theverge--2020-10-19--LG’s rollable TV finally goes on sale for $87,000

LG has announced that its world-first rollable TV is finally going on sale , albeit in limited fashion .
The 65-inch LG Signature OLED R is now available at seven consumer electronics store throughout South Korea and will cost 100 million won , or more than $ 87,000 .
The Signature OLED R is built around a flexible OLED panel that LG describes with characteristic restraint as “ the most innovative development in television technology in decades.
” Because of its flexible nature , it can retract partially or fully into its base , adapting to different aspect ratios or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use .
“ LG ’ s exquisite creation liberates users from the limitations of the wall , enabling owners to curate their living environment without having to permanently set aside space for a large , black screen that is only useful when turned on , ” the company says in a statement .
Buyers will be able to choose between four colors for the wool speaker cover , and the aluminum base can be personalized with an engraving .
Unsurprisingly for such an ambitious product , the Signature OLED R has faced a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first showed off a rollable TV prototype at CES 2018 , and Bloomberg later reported that the display would make its way into a shipping product the next year .
LG did indeed bring a commercial rollable TV to the next CES with plans to release it in spring 2019 , but it never actually went on sale .

LG has announced that its world-first rollable TV is finally going on sale, albeit in limited fashion. The 65-inch LG Signature OLED R is now available at seven consumer electronics store throughout South Korea and will cost 100 million won, or more than $87,000.
The Signature OLED R is built around a flexible OLED panel that LG describes with characteristic restraint as “the most innovative development in television technology in decades.” Because of its flexible nature, it can retract partially or fully into its base, adapting to different aspect ratios or hiding the panel completely when not in use.
“LG’s exquisite creation liberates users from the limitations of the wall, enabling owners to curate their living environment without having to permanently set aside space for a large, black screen that is only useful when turned on,” the company says in a statement. Buyers will be able to choose between four colors for the wool speaker cover, and the aluminum base can be personalized with an engraving.


theverge--2020-10-19--The Mandalorian and Baby Yoda’s adventures continue in brand new look at season two

The Mandalorian ’ s second season is just days away from premiering on Disney Plus , and a new trailer for the Star Wars series teases what fans can expect .
Most of the trailer focused on the Mando ’ s continued adventures with the Child , including an ominous moment where he ’ s warned that the worlds he ’ s trying to visit are no places for a child .
Much like executive producers Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni teased in an interview with Entertainment Weekly , the show looks like it will tackle more substantial narrative lines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Picking up essentially where the last season left off , The Mandalorian ’ s second season will explore a much “ larger story in the world , ” according to Favreau .
While many of the episodes in the first season could stand on their own as one-offs , the second season will see storylines intertwine even more , Favreau and Filoni told Entertainment Weekly ahead of the second season ’ s debut .
“ Everything gets bigger , the stakes get higher , but also the personal story between the Child @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think people will enjoy , ” Filoni said .
With The Mandalorian returning to Disney Plus , it ’ s an exciting time for Star Wars fans — but it ’ s also an important moment for the House of Mouse .
The Mandalorian launched alongside Disney Plus in November 2019 , and since then , Disney Plus has suffered from a lack of original , exciting programming that will bring in and keep subscribers happy .
Part of that is because the pandemic made production nearly impossible on shows like The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but the fact remains : Disney needs something to get people talking again .
Executives are hoping that The Mandalorian ’ s second season , and its adorable star the Child — aka Baby Yoda — will do for Disney Plus in 2020 what the show did in 2019 .
If everything goes according to plan , The Mandalorian will roll into WandaVision , Marvel Studios ’ next big show , which may roll into another big title .
Disney Plus needs that continuous momentum to keep people around , especially as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Verizon start to end and Disney will start charging many customers who aren ’ t paying .
Regardless of whether The Mandalorian helps Disney amass and keep more subscribers , it ’ s exciting to have more new Star Wars back in our lives .
The Mandalorian returns on October 30th .

The Mandalorian’s second season is just days away from premiering on Disney Plus, and a new trailer for the Star Wars series teases what fans can expect.
Most of the trailer focused on the Mando’s continued adventures with the Child, including an ominous moment where he’s warned that the worlds he’s trying to visit are no places for a child. Much like executive producers Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni teased in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, the show looks like it will tackle more substantial narrative lines than we got in the first season.
Picking up essentially where the last season left off, The Mandalorian’s second season will explore a much “larger story in the world,” according to Favreau. While many of the episodes in the first season could stand on their own as one-offs, the second season will see storylines intertwine even more, Favreau and Filoni told Entertainment Weekly ahead of the second season’s debut.
“Everything gets bigger, the stakes get higher, but also the personal story between the Child and the Mandalorian develops in a way I think people will enjoy,” Filoni said.
With The Mandalorian returning to Disney Plus, it’s an exciting time for Star Wars fans — but it’s also an important moment for the House of Mouse. The Mandalorian launched alongside Disney Plus in November 2019, and since then, Disney Plus has suffered from a lack of original, exciting programming that will bring in and keep subscribers happy. Part of that is because the pandemic made production nearly impossible on shows like The Falcon and the Winter Soldier until recently, but the fact remains: Disney needs something to get people talking again.
Executives are hoping that The Mandalorian’s second season, and its adorable star the Child — aka Baby Yoda — will do for Disney Plus in 2020 what the show did in 2019. If everything goes according to plan, The Mandalorian will roll into WandaVision, Marvel Studios’ next big show, which may roll into another big title. Disney Plus needs that continuous momentum to keep people around, especially as one year free offers from partners like Verizon start to end and Disney will start charging many customers who aren’t paying.


theverge--2020-10-19--After outcry, Microsoft presses pause on unsolicited Windows 10 web app installs

On Saturday , I pointed out how Microsoft force-restarting Windows 10 computers to install unwanted web apps was the latest proof you don ’ t own your own Windows PC .
Today , the company says it was at least partly a mistake — and will be pausing the “ migration ” that brought web apps to your Start Menu this way .
Originally , Microsoft tells The Verge , the idea was that any website you pinned to the Start Menu would launch in Microsoft Edge .
If your website of choice had a PWA web app version , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as well .
But — in what Microsoft seems to be calling a bug , though we ’ re trying to get clarity as to which part was the bug — the change also made it look like existing web shortcuts to its own Microsoft Office products had installed a web app on your PC as well .
Giving Microsoft the benefit of the doubt for a moment , I can see how that chain of events could have unfolded , and why that might have been an unintended consequence .
But that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my previous concerns : • Why was Microsoft using my Start Menu as free advertising for its Office products to begin with , web shortcut or no ?
• Why do these PWAs fire up Microsoft Edge , instead of respecting my own default choice of browser ?
Chrome handles PWAs just fine , for example .
• Why does Microsoft believe it has the right to force-restart my PC at all ?
What was so critical about this update to make that worthwhile ?
Microsoft has clearly heard some displeasure , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But it ’ s not clear whether anything will change as a result .
I wouldn ’ t be surprised if the only difference is that PWAs won ’ t appear in your list of programs from here on out .

On Saturday, I pointed out how Microsoft force-restarting Windows 10 computers to install unwanted web apps was the latest proof you don’t own your own Windows PC. Today, the company says it was at least partly a mistake — and will be pausing the “migration” that brought web apps to your Start Menu this way.
Originally, Microsoft tells The Verge, the idea was that any website you pinned to the Start Menu would launch in Microsoft Edge, and it simply intended to turn those shortcuts into more visible tiles now. But — in what Microsoft is calling a bug — the change also turned its existing Microsoft Office web shortcuts into PWA web apps as well. That’s something you can normally do from inside the Edge browser, but not something that would happen by itself.
Web versions of Microsoft Office appeared in my list of programs. Screenshot: Sean Hollister/The Verge
Microsoft says it’s actually been pinning Office web shortcuts to the Start Menu since May 2019. If we assume that practice is OK and give Microsoft the benefit of the doubt, I can see how this chain of events might have unfolded in a way Microsoft didn’t plan.
But that doesn’t actually address any of my previous concerns:
Why was Microsoft using my Start Menu as free advertising for its Office products to begin with, web shortcut or no?
Why do these shortcuts fire up Microsoft Edge, instead of respecting my own default choice of browser?
Why does Microsoft believe it has the right to force-restart my PC at all? What was so critical about this update to make that worthwhile?
Microsoft has clearly heard some displeasure, and it’s reacting to that today. But it’s not clear whether anything will change as a result. Microsoft is still advertising its own apps in your Start Menu alongside the programs you’ve actually installed, it’s giving them premium space in your Start Menu without asking, they’ll still open in Microsoft’s own Edge browser which the company no longer lets you remove, and — most annoyingly — the company isn’t addressing its practice of forced updates and reboots.


theverge--2020-10-19--Microsoft’s new Xbox app lets you stream Xbox One games to your iPhone or iPad

Microsoft ’ s Xbox app update for iOS and iPadOS is now live , allowing Xbox One owners to stream games to their devices .
A new Xbox app is available in the App Store that includes a remote play feature , which lets Xbox One console owners stream their games to an iPhone or iPad .
Remote play is different to Microsoft ’ s xCloud service , which streams games directly from servers instead of your own Xbox One console .
This Xbox remote play feature will only connect to your own Xbox console , not to xCloud .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ s own PS4 Remote Play feature that ’ s also available on Android and iOS .
While this app will support Xbox One and Xbox Series X / S games , older Xbox 360 and original Xbox games can not be streamed remotely to Android or iOS / iPadOS devices .
This app also supports the ability to access an Xbox console over Wi-Fi , or even an LTE or 5G connection , too .
The Xbox app will let you take control of your home Xbox , and you can also remotely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Xbox will start up without a sound or the Xbox light at the front , and when you disconnect , it goes back into standby after a brief period of inactivity .
A new Xbox app arrived on Android recently , and this updated iPhone version includes the same new design and features .
It also compliments the new Xbox Series X and Series S consoles , allowing players to quickly download or share game clips and screenshots .
You can even manage console space and delete games from the app @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lot speedier than the previous iOS version , and its design matches the new dashboard and UI across Xbox in general .
This new design is all ready for Microsoft ’ s launch of the Xbox Series X / S consoles on November 10th .
Microsoft ’ s updated Xbox app doesn ’ t change the xCloud situation , unfortunately .
Apple extended an olive branch to allow services like Stadia and xCloud recently , but it included a big catch that would mean Microsoft would have to individually submit hundreds of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tech .
Microsoft wasn ’ t amused by Apple ’ s new rules .

Microsoft’s Xbox app update for iOS and iPadOS is now live, allowing Xbox One owners to stream games to their devices. A new Xbox app is available in the App Store that includes a remote play feature, which lets Xbox One console owners stream their games to an iPhone or iPad.
Remote play is different to Microsoft’s xCloud service, which streams games directly from servers instead of your own Xbox One console. This Xbox remote play feature will only connect to your own Xbox console, not to xCloud. It’s similar to Sony’s own PS4 Remote Play feature that’s also available on Android and iOS.
While this app will support Xbox One and Xbox Series X / S games, older Xbox 360 and original Xbox games cannot be streamed remotely to Android or iOS / iPadOS devices.
This app also supports the ability to access an Xbox console over Wi-Fi, or even an LTE or 5G connection, too. The Xbox app will let you take control of your home Xbox, and you can also remotely start your console outside of your home. The Xbox will start up without a sound or the Xbox light at the front, and when you disconnect, it goes back into standby after a brief period of inactivity.
A new Xbox app arrived on Android recently, and this updated iPhone version includes the same new design and features. It also compliments the new Xbox Series X and Series S consoles, allowing players to quickly download or share game clips and screenshots. You can even manage console space and delete games from the app.
This new Xbox app is also a lot speedier than the previous iOS version, and its design matches the new dashboard and UI across Xbox in general. This new design is all ready for Microsoft’s launch of the Xbox Series X / S consoles on November 10th.


theverge--2020-10-19--Google discontinues its Google Nest Secure alarm system

Google has discontinued its Google Nest Secure alarm system , the company first confirmed to Android Police .
And sure enough , if you visit the Nest Secure ’ s page on the Google Store right now , there ’ s a big button right at the top that says the product is no longer available .
“ Google Nest will no longer be producing Nest Secure , however we will continue to support our security users in all the same ways , ” a Google spokesperson said in a statement to The Verge .
Google introduced the Google Nest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ designed to be modular , relying on a small hockey puck-shaped device with a keypad called the Nest Guard as the central hub , sensors around the house called Nest Detects , and NFC key fobs to arm and disarm the system .
It also connects to the Nest mobile app so you can get alerts and arm and disarm the system remotely .
The Nest Secure system launched at $ 499 , but Google dropped the price to $ 399 less than a year later .
However , the Nest Guard also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ buyers didn ’ t know about until Google added Google Assistant support to the device in February 2019 .
( A few months later , Google released a set of plain-English privacy commitments about its Nest devices . )
Google isn ’ t totally out of smart home security , though .
It still sells video doorbells , security cameras , smoke alarms , and more .
And the company announced a $ 450 million investment in security company ADT in August , saying that Nest devices will “ become the cornerstone of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as part of that announcement .

Google has discontinued its Google Nest Secure alarm system, the company first confirmed to Android Police. And sure enough, if you visit the Nest Secure’s page on the Google Store right now, there’s a big button right at the top that says the product is no longer available.
“Google Nest will no longer be producing Nest Secure, however we will continue to support our security users in all the same ways,” a Google spokesperson said in a statement to The Verge.
Google introduced the Google Nest Secure system in 2017. It was designed to be modular, relying on a small hockey puck-shaped device with a keypad called the Nest Guard as the central hub, sensors around the house called Nest Detects, and NFC key fobs to arm and disarm the system. It also connects to the Nest mobile app so you can get alerts and arm and disarm the system remotely. The Nest Secure system launched at $499, but Google dropped the price to $399 less than a year later.
However, the Nest Guard also had a secret, on-device microphone that buyers didn’t know about until Google added Google Assistant support to the device in February 2019. (A few months later, Google released a set of plain-English privacy commitments about its Nest devices.)


theverge--2020-10-19--Twitch stars are lining up to stream Among Us with AOC

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D-NY ) is looking for Among Us teammates .
On Twitter , Ocasio-Cortez put out an open call for people to play with “ to get out the vote.
” In a follow-up tweet , she shared a Twitch page for AOC with the note “ getting set up !
” Her tweet has already drawn attention from streamers like Pokimane and HasanAbi .
“ It ’ d be an honor , ” wrote Pokimane .
As Election Day 2020 closes in , politicians have been turning to game spaces to reach prospective voters .
Last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s campaign created a virtual field office in Animal Crossing : New Horizons ; in September , the campaign released Biden-Harris signs in-game .
Presidential candidates such as Bernie Sanders and Andrew Yang have used Twitch in an effort to reach younger voters .
Although Ocasio-Cortez appears to have only responded to Pokimane and HasanAbi as of publication time , personalities such as Greg Miller ( who recently streamed from Biden ’ s Animal Crossing island ) , DrLupo , Neekolul , Felicia Day , and James Charles have all jumped in to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ game is a strategic one .
( She ’ s also known for being a formidable League of Legends player . )
In the last few weeks , Among Us — a party game where players work together to find a saboteur — has blown up into a massive hit on Twitch and mobile .
The game has become so popular developer InnerSloth scrapped its plans for a sequel to focus on improving the original .
Election Day 2020 is on November 3rd .
Information on how to check your registration status is @ @ @

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) is looking for Among Us teammates. On Twitter, Ocasio-Cortez put out an open call for people to play with “to get out the vote.” In a follow-up tweet, she shared a Twitch page for AOC with the note “getting set up!”
Her tweet has already drawn attention from streamers like Pokimane and HasanAbi. “It’d be an honor,” wrote Pokimane. As Election Day 2020 closes in, politicians have been turning to game spaces to reach prospective voters.
Last week, Democratic candidate Joe Biden’s campaign created a virtual field office in Animal Crossing: New Horizons; in September, the campaign released Biden-Harris signs in-game. Presidential candidates such as Bernie Sanders and Andrew Yang have used Twitch in an effort to reach younger voters.
Although Ocasio-Cortez appears to have only responded to Pokimane and HasanAbi as of publication time, personalities such as Greg Miller (who recently streamed from Biden’s Animal Crossing island), DrLupo, Neekolul, Felicia Day, and James Charles have all jumped in to volunteer.
Ocasio-Cortez’s choice of game is a strategic one. (She’s also known for being a formidable League of Legends player.) In the last few weeks, Among Us — a party game where players work together to find a saboteur — has blown up into a massive hit on Twitch and mobile. The game has become so popular developer InnerSloth scrapped its plans for a sequel to focus on improving the original.


theverge--2020-10-19--Apple should switch the iPhone to USB-C if it really wants to help the environment

If you buy an iPhone in the future , you ’ re not getting an included charging brick or earbuds .
Apple says the reasons are environmental .
Giving out fewer “ free ” accessories with every phone means using less materials , the company claims , and also makes for smaller boxes that can be shipped more efficiently .
So going forward , those boxes will just come with a phone and a Lightning to USB-C cable .
I think Apple ’ s approach is generally a good thing , but it should have gone further by switching away @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fully embracing USB-C .
Right away , that Lightning to USB-C cable would turn into a much more useful USB-C to USB-C cable that could charge basically all of your electronics .
Or better still , Apple could remove the cable entirely and just ship the phone by itself , eliminating even more duplicitous waste .
It ’ s a relatively small change for each person buying an iPhone , but it ’ s massive when you consider the fact that Apple shipped almost 200 million iPhones over the past year , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a relatively small proportion of total e-waste , as Wired notes , but on a global basis , that ’ s still tens of thousands of metric tons annually .
And as the lack of headphone jacks on 2020 ’ s flagship smartphones shows , Apple ’ s decisions also have a huge influence on the rest of the industry .
USB-C is already becoming the standard I ’ ll be the first to admit that USB-C isn ’ t a perfect standard .
Its naming scheme has been a mess ( the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gen 2x2 for chrissake ) , and there are so many bad USB-C cables in the wild that some people have made it their mission to root out the worst of them .
To borrow a famous turn of phrase , USB-C is the worst connection standard ... except for all the others .
But it ’ s also the best one yet created .
USB-C is the worst connection standard , apart from all the others In 2020 , USB-C is about as universal as wired connection standards come .
It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wireless earbuds , VR headsets , tablets ( including some of Apple ’ s ) , laptops ( including all of Apple ’ s ) and laptop accessories .
It ’ s used by game consoles like the Nintendo Switch , and it ’ ll be used with both the PS5 and the Xbox Series X ’ s controllers when those consoles ship next month .
USB-C batteries are becoming commonplace and chargers are getting tiny and extremely capable — with up to 100 watts , a powerful battery or a charger the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can sometimes power a laptop , tablet , and phone all at once .
Not only is USB-C used almost everywhere , it ’ s also hard to name something that Lightning actually does better .
Longtime Apple blogger John Gruber has argued in the past that it ’ s a more elegant and slightly thinner port which… sure , maybe ?
But is that enough reason to maintain the status quo if Apple cares as much about the environment as it claims ?
You probably already have a USB-C charger Apple ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of the box is that it avoids piling on accessories that a lot of people already own .
During its presentation , Apple estimated that there are 2 billion of its power adapters out in the world , and “ billions ” of third-party chargers .
But let ’ s put that into perspective .
According to IDC , Apple commanded just 13.9 percent of the global smartphone market in 2019 , shipping close to 200 million phones last year .
Meanwhile , the rest of the industry combined shipped over a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a single year , and most of those devices used USB-C. That ’ s a lot of people who already have everything they need to charge a hypothetical USB-C iPhone , including both charging bricks and USB-C cables .
And it doesn ’ t include all the people who bought other USB-C devices like headphones , laptops , and tablets , including recent MacBook and iPad Pro devices .
The Fairphone 3 Plus ships with no charging brick or cable at all All of that means that if you really want to , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without any charging accessories at all .
That ’ s what ethical smartphone manufacturer Fairphone does .
Inside the box for its most recent phone , the Fairphone 3 Plus , you ’ ll find no headphones , no USB-C charging cable , and no USB-C charging brick .
Instead there ’ s a small screwdriver , so that when the time comes , you ’ ll be theoretically able to repair the phone for yourself rather than having to throw it out .
There are serious questions to be asked about how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ existing plan is actually going to have .
A big part of Apple ’ s pitch is that there are already billions of power adapters out there , but it ’ s likely that a significant portion of them use the USB-A standard , which is incompatible with the Lightning to USB-C cable Apple now packs into the box for faster charging speeds .
Apple only started putting USB-C power adapters in the box last year , and even then it was limited to the Pro models , meaning the vast majority of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bundled in .
I ’ m not saying there ’ ll be no environmental impact .
With the iPhone 12 , a lot of people will still be able to reuse their existing USB-A to Lightning charging cables and USB-A power bricks , regardless of the new cable they get in the box .
But then what ’ s the point of that Lightning to USB-C cable , particularly if you wind up switching to Apple ’ s MagSafe wireless chargers instead ?
If it were a USB-C to USB-C cable , at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gadgets .
Apple could have a much bigger environmental impact in the long run by eliminating its proprietary Lightning port entirely .
We already know what Apple thinks about potentially switching to USB-C connectors , because it put out a statement on this very topic earlier this year .
The statement came in response to EU efforts to mandate a common charger for all smartphones , and Apple argued that a switch to USB-C would actually be worse for the environment overall , by rendering hundreds of millions of Lightning accessories obsolete .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the statement it issued in January ( emphasis added ) : There absolutely are a lot of Lightning accessories out there .
But the argument rings hollow given Apple ’ s own history of obviating all those 30-pin iPod docks and early iPhone peripherals when it switched to Lightning in 2012 .
Instead of sending them straight to the dump , Apple and others sold 30-pin to Lightning adapters to extend the usefulness of those legacy accessories for years .
Apple and its partners can surely now do the same in order to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it would create a one-time glut of adapters that would eventually end up in landfills , but it ’ s the short-term price to pay for the long-term benefits of convergence .
As someone who has a whole drawer filled with spare power adapters I never use , I ’ m sympathetic to what Apple is trying to achieve with the iPhone 12 .
Giving out duplicate accessories with every new phone really isn ’ t sustainable if we want to try and cut down on the estimated 53.6 million metric tons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year .
The iPhone 11 should have been the last with Lightning But I also have some sympathy for those who say Apple is nickel-and-diming its customers with the move .
When a phone costs hundreds of dollars , it ’ s hard not to feel a little cheated by a smaller box with fewer accessories , particularly if the remaining ones are still half-proprietary .
By using the environment to justify the removal of wasteful iPhone charging accessories , Apple has now argued itself into a corner .
If its environmental concerns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ included with a new phone , then they should also be important enough to influence its design directly .
Last year my colleague Dieter argued that the iPhone 11 should have been the last with Lightning .
He ’ s still right .

If you buy an iPhone in the future, you’re not getting an included charging brick or earbuds. Apple says the reasons are environmental. Giving out fewer “free” accessories with every phone means using less materials, the company claims, and also makes for smaller boxes that can be shipped more efficiently. So going forward, those boxes will just come with a phone and a Lightning to USB-C cable.
I think Apple’s approach is generally a good thing, but it should have gone further by switching away from its proprietary Lightning port entirely and fully embracing USB-C. Right away, that Lightning to USB-C cable would turn into a much more useful USB-C to USB-C cable that could charge basically all of your electronics. Or better still, Apple could remove the cable entirely and just ship the phone by itself, eliminating even more duplicitous waste.
It’s a relatively small change for each person buying an iPhone, but it’s massive when you consider the fact that Apple shipped almost 200 million iPhones over the past year, according to IDC. Chargers might make up a relatively small proportion of total e-waste, as Wired notes, but on a global basis, that’s still tens of thousands of metric tons annually. And as the lack of headphone jacks on 2020’s flagship smartphones shows, Apple’s decisions also have a huge influence on the rest of the industry.
Apple argues no charging brick makes for smaller, more efficient, packaging. Image: Apple
USB-C is already becoming the standard
I’ll be the first to admit that USB-C isn’t a perfect standard. Its naming scheme has been a mess (the current USB standard is called USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 for chrissake), and there are so many bad USB-C cables in the wild that some people have made it their mission to root out the worst of them. To borrow a famous turn of phrase, USB-C is the worst connection standard... except for all the others. But it’s also the best one yet created.
USB-C is the worst connection standard, apart from all the others
In 2020, USB-C is about as universal as wired connection standards come. It’s used by over-ear headphones, true wireless earbuds, VR headsets, tablets (including some of Apple’s), laptops (including all of Apple’s) and laptop accessories. It’s used by game consoles like the Nintendo Switch, and it’ll be used with both the PS5 and the Xbox Series X’s controllers when those consoles ship next month. USB-C batteries are becoming commonplace and chargers are getting tiny and extremely capable — with up to 100 watts, a powerful battery or a charger the size of a deck of playing cards can sometimes power a laptop, tablet, and phone all at once.
Not only is USB-C used almost everywhere, it’s also hard to name something that Lightning actually does better. Longtime Apple blogger John Gruber has argued in the past that it’s a more elegant and slightly thinner port which… sure, maybe? But is that enough reason to maintain the status quo if Apple cares as much about the environment as it claims?
You probably already have a USB-C charger
Apple’s core argument for taking the charger out of the box is that it avoids piling on accessories that a lot of people already own. During its presentation, Apple estimated that there are 2 billion of its power adapters out in the world, and “billions” of third-party chargers.
But let’s put that into perspective. According to IDC, Apple commanded just 13.9 percent of the global smartphone market in 2019, shipping close to 200 million phones last year. Meanwhile, the rest of the industry combined shipped over a billion phones over the course of just a single year, and most of those devices used USB-C. That’s a lot of people who already have everything they need to charge a hypothetical USB-C iPhone, including both charging bricks and USB-C cables. And it doesn’t include all the people who bought other USB-C devices like headphones, laptops, and tablets, including recent MacBook and iPad Pro devices.
The Fairphone 3 Plus ships with no charging brick or cable at all
All of that means that if you really want to, you can absolutely sell a USB-C smartphone without any charging accessories at all. That’s what ethical smartphone manufacturer Fairphone does. Inside the box for its most recent phone, the Fairphone 3 Plus, you’ll find no headphones, no USB-C charging cable, and no USB-C charging brick. Instead there’s a small screwdriver, so that when the time comes, you’ll be theoretically able to repair the phone for yourself rather than having to throw it out.
A slightly weird halfway house
There are serious questions to be asked about how positive an environmental impact Apple’s existing plan is actually going to have. A big part of Apple’s pitch is that there are already billions of power adapters out there, but it’s likely that a significant portion of them use the USB-A standard, which is incompatible with the Lightning to USB-C cable Apple now packs into the box for faster charging speeds. Apple only started putting USB-C power adapters in the box last year, and even then it was limited to the Pro models, meaning the vast majority of iPhones sold came with a USB-A brick bundled in.
USB-C charging bricks only started getting bundled with last year’s iPhone 11 Pro. Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge
I’m not saying there’ll be no environmental impact. With the iPhone 12, a lot of people will still be able to reuse their existing USB-A to Lightning charging cables and USB-A power bricks, regardless of the new cable they get in the box. But then what’s the point of that Lightning to USB-C cable, particularly if you wind up switching to Apple’s MagSafe wireless chargers instead? If it were a USB-C to USB-C cable, at least you could use it with other gadgets. Apple could have a much bigger environmental impact in the long run by eliminating its proprietary Lightning port entirely.
Apple’s argument
We already know what Apple thinks about potentially switching to USB-C connectors, because it put out a statement on this very topic earlier this year. The statement came in response to EU efforts to mandate a common charger for all smartphones, and Apple argued that a switch to USB-C would actually be worse for the environment overall, by rendering hundreds of millions of Lightning accessories obsolete. Here’s the relevant part of the statement it issued in January (emphasis added):
“More than 1 billion Apple devices have shipped using a Lightning connector in addition to an entire ecosystem of accessory and device manufacturers who use Lightning to serve our collective customers. Legislation would have a direct negative impact by disrupting the hundreds of millions of active devices and accessories used by our European customers and even more Apple customers worldwide, creating an unprecedented volume of electronic waste and greatly inconveniencing users.”
There absolutely are a lot of Lightning accessories out there. But the argument rings hollow given Apple’s own history of obviating all those 30-pin iPod docks and early iPhone peripherals when it switched to Lightning in 2012. Instead of sending them straight to the dump, Apple and others sold 30-pin to Lightning adapters to extend the usefulness of those legacy accessories for years. Apple and its partners can surely now do the same in order to preserve all those Lightning devices. Yes, it would create a one-time glut of adapters that would eventually end up in landfills, but it’s the short-term price to pay for the long-term benefits of convergence.
Same pain, more gain
As someone who has a whole drawer filled with spare power adapters I never use, I’m sympathetic to what Apple is trying to achieve with the iPhone 12. Giving out duplicate accessories with every new phone really isn’t sustainable if we want to try and cut down on the estimated 53.6 million metric tons of electronic waste we threw out last year.
The iPhone 11 should have been the last with Lightning
But I also have some sympathy for those who say Apple is nickel-and-diming its customers with the move. When a phone costs hundreds of dollars, it’s hard not to feel a little cheated by a smaller box with fewer accessories, particularly if the remaining ones are still half-proprietary.
By using the environment to justify the removal of wasteful iPhone charging accessories, Apple has now argued itself into a corner. If its environmental concerns are important enough to influence what gets included with a new phone, then they should also be important enough to influence its design directly.


theverge--2020-10-19--US charges six Russian intelligence officers with hacking Ukraine, 2018 Olympics, and Skripal invest

US charges six Russian intelligence officers with hacking Ukraine, 2018 Olympics, and Skripal investigation

The Justice Department has charged six Russian intelligence officers with involvement in an extensive hacking campaign , including the notorious Petya ransomware attacks that targeted Ukraine in 2015 .
According to the indictment , the efforts also targeted the country of Georgia , the French elections , the 2018 winter Olympics , and investigations into the poisoning of former Russian military officer Sergei Skripal .
Many of the specific incidents in the indictment have been previously reported , but no law enforcement agency has publicly charged Russia ’ s GRU with orchestrating the attacks .
Russia ’ s primary military @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been associated with a wide range of cyberattacks dubbed “ Fancy Bear ” by private-sector researchers .
In this case , prosecutors even pin the operation down to a specific GRU building located at 22 Kirova Street in Moscow , which the indictment refers to as “ the Tower.
” The indictment follows previous prosecutions concerning GRU campaigns against the 2014 Olympics or the Democratic National Committee during the 2016 campaign .
One of the six defendants , Anatoliy Kovalev , was also named in the DNC indictments .
But Monday ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign of cyberattacks and political influence campaigns to further Russian national interests .
The most devastating of the attacks came against Ukrainian power grids in 2015 .
The first attack compromised internal networks at all three of the country ’ s major energy distribution companies , rendering computers inoperable and leaving more than 200,000 people without power in the dead of winter .
The following year , a subsequent attack was launched against the country ’ s Ministry of Finance and State Treasury Service .
As with previous indictments against foreign hackers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and it is unlikely that they will ever stand trial .
Nonetheless , the new prosecution is a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to hold the GRU accountable for its digital attacks .
The indictment is the result of more than two years of investigation by the FBI , a point that was emphasized by agents who worked on the case .
“ The exceptional talent and dedication of our teams in Pittsburgh , Atlanta and Oklahoma City who spent years tracking these members of the GRU is unmatched , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in charge of the Pittsburgh field office , in a statement .
“ These criminals underestimated the power of shared intelligence , resources and expertise through law enforcement , private sector and international partnerships .
”

The Justice Department has charged six Russian intelligence officers with involvement in an extensive hacking campaign, including the notorious Petya ransomware attacks that targeted Ukraine in 2015. According to the indictment, the efforts also targeted the country of Georgia, the French elections, the 2018 winter Olympics, and investigations into the poisoning of former Russian military officer Sergei Skripal.
Many of the specific incidents in the indictment have been previously reported, but no law enforcement agency has publicly charged Russia’s GRU with orchestrating the attacks. Russia’s primary military intelligence agency, the GRU has previously been associated with a wide range of cyberattacks dubbed “Fancy Bear” by private-sector researchers. In this case, prosecutors even pin the operation down to a specific GRU building located at 22 Kirova Street in Moscow, which the indictment refers to as “the Tower.”
The indictment follows previous prosecutions concerning GRU campaigns against the 2014 Olympics or the Democratic National Committee during the 2016 campaign. One of the six defendants, Anatoliy Kovalev, was also named in the DNC indictments. But Monday’s indictment reaches further, alleging an international campaign of cyberattacks and political influence campaigns to further Russian national interests.
The most devastating of the attacks came against Ukrainian power grids in 2015. The first attack compromised internal networks at all three of the country’s major energy distribution companies, rendering computers inoperable and leaving more than 200,000 people without power in the dead of winter. The following year, a subsequent attack was launched against the country’s Ministry of Finance and State Treasury Service.
As with previous indictments against foreign hackers, Russia is unlikely to extradite the defendants, and it is unlikely that they will ever stand trial. Nonetheless, the new prosecution is a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to hold the GRU accountable for its digital attacks.


theverge--2020-10-19--The iPhone 12 won’t support 5G in dual SIM mode at launch

Apple ’ s latest iPhone supports 5G networks , but not if you use the device in dual SIM mode , according to an internal Apple training document revealing the issue that began circulating on Reddit over the weekend .
Dual SIM mode is a feature introduced on the iPhone line with the iPhone XS , and it ’ s useful for those traveling or staying abroad ( or people who maintain work and personal lines on the same device ) by allowing both a physical Nano SIM line and data-only service from another carrier using an eSIM simultaneously .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 12 ’ s ability to run on 5G networks , at least for now .
Here ’ s the wording from the Apple document : When using two lines in Dual SIM mode , 5G data isn ’ t supported on either line and will fall back to 4G LTE .
If customers are using eSIM only and are on a 5G supported carrier and service plan , they ’ ll have 5G access .
Apple is reportedly planning an update to fix the issue later this year , according to MacRumors , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the company ’ s 5G support for the iPhone .
For now , you can access 5G networks on the iPhone 12 with either a Nano SIM line or an eSIM , so long as you use only a single line at one time , meaning any eSIM users will have to remove the physical card from their iPhone 12 to access 5G speeds .
Apple did not respond to a request for comment on its plans to fix 5G compatibility while using an iPhone 12 in dual SIM mode .

Apple’s latest iPhone supports 5G networks, but not if you use the device in dual SIM mode, according to an internal Apple training document revealing the issue that began circulating on Reddit over the weekend.
Dual SIM mode is a feature introduced on the iPhone line with the iPhone XS, and it’s useful for those traveling or staying abroad (or people who maintain work and personal lines on the same device) by allowing both a physical Nano SIM line and data-only service from another carrier using an eSIM simultaneously.
But that apparently interferes with the iPhone 12’s ability to run on 5G networks, at least for now. Here’s the wording from the Apple document:
“Does 5G work with Dual SIM?” When using two lines in Dual SIM mode, 5G data isn’t supported on either line and will fall back to 4G LTE. If customers are using eSIM only and are on a 5G supported carrier and service plan, they’ll have 5G access.
Apple is reportedly planning an update to fix the issue later this year, according to MacRumors, which cites an internal Verizon slide detailing the company’s 5G support for the iPhone. For now, you can access 5G networks on the iPhone 12 with either a Nano SIM line or an eSIM, so long as you use only a single line at one time, meaning any eSIM users will have to remove the physical card from their iPhone 12 to access 5G speeds.


theverge--2020-10-19--This app lets you do custom iOS icons without the Shortcuts app

iPhone icon customization is booming , thanks to new features in iOS 14 , but there ’ s still some big catches .
The workaround for a bespoke iPhone homescreen requires routing through Apple ’ s Shortcuts app every time you want to open an app , and the process of customizing all your apps one-by-one is a time-consuming and frustrating task .
But Launch Center Pro — a popular tool for customizing and creating quick shortcuts on iOS — has solved both of those issues with its latest update .
With a clever workaround that uses Apple ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ web clip ” profiles that directly link out to your selected apps , users can finally make custom icons that work just like regular apps .
Plus , they can be installed in a batch , allowing users to easily add custom icons for almost all their favorite apps in one fell swoop .
It ’ s not a perfect system : users will still have to set up each app , one by one ( although Launch Center Pro does make getting that set up a little easier ) , and you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ real ” apps to iOS 14 ’ s App Library , given that Launch Center Pro ’ s direct links are still , well , links .
Still , it ’ s a far better solution than using Shortcuts , one that makes installing and using custom icons a viable option for day-to-day life .
And due to limitations from Apple , the direct linking only works for third-party apps from the App Store — Apple ’ s own apps still have to bounce through either Shortcuts or Launch Center Pro .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ apps installed is a little complicated , but Launch Center Pro has helpfully put together a handy video guide that should help you through it .
( There ’ s also a TikTok version , which makes sense given that the popularity of custom icon layouts has surged in large part due to videos there . )
The best customization option yet for iOS users Launch Center Pro offers several options for its custom icons .
Users can directly import existing photos or images from their phone , in the event that you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ icons ( or bought a pack from an enterprising seller on Etsy . )
There ’ s also an icon composer , which lets users easily create their own custom icons out of preset backgrounds and tons of preset glyphs .
The company has already hired a new designer to continue to create more icon backgrounds , custom icon packs , and styles for the icon composer , too .
And according to developer David Barnard , the company is already working to add more functionality to make Launch Center Pro ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ future , including the option to save multiple icon sets ( so that users can easily swap between setups ) , the ability to share icon sets to other users , and faster import options to allow pre-made icon sets to be added to Launch Center all at once .
Some of the features here are based on existing options that Launch Center Pro has already offered .
But those icons still had to route through Shortcuts — with the new update , they ’ re able to directly link to any app @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of course , all of these complex workarounds are needed because Apple refuses to offer any real customization options in the first place , an issue that the company seems unlikely to relent on anytime soon .
Launch Center Pro is a free download , but many of its features — including the option to add custom app icons to the home screen — require either a monthly subscription ( for $ 14.99 per year ) or a one-time purchase for lifetime access ( $ 24.99 for the icon composer tool . )
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ lifetime bundle that permanently unlocks all current and future features .
Correction , October 19th , 4:02pm : Launch Center Pro previously had a $ 4.99 in-app purchase for custom home screen app icons , which allowed users to customize the app icon for Launch Center Pro .
This article originally listed that as an option to enable custom app icons for third-party apps .
That option has since been removed from the app , while the option to customize other apps requires either the monthly subscription or one-time payments for the icon @ @ @ @ @

iPhone icon customization is booming, thanks to new features in iOS 14, but there’s still some big catches. The workaround for a bespoke iPhone homescreen requires routing through Apple’s Shortcuts app every time you want to open an app, and the process of customizing all your apps one-by-one is a time-consuming and frustrating task.
But Launch Center Pro — a popular tool for customizing and creating quick shortcuts on iOS — has solved both of those issues with its latest update. With a clever workaround that uses Apple’s own Profiles system to install custom “web clip” profiles that directly link out to your selected apps, users can finally make custom icons that work just like regular apps. Plus, they can be installed in a batch, allowing users to easily add custom icons for almost all their favorite apps in one fell swoop.
Related Custom iOS 14 widgets have become a TikTok flex
It’s not a perfect system: users will still have to set up each app, one by one (although Launch Center Pro does make getting that set up a little easier), and you’ll still have to hide your “real” apps to iOS 14’s App Library, given that Launch Center Pro’s direct links are still, well, links. Still, it’s a far better solution than using Shortcuts, one that makes installing and using custom icons a viable option for day-to-day life. And due to limitations from Apple, the direct linking only works for third-party apps from the App Store — Apple’s own apps still have to bounce through either Shortcuts or Launch Center Pro.
The actual process of getting all your apps installed is a little complicated, but Launch Center Pro has helpfully put together a handy video guide that should help you through it. (There’s also a TikTok version, which makes sense given that the popularity of custom icon layouts has surged in large part due to videos there.)
The best customization option yet for iOS users
Launch Center Pro offers several options for its custom icons. Users can directly import existing photos or images from their phone, in the event that you’ve already created your own bespoke icons (or bought a pack from an enterprising seller on Etsy.) There’s also an icon composer, which lets users easily create their own custom icons out of preset backgrounds and tons of preset glyphs. The company has already hired a new designer to continue to create more icon backgrounds, custom icon packs, and styles for the icon composer, too.
And according to developer David Barnard, the company is already working to add more functionality to make Launch Center Pro’s icon system work even better in the future, including the option to save multiple icon sets (so that users can easily swap between setups), the ability to share icon sets to other users, and faster import options to allow pre-made icon sets to be added to Launch Center all at once.
Some of the features here are based on existing options that Launch Center Pro has already offered. But those icons still had to route through Shortcuts — with the new update, they’re able to directly link to any app on the iOS App Store. And of course, all of these complex workarounds are needed because Apple refuses to offer any real customization options in the first place, an issue that the company seems unlikely to relent on anytime soon.
Launch Center Pro is a free download, but many of its features — including the option to add custom app icons to the home screen — require either a yearly subscription (for $14.99 per year) or a one-time purchase for lifetime access ($19.99 for the icon composer tool.) The company also offers a $34.99 lifetime bundle that permanently unlocks all current and future features.
Update, October 20th, 8:14am: Added Launch Center Pro’s new one-time purchase prices for the icon composer and lifetime bundle, which had previously cost $24.99 and $74.99, respectively.


theverge--2020-10-20--Adobe is adding its ‘content authenticity’ tool to the latest Photoshop beta

Adobe will let some Adobe Creative Cloud customers try a tool that builds trustworthy attribution directly into a picture .
As part of a bigger software update , Adobe is moving forward with the Content Authenticity Initiative , a system it proposed last year .
The tool adds an extra panel to Photoshop , and using it attaches metadata that ’ s supported by Adobe-owned art sharing site Behance .
Adobe lays out exactly how the process works in a video .
The system lets users toggle four kinds of metadata : a picture thumbnail , the name of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information about the types of edits that were made , and the original assets used to create the image .
These are then cryptographically signed so it ’ ll be evident if anyone tampers with them .
If the picture is uploaded to Behance , users can see all that information as a pop-up panel , or they can click through to a dedicated website .
The CAI panel is coming to “ select customers ” in Photoshop ’ s beta release over the next few weeks .
Adobe ’ s demonstration video @ @ @ @ @ @ @ useful .
If one of a composite photo ’ s original assets also used CAI , for instance , you can click through and see the full details for it as well — essentially giving artists a one-click attribution tool when they ’ re building on other people ’ s images .
As we ’ ve discussed before , CAI isn ’ t designed to stop determined trolls from faking an image .
But if you ’ d like to make clear that you ’ ve Photoshopped an image , CAI is also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so .
Adobe eventually wants lots of apps , websites , and even cameras to support the CAI — likely hoping to make it a de facto standard for image attribution .
CAI ’ s effectiveness ultimately depends on how much buy-in it can get across the wider internet , and Adobe has named a few high-profile partners like Microsoft , Twitter , and The New York Times Company .
For now , though , Adobe is going to see how the option works within its own ecosystem .

Adobe will let some Adobe Creative Cloud customers try a tool that builds trustworthy attribution directly into a picture. As part of a bigger software update, Adobe is moving forward with the Content Authenticity Initiative, a system it proposed last year. The tool adds an extra panel to Photoshop, and using it attaches metadata that’s supported by Adobe-owned art sharing site Behance.
Adobe lays out exactly how the process works in a video. The system lets users toggle four kinds of metadata: a picture thumbnail, the name of the person creating the image, some broad information about the types of edits that were made, and the original assets used to create the image. These are then cryptographically signed so it’ll be evident if anyone tampers with them.
If the picture is uploaded to Behance, users can see all that information as a pop-up panel, or they can click through to a dedicated website. The CAI panel is coming to “select customers” in Photoshop’s beta release over the next few weeks.
Adobe’s demonstration video hints at how the system might be useful. If one of a composite photo’s original assets also used CAI, for instance, you can click through and see the full details for it as well — essentially giving artists a one-click attribution tool when they’re building on other people’s images. As we’ve discussed before, CAI isn’t designed to stop determined trolls from faking an image. But if you’d like to make clear that you’ve Photoshopped an image, CAI is also a simple and low-key way to do so.


theverge--2020-10-20--Lightroom’s enhanced color grading tools are now available

Adobe is updating Lightroom today with revamped color grading tools meant to offer more powerful and flexible ways to adjust an image ’ s color .
The new tools are similar to those used by video editors in apps like Premiere or DaVinci Resolve , offering separate controls for tweaking colors in an image ’ s highlights , midtones , and shadows .
They replace the more limited “ split toning ” tool , but the “ color mixer ” is still sticking around .
The color grading tools are coming to all the major versions of Lightroom on desktop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Classic ” version of Lightroom is getting the tools , too .
Adobe initially announced the feature last month , but didn ’ t say when it would be released .
Lightroom is getting a handful of other updates today , too .
It now supports graphical watermarking ( instead of text only ) , automatic saving of different versions of a photo as you edit it , performance improvements with GPU acceleration on the desktop , and a “ best photos ” tool that automatically picks shots for you on mobile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Discover ” section built into the app — where you can see other users ’ photos and edits — by allowing you to follow people and serving up new photos based on what you ’ ve shown an interest in .

Adobe is updating Lightroom today with revamped color grading tools meant to offer more powerful and flexible ways to adjust an image’s color.
The new tools are similar to those used by video editors in apps like Premiere or DaVinci Resolve, offering separate controls for tweaking colors in an image’s highlights, midtones, and shadows. They replace the more limited “split toning” tool, but the “color mixer” is still sticking around.
The color grading tools are coming to all the major versions of Lightroom on desktop, web, and mobile — the “Classic” version of Lightroom is getting the tools, too. Adobe initially announced the feature last month, but didn’t say when it would be released.
Image: Adobe
Lightroom is getting a handful of other updates today, too. It now supports graphical watermarking (instead of text only), automatic saving of different versions of a photo as you edit it, performance improvements with GPU acceleration on the desktop, and a “best photos” tool that automatically picks shots for you on mobile.


theverge--2020-10-20--Adobe builds live-streaming into Photoshop and Illustrator for iPad

Adobe is building live-streaming into the iPad versions of Photoshop and Illustrator , letting you start a broadcast and film yourself from right inside the app .
There is one big caveat , though : the apps only stream to Behance , the Adobe-owned social design platform .
To start streaming from Photoshop or Illustrator on an iPad , you ’ ll just need to tap the “ share ” icon in the top right corner , then choose “ livestream.
” Eventually , Adobe plans to further integrate the apps with Behance to show viewers a timeline of what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , even showing specific details like what color is selected , but that feature isn ’ t available at launch .
Adobe first tested live-streaming in Fresco , its iPad painting app , last year before launching the feature more broadly in June .
Behance has had live-streaming features for a couple years now , but it started with streams from Adobe and has only more recently been expanding to individual users who want to broadcast .
Behance also supports live-streaming from Adobe desktop apps , but it ’ s a lot more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set up a third-party streaming app ( which aren ’ t the easiest things to get started with ) , and configure the streaming app to work with Behance .
In order to send tool tracking information to the stream , a plugin needs to be installed , and Adobe only seems to offer support for Photoshop right now .
It ’ s a lot more work than having the feature built straight into the app .
The big miss here is Adobe not integrating these apps with Twitch , which operates a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That being said , plenty of people already stream from Adobe apps to Twitch using third-party tools .
An official integration might be handy , but it ’ s clearly not necessary for those who really want to stream their work .

Adobe is building live-streaming into the iPad versions of Photoshop and Illustrator, letting you start a broadcast and film yourself from right inside the app. There is one big caveat, though: the apps only stream to Behance, the Adobe-owned social design platform.
To start streaming from Photoshop or Illustrator on an iPad, you’ll just need to tap the “share” icon in the top right corner, then choose “livestream.” Eventually, Adobe plans to further integrate the apps with Behance to show viewers a timeline of what tools have been used through a broadcast, even showing specific details like what color is selected, but that feature isn’t available at launch.
Adobe first tested live-streaming in Fresco, its iPad painting app, last year before launching the feature more broadly in June. Behance has had live-streaming features for a couple years now, but it started with streams from Adobe and has only more recently been expanding to individual users who want to broadcast.
Behance also supports live-streaming from Adobe desktop apps, but it’s a lot more complicated. You need to download and set up a third-party streaming app (which aren’t the easiest things to get started with), and configure the streaming app to work with Behance. In order to send tool tracking information to the stream, a plugin needs to be installed, and Adobe only seems to offer support for Photoshop right now. It’s a lot more work than having the feature built straight into the app.