theverge--2020-06-17--Dell’s new USB-C hub is also a speakerphone for conference calls

With a huge chunk of the working world now working remotely , conference calls in Zoom or Skype have become a central part of day-to-day life .
So Dell is adapting with a new Mobile Adapter Speakerphone , which combines a USB-C hub that adds HDMI or USB-A ports with a conference call-style speakerphone for better audio quality .
With both a wrap-around USB-C cable and a second USB-C port , the Mobile Adapter Speakerphone lets you plug in a power adapter for 90W USB-C PD passthrough charging , while providing access to two USB-A ports ( rated for up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an HDMI 2.0 port ( with support for 4K HDR at 60Hz refresh rates ) .
There ’ s no SD card slots or Ethernet port , though — a particularly puzzling move given how much video conferencing relies on a strong internet connection .
Theoretically , you could also use the hub to plug a USB-C external monitor into your laptop , though you wouldn ’ t have room to plug in your charger anymore .
On the speakerphone side of things , there ’ s dedicated buttons for volume , answering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yourself , along with dual microphones which promise 360-degree sound and built-in echo cancellation .
The biggest issue is the $ 199.99 price , which is a lot to spend on a USB-C hub ( which typically run in the $ 50 to $ 75 range ) , but given that USB speakerphones like this can cost $ 100 on their own , the added convenience factor may be worth it .
The Dell Mobile Adapter Speakerphone is available now from Dell ’ s website .

With a huge chunk of the working world now working remotely, conference calls in Zoom or Skype have become a central part of day-to-day life. So Dell is adapting with a new Mobile Adapter Speakerphone, which combines a USB-C hub that adds HDMI or USB-A ports with a conference call-style speakerphone for better audio quality.
With both a wrap-around USB-C cable and a second USB-C port, the Mobile Adapter Speakerphone lets you plug in a power adapter for 90W USB-C PD passthrough charging, while providing access to two USB-A ports (rated for up to 10 Gbps speeds), and an HDMI 2.0 port (with support for 4K HDR at 60Hz refresh rates). There’s no SD card slots or Ethernet port, though — a particularly puzzling move given how much video conferencing relies on a strong internet connection.
The USB-C cable stores underneath.
Theoretically, you could also use the hub to plug a USB-C external monitor into your laptop, though you wouldn’t have room to plug in your charger anymore.
On the speakerphone side of things, there’s dedicated buttons for volume, answering or ending a call, and muting yourself, along with dual microphones which promise 360-degree sound and built-in echo cancellation.
The biggest issue is the $199.99 price, which is a lot to spend on a USB-C hub (which typically run in the $50 to $75 range), but given that USB speakerphones like this can cost $100 on their own, the added convenience factor may be worth it.


theverge--2020-06-17--Kim Kardashian West is the next superstar celebrity to snag an exclusive podcast deal with Spotify

Kim Kardashian West has entered into a deal with Spotify to produce and host a new exclusive podcast .
The deal follows Spotify ’ s landmark contract last month with podcast juggernaut Joe Rogan , who is moving his podcast The Joe Rogan Experience to the music streaming platform this later this year .
The Wall Street Journal first reported Kardashian West ’ s deal on Wednesday .
It ’ s unclear what the financial terms for the deal are ; media reports said Rogan ’ s exclusive contract with Spotify was worth more than $ 100 million .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is as lucrative , as she ’ s not migrating an existing popular podcast to Spotify ’ s platform like Rogan did , but starting an altogether new one .
Spotify declined to comment on the specifics of the deal .
Spotify is paying for high-profile exclusives in the podcast space Kardashian West is a vocal advocate for criminal justice reform and has been studying to become a lawyer through an apprenticeship program .
Through her studies , she has worked extensively with the Innocence Project , a nonprofit that focuses on exonerating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advocating for broader criminal justice reforms .
The podcast , which will be distributed under the Parcast network Spottily acquired last year , will spotlight both Kardashian West ’ s involvement and the investigative work of co-producer Lori Rothschild Ansaldi .
Both will co-produce and co-host the show .
The deal is just the latest in Spotify ’ s ongoing push to capture more of the podcasting landscape .
The company purchased Gimlet Media , maker of popular podcasts Reply All and The Pitch , in 2019 .
Back in February , Spotify @ @ @ @ @ @ @ culture and sports website and podcast network — primarily for its network of popular shows .
With deals like Rogan ’ s and now one with Kardashian West , Spotify has established itself as the most well-funded company in the podcast space .
It ’ s willing to pay for exclusivity , and it ’ s clearly interested in chipping away at the dominance of other platform owners like Apple and , to a lesser extent , YouTube , where plenty of podcasters also post video versions of recordings .
( Rogan ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contain full episodes after his Spotify deal kicks in fully later in 2020 . )
Update June 17th , 6:33PM ET : Clarified that the show will be released under Spotify ’ s Parcast network and focus on the investigative work of co-producer Lori Rothschild Ansaldi .

Kim Kardashian West has entered into a deal with Spotify to produce and host a new exclusive podcast. The deal follows Spotify’s landmark contract last month with podcast juggernaut Joe Rogan, who is moving his podcast The Joe Rogan Experience to the music streaming platform this later this year. The Wall Street Journal first reported Kardashian West’s deal on Wednesday.
It’s unclear what the financial terms for the deal are; media reports said Rogan’s exclusive contract with Spotify was worth more than $100 million. It’s unlikely Kardashian West’s is as lucrative, as she’s not migrating an existing popular podcast to Spotify’s platform like Rogan did, but starting an altogether new one. Spotify declined to comment on the specifics of the deal.
Spotify is paying for high-profile exclusives in the podcast space
Kardashian West is a vocal advocate for criminal justice reform and has been studying to become a lawyer through an apprenticeship program. Through her studies, she has worked extensively with the Innocence Project, a nonprofit that focuses on exonerating wrongly convicted individuals through DNA testing and advocating for broader criminal justice reforms. The podcast, which will be distributed under the Parcast network Spotify acquired last year, will spotlight both Kardashian West’s involvement and the investigative work of co-producer Lori Rothschild Ansaldi. Both will co-produce and co-host the show.
The deal is just the latest in Spotify’s ongoing push to capture more of the podcasting landscape. The company purchased Gimlet Media, maker of popular podcasts Reply All and The Pitch, in 2019. Back in February, Spotify purchased The Ringer — Bill Simmons’ culture and sports website and podcast network — primarily for its network of popular shows.
With deals like Rogan’s and now one with Kardashian West, Spotify has established itself as the most well-funded company in the podcast space. It’s willing to pay for exclusivity, and it’s clearly interested in chipping away at the dominance of other platform owners like Apple and, to a lesser extent, YouTube, where plenty of podcasters also post video versions of recordings. (Rogan’s popular YouTube channel will no longer contain full episodes after his Spotify deal kicks in fully later in 2020.)


theverge--2020-06-17--Google commits $175 million to racial equity with focus on black-owned businesses

Google is committing to spending more than $ 175 million on racial equity initiatives with a focus on financing black-owned businesses and supporting black entrepreneurs .
The funding was announced by Google CEO Sundar Pichai on Wednesday alongside a number of other commitments and changes meant to fight anti-black racism and support black Google employees and their families .
The $ 175 million commitment is part of an “ economic opportunity package ” that Google breaks down into four groups .
The largest sum is $ 100 million in funding to be directed toward black-led venture capital firms , startups @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entrepreneurs .
Another $ 50 million will be used as financing and grants for small businesses “ focused on the Black community.
” Google says $ 15 million will go toward training programs for black job seekers , which will be operated by partners , while $ 10 million will be used to support black developers within Google ’ s ecosystem by offering access to “ education , equipment and economic opportunities.
” In addition to that funding , Google is committing $ 3 million to support black students with a focus on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it will improve black employee representation in leadership roles The commitments follow widespread protests over the death of George Floyd .
Many companies across the US have started taking a look at their failures to support black communities and what they can do to improve opportunities for black employees and fight anti-black racism .
Google announced an initial $ 12 million in donations to fight racial inequities earlier this month .
Other large tech companies , including Amazon and Facebook , have announced donations as well .
Last week , Apple launched a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Equity and Justice Initiative .
Google is also making a number of changes within its company to support black employees and black representation .
The company has committed to adding more black employees to senior leadership and improving the general leadership group ’ s inclusion of people from underrepresented groups by 30 percent by 2025 .
In Google ’ s 2020 diversity report , it said that white+ employees accounted for 65.9 percent of leadership roles in the US and Asian+ employees accounted for 29.6 percent .
Black+ employees made up just 2.6 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do more to improve hiring , retention , and promotion of people from underrepresented groups and work to create a “ stronger sense of inclusion and belonging ” for Google ’ s black+ employees .
Among the changes is an end to Google ’ s policy of asking employees to monitor for unauthorized visitors walking in the office doors behind them without swiping through .
Pichai writes that “ we have realized this process is susceptible to bias , ” so Google is now going to rely on other security checks instead .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ training programs and scale them to its entire workforce .
The company was recently criticized by employees who alleged it had heavily scaled back its diversity and inclusion programs ; Google defended itself by saying some of the programs it ended couldn ’ t be properly scaled to the entire company .
Pichai also said today that Google is working to expand mental health resources and other benefits to better support black employees and their families .
The announcements follow a $ 12 million commitment from Google “ to organizations working to address @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this month .
YouTube , which is owned by Google , also announced a $ 100 million fund to support black creators .
“ Creating meaningful change starts within our own company , ” Pichai wrote in a memo sent to the company .
“ Strengthening our commitment to racial equity and inclusion will help Google build more helpful products for our users and the world .
”

Google is committing to spending more than $175 million on racial equity initiatives with a focus on financing black-owned businesses and supporting black entrepreneurs. The funding was announced by Google CEO Sundar Pichai on Wednesday alongside a number of other commitments and changes meant to fight anti-black racism and support black Google employees and their families.
The $175 million commitment is part of an “economic opportunity package” that Google breaks down into four groups. The largest sum is $100 million in funding to be directed toward black-led venture capital firms, startups, and other organizations focused on black entrepreneurs. Another $50 million will be used as financing and grants for small businesses “focused on the Black community.”
Google says $15 million will go toward training programs for black job seekers, which will be operated by partners, while $10 million will be used to support black developers within Google’s ecosystem by offering access to “education, equipment and economic opportunities.” In addition to that funding, Google is committing $3 million to support black students with a focus on early computer science education.
Google says it will improve black employee representation in leadership roles
The commitments follow widespread protests over the death of George Floyd. Many companies across the US have started taking a look at their failures to support black communities and what they can do to improve opportunities for black employees and fight anti-black racism. Google announced an initial $12 million in donations to fight racial inequities earlier this month. Other large tech companies, including Amazon and Facebook, have announced donations as well. Last week, Apple launched a $100 million program called the Racial Equity and Justice Initiative.
Google is also making a number of changes within its company to support black employees and black representation. The company has committed to adding more black employees to senior leadership and improving the general leadership group’s inclusion of people from underrepresented groups by 30 percent by 2025. In Google’s 2020 diversity report, it said that white+ employees accounted for 65.9 percent of leadership roles in the US and Asian+ employees accounted for 29.6 percent. Black+ employees made up just 2.6 percent.
Pichai also said Google would do more to improve hiring, retention, and promotion of people from underrepresented groups and work to create a “stronger sense of inclusion and belonging” for Google’s black+ employees. Among the changes is an end to Google’s policy of asking employees to monitor for unauthorized visitors walking in the office doors behind them without swiping through. Pichai writes that “we have realized this process is susceptible to bias,” so Google is now going to rely on other security checks instead.
Google also plans to add additional anti-racism training programs and scale them to its entire workforce. The company was recently criticized by employees who alleged it had heavily scaled back its diversity and inclusion programs; Google defended itself by saying some of the programs it ended couldn’t be properly scaled to the entire company. Pichai also said today that Google is working to expand mental health resources and other benefits to better support black employees and their families.
The announcements follow a $12 million commitment from Google “to organizations working to address racial inequities” that was announced earlier this month. YouTube, which is owned by Google, also announced a $100 million fund to support black creators.


theverge--2020-06-17--Volkswagen’s ID 4 revealed in leaked images

Volkswagen ’ s first all-electric SUV , the ID 4 , has broken cover thanks to leaked images from China ’ s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology that were picked up by a VW fan forum .
The ID 4 — which was previously known as the ID Crozz when it was still a concept — is the first vehicle from VW ’ s forthcoming ID lineup of electric vehicles that will be sold in the US .
The ID 4 will also be sold in China and Europe .
The German automaker is said to be planning a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later this summer .
It ’ s expected to get around 300 miles of range on a full charge and is built on the same modular EV platform that will power VW ’ s other ID vehicles .
It will be the first ID vehicle to come to the US The photos published on Wednesday only show the exterior of the vehicle , and it shares some of the same design language as the ID 3 — the hatchback EV that VW is starting to roll out in Europe — as well as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve seen in concept form .
Its headlights resemble the ones found on the ID 3 , and the front grille shares a similar cheese grater aesthetic to the wagon concept VW unveiled at last year ’ s Los Angeles Auto Show .
The ID 4 ’ s styling has a modern feel to it , as it ’ s far curvier than VW ’ s workhorse SUVs like the Tiguan or the Atlas .
But there ’ s nothing that really screams “ EV ” about the design .
It lacks the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some other automakers have refused to move beyond despite electric vehicles becoming more commonplace .
One thing that does stand out is that , despite VW focusing on the “ ID 4 ” branding for months now , one variant of the vehicle does feature embossed “ Crozz ” lettering on its rear bumper , meaning the company may not be completely done with that branding .
We ’ ll have to wait for the full reveal to find out .

Volkswagen’s first all-electric SUV, the ID 4, has broken cover thanks to leaked images from China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology that were picked up by a VW fan forum.
The ID 4 — which was previously known as the ID Crozz when it was still a concept — is the first vehicle from VW’s forthcoming ID lineup of electric vehicles that will be sold in the US. The ID 4 will also be sold in China and Europe. The German automaker is said to be planning a full reveal of the ID 4 sometime later this summer. It’s expected to get around 300 miles of range on a full charge and is built on the same modular EV platform that will power VW’s other ID vehicles.
It will be the first ID vehicle to come to the US
The photos published on Wednesday only show the exterior of the vehicle, and it shares some of the same design language as the ID 3 — the hatchback EV that VW is starting to roll out in Europe — as well as the other ID vehicles that we’ve seen in concept form. Its headlights resemble the ones found on the ID 3, and the front grille shares a similar cheese grater aesthetic to the wagon concept VW unveiled at last year’s Los Angeles Auto Show.
The ID 4’s styling has a modern feel to it, as it’s far curvier than VW’s workhorse SUVs like the Tiguan or the Atlas. But there’s nothing that really screams “EV” about the design. It lacks the bright blue accents and spaceship looks that some other automakers have refused to move beyond despite electric vehicles becoming more commonplace.


theverge--2020-06-17--Justice Department asks Congress for a sharp cut to websites’ legal protections

The Department of Justice has released a proposal for changing Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act , urging Congress to pass a dramatic reduction in the law ’ s scope and expose services like apps and websites to greater legal liability .
The proposal creates new categories of “ egregious content ” that wouldn ’ t be covered , makes it potentially easier to sue for content removal , and denies protection if a service “ purposefully facilitates or solicits third-party content ” that ’ s illegal .
The new rules draw on a workshop the Justice Department held @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disparate complaints about Section 230 .
The proposal suggests allowing lawsuits against sites when users upload child abuse and exploitation , terrorism , or cyberstalking content — along the lines of the 2018 SESTA/FOSTA law .
It would also deny protection if sites had “ actual knowledge or notice ” that the content had violated criminal law and didn ’ t remove it .
Also , Section 230 — which already doesn ’ t apply to federal criminal cases — would no longer restrict civil cases brought by the federal government .
Courts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t be sued over third-party illegal behavior .
The dating platform Grindr , for instance , won a lawsuit brought by a man who was extensively stalked and harassed through its platform .
The cyberstalking carveout could greatly change the calculus for similar suits in the future .
Similarly , nonconsensual pornography sites have used Section 230 to avoid legal challenges , but they could be sued for “ purposefully facilitating ” that content under the proposed changes .
There ’ s already a plan in Congress to reduce protection when users upload @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Justice Department suggests removing that protection for sites altogether .
The proposal pairs concerns about abuse and stalking with Trump ’ s social media complaints Some rules also reflect elements of President Donald Trump ’ s recent social media executive order , which is aimed at limiting sites ’ ability to remove content rather than punishing them for leaving unlawful material online .
Sites are currently protected from lawsuits when they remove “ obscene , lewd , lascivious , filthy , excessively violent , harassing , or otherwise objectionable ” posts .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ otherwise objectionable ” with “ unlawful ” and “ promotes terrorism.
” Furthermore , sites wouldn ’ t be immune from lawsuits unless decisions were “ done in accordance with plain and particular terms of service and accompanied by a reasonable explanation.
” The statute doesn ’ t protect them from antitrust claims , either — although there ’ s already a “ good faith ” requirement that ’ s invoked for antitrust lawsuits , so it ’ s not clear how much this would change .
These changes probably wouldn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ content , since even without Section 230 , social media platforms have a First Amendment right to publish and delete what they choose .
But it could theoretically make lawsuits about “ biased ” content removal more drawn-out and costly , even if the outcome is the same .
The Justice Department ’ s rules were announced on the same day as a new Senate bill overhauling Section 230 .
That bill is targeted at letting people sue sites that remove content in a way that isn ’ t consistent with their terms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preventing “ discrimination ” against conservative users .
While it ’ s aimed specifically at large social media platforms , the Justice Department ’ s rules propose blanket changes to the law — which covers apps and websites of all sizes .

The Department of Justice has released a proposal for changing Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, urging Congress to pass a dramatic reduction in the law’s scope and expose services like apps and websites to greater legal liability. The proposal creates new categories of “egregious content” that wouldn’t be covered, makes it potentially easier to sue for content removal, and denies protection if a service “purposefully facilitates or solicits third-party content” that’s illegal.
The new rules draw on a workshop the Justice Department held early this year, and cover several disparate complaints about Section 230. The proposal suggests allowing lawsuits against sites when users upload child abuse and exploitation, terrorism, or cyberstalking content — along the lines of the 2018 SESTA/FOSTA law. It would also deny protection if sites had “actual knowledge or notice” that the content had violated criminal law and didn’t remove it. Also, Section 230 — which already doesn’t apply to federal criminal cases — would no longer restrict civil cases brought by the federal government.
Courts have repeatedly determined that sites can’t be sued over third-party illegal behavior. The dating platform Grindr, for instance, won a lawsuit brought by a man who was extensively stalked and harassed through its platform. The cyberstalking carveout could greatly change the calculus for similar suits in the future. Similarly, nonconsensual pornography sites have used Section 230 to avoid legal challenges, but they could be sued for “purposefully facilitating” that content under the proposed changes.
There’s already a plan in Congress to reduce protection when users upload child sexual abuse material, but the Justice Department suggests removing that protection for sites altogether.
The proposal pairs concerns about abuse and stalking with Trump’s social media complaints
Some rules also reflect elements of President Donald Trump’s recent social media executive order, which is aimed at limiting sites’ ability to remove content rather than punishing them for leaving unlawful material online. Sites are currently protected from lawsuits when they remove “obscene, lewd, lascivious, filthy, excessively violent, harassing, or otherwise objectionable” posts. The suggested rules would replace the broad term “otherwise objectionable” with “unlawful” and “promotes terrorism.”
Furthermore, sites wouldn’t be immune from lawsuits unless decisions were “done in accordance with plain and particular terms of service and accompanied by a reasonable explanation.” The statute doesn’t protect them from antitrust claims, either — although there’s already a “good faith” requirement that’s invoked for antitrust lawsuits, so it’s not clear how much this would change.
These changes probably wouldn’t literally require sites to host objectionable content, since even without Section 230, social media platforms have a First Amendment right to publish and delete what they choose. But it could theoretically make lawsuits about “biased” content removal more drawn-out and costly, even if the outcome is the same.


theverge--2020-06-17--Zynn removes controversial pay to watch feature after being banned by Apple and Google

Zynn is no longer paying users to watch videos and refer friends to the app , a practice that quickly rocketed the TikTok clone to the top of both Apple and Google ’ s app stores .
The payment feature is being replaced with a new rewards system called Zynncheers .
Zynncheers still gives users points for watching videos ( now in addition to commenting on and liking videos ) .
The big distinction is that there are currently no rewards being offered in exchange for the points — not money or anything else .
In the app , Zynn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rewards ” for collecting Zynncheers , but it doesn ’ t say what those will be .
“ We have some plans about the use of Zynncheers , but we need your ideas [ sic ] more , ” the company writes .
The Verge has reached out to Zynn for comment .
Zynn still seems to be interested in maintaining something akin to the model that helped it to grow so quickly — offering users rewards for using the app .
But it appears that Zynn is considering doing something different with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ currently mention the possibility of users receiving cash or gift cards .
The Information previously reported that Zynn ’ s creator , Kuaishou , used the pay-to-watch model to become a formidable TikTok rival in China .
The app launched in May .
By the end of the month , Zynn had surpassed TikTok on Apple ’ s App Store chart , which reflects new installs , and neared the top of Google ’ s Play Store , too .
Google removed the app last week due to allegations that users had been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ removed the app earlier this week .
That means the only people who can even get Zynncheers right now are people who installed the app on iOS or Android before it was removed from the two app stores ( or who otherwise find ways to install the app on their phones ) .
Zynn has cited video plagiarism as the reason for its removal from the app stores , so it ’ s not clear whether its controversial pay-to-watch model played a role .
But the feature ’ s removal at this point @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issue for one or both platforms — other social media apps have copyright infringement issues , too , but still remain in the store .
There ’ s really no reason to use Zynn over TikTok aside from its cash rewards .
It is beat for beat the same app but with a much smaller number of users making new videos .
On the Zynn subreddit , users are already posting in frustration about the new system .
“ This app is complete shit now , ” one person wrote .
Another thread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
”

Zynn is no longer paying users to watch videos and refer friends to the app, a practice that quickly rocketed the TikTok clone to the top of both Apple and Google’s app stores.
The payment feature is being replaced with a new rewards system called Zynncheers. Zynncheers still gives users points for watching videos (now in addition to commenting on and liking videos). The big distinction is that there are currently no rewards being offered in exchange for the points — not money or anything else.
In the app, Zynn says users will get “benefits and rewards” for collecting Zynncheers, but it doesn’t say what those will be. “We have some plans about the use of Zynncheers, but we need your ideas [sic] more,” the company writes. The Verge has reached out to Zynn for comment.
A notice in the app saying the existing system is being shut down and replaced with Zynncheers.
Zynn still seems to be interested in maintaining something akin to the model that helped it to grow so quickly — offering users rewards for using the app. But it appears that Zynn is considering doing something different with the new system, which does not currently mention the possibility of users receiving cash or gift cards. The Information previously reported that Zynn’s creator, Kuaishou, used the pay-to-watch model to become a formidable TikTok rival in China.
The app launched in May. By the end of the month, Zynn had surpassed TikTok on Apple’s App Store chart, which reflects new installs, and neared the top of Google’s Play Store, too. Google removed the app last week due to allegations that users had been stealing content, Zynn said. Apple removed the app earlier this week.
That means the only people who can even get Zynncheers right now are people who installed the app on iOS or Android before it was removed from the two app stores (or who otherwise find ways to install the app on their phones).
Zynn has cited video plagiarism as the reason for its removal from the app stores, so it’s not clear whether its controversial pay-to-watch model played a role. But the feature’s removal at this point suggests that it could have been an issue for one or both platforms — other social media apps have copyright infringement issues, too, but still remain in the store.


theverge--2020-06-17--Google will let Android developers sell subscriptions without requiring an app install

Google is testing a new method of selling subscription services with select Android developers that will allow customers to buy a subscription from the Play Store , without even needing to install the app first .
The news , reported today by TechCrunch , was first hinted at last week when Google announced the Google Play Billing Library Version 3 , an updated set of developer tools for processing Play Store payments and handling purchases of digital goods that coincided with the release of the Android 11 beta .
“ Billing Library version 3 unlocks the ability for users to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ app , such as across the Play store , ” reads Google ’ s blog post .
“ One example is the new frictionless subscription promo code redemption experience.
” For instance , Google imagines a situation in which a customer redeems a mobile app subscription promo code , say for a free trial , and then is automatically enrolled into a paid subscription that starts once the free trial ends .
To allow that , Google is letting developers receive and process a future payment unless the customer opts out or cancels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Google wants to make it easier to pay upfront for a subscription service before you download the app TechCrunch says the feature won ’ t just stop with promos .
It will extend to proactive purchases of subscriptions through a Play Store listing .
That way , you ’ ll be able to install and subscribe to an app while also getting the free trial all with one action .
An example here is the robocall-blocking app TrueCaller , which has a three-day free trial before a $ 2.99-per-month subscription kicks in .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that in one bundle with a “ free trial & install ” option that exists next to the standard install button .
That way , if you installed the app without perhaps reading that it involved a paid subscription , you wouldn ’ t have to then go through the process of signing up and confirming payment details inside the app .
Or you might not be turned off by discovering that the features that attracted you to the software in the first place required a subscription .
You could do all this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the app installs .
This all appears to be part of Google 's broader effort to support digital subscription services and to reward developers that play by the rules .
As TechCrunch points out , scores of mobile apps , usually called “ fleeceware , ” use misleading marketing and loopholes in the way mobile operating systems handle trials and subscriptions to get users to download an app and agree to a pricey subscription before using it .
These apps often use the allure of a free trial to trick users into agreeing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hard to cancel after .
In April , Google said it would begin tightening rules around in-app subscriptions to make it easier to cancel them and to force developers to be more transparent around billing cycles , free trial periods , and other methods that could be used to scam users .
The rules went into effect just yesterday .

Google is testing a new method of selling subscription services with select Android developers that will allow customers to buy a subscription from the Play Store, without even needing to install the app first. The news, reported today by TechCrunch, was first hinted at last week when Google announced the Google Play Billing Library Version 3, an updated set of developer tools for processing Play Store payments and handling purchases of digital goods that coincided with the release of the Android 11 beta.
“Billing Library version 3 unlocks the ability for users to discover and purchase items outside of your app, such as across the Play store,” reads Google’s blog post. “One example is the new frictionless subscription promo code redemption experience.” For instance, Google imagines a situation in which a customer redeems a mobile app subscription promo code, say for a free trial, and then is automatically enrolled into a paid subscription that starts once the free trial ends. To allow that, Google is letting developers receive and process a future payment unless the customer opts out or cancels while the trial is still active.
Google wants to make it easier to pay upfront for a subscription service before you download the app
TechCrunch says the feature won’t just stop with promos. It will extend to proactive purchases of subscriptions through a Play Store listing. That way, you’ll be able to install and subscribe to an app while also getting the free trial all with one action. An example here is the robocall-blocking app TrueCaller, which has a three-day free trial before a $2.99-per-month subscription kicks in. Google now lets TrueCaller offer all of that in one bundle with a “free trial & install” option that exists next to the standard install button.
That way, if you installed the app without perhaps reading that it involved a paid subscription, you wouldn’t have to then go through the process of signing up and confirming payment details inside the app. Or you might not be turned off by discovering that the features that attracted you to the software in the first place required a subscription. You could do all this beforehand and be good to go when the app installs.
This all appears to be part of Google's broader effort to support digital subscription services and to reward developers that play by the rules. As TechCrunch points out, scores of mobile apps, usually called “fleeceware,” use misleading marketing and loopholes in the way mobile operating systems handle trials and subscriptions to get users to download an app and agree to a pricey subscription before using it. These apps often use the allure of a free trial to trick users into agreeing to dubious terms beforehand and making it hard to cancel after.


theverge--2020-06-17--Horizon Forbidden West aiming for a 2021 launch on PS5

Horizon Forbidden West — the sequel to 2017 ’ s Horizon Zero Dawn — won ’ t arrive on the PlayStation 5 until 2021 , game director Mathijs de Jonge confirmed in a new video that offered further information on the upcoming title .
According to de Jonge , Guerrilla Games is “ aiming to release the game next year in 2021 , ” meaning that it won ’ t be out when the PS5 launches this holiday season .
While there ’ s no new footage of Horizon Forbidden West in the video , de Jonge did offer more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sequel arrives next year .
According to de Jonge , the world of Forbidden West is even more detailed than the previous game and also offers a larger map .
And thanks to the PS5 ’ s super-fast SSD , de Jonge promises that there ’ ll be “ virtually ” no loading screens , with travel , booting up the game , and restarting levels said to take place incredibly quickly .
de Jonge also explained that the slightly ridiculous-sounding title refers to a “ mysterious new frontier ” that spans the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Horizon Forbidden West will also feature “ dozens of new machines ” to scan , study , and fight , along with new tribes of humans to encounter — some of whom have also figured out how to tame machines , as players were able to do in the previous game .

Horizon Forbidden West — the sequel to 2017’s Horizon Zero Dawn — won’t arrive on the PlayStation 5 until 2021, game director Mathijs de Jonge confirmed in a new video that offered further information on the upcoming title. According to de Jonge, Guerrilla Games is “aiming to release the game next year in 2021,” meaning that it won’t be out when the PS5 launches this holiday season.
While there’s no new footage of Horizon Forbidden West in the video, de Jonge did offer more details about what to expect when the sequel arrives next year. According to de Jonge, the world of Forbidden West is even more detailed than the previous game and also offers a larger map.
“Virtually” no loading screens
And thanks to the PS5’s super-fast SSD, de Jonge promises that there’ll be “virtually” no loading screens, with travel, booting up the game, and restarting levels said to take place incredibly quickly.


theverge--2020-06-17--Twitch Studio launches on Mac in beta

Twitch Studio launches on Mac in beta

Today , Twitch launches its proprietary streaming software , Twitch Studio , on Mac in open beta , according to a blog post on its website .
It ’ s a smart move .
The original version of the software was PC-only , and while PCs are somewhat easier to stream from for a variety of reasons — mostly having to do with software options — it makes sense that creators who aren ’ t PC users would want to get in on streaming , too .
( The pandemic also definitely got more people interested in streaming . )
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Twitch Studio is a great place to start .
It ’ s been optimized by Twitch for ease of use , and it walks you through the hardest parts of setting up a stream .
( That is : fiddling with technical settings . )
It also has built-in alerts , a chat integration , and a bunch of customization options to make your broadcast stand out .
All this said : if you ’ re already using OBS , Streamlabs OBS , or XSplit , this probably isn ’ t the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offer a lot more flexibility than what Twitch Studio can give — they ’ re also commensurately harder to use .
You can download the Twitch Studio for Mac beta right here .
Happy streaming !

Today, Twitch launches its proprietary streaming software , Twitch Studio, on Mac in open beta, according to a blog post on its website. It’s a smart move. The original version of the software was PC-only, and while PCs are somewhat easier to stream from for a variety of reasons — mostly having to do with software options — it makes sense that creators who aren’t PC users would want to get in on streaming, too. (The pandemic also definitely got more people interested in streaming .)
If you’re new to streaming, Twitch Studio is a great place to start. It’s been optimized by Twitch for ease of use, and it walks you through the hardest parts of setting up a stream. (That is: fiddling with technical settings.) It also has built-in alerts, a chat integration, and a bunch of customization options to make your broadcast stand out. All this said: if you’re already using OBS, Streamlabs OBS, or XSplit, this probably isn’t the software for you because those other programs offer a lot more flexibility than what Twitch Studio can give — they’re also commensurately harder to use.


theverge--2020-06-18--How parents are helping gaming’s biggest stars navigate their careers

Fifteen-year-old Martin “ MrSavage ” Foss Andersen is one of the biggest personalities in Fortnite .
He competed in front of thousands in the solo and duos competition at last year ’ s Fortnite World Cup , has more than 1.5 million followers watching his every move on Twitch , multiple YouTube videos with hundreds of thousands of views ( where he has more than 1.3 million channel subscribers ) , and recently signed on to the prestigious esports organization 100 Thieves in February .
But at home , Martin still “ needs to empty the dishwasher , ” says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ father .
Esports competitions can offer thousands or even millions of dollars The Andersen family is one of many navigating a new world of helping young esports and streaming stars balance responsibilities between career , schooling , and , yes , even chores .
Many of these rising players are only teenagers ; the average age of a Fortnite World Cup competitor was 16 , with some as young as 13 .
And esports competitions are offering ever-increasing amounts of prize money — in the thousands or even millions of dollars .
Martin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fortnite tournament in February and $ 50,000 for his solo and duos appearances at the Fortnite World Cup .
The winner of the World Cup , Kyle “ Bugha ” Giersdorf , walked away with $ 3 million , a big slice of the $ 100 million Epic gave in prizes for competitive Fortnite for in 2019 .
It ’ s not easy to get to the level of earning that kind of money .
Pro esports careers require hours of practice and competing in many tournaments .
Johnny , Martin ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fortnite almost every day , training for about six or seven hours on average .
Martin also spends about 30 minutes on content for his social media channels .
And when he chooses to stream on Twitch , those sessions usually last from three to six hours .
( He did a nine-hour stream on Friday , June 12th . )
Martin is still in school , though he attends a Montessori school that ’ s “ really flexible ” with Martin ’ s esports career , Johnny tells The Verge in an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for about two and a half days per week , and given the COVID-19 pandemic , those school days have recently taken place at home .
His mandatory schooling will end late this month , which means he ’ ll probably move to become a full-time esports player , according to Johnny .
Helping Martin balance his career amid his intense schedule doesn ’ t just fall on Johnny ’ s shoulders , however .
He hired an agent to help with things like Martin ’ s sponsorships and negotiations , and Martin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the point of contact with 100 Thieves and also travels with Johnny and Martin to tournaments and events .
However , Johnny is aware that his 15-year-old son may at some point change his mind about his career path .
“ We tried to keep as few as possible people reliant on him continuing gaming , ” he says .
“ He shouldn ’ t feel the pressure as a 15-year-old.
” Other parents I spoke to also mentioned the need for outside support in managing their kids ’ careers .
Sue Earnest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Solo ” Earnest , a member of FlyQuest ’ s League of Legends team , told me she sought out a lawyer early on in Colin ’ s career to help read through the team contracts and support with negotiations .
Now , Colin has an agent as well .
Getting an agent helped Sue because “ I don ’ t have the connections in the industry to handle switching teams or making sure that someone ’ s out there promoting him as a player and looking out for opportunities , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ young the esports industry is compared to more traditional sports , parents don ’ t have a lot of role models on how to best raise a child to be successful .
Sue Earnest says she and her husband built out Colin ’ s support network “ from scratch.
” Johnny Troset Andersen tells me , “ We don ’ t have a recipe for this .
We need to kind of learn as we go.
” He also uses the career of Magnus Carlsen , the Norwegian chess prodigy and multiple-time world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he should structure Martin ’ s life .
“ I try to organize things around my son in the same manner that Magnus Carlsen ’ s father does it.
” Executives at esports organizations are noticing that parents are very supportive of their kids ’ careers .
Jack Etienne , the founder and CEO of esports organization Cloud9 , says that in 2013 and 2014 , parents “ had a lot more questions about the industry , how we made money as a company , who am I , and my background.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coming educated .
They know that this is a pretty exciting industry , that it ’ s growing , and that there actually is a professional career for their child.
” Those thoughts are echoed by Darren Yan , Faze Clan ’ s vice president of talent .
“ Three years ago , my conversations with parents were completely different than they are today , ” he explains .
He also says that kids are consuming esports just as regularly as more traditional sports and that “ they probably have posters or merch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Faze clan.
” Because of that , “ parents are now learning that this is a big thing , it ’ s real , and their kids can make money off of this or build a lucrative career out of this.
” There are typically age limits for streaming and competitions .
To play in the League of Legends Championship Series ( LCS ) , Riot Games requires participants to be 17 or older .
( The minimum age is 16 for the developmental LCS Academy League . )
Epic Games doesn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ participate in its competitive Fortnite events ; if they are younger than 18 , a player must have permission from their parent or guardian .
And Twitch doesn ’ t allow streamers to be younger than 13 .
Faze Clan ran afoul of Epic and Twitch ’ s age limits in signing Fortnite player Patric “ H1ghSky1 ” Bragaru .
Another well-known Fortnite player , Turner “ Tfue ” Tenney , alleged in a May 2019 lawsuit about his contract with Faze Clan that the organization had signed an 11-year-old .
“ Upon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not only lied about the minor ’ s age , but has also pressured the minor and his family to do so , ” the allegation read .
In March , Faze had introduced Patric as the organization ’ s “ youngest Faze member ever ” but didn ’ t specify his age .
Two weeks after Tenney sued Faze , Twitch banned Patric .
After Patric was banned , his father , Petru Bragaru , says he and his family talked about what to do next in Patric ’ s career .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ Dad , this is not a problem .
Nothing is gon na stop me .
I ’ m gon na move on .
I ’ m gon na move forward .
I have a dream .
I love gaming , ’ ” says Petru .
Patric was streaming Fortnite on YouTube a day later , though under the supervision of his mom , Viorica Bragaru , in accordance with YouTube ’ s rules .
In the video , Patric clarified the Twitch ban .
“ My Twitch account was suspended due to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ And yes , I am 12 .
I only lied so that I can fulfill my dream of being a streamer .
It ’ s been my dream for a long time and I worked for like a year and a half for it .
And I ’ m sorry that I lied.
” He continued , “ I had to lie .
I was too young , and it held me back , and I just couldn ’ t wait two more years.
” Off-screen , his mother can be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ genius , you are amazing.
” Patric was also banned from competing in the Fortnite World Cup .
“ Following an Epic investigation and player admission to falsifying age information , we have disqualified a Fortnite competitive player from the events that the player had participated in , including any prize distributions , ” Epic said in a statement to Polygon .
Patric , now finally 13 , has a Twitch channel again with more than 170,000 followers .
( He also has more than 1.7 million YouTube subscribers . )
Like Martin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to help him stay competitive , his parents said in an interview with The Verge .
Patric attends school online and does schoolwork for the first three or four hours of his day .
Once done , he spends some time walking or biking near his house , and after that , it ’ s “ grinding and grinding again , ” says Petru .
“ If you want good to be good at something , you ’ ve got to put the time in.
” The Bragaru family also relies on Youssef @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of digital , who serves as Patric ’ s manager and helps with brand deals that Patric may be involved in .
He ’ s also just a general resource for them .
“ If we need anything , if Patric needs anything , we ’ re gon na call [ Ali ] and he ’ s going to arrange everything , he ’ s going to send Patric all the stuff he needs , ” said Petru .
Parents I spoke with believed in their children ’ s careers , despite the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ large part of their belief may have been the drive their child showed to earn them a professional spot in the first place .
Eunjung Ra , the mother of Edward “ Tactical ” Ra , a player on Team Liquid ’ s League of Legends team , said that she was worried about Edward ’ s decision to try to become an esports pro , which he decided while finishing high school .
He had already been accepted to colleges , but he wanted to pursue his competitive gaming career .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he has really great ambitions about the career , we let him [ try it ] .
We trusted him on the process , and we let him try becoming a pro gamer for a year , ” Eunjung said through a translator .
Edward got offers from pro teams after he graduated high school .
Sue Earnest , Colin Earnest ’ s mom , tells me that when Colin opted to forgo college to pursue an esports career , he still held a job and still paid rent .
“ So he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sometimes a parent just needs to be a parent Sometimes , though , the role of a parent in an esports player ’ s life is to just be a parent .
Edward told me that while stuck at home in Los Angeles during the COVID-19 pandemic , his parents , who live about an hour outside of the city , have brought him food .
Sue told me about how she will help Colin find new doctors when he switches teams and has a new health plan .
And when Johnny travels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is around as “ the old guy , ” making sure that his son gets food , fresh air , and that “ the fame doesn ’ t go into his head , as you say in Norway .
”

Fifteen-year-old Martin “MrSavage” Foss Andersen is one of the biggest personalities in Fortnite. He competed in front of thousands in the solo and duos competition at last year’s Fortnite World Cup, has more than 1.5 million followers watching his every move on Twitch, multiple YouTube videos with hundreds of thousands of views (where he has more than 1.3 million channel subscribers), and recently signed on to the prestigious esports organization 100 Thieves in February.
But at home, Martin still “needs to empty the dishwasher,” says Johnny Troset Andersen, Martin’s father.
Esports competitions can offer thousands or even millions of dollars
The Andersen family is one of many navigating a new world of helping young esports and streaming stars balance responsibilities between career, schooling, and, yes, even chores. Many of these rising players are only teenagers; the average age of a Fortnite World Cup competitor was 16, with some as young as 13. And esports competitions are offering ever-increasing amounts of prize money — in the thousands or even millions of dollars. Martin won $30,000 at the DreamHack Anaheim Fortnite tournament in February and $50,000 for his solo and duos appearances at the Fortnite World Cup. The winner of the World Cup, Kyle “Bugha” Giersdorf, walked away with $3 million, a big slice of the $100 million Epic gave in prizes for competitive Fortnite for in 2019.
It’s not easy to get to the level of earning that kind of money. Pro esports careers require hours of practice and competing in many tournaments. Johnny, Martin’s father, estimates that his son practices Fortnite almost every day, training for about six or seven hours on average. Martin also spends about 30 minutes on content for his social media channels. And when he chooses to stream on Twitch, those sessions usually last from three to six hours. (He did a nine-hour stream on Friday, June 12th.)
Martin is still in school, though he attends a Montessori school that’s “really flexible” with Martin’s esports career, Johnny tells The Verge in an email. Martin is usually at school for about two and a half days per week, and given the COVID-19 pandemic, those school days have recently taken place at home. His mandatory schooling will end late this month, which means he’ll probably move to become a full-time esports player, according to Johnny.
Helping Martin balance his career amid his intense schedule doesn’t just fall on Johnny’s shoulders, however. He hired an agent to help with things like Martin’s sponsorships and negotiations, and Martin also has a full-time manager who is the point of contact with 100 Thieves and also travels with Johnny and Martin to tournaments and events.
“He shouldn’t feel the pressure as a 15-year-old.”
However, Johnny is aware that his 15-year-old son may at some point change his mind about his career path. “We tried to keep as few as possible people reliant on him continuing gaming,” he says. “He shouldn’t feel the pressure as a 15-year-old.”
Other parents I spoke to also mentioned the need for outside support in managing their kids’ careers. Sue Earnest, the mother of 27-year old Colin “Solo” Earnest, a member of FlyQuest’s League of Legends team, told me she sought out a lawyer early on in Colin’s career to help read through the team contracts and support with negotiations. Now, Colin has an agent as well. Getting an agent helped Sue because “I don’t have the connections in the industry to handle switching teams or making sure that someone’s out there promoting him as a player and looking out for opportunities,” she says.
And given how relatively young the esports industry is compared to more traditional sports, parents don’t have a lot of role models on how to best raise a child to be successful. Sue Earnest says she and her husband built out Colin’s support network “from scratch.” Johnny Troset Andersen tells me, “We don’t have a recipe for this. We need to kind of learn as we go.” He also uses the career of Magnus Carlsen, the Norwegian chess prodigy and multiple-time world champion, as an inspiration for how he should structure Martin’s life. “I try to organize things around my son in the same manner that Magnus Carlsen’s father does it.”
Esports organizations are noticing the parental support
Executives at esports organizations are noticing that parents are very supportive of their kids’ careers. Jack Etienne, the founder and CEO of esports organization Cloud9, says that in 2013 and 2014, parents “had a lot more questions about the industry, how we made money as a company, who am I, and my background.” But now, “the parents are coming educated. They know that this is a pretty exciting industry, that it’s growing, and that there actually is a professional career for their child.”
Those thoughts are echoed by Darren Yan, Faze Clan’s vice president of talent. “Three years ago, my conversations with parents were completely different than they are today,” he explains. He also says that kids are consuming esports just as regularly as more traditional sports and that “they probably have posters or merch of their favorite streamer or Ninja or Faze clan.” Because of that, “parents are now learning that this is a big thing, it’s real, and their kids can make money off of this or build a lucrative career out of this.”
There are typically age limits for streaming and competitions. To play in the League of Legends Championship Series (LCS), Riot Games requires participants to be 17 or older. (The minimum age is 16 for the developmental LCS Academy League.) Epic Games doesn’t allow anyone younger than 13 to participate in its competitive Fortnite events; if they are younger than 18, a player must have permission from their parent or guardian. And Twitch doesn’t allow streamers to be younger than 13.
Faze Clan ran afoul of Epic and Twitch’s age limits in signing Fortnite player Patric “H1ghSky1” Bragaru. Another well-known Fortnite player, Turner “Tfue” Tenney, alleged in a May 2019 lawsuit about his contract with Faze Clan that the organization had signed an 11-year-old. “Upon information and belief, Faze Clan has not only lied about the minor’s age, but has also pressured the minor and his family to do so,” the allegation read. In March, Faze had introduced Patric as the organization’s “youngest Faze member ever” but didn’t specify his age.
Two weeks after Tenney sued Faze, Twitch banned Patric. After Patric was banned, his father, Petru Bragaru, says he and his family talked about what to do next in Patric’s career. “[Patric] was like, ‘Dad, this is not a problem. Nothing is gonna stop me. I’m gonna move on. I’m gonna move forward. I have a dream. I love gaming,’” says Petru.
Patric was streaming Fortnite on YouTube a day later, though under the supervision of his mom, Viorica Bragaru, in accordance with YouTube’s rules. In the video, Patric clarified the Twitch ban. “My Twitch account was suspended due to me being underage,” he said. “And yes, I am 12. I only lied so that I can fulfill my dream of being a streamer. It’s been my dream for a long time and I worked for like a year and a half for it. And I’m sorry that I lied.” He continued, “I had to lie. I was too young, and it held me back, and I just couldn’t wait two more years.” Off-screen, his mother can be heard saying, “you are a genius, you are amazing.”
Patric was also banned from competing in the Fortnite World Cup. “Following an Epic investigation and player admission to falsifying age information, we have disqualified a Fortnite competitive player from the events that the player had participated in, including any prize distributions,” Epic said in a statement to Polygon.
Patric, now finally 13, has a Twitch channel again with more than 170,000 followers. (He also has more than 1.7 million YouTube subscribers.) Like Martin, he has a similarly Fortnite-filled schedule to help him stay competitive, his parents said in an interview with The Verge. Patric attends school online and does schoolwork for the first three or four hours of his day. Once done, he spends some time walking or biking near his house, and after that, it’s “grinding and grinding again,” says Petru. “If you want good to be good at something, you’ve got to put the time in.”
The Bragaru family also relies on Youssef Ali, Faze Clan’s head of digital, who serves as Patric’s manager and helps with brand deals that Patric may be involved in. He’s also just a general resource for them. “If we need anything, if Patric needs anything, we’re gonna call [Ali] and he’s going to arrange everything, he’s going to send Patric all the stuff he needs,” said Petru.
Parents I spoke with believed in their children’s careers, despite the uncertainties of the field. And a large part of their belief may have been the drive their child showed to earn them a professional spot in the first place.
Eunjung Ra, the mother of Edward “Tactical” Ra, a player on Team Liquid’s League of Legends team, said that she was worried about Edward’s decision to try to become an esports pro, which he decided while finishing high school. He had already been accepted to colleges, but he wanted to pursue his competitive gaming career. “But because he was so passionate and he has really great ambitions about the career, we let him [try it]. We trusted him on the process, and we let him try becoming a pro gamer for a year,” Eunjung said through a translator. Edward got offers from pro teams after he graduated high school.
Sue Earnest, Colin Earnest’s mom, tells me that when Colin opted to forgo college to pursue an esports career, he still held a job and still paid rent. “So he was very responsible along the way.”
Sometimes a parent just needs to be a parent
Sometimes, though, the role of a parent in an esports player’s life is to just be a parent. Edward told me that while stuck at home in Los Angeles during the COVID-19 pandemic, his parents, who live about an hour outside of the city, have brought him food. Sue told me about how she will help Colin find new doctors when he switches teams and has a new health plan.


theverge--2020-06-18--Microsoft to upgrade its xCloud servers to Xbox Series X hardware in 2021

Microsoft is getting ready to launch its xCloud game streaming service later this year as part of Xbox Game Pass .
The service will initially be powered by Xbox One S consoles in server blades in Microsoft ’ s datacenters , but the software giant is planning to upgrade this hardware next year .
Sources familiar with Microsoft ’ s plans tell The Verge that testing has already begun on upgraded xCloud servers , and that Microsoft is even experimenting with dedicated PC server blades for streaming PC games over xCloud .
Microsoft will use its new Xbox Series X @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and it provides some big performance gains for its cloud streaming efforts , particularly on the CPU side .
This next-gen processor is far more powerful and capable of running four Xbox One S game sessions simultaneously .
It also includes a new built-in video encoder that is up to six times faster than the current encoder that Microsoft uses on existing xCloud servers .
Microsoft ’ s experiments with PC server blades for xCloud will also likely lead to Xbox Game Pass for PC games being made available through the service .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ client for PC that will stream Xbox games to Windows 10 PCs , but it doesn ’ t support PC games just yet .
Microsoft will need these new PC server blades to stream Xbox Game Pass PC games to mobile devices , Windows PCs , and perhaps even Xbox consoles in the future .
We understand Microsoft is still on track for an xCloud launch later this year on Android mobile devices .
Microsoft started testing xCloud on iOS earlier this year , but admitted it can ’ t fully test its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to some unspecified App Store restrictions .
The software maker has been trying to pressure Apple into adjusting its App Store policies to allow xCloud to launch on iOS , but those discussions are ongoing and it ’ s unlikely the service will launch fully on Apple devices later this year .
Microsoft , Google , and many companies looking to launch game streaming services on iOS will be watching the results of a European antitrust investigation into Apple ’ s App Store policies very closely in the months ahead .

Microsoft is getting ready to launch its xCloud game streaming service later this year as part of Xbox Game Pass. The service will initially be powered by Xbox One S consoles in server blades in Microsoft’s datacenters, but the software giant is planning to upgrade this hardware next year. Sources familiar with Microsoft’s plans tell The Verge that testing has already begun on upgraded xCloud servers, and that Microsoft is even experimenting with dedicated PC server blades for streaming PC games over xCloud.
Microsoft will use its new Xbox Series X hardware in xCloud servers next year, and it provides some big performance gains for its cloud streaming efforts, particularly on the CPU side. This next-gen processor is far more powerful and capable of running four Xbox One S game sessions simultaneously. It also includes a new built-in video encoder that is up to six times faster than the current encoder that Microsoft uses on existing xCloud servers.
An existing xCloud server blade.
Microsoft’s experiments with PC server blades for xCloud will also likely lead to Xbox Game Pass for PC games being made available through the service. The company is currently testing an xCloud client for PC that will stream Xbox games to Windows 10 PCs, but it doesn’t support PC games just yet. Microsoft will need these new PC server blades to stream Xbox Game Pass PC games to mobile devices, Windows PCs, and perhaps even Xbox consoles in the future.
We understand Microsoft is still on track for an xCloud launch later this year on Android mobile devices. Microsoft started testing xCloud on iOS earlier this year, but admitted it can’t fully test its service on Apple’s platform due to some unspecified App Store restrictions. The software maker has been trying to pressure Apple into adjusting its App Store policies to allow xCloud to launch on iOS, but those discussions are ongoing and it’s unlikely the service will launch fully on Apple devices later this year.


theverge--2020-06-18--Amazon says it mitigated the largest DDoS attack ever recorded

Amazon Web Services recently had to defend against a DDoS attack with a peak traffic volume of 2.3 Tbps , the largest ever recorded , ZDNet reports .
Detailing the attack in its Q1 2020 threat report , Amazon said that the attack occurred back in February , and was mitigated by AWS Shield , a service designed to protect customers of Amazon ’ s on-demand cloud computing platform from DDoS attacks , as well as from bad bots and application vulnerabilities .
The company did not disclose the target or the origin of the attack .
To put that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this year , ZDNet notes that the largest DDoS attack recorded was back in March 2018 , when NetScout Arbor mitigated a 1.7 Tbps attack .
The previous month , GitHub disclosed that it had been hit by an attack with a peak of 1.35 Tbps .
February ’ s attack was a so-called “ reflection attack.
” As Cloudflare explains , the attempt here is to use a vulnerable third-party server to amplify the amount of data being sent to a victim ’ s IP address .
It mainly relied on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Attacks using this protocol , which is normally used to access and edit directories shared over the internet , have been taking place since 2016 , ZDNet notes .
Despite its record-breaking size , attacks of this scale are relatively uncommon .
Amazon said that between Q2 2018 and Q4 2019 , the largest attacks it saw were smaller than 1 Tbps , and that in the first quarter of this year 99 percent of attacks were 43 Gbps or smaller .
ZDNet notes that the 2018 attacks relied on exploiting a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that in the years since , internet service providers and content delivery networks have worked to secure Memcached servers that are vulnerable to being exploited .

Amazon Web Services recently had to defend against a DDoS attack with a peak traffic volume of 2.3 Tbps, the largest ever recorded, ZDNet reports. Detailing the attack in its Q1 2020 threat report, Amazon said that the attack occurred back in February, and was mitigated by AWS Shield, a service designed to protect customers of Amazon’s on-demand cloud computing platform from DDoS attacks, as well as from bad bots and application vulnerabilities. The company did not disclose the target or the origin of the attack.
To put that number into perspective, prior to February of this year, ZDNet notes that the largest DDoS attack recorded was back in March 2018, when NetScout Arbor mitigated a 1.7 Tbps attack. The previous month, GitHub disclosed that it had been hit by an attack with a peak of 1.35 Tbps.
The previous record was 1.7 Tbps
February’s attack was a so-called “reflection attack.” As Cloudflare explains, the attempt here is to use a vulnerable third-party server to amplify the amount of data being sent to a victim’s IP address. It mainly relied on exploiting CLDAP servers to amplify its traffic. Attacks using this protocol, which is normally used to access and edit directories shared over the internet, have been taking place since 2016, ZDNet notes.


theverge--2020-06-18--FBI used Instagram, an Etsy review, and LinkedIn to identify a protestor accused of arson

It took an Etsy review , a LinkedIn profile , a handful of Instagram videos , and a few Google searches for FBI agents to identify a masked woman accused of setting two police cars on fire during recent protests in Philadelphia .
The protests took place on May 30 in response to the police killing of George Floyd .
The case , as reported by The Philadelphia Inquirer , demonstrates how police have been able to use social media and other publicly-available online records to identify protesters from just a few scraps of initial information .
According to NBC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 33-year-old Lore Elisabeth Blumenthal , now faces a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years in prison if convicted and a fine of up to $ 250,000 .
Social media has become “ a fertile ground for government surveillance ” As protests have continued across the US in response to systemic racial violence , civil rights advocates have warned that the social media tools that have captured police brutality so starkly are also being used by law enforcement for crowd-sourced surveillance .
“ Social media has fueled much of the protests , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government surveillance , ” Paul Hetznecker , a criminal defense attorney representing Blumenthal , told The Philadelphia Inquirer .
“ I think people have lost awareness of that.
” As this case shows , simple methods like Google searches and social media scans can identify an individual just as readily as more advanced tools like facial recognition .
Philadelphia police has been testing controversial facial recognition service Clearview AI , for example , but the technology wasn ’ t needed in this case at all .
In a press statement , United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the two police cars a “ violent and despicable act ” and said that anyone involved in such activities would be identified and arrested by law enforcement .
“ We at the US Attorney ’ s Office fully support the First Amendment right of the people to assemble peaceably and to petition their government , ” said McSwain .
“ But torching a police car has nothing to do with peaceful protest or any legitimate message.
” As reported by The Philadelphia Inquirer , at the start of their investigation , FBI @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from a local news station .
This showed a woman wearing a bandana throwing flaming debris into the smashed window of a police sedan .
By searching for videos of the protests uploaded to Instagram and Vimeo , the agents were able to find additional footage of the incident , and spotted a peace sign tattoo on the woman ’ s right forearm .
After finding a set of 500 pictures of the protests shared by an amateur photographer , they were able to clearly see what the woman was wearing , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Keep the Immigrants .
Deport the Racists.
” The FBI followed a trail of digital breadcrumbs to identify Blumenthal The only place to buy this exact T-shirt was an Etsy store , where a user calling themselves “ alleycatlore ” had left a five-star review for the seller just few days before the protest .
Using Google to search for this username , agents then found a matching profile at the online fashion marketplace Poshmark which listed the user ’ s name as “ Lore-elisabeth.
” A search for “ Lore-elisabeth ” led @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Elisabeth Blumenthal , employed as a massage therapist at a Philadelphia massage studio .
Videos hosted by the studio showed an individual with the same distinctive peace tattoo on their arm .
A phone number listed for Blumenthal led to an address .
As reported by NBC Philadelphia , a subpoena served to the Etsy seller showed a “ Keep the Immigrants .
Deport the Racists.
” T-shirt had recently been delivered to that same address .
Blumenthal ’ s lawyer Hetznecker said the case had become “ political ” after prosecutors decided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ locally .
Hetznecker also told The Philadelphia Inquirer that the public was unaware of how information they shared online could be used to identify them , just like Blumenthal .
He said the case showed worrying similarities with earlier instances of surveillance overreach by US law enforcement .
“ The question is whether they ’ ve undermined the privacy interests of everyone based on the search for one or two individuals , ” he said .
“ That ’ s the same paradigm that was used to profile Muslims after 9/11 , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
”

It took an Etsy review, a LinkedIn profile, a handful of Instagram videos, and a few Google searches for FBI agents to identify a masked woman accused of setting two police cars on fire during recent protests in Philadelphia. The protests took place on May 30 in response to the police killing of George Floyd.
The case, as reported by The Philadelphia Inquirer, demonstrates how police have been able to use social media and other publicly-available online records to identify protesters from just a few scraps of initial information. According to NBC, the individual charged by the FBI, 33-year-old Lore Elisabeth Blumenthal, now faces a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years in prison if convicted and a fine of up to $250,000.
Social media has become “a fertile ground for government surveillance”
As protests have continued across the US in response to systemic racial violence, civil rights advocates have warned that the social media tools that have captured police brutality so starkly are also being used by law enforcement for crowd-sourced surveillance.
“Social media has fueled much of the protests, and has also become a fertile ground for government surveillance,” Paul Hetznecker, a criminal defense attorney representing Blumenthal, told The Philadelphia Inquirer. “I think people have lost awareness of that.”
As this case shows, simple methods like Google searches and social media scans can identify an individual just as readily as more advanced tools like facial recognition. Philadelphia police has been testing controversial facial recognition service Clearview AI, for example, but the technology wasn’t needed in this case at all.
In a press statement, United States Attorney William M. McSwain called the arson of the two police cars a “violent and despicable act” and said that anyone involved in such activities would be identified and arrested by law enforcement.
“We at the US Attorney’s Office fully support the First Amendment right of the people to assemble peaceably and to petition their government,” said McSwain. “But torching a police car has nothing to do with peaceful protest or any legitimate message.”
Two police cars were set ablaze during protests in Philadelphia on May 30. Photo by Bastiaan Slabbers/NurPhoto via Getty Images
As reported by The Philadelphia Inquirer, at the start of their investigation, FBI agents only had access to helicopter footage from a local news station. This showed a woman wearing a bandana throwing flaming debris into the smashed window of a police sedan.
By searching for videos of the protests uploaded to Instagram and Vimeo, the agents were able to find additional footage of the incident, and spotted a peace sign tattoo on the woman’s right forearm. After finding a set of 500 pictures of the protests shared by an amateur photographer, they were able to clearly see what the woman was wearing, including a T-shirt with the slogan: “Keep the Immigrants. Deport the Racists.”
The FBI followed a trail of digital breadcrumbs to identify Blumenthal
The only place to buy this exact T-shirt was an Etsy store, where a user calling themselves “alleycatlore” had left a five-star review for the seller just few days before the protest. Using Google to search for this username, agents then found a matching profile at the online fashion marketplace Poshmark which listed the user’s name as “Lore-elisabeth.”
A search for “Lore-elisabeth” led to a LinkedIn profile for one Lore Elisabeth Blumenthal, employed as a massage therapist at a Philadelphia massage studio. Videos hosted by the studio showed an individual with the same distinctive peace tattoo on their arm. A phone number listed for Blumenthal led to an address. As reported by NBC Philadelphia, a subpoena served to the Etsy seller showed a “Keep the Immigrants. Deport the Racists.” T-shirt had recently been delivered to that same address.
Blumenthal’s lawyer Hetznecker said the case had become “political” after prosecutors decided to charge Blumenthal federally, rather than locally. Hetznecker also told The Philadelphia Inquirer that the public was unaware of how information they shared online could be used to identify them, just like Blumenthal. He said the case showed worrying similarities with earlier instances of surveillance overreach by US law enforcement.