theverge--2020-12-23--Google reportedly asked employees to ‘strike a positive tone’ in research paper

Google has added a layer of scrutiny for research papers on sensitive topics including gender , race , and political ideology .
A senior manager also instructed researchers to “ strike a positive tone ” in a paper this summer .
The news was first reported by Reuters .
“ Advances in technology and the growing complexity of our external environment are increasingly leading to situations where seemingly inoffensive projects raise ethical , reputational , regulatory or legal issues , ” the policy read .
Three employees told Reuters the rule started in June .
The company has also asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ technology in a negative light ” on multiple occasions , Reuters says .
Employees working on a paper on recommendation AI , which is used to personalize content on platforms like YouTube , were told to “ take great care to strike a positive tone , ” according to Reuters .
The authors then updated the paper to “ remove all references to Google products.
” Another paper on using AI to understand foreign languages “ softened a reference to how the Google Translate product was making mistakes , ” Reuters wrote .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ request from reviewers .
Google ’ s standard review process is meant to ensure researchers don ’ t inadvertently reveal trade secrets .
But the “ sensitive topics ” review goes beyond that .
Employees who want to evaluate Google ’ s own services for bias are asked to consult with the legal , PR , and policy teams first .
Other sensitive topics reportedly include China , the oil industry , location data , religion , and Israel .
The search giant ’ s publication process has been in the spotlight since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in early December .
Gebru says she was terminated over an email she sent to the Google Brain Women and Allies listserv , an internal group for Google AI research employees .
In it , she spoke about Google managers pushing her to retract a paper on the dangers of large scale language processing models .
Jeff Dean , Google ’ s head of AI , said she ’ d submitted it too close to the deadline .
But Gebru ’ s own team pushed back on this assertion , saying the policy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gebru reached out to Google ’ s PR and policy team in September regarding the paper , according to The Washington Post .
She knew the company might take issue with certain aspects of the research , since it uses large language processing models in its search engine .
The deadline for making changes to the paper wasn ’ t until the end of January 2021 , giving researchers ample time to respond to any concerns .
A week before Thanksgiving , however , Megan Kacholia , a VP at Google Research , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The following month , Gebru was fired .
Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Verge .

Google has added a layer of scrutiny for research papers on sensitive topics including gender, race, and political ideology. A senior manager also instructed researchers to “strike a positive tone” in a paper this summer. The news was first reported by Reuters.
“Advances in technology and the growing complexity of our external environment are increasingly leading to situations where seemingly inoffensive projects raise ethical, reputational, regulatory or legal issues,” the policy read. Three employees told Reuters the rule started in June.
The company has also asked employees to “refrain from casting its technology in a negative light” on multiple occasions, Reuters says.
Employees working on a paper on recommendation AI, which is used to personalize content on platforms like YouTube, were told to “take great care to strike a positive tone,” according to Reuters. The authors then updated the paper to “remove all references to Google products.”
Another paper on using AI to understand foreign languages “softened a reference to how the Google Translate product was making mistakes,” Reuters wrote. The change came in response to a request from reviewers.
Google’s standard review process is meant to ensure researchers don’t inadvertently reveal trade secrets. But the “sensitive topics” review goes beyond that. Employees who want to evaluate Google’s own services for bias are asked to consult with the legal, PR, and policy teams first. Other sensitive topics reportedly include China, the oil industry, location data, religion, and Israel.
The search giant’s publication process has been in the spotlight since the firing of AI ethicist Timnit Gebru in early December. Gebru says she was terminated over an email she sent to the Google Brain Women and Allies listserv, an internal group for Google AI research employees. In it, she spoke about Google managers pushing her to retract a paper on the dangers of large scale language processing models. Jeff Dean, Google’s head of AI, said she’d submitted it too close to the deadline. But Gebru’s own team pushed back on this assertion, saying the policy was applied “unevenly and discriminatorily.”
Gebru reached out to Google’s PR and policy team in September regarding the paper, according to The Washington Post. She knew the company might take issue with certain aspects of the research, since it uses large language processing models in its search engine. The deadline for making changes to the paper wasn’t until the end of January 2021, giving researchers ample time to respond to any concerns.
A week before Thanksgiving, however, Megan Kacholia, a VP at Google Research, asked Gebru to retract the paper. The following month, Gebru was fired.


theverge--2020-12-23--Andrew Yang is running for mayor of New York City

Former presidential candidate Andrew Yang has filed paperwork to run for mayor of New York .
NBC 4 New York first reported the news , citing confirmation from the city ’ s Campaign Finance Board .
Yang will be running to replace current New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio , who is term-limited .
A longtime New York resident , Yang first drew attention as a candidate in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary , focusing his campaign on the promise of a universal basic income .
Yang was also outspoken about the threats posed by automation , and how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opioid epidemic and a broader social dislocation .
While Yang ’ s campaign was successful in cultivating a dedicated following , he failed to attract broader support and withdrew from the race in February after a poor showing in the Iowa caucuses .
Earlier this month , Politico reported that Yang was reaching out to city political brokers , but the mayoral run was still hypothetical .
Wednesday ’ s filing shows that it is real , and kicks off what is likely to be a heated campaign .
New York City ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 22nd , 2021 , and several early polls show Yang with a slight lead .
On Tuesday , a poll conducted by Public Policy Polling showed 17 percent of respondents supporting Yang , the highest of any candidate .

Former presidential candidate Andrew Yang has filed paperwork to run for mayor of New York. NBC 4 New York first reported the news, citing confirmation from the city’s Campaign Finance Board. Yang will be running to replace current New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, who is term-limited.
A longtime New York resident, Yang first drew attention as a candidate in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary, focusing his campaign on the promise of a universal basic income. Yang was also outspoken about the threats posed by automation, and how its economic consequences were driving forward the opioid epidemic and a broader social dislocation.
While Yang’s campaign was successful in cultivating a dedicated following, he failed to attract broader support and withdrew from the race in February after a poor showing in the Iowa caucuses.


theverge--2020-12-23--Daft Punk releases ‘complete edition’ of their stunning Tron: Legacy score

Fans of Daft Punk ’ s incredible Tron : Legacy score will receive a pretty good holiday gift this year : an extended version that ’ s now available on Spotify and Apple Music .
Tron : Legacy The Complete Edition adds nine tracks that weren ’ t available on the original score , according to Polygon .
Here ’ s the catch : these aren ’ t new songs .
Some are iTunes exclusives ; others are tracks that were only available on vinyl .
There ’ s also an Amazon MP3 bonus track and — get this — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Complete Edition simply marks the first time it ’ s all been collected in one place .
Even though the tracks aren ’ t new , I ’ m excited about having an extended , complete version of the score available on Spotify .
I love Tron : Legacy and adore the score .
I play it almost every single day while I work .
“ The Game Has Changed , ” “ Derezzed , ” “ Disc Wars , ” and “ Arena ” are perfect for productivity — not something @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but it worked out all the same .
Tron : Legacy is a score I haven ’ t gotten tired of yet , even 10 years later .
Having nine new tracks — even if they ’ re unlikely to compete with “ Derezzed ” or “ The Game Has Changed ” — is a perfect holiday treat .
Now , if only Disney would kindly give us an update on what ’ s happening with Tron 3 , which has existed in development hell for years .
The film , if it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is set to be directed by Garth Davis .

Fans of Daft Punk’s incredible Tron: Legacy score will receive a pretty good holiday gift this year: an extended version that’s now available on Spotify and Apple Music.
Tron: Legacy The Complete Edition adds nine tracks that weren’t available on the original score, according to Polygon. Here’s the catch: these aren’t new songs. Some are iTunes exclusives; others are tracks that were only available on vinyl. There’s also an Amazon MP3 bonus track and — get this — a Nokia Music Store bonus track. The Complete Edition simply marks the first time it’s all been collected in one place.
Even though the tracks aren’t new, I’m excited about having an extended, complete version of the score available on Spotify. I love Tron: Legacy and adore the score. I play it almost every single day while I work. “The Game Has Changed,” “Derezzed,” “Disc Wars,” and “Arena” are perfect for productivity — not something Daft Punk may have planned for, but it worked out all the same.
Tron: Legacy is a score I haven’t gotten tired of yet, even 10 years later. Having nine new tracks — even if they’re unlikely to compete with “Derezzed” or “The Game Has Changed” — is a perfect holiday treat.


theverge--2020-12-23--Today I learned that the iOS calculator has a scientific mode

Today I learned that the iPhone ’ s built-in calculator app has a scientific mode — and all you have to do to access it is turn your phone on its side .
If you ’ re the type of person who keeps your phone permanently in portrait lock ( like me ) , this might come as a surprise to you , as it did to many of us here at The Verge .
This unlocks all sorts of functionality , like adding numbers to memory , parentheses , exponents , and all those trig functions from back in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t exactly new , or hidden : It was introduced in iOS 2.0 back in 2008 , and there ’ s actually even a screenshot of it on the App Store page for the calculator app .
To be fair , most people probably never see that App Store page , as the app comes pre-installed on every phone .
It ’ s not the first app that you ’ d probably look for if you wanted to install a new calculator , either — even with the hidden ( ish ) functionality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
For starters , there ’ s no ticker tape feature , which lets you see all the operations you ’ ve just done , which is useful when you need to see if you ’ ve already added a value or not .
It also makes some essential functions like parentheses — which I use in almost every math equation I do — hard to access .
Thankfully , there are other options : PCalc offers a more robust calculating experience , and offers a free PCalc Lite version that ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more serious math , there ’ s the TI-30XS , which can make some things ( like fractions ) so easy it almost feels like cheating .

Today I learned that the iPhone’s built-in calculator app has a scientific mode — and all you have to do to access it is turn your phone on its side. If you’re the type of person who keeps your phone permanently in portrait lock (like me), this might come as a surprise to you, as it did to many of us here at The Verge.
This unlocks all sorts of functionality, like adding numbers to memory, parentheses, exponents, and all those trig functions from back in high school. The feature isn’t exactly new, or hidden: It was introduced in iOS 2.0 back in 2008, and there’s actually even a screenshot of it on the App Store page for the calculator app.
It was hiding in plain sight.
To be fair, most people probably never see that App Store page, as the app comes pre-installed on every phone. It’s not the first app that you’d probably look for if you wanted to install a new calculator, either — even with the hidden(ish) functionality, it’s still not great.
For starters, there’s no ticker tape feature, which lets you see all the operations you’ve just done, which is useful when you need to see if you’ve already added a value or not. It also makes some essential functions like parentheses — which I use in almost every math equation I do — hard to access.
This is PCalc’s ticker tape function, which is invaluable to me.


theverge--2020-12-23--Venture back into the underworld to curl up in front of Hades’ excellent Yule log

It ’ s nearly the holidays , which means that in the long-standing tradition of the internet , it ’ s also time for novelty , themed Yule log videos .
And this year brings an excellent new entry : a roaring fireplace in the House of Hades , from Supergiant Games ’ Hades .
The video is in crisp 4K , showing off the lovely art of the game ( one of our favorites this year ) : the fireplace is decked out in gilded skulls and opulent marble , while creeping pomegranates add a dash of color to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ essential sounds of any good Yule log : the roar of a fireplace , with the crisp , crackling sound of the logs .
( There ’ s a Hades spin , with murmurs and echoes from deeper within the House whispering just at the edge of hearing . )
The Yule log pairs perfectly with Hades itself , which is on sale for the holidays for $ 20 on the Nintendo Switch .
The new Hades video joins the long-standing canon of excellent virtual fireplaces to curl up in front of , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yule log , Darth Vader ’ s slowly burning corpse , Nick Offerman ’ s relaxing Lagavulin scotch session , and The Verge ’ s own exploding gadgets of 2016 Yule log ( commemorating Galaxy Note 7 and hoverboard fires that dominated headlines that year . )
The video is only 12 hours long , but you can always start it again ( and again , and again , and again ) until the holidays are done ( or you ’ ve finally broken out of the underworld . )

It’s nearly the holidays, which means that in the long-standing tradition of the internet, it’s also time for novelty, themed Yule log videos. And this year brings an excellent new entry: a roaring fireplace in the House of Hades, from Supergiant Games’ Hades.
The video is in crisp 4K, showing off the lovely art of the game (one of our favorites this year): the fireplace is decked out in gilded skulls and opulent marble, while creeping pomegranates add a dash of color to the proceedings. There are also the essential sounds of any good Yule log: the roar of a fireplace, with the crisp, crackling sound of the logs. (There’s a Hades spin, with murmurs and echoes from deeper within the House whispering just at the edge of hearing.)
The Yule log pairs perfectly with Hades itself, which is on sale for the holidays for $20 on the Nintendo Switch.
Related Why Hades is my game of the year


theverge--2020-12-24--Here’s when you can watch Wonder Woman 1984, Soul, and Bridgerton on Christmas Day

December 25th is going to be a big deal for streaming , with blockbusters like Wonder Woman 1984 and Soul debuting on HBO Max and Disney Plus , respectively , alongside hyped streaming shows like Netflix ’ s Bridgerton and We Can Be Heroes .
If you ’ re planning a big Christmas Day marathon , here ’ s when each of those pieces of content will debut , so you can plan ahead .
Wonder Woman 1984 will be the last to debut , arriving at 12PM ET on Christmas Day .
That means you should have some time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ streaming or A/V gear before it debuts on HBO Max .
Given the usual 3AM or midnight release times for streaming shows , it ’ s worth taking note of the noon ET drop here when making your movie marathon plans .
Soul will arrive on Disney Plus at 3AM ET on December 25th .
If you ’ re willing to stay up late , you ’ ll be able to watch it then .
But if you ’ re not interested in staying up , it ’ ll be ready to view @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Bridgerton will bring the flair of rockstar producer Shonda Rhimes to Regency London on December 25th at 3AM ET , perfect for anyone looking for a more lengthy show to binge-watch over the holiday weekend .
And for younger audiences ( or adults who are still fans of The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3-D ) , Robert Rodriguez ’ s sequel We Can Be Heroes will continue the story with a new generation of heroes starting at 3AM ET on December 25th .

December 25th is going to be a big deal for streaming, with blockbusters like Wonder Woman 1984 and Soul debuting on HBO Max and Disney Plus, respectively, alongside hyped streaming shows like Netflix’s Bridgerton and We Can Be Heroes. If you’re planning a big Christmas Day marathon, here’s when each of those pieces of content will debut, so you can plan ahead.
Wonder Woman 1984 will be the last to debut, arriving at 12PM ET on Christmas Day. That means you should have some time to unwrap and set up any new streaming or A/V gear before it debuts on HBO Max. Given the usual 3AM or midnight release times for streaming shows, it’s worth taking note of the noon ET drop here when making your movie marathon plans.
Soul will arrive on Disney Plus at 3AM ET on December 25th. If you’re willing to stay up late, you’ll be able to watch it then. But if you’re not interested in staying up, it’ll be ready to view whenever you wake up.
Netflix’s Bridgerton will bring the flair of rockstar producer Shonda Rhimes to Regency London on December 25th at 3AM ET, perfect for anyone looking for a more lengthy show to binge-watch over the holiday weekend.


theverge--2020-12-24--Here’s an HDMI-themed holiday podcast to listen to this season

Happy holidays !
Here is our gift to you : over an hour of audio content exclusively dedicated to HDMI .
If you ’ re lucky this holiday season , you may be opening up a new PlayStation 5 , Xbox Series X , or Xbox Series S. And with that , a brand-new HDMI 2.1 cable — ready to game in 4K at 120Hz .
HDMI 2.1 is an updated HDMI standard that expands the bandwidth of HDMI up to 48Gbps , allowing the ability for multiple features like variable refresh rate ( VRR ) , auto low latency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ audio return channel ( eARC ) .
It also supports high resolution and refresh rates like 8K60 and 4K120 , and all of these features can upgrade your console gaming significantly .
Both your TV and HDMI cable need to support HDMI 2.1 to unlock these features .
This holiday season , it ’ s still a bit confusing to try to figure out which TVs are the best choice .
As Polygon ’ s Samit Sarkar points out , some of Sony ’ s own “ Ready for PS5 ” branded TVs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and in other sets , only one of their multiple ports is HDMI 2.1-ready .
From what we ’ ve seen , this is not an isolated problem in the market right now .
Hopefully , this podcast can help you sort through it all .
For a special Vergecast holiday episode , The Verge ’ s Nilay Patel , Dieter Bohn , and Chris Welch talked to three industry experts about the new HDMI 2.1 standard .
They go through what to look for when buying a new TV , how serious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and how the new standard is being implemented throughout the industry .
First , Dieter and Chris talk with the aforementioned Samit Sarkar , front page editor of Polygon , about the state of TVs , next-gen gaming , and availability of HDMI 2.1 features in consumer tech at the moment .
After that , Nilay and Chris chat with Vizio CTO Bill Baxter about implementing HDMI 2.1 in the company ’ s popular TVs , as well as early bugs that Vizio has encountered between its televisions and the Xbox Series @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over where things go from here .
Last but certainly not least , the crew sits down with the president of the HDMI Forum , David Glen , to talk about the ins and outs of the organization in charge of HDMI and how the adoption of 2.1 has been going this year .
With this star-studded cast , we hope this episode helps explain why you may or may not be interested in upgrading your TV for HDMI 2.1 this holiday season .
You can listen to the full discussion here or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you ’ re dreaming of a new 4K OLED , PS5 , or a new Xbox this Christmas , from all of us at The Vergecast , may your frames be variably refreshed and your latency be extremely low .

Happy holidays! Here is our gift to you: over an hour of audio content exclusively dedicated to HDMI.
If you’re lucky this holiday season, you may be opening up a new PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, or Xbox Series S. And with that, a brand-new HDMI 2.1 cable — ready to game in 4K at 120Hz.
HDMI 2.1 is an updated HDMI standard that expands the bandwidth of HDMI up to 48Gbps, allowing the ability for multiple features like variable refresh rate (VRR), auto low latency mode (ALLM), and enhanced audio return channel (eARC). It also supports high resolution and refresh rates like 8K60 and 4K120, and all of these features can upgrade your console gaming significantly.
Both your TV and HDMI cable need to support HDMI 2.1 to unlock these features. This holiday season, it’s still a bit confusing to try to figure out which TVs are the best choice. As Polygon’s Samit Sarkar points out, some of Sony’s own “Ready for PS5” branded TVs do not support VRR or ALLM, and in other sets, only one of their multiple ports is HDMI 2.1-ready. From what we’ve seen, this is not an isolated problem in the market right now.
Hopefully, this podcast can help you sort through it all.
For a special Vergecast holiday episode, The Verge’s Nilay Patel, Dieter Bohn, and Chris Welch talked to three industry experts about the new HDMI 2.1 standard. They go through what to look for when buying a new TV, how serious the TV manufacturers are on supporting 2.1, and how the new standard is being implemented throughout the industry.
First, Dieter and Chris talk with the aforementioned Samit Sarkar, front page editor of Polygon, about the state of TVs, next-gen gaming, and availability of HDMI 2.1 features in consumer tech at the moment.
After that, Nilay and Chris chat with Vizio CTO Bill Baxter about implementing HDMI 2.1 in the company’s popular TVs, as well as early bugs that Vizio has encountered between its televisions and the Xbox Series X and PS5. They also talk over where things go from here.
Last but certainly not least, the crew sits down with the president of the HDMI Forum, David Glen, to talk about the ins and outs of the organization in charge of HDMI and how the adoption of 2.1 has been going this year.
With this star-studded cast, we hope this episode helps explain why you may or may not be interested in upgrading your TV for HDMI 2.1 this holiday season. You can listen to the full discussion here or in your preferred podcast player.
Whether you’re dreaming of a new 4K OLED, PS5, or a new Xbox this Christmas, from all of us at The Vergecast, may your frames be variably refreshed and your latency be extremely low.


theverge--2020-12-24--Tony Robbins claims he saved his employee from COVID — she says that’s a lie

The story Tony Robbins told on his podcast was harrowing — if also a little convoluted .
One of his staff members had come down with a fever of 102 when she started watching the news and freaking out .
She went to the hospital , presumably with COVID-19 , and began to hyperventilate .
The doctors put her on a ventilator — then in a medically induced coma .
“ The doctor said … ‘ If she doesn ’ t wake up in three weeks , we ’ ll declare her dead , ’ ” Robbins recounted .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and decided pressure from ventilators could damage the lungs .
“ I ’ m not saying these people are trying to harm .
I think they ’ re all trying to help , but the research is now showing a very different component there , ” he said on the Tony Robbins Podcast .
So Robbins asked a physician friend to call the hospital and convince the woman ’ s doctors to lower the pressure .
“ As a result , four or five days later , she opened her eyes , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and she ’ s still in the hospital but she ’ s healing , ” Robbins said .
The episode fit neatly into Robbins ’ self-aggrandizing coronavirus narrative .
Since the early days of the pandemic , he ’ d been suspicious of the hysteria surrounding COVID-19 .
He told employees in late March that the flu was worse than coronavirus , adding : “ We have lost our minds on this.
” He also hosted two events amid the crisis .
Robbins ’ spokesperson Jennifer Connelly said that , since February : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were held , and those were in compliance with federal , state and local regulations and guidance regarding COVID-19.
” As a coach , Robbins always taught people that they had the ability to change their lives — not their wives or their pastors or their priests .
The story he told on his podcast highlighted how little doctors knew about the illness they were supposed to be treating and underlined his own heroism in saving her life .
But according to a new federal lawsuit filed in the Southern District of New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Debbie Kosta , the employee in question , is suing Robbins and his company , Robbins Research International ( RRI ) , saying he lied about his part in her recovery and made it nearly impossible for her to return to work .
She just wanted to help people change their lives The complaint lays out a starkly different picture of Tony Robbins than the inspirational coach he plays on social media .
It says his organization refused to let Kosta return to work part-time while she was recovering from COVID-19 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Instead , roughly three months after Kosta got off a ventilator , the complaint alleges her managers gave her an ultimatum : return to work full-time or lose her job and her health insurance .
In a statement , Robbins ’ spokesperson said : “ When we were informed Ms. Kosta had contracted COVID-19 and was hospitalized , Mr. Robbins and his organization inquired with compassion and support for her and have treated her fairly and consistent with all applicable laws .
RRI answered all of her questions , provided all of her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against her in any way .
Ms. Kosta remains employed by RRI and the organization continues to pay the complete cost of her medical insurance , even though its legal obligation to do so ended in June.
” Kosta had been an employee of Robbins ’ for 18 years when the pandemic arrived .
She ’ d started working for him in Europe , then moved to New York and joined the sales team in the United States .
Sales reps at RRI sold tickets to Robbins ’ live events — multiday seminars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Within ” and “ Date with Destiny.
” The world-famous coach taught people to eliminate pain “ for good ” and urged followers not to “ settle for an ordinary life when you can create an extraordinary one.
” As such , tickets cost between $ 600 and $ 3,000 .
Some of Robbins ’ clients were dealing with major life issues .
They were drug addicts , alcoholics , or philanderers .
To them , Robbins ’ philosophy of self-empowerment was entirely new .
It allowed them to take control of their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ along the way .
But Kosta wasn ’ t like that .
She ’ d always had high self-esteem and a relentlessly positive attitude .
Robbins ’ curriculum reminded her of Greek philosophy , and while she believed in what he was teaching , she didn ’ t worship him like others seemed to .
She just wanted to help people change their lives .
What stood out to Kosta was Robbins ’ delivery .
He ’ d run onstage to pulsing music , high-fiving and shouting like a maniac .
And it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was like , ‘ Oh , people listen to this , ’ ” Kosta says .
“ People actually like high-fiving and hugging.
” Back in New York , Kosta became one of Robbins ’ top performing sales reps , according to the complaint .
The gig was commission-only , but there were bonuses for people who sold a lot .
One anonymous employee who worked on the sales team said they regularly made $ 80,000 a year in bonuses alone .
Kosta liked the hustle and was willing to skip holidays @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Over the next nine years , Kosta made a life for herself and her two young daughters in New York City .
She was able to send them to a good prep school in Manhattan and take them to Europe in the summers .
But the real money went to Tony Robbins .
After a particularly massive event , Kosta says he called her to congratulate her on how much business she was bringing in .
Then , in early 2020 , things started to shift .
Robbins ’ biggest event was scheduled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California , in March .
“ Unleash the Power Within ” was a four-day seminar that taught people to “ unlock and unleash the forces inside you to break through your limitations and take control of your life.
” Unfortunately , some worried that a 12,000-person event could unleash a bunch of coronavirus .
Less than a week before the event , Robbins was forced to cancel .
Attendees started calling to get their money back , sending the sales team into a panic .
RRI had a brutal policy that meant each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Some team members went from making well over $ 100,000 to not being able to make their mortgage payments .
In late March , Robbins offered employees a stipend of roughly $ 5,000 a month and urged them to “ step the fuck up , ” according to audio leaked to The Verge .
They were told they ’ d need to pay Robbins back by the end of the year .
The following month , in April , RRI received a Paycheck Protection Program ( PPP ) loan from the federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ great for Kosta , but she was dealing with bigger problems .
She ’ d developed a high fever and was having a difficult time breathing .
Her daughter Stella , a 19-year-old film student at Hunter College , had never seen her mom so sick .
On April 12th , when Kosta ’ s fever had been hovering at 104 for three days , Stella decided to call an ambulance .
“ She ’ s very strong and upbeat , so seeing her so weak , barely able to string sentences together @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mind-boggling to me , ” she says .
Stella had watched the trucks of dead bodies lining the streets in Manhattan .
Everyone she knew either had COVID or knew someone who ’ d died from it .
“ I was just like , ‘ My mom can not become one of those people , ’ ” she says .
But Stella says none of that is true At the hospital , doctors put Kosta on a ventilator , then in a medically induced coma .
Robbins called Stella to see how her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Robbins ’ telling of the story really diverges from the truth , according to Kosta .
Robbins said that Stella did her research and found that the longer her mom was on a ventilator , the more likely she was to die .
“ The daughter went crazy , ” he said on his podcast .
“ She said , ‘ You put her in the coma .
She came in with a cough and a fever and shortness of breath… ’ ” But Stella says none of that is true .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” she says , bewildered .
“ Whatever the doctors were telling me , I was believing it.
” At one point , she says she asked the doctors how much longer her mother would have to be on a ventilator .
“ But I was never like , ‘ Take her off right now , ’ ” she adds .
“ Why would I ever do that ?
I was just asking , ‘ How can you make her better ?
’ But I never went against the ventilator .
The ventilator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also says that Robbins told Kosta ’ s clients he was the one who convinced the doctors to take her off the ventilator .
And , it alleges that Sage Robbins , Tony ’ s wife , called Stella to “ pry information from her regarding Ms. Kosta ’ s condition.
” Kosta ’ s attorney , Chris Albanese , of the employment law firm White , Hilferty and Albanese , says : “ Tony and his wife went out of their way to harm her , what kind of person would do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kosta ’ s situation for his own benefit , the complaint adds .
He made it seem like she was overreacting about her symptoms because of the news .
“ I talked to him personally and told him about the 104 fever and how she couldn ’ t breathe , ” Stella notes .
“ For him to turn around and say , ‘ Oh , she had 102 fever and then watched the news and started hyperventilating ’ — it was just so shocking .
It ’ s a betrayal .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and tried to change my life with them .
Now I ’ m just wondering , ‘ Well , how much have you been lying then ?
How many of your stories and how many of your experiences that you used to teach us are lies ?
” Kosta stayed in a coma until early May .
Then , miraculously , she started to get better .
When she finally got home from the hospital on May 5th , she could barely walk around the block or speak a full sentence without losing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Then her doctors discovered a growth on her chest .
They said said she ’ d likely need six months to fully recover , according to the lawsuit .
Kosta was on New York State Paid Family Leave , but it was set to run out at the end of June .
She knew she wasn ’ t well enough to return to work ; she still needed surgery to remove the growth .
Talking on the phone all day with her voice ravaged from the ventilator seemed impossible .
According to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see if she could have more time off .
They said no .
If she didn ’ t return in July , she ’ d lose her health insurance .
Kosta asked to reduce her hours .
She was a commissioned-based employee who worked from home , so the request seemed pretty reasonable .
But RRI refused , the complaint says .
They offered her $ 15,000 in severance and encouraged her to go on disability .
“ Debbie Kosta was at the peak of her sales career when she contracted coronavirus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s other attorney .
“ Instead of supporting a woman who had not only supported his organization but enriched him personally , Tony Robbins left her without reasonable accommodation for her disability .
She has lost a tremendous amount of earning potential during this time , and frankly it is impossible to put a number on the emotional damages Ms. Kosta has endured at the hands of a company that claims to lift up , not break down , the human spirit.
” Kosta ’ s complaint , which was filed with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ filing in federal court in New York City , says that her request to reduce her hours was a reasonable accommodation , and RRI ’ s refusal to grant it violates the Americans with Disabilities Act .
“ I ’ m done with this Guru !
” Robbins had been walking a thin line between COVID-19 skepticism and denial .
He didn ’ t doubt that the disease existed , but he hinted that the news coverage surrounding the death rate was exaggerated .
Then , in August 2020 , he started promoting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by his friend and longtime collaborator Peter H. Diamandis .
Diamandis ’ company , Covaxx , is backed by Prime Movers Lab , a venture capital firm where Robbins works as a business strategist and partner .
Jennifer Connelly , Robbins ’ spokesperson , said : “ Mr .
Robbins has invested in one of several companies working on the development of an effective COVID vaccine.
” The perceived change disappointed his followers .
“ I can ’ t believe what I am actually reading from Tony Robbins who said during 7 day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Flu , ” one wrote on Facebook .
“ What a sell out Tony Robbins turned out to be promoting a ‘ safe vaccine ’ by one of his Business partners .
I ’ m done with this Guru !
” Another wrote : “ No thanks Tony how much cash do you have invested in this vaccine ?
!
?
!
” The answer , according to Pitchbook , could be close to $ 2.85 million , which is the amount Covaxx raised in May , in a funding round led by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ explain Robbins ’ core philosophy — not self-empowerment , or personal growth , but capitalism .
America ’ s number one coach might say his mission is to “ help individuals and businesses succeed.
” But according to some employees , the individual he ’ s most interested in helping is himself .

The story Tony Robbins told on his podcast was harrowing — if also a little convoluted. One of his staff members had come down with a fever of 102 when she started watching the news and freaking out. She went to the hospital, presumably with COVID-19, and began to hyperventilate. The doctors put her on a ventilator — then in a medically induced coma. “The doctor said … ‘If she doesn’t wake up in three weeks, we’ll declare her dead,’” Robbins recounted.
The self-help guru had been researching coronavirus treatments and decided pressure from ventilators could damage the lungs. “I’m not saying these people are trying to harm. I think they’re all trying to help, but the research is now showing a very different component there,” he said on the Tony Robbins Podcast. So Robbins asked a physician friend to call the hospital and convince the woman’s doctors to lower the pressure. “As a result, four or five days later, she opened her eyes, which we’re so grateful for, and she’s still in the hospital but she’s healing,” Robbins said.
The episode fit neatly into Robbins’ self-aggrandizing coronavirus narrative. Since the early days of the pandemic, he’d been suspicious of the hysteria surrounding COVID-19. He told employees in late March that the flu was worse than coronavirus, adding: “We have lost our minds on this.” He also hosted two events amid the crisis.
Robbins’ spokesperson Jennifer Connelly said that, since February: “Two small, private in-person meetings were held, and those were in compliance with federal, state and local regulations and guidance regarding COVID-19.”
As a coach, Robbins always taught people that they had the ability to change their lives — not their wives or their pastors or their priests. The story he told on his podcast highlighted how little doctors knew about the illness they were supposed to be treating and underlined his own heroism in saving her life.
But according to a new federal lawsuit filed in the Southern District of New York, the tale was largely fabricated. Debbie Kosta, the employee in question, is suing Robbins and his company, Robbins Research International (RRI), saying he lied about his part in her recovery and made it nearly impossible for her to return to work.
She just wanted to help people change their lives
The complaint lays out a starkly different picture of Tony Robbins than the inspirational coach he plays on social media. It says his organization refused to let Kosta return to work part-time while she was recovering from COVID-19 and dealing with a recent cancer diagnosis. Instead, roughly three months after Kosta got off a ventilator, the complaint alleges her managers gave her an ultimatum: return to work full-time or lose her job and her health insurance.
In a statement, Robbins’ spokesperson said: “When we were informed Ms. Kosta had contracted COVID-19 and was hospitalized, Mr. Robbins and his organization inquired with compassion and support for her and have treated her fairly and consistent with all applicable laws. RRI answered all of her questions, provided all of her requested accommodations, and did not retaliate against her in any way. Ms. Kosta remains employed by RRI and the organization continues to pay the complete cost of her medical insurance, even though its legal obligation to do so ended in June.”
Kosta had been an employee of Robbins’ for 18 years when the pandemic arrived. She’d started working for him in Europe, then moved to New York and joined the sales team in the United States.
Sales reps at RRI sold tickets to Robbins’ live events — multiday seminars with names like “Unleash the Power Within” and “Date with Destiny.” The world-famous coach taught people to eliminate pain “for good” and urged followers not to “settle for an ordinary life when you can create an extraordinary one.” As such, tickets cost between $600 and $3,000.
Some of Robbins’ clients were dealing with major life issues. They were drug addicts, alcoholics, or philanderers. To them, Robbins’ philosophy of self-empowerment was entirely new. It allowed them to take control of their lives and transformed them into loyal fans along the way.
But Kosta wasn’t like that. She’d always had high self-esteem and a relentlessly positive attitude. Robbins’ curriculum reminded her of Greek philosophy, and while she believed in what he was teaching, she didn’t worship him like others seemed to. She just wanted to help people change their lives.
What stood out to Kosta was Robbins’ delivery. He’d run onstage to pulsing music, high-fiving and shouting like a maniac. And it worked. “I saw it, it was like, ‘Oh, people listen to this,’” Kosta says. “People actually like high-fiving and hugging.”
Back in New York, Kosta became one of Robbins’ top performing sales reps, according to the complaint. The gig was commission-only, but there were bonuses for people who sold a lot. One anonymous employee who worked on the sales team said they regularly made $80,000 a year in bonuses alone. Kosta liked the hustle and was willing to skip holidays if it meant succeeding at work.
Debbie Kosta in New York City where she moved to from Europe to join Robbin’s sales team. Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge
Over the next nine years, Kosta made a life for herself and her two young daughters in New York City. She was able to send them to a good prep school in Manhattan and take them to Europe in the summers. But the real money went to Tony Robbins. After a particularly massive event, Kosta says he called her to congratulate her on how much business she was bringing in.
Then, in early 2020, things started to shift. Robbins’ biggest event was scheduled to take place in San Jose, California, in March. “Unleash the Power Within” was a four-day seminar that taught people to “unlock and unleash the forces inside you to break through your limitations and take control of your life.” Unfortunately, some worried that a 12,000-person event could unleash a bunch of coronavirus.
Less than a week before the event, Robbins was forced to cancel. Attendees started calling to get their money back, sending the sales team into a panic. RRI had a brutal policy that meant each refund came out of employees’ commissions. Some team members went from making well over $100,000 to not being able to make their mortgage payments.
In late March, Robbins offered employees a stipend of roughly $5,000 a month and urged them to “step the fuck up,” according to audio leaked to The Verge. They were told they’d need to pay Robbins back by the end of the year. The following month, in April, RRI received a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan from the federal government.
(In a statement emailed to The Verge, Robbins’ spokesperson wrote: “RRI properly and legally applied and received PPP support and has used those funds in compliance with the program’s rules.”)
The news wasn’t great for Kosta, but she was dealing with bigger problems. She’d developed a high fever and was having a difficult time breathing. Her daughter Stella, a 19-year-old film student at Hunter College, had never seen her mom so sick. On April 12th, when Kosta’s fever had been hovering at 104 for three days, Stella decided to call an ambulance. “She’s very strong and upbeat, so seeing her so weak, barely able to string sentences together, not breathing, it was very mind-boggling to me,” she says.
Stella had watched the trucks of dead bodies lining the streets in Manhattan. Everyone she knew either had COVID or knew someone who’d died from it. “I was just like, ‘My mom cannot become one of those people,’” she says.
But Stella says none of that is true
At the hospital, doctors put Kosta on a ventilator, then in a medically induced coma. Robbins called Stella to see how her mother was doing. This is where Robbins’ telling of the story really diverges from the truth, according to Kosta.
Robbins said that Stella did her research and found that the longer her mom was on a ventilator, the more likely she was to die. “The daughter went crazy,” he said on his podcast. “She said, ‘You put her in the coma. She came in with a cough and a fever and shortness of breath…’”
But Stella says none of that is true. “I’m not knowledgeable enough,” she says, bewildered. “Whatever the doctors were telling me, I was believing it.” At one point, she says she asked the doctors how much longer her mother would have to be on a ventilator. “But I was never like, ‘Take her off right now,’” she adds. “Why would I ever do that? I was just asking, ‘How can you make her better?’ But I never went against the ventilator. The ventilator is what saved her.”
The complaint also says that Robbins told Kosta’s clients he was the one who convinced the doctors to take her off the ventilator. And, it alleges that Sage Robbins, Tony’s wife, called Stella to “pry information from her regarding Ms. Kosta’s condition.” Kosta’s attorney, Chris Albanese, of the employment law firm White, Hilferty and Albanese, says: “Tony and his wife went out of their way to harm her, what kind of person would do that?”
(Robbins’ spokesperson says the “allegations concerning RRI, Mr. Robbins and his wife, are false.”)
Robbins took advantage of Kosta’s situation for his own benefit, the complaint adds. He made it seem like she was overreacting about her symptoms because of the news. “I talked to him personally and told him about the 104 fever and how she couldn’t breathe,” Stella notes. “For him to turn around and say, ‘Oh, she had 102 fever and then watched the news and started hyperventilating’ — it was just so shocking. It’s a betrayal. I took lessons from his events at heart and tried to change my life with them. Now I’m just wondering, ‘Well, how much have you been lying then? How many of your stories and how many of your experiences that you used to teach us are lies?”
Kosta stayed in a coma until early May. Then, miraculously, she started to get better. When she finally got home from the hospital on May 5th, she could barely walk around the block or speak a full sentence without losing her breath. But she was alive. Then her doctors discovered a growth on her chest. They said said she’d likely need six months to fully recover, according to the lawsuit.
Debbie Kosta and her two daughters in New York City. Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge
Kosta was on New York State Paid Family Leave, but it was set to run out at the end of June. She knew she wasn’t well enough to return to work; she still needed surgery to remove the growth. Talking on the phone all day with her voice ravaged from the ventilator seemed impossible.
According to the lawsuit, she emailed HR to see if she could have more time off. They said no. If she didn’t return in July, she’d lose her health insurance. Kosta asked to reduce her hours. She was a commissioned-based employee who worked from home, so the request seemed pretty reasonable. But RRI refused, the complaint says. They offered her $15,000 in severance and encouraged her to go on disability.
“Debbie Kosta was at the peak of her sales career when she contracted coronavirus,” said Vincent White, Kosta’s other attorney. “Instead of supporting a woman who had not only supported his organization but enriched him personally, Tony Robbins left her without reasonable accommodation for her disability. She has lost a tremendous amount of earning potential during this time, and frankly it is impossible to put a number on the emotional damages Ms. Kosta has endured at the hands of a company that claims to lift up, not break down, the human spirit.”
Kosta’s complaint, which was filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ahead of its filing in federal court in New York City, says that her request to reduce her hours was a reasonable accommodation, and RRI’s refusal to grant it violates the Americans with Disabilities Act.
“I’m done with this Guru!”
Robbins had been walking a thin line between COVID-19 skepticism and denial. He didn’t doubt that the disease existed, but he hinted that the news coverage surrounding the death rate was exaggerated. Then, in August 2020, he started promoting a coronavirus vaccine on Facebook, designed by his friend and longtime collaborator Peter H. Diamandis. Diamandis’ company, Covaxx, is backed by Prime Movers Lab, a venture capital firm where Robbins works as a business strategist and partner.
Jennifer Connelly, Robbins’ spokesperson, said: “Mr. Robbins has invested in one of several companies working on the development of an effective COVID vaccine.”
The perceived change disappointed his followers. “I can’t believe what I am actually reading from Tony Robbins who said during 7 day challenge that Covid 19 equivalent of the Flu,” one wrote on Facebook. “What a sell out Tony Robbins turned out to be promoting a ‘safe vaccine’ by one of his Business partners. I’m done with this Guru!” Another wrote: “No thanks Tony how much cash do you have invested in this vaccine?!?!”


theverge--2020-12-24--Samsung’s Galaxy Buds Pro said to cost $199

More details of Samsung ’ s unannounced Galaxy Buds Pro wireless earbuds with active noise cancelation have leaked , including the price .
According to slides shared on Twitter by WalkingCat , the Galaxy Buds Pro will cost $ 199 at launch making them $ 80 cheaper than the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds , our noise-canceling champions .
Samsung ’ s pro buds will feature strong IPX7 durability against dust and water , and up to 8 hours of listening time which can be extended to 28 hours with the charging case .
WalkingCat provides this handy chart to compare specs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ buds .
WalkingCat also shared a slide showing an exploded view of the new active noise canceling buds , revealing an 11-mm woofer and 6.5-mm tweeter .
The slide also supports rumors of an Apple-like spatial audio feature .
With a price of $ 199 , the Buds Pro would be $ 50 cheaper than Apple ’ s AirPods Pro wireless buds .
On paper at least , Samsung ’ s Galaxy Buds Pro are looking very competitive with Apple ’ s best buds .
The new slides are similar in look to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about Samsung ’ s $ 699 Galaxy Chromebook 2 .
We ’ ll know soon if they ’ re legit .
The big CES show is coming up and Samsung is hosting its own event in January for the presumed launch of the Galaxy S21 series .

More details of Samsung’s unannounced Galaxy Buds Pro wireless earbuds with active noise cancelation have leaked, including the price.
According to slides shared on Twitter by WalkingCat, the Galaxy Buds Pro will cost $199 at launch making them $80 cheaper than the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds, our noise-canceling champions. Samsung’s pro buds will feature strong IPX7 durability against dust and water, and up to 8 hours of listening time which can be extended to 28 hours with the charging case. WalkingCat provides this handy chart to compare specs across all of Samsung’s wireless buds.
Samsung Buds comparison chart. Image: WalkingCat
WalkingCat also shared a slide showing an exploded view of the new active noise canceling buds, revealing an 11-mm woofer and 6.5-mm tweeter. The slide also supports rumors of an Apple-like spatial audio feature. With a price of $199, the Buds Pro would be $50 cheaper than Apple’s AirPods Pro wireless buds. On paper at least, Samsung’s Galaxy Buds Pro are looking very competitive with Apple’s best buds.
More Galaxy Buds Pro details. Image: WalkingCat


theverge--2020-12-24--GoDaddy wins our 2020 award for most evil company email

What ’ s the cruelest prank you can make on employees who are struggling during a global pandemic when millions of people have lost their jobs or lives ?
GoDaddy — a web domain registrar once best known for its sexist advertisements — tried to find out when it sent employees a fake email informing them they ’ d receive a $ 650 holiday bonus .
As The Copper Courier originally reported , GoDaddy sent an email phishing “ test ” to its employees promising much-needed money ; “ 2020 has been a record year for GoDaddy , thanks to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Though we can not celebrate together during our annual Holiday Party , we want to show our appreciation and share a $ 650 one—time Holiday bonus !
” The employees who clicked the link then reportedly received an email two days later telling them they failed the test .
Instead of receiving a holiday bonus , they ’ d instead be required to take a training course on social engineering .
Phishing tests are normal , but promising employees fake money definitely falls into the “ oh no they didn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worth mentioning that promising fake bonuses is literally something Michael Scott , the world ’ s worst fictional boss from The Office , inflicted on his employees at Dunder Mifflin .
So congratulations , GoDaddy : you win our brand-new award for Most Evil Company Email Of The Year .
Let ’ s hope this is the first and only time we have to award it .

What’s the cruelest prank you can make on employees who are struggling during a pandemic when millions of people have lost their jobs or lives? GoDaddy — a web domain registrar once best known for its sexist advertisements — tried to find out when it sent employees a fake email informing them they’d receive a $650 holiday bonus.
As The Copper Courier originally reported, GoDaddy sent an email phishing “test” to its employees promising much-needed money: “2020 has been a record year for GoDaddy, thanks to you!” it said. “Though we cannot celebrate together during our annual Holiday Party, we want to show our appreciation and share a $650 one-time Holiday bonus!”
The employees who clicked the link then reportedly received an email two days later telling them they failed the test. Instead of receiving a holiday bonus, they’d instead be required to take a training course on social engineering.
Phishing tests are normal, but promising employees fake money definitely falls into the “oh no they didn’t” category. It’s probably worth mentioning that promising fake bonuses is literally something Michael Scott, the world’s worst fictional boss from The Office, inflicted on his employees at Dunder Mifflin.


theverge--2020-12-24--Warner Bros. believes that theaters will still exist in 2023

Warner Bros. ruffled some feathers when it announced it would release all of its new 2021 movies simultaneously on HBO Max , but the company seems to be betting that theaters won ’ t become an apocalyptic wasteland .
Variety reports that the company plans to release Furiosa , the prequel to Max Max : Fury Road , and The Color Purple first in theaters in 2023 .
Warner ’ s plan to launch next year ’ s films online is a great thing for consumers who would rather stay at home than risk contracting a deadly virus to see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But the plan immediately made enemies of some Hollywood veterans .
Director Christopher Nolan called HBO Max “ the worst streaming service ” and accused Warner Bros. of not telling anyone about its plan until just 90 minutes before it was announced .
Despite Warner ’ s rosy outlook on the existence of theaters , the signs on their marquees might not look the same by 2023 .
AMC has warned investors that it will run out of cash in the middle of January if it can ’ t find $ 750 million @

Warner Bros. ruffled some feathers when it announced it would release all of its new 2021 movies simultaneously on HBO Max, but the company seems to be betting that theaters won’t become an apocalyptic wasteland. Variety reports that the company plans to release Furiosa, the prequel to Max Max: Fury Road, and The Color Purple first in theaters in 2023.
Warner’s plan to launch next year’s films online is a great thing for consumers who would rather stay at home than risk contracting a deadly virus to see, say, Godzilla vs. Kong. But the plan immediately made enemies of some Hollywood veterans. Director Christopher Nolan called HBO Max “the worst streaming service” and accused Warner Bros. of not telling anyone about its plan until just 90 minutes before it was announced.


theverge--2020-12-24--Amazon Echo Frames review: listen to these specs

I did not expect to like the Amazon Echo Frames as much as I do .
The concept is relatively simple : they ’ re a pair of eyeglasses with tiny little speakers and microphones embedded in the stems so you can listen to music and command Alexa .
They run $ 249 and come with basic plastic lenses , but you can take them to an optometrist and get prescription lenses .
It ’ s a much smarter strategy than the failed smart glasses that tried to add a display into the mix .
Maybe that ’ s in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of its products , Amazon starts with a minimum viable product and iterates .
That ’ s doubly true for these Echo Frames , which are now widely available for anybody to buy in a version two of the product that makes some tweaks to the internal hardware and battery life .
Amazon isn ’ t alone in this category , though .
Bose is also on its second iteration of sunglasses ( or eyeglasses ) with little speakers in the stems — and it offers multiple styles , to boot .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concept of having discreet , personal audio available at all times .
It ’ s a bit like discovering headphones all over again .
But while I ’ m sold on the concept , for reasons both in and out of Amazon ’ s control , the experience of actually using the Echo Frames falls well short of their potential .
The Echo Frames are basic , rectangular glasses .
They ’ re made entirely of glossy plastic and come in three different colors : an all-black version , a tortoiseshell design , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to blue .
They ’ re also quite large .
It ’ s a one-size-fits-all product , but that ’ s not really how glasses work .
They felt comfortable on my head , but I do think they look a little big — maybe I just don ’ t like this shape .
The stems have plenty of flex where they attach , at least .
Amazon has a partnership with LensCrafters to help people get prescription lenses added to the Echo Frames , but I used them as they shipped , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lenses are reflective as hell , making them so distracting during Zoom calls that I had to take them off .
( I normally wear glasses , so I had contact lenses in during my testing . )
As far as the techy components go , they ’ re subtle .
There is a mic , power button , and a couple of volume buttons on the underside of the right stem — plus a magnetic pogo pin receiver for charging .
Each stem has two tiny holes located back near your ear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has a touch sensor on the side that ’ s able to detect taps and swipes .
All those components are there , but unless somebody is looking for them , they ’ re basically invisible .
The only real giveaway that these are smart glasses is that the stems are quite thick , narrowing suddenly so they can actually fit behind your ears .
I was worried they ’ d feel heavy ( I prefer glasses on the lighter side to begin with ) , but they never felt that way to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grams .
I was also worried they would look somehow techy , but fortunately they don ’ t .
They just look kind of , well , cheap .
Even just offering a different finish on the plastic might have helped .
There are two ways to use the Echo Frames : as basic Bluetooth “ headphones ” and as an Alexa device .
Obviously Amazon intends you to do the latter , but I found that they were surprisingly decent as teleconference and telephone call headphones .
Unfortunately , they can only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time and require a full re-pairing to switch devices .
Really , these are meant to be accessories to your phone only , and so the only good move is to set them up inside the Alexa app like any other Echo device .
There are a few unique options , like setting up an automatic volume feature that tries to set the volume just loud enough to overcome ambient noise .
Otherwise , if you ’ ve used any other Echo device , then the experience here is about the same .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ allowed to really do That ’ s both good and bad .
It ’ s nice to just have Alexa available all the time , whether you ’ re at home or not .
But since the Echo Frames are paired to a phone , you ’ d like to think that Alexa would be able to do the sorts of things you expect a digital assistant on a phone to do .
It can not .
I used the Echo Frames with an iPhone , and basic tasks that Siri can do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are just never going to happen for Alexa .
When I asked Alexa to “ Call Dan Seifert , ” Alexa defaulted to using its own teleconferencing system , which meant that my attempt to just ring Dan ’ s cellphone resulted in every single Echo device in his house ringing and annoying his entire family .
( You can also use Siri with the Frames with a long press on the stem , at least . )
There is one interesting phone trick I appreciated : the ability to pick and choose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new notification comes in , you can tap or swipe to tell the Frames whether you want to hear notifications from that app read aloud to you .
I ’ m normally super annoyed by audio systems for notifications , but this one makes it easy to filter them down to the very urgent stuff , and to dismiss them .
As an Alexa device , I really have few complaints .
It took a little while for the Echo speakers in my apartment to figure out that I was talking to my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eventually settled down .
Maybe my favorite software trick on the Echo Frames is that when you set the glasses down on a table upside-down , they turn off after a few seconds .
I think it ’ s also a necessary trick .
Although Amazon promises you can get through a “ 14-hour day ” of mixed use , that mixed use really boils down to just over three hours of actively using the speakers .
That ’ s really not long enough , honestly .
I know that because I was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mid-afternoon every day — because I was using them much more than I expected to .
Working from home , I ’ m constantly donning and doffing headphones to listen to music , take calls , talk to my spouse , or just give my ears a rest .
With the Echo Frames , my source of audio is just there , unobtrusive and always available .
They were so convenient and handy that I was all the more annoyed by their shortcomings .
I couldn ’ t connect them to my computer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ simply wasn ’ t up to the task of doing what I wanted .
They were so convenient , I wanted to use them more than the battery could handle I don ’ t know exactly how I should judge the sound quality .
The Echo Frames have tiny speakers that sit just forward of your ears , so expecting deep bass or really anything great would be a mistake .
They did provide clarity , however , both in listening to music and podcasts .
When I used them for phone calls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surprised to hear I was on a Bluetooth headset .
Those little speakers are also remarkably good at being directional .
In most environments , you can hear them loud and clear while somebody standing just a couple feet away would hear nothing .
It ’ s great that your ears are open — I felt much safer using the Echo Frames while riding my bike than with my usual one-earbud-in , one-earbud-out habit .
Unfortunately , the Echo Frames just don ’ t get loud enough to compete with street noise .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ can be difficult to hear the Frames when there ’ s traffic , and if you ’ re in a loud subway train , forget it .
I did have some strange moments with the Echo Frames .
Wearing headphones is a big social signal that your ears are occupied and your attention isn ’ t immediately available to those around you .
But with the Echo Frames , you look the same whether you ’ re staring into space or listening to a podcast , so people around you will just start @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t wearing headphones .
There are places where social interactions with Echo Frames are less fraught .
In a doctor ’ s office waiting room , for example , I could listen to a podcast while still able to listen for my name when it was called .
Being able to not only do that but also not be the guy with one earbud in was nice .
A few days into using the Echo Frames , I suddenly realized I had stopped messing about with the volume on my phone anymore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ buttons to either listen to a quick video or silence one .
But just having convenient , comfortable , and personal audio on at all times meant I never had to worry about it .
The audio quality isn ’ t great , but the convenience is .
It was great , and it made me wish for a version of the Echo Frames that didn ’ t have to make all the compromises Amazon had to make here , especially on battery life ( for the size ) and on styling ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all , though , I found that while Alexa is great in my house , it feels like Apple put a hard ceiling on what it ’ s allowed to do on an iPhone .

I did not expect to like the Amazon Echo Frames as much as I do. The concept is relatively simple: they’re a pair of eyeglasses with tiny little speakers and microphones embedded in the temples so you can listen to music and command Alexa. They run $249 and come with basic plastic lenses, but you can take them to an optometrist and get prescription lenses.
It’s a much smarter strategy than the failed smart glasses that tried to add a display into the mix. Maybe that’s in the works, but as with many of its products, Amazon starts with a minimum viable product and iterates. That’s doubly true for these Echo Frames, which are now widely available for anybody to buy in a version two of the product that makes some tweaks to the internal hardware and battery life.
Amazon isn’t alone in this category, though. Bose is also on its second iteration of sunglasses (or eyeglasses) with little speakers in the temples — and it offers multiple styles, to boot.
The Echo Frames have sold me on the concept of having discreet, personal audio available at all times. It’s a bit like discovering headphones all over again. But while I’m sold on the concept, for reasons both in and out of Amazon’s control, the experience of actually using the Echo Frames falls well short of their potential.
6.5 Verge Score Amazon Echo Frames $ 249.99 The Good Lightweight
Very little noise bleed
Great mic quality on calls The Bad Alexa is limited on phones
Can’t work on multiple devices
Middling battery life $250 at Amazon How we rate and review products
The Echo Frames look like relatively normal — but cheap — eyeglasses.
Echo Frames hardware and style
The Echo Frames are basic, rectangular glasses. They’re made entirely of glossy plastic and come in three different colors: an all-black version, a tortoiseshell design, and a version that fades from black to blue.
They’re also quite large. It’s a one-size-fits-all product, but that’s not really how glasses work. They felt comfortable on my head, but I do think they look a little big — maybe I just don’t like this shape. The temples have plenty of flex where they attach, at least.
They look normal, but they don’t look especially nice
The temples contain all the electronics, and are quite thick.
Amazon has a partnership with LensCrafters to help people get prescription lenses added to the Echo Frames, but I used them as they shipped, with clear plastic lenses. Those built-in lenses are reflective as hell, making them so distracting during Zoom calls that I had to take them off. (I normally wear glasses, so I had contact lenses in during my testing.)
As far as the techy components go, they’re subtle. There is a mic, power button, and a couple of volume buttons on the underside of the right stem — plus a magnetic pogo pin receiver for charging. Each stem has two tiny holes located back near your ear for audio. The right stem also has a touch sensor on the side that’s able to detect taps and swipes.
All those components are there, but unless somebody is looking for them, they’re basically invisible. The only real giveaway that these are smart glasses is that the temples are quite thick, narrowing suddenly so they can actually fit behind your ears. I was worried they’d feel heavy (I prefer glasses on the lighter side to begin with), but they never felt that way to me — Amazon clocks them at 31 grams. I was also worried they would look somehow techy, but fortunately they don’t. They just look kind of, well, cheap. Even just offering a different finish on the plastic might have helped.
All the physical controls for the Echo Frames are on the right stem.
Echo Frames software
There are two ways to use the Echo Frames: as basic Bluetooth “headphones” and as an Alexa device. Obviously Amazon intends you to do the latter, but I found that they were surprisingly decent as teleconference and telephone call headphones. Unfortunately, they can only be paired to one device at a time and require a full re-pairing to switch devices.
Really, these are meant to be accessories to your phone only, and so the only good move is to set them up inside the Alexa app like any other Echo device. There are a few unique options, like setting up an automatic volume feature that tries to set the volume just loud enough to overcome ambient noise. Otherwise, if you’ve used any other Echo device, then the experience here is about the same.
The iPhone limits what the Frames are allowed to really do
That’s both good and bad. It’s nice to just have Alexa available all the time, whether you’re at home or not. But since the Echo Frames are paired to a phone, you’d like to think that Alexa would be able to do the sorts of things you expect a digital assistant on a phone to do. It cannot.
I used the Echo Frames with an iPhone, and basic tasks that Siri can do like making calls or responding to texts are just never going to happen for Alexa. When I asked Alexa to “Call Dan Seifert,” Alexa defaulted to using its own teleconferencing system, which meant that my attempt to just ring Dan’s cellphone resulted in every single Echo device in his house ringing and annoying his entire family. (You can also use Siri with the Frames with a long press on the stem, at least.)
There is one interesting phone trick I appreciated: the ability to pick and choose which notifications get announced. When a new notification comes in, you can tap or swipe to tell the Frames whether you want to hear notifications from that app read aloud to you. I’m normally super annoyed by audio systems for notifications, but this one makes it easy to filter them down to the very urgent stuff, and to dismiss them.
As an Alexa device, I really have few complaints. It took a little while for the Echo speakers in my apartment to figure out that I was talking to my glasses instead of them, but that eventually settled down.
There are tiny speaker holes right in front of your ears on each stem.
Echo Frames audio and battery life
Maybe my favorite software trick on the Echo Frames is that when you set the glasses down on a table upside-down, they turn off after a few seconds. I think it’s also a necessary trick. Although Amazon promises you can get through a “14-hour day” of mixed use, that mixed use really boils down to just over three hours of actively using the speakers.
That’s really not long enough, honestly. I know that because I was killing the battery on these glasses by mid-afternoon every day — because I was using them much more than I expected to. Working from home, I’m constantly donning and doffing headphones to listen to music, take calls, talk to my spouse, or just give my ears a rest. With the Echo Frames, my source of audio is just there, unobtrusive and always available.
They were so convenient and handy that I was all the more annoyed by their shortcomings. I couldn’t connect them to my computer without significant hassle and their battery life simply wasn’t up to the task of doing what I wanted.
They were so convenient, I wanted to use them more than the battery could handle
I don’t know exactly how I should judge the sound quality. The Echo Frames have tiny speakers that sit just forward of your ears, so expecting deep bass or really anything great would be a mistake. They did provide clarity, however, both in listening to music and podcasts. When I used them for phone calls, people on the other end were surprised to hear I was on a Bluetooth headset.
Those little speakers are also remarkably good at being directional. In most environments, you can hear them loud and clear while somebody standing just a couple feet away would hear nothing.
It’s great that your ears are open — I felt much safer using the Echo Frames while riding my bike than with my usual one-earbud-in, one-earbud-out habit. Unfortunately, the Echo Frames just don’t get loud enough to compete with street noise. Even cranked to the max, it can be difficult to hear the Frames when there’s traffic, and if you’re in a loud subway train, forget it.
The Amazon Echo Frames.
I did have some strange moments with the Echo Frames. Wearing headphones is a big social signal that your ears are occupied and your attention isn’t immediately available to those around you. But with the Echo Frames, you look the same whether you’re staring into space or listening to a podcast, so people around you will just start talking to you as though you weren’t wearing headphones.
There are places where social interactions with Echo Frames are less fraught. In a doctor’s office waiting room, for example, I could listen to a podcast while still able to listen for my name when it was called. Being able to not only do that but also not be the guy with one earbud in was nice.
A few days into using the Echo Frames, I suddenly realized I had stopped messing about with the volume on my phone anymore. I constantly am riding the volume buttons to either listen to a quick video or silence one. But just having convenient, comfortable, and personal audio on at all times meant I never had to worry about it. The audio quality isn’t great, but the convenience is.
It was great, and it made me wish for a version of the Echo Frames that didn’t have to make all the compromises Amazon had to make here, especially on battery life (for the size) and on styling (for the price). Most of all, though, I found that while Alexa is great in my house, it feels like Apple put a hard ceiling on what it’s allowed to do on an iPhone.
Agree to Continue: Amazon Echo Frames Every smart device now requires you to agree to a series of terms and conditions before you can use it — contracts that no one actually reads. It’s impossible for us to read and analyze every single one of these agreements. But we’re going to start counting exactly how many times you have to hit “agree” to use devices when we review them since these are agreements most people don’t read and definitely can’t negotiate. In order to use the Amazon Echo Frames, you’ll need to download the Alexa app for iOS and Android. An Amazon account is required to sign in. By signing up for one of those, you must agree to its conditions of use. After that, the Alexa app will ask what sort of device you want to connect with. Just know that once you click on the device, you agree to a whole host of mandatory terms. In Amazon’s own words: “By proceeding, you agree to Amazon’s conditions of use and all of the terms found here.” You can explore the documentation at that link, but below, we’ve listed the 12 terms to which you must agree. Alexa Terms of Use
Amazon Conditions of Use
Amazon Privacy Policy
Children’s Privacy Disclosure
Amazon Prime Terms
Amazon Music Terms of Use
Kindle Store Terms of Use
Audible Service Conditions of Use
Amazon Dash Replenishment Terms of Use
Amazon FreeTime Unlimited Terms & Conditions, and Kindle FreeTime Unlimited T&C
Amazon Photos Terms of Use
Amazon Device Terms of Use In addition to the standard Alexa features, you will have to agree to whatever terms of service are required for your preferred music service, whether that’s Amazon Music, Spotify, Apple Music, or something else. Final tally: 13 mandatory agreements and more optional agreements depending on what music services you use.


theverge--2020-12-25--US requires negative coronavirus test from UK travelers

Anyone flying into the United States from the United Kingdom will have to test negative for COVID-19 within 72 hours before their flight , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Thursday .
The agency cited concerns over a new variant of the coronavirus as the reason for the rule , which goes into effect Monday .
The coronavirus , like all viruses , has regularly mutated as it has spread through the population .
Most mutations don ’ t make a virus behave any differently , but this new variant , which emerged in the UK , does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forms of the virus .
It does not appear to make people sicker and does not seem to be more deadly , although researchers are still studying that question .
Experts say the already authorized COVID-19 vaccines will likely still be effective against it .
Experts say the COVID-19 vaccines already authorized will probably still be effective The new variant is spreading quickly through London and southeast England .
Prime Minister Boris Johnson put the area under stricter lockdown to contain it , and dozens of countries have banned travelers from the UK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Washington , already have UK travel restrictions in place .
British Airways , Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic agreed to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo ’ s request to test travelers flying into the state .
Washington is asking people traveling from the UK to quarantine for 14 days .
Anthony Fauci said on Good Morning America earlier this week that he wouldn ’ t recommend a full ban on travel from the UK , which he called “ draconian.
” Testing was a more realistic step , said Fauci , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Allergy and Infectious Diseases .
Asking travelers to get COVID-19 tests is a more effective screen than temperature and symptom checks , which don ’ t end up catching many sick people .
Still , a test within three days of traveling won ’ t be a perfect net : someone could test negative a day before their trip and develop symptoms when they land .
It ’ s possible that the new variant is already circulating in the US , Fauci said .
“ When you have this amount of spread within @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really need to assume that it ’ s here already .
”

Anyone flying into the United States from the United Kingdom will have to test negative for COVID-19 within 72 hours before their flight, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Thursday. The agency cited concerns over a new variant of the coronavirus as the reason for the rule, which goes into effect Monday.
The coronavirus, like all viruses, has regularly mutated as it has spread through the population. Most mutations don’t make a virus behave any differently, but this new variant, which emerged in the UK, does appear to spread more easily than other forms of the virus. It does not appear to make people sicker and does not seem to be more deadly, although researchers are still studying that question. Experts say the already authorized COVID-19 vaccines will likely still be effective against it.
Experts say the COVID-19 vaccines already authorized will probably still be effective
The new variant is spreading quickly through London and southeast England. Prime Minister Boris Johnson put the area under stricter lockdown to contain it, and dozens of countries have banned travelers from the UK.
Two US states, New York and Washington, already have UK travel restrictions in place. British Airways, Delta Air Lines, and Virgin Atlantic agreed to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s request to test travelers flying into the state. Washington is asking people traveling from the UK to quarantine for 14 days.
Anthony Fauci said on Good Morning America earlier this week that he wouldn’t recommend a full ban on travel from the UK, which he called “draconian.” Testing was a more realistic step, said Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
Asking travelers to get COVID-19 tests is a more effective screen than temperature and symptom checks, which don’t end up catching many sick people. Still, a test within three days of traveling won’t be a perfect net: someone could test negative a day before their trip and develop symptoms when they land.


theverge--2020-12-25--9 great games from 2020 for your new PlayStation 5

If you ’ re one of the lucky few who has snagged a PlayStation 5 since it launched in early November — congratulations .
Securing a next-gen console , especially Sony ’ s , has been no easy feat , and there ’ s no telling when buying one won ’ t involve a mad online rush that ’ s basically no different than a chaotic lottery .
If you did secure a PS5 , you ’ re probably wondering what exactly you can play on it .
After all , next-gen consoles rarely launch with rich libraries of new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tend to reserve a handful of launch titles to hold over the early adopters until at least a year or so into the device ’ s life cycle , when the development of new titles really starts to pick up .
The good news is that the new consoles from both Microsoft and Sony are backward compatible with the last generation of hardware .
That means you have a bunch of older games and cross-gen titles available to you , some of which have been optimized for the new hardware ’ s speedier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And it ’ s worth mentioning that Sony does have some console exclusives , all of which are must-play games if you ’ re a new PS5 owner .
Here ’ s a breakdown of the nine best games to play on your new console over the holiday season .
We ’ ve rounded up our favorite and most-used games , apps , and entertainment .
Check out our app picks for iPhones , Android phones , Windows PCs , and M1-equipped Macs ; our favorite mobile games from Apple Arcade and Google @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for gaming PCs , the PS5 , Xbox One and Series X / S , Nintendo Switch , and VR .
We ’ ve also listed our favorite streaming shows on Disney Plus , Hulu , ESPN Plus , and Netflix ; some great sci-fi books ; and exciting new podcasts .
( Note : pricing was accurate at the time of publishing but may change . )
A standalone follow-up to Insomniac Games ’ excellent 2018 Spider-Man reboot , Miles Morales has a lot going for it .
It was developed natively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are breathtaking , and it takes full advantage of the new hardware ’ s benefits .
So it has almost nonexistent load times and a full range of performance and visual modes that you can use to tailor your experience , with a newly introduced “ Performance RT ” mode that achieves ray tracing at 60 frames per second .
It ’ s also the first major studio game to feature the Black superhero in the role of Spider-Man , and its stellar writing and cinematic cutscenes make it a worthy narrative follow-up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being a blast to play .
Plus , the ultimate edition includes a fully remastered version of the 2018 release , now with the option to carry over your PS4 save file .
FromSoftware ’ s Demon ’ s Souls holds a special place in the hearts of FromSoftware fans everywhere .
It was the first of many Souls games , establishing the Japanese studio as a maker of some of the most punishing and captivating action RPGs ever made .
The remake , from studio Bluepoint Games , holds the honor of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at launch , and its stunning visual makeover helps bring the 2009 classic ’ s unique and brutal combat to a modern canvas .
Astro ’ s Playroom joins Demon ’ s Souls in being one of the very few next-gen-only releases to arrive with the PS5 this fall .
It ’ s preloaded on the console for every user , so you don ’ t have to pay for it or even download it .
It ’ s ready to go as soon as you boot up your device .
And fittingly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ love letter to both the PlayStation platform and the PS5 itself in cute video game form .
The game takes place inside the innards of the new console , with different areas dedicated to various PS5 components and various portions of the game acting as a tech demo for the impressive new DualSense controller .
But that doesn ’ t mean Astro ’ s Playroom isn ’ t fun to play .
It is , in fact , a blast , and you should treat it as much more than a simple preloaded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ oddity from indie developer Young Horses , best known for creating Octodad : Dadliest Catch .
It ’ s best described as somewhere between Pokémon and a standard adventure game , with an island full of snack-like creatures like strawberries with eyes and caterpillars made of waffles .
The game is a weird one , but it ’ s also got an unusually engrossing narrative given its subject matter .
It ’ s also got plenty of activities to keep you busy , the most quintessential of which involves capturing up to 100 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Similar to Astro ’ s Playroom , Bugsnax was a free launch-day PS5 release , thanks to a deal between Sony and Young Horses that made it part of the PlayStation Plus subscription plan .
It ’ s still available as part of the subscription ( or $ 25 without PS Plus ) until January 4th , 2021 , so act fast to claim it if you ’ re interested in taking a visit to Snaktooth Island .
Assassin ’ s Creed Valhalla is the latest game in Ubisoft ’ s massive historical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another in a bid for world domination ... or something .
Okay , so the series isn ’ t really about assassins versus Templars anymore , and that ’ s just fine .
The last two games in the series , Origins and Odyssey , tackled ancient Egypt and Greece with impressive results ; critics hailed Ubisoft ’ s new open-world RPG approach that makes these games much more massive and engaging than they used to be .
Now , Valhalla is here with a Nordic tale of revenge set during the age @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s similarly incredible and immersive .
It ’ s also one of the few major studio cross-gen games to arrive in time for the PS5 ’ s launch .
Like many of the other titles for the new consoles , Ubisoft has released some much-needed patches to improve its performance and help it feel more next-gen .
The latest entry in everyone ’ s favorite “ anime the video game ” series , Persona 5 is not exactly a new entry in the iconic life sim-RPG crossover series .
But in keeping with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep it alive and fresh since its 2017 release .
The developer has done that by releasing an expanded version of the game called Persona 5 : Royal earlier this year .
The new version added new characters , gameplay additions , and quality-of-life improvements to the original ’ s design .
Now you have a choice to make .
Persona 5 is included for free with the PlayStation Plus Collection series , a new library of older games Sony is giving away as part of its annual subscription to owners of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the standard version of the game , not the Royal one .
Diehard Persona fans will tell you to play Royal , so perhaps it ’ s a good idea to use your PS Plus Collection to try the game out and purchase the expanded Royal version if it seems like something you ’ ll want to dedicate dozens ( or even hundreds ) of hours to .
Epic ’ s massively successful battle royale hit Fortnite is still going strong more than three years after release , and it ’ s only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consoles .
On Sony ’ s PS5 , Fortnite is rendered in 4K and 60fps , with a new 120Hz mode that will up that frame rate even higher if you have the TV to support it .
The game is free to play , making it a no-brainer if you ’ re looking for an online multiplayer game for your new console .
Epic and Microsoft also just added Halo ’ s Master Chief in addition to some Star Wars characters with its newest season .
Sucker Punch Productions ’ Ghost of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to feel both familiar and fresh at the same time .
It ’ s a standard open-world game with many of the trappings of the genre : a lonely , empty world occasionally peppered by side quests and collectibles and traversable mainly by horse .
But where Ghost of Tsushima shines is in its visual beauty , deep sword combat , and the quiet moments it gives the player as they pilot samurai Jin Sakai on his quest for revenge — like composing haikus by the cliffside or following birds to mystical fox @ @ @ @ @ @ @ groundbreaking game , but it ’ s a lovely one to play .
It ’ s helped along greatly by player-friendly gestures like instant fast travel , no microtransactions to speak of , and fantastic character customization .
On the PS5 , Ghost of Tsushima runs at 60fps , which , when added to its already top-tier performance and quality , makes it effectively a launch game for anyone who skipped it or held off this past summer .
The remake of roleplaying classic Final Fantasy VII could have gone wrong in so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it arrived this past April as a complete and fully formed experience that succeeds wildly at what it sets out to do .
Sure , it ’ s just a tiny sliver of the original ’ s overall story , but it delivers in every way imaginable , straddling the line between nostalgia for the source material and genuine advances in evolving turn-based RPGs for the modern day .
Plus , it has some out-of-left-field narrative additions that turn the whole plot on its head .
While it ’ s not fully @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does get a slight performance boost through backwards compatibility , mostly to help keep its frame rate stable .
It ’ s otherwise a must-play for any Final Fantasy fan that didn ’ t pick this up for the PS4 .

If you’re one of the lucky few who has snagged a PlayStation 5 since it launched in early November — congratulations. Securing a next-gen console, especially Sony’s, has been no easy feat, and there’s no telling when buying one won’t involve a mad online rush that’s basically no different than a chaotic lottery.
If you did secure a PS5, you’re probably wondering what exactly you can play on it. After all, next-gen consoles rarely launch with rich libraries of new games. Instead, game console makers tend to reserve a handful of launch titles to hold over the early adopters until at least a year or so into the device’s life cycle, when the development of new titles really starts to pick up.
The good news is that the new consoles from both Microsoft and Sony are backward compatible with the last generation of hardware. That means you have a bunch of older games and cross-gen titles available to you, some of which have been optimized for the new hardware’s speedier solid-state drive and more powerful processor. And it’s worth mentioning that Sony does have some console exclusives, all of which are must-play games if you’re a new PS5 owner.
Here’s a breakdown of the nine best games to play on your new console over the holiday season.
Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales Ultimate Edition
Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales Ultimate Edition Image: Sony / Insomniac Games
A standalone follow-up to Insomniac Games’ excellent 2018 Spider-Man reboot, Miles Morales has a lot going for it. It was developed natively for the PS5, meaning its visuals are breathtaking, and it takes full advantage of the new hardware’s benefits. So it has almost nonexistent load times and a full range of performance and visual modes that you can use to tailor your experience, with a newly introduced “Performance RT” mode that achieves ray tracing at 60 frames per second.
It’s also the first major studio game to feature the Black superhero in the role of Spider-Man, and its stellar writing and cinematic cutscenes make it a worthy narrative follow-up to the original, in addition to just being a blast to play. Plus, the ultimate edition includes a fully remastered version of the 2018 release, now with the option to carry over your PS4 save file.
Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales Ultimate Edition / Marvel hero game $70 at Amazon
Demon’s Souls
Demon’s Souls Image: Sony
FromSoftware’s Demon’s Souls holds a special place in the hearts of FromSoftware fans everywhere. It was the first of many Souls games, establishing the Japanese studio as a maker of some of the most punishing and captivating action RPGs ever made. The remake, from studio Bluepoint Games, holds the honor of being one of the only next-gen exclusives at launch, and its stunning visual makeover helps bring the 2009 classic’s unique and brutal combat to a modern canvas.
Demon’s Souls / Action roleplaying game $70 at Amazon
Astro’s Playroom
Astro’s Playroom Image: Sony
Astro’s Playroom joins Demon’s Souls in being one of the very few next-gen-only releases to arrive with the PS5 this fall. It’s preloaded on the console for every user, so you don’t have to pay for it or even download it. It’s ready to go as soon as you boot up your device. And fittingly, it’s pretty much a love letter to both the PlayStation platform and the PS5 itself in cute video game form.
The game takes place inside the innards of the new console, with different areas dedicated to various PS5 components and various portions of the game acting as a tech demo for the impressive new DualSense controller. But that doesn’t mean Astro’s Playroom isn’t fun to play. It is, in fact, a blast, and you should treat it as much more than a simple preloaded demo.
Astro’s Playroom / Preloaded game Free with console
Bugsnax
Bugsnax
Bugsnax is the latest enigmatic oddity from indie developer Young Horses, best known for creating Octodad: Dadliest Catch. It’s best described as somewhere between Pokémon and a standard adventure game, with an island full of snack-like creatures like strawberries with eyes and caterpillars made of waffles.
The game is a weird one, but it’s also got an unusually engrossing narrative given its subject matter. It’s also got plenty of activities to keep you busy, the most quintessential of which involves capturing up to 100 species of the edible bug creatures. Similar to Astro’s Playroom, Bugsnax was a free launch-day PS5 release, thanks to a deal between Sony and Young Horses that made it part of the PlayStation Plus subscription plan. It’s still available as part of the subscription (or $25 without PS Plus) until January 4th, 2021, so act fast to claim it if you’re interested in taking a visit to Snaktooth Island.
Bugsnax / Quirky adventure game Included with PS Plus
PlayStation Plus / Subscription plan starting at $9.99 / month Subscribe
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Image: Ubisoft
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is the latest game in Ubisoft’s massive historical fiction series pitting secret orders against one another in a bid for world domination... or something. Okay, so the series isn’t really about assassins versus Templars anymore, and that’s just fine. The last two games in the series, Origins and Odyssey, tackled ancient Egypt and Greece with impressive results; critics hailed Ubisoft’s new open-world RPG approach that makes these games much more massive and engaging than they used to be.
Now, Valhalla is here with a Nordic tale of revenge set during the age of the Vikings, and it’s similarly incredible and immersive. It’s also one of the few major studio cross-gen games to arrive in time for the PS5’s launch. Like many of the other titles for the new consoles, Ubisoft has released some much-needed patches to improve its performance and help it feel more next-gen.
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla / Nordic tale of revenge $60 at PlayStation Store
Persona 5
Persona 5 Image: Atlus
The latest entry in everyone’s favorite “anime the video game” series, Persona 5 is not exactly a new entry in the iconic life sim-RPG crossover series. But in keeping with tradition, developer Atlus has managed to keep it alive and fresh since its 2017 release. The developer has done that by releasing an expanded version of the game called Persona 5: Royal earlier this year. The new version added new characters, gameplay additions, and quality-of-life improvements to the original’s design.
Now you have a choice to make. Persona 5 is included for free with the PlayStation Plus Collection series, a new library of older games Sony is giving away as part of its annual subscription to owners of the PS5. But the collection includes just the standard version of the game, not the Royal one. Diehard Persona fans will tell you to play Royal, so perhaps it’s a good idea to use your PS Plus Collection to try the game out and purchase the expanded Royal version if it seems like something you’ll want to dedicate dozens (or even hundreds) of hours to.
Persona 5 / Anime video game $20 at PlayStation Store
Fortnite
Fortnite Image: Epic Games
Epic’s massively successful battle royale hit Fortnite is still going strong more than three years after release, and it’s only gotten better with the release of next-gen consoles. On Sony’s PS5, Fortnite is rendered in 4K and 60fps, with a new 120Hz mode that will up that frame rate even higher if you have the TV to support it. The game is free to play, making it a no-brainer if you’re looking for an online multiplayer game for your new console. Epic and Microsoft also just added Halo’s Master Chief in addition to some Star Wars characters with its newest season.
Fortnite / Free-to-play battle royale Download
Ghost of Tsushima
Ghost of Tsushima Image: Sucker Punch Productions
Sucker Punch Productions’ Ghost of Tsushima is the rare game that manages to feel both familiar and fresh at the same time. It’s a standard open-world game with many of the trappings of the genre: a lonely, empty world occasionally peppered by side quests and collectibles, and traversable mainly by horse. But where Ghost of Tsushima shines is in its visual beauty, deep sword combat, and the quiet moments it gives the player as they pilot samurai Jin Sakai on his quest for revenge — like composing haikus by the cliffside or following birds to mystical fox shrines.
It’s not a groundbreaking game, but it’s a lovely one to play. It’s helped along greatly by player-friendly gestures like instant fast travel, no microtransactions to speak of, and fantastic character customization. On the PS5, Ghost of Tsushima runs at 60fps, which, when added to its already top-tier performance and quality, makes it effectively a launch game for anyone who skipped it or held off this past summer.
Ghost of Tsushima / Open-world game $60 at PlayStation Store
Final Fantasy VII Remake
Final Fantasy VII Remake Image: Square Enix
The remake of roleplaying classic Final Fantasy VII could have gone wrong in so many ways, and yet, remarkably, it arrived this past April as a complete and fully formed experience that succeeds wildly at what it sets out to do. Sure, it’s just a tiny sliver of the original’s overall story, but it delivers in every way imaginable, straddling the line between nostalgia for the source material and genuine advances in evolving turn-based RPGs for the modern day. Plus, it has some out-of-left-field narrative additions that turn the whole plot on its head.
While it’s not fully optimized for the PS5, FFVII Remake does get a slight performance boost through backward compatibility, mostly to help keep its frame rate stable. It’s otherwise a must-play for any Final Fantasy fan who didn’t pick this up for the PS4.