theverge--2020-05-27--Nvidia says developers must now opt in to include games on GeForce Now

Nvidia announced a new policy for its GeForce Now cloud gaming service on Wednesday that means publishers and developers will have to opt into the platform to have titles remotely playable via Nvidia servers .
“ Response has been strong with over 200 publishers committing to streaming on the service , ” reads a blog post from Phil Eisler , Nvidia ’ s GeForce Now vice president .
“ Going forward , only the games that are opted in will be available on the service , providing confidence in the GeForce Now game library .
Yet some publishers are still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that haven ’ t opted in as of May 31 will be removed.
” “ Those that haven ’ t opted in as of May 31 will be removed.
” The shift is meant to address disputes over licensing , as Nvidia was including games on the platform without the express permission of some game developers and publishers and then removing the software later , apparently after complaints in private negotiations arose .
Unlike Google Stadia , which requires you purchase a separate license to play a game in the cloud , Nvidia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ access their existing library of games bought from storefronts like Epic and Steam .
That approach has proved controversial because it raises important , largely unanswered questions about digital ownership and the underlying business models of cloud gaming .
For now , it appears Nvidia would like to remain in amicable negotiation with its game publisher partners , many of which it works closely with on its PC graphics cards .
One positive note for subscribers is that the change should mean we see far less abrupt removals , as was the case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bethesda yanked entire libraries earlier this year , after GeForce Now exited beta and became a paid service .
As of today , publishers that do not opt in GeForce Now by May 31st will have their games removed .
Nvidia also shared a list of currently playable titles that will no longer be accessible later this week , including titles in Sega-published franchises like Sonic and Yakuza .
GeForce Now already has lost or will soon lose games from these major publishers : Activision Blizzard , Bethesda , Capcom , Crytek , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Sega , Square Enix , Take-Two / 2K Games , and Warner Bros .
But Nvidia says its platform offers access to more than 2,000 titles , and it does include games from major publishers like Bandai Namco , Bungie , CCP Games , Electronic Arts , Epic , Riot , Ubisoft , and Valve .

Nvidia announced a new policy for its GeForce Now cloud gaming service on Wednesday that means publishers and developers will have to opt into the platform to have titles remotely playable via Nvidia servers.
“Response has been strong with over 200 publishers committing to streaming on the service,” reads a blog post from Phil Eisler, Nvidia’s GeForce Now vice president. “Going forward, only the games that are opted in will be available on the service, providing confidence in the GeForce Now game library. Yet some publishers are still figuring out their cloud strategies. Those that haven’t opted in as of May 31 will be removed.”
“Those that haven’t opted in as of May 31 will be removed.”
The shift is meant to address disputes over licensing, as Nvidia was including games on the platform without the express permission of some game developers and publishers and then removing the software later, apparently after complaints in private negotiations arose.
Unlike Google Stadia, which requires you purchase a separate license to play a game in the cloud, Nvidia’s GeForce Now allows subscribers to access their existing library of games bought from storefronts like Epic and Steam. That approach has proved controversial because it raises important, largely unanswered questions about digital ownership and the underlying business models of cloud gaming. For now, it appears Nvidia would like to remain in amicable negotiation with its game publisher partners, many of which it works closely with on its PC graphics cards.
One positive note for subscribers is that the change should mean we see far less abrupt removals, as was the case when big publishers like Activision Blizzard and Bethesda yanked entire libraries earlier this year, after GeForce Now exited beta and became a paid service. As of today, publishers that do not opt in GeForce Now by May 31st will have their games removed. Nvidia also shared a list of currently playable titles that will no longer be accessible later this week, including titles in Sega-published franchises like Sonic and Yakuza.


theverge--2020-05-27--The best laptop you can buy

The best laptop you can buy

Welcome to our guide to the best laptops of 2020 .
We live in a world where smartphones are ubiquitous , tablets are commonplace , and even smartwatches are a thing that people talk about on the regular .
But throughout all of these advances , the humble laptop has persevered — and for good reason .
When it comes time to work , whether that 's editing photos , writing a lot of emails , composing documents , or staying in touch with colleagues and family , we ’ re here to help you find the best laptop for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to buy a bad laptop , but what separates the best laptops from good laptops is how they balance power , efficiency , portability , and comfort .
The best laptop should have a fantastic keyboard and trackpad — after all , those are the two biggest reasons you 'd choose a laptop over a smartphone or tablet .
Its display should be easy on the eyes , bright , and sharp enough that you are n't distracted by jagged edges and visible pixels .
It should be powerful enough for most anything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gaming .
It should be easy to carry around from place to place , and it should be able to last all day without needing to be plugged in .
That ’ s why our pick for the best laptop of 2020 is the Dell XPS 13 .
It ’ s a device that does just about everything right .
While it ’ s certainly not a perfect device , there are no major flaws .
It ’ s a great pick for productivity , browsing , and even light gaming .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mac users is the MacBook Air ( 2020 ) .
Apple fixed the Air ’ s biggest problem — the keyboard — and upgraded to more modern processors .
Our other picks for the best laptops of 2020 include the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 , the MacBook Pro 16 , and the HP Elite Dragonfly .
Check out the full list of best laptops below .
The Best Laptops in 2020 The best laptop you can buy If you ’ re looking for a laptop that does just about everything right , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It features a sturdy build , 10th Gen Intel processors with powerful integrated graphics , and a nearly bezel-free 16:10 panel .
The display is what you ’ ll likely notice first .
It has a 91.5 percent screen-to-body ratio with a bottom bezel of just 4.6mm .
You can configure the XPS with a 1920 x 1200 pixel or 4K display , but the lower-resolution model should be adequate for anyone who ’ s not doing creative work .
It delivers up to 500 nits of brightness ( plenty for working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) and accurate , vivid colors .
It ’ ll also give you significantly better battery life , in addition to the lower cost .
You can customize a number of other specs ; the current base model has a Core i5-1035G1 , 8GB RAM , a 256GB SSD , and a 1920 x 1200 non-touch display .
( There ’ s allegedly a model with a Core i3 and 4GB RAM floating around , but it ’ s not currently listed on Dell ’ s website .
You should avoid it if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this base model to anyone who just wants to browse ; if you plan on gaming or creative work , it ’ s worth upgrading for more storage and RAM .
The latest XPS 13 excels at productivity and even has enough power for light gaming The Ice Lake processor features Intel ’ s new Iris Plus integrated graphics , which delivered exceptional performance for an integrated GPU .
You ’ ll still want a discrete graphics card for serious gaming , but you ’ ll have no problem running lighter fare like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ games , it delivers comparable performance to some lower-tier graphics cards , such as Nvidia ’ s MX150 that came in older versions of the Razer Blade Stealth .
When it comes to the other basics , the XPS beats its competition in just about every way .
We got an acceptable seven hours of battery life and even three hours of light gaming .
( League of Legends was playable for about 85 percent of that time . )
The keyboard and touchpad are among the best in their categories as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 0.58 inches thick , it ’ s quite portable .
The biggest knock against the XPS 13 is its limited port selection .
With just two Thunderbolt 3 ports , a headphone jack , and a microSD slot , it ’ s getting into MacBook territory ( though it does ship with a USB-C to USB-A dongle ) .
The 720p webcam is also pretty terrible , though , in Dell ’ s defense , it had to squeeze the thing into a 2.25mm top bezel .
These are legitimate concerns that may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But for most users , they won ’ t be as important as the fundamentals : build quality , keyboard , touchpad , display , and performance .
The XPS excels in all of those areas , earning it our top recommendation .
The best laptop for Mac users The 2020 MacBook Air is the best option for most people who prefer the Apple ecosystem .
The Air comes with 10th Gen Intel processors ( though in a lower power variation than the XPS 13 ) , a sharp Retina display , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ configuration ( including a Core i3 , 8GB RAM , and 256GB storage ) comes in under $ 1,000 , but we recommend that you go for , at minimum , the upgraded model with a Core i5 processor .
MacBook keyboards have been almost universally maligned for the past few years .
But the 2020 Air inherited the new-and-improved keyboard from the latest 16-inch MacBook Pro , which brings back the “ inverted T ” arrow layout and keys with 1mm of travel .
There ’ s no Touch Bar , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and most users should be fine with the standard top row and function keys .
It does retain the Touch ID fingerprint scanner for easy logins and payment authentication .
The MacBook Air is the default Apple laptop for most people You can configure the Air with three different Y-series chips , maxing out at a 1.2GHz quad-core Core i7 .
We had no problem with the 1.1GHz Core i5 , though ; it handled Chrome , Slack , Zoom , and Lightroom just fine , and had single-threaded Geekbench scores in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pro .
Where you might run into trouble is with heavy workloads that need to run for long periods of time , such as rendering graphics or exporting video .
We witnessed some thermal throttling in these cases , and clock speeds were capped at less than half of the processor ’ s boost .
That means if you ’ re doing heavy creative work or other tasks that really push the CPU , you ’ re likely to experience slowdown and a very loud fan .
The MacBook Air does have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one is battery life .
We got about five hours using a workflow of Chrome , Slack , Zoom , and Lightroom with the screen on maximum brightness .
You ’ ll probably get more juice if you dim the screen and stick with Apple ’ s apps , but we expect most people will want to keep the brightness high ( it only gets up to 400 nits ) , and third-party programs are necessities for many .
Despite those downsides , though , the MacBook Air will serve as a competent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It has the excellent design , display , performance , and ( finally ) keyboard that we expect from Apple .
Power users who need the Pro probably know who they are ; everyone else should be just fine with the Air .
Needs for laptops can vary widely .
Some people need to do intense video editing and should pony up for a pro machine .
Others just need a reliable keyboard and a few windows , so something less powerful will do .
Some might want a super light laptop that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Some will want a portable gaming machine capable of running all of the latest titles .
Others want a tall aspect-ratio screen , which is much more comfortable to use than a cramped 16:9 display if you primarily do your work in Office documents or a web browser .
Below , we ’ ve got recommendations for all of those use cases and more .
There are plenty of great options in the Windows PC world , complete with the latest processors and designs , and Apple ’ s MacBook lineup has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ upgraded performance .
The Zephyrus G14 is an astonishingly powerful gaming laptop for a low price ( relative to other notebooks with comparable hardware ) .
It pairs AMD ’ s new Ryzen 9 4900HS with an Nvidia RTX 2060 Max-Q GPU and a 120HZ display , and it can run demanding games at their highest settings without a problem .
It ’ s also quite light for such a powerful laptop , weighing just over 3.5 pounds .
Its battery life is also impressive for a gaming rig ; we got almost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t need to be a gamer to appreciate the Zephyrus G14 .
It ’ s also a great notebook for business and everyday multitasking with a unique retro design .
Plus , the keyboard and touchpad are exceptional and quiet enough not to bother officemates .
On the flip side , if you need to use your laptop for videoconferences , the G14 would not be a great choice , as it lacks a webcam .
The 16-inch MacBook Pro is the best Apple laptop for power users .
Apple dealt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ historically had about MacBook Pros , and if you can stomach the price , there ’ s not a lot else to complain about .
Most importantly , the keyboard is good again .
The keys have a full millimeter of travel , and while the typing experience isn ’ t exceptional , it ’ s a world away from the maligned butterfly keyboard of MacBooks past .
It ’ s fairly quiet , too .
This MacBook also features the best sound you ’ ll find on a laptop .
Apple has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including two woofers .
The result is balanced audio with audible bass and great stereo separation .
For those who need a laptop that can crank through editing video , working with multiple audio tracks , or processing large batches of photos , the 16-inch MacBook Pro is the king of the hill .
If you ’ re a business professional and money is no object for you or your company , you can ’ t do better than the HP Elite Dragonfly .
The 2020 model is the first Dragonfly that features @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which tints the screen so that snoops can ’ t see what you ’ re doing while you ’ re working in public .
When it ’ s not tinted , the display gets quite bright ( over 700 nits ) and has great viewing angles .
The new Dragonfly is also the first laptop to include a built-in Tile tracker .
That means if you lose the device , you can use the Tile smartphone app to set off an alarm ( if it ’ s in Bluetooth range ) or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tile ’ s crowd-finding network .
The tracker can work for a limited time even when the laptop is off .
Almost everything else about the Dragonfly is good ; it has some of the best battery life of any laptop on the market ( we got over 11 hours ) , a sleek and stunning 2-in-1 design , and an exceptional keyboard .
Plus , it incorporates sustainable material , including ocean-bound plastics and recycled DVDs .
The Dragonfly is pricey , and there are cheaper business laptops that will suit the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But if you ’ re looking for the best of the best , it ’ s the unambiguous winner .
Lenovo ’ s Chromebook Duet is a great convertible laptop for kids , or anyone who wants a reliable secondary driver for browsing and games .
It ’ s a nice-looking , well-made 10-inch device that comes with a detachable keyboard and kickstand .
The Duet is tailor-made to be used around the house and on the go , weighing just 2.03 pounds and delivering over 11 hours of battery life .
Its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shoulder heavy loads , but it ’ s just fine for browsing in a couple tabs , watching Netflix , or playing Android games — it even handles photo editing pretty well .
The Duet also features a new “ tablet mode ” for Chrome OS , which supports an Android-inspired gesture navigation system and a unique Chrome layout optimized for tablet use .
The Chromebook Duet is an absolute steal for its low price , and is the Chromebook to buy if you ’ re on a tight budget .
The Spectre @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the latest processor options from Intel , a vibrant touchscreen , and more port options than are found on other laptops in this segment .
The x360 weighs less than three pounds and is about two-thirds of an inch thick when closed , which makes it very easy to travel with .
The latest model has a smaller footprint than before , thanks to shrunken bezels above and below the screen , but it still maintains a full-size keyboard and spacious trackpad .
In addition , it provides both facial and fingerprint @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which way you prefer to log in .
HP updated the trackpad drivers it uses in the latest model to Microsoft ’ s Precision set and the experience is improved over the older versions to the point where it ’ s no longer an issue .
The x360 ’ s trackpad is now right up there with the best Windows trackpad options ( which are still a tick behind what you get on a MacBook ) in terms of scrolling , multifinger gestures , and palm rejection .
The biggest argument against the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ display , as opposed to the 16:10 or 3:2 screens you ’ ll find on Dell or Microsoft ’ s computers .
Those taller aspect ratios are much better for productivity work , whether that ’ s working in two documents side by side or researching on the web without having to scroll as much .
But unless you are very particular about your screen ’ s aspect ratio , most people won ’ t find this to be a deal-breaker .
The best MacBook Pro for everyday users If you ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more powerful than the Air , but isn ’ t as pricey as the 16-inch Pro , the MacBook Pro 13 hits the sweet spot in the middle .
It has a bright 500-nit screen , excellent speakers and — finally — a keyboard that ’ s actually reliable .
There are two models you can consider depending on your needs : the “ base ” model has 8th-Gen Intel processors and two Thunderbolt 3 processors , while the pricier version has 10th-Gen processors and four Thunderbolt 3 ports ( as well as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) .
If you can afford it , we recommend stepping up to the pricier version , as the performance difference between the two generations is noticeable .
The LG Gram 17 is one of the best 17-inch laptops you can buy .
Its main calling card is its weight : at just 2.95 pounds , it weighs less than even some 13-inch laptops .
The Gram has a surprisingly robust port selection for such a thin device , including a Thunderbolt 3 , two USB 3.0 Type-A , an HDMI , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a Kensington lock .
There are some drawbacks to a 17-inch screen .
For one , you might have trouble fitting it into smaller backpacks and bags , and it may be ungainly to use on crowded trains and flights .
It ’ s also on the pricey side , and if you don ’ t need all 17 inches , you can get similar performance and portability with a smaller screen for significantly less .
But if you ’ re set on a large display , you can ’ t do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ price .
And you ’ ll be able to see a heck of a lot in split-screen view .
The Gigabyte Aero 15 is a colorful , powerful laptop for creative professionals .
This 15.6-inch workstation pairs a bright OLED screen with an eight-core i7-10875H processor and Nvidia ’ s cutting-edge GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q GPU .
It also comes with a laundry list of ports , including a full SD-card slot , so you ’ ll be able to plug in all kinds of projectors , monitors , and other equipment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that it was able to run demanding games on their highest settings at acceptable frame rates , and export 4K video as fast as any other laptop we ’ ve tested .
This is an expensive machine , and if you just want to play games , it ’ s probably not worth spending so much money on an OLED screen .
But if you need the combination of the high resolution and the high-powered specs , the Aero 15 is for you .
If you ’ re looking for a laptop with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a tablet , you don ’ t have a ton of options .
You could go for Microsoft ’ s Surface Pro line or some of Lenovo ’ s smaller detachable , or you could set up an iPad or other large tablets with type covers .
But if you want a full high-end ultrabook that combines a GPU , a unique 3:2 aspect ratio , a standout keyboard and touchpad , and stellar battery life , the Surface Book 3 is really your only option .
The Book 3 is far from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But it ’ s the only laptop with its convertible form factor that ’ s competitive at the highest end of the ultrabook market in just about every category .
Microsoft also sells a 15-inch version of the Surface Book 3 , which you can configure with a much more powerful GPU .
We don ’ t recommend this model over other 15-inch laptops at the moment , because we experienced significant glitches with the screen ’ s detaching mechanism during our testing , the price is significantly higher than other , better-specced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is much less practical to use as a tablet .
You can configure the XPS 15 with up to an eight-core Core i9 processor , Nvidia ’ s GTX 1650 graphics , and a 4K OLED screen .
Those specs are overkill for most people , but they ’ re ideal for anyone who needs to edit video or do other heavy creative work with Adobe Premiere .
We recommend that anyone who ’ s just browsing and streaming go for the 1080p screen and a Core i7 , which will save you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We also experienced some thermal throttling and heat management issues with the i9 unit . )
The XPS 15 isn ’ t a serious gaming rig , but the GTX 1650 can handle a reasonable gaming load .
We were able to run Shadow of the Tomb Raider and The Witcher 3 at medium settings in 1080p .
If you ’ re looking for a large , attractive Windows laptop that packs serious power , this is the one for you .
Microsoft ’ s Surface Line includes a number of innovative , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The 13.5-inch Surface Laptop 3 is its most “ traditional ” option , and it ’ s the best one for most people .
It features an outstanding keyboard and touchpad as well as a sturdy and attractive chassis that ’ s fairly portable at just 2.89 pounds .
And it packs great everyday performance , with enough horsepower to handle Lightroom and Photoshop , and even graphic-intensive tasks in Premiere Pro .
The biggest issue it has is the ports that are available : there ’ s just one USB-C and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thunderbolt 3 .
While the Surface Laptop 3 isn ’ t a budget product , it ’ s an all-around excellent device that still won ’ t break the bank for most shoppers — especially if you can find it on sale .
You don ’ t need to break the bank to get a solid Windows laptop .
There ’ s no better proof of that than the Lenovo Yoga C740 , which is an all-around solid , reliable device for less than $ 800 .
There ’ s nothing particularly exceptional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there also aren ’ t any significant flaws ; you ’ ll get adequate performance , a sturdy convertible chassis , good audio , competent cooling , and decent battery life .
In all of these categories , the C740 is one of the best value laptops on the market .
It ’ s a reliable , low-risk option for students , office users , or someone who doesn ’ t want to pay an arm and a leg .

We test a wide variety of laptops each year here at The Verge, and many of them are very good. But you can’t buy them all. So to help with your purchasing decisions I’ve done the very difficult (very difficult, trust me) task here of selecting 15 of the most exceptional devices out there for this Best Laptop of 2023 page. Whether you’re looking for a Chromebook, a gaming laptop, a 2-in-1 convertible, an ultralight notebook, or something that’s a little bit of each, I’ve got multiple options for you here. These aren’t necessarily the best laptops of all time, but they are, in my opinion, the best laptops you can buy right now.
My current pick for the best laptop of 2023 is the MacBook Air. It’s a device that does just about everything right. While it’s certainly not perfect, there are no major flaws. It’s a great pick for productivity, browsing, and even light gaming.
It's getting harder to buy a bad laptop, but what separates the best laptops from good laptops is how they balance power, efficiency, portability, and comfort. The top laptop should have a fantastic keyboard and trackpad — after all, those are the two biggest reasons you'd choose a laptop over a smartphone or tablet. Its display should be easy on the eyes, bright, and sharp enough that you aren't distracted by jagged edges and visible pixels. It should be powerful enough for most anything short of intensive video editing and advanced gaming. It should be easy to carry around from place to place, and it should be able to last all day without needing to be plugged in.
Our other picks for the best laptops, Chromebooks, and 2-in-1s include the the MacBook Pro 16 and the HP Spectre x360 14. Check out the full list of best laptop picks below or our roundup of the best gaming laptops, if you’re looking for a powerful machine that doesn’t sacrifice portability.
What we’re looking for Value: Price is a very important factor in evaluating devices for this page. We’re seeking laptops that offer great value for their asking price, and that are the best of the best compared to other laptops in their price category. The more expensive a device, the more exceptional it has to be to make it on here. Performance: We want laptops with enough power to accommodate their target audience. An ultraportable laptop should be able to handle a standard office workload without excessive heat or fan noise. A gaming laptop should run today’s popular games. Screen: We like displays that are color-accurate and bright. Design: We’re looking for laptops with a solid, durable build that can handle a standard amount of briefcase wear-and-tear. Battery life: Battery life is much more important in some categories than it is in others. That said, in general, we assume that most shoppers are choosing a laptop over a desktop because they value some ability to work away from a plug. Battery life gives a user more freedom and makes a device more reliable for travel, so we consider it here. Port selection: The more ports, the better. We try to keep our picks as current as possible, but we may include an older device over its newer generation if we feel that the newer generation is a significant downgrade. We rarely recommend devices that are more than two years old.
1. Apple MacBook Air (M2)
The best laptop of 2023
MacBook Air with M2 (2022) $ 949 $ 1199 21 % off $ 949 $ 949 $ 1199 21 % off The redesigned MacBook Air is a thin, lightweight device powered by Apple’s latest chip. The M2 model also touts a 1080p webcam and a better display than its predecessor, while retaining features like long battery life and MagSafe charging. $1099 at Apple$949 at Best Buy
CPU: M2 / GPU: M2/ RAM: 8GB, 16GB, 24GB / Storage: 512GB, 1TB, 2TB / Display: 13.6-inch IPS display, 2560 x 1664, 60Hz, no touch option / Dimensions: 11.97 x 8.46 x 0.44 inches / Weight: 2.7 pounds
The latest MacBook Air, powered by Apple’s M2 processor, is the best laptop for most people.
The base model, which includes 8GB of memory, 256GB of storage, an 8-core CPU, and an 8-core GPU, starts at $1,199. A model with 512GB of storage, which is what we recommend for most people and will let you keep using the laptop for longer, costs $1,399.
The Air has lost the wedge-shape design that was its calling card for years but retains many of the other excellent features of years past, including MagSafe charging, Touch ID, and the scissor-switch keyboard, and adds a new 1080p webcam and two new color options.
The Apple MacBook Air is the best laptop of 2023. Photo by Becca Farsace / The Verge
The M2 processor inside isn’t as fast or powerful as the M1 Pro or M1 Max you get in the larger (and more expensive) MacBook Pro models, but it’s still mighty fast. In our testing, it was able to handle intense office workloads with little to no heat or slowdown. Given how thin and light this device is, it delivers a combination of power and portability that you’ll be hard-pressed to find in many other machines out there.
The M2 Air didn’t give us quite as much battery life as the 16-inch M1 Pro MacBook did in our rundown testing, but we would still expect it to last most people a full day of continuous use.
Apple is continuing to sell the M1 MacBook Air, which was released in 2020. If the M2 MacBook Air is out of your price range, we recommend that you consider the M1 model.
Read our MacBook Air review.
2. MacBook Pro (14-inch and 16-inch)
The best Macbook for creators
CPU: M1 Pro, M1 Max / GPU: M1 Pro, M1 Max / RAM: 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, 96GB/ Storage: 512GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, 8TB / Display: 14.2/16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR, 3024 x 1964/3456 x 2234, adaptive refresh up to 120Hz, no touch option / Dimensions: 12.31 x 8.71 x 0.61/14.01 x 9.77 x 0.66 inches / Weight: 3.5/4.7 pounds (M2 Pro), 3.6/4.8 pounds (M2 Max)
It may be confusing to see both the 2021 MacBook Pro models (with the M1 Pro and M1 Max chips) and the 2023 MacBook Pro models (with the M2 Pro and M2 Max chips) on this list. The 2023 models are more powerful devices — but because of their high price, they’re also more niche devices, and we recommend them mostly to professionals who need every ounce of power. We see the 2021 models, which can now be found at much lower prices, as better purchases for a more mainstream audience. That’s why they’re higher on this list.
In our benchmarks, which test a variety of creative tasks including encoding, playback, and export time, the MacBook Pro 16 did better than any laptop we’ve ever used — the only other machines that have come close to matching this thing in some of our benchmarks are high-end desktop PCs. The battery life is also record-shattering. The 16-inch configuration with the M1 Pro processor lasted 16 hours in my testing — making it the longest-lasting laptop we’ve ever reviewed. (The M1 Max configuration doesn’t last quite as long, but still got us through a work day.)
Elsewhere, we have basically no complaints about the 2021 MacBook Pro. It has a gorgeous display that can reach 1,000 nits when playing HDR content. It pairs that with the best set of speakers we’ve ever heard from a laptop. And these Pro models can output to multiple external displays, while the Air is limited to one.
If you’re looking for a machine that can accommodate a demanding workload while also serving as an excellent multimedia device when you’re off the clock, you’ll likely be satisfied with what the M1 Pro and M1 Max can do.
If you’re a creative professional who doesn’t quite want to pay the price of the MacBook Pro 16, or you’re looking for something more compact, you’re probably better suited to the 14-inch MacBook Pro. This device is smaller, lighter, and less expensive than its 16-inch counterpart, but it comes with the same monstrous processor options and the same stellar screen.
We didn’t see much of a difference in benchmark scores between the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBooks with the same processors — the 14-incher actually outperformed the 16-inchers in some of our tests. The primary difference to consider, apart from the sizes of these devices, is battery life. The 16-inch chassis allows for a significantly bigger battery, and the 16-inch M1 Pro model lasted several hours longer than the 14-inch M1 Pro model did in our testing.
Read our MacBook Pro 14 and 16 review.
3. Asus Zenbook Pro Duo 14
The best dual-screen laptop
CPU: Intel Core i9-13900H / GPU: Nvidia Geforce RTX 4050, RTX 4060 / RAM: 32GB / Storage: 512GB, 1TB, 2TB / Display: 14.5-inch OLED, 2880 x 1800, 120Hz + 12.7-inch IPS, 2880 x 864, 60Hz, touch option / Dimensions: 12.74 x 8.85 x 0.7 inches/ Weight: 3.86 pounds
Finally, there is a dual-screen laptop we can actually recommend buying. In the past, the dual-screen form factor has felt gimmicky, difficult to see, and difficult to use. But in the Zenbook Duo 14, Asus has angled the screen significantly higher than before, made it higher resolution, and given it an anti-glare etching that’s made it actually useful.
The Asus Zenbook Pro Duo 14 OLED has not one, but two high-resolution screens. Photo by Monica Chin / The Verge
Using Asus’s ScreenXpert software, Zenbook Pro Duo users essentially have a small, crisp secondary OLED monitor on their keyboard deck. This second screen can also be turned into a giant touchpad (which is helpful since the actual touchpad the device comes with is pretty tiny. The device also comes with high-performance chips from Intel and Nvidia, and a roomy 16:10 primary screen. While the keyboard-in-the-front layout won’t be for everyone, this innovative device is the best choice for shoppers who want multiple screens in one.
Read our Asus Zenbook Pro 14 Duo OLED review.
4. Asus ROG Zephyrus G14
The best gaming laptop
Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 $ 1900 The ROG Zephyrus G14 is an astonishingly powerful gaming laptop. Its AMD Ryzen 9 processor and GeForce RTX 3060 can push powerful, smooth graphics performance in games with its QHD display while also being surprisingly efficient for other tasks. $1900 at Best Buy
CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS / GPU: AMD Radeon RX 6700S / RAM: 8GB / Storage: 1TB / Display: 14-inch IPS, 2560 x 1600, 120Hz, no touch option / Dimensions: 12.28 x 8.94 x 0.73/ Weight: 3.64 pounds
You want to be careful with this one, because some of the models are too expensive for what they offer. Make sure that you’re buying the $1,649.99 SKU with the 6700S GPU. We feel that this model, specifically, is the best 14-inch gaming laptop you can buy. It’s a perfectly portable device at just 3.79 pounds and 0.77 inches thick, and it comes with a great keyboard, touchpad, port selection, and screen. The frame rates it produced in our testing were solid, and we didn’t see a huge difference in performance between the 6700S and 6800S models. And we got all-day battery life, which you don’t see in gaming laptops every day.
The Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 is the lightweight gaming laptop to buy. Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge
If you are interested in having an animated grid of colored lights on your computer, you can also pay more for a model that has Asus’s AniMe Matrix. We don’t think these models offer particularly good value for their price, but they do have some cute benefits – you can customize them to display words or images of your choice, and there’s a virtual pet on it that you can play with.
Read our Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 review.
5. Asus Chromebook Flip CX5
The best Chromebook
CPU: Intel Core i5-1135G7 / GPU: Intel Iris Xe / RAM: 16GB / Storage: 128GB / Display: 15.6-inch IPS, 1920 x 1080, 60Hz / Dimensions: 14.08 x 9.48 x 0.73/ Weight: 4.3 pounds
Asus surprised us with its Chromebook Flip CX5, a gorgeous $800 laptop that happens to run Chrome OS. It’s as sturdy and well-built as all kinds of Windows laptops at higher price points, and sports a unique smooth texture. It includes fully-fledged laptop specs, including a 57Wh battery, which provide speedy performance, long battery life, and quick charging.
The Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 is a massive, powerful Chromebook. Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales
You get all kinds of ports, including an HDMI and a microSD slot. The speakers sound great, and the keyboard is comfortable. Asus hasn’t skimped on CX5’s chassis or its performance — it’s absolutely the product to buy if you’re looking for a Chromebook with a big screen.
Read our Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 review.
6. MacBook Pro 16 (M2 Pro and M2 Max)
Best video editing laptop
CPU: M2 Pro, M2 Max / GPU: M2 Pro, M2 Max / RAM: 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, 96GB / Storage: 512GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, 8TB / Display: 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR, 3456 x 2234, adaptive refresh up to 120Hz, no touch option / Dimensions: 14.01 x 9.77 x 0.66 inches / Weight: 4.7 pounds (M2 Pro), 4.8 pounds (M2 Max)
If you’re a professional with a heavy workload looking for the best in power, graphics, and battery life that Apple has to offer, you want the 16-inch MacBook Pro with Apple’s brand-new M2 Pro or M2 Max. It won’t come cheap – models start at $2,499 – but it is one of the most powerful and longest-lasting laptops you can buy. To reiterate, we believe that most creators should go for a discounted M1 Pro or M1 Max laptop over this one — the newest M2 Pro and M2 Max are best for the most deep-pocketed of power users.
The 2023 MacBook Pro looks very similar to the 2021 MacBook Pro, with the same camera notch, the same port selection (including MagSafe charging), and the same exceptional speaker system.
The 16-inch MacBook Pro is a good option for power users. Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge
In testing, we’ve found that the M2 Max provides several additional hours of battery life over the M1 Max that powered the 2021 MacBook Pro 16. The M2 Max also has more multicore and single-core CPU power, and a lot more graphic power, than the M1 Max did. That won’t make a difference for standard home and office tasks, but can save you some time if your occupation requires a really powerful PC.
For more guidance on which M2 MacBook to buy, we’ve got a video breaking down the M2 lineup.
Read our MacBook Pro 16 review.
7. MacBook Air 15
The best 15-inch laptop
CPU: M2 / GPU: M2 / RAM: 16GB, 16GB, 24GB / Storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB / Display: 15.3-inch IPS display, 2880 x 1864, 60Hz no touch option / Dimensions: 13.4 x 9.35 x 0.45 inches / Weight: 3.3 pounds
The MacBook Pro 15 is the 15-inch laptop that a lot of people have been waiting for. It’s got a large, gorgeous screen, but it’s much lighter and less expensive than the 16-inch MacBook Pro models that are currently available. It has the same M2 chip that powers the 13-inch MacBook Air further up this list, but its larger chassis allows for a bit of extra cooling (and therefore, slightly more performance). For those who like the portability of the 13-inch MacBook Air but want more screen space to work with, the Air 15 is the option.
The MacBook Air 16 is a lightweight, big-screen laptop. Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge
The 15-inch Air does have a few compromises that the 14-inch and 16-inch Pro don’t. Most importantly, its port selection is limited to two USB-C Thunderbolt, one MagSafe, and one headphone jack, and all but the headphone jack are crammed onto the left side. It also only supports one external display, which is a frustrating limitation for some. Nevertheless, as a more affordable and portable option than Apple’s other big-screen offerings, the Air will still be the best choice for a lot of people.
Read our MacBook Air 15 review.
8. Framework Laptop
A repairable laptop for DIYers
Framework Laptop 13 $ 849 The Framework Laptop 13 is the best laptop for those who want full control of their experience. Everything from the processor and RAM to the keyboard and bezels is user-upgradeable. $849 at Framework
CPU: Intel Core i5-1340P/i7-1360P/17-1370P, AMD Ryzen 7 7840U / GPU: Intel UHD/Iris Xe, Radeon 700M / RAM: 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, 64GB / Storage: 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB / Display: 13.5 inch IPS, 2256 x 1540, 60Hz, no touch option / Dimensions: 11.68 x 9.01 x 0.62 inches / Weight: 2.87 pounds
If you want a 13-inch laptop that you can configure and assemble yourself, from the ground up, the Framework Laptop 13 is pretty much your only option. The Framework is a modular laptop that users can repair and upgrade over the length of their ownership. Everything from the RAM, to the storage, to even the processor can be upgraded down the line. The company has even come out with upgrades for parts like speakers and hinges that you can install yourself. Not only can you buy it as a prebuilt system, but you can also order it as a DIY kit, allowing you to assemble the entire thing yourself and swap out parts as you please.
Repairability aside, the Framework has a number of laudable features as a laptop itself. The display is bright and high-resolution, the speakers are great, and the chassis is quite portable, coming in at under three pounds. The 3:2 aspect ratio provides a lot of room to work, and still a somewhat rare find on today’s market.
The Framework Laptop 13 is one of very few 13-inch laptops with this degree of repairability. Photo by Monica Chin / The Verge
That said, I won’t pretend that this is the best 13-inch laptop you can buy; on its own merits, it is an unremarkable system with a somewhat generic look and plasticky build, particularly compared to others in its price category. Nevertheless, the Framework’s standout feature is the unprecedented access it allows its users to replace and repair its parts. We’d love to see more companies make that kind of commitment to sustainable design.
Read our Framework Laptop 13 review.
9. Dell XPS 13
The best Windows laptop
Dell XPS 13 $ 999 Dell’s XPS 13 is the ultimate execution on the traditional thin-and-light clamshell laptop design. It’s sleek and compact, has a great keyboard and trackpad, and has excellent performance. $999 at Dell
CPU: Intel Core i7-1250U / GPU: Intel Iris Xe / RAM: 8GB, 16GB, 32GB / Storage: 512GB, 1TB / Display: 13.4 inch IPS, 1920 x 1200, 60Hz, touch option / Dimensions: 11.63 x 7.86 x 0.55 inches / Weight: 2.59 pounds
The Dell XPS 13 is a compact and reliable laptop. Its beautiful chassis, excellent 16:10 display, and great performance make it an excellent choice for general-purpose users. At well under three pounds and just over half an inch thick, it’s a dream for travel and on-the-go work.
The specs of our test unit (a Core i5 configuration) were just fine for the work tasks I needed to do. I do recommend using the Silent cooling profile if you don’t need heavyweight performance, as the fans get going very easily on this model.
The Dell XPS 13 is one of the best laptops of 2023. Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge
There is also a fancier Dell XPS 13 Plus available for purchase, which includes all kinds of new features the XPS 13 doesn’t have including an OLED display option, borderless haptic touchpad, and LED touch function keys, as well as a more powerful P-series processor. I don’t recommend that model over this one for most people, but it’s worth looking into if you want something a bit funkier with a higher-resolution screen.
Read our Dell XPS 13 review.
10. Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED
The best OLED laptop
CPU: Intel Core i7-1355U / GPU: Intel Iris Xe / RAM: 32GB / Storage: 1TB / Display: 13.3-inch OLED, 2880 x 1800, 60Hz, no touch option / Dimensions: 11.66 x 8.52 x 0.43 inches / Weight: 2.2 pounds
If your top priority is a lightweight laptop with an excellent screen, look no further than the Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED. Powered by Intel’s new 13th-Gen processors, it’s an astonishingly lightweight device with a neat, unique design. The lid doesn’t pick up fingerprints, which is a very rare thing to be able to say about dark laptops.
In addition to its compact build, the Zenbook S 13 has a solid port selection including HDMI 2.1, USB-A, and multiple Thunderbolt ports. The OLED display is sharp and roomy, and looks quite nice.
The Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED is the best laptop you can buy with a 13-inch OLED screen. Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge
The Intel processor in my test model did an excellent job with my multitasking workload. It can get loud while completing heavier tasks like gaming, but a built-in Whisper Mode will keep it quiet during everyday productivity work (which is the sort of workload this device is best suited for).
Read our Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED review.
11. Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3
The best laptop under $400
CPU: Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 / GPU: Qualcomm Adreno graphics/ RAM: 4Gb, 8GB / Storage: 128GB / Display: 10.95-inch IPS, 2000 x 1200, 60Hz, touch option / Dimensions: 10.16 x 6.48 x 0.31 inches / Weight: 1.14 pounds
The Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 is a great, tiny laptop for budget shoppers. It comes with a magnetic detachable keyboard that’s a breeze to pop on and off. The screen also supports USI styluses, though a stylus is not included in the price. The keyboard is included in the price, however, as is the magnetic back cover and kickstand.
The Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 is a great option for anyone shopping on a tight budget. Photo by Monica Chin / The Verge
Day-to-day, this laptop is quite usable for light work and leisure. It has a sharp, bright 11-inch screen and a surprisingly comfortable keyboard and touchpad. The battery life is close to all-day. But the real draw of this device is its portability — it’s just 2.09 pounds with the keyboard attached, making it quite convenient to carry around and whip out to use on the go.
Read our Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 review.
12. Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 (13.5-inch)
A lower-cost thin and light option
CPU: Intel Core i5 1235U, Core i7-1255U / GPU: Intel Iris Xe / RAM: 8GB, 16GB / Storage: 256GB, 512GB / Display: 13.5-inch IPS, 2256 x 1504, 60Hz, touch option / Dimensions: 12.1 x 8.8 x .57 inches / Weight: 2.8 pounds
The Surface Laptop 5 looks and feels quite similar to last year’s Surface Laptop 4. Like its predecessor, the Laptop 5 is thin, light, and well built, with Microsoft’s signature elegant style. Newly this year, the Laptop 5 supports Thunderbolt 4 — but unlike last year, there are only Intel models, with no AMD ones available.
The Surface Laptop 5 is a thin and light work machine. Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge
Inside, the 12th-Gen processors delivery satisfactory performance, particularly single-core tasks. We felt no heat or fan noise during our testing, which was remarkable considering the device’s thin profile. Our tasks looked quite sharp on the 3:2, 13-inch display as well. Our primary complaint was the battery life, which is okay, but not amazing, and a decrease from last year’s results.
Read our Surface Laptop 5 review.
13. Razer Blade 16
The best laptop for AAA gaming
CPU: Intel Core i9-13980HX, Core i9-13950HX / GPU: Nvidia Geforce RTX 4060, RTX 4070, RTX 4080, RTX 4090 / RAM: 16GB, 32GB / Storage: 1TB / Display: 16-inch Mini-LED, Dual UHD/FHD+, 120Hz/240Hz / Dimensions: 13.98 x 9.61 x 0.87 inches / Weight: 5.4 pounds
The Razer Blade 16 is an incredible purchase for gamers with very, very deep pockets. Equipped with top-end chips from Nvidia and Intel, it can run most of today’s’ most demanding games at their highest settings with all the effects you want. Add Razer’s signature suave chassis and fun (but unobtrusive) RGB keyboard, and there’s little to complain about.
But it’s not just the performance that stands out — games also look great. The Blade comes with an optional Mini LED screen. Not only does the panel deliver rich and vivid colors, but it also has a dual-mode feature that allows you to swap between native UDH Plus /120Hz and FHD Plus/240Hz modes with one click.
The Razer Blade 16 is the premium gaming laptop to buy. Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge
You don’t need to spend this much on a gaming laptop in order to get a good gaming experience, as some of the entries earlier on this list prove. But if you’re looking for the best performance and best display you can squeeze out of the 16-inch form factor, this is the choice for you. It’s a luxury gaming experience for a luxury price.
Read our Razer Blade 16 review.
14. HP Dragonfly Pro
The best business laptop
HP Elite Dragonfly Pro $ 1550 The HP Elite Dragonfly Pro is one of the best business laptops for freelancers and self-employed customers. It performs quite well and comes with extra service. $1550 at HP
CPU: Intel Core i5-1235U, AMD Ryzen 77736U / GPU: Intel Iris Xe, AMD Radeon/ RAM: 16GB, 32GB / Storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB / Display: 14-inch IPS, 1920 x 1200/2560 x 1600, 60Hz, touch option / Dimensions: 12.39 x 8.78 x 0.72 inches / Weight: 3.42 pounds
While part of HP’s Dragonfly business line, the Dragonfly Pro isn’t being sold to IT departments — it’s tailored to self-employed individuals and freelance workers. It’s powered by AMD’s Ryzen 7000 series, and its performance rivaled that of the M2 MacBook Pro in our testing. Battery life, while not quite M2-level, was enough to power through a full day unplugged. There’s little to object to among the other features as well. The speakers sound good, the webcam delivers a detailed picture, the keyboard is comfortable, and the screen is quite bright. In typical HP fashion, the chassis is quite well built with a sleek and professional look.
The HP Dragonfly Pro is the best business laptop you can buy. Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge
The Dragonfly Pro comes with an optional 24/7 live support service, which you can access via a hotkey on the right side of the keyboard. It’s included with the first year, and then it’s $10.99 per month. This isn’t something we think most people will need, but if you’re interested in having access to that sort of program, this is the laptop for you.
15. HP Spectre x360 13.5
The best convertible Windows laptop
CPU: Intel Core i5 1235U, Core i7 1255U, Core i7-1355U / GPU: Intel UHD, Iris Xe / RAM: 8GB, 16GB / Storage: 512GB, 1TB / Display: 13.5-inch IPS, 60Hz, 1920 x 1280/OLED, 3000 x 2000, touch option / Dimensions: 11.75 x 8.67 x 0.67 inches / Weight: 3.01 pounds
The HP Spectre x360 13.5 is a drop-dead gorgeous machine with a sturdy build and a premium look and feel. It’s got a roomy 3:2 OLED screen with adaptive refresh rate up to 120Hz that’s vivid, crisp, and bright. You also get a comfortable keyboard, clear and bass-heavy audio, and a practical port selection. (There are even ports on the corners.) HP ships it with a number of webcam features via its GlamCam package, which you can use to “glam” your video calling experience if that is of interest.
Performance (on the unit we received) was quite speedy, and was cool and quiet throughout much of our day-to-day testing. If you’re looking for a sleek and beautiful device, you should look no further than HP’s Spectre line.
The HP Spectre x360 13.5 is one of the best convertible laptops you can buy — but it has a few compromises to be aware of. Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge
This machine comes with a couple major caveats, however. First, the battery life is not great. We averaged between four and five hours of continuous use. That’s not necessarily unexpected given the screen’s high resolution and refresh rate, but it will still make the Spectre an impractical buy for some people. We’d expect many of the laptops that are higher on this list to last at least a couple hours longer to a charge.
The other thing to note is that this package doesn’t come cheap. Many customers will find better battery life and similar performance in any number of less expensive products. The Spectre is worth a splurge only if you really need a 2-in-1 convertible (a form factor that’s become much harder to find these days), if battery life isn’t a priority for you, and if you value beauty and craftsmanship above all else.
Read our HP Spectre x360 14 review.
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theverge--2020-05-27--Boeing resumes production of its troubled 737 Max airplane

Boeing said it would resume manufacturing the troubled 737 Max airplane after a nearly five-month hiatus .
The aerospace company said it would restart production “ at a low rate as it implements more than a dozen initiatives focused on enhancing workplace safety and product quality.
” The Boeing 737 Max has been grounded since March 2018 following two fatal crashes that killed a total of 346 passengers and crew members .
Boeing continued to manufacture the airplane , but in December 2019 , the company announced plans to halt production at its Renton , Washington manufacturing plant .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to return to passenger service .
Investigators have discovered numerous software glitches , apart from the MCAS flight control system that has been identified as the cause of the fatal crashes .
Boeing said that during the temporary suspension , the company ’ s mechanics and engineers worked together to “ standardize work packages ” and revamp the “ kitting process ” to ensure that employees have everything they need to build the airplane .
“ We ’ ve been on a continuous journey to evolve our production system and make it even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vice president and general manager of the 737 program , in a statement .
“ These initiatives are the next step in creating the optimal build environment for the 737 MAX.
” Boeing said last year that it doesn ’ t expect the 737 Max to fly again until at least “ mid-2020.
” Air travel is being upended by COVID-19 , with the major carriers having reduced service due to a drop-off in demand .
Boeing recently announced it would be laying off nearly 7,000 employees as the novel coronavirus continues to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ airplane manufacturer — the biggest exporter in the US — had already announced it would trim its workforce by around 10 percent .

Boeing said it would resume manufacturing the troubled 737 Max airplane after a nearly five-month hiatus. The aerospace company said it would restart production “at a low rate as it implements more than a dozen initiatives focused on enhancing workplace safety and product quality.”
The Boeing 737 Max has been grounded since March 2019 following two fatal crashes that killed a total of 346 passengers and crew members. Boeing continued to manufacture the airplane, but in December 2019, the company announced plans to halt production at its Renton, Washington manufacturing plant.
The FAA has yet to clear the airplane to return to passenger service. Investigators have discovered numerous software glitches, apart from the MCAS flight control system that has been identified as the cause of the fatal crashes.
Related The ancient computers in the Boeing 737 Max are holding up a fix
Boeing said that during the temporary suspension, the company’s mechanics and engineers worked together to “standardize work packages” and revamp the “kitting process” to ensure that employees have everything they need to build the airplane.
“We’ve been on a continuous journey to evolve our production system and make it even stronger,” said Walt Odisho, vice president and general manager of the 737 program, in a statement. “These initiatives are the next step in creating the optimal build environment for the 737 MAX.”
Boeing said last year that it doesn’t expect the 737 Max to fly again until at least “mid-2020.” Air travel is being upended by COVID-19, with the major carriers having reduced service due to a drop-off in demand.


theverge--2020-05-27--Social media bias lawsuits keep failing in court

Social media sites can legally ban users for nearly any reason .
They can ban users for off-color jokes .
They can ban users for being white supremacists .
They can ban users for totally arbitrary and inscrutable reasons .
If you sue over a Twitter or Facebook ban , you will almost certainly lose .
Despite this , people keep filing lawsuits claiming they ’ ve been censored on social media — and today , courts handed down another defeat .
An appeals court in Washington , DC just rejected a complaint by Laura Loomer , the conservative activist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tweets and later chained herself to the company ’ s headquarters in protest .
Loomer argued that Facebook , Google , Twitter , and Apple had all colluded to suppress conservative content , violating Loomer ’ s First Amendment rights in the process .
The court disagreed and threw out the suit .
Trump threatened to shut down sites that “ silence ” conservatives It ’ s convenient timing , given that President Donald Trump has spent the past day excoriating Twitter for its alleged bias .
Trump threatened Twitter after it applied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threatening some kind of unknown action to “ strongly regulate ” or close down sites that “ silence conservatives ’ voices.
” Anti-bias lawsuits — where people argue Twitter , Google , or Facebook are discriminating against them for political reasons and legally obligated to carry their speech — offer an illuminating look at why Trump ’ s boldest threats are probably bluster .
Courts across the country have repeatedly defended social networks ’ rights to ban at will .
If Trump wanted to shut down sites that went against his wishes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this precedent .
So let ’ s look at the cases .
Conservative blogger and activist Charles C. Johnson has been embroiled in multiple lawsuits , one of which accused Twitter of violating his free speech rights when it banned him in 2015 .
In mid-2018 , a California court granted Twitter ’ s request to dismiss the complaint , finding that the rights at stake were Twitter ’ s , not Johnson ’ s .
“ It is well established that the constitutional right to free speech includes the right not to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Twitter ’ s rules “ clearly state that users may not post threatening tweets , and also that [ Twitter ] may unilaterally , for any reason , terminate a user ’ s account .
The rules reflect [ Twitter ’ s ] exercise of free speech.
” Fringe far-right figure Jared Taylor , a white nationalist , sued Twitter for banning him in 2018 — claiming he ’ d been discriminated against because of his racist viewpoints .
California judge Harold Kahn gave Taylor a surprising legal win when he allowed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ classic public interest lawsuit.
” But Taylor ’ s luck didn ’ t last .
As legal expert Eric Goldman discusses here , a California appeals court said the exact logic of Taylor ’ s suit didn ’ t matter .
Twitter ’ s moderation choices were protected under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act .
“ Revenge porn mogul ” Craig Brittain , who ran for an Arizona Senate seat in 2018 , was also angry at Twitter for banning him .
Brittain hit Twitter with a laundry list of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violations to infliction of emotional distress .
A California court found that Brittain ’ s claims hinged on treating Twitter as a publisher of his content and Section 230 clearly contradicted these claims .
One unusual political lawsuit came from the Federal Agency of News ( FAN ) , which was allegedly tied to the Russian Internet Research Agency “ troll farm.
” Facebook removed FAN ’ s page along with a lot of other propaganda in 2016 .
FAN then sued Facebook for First Amendment violations and breach of contract .
Judge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2019 and again in early 2020 , following much of the reasoning described above .
Although , as Goldman ’ s blog details , FAN had some particularly weird misconceptions about internet law , including the idea that Section 230 had an exception for political speech .
For the record , it doesn ’ t .
Conservative advocacy group Prager University filed one of the best-known bias suits against Google in 2017 , alleging that YouTube had unfairly restricted access to some of its videos .
Like Loomer , PragerU accused Google @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other claims , it also said Google had violated the Lanham Act with false advertising .
Neither of these arguments worked .
California federal judge Lucy Koh dismissed the case in 2018 , saying Google and YouTube were “ private entities who created their own video-sharing social media website and make decisions about whether and how to regulate content that has been uploaded on that website , ” not federal agencies or companies that functioned as an official arm of the government .
An appeals court upheld the dismissal in February of this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claim “ faces a formidable threshold hurdle : YouTube is a private entity .
The Free Speech Clause of the First Amendment prohibits the government — not a private party — from abridging speech.
” At least one major Democratic politician has filed an anti-bias suit as well .
Presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard sued Google in 2019 after the company briefly suspended her ad account , alleging the company was trying to undercut her bid for the party ’ s nomination .
This suit got a blisteringly snarky dismissal in March .
California @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Google is not now , nor ( to the Court ’ s knowledge ) has it ever been , an arm of the United States government.
” He cited the case against PragerU as legal precedent , concluding again that private web platforms aren ’ t held to the same standards as governments .
In one very recent case , Twitter user Robert Wilson claimed he was banned for “ freedom of speech and or heterosexual expressions ” and sued for civil rights and First Amendment violations .
As expected , this didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ court ruled against this argument just a few weeks ago , saying Twitter was clearly a private forum .
“ That private social media companies now host platforms which imitate the functions of public forums — in many respects more effectively than the traditional public forums of government-owned sidewalks , streets , and public parks — does not mean that the entities are state-actors , ” read the ruling .
Laura Loomer made one of the most complicated cases against Silicon Valley .
She sued alongside conservative legal group Freedom Watch in 2018 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world ’ s biggest companies had violated antitrust law by conspiring to suppress conservative content on their platforms , as well as violated the First Amendment by acting as “ quasi-state actors.
” The companies failed to get the suit thrown out immediately , with the DC Circuit Court of Appeals saying the claims weren ’ t clear enough to dismiss out of hand .
But today , the actual ruling was squarely against Loomer .
“ The Plaintiffs raise non-trivial concerns , ” the court concluded .
But they “ failed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them — including evidence that a conspiracy existed or that private websites were public spaces that operated like a government .
... and many more .
People have been suing internet platforms for banning them since long before Trump took office ; back in 2009 , for instance , a PlayStation Network user sued on the grounds that Sony had created a “ company town.
” ( The user lost . )
Courts have overwhelmingly concluded that social media networks can ban , limit , or otherwise suppress users ’ posts .
Conversely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strict rules about blocking users .
Last year , a court required Trump to unblock Twitter accounts that had criticized him , determining that his Twitter account specifically — not the site as a whole — constituted a public space protected by the First Amendment .
Other public officials have lost similar lawsuits from constituents .
Why do these suits keep getting filed ?
Some look like publicity stunts : activists and politicians can raise their profile by going after a big company like Google or Twitter , even if they ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come from private citizens who seem genuinely confused about the law — a situation exacerbated by politicians pushing misinformation about sites ’ legal risks .
And other people look for novel arguments that might get past a judge , hitting companies with a scattershot barrage of claims .
But if Trump wants Twitter legally barred from labeling his tweets or banning his supporters ’ accounts — which is what his tweets imply — he ’ ll be changing a widely acknowledged legal standard .

Social media sites can legally ban users for nearly any reason. They can ban users for off-color jokes. They can ban users for being white supremacists. They can ban users for totally arbitrary and inscrutable reasons. If you sue over a Twitter or Facebook ban, you will almost certainly lose. Despite this, people keep filing lawsuits claiming they’ve been censored on social media — and today, courts handed down another defeat.
An appeals court in Washington, DC just rejected a complaint by Laura Loomer, the conservative activist who was banned from Twitter for anti-Muslim tweets and later chained herself to the company’s headquarters in protest. Loomer argued that Facebook, Google, Twitter, and Apple had all colluded to suppress conservative content, violating Loomer’s First Amendment rights in the process. The court disagreed and threw out the suit.
Trump threatened to shut down sites that “silence” conservatives
It’s convenient timing, given that President Donald Trump has spent the past day excoriating Twitter for its alleged bias. Trump threatened Twitter after it applied a fact-checking label to his tweets, threatening some kind of unknown action to “strongly regulate” or close down sites that “silence conservatives’ voices.”
Anti-bias lawsuits — where people argue Twitter, Google, or Facebook are discriminating against them for political reasons and legally obligated to carry their speech — offer an illuminating look at why Trump’s boldest threats are probably bluster. Courts across the country have repeatedly defended social networks’ rights to ban at will. If Trump wanted to shut down sites that went against his wishes, he’d need to basically upend this precedent.
So let’s look at the cases.
Charles C. Johnson v. Twitter
Conservative blogger and activist Charles C. Johnson has been embroiled in multiple lawsuits, one of which accused Twitter of violating his free speech rights when it banned him in 2015. In mid-2018, a California court granted Twitter’s request to dismiss the complaint, finding that the rights at stake were Twitter’s, not Johnson’s. “It is well established that the constitutional right to free speech includes the right not to speak,” read its ruling. Twitter’s rules “clearly state that users may not post threatening tweets, and also that [Twitter] may unilaterally, for any reason, terminate a user’s account. The rules reflect [Twitter’s] exercise of free speech.”
Jared Taylor v. Twitter
Fringe far-right figure Jared Taylor, a white nationalist, sued Twitter for banning him in 2018 — claiming he’d been discriminated against because of his racist viewpoints. California judge Harold Kahn gave Taylor a surprising legal win when he allowed the case to proceed, calling it a “classic public interest lawsuit.” But Taylor’s luck didn’t last. As legal expert Eric Goldman discusses here, a California appeals court said the exact logic of Taylor’s suit didn’t matter. Twitter’s moderation choices were protected under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.
Craig Brittain v. Twitter
“Revenge porn mogul” Craig Brittain, who ran for an Arizona Senate seat in 2018, was also angry at Twitter for banning him. Brittain hit Twitter with a laundry list of claims, alleging everything from First Amendment violations to infliction of emotional distress. A California court found that Brittain’s claims hinged on treating Twitter as a publisher of his content and Section 230 clearly contradicted these claims.
Federal Agency of News v. Facebook
One unusual political lawsuit came from the Federal Agency of News (FAN), which was allegedly tied to the Russian Internet Research Agency “troll farm.” Facebook removed FAN’s page along with a lot of other propaganda in 2016. FAN then sued Facebook for First Amendment violations and breach of contract. Judge Lucy Koh slapped down the case once in 2019 and again in early 2020, following much of the reasoning described above. Although, as Goldman’s blog details, FAN had some particularly weird misconceptions about internet law, including the idea that Section 230 had an exception for political speech. For the record, it doesn’t.
Prager University v. Google
Conservative advocacy group Prager University filed one of the best-known bias suits against Google in 2017, alleging that YouTube had unfairly restricted access to some of its videos. Like Loomer, PragerU accused Google of violating the First Amendment. Among other claims, it also said Google had violated the Lanham Act with false advertising.
Neither of these arguments worked. California federal judge Lucy Koh dismissed the case in 2018, saying Google and YouTube were “private entities who created their own video-sharing social media website and make decisions about whether and how to regulate content that has been uploaded on that website,” not federal agencies or companies that functioned as an official arm of the government.
An appeals court upheld the dismissal in February of this year, saying PragerU’s censorship claim “faces a formidable threshold hurdle: YouTube is a private entity. The Free Speech Clause of the First Amendment prohibits the government — not a private party — from abridging speech.”
Tulsi Gabbard v. Google
At least one major Democratic politician has filed an anti-bias suit as well. Presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard sued Google in 2019 after the company briefly suspended her ad account, alleging the company was trying to undercut her bid for the party’s nomination.
This suit got a blisteringly snarky dismissal in March. California district Judge Stephen Wilson noted that “Google is not now, nor (to the Court’s knowledge) has it ever been, an arm of the United States government.” He cited the case against PragerU as legal precedent, concluding again that private web platforms aren’t held to the same standards as governments.
Robert Wilson v. Twitter
In one very recent case, Twitter user Robert Wilson claimed he was banned for “freedom of speech and or heterosexual expressions” and sued for civil rights and First Amendment violations. As expected, this didn’t fly. A West Virginia court ruled against this argument just a few weeks ago, saying Twitter was clearly a private forum. “That private social media companies now host platforms which imitate the functions of public forums — in many respects more effectively than the traditional public forums of government-owned sidewalks, streets, and public parks — does not mean that the entities are state-actors,” read the ruling.
Laura Loomer v. Google, Facebook, Twitter, and Apple
Laura Loomer made one of the most complicated cases against Silicon Valley. She sued alongside conservative legal group Freedom Watch in 2018, claiming that four of the tech world’s biggest companies had violated antitrust law by conspiring to suppress conservative content on their platforms, as well as violated the First Amendment by acting as “quasi-state actors.”
The companies failed to get the suit thrown out immediately, with the DC Circuit Court of Appeals saying the claims weren’t clear enough to dismiss out of hand. But today, the actual ruling was squarely against Loomer. “The Plaintiffs raise non-trivial concerns,” the court concluded. But they “failed to state viable legal claims” to support them — including evidence that a conspiracy existed or that private websites were public spaces that operated like a government.
...and many more.
People have been suing internet platforms for banning them since long before Trump took office; back in 2009, for instance, a PlayStation Network user sued on the grounds that Sony had created a “company town.” (The user lost.) Courts have overwhelmingly concluded that social media networks can ban, limit, or otherwise suppress users’ posts.
Conversely, government figures like Trump actually face strict rules about blocking users. Last year, a court required Trump to unblock Twitter accounts that had criticized him, determining that his Twitter account specifically — not the site as a whole — constituted a public space protected by the First Amendment. Other public officials have lost similar lawsuits from constituents.
Why do these suits keep getting filed? Some look like publicity stunts: activists and politicians can raise their profile by going after a big company like Google or Twitter, even if they’re unlikely to win. Some low-profile cases come from private citizens who seem genuinely confused about the law — a situation exacerbated by politicians pushing misinformation about sites’ legal risks. And other people look for novel arguments that might get past a judge, hitting companies with a scattershot barrage of claims.


theverge--2020-05-27--Watch nearly 24 minutes of new gameplay from The Last of Us Part II

Sony and Naughty Dog showed off nearly 24 minutes of new footage for the highly anticipated The Last of Us Part II in a State of Play video today .
The Last of Us Part II seems to share a lot of similarities with the first game — you ’ ll still be spending a lot of time crawling behind cover to hide from people or the zombie-like Infected .
But today ’ s video showed off some new features , including swinging on a rope to cross a chasm , riding a boat through a flooded area , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ upgrades to your weapons ) .
The video also showed Ellie swimming — something the character didn ’ t know how to do ( and was actively scared of ) in the first game .
The video also shed some light on The Last of Us Part II ’ s story and where you ’ ll go while playing through it .
The game takes place many years after The Last of Us — Ellie is 19 now — and over the course of the game , you ’ ll explore a number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off one area , Seattle , where you ’ ll have to be on your guard against two warring factions in addition to the Infected .
The Infected look as scary as ever , and you ’ ll have to watch out for new types of creatures in The Last of Us Part II .
One is a gross , pustule-covered creature called a Shambler that expels a spore cloud when it ’ s near you that can burn you if you ’ re caught in its wake .
Today ’ s footage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s official story trailer on May 6th , which hinted at a dark and difficult journey for Ellie .
Joel has appeared in some prerelease footage , but it ’ s unclear if you ’ ll play as him .
The Last of Us Part II will finally be out for the PlayStation 4 on June 19th , after numerous delays .

Sony and Naughty Dog showed off nearly 24 minutes of new footage for the highly anticipated The Last of Us Part II in a State of Play video today.
The Last of Us Part II seems to share a lot of similarities with the first game — you’ll still be spending a lot of time crawling behind cover to hide from people or the zombie-like Infected. But today’s video showed off some new features, including swinging on a rope to cross a chasm, riding a boat through a flooded area, and some improvements to crafting (including visual upgrades to your weapons). The video also showed Ellie swimming — something the character didn’t know how to do (and was actively scared of) in the first game.
Image: Sony
The video also shed some light on The Last of Us Part II’s story and where you’ll go while playing through it. The game takes place many years after The Last of Us — Ellie is 19 now — and over the course of the game, you’ll explore a number of new locales. The video showed off one area, Seattle, where you’ll have to be on your guard against two warring factions in addition to the Infected.
The Infected look as scary as ever, and you’ll have to watch out for new types of creatures in The Last of Us Part II. One is a gross, pustule-covered creature called a Shambler that expels a spore cloud when it’s near you that can burn you if you’re caught in its wake.
Today’s footage follows the release of the game’s official story trailer on May 6th, which hinted at a dark and difficult journey for Ellie. Joel has appeared in some prerelease footage, but it’s unclear if you’ll play as him.