S gene. Researchers call it an S gene dropout.
In the UK, experts have been able to use S gene dropout as an unofficial measurement for the amount of the coronavirus variant circulating in different parts of the country. “It’s been very useful,” Sanderson says.
It’s not a perfect metric: mutations in the S gene also appear in other variants that don’t share B.1.1.7’s characteristics. Not every S gene dropout flagged on a test is a B.1.1.7 virus, but researchers in the UK have managed to untangle the data and figure out how much dropout is from the new variant. As the infection rate of the B.1.1.7 variant has increased, the rate of the S gene dropout has tracked with it more and more closely.
Some labs in the US are starting to adopt the strategy. Both the Colorado and California variant cases were found after labs flagged COVID-19 test results that had S gene dropouts for a full analysis.
The California-based genomics company Helix, which conducts COVID-19 testing, is also analyzing their samples for evidence of S gene dropout. In October, the Helix research team found that 0.25 percent of their tests had an S gene dropout, which rose to around 0.5 percent in early December. (In some parts of the UK, over 75 percent of tests show this pattern.)
Based on that data, the variant is probably still rare in the US. “You can sort of put an upper bound on how much of the B.1.1.7 would be in a place, because if you’re not seeing the dropout, then you do know that the B.1.1.7 isn’t there,” Sanderson says.
Helix is planning to analyze its virus samples to check for the B.1.1.7 variant, said James Lu, co-founder and president of Helix. “We are still determining the percent correlation between samples with S gene dropout and the B.1.1.7 variant. We’re hoping to learn from sequencing how strong of a proxy it is,” he wrote in an email to The Verge.
“We’re hoping to learn from sequencing how strong of a proxy it is”
If there proves to be a strong relationship between them, Helix will track the rate of S gene dropout on a regular basis, Lu said.
The key thing to watch for is a sharp increase in the amount of S gene dropout in a particular region, Sanderson says; that was the indicator in the UK that the new variant was spreading widely. “If you saw that in some particular area of the US that would be very worrying,” he says.
Ideally, the US will scale up its viral analysis to more closely follow the spread of the B.1.1.7 variant, as well as flag any new variants that occur. “Genomic surveillance is always going to be better,” Sanderson says. But in its absence, monitoring S gene dropout could be a good start, he says. “It’s always useful to have more data.”


theverge--2020-12-30--Peloton tests its own exclusive music with three Elvis remixes

Peloton is now a place to debut music .
The popular fitness startup , already known for its use of popular music during its classes , announced today that it ’ s debuting new Elvis remixes in its app that ’ ll be exclusive to the platform for a month .
The company worked with Chromeo , Big Boi , and DJ Dillon Francis to create the remixes .
The songs premiere in the app today as part of an “ ultimate remix collection , ” which includes yoga , strength , core , and outdoor running classes .
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ promo , the company is also extending its 30-day free trial to two months .
A spokesperson says the idea behind starting with Elvis was to find a “ new expression of the classic catalog in a contemporary way ” — which to me reads as finding a way to make Elvis music something you ’ d actually want to hear when working out .
Sony , however , owns the rights to the songs , and might choose to release the tracks more widely after the month-long exclusivity window expires .
Exclusive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ company already has its own hardware and video content , meant to keep users hooked and fend off competitors .
If people want to use a Peloton bike or take a class from a Peloton instructor , they need to stay in the company ’ s ecosystem — and the same will now be true for these tracks , at least for the first month .
Peloton has worked to secure deals with musicians to include their tracks in classes .
The company pays per music stream , similarly to companies like Spotify @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like Beyoncé to stream their music .
Hyping up Peloton as a place to hear exclusive music for the first time could be a way to court new subscribers and keep current ones tuning in .
Update 12/30 , 2:43PM ET : Peloton originally hyped in its press release that the company will have the exclusive rights to the three tracks and that it would be “ the first time that any artist has created music just for Peloton classes.
” But the company later said in an email to The Verge that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Peloton for “ an initial launch window ” , and that Sony can publicly release all three tracks after that period .

Peloton is now a place to debut music. The popular fitness startup, already known for its use of popular music during its classes, announced today that it’s debuting new Elvis remixes in its app that’ll be exclusive to the platform for a month. The company worked with Chromeo, Big Boi, and DJ Dillon Francis to create the remixes.
The songs premiere in the app today as part of an “ultimate remix collection,” which includes yoga, strength, core, and outdoor running classes. As part of a New Year’s promo, the company is also extending its 30-day free trial to two months.
A spokesperson says the idea behind starting with Elvis was to find a “new expression of the classic catalog in a contemporary way” — which to me reads as finding a way to make Elvis music something you’d actually want to hear when working out. Sony, however, owns the rights to the songs, and might choose to release the tracks more widely after the month-long exclusivity window expires.
Exclusive music makes sense for Peloton. The company already has its own hardware and video content, meant to keep users hooked and fend off competitors. If people want to use a Peloton bike or take a class from a Peloton instructor, they need to stay in the company’s ecosystem — and the same will now be true for these tracks, at least for the first month.
Peloton has worked to secure deals with musicians to include their tracks in classes. The company pays per music stream, similarly to companies like Spotify, and has signed deals with artists like Beyoncé to stream their music. Hyping up Peloton as a place to hear exclusive music for the first time could be a way to court new subscribers and keep current ones tuning in.


theverge--2020-12-31--We deserve The Muppet Great Gatsby

We deserve The Muppet Great Gatsby

When the clock strikes midnight this New Year ’ s , The Great Gatsby and other works copyrighted in 1925 will enter the public domain , becoming freely available for re-publication and — most importantly — puppet-themed adaptation .
More than anything in 2021 , I need the Muppet version of The Great Gatsby .
Picture this : Kermit in period-specific 1920s dress , playing the mysterious host to a huge party in West Egg .
Or Miss Piggy , decked out in flapper regalia , in an abusive relationship with Fozzie Bear as her cruel , philandering husband , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aesthetic charms to The Muppets version of F. Scott Fitzgerald ’ s great American novel , but beyond that , The Muppets ’ takes on classic stories are often better .
Writers for Bright Wall/Dark Room and The Guardian have made compelling cases for The Muppet Christmas Carol as the best adaptation of Charles Dickens ’ work and I can ’ t imagine it would be any different for The Great Gatsby .
There ’ s a real demand for Muppet adaptations and I think the reason is twofold .
First , seeing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is inherently funny and second , seeing human emotions in a non-human character allows for new connections to the feelings at the core of these stories : we can often have an easier time finding the humanity in the living toys of Toy Story than in our own neighbors .
The Great Gatsby , Mrs. Dalloway and other works ’ availability on January 1st , 2021 is actually an adjustment from when they were originally set to become public domain .
Thanks to the Copyright Term Extension Act of 1998 ( sometimes called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ due to Disney ’ s lobbying for the bill ) , many older titles copyrighted between 1923 and 1977 had 20 years added to their copyright terms .
It ’ s fairly recently that we ’ re seeing those works enter the public domain again ; 2019 was the first year a batch of them became available .
So far , major copyright holders like Disney haven ’ t managed to convince lawmakers to extend copyright even further .
Works published before 1978 are generally now protected for a maximum of 95 years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of internet activism that might have kept Disney and co from pushing harder ; to get the full picture , you should read this Ars Technica piece .
Disney , of course , has a notable copyright coming to its end .
The earliest appearances of Mickey Mouse , including the animated short Steamboat Willie , are set to expire in 2024 .
It ’ ll be interesting to see how Disney attempts to protect its claim to Mickey ahead of , and after , that deadline .
Unfortunately , Disney also owns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on those characters might not expire until 2050 at the earliest .
To actually produce my epic puppet tale of disillusionment with the American Dream would require Disney to dip into the same public domain where it seemingly doesn ’ t want its own characters to wind up .
So for now , it ’ s probably best to celebrate these works in their original forms , before making harebrained ( or genius ) plans to elevate them with skilled puppetry .

When the clock strikes midnight this New Year’s, The Great Gatsby and other works copyrighted in 1925 will enter the public domain, becoming freely available for re-publication and — most importantly — puppet-themed adaptation. More than anything in 2021, I need the Muppet version of The Great Gatsby.
Picture this: Kermit in period-specific 1920s dress, playing the mysterious host to a huge party in West Egg. Or Miss Piggy, decked out in flapper regalia, in an abusive relationship with Fozzie Bear as her cruel, philandering husband, Tom Buchanan. There’s obvious aesthetic charms to The Muppets version of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s great American novel, but beyond that, The Muppets’ takes on classic stories are often better. Writers for Bright Wall/Dark Room and The Guardian have made compelling cases for The Muppet Christmas Carol as the best adaptation of Charles Dickens’ work and I can’t imagine it would be any different for The Great Gatsby.
There’s a real demand for Muppet adaptations and I think the reason is twofold. First, seeing a puppet perform a traditionally human role is inherently funny and second, seeing human emotions in a non-human character allows for new connections to the feelings at the core of these stories: we can often have an easier time finding the humanity in the living toys of Toy Story than in our own neighbors.
The Great Gatsby, Mrs. Dalloway and other works’ availability on January 1st, 2021 is actually an adjustment from when they were originally set to become public domain. Thanks to the Copyright Term Extension Act of 1998 (sometimes called the “Mickey Mouse Protection Act” due to Disney’s lobbying for the bill), many older titles copyrighted between 1923 and 1977 had 20 years added to their copyright terms. It’s fairly recently that we’re seeing those works enter the public domain again; 2019 was the first year a batch of them became available.
So far, major copyright holders like Disney haven’t managed to convince lawmakers to extend copyright even further. Works published before 1978 are generally now protected for a maximum of 95 years. There’s a whole lot of internet activism that might have kept Disney and co from pushing harder; to get the full picture, you should read this Ars Technica piece.
The specific Mickey Mouse that will enter the public domain in 2024. Image: Disney
Disney, of course, has a notable copyright coming to its end. The earliest appearances of Mickey Mouse, including the animated short Steamboat Willie, are set to expire in 2024. It’ll be interesting to see how Disney attempts to protect its claim to Mickey ahead of, and after, that deadline.


theverge--2020-12-31--8 great Apple Arcade games for your new 2020 iPhone or iPad

This time last year , Apple Arcade was still a fledgling service , but one with a lot of potential .
For $ 5 a month , you could get unlimited access to a big library of interesting games , the kind that no one really sells in the App Store anymore .
It ’ s still not a place to find the latest blockbusters , but Arcade has steadily evolved into one of the best deals in gaming .
Its lineup of games is varied and consistently surprising , with everything from family-friendly multiplayer games to engrossing puzzlers to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ picked up a new Apple device and have signed up for Arcade ( a new device gets you three months free ) the sheer number of games available can be overwhelming .
Here are a few great places to start .
We ’ ve rounded up our favorite and most-used games , apps , and entertainment .
Check out our app picks for iPhones , Android phones , Windows PCs , and M1-equipped Macs ; our favorite mobile games from Apple Arcade and Google Play Pass ; and our top choices for gaming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Series X / S , Nintendo Switch , and VR .
We ’ ve also listed our favorite streaming shows on Disney Plus , Hulu , ESPN Plus , and Netflix ; some great sci-fi books ; and exciting new podcasts .
( Note : pricing was accurate at the time of publishing but may change . )
With Fortnite no longer a viable iOS experience , Butter Royale might just be your next best option .
Like Epic ’ s massive hit , Butter Royale is a colorful shooter where the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ standing .
But there are a few key differences .
Battles play out from a top-down perspective , like a classic arcade game , and the game is decidedly nonviolent , with weapons that shoot ketchup and popcorn instead of bullets .
Perhaps the best part is that , because it ’ s part of Arcade , there are no in-app purchases , so you don ’ t have to worry about dropping real cash on a cute giraffe costume for your character .
Czech studio Amanita Design is known for dark , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s also a developer that isn ’ t afraid to experiment .
Creaks keeps the unsettling vibe , but transposes it onto a sort of puzzle / platformer hybrid .
You explore a sprawling mansion , one that never seems to end , while finding ways to manipulate machines and monsters to help you get through to the end .
As with Amanita ’ s past work , it takes place in an absolutely gorgeous hand-drawn world , but the action is a bit more cerebral this time around .
Game of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ game where you don ’ t actually do very much .
It fits snugly into the idle genre , where the idea is to set plans in motion and then see how they play out .
Here , you ’ re put in charge of the infamous Night ’ s Watch from Game of Thrones .
It ’ s sort of a management game .
People come to you with problems , you ’ ll have to send rangers out on scouting trips , and kingdoms from around Westeros will ask for your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time ; you might have to wait a few hours before a group of rangers sends back a raven detailing their battle with some wildlings .
Tale of Crows is a game full of death and danger , but it ’ s also surprisingly soothing .
And it fits neatly into your life : all you have to do is play a few minutes every so often to see the story unfold .
Grindstone was one of Apple Arcade ’ s best launch titles , a game that takes the addictive nature of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ absolutely brutal fantasy action .
Imagine Candy Crush by way of Frank Frazetta .
Since then , Grindstone has received a steady stream of updates that have only improved the experience , with plenty of more levels , weapons , and enemies to keep things interesting .
Across its first few entries , the Reigns series has been all about exploring stories in a fantasy realm .
It plays out sort of like an interactive version of Tinder : as you push through the story , you ’ re constantly confronted with options @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right to decide what to do .
Reigns : Beyond takes this same formula and blasts it into space , while also adding a musical element .
You ’ re the captain of a sentient ship , guiding a crew through the cosmos while also booking gigs for your intergalactic rock band .
It ’ s silly and strange , and almost impossible to put down .
The classic puzzle game Peggle is one that feels timeless , and yet Roundguard has managed to put a fascinating new spin on the formula .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ action and melds it with a fantasy roleplaying game , where you ’ ll fight monsters and use spells , while still firing little balls to clear out the level .
The two elements fit so well together it ’ s a wonder no one has tried this before .
Skateboarding games were thrust back into the spotlight this year thanks to the remastered collection of Tony Hawk ’ s Pro Skater games .
But Skate City remains the best approximation of the sport on mobile .
It simplifies things , with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it manages to capture the feeling of exploring a neighborhood in search of new ways to pull off tricks .
It has also grown since launch , with the addition of new cities like Miami .
Famed Japanese writers Kotaro Uchikoshi and Kazutaka Kodaka are known for some incredibly dark games , including the Zero Escape and Danganronpa series , and World ’ s End Club on Apple Arcade fits into that mold very nicely .
At the outset of the game , a small group of students awakens in an underwater amusement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — or work together — to find a key to escape .
The twist is that they only have an hour , and only one person can actually get the key .
Imagine The Hunger Games as a psychological thriller , and you ’ re partway there .

This time last year, Apple Arcade was still a fledgling service, but one with a lot of potential. For $5 a month, you could get unlimited access to a big library of interesting games, the kind that no one really sells in the App Store anymore. It’s still not a place to find the latest blockbusters, but Arcade has steadily evolved into one of the best deals in gaming. Its lineup of games is varied and consistently surprising, with everything from family-friendly multiplayer games to engrossing puzzlers to weird story-driven adventures.
Apple Arcade / $4.99 a month from Apple Subscribe now
If you just picked up a new Apple device and have signed up for Arcade (a new device gets you three months free) the sheer number of games available can be overwhelming. Here are a few great places to start.
Butter Royale
Butter Royale Image: Mighty Bear Games
With Fortnite no longer a viable iOS experience, Butter Royale might just be your next best option. Like Epic’s massive hit, Butter Royale is a colorful shooter where the goal is to be the last player standing. But there are a few key differences. Battles play out from a top-down perspective, like a classic arcade game, and the game is decidedly nonviolent, with weapons that shoot ketchup and popcorn instead of bullets. Perhaps the best part is that, because it’s part of Arcade, there are no in-app purchases, so you don’t have to worry about dropping real cash on a cute giraffe costume for your character.
Creaks
Creaks Image: Amanita Design
Czech studio Amanita Design is known for dark, atmospheric point-and-click adventure games, but it’s also a developer that isn’t afraid to experiment. Creaks keeps the unsettling vibe, but transposes it onto a sort of puzzle / platformer hybrid. You explore a sprawling mansion, one that never seems to end, while finding ways to manipulate machines and monsters to help you get through to the end. As with Amanita’s past work, it takes place in an absolutely gorgeous hand-drawn world, but the action is a bit more cerebral this time around.
Games of Thrones: Tale of Crows
Games of Thrones: Tale of Crows Image: Devolver Digital
Game of Thrones: Tale of Crows is a game where you don’t actually do very much. It fits snugly into the idle genre, where the idea is to set plans in motion and then see how they play out. Here, you’re put in charge of the infamous Night’s Watch from Game of Thrones. It’s sort of a management game. People come to you with problems, you’ll have to send rangers out on scouting trips, and kingdoms from around Westeros will ask for your help. All of these things take time; you might have to wait a few hours before a group of rangers sends back a raven detailing their battle with some wildlings. Tale of Crows is a game full of death and danger, but it’s also surprisingly soothing. And it fits neatly into your life: all you have to do is play a few minutes every so often to see the story unfold.
Grindstone
Grindstone was one of Apple Arcade’s best launch titles, a game that takes the addictive nature of match-three puzzle games and blends it with absolutely brutal fantasy action. Imagine Candy Crush by way of Frank Frazetta. Since then, Grindstone has received a steady stream of updates that have only improved the experience, with plenty of more levels, weapons, and enemies to keep things interesting.
Reigns: Beyond
Reigns: Beyond Image: Devolver Digital
Across its first few entries, the Reigns series has been all about exploring stories in a fantasy realm. It plays out sort of like an interactive version of Tinder: as you push through the story, you’re constantly confronted with options, and you either swipe left or right to decide what to do. Reigns: Beyond takes this same formula and blasts it into space, while also adding a musical element. You’re the captain of a sentient ship, guiding a crew through the cosmos while also booking gigs for your intergalactic rock band. It’s silly and strange, and almost impossible to put down.
Roundguard
Roundguard Image: Wonderbelly Games
The classic puzzle game Peggle is one that feels timeless, and yet Roundguard has managed to put a fascinating new spin on the formula. Essentially, the game takes the peg-breaking action and melds it with a fantasy roleplaying game, where you’ll fight monsters and use spells, while still firing little balls to clear out the level. The two elements fit so well together it’s a wonder no one has tried this before.
Skate City
Skate City Image: Snowman
Skateboarding games were thrust back into the spotlight this year thanks to the remastered collection of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater games. But Skate City remains the best approximation of the sport on mobile. It simplifies things, with a side-scrolling perspective and swipe-based controls, but it manages to capture the feeling of exploring a neighborhood in search of new ways to pull off tricks. It has also grown since launch, with the addition of new cities like Miami.
World’s End Club


theverge--2020-12-31--Microsoft says hackers were able to see some of its source code

As Microsoft continues to investigate the massive SolarWinds attack , the company says it has discovered that its systems were infiltrated “ beyond just the presence of malicious SolarWinds code.
” In an update from its Security Response Center , Microsoft says that hackers were able to “ view source code in a number of source code repositories , ” but that the hacked account granting such access didn ’ t have permission to modify any code or systems .
While Microsoft points to “ a very sophisticated nation-state actor ” as the culprit , the US government and cybersecurity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the overall SolarWinds attack .
The attack exposed an extensive list of sensitive organizations , and today ’ s disclosure from Microsoft shows we ’ ll still be unraveling the attack ’ s implications for weeks and months to come .
Fortunately , Microsoft says that while hackers went deeper than previously known , it found “ no evidence of access to production services or customer data , ” and “ no indications that our systems were used to attack others.
” Additionally , the company says that it regularly assumes adversaries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and does not rely on the secrecy of source code to keep its products secure .
Microsoft did not disclose how much code was viewed or what the exposed code is used for .
Earlier this month , Microsoft President Brad Smith said the attack was a “ moment of reckoning ” and warned about its danger .
“ This is not ‘ espionage as usual , ’ Smith said .
“ In effect , this is not just an attack on specific targets , but on the trust and reliability of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order to advance one nation ’ s intelligence agency .
”

As Microsoft continues to investigate the massive SolarWinds attack, the company says it has discovered that its systems were infiltrated “beyond just the presence of malicious SolarWinds code.” In an update from its Security Response Center, Microsoft says that hackers were able to “view source code in a number of source code repositories,” but that the hacked account granting such access didn’t have permission to modify any code or systems.
While Microsoft points to “a very sophisticated nation-state actor” as the culprit, the US government and cybersecurity officials have implicated Russia as the architects of the overall SolarWinds attack. The attack exposed an extensive list of sensitive organizations, and today’s disclosure from Microsoft shows we’ll still be unraveling the attack’s implications for weeks and months to come.
Fortunately, Microsoft says that while hackers went deeper than previously known, it found “no evidence of access to production services or customer data,” and “no indications that our systems were used to attack others.” Additionally, the company says that it regularly assumes adversaries are able to view its source code, and does not rely on the secrecy of source code to keep its products secure. Microsoft did not disclose how much code was viewed or what the exposed code is used for.


theverge--2020-12-31--Adobe Flash rides off into the sunset

Adobe Flash rides off into the sunset

Adobe scheduled the end of support for its famous Flash software on December 31st , 2020 , and today is the day .
While Adobe won ’ t start blocking Flash content until January 12th , major browsers will shut it all down tomorrow and Microsoft will block it in most versions of Windows .
It ’ s over .
Flash enjoyed huge cultural relevance and looms large in web history , which might be why its funeral procession has lasted for years .
Browsers started showing Flash the door early in the last decade , and in 2015 Adobe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Things became official in 2017 , when Adobe announced it would end support .
While Adobe is finally ( mercifully ) letting Flash go , it will live on in many historical artifacts .
The Internet Archive is preserving Flash games and animations , including well-known hits like “ Peanut Butter Jelly Time.
” I personally loved making stuff in Flash as a high school student with a totally-legitimate copy of the Adobe software on my generic HP desktop PC .
Years later , any time I see some fancy words slide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ struggling to figure out how to animate motion tweens in the Flash editor .
Ah , memories .

Adobe scheduled the end of support for its famous Flash software on December 31st, 2020, and today is the day. While Adobe won’t start blocking Flash content until January 12th, major browsers will shut it all down tomorrow and Microsoft will block it in most versions of Windows. It’s over.
Flash enjoyed huge cultural relevance and looms large in web history, which might be why its funeral procession has lasted for years. Browsers started showing Flash the door early in the last decade, and in 2015 Adobe asked developers to move on to HTML5. Things became official in 2017, when Adobe announced it would end support.
While Adobe is finally (mercifully) letting Flash go, it will live on in many historical artifacts. The Internet Archive is preserving Flash games and animations, including well-known hits like “Peanut Butter Jelly Time.”


theverge--2020-12-31--Trump’s fight to overthrow election now falls to the guy who invented the CueCat

In a hopeless attempt to overthrow or cast suspicion on an American election , a ridiculous cast of characters has heeded outgoing President Donald Trump ’ s call to misadventure — including , now , the inventor of one of the worst gadgets of all time .
His name is Jovan Hutton Pulitzer , and yesterday he gave a poor imitation of a TED talk before the Georgia state senate , claiming that he has the ability to prove whether ballots from the 2020 election were real or fake .
He introduced himself to a subcommittee of state senators as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” just before implying that he ’ s a titan even bigger than Apple and Google combined .
“ I ’ m on approximately about 12 billion devices globally , ” he said .
We ’ ll definitely grant that Pulitzer does have some credentials in the world of technology .
He ’ s responsible for the CueCat : a cat-shaped barcode scanner that is widely regarded as one of the worst gadgets ever made .
In a 2000 Wall Street Journal review , renowned technology journalist Walt Mossberg wrote that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rob Beschizza of BoingBoing calls it “ one of the classic crap gadgets.
” And TIME named it one of “ the 50 worst inventions.
” The idea of the CueCat was this : millions of the things would be shipped all over the country , and then people would use them to scan barcodes from ads in magazines ... thereby opening deep links to content on their computer .
We probably don ’ t have to explain why a giant barcode scanner that attached to a computer ’ s PS/2 keyboard port @ @ @ @ @ @ @ failed , but since its inventor is now meddling in American election integrity , we can ’ t take anything for granted .
( It was a bad idea to manufacture millions of cat-shaped barcode scanners to compete with the functionality of typing a URL into a browser and pressing “ return.
” ) Anyway , Pulitzer now appears to be trying to cash in on Trump ’ s election grift before the lights go out .
( Thanks to Christina Warren for putting us on the case with this Twitter thread .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Georgia , he posted a video on Twitter talking about Chinese inks , paper fibers , and “ fake squiggles , ” making sure to tag anyone on Fox News who might bite on insinuations of foreign election interference .
( While he wasn ’ t tagged , Fox News ’ s Lou Dobbs fell for it . )
Trump ’ s election fraud campaign is making Republicans especially uncomfortable in Georgia , whose governor and secretary of state are both members of the Republican party .
On Wednesday , Trump tweeted that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adding that Georgia ’ s GOP leadership are “ fools.
” Pro-Trump conspiracy theorists have also targeted voting machine companies Smartmatic and Dominion , falsely alleging that they have ties to antifa and Venezuela .
The companies responded aggressively to the attacks , forcing — you guessed it — Lou Dobbs to refute his own conspiracies with fact-checking segments .
So , will the 2020 election be overturned by the guy who made the CueCat ?
It seems unlikely .
Before wading into politics , Pulitzer reportedly became a “ full-blown treasure hunter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fame on The History Channel .
But , unable , to locate the biblical Ark of the Covenant , Pulitzer is back to search for something just as improbable : widespread election fraud .

In a hopeless attempt to overthrow or cast suspicion on an American election, a ridiculous cast of characters has heeded outgoing President Donald Trump’s call to misadventure — including, now, the inventor of one of the worst gadgets of all time. His name is Jovan Hutton Pulitzer, and yesterday he gave a poor imitation of a TED talk before the Georgia state senate, claiming that he has the ability to prove whether ballots from the 2020 election were real or fake. He introduced himself to a subcommittee of state senators as an “inventor and pattern recognition expert,” just before implying that he’s a titan even bigger than Apple and Google combined. “I’m on approximately about 12 billion devices globally,” he said.
We’ll definitely grant that Pulitzer does have some credentials in the world of technology. He’s responsible for the CueCat: a cat-shaped barcode scanner that is widely regarded as one of the worst gadgets ever made. In a 2000 Wall Street Journal review, renowned technology journalist Walt Mossberg wrote that the CueCat was “unnatural and ridiculous.” Rob Beschizza of BoingBoing calls it “one of the classic crap gadgets.” And TIME named it one of “the 50 worst inventions.”
The idea of the CueCat was this: millions of the things would be shipped all over the country, and then people would use them to scan barcodes from ads in magazines... thereby opening deep links to content on their computer. We probably don’t have to explain why a giant barcode scanner that attached to a computer’s PS/2 keyboard port simply for the purpose of opening websites failed, but since its inventor is now meddling in American election integrity, we can’t take anything for granted. (It was a bad idea to manufacture millions of cat-shaped barcode scanners to compete with the functionality of typing a URL into a browser and pressing “return.”)
Anyway, Pulitzer now appears to be trying to cash in on Trump’s election grift before the lights go out. (Thanks to Christina Warren for putting us on the case with this Twitter thread.) The day before Pulitzer testified in Georgia, he posted a video on Twitter talking about Chinese inks, paper fibers, and “fake squiggles,” making sure to tag anyone on Fox News who might bite on insinuations of foreign election interference. (While he wasn’t tagged, Fox News’s Lou Dobbs fell for it.)
Trump’s election fraud campaign is making Republicans especially uncomfortable in Georgia, whose governor and secretary of state are both members of the Republican party. On Wednesday, Trump tweeted that Georgia Governor Brian Kemp should resign, adding that Georgia’s GOP leadership are “fools.” Pro-Trump conspiracy theorists have also targeted voting machine companies Smartmatic and Dominion, falsely alleging that they have ties to antifa and Venezuela. The companies responded aggressively to the attacks, forcing — you guessed it — Lou Dobbs to refute his own conspiracies with fact-checking segments.


theverge--2020-12-31--Instagram has once again dropped the ball on a ‘top nine’ year in review feature

It ’ s New Year ’ s Eve , which means that your Instagram feed — if it ’ s anything like mine — is probably filled with people posting “ top nine ” grids of their most liked photos from this year .
But , bafflingly , for yet another year , everyone will be turning to sketchy-looking third-party apps and sites to make them .
Because once again , Instagram has failed to offer an official , automated way to curate the images within the app .
As someone who personally enjoys using the top nine format to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good photos , I ’ m left utterly confused by this .
Users seem to love putting together the collages to look back on their past year of posts .
Instagram even already offered grid tools for posting photos to your story in different layouts .
And it certainly has access to the data .
Just look at the popularity of Spotify ’ s Wrapped year in review feature , which has come to dominate December with users showing off their most streamed songs , genres , and stats .
Instagram has to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stories are one of the most popular places users show off their taste in music .
Plus , Instagram is owned by Facebook , the company that pioneered automated year-in-review videos .
Facebook uses the power of algorithms to compile instant ( albeit occasionally depressing ) annual videos and “ friendiversary ” highlights .
Letting users automatically create and share top nine posts seems like a no-brainer .
But 2020 is rolling by without even the barest nod to the idea .
Instead , users are left with third-party services , dozens of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ each year .
These services often ask users to fork over personal information like their email addresses or insist on plastering images with ugly watermarks or logos .
It ’ s easy to imagine how Instagram could streamline this process and even fix some of the pain points in most third-party options , like the inability to generate top nine grids for private accounts .
And yet , it seems that 2020 will end with Instagram dropping the ball on this seemingly obvious feature .
I suppose there ’ s always 2021 .

It’s New Year’s Eve, which means that your Instagram feed — if it’s anything like mine — is probably filled with people posting “top nine” grids of their most liked photos from this year. But, bafflingly, for yet another year, everyone will be turning to sketchy-looking third-party apps and sites to make them. Because once again, Instagram has failed to offer an official, automated way to curate the images within the app.
As someone who personally enjoys using the top nine format to look back on a year of baked good photos, I’m left utterly confused by this. Users seem to love putting together the collages to look back on their past year of posts. Instagram even already offered grid tools for posting photos to your story in different layouts. And it certainly has access to the data.
Just look at the popularity of Spotify’s Wrapped year in review feature, which has come to dominate December with users showing off their most streamed songs, genres, and stats. Instagram has to be aware of the trend — Instagram stories are one of the most popular places users show off their taste in music.
Plus, Instagram is owned by Facebook, the company that pioneered automated year-in-review videos. Facebook uses the power of algorithms to compile instant (albeit occasionally depressing) annual videos and “friendiversary” highlights. Letting users automatically create and share top nine posts seems like a no-brainer. But 2020 is rolling by without even the barest nod to the idea.
Instead, users are left with third-party services, dozens of which skyrocket up the app store charts each year. These services often ask users to fork over personal information like their email addresses or insist on plastering images with ugly watermarks or logos.
It’s easy to imagine how Instagram could streamline this process and even fix some of the pain points in most third-party options, like the inability to generate top nine grids for private accounts.


theverge--2020-12-31--17 great games on Google Play Pass for your new 2020 Android phone

If you just got a brand-new Android phone for the holidays , you probably want to play some games on your shiny device .
Luckily , that ’ s especially easy to do this year with Google ’ s $ 5-per-month Google Play Pass games and apps subscription service , which offers free access to hundreds of games and apps without pushing ads or demanding in-app purchases .
We ’ ve looked through what ’ s available on Play Pass , and the service has a lot of good games to check out .
Here are just a few that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ games are also available individually — either free with ads and in-app purchases or for specific prices — we ’ ve included their Google Play links as well .
We ’ ve rounded up our favorite and most-used games , apps , and entertainment .
Check out our app picks for iPhones , Android phones , Windows PCs , and M1-equipped Macs ; our favorite mobile games from Apple Arcade and Google Play Pass ; and our top choices for gaming PCs , the PS5 , Xbox One and Series X / S @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We ’ ve also listed our favorite streaming shows on Disney Plus , Hulu , ESPN Plus , and Netflix ; some great sci-fi books ; and exciting new podcasts .
( Note : pricing was accurate at the time of publishing but may change . )
Cut the Rope ( and its sequels Cut the Rope 2 , Cut the Rope : Time Travel , and Cut the Rope : Magic ) are charming physics-based puzzle games that let you feed candy to a cute little dinosaur by manipulating Incredible Machine-like contraptions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ getting three stars in each level adds a nice extra challenge .
Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy is a hard-as-nails game about a man in a cauldron climbing a series of tall objects with only a large hammer .
While the game isn ’ t easy , failing repeatedly in your attempts to climb ever higher seems to be just part of the experience of playing it .
I can imagine any frustration would be worth it when you finally reach the end .
Limbo is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only take you a couple hours to play through .
If you haven ’ t played it before , find a cozy spot on the couch in front of the fire , grab some headphones , and get lost in its world .
Honestly , I wouldn ’ t exactly describe Limbo as fun , but it ’ s a one-of-a-kind experience that ’ s worth your time .
Ustwo ’ s perspective-bending puzzlers , Monument Valley and Monument Valley 2 , are somehow engaging and relaxing at the same time , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ levels are wonderfully designed , and you ’ ll typically only need a few minutes to get through a level , so you might be able to sneak in a puzzle or two between bites of holiday leftovers .
Old Man ’ s Journey is a beautiful game about , well , an old man ’ s journey .
But it ’ s not just a trek through his physical environment — the old man also reflects on his memories throughout the game .
The story shouldn ’ t take more than a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if you ’ re looking for a game you can play through in a single sitting , Old Man ’ s Journey might fit the bill .
In Prune , you prune trees with a swipe of a finger so they can grow branches that reach the sun .
That simple concept is supported by a beautiful , minimalistic art style and lush , calming music , making for an almost meditative experience .
If you need something to calm your nerves during the stressful holiday season , consider plopping down on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of headphones .
All three Reigns games — Reigns , Reigns : Her Majesty , and Reigns : Game of Thrones — are available on Google Play Pass , and each offers new opportunities to rule your kingdom with an iron thumb ( if you choose ) .
Though I hope your Reigns : Game of Thrones runs are more satisfying than Game of Thrones ’ final season .
The Mandalorian ’ s second season might be over , but if you ’ re still looking to get your Star Wars fix , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into Star Wars : KOTOR , which remains one of the best Star Wars games .
Will you be a hero and become a Jedi , or go full dark side and embrace your inner Sith ?
The force is still strong with this beloved RPG .
Stardew Valley is guaranteed to be an incredibly addicting way to get you through the holiday doldrums .
I ’ ve lost hours to this game playing just another day over and over again as I tend my crops , visit my farm animals , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can .
Terraria , the hit side-scrolling action-adventure sandbox game , was first released for PCs all the way back in 2011 , and it ’ s still being updated .
The Android version ’ s touchscreen controls can be a little clunky , but don ’ t let them stop you from the potential hours of dungeon-crawling that await you in Terraria .
Thimbleweed Park is an old-school adventure game in the style of Lucasfilm Games presentations like Maniac Mansion and The Secret of Monkey Island but with a few updates to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bit more modern than those older classics .

If you just got a brand-new Android phone for the holidays, you probably want to play some games on your shiny device. Luckily, that’s especially easy to do this year with Google’s $5-per-month Google Play Pass games and apps subscription service, which offers free access to hundreds of games and apps without pushing ads or demanding in-app purchases.
Google Play Pass / $4.99 per month, one-month free trial Subscribe now
We’ve looked through what’s available on Play Pass, and the service has a lot of good games to check out. Here are just a few that we recommend. Since all of the games are also available individually — either free with ads and in-app purchases or for specific prices — we’ve included their Google Play links as well.
Cut the Rope
Cut the Rope Image: ZeptoLab
Cut the Rope (and its sequels Cut the Rope 2, Cut the Rope: Time Travel, and Cut the Rope: Magic) are charming physics-based puzzle games that let you feed candy to a cute little dinosaur by manipulating Incredible Machine-like contraptions. The puzzles are short, but getting three stars in each level adds a nice extra challenge.
Cut the Rope / Available free from Google Play Download now
Cut the Rope 2 / Available free from Google Play Download now
Cut the Rope: Time Travel / Available free from Google Play Download now
Cut the Rope: Magic / Available free from Google Play Download now
Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy
Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy Image: Bennett Foddy
Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy is a hard-as-nails game about a man in a cauldron climbing a series of tall objects with only a large hammer. While the game isn’t easy, failing repeatedly in your attempts to climb ever higher seems to be just part of the experience of playing it. I can imagine any frustration would be worth it when you finally reach the end.
Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy / Available for $4.99 from Google Play Buy now
Limbo
Limbo Image: Playdead
Limbo is a slow, spooky platformer that will only take you a couple hours to play through. If you haven’t played it before, find a cozy spot on the couch in front of the fire, grab some headphones, and get lost in its world. Honestly, I wouldn’t exactly describe Limbo as fun, but it’s a one-of-a-kind experience that’s worth your time.
Limbo / Available for $4.99 from Google Play Buy now
Monument Valley
Monument Valley Image: Ustwo
Ustwo’s perspective-bending puzzlers, Monument Valley and Monument Valley 2, are somehow engaging and relaxing at the same time, and both games are absolutely beautiful. The levels are wonderfully designed, and you’ll typically only need a few minutes to get through a level, so you might be able to sneak in a puzzle or two between bites of holiday leftovers.
Monument Valley / Available for $3.99 from Google Play Buy now
Monument Valley 2 / Available for $4.99 from Google Play Buy now
Old Man’s Journey
Old Man’s Journey Image: Broken Rules Interactive Media GmbH
Old Man’s Journey is a beautiful game about, well, an old man’s journey. But it’s not just a trek through his physical environment — the old man also reflects on his memories throughout the game. The story shouldn’t take more than a couple hours to play through, so if you’re looking for a game you can play through in a single sitting, Old Man’s Journey might fit the bill.
Old Man’s Journey / Available for $4.99 from Google Play Buy now
Prune
Prune Image: Joel McDonald
In Prune, you prune trees with a swipe of a finger so they can grow branches that reach the sun. That simple concept is supported by a beautiful, minimalistic art style and lush, calming music, making for an almost meditative experience. If you need something to calm your nerves during the stressful holiday season, consider plopping down on the couch with Prune and a good pair of headphones.
Prune / Available for $3.99 from Google Play Buy now
Reigns
Reigns Image: Devolver
All three Reigns games — Reigns, Reigns: Her Majesty, and Reigns: Game of Thrones — are available on Google Play Pass, and each offers new opportunities to rule your kingdom with an iron thumb (if you choose). Though I hope your Reigns: Game of Thrones runs are more satisfying than Game of Thrones’ final season.
Reigns / Available for $2.99 from Google Play Buy now
Reigns: Her Majesty / Available for $2.99 from Google Play Buy now
Reigns: Game of Thrones / Available for $3.99 from Google Play Buy now
Star Wars: KOTOR
Star Wars: KOTOR Image: Aspyr Media
The Mandalorian’s second season might be over, but if you’re still looking to get your Star Wars fix, you might want to consider sinking hours into Star Wars: KOTOR, which remains one of the best Star Wars games. Will you be a hero and become a Jedi, or go full dark side and embrace your inner Sith? The force is still strong with this beloved RPG.
Star Wars: KOTOR / Available for $9.99 from Google Play Buy now
Stardew Valley
Stardew Valley Image: Chucklefish Limited
Stardew Valley is guaranteed to be an incredibly addicting way to get you through the holiday doldrums. I’ve lost hours to this game playing just another day over and over again as I tend my crops, visit my farm animals, and make friends with every townsperson that I can.
Stardew Valley / Available for $4.99 from Google Play Buy now
Terraria
Terraria Image: 505 Games
Terraria, the hit side-scrolling action-adventure sandbox game, was first released for PCs all the way back in 2011, and it’s still being updated. The Android version’s touchscreen controls can be a little clunky, but don’t let them stop you from the potential hours of dungeon-crawling that await you in Terraria.
Terraria / Available for $4.99 from Google Play Buy now
Thimbleweed Park
Thimbleweed Park Image: Terrible Toybox
Thimbleweed Park is an old-school adventure game in the style of Lucasfilm Games presentations like Maniac Mansion and The Secret of Monkey Island but with a few updates to the formula to make it feel a bit more modern than those older classics.


theverge--2020-01-30--Google searches for coronavirus will now show you safety tips

Searching Google for “ coronavirus ” will now send users to a curated search results page with resources from the World Health Organization , safety tips , and news updates , Google and the WHO announced today .
This effort , which is just one of Google ’ s SOS Alerts , is now live .
Google also announced a $ 250,000 direct grant from Google.org , the company ’ s philanthropic arm , that will go to the Chinese Red Cross to help support coronavirus relief efforts .
The WHO declared today that the coronavirus outbreak is a global @ @ @ @ @ @ @ started in December , there have been over 8,000 confirmed cases and more than 170 deaths .
The first person-to-person transmission of coronavirus was reported in the US earlier today ; as of January 29th , five people in the US have been confirmed to have the disease and 92 people are under investigation , according to the CDC .
Multiple airlines have suspended or canceled flights in the near future as a safety precaution , and some companies , including Google and Tesla , have closed down their offices or operations in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re tracking the coronavirus outbreak closely at The Verge .
We ’ ve got an explainer about it right here , and you can read all of our coronavirus coverage here .

Searching Google for “coronavirus” will now send users to a curated search results page with resources from the World Health Organization, safety tips, and news updates, Google and the WHO announced today . This effort, which is just one of Google’s SOS Alerts , is now live.
The WHO declared today that the coronavirus outbreak is a global public health emergency. Since the outbreak started in December, there have been over 8,000 confirmed cases and more than 170 deaths. The first person-to-person transmission of coronavirus was reported in the US earlier today; as of January 29th, five people in the US have been confirmed to have the disease and 92 people are under investigation, according to the CDC. Multiple airlines have suspended or canceled flights in the near future as a safety precaution, and some companies, including Google and Tesla, have closed down their offices or operations in China due to the outbreak.


theverge--2020-01-30--You can now report voter suppression on Twitter ahead of the 2020 election

Twitter ’ s tool for reporting instances of voter suppression is now available for US users , just days ahead of the 2020 Iowa caucuses ( via Politico ) .
In its “ report this tweet ” drop-down menu , US Twitter users now will be able to choose “ it ’ s misleading about a political election ” or “ it intends to suppress or intimidate someone from voting ” as options .
If Twitter finds the tweet violates its election integrity policy , the user could be asked to remove the tweet , and repeated abusers could be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ getting flagged for violating Twitter ’ s voter suppression rules , don ’ t tweet a fake election date , for instance , and don ’ t tweet that one group of voters can vote online or on a different day .
And definitely don ’ t sow confusion about voter ID rules , which vary greatly from state to state , or pretend you are pals with a candidate ( or are a candidate ) if you ’ re not .
Of course , this is just the latest example of Twitter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of other users , and while it ’ s nice to have the reporting option , it ’ s not guaranteed that Twitter will be able to enforce the rules .
As longtime users are well aware , Twitter is notorious for inconsistent enforcement .
It ’ s also not clear how Twitter will prevent the anti-election fraud tool from being used by trolls to attack candidates or other users they disagree with , which also is against its policy .
Twitter first rolled out the election fraud tool in India last April @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and in the European Union ahead of its May elections , but didn ’ t explain today how well it had worked back then .
Twitter announced the US addition to its fraud reporting tools the same day Sen. Elizabeth Warren , a candidate for the Democratic nomination for president , unveiled a plan to fight online disinformation .
A vocal critic of social media , Warren ’ s plan appears to be the first to connect social media platforms ’ algorithms to disinformation campaigns .
“ Users should have more choice in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used to influence the information they see , ” Warren wrote in the plan .
“ Social media platforms should allow users to understand how algorithms affect their use of the platform , and to opt out of algorithmic amplification.
” Just the latest Twitter ban on political content The new reporting tools are just the latest of Twitter ’ s plans and policies to try to prevent election fraud in the US .
Its new rules on political advertising went into effect November 22nd , banning ads for candidates , political parties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , referendums , or ballot measures .
Its “ cause-based ” ad policy also limits who can post sponsored content on topics like climate change , abortion , or animal rights , and you can ’ t target such ads based on users ’ age , race , or a specific location .
Responding to criticism that the ad ban seemed to favor political incumbents , Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey said , “ Many social movements reach massive scale without any political advertising.
” And in another example of Twitter putting into place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appear to have enforced , last June , the company said it would begin putting a “ notice ” over tweets from political figures which broke its content policies , but were still in the public interest .
So far , it doesn ’ t look like any political figures have ended up in Twitter ’ s gray box .

Twitter’s tool for reporting instances of voter suppression is now available for US users, just days ahead of the 2020 Iowa caucuses (via Politico). In its “report this tweet” drop-down menu, US Twitter users now will be able to choose “it’s misleading about a political election” or “it intends to suppress or intimidate someone from voting” as options. If Twitter finds the tweet violates its election integrity policy, the user could be asked to remove the tweet, and repeated abusers could be banned from the platform.
To avoid getting flagged for violating Twitter’s voter suppression rules, don’t tweet a fake election date, for instance, and don’t tweet that one group of voters can vote online or on a different day. And definitely don’t sow confusion about voter ID rules, which vary greatly from state to state, or pretend you are pals with a candidate (or are a candidate) if you’re not.
Twitter’s election fraud reporting tool
Of course, this is just the latest example of Twitter asking users to police the bad behavior of other users, and while it’s nice to have the reporting option, it’s not guaranteed that Twitter will be able to enforce the rules. As longtime users are well aware, Twitter is notorious for inconsistent enforcement.
It’s also not clear how Twitter will prevent the anti-election fraud tool from being used by trolls to attack candidates or other users they disagree with, which also is against its policy. Twitter first rolled out the election fraud tool in India last April during that country’s elections, and in the European Union ahead of its May elections, but didn’t explain today how well it had worked back then.
Twitter announced the US addition to its fraud reporting tools the same day Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a candidate for the Democratic nomination for president, unveiled a plan to fight online disinformation. A vocal critic of social media, Warren’s plan appears to be the first to connect social media platforms’ algorithms to disinformation campaigns.
“Users should have more choice in determining how their data and preferences are used to influence the information they see,” Warren wrote in the plan. “Social media platforms should allow users to understand how algorithms affect their use of the platform, and to opt out of algorithmic amplification.”
Just the latest Twitter ban on political content
The new reporting tools are just the latest of Twitter’s plans and policies to try to prevent election fraud in the US. Its new rules on political advertising went into effect November 22nd, banning ads for candidates, political parties, government officials, legislation, regulation, referendums, or ballot measures. Its “cause-based” ad policy also limits who can post sponsored content on topics like climate change, abortion, or animal rights, and you can’t target such ads based on users’ age, race, or a specific location. Responding to criticism that the ad ban seemed to favor political incumbents, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey said, “Many social movements reach massive scale without any political advertising.”


theverge--2020-01-30--You can now own a life-sized, screen-accurate Baby Yoda figure... for $350

The picture at the top of this post isn ’ t a screenshot of The Child ( aka , Baby Yoda ) from Disney+ ’ s The Mandalorian ; rather , it ’ s an incredibly detailed , 1:1 life-sized replica of the iconic character from Sideshow Collectibles , and it could be yours ... for the low , low price of $ 350 .
Preorders for the figure open today , but it ’ s not expected to arrive until August to October later this year .
If that massive price tag didn ’ t give it away : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or action figure , like the official plushies that Disney is selling later this year ( or the far cuter but unofficial Etsy iterations that Disney is fighting against ) .
It ’ s a collectible figurine that mostly just stands around on your desk or counter , with what looks like few points of articulation to actually pose or play with the figure .
But much like other Sideshow Collectible products , the life-size Baby Yoda here wins out from other toys with its sheer accuracy to the original , on-screen character @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yoda figure looks nearly perfect compared to the show , right down to the huge eyes and adorable peach fuzz on top of his cute lil ’ head .
He even has his little toy ball , stolen from one of the control sticks on the Mandalorian ’ s ship in the show .
The figure itself measures 16 and a half inches tall , made out of fabric , plastic , and resin .
And sure , the $ 350 price tag is a lot , especially compared to a $ 25 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 5 million that actor Adam Pally claims the actual puppet used on screen cost , $ 350 seems like a bargain .
Besides , should you change your mind , you could always probably pawn it off to Werner Herzog in exchange for some rare beskar to forge into a suit of Mandalorian armor .
Vox Media has affiliate partnerships .
These do not influence editorial content , though Vox Media may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links .
For more information , see

The picture at the top of this post isn’t a screenshot of The Child (aka, Baby Yoda) from Disney+’s The Mandalorian; rather, it’s an incredibly detailed, 1:1 life-sized replica of the iconic character from Sideshow Collectibles, and it could be yours... for the low, low price of $350. Preorders for the figure open today, but it’s not expected to arrive until August to October later this year.
If that massive price tag didn’t give it away: this isn’t a stuffed toy or action figure, like the official plushies that Disney is selling later this year (or the far cuter but unofficial Etsy iterations that Disney is fighting against). It’s a collectible figurine that mostly just stands around on your desk or counter, with what looks like few points of articulation to actually pose or play with the figure.
But much like other Sideshow Collectible products, the life-size Baby Yoda here wins out from other toys with its sheer accuracy to the original, on-screen character. Basically every aspect of the Baby Yoda figure looks nearly perfect compared to the show, right down to the huge eyes and adorable peach fuzz on top of his cute lil’ head. He even has his little toy ball, stolen from one of the control sticks on the Mandalorian’s ship in the show.
The figure itself measures 16 and a half inches tall, made out of fabric, plastic, and resin. And sure, the $350 price tag is a lot, especially compared to a $25 plushie. But compared to the $5 million that actor Adam Pally claims the actual puppet used on screen cost, $350 seems like a bargain.
Besides, should you change your mind, you could always probably pawn it off to Werner Herzog in exchange for some rare beskar to forge into a suit of Mandalorian armor.
The Child Life-Size Figure / Pre-order for $350. Estimated to ship between August and October 2020. Pre-order on Sideshow


theverge--2020-01-30--Amazon now has more than 150 million Prime members after huge holiday season

Amazon released its fourth quarter earnings for 2019 today , and the company is touting big Prime subscriber numbers as one of the main contributors to a very successful holiday season .
The company says it now has over 150 million Prime subscribers , and that more people joined Prime during the fourth quarter of last year than any other quarter in the company ’ s history .
Since its last milestone of 100 million subscribers in 2018 , more than 50 million people have joined .
It ’ s no secret that people subscribe to Prime , at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one , more during the holiday season than at other times in the year , to ensure that gifts arrive for the holidays .
But Amazon also attributes its particularly big swell of new Prime subscribers to the service ’ s availability in Brazil as of last September .
Also , the company notes that it eliminated the cost ( originally $ 14.99 per month ) of Amazon Fresh , its grocery delivery service , for Prime subscribers back in October , adding another benefit to the subscription on top of Prime Video @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we saw Amazon push to make one-day shipping a reality in a bid to prevent you from shopping anywhere else .
The initiative apparently paid off for keeping Prime subscribers and adding new ones .
One-day shipping comes cheap for users , but as my colleague Nick Statt shared last year , it doesn ’ t come cheap for Amazon .
The company says in the last three months , it earned nearly roughly $ 3.3 billion profit on sales of $ 87.4 billion , both of which smashed Wall Street expectations .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ division humming along , but its Amazon Web Services cloud computing division and its fast-growing advertising division both saw massive revenue jumps .
That all helped Amazon offset its growing shipping costs , which jumped to an astronomical $ 12.9 billion as the company continues to build out its logistics network , yet were not enough of a drag to hurt its profitability .

Amazon released its fourth quarter earnings for 2019 today, and the company is touting big Prime subscriber numbers as one of the main contributors to a very successful holiday season. The company says it now has over 150 million Prime subscribers, and that more people joined Prime during the fourth quarter of last year than any other quarter in the company’s history. Since its last milestone of 100 million subscribers in 2018, more than 50 million people have joined.
It’s no secret that people subscribe to Prime, at least its monthly version instead of its annual one, more during the holiday season than at other times in the year, to ensure that gifts arrive for the holidays. But Amazon also attributes its particularly big swell of new Prime subscribers to the service’s availability in Brazil as of last September. Also, the company notes that it eliminated the cost (originally $14.99 per month) of Amazon Fresh, its grocery delivery service, for Prime subscribers back in October, adding another benefit to the subscription on top of Prime Video and numerous others.
Last year, we saw Amazon push to make one-day shipping a reality in a bid to prevent you from shopping anywhere else. The initiative apparently paid off for keeping Prime subscribers and adding new ones. One-day shipping comes cheap for users, but as my colleague Nick Statt shared last year, it doesn’t come cheap for Amazon.


theverge--2020-01-30--Pilots just sued American Airlines to force a halt to China flights

American Airlines had already canceled some flights to China due to the coronavirus outbreak — which was officially designated a global health emergency by the WHO earlier today , having sickened thousands around the world — but the airline ’ s independent union , Allied Pilots Association , is now suing for a temporary restraining order on all American Airlines flights between the US and China , effective immediately .
In the meanwhile , it ’ s telling American Airlines pilots that they should refuse to fly to China if they ’ re asked to do so .
That ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some flights , the airline is still flying to China right now — the lawsuit points out that the suspensions don ’ t begin until February 9th and are only for flights out of Los Angeles , with American Airlines reportedly refusing to suspend flights out of Dallas .
By February 9th , pilots will have had to fly from Dallas to China 26 more times , and they ’ ll be required by law to spend 32 hours on the ground to rest each time , according to the APA .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during that time , and the union points out that other major airlines , including British Airways , have completely suspended their flights already .
United Airlines and Delta have also reduced flights because of less demand .
“ Due to the known and unknown risks associated with traveling to China right now , concurrent with the filing of our lawsuit , we are directing all American Airlines pilots assigned to flights between the United States and China , other than those on return trips to the United States , to decline the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement from APA President Capt .
Eric Ferguson .
American Airlines tells The Verge that it ’ s “ aware of the filing , ” and that the company is actively monitoring the coronavirus situation .
“ We are in close contact with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) and global public health officials to make sure we are taking all necessary precautions for our customers and team members , ” wrote a representative .
It ’ s worth noting that there may be other motives for the union @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s currently fighting to negotiate a new contract with American Airlines , and it was just yesterday that hundreds of pilots held a public demonstration at DFW International Airport to express their frustration , the Dallas Morning News reported .
We ’ re tracking all the updates about the coronavirus outbreak , including which tech companies have been affected , in our StoryStream linked here and below .

American Airlines had already canceled some flights to China due to the coronavirus outbreak — which was officially designated a global health emergency by the WHO earlier today, having sickened thousands around the world — but the airline’s independent union, Allied Pilots Association, is now suing for a temporary restraining order on all American Airlines flights between the US and China, effective immediately.
In the meanwhile, it’s telling American Airlines pilots that they should refuse to fly to China if they’re asked to do so.
That’s because while American Airlines has canceled some flights, the airline is still flying to China right now — the lawsuit points out that the suspensions don’t begin until February 9th and are only for flights out of Los Angeles, with American Airlines reportedly refusing to suspend flights out of Dallas. By February 9th, pilots will have had to fly from Dallas to China 26 more times, and they’ll be required by law to spend 32 hours on the ground to rest each time, according to the APA. The implication is that pilots might get sick during that time, and the union points out that other major airlines, including British Airways, have completely suspended their flights already.
United Airlines and Delta have also reduced flights because of less demand.
“Due to the known and unknown risks associated with traveling to China right now, concurrent with the filing of our lawsuit, we are directing all American Airlines pilots assigned to flights between the United States and China, other than those on return trips to the United States, to decline the assignment,” reads part of a statement from APA President Capt. Eric Ferguson.
American Airlines tells The Verge that it’s “aware of the filing,” and that the company is actively monitoring the coronavirus situation. “We are in close contact with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and global public health officials to make sure we are taking all necessary precautions for our customers and team members,” wrote a representative.
It’s worth noting that there may be other motives for the union to push American Airlines right now. It’s currently fighting to negotiate a new contract with American Airlines, and it was just yesterday that hundreds of pilots held a public demonstration at DFW International Airport to express their frustration, the Dallas Morning News reported.
We’re tracking all the updates about the coronavirus outbreak, including which tech companies have been affected, in our StoryStream linked here and below.


theverge--2020-01-30--OnePlus just took a big step toward supporting wireless charging in future phones

OnePlus ’ smartphones are infamous for lacking support for Qi wireless charging —but the company has been spotted joining the @ @ @ @ @ ) , the standards group that handles the Qi wireless charging used by virtually every @ @ @ @ @ by MobileScout .
The lack of wireless charging has been one of the glaring holes @ @ @ @ @ crops up every year , especially as OnePlus ’ phones have gotten better and better @ @ @ @ @ other top smartphones .
Despite this , OnePlus CEO Pete Lau has previously been fairly @ @ @ @ @ the past .
Earlier this year on The Vergecast , Lau commented that even 10W @ @ @ @ @ slow and “ not worth it ” compared to the wired fast-charging Warp Charge that @ @ @ @ @ .
Despite that , there are already rumors OnePlus may be gearing up to offer @ @ @ @ @ at least on the high-end OnePlus 8 Pro model .
The fact that OnePlus has @ @ @ @ @ the possibility that those rumors could be true .

OnePlus’ smartphones are infamous for lacking support for Qi wireless charging —but the company has been spotted joining the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC), the standards group that handles the Qi wireless charging used by virtually every single smartphone, as reported by MobileScout .
The lack of wireless charging has been one of the glaring holes in OnePlus’ lineup that crops up every year, especially as OnePlus’ phones have gotten better and better and started to compete with other top smartphones. Despite this, OnePlus CEO Pete Lau has previously been fairly unenthusiastic about wireless charging in the past. Earlier this year on The Vergecast, Lau commented that even 10W fast wireless charging was too slow and “not worth it” compared to the wired fast-charging Warp Charge that OnePlus’ current phones offer.


theverge--2020-01-30--You can now reserve your spot to pay for a Samsung Galaxy S20

Samsung has opened up reservations for its next flagship phones , expected to be the Samsung Galaxy S20 , S20 Plus , and S20 Ultra , that the company will unveil at an upcoming event on February 11th .
But this isn ’ t a pre-order .
It ’ s more like taking a ticket while you ’ re in line at the deli .
You enter your name , contact info , and preferred carrier , and — you ’ re ready to wait .
It ’ s highly unlikely that Samsung will run short on supply , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re at least closer toward the front of the line to buy one on launch day .
Speaking of launch day , Samsung mentions on its page that it expects delivery by March 6th .
I wouldn ’ t take this as a confirmation of the actual sales date of the rumored S20 , S20 Plus , and S20 Ultra .
But it ’ s definitely a good hint as to when we might expect them to be available .
We ’ ll be at Samsung ’ s Unpacked event where , hopefully @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think we know about its Galaxy S20 .
And maybe we ’ ll hear something about that rumored flip phone that ’ s being talked about as well .
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These do not influence editorial content , though Vox Media may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links .
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Samsung has opened up reservations for its next flagship phones, expected to be the Samsung Galaxy S20, S20 Plus, and S20 Ultra, that the company will unveil at an upcoming event on February 11th.
But this isn’t a pre-order. It’s more like taking a ticket while you’re in line at the deli. You enter your name, contact info, and preferred carrier, and — you’re ready to wait. It’s highly unlikely that Samsung will run short on supply, but by reserving a pre-order, you’re at least closer toward the front of the line to buy one on launch day. And not just that, those who reserve now and commit to a pre-order when they become available will receive a $35 instant credit to use on Samsung’s site.
Speaking of launch day, Samsung mentions on its page that it expects delivery by March 6th. I wouldn’t take this as a confirmation of the actual sales date of the rumored S20, S20 Plus, and S20 Ultra. But it’s definitely a good hint as to when we might expect them to be available.
We’ll be at Samsung’s Unpacked event where, hopefully, the company will affirm everything we think we know about its Galaxy S20. And maybe we’ll hear something about that rumored flip phone that’s being talked about as well.
Reserve a Samsung Galaxy S20 / Line up for the chance to buy Samsung’s new phone Visit Samsung