theverge--2020-10-25--Facebook reportedly bracing for US election chaos with tools designed for “at-risk” countries

Facebook is planning for possible chaos around the November 3rd US presidential election with internal tools it ’ s used before in countries like Sri Lanka and Myanmar , The Wall Street Journal reported .
The plans may include slowing the spread of posts as they begin to go viral , altering the news feed algorithm to change what content users see , and changing the rules for what kind of content is dangerous and warrants removal .
They ’ re strategies Facebook has previously used in so-called “ at-risk ” countries dealing with mass ethnic unrest or political bloodshed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the event of election-related violence or other serious circumstances , according to the WSJ , but some employees at the company said they were concerned that attempting to slow down viral content could unintentionally hide legitimate political discussions .
Facebook ’ s handling of violent hate speech against Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar several years ago was widely criticized .
After a 2018 independent assessment of the situation , the social media giant conceded it wasn ’ t “ doing enough to help prevent our platform from being used to foment division and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we can and should do more.
” It pledged to better prepare for future risks .
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in a September blog post that the US presidential election “ is not going to be business as usual.
” He said he was “ worried that with our nation so divided and election results potentially taking days or weeks to be finalized , there could be an increased risk of civil unrest across the country.
” Platforms are bracing for pre-and post-election uncertainty in the US , after President Trump has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people are using this election cycle due to the coronavirus pandemic .
He ’ s also declined to say whether he would accept the election results if he loses .
Facebook said last month that it would not accept new political ads a week before the US election ( but those that had already been approved will continue running ) .
It also added a “ voter information center ” at the top of Facebook and Instagram feeds , and plans to provide live , official election results when available via a partnership @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will label any posts declaring premature victory , and will remove posts with misinformation about COVID-19 and voting .
And it plans to ban all US political ads indefinitely after the November 3rd election .

Facebook is planning for possible chaos around the November 3rd US presidential election with internal tools it’s used before in countries like Sri Lanka and Myanmar, The Wall Street Journal reported.
The plans may include slowing the spread of posts as they begin to go viral, altering the news feed algorithm to change what content users see, and changing the rules for what kind of content is dangerous and warrants removal. They’re strategies Facebook has previously used in so-called “at-risk” countries dealing with mass ethnic unrest or political bloodshed.
The tools would only be used in the event of election-related violence or other serious circumstances, according to the WSJ, but some employees at the company said they were concerned that attempting to slow down viral content could unintentionally hide legitimate political discussions.
Facebook’s handling of violent hate speech against Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar several years ago was widely criticized. After a 2018 independent assessment of the situation, the social media giant conceded it wasn’t “doing enough to help prevent our platform from being used to foment division and incite offline violence. We agree that we can and should do more.” It pledged to better prepare for future risks.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in a September blog post that the US presidential election “is not going to be business as usual.” He said he was “worried that with our nation so divided and election results potentially taking days or weeks to be finalized, there could be an increased risk of civil unrest across the country.”
Platforms are bracing for pre-and post-election uncertainty in the US, after President Trump has repeatedly criticized mail-in voting, which many people are using this election cycle due to the coronavirus pandemic. He’s also declined to say whether he would accept the election results if he loses.


theverge--2020-10-25--New Trailers: Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, The Prom, News of the World, and more

So in between catching up with episodes of Grace and Frankie and watching the presidential debate , I tried to watch the new Netflix version of Rebecca , which is exactly the kind of flick I am usually 100 percent here for .
I couldn ’ t figure out why I wasn ’ t able to really get into it , but I think Josh Rivera ’ s review really nails it : it ’ s kind of a boring take on the story .
It ’ s a beautiful-looking movie , but idk , none of the characters — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mrs. Danvers— has much depth .
I ’ m about three-quarters of the way through it and still waiting to feel the sense of dread I did reading the novel .
Maybe the final act will bring it home ?
In any event , there are a lot of great new trailers to check out this week , so I ’ ll have something new to watch soon .
Viola Davis stars in this adaptation of August Wilson ’ s 1984 play , which tells the story of real-life blues singer Ma Rainey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her role in Fences , also based on an August Wilson play , and the buzz is strong that she may bring home an Oscar for this role as well .
Ma Rainey ’ s Black Bottom also stars the late Chadwick Boseman as Levee , another performance generating a lot of Oscar talk .
It hits theaters and Netflix December 18th .
Based on the Broadway play of the same name , The Prom has an absolutely ridiculous all-star cast that includes Meryl Streep , Nicole Kidman , Kerry Washington , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Indiana is banned from attending the prom with her girlfriend , then a group of Broadway stars takes up her cause , partly to help their sluggish careers .
It has feel-good musical written all over it ( and that ’ s OK !
We could use a little feel-good right about now ) .
Directed by Ryan Murphy , The Prom hits Netflix December 11th .
After a harrowing car accident , a woman is stuck in a dream-like limbo trying to figure out how to move forward with her life by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Siena Miller and Diego Luna star in Wander Darkly , which debuts on demand December 11th .
Five years after the Civil War , a widower and war veteran goes from town to town telling people the news .
He meets a young girl on the run and tries to help her reach her family safely .
Think Aliens ( but Ripley is a guy and it ’ s not in space ) , or True Grit but with a more kindly father figure .
Tom Hanks stars as Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Paul Greengrass .
It ’ s slated to hit theaters on Christmas .
Brace yourselves : Since it ’ s nearly the end of October the movies coming up include less horror/scary and are edging toward ... < drum roll > the h o l i d a y s !
I have a dear friend who loves Hallmark Christmas movies and this time of year I sometimes have to mute his Twitter feed because he ’ s so fricking JOYFUL .
But , Dash & Lily looks cute enough to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ soundtrack .
Based on the young adult series Dash & Lily ’ s Book of Dares , it ’ s the story of two young people who exchange notes with each other in a shared diary— an epistolary romance , if you want to really nail down the genre .
Dash & Lily arrives on Netflix November 10th .

So in between catching up with episodes of Grace and Frankie and watching the presidential debate, I tried to watch the new Netflix version of Rebecca, which is exactly the kind of flick I am usually 100 percent here for. I couldn’t figure out why I wasn’t able to really get into it, but I think Josh Rivera’s review really nails it: it’s kind of a boring take on the story.
It’s a beautiful-looking movie, but idk, none of the characters — except maybe Kristen Scott Thomas’s Mrs. Danvers— has much depth. I’m about three-quarters of the way through it and still waiting to feel the sense of dread I did reading the novel. Maybe the final act will bring it home?
In any event, there are a lot of great new trailers to check out this week, so I’ll have something new to watch soon.
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Viola Davis stars in this adaptation of August Wilson’s 1984 play, which tells the story of real-life blues singer Ma Rainey. Davis won Best Supporting Actress for her role in Fences, also based on an August Wilson play, and the buzz is strong that she may bring home an Oscar for this role as well. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom also stars the late Chadwick Boseman as Levee, another performance generating a lot of Oscar talk. It hits theaters and Netflix December 18th.
The Prom
Based on the Broadway play of the same name, The Prom has an absolutely ridiculous all-star cast that includes Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, Kerry Washington, and Keegan Michael Key. A teenager in Indiana is banned from attending the prom with her girlfriend, then a group of Broadway stars takes up her cause, partly to help their sluggish careers. It has feel-good musical written all over it (and that’s OK! We could use a little feel-good right about now). Directed by Ryan Murphy, The Prom hits Netflix December 11th.
Wander Darkly
After a harrowing car accident, a woman is stuck in a dream-like limbo trying to figure out how to move forward with her life by confronting the problems in her marriage. Siena Miller and Diego Luna star in Wander Darkly, which debuts on demand December 11th.
News of the World
Five years after the Civil War, a widower and war veteran goes from town to town telling people the news. He meets a young girl on the run and tries to help her reach her family safely. Think Aliens (but Ripley is a guy and it’s not in space), or True Grit but with a more kindly father figure. Tom Hanks stars as Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd in News of the World, directed by Paul Greengrass. It’s slated to hit theaters on Christmas.
Dash & Lily


theverge--2020-10-25--Chrome OS may finally be getting a dark mode

Chrome OS may finally be getting a dark mode , but so far it ’ s only been spotted in its experimental Canary channel , Android Central reported .
Before you go tinkering with Canary just be advised : Canary is Google ’ s “ bleeding edge ” Chrome OS path , which receives daily updates of features before they ’ ve been widely tested .
It can only be accessed from Chromebooks switched into a special developer mode ( not to be confused with the Chrome OS Developer channel ) .
Google warns that Canary can be “ unstable.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ activate dark mode on your Chromebook , you need to have the Canary channel installed .
Once you ’ ve done that , Android Central says you just open Chrome and type in chrome : //flags/ # enable-force-dark and chrome : //flags/ # enable-webui-dark-mode into the URL bar .
I should note I tried this on my older Chromebook and wasn ’ t able to get it to work .
But here ’ s the view Android Police captured : Android Central says the dark mode has some bugs , but notes it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not just as darker backgrounds .
Google has rolled out dark mode versions for its Gmail , Google Calendar , Google Fit , and its mobile app over the last several months .
Both iOS and Android both began supporting dark mode at the system level last year .
We reached out to Google to see if there are plans to roll out dark mode in Chrome OS to all users , and will update if we hear back .

Chrome OS may finally be getting a dark mode, but so far it’s only been spotted in its experimental Canary channel, Android Central reported.
Before you go tinkering with Canary just be advised: Canary is Google’s “bleeding edge” Chrome OS path, which receives daily updates of features before they’ve been widely tested. It can only be accessed from Chromebooks switched into a special developer mode (not to be confused with the Chrome OS Developer channel). Google warns that Canary can be “unstable.”
But at the moment, to activate dark mode on your Chromebook, you need to have the Canary channel installed. Once you’ve done that, Android Central says you just open Chrome and type in chrome://flags/#enable-force-dark and chrome://flags/#enable-webui-dark-mode into the URL bar. I should note I tried this on my older Chromebook and wasn’t able to get it to work. But here’s the view Android Police captured:
A look at the experimental Chrome OS dark mode Android Police
Android Central says the dark mode has some bugs, but notes it seems to apply across the UI, not just as darker backgrounds.
Google has rolled out dark mode versions for its Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Fit, and its mobile app over the last several months. Both iOS and Android both began supporting dark mode at the system level last year.
We reached out to Google to see if there are plans to roll out dark mode in Chrome OS to all users, and will update if we hear back.


theverge--2020-10-25--PayPal cuts ties with domain registrar Epik over digital currency

PayPal has terminated the account of domain registrar and web hosting company Epik for violating its “ risk controls , ” prompting angry letters and blog posts from Epik alleging conservative bias was to blame , Mashable reported .
Seattle-based Epik is perhaps best known for its support of right-wing social media site Gab .
The site was banned by its hosting company , domain registrar , and PayPal in 2018 , after it was discovered that the alleged shooter at a Pittsburgh synagogue had written anti-Semitic tirades on Gab .
In a 2018 blog post , Epik CEO Robert @ @ @ @ @ @ @ digital censorship ” by other sites .
According to Mashable , the issue that got Epik kicked off PayPal has to do with Epik ’ s digital “ alternative currency ” Masterbucks .
It can be used to buy Epik products or converted into US dollars , and Mashable reports Epik did not take proper legal steps to run the digital currency .
But in an open letter to PayPal employees dated October 19th and posted to Epik ’ s blog , Epik senior vice president for strategy and communications Robert Davis said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abuse of power and overreach by a de facto monopoly , ” and questioned the timing of PayPal ’ s decision .
“ It would appear that in a direct effort to silence conservative voices , PayPal has terminated our payment services— just two weeks before a Presidential election , ” Davis writes in the post , echoing a common— but thoroughly debunked— complaint about online anti-conservative bias .
Epik did not immediately reply to a request for comment Sunday .
In a six-page letter to PayPal CEO Dan Schulman dated October 13th @ @ @ @ @ @ @ zero tolerance toward racism , believes itself to be a force for good in the fight against inequality , ” before launching into a litany of bizarre and seemingly unrelated complaints about Hollywood , Hunter Biden , the Democratic Party , and the Southern Poverty Law Center .
Davis also asserted that Epik “ has been targeted and past labeled in horrifically unfair ways that did not reflect either its actions or its core beliefs.
” A PayPal spokesperson said in a statement emailed to The Verge on Sunday that “ PayPal has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our teams to potentially violative activity occurring on our platforms .
The company independently reviews each matter and bases its decisions on the management of risk and compliance with our long-standing User Agreement .
”

PayPal has terminated the account of domain registrar and web hosting company Epik for violating its “risk controls,” prompting angry letters and blog posts from Epik alleging conservative bias was to blame, Mashable reported.
Seattle-based Epik is perhaps best known for its support of right-wing social media site Gab. The site was banned by its hosting company, domain registrar, and PayPal in 2018, after it was discovered that the alleged shooter at a Pittsburgh synagogue had written anti-Semitic tirades on Gab. In a 2018 blog post, Epik CEO Robert Monster criticized what he called the “digital censorship” by other sites.
According to Mashable, the issue that got Epik kicked off PayPal has to do with Epik’s digital “alternative currency” Masterbucks. It can be used to buy Epik products or converted into US dollars, and Mashable reports Epik did not take proper legal steps to run the digital currency.
But in an open letter to PayPal employees dated October 19th and posted to Epik’s blog, Epik senior vice president for strategy and communications Robert Davis said PayPal’s actions amounted to “abuse of power and overreach by a de facto monopoly,” and questioned the timing of PayPal’s decision.
“It would appear that in a direct effort to silence conservative voices, PayPal has terminated our payment services— just two weeks before a Presidential election,” Davis writes in the post, echoing a common— but thoroughly debunked— complaint about online anti-conservative bias.
Epik did not immediately reply to a request for comment Sunday.
In a six-page letter to PayPal CEO Dan Schulman dated October 13th, Davis writes that Epik “has zero tolerance toward racism, believes itself to be a force for good in the fight against inequality,” before launching into a litany of bizarre and seemingly unrelated complaints about Hollywood, Hunter Biden, the Democratic Party, and the Southern Poverty Law Center. Davis also asserted that Epik “has been targeted and past labeled in horrifically unfair ways that did not reflect either its actions or its core beliefs.”


theverge--2020-10-26--OnePlus announces two new affordable Nord phones

OnePlus has announced a pair of new phones for its midrange Nord lineup — the N10 5G and N100 .
Both sit below the existing £379/€399 OnePlus Nord in terms of specs and price .
The N10 5G starts at £329 in the UK and €349 in Germany ( around $ 412 ) and is powered by a Snapdragon 690 , while the N100 starts at £179 and €199 ( around $ 235 ) in the same countries and is powered by a Snapdragon 460 .
Unlike the original Nord , which was only released in Europe and parts of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and N100 will eventually launch in North America .
The company has confirmed that both phones will be available there “ at a later date , ” following their European release .
OnePlus says the N100 will arrive in the UK on November 10th , with the N10 5G following later in November .
As its name suggests , the OnePlus Nord N10 5G is a 5G handset ( Sub-6GHz only in Europe ) , and it has 6GB of RAM and 128GB of expandable storage .
It ’ s actually got a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ OnePlus Nord at 6.49 inches , and it has the same 90Hz refresh rate .
It has a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor , rather than an in-display one , but you do get dual stereo speakers , a feature that was missing from the Nord .
Its 4,300mAh battery can be fast-charged with Warp Charge 30T , and it comes with Android 10 out of the box .
Around the back of the N10 5G you ’ ll find a quad-camera array consisting of a main 64-megapixel camera , a 119-degree ultrawide , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ handled by a 16-megapixel camera .
The N100 is the lower-end of the two devices , but it ’ s still got a big 6.52-inch display and dual stereo speakers .
It ’ s got a larger 5,000 mAh battery , but it can only be fast-charged at up to 18W , and RAM and storage are also reduced at 4GB and 64GB respectively ( though this is expandable ) .
It ’ s 4G rather than 5G , and you get one fewer rear camera here for a triple-camera setup .
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and two additional cameras for portrait and macro shots .
Like the N10 5G , there ’ s a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor , and the phone also runs Android 10 out of the box .
When we reviewed the OnePlus Nord earlier this year , we found it did a great job at offering OnePlus ’ traditional strengths at a more affordable price point .
The OnePlus N10 5G and N100 are cheaper still , so it ’ ll be interesting to see if the company has found a similar balance this time @ @

OnePlus has announced a pair of new phones for its midrange Nord lineup — the N10 5G and N100. Both sit below the existing £379/€399 OnePlus Nord in terms of specs and price. The N10 5G starts at £329 in the UK and €349 in Germany (around $412) and is powered by a Snapdragon 690, while the N100 starts at £179 and €199 (around $235) in the same countries and is powered by a Snapdragon 460.
Unlike the original Nord, which was only released in Europe and parts of Asia, OnePlus says the N10 5G and N100 will eventually launch in North America. The company has confirmed that both phones will be available there “at a later date,” following their European release. OnePlus says the N100 will arrive in the UK on November 10th, with the N10 5G following later in November.
The Nord N10 5G has a 6.49-inch 90Hz display
As its name suggests, the OnePlus Nord N10 5G is a 5G handset (The phone will support Sub-6GHz but not mmWave in Europe, and OnePlus is yet to confirm which 5G tech it’ll support in North America), and it has 6GB of RAM and 128GB of expandable storage. It’s actually got a slightly bigger screen than the more expensive OnePlus Nord at 6.49 inches, and it has the same 90Hz refresh rate. It has a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, rather than an in-display one, but you do get dual stereo speakers, a feature that was missing from the Nord. Its 4,300mAh battery can be fast-charged with Warp Charge 30T, and it comes with Android 10 out of the box.
Around the back of the N10 5G you’ll find a quad-camera array consisting of a main 64-megapixel camera, a 119-degree ultrawide, and macro and monochrome cameras. Selfies are handled by a 16-megapixel camera.
The N100 is a step down model poweerd by a Snapdragon 460. Image: OnePlus
The N100 is the lower-end of the two devices, but it’s still got a big 6.52-inch display and dual stereo speakers. It’s got a larger 5,000 mAh battery, but it can only be fast-charged at up to 18W, and RAM and storage are also reduced at 4GB and 64GB respectively (though this is expandable). It’s 4G rather than 5G, and you get one fewer rear camera here for a triple-camera setup. There’s a 13-megapixel main camera, and two additional cameras for portrait and macro shots. Like the N10 5G, there’s a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, and the phone also runs Android 10 out of the box.
When we reviewed the OnePlus Nord earlier this year, we found it did a great job at offering OnePlus’ traditional strengths at a more affordable price point. The OnePlus N10 5G and N100 are cheaper still, so it’ll be interesting to see if the company has found a similar balance this time around.


theverge--2020-10-26--Facebook takes its first small steps into the world of cloud gaming

Facebook is the latest tech giant to get into the world of cloud gaming — but the company ’ s offering is quite a bit different than the competition .
Unlike Amazon or Google , which both offer standalone cloud gaming services for a fee , Facebook is introducing cloud games to its existing app — several of which are playable right now .
“ We ’ re doing free-to-play games , we ’ re doing games that are latency-tolerant , at least to start , ” says Jason Rubin , Facebook ’ s vice president of play .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 60fps , so you pay us $ 6.99 per month .
We ’ re not trying to get you to buy a piece of hardware , like a controller.
” According to Rubin , the reason Facebook is exploring the cloud is because it opens up the types of games it can offer .
The company started out in games more than a decade ago with Flash-based hits like FarmVille before moving to HTML5 for its Instant Games platform , but both of those technologies are relatively limited to smaller , simpler experiences @ @ @ @ @ @ @ means more complex games that the company can still offer in a fast , seamless way .
Those HTML5 games aren ’ t going away but will instead sit alongside the new cloud offerings inside the Facebook app .
( It should be noted that Facebook acquired Spanish cloud gaming service PlayGiga last year , paving the way for this rollout . )
“ The platform is going to allow the 300 million players that we have to continue to play the games they like , but we think they ’ ll branch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well , ” Rubin says .
Free-to-play cloud games are launching on Facebook in beta starting today , and the initial crop of titles includes mostly Android ports , like the 3D racer Asphalt 9 and the idle roleplaying game Mobile Legends : Adventure .
They ’ re rolling out in the US to start — Facebook says that will include California , Texas , and states in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic .
And they ’ ll be available both via the web and the Facebook app on Android .
“ We ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which is a big problem for us , ” says Rubin .
“ We are barred from having Facebook launch the browser and play the game.
” ( It ’ s also something of a theme for cloud gaming on iOS . )
Aside from the types of games available , the core experience won ’ t be very different for Facebook users .
You go to Facebook , see a game you like , click on it , and start playing straight away .
But today ’ s rollout also comes with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cross-progression system tied to your Facebook login .
If you start playing Asphalt 9 through Facebook , for instance , and then decide to download the mobile app , all of your progression will carry over as it ’ s tied to your login .
Facebook ’ s approach to cloud gaming is quite different philosophically from competitors like Google Stadia or Amazon ’ s Luna .
The company isn ’ t hyping up its technology or trying to secure big exclusive games .
Instead , it feels like more of an extension @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , easy-to-pick-up titles that can fill up some idle moments in your day .
That said , Rubin seems optimistic that the service will grow to the point where that could change .
When it comes to exclusives , for instance , he says : We ’ re not trying to lock people in .
We don ’ t need to because we ’ re not charging a fee to try these games and you ’ re on Facebook already .
An exclusive in the classic sense — i.e .
you can only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ probably doesn ’ t make sense for us .
What I think is going to happen , is once the platform has a large userbase , some of these developers are going to go ‘ I think we should add some features that take advantage of these capabilities we never had before.
’ We ’ ll see those games do really well on the platform , and other developers will say ‘ That was an idea , we should follow along with that.
’ And then somewhere along the line , some game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a game that can ’ t exist anywhere else.
’ I think that game will eventually exist .
I think exclusives will happen , but it ’ s not something we need .
Similarly , while the focus right now is on free-to-play games , he says , “ there may come a day when it makes sense for us to offer a premium game.
” But the company wanted to start out by making it as easy as possible to play these games .
Free is usually pretty easy .
And while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , there could eventually be some integration with Facebook Gaming , the company ’ s Twitch-style streaming service .
“ What if a streamer was playing a game that ’ s playable on Facebook , and that streamer says ‘ I want to play with one of you , who wants to play.
’ He picks one of those people , sends them a URL , and there ’ s Jill playing with him on stream , ” Rubin says .
“ That is cool .
There ’ s really no reason that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s a lot of ifs , and right now Facebook ’ s cloud offering isn ’ t exactly the most exciting service .
But it also doesn ’ t have to be .
One of the big differences between this and competitors is that Facebook isn ’ t trying to sell you games .
The business model is very different .
On the web , Facebook takes a standard 30 percent cut of in-app purchases , while on Android it takes nothing .
It also takes a cut of money earned through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ games isn ’ t to sell you a subscription : it ’ s to keep you on Facebook .
“ We give away a lot of stuff for free , because that is a business for us , ” says Rubin .
“ Don ’ t undervalue just having people engage with communities on Facebook .
That is what we do .
”

Facebook is the latest tech giant to get into the world of cloud gaming — but the company’s offering is quite a bit different than the competition. Unlike Amazon or Google, which both offer standalone cloud gaming services for a fee, Facebook is introducing cloud games to its existing app — several of which are playable right now.
“We’re doing free-to-play games, we’re doing games that are latency-tolerant, at least to start,” says Jason Rubin, Facebook’s vice president of play. “We’re not promising 4K, 60fps, so you pay us $6.99 per month. We’re not trying to get you to buy a piece of hardware, like a controller.”
According to Rubin, the reason Facebook is exploring the cloud is because it opens up the types of games it can offer. The company started out in games more than a decade ago with Flash-based hits like FarmVille before moving to HTML5 for its Instant Games platform, but both of those technologies are relatively limited to smaller, simpler experiences.
Rubin says expanding to the cloud means more complex games that the company can still offer in a fast, seamless way. Those HTML5 games aren’t going away but will instead sit alongside the new cloud offerings inside the Facebook app. (It should be noted that Facebook acquired Spanish cloud gaming service PlayGiga last year, paving the way for this rollout.)
“The platform is going to allow the 300 million players that we have to continue to play the games they like, but we think they’ll branch out and play more complex games as well,” Rubin says. Free-to-play cloud games are launching on Facebook in beta starting today, and the initial crop of titles includes mostly Android ports, like the 3D racer Asphalt 9 and the idle roleplaying game Mobile Legends: Adventure.
They’re rolling out in the US to start — Facebook says that will include California, Texas, and states in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. And they’ll be available both via the web and the Facebook app on Android. “We’re not on iOS right now, which is a big problem for us,” says Rubin. “We are barred from having Facebook launch the browser and play the game.” (It’s also something of a theme for cloud gaming on iOS.)
Aside from the types of games available, the core experience won’t be very different for Facebook users. You go to Facebook, see a game you like, click on it, and start playing straight away. But today’s rollout also comes with some useful features, including a new cross-progression system tied to your Facebook login. If you start playing Asphalt 9 through Facebook, for instance, and then decide to download the mobile app, all of your progression will carry over as it’s tied to your login.
Facebook’s approach to cloud gaming is quite different philosophically from competitors like Google Stadia or Amazon’s Luna. The company isn’t hyping up its technology or trying to secure big exclusive games. Instead, it feels like more of an extension of what Facebook already offers: quick, easy-to-pick-up titles that can fill up some idle moments in your day.
That said, Rubin seems optimistic that the service will grow to the point where that could change. When it comes to exclusives, for instance, he says:
We’re not trying to lock people in. We don’t need to because we’re not charging a fee to try these games and you’re on Facebook already. An exclusive in the classic sense — i.e. you can only play this game on the platform — probably doesn’t make sense for us. What I think is going to happen, is once the platform has a large userbase, some of these developers are going to go ‘I think we should add some features that take advantage of these capabilities we never had before.’ We’ll see those games do really well on the platform, and other developers will say ‘That was an idea, we should follow along with that.’ And then somewhere along the line, some game company will say ‘We should build a game that can’t exist anywhere else.’ I think that game will eventually exist. I think exclusives will happen, but it’s not something we need.
Similarly, while the focus right now is on free-to-play games, he says, “there may come a day when it makes sense for us to offer a premium game.” But the company wanted to start out by making it as easy as possible to play these games. Free is usually pretty easy.
And while it’s still theoretical right now, there could eventually be some integration with Facebook Gaming, the company’s Twitch-style streaming service. “What if a streamer was playing a game that’s playable on Facebook, and that streamer says ‘I want to play with one of you, who wants to play.’ He picks one of those people, sends them a URL, and there’s Jill playing with him on stream,” Rubin says. “That is cool. There’s really no reason that stuff can’t happen.”
That’s a lot of ifs, and right now Facebook’s cloud offering isn’t exactly the most exciting service. But it also doesn’t have to be. One of the big differences between this and competitors is that Facebook isn’t trying to sell you games. The business model is very different. On the web, Facebook takes a standard 30 percent cut of in-app purchases, while on Android it takes nothing. It also takes a cut of money earned through advertising. The goal of these cloud games isn’t to sell you a subscription: it’s to keep you on Facebook.


theverge--2020-10-26--The best snowboarding gadgets for 2020

The best snowboarding gadgets for 2020

It ’ s amazing how much innovation and technology goes into finding better ways to fall down a mountain .
I ’ m a snowboarding addict .
Despite the fact that I absolutely hate being cold , I find myself looking forward to winter with more and more eagerness each fall .
I ’ m also a huge nerd , which means every year I get all giddy about the new advances coming out that improve the ways we play in the snow , or so they claim .
Here , then , is the confluence of those gravitational forces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coolest new snow tech .
( And take note that , aside from the actual boards , boots , and bindings , a lot of this gear can be used by skiers , too . )
Disclaimer : There are hundreds of brands , boards , boots , kits , and gadgets out there , and I am just one person with finite resources ( including time , money , and access to snowy slopes ) .
I test as much gear as I can , but I can ’ t test @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I do a lot of research to determine what looks most promising , and then I call in the gear I think has the most potential .
Generally , all of this stuff is either unisex or available in both men ’ s and women ’ s versions .
And obviously , like everybody , I have my own riding style , and my own opinions , so your mileage may vary , and I ’ m sorry if I didn ’ t test your favorite piece of gear .
Oh , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ none of this stuff is sponsored .
Okay , now let ’ s get to it .
I managed to get my hands on a bunch of different boards this year , and I was primarily looking for more aggressive boards that accelerate in the steep and deep .
These are the ones that stood out .
Honestly , I can ’ t fully wrap my mind around this board ; it doesn ’ t feel like anything I ’ ve ever ridden .
K2 cut the wood out of the nose of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ super light fiberglass ( what K2 calls SpaceGlass ) .
Those spots ( and the rest of the board ) are reinforced with different braids of carbon fiber , which allows it to keep its rigidity .
The wood in the middle is a wild-looking , interlaced pattern of bamboo mixed with other woods to give it the response profile they want for free-riding .
The result is a very springy nose that bends and flexes over chop and really likes to dance on smooth , groomed runs .
The light tip and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , so the board goes from edge to edge effortlessly .
I got to test it in some extremely variable conditions , which is really what this board is designed for .
The board did extremely well , carving over crust , floating through shin-deep powder , making sharp turns in trees , and holding an edge decently well in icy patches .
It feels downright springy , and it really propels you out of turns .
The board is so light it wants to go over chunks rather than bash its way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and you ’ ll want to move your stance back if you ’ re getting into deeper powder , but I think it would be an excellent choice for those who are transitioning into more off-piste ( i.e .
outside the ski run ) riding .
K2 is positioning it as its new free-ride flagship .
In contrast , this board doesn ’ t play .
It is incredibly stiff and built for advanced to expert riders who are looking to conquer the meanest terrain .
It ’ s one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 3D base , meaning the nose and tail are slightly spoon-shaped , giving it more float in powder , and less catchiness .
It can handle steep , icy stuff ; it blasts through variable snow like a buzzsaw ; and it can really jump ( and land smoothly ) .
Just know that when you put it on rail , it will take off like a rocket .
On the tech side , the 2020 model uses an ecologically-friendly bio resin , which is a plant-based , recycled , renewable epoxy ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that produces 33 percent less greenhouse gas .
The sidewalls and edges are made of recycled materials , and even the stringers ( strips of materials that change the board ’ s flex properties ) are made of natural basalt and flax fibers .
All that aside , if I ’ m going to be doing something that scares me , this is the board I will reach for every time .
It ’ s a snowboard made of metal .
Like , the whole top-sheet is a single piece of aluminum , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doesn ’ t look like something you can actually ride — but you can .
Maybe .
Aluminum adds a couple pounds to this board , and the weight is very noticeable , but because it ’ s such a conductive material it takes vibration and spreads it out over the length of the board , so less of it hits your body .
The result is an extremely smooth ride .
It ’ s also so fast it ’ s scary .
The thing just takes off .
The result is that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a gigantic machete down a slope .
If that sounds like your idea of a good time , then get yourself to Jackson Hole .
Mikey Franco of Franco Snowshapes — which makes all-custom boards — has made a couple iterations of this board , and while it isn ’ t on his website , he will make you one if you really want it , and can afford the $ 5,000 price .
I got to try both current iterations , and they were a lot of fun , though I admit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Franco ’ s next experiment is a board made of an even more conductive material : copper .
Really looking forward to seeing that one .
This is something that was going to be available this winter , but the pandemic has put it on hold for the time being .
That should have eliminated it from this list , but it ’ s one of the craziest , techiest snow things I ’ ve ever tested , so we ’ re letting it ride .
It ’ s a real-life , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exoskeleton for skiing .
Yes , really .
It ’ s marketed toward people recovering from injury , older folks with gradually deteriorating joints , and people who just want to ride for longer without getting tired .
Roam claims that it takes up to 20 percent of your body weight off of your knees .
I was extremely skeptical , but I got to spend a full day testing it at Big Sky Mountain Resort in Montana .
It blew me away .
It looks like a pair of chunky , high-tech @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a small backpack which houses the lithium-ion batteries , the air compressor , and the computer .
The whole thing has a suite of sensors that detects your body position in relation to the slope angle , and it responds instantaneously to provide more push where you need it ( generally the inside edge of your downhill ski ) at exactly the right moment .
It has three levels of sensitivity , which you can instantly adjust via remote control .
I was worried about the lithium-ion batteries in the cold , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charge .
I am not a great skier ( steep blues are about all I can handle ) , but it really helped keep my legs from dying on me .
On a couple of particularly steep turns I almost ate it , and I am positive that I would have gone down had I not been getting that extra 20-percent push from the device .
I would turn it off in the middle of runs , too , just to make sure it was actually doing something , and the difference was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rigidity to help me from twisting my knees in bad ways .
And as you go , the device learns your ski style and continues to adapt to you .
By my third run it felt absolutely seamless .
Currently , the software is only designed for skiing , but I talked Roam into letting me try it on a snowboard anyway .
I switched it into its most reactive mode , and within one run it was working perfectly .
I could power through turns , stay crouched at will , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enough to zigzag through tight trees .
We were all astonished .
The only thing I really didn ’ t like about it is the noise .
The air compressor isn ’ t exactly quiet , so I didn ’ t love going through an otherwise idyllic glade only to have constant farty sounds coming out of my backpack .
The Roam Elevate was supposed to be available for direct purchase for $ 3,500 this winter .
Unfortunately , COVID-19 has delayed it indefinitely , along with Roam ’ s plans to add @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and general mobility .
We ’ re disappointed that this isn ’ t a product you can buy right now , but we ’ re excited that it ’ s a technology that exists .
This thing was just introduced in January 2020 and it immediately started cleaning up on design awards .
Basically , it ’ s a low-profile vest with a built-in back protector panel .
The panel looks like it ’ s just a web of small rubber dots with holes in them .
The thing is , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s a Nitrile Butadiene Rubber ( NBR ) , which is what ’ s known as a viscoelastic polymer .
Basically , it acts sort of like a non-Newtonian fluid .
When worn it bends freely with your back , but when it takes a high-energy impact it deforms and stiffens at the same time , so it both absorbs and spreads out the impact .
Because it ’ s so thin and it breathes so well ( due to all the holes in it ) , my back didn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ completely forgot that I had it on .
Spinal injuries are far too common in snow-sports .
If you spend time in the terrain park , in the trees , or around rocks , or if you have a kid who is just learning , this is a cheap insurance policy .
( Unfortunately , at the time of writing , there were no women ’ s sizes available ; according to the company , they should be available again soon . )
The special thing here is a refined version of what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ designed to make a snowboard turn more like a skateboard .
It essentially steals from the design of skate trucks ( the mechanism that connects the wheels to the board ) and uses leverage to transfer force to the edges of your board more efficiently .
I thought this sounded like marketing hype , but I wanted to try it for myself , and I couldn ’ t believe it .
The first few runs I found myself accidentally overturning the board like crazy and skidding out .
It took noticeably less effort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and the result was that , once I got the hang of it , I found I was able to keep my turns quick and sharp even as my legs were getting tired toward the end of the day .
Yes , really , an innovation in wax , and it ’ s not a small one , either .
Nearly all ski waxes are made from petroleum .
We may apply it to our skis or boards several times a season .
But why do we have to reapply ?
Because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and when that snow melts in the spring , all of those nasty chemicals go into our rivers , lakes , reservoirs , and oceans .
It ’ s bad .
Mountain Flow is the first plant-based wax in North America .
What are the downsides , you ask ?
There aren ’ t any , from what I can tell .
It comes in all the same temperature-rated hot waxes and rub-on waxes you ’ d expect , it ’ s just as fast as petroleum-based wax , and it actually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Some resorts are starting to make the switch for their rental and demo fleets .
This is one of those products that ’ s greener and better than the alternatives .
We all have feet that are picky in their own ways , but for my money , Ride makes the most comfortable boots I ’ ve ever worn .
The Lasso Pro is a completely new model for the 2020-2021 season .
It ’ s a stiffer boot ( for better response ) , yet it still remains extremely comfy .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dial into Ride ’ s “ Tongue Tied ” system , which does a better job of gluing your heel down than anything else on the market , while the H4 Boa offers more granular adjustment and added safety ( it will release but not break on a hard impact ) .
The boot also has heat-reflective foil in the footbed to keep your feet toasty .
( Note : there are no women ’ s sizes available ; they may be introduced next year . )
Most shell jackets achieve their waterproofiness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the manufacturing process .
Not only are these generally pretty nasty for the environment , but they rub off over time and your garment becomes less waterproof .
This is Helly Hansen ’ s first jacket using their patented LIFA Infinity Pro material .
It ’ s a three-layer fabric , woven so that it doesn ’ t require any additional water-repelling chemicals to keep rain or snow from seeping through .
Water beaded off it on a very rainy day , and it was wind-proof , but it still breathed nicely .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ or light as the North Face ’ s soft Futurelight material , but after just 10 days of mountain testing that jacket had several new vents ( read : holes ) , so it was disqualified .
The Odin feels bulletproof by comparison .
How about some NASA-developed tech in a ski jacket ?
This jacket looks like pretty much any other ribbed , puffy jacket — the difference here is what the puff is made of : Primaloft Cross Core with Aerogel .
I have tested several Aerogel jackets over the years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and uncomfortable , and they don ’ t breathe at all .
This doesn ’ t have any of those downsides .
Rather than using discs made of Aerogel , Primaloft developed a way to integrate it into the fibers , which makes the jacket incredibly warm for the weight , but unlike other Aerogel jackets , you can still ball it up and stuff it in a backpack .
Gloves only keep your hands warm when you have them on .
At this point , I won ’ t use gloves that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to actually type a message .
The Rally Gauntlet gloves are great for that , and they check my other important boxes , such as being warm and waterproof , having a zipper compartment for hand warmers , and having removable liners that are also touchscreen-compatible .
I ’ ve spent years looking for these gloves .
There is no version for women ; if you have smaller hands , you can either try the smaller size of the Rally Gauntlet , or look to the women ’ s version of a style @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They should work as well , though .
This helmet has 22 vents which can all be opened and closed by degrees with the twist of a single knob .
The ear pads are audio-ready , and the chin buckle snaps together with magnets , making it easy to buckle and unbuckle , even with thick gloves on .
Most important is the safety factor .
It has a MIPS ( Multi-directional Impact Protection System ) , which decreases rotational impacts on the brain ( a leading cause of brain injury ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impact panels in the places where your head is most vulnerable to offer additional protection .
It ’ s good-looking , too .
You wouldn ’ t think something as simple as a face mask would make this list , but this one is rather ingenious .
It ’ s made from a soft merino wool , and the part that covers your mouth and nose is perforated , so the moisture of your breath doesn ’ t steam up your goggles .
The real innovation here , though , is an additional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it really gets cold ( or windy ) , you can flip it up to protect your mouth and nose .
It ’ s the best face protector I ’ ve ever used .
These goggles have photochromic lenses , which means they automatically get darker when ambient light increases , and then get lighter when the clouds come out .
It ’ s true that Julbo isn ’ t the first to have those , by a long shot .
What makes these special is the unique venting design .
The lens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a gap between the lens and your face where air can flow freely .
Why would you want this ?
Because when your face starts overheating your goggles are going to fog up , and then you can ’ t see .
This gives the lens ( and your face ) space to breathe .
I wore these while splitboarding and doing some inbound hikes this winter , and they were feeling great , while my friends were pulling their goggles off or switching to sunglasses .
If you go to a ski @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a new trend : the goggle sock .
Basically , it ’ s a protective cover you put on your goggles while they ’ re still on your helmet , so you don ’ t have to tuck them away or worry about them getting scratched .
These are the best ones I ’ ve found .
Unicorn Picnic managed to get its hands on a big box of goggle covers that were designed for the military , but were just going to be thrown out .
They have plenty of padding to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ away in your jacket pocket .
An arm on each side clicks to your goggle straps like a snap bracelet , holding them there securely , and they even have an integrated shammy .
The cute koala graphic was designed by pro skier Lynsey Dyer , and proceeds go to nonprofits aimed at teaching women and girls of all backgrounds outdoor skills .
If you ’ re going to drop a couple hundred on your goggles , you should protect them .
This batch is a limited run , but if they sell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make more .
You still might want to act quickly .
Made for helmets that support audio , the Smith x Aleck Wireless Audio Kit is a new product that stands out in a couple of ways .
For starters , it actually sounds good !
I ’ ve tried two other brands ’ helmet audio systems and they both sounded tinny and terrible .
This kit delivers much clearer sound , more prominent bass , and there ’ s an EQ in the app .
The app is where the other part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set up an account you can create a group with your friends .
Not only will it display everybody ’ s position on a map , but you can use the button on the left headphone to communicate with the group walkie-talkie style .
Now , this only works if you ( and everybody else ) has cellular data , which isn ’ t always a sure thing at ski resorts .
Even without that , it ’ s worth it for the audio quality and the comfort .
It ’ s definitely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ solution this coming season ( especially now that my friends bought some , too ) .
If you don ’ t spend tons of time on the slopes , then it can be hard to justify spending 200 bucks for some in-helmet audio .
For most people , I say get something that you can use on the hill and on the plane , and just in everyday life .
The Jabra Elite 75t are fully wireless Bluetooth earbuds .
They ’ re small , and they each have one large button on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comfortably under my helmet ( which you ’ ll want to do so they don ’ t fall out ) , and click the button right through my ear flap .
The audio quality is excellent , with rich , distinctive tones and tons of bass ( and there ’ s an EQ in Jabra ’ s app ) .
You get up to 7.5 hours on a single charge , and with the charging case you can get up to 28 hours .
Most importantly for skiing and snowboarding , there ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which uses the built-in mic to play the sounds around you , giving you more situational awareness , which is extremely important for riding around other people ( and yes , it works through the helmet , too ) .
Jabra now has an Active version : the Elite Active 75t , which adds waterproofing .
I haven ’ t tested those yet , but if all else is equal , it would be worth going with those .
It used to be that if you were going into the backcountry you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a shovel , and a probe .
These days , many guide outfits are adding a fourth thing to that list : a two-way radio .
It ’ s the fastest and most reliable way to communicate in the backcountry .
The BC Link 2.0 packs a whopping 2 watts of power into its signal , which gives you 6 miles of reliable communication range ( depending on line of sight ) , and it sounds loud and clear .
The radio itself stows in your backpack , while the part with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ controls clips to your backpack strap .
It ’ s easy to use , and extremely rugged , offering days of battery life .
I ’ ve even seen people starting to use these around resorts with limited cell signal .
Skiing and snowboarding are both activities that are made for video , but I ’ ve always struggled with standard action cameras to really capture the whole picture .
The GoPro Max isn ’ t perfect , but it ’ s the best camera I ’ ve ever used for self-capturing snowboarding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and then play director later on , adjusting the camera angles and zoom , to show your audience what it was really like to be there .
The files can still be a pain to deal with , but for capturing as much as possible of your experience , this is the camera to beat .
That being said , if you plan to spend a lot of time filming other people , then the GoPro Hero9 Black would be the better camera because of its 4K capabilities , excellent image stabilization @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s also vastly simpler on the post-production side .
Now that you ’ ve got all of this new stuff , you need a way to get it to the slopes .
It ’ s actually not easy to find a good backpack for skiing or boarding .
I ’ ve tested at least a half dozen , and the Mission 25L Pro has more of the features I look for than the rest .
It ’ s spacious enough for everything you could want for a day in or out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a shovel and probe , plus extra layers , food , and it has a fleece-lined goggle pocket , but it ’ s slim enough that you can wear it on a chairlift if it isn ’ t absolutely stuffed .
It also has vertical or horizontal carry for snowboards and diagonal carry for skis .
It ’ s compatible with hydration systems ( the hose integrates into your backpack strap , which helps keep it from icing up ) , and has an optional spine protector insert .
When I fly , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 15-inch laptop , Sony A7R III , cables , and all the other stuff I need for work , too .
My only gripe is that previous generations had a pocket down toward each hip , and the additional storage/organization would be appreciated .
Whew .
All right .
That ’ s my list .
Obviously , a lot of these things are down to personal preference , but my job has afforded me the privilege of testing out some of the highest-rated stuff out there , and this list represents most of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you will .

It’s amazing how much innovation and technology goes into finding better ways to fall down a mountain. I’m a snowboarding addict. Despite the fact that I absolutely hate being cold, I find myself looking forward to winter with more and more eagerness each fall. I’m also a huge nerd, which means every year I get all giddy about the new advances coming out that improve the ways we play in the snow, or so they claim.
Here, then, is the confluence of those gravitational forces in my life: my picks for the coolest new snow tech. (And take note that, aside from the actual boards, boots, and bindings, a lot of this gear can be used by skiers, too.)
Disclaimer: There are hundreds of brands, boards, boots, kits, and gadgets out there, and I am just one person with finite resources (including time, money, and access to snowy slopes). I test as much gear as I can, but I can’t test everything. My process is this: I do a lot of research to determine what looks most promising, and then I call in the gear I think has the most potential. Generally, all of this stuff is either unisex or available in both men’s and women’s versions. And obviously, like everybody, I have my own riding style, and my own opinions, so your mileage may vary, and I’m sorry if I didn’t test your favorite piece of gear.
Oh, and this should go without saying, but none of this stuff is sponsored. Okay, now let’s get to it.
Snowboards
I managed to get my hands on a bunch of different boards this year, and I was primarily looking for more aggressive boards that accelerate in the steep and deep. These are the ones that stood out.
K2 Alchemist Snowboard 2021 Photo: K2 Snow
Honestly, I can’t fully wrap my mind around this board; it doesn’t feel like anything I’ve ever ridden. K2 cut the wood out of the nose of the board, opting instead for a super light fiberglass (what K2 calls SpaceGlass). Those spots (and the rest of the board) are reinforced with different braids of carbon fiber, which allows it to keep its rigidity. The wood in the middle is a wild-looking, interlaced pattern of bamboo mixed with other woods to give it the response profile they want for free-riding. The result is a very springy nose that bends and flexes over chop and really likes to dance on smooth, groomed runs. The light tip and tail cut down on the rotational weight, so the board goes from edge to edge effortlessly.
I got to test it in some extremely variable conditions, which is really what this board is designed for. The board did extremely well, carving over crust, floating through shin-deep powder, making sharp turns in trees, and holding an edge decently well in icy patches. It feels downright springy, and it really propels you out of turns.
The board is so light it wants to go over chunks rather than bash its way through (unlike the board below), and you’ll want to move your stance back if you’re getting into deeper powder, but I think it would be an excellent choice for those who are transitioning into more off-piste (i.e. outside the ski run) riding. K2 is positioning it as its new free-ride flagship.
K2 Alchemist Snowboard 2021 / Free-ride snowboard $700 at Evo
Jones Flagship Photo: Jones Snow Boards
In contrast, this board doesn’t play. It is incredibly stiff and built for advanced to expert riders who are looking to conquer the meanest terrain. It’s one of the only boards out there that has a 3D base, meaning the nose and tail are slightly spoon-shaped, giving it more float in powder, and less catchiness. It can handle steep, icy stuff; it blasts through variable snow like a buzzsaw; and it can really jump (and land smoothly). Just know that when you put it on rail, it will take off like a rocket.
On the tech side, the 2020 model uses an ecologically-friendly bio resin, which is a plant-based, recycled, renewable epoxy (instead of the standard petroleum-based stuff) that produces 33 percent less greenhouse gas. The sidewalls and edges are made of recycled materials, and even the stringers (strips of materials that change the board’s flex properties) are made of natural basalt and flax fibers. All that aside, if I’m going to be doing something that scares me, this is the board I will reach for every time.
Jones Flagship - Men / Free-ride flagship snowboard $650 at REI
Jones Flagship - Women / Free-ride flagship snowboard $650 at REI
Franco Snowshapes Silver Surfer
It’s a snowboard made of metal. Like, the whole top-sheet is a single piece of aluminum, polished to a mirror finish. It doesn’t look like something you can actually ride — but you can. Maybe.
Aluminum adds a couple pounds to this board, and the weight is very noticeable, but because it’s such a conductive material it takes vibration and spreads it out over the length of the board, so less of it hits your body. The result is an extremely smooth ride. It’s also so fast it’s scary. The thing just takes off. The result is that it feels like you’re riding a gigantic machete down a slope.
If that sounds like your idea of a good time, then get yourself to Jackson Hole. Mikey Franco of Franco Snowshapes — which makes all-custom boards — has made a couple iterations of this board, and while it isn’t on his website, he will make you one if you really want it, and can afford the $5,000 price. I got to try both current iterations, and they were a lot of fun, though I admit my teeth were clenched the whole time. Franco’s next experiment is a board made of an even more conductive material: copper. Really looking forward to seeing that one.
Franco Snowshapes Silver Surfer / Custom-made snowboard $5,000 at Franco
Safety aids
Roam Elevate Exoskeleton
Roam Elevate Exoskeleton
This is something that was going to be available this winter, but the pandemic has put it on hold for the time being. That should have eliminated it from this list, but it’s one of the craziest, techiest snow things I’ve ever tested, so we’re letting it ride. It’s a real-life, robotic, pneumatic, computer-controlled, machine-learning exoskeleton for skiing. Yes, really.
It’s marketed toward people recovering from injury, older folks with gradually deteriorating joints, and people who just want to ride for longer without getting tired. Roam claims that it takes up to 20 percent of your body weight off of your knees. I was extremely skeptical, but I got to spend a full day testing it at Big Sky Mountain Resort in Montana. It blew me away.
It looks like a pair of chunky, high-tech knee braces. The braces connect to a small backpack which houses the lithium-ion batteries, the air compressor, and the computer. The whole thing has a suite of sensors that detects your body position in relation to the slope angle, and it responds instantaneously to provide more push where you need it (generally the inside edge of your downhill ski) at exactly the right moment. It has three levels of sensitivity, which you can instantly adjust via remote control. I was worried about the lithium-ion batteries in the cold, but it typically gets around eight hours per charge.
I am not a great skier (steep blues are about all I can handle), but it really helped keep my legs from dying on me. On a couple of particularly steep turns I almost ate it, and I am positive that I would have gone down had I not been getting that extra 20-percent push from the device. I would turn it off in the middle of runs, too, just to make sure it was actually doing something, and the difference was significant. It also added some lateral rigidity to help me from twisting my knees in bad ways. And as you go, the device learns your ski style and continues to adapt to you. By my third run, it felt absolutely seamless.
Currently, the software is only designed for skiing, but I talked Roam into letting me try it on a snowboard anyway. I switched it into its most reactive mode, and within one run, it was working perfectly. I could power through turns, stay crouched at will, and carve like crazy, but stay nimble enough to zigzag through tight trees. We were all astonished.
The only thing I really didn’t like about it is the noise. The air compressor isn’t exactly quiet, so I didn’t love going through an otherwise idyllic glade only to have constant farty sounds coming out of my backpack.
The Roam Elevate was supposed to be available for direct retail purchase for $3,500 this winter. Unfortunately, COVID-19 has delayed it indefinitely, along with Roam’s plans to add programs for snowboarding, hiking, running, and general mobility. We’re disappointed that this isn’t a product you can buy right now, but we’re excited that it’s a technology that exists.
Flaxta Behold Back Protector
Flaxta Behold back protector
This thing was just introduced in January 2020 and it immediately started cleaning up on design awards. Basically, it’s a low-profile vest with a built-in back protector panel. The panel looks like it’s just a web of small rubber dots with holes in them. The thing is, it’s not just plain rubber, it’s a Nitrile Butadiene Rubber (NBR), which is what’s known as a viscoelastic polymer. Basically, it acts sort of like a non-Newtonian fluid. When worn it bends freely with your back, but when it takes a high-energy impact it deforms and stiffens at the same time, so it both absorbs and spreads out the impact. Because it’s so thin and it breathes so well (due to all the holes in it), my back didn’t get sweaty at all and I completely forgot that I had it on.
Spinal injuries are far too common in snow-sports. If you spend time in the terrain park, in the trees, or around rocks, or if you have a kid who is just learning, this is a cheap insurance policy. (Unfortunately, at the time of writing, there were no women’s sizes available; according to the company, they should be available again soon.)
Flaxta Behold - Men / Vest with back protector panel $188 at Flaxta
Flaxta Behold - Women / Vest with back protector panel $188 at Flaxta
Flaxta Behold - Junior / Vest with back protector panel $118 at Flaxta
Bindings and Wax
Now Drive
The special thing here is a refined version of what Now calls Skate Tech, which is designed to make a snowboard turn more like a skateboard. It essentially steals from the design of skate trucks (the mechanism that connects the wheels to the board) and uses leverage to transfer force to the edges of your board more efficiently.
I thought this sounded like marketing hype, but I wanted to try it for myself, and I couldn’t believe it. The first few runs I found myself accidentally overturning the board like crazy and skidding out. It took noticeably less effort to get the board onto its rail, and the result was that, once I got the hang of it, I found I was able to keep my turns quick and sharp even as my legs were getting tired toward the end of the day.
Now Drive / Snowboard binding $370 at REI
Mountain Flow Eco Wax
Yes, really, an innovation in wax, and it’s not a small one, either. Nearly all ski waxes are made from petroleum. We may apply it to our skis or boards several times a season. But why do we have to reapply? Because the wax rubs off onto the snow, and when that snow melts in the spring, all of those nasty chemicals go into our rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and oceans. It’s bad.
Mountain Flow is the first plant-based wax in North America. What are the downsides, you ask? There aren’t any, from what I can tell. It comes in all the same temperature-rated hot waxes and rub-on waxes you’d expect, it’s just as fast as petroleum-based wax, and it actually costs less than other premium waxes. Some resorts are starting to make the switch for their rental and demo fleets. This is one of those products that’s greener and better than the alternatives.
Mountain Flow Eco-Wax / Ski / snowboard wax $16 at Backcountry
Outerwear
Ride Lasso Pro boots
We all have feet that are picky in their own ways, but for my money, Ride makes the most comfortable boots I’ve ever worn. The Lasso Pro is a completely new model for the 2020-2021 season.
It’s a stiffer boot (for better response), yet it still remains extremely comfy. It integrates Boa’s brand new H4 dial into Ride’s “Tongue Tied” system, which does a better job of gluing your heel down than anything else on the market, while the H4 Boa offers more granular adjustment and added safety (it will release but not break on a hard impact). The boot also has heat-reflective foil in the footbed to keep your feet toasty. (Note: there are no women’s sizes available; they may be introduced next year.)
Ride Lasso Pro / Snowboarding boots $360 at Backcountry
Helly-Hansen Odin Infinity Shell Jacket
Most shell jackets achieve their waterproofness through chemical treatments that are applied in the manufacturing process. Not only are these generally pretty nasty for the environment, but they rub off over time and your garment becomes less waterproof. This is Helly Hansen’s first jacket using their patented LIFA Infinity Pro material. It’s a three-layer fabric, woven so that it doesn’t require any additional water-repelling chemicals to keep rain or snow from seeping through. Water beaded off it on a very rainy day, and it was wind-proof, but it still breathed nicely. It isn’t quite as comfy or light as the North Face’s soft Futurelight material, but after just 10 days of mountain testing, that jacket had several new vents (read: holes), so it was disqualified. The Odin feels bulletproof by comparison. (Note: Currently, the Odin Mountain Infinity Shell Jacket is not available in women’s sizes.)
Odin Infinity Shell Jacket - Men / Shell Jacket $700 at Helly Hansen
Dynafit FT Insulation Jacket
How about some NASA-developed tech in a ski jacket? This jacket looks like pretty much any other ribbed, puffy jacket — the difference here is what the puff is made of: Primaloft Cross Core with Aerogel. I have tested several Aerogel jackets over the years; they’ve always been stiff and uncomfortable, and they don’t breathe at all.
This doesn’t have any of those downsides. Rather than using discs made of Aerogel, Primaloft developed a way to integrate it into the fibers, which makes the jacket incredibly warm for the weight, but unlike other Aerogel jackets, you can still ball it up and stuff it in a backpack.
Dynafit FT Insulation Women’s Jacket / Insulated jacket From $210 at Amazon
Dynafit FT Insulation Men’s Jacket / Insulated jacket $300 at Backcountry
Gordini Rally Gloves
Gloves only keep your hands warm when you have them on. At this point, I won’t use gloves that aren’t touchscreen-compatible and dexterous enough to actually type a message. The Rally gloves are great for that, and they check my other important boxes, such as being warm and waterproof, having a zipper compartment for hand warmers, and having removable liners that are also touchscreen-compatible. I’ve spent years looking for these gloves.
There is no version for women; if you have smaller hands, you can either try the smaller size of the Rally, or look to the Motive Women’s gloves, which are (according to a company rep) the exact same glove.
Gordini Rally Gloves / Touchscreen-compatible gloves $63 at Gordini
Gordini Motive Women’s Gloves / Touchscreen-compatible gloves $63 at Gordini
Protection
Sweet Protection Switcher MIPS Helmet
Sweet Protection Switcher MIPS Helmet
This helmet has 22 vents which can all be opened and closed by degrees with the twist of a single knob. The ear pads are audio-ready, and the chin buckle snaps together with magnets, making it easy to buckle and unbuckle, even with thick gloves on.
Most important is the safety factor. It has a MIPS (Multi-directional Impact Protection System), which decreases rotational impacts on the brain (a leading cause of brain injury) during crashes, and it has strategically-placed impact panels in the places where your head is most vulnerable to offer additional protection. It’s good-looking, too.
Sweet Protection Switch MIPS Helmet / Protective helmet $270 at Sweet Protection
You wouldn’t think something as simple as a face mask would make this list, but this one is rather ingenious. It’s made from a soft merino wool, and the part that covers your mouth and nose is perforated, so the moisture of your breath doesn’t steam up your goggles. The real innovation here, though, is an additional cuff made of windproof Polartec. When it really gets cold (or windy), you can flip it up to protect your mouth and nose. It’s the best face protector I’ve ever used.
Turtle Fur QuattroClava / Face mask $45 at Turtle Fur
Julbo Aerospace Goggles
These goggles have photochromic lenses, which means they automatically get darker when ambient light increases, and then get lighter when the clouds come out. It’s true that Julbo isn’t the first to have those, by a long shot. What makes these special is the unique venting design. The lens itself pops forward a bit, leaving a gap between the lens and your face where air can flow freely. Why would you want this? Because when your face starts overheating your goggles are going to fog up, and then you can’t see. This gives the lens (and your face) space to breathe.
I wore these while splitboarding and doing some inbound hikes this winter, and they were feeling great, while my friends were pulling their goggles off or switching to sunglasses.
Julbo Aerospace Goggles / Google with photochromatic lenses $250 at Backcountry
Unicorn Picnic Koala Goggle Covers
If you go to a ski resort this year, you will see a new trend: the goggle sock. Basically, it’s a protective cover you put on your goggles while they’re still on your helmet, so you don’t have to tuck them away or worry about them getting scratched.
These are the best ones I’ve found. Unicorn Picnic managed to get its hands on a big box of goggle covers that were designed for the military, but were just going to be thrown out. They have plenty of padding to protect the lens, but it tucks away in your jacket pocket. An arm on each side clicks to your goggle straps like a snap bracelet, holding them there securely, and they even have an integrated shammy. The cute koala graphic was designed by pro skier Lynsey Dyer, and proceeds go to nonprofits aimed at teaching women and girls of all backgrounds outdoor skills.
If you’re going to drop a couple hundred on your goggles, you should protect them. This batch is a limited run, but if they sell out I was assured that they would make more. You still might want to act quickly.
Unicorn Picnic Koala Goggle Covers / Goggle covers $25 at Unicorn Picnic
Audio / Visual
Smith x Aleck Wireless Audio Kit Photo: Smith
Made for helmets that support audio, the Smith x Aleck Wireless Audio Kit is a new product that stands out in a couple of ways. For starters, it actually sounds good! I’ve tried two other brands’ helmet audio systems and they both sounded tinny and terrible. This kit delivers much clearer sound, more prominent bass, and there’s an EQ in the app.
The app is where the other part of the magic lies. Once you set up an account you can create a group with your friends. Not only will it display everybody’s position on a map, but you can use the button on the left headphone to communicate with the group walkie-talkie style. Now, this only works if you (and everybody else) has cellular data, which isn’t always a sure thing at ski resorts. Even without that, it’s worth it for the audio quality and the comfort. It’s definitely going to be my most-used audio communications solution this coming season (especially now that my friends bought some, too).
Smith X Aleck Wireless Audio Kit / In-helmet audio system $130 at REI
Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge
If you don’t spend tons of time on the slopes, then it can be hard to justify spending 200 bucks for some in-helmet audio. For most people, I say get something that you can use on the hill and on the plane, and just in everyday life. The Jabra Elite 75t are fully wireless Bluetooth earbuds. They’re small, and they each have one large button on the back so I can wear them comfortably under my helmet (which you’ll want to do so they don’t fall out), and click the button right through my ear flap.
The audio quality is excellent, with rich, distinctive tones and tons of bass (and there’s an EQ in Jabra’s app). You get up to 7.5 hours on a single charge, and with the charging case you can get up to 28 hours. Most importantly for skiing and snowboarding, there’s a “Hear Through” function, which uses the built-in mic to play the sounds around you, giving you more situational awareness, which is extremely important for riding around other people (and yes, it works through the helmet, too). Jabra now has an Active version: the Elite Active 75t, which adds waterproofing. I haven’t tested those yet, but if all else is equal, it would be worth going with those.
Jabra Elite 75t / Fully wireless Bluetooth earbuds $180 at Amazon
BCA BC Link 2.0 Radio
It used to be that if you were going into the backcountry you really needed three things: a beacon, a shovel, and a probe. These days, many guide outfits are adding a fourth thing to that list: a two-way radio. It’s the fastest and most reliable way to communicate in the backcountry.
The BC Link 2.0 packs a whopping 2 watts of power into its signal, which gives you 6 miles of reliable communication range (depending on line of sight), and it sounds loud and clear. The radio itself stows in your backpack, while the part with the mic, speaker, and volume controls clips to your backpack strap. It’s easy to use, and extremely rugged, offering days of battery life. I’ve even seen people starting to use these around resorts with limited cell signal.
BCA BC Link Two-Way Radio 2.0 / Two-way radio $175 at Amazon
GoPro Hero9 Black
Skiing and snowboarding are both activities that are made for video, but I’ve always struggled with standard action cameras to really capture the whole picture. The GoPro Max isn’t perfect, but it’s the best camera I’ve ever used for self-capturing snowboarding. You can shoot in 360 degrees, and then play director later on, adjusting the camera angles and zoom, to show your audience what it was really like to be there. The files can still be a pain to deal with, but for capturing as much as possible of your experience, this is the camera to beat.
That being said, if you plan to spend a lot of time filming other people, then the GoPro Hero9 Black would be the better camera because of its 4K capabilities, excellent image stabilization, and ultra smooth slow-motion capabilities. It’s also vastly simpler on the post-production side.
GoPro Max / Video camera $400 at GoPro
GoPro Hero9 Black / Video camera $350 at GoPro
Bags
Now that you’ve got all of this new stuff, you need a way to get it to the slopes.
It’s actually not easy to find a good backpack for skiing or boarding. I’ve tested at least a half dozen, and the Mission 25L Pro has more of the features I look for than the rest. It’s spacious enough for everything you could want for a day in or out of bounds. Plenty of room for a shovel and probe, plus extra layers, food, and it has a fleece-lined goggle pocket, but it’s slim enough that you can wear it on a chairlift if it isn’t absolutely stuffed.
It also has vertical or horizontal carry for snowboards and diagonal carry for skis. It’s compatible with hydration systems (the hose integrates into your backpack strap, which helps keep it from icing up), and has an optional spine protector insert. When I fly, it has plenty of room for my 15-inch laptop, Sony A7R III, cables, and all the other stuff I need for work, too. My only gripe is that previous generations had a pocket down toward each hip, and the additional storage/organization would be appreciated.
Dakine Mission Pro 25L Backpack / Daypack $130 at Amazon
Whew. All right. That’s my list. Obviously, a lot of these things are down to personal preference, but my job has afforded me the privilege of testing out some of the highest-rated stuff out there, and this list represents most of my favorites. Do with it what you will.
Update October 27th, 12:33PM ET: This article has been updated to add that there are no women’s sizes for the Odin Mountain Infinity Shell Jacket and that the Roam exoskeleton isn’t available for retail purchase (Roam does currently offer medical equipment).
Update October 29th, 5:20PM ET: The article has been updated to add the Gordini Motive Women’s Gloves.


theverge--2020-10-26--Apple reportedly plans revamped AirPods for as early as next year

Apple is developing revamped versions of its AirPods and AirPods Pro true wireless earbuds , Bloomberg reports , the first of which could be announced as early as next year .
Both will reportedly feature new designs , as well as upgraded wireless chips .
Bloomberg also notes that Apple ’ s long-rumored over-ear headphones are still in development , and that the company has internally discussed plans to introduce a third HomePod speaker to sit between the $ 299 HomePod and the newly-announced $ 99 HomePod mini .
According to the report , Apple ’ s second-generation AirPods Pro @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a hallmark of the AirPods ’ design since their introduction in 2016 .
They ’ ll reportedly still feature noise-cancellation , but with a design that ’ s more similar to the likes of Samsung ’ s Galaxy Buds Plus , or Google ’ s Pixel Buds .
Fitting everything into a smaller housing has been a challenge for the company , Bloomberg reports , meaning this design could change .
The new AirPods could have Pro-style ear tips The entry-level AirPods , meanwhile , will reportedly adopt elements of the AirPods Pro @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stem and replaceable ear-tips .
Better battery life is also said to be on the way .
The third-generation earbuds , which follow the second-gen model from March 2019 , could be announced as early as the first half of next year , Bloomberg notes .
Alongside the new true wireless earbuds , Bloomberg says Apple ’ s over-ear headphones are still in development .
The design has reportedly changed to reduce the side of the external touch pads , as well as the amount of swappable parts it has ( the replaceable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the headband ) .
The headphones were reportedly due to go into production a few weeks ago , but this had to be pushed back due to a problem with the headband being too tight .
Finally , Bloomberg also reports that Apple has internally discussed adding a third HomePod speaker to its lineup .
However , development is thought to be in its early stages , and the speaker may not end up being released .
Almost a year on from the launch of the AirPods Pro , and a year and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it makes sense that Apple is planning upgraded models .
The new AirPods sound like they ’ re inheriting some of the design benefits of the Pros , while a more compact design for the AirPods Pro should make them work better in more situations .

Apple is developing revamped versions of its AirPods and AirPods Pro true wireless earbuds, Bloomberg reports, the first of which could be announced as early as next year. Both will reportedly feature new designs, as well as upgraded wireless chips. Bloomberg also notes that Apple’s long-rumored over-ear headphones are still in development, and that the company has internally discussed plans to introduce a third HomePod speaker to sit between the $299 HomePod and the newly-announced $99 HomePod mini.
According to the report, Apple’s second-generation AirPods Pro could ditch the stem that has been a hallmark of the AirPods’ design since their introduction in 2016. They’ll reportedly still feature noise-cancellation, but with a design that’s more similar to the likes of Samsung’s Galaxy Buds Plus, or Google’s Pixel Buds. Fitting everything into a smaller housing has been a challenge for the company, Bloomberg reports, meaning this design could change.
The new AirPods could have Pro-style ear tips
The entry-level AirPods, meanwhile, will reportedly adopt elements of the AirPods Pro’s design, with a shorter stem and replaceable ear-tips. Better battery life is also said to be on the way. The third-generation earbuds, which follow the second-gen model from March 2019, could be announced as early as the first half of next year, Bloomberg notes.
Alongside the new true wireless earbuds, Bloomberg says Apple’s over-ear headphones are still in development. The design has reportedly changed to reduce the side of the external touch pads, as well as the amount of swappable parts it has (the replaceable ear pads may remain, but not the headband). The headphones were reportedly due to go into production a few weeks ago, but this had to be pushed back due to a problem with the headband being too tight.
Finally, Bloomberg also reports that Apple has internally discussed adding a third HomePod speaker to its lineup. However, development is thought to be in its early stages, and the speaker may not end up being released.


theverge--2020-10-26--Samsung heir absent from bribery retrial following father’s death

Samsung Electronics vice-chairman Lee Jae-yong was not in attendance for a scheduled court hearing Monday after the death of his father , Samsung chairman Lee Kun-hee , was announced yesterday .
Yonhap reports that the conglomorate ’ s de facto leader and presumed heir had asked the Seoul High Court to permit him to attend the funeral .
Samsung has said that the wake will last four days with a family-only funeral taking place on Wednesday , according to The Korea Herald .
Lee Kun-hee had been incapacitated by a 2014 heart attack , with his son Lee Jae-yong — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ West — widely expected to take over .
The younger Lee , however , is facing the resumption of a bribery case that has dogged him over recent years .
He was sentenced to five years in jail in 2017 for his role in the sweeping bribery scandal that brought down former South Korean president Park Geun-hye ; he was then freed on appeal the next year with most of the charges dismissed .
But the case was sent back to a lower court for retrial to take into account alleged bribes that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The next hearing is planned to take place on November 9th , Yonhap reports .

Samsung Electronics vice-chairman Lee Jae-yong was not in attendance for a scheduled court hearing Monday after the death of his father, Samsung chairman Lee Kun-hee, was announced yesterday. Yonhap reports that the conglomorate’s de facto leader and presumed heir had asked the Seoul High Court to permit him to attend the funeral.
Samsung has said that the wake will last four days with a family-only funeral taking place on Wednesday, according to The Korea Herald. Lee Kun-hee had been incapacitated by a 2014 heart attack, with his son Lee Jae-yong — known as Jay Y. Lee in the West — widely expected to take over.
The younger Lee, however, is facing the resumption of a bribery case that has dogged him over recent years. He was sentenced to five years in jail in 2017 for his role in the sweeping bribery scandal that brought down former South Korean president Park Geun-hye; he was then freed on appeal the next year with most of the charges dismissed. But the case was sent back to a lower court for retrial to take into account alleged bribes that hadn’t previously been ruled on.


theverge--2020-10-26--Lenovo’s Chromebook Duet is almost $80 off its original price at Walmart

Only the best deals on Verge-approved gadgets get the Verge Deals stamp of approval , so if you 're looking for a deal on your next gadget or gift from major retailers like Amazon , Walmart , Best Buy , Target , and more , this is the place to be .
Lenovo ’ s Chromebook Duet is an excellent choice if you ’ re looking for a portable Chromebook , and it ’ s far less expensive than usual today at Walmart .
You can pick up the base model with 64GB of internal storage for $ 204 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ normally sells for $ 279 , but it ’ s been available for less since it launched .
My colleague Monica Chin wrote a review for this model , praising its 11-hour battery life and the fact that even though it ’ s a technically a tablet , it includes a keyboard and kickstand with purchase to make it easy to use as a laptop .
Monica mentions , though , that it doesn ’ t have a headphone jack , so you ’ ll need either a set of USB-C wired earbuds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s not a powerful machine , with 4GB of RAM and not a whole lot of storage .
A dearth of storage usually isn ’ t a huge deal for a Chromebook since most apps are accessed online , but if you plan to travel with it and store movies and games , it might be a concern .
If that concern has you wishing for more storage , Best Buy has the 128GB model discounted from its usual $ 300 price down to $ 269 .
Given that these models @ @ @ @ @ @ @ storage capacity differences — an extra $ 65 may seem steep .
But if you need it , this deal ’ s here at Best Buy .
Best Buy is also offering a small deal on Nintendo Switch Online yearly subscriptions .
It isn ’ t knocking anything from the $ 20 it costs to subscribe to the service for one year , but you ’ ll get a $ 5 Best Buy gift card with purchase today .
The same goes for Switch Online family memberships that allow up to eight users @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 35 and comes with a $ 5 Best Buy gift card .
Switch Online gives you access to an expanding trove of NES and SNES classic games .
The service also allows you to back up select game saves in the cloud , and it lets you play online multiplayer games .
One of the best gaming laptops released this year is the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 , and it ’ s $ 250 off its usual $ 1,450 price at Best Buy .
It has a slick design , great keyboard and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exceeds that of most power-hungry gaming laptops .
Additionally , it ’ s great at gaming as you ’ d expect .
What makes today ’ s deal at Best Buy particularly good is that this model is a match for the one my colleague Monica Chin tested in this review .
It has a 14-inch 120Hz refresh rate display , AMD ’ s fast Ryzen 9 4900HS , Nvidia ’ s RTX 2060 Max-Q GPU , 16GB of RAM , and a 1TB PCIe-based SSD .
Its downsides could be deal-breakers for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t have a webcam .
Monica also reported that the CPU can get hot under pressure , so keep that in mind .

One of the best gaming laptops released this year is the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14, and it’s $250 off its usual $1,450 price at Best Buy. It has a slick design, great keyboard and trackpad, and the battery life far exceeds that of most power-hungry gaming laptops. Additionally, it’s great at gaming as you’d expect.
What makes today’s deal at Best Buy particularly good is that this model is a match for the one my colleague Monica Chin tested in this review. It has a 14-inch 120Hz refresh rate display, AMD’s fast Ryzen 9 4900HS, Nvidia’s RTX 2060 Max-Q GPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB PCIe-based SSD.
Its downsides could be deal-breakers for you. The Zephyrus G14 doesn’t have a webcam. Monica also reported that the CPU can get hot under pressure, so keep that in mind.
Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 $ 1200 $ 1650 27 % off $ 1200 $ 1200 $ 1650 27 % off 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. $1200 at Best Buy
Best Buy is also offering a small deal on Nintendo Switch Online yearly subscriptions. It isn’t knocking anything from the $20 it costs to subscribe to the service for one year, but you’ll get a $5 Best Buy gift card with purchase today. The same goes for Switch Online family memberships that allow up to eight users per subscription. It’s $35 and comes with a $5 Best Buy gift card. Switch Online gives you access to an expanding trove of NES and SNES classic games. The service also allows you to back up select game saves in the cloud, and it lets you play online multiplayer games.
Photo by Monica Chin / The Verge
Lenovo’s Chromebook Duet is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a portable Chromebook, and it’s less expensive than usual today at Best Buy. You can pick up the upgraded model with 128GB of internal storage for $270. It normally sells for $300.
My colleague Monica Chin wrote a review for this model, praising its 11-hour battery life and the fact that even though it’s a technically a tablet, it includes a keyboard and kickstand with purchase to make it easy to use as a laptop. Monica mentions, though, that it doesn’t have a headphone jack, so you’ll need either a set of USB-C wired earbuds or wireless Bluetooth headphones. Also, it’s not a powerful machine, with 4GB of RAM.
Lenovo Chromebook Duet $ 249 $ 299 17 % off $ 249 $ 249 $ 299 17 % off The Chromebook Duet boasts long battery life and has a 16:10 aspect ratio display to fit more content on the screen at once. The Duet can be used as a tablet or a laptop. On the downside, it has just one USB-C port and no 3.5mm headphone jack. $249 at Best Buy


theverge--2020-10-26--PSA: Your new iPhone 12 or 12 Pro might need contact tracing re-enabled

Getting a new phone is exciting , but it can also lead to spending an annoying amount of time adjusting settings , permissions and notifications for all your apps .
Cloud backups are supposed to make this process easier , but they don ’ t always catch everything – for instance , you ’ ll want to double-check that COVID-19 exposure notifications are still enabled on your new iPhone 12 if you restored from a backup .
They might not be , according to BBC News .
If you ’ re concerned you might be affected , you can re-enable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Settings app , selecting Exposure Notifications , and clicking “ Turn On Exposure Notifications.
” Users first noticed issues with the official National Health Service ( NHS ) contact tracing app in the UK .
When some iPhone 12 and 12 Pro owners tried to open the app after restoring an earlier iPhone backup , they were presented with an error message .
Deleting and redownloading the app seemed to solve the problem by prompted the users to re-enable COVID-19 exposure notifications — but also deleted all the locations the users had previously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clear if this issue is exclusive to iPhone 12 models or if restoring any iPhone from a backup might turn off the setting : we ’ re asking Apple and will update you with what we hear .
When we restored one of our own iPhone 12 phones from a backup , we did notice exposure notifications were turned off — so we suspect the issue might be at a system level rather than with specific apps like NHS .
The exposure notification system was originally announced in April and uses your phone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if you ’ ve come in contact with someone who ’ s tested positive for COVID-19 .
The resulting notification can also direct you to up-to-date COVID-19 information online and where you can schedule a test for yourself .
Contact tracing , whether automatic or conducted manually , is not a magic bullet to get COVID-19 outbreaks under control .
But it is one of many steps , including a robust and easily accessible testing program , that can help you find out if you ’ ve been infected sooner so that you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Re-enabling these notifications is a low effort way – along with wearing masks and washing your hands – to keep people out of harm ’ s way .

Getting a new phone is exciting, but it can also lead to spending an annoying amount of time adjusting settings, permissions and notifications for all your apps. Cloud backups are supposed to make this process easier, but they don’t always catch everything – for instance, you’ll want to double-check that COVID-19 exposure notifications are still enabled on your new iPhone 12 if you restored from a backup. They might not be, according to BBC News.
If you’re concerned you might be affected, you can re-enable exposure notifications in iOS by opening the Settings app, selecting Exposure Notifications, and clicking “Turn On Exposure Notifications.”
Users first noticed issues with the official National Health Service (NHS) contact tracing app in the UK. When some iPhone 12 and 12 Pro owners tried to open the app after restoring an earlier iPhone backup, they were presented with an error message. Deleting and redownloading the app seemed to solve the problem by prompted the users to re-enable COVID-19 exposure notifications — but also deleted all the locations the users had previously checked into.
It’s not clear if this issue is exclusive to iPhone 12 models or if restoring any iPhone from a backup might turn off the setting: we’re asking Apple and will update you with what we hear. When we restored one of our own iPhone 12 phones from a backup, we did notice exposure notifications were turned off — so we suspect the issue might be at a system level rather than with specific apps like NHS.
The exposure notification system was originally announced in April and uses your phone’s Bluetooth to let you know if you’ve come in contact with someone who’s tested positive for COVID-19. The resulting notification can also direct you to up-to-date COVID-19 information online and where you can schedule a test for yourself.


theverge--2020-10-26--Samsung’s original Galaxy Fold adds some of the Z Fold 2’s smartest features for free

One of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 ’ s coolest new features was the ability to use the phone ’ s front display as a viewfinder for the back cameras , which could be really useful for things lining up higher-quality selfies .
If you ’ ve wanted that handy way to take better selfies but have been holding on to the original Galaxy Fold , you ’ re in luck : Samsung is bringing that selfie functionality and a number of other features from the Z Fold 2 to the first Fold through a software update that ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ isn ’ t just getting a new way to take selfies .
The update also brings Capture View Mode , which lets you frame a photo with one half of the Fold ’ s main screen and review up to five of the latest photos or videos you ’ ve taken on the other half .
And Pro Video mode will now let you capture video in a 21:9 aspect ratio and at 24 fps .
The original Fold also gets a few features from the Z Fold 2 intended to improve productivity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lets you set a shortcut to launch up to three apps at once in your preferred split-screen layout .
That means that if you like to have Twitter open on one half of your screen and YouTube on the other , you can make a shortcut to launch those apps together and set up the way you like them .
You now can arrange split-screen windows horizontally , too , Samsung ’ s blog notes that the launch date and the features included with the update “ may vary by carrier or market @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may not be available for your Fold just yet .
Samsung tells The Verge it ’ s looking into when the update will be available in the US .

One of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2’s coolest new features was the ability to use the phone’s front display as a viewfinder for the back cameras, which could be really useful for things lining up higher-quality selfies. If you’ve wanted that handy way to take better selfies but have been holding on to the original Galaxy Fold, you’re in luck: Samsung is bringing that selfie functionality and a number of other features from the Z Fold 2 to the first Fold through a new software update.
Samsung tells The Verge the update is available globally as of Monday, though Samsung’s blog notes that the launch date and the features included with the update “may vary by carrier or market,” so it may not be available for your Fold just yet. The update will start rolling out in the US next week, according to an update to the announcement blog made after the original publication of this story.
Samsung will let you use the front screen as a viewfinder for the Fold’s back cameras. Image: Samsung
With the new Fold update, Samsung’s foldable phone isn’t just getting a new way to take selfies. The update also brings Capture View Mode, which lets you frame a photo with one half of the Fold’s main screen and review up to five of the latest photos or videos you’ve taken on the other half. And Pro Video mode will now let you capture video in a 21:9 aspect ratio and at 24 fps.
The original Fold also gets a few features from the Z Fold 2 intended to improve productivity. App Pair, for example, lets you set a shortcut to launch up to three apps at once in your preferred split-screen layout. That means that if you like to have Twitter open on one half of your screen and YouTube on the other, you can make a shortcut to launch those apps together and set up the way you like them. You now can arrange split-screen windows horizontally, too,