theverge--2020-01-23--How to FBI-proof your encrypted iPhone backups

If you ’ re an iPhone user who is steadfast about retaining your privacy , you ’ re probably not very happy about the recent news that Apple is retaining the ability to decrypt most of what ’ s in an iCloud backup at the request of government entities , such as the FBI .
In that case , you may want to pay attention to the adage that sometimes the best ways are the old ways .
While it ’ s more convenient to use iCloud to back up your phone , you can back up your iPhone to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ full control of your data backups .
If you ’ ve always backed up via iCloud , or if you haven ’ t done a local backup in a while , you might be able to use a refresher course .
Here ’ s how you do it .
• Connect your phone to your computer using its charging cable • Fire up iTunes if you ’ re using Windows or a Mac with a macOS 10.14 or earlier ; use Finder on a Mac with macOS 10.15 Catalina If you ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the left-hand menu under “ Locations.
” • In iTunes , you should see a small iPhone icon in the upper left corner ; select that .
( If you don ’ t see it , you may need to authorize your system .
Go to the top iTunes menu and select “ Account ” > “ Authorizations ” > “ Authorize This Computer ... ” and follow the instructions . )
• After that , the process for either iTunes or Finder is much the same , although the look of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slightly different .
Look for the category labeled “ Backups.
” Select “ This computer ” ( in iTunes ) or “ Back up all of the data on your iPhone to your Mac ” ( in Finder ) .
• You ’ re going to want to encrypt your backup for increased security .
Check “ Encrypt iPhone backup ” ( in iTunes ) or “ Encrypt local back ” ( in Finder ) and enter a password .
Don ’ t lose that password ; otherwise , you ’ re going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • Once you set the encryption , it ’ s probable that the backup will start automatically .
Otherwise , click on “ Back Up Now.
” If you need to restore your backup , just go to the same page and click on “ Restore Backup ... ” Note that you can either manually back up your iPhone , or you can also have it automatically back up each time you connect it to your computer .
Look for “ Options ” just below the “ Backups ” section , and select @ @ @ @ @ @ @ connected.
” Once you ’ ve set up your backup to your computer , you probably want to delete any backups you ’ ve made to iCloud .
To do this on your Mac : • Click on the Apple icon in the top corner of your system • Select the “ Manage ” button in the lower-right corner of the window • Select a backup to delete , and select “ Delete.
” You ’ ll be asked to select “ Delete ” again ; this will both delete all your backups @ @ @ @ @ @ @ backups .
To do this on your iPhone : • Go to “ Settings ” and tap your name • Tap on a backup and then on “ Delete Backup ” One more thing : dealing with iMessage without saving your data to iCloud can get a bit complicated , partly because iMessage uses end-to-end encryption ( which means that it needs a key at either end ) and partly because iMessage can also use Messages for iCloud , the feature that allows for syncing iMessage between multiple Mac or iOS devices with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Apple , and this is basically how it works : • If you have iCloud Backup turned on , then your backup includes a copy of the key that protects your messages .
This is the most convenient setup .
But in this article , we ’ re assuming that you want to turn iCloud Backup off .
• If you have iCloud Backup turned off but Messages for iCloud turned on ( which you can do on your iPhone by going to Settings , tapping on your name , and selecting “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , your messages will be shared among all your devices , but your encryption key will remain local to those devices .
According to Apple , that encryption key will not be saved to the company ’ s servers .
• If you have both iCloud Backup and Messages for iCloud turned off , then your only backup options will be local .
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Yes, of course you want to back up your iPhone. As we all know, despite phone cases and the latest protective glass and careful engineering, disaster — in the form of cracked displays, lost devices, and three-year-olds who think it’s fun to sit on your latest phone — can happen. When that happens, you want to have all your data backed up.
The easiest way to go is to back up using iCloud, which is not only simple to set up but also makes it just as simple to set up a new phone if your old one is no longer available. (You can also back up to other services, such as Google Drive, but it isn’t nearly as convenient.) Or, if you’re an iPhone user who is steadfast about retaining your privacy, you can back up your iPhone to your Mac or Windows computer and retain full control of your data backups.
Here’s how to back up to iCloud or to your laptop / desktop.
Back up to iCloud
Tap on Settings > [your name] top button > iCloud > iCloud Backup .
. If iCloud Backup is switched off, toggle it on. If it’s already toggled on and you’re preparing to wipe your old iPhone, you may want to tap Back Up Now just in case.
is switched off, toggle it on. If it’s already toggled on and you’re preparing to wipe your old iPhone, you may want to tap just in case. If you want to check to make sure you’re backed up, go to Settings > [your name] top button > iCloud > Manage Account Storage > Backups. You’ll be able to see how many backups have been made and of which devices. Select the device to see the backup in more detail.
Back up to your desktop
Connect your phone to your computer using its charging cable. If you haven’t done it before, you may get a pop-up asking for permission to connect; select Allow.
Open a Finder window (by either clicking on the Finder icon in your dock or selecting File > New Finder Window in the top Finder menu bar), and look for your iPhone in the left-hand menu under Locations .
in the top Finder menu bar), and look for your iPhone in the left-hand menu under . If this is the first time you’ve done this, when you click on the phone icon, you may be asked if you trust the phone, first on the computer and then on the phone itself; you may also be asked to enter the phone’s passcode.
First-timers may also be asked if you want to set your phone up as a new device or restore it from a previous backup. In this case, select the first.
Select the General tab on top and look for the category labeled Backups. Select Back up all of the data on your iPhone to this Mac.
Using Finder to set up a computer to back up your iPhone.
You’re going to want to encrypt your backup for increased security. Check Encrypt local backup and enter a password. Don’t lose that password; otherwise, you’re going to lose access to your data.
and enter a password. Don’t lose that password; otherwise, you’re going to lose access to your data. Once you set the encryption, it’s probable that the backup will start automatically. Otherwise, click on Back Up Now.
Using iTunes to change your backup from iCloud to this computer.
If you need to restore your backup, just go to the same page and click on Restore Backup.
Note that you can either manually back up your iPhone or you can also have it automatically back up each time you connect it to your computer. Look for Options just below the Backups section and select Automatically sync when this iPhone is connected.
Once you’ve set up your backup to your computer, you may want to delete any backups you’ve made to iCloud.
To do this on your Mac:
Click on the Apple icon in the top corner of your system.
Select System Settings > Internet Accounts > iCloud .
. Select the Manage button in the lower-right corner of the window and then Backups.
Select a backup to delete, then click on the minus icon in the lower left of the window.
Select a backup to delete, click on the minus icon in the lower left of the window, and select Delete. This will both delete all of your backups from iCloud and turn off any additional backups.
To do this on your iPhone:
Go to Settings and tap your name.
and tap your name. Select iCloud > Manage Account Storage > Backups . If you have more than one device backed up, select a device.
. If you have more than one device backed up, select a device. Tap on Delete & Turn Off Backup . If you’ve already turned off backups for that device, the button will just read Delete Backup .
. If you’ve already turned off backups for that device, the button will just read . Tap on Turn Off.
Select iCloud > Manage Storage > Backups. Tap on Turn Off & Delete.
And you’re done!


theverge--2020-01-23--Tetris returns to Android and iOS after EA’s version shuts down

Just days after EA announced that its mobile Tetris games will shut down on April 21st , new Tetris developer N3twork released an officially licensed version of the popular puzzle game for both Android and iOS .
It ’ s already available to download today for free .
The new N3twork app isn ’ t the 100-player Tetris Royale app that the developer is also working on ; rather , it ’ s an extremely basic mobile Tetris game .
“ We ’ re launching Tetris with a traditional solo gameplay mode , but we want fans to know that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in store for them , and this is just the foundation of an incredible Tetris app experience we ’ re building at N3twork , ” commented CEO Neil Young .
Unlike EA ’ s old app , there ’ s a single mode ( for classic Tetris ) and a handful of alternative skins .
There are also ads , although a single-time $ 4.99 purchase will remove those .
It ’ s not exactly a groundbreaking iteration of the series , but if you just want to play some Tetris on your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ job done .
The history of Tetris on smartphones — particularly the iPhone — largely mirrors the trends of mobile gaming in general .
EA ( which , up until recently , had the license for official Tetris games ) first released Tetris for iOS in 2008 for an unheard-of $ 9.99 .
It had no ads or annoying in-app purchases ; you paid money , and you got to play Tetris .
As TouchArcade recounts , in 2011 , EA pulled that original app from the store and replaced it with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ revamped the app with new features and game modes , but it was packed with in-app purchases .
That version would actually be a harbinger for the future of mobile gaming , offering purchasable currencies and monthly and annual subscription passes .
A free version of that app would be introduced later that year , too , with ads added in .
But with EA seemingly out of the Tetris business , it ’ s a new era for the series on mobile devices .
With the launch of the new 2019 Tetris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Royale ) , we ’ re starting to see what N3twork ’ s vision of the franchise looks like .

Just days after EA announced that its mobile Tetris games will shut down on April 21st, new Tetris developer N3twork released an officially licensed version of the popular puzzle game for both Android and iOS. It’s already available to download today for free.
The new N3twork app isn’t the 100-player Tetris Royale app that the developer is also working on; rather, it’s an extremely basic mobile Tetris game. “We’re launching Tetris with a traditional solo gameplay mode, but we want fans to know that we’ve got so much more in store for them, and this is just the foundation of an incredible Tetris app experience we’re building at N3twork,” commented CEO Neil Young.
Unlike EA’s old app, there’s a single mode (for classic Tetris) and a handful of alternative skins. There are also ads, although a single-time $4.99 purchase will remove those. It’s not exactly a groundbreaking iteration of the series, but if you just want to play some Tetris on your commute, it’ll get the job done.
The history of Tetris on smartphones — particularly the iPhone — largely mirrors the trends of mobile gaming in general. EA (which, up until recently, had the license for official Tetris games) first released Tetris for iOS in 2008 for an unheard-of $9.99. It had no ads or annoying in-app purchases; you paid money, and you got to play Tetris.
As TouchArcade recounts, in 2011, EA pulled that original app from the store and replaced it with a new (still paid) version that revamped the app with new features and game modes, but it was packed with in-app purchases. That version would actually be a harbinger for the future of mobile gaming, offering purchasable currencies and monthly and annual subscription passes. A free version of that app would be introduced later that year, too, with ads added in.


theverge--2020-01-23--Robot maker Boston Dynamics replaces CEO to prepare for ‘new stage of growth’

Boston Dynamics , the creator of the internet ’ s favorite robot dog , is announcing a new CEO and developer conference as it begins selling its robots more widely .
Marc Raibert , who founded the company in 1992 and served as CEO until late last year , is taking on the role of chairman , while Rob Playter , the former chief operating officer , is moving to CEO .
Advanced robots like Spot are moving into new industries and roles Raibert , a veteran engineer , has been the public face of Boston Dynamics for many years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for his lively presentations and livelier Hawaiian shirts .
Raibert has led decades of research and development at the company , which began leasing its first commercial robot to businesses , the four-legged Spot , late last year .
The change is being made to prepare the company for a “ new stage of growth , ” said Boston Dynamics ’ VP of business development , Michael Perry .
Currently just 100 Spot units are being used in the US and abroad .
“ Marc is stepping into a more strategic role , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He ’ s been promoted to chairman to focus on the long-term direction of the company and look after a few special projects that he ’ ll have more to say about in months to come.
” In addition to the personnel change , Boston Dynamics is also making its software development kit ( SDK ) for Spot available to all developers .
Previously , the SDK could only be accessed by those signed on to Spot ’ s Early Adopter Program ; now , any interested parties can start designing new functions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dynamics has always said its machines are less about solving specific tasks than providing a modular mobile platform .
Current payloads for the robot include a gripper arm and 3D scanner , and Spot is currently being tested in a range of roles , including industrial inspection and law enforcement .
This latter placement has been criticized by the American Civil Liberties Union ( ACLU ) , which says law enforcement groups were not being open about how they planned to use this technology .
To show off new functions for Spot , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ developer conference in Boston this year on May 12th and 13th .
The conference is called Actuate , and it will include demos , customers presentations , and workshops .
“ We ’ re aiming to start small with just 200 people from our customers who are already part of the Early Adopter Program , ” said Perry .
“ We ’ re excited to get our sensor providers , software developers , and end-users together so they can learn from each other and learn from us.
” As part of Boston Dynamics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the company has also leased a Spot unit to presenter and designer Adam Savage to be demoed over the course of a year as part of Savage ’ s Tested series .
It ’ s an interesting development considering that videos of the company ’ s robots are met with a mixture of fear and awe online .
As Spot starts taking on new jobs and interacting more frequently with the public , Boston Dynamics needs to ensure its creations aren ’ t seen as scary or oppressive .
A series of videos @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s image .

Boston Dynamics, the creator of the internet’s favorite robot dog, is announcing a new CEO and developer conference as it begins selling its robots more widely.
Marc Raibert, who founded the company in 1992 and served as CEO until late last year, is taking on the role of chairman, while Rob Playter, the former chief operating officer, is moving to CEO.
Advanced robots like Spot are moving into new industries and roles
Raibert, a veteran engineer, has been the public face of Boston Dynamics for many years and is well-known in the conference circuit for his lively presentations and livelier Hawaiian shirts. Raibert has led decades of research and development at the company, which began leasing its first commercial robot to businesses, the four-legged Spot, late last year.
The change is being made to prepare the company for a “new stage of growth,” said Boston Dynamics’ VP of business development, Michael Perry. Currently just 100 Spot units are being used in the US and abroad.
“Marc is stepping into a more strategic role,” Perry told The Verge. “He’s been promoted to chairman to focus on the long-term direction of the company and look after a few special projects that he’ll have more to say about in months to come.”
In addition to the personnel change, Boston Dynamics is also making its software development kit (SDK) for Spot available to all developers. Previously, the SDK could only be accessed by those signed on to Spot’s Early Adopter Program; now, any interested parties can start designing new functions and payloads for the robot.
Boston Dynamics has always said its machines are less about solving specific tasks than providing a modular mobile platform. Current payloads for the robot include a gripper arm and 3D scanner, and Spot is currently being tested in a range of roles, including industrial inspection and law enforcement. This latter placement has been criticized by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which says law enforcement groups were not being open about how they planned to use this technology.
To show off new functions for Spot, Boston Dynamics will be holding its first developer conference in Boston this year on May 12th and 13th. The conference is called Actuate, and it will include demos, customers presentations, and workshops.
“We’re aiming to start small with just 200 people from our customers who are already part of the Early Adopter Program,” said Perry. “We’re excited to get our sensor providers, software developers, and end-users together so they can learn from each other and learn from us.”
As part of Boston Dynamics’ well-established marketing outreach on YouTube, the company has also leased a Spot unit to presenter and designer Adam Savage to be demoed over the course of a year as part of Savage’s Tested series.


theverge--2020-01-23--Apple Watch gym partnerships give you perks for working out

Apple is launching a partnership program for gyms today called “ Apple Watch Connected ” that ’ s meant to highlight chains that integrate with its wearable and offer perks for owners .
In some cases , perks include discounted membership fees and gift cards for people who regularly work out , according to CNBC .
For a gym to get the Apple Watch Connected branding , it ’ ll have to offer three things : • An app for iPhones and Apple Watches that offers information like class times • Support for Apple Pay to buy things at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wearers , like membership discounts One thing that ’ s not required across the board : machines that support GymKit , Apple ’ s system for syncing an Apple Watch with fitness equipment like treadmills and ellipticals .
Reports on the program say these may be offered where applicable , since GymKit doesn ’ t support many types of equipment right now .
It ’ s not clear if it ’ s required at gyms that have supported machine types , though .
The partnership is , in theory , a win for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a better experience at gyms ( and potentially some discounts ) ; Apple gets gyms that not only better support its product , but go out of their way to offer perks to its customers ; and gyms get customers who may be more likely to stay with them due to the incentivized workouts .
YMCA , Crunch Fitness , Basecamp Fitness , and Orange Theory are the first partners It ’ s free for gyms to join the program , though I ’ m a little skeptical about how much benefit there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boils down to “ give discounts to Apple customers.
” If Apple , in turn , offers promotion for these gyms , then they could certainly see more people headed their way .
But at least for now , there ’ s no word on these gyms being highlighted in , say , Apple Maps or Apple ’ s Health app .
At launch today , there are four Apple Watch Connected gym partners : YMCA , Crunch Fitness , Basecamp Fitness , and Orange Theory .
It ’ ll also only be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Crunch is the only gym offering membership discounts for people who work out regularly ; Orange Theory is offering gift card perks ; and the YMCA will donate classes to kids .
Basecamp is advertising a program it already offers that can give subscribers an Apple Watch for free .
The tie-in with gyms is Apple ’ s latest attempt to associate wearing an Apple Watch and being fit with saving money .
It ’ s also worked in the past with health insurers to offer discounts to people who wear the Watch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ focus on fitness , but they also mean that people who can ’ t afford a watch that starts at $ 200 that connects to a phone that starts at $ 449 miss out on these discounts .

Apple is launching a partnership program for gyms today called “Apple Watch Connected” that’s meant to highlight chains that integrate with its wearable and offer perks for owners. In some cases, perks include discounted membership fees and gift cards for people who regularly work out, according to CNBC.
For a gym to get the Apple Watch Connected branding, it’ll have to offer four things:
An app for iPhones and Apple Watches that offers information like class times Support for Apple Pay to buy things at the gym Some kind of perk for wearers, like membership discounts Fitness equipment that supports GymKit, Apple’s system for syncing an Apple Watch with equipment like treadmills and ellipticals
(There’s a limited exception to that last one, for gyms focused on equipment that isn’t supported by GymKit. Generally, an unstated percentage of all equipment must support GymKit.)
The partnership is, in theory, a win for everyone involved. Apple Watch owners get a better experience at gyms (and potentially some discounts); Apple gets gyms that not only better support its product, but go out of their way to offer perks to its customers; and gyms get customers who may be more likely to stay with them due to the incentivized workouts.
YMCA, Crunch Fitness, Basecamp Fitness, and Orange Theory are the first partners
It’s free for gyms to join the program, though I’m a little skeptical about how much benefit there really is to a program that mostly boils down to “give discounts to Apple customers.” If Apple, in turn, offers promotion for these gyms, then they could certainly see more people headed their way. But at least for now, there’s no word on these gyms being highlighted in, say, Apple Maps or Apple’s Health app.
At launch today, there are four Apple Watch Connected gym partners: YMCA, Crunch Fitness, Basecamp Fitness, and Orange Theory. It’ll also only be live at select locations for each. Crunch is the only gym offering membership discounts for people who work out regularly; Orange Theory is offering gift card perks; and the YMCA will donate classes to kids. Basecamp is advertising a program it already offers that can give subscribers an Apple Watch for free.
The tie-in with gyms is Apple’s latest attempt to associate wearing an Apple Watch and being fit with saving money. It’s also worked in the past with health insurers to offer discounts to people who wear the Watch. The integrations make sense given the focus on fitness, but they also mean that people who can’t afford a watch that starts at $200 that connects to a phone that starts at $449 miss out on these discounts.


theverge--2020-01-23--How Bad Boys For Life’s directors brought back the ‘90s — from Belgium

Bad Boys For Life pulls off one of the most unlikely tricks in blockbuster moviemaking : It ’ s the rare good third entry in a franchise , a successful soft reboot that introduces a small squad of new faces to carry the Bad Boys name into the future .
It does all this while also coming nearly 20 years after the last film in the series and being the Hollywood debut of Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah , a Belgian directing duo known for gritty crime dramas on a much lower budget .
Over a phone call just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opening weekend , Adil and Bilall spoke with The Verge about making that transition .
The duo are as ebullient and energetic as brothers , frequently finishing each other ’ s thoughts and serving as the other ’ s hype man .
Despite not yet knowing how their film performed at the box office , the directors were eager to talk about getting the chance to homage their ‘ 90s action-movie upbringing , at nearly 100 times the budget they ’ re used to .
The Verge : This is your first Hollywood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s right !
Our first movie was what , 3.4 million ?
Action movies are great for introducing audiences to different talent — I ’ m interested in how you put this movie ’ s international cast together .
Adil : Well , we wanted to have a cast that was a reflection of the diversity of Miami , because Miami is the place where the movie takes place .
It ’ s a character in the movie and it ’ s very multicultural .
We have , obviously , African Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Paola Núñez is from Mexico , Vanessa [ Hudgens ] is of Filipino descent , Charles [ Melton ] is Korean— we wanted to have that mix of flavor that is also in all of our movies .
Our movies are very colorful , that ’ s what we like .
It ’ s our trademark , you could say .
What attracted you to doing a big Hollywood action movie ?
Adil : Specifically , for this one because it was a Bad Boys movie — we grew up with Jerry Bruckheimer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ 80s and the ‘ 90s , Michael Bay movies , this whole era .
And we wanted this movie to be an homage , to give a nostalgic feeling .
Also Lethal Weapon— Adil : And that ’ s what attracted us to Bad Boys .
Me and Bilall , we ’ re like the bad boys of cinema in Belgium .
( laughs ) Those characters and that dynamic .
And we love action , big action movies , that real Hollywood thing — you can ’ t do that in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ movie , the action starts with these characters , Mike and Marcus .
That comedy intertwined with the big action , that attracts us a lot .
Oh , definitely .
One of the best scenes is one on an airplane where they just sit and razz each other for a few minutes .
Adil : Mine too !
They just sit and talk !
And the camera doesn ’ t move , but it ’ s awesome .
The movie feels like the Michael Bay movies the first two were , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ something ’ s been missing from action movies ?
Adil : It ’ s been a long time since you ’ ve seen a traditional buddy cop movie .
And these days , most action movies are superhero movies or the Fast and Furious franchise — which this movie resembles a little bit , but those movies are almost superhero movies .
Like you see Hobbes and Shaw and that ’ s the superhero version of Bad Boys , you could say .
With movies like John Wick , you have that old-school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make — those movies were a little more of an inspiration for how we wanted to take on the action .
Sure , there ’ s extravagant action , but we wanted to have it a little bit more grounded than , like , your Fast and Furious or a Marvel movie .
“ He just said at the end , ‘ Don ’ t fuck up my baby ’ ” The Fast and Furious comparison feels valid with how this movie ends .
Is that a direction you ’ d want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make more Bad Boys movies ?
Bilall : We don ’ t want to make 10 of those movies !
Maybe we can do one more story if the audience loves [ Bad Boys For Life ] .
Maybe this is the last one , maybe we are ready for another one , but it ’ s also like ... we really love these characters , Mike and Marcus , but also the new guys on the block , the AMMO team .
We feel there is much more in it , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it .
The audience will decide , but also the story , there has to be an evolution , if it ’ s just a copy of this one then it is not interesting enough .
Coming to Hollywood from Belgium , money is obviously the biggest difference , but did anything else surprise you about the process ?
Adil : Yeah , we were surprised that even though there ’ s a lot of money there ’ s still not enough money .
Bilall : No money and no time !
Never @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other thing is that it ’ s just this gigantic machine .
You make a smaller movie , you take a camera , you go in the street and just shoot it .
Here , you have to have 250 people on the set that you have to move .
That ’ s a whole other way of making a movie .
But at the end of the day , you have Will , Martin , and Jerry [ Bruckheimer ] .
They always supported us and helped us through this process of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bay drop in for a cameo !
What was that like ?
Bilall : That was the first day we actually met him , on the day of that shoot !
Adil : We were super nervous because a lot of our crew worked with him , but it was super nice !
He just said at the end , “ Don ’ t fuck up my baby , ” and then we were like , “ We got you !
”

Bad Boys For Life pulls off one of the most unlikely tricks in blockbuster moviemaking: It’s the rare good third entry in a franchise, a successful soft reboot that introduces a small squad of new faces to carry the Bad Boys name into the future. It does all this while also coming nearly 20 years after the last film in the series and being the Hollywood debut of Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, a Belgian directing duo known for gritty crime dramas on a much lower budget.
Over a phone call just after Bad Boys For Life’s opening weekend, Adil and Bilall spoke with The Verge about making that transition. The duo are as ebullient and energetic as brothers, frequently finishing each other’s thoughts and serving as the other’s hype man. Despite not yet knowing how their film performed at the box office, the directors were eager to talk about getting the chance to homage their ‘90s action-movie upbringing, at nearly 100 times the budget they’re used to.
The Verge: This is your first Hollywood movie, right?
Adil: That’s right! Our first movie was what, 3.4 million?
Bilall: Yeah, and now it’s 100 million.
Adil: That’s a big jump, brotha!
Action movies are great for introducing audiences to different talent — I’m interested in how you put this movie’s international cast together.
Adil: Well, we wanted to have a cast that was a reflection of the diversity of Miami, because Miami is the place where the movie takes place. It’s a character in the movie and it’s very multicultural. We have, obviously, African Americans with Will and Martin, but also Paola Núñez is from Mexico, Vanessa [Hudgens] is of Filipino descent, Charles [Melton] is Korean— we wanted to have that mix of flavor that is also in all of our movies. Our movies are very colorful, that’s what we like. It’s our trademark, you could say.
What attracted you to doing a big Hollywood action movie?
Adil: Specifically, for this one because it was a Bad Boys movie — we grew up with Jerry Bruckheimer movies, at the end of the ‘80s and the ‘90s, Michael Bay movies, this whole era. And we wanted this movie to be an homage, to give a nostalgic feeling. Also Lethal Weapon—
Bilall: Die Hard, Beverly Hills Cop, all that.
Adil: And that’s what attracted us to Bad Boys. Me and Bilall, we’re like the bad boys of cinema in Belgium. (laughs) Those characters and that dynamic. And we love action, big action movies, that real Hollywood thing — you can’t do that in Belgium.
Bilall: And in this movie, the action starts with these characters, Mike and Marcus. That comedy intertwined with the big action, that attracts us a lot.
Oh, definitely. One of the best scenes is one on an airplane where they just sit and razz each other for a few minutes.
Bilall: Yeah!
Adil: Mine too! They just sit and talk! And the camera doesn’t move, but it’s awesome.
The movie feels like the Michael Bay movies the first two were, but also fresher somehow. Do you think something’s been missing from action movies?
Adil: It’s been a long time since you’ve seen a traditional buddy cop movie. And these days, most action movies are superhero movies or the Fast and Furious franchise — which this movie resembles a little bit, but those movies are almost superhero movies. Like you see Hobbes and Shaw and that’s the superhero version of Bad Boys, you could say.
With movies like John Wick, you have that old-school traditional action again that we try to make — those movies were a little more of an inspiration for how we wanted to take on the action. Sure, there’s extravagant action, but we wanted to have it a little bit more grounded than, like, your Fast and Furious or a Marvel movie.
“He just said at the end, ‘Don’t fuck up my baby’”
The Fast and Furious comparison feels valid with how this movie ends. Is that a direction you’d want to go? Would you both want to make more Bad Boys movies?
Bilall: We don’t want to make 10 of those movies! Maybe we can do one more story if the audience loves [Bad Boys For Life]. Maybe this is the last one, maybe we are ready for another one, but it’s also like... we really love these characters, Mike and Marcus, but also the new guys on the block, the AMMO team. We feel there is much more in it, and I think there is a possibility for it. The audience will decide, but also the story, there has to be an evolution, if it’s just a copy of this one then it is not interesting enough.
Coming to Hollywood from Belgium, money is obviously the biggest difference, but did anything else surprise you about the process?
Adil: Yeah, we were surprised that even though there’s a lot of money there’s still not enough money.
Bilall: No money and no time! Never enough time!
Adil: But the other thing is that it’s just this gigantic machine. You make a smaller movie, you take a camera, you go in the street and just shoot it. Here, you have to have 250 people on the set that you have to move. That’s a whole other way of making a movie. But at the end of the day, you have Will, Martin, and Jerry [Bruckheimer]. They always supported us and helped us through this process of big moviemaking.
And you had Michael Bay drop in for a cameo! What was that like?
Bilall: That was the first day we actually met him, on the day of that shoot!


theverge--2020-01-23--Adobe Premiere Pro teases Google Drive-like collaborative editing

Adobe is previewing a new feature for Premiere Pro called Productions that ’ ll help teams work together on projects .
Announced today at the Sundance Film Festival , the new panel was designed with filmmakers in mind , and was created with input from the production teams behind Terminator : Dark Fate and Dolemite is My Name .
Adobe says a special build of the feature is also currently being used in editorial on David Fincher ’ s Mank .
Productions is essentially a new panel that acts as a shared folder system , like Google Drive , to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more collaborative .
On its blog , Adobe describes potential use cases like managing large projects by dividing them into smaller pieces organized around reels and scenes , or grouping episodic shows by season .
The feature is meant to make assets easily accessible so teams can retrieve recurring assets like title sequences or audio elements without having to create duplicates .
Agencies can also allocate productions to each of their clients .
The new Production panel uses shared local storage , which allows for multiple editors to work on different projects in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protects your work from being saved over , while still letting other people access your work .
Other users will be able to copy content , but they won ’ t be able to make changes until you finish your edit .
Adobe says everyone working on a Production will share the same settings for projects , including scratch disks , GPU renderer , and capture and ingest presets .
“ Nothing is on the cloud unless you put it there , ” Adobe explains on its blog .
“ If needed , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an internet connection.
” Adobe has been introducing collaborative features to more of its software , making the Creative Cloud more conducive to teamwork .
The company ’ s UI prototyping software , Adobe XD , added a beta co-editing feature in November last year .

Adobe is previewing a new feature for Premiere Pro called Productions that’ll help teams work together on projects. Announced today at the Sundance Film Festival, the new panel was designed with filmmakers in mind, and was created with input from the production teams behind Terminator: Dark Fate and Dolemite is My Name. Adobe says a special build of the feature is also currently being used in editorial on David Fincher’s Mank.
Productions is essentially a new panel that acts as a shared folder system, like Google Drive, to make sharing assets between editors easier and more collaborative. On its blog, Adobe describes potential use cases like managing large projects by dividing them into smaller pieces organized around reels and scenes, or grouping episodic shows by season. The feature is meant to make assets easily accessible so teams can retrieve recurring assets like title sequences or audio elements without having to create duplicates. Agencies can also allocate productions to each of their clients.
Adobe
The new Production panel uses shared local storage, which allows for multiple editors to work on different projects in the same Production. A project-locking feature protects your work from being saved over, while still letting other people access your work. Other users will be able to copy content, but they won’t be able to make changes until you finish your edit. Adobe says everyone working on a Production will share the same settings for projects, including scratch disks, GPU renderer, and capture and ingest presets. “Nothing is on the cloud unless you put it there,” Adobe explains on its blog. “If needed, you can do all your work without an internet connection.”


theverge--2020-01-23--Google’s ads just look like search results now

Last week , Google began rolling out a new look for its search results on desktop , which blurs the line between organic search results and the ads that sit above them .
In what appears to be something of a purposeful dark pattern , the only thing differentiating ads and search results is a small black-and-white “ Ad ” icon next to the former .
It ’ s been formatted to resemble the new favicons that now appear next to the search results you care about .
Early data collected by Digiday suggests that the changes may already be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Guardian ’ s Alex Hern is one of many commenters to point out the problem , noting that there ’ s now next to no visual distinction between ads and search results .
“ There is still , technically , *labelling* , but it ’ s hard to escape the conclusion that it is supposed to be difficult to spot at a glance where the adverts end , ” he tweeted .
It ’ s especially striking considering how distinct Google designed its ads in the past .
Up until 2013 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an entirely different background color to distinguish them from its organic search results .
But even after that , it continued to use unique colors that effectively let users quickly see where its ads ended and organic results began .
In a blog post announcing the new design when it came to mobile last year , Google partially explained the change by saying that adding favicons to organic search results means that “ a website ’ s branding can be front and center , ” which means “ you can more easily scan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spent far less time talking about the changes to its ad designs , which now feel much more significant , especially when viewing results on a laptop or monitor .
In the past , Google ’ s Sundeep Jain justified simplifying the company ’ s ad designs by saying that a simpler design “ makes it easier for users to digest information , ” according to Search Engine Land .
He added that the company was trying to reduce the number of different colors used on a page in order to bring a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ layout .
Google says a simpler design “ makes it easier for users to digest information ” It ’ s hard not to get the feeling that this “ harmony ” is less about offering a better user experience , and more about helping Google ’ s ad revenue .
As Digiday reports , there ’ s data to suggest that ’ s actually the case .
According to one digital marketing agency , click-through rates have already increased for some search ads on desktop , and mobile click-through rates for some of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 18 percent after similar changes to Google ’ s mobile search layout .
Google is fundamentally an ad business .
In the third quarter of 2019 , Google ’ s parent company Alphabet made nearly $ 34 billion from Google advertising , out of a total revenue of $ 40 billion for Alphabet as a whole .
At that sort of scale , small changes in ad click-through rates could end up having a huge effect on Alphabet ’ s bottom line , even if it means tricking users for cheap clicks @

Last week, Google began rolling out a new look for its search results on desktop, which blurs the line between organic search results and the ads that sit above them. In what appears to be something of a purposeful dark pattern, the only thing differentiating ads and search results is a small black-and-white “Ad” icon next to the former. It’s been formatted to resemble the new favicons that now appear next to the search results you care about. Early data collected by Digiday suggests that the changes may already be causing people to click on more ads.
The Guardian’s Alex Hern is one of many commenters to point out the problem, noting that there’s now next to no visual distinction between ads and search results. “There is still, technically, *labelling*, but it’s hard to escape the conclusion that it is supposed to be difficult to spot at a glance where the adverts end,” he tweeted.
It’s especially striking considering how distinct Google designed its ads in the past. Up until 2013, the search engine gave its ads an entirely different background color to distinguish them from its organic search results. But even after that, it continued to use unique colors that effectively let users quickly see where its ads ended and organic results began.
In the past, Google used to give its ads a different background color to make them distinct from the rest of its results. This screenshot is from 2013. Image: Search Engine Land
In a blog post announcing the new design when it came to mobile last year, Google partially explained the change by saying that adding favicons to organic search results means that “a website’s branding can be front and center,” which means “you can more easily scan the page of results.” But it spent far less time talking about the changes to its ad designs, which now feel much more significant, especially when viewing results on a laptop or monitor.
In the past, Google’s Sundeep Jain justified simplifying the company’s ad designs by saying that a simpler design “makes it easier for users to digest information,” according to Search Engine Land. He added that the company was trying to reduce the number of different colors used on a page in order to bring a little more “harmony” to the layout.
Google says a simpler design “makes it easier for users to digest information”
It’s hard not to get the feeling that this “harmony” is less about offering a better user experience, and more about helping Google’s ad revenue. As Digiday reports, there’s data to suggest that’s actually the case. According to one digital marketing agency, click-through rates have already increased for some search ads on desktop, and mobile click-through rates for some of its clients increased last year from 17 to 18 percent after similar changes to Google’s mobile search layout.


theverge--2020-01-23--Transcription service Rev is raising prices for the first time to $1.25 a minute

Online transcription service Rev is raising its prices for the first time ever , from $ 1 a minute to $ 1.25 .
The price hike was disclosed in a message the company sent to Rev transcribers on Thursday outlining the change and assuring the contract workers that this is not expected to significantly impact the number of job orders available .
The company , which has been around since 2010 , is one of the leading online transcription services , and it made its name largely off its advertised $ 1 per minute rate .
“ We ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They seem to get it : companies raise prices .
Rev has been charging $ 1 per minute since we launched almost a decade ago and that ’ s been far less than our competition , ” reads Rev ’ s message to transcribers .
“ So , while we suspect some may not like it , based on the conversations we ’ ve had we also anticipate the negative response to be fairly limited .
For you , that means Revvers shouldn ’ t expect a noticeable drop in the number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the negative response to be fairly limited.
” To help offset any negative effects of its price hike , Rev says that it will start paying its transcribers “ more on average ” starting in March , yet not across the board and only for “ harder jobs.
” Rev did not elaborate on this distinction .
The company says it is also going to make its grading system fairer , among other changes designed to make transcribing for Rev more manageable .
Yet one Rev transcriber who spoke with The Verge on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unhappy ” with the change , considering Rev will be earning more money per minute transcribed while base pay for all transcriptions will remain the same .
Pricing and pay rates are particular hot button issues for Rev and its labor force .
The company found itself embroiled in controversy this past November for a series of damning reports about working conditions for its contract labor force , starting with the news that the company would be slashing its minimum pay rate from 45 cents per minute transcribed to 30 cents .
Following @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found that Rev transcribers were routinely subjected to disturbing audio recordings without adequate mental health benefits or even without any warning prior to the recording .
The audio clips have included such incidents as violent police recordings , descriptions of child abuse , and graphic medical videos .
A day later , Rev banned people under the age of 18 from transcribing for its service ; prior to the rule change , loose labor law allowed minors to do contract labor like the kind Rev uses to supply customers .

Online transcription service Rev is raising its prices for the first time ever, from $1 a minute to $1.25. The price hike was disclosed in a message the company sent to Rev transcribers on Thursday outlining the change and assuring the contract workers that this is not expected to significantly impact the number of job orders available. The company, which has been around since 2010, is one of the leading online transcription services, and it made its name largely off its advertised $1 per minute rate.
“We’ve already spoken with dozens of clients. They seem to get it: companies raise prices. Rev has been charging $1 per minute since we launched almost a decade ago and that’s been far less than our competition,” reads Rev’s message to transcribers. “So, while we suspect some may not like it, based on the conversations we’ve had we also anticipate the negative response to be fairly limited. For you, that means Revvers shouldn’t expect a noticeable drop in the number of jobs available.”
“we also anticipate the negative response to be fairly limited.”
To help offset any negative effects of its price hike, Rev says that it will start paying its transcribers “more on average” starting in March, yet not across the board and only for “harder jobs.” Rev did not elaborate on this distinction. The company says it is also going to make its grading system fairer, among other changes designed to make transcribing for Rev more manageable.
Yet one Rev transcriber who spoke with The Verge on Thursday said some workers are “quite unhappy” with the change, considering Rev will be earning more money per minute transcribed while base pay for all transcriptions will remain the same.
Pricing and pay rates are particular hot button issues for Rev and its labor force. The company found itself embroiled in controversy this past November for a series of damning reports about working conditions for its contract labor force, starting with the news that the company would be slashing its minimum pay rate from 45 cents per minute transcribed to 30 cents.


theverge--2020-01-23--Google I/O 2020 will kick off on May 12th

Google has just revealed that its next I/O developer conference will take place from May 12th to May 14th .
The company revealed the date after users participated in its annual I/O teaser , which this year was a collaborative online game to restore a fictional satellite network .
When the game was completed , the constellation of satellites spelled out the date .
In a tweet , Google CEO Sundar Pichai said I/O 2020 will be at the Shoreline Amphitheatre , which is in Mountain View near Google ’ s HQ and is where Google has hosted the event @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the biggest news of I/O 2019 was the announcement of the budget-friendly Pixel 3A and 3A XL , which my colleague Dieter Bohn found to be a decent phone with a great camera .
There are already rumors swirling about a potential Pixel 4A , including that it may have a hole-punch display , a 3.5mm headphone jack , and a square camera bump .
9to5Google reported that it may arrive at around the same time as the Pixel 3A did last year , so the 4A seems like a possible candidate for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we also saw the reveal of the Nest Hub Max , so perhaps Google will announce more Nest hardware at I/O 2020 as well .
At I/O , Google also typically shows off upcoming updates to Android as well as other updates to its software and services .

Google has just revealed that its next I/O developer conference will take place from May 12th to May 14th. The company revealed the date after users participated in its annual I/O teaser, which this year was a collaborative online game to restore a fictional satellite network.
When the game was completed, the constellation of satellites spelled out the date.
Image: Google
In a tweet, Google CEO Sundar Pichai said I/O 2020 will be at the Shoreline Amphitheatre, which is in Mountain View near Google’s HQ and is where Google has hosted the event for the past few years.
Arguably the biggest news of I/O 2019 was the announcement of the budget-friendly Pixel 3A and 3A XL, which my colleague Dieter Bohn found to be a decent phone with a great camera. There are already rumors swirling about a potential Pixel 4A, including that it may have a hole-punch display, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a square camera bump. 9to5Google reported that it may arrive at around the same time as the Pixel 3A did last year, so the 4A seems like a possible candidate for an I/O reveal.


theverge--2020-01-23--Sonos CEO apologizes for confusion, says legacy products will work ‘as long as possible’

Sonos CEO Patrick Spence just published a statement on the company ’ s website to try to clear up an announcement made earlier this week : on Tuesday , Sonos announced that it will cease delivering software updates and new features to its oldest products in May .
The company said those devices should continue functioning properly in the near term , but it wasn ’ t enough to prevent an uproar from longtime customers , with many blasting Sonos for what they perceive as planned obsolescence .
That frustration is what Spence is responding to today .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ begins the letter to customers .
“ We did not get this right from the start.
” Spence apologizes for any confusion and reiterates that the so-called legacy products will “ continue to work as they do today.
” Legacy products include the original Sonos Play:5 , Zone Players , and Connect / Connect : Amp devices manufactured between 2011 and 2015 .
“ Many of you have invested heavily in your Sonos systems , and we intend to honor that investment for as long as possible.
” Similarly , Spence pledges that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patches to legacy products “ for as long as possible ” — without any hard timeline .
Most interesting , he says “ if we run into something core to the experience that can ’ t be addressed , we ’ ll work to offer an alternative solution and let you know about any changes you ’ ll see in your experience.
” Sonos says it will come up with alternatives if core features eventually break on legacy products The letter from Sonos ’ CEO doesn ’ t retract anything that the company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just trying to be as clear as possible about what ’ s happening come May .
Sonos has insisted that these products , some of which are a decade old , have been taken to their technological limits .
Spence again confirms that Sonos is planning a way for customers to fork any legacy devices they might own off of their main Sonos system with more modern speakers .
( Sonos architected its system so that all devices share the same software .
Once one product is no longer eligible for updates , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This workaround is designed to avoid that problem . )
“ I hope that you ’ ll forgive our misstep , and let us earn back your trust , ” Spence concludes .
“ Without you , Sonos wouldn ’ t exist and we ’ ll work harder than ever to earn your loyalty every single day.
” His entire statement follows below : We heard you .
We did not get this right from the start .
My apologies for that and I wanted to personally assure you of the path forward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ May , when we end new software updates for our legacy products , they will continue to work as they do today .
We are not bricking them , we are not forcing them into obsolescence , and we are not taking anything away .
Many of you have invested heavily in your Sonos systems , and we intend to honor that investment for as long as possible .
While legacy Sonos products won ’ t get new software features , we pledge to keep them updated with bug fixes and security patches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we run into something core to the experience that can ’ t be addressed , we ’ ll work to offer an alternative solution and let you know about any changes you ’ ll see in your experience .
Secondly , we heard you on the issue of legacy products and modern products not being able to coexist in your home .
We are working on a way to split your system so that modern products work together and get the latest features , while legacy products work together and remain in their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ details on this plan and will share more in the coming weeks .
While we have a lot of great products and features in the pipeline , we want our customers to upgrade to our latest and greatest products when they ’ re excited by what the new products offer , not because they feel forced to do so .
That ’ s the intent of the trade up program we launched for our loyal customers .
Thank you for being a Sonos customer .
Thank you for taking the time to give @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you ’ ll forgive our misstep , and let us earn back your trust .
Without you , Sonos wouldn ’ t exist and we ’ ll work harder than ever to earn your loyalty every single day .
If you have any further questions please don ’ t hesitate to contact us .

We heard you. We did not get this right from the start. My apologies for that and I wanted to personally assure you of the path forward:
First, rest assured that come May, when we end new software updates for our legacy products, they will continue to work as they do today. We are not bricking them, we are not forcing them into obsolescence, and we are not taking anything away. Many of you have invested heavily in your Sonos systems, and we intend to honor that investment for as long as possible. While legacy Sonos products won’t get new software features, we pledge to keep them updated with bug fixes and security patches for as long as possible. If we run into something core to the experience that can’t be addressed, we’ll work to offer an alternative solution and let you know about any changes you’ll see in your experience.
Secondly, we heard you on the issue of legacy products and modern products not being able to coexist in your home. We are working on a way to split your system so that modern products work together and get the latest features, while legacy products work together and remain in their current state. We’re finalizing details on this plan and will share more in the coming weeks.
While we have a lot of great products and features in the pipeline, we want our customers to upgrade to our latest and greatest products when they’re excited by what the new products offer, not because they feel forced to do so. That’s the intent of the trade up program we launched for our loyal customers.
Thank you for being a Sonos customer. Thank you for taking the time to give us your feedback. I hope that you’ll forgive our misstep, and let us earn back your trust. Without you, Sonos wouldn’t exist and we’ll work harder than ever to earn your loyalty every single day.
If you have any further questions please don’t hesitate to contact us.


theverge--2020-01-23--This hour-long Splatoon concert features holographic squid kids

Arguably the most important characters in Splatoon 2 are Pearl and Marina , a pair of aquatic DJs who host the show that airs each time you boot up the game .
Outside of a few rare events , you don ’ t really get to see them perform , though .
That ’ s what makes this new video from Nintendo so cool .
It features the two virtual performers on a real stage with real musicians for close to an hour of wonderfully incomprehensible music .
The concert actually took place last October , at an event called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Splatoon 2 pair were joined on tage by Callie and Marie , the squid sisters from the original game , and the opening act was none other than K.K .
Slider , the singing dog from Animal Crossing .
This kind of virtual performance isn ’ t a new concept , of course .
Similar technologies have allowed the Vocaloid Hatsune Miku to tour with real bands , and Riot Games has made augmented reality concerts a staple of the opening ceremonies for its League of Legends World Championships .
Splatoon is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ performance given how its world , despite being about sentient squids battling with ink , was heavily influenced by hip-hop and skateboard culture .
You can check out the entire performance in the video above .

Arguably the most important characters in Splatoon 2 are Pearl and Marina, a pair of aquatic DJs who host the show that airs each time you boot up the game. Outside of a few rare events, you don’t really get to see them perform, though. That’s what makes this new video from Nintendo so cool. It features the two virtual performers on a real stage with real musicians for close to an hour of wonderfully incomprehensible music.


theverge--2020-01-23--Mean Girls channels Street Fighter: The Movie: The Game as culture becomes a ouroboros of remakes

Time to break out your best pink outfits because Mean Girls — the popular 2004 Tina Fey cult comedy film , which is based on Rosalind Wiseman ’ s 2002 book Queen Bees and Wannabes and has since become a Broadway stage musical — is now being turned back into a movie .
This time , it ’ s adapting the musical , which , again , is already based on an existing movie .
In other words , Mean Girls is pulling a Street Fighter : The Movie ( the video game ) .
You can thank Variety for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re not familiar with Street Fighter : The Movie : The Game , it ’ s one of the best examples of the cultural remake ouroboros in which we ’ re now stuck .
Once upon a time , Street Fighter ( the original game series ) was adapted into a movie ( Street Fighter , released in 1994 ) , which was then adapted into a game ( Street Fighter : The Movie ) .
The game was awful , consisting of a re-skinned Super Street Fighter II Turbo with poorly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s actors , choppy frame rates , and slow controls .
It was a badly executed copy of the original game , and all of the good pieces were lost in translation .
With its new movie remake , Mean Girls is effectively following this pattern in reverse , turning a film that turned into a stage musical into a movie again .
“ I ’ m very excited to bring Mean Girls back to the big screen , ” commented Tina Fey ( who wrote the original film , the musical , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new movie-musical ) .
It will be her latest attempt to finally make “ fetch ” happen .
Mean Girls is by no means the first property to do this : Mel Brooks ’ The Producers followed the same path of original film to stage musical to remade movie-musical .
Hairspray saw a similar course , going from a 1988 John Waters comedy to an adapted 2003 stage musical to a big-budget musical film in 2007 .
Other musicals adapted from films , like Monty Python ’ s Spamalot ( based on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) , are also in the works .
But while the musical Mean Girls movie may be similar thematically to The Producers or Hairspray , it ’ s the original Street Fighter comparison that feels most apt .
Mean Girls ( the 2004 film ) is already a genuine ( and relatively recent ) cultural success .
It ’ s a popular movie in its own right , unlike say , Hairspray , which only rose to real prominence through the stage show , which ran for years and won eight Tony Awards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) is certainly a popular stage show , it ’ s not a breakout success .
In 2018 , it was nominated for 12 Tony Awards , but it was shut out entirely .
It failed to rank on Tumblr ’ s top 15 most-discussed shows in 2019 , and it ’ s not one of Broadway ’ s biggest earners .
It ’ s a property that ’ s still very much overshadowed by its source material , similar to the inferior Street Fighter film and almost universally panned movie-based game .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ t capture the spark of the stage musicals they tried to bring back to the big screen .
Street Fighter couldn ’ t distill a film back down into a new video game .
After all , when all you do is make a photocopy of a photocopy of a photocopy , with each passing remake , something gets lost .
Sometimes , video games work better as games , and live stage musicals work best as live stage musicals .
Mean Girls may buck that trend , though .
Much of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including Tina Fey .
If the original movie , made-for-TV sequel , stage show , and book show us anything , it ’ s that people really like Mean Girls .
But at the end of the day , it ’ s yet another remake of a popular film — because , in Hollywood , it ’ s apparently always October 3rd .

Is this fetch?
With its new movie remake, Mean Girls is effectively following this pattern in reverse, turning a film that turned into a stage musical into a movie again. “I’m very excited to bring Mean Girls back to the big screen,” commented Tina Fey (who wrote the original film, the musical, and, presumably, will write the new movie-musical). It will be her latest attempt to finally make “fetch” happen.
Mean Girls is by no means the first property to do this: Mel Brooks’ The Producers followed the same path of original film to stage musical to remade movie-musical. Hairspray saw a similar course, going from a 1988 John Waters comedy to an adapted 2003 stage musical to a big-budget musical film in 2007. Other musicals adapted from films, like Monty Python’s Spamalot (based on the iconic Monty Python and the Holy Grail), are also in the works.
But while the musical Mean Girls movie may be similar thematically to The Producers or Hairspray, it’s the original Street Fighter comparison that feels most apt. Mean Girls (the 2004 film) is already a genuine (and relatively recent) cultural success. It’s a popular movie in its own right, unlike say, Hairspray, which only rose to real prominence through the stage show, which ran for years and won eight Tony Awards.
Time and culture are flat circles
While Mean Girls (the musical) is certainly a popular stage show, it’s not a breakout success. In 2018, it was nominated for 12 Tony Awards, but it was shut out entirely. It failed to rank on Tumblr’s top 15 most-discussed shows in 2019, and it’s not one of Broadway’s biggest earners. It’s a property that’s still very much overshadowed by its source material, similar to the inferior Street Fighter film and almost universally panned movie-based game.
The Hairspray and Producers movies couldn’t capture the spark of the stage musicals they tried to bring back to the big screen. Street Fighter couldn’t distill a film back down into a new video game. After all, when all you do is make a photocopy of a photocopy of a photocopy, with each passing remake, something gets lost. Sometimes, video games work better as games, and live stage musicals work best as live stage musicals.


theverge--2020-01-23--How to delete Cortana recordings and protect your privacy

If you use a PC , Xbox , or other Microsoft device , chatting with Cortana can be an easy way to get things done while your hands are occupied .
But as with all voice assistants , beware of corporate snooping .
In August , Motherboard discovered that Microsoft contractors listen to recordings of Cortana voice commands , sometimes from personal computers and browsers with little security .
Cortana recordings are now transcribed in “ secure facilities , ” according to Microsoft .
But the transcription program is still in place , which means someone , somewhere still might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your voice assistant .
Don ’ t worry : if this creeps you out , you can delete your recordings .
Here ’ s how .
The first step is to open a Windows PC and sign in to the same Microsoft account you ’ ve been using to chat with Cortana .
Once you ’ ve done that : • Type “ Settings ” into the search bar next to the Start button .
The Settings app will come up ; click on it .
You can also click the Start button @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
• Click on “ Accounts ” in the bottom-left corner • Click on the “ Manage my Microsoft account ” link under your username .
You ’ ll be redirected to Microsoft ’ s website and signed in to your Microsoft account .
• Click “ Privacy ” on the left side of the menu at the top of the page • You ’ ll be prompted to reenter your Microsoft password ; do that .
You may also be required to verify your identity with two-factor authentication if you ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now be back in the Privacy section of Microsoft ’ s website .
Click on “ My activity ” in the menu under the banner .
• Open the menu that says “ Filter by data type ” on the left side of the screen .
Click “ Voice , ” which is the second option .
• In the center of the screen , you ’ ll see a list of Cortana recordings associated with your Microsoft account .
You can click on the play button to listen to each recording individually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voice recordings , select “ Clear activity ” at the top right of the list .
To delete individual recordings , click the “ Clear ” link at the bottom of each item ( just next to the “ View details ” link ) .
Note : Doing this won ’ t prevent Cortana from sending your voice recordings to Microsoft .
For that , you ’ ll need to disable online speech recognition .
How to stop Cortana from recording your voice • Go back into Settings .
This time , scroll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
• Click “ Permissions ” in the menu on the left side • Click “ Manage the information Cortana can access from this device.
” Scroll down and select “ Speech Privacy Settings.
” Now , Cortana will only use device-based speech recognition , which is less accurate than its cloud-based recognition engine and has limited functionality .
But Microsoft will no longer transcribe or collect any of your voice recordings .
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These do not influence editorial content , though Vox Media may earn commissions for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more information , see

If you use a PC, Xbox, or other Microsoft device, chatting with Cortana can be an easy way to get things done while your hands are occupied.
But as with all voice assistants, beware of corporate snooping. In August, Motherboard discovered that Microsoft contractors listen to recordings of Cortana voice commands, sometimes from personal computers and browsers with little security.
Cortana recordings are now transcribed in “secure facilities,” according to Microsoft. But the transcription program is still in place, which means someone, somewhere still might be listening to everything you say to your voice assistant.
Don’t worry: if this creeps you out, you can delete your recordings. Here’s how.
The first step is to open a Windows PC and sign in to the same Microsoft account you’ve been using to chat with Cortana. Once you’ve done that:
Type “Settings” into the search bar next to the Start button. The Settings app will come up; click on it. You can also click the Start button and scroll down to the Settings icon.
Click on “Accounts” in the bottom-left corner
Click on the “Manage my Microsoft account” link under your username. You’ll be redirected to Microsoft’s website and signed in to your Microsoft account.
Click “Privacy” on the left side of the menu at the top of the page
You’ll be prompted to reenter your Microsoft password; do that. You may also be required to verify your identity with two-factor authentication if you’ve set that up.
You should now be back in the Privacy section of Microsoft’s website. Click on “My activity” in the menu under the banner.
Open the menu that says “Filter by data type” on the left side of the screen. Click “Voice,” which is the second option.
In the center of the screen, you’ll see a list of Cortana recordings associated with your Microsoft account. You can click on the play button to listen to each recording individually.
To delete all of your voice recordings, select “Clear activity” at the top right of the list. To delete individual recordings, click the “Clear” link at the bottom of each item (just next to the “View details” link).
Note: Doing this won’t prevent Cortana from sending your voice recordings to Microsoft. For that, you’ll need to disable online speech recognition.
How to stop Cortana from recording your voice
Go back into Settings. This time, scroll down to Cortana in the right-hand column.
Click “Permissions” in the menu on the left side
Click “Manage the information Cortana can access from this device.” Scroll down and select “Speech Privacy Settings.”
Toggle Online speech recognition off
Now, Cortana will only use device-based speech recognition, which is less accurate than its cloud-based recognition engine and has limited functionality. But Microsoft will no longer transcribe or collect any of your voice recordings.


theverge--2020-01-23--Samsung’s next foldable may have an ‘ultra thin’ glass display

We first heard last month that Samsung ’ s rumored new foldable , possibly called the Galaxy Z Flip , will apparently fold clamshell-style similar to Motorola ’ s upcoming Razr and might have a glass screen .
Today , leaker Max Weinbach of XDA Developers shared a few more rumors about that glass screen on Twitter .
According to Weinbach , the phone ’ s OLED screen will use a type of glass that Samsung may call “ Samsung Ultra Thin Glass.
” Leaker Ice Universe used similar language last month , saying that the phone would have “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we noted last month that Samsung has applied for a trademark for the term in Europe .
Weinbach also says that the upcoming foldable will have a crease in the middle — which you can see in the image at the top of this post , taken from apparent leaked images of the phone floating around Chinese social media .
Weinbach also said that the smaller screen that ’ s accessible when the phone is closed can be used to see how much battery you have left , how fast your phone is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the camera .
In a follow-up tweet , he clarified that his source for the information probably meant to say that the screen is one inch in size , not .1 inch .
Here are some more apparent photos of the phone taken from Chinese social media , if you want to visualize the device and get a better look at that crease : If it ’ s true that Samsung ’ s new foldable has a glass screen , that would differentiate it from the Razr and Samsung ’ s first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of which have plastic screens .
And perhaps this rumored glass screen is more durable than the unreliable plastic one that almost shipped on the Galaxy Fold before it was delayed and Samsung was forced to revamp the design .

We first heard last month that Samsung’s rumored new foldable, possibly called the Galaxy Z Flip, will apparently fold clamshell-style similar to Motorola’s upcoming Razr and might have a glass screen. Today, leaker Max Weinbach of XDA Developers shared a few more rumors about that glass screen on Twitter.
According to Weinbach, the phone’s OLED screen will use a type of glass that Samsung may call “Samsung Ultra Thin Glass.” Leaker Ice Universe used similar language last month, saying that the phone would have “an ultra-thin glass cover,” and we noted last month that Samsung has applied for a trademark for the term in Europe. Weinbach also says that the upcoming foldable will have a crease in the middle — which you can see in the image at the top of this post, taken from apparent leaked images of the phone floating around Chinese social media.
Weinbach also said that the smaller screen that’s accessible when the phone is closed can be used to see how much battery you have left, how fast your phone is charging, and act as a viewfinder for the camera. In a follow-up tweet, he clarified that his source for the information probably meant to say that the screen is one inch in size, not .1 inch.
Here are some more apparent photos of the phone taken from Chinese social media, if you want to visualize the device and get a better look at that crease:
Image: 王奔宏 via Weibo


theverge--2020-01-23--Rocket League is killing online multiplayer on macOS and Linux

Today , Epic Games-owned Psyonix announced that it will stop supporting Rocket League on macOS and Linux starting in March .
Psyonix says it will release a final patch on both platforms that month that will turn off online features , which means you won ’ t be able to play online multiplayer anymore .
You ’ ll still be able to play matches with your friends sitting in front of your computer , though .
According to a support document , here is what will still work after the patch : • Garage/Inventory ( existing items will not be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s what won ’ t work after the patch : In its announcement post , Psyonix said that “ it is no longer viable for us to maintain support for the macOS and Linux ( SteamOS ) platforms.
” And in the support article , it said “ we want Rocket League to be the best experience possible for all our players .
This includes adapting to use new technologies.
” But those statements don ’ t tell us anything about why the studio is pulling online features for Rocket League from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two platforms is kind of ironic because Rocket League was the poster child for cross-platform online multiplayer games .
Sony had long claimed that supporting cross-platform multiplayer between Xbox and PS4 would be up to the developers .
But a Psyonix VP proved that was wrong in 2016 , revealing to IGN that the game was “ at the point where all we need is the go-ahead on the Sony side and we can , in less than a business day , turn it on and have it up and working no problem.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ approved it .
( Sony finally allowed cross-platform play for Rocket League last January . )
Epic Games , the creator of the smash-hit Fortnite , bought Psyonix last May .
At the time , it was unclear how long Rocket League would remain on Steam before presumably becoming an Epic Games Store exclusive on PC .
But for now , it ’ s still only available on Steam for PC , macOS , and Linux .
If you bought a copy from Steam , you can continue to play that same copy @ @ @ @ @ @

Today, Epic Games-owned Psyonix announced that it will stop supporting Rocket League on macOS and Linux starting in March. Psyonix says it will release a final patch on both platforms that month that will turn off online features, which means you won’t be able to play online multiplayer anymore. You’ll still be able to play matches with your friends sitting in front of your computer, though.
According to a support document, here is what will still work after the patch:
Local Matches
Split-Screen Play
Garage/Inventory (existing items will not be removed from your inventory)
Career Stats
Replays
Steam Workshop Maps (downloaded before the final patch)
Custom Training Packs (downloaded before the final patch)
And here’s what won’t work after the patch:
Online Matchmaking
Private Matches
Tournaments
Rocket Pass
Item Shop / Esports Shop
In-Game Events
Friends List
Clubs
News Panel
New Custom Training Packs
New Steam Workshop Maps
Leaderboards
League Rankings
In its announcement post, Psyonix said that “it is no longer viable for us to maintain support for the macOS and Linux (SteamOS) platforms.” And in the support article, it said “we want Rocket League to be the best experience possible for all our players. This includes adapting to use new technologies.” But those statements don’t tell us anything about why the studio is pulling online features for Rocket League from macOS and Linux.
Dropping support for two platforms is kind of ironic because Rocket League was the poster child for cross-platform online multiplayer games. Sony had long claimed that supporting cross-platform multiplayer between Xbox and PS4 would be up to the developers. But a Psyonix VP proved that was wrong in 2016, revealing to IGN that the game was “at the point where all we need is the go-ahead on the Sony side and we can, in less than a business day, turn it on and have it up and working no problem.” But that Sony hadn’t approved it. (Sony finally allowed cross-platform play for Rocket League last January.)


theverge--2020-01-23--Star Trek: Picard knows Star Trek is a hard sell in 2020

Meet Jean-Luc Picard , space dad .
He was , for 178 episodes of Star Trek : The Next Generation and four theatrical films , the captain of the starship Enterprise ; an inherently trustworthy father figure who pushed everyone around him to be more noble , understanding , and empathetic .
Eighteen years after his last appearance in the movie Star Trek : Nemesis , Picard is back in Star Trek : Picard — a CBS All Access show that plays surprisingly well for people who have not seen a moment of Star Trek as well as longtime fans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to go somewhere new .
Shockingly , it seems a little bit nervous about it .
Star Trek : Picard takes place 18 years after the events of Star Trek : Nemesis , the final film starring the crew of The Next Generation , and several years after Jean-Luc Picard has retired to his family vineyard .
The retirement , we learn , was not one he wanted , spurred by his superiors ’ handling of a cataclysmic disaster on Mars , the details of which are slowly fleshed out over the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time getting Picard to leave that vineyard .
Miles away , a young woman named Dahj is pursued by assassins for reasons unknown , but two things become clear : there ’ s something special about her , and Jean-Luc Picard is the only man who can help her .
So she quickly makes her way to his doorstep , and the adventure begins .
‘ Picard ’ is extremely interested in examining how the idea of ‘ Star Trek ’ must change Picard is a mystery on two fronts : One set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the layers of what went wrong on Mars , and another in the present revolving around Dahj ’ s identity .
The show heavily implies that these two mysteries are actually connected , and Picard is somehow at the center of both .
The show is careful to take care of new viewers — while knowledge of The Next Generation will certainly help you understand the significance of plot twists sooner .
Nothing important is left unexplained — to the point where the show feels like it has a little too much setup @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a very good premiere to meander for two episodes before doing some actual ... star trekking .
( CBS made the first three episodes available to critics . )
Star Trek is a franchise unusually concerned with ideals and ideas , and Picard gestures at compelling ones .
What if Starfleet , the peacekeeping navy of the nigh-utopian United Federation of Planets , has suffered a slow decay that prioritized playing politics over valuing life ?
What if , even in a world where humanity has learned to cooperate and build a bright @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is never really that difficult to begin ?
Picard is extremely interested in examining how the idea of Star Trek must change to make sense in 2020 , and using one of its most familiar and beloved faces to do it .
Unfortunately , all of these questions have an easy , cheap answer , and they are never far away in Picard .
If the Federation has changed , maybe it ’ s because it was compromised .
If an alien race is treated with hostility , well , they are up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an organization is ultimately oppressive , principled people who work within it are definitely not complicit .
The good news is that even three episodes into a ten-episode season , Picard is still very much gearing up , and there ’ s still plenty of room for the show to surprise viewers and choose the more difficult , complicated answers to the questions it poses .
Giving the show the benefit of the doubt , however , feels too much like the hollow centrist play that Star Trek needs to move past if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Because the upsetting truth about 2020 is that , when faced with certain disaster , there are people who will ultimately refuse to work together , who ’ d rather rule over ruins than labor toward an equitable future .
Star Trek is a franchise that believes in institutions , and it ’ s fascinating to see Picard acknowledge that institutions don ’ t just fail , they can become co-opted entirely while still posturing as a force for the public good .
The challenge of the show , then , echoes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about why that happens .
Whether or not it does that , Picard has a chance at being the most relevant Star Trek has ever been — just maybe not for the reason it intends to be .

Meet Jean-Luc Picard, space dad. He was, for 178 episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation and four theatrical films, the captain of the starship Enterprise; an inherently trustworthy father figure who pushed everyone around him to be more noble, understanding, and empathetic. Eighteen years after his last appearance in the movie Star Trek: Nemesis, Picard is back in Star Trek: Picard — a CBS All Access show that plays surprisingly well for people who have not seen a moment of Star Trek as well as longtime fans. Star Trek: Picard is trying to go somewhere new. Shockingly, it seems a little bit nervous about it.
Star Trek: Picard takes place 18 years after the events of Star Trek: Nemesis, the final film starring the crew of The Next Generation, and several years after Jean-Luc Picard has retired to his family vineyard. The retirement, we learn, was not one he wanted, spurred by his superiors’ handling of a cataclysmic disaster on Mars, the details of which are slowly fleshed out over the first few episodes.
The premiere wastes no time getting Picard to leave that vineyard. Miles away, a young woman named Dahj is pursued by assassins for reasons unknown, but two things become clear: there’s something special about her, and Jean-Luc Picard is the only man who can help her. So she quickly makes her way to his doorstep, and the adventure begins.
‘Picard’ is extremely interested in examining how the idea of ‘Star Trek’ must change
Picard is a mystery on two fronts: One set in the recent past, peeling back the layers of what went wrong on Mars, and another in the present revolving around Dahj’s identity. The show heavily implies that these two mysteries are actually connected, and Picard is somehow at the center of both. The show is careful to take care of new viewers — while knowledge of The Next Generation will certainly help you understand the significance of plot twists sooner. Nothing important is left unexplained — to the point where the show feels like it has a little too much setup, stopping dead in its tracks after a very good premiere to meander for two episodes before doing some actual... star trekking. (CBS made the first three episodes available to critics.)
Star Trek is a franchise unusually concerned with ideals and ideas, and Picard gestures at compelling ones. What if Starfleet, the peacekeeping navy of the nigh-utopian United Federation of Planets, has suffered a slow decay that prioritized playing politics over valuing life? What if, even in a world where humanity has learned to cooperate and build a bright future, the slow slide to fascism is never really that difficult to begin? Picard is extremely interested in examining how the idea of Star Trek must change to make sense in 2020, and using one of its most familiar and beloved faces to do it.
Unfortunately, all of these questions have an easy, cheap answer, and they are never far away in Picard. If the Federation has changed, maybe it’s because it was compromised. If an alien race is treated with hostility, well, they are up to some shady stuff. And if an organization is ultimately oppressive, principled people who work within it are definitely not complicit.
The good news is that even three episodes into a ten-episode season, Picard is still very much gearing up, and there’s still plenty of room for the show to surprise viewers and choose the more difficult, complicated answers to the questions it poses. Giving the show the benefit of the doubt, however, feels too much like the hollow centrist play that Star Trek needs to move past if it truly wants to be resonant today. Because the upsetting truth about 2020 is that, when faced with certain disaster, there are people who will ultimately refuse to work together, who’d rather rule over ruins than labor toward an equitable future.