theverge--2020-05-01--How to use your DSLR or mirrorless camera as a webcam

If you ’ ve been working from home for the past few weeks , you ’ ve probably had to join more than a few video conference calls .
Or perhaps you ’ ve been using video chat apps to keep in touch with friends and family while social distancing .
Either way , you ’ ve probably noticed that the webcam on your laptop is , well , crap .
It leads to blurry , pixelated video calls , and unflattering viewing angles .
There are a few ways to address this problem .
You could buy a proper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of those in stock .
You could repurpose an old smartphone and use that as a webcam , if you happen to have one lying around .
Either of those might be slightly better than your laptop ’ s webcam .
But if you really want to step up your video call game , you can actually use a DSLR or mirrorless camera as a webcam for your computer and have the best-looking video of anyone in your group chat .
A real camera is key to stepping up your video calling game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , this can be as simple as installing a piece of software and just using a USB cable to hook your camera to your computer .
If you have a relatively modern Canon camera and a Windows PC , there ’ s an app now available that lets you hook up the camera to your computer over standard USB and use it as a webcam .
There are software-only solutions for other cameras and for Macs as well , but they often involve “ virtual ” webcams created by software which some apps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sadly , Zoom ) .
The “ easiest ” method thus includes spending some money .
Most people will probably need some extra hardware that converts a camera ’ s HDMI output into a USB input .
These devices are called USB capture cards and generally run $ 100 or more .
Thanks to the global pandemic , they are also very difficult to find in stock .
But we ’ ve tested this IOGear model and it works well .
Unlike the popular Elgato Cam Link , the IOGear model is available @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
You will also need an HDMI cable that can plug into your camera , which likely means a Micro HDMI on the end that goes to your camera .
You can either get a full-length Micro HDMI cable or an adapter that converts the larger HDMI plug down to a Micro HDMI .
Once the camera is connected , you ’ ll want to enable “ clean HDMI ” output , which will get rid of all of the camera exposure information and give you an unobstructed video feed .
Depending on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by putting the camera in its video mode or toggling an option in a settings menu .
Consult your camera ’ s manual for the way to do it on your model .
In addition to the USB capture device or software for your computer , you ’ ll also want to have some way to mount your camera for video calls .
This can be as simple as a basic tripod , but if you ’ re looking to put the camera above a desktop monitor , like a traditional webcam , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There are mounts and clamps you can buy to affix the camera to your desk and bring it up to eye level , but you ’ re just going to have to figure out how to get it to work for your own situation .
I have been able to get a GorillaPod wrapped around my monitor arm to work , but it ’ s not the most elegant solution .
Finally , since using your camera as a webcam means it ’ s basically on and streaming video to your computer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to get an A/C adapter to power the camera instead of relying on its batteries .
Some cameras can be charged via USB-C battery banks and chargers , while others require special A/C adapters from the manufacturer .
You will also want to disable any automatic power shutoff features in the camera .
Consult your camera ’ s manual to see what you need .
Other things to be aware of : • Most webcams have wide-angle lenses , so it ’ s easy to stay in frame .
If you primarily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calls , you ’ ll want to use the widest lens you have for your DSLR or mirrorless camera , otherwise your video calls will be all face and you ’ ll constantly drift out of frame .
• You also should try to use the fastest lens you have available .
The lower the aperture ( the number after the f/ on your camera ’ s lens ) , the more blurred and pleasant your background will look .
You ’ ll want to be at least at f/2.8 , but if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s better .
I set my 16mm Fujifilm lens to its lowest aperture of f/1.4 for the best effect .
• Your camera likely has some sort of face detect autofocus , which you should enable .
That way if you shift your seat or move , it will just follow your face to stay in focus .
You will probably hear your lens refocusing as it keeps track of you , but odds are people on the other end of your video chats will not hear it .
• Keeping the camera @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your computer for long periods of time can make the parts in your camera hot , and in some instances , a camera might shut down if it overheats .
It ’ s smart to turn off your camera in between calls .
Once you have all of the parts , setting up the camera is as simple as plugging the cable into the side of the camera , plugging the other end into the capture card , and then plugging that into your computer and turning your camera on .
Both Windows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a webcam and it will be available as an option in Zoom , Google Meet , FaceTime , or whatever other software you use for video calls .
From there you can just bask in the glory of the image quality from your overpriced webcam .

If you’ve been working from home for the past few weeks, you’ve probably had to join more than a few video conference calls. Or perhaps you’ve been using video chat apps to keep in touch with friends and family while social distancing. Either way, you’ve probably noticed that the webcam on your laptop is, well, crap. It leads to blurry, pixelated video calls, and unflattering viewing angles.
There are a few ways to address this problem. You could buy a proper webcam, but good luck finding one of those in stock. You could repurpose an old smartphone and use that as a webcam, if you happen to have one lying around. Either of those might be slightly better than your laptop’s webcam.
But if you really want to step up your video call game, you can actually use a DSLR or mirrorless camera as a webcam for your computer and have the best-looking video of anyone in your group chat.
A real camera is key to stepping up your video calling game
Depending on your camera and your computer, this can be as simple as installing a piece of software and just using a USB cable to hook your camera to your computer. If you have a relatively modern Canon camera and a Windows PC, there’s an app now available that lets you hook up the camera to your computer over standard USB and use it as a webcam. There are software-only solutions for other cameras and for Macs as well, but they often involve “virtual” webcams created by software which some apps can’t use (including, sadly, Zoom).
The “easiest” method thus includes spending some money. Most people will probably need some extra hardware that converts a camera’s HDMI output into a USB input. These devices are called USB capture cards and generally run $100 or more. Thanks to the global pandemic, they are also very difficult to find in stock. But we’ve tested this IOGear model and it works well. Unlike the popular Elgato Cam Link, the IOGear model is available from B&H Photo right now.
IOGear HDMI to USB Type-C Video Capture Adapter / How to use your DSLR or mirrorless camera as a webcam $100 at B&H Photo
You will also need an HDMI cable that can plug into your camera, which likely means a Micro HDMI on the end that goes to your camera. You can either get a full-length Micro HDMI cable or an adapter that converts the larger HDMI plug down to a Micro HDMI. Once the camera is connected, you’ll want to enable “clean HDMI” output, which will get rid of all of the camera exposure information and give you an unobstructed video feed. Depending on your camera, this is either done by putting the camera in its video mode or toggling an option in a settings menu. Consult your camera’s manual for the way to do it on your model.
Pearstone HDD-106 High-Speed HDMI to Micro-HDMI Cable with Ethernet (6’) / How to use your DSLR or mirrorless camera as a webcam $8 at B&H Photo
Tilta HDMI-01-M HDMI to Micro-HDMI Adapter / How to use your DSLR or mirrorless camera as a webcam $10 at B&H Photo
In addition to the USB capture device or software for your computer, you’ll also want to have some way to mount your camera for video calls. This can be as simple as a basic tripod, but if you’re looking to put the camera above a desktop monitor, like a traditional webcam, things can get a bit more complicated. There are mounts and clamps you can buy to affix the camera to your desk and bring it up to eye level, but you’re just going to have to figure out how to get it to work for your own situation. I have been able to get a GorillaPod wrapped around my monitor arm to work, but it’s not the most elegant solution.
Finally, since using your camera as a webcam means it’s basically on and streaming video to your computer constantly, you’re going to want to get an A/C adapter to power the camera instead of relying on its batteries. Some cameras can be charged via USB-C battery banks and chargers, while others require special A/C adapters from the manufacturer. You will also want to disable any automatic power shutoff features in the camera. Consult your camera’s manual to see what you need.
Other things to be aware of:
Most webcams have wide-angle lenses, so it’s easy to stay in frame. If you primarily want to use this setup for video calls, you’ll want to use the widest lens you have for your DSLR or mirrorless camera, otherwise your video calls will be all face and you’ll constantly drift out of frame.
You also should try to use the fastest lens you have available. The lower the aperture (the number after the f/ on your camera’s lens), the more blurred and pleasant your background will look. You’ll want to be at least at f/2.8, but if you can go lower, that’s better. I set my 16mm Fujifilm lens to its lowest aperture of f/1.4 for the best effect.
Your camera likely has some sort of face detect autofocus, which you should enable. That way if you shift your seat or move, it will just follow your face to stay in focus. You will probably hear your lens refocusing as it keeps track of you, but odds are people on the other end of your video chats will not hear it.
Keeping the camera constantly on and feeding live video to your computer for long periods of time can make the parts in your camera hot, and in some instances, a camera might shut down if it overheats. It’s smart to turn off your camera in between calls.
On the left is an image from my laptop’s built-in 720p webcam. On the right is a shot taken with my Fujifilm mirrorless camera connected to my computer.


theverge--2020-05-01--Steam ends Mac support for SteamVR

Steam ends Mac support for SteamVR

Steam will no longer support SteamVR on macOS .
RIP !
It is the end of a very short era @ @ @ @ @ Apple computers way back in the mists of time — 2017 ’ s Worldwide Developers @ @ @ @ @ wrote then : “ Valve has been working with Apple on this since last summer @ @ @ @ @ level of technical and business confidence in Apple ’ s VR efforts.
” The move @ @ @ @ @ post on SteamVR ’ s news page , laid out in a single sentence : @ @ @ @ @ support so our team can focus on Windows and Linux.
” Mac users will still @ @ @ @ @ feature , however , via legacy builds .
One door closes , another will surely @ @ @ @

Steam will no longer support SteamVR on macOS. RIP! It is the end of a very short era. Steam introduced SteamVR for Apple computers way back in the mists of time — 2017’s Worldwide Developers Conference. As The Verge wrote then: “Valve has been working with Apple on this since last summer, which shows a high level of technical and business confidence in Apple’s VR efforts.”


theverge--2020-05-02--Thirsty koalas lick trees

Thirsty koalas lick trees

Koalas lick tree trunks to quench their thirst when it rains , scientists just learned .
It upends what biologists long thought about koalas : that they get almost all the water they need from the eucalyptus leaves they eat .
But koalas probably lap up water like many animals — except they do so from trees , according to the findings published today in the journal Ethology .
With fires , heat waves , and droughts putting more and more stress on the critters , scientists have been paying close attention to how koalas are keeping hydrated .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ koalas gain water in the wild .
It is very exciting , ” lead author of the Ethology paper and University of Sydney researcher Valentina Mella said in a statement .
The surprising discovery was made by enlisting the help of citizen scientists and independent ecologists who had observed the koalas ’ behavior in the wild between 2006 and 2019 .
One koala was caught lapping up rainwater for more than 30 minutes , at “ a steady pace ” of two licks per second .
Altogether , they documented 46 instances of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it rained .
Koalas were recorded drinking every time observations were made in the rain .
One of the reasons why scientists hadn ’ t noticed this before is because people are less likely to go out and look for them in bad weather , according to Mella .
The marsupials seem to prefer smooth parts of the trees where it ’ s easier to collect the trickling water .
Koalas are considered vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature , which keeps track of endangered species .
They were devastated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ late last year .
Nearly a third of all koalas were thought to have been wiped out in the state of New South Wales , which was the hardest hit by the fires .
The same hot and dry conditions that fueled the flames left koalas parched .
Photos and videos of koalas approaching people to drink went viral as the wildfires raged throughout Australia last year .
Even before the latest fires , Mella ’ s previous research found that climate change was leaving koalas thirsty .
In 2017 , koalas were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at artificial water stations set up by researchers — a very unusual behavior for animals that spend most of their lives in eucalyptus trees .
At the time , Mella and her colleagues thought the behavior was because hotter temperatures and changing rainfall patterns were drying up the leaves that koalas eat .
Now , she and her co-authors of the new paper think that less rainfall could be another , more direct factor leaving koalas with less rainwater to lap off of the tree trunks they call home .
Mella is currently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set up more drinking stations for koalas .
She hopes the drinking stations , which are placed in trees , will give the koalas a safe way to cool down even as the world around them continues to heat up .

Koalas lick tree trunks to quench their thirst when it rains, scientists just learned. It upends what biologists long thought about koalas: that they get almost all the water they need from the eucalyptus leaves they eat.
But koalas probably lap up water like many animals — except they do so from trees, according to the findings published today in the journal Ethology. With fires, heat waves, and droughts putting more and more stress on the critters, scientists have been paying close attention to how koalas are keeping hydrated.
“This significantly alters our understanding of how koalas gain water in the wild. It is very exciting,” lead author of the Ethology paper and University of Sydney researcher Valentina Mella said in a statement.
Image: University of Sydney
The surprising discovery was made by enlisting the help of citizen scientists and independent ecologists who had observed the koalas’ behavior in the wild between 2006 and 2019. One koala was caught lapping up rainwater for more than 30 minutes, at “a steady pace” of two licks per second. Altogether, they documented 46 instances of koalas drinking in trees during and after it rained. Koalas were recorded drinking every time observations were made in the rain. One of the reasons why scientists hadn’t noticed this before is because people are less likely to go out and look for them in bad weather, according to Mella. The marsupials seem to prefer smooth parts of the trees where it’s easier to collect the trickling water.
Koalas are considered vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, which keeps track of endangered species. They were devastated by massive bushfires that swept through Australia late last year. Nearly a third of all koalas were thought to have been wiped out in the state of New South Wales, which was the hardest hit by the fires.
The same hot and dry conditions that fueled the flames left koalas parched. Photos and videos of koalas approaching people to drink went viral as the wildfires raged throughout Australia last year.
Even before the latest fires, Mella’s previous research found that climate change was leaving koalas thirsty. In 2017, koalas were caught on camera standing up to drink at artificial water stations set up by researchers — a very unusual behavior for animals that spend most of their lives in eucalyptus trees.
A koala drinking from a bird bath Kate Wilson
At the time, Mella and her colleagues thought the behavior was because hotter temperatures and changing rainfall patterns were drying up the leaves that koalas eat. Now, she and her co-authors of the new paper think that less rainfall could be another, more direct factor leaving koalas with less rainwater to lap off of the tree trunks they call home.


theverge--2020-05-02--McConnell, Pelosi decline Trump administration offer of rapid coronavirus tests for Congress

In a joint statement on Saturday , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-CA ) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-KY ) declined President Trump ’ s offer to provide rapid coronavirus tests for members of Congress .
“ Congress is grateful for the Administration ’ s generous offer to deploy rapid COVID-19 testing capabilities to Capitol Hill , but we respectfully decline the offer at this time , ” the statement reads .
“ Our country ’ s testing capacities are continuing to scale up nationwide and Congress wants to keep directing resources to the front-line facilities where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most quickly.
” Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar tweeted late Friday that 1,000 tests and three rapid-results testing machines were available .
The president tweeted today that there was “ tremendous CoronaVirus testing capacity in Washington for the Senators ” who are due to report back to D.C. on Monday .
Dr. Brian Monahan , the attending physician on Capitol Hill , had told GOP officials Thursday that there was capacity only to test senators and staff who were sick , Politico reported .
Monahan ’ s office issued safety guidelines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t required to wear masks , but masks are recommended .
All Hill employees will be required to undergo daily health assessments and temperature checks .

In a joint statement on Saturday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) declined President Trump’s offer to provide rapid coronavirus tests for members of Congress.
“Congress is grateful for the Administration’s generous offer to deploy rapid COVID-19 testing capabilities to Capitol Hill, but we respectfully decline the offer at this time,” the statement reads. “Our country’s testing capacities are continuing to scale up nationwide and Congress wants to keep directing resources to the front-line facilities where they can do the most good the most quickly.”
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar tweeted late Friday that 1,000 tests and three rapid-results testing machines were available. The president tweeted today that there was “tremendous CoronaVirus testing capacity in Washington for the Senators” who are due to report back to D.C. on Monday.


theverge--2020-05-02--Sonos may finally be releasing a new Playbar

The Sonos Playbar may finally , at long last , be getting an upgrade , according to an image discovered @ @ @ @ @ Zatz Not Funny .
The renders don ’ t show a power outlet or HDMI @ @ @ @ @ may mean ports and any buttons are either recessed within the ledge or elsewhere along @ @ @ @ @ it may also mean the renders are just not fully illustrated ) .
Zatz ’ @ @ @ @ @ and white versions .
Sonos debuted the Playbar in 2013 , and there hasn ’ @ @ @ @ @ .
According to 9to5 Mac , the new Playbar will have support for Dolby Atmos @ @ @ @ @ AirPlay 2 support is likely as well .
Sonos may also be planning new versions @ @ @ @ @ and Sub subwoofer , 9to5 Mac reported , which Zatz says he ’ s confirmed @ @ @ @ @ announced details of its Sonos S2 operating system , due to be released in June @ @ @ @ @ will power “ the next generation ” of Sonos products and experiences .

The Sonos Playbar may finally, at long last, be getting an upgrade, according to an image discovered by Dave Zatz over at Zatz Not Funny. The renders don’t show a power outlet or HDMI ports, which Zatz speculates may mean ports and any buttons are either recessed within the ledge or elsewhere along the sound bar (although it may also mean the renders are just not fully illustrated). Zatz’s images show both black and white versions.


theverge--2020-05-02--Disney to donate $1 million from sales of its character-themed face masks to charity

Disney is selling non-medical face masks in the US featuring characters from across its multiverse , including Pixar , Marvel , and Star Wars , the company announced .
Disney will donate one million masks to to underserved communities via humanitarian aid organization MedShare , and all profits from the mask sales in the US through September 30th , up to $ 1 million , also will go to MedShare .
The masks , which include Anna and Elsa from Frozen ; Woody and Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story ; The Avengers ; R2D2 and Baby Yoda ( who Disney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in its release ) , are designed for the CDC ’ s recommendation that people wear cloth face coverings when out in public to prevent the spread of the coronavirus .
Disney said .
Cloth masks are not intended for use by medical professionals treating COVID-19 patients .
“ We realize this is a challenging time for families and wearing any type of mask can be daunting , ” Edward Park , senior vice president of Disney store and shopDisney said in a statement .
“ Our hope is that Disney ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most beloved characters will provide comfort to the families , fans and communities that are so important to us.
” The masks come in packs of four for $ 19.99 and are available for pre-order now in Disney ’ s online store , and come in various sizes , including children ’ s sizes .
According to the shopDisney site , the company expects the masks to be available by July 15th .
“ Disney ’ s donations will make a tremendous impact in the communities we serve , ” Charles Redding , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a statement .

Disney is selling non-medical face masks in the US featuring characters from across its multiverse, including Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars, the company announced. Disney will donate one million masks to to underserved communities via humanitarian aid organization MedShare, and all profits from the mask sales in the US through September 30th, up to $1 million, also will go to MedShare.
The masks, which include Anna and Elsa from Frozen; Woody and Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story; The Avengers; R2D2 and Baby Yoda (who Disney refers to as “the Child” in its release), are designed for the CDC’s recommendation that people wear cloth face coverings when out in public to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Disney said. Cloth masks are not intended for use by medical professionals treating COVID-19 patients.
Disney
“We realize this is a challenging time for families and wearing any type of mask can be daunting,” Edward Park, senior vice president of Disney store and shopDisney said in a statement. “Our hope is that Disney’s cloth face masks featuring some of our most beloved characters will provide comfort to the families, fans and communities that are so important to us.”
The masks come in packs of four for $19.99 and are available for pre-order now in Disney’s online store, and come in various sizes, including children’s sizes. According to the shopDisney site, the company expects the masks to be available by July 15th.


theverge--2020-05-02--Kickstarter union reaches agreement with management for laid-off workers

The union for Kickstarter employees reached an agreement with management on Friday which provides protections for laid-off workers , the union said in a press release .
The crowdfunding company announced in an internal memo April 20th it would likely seek layoffs , along with other cost-cutting measures .
CEO Aziz Hasan wrote in the memo that Kickstarter had seen a 35 percent drop in new crowdfunding projects on the site in the past several weeks , with “ no clear sign of rebound.
” Kickstarter United , the union that represents 60 percent of the company ’ s 140 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ months of severance pay for all laid-off employees , a release from any non-compete agreements for anyone who accepts severance , and recall rights for one year .
The company will continue healthcare coverage for any laid-off employees for up to six months , depending on salary .
Kickstarter spokesperson David Gallagher said in an email to The Verge on Saturday that the company was offering voluntary buyouts to union members , which includes the ability to opt out of health insurance coverage and receive partial payment instead .
“ We need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ride out this uncertainty so it can continue to support its mission , which is to help bring creative projects to life , ” Gallagher said .
He added that non-union employees were receiving a similar offer .
Once the company knows who is interested in a buyout it will be able to determine how many layoffs may be required , Gallagher said .
Kickstarter workers successfully voted to unionize in February .
They ’ re represented by the Office and Professional Employees International Union ( OPEIU ) .
Hasan said in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 1.27 million in after-tax profit last year , which has been reinvested back into the business .
He mentioned other cost-cutting measures besides layoffs , including a reduction in senior management salaries and not hiring for some vacant positions .
“ While we are disappointed with the layoffs announced by Kickstarter management , we are proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our entire union family in this multifaceted fight for our families ’ futures , and thankful for Kickstarter management ’ s willingness to negotiate a fair deal for their impacted employees , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Manager Richard Lanigan said in a statement .
The union said layoffs may include up to 45 percent of Kickstarter employees , but Gallagher said the company “ hasn ’ t made any statements about the potential scale of the layoffs.
” UPDATE May 2nd 10:45AM ET : Added comment from Kickstarter and statement from OPEIU representative .

The union for Kickstarter employees reached an agreement with management on Friday which provides protections for laid-off workers, the union said in a press release. The crowdfunding company announced in an internal memo April 20th it would likely seek layoffs, along with other cost-cutting measures. CEO Aziz Hasan wrote in the memo that Kickstarter had seen a 35 percent drop in new crowdfunding projects on the site in the past several weeks, with “no clear sign of rebound.”
Kickstarter United, the union that represents 60 percent of the company’s 140 employees, said the agreement includes four months of severance pay for all laid-off employees, a release from any non-compete agreements for anyone who accepts severance, and recall rights for one year. The company will continue healthcare coverage for any laid-off employees for up to six months, depending on salary.
Kickstarter spokesperson David Gallagher said in an email to The Verge on Saturday that the company was offering voluntary buyouts to union members, which includes the ability to opt out of health insurance coverage and receive partial payment instead.
“We need to put Kickstarter in a stronger position to ride out this uncertainty so it can continue to support its mission, which is to help bring creative projects to life,” Gallagher said. He added that non-union employees were receiving a similar offer. Once the company knows who is interested in a buyout it will be able to determine how many layoffs may be required, Gallagher said.
Kickstarter workers successfully voted to unionize in February. They’re represented by the Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU).
Hasan said in the April 20th memo that Kickstarter brought in $1.27 million in after-tax profit last year, which has been reinvested back into the business. He mentioned other cost-cutting measures besides layoffs, including a reduction in senior management salaries and not hiring for some vacant positions.
“While we are disappointed with the layoffs announced by Kickstarter management, we are proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our entire union family in this multifaceted fight for our families’ futures, and thankful for Kickstarter management’s willingness to negotiate a fair deal for their impacted employees,” OPEIU President and Local 153 Business Manager Richard Lanigan said in a statement.
The union said layoffs may include up to 45 percent of Kickstarter employees, but Gallagher said the company “hasn’t made any statements about the potential scale of the layoffs.”


theverge--2020-05-02--Fortnite hosted a Diplo concert in its new party mode

Fortnite ’ s new no-guns “ party royale ” mode just launched on Wednesday , and the new map played host to its first live concert Friday evening .
DJ and producer Diplo performed a live Major Lazer set , and actor and performer Jordan Fisher also made appearances before and after the show .
The concert was held at the big , music festival-like main stage on the east side of the island .
Because there are no weapons in the new mode , attendees didn ’ t have to worry about defending themselves , which , for me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the show .
If you missed the event on Friday , there ’ s an in-game rebroadcast scheduled for Saturday at 10AM ET , according to Epic Games .
You can also watch this full video of Diplo ’ s performance captured by GameSpot : Last week , Fortnite played host to multiple Travis Scott concerts , which my colleague Andrew Webster found to be surreal and spectacular .
The first show had 12.3 million concurrent participants , a record for a Fortnite live event , topping last year ’ s Marshmello concert @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Update May 2nd , 9:09AM ET : Made changes to reflect that the event took place since this article was originally posted , added a video of Diplo ’ s performance , and noted that a rebroadcast is scheduled for Saturday morning .

Fortnite’s new no-guns “party royale” mode just launched on Wednesday, and the new map played host to its first live concert Friday evening. DJ and producer Diplo performed a live Major Lazer set, and actor and performer Jordan Fisher also made appearances before and after the show.
The concert was held at the big, music festival-like main stage on the east side of the island. Because there are no weapons in the new mode, attendees didn’t have to worry about defending themselves, which, for me, made it easier to just enjoy the show.
If you missed the event on Friday, there’s an in-game rebroadcast scheduled for Saturday at 10AM ET, according to Epic Games. You can also watch this full video of Diplo’s performance captured by GameSpot:
Last week, Fortnite played host to multiple Travis Scott concerts, which my colleague Andrew Webster found to be surreal and spectacular. The first show had 12.3 million concurrent participants, a record for a Fortnite live event, topping last year’s Marshmello concert, which had 10.7 million attendees.


theverge--2020-05-02--7 new trailers you should watch this week

I finally caught up on the Amazon series Undone , which I ’ ve been wanting to watch since getting a glimpse of its wonderful rotoscoped style .
I think I complained in one of these columns recently that , upon rewatching A Scanner Darkly , I felt like its animation was underused , barely scratching the surface of what such a dark , trippy film could do with that dreamy style .
Undone gets it right .
The series does a wonderful job of using its dreamy look to tell a story where characters are constantly going in and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only to return to them later , mid-conversation .
It ’ s something that could easily be overdone , but the story keeps it all grounded , even as the visuals help to express just how disorienting and occasionally wonderful the feeling of slipping in and out of time can be .
And ultimately , the show ’ s characters are just so strong and colorful on their own that it ’ d be worth watching even if people weren ’ t constantly slipping through time and space .
The rotoscoped style could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gives the actors space to be even more expressive , as the scene focuses us on their eyes , mouth , or hands , making simple motions feel large and impactful .
Check out seven trailers from this week below .
J.J. Abrams and Jordan Peele are two of the executive producers behind this new HBO series , which basically boils down to : what if the Jim Crow South also had Lovecraftian monsters ?
It looks like a very cool blend of genres so far .
The show starts in August .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ confronts — and befriends — a man who stole two of her paintings in the documentary The Painter and the Thief .
It looks like a fascinating story , and it ’ s worth checking out the trailer just for a glimpse at the relationship the two build , particularly as she begins to paint a portrait of him .
The film comes out May 22nd .
It ’ s probably been over a decade since I ’ ve seen an episode of Reno 911 , but this revival of the show looks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ step from the ridiculous series I remember .
The show is coming to Quibi , which , alright fine .
It returns May 4th .
Amazon has a new season of Homecoming coming up , and this installment has Janelle Monáe in the lead , which seems like a solid reason to revisit the show .
The new season premieres May 22nd .
A year after ending the series , Netflix is bringing back Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt for a special episode to take advantage of its Choose Your Own Adventure-style ( TM ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 12th .
Hulu has a new animated comedy coming up from two of the producers behind Robot Chicken .
The comedy feels a little cheap , but I really like the animation style , which has the characters and world all looking like little woodblock toys .
The show premieres June 12th .
Here ’ s the first real look at Jerry Seinfeld ’ s new comedy special , his first in more than two decades .
There ’ s something very charming about seeing bits of Seinfeld ’ s routine — he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it feels a little like listening to a forgotten track on an old album you used to love .
The special comes to Netflix on May 5th .

I finally caught up on the Amazon series Undone, which I’ve been wanting to watch since getting a glimpse of its wonderful rotoscoped style. I think I complained in one of these columns recently that, upon rewatching A Scanner Darkly, I felt like its animation was underused, barely scratching the surface of what such a dark, trippy film could do with that dreamy style. Undone gets it right.
The series does a wonderful job of using its dreamy look to tell a story where characters are constantly going in and out of memories, leaving moments behind only to return to them later, mid-conversation. It’s something that could easily be overdone, but the story keeps it all grounded, even as the visuals help to express just how disorienting and occasionally wonderful the feeling of slipping in and out of time can be.
And ultimately, the show’s characters are just so strong and colorful on their own that it’d be worth watching even if people weren’t constantly slipping through time and space. The rotoscoped style could have distanced us, but instead it gives the actors space to be even more expressive, as the scene focuses us on their eyes, mouth, or hands, making simple motions feel large and impactful.
Check out seven trailers from this week below.
Lovecraft Country
J.J. Abrams and Jordan Peele are two of the executive producers behind this new HBO series, which basically boils down to: what if the Jim Crow South also had Lovecraftian monsters? It looks like a very cool blend of genres so far. The show starts in August.
The Painter and the Thief
A painter confronts — and befriends — a man who stole two of her paintings in the documentary The Painter and the Thief. It looks like a fascinating story, and it’s worth checking out the trailer just for a glimpse at the relationship the two build, particularly as she begins to paint a portrait of him. The film comes out May 22nd.
Reno 911
It’s probably been over a decade since I’ve seen an episode of Reno 911, but this revival of the show looks like it hasn’t lost a step from the ridiculous series I remember. The show is coming to Quibi, which, alright fine. It returns May 4th.
Homecoming
Amazon has a new season of Homecoming coming up, and this installment has Janelle Monáe in the lead, which seems like a solid reason to revisit the show. The new season premieres May 22nd.
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
A year after ending the series, Netflix is bringing back Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt for a special episode to take advantage of its Choose Your Own Adventure-style (TM?) tech. The revival arrives May 12th.
Crossing Swords
Hulu has a new animated comedy coming up from two of the producers behind Robot Chicken. The comedy feels a little cheap, but I really like the animation style, which has the characters and world all looking like little woodblock toys. The show premieres June 12th.
Jerry Seinfeld: 23 Hours to Kill


theverge--2020-05-03--Activist investor hedge fund reportedly financing Eko lawsuit against Quibi over Turnstyle feature

Hedge fund Elliott Management Corp. is financing Eko ’ s patent lawsuit against streaming service Quibi , The Wall Street Journal reports .
Eko ’ s suit claims that Quibi stole trade secrets and that its “ Turnstyle ” feature violates Eko ’ s patents .
Turnstyle allows Quibi videos to play differently depending on the orientation —vertical or horizontal— of the viewer ’ s phone , switching in real time .
Eko wants Quibi to stop using its technology or license it and is suing for a preliminary injunction and damages .
As part of the financing arrangement , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Eko , according to the WSJ , though it ’ s not clear how much money is involved .
Quibi , the mobile video app that launched last month , raised nearly $ 2 billion to produce “ quick bite ” shows that last a max of 10 minutes .
It filed a lawsuit against Eko a day before Eko filed its suit , asking a court to find that Turnstyle doesn ’ t infringe Eko ’ s patent .
Quibi told The Verge in March that Turnstyle was its patented technology and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without merit.
” Elliott Management and Quibi did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Sunday .
An Eko spokesperson declined to comment .
Elliott Management is known for aggressive investor activism , backed by more than $ 40 billion in capital .
The group was behind a recent push to replace Jack Dorsey as CEO of Twitter .
The two sides reached an agreement in March that allowed Dorsey to remain as CEO but gave Elliott executive Jesse Cohn a seat on Twitter ’ s board , and a seat on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CEO succession plan for Twitter .
Elliott also acquired a stake in AT & T in 2019 , writing in a letter that the telco “ suffered from operational and execution issues over the past decade , for which the current leadership team is accountable.
” But it supported the recent appointment of AT & T COO John Stankey to CEO , according to CNBC .
UPDATE : May 3rd 6:40PM ET : Added information about Elliott ’ s role at AT & T UPDATE May 3rd 7:06 PM ET : Added that @ @ @ @ @

Hedge fund Elliott Management Corp. is financing Eko’s patent lawsuit against streaming service Quibi, The Wall Street Journal reports. Eko’s suit claims that Quibi stole trade secrets and that its “Turnstyle” feature violates Eko’s patents. Turnstyle allows Quibi videos to play differently depending on the orientation —vertical or horizontal— of the viewer’s phone, switching in real time.
Eko wants Quibi to stop using its technology or license it and is suing for a preliminary injunction and damages. As part of the financing arrangement, Elliott would get an equity stake in Eko, according to the WSJ, though it’s not clear how much money is involved.
Quibi, the mobile video app that launched last month, raised nearly $2 billion to produce “quick bite” shows that last a max of 10 minutes. It filed a lawsuit against Eko a day before Eko filed its suit, asking a court to find that Turnstyle doesn’t infringe Eko’s patent. Quibi told The Verge in March that Turnstyle was its patented technology and that Eko’s claims were “without merit.”
A Quibi spokesperson reiterated its stance in a statement emailed to The Verge late Sunday. “As we made clear in our filing, Quibi’s patented Turnstyle feature is the result of the work from our talented engineering team,” the spokesperson said. “When a new product launches, these types of claims are unfortunately too common. Eko’s actions and complaints remain meritless.”
Elliott Management did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Sunday. An Eko spokesperson declined to comment.
Elliott Management is known for aggressive investor activism, backed by more than $40 billion in capital. The group was behind a recent push to replace Jack Dorsey as CEO of Twitter. The two sides reached an agreement in March that allowed Dorsey to remain as CEO but gave Elliott executive Jesse Cohn a seat on Twitter’s board, and a seat on a board committee tasked with evaluating a CEO succession plan for Twitter. Elliott also acquired a stake in AT&T in 2019, writing in a letter that the telco “suffered from operational and execution issues over the past decade, for which the current leadership team is accountable.” But it supported the recent appointment of AT&T COO John Stankey to CEO, according to CNBC.
(Disclosure: Vox Media, which owns The Verge, has a deal with Quibi to produce a Polygon Daily Essential, and there have been talks about a Verge show.)
UPDATE: May 3rd 6:40PM ET: Added information about Elliott’s role at AT&T
UPDATE May 3rd 7:06 PM ET: Added that Eko declined to comment.


theverge--2020-05-03--Uber plans to require its drivers and passengers in the US to wear face coverings

Uber is planning to implement a new policy in the coming weeks requiring drivers and riders in the US and certain other countries to wear face masks or coverings , a company spokesperson confirmed on Sunday .
As first reported by CNN Business , the ride-hailing company also is developing technology to detect whether its drivers are wearing face coverings before they begin accepting passenger trips .
In a statement emailed to The Verge , the spokesperson said Uber is shipping safety supplies to its drivers providing “ essential trips , ” and encouraging riders to stay home if they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Uber is focused on safety and proceeding with caution , ” the spokesperson said .
“ Our teams are preparing for the next phase of recovery , where we will all have a role to play .
We ’ ll communicate updates directly to users when ready , but in the meantime , we continue to urge all riders and drivers to wear masks or face coverings when using Uber.
” Uber already requires drivers to take occasional selfies as part of its Real-Time ID Check feature , which it introduced in 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what the company has on file to ensure they match .
Widespread stay-at-home orders due to the coronavirus pandemic have hit Uber ’ s ride-hailing segment hard .
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi told investors on a call in March that it has seen gross bookings in most major cities where it operates decline by as much as 70 percent .
An uptick in its Uber Eats food delivery business has not made up for the losses on the ride-hailing side .
The Information reported late last month that Uber is considering layoffs of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but the company has not commented on whether layoffs are imminent .

Uber is planning to implement a new policy in the coming weeks requiring drivers and riders in the US and certain other countries to wear face masks or coverings, a company spokesperson confirmed on Sunday. As first reported by CNN Business, the ride-hailing company also is developing technology to detect whether its drivers are wearing face coverings before they begin accepting passenger trips.
In a statement emailed to The Verge, the spokesperson said Uber is shipping safety supplies to its drivers providing “essential trips,” and encouraging riders to stay home if they can.
“As countries reopen, Uber is focused on safety and proceeding with caution,” the spokesperson said. “Our teams are preparing for the next phase of recovery, where we will all have a role to play. We’ll communicate updates directly to users when ready, but in the meantime, we continue to urge all riders and drivers to wear masks or face coverings when using Uber.”
Uber already requires drivers to take occasional selfies as part of its Real-Time ID Check feature, which it introduced in 2016. It compares the selfie photo with what the company has on file to ensure they match.
Widespread stay-at-home orders due to the coronavirus pandemic have hit Uber’s ride-hailing segment hard. Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi told investors on a call in March that it has seen gross bookings in most major cities where it operates decline by as much as 70 percent. An uptick in its Uber Eats food delivery business has not made up for the losses on the ride-hailing side.


theverge--2020-05-03--The murder hornet is the 2020 B-plot you probably didn’t see coming

As The Verge ’ s weekend editor , I endeavor to find a good mix of stories for our Saturday and Sunday site visitors , balancing news about tech and policy with the latest about the coronavirus and its impact , along with other news of the day .
Some days the news is upbeat and interesting and then other days the writers of the script for 2020 : The Horror Show throw in a murder hornet plot twist because a pandemic is apparently not terrifying enough without two-inch hornets that rip the heads off of honeybees .
The New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Asian giant hornet , which has recently arrived in the US , to the dismay of entomologists .
With queens that can grow to two inches long , Asian giant hornets can use mandibles shaped like spiked shark fins to wipe out a honeybee hive in a matter of hours , decapitating the bees and flying away with the thoraxes to feed their young .
For larger targets , the hornet ’ s potent venom and stinger — long enough to puncture a beekeeping suit — make for an excruciating combination that victims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their skin .
Asian giant hornets can fly at speeds up to 20 miles per hour and their stings are described as feeling like “ red hot thumbtacks.
” Fun !
For the sake of comparison : According to the Times , the US arrival of these hornets ( scientific name : Vespa mandarina ) , is particularly troubling not only because their stings hurt like hell and they ’ re terrifying to look at , but because of their potential impact on the US honeybee population , which already is in decline @ @ @ @ @ @ @ full-scale hunt for the hornets , worried that the invaders could decimate bee populations in the United States and establish such a deep presence that all hope for eradication could be lost .
Read all about the murder hornet in the New York Times , but be warned that it will be very hard to eradicate the images from your brain .

As The Verge’s weekend editor, I endeavor to find a good mix of stories for our Saturday and Sunday site visitors, balancing news about tech and policy with the latest about the coronavirus and its impact, along with other news of the day. Some days the news is upbeat and interesting and then other days the writers of the script for 2020: The Horror Show throw in a murder hornet plot twist because a pandemic is apparently not terrifying enough without two-inch hornets that rip the heads off of honeybees.
The New York Times has the story of the Asian giant hornet, which has recently arrived in the US, to the dismay of entomologists.
With queens that can grow to two inches long, Asian giant hornets can use mandibles shaped like spiked shark fins to wipe out a honeybee hive in a matter of hours, decapitating the bees and flying away with the thoraxes to feed their young. For larger targets, the hornet’s potent venom and stinger — long enough to puncture a beekeeping suit — make for an excruciating combination that victims have likened to hot metal driving into their skin.
Asian giant hornets can fly at speeds up to 20 miles per hour and their stings are described as feeling like “red hot thumbtacks.” Fun!
For the sake of comparison:
Washington State Department of Agriculture
According to the Times, the US arrival of these hornets (scientific name: Vespa mandarina), is particularly troubling not only because their stings hurt like hell and they’re terrifying to look at, but because of their potential impact on the US honeybee population, which already is in decline.
Scientists have since embarked on a full-scale hunt for the hornets, worried that the invaders could decimate bee populations in the United States and establish such a deep presence that all hope for eradication could be lost.
Read all about the murder hornet in the New York Times, but be warned that it will be very hard to eradicate the images from your brain.


theverge--2020-05-04--The new HP Omen 27i has lights that help you easily access its ports

There isn ’ t much about the new HP Omen 27i that I haven ’ t seen before in a gaming monitor , but it ’ s packed full of specs that HP hasn ’ t offered until now .
The 27-inch QHD ( 2560 x 1440 ) nano IPS display offers far better color accuracy and contrast than the TN panels used in many of HP ’ s previous gaming monitors .
HP sourced this 16:9 aspect ratio display from LG ( it ’ s likely very similar to this LG model ) .
It features 98 percent of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refresh rate , and 1ms response time .
It also has Nvidia G-Sync compatibility , so you ’ ll be able to get smoother visual fidelity if you use it with a PC that has an Nvidia GTX 10-series card or greater .
That ’ s all great .
However , my favorite addition to the Omen 27i isn ’ t the screen itself , but the lighting on the back of the monitor .
Near where the monitor meets the articulating stand ( it ’ s VESA-compatible , if you want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a section that houses a light which illuminates the ports .
The lineup of ports ( which includes DisplayPort 1.2 , HDMI 2.0 , two USB 3.0 ports for connecting accessories , and another USB 3.0 port for routing data and power back to your PC ) is mounted diagonally , making them easy to reach and see .
Adding a light to that makes plugging cables in even easier .
Granted , you ’ ll rarely need to mess with the ports once you ’ ve gotten the display set up , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rue the day you need to switch something out .
A USB-C port for video ( or , at the very least , charging devices ) would have been welcome , but otherwise this seems to be a well-rounded upgrade , especially if you ’ ve only had a 1080p TN panel before .
The Omen 27i is available starting today at HP.com and Best Buy for $ 499.99 .

There isn’t much about the new HP Omen 27i that I haven’t seen before in a gaming monitor, but it’s packed full of specs that HP hasn’t offered until now. The 27-inch QHD (2560 x 1440) nano IPS display offers far better color accuracy and contrast than the TN panels used in many of HP’s previous gaming monitors.
HP sourced this 16:9 aspect ratio display from LG (it’s likely very similar to this LG model). It features 98 percent of the DCI-P3 color gamut, a 165Hz refresh rate, and 1ms response time. It also has Nvidia G-Sync compatibility, so you’ll be able to get smoother visual fidelity if you use it with a PC that has an Nvidia GTX 10-series card or greater.
HP fit all of the ports on the diagonal edges of the diamond-shaped base. HP
That’s all great. However, my favorite addition to the Omen 27i isn’t the screen itself, but the lighting on the back of the monitor. Near where the monitor meets the articulating stand (it’s VESA-compatible, if you want to mount it instead), HP built a section that houses a light which illuminates the ports. The lineup of ports (which includes DisplayPort 1.2, HDMI 2.0, two USB 3.0 ports for connecting accessories, and another USB 3.0 port for routing data and power back to your PC) is mounted diagonally, making them easy to reach and see. Adding a light to that makes plugging cables in even easier. Granted, you’ll rarely need to mess with the ports once you’ve gotten the display set up, but with most monitors, you usually rue the day you need to switch something out.
A USB-C port for video (or, at the very least, charging devices) would have been welcome, but otherwise this seems to be a well-rounded upgrade, especially if you’ve only had a 1080p TN panel before.


theverge--2020-05-04--HP’s new Omen gaming desktops get a glow up

HP has debuted a fresh lineup of Omen desktops , the 25L and 30L , with improved specs and a clean new design that ditches the edgy gamer aesthetic for something a little more refined .
Compared to HP ’ s older Omen desktop designs — particularly , one we ’ ll refer to as the Death Cube — the new design is far less divisive and a lot more elegant .
It got rid of the flashy , old logo and simplified the look of the chassis .
Sure , you can set the LEDs to display whichever color @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , even that looks more subtle than HP ’ s past approach to desktop design .
Aesthetics aside , these machines should be better at staying cool , as HP made the case ’ s feet nearly four times taller to allow for better airflow .
The two new 2020 desktops are simply named after how many liters in capacity there are inside of each one — admittedly a strange way to delineate the models .
They ’ re each stark black , though spending more will get you a few design tweaks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and an illuminated front chassis fan .
The lineup starts at $ 899.99 for the HP Omen 25L , though it will get more costly if you want to improve on the default specifications .
Those specs include the Intel Core i5-10400 or the AMD Ryzen 5-3500 processors to start .
For graphics , it has the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 or the AMD Radeon RX 5500 .
This machine has 8GB of HyperX Fury DDR4-3200MHz RAM , a 256GB WD Black M.2 NVMe SSD , and a 500W Cooler Master Bronze power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bring more component makers into the fold for its new desktop builds ) .
Those are all decent specs if you ’ re willing to settle on playing the most demanding PC games on medium graphical settings , but you ’ ll need more GPU power , more RAM , and more storage ( along with a more powerful power supply , in most cases ) to play the latest and upcoming games at their highest settings .
If you want a bigger case and better specs without tweaking the default configuration , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your speed .
It starts at $ 1,199.99 , and for that price it features AMD ’ s Ryzen 5-3600 processor , the AMD Radeon RX 5700XT GPU ; and it matches the RAM , storage , and power supply specs from the base 25L model .
Opting for an Intel Core i5-10600K processor and Nvidia ’ s GeForce GTX 1660 Ti graphics card bumps the price up to $ 1,299.99 , though the build is otherwise exactly the same .
HP also supports the Ryzen 7-3700X processor for the Omen 30L , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ AMD CPU .
There ’ s also a high-end Omen 30L configuration that costs $ 1,999.99 .
It features Intel ’ s Core i7-10700K processor and Nvidia ’ s GeForce RTX 2080 Super graphics card , along with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD storage .
The power supply also gets a boost over what ’ s available in the $ 1,199 model to Cooler Master ’ s 750W Platinum model .
Both sizes of HP ’ s latest Omen desktops will be available starting tomorrow , May 5th , from HP @ @

HP has debuted a fresh lineup of Omen desktops, the 25L and 30L, with improved specs and a clean new design that ditches the edgy gamer aesthetic for something a little more refined. Compared to HP’s older Omen desktop designs — particularly, one we’ll refer to as the Death Cube — the new design is far less divisive and a lot more elegant.
It got rid of the flashy, old logo and simplified the look of the chassis. Sure, you can set the LEDs to display whichever color you’d like, but importantly, even that looks more subtle than HP’s past approach to desktop design. Aesthetics aside, these machines should be better at staying cool, as HP made the case’s feet nearly four times taller to allow for better airflow.
The two new 2020 desktops are simply named after how many liters in capacity there are inside of each one — admittedly a strange way to delineate the models. They’re each stark black, though spending more will get you a few design tweaks like glass siding to expose internal lighting and an illuminated front chassis fan.
The lineup starts at $899.99 for the HP Omen 25L, though it will get more costly if you want to improve on the default specifications. Those specs include the Intel Core i5-10400 or the AMD Ryzen 5-3500 processors to start. For graphics, it has the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 or the AMD Radeon RX 5500. This machine has 8GB of HyperX Fury DDR4-3200MHz RAM, a 256GB WD Black M.2 NVMe SSD, and a 500W Cooler Master Bronze power supply (HP is clearly trying to bring more component makers into the fold for its new desktop builds).
Those are all decent specs if you’re willing to settle on playing the most demanding PC games on medium graphical settings, but you’ll need more GPU power, more RAM, and more storage (along with a more powerful power supply, in most cases) to play the latest and upcoming games at their highest settings.
The inside of the 30L, and a glance at the top-mounted port panel. HP
If you want a bigger case and better specs without tweaking the default configuration, the HP Omen 30L might be more your speed. It starts at $1,199.99, and for that price it features AMD’s Ryzen 5-3600 processor, the AMD Radeon RX 5700XT GPU; and it matches the RAM, storage, and power supply specs from the base 25L model. Opting for an Intel Core i5-10600K processor and Nvidia’s GeForce GTX 1660 Ti graphics card bumps the price up to $1,299.99, though the build is otherwise exactly the same. HP also supports the Ryzen 7-3700X processor for the Omen 30L, if you’d rather have an AMD CPU.
There’s also a high-end Omen 30L configuration that costs $1,999.99. It features Intel’s Core i7-10700K processor and Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 2080 Super graphics card, along with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD storage. The power supply also gets a boost over what’s available in the $1,199 model to Cooler Master’s 750W Platinum model.
Both sizes of HP’s latest Omen desktops will be available starting tomorrow, May 5th, from HP directly.
HP Omen 25L Gaming Desktop / Specs include the Intel Core i5-10400 or the AMD Ryzen 5-3500 processors to start. For graphics, it has the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 or the AMD Radeon RX 5500. From $900 at HP


theverge--2020-05-04--This brilliant data visualization explains Jeff Bezos’ staggering wealth one pixel at a time

Jeff Bezos is rich .
This much we know to be true .
But exactly how rich he is , and how his wealth compares to the 7.594 billion people in the world ( minus one ) who aren ’ t Jeff Bezos is difficult to fathom .
Trying to comprehend it usually involves one of those descriptions of eternity where a bird sharpens its beak on a mountain every thousand years until the rock is worn away , except in this case the mountain is made of money and the scratches represent the average annual income of an American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ better way : take a scroll through this amazing data visualization of Bezos ’ wealth in which every pixel represents $ 1,000 .
Trust me , you ’ ll get tired of scrolling before you get even a third of the way through Bezos ’ $ 139 billion net worth .
And after that you ’ ve got to get through the $ 2.96 trillion that ’ s owned by the 400 richest Americans .
( Tip : try opening the link on your phone if you can ’ t scroll sideways on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is sobering , to say the least .
We all know that there are some stupidly rich people in the world and Bezos is one of them , but it ’ s difficult for us to intuitively understand just how big these big numbers are .
The experience reminded me of that amazing quote from Douglas Adams ’ The Hitchhiker ’ s Guide to the Galaxy : “ Space is big .
You just won ’ t believe how vastly , hugely , mind-bogglingly big it is .
I mean , you may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down the road to the chemist ’ s , but that ’ s just peanuts to space.
” And your lifetime earnings are peanuts compared to Bezos ’ net worth .
As was demonstrated earlier this year when he bought the most expensive house in LA for an eight of a percent of his wealth .
If you earn $ 60,000 a year that ’ s like spending $ 75 on a house .
This visualization , made by web developer Matt Korostoff , isn ’ t the first we ’ ve seen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inequality of the modern era into the realm of the comprehensible , but it is one of the simplest and therefore the most eloquent .
It also includes the notable fact that the 400 richest Americans , who own $ 2.96 trillion , or more than the poorest 60 percent of the country , could comfortably fit on a single 747 airplane .
As noted in the long scroll itself , this isn ’ t an idle exercise , either : most Americans want a more equal distribution of wealth than currently exists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how rich the rich really are .
Data visualizations like this , which also show how the wealth of the 0.001 percent could address many of the world ’ s most pressing humanitarian challenges , are tools that help bridge that mental divide .
And leave us , most likely , with more questions than we started with .
Just how rich is Jeff Bezos , and do you think he deserves it ?

Jeff Bezos is rich. This much we know to be true. But exactly how rich he is, and how his wealth compares to the 7.594 billion people in the world (minus one) who aren’t Jeff Bezos is difficult to fathom. Trying to comprehend it usually involves one of those descriptions of eternity where a bird sharpens its beak on a mountain every thousand years until the rock is worn away, except in this case the mountain is made of money and the scratches represent the average annual income of an American worker.
But here’s a better way: take a scroll through this amazing data visualization of Bezos’ wealth in which every pixel represents $1,000. Trust me, you’ll get tired of scrolling before you get even a third of the way through Bezos’ $139 billion net worth. And after that you’ve got to get through the $2.96 trillion that’s owned by the 400 richest Americans. (Tip: try opening the link on your phone if you can’t scroll sideways on your desktop.)
The whole experience is sobering, to say the least. We all know that there are some stupidly rich people in the world and Bezos is one of them, but it’s difficult for us to intuitively understand just how big these big numbers are. The experience reminded me of that amazing quote from Douglas Adams’ The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy: “Space is big. You just won’t believe how vastly, hugely, mind-bogglingly big it is. I mean, you may think it’s a long way down the road to the chemist’s, but that’s just peanuts to space.”
And your lifetime earnings are peanuts compared to Bezos’ net worth. As was demonstrated earlier this year when he bought the most expensive house in LA for an eight of a percent of his wealth. If you earn $60,000 a year that’s like spending $75 on a house.
This visualization, made by web developer Matt Korostoff, isn’t the first we’ve seen that tries to bring the extreme wealth inequality of the modern era into the realm of the comprehensible, but it is one of the simplest and therefore the most eloquent. It also includes the notable fact that the 400 richest Americans, who own $2.96 trillion, or more than the poorest 60 percent of the country, could comfortably fit on a single 747 airplane.


theverge--2020-05-04--Tumblr will now remove all reblogs of posts that violate its hate speech policy

Tumblr on Monday announced an update to its hate speech policy , announcing on its blog that it would start cutting down on the reach of posts considered hate speech by removing all reblogs of terminated content .
Tumblr says it ’ s specifically targeting speech from Nazis and other white supremacist groups , which it says still be amplified on its platform through reblogs even after the original post was removed for violating its hate speech policies .
“ Many of you have called on us to further reevaluate how we deal with hate speech , particularly hate speech @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Today we ’ re letting you know that we heard you , and we are taking further action , ” Tumblr , which is now owned by WordPress creator Automattic , writes .
“ In our own research , and from your helpful reports , we found that much of the existing hate speech stemmed from blogs that have actually already been terminated .
While their original posts were deleted upon blog termination , the content of those posts still lived on in reblogs.
” Tumblr says reblogs “ rarely contained counter-speech @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tumblr says that while not all reblogs were amplifying the message and some were in fact dedicated to debunking it or arguing against it , but that the reblogs “ rarely contained the kind of counter-speech that serves to keep hateful rhetoric in check.
” Now , Tumblr says it will go through terminated posts , with a focus on posts propagating Nazi viewpoints and other white supremacist ideology , to remove all associated reblogs .
Tumblr says in the last week alone , it removed 4.47 million reblogs as part of this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will evaluate all blogs suspended for hate speech , and consider mass reblog deletion when appropriate , ” the post reads .
Tumblr says it recognizes the effect this might have on educational and social justice-related arguments .
“ We wouldn ’ t make a change like this without considering the impact to your freedom of expression .
We do not want to silence those who are providing educational and necessary counter-arguments to hate speech , ” the blog reads .
Tumblr says it reviewed its approach with a variety of outside groups @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with their recommended best practices.
” “ There ’ s no silver bullet solution , AI , or algorithm that can perfectly target hate speech .
That ’ s why we have a dedicated Trust & Safety team , and why we have an easy way for you to report any hate speech you do see , ” the company says .
Tumblr ’ s approach to moderation has landed in hot water with its community in the past , most prominently when the platform banned all pornographic and other forms of adult @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Verizon .
The site suffered a steep drop in web traffic as users ditched the platform in large numbers .
Automattic maintained the ban when it purchased Tumblr in August of last year .

Tumblr on Monday announced an update to its hate speech policy, announcing on its blog that it would start cutting down on the reach of posts considered hate speech by removing all reblogs of terminated content. Tumblr says it’s specifically targeting speech from Nazis and other white supremacist groups, which it says still be amplified on its platform through reblogs even after the original post was removed for violating its hate speech policies.
“Many of you have called on us to further reevaluate how we deal with hate speech, particularly hate speech from Nazis or other white supremacist groups. Today we’re letting you know that we heard you, and we are taking further action,” Tumblr, which is now owned by WordPress creator Automattic, writes. “In our own research, and from your helpful reports, we found that much of the existing hate speech stemmed from blogs that have actually already been terminated. While their original posts were deleted upon blog termination, the content of those posts still lived on in reblogs.”
Tumblr says reblogs “rarely contained counter-speech to keep hateful rhetoric in check”
Tumblr says that while not all reblogs were amplifying the message and some were in fact dedicated to debunking it or arguing against it, but that the reblogs “rarely contained the kind of counter-speech that serves to keep hateful rhetoric in check.”
Now, Tumblr says it will go through terminated posts, with a focus on posts propagating Nazi viewpoints and other white supremacist ideology, to remove all associated reblogs. Tumblr says in the last week alone, it removed 4.47 million reblogs as part of this process. “Moving forward, we will evaluate all blogs suspended for hate speech, and consider mass reblog deletion when appropriate,” the post reads.
Tumblr says it recognizes the effect this might have on educational and social justice-related arguments. “We wouldn’t make a change like this without considering the impact to your freedom of expression. We do not want to silence those who are providing educational and necessary counter-arguments to hate speech,” the blog reads. Tumblr says it reviewed its approach with a variety of outside groups to “make sure we have aligned with their recommended best practices.”
“There’s no silver bullet solution, AI, or algorithm that can perfectly target hate speech. That’s why we have a dedicated Trust & Safety team, and why we have an easy way for you to report any hate speech you do see,” the company says.


theverge--2020-05-04--Samsung’s QLED-display Galaxy Book laptops are now available

Samsung ’ s new Galaxy Book laptops are now available for purchase in the United States .
All three laptops — the Galaxy Book Flex , Flex Alpha , and Ion — are equipped with the latest 10th Gen chips from Intel .
The Flex and Ion are also certified as part of Intel ’ s Project Athena program .
That means if you purchase one of these two models , you should get up to nine hours of battery life , which is ideal if you are a professional working from home or a college student ( who will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) .
You can read first impressions of the laptops from The Verge ’ s Chaim Gartenberg when he checked them out last October .
The trackpads on the Galaxy Book Flex and Ion double as wireless chargers The Galaxy Book Flex and Ion were announced back in October , but Samsung did not give a release date outside of “ early 2020.
” Samsung announced another laptop in the Galaxy Book series , the Galaxy Flex Alpha , at CES 2020 .
The Flex Alpha is meant for those looking at Samsung @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a less expensive price range .
The lineup includes some intriguing features : they are the first Samsung laptops to use a QLED display , which is the same display technology that the company uses in its high-end flat-screen TVs .
Alongside new screen display tech , the Galaxy Book Flex and Ion include a neat feature that lets your trackpad double as a wireless charger .
However , the trackpad is unavailable if it ’ s being used for wireless charging , so its usefulness is limited unless you have an external @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at $ 849.99 but can go up to $ 999.99 if you upgrade your internal memory and processor .
The Galaxy Book Ion starts at $ 1,199.99 for a 13.3-inch model , and its 15.6-inch model sells for $ 1,299.99 .
The Galaxy Book Flex is priced at $ 1,349.99 for the 13.3-inch model and 1,399.99 for the 15.6-inch version .

Samsung’s new Galaxy Book laptops are now available for purchase in the United States.
All three laptops — the Galaxy Book Flex, Flex Alpha, and Ion — are equipped with the latest 10th Gen chips from Intel. The Flex and Ion are also certified as part of Intel’s Project Athena program. That means if you purchase one of these two models, you should get up to nine hours of battery life, which is ideal if you are a professional working from home or a college student (who will, eventually, be on the go). You can read first impressions of the laptops from The Verge’s Chaim Gartenberg when he checked them out last October.
The trackpads on the Galaxy Book Flex and Ion double as wireless chargers
The Galaxy Book Flex and Ion were announced back in October, but Samsung did not give a release date outside of “early 2020.” Samsung announced another laptop in the Galaxy Book series, the Galaxy Flex Alpha, at CES 2020. The Flex Alpha is meant for those looking at Samsung’s 2-in-1 laptop line who want a less expensive price range.
The lineup includes some intriguing features: they are the first Samsung laptops to use a QLED display, which is the same display technology that the company uses in its high-end flat-screen TVs.
Alongside new screen display tech, the Galaxy Book Flex and Ion include a neat feature that lets your trackpad double as a wireless charger. However, the trackpad is unavailable if it’s being used for wireless charging, so its usefulness is limited unless you have an external mouse.


theverge--2020-05-04--Verizon’s version of the OnePlus 8 won’t work with cases for other models of the phone

Verizon has its own exclusive version of the OnePlus 8 , the “ OnePlus 8 5G UW , ” designed specifically for its network with additional mmWave radio features to support Verizon ’ s 5G network ( which only operates in the mmWave band ) .
But as discovered by Reddit user /u/bud-dho , the changes to the phone to fit the additional radio technology mean that the Verizon version has its volume buttons moved lower than the unlocked and T-Mobile models , so standard OnePlus 8 cases won ’ t fit ( via 9to5Google ) .
An analysis from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two variants makes the issue clear : the Verizon model has several extra mmWave modules , one of which is directly located where the volume switches are .
It likely won ’ t affect all cases — ones with cutouts for the volume buttons can probably just feature larger cutouts , but it may take some time before case makers catch on , and cases that completely cover the buttons won ’ t work .
The problem is that most cases for the OnePlus 8 on sites like Amazon are designed for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s specific variant .
If you want a case that ’ ll fit your OnePlus 8 5G UW properly , odds are you ’ ll have to get it from Verizon directly , where cases tend to be more expensive and the selection more limited .
The moved buttons aren ’ t the only difference on the Verizon model — it ’ s also rated for IP68 water resistance ( as is the T-Mobile version ) , an official designation that the unlocked version lacks .

Verizon has its own exclusive version of the OnePlus 8, the “OnePlus 8 5G UW,” designed specifically for its network with additional mmWave radio features to support Verizon’s 5G network (which only operates in the mmWave band). But as discovered by Reddit user /u/bud-dho, the changes to the phone to fit the additional radio technology mean that the Verizon version has its volume buttons moved lower than the unlocked and T-Mobile models, so standard OnePlus 8 cases won’t fit (via 9to5Google).
An analysis from PhoneArena of the FCC documents for the two variants makes the issue clear: the Verizon model has several extra mmWave modules, one of which is directly located where the volume switches are. It likely won’t affect all cases — ones with cutouts for the volume buttons can probably just feature larger cutouts, but it may take some time before case makers catch on, and cases that completely cover the buttons won’t work.
The problem is that most cases for the OnePlus 8 on sites like Amazon are designed for the unlocked / T-Mobile hardware, not Verizon’s specific variant. If you want a case that’ll fit your OnePlus 8 5G UW properly, odds are you’ll have to get it from Verizon directly, where cases tend to be more expensive and the selection more limited.


theverge--2020-05-04--Apple’s most affordable iPad is even cheaper at Best Buy and Amazon

Only the best deals on Verge-approved gadgets get the Verge Deals stamp of approval , so if you 're looking for a deal on your next gadget or gift from major retailers like Amazon , Walmart , Best Buy , Target , and more , this is the place to be .
Apple ’ s seventh-generation iPad with 32GB of storage is $ 80 off at a couple of retailers , including Best Buy and Amazon .
This price drop puts it at $ 250 instead of $ 330 .
This model has seen a discount like this before , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discount that you might want to know about it .
Cyber Monday 2019 had a slightly better deal for $ 230 , but given that this is just a regular day in May , it ’ s a fantastic time to buy .
This version of the iPad is similar in a lot of ways to Apple ’ s sixth-generation model , though you ’ re getting a lot more for your money with this tablet .
Inside , it has the same A10 processor , but its screen size has increased from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it has an extra gigabyte of RAM ( 3GB compared to 2GB in the sixth-gen iPad ) and a Smart Connector , which you can use to connect Apple ’ s Smart Keyboard .
As far as software goes , this model runs the latest version of iPadOS , and it will continue to get updates for the next few years .
Amazon currently has the space gray color in stock for $ 250 , though the other colors may come back in store throughout the day .
Best Buy has each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they ’ re all currently backordered with an expected delivery date of May 13th .

Apple’s seventh-generation iPad with 32GB of storage is $80 off at a couple of retailers, including Best Buy and Amazon. This price drop puts it at $250 instead of $330. This model has seen a discount like this before, but it’s a rare enough discount that you might want to know about it. Cyber Monday 2019 had a slightly better deal for $230, but given that this is just a regular day in May, it’s a fantastic time to buy.
This version of the iPad is similar in a lot of ways to Apple’s sixth-generation model, though you’re getting a lot more for your money with this tablet. Inside, it has the same A10 processor, but its screen size has increased from 9.7 inches to 10.2 inches. Additionally, it has an extra gigabyte of RAM (3GB compared to 2GB in the sixth-gen iPad) and a Smart Connector, which you can use to connect Apple’s Smart Keyboard. As far as software goes, this model runs the latest version of iPadOS, and it will continue to get updates for the next few years.
Amazon currently has the space gray color in stock for $250, though the other colors may come back in store throughout the day. Best Buy has each color available, but it seems like they’re all currently backordered with an expected delivery date of May 13th.
Apple iPad (seventh-generation, 32GB, Wi-Fi) / Was $330, now 24% off $250 at Best Buy
Apple iPad (seventh-generation, 32GB, Wi-Fi) / Was $330, now 24% off $250 at Amazon


theverge--2020-05-04--Waterfront parks could rob tsunamis of their power

When a tsunami slams into a coast , parks with rolling hills could provide about as much protection as towering seawalls , according to the authors of a new paper published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences .
These tsunami mitigation parks , as they ’ re called , are designed to combine the protective qualities of an engineered landscape with the benefits of a more natural setting .
The hybrid approach is especially appealing to less-affluent countries that are looking for alternatives to building pricey seawalls that also preserve coastal economies and ways of life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against anything .
You can build a wall against a dog .
You can build a wall against water , ” says Jenny Suckale , a senior author of the study and an assistant professor of geophysics at Stanford University .
“ The wall doesn ’ t require any understanding of the phenomena you ’ re actually trying to protect against .
But these coastal mitigation parks , they do ; they actually target the main problem.
” The main problem these parks address , Suckale says , is not the water itself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the water carries in a tsunami .
Earthquakes , volcanic eruptions , and other movements along the seafloor can trigger tsunamis , releasing huge amounts of energy .
That ’ s why a tsunami with waves just a foot high can cause a dramatic amount of damage : it still hits with tremendous force , sweeping people off their feet and homes off their foundations .
“ The water hits you with full force , ” Suckale says .
“ The reason you die is because you ’ re falling , and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this stuff at you.
” Seawalls can block some of that energy , but they also tend to block access to the water for people whose livelihoods depend on it .
And when a tsunami hits , the walls can break apart into debris that smashes through communities along with the waves .
Tsunami mitigation parks are an alternative measure to seawalls and are being developed in Chile , Indonesia , and Japan .
These new parks haven ’ t had to face a tsunami yet , and researchers were interested in learning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a wall of water .
Suckale and her colleagues used computer models to determine what happens when a tsunami wave crashes against a row of hills to understand how these mitigation parks might work during a tsunami and what can be done to improve their design .
They found that the hills partially deflect the waves and can reduce the amount of kinetic energy the water brings onshore for tsunamis that aren ’ t significantly taller than the hills themselves .
They found that hills can provide a similar level of protection as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seawalls to such hills don ’ t offer that much extra defense .
That combination of walls and hills has recently been adopted in Constitución , Chile , and Miyagi Prefecture , Japan — after both places suffered devastating losses from tsunamis in the past decade .
The study also found that most of the defense offered by mitigation parks comes from the land itself , not from vegetation that ’ s been planted in the hopes of dissipating the force of the waves .
Pine and eucalyptus trees have been planted in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s efforts to prevent another tsunami from taking the toll that one did in 2010 .
The architecture firm overseeing the city ’ s construction plan didn ’ t immediately respond to a request for an interview from The Verge .
The vegetation can , however , prevent waves from eating away at the hills .
“ There ’ s a right and wrong way of doing it.
“ There are some risks , however , in a poorly designed tsunami mitigation park .
Rolling hills could actually intensify the flow of water @ @ @ @ @ @ @ destruction just behind the hills .
Instead , staggered rows of hills that grow smaller farther inland , with a buffer zone positioned immediately behind them , could diminish the risk posed by concentrated flows of water .
“ There ’ s a right and wrong way of doing it .
You could actually make things worse with this , ” Suckale says , similar to how a collapsed wall could inflict additional damage .
Customizing the design of the park to each coastline is key , she adds .
Ultimately , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effectively push communities to settle a little farther away from shore where they ’ re much safer — while still allowing them access to the water to make a living or to enjoy the shore .
They also offer a place for residents to seek shelter atop the hills during a tsunami since it ’ s best to evacuate to higher ground when there isn ’ t enough time to flee far enough inland , she says .
Seawalls are still the conventional way many coastal communities seek to protect themselves from a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 12 billion on 245 miles of seawalls since its 2011 earthquake and tsunami that ultimately led to another disaster with the meltdown at the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Station .
But the walls have drawn criticism from some professional fishers .
“ It feels like we ’ re in jail , even though we haven ’ t done anything bad , ” oyster fisherman Atsushi Fujita told Reuters in 2018 .
Experts in countries like Indonesia , which suffered the deadliest tsunami ever recorded in 2004 and several tsunamis since , are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ residents with greater protection and some peace of mind .
Suckale ’ s co-author Abdul Muhari leads the coastal disaster mitigation division of the Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries .
In an email to The Verge , he writes that , thanks to the paper , “ we expect that [ tsunami mitigation parks ] in Indonesia will be so much [ more ] feasible in the near future .
”

When a tsunami slams into a coast, parks with rolling hills could provide about as much protection as towering seawalls, according to the authors of a new paper published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
These tsunami mitigation parks, as they’re called, are designed to combine the protective qualities of an engineered landscape with the benefits of a more natural setting. The hybrid approach is especially appealing to less-affluent countries that are looking for alternatives to building pricey seawalls that also preserve coastal economies and ways of life.
“The wall doesn’t require any understanding.”
“You can build a wall against anything. You can build a wall against a dog. You can build a wall against water,” says Jenny Suckale, a senior author of the study and an assistant professor of geophysics at Stanford University. “The wall doesn’t require any understanding of the phenomena you’re actually trying to protect against. But these coastal mitigation parks, they do; they actually target the main problem.”
The main problem these parks address, Suckale says, is not the water itself but the enormous amount of energy that the water carries in a tsunami. Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and other movements along the seafloor can trigger tsunamis, releasing huge amounts of energy. That’s why a tsunami with waves just a foot high can cause a dramatic amount of damage: it still hits with tremendous force, sweeping people off their feet and homes off their foundations.
“The water hits you with full force,” Suckale says. “The reason you die is because you’re falling, and the water is very fast and throwing all this stuff at you.”
“The water hits you with full force.”
Seawalls can block some of that energy, but they also tend to block access to the water for people whose livelihoods depend on it. And when a tsunami hits, the walls can break apart into debris that smashes through communities along with the waves. Tsunami mitigation parks are an alternative measure to seawalls and are being developed in Chile, Indonesia, and Japan. These new parks haven’t had to face a tsunami yet, and researchers were interested in learning how well they might hold up against a wall of water.
Suckale and her colleagues used computer models to determine what happens when a tsunami wave crashes against a row of hills to understand how these mitigation parks might work during a tsunami and what can be done to improve their design. They found that the hills partially deflect the waves and can reduce the amount of kinetic energy the water brings onshore for tsunamis that aren’t significantly taller than the hills themselves. They found that hills can provide a similar level of protection as a seawall, and designs that add seawalls to such hills don’t offer that much extra defense. That combination of walls and hills has recently been adopted in Constitución, Chile, and Miyagi Prefecture, Japan — after both places suffered devastating losses from tsunamis in the past decade.
The study also found that most of the defense offered by mitigation parks comes from the land itself, not from vegetation that’s been planted in the hopes of dissipating the force of the waves. Pine and eucalyptus trees have been planted in Constitución as part of the city’s efforts to prevent another tsunami from taking the toll that one did in 2010. The architecture firm overseeing the city’s construction plan didn’t immediately respond to a request for an interview from The Verge. The vegetation can, however, prevent waves from eating away at the hills.
“There’s a right and wrong way of doing it.“
There are some risks, however, in a poorly designed tsunami mitigation park. Rolling hills could actually intensify the flow of water between them, potentially leading to more destruction just behind the hills. Instead, staggered rows of hills that grow smaller farther inland, with a buffer zone positioned immediately behind them, could diminish the risk posed by concentrated flows of water.
“There’s a right and wrong way of doing it. You could actually make things worse with this,” Suckale says, similar to how a collapsed wall could inflict additional damage. Customizing the design of the park to each coastline is key, she adds.
Ultimately, according to Suckale, the mitigation parks can effectively push communities to settle a little farther away from shore where they’re much safer — while still allowing them access to the water to make a living or to enjoy the shore. They also offer a place for residents to seek shelter atop the hills during a tsunami since it’s best to evacuate to higher ground when there isn’t enough time to flee far enough inland, she says.
Seawalls are still the conventional way many coastal communities seek to protect themselves from a tsunami. Japan has spent more than $12 billion on 245 miles of seawalls since its 2011 earthquake and tsunami that ultimately led to another disaster with the meltdown at the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Station. But the walls have drawn criticism from some professional fishers. “It feels like we’re in jail, even though we haven’t done anything bad,” oyster fisherman Atsushi Fujita told Reuters in 2018.
“It feels like we’re in jail.”


theverge--2020-05-04--Nicolas Cage is playing Joe Exotic in a new Tiger King TV show, of course

In a move that seems utterly obvious as soon as it was announced , Nicholas Cage will be playing the eccentric zookeeper Joe Exotic in a new TV series , via Variety .
Look , this was bound to happen .
As soon as Netflix ’ s Tiger King true-crime documentary series exploded into popularity , Hollywood began turning the almost impossibly outlandish story of the bombastic Joe Exotic , Carole Baskin , and their tiger-fueled feuding into a scripted series .
And now Cage himself — Hollywood ’ s most over-the-top actor whose work has endlessly spanned the gray @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just plain weird — is set to take on the role of the eccentric Tiger King himself .
The currently unnamed show will also mark Cage ’ s first TV role .
If you think about it , there really wasn ’ t any other choice Like the Netflix series that put the spotlight on Joe Exotic , the Nicholas Cage-starring show is based on Leif Reigstad ’ s Texas Monthly article “ Joe Exotic : A Dark Journey Into the World of a Man Gone Wild , ” although the Cage series @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scripted show , not a documentary .
The series is being produced by Imagine Television Studios and CBS Television Studios , with Dan Lagana set to serve as the writer and showrunner , along with serving as an executive producer alongside Paul Young ( Lagana and Young optioned the rights to the original article in June 2019 ) .
There ’ s no word yet as to what network or streaming service the show will debut on .
The new series is by no means the only one looking to cash in on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s a Tiger King show set to star Kate McKinnon as Carole Baskin that ’ s been in production for months ( long before Netflix ’ s own series was released ) , based on the Wondery podcast Joe Exotic .
There ’ s a Ryan Murphy and Rob Lowe take on the story that ’ s in the early stages of production .
And ID is working on a true-crime follow-up called Investigating The Strange World Of Joe Exotic that promises to dive deeper into the case .

In a move that seems utterly obvious as soon as it was announced, Nicholas Cage will be playing the eccentric zookeeper Joe Exotic in a new TV series, via Variety. Look, this was bound to happen.
As soon as Netflix’s Tiger King true-crime documentary series exploded into popularity, Hollywood began turning the almost impossibly outlandish story of the bombastic Joe Exotic, Carole Baskin, and their tiger-fueled feuding into a scripted series.
And now Cage himself — Hollywood’s most over-the-top actor whose work has endlessly spanned the gray area between good, bad, and just plain weird — is set to take on the role of the eccentric Tiger King himself. The currently unnamed show will also mark Cage’s first TV role.
If you think about it, there really wasn’t any other choice
Like the Netflix series that put the spotlight on Joe Exotic, the Nicholas Cage-starring show is based on Leif Reigstad’s Texas Monthly article “Joe Exotic: A Dark Journey Into the World of a Man Gone Wild,” although the Cage series is set to be a traditional eight-episode scripted show, not a documentary.
The series is being produced by Imagine Television Studios and CBS Television Studios, with Dan Lagana set to serve as the writer and showrunner, along with serving as an executive producer alongside Paul Young (Lagana and Young optioned the rights to the original article in June 2019). There’s no word yet as to what network or streaming service the show will debut on.