theverge--2020-08-06--Acer Chromebook Spin 713: the Chromebook to buy

Several Chromebooks came out this year vying to become the best “ premium ” Chromebook of 2020 .
Two big factors set Acer ’ s Chromebook Spin 713 apart from the rest .
The first is its 3:2 display .
Samsung ’ s Galaxy Chromebook , Asus ’ Chromebook Flip C436 , and many of last year ’ s top contenders like the Pixelbook Go all used a 16:9 aspect ratio — a more square 3:2 screen is taller and gives you significantly more vertical space .
The second is the price .
The Spin 713 starts at $ 629 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 529 already ) .
That ’ s fairly midrange as Chromebooks go , but it significantly undercuts some competitors from Samsung , Google , and Asus .
By unveiling the Galaxy and the C436 at CES 2020 , the companies essentially posed the question : can a Chromebook be worth $ 1,000 ?
The existence of the Spin 713 says that the answer to that question is no ( for now ) .
It ’ s not a perfect Chromebook , but it offers similar specs and performance benefits to those high-end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There ’ s no other way to say it : this is the best Chromebook I ’ ve used this year .
Almost every feature of the 713 is excellent .
The keyboard is one of the best keyboards I ’ ve ever used on a Chromebook , with a smooth and comfortable texture , decent travel , backlighting , and a satisfying but quiet click .
The port selection means you ’ re unlikely to need a dongle : there are two USB-C ports , a USB-A , a headphone jack , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t see on thin Chromebooks every day : HDMI .
The Gorilla Glass trackpad is quite smooth and has no issues with palm rejection ( though it ’ s a slightly stiffer click than some of the best touchpads out there ) .
A few corners have been cut , but the fact that they ’ re even worth mentioning is a testament to how excellent this laptop is .
For one , there ’ s no biometric login — fingerprint or facial — which is a feature that Samsung and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The downward-firing stereo speakers are also not great .
The music was tinny and even at maximum volume was just barely loud enough to be heard from across my living room .
But the main drawback is the design — and again , by “ drawback , ” I really mean “ aspect that ’ s not quite as exceptional as everything else.
” The Spin ’ s chassis isn ’ t necessarily ugly , but I ’ d call it utilitarian .
It ’ s on the bulky side at 3.02 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I know that ’ s not heavy in the grand scheme of laptops , but it ’ s noticeably heavier than the Galaxy and the Go . )
There ’ s a shiny aluminum lid and a plastic keyboard deck , and it ’ s all a sort of drab gray color .
And there ’ s a clunky bottom bezel with a large Acer logo that dates the screen a bit .
Again , the 713 isn ’ t an eyesore , but it ’ s not what I ’ d call @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I might expect to see on a school laptop cart .
The upside of that is that this Chromebook is quite sturdy .
I was afraid of putting the Galaxy down too hard on my desk while I was testing it , but I would be quite comfortable battering the Spin around in my backpack all day .
There ’ s very little flex in the keyboard and screen .
Acer says it ’ s able to survive drops of up to 48 inches and downward force of up to 132 pounds .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but I ’ d believe it .
But the absolute highlight of this Chromebook , as I mentioned earlier , is the display .
If you ’ ve been using a 16:9 display your whole life and you try a 3:2 , you ’ ll probably never want to go back .
You get noticeably more vertical screen space , and I could comfortably stack windows side by side without ever having to zoom out .
Aspect ratio aside , the 713 ’ s touch display is gorgeous , delivering a sharp @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Side-by-side , it actually looked better than the MacBook Pro ’ s screen : I would say it ’ s not too far from the screen of the Galaxy Chromebook , which was one of the company ’ s primary justifications for its $ 1,000 price tag .
The only thing to note is that the Spin ’ s screen is glossy , and I did experience some glare when using it in direct sunlight .
The Spin 713 carries Intel ’ s Project Athena label , which is meant to certify that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life are up to Intel ’ s standards .
A host of higher-end 2020 Chromebooks , including the Galaxy and the C436 , have earned this distinction but have still yielded disappointing battery life results .
I ’ m relieved to say that the Spin 713 delivers comparable performance to those devices without that drawback .
I got eight and a half hours with my usual load of around a dozen Chrome tabs and apps at 50 percent brightness .
It also charges quickly , juicing from zero to 35 percent in 30 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which costs $ 629 , has a Core i5-10210U processor , 8GB of RAM , and 128GB of storage .
( You can configure it with an i3 or an i7 , and can jump up to 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage as well . )
I didn ’ t encounter any performance issues with that system when I ran it through my daily load of office work , which included bouncing between 10–12 Chrome tabs and spreadsheets , Slack , Twitter , Spotify , streaming , and occasional photo editing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has given weaker systems ( like Lenovo ’ s $ 279 Chromebook Duet ) some trouble .
Everything was smooth and stable , with nothing freezing or randomly quitting .
The fans ( this Chromebook contains fans , unlike the Galaxy and the Go ) did an excellent job of cooling the chassis , and I never once heard them .
This configuration worked so well that I ’ m comfortable saying the i7 model is really best for developers and other power users who are coding or running desktop Linux applications .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ i5 model and save the cash .
The 713 supports all the latest Android apps , which are in varying stages of development for Chrome OS .
Some are still just blown-up versions of their Android counterparts , which makes them hit-or-miss on a laptop screen .
( Slack , for example , is somewhat glitchy and crashed a couple times , and you can ’ t highlight in the Google Docs app without physically holding down and dragging the cursor , as you would on a phone screen . )
This isn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operating system to have — these apps have fine browser counterparts — but it does mean there ’ s something of a learning curve to figuring out where you ’ ll use what .
Other apps , on the other hand , have adapted well to Chrome OS over the years ; Spotify now has a nice laptop interface , for example .
Apps aside , Chrome OS as a whole ran smoothly and looked great on this system .
There ’ s a nice tablet mode that uses Android-esque gesture controls as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between the Spin 713 and the $ 1,000 Galaxy Chromebook or the $ 849 i5 model of the Pixelbook Go , I would say you need a pretty good reason not to choose the Spin .
Specifically , if you ’ re looking for a laptop for everyday multitasking , office work , and streaming , and you ’ re going to shell out an extra couple hundred for those devices , what you ’ re really paying for is design .
That ’ s the primary department where both of those computers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of their class ( and one where the 713 is very much not ) .
You ’ ll want the Galaxy if your top priority is a bold look that turns heads and the Pixelbook if you need a sleek and elegant vibe .
If those aren ’ t your top priorities and you just want a good Chromebook , don ’ t bother with those and just get the Spin .
The more interesting comparison is to Asus ’ Chromebook Flip C434 , which offers less powerful specs ( a Core M3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ storage rather than 128GB ) for a slightly lower price ( $ 599 for the model with 8GB of RAM ) .
The C434 also has a 3.3-pound aluminum chassis and the same port selection minus the HDMI , but small bezels give it a more premium look .
To a certain extent , the best choice comes down to your preferences .
But if you ’ re stuck between the two , I think the 713 is worth buying for the screen alone .
The 3:2 panel is a game-changer , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and HDMI port are icing on the cake .
Personally , I would pay a bit more .
In short , some people thought 2020 might be the year of the premium Chromebook , the year companies proved that it was worth paying $ 1,000 for a nice Chrome OS device .
The Spin 713 shows that , for the majority of us , it ’ s still not .
2020 ’ s best Chromebook doesn ’ t look like a fancy , flashy , high-end machine — it looks like this .

Several Chromebooks came out this year vying to become the best “premium” Chromebook of 2020. Two big factors set Acer’s Chromebook Spin 713 apart from the rest.
The first is its 3:2 display. Samsung’s Galaxy Chromebook, Asus’ Chromebook Flip C436, and many of last year’s top contenders like the Pixelbook Go all used a 16:9 aspect ratio — a more square 3:2 screen is taller and gives you significantly more vertical space.
The second is the price. The Spin 713 starts at $629 (and has been on sale for $529 already). That’s fairly midrange as Chromebooks go, but it significantly undercuts some competitors from Samsung, Google, and Asus. By unveiling the Galaxy and the C436 at CES 2020, the companies essentially posed the question: can a Chromebook be worth $1,000?
The 3:2 screen gives you 18 percent more vertical screen space than a 16:9 display.
The existence of the Spin 713 says that the answer to that question is no (for now). It’s not a perfect Chromebook, but it offers similar specs and performance benefits to those high-end competitors at a much lower cost. There’s no other way to say it: this is the best Chromebook I’ve used this year.
8 Verge Score Acer Chromebook Spin 713 $ 629 The Good Excellent 3:2 screen
Good keyboard
Great port selection with HDMI
Performance and battery on par with more expensive competitors The Bad Bad speakers
No fingerprint sensor
Utilitarian design $629 at Best Buy How we rate and review products
Almost every feature of the 713 is excellent. The keyboard is one of the best keyboards I’ve ever used on a Chromebook, with a smooth and comfortable texture, decent travel, backlighting, and a satisfying but quiet click. The port selection means you’re unlikely to need a dongle: there are two USB-C ports, a USB-A, a headphone jack, a microSD slot, and something you don’t see on thin Chromebooks every day: HDMI. The Gorilla Glass trackpad is quite smooth and has no issues with palm rejection (though it’s a slightly stiffer click than some of the best touchpads out there).
A few corners have been cut, but the fact that they’re even worth mentioning is a testament to how excellent this laptop is. For one, there’s no biometric login — fingerprint or facial — which is a feature that Samsung and Asus have both built into their devices. The downward-firing stereo speakers are also not great. The music was tinny and even at maximum volume was just barely loud enough to be heard from across my living room.
There’s a full-sized keyboard with backlighting. USB-C, USB-A, audio jack, microSD slot on the left. USB-C and HDMI on the right.
But the main drawback is the design — and again, by “drawback,” I really mean “aspect that’s not quite as exceptional as everything else.” The Spin’s chassis isn’t necessarily ugly, but I’d call it utilitarian. It’s on the bulky side at 3.02 pounds. (Holster the pitchforks — I know that’s not heavy in the grand scheme of laptops, but it’s noticeably heavier than the Galaxy and the Go.) There’s a shiny aluminum lid and a plastic keyboard deck, and it’s all a sort of drab gray color. And there’s a clunky bottom bezel with a large Acer logo that dates the screen a bit. Again, the 713 isn’t an eyesore, but it’s not what I’d call stylish: It just looks like something I might expect to see on a school laptop cart.
Agree to Continue: Acer Chromebook Spin 713 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 started 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. To start using the Acer Chromebook Spin 713, you’ll need to agree to the following: Connecting your Wi-Fi network
Google universal terms of service
Chrome sync and personalized Google services (you can change these after setup)
Google Play terms of service You can also say yes or no to the following: Send Chrome OS diagnostic and usage data to Google
Google Drive backup (you can change this after setup)
Allow apps and services with location permission to use your device’s location (you can change this after setup)
Google Assistant voice match
Let Google Assistant show you info related to what’s on your screen
Connect your phone
Sign up for Chromebook tips, offers, and updates In total, that’s five mandatory agreements and seven optional agreements to use the Acer Chromebook Spin 713.
The upside of that is that this Chromebook is quite sturdy. I was afraid of putting the Galaxy down too hard on my desk while I was testing it, but I would be quite comfortable battering the Spin around in my backpack all day. There’s very little flex in the keyboard and screen. Acer says it’s able to survive drops of up to 48 inches and downward force of up to 132 pounds. I didn’t test those claims, but I’d believe it.
But the absolute highlight of this Chromebook, as I mentioned earlier, is the display. If you’ve been using a 16:9 display your whole life and you try a 3:2, you’ll probably never want to go back. You get noticeably more vertical screen space, and I could comfortably stack windows side by side without ever having to zoom out.
Aspect ratio aside, the 713’s touch display is gorgeous, delivering a sharp picture and vibrant, accurate colors. Side-by-side, it actually looked better than the MacBook Pro’s screen: I would say it’s not too far from the screen of the Galaxy Chromebook, which was one of the company’s primary justifications for its $1,000 price tag. The only thing to note is that the Spin’s screen is glossy, and I did experience some glare when using it in direct sunlight.
The aluminum chassis adheres to the MIL-STD 810G military standard, Acer says.
The Spin 713 carries Intel’s Project Athena label, which is meant to certify that the laptop’s performance and battery life are up to Intel’s standards. A host of higher-end 2020 Chromebooks, including the Galaxy and the C436, have earned this distinction but have still yielded disappointing battery life results. I’m relieved to say that the Spin 713 delivers comparable performance to those devices without that drawback. I got eight and a half hours with my usual load of around a dozen Chrome tabs and apps at 50 percent brightness. It also charges quickly, juicing from zero to 35 percent in 30 minutes.
The model I tested, which costs $629, has a Core i5-10210U processor, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage. (You can configure it with an i3 or an i7, and can jump up to 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage as well.)
I didn’t encounter any performance issues with that system when I ran it through my daily load of office work, which included bouncing between 10–12 Chrome tabs and spreadsheets, Slack, Twitter, Spotify, streaming, and occasional photo editing. It’s a load that has given weaker systems (like Lenovo’s $279 Chromebook Duet) some trouble. Everything was smooth and stable, with nothing freezing or randomly quitting. The fans (this Chromebook contains fans, unlike the Galaxy and the Go) did an excellent job of cooling the chassis, and I never once heard them.
The Spin automatically switches to tablet mode when you flip the screen around.
This configuration worked so well that I’m comfortable saying the i7 model is really best for developers and other power users who are coding or running desktop Linux applications. Everyone else can stick with the Core i5 model and save the cash.
The 713 supports all the latest Android apps, which are in varying stages of development for Chrome OS. Some are still just blown-up versions of their Android counterparts, which makes them hit-or-miss on a laptop screen. (Slack, for example, is somewhat glitchy and crashed a couple times, and you can’t highlight in the Google Docs app without physically holding down and dragging the cursor, as you would on a phone screen.) This isn’t the worst problem for an operating system to have — these apps have fine browser counterparts — but it does mean there’s something of a learning curve to figuring out where you’ll use what. Other apps, on the other hand, have adapted well to Chrome OS over the years; Spotify now has a nice laptop interface, for example.
You can use the Spin in tent mode as well. Use gesture controls to swap between windows.
Apps aside, Chrome OS as a whole ran smoothly and looked great on this system. There’s a nice tablet mode that uses Android-esque gesture controls as well.
Acer Chromebook Spin 713 specs (as reviewed) Processor: Intel Core i5-10210U
RAM: 8GB LPDDR4 dual-channel
Storage: 128GB PCIe NVMe SSD
Weight: 3.02 pounds
Dimensions: 11.83 x 9.25 x 0.66 inches
Battery: 48Wh 3-cell battery
Display: 13.5-inch, 3:2 touchscreen, 2256 x 1504
Camera: Front-facing, 1280 x 720
Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6, 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz
Bluetooth: 5.0
If you’re deciding between the Spin 713 and the $1,000 Galaxy Chromebook or the $849 i5 model of the Pixelbook Go, I would say you need a pretty good reason not to choose the Spin.
Specifically, if you’re looking for a laptop for everyday multitasking, office work, and streaming, and you’re going to shell out an extra couple hundred for those devices, what you’re really paying for is design. That’s the primary department where both of those computers, despite other drawbacks, are top of their class (and one where the 713 is very much not). You’ll want the Galaxy if your top priority is a bold look that turns heads and the Pixelbook if you need a sleek and elegant vibe. If those aren’t your top priorities and you just want a good Chromebook, don’t bother with those and just get the Spin.
The more interesting comparison is to Asus’ Chromebook Flip C434, which offers less powerful specs (a Core M3 instead of an i5 and 64GB of storage rather than 128GB) for a slightly lower price ($599 for the model with 8GB of RAM). The C434 also has a 3.3-pound aluminum chassis and the same port selection minus the HDMI, but small bezels give it a more premium look.
The Spin 713 is a better choice than the Galaxy Chromebook and the Pixelbook Go (for most people).
To a certain extent, the best choice comes down to your preferences. But if you’re stuck between the two, I think the 713 is worth buying for the screen alone. The 3:2 panel is a game-changer, and the extra storage, standout keyboard, and HDMI port are icing on the cake. Personally, I would pay a bit more.
In short, some people thought 2020 might be the year of the premium Chromebook, the year companies proved that it was worth paying $1,000 for a nice Chrome OS device. The Spin 713 shows that, for the majority of us, it’s still not. 2020’s best Chromebook doesn’t look like a fancy, flashy, high-end machine — it looks like this.


theverge--2020-08-06--Twitter is letting all users limit replies to their tweets on iOS

An update to Twitter ’ s iOS app lets all users limit who can reply to their tweets .
Twitter has been experimenting with this feature since May , but now seems to be rolling out it more widely .
“ In May , we tested a new way to have a chat with exactly who you want , so you can create and consume more meaningful changes , ” says the update text on the App Store .
“ Now , everyone can try this new feature and choose who can reply to their tweets.
” To use the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ above the keyboard when composing a tweet that says “ Everyone can reply.
” They can then choose between three options : everyone can reply to their tweet , only people they follow can reply , and only people they mention can reply .
Choosing one option doesn ’ t make that the default for future tweets .
The feature has been one of Twitter ’ s more interesting changes in recent months , creating new memes and ways to talk on the platform .
The feature can be a great way to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be used to limit conversations in a way that feels counterintuitive to Twitter ’ s most basic functions .
It ’ s not clear if the feature is also now available to users of Twitter ’ s Android app , or if it ’ s available to all Twitter web users .
We ’ ve reached out to the company to find out and will update this story if we hear more .

An update to Twitter’s iOS app on Wednesday said the app would now let all users to limit who can reply to their tweets, but it turns out the company may have jumped the gun.
Twitter has been experimenting with this feature since May, and yesterday pushed an update to the iPhone version of its mobile app suggesting the feature would be more widely rolling out. A Twitter spokesperson now tells The Verge it accidentally pushed incorrect release notes; the feature is not in fact more widely rolling out, for now.
Alas, the release notes were wrong
“In May, we tested a new way to have a chat with exactly who you want, so you can create and consume more meaningful changes,” read the update text on the App Store. “Now, everyone can try this new feature and choose who can reply to their tweets.”
A Twitter spokesperson says the misconception was due “to some accidentally pushed release notes,” and that “the ability to limit replies on tweets is not currently available to everyone.” It’s not clear then whether the feature has been expanded in any meaningful fashion with the latest update, but Twitter appears to still be testing reply limiting before making the feature available to more users.
If you do have access, users can use the feature by simply tapping the box above the keyboard when composing a tweet that says “Everyone can reply.” They can then choose between three options: everyone can reply to their tweet, only people they follow can reply, and only people they mention can reply. Choosing one option doesn’t make that the default for future tweets.
How the new feature looks on the iOS Twitter app. Image: The Verge
The feature has been one of Twitter’s more interesting changes in recent months, creating new memes and ways to talk on the platform. Reply limiting can be a great way to avoid harassment, but it can also be used to limit conversations in a way that feels counterintuitive to Twitter’s most basic functions.


theverge--2020-08-06--Go read this FT story about how Microsoft’s roots in China could help it acquire TikTok

Why , exactly , is Microsoft — purveyor of office software , cloud services , and high-end laptops — so well positioned to buy viral video app TikTok ?
We ’ ve previously looked at how the acquisition fits Microsoft ’ s future ambitions , but a new report from The Financial Times explains how the US tech giant has been preparing for this sort of deal for decades by nurturing connections with China ’ s tech elite .
As the FT explains , Microsoft has been involved in the Chinese tech world for far longer than many rivals .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ as incubators for local talent from the 1990s onwards , and many top Chinese tech executives ( including Zhang Yiming , founder of TikTok ’ s parent company ByteDance ) have worked for the company in the past .
Yuan Yang , one of the article ’ s authors , noted on Twitter that this connection led the ByteDance founder to approach Microsoft after President Trump threatened to ban TikTok : “ The soft power of Microsoft in China is immense , ” one former Microsoft China executive , told the FT. “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaving have a soft spot for Microsoft.
” “ The soft power of Microsoft in China is immense ” Microsoft has also sweated hard to keep its software in use in China .
About 90 percent of Chinese computers use Windows ( even though piracy is rife ) , while Microsoft ’ s search engine Bing has survived in the country by censoring search results while others have been driven out .
Microsoft-owned LinkedIn and GitHub are also operational in China , with the FT noting that these are two of only three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ available in the country .
The third is Amazon ’ s reviews system .
And this closeness extends to the political sphere , too .
When Chinese President Xi Jinping visited America in 2015 to meet US tech CEOs at the US-China Internet Industry Forum , for example , it was Microsoft that hosted the event .
This sort of goodwill can ’ t be bought overnight , and could help Microsoft secure the acquisition of TikTok while avoiding Beijing ’ s anger .
As another former Microsoft China executive told the FT @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ByteDance and Microsoft meant there were lines of trusted communications that could be taken advantage of.
” The deal to acquire TikTok is obviously still extremely provisional , and rests on the whims of a would-be autocratic leader who bristles at the idea of foreign interference : President Trump .
But if you want to find out more about how Microsoft has been working on these relations for years , go read The Financial Times ’ excellent report .

Why, exactly, is Microsoft — purveyor of office software, cloud services, and high-end laptops — so well positioned to buy viral video app TikTok? We’ve previously looked at how the acquisition fits Microsoft’s future ambitions, but a new report from The Financial Times explains how the US tech giant has been preparing for this sort of deal for decades by nurturing connections with China’s tech elite.
As the FT explains, Microsoft has been involved in the Chinese tech world for far longer than many rivals. Its research labs in China have functioned as incubators for local talent from the 1990s onwards, and many top Chinese tech executives (including Zhang Yiming, founder of TikTok’s parent company ByteDance) have worked for the company in the past.
Yuan Yang, one of the article’s authors, noted on Twitter that this connection led the ByteDance founder to approach Microsoft after President Trump threatened to ban TikTok:
“The soft power of Microsoft in China is immense,” one former Microsoft China executive, told the FT. “For the most part, Chinese employees leaving have a soft spot for Microsoft.”
“The soft power of Microsoft in China is immense”
Microsoft has also sweated hard to keep its software in use in China. About 90 percent of Chinese computers use Windows (even though piracy is rife), while Microsoft’s search engine Bing has survived in the country by censoring search results while others have been driven out. Microsoft-owned LinkedIn and GitHub are also operational in China, with the FT noting that these are two of only three major foreign-owned platforms that host user-generated content available in the country. The third is Amazon’s reviews system.
And this closeness extends to the political sphere, too. When Chinese President Xi Jinping visited America in 2015 to meet US tech CEOs at the US-China Internet Industry Forum, for example, it was Microsoft that hosted the event.
This sort of goodwill can’t be bought overnight, and could help Microsoft secure the acquisition of TikTok while avoiding Beijing’s anger. As another former Microsoft China executive told the FT: “All the pre-existing connections between ByteDance and Microsoft meant there were lines of trusted communications that could be taken advantage of.”


theverge--2020-08-06--The big takeaways from Samsung’s Unpacked announcements

Samsung ’ s big Unpacked event went off with just a few hitches .
It ’ s nice to know that even when an event is online some kind of logistical issue can cause AV problems and delay the beginning of a keynote .
Makes everything feel a little more normal .
I tease — the event itself was actually well executed .
Samsung didn ’ t fake an auditorium but still did its best to make the occasion feel big .
Microsoft and Apple went much further at embracing a new online format , but Samsung managed it fairly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( Samsung kept showing Bluetooth pairing interfaces ? )
, but overall it was a strong event .
Plus , Samsung had a much more diverse and engaging set of presenters than any other tech keynote in recent memory .
Bravo , Samsung .
But what about the products ?
Well , my big question was what the flagship would be and the answer is obvious : it ’ s the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra .
You can read my writeup in the link below , but do not miss the video from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use the Note 20 for a brief period of time .
As for that Galaxy Z Fold 2 , Samsung pushed off a bunch of details until September 1st .
For today , it mainly spent its time talking about how the second edition of the Fold had addressed all the durability concerns expressed by the press and YouTubers ( one of my videos made a brief appearance ) .
The message was refreshingly honest and direct : the first one wasn ’ t great , we ’ re fixing it .
At @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Roh held a scripted interview where he laid out Samsung ’ s priorities for the coming years : foldable and 5G .
The Fold 2 is going to be a big test of that .
Samsung didn ’ t mention Bixby , its digital assistant , a single time .
I ’ m told it ’ s still on the phones and hasn ’ t been de-commissioned or anything — but woof .
That ’ s an inside joke , by the way .
On The Vergecast podcast we have decided that Bixby @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It ’ s a thing .
We ’ ll make better jokes on this week ’ s Vergecast , where we will absolutely be breaking down all of Samsung ’ s announcements .
Anyway , there ’ s plenty to catch up on if you missed it , so here ’ s the links .
┏ Samsung announces Galaxy Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra .
I wrote up my thoughts on the main device of the day , the Note 20 Ultra .
The regular Note 20 , I ’ m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very special .
┏ Samsung ’ s Galaxy Tab S7 Plus tablet has a 120Hz OLED display and 5G .
The screen on the Tab S7 Plus sounds like it ’ s amazing .
┏ Samsung ’ s Galaxy Watch 3 is thinner , lighter , and more expensive .
I dearly wish these weren ’ t so huge .
┏ Samsung announces Galaxy Buds Live with active noise cancellation and bean-shaped design .
I just need to point out that Samsung ’ s own website for this product let one “ Beans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had originally been calling them beans .
It is an act of sheer cowardice to back away from such excellent and on-point branding .
Anyway , this detail from Chris Welch on Samsung ’ s noise canceling is fascinating : ┏ How Samsung ’ s Galaxy Note 20 compares to its predecessors and competitors .
┏ Samsung announces the Galaxy Z Fold 2 with bigger screens and better cameras .
Chaim Gartenberg : ┏ Microsoft and Samsung have a special partnership for Xbox Game Pass on Android .
┏ How to preorder the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guarantees three ‘ generations ’ of Android OS updates for some Galaxy phones .
Yours truly : ┏ Samsung will let you reserve a Galaxy Z Fold 2 today ahead of official preorders .
┏ Instagram launches Reels , its attempt to keep you off TikTok .
┏ Google is sending a complicated privacy email to everyone — here ’ s what it means .
Me again : ┏ Android TV ’ s new home screen will now recommend movies , TV shows , and apps .
Seems like every TV platform needs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with these subscriptions .
┏ Microsoft integrates Android apps into Windows 10 with new Your Phone update .
Microsoft ’ s embrace of Android and how quickly that hug has turned into genuinely useful features on Windows is remarkable .
┏ Microsoft cuts xCloud iOS testing early as its future on Apple devices remains unclear .
Tom Warren : More from The Verge ┏ Apple and Google ’ s COVID-19 tracking system will make its full US debut in new Virginia app .
As Nicole Wetsman makes clear , this solution won ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would like to see something like it in every state , nationwide : ┏ NASA astronaut on SpaceX Crew Dragon return : ‘ Sounded like an animal ’ .
Loren Grush gets into what that descent was like for the astronauts :

Samsung’s big Unpacked event went off with just a few hitches. It’s nice to know that even when an event is online some kind of logistical issue can cause AV problems and delay the beginning of a keynote. Makes everything feel a little more normal.
I tease — the event itself was actually well executed. Samsung didn’t fake an auditorium but still did its best to make the occasion feel big. Microsoft and Apple went much further at embracing a new online format, but Samsung managed it fairly well. There were definitely cringe moments (Samsung kept showing Bluetooth pairing interfaces?), but overall it was a strong event. Plus, Samsung had a much more diverse and engaging set of presenters than any other tech keynote in recent memory. Bravo, Samsung.
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But what about the products? Well, my big question was what the flagship would be and the answer is obvious: it’s the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. You can read my writeup in the link below, but do not miss the video from Becca Farsace — who actually got to use the Note 20 for a brief period of time.
As for that Galaxy Z Fold 2, Samsung pushed off a bunch of details until September 1st. For today, it mainly spent its time talking about how the second edition of the Fold had addressed all the durability concerns expressed by the press and YouTubers (one of my videos made a brief appearance). The message was refreshingly honest and direct: the first one wasn’t great, we’re fixing it.
At the end, Samsung’s TM Roh held a scripted interview where he laid out Samsung’s priorities for the coming years: foldable and 5G. The Fold 2 is going to be a big test of that.
Samsung didn’t mention Bixby, its digital assistant, a single time. I’m told it’s still on the phones and hasn’t been de-commissioned or anything — but woof. That’s an inside joke, by the way. On The Vergecast podcast we have decided that Bixby is actually a dog butler with shoes. It’s a thing. We’ll make better jokes on this week’s Vergecast, where we will absolutely be breaking down all of Samsung’s announcements.
Anyway, there’s plenty to catch up on if you missed it, so here’s the links.
Verge Deal of the day Apple’s AirPods Pro are $30 off at Amazon Normally $250, the Apple AirPods Pro wireless earbuds are down to $220 at Amazon. Compared to the standard AirPods, these feature better sound quality and noise cancellation. We’ve seen these drop a bit lower in price before, but that’s a pretty rare occurrence. Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence editorial content, though Vox Media may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links. For more information, see our ethics policy . Prices displayed are based on the MSRP at time of posting.
Samsung news
┏ Samsung announces Galaxy Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra . I wrote up my thoughts on the main device of the day, the Note 20 Ultra. The regular Note 20, I’m sad to say, does not seem very special.
The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is Samsung’s best attempt at offering the best you can get on Android. The regular Note 20 is a lot less ambitious but still fairly pricey, probably thanks to those 5G radios. Whether either can live up to or exceed expectations is a question for the review — which we’ll bring to you later this month.
┏ Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S7 Plus tablet has a 120Hz OLED display and 5G. The screen on the Tab S7 Plus sounds like it’s amazing.
┏ Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 3 is thinner, lighter, and more expensive. I dearly wish these weren’t so huge.
┏ Samsung announces Galaxy Buds Live with active noise cancellation and bean-shaped design. I just need to point out that Samsung’s own website for this product let one “Beans” product naming through, confirming Samsung had originally been calling them beans. It is an act of sheer cowardice to back away from such excellent and on-point branding. Anyway, this detail from Chris Welch on Samsung’s noise canceling is fascinating:
But with the unconventional design of the Galaxy Buds Live and their lack of in-ear tips or an actual seal, Samsung’s noise canceling works a bit differently here compared to what you’d experience from the AirPods Pro or Sony 1000XM3 earbuds. The company says that the Galaxy Buds Live are designed to cut down on very low, constant frequencies like the sound of an airplane cabin or the rumble of a train. But they’ll let the bulk of most sounds through — and that’s intentional.
┏ Samsung announces the Galaxy Z Fold 2 with bigger screens and better cameras. Chaim Gartenberg:
The biggest question, of course, is how durable the Galaxy Z Fold 2 will be. The original Fold was infamously delayed for months after the first review units of the $1,980 phone began to fail due to the fragility of the plastic-covered panel. Samsung eventually did release the Fold after taking time to engineer a more robust model of the device, but it still had to caution users to handle the phone with kid gloves, with warnings about dust and applying “excessive pressure” to the touchscreen when tapping it.
Samsung says it will happen for phones from the Galaxy S10 and newer, but that some of its lower A-series phones may not be up to it. In a statement to The Verge, Samsung clarifies that the guarantee “applies to S, N and Z Series. A Series will support until hardware allows.”
Tech news
Google is returning to having humans analyze and rate anonymized audio snippets from its users. However, it’s also taken the major step of automatically opting every single user out of the setting that allows Google to store their audio. That’s why you might be getting an email today: Google would like you to opt back in to the program, and it’s trying to provide clearer information detailing what it’s all about.
┏ Android TV’s new home screen will now recommend movies, TV shows, and apps. Seems like every TV platform needs to make a little on the side with these subscriptions.
The other update arriving on Android TV is a reworked subscription flow that makes it easier to subscribe to paid subscriptions, like TV streaming services. Where you’d normally have to grab your phone to complete the process, or painstakingly use a TV remote to fill out your credentials, the new addition lets you authorize the payment and automatically set up a subscription by linking your Google account from Android TV with just a few clicks.
┏ Microsoft integrates Android apps into Windows 10 with new Your Phone update. Microsoft’s embrace of Android and how quickly that hug has turned into genuinely useful features on Windows is remarkable.
┏ Microsoft cuts xCloud iOS testing early as its future on Apple devices remains unclear. Tom Warren:
The future of xCloud on iOS remains unclear and potentially out of Microsoft’s hands. The issues appear to be related, in part at least, to Apple’s rules on in-app purchases through its App Store. Microsoft is avoiding in-app purchases with the Google Play Store version of Xbox Game Pass that will include game streaming (xCloud).
More from The Verge
┏ Apple and Google’s COVID-19 tracking system will make its full US debut in new Virginia app. As Nicole Wetsman makes clear, this solution won’t solve everything. Nevertheless, I would like to see something like it in every state, nationwide:
Apps that automate the contact tracing process can help flag people who were near someone with COVID-19, even if they may not remember interacting. They can also provide instant notification of a possible virus exposure. But they’re not a replacement for manual contact tracing, because they’re only able to monitor the contacts between people who have smartphones and decide to use the app. The VDH said it’s not using the app as part of its own contact tracing process, but that it offers a way for users to track their own potential exposures.
┏ NASA astronaut on SpaceX Crew Dragon return: ‘Sounded like an animal’. Loren Grush gets into what that descent was like for the astronauts:


theverge--2020-08-06--US Army esports team unbans commenters who asked about American war crimes

The US Army ’ s esports team is unbanning Twitch users it blocked from its streams for asking about American war crimes , and says it will be returning to Twitch soon .
In a statement sent to The Verge , a spokesperson for the army said the esports team would be “ reinstating access for accounts previously banned for harassing and degrading behavior ” and that it was “ reviewing and clarifying its policies and procedures for the stream.
” The esports outfit , which paused streaming last month after accusations it was violating the first amendment by banning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ streaming on Twitch in the near future , but a specific date has not been set at this time.
” Military Twitch streams are government forums and have to respect the first amendment , say lawyers The US military ’ s use of esports as a recruitment tool has come under scrutiny in recent months .
Reports have highlighted how the US Army ’ s esports channel has used misleading prize giveaways to push users to recruitment pages , and how viewers have been banned for asking army streamers about war crimes committed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ point has led to complaints by free speech advocates , who argue that a video game stream run by the US military is the same as any other public forum overseen by the government , and thus has to uphold first amendment principles .
As one attorney at the Knight First Amendment Institute , Katie Fallow , said in a statement : “ The Army and Navy can ’ t constitutionally delete comments or ban people from these Twitch channels simply for asking questions about issues they would rather not address.
” Last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote to both the Army and Navy ’ s esports teams asking them to unban users and publish clear policies for their accounts .
The institute has previously sued President Donald Trump for blocking critics on Twitter under the same grounds .
It won its case and the president was forced to unblock dozens of users .
“ The team is reviewing and clarifying its policies and procedures for the stream and will provide all who have been banned the opportunity to participate in the space as long as they follow the team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ US Army in a statement .
“ Personal attacks , crude language , pornographic material , harassment and bullying will not be tolerated on the stream , and action will be taken if individuals choose to engage in this behavior .
”

The US Army’s esports team is unbanning Twitch users it blocked from its streams for asking about American war crimes, and says it will be returning to Twitch soon.
In a statement sent to The Verge, a spokesperson for the army said the esports team would be “reinstating access for accounts previously banned for harassing and degrading behavior” and that it was “reviewing and clarifying its policies and procedures for the stream.” The esports outfit, which paused streaming last month after accusations it was violating the first amendment by banning users, said it would “resume streaming on Twitch in the near future, but a specific date has not been set at this time.”
Military Twitch streams are government forums and have to respect the first amendment, say lawyers
The US military’s use of esports as a recruitment tool has come under scrutiny in recent months. Reports have highlighted how the US Army’s esports channel has used misleading prize giveaways to push users to recruitment pages, and how viewers have been banned for asking army streamers about war crimes committed by the US military.
This last point has led to complaints by free speech advocates, who argue that a video game stream run by the US military is the same as any other public forum overseen by the government, and thus has to uphold first amendment principles. As one attorney at the Knight First Amendment Institute, Katie Fallow, said in a statement: “The Army and Navy can’t constitutionally delete comments or ban people from these Twitch channels simply for asking questions about issues they would rather not address.”
Last month, the Knight First Amendment Institute wrote to both the Army and Navy’s esports teams asking them to unban users and publish clear policies for their accounts. The institute has previously sued President Donald Trump for blocking critics on Twitter under the same grounds. It won its case and the president was forced to unblock dozens of users.


theverge--2020-08-06--Google’s Pixel 5 and Pixel 4A 5G could be available to preorder on October 8th

A now-deleted sentence from a Google France blog post suggests that the Pixel 5 and Pixel 4A 5G will be available to preorder on October 8th .
The two phones were announced this week alongside the Pixel 4A ( which is available to preorder now ) but Google has yet to share official preorder dates for the handsets , only saying they ’ re “ coming this fall.
” The inadvertent leak was reported by 9to5Google , after a reader spotted the preorder date for the Pixel 5 and Pixel 4A 5G mentioned in the official Pixel 4A announcement post @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since been deleted from the post ( though can be seen in the cached page ) , with Google offering 9to5Google no further comment on the issue .
It ’ s a fleeting leak and could well be some sort of error , but an October 8th preorder makes sense .
Google regularly announces new hardware in October , giving us the Pixel 4 on October 15th in 2019 , the Pixel 3 on October 9th in 2018 , and the Pixel 2 on October 4th in 2017 .
There ’ s no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this pattern just because delays to the Pixel 4A have led it to announce the Pixel 5 and Pixel 4A 5G early .
And to cap it all , an unrelated set of leaked documents from Google also spotted by 9to5Google notes that the Pixel 5 and Pixel 4A 5G are set for an October launch .
In other words : if the midrange Pixel 4A isn ’ t enough for you , you only have a couple of months to wait to find out more about the higher-specced Pixel 5 and 5G-capable @ @

A now-deleted sentence from a Google France blog post suggests that the Pixel 5 and Pixel 4A 5G will be available to preorder on October 8th. The two phones were announced this week alongside the Pixel 4A (which is available to preorder now) but Google has yet to share official preorder dates for the handsets, only saying they’re “coming this fall.”
The inadvertent leak was reported by 9to5Google, after a reader spotted the preorder date for the Pixel 5 and Pixel 4A 5G mentioned in the official Pixel 4A announcement post from Google France. That mention has since been deleted from the post (though can be seen in the cached page), with Google offering 9to5Google no further comment on the issue.
The now-deleted mention of the Pixel 5 and Pixel 4A 5G preorder dates from the Google France blog post. Image: 9to5Google
It’s a fleeting leak and could well be some sort of error, but an October 8th preorder makes sense. Google regularly announces new hardware in October, giving us the Pixel 4 on October 15th in 2019, the Pixel 3 on October 9th in 2018, and the Pixel 2 on October 4th in 2017. There’s no reason to think the company will change this pattern just because delays to the Pixel 4A have led it to announce the Pixel 5 and Pixel 4A 5G early. And to cap it all, an unrelated set of leaked documents from Google also spotted by 9to5Google notes that the Pixel 5 and Pixel 4A 5G are set for an October launch.


theverge--2020-08-06--Google plans to release a foldable Pixel in late 2021, according to leaked document

A leaked internal Google document suggests that the company has earmarked the fourth quarter of next year for the release of a foldable Google Pixel phone , 9to5Google reports .
The device , codenamed “ Passport , ” is said to be explicitly referred to as being “ foldable , ” and is included alongside a list of all Pixel devices going back to 2017 ’ s Pixel 2 .
As well as the foldable Pixel , the document also mentions a “ lower end mid year device ” called the Pixel 5A with a “ Q2 2021 ” release @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Raven ” and “ Oriole ” for “ Q4 2021.
” 9to5Google speculates these could be Pixel 6 models .
Finally there ’ s the Pixel 4A 5G and Pixel 5 , which Google pre-announced alongside the Pixel 4A earlier this week .
Officially these devices are due to launch in the fall , but the document suggests they could arrive in October , consistent with a separate report from 9to5Google .
Google previously said it was prototyping the technology It shouldn ’ t come as any surprise that Google is working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year it confirmed that it was prototyping the technology ahead of its annual I/O developer conference .
However , at the time Google Pixel ’ s development lead Mario Queiroz tempered expectations by saying that the company had been working on the tech for “ a long time , ” and added that he didn ’ t think there was “ a clear use case ” for foldable devices yet .
According to this document , however , it seems Google has plans to move beyond prototyping and use the delicate technology in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the leaked document is mainly concerned with developing Android for these different devices , and doesn ’ t reflect the hardware team ’ s final plans .
With a year and a half to go until release , the schedule is also almost certainly subject to change .
However , even if the release date shifts , it still suggests that Google plans to actually release a foldable device of its own .
Google announced native support for foldable devices in Android in November 2018 , ahead of Samsung ’ s initial @ @ @ @ @ @ @

A leaked internal Google document suggests that the company has earmarked the fourth quarter of next year for the release of a foldable Google Pixel phone, 9to5Google reports. The device, codenamed “Passport,” is said to be explicitly referred to as being “foldable,” and is included alongside a list of all Pixel devices going back to 2017’s Pixel 2.
As well as the foldable Pixel, the document also mentions a “lower end mid year device” called the Pixel 5A with a “Q2 2021” release date, and two other devices codenamed “Raven” and “Oriole” for “Q4 2021.” 9to5Google speculates these could be Pixel 6 models. Finally there’s the Pixel 4A 5G and Pixel 5, which Google pre-announced alongside the Pixel 4A earlier this week. Officially these devices are due to launch in the fall, but the document suggests they could arrive in October, consistent with a separate report from 9to5Google.
Google previously said it was prototyping the technology
It shouldn’t come as any surprise that Google is working on a foldable Pixel device. Last year it confirmed that it was prototyping the technology ahead of its annual I/O developer conference. However, at the time Google Pixel’s development lead Mario Queiroz tempered expectations by saying that the company had been working on the tech for “a long time,” and added that he didn’t think there was “a clear use case” for foldable devices yet. According to this document, however, it seems Google has plans to move beyond prototyping and use the delicate technology in a consumer device.
As 9to5Google notes, the leaked document is mainly concerned with developing Android for these different devices, and doesn’t reflect the hardware team’s final plans. With a year and a half to go until release, the schedule is also almost certainly subject to change. However, even if the release date shifts, it still suggests that Google plans to actually release a foldable device of its own.


theverge--2020-08-06--Canon also falls victim to an apparent ransomware attack

Just one week after Garmin recovered from a ransomware attack , data and systems belonging to Japanese tech firm Canon are reportedly now being held hostage .
BleepingComputer reports that 10TB of company data has been stolen as Canon suffers widespread ongoing system outages .
More than two dozen Canon-owned domains have been affected by the outage .
Canon ’ s USA website currently says it ’ s down for maintenance although its global and Japanese websites seems unaffected .
An internal email from Canon IT reportedly said that the company is experiencing “ wide spread system issues affecting multiple @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other systems may not be available at this time.
” BleepingComputer also obtained a partial screenshot of the alleged ransom note sent to Canon that identifies Maze ransomeware used in the attack .
Unlike the WastedLocker ransomeware reportedly used in the Garmin attack , Maze encrypts internal systems and exfiltrates data .
When contacted by BleepingComputer , the hacking group behind the Maze attack said they stole “ 10 terabytes of data , private databases etc ” from Canon .
The data could end up on data leak sites if Canon refuses to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a multimillion-dollar ransom to restore access to its systems .
When reached for comment by The Verge and asked about the veracity of BleepingComputer ’ s reporting , Canon said it was investigating the situation .

Just one week after Garmin recovered from a ransomware attack, data and systems belonging to Japanese tech firm Canon are reportedly now being held hostage. BleepingComputer reports that 10TB of company data has been stolen as Canon suffers widespread ongoing system outages.
More than two dozen Canon-owned domains have been affected by the outage. Canon’s USA website currently says it’s down for maintenance although its global and Japanese websites seems unaffected.
An internal email from Canon IT reportedly said that the company is experiencing “wide spread system issues affecting multiple applications, Teams, Email, and other systems may not be available at this time.” BleepingComputer also obtained a partial screenshot of the alleged ransom note sent to Canon that identifies Maze ransomeware used in the attack.
Partial ransom note from Canon attackers. Image: Bleeping Computer
Unlike the WastedLocker ransomeware reportedly used in the Garmin attack, Maze encrypts internal systems and exfiltrates data. When contacted by BleepingComputer, the hacking group behind the Maze attack said they stole “10 terabytes of data, private databases etc” from Canon. The data could end up on data leak sites if Canon refuses to pay the ransom. Garmin reportedly paid a multimillion-dollar ransom to restore access to its systems.


theverge--2020-08-06--Trump will prohibit transactions with Bytedance beginning September 20 in apparent TikTok ban

President Trump has signed a new executive order which will block all transactions with Bytedance , TikTok ’ s parent corporation , in an effort to “ address the national emergency with respect to the information and communication technology supply chain.
” It isn ’ t effectively immediately , but has a 45 day deadline .
“ The spread [ of apps controlled by the Chinese government ] continues to threaten the national security , foreign policy , and economy of the United States , ” the order reads .
“ The United States must take aggressive action against the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ security.
” A parallel order banned transactions with WeChat , a popular texting app in China that maintains a small user base in the US .
The move comes after months of escalating tensions , which saw Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and others at the White House warn that TikTok presented a national security threat because of its Chinese ownership .
On Friday , President Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that he was preparing to sign some sort of order banning the app .
Those efforts have been complicated by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
On Sunday , Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella confirmed that he had spoken with President Trump about potentially acquiring the portions of TikTok based in the US , Canada , Australia and New Zealand , although huge portions of the deal remain in flux .
The company also cautioned that discussions were still tentative and “ there can be no assurance that a transaction which involves Microsoft will proceed.
” Microsoft pledged to conclude discussions by September 15th , a date that has been echoed by President Trump .
Trump ’ s new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days after its release or September 20th — just after the deadline set for negotiations in the Microsoft deal .
In both orders , the president names the International Emergency Economic Powers Act as authority for the move , as well as the National Emergencies Act — effectively naming TikTok ’ s continued operation within the United States as a national emergency .
Such a move is highly unusual , and will likely be subject to a legal challenge .
The executive branch has the power to levy sanctions against individuals and corporations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ list , ” as the US did against Huawei and ZTE last year .
But such sanctions are typically put in place by the Commerce Department rather than the White House , and subject to a specific rule-making procedure that seems to have been short-circuited by the surprise executive order .
The President also has the power to force the divestiture of US companies from foreign ownership through the Council on Foreign Investment in the United States ( or CFIUS ) .
But doing so also requires a specific process that seems to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ broader executive order .
It ’ s unclear how the order will affect TikTok ’ s ability to operate in the short term .
Unlike Huawei and ZTE , the company does not require licenses to to operate its network , and nothing in the order seems to require app stores to cease hosting the app .
However , it explicitly covers subsidiaries of Bytedance — specifically the US-based TikTok division — and will apply to any and all financial transfers to and from those subsidiaries .
As a result , TikTok is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order in court , or be forced to abruptly discontinue services as it takes effect .

President Trump has signed a new executive order, which will block all transactions with ByteDance, TikTok’s parent corporation, in an effort to “address the national emergency with respect to the information and communication technology supply chain.” It isn’t effective immediately; it has a 45-day deadline.
“The spread [of apps controlled by the Chinese government] continues to threaten the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States,” the order reads. “The United States must take aggressive action against the owners of TikTok to protect our national security.”
A parallel order banned transactions with WeChat, a popular texting app in China that maintains a small user base in the US.
The move comes after months of escalating tensions, which saw Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and others at the White House warn that TikTok presented a national security threat because of its Chinese ownership. On Friday, Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that he was preparing to sign some sort of order banning the app.
Those efforts have been complicated by discussions of a potential sale to Microsoft. On Sunday, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella confirmed that he had spoken with Trump about potentially acquiring the portions of TikTok based in the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, although huge portions of the deal remain in flux. The company also cautioned that discussions were still tentative and “there can be no assurance that a transaction which involves Microsoft will proceed.”
Microsoft pledged to conclude discussions by September 15th, a date that has been echoed by President Trump. Trump’s new order is set to take effect 45 days after its release or September 20th — just after the deadline set for negotiations in the Microsoft deal.
In both orders, the president names the International Emergency Economic Powers Act as authority for the move, as well as the National Emergencies Act — effectively naming TikTok’s continued operation within the United States as a national emergency. Such a move is highly unusual, and will likely be subject to a legal challenge.
The executive branch has the power to levy sanctions against individuals and corporations by placing them on the “entity list,” as the US did against Huawei and ZTE last year. But such sanctions are typically put in place by the Commerce Department rather than the White House, and subject to a specific rule-making procedure that seems to have been short-circuited by the surprise executive order.
The president also has the power to force the divestiture of US companies from foreign ownership through the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (or CFIUS). But doing so also requires a specific process that seems to have been discarded in favor of a broader executive order.


theverge--2020-08-06--Microsoft condemns Apple’s App Store policies

Microsoft is now rebuking Apple over its stringent developer restrictions and its stance on cloud gaming apps , which the iPhone maker does not allow on the App Store for apparent violations of its guidelines .
In a statement attributed to a Microsoft spokesperson , the company tells The Verge , “ Apple stands alone as the only general purpose platform to deny consumers from cloud gaming and game subscription services like Xbox Game Pass.
” Apple earlier today elaborated on its controversial position to not allow services like Microsoft ’ s upcoming xCloud and the competing Google Stadia platform @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the company can not review individual games available on cloud platforms .
A number of other App Store guidelines also bar cloud services from existing on iOS unless they are designed more like remote desktop software .
“ Apple stands alone as the only general purpose platform to deny consumers from cloud gaming.
” Microsoft says Apple is denying consumers the benefits of such technology through unfair enforcement of its App Store rules .
It also accuses Apple of treating gaming apps unfairly while allowing other media services to exist on the platform @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” a nod it sounds like to Netflix ’ s inclusion of interactive programming akin to text adventure games like last year ’ s Black Mirror : Bandersnatch .
“ Our testing period for the Project xCloud preview app for iOS has expired .
Unfortunately , we do not have a path to bring our vision of cloud gaming with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate to gamers on iOS via the Apple App Store , ” a Microsoft spokesperson tells The Verge .
The company also alleges that Apple “ consistently treats gaming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to non-gaming apps even when they include interactive content.
” Microsoft goes on to say that it ’ s interested in making xCloud and its Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription available on iOS devices .
It also references the ESRB and other regional equivalents to the US video game rating board as evidence that Apple could use third-party content evaluations in deciding whether to allow cloud gaming apps onto iOS .
But as it stands right now , it doesn ’ t appear like Apple is willing to play ball .
“ All @ @ @ @ @ @ @ catalog are rated for content by independent industry ratings bodies such as the ESRB and regional equivalents , ” Microsoft says , implying that it believes that review should be sufficient rather than having Apple apply its own policies to each individual game .
( Xbox Game Pass Ultimate offers access to over 100 titles . )
“ We are committed to finding a path to bring cloud gaming with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate to the iOS platform , ” the statement goes on to say , though it ’ s unclear what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the impasse .
Our testing period for the Project xCloud preview app for iOS has expired .
Unfortunately , we do not have a path to bring our vision of cloud gaming with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate to gamers on iOS via the Apple App Store .
Apple stands alone as the only general purpose platform to deny consumers from cloud gaming and game subscription services like Xbox Game Pass .
And it consistently treats gaming apps differently , applying more lenient rules to non-gaming apps even when they include interactive content .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pass catalog are rated for content by independent industry ratings bodies such as the ESRB and regional equivalents .
We are committed to finding a path to bring cloud gaming with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate to the iOS platform .
We believe that the customer should be at the heart of the gaming experience and gamers tell us they want to play , connect and share anywhere , no matter where they are .
We agree .

Microsoft is now rebuking Apple over its stringent developer restrictions and its stance on cloud gaming apps, which the iPhone maker does not allow on the App Store for apparent violations of its guidelines. In a statement attributed to a Microsoft spokesperson, the company tells The Verge, “Apple stands alone as the only general purpose platform to deny consumers from cloud gaming and game subscription services like Xbox Game Pass.”
Apple earlier today elaborated on its controversial position to not allow services like Microsoft’s upcoming xCloud and the competing Google Stadia platform to exist on the App Store because the company cannot review individual games available on cloud platforms. A number of other App Store guidelines also bar cloud services from existing on iOS unless they are designed more like remote desktop software.
“Apple stands alone as the only general purpose platform to deny consumers from cloud gaming.”
Microsoft says Apple is denying consumers the benefits of such technology through unfair enforcement of its App Store rules. It also accuses Apple of treating gaming apps unfairly while allowing other media services to exist on the platform even when they “include interactive content,” a nod it sounds like to Netflix’s inclusion of interactive programming akin to text adventure games like last year’s Black Mirror: Bandersnatch.
“Our testing period for the Project xCloud preview app for iOS has expired. Unfortunately, we do not have a path to bring our vision of cloud gaming with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate to gamers on iOS via the Apple App Store,” a Microsoft spokesperson tells The Verge. The company also alleges that Apple “consistently treats gaming apps differently, applying more lenient rules to non-gaming apps even when they include interactive content.”
Microsoft goes on to say that it’s interested in making xCloud and its Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription available on iOS devices. It also references the ESRB and other regional equivalents to the US video game rating board as evidence that Apple could use third-party content evaluations in deciding whether to allow cloud gaming apps onto iOS. But as it stands right now, it doesn’t appear like Apple is willing to play ball.
“All games available in the Xbox Game Pass catalog are rated for content by independent industry ratings bodies such as the ESRB and regional equivalents,” Microsoft says, implying that it believes that review should be sufficient rather than having Apple apply its own policies to each individual game. (Xbox Game Pass Ultimate offers access to over 100 titles.) “We are committed to finding a path to bring cloud gaming with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate to the iOS platform,” the statement goes on to say, though it’s unclear what exactly that path will be, given the impasse.
Here is Microsoft’s full statement:


theverge--2020-08-06--PUBG Mobile now runs at 90fps in the US, but it’s exclusive to OnePlus for a month

If you wanted to play PUBG Mobile at a frame rate higher than 60fps , it was a bit tricky .
You either needed to live in China or download the Chinese version of PUBG Mobile ( well , it ’ s actually called Game for Peace ) , plus you needed a phone with a 90Hz or 120Hz refresh rate .
Now , Tencent Games is finally adding support for 90fps in the US and other countries , but you ’ ll need to wait a month unless you have some specific OnePlus phones .
Specifically , if you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pro , OnePlus 7T , or OnePlus 7 Pro you can now run the game at a smooth 90 frames per second .
OnePlus announced a similar partnership with Epic Games in May After the timed exclusivity deal expires on September 7th , Tencent said that any PUBG Mobile player with any smartphone that supports a higher frame rate can enable 90fps as an option .
Meaning Android phones such as the Samsung Galaxy S20 , the newly announced Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra , the Google Pixel 4 and 4 XL , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Razer Phone 2 should have access .
Don ’ t expect any iPhone to run the game at 90fps because iPhone screens are still stuck at 60Hz , but the 120Hz iPad Pro could support the feature .
OnePlus announced a similar partnership with Epic Games in May , allowing its phones from the 8 series to run Fortnite at 90fps .
However , enabling a higher frame rate on Fortnite for either the OnePlus 8 or OnePlus 8 Pro will lower the default graphical settings to “ Low , ” as noted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether a 90fps in PUBG Mobile will reduce the graphical fidelity , though another factor might be what type of processing power each phone contains — the Samsung Galaxy S20 has the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chip as the OnePlus 8 , while the forthcoming Galaxy Note 20 Ultra has a slightly faster Snapdragon 865 Plus processor .

If you wanted to play PUBG Mobile at a frame rate higher than 60fps, it was a bit tricky. You either needed to live in China or download the Chinese version of PUBG Mobile (well, it’s actually called Game for Peace), plus you needed a phone with a 90Hz or 120Hz refresh rate. Now, Tencent Games is finally adding support for 90fps in the US and other countries, but you’ll need to wait a month unless you have some specific OnePlus phones.
Specifically, if you own a OnePlus 8, OnePlus 8 Pro, OnePlus 7T, or OnePlus 7 Pro you can now run the game at a smooth 90 frames per second.
OnePlus announced a similar partnership with Epic Games in May


theverge--2020-08-06--AMC Theaters is learning to embrace the streaming era, not fight it

AMC Theaters faced its “ most challenging quarter in the company ’ s 100-year history , ” but CEO Adam Aron is trying to look forward , using the company ’ s second quarter earnings call today to address how AMC is going to compete in a streaming-focused world .
AMC announced last week that it struck a groundbreaking deal with Universal Pictures that would let the studio place films on digital rental services like iTunes or Amazon just 17 days after they hit theaters .
Aron confirmed on the call that if Universal decides to take advantage of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to play in theaters .
There was confusion last week as to whether AMC would pull its films completely after 17 days or just offer people both options .
Prior to the deal , studios were forced to either keep their films in theaters for months at a time , or forego a theatrical release entirely .
As part of the deal , AMC will receive some payment for movies that are rented at home .
“ Some of our competitors are anxious about this change , ” Aron said on the call @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Change is difficult for some to cope with.
” Although Aron is embracing the rapid shift to streaming now , he was singing a different tune a few months ago .
After Universal Pictures decided to pull its animated film Trolls World Tour from theaters because of the pandemic in March — which would kick off a chain of events that saw studios like Warner Bros. and Disney do the same — Aron originally said AMC would ban Universal movies in its theaters .
“ Some of our competitors are anxious about this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as people quickly pointed out that AMC wasn ’ t going to sit out on two of Universal ’ s biggest upcoming films , including the ninth Fast and Furious movie — F9 — and Jurassic World : Dominion .
Fate of the Furious , the eighth installment in the Fast and Furious franchise , grossed more than $ 1.2 billion worldwide , with both the first two Jurassic World movies also grossing more than $ 1 billion worldwide .
AMC , whose earnings this quarter were down 98 percent year over year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ movies from any one studio .
That ’ s especially true when it ’ s Universal .
What became clear is that Aron and AMC Theaters couldn ’ t afford to ignore how big a business premium streaming has become ; the pandemic accelerated a reality that was going to arrive either way .
Studios want their films in theaters , but also want to be able to sell titles to audiences at home .
The new rules are trying to keep one from cannibalizing the other , like how trailers for an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ ll be available to stream at home .
That ’ s because Universal can ’ t market a movie hitting digital retailers until 10 days after the movie ’ s initial release , according to the new rules .
To be clear : AMC is learning to accept streaming as long as it can also profit from the situation .
We don ’ t know how the revenue breakdown for AMC looks , although Aron said “ the company would be compensated for every rental , ” according to Variety .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ unclear , Variety added .
This is different from a situation where AMC is left out completely , like a studio bypassing a theatrical release entirely to stream exclusively on a platform like HBO Max or Disney Plus , for example .
“ I ’ m expecting that this is going to become an industry standard , ” Aron said , as reported by Variety .
“ I expect that some of our competitors will do this , if not all.
” To be clear : AMC is learning to accept streaming as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the situation Universal isn ’ t the only studio AMC ’ s eyeing , Aron also confirmed .
The CEO spoke about Disney ’ s recent decision to bring Mulan , one of the company ’ s most anticipated tentpole films , to its Disney Plus streaming service where it could , but still release it in theaters where Disney Plus doesn ’ t operate .
Instead of calling out Disney , Aron noted that “ just like AMC is under duress , Disney ’ s under pressure too , ” adding that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ got to monetize their movie product.
” Still , he added that he hopes Disney will agree to similar terms as those in the company ’ s deal with Universal .
( Disney CEO Bob Chapek called Mulan ’ s move to Disney Plus — where it will be available for an extra $ 30 — a one-time deal . )
Considering that AMC Theaters lost more than half a billion dollars this quarter , Aron is looking to the future positively .
The CEO has acknowledged that the theatrical window ( a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Aron seems to think the way forward for AMC , and the industry , is to embrace that streaming isn ’ t going away , but it is a business they can get in on .
Plus , people are always going to want to go see certain movies in a theater , he argued .
That includes movies like Warner Bros. Tenet , which will play exclusively in theaters instead of being released digitally — a decision that Aron commended .
“ There are certain advantages to watching a film on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 40-inch screen , ” Aron said .
“ If the pandemic has taught us anything , it ’ s that people will do anything to get out of their house or their apartment .
If you told me right now I could go spend three hours at a hardware store , I would tell you that ’ s an exciting afternoon .
”

AMC Theaters faced its “most challenging quarter in the company’s 100-year history,” but CEO Adam Aron is trying to look forward, using the company’s second quarter earnings call today to address how AMC is going to compete in a streaming-focused world.
AMC announced last week that it struck a groundbreaking deal with Universal Pictures that would let the studio place films on digital rental services like iTunes or Amazon just 17 days after they hit theaters. Aron confirmed on the call that if Universal decides to take advantage of the shorter window, those movies will continue to play in theaters. There was confusion last week as to whether AMC would pull its films completely after 17 days or just offer people both options. Prior to the deal, studios were forced to either keep their films in theaters for months at a time, or forego a theatrical release entirely. As part of the deal, AMC will receive some payment for movies that are rented at home.
“Some of our competitors are anxious about this change,” Aron said on the call, as reported by Deadline. “Change is difficult for some to cope with.”
Although Aron is embracing the rapid shift to streaming now, he was singing a different tune a few months ago. After Universal Pictures decided to pull its animated film Trolls World Tour from theaters because of the pandemic in March — which would kick off a chain of events that saw studios like Warner Bros. and Disney do the same — Aron originally said AMC would ban Universal movies in its theaters.
“Some of our competitors are anxious about this change”
The threat drew eye rolls as people quickly pointed out that AMC wasn’t going to sit out on two of Universal’s biggest upcoming films, including the ninth Fast and Furious movie — F9 — and Jurassic World: Dominion. Fate of the Furious, the eighth installment in the Fast and Furious franchise, grossed more than $1.2 billion worldwide, with both the first two Jurassic World movies also grossing more than $1 billion worldwide. AMC, whose earnings this quarter were down 98 percent year over year, couldn’t afford to refuse movies from any one studio. That’s especially true when it’s Universal.
What became clear is that Aron and AMC Theaters couldn’t afford to ignore how big a business premium streaming has become; the pandemic accelerated a reality that was going to arrive either way. Studios want their films in theaters, but also want to be able to sell titles to audiences at home. The new rules are trying to keep one from cannibalizing the other, like how trailers for an upcoming movie can’t promote that it’ll be available to stream at home. That’s because Universal can’t market a movie hitting digital retailers until 10 days after the movie’s initial release, according to the new rules.
To be clear: AMC is learning to accept streaming as long as it can also profit from the situation. We don’t know how the revenue breakdown for AMC looks, although Aron said “the company would be compensated for every rental,” according to Variety. How the exact deal is structured remains unclear, Variety added. This is different from a situation where AMC is left out completely, like a studio bypassing a theatrical release entirely to stream exclusively on a platform like HBO Max or Disney Plus, for example.
“I’m expecting that this is going to become an industry standard,” Aron said, as reported by Variety. “I expect that some of our competitors will do this, if not all.”
To be clear: AMC is learning to accept streaming as long as it can also profit from the situation
Universal isn’t the only studio AMC’s eyeing, Aron also confirmed. The CEO spoke about Disney’s recent decision to bring Mulan, one of the company’s most anticipated tentpole films, to its Disney Plus streaming service where it could, but still release it in theaters where Disney Plus doesn’t operate. Instead of calling out Disney, Aron noted that “just like AMC is under duress, Disney’s under pressure too,” adding that “at some point they’ve got to monetize their movie product.” Still, he added that he hopes Disney will agree to similar terms as those in the company’s deal with Universal. (Disney CEO Bob Chapek called Mulan’s move to Disney Plus — where it will be available for an extra $30 — a one-time deal.)
Considering that AMC Theaters lost more than half a billion dollars this quarter, Aron is looking to the future positively. The CEO has acknowledged that the theatrical window (a period of exclusivity) is gone. Aron seems to think the way forward for AMC, and the industry, is to embrace that streaming isn’t going away, but it is a business they can get in on. Plus, people are always going to want to go see certain movies in a theater, he argued. That includes movies like Warner Bros. Tenet, which will play exclusively in theaters instead of being released digitally — a decision that Aron commended.


theverge--2020-08-06--T-Mobile isn’t necessarily bigger than AT&T, despite today’s claim

T-Mobile claims that it now has more customers than AT & T — at least , depending on how you count them .
In its second quarter earnings report , T-Mobile announced that it now has 98.3 million total customers , saying that it has overtaken AT & T “ in total branded customers across both postpaid and prepaid.
” The surge in subscribers is due to T-Mobile ’ s acquisition of Sprint , as this is the first time that T-Mobile is counting Sprint subscribers following their blockbuster merger .
But looking a bit more closely at the numbers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ apples-to-apples comparison .
T-Mobile uses the term “ total customers ” to describe its scale , and it ’ s comparing those to AT & T ’ s postpaid and prepaid “ subscribers and connections , ” as reported in the carrier ’ s Q2 2020 earnings .
AT & T listed 92.9 million customers across its postpaid and prepaid categories , which is indeed lower than the 98.3 million total customers T-Mobile reported .
But if you add in AT & T ’ s “ Reseller ” category , which accounted for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then has 99.6 million customers , meaning that AT & T would remain in second place .
The carriers also seem to have different ways of counting connections to things like watches , tablets , and cars .
AT & T has a whole separate “ Connected Devices ” category with an additional 71.8 million connections .
That makes it tricky to tell which company is really in the lead .
We have to rely on the carriers ’ own math for these calculations , which don ’ t necessarily match from company @ @ @

T-Mobile claims that it now has more customers than AT&T — at least, depending on how you count them. In its second quarter earnings report, T-Mobile announced that it now has 98.3 million total customers, saying that it has overtaken AT&T “in total branded customers across both postpaid and prepaid.” The surge in subscribers is due to T-Mobile’s acquisition of Sprint, as this is the first time that T-Mobile is counting Sprint subscribers following their blockbuster merger.
But looking a bit more closely at the numbers, T-Mobile may not be making an apples-to-apples comparison. T-Mobile uses the term “total customers” to describe its scale, and it’s comparing those to AT&T’s postpaid and prepaid “subscribers and connections,” as reported in the carrier’s Q2 2020 earnings. AT&T listed 92.9 million customers across its postpaid and prepaid categories, which is indeed lower than the 98.3 million total customers T-Mobile reported.
But if you add in AT&T’s “Reseller” category, which accounted for 6.7 million customers, AT&T then has 99.6 million customers, meaning that AT&T would remain in second place. The carriers also seem to have different ways of counting connections to things like watches, tablets, and cars. AT&T has a whole separate “Connected Devices” category with an additional 71.8 million connections.
“The numbers speak for themselves,” a T-Mobile spokesperson said in a statement sent to The Verge after the original publication of this article. The spokesperson said that T-Mobile leads in postpaid, postpaid “other” (which includes devices that aren’t phones), and prepaid categories of customers, which would mean it leads in “total customers” among those categories.
But it’s still tricky to tell which company is really in the lead. We have to rely on the carriers’ own math for these calculations, and the categories don’t necessarily match from company to company.