theverge--2020-07-21--US claims two Chinese hackers targeted defense companies, dissidents, and coronavirus research

The US Justice Department has charged two alleged Chinese hackers with stealing trade secrets and other valuable data from companies worldwide , including firms working on COVID-19 treatments and vaccines .
Prosecutors claim some of the hacks were carried out on behalf of China ’ s Ministry of State Security , while others were done for personal profit .
The pair are currently wanted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation .
Li Xiaoyu ( who goes by the handle “ Oro01xy ” ) and Dong Jiazhi have allegedly been active since 2009 .
The Justice Department says it encountered the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department of Energy ’ s Hanford Site , which is home to a decommissioned nuclear production facility .
In addition to this breach , they ’ re accused of infiltrating a wide swathe of software , defense , gaming , and biotech companies , often seeking proprietary data .
At least one case saw them attempting to extort a company by threatening to publish its source code online .
The indictment cites 25 unnamed victim companies from the US , Europe , Australia , and South Korea .
Most were targeted between 2015 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus pandemic .
However , the Justice Department says the pair “ probed for vulnerabilities ” in companies that worked on COVID-19 treatments , vaccines , and tests .
In May , the FBI warned of Chinese-government-affiliated hackers “ attempting to identify and illicitly obtain ” data about COVID-19 research .
Last week , the UK ’ s National Cyber Security Centre separately alleged that hackers linked to Russian intelligence services had targeted companies researching a coronavirus vaccine .
The indictment says that Li and Dong also stole information “ of obvious interest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ data about military satellite programs and military communications systems .
In addition to providing the Ministry of State Security with company data , they reportedly gave it personal account information about dissidents — including a Hong Kong community organizer , a former Tiananmen Square protester , and the pastor of a Christian church in Xi ’ an .
Li and Dong are charged with identity theft , conspiracy to commit wire fraud , and violating anti-hacking laws .
The charges for each carry a maximum sentence of over 40 years , although they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trial in the US .

The US Justice Department has charged two alleged Chinese hackers with stealing trade secrets and other valuable data from companies worldwide, including firms working on COVID-19 treatments and vaccines. Prosecutors claim some of the hacks were carried out on behalf of China’s Ministry of State Security, while others were done for personal profit. The pair are currently wanted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Li Xiaoyu (who goes by the handle “Oro01xy”) and Dong Jiazhi have allegedly been active since 2009. The Justice Department says it encountered the hackers after they compromised computers at the Department of Energy’s Hanford Site, which is home to a decommissioned nuclear production facility. In addition to this breach, they’re accused of infiltrating a wide swathe of software, defense, gaming, and biotech companies, often seeking proprietary data. At least one case saw them attempting to extort a company by threatening to publish its source code online.
The indictment cites 25 unnamed victim companies from the US, Europe, Australia, and South Korea. Most were targeted between 2015 and 2019 before the start of the coronavirus pandemic. However, the Justice Department says the pair “probed for vulnerabilities” in companies that worked on COVID-19 treatments, vaccines, and tests. In May, the FBI warned of Chinese-government-affiliated hackers “attempting to identify and illicitly obtain” data about COVID-19 research. Last week, the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre separately alleged that hackers linked to Russian intelligence services had targeted companies researching a coronavirus vaccine.
The indictment says that Li and Dong also stole information “of obvious interest” to Chinese state security, including data about military satellite programs and military communications systems. In addition to providing the Ministry of State Security with company data, they reportedly gave it personal account information about dissidents — including a Hong Kong community organizer, a former Tiananmen Square protester, and the pastor of a Christian church in Xi’an.


theverge--2020-07-21--Rocket League is going free-to-play

Rocket League is going free-to-play

Rocket League is changing in a big way .
Today , developer Psyonix announced that , later this summer , the multiplayer cars-meets-soccer game will be going free-to-play .
Additionally , the game will get cross-platform progression , covering elements like cosmetic items , battle pass progression , and competitive rank .
Things are also changing significantly for the PC version of the game .
When the free-to-play version of Rocket League launches , it ’ ll be moving from Steam to the Epic Games Store .
( Psyonix was acquired by Fortnite-maker Epic last year . )
Here ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ League will also make its debut on the Epic Games Store when it goes free to play .
It will be identical to the version on other platforms and will feature cross-platform play with all Rocket League platforms .
Once Rocket League goes free to play , anyone who already owns it on any platform ( including Steam ) will be able to play the game with full support for future updates and features .
However , the Steam version will no longer be available to download for new players .
For anyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ version kicks off , Psyonix is offering a number of in-game rewards , including “ all Rocket League-branded DLC released before free to play.
” The developer says to expect more news on the transition “ in the coming weeks .
”

Rocket League will also make its debut on the Epic Games Store when it goes free to play. It will be identical to the version on other platforms and will feature cross-platform play with all Rocket League platforms.
Once Rocket League goes free to play, anyone who already owns it on any platform (including Steam) will be able to play the game with full support for future updates and features. However, the Steam version will no longer be available to download for new players.


theverge--2020-07-22--Samsung announces Galaxy Z Flip 5G for $1,449.99

Samsung has officially announced the 5G version of its Galaxy Z Flip foldable phone .
Called the Galaxy Z Flip 5G ( naturally enough ) , the phone is nearly identical to its 4G predecessor .
The major changes include the 5G radios , a slightly upgraded Snapdragon 865 Plus processor , and the price : it ’ s $ 1,449.99 .
That ’ s a $ 70 premium over the 4G version , which Samsung says will stick around at the same price .
The original Galaxy Z Flip was probably the best folding phone I ’ ve tested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and fairly disappointing group .
Although it doesn ’ t fold fully flat , the Z Flip is well-designed and has proven itself to be more durable than other folding phones ( again , a relative assessment ) .
All that said , it was still too expensive to be a mainstream phone : If folding phones are ever going to stop being just expensive curiosities , they have to start being normal .
I need to be able to just tell you about the screen and performance and camera , not spend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this time maybe — maybe — the screen and hinge won ’ t explode .
They also , obviously , need to start having much more normal prices .
Samsung is probably smart not to change the formula up too much on the Z Flip — maybe it ’ s saving its R & D efforts for the Galaxy Fold 2 .
That device is rumored to be coming soon , as are a bunch of other Samsung devices like the Note 20 Ultra and a new Galaxy Buds .
Samsung has an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we ’ re expecting some or all of those devices to be announced .
In point of fact , we were expecting the Z Flip 5G to be announced at Samsung ’ s August 5th event as well , but it looks like Samsung wanted to clear the decks to give more room to the Note 20 .
Samsung says it hasn ’ t change the external form factor at all in order to fit 5G into the phone .
it will come in two colors : “ Mystic Gray ” and “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part apparently refers to a new “ haze ” finish on the exterior glass that Samsung says is “ soft to the touch.
” So : matte .
Along with the slightly updated processor and 5G ( which supports Sub-6 only , not mmWave ) , Samsung has also added a handful of minor software enhancements .
It already has a “ Flex ” mode that lets software reconfigure itself when the phone is half-folded .
YouTube should properly go into a Flex mode now , and Samsung ’ s camera app will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could theoretically point it at the sky .
Samsung also says the Edge Panel feature is “ more robust , ” which hopefully means that the Z Flip will get a standard , full-featured Galaxy edge panel instead of limiting it to multi-window controls .
The Galaxy Z Flip should start shipping in both carrier and unlocked versions on August .
7th .
It ’ ll be available on AT & T and T-Mobile in the US , and Samsung will also be selling it on its own website , Best Buy , @ @ @

Samsung has officially announced the 5G version of its Galaxy Z Flip foldable phone. Called the Galaxy Z Flip 5G (naturally enough), the phone is nearly identical to its 4G predecessor. The major changes include the 5G radios, a slightly upgraded Snapdragon 865 Plus processor, and the price: it’s $1,449.99. That’s a $70 premium over the 4G version, which Samsung says will stick around at the same price.
The original Galaxy Z Flip was probably the best folding phone I’ve tested — although its part of a small and fairly disappointing group. Although it doesn’t fold fully flat, the Z Flip is well-designed and has proven itself to be more durable than other folding phones (again, a relative assessment). All that said, it was still too expensive to be a mainstream phone:
If folding phones are ever going to stop being just expensive curiosities, they have to start being normal. I need to be able to just tell you about the screen and performance and camera, not spend the majority of my time explaining why this time maybe — maybe — the screen and hinge won’t explode. They also, obviously, need to start having much more normal prices.
Samsung is probably smart not to change the formula up too much on the Z Flip — maybe it’s saving its R&D efforts for the Galaxy Fold 2. That device is rumored to be coming soon, as are a bunch of other Samsung devices like the Note 20 Ultra and a new Galaxy Buds. Samsung has an event planned for August 5th, and we’re expecting some or all of those devices to be announced.
In point of fact, we were expecting the Z Flip 5G to be announced at Samsung’s August 5th event as well, but it looks like Samsung wanted to clear the decks to give more room to the Note 20.
Samsung says it hasn’t change the external form factor at all in order to fit 5G into the phone. it will come in two colors: “Mystic Gray” and “Mystic Bronze.” The “mystic” part apparently refers to a new “haze” finish on the exterior glass that Samsung says is “soft to the touch.” So: matte.
Along with the slightly updated processor and 5G (which supports Sub-6 only, not mmWave), Samsung has also added a handful of minor software enhancements. It already has a “Flex” mode that lets software reconfigure itself when the phone is half-folded. YouTube should properly go into a Flex mode now, and Samsung’s camera app will work at more angles, so you could theoretically point it at the sky. Samsung also says the Edge Panel feature is “more robust,” which hopefully means that the Z Flip will get a standard, full-featured Galaxy edge panel instead of limiting it to multi-window controls.


theverge--2020-07-22--Logitech and Herman Miller team up to make the Embody gaming chair

Shopping for a chair to go with your gaming desk is really difficult .
According to an informal poll I recently ran on Twitter , finding the right chair to buy came just behind figuring out which PC components to buy for a DIY desktop build in terms of complexity .
Unlike components , there are no benchmarks for chairs .
Comfort is entirely subjective , and even then it ’ s hard to find reliable reviews .
Plus , most of them look like racecar chairs meant more for looks than ergonomics .
So , you could spend a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or just get a cheaper chair and funnel the rest of that money toward a GPU upgrade , faster storage , or a bigger monitor .
As a usual full-time sitter on an AmazonBasics office chair , I fit into the latter group .
Herman Miller , the company responsible for those amazing ( ly expensive ) office chairs , wants me and you to take our health more seriously while we game .
To try to convince us , it teamed up with Logitech to make the Embody gaming chair .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ almost everything about Herman Miller ’ s gorgeous , preexisting Embody chair , including its focus on comfort and support over style , as well as a similarly exorbitant $ 1,495 price tag .
This model makes just a few changes to the original version , most noticeable of which is the switch to an all-black color with some subtle blue details .
It also has copper-infused foam in its back cushion that aims to keep you cooler while you game .
The Embody looks starkly different from other gaming chairs that are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Fast and Furious car .
It ’ s minimalist in its use of materials and it has a low-profile design .
Yet , Herman Miller says it can make a big difference in your physiology while you game .
Its striking design was shaped by the input of physicians and PhDs , and the company claims it can help reduce your heart rate while you sit .
There are over 150 small supports around the chair , and these apparently let blood flow more easily to regions that usually get pressed on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , lower back , and your legs .
In my experience , a side benefit of this design is that I don ’ t feel fatigued when I get up to emerge from the chair .
The Embody has several clever features that help you make it your own .
It ’ s comfortable to sit in right out of the box , but I customized a few things to make it form to my body .
First off , there ’ s a twistable knob at the back right of the chair @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support .
Twisting counter-clockwise leans it back a bit and helps better support curved backs , whereas a clockwise twist straightens the back out and leans it ever so slightly forward , which might help some players who want to feel more limber in fast-paced games .
To the left rear side of the chair , there ’ s a four-step level that adjusts how much recline you have .
What ’ s nice about this is that it ’ s not an all-or-nothing switch for reclining , so I never worried about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ notch down gives you some recline , two gives you a little more , and so on .
If you want to adjust the tilt tension , making it less resistant to leaning back or more , there ’ s a knob beneath the right arm rest that directly controls that .
On that same knob , there ’ s a joystick in the middle , and all that does is lower and raise the hydraulics on the chair when you push it in any direction .
For someone who has always used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few game-changing features with the Embody .
The armrests can be raised and lowered , as well as moved from side to side to change their angle by holding the blue release triggers .
This makes it easy to seamlessly switch from using a laptop , where my arms are naturally closer together , to my desktop , which has more space between where my arms rest over the mouse and keyboard .
Herman Miller cited that some gamers prefer chairs with no arm rests , and the ones on the Embody find @ @ @ @ @ @ @ almost as low as the seat cushion .
I also love the extendable seat .
By lifting up on the front corners of the seat , the edge can be extended to tuck underneath your knees or pulled up toward your thighs .
One other small thing that I really appreciate is that the seat section remains stationary when I recline .
With my feet planted firmly on the ground at all times , it ’ s nice to be able to push back on the chair without my whole body lifting from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ small things to rave about , but it ’ s often the small details that both make all the difference and let manufacturers like Herman Miller charge what they do for office furniture .
Okay , but what about the gamer-specific features I talked about ?
Pretty much everything I ’ ve mentioned to this point is applicable to the original Embody chair .
The changes are relatively minor , all said .
In addition to the new chair color , its slick blue detailing , and the copper-infused material inside of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was slap a big “ G ” from Logitech ’ s gaming division near the neck and hang a tag off the back to show that , indeed , it ’ s for gamers .
It might sound silly , but I don ’ t think anything else needed to be done .
When a well-known furniture manufacturer and one of the biggest gaming accessory companies throws a chair into the ring , the industry will take notice .
Whether you ’ re buying the Embody gaming chair or not , this is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shopping for chairs in the future .
We ’ ll likely soon see other chair makers influenced by its design and its focus on comfort and staying healthy while you game .
Hopefully , this will result in there being more choices for gamers other than the popular racecar-style chairs with stiff padding .
And , hopefully they won ’ t cost as much as this one .
Will the Embody gaming chair make you a better gamer ?
I mean , the $ 1,495 price has to guarantee something , right ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ an immediate impact , for me at least .
What usually makes that difference for me with peripherals isn ’ t usually the extra buttons or a fast USB polling rate .
It ’ s the comfort — and the Embody has that in spades .
Comfort in itself won ’ t exactly make you a better player , but it kept the right kind of pressure on my body so I could relax and be fully invested in what ’ s on the screen .
If your livelihood as a pro gamer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enthusiast , relies on focus and logging a lot of hours in-game , your investment here will pay off quicker than it will for most other people .
That ’ s not to say everyone else wouldn ’ t enjoy it .
My standard chair affords me about an hour of comfort before I ’ m ready for a break , and I usually feel a little sore when I get up .
Personally , sitting for hours is no fun regardless , but the Embody gaming chair is better than most others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way when you use it .
If you have an opportunity to try it , it will spoil you forever .

Shopping for a chair to go with your gaming desk is really difficult. According to an informal poll I recently ran on Twitter, finding the right chair to buy came just behind figuring out which PC components to buy for a DIY desktop build in terms of complexity.
Unlike components, there are no benchmarks for chairs. Comfort is entirely subjective, and even then it’s hard to find reliable reviews. Plus, most of them look like racecar chairs meant more for looks than ergonomics. So, you could spend a lot and pray that it works out or just get a cheaper chair and funnel the rest of that money toward a GPU upgrade, faster storage, or a bigger monitor. As a usual full-time sitter on an AmazonBasics office chair, I fit into the latter group.
Herman Miller, the company responsible for those amazing(ly expensive) office chairs, wants me and you to take our health more seriously while we game. To try to convince us, it teamed up with Logitech to make the Embody gaming chair. It’s a high-end model that inherits almost everything about Herman Miller’s gorgeous, preexisting Embody chair, including its focus on comfort and support over style, as well as a similarly exorbitant $1,495 price tag. This model makes just a few changes to the original version, most noticeable of which is the switch to an all-black color with some subtle blue details. It also has copper-infused foam in its back cushion that aims to keep you cooler while you game.
Previous Next
1 / 10 Previous Next
1 / 10
The Embody looks starkly different from other gaming chairs that are more likely to resemble the seats in a Fast and Furious car. It’s minimalist in its use of materials and it has a low-profile design. Yet, Herman Miller says it can make a big difference in your physiology while you game. Its striking design was shaped by the input of physicians and PhDs, and the company claims it can help reduce your heart rate while you sit. There are over 150 small supports around the chair, and these apparently let blood flow more easily to regions that usually get pressed on in most chairs, like your butt, lower back, and your legs. In my experience, a side benefit of this design is that I don’t feel fatigued when I get up to emerge from the chair.
The Embody has several clever features that help you make it your own. It’s comfortable to sit in right out of the box, but I customized a few things to make it form to my body. First off, there’s a twistable knob at the back right of the chair that adjusts the angle of the back support. Twisting counter-clockwise leans it back a bit and helps better support curved backs, whereas a clockwise twist straightens the back out and leans it ever so slightly forward, which might help some players who want to feel more limber in fast-paced games.
The underside of the Embody gaming chair is covered in supports that are said to improve blood flow while sitting. I can’t speak for the blood flow, but it sure is comfortable.
To the left rear side of the chair, there’s a four-step level that adjusts how much recline you have. What’s nice about this is that it’s not an all-or-nothing switch for reclining, so I never worried about flying backward off the chair. One notch down gives you some recline, two gives you a little more, and so on. If you want to adjust the tilt tension, making it less resistant to leaning back or more, there’s a knob beneath the right arm rest that directly controls that. On that same knob, there’s a joystick in the middle, and all that does is lower and raise the hydraulics on the chair when you push it in any direction.
For someone who has always used a bargain chair, there are a few game-changing features with the Embody. The armrests can be raised and lowered, as well as moved from side to side to change their angle by holding the blue release triggers. This makes it easy to seamlessly switch from using a laptop, where my arms are naturally closer together, to my desktop, which has more space between where my arms rest over the mouse and keyboard. Herman Miller cited that some gamers prefer chairs with no arm rests, and the ones on the Embody find compromise by being able to be lowered almost as low as the seat cushion.
These simple handles on the cushion’s front let you extend it out for better leg support. It’s the small details that make this chair so comfortable. Moving the joystick in any direction will lower the chair’s height while you’re sitting, or raise it if you’re standing.
I also love the extendable seat. By lifting up on the front corners of the seat, the edge can be extended to tuck underneath your knees or pulled up toward your thighs. One other small thing that I really appreciate is that the seat section remains stationary when I recline. With my feet planted firmly on the ground at all times, it’s nice to be able to push back on the chair without my whole body lifting from the ground. These sound like really small things to rave about, but it’s often the small details that both make all the difference and let manufacturers like Herman Miller charge what they do for office furniture.
Okay, but what about the gamer-specific features I talked about? Pretty much everything I’ve mentioned to this point is applicable to the original Embody chair. The changes are relatively minor, all said. In addition to the new chair color, its slick blue detailing, and the copper-infused material inside of the back cushion, all it did otherwise was slap a big “G” from Logitech’s gaming division near the neck and hang a tag off the back to show that, indeed, it’s for gamers.
It might sound silly, but I don’t think anything else needed to be done. When a well-known furniture manufacturer and one of the biggest gaming accessory companies throws a chair into the ring, the industry will take notice. Whether you’re buying the Embody gaming chair or not, this is a good thing for gamers in general shopping for chairs in the future. We’ll likely soon see other chair makers influenced by its design and its focus on comfort and staying healthy while you game. Hopefully, this will result in there being more choices for gamers other than the popular racecar-style chairs with stiff padding. And, hopefully they won’t cost as much as this one.
Will the Embody gaming chair make you a better gamer? I mean, the $1,495 price has to guarantee something, right? Truthfully, very few gaming products make an immediate impact, for me at least. What usually makes that difference for me with peripherals isn’t usually the extra buttons or a fast USB polling rate. It’s the comfort — and the Embody has that in spades. Comfort in itself won’t exactly make you a better player, but it kept the right kind of pressure on my body so I could relax and be fully invested in what’s on the screen. If your livelihood as a pro gamer, or even your enjoyment as an enthusiast, relies on focus and logging a lot of hours in-game, your investment here will pay off quicker than it will for most other people.
That’s not to say everyone else wouldn’t enjoy it. My standard chair affords me about an hour of comfort before I’m ready for a break, and I usually feel a little sore when I get up. Personally, sitting for hours is no fun regardless, but the Embody gaming chair is better than most others because it just gets out of the way when you use it. If you have an opportunity to try it, it will spoil you forever.


theverge--2020-07-22--‘COVID parties’ are a pandemic urban legend that won’t go away

Amid hosts of reasonable fears about the coronavirus pandemic , there ’ s also one far more dubious threat : “ COVID parties.
” As Wired explains in a good exploration of the topic , COVID parties ( or “ corona parties ” ) are events where people supposedly expose themselves to the coronavirus on purpose .
Medical professionals and government officials have periodically warned about these parties , but on closer examination , the reports are usually unverified secondhand reports or outright mistakes .
Despite numerous false alarms , however , the parties keep cropping up in news stories @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The New York Times and other outlets reported on a “ COVID party ” supposedly held in Texas .
A recent Vox story about herd immunity referenced “ rare but concerning ” instances , citing a CNN article about supposed parties in Alabama .
COVID parties are a product of the particular confusion around the coronavirus .
High-level political figures have dismissed or minimized the pandemic ’ s impact , leaving health officials and medical experts to warn Americans about the dangers posed by the virus .
These experts may rightly prioritize condemning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or not , but in the process , inadvertently give those rumors more credence than they deserve .
It ’ s doubly confusing because the term is also applied to innocently intentioned ( but nonetheless reckless ) pandemic-era gatherings , which flout local or state social distancing rules .
Sometimes these cases are ambiguous .
On Twitter , one emergency medical services company referenced a “ corona party ” involving an infected person in Pennsylvania , for example .
But in an email to The Verge , a spokesperson confirmed that nobody claimed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just didn ’ t take the virus seriously .
For now , every story about people holding parties to purposefully spread the coronavirus is either unverified or debunked .
Here ’ s a running list of “ COVID party ” cases , alongside what we actually know about them .
The claim : A 30-year-old man attended a “ COVID party , ” where people gathered with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 to test whether the virus is “ real.
” The man believed it was a hoax until he contracted it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reality : The man reportedly spoke to a nurse at San Antonio ’ s Methodist Hospital before he died , telling her about the party and expressing regret : “ I think I made a mistake .
I thought this was a hoax , but it ’ s not.
” The nurse told chief medical officer Jane Appleby , who in turn spoke to the media , recording a video in which she warned about COVID parties .
But this is mostly unverifiable .
The hospital didn ’ t identify the man , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they had no evidence for or against the party ’ s existence .
That doesn ’ t mean Appleby was lying — but it ’ s also easy to see the story getting garbled or misunderstood .
The claim : Carsyn Leigh Davis , a 17-year-old with existing health conditions , attended a “ COVID party ” organized by her local church .
The event intentionally exposed around 100 children to the disease , and Davis contracted it .
After her family tried a likely useless hydroxychloroquine treatment , she died two weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ writes , Davis ’ death is very real .
A medical report confirms that Davis attended a “ church function ” that broke social distancing rules , and her parents did give her hydroxychloroquine shortly before taking her to a hospital .
But there ’ s no evidence the church was trying to infect children , and screenshots of its Facebook page simply show promotions for a youth “ release party.
” The church itself has called the allegations “ false and defamatory , ” and most news reports have removed the “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Young people hosted multiple parties where guests tried to catch the novel coronavirus .
People paid to attend the parties , which were supposedly hosted in Tuscaloosa and the surrounding areas starting in early June , and the first guest to catch COVID-19 won part of the proceeds .
The reality : Tuscaloosa Fire Chief Randy Smith claimed to know about the parties and tipped off the City Council , which said unnamed doctors and state officials had corroborated the account .
University of Alabama paper The Crimson White quoted an urgent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saw videos of “ intentional ” virus-catching parties involving UA students .
The University of Alabama found no evidence of this , though , and The Crimson White concluded there was “ no direct confirmation ” of the parties .
Wired learned that the clinic tip was a series of secondhand rumors passed between staff like a game of telephone .
And it strains credulity that local officials identified several parties involving paid ticket sales and video footage , but no attendees were confirmed or cited for breaking social distancing rules , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The claim : Unidentified people reported attending “ COVID-19 parties ” in North Carolina to maximize their chances of catching the disease and hopefully build immunity .
The reality : This story is based partly on a warning from North Carolina Gov .
Roy Cooper , who called the parties “ completely irresponsible and absolutely unacceptable ” in a press conference .
But Cooper never actually said these parties existed .
A reporter asked about rumors of “ COVID-19 gatherings , ” and Cooper — alongside state Health and Human Services Director @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a terrible idea if it were happening .
That ’ s not incorrect , but it created an impression of certainty that simply wasn ’ t there .
A more specific report comes from Yolanda Enrich , a nurse practitioner at Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center .
“ People are actually out and about trying to get the virus , so attending gatherings , parties trying to maximize their chances of exposure , ” Enrich reported .
“ They ’ re just going to gatherings to get purposely infected with the virus.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report people holding parties to get infected , nor cite specific incidents .
Enrich ’ s branch of Forsyth Medical Center didn ’ t return a request for more detail .
The claim : At least 25 people told contact tracers that they ’ d been at a COVID party , attempting to contract COVID-19 and “ get it over with.
” Some new infections could be traced to these parties .
The reality : It never happened .
Walla Walla County Department of Community Health director Meghan DeBolt initially told reporters that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there are 25 people because : ‘ We were at a COVID party.
’ ” But health officials retracted the claim a day later .
“ After receiving further information , we have discovered that there were not intentional COVID parties .
Just innocent endeavors , ” said DeBolt .
This cuts to the heart of the issue .
Right now , any crowded event could spread the virus without any deliberate malice .
And parties are far from the only reason COVID-19 is booming in America .
“ Super-spreading ” events can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and many other places where people don ’ t fit the stereotype of reckless youngsters .
There are lots of reasons to worry about the coronavirus ’ s spread — but “ COVID parties ” aren ’ t one of them .

Amid hosts of reasonable fears about the coronavirus pandemic, there’s also one far more dubious threat: “COVID parties.” As Wired explains in a good exploration of the topic, COVID parties (or “corona parties”) are events where people supposedly expose themselves to the coronavirus on purpose. Medical professionals and government officials have periodically warned about these parties, but on closer examination, the reports are usually unverified secondhand reports or outright mistakes.
Despite numerous false alarms, however, the parties keep cropping up in news stories and social media. Last week, The New York Times and other outlets reported on a “COVID party” supposedly held in Texas. A recent Vox story about herd immunity referenced “rare but concerning” instances, citing a CNN article about supposed parties in Alabama.
COVID parties are a product of the particular confusion around the coronavirus. High-level political figures have dismissed or minimized the pandemic’s impact, leaving health officials and medical experts to warn Americans about the dangers posed by the virus. These experts may rightly prioritize condemning risky behavior whether it’s happening or not, but in the process, inadvertently give those rumors more credence than they deserve.
It’s doubly confusing because the term is also applied to innocently intentioned (but nonetheless reckless) pandemic-era gatherings, which flout local or state social distancing rules. Sometimes these cases are ambiguous. On Twitter, one emergency medical services company referenced a “corona party” involving an infected person in Pennsylvania, for example. But in an email to The Verge, a spokesperson confirmed that nobody claimed to be intentionally seeking infection — they just didn’t take the virus seriously.
For now, every story about people holding parties to purposefully spread the coronavirus is either unverified or debunked. Here’s a running list of “COVID party” cases, alongside what we actually know about them.
San Antonio, Texas, July 12th
The claim: A 30-year-old man attended a “COVID party,” where people gathered with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 to test whether the virus is “real.” The man believed it was a hoax until he contracted it and died in the hospital.
The reality: The man reportedly spoke to a nurse at San Antonio’s Methodist Hospital before he died, telling her about the party and expressing regret: “I think I made a mistake. I thought this was a hoax, but it’s not.” The nurse told chief medical officer Jane Appleby, who in turn spoke to the media, recording a video in which she warned about COVID parties.
But this is mostly unverifiable. The hospital didn’t identify the man, and contact tracers told the Times that they had no evidence for or against the party’s existence. That doesn’t mean Appleby was lying — but it’s also easy to see the story getting garbled or misunderstood.
Fort Myers, Florida, July 6th
The claim: Carsyn Leigh Davis, a 17-year-old with existing health conditions, attended a “COVID party” organized by her local church. The event intentionally exposed around 100 children to the disease, and Davis contracted it. After her family tried a likely useless hydroxychloroquine treatment, she died two weeks later.
The reality: As Snopes writes, Davis’ death is very real. A medical report confirms that Davis attended a “church function” that broke social distancing rules, and her parents did give her hydroxychloroquine shortly before taking her to a hospital. But there’s no evidence the church was trying to infect children, and screenshots of its Facebook page simply show promotions for a youth “release party.” The church itself has called the allegations “false and defamatory,” and most news reports have removed the “COVID party” reference.
Tuscaloosa, Alabama, July 2nd
The claim: Young people hosted multiple parties where guests tried to catch the novel coronavirus. People paid to attend the parties, which were supposedly hosted in Tuscaloosa and the surrounding areas starting in early June, and the first guest to catch COVID-19 won part of the proceeds.
The reality: Tuscaloosa Fire Chief Randy Smith claimed to know about the parties and tipped off the City Council, which said unnamed doctors and state officials had corroborated the account. University of Alabama paper The Crimson White quoted an urgent care facility doctor who claimed his staff saw videos of “intentional” virus-catching parties involving UA students.
The University of Alabama found no evidence of this, though, and The Crimson White concluded there was “no direct confirmation” of the parties. Wired learned that the clinic tip was a series of secondhand rumors passed between staff like a game of telephone. And it strains credulity that local officials identified several parties involving paid ticket sales and video footage, but no attendees were confirmed or cited for breaking social distancing rules, and none of those videos got posted online.
North Carolina, May 18th
The claim: Unidentified people reported attending “COVID-19 parties” in North Carolina to maximize their chances of catching the disease and hopefully build immunity.
The reality: This story is based partly on a warning from North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, who called the parties “completely irresponsible and absolutely unacceptable” in a press conference. But Cooper never actually said these parties existed. A reporter asked about rumors of “COVID-19 gatherings,” and Cooper — alongside state Health and Human Services Director Mandy Cohen — confirmed this would be a terrible idea if it were happening. That’s not incorrect, but it created an impression of certainty that simply wasn’t there.
A more specific report comes from Yolanda Enrich, a nurse practitioner at Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center. “People are actually out and about trying to get the virus, so attending gatherings, parties trying to maximize their chances of exposure,” Enrich reported. “They’re just going to gatherings to get purposely infected with the virus.” That said, she didn’t report people holding parties to get infected, nor cite specific incidents. Enrich’s branch of Forsyth Medical Center didn’t return a request for more detail.
Walla Walla County, Washington, May 6th
The claim: At least 25 people told contact tracers that they’d been at a COVID party, attempting to contract COVID-19 and “get it over with.” Some new infections could be traced to these parties.
The reality: It never happened. Walla Walla County Department of Community Health director Meghan DeBolt initially told reporters that “we ask about contacts, and there are 25 people because: ‘We were at a COVID party.’” But health officials retracted the claim a day later. “After receiving further information, we have discovered that there were not intentional COVID parties. Just innocent endeavors,” said DeBolt.


theverge--2020-07-22--The Motorola Edge will be available on July 31st for a ‘limited time’ $500 price

Motorola ’ s unlocked Edge smartphone is now available for preorder ahead of a July 31st release , the company announced today .
Additionally , the company announced that for a “ limited time , ” it ’ ll be offering the Edge for $ 499.99 , instead of the originally announced $ 699.99 price tag .
It ’ s not clear how long Motorola will be offering the $ 200 discount , although it doesn ’ t sound like it ’ s considering a permanent price drop at this point .
The Motorola Edge is a slightly watered-down version @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with a similar 6.7-inch “ edge ” display design , but with a Snapdragon 765 processor , 6GB of RAM , a 4,500mAh battery , and no wireless charging .
( The Edge Plus , on the other hand , has twice the RAM , a larger 5,000mAh battery , and a Snapdragon 865 . )
It also features 256GB of internal storage .
The triple-camera array also is downgraded , compared to the Edge Plus , with a 64-megapixel main lens ( instead of the highly touted 108-megapixel sensor on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Lastly , the Edge will only support sub-6GHz 5G internet ( not the mmWave support that the Edge Plus has ) , although it ’ ll be available unlocked , instead of limited to just Verizon .
The Motorola Edge is available to preorder now from Best Buy , B & H Photo , Amazon , and Motorola .

Motorola’s unlocked Edge smartphone is now available for preorder ahead of a July 31st release, the company announced today. Additionally, the company announced that for a “limited time,” it’ll be offering the Edge for $499.99, instead of the originally announced $699.99 price tag.
It’s not clear how long Motorola will be offering the $200 discount, although it doesn’t sound like it’s considering a permanent price drop at this point.
The Motorola Edge is a slightly watered-down version of the flagship $999 Edge Plus, with a similar 6.7-inch “edge” display design, but with a Snapdragon 765 processor, 6GB of RAM, a 4,500mAh battery, and no wireless charging. (The Edge Plus, on the other hand, has twice the RAM, a larger 5,000mAh battery, and a Snapdragon 865.) It also features 256GB of internal storage. The triple-camera array also is downgraded, compared to the Edge Plus, with a 64-megapixel main lens (instead of the highly touted 108-megapixel sensor on the Edge Plus), among other changes.
Lastly, the Edge will only support sub-6GHz 5G internet (not the mmWave support that the Edge Plus has), although it’ll be available unlocked, instead of limited to just Verizon.


theverge--2020-07-22--Razor launches a new lineup of affordable electric scooters for adults

Razor , the company that helped kick off the scooter craze nearly two decades ago , has just unveiled a new lineup of affordable electric scooters for adults .
The California-based company is introducing three new models : the EcoSmart SUP , E300 HD , and the C25 .
Along with the recently released E Prime III , Razor is hoping to expand its footprint in the adult scooter space , while also retaining its title as a trustworthy and recognizable brand in an overly saturated market .
Sometimes it seems like there ’ s an arms race to release @ @ @ @ @ @ @ powerful e-scooter on the planet .
Each week , I get pitches on scooters that can hit top speeds of 30 , 40 , even 50 mph , with jumbo battery packs and dual motors to boot .
But there ’ s a trade-off .
Obviously , they can be very dangerous to ride .
But it ’ s also the case that many of these high-powered two-wheelers retail for well over $ 1,000 .
That ’ s more than most people are probably willing to spend on an electric scooter .
Razor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Razor does not want to play that game .
The company ’ s fastest scooter , the seated E-Prime Metro , has a top speed of 18 mph — which is on par with lower speed offerings like Bird , Lime , and other shared scooter services .
Each of the three new models the company is unveiling today have a top speed of only 15.5 mph , assuming a max load of 220lbs .
That ’ s because Razor doesn ’ t want to sell you speed ; it wants to sell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ means slapping a price tag on them that wouldn ’ t make most customers look twice .
“ This class , between like $ 400 and $ 600 , there ’ s a lot of choices out there , ” Ian Desberg , Razor ’ s head of design and development , said in an interview .
“ We wanted to be competitive with that , and yet we wanted something that was not only different , but improved on that ride.
” Which is not to say that Razor ’ s scooters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way .
For many people , 15.5 mph is plenty of speed , especially if the scooter is being used for recreation or first-mile / last-mile transportation .
So far , Razor ’ s approach to electric scooters appears to be working — but mostly in the youth market .
If you search “ electric scooter ” on Amazon , the company ’ s EcoSmart , E90 , and E200 models are among the top non-sponsored results .
Razor is now looking to extend that strategy even further into the adult market .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the time , ” Desberg said .
“ ‘ Does the Razor brand transcend that original kids aluminum kick scooter ?
’ ... We ’ re always faced with that .
That ’ s always an uphill battle.
” Razor ’ s new models may not have the catchiest names or the flashiest specs , but they will certainly appeal to those customers where price is a top concern .
Here ’ s a look at what the company is revealing : • The EcoSmart SUP has 16-inch pneumatic front and rear tube @ @ @ @ @ @ @ better stability .
It features a 350W motor , a top speed of 15.5 mph , and a range of 12 miles per battery charge .
Razor offers a similar model for its dockless scooter sharing service , Razor Share .
The EcoSmart SUP , which weighs 63 lbs , has a manufacturer suggested retail price of $ 449 and goes on sale in July .
Just check out those wheels !
• The C25 ( which fortunately is only a working name ) is highly durable and foldable , making it a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their scooter on public transportation .
It can travel up to 11.25 miles per battery charge and has a top speed of 15.5 mph .
The C25 features a 12-inch solid front wheel for stability , front and rear lighting for nighttime travel , an electric dashboard , and a 250W rear brushless hub motor .
It comes with a 36V lithium-ion battery and weighs 30lbs .
A lead acid battery version will be available next year .
The scooter will go on sale in October for an MSRP of $ 399 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ while the G3 clocks in at 40 lbs .
• Razor updated its most economical and bestselling electric scooter , the E300 , with a hub drive motor .
Razor says the E300 HD is a great option for “ recreational electric scooter users who like to use their scooters for a quick spin around the neighborhood or for fun in the park.
” It has a 250W high-torque brushless rear-wheel hub motor , a nine-inch pneumatic front-wheel and an eight-inch solid back wheel , twist-grip acceleration , and a hand-operated rear drum @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weighs 40 lbs , has a top speed of 15 mph and a suggested retail price of $ 289 when it hits the market this fall .
• The E Prime III , which was revealed earlier this year , seems like the model most likely to compete with the most popular models of scooter powerhouse Ninebot .
With a 250W brushless hub-drive motor , LED headlight and brake-activated taillight , and a dual braking system , the E Prime III seems tailor-made for the urban scooter lover who ’ s tired of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It has a top speed of 18 mph and a suggested retail price of $ 399 .
And it practically a featherweight at 24.2 lbs .

Razor, the company that helped kick off the scooter craze nearly two decades ago, has just unveiled a new lineup of affordable electric scooters for adults. The California-based company is introducing three new models: the EcoSmart SUP, E300 HD, and the C25. Along with the recently released E Prime III, Razor is hoping to expand its footprint in the adult scooter space, while also retaining its title as a trustworthy and recognizable brand in an overly saturated market.
Sometimes it seems like there’s an arms race to release the fastest, most rugged, most powerful e-scooter on the planet. Each week, I get pitches on scooters that can hit top speeds of 30, 40, even 50 mph, with jumbo battery packs and dual motors to boot. But there’s a trade-off. Obviously, they can be very dangerous to ride. But it’s also the case that many of these high-powered two-wheelers retail for well over $1,000. That’s more than most people are probably willing to spend on an electric scooter.
Razor does not want to play that game
Razor does not want to play that game. The company’s fastest scooter, the seated E-Prime Metro, has a top speed of 18 mph — which is on par with lower speed offerings like Bird, Lime, and other shared scooter services. Each of the three new models the company is unveiling today have a top speed of only 15.5 mph, assuming a max load of 220lbs. That’s because Razor doesn’t want to sell you speed; it wants to sell you a scooter — period. That means slapping a price tag on them that wouldn’t make most customers look twice.
“This class, between like $400 and $600, there’s a lot of choices out there,” Ian Desberg, Razor’s head of design and development, said in an interview. “We wanted to be competitive with that, and yet we wanted something that was not only different, but improved on that ride.”
Which is not to say that Razor’s scooters aren’t powerful in their own way. For many people, 15.5 mph is plenty of speed, especially if the scooter is being used for recreation or first-mile / last-mile transportation.
So far, Razor’s approach to electric scooters appears to be working — but mostly in the youth market. If you search “electric scooter” on Amazon, the company’s EcoSmart, E90, and E200 models are among the top non-sponsored results. Razor is now looking to extend that strategy even further into the adult market.
“Does the Razor brand transcend that original kids aluminum kick scooter?”
“We have these discussions in-house all the time,” Desberg said. “‘Does the Razor brand transcend that original kids aluminum kick scooter?’... We’re always faced with that. That’s always an uphill battle.”
Razor’s new models may not have the catchiest names or the flashiest specs, but they will certainly appeal to those customers where price is a top concern. Here’s a look at what the company is revealing:
The EcoSmart SUP has 16-inch pneumatic front and rear tube tires and a wide bamboo deck for better stability. It features a 350W motor, a top speed of 15.5 mph, and a range of 12 miles per battery charge. Razor offers a similar model for its dockless scooter sharing service, Razor Share. The EcoSmart SUP, which weighs 63 lbs, has a manufacturer suggested retail price of $449 and goes on sale in July. Just check out those wheels!
The C25 (which fortunately is only a working name) is highly durable and foldable, making it a good option for someone looking to take their scooter on public transportation. A lead acid battery version, which will be available next year, has up to 11.25 miles of range and a top speed of 15.5 mph. The lithium-ion battery version has 15.5 miles of range and can hit a top speed of 15.5 miles. The C25 features a 12-inch solid front wheel for stability, front and rear lighting for nighttime travel, an electric dashboard, and a 250W rear brushless hub motor. It comes with a 36V lithium-ion battery and weighs 30lbs. A lead acid battery version will be available next year. The scooter will go on sale in October for an MSRP of $399. The G2 version weighs 30 lbs, while the G3 clocks in at 40 lbs.
Razor updated its most economical and bestselling electric scooter, the E300, with a hub drive motor. Razor says the E300 HD is a great option for “recreational electric scooter users who like to use their scooters for a quick spin around the neighborhood or for fun in the park.” It has a 250W high-torque brushless rear-wheel hub motor, a nine-inch pneumatic front-wheel and an eight-inch solid back wheel, twist-grip acceleration, and a hand-operated rear drum break. The E300 HD, which weighs 40 lbs, has a top speed of 15 mph and a suggested retail price of $289 when it hits the market this fall.


theverge--2020-07-22--Twitch launches a new sports category as Amazon pushes for sports dominance

Twitch has gradually become a key place to watch live sports and content over the past year , and Amazon is now acknowledging its push for sports dominance with the launch of a sports category on Twitch .
The standalone sports category will include streams from soccer clubs like Arsenal and Real Madrid , with Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain set to follow .
Twitch ’ s new sports category will also play home to the existing NBA , NHL , RFL , UFC , and NWSL content that ’ s available on the platform .
Twitch is also relaunching its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ programming .
The relaunch includes a showcase today , hosted by Major League Soccer star Jimmy Conrad , that will cover the NBA , UFC , Arsenal , and House of Highlights using two-hour slots to demonstrate the type of sports content Twitch has to offer .
Amazon has been gradually positioning Twitch for sports coverage The new sports category on Twitch comes just weeks after Amazon streamed Premier League soccer free on Twitch for the first time .
Amazon also streams Thursday Night Football on Twitch , and has secured the German @ @ @ @ @ @ @ League matches .
Twitch also signed a deal last year to become the official streaming partner for USA Basketball .
All of the deals are clearly designed to position Twitch to appeal to audiences beyond its core gaming and esports content .
Twitch also offers the opportunity for individual sports stars to stream direct to their fans .
British Formula 1 driver Lando Norris became the youngest ever Brit to stand on a Formula 1 podium earlier this month , and he ’ s a regular Twitch streamer .
Norris uses his phone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the planning and preparation phases for races , sometimes just minutes before he ’ s about to start practice laps .
He ’ s also streamed his escapades in PUBG and Call of Duty : Warzone .
Los Angeles Charger Austin Ekeler and a trio of WWE Superstars also use Twitch to reach fans .

Twitch has gradually become a key place to watch live sports and content over the past year, and Amazon is now acknowledging its push for sports dominance with the launch of a sports category on Twitch. The standalone sports category will include streams from soccer clubs like Arsenal and Real Madrid, with Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain set to follow. Twitch’s new sports category will also play home to the existing NBA, NHL, RFL, UFC, and NWSL content that’s available on the platform.
Twitch is also relaunching its twitchsports channel today to highlight broadcasts and programming. The relaunch includes a showcase today, hosted by Major League Soccer star Jimmy Conrad, that will cover the NBA, UFC, Arsenal, and House of Highlights using two-hour slots to demonstrate the type of sports content Twitch has to offer.
Amazon has been gradually positioning Twitch for sports coverage
The new sports category on Twitch comes just weeks after Amazon streamed Premier League soccer free on Twitch for the first time. Amazon also streams Thursday Night Football on Twitch, and has secured the German rights to a package of UEFA Champions League matches. Twitch also signed a deal last year to become the official streaming partner for USA Basketball. All of the deals are clearly designed to position Twitch to appeal to audiences beyond its core gaming and esports content.


theverge--2020-07-22--Google will use authenticated logos to reduce Gmail phishing

Google will trial a new security feature in Gmail that shows a brand ’ s logo as an avatar to help you know an email is genuine , the company has announced .
The functionality uses the Brand Indicators for Message Identification ( BIMI ) standard , whose working group Google joined last year , and will be tested with a limited number of senders in the coming weeks .
According to Google , authentication with BIMI can make recipients more confident about the source of an email , which scammers try and obscure to get people to click on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ details in a phishing attack .
Google will use BIMI in conjunction with another technology , DMARC , which tries to stop scammers from forging the “ from ” address of an email to pretend it ’ s coming from a legitimate source .
Like a verified badge , but for email As Engadget notes , the technology is similar to verified badges social networks use for official celebrity and brand accounts .
Google says it ’ s using two Certification Authorities to validate who owns any particular logo : Entrust Datacard and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more widely available for brands to use in the coming months .
As well as its BIMI trial , Google also announced a host of other security measures for its video conferencing , chat , and enterprise software : • Google Meet is getting new controls to secure meetings .
Uninvited guests will no longer be allowed to try and “ knock ” and rejoin a meeting after being kicked out of it , and users will also be blocked from being able to request to join a meeting after being denied multiple @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safety controls to control who and how people can join meetings , and whether they can chat and present once joined .
• Links sent via Chat will be flagged if Google thinks they ’ re malicious , and it also plans to introduce reporting and blocking tools for Chat Rooms .
• G Suite admins are getting new and redesigned controls across its suite of services .
Included are tools to make it easier to block certain apps from accessing G Suite data , managing company-owned Apple iOS devices , and new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more on Google ’ s new security features in G Suite , check out Google ’ s full blog post .

Google will trial a new security feature in Gmail that shows a brand’s logo as an avatar to help you know an email is genuine, the company has announced. The functionality uses the Brand Indicators for Message Identification (BIMI) standard, whose working group Google joined last year, and will be tested with a limited number of senders in the coming weeks.
According to Google, authentication with BIMI can make recipients more confident about the source of an email, which scammers try and obscure to get people to click on malicious links and/or give up their personal details in a phishing attack. Google will use BIMI in conjunction with another technology, DMARC, which tries to stop scammers from forging the “from” address of an email to pretend it’s coming from a legitimate source.
Like a verified badge, but for email
As Engadget notes, the technology is similar to verified badges social networks use for official celebrity and brand accounts. Google says it’s using two Certification Authorities to validate who owns any particular logo: Entrust Datacard and DigiCert. Google expects to make BIMI more widely available for brands to use in the coming months.
As well as its BIMI trial, Google also announced a host of other security measures for its video conferencing, chat, and enterprise software:
Google Meet is getting new controls to secure meetings. Uninvited guests will no longer be allowed to try and “knock” and rejoin a meeting after being kicked out of it, and users will also be blocked from being able to request to join a meeting after being denied multiple times. Hosts are also getting new safety controls to control who and how people can join meetings, and whether they can chat and present once joined.
Links sent via Chat will be flagged if Google thinks they’re malicious, and it also plans to introduce reporting and blocking tools for Chat Rooms.
G Suite admins are getting new and redesigned controls across its suite of services. Included are tools to make it easier to block certain apps from accessing G Suite data, managing company-owned Apple iOS devices, and new tools to prevent data loss.


theverge--2020-07-22--Lenovo’s Legion gaming phone has a pop-up selfie cam on its side

Lenovo has announced its first gaming phone , the Legion Phone Duel , and I ’ ve got to address its most interesting feature up front : the pop-up selfie camera that ’ s embedded along the phone ’ s side , just like the rumors in May suggested .
Given that most popular games are played in landscape mode , it ’ s a logical place for the camera to be since it ensures that your palm won ’ t obscure the lens if you ’ re video chatting or live-streaming during a game .
The pop-up camera is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and an 81.7-degree field of view .
This might not lead to the best selfies or video quality , and it isn ’ t an ideal location for taking a quick selfie .
Lenovo provided enough room in the camera ’ s enclosure to include a status light for the camera , like what most laptops feature .
That said , the Legion gaming phone isn ’ t a laptop , and even though I can envision a few use cases where it ’ d come in handy to have a side-mounted selfie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ll admit that I ’ d hate to be seen taking a selfie with this phone .
The rear camera array is located right in the middle of the phone ’ s backside , which isn ’ t the most convenient location either .
Nevertheless , gaming phones have become a playground for interesting features like these , so I ’ m willing to give Lenovo credit for trying something new here .
The Legion Phone Duel ( or the Legion Phone Pro , as it ’ s called in China , where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ features the Snapdragon 865 Plus processor , up to 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM , and 512GB of UFS 3.1 storage .
With this chipset , it ’ s also a 5G-ready phone that can take advantage of the sub-6GHz spectrum .
Lenovo has also packed in dual vibration motors that it says will make games feel more immersive , as well as ultrasonic touch-sensitive sensors so you can map what would normally be on-screen virtual buttons to the edge of the phone itself , mimicking the feel of a real controller .
Like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Legion Phone Duel has multiple USB-C ports , with one at the bottom of the phone when held in portrait mode and another opposite the pop-up selfie cam on the side .
You can use either to charge the phone , but interestingly , you can quickly charge the phone ’ s two 2,500mAh internal batteries in around 30 minutes by plugging USB-C cables into both ports .
It might look silly , but at least you ’ ll be powered up quickly .
Now for the bad news : Lenovo doesn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the US .
It ’ s coming first to China in July , then to select markets in Asia , Latin America , and the EMEA regions ( Europe , Middle East , Africa ) .
That is a little disappointing to hear because , frankly , I think we all deserve a phone that has the words “ Stylish Outside ” and “ Savage Inside ” lasered onto its back .

Lenovo has announced its first gaming phone, the Legion Phone Duel, and I’ve got to address its most interesting feature up front: the pop-up selfie camera that’s embedded along the phone’s side, just like the rumors in May suggested. Given that most popular games are played in landscape mode, it’s a logical place for the camera to be since it ensures that your palm won’t obscure the lens if you’re video chatting or live-streaming during a game.
The pop-up camera is a 20-megapixel sensor with an f/2.2 aperture and an 81.7-degree field of view. This might not lead to the best selfies or video quality, and it isn’t an ideal location for taking a quick selfie. Lenovo provided enough room in the camera’s enclosure to include a status light for the camera, like what most laptops feature.
That said, the Legion gaming phone isn’t a laptop, and even though I can envision a few use cases where it’d come in handy to have a side-mounted selfie cam on a phone, I’ll admit that I’d hate to be seen taking a selfie with this phone. The rear camera array is located right in the middle of the phone’s backside, which isn’t the most convenient location either. Nevertheless, gaming phones have become a playground for interesting features like these, so I’m willing to give Lenovo credit for trying something new here.
The Legion Phone Duel’s dual 2,500mAh batteries can be fully charged in 30 minutes by plugging USB-C cables into each of its ports. Image: Lenovo
The Legion Phone Duel (or the Legion Phone Pro, as it’s called in China, where it will release first this month) features the Snapdragon 865 Plus processor, up to 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM, and 512GB of UFS 3.1 storage. With this chipset, it’s also a 5G-ready phone that can take advantage of the sub-6GHz spectrum. Lenovo has also packed in dual vibration motors that it says will make games feel more immersive, as well as ultrasonic touch-sensitive sensors so you can map what would normally be on-screen virtual buttons to the edge of the phone itself, mimicking the feel of a real controller.
Like the Asus ROG Phone II, the Legion Phone Duel has multiple USB-C ports, with one at the bottom of the phone when held in portrait mode and another opposite the pop-up selfie cam on the side. You can use either to charge the phone, but interestingly, you can quickly charge the phone’s two 2,500mAh internal batteries in around 30 minutes by plugging USB-C cables into both ports. It might look silly, but at least you’ll be powered up quickly.
Now for the bad news: Lenovo doesn’t have plans to release this phone in the US. It’s coming first to China in July, then to select markets in Asia, Latin America, and the EMEA regions (Europe, Middle East, Africa). That is a little disappointing to hear because, frankly, I think we all deserve a phone that has the words “Stylish Outside” and “Savage Inside” lasered onto its back.


theverge--2020-07-22--Sony’s wearable air conditioner is pretty cool

I ’ ve lived in Japan for nearly twelve years , and I ’ m still not used to the awful summers .
Between the high temperatures and suffocating humidity , stepping outside in July and August feels like being slowly cooked in a sous vide pot .
As a seemingly interminable rainy season comes to an end , I ’ m not going to need much encouragement to stay home .
I don ’ t think my opinion on Japanese summers is particularly unusual , which is probably why Sony decided to go ahead with the Reon Pocket through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has previously led to products like the FES E Ink watch , the Huis smart home universal remote , and the Wena Wrist modular smartwatch .
Now we have the Reon Pocket , which can only be described as a wearable air conditioner , and I ’ ve been testing it out .
The Reon Pocket is a fairly slim palm-sized white plastic device that charges over USB-C and connects to your iOS or Android phone with Bluetooth .
It definitely looks like a Sony gadget .
There ’ s a silicone pad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against your skin , and the Reon Pocket uses the Peltier effect to cool or warm itself up by absorbing and releasing heat .
You can use it handheld , but the most widely promoted use cases involves buying Sony ’ s special V-neck undershirts with a pocket on the inner back to keep the device resting between your shoulder blades .
The app is pretty simple and gives you direct control over the Reon Pocket ’ s temperature settings .
There are three levels of cooling or warming , plus an additional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two minutes and a control for the speed of the “ fan.
” You can also set automatic modes that kick in whenever you turn the device on with its own power button rather than using the app .
It lasts around 2-3 hours on a charge , depending on the intensity of your settings .
The device only weighs about 80 grams , so beyond the cooling and warming effects it doesn ’ t really feel noticeable when you ’ re wearing it in the undershirt , and it doesn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It is , however , a little awkward to insert it once the undershirt is on — you need to get a good fit in the pocket , which is hard to do with your hands behind your back .
Maybe it gets easier with practice .
So , how does it work ?
Sony ’ s marketing suggests that it can reduce your body surface temperature by 13°C , for example from 36°C ( 96°F ) to 23°C ( 73.4°F ) .
I can believe that that ’ s the case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the effect is clearly much less pronounced across the whole body , as Sony ’ s own pictures show .
I wore the Reon Pocket while walking to a supermarket about a mile away for lunch today .
The temperature was only 30°C ( 86°F ) , so we ’ re not quite into the swing of a Tokyo summer just yet , but the humidity was pushing 80 percent — this is still the kind of walk that would normally turn me into a puddle of sweat soon enough .
I did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pocket improved matters somewhat , even on its lowest cooling setting .
I was definitely still sweating by the time I got home , but the cooling sensation does make a difference while you ’ re actually out there in the heat .
Basically , the Reon Pocket does what you ’ d expect any small , cold object to do when held against your skin .
You ’ re still going to feel like you ’ re in a hot , sweaty environment , but you ’ ll take what you can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ m not sure the hassle of dealing with a weekly rotation of device-exclusive Sony undershirts would be worth it .
But I ’ m in a position where I ’ ve been working from home for nearly a decade and my 2020 summer wardrobe consists almost exclusively of Toronto Raptors t-shirts .
If I worked a job that involved a daily commute and business clothing , as is the case for tens of millions of people across Japan , I think the Reon Pocket could make more sense .
As it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it as a pocket gadget that can act as a localized cooler or warmer in a pinch .
The Reon Pocket is out now exclusively in Japan .
It costs 13,000 yen ( $ 122 ) for the device itself , and the undershirts ( available in white or beige ) are 1,800 yen ( $ 17 ) each .
The app does work in English , if you ’ re looking to import .

I’ve lived in Japan for nearly twelve years, and I’m still not used to the awful summers. Between the high temperatures and suffocating humidity, stepping outside in July and August feels like being slowly cooked in a sous vide pot. As a seemingly interminable rainy season comes to an end, I’m not going to need much encouragement to stay home.
I don’t think my opinion on Japanese summers is particularly unusual, which is probably why Sony decided to go ahead with the Reon Pocket through its First Flight internal-startup-incubator-slash-crowdfunding-platform. First Flight has previously led to products like the FES E Ink watch, the Huis smart home universal remote, and the Wena Wrist modular smartwatch. Now we have the Reon Pocket, which can only be described as a wearable air conditioner, and I’ve been testing it out.
The Reon Pocket is a fairly slim palm-sized white plastic device that charges over USB-C and connects to your iOS or Android phone with Bluetooth. It definitely looks like a Sony gadget. There’s a silicone pad on the back that you can press against your skin, and the Reon Pocket uses the Peltier effect to cool or warm itself up by absorbing and releasing heat. You can use it handheld, but the most widely promoted use cases involves buying Sony’s special V-neck undershirts with a pocket on the inner back to keep the device resting between your shoulder blades.
A Reon Pocket undershirt, complete with inner pocket on the back.
The app is pretty simple and gives you direct control over the Reon Pocket’s temperature settings. There are three levels of cooling or warming, plus an additional boost mode that’s limited to two minutes and a control for the speed of the “fan.” You can also set automatic modes that kick in whenever you turn the device on with its own power button rather than using the app. It lasts around 2-3 hours on a charge, depending on the intensity of your settings.
The device only weighs about 80 grams, so beyond the cooling and warming effects it doesn’t really feel noticeable when you’re wearing it in the undershirt, and it doesn’t stick out beneath another layer of clothing. It is, however, a little awkward to insert it once the undershirt is on — you need to get a good fit in the pocket, which is hard to do with your hands behind your back. Maybe it gets easier with practice.
So, how does it work? Sony’s marketing suggests that it can reduce your body surface temperature by 13°C, for example from 36°C (96°F) to 23°C (73.4°F). I can believe that that’s the case at the point of contact, but the effect is clearly much less pronounced across the whole body, as Sony’s own pictures show.
Sony
I wore the Reon Pocket while walking to a supermarket about a mile away for lunch today. The temperature was only 30°C (86°F), so we’re not quite into the swing of a Tokyo summer just yet, but the humidity was pushing 80 percent — this is still the kind of walk that would normally turn me into a puddle of sweat soon enough. I did find, generally, that the Reon Pocket improved matters somewhat, even on its lowest cooling setting. I was definitely still sweating by the time I got home, but the cooling sensation does make a difference while you’re actually out there in the heat.
Basically, the Reon Pocket does what you’d expect any small, cold object to do when held against your skin. You’re still going to feel like you’re in a hot, sweaty environment, but you’ll take what you can get.
For me personally, I’m not sure the hassle of dealing with a weekly rotation of device-exclusive Sony undershirts would be worth it. But I’m in a position where I’ve been working from home for nearly a decade and my 2020 summer wardrobe consists almost exclusively of Toronto Raptors t-shirts. If I worked a job that involved a daily commute and business clothing, as is the case for tens of millions of people across Japan, I think the Reon Pocket could make more sense. As it is, I’d probably just use it as a pocket gadget that can act as a localized cooler or warmer in a pinch.