theverge--2020-06-23--All the new features iOS 14 borrows from Android

iOS 14 is here , and it brings a bunch of big new features to Apple ’ s operating system — including a few that should look pretty familiar to Android users who have had similar functionality for some time .
It ’ s the eternal cycle of software platforms : Google ’ s good ideas will almost always end up on iOS at some point , even as the next version of Android will , no doubt , crib some ideas from Apple .
The big one : after years of keeping the iOS home screen static , Apple @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to their home screens .
Widgets have been one of the core differentiating features between Android and iOS going back to the very first iteration of Android , and it ’ s a feature that Google would continue to expand on over the years , allowing custom sizes , third-party support , and a gallery with previews of those widgets — all features that Apple is using in its own widgets on iOS .
In fact , Apple is taking a lot of cues from Google with the new iOS 14 home screen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ iteration of this “ the App Library , ” but it ’ s similar to Google ’ s app drawer : a list of every app on your phone , regardless of its visibility on the home screen .
( Apple will let users manually hide apps so that they ’ ll only appear in the App Library view , too . )
Unlike Android , which is just a straight list of all the apps , Apple ’ s App Library automatically sorts apps into different categories , like social , entertainment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ less “ borrowing from Android ” and more “ something Apple has been capable of doing for years but intentionally had decided not to.
” iOS 14 will finally allow users to choose their own default email and browser apps , instead of using Mail and Safari .
There are a few catches , like the fact that all iOS browsers still have to use Apple ’ s rendering engine ( so there ’ s not a huge practical difference between them ) , and developers will have to update their apps to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also limited only to email and browser apps — you ’ ll still have to use Apple Maps and Apple Music by default , even if you prefer Google Maps and Spotify .
Apple is debuting a new “ discreet ” view for Siri in iOS 14 , where the voice assistant will appear with a small icon at the bottom of the screen , instead of taking over the entire display .
Results of queries will similarly appear in smaller windows at the top of the screen , without blocking the rest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ similar to how Google Assistant works on Android , although its results are shown in a small window at the bottom of the display , not the top ) .
Apple ’ s new “ compact calls ” design — which also prevents incoming calls from blotting out the whole screen — is akin to an option on past versions of Samsung ’ s One UI skins for Android ( although it has yet to be offered on stock Android itself ) .
One of the more interesting ideas being added in iOS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which will allow developers to slice out parts of their apps in small packages , letting users get key features without having to install a whole app .
It ’ s an interesting idea and one that Google has taken a few cracks at over the years with Android P ’ s app “ slices ” in 2018 and Android ’ s instant apps in 2017 .
We ’ ll have to wait to see if Apple ’ s attempt will manage to help this idea finally break through to the mainstream @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Google Maps for a while , but each new iOS update has brought Apple ’ s app closer and closer to Google ’ s leading standard .
To that end , iOS 14 adds new cycling features that give directions specifically for bike riding , which factors in things like elevation , stairs , and bike routes .
( Google introduced the feature to Google Maps all the way back in 2010 . )
Apple ’ s version is only in a few cities so far ( NYC , LA , San @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and Beijing ) , but if the rest of Apple Maps is anything to go by , the company will be looking to catch up fast .
Another of Google ’ s most iconic services , Google Translate , is getting an Apple equivalent with iOS 14 .
Like Google Translate , Apple ’ s version allows users to translate typed and spoken phases in the Translate app , as well as offers integrated support with Safari to translate entire webpages .
Apple ’ s version has a far more limited list @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at launch .
Not a first for Apple ’ s software , but new to the iPhone this year is picture-in-picture .
Added back in Android 8.0 ( and to the iPad in iOS 11 ) , the iPhone is finally getting a picture-in-picture mode , which can be used to play videos on top of whatever other apps you ’ re using .
Usefully , picture-in-picture also supports FaceTime calls , so you can continue chatting without having to keep the FaceTime app open .
Introduced by Google at the end of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a version of Chrome ’ s password alert feature , which will notify users when a password they ’ re using has been compromised in a data breach .
Apple is including a new option that will let you add a “ back tap ” button of sorts to trigger an action ( like launching an app or taking a screenshot ) — similar to a double-tap gesture Google is also working on for Pixel phones in Android 11 .
Given that neither has actually shipped yet , I ’ m ruling this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minds do think alike .

iOS 14 is here, and it brings a bunch of big new features to Apple’s operating system — including a few that should look pretty familiar to Android users who have had similar functionality for some time.
It’s the eternal cycle of software platforms: Google’s good ideas will almost always end up on iOS at some point, even as the next version of Android will, no doubt, crib some ideas from Apple.
Home screen widgets
The big one: after years of keeping the iOS home screen static, Apple is finally allowing users to add widgets to their home screens. Widgets have been one of the core differentiating features between Android and iOS going back to the very first iteration of Android, and it’s a feature that Google would continue to expand on over the years, allowing custom sizes, third-party support, and a gallery with previews of those widgets — all features that Apple is using in its own widgets on iOS.
In fact, Apple is taking a lot of cues from Google with the new iOS 14 home screen experience, including...
App list view
Apple calls its iteration of this “the App Library,” but it’s similar to Google’s app drawer: a list of every app on your phone, regardless of its visibility on the home screen. (Apple will let users manually hide apps so that they’ll only appear in the App Library view, too.) Unlike Android, which is just a straight list of all the apps, Apple’s App Library automatically sorts apps into different categories, like social, entertainment, or Apple Arcade.
Third-party default email and browser apps
This is less “borrowing from Android” and more “something Apple has been capable of doing for years but intentionally had decided not to.” iOS 14 will finally allow users to choose their own default email and browser apps, instead of using Mail and Safari.
There are a few catches, like the fact that all iOS browsers still have to use Apple’s rendering engine (so there’s not a huge practical difference between them), and developers will have to update their apps to support the feature. It’s also limited only to email and browser apps — you’ll still have to use Apple Maps and Apple Music by default, even if you prefer Google Maps and Spotify.
Discreet voice assistant and calls
Apple is debuting a new “discreet” view for Siri in iOS 14, where the voice assistant will appear with a small icon at the bottom of the screen, instead of taking over the entire display. Results of queries will similarly appear in smaller windows at the top of the screen, without blocking the rest of the display (which is also similar to how Google Assistant works on Android, although its results are shown in a small window at the bottom of the display, not the top).
Apple’s new “compact calls” design — which also prevents incoming calls from blotting out the whole screen — is akin to an option on Android.
App slices / App Clips
One of the more interesting ideas being added in iOS 14 is the new App Clips feature, which will allow developers to slice out parts of their apps in small packages, letting users get key features without having to install a whole app. It’s an interesting idea and one that Google has taken a few cracks at over the years with Android P’s app “slices” in 2018 and Android’s instant apps in 2017. We’ll have to wait to see if Apple’s attempt will manage to help this idea finally break through to the mainstream.
Image: Apple
Cycling directions
Apple Maps has been playing catch-up to Google Maps for a while, but each new iOS update has brought Apple’s app closer and closer to Google’s leading standard. To that end, iOS 14 adds new cycling features that give directions specifically for bike riding, which factors in things like elevation, stairs, and bike routes. (Google introduced the feature to Google Maps all the way back in 2010.) Apple’s version is only in a few cities so far (NYC, LA, San Fransisco’s Bay Area, Shanghai, and Beijing), but if the rest of Apple Maps is anything to go by, the company will be looking to catch up fast.
Translate
Another of Google’s most iconic services, Google Translate, is getting an Apple equivalent with iOS 14. Like Google Translate, Apple’s version allows users to translate typed and spoken phases in the Translate app, as well as offers integrated support with Safari to translate entire webpages. Apple’s version has a far more limited list of languages, with just 11 supported at launch.
Picture-in-picture
Not a first for Apple’s software, but new to the iPhone this year is picture-in-picture. Added back in Android 8.0 (and to the iPad in iOS 11), the iPhone is finally getting a picture-in-picture mode, which can be used to play videos on top of whatever other apps you’re using.
Usefully, picture-in-picture also supports FaceTime calls, so you can continue chatting without having to keep the FaceTime app open.
Password monitoring
Introduced by Google at the end of last year, Safari is also getting a version of Chrome’s password alert feature, which will notify users when a password they’re using has been compromised in a data breach.
Image via Federico Viticci / Twitter
Tie: Back tap
Apple is including a new option that will let you add a “back tap” button of sorts to trigger an action (like launching an app or taking a screenshot) — similar to a double-tap gesture Google is also working on for Pixel phones in Android 11. Given that neither has actually shipped yet, I’m ruling this one a tie — sometimes, great minds do think alike.


theverge--2020-06-23--Mercedes-Benz and Nvidia team up to develop next-generation supercomputers for cars

Mercedes-Benz is teaming up with Nvidia to develop a next-generation computing platform for vehicles that will support everything from over-the-air software updates to automated driving .
The German automaker said it plans to begin rolling out the new technology across its fleet starting in 2024 .
The new platform will be based on Nvidia ’ s system-on-a-chip Orin technology and will also use the San Jose-based company ’ s full Drive AGX software stack .
Nvidia first unveiled Orin at CES in December 2019 , and aside from top-line specifications such as the ability to deliver up to 200 trillion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the company has yet to provide any further details .
The new platform includes a full system software stack that can support a variety of automated driving applications , including advanced driver assist systems like Tesla ’ s Autopilot and Cadillac ’ s Super Cruise , as well as driverless parking functions like Tesla ’ s Smart Summon .
The new platform includes a full system software stack that can support a variety of automated driving applications It will also enable smartphone-style over-the-air software updates on all Mercedes vehicles starting in four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ catch up to Tesla , which has long been the leader in shipping over-the-air ( OTA ) updates to its customers to change everything from its Autopilot driver assistance system to the range of its electric vehicles .
It ’ s similar to how Apple or Samsung , for example , can update or repair the software on a smartphone .
Nvidia ’ s Drive system can track a driver ’ s head and eyes to assess when they ’ re paying attention to the road , and it can monitor blink frequency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ manufacturer ’ s preferences , Nvidia says the system can alert the driver using audio , visual , or haptic warnings to return their focus to the road .
Drive IX can also monitor the environment outside the vehicle .
If a driver is about to exit the vehicle without looking as a bicyclist approaches alongside , Nvidia says Drive IX provides an alert or physically prevents the door from opening until the bicyclist has safely passed .
GM was one of the first major automakers to introduce an OTA system after Tesla @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rolling out software updates for its 2020 models .
Now Daimler is ready to join the fray .
Daimler is ready to join the OTA fray “ By downloading new functions and upgrades from the cloud , we want to continuously bring the system up to date , thereby increasing the value of the vehicle , ” Daimler CEO Ola Källenius said on Tuesday in a joint statement with Nvidia .
The announcement is coming on the heels of the news that Mercedes ’ parent company Daimler and BMW were ending their automated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t escape some industry analysts .
The two German auto giants announced in early 2019 plans to spend over $ 1 billion on a joint mobility effort that spans autonomous cars , ride-hailing , electric scooters , car-sharing , and electric car charging .
But this week , the two companies said the autonomous vehicle portion of the alliance would be put on hold .
According to Auto News , Daimler said the BMW cooperation would have meant Mercedes would not be able to use the technology as quickly as it should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I think it ’ s no coincidence , ” said Sam Abuelsamid , principal analyst at Guidehouse , on the timing of the announcement .
“ I suspect that the two automakers couldn ’ t agree on a platform to use and right now , Orin looks like a much more powerful solution than anything coming from Intel/Mobileye.
” ( BMW is part of a super group , which includes Intel , Mobileye , and Fiat Chrysler , that is working on the development of semi-autonomous and fully autonomous technologies for production @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s unclear how well the Nvidia software stack will perform compared to other solutions .
“ Nvidia is very focused on neural network software , ” he said , “ and most of the industry [ is ] shifting back to a mix of deterministic and probabilistic ( AI ) algorithms.
” Nvidia , one of the world ’ s best known manufacturers of computer graphics cards , has for several years been engaged in a high-stakes venture to build the “ brains ” that power self-driving cars in the hopes of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Volkswagen , and Daimler .
The Santa Clara-based company wants to be the go-to supercomputer for those who may balk at the enormous expense associated with becoming a “ full stack ” AV operator .

Mercedes-Benz is teaming up with Nvidia to develop a next-generation computing platform for vehicles that will support everything from over-the-air software updates to automated driving. The German automaker said it plans to begin rolling out the new technology across its fleet starting in 2024.
The new platform will be based on Nvidia’s system-on-a-chip Orin technology and will also use the San Jose-based company’s full Drive AGX software stack. Nvidia first unveiled Orin at CES in December 2019, and aside from top-line specifications such as the ability to deliver up to 200 trillion operations per second while using less power, the company has yet to provide any further details.
The new platform includes a full system software stack that can support a variety of automated driving applications, including advanced driver assist systems like Tesla’s Autopilot and Cadillac’s Super Cruise, as well as driverless parking functions like Tesla’s Smart Summon.
The new platform includes a full system software stack that can support a variety of automated driving applications
It will also enable smartphone-style over-the-air software updates on all Mercedes vehicles starting in four years. Legacy automakers have struggled to catch up to Tesla, which has long been the leader in shipping over-the-air (OTA) updates to its customers to change everything from its Autopilot driver assistance system to the range of its electric vehicles. It’s similar to how Apple or Samsung, for example, can update or repair the software on a smartphone.
Nvidia’s Drive system can track a driver’s head and eyes to assess when they’re paying attention to the road, and it can monitor blink frequency to assess drowsiness. Depending on a manufacturer’s preferences, Nvidia says the system can alert the driver using audio, visual, or haptic warnings to return their focus to the road. Drive IX can also monitor the environment outside the vehicle. If a driver is about to exit the vehicle without looking as a bicyclist approaches alongside, Nvidia says Drive IX provides an alert or physically prevents the door from opening until the bicyclist has safely passed.
GM was one of the first major automakers to introduce an OTA system after Tesla. Ford said recently it would start rolling out software updates for its 2020 models. Now Daimler is ready to join the fray.
Daimler is ready to join the OTA fray
“By downloading new functions and upgrades from the cloud, we want to continuously bring the system up to date, thereby increasing the value of the vehicle,” Daimler CEO Ola Källenius said on Tuesday in a joint statement with Nvidia.
The announcement is coming on the heels of the news that Mercedes’ parent company Daimler and BMW were ending their automated driving partnership — a fact that didn’t escape some industry analysts. The two German auto giants announced in early 2019 plans to spend over $1 billion on a joint mobility effort that spans autonomous cars, ride-hailing, electric scooters, car-sharing, and electric car charging. But this week, the two companies said the autonomous vehicle portion of the alliance would be put on hold.
According to Auto News, Daimler said the BMW cooperation would have meant Mercedes would not be able to use the technology as quickly as it should be able to now with Nvidia.
“I think it’s no coincidence,” said Sam Abuelsamid, principal analyst at Guidehouse, on the timing of the announcement. “I suspect that the two automakers couldn’t agree on a platform to use and right now, Orin looks like a much more powerful solution than anything coming from Intel/Mobileye.” (BMW is part of a super group, which includes Intel, Mobileye, and Fiat Chrysler, that is working on the development of semi-autonomous and fully autonomous technologies for production vehicles.)
Abuelsamid noted that it’s unclear how well the Nvidia software stack will perform compared to other solutions. “Nvidia is very focused on neural network software,” he said, “and most of the industry [is] shifting back to a mix of deterministic and probabilistic (AI) algorithms.”


theverge--2020-06-23--Tim Cook is ‘deeply disappointed’ by Trump guest worker ban

Apple and Twitter have joined the ranks of tech companies decrying the abrupt halt on a range of guest worker visas proclaimed yesterday by President Trump .
The new restrictions would fall particularly hard on H-1B visas , which are often used by tech companies to hire foreign workers without engaging a traditional immigration process .
Capped at 80,000 visas nationally , the program is highly competitive , although it remains controversial for keeping workers ’ immigration status tied to their ongoing employment .
A recent US Citizenship and Immigration Services ( USCIS ) survey found that tech companies accounted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ granted under the designation .
In a statement on Twitter , Apple CEO Tim Cook emphasized the benefits both his company and the nation at large have reaped from immigration .
Twitter also joined the chorus , calling the proclamation “ short-sighted ” and “ deeply damaging.
” A number of former H-1B recipients in the tech community have also come forward about their personal connection to the program .
Coursera co-founder Andrew Ng said the order “ will shatter dreams and disrupt lives.
” “ As a former H1B visa holder , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goes out to all the families affected.
” Instituted as a response to skyrocketing unemployment , Trump ’ s order primarily curtails the issuing of new work visas , so visitors whose H-1B status has already been approved shouldn ’ t be affected , although it may affect H1-B holders currently outside the country .
However , the proclamation also leaves significant leeway to individual consular officers , who will have broad discretion in choosing whether to issue a visa to an individual applicant .

Apple and Twitter have joined the ranks of tech companies decrying the abrupt halt on a range of guest worker visas proclaimed yesterday by President Trump. The new restrictions would fall particularly hard on H-1B visas, which are often used by tech companies to hire foreign workers without engaging a traditional immigration process.
Capped at 80,000 visas nationally, the program is highly competitive, although it remains controversial for keeping workers’ immigration status tied to their ongoing employment. A recent US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) survey found that tech companies accounted for roughly two-thirds of the total visas granted under the designation.
In a statement on Twitter, Apple CEO Tim Cook emphasized the benefits both his company and the nation at large have reaped from immigration.
Twitter also joined the chorus, calling the proclamation “short-sighted” and “deeply damaging.”
A number of former H-1B recipients in the tech community have also come forward about their personal connection to the program. Coursera co-founder Andrew Ng said the order “will shatter dreams and disrupt lives.”
“As a former H1B visa holder,” Ng continued, “my heart goes out to all the families affected.”


theverge--2020-06-23--NASA eyes flying astronauts and personnel to the edge of space on commercial rockets

In a major policy shift for NASA , the space agency is making it possible for its own personnel — including astronauts — to fly on commercial suborbital spacecraft .
These rockets are designed to fly to the edge of space and back , giving passengers brief experiences of weightlessness .
The agency is hoping to expand flight options for its astronauts and researchers , while investing in the commercial space industry .
Today , NASA released a request for information on all the ways that NASA astronauts and employees could benefit from flying on these short trips to space @ @ @ @ @ @ @ training , by giving explorers extra experience on what it ’ s like to ascend to space in a rocket-powered vehicle and float in microgravity .
That way they ’ re better prepared for flying to orbit .
NASA also thinks astronauts and agency researchers could fly with and operate experiments designed for the space environment .
These flyers could also help test hardware intended to be used in space , to see if it holds up in microgravity .
The goal is for NASA to once again become a customer of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NASA to once again become a customer of the commercial spaceflight industry , by purchasing spots on suborbital flights to space .
It would work a bit like NASA ’ s Commercial Crew Program , where NASA buys seats on two privately made spacecraft — SpaceX ’ s Crew Dragon and Boeing ’ s CST-100 Starliner — both designed to take astronauts to and from the International Space Station .
There is one big difference , though .
NASA partially funded the development of the two Commercial Crew vehicles .
With this new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ development of any suborbital spacecraft .
“ It is notable that no NASA funds were used for the development of suborbital vehicles , but we can participate in the market as a buyer , ” Phil McAlister , director of commercial spaceflight development at NASA , said in a statement .
“ The US aerospace industry is proving again that it is technically and financially capable of developing safe , reliable , and cost-effective space systems.
” Right now , there are really just two transportation options for NASA to choose from to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and back .
Richard Branson ’ s space tourism company Virgin Galactic developed a spaceplane called VSS Unity that can carry passengers to the edge of space before gliding back down to Earth .
And Jeff Bezos ’ company Blue Origin has a reusable rocket called New Shepard that also launches to space and back , sending passengers up inside a crew capsule that lands via parachutes .
So far , Virgin Galactic has sent five employees to space on its spaceplane during two test flights , while Blue Origin has only conducted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ company has launched any paying customers yet .
Virgin Galactic CEO George Whitesides said the company is “ excited ” about NASA ’ s plans .
“ This comes on the heels of our Space Act agreement with NASA this week about training private astronauts for ISS missions , ” he said in a statement to The Verge .
“ Public-private partnerships are a key to opening space for good , and we ’ re inspired for the future of human space exploration.
” NASA wants to make sure that its employees will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ systems still in development , NASA wants to make sure that its employees will be safe if they fly on these vehicles .
That ’ s why the agency is putting together a Suborbital Crew ( SubC ) office , within the already existing Commercial Crew Program at NASA , that will review the safety of these vehicles .
If Virgin Galactic or Blue Origin want to fly any NASA employees , they need to tell NASA how they are evaluating the safety of their systems , how passengers would survive any accidents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more .
NASA also plans to work with the FAA , which regulates space launches , to come up with specific requirements that the companies must meet in order to fly NASA personnel .
Today ’ s news is part of NASA ’ s recent embrace of suborbital human spaceflight .
In March , NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine discussed that NASA was looking into flying astronauts on suborbital rockets .
And before that in January , NASA announced that it would allow researchers from outside of the space agency to apply for opportunities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quick trips to space .
Previously , researchers could apply to send microgravity payloads on Blue Origin or Virgin Galactic ’ s vehicles through NASA ’ s Flight Opportunities Program , which would help fund and coordinate the trips .
But NASA wouldn ’ t allow the researchers to fly with their payloads , so they all had to be automated .
In March , NASA released a call for research proposals , giving people the option to automate their suborbital experiment or potentially go to space with their work .
A draft @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up to $ 450,000 or $ 650,000 , depending on the types of experiments they proposed .
“ What I ’ m most excited for is for these flights to actually happen.
” There have been past efforts by NASA to allow researchers to fly on suborbital rockets .
Lori Garver , the former deputy administrator to NASA , spearheaded a campaign in 2013 to allow researchers to fly on these vehicles along with their research .
“ It just seemed obvious to me that part of the lure of doing them with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to be that you could fly the researcher with it , ” Garver tells The Verge .
“ It took a lot to sort of automate your experiment , if you ’ re not going to be there with it.
” She noted that the extra cost to fly a person for NASA is a pretty small amount .
Virgin Galactic ’ s current ticket prices are set at $ 250,000 , which can be costly for a researcher to pay , but a drop in the bucket for the space agency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the idea of flying researchers back when she first proposed it .
“ You know government ’ s risk averse , ” she says .
“ There were questions about what would NASA ’ s liability be .
It ’ s one thing to lose your research on a suborbital flight , it ’ s another to lose your researcher.
” The initiative didn ’ t move forward at the time , but now the new administration is embracing it again , after years of commercial space advocates calling for a change .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin to start flying customers .
“ What I ’ m most excited for is for these flights to actually happen , ” says Garver .

In a major policy shift for NASA, the space agency is making it possible for its own personnel — including astronauts — to fly on commercial suborbital spacecraft. These rockets are designed to fly to the edge of space and back, giving passengers brief experiences of weightlessness. The agency is hoping to expand flight options for its astronauts and researchers, while investing in the commercial space industry.
Today, NASA released a request for information on all the ways that NASA astronauts and employees could benefit from flying on these short trips to space. One possible advantage is enhancing astronaut training, by giving explorers extra experience on what it’s like to ascend to space in a rocket-powered vehicle and float in microgravity. That way they’re better prepared for flying to orbit. NASA also thinks astronauts and agency researchers could fly with and operate experiments designed for the space environment. These flyers could also help test hardware intended to be used in space, to see if it holds up in microgravity.
The goal is for NASA to once again become a customer of the commercial spaceflight industry
The goal is for NASA to once again become a customer of the commercial spaceflight industry, by purchasing spots on suborbital flights to space. It would work a bit like NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, where NASA buys seats on two privately made spacecraft — SpaceX’s Crew Dragon and Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner — both designed to take astronauts to and from the International Space Station. There is one big difference, though. NASA partially funded the development of the two Commercial Crew vehicles. With this new program, NASA did not fund the development of any suborbital spacecraft.
“It is notable that no NASA funds were used for the development of suborbital vehicles, but we can participate in the market as a buyer,” Phil McAlister, director of commercial spaceflight development at NASA, said in a statement. “The US aerospace industry is proving again that it is technically and financially capable of developing safe, reliable, and cost-effective space systems.”
Right now, there are really just two transportation options for NASA to choose from to fly astronauts to the edge of space and back. Richard Branson’s space tourism company Virgin Galactic developed a spaceplane called VSS Unity that can carry passengers to the edge of space before gliding back down to Earth. And Jeff Bezos’ company Blue Origin has a reusable rocket called New Shepard that also launches to space and back, sending passengers up inside a crew capsule that lands via parachutes. So far, Virgin Galactic has sent five employees to space on its spaceplane during two test flights, while Blue Origin has only conducted uncrewed launches of its rocket. Neither company has launched any paying customers yet.
Still, NASA expects these vehicles to be online soon, which is why the agency is changing its policies about flying on these vehicles. “It is becoming an emerging capability,” Scott Collardo, the head of NASA’s new Suborbital Crew (SubC) office that will oversee this new initiative, said during a press call with reporters. “Now we want to look and see what the industry has to offer to take advantage of it.”
Virgin Galactic CEO George Whitesides said the company is “excited” about NASA’s plans. “This comes on the heels of our Space Act agreement with NASA this week about training private astronauts for ISS missions,” he said in a statement to The Verge. “Public-private partnerships are a key to opening space for good, and we’re inspired for the future of human space exploration.” Blue Origin also expressed similar praise. “We applaud NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine’s leadership to advance public-private partnerships in space,” Clay Mowry, vice president of global sales at Blue Origin, said in a statement to The Verge. “We’re looking forward to offering suborbital crewed space transportation services to NASA with New Shepard.”
NASA wants to make sure that its employees will be safe if they fly
With the systems still in development, NASA wants to make sure that its employees will be safe if they fly on these vehicles. That’s why the agency is putting together the Suborbital Crew (SubC) office, within the already existing Commercial Crew Program at NASA, that will review the safety of these vehicles. If Virgin Galactic or Blue Origin want to fly any NASA employees, they need to tell NASA how they are evaluating the safety of their systems, how passengers would survive any accidents, safety standards, and a lot more. NASA also plans to work with the FAA, which regulates space launches, to come up with specific requirements that the companies must meet in order to fly NASA personnel. NASA may also take a vehicle’s flight heritage into account, so the more times a vehicle flies safely, the better rating it will get.
NASA is also eager to hear from the industry about how they plan to maintain a safe vehicle. “The industry will will more than likely, we think, have an alternative approach to this, probably not exactly the way NASA may have done in the past,” Collardo said.
Today’s news is part of NASA’s recent embrace of suborbital human spaceflight. In March, NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine discussed that NASA was looking into flying astronauts on suborbital rockets. And before that in January, NASA announced that it would allow researchers from outside of the space agency to apply for opportunities to fly with their experiments on these quick trips to space. Previously, researchers could apply to send microgravity payloads on Blue Origin or Virgin Galactic’s vehicles through NASA’s Flight Opportunities Program, which would help fund and coordinate the trips. But NASA wouldn’t allow the researchers to fly with their payloads, so they all had to be automated.
In March, NASA released a call for research proposals, giving people the option to automate their suborbital experiment or potentially go to space with their work. A draft solicitation said that researchers could potentially receive up to $450,000 or $650,000, depending on the types of experiments they proposed.
“What I’m most excited for is for these flights to actually happen.”
There have been past efforts by NASA to allow researchers to fly on suborbital rockets. Lori Garver, the former deputy administrator to NASA, spearheaded a campaign in 2013 to allow researchers to fly on these vehicles along with their research. “It just seemed obvious to me that part of the lure of doing them with a reusable vehicle like Virgin Galactic was going to be that you could fly the researcher with it,” Garver tells The Verge. “It took a lot to sort of automate your experiment, if you’re not going to be there with it.”
She noted that the extra cost to fly a person for NASA is a pretty small amount. Virgin Galactic’s current ticket prices are set at $250,000, which can be costly for a researcher to pay, but a drop in the bucket for the space agency. However, Garver received pushback on the idea of flying researchers back when she first proposed it. “You know government’s risk averse,” she says. “There were questions about what would NASA’s liability be. It’s one thing to lose your research on a suborbital flight, it’s another to lose your researcher.”
The initiative didn’t move forward at the time, but now the new administration is embracing it again, after years of commercial space advocates calling for a change. “I really think when people look back in a century, they’re going to call this time the pivot point,” Alan Stern, associate vice president of the Space Science and Engineering Division at Southwest Research Institute, tells The Verge, “not only in commercial space but in the breakout of human spaceflight to be more than just the rare flight of full time professionals. It’ll be something much more akin to the aviation industry.”
Of course there is still one big hurdle left for this all to happen: Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin need to start flying customers. “What I’m most excited for is for these flights to actually happen,” says Garver.


theverge--2020-06-23--Our biggest burning question about Apple’s ARM silicon

For years , Apple has steadily revealed how the ARM-based chips in its mobile phones were catching up in performance to the beefier silicon you ’ d find inside a laptop or desktop — in 2018 , the company claimed its new iPad Pro was faster than 92 percent of portable PCs .
At some point , it seemed inevitable that Apple would turn the more efficient chips into the primary processors for its Mac computers , too .
Now , it ’ s official : Apple is migrating the Mac to its own homegrown silicon , starting later this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ARM chips actually powerful enough now to replace the likes of Intel and AMD ?
That ’ s still an open question — because at Apple ’ s 2020 Worldwide Developers Conference ( WWDC ) , the company shied away from giving us any definitive answers .
This time , the company ’ s typical array of charts , benchmarks , and “ fastest ever ” claims for each new generation of homegrown ARM silicon were completely MIA .
Apple wouldn ’ t chat about it when we asked .
Even a prerecorded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ didn ’ t provide much insight .
Instead , the company showed a handful of canned demos and made some vague promises that the future might be faster .
Admittedly , we weren ’ t expecting Apple to hand us an ARM-powered Mac during a pandemic , and the prerecorded demos during the keynote and subsequent “ State of the Union ” address were moderately impressive .
Using the same Apple A12Z Bionic chip you ’ ll find in an $ 800 iPad Pro , the company showed that a low-power ARM desktop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ user apps on Mac , including : • Versions of Microsoft Office , Adobe Photoshop , and Lightroom running natively on ARM • Three streams of simultaneous 4K Pro Res video in Final Cut Pro • Rotating around a 6-million polygon scene in Autodesk ’ s Maya animation studio , with textures and shaders on top • The games Shadow of the Tomb Raider and Dirt : Rally running on Mac smoothly ( but at low-ish resolution and detail ) What ’ s more , Apple ’ s ARM-powered Macs will be able @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thanks to Apple ’ s Rosetta 2 conversion software : while they looked a little ugly , both Shadow of the Tomb Raider and Dirt : Rally were running that way , as was Autodesk Maya .
But for the most part , Apple seems to be asking developers to take its word that ARM will unlock “ a whole new level of performance , ” without discussing how that performance actually stacks up right now .
The company ’ s press release says very specifically that Apple ’ s new chips will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ watt , ” and that ’ s a very deliberate turn of phrase .
Apple ’ s arguing that by building the most efficient kind of chips it can — “ the highest performance with the lowest power consumption ” — it can achieve more raw performance by tipping the scales of that performance-per-watt formula toward more watts .
In other words , if you build a MacBook Pro-sized chip with a MacBook Pro-sized heatsink and enclosure , plus a MacBook-sized battery , your iPhone-esque processor theoretically has room to do a heck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s almost always been true that ARM-based processors are more efficient than the competition , and the scales don ’ t tip on their own .
Speeding up a chip isn ’ t just a simple matter of giving it more juice — you ’ ve got to design a beefy enough processor ( or , say , the world ’ s fastest supercomputer ) around that efficient architecture , and Apple isn ’ t bragging that it ’ s actually done that yet .
You may remember Intel ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wound up in the thinnest MacBooks , also began with Intel touting their relative efficiency — but they wound up starting off slower than their mainstream Intel counterparts and only became a worthy choice after a few more years of work .
Perhaps the iPad Pro ’ s A12Z Bionic would make for a more powerful MacBook than Intel ’ s current low-power laptop chips , but Apple isn ’ t saying so ; maybe it ’ ll take a later chip in Apple ’ s roadmap .
It also seems telling that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get rid of Intel anytime soon .
Not only is Apple planning to release several additional Intel-based Macs in the future , but the company “ will continue to support and release new versions of macOS for Intel-based Macs for years to come.
” For a company that prides itself on the “ courage ” to often make a clean break with the past , it ’ s a little unusual .
( Then again , this isn ’ t a product launch ; it ’ s a developer conference . )
All @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should expect pure performance — not just efficiency — in one category in particular : graphical performance .
Apple writes that the ARM initiative will also give the Mac “ higher performance GPUs , ” including additional horsepower for games , and it showed off a few apps ( Affinity Photos , Unity , the aforementioned Cinema 4D , and Dirt : Rally ) taking advantage of Apple ’ s Metal framework to fire instructions directly to the GPU .
While that might not satisfy gamers used to having a dedicated Nvidia or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ integrated graphics might actually be a substantial boost over the Intel integrated graphics that ship in , say , a new MacBook Air .
There ’ s also the possibility that Apple ’ s talking about building beefier GPUs of its own — though Apple isn ’ t talking about whether its CPUs will interface with laptop chips from AMD or NVIDIA , much less desktop GPUs or external GPUs right now .
And it ’ s true that not everything is about performance , anyhow .
Apple is promising its ARM-based Macs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of apps than before , thanks to both native iOS app support and hardware-accelerated machine learning chops built into the silicon .
They ’ ll be able to “ keep cached cloud content fresh for days ” even when your Mac is asleep , and Apple says using your iPad as a secondary monitor for your Mac will get better thanks to the image processing that Apple ’ s already built into its ARM chips .
Though Apple didn ’ t provide any metrics , the company suggests ARM will provide more battery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Apple ’ s most important task is to convince would-be buyers that — this time — ARM chips won ’ t require them to abandon their old apps or make other unacceptable compromises in order to switch .
Apple needs you to know it isn ’ t pulling a Windows RT — so far , so good That ’ s the message that Apple tried the hardest to nail at WWDC , and it feels like the company is making good headway .
It ’ s got Rosetta to automatically translate some of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ key developers like Microsoft and Unity are building native versions of others .
Apple ’ s developer sessions showed that — theoretically — creating a “ universal ” app for multiple platforms is as easy as pressing a button .
Apple showed off file system and network access , virtual machines and peripheral support , the ability to natively play a game with an Xbox controller , and even a promise to let you boot from external drives with ARM-based Macs .
Watching Apple ’ s WWDC keynotes , it ’ s easy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , no “ legacy ” apps you ’ ll need to abandon ; just a whole bunch of extra iPhone and iPad apps you can now additionally use by upgrading to an ARM-based Mac .
But it feels very strongly like there ’ s something Apple isn ’ t telling us about performance , and we ’ ll need to wait to see .
Improved performance is one of the most compelling reasons to buy a new computer , and an absolute requirement for pros .
Performance is time , and time is @ @ @ @ @

For years, Apple has steadily revealed how the ARM-based chips in its mobile phones were catching up in performance to the beefier silicon you’d find inside a laptop or desktop — in 2018, the company claimed its new iPad Pro was faster than 92 percent of portable PCs. At some point, it seemed inevitable that Apple would turn the more efficient chips into the primary processors for its Mac computers, too.
Now, it’s official: Apple is migrating the Mac to its own homegrown silicon, starting later this year.
But are Apple’s ARM chips actually powerful enough now to replace the likes of Intel and AMD? That’s still an open question — because at Apple’s 2020 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), the company shied away from giving us any definitive answers.
a handful of canned demos and vague promises
This time, the company’s typical array of charts, benchmarks, and “fastest ever” claims for each new generation of homegrown ARM silicon were completely MIA. Apple wouldn’t chat about it when we asked. Even a prerecorded chat with one of its silicon architects didn’t provide much insight. Instead, the company showed a handful of canned demos and made some vague promises that the future might be faster.
The closest we got to a comparison was effectively, “is machine learning faster with hardware acceleration turned on?”
Admittedly, we weren’t expecting Apple to hand us an ARM-powered Mac during a pandemic, and the prerecorded demos during the keynote and subsequent “State of the Union” address were moderately impressive. Using the same Apple A12Z Bionic chip you’ll find in an $800 iPad Pro, the company showed that a low-power ARM desktop can already handle a variety of power user apps on Mac, including:
Versions of Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop, and Lightroom running natively on ARM
Three streams of simultaneous 4K Pro Res video in Final Cut Pro
Rotating around a photorealistic stone face in Cinema 4D
Rotating around a 6-million polygon scene in Autodesk’s Maya animation studio, with textures and shaders on top
Rendering effects in the Unity game engine
The games Shadow of the Tomb Raider and Dirt: Rally running on Mac smoothly (but at low-ish resolution and detail)
Dirt looked... well... a little messy.
What’s more, Apple’s ARM-powered Macs will be able to automatically translate some existing Intel apps thanks to Apple’s Rosetta 2 conversion software: while they looked a little ugly, both Shadow of the Tomb Raider and Dirt: Rally were running that way, as was Autodesk Maya.
But for the most part, Apple seems to be asking developers to take its word that ARM will unlock “a whole new level of performance,” without discussing how that performance actually stacks up right now.
Maya seemed like a more impressive demo, though I don’t have a good frame of reference.
The company’s press release says very specifically that Apple’s new chips will “give the Mac industry-leading performance per watt,” and that’s a very deliberate turn of phrase. Apple’s arguing that by building the most efficient kind of chips it can — “the highest performance with the lowest power consumption” — it can achieve more raw performance by tipping the scales of that performance-per-watt formula toward more watts.
In other words, if you build a MacBook Pro-sized chip with a MacBook Pro-sized heatsink and enclosure, plus a MacBook-sized battery, your iPhone-esque processor theoretically has room to do a heck of a lot more work. But it’s almost always been true that ARM-based processors are more efficient than the competition, and the scales don’t tip on their own. Speeding up a chip isn’t just a simple matter of giving it more juice — you’ve got to design a beefy enough processor (or, say, the world’s fastest supercomputer) around that efficient architecture, and Apple isn’t bragging that it’s actually done that yet.
You may remember Intel’s Core M / Y-series chips, which wound up in the thinnest MacBooks, also began with Intel touting their relative efficiency — but they wound up starting off slower than their mainstream Intel counterparts and only became a worthy choice after a few more years of work. Perhaps the iPad Pro’s A12Z Bionic would make for a more powerful MacBook than Intel’s current low-power laptop chips, but Apple isn’t saying so; maybe it’ll take a later chip in Apple’s roadmap.
It also seems telling that Apple isn’t publicly planning to get rid of Intel anytime soon. Not only is Apple planning to release several additional Intel-based Macs in the future, but the company “will continue to support and release new versions of macOS for Intel-based Macs for years to come.” For a company that prides itself on the “courage” to often make a clean break with the past, it’s a little unusual. (Then again, this isn’t a product launch; it’s a developer conference.)
All that said, Apple does say we should expect pure performance — not just efficiency — in one category in particular: graphical performance. Apple writes that the ARM initiative will also give the Mac “higher performance GPUs,” including additional horsepower for games, and it showed off a few apps (Affinity Photos, Unity, the aforementioned Cinema 4D, and Dirt: Rally) taking advantage of Apple’s Metal framework to fire instructions directly to the GPU.
While that might not satisfy gamers used to having a dedicated Nvidia or AMD graphics chip, Apple’s integrated graphics might actually be a substantial boost over the Intel integrated graphics that ship in, say, a new MacBook Air. There’s also the possibility that Apple’s talking about building beefier GPUs of its own — though Apple isn’t talking about whether its CPUs will interface with laptop chips from AMD or NVIDIA, much less desktop GPUs or external GPUs right now.
And it’s true that not everything is about performance, anyhow. Apple is promising its ARM-based Macs will be able to run more kinds of apps than before, thanks to both native iOS app support and hardware-accelerated machine learning chops built into the silicon. They’ll be able to “keep cached cloud content fresh for days” even when your Mac is asleep, and Apple says using your iPad as a secondary monitor for your Mac will get better thanks to the image processing that Apple’s already built into its ARM chips. Though Apple didn’t provide any metrics, the company suggests ARM will provide more battery life, too.
Right now, Apple’s most important task is to convince would-be buyers and devs that — this time — ARM chips won’t require them to abandon their old apps or make other unacceptable compromises in order to switch.
Apple needs you to know it isn’t pulling a Windows RT — so far, so good
That’s the message that Apple tried the hardest to nail at WWDC, and it feels like the company is making good headway. It’s got Rosetta to automatically translate some of your apps, while a handful of key developers like Microsoft and Unity are building native versions of others. Apple’s developer sessions showed that — theoretically — creating a “universal” app for multiple platforms is as easy as pressing a button. Apple showed off file system and network access, virtual machines and peripheral support, the ability to natively play a game with an Xbox controller, and even a promise to let you boot from external drives with ARM-based Macs.
Watching Apple’s WWDC keynotes, it’s easy to imagine there might be no downside, no “legacy” apps you’ll need to abandon; just a whole bunch of extra iPhone and iPad apps you can now additionally use by upgrading to an ARM-based Mac.


theverge--2020-06-23--Microsoft’s new Android antivirus app is now available in preview

Microsoft is launching a preview version of its antivirus software for Android today .
The software giant revealed that Windows Defender was making its way to both iOS and Android earlier this year , but didn ’ t fully detail what to expect .
We ’ re now getting a good idea of exactly why Microsoft thinks Android needs antivirus protection .
The public preview for Android will include protection against phishing and go a step further than Google ’ s built-in malware protection to offer signature-based malware detection .
“ Scans are instantly performed detect malware and potentially unwanted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kanishka Srivastava , a senior program manager at Microsoft .
“ If a safe app is downloaded , the end user will see a lightweight notification letting them know the app is clean.
” Microsoft ’ s web protections will include anti-phishing so that unsafe websites sent via SMS , WhatsApp , email , or other apps are instantly blocked .
Microsoft is also using its Defender SmartScreen technology to also block unsafe network connections that malicious apps might try to create without a user ’ s knowledge .
The Android preview app @ @ @ @ @ @ @ started a public preview for its Defender antivirus on macOS .
Microsoft renamed Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection ( ATP ) to Microsoft Defender Advanced Threat Protection ( ATP ) as a result , and the Mac client also provides full virus and threat protection mixed with the ability to perform quick or full scans .
Microsoft is also planning an iOS antivirus app , although it ’ s clear the company will be far more limited with what it provides on Apple ’ s operating systems .
Apple sandboxes iOS apps by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sideloading apps without the App Store in the first place .
It ’ s still not clear what the iOS version of Microsoft Defender will offer , exactly .
“ In the coming months we will be releasing additional capabilities on Android and you will hear more from us about our investments in mobile threat defense for iOS devices as well , ” explains Rob Lefferts , corporate vice president of Microsoft 365 security .
Microsoft is also making Defender ATP generally available on Linux today , allowing the company to offer a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ platforms like Windows , macOS , and Linux .

Microsoft is launching a preview version of its antivirus software for Android today. The software giant revealed that Windows Defender was making its way to both iOS and Android earlier this year, but didn’t fully detail what to expect. We’re now getting a good idea of exactly why Microsoft thinks Android needs antivirus protection.
The public preview for Android will include protection against phishing and promises to go a step further than Google’s built-in malware protection with “additional visibility and controls” and its own signature-based malware detection. “Scans are instantly performed [to] detect malware and potentially unwanted applications (PUA),” explains Kanishka Srivastava, a senior program manager at Microsoft. “If a safe app is downloaded, the end user will see a lightweight notification letting them know the app is clean.”
Microsoft’s antivirus software for Android.
Microsoft’s web protections will include anti-phishing so that unsafe websites sent via SMS, WhatsApp, email, or other apps are instantly blocked. Microsoft is also using its Defender SmartScreen technology to also block unsafe network connections that malicious apps might try to create without a user’s knowledge.
The Android preview app arrives more than a year after Microsoft started a public preview for its Defender antivirus on macOS. Microsoft renamed Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) to Microsoft Defender Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) as a result, and the Mac client also provides full virus and threat protection mixed with the ability to perform quick or full scans.
Microsoft is also planning an iOS antivirus app, although it’s clear the company will be far more limited with what it provides on Apple’s operating systems. Apple sandboxes iOS apps by default and prevents most end users from sideloading apps without the App Store in the first place. It’s still not clear what the iOS version of Microsoft Defender will offer, exactly.
“In the coming months we will be releasing additional capabilities on Android and you will hear more from us about our investments in mobile threat defense for iOS devices as well,” explains Rob Lefferts, corporate vice president of Microsoft 365 security.
Microsoft is also making Defender ATP generally available on Linux today, allowing the company to offer a unified antivirus solution across desktop and server platforms like Windows, macOS, and Linux.


theverge--2020-06-23--The Mac’s iconic startup chime is back in macOS Big Sur

Apple is bringing back the Mac ’ s iconic startup chime in macOS Big Sur .
The company hinted it might return by playing the chime very prominently during yesterday ’ s Worldwide Developers Conference keynote , and people who have installed the first Big Sur developer beta have reported that it ’ s back .
You can see a Mac on Big Sur play the chime while booting up in the video at the top of this post .
The startup chime was first removed from Macs in 2016 with the redesigned MacBook Pros released that year , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exception of the 2017 13-inch MacBook Air ) didn ’ t play the chime when you turned them on .
However , earlier this year , it was discovered that Apple would let you enable the startup chime on those Macs if they were running macOS Catalina and if you turned it on with a terminal command .
In Big Sur , you apparently won ’ t have to run a terminal command to turn on the chime , though — you ’ ll be able to turn it on or off right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to the YouTube description in the video at the top of this post .
Apple has made other changes to sounds in Big Sur as well .
On its website for Big Sur , Apple said that “ system sounds are all-new and even more pleasing to the ear .
The new system alerts were created using snippets of the originals , so they sound familiar.
” And the new sounds are “ familiar to the Mac , but remastered and more refined , ” said Alan Dye , Apple ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in yesterday ’ s keynote video .
It ’ s hard to tell how exactly the famous startup chime may have changed in Big Sur , but I will say that I ’ m really happy to hear it again .

Apple is bringing back the Mac’s iconic startup chime in macOS Big Sur. The company hinted it might return by playing the chime very prominently during yesterday’s Worldwide Developers Conference keynote, and people who have installed the first Big Sur developer beta have reported that it’s back. You can see a Mac on Big Sur play the chime while booting up in the video at the top of this post.
The startup chime was first removed from Macs in 2016 with the redesigned MacBook Pros released that year, and Macs released since then (with the exception of the 2017 13-inch MacBook Air) didn’t play the chime when you turned them on.
However, earlier this year, it was discovered that Apple would let you enable the startup chime on those Macs if they were running macOS Catalina and if you turned it on with a terminal command.
In Big Sur, you apparently won’t have to run a terminal command to turn on the chime, though — you’ll be able to turn it on or off right from your Mac’s System Preferences, according to the YouTube description in the video at the top of this post.
Apple has made other changes to sounds in Big Sur as well. On its website for Big Sur, Apple said that “system sounds are all-new and even more pleasing to the ear. The new system alerts were created using snippets of the originals, so they sound familiar.” And the new sounds are “familiar to the Mac, but remastered and more refined,” said Alan Dye, Apple’s vice president of human interface design, in yesterday’s keynote video.


theverge--2020-06-23--Oculus discontinues its low-end Go headset to focus on Oculus Quest

Oculus is ending sales of its budget Oculus Go virtual reality headset and opening its Quest headset to a wider range of software .
The company will maintain Oculus Go firmware through 2022 and accept new apps through December 2020 , but it will stop selling Go hardware after the current stock runs out .
Meanwhile , it will add a new Quest app distribution channel without the current strict approval process , encouraging more developers to work with the headset .
In a blog post , Facebook-owned Oculus says it ’ s retiring the Go after positive response to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all-in-one format but tracks full spatial ( or 6DoF ) motion , not just head orientation .
“ You ’ ve told us loud and clear that 6DoF feels like the future of VR .
That ’ s why we ’ re going all-in , and we won ’ t be shipping any more 3DoF VR products , ” the post says .
Oculus already listed the $ 149 Go as out of stock before its cancelation , and it dropped the Go from its business VR platform in January , saying the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for most users .
Oculus Go owners will get firmware patches through 2022 Oculus launched the Quest with a highly curated app selection aimed at giving new VR users a consistent experience .
Now , with Go developers getting nudged toward the Quest , it ’ s apparently developing an alternative option for early 2021 .
This system will let developers “ share their apps to anyone with a Quest ” as long as they meet Oculus ’ content standards .
They won ’ t get the visibility of an Oculus Store page @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to manually sideload the apps onto their headsets , making it easier to deploy software that ’ s in testing or built for a limited audience .
The Oculus Go was designed as a cheap option for non-gaming applications like VR video services ; in 2018 , Walmart ordered several thousand Go headsets for employee training .
But VR cinema has fizzled , while gaming has seen much greater ( if still limited ) success .
At least 10 apps on the games-heavy Quest have earned $ 2 million within a year of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ VR gaming studios , most recently Lone Echo and The Order : 1886 developer Ready At Dawn .
While substantially cheaper than other headsets , the Go also locked users out of many popular experiences .
And its existence arguably caused confusion about Oculus ’ lineup , leading VR newcomers to conflate the Go with the far fuller-featured $ 399 Quest or other higher-end headsets .
By contrast , the tethered Rift S headset isn ’ t Oculus ’ central focus , but it shares many apps with the Quest , and there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ VR enthusiasts .
Unfortunately , despite Oculus ’ renewed focus on the Quest , that headset has remained unavailable for much of 2020 — part of a larger electronics shortage exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic .
“ We continue to make products available in all channels as quickly as possible for people to buy , and Quest and Rift S have been intermittently in stock in some channels and regions over the past weeks , ” a Facebook spokesperson tells The Verge .
The Quest was restocked in Oculus ’ online store shortly @ @ @ @ @ @

Oculus is ending sales of its budget Oculus Go virtual reality headset and opening its Quest headset to a wider range of software. The company will maintain Oculus Go firmware through 2022 and accept new apps through December 2020, but it will stop selling Go hardware after the current stock runs out. Meanwhile, it will add a new Quest app distribution channel without the current strict approval process, encouraging more developers to work with the headset.
In a blog post, Facebook-owned Oculus says it’s retiring the Go after positive response to the Quest — which features the same all-in-one format but tracks full spatial (or 6DoF) motion, not just head orientation. “You’ve told us loud and clear that 6DoF feels like the future of VR. That’s why we’re going all-in, and we won’t be shipping any more 3DoF VR products,” the post says. Oculus already listed the $149 Go as out of stock before its cancelation, and it dropped the Go from its business VR platform in January, saying the Quest was the “best solution” for most users.
Oculus Go owners will get firmware patches through 2022
Oculus launched the Quest with a highly curated app selection aimed at giving new VR users a consistent experience. Now, with Go developers getting nudged toward the Quest, it’s apparently developing an alternative option for early 2021. This system will let developers “share their apps to anyone with a Quest” as long as they meet Oculus’ content standards. They won’t get the visibility of an Oculus Store page, but users won’t have to manually sideload the apps onto their headsets, making it easier to deploy software that’s in testing or built for a limited audience.
The Oculus Go was designed as a cheap option for non-gaming applications like VR video services; in 2018, Walmart ordered several thousand Go headsets for employee training. But VR cinema has fizzled, while gaming has seen much greater (if still limited) success. At least 10 apps on the games-heavy Quest have earned $2 million within a year of launch, and Oculus has acquired multiple VR gaming studios, most recently Lone Echo and The Order: 1886 developer Ready At Dawn.
While substantially cheaper than other headsets, the Go also locked users out of many popular experiences. And its existence arguably caused confusion about Oculus’ lineup, leading VR newcomers to conflate the Go with the far fuller-featured $399 Quest or other higher-end headsets. By contrast, the tethered Rift S headset isn’t Oculus’ central focus, but it shares many apps with the Quest, and there’s a substantial community of PC VR enthusiasts.


theverge--2020-06-23--Hamilton is censored on Disney Plus; Lin-Manuel Miranda gives two fucks

Hamilton uses three instances of “ fuck ” in its original Broadway incantation , but the movie adaptation heading to Disney Plus next month will drop two uses of the word to appease the ratings board — and Disney .
Creator Lin-Manuel Miranda announced on Monday that in order to bring the movie to Disney Plus , he and his team had to come up with ways of eliminating the offending word .
They ended up muting the “ fuck ” in “ I get the fuck back up again ” during “ Yorktown ( The World Turned Upside Down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the word with a record scratch in the lyric “ Southern motherfucking Democratic Republicans ” in “ Washington On Your Side.
” In February , Manuel also told The New York Times ’ Kyle Buchanan that if they had to “ mute a word here or there to reach the largest audience possible , I ’ m okay with that , because your kids already have the original language memorized , ” adding that he didn ’ t “ think we ’ re depriving anyone of anything if we mute an f-bomb @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” “ I literally gave two fucks so the kids could see it , ” Manuel tweeted .
Manuel noted that the ratings board within the Motion Picture Association of America ( MPAA ) has strict rules about how many times the use of a certain word , like “ fuck , ” can be used .
Technically more than one “ fuck , ” and a movie should receive an R rating .
Disney Plus has strict rules about what can appear on its namesake streaming service , barring anything above a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ referring to is very real .
A revised version of the classification and rating rules from the MPAA state that in order for a movie to maintain a PG-13 rating , there can ’ t be more than one instance of the word “ fuck.
” This is because “ fuck ” is seen as a “ harsher sexually-derived ” word .
A PG-13 movie can have multiple instances of the word “ bitch ” for example , but because “ fuck ” is seen as a sexually charged word , it can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ More than one such expletive requires an R rating ... even [ if only ] one of those words [ is ] used in a sexual context , ” the certifications reads .
Here ’ s where it gets a little complicated — the rule is more of a guideline .
The rating board may allow more than one use of the word “ fuck.
” It ’ s all dependent on context .
Here ’ s how the rating board describes its judging process : Essentially , if the fucks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a sexual act or in a sexual way , only one can appear .
If the fucks , however , are being used to express anger , frustration , or for comedic purposes that don ’ t cross over into sexual territory , more than one “ fuck ” is allowed .
To better understand the situation , let ’ s examine Ridley Scott ’ s The Martian .
Matt Damon ’ s Mark Watney prominently uses “ fuck ” twice in The Martian — once after performing surgery on himself , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when he utters out a simple , “ Fuck Mars.
” The word appears a few more times in the film , once via a text exchange and another time when Damon clearly mouths the word although it isn ’ t audible .
Despite using the word prominently twice , The Martian received a PG-13 rating .
Neither of the instances are directly related to a sexual act , so the MPAA allowed it to skirt an R rating .
For theatrical releases , the rating is crucial , as an R rating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ movie .
Neither of the two instances Miranda highlights above are sexual in nature .
In all likelihood , Miranda and Disney could have argued to keep them .
There ’ s enough precedent including and beyond The Martian .
Many PG-13 films have more than one “ fuck.
” The underlying factor here is the studio in question — Disney .
At its core , Disney is a children ’ s entertainment company .
Former head of Disney Plus , Kevin Mayer , acknowledged that people “ won ’ t find anything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , although more adult offerings were coming to the platform .
Part of staying true to that brand is making movies and TV shows as friendly to younger audiences as possible .
Getting rid of two fucks likely a ) appeased the MPAA rating board regardless and b ) made Disney feel more comfortable about putting Hamilton on Disney Plus instead of its general , more adult-oriented streaming service , Hulu .
This isn ’ t the first time that Disney is censoring content for its streaming platform .
Recently , Disney found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ using weird fur-looking CGI to cover a butt in Splash , a Tom Hanks movie from 1984 .
A Disney representative confirmed at the time that a “ few scenes ” from Splash were “ slighted edited to remove nudity , ” but they did not specify when the edits were made .
Disney has also edited out curse words from other titles and made other small edits that watchdog fans on sites like Reddit have steadily tracked .
So , while Miranda is correct that the MPAA ’ s rating board has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ word “ fuck ” can be used in a movie , this case does seem like it may have come from both Disney and the MPAA .
The best part about this whole situation , however , is the one “ fuck ” that Miranda chose to leave in .
The line goes “ That was my wife you decided to / Fuuuu— , ” which , of all the fucks Miranda chose to keep , is by far the most sexual .

Hamilton uses three instances of “fuck” in its original Broadway incantation, but the movie adaptation heading to Disney Plus next month will drop two uses of the word to appease the ratings board — and Disney.
Creator Lin-Manuel Miranda announced on Monday that in order to bring the movie to Disney Plus, he and his team had to come up with ways of eliminating the offending word. They ended up muting the “fuck” in “I get the fuck back up again” during “Yorktown (The World Turned Upside Down),” and covered another use of the word with a record scratch in the lyric “Southern motherfucking Democratic Republicans” in “Washington On Your Side.”
In February, Manuel also told The New York Times’ Kyle Buchanan that if they had to “mute a word here or there to reach the largest audience possible, I’m okay with that, because your kids already have the original language memorized,” adding that he didn’t “think we’re depriving anyone of anything if we mute an f-bomb here or there to make our rating.”
“I literally gave two fucks so the kids could see it,” Manuel tweeted.
Manuel noted that the ratings board within the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) has strict rules about how many times the use of a certain word, like “fuck,” can be used. Technically more than one “fuck,” and a movie should receive an R rating. Disney Plus has strict rules about what can appear on its namesake streaming service, barring anything above a PG-13.
The rule that Miranda is referring to is very real. A revised version of the classification and rating rules from the MPAA state that in order for a movie to maintain a PG-13 rating, there can’t be more than one instance of the word “fuck.” This is because “fuck” is seen as a “harsher sexually-derived” word. A PG-13 movie can have multiple instances of the word “bitch” for example, but because “fuck” is seen as a sexually charged word, it can’t be used more than once.
“More than one such expletive requires an R rating ... even [if only] one of those words [is] used in a sexual context,” the certifications reads.
Here’s where it gets a little complicated — the rule is more of a guideline. The rating board may allow more than one use of the word “fuck.” It’s all dependent on context. Here’s how the rating board describes its judging process:
The Rating Board nevertheless may rate such a motion picture PG-13 if, based on a special vote by a two-thirds majority, the Raters feel that most American parents would believe that a PG-13 rating is appropriate because of the context or manner in which the words are used or because the use of those words in the motion picture is inconspicuous.
Essentially, if the fucks in question are being used in relation to a sexual act or in a sexual way, only one can appear. If the fucks, however, are being used to express anger, frustration, or for comedic purposes that don’t cross over into sexual territory, more than one “fuck” is allowed. To better understand the situation, let’s examine Ridley Scott’s The Martian.
Matt Damon’s Mark Watney prominently uses “fuck” twice in The Martian — once after performing surgery on himself, and once again later in the film when he utters out a simple, “Fuck Mars.” The word appears a few more times in the film, once via a text exchange and another time when Damon clearly mouths the word although it isn’t audible. Despite using the word prominently twice, The Martian received a PG-13 rating. Neither of the instances are directly related to a sexual act, so the MPAA allowed it to skirt an R rating. For theatrical releases, the rating is crucial, as an R rating limits how many people can see the movie.
Neither of the two instances Miranda highlights above are sexual in nature. In all likelihood, Miranda and Disney could have argued to keep them. There’s enough precedent including and beyond The Martian. Many PG-13 films have more than one “fuck.” The underlying factor here is the studio in question — Disney.
At its core, Disney is a children’s entertainment company. Former head of Disney Plus, Kevin Mayer, acknowledged that people “won’t find anything above a PG-13” on Disney Plus, although more adult offerings were coming to the platform. Part of staying true to that brand is making movies and TV shows as friendly to younger audiences as possible. Getting rid of two fucks likely a) appeased the MPAA rating board regardless and b) made Disney feel more comfortable about putting Hamilton on Disney Plus instead of its general, more adult-oriented streaming service, Hulu.
This isn’t the first time that Disney is censoring content for its streaming platform. Recently, Disney found itself at the center of conversation for using weird fur-looking CGI to cover a butt in Splash, a Tom Hanks movie from 1984. A Disney representative confirmed at the time that a “few scenes” from Splash were “slighted edited to remove nudity,” but they did not specify when the edits were made. Disney has also edited out curse words from other titles and made other small edits that watchdog fans on sites like Reddit have steadily tracked.


theverge--2020-06-23--How activists should be thinking about cybersecurity

In this week ’ s edition of our Vergecast interview series , Verge editor-in-chief Nilay Patel and policy editor Russell Brandom talk with cybersecurity expert and founder of CryptoHarlem Matt Mitchell .
Mitchell has worked with activists in the US to help them better understand the tools technology offers as well as the threats it can impose .
On The Vergecast , he discusses not only why activists should be thinking about cybersecurity and data minimization , but how tech is at the forefront of activism today and what attacks they can face from opposition because of it .
Below @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conversation .
Nilay Patel : Let ’ s say you have founded a group .
You ’ re all going to protest [ NYC mayor Bill ] de Blasio .
There 's the basic stuff like : don ’ t send unencrypted emails , move all your stuff to Signal .
Are you teaching them how to use Signal , or are you saying what I worry about , which is the massive amount of attack surface area that comes just from using the internet now and buying devices and having that stuff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Matt Mitchell : Yeah , I actually don ’ t teach them about Signal and stuff like that .
I come at them from a “ I ’ m a professional , I ’ m an expert in this.
” I teach them about the capabilities and methods of their adversaries .
Like this is what ’ s going to stop you from moving forward .
And this is also where every tool you use has a problem , and it breaks so they can be an educated consumer .
You might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this thing , send these encrypted emails , use Signal and you ’ re good.
” That ’ s for like a normal , boring person , not for activists .
Activists need a different game plan .
They need to learn about like , do you have a data retention policy ?
What data are you creating every day ?
What ’ s your exhaustive data , your data footprint , and how quickly do you remove it ?
Do you delete it ?
So that ’ s a big problem because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And I tell them , “ Look , this is going to end not with your favorite movie , whether it ’ s like Hackers or whether it ’ s Braveheart .
This ends with you in a courtroom with a lawyer next to you , and you ’ re talking about deciding whether that lawyer has a folder worth of evidence that you ’ re defending against or those cardboard boxes upon cardboard boxes upon pallets of evidence that they ’ re defending against.
” So we ’ re just talking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ court , how can we make sure that your sentence is as low as possible ?
Because that ’ s reality .
If you ’ re an activist today , there is a huge amount of data that is being collected about you that you do not control .
And then there ’ s even more amounts of data that ’ s being collected about you that you do control .
And I just try to get them to get that down to as little as possible .
NP : Give me an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t control that you help them get into line or manage more efficiently .
Sure , let ’ s talk about the six people who decide to meet at that Starbucks about your “ de Blasio meeting.
” They all had to get there .
And we all have phones .
Some of us have the fanciest newest iPhone like you , and other people have like some basic Boost Mobile phones .
But we all have phones .
Those phones are on .
Those phones are connecting to cell towers so they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those phones .
You can not turn off location services [ because ] of how your cell phone works .
So you can say , “ Oh , I put it in a Faraday bag , wrapped it in foil , put in an Airplane Mode , and I move forward to get to the Starbucks.
” But then you passed all kinds of cameras , whether they ’ re attached to an ATM or whether they were attached to a police box that ’ s just surveilling that corner or that street @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it .
These are pieces of data that you don ’ t control .
Of course , you don ’ t want to have a home assistant in your house , like an Alexa or an Amazon or something like that .
You wouldn ’ t want that in the space .
But there ’ s people around you who have data , and there ’ s an imprint , an outline that ’ s missing , and that ’ s your movements , the pictures , the video , all that data @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s the data that you do not control .
You might be getting junk mail .
That means that your address , your name — first and last , whether it ’ s your actual government or some alias — that ’ s easily findable .
I could search a data broker ’ s website , or I can pay a data broker to collect and find that information on you .
That ’ s very hard for you to control .
“ If you ’ re an activist today , there is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being collected about you that you do not control.
” But then there ’ s the information you do control .
That ’ s the words you say , the words you type .
You control that .
And where you put them and how you manage them , you can control that .
So when you go to that Starbucks , did you pay with cash or you did you pay with your credit card ?
Did you pay with your Starbucks app ?
So it ’ s about that more holistic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we talk about when you ’ re reading a quick article or things like that — because activism , it ’ s different from living in this crazy world we all live in .
We ’ ve all seen The Great Hack .
We all understand like “ They can see my tweets ” or something .
This is deeper .
It ’ s another level because you ’ re actually not just a regular , boring person who has to deal with hackers who just criminally want to take your credit card @ @ @ @ @ @ @ normal person who has to deal with over-policing or has to deal with ridiculous rules against them because of what law enforcement is able to do or what the city ’ s able to do or whatever .
Data brokers who make an industry out of —especially the United States where we don ’ t have a lot of privacy protections if you don ’ t live in California — your data trail and selling and monetizing that .
That ’ s a normal person .
But now you have to deal with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your activism .
So it ’ s about having that deeper conversation , but also explaining that you can win this and it ’ s a hopeful conversation at the end of the day .
Russell Brandom : This is what ’ s so interesting about this side of cybersecurity .
It feels like 99 percent of the time when people are talking data exhaust , retention , what ’ s your footprint , it ’ s in the context of corporate cybersecurity , maintaining the status quo .
Whereas the people you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re really kind of going out there into new territory .
And it ’ s sort of “ how do I protect myself once I ’ m on the other guy ’ s turf ?
” Exactly .
It ’ s completely new territory , and there aren ’ t a lot of professionals in this area .
So the first thing is , people do have an idea what the digital risk and threats are , but they actually don ’ t understand what ’ s in the wild — like what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of law enforcement or de Blasio or anything like that .
So it ’ s really just guessing , which is not good .
So you want what people say is “ an evidence-based approach.
” You want to defend against what ’ s probably likely out there based on past research .
So a lot of my work is reading cases .
Whether the cases are about the “ worst of the worst ” as they say .
So there might be people who are in the trade of illegal images or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are selling narcotics to folks , things like that .
It ’ s the same methods that are used to go after those folks or to go after maybe like a terrorist or whatever the bad person of the day is .
People are more likely to speak on those methods .
Because we all , no matter what your viewpoint is , [ agree ] this is the enemy and this is criminal behavior .
This is bad .
So people tend to get a little bit too much into it , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more information than they will if you research what happened to that person with the Greenpeace placard .
That case is going to be really tight .
It ’ s going to be a lot of information about how evidence was gathered there .
But it ’ s the same maybe individual out there , after they ’ re done catching this person , they ’ re going to go after catching the Starbucks anti-de Blasio people .
So it ’ s about understanding that .
“ There ’ s a red carpet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people .
And you need to know about it.
” And it begins with things like , when you read a privacy statement from a company , a normal “ I understand , I want to control my data ” person might read “ How do we sell your data ?
Or what do we how do we collect your data ?
” While an activist might read that section that says , “ How do we deal with legal requests and government requests for information ” — which may or may not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it could just be someone saying , “ Hey , can we look at that user ’ s account ?
” When I talk to activists , the first thing I tell them is “ Every technology that you use has to deal with and has to work with the people who you ’ re worried about.
” Which is mostly someone is going to try to paint you as a horrible person for trying to create positive change .
And that usually could be a force that has power , [ or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seats of power who do not want to be removed from the seat of power , and they enforce the status quo that you ’ re trying to change .
So those folks are involved in this as well .
And they ’ re going to use these requests to find out more about you and criminalize your behavior and eventually stop what you ’ re doing .
There ’ s a red carpet that technology companies roll out for these people .
And you need to know about it .
So when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thing I ’ ll tell them is like , “ Hey , you use Google and everyone uses Google.
” So then I ’ m like , “ Look , there ’ s a website that is Google ’ s red carpet law enforcement request system , and that ’ s lers.google.com .
Go there .
Look at that thing .
See what that looks like .
That ’ s when someone just says .
“ Hey , I want to know what Russell is searching on Tuesday night at home.
” And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has the same thing .
Facebook has it as well .
Facebook ’ s red carpet is Facebook.com/records .
If you have a domain name — that ’ s like NYPD in the de Blasio case , or maybe it ’ s the Pakistani Intelligence , it doesn ’ t matter — if your domain name matches , they just put in your email .
It ’ s on the database of known domains .
You ’ ll get an email that ’ s like , “ Hey , if you want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Facebook user ’ s profile , fill out this form .
Tell us what you want , and our legal team will look at it .
And depending on where you are and who you are , it depends on whether we ’ ll push back hard or we might just fulfill the service.
” NP : When you go to the Facebook one , all you have to do is check a box that says “ I am an authorized law enforcement agent or government employee investigating an emergency , and this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just check it .
Yeah , but then you have to put in your email .
If you ’ re law enforcement , your email isn ’ t “ @ gmail.
” But the problem is — maybe — that it doesn ’ t matter whether you ’ re day one out of police academy or whether you ’ re a lieutenant or someone who is on the special caseload who is looking for certain things .
So it doesn ’ t matter who you are .
As long as you are law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out .
So that ’ s problematic .

In this week’s edition of our Vergecast interview series, Verge editor-in-chief Nilay Patel and policy editor Russell Brandom talk with cybersecurity expert and founder of CryptoHarlem Matt Mitchell.
Mitchell has worked with activists in the US to help them better understand the tools technology offers as well as the threats it can impose. On The Vergecast, he discusses not only why activists should be thinking about cybersecurity and data minimization, but how tech is at the forefront of activism today and what attacks they can face from opposition because of it.
Below is a lightly edited excerpt from that conversation.
Nilay Patel: Let’s say you have founded a group. You’re all going to protest [NYC mayor Bill] de Blasio. There's the basic stuff like: don’t send unencrypted emails, move all your stuff to Signal. Are you teaching them how to use Signal, or are you saying what I worry about, which is the massive amount of attack surface area that comes just from using the internet now and buying devices and having that stuff in your life and in your home?
Matt Mitchell: Yeah, I actually don’t teach them about Signal and stuff like that. I come at them from a “I’m a professional, I’m an expert in this.” I teach them about the capabilities and methods of their adversaries. Like this is what’s going to stop you from moving forward. And this is also where every tool you use has a problem, and it breaks so they can be an educated consumer.
You might tell people, “Hey, use this thing, send these encrypted emails, use Signal and you’re good.” That’s for like a normal, boring person, not for activists. Activists need a different game plan. They need to learn about like, do you have a data retention policy? What data are you creating every day? What’s your exhaustive data, your data footprint, and how quickly do you remove it? Do you delete it?
So that’s a big problem because they usually amass large amounts of data. And I tell them, “Look, this is going to end not with your favorite movie, whether it’s like Hackers or whether it’s Braveheart. This ends with you in a courtroom with a lawyer next to you, and you’re talking about deciding whether that lawyer has a folder worth of evidence that you’re defending against or those cardboard boxes upon cardboard boxes upon pallets of evidence that they’re defending against.” So we’re just talking about when you have your day in court, how can we make sure that your sentence is as low as possible?
Because that’s reality. If you’re an activist today, there is a huge amount of data that is being collected about you that you do not control. And then there’s even more amounts of data that’s being collected about you that you do control. And I just try to get them to get that down to as little as possible.
NP: Give me an example of data that activists don’t control that you help them get into line or manage more efficiently.
Sure, let’s talk about the six people who decide to meet at that Starbucks about your “de Blasio meeting.”
They all had to get there. And we all have phones. Some of us have the fanciest newest iPhone like you, and other people have like some basic Boost Mobile phones. But we all have phones. Those phones are on. Those phones are connecting to cell towers so they can maintain service and the location of those phones. You cannot turn off location services [because] of how your cell phone works.
So you can say, “Oh, I put it in a Faraday bag, wrapped it in foil, put in an Airplane Mode, and I move forward to get to the Starbucks.” But then you passed all kinds of cameras, whether they’re attached to an ATM or whether they were attached to a police box that’s just surveilling that corner or that street or that block and you pass through it. These are pieces of data that you don’t control.
Of course, you don’t want to have a home assistant in your house, like an Alexa or an Amazon or something like that. You wouldn’t want that in the space. But there’s people around you who have data, and there’s an imprint, an outline that’s missing, and that’s your movements, the pictures, the video, all that data that’s collected. That’s the data that you do not control.
You might be getting junk mail. That means that your address, your name — first and last, whether it’s your actual government or some alias — that’s easily findable. I could search a data broker’s website, or I can pay a data broker to collect and find that information on you. That’s very hard for you to control.
“If you’re an activist today, there is a huge amount of data that is being collected about you that you do not control.”
But then there’s the information you do control. That’s the words you say, the words you type. You control that. And where you put them and how you manage them, you can control that.
So when you go to that Starbucks, did you pay with cash or you did you pay with your credit card? Did you pay with your Starbucks app? So it’s about that more holistic viewpoint, not just the basics that we talk about when you’re reading a quick article or things like that — because activism, it’s different from living in this crazy world we all live in.
We’ve all seen The Great Hack. We all understand like “They can see my tweets” or something. This is deeper. It’s another level because you’re actually not just a regular, boring person who has to deal with hackers who just criminally want to take your credit card or just create chaos, or a normal person who has to deal with over-policing or has to deal with ridiculous rules against them because of what law enforcement is able to do or what the city’s able to do or whatever. Data brokers who make an industry out of —especially the United States where we don’t have a lot of privacy protections if you don’t live in California — your data trail and selling and monetizing that. That’s a normal person.
But now you have to deal with that plus it’s compounded with your activism. So it’s about having that deeper conversation, but also explaining that you can win this and it’s a hopeful conversation at the end of the day.
Russell Brandom: This is what’s so interesting about this side of cybersecurity. It feels like 99 percent of the time when people are talking data exhaust, retention, what’s your footprint, it’s in the context of corporate cybersecurity, maintaining the status quo. Whereas the people you’re talking with, they’re really kind of going out there into new territory. And it’s sort of “how do I protect myself once I’m on the other guy’s turf?”
Exactly. It’s completely new territory, and there aren’t a lot of professionals in this area. So the first thing is, people do have an idea what the digital risk and threats are, but they actually don’t understand what’s in the wild — like what’s an actual capability or method of law enforcement or de Blasio or anything like that.
So it’s really just guessing, which is not good. So you want what people say is “an evidence-based approach.” You want to defend against what’s probably likely out there based on past research.
So a lot of my work is reading cases. Whether the cases are about the “worst of the worst” as they say. So there might be people who are in the trade of illegal images or images of child abuse or people who are selling narcotics to folks, things like that.
It’s the same methods that are used to go after those folks or to go after maybe like a terrorist or whatever the bad person of the day is. People are more likely to speak on those methods. Because we all, no matter what your viewpoint is, [agree] this is the enemy and this is criminal behavior. This is bad.
So people tend to get a little bit too much into it, and they’ll share a lot more information than they will if you research what happened to that person with the Greenpeace placard. That case is going to be really tight. It’s going to be a lot of information about how evidence was gathered there.
But it’s the same maybe individual out there, after they’re done catching this person, they’re going to go after catching the Starbucks anti-de Blasio people. So it’s about understanding that.
“There’s a red carpet that technology companies roll out for these people. And you need to know about it.”
And it begins with things like, when you read a privacy statement from a company, a normal “I understand, I want to control my data” person might read “How do we sell your data? Or what do we how do we collect your data?” While an activist might read that section that says, “How do we deal with legal requests and government requests for information” — which may or may not be a subpoena or a warrant, it could just be someone saying, “Hey, can we look at that user’s account?”
When I talk to activists, the first thing I tell them is “Every technology that you use has to deal with and has to work with the people who you’re worried about.” Which is mostly someone is going to try to paint you as a horrible person for trying to create positive change. And that usually could be a force that has power, [or] people who are sitting on the seats of power who do not want to be removed from the seat of power, and they enforce the status quo that you’re trying to change.
So those folks are involved in this as well. And they’re going to use these requests to find out more about you and criminalize your behavior and eventually stop what you’re doing. There’s a red carpet that technology companies roll out for these people. And you need to know about it.
So when I talk to folks, the first thing I’ll tell them is like, “Hey, you use Google and everyone uses Google.” So then I’m like, “Look, there’s a website that is Google’s red carpet law enforcement request system, and that’s lers.google.com. Go there. Look at that thing. See what that looks like. That’s when someone just says. “Hey, I want to know what Russell is searching on Tuesday night at home.” And Twitter has the same thing. Instagram has the same thing. Facebook has it as well. Facebook’s red carpet is Facebook.com/records.
If you have a domain name — that’s like NYPD in the de Blasio case, or maybe it’s the Pakistani Intelligence, it doesn’t matter — if your domain name matches, they just put in your email. It’s on the database of known domains. You’ll get an email that’s like, “Hey, if you want to know how to make requests about a Facebook user’s profile, fill out this form. Tell us what you want, and our legal team will look at it. And depending on where you are and who you are, it depends on whether we’ll push back hard or we might just fulfill the service.”
NP: When you go to the Facebook one, all you have to do is check a box that says “I am an authorized law enforcement agent or government employee investigating an emergency, and this is a request.” And then you just check it.
Yeah, but then you have to put in your email. If you’re law enforcement, your email isn’t “@gmail.” But the problem is — maybe — that it doesn’t matter whether you’re day one out of police academy or whether you’re a lieutenant or someone who is on the special caseload who is looking for certain things. So it doesn’t matter who you are. As long as you are law enforcement, you can fill this thing out. So that’s problematic.