theverge--2020-05-06--Twitter tests a cleaner interface for threaded conversations

Twitter is showing some iOS and web users a new interface to make it easier to follow threaded conversations , the company has announced .
A gif published by Twitter ’ s Support account shows the new test interface in action , with lines and indents making it much easier to see who ’ s responding to who in a Twitter thread .
The functionality first came to Twitter ’ s prototype app twttr last year , and builds upon the iOS update released back in January .
The changes are an attempt to make back and forth conversations “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to the company .
Current Twitter conversations can quickly become crowded and difficult to understand , especially when dozens of users are responding to each individual tweet in a conversation .
It means that even a high-profile interview with Twitter ’ s CEO can quickly become almost impossible to follow .
Alongside the new interface , Twitter says it ’ s also experimenting with hiding the “ Like , ” “ Retweet , ” and “ Reply ” icons by default for replies , in a move that should allow more tweets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This change is also being tested on a “ small group ” of Twitter users on iOS and the web .
From the promotional imagery , the new conversation interface looks like a big improvement over what Twitter currently offers .
But we ’ ll have to wait to see how well it stands up to the unrelenting chaos of Twitter in the wild before a broader rollout is possible .

Twitter is showing some iOS and web users a new interface to make it easier to follow threaded conversations, the company has announced. A gif published by Twitter’s Support account shows the new test interface in action, with lines and indents making it much easier to see who’s responding to who in a Twitter thread. The functionality first came to Twitter’s prototype app twttr last year, and builds upon the iOS update released back in January.
The changes are an attempt to make back and forth conversations “easier to read and follow,” according to the company. Current Twitter conversations can quickly become crowded and difficult to understand, especially when dozens of users are responding to each individual tweet in a conversation. It means that even a high-profile interview with Twitter’s CEO can quickly become almost impossible to follow.
Alongside the new interface, Twitter says it’s also experimenting with hiding the “Like,” “Retweet,” and “Reply” icons by default for replies, in a move that should allow more tweets to fit on a single screen. This change is also being tested on a “small group” of Twitter users on iOS and the web.


theverge--2020-05-06--Smart home platform Wink will require a monthly subscription starting next week

Smart home platform Wink will require customers to pay a $ 4.99 per month subscription fee starting May 13th , the company announced today .
That gives Wink users just seven days to decide if they want to pay a monthly fee for a service that was previously offered for free as part of owning a Wink product .
If you opt not to sign up for Wink ’ s subscription , “ you will no longer be able to access your Wink devices from the app , with voice control or through the API , and your automations will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to Wink ’ s announcement blog .
That seems to mean that you ’ ll lose the ability to use non-Wink-made smart home products connected to a Wink-managed setup .
Though if you decide to subscribe later , your device connections , settings , and automations can be reactivated .
“ This fee is designed to be as modest as possible.
” Wink ’ s “ long term costs and recent economic events have caused additional strain on our business , ” the company said .
“ This fee is designed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wink continued later in the blog .
“ Your support will enable us to continue providing you with the functionality that you ’ ve come to rely on , and focus on accelerating new integrations and app features.
” Wink has not responded to a request for comment from The Verge about the announcement .
The sudden shift to a subscription service isn ’ t the first indication that Wink may be experiencing troubles .
A report published by The Verge in October 2019 described how Wink , which is owned by will.i.am @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t at the time paid staffers in seven weeks .

Smart home platform Wink will require customers to pay a $4.99 per month subscription fee starting May 13th, the company announced today. That gives Wink users just seven days to decide if they want to pay a monthly fee for a service that was previously offered for free as part of owning a Wink product.
If you opt not to sign up for Wink’s subscription, “you will no longer be able to access your Wink devices from the app, with voice control or through the API, and your automations will be disabled on May 13,” according to Wink’s announcement blog. That seems to mean that you’ll lose the ability to use non-Wink-made smart home products connected to a Wink-managed setup. Though if you decide to subscribe later, your device connections, settings, and automations can be reactivated.
“This fee is designed to be as modest as possible.”
Wink’s “long term costs and recent economic events have caused additional strain on our business,” the company said. “This fee is designed to be as modest as possible,” Wink continued later in the blog. “Your support will enable us to continue providing you with the functionality that you’ve come to rely on, and focus on accelerating new integrations and app features.”


theverge--2020-05-06--Spotify, TikTok, and other popular iOS apps were crashing due to a Facebook issue

Countless iOS apps experienced problems launching Wednesday evening , according to multiple reports on Twitter and crowdsourced user reports on Downdetector .
The issues seem to have started around 6:30PM ET , and Spotify , TikTok , Pinterest , Tinder , and more were affected , according to Downdetector .
I personally experienced problems with Spotify and GrubHub , but they are both working for me now , so it seems apps are starting to starting work as normal again .
The issue was caused by an apparent problem with a Facebook software development kit ( SDK ) tool that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for many of the apps .
Many developers have reported problems with the SDK in this thread on GitHub .
You didn ’ t need to be logging into the apps via Facebook to be affected by the crashes — I wasn ’ t able to open a fresh install of Spotify from the App Store , for example .
A source with knowledge of the situation told The Verge that Facebook had disabled a server configuration update that triggered its SDK to cause apps using it to crash .
In the GitHub @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be a Facebook engineer said the company had reverted the server side change causing the issue and that the change may take time to propagate .
The below tweets from developer Guilherme Rambo summarize the situation , and Rambo also offers a suggestion about what Apple could do to prevent something similar from happening in the future .
Apple and Facebook have not replied to a request for comment .

Countless iOS apps experienced problems launching Wednesday evening, according to multiple reports on Twitter and crowdsourced user reports on Downdetector. The issues seem to have started around 6:30PM ET, and Spotify, TikTok, Pinterest, Tinder, and more were affected, according to Downdetector. I personally experienced problems with Spotify and GrubHub, but they are both working for me now, so it seems apps are starting to starting work as normal again.
The issue was caused by an apparent problem with a Facebook software development kit (SDK) tool that’s used to power sign-in features for many of the apps. Many developers reported problems with the SDK in this thread on GitHub. You didn’t need to be logged into the apps via Facebook to be affected by the crashes — I wasn’t able to open a fresh install of Spotify from the App Store, for example.
“Earlier today, a new release of Facebook included a change that triggered crashes for some users in some apps using the Facebook iOS SDK,” a Facebook spokesperson said in a statement to The Verge. “We identified the issue quickly and resolved it. We apologize for any inconvenience.”
A source with knowledge of the situation told The Verge that Facebook had disabled a server configuration update that triggered its SDK to cause apps using it to crash. In the GitHub thread, a user who appears to be a Facebook engineer said the company had reverted the server side change causing the issue and that the change may take time to propagate.
The below tweets from developer Guilherme Rambo summarize the situation, and Rambo also offers a suggestion about what Apple could do to prevent something similar from happening in the future.
Apple has not replied to a request for comment.


theverge--2020-05-06--You can’t find ‘super-spreader’ businesses with old GPS data

Today , as America faces a difficult debate about “ reopening ” state economies during the coronavirus pandemic , The New York Times seemingly offered a helpful piece of guidance .
The paper ’ s opinion section published a visualization of how people engage with different businesses like bars and gyms , estimating their risk of infection at each .
Alarmingly , it dubbed some of these places dangerous “ super-spreader businesses ” — warning that “ through the lens of contagion , a yoga class , a busy corner store , or a crowded neighborhood bar may look a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” But at least in this story , the real worry isn ’ t contagion .
It ’ s the sweeping assumptions being trained on some very limited data .
And it doesn ’ t say much about whether your local bar can avoid serving coronavirus with its Coronas .
That ’ s because the story doesn ’ t include any infection data .
Location data can track patterns , but not whether they ’ re still relevant The Times story is written by four professors at the University of Chicago , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 2019 .
Using that data , they plotted how people flowed through locations that corresponded to businesses — learning which kinds of stores saw customers linger the longest , which drew the biggest crowds , and which squeezed the most people into the smallest spaces .
They bolstered that data with surveys asking how much participants interacted with other people or touched shared surfaces in these places .
The tracking project produced some interesting factoids .
Denny ’ s and the Original Pancake House served similar numbers of people for similar amounts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a breakfast rush that produced more crowding .
People stayed twice as long at electronics stores as lawn and garden stores — the authors speculate that “ you don ’ t linger over fertilizer.
” But data from a year ago might tell us very little about the present or future .
Many of these businesses have either been closed for weeks or drastically altered their operations .
They ’ ll probably reopen ( if they reopen at all ) under restrictions that render a lot of these observations moot , like spacing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crowds or arrangements that decrease close-range interactions and shared surfaces .
Even assuming GPS records perfectly track who ’ s inside or outside a building — not a given — we don ’ t know if they reflect how post-pandemic consumers will behave .
People might maintain those old browsing styles , but they might also consciously avoid lingering anywhere , or the coronavirus might produce unpredictable new patterns .
( For all we know , if everybody ’ s planting a COVID-19 victory garden , maybe they will linger over fertilizer .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ t hinge on how they behaved in stores and restaurants a year ago , but about how well a given business can adapt to promote new habits and minimize their risk .
The authors acknowledge that limitations exist , and they note that “ these data alone can not tell us which businesses to open first , and we can ’ t simplify all these different metrics into a ‘ yes ’ or ‘ no ’ decision on any single business.
” But this uncertainty doesn ’ t make it into the overall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claim that certain businesses are “ super-spreaders ” — which is not just an oversimplification , but an absurd rhetorical stretch .
“ Super-spreader ” is normally reserved for a person or place that ’ s linked to dozens or hundreds of COVID-19 cases , including a funeral in Georgia , a party in Connecticut , and numerous meatpacking plants , nursing homes , and prisons .
The Times editorial co-opts it for businesses that might be risky compared to other stores and restaurants .
And it does this without using hard data @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk factors practically matters , not just whether they hypothetically make infection more likely .
We have no idea how good the assumptions of this model are .
In fact , it ’ s extrapolating danger based on a painfully incomplete knowledge of the coronavirus .
Epidemiologists know the mechanics of how the virus can spread , but they ’ re not sure what ’ s specifically driving many infections and how they ’ re affected by a multitude of environmental factors .
Countries ’ rapidly-expanding contact tracing programs can help solve that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But beyond facts like extreme crowding and poor ventilation being dangerous , there ’ s not a precise risk assessment right now for different densities and exposure times .
There are huge gaps in our understanding of coronavirus It ’ s normal for research and reporting to include simplifications or caveats .
And mis-evaluating Red Lobster ’ s pandemic fitness is less pernicious than , say , promoting drugs that probably don ’ t work .
But it ’ s bad to pitch simple conclusions ( like “ bookstores are high-risk ” or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ name two of the model ’ s assertions ) as policy recommendations when they ’ re backed up by so little evidence and so much speculation , especially when people are grasping for advice about a deadly and often baffling disease .
Warnings — or reassurances — about coronavirus can become conventional wisdom even if they ’ re mostly speculative .
One pre-print research paper with flashy graphics , for instance , seemed to show joggers and cyclists barreling down streets in a vast miasmatic breath cloud .
The paper was an aerodynamic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the air could actually infect bystanders .
But it was still widely shared with warnings against exercising outside .
And even that paper didn ’ t go as far as calling runners “ super-spreaders ” — which , as Guardian reporter Julia Carrie Wong noted on Twitter , is an incredibly loaded term for businesses that aren ’ t accused of spreading anything .
Amid a lot of bad-faith attacks on media during the pandemic ’ s first several weeks , there ’ s a fair critique that news outlets have promoted research @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of reflecting the incredible confusion among experts .
Meanwhile , Silicon Valley critics have cautioned against overemphasizing high-tech solutions to the disease — including the Times itself , which warned that putting too much stock in tracking data might simply “ provide an opening for technologists to oversell what they do.
” Overselling is exactly the problem here .
This kind of location data could provide some limited guidance for businesses .
But if , as the Times ’ s headline puts it , you ’ re curious if it ’ s safer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gym ?
These clean charts don ’ t hold the answer .

Today, as America faces a difficult debate about “reopening” state economies during the coronavirus pandemic, The New York Times seemingly offered a helpful piece of guidance. The paper’s opinion section published a visualization of how people engage with different businesses like bars and gyms, estimating their risk of infection at each. Alarmingly, it dubbed some of these places dangerous “super-spreader businesses” — warning that “through the lens of contagion, a yoga class, a busy corner store, or a crowded neighborhood bar may look a lot like a wet market in China.”
But at least in this story, the real worry isn’t contagion. It’s the sweeping assumptions being trained on some very limited data. And it doesn’t say much about whether your local bar can avoid serving coronavirus with its Coronas. That’s because the story doesn’t include any infection data.
Location data can track patterns, but not whether they’re still relevant
The Times story is written by four professors at the University of Chicago, who aggregated anonymized phone location data from April of 2019. Using that data, they plotted how people flowed through locations that corresponded to businesses — learning which kinds of stores saw customers linger the longest, which drew the biggest crowds, and which squeezed the most people into the smallest spaces. They bolstered that data with surveys asking how much participants interacted with other people or touched shared surfaces in these places.
The new coronavirus is spreading through the US, and several states have made emergency declarations. The World Health Organization has declared it a pandemic. Here are the basics: Everything you need to know about the coronavirus
The tracking project produced some interesting factoids. Denny’s and the Original Pancake House served similar numbers of people for similar amounts of time, but the latter saw a breakfast rush that produced more crowding. People stayed twice as long at electronics stores as lawn and garden stores — the authors speculate that “you don’t linger over fertilizer.”
But data from a year ago might tell us very little about the present or future. Many of these businesses have either been closed for weeks or drastically altered their operations. They’ll probably reopen (if they reopen at all) under restrictions that render a lot of these observations moot, like spacing rules that will stop those large brunch crowds or arrangements that decrease close-range interactions and shared surfaces.
Even assuming GPS records perfectly track who’s inside or outside a building — not a given — we don’t know if they reflect how post-pandemic consumers will behave. People might maintain those old browsing styles, but they might also consciously avoid lingering anywhere, or the coronavirus might produce unpredictable new patterns. (For all we know, if everybody’s planting a COVID-19 victory garden, maybe they will linger over fertilizer.) People’s safety doesn’t hinge on how they behaved in stores and restaurants a year ago, but about how well a given business can adapt to promote new habits and minimize their risk.
Without infection data, naming ‘super-spreading’ businesses is a huge stretch
The authors acknowledge that limitations exist, and they note that “these data alone cannot tell us which businesses to open first, and we can’t simplify all these different metrics into a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ decision on any single business.” But this uncertainty doesn’t make it into the overall framing of the story, particularly the claim that certain businesses are “super-spreaders” — which is not just an oversimplification, but an absurd rhetorical stretch.
“Super-spreader” is normally reserved for a person or place that’s linked to dozens or hundreds of COVID-19 cases, including a funeral in Georgia, a party in Connecticut, and numerous meatpacking plants, nursing homes, and prisons. The Times editorial co-opts it for businesses that might be risky compared to other stores and restaurants. And it does this without using hard data to establish how much each of its risk factors practically matters, not just whether they hypothetically make infection more likely. We have no idea how good the assumptions of this model are.
In fact, it’s extrapolating danger based on a painfully incomplete knowledge of the coronavirus. Epidemiologists know the mechanics of how the virus can spread, but they’re not sure what’s specifically driving many infections and how they’re affected by a multitude of environmental factors. Countries’ rapidly-expanding contact tracing programs can help solve that mystery by finding links between cases. But beyond facts like extreme crowding and poor ventilation being dangerous, there’s not a precise risk assessment right now for different densities and exposure times.
There are huge gaps in our understanding of coronavirus
It’s normal for research and reporting to include simplifications or caveats. And mis-evaluating Red Lobster’s pandemic fitness is less pernicious than, say, promoting drugs that probably don’t work. But it’s bad to pitch simple conclusions (like “bookstores are high-risk” or “florists are safe,” to name two of the model’s assertions) as policy recommendations when they’re backed up by so little evidence and so much speculation, especially when people are grasping for advice about a deadly and often baffling disease.
Warnings — or reassurances — about coronavirus can become conventional wisdom even if they’re mostly speculative. One pre-print research paper with flashy graphics, for instance, seemed to show joggers and cyclists barreling down streets in a vast miasmatic breath cloud. The paper was an aerodynamic simulation that didn’t establish whether the air could actually infect bystanders. But it was still widely shared with warnings against exercising outside. And even that paper didn’t go as far as calling runners “super-spreaders” — which, as Guardian reporter Julia Carrie Wong noted on Twitter, is an incredibly loaded term for businesses that aren’t accused of spreading anything.
Amid a lot of bad-faith attacks on media during the pandemic’s first several weeks, there’s a fair critique that news outlets have promoted research and recommendations far too authoritatively, instead of reflecting the incredible confusion among experts. Meanwhile, Silicon Valley critics have cautioned against overemphasizing high-tech solutions to the disease — including the Times itself, which warned that putting too much stock in tracking data might simply “provide an opening for technologists to oversell what they do.”


theverge--2020-05-06--Tribeca partners with AT&T and IMAX to launch summer movie drive-in series

Movie theaters across the country are closed , but some drive-ins are seeing a resurgence in the wake of social distancing practices .
Now , Tribeca Enterprises ( the company behind the Tribeca Film Festival ) , IMAX , and AT & T are partnering to bring a summer movie series to as many drive-in theaters as possible in the US .
Tribeca Drive-In will feature a curated selection of movies both old and new , alongside special music and sporting events , according to a press release .
The series kicks off on June 25th , although programming information @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what films will be shown — isn ’ t available yet .
More info will be available in the coming weeks , the companies say .
The series will use IMAX ’ s digital remastering process to enhance both the image and sound quality of the films that play in drive-in theaters .
“ I know many drive-ins really appreciate the opportunity to work with the Tribeca Enterprises team ” Throughout the series , Tribeca will work with local vendors to support small businesses .
Drive-in theaters have big community components , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ communities are represented to make it feel unique .
Tribeca Enterprises , AT & T , and IMAX are hoping that people ’ s pent-up demand to get out of the house and watch movies in a community setting will propel people into theaters .
Approximately 5 to 10 percent of drive-in theater owners across the country are seeing increases in revenue , Jim Kopp , the administrative secretary for the United Drive-In Theatre Owners Association ( UDITOA ) , told CNBC .
But that ’ s still a relatively small number .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ states that prohibit mass gatherings right now .
Just under 10 percent of drive-in theaters in the United States have remained open , John Vincent , president of the UDITOA told CNN .
Despite those theaters remaining open , concession stands have closed and additional social-distancing protocols are being implemented .
Theaters may be open for business , but one of the crucial ways those theaters make revenue ( selling concessions ) remains down for the count .
Teaming up with companies like IMAX and AT & T could help more theaters reopen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are currently operating .
“ I know many drive-ins really appreciate the opportunity to work with the Tribeca Enterprises team to bring content to our screens in this much-needed environment , ” Vincent said in a press release .
The big question is whether new movies from studios like Disney , Warner Bros. ( owned by AT & T ) , and Universal will be available for theaters to play this summer .
Many movies have been delayed until later in the year , with some moving a full year into 2021 release @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set to be released this summer , Tenet and Mulan in July , could still face delays if the studios ( Warner Bros. and Disney , respectively ) don ’ t think the audience turnout is there .
If that ’ s the case , drive-in theaters may have to rely on repertoire programming , smaller independent films , and special events to drive people ’ s cars into the lots instead of big-budget pictures .

Movie theaters across the country are closed, but some drive-ins are seeing a resurgence in the wake of social distancing practices. Now, Tribeca Enterprises (the company behind the Tribeca Film Festival), IMAX, and AT&T are partnering to bring a summer movie series to as many drive-in theaters as possible in the US.
Tribeca Drive-In will feature a curated selection of movies both old and new, alongside special music and sporting events, according to a press release. The series kicks off on June 25th, although programming information — including dates for specific cities and what films will be shown — isn’t available yet. More info will be available in the coming weeks, the companies say. The series will use IMAX’s digital remastering process to enhance both the image and sound quality of the films that play in drive-in theaters.
“I know many drive-ins really appreciate the opportunity to work with the Tribeca Enterprises team”
Throughout the series, Tribeca will work with local vendors to support small businesses. Drive-in theaters have big community components, and the series wants to ensure that those communities are represented to make it feel unique. Tribeca Enterprises, AT&T, and IMAX are hoping that people’s pent-up demand to get out of the house and watch movies in a community setting will propel people into theaters.
Approximately 5 to 10 percent of drive-in theater owners across the country are seeing increases in revenue, Jim Kopp, the administrative secretary for the United Drive-In Theatre Owners Association (UDITOA), told CNBC. But that’s still a relatively small number. Several theaters have faced forced closures in states that prohibit mass gatherings right now.
Just under 10 percent of drive-in theaters in the United States have remained open, John Vincent, president of the UDITOA told CNN. Despite those theaters remaining open, concession stands have closed and additional social-distancing protocols are being implemented. Theaters may be open for business, but one of the crucial ways those theaters make revenue (selling concessions) remains down for the count. Teaming up with companies like IMAX and AT&T could help more theaters reopen and drive business up in theaters that are currently operating.
“I know many drive-ins really appreciate the opportunity to work with the Tribeca Enterprises team to bring content to our screens in this much-needed environment,” Vincent said in a press release.


theverge--2020-05-06--Etsy sales doubled in April thanks to homemade masks

Etsy began pushing homemade masks in early April , and the results panned out in a big way : total sales on the platform doubled last month , by and large thanks to a surge in face mask sales .
For comparison , Etsy ’ s marketplace sales figures between January and March were up only 16 percent .
More than 12 million face masks were sold during April , totaling around $ 133 million in sales .
Etsy says they represented the second largest category of product sales across the entire site during the month of April .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was Cyber Monday.
” “ It was like waking up and discovering it was Cyber Monday , except everyone in the world just wanted one product and that product was in extremely limited supply , ” Etsy CEO Josh Silverman said on a call with investors this afternoon .
Seeing the surge in mask demand after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began recommending everyone in the United States wear face masks in early April , Etsy began retooling its site to bolster sales .
It reworked its search engine to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ urging sellers to begin making masks , knowing they were in short supply .
The sales surge spilled out onto the rest of Etsy , too .
Sales of items other than masks were up 79 percent in April .
That figure doesn ’ t include sales from Reverb , a music gear resale site that Etsy purchased last year .
Etsy reported the figures as part of its Q1 earnings release this afternoon .
The figures are meant to show that while “ COVID-19 began to impact demand and the company ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quickly adjusted course and used the surge in mask demand to weather the pandemic ’ s impacts .
It ’ s currently forecasting a significant boost in sales and revenue for all of its second quarter .

Etsy began pushing homemade masks in early April, and the results panned out in a big way: total sales on the platform doubled last month, by and large thanks to a surge in face mask sales. For comparison, Etsy’s marketplace sales figures between January and March were up only 16 percent.
More than 12 million face masks were sold during April, totaling around $133 million in sales. Etsy says they represented the second largest category of product sales across the entire site during the month of April.
“It was like waking up and discovering it was Cyber Monday.”
“It was like waking up and discovering it was Cyber Monday, except everyone in the world just wanted one product and that product was in extremely limited supply,” Etsy CEO Josh Silverman said on a call with investors this afternoon.
Seeing the surge in mask demand after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began recommending everyone in the United States wear face masks in early April, Etsy began retooling its site to bolster sales. It reworked its search engine to better surface masks, and it began urging sellers to begin making masks, knowing they were in short supply.
The sales surge spilled out onto the rest of Etsy, too. Sales of items other than masks were up 79 percent in April. That figure doesn’t include sales from Reverb, a music gear resale site that Etsy purchased last year.


theverge--2020-05-06--Lyft says its ride-hailing business is down 70 percent because of COVID-19

Lyft ’ s ride-hailing business is down 70 percent , year over year , as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic , the company ’ s chief executives said in an earnings call with investors Wednesday .
The company ’ s ride volume hit a bottom in the second week of April , plummeting 75 percent year-over-year , and has since gradually risen in the final weeks of the month .
As the COVID-19 related shutdown continues with no clear end in sight , Lyft is projecting continued pain for its business .
“ We can not predict the trajectory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” CEO Logan Green said , “ but it is clear that macro trends will continue to negatively impact our business.
” But Lyft ’ s earnings report for the first quarter of 2020 was slightly less grim than it ’ s ride-hailing business .
The company brought in $ 955.7 million in revenue , up 23 percent over Q1 of 2019 , and recorded a net loss of $ 398.1 million , 36 percent down from the $ 1.1 billion Lyft lost in Q1 2019 .
The company says it ended the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up 3 percent from last year .
And it ended the quarter with $ 2.7 billion in unrestricted cash .
Last week , Lyft laid off nearly 1,000 employees , or about 17 percent of its workforce .

Lyft’s ride-hailing business is down 70 percent, year over year, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the company’s chief executives said in an earnings call with investors Wednesday. The company’s ride volume hit a bottom in the second week of April, plummeting 75 percent year-over-year, and has since gradually risen in the final weeks of the month.
As the COVID-19 related shutdown continues with no clear end in sight, Lyft is projecting continued pain for its business. “We cannot predict the trajectory or timing of the eventual recovery,” CEO Logan Green said, “but it is clear that macro trends will continue to negatively impact our business.”
But Lyft’s earnings report for the first quarter of 2020 was slightly less grim than it’s ride-hailing business. The company brought in $955.7 million in revenue, up 23 percent over Q1 of 2019, and recorded a net loss of $398.1 million, 36 percent down from the $1.1 billion Lyft lost in Q1 2019. The company says it ended the quarter with 21 million active users, up 3 percent from last year. And it ended the quarter with $2.7 billion in unrestricted cash.
Last week, Lyft laid off nearly 1,000 employees, or about 17 percent of its workforce.


theverge--2020-05-06--The NFC specification is adding a new wireless charging standard

The NFC Forum has announced an update for the short-range wireless technology that adds a form of wireless charging to the standard .
Future NFC devices could offer wireless charging functionality , albeit in a way that ’ s far more limited than the popular Qi standard used by almost every other device ( via 9to5Google ) .
The new NFC standard is far slower than Qi charging , offering up to 1W speeds compared to base Qi speeds of 5W .
( Qi fast charging can reach speeds of 10W or more on standard hardware . )
And it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ won ’ t be able to just get a firmware update and suddenly be able to have NFC-based wireless charging on your current device .
Considering that the speeds are so slow compared to Qi , one might wonder why anyone would bother to use NFC charging at all .
But the key idea behind the new NFC standard is not that it ’ ll be used to replace Qi charging on things like power-hungry smartphones , but rather complement it .
Unlike Qi , which requires physically large coils to transmit power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ specification WLC standard , as it ’ s formally called , for NFC allows for a single antenna to manage both communications and charging for a device .
The idea is that smaller devices like headphones , fitness trackers , or smartwatches — all of which often already feature NFC antennas for connectivity — could use the new NFC-based standard for charging on the go using similarly NFC-equipped smartphones as reverse-wireless chargers .
While the WLC standard has been officially added to the NFC specification , it ’ ll still take time for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tech , assuming they decide to use it at all .

The NFC Forum has announced an update for the short-range wireless technology that adds a form of wireless charging to the standard. Future NFC devices could offer wireless charging functionality, albeit in a way that’s far more limited than the popular Qi standard used by almost every other device (via 9to5Google).
The new NFC standard is far slower than Qi charging, offering up to 1W speeds compared to base Qi speeds of 5W. (Qi fast charging can reach speeds of 10W or more on standard hardware.) And it’ll require new hardware — you won’t be able to just get a firmware update and suddenly be able to have NFC-based wireless charging on your current device.
It’s not meant to replace Qi charging
Considering that the speeds are so slow compared to Qi, one might wonder why anyone would bother to use NFC charging at all. But the key idea behind the new NFC standard is not that it’ll be used to replace Qi charging on things like power-hungry smartphones, but rather complement it.
Unlike Qi, which requires physically large coils to transmit power between devices, the new wireless charging specification WLC standard, as it’s formally called, for NFC allows for a single antenna to manage both communications and charging for a device. The idea is that smaller devices like headphones, fitness trackers, or smartwatches — all of which often already feature NFC antennas for connectivity — could use the new NFC-based standard for charging on the go using similarly NFC-equipped smartphones as reverse-wireless chargers.


theverge--2020-05-06--Sonos announces the Arc, its first Dolby Atmos soundbar

Sonos is finally making its long-awaited push into Dolby Atmos home theater audio .
That effort starts with the new $ 799 Arc , a premium soundbar that replaces the Playbar in Sonos ’ product lineup .
The oddball Playbase speaker , designed to fit underneath some TVs , is also being discontinued today as Sonos simplifies your options to just the Arc and Beam .
It isn ’ t cheap at $ 800 , and it ’ s $ 100 more expensive than the Playbar , but Sonos claims that the Arc sets a new standard for the soundbar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on June 10th and will only work with the new Sonos S2 app when that launches on iOS , Android , Windows , and Mac early next month .
The Arc , third-generation Sub , and Sonos Five are the first products built on the company ’ s S2 platform , which will allow for higher-fidelity audio ( as evidenced here by Atmos ) , improved security , and other new features that Sonos isn ’ t ready to talk about .
The Arc will be available in either black or white , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plastic design with 76,000 holes drilled into the casing .
Most Atmos soundbars including those from Vizio are blocky , and Sonos is very proud of the 270-degree curved grill on the Arc .
( Yes , that ’ s partly where the name comes from . )
The longer form factor is the direct result of consumer buying trends ; 65-inch TVs are now commonplace , and people are increasingly going even bigger when their living room allows for it .
If you ’ re in a cramped apartment with a smaller @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more sensible pick .
Inside that outer shell are 11 drivers that fire audio all around your room to create immersive , multidirectional sound .
As with most soundbars , the center channel focuses on dialogue clarity so you don ’ t miss what ’ s being said in a movie or TV show .
The left and right channels , along with the surround and up-firing height speakers , all increase the sense of spaciousness and immersion that comes out of the Arc .
As always , Sonos kept music playback in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it delivers neutral audio with an ultrawide soundstage thanks to those eight woofers and three tweeters .
The Arc can play PCM stereo , Dolby Digital 5.1 , Dolby Digital Plus , and Dolby Atmos audio .
DTS and multichannel PCM audio are not supported .
It automatically optimizes what the drivers are doing in each scenario .
For example , if whatever you ’ re playing on the TV doesn ’ t feature Atmos audio , the upward-firing speakers will instead focus on low-end response .
Generally , you ’ ll need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years that has an eARC HDMI port — and a 4K Blu-ray player — to take full advantage of the lossless Atmos playback that the Arc is capable of .
But even if your set is a bit older , you should be able to get compressed Atmos over regular ARC through a variety of streaming services such as Netflix , Amazon Prime Video , and Vudu .
On its own , the Arc can serve as a 5.0.2 Atmos system ; it always mixes seven-channel audio feeds down to five .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rear surrounds — this is why the One SL speakers exist — and the Sub .
( Sonos is refreshing the Sub today with improved processing power , more memory , and a new wireless radio .
Otherwise , it looks the same as before and carries the same $ 699 price . )
Even those Sonos and Ikea bookshelf or lamp speakers can be integrated into the Arc system if you ’ ve got a pair of them .
Aside from rumbling bass , the main benefit to adding the Sub into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arc offload those low frequencies .
When it doesn ’ t have to do everything , the soundbar adjusts its sound profile to focus on high- and midrange frequencies for a fuller , richer listening experience since the Sub is handling the low end .
Like the Beam , the Arc has built-in microphones for hands-free voice controls with either Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant .
Apple ’ s AirPlay 2 , a standard feature for recent Sonos devices , is also supported .
The Arc plugs into your TV ’ s eARC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s still an HDMI-to-optical adapter in the box if you prefer that connection method , but you won ’ t be getting Atmos if you go optical since it can ’ t handle the necessary bandwidth .
It would ’ ve been nice for Sonos to include HDMI passthrough , but nope : it ’ s just the one port .
Once you ’ re all plugged in , you ’ ll be able to tune the Arc ’ s output with the Sonos app on an iPhone or iPad by using the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ characteristics for your specific room .
Trueplay has been enhanced and now factors in ceiling height for the Atmos stuff .
Sorry , Android users , Trueplay still isn ’ t available for your phones , and from my conversations with Sonos , I doubt that ’ ll change anytime soon .
And unlike the Move , which can carry out Trueplay on its own without your help , the Arc still requires the old process of walking around your living room and waving your phone up and down so the Sonos app @ @ @ @ @ @ @ audio will bounce off walls .
Sonos designed the Arc so that it can either sit on a TV stand or be mounted to the wall ; if it ’ s mounted , the soundbar is smart enough to tone down bass resonance by default to keep your walls from rattling .
( It uses a magnetic sensor to detect this . )
There are other small touches to the Arc as well : it ’ s got an ambient sensor inside that will turn down the brightness of its status LEDs if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And it ’ s more energy efficient , using 26 percent less power than the Playbar when idle .
The Arc is likely to be the best soundbar that Sonos has made yet , but even with all the obsessive attention to audio routing and 3D positioning that the company ’ s engineers have shown , it ’ s still a soundbar .
Sure , it ’ ll blow away the Beam and perhaps even the Playbar in fidelity , but at this $ 800 price — especially when you add in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enthusiasts will also be eager to know how it compares to a proper 7.1 setup with placed Atmos speakers .
And though it may outperform most mainstream soundbars , there are still ( much ) pricier options like the Sennheiser Ambeo that are trying to set new expectations for what one of these bars can do .
To see how the Sonos Arc stacks up , stay tuned for The Verge ’ s upcoming review .

Sonos is finally making its long-awaited push into Dolby Atmos home theater audio. That effort starts with the new $799 Arc, a premium soundbar that replaces the Playbar in Sonos’ product lineup. The oddball Playbase speaker, designed to fit underneath some TVs, is also being discontinued today as Sonos simplifies your options to just the Arc and Beam.
It isn’t cheap at $800, and it’s $100 more expensive than the Playbar, but Sonos claims that the Arc sets a new standard for the soundbar category. It’ll be released on June 10th and will only work with the new Sonos S2 app when that launches on iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac early next month. The Arc, third-generation Sub, and Sonos Five are the first products built on the company’s S2 platform, which will allow for higher-fidelity audio (as evidenced here by Atmos), improved security, and other new features that Sonos isn’t ready to talk about.
Related Sonos will release a new app and operating system for its speakers in June
The Arc will be available in either black or white, and it features an elongated, matte plastic design with 76,000 holes drilled into the casing. Most Atmos soundbars including those from Vizio are blocky, and Sonos is very proud of the 270-degree curved grill on the Arc. (Yes, that’s partly where the name comes from.) The longer form factor is the direct result of consumer buying trends; 65-inch TVs are now commonplace, and people are increasingly going even bigger when their living room allows for it. If you’re in a cramped apartment with a smaller screen, the Beam might be a more sensible pick.
The Sonos Arc soundbar pictured with a Sub and two One SL rear surround speakers. Image: Sonos
Inside that outer shell are 11 drivers that fire audio all around your room to create immersive, multidirectional sound. As with most soundbars, the center channel focuses on dialogue clarity so you don’t miss what’s being said in a movie or TV show. The left and right channels, along with the surround and up-firing height speakers, all increase the sense of spaciousness and immersion that comes out of the Arc. As always, Sonos kept music playback in mind when designing the product and says it delivers neutral audio with an ultrawide soundstage thanks to those eight woofers and three tweeters.
The Arc can play PCM stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital Plus, and Dolby Atmos audio. DTS and multichannel PCM audio are not supported. It automatically optimizes what the drivers are doing in each scenario. For example, if whatever you’re playing on the TV doesn’t feature Atmos audio, the upward-firing speakers will instead focus on low-end response.
GIF: Sonos
Generally, you’ll need a TV purchased within the last couple years that has an eARC HDMI port — and a 4K Blu-ray player — to take full advantage of the lossless Atmos playback that the Arc is capable of. But even if your set is a bit older, you should be able to get compressed Atmos over regular ARC through a variety of streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Vudu.
Image: Sonos
On its own, the Arc can serve as a 5.0.2 Atmos system; it always mixes seven-channel audio feeds down to five. But you can build out from there with rear surrounds — this is why the One SL speakers exist — and the Sub. (Sonos is refreshing the Sub today with improved processing power, more memory, and a new wireless radio. Otherwise, it looks the same as before and carries the same $699 price.) Even those Sonos and Ikea bookshelf or lamp speakers can be integrated into the Arc system if you’ve got a pair of them.
Aside from rumbling bass, the main benefit to adding the Sub into the mix is that it lets the Arc offload those low frequencies. When it doesn’t have to do everything, the soundbar adjusts its sound profile to focus on high- and midrange frequencies for a fuller, richer listening experience since the Sub is handling the low end.
Like the Beam, the Arc has built-in microphones for hands-free voice controls with either Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Apple’s AirPlay 2, a standard feature for recent Sonos devices, is also supported.
So many holes. Image: Sonos
The Arc plugs into your TV’s eARC or ARC HDMI port; there’s still an HDMI-to-optical adapter in the box if you prefer that connection method, but you won’t be getting Atmos if you go optical since it can’t handle the necessary bandwidth. It would’ve been nice for Sonos to include HDMI passthrough, but nope: it’s just the one port.
Once you’re all plugged in, you’ll be able to tune the Arc’s output with the Sonos app on an iPhone or iPad by using the Trueplay feature, which optimizes the sound characteristics for your specific room. Trueplay has been enhanced and now factors in ceiling height for the Atmos stuff. Sorry, Android users, Trueplay still isn’t available for your phones, and from my conversations with Sonos, I doubt that’ll change anytime soon. And unlike the Move, which can carry out Trueplay on its own without your help, the Arc still requires the old process of walking around your living room and waving your phone up and down so the Sonos app can get a sense of how the audio will bounce off walls.
Sonos designed the Arc so that it can either sit on a TV stand or be mounted to the wall; if it’s mounted, the soundbar is smart enough to tone down bass resonance by default to keep your walls from rattling. (It uses a magnetic sensor to detect this.) There are other small touches to the Arc as well: it’s got an ambient sensor inside that will turn down the brightness of its status LEDs if your room goes dark for movie night. And it’s more energy efficient, using 26 percent less power than the Playbar when idle.
The Arc is likely to be the best soundbar that Sonos has made yet, but even with all the obsessive attention to audio routing and 3D positioning that the company’s engineers have shown, it’s still a soundbar. Sure, it’ll blow away the Beam and perhaps even the Playbar in fidelity, but at this $800 price — especially when you add in the $700 Sub — home theater enthusiasts will also be eager to know how it compares to a proper 7.1 setup with placed Atmos speakers. And though it may outperform most mainstream soundbars, there are still (much) pricier options like the Sennheiser Ambeo that are trying to set new expectations for what one of these bars can do. To see how the Sonos Arc stacks up, stay tuned for The Verge’s upcoming review.


theverge--2020-05-06--The new Sonos Five looks and sounds identical to the Play:5 it’s replacing

Sonos is refreshing its best-sounding music speaker today , but the new product is so similar to its predecessor that there ’ s zero reason for anyone with a Play:5 to consider an upgrade .
That new speaker is called the Sonos Five .
And though it now shares branding with the Sonos One , which was the company ’ s first product with built-in voice assistant capabilities , the Sonos Five oddly does not include a built-in microphone for use with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant .
Sonos told me that it ’ s fully focused on sound performance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the reasoning for why it didn ’ t add mics to the design .
The company also says that customers tend to put the Play:5 ( and now Sonos Five ) in spots where a voice assistant would be inconsequential and of limited use .
I ’ m not really convinced by either of those explanations , but privacy-minded consumers will appreciate the decision .
In terms of audio quality , Sonos says the Sonos Five offers an identical listening experience to that of the Play:5 .
It ’ s still got @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The external design is also unchanged except for the finish ; this one comes in all-black or all-white options , whereas the “ white ” second-gen Play:5 had a two-tone look with a black speaker grill .
( I loved that design , but Sonos says customers requested an all-white version . )
You can still use it in both vertical and horizontal orientations , and it retains the auxiliary input for turntables and other external music sources .
So what is different , then ?
The Sonos Five has “ increased memory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ radio.
” And ... that ’ s it , folks .
If you used the two speakers side by side , I guess you might notice that increased horsepower ; my Play:5 does get hung up momentarily from time to time .
But more than anything else , this refresh seems to be about readying the Sonos Five for another four or five years in the company ’ s lineup .
You might be feeling a bit underwhelmed by the Sonos Five , and to be honest , so am I .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ why now ?
” The Play:5 is already compatible with the company ’ s S2 platform and is thus ( hopefully ) guaranteed firmware updates and new features for some time to come , so what ’ s the reasoning for this minor refresh ?
The Play:5 has always been the speaker that smart speakers like the Amazon Echo and Apple ’ s HomePod could never quite measure up to — unless you bought two of them , anyway .
But now , Sonos ’ competitors are getting more serious about delivering pleasing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this is Amazon ’ s $ 200 Echo Studio .
It might not be quite at the level of the Play:5 if you did a listening test , but Amazon is coming closer and closer at a significantly cheaper price .
Sonos , meanwhile , seems content to rest on its laurels with the Sonos Five and risk getting leapfrogged .
The company is still innovating in other areas , and the Arc is a showcase of that .
But I use my Play:5 every day , and I expected to feel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the next one came around .
But nope .
Not with all this sameness .
I ’ ve no doubt the Sonos Five will sound excellent and outperform much of the competition ; I was just expecting a little more after this long of a wait .

Sonos is refreshing its best-sounding music speaker today, but the new product is so similar to its predecessor that there’s zero reason for anyone with a Play:5 to consider an upgrade. That new speaker is called the Sonos Five. And though it now shares branding with the Sonos One, which was the company’s first product with built-in voice assistant capabilities, the Sonos Five oddly does not include a built-in microphone for use with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant.
Sonos told me that it’s fully focused on sound performance with this product and points to that as the reasoning for why it didn’t add mics to the design. The company also says that customers tend to put the Play:5 (and now Sonos Five) in spots where a voice assistant would be inconsequential and of limited use. I’m not really convinced by either of those explanations, but privacy-minded consumers will appreciate the decision.
In terms of audio quality, Sonos says the Sonos Five offers an identical listening experience to that of the Play:5. It’s still got the same six custom-designed drivers inside. The external design is also unchanged except for the finish; this one comes in all-black or all-white options, whereas the “white” second-gen Play:5 had a two-tone look with a black speaker grill. (I loved that design, but Sonos says customers requested an all-white version.) You can still use it in both vertical and horizontal orientations, and it retains the auxiliary input for turntables and other external music sources.
An underwhelming update for a fantastic speaker
So what is different, then? The Sonos Five has “increased memory and processing power and a new wireless radio.” And... that’s it, folks. If you used the two speakers side by side, I guess you might notice that increased horsepower; my Play:5 does get hung up momentarily from time to time. But more than anything else, this refresh seems to be about readying the Sonos Five for another four or five years in the company’s lineup.
You might be feeling a bit underwhelmed by the Sonos Five, and to be honest, so am I. The question I keep asking myself is “why now?” The Play:5 is already compatible with the company’s S2 platform and is thus (hopefully) guaranteed firmware updates and new features for some time to come, so what’s the reasoning for this minor refresh?
The Play:5 has always been the speaker that smart speakers like the Amazon Echo and Apple’s HomePod could never quite measure up to — unless you bought two of them, anyway. But now, Sonos’ competitors are getting more serious about delivering pleasing, room-filling sound. The best example of this is Amazon’s $200 Echo Studio. It might not be quite at the level of the Play:5 if you did a listening test, but Amazon is coming closer and closer at a significantly cheaper price.
Sonos, meanwhile, seems content to rest on its laurels with the Sonos Five and risk getting leapfrogged. The company is still innovating in other areas, and the Arc is a showcase of that. But I use my Play:5 every day, and I expected to feel a smidge of temptation to upgrade whenever the next one came around. But nope. Not with all this sameness. I’ve no doubt the Sonos Five will sound excellent and outperform much of the competition; I was just expecting a little more after this long of a wait.


theverge--2020-05-06--Sonos will launch its new app and big S2 software update on June 8th

The new app that Sonos announced in March will be released on June 8th , and with it will come the launch of the S2 platform that exclusively powers the new Sonos Arc , Five , and Sub .
That new underlying operating system will soon make its way to other Sonos products — pretty much everything except for those very old legacy devices that we keep writing about .
When the revamped Sonos app arrives , the current version will be renamed “ Sonos S1 Controller ” in the Apple App Store and Google Play .
The new one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , while its design will look familiar , Sonos says S2 opens up a lot of possibilities : Sonos has routinely noted that you don ’ t have to update your existing system to S2 .
If you have a multiroom setup that includes one of the below products that won ’ t be getting new features any longer , you can just keep everything as it is today .
The oldest Sonos devices will be left on the current app “ Your system will receive bug fixes and security patches , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new software features found in S2 , ” the company says in its FAQ .
“ We will work with our partners to keep your music and voice services working with our oldest products for as long as we can given their memory and processing power limitations .
If we run into something core to the experience that can ’ t be addressed , we will let you know.
” Your other option is to split your Sonos system into two , allowing the S2-compatible devices to continue receiving software updates with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that permanently stays on the older Sonos S1 platform .
Sounds a little confusing , right ?
Thankfully , Sonos has published a thorough help section on this forking process .
Just be aware that the two systems can not be grouped together to play the same music .
Here ’ s a chart from Sonos that attempts to make this whole transition a little clearer : Remember that if you ’ ve got a legacy Sonos device and want to avoid this whole thing , you ’ re eligible for a 30 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s modern lineup .
Here ’ s something else worth keeping in mind : beginning with today ’ s three product announcements , new Sonos hardware will only work on the S2 platform and is incompatible with S1 altogether .
When the new Sonos app is released , your settings and preferences will automatically transfer over .
Like the version it ’ s replacing , the Sonos S2 app will be available on iOS , iPadOS , Android , Windows , and macOS .
The Trueplay feature , which tailors the sound @ @ @ @ @ @ @ room it ’ s in , can only be done on an iPhone or iPad , however .

The new app that Sonos announced in March will be released on June 8th, and with it will come the launch of the S2 platform that exclusively powers the new Sonos Arc, Five, and Sub. That new underlying operating system will soon make its way to other Sonos products — pretty much everything except for those very old legacy devices that we keep writing about.
When the revamped Sonos app arrives, the current version will be renamed “Sonos S1 Controller” in the Apple App Store and Google Play. The new one will simply be “Sonos” and, while its design will look familiar, Sonos says S2 opens up a lot of possibilities:
This next generation of the app features support for higher resolution audio technologies, evident with the Dolby Atmos experience on Arc, as well as increased security and improved design for easier use. User interface updates make it simpler for customers to search for content, control sound, and personalize the experience with new features — starting with saved room groups.
Saved room groups are one of the improvements coming with the S2 app. Image: Sonos
Sonos has routinely noted that you don’t have to update your existing system to S2. If you have a multiroom setup that includes one of the below products that won’t be getting new features any longer, you can just keep everything as it is today.
The oldest Sonos devices will be left on the current app
“Your system will receive bug fixes and security patches, but it will not receive any of the new software features found in S2,” the company says in its FAQ. “We will work with our partners to keep your music and voice services working with our oldest products for as long as we can given their memory and processing power limitations. If we run into something core to the experience that can’t be addressed, we will let you know.”
Image: Sonos
Your other option is to split your Sonos system into two, allowing the S2-compatible devices to continue receiving software updates with the older ones in their own separate system that permanently stays on the older Sonos S1 platform. Sounds a little confusing, right? Thankfully, Sonos has published a thorough help section on this forking process. Just be aware that the two systems cannot be grouped together to play the same music.
Here’s a chart from Sonos that attempts to make this whole transition a little clearer:
Image: Sonos
Remember that if you’ve got a legacy Sonos device and want to avoid this whole thing, you’re eligible for a 30 percent discount on anything from the company’s modern lineup. Here’s something else worth keeping in mind: beginning with today’s three product announcements, new Sonos hardware will only work on the S2 platform and is incompatible with S1 altogether.