theverge--2020-01-27--Peregrine falcons nesting in the Boeing MAX hangar will be kicked out soon

For Boeing , there have been many consequences to the two fatal 737 Max crashes that left 346 people dead .
The company halted production of the 737 Max at its Renton , Washington plant , its CEO was pushed out , and disturbing internal chats among Boeing employees discussing the plane crashes have surfaced .
And now a new consequence has come to light : a pair of peregrine falcons will be homeless .
The two falcons have been nesting in the 737 Max factory in Renton , The Seattle Times reports .
But because the doors of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the falcons need to leave — or else they may be trapped inside .
Peregrine falcons , however , are notoriously difficult to trap and rehome .
The Times spoke to an expert who said it was almost unheard of for peregrine falcons to live and breed indoors : Peregrine falcons were almost wiped out by the use of pesticides in the mid-1950s , according to the National Audubon Society , dwindling to just a few hundred in the US by the 1970s .
Rigorous conservation efforts helped spark a regrowth of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ birds are sometimes spotted nesting in urban areas with tall buildings and bridges .
When in their hunting mode , peregrine falcons can reach flight speeds of 200 mph ( about a third the speed of a 737 Max airplane ) .
The Boeing falcons are at risk of starving inside the hangar if they can ’ t get out to hunt , and if the other birds they sometimes snack on ( yes , they feast on the occasional stray pigeon inside the hangar ) can ’ t get in .
Their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are unclear ; the USDA has been called in , but whether they ’ re going to trap and try to relocate the birds is still not determined .
However , wildlife experts say the birds may return to the hangar no matter how far away they are relocated .
Even if the birds are successfully evicted , one expert noted that it ’ ll be critical to close the hangar doors at the right time in their mating cycle .
If the doors are closed and they can ’ t get back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pair may relocate somewhere else of their own accord .
You can read the full saga of these peregrine falcons at The Seattle Times .

For Boeing, there have been many consequences to the two fatal 737 Max crashes that left 346 people dead. The company halted production of the 737 Max at its Renton, Washington plant, its CEO was pushed out, and disturbing internal chats among Boeing employees discussing the plane crashes have surfaced. And now a new consequence has come to light: a pair of peregrine falcons will be homeless.
The two falcons have been nesting in the 737 Max factory in Renton, The Seattle Times reports. But because the doors of the idled plant will be closed more often, the falcons need to leave — or else they may be trapped inside.
Peregrine falcons, however, are notoriously difficult to trap and rehome. The Times spoke to an expert who said it was almost unheard of for peregrine falcons to live and breed indoors:
The birds become attached to nest sites. In the Northwest, birds typically don’t migrate, but do sometimes wander, only to return to familiar areas to breed in spring and nest, often with the same partners. Some never leave nest sites.
Peregrine falcons were almost wiped out by the use of pesticides in the mid-1950s, according to the National Audubon Society, dwindling to just a few hundred in the US by the 1970s. Rigorous conservation efforts helped spark a regrowth of the peregrine falcon population, and the birds are sometimes spotted nesting in urban areas with tall buildings and bridges. When in their hunting mode, peregrine falcons can reach flight speeds of 200 mph (about a third the speed of a 737 Max airplane).
The Boeing falcons are at risk of starving inside the hangar if they can’t get out to hunt, and if the other birds they sometimes snack on (yes, they feast on the occasional stray pigeon inside the hangar) can’t get in. Their future as residents of the Renton plant are unclear; the USDA has been called in, but whether they’re going to trap and try to relocate the birds is still not determined. However, wildlife experts say the birds may return to the hangar no matter how far away they are relocated. Even if the birds are successfully evicted, one expert noted that it’ll be critical to close the hangar doors at the right time in their mating cycle. If the doors are closed and they can’t get back in until March or later, the pair may relocate somewhere else of their own accord.


theverge--2020-01-27--Fiat Chrysler’s new Uconnect 5 software is built on Android, adds Alexa support and better OTA updat

Fiat Chrysler’s new Uconnect 5 software is built on Android, adds Alexa support and better OTA updates

Fiat Chrysler ( FCA ) today announced the newest version of its infotainment system for cars , Uconnect 5 .
The new system adds tons of new features for future Chrysler , Dodge , Jeep , Ram , and Fiat vehicles , including integrated Alexa support , improved over-the-air firmware updates , and support for wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto .
The core of Uconnect 5 is completely new hardware : the Atlantis architecture , replacing the previous Powernet one , combined with a switch over to a heavily skinned version of Android on the software side of things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more powerful , featuring a better processor , 6GB of RAM , and up to 64GB of flash memory , plus support for larger and higher-resolution displays ( up to 12.3 inches and UHD resolution ) .
FCA says that the improvements should make the new Uconnect 5 systems up to five times faster compared to the old system .
The new software promises better over-the-air firmware updates , too , which is something that ’ s been an issue in the past for FCA .
The company ran into trouble last year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ updates can be done seamlessly in the background , while others will require customers to head to a dealership .
FCA has previously supported Amazon ’ s Alexa assistant before through an Alexa skill , allowing customers to do things like start their cars or lock their doors using an Amazon Echo .
Uconnect 5 takes it a step further by adding native Alexa support to the car itself ( sort of like a built-in Echo Auto ) for controlling music , sports or weather updates , and more .
Uconnect 5 will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ll be able to connect two phones simultaneously now for users who have multiple phones for personal and work use or just like fighting over who gets to pick the music .
There ’ s also support for wireless CarPlay and Android Auto , assuming your phone supports it .
FCA is supporting integrated 4G LTE with Wi-Fi hot spot capabilities with Uconnect 5 , allowing customers to make purchases through the car ’ s interface for gas , takeout orders , and maintenance at dealerships .
Lastly , Uconnect 5 adds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to preconfigure personal settings for radio settings , air conditioning , and mirror and seat placement for multiple drivers to switch between .
FCA hasn ’ t announced which cars will be getting Uconnect 5 , although the new hardware system means that the new features likely won ’ t be available on older models as a software update .
FCA plans to roll it out on new vehicles later this year .

Fiat Chrysler (FCA) today announced the newest version of its infotainment system for cars, Uconnect 5. The new system adds tons of new features for future Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, and Fiat vehicles, including integrated Alexa support, improved over-the-air firmware updates, and support for wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The core of Uconnect 5 is completely new hardware: the Atlantis architecture, replacing the previous Powernet one, combined with a switch over to a heavily skinned version of Android on the software side of things. The new Atlantis hardware is much more powerful, featuring a better processor, 6GB of RAM, and up to 64GB of flash memory, plus support for larger and higher-resolution displays (up to 12.3 inches and UHD resolution). FCA says that the improvements should make the new Uconnect 5 systems up to five times faster compared to the old system.
Image: FCA
The new software promises better over-the-air firmware updates, too, which is something that’s been an issue in the past for FCA. The company ran into trouble last year with OTA Uconnect updates. Some firmware updates can be done seamlessly in the background, while others will require customers to head to a dealership.
FCA has previously supported Amazon’s Alexa assistant before through an Alexa skill, allowing customers to do things like start their cars or lock their doors using an Amazon Echo. Uconnect 5 takes it a step further by adding native Alexa support to the car itself (sort of like a built-in Echo Auto) for controlling music, sports or weather updates, and more.
Like a built-in Echo Auto
Uconnect 5 will also work better with smartphones. You’ll be able to connect two phones simultaneously now for users who have multiple phones for personal and work use or just like fighting over who gets to pick the music. There’s also support for wireless CarPlay and Android Auto, assuming your phone supports it. FCA is supporting integrated 4G LTE with Wi-Fi hot spot capabilities with Uconnect 5, allowing customers to make purchases through the car’s interface for gas, takeout orders, and maintenance at dealerships.
Lastly, Uconnect 5 adds multiple user profiles, making it easier to preconfigure personal settings for radio settings, air conditioning, and mirror and seat placement for multiple drivers to switch between.


theverge--2020-01-27--Plague Inc. developer reminds players it is just a game amid coronavirus outbreak

As the coronavirus outbreak continues to spread , the creators of a wildly popular game about viral outbreaks issued a statement last week reminding people that , while realistic , their game is just a game .
“ Please remember that Plague Inc. is a game , not a scientific model and that the current coronavirus outbreak is a very real situation which is impacting a huge number of people , ” reads a statement on the company ’ s website .
“ Please remember that ‘ Plague Inc. ’ is a game , not a scientific model ” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to infect the entire world with a deadly virus , experienced a surge in popularity last week as people learned more about the severity of the new coronavirus outbreak in China .
The popularity is not that big of a surprise for James Vaughan , founder of Ndemic Creations , and creator of the game .
Ndemic Creations has seen similar patterns before .
“ [ W ] henever there is an outbreak of disease we see an increase in players , as people seek to find out more about how diseases spread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outbreaks , ” the statement says .
Plague Inc. is currently available as both a video game and as a board game .
Vaughan created the first version of the game eight years ago in his spare time , and tried to make the game as realistic as possible .
In 2013 , he was invited to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to give a talk about how games like Plague Inc. can help engage the public .
Ndemic Creations urges players concerned about the coronavirus to check the World Health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information .

As the coronavirus outbreak continues to spread, the creators of a wildly popular game about viral outbreaks issued a statement last week reminding people that, while realistic, their game is just a game.
“Please remember that Plague Inc. is a game, not a scientific model and that the current coronavirus outbreak is a very real situation which is impacting a huge number of people,” reads a statement on the company’s website.
“Please remember that ‘Plague Inc.’ is a game, not a scientific model”
The game, in which players must try to infect the entire world with a deadly virus, experienced a surge in popularity last week as people learned more about the severity of the new coronavirus outbreak in China.
The popularity is not that big of a surprise for James Vaughan, founder of Ndemic Creations, and creator of the game. Ndemic Creations has seen similar patterns before. “[W]henever there is an outbreak of disease we see an increase in players, as people seek to find out more about how diseases spread and to understand the complexities of viral outbreaks,” the statement says.
Plague Inc. is currently available as both a video game and as a board game. Vaughan created the first version of the game eight years ago in his spare time, and tried to make the game as realistic as possible. In 2013, he was invited to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to give a talk about how games like Plague Inc. can help engage the public.


theverge--2020-01-27--Go read these reports showing how an antivirus company tracked everything its users clicked online

You might install antivirus software on your computer to protect your privacy and make sure no one is snooping on what you ’ re up to .
But if you used some Avast and AVG products , you might have been revealing all of that sensitive information anyway .
A joint investigation by Motherboard and PCMag reveals how Avast , which owns AVG , kept track of detailed information on what many of its users did online .
That data it collected included what people searched for and clicked on , from LinkedIn pages to PornHub searches to Amazon purchases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jumpshot , an Avast subsidiary , which offered to sell that data to clients .
( Avast said the data couldn ’ t be traced back to individual users , though the publications are somewhat skeptical . )
It ’ s a scary read that shows the wide-reaching access the apps on our computers and extensions in our browsers have , as well as just how broad those check boxes to “ share data ” with a company can be .
Sharing information on this scale is obviously unacceptable and few would consent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and revealing it can be .
This report shows that it ’ s happening nonetheless , even from companies you ’ d expect to look out for you .

You might install antivirus software on your computer to protect your privacy and make sure no one is snooping on what you’re up to. But if you used some Avast and AVG products, you might have been revealing all of that sensitive information anyway.
A joint investigation by Motherboard and PCMag reveals how Avast, which owns AVG, kept track of detailed information on what many of its users did online. That data it collected included what people searched for and clicked on, from LinkedIn pages to PornHub searches to Amazon purchases. That information was then sent to Jumpshot, an Avast subsidiary, which offered to sell that data to clients. (Avast said the data couldn’t be traced back to individual users, though the publications are somewhat skeptical.)


theverge--2020-01-27--Atari-branded hotels with e-sports studios and game rooms are coming to the US

Atari has licensed its name for a number of brand partnerships in the gaming space , but the company ’ s latest deal to build eight Atari-branded hotels marks its foray into the hospitality industry .
The company announced a licensing deal with US real estate developer True North Studio and GSD group to build eight hotels in the US .
Construction will begin in Phoenix in mid-2020 , with more hotels to come in Austin , Chicago , Denver , Las Vegas , San Francisco , San Jose , and Seattle .
The “ video game-themed destination ” will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ AR games , and some locations will have venues and studios to accommodate e-sports events .
Atari says the hotels will have meeting rooms , co-working spaces , restaurants , bars , a bakery , a movie theater , and a gym .
The company says it ’ ll be a destination for families and business travelers , which lends itself to a hilarious image of a businessman trying to print something in the meeting room while a Fortnite tournament happens in the next room .
Atari will receive 5 percent of hotel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 600,000 advance for inking the deal .
The hotel will be located close to Steve Wozniak ’ s Woz U university campus in Arizona , which is also associated with the Phoenix-based GSD Group .
Meanwhile , the development of the Atari VCS retro console has been reported to be undergoing significant difficulties , with the console ’ s lead architect claiming that he hadn ’ t been paid in over six months .
If Atari , a gaming company , is having this much trouble with building a game console , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hotels will turn out .

Atari has licensed its name for a number of brand partnerships in the gaming space, but the company’s latest deal to build eight Atari-branded hotels marks its foray into the hospitality industry. The company announced a licensing deal with US real estate developer True North Studio and GSD group to build eight hotels in the US. Construction will begin in Phoenix in mid-2020, with more hotels to come in Austin, Chicago, Denver, Las Vegas, San Francisco, San Jose, and Seattle.
The “video game-themed destination” will offer gaming playgrounds that include VR and AR games, and some locations will have venues and studios to accommodate e-sports events. Atari says the hotels will have meeting rooms, co-working spaces, restaurants, bars, a bakery, a movie theater, and a gym. The company says it’ll be a destination for families and business travelers, which lends itself to a hilarious image of a businessman trying to print something in the meeting room while a Fortnite tournament happens in the next room.
Artist rendering of the hotel. Image: Atari
Atari will receive 5 percent of hotel revenue, and it received a $600,000 advance for inking the deal. The hotel will be located close to Steve Wozniak’s Woz U university campus in Arizona, which is also associated with the Phoenix-based GSD Group.


theverge--2020-01-27--Preorders for Motorola’s Razr are now backed up until mid-February

If you place a preorder for Motorola ’ s Razr right now , you won ’ t receive the phone until February 18th — more than 10 days after its launch date .
The resurrected Razr , now with a folding screen , will exclusively hit Verizon on February 6th .
Preorders opened up yesterday , and delivery dates for the $ 1,500 device were quickly pushed out by several days .
Motorola ’ s website , which is also taking preorders for the Razr , lists the same February 18th estimate at the moment .
The company delayed preorders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the phone had exceeded its initial expectations .
Verizon is offering a number of promotions for those purchasing the Razr ; you can save up to $ 500 if you trade in a recent phone and pay the Razr off over a 24-month period .
But since it ’ s the only carrier to actually offer the phone , that $ 1,500 asking price ( when bought outright ) probably won ’ t be changing anytime soon .
After Samsung ’ s Galaxy Fold got folding screens off to a rocky start @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether Motorola ’ s approach — and the Razr ’ s old-school form factor — will be more about proving out the appeal of this new category .
Samsung seems to be pursuing a similar path for its next folding phone , which is rumored to be unveiled alongside the Galaxy S20 lineup on February 11th .
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If you place a preorder for Motorola’s Razr right now, you won’t receive the phone until February 18th — more than 10 days after its launch date. The resurrected Razr, now with a folding screen, will exclusively hit Verizon on February 6th. Preorders opened up yesterday, and delivery dates for the $1,500 device were quickly pushed out by several days.
Motorola’s website, which is also taking preorders for the Razr, lists the same February 18th estimate at the moment. The company delayed preorders by a month, claiming that interest in the phone had exceeded its initial expectations.
Verizon is offering a number of promotions for those purchasing the Razr; you can save up to $500 if you trade in a recent phone and pay the Razr off over a 24-month period. But since it’s the only carrier to actually offer the phone, that $1,500 asking price (when bought outright) probably won’t be changing anytime soon.
After Samsung’s Galaxy Fold got folding screens off to a rocky start, there’s high interest in whether Motorola’s approach — and the Razr’s old-school form factor — will be more about proving out the appeal of this new category. Samsung seems to be pursuing a similar path for its next folding phone, which is rumored to be unveiled alongside the Galaxy S20 lineup on February 11th.
Motorola Razr / Pre-order for $1,499 Pre-order from Motorola


theverge--2020-01-27--Bird gobbles up another rival scooter startup, this time in Europe

Bird has announced that it will acquire Circ , a leading electric scooter rental business in Europe and the Middle East .
The acquisition is the latest sign of consolidation among e-scooter companies as the quest for a profitable business model intensifies .
As part of the deal , Bird will take on 300 of Circ ’ s employees , many of whom are based in Berlin .
Bird also announced a $ 75 million extension to its Series D funding round , bringing the total size of the round to $ 350 million — though it would not disclose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s the latest sign of consolidation among e-scooter companies Circ isn ’ t Bird ’ s first acquisition .
The Santa Monica-based company bought West Coast rival Scoot for a reported $ 25 million in early 2019 .
The acquisition allowed Bird to get back into the lucrative San Francisco market , after initially getting shut out of the city in 2018 .
Until recently , Scoot was just one of two scooter companies licensed to operate in San Francisco .
( The city recently approved Uber ’ s Jump , Spin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s permit . )
Circ , which currently operates in 40 cities across 14 European countries , in addition to United Arab Emirates , recently laid off dozens of workers at its headquarters and regional locations , citing a shift to focus on “ efficiency and ops excellence.
” According to TechCrunch , around 50 people , or less than 10 percent of employees , lost their jobs .
Bird has made cuts , too , laying off two dozen employees at its other scooter acquisition , Scoot .
Still , Bird @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 75 million in funding is a sign that venture capital firms aren ’ t done pumping money into e-scooter companies , despite reports of steep cash losses and rampant vandalism of the scooters .
Bird lost nearly $ 100 million during the first quarter of 2019 , while revenue shrank sharply to only about $ 15 million , according to The Information .
In the spring , the scooter startup was reportedly down to about $ 100 million left in cash .
it ’ s been able to woo investors , thanks to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says it ’ s been able to woo investors , thanks to its renewed emphasis on unit economics ( how much revenue each individual scooter brings in for the company ) .
One of the most important numbers to consider is the lifespan of each scooter .
The more trips and miles a single scooter can cover , the better it is for scooter companies that have to recoup the cost of each vehicle before they can start making money .
It ’ s been a rough winter for the e-scooter industry .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Lyft have laid off workers and pulled out of markets as they become laser-focused on making their business profitable .
Even the rollout of tougher , longer-lasting scooters hasn ’ t reversed the flow of more money going out than coming in .

Bird has announced that it will acquire Circ, a leading electric scooter rental business in Europe and the Middle East. The acquisition is the latest sign of consolidation among e-scooter companies as the quest for a profitable business model intensifies.
As part of the deal, Bird will take on 300 of Circ’s employees, many of whom are based in Berlin. Bird also announced a $75 million extension to its Series D funding round, bringing the total size of the round to $350 million — though it would not disclose the amount for the transaction.
it’s the latest sign of consolidation among e-scooter companies
Circ isn’t Bird’s first acquisition. The Santa Monica-based company bought West Coast rival Scoot for a reported $25 million in early 2019. The acquisition allowed Bird to get back into the lucrative San Francisco market, after initially getting shut out of the city in 2018. Until recently, Scoot was just one of two scooter companies licensed to operate in San Francisco. (The city recently approved Uber’s Jump, Spin, and Lime, while eliminating Skip’s permit.)
Circ, which currently operates in 40 cities across 14 European countries, in addition to United Arab Emirates, recently laid off dozens of workers at its headquarters and regional locations, citing a shift to focus on “efficiency and ops excellence.” According to TechCrunch, around 50 people, or less than 10 percent of employees, lost their jobs. Bird has made cuts, too, laying off two dozen employees at its other scooter acquisition, Scoot.
Still, Bird’s announcement of an additional $75 million in funding is a sign that venture capital firms aren’t done pumping money into e-scooter companies, despite reports of steep cash losses and rampant vandalism of the scooters. Bird lost nearly $100 million during the first quarter of 2019, while revenue shrank sharply to only about $15 million, according to The Information. In the spring, the scooter startup was reportedly down to about $100 million left in cash.
it’s been able to woo investors, thanks to a renewed emphasis on unit economics
Bird says it’s been able to woo investors, thanks to its renewed emphasis on unit economics (how much revenue each individual scooter brings in for the company). One of the most important numbers to consider is the lifespan of each scooter. The more trips and miles a single scooter can cover, the better it is for scooter companies that have to recoup the cost of each vehicle before they can start making money.


theverge--2020-01-27--Netflix’s first full Ghost in the Shell trailer shows the series like you’ve never seen it before

To call Netflix ’ s visual take on Ghost in the Shell different would be an understatement .
The animated series has gotten a full makeover in the form of CGI that looks more suited to a Pixar film or a video game ; it ’ s a beautiful , albeit drastic , change from the drawn animation most fans have come to know .
In the first full trailer for Ghost in the Shell : SAC_2045 , which is set to arrive this April , Netflix offers a full look at the cast , from Major to Batou .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ series centered on a counter-cyberterrorist organization that spans manga , anime , games , and films .
Although there have been several iterations of its story , Ghost in the Shell generally follows Major Motoko Kusanagi , a cyborg cop , and crime-solve task force Public Security Section 9 .
SAC_2045 will tell a similar story when it ’ s released in April .
Netflix announced the show in 2018 after it had revealed news for its upcoming live-action version of Cowboy Bebop and its plans to bring Neon Genesis Evangelion to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Kenji Kamiyama ( Ghost in the Shell : Stand Alone Complex ) are directing Ghost in the Shell : SAC_2045 .
The series has already had at least one controversial adaptation ; the 2017 film Ghost in the Shell was blasted by critics for whitewashing Major by casting Scarlett Johansson in the role .

To call Netflix’s visual take on Ghost in the Shell different would be an understatement. The animated series has gotten a full makeover in the form of CGI that looks more suited to a Pixar film or a video game; it’s a beautiful, albeit drastic, change from the drawn animation most fans have come to know. In the first full trailer for Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045, which is set to arrive this April, Netflix offers a full look at the cast, from Major to Batou.
Ghost in the Shell is a cyberpunk series centered on a counter-cyberterrorist organization that spans manga, anime, games, and films. Although there have been several iterations of its story, Ghost in the Shell generally follows Major Motoko Kusanagi, a cyborg cop, and crime-solve task force Public Security Section 9. SAC_2045 will tell a similar story when it’s released in April.


theverge--2020-01-27--Today’s best discounts are on Amazon’s Echo Buds, the latest iPad, and more

Only the best deals on Verge-approved gadgets get the Good 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 .
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These do not influence editorial content , though Vox Media may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links .
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Today ’ s best deals are a mix of fresh offers we ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a few returning favorites .
The headliner is Amazon ’ s Echo Buds , which are $ 40 off right now , bringing the truly wireless earphones down to a much more reasonable $ 90 .
If you ’ re looking for a set of affordable wireless earbuds that offer noise cancellation , your search is over .
Despite the annoyance of charging these via Micro USB , you won ’ t find a better value .
The seventh-generation iPad has received a significant price cut — the same one we saw during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Amazon and Best Buy , the base model with 32GB of storage starts at $ 249.99 ( usually $ 329.99 ) .
If you want more storage ( four times as much , specifically ) the 128GB version costs $ 329.99 ( $ 100 off ) at Amazon and Best Buy .
The $ 700 off deal on the Alienware m17 gaming laptop is back on .
Dell yanked the coupon shortly after we published the deal last week citing stock issues , but if you missed out on the offer , now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 1,999 , this 17-inch model is $ 1,299 with the offer code AFF700OFFAW used at checkout .
It features Intel ’ s 9th Gen i7 processor , Nvidia ’ s midrange RTX 2060 graphics chip , 16GB of DDR4 RAM , and a fast 512GB PCIe M.2 SSD .
Additionally , its QHD ( 1560 x 1440 ) display has a 120Hz refresh rate , both of which contribute to a crisper and smoother image .
This deal sold out quickly last time , so it might not stick around for long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is happening at Newegg .
MSI ’ s 15.6-inch GP65 is $ 1,449 ( you ’ ll receive a $ 100 rebate card in the mail post-purchase ) , and like the Alienware above , you ’ ll get a lot for your money .
The machine uses a 9th Gen Intel Core i7 CPU , boasts an Nvidia RTX 2070 graphics chip , 16GB of RAM , 512GB of PCIe SSD storage , and its 1080p display has a 144Hz refresh rate .
There ’ s a great deal on the Sony @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Usually $ 349 , this model has dropped in price before to $ 278 , today ’ s deal cuts it even further , with a new pair offered for $ 238 .
The reseller is “ smart_home_stuff , ” and it has a solid rating so there ’ s little reason to doubt this as a legitimate offer .
No one is immune to losing things , be it keys , a wallet , or a bag .
There ’ s some assurance in using Bluetooth trackers so at least you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your stuff should it go missing .
To that end , Amazon is offering several Tile trackers at a discount .
The standard square Tile Mate ( with user-replaceable batteries ) that can loop onto your keyring or slide into your bag is $ 14.99 instead of $ 24.99 .
A four-pack of this model costs $ 39.99 instead of $ 69.99 .
Tile ’ s new Sticker trackers also come in a four-pack for $ 39.99 ( usually $ 59.99 ) .
The temporary price cut of Google ’ s Pixel 3A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s $ 349.99 , which is $ 50 off its usual price , at Best Buy .
You ’ ll receive a $ 100 gift card with purchase .
This deal applies to the Pixel 3A XL , too .
If you prefer to shop elsewhere , B & H Photo is also hosting the deal for the Pixel 3A , though you won ’ t find the Pixel 3A XL looped into the deal there .

Today’s best deals are a mix of fresh offers we’re seeing for the first time and a few returning favorites. The headliner is Amazon’s Echo Buds, which are $40 off right now, bringing the truly wireless earphones down to a much more reasonable $90. If you’re looking for a set of affordable wireless earbuds that offer noise cancellation, your search is over. Despite the annoyance of charging these via Micro USB, you won’t find a better value.
The seventh-generation iPad has received a significant price cut — the same one we saw during Black Friday and Cyber Monday. At Amazon and Best Buy, the base model with 32GB of storage starts at $249.99 (usually $329.99). If you want more storage (four times as much, specifically) the 128GB version costs $329.99 ($100 off) at Amazon and Best Buy.
Image: Alienware
The $700 off deal on the Alienware m17 gaming laptop is back on. Dell yanked the coupon shortly after we published the deal last week citing stock issues, but if you missed out on the offer, now is your chance to strike. Normally $1,999, this 17-inch model is $1,299 with the offer code AFF700OFFAW used at checkout.
It features Intel’s 9th Gen i7 processor, Nvidia’s midrange RTX 2060 graphics chip, 16GB of DDR4 RAM, and a fast 512GB PCIe M.2 SSD. Additionally, its QHD (2560 x 1440) display has a 120Hz refresh rate, both of which contribute to a crisper and smoother image. This deal sold out quickly last time, so it might not stick around for long.
Another good deal on gaming laptops is happening at Newegg. MSI’s 15.6-inch GP65 is $1,449 (you’ll receive a $100 rebate card in the mail post-purchase), and like the Alienware above, you’ll get a lot for your money. The machine uses a 9th Gen Intel Core i7 CPU, boasts an Nvidia RTX 2070 graphics chip, 16GB of RAM, 512GB of PCIe SSD storage, and its 1080p display has a 144Hz refresh rate.
Photo by James Bareham / The Verge
There’s a great deal on the Sony WH-1000XM3 wireless noise-canceling headphones happening at eBay. Usually $349, this model has dropped in price before to $278, today’s deal cuts it even further, with a new pair offered for $238. The reseller is “smart_home_stuff,” and it has a solid rating so there’s little reason to doubt this as a legitimate offer.
Image: Tile
No one is immune to losing things, be it keys, a wallet, or a bag. There’s some assurance in using Bluetooth trackers so at least you stand a better chance of reuniting with your stuff should it go missing. To that end, Amazon is offering several Tile trackers at a discount. The standard square Tile Mate (with user-replaceable batteries) that can loop onto your keyring or slide into your bag is $14.99 instead of $24.99. A four-pack of this model costs $39.99 instead of $69.99. Tile’s new Sticker trackers also come in a four-pack for $39.99 (usually $59.99).
Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge


theverge--2020-01-28--UK defies US and refuses to ban Huawei from 5G networks

The UK will allow “ high-risk vendors ” like Huawei to supply equipment for its 5G network infrastructure , the government announced today .
The announcement outlining the limitations imposed on high-risk vendors was made after weeks of speculation about the company ’ s role in the UK ’ s 5G infrastructure .
All four of the UK ’ s major operators are already using the company ’ s equipment in their 5G networks .
The announcement defines high-risk vendors as those that “ pose greater security and resilience risks to UK telecoms networks.
” It says that the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issue guidance to UK telcos on high-risk vendors who will be allowed to supply non-core elements of the network , but will be limited by a market share cap of 35 percent , which the government hopes will stop the country from becoming overly reliant on their equipment .
Such vendors will be excluded entirely from security critical core parts of the network , as well as sensitive geographic locations like military bases .
“ High-risk vendors never have been and never will be in our most sensitive networks ” The country ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the decision would strike a balance between enabling infrastructure upgrades , without compromising national security .
“ High-risk vendors never have been and never will be in our most sensitive networks , ” she said , adding that the decision “ Paves the way for secure and resilient networks , with our sovereignty over data protected , but it also builds on our strategy to develop a diversity of suppliers.
” The announcement is likely to anger officials in the Trump administration who have banned government use of Huawei ’ s tech , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ business with the company , citing national security concerns .
The administration has since been lobbying fiercely for the UK to ban Huawei ’ s involvement in its 5G infrastructure .
As recently as last Friday , the Financial Times reported that President Donald Trump personally discussed the issue with Prime Minister Boris Johnson in a phone call .
Network operators have previously drawn a distinction between core and non-core parts of their network as a means of segmenting security .
The non-core network mainly covers antennas and base stations which can be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , for example , has removed Huawei equipment from the core of EE ’ s mobile network infrastructure , but has allowed it to be used elsewhere .
US national security adviser Robert O ’ Brien told the Financial Times that allowing Huawei into the UK ’ s 5G networks risks giving China access to the “ most intimate ” details of British citizens .
“ It is somewhat shocking to us that folks in the UK would look at Huawei as some sort of a commercial decision .
5G is a national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
The UK will have to face the consequences of ignoring the USA ’ s pleas as early as Friday January 31st , when it leaves the European Union and starts the process of negotiating its own trade deals ; of which the US deal will be one of the most important .
There could also be consequences for intelligence sharing .
According to Politico , the US No .
3 House Republican leader Liz Cheney said that the US will have to “ recalculate [ and ] reassess whether or not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closest of our intel partners ” if the UK approves the use of Huawei in their 5G networks .
The UK and US are members of the “ Five Eyes ” intelligence sharing agreement along with Canada , Australia , and New Zealand .
While the US has been pushing for a ban , the UK ’ s telcos have been pushing back .
In particular , Vodafone has argued that a complete Huawei ban would set back the country ’ s 5G infrastructure and Prime Mininister Boris Johnson has said that there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equipment .
A ban would also be costly for the telcos who are already using Huawei ’ s equipment in their networks .
Vodafone has said it would cost the company “ hundreds of millions ” to strip the equipment out .
There has been fierce debate over the security of using Huawei ’ s equipment both nationally and internationally .
The UK ’ s Huawei Cyber Security Evaluation Centre criticized Huawei ’ s cybersecurity competency in a report published last year , only for British intelligence to counter that the company ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Last April , reports emerged that the British government was about to allow Huawei equipment in non-core parts of the network , but the official decision never materialized ( and the minister who was thought to have leaked the decision was fired ) .
Today ’ s report was initially delayed due to the uncertainty created by trade restrictions placed on Huawei by the US government , The Guardian noted , with the company ’ s fate seemingly having become tied up in the ongoing trade war between the US and China .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s third general election in five years forced the government to delay its decision once again .
The delays have meant that the UK ’ s telcos have already started building out their 5G network infrastructure using Huawei equipment .
The first of these , from EE , arrived in May 2019 .
Telcos across Europe have made similar arguments against banning Huawei , although Reuters notes a consensus is yet to emerge across the bloc .

The UK will allow “high-risk vendors” like Huawei to supply equipment for its 5G network infrastructure, the government announced today. The announcement outlining the limitations imposed on high-risk vendors was made after weeks of speculation about the company’s role in the UK’s 5G infrastructure. All four of the UK’s major operators are already using the company’s equipment in their 5G networks.
The announcement defines high-risk vendors as those that “pose greater security and resilience risks to UK telecoms networks.” The country’s National Cyber Security Centre says that high-risk vendors will be allowed to supply non-core elements of the network, but they will be limited by a market share cap of 35 percent, which the government hopes will stop the country from becoming overly reliant on their equipment. Such vendors will be excluded entirely from critical core parts of the network, as well as sensitive geographic locations like military bases.
Network operators have previously distinguished between core and non-core parts of their network as a means of segmenting security. The non-core network mainly covers antennas and base stations that can be more easily isolated and secured. BT, for example, has removed Huawei equipment from the core of EE’s mobile network infrastructure, but it has allowed it to be used elsewhere.
“High-risk vendors never have been and never will be in our most sensitive networks.”
The country’s Digital Secretary Baroness Nicky Morgan says that the decision strikes a balance between enabling infrastructure upgrades, without compromising national security. “High-risk vendors never have been and never will be in our most sensitive networks,” she said, adding that the decision “paves the way for secure and resilient networks, with our sovereignty over data protected, but it also builds on our strategy to develop a diversity of suppliers.”
The announcement is likely to anger officials in the Trump administration who have banned government use of Huawei’s tech and have prevented American firms from doing business with the company, citing national security concerns. The administration has since been lobbying fiercely for the UK to ban Huawei’s involvement in its 5G infrastructure. As recently as last Friday, the Financial Times reported that President Donald Trump personally discussed the issue with Prime Minister Boris Johnson in a phone call.
“5G is a national security decision.”
US national security adviser Robert O’Brien told the Financial Times that allowing Huawei into the UK’s 5G networks risks giving China access to the “most intimate” details of British citizens. “It is somewhat shocking to us that folks in the UK would look at Huawei as some sort of a commercial decision. 5G is a national security decision,” O’Brien said.
The UK will have to face the consequences of ignoring the US’s pleas as early as Friday, January 31st, when it leaves the European Union and starts the process of negotiating its own trade deals — of which, the US deal will be one of the most important.
There could also be consequences for intelligence sharing. According to Politico, Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) said that the US will have to “recalculate [and] reassess whether or not they can continue to be among the closest of our intel partners” if the UK approves the use of Huawei in their 5G networks. The UK and US are members of the “Five Eyes” intelligence-sharing agreement along with Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
While the US has been pushing for a ban, the UK’s telcos have been pushing back. In particular, Vodafone has argued that a complete Huawei ban would set back the country’s 5G infrastructure and Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said that there is a lack of alternatives to its equipment. A ban would also be costly for the telcos that are already using Huawei’s equipment in their networks. Vodafone has said it would cost the company “hundreds of millions” to strip the equipment out.
Telcos pushed back against a ban
There has been fierce debate over the security of using Huawei’s equipment both nationally and internationally. The UK’s Huawei Cyber Security Evaluation Centre criticized Huawei’s cybersecurity competency in a report published last year, only for British intelligence to counter that the company’s equipment is a manageable risk. Last April, reports emerged that the British government was about to allow Huawei equipment in non-core parts of the network, but the official decision never materialized (and the minister who was thought to have leaked the decision was fired).
Today’s decision was initially delayed due to the uncertainty created by trade restrictions placed on Huawei by the US government, The Guardian noted, with the company’s fate seemingly having become tied up in the ongoing trade war between the US and China. Then, in November, the UK’s third general election in five years forced the government to delay its decision once again.
The delays have meant that the UK’s telcos have already started building out their 5G network infrastructure using Huawei equipment. The first of these, from EE, arrived in May 2019. Telcos across Europe have made similar arguments against banning Huawei, although Reuters notes a consensus is yet to emerge across the bloc.
Responding to the news, Huawei issued a statement saying that it was “reassured” by the government’s “evidence-based decision.” It pointed out that it has been supplying the UK’s telecoms operators with equipment for over 15 years.


theverge--2020-01-28--The iPad is still finding its place ten years in

Yesterday was the 10th anniversary of the announcement of the original iPad .
Tom Warren has our look back story here : Apple ’ s iPad changed the tablet game 10 years ago today .
Tom ’ s piece investigates how Steve Jobs originally positioned the first iPad as a new kind of device that sits in between a phone and a laptop .
Ever since , there has been an omnipresent and often unfair expectation that the iPad would eventually supplant the MacBook .
It ’ s an expectation that Apple itself has encouraged , from time to time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a laptop by design , its strengths and limitations encourage ( and demand ) different behavior .
The video series Processor that is a complement to this newsletter is in some ways an ongoing meditation on the question Apple famously asked in one iPad commercial : What ’ s a computer ?
I ’ m still obsessed with this question — or more specifically with questions about how computers are changing and how they ’ re changing us .
Sometimes these questions end up getting answered by looking at the unique ways the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ ve written about this numerous times and made a few videos about it .
Here ’ s a video from last June where I looked at the user interface metaphors in iPadOS ( the grammar section about three minutes in is the heart of it ) : Here ’ s what I wrote back then , if you prefer to read instead of watch , specifically about the new three-finger gestures but it applies to lots of “ unintuitive ” parts of iPadOS as compared to more “ intuitive ” desktop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any user interface — whether it ’ s a computer or a bicycle — is the sort of thing that humans just innately understand .
Nearly everything we do requires training and learning .
The difference between an intuitive interface and an unintuitive one is how that learning happens .
With intuitive interfaces , you don ’ t notice that the learning is happening .
One skill flows naturally into the next , more complex skill on a relatively easy learning curve .
Take the classic desktop interface : if you step back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deeply weird !
It only feels normal because it ’ s been around for 35 years .
However , it is intuitive : you learn left click , then discover right click , then see keyboard shortcuts listed .
Each skill leads somewhat naturally to the next , and there are little hints that these extra tools exist all over the interface , inviting you to try them out whenever you want .
I think the way the iPad handles windows and files and multitasking is not intuitive , by my particular definition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ root of the conceptual confusion is that the user interface mixes both spatial and temporal metaphors — I ’ ve made a video and written about that , too .
( Jump to 5:30 here . )
I ( obviously ) think the iPad ’ s interface is fascinating in its own right .
I could ( and have ) talk about it for hours , but rather than tuck in yet again , I want to talk about the effects of all those user experiences on us .
Because if I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how it works sometimes keeps me from fully expressing why I think it ’ s so fascinating .
Here ’ s just one example .
The video conferencing software we use , Zoom , isn ’ t allowed to keep the camera on the iPad active when it ’ s not the frontmost app .
There are explainable reasons for this .
Perhaps it ’ s just a result of iPadOS ’ legacy plumbing , which started as a singletasking operating system from the iPhone that has had multitasking elements bolted on piece @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because Apple believes that from a privacy and security perspective , a camera should never be active unless it ’ s in the frontmost app .
Perhaps it ’ s both of those things and more .
If you have sat in half as many video conferences as I have , you know that you and your colleagues have some unwritten rules about their etiquette .
Sometimes ( often ) , it ’ s accepted that if you ’ re not directly affected by the current conversation , it ’ s okay to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ something else — say email or Slack .
But with an iPad , splitting your attention literally makes your face disappear from the Brady Bunch grid .
So it changes your behavior .
Maybe you leave the camera off more often so people can ’ t tell you ’ re multitasking .
Maybe you switch away from the conversation less often and make a real effort to be present .
Maybe you pull your phone out and do stuff on your phone — literally multitasking with your body because the iPad won ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operating system .
The iPad is both limiting and liberating If you ’ d only ever used an iPad , you might just think that ’ s how computers work .
It would , in some sense , limit your imagination of what ’ s possible on a computer .
Often when I complain about iPad limitations , it gets misinterpreted as a desire to have it work just like other computers do .
That ’ s not it — I worry that it is subtly narrowing our sense of what computers can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If the iPad were just that , a limited computer , I wouldn ’ t give it a second thought .
However !
In addition to being limiting , it ’ s also incredibly liberating .
It is great to not have to worry about all the things you usually have to worry about with traditional operating systems like macOS or Windows .
It ’ s freeing to have a device that ’ s fast , does so much so effortlessly , and doesn ’ t feel like it ’ s only designed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or a lap .
After ten years , you ’ d think we ’ d know exactly what the iPad is and what it can do , but we don ’ t .
I think it ’ s the tensions between the limiting and liberating parts of the iPad — both of which still feel new , even now — that make it worth paying attention to .
More from The Verge └ The unofficial Apple Archive is on death ’ s door once more If Apple won ’ t allow a third @ @ @ @ @ @ @ history , I hope it ’ s doing something to retain and maintain these videos itself .
I also hope that it finds a path towards making these videos public .
Not to get all “ Late Capitalism ” on you , but Apple the Corporation is an important part of our recent history .
The company ’ s latent distaste for celebrating the past threatens to limit the scope of historians in the future .
If you haven ’ t yet , I highly recommend you seek out and watch the documentary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a place and time in tech , it ’ s essential viewing .
It sets up so much of our currently world .
As with the examples above , there ’ s clearly an attempt to establish General Magic ( and Fadell ) as important to history — but in this case , it ’ s well-deserved .
└ Vine successor Byte is available now on iOS and Android On Friday and over the weekend I had a weird sense of nostalgia : it used to be that a new social network of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there ’ d be a rush to secure user names .
It ’ s been a minute since that happened , but it definitely happened with Byte , the successor to Vine .
Now to see if it has staying power or not .
└ Motorola on the Razr ’ s folding screen : ‘ bumps and lumps are normal ’ Preorders are backed up to late February as of this writing .
Since we don ’ t know how many are being made , we can ’ t really use that backlog @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I will say that this release is starting to remind me of a Hollywood movie — the kind where the studio puts a lot of ads behind something but doesn ’ t share it with movie reviewers ahead of time .
We ’ re creeping up on the Mobile World Congress convention in Barcelona .
Expect the pace of phone leaks to pick up !
└ Why cancer-spotting AI needs to be handled with care Even when you think there ’ s a clear-cut case of AI being good for the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s nuance to worry about , as James Vincent explains : └ Hundreds of Amazon employees put jobs at risk by criticizing firm ’ s climate change policy └ Google ’ s US antitrust worries could be entering a more serious phase └ YouTube is using massive e-sports leagues to take on Twitch in big live-streaming bet

Yesterday was the 10th anniversary of the announcement of the original iPad. Tom Warren has our look back story here: Apple’s iPad changed the tablet game 10 years ago today. Tom’s piece investigates how Steve Jobs originally positioned the first iPad as a new kind of device that sits in between a phone and a laptop.
Ever since, there has been an omnipresent and often unfair expectation that the iPad would eventually supplant the MacBook. It’s an expectation that Apple itself has encouraged, from time to time. But the iPad is different from a laptop by design, its strengths and limitations encourage (and demand) different behavior.
The video series Processor that is a complement to this newsletter is in some ways an ongoing meditation on the question Apple famously asked in one iPad commercial: What’s a computer? I’m still obsessed with this question — or more specifically with questions about how computers are changing and how they’re changing us.
You are reading Processor, a newsletter about computers, software, and tech by Dieter Bohn. Dieter writes about consumer tech, software, and the most important tech news of the day from The Verge. You can read an archive of Processor newsletters here and subscribe to all of The Verge’s great videos here! Subscribe
By subscribing, you are agreeing to receive a daily newsletter from The Verge that highlights top stories of the day, as well as occasional messages from sponsors and / or partners of The Verge.
Here’s what I wrote back then, if you prefer to read instead of watch, specifically about the new three-finger gestures but it applies to lots of “unintuitive” parts of iPadOS as compared to more “intuitive” desktop interfaces:
I don’t think any user interface — whether it’s a computer or a bicycle — is the sort of thing that humans just innately understand. Nearly everything we do requires training and learning. The difference between an intuitive interface and an unintuitive one is how that learning happens. With intuitive interfaces, you don’t notice that the learning is happening. One skill flows naturally into the next, more complex skill on a relatively easy learning curve. Take the classic desktop interface: if you step back and look, it’s actually deeply weird! It only feels normal because it’s been around for 35 years. However, it is intuitive: you learn left click, then discover right click, then see keyboard shortcuts listed. Each skill leads somewhat naturally to the next, and there are little hints that these extra tools exist all over the interface, inviting you to try them out whenever you want.
I think the way the iPad handles windows and files and multitasking is not intuitive, by my particular definition of the word. I think the root of the conceptual confusion is that the user interface mixes both spatial and temporal metaphors — I’ve made a video and written about that, too. (Jump to 5:30 here.)
I (obviously) think the iPad’s interface is fascinating in its own right. I could (and have) talk about it for hours, but rather than tuck in yet again, I want to talk about the effects of all those user experiences on us. Because if I’m honest, explaining the nuances of how it works sometimes keeps me from fully expressing why I think it’s so fascinating.
Here’s just one example. The video conferencing software we use, Zoom, isn’t allowed to keep the camera on the iPad active when it’s not the frontmost app. There are explainable reasons for this. Perhaps it’s just a result of iPadOS’ legacy plumbing, which started as a singletasking operating system from the iPhone that has had multitasking elements bolted on piece by piece. Perhaps it’s because Apple believes that from a privacy and security perspective, a camera should never be active unless it’s in the frontmost app. Perhaps it’s both of those things and more.
If you have sat in half as many video conferences as I have, you know that you and your colleagues have some unwritten rules about their etiquette. Sometimes (often), it’s accepted that if you’re not directly affected by the current conversation, it’s okay to split your attention between the call and something else — say email or Slack. But with an iPad, splitting your attention literally makes your face disappear from the Brady Bunch grid.
So it changes your behavior. Maybe you leave the camera off more often so people can’t tell you’re multitasking. Maybe you switch away from the conversation less often and make a real effort to be present. Maybe you pull your phone out and do stuff on your phone — literally multitasking with your body because the iPad won’t let you do it with its operating system.
The iPad is both limiting and liberating
If you’d only ever used an iPad, you might just think that’s how computers work. It would, in some sense, limit your imagination of what’s possible on a computer. Often when I complain about iPad limitations, it gets misinterpreted as a desire to have it work just like other computers do. That’s not it — I worry that it is subtly narrowing our sense of what computers can do without our even noticing it.
If the iPad were just that, a limited computer, I wouldn’t give it a second thought. However! In addition to being limiting, it’s also incredibly liberating. It is great to not have to worry about all the things you usually have to worry about with traditional operating systems like macOS or Windows. It’s freeing to have a device that’s fast, does so much so effortlessly, and doesn’t feel like it’s only designed to sit on top of a desk or a lap.
After ten years, you’d think we’d know exactly what the iPad is and what it can do, but we don’t. I think it’s the tensions between the limiting and liberating parts of the iPad — both of which still feel new, even now — that make it worth paying attention to.
(Speaking of things worth paying attention to — later today I’ll be taking another look at a different vision for the future of computing interfaces: web apps in the Edge browser on the Surface Pro X. I’ve written a lot about the iPad, but it’s still just one answer among many. Please keep an eye out for it on YouTube and the site.)
Verge Deal of the day Apple’s AirPods Pro are $30 off at Amazon Normally $250, the Apple AirPods Pro wireless earbuds are down to $220 at Amazon. Compared to the standard AirPods, these feature better sound quality and noise cancellation. We’ve seen these drop a bit lower in price before, but that’s a pretty rare occurrence. Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence editorial content, though Vox Media may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links. For more information, see our ethics policy . Prices displayed are based on the MSRP at time of posting.
More from The Verge
If Apple won’t allow a third party to maintain an archive of its history, I hope it’s doing something to retain and maintain these videos itself. I also hope that it finds a path towards making these videos public. Not to get all “Late Capitalism” on you, but Apple the Corporation is an important part of our recent history. The company’s latent distaste for celebrating the past threatens to limit the scope of historians in the future.
If you haven’t yet, I highly recommend you seek out and watch the documentary General Magic. As a record of a place and time in tech, it’s essential viewing. It sets up so much of our currently world. As with the examples above, there’s clearly an attempt to establish General Magic (and Fadell) as important to history — but in this case, it’s well-deserved.
On Friday and over the weekend I had a weird sense of nostalgia: it used to be that a new social network of note would launch every few months and there’d be a rush to secure user names. It’s been a minute since that happened, but it definitely happened with Byte, the successor to Vine.
Now to see if it has staying power or not.
Preorders are backed up to late February as of this writing. Since we don’t know how many are being made, we can’t really use that backlog as an indication of ...anything really. I will say that this release is starting to remind me of a Hollywood movie — the kind where the studio puts a lot of ads behind something but doesn’t share it with movie reviewers ahead of time.
We’re creeping up on the Mobile World Congress convention in Barcelona. Expect the pace of phone leaks to pick up!
Even when you think there’s a clear-cut case of AI being good for the world, it turns out that there’s nuance to worry about, as James Vincent explains:
“There’s this idea in society that finding more cancers is always better, but it’s not always true,” Adewole Adamson, a dermatologist and assistant professor at Dell Medical School, tells The Verge. “The goal is finding more cancers that are actually going to kill people.” But the problem is “there’s no gold standard for what constitutes cancer.”
By criticizing Amazon in public, employees risk being fired — a threat received by workers who spoke out on the issue earlier this month. But those involved in this mass action hope that by coordinating their criticism, they’ll avoid such punishment
Julia Alexander:


theverge--2020-01-28--Zoom vulnerability would have allowed hackers to eavesdrop on calls

Cybersecurity research company Check Point Research says in a report out today that it found security flaws in videoconferencing platform Zoom that would have allowed a potential hacker to join a video meeting uninvited and listen in , potentially accessing any files or information shared during the meeting .
While Zoom has addressed the issue , the report raises deeper concerns about the safety of videoconferencing apps that require access to microphones and cameras .
Each Zoom call has a randomly generated ID number between 9 and 11 digits long that ’ s used by participants as a kind of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ call .
Check Point researchers found a way to predict which were valid meetings about 4 percent of the time , and it was able to join some , says Yaniv Balmas , Check Point ’ s head of cyber research .
( They didn ’ t dive into the meetings themselves , Balmas stressed .
Rather , they ended the calls at the “ waiting room ” screens . )
“ It was sort of like Zoom roulette , ” Balmas told The Verge .
“ The implications would be , if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and have multiple members joining , you may not notice if someone who isn ’ t supposed to be there is sitting there listening to you.
” Since Zoom conference calls can accommodate “ tens of thousands ” of participants in one meeting , according to the company ’ s May IPO , it would not be hard for an attacker to sneak into a Zoom call unannounced if there were no screening measures in place .
Check Point didn ’ t find a way to connect a Zoom meeting ID with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bad actor gained access to a random meeting , they wouldn ’ t necessarily know whose meeting it was before they joined the call .
The researchers didn ’ t find that someone accessing a Zoom meeting would have access to other users ’ cameras or microphones .
Check Point disclosed the vulnerability to Zoom , and it says the company responded quickly to fix the issue .
It replaced the randomized generation of meeting ID numbers with a “ cryptographically strong ” one , added more digits to meeting ID numbers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ future meetings .
( A Zoom call with Check Point to discuss the research did not require me to enter a password before joining , however . )
It ’ s no longer possible to scan for random meeting IDs the way the Check Point researchers did ; each attempt to join will load a meeting page , and repeated attempts to try to scan for meeting IDs will temporarily block that device from the platform .
A Zoom spokesperson said the issue Check Point identified was addressed in August , adding that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its top priority .
“ We thank the Check Point team for sharing their research and collaborating with us , ” the company said .
San Jose-based Zoom , founded in 2011 , has a market cap of just under $ 20 billion and customers in more than 180 countries .
The company said during its third quarter earnings announcement last month that its customer base included 74,000 businesses of meaningful size , measured as a business with more than 10 employees .
Last summer , security researcher Jonathan Leitschuh discovered a zero-day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have allowed a bad actor to hijack a user ’ s camera and live feed .
The company eventually stopped using the local web server that created the vulnerability , but not after first defending it as a “ low-risk ” situation .
Balmas said the Check Point researchers were focused specifically on Zoom and its meeting ID numbers and did not investigate whether the vulnerability would be present in other video chat programs like Google Hangouts or Skype .
But he cautioned that any videoconferencing platform has inherent risks , even if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We didn ’ t look at [ other videoconferencing platforms ] , but what we found here is a shout out to them , ” he said .
“ You must look out for these kinds of things , for ways that unauthorized users can gain access , for any application that has access to your microphone or camera .
”

Cybersecurity research company Check Point Research says in a report out today that it found security flaws in videoconferencing platform Zoom that would have allowed a potential hacker to join a video meeting uninvited and listen in, potentially accessing any files or information shared during the meeting. While Zoom has addressed the issue, the report raises deeper concerns about the safety of videoconferencing apps that require access to microphones and cameras.
Each Zoom call has a randomly generated ID number between 9 and 11 digits long that’s used by participants as a kind of address to locate and join a specific call. Check Point researchers found a way to predict which were valid meetings about 4 percent of the time, and it was able to join some, says Yaniv Balmas, Check Point’s head of cyber research. (They didn’t dive into the meetings themselves, Balmas stressed. Rather, they ended the calls at the “waiting room” screens.)
“It was sort of like Zoom roulette,” Balmas told The Verge. “The implications would be, if you’re having a video chat and have multiple members joining, you may not notice if someone who isn’t supposed to be there is sitting there listening to you.”
Since Zoom conference calls can accommodate “tens of thousands” of participants in one meeting, according to the company’s May IPO, it would not be hard for an attacker to sneak into a Zoom call unannounced if there were no screening measures in place.
Check Point didn’t find a way to connect a Zoom meeting ID with a specific user. So even if a bad actor gained access to a random meeting, they wouldn’t necessarily know whose meeting it was before they joined the call. The researchers didn’t find that someone accessing a Zoom meeting would have access to other users’ cameras or microphones.
Check Point disclosed the vulnerability to Zoom, and it says the company responded quickly to fix the issue. It replaced the randomized generation of meeting ID numbers with a “cryptographically strong” one, added more digits to meeting ID numbers, and made requiring passwords the default for future meetings. (A Zoom call with Check Point to discuss the research did not require me to enter a password before joining, however.)
It’s no longer possible to scan for random meeting IDs the way the Check Point researchers did; each attempt to join will load a meeting page, and repeated attempts to try to scan for meeting IDs will temporarily block that device from the platform.
A Zoom spokesperson said the issue Check Point identified was addressed in August, adding that privacy and security of its users was its top priority. “We thank the Check Point team for sharing their research and collaborating with us,” the company said.
San Jose-based Zoom, founded in 2011, has a market cap of just under $20 billion and customers in more than 180 countries. The company said during its third quarter earnings announcement last month that its customer base included 74,000 businesses of meaningful size, measured as a business with more than 10 employees.
Last summer, security researcher Jonathan Leitschuh discovered a zero-day vulnerability in Zoom on Macs that could have allowed a bad actor to hijack a user’s camera and live feed. The company eventually stopped using the local web server that created the vulnerability, but not after first defending it as a “low-risk” situation.
Balmas said the Check Point researchers were focused specifically on Zoom and its meeting ID numbers and did not investigate whether the vulnerability would be present in other video chat programs like Google Hangouts or Skype. But he cautioned that any videoconferencing platform has inherent risks, even if users take necessary safety precautions.


theverge--2020-01-28--Karma Automotive to build electric truck and SUV from Fisker’s ashes

Karma Automotive , the automaker previously known as Fisker Automotive , is working on an electric pickup truck and SUV , Bloomberg reports .
The company plans to show off a concept version of the pickup before the end of the year , and eventually sell it with a starting price that ’ s less than its $ 135,000 Karma Revero .
Both vehicles will be based around a new all-wheel-drive platform which will be built at the automaker ’ s factory in Southern California .
In order for the vehicles to be a success , Karma Automotive will have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on from the failed Fisker Automotive brand , which was purchased and rebranded by China ’ s Wanxiang Group in 2014 .
Wanxiang changed the company ’ s name to Karma , and rebranded its hybrid sports car , the Karma , as the Revero .
Fisker announced an electric SUV of its own earlier this month The company ’ s attempts to move on from the Fisker name will be complicated by the fact that it ’ s still in use by Fisker Automotive ’ s original co-founder , Henrik Fisker , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Inc in 2016 .
Fisker Inc announced its first mass-market EV , the Fisker Ocean SUV , earlier this month .
The company plans to sell the car starting at $ 37,500 , and says it will be capable of between 250 and 300 miles of range per charge .
It also features a solar roof , which may offer a marginal increase .
Both Karma ’ s electric pickup truck and SUV are set to enter increasingly crowded markets .
In the past 18 months alone we ’ ve seen electric pickup @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Rivian , GM , and — of course — Tesla .
Meanwhile , Jaguar , Audi , Ford , Mercedes-Benz , Volkswagen , Tesla , and many more , all have electric SUVs either announced or on the market .

Karma Automotive, the automaker previously known as Fisker Automotive, is working on an electric pickup truck and SUV, Bloomberg reports. The company plans to show off a concept version of the pickup before the end of the year, and eventually sell it with a starting price that’s less than its $135,000 Karma Revero. Both vehicles will be based around a new all-wheel-drive platform which will be built at the automaker’s factory in Southern California.
In order for the vehicles to be a success, Karma Automotive will have to prove that it’s moved on from the failed Fisker Automotive brand, which was purchased and rebranded by China’s Wanxiang Group in 2014. Wanxiang changed the company’s name to Karma, and rebranded its hybrid sports car, the Karma, as the Revero.
Fisker announced an electric SUV of its own earlier this month
The company’s attempts to move on from the Fisker name will be complicated by the fact that it’s still in use by Fisker Automotive’s original co-founder, Henrik Fisker, who started a new company called Fisker Inc in 2016. Fisker Inc announced its first mass-market EV, the Fisker Ocean SUV, earlier this month. The company plans to sell the car starting at $37,500, and says it will be capable of between 250 and 300 miles of range per charge. It also features a solar roof, which may offer a marginal increase.