theverge--2020-07-06--Uber acquires meal delivery service Postmates for $2.65 billion

Uber will acquire food delivery service Postmates in a $ 2.65 billion all-stock deal intended to give the ride-hail company a much-need jolt after its offer to buy Grubhub fell apart amid antitrust scrutiny .
Postmates ’ app will continue to run separately after the acquisition , but it ’ ll be able to tap into a merchant and delivery network combined with Uber Eats .
Uber says this will mean more restaurant options for consumers and more efficient deliveries for drivers who pick up multiple orders at a time .
The companies intend for the deal to close in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meal delivery division , Uber Eats , to make up for the huge losses it ’ s been experiencing since the start of the coronavirus pandemic .
Food delivery is not profitable , nor is Uber ’ s core ride-hailing business .
But the company is hoping that with restaurants closed to in-person dining , more people will be ordering takeout in the future .
The virus has taken its toll on Uber , with riding-hailing down about 80 percent .
And with the number of cases spiking in many parts of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could continue to mount .
Meanwhile , bookings in its Uber Eats division were up more than 54 percent year over year , thanks to increased demand for food deliveries , the company reported in May .
Uber Eats is an obvious bright spot , but it ’ s still under immense strain , thanks to regulatory pressure and competition from Grubhub and DoorDash .
Uber Eats has sen an acceleration in demand since mid-March , with 89 percent year-over-year gross bookings growth in April excluding India .
And the company is also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clip .
Uber recently shuttered its Eats business in eight cities .
But despite these gains , Uber is still trailing behind DoorDash , the leader in food delivery .
In June , DoorDash captured 45 percent of transactions , according to market research firm Edison Trends .
By purchasing Postmates , Uber can improve its marketshare to 37 percent , from its current position of 29 percent .
Uber attempted to buy Grubhub earlier this year , but the deal fell apart amid reported antitrust scrutiny , and Grubhub ended up going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 7.3 billion .
Postmates , which is headquartered in San Francisco , helped revolutionize the food delivery segment when it launched in 2011 .
The company had been planning to go public in October but reportedly told its advisers market conditions were suboptimal and delayed the filing .
Fox Business reported recently that the plan is back in motion , with the food delivery service planning to file paperwork for an initial public offering within days .

Uber will acquire food delivery service Postmates in a $2.65 billion all-stock deal intended to give the ride-hail company a much-need jolt after its offer to buy Grubhub fell apart amid antitrust scrutiny.
Postmates’ app will continue to run separately after the acquisition, but it’ll be able to tap into a merchant and delivery network combined with Uber Eats. Uber says this will mean more restaurant options for consumers and more efficient deliveries for drivers who pick up multiple orders at a time. The companies intend for the deal to close in Q1 2021.
Uber desperately needs its meal delivery division, Uber Eats, to make up for the huge losses it’s been experiencing since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Food delivery is not profitable, nor is Uber’s core ride-hailing business. But the company is hoping that with restaurants closed to in-person dining, more people will be ordering takeout in the future.
The virus has taken its toll on Uber, with riding-hailing down about 80 percent. And with the number of cases spiking in many parts of the US, the company’s losses could continue to mount. Meanwhile, bookings in its Uber Eats division were up more than 54 percent year over year, thanks to increased demand for food deliveries, the company reported in May.
Uber Eats is an obvious bright spot, but it’s still under immense strain, thanks to regulatory pressure and competition from Grubhub and DoorDash. Uber Eats has sen an acceleration in demand since mid-March, with 89 percent year-over-year gross bookings growth in April excluding India. And the company is also abandoning its unprofitable markets at a steady clip. Uber recently shuttered its Eats business in eight cities.
But despite these gains, Uber is still trailing behind DoorDash, the leader in food delivery. In June, DoorDash captured 45 percent of transactions, according to market research firm Edison Trends. By purchasing Postmates, Uber can improve its marketshare to 37 percent, from its current position of 29 percent.
Uber attempted to buy Grubhub earlier this year, but the deal fell apart amid reported antitrust scrutiny, and Grubhub ended up going to European service Just Eat Takeaway for $7.3 billion.


theverge--2020-07-06--Instagram’s Reels feature reportedly expands to India following TikTok ban

Facebook is testing Instagram ’ s Reels feature in India , Business Insider reports .
Reels is a video editing tool designed to let people create TikTok-style 15 second videos that can be shared on their Instagram Stories , sent via DM , or posted to a section of the Explore tab called Top Reels .
The news emerged just days after the Indian government banned TikTok along with 58 other China-based apps .
Business Insider reports that some Instagram users in India have already started receiving Instagram ’ s new feature in an update , and a Facebook spokesperson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the feature more widely .
“ We ’ re planning to start testing an updated version of Reels in more countries ” “ We ’ re planning to start testing an updated version of Reels in more countries , ” a Facebook spokesperson told Business Insider , “ Reels is a fun , creative way for people to both express themselves and be entertained .
We ’ re excited to bring this new version to more of our global community .
No further plans to share on launch date or countries for now.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ rollout worldwide after first launching as a test in Brazil last year on both iOS and Android .
Last month , TechCrunch reported that the feature had expanded to France and Germany .
Facebook has also recently announced the shutdown of its standalone TikTok-style video app Lasso , with some speculating that it came as the result of an upcoming launch for Reels .
Facebook has previously integrated similar features from competing apps into its own services to better compete with them .
In 2016 we reported that Instagram ’ s Stories feature @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Snapchat ’ s , for example .
In audio leaked last year , Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg noted TikTok ’ s similarity to Instagram ’ s Explore tab , indicating that it may play host to part of the company ’ s attempts to compete with its Chinese rival .

Facebook is testing Instagram’s Reels feature in India, Business Insider reports. Reels is a video editing tool designed to let people create TikTok-style 15 second videos that can be shared on their Instagram Stories, sent via DM, or posted to a section of the Explore tab called Top Reels.
The news emerged just days after the Indian government banned TikTok along with 58 other China-based apps. Business Insider reports that some Instagram users in India have already started receiving Instagram’s new feature in an update, and a Facebook spokesperson confirmed that the company plans to release the feature more widely.
“We’re planning to start testing an updated version of Reels in more countries”
“We’re planning to start testing an updated version of Reels in more countries,” a Facebook spokesperson told Business Insider, “Reels is a fun, creative way for people to both express themselves and be entertained. We’re excited to bring this new version to more of our global community. No further plans to share on launch date or countries for now.”
Reels has had a relatively slow rollout worldwide after first launching as a test in Brazil last year on both iOS and Android. Last month, TechCrunch reported that the feature had expanded to France and Germany. Facebook has also recently announced the shutdown of its standalone TikTok-style video app Lasso, with some speculating that it came as the result of an upcoming launch for Reels.


theverge--2020-07-06--US sanctions make Huawei more of a security risk, says leaked UK report

The UK may reverse its decision to allow Huawei as a supplier for the country ’ s 5G network buildout after a report concluded that US sanctions would make the Chinese telecom giant ’ s equipment less safe .
The report from GCHQ ’ s National Cyber Security Centre , leaked by The Telegraph and corroborated by Bloomberg , claims that the restrictions on Huawei ’ s operations “ will force the company to use untrusted technology that could increase the risk to the UK.
” The report “ is likely to force Boris Johnson to abandon the company entirely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A source told Bloomberg that the British prime minister is preparing to phase out Huawei as soon as this year , although the exact timetable is reportedly yet to be confirmed .
“ We are considering the impact.
” “ We are considering the impact the US ’ additional sanctions against Huawei could have on UK networks , ” the UK government says in a statement .
“ This is an ongoing process and we will update further in due course.
” Despite pressure from the US , the UK went ahead with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 5G network infrastructure earlier this year .
Huawei was only to be used for “ non-core ” elements of the network , and would be limited to providing 35 percent of supply .
Johnson had argued that there were a lack of viable alternatives to Huawei technology , which is already widely prevalent in British communications networks .
“ We are working closely with our customers to find ways of managing the proposed U.S. restrictions so the UK can maintain its current lead in 5G , ” says Huawei VP Victor Zhang @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We believe it is too early to determine the impact of the proposed restrictions , which are not about security , but about market position .
”

The UK may reverse its decision to allow Huawei as a supplier for the country’s 5G network buildout after a report concluded that US sanctions would make the Chinese telecom giant’s equipment less safe. The report from GCHQ’s National Cyber Security Centre, leaked by The Telegraph and corroborated by Bloomberg, claims that the restrictions on Huawei’s operations “will force the company to use untrusted technology that could increase the risk to the UK.”
The report “is likely to force Boris Johnson to abandon the company entirely,” according to The Telegraph. A source told Bloomberg that the British prime minister is preparing to phase out Huawei as soon as this year, although the exact timetable is reportedly yet to be confirmed.
“We are considering the impact.”
“We are considering the impact the US’ additional sanctions against Huawei could have on UK networks,” the UK government says in a statement. “This is an ongoing process and we will update further in due course.”
Despite pressure from the US, the UK went ahead with plans that included Huawei as a supplier of 5G network infrastructure earlier this year. Huawei was only to be used for “non-core” elements of the network, and would be limited to providing 35 percent of supply. Johnson had argued that there were a lack of viable alternatives to Huawei technology, which is already widely prevalent in British communications networks.


theverge--2020-07-06--Slack’s new notification schedules give you your weekends back

Slack is now letting you choose when you get notifications on a per-day basis , meaning you can finally stop getting Slack pings over the weekend .
Previously , Slack let you set when you were “ available ” to receive notifications , but those preferences would also roll over to the weekends .
That meant you could get Slack distracting and unnecessary notifications on your computer or phone while you were enjoying an otherwise lazy Sunday .
Now , though , you ’ ll be able to set when you are comfortable getting notifications but turn on a blanket @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days/times work best for your schedule ) if you want .
When you have notifications turned off , you ’ ll be in Slack ’ s Do Not Disturb ( DND ) mode , meaning other users in your Slack workspace will see a little “ z ” on to the dot next to your name indicating your status .
While in DND , if you open Slack , you ’ ll still see red badges on channels where you or a keyword of yours is mentioned and for any direct messages , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ notification about those messages .
( If they need to , though , people can still send you a notification while you ’ re in DND by direct messaging you and forcing Slack to send one . )
If you want to more finely-tune your Slack notifications , here ’ s how to do so .
• Click on the arrow near your Slack organization ’ s name , then mouse over “ Pause notifications.
” In the menu that pops up , click “ Set a notification schedule.
” • In the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Allow notifications ” header , there will be a dropdown menu that lets you select if you want to allow notifications every day , only on weekdays , or on a custom schedule .
There are also dropdown menus to let you pick what times you ’ re ok getting notifications .
• Tap the “ You ” icon on the far-right of the toolbar , and then tap “ Notifications ” • In the Notifications menu , tap on “ Notification Schedule.
” • Next , tap on “ Allow notifications @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to select if you want to get notifications every day , only on weekdays , or on a custom schedule .
That ’ s it !
And once you ’ ve set up your preferences , they should sync across your devices .
Hopefully , customizing these settings can reduce the number of notifications you get when you don ’ t want to get them , and you can enjoy weekends free of Slack notifications .

Slack is now letting you choose when you get notifications on a per-day basis, meaning you can finally stop getting Slack pings over the weekend.
Previously, Slack let you set when you were “available” to receive notifications, but those preferences would also roll over to the weekends. That meant you could get Slack distracting and unnecessary notifications on your computer or phone while you were enjoying an otherwise lazy Sunday.
You can set per-day notification preferences
Now, you’ll be able to set when you are comfortable getting notifications but turn on a blanket no-notification policy for weekends (or whichever days / times work best for your schedule) if you want.
When you have notifications turned off, you’ll be in Slack’s Do Not Disturb (DND) mode, meaning other users in your Slack workspace will see a little “z” on to the dot next to your name indicating your status. While in DND, if you open Slack, you’ll still see red badges on channels where you or a keyword of yours is mentioned and for any direct messages, but you won’t receive a notification about those messages. (If they need to, though, people can still send you a notification while you’re in DND by direct messaging you and forcing Slack to send one.)
If you want to more finely tune your Slack notifications, here’s how to do so.
On the desktop app:
Click on the arrow near your Slack organization’s name, then mouse over “Pause notifications.” In the menu that pops up, click “Set a notification schedule.” In the menu that opens up, under the “Allow notifications” header, there will be a drop-down menu that lets you select if you want to allow notifications every day, only on weekdays, or on a custom schedule. There are also drop-down menus to let you pick what times you’re okay getting notifications.
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On the mobile apps:
Tap the “You” icon on the far-right of the toolbar, and then tap “Notifications” In the Notifications menu, tap on “Notification Schedule” Next, tap on “Allow notifications,” and you’ll be able to select if you want to get notifications every day, only on weekdays, or on a custom schedule
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That’s it! And once you’ve set up your preferences, they should sync across your devices. Hopefully, customizing these settings can reduce the number of notifications you get when you don’t want to get them, and you can enjoy weekends free of Slack notifications.


theverge--2020-07-06--ICE says international students must take in-person classes to remain in the US

The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement has announced that in order to remain in the country for the fall 2020 semester , international students must take in-person classes at their schools .
Students who remain in the US but take entirely online courses may face “ immigration consequences including , but not limited to , the initiation of removal proceedings.
” “ There will still be accommodations to provide flexibility to schools and nonimmigrant students , but as many institutions across the country reopen , there is a concordant need to resume the carefully balanced protections implemented by federal regulations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
New students matriculating at schools offering fully online programs will not receive visas , per ICE .
Students who are already enrolled at such schools will be required to transfer or leave the country .
Eight percent of US colleges are planning for an online-only semester , according to the Chronicle of Higher Education , including Harvard and Bowdoin , though some of those schools plan to invite a reduced number of students back to campus .
“ There will still be accommodations to provide flexibility to schools and nonimmigrant students.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ model will be allowed to remain in the US , provided that they are not taking a fully online course load .
Schools will be required to certify to the Student and Exchange Visitor Program ( SEVP ) that the students are taking “ the minimum number of online classes required to make normal progress in their degree program.
” Meanwhile , international students who remain in their home countries will only be permitted to maintain their “ Active status ” and take an online courseload remotely if their school is online-only .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ plan to offer some sort of hybrid model , including the University of Pennsylvania , Yale , Stanford , Georgetown , and Northwestern .
Schools that will be online must notify SEVP by July 15th , while those using a hybrid option must outline their plans by August 1st .
Some institutions have cited the ability to transition to fully online instruction as a benefit of their hybrid model .
Such a move could leave many students scrambling under ICE ’ s new policy ; any student who switches to an online-only program @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leave or transfer at that time , per the announcement .
F-1 visas , which allow international students to study full-time in the US , typically only allow holders to count one online class per term toward their course of study .
After the COVID-19 pandemic forced colleges around the country to move all instruction online , SEVP granted temporary exemptions to that policy , allowing international students to continue to take multiple remote courses without risking losing their visas .
The new regulation is one of multiple recent actions that the Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic .
In June , President Trump ordered immigration officials to deny entry stamps to a range of guest worker visas , including H-1Bs .

The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement has announced that in order to remain in the country for the fall 2020 semester, international students must take in-person classes at their schools. Students who remain in the US but take entirely online courses may face “immigration consequences including, but not limited to, the initiation of removal proceedings.”
“There will still be accommodations to provide flexibility to schools and nonimmigrant students, but as many institutions across the country reopen, there is a concordant need to resume the carefully balanced protections implemented by federal regulations,” states ICE’s announcement.
New students matriculating at schools offering fully online programs will not receive visas, per ICE. Students who are already enrolled at such schools will be required to transfer or leave the country. Eight percent of US colleges are planning for an online-only semester, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education, including Harvard and Bowdoin, though some of those schools plan to invite a reduced number of students back to campus.
“There will still be accommodations to provide flexibility to schools and nonimmigrant students.”
Students attending schools that offer a hybrid model will be allowed to remain in the US, provided that they are not taking a fully online course load. Schools will be required to certify to the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) that the students are taking “the minimum number of online classes required to make normal progress in their degree program.”
Meanwhile, international students who remain in their home countries will only be permitted to maintain their “Active status” and take an online courseload remotely if their school is online-only.
At least 23 percent of US colleges plan to offer some sort of hybrid model, including the University of Pennsylvania, Yale, Stanford, Georgetown, and Northwestern. Schools that will be online must notify SEVP by July 15th, while those using a hybrid option must outline their plans by August 1st.
Some institutions have cited the ability to transition to fully online instruction as a benefit of their hybrid model. Such a move could leave many students scrambling under ICE’s new policy; any student who switches to an online-only program during the semester will be required to leave or transfer at that time, per the announcement.
F-1 visas, which allow international students to study full-time in the US, typically only allow holders to count one online class per term toward their course of study. After the COVID-19 pandemic forced colleges around the country to move all instruction online, SEVP granted temporary exemptions to that policy, allowing international students to continue to take multiple remote courses without risking losing their visas.


theverge--2020-07-06--How to change your inbox layout in Gmail

Gmail offers you several customizable formats — so many that you can have multiple Gmail accounts and they can all look completely different .
For example , you can have all of your emails in one long list , you can separate your messages into multiple tabs , or you can have your inbox split into unread and read messages .
In addition to that , there are several other ways to organize your inbox , from adding a reading pane to coming up with your own categories for organizing emails .
Here ’ s how you can customize your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ options .
How to change your inbox layout : • Click on the cog icon in the top-right corner of the screen • A “ Quick settings ” sidebar will open on the right side of your inbox , which will allow you to adjust some settings .
For example , you can adjust display density , which controls how compact your messages appear .
You can also choose the position for your reading pane and what inbox type you have .
( We ’ ll go into those later . )
• @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the top of this sidebar for more options Next to “ Inbox type , ” you have a number of options to choose from in the drop-down menu : • “ Default ” puts your emails into the familiar separate vertical tabs • “ Important first , ” “ Unread first , ” and “ Starred first ” each split the inbox into two sections horizontally : the section you choose as first ( Important , Unread , or Starred ) and then everything else • “ Primary inbox ” and “ Multiple @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your email , and you can scroll down to view each section .
( We ’ ll go into how to customize both setups later in this article . )
Depending on which type of Inbox you choose , the next few steps will be a little different .
• If you select the Default inbox setup , underneath “ Inbox type , ” next to “ Categories , ” you can check the boxes to decide how your emails are sorted .
You can hover over each category name to see examples @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sorted into which tab .
If you want your email to show up all in one tab , you can uncheck all of the boxes .
( But you can ’ t deselect Primary . )
You also have the option to “ Include starred in Primary ” so that any email you star will also show up in Primary , no matter what other category it falls into .
• The options for “ Important first , ” “ Unread first , ” and “ Starred first ” are similar .
Under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ click on the Options button to select how many emails you want to appear in each section .
• If you select “ Important first ” or “ Priority Inbox , ” you ’ ll see an additional option that lets you change how Gmail counts your unread emails : whether that number reflects just the important unread emails , all of your unread emails , or a ratio of the important ones compared to all of them .
• You also have the option to add a reading pane , unless you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
After checking the box next to “ Enable reading pane , ” you can use the options below it to select the placement for the pane .
• In the “ Importance marker ” section , you can choose whether Gmail displays yellow tabs ( indicating an important message ) next to emails and whether Gmail assigns them automatically based on your activity • At the bottom of the page , there ’ s an option to “ Override filters ” or “ Don ’ t override filters.
” You can adjust @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Blocked Addresses ” tab in Settings .
• When you ’ re done , don ’ t forget to click “ Save Changes ” If you choose to go with Priority Inbox , you can use the drop-down next to each option in “ Inbox sections ” to choose which categories to include and which to remove , how many messages from each section to include , and whether to hide a section when it ’ s empty .
• To add another section , go to the Label tab at the top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Create new label ” button at the bottom of the menu • Type in a name for your label in the pop-up window .
Then click “ Create.
” • Go to the “ Inbox ” tab and click “ Options ” next to an inbox section • Select the label from the drop-down options that appear • Click “ Save changes ” at the bottom of the menu How to set up multiple inboxes : • To set up your inboxes , you ’ ll have to enter in each category @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is : starred or is : unread .
You can create up to five sections .
• You can add a label for each category in Section Name • Type in the number of emails you want displayed in each category , next to “ Maximum page size ” • To change the placement of the sections , adjust it in “ Multiple Inbox position ”

Gmail offers you several customizable formats — so many that you can have multiple Gmail accounts and they can all look completely different. For example, you can have all of your emails in one long list, you can separate your messages into multiple tabs, or you can have your inbox split into unread and read messages.
In addition to that, there are several other ways to organize your inbox, from adding a reading pane to coming up with your own categories for organizing emails. Here’s how you can customize your Gmail interface and explore all of the options.
How to change your inbox layout:
Click on the cog icon in the top-right corner of the screen
A “Quick settings” sidebar will open on the right side of your inbox, which will allow you to adjust some settings. For example, you can adjust display density, which controls how compact your messages appear. You can also choose the position for your reading pane and what inbox type you have. (We’ll go into those later.)
When you click on the cog icon, you’ll first get this Quick settings sidebar.
Click “See all settings” at the top of this sidebar for more options
Click the Inbox tab
Next to “Inbox type,” you have a number of options to choose from in the drop-down menu:
“Default” puts your emails into the familiar separate vertical tabs
“Important first,” “Unread first,” and “Starred first” each split the inbox into two sections horizontally: the section you choose as first (Important, Unread, or Starred) and then everything else
“Priority Inbox” and “Multiple Inboxes” each create different sections within your email, and you can scroll down to view each section. (We’ll go into how to customize both setups later in this article.) Depending on which type of Inbox you choose, the next few steps will be a little different.
You can choose from several different Inbox layouts.
If you select the Default inbox setup, underneath “Inbox type,” next to “Categories,” you can check the boxes to decide how your emails are sorted. You can hover over each category name to see examples of what kinds of emails will be sorted into which tab. If you want your email to show up all in one tab, you can uncheck all of the boxes. (But you can’t deselect Primary.) You also have the option to “Include starred in Primary” so that any email you star will also show up in Primary, no matter what other category it falls into. And if you’ve found yourself annoyed by ads that are sitting on top of your various Inbox tabs, you can uncheck “Bundling in Promotions.”
You can choose up to five different tabs for a Default inbox.
The options for “Important first,” “Unread first,” and “Starred first” are similar. Under “Inbox sections,” you can click on the Options button to select how many emails you want to appear in each section.
Using the drop-down options, you can choose how many important emails are displayed.
If you select “Important first” or “Priority Inbox,” you’ll see an additional option that lets you change how Gmail counts your unread emails: whether that number reflects just the important unread emails, all of your unread emails, or a ratio of the important ones compared to all of them.
Important first and Priority inbox both give you the options to change how your unread email count appears.
You also have the option to add a reading pane, unless you’re in the Multiple Inboxes layout. After checking the box next to “Enable reading pane,” you can use the options below it to select the placement for the pane.
You can add a reading pane and choose its position.
In the “Importance marker” section, you can choose whether Gmail displays yellow tabs (indicating an important message) next to emails and whether Gmail assigns them automatically based on your activity.
You can adjust your settings for importance markers.
At the bottom of the page, there’s an option to “Override filters” or “Don’t override filters.” You can adjust those filters in the “Filters & Blocked Addresses” tab in Settings.
When you’re done, don’t forget to click “Save Changes.”
You can also choose how filters are handled.
How to configure Priority Inbox:
If you choose to go with Priority Inbox, you can use the drop-down next to each option in “Inbox sections” to choose which categories to include and which to remove, how many messages from each section to include, and whether to hide a section when it’s empty.
Here, choose which sections show up in your inbox.
To add another section, go to the Label tab at the top of the Settings menu
Click the “Create new label” button at the bottom of the menu
Type in a name for your label in the pop-up window. Then click “Create.”
Come up with a name for your new label.
Go to the “Inbox” tab and click “Options” next to an inbox section
Select “More options” from the drop-down menu
Select the label from the drop-down options that appear
Choose your new label from the drop-down list.
Click “Save changes” at the bottom of the menu
How to set up multiple inboxes:
Select Multiple inboxes in Inbox type.
To set up your inboxes, you’ll have to enter in each category as a search operator, such as is:starred or is:unread. You can create up to five sections.
You can add a label for each category in Section Name
Type in the number of emails you want displayed in each category, next to “Maximum page size”
To change the placement of the sections, adjust it in “Multiple Inbox position”
On this screen, you can customize the Multiple inbox setup, including placement and adding sections.


theverge--2020-07-06--How to enable and use Gmail’s AI-powered Smart Reply and Smart Compose tools

Leading up to Gmail ’ s 15th birthday last year , Google added a lot of productivity and machine learning tools to its email service .
( It may also have been trying to make up for the disappearance of its Inbox email app , but that ’ s an argument for another day . )
Additions included a way for Gmail to write email subject lines for you and schedule an email to send at a later time .
It can be a little confusing to navigate some of Gmail ’ s features .
In this tutorial , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s auto-completion tools Smart Reply and Smart Compose , which are designed to save time .
Letting a machine help write emails and subject lines for you can feel a bit unusual , but if you ’ re open to at least trying it out for yourself , here are the ways to automate your Gmail responses .
To allow Gmail to generate responses and email text , you first have to opt in from your Settings menu .
If you are a regular Gmail user ( instead of G Suite enterprise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do : • Click on the gear icon on the upper right side and find the Settings page .
• Scroll down to the separate Smart Reply and Smart Compose options and choose “ On ” for either or both to enable the automated suggestions .
• You can also choose to allow Gmail ’ s machine learning to personalize the suggestions based on the way you write your emails by choosing “ Smart Compose personalization.
” For example , if you greet your colleagues with “ Hi , team ” versus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will automatically drop in whatever you use most often .
If you use G Suite , you may notice that the option to toggle on Smart Compose is not available .
Your G Suite admin must enable this for the organization , so contact the person in charge if you ’ d like to test this out at work .
On the Android or iOS app • Tap the hamburger icon on the upper-left side to open the side drawer .
Scroll down to Settings .
• Select the Gmail account you want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Smart Reply and / or Smart Compose to toggle the mode on Once the settings are turned on , your Gmail is set up to suggest replies and help auto-finish sentences based on your writing style .
What it looks like Basically , you just start typing , and Gmail will begin suggesting words that might fit the sentence you ’ re writing .
Be aware that it won ’ t always come on for every email you write .
Because Gmail needs context , you ’ ll likely find Smart Compose chiming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an email or if you ’ re starting emails with some generic statements like “ Nice to meet you ” or “ Hope you ’ re well.
” If Gmail has a suggestion , an opaque set of text will appear next to what you ’ re typing .
On the desktop version of Gmail , you can press Tab to accept the suggestion .
On the mobile app , if a suggested word or phrase appears , swipe right to add it to the email .
Smart Compose can also suggest email @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and start writing your email .
Once you go back to fill out the subject line , Gmail will offer a suggestion that you can accept by pressing Tab on the desktop app or swipe right on mobile .
Smart Reply works a little faster than Smart Compose .
Instead of suggesting words or short phrases for you , Gmail will offer three responses that might suit the email you ’ ve received .
For example , if you ’ ve gotten an email reminding you of an appointment , Smart Reply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” “ Thanks , ” or “ I can ’ t make it.
” Tapping these responses will not send the email right away .
You can add more text to the suggested answer before choosing to send it .
If you are in an email conversation with several people , be aware that responding with a Smart Reply will CC everyone on that email .
You ’ ll have to manually remove the people you don ’ t want in that response , so it ’ s best to only choose Smart @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to everyone in the thread .
Should you actually use it ?
Choosing to let a machine write your emails may feel impersonal , but it ’ s not designed to write the whole email for you .
Smart Compose and Smart Reply work best when you use them to add filler sentences or quickly respond to yes or no emails .
Plus , Gmail has gotten a lot better at suggesting responses that will make sense 90 percent of the time .
( In my experience , the responses tend to veer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not work best if you ’ re less prone to agreeing to everything . )
Besides , if you give this a go and find that you ’ d rather type your own answers , just go back to Settings and toggle those features off .
Update July 6th , 2020 , 5:10PM ET : This article was originally published on April 5th , 2019 ; the introduction and the directions for using Smart Replay and Smart Compose have been updated

Leading up to Gmail’s 15th birthday in 2019, Google added a lot of productivity and machine learning tools to its email service. (It may also have been trying to make up for the disappearance of its Inbox email app, but that’s an argument for another day.) Additions included a way for Gmail to write email subject lines for you and schedule an email to send at a later time.
It can be a little confusing to navigate some of Gmail’s features. In this tutorial, we’re going to focus on Gmail’s auto-completion tools Smart Reply and Smart Compose, which are designed to save time.
Letting a machine help write emails and subject lines for you can feel a bit unusual, but if you’re open to at least trying it out for yourself, here are the ways to automate your Gmail responses.
Enabling Smart Reply and Smart Compose
To allow Gmail to generate responses and email text, you first have to opt in from your Settings menu. If you are a regular Gmail user (Google Workspace users may need authorization from their admins), here’s what to do:
On desktop
Click on the gear icon on the upper right side and on “See all settings.”
In the “General” tab, scroll down to the separate Smart Reply and Smart Compose options and choose “On” for either or both to enable the automated suggestions.
You can also choose to allow Gmail’s machine learning to personalize the suggestions based on the way you write your emails by choosing “Smart Compose personalization.” For example, if you greet your colleagues with “Hi, team” versus “Hello, everyone,” it will automatically drop in whatever you use most often.
Finally, “Smart features and personalization” enables Google to use your content in Gmail, Chat, and Meet in order to hone its personalization features, while “Smart features and personalization in other Google products” lets it learn from — you guessed it — other Google products. Each of these can be checked on or off.
You can let the AI engine personalize your Smart Compose suggestions.
On the Android or iOS app
Tap the hamburger icon on the upper left side to open the side drawer. Scroll down to Settings.
Select the Gmail account you want to address.
Tap the check box on Smart Reply and / or Smart Compose to toggle the mode on. You can also enable (or disable) “Smart features and personalization” or “Smart features and personalization to other Google products.”
Once the settings are turned on, your Gmail is set up to suggest replies and help auto-finish sentences based on your writing style.
What it looks like
Basically, you just start typing, and Gmail will begin suggesting words that might fit the sentence you’re writing.
Be aware that it won’t always come on for every email you write. Because Gmail needs context, you’ll likely find Smart Compose chiming in when you’re responding to an email or if you’re starting emails with some generic statements like “Nice to meet you” or “Hope you’re well.” If Gmail has a suggestion, a light set of text will appear next to what you’re typing.
On the desktop version of Gmail, you can press Tab to accept the suggestion. On the mobile app, if a suggested word or phrase appears, swipe right to add it to the email.
Smart Compose can also automatically fill in the Subject field.
Smart Compose can also suggest email subjects. Leave the subject line blank, and start writing your email. Once you go back to fill out the subject line, Gmail will offer a suggestion that you can accept by pressing Tab on the desktop app or swipe right on mobile.
Smart Reply for canned responses
Smart Reply works a little faster than Smart Compose. Instead of suggesting words or short phrases for you, Gmail will offer three responses that might suit the email you’ve received. For example, if you’ve gotten an email reminding you of an appointment, Smart Reply may suggest responses like “Confirmed,” “Thanks,” or “I can’t make it.”
Tapping these responses will not send the email right away. You can add more text to the suggested answer before choosing to send it.
Smart Replay offers canned responses.
If you are in an email conversation with several people, be aware that responding with a Smart Reply will CC everyone on that email. You’ll have to manually remove the people you don’t want in that response, so it’s best to only choose Smart Reply for emails you mean to send to everyone in the thread.
Should you actually use it?
Choosing to let a machine write your emails may feel impersonal, but it’s not designed to write the whole email for you. Smart Compose and Smart Reply work best when you use them to add filler sentences or quickly respond to yes or no emails. Plus, Gmail has gotten a lot better at suggesting responses that will make sense 90 percent of the time. (In my experience, the responses tend to veer toward affirmative answers, so they may not work best if you’re less prone to agreeing to everything.)
Besides, if you give this a go and find that you’d rather type your own answers, just go back to Settings and toggle those features off.
Update July 6th, 2020, 5:10PM ET: This article was originally published on April 5th, 2019; the introduction and the directions for using Smart Replay and Smart Compose have been updated.


theverge--2020-07-06--Google Plus is officially gone after its mobile apps are rebranded as Google Currents

Google Plus , the company ’ s failed social network , is officially gone as of today .
After Google Plus personal accounts were shut down last year , Google announced that it would be replacing the social network for enterprise users with Google Currents .
Currents is generally available starting today , and the Google Plus Android and iOS apps have been rebranded to Google Currents to reflect the change ( via 9to5Google ) .
Currents , given its enterprise focus , is designed to help people within organizations communicate with each other .
Users can post and comment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a News Feed-like “ home stream , ” which can be ranked by relevance or chronologically , according to Google .
G Suite admins can also moderate discussions if needed .
If you want to get an idea of what the refreshed mobile apps look like , check out these screenshots from the Google Play Store : In 2018 , Google began a multiphase process to shut down Google Plus , in part because it had “ low usage and engagement.
” But the company also identified security vulnerabilities that factored into its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of which accelerated the shutdown plans by four months ) .
Google started to shut down and delete consumer accounts on Google Plus in April 2019 , and it launched Currents in beta shortly after .
This actually isn ’ t the first Google product named Currents ; the company offered a magazine app under that name until 2013 .
That year , Google rebranded that app as Google Play Newsstand , which was eventually replaced by Google News .

Google Plus, the company’s failed social network, is officially gone as of today. After Google Plus personal accounts were shut down last year, Google announced that it would be replacing the social network for enterprise users with Google Currents. Currents is generally available starting today, and the Google Plus Android and iOS apps have been rebranded to Google Currents to reflect the change (via 9to5Google).
Currents, given its enterprise focus, is designed to help people within organizations communicate with each other. Users can post and comment on discussions and can see content in a News Feed-like “home stream,” which can be ranked by relevance or chronologically, according to Google. G Suite admins can also moderate discussions if needed.
If you want to get an idea of what the refreshed mobile apps look like, check out these screenshots from the Google Play Store:
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In 2018, Google began a multiphase process to shut down Google Plus, in part because it had “low usage and engagement.” But the company also identified security vulnerabilities that factored into its decision to shut it down (one of which accelerated the shutdown plans by four months). Google started to shut down and delete consumer accounts on Google Plus in April 2019, and it launched Currents in beta shortly after.


theverge--2020-07-06--Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides now have a dark theme on Android

Google is rolling out a dark mode for its Docs , Sheets , and Slides apps on Android starting today @ @ @ @ @ all Android users will gain access to the dark theme within the next two weeks @ @ @ @ @ dark theme on Docs , Sheets , or Slides by going to the respective app @ @ @ @ @ also says that the apps will automatically use your system theme , meaning if your @ @ @ @ @ enabled , you will not have to enable it manually in these apps .
Last @ @ @ @ @ deliver dark mode to all of its first-party apps .
It ’ s slowly added @ @ @ @ @ of apps in the year since , including the Google app , Gmail , and @ @ @ @ @ apps such as Google Maps do not have dark mode on iOS .
In the @ @ @ @ @ mode has been a popular addition to Android and iOS apps , thanks to its @ @ @ @ @ .

Google is rolling out a dark mode for its Docs, Sheets, and Slides apps on Android starting today.
The tech giant says all Android users will gain access to the dark theme within the next two weeks. Users can activate the dark theme on Docs, Sheets, or Slides by going to the respective app’s settings. Google also says that the apps will automatically use your system theme, meaning if your device already has dark theme enabled, you will not have to enable it manually in these apps.


theverge--2020-07-06--Google, Facebook, and Twitter halt government data requests after new Hong Kong security law

Google , Facebook , and Twitter are pausing the processing of data requests from the Hong Kong government as they review a new security law that went into effect on July 1st .
Google put its pause into place as soon as the law took effect last Wednesday .
“ [ W ] hen the law took effect , we paused production on any new data requests from Hong Kong authorities , ” a Google spokesperson told The Verge in an email , “ and we ’ ll continue to review the details of the new law , ” the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ handling of government requests as of July 1st , with Facebook announcing its pause on Monday , The New York Times reported .
Social media platforms typically produce private user information in response to valid court orders , depending on the legal process in various countries .
But under this new position , all the companies will , at least temporarily , ignore the requests coming from the government of Hong Kong .
The new policies are in response to China ’ s new national security law in Hong Kong , which was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has traditionally enjoyed significant independence from mainland China , but the central Chinese government has tightened restrictions on speech in Hong Kong in recent months , bringing a gradual end to the “ one country , two systems ” principle .
China ’ s push toward more control has led to widespread protests across Hong Kong , which began last year .
In particular , the new security law gives China the power to limit political dissent against the Communist Party , making it unlawful to engage in “ secession , subversion , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and collusion with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security.
” Those powers are particularly relevant for social platforms , which may be hosting the now-criminalized subversive activities .
Google , Facebook , and Twitter have both been banned in China for several years , part of the so-called “ Great Firewall , ” under which government censors and monitors track online activity .
The new security law has already compelled several political opposition parties in Hong Kong to disband , NPR reported , and is expected to further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kong .
“ We believe freedom of expression is a fundamental human right and support the right of people to express themselves without fear for their safety or other repercussions , ” a Facebook spokesperson said in an email to The Verge .
Twitter says it is reviewing the new law to assess the implications , adding many terms of the new law are “ vague and without clear definition , ” a spokesperson wrote in an email to The Verge .
“ Like many public interest organizations , civil society leaders and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have grave concerns regarding both the developing process and the full intention of this law.
” Facebook has a process for reviewing government requests , which takes into account its own policies and local laws as well as international human rights standards , the spokesperson added .
“ We are pausing the review of government requests for user data from Hong Kong pending further assessment of the National Security Law , including formal human rights due diligence and consultations with international human rights experts.
” Facebook has offices in China and uses Chinese @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including its Oculus VR headsets and its Portal video chat devices .
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has attempted to mend relations with China in the past , meeting with Communist Party leaders while in Beijing for an economic forum in 2016 .
More recently , he ’ s pushed concerns about China setting the terms for online engagement .
“ If another nation ’ s platform sets the rules , ” Zuckerberg said last year , “ our nation ’ s discourse could be defined by a completely different set of values @ @

Google, Facebook, and Twitter are pausing the processing of data requests from the Hong Kong government as they review a new security law that went into effect on July 1st. Google put its pause into place as soon as the law took effect last Wednesday.
“[W]hen the law took effect, we paused production on any new data requests from Hong Kong authorities,” a Google spokesperson told The Verge in an email, “and we’ll continue to review the details of the new law,” the spokesperson said.
Twitter also halted its handling of government requests as of July 1st, with Facebook announcing its pause on Monday, The New York Times reported.
Social media platforms typically produce private user information in response to valid court orders, depending on the legal process in various countries. But under this new position, all the companies will, at least temporarily, ignore the requests coming from the government of Hong Kong.
The new policies are in response to China’s new national security law in Hong Kong, which was first proposed in May. Hong Kong has traditionally enjoyed significant independence from mainland China, but the central Chinese government has tightened restrictions on speech in Hong Kong in recent months, bringing a gradual end to the “one country, two systems” principle. China’s push toward more control has led to widespread protests across Hong Kong, which began last year.
In particular, the new security law gives China the power to limit political dissent against the Communist Party, making it unlawful to engage in “secession, subversion, organization and perpetration of terrorist activities, and collusion with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security.” Those powers are particularly relevant for social platforms, which may be hosting the now-criminalized subversive activities.
Google, Facebook, and Twitter have both been banned in China for several years, part of the so-called “Great Firewall,” under which government censors and monitors track online activity.
The new security law has already compelled several political opposition parties in Hong Kong to disband, NPR reported, and is expected to further chill political dissent against Beijing in Hong Kong.
“We believe freedom of expression is a fundamental human right and support the right of people to express themselves without fear for their safety or other repercussions,” a Facebook spokesperson said in an email to The Verge.
Twitter says it is reviewing the new law to assess the implications, adding many terms of the new law are “vague and without clear definition,” a spokesperson wrote in an email to The Verge. “Like many public interest organizations, civil society leaders and entities, and industry peers, we have grave concerns regarding both the developing process and the full intention of this law.”
Facebook has a process for reviewing government requests, which takes into account its own policies and local laws as well as international human rights standards, the spokesperson added. “We are pausing the review of government requests for user data from Hong Kong pending further assessment of the National Security Law, including formal human rights due diligence and consultations with international human rights experts.”


theverge--2020-07-06--The federal government says Bird got at least a $5 million bailout loan, but the company denies it

Bird , the beleaguered e-scooter company , received a loan worth between $ 5 million and $ 10 million from the federal government ’ s Paycheck Protection Program ( PPP ) in late April .
The company said in its application to the Treasury Department and the Small Business Association that the loan would help it retain 341 jobs .
But less than a month before , Bird laid off over 400 employees , or about 30 percent of its staff .
But Bird contends that it should not be included in the government ’ s list .
“ Bird @ @ @ @ @ @ @ filed for a PPP Loan , ” a company spokesperson said .
“ We did not apply for nor did we receive a PPP Loan .
We decided as a company not to file an application as we did not want to divert critical funding from small and local businesses.
” Bird CEO Travis VanderZanden also tweeted about the government ’ s list : Bird was among the names of companies that got small business loans over $ 150,000 released today by the Treasury Department after lawmakers pushed for greater transparency .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are a number of prominent autonomous vehicle firms , LIDAR makers , and other “ mobility ” companies on the list .
• TuSimple , a self-driving trucking company with offices in the US and China , received a loan between $ 2 million and $ 5 million .
The startup said in its application to the Treasury Department and the Small Business Association that the loan would help it retain 324 jobs .
• Luminar , an Orlando-based company that is making LIDAR laser sensors for Volvo , Toyota , and other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a loan between $ 5 million and $ 10 million to retain 341 jobs .
• Kodiak Robotics , a self-driving truck company that is currently delivering freight in Texas , got a loan in the range of $ 1 million to $ 2 million to save 87 jobs .
• Udelv , an autonomous delivery company that ’ s partnering with Walmart and Baidu , received a loan in the range of $ 350,000 to $ 1 million .
( The company didn ’ t disclose how many jobs it would retain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Boston-based AV company with operations in Brooklyn and Northern Virginia , received a loan in the range of $ 2 million to $ 5 million to retain 159 jobs .
• Hyperloop Transportation Technologies , a California-based company that sprang up to deliver on Elon Musk ’ s 2013 transportation vision , received a loan in the range of $ 150,000 to $ 350,000 to retain 15 jobs .
• RideCell , an operations platform for ride-hailing companies , received a loan in the range of $ 2 million to $ 5 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mobility , a micromobility company that offers a range of electric vehicles for rent , got a loan in the range of $ 350,000 to $ 1 million to save 18 jobs .
• Turo , a car-sharing company based in San Francisco , received a loan in the range of $ 5 million to $ 10 million .
( The company didn ’ t disclose how many jobs it would retain . )
• May Mobility , an autonomous shuttle company based in Michigan , got a loan in the range of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to save 58 jobs .
• Velodyne , the top LIDAR manufacturer in the US , received a loan in the range of $ 5 million to $ 10 million to retain 450 jobs .
• LIDAR maker Aeye got a loan in the $ 2 million to $ 5 million range to save 85 jobs .
Update July 6th , 2:53PM ET : Updated to include statement from Bird .

There’s a dispute over which companies received federal bailout money.
Bird, the scooter sharing company, received a loan worth between $5 million and $10 million from the federal government’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) in late April, according to a list of thousands of companies released Monday. The company said in its application to the Treasury Department and the Small Business Association that the loan would help it retain 341 jobs. But less than a month before, Bird laid off over 400 employees, or about 30 percent of its staff.
But Bird contends that it should not be included in the government’s list. “Bird was erroneously listed as a company that filed for a PPP Loan,” a company spokesperson said. “We did not apply for nor did we receive a PPP Loan. We decided as a company not to file an application as we did not want to divert critical funding from small and local businesses.”
Bird CEO Travis VanderZanden said in a tweet that the company discussed applying for a PPP loan with its bank, Citi, but ultimately never followed through on it.
VanderZanden later wrote that Citi started an application while they waited for Bird to make a decision on whether to seek a loan. “We discussed internally and told Citi we didn’t want to apply via email on April 23rd,” he said. “They confirmed that the [temporary application] was cancelled that evening and never submitted.”
Late Monday, a spokesperson for Citi Bank confirmed that it never facilitated a loan application for Bird. “Citi has not funded a PPP loan for Bird,” the spokesperson said in a statement. “Citi will seek the assistance of the SBA to ensure that the agency’s data accurately reflects actual PPP lending.”
Bird isn’t alone. A handful of venture capital firms also denied receiving PPP loan money despite appearing in the government’s records. Andreessen Horowitz, Index Ventures, Foundation Capital, and Advent Capital Management all say they never sought bailout cash.
A spokesperson for SBA declined to comment on the discrepancies. On background, a senior administration official said that only companies that submitted applications through SBA’s Electronic Transmission (ETran) system by an approved lender appeared on the disclosure list. “If a lender did not cancel the loan in the ETran system, the loan is listed as part of today’s data disclosure,” the official said.
The Citi spokesperson declined to comment on whether the bank neglected to cancel Bird’s application
The Citi spokesperson declined to comment on whether the bank neglected to cancel Bird’s application.
Bird was among the names of companies that got small business loans over $150,000 released today by the Treasury Department after lawmakers pushed for greater transparency. In addition to the scooter startup, there are a number of prominent autonomous vehicle firms, LIDAR makers, and other “mobility” companies on the list.
TuSimple, a self-driving trucking company with offices in the US and China, received a loan between $2 million and $5 million. The startup said in its application to the Treasury Department and the Small Business Association that the loan would help it retain 324 jobs.
Luminar, an Orlando-based company that is making LIDAR laser sensors for Volvo, Toyota, and other automakers working on autonomous vehicles, got a loan between $5 million and $10 million to retain 341 jobs.
Kodiak Robotics, a self-driving truck company that is currently delivering freight in Texas, got a loan in the range of $1 million to $2 million to save 87 jobs.
Udelv, an autonomous delivery company that’s partnering with Walmart and Baidu, received a loan in the range of $350,000 to $1 million. (The company didn’t disclose how many jobs it would retain.)
Optimus Ride, a Boston-based AV company with operations in Brooklyn and Northern Virginia, received a loan in the range of $2 million to $5 million to retain 159 jobs.
Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, a California-based company that sprang up to deliver on Elon Musk’s 2013 transportation vision, received a loan in the range of $150,000 to $350,000 to retain 15 jobs.
RideCell, an operations platform for ride-hailing companies, received a loan in the range of $2 million to $5 million to retain 246 jobs.
Bolt Mobility, a micromobility company that offers a range of electric vehicles for rent, got a loan in the range of $350,000 to $1 million to save 18 jobs.
Turo, a car-sharing company based in San Francisco, received a loan in the range of $5 million to $10 million. (The company didn’t disclose how many jobs it would retain.)
May Mobility, an autonomous shuttle company based in Michigan, got a loan in the range of $1 million to $2 million to save 58 jobs.
Velodyne, the top LIDAR manufacturer in the US, received a loan in the range of $5 million to $10 million to retain 450 jobs.
LIDAR maker Aeye got a loan in the $2 million to $5 million range to save 85 jobs.
Update July 6th, 2:53PM ET: Updated to include statement from Bird.


theverge--2020-07-06--This week’s summer gaming events: Ubisoft Forward and Limited Run Games’ #LRG3

Even though E3 , Gamescom , and other summer gaming events have become online-only or outright canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic , there has already been a lot of gaming news this summer .
We finally know what the PlayStation 5 looks like and some of the games coming to the system , for example , and we ’ ve been given previews of Cyberpunk 2077 , Star Wars : Squadrons , the future of Destiny 2 , and more .
But there are still more events ahead — including another Xbox digital games showcase , where Microsoft is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week , you can look forward to Limited Run Games ’ # LRG3 event on July 8th , focused on physical game releases , and the Ubisoft Forward event on July 12th , which will feature Ubisoft titles , including Assassin ’ s Creed Valhalla , Watch Dogs : Legion , and Hyper Scape .
We ’ ve also included details on other summer gaming events , when they ’ re scheduled to happen , and how to watch them .
Be sure to check back here often ; we ’ ll be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced .
What is the Summer Game Fest ?
The “ Summer Game Fest ” is a shorthand phrase for all the gaming events that have sprung up in the wake of COVID cancellations .
Originally , Geoff Keighley , who created The Game Awards , created it as a series of digital events throughout the summer featuring “ breaking news , in-game events , and free playable content.
” Many large publishers joined on , including Bethesda , Blizzard Entertainment , CD Projekt Red , Electronic Arts , Microsoft , Riot , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were multiple Summer Game Fest events in May and June , and more are planned for July and August .
You can see the full schedule here , which is updated as events are added , and watch them on a variety of platforms including Twitch , Twitter , and YouTube .
( Note that some of these are the accounts for The Game Awards . )
What : Play for All is a “ multi-week event ” with news , previews , interviews , and more .
The event will also be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ partnership with Direct Relief and for Black Lives Matter .
Publishers including EA , Bethesda , CD Projekt Red , Deep Silver , Devolver Digital , Larian Studios , Google Stadia , Bandai Namco , Private Division , Square Enix , Sega , and 2K Games will be participating in the event .
When : Play for All began on June 1st .
You can view the current schedule here , which so far runs through the middle of July .
How to watch : Watch Play for All on gamespot.com as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and YouTube What : Limited Run Games says # LRG3 will be its “ third totally-live , totally-bitchin press conference for the biggest announcements in the future of physical video games.
” The event was postponed from its original June 8th air date on June 4th .
How to watch : Watch on Limited Run Games ’ Twitch channel What : Ubisoft is holding a digital “ E3-style showcase ” with “ plenty of exclusive game news , exciting reveals , and much more.
” In addition to Assassin ’ s Creed Valhalla @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Scape , Ubisoft plans to show “ a few other surprises that will be unveiled during the stream.
” How to watch : Watch on ubisoft.com/forward or on Ubisoft ’ s Mixer , Twitch , or YouTube channels What : Google will be hosting its next Stadia Connect digital broadcast on July 14th featuring “ some of the games coming to Stadia later this year.
” How to watch : Watch the show on YouTube What : The two Summer Game Fest Developer Showcases ( one in June and one in July ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ upcoming indie and AAA video games ” curated by Geoff Keighley and the Day of the Devs team , which includes Double Fine founder Tim Schafer .
The showcases will have gameplay , news , and musical performances , and Annapurna Interactive , The Behemoth , Panic , thatgamecompany , and Ustwo Games are among the developers that will be part of the events .
How to watch : Watch Summer Game Fest events on Twitch , Twitter , and YouTube .
( Note that some of these are the accounts for The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is hosting a digital event to show off Xbox Games Studios games .
That means we can expect to finally get a good look at Halo Infinite , and it seems likely that Ninja Theory ’ s Hellblade II , Double Fine ’ s Psychonauts 2 , and Rare ’ s Everwild could also make appearances .
How to watch : Watch on xbox.com and on Xbox ’ s Facebook , Twitch , Twitter , and YouTube pages What : Geoff Keighley will be hosting another Opening Night Live event timed with Gamescom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It will be a “ spectacular , industry-wide finale ” to the Summer Game Fest , according to the Summer Game Fest calendar .
How to watch : Since it ’ s a Summer Game Fest event , it seems likely you ’ ll be able to watch Opening Night Live on all of the Summer Game Fest platforms , including Twitch , Twitter , and YouTube .
( Note that some of these are the accounts for The Game Awards . )
What : PAX Online is a nine-day virtual event @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PAX Australia this year .
There will be three channels hosting content all day for each day of the conference and downloadable demos to replicate actually playing games on the show floor .
How to watch : TBA , though it seems likely that you ’ ll be able to watch some events on PAX ’ s Twitch channel What : Bungie said it would be revealing the “ next chapter of Destiny 2.
” How to watch : You can watch the presentation on YouTube .
Sony ’ s The Future of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hosted an event to provide “ a first look at the games you ’ ll be playing after PlayStation 5 launches this holiday ” on June 11th .
How to watch : You can watch a replay on YouTube What : The PC Gaming Show showcased “ new games , never-before-seen gameplay footage , and announcements from some of PC gaming ’ s biggest and most interesting developers.
” You can see the full lineup of developers involved here .
The event was two hours long , though unlike previous years , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The event was originally scheduled for June 6th , but was delayed to June 13th to “ make space for those speaking out and demonstrating about how to end the systemic oppression and police brutality experienced by black people.
” How to watch : Watch a replay of the event on YouTube What : The hour-long Future Games Show included “ exclusive trailers , announcements , and deep dives on existing AAA and indie games.
” Content covered “ 40+ games on console , PC , and mobile , ” according to GamesRadar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Publishers participating included Square Enix , Devolver Digital , and more .
Nolan North and Emily Rose , who star in the Uncharted series as Nathan Drake and Elena Fisher , hosted .
The show was first planned for June 6th , but was postponed to June 13th “ in support of the protests demanding justice and change over the death of George Floyd at the hands of the police.
” How to watch : You can watch the full event on YouTube What : Guerrilla Collective is a new “ digital games @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 13th to June 15th , produced by Media Indie Exchange and the Kinda Funny Games Showcase .
Studios on board with the event included Humble Publishing , Larian Studios , Paradox Interactive , and many more .
The event was delayed from its original June 6th start date out of support for the Black Lives Matter movement .
How to watch : Watch replays of day 1 , 2 , and 3 on YouTube What : EA says its EA Play Live 2020 will be a live digital broadcast , but the studio @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that just yet .
EA delayed the event on June 5th due to the “ important conversations taking place and important voices being heard around the world right now.
” How to watch : Watch the replay on YouTube What : The two Summer Game Fest Developer Showcases ( one in June and one in July ) will feature “ a select group of upcoming indie and AAA video games ” curated by Geoff Keighley and the Day of the Devs team , which includes Double Fine founder Tim Schafer .
The showcases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ musical performances , and Annapurna Interactive , The Behemoth , Panic , thatgamecompany , and Ustwo Games are among the developers that will be part of the events .
When : The first one took place on Monday , June 22nd , at 11AM ET How to watch : Watch the replay on YouTube What : 14 publishers from North America and Japan , including Koei Tecmo America , Natsume , Sega of America , SNK , and WayForward , hosted New Game Plus Expo ( NGPX ) , a digital event featuring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new game announcements and live demos .
How to watch : Watch the replay on YouTube What : Cyberpunk 2077 developer CD Projekt Red hosted a digital broadcast about the game .
It was delayed on June 2nd because “ more important discussions are happening right now and we want them to be heard.
” How to watch : Watch the replay on YouTube What : IGN hosted a “ global , digital event ” to “ bring you the latest news and impressions around upcoming games and the next generation of console @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and on-demand programming .
IGN ’ s event featured many publishers , including Blizzard , CD Projekt Red , EA , Facebook ( including Oculus ) , Google Stadia , Humble , Microsoft , PC Gaming Show , Sega , Square Enix , Twitter , and Ubisoft .
As part of the event , IGN also hosted IGN Expo , a “ showcase for exclusive announcements and reveals from developers across the industry.
” When : Events took place throughout June starting on Wednesday , June 10th .
The IGN Expo events happened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and 15th .
You can view the full Summer of Gaming schedule here .
On June 2nd , IGN announced it would delay the start of the Summer of Gaming event to June 8th “ out of respect for and in support of those rightfully demanding justice and change across the United States and the world.
” IGN delayed the event again to June 10th out of respect for the funeral of George Floyd .
How to watch : IGN compiled a playlist of its Summer of Gaming coverage on its YouTube @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ET : Updated introduction and headline to note that # LRG3 and Ubisoft Forward are happening this week .
Correction : We originally called the Cyberpunk 2077 event “ Nightly Wire.
” It is called “ Night City Wire.
” We regret the error .

Even though E3, Gamescom, and other summer gaming events have become online-only or outright canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there has already been a lot of gaming news this summer.
Although the pace of events is starting to slow down, they aren’t all over yet. There’s Gamescom to look forward to in August and the new, multi-day PAX Online event in September. We’ve rounded up some details about those events in this post, and we’ll add other major events if they’re announced.
We’ve also been tracking events that have already happened, so if you want to relive some of the biggest moments in summer gaming news, check out our archive in the “Completed Events” section.
What is the Summer Game Fest?
The “Summer Game Fest” is a shorthand phrase for all the gaming events that have sprung up in the wake of COVID cancellations. Originally, Geoff Keighley, who created The Game Awards, created it as a series of digital events throughout the summer featuring “breaking news, in-game events, and free playable content.” Many large publishers joined on, including Bethesda, Blizzard Entertainment, CD Projekt Red, Electronic Arts, Microsoft, Riot, Sony, and Square Enix.
You can see the full schedule here, which is updated as events are added, and watch them on a variety of platforms including Twitch, Twitter, and YouTube. (Note that some of these are the accounts for The Game Awards.)
August Events
Gamescom’s Opening Night Live
What: Geoff Keighley will be hosting another Opening Night Live event timed with Gamescom, which is now an all-digital event. It will be a “spectacular, industry-wide finale” to the Summer Game Fest, according to the Summer Game Fest calendar.
When: Thursday, August 27th, TBA time
How to watch: Since it’s a Summer Game Fest event, it seems likely you’ll be able to watch Opening Night Live on all of the Summer Game Fest platforms, including Twitch, Twitter, and YouTube. (Note that some of these are the accounts for The Game Awards.)
September Events
PAX Online
What: PAX Online is a nine-day virtual event that’s replacing PAX West and PAX Australia this year. There will be three channels hosting content all day for each day of the conference and downloadable demos to replicate actually playing games on the show floor.
When: Saturday, September 12th through Sunday, September 20th, TBA time
How to watch: TBA, though it seems likely that you’ll be able to watch some events on PAX’s Twitch channel
The Verge Guide to Gaming Gear Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge Gaming today is more than just play. It means being immersed in fabulous universes, testing your reflexes against imaginary opponents, interacting with other players in strange environments, and solving complex puzzles. In The Verge Guide to Gaming Gear, you’ll find a load of gaming tips and tricks, whether you’re a master or are just starting out. We’ll also tell you how to get around issues like moving your games from one console to another or getting a refund for a package that just didn’t work out. Enjoy!
Completed Events
Destiny 2 event
What: Bungie said it would be revealing the “next chapter of Destiny 2.”
When: Tuesday, June 9th, 12PM ET
How to watch: You can watch the presentation on YouTube.
Sony’s The Future of Gaming event for PS5
What: Sony hosted an event to provide “a first look at the games you’ll be playing after PlayStation 5 launches this holiday” on June 11th.
When: Thursday, June 11th, 4PM ET
How to watch: You can watch a replay on YouTube
The PC Gaming Show
What: The PC Gaming Show showcased “new games, never-before-seen gameplay footage, and announcements from some of PC gaming’s biggest and most interesting developers.” You can see the full lineup of developers involved here. The event was two hours long, though unlike previous years, it was pre-recorded instead of shown live.
The event was originally scheduled for June 6th, but was delayed to June 13th to “make space for those speaking out and demonstrating about how to end the systemic oppression and police brutality experienced by black people.”
When: Saturday, June 13th, 2PM ET
How to watch: Watch a replay of the event on YouTube
The Future Games Show
What: The hour-long Future Games Show included “exclusive trailers, announcements, and deep dives on existing AAA and indie games.” Content covered “40+ games on console, PC, and mobile,” according to GamesRadar, which is hosting the event. Publishers participating included Square Enix, Devolver Digital, and more. Nolan North and Emily Rose, who star in the Uncharted series as Nathan Drake and Elena Fisher, hosted.
The show was first planned for June 6th, but was postponed to June 13th “in support of the protests demanding justice and change over the death of George Floyd at the hands of the police.”
When: Saturday, June 13th, 5PM ET
How to watch: You can watch the full event on YouTube
Guerrilla Collective
What: Guerrilla Collective is a new “digital games festival” that took place from June 13th to June 15th, produced by Media Indie Exchange and the Kinda Funny Games Showcase. Studios on board with the event included Humble Publishing, Larian Studios, Paradox Interactive, and many more. The event was delayed from its original June 6th start date out of support for the Black Lives Matter movement.
When:
Saturday, June 13th, 12PM ET
Sunday, June 14th, 12PM ET
Monday, June 15th, 12PM ET
How to watch: Watch replays of day 1, 2, and 3 on YouTube
EA Play Live 2020
What: EA says its EA Play Live 2020 will be a live digital broadcast, but the studio hasn’t shared many details beyond that just yet. EA delayed the event on June 5th due to the “important conversations taking place and important voices being heard around the world right now.”
When: Thursday, June 18th, 7PM ET
How to watch: Watch the replay on YouTube
Summer Game Fest Developer Showcase
What: The two Summer Game Fest Developer Showcases (one in June and one in July) will feature “a select group of upcoming indie and AAA video games” curated by Geoff Keighley and the Day of the Devs team, which includes Double Fine founder Tim Schafer. The showcases will have gameplay, news, and musical performances, and Annapurna Interactive, The Behemoth, Panic, thatgamecompany, and Ustwo Games are among the developers that will be part of the events.
When: The first one took place on Monday, June 22nd, at 11AM ET
How to watch: Watch the replay on YouTube
New Game Plus Expo
What: 14 publishers from North America and Japan, including Koei Tecmo America, Natsume, Sega of America, SNK, and WayForward, hosted New Game Plus Expo (NGPX), a digital event featuring “dozens of games,” including new game announcements and live demos.
When: Tuesday, June 23rd, 11AM ET
How to watch: Watch the replay on YouTube
Cyberpunk 2077’s Night City Wire
What: Cyberpunk 2077 developer CD Projekt Red hosted a digital broadcast about the game. It was delayed on June 2nd because “more important discussions are happening right now and we want them to be heard.”
When: Thursday, June 25th, 12PM ET
How to watch: Watch the replay on YouTube
IGN’s Summer of Gaming
What: IGN hosted a “global, digital event” to “bring you the latest news and impressions around upcoming games and the next generation of console hardware.” There will be live broadcasts and on-demand programming. IGN’s event featured many publishers, including Blizzard, CD Projekt Red, EA, Facebook (including Oculus), Google Stadia, Humble, Microsoft, PC Gaming Show, Sega, Square Enix, Twitter, and Ubisoft.
As part of the event, IGN also hosted IGN Expo, a “showcase for exclusive announcements and reveals from developers across the industry.”
On June 2nd, IGN announced it would delay the start of the Summer of Gaming event to June 8th “out of respect for and in support of those rightfully demanding justice and change across the United States and the world.” IGN delayed the event again to June 10th out of respect for the funeral of George Floyd.
How to watch: IGN compiled a playlist of its Summer of Gaming coverage on its YouTube channel.
GameSpot’s Play for All
What: Play for All was a multi-week event with news, previews, interviews, and more. The event also raised money for COVID-19 relief efforts in partnership with Direct Relief and for Black Lives Matter. Publishers including EA, Bethesda, CD Projekt Red, Deep Silver, Devolver Digital, Larian Studios, Google Stadia, Bandai Namco, Private Division, Square Enix, Sega, and 2K Games participated in the event.
When: Play for All began on June 1st and ran through the middle of July.
How to watch: GameSpot has a number of Play for All video playlists on its YouTube channel
Limited Run Games’ #LRG3
What: Limited Run Games’ #LRG3 was a digital press conference focused on news and announcements for physical video games. The event was postponed from its original June 8th air date on June 4th.
When: Wednesday, July 8th, 3PM ET
How to watch: Watch a replay on Limited Run Games’ YouTube channel
Ubisoft Forward
What: Ubisoft held a digital “E3-style showcase” with “plenty of exclusive game news, exciting reveals, and much more.”
When: Sunday, July 12th, 3PM ET
How to watch: Watch a replay on Ubisoft’s YouTube channel
Stadia Connect
What: Google hosted its latest Stadia Connect digital broadcast on July 14th featuring “some of the games coming to Stadia later this year.”
When: Tuesday, July 14th, 1PM ET
How to watch: Watch a replay show on YouTube
Summer Game Fest Developer Showcase
What: The two Summer Game Fest Developer Showcases (one in June and one in July) featured “a select group of upcoming indie and AAA video games” curated by Geoff Keighley and the Day of the Devs team, which includes Double Fine founder Tim Schafer. The July showcase highlighted a number of games, including reveals from iam8bit, Panic, MWM Interactive, Team17 and Ustwo Games, and also had a live performance of the Bugsnax theme song.
When: Monday, July 20th, 11AM ET
How to watch: Watch a replay on YouTube
Microsoft’s Xbox Games Showcase
What: Microsoft hosted a digital event to show off Xbox Games Studios games. Microsoft shared a first look at Halo Infinite’s campaign, revealed a new Fable and Forza Motorsport game, and showed a lot of trailers for new and upcoming games.
When: Thursday, July 23rd, 12PM ET
How to watch: Watch a replay on YouTube
Update July 24th, 12:19PM ET: Updated introduction and headline now that the Summer Game Fest Developer Showcase and the Xbox Games Showcase have happened and moved events to the “Completed Events” section.


theverge--2020-07-06--Sennheiser received a bailout loan worth over $2 million

Audio company Sennheiser received between $ 2 million and $ 5 million as part of the Paycheck Protection Program ( PPP ) , according to newly released US Department of Treasury data .
It ’ s one of many privately held tech companies to receive support through the program , which offers small businesses forgivable loans that can be spent on payroll , rent , or utility costs .
Treasury data indicates that the loan is intended to help Sennheiser retain 128 jobs during the coronavirus pandemic .
( The German company employed a total of 2,800 employees in 2019 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ based in the Americas . )
While we don ’ t know the precise dollar number , it ’ s one of the PPP ’ s larger payments — single loans top out at $ 10 million , and the average loan size is listed as approximately $ 100,000 .
It ’ s not the only audio company getting money .
New York-based Grado Laboratories received between $ 150,000 and $ 350,000 to retain 22 jobs .
The PPP was passed in April and recently extended in order to distribute $ 130 billion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law ’ s restrictions have also been loosened to allow businesses more flexibility around spending the money and rehiring former employees .

Audio company Sennheiser received between $2 million and $5 million as part of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), according to newly released US Department of Treasury data. It’s one of many privately held tech companies to receive support through the program, which offers small businesses forgivable loans that can be spent on payroll, rent, or utility costs.
Treasury data indicates that the loan is intended to help Sennheiser retain 128 jobs during the coronavirus pandemic. (The German company employed a total of 2,800 employees in 2019, approximately 10 percent of whom were based in the Americas.) While we don’t know the precise dollar number, it’s one of the PPP’s larger payments — single loans top out at $10 million, and the average loan size is listed as approximately $100,000.
It’s not the only audio company getting money. New York-based Grado Laboratories received between $150,000 and $350,000 to retain 22 jobs.