theverge--2020-09-23--PlayStation 5: Everything you need to know about Sony’s next consoles

PlayStation 5 : Everything you need to know about Sony ’ s next consoles Share All sharing options for : PlayStation 5 : Everything you need to know about Sony ’ s next consoles The next generation of PlayStation is nearly here .
After more than a year of drip-feeding information about the PlayStation 5 , Sony has finally laid out the price , release date , and some of the games we can expect to play at launch .
With the PS5 , it seems like Sony is sticking with the approach that made the PlayStation 4 so successful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ games from Sony ’ s storied franchises , and supplement that lineup with great third-party titles , too .
You should expect to see better graphics in your games , and the PS5 will also support high refresh rates , which should make games feel smoother ( if you have a display that supports those refresh rates ) .
Plus , the PS5 ’ s custom SSD promises to offer such a leap forward in loading speeds that it could change the way games are designed .
Microsoft also has a powerful console @ @ @ @ @ @ @ promises better graphics and faster loading times , but it ’ s also selling the somewhat lower-powered Xbox Series S. The company continues to make Xbox Game Pass , its Netflix-like game subscription service , one of the best deals in gaming , and it doesn ’ t mind whether you play its games on an Xbox or a PC .
And while the PS5 will play most PS4 titles , the new Xbox consoles boast backwards compatibility with not only Xbox One but also many Xbox 360 titles and some OG Xbox @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to wait and see which console proves to be the better buy .
But here ’ s everything we know right now about what Sony has to offer .
There are actually two PS5 consoles , but they ’ re largely the same Like Microsoft , Sony is actually selling two versions of its upcoming next-generation console .
But unlike Microsoft , the only thing that differentiates those two versions is whether it has a disc drive and how much each one costs .
The console is powered by a custom eight-core @ @ @ @ @ @ @ AMD Radeon RDNA 2-based GPU that will provide 10.28 teraflops of raw graphical power .
The PS5 also uses variable frequencies on both the PS5 ’ s CPU and GPU , which could theoretically push the graphics to run slightly faster than normal when the CPU isn ’ t running at peak .
Though it sounds like the difference is minimal based on this technical presentation ( skip to 35:30 ) : And that game-changing SSD I mentioned earlier ?
It has 825GB of storage and 5.5GB/s of throughput — which could be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ levels without things like elevator rides or winding corridors that actually mask levels loading in the background .
If you want to expand the console ’ s storage , though , you ’ ll only be able to do so with a Sony-certified M.2 SSD .
PS5 lead system architect Mark Cerny said those certifications will happen “ a bit past ” the console ’ s launch .
The Xbox Series X will also have a custom SSD , one with a full 1TB of NVMe storage but a lesser throughput of 2.4GB/s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Xbox Series X has slower loading times than the PS5 , but it depends on a variety of factors — and since the consoles aren ’ t actually out yet , we can ’ t do a head-to-head comparison .
The PS5 supports up to 8K output and promises 4K graphics at up to a 120Hz refresh rate .
It will also support 3D audio , which Sony said will let you “ see with sound ” in a commercial shared in August .
We don ’ t know exactly how 3D audio @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and it ’ s worth mentioning Sony also tried to sell it as a feature on the PS4 , so we ’ ll have to wait to see just how much better 3D audio on the PS5 might be or if the $ 100 Pulse 3D wireless headset that ’ s “ fine-tuned for 3D Audio on PS5 consoles ” is more than just marketing .
The PS5 will have three USB-A ports — one on the front , two on the back — and one USB-C port on the front .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the back of the console and 802.11ac Wi-Fi ( aka Wi-Fi 5 ) .
All of that hardware is packed into the biggest game console in modern history .
Seriously .
The one with the disc drive is approximately 390mm x 104mm x 260mm — about 15.4 inches tall , 4.1 inches deep , and 10.2 inches wide .
Compare that to the Xbox Series X ( the larger of Microsoft ’ s next-generation consoles ) , which is 301mm x 151mm x 151mm .
Just check out this rough size comparison @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yellow and blue , while the Xbox consoles , including the diminutive Xbox Series S , are green and red .
The new DualSense is Sony ’ s biggest controller change in years Sony ’ s DualShock controllers have generally kept a similar design from generation to generation , but the PS5 ’ s new DualSense controller is the first PlayStation controller that doesn ’ t look anything like the original .
While the DualSense does have the basic layout PlayStation fans are familiar with — a directional pad and buttons on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the bottom , and the center touch bar from the DualShock 4 — the whole shape of the DualSense is new , with pointer handles and broader lines , and the controller itself has a striking two-tone design .
Traditional rumble has been replaced with haptic feedback , which should give you different levels of feedback depending on what ’ s happening in your game .
The controller also has “ adaptive triggers ” that can simulate different resistances , which could be used to do things like add tension when you ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ DualSense also has a built-in microphone , instead of just the speaker included in the DualShock 4 , and it ’ s the first PlayStation controller with a USB-C port .
The DualShock 4 ’ s “ Share ” button , which lets you grab screenshots , take videos , and broadcast gameplay , has been replaced with the “ Create ” button , though we don ’ t know if the functionality will change all that much .
Additional DualSense controllers will run you $ 69.99 each , which is a slight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paid for a DualShock 4 .
Sony is also selling a $ 29.99 charging dock that lets you charge two controllers at the same time .
We don ’ t know a lot about the PlayStation 5 ’ s interface We ’ ve only had a single , brief look at the PS5 ’ s interface ... if you can even call this a look : But while we can ’ t glean a lot from that , Sony ’ s VP of UX design at PlayStation , Matt MacLaurin , promised in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a “ 100 percent overhaul of the PS4 UI ” and that the OS is “ more subtle than flashy , but no pixel is untouched.
” You ’ ll have a few exclusive games to pick from at launch , and $ 70 is the new $ 60 Sony announced six first-party titles that will be available on launch day , November 12th : If you opt to keep your PS4 instead of upgrading to a PS5 , though , you won ’ t be missing out on all of those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sackboy : A Big Adventure will be available on PS4 .
Horizon Forbidden West , which maker Guerrilla Games is targeting for a 2021 launch , will also come to PS4 .
And if you buy any of these three games for your PS4 , Sony will give you a free upgrade to their PS5 versions .
However , if you buy the PS4 disc version of those games , you ’ ll only be able to play the PS5-upgraded version on a PS5 with a disc drive .
$ 70 is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a $ 69.99 price on some of Sony ’ s PS5 launch games .
No , your eyes are not deceiving you — some games will have a $ 10 increase from the $ 59.99 you might be used to paying for new games .
Although Sony says games from its studios will be priced between $ 49.99 and $ 69.99 moving forward , it seems likely that you ’ ll be paying at the high end of that spectrum more and more as the generation goes on .
In addition to Sony @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a handful of third-party titles available on the PS5 ’ s launch day , including : • Call of Duty : Black Ops Cold War ( technically the day after , November 13th ) Sony is also offering a collection of PS4 games that you can download and play on your PS5 at launch if you have a PlayStation Plus subscription .
Some of Sony ’ s biggest first-party PS4 hits are part of the collection , but there are a number of third-party titles in the mix , too .
Here ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sony has shown will be included : • The Last of Us Remastered There are already lots of PS5 games to look forward to While the list of brand-new PS5 games available on launch day is pretty short , there are a number of titles that should quickly round out the PS5 ’ s lineup into 2021 .
Ratchet & Clank : Rift Apart , the latest entry in the hit series from Insomniac Games , is set to launch sometime in PS5 ’ s “ launch window.
” We ’ ll hopefully @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2021 .
And Sony has announced a sequel to 2018 ’ s God of War that ’ s set to release in 2021 , too .
There are a lot of big third-party titles to look forward to in the PS5 ’ s life span as well , including Final Fantasy XVI , a PS5 exclusive ; Resident Evil Village , the eighth mainline game in the popular horror series that ’ s scheduled for 2021 ; Gran Turismo 7 ; Hogwarts Legacy , an open-world game set in the wizarding world of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nights at Freddy ’ s : Security Breach .
The PS5 is expected to be backwards compatible with many PS4 games The PS5 is “ 99 percent ” backwards compatible with PS4 games Sony has tested on it according to Sony PlayStation boss Jim Ryan .
While we don ’ t know exactly which games aren ’ t backwards compatible , it seems like a safe bet that the 18 games revealed for the PlayStation Plus collection will work on the PS5 if you already own them for PS4 .
And “ select @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are backwards compatible will see “ faster and smoother frame rates , ” Sony says .
If you want to play PS3 , PS2 , and PS1 games on the PS5 , though , it ’ s not clear if — or when — you might be able to do that .
( You won ’ t be able to at launch , at least . )
On the PS4 , you can only play games from those older consoles through Sony ’ s PlayStation Now game streaming service .
And even then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of games for streaming .
Sony said in October 2019 that it planned to bring PS Now to PS5 , but it hasn ’ t said when — so until that ’ s available , you might want to hold onto an older console if you want to play older PlayStation games .
How much does the PlayStation 5 cost , and when does it go on sale ?
For $ 499.99 , you can buy a PS5 with a 4K Blu-ray drive .
But for $ 100 less , at $ 399.99 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PS5 ( which also looks noticeably thinner than its more expensive sibling ) .
Both consoles launch on November 12th in the US , Japan , Mexico , Australia , New Zealand , and South Korea .
They ’ ll launch on November 19th in the rest of the world .
The one exception is China — Sony says it will announce a launch date for China in the future .
Preorders were technically supposed to start on September 17th , but many retailers started them a day early .
They ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sometimes selling out in less than a minute .
On September 19th , though , Sony promised that more consoles will be available over “ the next few days ” but didn ’ t share anything more concrete than that , saying that retailers would share more information .
So if you ’ re thinking about picking up a PS5 at launch , you might need a little luck .

Part of / The Verge guide to the PS5 and Xbox Series X
The next generation of PlayStation is finally here with the arrival of the PS5. This generation, it seems like Sony is sticking with the approach that made the PS4 so successful: sell consoles that can play first-party games from Sony’s storied franchises, and supplement that lineup with great third-party titles, too. You should expect to see better graphics in your games, and the PS5 will also support high refresh rates, which should make games feel smoother (if you have a display that supports those refresh rates). Plus, the PS5’s custom SSD promises to offer such a leap forward in loading speeds that it could change the way games are designed.
We’ve already reviewed the PS5, and it turns out that the console is pretty good. Its new controller is amazing, games load quickly, and the console has a more streamlined user interface than the PS4. We felt that it left a great first impression — even if there aren’t a lot of actual next-generation games to play just yet.
Microsoft also has a powerful console in the Xbox Series X, which promises better graphics and faster loading times, and it’s also selling the somewhat lower-powered Xbox Series S. The company continues to make Xbox Game Pass, its Netflix-like game subscription service, one of the best deals in gaming, and it doesn’t mind whether you play its games on an Xbox or a PC. And while the PS5 will play most PS4 titles, the new Xbox consoles boast backwards compatibility with not only Xbox One but also many Xbox 360 titles and some OG Xbox games as well.
We’ll have to wait and see which console proves to be the better buy in the long run. But if you want to learn more about what the PS5 offers right now, here’s everything we know. (And for even more information, check out Sony’s extensive PS5 FAQ.)
Left: the disc-based PS5. Right: the PS5 Digital Edition. Image: Sony
There are actually two PS5 consoles, but they’re largely the same
Like Microsoft, Sony is actually selling two versions of its upcoming next-generation console. For $499.99, you can buy a PS5 with a 4K Blu-ray drive. But for $100 less, at $399.99, you can buy the Digital Edition PS5 (which also looks noticeably thinner than its more expensive sibling). Unlike Microsoft, the only thing that differentiates those two versions is which console has a disc drive and how much each one costs.
The PS5 is powered by a custom eight-core AMD Zen 2 CPU and a custom AMD Radeon RDNA 2-based GPU that will provide 10.28 teraflops of raw graphical power. The console also uses variable frequencies on both the PS5’s CPU and GPU, which could theoretically push the graphics to run slightly faster than normal when the CPU isn’t running at peak. Though it sounds like the difference is minimal based on this technical presentation (skip to 35:30):
And that game-changing SSD I mentioned earlier? It has 825GB of storage and 5.5GB/s of throughput — which could be fast enough to let game developers build levels without things like elevator rides or winding corridors that actually mask levels loading in the background. Just look at how much faster PS5 games loaded than their PS4 versions in our testing:
PS5 load times Game PS5 PS4 Spider-Man: Miles Morales 17 seconds 1 minute, 27 seconds No Man's Sky 1 minute, 34 seconds 2 minutes, 52 seconds Final Fantasy VII Remake 35 seconds 1 minute, 29 seconds Genshin Impact 59 seconds 2 minutes, 57 seconds Ghost of Tsushima 1 minute, 4 seconds 1 minute, 10 seconds Days Gone 1 minute, 18 seconds 2 minutes, 54 seconds Death Stranding 54 seconds 1 minute, 50 seconds
You should know, though, that some of that 825GB of storage space is used up by system data, though, meaning that you actually have 667.2GB of usage space. And the ever-growing size of games means that you might fill up that usable space quickly. Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War takes up 133GB, for example, which is nearly 20 percent of the console’s available storage.
If you want to expand the PS5’s storage, you won’t be able to at launch, but at some point in the future, you’ll be able to slot in a Sony-certified M.2 SSD. We’re not exactly sure when that those SSDs might become available. Back in March, PS5 lead system architect Mark Cerny said the SSD certifications will likely happen “a bit past” the console’s launch.
The Xbox Series X will also have a custom SSD, one with 1TB of NVMe storage (of which 802GB is usable) but a lesser throughput of 2.4GB/s. That could wind up meaning the Xbox Series X has slower loading times than the PS5 in practice, but it depends on a variety of factors.
Fortnite, for example, loads four seconds faster on the PS5:
The Xbox Series X and S also have a big differentiator in Quick Resume, a feature that lets you hop between games in about 10 seconds or less. (Though it’s not available with every game.) On the PS5, you’ll probably be waiting a bit longer for things to load when jumping into a new game.
PS5 vs Xbox Series X vs Xbox Series S Categories PS5 PS5 (digital-only) Xbox Series X Xbox Series S CPU Eight Zen 2 Cores @ 3.5GHz with SMT (variable frequency) Eight Zen 2 Cores @ 3.5GHz with SMT (variable frequency) Eight-core AMD Zen 2 CPU @ 3.8GHz (3.6GHz with SMT enabled) Eight-core AMD Zen 2 CPU @ 3.6GHz (3.4GHz with SMT enabled) GPU AMD RDNA 2 GPU 36 CUs @ 2.23GHz (variable frequency) AMD RDNA 2 GPU 36 CUs @ 2.23GHz (variable frequency) AMD RDNA 2 GPU 52 CUs @ 1.825GHz AMD RDNA 2 GPU 20 CUs @ 1.565GHz GPU Power 10.28 TFLOPs 10.28 TFLOPs 12.15 TFLOPS 4 TFLOPS RAM 16GB GDDR6 RAM 16GB GDDR6 RAM 16GB GDDR6 RAM 10GB GDDR6 RAM Performance Target Target TBD. Up to 8K. Up to 120fps Target TBD. Up to 8K. Up to 120fps Target 4K @ 60fps. Up to 8K. Up to 120fps Target 1440p @ 60fps. Up to 120fps Storage 825GB PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSD (5.5GB/s uncompressed, typical 8-9GB/s compressed). Usable storage is 667.2GB 825GB PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSD (5.5GB/s uncompressed, typical 8-9GB/s compressed). Usable storage is 667.2GB 1TB PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSD (2.4GB/s uncompressed, 4.8GB/s compressed). Usable storage is 802GB 512GB PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSD (2.4GB/s uncompressed, 4.8GB/s compressed). Usable storage is 364GB Expandable Storage NVMe SSD slot NVMe SSD slot 1TB expansion card 1TB expansion card Backward Compatibility The "overwhelming majority" of the more than 4,000 PS4 games. Some PS3 and PS2 titles playable via PlayStation Now. The "overwhelming majority" of the more than 4,000 PS4 games. Some PS3 and PS2 titles playable via PlayStation Now. "Thousands" of Xbox One, Xbox 360, original Xbox games. Xbox One accessories. "Thousands" of Xbox One, Xbox 360, original Xbox games. Xbox One accessories. Disc Drive 4K UHD Blu-ray None 4K UHD Blu-ray None Display Out HDMI 2.1 HDMI 2.1 HDMI 2.1 HDMI 2.1 MSRP $499 / £449 / €499 $399 / £359 / €399 $499 / £449 / €499 $299 / £249 / €299
The PS5 supports up to 8K output and promises 4K graphics at up to a 120Hz refresh rate. The console’s improved horsepower also means that you can expect to see ray tracing, which can lead to more realistic effects in game environments like reflections in windows. Check out ray tracing Spider-Man: Remastered in this video from Tom Warren:
The PS5 also supports 3D audio, which Sony said will let you “see with sound” in a commercial shared in August. We don’t know exactly how 3D audio will be utilized in games just yet, and it’s worth mentioning Sony also tried to sell it as a feature on the PS4, so we’ll have to wait to see just how much better 3D audio on the PS5 might be or if the $100 Pulse 3D wireless headset that’s “fine-tuned for 3D Audio on PS5 consoles” is more than just marketing.
The PS5 has three USB-A ports — one on the front, two on the back — and one USB-C port on the front. There’s also an Ethernet port on the back of the console and 802.11ax Wi-Fi (aka Wi-Fi 6).
All of that hardware is packed into the biggest game console in modern history. Seriously. The one with the disc drive is approximately 390mm x 104mm x 260mm (about 15.4 inches tall, 4.1 inches deep, and 10.2 inches wide). Compare that to the Xbox Series X (the larger of Microsoft’s next-generation consoles), which is 301mm x 151mm x 151mm. And both consoles are much bigger than the diminutive Xbox Series S.
Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge
And reviews have found that all three of the new consoles are remarkably cool and quiet, which is a welcome difference for next-gen.
The DualSense controller might be the most next-gen part of the PS5
The PS5’s controller is a significant departure from the DualShock line that you might be familiar with from other PlayStation consoles. But it has a number of brand-new features that might make it the most interesting aspect of the PS5.
Let’s start with the design. Sony’s DualShock controllers have generally kept a similar design from generation to generation, but the PS5’s new DualSense controller is the first PlayStation controller that doesn’t look anything like the original. And while the DualSense does have the basic layout PlayStation fans are familiar with — a directional pad and buttons on the top half, two control sticks on the bottom, and the center touch bar from the DualShock 4 — the whole shape of the controller is new, with pointier handles and broader lines, and it all has a striking two-tone design.
The DualShock 4’s “Share” button, which lets you grab screenshots, take videos, and broadcast gameplay, has been changed to the “Create” button on the DualSense, though it has similar functionality. In an improvement from the PS4, though, the PS5 automatically captures the last 60 minutes of your gameplay (up from the 15 minutes) at 1080p resolution and 60fps. The PS5 also lets you manually capture gameplay in 4K, though you’ll have to tweak a setting to do so.
Image: Sony Image: Sony
It’s not just the look of the DualSense that’s new, though. Traditional rumble has been replaced with haptic feedback, which should give you different levels of feedback depending on what’s happening in your game. The controller also has “adaptive triggers” that can simulate different resistances, which could be used to do things like add tension when you’re pulling back a bow. And if you were curious, here’s a look at the mechanism inside the controller that enables those adaptive triggers to add resistance.
The mechanism in the DualSense’s adaptive triggers. TronicsFix (YouTube)
My colleagues Andrew Webster and Tom Warren have both been impressed by the DualSense. Andrew wrote an article covering how currently available PS5 games use the controller’s new features. In Fortnite, for example, you’ll feel different levels of resistance on the triggers based on what weapon you’re using. Tom also has a video demoing Astro’s Playroom, a game designed to show off the features of the DualSense that’s included with the PS5. (Andrew found that the game itself is pretty good, too.)
The DualSense also has a built-in microphone in addition to a speaker, but there’s still a 3.5mm headphone jack that you can plug headphones into if you prefer. It’s also the first Sony controller with a USB-C port.
If you want to buy more than one DualSense, additional controllers will run you $69.99 each, which is a slight increase from the $59.99 you originally paid for a DualShock 4. Sony is also selling a $29.99 charging dock that lets you charge two DualSense controllers at the same time.
You’ll have a few exclusive games to pick from at launch, and $70 is the new $60
Sony announced six first-party titles that will be available alongside the console:
Astro’s Playroom (Japan Studio) – pre-installed on PS5
Demon’s Souls (Bluepoint Games / Japan Studio) – $69.99
Destruction AllStars (Lucid Games / XDEV) – $69.99
Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales (Insomniac Games) – $49.99
Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales Ultimate Edition (Insomniac Games) – $69.99
Sackboy: A Big Adventure (Sumo Digital / XDEV) – $59.99
If you opt to keep your PS4 instead of upgrading to a PS5, though, you won’t be missing out on all of those games. Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Sackboy: A Big Adventure are available on PS4, and Sony also plans to release Horizon Forbidden West, the sequel to Horizon Zero Dawn, on the PS4.
And if you buy any of these three games for your PS4, Sony will give you a free upgrade to their PS5 versions. However, if you buy the PS4 disc version of those games, you’ll only be able to play the PS5-upgraded version on a PS5 with a disc drive.
$70 is the new $60
You might have noticed a $69.99 price on some of Sony’s PS5 launch games. No, your eyes are not deceiving you — some games will have a $10 increase from the $59.99 you might be used to paying for new games. Although Sony says games from its studios will be priced between $49.99 and $69.99 moving forward, it seems likely that you’ll be paying at the high end of that spectrum more and more as the generation goes on.
In addition to Sony’s titles, there will be a handful of third-party titles available as well, including:
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War (technically the day after, November 13th)
Devil May Cry 5: Special Edition
Fortnite
Observer: System Redux
Sony is also offering a collection of PS4 games that you can download and play on your PS5 at launch if you have a PlayStation Plus subscription. Some of Sony’s biggest first-party PS4 hits are part of the collection, but there are a number of third-party titles in the mix, too.
Here are the first-party games available as part of the collection:
Bloodborne
Days Gone
Detroit: Become Human
God of War
Infamous Second Son
Ratchet and Clank
The Last Guardian
The Last of Us Remastered
Until Dawn
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
And here are the third-party games:
Batman: Arkham Knight
Battlefield 1
Call of Duty: Black Ops III – Zombies Chronicles Edition
Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy
Fallout 4
Final Fantasy XV Royal Edition
Monster Hunter: World
Mortal Kombat X
Persona 5
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
There are already lots of PS5 games to look forward to
While the list of brand-new PS5 games available on launch day is pretty short, there are a number of titles that should quickly round out the PS5’s lineup into 2021.
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart and Gran Turismo 7 are both set to launch in the first half of 2021. The aforementioned Horizon Forbidden West is expected in the second half of 2021. And Sony has announced a sequel to 2018’s God of War for 2021, too.
There are a lot of big third-party titles to look forward to in the PS5’s life span as well, including Final Fantasy XVI, which will launch first on PS5; Resident Evil Village, the eighth mainline game in the popular horror series that’s scheduled for 2021; Hogwarts Legacy, an open-world game set in the wizarding world of Harry Potter; and the spooky-looking Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach.
If you want to get a picture of the early lineup for the PS5, we’ve compiled an extensive list of games you can look forward to playing at launch and beyond. And if you’re looking for recommendations of what to actually play on your new console right now, we’ve got a guide for that, too.
The PS5 is backwards compatible with most PS4 games
Nearly every PS4 game will work on the PS5. To quote Sony on the matter: “more than 99 percent of the 4,000+ games available on PS4 will be playable on PS5.” And even better, some PS4 games will run at higher or smoother frame rates on PS5, thanks to something Sony is calling Game Boost. In early tests, Digital Foundry found that the PS5 brings notable improvements to many PS4 games. See for yourself in this video:
That said, Sony says that some PS4 games will be missing functionality or may “may exhibit errors or unexpected behavior” on PS5. And 10 PS4 games aren’t playable at all on the PS5:
DWVR
Afro Samurai 2 Revenge of Kuma Volume One
TT Isle of Man - Ride on the Edge 2
Just Deal With It!
Shadow Complex Remastered
Robinson: The Journey
We Sing
Hitman Go: Definitive Edition
Shadwen
Joe’s Diner
You’ll also be able to play some PS3 and PS2 games on your PS5 through Sony’s PlayStation Now cloud gaming service, which Sony only recently revealed would be supported by the new console.
The PS5 has a brand-new user interface
The PS5 has a brand-new user interface with a number of new features to make jumping into games more streamlined. Apps are divided into two sections — games and media, and if you’re familiar with the PS4’s interface, then the row of app icons in the games menu will look very familiar to you. But when you actually select a game, there’s now a lot more information to look at.
You can just hit the play button to dive into your game or look at the trophies you’ve collected or even Twitch streams of that game. But you can also select from “activities,” which let you jump right into a specific mission or mode of a game, and games even offer in-game tutorials to help you through a certain objective. (That tutorial feature is only available to PlayStation Plus subscribers, though.) And in-game, whenever you press the PlayStation button on the DualSense, you can access the “Control Center” menu, which gives you access to things like notifications, settings, and parties.
Sony has a full walk-through of the new interface if you want to see it for yourself:
ODDS AND ENDS Can I just pop in a PS4 disc to play my old games? Most likely, yes. Sony says the “overwhelming majority” of the more than 4,000 PS4 games work on PS5. What about digital games I own? If you’re logged into your PS5 with the same account you used with your PS4, you’ll be able to access your backward compatible PS4 digital games on PS5. Will saved games transfer over? Sony says that your PS4 saves will transfer over to PS4 games you play on a PS5. For cross-gen games, though, the ability to transfer saves is up to the developers. Sony will let you transfer a PS4 Spider-Man: Miles Morales save file to the PS5 version, for example. And you’ll be able to transfer your saves from 2018’s Spider-Man to Spider-Man: Remastered, which is bundled with Spider-Man: Miles Morales Ultimate Edition, in an update that should hit around Thanksgiving. Are PS5 games region-free? Yes. Can I use my DualShock 4 controllers? You can use your DualShock 4 and licensed third-party controllers on PS5 but only to play PS4 games. How about PlayStation VR? Sony confirmed that the PSVR would be compatible with the PS5 way back in April 2019, and it said that the PS Move Motion Controllers and the PSVR Aim Controller will work with “supported PSVR games on PS5” in August. The PlayStation Camera will also work with the PS5, though you’ll need a free adaptor, which you can request here. Does it play DVDs, Blu-rays, 4K Blu-Rays? Yes. However, the console doesn’t support 3D Blu-ray movies. Do I need a 4K TV? No. If you have a 1080p TV or monitor, your PS5 games will work just fine. Though games will look best on a 4K HDR set. Can the PS5 output to 1440p? Not natively — instead, it scales up from 1080p. Will the PS5 fit in my entertainment center? The PS5 is huge, so there’s a chance it might not, though most of its girth is in one dimension. At the very least, you should plan for the console to take up quite a bit of space. Can I lay the PS5 down horizontally? Yes, though you’ll need to use the included stand to lay it flat. Does the PS5 have a web browser? No. Does the PS5 have media apps? Yes. Apple TV Plus, Amazon Prime Video, Crunchyroll, Disney Plus, Hulu, Netflix, Peacock, Spotify, Twitch, and YouTube are all available at launch. Notably, HBO Max isn’t available, and it’s not clear if or when the service will be available on PS5. Does the PS5 have a remote? Yes, you can buy a PS5 media remote as an optional accessory. Is Sony recording my voice chats? No, Sony is not actively listening to your voice chats with your friends. However, the company has added a feature to the PS5 that lets individuals submit up to a 40-second clip of a voice chat for review by Sony’s moderation team. It is not possible to opt-out of potential voice chat recording.
When does the PlayStation 5 go on sale?
Both versions of the PlayStation 5 launch on November 12th in the US, Japan, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea. They’ll launch on November 19th in the rest of the world. The one exception is China — Sony says it will announce a launch date for China in the future.
Pre-orders for the PS5 were a bit of a mess, though, sometimes selling out in less than a minute. And demand is likely to remain high throughout the holiday season, if not into 2021. So if you’re thinking about picking up a PS5 now that it’s out, you might need a little luck to get your own.
Update November 12th, 1:30PM ET: We’ve learned a lot more about the PS5 since we first published this article in September — and reviewed it! — so we’ve made numerous updates throughout.


theverge--2020-09-23--Nintendo just announced a new Kirby game for the Switch, and it’s available right now

Nintendo has just announced Kirby Fighters 2 , a brand new game in the Kirby series for the Nintendo Switch , and it ’ s available to download from the eShop right now for $ 19.99 .
In the game , you fight against up to three other players in local or online multiplayer .
You can play as one of 17 different Kirbys , each wielding one of Kirby ’ s famous copy abilities ( including a new Wrestler ability ) , as well as other characters including Bandana Waddle Dee , Meta Knight , and King Dedede .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ story mode where you work your way through a number of battles to eventually take on Meta Knight and King Dedede , and you can play it co-op with a friend .
The game also has a “ Single-Handed Mode ” where you ’ ll be tasked with clearing nine battles against increasingly-difficult opponents as quickly as you can , all by yourself .
I ’ ll be honest that I had no idea that there was a Kirby Fighters game before this , but Kirby Fighters 2 follows Kirby Fighters Deluxe , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nintendo 3DS .
And Kirby Fighters Deluxe was a standalone game broken out from a multiplayer mode in Kirby Triple Deluxe , also for the 3DS .

Nintendo has just announced Kirby Fighters 2, a brand new game in the Kirby series for the Nintendo Switch, and it’s available to download from the eShop right now for $19.99.
In the game, you fight against up to three other players in local or online multiplayer. You can play as one of 17 different Kirbys, each wielding one of Kirby’s famous copy abilities (including a new Wrestler ability), as well as other characters including Bandana Waddle Dee, Meta Knight, and King Dedede.
In addition, the game offers a story mode where you work your way through a number of battles to eventually take on Meta Knight and King Dedede, and you can play it co-op with a friend. The game also has a “Single-Handed Mode” where you’ll be tasked with clearing nine battles against increasingly-difficult opponents as quickly as you can, all by yourself.


theverge--2020-09-23--Nvidia reveals what to expect from its $1,499 RTX 3090, on sale tomorrow

Nvidia ’ s RTX 3080 graphics card seemed to be the 4K gaming champ we ’ d been waiting for at $ 699 — except most of us are still waiting a week after launch .
The card was practically impossible to buy , Nvidia made some mistakes and had to fight off bots , and scalpers wound up selling them for thousands on eBay .
Tomorrow , the beefier $ 1,499 RTX 3090 goes on sale , but it ’ s probably not a solution for any of those problems .
It ’ s really designed for 8K gaming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ primary spec boost being a tremendous 24GB of GDDR6X RAM , and Nvidia has revealed today it ’ s only 10-15 percent faster for 4K gaming than the far more affordable RTX 3080 .
And even if you ’ re willing to pay that $ 800 premium , Nvidia also says today that you shouldn ’ t expect to find a lot of them in stock : Since we built GeForce RTX 3090 for a unique group of users , like the TITAN RTX before it , we want to apologise upfront that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ launch day .
We know this is frustrating , and we ’ re working with our partners to increase the supply in the weeks to come .
If you ’ re interested , though , you can try these links for Amazon , Best Buy , B & H Photo and Newegg and hope you luck out .
Newegg says the card will be available at 9AM ET / 6AM PT , and it seems possible that other retailers could start their sales at the same time .
To help prevent bots from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has “ instituted additional bot security measures ” and says it will manually review orders .
Update September 23rd , 10:01PM ET : Added details of when Newegg will put the card on sale and the bot security measures it has put in place .

Tomorrow, the beefier $1,499 RTX 3090 goes on sale at 6AM PT / 9AM ET, but it’s probably not a solution for any of those problems. It’s really designed for 8K gaming and giant creative projects, with its primary spec boost being a tremendous 24GB of GDDR6X RAM, and Nvidia has revealed today it’s only 10-15 percent faster for 4K gaming than the far more affordable RTX 3080.
(Genuine question: do you have an 8K screen? OK, carry on.)
And even if you’re willing to pay that $800 premium, Nvidia also says today that you shouldn’t expect to find a lot of them in stock:
Since we built GeForce RTX 3090 for a unique group of users, like the TITAN RTX before it, we want to apologise upfront that this will be in limited supply on launch day. We know this is frustrating, and we’re working with our partners to increase the supply in the weeks to come.
If you’re interested, though, you can try these links for Amazon, Best Buy, B&H Photo and Newegg and hope you luck out. To help prevent bots from snapping up cards, Newegg claims it has “instituted additional bot security measures” and says it will manually review orders.
Related The gaming industry keeps failing miserably at selling its most important products


theverge--2020-09-23--Wikipedia is getting its first desktop redesign in 10 years

Wikipedia has been an integral part of web culture for nearly twenty years , letting users browse its millions of text-heavy , crowd-sourced encyclopedia entries from their computer , tablet , or phone .
Now , the overall look of Wikipedia on desktop is getting a makeover for the first time in a decade to make the site more approachable for new users .
You can browse all the proposed new features in this MediaWiki post , and there are some animated GIFs to show you what they might look like .
Personally , I really like how the new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tend to curiously read Wiki pages of public figures and this could make it a lot easier to skip past certain sections of a page without having to scroll down on my computer .
A collapsible sidebar will be the first change to roll out ; this will allow users to collapse the menu on the left side of each page , to minimize distractions , and limit irrelevant content and links on the left of your screen to make it easier to focus .
The site will also add an easy one-click @ @ @ @ @ @ @ page you ’ re reading .
Wikipedia will also add improvements to the in-site search tool to make it easier to find other pages and will reconfigure the logo to make it smaller on each Wikipedia page .
Wikimedia Foundation , the site ’ s parent company , announced in a blog post that the changes will happen “ incrementally over a long period of time , ” allowing users to test the new features before they officially roll out , but that it plans to redesign the entire look of the desktop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2021 .
It didn ’ t say whether the mobile version would receive the same redesign .

Wikipedia has been an integral part of web culture for nearly twenty years, letting users browse its millions of text-heavy, crowd-sourced encyclopedia entries from their computer, tablet, or phone. Now, the overall look of Wikipedia on desktop is getting a makeover for the first time in a decade to make the site more approachable for new users.
You can browse all the proposed new features in this MediaWiki post, and there are some animated GIFs to show you what they might look like. Personally, I really like how the new table of contents feature looks. I tend to curiously read Wiki pages of public figures and this could make it a lot easier to skip past certain sections of a page without having to scroll down on my computer.
This will make it much easier to navigate longer pages! Image: Wikipedia
A collapsible sidebar will be the first change to roll out; this will allow users to collapse the menu on the left side of each page, to minimize distractions, and limit irrelevant content and links on the left of your screen to make it easier to focus. The site will also add an easy one-click button to switch the language for a page you’re reading.
Wikipedia will also add improvements to the in-site search tool to make it easier to find other pages and will reconfigure the logo to make it smaller on each Wikipedia page.
Image: Wikipedia


theverge--2020-09-23--Among Us is so popular that its developers just canceled the sequel

The developers of the hit social deduction game Among Us just announced that they have canceled a planned sequel because of the popularity of the first game .
Though that sequel had been announced just 36 days ago , developer InnerSloth wants to support the game that ’ s so popular right now .
“ The main reason we [ were ] shooting for a sequel is because the codebase of Among Us 1 is so outdated and not built to support adding so much new content , ” InnerSloth said in a blog post .
“ However , seeing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 really makes us want to be able to support the game and take it to the next level.
” “ All of the content we had planned for Among Us 2 will instead go into Among Us 1.
” Among Us , a party game where you work as a team to try and figure out who is sabotaging the crew of your spaceship , has recently become an absolutely massive hit , thanks in large part to its recent popularity on Twitch .
It ’ s the third most-played game on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) as of this writing , and SteamSpy estimates that the game has more than 10 million owners on Steam alone .
Those numbers also don ’ t account for how many people own Among Us on iOS and Android , where the game is free with ads ( though you can pay $ 1.99 to remove those ) .
Even though the sequel has been canned , you ’ ll still be able to eventually play the game its developers were hoping to build : “ All of the content we had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go into Among Us 1 , ” according to InnerSloth .
The developer also spelled out other improvements players can look forward to , including promised fixes for server issues , colorblind support , a friends system , and a whole new stage .

The developers of the hit social deduction game Among Us just announced that they have canceled a planned sequel because of the popularity of the first game.
Though that sequel had been announced just 36 days ago, developer InnerSloth wants to support the game that’s so popular right now. “The main reason we [were] shooting for a sequel is because the codebase of Among Us 1 is so outdated and not built to support adding so much new content,” InnerSloth said in a blog post. “However, seeing how many people are enjoying Among Us 1 really makes us want to be able to support the game and take it to the next level.”
“All of the content we had planned for Among Us 2 will instead go into Among Us 1.”
Among Us, a party game where you work as a team to try and figure out who is sabotaging the crew of your spaceship, has recently become an absolutely massive hit, thanks in large part to its recent popularity on Twitch. It’s the third most-played game on Steam (where it costs $4.99) as of this writing, and SteamSpy estimates that the game has more than 10 million owners on Steam alone. Those numbers also don’t account for how many people own Among Us on iOS and Android, where the game is free with ads (though you can pay $1.99 to remove those).


theverge--2020-09-23--TikTok asks judge to block September 27th Trump ban

TikTok has requested an injunction against a looming ban on its app in the United States .
The company — a US subsidiary of Chinese corporation ByteDance — claims a Trump administration executive order violates its right to due process and freedom of speech .
It ’ s asking a District of Columbia judge to block a rule that would require Apple and Google to remove the app from their stores on September 27th .
The request addresses an increasingly convoluted attempt to sever TikTok from ByteDance , ostensibly because the Chinese-owned app poses national security risks .
President Donald @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deadline to sell TikTok , then ordered app stores to ban it on September 20th .
It was granted a last-minute extension after Trump approved a tentative deal with Oracle , but it ’ s unclear whether ByteDance would actually give up control of TikTok under the agreement and whether China would approve the deal if it does .
TikTok sued the administration over its original rulemaking last month , saying that the decision exceeded the limits of Trump ’ s power to ban an app ’ s operation on national emergency grounds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hearing on whether Trump ’ s demands would harm TikTok enough to justify blocking his order while the suit proceeds .
Tencent-owned messaging app WeChat was granted a similar reprieve over the weekend , when a group of WeChat users successfully petitioned a judge to temporarily block sanctions against the app .
In that case , the judge cited “ serious questions ” about whether Trump ’ s WeChat ban infringed on users ’ First Amendment rights .
In its own filing , TikTok says that it has “ made extraordinary efforts to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ever-shifting demands and purported national security concerns , ” including changing the company ’ s ownership and structure .
“ Hundreds of millions of Americans who have not yet downloaded TikTok will be shut out of this large and diverse online community— six weeks before a national election , ” it says .

TikTok has requested an injunction against a looming ban on its app in the United States. The company — a US subsidiary of Chinese corporation ByteDance — claims a Trump administration executive order violates its right to due process and freedom of speech. It’s asking a District of Columbia judge to block a rule that would require Apple and Google to remove the app from their stores on September 27th.
The request addresses an increasingly convoluted attempt to sever TikTok from ByteDance, ostensibly because the Chinese-owned app poses national security risks. President Donald Trump originally gave ByteDance a September 15th deadline to sell TikTok, then ordered app stores to ban it on September 20th. It was granted a last-minute extension after Trump approved a tentative deal with Oracle, but it’s unclear whether ByteDance would actually give up control of TikTok under the agreement and whether China would approve the deal if it does.
TikTok sued the administration over its original rulemaking last month, saying that the decision exceeded the limits of Trump’s power to ban an app’s operation on national emergency grounds. Now, it wants an expedited hearing on whether Trump’s demands would harm TikTok enough to justify blocking his order while the suit proceeds.
Tencent-owned messaging app WeChat was granted a similar reprieve over the weekend, when a group of WeChat users successfully petitioned a judge to temporarily block sanctions against the app. In that case, the judge cited “serious questions” about whether Trump’s WeChat ban infringed on users’ First Amendment rights.


theverge--2020-09-23--Mark Kelly campaign launches first Snapchat AR lens for a Senate race

As the Arizona Senate election heats up ahead of November , Democratic candidate Mark Kelly ’ s team launched its own Snapchat account on Wednesday , including the first custom Snapchat AR lens from a Senate campaign .
Retired NASA astronaut Kelly is running in a hotly contended special election in Arizona to serve out the remainder of the late Sen. John McCain ’ s term through 2022 .
The seat is currently held by Sen. Martha McSally , who is running in opposition to Kelly on the Republican ticket .
Kelly ’ s Snapchat account will be used to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seeing as the campaign has strayed away from in-person events and canvassing due to the coronavirus pandemic .
A campaign spokesperson told The Verge on Wednesday that the team will be posting new Snapchat content for followers daily .
This will include Snapchat lenses like the animated astronaut lens that launched on Thursday as well as additional highlights and stories .
Content will be posted in both English and Spanish .
“ Today ’ s launch is no small feat , this is one strategic way the campaign is working to reach young @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every vote will make the difference on Election Day , ” a Kelly spokesperson told The Verge on Wednesday .
“ Young Arizonans are ready for change , and while we continue working to flatten the curve of this pandemic , our campaign has been focused on reaching voters in even more ways online.
” Earlier this month , Snapchat rolled out new tools that allow users to register to vote directly in the app .
As of publication , Snapchat has helped over 850,000 people with voter registration , the company confirmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those who were helped with registration were between the ages of 18 and 24 .
The Kelly campaign estimates that there are over 1 million registered Arizonan voters between the ages of 18 and 30 on Snapchat .
Kelly ’ s campaign also touts sizable followings on other social media platforms like Facebook , Instagram , and Twitter .
There are two campaign-themed Instagram filters listed on Kelly ’ s profile for followers to use .
The team has also rolled out policy-specific highlights featuring videos and explainers in both English and Spanish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is currently hosting ads from seven Senate campaigns , including both Republicans and Democrats .

As the Arizona Senate election heats up ahead of November, Democratic candidate Mark Kelly’s team launched its own Snapchat account on Wednesday, including the first custom Snapchat AR lens from a Senate campaign.
Retired NASA astronaut Kelly is running in a hotly contended special election in Arizona to serve out the remainder of the late Sen. John McCain’s term through 2022. The seat is currently held by Sen. Martha McSally, who is running in opposition to Kelly on the Republican ticket. Kelly’s Snapchat account will be used to rally voters ahead of the election, seeing as the campaign has strayed away from in-person events and canvassing due to the coronavirus pandemic.
A campaign spokesperson told The Verge on Wednesday that the team will be posting new Snapchat content for followers daily. This will include Snapchat lenses like the animated astronaut lens that launched on Thursday as well as additional highlights and stories. Content will be posted in both English and Spanish.
“Today’s launch is no small feat, this is one strategic way the campaign is working to reach young voters in this flippable battleground state where every vote will make the difference on Election Day,” a Kelly spokesperson told The Verge on Wednesday. “Young Arizonans are ready for change, and while we continue working to flatten the curve of this pandemic, our campaign has been focused on reaching voters in even more ways online.”
Earlier this month, Snapchat rolled out new tools that allow users to register to vote directly in the app. As of publication, Snapchat has helped over 850,000 people with voter registration, the company confirmed to The Verge. A majority of those who were helped with registration were between the ages of 18 and 24. The Kelly campaign estimates that there are over 1 million registered Arizonan voters between the ages of 18 and 30 on Snapchat.
Kelly’s campaign also touts sizable followings on other social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. There are two campaign-themed Instagram filters listed on Kelly’s profile for followers to use. The team has also rolled out policy-specific highlights featuring videos and explainers in both English and Spanish on the platform.


theverge--2020-09-23--Trump administration proposes punishing sites for ‘censoring lawful speech’ or hosting illegal conte

Trump administration proposes punishing sites for ‘censoring lawful speech’ or hosting illegal content

The US Department of Justice has submitted a proposal to weaken Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act , a rule that protects websites and apps from liability for third-party content .
The proposal would make it riskier for sites to remove offensive content and would remove sites ’ immunity for hosting material related to terrorism , child sex abuse , or cyber-stalking .
It would also remove some protections for sites that don ’ t sufficiently explain their content moderation policies .
The new rules are a concrete application of ideas the Justice Department floated months ago .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reform : pushing web platforms to more aggressively remove harmful ( and sometimes illegal ) content like harassment and child sexual abuse material and discouraging them from removing content from conservative and far-right users , including misinformation and hate speech .
In a letter to Congress , the Justice Department said it aimed to stop platforms from “ censoring lawful speech and promoting certain ideas over others ” while also making sure they can ’ t “ escape liability even when they knew their services were being used for criminal activity.
” In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protections for letting websites and apps remove content they deemed generally “ objectionable.
” It would protect sites from lawsuits over their moderation decisions only if they could show an “ objectively reasonable belief ” that the content was lewd , excessively violent , promoted terrorism and violent extremism , promoted self-harm , or was unlawful .
Many of these decisions would still be covered under the First Amendment , but removing Section 230 protections could drag out legal battles over allegations of social media censorship .
Sites would also lose those protections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moderation practices “ plainly and with particularity ” online , and they would have to offer “ timely notice ” providing a specific explanation of why someone ’ s content was removed .
Conversely , if sites are sued for leaving illegal content online , they won ’ t be protected if they acted as “ bad Samaritans ” who purposely promoted or solicited illegal material .
They also won ’ t be protected if they ignored notice of criminal activity .
Under Attorney General William Barr , the Justice Department has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020 , but it ’ s also responding to an executive order signed by President Donald Trump in May .
There are already several proposals for changing Section 230 , although few have gone further than an introduction in Congress .
The Justice Department ’ s offering echoes elements of the EARN IT Act , the PACT Act , and a recent bill from three Republican senators .
Attorney and activist Carrie Goldberg — who has taken web platforms like Grindr to court for enabling harassment — praised the proposal for making it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ harm or refuse to act on complaints .
( On the other hand , the changes could burden small sites with greater legal risks and make all platforms more vulnerable to bad-faith complaints .
Sites may also not be able to immediately tell if a piece of content is illegal , a problem that Section 230 helps mitigate . )
But the overall plan drew criticism from advocacy groups like Public Knowledge .
“ Any positive ideas in the DOJ ’ s proposal are entirely outweighed by its overall purpose , which is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ digital platforms that want to rid their services of misinformation , hate speech , and other forms of objectionable content , ” writes legal director John Bergmayer .
On Twitter , Bergmayer called the plan ’ s intent “ a form of ‘ must carry ’ for conservatives and for hate speech .
”

The US Department of Justice has submitted a proposal to weaken Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, a rule that protects websites and apps from liability for third-party content. The proposal would make it riskier for sites to remove offensive content and would remove sites’ immunity for hosting material related to terrorism, child sex abuse, or cyber-stalking. It would also remove some protections for sites that don’t sufficiently explain their content moderation policies.
The new rules are a concrete application of ideas the Justice Department floated months ago. They cover two orthogonal goals for Section 230 reform: pushing web platforms to more aggressively remove harmful (and sometimes illegal) content like harassment and child sexual abuse material and discouraging them from removing content from conservative and far-right users, including misinformation and hate speech. In a letter to Congress, the Justice Department said it aimed to stop platforms from “censoring lawful speech and promoting certain ideas over others” while also making sure they can’t “escape liability even when they knew their services were being used for criminal activity.”
No protections for “bad Samaritans”
In practice, the new bill would erode protections for letting websites and apps remove content they deemed generally “objectionable.” It would protect sites from lawsuits over their moderation decisions only if they could show an “objectively reasonable belief” that the content was lewd, excessively violent, promoted terrorism and violent extremism, promoted self-harm, or was unlawful. Many of these decisions would still be covered under the First Amendment, but removing Section 230 protections could drag out legal battles over allegations of social media censorship.
Sites would also lose those protections if they don’t state their moderation practices “plainly and with particularity” online, and they would have to offer “timely notice” providing a specific explanation of why someone’s content was removed.
Conversely, if sites are sued for leaving illegal content online, they won’t be protected if they acted as “bad Samaritans” who purposely promoted or solicited illegal material. They also won’t be protected if they ignored notice of criminal activity.
Under Attorney General William Barr, the Justice Department has been holding discussions on Section 230 since early 2020, but it’s also responding to an executive order signed by President Donald Trump in May. There are already several proposals for changing Section 230, although few have gone further than an introduction in Congress. The Justice Department’s offering echoes elements of the EARN IT Act, the PACT Act, and a recent bill from three Republican senators.
Attorney and activist Carrie Goldberg — who has taken web platforms like Grindr to court for enabling harassment — praised the proposal for making it easier to sue platforms that deliberately enable harm or refuse to act on complaints. (On the other hand, the changes could burden small sites with greater legal risks and make all platforms more vulnerable to bad-faith complaints. Sites may also not be able to immediately tell if a piece of content is illegal, a problem that Section 230 helps mitigate.)


theverge--2020-09-23--Why does the Fall Guy have hidden abs and nipples?

I hate to bring you this news , but underneath a Fall Guy ’ s playful , gelatinous exterior , the very being that comprises it is deeply disturbing .
It has hidden abs , nipples , a human skull , and long taffy-like optic nerves , among other horrific anatomical anomalies , according to a tweet from the game ’ s developer .
It gets worse , though .
Fall Guys are six feet tall , taller than many human beings .
Looking at its general bone structure , it looks like a hybrid between human , dinosaur , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a fierce species of advanced intelligence and agility , but ... well .
I haven ’ t played Fall Guys , and I deliberately took this one for the team so that my dear colleagues wouldn ’ t have to spend any more time today thinking about this horrific knowledge that I ’ m now cursed to have seen .
Now , I ’ m left with bad thoughts , like “ wherever it is that each Fall Guy falls to , there ’ s a gigantic pit filled with these disturbing skeletons.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ done !
Jokes aside , this is hilarious , and I honestly hope that it ’ s an unlockable costume at some point , like the Peely Bone costume in Fortnite .

I hate to bring you this news, but underneath a Fall Guy’s playful, gelatinous exterior, the very being that comprises it is deeply disturbing. It has hidden abs, nipples, a human skull, and long taffy-like optic nerves, among other horrific anatomical anomalies, according to a tweet from the game’s developer.
It gets worse, though. Fall Guys are six feet tall, taller than many human beings. Looking at its general bone structure, it looks like a hybrid between human, dinosaur, and bird. That combination should render a fierce species of advanced intelligence and agility, but... well.
I haven’t played Fall Guys, and I deliberately took this one for the team so that my dear colleagues wouldn’t have to spend any more time today thinking about this horrific knowledge that I’m now cursed to have seen. Now, I’m left with bad thoughts, like “wherever it is that each Fall Guy falls to, there’s a gigantic pit filled with these disturbing skeletons.” Look at what this image has done!


theverge--2020-09-23--HBO Max is getting a Suicide Squad spinoff starring John Cena

HBO Max is getting a new TV series called Peacemaker , a spinoff of the upcoming Suicide Squad sequel directed by James Gunn .
The show will focus on the origins of its titular character , Peacemaker , played by John Cena .
The streaming service has ordered eight episodes with production slated to begin in early 2021 .
Not much is known about the plot , but Warner Bros. says the show is set in the same world as The Suicide Squad , which is set to debut in theaters on August 6th , 2021 .
Gunn will also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ multiple episodes of the show , including the pilot .
Peacemaker is the latest DC Comics property to receive a TV show on HBO Max .
In July , Warner Media announced a spinoff show focusing on the Gotham City Police Department ; the series will share the same universe as Matt Reeves ’ upcoming film The Batman , which stars Robert Pattinson as the Caped Crusader .
It ’ s not that surprising that HBO Max is getting a ton of DC-related series : HBO Max is owned by AT & T @ @ @ @ @ @ @ DC .
Several original shows from the DC Universe , including Titans , Swamp Thing , Stargirl , and Young Justice are heading to the service .
HBO Max will also hold exclusive rights to stream the highly anticipated Synder Cut of Justice League , which will arrive on the service next year .

HBO Max is getting a new TV series called Peacemaker, a spinoff of the upcoming Suicide Squad sequel directed by James Gunn. The show will focus on the origins of its titular character, Peacemaker, played by John Cena.
The streaming service has ordered eight episodes with production slated to begin in early 2021. Not much is known about the plot, but Warner Bros. says the show is set in the same world as The Suicide Squad, which is set to debut in theaters on August 6th, 2021. Gunn will also serve as a writer and director for multiple episodes of the show, including the pilot.
Peacemaker is the latest DC Comics property to receive a TV show on HBO Max. In July, Warner Media announced a spinoff show focusing on the Gotham City Police Department; the series will share the same universe as Matt Reeves’ upcoming film The Batman, which stars Robert Pattinson as the Caped Crusader.


theverge--2020-09-23--Facebook will reject political ads claiming an early victory in November

Facebook will reject ads from Donald Trump and Joe Biden claiming victory before the winner of the US election is declared .
The change is an update to a policy CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced on September 3rd , which banned political ads the week before the election , as reported by Fast Company .
That policy would not have stopped Trump or Biden from running ads directly after the election .
Either presidential candidate could have started claiming victory at 12:01AM PT on November 4th .
While the results of the presidential race are typically announced the night of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is expected to take longer due to mail-in voting .
Experts say that because more Democrats are expected to vote by mail than Republicans , Trump could hold a lead the night of the election but slip behind Biden as more votes are counted .
This scenario makes it critical that misinformation about the results of the election doesn ’ t go viral before a winner is officially announced .
While the new policy is not directed at Trump , fears about the current president refusing to concede could be behind the clarification @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ads that claim victory before the results of the 2020 election have been declared , ” the tech giant said in a statement to Fast Company .
In early September , Zuckerberg announced that the company would stop accepting new political ads the week before the election .
“ It ’ s important that campaigns can run get out the vote campaigns , and I generally believe the best antidote to bad speech is more speech , but in the final days of an election there may not be enough time to contest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Facebook post .
As part of the expanded policy , Facebook said it will also label posts that seek to spread doubt about the legitimacy of the election as well as content from political campaigns claiming a premature victory .
The new rules are part of the company ’ s ongoing efforts to stop election interference across its platforms .

Facebook will reject ads from Donald Trump and Joe Biden claiming victory before the winner of the US election is declared.
The change is an update to a policy CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced on September 3rd, which banned political ads the week before the election, as reported by Fast Company. That policy would not have stopped Trump or Biden from running ads directly after the election. Either presidential candidate could have started claiming victory at 12:01AM PT on November 4th.
While the results of the presidential race are typically announced the night of the election, this year, the process is expected to take longer due to mail-in voting. Experts say that because more Democrats are expected to vote by mail than Republicans, Trump could hold a lead the night of the election but slip behind Biden as more votes are counted. This scenario makes it critical that misinformation about the results of the election doesn’t go viral before a winner is officially announced. While the new policy is not directed at Trump, fears about the current president refusing to concede could be behind the clarification.
“We will be rejecting political ads that claim victory before the results of the 2020 election have been declared,” the tech giant said in a statement to Fast Company.
In early September, Zuckerberg announced that the company would stop accepting new political ads the week before the election. “It’s important that campaigns can run get out the vote campaigns, and I generally believe the best antidote to bad speech is more speech, but in the final days of an election there may not be enough time to contest new claims,” he wrote in a Facebook post.


theverge--2020-09-24--The diner that isn’t afraid to piss off Seamless, or customers who use it

On a recent Sunday afternoon , chef Samuel Yoo stood behind the counter of the self-described Asian diner he owns on the edge of Manhattan ’ s Chinatown .
Each of the eight swiveling stools inside Golden Diner remained empty , as they had since New York City mandated that restaurants close indoor dining six months earlier .
Though now , about a dozen eager eaters are able to sit in a sectioned-off sidewalk area , pass plates of kale-and-parmesan biscuits smothered in gravy , and wash down their brunch with glasses of orange wine .
Outside the front door @ @ @ @ @ @ @ growing number of people Yoo never expected would become the focus of his small business : the handful of hungry New Yorkers , a few European tourists , and a slew of delivery cyclists all waiting on brown paper bag orders to go .
Before the pandemic , Yoo didn ’ t worry much about building a customer base for pickup and delivery .
The young restaurateur had scoured the Manhattan real estate market for the perfect spot to debut Golden Diner as a concept , and encouraged everyone who could eat inside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and shit to takeout would ’ ve swiftly killed his restaurant , Yoo said But , as good millennials do , he soon got on the apps — “ literally all of them , ” he says with exhaustion — such as UberEats and its pending acquisition Postmates ; Caviar , plus its parent company DoorDash ; and Seamless , with its corresponding Grubhub conglomeration .
The apps soon accounted for 95 percent of his total takeout orders , which resulted in Yoo paying Seamless , Golden Diner ’ s most popular platform @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around 30 to 35 percent per order “ at its worst , ” he said .
The steep fees coupled with the shift to surviving exclusively on orders from takeout would ’ ve swiftly killed his restaurant , Yoo told The Verge , on top of rent and taxes .
So when COVID-19 made it clear no one would be dining inside for an ambiguous while , Golden Diner began publicly raging against the corporate machine , calling on its millennial-skewing audience to , as Yoo says , “ do the right thing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everywhere .
In April , the tiny diner for the first time begged its 11,000 Instagram followers to spend money directly with independent restaurants like its own , to avoid triggering fees by way of tracked clicks and sneaky Seamless-affiliated phone and website listings .
On other platforms , largely Yelp , Golden Diner subtly pushed its anti-corporate agenda by uploading text-overlay graphics to ask for customer support on these initiatives .
Offline , the team kindly urged customers away from ordering through apps like Seamless by attaching printed reminders to each third-party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for your order , we appreciate you !
If you could please order through us next time , we ’ d appreciate you even more , ” says the typed note , adding a winky face at the end .
TL ; DR : Yoo all but screamed into the void that an ounce of effort from customers could help Golden Diner survive .
In response , fans quickly rallied behind # TeamGolden — rivaling the early and overwhelming applause from top food critics — and acknowledged they appreciate the restaurant for more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” When Yoo opened the restaurant in spring 2019 , he consciously chose to absorb the combined third-party marketing and delivery costs that came with takeout apps .
The tradeoff let him avoid the tedious task of internally managing delivery operations ( securing enough hours to onboard reliable delivery drivers , receiving orders through their website , figuring out an appropriate radius for their delivery zone ) , and instead use the creative part of his brain to evolve Golden Diner .
But as the virus spread across the country , the fees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York imposing an emergency 20 percent cap on third-party platform fees during COVID , Grubhub had been known to reportedly siphon off more than 40 percent per order .
A major step to reduce the pricey app fees was to retrofit Golden Diner ’ s website to process online orders through the flat-fee point of sale system , Toast .
The logistics of an in-house delivery team did prove to be tricky ( see : launching with a fleet of Citi bikes ) , but once Yoo cracked the code , Golden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with off-the-menu specials and free delivery ( compared to the $ 1 fee the restaurant then placed on third-party apps ) .
Third-party platforms can keep “ acting like dirtbags ” all they want This eliminated the 15 percent Seamless delivery fee entirely , reducing the payout for Seamless to just a 5 percent “ marketing ” fee , which Golden Diner calculated made sense for them to maintain exposure on Seamless .
( The pay-to-play marketing model at Seamless allows restaurants to select from a sliding-scale per-order percentage , typically ranging from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to boost their profiles within the app and recommend them along with relevant businesses through email campaigns , a Grubhub spokesperson told The Verge in a phone call . )
By the numbers , these community-supported efforts are working .
The diner has seen a drop in orders placed through third-party platforms , from the initial 95 percent of its total takeout orders to as low as 40 percent of its delivery and pickup tabs on average .
( Folding in outdoor dining , this grants Golden Diner direct access to upward of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a sunny day . )
Yoo doesn ’ t accept the premise that the quality of his cooking holds a significant amount of power when asking his customers to break their habit of ordering food to their front door with the flick of a wrist .
But , looking out at the Sunday crowd , it seems Yoo might be right : that his customers thumb through Instagram , see the posts from Golden Diner , and “ know what ’ s up.
” The third-party platforms can keep “ acting like dirtbags @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He ’ ll keep collecting his money , using Seamless for exposure , and challenging people to consider who really profits from delivery fees and service charges .
After all , it ’ s ultimately up to the customer to decide how they want to split the bill .

On a recent Sunday afternoon, chef Samuel Yoo stood behind the counter of the self-described Asian diner he owns on the edge of Manhattan’s Chinatown. Each of the eight swiveling stools inside Golden Diner remained empty, as they had since New York City mandated that restaurants close indoor dining six months earlier. Though now, about a dozen eager eaters are able to sit in a sectioned-off sidewalk area, pass plates of kale-and-parmesan biscuits smothered in gravy, and wash down their brunch with glasses of orange wine.
Outside the front door, a masked waiter attended to a growing number of people Yoo never expected would become the focus of his small business: the handful of hungry New Yorkers, a few European tourists, and a slew of delivery cyclists all waiting on brown paper bag orders to go.
Before the pandemic, Yoo didn’t worry much about building a customer base for pickup and delivery. The young restaurateur had scoured the Manhattan real estate market for the perfect spot to debut Golden Diner as a concept, and encouraged everyone who could eat inside to do so.
The steep fees and shift to takeout would’ve swiftly killed Yoo’s restaurant
But, as good millennials do, he soon got on the apps — “literally all of them,” he says with exhaustion — such as UberEats and its pending acquisition Postmates; Caviar, plus its parent company DoorDash; and Seamless, with its corresponding Grubhub conglomeration. The apps soon accounted for 95 percent of his total takeout orders, which resulted in Yoo paying Seamless, Golden Diner’s most popular platform for acquiring orders at that point, around 30 to 35 percent per order “at its worst,” he said.
The steep fees coupled with the shift to surviving exclusively on orders from takeout would’ve swiftly killed his restaurant, Yoo told The Verge, on top of rent and taxes. So when COVID-19 made it clear no one would be dining inside for an ambiguous while, Golden Diner began publicly raging against the corporate machine, calling on its millennial-skewing audience to, as Yoo says, “do the right thing” on behalf of all small businesses everywhere.
In April, the tiny diner for the first time begged its 11,000 Instagram followers to spend money directly with independent restaurants like its own, to avoid triggering fees by way of tracked clicks and sneaky Seamless-affiliated phone and website listings.
On other platforms, largely Yelp, Golden Diner subtly pushed its anti-corporate agenda by uploading text-overlay graphics to ask for customer support on these initiatives. Offline, the team kindly urged customers away from ordering through apps like Seamless by attaching printed reminders to each third-party order. “Thank you so much for your order, we appreciate you! If you could please order through us next time, we’d appreciate you even more,” says the typed note, adding a winky face at the end.
Chef Samuel Yoo behind the counter at Golden Diner. Photo: Golden Diner
TL;DR: Yoo all but screamed into the void that an ounce of effort from customers could help Golden Diner survive. In response, fans quickly rallied behind #TeamGolden — rivaling the early and overwhelming applause from top food critics — and acknowledged they appreciate the restaurant for more than its savory Chinatown egg-and-cheese “sando.”
When Yoo opened the restaurant in spring 2019, he consciously chose to absorb the combined third-party marketing and delivery costs that came with takeout apps. The tradeoff let him avoid the tedious task of internally managing delivery operations (securing enough hours to onboard reliable delivery drivers, receiving orders through their website, figuring out an appropriate radius for their delivery zone), and instead use the creative part of his brain to evolve Golden Diner.
But as the virus spread across the country, the fees became unsustainable. Prior to cities like New York imposing an emergency 20 percent cap on third-party platform fees during COVID, Grubhub had been known to reportedly siphon off more than 40 percent per order.
A major step to reduce the pricey app fees was to retrofit Golden Diner’s website to process online orders through the flat-fee point of sale system, Toast. The logistics of an in-house delivery team did prove to be tricky (see: launching with a fleet of Citi bikes), but once Yoo cracked the code, Golden Diner was able to incentivize its customers with off-the-menu specials and free delivery (compared to the $1 fee the restaurant then placed on third-party apps).
Third-party platforms can keep “acting like dirtbags” all they want
This eliminated the 15 percent Seamless delivery fee entirely, reducing the payout for Seamless to just a 5 percent “marketing” fee, which Golden Diner calculated made sense for them to maintain exposure on Seamless. (The pay-to-play marketing model at Seamless allows restaurants to select from a sliding-scale per-order percentage, typically ranging from 5 to 25 percent or more, to boost their profiles within the app and recommend them along with relevant businesses through email campaigns, a Grubhub spokesperson told The Verge in a phone call.)
By the numbers, these community-supported efforts are working. The diner has seen a drop in orders placed through third-party platforms, from the initial 95 percent of its total takeout orders to as low as 40 percent of its delivery and pickup tabs on average. (Folding in outdoor dining, this grants Golden Diner direct access to upward of 80 percent of its customer base on a sunny day.)
Yoo doesn’t accept the premise that the quality of his cooking holds a significant amount of power when asking his customers to break their habit of ordering food to their front door with the flick of a wrist. But, looking out at the Sunday crowd, it seems Yoo might be right: that his customers thumb through Instagram, see the posts from Golden Diner, and “know what’s up.”
The third-party platforms can keep “acting like dirtbags” all they want, Yoo says. He’ll keep collecting his money, using Seamless for exposure, and challenging people to consider who really profits from delivery fees and service charges.


theverge--2020-09-24--Pop star Ava Max will hold an album launch party in Roblox

Ava Max is holding an album launch party in an unexpected place : the virtual realm of Roblox .
The pop star will be part of what ’ s described as “ a first-of-its-kind immersive album launch party and virtual fan meetup ” to celebrate the release of her new album Heaven & Hell .
It will feature a variety of events , including a Q & A with the artist , a performance of some new songs , a merch store , and in-game quests .
The whole thing will take place in a virtual space described as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you can see in the gallery below .
“ I just can ’ t wait to meet my fans on Roblox this Friday , ” Max said in a statement .
“ I miss being able to interact with everyone in person , and I ’ m really excited to try this new way of connecting with them in a life-like immersive experience to share my new music.
” “ I miss being able to interact with everyone in person.
” The event is just the latest in an ongoing trend of artists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only accelerated given the ongoing pandemic .
Roblox , which boasts more than 100 million monthly players , even hosted a charity concert earlier in the year .
Elsewhere , The Weeknd held a TikTok concert , a giant version of Travis Scott stomped around Fortnite ’ s island , and American Football played a blocky show inside of Minecraft .
Fortnite developer Epic recently created a state-of-the-art studio in LA where artists can perform and be broadcast into the game .
Ava Max ’ s Roblox party will take place on September @ @ @ @ @

Ava Max is holding an album launch party in an unexpected place: the virtual realm of Roblox. The pop star will be part of what’s described as “a first-of-its-kind immersive album launch party and virtual fan meetup” to celebrate the release of her new album Heaven & Hell.
It will feature a variety of events, including a Q&A with the artist, a performance of some new songs, a merch store, and in-game quests. The whole thing will take place in a virtual space described as a “sky-high dance floor,” which you can see in the gallery below. “I just can’t wait to meet my fans on Roblox this Friday,” Max said in a statement. “I miss being able to interact with everyone in person, and I’m really excited to try this new way of connecting with them in a life-like immersive experience to share my new music.”


theverge--2020-09-24--Amazon’s Echo conquered the smart home — what comes next?

Amazon is gearing up for its latest hardware event where it ’ s expected to announce its latest smart home gear .
Based on prior years , we could see new Echo speakers , Alexa updates , Eero routers , Ring cameras , and more .
But looking at Amazon ’ s smart home lineup right now , the question isn ’ t whether Amazon will have new hardware to show off .
It ’ s whether Amazon can convince its current customers to buy them .
Look at the current slate of Echos or Eeros , for example .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Smart home gear has a much longer lifespan than , say , a laptop or a smartphone , where leaps in design and new features are far more apparent .
So how do you convince someone that their smart speaker needs an upgrade without a new screen or better camera to sell them on ?
Yes , Amazon might be able to get first-gen Echo owners to upgrade — the newer versions offer significant boosts in sound quality and design — but what about the owners of second-gen devices or the most recent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Echo Dot , which Amazon released back in 2018 , for example .
The design is still sleek and elegant , and the sound quality still great .
There ’ s even a version with a clock built in .
What else is there to upgrade ?
Adding USB-C would make me , a gadget-obsessed tech writer who dreams of universal port standards , happy , but it ’ s not an upgrade worth paying for if you already own one .
And while Amazon could slim down the size or improve the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to imagine that either of those would dramatically improve the day-to-day experience of using the current model .
Amazon ’ s more recent efforts have focused on expanding where its Echo devices live Those diminishing returns are precisely why Amazon ’ s more recent efforts have been less about getting Echo owners to upgrade and more about expanding where its Echo devices are put .
Amazon might not be able to convince you to replace the aging Echo in your living room , but it could persuade you to get an Echo Dot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Show for your kitchen , an Echo Studio for your office , an Echo Auto for your car , even wearable Echo Buds , Loop rings , and Frames so you ’ re in contact with Alexa at all times .
But after last year ’ s slate of hardware , it ’ s hard to imagine where else Amazon can sell you on putting a smart speaker .
Amazon ’ s last round of speakers was already better than ever — and in more places than ever .
But even the idea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blanket your home or person has limits .
At some point , Alexa can already hear you wherever you are in your house .
And attempts to draw Alexa outside the home — with things like Echo Auto or the array of personal devices , smartphone apps , and smartwatches — haven ’ t really caught on yet .
Amazon does have another option , though : instead of making your smart home setup bigger by adding more devices , the company can help make your existing smart home smarter with new Alexa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approach bears the risk of complexity .
Part of the magic of Echo devices is their relative simplicity : you ask Alexa to do a thing or answer a question , and it happens .
Add too many features or options on top , and it becomes a smaller , less functional computer that you have to manage .
No one wants to have to remember a specific convoluted command or sequence for getting something done .
It ’ s a strange impasse .
Amazon , in many ways , is hindered by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lineup that ’ s strong ( and age-resistant ) enough that it ’ s hard to make a compelling argument to upgrade or buy more products .
Like Alexander , there seem to be no more worlds left for Alexa to conquer — so where does Amazon go next ?

Amazon is gearing up for its latest hardware event where it’s expected to announce its latest smart home gear. Based on prior years, we could see new Echo speakers, Alexa updates, Eero routers, Ring cameras, and more.
But looking at Amazon’s smart home lineup right now, the question isn’t whether Amazon will have new hardware to show off. It’s whether Amazon can convince its current customers to buy them.
Look at the current slate of Echos or Eeros, for example. They’re already excellent products. Smart home gear has a much longer lifespan than, say, a laptop or a smartphone, where leaps in design and new features are far more apparent. So how do you convince someone that their smart speaker needs an upgrade without a new screen or better camera to sell them on? Yes, Amazon might be able to get first-gen Echo owners to upgrade — the newer versions offer significant boosts in sound quality and design — but what about the owners of second-gen devices or the most recent third-gen wave?
Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge
Take the most recent Echo Dot, which Amazon released back in 2018, for example. The design is still sleek and elegant, and the sound quality still great. There’s even a version with a clock built in. What else is there to upgrade? Adding USB-C would make me, a gadget-obsessed tech writer who dreams of universal port standards, happy, but it’s not an upgrade worth paying for if you already own one. And while Amazon could slim down the size or improve the sound quality, it’s hard to imagine that either of those would dramatically improve the day-to-day experience of using the current model.
Amazon’s more recent efforts have focused on expanding where its Echo devices live
Those diminishing returns are precisely why Amazon’s more recent efforts have been less about getting Echo owners to upgrade and more about expanding where its Echo devices are put. Amazon might not be able to convince you to replace the aging Echo in your living room, but it could persuade you to get an Echo Dot for your other rooms, an Echo Show for your kitchen, an Echo Studio for your office, an Echo Auto for your car, even wearable Echo Buds, Loop rings, and Frames so you’re in contact with Alexa at all times.
But after last year’s slate of hardware, it’s hard to imagine where else Amazon can sell you on putting a smart speaker. Amazon’s last round of speakers was already better than ever — and in more places than ever. But even the idea of selling more types of Echos to blanket your home or person has limits. At some point, Alexa can already hear you wherever you are in your house. And attempts to draw Alexa outside the home — with things like Echo Auto or the array of personal devices, smartphone apps, and smartwatches — haven’t really caught on yet.
Photo by Dan Seifert / The Verge
Amazon does have another option, though: instead of making your smart home setup bigger by adding more devices, the company can help make your existing smart home smarter with new Alexa features or capabilities.
However, that approach bears the risk of complexity. Part of the magic of Echo devices is their relative simplicity: you ask Alexa to do a thing or answer a question, and it happens. Add too many features or options on top, and it becomes a smaller, less functional computer that you have to manage. No one wants to have to remember a specific convoluted command or sequence for getting something done.


theverge--2020-09-24--Packaging for Google’s Nest Audio smart speaker and new Chromecast leaks

Two of Google ’ s products that will almost certainly be announced next week have seen their packaging leak .
There ’ s an upcoming Nest Audio smart speaker , spotted on Walmart ’ s shelves and online at Lowe ’ s .
Meanwhile , someone else got their hands on a new TV dongle called the Chromecast with Google TV .
The smart speaker was photographed at Walmart and posted to Twitter , where it was spotted by 9to5Google .
The images don ’ t give many new hints about the device beyond what ’ s already leaked and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirms the name , and that it will come equipped with Google Assistant ( obviously ) .
The Lowe ’ s listing , which was spotted by WinFuture ’ s Roland Quandt , says the smart speaker will support the “ smart sound ” room-tuning feature first seen on the Google Home Max .
Quandt reports that the speaker will retail for $ 99.99 .
Meanwhile , Android Police reports that someone over on Reddit got their hands on the Chromecast with Google TV dongle ahead of its announcement and has posted a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like the Nest Audio , multiple leaks over the past few months have already given us a pretty good idea of what to expect from the device .
It will run Android TV , which is apparently being rebranded as Google TV , and you ’ ll be able to control it with an included remote .
You ’ ll also be able to “ cast ” content to it from compatible apps .
It could offer the best of both worlds between an Android TV box and a slimline Chromecast dongle .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ both devices will appear at its September 30th hardware event where it says it plans to detail a “ new Chromecast ” and its “ latest smart speaker ” alongside its new Pixel phones .
Given that retail packaging for both devices is already leaking out , both seem likely to release soon after the event .

Two of Google’s products that will almost certainly be announced next week have seen their packaging leak. There’s an upcoming Nest Audio smart speaker, spotted on Walmart’s shelves and online at Lowe’s . Meanwhile, someone else got their hands on a new TV dongle called the Chromecast with Google TV.
Meanwhile, Android Police reports that someone over on Reddit got their hands on the Chromecast with Google TV dongle ahead of its announcement and has posted a video of its retail packaging. Much like the Nest Audio, multiple leaks over the past few months have already given us a pretty good idea of what to expect from the device. It will run Android TV, which is apparently being rebranded as Google TV, and you’ll be able to control it with an included remote. You’ll also be able to “cast” content to it from compatible apps. It could offer the best of both worlds between an Android TV box and a slimline Chromecast dongle.


theverge--2020-09-24--Spotify, Epic, Tile, Match, and more are rallying developers against Apple’s App Store policies

Several of Apple ’ s biggest critics — including Epic Games , Spotify , Basecamp , Match Group , Tile , Blix , and Deezer — have banded together to create the Coalition for App Fairness , a new group aiming to “ create a level playing field for app businesses and give people freedom of choice on their devices.
” While most of the founding members have individually fought or are fighting with Apple over its App Store policies , the Coalition for App Fairness marks a more coordinated effort for developers to formally protest Apple ’ s rules @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a central organization for developers to join , especially those who may not have the clout or the resources to take on Apple alone .
The Coalition says that it welcomes “ companies of any size , in any industry who are committed to protecting consumer choice , fostering competition , and creating a level playing field for all app and game developers globally.
” “ We are joining the Coalition for App Fairness to defend the fundamental rights of creators to build apps and to do business directly with their customers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ founder of Epic Games in a statement announcing the news .
A more coordinated effort for developers to formally protest Apple ’ s rules The Coalition for App Fairness cites three main issues of contention : Apple ’ s 30 percent cut of any payments sold through the store , the lack of any other competitive options for app distribution on iOS , and a claim that Apple uses its control over iOS to favor its own services .
None of these are new accusations .
Spotify , for example , has formally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Union against Apple over many of those issues .
Basecamp clashed with Apple earlier this year , claiming that Apple was refusing to approve future updates for its Hey email app unless it sold subscriptions through Apple ’ s store .
Blix claimed that Apple stole its ideas for anonymous email sign-in and then booted it from the App Store .
( The company has previously tried to rally other developers to join its fight . )
Tile testified in Congress that Apple used its platform to undercut its product ’ s usability @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Epic has launched a full-fledged war over Apple ’ s 30 percent cut that ’ s resulted in the biggest game in the world being removed from the App Store entirely .
The Coalition for App Fairness has a proposed code of conduct that it ’ s asking Apple — and other platform owners — to adopt .
They goals are ambitious , and include requests that developers not be forced to use an exclusive app store , that all developers should have equal access to the same technical information as the platform @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be forced to pay “ unfair , unreasonable or discriminatory fees or revenue shares , ” in order to be listed on an app store .
The Coalition for App Fairness is hoping to gain influence over Apple through a united developer front .
But even if other developers flock to join , Apple still holds all the cards ; while Spotify , Match , Basecamp , and the rest are protesting Apple ’ s rules , at the end of the day , they ’ re still putting their apps in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fees .
As long as that ’ s the case , short of legal intervention , it ’ s hard to see Apple acquiescing to any of these demands — no matter how many developers complain .

Several of Apple’s biggest critics — including Epic Games, Spotify, Basecamp, Match Group, Tile, Blix, and Deezer — have banded together to create the Coalition for App Fairness, a new group aiming to “create a level playing field for app businesses and give people freedom of choice on their devices.”
While most of the founding members have individually fought or are fighting with Apple over its App Store policies, the Coalition for App Fairness marks a more coordinated effort for developers to formally protest Apple’s rules. The goal is to also provide a central organization for developers to join, especially those who may not have the clout or the resources to take on Apple alone.
The Coalition says that it welcomes “companies of any size, in any industry who are committed to protecting consumer choice, fostering competition, and creating a level playing field for all app and game developers globally.”
“We are joining the Coalition for App Fairness to defend the fundamental rights of creators to build apps and to do business directly with their customers,” said Tim Sweeney, CEO and founder of Epic Games in a statement announcing the news.
A more coordinated effort for developers to formally protest Apple’s rules
The Coalition for App Fairness cites three main issues of contention: Apple’s 30 percent cut of any payments sold through the store, the lack of any other competitive options for app distribution on iOS, and a claim that Apple uses its control over iOS to favor its own services.
The Coalition for App Fairness has a proposed code of conduct that it’s asking Apple — and other platform owners — to adopt. They goals are ambitious, and include requests that developers not be forced to use an exclusive app store, that all developers should have equal access to the same technical information as the platform owner, and that developers should not be forced to pay “unfair, unreasonable or discriminatory fees or revenue shares,” in order to be listed on an app store.