theverge--2020-09-30--Here’s how the new Pixel 5 compares with the Pixel 4A 5G and Pixel 4A

Google ’ s fall hardware event ended this afternoon after a breezy 30 minutes of rapid-fire product announcements , with the stars of the show being the new Pixel 5 and Pixel 4A with 5G .
Google now has three primary smartphones ; two midrange ones ( one with 5G and one without ) and one flagship .
That ’ s a refreshingly simple lineup , compared with some of the messier , more bloated offerings from competitors .
But that doesn ’ t mean choosing between the devices is necessarily clear-cut .
The 4A 5G is not just a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two phones have some key hardware differences , making the Pixel 4A 5G more of a Pixel 5 alternative than a budget phone .
The three devices , grouped together , hit price points of $ 349 , $ 499 , and $ 699 , so choosing which one is the right fit for you is best done by comparing all the specs .
Conveniently , Google has made a handy chart for doing so , with much of the information , plus some other key specs we feel are important , more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can see that there are some key compromises made for the Pixel 4A 5G , like a lack of wireless charging , a smaller battery compared with the Pixel 5 ( but larger than the standard Pixel 4A ) , no water resistance , and a lower refresh rate for the display .
But it ’ s nice to know you ’ re not just paying $ 150 more for the ability to access 5G networks — you ’ re getting all the same camera features and an identical processor to the pricier @ @ @ @ @

Google’s fall hardware event ended this afternoon after a breezy 30 minutes of rapid-fire product announcements, with the stars of the show being the new Pixel 5 and Pixel 4A with 5G. Google now has three primary smartphones; two midrange ones (one with 5G and one without) and one flagship. That’s a refreshingly simple lineup, compared with some of the messier, more bloated offerings from competitors.
But that doesn’t mean choosing between the devices is necessarily clear-cut. The 4A 5G is not just a 4A with a different modem; the two phones have some key hardware differences, making the Pixel 4A 5G more of a Pixel 5 alternative than a budget phone. The three devices, grouped together, hit price points of $349, $499, and $699, so choosing which one is the right fit for you is best done by comparing all the specs.
Conveniently, Google has made a handy chart for doing so, with much of the information, plus some other key specs we feel are important, more neatly organized below:
Google Pixel 5 vs. Pixel 4A with 5G vs. Pixel 4 Category Pixel 5 Pixel 4A with 5G Pixel 4A Network 5G 5G 4G Screen 6-inch flexible OLED display at 432 ppi 6.2-inch OLED display at 413 ppi 5.8-inch OLED display at 443 ppi Refresh Rate 90 Hz 60 Hz 60 Hz Resolution 1080 x 2340 1080 x 2340 1080 x 2340 Battery 4080 mAh 3885 mAh 3140 mAh Front Camera 8 megapixels 8 megapixels 8 megapixels Rear Camera 12.2-megapixel dual-pixel (16-megapixel ultrawide) 12.2-megapixel dual-pixel (16-megapixel ultrawide) 12.2-megapixel dual-pixel Camera Features Night Sight, Portrait Light, Cinematic Pan, Live HDR+ Night Sight, Portrait Light, Cinematic Pan, Live HDR+ Night Sight, Live HDR+ RAM 8GB 6GB 6GB Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G Storage 128GB 128GB 128GB Audio Stereo speakers, USB-C audio Stereo speakers, USB-C audio, 3.5mm headphone jack USB-C audio, 3.5mm headphone jack Price $699 $499 $349 Wireless Charging Yes No No Water Resistant Yes No No Colors Green, Black White, Black Black Operating System Pre-loaded with Android 11 Pre-loaded with Android 11 Pre-loaded with Android 10 Availability October 15th (outside US), October 29th (US) October 15th (Japan), November (outside Japan) Available now
So, you can see that there are some key compromises made for the Pixel 4A 5G, like a lack of wireless charging, a smaller battery compared with the Pixel 5 (but larger than the standard Pixel 4A), no water resistance, and a lower refresh rate for the display.


theverge--2020-09-30--Verizon has an exclusive Pixel 4A 5G that’s $100 more expensive

Verizon is getting an exclusive model of the Pixel 4A 5G : it comes in white , it supports Verizon-specific 5G bands , and it ’ s $ 100 more expensive .
Verizon has dubbed this model the “ Google Pixel 4A 5G UW ” to highlight its support for the carrier ’ s “ ultra wideband ” 5G network .
If you ’ re on any other carrier , you ’ re not missing out .
And if you ’ re on Verizon , this is probably a worse option than buying a standard Pixel 4A 5G at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than spending $ 599.99 on Verizon ’ s model .
Pay more to maybe use Verizon ’ s 5G network The issue here is Verizon ’ s limited 5G network .
Unlike AT & T and T-Mobile , Verizon ’ s 5G network so far relies only on millimeter wave ( mmWave ) connections .
Those connections are the fastest you can get from 5G , but they have issues — they ’ re very short-range signals , there ’ s little deployment of them , and the hardware needed to receive them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those issues , many of the initial 5G smartphones just haven ’ t supported mmWave .
To solve for that , Verizon has been asking phone makers to build custom versions for its network .
Those models tend to end up either more expensive or with corners cut elsewhere to keep costs down .
Verizon got a special version of Samsung ’ s Galaxy S20 , but it came with less RAM as a cost compromise .
Meanwhile , Verizon ’ s 5G coverage is still extremely limited , so you could easily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Google ’ s phone and never using the added 5G support .
The Verge has reached out to Verizon to ask whether there are any other spec changes to its version of the phone .
Google hasn ’ t announced an exact US release date yet for the Pixel 4A 5G .
Verizon says its model will be available November 19th , with preorders starting October 29th .
The “ clearly white ” color will be exclusive to Verizon ’ s version at launch , but Google says it ’ s “ coming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the phone .

Verizon is getting an exclusive model of the Pixel 4A 5G: it comes in white, it supports Verizon-specific 5G bands, and it’s $100 more expensive. Verizon has dubbed this model the “Google Pixel 4A 5G UW” to highlight its support for the carrier’s “ultra wideband” 5G network.
If you’re on any other carrier, you’re not missing out. And if you’re on Verizon, this is probably a worse option than buying a standard Pixel 4A 5G at the regular price of $499, rather than spending $599.99 on Verizon’s model.
Pay more to maybe use Verizon’s 5G network
The issue here is Verizon’s limited 5G network. Unlike AT&T and T-Mobile, Verizon’s 5G network so far relies only on millimeter wave (mmWave) connections. Those connections are the fastest you can get from 5G, but they have issues — they’re very short-range signals, there’s little deployment of them, and the hardware needed to receive them on phones adds costs. Because of those issues, many of the initial 5G smartphones just haven’t supported mmWave.
To solve for that, Verizon has been asking phone makers to build custom versions for its network. Those models tend to end up either more expensive or with corners cut elsewhere to keep costs down. Verizon got a special version of Samsung’s Galaxy S20, but it came with less RAM as a cost compromise.
Meanwhile, Verizon’s 5G coverage is still extremely limited, so you could easily end up spending $100 extra on Google’s phone and never using the added 5G support. The Verge has reached out to Verizon to ask whether there are any other spec changes to its version of the phone.


theverge--2020-09-30--Chromecast Ultra is dead, long live Chromecast Ultra (and this new Ethernet dongle)

Google ’ s new $ 50 “ Chromecast with Google TV ” has supplanted the Chromecast Ultra in practically every way — so you probably won ’ t be surprised to hear Google is getting rid of its original 4K streaming device .
The Chromecast Ultra is now out of stock at every major US retailer , including the Google Store , where its product page redirects to the new Chromecast .
It ’ s not formally “ discontinued , ” mind you : Google says it will still be available at “ select retailers , ” even though we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Best Buy , Target , Walmart , The Home Depot , Staples , etc.
, and even though B & H Photo actually lists it as “ discontinued ” right now .
But there is still one way to buy one — because when Google announced its 2020 Chromecast , the new product seemingly left a couple of gaping holes .
As we reported earlier today , the new Chromecast won ’ t support Google ’ s Stadia cloud gaming service until sometime in the first half of next year .
What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can still purchase the $ 99.99 Stadia Premiere Edition , which Google confirms will still come with a Chromecast Ultra alongside its Stadia controller .
For some households ( and for the best performance with Stadia ) , the fact that the new Chromecast doesn ’ t come with an Ethernet adapter like the Chromecast Ultra might also seem like an oversight , but Google has an answer for them too : it quietly launched a $ 20 Ethernet plus power adapter for the new Chromecast today .
At $ 50 for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adapter , you ’ d be paying the same $ 70 you would for the Ultra previously .
Like the Chromecast Ultra adapter , it tops out at a 100Mbps wired connection , but neither Stadia nor today ’ s streaming video services need more .
( You may also be able to use a USB-C to Ethernet hub for your new Chromecast ; we found at least one that worked . )
It ’ s not like Stadia buyers would want a Chromecast Ultra without a Stadia controller anyhow .
The original @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Google ’ s proprietary Wi-Fi based controller is the only way to connect .
That ’ s not a problem with the new Chromecast , as we discovered when we played some sideloaded Stadia with an Xbox gamepad .
9to5Google reports the $ 30 2018 Chromecast will stick around alongside the new $ 50 one , by the way .
You won ’ t get a bundled remote control or 4K streaming with that one , though , merely 1080p content you sling from your phone .
Update , 5:13 PM ET @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is of the 10/100Mbps variety , just like the original Chromecast Ultra ’ s bundled one .

Google’s new $50 “Chromecast with Google TV” has supplanted the Chromecast Ultra in practically every way — so you probably won’t be surprised to hear Google is getting rid of its original 4K streaming device. The Chromecast Ultra is now out of stock at every major US retailer, including the Google Store, where its product page redirects to the new Chromecast.
It’s not formally “discontinued,” mind you: Google says it will still be available at “select retailers,” even though we’re seeing no stock at Amazon, Best Buy, Target, Walmart, The Home Depot, Staples, etc., and even though B&H Photo actually lists it as “discontinued” right now.
But there is still one way to buy one — because when Google announced its 2020 Chromecast, the new product seemingly left a couple of gaping holes.
As we reported earlier today, the new Chromecast won’t support Google’s Stadia cloud gaming service until sometime in the first half of next year. What are those buyers to do? They can still purchase the $99.99 Stadia Premiere Edition, which Google confirms will still come with a Chromecast Ultra alongside its Stadia controller.
The new “Ethernet Adapter for Chromecast with Google TV.” Image: Google
For some households (and for the best performance with Stadia), the fact that the new Chromecast doesn’t come with an Ethernet adapter like the Chromecast Ultra might also seem like an oversight, but Google has an answer for them too: it quietly launched a $20 Ethernet plus power adapter for the new Chromecast today.
At $50 for the Chromecast and $20 for the new adapter, you’d be paying the same $70 you would for the Ultra previously. Like the Chromecast Ultra adapter, it tops out at a 100Mbps wired connection, but neither Stadia nor today’s streaming video services need more. (You may also be able to use a USB-C to Ethernet hub for your new Chromecast; we found at least one that worked.)
It’s not like Stadia buyers would want a Chromecast Ultra without a Stadia controller anyhow. The original Ultra didn’t have Bluetooth, and Google’s proprietary Wi-Fi based controller is the only way to connect. That’s not a problem with the new Chromecast, as we discovered when we played some sideloaded Stadia with an Xbox gamepad.
9to5Google reports the $30 2018 Chromecast will stick around alongside the new $50 one, by the way. You won’t get a bundled remote control or 4K streaming with that one, though, merely 1080p content you sling from your phone.


theverge--2020-09-30--Google’s Recorder app is getting an audio editing feature

At today ’ s Google event , the company announced that its Recorder app , which is available for Pixel 2 or newer phones , is getting a nice update that should make it a lot easier to search through audio files .
The update will allow you to select a snippet of audio from a recorded clip , which you can then either share or remove from the larger audio file .
Additionally , you can search for specific words in a recorded transcript and delete them .
So if you ’ re someone like me who tends to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” or any other crutch word during interviews , you can theoretically find and remove them with this new update .
According to Google , you ’ ll be able to use this feature offline , in the same way its live English transcription function works without needing internet access .
The company announced the feature in a blog discussing the Pixel 5 , but it will likely arrive on some of Google ’ s other Pixel phones as well .
The Verge has reached out to Google to confirm whether the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than just the Pixel 5 .

At today’s Google event, the company announced that its Recorder app, which is available for Pixel 2 or newer phones, is getting a nice update that should make it a lot easier to search through audio files. The update will allow you to select a snippet of audio from a recorded clip, which you can then either share or remove from the larger audio file.
Additionally, you can search for specific words in a recorded transcript and delete them. So if you’re someone like me who tends to say “uh,” “um,” or any other crutch word during interviews, you can theoretically find and remove them with this new update.
According to Google, you’ll be able to use this feature offline, in the same way its live English transcription function works without needing internet access. The company announced the feature in a blog discussing the Pixel 5, but it will likely arrive on some of Google’s other Pixel phones as well.


theverge--2020-09-30--After lengthy delays, ULA’s most powerful rocket poised to launch classified spy satellite

After many weeks of delays due to faulty equipment and bad weather , the United Launch Alliance is set to launch its most powerful rocket from Cape Canaveral , Florida , lofting a classified spy satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office .
The mission is finally ready to fly a full month after the rocket ’ s first launch attempt , which was aborted just three seconds before liftoff .
The rocket going up on ULA ’ s mission is the Delta IV Heavy , a giant vehicle that consists of three rocket cores strapped together to provide extra thrust @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most powerful rockets in the world , though it falls short of the power packed into SpaceX ’ s Falcon Heavy .
ULA doesn ’ t fly the Delta IV Heavy very often , as it ’ s an expensive vehicle to make , but the company uses the rocket for large , heavy satellites headed to super-high orbits .
The rocket ’ s payload is NROL-44 , and like all NRO missions , its purpose is cloaked in secrecy .
The office simply notes that “ NROL-44 supports NRO ’ s overall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the United States ’ senior policymakers , the Intelligence Community and Department of Defense.
” ULA has already launched 29 missions for the NRO , many of which have required the Delta IV Heavy .
ULA was all set to launch NROL-44 in the wee hours of the morning on August 29th .
ULA counted all the way down to just seconds before liftoff , with the Delta IV Heavy ’ s main engines briefly igniting .
But the engines quickly shut off and the rocket remained fixed on the launchpad .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ equipment had failed , prompting the abort .
It took the company a few weeks to replace the faulty equipment .
Further problems with equipment on the launchpad pushed back the launch time again , but ULA is hoping to get off the ground this week .
Unfortunately the weather has not been agreeable , with bad conditions delaying attempts on Monday and Tuesday .
But at last , there ’ s a 70 percent chance that the weather will cooperate for launch tonight — so perhaps today is the day .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off on Tuesday at 11:54PM ET from ULA ’ s launch site at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station .
ULA ’ s launch blog will begin at 3:15PM ET , and its webcast will begin at 11:34PM ET , for anyone who is still awake and hoping to catch a midnight launch .
Update September 30th , 3:00PM ET : This post has been updated from an older post , after multiple launch delays .

Update October 1st, 7AM ET: Yet again, ULA stopped the launch mere seconds before takeoff, after a sensor reported a faulty reading. The main combustion chambers in the engines did not ignite, and CEO Tory Bruno says the rocket and the payload are “safe and unharmed.”
Original story: After many weeks of delays due to faulty equipment and bad weather, the United Launch Alliance is set to launch its most powerful rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida, lofting a classified spy satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office. The mission is finally ready to fly a full month after the rocket’s first launch attempt, which was aborted just three seconds before liftoff.
The rocket going up on ULA’s mission is the Delta IV Heavy, a giant vehicle that consists of three rocket cores strapped together to provide extra thrust. It’s one of the most powerful rockets in the world, though it falls short of the power packed into SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy. ULA doesn’t fly the Delta IV Heavy very often, as it’s an expensive vehicle to make, but the company uses the rocket for large, heavy satellites headed to super-high orbits.
The rocket’s payload is NROL-44, and like all NRO missions, its purpose is cloaked in secrecy. The office simply notes that “NROL-44 supports NRO’s overall national security mission to provide intelligence data to the United States’ senior policymakers, the Intelligence Community and Department of Defense.” ULA has already launched 29 missions for the NRO, many of which have required the Delta IV Heavy.
ULA was all set to launch NROL-44 in the wee hours of the morning on August 29th. ULA counted all the way down to just seconds before liftoff, with the Delta IV Heavy’s main engines briefly igniting. But the engines quickly shut off and the rocket remained fixed on the launchpad. ULA later learned a piece of ground equipment had failed, prompting the abort. It took the company a few weeks to replace the faulty equipment.
Further problems with equipment on the launchpad pushed back the launch time again, but ULA is hoping to get off the ground this week. Unfortunately the weather has not been agreeable, with bad conditions delaying attempts on Monday and Tuesday. But at last, there’s a 70 percent chance that the weather will cooperate for launch tonight — so perhaps today is the day.
The Delta IV Heavy is scheduled to lift off on Tuesday at 11:54PM ET from ULA’s launch site at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. ULA’s launch blog will begin at 3:15PM ET, and its webcast will begin at 11:34PM ET, for anyone who is still awake and hoping to catch a midnight launch.


theverge--2020-10-01--Amazon says 19,816 workers have contracted COVID-19

1.44 percent of Amazon ’ s front-line employees , or 19,816 workers , have tested positive or been “ presumed positive for COVID-19 , ” Amazon said in a blog post published Thursday .
The company says it employs 1,372,000 front-line employees across both Amazon and Whole Foods .
The blog marks the first time Amazon has disclosed how many of its workers have contracted COVID-19 , and comes after months of demands for increased transparency from workers , governments , and Amazon investors .
Amazon warehouse workers have reportedly even worked amongst themselves to attempt to determine how many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The disclosure is also notable following comments from Amazon senior vice president of worldwide operations Dave Clark in May , who said that the “ total number of cases isn ’ t particularly useful ” in a 60 Minutes interview .
Amazon didn ’ t disclose how many employees have died of COVID-19 Amazon points out that its 19,816 cases are lower than the 33,952 it estimated it would have seen , when comparing its total employee count with a general population case rate reported by Johns Hopkins University .
But while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ light , at least 10 employees have died from the disease , NBC News confirmed with Amazon in an article published yesterday .
The company didn ’ t discuss those deaths in today ’ s blog post .
Amazon says it conducts thousands of COVID-19 tests per day , with a goal of doing 50,000 tests a day across 650 sites by November .
The company also says it has distributed more than 100 million face masks , instituted temperature checks , and introduced “ enhanced cleaning procedures ” at its sites .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Indianapolis , Indiana told The Verge that cleaning has been uneven and that the site has been too crowded for appropriate social distancing in May .
And three warehouse workers sued the company in June , claiming that working conditions put them at risk of COVID-19 infection .

1.44 percent of Amazon’s front-line employees, or 19,816 workers, have tested positive or been “presumed positive for COVID-19,” Amazon said in a blog post published Thursday. The company says it employs 1,372,000 front-line employees across both Amazon and Whole Foods.
The blog marks the first time Amazon has disclosed how many of its workers have contracted COVID-19, and comes after months of demands for increased transparency from workers, governments, and Amazon investors. Amazon warehouse workers have reportedly even worked amongst themselves to attempt to determine how many of their colleagues have contracted the disease. The disclosure is also notable following comments from Amazon senior vice president of worldwide operations Dave Clark in May, who said that the “total number of cases isn’t particularly useful” in a 60 Minutes interview.
Amazon didn’t disclose how many employees have died of COVID-19
Amazon points out that its 19,816 cases are lower than the 33,952 it estimated it would have seen, when comparing its total employee count with a general population case rate reported by Johns Hopkins University. But while that might paint Amazon in a positive light, at least 10 employees have died from the disease, NBC News confirmed with Amazon in an article published yesterday. The company didn’t discuss those deaths in today’s blog post.
Amazon says it conducts thousands of COVID-19 tests per day, with a goal of doing 50,000 tests a day across 650 sites by November. The company also says it has distributed more than 100 million face masks, instituted temperature checks, and introduced “enhanced cleaning procedures” at its sites.


theverge--2020-10-01--10 things we learned about Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit, Nintendo’s mixed reality racer

One of Nintendo ’ s more intriguing upcoming games is Mario Kart Live : Home Circuit .
Developed by Velan Studios , it ’ s a title that follows the likes of Labo and Pokémon Go , attempting to take Nintendo ’ s playful experiences and translate them into the real world .
In this case , Home Circuit is both a game you play on a Switch and a remote control racer that will take over your living room .
There ’ s a lot going on , and I recently had a chance for a hands-off demo of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few interesting tidbits about what the experience will be like .
Here ’ s what you need to know ahead of Home Circuit ’ s launch on October 16th .
What you get in the box The $ 99.99 package comes in two varieties — Mario or Luigi — though both offer the same basic experience .
For that price you ’ ll get one RC kart featuring either brother ; four cardboard “ gates ” that serve as the core of your race course ; two arrow signboards , which are optional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charging the kart .
You can download the game for free — but you need a kart to play The game itself , meanwhile , will be available as a free download from the Switch eShop .
However , while anyone with a Switch can download it , the game won ’ t actually be playable without the hardware .
Very early on in the game ’ s setup , you ’ ll be presented with a QR code , which you need to scan with the camera on the RC kart to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can ’ t progress beyond this point .
You can play with up to four people Home Circuit supports multiplayer with up to four people , but everyone will need the complete set to participate .
That means a Switch , a copy of the game , and a kart to race .
Once you start , one person will serve as the host , and everyone plays on their course .
It seems like a fun multiplayer experience , albeit an expensive one .
( There is no form of online multiplayer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Home Circuit is that you can build your own courses around your house .
And , in true mixed reality spirit , you do this in two ways .
The core of this is the gates , which you use to make the basis of your track .
There are no one-way courses in Home Circuit .
Instead , you use the gates to form the outline of the track , and players complete it by driving laps through all four of them .
You can then incorporate physical obstacles — say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ LEGO bricks on the track — that players have to avoid .
But there are also the in-game elements that only show up on the Switch ’ s screen .
The gates , for instance , can be customized with different features ; you can have them drop items , like shells or mushrooms , or offer speed boosts .
Gates can also be home to obstacles like spinning fire bars , thwomps , or chain chomps , while the signboards can be used to add extra decoration to a course , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there are different themes you can apply to a track , some of which add in more virtual obstacles .
A lava theme features random bursts of lava bubbles on the track , while the 8-bit theme has goombas patrolling back-and-forth .
It seems like the best course designs will incorporate both these virtual features and real-world obstacles .
You need coins to unlock features Collecting coins while racing has a purpose here : the coins are used to unlock key features .
This includes some of the course customization options , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
You can use coins to turn Super Mario into Builder Mario , for instance , and have him drive around in a piece of construction equipment .
However , the changes obviously will only impact the on-screen version of the game and not the physical kart .
One of the coolest things I saw was the way the things happening on-screen impacted the RC kart .
For instance , when you use a mushroom for a speed boost , you can see the little toy car speeding up IRL .
When you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the kart will stop completely .
The best example I saw was a course with sandstorms , where the constant wind caused the RC car to move erratically as it was being blown around .
There ’ s still a grand prix mode , but it works differently The traditional single-player grand prix mode returns in Home Circuit , but it functions a little differently .
You ’ re in control of the basic layout of the course , while the game will overlay different themes and obstacles on top of that depending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ During my demo , I saw fairly traditional themes like underwater and ice , and there ’ s even a Rainbow Road theme .
What this does mean , though , is you won ’ t see the same kind of wild , gravity-defying courses that made Mario Kart 8 such a delight .
You ’ ll need to recharge the karts , but how often depends on how fast you plan on racing .
Home Circuit features four speeds : 50cc , 100cc , 150cc , and 200cc .
Nintendo says that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , you should get around 90 minutes of battery life .
But that number will go up if you play on the slower settings and down if you decide to go all-out at 200cc .
It should work just fine on carpet The videos shown so far mainly depict the RC karts driving around on clean hardwood floors .
But Nintendo says the game should work just fine on carpets , though it might slow down a bit , particularly if your carpet is on the thicker side .
It might make for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the layout of your living room .
You can play in handheld mode or on a TV Home Circuit supports both the base Nintendo Switch and the portable-only Switch Lite .
Both games will work in portable mode , but on a standard Switch you can also play on a TV .
For multiplayer matches , this could add an interesting spectator view , as if you were watching a very small Nascar race .

One of Nintendo’s more intriguing upcoming games is Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit. Developed by Velan Studios, it’s a title that follows the likes of Labo and Pokémon Go, attempting to take Nintendo’s playful experiences and translate them into the real world. In this case, Home Circuit is both a game you play on a Switch and a remote control racer that will take over your living room.
There’s a lot going on, and I recently had a chance for a hands-off demo of the game, where I learned a few interesting tidbits about what the experience will be like. Here’s what you need to know ahead of Home Circuit’s launch on October 16th.
What you get in the box
The $99.99 package comes in two varieties — Mario or Luigi — though both offer the same basic experience. For that price you’ll get one RC kart featuring either brother; four cardboard “gates” that serve as the core of your race course; two arrow signboards, which are optional course-building components; and a cable for charging the kart.
You can download the game for free — but you need a kart to play
The game itself, meanwhile, will be available as a free download from the Switch eShop. However, while anyone with a Switch can download it, the game won’t actually be playable without the hardware. Very early on in the game’s setup, you’ll be presented with a QR code, which you need to scan with the camera on the RC kart to continue. Without a kart, you can’t progress beyond this point.
You can play with up to four people
Home Circuit supports multiplayer with up to four people, but everyone will need the complete set to participate. That means a Switch, a copy of the game, and a kart to race. Once you start, one person will serve as the host, and everyone plays on their course. It seems like a fun multiplayer experience, albeit an expensive one. (There is no form of online multiplayer.)
How you customize courses
One of the major appeals of Home Circuit is that you can build your own courses around your house. And, in true mixed reality spirit, you do this in two ways. The core of this is the gates, which you use to make the basis of your track. There are no one-way courses in Home Circuit. Instead, you use the gates to form the outline of the track, and players complete it by driving laps through all four of them. You can then incorporate physical obstacles — say, the legs of a table or LEGO bricks on the track — that players have to avoid.
But there are also the in-game elements that only show up on the Switch’s screen. The gates, for instance, can be customized with different features; you can have them drop items, like shells or mushrooms, or offer speed boosts. Gates can also be home to obstacles like spinning fire bars, thwomps, or chain chomps, while the signboards can be used to add extra decoration to a course, with flashing lights and colors. Additionally, there are different themes you can apply to a track, some of which add in more virtual obstacles. A lava theme features random bursts of lava bubbles on the track, while the 8-bit theme has goombas patrolling back-and-forth.
It seems like the best course designs will incorporate both these virtual features and real-world obstacles.
You need coins to unlock features
Collecting coins while racing has a purpose here: the coins are used to unlock key features. This includes some of the course customization options, as well as cosmetic upgrades for your racer. You can use coins to turn Super Mario into Builder Mario, for instance, and have him drive around in a piece of construction equipment. However, the changes obviously will only impact the on-screen version of the game and not the physical kart.
In-game moments will impact the IRL kart
One of the coolest things I saw was the way the things happening on-screen impacted the RC kart. For instance, when you use a mushroom for a speed boost, you can see the little toy car speeding up IRL. When you get hit with a red shell, the kart will stop completely. The best example I saw was a course with sandstorms, where the constant wind caused the RC car to move erratically as it was being blown around.
There’s still a grand prix mode, but it works differently
The traditional single-player grand prix mode returns in Home Circuit, but it functions a little differently. You’re in control of the basic layout of the course, while the game will overlay different themes and obstacles on top of that depending what stage you’re on. During my demo, I saw fairly traditional themes like underwater and ice, and there’s even a Rainbow Road theme. What this does mean, though, is you won’t see the same kind of wild, gravity-defying courses that made Mario Kart 8 such a delight.
Battery life depends on speed
You’ll need to recharge the karts, but how often depends on how fast you plan on racing. Home Circuit features four speeds: 50cc, 100cc, 150cc, and 200cc. Nintendo says that if you’re playing on 150cc, you should get around 90 minutes of battery life. But that number will go up if you play on the slower settings and down if you decide to go all-out at 200cc.
It should work just fine on carpet
The videos shown so far mainly depict the RC karts driving around on clean hardwood floors. But Nintendo says the game should work just fine on carpets, though it might slow down a bit, particularly if your carpet is on the thicker side. It might make for some interesting course designs, depending on the layout of your living room.
You can play in handheld mode or on a TV


theverge--2020-10-01--Sega’s Game Gear Micro is visibly smaller than the Dreamcast’s VMU

I can ’ t put it better than SEGAbits : “ Famitsu magazine took the photo we all wanted to @ @ @ @ @ of Sega ’ s upcoming Game Gear Micro — perhaps the most ridiculous miniature gaming @ @ @ @ @ virtue of the exorbitant price you ’ ll pay to carry just four games at @ @ @ @ @ Dreamcast ’ s infamous VMU , also known as the unholy spawn of a PlayStation @ @ @ @ @ Nintendo Game Boy .
Truth be told , I didn ’ t know I needed @ @ @ @ @ I saw it , because I never could have imagined the glory that I now @ @ @ @ @ because I didn ’ t do the math .
It also reminds me that although @ @ @ @ @ called Button of the Month , he has yet to fulfill his 2018 promise to @ @ @ @ @ ’ s VMU .

I can’t put it better than SEGAbits: “Famitsu magazine took the photo we all wanted to see.”
The photo is of Sega’s upcoming Game Gear Micro — perhaps the most ridiculous miniature gaming nostalgia bomb ever announced by virtue of the exorbitant price you’ll pay to carry just four games at a time — and the Dreamcast’s infamous VMU, also known as the unholy spawn of a PlayStation memory card and the original Nintendo Game Boy.
Truth be told, I didn’t know I needed to see this photo until I saw it, because I never could have imagined the glory that I now behold. Or maybe just because I didn’t do the math.
It also reminds me that although Chaim has an excellent column called Button of the Month, he has yet to fulfill his 2018 promise to one day feature the Dreamcast’s VMU.


theverge--2020-10-01--Google’s Stadia Controller now supports USB-C headsets and headphones

Google ’ s Stadia controller now has support for USB-C audio devices when playing on a Chromecast or via a web browser .
That gives you an easy way to add headphones and a microphone , since you can simply plug in a set of wired USB-C earbuds like the Google ’ s Pixel USB-C earbuds , gaming headset , the Asus ROG Delta , or even the wireless SteelSeries Arctis 1 gaming headset with its wireless USB-C adapter ( It works , a Redditor confirms . )
It ’ s nice that Stadia players have another audio option beyond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s cool and unusual for any game controller to offer USB-C audio , but it still took almost a year for Google to add it after promising the feature was coming .
Up until now , you could only use the controller ’ s USB-C port to charge the controller or to plug it into a smartphone or computer with a USB-C cable .
In fact , for a long time after launch , that was the only way to use it with a phone or computer — Google sold a $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wireless unless you were playing on its Chromecast Ultra , up until nearly seven months after launch when Google added support for phone and web in May and June updates respectively .
It also took a month after launch until Google released the $ 15 “ claw ” mount that let you attach the Stadia controller to your phone so you could use it to play Stadia games on the go .
Google also promised that support for Bluetooth audio would be coming to the controller , but has yet to say when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least with Google ’ s new Chromecast , the company ’ s giving itself time to keep its promises : Google says it won ’ t support Stadia until the first half of next year .

It’s nice that Stadia players have another audio option beyond the built-in 3.5mm jack, and it’s cool and unusual for any game controller to offer USB-C audio, but it still took almost a year for Google to add it after promising the feature was coming .
Up until now, you could only use the controller’s USB-C port to charge the controller or to plug it into a smartphone or computer with a USB-C cable. In fact, for a long time after launch, that was the only way to use it with a phone or computer — Google sold a $69 wireless controller that wasn’t wireless unless you were playing on its Chromecast Ultra, up until nearly seven months after launch when Google added support for phone and web in May and June updates respectively. It also took a month after launch until Google released the $15 “claw” mount that let you attach the Stadia controller to your phone so you could use it to play Stadia games on the go.


theverge--2020-10-01--Verizon’s LTE-based home internet is now in 48 US states, and it could be your last resort

Verizon ’ s 4G LTE-based home broadband service targeting rural communities is now available in 48 states , and it might be worth a look if it ’ s available in your area .
The service , called “ LTE Home Internet , ” offers unlimited data , no data usage caps , and typical download speeds of 25Mbps with peak speeds of 50Mbps .
But it ’ s only available in “ parts ” of 189 markets , and only in areas where the company doesn ’ t already offer other broadband options such as Fios or its in-home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at $ 40 , but that ’ s only if you ’ re already on a monthly Verizon wireless plan that costs $ 30 or more .
Those who don ’ t have an eligible Verizon wireless plan will instead pay $ 60 per month for LTE Home Internet .
And the prices of both of tiers go up by $ 10 if you aren ’ t enrolled in Auto Pay and paper free billing .
Whatever rate you pay , you ’ ll also need the LTE Home router , which costs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10 per month over 24 months through the company ’ s device payment plan .
If you opt for the monthly payment plan , though , Verizon will give you a $ 10 credit on your bill for each of those 24 months .
Verizon first rolled out the LTE Home Internet service out in July in a few select markets : Savannah , Georgia ; Springfield , Missouri ; and the Tri-Cities region of Tennessee , Virginia , and Kentucky .
If you want to check if LTE Home Internet is available @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in your address here on Verizon ’ s website .

Verizon’s 4G LTE-based home broadband service targeting rural communities is now available in 48 states, and it might be worth a look if it’s available in your area. The service, called “LTE Home Internet,” offers unlimited data, no data usage caps, and typical download speeds of 25Mbps with peak speeds of 50Mbps. But it’s only available in “parts” of 189 markets, and only in areas where the company doesn’t already offer other broadband options such as Fios or its in-home 5G service.
LTE Home Internet starts at $40, but that’s only if you’re already on a monthly Verizon wireless plan that costs $30 or more. Those who don’t have an eligible Verizon wireless plan will instead pay $60 per month for LTE Home Internet. And the prices of both of tiers go up by $10 if you aren’t enrolled in Auto Pay and paper free billing.
Whatever rate you pay, you’ll also need the LTE Home router, which costs $240 on its own or $10 per month over 24 months through the company’s device payment plan. If you opt for the monthly payment plan, though, Verizon will give you a $10 credit on your bill for each of those 24 months.


theverge--2020-10-01--Conservative activist Jacob Wohl charged with running election robocall scheme

Jacob Wohl , a conservative activist known for his largely bumbling attempts to stage political scandals , has been charged with running a robocalling scheme to spread false election information .
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel filed four felony charges today against Wohl and his partner Jack Burkman .
They ’ re accused of targeting Detroit residents with calls that discouraged voting , including false claims that mail-in ballots would let health agencies “ track people for mandatory vaccines.
” Wohl and Burkman allegedly targeted voters in Michigan , New York , Pennsylvania , Ohio , and Illinois , making @ @ @ @ @ @ @ August .
The calls claimed to come from a group called “ Project 1599 , a civil rights organization founded by Jack Burkman and Jacob Wohl , ” and they were aimed at areas with large Black populations , urging them to not “ be finessed into giving your private information to the man.
” Michigan officials denounced the calls at the time , but they stopped short of confirming that they were made by Wohl and Burkman .
The 2020 presidential election has been fraught with concerns about misinformation and voter suppression @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mailing in their ballots amid the coronavirus pandemic .
President Donald Trump , who has retweeted posts by Wohl , has repeatedly and falsely cast doubt on mail-in voting ’ s validity .
Wohl himself was suspended from Twitter last year after announcing that he would create fake accounts to interfere with the election .
This is just one of several schemes associated with the pair .
During the Democratic presidential primary , Wohl and Burkman appeared to manufacture a sexual assault accusation against candidate Pete Buttigieg .
They later held a widely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Elizabeth Warren had a relationship with an ex-Marine male escort .
Wohl was charged last year with securities fraud in California , another state-level felony offense .
In a relatively rare instance of successful fakery , he briefly tricked the Washington Post into reporting on a nonexistent FBI raid last month .
Nessel says her office is now arranging for Wohl and Burkman to appear in Michigan court in the “ very near future.
” Two of the felony counts against each man carry up to 5 years in prison , while the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This effort specifically targeted minority voters in an attempt to deter them from voting in the November election , ” said Nessel .
“ We ’ re all well aware of the frustrations caused by the millions of nuisance robocalls flooding our cell phones and landlines each day , but this particular message poses grave consequences for our democracy .
”

Jacob Wohl, a conservative activist known for his largely bumbling attempts to stage political scandals, has been charged with running a robocalling scheme to spread false election information. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel filed four felony charges today against Wohl and his partner Jack Burkman. They’re accused of targeting Detroit residents with calls that discouraged voting, including false claims that mail-in ballots would let health agencies “track people for mandatory vaccines.”
Wohl and Burkman allegedly targeted voters in Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Illinois, making a total of around 85,000 calls in August. The calls claimed to come from a group called “Project 1599, a civil rights organization founded by Jack Burkman and Jacob Wohl,” and they were aimed at areas with large Black populations, urging them to not “be finessed into giving your private information to the man.”
They allegedly made around 85,000 calls
Michigan officials denounced the calls at the time, but they stopped short of confirming that they were made by Wohl and Burkman. The 2020 presidential election has been fraught with concerns about misinformation and voter suppression, especially because many voters could be mailing in their ballots amid the coronavirus pandemic. President Donald Trump, who has retweeted posts by Wohl, has repeatedly and falsely cast doubt on mail-in voting’s validity. Wohl himself was suspended from Twitter last year after announcing that he would create fake accounts to interfere with the election.


theverge--2020-10-01--Google will give you the new Chromecast for free if you pay for one month of YouTube TV

Google just announced a new Chromecast yesterday , and the company is already offering a good deal on one — all you have to do is sign up for YouTube TV and pay for one month of the service .
If you want to take advantage of the deal , you should be able to access it here .
There are a few caveats , however .
You can only take advantage of this if you ’ re a first-time YouTube TV subscriber , according to the deal ’ s terms .
You then have to make a payment toward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and December 31st in order to receive the offer for the free Chromecast .
And the deal is only available in the US .
You should also know that paying $ 64.99 for one month of YouTube TV costs more than just buying the new Chromecast on its own for $ 49.99 .
But if you ’ ve had your eye on both YouTube TV and the new device , this could be a great deal for you .
The new Chromecast , officially named the “ Chromecast with Google TV , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ onboard operating system and a dedicated remote .
It also does 4K and supports a large number of streaming services .

Google just announced a new Chromecast yesterday, and the company is already offering a good deal on one — all you have to do is sign up for YouTube TV and pay for one month of the service. If you want to take advantage of the deal, you should be able to access it here.
There are a few caveats, however. You can only take advantage of this if you’re a first-time YouTube TV subscriber, according to the deal’s terms. You then have to make a payment toward your YouTube TV subscription between October 15th and December 31st in order to receive the offer for the free Chromecast. And the deal is only available in the US.
You should also know that paying $64.99 for one month of YouTube TV costs more than just buying the new Chromecast on its own for $49.99. But if you’ve had your eye on both YouTube TV and the new device, this could be a great deal for you.


theverge--2020-10-01--Facebook moderators at Accenture are being forced back to the office, and many are scared for their

Facebook moderators at Accenture are being forced back to the office, and many are scared for their safety

Facebook moderators employed by third-party contracting firm Accenture and based in Austin , Texas are being forced to return to the office on October 12th , The Verge has learned .
Employees , almost all of whom are contractors , were instructed of the new policy at a company-wide town hall meeting today , say multiple people familiar with Accenture ’ s plans .
Accenture , which has allowed its workforce of hundreds of moderators to work from home since March due to the COVID-19 pandemic , has not given the employees a reason for why they must return to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ questions at the town hall meeting , telling concerned employees that it would schedule a second call to answer COVID-specific questions regarding matters like sick leave and time off .
High-risk workers are being asked to make alternate arrangements , and will not have to come in .
Facebook has an estimated 15,000 paid contractors almost entirely employed by third-party firms , and therefore not eligible for many of the same benefits as corporate employees .
These contractors often spend their days looking at graphic videos , hate speech , and other disturbing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ large volumes on a daily basis .
Some Facebook moderators , including those employed by Accenture , have developed post-traumatic stress disorders , and Facebook in May settled with current and former moderators for $ 52 million in a ruling that concluded the job had severe negative mental health effects .
“ Accenture has a responsibility to take care of employees that put themselves at risk.
” Since the COVID-19 pandemic , however , tech employees and a large swath of those companies ’ contract workforces have shifted to remote work .
Some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , say this shift has hindered their moderation work because of privacy issues that involve employees working in the office on protected machines that handle sensitive user data .
YouTube in March said it would rely more on artificial intelligence to fill the gap , but the company last month said its AI moderation failed to match the accuracy of humans after a huge swell in video removals and incorrect takedowns , and the company decided to bring back more human moderators to address the issue .
Facebook has not openly talked about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but one Accenture contractor confirms the firm has allowed its workforce to work from home since March .
Facebook did say at the onset of the pandemic that contract workers would receive full salaries even in the event they could not perform all of their required duties , but the company denied those contractors access to a $ 1,000 bonus it paid to all full-time corporate employees to purchase remote work equipment like office chairs and desks , according to TechCrunch .
One Accenture contractor tells The Verge the company will require @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people at a time may use the elevators in the building .
Accenture is also saying it will clean high-contact surfaces every two hours and will clean the entire office every 24 hours , as well as taking employee temperatures and enforcing socially distanced seating .
“ However , there is no staggering of our return .
The entire community ops teams in Austin and California will be returning all at once , and will be given no other options , ” says one concerned Accenture contractor .
“ We [ are ] @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even though this will lead to everyone arriving at the office at the same time and creating a bottleneck .
We were told in a separate town hall on Monday that they would be returning ‘ only essential employees ’ to the office ‘ slowly , ’ and their message today directly contradicts that.
” “ The majority of the employees are in extreme distress over this news and worried for their safety.
” The employee tells The Verge that has been no mention of added sick time or changed in attendance policy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come into work sick .
“ Many of us asked questions about this in the town hall question box through Microsoft teams , and our questions were ignored , ” the employee says .
“ We ’ re being told we ’ re having to return because the ‘ essential ’ work we do must be done in an office setting.
” In a statement , a Facebook spokesperson said , “ A lot of the work done by the Accenture Austin team involves work streams that can ’ t be done from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intense scrutiny to enforce policies banning incitements to violence and election misinformation — policies human moderators are much better at enforcing than algorithms .
In an internal letter , Accenture contractors asked for increased pay and benefits due to the risks associated with returning to the office during a pandemic .
“ Because much of our work is too sensitive to be done at home , there has been a recent push from management to return to working in the office , ” they wrote .
“ Accenture has a responsibility to take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk.
” In a list of demands , the moderators asked for hourly wages to be increased by 50 percent , and for the company to cover all costs associated with the testing and treatment of COVID-19 .
They also asked for paid time off should they get sick with the virus .
According to another individual with knowledge of Accenture ’ s town hall meeting , a contract worker for the company contracted COVID-19 from the office just two weeks ago .
“ They are mandating that over 300 contract workers are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 12th , ” the individual tells The Verge .
“ They were asked multiple times during this meeting what medical data they had used to confirm that this would be safe for their employees .
They refused to answer .
The majority of the employees are in extreme distress over this news and worried for their safety.
” “ they ’ re being cavalier with our lives.
” Meanwhile , a vast majority of Facebook ’ s full-time corporate workforce now enjoys a permanent remote work policy , with employees not mandated to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to be permanently working from until July of 2021 .
That ’ s when the company intends to fully reopen its headquarters in Menlo Park , California .
An Accenture contractor says full-time Facebook employees in Austin are not being asked to return to the office .
Lawyers involved in Facebook ’ s settlement with content moderators earlier this year determined that as many as half of all Facebook moderators may develop mental health issues on the job .
A competitor of Accenture central to the settlement was Cognizant , a similarly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the moderation business last fall following two investigations from The Verge into the company ’ s working conditions .
“ So no sick days , no hazard pay , no staggering of the return to the office , and only just a week and a half ago , Texas saw the largest spike in COVID cases since the pandemic began , ” says one of the Accenture moderators .
“ They are confident that they can handle this rush of people back to the office because they ’ ve had a handful working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now they ’ re being cavalier with our lives.
” In a statement emailed to The Verge , Accenture wrote : “ We are gradually returning people to client offices in cases where there is a critical business reason to do so .
We prioritize the safety and well-being of our people , and only return people to offices when we are comfortable that the right measures and protocols are in place , properly evaluated for each country or local situation.
” Update October 1st , 6:22PM ET : Added a statement from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ET : Added a statement from Facebook .

Facebook moderators employed by third-party contracting firm Accenture and based in Austin, Texas are being forced to return to the office on October 12th, The Verge has learned.
Employees, almost all of whom are contractors, were instructed of the new policy at a company-wide town hall meeting today, say multiple people familiar with Accenture’s plans. Accenture, which has allowed its workforce of hundreds of moderators to work from home since March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, has not given the employees a reason for why they must return to the office. Accenture did not take questions at the town hall meeting, telling concerned employees that it would schedule a second call to answer COVID-specific questions regarding matters like sick leave and time off. High-risk workers are being asked to make alternate arrangements, and will not have to come in.
Facebook has an estimated 15,000 paid contractors almost entirely employed by third-party firms, and therefore not eligible for many of the same benefits as corporate employees. These contractors often spend their days looking at graphic videos, hate speech, and other disturbing material posted to the social network in large volumes on a daily basis. Some Facebook moderators, including those employed by Accenture, have developed post-traumatic stress disorders, and Facebook in May settled with current and former moderators for $52 million in a ruling that concluded the job had severe negative mental health effects.
“Accenture has a responsibility to take care of employees that put themselves at risk.”
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, however, tech employees and a large swath of those companies’ contract workforces have shifted to remote work. Some platform owners, including Facebook and YouTube, say this shift has hindered their moderation work because of privacy issues that involve employees working in the office on protected machines that handle sensitive user data.
YouTube in March said it would rely more on artificial intelligence to fill the gap, but the company last month said its AI moderation failed to match the accuracy of humans after a huge swell in video removals and incorrect takedowns, and the company decided to bring back more human moderators to address the issue. Facebook has not openly talked about how its handled moderation during the pandemic, but one Accenture contractor confirms the firm has allowed its workforce to work from home since March.
Facebook did say at the onset of the pandemic that contract workers would receive full salaries even in the event they could not perform all of their required duties, but the company denied those contractors access to a $1,000 bonus it paid to all full-time corporate employees to purchase remote work equipment like office chairs and desks, according to TechCrunch.
One Accenture contractor tells The Verge the company will require everyone wear masks, and only four people at a time may use the elevators in the building. Accenture is also saying it will clean high-contact surfaces every two hours and will clean the entire office every 24 hours, as well as taking employee temperatures and enforcing socially distanced seating.
“However, there is no staggering of our return. The entire community ops teams in Austin and California will be returning all at once, and will be given no other options,” says one concerned Accenture contractor. “We [are] expected to keep our regular shifts, even though this will lead to everyone arriving at the office at the same time and creating a bottleneck. We were told in a separate town hall on Monday that they would be returning ‘only essential employees’ to the office ‘slowly,’ and their message today directly contradicts that.”
“The majority of the employees are in extreme distress over this news and worried for their safety.”
The employee tells The Verge there has been no mention of added sick time or changes in attendance policy, which they fear will mean employees come into work sick. “Many of us asked questions about this in the town hall question box through Microsoft teams, and our questions were ignored,” the employee says. “We’re being told we’re having to return because the ‘essential’ work we do must be done in an office setting.”
In a statement, a Facebook spokesperson said, “A lot of the work done by the Accenture Austin team involves work streams that can’t be done from home.” The company is currently under intense scrutiny to enforce policies banning incitements to violence and election misinformation — policies human moderators are much better at enforcing than algorithms.
In an internal letter, Accenture contractors asked for increased pay and benefits due to the risks associated with returning to the office during a pandemic. “Because much of our work is too sensitive to be done at home, there has been a recent push from management to return to working in the office,” they wrote. “Accenture has a responsibility to take care of employees that put themselves at risk.”
In a list of demands, the moderators asked for hourly wages to be increased by 50 percent, and for the company to cover all costs associated with the testing and treatment of COVID-19. They also asked for paid time off should they get sick with the virus.
According to another individual with knowledge of Accenture’s town hall meeting, a contract worker for the company contracted COVID-19 from the office just two weeks ago. “They are mandating that over 300 contract workers are to return to the office on October 12th,” the individual tells The Verge. “They were asked multiple times during this meeting what medical data they had used to confirm that this would be safe for their employees. They refused to answer. The majority of the employees are in extreme distress over this news and worried for their safety.”
“they’re being cavalier with our lives.”
Meanwhile, a vast majority of Facebook’s full-time corporate workforce now enjoys a permanent remote work policy, with employees not mandated to inform Facebook of where they’re going to be permanently working from until July of 2021. That’s when the company intends to fully reopen its headquarters in Menlo Park, California. An Accenture contractor says full-time Facebook employees in Austin are not being asked to return to the office.
Lawyers involved in Facebook’s settlement with content moderators earlier this year determined that as many as half of all Facebook moderators may develop mental health issues on the job. A competitor of Accenture central to the settlement was Cognizant, a similarly structured third-party contractor that decided to exit the moderation business last fall following two investigations from The Verge into the company’s working conditions.
“So no sick days, no hazard pay, no staggering of the return to the office, and only just a week and a half ago, Texas saw the largest spike in COVID cases since the pandemic began,” says one of the Accenture moderators. “They are confident that they can handle this rush of people back to the office because they’ve had a handful working from a different office voluntarily, so now they’re being cavalier with our lives.”
In a statement emailed to The Verge, Accenture wrote: “We are gradually returning people to client offices in cases where there is a critical business reason to do so. We prioritize the safety and well-being of our people, and only return people to offices when we are comfortable that the right measures and protocols are in place, properly evaluated for each country or local situation.”


theverge--2020-10-01--The UK’s health system plans to slash greenhouse gas emissions

The UK ’ s National Health Service released a sweeping plan today to become the first national health system to eliminate nearly all of its planet-heating greenhouse gases .
By 2040 , it plans to gut all of the emissions it ’ s directly and indirectly responsible for .
That includes pollution from its facilities , electricity use , vehicles , and supply chains for medicines and medical devices .
Health care is responsible for a hefty chunk of planet-heating greenhouse gases .
Health care is responsible for a hefty chunk of greenhouse gases .
The National Health Service pumps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ England ’ s carbon emissions .
Globally , the health care sectors in 36 countries with the largest economies accounted for more than 4 percent of worldwide carbon dioxide pollution — more than aviation or shipping .
Getting rid of all that pollution will play a huge role in slowing down climate change .
It will also help the UK meet its larger goal of essentially eliminating greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 , a benchmark that scientists believe is important for all countries to achieve in order to stop warming from reaching disastrous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] will disrupt care , and affect patients and the public at every stage of our lives , ” Sir Simon Stevens , NHS chief executive , said in a report outlining the coming changes .
“ We therefore make no apologies for pushing for progress in this area while still continuing to confront coronavirus.
” The UK and NHS set out to reach “ net-zero ” emissions by 2050 and 2040 respectively , which means they will cut down on pollution and rely on technology to capture carbon and schemes like tree-planting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ release .
By 2045 , the NHS aims to go even further by eliminating emissions from patient and visitor travel , as well as medicines and NHS services that people use in their homes .
Making all the necessary changes will be a monumental endeavor .
But unlike companies like Microsoft and BP that have recently made similarly splashy climate announcements without many details on how to achieve those goals , the NHS paired its new commitment with a detailed 76-page plan on how it can slash emissions .
Supply chains for medical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used in its facilities account for the largest share of NHS ’ s climate pollution .
So it plans to cut out single-use plastics ; reuse and refurbish devices ; find alternative products with a smaller impact on the planet ; and ask suppliers to make the same net-zero pledge .
NHS will need to run on cleaner energy , and plans to rely on national efforts to switch to renewables for electricity generation .
NHS also wants to generate renewable energy and heat onsite , and is spending £50 million to replace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ energy .
It has plans to build 40 new “ net-zero ” hospitals to run more cleanly and efficiently .
Tailpipe pollution is another problem the NHS plans to tackle .
It says it will road test its first zero-emissions ambulance by 2022 .
If it works , the new ambulance could be adopted by the entire fleet by 2032 .
Its current fleet of vehicles is responsible for four percent of NHS ’ carbon footprint .
Anesthesia and inhalers together are responsible for five percent of the health service ’ s emissions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effect on the climate because they are even more potent than carbon dioxide , so the NHS hopes to capture and reuse it .
Nitrous oxide , “ laughing gas , ” is 300 times more powerful than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere .
Inhalers typically used for respiratory conditions like asthma that contain greenhouse gas propellants could soon be replaced by more climate-friendly alternatives like dry powder inhalers .
Leaders in public health , medicine , and research celebrated the new commitments from NHS .
“ Cutting carbon emissions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the world .
I welcome the leadership of the largest single health system in the world , the National Health Service in England , ” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus , director-general of the World Health Organization , said in a press release .

The UK’s National Health Service released a sweeping plan today to become the first national health system to eliminate nearly all of its planet-heating greenhouse gases. By 2040, it plans to gut all of the emissions it’s directly and indirectly responsible for. That includes pollution from its facilities, electricity use, vehicles, and supply chains for medicines and medical devices.
Health care is responsible for a hefty chunk of planet-heating greenhouse gases
Health care is responsible for a hefty chunk of greenhouse gases. The National Health Service pumps out between 4 and 5 percent of England’s carbon emissions. Globally, the health care sectors in 36 countries with the largest economies accounted for more than 4 percent of worldwide carbon dioxide pollution — more than aviation or shipping.
Getting rid of all that pollution will play a huge role in slowing down climate change. It will also help the UK meet its larger goal of essentially eliminating greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, a benchmark that scientists believe is important for all countries to achieve in order to stop warming from reaching disastrous levels.
“Unabated [climate change] will disrupt care, and affect patients and the public at every stage of our lives,” Sir Simon Stevens, NHS chief executive, said in a report outlining the coming changes. “We therefore make no apologies for pushing for progress in this area while still continuing to confront coronavirus.”
The UK and NHS set out to reach “net-zero” emissions by 2050 and 2040 respectively, which means they will cut down on pollution and rely on carbon-capturing technology and schemes like tree-planting to offset any emissions they continue to release. By 2045, the NHS aims to go even further by eliminating emissions from patient and visitor travel, as well as medicines and NHS services that people use in their homes.
A monumental endeavor
Making all the necessary changes will be a monumental endeavor. But unlike companies like Microsoft and BP that have recently made similarly splashy climate announcements without many details on how to achieve those goals, the NHS paired its new commitment with a detailed 76-page plan on how it can slash emissions.
Supply chains for medical devices, medicines, and other products used in its facilities account for the largest share of NHS’s climate pollution. So it plans to cut out single-use plastics; reuse and refurbish devices; find alternative products with a smaller impact on the planet; and ask suppliers to make the same net-zero pledge.
NHS will need to run on cleaner energy, and plans to rely on national efforts to switch to renewables for electricity generation. NHS also wants to generate renewable energy and heat onsite, and is spending £50 million to replace less efficient lights with LEDs to save energy. It has plans to build 40 new “net-zero” hospitals to run more cleanly and efficiently.
Tailpipe pollution is another problem the NHS plans to tackle. It says it will road test its first zero-emissions ambulance by 2022. If it works, the new ambulance could be adopted by the entire fleet by 2032. Its current fleet of vehicles is responsible for 4 percent of NHS’ carbon footprint.
Anesthesia and inhalers together are responsible for 5 percent of the health service’s emissions. Anesthetic gases can have an outsized effect on the climate because they are even more potent than carbon dioxide, so the NHS hopes to capture and reuse them.
Nitrous oxide, or “laughing gas,” is 300 times more effective than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere. Inhalers typically used for respiratory conditions like asthma that contain greenhouse gas propellants could soon be replaced by more climate-friendly alternatives like dry powder inhalers.
Leaders in public health, medicine, and research celebrated the new commitments from NHS.


theverge--2020-10-01--Gmail mistakenly removed the button that lets you triage loads of emails at once, but it’s coming ba

Gmail mistakenly removed the button that lets you triage loads of emails at once, but it’s coming back

If you ’ re not the inbox zero type — and I ’ m definitely not — you might sometimes rely on Gmail ’ s “ Select all conversations that match this search ” option to read , archive , or delete hundreds or thousands of messages at once .
Except we can ’ t do that anymore , and neither can a number of angry Gmail users we ’ ve spotted .
The option has up and disappeared .
Google accidentally removed it , the company confirms to The Verge .
Instead of the option , we ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of shortcut buttons when we search , like this : Thankfully , Google tells The Verge it ’ s coming back “ as soon as possible , ” adding : We are working to bring back the feature in Gmail that allows you to ‘ select all conversations that match this search ’ as soon as possible .
This feature was removed unintentionally .
We apologize to our users who may have been affected .
That ’ ll be good news to those who posted in this Gmail help thread from six days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now , and it explains why Google ’ s own Gmail support team was unaware of a change ; on at least a couple occasions , they ’ d been giving readers instructions that no longer work .
For now , if you want to read , archive , or delete more than a page worth of conversations at a time , you may need to use a filter instead , using the “ Also apply filter to matching conversations ” button , and then delete the filter after the fact .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ newsletters , and it still seems to work .
Update , 5:55 PM ET : Added Google ’ s explanation that this was just a mistake .

If you’re not the inbox zero type — and I’m definitely not — you might sometimes rely on Gmail’s “Select all conversations that match this search” option to read, archive, or delete hundreds or thousands of messages at once.
Except we can’t do that anymore, and neither can a number of angry Gmail users we’ve spotted. The option has up and disappeared. Google accidentally removed it, the company confirms to The Verge.
Instead of the option, we’re seeing a nav bar with a handful of shortcut buttons when we search, like this:
Thankfully, Google tells The Verge it’s coming back “as soon as possible,” adding:
We are working to bring back the feature in Gmail that allows you to ‘select all conversations that match this search’ as soon as possible. This feature was removed unintentionally. We apologize to our users who may have been affected.
That’ll be good news to those who posted in this Gmail help thread from six days ago, which had gone unanswered until now, and it explains why Google’s own Gmail support team was unaware of a change; on at least a couple occasions, they’d been giving readers instructions that no longer work.
For now, if you want to read, archive, or delete more than a page worth of conversations at a time, you may need to use a filter instead, using the “Also apply filter to matching conversations” button, and then delete the filter after the fact.
I just gave it a try with some newsletters, and it still seems to work.


theverge--2020-10-02--Sony A7C Review: small camera, big sensor

When I first heard about Sony ’ s new A7C , I thought it was just a parts-bin camera — taking a lot of good things about the Alpha line and putting it into a new design .
On paper , that ’ s exactly what the $ 1,800 A7C is : it ’ s the sensor , processor , and autofocus system of 2018 ’ s A7 III in a body that ’ s closer in size to the A6600 .
But what I didn ’ t realize is just how enjoyable it is to shoot with a full-frame @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I can stash it quickly into a small bag just like a small camera , but I don ’ t have to give up a large sensor or access to Sony ’ s line of great full-frame lenses .
Other features stand out , as well : the sweet articulating screen that lets me easily vlog or the port compartments having actual doors instead of those bad floppy plugs .
This camera may be small in size , but it ’ s a little ripper .
The A7C is a confusing addition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ late 2013 with the release of the A7 and A7R .
Since then , we have seen eight more full-frame cameras launch in the line , all with essentially the same design .
The surprisingly compact A7C breaks that mold .
It looks a lot like Sony ’ s lower-tier APS-C line than the other A7 models , mostly due to the viewfinder being moved to the far left .
This makes it shorter and therefore easier to jam into a bag to tote around .
Before I got my hands on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be too small , like my fingers would slip off the grip and there wouldn ’ t be enough weight for counterbalancing those large , full-frame lenses .
But I ’ m happy to report it is the perfect sort of small .
This camera fits in my Moment Fanny Sling with the 24-70mm Sony G Master lens on it .
Overall , it isn ’ t annoying to carry , yet it still feels solid and doesn ’ t slip out of my hands .
Being able to run around Brooklyn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Master lens for hours without feeling like I ’ m shlupping hella gear around was magical .
All of that being said , this camera is not exceptionally small and certainly not pocketable .
It is just smaller relative to other full-frame cameras .
And once you put a typically large full-frame lens on it , a Sony A6600 with an APS-C sensor will feel a lot lighter .
In addition , Sony finally did away with the hanging rubber flaps that cover the ports on other A7 models .
They took literal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ always hanging in the way .
There are now hinged doors that cover a mic port , a headphone jack , a micro HDMI port , a USB-C port , and one SD card slot .
These are easy to open and easy to close , but best of all , the articulating screen isn ’ t blocked when a microphone is plugged in .
The fully articulating screen is easy to whip out , flip around , or position to your needs , yet feels sturdy .
I never noticed a lag @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its position , and the touch control , although limited to just tapping to set a focus point , is responsive .
Being able to so easily turn that screen around truly led to me taking a lot more selfies because I could do it so quickly .
Even in bright light I was still able to see myself in order to frame the shot .
Almost all of the buttons on the back are on the right-hand side , which means you can control the camera entirely with one hand .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the front of the camera , under the shutter button , for use with my pointer finger .
An ISO dial there would make dialing in settings in challenging light situations much quicker .
I love the big , programmable red record button on top and the battery compartment being solely for the battery , not also an SD card .
This means I don ’ t have to take the camera off the tripod or gimbal to pop in a fresh SD card , though it would have been nice to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more recording time .
The only hardware issue for me is the menu button placement .
I totally get that the articulating screen needs a groove for pulling it off the camera back , but the menu button would have fit perfectly right where that notch is or even right below the exposure compensation dial .
It would be more convenient to use if it was anywhere but in the exact middle of the camera , right under the hot shoe .
This placement is not convenient for either of my thumbs to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my left thumb , the EVF sensor is triggered and the display switches to the EVF , and then the button is just a tad too far to reach with my right thumb without having to really grip the camera with both hands .
And because the menu button also acts as a back button within the dreaded Sony menu system , using it really feels like a chore .
And yes , the A7C still uses the old Sony menu system we all love to hate .
I was really hoping to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ debuted in the A7S III in this camera , which allows for touch screen controls and provides a new layout , but sadly it ’ s not here .
I spent most of my time taking photos with the A7C which , as a video-first person , was surprising for me .
Between Sony ’ s real-time autofocus system , which is one of the best autofocus systems available right now , and being able to shoot 115 RAW images at up to 10 frames per second , I was quickly addicted to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ISO can range from 100 to 51,200 and extend all the way up to 204,800 , but in my use anything past ISO 12,800 started to show a lot of smoothing and noise .
That is still a huge range , though , and is the main advantage you get from the A7C ’ s full-frame sensor compared to smaller formats .
I felt very comfortable leaving the auto ISO setting on max ISO of 10,000 , knowing the image would be crisp throughout .
All of this is familiar territory , though @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years ago had effectively the same specs and capabilities .
In the standard color preset , JPEGs are bright , vivid , and very crisp .
To push the camera ’ s dynamic range , I began blowing out the highlights and taking photos of really colorful objects , which resulted in extremely vivid colors and lots of contrast without having to edit the photos .
I really started to like this look .
The Sony A7C with the Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM Of course the lens you put on will affect the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a good lens , like the $ 2,200 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master I ’ ve been using , it was hard to take a shot I wasn ’ t happy with .
Sony also released a new kit lens with the A7C that ’ s available in a $ 2,100 bundle .
It ’ s a 28-60mm f/4-5.6 pancake zoom lens .
It ’ s very compact and has a decent focal range , but it ’ s plasticky and that slow aperture really doesn ’ t show off this camera ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ though , it does make for a great entry-level lens into the E-mount world where lenses can get very large and very expensive .
The Sony A7C with the Sony 28-60mm f/4-5.6 kit lens On the video side , there isn ’ t too much new here .
The A7C can shoot 4K 4:2:0 8-bit video at 24Ffps and 30fps , but to get 120fps or even 60fps , you will have to drop down to 1080p .
There is in-camera stabilization , but it ’ s the standard Sony five-axis system which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ write home about .
I still needed a gimbal to get super buttery shots , and I find that Sony ’ s in-camera stabilization is more effective in combating hand shake when taking photos at lower shutter speeds than for shooting smooth video .
The better camera for video in the Alpha line is definitely Sony ’ s A7S III , which can shoot up to 4K 4:2:2 10-bit video at 120fps — but those specs will cost you $ 3,500 , or nearly twice as much as the A7C .
There is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ causing the image to bend when you pan from side to side .
It is very noticeable when shooting handheld , which doesn ’ t make this camera the best for professional video work .
Check out the video at the top of this article for sample footage .
The A7C ’ s battery life is solid .
I could record in 4K for well over an hour and a half ( with no overheating ) before the battery died .
Running around Brooklyn , taking mostly photos and the occasional 4K video @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a full day with one of the A7C ’ s NP-FZ100 batteries .
The powerful autofocus and 10 frames per second burst mode makes the A7C fast .
The big sensor and ability to shoot at high ISO makes it good in low light .
But what makes this camera special is that experience in a smaller body .
It ’ s being able to whip this out of a small bag .
It ’ s being able to carry it for hours without noticing .
It ’ s flipping that screen around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s all of that paired with those specs and capabilities that makes this camera worth talking about .
At $ 1,800 , the A7C does not have a small price tag .
It is a lower-cost , full-frame camera , which makes it slightly more accessible to hobbyists and those just getting started .
But it ’ s not as aggressively priced as Nikon ’ s Z5 or Canon ’ s EOS RP .
Sure , the A7C is also a parts-bin camera — basically an A7 III from 2018 in a smaller @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proven and that doesn ’ t take away from the A7C ’ s charm .

When I first heard about Sony’s new A7C, I thought it was just a parts-bin camera — taking a lot of good things about the Alpha line and putting it into a new design. On paper, that’s exactly what the $1,800 A7C is: it’s the sensor, processor, and autofocus system of 2018’s A7 III in a body that’s closer in size to the A6600.
But what I didn’t realize is just how enjoyable it is to shoot with a full-frame camera that is actually small in size. I can stash it quickly into a small bag just like a small camera, but I don’t have to give up a large sensor or access to Sony’s line of great full-frame lenses. Other features stand out, as well: the sweet articulating screen that lets me easily vlog or the port compartments having actual doors instead of those bad floppy plugs. This camera may be small in size, but it’s a little ripper.
The A7C is a confusing addition to the Alpha lineup that started in late 2013 with the release of the A7 and A7R. Since then, we have seen eight more full-frame cameras launch in the line, all with essentially the same design. The surprisingly compact A7C breaks that mold. It looks a lot like Sony’s lower-tier APS-C line than the other A7 models, mostly due to the viewfinder being moved to the far left. This makes it shorter and therefore easier to jam into a bag to tote around.
Before I got my hands on the A7C, I was truly worried it would be too small, like my fingers would slip off the grip and there wouldn’t be enough weight for counterbalancing those large, full-frame lenses. But I’m happy to report it is the perfect sort of small. This camera fits in my Moment Fanny Sling with the 24-70mm Sony G Master lens on it. Overall, it isn’t annoying to carry, yet it still feels solid and doesn’t slip out of my hands. Being able to run around Brooklyn with a 24.2MP CMOS sensor and G Master lens for hours without feeling like I’m shlupping hella gear around was magical.
All of that being said, this camera is not exceptionally small and certainly not pocketable. It is just smaller relative to other full-frame cameras. And once you put a typically large full-frame lens on it, a Sony A6600 with an APS-C sensor will feel a lot lighter.
The hinged doors are easy to open and close. The large, red button on top is programmable.
All of the controls on the back of that A7C are on the right-hand side.
In addition, Sony finally did away with the hanging rubber flaps that cover the ports on other A7 models. They took literal precision to put back on and were always hanging in the way. There are now hinged doors that cover a mic port, a headphone jack, a micro HDMI port, a USB-C port, and one SD card slot. These are easy to open and easy to close, but best of all, the articulating screen isn’t blocked when a microphone is plugged in.
The fully articulating screen is easy to whip out, flip around, or position to your needs, yet feels sturdy. I never noticed a lag in the screen rotating as I adjusted its position, and the touch control, although limited to just tapping to set a focus point, is responsive. Being able to so easily turn that screen around truly led to me taking a lot more selfies because I could do it so quickly. Even in bright light I was still able to see myself in order to frame the shot.
Previous Next
1 / 3 Previous Next
1 / 3
Selfies on the A7C
Almost all of the buttons on the back are on the right-hand side, which means you can control the camera entirely with one hand. I do wish there was a third dial on the front of the camera, under the shutter button, for use with my pointer finger. An ISO dial there would make dialing in settings in challenging light situations much quicker.
I love the big, programmable red record button on top and the battery compartment being solely for the battery, not also an SD card. This means I don’t have to take the camera off the tripod or gimbal to pop in a fresh SD card, though it would have been nice to have two SD slots for backups or more recording time.
The A7C almost fits in the palm of my hand.
The only hardware issue for me is the menu button placement. I totally get that the articulating screen needs a groove for pulling it off the camera back, but the menu button would have fit perfectly right where that notch is or even right below the exposure compensation dial. It would be more convenient to use if it was anywhere but in the exact middle of the camera, right under the hot shoe.
This placement is not convenient for either of my thumbs to push: when reaching for it with my left thumb, the EVF sensor is triggered and the display switches to the EVF, and then the button is just a tad too far to reach with my right thumb without having to really grip the camera with both hands. And because the menu button also acts as a back button within the dreaded Sony menu system, using it really feels like a chore.
And yes, the A7C still uses the old Sony menu system we all love to hate. I was really hoping to see the new menu system that Sony debuted in the A7S III in this camera, which allows for touch screen controls and provides a new layout, but sadly it’s not here.
Sadly, the A7C stuck with the old Sony menu system.
I spent most of my time taking photos with the A7C which, as a video-first person, was surprising for me. Between Sony’s real-time autofocus system, which is one of the best autofocus systems available right now, and being able to shoot 115 RAW images at up to 10 frames per second, I was quickly addicted to this camera’s speed. The ISO can range from 100 to 51,200 and extend all the way up to 204,800, but in my use anything past ISO 12,800 started to show a lot of smoothing and noise. That is still a huge range, though, and is the main advantage you get from the A7C’s full-frame sensor compared to smaller formats. I felt very comfortable leaving the auto ISO setting on max ISO of 10,000, knowing the image would be crisp throughout. All of this is familiar territory, though, as the A7 III from two years ago had effectively the same specs and capabilities.
In the standard color preset, JPEGs are bright, vivid, and very crisp. To push the camera’s dynamic range, I began blowing out the highlights and taking photos of really colorful objects, which resulted in extremely vivid colors and lots of contrast without having to edit the photos. I really started to like this look.
Previous Next
1 / 10 Previous Next
1 / 10
The Sony A7C with the Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM
Of course the lens you put on will affect the look of your images, but with a good lens, like the $2,200 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master I’ve been using, it was hard to take a shot I wasn’t happy with. Sony also released a new kit lens with the A7C that’s available in a $2,100 bundle. It’s a 28-60mm f/4-5.6 pancake zoom lens. It’s very compact and has a decent focal range, but it’s plasticky and that slow aperture really doesn’t show off this camera’s best self. For $500, though, it does make for a great entry-level lens into the E-mount world where lenses can get very large and very expensive.
Previous Next
1 / 6 Previous Next
1 / 6
The Sony A7C with the Sony 28-60mm f/4-5.6 kit lens
On the video side, there isn’t too much new here. The A7C can shoot 4K 4:2:0 8-bit video at 24Ffps and 30fps, but to get 120fps or even 60fps, you will have to drop down to 1080p. There is in-camera stabilization, but it’s the standard Sony five-axis system which, while good, is nothing to write home about. I still needed a gimbal to get super buttery shots, and I find that Sony’s in-camera stabilization is more effective in combating hand shake when taking photos at lower shutter speeds than for shooting smooth video. The better camera for video in the Alpha line is definitely Sony’s A7S III, which can shoot up to 4K 4:2:2 10-bit video at 120fps — but those specs will cost you $3,500, or nearly twice as much as the A7C.
There is also still a rolling shutter problem, causing the image to bend when you pan from side to side. It is very noticeable when shooting handheld, which doesn’t make this camera the best for professional video work. Check out the video at the top of this article for sample footage.
The A7C’s battery life is solid. I could record in 4K for well over an hour and a half (with no overheating) before the battery died. Running around Brooklyn, taking mostly photos and the occasional 4K video clip, I was making it through a full day with one of the A7C’s NP-FZ100 batteries.
The A7C and the 24-70mm f/2.8 GM are a match made in crisp image heaven.
The battery grip is the perfect size for my small hands. This camera is light enough to cary around all day, even with a large lens on it.
The powerful autofocus and 10 frames per second burst mode makes the A7C fast. The big sensor and ability to shoot at high ISO makes it good in low light. But what makes this camera special is that experience in a smaller body. It’s being able to whip this out of a small bag. It’s being able to carry it for hours without noticing. It’s flipping that screen around and taking selfies instantly. It’s all of that paired with those specs and capabilities that makes this camera worth talking about.
At $1,800, the A7C does not have a small price tag. It is a lower-cost, full-frame camera, which makes it slightly more accessible to hobbyists and those just getting started. But it’s not as aggressively priced as Nikon’s Z5 or Canon’s EOS RP.
Sure, the A7C is also a parts-bin camera — basically an A7 III from 2018 in a smaller form factor — but those parts are proven and that doesn’t take away from the A7C’s charm.
Photography by Becca Farsace / The Verge


theverge--2020-10-02--League of Legends’ virtual K-pop group K/DA is releasing its first album in November

As promised , K/DA — the virtual K-pop group that ’ s part of the ever-expanding League of Legends universe — has its very first album on the way .
Today , developer Riot revealed that the band ’ s first EP , titled All/Out , will be out on November 6th .
K/DA released its first single following a two-year hiatus back in August .
If you ’ re wondering what any of that actually means , here ’ s a quick explainer : in 2018 , the annual League of Legends World Championship opened with a stunning AR @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made up of both in-game characters and real-world pop stars .
It was an intriguing mix that turned into a big hit , and now Riot is bringing the band back in a big way .
In addition to the EP , there ’ s also an ongoing comic series and a TikTok-style dance competition .
The band also got a new member through an elaborate reveal involving a virtual influencer .
Also of note : the 2020 edition of the World Championship is currently underway in Shanghai , with the finals slated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pudong Football Stadium .
The event is known for its striking opening ceremonies , which typically revolve around music ; the 2018 K-pop event was followed by a holographic hip-hop concert last year .
Given all of the recent announcements , it seems likely K/DA will be involved in this year ’ s event in some way — just in time to promote the album .

As promised, K/DA — the virtual K-pop group that’s part of the ever-expanding League of Legends universe — has its very first album on the way. Today, developer Riot revealed that the band’s first EP, titled All Out, will be out on November 6th. K/DA released its first single following a two-year hiatus back in August .
Also of note: the 2020 edition of the World Championship is currently underway in Shanghai, with the finals slated for October 31st at the newly opened Pudong Football Stadium. The event is known for its striking opening ceremonies, which typically revolve around music; the 2018 K-pop event was followed by a holographic hip-hop concert last year. Given all of the recent announcements, it seems likely K/DA will be involved in this year’s event in some way — just in time to promote the album.


theverge--2020-10-02--Nvidia delays RTX 3070 launch to October 29th

Nvidia has delayed the launch of its upcoming GeForce RTX 3070 graphics card so there ’ s more stock available on launch day .
Writing in a blog post , the company admitted that the news “ may be disappointing ” to some , but said that “ this shift will help our global partners get more graphics cards into the hands of gamers on launch day.
” The graphics card will now launch on October 29th , rather than October 15th .
The delay comes after Nvidia had to apologize for stock shortages after the release of the GeForce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The company said it was not prepared for the amount of demand for these new GPUs , which lead to the card selling out almost immediately .
Hopefully this means it will have enough RTX 3070 ’ s to satisfy demand at the end of October .
With a starting price of $ 499 , the GeForce RTX 3070 is the cheapest of the three Ampere-powered graphics cards Nvidia announced at the beginning of September alongside the RTX 3080 and RTX 3090 .
Nvidia says the RTX 3070 should match the performance of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and is an average of 60 percent faster than the RTX 2070 .

Nvidia has delayed the launch of its upcoming GeForce RTX 3070 graphics card so there’s more stock available on launch day. In a blog post, the company admitted that the news “may be disappointing” to some, but said, “this shift will help our global partners get more graphics cards into the hands of gamers on launch day.” The graphics card will now launch on October 29th, rather than October 15th.
The delay comes after Nvidia had to apologize for stock shortages after the release of the GeForce RTX 3080 graphics card last month. The company said it was not prepared for the amount of demand for these new GPUs, which led to the card selling out almost immediately. Hopefully this means it will have enough RTX 3070s to satisfy demand at the end of October.