theverge--2020-05-23--Twitter’s new reply-limiting feature is already changing how we talk on the platform

Twitter is testing a new feature that lets users decide who can reply to their tweets , the company announced on Wednesday , and some accounts are already using it in some interesting new ways .
Previously , anybody could reply to anybody on Twitter ( as long as their profile wasn ’ t private or blocked ) .
But now , if you ’ re part of the test , you can decide if you want to allow replies from everyone , only people you follow , or only people you tag — which , if you don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one can reply at all .
Deciding who can reply to which tweet on a tweet-by-tweet basis could change how some people use the social media platform in significant ways .
Interviews on Twitter , for example , could be much more streamlined , and NBC ’ s Twitter account for Meet the Press has already shown an example of how .
Meet the Press announced an interview with NBC News ’ Andrea Mitchell and only allowed people it tagged in the tweet to reply — which , in this case , was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like a long tweetstorm , split between two accounts .
Limiting how users can interact with live Twitter interviews does mean that emergent conversations won ’ t occur as easily in the replies — you can theoretically still quote tweet messages even if those tweets have replies limited , and conversations could be started that way .
Still , the limitation means interviews may not feel quite as organic as they sometimes were before .
On the plus side , the feature does make interviews much easier to follow , which would have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ messy # KaraJack interview between Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey and Recode ’ s Kara Swisher back in February 2019 .
Dorsey had some fun referencing that mess by not allowing replies to this tweet : Limiting replies could also be used to help prevent the spread of spoilers for upcoming movies , TV shows , and video games .
On Thursday , for example , Naughty Dog posted screenshots of its upcoming PS4 title The Last of Us Part II , and limited replies to people it tagged — which was no one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which launches on June 19th , promises to have a deeply engaging story , and the studio is doing everything it can on social media to keep that story under wraps until the game launches , hence the move to disable replies .
Naughty Dog is also trying to stop people from sharing spoilers from major leaks of the game that hit the web in late April ; Sony and Naughty Dog disabled YouTube comments on the latest trailer , too .
There is the potential that limiting replies could be used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials post misinformation and don ’ t allow replies , people wouldn ’ t be able to easily fact-check a tweet in the replies that would appear under the original misinformation , where it could do the most help in correcting the record .
And interestingly , the ACLU is arguing that public officials blocking replies would violate the First Amendment — President Donald Trump has yet to make use of the feature , but it will surely inspire debate if and when he does .
In the case of misinformation , if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ replies to a tweet , users can still use a quote tweet to comment .
It ’ s not the most ideal solution — a quote tweet only appears on your feed , so a fact-check , for example , likely won ’ t be seen by everyone who saw the original tweet — but it ’ s still a way to weigh in if you aren ’ t able to directly reply .
Here ’ s an example of how that could look .
However , bear in mind that in this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ replies because it was posted before Twitter implemented reply blocking .
That all said , not allowing replies can have more lighthearted uses .
I ’ ll admit I laughed at Dorsey ’ s tweet that I included earlier , and Lil Nas X continued to prove he is a Twitter all-star with this great prank : There are bound to be new ideas that emerge as more Twitter users get access to reply blocking , and I ’ m interested to see how people use the feature in creative ways .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what diabolical things fast food brands will say when they can limit replies only to each other .

Twitter is testing a new feature that lets users decide who can reply to their tweets, the company announced on Wednesday, and some accounts are already using it in some interesting new ways.
Previously, anybody could reply to anybody on Twitter (as long as their profile wasn’t private or blocked). But now, if you’re part of the test, you can decide if you want to allow replies from everyone, only people you follow, or only people you tag — which, if you don’t tag anyone, means that no one can reply at all. Deciding who can reply to which tweet on a tweet-by-tweet basis could change how some people use the social media platform in significant ways.
Interviews on Twitter, for example, could be much more streamlined, and NBC’s Twitter account for Meet the Press has already shown an example of how. Meet the Press announced an interview with NBC News’ Andrea Mitchell and only allowed people it tagged in the tweet to reply — which, in this case, was only Mitchell. What followed almost felt like a long tweetstorm, split between two accounts.
Part of Meet the Press’ Twitter interview with Andrea Mitchell.
Limiting how users can interact with live Twitter interviews does mean that emergent conversations won’t occur as easily in the replies — you can theoretically still quote tweet messages even if those tweets have replies limited, and conversations could be started that way. Still, the limitation means interviews may not feel quite as organic as they sometimes were before.
On the plus side, the feature does make interviews much easier to follow, which would have been handy for, say, the messy #KaraJack interview between Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey and Recode’s Kara Swisher back in February 2019. Dorsey had some fun referencing that mess by not allowing replies to this tweet:
Limiting replies could also be used to help prevent the spread of spoilers for upcoming movies, TV shows, and video games. On Thursday, for example, Naughty Dog posted screenshots of its upcoming PS4 title The Last of Us Part II, and limited replies to people it tagged — which was no one.
The Last of Us Part II, which launches on June 19th, promises to have a deeply engaging story, and the studio is doing everything it can on social media to keep that story under wraps until the game launches, hence the move to disable replies. Naughty Dog is also trying to stop people from sharing spoilers from major leaks of the game that hit the web in late April; Sony and Naughty Dog disabled YouTube comments on the latest trailer, too.
There is the potential that limiting replies could be used more nefariously. If politicians or public officials post misinformation and don’t allow replies, people wouldn’t be able to easily fact-check a tweet in the replies that would appear under the original misinformation, where it could do the most help in correcting the record. And interestingly, the ACLU is arguing that public officials blocking replies would violate the First Amendment — President Donald Trump has yet to make use of the feature, but it will surely inspire debate if and when he does.
In the case of misinformation, if the original account isn’t allowing replies to a tweet, users can still use a quote tweet to comment. It’s not the most ideal solution — a quote tweet only appears on your feed, so a fact-check, for example, likely won’t be seen by everyone who saw the original tweet — but it’s still a way to weigh in if you aren’t able to directly reply.
Here’s an example of how that could look. However, bear in mind that in this instance, the quoted tweet did allow replies because it was posted before Twitter implemented reply blocking.
That all said, not allowing replies can have more lighthearted uses. I’ll admit I laughed at Dorsey’s tweet that I included earlier, and Lil Nas X continued to prove he is a Twitter all-star with this great prank:
There are bound to be new ideas that emerge as more Twitter users get access to reply blocking, and I’m interested to see how people use the feature in creative ways. But I’m nervous to find out what diabolical things fast food brands will say when they can limit replies only to each other.


theverge--2020-05-23--Google Messages may finally be adding end-to-end encryption for RCS

An analysis of the latest update to Google Messages suggests it may be moving closer to having end-to-end encryption for RCS , according to 9to5 Google ( via APKMirror ) .
Rich communication services , or RCS , is the successor to SMS messaging and does what most other texting services do , but without the end-to-end encryption that apps like Signal and iMessage have .
Its widespread adoption has been a bit of a mess , but the major US cellular carriers announced late last year that they would offer RCS in 2020 .
Google first unveiled RCS chat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2018 , and in November , announced it was actually rolling it out to users in the US .
An internal build of Google Messages v. 6.2 has several lines of code that offer clues to possible future features for the app , including 12 new strings that refer to encryption , according to 9to5 Google ’ s analysis .
There isn ’ t enough information available to determine whether the sender and recipient of texts in Messages would need to be using the app for the end-to-end encryption to be in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a setting that might allow users to decide whether to grant permission to other Android apps that have access to messages to see encrypted messages as well .
There ’ s no way to know if or when Google will ever ship the end-to-end encryption feature .
But the company has said previously that it was working on it , so it seems likely to happen .

An analysis of the latest update to Google Messages suggests it may be moving closer to having end-to-end encryption for RCS, according to 9to5 Google (via APKMirror). Rich communication services, or RCS, is the successor to SMS messaging and does what most other texting services do, but without the end-to-end encryption that apps like Signal and iMessage have. Its widespread adoption has been a bit of a mess, but the major US cellular carriers announced late last year that they would offer RCS in 2020.
An internal build of Google Messages v. 6.2 has several lines of code that offer clues to possible future features for the app, including 12 new strings that refer to encryption, according to 9to5 Google’s analysis. There isn’t enough information available to determine whether the sender and recipient of texts in Messages would need to be using the app for the end-to-end encryption to be in effect. The code updates do suggest a setting that might allow users to decide whether to grant permission to other Android apps that have access to messages to see encrypted messages as well.


theverge--2020-05-23--President Trump is reportedly considering creating a panel to examine bias online

President Trump wants to create a panel that would look into complaints of bias against conservatives on social media and other online platforms , The Wall Street Journal reported .
What authority the panel would have , and under what department it would be based were not clear .
But the Journal ’ s sources said the plans may include establishing a “ White House-created commission ” that would work in conjunction with agencies like the Federal Elections Commission and Federal Communications Commission to examine bias and censorship online .
A White House official told the WSJ that “ left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a concern that definitely needs to be addressed.
” The president tweeted a similar opinion last week , that “ The Radical Left is in total command & control of Facebook , Instagram , Twitter and Google.
” The administration is “ working to remedy this illegal situation , ” he added , but did not provide specifics .
Trump and other Republicans have repeatedly alleged anti-conservative bias on social media platforms , with some Congressional committees holding hearings last year to question officials from tech firms .
The president has accused Twitter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Trump complained to Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey in a White House meeting last April that he was losing followers on his most-used social platform .
Last May , the White House launched a tool for Americans to “ share their stories of suspected political bias ” with the president ( as of this writing , the tool was no longer accepting new entries ) .
That was followed in July by a social media summit with several conservative figures who complained that they were being censored online and subjected to “ shadow-banning.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ email to The Verge on Saturday that the company enforces “ the Twitter Rules impartially for all users , regardless of their background or political affiliation , ” adding that it is in regular communication with elected officials in efforts to improve the platform .
Requests for comment to the White House , Facebook , and Google were not immediately returned Saturday morning .

President Trump wants to create a panel that would look into complaints of bias against conservatives on social media and other online platforms, The Wall Street Journal reported.
What authority the panel would have, and under what department it would be based were not clear. But the Journal’s sources said the plans may include establishing a “White House-created commission” that would work in conjunction with agencies like the Federal Elections Commission and Federal Communications Commission to examine bias and censorship online. A White House official told the WSJ that “left wing bias in the tech world is a concern that definitely needs to be addressed.”
The president tweeted a similar opinion last week, that “The Radical Left is in total command & control of Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Google.” The administration is “working to remedy this illegal situation,” he added, but did not provide specifics.
A Twitter spokesperson said in an email to The Verge on Saturday that the company enforces “the Twitter Rules impartially for all users, regardless of their background or political affiliation,” adding that it is in regular communication with elected officials in efforts to improve the platform.


theverge--2020-05-23--9 new trailers you should watch this week

I forgot to write about Westworld after its third season wrapped up the other week .
In a lot of ways , I enjoyed the third season more than the earlier ones — it was far more coherent , it built out some cool sci-fi worlds , and Aaron Paul was a great addition to the cast .
But the season also left behind what was , arguably , the thing that made Westworld tick : overly complicated and gimmicky narrative tricks that leave the viewer perpetually trying to make sense of what they ’ re watching .
The best @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seasons wasn ’ t even watching the show , it was talking about it later and trying to decipher the twists it was trying to pull off .
In a lot of ways , yes , it was very gimmicky , but it was also fun .
Westworld season 3 was stronger as a narrative for forgoing that , but it meant we were left with just the chaos that is Westworld ’ s actual plot .
Check out nine trailers from this week below .
Here ’ s the latest trailer for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ movie that he insists will debut in theaters .
It looks good — it seems mysterious , action packed , and filled with dudes in suits just like any good Nolan film .
As for when we ’ ll be able to see it ?
Theoretically July 17th , and theoretically in theaters .
Spike Lee ’ s latest film puts a twist on the war movie : it ’ s about four vets who return to Vietnam and begin to confront the horrors that occurred while they were there .
It comes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a series that rapidly came together after a ridiculous presidential announcement , Space Force seems to have turned into something pretty funny .
The latest trailer gives a look at even more of the stars taking part in Steve Carell ’ s new comedy .
It comes to Netflix on May 29th .
There ’ s another trippy and mysterious trailer out for Antebellum , which has Janelle Monáe starring as a woman who seems to slip through time between modern day and the era of American slavery .
After being delayed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scheduled to come out on August 21st .
Netflix has a ludicrous-looking new action film coming up that stars Charlize Theron as the leader of a mercenary group that never dies .
Choice dialogue : “ Just because we keep living doesn ’ t mean we stop hurting.
” It comes out July 10th .
One Man and His Shoes Hot on the heels of The Last Dance , Vice is putting out a documentary specifically focused on the Air Jordans and how they became so popular .
It airs May 25th on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assembled an all-star cast of politicians — AOC , Stacey Abrams , and Ayanna Pressley , among others — to talk about the legacy of Representative John Lewis , a civil rights leader who came into elected office after marching alongside Martin Luther King Jr. in the ’ 60s .
It comes out July 3rd .
The Wanting Mare takes place in a gritty , dreamy fantasy city from which residents seem to be ready to escape .
I ’ m not entirely sure what ’ s going on , but the immediate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be this : the film is executive produced by Shane Carruth , the director of Primer .
The film was also , according to the press release , “ almost entirely ” shot inside a storage unit and is basically composed of a ton of VFX shots .
The movie is premiering at a festival this weekend , so there ’ s no wide release date yet .
The idea behind Infamous seems to be roughly : what if Bonnie and Clyde had social media ?
And I hate to say that ... @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It comes out June 12th .

I forgot to write about Westworld after its third season wrapped up the other week. In a lot of ways, I enjoyed the third season more than the earlier ones — it was far more coherent, it built out some cool sci-fi worlds, and Aaron Paul was a great addition to the cast.
But the season also left behind what was, arguably, the thing that made Westworld tick: overly complicated and gimmicky narrative tricks that leave the viewer perpetually trying to make sense of what they’re watching.
The best part of Westworld’s first two seasons wasn’t even watching the show, it was talking about it later and trying to decipher the twists it was trying to pull off. In a lot of ways, yes, it was very gimmicky, but it was also fun. Westworld season 3 was stronger as a narrative for forgoing that, but it meant we were left with just the chaos that is Westworld’s actual plot.
Check out nine trailers from this week below.
Tenet
Here’s the latest trailer for Christopher Nolan’s Tenet, a movie that he insists will debut in theaters. It looks good — it seems mysterious, action packed, and filled with dudes in suits just like any good Nolan film. As for when we’ll be able to see it? Theoretically July 17th, and theoretically in theaters.
Da 5 Bloods
Spike Lee’s latest film puts a twist on the war movie: it’s about four vets who return to Vietnam and begin to confront the horrors that occurred while they were there. It comes to Netflix on June 12th.
Space Force
For a series that rapidly came together after a ridiculous presidential announcement, Space Force seems to have turned into something pretty funny. The latest trailer gives a look at even more of the stars taking part in Steve Carell’s new comedy. It comes to Netflix on May 29th.
Antebellum
There’s another trippy and mysterious trailer out for Antebellum, which has Janelle Monáe starring as a woman who seems to slip through time between modern day and the era of American slavery. After being delayed by the pandemic, it’s now scheduled to come out on August 21st.
The Old Guard
Netflix has a ludicrous-looking new action film coming up that stars Charlize Theron as the leader of a mercenary group that never dies. Choice dialogue: “Just because we keep living doesn’t mean we stop hurting.” It comes out July 10th.
One Man and His Shoes
Hot on the heels of The Last Dance, Vice is putting out a documentary specifically focused on the Air Jordans and how they became so popular. It airs May 25th on Vice TV.
John Lewis: Good Trouble
Director Dawn Porter has assembled an all-star cast of politicians — AOC, Stacey Abrams, and Ayanna Pressley, among others — to talk about the legacy of Representative John Lewis, a civil rights leader who came into elected office after marching alongside Martin Luther King Jr. in the ’60s. It comes out July 3rd.
The Wanting Mare
The Wanting Mare takes place in a gritty, dreamy fantasy city from which residents seem to be ready to escape. I’m not entirely sure what’s going on, but the immediate reason to check it out seems to be this: the film is executive produced by Shane Carruth, the director of Primer. The film was also, according to the press release, “almost entirely” shot inside a storage unit and is basically composed of a ton of VFX shots. The movie is premiering at a festival this weekend, so there’s no wide release date yet.
Infamous


theverge--2020-05-23--UK reportedly planning to phase out Huawei equipment from its 5G networks

After resisting pressure from the US for months , Prime Minister Boris Johnson is apparently preparing to phase out the use of Huawei equipment from the UK ’ s 5G networks , the Financial Times reported .
Citing national security concerns , members of the UK ’ s Conservative party have pushed for Huawei technology to be removed from the UK ’ s 5G infrastructure and the rest of its telecom network by 2023 .
The Trump administration has banned government use of Huawei ’ s technology , and the president signed an executive order last May blocking US companies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pose national security risks .
The order doesn ’ t single out any one company , but is viewed as a way to exclude Chinese firms like ZTE and Huawei from doing business in the US .
Last week , Trump extended the ban through May 2021 .
The US has argued that Huawei could build backdoors into network infrastructure , ostensibly to aid spying efforts by the Chinese government , a charge Huawei has repeatedly denied .
Trump reportedly called Johnson earlier this year to discuss the matter , and at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was reconsidering its intelligence partnership with the UK .
Johnson had limited how much Huawei equipment could be used for 5G networks in the UK , banning the use of the company ’ s technology in the most sensitive parts of the network .
He said in January that there were not a lot of other options available for the UK ’ s 5G infrastructure , and telecom Vodafone said removing Huawei equipment from its networks would be extremely costly .

After resisting pressure from the US for months, Prime Minister Boris Johnson is apparently preparing to phase out the use of Huawei equipment from the UK’s 5G networks, the Financial Times reported. Citing national security concerns, members of the UK’s Conservative party have pushed for Huawei technology to be removed from the UK’s 5G infrastructure and the rest of its telecom network by 2023.
The Trump administration has banned government use of Huawei’s technology, and the president signed an executive order last May blocking US companies from buying foreign-made telecommunications equipment that may pose national security risks. The order doesn’t single out any one company, but is viewed as a way to exclude Chinese firms like ZTE and Huawei from doing business in the US. Last week, Trump extended the ban through May 2021.
The US has argued that Huawei could build backdoors into network infrastructure, ostensibly to aid spying efforts by the Chinese government, a charge Huawei has repeatedly denied.
Trump reportedly called Johnson earlier this year to discuss the matter, and at least one member of Congress said the US was reconsidering its intelligence partnership with the UK.


theverge--2020-05-23--Apple's AirPods, Google’s Pixel 3A, PS4 Pro, and more are heavily discounted for Memorial Day

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 .
It ’ s Memorial Day weekend in the US .
Several retailers are offering some of the best deals that we ’ ve seen in months , spanning several categories of tech .
There ’ s quite a lot to look at today , so we ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Now is about the time when we hear something from Amazon about when its annual Prime Day will happen .
For what it ’ s worth , Amazon may be planning to delay its Prime Day shopping event , usually in July , to September .
So , it ’ s possible that some of these deals might not come back for a few months .
Then again , since we ’ ve seen many of these discounts below making repeat appearances , some of them may be here to stay .
Acer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , laptops , and more with the offer code MEM2020 used at checkout .
That will save you up to 20 percent on your purchase .
If it ’ s accessories that you ’ re after , you can save 30 percent on those .
The seventh-generation iPad is up to $ 100 off this weekend at Best Buy and Amazon , matching the lowest price we ’ ve seen yet .
This tablet has seen no shortage of discounts recently , but it ’ s worth highlighting here in case you ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
If you think you can squeeze by with 32GB of storage , the $ 250 ( $ 80 off ) version of the iPad should suit you just fine .
Otherwise , if storage is a concern , the 128GB version is $ 329 ( usually $ 429 ) at both Best Buy and Amazon .
GameStop has a deal this weekend where if you buy two games ( new or used ) , you can get a third one for free .
As is usually the case , you ’ ll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , so you can save the most money if you get three $ 60 games .
Notably , this is the first time that GameStop has offered a deal like this for new games , so take advantage of it if you have a few titles on your wishlist .
GameStop is also offering savings on the refurbished PS4 Pro console .
It usually costs $ 400 , but you can get it for $ 280 .
Given that this console will be succeeded later in the year with the PS5 , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at full price .
However , for this more affordable price , it ’ s far easier to recommend if you want a 4K-ready console to play The Last of Us Part II or Ghosts of Tsushima .
Lastly , if you add five preowned games to your cart that cost no more than $ 20 each , you can get them all for just $ 50 when you buy them alongside the refurbished console .
Several retailers are offering the Pixel 3A at $ 120 off , which makes it $ 279 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discounted , but with an even bigger $ 160 price cut that brings it down to $ 319 .
Both are a great deal if you ’ re looking for a phone with a good camera and the latest Android software .
T-Mobile is offering the iPhone SE ( usually $ 399 ) to its customers for free with a trade-in .
Note that it ’ s not free right away .
You ’ ll need to enroll in a device payment plan for the SE , though by trading in a phone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ full cost of the phone with monthly credits given to you over a 24-month period .
Speaking of , here ’ s the full list of eligible phones to trade in to get the iPhone SE for free after two years : Satechi is offering a 15 percent discount on purchases made with the offer code MEMORIAL at its site .
If you spend more than $ 100 while you ’ re there , the code MEMORIAL20 will get you 20 percent off .

It’s Memorial Day weekend in the US. Several retailers are offering some of the best deals that we’ve seen in months, spanning several categories of tech. There’s quite a lot to look at today, so we’ve included a selection of promotions below.
Now is about the time when we hear something from Amazon about when its annual Prime Day will happen. For what it’s worth, Amazon may be planning to delay its Prime Day shopping event, usually in July, to September. So, it’s possible that some of these deals might not come back for a few months. Then again, since we’ve seen many of these discounts below making repeat appearances, some of them may be here to stay.
Headphones
Apple AirPods (with wireless charging case) / Was $200, now 25% off $150 at Amazon
Beats Solo Pro over-ear headphones / Was $299, now 16% off $249 at Best Buy
Computing
Apple MacBook Air (2020) / Was $999, now 5% off $950 at B&H Photo
Apple MacBook Air (2020) / Was $999, now 5% off $950 at Best Buy
The Acer Swift 5 laptop is one of the products you can save big on this weekend. Photo by Avery White for The Verge
Acer is offering a site-wide discount on desktops, laptops, and more with the offer code MEM2020 used at checkout. That will save you up to 20 percent on your purchase. If it’s accessories that you’re after, you can save 30 percent on those.
Tablets
The seventh-generation iPad has a 10.2-inch display, making it a little bigger than the previous model. Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge
The seventh-generation iPad is up to $100 off this weekend at Best Buy and Amazon, matching the lowest price we’ve seen yet. This tablet has seen no shortage of discounts recently, but it’s worth highlighting here in case you’ve missed out on previous price cuts.
If you think you can squeeze by with 32GB of storage, the $250 ($80 off) version of the iPad should suit you just fine. Otherwise, if storage is a concern, the 128GB version is $329 (usually $429) at both Best Buy and Amazon.
Apple iPad (seventh-generation, 32GB, Wi-Fi) / Was $330, now 24% off $250 at Best Buy
Apple iPad (seventh-generation, 128GB, Wi-Fi) / Was $430, now 23% off $330 at Amazon
Gaming
GameStop has a deal this weekend where if you buy two games (new or used), you can get a third one for free. As is usually the case, you’ll get the most affordable one for free, so you can save the most money if you get three $60 games. Notably, this is the first time that GameStop has offered a deal like this for new games, so take advantage of it if you have a few titles on your wishlist.
Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge
GameStop is also offering savings on the refurbished PS4 Pro console. It usually costs $400, but you can get it for $280. Given that this console will be succeeded later in the year with the PS5, I’m reluctant to recommend buying it at full price. However, for this more affordable price, it’s far easier to recommend if you want a 4K-ready console to play The Last of Us Part II or Ghosts of Tsushima. Lastly, if you add five preowned games to your cart that cost no more than $20 each, you can get them all for just $50 when you buy them alongside the refurbished console.
Phones
Several retailers are offering the Pixel 3A at $120 off, which makes it $279. The Pixel 3A XL is also discounted, but with an even bigger $160 price cut that brings it down to $319. Both are a great deal if you’re looking for a phone with a good camera and the latest Android software.
Google Pixel 3A and 3A XL / Up to $160 off Buy at B&H Photo
Google Pixel 3A and 3A XL / Up to $160 off Buy at Amazon
Google Pixel 3A and 3A XL / Up to $160 off Buy at Best Buy
The new iPhone SE starts at $399, but it can be had for free after 24 months of monthly credits at T-Mobile.
T-Mobile is offering the iPhone SE (usually $399) to its customers for free with a trade-in. Note that it’s not free right away. You’ll need to enroll in a device payment plan for the SE, though by trading in a phone, you’ll be reimbursed the full cost of the phone with monthly credits given to you over a 24-month period. Speaking of, here’s the full list of eligible phones to trade in to get the iPhone SE for free after two years:
iPhone 6S / 6S Plus series or newer
LG V40 ThinQ / LG G7 ThinQ or newer
Samsung Galaxy S8 / Note8 series or newer
Google Pixel 3 series or newer
OnePlus 6T or newer
Wearables
Apple Watch Series 5 (40mm, GPS) / Was $399, now 25% off $299 at Best Buy
Apple Watch Series 5 (44mm, GPS) / Was $429, now 23% off $329 at Amazon
Misc
The three-pack of Eero mesh Wi-Fi routers is a tremendous deal. Photo by Dan Seifert / The Verge
Eero mesh Wi-Fi router (three-pack) / Was $249, now 12% off with offer code THEVERGEWIFI $219 at Wellbots
The Nest Wifi router comes with one of these Point satellites, available in three different colors. Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge
Google Nest Wifi router + Point / Was $269, now 26% off $199 at B&H Photo
One of Satechi’s newer hubs lets you connect to two 4K 60Hz displays and keep your MacBook Pro charged up.
Satechi is offering a 15 percent discount on purchases made with the offer code MEMORIAL at its site. If you spend more than $100 while you’re there, the code MEMORIAL20 will get you 20 percent off.
Bird’s One electric scooter can reach up to 19 mph, and it supports a maximum weight of 220 pounds. Read more right here. Image: Bird
Bird One electric scooter / Was $1,300, now 23% off $1,000 at Best Buy


theverge--2020-05-24--Sony’s Xperia 1 II ships in the US on July 24th for $1,199

Sony ’ s new flagship smartphone , the Xperia 1 II ( pronounced “ mark two ” ) , will ship in the US starting July 24th for $ 1,199 , the company announced .
Pre-orders start on June 1st .
And if you pre-order by June 28th , you ’ ll get a free pair of Sony WF-1000XM3 noise canceling earbuds .
A major feature of the Xperia 1 II is its 12-megapixel triple-camera array , which Sony says can shoot up 20 fps in burst mode , make AF/AE calculations up to 60 times per second , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ animals for portrait shots , among other features .
The phone also comes with the Photography Pro and Cinematography Pro apps , which give you more manual control over the camera settings for your photos and videos .
The Xperia 1 II has a 4K HDR OLED screen that ’ s 6.5 inches and has a 21:9 aspect ratio , making it taller than many other phones .
The phone is powered by Qualcomm ’ s Snapdragon 865 processor , has a 4,000mAh battery , and supports wireless charging .
It also has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to plug in headphones .
Sony also said it has “ plans to develop ” the Xperia Pro , a new phone that supports mmWave 5G , which typically offers faster speeds than sub-6Hz 5G but has a more limited range .
But to help you find service when you ’ re using the Xperia Pro , Sony says the new phone will show you the direction of an mmWave 5G connection and your transmission and reception speeds .
The Xperia 1 II will be 4G only in the US , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Xperia Pro will also have a micro HDMI cable so that you can connect it to cameras with an HDMI output .
That means you can use the Xperia Pro as a monitor for some DSLR cameras and professional camcorders as well as transmit data captured by a camera over the phone ’ s 5G connection , according to Sony .

Sony’s new flagship smartphone, the Xperia 1 II (pronounced “mark two”), will ship in the US starting July 24th for $1,199, the company announced. Pre-orders start on June 1st. And if you pre-order by June 28th, you’ll get a free pair of Sony WF-1000XM3 noise canceling earbuds.
A major feature of the Xperia 1 II is its 12-megapixel triple-camera array, which Sony says can shoot up 20 fps in burst mode, make AF/AE calculations up to 60 times per second, and autofocus on the eyes of humans and animals for portrait shots, among other features. The phone also comes with the Photography Pro and Cinematography Pro apps, which give you more manual control over the camera settings for your photos and videos.
The Xperia 1 II has a 4K HDR OLED screen that’s 6.5 inches and has a 21:9 aspect ratio, making it taller than many other phones. The phone is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 865 processor, has a 4,000mAh battery, and supports wireless charging. It also has a 3.5mm audio jack, if you want to plug in headphones.
Sony also said it has “plans to develop” the Xperia Pro, a new phone that supports mmWave 5G, which typically offers faster speeds than sub-6Hz 5G but has a more limited range. But to help you find service when you’re using the Xperia Pro, Sony says the new phone will show you the direction of an mmWave 5G connection and your transmission and reception speeds. The Xperia 1 II will be 4G only in the US, but its Europe variant supports 5G.
The Xperia Pro. Image: Sony


theverge--2020-05-24--The ‘Knight Rider’ theme song played on the cello is the best kind of Gen-X nostalgia

The 1980s show Knight Rider was about a guy who drove a talking car and solved crimes .
I think .
I ( sort of ) remember watching a young ( ish ) David Hasselhoff argue with the car , a 1982 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am named KITT ( Knight Industries Two Thousand ) , voiced by William Daniels .
KITT had a Cylon-like red light on its ( his ? )
front grill which made the car seem vaguely menacing .
Knight Rider was amazing ‘ 80s television and as such , had an equally spectacular theme song ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get back to TV theme songs that explain the entire plot of the show either in the lyrics or via a voiceover like this one did .
I miss you , 1980s ) .
London-based cellist Samara Ginsberg , who among other things , produces “ virtuoso arrangements of cartoon/film/tv/video game themes ” took the Knight Rider theme and made it her own in an utterly incredible video that I can ’ t stop watching .
That ’ s her , doing all eight parts .
Seriously , I am in awe .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ original Knight Rider opening theme ( ah that 80s synth-pop ) , for those of you who missed it the first time around : Ginsberg ’ s eight-cello/one-woman productions also include an arrangement of the Imperial March ( aka Darth Vader ’ s theme music ) from Star Wars ( the masks ! )
... ... and the theme of another 1980s show near and dear to Gen Xers : Inspector Gadget : Ah the 1980s : bad hair but great TV theme songs .
I ’ m now trying to think of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the cello : Facts of Life ?
Magnum , PI ?
Miami Vice ?
Honestly , so many good options to choose from .

The 1980s show Knight Rider was about a guy who drove a talking car and solved crimes. I think. I (sort of) remember watching a young(ish) David Hasselhoff argue with the car, a 1982 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am named KITT (Knight Industries Two Thousand), voiced by William Daniels. KITT had a Cylon-like red light on its (his?) front grill which made the car seem vaguely menacing. Knight Rider was amazing ‘80s television and as such, had an equally spectacular theme song (sidebar: I would like us to get back to TV theme songs that explain the entire plot of the show either in the lyrics or via a voiceover like this one did. I miss you, 1980s).
London-based cellist Samara Ginsberg, who among other things, produces “virtuoso arrangements of cartoon/film/tv/video game themes” took the Knight Rider theme and made it her own in an utterly incredible video that I can’t stop watching. That’s her, doing all eight parts. Seriously, I am in awe.
For comparison, here’s the original Knight Rider opening theme (ah that 80s synth-pop), for those of you who missed it the first time around:
Ginsberg’s eight-cello/one-woman productions also include an arrangement of the Imperial March (aka Darth Vader’s theme music) from Star Wars (the masks!)...
...and the theme of another 1980s show near and dear to Gen Xers: Inspector Gadget:
Ah the 1980s: bad hair but great TV theme songs. I’m now trying to think of other 80s shows Ginsberg could crush on the cello: Facts of Life? Magnum, PI? Miami Vice?


theverge--2020-05-24--Streaming this week: Space Force, Ramy and Hannah Gadsby: Douglas

One of the new streaming shows I ’ ve been looking forward to most , Netflix ’ s Space Force with Steve Carell , debuts this week .
I definitely need something funny and smart in the lineup— I started watching I Know This Much is True and now catching up on Ozark , so a less morbid/bleak show will be a welcome change .
Here are three shows on the lighter side ( or at least , the less-dystopian side ) coming to streaming this week : Australian comedian Hannah Gadsby , probably best known for her stunning , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back , bringing her latest comedy standup show Douglas to Netflix ( fwiw , Douglas is the name of one of her dogs ) .
Egyptian-American Ramy Hassan returns in this heartfelt comedy about a man striving to better understand himself and his faith .
The second season includes Oscar-winner Mahershala Ali as a sheikh trying to give the title character the guidance he craves .
Ramy Youssef stars .
The Verge ’ s Julia Alexander describes Space Force as “ if Michael Scott from The Office was given a team of scientists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a program that would give the United States complete dominance over space ” which sounds amazing tbh .
Steve Carell , John Malkovich , Lisa Kudrow , Jane Lynch , and the late Fred Willard star .

One of the new streaming shows I’ve been looking forward to most, Netflix’s Space Force with Steve Carell, debuts this week. I definitely need something funny and smart in the lineup— I started watching I Know This Much is True and now catching up on Ozark, so a less morbid/bleak show will be a welcome change.
Here are three shows on the lighter side (or at least, the less-dystopian side) coming to streaming this week:
Hannah Gadsby: Douglas (Netflix, May 26th)
Australian comedian Hannah Gadsby, probably best known for her stunning, Peabody Award-winning standup show Nanette, is back, bringing her latest comedy standup show Douglas to Netflix (fwiw, Douglas is the name of one of her dogs).
Ramy, Season Two (Hulu, May 29th)
Egyptian-American Ramy Hassan returns in this heartfelt comedy about a man striving to better understand himself and his faith. The second season includes Oscar-winner Mahershala Ali as a sheikh trying to give the title character the guidance he craves. Ramy Youssef stars.
Space Force (Netflix, May 29th)


theverge--2020-05-24--New jailbreak tool works on Apple’s just-released iOS 13.5

A new tool by hacking group Unc0ver can jailbreak iOS 13.5 , the just-released version of Apple ’ s mobile operating system , Wired reported .
The group says the jailbreak , which works on iOS 11 and higher , is built on a zero-day vulnerability , doesn ’ t drain a device ’ s battery life , and doesn ’ t affect the use of Apple services or undermine the iOS sandbox security , according to Wired .
Unc0ver ’ s lead developer told Wired the jailbreak adds exceptions to existing rules , and “ enables reading new jailbreak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contain no user data.
” The jailbreak tool is not open source , and the group didn ’ t say which vulnerability in iOS it exploited to build the tool .
Jailbreaking gives a user more control over a device ’ s OS , allowing customization and the installation of apps that Apple would otherwise restrict .
It also can be used by would-be attackers to compromise a device ’ s security .
In earlier versions of iOS , jailbreaking was relatively common .
The practice has dwindled in recent years with Apple @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , resulting in some of the most prominent jailbreak-reliant app sources closing down .

A new tool by hacking group Unc0ver can jailbreak iOS 13.5, the just-released version of Apple’s mobile operating system, Wired reported. The group says the jailbreak, which works on iOS 11 and higher, is built on a zero-day vulnerability, doesn’t drain a device’s battery life, and doesn’t affect the use of Apple services or undermine the iOS sandbox security, according to Wired.
Unc0ver’s lead developer told Wired the jailbreak adds exceptions to existing rules, and “enables reading new jailbreak files and parts of the filesystem that contain no user data.” The jailbreak tool is not open source, and the group didn’t say which vulnerability in iOS it exploited to build the tool.
Jailbreaking gives a user more control over a device’s OS, allowing customization and the installation of apps that Apple would otherwise restrict. It also can be used by would-be attackers to compromise a device’s security.


theverge--2020-05-25--Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Plus renders suggest a slightly bigger screen and much bigger camera bump

Last year ’ s Galaxy Note 10 Plus was truly a thing of beauty , with an amazing screen and superlative industrial design .
And , judging by some high-quality ( and completely unofficial ) renders of the Galaxy Note 20 Plus , it looks like Samsung won ’ t be changing too much in 2020 .
The only major difference is a new , bulkier camera module on the rear of the device .
These renders come from noted leaker @ OnLeaks in collaboration with phone-case maker Pigtou .
As with all renders based on leaked CAD drawings , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of salt , but the design they suggest for the Note 20 Plus seems reasonable enough .
The most obvious feature is the big , nearly edge-to-edge display , with curved bezels , sloping sides , and a small , central hole-punch cutout for the selfie camera that ’ s near identical to the 2019 design .
The top and bottom edge also look the same as that of the Note 10 Plus , with speaker grille , charging port , and space for the signature S Pen stylus .
In terms of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reportedly be slightly bigger than the 10 Plus , with a 6.9-inch display instead of last year ’ s 6.8-inch AMOLED screen , and slightly longer but thinner dimensions , with the same overall width ( 165mm long , 77.2mm wide , and 7.6mm thick , according to leaks ) .
The most noticeable change , though , is the camera module on the rear of the device , which is much bigger than that of the 2019 Note Plus , according to the renders .
In the Note 10 and Note 10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ oval containing three lenses , while the flash module was positioned to one side , flush with the case ( in the 10 Plus there are two additional divots that supply the phone ’ s depth-sensing capabilities ) .
But the Note 20 renders show a larger , more rectangular module that apparently integrates all these components — lenses and assorted gubbins — into a single raised unit .
This looks extremely similar to the camera system on this year ’ s Galaxy S20 Ultra , which was very much designed to show @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The S20 Ultra ’ s module contained five lenses sporting up to 108 megapixels , and a 4x optical zoom that offered solid results up to a 10x zoom with the help of software .
There ’ s a lot to say about that camera system , but check out our full review from February for more information .
If the Note 20 and 20 Plus are anything like previous iterations in the series , they ’ ll contain the best , biggest , and brightest of Samsung ’ s smartphone specs .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ expect some high-end camera hardware .
We ’ ve not seen any leaked specs for the 2020 Notes , though , so will have to see what surfaces in the months to come .
Reports suggest that Samsung will be launching the Note 20 in August , though this will likely be an online-only event as a reaction to the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic .

Last year’s Galaxy Note 10 Plus was truly a thing of beauty, with an amazing screen and superlative industrial design. And, judging by some high-quality (and completely unofficial) renders of the Galaxy Note 20 Plus, it looks like Samsung won’t be changing too much in 2020. The only major difference is a new, bulkier camera module on the rear of the device.
These renders come from noted leaker @OnLeaks in collaboration with phone-case maker Pigtou. As with all renders based on leaked CAD drawings, they should be taken with a pinch of salt, but the design they suggest for the Note 20 Plus seems reasonable enough.
Previous Next
1 / 3 These renders are based on leaked CAD drawings. Previous Next
1 / 3 These renders are based on leaked CAD drawings.
The most obvious feature is the big, nearly edge-to-edge display, with curved bezels, sloping sides, and a small, central hole-punch cutout for the selfie camera that’s near identical to the 2019 design. The top and bottom edge also look the same as that of the Note 10 Plus, with speaker grille, charging port, and space for the signature S Pen stylus.
In terms of size, the Note 20 Plus will reportedly be slightly bigger than the 10 Plus, with a 6.9-inch display instead of last year’s 6.8-inch AMOLED screen, and slightly longer but thinner dimensions, with the same overall width (165mm long, 77.2mm wide, and 7.6mm thick, according to leaks).
The most noticeable change, though, is the camera module on the rear of the device, which is much bigger than that of the 2019 Note Plus, according to the renders.
In the Note 10 and Note 10 Plus this module was a pretty slim oval containing three lenses, while the flash module was positioned to one side, flush with the case (in the 10 Plus there are two additional divots that supply the phone’s depth-sensing capabilities). But the Note 20 renders show a larger, more rectangular module that apparently integrates all these components — lenses and assorted gubbins — into a single raised unit.
This looks extremely similar to the camera system on this year’s Galaxy S20 Ultra, which was very much designed to show off Samsung’s photography abilities. The S20 Ultra’s module contained five lenses sporting up to 108 megapixels, and a 4x optical zoom that offered solid results up to a 10x zoom with the help of software. There’s a lot to say about that camera system, but check out our full review from February for more information.
If the Note 20 and 20 Plus are anything like previous iterations in the series, they’ll contain the best, biggest, and brightest of Samsung’s smartphone specs. So it’s not unreasonable to expect some high-end camera hardware. We’ve not seen any leaked specs for the 2020 Notes, though, so will have to see what surfaces in the months to come.


theverge--2020-05-25--Apple iOS app updates are being re-issued for unknown reasons

If your iPhone or iPad has dozens of apps needing unexpected updates , don ’ t worry : you ’ re not alone .
For some reason , Apple appears to be reissuing recently-published app updates , resulting in users having to reinstall the latest version of some apps .
Among the Verge team , the number of unexpected updates ranged from less than twenty to nearly 100 , with updates dating back to the beginning of the month resurfacing from the depths of the App Store .
Your experience will vary , of course , depending on how many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ update them .
Exactly why these updates are being reissued isn ’ t clear , but , as MacRumors notes , it might have something to do with a bug that seems to be affecting apps as of iOS 13.5 .
This bug bug meant some apps became inaccessible , with an error message informing users : “ This app is no longer shared with you.
” The quick fix to get the app working again without losing its settings and data is to offload the app via Settings > General > iPhone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We don ’ t know what ’ s causing this particular “ no longer shared with you ” error either , but the wording suggests some sort of authentication or certification issue .
It ’ s possible that the reissuing of app updates is meant to fix this bug , but that ’ s just a theory .
Whatever the problem is , it doesn ’ t seem to be breaking any app functionality .
Just update and move on , a good motto for life generally .

If your iPhone or iPad has dozens of apps needing unexpected updates, don’t worry: you’re not alone. For some reason, Apple appears to be reissuing recently-published app updates, resulting in users having to reinstall the latest version of some apps.
Among the Verge team, the number of unexpected updates ranged from less than twenty to nearly 100, with updates dating back to the beginning of the month resurfacing from the depths of the App Store. Your experience will vary, of course, depending on how many apps you have and have frequently you update them.
Exactly why these updates are being reissued isn’t clear, but, as MacRumors notes, it might have something to do with a bug that seems to be affecting apps as of iOS 13.5. This bug bug meant some apps became inaccessible, with an error message informing users: “This app is no longer shared with you.” The quick fix to get the app working again without losing its settings and data is to offload the app via Settings > General > iPhone Storage, and then reinstall it. We don’t know what’s causing this particular “no longer shared with you” error either, but the wording suggests some sort of authentication or certification issue.


theverge--2020-05-25--Realme announces its first smartwatch and TVs

Realme ’ s explosive performance in India has made it one of the fastest growing smartphone brands in the world , and today the company is expanding into the nebulous “ lifestyle tech ” market with products in new categories .
First up is Realme ’ s first smartwatch , imaginatively called the Realme Watch .
It has a square design with a 1.4-inch 320x320 LCD display and runs what appears to be a custom version of Android .
It can display notifications , control music , hang up phone calls , and do other typical smartwatch things .
Realme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ battery life from the watch , or 20 days in its power-saving mode .
After my experience with the new watch from technological stablemate Oppo , though , I ’ d want to check that claim for myself .
Realme ’ s watch has much of the same functionality as the fitness band that the brand launched in March , including a heart rate sensor , sleep monitoring , and the India-targeted cricket-tracking mode .
The larger screen makes this look more like a Fitbit-style watch , though , and the bands are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up the style .
The Realme Watch will cost Rs .
3,999 ( ~ $ 50 ) and will be available from Flipkart and Realme.com on June 5th .
Next is the Realme Smart TV , a pair of Android TV sets that sees Realme follow smartphone makers like OnePlus and Xiaomi by moving into the TV market in India .
There ’ s a 32-inch 720p option and a 43-inch 1080p model — no 4K option here , though Realme claims the sets support HDR10 and HLG , reaching up to 400 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quad-core MediaTek processor and have Dolby Audio-certified 24W quad speakers .
The TVs will go on sale on Realme ’ s website and on Flipkart on June 2nd .
The 43-inch set will sell for Rs .
21,999 ( $ 290 ) while the 32-inch model is Rs .
12,999 ( $ 170 ) .
Other products announced today include the Rs .
2,999 ( $ 40 ) Realme Buds Air Neo , a better-sounding pair of truly wireless earbuds , along with a new 10,000mAh power bank for Rs .
999 ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both be available today .

Realme’s explosive performance in India has made it one of the fastest growing smartphone brands in the world, and today the company is expanding into the nebulous “lifestyle tech” market with products in new categories.
First up is Realme’s first smartwatch, imaginatively called the Realme Watch. It has a square design with a 1.4-inch 320x320 LCD display and runs what appears to be a custom version of Android. It can display notifications, control music, hang up phone calls, and do other typical smartwatch things.
Realme is claiming 7 to 9 days of battery life from the watch, or 20 days in its power-saving mode. After my experience with the new watch from technological stablemate Oppo, though, I’d want to check that claim for myself.
Realme’s watch has much of the same functionality as the fitness band that the brand launched in March, including a heart rate sensor, sleep monitoring, and the India-targeted cricket-tracking mode. The larger screen makes this look more like a Fitbit-style watch, though, and the bands are easily removable if you want to switch up the style.
The Realme Watch will cost Rs. 3,999 (~$50) and will be available from Flipkart and Realme.com on June 5th.
Next is the Realme Smart TV, a pair of Android TV sets that sees Realme follow smartphone makers like OnePlus and Xiaomi by moving into the TV market in India. There’s a 32-inch 720p option and a 43-inch 1080p model — no 4K option here, though Realme claims the sets support HDR10 and HLG, reaching up to 400 nits of brightness. They use a quad-core MediaTek processor and have Dolby Audio-certified 24W quad speakers.
The TVs will go on sale on Realme’s website and on Flipkart on June 2nd. The 43-inch set will sell for Rs. 21,999 ($290) while the 32-inch model is Rs. 12,999 ($170).


theverge--2020-05-25--Small satellite launcher Virgin Orbit fails to launch rocket to space during first test flight

Update May 25th , 5:20PM ET : Virgin Orbit ’ s test flight ended in failure shortly after LauncherOne dropped from under the company ’ s carrier 747 airplane .
Virgin Orbit confirmed that the drop was successful and that the rocket ’ s main engine ignited .
But then it quickly suffered some kind of anomaly at the beginning of the flight .
The company says no one was hurt during the test and the team will be digging into the data to learn what went wrong .
Original Story : Small satellite launcher Virgin Orbit — the sibling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tourism venture Virgin Galactic — plans to conduct the first test launch of its rocket today .
The company has been developing and testing its vehicles for the last six years , but now it ’ s ready to finally send a rocket to orbit .
Virgin Orbit ’ s primary rocket is called LauncherOne , capable of launching small to medium payloads , roughly the size of washing machines , to space .
And the rocket takes a unique path to get there .
Rather than launching upright from the ground — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days — LauncherOne actually takes off from underneath the wing of a Boeing 747 airplane .
Nicknamed Cosmic Girl , the 747 is designed to carry LauncherOne up to 35,000 feet .
There , the plane pulls up , angling the rocket toward the sky , and then LauncherOne drops away .
Its main engine ignites , propelling LauncherOne the rest of the way to orbit .
“ we can fly to space from any place that can host a 747.
” “ We ’ re a very unique system in that we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the CEO of Virgin Orbit , said during a press conference .
“ And what that gives us is incredible flexibility .
In fact , we have mobility ; we can fly to space from any place that can host a 747 , which is almost any place , and we can go to any orbit.
” At least that ’ s how it ’ s supposed to work .
Virgin Orbit has yet to actually put LauncherOne in to orbit , though the company has done a fair amount of testing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it happen .
Engineers at Virgin Orbit have conducted numerous ignition tests with LauncherOne ’ s engine , called NewtonThree , at the company ’ s test facility at the Mojave Air and Space Port .
Virgin Orbit ’ s main pilot , Kelly Latimer , has been routinely flying Cosmic Girl , going through the maneuvers she ’ ll need to do during an actual launch .
And the team has done various tests with LauncherOne in the air , rehearsing everything but the part where the rocket ’ s engines ignite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ underneath the wing of Cosmic Girl a few times , and the team even dropped a dummy LauncherOne from the plane , to see if the rocket fell as they expected .
Getting to this launch has taken slightly more time than Virgin Orbit had anticipated .
Originally , the company had hoped to fly LauncherOne as early as last summer , but the team wound up doing more work to develop the rocket .
“ We did add some tests along the way as we looked at the overall verification program , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we adjusted accordingly .
The internal focus of the team was really to move through a methodical development process.
” Additionally , the COVID-19 pandemic forced the company to pause operations briefly this year and rework how people operate in the Virgin Orbit factories in Long Beach .
But now , it ’ s finally time to fly .
LauncherOne is loaded up with a weighted dummy payload that the company has treated like an actual customer ’ s satellite .
That means the team has been handling it with care and even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the real thing .
“ In itself , it is not a terribly exciting thing , ” Will Pomerantz , vice president of special projects at Virgin Orbit , said during the press conference .
“ You know , it is essentially a nice-looking inert mass that allowed us to practice all those things we really wanted to practice.
” To get this mass into orbit , the plan is for Latimer to take off from the Mojave Air and Space Port with LauncherOne .
She ’ ll then fly Cosmic Girl out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the rocket ’ s drop point .
Latimer will release the rocket and a few seconds later , the engines should ignite and start LauncherOne ’ s trip to space .
Virgin Orbit has a four-hour launch window for this mission that begins at 1PM ET on Monday .
Originally , the company had hoped to launch Sunday , but had to postpone due to the discovery of a sensor acting funny .
The company will only launch if all the weather criteria and other restrictions are met , but so far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Virgin Orbit is prepared to learn from this flight and is realistic about the possibility of something going wrong .
“ History is not terribly kind necessarily to maiden flights , ” Pomerantz said , noting that about half of inaugural launches of new rockets fail .
The team is also prepared to do another test launch if necessary after this one .
“ History is not terribly kind necessarily to maiden flights.
” But if all goes well , the goal is for the company to move rapidly to commercial service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NASA , launching up to 10 small satellites developed mostly by universities on a mission called ELaNa XX .
That should be one of a handful that Virgin Orbit does this year .
“ We expect to get to one or two more flights this year , as we understand and mature the system , ” Hart said .
That cadence may increase next year .
Once commercial operations get into full swing , Virgin Orbit will become one of just a handful of US companies with an operational rocket dedicated to launching @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the company has a lot of competition coming up quick , with numerous startups developing similar types of launch vehicles to capitalize on the small satellite revolution .
And other major players , like SpaceX , are trying to get in on the market too , by offering to pack multiple small satellites on their larger rockets to get numerous tiny vehicles into space at once .
Virgin Orbit is optimistic , though , claiming to have customer contracts from commercial companies , NASA , the Department of Defense , and even international @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of millions of dollars .
The company also set its pre-launch price for rides on LauncherOne at $ 12 million , but the company says that will evolve over time .
“ Our pricing obviously will follow the market as we get into full operations , ” Hart said .
“ And we ’ ll adjust accordingly.
” Above all , Hart thinks that launching from a plane instead of a fixed launchpad will make the company more attractive to prospective customers .
“ We are really completely unique in the field in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we ’ re not launching out of a congested range , ” said Hart .

Update May 25th, 5:20PM ET: Virgin Orbit’s test flight ended in failure shortly after LauncherOne dropped from under the company’s carrier 747 airplane. Virgin Orbit confirmed that the drop was successful and that the rocket’s main engine ignited. But then it quickly suffered some kind of anomaly at the beginning of the flight. The company says no one was hurt during the test and the team will be digging into the data to learn what went wrong.
Original Story: Small satellite launcher Virgin Orbit — the sibling company to Richard Branson’s space tourism venture Virgin Galactic — plans to conduct the first test launch of its rocket today. The company has been developing and testing its vehicles for the last six years, but now it’s ready to finally send a rocket to orbit.
Virgin Orbit’s primary rocket is called LauncherOne, capable of launching small to medium payloads, roughly the size of washing machines, to space. And the rocket takes a unique path to get there. Rather than launching upright from the ground — as the majority of rockets do these days — LauncherOne actually takes off from underneath the wing of a Boeing 747 airplane. Nicknamed Cosmic Girl, the 747 is designed to carry LauncherOne up to 35,000 feet. There, the plane pulls up, angling the rocket toward the sky, and then LauncherOne drops away. Its main engine ignites, propelling LauncherOne the rest of the way to orbit.
“we can fly to space from any place that can host a 747.”
“We’re a very unique system in that we are air launched,” Dan Hart, the CEO of Virgin Orbit, said during a press conference. “And what that gives us is incredible flexibility. In fact, we have mobility; we can fly to space from any place that can host a 747, which is almost any place, and we can go to any orbit.”
At least that’s how it’s supposed to work. Virgin Orbit has yet to actually put LauncherOne in to orbit, though the company has done a fair amount of testing on all of the hardware to make it happen. Engineers at Virgin Orbit have conducted numerous ignition tests with LauncherOne’s engine, called NewtonThree, at the company’s test facility at the Mojave Air and Space Port.
Virgin Orbit’s main pilot, Kelly Latimer, has been routinely flying Cosmic Girl, going through the maneuvers she’ll need to do during an actual launch. And the team has done various tests with LauncherOne in the air, rehearsing everything but the part where the rocket’s engines ignite. The company has carried the rocket underneath the wing of Cosmic Girl a few times, and the team even dropped a dummy LauncherOne from the plane, to see if the rocket fell as they expected.
Getting to this launch has taken slightly more time than Virgin Orbit had anticipated. Originally, the company had hoped to fly LauncherOne as early as last summer, but the team wound up doing more work to develop the rocket. “We did add some tests along the way as we looked at the overall verification program,” Hart said. “And so we adjusted accordingly. The internal focus of the team was really to move through a methodical development process.” Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the company to pause operations briefly this year and rework how people operate in the Virgin Orbit factories in Long Beach.
But now, it’s finally time to fly. LauncherOne is loaded up with a weighted dummy payload that the company has treated like an actual customer’s satellite. That means the team has been handling it with care and even cleaning it, as if it were the real thing. “In itself, it is not a terribly exciting thing,” Will Pomerantz, vice president of special projects at Virgin Orbit, said during the press conference. “You know, it is essentially a nice-looking inert mass that allowed us to practice all those things we really wanted to practice.”
To get this mass into orbit, the plan is for Latimer to take off from the Mojave Air and Space Port with LauncherOne. She’ll then fly Cosmic Girl out over the Pacific and position the plane over the rocket’s drop point. Latimer will release the rocket and a few seconds later, the engines should ignite and start LauncherOne’s trip to space. Virgin Orbit has a four-hour launch window for this mission that begins at 1PM ET on Monday. Originally, the company had hoped to launch Sunday, but had to postpone due to the discovery of a sensor acting funny. The company will only launch if all the weather criteria and other restrictions are met, but so far, Hart says weather is looking good.
Virgin Orbit is prepared to learn from this flight and is realistic about the possibility of something going wrong. “History is not terribly kind necessarily to maiden flights,” Pomerantz said, noting that about half of inaugural launches of new rockets fail. The team is also prepared to do another test launch if necessary after this one.
“History is not terribly kind necessarily to maiden flights.”
But if all goes well, the goal is for the company to move rapidly to commercial service. Its first customer flight is for NASA, launching up to 10 small satellites developed mostly by universities on a mission called ELaNa XX. That should be one of a handful that Virgin Orbit does this year. “We expect to get to one or two more flights this year, as we understand and mature the system,” Hart said. That cadence may increase next year.
Once commercial operations get into full swing, Virgin Orbit will become one of just a handful of US companies with an operational rocket dedicated to launching small payloads into orbit. However, the company has a lot of competition coming up quick, with numerous startups developing similar types of launch vehicles to capitalize on the small satellite revolution. And other major players, like SpaceX, are trying to get in on the market too, by offering to pack multiple small satellites on their larger rockets to get numerous tiny vehicles into space at once.
Virgin Orbit is optimistic, though, claiming to have customer contracts from commercial companies, NASA, the Department of Defense, and even international partners, that add up to hundreds of millions of dollars. The company also set its pre-launch price for rides on LauncherOne at $12 million, but the company says that will evolve over time. “Our pricing obviously will follow the market as we get into full operations,” Hart said. “And we’ll adjust accordingly.”


theverge--2020-05-25--Uncut Gems, one of Adam Sandler’s best movies, is now streaming on Netflix in the US

Adam Sandler hasn ’ t acted in many dramas , but those he stars in tend to exceed expectations .
Uncut Gems is no different .
Josh and Benny Safdie ’ s critically acclaimed independent film , which stars Sandler as Howard Ratner , New York City jeweler with a gambling addiction who risks it all on a rare stone , Kevin Garnett , and a 2012 Celtics game , is now streaming on Netflix in the United States .
The streamer is a co-producer of the film alongside indie hit maker , A24 .
Uncut Gems was available to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to today .
Uncut Gems was named one of 2019 ’ s best films by a number of critics , and many considered the lack of recognition by award bodies for Sandler as a major snub .
The anxiety-inducing film also helped cement the Safdie brothers as two of the most ambitious filmmakers working today , following their success with Good Time in 2017 and Heaven Knows What in 2014 .
Personally speaking , Uncut Gems also does a phenomenal job of accurately portraying what it ’ s like to be a basketball @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As Louis Bien wrote at SB Nation in December 2019 : This may be the most accurate sports movie I have ever seen .
Whereas a conventional sports movie throws what feels like insurmountable challenges at the protagonists , only to resolve them neatly , in Uncut Gems , the outcome is unnecessary .
The point is that you ’ ve become an emotional hostage .
And you don ’ t have to be a degenerate gambler to know the feeling ; any sports fan understands , because what is our favorite sports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , philandering scumbag who we ’ ve tethered ourselves to arbitrarily and imbued with unearned loyalty and hope that may never be repaid , and whose feelings we ’ ll never feel reciprocated ?
If you ’ re looking for a new Sandler movie to watch on Netflix today , make it Uncut Gems , not Murder Mystery .

This may be the most accurate sports movie I have ever seen. Whereas a conventional sports movie throws what feels like insurmountable challenges at the protagonists, only to resolve them neatly, in Uncut Gems, the outcome is unnecessary. The point is that you’ve become an emotional hostage. And you don’t have to be a degenerate gambler to know the feeling; any sports fan understands, because what is our favorite sports team if not our very own lying, philandering scumbag who we’ve tethered ourselves to arbitrarily and imbued with unearned loyalty and hope that may never be repaid, and whose feelings we’ll never feel reciprocated?


theverge--2020-05-25--A new Motorola Razr could launch this year with 5G

A new version of the Motorola Razr foldable could launch this year , and it might have 5G , a bigger battery , and improved cameras ( via 9to5Google ) .
Those could address some of the many criticisms of the original model , which came out in February .
Surprisingly , this apparent new version of the Razr may have been revealed by an executive from Lenovo , which is owned by Motorola , reports Android Authority .
Lenovo ’ s South Africa general manager Thibault Dousson appeared on the Reframed Tech podcast and said a new Razr could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s a new iteration [ of the Razr ] coming out .
From what I understand , there ’ s one in September , I think , coming out , ” he said shortly after the 18-minute mark on the podcast .
“ A whole new Razr , ” he continued .
That new Razr may be powered by Qualcomm ’ s 5G-capabale Snapdragon 765 processor , and it might have an 2,845mAh battery , up from the 2,510mAh battery in the first-generation Razr , according to specs posted by XDA Developers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outer camera is rumored to be 48 megapixels , which could be a significant jump from the current version ’ s 16-megapixel camera , with a 20-megapixel inner camera , up from 5 megapixels .
The phone may also have 8GB of RAM , up from 6GB , and 256GB of internal storage , up from 128GB .
While these are all welcome improvements in the specs department , it ’ s unclear if this rumored new Razr will feature any changes to its signature folding mechanism — like a less creaky hinge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from appearing on the screen , or improvements to stop the screen from peeling away from the laminate layer .

A new version of the Motorola Razr foldable could launch this year, and it might have 5G, a bigger battery, and improved cameras (via 9to5Google). Those could address some of the many criticisms of the original model, which came out in February.
Surprisingly, this apparent new version of the Razr may have been revealed by an executive from Lenovo, which owns Motorola, reports Android Authority. Lenovo’s South Africa general manager Thibault Dousson appeared on the Reframed Tech podcast and said a new Razr could be coming around September.
“A whole new Razr”
“There’s a new iteration [of the Razr] coming out. From what I understand, there’s one in September, I think, coming out,” he said shortly after the 18-minute mark on the podcast. “A whole new Razr,” he continued.
That new Razr may be powered by Qualcomm’s 5G-capable Snapdragon 765 processor, and it might have an 2,845mAh battery, up from the 2,510mAh battery in the first-generation Razr, according to specs posted by XDA Developers. And the new version’s outer camera is rumored to be 48 megapixels, which could be a significant jump from the current version’s 16-megapixel camera, with a 20-megapixel inner camera, up from 5 megapixels. The phone may also have 8GB of RAM, up from 6GB, and 256GB of internal storage, up from 128GB.
While these are all welcome improvements in the specs department, it’s unclear if this rumored new Razr will feature any changes to its signature folding mechanism — like a less creaky hinge, changes to prevent bumps and lumps from appearing on the screen, or improvements to stop the screen from peeling away from the laminate layer.


theverge--2020-05-25--Amazon’s Kindle and Echo team now working on the company’s COVID-19 testing project

Amazon ’ s Lab126 , the hardware group responsible for developing the company ’ s Kindle e-reader and its Echo smart speaker , is hiring engineers to work on its COVID-19 testing initiative , according to job listings first reported by GeekWire on Monday .
As of right now , Amazon is contracting with existing labs to process nasal swabs and saliva samples to test its workforce for the novel coronavirus .
But Amazon ’ s ultimate goal is to build a robust testing network with a central testing hub , and these new hires are being brought on to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2004 as a subsidiary of Amazon.com , Inc. , originally creating the best-selling Kindle family of products .
Since then , we have produced groundbreaking devices like Fire tablets , Fire TV , Amazon Echo and Amazon Show , ” reads one listing description for a senior manufacturing design engineer .
“ With the recent pandemic , Lab126 has been tasked with helping to keep Fulfillment Center ’ s safe for employees.
” The new roles will be “ responsible for defining , implementing , and qualifying equipment and automation to support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” the listing says .
Lab126 is based in Silicon Valley , in Sunnyvale , California .
However , the listings for these jobs say the positions are in Hebron , Kentucky , which is nearby the company ’ s main air freight hub and where the company plans to build its biggest testing lab , according to a Bloomberg News report from last week .
“ With the recent pandemic , Lab126 has been tasked with helping to keep Fulfillment Center ’ s safe for employees.
” The goal is to fly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the testing lab for processing using Amazon-managed air cargo jets .
Bloomberg also reports that Lab126 ’ s Sunnyvale office is still involved and hiring microbiologists and other medical researchers , as well as non-engineering and science related roles dedicated to the legal complexities of setting up a multi-state medical testing network .
In its most recent quarterly earnings report , Amazon said it intends to spend at least $ 300 million on testing efforts by the end of June , as part of a broader $ 4 billion commitment to dealing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The company remains one of the few large technology firms to not only remain undeterred by lockdowns and shelter-in-place orders , but to also grow during COVID-19 as reliance on Amazon services has expanded .
As a result of its nonstop operations and rapid hiring , Amazon has come under fire for its handling of worker safety at a time when a vast majority of operations , save its corporate offices , have remained open and at near-full capacity .
Critics and warehouse workers themselves have accused Amazon of failing to properly communicate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to operate without adequately pausing warehouse operations for deep cleans .
Amazon refuses to disclose the number of workers who have tested positive for the virus , and the company has yet to confirm the number of deaths among its fulfillment workers .
Media reports so far have pegged the number of Amazon workers who have died from COVID-19 at eight , as of last week .
So far , Amazon ’ s re-purposing of existing tech and hardware groups to fight COVID-19 have produced results .
The company is now making face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group , which typically works on its drone delivery project and warehouse robotics .
Robotics engineers have also been developing sorting machines for warehouse work to cut down on human contact , while warehouse cameras now monitor for violations of social distancing guidelines and roving security bots equipped with ultraviolet light emitters disinfect work areas , Bloomberg reports .

Amazon’s Lab126, the hardware group responsible for developing the company’s Kindle e-reader and its Echo smart speaker, is hiring engineers to work on its COVID-19 testing initiative, according to job listings first reported by GeekWire on Monday. As of right now, Amazon is contracting with existing labs to process nasal swabs and saliva samples to test its workforce for the novel coronavirus. But Amazon’s ultimate goal is to build a robust testing network with a central testing hub, and these new hires are being brought on to help build that.
“Lab126 began in 2004 as a subsidiary of Amazon.com, Inc., originally creating the best-selling Kindle family of products. Since then, we have produced groundbreaking devices like Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo and Amazon Show,” reads one listing description for a senior manufacturing design engineer. “With the recent pandemic, Lab126 has been tasked with helping to keep Fulfillment Center’s safe for employees.” The new roles will be “responsible for defining, implementing, and qualifying equipment and automation to support Amazon’s COVID-19 Testing initiative,” the listing says.
Lab126 is based in Silicon Valley, in Sunnyvale, California. However, the listings for these jobs say the positions are in Hebron, Kentucky, which is nearby the company’s main air freight hub and where the company plans to build its biggest testing lab, according to a Bloomberg News report from last week.
“With the recent pandemic, Lab126 has been tasked with helping to keep Fulfillment Center’s safe for employees.”
The goal is to fly samples from Amazon warehouses around the US to the testing lab for processing using Amazon-managed air cargo jets. Bloomberg also reports that Lab126’s Sunnyvale office is still involved and hiring microbiologists and other medical researchers, as well as non-engineering and science related roles dedicated to the legal complexities of setting up a multi-state medical testing network.
In its most recent quarterly earnings report, Amazon said it intends to spend at least $300 million on testing efforts by the end of June, as part of a broader $4 billion commitment to dealing with the effects of the pandemic. The company remains one of the few large technology firms to not only remain undeterred by lockdowns and shelter-in-place orders, but to also grow during COVID-19 as reliance on Amazon services has expanded. As a result of its nonstop operations and rapid hiring, Amazon has come under fire for its handling of worker safety at a time when a vast majority of operations, save its corporate offices, have remained open and at near-full capacity.


theverge--2020-05-25--Go read this incredible history of the SimCity studio’s forgotten business games division

Popular “ simulation games ” like SimCity aren ’ t literally training players to run something like a city .
But what would happen if they did ?
In the 1990s , SimCity studio Maxis tried to find out .
In an exhaustively researched essay at The Obscuritory , librarian and writer Phil Salvador recounts the fascinating history of Maxis Business Simulations — a short-lived studio that designed simulations of oil refineries , power grids , project management tasks , and other systems for businesses and government agencies .
As Salvador puts it : From 1992 to 1994 , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for making serious professional simulations that looked and played like Maxis games .
After Maxis cut the division loose , the company continued to operate independently , taking the simulation game genre in their own direction .
Their games found their way into in corporate training rooms and even went as far as the White House .
Almost nothing they developed was ever released to the public .
But their software raises questions about the role we want games to play in society .
The division ( later spun off under the name @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hiles , a simulation designer who had teamed up with Maxis earlier .
Hiles had huge ideas for systems that made players question their ideas about the world — like its only widely released title , SimHealth : He wanted players to have to explicitly state their beliefs about health care – about individual liberty , or the importance of community – then see if they could overhaul the American health care system in a way that matched their ideals .
He wanted the player to have to examine their own ideology and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a real policy .
That was modest compared to the never-developed SimEnergy , which would have simulated the work and consumer choices of a power plant manager , then jumped forward by decades to see how they affected future generations .
Or Race for the White House , which was supposed to simulate being a presidential campaign manager but be played like the adventure game Myst .
Unfortunately , clients weren ’ t nearly as interested in these concepts , and Hiles ’ studio foundered .
Salvador ’ s article touches on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the games industry .
Maxis Business Solutions ’ fate mirrors plenty of studios led by visionary designers who couldn ’ t necessarily run a business , or who sold their companies only to find themselves taken apart by a predatory buyer .
Meanwhile , a lot of these games ’ history has been lost because of poor archival practices — exacerbated by bad blood between the studio and its employees , who ( literally ) burned their work in anger after being unceremoniously laid off .
Above all , though , it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ serious games ” ethos .
The team at Maxis was constantly struggling with the fact that almost any simulation rests on assumptions made by the designer , not objective facts about the universe .
Their solution , it seems , was to acknowledge those assumptions and make players think through them .
As Salvador puts it , “ they were all sharing this wild idea together , trying to make games that weren ’ t just fun approximations of the real world but would actively challenge how we thought about it.
” In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ writeup of the article may have actually surfaced a copy of early Maxis Business Simulations game SimRefinery , previously assumed lost .
Salvador ’ s Twitter feed leaves the story on a cliffhanger : “ We ’ re waiting to see what happens with SimRefinery , so hang tight .
”

From 1992 to 1994, a division called Maxis Business Simulations was responsible for making serious professional simulations that looked and played like Maxis games. After Maxis cut the division loose, the company continued to operate independently, taking the simulation game genre in their own direction. Their games found their way into in corporate training rooms and even went as far as the White House.
Almost nothing they developed was ever released to the public. But their software raises questions about the role we want games to play in society.


theverge--2020-05-25--Zoom has temporarily removed Giphy from its chat feature

Zoom has temporarily disabled the integration of GIF platform Giphy in its chat feature , the company said in a blog post .
“ Once additional technical and security measures have been deployed , we will re-enable the feature.
” Zoom didn ’ t offer any specifics beyond that on Giphy ’ s removal .
The company mentioned the change as part of its latest list of security updates to the platform , which also includes limits on screen sharing , changes to muting and unmuting functions , and restrictions on logging in to meetings from multiple devices ( for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ move comes a few days after Facebook acquired Giphy for over $ 300 million , with plans to integrate it into Instagram .
How that acquisition will affect Giphy integrations with other platforms like Twitter , TikTok , and iMessage — all competitors to Facebook— remains unclear , but Facebook has had well-documented issues with privacy and security .
At the time of the Facebook acquisition , Giphy ’ s GIFs did not use any embedded tracking , and its API did not have access to users ’ data , according to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ share of security problems as demand for its service has soared during the coronavirus pandemic , with people working and schooling remotely .
Zoom and Giphy did not immediately respond to requests for comment Monday .

Zoom has temporarily disabled the integration of GIF platform Giphy in its chat feature, the company said in a blog post. “Once additional technical and security measures have been deployed, we will re-enable the feature.” Zoom didn’t offer any specifics beyond that on Giphy’s removal.
The company mentioned the change as part of its latest list of security updates to the platform, which also includes limits on screen sharing, changes to muting and unmuting functions, and restrictions on logging in to meetings from multiple devices (for meetings that require registration).
The move comes a few days after Facebook acquired Giphy for over $300 million, with plans to integrate it into Instagram. How that acquisition will affect Giphy integrations with other platforms like Twitter, TikTok, and iMessage — all competitors to Facebook— remains unclear, but Facebook has had well-documented issues with privacy and security.
At the time of the Facebook acquisition, Giphy’s GIFs did not use any embedded tracking, and its API did not have access to users’ data, according to the company.
Zoom likewise has seen its share of security problems as demand for its service has soared during the coronavirus pandemic, with people working and schooling remotely.


theverge--2020-05-25--Wikimedia is writing new policies to fight Wikipedia harassment

Wikipedia plans to crack down on harassment and other “ toxic ” behavior with a new code of conduct .
The Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees , which oversees Wikipedia among other projects , voted on Friday to adopt a more formal moderation process .
The foundation will draft the details of that process by the end of 2020 , and until then , it ’ s tasked with enforcing stopgap anti-harassment policies .
“ Harassment , toxic behavior , and incivility in the Wikimedia movement are contrary to our shared values and detrimental to our vision and mission , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The board does not believe we have made enough progress toward creating welcoming , inclusive , harassment-free spaces in which people can contribute productively and debate constructively.
” It will draft a “ binding minimum ” standard for behavior this year The trustee board gave the Wikimedia Foundation four specific directives .
It ’ s supposed to draft a “ binding minimum set of standards ” for behavior on its platforms , shaped by input from the community .
It needs to “ ban , sanction , or otherwise limit the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ code , as well as create a review process that involves the community .
And it must “ significantly increase support for and collaboration with community functionaries ” during moderation .
Beyond those directives , the Wikimedia Foundation is also supposed to put more resources into its Trust and Safety team , including more staff and better training tools .
The trustee board says its goal is “ developing sustainable practices and tools that eliminate harassment , toxicity , and incivility , promote inclusivity , cultivate respectful discourse , reduce harms to participants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bad actors , and promote trust in our projects.
” Wikipedia ’ s volunteer community can be highly dedicated but intensely combative , launching edit wars over controversial topics and harshly enforcing editorial standards in a way that may drive away new users .
The Wikimedia Foundation listed harassment as one factor behind its relative lack of female and gender-nonconforming editors , who have complained of being singled out for abuse .
At the same time , the project grew out of a freewheeling community-focused ethos — and many users object to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ find on a commercial web platform .
Wikipedia has struggled with toxicity for years These problems came to a head last year , when the Wikimedia Foundation suspended a respected but abrasive editor who other users accused of relentless harassment .
The intervention bypassed Wikipedia ’ s normal community arbitration process , and several administrators resigned during the backlash that followed .
The board of trustees doesn ’ t mention that controversy , saying only that the vote “ formalizes years ’ of longstanding efforts by individual volunteers , Wikimedia affiliates , Foundation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and promote inclusivity on Wikimedia projects.
” But on a discussion page , one editor cited the suspension to argue that the Wikimedia Foundation shouldn ’ t interfere with Wikipedia ’ s community moderation — while others said a formal code of conduct would have reduced the widespread confusion and hostility around it .
Amid all this , Wikipedia has become one of the internet ’ s most widely trusted platforms .
YouTube , for instance , uses Wikipedia pages to rebut conspiracy videos .
That ’ s raised the stakes and created @ @ @ @ @ @ @ target the site .
Friday ’ s vote suggests the Wikimedia Foundation will take a more active role in moderating the platform , even if we don ’ t know exactly how .

Wikipedia plans to crack down on harassment and other “toxic” behavior with a new code of conduct. The Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees, which oversees Wikipedia among other projects, voted on Friday to adopt a more formal moderation process. The foundation will draft the details of that process by the end of 2020, and until then, it’s tasked with enforcing stopgap anti-harassment policies.
“Harassment, toxic behavior, and incivility in the Wikimedia movement are contrary to our shared values and detrimental to our vision and mission,” said the board in a statement. “The board does not believe we have made enough progress toward creating welcoming, inclusive, harassment-free spaces in which people can contribute productively and debate constructively.”
It will draft a “binding minimum” standard for behavior this year
The trustee board gave the Wikimedia Foundation four specific directives. It’s supposed to draft a “binding minimum set of standards” for behavior on its platforms, shaped by input from the community. It needs to “ban, sanction, or otherwise limit the access” of people who break that code, as well as create a review process that involves the community. And it must “significantly increase support for and collaboration with community functionaries” during moderation. Beyond those directives, the Wikimedia Foundation is also supposed to put more resources into its Trust and Safety team, including more staff and better training tools.
The trustee board says its goal is “developing sustainable practices and tools that eliminate harassment, toxicity, and incivility, promote inclusivity, cultivate respectful discourse, reduce harms to participants, protect the projects from disinformation and bad actors, and promote trust in our projects.”
Wikipedia’s volunteer community can be highly dedicated but intensely combative, launching edit wars over controversial topics and harshly enforcing editorial standards in a way that may drive away new users. The Wikimedia Foundation listed harassment as one factor behind its relative lack of female and gender-nonconforming editors, who have complained of being singled out for abuse. At the same time, the project grew out of a freewheeling community-focused ethos — and many users object to the kind of top-down enforcement you’d find on a commercial web platform.
Wikipedia has struggled with toxicity for years
These problems came to a head last year, when the Wikimedia Foundation suspended a respected but abrasive editor who other users accused of relentless harassment. The intervention bypassed Wikipedia’s normal community arbitration process, and several administrators resigned during the backlash that followed.
The board of trustees doesn’t mention that controversy, saying only that the vote “formalizes years’ of longstanding efforts by individual volunteers, Wikimedia affiliates, Foundation staff, and others to stop harassment and promote inclusivity on Wikimedia projects.” But on a discussion page, one editor cited the suspension to argue that the Wikimedia Foundation shouldn’t interfere with Wikipedia’s community moderation — while others said a formal code of conduct would have reduced the widespread confusion and hostility around it.