theverge--2020-11-12--YouTube defends choice to leave up videos with false election claims

YouTube is pushing back against claims its platform is helping promote and spread misinformation surrounding the 2020 US election , saying its most popular videos related to the election are from “ authoritative ” sources .
YouTube also claims it takes measures to stop the spread of videos containing false or misleading claims by not surfacing them in search results or through its recommendation engine .
“ Like other companies , we ’ re allowing these videos because discussion of election results & the process of counting votes is allowed on YT .
These videos are not being surfaced or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ YouTube wrote from its YouTubeInsider account in response to a tweet from Bloomberg journalist Mark Bergen , who criticized the company ’ s slow and inconsistent moderation of election content .
“ The most popular videos about the election are from authoritative news organizations .
On average , 88 percent of the videos in top-10 results in the U.S. come from high-auth sources when people search for election-related content.
” YouTube did not disclose what it considers authoritative , nor did it break down what percentage of views of election content come from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ box instead of following certain channels , seeking out those channels , or finding them via Facebook , Reddit , or other social networks .
Even though its top-10 results for election content may contain mainstream media sources , YouTube does not appear to be acknowledging how often users seek out videos from untrustworthy sources or find them online through other means .
YouTube has come under fire in the run-up to and after Election Day for allowing videos from organizations like One America News Network that falsely say President Donald Trump won @ @ @ @ @ @ @ responsible for his loss to President-elect Joe Biden .
Unlike Facebook and Twitter , which have been aggressively labeling and removing links and posts that spread false information surrounding the election , YouTube says it allows people to discuss the outcome of the election and processes like vote counting , even if they do so in ways that spread unproven conspiracies or peddle false or misleading claims .
YouTube claims it counteracts the spread of such content by limiting how discoverable these videos are using search and its recommendation engine .
YouTube permits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the election However , YouTube appears to be struggling with how to contain the spread of videos uploaded to its platform on other social networks like Facebook , where the videos often go viral too fast before either company is able to slow down their spread .
In an example displaying the process by which YouTube helps amplify misinformation , Vice reported on a false claim alleging that RealClearPolitics had rescinded its Pennsylvania call in favor of Biden , which was then circulated by Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani until right-wing YouTube channel The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the claim .
The video was then circulated on Facebook mainly through links posted to private groups , which makes it hard for Facebook moderators to clamp down on its spread .
All the while , The Next News Network is racking up views and even selling merchandise under the video , revenue cuts of which go to YouTube , Vice reports .
YouTube says it ’ s using an election panel pinned to the top of election-related searches pointing users toward its Google webpage with verified election results .
It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ undermine “ confidence in elections with demonstrably false information , ” according to The New York Times , but YouTube is not removing the videos outright .

YouTube is pushing back against claims its platform is helping promote and spread misinformation surrounding the 2020 US election, saying its most popular videos related to the election are from “authoritative” sources. YouTube also claims it takes measures to stop the spread of videos containing false or misleading claims by not surfacing them in search results or through its recommendation engine.
“Like other companies, we’re allowing these videos because discussion of election results & the process of counting votes is allowed on YT. These videos are not being surfaced or recommended in any prominent way,” YouTube wrote from its YouTubeInsider account in response to a tweet from Bloomberg journalist Mark Bergen, who criticized the company’s slow and inconsistent moderation of election content. “The most popular videos about the election are from authoritative news organizations. On average, 88 percent of the videos in top-10 results in the U.S. come from high-auth sources when people search for election-related content.”
YouTube did not disclose what it considers authoritative, nor did it break down what percentage of views of election content come from users typing in phrases into the search box instead of following certain channels, seeking out those channels, or finding them via Facebook, Reddit, or other social networks. Even though its top-10 results for election content may contain mainstream media sources, YouTube does not appear to be acknowledging how often users seek out videos from untrustworthy sources or find them online through other means.
YouTube has come under fire in the run-up to and after Election Day for allowing videos from organizations like One America News Network that falsely say President Donald Trump won reelection and that mass voter fraud is responsible for his loss to President-elect Joe Biden.
Unlike Facebook and Twitter, which have been aggressively labeling and removing links and posts that spread false information surrounding the election, YouTube says it allows people to discuss the outcome of the election and processes like vote counting, even if they do so in ways that spread unproven conspiracies or peddle false or misleading claims. YouTube claims it counteracts the spread of such content by limiting how discoverable these videos are using search and its recommendation engine.
YouTube permits videos of people repeating fake claims about the election
However, YouTube appears to be struggling with how to contain the spread of videos uploaded to its platform on other social networks like Facebook, where the videos often go viral too fast before either company is able to slow down their spread.
In an example displaying the process by which YouTube helps amplify misinformation, Vice reported on a false claim alleging that RealClearPolitics had rescinded its Pennsylvania call in favor of Biden, which was then circulated by Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani until right-wing YouTube channel The Next News Network published a video repeating the claim. The video was then circulated on Facebook mainly through links posted to private groups, which makes it hard for Facebook moderators to clamp down on its spread. All the while, The Next News Network is racking up views and even selling merchandise under the video, revenue cuts of which go to YouTube, Vice reports.


theverge--2020-11-12--US government says it won’t enforce TikTok shutdown after court ruling

The US Commerce Department says it will not enforce an order that would have forced video sharing platform TikTok to shut down , according to The Wall Street Journal .
The government cited an injunction from a federal judge in Pennsylvania last month who wrote that the Commerce Department had likely overstepped its authority when it tried to ban transactions on the platform .
The government has cited concerns about national security , as TikTok is owned by Beijing-based ByteDance .
According to an unpublished rule from the Commerce Department , the agency is complying with the terms of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of TikTok transactions “ has been enjoined and will not go into effect , pending further legal developments.
” Reuters ’ David Shepardson says it ’ s not the first time the Commerce Department has confirmed it would comply with the injunction ; it issued a statement on November 1st as well .
At the time , it said it also “ intends to vigorously defend the EO ” from legal challenges , though .
“ The short videos created and exchanged on TikTok are expressive and informative , and are analogous to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ’ ‘ photographs , ’ and ‘ news wire feeds ’ expressly protected under ” the International Emergency Economic Powers Act , Judge Wendy Beetlestone wrote in her ruling .
A separate part of the Commerce Department ’ s restrictions , which would have blocked new downloads of the app starting on September 27th , was stopped as part of a different lawsuit .
The government ’ s Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States had set a deadline of November 12th for TikTok to divest itself of “ any tangible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ located , used to enable or support ByteDance ’ s operation of the TikTok application in the United States.
” ByteDance agreed to sell part of its US business in a deal including Oracle and Walmart , which President Trump approved in September .
But the deal was never approved by the Chinese government , and earlier this week , TikTok sought a review of the Trump administration ’ s actions , saying it had not heard anything new in several weeks .

The US Commerce Department says it will not enforce an order that would have forced video sharing platform TikTok to shut down, according to The Wall Street Journal. The government cited an injunction from a federal judge in Pennsylvania last month who wrote that the Commerce Department had likely overstepped its authority when it tried to ban transactions on the platform.
The government has cited concerns about national security, as TikTok is owned by Beijing-based ByteDance.
According to an unpublished rule from the Commerce Department, the agency is complying with the terms of the judge’s ruling. Its prohibition of TikTok transactions “has been enjoined and will not go into effect, pending further legal developments.”
Reuters’ David Shepardson says it’s not the first time the Commerce Department has confirmed it would comply with the injunction; it issued a statement on November 1st as well. At the time, it said it also “intends to vigorously defend the EO” from legal challenges, though.
“The short videos created and exchanged on TikTok are expressive and informative, and are analogous to the ‘films,’ ‘artworks,’ ‘photographs,’ and ‘news wire feeds’ expressly protected under” the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, Judge Wendy Beetlestone wrote in her ruling. A separate part of the Commerce Department’s restrictions, which would have blocked new downloads of the app starting on September 27th, was stopped as part of a different lawsuit.
The government’s Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States had set a deadline of November 12th for TikTok to divest itself of “any tangible or intangible assets or property, wherever located, used to enable or support ByteDance’s operation of the TikTok application in the United States.”
ByteDance agreed to sell part of its US business in a deal including Oracle and Walmart, which President Trump approved in September. But the deal was never approved by the Chinese government, and earlier this week, TikTok sought a review of the Trump administration’s actions, saying it had not heard anything new in several weeks.


theverge--2020-11-13--Must-have games for Nintendo Switch are discounted ahead of Black Friday

Only the best deals on Verge-approved gadgets get the Verge Deals stamp of approval , so if you 're looking for a deal on your next gadget or gift from major retailers like Amazon , Walmart , Best Buy , Target , and more , this is the place to be .
Now is a good time to get some Nintendo Switch games , whether you have the console or are hoping to get one soon .
Best Buy and Amazon have knocked off as much as $ 25 off some fantastic titles that are easy to recommend , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ personal favorite from 2019 ) , Splatoon 2 , Mario Tennis Aces , and New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe .
Games that don ’ t usually see a discount are $ 20 off , like The Legend of Zelda : Link ’ s Awakening and Luigi ’ s Mansion 3 .
If you ’ d prefer opting for the digital copies of these games , the prices for them go no lower than $ 40 today .
We ’ ll put those links below as well .
It never hurts to serve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do plan to get a few digital downloads , you ’ ll likely need more space than the Switch offers .
Here ’ s a link to an affordable 256GB microSD card at Amazon .
Lastly , for all of you lucky people who already snagged a PS5 ( I ’ m definitely not seething with jealousy or anything ) , I recommend taking advantage of the deal on this one-year PS Plus subscription at Eneba.com .
Normally $ 60 through Sony , it ’ s just $ 29 here ( the default @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you can toggle it near the language settings at the top right of Eneba ’ s site ) .
This is a great price if you want online multiplayer , as well as access to Sony ’ s Game Pass-like offering of PS4 game downloads for PS5 users .
Yesterday ’ s deal on the Logitech G203 LightSync wired gaming mouse is still happening at Best Buy and Amazon .
It ’ s normally $ 40 , but you can grab the black-colored option for $ 15 .

Fire Emblem: Three Houses $ 40 $ 60 33 % off
$ 40 $ 40 $ 60 33 % off
Fire Emblem: Three Houses is a remarkably deep, turn-based strategy game. While most games in this genre treat your units as disposable pawns, Three Houses forces you to become attached to these units by having specific characters lead them into battle. These characters each have their own distinct strengths, weaknesses, and personality quirks that become more apparent as you build relationships with them between missions.
This can make some missions extremely tenuous as you try to balance the benefits of bringing characters into battle, each with their own unique strengths while risking their potential death. This option can be switched off for a more relaxed experience, but this is one of the features that sets Fire Emblem apart from its peers. This latest entry in the Fire Emblem franchise is excellent for first-timers or returning fans. Its turn-based battle has never been sharper, and the characters and plot are memorable. Read our review.


theverge--2020-11-13--Facebook is now using AI to sort content for quicker moderation

Facebook has always made it clear it wants artificial intelligence to handle more moderation duties on its platforms .
Today , it announced its latest step toward that goal : putting machine learning in charge of its moderation queue .
Here ’ s how moderation works on Facebook .
Posts that are thought to violate the company ’ s rules ( which includes everything from spam to hate speech and content that “ glorifies violence ” ) are flagged , either by users or machine learning filters .
Some very clear-cut cases are dealt with automatically ( responses could involve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , for example ) while the rest go into a queue for review by human moderators .
Facebook employs about 15,000 of these moderators around the world , and has been criticized in the past for not giving these workers enough support , employing them in conditions that can lead to trauma .
Their job is to sort through flagged posts and make decisions about whether or not they violate the company ’ s various policies .
In the past , moderators reviewed posts more or less chronologically , dealing with them in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Facebook says it wants to make sure the most important posts are seen first , and is using machine learning to help .
In the future , an amalgam of various machine learning algorithms will be used to sort this queue , prioritizing posts based on three criteria : their virality , their severity , and the likelihood they ’ re breaking the rules .
Exactly how these criteria are weighted is not clear , but Facebook says the aim is to deal with the most damaging posts first .
So , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the more it ’ s being shared and seen ) the quicker it ’ ll be dealt with .
The same is true of a post ’ s severity .
Facebook says it ranks posts which involve real-world harm as the most important .
That could mean content involving terrorism , child exploitation , or self-harm .
Posts like spam , meanwhile , which are annoying but not traumatic , are ranked as least important for review .
“ All content violations will still receive some substantial human review ” “ All content @ @ @ @ @ @ @ review , but we ’ ll be using this system to better prioritize [ that process ] , ” Ryan Barnes , a product manager with Facebook ’ s community integrity team , told reporters during a press briefing .
Facebook has shared some details on how its machine learning filters analyze posts in the past .
These systems include a model named “ WPIE , ” which stands for “ whole post integrity embeddings ” and takes what Facebook calls a “ holistic ” approach to assessing content .
This means the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ post in concert , trying to work out what the image , caption , poster , etc.
, reveal together .
If someone says they ’ re selling a “ full batch ” of “ special treats ” accompanied by a picture of what look to be baked goods , are they talking about Rice Krispies squares or edibles ?
The use of certain words in the caption ( like “ potent ” ) might tip the judgment one way or the other .
Facebook ’ s use of AI to moderate its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the past , with critics noting that artificial intelligence lacks a human ’ s capacity to judge the context of a lot of online communication .
Especially with topics like misinformation , bullying , and harassment , it can be near impossible for a computer to know what it ’ s looking at .
Facebook ’ s Chris Palow , a software engineer in the company ’ s interaction integrity team , agreed that AI had its limits , but told reporters that the technology could still play a role in removing unwanted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ marrying AI and human reviewers to make less total mistakes , ” said Palow .
“ The AI is never going to be perfect.
” When asked what percentage of posts the company ’ s machine learning systems classify incorrectly , Palow didn ’ t give a direct answer , but noted that Facebook only lets automated systems work without human supervision when they are as accurate as human reviewers .
“ The bar for automated action is very high , ” he said .
Nevertheless , Facebook is steadily adding more AI @ @ @ @ @ @ @ An earlier version of this article incorrectly gave Chris Palow ’ s name as Chris Parlow .
We regret the error .

Facebook has always made it clear it wants artificial intelligence to handle more moderation duties on its platforms. Today, it announced its latest step toward that goal: putting machine learning in charge of its moderation queue.
Here’s how moderation works on Facebook. Posts that are thought to violate the company’s rules (which includes everything from spam to hate speech and content that “glorifies violence”) are flagged, either by users or machine learning filters. Some very clear-cut cases are dealt with automatically (responses could involve removing a post or blocking an account, for example) while the rest go into a queue for review by human moderators.
Facebook employs about 15,000 of these moderators around the world, and has been criticized in the past for not giving these workers enough support, employing them in conditions that can lead to trauma. Their job is to sort through flagged posts and make decisions about whether or not they violate the company’s various policies.
In the past, moderators reviewed posts more or less chronologically, dealing with them in the order they were reported. Now, Facebook says it wants to make sure the most important posts are seen first, and is using machine learning to help. In the future, an amalgam of various machine learning algorithms will be used to sort this queue, prioritizing posts based on three criteria: their virality, their severity, and the likelihood they’re breaking the rules.
Facebook’s old system of moderation, combining proactive moderation by ML filters and reactive reports from Facebook users. Image: Facebook
The new moderation workflow, which now uses machine learning to sort the queue of posts for review by human moderators. Image: Facebook
Exactly how these criteria are weighted is not clear, but Facebook says the aim is to deal with the most damaging posts first. So, the more viral a post is (the more it’s being shared and seen) the quicker it’ll be dealt with. The same is true of a post’s severity. Facebook says it ranks posts which involve real-world harm as the most important. That could mean content involving terrorism, child exploitation, or self-harm. Posts like spam, meanwhile, which are annoying but not traumatic, are ranked as least important for review.
“All content violations will still receive some substantial human review”
“All content violations will still receive some substantial human review, but we’ll be using this system to better prioritize [that process],” Ryan Barnes, a product manager with Facebook’s community integrity team, told reporters during a press briefing.
Facebook has shared some details on how its machine learning filters analyze posts in the past. These systems include a model named “WPIE,” which stands for “whole post integrity embeddings” and takes what Facebook calls a “holistic” approach to assessing content.
This means the algorithms judge various elements in any given post in concert, trying to work out what the image, caption, poster, etc., reveal together. If someone says they’re selling a “full batch” of “special treats” accompanied by a picture of what look to be baked goods, are they talking about Rice Krispies squares or edibles? The use of certain words in the caption (like “potent”) might tip the judgment one way or the other.
Facebook uses various machine learning algorithms to sort content, including the “holistic” assessment tool known as WPIE. Image: Facebook
Facebook’s use of AI to moderate its platforms has come in for scrutiny in the past, with critics noting that artificial intelligence lacks a human’s capacity to judge the context of a lot of online communication. Especially with topics like misinformation, bullying, and harassment, it can be near impossible for a computer to know what it’s looking at.
Facebook’s Chris Palow, a software engineer in the company’s interaction integrity team, agreed that AI had its limits, but told reporters that the technology could still play a role in removing unwanted content. “The system is about marrying AI and human reviewers to make less total mistakes,” said Palow. “The AI is never going to be perfect.”
When asked what percentage of posts the company’s machine learning systems classify incorrectly, Palow didn’t give a direct answer, but noted that Facebook only lets automated systems work without human supervision when they are as accurate as human reviewers. “The bar for automated action is very high,” he said. Nevertheless, Facebook is steadily adding more AI to the moderation mix.


theverge--2020-11-13--Where to buy the iPhone 12 mini and 12 Pro Max

October saw the iPhone 12 line ’ s reveal , along with the release of the iPhone 12 and 12 Pro .
The other two phones in the lineup , the 12 mini and the 12 Pro Max , which are the smallest and biggest models , respectively , are now available .
Apple has also opened up orders for the HomePod mini , which costs $ 99 ; we ’ ve detailed how to order that device in a separate article .
If you are looking to upgrade your phone and grab the latest iPhone , it can be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ each iPhone 12 family , my colleague Chaim Gartenberg wrote an in-depth article detailing key differences between each model .
Below , we tell you where you can order the latest iPhone 12 mini and 12 Pro Max and what deals you can get from each retailer .
Where to buy the iPhone 12 mini • You can order the iPhone 12 mini directly through Apple ’ s website , starting at $ 699 if you activate it on a carrier plan .
If you have an iPhone 11 Pro Max , you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ credit toward your purchase thanks to Apple ’ s trade-in program .
• AT & T has a promotion that includes $ 700 off the iPhone 12 line ; this includes the iPhone 12 mini , which would be free for new and existing customers .
To receive this offer , customers will need to purchase the device on a 30-month AT & T installment plan ( the carrier will issue a monthly credit ) .
You must also subscribe to an AT & T unlimited plan and trade in a phone that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at $ 95 or more .
• T-Mobile is offering a similar deal on the iPhone 12 mini , allowing customers to get the phone for free with an eligible trade-in and new phone line .
T-Mobile and Sprint legacy customers who have been with the carrier for more than five years can get a $ 200 rebate on any new iPhone when they trade in an active iPhone on an eligible plan .
• Verizon is offering the iPhone 12 mini for $ 699 , or $ 29.16 per month for 24 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 12 a month if you trade in select phones , including the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus .
New customers can get the iPhone 12 mini for free if they switch from another carrier .
Or , they can get the iPhone 12 mini for free when adding a new unlimited plan and buying an iPhone 12 or 12 mini .
• Best Buy is offering the iPhone 12 mini starting at $ 699 , or $ 29.16 a month for 24 months if you choose Verizon or Sprint , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with AT & T if you activate the phone today .
Best Buy is offering the iPhone 12 for free with eligible trade-ins .
New Sprint customers can get the phone for $ 630 , or $ 28.33 a month for 24 months .
• You can buy the iPhone 12 mini at Target , but the only carrier it ’ s currently offering is AT & T .
• Visible has the iPhone 12 mini ( Unlocked ) starting at $ 744 .
Alongside a new phone , if you bring your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ give you a pair of Bose Wireless Headphones + $ 50 to spend online .
Where to buy the iPhone 12 Pro Max • You can order the iPhone 12 Pro Max directly through Apple ’ s website , starting at $ 1,099 .
If you have an iPhone 11 Pro Max , you can get up to $ 500 in credit toward your purchase thanks to Apple ’ s trade-in program .
• AT & T is offering the iPhone 12 Pro Max for $ 399 , or $ 13.30 a month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get this deal will need to purchase the device on a 30-month AT & T installment plan ( the carrier will issue a monthly credit , so if you pay it off early you won ’ t get the full discount ) .
They must subscribe to an AT & T unlimited plan and trade in a phone that is both in good condition and valued at $ 95 or more .
• T-Mobile customers can get two iPhone 12 Pro Max phones with two new lines of unlimited 5G data for $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
T-Mobile and Sprint legacy customers who have been with the carrier for more than five years can get a $ 200 rebate on any new iPhone when they trade in an active iPhone on an eligible plan .
• Verizon is offering the iPhone 12 Pro Max for $ 1,099 , or $ 36.66 per month for 30 months , or $ 45.83 per month for 24 months .
New customers can get the iPhone 12 Pro Max for free if they switch from another carrier .
Or , they can get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adding a new unlimited plan and buying an 12 Pro or 12 Pro Max .
• Best Buy is offering the iPhone 12 Pro Max starting at $ 1,099 , or $ 45.83 a month for 24 months with Verizon and Sprint ; if you want AT & T as your carrier , you can get the phone for $ 36.67 a month for 30 months .
New Sprint customers can get the phone for $ 1,000 , or $ 43.74 a month for 24 months .
Best Buy is offering the iPhone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • You can buy the iPhone 12 Max at Target , but the only carrier it ’ s currently offering is AT & T .
• Visible has the iPhone 12 Pro Max starting at $ 1,104 .
Alongside a new phone , if you bring your number to Visible , the retailer will give you a pair of Bose Wireless Headphones + $ 200 to spend online .

October saw the iPhone 12 line’s reveal, along with the release of the iPhone 12 and 12 Pro. The other two phones in the lineup, the 12 mini and the 12 Pro Max, which are the smallest and biggest models, respectively, are now available. Apple has also opened up orders for the HomePod mini, which costs $99; we’ve detailed how to order that device in a separate article.
If you are looking to upgrade your phone and grab the latest iPhone, it can be overwhelming. If you want to compare each iPhone 12 family, my colleague Chaim Gartenberg wrote an in-depth article detailing key differences between each model.
Below, we tell you where you can order the latest iPhone 12 mini and 12 Pro Max and what deals you can get from each retailer.
iPhone 12 mini Photo by Chaim Gartenberg / The Verge
Where to buy the iPhone 12 mini
You can order the iPhone 12 mini directly through Apple’s website, starting at $699 if you activate it on a carrier plan. If you have an iPhone 11 Pro Max, you can get up to $500 in credit toward your purchase thanks to Apple’s trade-in program.
AT&T has a promotion that includes $700 off the iPhone 12 line; this includes the iPhone 12 mini, which would be free for new and existing customers. To receive this offer, customers will need to purchase the device on a 30-month AT&T installment plan (the carrier will issue a monthly credit). You must also subscribe to an AT&T unlimited plan and trade in a phone that is both in good condition and valued at $95 or more.
T-Mobile is offering a similar deal on the iPhone 12 mini, allowing customers to get the phone for free with an eligible trade-in and new phone line. T-Mobile and Sprint legacy customers who have been with the carrier for more than five years can get a $200 rebate on any new iPhone when they trade in an active iPhone on an eligible plan.
Verizon is offering the iPhone 12 mini for $699, or $29.16 per month for 24 months, or for as low as $12 a month if you trade in select phones, including the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus. New customers can get the iPhone 12 mini for free if they switch from another carrier. Or, they can get the iPhone 12 mini for free when adding a new unlimited plan and buying an iPhone 12 or 12 mini.
Best Buy is offering the iPhone 12 mini starting at $699, or $29.16 a month for 24 months if you choose Verizon or Sprint, or $23.34 a month for 30 months with AT&T if you activate the phone today. Best Buy is offering the iPhone 12 for free with eligible trade-ins. New Sprint customers can get the phone for $630, or $28.33 a month for 24 months.
You can buy the iPhone 12 mini at Target, but the only carrier it’s currently offering is AT&T.
Visible has the iPhone 12 mini (Unlocked) starting at $744. Alongside a new phone, if you bring your number to Visible, the retailer will give you a pair of Bose Wireless Headphones + $50 to spend online.
Related How to choose between all the new iPhone 12 models
iPhone 12 Pro Max Photo by Chaim Gartenberg / The Verge
Where to buy the iPhone 12 Pro Max


theverge--2020-11-13--Apple is astonishingly confident in its new M1 Mac processors

Apple ’ s big Mac event delivered three new computers — a new MacBook Air , a new entry-level 13-inch MacBook Pro , and a new Mac mini .
But really , it delivered one thing that those three computers have in common : the M1 chip .
That ’ s the official name for the Arm-based Apple Silicon the company is going to migrate all of its Mac computers over to .
Ahead of the event , I listed out ten things to watch for and though Apple didn ’ t really go as deep as I would like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but two of them .
We had wall-to-wall coverage at The Verge , and a good place to start is our article detailing the 5 biggest announcements from Apple ’ s ‘ One More Thing ’ hardware event .
Here ’ s my takeaway : Apple is astonishingly confident in this chip , these computers , and the software it has developed to ensure they all run well .
First , Apple is making battery claims that I would characterize as “ bombastic at best ” if they were applied to a laptop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this M1 chip , I have no frame of reference at all except for Apple ’ s claims — which are substantial .
Apple claims 18 hours of video playback on the MacBook Air and 20 hours on the MacBook Pro .
Video playback is a bad metric ( especially since modern chips are optimized for it ) , so the real thing to note is those claims are significantly higher than what Apple claimed on their Intel-based predecessors : 6 more on the Air and nearly double on the Pro .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ battery claims from Apple .
We already knew it was able to extract more performance per Watt than Intel can and that translates directly to battery life .
What I was not expecting is just how bullish the company would be about performance .
Since the M1 is based on the Arm architecture , Apple needs an extra software layer to run apps designed for Intel chips — it ’ s called Rosetta 2 .
The very idea of emulated x86 apps on an Arm processor gives me hives .
The experience of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not great .
But Apple says that for certain graphically-intensive apps it can get better performance on an app running through Rosetta 2 than it did on an equivalent Intel chip .
More than that , after the event I expected to hear warnings about certain apps not working or heavy apps running a little slower when translated through Rosetta 2 .
Or at least a small lowering of expectations for performance on those apps .
When Steve Jobs introduced the original Rosetta back in 2005 , the slide behind him said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
” This year ?
No such caveats .
Apple is boldly putting forth an “ it just works ” message on these kinds of apps — which will make up a majority of the third party apps I think most people will be using in the first year or so of this transition .
Most of all , the fact that Apple has ceased selling the Intel version of the MacBook Air is what astonishes me .
The Air is Apple ’ s best-selling Mac by far and it is coming off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Macs than it ever had before .
Rather than hedge its bet , it ’ s replacing its most popular computer with this new system .
I have to admit I made an error in my thinking ahead of the event about the base , 2-port 13-inch MacBook Pro .
It wasn ’ t moving the Pro to the new chip that would signal confidence , it was the Air , Apple ’ s most popular laptop .
My mistake is that I think of it more as an entry-level Pro machine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conceptualize it as a beefier version of the Air .
That ’ s certainly true with the new M1 version — the only significant performance difference is that the Pro has a fan .
Apple continues to sell Intel versions of it , as well .
There ’ s a lot more to say about these systems .
The fact that they cap out at 16GB of RAM and two Thunderbolt ports doesn ’ t faze me , for one thing .
Apple is starting at the lower-end of its Mac lineup , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a need for more .
I am confident future Apple chips will be able to support more .
I ’ m less sure what the plan will be for graphics .
The M1 chip has an integrated GPU , and on Intel machines that usually means sub-par graphics .
We ’ ll need to see what the reviews for these machines say , but again Apple is exuding confidence .
Going forward , though , I do wonder whether discrete GPUs are in the cards , especially since Apple is also touting the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CPU and GPU in its integrated system .
Those are all interesting questions , but Apple has two years to answer them — that ’ s how long it says this transition will take .
Right now the company is already selling and will soon be shipping these new computers .
I can ’ t wait to see if Apple ’ s confidence is justified by the performance and battery life of these computers .
If it is , the M1 chip will be a huge indictment of Intel , Qualcomm , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It ’ s been a long time since a company has both promised and then delivered a step-change improvement in laptop computers .
As of this moment we have a big promise , now let ’ s see if Apple can deliver .
┏ Apple HomePod mini review : playing small ball .
Dan Seifert is impressed , but also notes that this thing requires that you and everybody you live with really be fully enmeshed in Apple ecosystem if you want to get the most out of it .
┏ Mac @ @ @ @ @ @ @ afternoon after Apple verification server issue .
Quite a remarkable thing that happened !
The idea that you can ’ t launch the apps you downloaded on your computer because they can ’ t check in with Apple to see if they ’ re okay is , well , it ’ s a thing .
The fact that this thing involves software literally called “ Gatekeeper ” really does hit on the nose , don ’ t it .
I could have many emotions about owning and controlling the computer you paid money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ further emotions about whether and when it ’ s appropriate for Apple to require code signing and other safety checks on Macs ( and I do ) .
Instead , I will just point out that these failures were egregious because when they happened , our Macs didn ’ t tell us why things were broken .
There was no clear indication of what was wrong nor was there an elegant fallback solution .
Things just mysteriously broke .
The irony is that they mysteriously broke because Apple didn ’ t sufficiently think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protect the Apple ethos of ensuring bad things don ’ t mysteriously break your computer .
┏ Apple might appease antitrust concerns by suggesting third-party apps to new iPhone owners .
┏ This leaked icon may show what Apple ’ s rumored over-ear headphones look like .
┏ macOS Big Sur is now available to download .
My advice : wait .
That used to be the standard advice for all OS updates but in recent years it became a little more normal to install day one .
This year the changes are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s safer to wait and see if your apps work well — or rather , to wait and let other people figure that out before you ’ re forced to .
┏ All the apps and games Apple promises for Arm-based Macs .
┏ Some of the new MacBook Air function keys have different functions .
I ’ m particularly happy about this .
One-button access to search is key for me ( pun not intended ) , and I am glad that it ’ s faster to get to Do Not Disturb @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a big win for accessibility and I hope that becomes more common across all keyboards .
More from The Verge ┏ Google Photos will end its free unlimited storage on June 1st , 2021 .
There has been lots of ire over this change , but I will give Google some credit for making it in a way that is transparent and not totally disruptive .
The counter on your cap doesn ’ t start until after June 1st and it only counts things you upload after that .
Google is making @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what ’ s eating your storage and clever ways to clear it out .
Still and all , Google Photos was a free product that pushed a lot of other excellent products out of the market .
Then , after they were gone , Google begins charging .
I ’ m not saying there ’ s a direct cause and effect in that timeline , but it ’ s hard not to look at the timeline and feel bad for any tech company that isn ’ t one of the big ones .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ X games to play at launch .
┏ Pope Francis urges followers to pray that AI and robots ‘ always serve mankind ’ .
See also the Twilight Zone episode “ To Serve Man.
” ┏ Inside the final days of Quibi .
Julia Alexander and Zoe Schiffer :

Apple’s big Mac event delivered three new computers — a new MacBook Air, a new entry-level 13-inch MacBook Pro, and a new Mac mini. But really, it delivered one thing that those three computers have in common: the M1 chip. That’s the official name for the Arm-based Apple Silicon the company is going to migrate all of its Mac computers over to.
Ahead of the event, I listed out ten things to watch for and though Apple didn’t really go as deep as I would like, it did at least strafe all but two of them. We had wall-to-wall coverage at The Verge, and a good place to start is our article detailing the 5 biggest announcements from Apple’s ‘One More Thing’ hardware event.
Here’s my takeaway: Apple is astonishingly confident in this chip, these computers, and the software it has developed to ensure they all run well.
First, Apple is making battery claims that I would characterize as “bombastic at best” if they were applied to a laptop with an Intel chip inside. With this M1 chip, I have no frame of reference at all except for Apple’s claims — which are substantial.
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Apple claims 18 hours of video playback on the MacBook Air and 20 hours on the MacBook Pro. Video playback is a bad metric (especially since modern chips are optimized for it), so the real thing to note is those claims are significantly higher than what Apple claimed on their Intel-based predecessors: 6 more on the Air and nearly double on the Pro.
But to be blunt, I expected big battery claims from Apple. We already knew it was able to extract more performance per Watt than Intel can and that translates directly to battery life. What I was not expecting is just how bullish the company would be about performance.
Since the M1 is based on the Arm architecture, Apple needs an extra software layer to run apps designed for Intel chips — it’s called Rosetta 2. The very idea of emulated x86 apps on an Arm processor gives me hives. The experience of emulated Intel apps inside Arm on Windows is not great. But Apple says that for certain graphically-intensive apps it can get better performance on an app running through Rosetta 2 than it did on an equivalent Intel chip.
More than that, after the event I expected to hear warnings about certain apps not working or heavy apps running a little slower when translated through Rosetta 2. Or at least a small lowering of expectations for performance on those apps. When Steve Jobs introduced the original Rosetta back in 2005, the slide behind him said it was “Fast (enough).”
This year? No such caveats. Apple is boldly putting forth an “it just works” message on these kinds of apps — which will make up a majority of the third party apps I think most people will be using in the first year or so of this transition.
Most of all, the fact that Apple has ceased selling the Intel version of the MacBook Air is what astonishes me. The Air is Apple’s best-selling Mac by far and it is coming off a quarter where Apple made more money on Macs than it ever had before. Rather than hedge its bet, it’s replacing its most popular computer with this new system.
I have to admit I made an error in my thinking ahead of the event about the base, 2-port 13-inch MacBook Pro. It wasn’t moving the Pro to the new chip that would signal confidence, it was the Air, Apple’s most popular laptop. My mistake is that I think of it more as an entry-level Pro machine when it’s probably better to conceptualize it as a beefier version of the Air. That’s certainly true with the new M1 version — the only significant performance difference is that the Pro has a fan. Apple continues to sell Intel versions of it, as well.
There’s a lot more to say about these systems. The fact that they cap out at 16GB of RAM and two Thunderbolt ports doesn’t faze me, for one thing. Apple is starting at the lower-end of its Mac lineup, so it felt there wasn’t a need for more. I am confident future Apple chips will be able to support more.
I’m less sure what the plan will be for graphics. The M1 chip has an integrated GPU, and on Intel machines that usually means sub-par graphics. We’ll need to see what the reviews for these machines say, but again Apple is exuding confidence. Going forward, though, I do wonder whether discrete GPUs are in the cards, especially since Apple is also touting the benefits of sharing RAM across both the CPU and GPU in its integrated system.
Those are all interesting questions, but Apple has two years to answer them — that’s how long it says this transition will take. Right now the company is already selling and will soon be shipping these new computers. I can’t wait to see if Apple’s confidence is justified by the performance and battery life of these computers. If it is, the M1 chip will be a huge indictment of Intel, Qualcomm, and even Microsoft — each for different reasons.
It’s been a long time since a company has both promised and then delivered a step-change improvement in laptop computers. As of this moment we have a big promise, now let’s see if Apple can deliver.
More Apple news
┏ Apple HomePod mini review: playing small ball. Dan Seifert is impressed, but also notes that this thing requires that you and everybody you live with really be fully enmeshed in Apple ecosystem if you want to get the most out of it.
Fast-forward to now and Apple’s new smart speaker, the $99 HomePod mini, takes a different approach. It’s smaller, simpler, and way less expensive than its bigger sibling, and thanks to Apple’s work on Siri over the past few years, it can actually do more than the original when it launched.
┏ Mac users couldn’t launch apps this afternoon after Apple verification server issue. Quite a remarkable thing that happened! The idea that you can’t launch the apps you downloaded on your computer because they can’t check in with Apple to see if they’re okay is, well, it’s a thing. The fact that this thing involves software literally called “Gatekeeper” really does hit on the nose, don’t it.
I could have many emotions about owning and controlling the computer you paid money for (and I do) and further emotions about whether and when it’s appropriate for Apple to require code signing and other safety checks on Macs (and I do). Instead, I will just point out that these failures were egregious because when they happened, our Macs didn’t tell us why things were broken. There was no clear indication of what was wrong nor was there an elegant fallback solution.
Things just mysteriously broke. The irony is that they mysteriously broke because Apple didn’t sufficiently think through the mechanism that was design to protect the Apple ethos of ensuring bad things don’t mysteriously break your computer.
┏ macOS Big Sur is now available to download. My advice: wait. That used to be the standard advice for all OS updates but in recent years it became a little more normal to install day one. This year the changes are big enough that I think it’s safer to wait and see if your apps work well — or rather, to wait and let other people figure that out before you’re forced to.
┏ Some of the new MacBook Air function keys have different functions. I’m particularly happy about this. One-button access to search is key for me (pun not intended), and I am glad that it’s faster to get to Do Not Disturb. But making Dictation a top-level feature is a big win for accessibility and I hope that becomes more common across all keyboards.
More from The Verge
┏ Google Photos will end its free unlimited storage on June 1st, 2021. There has been lots of ire over this change, but I will give Google some credit for making it in a way that is transparent and not totally disruptive. The counter on your cap doesn’t start until after June 1st and it only counts things you upload after that. Google is making more tools to give you transparency on what’s eating your storage and clever ways to clear it out.
Still and all, Google Photos was a free product that pushed a lot of other excellent products out of the market. Then, after they were gone, Google begins charging. I’m not saying there’s a direct cause and effect in that timeline, but it’s hard not to look at the timeline and feel bad for any tech company that isn’t one of the big ones.
I’ve spent a day or so using the remote and it’s a nice little addition, although not all of the apps seem to be optimized for it. In the YouTube app, for instance, you’ll see button prompts that reference the DualSense instead.
┏ Pope Francis urges followers to pray that AI and robots ‘always serve mankind’. See also the Twilight Zone episode “To Serve Man.”
┏ Inside the final days of Quibi. Julia Alexander and Zoe Schiffer:


theverge--2020-11-13--Nintendo’s new Game & Watch handheld proves the company goes its own way

It ’ s been a busy week for video game hardware .
This week saw the debut of two next-generation platforms , with the launch of the PlayStation 5 and Microsoft ’ s Xbox Series X and Series S devices .
Each platform is built around new advances like ray-tracing and quick-loading SSDs .
Meanwhile , today , Nintendo is releasing ... a clock that plays Super Mario Bros .
It might seem like strange timing , but it ’ s also perfectly in keeping with Nintendo ’ s history : this is a company that almost always goes its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Watch : Super Mario Bros. is an exceptionally cute piece of hardware .
It ’ s modeled after the classic Game & Watch handheld — the precursor to the Game Boy — with a color scheme inspired by the original Japanese Famicom console .
In terms of functionality , the device is incredibly straightforward .
It has three built-in games , most notably the first SMB game .
There ’ s also Super Mario Bros. 2 , better known in the West as The Lost Levels , a truly evil sequel that remixes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killer mushrooms .
Rounding out the lineup is Ball , a simple-yet-surprisingly-fun version of the 1980 LCD juggling game , this time starring Mario .
The games are all solid ports , and the screen is nice and bright while the handheld has a great D-pad .
I ’ ve found myself picking up the Game & Watch regularly to sneak in a level or two whenever I have a few spare minutes .
The lack of frills is almost nice : I can really focus on just playing the game .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can pause the game and return back to the same spot whenever you want .
Outside of the games , the Game & Watch ’ s main function is , well , as a watch .
One of the face buttons reads simply “ time , ” and pushing it will bring back a Super Mario-themed clock with the plumber running and jumping across classic Mushroom Kingdom locales .
The in-game time of day even changes along with the real world .
If I ’ m being honest , the device is purely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ easier ways to both play Super Mario Bros. and check the time .
But the Game & Watch has the right blend of nostalgia and functionality to make it worth checking out for me .
I certainly don ’ t need it , but I want it .
It ’ s similar to Nintendo ’ s line of miniature consoles , which kicked off a surprisingly long-running trend following the release of the NES Classic way back in 2016 .
Here ’ s the thing : only Nintendo would release a kitschy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ biggest competitors are launching ambitious home consoles .
The situation is indicative of Nintendo as a whole .
While Sony and Microsoft are focused on out-maneuvering each other , Nintendo is in its own world , divorced from concerns like frame rates or 3D audio or 4K graphics .
This isn ’ t always a good thing .
Often , Nintendo ’ s single-minded nature leads to outright failures , like the ahead-of-its-time Wii U .
But right now , the company ’ s distinct focus is a clear positive .
Just yesterday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been the top-selling console in the US for 23 straight months , and its global lifetime sales are soon to eclipse the Nintendo 3DS .
Meanwhile , Animal Crossing : New Horizons — which only released in March of this year — is already the Switch ’ s second-bestselling game , moving more than 26 million copies .
It ’ s not clear how long this momentum will last .
Maybe one day Nintendo will finally release a 4K Switch , as has long been rumored .
For now , though , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an underpowered tablet with great games is the best experience for most people — is working .
And it appears that no amount of intimidating next-gen consoles will change that .

It’s been a busy week for video game hardware. This week saw the debut of two next-generation platforms, with the launch of the PlayStation 5 and Microsoft’s Xbox Series X and Series S devices. Each platform is built around new advances like ray-tracing and quick-loading SSDs. Meanwhile, today, Nintendo is releasing... a clock that plays Super Mario Bros. It might seem like strange timing, but it’s also perfectly in keeping with Nintendo’s history: this is a company that almost always goes its own way.
The new Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros. is an exceptionally cute piece of hardware. It’s modeled after the classic Game & Watch handheld — the precursor to the Game Boy — with a color scheme inspired by the original Japanese Famicom console. In terms of functionality, the device is incredibly straightforward. It has three built-in games, most notably the first SMB game. There’s also Super Mario Bros. 2, better known in the West as The Lost Levels, a truly evil sequel that remixes the first game with devious features like killer mushrooms. Rounding out the lineup is Ball, a simple-yet-surprisingly-fun version of the 1980 LCD juggling game, this time starring Mario.
The games are all solid ports, and the screen is nice and bright while the handheld has a great D-pad. I’ve found myself picking up the Game & Watch regularly to sneak in a level or two whenever I have a few spare minutes. The lack of frills is almost nice: I can really focus on just playing the game. It even has save states, so you can pause the game and return back to the same spot whenever you want. Outside of the games, the Game & Watch’s main function is, well, as a watch. One of the face buttons reads simply “time,” and pushing it will bring back a Super Mario-themed clock with the plumber running and jumping across classic Mushroom Kingdom locales. The in-game time of day even changes along with the real world.
Photo: Nintendo
If I’m being honest, the device is purely a novelty. There are better and easier ways to both play Super Mario Bros. and check the time. But the Game & Watch has the right blend of nostalgia and functionality to make it worth checking out for me. I certainly don’t need it, but I want it. It’s similar to Nintendo’s line of miniature consoles, which kicked off a surprisingly long-running trend following the release of the NES Classic way back in 2016.
Here’s the thing: only Nintendo would release a kitschy, novelty handheld the same week that its biggest competitors are launching ambitious home consoles. The situation is indicative of Nintendo as a whole. While Sony and Microsoft are focused on out-maneuvering each other, Nintendo is in its own world, divorced from concerns like frame rates or 3D audio or 4K graphics.
This isn’t always a good thing. Often, Nintendo’s single-minded nature leads to outright failures, like the ahead-of-its-time Wii U. But right now, the company’s distinct focus is a clear positive. Just yesterday, Nintendo revealed that the Switch has been the top-selling console in the US for 23 straight months, and its global lifetime sales are soon to eclipse the Nintendo 3DS. Meanwhile, Animal Crossing: New Horizons — which only released in March of this year — is already the Switch’s second-bestselling game, moving more than 26 million copies.


theverge--2020-11-13--Spider-Cat officially ‘takes a pet, like no problem’ in Spider-Man: Miles Morales

We already knew that Spider-Cat was going to be the true hero of Spider-Man : Miles Morales , but with the PS5 game ’ s launch yesterday , we ’ re learning new things about this furry sidekick .
Specifically , that he takes a pet , like no problem .
Video shared by the excellent and informative Twitter account @ CanYouPetTheDog shows Spider-Cat getting a pet in-game , along with a very familiar line of dialogue .
( You can also see the line at around 52 minutes in this playthrough video by YouTuber H20Delirious . )
If the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it comes from this video below , itself from another excellent Twitter account , @ Bodegacats_ , in which an unseen New Yorker gives his authoritative review of one of the city ’ s feline vagabonds .
The phrase itself never quite hit full-blown meme status , but it ’ s recognizable enough for a certain section of the internet .
Hell , in our original post about Spider-Cat in October , we even hoped it would feature in the game , noting : “ Now if only some NPCs can approach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a pet , like no problem , ’ things will really be looking up for 2020.
” And well , what do you know , some things really have improved since then .
Spider-Man : Miles Morales launched on PS5 on November 12th .
For more details about the game , you can check out our full review .

We already knew that Spider-Cat was going to be the true hero of Spider-Man: Miles Morales, but with the PS5 game’s launch yesterday, we’re learning new things about this furry sidekick. Specifically, that he takes a pet, like no problem.
Video shared by the excellent and informative Twitter account @CanYouPetTheDog shows Spider-Cat getting a pet in-game, along with a very familiar line of dialogue. (You can also see the line at around 52 minutes in this playthrough video by YouTuber H20Delirious.)
If the phrase isn’t ringing any bells, it comes from this video below, itself from another excellent Twitter account, @Bodegacats_, in which an unseen New Yorker gives his authoritative review of one of the city’s feline vagabonds.
The phrase itself never quite hit full-blown meme status, but it’s recognizable enough for a certain section of the internet. Hell, in our original post about Spider-Cat in October, we even hoped it would feature in the game, noting: “Now if only some NPCs can approach Spider-Cat and declare that it ‘takes a pet, like no problem,’ things will really be looking up for 2020.” And well, what do you know, some things really have improved since then.


theverge--2020-11-13--Elon Musk says he’s tested positive and negative for COVID-19

Elon Musk took to Twitter Thursday night to say that he has received mixed results after being tested for COVID-19 and is currently experiencing symptoms of a common cold .
Musk says he was tested four times using a rapid antigen test : two tests came back positive and two came back negative .
He ’ s also awaiting the results from two PCR tests but the results won ’ t be known for 24 hours .
Antigen tests work by detecting a small protein on the surface of the coronavirus , whereas the more accurate PCR tests look for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be conducted quickly as they don ’ t require a lab , and are often administered in hotspots like college campuses or elderly care facilities .
According to the FDA , “ positive results from antigen tests are highly accurate , but there is a higher chance of false negatives.
” That ’ s why PCR tests are ordered to prevent the possible spread of the virus due to a false negative .
One such antigen test from Quidel can detect the coronavirus 85 percent of the time .
Musk says his antigen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Musk , long a COVID-19 skeptic , questions the validity of the testing with just a hint of conspiracy .
In addition to saying “ something extremely bogus is going on , ” Musk implies that his experience is likely shared by others and contributing to the current spike in cases seen in the US and abroad .
He also responded “ exactly ” to a tweet saying “ revenues from tests are likely not bogus.
” Musk has been spreading doubt , confusion , and sometimes outright misinformation about the coronavirus .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ case numbers for financial reasons , promoted a widely discredited paper on the benefits of chloroquine , called shelter-in-place orders “ fascist , ” and dismissed panic associated with the pandemic as “ dumb.
” In March he predicted “ close to zero new cases ” by the end of April .
The US is currently seeing another spike in COVID-19 cases .
Just a week after reporting 100,000 cases in a single day , public health officials reported a record 160,000 new cases on Thursday , November 12th , according to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the US also set a record of 67,096 on the same day , according to the COVID Tracking Project , with deaths rising to more than 1,000 on average each day .

Elon Musk said Thursday night on Twitter that he has received mixed results after being tested for COVID-19 and is currently experiencing symptoms of a common cold. Musk says he was tested four times using a rapid antigen test: two tests came back positive and two came back negative. He’s also awaiting the results from two PCR tests but the results won’t be known for 24 hours.
Antigen tests work by detecting a small protein on the surface of the coronavirus, whereas the more accurate PCR tests look for the virus itself. Antigen tests can be conducted quickly as they don’t require a lab, and are often administered in hotspots like college campuses or elderly care facilities. “Positive results from antigen tests are highly accurate, but there is a higher chance of false negatives,” the FDA tells us, (That’s why PCR tests are ordered for confirmation.) One such antigen test from Quidel can detect the coronavirus 85 percent of the time. Musk says his antigen test came from BD.
Nevertheless, Musk, long a COVID-19 skeptic, questions the validity of the testing with just a hint of conspiracy.
In addition to saying “something extremely bogus is going on,” Musk implies that his experience is likely shared by others and contributing to the current spike in cases seen in the US and abroad. He also responded “exactly” to a tweet saying “revenues from tests are likely not bogus.”
The US is currently seeing another spike in COVID-19 cases. Just a week after reporting 100,000 cases in a single day, public health officials reported a record 160,000 new cases on Thursday, November 12th, according to the New York Times. Hospitalizations for COVID-19 in the US also set a record of 67,096 on the same day, according to the COVID Tracking Project, with deaths rising to more than 1,000 on average each day.
Musk is the CEO of SpaceX, which is scheduled to launch its first official crewed mission for NASA on Saturday. Back in May, both Musk and NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine met with astronauts before they headed to space on a historic test mission. With Musk’s claim of a positive test, its not clear if that will happen this time.
“When somebody tests positive for COVID, here at the Kennedy Space Center and across NASA it is our policy for that person to quarantine and self isolate. So we anticipate that will be taking place.” Bridenstine said at a press event today when asked about Musk’s tweets. “But it’s very early right now to know if any changes are necessary at this point.” Bridenstine added. “We just don’t know.”


theverge--2020-11-13--Hasan Minhaj joins The Morning Show following Netflix’s cancellation of Patriot Act

Hasan Minhaj , formerly the host of the now-canceled Netflix talk show Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj , will have a major recurring role in the second season of Apple TV Plus hit The Morning Show , Deadline reports .
“ He will play Eric , a charismatic , rising star who joins The Morning Show team , ” according to Deadline .
Minhaj ’ s role follows Netflix ’ s August cancellation of his comedy / news talk show , which aired for two years and six seasons , and I highly recommend you read Joshua Rivera ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ among a crowded field of late-night news comedy shows .
Minhaj ’ s show wasn ’ t the first talk show that Netflix has canceled , so I also recommend that you read Julia Alexander ’ s piece about why the streaming service can ’ t figure out how to make talk shows work .
In appearing on The Morning Show , Minhaj will be joining a star-studded cast that includes Reese Witherspoon , Jennifer Aniston , and Steve Carell .
Apple hasn ’ t announced a release date for the second season @ @ @ @

Hasan Minhaj, formerly the host of the now-canceled Netflix talk show Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj, will have a major recurring role in the second season of Apple TV Plus hit The Morning Show, Deadline reports. “He will play Eric, a charismatic, rising star who joins The Morning Show team,” according to Deadline.
Minhaj’s role follows Netflix’s August cancellation of his comedy / news talk show, which aired for two years and six seasons, and I highly recommend you read Joshua Rivera’s article about why Patriot Act stood out among a crowded field of late-night news comedy shows. Minhaj’s show wasn’t the first talk show that Netflix has canceled, so I also recommend that you read Julia Alexander’s piece about why the streaming service can’t figure out how to make talk shows work.


theverge--2020-11-13--Oculus rolls out support for 90Hz games in first big Quest 2 update

Oculus has rolled out its first big update for the Quest 2 standalone virtual reality headset , fulfilling a few promises it made when the headset launched last month .
Headlining the new features is the 90Hz refresh rate mode that now expands to all system-level apps by default — including through Oculus Link , which has officially exited beta .
The company says it ’ s now allowing developers to ship Quest titles with native 90Hz support , as opposed to the Quest 2 ’ s 72Hz base refresh rate that was active by default .
Soon , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Beat Saber , Vacation Simulator , Job Simulator , Racket : Nx , and Space Pirate Trainer will support the higher refresh rate .
Hopefully Tetris Effect and Rez Infinite will soon join that list .
If you connect the Quest 2 to your PC via an Oculus Link cable ( or a cheaper , compatible USB 3.0 cable ) , you ’ ll be able to toggle between 72Hz , 80Hz , or 90Hz through the Oculus app on PC .
Oculus says it has improved overall visual quality when using the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ settings have been retuned to tax your GPU harder for better performance .
You ’ ll find a new interface for tweaking graphical settings in the app , as well as for easily adjusting the render resolution for a sharper image .
Next week , Oculus is rolling out Oculus Move , the app that lets you track fitness metrics gathered from playing VR games .
With it , you ’ ll be able to see how many calories you ’ ve burned and minutes spent being physically active in games that you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , especially if you aren ’ t moving around all that much outside due to the pandemic .
There are two more additions : Later in November , Oculus is going to let you capture the headset ’ s screen through the iOS or Android app , so you can make clips of your own .
Before this , you had to either share recorded clips directly to Facebook or manually hook up your Quest 2 to your PC and drag-and-drop the files .
Lastly , Oculus is making it possible to gift @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , either in-browser or from within the app .
You ’ ll just need your friend ’ s e-mail address .
The company mentioning this feature is timely , since the Black Friday sale at the Oculus Store will kick off next week , so maybe hold off on buying new games until then .

Oculus has rolled out its first big update for the Quest 2 standalone virtual reality headset, fulfilling a few promises it made when the headset launched last month. Headlining the new features is the 90Hz refresh rate mode that now expands to all system-level apps by default — including through Oculus Link, which has officially exited beta.
The company says it’s now allowing developers to ship Quest titles with native 90Hz support, as opposed to the Quest 2’s 72Hz base refresh rate that was active by default. Soon, the likes of Superhot, Echo VR, Beat Saber, Vacation Simulator, Job Simulator, Racket: Nx, and Space Pirate Trainer will support the higher refresh rate. Hopefully Tetris Effect and Rez Infinite will soon join that list.
If you connect the Quest 2 to your PC via an Oculus Link cable (or a cheaper, compatible USB 3.0 cable), you’ll be able to toggle between 72Hz, 80Hz, or 90Hz through the Oculus app on PC. Oculus says it has improved overall visual quality when using the Link function and the automatic graphics profile settings have been retuned to tax your GPU harder for better performance. You’ll find a new interface for tweaking graphical settings in the app, as well as for easily adjusting the render resolution for a sharper image.
Next week, Oculus is rolling out Oculus Move, the app that lets you track fitness metrics gathered from playing VR games. With it, you’ll be able to see how many calories you’ve burned and minutes spent being physically active in games that you play. It seems kind of neat, especially if you aren’t moving around all that much outside due to the pandemic.
There are two more additions: Later in November, Oculus is going to let you capture the headset’s screen through the iOS or Android app, so you can make clips of your own. Before this, you had to either share recorded clips directly to Facebook or manually hook up your Quest 2 to your PC and drag-and-drop the files.


theverge--2020-11-13--The Mandalorian’s new episode questions what a Mandalorian actually is

It ’ s a question that ’ s becoming increasingly important on The Mandalorian ( shocking , I know ) , especially as our titular lead ( Din Djarin , aka “ Mando ” ) continues in his quest to find other members of his people .
Mandalorians who , as we learned in the most recent episode called “ The Heiress , ” are very different from his own clan .
As the episode reveals , Din ’ s stoic ways and reverence for his armor ( to the point of never revealing his face ) are not typical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tribe is a splinter group that adheres to the ways of the “ Children of the Watch , ” described as a “ cult of religious zealots ” that sought to reestablish the Way of the Mandalore ( the oft-quoted , “ This is the way ” that Din and his fellows like to throw around ) .
The difference between Din ’ s way of life and that of Bo-Katan Kryze ( a character from the Clone Wars and Rebels shows making her live-action debut ) actually helps resolve one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Din ’ s catchphrases and helmet habit haven ’ t been seen before on any of the many Mandalorians previously in the Star Wars universe .
Splinter sects of Mandalorians are shockingly common among the armored warriors , though , both on-screen in Star Wars canon and behind the scenes .
Bo-Katan Kryze , the new character who reveals to Din that his Mandalorian traditions are not typical of all of the culture , would know , as someone who had been part of several of those splinter groups .
So what is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mandalorian , at the simplest level , is someone from the planet Mandalore — the home world where both the Mandalorian people and the Mandalorian culture originate .
Din , by this definition , isn ’ t a native Mandalorian — as flashbacks from the first season showed , he was found as a child by members of his new tribe , adopted , and raised in their ways .
There ’ s also the New Mandalorians , a group of pacifists who ruled over the planet after a civil war , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of war and tried to establish a more peaceful society .
There ’ s the Death Watch , a rival group of Mandalorians who clung to their old warrior ways , allied themselves with Darth Maul , took over the planet , and suffered a schism ( among other things — The Clone Wars and Rebels TV series offer a better look at the war for Mandalore ) .
It ’ s not quite clear whether the Death Watch and the Children of the Watch are affiliated , but the names and affinity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ connection .
All of those factions are “ Mandalorians , ” too .
It ’ s about more than just wearing the right suit of armor By the end of the episode , the fight over whether Din ’ s or Kryze ’ s way of being a Mandalorian is “ right ” is rendered moot — the two sides realize , through the crucible of combat , that both are “ real ” Mandalorians , even if their aims and traditions differ .
But the question of what truly makes a Mandalorian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again .
The show has already seen Din clash over non-Mandalorian ownership of his people ’ s iconic armor earlier this season , and it teased the return of that armor ’ s original owner — Boba Fett , who , much like Timothy Olyphant ’ s Cobb Vanth , is not actually a member of the Mandalorian race or culture .
And whether you hold by Din ’ s view of what a Mandalorian is , Kryze ’ s , or any of the other various factions , one thing is clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just wearing the right suit of armor .

What makes a Mandalorian a Mandalorian?
It’s a question that’s becoming increasingly important on The Mandalorian (shocking, I know), especially as our titular lead (Din Djarin, aka “Mando”) continues in his quest to find other members of his people. Mandalorians who, as we learned in the most recent episode called “The Heiress,” are very different from his own clan.
As the episode reveals, Din’s stoic ways and reverence for his armor (to the point of never revealing his face) are not typical of all Mandalorians. Rather, his tribe is a splinter group that adheres to the ways of the “Children of the Watch,” described as a “cult of religious zealots” that sought to reestablish the Way of the Mandalore (the oft-quoted, “This is the way” that Din and his fellows like to throw around).
The difference between Din’s way of life and that of Bo-Katan Kryze (a character from the Clone Wars and Rebels shows making her live-action debut) actually helps resolve one of the lingering questions of the series — why Din’s catchphrases and helmet habit haven’t been seen before on any of the many Mandalorians previously in the Star Wars universe.
Image: Lucasfilm Ltd.
Splinter sects of Mandalorians are shockingly common among the armored warriors, though, both on-screen in Star Wars canon and behind the scenes. Bo-Katan Kryze, the new character who reveals to Din that his Mandalorian traditions are not typical of all of the culture, would know, as someone who had been part of several of those splinter groups.
So what is a Mandalorian? It depends. A Mandalorian, at the simplest level, is someone from the planet Mandalore — the home world where both the Mandalorian people and the Mandalorian culture originate. Din, by this definition, isn’t a native Mandalorian — as flashbacks from the first season showed, he was found as a child by members of his new tribe, adopted, and raised in their ways.
There’s also the New Mandalorians, a group of pacifists who ruled over the planet after a civil war, who withdrew from their culture’s ways of war and tried to establish a more peaceful society. There’s the Death Watch, a rival group of Mandalorians who clung to their old warrior ways, allied themselves with Darth Maul, took over the planet, and suffered a schism (among other things — The Clone Wars and Rebels TV series offer a better look at the war for Mandalore). It’s not quite clear whether the Death Watch and the Children of the Watch are affiliated, but the names and affinity to Mandalorian history would certainly imply a connection. All of those factions are “Mandalorians,” too.
It’s about more than just wearing the right suit of armor
By the end of the episode, the fight over whether Din’s or Kryze’s way of being a Mandalorian is “right” is rendered moot — the two sides realize, through the crucible of combat, that both are “real” Mandalorians, even if their aims and traditions differ.
But the question of what truly makes a Mandalorian is one that likely will come up again. The show has already seen Din clash over non-Mandalorian ownership of his people’s iconic armor earlier this season, and it teased the return of that armor’s original owner — Boba Fett, who, much like Timothy Olyphant’s Cobb Vanth, is not actually a member of the Mandalorian race or culture.
And whether you hold by Din’s view of what a Mandalorian is, Kryze’s, or any of the other various factions, one thing is clear: it’s about more than just wearing the right suit of armor.


theverge--2020-11-13--Sewage is still ‘America’s dirty secret’

Doctors couldn ’ t diagnose the rash spreading across Catherine Flowers ’ legs and body .
But the activist thought it had to do with the day she wore a dress during a visit to a family whose yard featured “ a hole in the ground full of raw sewage.
” “ I began to wonder if third-world conditions might be bringing third-world diseases to our region , ” Flowers writes in her new book , Waste : One Woman ’ s Fight Against America ’ s Dirty Secret .
She was right .
That rash led to research that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be pretty much dead in the US , was actually alive and well in the rural Alabama county where she grew up .
Without working septic systems , residents were getting sick from raw sewage .
Flowers has been on a mission to change things for her community ever since .
She is now a recent MacArthur Foundation “ genius grant ” awardee , and she founded the Center for Rural Enterprise and Environmental Justice ( CREEJ ) .
COVID-19 and climate change are piling on top of what ’ s already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , available on November 17th , Flowers is expanding that fight to places across the US which lack the basic infrastructure that many city-dwellers take for granted .
Two million Americans lack access to indoor plumbing , a 2019 report found , and that has huge implications for their health .
The Verge spoke with Flowers about what she ’ s seen and how COVID-19 and climate change are piling on top of what ’ s already a shitty situation .
This interview has been edited for length and clarity .
For someone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issues that you ’ ve brought light in Lowndes County , Alabama and other rural communities , can you paint a picture of what the problem is ?
I ’ ve seen three different types of problems .
One problem is where people don ’ t have the infrastructure at all .
They have a toilet in their home , they flush the toilet and the effluent from the toilet , the wastewater goes out through a PVC pipe into a pit or ditch that they dig or just runs out on top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that can ’ t afford that infrastructure , because this is in places like Lowndes County where it ’ s so expensive .
One of the families that we ’ re working with recently , we found that it was going to cost $ 20,000 for a wastewater treatment system because when they went down 25 inches , they struck water .
The second problem that I ’ ve seen is when people can afford it , but when they buy it , it doesn ’ t work .
Whenever there is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the systems break down .
And when it breaks down , it pushes the sewage back into the home .
“ Whenever there is a lot of rain or extreme weather conditions , the systems break down.
” The third problem that I ’ ve seen are big systems and very expensive systems that have been put in place — with wastewater treatment plants and lagoon systems — that fail .
And when they fail , again , we have raw sewage either coming into the building or it ’ s out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in some of those instances , we ’ ve seen that people are paying wastewater treatment fees and the systems are not working .
Untreated wastewater can carry the virus that causes COVID-19 , although researchers still don ’ t know if a person can get sick from being exposed to it .
The CDC says , “ At this time , the risk of transmission of the virus that causes COVID-19 through properly designed and maintained sewerage systems is thought to be low.
” But you ’ ve seen a lot of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or maintained .
Do you have any thoughts about the current situation ?
It is a concern to me .
Most people are not concerned about it because they don ’ t come in contact with waste , but I ’ m concerned about those people that do .
I can tell you that Lowndes County has the highest per capita COVID-19 infection rate [ 1 in 13 ] in the state of Alabama , and also has the highest per capita COVID death rate in the state of Alabama [ 1 in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are no more deaths because I know too many people that have died as a result .
COVID isn ’ t the only global disaster that these communities are facing .
Can you tell me a little bit about how climate change impacts the wastewater issues faced by rural areas like Lowndes county ?
“ Climate change has an impact on everything.
” Climate change has an impact on everything .
It has an impact on wastewater technologies , too .
Most wastewater technologies are not designed to deal with climate change .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We ’ re getting more rain .
So far this year , we ’ ve had at least four storms to come ashore .
That ’ s going to continue to be a problem .
The clay soil that we have that holds water will continue to hold water .
That ’ s not going to change either .
The technology needs to change .
This is the time for us to lead globally and find technologies that will better address climate change and wastewater .
There are partners that are working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ technological solutions because we realized that it ’ s bigger than Lowndes County .
Lowndes County is not the only place in this country that has raw sewage on the ground .
Alabama is not the only place in this country that has raw sewage on the ground .
So , obviously , it ’ s a bigger problem .
A fix is not just to put in a few septic tanks in Lowndes County and think that we solved this .
I wrote the book because I wanted people to understand that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That ’ s why it ’ s America ’ s dirty secret .
Lowndes ’ County is not America ’ s dirty secret .
The waste water problem in the US is America ’ s dirty secret .
Despite the fact that a lot of people that live in Lowndes County are descendants of people who may have come to this country as slaves , Lowndes County citizens have always fought for justice , the right to participate in the democratic process , and for economic opportunity going back to the sharecroppers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of people stepping out front and sharing their personal struggles with wastewater with the world , it ’ s just a continuation of that history of being on the forefront of positive change that can benefit everyone .
How do you really feel about the moniker , ‘ Erin Brockovich of sewage , ’ that I ’ ve seen used to describe your work — even though your work stands on its own ?
Yes , it does stand on its own , but if I had to be compared with someone , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Erin Brockovich .
I had seen the movie many years ago , and I ’ ve always been a fan of hers .
We ’ ll meet virtually for the first time — we ’ re appearing on a panel together at the Texas Book Festival , Saturday .

Doctors couldn’t diagnose the rash spreading across Catherine Flowers’ legs and body. But the activist thought it had to do with the day she wore a dress during a visit to a family whose yard featured “a hole in the ground full of raw sewage.” “I began to wonder if third-world conditions might be bringing third-world diseases to our region,” Flowers writes in her new book, Waste: One Woman’s Fight Against America’s Dirty Secret.
She was right. That rash led to research that found that hookworm, a parasite thought to be pretty much dead in the US, was actually alive and well in the rural Alabama county where she grew up. Without working septic systems, residents were getting sick from raw sewage. Flowers has been on a mission to change things for her community ever since. She is now a recent MacArthur Foundation “genius grant” awardee, and she founded the Center for Rural Enterprise and Environmental Justice (CREEJ).
COVID-19 and climate change are piling on top of what’s already a shitty situation
With her latest book, available on November 17th, Flowers is expanding that fight to places across the US which lack the basic infrastructure that many city-dwellers take for granted. Two million Americans lack access to indoor plumbing, a 2019 report found, and that has huge implications for their health. The Verge spoke with Flowers about what she’s seen and how COVID-19 and climate change are piling on top of what’s already a shitty situation.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
For someone who isn’t familiar with the issues that you’ve brought light in Lowndes County, Alabama and other rural communities, can you paint a picture of what the problem is?
I’ve seen three different types of problems. One problem is where people don’t have the infrastructure at all. They have a toilet in their home, they flush the toilet and the effluent from the toilet, the wastewater goes out through a PVC pipe into a pit or ditch that they dig or just runs out on top of the ground. Those are people that can’t afford that infrastructure, because this is in places like Lowndes County where it’s so expensive. One of the families that we’re working with recently, we found that it was going to cost $20,000 for a wastewater treatment system because when they went down 25 inches, they struck water.
The second problem that I’ve seen is when people can afford it, but when they buy it, it doesn’t work. Whenever there is a lot of rain or extreme weather conditions, the systems break down. And when it breaks down, it pushes the sewage back into the home.
“Whenever there is a lot of rain or extreme weather conditions, the systems break down.”
The third problem that I’ve seen are big systems and very expensive systems that have been put in place — with wastewater treatment plants and lagoon systems — that fail. And when they fail, again, we have raw sewage either coming into the building or it’s out on top of the ground. And in some of those instances, we’ve seen that people are paying wastewater treatment fees and the systems are not working.
Untreated wastewater can carry the virus that causes COVID-19, although researchers still don’t know if a person can get sick from being exposed to it. The CDC says, “At this time, the risk of transmission of the virus that causes COVID-19 through properly designed and maintained sewerage systems is thought to be low.” But you’ve seen a lot of sewage systems that are not properly designed or maintained. Do you have any thoughts about the current situation?
It is a concern to me. Most people are not concerned about it because they don’t come in contact with waste, but I’m concerned about those people that do. I can tell you that Lowndes County has the highest per capita COVID-19 infection rate [1 in 13] in the state of Alabama, and also has the highest per capita COVID death rate in the state of Alabama [1 in 335]. I pray that there are no more deaths because I know too many people that have died as a result.
COVID isn’t the only global disaster that these communities are facing. Can you tell me a little bit about how climate change impacts the wastewater issues faced by rural areas like Lowndes county?
“Climate change has an impact on everything.”
Climate change has an impact on everything. It has an impact on wastewater technologies, too. Most wastewater technologies are not designed to deal with climate change. The water table is actually getting higher. We’re getting more rain. So far this year, we’ve had at least four storms to come ashore. That’s going to continue to be a problem. The clay soil that we have that holds water will continue to hold water. That’s not going to change either. The technology needs to change.
This is the time for us to lead globally and find technologies that will better address climate change and wastewater. There are partners that are working with us on trying to find new technological solutions because we realized that it’s bigger than Lowndes County. Lowndes County is not the only place in this country that has raw sewage on the ground. Alabama is not the only place in this country that has raw sewage on the ground. So, obviously, it’s a bigger problem. A fix is not just to put in a few septic tanks in Lowndes County and think that we solved this.
I wrote the book because I wanted people to understand that it’s not just Lowndes County. That’s why it’s America’s dirty secret. Lowndes’ County is not America’s dirty secret. The waste water problem in the US is America’s dirty secret.
Despite the fact that a lot of people that live in Lowndes County are descendants of people who may have come to this country as slaves, Lowndes County citizens have always fought for justice, the right to participate in the democratic process, and for economic opportunity going back to the sharecroppers union. This fight, in terms of people stepping out front and sharing their personal struggles with wastewater with the world, it’s just a continuation of that history of being on the forefront of positive change that can benefit everyone.
Image: Michael Carson / Courtesy of Catherine Flowers
How do you really feel about the moniker, ‘Erin Brockovich of sewage,’ that I’ve seen used to describe your work — even though your work stands on its own?