theverge--2020-10-11--Twitter flags, limits sharing on Trump tweet about being “immune” to coronavirus

Twitter disabled some sharing options on a tweet from President Trump on Sunday , and labeled it for violating its rules against spreading coronavirus misinformation .
In the tweet , the president said he had “ A total and complete sign off from White House Doctors yesterday .
That means I can ’ t get it ( immune ) and can ’ t give it .
Very nice to know !
!
” Even with the label , the tweet is still available for those who click through the warning , in keeping with Twitter ’ s position that keeping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the public interest .
And attempts to share the tweet bring up an alert that reads “ We try to prevent a Tweet like this that otherwise breaks the Twitter Rules from reaching more people.
” The labeled tweet is still able to be quote-tweeted , however .
The president ’ s assertion that he ’ s now “ immune ” since he already contracted the coronavirus is likely what got the tweet flagged , since there have been documented cases of coronavirus patients becoming reinfected .
A man in Nevada had COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to fall ill again in May .
The first documented case of a coronavirus reinfection occurred in Hong Kong , where the patient showed no symptoms the second time around .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website has limited information about reinfections , but says “ a person who has had and recovered from COVID-19 may have low levels of virus in their bodies for up to 3 months after diagnosis , ” and that the science “ does not imply a person is immune to reinfection ” from the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not the first time the platform has disabled sharing on a tweet by the president containing incorrect information .
In addition to updating its policies last month that it would label or remove tweets with false information about election rigging and results , Twitter also said it would label posts from candidates prematurely declaring victory .
And Twitter said back in March that it was taking a “ zero-tolerance approach ” to coronavirus misinformation on its platform .
Last week ’ s updates further tightened the rules around spreading misinformation , and encouraged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own commentary ” to tweets before retweeting someone .
The update also included plans to flag or remove tweets meant to incite interference in the election or election results , and tweets from political figures with more than 100,000 followers — which includes President Trump — labeled as “ misleading ” are now more difficult to access Twitter has labeled several of Trump ’ s tweets for violating its policy on manipulated media and civic and election integrity for tweeting falsehoods about mail-in voting .
The White House did not immediately reply to @ @ @ @ @ @

Twitter disabled some sharing options on a tweet from President Trump on Sunday, and labeled it for violating its rules against spreading coronavirus misinformation. In the tweet, the president said he had “A total and complete sign off from White House Doctors yesterday. That means I can’t get it (immune) and can’t give it. Very nice to know!!”
Even with the label, the tweet is still available for those who click through the warning, in keeping with Twitter’s position that keeping tweets from elected officials visible is in the public interest. And attempts to share the tweet bring up an alert that reads “We try to prevent a Tweet like this that otherwise breaks the Twitter Rules from reaching more people.” The labeled tweet is still able to be quote-tweeted, however.
The president’s assertion that he’s now “immune” since he already contracted the coronavirus is likely what got the tweet flagged, since there have been documented cases of coronavirus patients becoming reinfected. A man in Nevada had COVID-19 in March then recovered in April only to fall ill again in May. The first documented case of a coronavirus reinfection occurred in Hong Kong, where the patient showed no symptoms the second time around.
Related A case of coronavirus reinfection shows the complexities of the pandemic
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website has limited information about reinfections, but says “a person who has had and recovered from COVID-19 may have low levels of virus in their bodies for up to 3 months after diagnosis,” and that the science “does not imply a person is immune to reinfection” from the virus.
A Twitter spokesperson said it was not the first time the platform has disabled sharing on a tweet by the president containing incorrect information. In addition to updating its policies last month that it would label or remove tweets with false information about election rigging and results, Twitter also said it would label posts from candidates prematurely declaring victory. And Twitter said back in March that it was taking a “zero-tolerance approach” to coronavirus misinformation on its platform.
Last week’s updates further tightened the rules around spreading misinformation, and encouraged people to quote-tweet and “add their own commentary” to tweets before retweeting someone. The update also included plans to flag or remove tweets meant to incite interference in the election or election results, and tweets from political figures with more than 100,000 followers — which includes President Trump — labeled as “misleading” are now more difficult to access


theverge--2020-10-11--New Trailers: The Stand, A Teacher, The Watch, The West Wing, and more

I know I am very late to the party ( by like five years ) but just started watching Grace and Frankie on Netflix and can I just say how wonderful it is to see amazing actresses like Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin at the height of their powers ?
Goals , I tell you .
Lots of new trailers this week , including one I am extremely excited for : The new series based on Stephen King ’ s 1978 book The Stand , about a deadly pandemic that forces survivors to choose between good and evil factions .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ newly relevant ?
!
One of the characters in the trailer even remarks about someone who will “ keep us safe in these uncertain times , ” so .
The Stand remains one of King ’ s best novels , a massive tome with more than a hundred characters and intertwining plots .
It was the subject of a 1994 miniseries ( which King also wrote ) on ABC that got a bunch of Emmy nods .
I did like Gary Sinise as Stu Redman in the 1994 version but really looking forward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lead role .
King will reportedly write the ninth and final episode of the series , with a new coda .
The cast also boasts Whoopi Goldberg as saintly Mother Abagail and Alexander Skarsgård as villainous Randall Flagg .
The Stand comes to CBS All Access ( or whatever they ’ re calling it ) on December 17th .
Fans of the late Terry Pratchett have been waiting for this one for almost a decade , and it looks like The Watch is finally going to debut early next year .
Based @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Pratchett ’ s Discworld series , The Watch stars Richard Dormer as Vimes and Lara Rossi as Lady Sybil Ramkin .
It hits BBC America in January 2021 .
Kate Mara stars as a teacher who begins an illegal relationship with her student .
A sign that the filmmakers are handling the topic using an appropriate 2020 lens ( and not just making a titillating fantasy ) : there ’ s an accompanying PSA produced in partnership with the Rape , Abuse and Incest National Network ( RAINN ) .
A Teacher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get less confusing names for your streaming output please , entertainment industry ) on November 10th .
Members of the original cast of the long-running NBC series reunited on stage to recreate the 2002 episode “ Hartsfield ’ s Landing.
” I have to say , I loved this show during its first run and it was so comforting to hear the soaring theme song and see Toby , Sam , Josh , and CJ again .
The performance is meant to raise awareness for nonpartisan voter participation organization When We All Vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bartlet , Richard Schiff as Toby Zeigler , Bradley Whitford as Josh Lyman , Allison Janney as CJ Cregg , and Rob Lowe as Sam Seaborn , along with most of the rest of the original cast .
President Obama , Michelle Obama , President Clinton , and Lin-Manuel Miranda are among the “ special guests ” listed to appear .
A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote debuts on HBO Max October 15th .
Robert Kirkman ’ s comic book series about a teenager who discovers his superpowers has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as Mark Grayson , J.K. Simmons as his dad , Omni-Man , as well as Mark Hamill , Sandra Oh , and Seth Rogen .
Be advised that Kirkman promises the series will include the gory violence of the comics , plus “ a little bit of spice.
” Invincible will debut on Amazon Prime Video in 2021 .
Here ’ s a bonus trailer ( with no apparent release date for the movie ) that half my Twitter feed was puzzling over last week .
Is it a dark comedy ?
Is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of allegory ?
Or is it just a really bad idea for a movie ?
Wait for that moment when you realize who Fatman is supposed to be .
I won ’ t spoil , just watch .

I know I am very late to the party (by like five years) but just started watching Grace and Frankie on Netflix and can I just say how wonderful it is to see amazing actresses like Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin at the height of their powers? Goals, I tell you.
Lots of new trailers this week, including one I am extremely excited for: The new series based on Stephen King’s 1978 book The Stand, about a deadly pandemic that forces survivors to choose between good and evil factions. Hey, how’s that for newly relevant?! One of the characters in the trailer even remarks about someone who will “keep us safe in these uncertain times,” so.
The Stand
The Stand remains one of King’s best novels, a massive tome with more than a hundred characters and intertwining plots. It was the subject of a 1994 miniseries (which King also wrote) on ABC that got a bunch of Emmy nods. I did like Gary Sinise as Stu Redman in the 1994 version but really looking forward to seeing what James Marsden does with the lead role. King will reportedly write the ninth and final episode of the series, with a new coda. The cast also boasts Whoopi Goldberg as saintly Mother Abagail and Alexander Skarsgård as villainous Randall Flagg. The Stand comes to CBS All Access (or whatever they’re calling it) on December 17th.
The Watch
Fans of the late Terry Pratchett have been waiting for this one for almost a decade, and it looks like The Watch is finally going to debut early next year. Based on the Ankh-Morpork City Watch police force from Pratchett’s Discworld series, The Watch stars Richard Dormer as Vimes and Lara Rossi as Lady Sybil Ramkin. It hits BBC America in January 2021.
A Teacher
Kate Mara stars as a teacher who begins an illegal relationship with her student. A sign that the filmmakers are handling the topic using an appropriate 2020 lens (and not just making a titillating fantasy): there’s an accompanying PSA produced in partnership with the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN). A Teacher hits FX on Hulu (can we get less confusing names for your streaming output please, entertainment industry) on November 10th.
The West Wing Special
Members of the original cast of the long-running NBC series reunited on stage to recreate the 2002 episode “Hartsfield’s Landing.” I have to say, I loved this show during its first run and it was so comforting to hear the soaring theme song and see Toby, Sam, Josh, and CJ again. The performance is meant to raise awareness for nonpartisan voter participation organization When We All Vote, and includes Martin Sheen as President Bartlet, Richard Schiff as Toby Zeigler, Bradley Whitford as Josh Lyman, Allison Janney as CJ Cregg, and Rob Lowe as Sam Seaborn, along with most of the rest of the original cast. President Obama, Michelle Obama, President Clinton, and Lin-Manuel Miranda are among the “special guests” listed to appear. A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote debuts on HBO Max October 15th.
Invincible
Robert Kirkman’s comic book series about a teenager who discovers his superpowers has an all-star cast that includes Steven Yeun as Mark Grayson, J.K. Simmons as his dad, Omni-Man, as well as Mark Hamill, Sandra Oh, and Seth Rogen. Be advised that Kirkman promises the series will include the gory violence of the comics, plus “a little bit of spice.” Invincible will debut on Amazon Prime Video in 2021.
Fatman


theverge--2020-10-11--After an early pandemic shortage computers are shipping again, Canalys reports

Computer manufacturers shipped 79 million personal computers in the third quarter of 2020 , an uptick of 13 percent year-over-year with Lenovo leading the pack , technology analyst firm Canalys reported .
Looking at worldwide desktop , laptop , and workstation shipments , Canalys found Acer shipped 5.6 million units last quarter for a 15 percent increase from the year-ago quarter .
That was the largest percentage increase from 2019 .
But Lenovo shipped the most units in the third quarter , at 19.3 million , an 11 percent increase from last year , followed by HP with 18.6 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dell shipped 11.9 million units in Q3 which was actually a decrease of 0.5 percent from the year prior , while Apple shipped 6.3 million units for an increase of 13.2 percent .
Earlier this year , laptops were especially hard to find , with a huge , sudden increase in demand from people working and learning from home during the coronavirus pandemic .
But the supply chain wasn ’ t able to keep up , and PC shipments declined 12.3 percent during the first quarter of 2020 .
But Canalys analyst Ishan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have started to recover in the months since .
“ Vendors , the supply chain , and the channel have now had time to find their feet and allocate resources towards supplying notebooks , which continue to see massive demand from both businesses and consumers , ” Dutt said .
Spending on IT , including investment in PCs , will “ be a core driver of economic recoveries in the aftermath of the pandemic , ” he added .

Computer manufacturers shipped 79 million personal computers in the third quarter of 2020, an uptick of 13 percent year-over-year with Lenovo leading the pack, technology analyst firm Canalys reported.
Looking at worldwide desktop, laptop, and workstation shipments, Canalys found Acer shipped 5.6 million units last quarter for a 15 percent increase from the year-ago quarter. That was the largest percentage increase from 2019. But Lenovo shipped the most units in the third quarter, at 19.3 million, an 11 percent increase from last year, followed by HP with 18.6 million, a 12 percent year-over-year uptick. Dell shipped 11.9 million units in Q3 which was actually a decrease of 0.5 percent from the year prior, while Apple shipped 6.3 million units for an increase of 13.2 percent.
Related The best laptop you can buy in 2020
Earlier this year, laptops were especially hard to find, with a huge, sudden increase in demand from people working and learning from home during the coronavirus pandemic. But the supply chain wasn’t able to keep up, and PC shipments declined 12.3 percent during the first quarter of 2020. But Canalys analyst Ishan Dutt said in a statement that vendors have started to recover in the months since.
“Vendors, the supply chain, and the channel have now had time to find their feet and allocate resources towards supplying notebooks, which continue to see massive demand from both businesses and consumers,” Dutt said.


theverge--2020-10-11--On TikTok, men aren’t the only skating superstars

Courtney Atencio rides low to the ground , swerving in and out of long , empty California streets .
In one video , she grabs the back of a Toyota Camry and cruises along behind it .
In another , she ’ s with her pals , practicing tricks at a local skate park .
Every time , Atencio ’ s clips are undeniably cool , and they quickly become flooded with comments from fans asking for tips on how to start skating .
Atencio didn ’ t start skating or her TikTok account to achieve fame , but she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never experienced when she was growing up .
“ When I was 14 , guys would make fun of me for trying to go to the skate park because I ’ m the only female there , ” Atencio told The Verge .
“ Having TikTok , to be able to show girls that you ’ re not alone , you can still skate , you don ’ t even listen to all those guys , is so important.
” Skate culture has found a new life on TikTok , where short videos @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and hangs at the local skatepark have collectively brought in billions of views .
The explosion in skateboarding videos has encouraged one-time skaters to pick up the hobby again and convinced complete newbies to try it for the first time — and unlike the male-dominated world that was the face of skate culture for decades , many of TikTok ’ s stars are women and queer folks .
Hashtags like # girlswhoskate and # skatergirl are constantly growing , creating a never-ending sea of videos starring girls and women .
Swipe around , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brianna King , an incredibly popular creator known for offering tips that newcomers can use when starting out , or skateboobs , an all-girl skateboard group in Scotland , which regularly post videos of their time skating .
But many creators are more like Atencio , who simply posts videos of solo rides through her home in suburban Los Angeles or her time spent hanging out at skateparks with friends .
“ I see a lot more women skateboarding on TikTok than I ever did growing up , ” Faeth Perryman , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told The Verge .
“ I don ’ t really know if that ’ s because there a lot of girls on TikTok in general , or if TikTok just made skateboarding videos more accessible.
” Thanks to TikTok ’ s recommendation algorithm , more than 250,000 people watched a video of Perryman skateboarding down an empty road in Acadia , Maine , the Atlantic Ocean spanning for miles behind her as the sun rises .
The app constantly serves up new videos to people who engage with similar types of content .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or share a couple of skateboarding videos , TikTok will fill your feed with more and more .
After waning in the late ‘ 00s and beyond , skate culture had a resurgence over the last few years .
The success of streetwear brands like Supreme that lean heavily on skateboarding aesthetics helped drive new interest in boarding , the pandemic gave people more time to finally try their hands at it , and a remaster of the first two Tony Hawk ’ s Pro Skater games offered up even more nostalgia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its Olympic debut this year until the games got canceled .
It ’ s not like women and trans skaters weren ’ t around in the last half-century , but it was men who dominated the covers of Thrasher Magazine , men who starred in the coveted VHS compilations that would get passed around skate shops , and men who made up nearly all of the featured skaters in the hugely popular Tony Hawk games .
TikTok has helped skaters with less visibility find more inclusive communities .
Perryman grew up around skateboarding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — but she still felt intimidated by the male-dominated culture .
On TikTok , she found herself with a new platform and a group of young girls who wanted to emulate her style .
Atencio , who has 76,000 followers , says she ’ s constantly surprised by the number of young girls who reach out to her asking about what size board they should get .
C , a trans nonbinary artist , said they were inspired by the trans skaters who popped up on the app ’ s main feed , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to do that myself.
” While C grew up skateboarding , they fell out of it as an adult .
It wasn ’ t until the pandemic hit , and C found more time to pick up old hobbies , that they jumped back into it .
“ Skating is such a punk , anti-society thing , and in my opinion , so is being trans and existing specifically outside of the binary , ” C told The Verge .
“ Seeing those two things happen on TikTok was so beautiful.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years are present on TikTok , too .
Men show up in comments calling girls posers and commenting negatively on the way women skate .
Perryman tries not to pay attention to the comments , but Atencio argues the positive comments she receives outweigh the negative ones .
“ For every negative comment there ’ s going to be like 20x more complimentary comments where people are pushing me and saying good job , ” Atencio said .
But creators like Atencio and Perryman want to encourage people to get off TikTok and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Atencio is about getting on a board and meeting others just as much as it is watching people .
It ’ s Atencio ’ s closest friends — the ones she found at skateparks , she says — who pushed her “ to do what I do on TikTok .
”

Courtney Atencio rides low to the ground, swerving in and out of long, empty California streets. In one video, she grabs the back of a Toyota Camry and cruises along behind it. In another, she’s with her pals, practicing tricks at a local skate park. Every time, Atencio’s clips are undeniably cool, and they quickly become flooded with comments from fans asking for tips on how to start skating. Atencio didn’t start skating or her TikTok account to achieve fame, but she quickly found communities in both that she never experienced when she was growing up.
“When I was 14, guys would make fun of me for trying to go to the skate park because I’m the only female there,” Atencio told The Verge. “Having TikTok, to be able to show girls that you’re not alone, you can still skate, you don’t even listen to all those guys, is so important.”
Skate culture has found a new life on TikTok, where short videos of impressive tricks, painful wipeouts, and hangs at the local skatepark have collectively brought in billions of views. The explosion in skateboarding videos has encouraged one-time skaters to pick up the hobby again and convinced complete newbies to try it for the first time — and unlike the male-dominated world that was the face of skate culture for decades, many of TikTok’s stars are women and queer folks.
Hashtags like #girlswhoskate and #skatergirl are constantly growing, creating a never-ending sea of videos starring girls and women. Swipe around, and you’ll find skaters like Brianna King, an incredibly popular creator known for offering tips that newcomers can use when starting out, or skateboobs, an all-girl skateboard group in Scotland, which regularly post videos of their time skating. But many creators are more like Atencio, who simply posts videos of solo rides through her home in suburban Los Angeles or her time spent hanging out at skateparks with friends.
“I see a lot more women skateboarding on TikTok than I ever did growing up,” Faeth Perryman, who also posts skate videos to TikTok, told The Verge. “I don’t really know if that’s because there a lot of girls on TikTok in general, or if TikTok just made skateboarding videos more accessible.”
Thanks to TikTok’s recommendation algorithm, more than 250,000 people watched a video of Perryman skateboarding down an empty road in Acadia, Maine, the Atlantic Ocean spanning for miles behind her as the sun rises. The app constantly serves up new videos to people who engage with similar types of content. Basically, if you like, comment, or share a couple of skateboarding videos, TikTok will fill your feed with more and more.
After waning in the late ‘00s and beyond, skate culture had a resurgence over the last few years. The success of streetwear brands like Supreme that lean heavily on skateboarding aesthetics helped drive new interest in boarding, the pandemic gave people more time to finally try their hands at it, and a remaster of the first two Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater games offered up even more nostalgia. Skateboarding was even about to have its Olympic debut this year until the games got canceled.
It’s not like women and trans skaters weren’t around in the last half-century, but it was men who dominated the covers of Thrasher Magazine, men who starred in the coveted VHS compilations that would get passed around skate shops, and men who made up nearly all of the featured skaters in the hugely popular Tony Hawk games. TikTok has helped skaters with less visibility find more inclusive communities.
Perryman grew up around skateboarding — her brothers and dad all skated — but she still felt intimidated by the male-dominated culture. On TikTok, she found herself with a new platform and a group of young girls who wanted to emulate her style. Atencio, who has 76,000 followers, says she’s constantly surprised by the number of young girls who reach out to her asking about what size board they should get.
C, a trans nonbinary artist, said they were inspired by the trans skaters who popped up on the app’s main feed, and thought, “I might be able to do that myself.” While C grew up skateboarding, they fell out of it as an adult. It wasn’t until the pandemic hit, and C found more time to pick up old hobbies, that they jumped back into it.
“Skating is such a punk, anti-society thing, and in my opinion, so is being trans and existing specifically outside of the binary,” C told The Verge. “Seeing those two things happen on TikTok was so beautiful.”
Problems that existed in skate culture for years are present on TikTok, too. Men show up in comments calling girls posers and commenting negatively on the way women skate. Perryman tries not to pay attention to the comments, but Atencio argues the positive comments she receives outweigh the negative ones.
“For every negative comment there’s going to be like 20x more complimentary comments where people are pushing me and saying good job,” Atencio said.


theverge--2020-10-12--Here are the best AirPods deals

Here are the best AirPods deals

Apple AirPods are among the most popular headphones on the market .
They ’ re compact , easy to pair with your devices , and they offer reliable connectivity , which can sometimes be a problem with truly wireless earphones .
So there ’ s a chance that you might be looking for a deal on them .
Surprisingly , they ’ re no stranger to the occasional price cut .
There are commonly discounts on even the more expensive AirPods Pro , which offer noise cancellation and better sound than the standard second-generation model .
We ’ ll run @ @ @ @ @ @ @ below , including the second-generation AirPods , the more expensive second-generation AirPods that include a wireless charging case , and finally , the AirPods Pro .
You can currently find the best price on Apple ’ s most affordable AirPods at Amazon .
Normally $ 159 , they ’ re $ 129 .
This is nearly the lowest price we ’ ve seen yet , though they may get cheaper as we approach the holidays .
You ’ ll need to provide your own wireless charging pad to take advantage of this model @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have no use for it , just get the more affordable option above ) , but even the best ones are fairly inexpensive .
Most retailers commonly offer a $ 30 discount on Apple ’ s AirPods that include a Qi-ready wireless charging case , and that ’ s currently the sale price .
But keep a lookout for deals that double this price cut down to $ 140 , which is the lowest price that we ’ ve seen yet .
Apple ’ s high-end truly wireless earbuds , the AirPods Pro @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their $ 249 retail price .
At most retailers , that price drop is only $ 15 .
Though , the price has fallen to $ 200 a few times now .
They ’ re normally $ 249 , but you can get them for as low as $ 190 now at Woot .
Woot says its price is good until it sells out of stock — if it does , you can find the AirPods Pro at Amazon and Walmart for $ 199 , which is still a good deal .
If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 30 off the regular price , I ’ d personally hold off on buying them .
Compared to the options above , the AirPods Pro have better sound quality , noise cancellation , and now support Apple ’ s new spatial audio feature .
We think they ’ re the best wireless earbuds that iPhone owners should buy .

If you know where to look, there are often some great discounts available on Apple’s ever-popular AirPods. Since Apple launched the third-gen AirPods toward the end of 2021, we’ve seen the starting price of the second-gen, entry-level model slowly dip to around $100. And now that the second-gen AirPods Pro have been on the market for nearly a year, we’re seeing their price fall more often, too.
Here, we’ve curated the best deals currently available on each model, including the entry-level AirPods, the AirPods Pro, the third-gen AirPods, and the AirPods Max.
The best AirPods (second-gen) deals
In 2021, Apple lowered the list price of the second-gen AirPods — now the entry-level model — from $159 to $129. It now only sells the model with a wired charging case, however, which charges via a standard Lightning cable. Despite their age, we found that the easy-to-use, second-gen AirPods still offer great wireless performance and reliable battery life, making them a great pick if you can live without a wireless charging case.
Apple’s most affordable pair of earbuds have dropped to as low as $79.99 before, but right now they’re only on sale for around $99 ($30 off) at Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy. Alternatively, if you prefer the model with the wireless charging case, it’s available at Adorama for $129.99 ($20 off).
The best AirPods (third-gen) deals
With support for the company’s MagSafe technology and an asking price of $179, Apple’s third-gen AirPods are often considered the middle child in Apple’s current AirPods lineup. The shorter stems make for a more subtle design, too, while improved sound and features like sweat and water resistance, support for spatial audio with dynamic head tracking, and improved battery life render them a nice improvement over the last-gen model.
In September, Apple quietly introduced a new, slightly cheaper option for the third-gen AirPods that comes with a Lightning-only charging case. They are currently on sale at Amazon and Target for $149.99 ($20 off). You can also buy the option with a MagSafe charging case at B&H Photo and Costco (members only) for around $169.95 ($9 off).
The best AirPods Pro deals
In case you missed it, Apple announced the second-gen AirPods Pro during its “Far Out” event in September, a pair of earbuds that feature a similar build to the first-gen model but offer better noise cancellation. They also sport swipe-based controls, come with Apple’s new H2 chip, and feature an extra-small pair of swappable silicone ear tips for smaller ears.
They typically retail for $249, but right now they’re on sale at Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy for around $199 ($50 off), which nearly matches their all-time low. If you live close to a Micro Center, you can also pick them up in-store for $194.99 ($5 off).
The first-gen AirPods Pro are also still available for purchase, and sometimes much cheaper than the second-gen model. They have better sound quality than the non-premium models listed above, as well as active noise cancellation. They also come with swappable silicone tips — albeit three, not four — and support Apple’s spatial audio feature, which adds an immersive surround sound effect to select content.
At the end of 2021, Apple launched a new configuration of the first-gen AirPods Pro with a wireless charging case that supports Apple’s MagSafe technology, just like the third-gen AirPods. While they used to retail for $249, we’ve seen them drop to around $159, and sometimes they even sell for as low as $129. Right now, however, they’re not on sale, which is why we suggest buying the second-gen AirPods Pro while they’re still discounted.
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The best AirPods Max deals
The AirPods Max aren’t the iconic in-ears that have become synonymous with the AirPods name. They’re large and luxurious, comprised of aluminum, steel, and mesh fabric that remains comfortable during extended listening sessions. They also sport excellent noise cancellation, Apple’s spatial audio feature, and expansive, balanced sound, even if they lag behind some of their peers when it comes to bass response. They’re not the best noise-canceling headphones for most people — blame the $550 sticker price — but it’s hard to find a pair of Bluetooth headphones that sound better and feature more intuitive controls.
Although Woot and other retailers have discounted the AirPods Max to as low as $409 in the past, prices have since increased across the board. That said, the Max are receiving a sizable discount at Amazon, Walmart, and B&H Photo, where you can pick them up in select colors for around $477 ($72 off) at checkout. If you live near a Micro Center, you can also buy them for $469.99 ($80 off).


theverge--2020-10-12--The best Prime Day deals you can already get

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 .
Amazon Prime Day 2020 begins in the early hours of Tuesday , October 13th , lasting through Wednesday night .
That ’ s when you ’ ll see some of the year ’ s best deals go live , but there are plenty of worthwhile sales happening already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Amazon and other retailers have available right now , check out the deals below .
Just so you know , we ’ ve only included products that are available for less than the previous lowest price .
We ’ ll keep this post updated with links for new products as they become available , and we ’ ll strike through products that are sold out .
• Apple AirPods Pro are $ 190 at Woot , which is $ 10 less than the best price yet .
This model normally costs around $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Buds Live are $ 135 for Amazon Prime members at Woot , matching the best price we ’ ve seen .
The new price for these headphones is $ 170 , so this is a good discount .
• Amazon ’ s Echo Show 5 smart display is available from Amazon for $ 45 , beating the previous lowest price by $ 5 • You can get a Blink Mini wired smart home camera for $ 25 at Amazon , down from its regular $ 35 price • You can get both the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ camera together for $ 50 at Amazon , down from the $ 125 it normally costs to buy both together ( and cheaper than the $ 80 it costs to purchase them separately during Prime Day ) • JVC ’ s 55-inch 4K TV with Roku software built-in is $ 248 at Walmart , beating the lowest price yet by around $ 20 .
This model normally sells for $ 400 .
• Zendure ’ s SuperTank 100W portable battery bank is $ 83 at Amazon after you clip the on-page coupon , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 20 .
And if you purchase two Zendure products , you ’ ll get 15 percent off in the cart .
• Samsung ’ s Galaxy Book Ion is $ 1,000 at the Microsoft Store , beating its lowest price by $ 50 Amazon has offered up a tease of what else you can expect to see during Prime Day 2020 .
We ’ ll be sure to hook you up with links for all of these products when Prime Day officially kicks off tomorrow .
• Save 60 percent on its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dot ( third-gen ) , just $ 18.99 • Save up to $ 80 on Echo Show devices .
Get the Echo Show 5 for $ 44.99 , the Echo Show 8 for $ 64.99 , and the Echo Show ( second-gen ) for $ 149.99 • Take Alexa on the road with $ 30 off Echo Auto , now with Auto Mode in the Alexa App and Start My Commute features , just $ 19.99 • Fire TV Edition Smart TVs start at just $ 79.99 .
Plus , get the Insignia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for $ 109.99 and the Toshiba 43-inch Smart 4K UHD Fire TV Edition TV for $ 209.99 • Save $ 40 on the Fire TV Cube and use your voice to control your entertainment experience , just $ 79.99 • Save up to 45 percent on Fire tablets .
Get the Fire HD 10 for $ 79.99 and Fire 7 Kids Edition tablet for $ 59.99 • Save $ 75 on the Eero Mesh Wi-Fi system , ensuring you have whole-home Wi-Fi coverage , just $ 174 • Save $ 20 on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 79.99 .
• Save 30 percent on Ring Video Doorbell devices and get the Ring Video Doorbell ( second-gen ) for $ 69.99 • Get your smart home started with the Ring Video Doorbell 3 and Echo Show 5 for just $ 149.99 • Get an Echo Dot and LIFX Smart Bulb ( Wi-Fi setup ) , just $ 18.99 • Save $ 50 on the Kindle Paperwhite , just $ 79.99 • Save $ 35 on the Kindle Kids Edition , just $ 74.99 • Save up to 33 percent on select @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 33 percent on the DJI Mavic Mini Drone and Osmo cameras • Save up to 35 percent on Nixplay Wi-Fi digital frames • Save up to 40 percent on Panasonic cameras • Save up to 46 percent on Garmin GPS units and smartwatches • Save up to 30 percent on Tile trackers • Save up to 30 percent on headphones from top brands • Save up to 30 percent on select Samsung and Sony TVs

The dust has settled following two days of Amazon Prime Day 2020 sales. Most of the deals are finished, and prices are for the most part back to their normal rates. The next big opportunity to save big will come during Black Friday after Thanksgiving, in just over a month.
But, if you didn’t get everything you wanted out of Prime Day 2020, there are still a handful of good deals happening. Some are at Amazon, and some are happening elsewhere at retailers like Walmart and Best Buy. You won’t need a Prime membership to reap the savings of the deals still happening. Consider this the last hurrah of Prime Day 2020.
Before we get into yesterday’s deals that are still available, Daily Steals is offering a great deal on the Apple AirPods Pro, matching the best price we saw right before Prime Day started. Normally $250, they’re $190 for a limited time. Enter the code VERGEAPRO at checkout to get this discount.
While these AirPods Pro are considered new, they’re open-box models and come with a year-long warranty through Daily Steals. They ship in their original retail packaging and include all accessories. If you’d rather buy new-in-box from Walmart with the standard one-year Apple warranty, the Apple AirPods Pro are $200 (usually $250).
The rest of the best deals
The Zendure SuperTank has plenty of ports. Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge


theverge--2020-10-12--5G alone won’t be enough to justify buying an iPhone this year

This week , Apple will announce this year ’ s new iPhones .
We ’ re expecting there to be four of them : the iPhone 12 Pro , iPhone 12 Pro Max , iPhone 12 , and a smaller one that might be called the iPhone 12 mini .
Apple ’ s invitation for its Tuesday event included the catchphrase “ Hi , Speed.
” Weird capitalization decisions aside , the “ speed ” hint embedded in the tagline lines up with the rumors : these will be the first 5G-enabled iPhones .
If you ’ re looking to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even before I see these phones I can provide this simple piece of advice : don ’ t buy one just because it has 5G .
That ’ s been my advice for every single 5G-enabled Android phone that ’ s been released thus far , and unless Apple has some reality-defying modem that enables 5G speeds in more places , it ’ s my advice for the upcoming iPhone as well .
The problem with 5G is that it ’ s not good yet .
In a comprehensive , US-wide test of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seriously lacking .
In many cases 5G speeds were actually slower than 4G speeds .
And the study also found that the other hyped-up reason for 5G , low latency , also isn ’ t here yet .
That all lines up with my experience using 5G on T-Mobile in the Bay Area .
When it ’ s faster , it ’ s only nominally different .
Often it ’ s slower and just as often it seems to have a sharper dropoff to no data at all than 4G LTE .
After @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I have yet to believe that 5G is the most important part of any of them .
The reason for these speed and latency issues comes down to some complicated spectrum limitations .
Which means that in the future the carriers will be able to unlock faster speeds for 5G , but it ’ s not going to happen overnight .
Here ’ s how PC Mag ’ s Sascha Segan characterizes the current state of 5G play : As you ’ ve likely heard by now , there are really two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ each operating in different parts of the radio spectrum .
There ’ s what ’ s called “ sub-6 ” 5G that ’ s similar to LTE in how it can travel longer distances and penetrate buildings .
Then there ’ s mmWave 5G , which is what Verizon has been deploying so far .
It does provide blisteringly fast speeds , but only if you can find it .
I often joke that mmWave is great if you ’ re wiling to park in one spot outside next to a specific Verizon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s not really a joke .
Verizon ’ s 5G is so difficult to find and use that I ’ m legitimately baffled as to why anybody would want to spend the extra money to build it into a phone .
I ’ m doubly baffled that many phones cost $ 100 or more extra for mmWave compatibility .
Except I ’ m not baffled , not really .
The last few years have seen the growth of the 5G Hype Industrial Complex .
US carriers , Qualcomm , and phone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say colluded ) to drive a huge cycle of hype for 5G .
They ’ ve promised streaming games , telemedicine , self-driving cars , and rural broadband for all .
Some of those promises will come to pass , but the plain trust is that the networks aren ’ t anywhere close to ready , and these 5G phones are the clearest evidence of the gap between hype and reality .
We always give the same advice when reviewing a phone : don ’ t buy something today in the hopes of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this advice applies to software , because so many promises that bugs will be truly addressed come to nothing .
For 5G , that advice still holds — but there is some nuance to it .
I don ’ t think you should buy a phone because it has 5G , but if the phone you already were looking at has 5G , go for it .
Phone upgrade cycles are slowing .
More people are keeping their phone for longer .
I think this is a great thing : it means phones @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it means less waste , and it saves consumers money .
But given a timespan of two or three or more years , getting a 5G phone could make some sense , even if it ’ s not yet something to seek out .
Buying a 5G phone this year is insurance against the future more than it is an immediate benefit today .
Some upgrades are big enough to push an upgrade cycle even if you weren ’ t planning on it .
5G isn ’ t that kind of upgrade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t hurt to have if you were planning on upgrading anyway .
To bring it back to the new iPhones , my fear is that Apple is going to become part of that 5G Hype Industrial Complex .
It ’ s disingenuous to promise immediate benefits from 5G — at least in the US — and I hope Apple doesn ’ t succumb to the temptation to do so .
The new iPhones ought to have other big reasons to update : a new design , better cameras , intriguing AR features , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thought of .
Any of those things could be a great reason to buy a new iPhone this year .
Just getting 5G is not one of them .

This week, Apple will announce this year’s new iPhones. We’re expecting there to be four of them: the iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 12, and a smaller one that might be called the iPhone 12 mini. Apple’s invitation for its Tuesday event included the catchphrase “Hi, Speed.” Weird capitalization decisions aside, the “speed” hint embedded in the tagline lines up with the rumors: these will be the first 5G-enabled iPhones.
If you’re looking to buy a new iPhone this year, even before I see these phones I can provide this simple piece of advice: don’t buy one just because it has 5G.
That’s been my advice for every single 5G-enabled Android phone that’s been released thus far, and unless Apple has some reality-defying modem that enables 5G speeds in more places, it’s my advice for the upcoming iPhone as well.
The problem with 5G is that it’s not good yet. In a comprehensive, US-wide test of 5G speeds, PC Mag found them seriously lacking. In many cases 5G speeds were actually slower than 4G speeds. And the study also found that the other hyped-up reason for 5G, low latency, also isn’t here yet.
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That all lines up with my experience using 5G on T-Mobile in the Bay Area. When it’s faster, it’s only nominally different. Often it’s slower and just as often it seems to have a sharper dropoff to no data at all than 4G LTE. After a year of testing 5G Android phones, I have yet to believe that 5G is the most important part of any of them.
The reason for these speed and latency issues comes down to some complicated spectrum limitations. Which means that in the future the carriers will be able to unlock faster speeds for 5G, but it’s not going to happen overnight. Here’s how PC Mag’s Sascha Segan characterizes the current state of 5G play:
AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon take very different approaches to 5G. To make a long story short, AT&T 5G right now appears to be essentially worthless. T-Mobile 5G can be a big boost over 4G, but its speeds are only what we’d expect from a good 4G network—it isn’t a new experience. Verizon’s 5G is often mind-blowing, but very difficult to find.
As you’ve likely heard by now, there are really two different kinds of 5G for phones, each operating in different parts of the radio spectrum. There’s what’s called “sub-6” 5G that’s similar to LTE in how it can travel longer distances and penetrate buildings. Then there’s mmWave 5G, which is what Verizon has been deploying so far. It does provide blisteringly fast speeds, but only if you can find it.
I often joke that mmWave is great if you’re wiling to park in one spot outside next to a specific Verizon tower in a specific city — but it’s not really a joke. Verizon’s 5G is so difficult to find and use that I’m legitimately baffled as to why anybody would want to spend the extra money to build it into a phone. I’m doubly baffled that many phones cost $100 or more extra for mmWave compatibility.
Except I’m not baffled, not really. The last few years have seen the growth of the 5G Hype Industrial Complex. US carriers, Qualcomm, and phone manufacturers have all collaborated (one might say colluded) to drive a huge cycle of hype for 5G. They’ve promised streaming games, telemedicine, self-driving cars, and rural broadband for all. Some of those promises will come to pass, but the plain truth is that the networks aren’t anywhere close to ready, and these 5G phones are the clearest evidence of the gap between hype and reality.
We always give the same advice when reviewing a phone: don’t buy something today in the hopes of future updates making it better. Usually this advice applies to software, because so many promises that bugs will be truly addressed come to nothing.
For 5G, that advice still holds — but there is some nuance to it. I don’t think you should buy a phone because it has 5G, but if the phone you already were looking at has 5G, go for it.
Phone upgrade cycles are slowing. More people are keeping their phone for longer. I think this is a great thing: it means phones are good enough to last multiple years, it means less waste, and it saves consumers money. But given a timespan of two or three or more years, getting a 5G phone could make some sense, even if it’s not yet something to seek out.
Buying a 5G phone this year is insurance against the future more than it is an immediate benefit today. Some upgrades are big enough to push an upgrade cycle even if you weren’t planning on it. 5G isn’t that kind of upgrade this year, but it doesn’t hurt to have if you were planning on upgrading anyway.
To bring it back to the new iPhones, my fear is that Apple is going to become part of that 5G Hype Industrial Complex. It’s disingenuous to promise immediate benefits from 5G — at least in the US — and I hope Apple doesn’t succumb to the temptation to do so.


theverge--2020-10-12--Grounded airline planes turned into pop-up restaurants sell out in 30 minutes

Amidst plunging revenues due to the pandemic , Singapore Airlines is turning two of its Airbus A380 planes parked at Changi Airport into impromptu restaurants on October 24th and 25th , and it ’ s proved surprisingly popular .
Bloomberg reports that all seats at the restaurants sold out within 30 minutes of bookings opening , as people rushed to recapture the excitement of balancing a tiny meal on an even tinier fold-down airline table .
I admit I normally quite like airplane food , but that ’ s probably because it ’ s something to focus my attention on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was never interested enough in to see in the cinema .
Singapore Airlines is selling four different tiers of meals according to Bloomberg , ranging from a meal in a suite for around $ 474 , right down to an economy experience for the equivalent of $ 39 .
Around half the planes ’ seats will be available for dining to allow for social distancing .
Plans for scenic flights were abandoned over environmental concerns Singapore Airlines is launching the dining experiences as earnings have plunged thanks to the pandemic .
In July @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over S $ 1 billion ( around $ 825 million ) in the quarter ending June 30th , and at the end of September it said it was exploring other ways of making money .
As well as turning planes into restaurants , it said it would offer food deliveries to peoples ’ homes , complete with cooking instructions and a “ specially curated playlist to recreate the SIA onboard experience , ” Reuters reports .
Only 32 of the airline ’ s 220 planes were operating as of the end of September @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of flights grounded around the world due to the pandemic , there ’ s been a lot of airplane food in need of a new home .
Multiple airline food suppliers have been offering their meals and snacks for purchase by customers directly , according to the Lonely Planet .
Airlines ’ search for alternative revenue during the pandemic has led to at least one , Qantas , offering circular scenic flights in planes that take off and land from the same airport .
Reuters notes that Singapore Airlines considered offering similar flights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerns .
Although seats on the A380 have now sold out , Bloomberg notes that Singapore Airlines plans to open a wait list and will investigate how it can accommodate the extra demand .

Amidst plunging revenues due to the pandemic, Singapore Airlines is turning two of its Airbus A380 planes parked at Changi Airport into impromptu restaurants on October 24th and 25th, and it’s proved surprisingly popular. Bloomberg reports that all seats at the restaurants sold out within 30 minutes of bookings opening, as people rushed to recapture the excitement of balancing a tiny meal on an even tinier fold-down airline table.
I admit I normally quite like airplane food, but that’s probably because it’s something to focus my attention on beyond an endless series of films I was never interested enough in to see in the cinema. Singapore Airlines is selling four different tiers of meals according to Bloomberg, ranging from a meal in a suite for around $474, right down to an economy experience for the equivalent of $39. Around half the planes’ seats will be available for dining to allow for social distancing.
Plans for scenic flights were abandoned over environmental concerns
Singapore Airlines is launching the dining experiences as earnings have plunged thanks to the pandemic. In July the company reported a net loss of over S$1 billion (around $825 million) in the quarter ending June 30th, and at the end of September it said it was exploring other ways of making money. As well as turning planes into restaurants, it said it would offer food deliveries to peoples’ homes, complete with cooking instructions and a “specially curated playlist to recreate the SIA onboard experience,” Reuters reports. Only 32 of the airline’s 220 planes were operating as of the end of September, according to ABCNews.
With hundreds of flights grounded around the world due to the pandemic, there’s been a lot of airplane food in need of a new home. Multiple airline food suppliers have been offering their meals and snacks for purchase by customers directly, according to the Lonely Planet.
Airlines’ search for alternative revenue during the pandemic has led to at least one, Qantas, offering circular scenic flights in planes that take off and land from the same airport. Reuters notes that Singapore Airlines considered offering similar flights, but dropped the plans over environmental concerns.


theverge--2020-10-12--Apple’s AirPods Pro are cheaper than ever today at Woot

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 .
Woot is offering one of the best pre-Prime Day 2020 deals so far .
Apple ’ s AirPods Pro wireless earbuds are $ 190 , which is the best price we ’ ve seen yet .
This model usually costs $ 250 , and Woot says this discount @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it sells out .
If you were in the market for a set of AirPods , you ’ ll get the most for your money with this model .
Unlike the less expensive AirPods , the AirPods Pro ship with silicon tips that provide a more comfortable fit that isolates more sound .
Additionally , they feature better sound quality than the standard model , as well as active noise cancellation and an interesting Spatial Audio feature that can make content more immersive .
So far , Woot is the only retailer to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during Prime Day 2020 week .
It ’ s possible that we ’ ll see some more AirPods deals as the week goes on , though that might not happen .

Woot’s excellent pre-Prime Day 2020 deal on the Apple AirPods Pro wireless earbuds is over. All of the stock is sold out, apparently. They were $190, which was the best price we’ve seen yet. This model usually costs $250, and Woot says this discount will last all day, or until it sells out.
If you’re still looking for an AirPods deal, Amazon is selling the second-generation model with a wired charging case for $115 — the lowest price we’ve seen so far. Find this deal and many more in the link below.
If you were in the market for a set of AirPods, you’ll get the most for your money with this model. Unlike the less expensive AirPods, the AirPods Pro ship with silicon tips that provide a more comfortable fit that isolates more sound. Additionally, they feature better sound quality than the standard model, as well as active noise cancellation and an interesting Spatial Audio feature that can make content more immersive.
So far, Woot is the only retailer to offer a sizable discount on the AirPods during Prime Day 2020 week. It’s possible that we’ll see some more AirPods deals as the week goes on, though that might not happen.


theverge--2020-10-12--Facebook donates £1 million to help save UK’s WWII code-breaking center Bletchley Park

Facebook is donating £1 million ( $ 1.3 million ) to Bletchley Park , the UK center for Allied code-breaking during World War II that now operates as a museum .
The Bletchley Park Trust , a registered charity , announced in August that the site was facing a revenue shortfall of £2 million because of falling visitor numbers caused by the coronavirus .
Because of the drop in revenue ( amounting to 95 percent of annual income ) , the park announced it was considering 35 redundancies , constituting a third of its workforce .
Facebook ’ s donation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but it ’ s not clear how many .
Bletchley Park was home to the world ’ s first programmable digital computer Facebook said it made the donation in recognition of Bletchley Park ’ s “ ongoing legacy as a birthplace of modern computing.
” The park ’ s code-breakers and mathematicians not only cracked the Enigma codes used by the Nazis , an achievement that some historians say shortened the length of the war by two to four years , but they also made key theoretical and engineering breakthroughs .
These include @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s first programmable digital computer , and the work of Alan Turing , the English mathematician who is seen as the father of modern computer science and artificial intelligence .
At its height , the code-breaking operation at Bletchley Park included some 10,000 employees , with women constituting roughly 75 of the workforce .
“ The historic achievements of Alan Turing and the Bletchley team have benefited all of us greatly , including Facebook , and we ’ re thrilled to help preserve this spiritual home of modern computing , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president of Northern Europe , in a press statement .
The UK is Facebook ’ s biggest engineering hub outside the US , home to more than 3,000 employees , with more than half working in engineering roles .
In a press statement , Bletchley Park CEO Iain Standen said the site was “ very grateful to Facebook ” for its donation .
“ With this significant support , the Bletchley Park Trust will be better positioned to operate in the ‘ new world ’ , and keep its doors open for future @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Verge has reached out to the Bletchley Park Trust to ask how many jobs may be saved by Facebook ’ s donation and will update this story if we hear more .

Facebook is donating £1 million ($1.3 million) to Bletchley Park, the UK center for Allied code-breaking during World War II that now operates as a museum.
The Bletchley Park Trust, a registered charity, announced in August that the site was facing a revenue shortfall of £2 million because of falling visitor numbers caused by the coronavirus. Because of the drop in revenue (amounting to 95 percent of annual income), the park announced it was considering 35 redundancies, constituting a third of its workforce. Facebook’s donation will save some of these jobs, but it’s not clear how many.
Bletchley Park was home to the world’s first programmable digital computer
Facebook said it made the donation in recognition of Bletchley Park’s “ongoing legacy as a birthplace of modern computing.” The park’s code-breakers and mathematicians not only cracked the Enigma codes used by the Nazis, an achievement that some historians say shortened the length of the war by two to four years, but they also made key theoretical and engineering breakthroughs. These include the creation of Colossus, the world’s first programmable digital computer, and the work of Alan Turing, the English mathematician who is seen as the father of modern computer science and artificial intelligence. At its height, the code-breaking operation at Bletchley Park included some 10,000 employees, with women constituting roughly 75 percent of the workforce.
“The historic achievements of Alan Turing and the Bletchley team have benefited all of us greatly, including Facebook, and we’re thrilled to help preserve this spiritual home of modern computing,” said Steve Hatch, Facebook’s vice president of Northern Europe, in a press statement. The UK is Facebook’s biggest engineering hub outside the US, home to more than 3,000 employees, with more than half working in engineering roles.
In a press statement, Bletchley Park CEO Iain Standen said the site was “very grateful to Facebook” for its donation. “With this significant support, the Bletchley Park Trust will be better positioned to operate in the ‘new world’, and keep its doors open for future generations,” said Standen.


theverge--2020-10-12--US joins six countries in new call for backdoor encryption access

On Monday , the US Department of Justice signed on to a new international statement warning of the dangers of encryption and calling for an industry-wide effort to enable law enforcement agencies to access encrypted data once a warrant has been obtained .
The US was joined in the effort by officials representing the UK , Australia , New Zealand , Canada , India , and Japan .
The statement begins by acknowledging the value of encryption in protecting free expression across the world , citing a 2017 report from the UN Human Rights Commission .
But the statement quickly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the technology .
“ Particular implementations of encryption technology , however , pose significant challenges to public safety , ” the statement reads .
“ We urge the industry to address our serious concerns where encryption is applied in a way that wholly precludes any legal access to content.
” The Justice Department has a long history of anti-encryption advocacy .
In 2018 , five of the seven participating countries expressed similar misgivings in an open memo to tech companies , although the memo resulted in little to no progress on the issue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , tech companies have insisted that any backdoor built for law enforcement would inevitably be targeted by criminals , and ultimately leave users less safe .
Crucially , the seven countries would not only seek to acces encrypted data in transit — such as the end-to-end encryption used by WhatsApp — but also locally stored data like the contents of a phone .
That local encryption was at the center of the 2016 San Bernardino encryption fight , which saw the FBI taking Apple to court in an effort to access the contents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shooting .
“ While this statement focuses on the challenges posed by end-to-end encryption , that commitment applies across the range of encrypted services available , including device encryption , custom encrypted applications and encryption across integrated platforms , ” the document continues .
“ We challenge the assertion that public safety can not be protected without compromising privacy or cybersecurity .
”

On Monday, the US Department of Justice signed on to a new international statement warning of the dangers of encryption and calling for an industry-wide effort to enable law enforcement agencies to access encrypted data once a warrant has been obtained. The US was joined in the effort by officials representing the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, India, and Japan.
The statement begins by acknowledging the value of encryption in protecting free expression across the world, citing a 2017 report from the UN Human Rights Commission. But the statement quickly pivots to the ostensible problems posed by the technology.
encryption under threat
“Particular implementations of encryption technology, however, pose significant challenges to public safety,” the statement reads. “We urge the industry to address our serious concerns where encryption is applied in a way that wholly precludes any legal access to content.”
The Justice Department has a long history of anti-encryption advocacy. In 2018, five of the seven participating countries expressed similar misgivings in an open memo to tech companies, although the memo resulted in little to no progress on the issue from the industry. At each turn, tech companies have insisted that any backdoor built for law enforcement would inevitably be targeted by criminals, and ultimately leave users less safe.
Crucially, the seven countries would not only seek to acces encrypted data in transit — such as the end-to-end encryption used by WhatsApp — but also locally stored data like the contents of a phone. That local encryption was at the center of the 2016 San Bernardino encryption fight, which saw the FBI taking Apple to court in an effort to access the contents of a phone linked to a workplace shooting.


theverge--2020-10-12--Alphabet’s latest X project is a crop-sniffing plant buggy

Alphabet ’ s X lab , the former Google division that launched the Waymo self-driving car unit and other ambitious projects , has taken the wraps off its latest “ moonshot ” : a computational agriculture project the company is calling Mineral .
The project is focused on sustainable food production and farming at large scales , with a focus on “ developing and testing a range of software and hardware prototypes based on breakthroughs in artificial intelligence , simulation , sensors , robotics and more , ” according to project lead Elliott Grant .
A blog post outlining the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which now has an official name but was formally announced back in 2019 , will try and aim technology toward solving issues around sustainability .
Those include feeding of Earth ’ s growing population , and producing crops more efficiently by understanding growth cycles and weather patterns .
The project will also hope to manage land and plant life as the effects of climate change complicate ecosystems .
“ To feed the planet ’ s growing population , global agriculture will need to produce more food in the next 50 years than in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when climate change is making our crops less productive , ” reads the new Mineral website .
“ Just as the microscope led to a transformation in how diseases are detected and managed , we hope that better tools will enable the agriculture industry to transform how food is grown , ” explains Grant .
“ Over the last few years my team and I have been developing the tools of what we call computational agriculture , in which farmers , breeders , agronomists , and scientists will lean on new types of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ collect and analyze information about the complexity of the plant world.
” One of the first of these tools is a new four-wheel rover-like prototype , what the Mineral team are calling a plant buggy , study crops , soil , and other environmental factors using a mix of cameras , sensors , and other onboard equipment .
The team then uses the data collected and combines it with satellite imagery and weather data to create predictive models for how the plants will grow using machine learning and other AI training techniques .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ already using the prototypes to study soybeans in Illinois and strawberries in California .
“ We hope that better tools will enable the agriculture industry to transform how food is grown.
” “ Over the past few years , the plant buggy has trundled through strawberry fields in California and soybean fields in Illinois , gathering high quality images of each plant and counting and classifying every berry and every bean .
To date , the team has analyzed a range of crops like melons , berries , lettuce , oilseeds , oats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reads Mineral ’ s website .
Grant says the Mineral team will collaborate with plant breeders and growers , farmers , and other agricultural experts to come up with solutions that are practical and have real-world benefits .
But the project does have high-minded ambition .
And Alphabet ’ s track record in that department is strong .
Waymo is now a leading company in the self-driving car space that just further opened up its fleet of functioning driverless vehicles to residents of Phoenix .
The connectivity division Loon , which uses floating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also partnered with telecoms around the globe .
“ What if every single plant could be monitored and given exactly the nutrition it needed ?
What if we could untangle the genetic and environmental drivers of crop yield ?
” Grant writes of Mineral ’ s far-off goals .
“ What if we could measure the subtle ways a plant responds to its environment ?
What if we could match a crop variety to a parcel of land for optimum sustainability ?
We knew we couldn ’ t ask and answer every question @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we haven ’ t needed to .
Breeders and growers around the world have worked with us to run experiments to find new ways to understand the plant world .
”

Alphabet’s X lab, the former Google division that launched the Waymo self-driving car unit and other ambitious projects, has taken the wraps off its latest “moonshot”: a computational agriculture project the company is calling Mineral.
The project is focused on sustainable food production and farming at large scales, with a focus on “developing and testing a range of software and hardware prototypes based on breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, simulation, sensors, robotics and more,” according to project lead Elliott Grant.
A blog post outlining the project’s vision says Mineral, which now has an official name but was formally announced back in 2019, will try and aim technology toward solving issues around sustainability. Those include feeding of Earth’s growing population, and producing crops more efficiently by understanding growth cycles and weather patterns. The project will also hope to manage land and plant life as the effects of climate change complicate ecosystems.
“To feed the planet’s growing population, global agriculture will need to produce more food in the next 50 years than in the previous 10,000 — at a time when climate change is making our crops less productive,” reads the new Mineral website.
Photos: Alphabet
“Just as the microscope led to a transformation in how diseases are detected and managed, we hope that better tools will enable the agriculture industry to transform how food is grown,” explains Grant. “Over the last few years my team and I have been developing the tools of what we call computational agriculture, in which farmers, breeders, agronomists, and scientists will lean on new types of hardware, software, and sensors to collect and analyze information about the complexity of the plant world.”
One of the first of these tools is a new four-wheel rover-like prototype, what the Mineral team are calling a plant buggy, study crops, soil, and other environmental factors using a mix of cameras, sensors, and other onboard equipment. The team then uses the data collected and combines it with satellite imagery and weather data to create predictive models for how the plants will grow using machine learning and other AI training techniques. The Mineral team says it’s already using the prototypes to study soybeans in Illinois and strawberries in California.
“We hope that better tools will enable the agriculture industry to transform how food is grown.”
“Over the past few years, the plant buggy has trundled through strawberry fields in California and soybean fields in Illinois, gathering high quality images of each plant and counting and classifying every berry and every bean. To date, the team has analyzed a range of crops like melons, berries, lettuce, oilseeds, oats and barley—from sprout to harvest,” reads Mineral’s website.
Grant says the Mineral team will collaborate with plant breeders and growers, farmers, and other agricultural experts to come up with solutions that are practical and have real-world benefits. But the project does have high-minded ambition. And Alphabet’s track record in that department is strong. Waymo is now a leading company in the self-driving car space that just further opened up its fleet of functioning driverless vehicles to residents of Phoenix. The connectivity division Loon, which uses floating balloons to deliver internet access, has also partnered with telecoms around the globe.


theverge--2020-10-12--YouTube Music is now a whole lot easier to stream on TVs

On Monday , YouTube announced a number of updates for its YouTube Music TV app , including TVs running Android TV OS and the new Chromecast with Google TV .
For all smart TVs , YouTube Music users can now access saved playlists and liked songs in their available libraries , the company said in a blog post .
The options will appear in the YouTube Music tab within the YouTube TV app .
The update also includes new visuals to show albums and and playlist artwork .
“ We ’ re working hard to bring even more features to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reads .
“ In the coming months , YouTube Music Premium users will be able to continue playing music in the background after exiting the app.
” The main change is that Android TV OS users will be able to access music uploads directly in your library .
There ’ s also a new playback interface that ’ s designed to include relevant information like the artist ’ s name , as well as display a progress bar while a song plays .
For devices with the Android TV home screen , people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new YouTube Music row to make browsing easier , according to the blog .
YouTube Music launched in 2018 , with The Verge ’ s reviewer calling it “ surprisingly great.
” As YouTube expands the service , the app — on TV , mobile , and desktop — have seen a number of updates .
Recently , YouTube made it so people without premium accounts could cast to their speakers and allowed Google Music users to transfer their tunes over to YouTube Music .
Expect more changes to YouTube Music on TV @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Google Music .

On Monday, YouTube announced a number of updates for its YouTube Music TV app, including TVs running Android TV OS and the new Chromecast with Google TV. For all smart TVs, YouTube Music users can now access saved playlists and liked songs in their available libraries, the company said in a blog post. The options will appear in the YouTube Music tab within the YouTube TV app. The update also includes new visuals to show albums and and playlist artwork.
“We’re working hard to bring even more features to YouTube Music,” the blog post reads. “In the coming months, YouTube Music Premium users will be able to continue playing music in the background after exiting the app.”
The main change is that Android TV OS users will be able to access music uploads directly in your library. There’s also a new playback interface that’s designed to include relevant information like the artist’s name, as well as display a progress bar while a song plays. For devices with the Android TV home screen, people will also be able to use a new YouTube Music row to make browsing easier, according to the blog.
YouTube Music launched in 2018, with The Verge’s reviewer calling it “surprisingly great.” As YouTube expands the service, the app — on TV, mobile, and desktop — have seen a number of updates. Recently, YouTube made it so people without premium accounts could cast to their speakers and allowed Google Music users to transfer their tunes over to YouTube Music.


theverge--2020-10-12--The best Prime Day deals you can get right now

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 .
Amazon Prime Day 2020 begins in the early hours of Tuesday , October 13th , lasting through Wednesday night .
That ’ s when you ’ ll see some of the year ’ s best deals go live , but there are plenty of worthwhile sales happening already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Amazon and other retailers have available right now , check out the deals below .
Just so you know , we ’ ve only included products that are available for less than the previous lowest price .
We ’ ll keep this post updated with links for new products as they become available , and we ’ ll strike through products that are sold out .
Amazon is offering early access to a great Prime Day sale on the Fire HD 10 tablet .
It ’ s a 10.1-inch tablet with 32GB of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Normally $ 150 , it ’ s just $ 80 right now if you have a Prime membership .
This is the first time it has fallen below $ 100 .
Samsung ’ s bean-shaped Galaxy Buds Live are steeply discounted at Woot .
Prime subscribers can get them for $ 135 ( usually $ 170 ) .
This matches the lowest price that we ’ ve seen on this model of wireless earbuds .
Like the AirPods Pro , the Galaxy Buds Live feature noise cancellation , though Chris Welch ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as good at canceling out sound .
If you ’ re hunting for a big television that supports popular movie and TV show streaming apps , check out Walmart ’ s deal on this JVC model that costs just $ 248 today ( usually $ 400 ) .
It ’ s a 55-inch 4K TV that runs on Roku ’ s software , so you can install entertainment apps on it without the need to buy any additional hardware , like a streaming stick .
Prime subscribers can get an Echo Show 5 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smart camera for just $ 50 .
Normally , buying the two together costs $ 125 , so this is one of the better early Prime Day deals in terms of how much you ’ re saving .
If you use these devices in tandem , the Echo Show 5 can display a visual feed of what the Blink Mini is looking at , so you can see what ’ s happening without being there .
One of the best pre-Prime Day 2020 deals is on the Apple AirPods Pro at Woot .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 190 , which is their best price yet .
This model , which features noise cancellation and better noise isolation than regular AirPods , normally cost $ 250 .
This deal will last for the rest of the day , or until stock sells out .
Amazon and Walmart are currently offering them for $ 200 .
• Amazon ’ s Echo Show 5 smart display is available from Amazon for $ 45 , beating the previous lowest price by $ 5 • You can get a Blink Mini wired smart home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down from its regular $ 35 price • Zendure ’ s SuperTank 100W portable battery bank is $ 83 at Amazon after you clip the on-page coupon , beating the previous best price by almost $ 20 .
And if you purchase two Zendure products , you ’ ll get 15 percent off in the cart .
• Samsung ’ s Galaxy Book Ion is $ 1,000 at the Microsoft Store , beating its lowest price by $ 50 Amazon has offered up a tease of what else you can expect to see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ll be sure to hook you up with links for all of these products when Prime Day officially kicks off tomorrow .
• Save 60 percent on its most popular smart speaker , the Echo Dot ( third-gen ) , just $ 18.99 • Save up to $ 80 on Echo Show devices .
Get the Echo Show 5 for $ 44.99 , the Echo Show 8 for $ 64.99 , and the Echo Show ( second-gen ) for $ 149.99 • Take Alexa on the road with $ 30 off Echo Auto @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alexa App and Start My Commute features , just $ 19.99 • Fire TV Edition Smart TVs start at just $ 79.99 .
Plus , get the Insignia 32-inch Smart HD Fire TV Edition TV for $ 109.99 and the Toshiba 43-inch Smart 4K UHD Fire TV Edition TV for $ 209.99 • Save $ 40 on the Fire TV Cube and use your voice to control your entertainment experience , just $ 79.99 • Save up to 45 percent on Fire tablets .
Get the Fire HD 10 for $ 79.99 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 59.99 • Save $ 75 on the Eero Mesh Wi-Fi system , ensuring you have whole-home Wi-Fi coverage , just $ 174 • Save $ 20 on the Ring Stick Up Cam , just $ 79.99 .
• Save 30 percent on Ring Video Doorbell devices and get the Ring Video Doorbell ( second-gen ) for $ 69.99 • Get your smart home started with the Ring Video Doorbell 3 and Echo Show 5 for just $ 149.99 • Get an Echo Dot and LIFX Smart Bulb ( Wi-Fi setup ) , just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Kindle Paperwhite , just $ 79.99 • Save $ 35 on the Kindle Kids Edition , just $ 74.99 • Save up to 33 percent on select Nintendo Switch titles • Save up to 33 percent on the DJI Mavic Mini Drone and Osmo cameras • Save up to 35 percent on Nixplay Wi-Fi digital frames • Save up to 40 percent on Panasonic cameras • Save up to 46 percent on Garmin GPS units and smartwatches • Save up to 30 percent on Tile trackers • Save up to 30 percent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up to 30 percent on select Samsung and Sony TVs


theverge--2020-10-12--Samsung’s Galaxy Note 10 is down to $550 at eBay

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 .
Samsung ’ s Galaxy Note 10 is available for $ 550 from Microsoft ’ s eBay store , its lowest price yet .
Normally the phone costs $ 950 and previously we have seen the price go down to as low as $ 600 .
The price is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ black , white , or the iridescent Glow model .
This is for an unlocked version of the phone that ’ s compatible with all of the major LTE networks in the US .
It also comes with a full US warranty .
Samsung originally released the Galaxy Note 10 last year alongside the larger Note 10 Plus .
The base Note 10 includes a 6.3-inch display , 8GB of RAM , 256GB of storage , plus a three-lens rear camera .
When stacked it up against its successor , the Galaxy Note @ @ @ @ @ @ @ similar experience , but with a smaller size .
The Galaxy Note 10 is the smallest phone to support the S Pen to date .
While this is an incredible deal on the phone , this does not appear to be related to Amazon ’ s Prime Day , which starts tomorrow .
You can check out all of the early Prime Day sales here and be sure to check back for more coverage as the event continues .

Samsung originally released the Galaxy Note 10 last year alongside the larger Note 10 Plus. The base Note 10 includes a 6.3-inch display, 8GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, plus a three-lens rear camera. When stacked it up against its successor, the Galaxy Note 20 , the Note 10 offers a similar experience, but with a smaller size. The Galaxy Note 10 is the smallest phone to support the S Pen to date.
While this is an incredible deal on the phone, this does not appear to be related to Amazon’s Prime Day, which starts tomorrow. You can check out all of the early Prime Day sales here and be sure to check back for more coverage as the event continues.


theverge--2020-10-12--In a rare move, a Netflix original will stream on free streaming service Pluto TV

In a rare licensing move , Netflix ’ s hit drama series Narcos will be available to stream for free on ViacomCBS ’ s Pluto TV beginning on October 20th .
The deal marks the first time that Narcos will be widely available to US streaming viewers without a Netflix subscription and for free .
( The show was previously licensed to Univision through a linear deal . )
All five seasons of the show ( Narcos and Narcos : Mexico ) will be available to stream as part of Pluto TV ’ s Crime Drama and Narco Novelas channel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own dedicated channel for those who want to marathon the show .
The show ’ s first season will stream weeknights at 10PM ET .
Catch-up episodes will be made available the following day beginning at 8PM ET .
The goal is to debut a new season of the series each month through February 2021 .
While Narcos will still be available to stream on Netflix , the streamer will no longer be able to call it an exclusive — a point of pride for company executives .
While Netflix often licenses shows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pluto TV owner ViacomCBS , Netflix very rarely licenses shows to competitors .
Netflix doesn ’ t own Narcos , however ; it ’ s owned by Gaumont International Television , a situation that likely paved the way for the deal .
Pluto TV is a “ cornerstone ” of ViacomCBS ’ s streaming business , CEO Bob Bakish has reiterated over the last year and a half .
The service has more than 26.5 million monthly active users , and ViacomCBS projected in February that those numbers would grow to 30 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and people looking for affordable ways to entertain themselves , free ad-supported streamers like Pluto TV are likely to reap those benefits .
Now , Pluto TV can also offer one of Netflix ’ s most popular shows to its subscribers for free .
As for Netflix , while the deal is incredibly rare , this isn ’ t the first time that a Netflix-branded show has appeared elsewhere .
Comedy Central signed the exclusive linear rights to BoJack Horseman , one of Netflix ’ s original shows that hailed from former Disney @ @ @ @

In a rare licensing move, Netflix’s hit drama series Narcos will be available to stream for free on ViacomCBS’s Pluto TV beginning on October 20th.
The deal marks the first time that Narcos will be widely available to US streaming viewers without a Netflix subscription and for free. (The show was previously licensed to Univision through a linear deal.) All five seasons of the show (Narcos and Narcos: Mexico) will be available to stream as part of Pluto TV’s Crime Drama and Narco Novelas channel lineup, as well as within its own dedicated channel for those who want to marathon the show. The show’s first season will stream weeknights at 10PM ET. Catch-up episodes will be made available the following day beginning at 8PM ET. The goal is to debut a new season of the series each month through February 2021.
While Narcos will still be available to stream on Netflix, the streamer will no longer be able to call it an exclusive — a point of pride for company executives. While Netflix often licenses shows from other networks and companies, including Pluto TV owner ViacomCBS, Netflix very rarely licenses shows to competitors. Netflix doesn’t own Narcos, however; it’s owned by Gaumont International Television, a situation that likely paved the way for the deal.
Pluto TV is a “cornerstone” of ViacomCBS’s streaming business, CEO Bob Bakish has reiterated over the last year and a half. The service has more than 26.5 million monthly active users, and ViacomCBS projected in February that those numbers would grow to 30 million. With the pandemic, however, and people looking for affordable ways to entertain themselves, free ad-supported streamers like Pluto TV are likely to reap those benefits. Now, Pluto TV can also offer one of Netflix’s most popular shows to its subscribers for free.


theverge--2020-10-12--Panasonic has made it way easier to use Lumix cameras as webcams

Panasonic has released an official Lumix webcam app , as first spotted by PetaPixel .
The software , still in beta since its quiet release late last month , lets you plug your camera into your Mac or Windows machine and have it recognized as a video source in apps like Google Meet and Zoom .
Panasonic ’ s official software replaces the workaround hack the company introduced back in June .
Panasonic ’ s workaround was necessary because of the webcam shortage during early months of the COVID-19 pandemic .
But it was far more cumbersome than a native @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s hack to remove the tethering app ’ s overlaid interface and then direct the live feed from the camera through an intermediary like Open Broadcaster Software ( OBS ) .
Thankfully , that native app removes all that fuss and you can head over to Panasonic ’ s website here to download it .
Here ’ s a guide on installing and using it : Now , you can just hook up a Lumix camera via USB to your computer and the Lumix Webcam Software app will help your computer recognize it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in videoconferencing apps , no intermediary required .
You will , however , need a supported Lumix camera , and you should check out the chart Panasonic put together on its website detailing which videoconferencing platforms it works best with .
Here ’ s the full list of Lumix models that work with the software so far :

Panasonic has released an official Lumix webcam app, as first spotted by PetaPixel. The software, still in beta since its quiet release late last month, lets you plug your camera into your Mac or Windows machine and have it recognized as a video source in apps like Google Meet and Zoom. Panasonic’s official software replaces the workaround hack the company introduced back in June.
Panasonic’s workaround was necessary because of the webcam shortage during early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. But it was far more cumbersome than a native app, requiring you use Panasonic’s hack to remove the tethering app’s overlaid interface and then direct the live feed from the camera through an intermediary like Open Broadcaster Software (OBS).
Thankfully, that native app removes all that fuss and you can head over to Panasonic’s website here to download it. Here’s a guide on installing and using it:
Now, you can just hook up a Lumix camera via USB to your computer and the Lumix Webcam Software app will help your computer recognize it as an external camera source for use in videoconferencing apps, no intermediary required. You will, however, need a supported Lumix camera, and you should check out the chart Panasonic put together on its website detailing which videoconferencing platforms it works best with.
Here’s the full list of Lumix models that work with the software so far:


theverge--2020-10-12--MSCHF is going to pay people to hate on brands using viral TikToks

After an escalating series of viral stunts , internet collective MSCHF is taking on advertising itself .
On Monday , the collective posted a series of jingles on TikTok aimed as a broadside against the primary source of funding for social networks .
Some of the jingles call out the general concept , while others take on specific brands the group has decided to target : Amazon , Comcast , Facebook , Fashion Nova , the NFL , Palantir , Purdue , and even TikTok itself .
“ We had our team [ do some ] digging on them , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of dirt we didn ’ t like and wanted to bring to light more , ” Daniel Greenberg , MSCHF ’ s creative strategist , tells The Verge .
“ Attack TikTok for content suppression .
Attack Fashion Nova for stealing designs and using sweatshops .
Attack the NFL for disregarding player safety .
Attack Purdue Pharma for opioid crisis profiteering.
” MSCHF has made a name for itself through a number of different drops and viral stunts , including partnering with YouTube creator MrBeast to hand out $ 25,000 for competing in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , MSCHF is planning to give out $ 50,000 in total to creators who use the jingles and reach a certain threshold of views .
Each brand has a different payout and different required number of views , so people who hit 5,000 views for attacking TikTok will get $ 50 , while people who amass 50,000 views attacking Amazon will get $ 100 .
“ The idea was kinda two fold , ” Greenberg says .
“ The first thought was , ‘ What would ads be that brands would never run @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
’ The second was , ‘ How do you let anyone become ‘ an influencer ?
’ but of course MSCHF has to do that in a creative , almost destructive way.
” At the time of this writing , a few of the tracks had more than 10,000 views ( with one song sitting at more than 33,000 views ) while others had amassed just over 5,000 .
The goal is for at least one of the songs dunking on one of the corporations to go viral .
Full details for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Anti Advertising Advertising Club website .

After an escalating series of viral stunts, internet collective MSCHF is taking on advertising itself. On Monday, the collective posted a series of jingles on TikTok aimed as a broadside against the primary source of funding for social networks. Some of the jingles call out the general concept, while others take on specific brands the group has decided to target: Amazon, Comcast, Facebook, Fashion Nova, the NFL, Palantir, Purdue, and even TikTok itself.
“We had our team [do some] digging on them, and found nine that had some form of dirt we didn’t like and wanted to bring to light more,” Daniel Greenberg, MSCHF’s creative strategist, tells The Verge. “Attack TikTok for content suppression. Attack Fashion Nova for stealing designs and using sweatshops. Attack the NFL for disregarding player safety. Attack Purdue Pharma for opioid crisis profiteering.”
MSCHF has made a name for itself through a number of different drops and viral stunts, including partnering with YouTube creator MrBeast to hand out $25,000 for competing in a days-long game. For this stunt, MSCHF is planning to give out $50,000 in total to creators who use the jingles and reach a certain threshold of views. Each brand has a different payout and different required number of views, so people who hit 5,000 views for attacking TikTok will get $50, while people who amass 50,000 views attacking Amazon will get $100.
“The idea was kinda two fold,” Greenberg says. “The first thought was, ‘What would ads be that brands would never run because they’d never bash themselves?’ The second was, ‘How do you let anyone become ‘an influencer?’ but of course MSCHF has to do that in a creative, almost destructive way.”